Over the weekend, you voted and this is the skirt that you chose to be worked. The ‘Ink Pen and Pencil Skirt is from ModCloth and it retails for $39.99. For this look, I paired it with neutrals and flesh tones for a feminine look. The rose-colored top is $65 from TopShop. The pretty blush bracelet set is $40 from TopShop. Nude suede duffel studded across body bag is $59.18 at Asos. Karen Millen Laser Cut Pattern Leather Drawstring Sac Bag is $312.82 at Asos. The black and blush leather platform is $219.82 from Asos and the taupe and brown open toe platform by Dune is $143.73 at Asos.

It’s easy to recreate this look with a solid top in the color of your choice. Black and white go with anything, so with this skirt you can just choose a top in your favorite color and coordinate your accessories in a way that compliments the top and everything else should fall into place.

Stay tuned throughout the week for more looks featuring the Ink Pen and Pencil Skirt form ModCloth.

Meet Valaira whose last relaxer in July 2007. She transitioned and has been natural for 3 years.

Valaira’s regimen… 
I wash once a month with a non-sulfate shampoo but I co-wash my hair once a week with conditioner. I deep condition the same time I wash it, which is once a month. I trim my hair myself and only when I start to see split ends, so it varies. I only get my hair flat ironed if I am doing a hair show or ad. I try not to straighten my hair because it is hard for my curl pattern to bounce back. My hair is not as thick as it looks and it fries easily.

Dye…
Pitch black color is my favorite color and it keeps my hair looking shiny, I’ll color it every 3 months or so.

Favorite hair products…

I try to use natural products and one of my favorites is RAW Black Soap from Smell Good Spa at www.smellgoodspa.com. I shampoo my hair with it and also shower with it.I also like Suave Almond and Shea Butter and Kinky Curly Curling Custard.

Favorite style…
Pony Puffs, Wash-n-go’s and BIG Curly Fros

You should know…
As an actress, model and entrepreneur, I am always on the run so I try to do hairstyles that do not require a lot of work. My company VUE Entertainment is an event planning and Fashion Show/Event Production Company. I partner with fashionista’s like myself and collaborate on producing fashion shows and events in the Atlanta and surrounding areas. Being in this industry with natural hair has opened my eyes to the current mindset of those in the industry and this natural journey has taught me a lot about myself. My hair is just an outer reflection of my inner growth.

Photos by Terance Johnson

Meet DeShanee.

On going natural…
I stopped getting relaxers around February of 2006. Due to some breakage from stress I just went ahead and had my hair dresser give me the big chop in August 2006.

Hair Care Regimen…
I try to wash my hair once a week. I’m pretty busy and would like to make it twice a week but never get to it! I deep condition once a week. I have really thick hair and it sucks up moisture very quickly! As for trims, I am terrified of scissor happy stylist so I didn’t for a long time. Now every few months. I flat iron and blow dry once a month. I like the big blown out look on me. But the next time I wash my hair it’s usually a VERY deep conditions and air dry. I haven’t colored my hair in a long time. But my hair does react to the sun and gets lighter. My favorite deep conditioning ingredient is coconut milk. Usually I just open the can and apply it to my hair almost like a relaxer. I use a large tooth comb to work it in, wrap my hair with plastic wrap and let it sit for about an hour. I rinse it out with warm water until it runs clear. It makes my hair so soft and I don’t touch it for days! Also I use almond, soy, and olive oil to oil my scalp every couple of days. There is this amazing line called “Urban Therapy” A lost of the products are de-frizzing which is great for me. Only problem is it’s mostly sold in England. I just happen to stumble upon it at TJ Maxx one day. Also, Miss Jessie’s Curly Pudding when I can get my hands on some! Aussie’s 3 minuet Deep Conditioner (I leave it in for about 30 mins)is pretty good too. I buy hair products anywhere: TJ Maxx, Wal Mart, Target, random hair stores around town, it doesn’t matter much to me! My favorite way to wear my hair is to wash and put in flexi rods. It produces these pretty cool barrel curls or a big blow out look.

My hair shero is Angela Davis.

The head wraps and hair accessories from Lacoste’s spring 2010 collection had a beachy retro kind of vibe. If you’re bracing yourself for a hot summer, long days by the pool or traipsing the streets sight-seeing, then you should consider protecting your hair in this very chic way.

See the entire collection on Style.com or Lacoste.com.

Zuba Africa tote and cosmetic bags are handcrafted by artisans in Rwanda, this print cotton handbag features double handles. They retail for $38 (for the totes) and $48 (for the cosmetic bags) at ShopBop.

From ShopBop: ZUBA Africa is a collaboration between Linda Trau, a designer and humanitarian, and Freewinds Trading, a company that uses business as a strategy for the economic empowerment of women in developing countries. ZUBA Africa, inspired by ‘izuba,’ the Rwandan word for sunshine, seeks to make a lasting difference in Rwandan communities by collaborating with skilled artisans of local cooperatives. ZUBA Africa’s launch in 2010 brought these artisans’ unique, handcrafted jewelry and bags to the wider world.

Hey, product junkies! If you’re like me you go through A LOT of product. Do you recycle the bottles?

Vote in the poll.

Leah writes…

Following your natural hair journey, I believe your hair texture is “Very” similar to mines. I chopped all my hair off in 02/08 because I was so tired of perms pulling out my hair(plus I’m scissor happy). I was already a product junkie when I had a perm, and I really became a product junkie when I went natural!

I would like to recommend/challenge you to try a product that I use on my hair when I wash and go. I have attached some pictures to try to show you my hair in every state (Wet, dry, straighten). I don’t straighten my hair often so after experimenting with many costly and cheap products I have found a cheap one that works wonders on my hair type.

The product I swear by for wash-n-go’s….(Drum roll )…
MOTIONS PINK MOISTURIZER! It comes in a pink purple bottle and cost $3.99, It can be found at your local Sally’s. PLEASE try it once and use generously. Let your hair air dry and watch your curls pop!

Your hair will already be shiny and conditioned but I like my curls to look “wet” so once my hair dries I take some olive oil (dime size) rub it together and gently work it in my hair and it adds more shine!

Please let me know how it works for you. I have used this product in my curly hair pictures.

My reply…

Leah, I don’t typically use products that contain mineral oil, but I have used pink oil moisturizers in the past from Luster’s and Motions. I grew up on pink oil and Wild Root.  I found a natural product very similar: Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk. It works the same or better with much better ingredients.


What do you think about pink oil or other oil moisturizers like Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk? Please share your thoughts in the comments or e-mail a photo and your review.

You see a girl with fabulous hair passing by in the airport and you are both in a rush. You only have time to say, “You’re hair is amazing” and ask her one question about her hair. Would you ask her about the products she uses, tools she uses or a specific question about her hair care regimen (how often she washes, trims, deep conditions… not to include product or tool recommendations)? Clearly all of these factors work together to result in great hair, but what do you think is the most important?

ModCloth says: Though some refuse to believe it, we know it’s true – fashion is a form of art. These wild wedges from Jeffrey Campbell are here to prove it! Slashed with a bold, black and white pattern evocative of popular 80′s graffiti art, and bottomed by a wedge of imbricated silver discs whose shiny surface reflects the world around them, these impact-making leather peep toes are ready to turn your world into an aesthetic wonderland. Close their zipper around your inner ankle, and pair them with form-hugging leggings, a geometric print dress, and angular sunglasses for a look that’s a pure masterpiece!

So would you rock them or knock them? Share your thoughts in the comments and go to www.ModCloth.com for more details. They are already sold out, but if you’re a fan of ModCloth then you know all the good stuff goes quickly. Snooze and you loose on these one of a kind pieces.

The Maison Martin Margiela wide ankle boot retails for $775 at Saks. Forget about the price, would you rock them?