Jan 5: Hair We Go Expo - NYC
Jan 12: The Big LOC Transition Party and Mixer – Brooklyn, NYC
Jan 12: Grand Opening of Tiffany’s Natural – Berkeley, CA
Jan 19: My Hairitage Holistic Hair Care & Advanced Loc Techniques Workshop – Clinton, MD
Jan 19: Chase Naturals Healthy Hair & Body Meetup – Houston, TX
Jan 19: Natural Wellness/Hair Show – Lynchburg, VA
Jan 19: Locs Your Career Into 2013 – London, UK
Jan 20: The Big Chop Party – Richmond, VA
Jan 20: A Journey To Loving Your Hair – Atlanta, GA
Jan 26: Naturally Divine Beauty Grand Opening – Dallas, TX
Jan 30: Natural Hair Discovery – Florissant, MO

Don’t forget to check out your local paper and Meetup.com to find local events in your area and let me know what you find!

Highlight of my first natural hair show was meeting one of my favorite natural hair bloggers, Char Jay while visiting different vendors.

Natural Hair Show in Atlanta

Hello World:

So last month, I joined a bus full of wonderful women and took a trip to the World Natural Hair Show.  I have been trying to go to this show for so long and I finally found the opportunity through Facebook. The show is located in Atlanta, GA and it is held twice a year.  There were many vendors selling everything from hair products, jewelry and other health services.

Overall, I had a very good time.  I was expecting a bigger crowd to attend this show.  I am not saying that a lot of people didn’t attend however I was told that a bigger crowd attends the spring show held in April (which I will be attending as well).  I bought a few hair products from the show however I was more interested in jewelry and hair accessories than anything else.  The jewelry I like to wear is very different and you won’t see everyone wearing it.  I was expecting to see different pieces in the ATL however I only saw a few vendors that caught my eye.  As far as the hair products, well I didn’t need to buy much.  As part of the bus trip, everyone received a goodie bag with FULL SIZE items.  I also had just bought a few things before attending the show so I wasn’t in need to try anything.  When I attend the spring show, I will make sure to stock up on some extra goodies.

Not only did I attend the hair show, I checked out the “Taste of Atlanta” and I must say the food was excellent.  If you have ever been to this type of event.  You are given a number of food tickets to try out different restaurants.  Some of the booths gave away free food as well.  I must say that I was full afterwards.  I tried this sweet potato cupcake and it was delicious.  I think if I was to ever go again, I would like to be VIP.  A VIP pass lets you try out different wines and other alcoholic beverages as well as additional tickets.  If you ran out of tickets, don’t worry because you can buy extra tickets.  I had fun at this event and hung with some cool people.  Here are a few pics I want to share:

Taste Of Atlanta

More to Taste

I can’t forget our stop at Gladys Knight’s Chicken and Waffles.  I must confess that I like Roscoe’s better.  Go out and try it for yourself whenever you are in Atlanta.

I didn’t have the Chicken and Waffles this time.

Well, that’s it for now.  Until next time.  Stay Cool and Free.

I really didn’t buy that much but I did pick up a few hair products well 3..not many because I have A LOT under my sink..and under my hubby’s side! Not to mention before the show I made some more of the Shea Butter Mix..in the spirit of the hair show! Lol.

I got 2 cute Natural shirts!

And 2 pairs of earrings that are fab!! I love them!!

So I read that there is going to be a FALL Hair Show…WOW. I guess I will be there then!!

Despite this less than major setback, I can definitely see my locs growing and changing. I can also say emphatically that i will probably not latch again, at least until my locs are fully mature and the fuzzy-ness issue would no longer be a problem.  For now, I actually like the process of washing and palm rolling my own locs, even if I am doing it every two or three weeks.

And now… some pics from last weekends wash/retwist.

Just out of the shower:

Freshly retwisted.  They look really dull but actually do have some sheen to them.  I think the reason for the dull look is because I used Carol’s Daughter Loc Butter to retwist which gave my locs a dull-ish look to them.  I don’t think I’ll be using it again.

I picked up some Taliah Waajid’s Lock It Up  and some other Taliah Waajid products, so I’ll be reviewing those soon.  I’m also checking out the Natural Hair Show in Brooklyn next weekend and hope to pick up some Nubian Kinks Loc Pomade while I’m there.

Here’s a press release about the Natural Hair Show next weekend.

Transcendence Natural Hair Show

Despite this less than major setback, I can definitely see my locs growing and changing. I can also say emphatically that i will probably not latch again, at least until my locs are fully mature and the fuzzy-ness issue would no longer be a problem.  For now, I actually like the process of washing and palm rolling my own locs, even if I am doing it every two or three weeks.

And now… some pics from last weekends wash/retwist.

Just out of the shower:

Freshly retwisted.  They look really dull but actually do have some sheen to them.  I think the reason for the dull look is because I used Carol’s Daughter Loc Butter to retwist which gave my locs a dull-ish look to them.  I don’t think I’ll be using it again.

I picked up some Taliah Waajid’s Lock It Up  and some other Taliah Waajid products, so I’ll be reviewing those soon.  I’m also checking out the Natural Hair Show in Brooklyn next weekend and hope to pick up some Nubian Kinks Loc Pomade while I’m there.

Here’s a press release about the Natural Hair Show next weekend.

Transcendence Natural Hair Show

Here are a few videos from the event!

2010 Toronto Natural Hair & Beauty Show
Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre
Sunday Sept. 19, 2010
11AM – 8PM
Brought to you by Toronto Naturals, Naturally Me! & Celebrity Unisex Salon

$15 – General Admission
$10 – Students (Valid ID) & Seniors
Free – Children 12 & Under

Advanced $15 tixs available:
Marsha Patterson – 416.580.5309
Celebrity Unisex Salon – 416.850.4085
Nanni’s Natural Hair Salon & Spa – 416.243.5151

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This year’s show will feature
interactive educational workshops, vendor market place, and live entertainment.

Show Hosted By:
INTELEKT

Live Performances By:

CHATTA
DJANGO
CARIBBEAN DANCE THEATRE
HUMBLE
JAHVID

Hair Showcases By:
NATURAL MYSTIC HAIR SALON
I AM NOT A BARBER
SECRET HAIR SALON
CELEBRITY UNISEX HAIR SALON

Fashion Showcases By:
UNITEES
BEAD 4 HEALTH

Workshops:
THE HEALTHY DIVA – DETOXING YOUR LIFE WITH THE HEALTHY DIVA
WRAP-A-LOC – SISTAH NANDI
TRANSITIONING FROM CHEMICALLY TREATED HAIR TO LOCS OR NATURAL HAIR -
MARIA THOMPSON
HAIRLOCKING 101 – MALAIKA-TAMU COOPER
THE ART OF HEAD WRAPPING – NAZA HASEBENEBI
PROPHET NOBLE DREW ALI AND THE MOORISH DIVINE – CULTURAL EDUCATORS
HISTORY OF BLACK HAIR – ANYA GRANT (IHEARTMYHAIR.COM)
THE HISTORY OF SHEA BUTTER – ANU
DEALING WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF ALOPECIA – DR. NADINE WONG
WHAT IS SISTERLOCKS? – AVALON WILLIAMS
THE POLITICS OF BLACK HAIR – DONNA KAKONGE
2 BARBER WORKSHOPS – DESIGN CUTS – CRAIG “MR. TAPER” LOGAN
MORE TO ADD!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For SPONSORSHIP information contact:

Stephanie Joseph-Walker
647.206.1543

Marsha Patterson
416.580.5309

sponsorship.TNHBS@gmail.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For VOLUNTEER information please contact:

Avalon Williams
Stephanie Joseph-Walker
volunteers.TNHBS@gmail.com

For GENERAL information please contact:

torontonaturals@gmail.com

http://www.torontonaturals.ca

–
Stephanie Joseph
Founder/Producer
Toronto Natural Hair & Beauty Show
647.206.1543

Join my social network @ http://torontonaturals.ning.com/

http://www.torontonaturals.ca

This weekend I attended the Natural Hair Health & Beauty Show in Atlanta.  In environments like this you find inspiration everywhere you turn.  Hair, fashion, music, business, wellness…  I have to say that out of all the women’s, wellness and business expos I have attended this was one of the best experiences I have had.  I enjoyed watching hair demonstrations, experiencing fragrant hair and body products, talking with other natural hair enthusiasts and attending educational sessions.

Watching the fashion show was another highlight of the weekend.  There’s something about witnessing so much confidence strut down the runway.  It’s, well – inspiring!  You envision yourself doing the same – in fact if you’re like me you actually practice your own strut while leaving the event – “runway walking” through the building and parking lot on the way to the car.  It’s a good feeling.

And, witnessing the designers see their fashions come alive is very powerful.  But I digress… as enjoyable as it is to watch other people, there’s nothing like walking on the runway (of life) for yourself.  But first we have to know the life that God designed for us.  We have to see ourselves the way he sees us.

“My Fitness Focus was renewed.”

That is part of why I had the LoveDiet21 photo shoot – the pictures that you have seen on the blog this month.  I knew that it would motivate me to workout if I saw ‘fitness’ pictures of myself.  I wanted to picture myself fit.  As much as I am inspired by celebrity coaches like AJ and Dawn – (see fitness links to right), I realize that I have to discover motivation within myself.I also wanted pictures of me with my hair in the ‘natural’ (afro) since this is the way I’m wearing it now.  Wearing my hair in its natural state has given me the confidence to be me and love myself as I am.  But as much as I’m feeling better about myself, I know that I can’t feel my best if I’m not eating smarter and moving more.  Which is why this month has been all about fitness.  I will say that even during my ‘mini-vacation’ weekend, I still found time for physical activity.

I did enjoy the southern cuisine dining experience while I was there.  Well there was traditional bacon and egg breakfast at J. Christophers.  I enjoyed a luscious peach milkshake at the original Chick-fil-A.  And at the Harlem Bar I tantalized my taste buds with catfish fingers, plantain and collard greens.  However, let me assure you that my fitness focus was renewed.  While at the Natural Hair Show I attended a session entitled “All About Colonics”. Believe me, I learned more than I ever wanted to know about the health of our digestive system, in particular our colon (large intestine).

Sheila Branch Certified Colon Hydrotherapist, shared stories of individuals who had become toxic because they had not properly eliminated their waste.  In one example, the person even died because they had been constipated for a month and had over 100 pounds of waste in their body.  I look forward to sharing more about colon health in a future post on ‘internal fitness’.

Today I had time to reflect on my hair show experience.  I realize that the finest of fashions have to be taken off and even the most perfected hairstyle eventually becomes flawed.  At the end of the day, we are much more than the image we reflect.  We are a combination of our mind, body, soul and spirit.  The substance behind the clothes, the hair – the image.

Food for Thought ~ “Who are we truly on the inside?  Do we look as good as our image or are we full of toxic waste?”

It’s easy to focus on being inspired from the outside in, but what about the inside out.  Look within yourself for a source of motivation…  Who are you inspiring within your sphere of influence?

Instead of being inspired, Be inspiring!

I attended the Natural Hair Show today and in my opinion it was a success!  The concept is great!

For your $15 dollar admission you could frequent some of the greatest vendors in the Natural Hair industry, often at a discounted price. You got to observe many natural hair stylist at work on raised stages and get tips on what products work better on your texture. Miss Jessie’s had a queuefor one on one consultations with the creators or one of the many stylist on hand. This was great because you found out exactly what products were best for your hair type, (like a try before you buy).

The event had a poetry corner that provided spoken word and music, both instrumental as well as conscious Hip Hop and R&B. The main stage also had entertainment and a 7pm Fashion Show with the most entertaining Master of Ceramony I have ever had the pleasure of observing. The clothing was original and kept people in their seats (and standing) for well over the scheduled close. I left at 9:30 and intend to tell everyone I know about next years  event.

It’s scheduled for April 10th and 11th, 2010. I intend to be there, you should too!

2009 Natural Hair Show in Atlanta

Miss Jessie's in Atlanta

Conscious Hip Hop

Rudwaan Amen_Ra Lumumba

Original Art

Original Fashions

If you are planning to attend you can expect Competitions, Workshops and Entertainment like Music and Poetry. There will be many vendors on hand displaying their products and opportunities for stylist and the general public to get information on Natural Hair Care. Natural hair care is a rapidly growning industry as more people become fed up with chemical processes and more look to a more healthy approach to hair care. 

If you are Rocking natural Hair, are in transition (like me) or want more information before taking the plunge, this is the place to be!

For more on the World Natural Hair Health and Beauty Show visit their website  https://www.naturalhair.org/09/home.html

World Natural Hair Show April 4-5 2009