Yet another sensible headband!

Hey guys and gals!

I got this little gem over Black Friday Weekend (lol ps. how has Black Friday gone from a day to a full out 4-day weekend!?) at Forever21 for $3.25 - my kind of price. I LOVE IT! It's especially awesome because it does double duty as a headband AND an ear warmer when it gets cold. When it gets breezy, I jut pull this sucker down and I'm good to go. Toodles!

To love another?

Blah Blah Blah

Oh my gosh you guys. This is how I've been feeling lately. I've been so tired and out of it. Ugh. I've been having a lot of early morning shows so my energy level outside of work is low! Needless to say, the gym hasn't been happening. Instead of banging it out on the treadmill yesterday, I opted for a 6.5 mile walk home versus the 20 minute subway ride. Can I just say, this was a #winning decision! I suggest it to everybody. I saw so many new places in the city that I want to go back and visit. I love walking through the different neighborhoods, tasting sweets at new bakeries, and walking through the pretty parks. This will certainly happen again. Toodles!

Sensible Headband

I bought this black and silver sparkly headband in Harlem for $1 when I was searching for new accessories to spice up my twa. Here's how I rocked it with a high bun today!

Happy Hour Hair

So I've started going to a happy hour each Friday at a Mexican spot here in the city. I was so excited by all of the natural hair ladies of all ages that I saw coming in and out of the restaurant last week that I took pictures of my two favorites.

I love her natural gray! She's using kinky curly to further define her curl pattern here.

Stretching it out so we could see the full length.

I love, love, loved, her pink natural curls (she bleached her hair first, then dyed it) and the sparkly beanie made it pop even more!

Old hair? Roll and pin!

So after the awesome opening night party, I had my first day off in about two and a half weeks. It was amazing! I stayed in bed until 4pm, blogged, then eventually moved to the couch to watch a healthy dosage of trashy t.v. around 7pm. Needless to say, I was not even thinking about doing my hair. I wrapped that joint up in a silk scarf and kept it moving.

The next day, however, it was back to work and I had to get my hair "show ready." Now, I spend the majority of my show in wig caps and hats, but at one point, we all let our hair out. I've been pulling my hair up into a high bun, but here is how I modified my party curls:

I started by giving myself a small side part and rolling the front of my hair and securing it with bobby pins. Then, I used bobby pins to secure the sides back and to push the curls in the back of my head up higher so that they rested a bit higher on my head. Finally, I pulled on the curls with my hand so that they they would sit taller and that was that! Instant show hair!

Ps. Don't be weirded out. The wires are just my microphone and ear monitors, not gross hair accessories! lol

Opening Night!

Hey loves!

How are ya'll!? I haven't posted in a few days. Things have been oh so incredibly busy a of late with my show and some additional performances that I've been doing here in the city. I'm super excited about this post because it's going to be picture heavy. Last week, my show celebrated its opening night with a grand party, open bar, a DJ, dancing, and a lot of fun. Getting dolled up and being girly is always fun. I hope you enjoy!

HAIR. Now, while I am not an advocate of heat, I did decide to use it for this occasion because of time. This is a style that I'd love to try with curl formers, but alas. So I did a co-wash (conditioner-only wash) by applying an olive oil-based conditioner on my dry hair and leaving it under a cap for a few hours while I did the dishes, shaved my legs, blah, blah, blah. I put a heat protectant on my head and blew it dry with a comb (I know, I know, natural-hair divas. Don't judge lol). Next, I used a curling iron to make small shirley temple curls all over my head. I never put the heat to the root of my hair and made sure to apply heat only for a few seconds. My goal wasn't to have bone-straight curls, but to have my natural texture intact with a little curly bump from the middle of the strand to the tip. This also keeps the volume to it's fullest. I don't like how stick-straight hair looks when it lays flat because of the volume loss. To finish it up, I sprayed a hair polisher on for shine and a shea-butter based light hold spritz to keep all that hard work in place.

Check the back.

Peep the side.

And the front (pre-face beat).

DESS AND ACCESSORIES. My theme was gold. Holiday, festive gold. I got my dress from Lord & Taylor. It is by Xscape for $179, but I was able to save about $45 by shopping with coupons and on a sale day. I unfortunately never got a full body pic of the entire ensemble, but here are a couple different views of the dress. Next, is a picture of my ring. I bought it for $3 at a little bodega in my hood last minute. I also got some big gold earrings which you'll see in the pictures below, but I think I ended up hating them by the end of the night. They just didn't look right. Whateves! They'll wirk with something else. In addition, I painted my nails bright diva-licious red and borrowed some gold bangles from my mother's closet which you can see faintly in the picture below. My shoes weren't supposed to happen, but one day I had a three hour break between shows and I found myself on 5th ave swiping my card. lol. They were also purchased at Bakers on the same day that I made my ignorant purchase feather headband post. The shoes were on sale for $85. I thought they were going to be $42.50 because they were on a 50% off table, but apparently, I was mislead. I almost didn't get them, but I am SO HAPPY that I did. The heel is platform and about 5-ish inches. Check them out!

FINAL PRODUCT. So on the way out, I had to wrap my head in a silk scarf because it started to rain and my natural hair was not having that. Here's the scarf and my full on face beat (I'll do a future post on my makeup process).

Here I am with some of my castmates. Below is Adrienne on the far left, another natural hair actress. Enjoy the party pics!

This girl didn't know what a twist-out was or that she had done one. Can you believe that!?! Craziness.

Such pretty decor!

Our dates! Mine is on the right, Adrienne's is on the left. No romantic connection between either pair. We both went with big/little brother types. I think my date even got someone else's number! I wasn't mad. I told him work it out! lol. Best dates ever!

SUCH A FUN NIGHT! Hope you liked the pics!

My Moisturizer of Choice: WATER!

While I love trying new products and adding things to my roster of "lotions and potions," I must confess to you that my moisturizer of choice is plain old H₂O.

Yes ladies and gents, two hydrogens + one oxygen really gets my hair going. It drinks it right up!

As I continue to strive for length, I've been thinking about how much I moisturize my hair. I'll admit, it wasn't that often. I have now, however, changed my ways and am revolutionizing the way that I care for my hair. I’ve been sprinkling my hair with water every morning and evening (and sometimes during the day) for the past couple of weeks and WHOA, my curls are on full blast! It is awesome. My tendrils are doing all kinds of loops and mini spirals that I’ve never seen before. It’s the bomb.com. Side note: throwing water on your head is fun! Try it!

In addition, if I have a lazy day spending time at home or before I go to bed, I’ve been putting a plastic shower cap over my head to lock in the moisture after I wet my hair. Now, let me clarify. I am not dunking my head in a pool of water. I am actually, barely even getting my hair wet. Only a couple of sprays from a spray bottle will do the trick. I hate sleeping on a wet head so I make sure my hair has only a light misting before I cover it.

So the moral of the story is this: Keeping your hair moisturized avoids breakage of your tresses and promotes the growth of your locks. Keeping your hair moisturized with water avoids breakage of your funds and promotes the growth of your bank account. It’s a win-win!

This guy's got the right idea! Ow, get it!

A steal or stolen?

I LOVE THESE SHOES!!!

I bought them at a booth during a jewelry fair in Chantilly, VA about 4 years ago for $35. I thought they were so flyy and totally unique. Imagine my surprise when I saw them at some random shop in Harlem on W 125th on sale for only $2.99!!! I didn't know whether to be mad or to laugh! Scandalous!

ps. It should be noted that I wear a size 10 shoe. I'm only 5'2 so it's kind of a hott mess, but regardless, when I find a cute shoe, I have to act fast or else those other big-feet women will snatch it up with the quickness. Just sayin'.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow!

Okay girls, ever do your hair and it is like absolutely curl-fection!? I know. It’s the best, right? And then you try to recreate the masterpiece following the same exact steps and you end up looking a hot mess? What is up with that? Hair today. Gone tomorrow. It’s a tragic phenomenon based on nothing but the obscurity that is a “good hair day.”

Take this style above for example. I did this for a concert months ago, but for some reason, I have never been able to get it back to this same level. I do the same thing each time, use the same products and tools, but still, no dice.

I tried it for another performance a few months later and look! Look at the crazy curls gone wild – especially on the left. Wow. They really let me have it. I tamed them by the time the curtain went up, but my hair really put me through it.

Do you guys know what I am saying? Have you been there before? Can I get a “jacked up hair, don’t care” AMEN!?

Rent the Runway! "Love. Wear. Return."

Hey Guys and Gals!

I wanted to introduce you to this website that I just found out called Rent the Runway! Essentially, through this site you can rent expensive, couture, designer gowns for just $50-$150. It's perfect for those occasions where you need a knock-out gown that you know you'll only wear one time. A couple of my castmates had them on at our opening night party last night and they were just raving. The company will even send you two sizes for free so that you can check the fit. In addition, they also rent matching jewelry and handbags to complete your look!

I will ABSOLUTELY be using this site in the future and will certainly give a full user review then. Check them out!

One of my castmates wore this gown last night!

Quotable!

"The only time that 'success' comes before 'work' is in the dictionary."

Food for Thought

"We shouldn't aspire to do great things, but lots of little things in love. "

Ignorant Purchase!

When I was in college, one of my dearest friends taught me a phrase that I will never forget. "IGNORANT PURCHASE." An ignorant purchase is one of those things that you buy that you don't need and/or can't afford or justify, BUT you still get it. LOL! I love it. Ever go shopping just for the pure fun of it? Now, even though the term does have a slightly negative connotation, I can assure you that it is actually just a hilarious term of endearment. I make ignorant purchases much and often. Today, I made two on an impromptu shopping trip between shows. The first will be featured in a future post, but the second is here below!

I've been really into accessorizing my natural locks lately with fun clips, hats, and headbands. A video from one of my favorite vloggers, iknowlee, totally gave me new ideas. I bought this dark brown feathered headband today at Bakers on sale for $2.99. I really like this one because the color is just enough to pop, but not so much that it looks crazy or way out of place, you know? I just threw it onto my head and my hairstyle totally went up like, at least ten cool points. I also got tons of compliments on it when I got back to my dressing room. Feathers are so trendy right now. I feel like I can just fly away! Ow, get it!

Ps. At $2.99, let's be honest, this really wasn't that ignorant, was it? lol.

Sweet Treat!

Hey guys,

Yummy! I am a total smoothie guru and big time fan! My favorite all-time smoothie is called the Peach Slice Plus from Smoothie King, but let's be honest. As refreshing as these treats may be, I rarely want to reach into my purse and pay $5-7 for one. So I started making them on my own for about one-eighth of the price. I love mixing a whole bunch of fruits and vegetables into a blender for an all natural-sweet treat. Here was tonight's creation. I mixed:

Pineapples
Strawberries
Mangoes
Peaches
Banana
Fresh Orange Juice
Honey

This is also a great way to preserve your fruit if it is starting to get over-ripe, but you're not yet ready to eat it. Just throw it in the freezer and take it out when your are ready to blend. Frozen fruits can replace the need for ice cubes which I think makes the smoothie taste way watered down. When you're done, throw it in a wine or martini glass so that it looks cute and enjoy!

The reason why we sing...

I came across this video today and it so moved me. I truly believe in the transformational power of music and things like this just confirm that. What a beautiful tool music is, with the power to heal, convict, unite, and fill us with sweet joy!

Meet Adrienne!

Here's a post-show video of us fooling around in the dressing room....sleepy and delirious...and we're also just kinda naturally silly....get it? NATURALLY! Womp. Womp.

F-you!

I went to church yesterday and the pastor said that while visiting another congregation in Cleavland, OH, he heard a preacher say something awesome. He said that the only "F word" that was going to be in their congregation was FORGIVENESS.  What a great way to live! I've never been one to hold a grudge. I think that the negative energy and its emotional and physical effects are never worth it. As it was described today, being bitter or angry with someone else is like pouring gasoline on yourself, lighting a match, and then expecting the person who you are mad at to feel burned. It doesn't work! So basically, I am f-ing off everybody! F-you, F-your mom, F-your puppy. I'm good! lol. Love. xoxo.

No Cee Lo, this is not what I mean!

The Dating Files: Online Boyfriend Shopping

It’s holiday time! Christmas displays are popping up all over the city in anticipation of the present-buying frenzy that is sure to come in the next few weeks. I love shopping. Discount shopping, grocery shopping, or thumbing through magazines – it’s all the same to me – and of course, there is online shopping. Just last night I was online clicking around and looking for a new pair of strappy heels and a cocktail dress (“for what?” you may ask – deets coming soon in a future post!). The internet is such a great resource for coupons, discounts, and steals that you might not otherwise find.

With all that in mind, I invite you into my living room to drop in on a conversation I just had with my roommate (a 26 year-old single, beautiful, and natural-haired actress):

Me: I wish I was married.

Roomie: Really? No you don’t.

Me: You’re right. I guess I just wish I was dating someone.

Roomie:  Yeah me too. I want a boyfriend.

Me: Okay! Let’s find you one!

I immediately pulled out my laptop. Then I stopped. MY LAPTOP!?!? Yes! In this internet-savvy world, my first response to finding her a boyfriend was to start searching for one online. I guess I figured that I could just Google “available boyfriend” much like I would “vegetarian dinner recipes” or “MTA subway schedules” and turn up with the perfect man for my roomie.

I admit it. I’ve tried online dating. I may or may not even be on a site or two now. I still do find it slightly embarrassing, but I actually think it’s totally common. I mean, let’s be real, my industry is pretty homosexual heavy, and outside of work, I don’t meet too many guys. Plus, it seems like in the past few months, all of my friends who are recently married or even just in new relationships found their soul mates via the world wide web. In my experiences with online dating, I’ve never met anyone worthwhile and I generally get bored with the process after like, 3-4 days – pathetic, I know, but for now, I think I’ll try to stick it out. (I resisted the urge not to delete my online dating profiles like, an hour ago lol….alas.)

So what would your Google search for the perfect man/woman look like? I think these are some of the key words that I would use:

Christian

Educated

Employed

Provider

Wants Children

Hot Body

Chocolatey

Yeah, I got kinda shallow towards the end there, but why not ask for it all, right? Clearly, it “tis the season to be jolly!”

Your turn! What’s on YOUR wish list?

Not such a bad idea, right?

I am not my tresses!

This song really gets me going. Thanks India! Crank the speakers up and have a personal party!

Welcome!

Welcome to BLACtresses! So happy you stopped by.

xoxo.