Famous.Fierce.Feisty - Sabina Karlsson

Sabina Karlsson is a 20-year-old Swedish model signed to Ford Models in NYC. She is of mixed Swedish and Gambian heritage, and sports large, natural, auburn curls.

Karlsson was a contestant for Scandinavia's Next Top Model--she came in second place for Sweden.

I really like her hair! It's so long and thick, and she looks like a loose 4b. The color is PERFECT for her complexion, and for what it's worth, 100% natural!!!

I dunno if I could stand having that much hair around all the time, but it really suits her. For big hair like Sabina's try a braid-out on dry hair. After braiding, lightly mist hair with water to get the texture to set. Tease with your fingers and...voila!

She reminds me of Faith Evans! To get this look, try blowing out your hair and then putting rollers at the ends. You could also use Curlformers, but instead of having them at the scalp, leave about 2-3 inches of your roots out to get this effect (I'm definitely about to swagger-jack this look).

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Famous.Fierce.Feisty - Wakeema Hollis

25-year-old Wakeema Hollis hails from Tennessee and is signed to New York Models. Her signature 4b kinks, along with her baby-face, full lips, and long neck, have made her a much sought-after fashion model.

I really appreciate that she showcases her natural texture on the runway. It's not uncommon for designers to want every model's hair to look just alike for a show. Obviously the fashion industry has noticed the striking beauty in Hollis' kinks, which is nice to see in an environment that is heavily influenced by euro-centric standards of beauty.








An easy way to get Hollis' signature tresses is to do very small individual twists on wet hair (too get some shrinkage) and then pull apart when dry. You can set the twists on small rollers to get that curl at the ends.

Love it.

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WEEKLY WORD

Glimpses of God Working

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

- Romans 8:28

"...For in the land the Lord your god is giving you to possess as your inheritance, He will richly bless you..."

- Deuteronomy 15:4, 5

Okay so...I feel as though the past couple months of my life have been preparing me for this very moment. On Thursday morning I had a job interview with the National Council on Aging for the position of Program Associate. When I discovered the posting for the job a few weeks ago, I just knew that it was something I'd love doing. It involves creative and scientific writing, making presentations, TRAVELING, performing lit review and data analysis: stuff I actually like! So I prayed, and sent in my resume to my possible future manager.

Unbeknownst to me, I had had a meeting with the previous boss of that possible future manager, and the lady with whom I'd had the meeting actually sent the manager at NCOA an email in my favor! That has been such a blessing for me, and I'm sure it's a big part of the reason why I was given the chance to interview.

During the interview on Thursday, I tried my hardest to convey my passion for the aging field and my desire to improve quality of life for seniors. I used prior experience from my other internships to supplement examples of why I thought I was the best fit for this position. At the end of the interview I asked my questions, one of which was "What are the hours, what is the salary, and what is the start date."

Oh boy...

...I was feeling pretty confident about my chances in getting this job until she answered the question about salary. I had been praying to God that my first job would pay $40,000. This job pays thousands more than that, which makes me wonder about whether or not I have enough experience to compete for such a great position. But then I reflect on our verse for today, and I am reminded that God is working things out for me--whatever He decides is mine will be mine, regardless of the other 6 people who have yet to interview for this position.

It would be such a blessing if in 2 weeks I am writing a WEEKLY WORD post on being offered this position. I'm fasting this weekend for God to move in a wonderful way and continue to open doors as He has. I feel like I've been "set up" to get this job! I got this internship because God wanted me to, I met Dr. Stone through this internship, and Dr. Stone is who referred me to my interviewer. God is doing all things well, and while it's still possible that this job is not what He wants, He sure is doing a lot to put me in the position to get it :)

Pray for me as I go through the next few weeks. Pray that I continue to trust God. PRAY THAT I GET THIS JOB, but also pray that I'll be able to accept His will if it's not what He wants.

Definitely pray I get this job (lol).

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The Southern Tease Bun

Hola Feisties!

Well it's the end of another week, and while I was tempted to let my straight hair out and about, I stayed true to my HYH Challenge (for the most part). This week's style of choice: The Southern Tease Bun. I found it while stalking Mane and Chic during the beginning of my hair care journey, and this is the first time I'm trying it out.





She also does it on wet hair.





It really was that simple!




To give my hair some texture, I pin curled it extra tight at night. In the mornings i took out the curls, shook my hair out a little, and then styled with EVCO. I used hairpins to secure the bun. My ends were kinda sticking out in these pictures, but I got the hang of it later on.

Easy peasy! I'm really loving this style!

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Famous.Fierce.Feisty - Tanika Ray

If you're truly a Feisty, then you're just as excited as I am about today's hearty helping of kinkspiration.

Ray is weekend co-host and correspondent for "Extra," the CW's style show "CW Now," and has made many television appearances including co-hosting "The View" twice. But best of all, Tankia Ray is all about curly hair!

My favorite thing about Ray's hair would have to be the cut! She clearly got her hair cut while in its curly state so that she could have the right curls in the right places. To get a cut like her's you would have to sacrifice even-ness; I highly doubt her hair layers as nicely when straight.

The color is absolutely amazing too!

Ray gave her hair care tips on her Essence blog "Scene and Heard with Tanika Ray:"

Only comb hair in shower.

Let hair air dry! No touching!

Once dry, loosen curls with hands.

Then again, if your hair is anything like mine, a flexi rod set with very little product should do the trick =)

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WEEKLY WORD

He's in the Miracle Working Business

"But Jesus looked to them and said, 'With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" -Matthew 19:26


So while I was in church this weekend, I felt impressed to give my testimony of the amazing thing God did for me this week...

By now you ladies know that I am an intern here in DC working on a very tight budget. I live paycheck to paycheck, and I have to really stretch my dollars, especially during the one or two days before I get paid. So on Thursday morning, I was down to my last $5. I had to get to work, but my Metro card had a negative balance, I still had to pay for my bus fare, which meant there was no way I could buy gas and do all of those other things even though my gas tank was only 1/16 of the way full (one bar away from being empty).

I was on my way to Takoma looking at the gas tank and knew that there was no way I could make it to the bus stop on only that much gas. So I prayed, and told God that I was thinking of staying home so that I could not run out of gas on the way to the bus. I got to a spot where I could make a U-turn and head on back to my apartment, but I felt this OVERWHELMING urge to keep heading on to the bus stop...so I kept going.

I knew it was a pretty impossible situation. My car cannot make it to Takoma on such a low tank. And I was watching the gauge go lower once I made it on the highway. So I prayed again and said, "Lord, I can feel that You want me to be at work today. If You want me to go, then You have to let me get to this bus stop." I looked back down at the gauge, and it was getting pretty close to empty.

As I drove along the highway, I kept thinking of what I would do once I ran out of gas. I looked down at the gas tank again, and I couldn't believe what I saw...my gauge had gone up a whole bar.

Huh?!?!?!?!?

I was floored. I kept staring at the little marker thinking I had made a mistake or gone crazy. I thought it could have been a malfunction or something and that it would eventually return to where it was. But it stayed right there. So now I was two bars above empty instead of one. I couldn't laugh or cry. All I kept saying was "Thank you, Jesus!" Even typing it now, I'm still blown. WHERE DID THAT GAS COME FROM?!?!? NO ONE GETS GAS OUT OF NOWHERE!!!!!! It was absolutely amazing, and totally impossible. I had enough gas to get me to the bus, which means I didn't have to spend that $5 and could pay for the bus and the train ride to work.

I've been telling everyone I talk to about this MIRACLE! I mean, it's a "little" thing, in that my gas went up just enough to get me to work and back (I had a dollar left over from that day and was able to put it in my car to make it home, which is a whole 'nother story about God's goodness), but it proves just how large and powerful God is. I serve a God who can do the impossible! That's amazing to me, especially when I think of how much I sin and how undeserving I am. Why would He take the time to help little old me? I have done NOTHING to prove to God that I am worthy of His time and attention. And yet His grace was sufficient for me in that situation.

I will be FOREVER grateful of what God did for me that Thursday morning. And He revealed to me the reason why He wanted me at work that day (I received invaluable information that is going to help me secure a job...I just know it). God is SOOOOO good, and I don't know I could have made it that day without Him to work this out. All praises be to the King of Kings--the Lord my God--He is WONDERFUL!

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Famous.Fierce.Feisty - Laura Izibor

Laura Izibor is a 22-year-old singer-songwriter born in Dublin, Ireland. She is of Nigerian and Irish descent, and recently released her first CD here in the United States, Let the Truth Be Told, on June 16th of this year.

Her song From My Heart to Yours was featured on Grey's Anatomy and the VH1 reality series Tough Love (which was a great show that I hope returns for a second season).

The single Shine was the lead track for the film The Nannie Diaries, but is most well-known for its feature in Special K advertisements.

And if that wasn't enough, her song entitled Mmm... has been featured in three movies: Why Did I Get Married?, Seven Pounds, and Step Up 2.

I've heard a couple of tracks from the album, the ones she released here in the U.S., and I foresee a promising future for her in the states! She sounds MUCH OLDER than 22, and her accent gives a playful and interesting dynamic to her songs. I also appreciate that she's a musician and plays the piano.

Her hair type falls in the 4 range, and I think she most closely fits 4a given her fluffy coils. It looks like she usually sports a wash-and-go, which looks great on her.

Her style seems very laid-back and casual: t-shirts and jeans with the occasional blazer to update the look.

For more on Laura Izibor and to hear selections from her album Let the Truth Be Told, visit her website.

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WEEKLY WORD

His Perfect Will

"He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He."

-Deuteronomy 32:4

I just finished reading the book Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. It's a WONDERFUL book, and it has really changed the way I look at my circumstances, the way I react to people, and how I view the will of God.

"Someone has said, 'God's will is exactly what we would choose, if we knew what God knows.' When we stand in eternity looking back on this early existence, we will know by sight what we can only see now by faith: He has done all things well."

-excerpt from Lies Women Believe

Now that's deep. According to DeMoss, one of the most important truths women fail to remember in thier own lives is that God doesn't make any mistakes. God is always in control, and as long as we love the Lord, He has promised to work all of our situations out for our good.

As humans, we are blinded to God's will. If we weren't, there would be no need for faith. But we need faith in order to please God. Lately I have been learning how to accept God's perfect will for my life. It hasn't been easy--I'm a strong-willed person, and I assume that I know best. I have issues with control, and even though I mess things up EVERY TIME I CONTROL A SITUATION, I still find it hard to let God do His thing. But reading this book has given me more faith in God's will. He's never failed me! So I rely a lot on Ebenezers (memories of past experiences of God's goodness) to keep my faith strong.

Right now I'm looking for a job, waiting on love, and hoping for a change in my family's financial state. Many of us are dealing with the same types of things. I can't control the outcomes of any of these things, but I'm leaving them up to God, and praying that he works out His perfect will in each of these situations. God has worked me out in the past, and my life has ALWAYS turned out better following God's perfect will rather than my own.

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HENNA! [Part 4]

Well this is the last post in our series on henna, and I hope you've learned at least a little something =)

The henna stayed in my hair for about 7 hours, and I rinsed it out in the shower with loads and loads of water first, to get the dye and paste out, and then with Suave Naturals conditioner. I was also able to detangle at this time. I do have one confession though. I prefer to rinse henna out with my Hello Hydration! My hair used to feel totally soft after rinsing with HH, and this time...not so much.

I hoped a good DC would get my hair back to feeling luscious and wonderful, so I was happy to get the AOHR into my hair. I t-shirt dried my hair first and then put the AOHR in. I stayed under the dryer for 35-40 minutes and then rinsed out in the shower. When I got out I finished off with a cold water and ACV rinse. Then I put in H-Two, EVCO, and HNMGL (a new acronym for Hydratherma Naturals Moisturizing Growth Lotion). My hair felt softer, but still not as soft as I would have liked (probably because I didn't use the HH =(




I was super tired after all of that, so although I had plans to put in a Curlformer set, I opted for a pin-curl braidout instead. I slept on a satin pillowcase without wearing a bonnet or scarf just so it could dry.

The next morning as I was taking it out, BINGO! There was so much added strength to my hair! No broken hairs! It was actually pretty amazing! And my hair had shine and a little hint of color--nothing drastic, which is exactly how I like it.





The only con to my henna experience was that my hair dried out VERY QUICKLY! By the end of the day it felt like straw. It still felt strong though, which was good, so the next day I decided to do a mini DC with EVOO, EVCO and Suave Naturals. I sat under the dryer for 30 minutes and then rinsed.

THE SOFTNESS RETURNED! And I only shed this much in the shower!!!
Henna's effects start showing IMMEDIATELY! Strong hair that is resistant to breakage. My hair felt noticeably thicker too. I did a Curlformer set on Long and Narrow rollers.



I really do love henna, and I attribute a lot of my length retention to it. Henna gives my fragile ends a fighting chance at retention, and I don't think I would have seen this much progress if I wasn't henna'ing my hair. I was doing it only once a month, but after this experience I really want to go back to henna'ing every other week...as long as I have some Hello Hydration around =)

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Henna! [Part 3]

First things first...the chiney bump experiment. This morning those roots were very puffy and incorrect, but if it wasn't so humid outside these days, I can see how styling with Mango Butter Moisturizer could DEFINITELY create 2nd-day hair.

Okay now to HENNA! Today we're going to move on to application!!!

Remember that henna that was frozen? Well I let it thaw out overnight. You can see that it has a great deep reddish color.

At this stage in the game, henna WILL STAIN EVERYTHING! Your hands, carpets, bathroom counters...EVERYTHING! So be very careful with it. I always wear gloves when applying henna or dealing with it after the dye has been completely released.

Before putting the henna into my hair, I like to make it easier to spread, so I use honey (I can't really take credit for this tip--check out the CurlyNikki posts on henna).

Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it draws moisture into your hair, and your hair can't get enough moisture during the henna'ing process. I just mix enough honey into the mixture until it has a peanut butter consistency.

Now for the fun of application! Before putting henna in my hair, it has to get prepared to take the dye. So I prepoo'd with EVOO (scalp and roots), EVCO (strands and ends) and JBCO (edges and nape) under the dryer for 15 minutes. Then I poo'd/clarified my hair with Suave Naturals Soothing Lavender Lilac Shampoo!

t smells really really nice, and it doesn't contain SLS (sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate). Instead, it uses the less harmful cousin, ALS (ammonium lauryl/laureth sulfate), and it also has a lot of natural ingredients that my hair loves, like peppermint and vitamin B5.

Too poo/clarify I put my hair in 6 plaits and then washed my hair in the shower while it was in the plaits. I didn't rinse the oil out before shampooing. I also didn't detangle or anything like that because shampoo doesn't have the slip that i need for detangling.

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW

This shampoo is THE BUSINESS! My hair felt soooooo soft while I was shampoo'ing, which isn't typical. The combination of prepoo'ing with heat and using this shampoo was PERFECT for my hair, even better than using the Hydratherma Naturals Moisture Boosting Shampoo. Guess who gets the GREEN LIGHT!!!!!

After I finished shampoo'ing and ooohhh'ing and ahhhh'ing about how great my hair felt, I T-shirt dried my hair. During this whole process, my hair was still in those 6 plaits. Once my hair was pretty dry, I took down each plait and applied the henna to my hair. I started in the back and applied it just like you would apply a relaxer. When putting henna in your hair, DO NOT COMB IT THROUGH! That can really break your hair, especially if you're a fine-haired natural like myself.

When I was all through getting the henna in my hair, I wrapped the left section over the right section. Then I put on a shower cap and wrapped the whole thing with Saran wrap. Then I just took some paper towels wet with warm water to get the henna flecks off of my forehead, ears, neck and arms (you don't want to stain yourself :)

The henna has been in my hair since 4:00 PM today. I put a wool cap over my hair because I had to go to the supermarket and do some laundry. I think I'll let it stay in until 9 or 10 or something, and then I'll be back for Part 4: Rinsing, DC'ing, and Styling.

See you laters!

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