Healthy Hair Feature: Ijeoma Eboh, aka KlassyKinks

1) Are you natural, relaxed, texlaxed, or transitioning? (And how long?)
I have been natural since May 2010, so I’m now officially two years natural!  I transitioned for about a year, and wore kinky twists and weaves while slowly cutting off the relaxed ends in between styles.

2) What mistakes have you made in your hair care journey?
When I first BC’ed, I didn’t get a trim for 8 months, and then had to get a serious haircut. I still don’t trim often enough because I would get caught up with school, but I’m starting to realize a little hair off here and there is better than 2 or 3 inches of hard-earned growth having to be chopped off! In addition, constantly comparing my hair texture and length to natural hair gurus on YouTube set me back in my journey because I was more focused on trying to achieve certain styles than on learning what was best for my hair.

3) What is your current HEALTHY HAIR routine?
I co-wash my hair every two weeks (three in the winter) with Aussie Moist conditioner, and moisturize and seal with shea butter and coconut oil. Once a month, I shampoo with Giovanni 50/50 Balanced Shampoo, and deep condition with Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayo. After washing, I either do a twist or flat twist set, which I pin up for a week before untwisting, or I blow-dry my hair using heat protectant and do a braidout. Nightly, I sleep with a silk scarf or bonnet, and a satin pillow case.

4) Do you have a HEALTHY BODY routine? If so, what is it?
When I do have a healthy body routine, I try to work out 3-4 times a week by doing pilates, Zuumba, strength and cardio combo conditioning (aka my favorite Jillian Michaels DVD), or the elliptical. As a hungry college student, it’s often hard to regulate my dietary intake, but I try to have fruits or vegetables make up half of my plate and I only drink water. I also love sleep, and make sure I get lots of it.

5) Do you have any advice for those seeking healthy tresses?
I’d say just love your hair and it will love you back. If I neglect my hair, it rebels against me, but when I care for it properly, it is well-moisturized, happy, and it grows. Also, find what styles work for your hair type, skill set, and lifestyle--and stick to them. Don’t feel like you have to wear a twistout or wash and go all the time because everyone on Youtube is doing it. Do what makes your hair happiest, and it will respond positively.

6) Where can we find you?
I’m on Youtube at www.youtube.com/user/ije1023, and I also have a tumblr with countless photos of natural-haired beauties called klassykinks.tumblr.com. Come check them out!

Protective Style Lookbook || Vintage Pin Up (Shorter Hair)

By popular demand, this is a series showcasing various protective hair styles.  Protective styling does not have to be boring. :o)

Model: Iknowlee

Style description: Elegant vintage pin up on twists.  (Can also be done on braids.)

Difficulty level: 3/5

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Foods for Eye Health

Do want to maintain your eye health?  According to Dr. Katz, an ophthalmoligist, the following tips are essential for eye health:

1. Maintain a healthy weight

Being overweight puts you at high risk for developing diabetes, and diabetes affects blood vessels, including in the eye.

2. Incorporate carrots into your diet
Carrots are high in beta carotene, which plays a role in general eye health and is important in the function as well as structural integrity of rods and cones in the back of the eye.

3. Incorporate green leafy vegetables (e.g., kale, spinach, collard greens, turnip greens)
These vegetables are high in lutein and zeaxanthin, which are protective to the eye.

4. Incorporate foods high in antioxidants (e.g., Vitamin A, C, E)
Antioxidants slow the progression of aging or damage to eye.

5. Absorb omega-3 (found in fish, fish oil, etc.)
Omega-3 is overall beneficial for your eye.

To hear Dr. Katz share more tips on eye health, check out this video at WEBMD.

Type 4 Series: Curly Girl Method & Summer Hair

What is the Curly Girl Method?  It is method developed by Lorraine Massey and Deborah Chiel to help care for curly hair.  The method entails frequent co-washing, finger combing, wash-n-gos, no shampoo, no silicones, and more.  While many curly ladies have caught onto the routine, it is rare to find a kinky-haired gal who has, largely because of the regular wash-n-gos and co-washes involved.  But on youtube, there are a couple of kinky gals who are experimenting with the method and one who actually has very similar routine.  These women are featured in the videos below, and can perhaps be inspiration to those with type 4 hair who desire to wash more frequently and wear their hair loose this summer.

For a more detailed description of the method, check out their book titled "Curly Girl: The Handbook".  For a short description of the no-shampoo routine involved in the Curly Girl Method, check out this article.


1. Though she didn't exactly use the Curly Girl Method, Cynthiarf was the Type 4 Queen of wash-n-gos, frequent co-washes, and finger combing, which are components of the regimen: video tutorial.

2.  Dawnyele is a tightly-coiled Type 4 who is currently experimenting with the Curly Girl Method.  She will document her journey through June, so subscribe to her videos if you'd like to keep up with her experiment.

3.  Though not entirely Type 4, Whoissugar has mix of textures varying from tight coils to loose curls and is worth posting for those with looser Type 4 hair.  She is also experimenting with the Curly Girl Method; you can watch her document her journey on youtube.

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Protective Style Lookbook || Curly Two Strand Twists

By popular demand, this is a series showcasing various protective hair styles.  Protective styling does not have to be boring. :o)

Model: Alicia

Style description: Bantu knot out on mini twists.  (Can be done on mini braids as well.)

Instructions: Take a section of twists.  Twist them together, then do a bantu knot.  Continue until finished with entire hair.

Difficulty level: 2/5

Beginner's Guide: video tutorial on bantu knots; video tutorial on this style (also included below)

VIDEO TUTORIAL by Alicia:

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Fitness AND Fashion

By Stephanie of Infinite Life Fitness

Well it is that time of year ladies!

The sun is coming out…the air is warmer…and that means it is time to pull out the summer clothing!

Who says you have to always work out in your boyfriends old t-shirts and a pair if gym shorts you have had for year?

When working out the most important thing is that you want to be comfortable…and if you are like me you also would like to be a little stylish as well!

I have done all the leg work for you guys today! I searched and searched to find some great deals on some workout clothes. I am not a huge fan of paying top dollar for something I am going to get all sweaty and smelly. I am all about finding the best deal for my workout attire!

Thanks many websites not they have TONS of cute items that are ON SALE!!! Not to mention some sites allow you to get free shipping if your total is over $50! Here are a few items I found:

(CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO TAKE YOU TO THE WEBSITE THESE ITEMS CAN BE FOUND!)

Price: $14.50 and it comes in three different colors sizes S-XXL!

Price: $12.99 and this comes in FIVE different colors sizes S-XL!

Price: $9.99 ONLY SIZE XL LEFT!

Price: $17.99 and this item comes in FIVE different Colors Sizes S-XXL

Price: $15.40 and this comes in SEVERAL different colors sizes S-XL

Price: $14.97 and comes in several different color options sizes S- XXL

Price: $15.99 sizes S-XL

Price: $16.50

Price: $17.99 and comes in TWO different colors

You can also find some great workout sale items at:

http://www.championusa.com/workout-clothes/sale
http://www.impactfitnesswear.com/sale
http://www.finishline.com/store/shop/clothing/workout-clothing/_/N-2z7iy/Ns-P_BestSellers%7C1

These are just a few items that I found that I wanted to share with you guys. Hope that this is helpful and allows you the chance to have some cute and sassy workout attire!

Hope you had a great weekend and please feel free to check out my personal blog at infinitelifefitness.com

3in6: Starting Month #5

For the challenge guidelines, see this post.

This 3in6 Challenge is going by fast! We are now in month #5.  Last month, I wore medium-small twists for a couple weeks and a twistout for one week.  (See the photo to the right for twistout bun.)  I've officially used up my allowance (i.e., out hair) passes.  This month it's back to my trusty medium-small twists.  I also stayed on top of my internal regimen: intake of multivitamins, water, and veggies/fruits.  

How did your hair and internal regimen fair last month? What style will you wear this month?

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