web analytics

Archive for December, 2009

Ashley from Cali

Meet student/singer/actress/model Ashley. Here’s her answers from a little Mane & Chic Q & A.

On going natural…
My hair was very long but extremely damaged from all the heat I was using. I wanted to be myself and get rid of all the heat damage. Going natural was the best thing I could have done for my hair; it’s easier to manage and much healthier.

On her hair care regimen…
I use Matrix Biolage shampoo and conditioner with Paul Mitchell detangler. A stylist told me that using foil infuses heat while conditioning, turns out that was a faster way for me to grow my hair. So I do that for 15 min- an hour depending on how much time I have while conditioning. After my hair is clean I spray ION leave-in conditioner and massage it in my hair, along with Carol’s Daughter Hair balm. I distribute it evenly and comb it through. I learned a trick with curly hair, and its not to put curly hair care products in your hair unless your curls are very long, so I switched from Iso bouncy cream to Paul Mitchell smoothing balm and I section my hair in to 4 sections and put a quarter amount of smoothing balm to each section with my fingers. After all of that to finish it off I take a quarter size of Shine Heat gloss and work it through my hair combining the sections back together. From this point I will let it air dry or blow dry depending on how much free time I have. I usually wash my hair every third day, but have been washing it every other day. I know people say curly hair should be washed once a week but I have a secret, moisturizing weapon that allows me to wash every other day and grow my hair out faster, Carols daughter Hair Balm.

Hair secrets…

  • taking Biotin / Folic acid/ and a multi vitamin
  • conditioning for 30 min or more
  • air drying hair


Favorite places to get hair products…
I have a variety. BeautyDeals.net always offers discounts. My new Favorite place is Carols Daughter and the Beauty Gallery.

Favorite Style…
down and natural

Ashley’s style…

Rihanna meets Heidi Klum, something that you’ve never seen before.

Favorite places to shop…
Wet Seal, Hollister, Forever 21, Urban outfitters, Guess, BeBe, Coach, Up Against the Wall, and just about everywhere in the Santa Monica Promenade and Melrose Street

Must have wardrobe pieces…
accessories, a kimono type blouse, shorts, sandals, heels!!


Ashley’s links…
ashleyepate.blogspot.com
twitter.com/ashpash32
myspace.com/ash32

Photography by Daniel Acuna and Marlon with Shea Photography. Styling by KS Consulting Inc.


repost, originally posted 6/15/09

0 Comments

Transitioner Thursday: Dickey’s Top 5 Tips for Transitioners

We love Dickey here at Mane & Chic. He is the curly kinky wavy hair master and is the genius behind the hair of celebs like Sarah Jessica Parker and Kelis. His work has also been featured in Vogue, Vanity Fair, Essence, Vibe, The New York Times Magazine, Glamour, and Allure. In an EXCLUSIVE interview with Mane & Chic, Dickey shares his top 5 tips for women that want to transition from relaxed hair to natural hair. Here’s what he had to say…

Transitioning can be overwelming simply because so many women are going into the unknown: your natural texture. Product manufacturers developed nothing beyond relaxers, grease and salons. Well, they do what they do and know what they know. Transitioning simply means to stop relaxing.

These are all your styling options until you get to where your going:
  1. You can use heat to straighten. Blow dry with a comb attachment. Use a Flat Iron or Curling Iron.
  2. Get a transitional weave. Geting a weave closer to your natural texture -kinky if thats you and not silky spanish wave. LOL. This will get you more familiar with how your texture looks on you and how you might begin to take care of it.
  3. Switching from conventional shampoos to non suds cream cleansers for the hair such as Hair Rules Daily Cleansing Cream. This will help your natural kinky, curly hair become more soft and pliable.
  4. You can go for the gold and cut off your hair to the natural, if you so please.
  5. Stay far away from any hairstylist who is unable to cater to your natural hair and that is unable to hold your hand and embrace your transition with enthusiasm.
If you’re lucky enough to live in the NYC area, you should look into booking an appointment with Dickey at the Hair Rules Salon, 828 Ninth Avenue, New York, New York, (212) 315-2929. If you are not able to visit New York, you can always visit the Hair Rules site at www.hairrules.com.

0 Comments

Author of Thank God I’m Natural, Chris-Tia Donaldson

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Mane and Chicers, meet Author of Thank God I’m Natural–The Ultimate Guide to Caring for and Maintaining Natural Hair, Chris-Tia Donaldson.

Chris-Tia’s hair regimen: I usually wash and deep condition my hair once a week. I also try to spritz it with water every couple of days, because natural hair loves moisture. I try to keep heat to a minimum to avoid messing up my curl pattern, so I usually only get my hair flat ironed/pressed about 4x a year. In terms of color, I just got highlights for the first time and it really helps to make my curls pop. At this juncture, I will only be getting my hair highlighted once in the year (around May just in time for summer).

Chris-Tia’s favorite hair products: I love Mizani’s Moisturfuse® Moisturizing Conditioner and I recently started using Elucence Moisture Benefits Shampoo and Moisture Balancing Conditioner. Both products are gentle and keep my hair extra moisturized. When I have the time, I also like to make my own hair products. Some of my favorite recipes can be found in my book in the chapter titled, In the Kitchen.

Chris-Tia’s on shopping for hair products and salons: I’m like a gyspy when it comes to getting my hair done. I go to one place for color (Tyme Hair Gallery, Chicago, IL), one place for trims/straightening (Anthony at Variations, Chicago, IL), one girl for kinky twists, and I have a girl (Tatiana) comes over to my house and does my rods. Tatiana usually does my hair on a weekly basis, so she’s extremely familiar with it and can spot whether something crazy is going on (e.g. breakage, stress, etc.).

Favorite hair style: I love a flexi rod set, because its wild and neat at the same time. I also used to be really big on the braid out, but it seems to require a lot more maintenance to keep it looking good.

Chris-Tia’s links: All of my upcoming events are posted on my website at www.thankgodimnatural.com. You can also purchase an autographed copy of the book there and order fitted t-shirts and totes online. Thank God I’m Natural: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for and Maintaining Natural Hair can also be purchased on Amazon.com by clicking here.

0 Comments