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The Revolution Was Televised at Last Night's BET Awards

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by Tiffani Greenaway of MyMommyVents.com

Although the commercials promised it would be “lit,” I really wasn’t expecting much from the BET awards. A couple cray outfits to show up on the blogs, a few performances for us to roast on Black Twitter, some wilding out on the red carpet, and as always, MC Lyte.

Read On!>>>


But this year, BET surprised us all by not only putting together a series of epic tributes to Prince’s legacy, but also demanding that we stay woke. The revolution was televised, and it started off with Bey and Kendrick killing “Freedom.” Stomping through the water, they lit a fire under the audience.

Throughout the night, presenters and celebs encouraged us to use our right to vote and make change in our country, but Jesse Williams’ passionate speech moved us all. Accepting the Humanitarian Award, #wokebae spit knowledge that had the entire audience on their feet.

After thanking BET, his wife, and his parents, they Grey’s Anatomy star launched the greatest acceptance speech Black Entertainment Television has ever seen. “This award is not for me,” he said. “This is for the real organizers all over the country, the activist, the civil rights attorneys, the struggling parents, the families, the teachers, the students that are realizing that a system built to divide and impoverish and destroy us cannot stand if we do.”

He celebrated and gave props to Black women, saying, “This award is also for the black women in particular who have spent their lives nurturing everyone before themselves -- we can and will do better for you.”

And then, he schooled us all on the system that strives to keep our people down and our freedom chained. “But freedom is always conditional here. ‘You’re free!’ they keeping telling us. ‘But she would be alive if she hadn’t acted so… free.’ Now, freedom is always coming in the hereafter, but the hereafter is a hustle: We want it now.” “We’ve been floating this country on credit for centuries,” he continued. “And we’re done watching and waiting while this invention called whiteness uses and abuses us, burying black people out of sight and out of mind while extracting our culture, our dollars, our entertainment like oil -- black gold! -- ghettoizing and demeaning our creations and stealing them, gentrifying our genius and then trying us on like costumes before discarding our bodies like rinds of strange fruit.”

“Just because we’re magic doesn’t mean we’re not real.”

The only thing that could have made this speech any better would have been a mic drop at the end.

Watch the full speech and get woke.

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Tiffani Greenway is the wife and mom behind MyMommyVents, a New York city parenting blog. Her tips have been seen on Yahoo Parenting, Mommy Noire, and Fit Pregnancy. Find more of Tiffani's work at mymommyvents.com.


My New Book Is Here!

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Hola Chica,

If you’re reading this, you may know that I wrote a book three years ago. And thanks to you, it became an instant classic, selling tens of thousands of copies in its first weeks, making both Publisher’s Weekly and The Washington Post Best-Seller’s Lists, and receiving an NAACP Image Award nomination for “Best Debut Author”. #CuzWeDoReadBoo #LoveYallForThat #SuperSquad

Continue!>>>
My first book was actually inspired by my work as a psychotherapist. Many of my clients were young Black women that lived in low-income housing. These women had many serious challenges in their lives, but when we weren’t dealing with that, seemingly mundane topics like hair and self image would come up more often than you’d think. I would’ve simply referred them to the blog but many of them didn’t have reliable access to the internet. So I compiled all the natural hair info in one very organized place, within arm’s reach of anyone with a public library card. Better Than Good Hair was about access and empowerment.

Three years hence and ‘natural hair is the new yaki #5’. I still get thousands of emails, but the questions have changed. Rather than empowerment and emotional support, women are looking for quick fixes, tips and tricks. To respond to all those emails would be instant carpal tunnel syndrome and I’m pretty sure I am just one detangling session from already being there.

So here it is ladies, my guide to help you through those times When Good Hair Goes Bad.

(back cover)

Due to the success of the first book, Harper Collins generously offered to publish the second book.  Which was great, but I had this crazy idea. So I ran off on the plug and called my friends at Dark and Lovely and have partnered with them to bring you my new book for free! Please consider When Good Hair Goes Bad my gift to you. Its' production has been a labor of love and I offer it to you, for $free.99, in that same loving spirit.

The book will be available for download starting July 1st at Darkandlovely.com. If you want to meet me and get a signed hard copy, catch me at Essence Fest on July 1st, at the Dark and Lovely booth, where I’ll be making one of my rare unicorn like appearances.

Later Gator,
Nik

Transitioning to Natural Hair: Styles That Blend Your New Growth

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by Jonna of BlackNaps.org

While transitioning from relaxed hair to wearing your natural hair, it can be difficult finding styles that blend your straight hair with the newly growing textured hair. The tighter your curl pattern, the more obvious the point of demarcation (the point where your straight hair ends and your textured hair begins). When I was transitioning, it got to a point where it just looked like I wasn’t doing my hair at all, which wasn’t a good look.

There are some styles that give transitioning hair a blended look, and here are a few that are quick and easy to do. These style will help you look cute as you transition.

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Twist and Curl or Flat Twist and Curl. By two strand twisting or flat twisting the textured hair closest to the roots, and curling any straight ends, you can really camouflage the difference in hair textures. Once the style is set, there is very little manipulation needed to maintain the style, which can also help you avoid breakage during the transition period.

Flat twist and bun. This style is great at disguising and blending transitioning hair around the face, which is where most people eyes are focused. And it also tucks in the hair in the back in a cute bun, or you can even add hair extensions to cover the relaxed ends even further.


Flexi rod sets. Because the hair is stretched around the flexi rods, this helps the textured hair match more closely and blend with relaxed hair. In the end, it will all take the shape of the rod. And again, once the style is set, there is very little manipulation needed to maintain the style.


When I was transitioning, I wish I would’ve thought about using these style to give my hair a blended look. Instead, I attempted to just put my hair in a bun. No bueno. These style definitely would’ve helped me transition much longer. 

Have you tried any of these styles during your transition?


How to Save Money on Protective Styling: Wig, Weaves and Extensions

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IG @jori.chioma 

by Sabrina Perkins of SeriouslyNatural.org

Ladies it’s not every week we’re in the mood to do our natural hair and sometimes we want a break from it. Protective styling allows us to take a break and retain our length, however it can be costly to implement because the hair and the labor cost can be horribly expensive.

No one wants to break the bank on a new weave even though they want the utmost care for their hair. So this article speaks to saving money on protective styling such as braids, weaves or even wigs.

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DIY - Do It Yourself Natural!
If it’s too costly to go to the hairstylist, search on YouTube where there are thousands of videos instructing ladies on how to do box braids, weaves, or even creating your very own wig. You’ll learn from the YouTube gurus who have perfected the style and you get to learn it in different ways.

In addition, this benefits you because no one knows you’re hair like you do. You’ll be able to install the style without the hairdresser telling you you’re tender-headed or trying to up-sale your visit.

Synthetic Wigs
Yes I know what you’re thinking... if this is actually GOOD for your hair. We all know the danger of synthetic wigs not keeping our natural hair properly moisturized. Some days you just don’t feel like styling your hair so just put on the cheap wig and rock it for the day. They may not last as long or stand up to wear and tear like the authentic ones will, but they are easy alternatives for a lazy hair day. Don’t knock it till you try it, so rock that cheap wig like a boss!

Hit Up Cosmetology Schools
You can go to cosmetology schools in your area for the students there who are eager to do your hair. It’s completely free of cost to you and you’ll get a banging protective style to wear for a while. Although the students are new to hair styling, their supervisors are right there with them making sure no harm is done to your hair.

Shop Online
You really need to consider buying hair online. Your local Beauty Supply Shop may not be as big as some of these hair warehouses that have amazing prices because they buy in massive amounts. Also, you can buy hair just about anywhere with very reasonable prices so opt for shopping around but do take heed to reviews (not the ones on their sites) to see how well the quality of the hair is and check on their customer service.

Call A Friend
If you have a really good friend or your friend knows someone who can do protective styles really well, call them up and ask for a favor. They may end up doing it cheaper than a salon or free and you can tip them if you wish. (Tip them well so they won't mind doing it again!)

Hope these tips helped you and that you’ll take them into consideration for the next time you decided to protective style.

How I Install My Own Faux Locs for a Protective Style

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"I LOVE the faux locs look and always wanted to get some for myself. However, I could not justify the money I would have to pay to get them installed. After watching several Youtube tutorials I felt encouraged to try it out myself. Traditionally, you would twist your natural hair with some synthetic kanekalon hair and then wrap more kanekalon/marley hair around the twists for that loc effect. Seems pretty straight forward right? Only thing is I cannot havana twist! So I tried a different technique and I must say I was quite impressed with the results. No need to twist beforehand. Simply start wrapping tightly to get the same look. This means using less hair (cost effective), less installation time and reduced bulk to carry on your head. I just added a new protective style to my repertoire and cannot wait to perfect my technique. Check out the tutorial to get started on beautiful locs."


What I Used: 
  • Janet 3x Expression Caribbean Braid (80 inch) - I cut them in half
  • Moisturizer - SheaMoisture Coconut Hibiscus Curl & Style Milk 
  • Eco Styler Gel 
Steps I Took: 
  1. Wash, condition, and do a protein treatment the night before. 
  2. Twist your hair into jumbo twists to air dry and stretch overnight. 
  3. Moisturize your hair strand by strand with your favorite moisturizer. 
  4. Add a little bit of gel to the strand to smooth it and reduce flyaways. 
  5. Take your Marley hair and fold it at the top so you can work with the shorter end. 
  6. Hold the hair between your thumb and index finger, and start wrapping the shorter end of the Marley hair around your own strand. 
  7. Wrap it around about 2-3 times. 
  8. Join the natural hair with the longer strand of Marley hair, and start wrapping the Marley hair around the natural hair. 
  9. Wrap it all the way down. 
  10. To push out any gaps, push upwards and continue wrapping. Do this continuously.
  11. Once you reach your desired length, you want to bend the strand that you were using to wrap upwards. 
  12. Then with the other strand, you're going to start wrapping it around the strand that you previously bent to cover it. Start from the base and make your way upward. 
  13. Traditionally, you burn the end to secure your loc in place. But I prefer to wrap it with a tiny clear rubber band. 


Watch How I Do It! 


Be sure to take your time with this process. You want to make sure you're wrapping well so your hair doesn't unwrap mid-week. Also - be sure and invest in good quality hair so that you can re-use it if you wish. And that's it! 

Have you worn faux locs before? What's your experience? 

Black Girl's Code Is Moving Into Google's New York Office

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Photo courtesy of Black Girls Code

By Mike Orie of TheConsciousTip.com
Black Girls Code is moving into the Google offices in New York. Tomorrow, the non-profit organization will set-up shop inside a 3,000 sq. foot space which will be used as a classroom as well as a base for its East Coast programming.

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Black Girls CODE is a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching girls of color ages 7-17 about computer programming and digital technology. Their mission is to empower and mentor young women of color by highlighting the achievement of women in technology and thereby encourage them to embrace the current tech marketplace as builders and content creators. In 2014, they won the Shorty Award in Science. Since launching in 2011, they have hosted events all around the country in cities such as LA, Miami, Chicago, Oakland and DC teaching classes in areas such as building a webpage in one day. Founder, Kimberly Bryant, created this platform after feeling isolated as a woman of color pursuing a career in the STEM field. On BGC's page she describes her experience. "I also recall, as I perused my studies, feeling culturally isolated: few of my classmates looked like me. While we shared similar aspirations and many good times, there's much to be said for making any challenging journey with people of the same cultural background."

As a non-profit, Black Girls Code teaches black girls and other girls of color everything from one-day seminars to 12-week programs. According to Fast Company, tomorrow's launch event will feature a list of speakers including New York City's Chief Technology Officer Minerva Tantoco, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, and Dominique Sharpton of National Action Network, as well as Black Girls CODE CEO Kimberly Bryant and Google’s Vice President for Partnership Sales Bonita Stewart.

What makes this partnership so unique is that this will directly help increase the lack of diversity of women of color in the tech industry. This partnerships will not only provide them direct access to some of Google's resources, but also allow young girls of color to be at the pulse of what's going on at one of the leaders in the tech industry.

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Mike "Orie" Mosley is a freelance writer/photographer and cultural advocate from St. Louis. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Arts, Entertainment & Media Management from Columbia College Chicago and a Masters in Higher Education Administration from LSU. He is also the co-founder of music and culture website www.theconscioustip.com. In his spare time, he's probably listening to hip hop & neo soul music, hitting up brunch or caught up in deep conversations about Black music. You can follow him on Twitter @mike_orie or on Instagram @mikeorie.

Kerry Washington and Serena Williams Push to Support Other Women in #LeanInTogether

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Written by Kanisha Parks
I don’t know about you, but I’ve witnessed my fair share of women bashing other women, especially on the Internet. It seems we love hating on one another, ridiculing and criticizing each other’s bodies, lifestyle decisions, and looks, period. In a society that is constantly judging our appearance, it’s sad when women actively participate in the denigration of other women.

Which is why the LeanInTogether: Together Women Can campaign (established by LeanIn.org and AOL’s MAKERS) is so important and powerful. Geared towards the furthering of women by honoring and helping one another, Lean In is causing women to band together in triumph, instead of fighting against one another in the name of competition.

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“We are more powerful when we empower each other. We are allies, not rivals.”
In the campaign’s commercial, multiple celebrities, including Kerry Washington, Serena Williams, Selena Gomez, and Eva Longoria, honor the women who have supported them, both personally and professionally. Of Shonda Rhimes, Kerry Washington remarks, “She has so much power but she wields it so compassionately and responsibly.”

The commercial ends with this very fitting mantra:

“Together we can get to equality. Together we can raise our voices. Together we can stand up to anything and anyone. Together we can make the workplace a better place. Together we are funnier, smarter, more ambitious, braver, bolder, invincible, unstoppable. When women lean in together, we accomplish amazing things. Let’s lean in together. We are all on the same team.”

So let’s stop bashing and fighting one another. There is more than enough negativity coming from other avenues: we shouldn’t be throwing it at one another. Let’s value our differences, our uniqueness, and give one another credit for our successes.
Let’s all win—together.


I Love Goddess Braids. Here's How I Install Them.

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by Christian Byshe' of www.chicandcoily.com

So I was looking for a new simple yet fun hairstyle to wear for a couple days and after searching Instagram and Pinterest I ran across Goddess Braids.

Now there are so many different ways to rock the style in general and it pretty much seems that everyone has placed their own unique spin on it. Some people do flat twists while others do french braids. It just all depends on what the wearer prefers.

I chose to do 2 french braids with a slanted part.

For this style I used…
  • Eco styler olive oil gel
  • denman brush
  • rat tail comb
  • hair clamps
  • 3 bags of kanekalon braiding hair
  • moisturizer of my choice


Step 1: Parted my hair on a slant so that one side would have more hair than the other. Then I clamped one of the sections to keep it out of the way.

Step 2: Applied moisturizer to section and detangled thoroughly with denman brush.

Step 3: Opened pack of kanekalon hair. Took the entire pack of hair and while tightly holding my hand about about 6 inches from the very end of the bundle, I thenbegan to gently pull a couple strands at a time so that the end of the bundle was no longer blunt and equal in length but more frayed in appearance and pulled to various lengths.

Step 4: I detangled the braiding hair with brush.

Step 5: I parted a small section about 1 inch in width and length then split the bundle of hair into two parts. One part should be a 1/3 of the bundle and the other should be 2/3 of the bundle.

Step 6: Took the piece that was a 1/3 and looped it around the piece that was 2/3 then pulled tightly.

Step 7: Placed prepared extension hair underneath natural hair at the front of my head and began braiding like I was attaching a box braid.

Step 8: Once secure, continued braiding until I reached the nape of my neck and then clamped the braid so it wouldn’t unravel.

Step 9: Repeated on opposite side

Step 10:
Joined the two braids together and began braiding into one big braid. ( If you want additional thickness you can add in more extension hair)

Step 11: Took a significant amount of gel and smoothed down sides leading up to each braid. Then secured with a silk scarf and allowed to dry.

Do you rock Goddess Braids? How do you do yours?

Black Girls Rock! Founder Beverly Bond Is Publishing A Book Celebrating Black Women

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Beverly Bond at the 2016 Black Girls Rock! Awards

Written by Mike Orie of TheConsciousTip.com

Black Girls Rock! founder Beverly Bond is publishing a book celebrating Black women. The book is titled, Black Girls Rock!: Celebrating the Power, Beauty and Brilliance of Black Women. According to a statement released by Bond,the book will “combine powerful photography with inspirational advice, original poetry, and affirmations to showcase the complexity, dynamism, achievements and diverse cultural traditions of Black women from around the world.” The book will be published with Atria Publishing Group's imprint, 37 INK and is expected to release in the Fall of 2017.

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Bond founded Black Girls Rock! in 2006, and in 2010 debuted what has now become its annual signature event celebrating Black women. “This book will affirm, elevate, and celebrate the unique narratives and rich experiences of Black women and girls around the world for generations to come,” says Bond. At the age of 17 she moved to New York to pursue a career as a model, eventually working with brands such as Guess, Diesel Jeans, Nike and Nordstroms. Her passion for record collecting would land her a career as a DJ. She would start out DJing in local clubs but in just a year grow to become one of New York's hottest DJ's.

Black Girls Rock! still remains a very prominent force in the positive promotion, celebration and congregation of Black women in one space to acknowledge their accomplishments. In a time where Black women aren't appreciated to their fullness, Bond's platform offers a home. Earlier this year, Black Girls Rock! celebrated its 10th anniversary. We heard speeches from the likes of Rihanna, Amandla Stenberg, and several others as they poured their hearts out about their experiences. Beverly Bond has launched a platform that has affected millions around the world, and her book may do the same. "From millennials to baby boomers and beyond, her book is going to help our communities affirm and heal. I think of it as an I Dream A World for our time,"says 37 INK publisher Dawn Davis. Stay tuned for more info on the release.

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Mike "Orie" Mosley is a freelance writer/photographer and cultural advocate from St. Louis. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Arts, Entertainment & Media Management from Columbia College Chicago and a Masters in Higher Education Administration from LSU. He is also the co-founder of music and culture website www.theconscioustip.com. In his spare time, he's probably listening to hip hop & neo soul music, hitting up brunch or caught up in deep conversations about Black music. You can follow him on Twitter @mike_orie or on Instagram @mikeorie.

Can NOLA Kick IT? Is Coming To Essence Fest Weekend

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Photo/Words by Mike Orie of TheConsciousTip.com

After successful events in both LA and Chicago, the Can _____ Kick It? brand is headed to New Orleans for Essence Fest. The traveling day party is a celebration of Black millennials: from traditional 9-5ers to artists. Regardless or your background, education or income, their is no hierarchy, but rather a community of us. Can NOLA Kick It? will make its first appearance this Sunday, July 3rd at Handsome Willy's, closing out Essence Fest weekend.

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While Chicago and LA have included bottomless mimosas, we've decided to switch it up in NOLA. If you've ever been to Handsome Willy's in New Orleans, you know them for their infamous Handsome Juice. The party starts at 4pm and goes until we get tired of dancing. Advanced tickets are $10 online and we've got $5 handsome juice, margaritas and $8 chicken & waffles. If you're still not sold, below is just a small taste of Chicago.





For more information you can RSVP HERE.

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Mike "Orie" Mosley is a freelance writer/photographer and cultural advocate from St. Louis. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Arts, Entertainment & Media Management from Columbia College Chicago and a Masters in Higher Education Administration from LSU. He is also the co-founder of music and culture website www.theconscioustip.com. In his spare time, he's probably listening to hip hop & neo soul music, hitting up brunch or caught up in deep conversations about Black music. You can follow him on Twitter @mike_orie or on Instagram @mikeorie.

Oprah Will Make First Appearance At Essence Fest This Saturday

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Written by Mike Orie of TheConsciousTip.com

Oprah Winfrey has done a lot of things, but surprisingly there's atleast one thing that even she hasn't accomplished. To date, Oprah Winfrey has never made an appearance at Essence Fest, the nation's largest gathering of African American women. This weekend, history will be made as one of the most prominent entrepreneurs, journalists and philanthropists, not only in our community, but the world will make a very special appearance. According to Essence, Oprah is slated to make a guest appearance this Saturday at 4p.m. at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

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"Winfrey will join an impressive list of speakers, including T.D. Jakes, Ava DuVernay, Rev. Al Sharpton, Misty Copeland and Tyra Banks. Also taking the ESSENCE Empowerment Experience stage will be Phaedra Parks, Cookie Johnson, actress Patina Miller and the cast of The Real, among others." While there are little details available about what Oprah's appearance will intel, if you happen to be at Essence Fest this year, you can find additional information here.

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Mike "Orie" Mosley is a freelance writer/photographer and cultural advocate from St. Louis. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Arts, Entertainment & Media Management from Columbia College Chicago and a Masters in Higher Education Administration from LSU. He is also the co-founder of music and culture website www.theconscioustip.com. In his spare time, he's probably listening to hip hop & neo soul music, hitting up brunch or caught up in deep conversations about Black music. You can follow him on Twitter @mike_orie or on Instagram @mikeorie.

That Time I Got Frisky At The Airport

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By Tiffani Greenaway of MyMommyVents.com

Sun, sand, and ocean vibes were the only thing on my mind when my family and I set off on our Caribbean vacation last month. We were going to the Spice Isle to watch a beloved cousin get married, and everyone was excited. Boarding passes in hand, we headed to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at one of New York's largest airports, JFK. After taking my Adidas off and placing my tablet in a separate bin, I had just walked through the full body scanner when a woman looked me in the eye and told me that she just had to feel me up.
Girl! My husband is right there! I mean, at least take me out to dinner first.


The TSA agent let me know that even after the body scanner that ensured that my cookies did not stay in the jar, she still needed to pat down my hair. She felt around my crochet braids, and then let me collect my belongings.
Kinky, huh?

I'm not the first Black woman to have her hair searched at the airport. Solange Knowles told Twitter about her experience in Miami, tweeting, "My hair is not a storage drawer.” Former MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry was another victim of the “full on fingers through the braids, scalp tickling treatment.” In a letter to the head of the TSA, she wrote, “if your $170,000 machine can see under my clothes, but can’t figure out I’m not hiding a bomb in my braids, maybe it’s time to recalibrate the machine.”  These expensive scanners can see through clothes and certain types of body tissue to highlight hidden weapons and objects, but apparently, not Black hair.
"The humiliating experience of countless black women who are routinely targeted for hair pat-downs because their hair is 'different' is not only wrong, but also a great misuse of TSA agents' time and resources,” said Novella Coleman, Staff Attorney with the ACLU of Northern California.

After repeated complaints from the ACLU, the TSA claimed that changes were on the way. In March of 2015, they agreed to stop racially profiling women with natural hair and conduct onsite trainings for all LAX employees (one of the airports named in the complaints) centering on “race neutrality” with a "special emphasis on hair pat downs  of African American female travelers."

Guess they just haven't had that training at JFK yet.

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Tiffani Greenway is the wife and mom behind MyMommyVents, a New York city parenting blog. Her tips have been seen on Yahoo Parenting, Mommy Noire, and Fit Pregnancy. Find more of Tiffani's work at mymommyvents.com.


Here's 5 Songs To Celebrate Missy Elliott's 45th Birthday

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By Mike Orie of TheConscousTip.com
Today is Missy Elliott's 45th birthday, and if you've been a fan as long as I have then you've been holding her down since the cassette tape era. Elliott was born July 1, 1970, in the town of Portsmouth, Virginia. She would overcome many hardships at a young age, but ultimately they would lead her to a very successful career. Although she hasn't released an album since 2005, Elliott's music has remained a prominent mainstay. In honor of her 45th birthday, we've put together a list of 5 songs to celebrate Missy Elliott's 45th birthday. Check them out below and let us know your favorite in the comment section.

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1. Missy Elliott- Work It



2. Missy Elliott- The Rain



3. Missy Elliott- Get Ur Freak On



4. Missy Elliott- Lose Control



5. Timbaland & Magoo ft. Aaliyah and Missy Elliott- Up Jumps Da Boogie



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Mike "Orie" Mosley is a freelance writer/photographer and cultural advocate from St. Louis. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Arts, Entertainment & Media Management from Columbia College Chicago and a Masters in Higher Education Administration from LSU. He is also the co-founder of music and culture website www.theconscioustip.com. In his spare time, he's probably listening to hip hop & neo soul music, hitting up brunch or caught up in deep conversations about Black music. You can follow him on Twitter @mike_orie or on Instagram @mikeorie.

#InstaBaddie Bandwagon Makeup Tutorials: Positive or Problematic?

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by Kanisha Parks

If you’re not too familiar with the term #InstaBaddie, aka Instagram Baddie, bka plain ‘ol baddie—let me spare you the Google search.

An Urban dictionary definition of “Instagram baddie” will yield, “another word for an Instagram whore” while the phrase “shes a baddie” suggests, “a girl [who’s] got good qualities, and is everything a guy wants.”

Since when can you tell a girl has “good qualities” from a picture, though?

Nonetheless, you could ask 100 other people and probably get 100 different definitions, but most people would probably agree: she’s gorgeous, has amazing brows, and gets a ton of likes.  While baddie is by no means a new term, YouTube tutorials that teach you how to look like one are definitely on the rise. I found at least 100 makeup tutorials for this very subject before I got tired of counting.

You might be thinking, “Well, what’s the difference between this and any other makeup tutorial?” I asked myself the same question, wondering how I could articulate my discomfort with the subject matter.

The answer is simple: other tutorials, though often inspired by celebrity makeup looks, aren’t usually geared towards teaching women and girls how to appeal to a type. An #InstaBaddie in truth is nothing more than an ideal that has been created through this social medium. And as ideals go, they aren’t really real. So what does a woman or a girl really gain from attempting to attain this ideal?
Furthermore, what effect do these videos have on viewers? Here are a few comments I pulled from one particular tutorial:

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Now it takes contacts to be a baddie these days, I really can't get with the wave. I just like enhancing what I have and not changing unless I really have a problem (like my sparse brows) . . . but I hope this isn't gonna be a real trend in makeup, but just a pop up IG trend. I'm already pressured to fill my brows in lol I don't want to be pressured to use contacts to feel like a "baddie" lol especially on my chocolate skin.

I get your struggle... As I open my explore page, I see all of these super tan girls with perfect bodies, boobs, long hair with lots of baby hairs, thick eyebrows, lots of makeup... I know that I shouldn't change, but nowadays only that type of girls is considered "flawless", "goals", etc... Man I really hate those ig models, their only purpose is to make girls different than them insecure.  Comments like, 'holy, you're so hot. i need to figure out how to make myself look that good!!! :)' are super common.

Comments like these were difficult to read as it dawned on me how negative many of the responses were—heavy with insecurities and hints of self-loathing. Even though YouTubers can’t control the response that any of their videos receive, they can decide whether or not to support certain trends at all. Many YouTubers hop on bandwagon tutorials like these because it’s easy to take someone else’s idea and put your own spin on it instead of coming up with original content. But is it worth it?
A recent LipStick Alley thread also questioned these tutorials, some of the comments reading:
Dafuq even makes an instagram baddie? I keep seeing everyone do this and I'm mfn tied. Even my faves are doing it.

I'm starting to notice these girls all look the same. Poppin highlights, nude/coral lip, lashes, leggings, and a slouch cap.

Everyone is looking the same! No matter the race or color. Everyone is looking like Kylie Jenner clones or whatever white hipster trying to look ethnic started this trend.

YouTube "gurus" are truly running out of ideas. It is so bad now that I watch doll tutorials. I'm 28, with no kids and I watch doll tutorials. That's how bad it has gotten.

OMG I was just saying the same thing there were like about four different gurus who did this video on my timeline this week #followers

It is very sheepy (i'm 20) and I try so hard to be myself and be as "original" as I can, I guess in this generation... which is impossible, because nothing is original. But at least I don't consciously just follow anything I see.

It's so corny. I even see gurus as young as 9th graders doing this tutorial. I wish there were more gurus doing original make up that wasn't focused on looking good on IG but also in real life.
These days, we are becoming more and more aware of the distortion that the media constantly presents. If you include applying makeup, the time spent taking the actual picture, and editing, a single selfie can take hours of planning, preparation, and subsequent photo-shopping. It’s something we’ve come to expect from mass media, but seeing your favorite YouTuber (who’s “just like you”) show you how to be a baddie? Are we not taking things just a little too far?

Please don’t misunderstand my concerns as “hating” or “throwing shade.” All of the women in said tutorials are absolutely beautiful and beat to capacity, so no, this isn’t about looks. It’s about perception, and the responsibility that content creators have to themselves and others. We can and should do better.

As women who create content that is consumed by other women and girls, it’s important to recognize that someone else is watching, listening, and interpreting our decisions. As the next generation of young women grows up, they deserve to have positive influences that don’t teach them how to look like everybody else but to embrace their differences and realize that what you see isn’t always what’s real. One day I’ll have a daughter of my own and I’d be horrified at the thought of her learning how to be “what every guy wants.”

What if instead of 100+ videos on “how to be a baddie,” there were 100+ of “how to be your beautiful (black) self?”

Now that’s a video worth watching.

#TeamEdges : How to Treat and Prevent Thin Edges

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Any woman can experience thinning, breaking, or balding edges. It’s not just women who are relaxed, wear weave, or are older. There are numerous reasons why your hairline can thin. Hair loss is not confined to men; women actually make up 40% of Americans suffering from hair loss, according to American Hair Loss. Thinning edges can be upsetting and embarrassing, and many of us are haunted by pictures of super models with bare edges. So it is no wonder so many women are desperate for answers.

The Causes of Thinning Edges
Prevention attributes the main causes of hair loss to pregnancy, postpartum, drastic weight loss, stress, hereditary, hypothyroidism, chronic illnesses like lupus, iron deficiency anemia, hormone imbalances like polycystic ovarian syndrome, scalp conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, alopecia areata, and excessive styling.

Many women, whether natural or relaxed, are experiencing thinning edges due to excessive styling and/or bad styling habits. First off, do not feel like you are alone. This can happen to anyone and may happen regardless of doing everything right. Sometimes we see the problem occurring before it gets too bad and we curtail whatever the problem is.

Do not make the problem worse!
I must start off with this because I know this can be an embarrassing situation to find yourself in - everyone can see when you have thinning edges if you do not cover it up. Well, covering it up may make the thinning worse, so forget the embarrassment and concentrate on regrowing your edges rather than hiding the problem. You are not the first person with this problem and unfortunately you will not be the last.

Start:

Scalp massages
Scalp massages stimulate the skin and encourage the blood vessels to increase blood flow and boost circulation to the scalp and hair follicles. This increased circulation brings more nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicles and may aid in hair growth. What oils to use is less important than the actual act of massaging, and this can be done with or without oil, as the purpose is to encourage circulation.

Scalp stimulating oils and treatments
Rubbing the thinning areas with oil or oil mixture treatments can also aid in re-growing hair in those areas. These treatments will reduce the damage on your edges by repairing the follicles and encourage hair growth. According to Livestrong, rubbing your scalp with vitamin E is a great way to stimulate growth.

There are other ways to bring repair to your edges with essential oil, carrier oils, and protein treatments. "Try a light protein treatment mixed with moisturizer and massage it into your scalp to stimulate the growth," says celebrity hairstylist Diane C. Bailey. "The SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque is great. You can warm it up a little bit and massage it into your scalp. Also, black castor oil is an emollient that coats the hair and scalp and it has vitamin E which helps to replenish the skin."

Use healthy or natural products around or near your hairline

Try and keep facial cleansers, moisturizers and makeup away from your hairline, as they may cause more damage to the fragile area you are trying to regrow hair. Some acne treatments advise not applying the product to your hairline so check the back of the bottle.

Take Hair Supplements (consult a physician)

At the very least a daily multi-vitamin will aid in hair growth, but many swear by taking hair, skin, and nail vitamins or biotin. There is no supplement that will give you instant hair growth but many have claimed hair vitamins or Biotin will encourage healthy hair growth. Wondering if biotin and castor oil really work? Read what Sister Scientist has to say. Always consult your primary care physician before trying a new supplement and increase your water intake to combat increased acne that some have claimed when taking hair supplements.

Sleeping on a satin pillowcase
Start sleeping on a satin pillowcase instead of a cotton one because the cotton pillowcase will absorb the natural oils and moisture right out of your hair. The friction between your hair and cotton pillowcase can lead to breakage. Your edges need those oils and moisture when they are thinning, so pamper them with the right nighttime treatments.


Stop:


Wearing tight and/or protective styles
It very well may have been these styles like braids and weaves that caused this problem. Of course we want our style to last (especially if we spent a ton of money on the installation), but the tighter the style, the more tension you are applying to your hair and those fragile edges cannot tolerate it. Face the facts: you know when the style is too tight and often we overlook it when trying to regrow your edges.

Using glues, adhesives, or wig caps
These glues, adhesives, and wig caps are not allowing your scalp to breathe and yes it needs air! Some women are even experiencing allergic reactions to the glues and adhesives, which do not always appear quickly. If you are trying to regrow your edges, I suggest you steer clear of them.

Wearing tight satin caps with non-satin bordersIf your satin bonnet or cap is too tight or is not satin around the edge you are doing more harm than good. Just sleep on the satin pillowcase or wear the satin bonnet inside out to keep your edges from rubbing against thread from the bonnet. Bonnets or caps that are too tight around your edges are not a good idea either for obvious reasons.

No brushes, no edge control
Back away from the brush, gels for your edges, or accentuating baby hair. Keep the baby hair for your baby and leave your edges alone.

How do you protect your edges? Share below.

The Best Light Leave-in Conditioners for Fine-Haired Curlies

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 IG @aleshanokeys

by Sabrina Perkins of SeriouslyNatural.org

Curly girls are unique. Whether wavy, coily, or curly, we have individual needs for our hair to be as beautiful and healthy as possible. As a fine-haired coily girl, I understand the struggle of finding products that will not weigh down my strands or make my hair feel coated.

When you factor in warmer months, the desire to be even less weighed down is ideal as we all love the carefree feeling of spring and summer and light strands that blow in the wind. Certain products give us that lighter feel and movement we desire but still keep frizz and crunch away like mousse which is finding a new life in today’s market.

Continue!>>>

 What Is Mousse?
Mousse is a versatile styling aid that can be used and useful for curly, wavy, and even straight hair. Mousse can be used to boost volume, add texture, and even create curls (for some). It has had a bad rap from previous years for drying alcohols in their formulas that left many with crunchy and dried curls.

However, in recent years formulas are much more nurturing to curly hair with oils and other assets to our hair. It is also lightweight and ideal for fine-haired curlies looking to steer clear of products and ingredients that tend to weigh down their hair.

What Is a Leave-In?
A leave-in is just short for a leave-in conditioner and they are designed to help detangle strands while also reducing flyaways and taming frizz. They are lighter than regular conditioners with a watery consistency which helps fine-haired curlies looking for products that are lighter and do not contribute to build-up. Fine-haired lovelies who do not want hair to be weighed down will love a leave-in and here are some options that are great for you.

Ouidad Moisture Lock™ Leave-In Conditioner
This lightweight leave-in will not only detangle and seal in moisture but it also protects your strands with Water, glycerin, fatty alcohols, and Dimethicone (silicone). It is hydrating and great for everyday use.

Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner
Lightweight and alcohol-free, this leave-in has water, Behentrimonium Methosulfate (mild hair detangler), Glycerin, Fatty alcohol and Amodimethcone (silicone) as the first five ingredients. A favorite for its watery yet frizz-fighting consistency, Mixed Chicks Leave-in is a true favorite among fine-haired curlies.

Curl Junkie Curls In A Bottle
Water, hydroethylcellulose, agave nectar, propylene glycol (humectant), and polysorbate 20 (emulsifier) are the first ingredients in this lightweight styling product that conditions, tames frizz and adds shine to your thirsty curls.

Verb Leave-In Mist
Another lightweight leave-in, Verb leave-in mist starts off with water, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Amodimethicone and Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil. Great for limp hair, this leave-in will hydrate, moisturize, and detangle without weighing strands down.

What's your favorite leave-in for summer?

The Power of Christ Compelled Him - Christian Rapper Lecrae Angers Fans

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by Tiffani Greenaway of MyMommyVents.com
Christian rapper Lacrae’s website describes him as “remaining true to his beliefs,” and an “artist that redefines mainstream popular culture.”

The Grammy and BET Hip Hop award winner shared his beliefs in a tweet on the 4th of July, sparking backlash from some fans.
Fans accused the rapper of making “everything a race issue” and “alienating the body of Christ.”
Continue!>>>
The 4th of July holiday may be a celebration of independence for some, but for many others, it brings to mind the injustices we’ve faced at the hands of this country. All the BBQs, fireworks, and one-day sales in the world can’t erase years of slavery and its effects on black people even today. As more and more celebrities use their platforms to speak out about black culture, more and more people voice their displeasure at what they deem is “racist, hate speech” , like the petition calling for Jesse Williams to be fired from Grey’s Anatomy (it’s handled, in case you were wondering).

At least one white fan supported Lecrae, tweeting, “TY for the reminder that July 4th meant freedom for some, but not all. We must keep fighting until all have equal rights & freedom.”

Lecrae released his seventh studio album, Anomaly, in 2014, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200, Digital Album, Rap Album, Christian Album and Gospel Album charts. His recently released Church Clothes 3 features collaborations with N’Dambi, E-40, and other mainstream artists.

What say you? 
***********************************

Tiffani Greenway is the wife and mom behind MyMommyVents, a New York city parenting blog. Her tips have been seen on Yahoo Parenting, Mommy Noire, and Fit Pregnancy. Find more of Tiffani's work at mymommyvents.com.

Understanding Your Hair Texture: Width and Pattern

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by Susan Walker of Earthtones Naturals

First things First – Hair Width

Regardless of if your hair is straight, wavy, curly or kinky we all have 3 basic widths: fine, medium and thick which can also be called coarse. Width is not how the hair feels but describes the thickness of each individual strand of hair. The comparison is typically to a piece of thread. If your hair is fine, it’s thinner than the thread, medium hair is usually the same width and thick or coarse strands are thicker than the piece of thread.

Characteristics of Each Hair Width

Fine Hair

Fine hair is the most fragile texture and can be easily damaged. Contrary to popular belief, people with finer hair tend to have more hair than people with thicker hair strands. Fine hair can tend to be oilier than other hair types. For those of you with fine hair you may find difficulty holding a style; your hair is light and can fall flat against your head. Volume is often desired but not often attained. Structurally fine hair has two hair layers – a cortex and a cuticle.

Read More!!>>>
Fine natural hair:
•Doesn’t hold styles well
•Can become weighed down with heavy products, causing the hair to look stringy
•Can look thin
•Can break easily because it’s fragile

Medium Hair

Medium hair is the most common hair type and often covers the scalp very well. This hair texture is not as fragile as fine hair and can be manipulated into styles easily. Structurally, medium textures usually have two layers – the cortex and cuticle – and may contain the medulla.

Medium natural hair:
• Holds styles fairly well
• Usually looks thick and covers the scalp well
• Is not as prone to breakage as fine hair

Thick or Coarse Hair

This hair texture is strong because structurally it contains all three hair layers – the cortex, cuticle and medulla. The medulla, the innermost layer of the hair shaft is pretty much a series of empty spaces.  It’s an area filled mostly with air and protein. This hair texture usually takes longer to dry than others, and can be resistant to various chemical treatments. It can tolerate heat well and resist breakage better than the fine or medium hair.

Thick natural hair:
• Appears full
• Holds styles well
• Can tolerate higher amounts of heat
• Can be resistant to hair colouring and chemical relaxers

Curl Pattern (or Hair Type)

In general there are 4 basic hair types: straight, wavy, curly, kinky curly. This classification is based on the shape of the hair fiber.

Wavy
Wavy hair has  s-shaped curls down its length or much of the hair can appear straight with slight bends towards the ends of the hair. Wavy hair can frizz fairly easily and requires care to achieve perfect waves.

Curly
Curly hair tends to do so down the entire length of the hair shaft. Strand thickness can range from fine to coarse but is most often fine. The greatest challenges for curly hair types are frizz, lack of curl definition, shrinkage and dryness, to a lesser extent.

Kinky-Curly
This hair type has the tightest curls ranging from fine to coarse with s-shaped and z-shaped curls with everything in between! It is the most fragile of the types. If curl definition is a challenge for curly hair types it’s almost an impossibility for kinky-curly hair. Additionally, shrinkage and dryness are two issues to constantly fight against.

Next: Want to read about hair porosity? Check out Hair Porosity: Does it Matter?

What is your curl pattern and width? What's the hardest thing to understand about them?

Marvel Unveils New Iron (Wo)Man

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by Tiffani Greenaway of MyMommyVents.com

For years, superheroes have been tall, strong, and...white. Give or take a few (Black Panther, Luke Cage, War Machine, Blade, and Storm), we haven't really had anyone who looks like us taking down evil villains.

Enter Riri Williams.

Continue!>>>


Marvel's newest Iron Man is a woman. And she's Black. Super genius Riri is a 15-year old who enrolls in MIT. Reverse-engineering one of Iron Man Tony Stark's old armors in her dorm room, she's taking the Marvel universe by storm.

TIME Magazine spoke with Marvel writer Brian Michael Bendis to learn more about the young superhero whose story was inspired by the young people of Chicago. "This story of this brilliant, young woman whose life was marred by tragedy that could have easily ended her life — just random street violence — and went off to college was very inspiring to me. I thought that was the most modern version of a superhero or superheroine story I had ever heard. And I sat with it for awhile until I had the right character and the right place."

Despite online criticism, Bendis is showing little girls and comic book fans that black girls rock. Riri is faster, smarter, and "so ahead of where even Tony Stark was at that age...this young woman is flying by him in terms of how quickly she’s doing it. Her brain is maybe a little better than his.."

Riri Williams joins a diverse cast of young Marvel characters, including Muslim teenage superhero Ms. Marvel and 13-year old Afro-Latino Spider-Man Miles Morales.

***********************************
Tiffani Greenway is the wife and mom behind MyMommyVents, a New York city parenting blog. Her tips have been seen on Yahoo Parenting, Mommy Noire, and Fit Pregnancy. Find more of Tiffani's work at mymommyvents.com.

I'm giving away 6 Conditioning Baskets to Top Commenters! (July 2016)

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Hola Chicas,

I'm giving away 6 Conditioning Baskets(worth ~$90 each) this month (July 2016) to question askers and answerers!

If you see a curly-in-need who has asked a question under a post, answer it! If you are a curly who has a question that needs an answer, ask it! Not under this post, on all the posts! 

The first three baskets will go to the three curlies with the highest number of posts this month (7/1-7/31, comments from previous months don't count) and the next three will go to three randomly selected commenters.  Past winners are eligible!

Which posts/articles count for the contest? All of them!  Good luck!

*contest ends July 31st, 2016 at 5pm EST*

*Please only post comments that spark conversation and further discussion. Free products are EVERYTHING but this is really about strengthening our community and helping other naturals!*

*US citizens only
 
Later Gators,
Nik

Click for last month's winners!>>>>
CONGRATS!!! #WinnerWinnerChickenDinner 

Laddidi
Destiny Fisher
Regina
Sweetdrk1
S Summers
LeeLee

email me ASAP at nikki@curlynikki.com using 'June winner' in the subject line!
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