NYC Area Naturalista's Join Me On Saturday!

Saturday, January 21, 2012
The South Oxford Space
Great Room
138 South Oxford Street
(Between Atlantic Avenue & Fulton Street)
7P.M. – 10P.M.

Join Doris New York Hair Care and SistahGirlfriends Inc for an evening of real talk, real knowledge, real FUN!






Panelists include:
Winsome Sinclair, Casting Director, Chief Managing Partner at Winsome Sinclair and Associates

Michelle Joyce, President and CEO of Digital Chick Media.

Brian Luvar, President and CEO of Grandma's Watching Productions.

Edward M. Johnson – Managing Director, Rebel Visions Corporation.

Marlene Duperley, Co-Owner, Creative Director and SVP at Doris New York Hair Care Products/Salon.

Also featuring the exquisite designs of Arlinda Macintosh, President and Creator of Sofistafunk The Original Skirt Company.

Swag BAGS!!!!!!! Cocktails, Hors D'oeuvres, Giveaways, and so much more! Come out, get some life changing information and spend an evening with some fabulous men and women!

$10 AT THE DOOR
GENTS WELCOME

My Accidental Review of the Condition Shampoo Condition Method

Chicago do I have beef with you!

I traveled recently to Chicago for business and when I arrived I realized that my Ouidad Double Detangler Comb was hanging in my shower and NOT in my carry on…sigh.

I immediately called down to the front desk to ask if they had a gift shop and was informed that they did not. I hung up wondering to myself ‘how am I going to wash, condition, detangle, AND style this head of hair in the morning with NO comb’…I called down to the front desk again and asked if they had emergency toiletries for guests who forget grooming supplies and asked if they had a comb and THEY DID! Woo hoo! Score! The bellman arrived at my room and handed me a 3” mini comb with fine teeth…yep I know…it was not gonna happen…at least not with that comb.
The next morning I woke up early, threw on sweats and hit the streets of downtown Chicago in search of a drugstore. #fail

After hitting three drugstores in the area all I could find was the ACE Comb featured in the picture. With my back pressed firmly against the wall, a day full of business activities scheduled and a desperate need to wash my hair…I bought it…I knew that I was going to need some extra assistance in the shower so I also bought a large bottle of Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Conditioner with Argan Oil & Apricot.

Back in my room I hopped in the shower and decided that today was a good a day as any to try the Condition Wash Condition Method recently featured on NaturallyCurly.com or at least my modified version of it. I saturated my hair and then applied ¼ of the bottle (and yes it was super sized) to my hair. I worked the conditioner in from roots to end, and gently finger detangled in sections, rinsed and then repeated. After the second conditioning/finger detangling I very gently shampooed with my Doris New York The Reconstructor Shampoo, after I rinsed I applied my Doris New York Extreme Deep Conditioner, covered my hair with the plastic hotel shower cap, stepped out of the shower and watched TV for 30 minutes while I allowed the deep conditioner to work. I got back in the shower and poured a mix of the Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Conditioner that I had diluted with warm water over my head to seal and gently finger detangled again. (insert choir singing here) and then I was able to detangle my hair in small section with that teeny weeny ACE comb!!!

I must say that I am a fan of the condition wash condition method! My hair was much easier to work with and I was able to save the day for Lola (my hair)!

But seriously downtown Chicago….with all of the beautiful naturals living and working there how you not gonna have wide tooth combs readily available???!!! #just sayin

Until Next Time,
Etoile

To Scarf or Not To Scarf…That is the Question

Every Naturalista knows Rule # 1 thou shall protect thy locks of hair when lying down to slumber. Ok so that’s easier said than done…and for a variety of reasons might I add.

I personally sleep like I am running a marathon or something, I am all over the bed and so I wake up to find the head scarf at my feet, under a pillow, on the floor, you get the drift.

Satin pillowcases are all cool and the gang but once again when you sleep like you are running a marathon…you wake up and the pillowcase is half off…#really.

Enter Doris New York Chic Satin Sleeper… and then the angels sang.

They say: Now you can go to bed guilt free, looking simply beautiful! Keep your hair full of moisture while you sleep and look chic doing it. SHOOT, "IT MAY BE TOO FLY TO SLEEP IN" Adjustable for all "HAIR SIZES" *Excellent Stocking Stuffers* Comes in 3 delicious prints; Exotic Zebra, Abstract Leaf, and DNY Signature.

I say YES, YES, YES. I have A LOT of thick curly hair and when I pineapple at night the puff is larger than most BSS scarves will accommodate. I don’t like bonnets because I wind up walking around with the tell-tale ring around my forehead for hours, and Doo Rags…umm shall we say NOT SEXY!

I love my Satin Sleeper, she and I have been having a ‘hair affair’ for several months now. My hair has grown 2 ++ inches since I got her and she quite easily adjusted to accommodate my new length.

For info on the Doris New York Satin Sleeper:

www.dorisnewyork.com

She is sleek, she looks nothing like the infamous ‘head rag’, and she will lovingly caress your locks at night so both you AND they wake up…well curlicious of course!

Etoile

Confessions of a PJ: Product Review Doris New York Leave In Conditioner

What They Say: Protection On The Go!

Yes it works! Finally a leave in conditioner that actually protects your hair and repairs split ends. After your shampooing and conditioning process, apply leave in conditioner generously to your hair. Massage throughout and style as desired. Again, the added moisture protects from sun damage, toxins and chemical processing but does not leave hair feeling oily or flat. Hate those split end fly aways? Well, our Leave In Conditioner will keep them tame while helping to repair the problem. Excellent for our natural girls!!! Try the Leave In Conditioner with the Olive Oil Hair Cream for a fabulous two strand twist! It's all you need! Check out our testimony section for a "how to" video demonstration of the two strand twist style! IT’S A LEAVE IN YOU WON’T WANT TO LEAVE OUT! 8 fl oz.

What I Say: LOVE!!!

I Live in the North East home of Afro Inducing Humidity...umm need I say more?! So I put this leave in through the ultimate test, let's see how you keep my curls defined through July, August & September...

I was impressed.

I apply the leave in to soaking wet hair in sections. I use a wide tooth comb and comb thru ea section 1-2 times and then scrunch the curls in ea section. This leave in Conditioner has a really nice creamy consistency. A little goes a long way. It adds moisture AND works well to refresh my 2nd/3rd day coils and curls.

Last week on location at a shoot a PA came over and asked if she could touch my hair because it looked so soft and shiny. I get that EVERYWHERE I go!

It has taken me some time but with Doris New York I have fallen IN LOVE with my curls!

For Info: http://www.dorisnewyork.com/

Etoile

Natural Hair is...A Major Media Company Seems to Think NOT SO Beautiful?!

Yesterday I was on the Doris New York Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Doris-New-York-Hair-Care-Products/73177712703?ref=mf and saw a rather disturbing post...so I called Marlene Duperley who is one of the owners for the scoop.

Part of the brands marketing strategy for fall 2011 was to launch a regional 'Back to Our Roots' (see photo on the left) campaign with a Billboard in Brooklyn, NY and Bus Advertising in NYC. When Doris New York submitted the artwork to a Major Media Company in NYC for the Billboard they were allegedly advised that the content might in some way be offensive to a religious institution across the street from where the Billboard is located. Hmmm...offensive in what way? In my opinion it is neither lewd nor is it graphic...could it be that it is 'too ethnic'?

Doris New York also submitted the artwork to a Major Media Company prior to submitting the contract for the Bus Advertising Campaign and as of yesterday afternoon they have not heard a word from them.

Is an image depicting two beautiful women of color rocking GORGEOUS natural hair too...'ethnic'? I think not. The Natural Hair movement is about embracing the beautify that we were born with, not adhering to the media's standard of beauty and rediscovering who we are on every level.

As a curvy curly I can tell you that I struggled for years on fad diet after fad diet to fit the media's standard of beauty, I also relaxed, texlaxed, texturized, blow dried, and flat ironed every curl on my head trying to fit that same standard of beauty. Now that I am older what I want is to be healthy from my hair down to my toes, I embrace my curves and my curls...my definition of natural beauty is loving myself just the way that I am.

The Major Media Company may not be interested in advertising from Doris New York with this campaign but I am very interested in spending my dollars with a company that creates amazing products for my tresses and celebrates my heritage and the beauty of my coils and my curls.

For info on Doris New York: http://www.dorisnewyork.com/.

Etoile
Just a Curvy Girl Living in her Self Proclaimed Curvy World

Why I chose to go 'Au Naturelle'...Because Going Bald Was Never Really An Option!

I was chatting on the phone yesterday with a new 'curlfriend' and we started to talk about my transition...I had a routine...I knew what worked on my creamy crackified hair, drugstore products were fine, I had zero knowledge of ingredients and the less I knew the better...you know ignorance is bliss.

I had been 'softening' for awhile then my hairdresser who I loved and adored moved to another state...mmm hmm the nerve of her. This woman had cared for Luscious Lola aka my hair for over 15 years, she knew my hair, we were in hair love, or so I thought...until she left me.

So then I was faced with the 'challenge' of trying to find a new hair stylist and we ALL know how difficult that can be. I've had numerous one hair stands over the last few years and then finally I decide to end my cheating ways and commit...I wanted to make it official...I wanted to let the world know I had found the one and then...gasp...hair dye fiasco of epic proportions...and let's just say that I was surprised to have any hair left on my head and thus I decided that transitioning was the only option...go natural or go bald...and personally I think I am way cuter with hair on my head.

So 16 months ago I made the decision...no more creamy crack...in the interim I have probably purchased every single product in the free world. You won't know until you try it right?! My natural curlfriends are always excited to see me...I tend to whip some product out of my purse to pass on to them and I am a walking review because you name it I've tried it. Since entering the Hairscapades Grow Out Challenge (www.hairscapades.com) I decided to commit, one product line, six months, no cheating. So far so good. My hair is soft, fluffy, shiny...hmmm I may have to ask Doris for her hand in marriage.

In the Spotlight: Doris New York Hair Care Products!

We had the chance to sit down with the gorgeous and super savvy Marlene Duperley who is one half of the dynamic Mother & Daughter duo of Doris New York Hair Care Products.

We hope you enjoy reading the interview as much as we enjoyed spending time with her!

Etoile

How did this passionate 'love affair' with hair begin?
I can completely answer that for my mom!! Lol! Mom (Doris) is one of 14 brothers and sisters. There were 10 girls all together and out of the 10 half became hair dressers! So I would have to say the love affair began many, many years ago through her bloodline. You know when they say "oh, it's in the blood" that would be Doris and her affinity and love for hair and caring for hair.

What was your “aha” moment when you decided to start the company?
Well, it's so crazy for years my mom's clients in the salon and I have been asking her to sell her amazing scalp oil and deep treatments. When I was 4 years old I remember mom with these large iron pots on the kitchen floor and stove stirring hair oil. I would just stand there and watch in amazement as she poured them into jars and carried them over to the salon. Fast forward to approximately 5/6 years ago mom called me and said "I'm READY" I was like wooohooooo! Let's go...and we never looked back!

Tell us about Doris New York?
Doris Duperley is the force behind Doris New York Hair Care Products! She has over 40 years of experience dealing with our hair...meaning every single type of African American hair texture (which includes multi-ethnic hair types) In the salon over the past 38 years we have literally seen it all and done it all. So just imagine all the experience, knowledge and love going into every jar and bottle. It's absolutely history in the making!

How do you develop products?
Our core line, which consists of the first 6 products we introduced, were actually the products my mom would make at home. When we decided to become a consumer brand we needed to partner with a chemist and manufacturer. We still develop all of our products. We let our chemist know what we are looking for, what ingredients we would like to use and how we would like each product to feel, smell, and most of all WORK! We do all the testing ourselves on a core group of our clientele in the salon.

Where does healthy hair begin? And how is it maintained?
Healthy hair begins with a healthy scalp and healthy follicles. Take care of the inside...drink water, eat veggies and fruits and maintain a balanced healthy diet. This will provide some of the internal vitamins your follicles will need to stay healthy. Externally, keep your scalp clean, detoxed, well moisturized and conditioned. Your hair should be washed and deep treated every week. Depending on the damage use a product that is packed with moisture and damage repairing ingredients. Your hairline and scalp should be oiled daily if you have a dry/or extremely dry scalp. This will keep the shaft of the hair filled with body, replenished, amazingly shiny and easier to maintain. In some cases consistent deep treatments and care will change the texture of your hair, making it softer and easier to manage.

What are a few ingredients that you should avoid in hair care products?
Alcohol! Alcohol is drying! Now we have to be careful because the word "alcohol" is used in ingredients that are not the same as unnatural alcohols. Cetyl alcohol for example is derived from coconuts. This is perfectly acceptable and fine for your hair as an ingredient. It will not dry the hair!

What has been one of your company’s biggest high-lights to date?
Well we are embarking on one right now and that is our huge Billboard on Atlantic Avenue and Waverly Street in Brooklyn, NY. This billboard kicks off our new campaigns. The first being "Undefinable Undeniable Beauty" This refers to all of our beautiful textures, colors and types of hair but also includes the physical beauty of us in all shapes sizes and colors that so often gets overlooked in the media because it is not their definition of beauty! WRONG!!! We beg to differ and have lit up our own campaign trail to break those stereotypes. Our second campaign is "Let's Get Back To Our Roots" It's time to embrace our natural hair, our natural beauty and all that comes with it! As a play on words take care of your roots, remember them when caring for your hair remember your roots PERIOD!! That is where we are successful in life, when we remember our ROOTS!

What is the one thing you should never skip during your hair care routine?
Never skip 2 shampoos and a GREAT DEEP TREAMTENT! Those are the lifelines to your hair. One more thing never skip adding some moisture to your hair like a leave in conditioner for extra protection or a great moisturizing cream if you have any dryness/frizziness. These two steps can make all the difference.

What are some tips for keeping our hair looking fab in high heat and
humidity?
LEAVE IN CONDITIONER and a great moisturizing cream to seal in the moisture. Our hair screams for moisture in the humidity much like it does in the dead of cold winter months. Think of how you take care of your skin, your scalp and hair deserves the same treatment!

For More Info on Doris New York Hair Care Products Go To: http://www.dorisnewyork.com/

Confessions of a PJ: Doris New York Olive Oil Hair Cream

I cannot stay in a long term relationship...past a month...with my hair products that is.

To know me is to know that I am a licensed, card carrying, professionally certified, don't try this at home kids PRODUCT JUNKIE!

But I have entered a 12 step program, I am attending meetings on a weekly basis and I have the support of my fellow former PJ's.

The main reason for my reform was that I entered the Grow Out Challenge on http://www.hairscapades.com/. One thing that I do know is that when you want to retain length and grow your hair it is imperative to maintain a regimen. I decided that I would stick with one line of products for the duration of the challenge while wearing my hair in low manipulation styles and maintaining the same weekly regimen.

For the challenge I decided to use Doris New York Hair Care Products. The product line was created by a family whose life has been hair care. Doris has spent the majority of her life as a hair stylist and has owned a salon in the greater New York Area for quite a few years. The products were developed to help achieve and maintain healthy hair, & were tested on salon clients. Both Doris and her stunning daughter Marlene have GORGEOUS heads of hair...umm can we say 'hair crush'...

I began using the products last week and I am in love with the Olive Oil Hair Cream. The weather forecast in the Northeast has been high humidity=frizz-fro and this cream helped me maintain a shiny, moisturized, 'lil tiny hairs stayed in place, polished bun all week. The product is light in texture and not greasy. Score! Product just made it to my list of HG (holy grail products).

For info on the line go to: http://www.dorisnewyork.com/

Until Next Time,

Etoile

Just a Curvy Girl Living in Her Self Professed Curvy World

Help: Does anyone have any plant fertilizer?!

So to know me is to know that I have had long hair pretty much all my life...with the exception of the day after a very bad break-up when I went and hacked my hair off and dyed it honey blonde...nothing like a break-up to have you make a major life change.

Last year I went to see my hairstylist who told me that after one too many trips to get my hair roller set, blown out, & doobie'd up and one too many uses of the flat-iron, curling iron, and blow-drier that my formerly luscious locks were FRIED.

Sigh. He suggested a cut....I ignored him and proceeded to take 18 months to grow out the creamy crack, & nurse my hair back to health. My formerly BSL hair is now just past shoulder length. I rewarded myself with a great cut and color. I am in a 12 Step program for former Heat Abusers...and on my way back to healthy hair!

I have entered the 'Grow Out Challenge' on http://www.hairscapades.com/, and for the next 6 month's I will be pampering my hair with products from Doris New York (check back for reviews), working on retaining length, and sharing my journey with other curly bella's on the road to long, strong, healthy hair.

I must confess that I have 3 hair crushes:

A. Tracey Ellis Ross...need I say more?!

B.. Curly Nikki of http://www.curlynikki.com/

C. Shelli of http://www.hairscapades.com/

Wish me luck! I will be documenting my journey here. Stay tuned for plenty of updates, photos, & more! Oh yea...the bet...tell you about that some other time but can someone please send me some plant fertilizer?!

Etoile

Just a Curly Curvy Girl Living in Her Self Proclaimed Curvy World!

Photo: Me! Cut & Color By Tameeka of Christo in NYC