Huetiful Hair Steamer Winner!

Congrats to Annette Jones (WPBMommy1)!! Please send your complete mailing address to wes@honeybrownsugar.com to get your Steamer!

Thanks again to all who participated!

My apologies!

The past week has been positively life-changing. I'm in the middle of changing careers and going back to school- it's been quite hectic with registering for classes and what not. Then on top of all that I came down with a cold!
Soon as I get things under control (and in order!), I'll be back with some great new content... Please hold tight and bear with me for now :-)

Back to Black

Last Friday, I went to Duane Reade and picked up a box of L'Oreal Feria in Soft Black. I was supposed to see the stylist at Aveda for a touch up of my color the Friday before last but he was out sick. Once I found I'd have to reschedule my appointment, I knew that there was no way I was going to be able to hold onto that "hair money". With the changing of the seasons, I was going to go back to black by October anyways. So, I just rushed the process.

After coloring, I deep conditioned and then (for the first time in many months) did a roller set. 

I forgot how much I love my dark hair. Kim K. better move over :-P

French-braid'd Up

I posted this last year (7/23/09 to be exact) and a year later, here I am again with braids. I reached a point this week where I was tired of doing hair and needed a break for a few days. I did this on Monday and plan to take it out tomorrow evening. 

See below (I used less products this time around).

Here's how I did it this time:

• I washed and conditioned, using Elasta QP's DPR-11. 
• With soaking wet hair, I did a part down the middle of my head. I always do the middle part first, this helps keep the other parts even.
• I secured the right half with a clip and then created a part for the smallest cornrow above my ear on the left.
• Using a spray bottle with water, I spritzed each section (as I was braiding) to keep it soaking wet.
• Prior to braiding, I used my favorite Eco-Styler gel on my edges and along the hair near the part (not on the scalp) to keep the fuzzies at bay.
• Sectioned next area, parted and repeated.
• Once completed, I wrapped with my silk scarf and kept it moving!

*Once all of the rows were done, I gathered all of the braids and braided into one big braid secure with a small black hair band. I then tucked under.

PS- The next day I did a simple upkeep using Mizani's Gloss Veil Shine Spray (LOVE this stuff) and went off to conquer the world ;-)

Huetiful Hair Steamer and Giveaway

I'm going to be 100% honest and upfront: I don't like to deep condition my hair. Well, let me be more specific: I don't like taking the time to deep condition my hair. I very rarely deep treat my strands and it's shameful (I know)! The most I'll do is cover my head with a plastic cap inside the shower and let the conditioner "marinate" while I shave or something. That's it. That's my definition of a deep condition.

So, when I was asked if I wanted to try the new Huetiful Hair Steamer, I immediately jumped at the opportunity. I've been hearing a lot about hair steamers and was anxious to try one. Then it arrived and, well, the box sat in the corner for a week. Then I opened the box, and it sat on a shelf in my closet for another few days. Everyday I'd say, okay I'll give it a go today.

"Today" never came.

But here's the good part - I have ONE steamer to give away! The Huetiful Hair Steamer is uniquely designed for curly and wavy hair, restoring moisture 5x better than deep conditioners alone, opening up the cuticles of your hair to allow any conditioner you choose to penetrate better and work more effectively. Here are the facts:

• Hydrates hair 5x more effectively than conditioners alone
• Helps reduce breakage and split ends caused by dry hair
• Reduces risk of dandruff by improving scalp health
• Improves natural, transitioning, or relaxed hair health
• Lightweight and convenient; easily stores and can be set up in under 2 minutes 

To enter to win, all you've got to do is either follow Huetiful on Twitter (@Huetiful) and/or like their fan page on Facebook (click here!), make sure you mention "HBS sent me!"PS - In your tweet use trending topic: #HBSandHuetiful

One winner will be selected and contacted on 8/30/10.

Good luck! (and I promise my review on the Huetiful Hair Steamer will be up before the winner's name is announced - You have my word!)

Tuesday's Trouble: Twisting the Truth?

It's that time of the week again! Let's see how we can help a honey out...

Dear HBS,

I went to law school, and unfortunately, I failed out in between my 2nd and 3rd year. I did graduate with a Masters degree, and I do have a legal job at a law firm. I am not a practicing attorney though. I have struggled a lot the past two years trying to figure out what to do with myself, and if I want to continue my education. My mother, has pretty much lied to my entire extended family about me being a lawyer, which makes it so much worse. She boasts to everyone that I'm an attorney! Every family gathering we have, someone asks me about being a lawyer, or if I can help them with something, and I have to tell them that I am not a lawyer. I hate that I basically have to call my mom a liar, and I don't know how to make her stop. I'm not ashamed of myself or the person I've become. I don't know why my mother is? I wish I had finished school and started my career the way I had imagined, but things happen. How do I confront my mother and get her to stop lying? How do I deal with all the questions from my family without making my mother look bad?

How would you handle this?

Best,

L.J.

Friday's Dessert: 8/6/10

I don't know about you, but this week has been long and very strenuous! I went back to the gym (after a 3 month long hiatus... So ashamed!) and it actually felt great being back. Took my mind off a few things...

I thought this quote would be great to post (thanks to Miss Jia via Twitter!):

"...but stress don't you let it, don't you forget it, Don't you forget it. Trust you'll find your way, love. Hope is what your heart is made of..."
- Glenn Lewis (Remember him?!)

Have a great weekend guys... We'll do it all over again next week :-P

Top 10 Flat Irons... According to Flat Iron Experts

Autumn is almost here (unfortunately) and some of us curly girls transition to wearing our hair in straighter styles. If you're on the market for a new flat iron or hair dryer you might want to check out what the Flat Iron Experts have to say.

Get the scoop on what they say the best flat irons and the best hair dryers are...

And then let me know if you agree ;-)

Tuesday's Trouble: Wednesday's Edition!

Hmm, the following is an interesting situation...

Dear HBS,

I've been on my job a little over year and while I don't quite love it, I have definitely gained a LOT of amazing experience and have even had the opportunity to travel overseas. I work in the fashion industry and it is very fast paced and cut-throat. The company I work for is a boutique firm and they are constantly hiring and firing. I work with an entirely different staff from when I first started.

But my concern is this: My supervisor (who is not my direct BOSS) recently told me (in confidential) that the company will be letting me go. He wasn't able to tell me much but he did say he didn't know when it would happen and that I should start getting my "stuff" together. I couldn't say that I was surprised, I actually felt relieved. But now I'm anxious.

How do you go to work everyday knowing that it could be your last? I don't want to quit because I won't be able to collect unemployment and I don't have any other jobs lined up. All I know is that I can't sit around waiting for them to get rid of me. For the last few days I've been coming to work with an "eff this" attitude, hoping that they'd want to let me go sooner than later.

In my head, I've already moved on - I want to go back to school full time in September. But now I have to wait for them to give me the axe.

What would you do in this situation?

Sincerely,
Ready 2 Go

Essentious Natural Hair Care

I love to try new products - Especially the brands being marketed for natural hair. There's a TON of them these days that are geared towards curly, coiled and kinky hair. I love it. Essentious is a new line that has natural and organic ingredients dedicated to the care and upkeep of natural hair. SLS and paraben-free makes it right for me :-P

Summer Reading: Platinum by Aliya S. King

I had the pleasure of attending Aliya's book release party last month, where I also got my hands on the book. I just cracked it open this week and let me say, I canNOT put it down. So far, this woman has amazed me with everything she does! I strive to follow in her footsteps. She really gives me hope. Aliya S. King simply does things they way they should be done. Period.

Whenever I go to any sort of event, I usually go by myself and several times I'll run into a familiar face. Some times I'll chat with others. Most times, I'll just observe. I take in everything around me because I always feel like this could all be ME one day.

I just need to finish writing MY novel. Success is right there, I can feel it. Taste it even.

Any-who, once you start reading Platinum, you're not going to be able to put it down (I can guarantee that). King puts you right there, inside the story. The characters are all well-developed and the situations are real.
I won't give away the plot, but it's based on Aliya's experience working with and writing about rapper's wives and their lives behind the camera. It gets deep ya'll. You'll have a new appreciation for your seemingly simple life once you're done with this novel.

P.S. - The sequel to Platinum is coming out August 11!! CAN'T WAIT!!

Have you read Platinum yet?