Christmas is a very special holiday and for the vast majority it is the favorite time of the year. Celebrating the Savior, spreading good cheer, spending quality time fellowshipping with friends and family, enjoying the mouth watering spread of food, and gift giving are just a few of the events that sets this holiday apart.

Everyone loves the idea of receiving gifts, I believe it is something natural and there is a certain excitement that comes with unwrapping a gift of any sort. Even though there is much truth to that, there is no denying that after the big reveal, there may be a little hint of disappointment if the gift received is not useful or if it doesn’t at all identify with who you are. Somewhat like giving a treatment for bleached hair someone who doesn’t have color in their hair or giving a pair of earrings for pierced ears to someone who doesn’t have their ears pierced. Yes that may be a little extreme but you get the picture. Giving Gifts that are relevant and appropriate is always the best option. I strongly believe in gifting things not just because they look pretty but based on need and usefulness. That is my personal preference but I can almost safely say that most people will be more receptive to something that they really can use as opposed to just another random gift that no thought may have been put into.

It helps to know a little bit about the person who you are getting a gift for or at least make subtle observations to determine the things that they may like or have need of. Don’t get me wrong, I am from the islands and I strongly believe that it is the thought that counts, but at the same time there has to be some thought to count if you get my drift. I also know that the task of Christmas shopping is not an easy one and it can become very physically and mentally draining. It is with that in mind that I thought I would share some suitable gift ideas for naturals.

Naturals are usually very passionate about their journey and generally spend a pretty penny to maintain their tresses. They are always in pursuit of ways to improve the health and appearance of their hair. With that in mind, it shouldn’t be very difficult to come up with suitable gift ideas for someone who sports their hair natural. Below is a list of ideas or suggestions for appropriate and useful holiday gifts that will be appreciate by most ladies who wear their hair this way:

1.     Natural Hair Products Subscription Services – Subscription based purchases are on the rise and these are loved because they present an element of surprise and who doesn’t like surprises?? The idea behind subscription based companies is that for a flat rate, you are able to get a package of items which usually vary from month to month. The beauty about this is that the items are typically valued higher than the cost for the subscription and it offers a great way to be able to try various products offered by different vendors relevant to subscription of choice. CurlKit is one of those subscription services created with naturals in mind, providing between 6-9 product samples in a surprise box each month. These often include full sized products which are from some of the most popular natural hair product lines. The subscriptions are fairly inexpensive, reasonably priced at $20 per month.  This would be an amazing gift idea and you can opt to pay for a couple months subscription leaving the option open for the recipient of the gift to take over future payments or cancel the subscription if they so choose. This gift idea will leave your special naturalista grinning from ear to ear as they enjoy this special treat.

2.     Natural Hair Books – The pursuit of knowledge concerning the many facets of natural hair and the quest to seek a greater understanding of how natural hair acts and reacts keep us constantly researching. A very reliable source of information is books and over time the natural hair book collection has been growing steadily in numbers. A gift of a Natural Hair book is a sure win in the challenge of gift giving. Natural hair books such as “Better Than Good Hair” written by the well known natural hair guru Nikki Walton, more popularly known as Curly Nikki in the natural hair community, is a very interesting and informative read. Her book is  titled as being “The Curly Girl Guide to Healthy, Gorgeous Natural Hair”. Other natural hair books on the market include The Secrets of Going Natural: The Ultimate Guide to Loving your Natural Hair written by Zenobia and Anthony Jackson, The Science of Black Hair written by Audrey Davis-Sivasothy and Grow It by Chicoro to name a few.   These books offer a wealth of information about natural hair and afford details as to how to understand, care for and style your natural hair. They are great reads for any natural, despite the stage that you are at in your hair journey. The perfect gift idea that will definitely not be set aside to collect dust and would be appreciated by anyone who is serious about the health and appearance of their natural hair.

3.     Natural Hair Event Tickets – Different cities around the country host natural hair events periodically. There is usually a cover charge to enter these events. Such events offer the platform for naturals to meet together in one place to socialize, learn and be entertained. These shows are usually well planned and employ professional educators who impart a great deal of information to naturals that will help them to better deal with their hair. There are also live demonstrations by experienced stylists showcasing their talents by creating a wide array of hairstyles on models ranging from very easy to the more intricate. Vendors of some of the most popular natural hair products usually have booths where their products can be sampled and bought at a reduced rate. The shows can be very interesting and sometimes offer bonus surprises such as fashion shows, spot prizes and giveaways. Now that is nothing short of being in “natural hair heaven”, and it would be any natural’s dream to be able to enjoy such an experience. Gifting two tickets to an upcoming natural hair show in their area should be sure to score you cool points in the eyes of any natural.

4.     Natural Hair Apparel – Natural Hair inspired clothing lines have capitalized on the new craze and enthusiasm about natural hair. Naturals today are proud of their hair and are usually all too happy to let the world know how they feel about it. One of the more popular ways of displaying this pride is by wearing apparel that are specially designed with images related to natural hair and catch phrases boasting their confidence with being natural. The most popular garments are T-Shirts. This would make a great gift item for naturals and is a great addition to the collection of both the fashion forward and the conservative alike. I believe that all naturals would proudly wear a statement about their natural hair. A quick surf of the World Wide Web will present a wealth of options and a variety of designs from which to choose. This holiday gift will leave the natural in your life all dolled up.

5.     Satin Pillow Cases – This is a necessity for all naturals to have in their collection as it will provide that soft, silky, smooth surface for them to lay their head. Using a satin pillowcase will prevent hair from drying out and also allow for the prevention of friction that can cause breakage. Regular cotton pillowcases can have drying effects on natural hair and tends to rob it of its much needed moisture. Many naturals, although aware of this fact, do not own satin pillowcases, maybe because of the price point as they are pricier than their rougher counterpart. This is another excellent gift for just about any one and would be greatly appreciated especially by a natural.

Gift giving should not be a stressful activity. The process of acquiring gifts can be a pleasant one if the above recommendations are considered. If there is still uncertainty about whether or not the suggested items will be to the liking of that special natural in your life, there is always the safe option of getting a gift card that can be used to complete any purchase. In all your giving, give love this Christmas, at the end of the day that is really what matters most and no amount of gifts can ever replace that. Best wishes for the Holidays… from my family to yours!!!  

Tamera Mowry-Housley Unleashes her Curls on The Real

Just when I was about ready to rant about the fact that TV show producers tend to be more inclined to have their hosts sport long, flowing straightened wigs as opposed to their natural hair, there comes Tamera showcasing her natural curls on yesterday's episode of The Real. I always wondered if it was her personal choice not to rock her beautiful curls on the show or the preference of the production powers that be. It was so refreshing to see her luscious curls that were showcased during the show's "Don't Touch My Hair" segment.

Tamera touched a bit on the fact that her hair had been through stage where it suffered much damage due to overexposure to heat. She decided to do the Big Chop in order to get rid of the damaged hair and start a fresh journey to enjoying healthy hair. She admitted that she was a bit nervous about wearing her own hair out on the show and that is understandable since everyone is used to seeing her wearing weaves. She shared that her hubby loves her natural hair and would much rather see her rock it all day, everyday. I am so glad that she made the bold statement that women can totally embrace their kinks and curls and that TV is no longer reserved for those fitting a certain image. Kudos to you Tamera, naturals everywhere are proud that you represented, and did so confidently.

Don't Live on the Edge.......Get Hicks Edges

Hey Lovelies, I had to stop in to share this Fabulous Find with you all. Yeah yeah, I know I'm late but as they always say, "better late than never". I have been hearing about this Hicks Edges since forever but I have no clue why I didn't, prior to now make the effort to try it out. Well recently I had the opportunity upon the request of a friend, to apply her Hicks Edges to her hair and my, my, my, the instant transformation to her hairline was real, too real for that matter. I was so impressed with how well the product worked on her hair that I immediately went and got me one.

Let me tell you guys, edge control has never been this effective. The product is worth every penny of the $13.99 that it cost and more. At first when I heard the price I was like, wait.....whattt???? But it really isn't much more expensive than a typical edge controller considering that it is almost twice as big as most others on the market. It is 4 fl. oz in size while most of the others are a little over 2 fl. oz. The great news is that there is no need to search high and low to find the product as it is available at most local Beauty Supply Stores.

So let me let you in on the secret about this edge controller,  It holds your hair and edges firmly in place, with super holding power without flakiness. Considering that flakiness is a feature or a side effect rather, of some edge controllers on the market, the Hicks Edges gets a thumbs up on that. It also claims to promote growth which I'm not able to substantiate since I
literally just started using it a day or two ago. The lack of flakes however, I can attest to as my edges have been indeed flake-free. It does also leave your edges looking healthier and shinier than before and trust me when I say that a little goes a long way. Unless you decide to use it like a gel of some sort, it will surely last a long, long time. I'm sure if ever I decide to do a ponytail I will dig in and use it to make sure it is layed.

Don't live on the edge, apply the Hicks Edges and enjoy flawless hair all day.



Photo Credit: http://www.beautyblvd.net/2014/09/slick-edges/