Search Results: Cozy Friedman

This Valentine’s Day, share a meal with your loved one that’s rich in tomato sauce—your skin will thank you for it.

While it would be difficult for us to imagine Italian cooking without them, the “love apple—aka, tomato—is actually native to North America. After being introduced to Europe by the Spanish, the first record of its use was in what we know as Italy, in a cookbook dating back to 1692 found in Naples.

The tomato had a rough start in Europe. Because it’s a relative of the deadly nightshade, many people thought it was poisonous. However, marketing is not a modern concept, and someone got the idea to promote the fruit as an aphrodisiac because of it’s red skin, and gave it the name poma amoris or pomme d’amour (love apple”> in French.

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a phytochemical that is one of the most powerful antioxidants known. Lycopene is also found, in lesser amounts, in pink grapefruit, red peppers, watermelon and guava.

In most fruits and vegetables, cooking reduces their nutritional effectiveness. Not so with tomatoes. It has been found that processing increases the concentration of lycopene. This means that tomato juice and soup, and even ketchup, are better for you than fresh tomatoes. But the highest concentration of lycopene is found in tomato paste – up to four times as much as in fresh.

Lycopene has been discovered to be the most potent combatant of something called “singlet oxygen.” Singlet oxygen is produced during exposure to ultraviolet light, and is a primary cause of skin aging.

So, can eating processed tomatoes help protect your skin from sun damage? You don’t need to do the research – a British television show called “The Truth About Food” has done it for you.

For the study, they found 23 women who burn easily (though you only see them follow one woman during the broadcast program itself”>, and asked them to eat 55 grams of tomato paste every day for 12 weeks. Fifty-five grams is equal to slightly less than four tablespoons, and contains 16 milligrams of lycopene.

According to their website, the researchers “tested the lowest dose of UV needed to provoke a visible response on their skin. Then we exposed them to a range of UV radiation and compared the damage done to those who ate tomatoes and those who didn’t.” After 12 weeks, it was discovered that the testers had a 30 percent increase in skin protection.

While this doesn’t mean that you can forgo sunscreen completely, it certainly can’t hurt to eat processed tomatoes on a regular basis. “The Truth About Food” website has a couple of recipes for you to consider. However, any lover of Italian cuisine is probably doing fine in getting enough lycopene in her diet.

Several pharmaceutical companies make lycopene available as a supplement along with other antioxidants. This is an ideal choice for those who are allergic to (or just don’t like”> tomatoes.

And the rumored aphrodisiac qualities can’t hurt either!

(Source: www.BBC.co.uk – Science & Nature: “The Truth About Food””>

---

Contact Roquinne or read her bio.

Q: I have 2c/3a hair. My daughter is closer to a 2a/2b. I don’t know what products to use in her hair. I have tried some of mine, but they tend to weigh her hair down.

Cozy: You are smart to look for the proper products for your daughter. Children’s formulations tend to be gentler and address the different needs that children have. I assume you are looking for a product that will help enhance her natural curls and eliminate frizz- without weighing her hair down. Try “scrunching” in So Cozy Kooky Kiwi Styling Cream after her bath. Before scrunching, wring out excess water and try to apply evenly. For touch ups, you can use this on dry hair too to help reactivate the curls.

Q: I am going crazy. I have a 4-year-old (girl”>, a 3-year-old girl and a little one that just turned a year in September (boy”>. I am black, with very dry thick hair, and my husband is white with thin, fine hair. My oldest daughter has very long curly, but mainly wavy, hair. It’s thin like her dads, but because there is so much of it, it looks really thick. Right now, she uses adult shampoo and conditioners and a kid detangler. I tried Pert Plus, but it didn’t do enough. She is so tender-headed. My youngest daughter has curly hair like Shirley Temple — long ring curls. It isn’t too bad, but I have to use a anti-frizz cream so her hair doesn’t look like a big fuzz ball. How often should I wash their hair? And what are some good product suggestions?

Cozy: Let’s separate your issues. 1. Product recommendations: You should definitely use children’s products for both your girls. They are gentler and have the vitamins and nutrients that growing children need. Check out the So Cozy products in CurlMart. You will have your choice of all kinds of great hair products for kids, that come in fruity fragrances that kids love. 2. For your daughter’s tangles, try So Cozy Lucky Lime Pre-Detangling Treatment in the tub. Apply a generous amount after shampooing, and then comb through with a wide-tooth comb. It’s very important that you take an inch section of hair, hold it with one hand and start combing from the bottom,, working your way up the hair. This prevents tugging on her scalp, which can be very painful. Work your way around her head. You can touch up with So Cozy Fruity Delight Detangler when dealing with tangles on the go. 3. Frizz- After the bath, wring out excess water and “scrunch in” some Groovy Grape Styling Gel evenly around her hair. NEVER brush her hair. This will separate the curls, making it look frizzy. To reactivate curls during the day, spray in the So Cozy Fruity Delight Detangler and scrunch! Since it is also a leave-in conditioner, it’s good for her hair too!

Q: My 2-year-old daughter has beautiful curls. They are not super tight ringlets — more of a loose curl. But they are definitely more curly than wavy, which is what my 8-year-old daughter has. I am having a hair problem with her! She absolutely hates it when I mess with her hair. I only shampoo about once or twice a month, and usually it’s just with conditioner. I only comb her hair when it’s wet with conditioner in the bath. The problem is that by the end of the day or the next day, her hair is frizzy and everywhere!

The more immediate problem is that her hair is always in her eyes, and it clearly bothers her. She won’t leave anything in her hair — clips, headbands, scrunchies, etc. It gets ripped out within minutes, and putting it in is a battle. She spends most of her playtime pushing her hair back out of her eyes. I don’t want to make fixing her hair a huge battle, and some have suggested that I cut her hair into a style that will not be in her eyes. The problem is that I love her crazy hair, and I don’t want to cut it! More important, I don’t know what styles would be cute and manageable for her. I am a straight-haired mama, so I have learned all I know about managing her hair — which isn’t much — from my curly friend.

Cozy: First of all, it is crucial that you get the right haircut her—one that you will love too! I remember how sad I was to cut my son’s long locks the first time. But I also remember how much more I loved his hair afterwards! It’s not uncommon to see parents cry during a first haircut, instead of the kids! Consult a good stylist who you can trust. Second, it is clear that you need a very simple routine for now. This phase will eventually pass. But in the meantime you don’t want to turn her off to proper grooming in the formative years. I would recommend So Cozy Tropical Fruit 2-in-1 Conditioning Shampoo, to combine two steps together. To handle the frizz, use So Cozy Fruity Delight Detangler. It is a spray-in Conditioner and will help smooth hair and enhance her natural curl. Since it is a leave-in conditioner, it is great for her hair too!

Q: About two weeks ago, I took my daughter in to get her long curly hair cut. We ended up cutting it into a bob and donating her long curly locks to Locks of Love. Since then, I have been unable to get her hair to curl up. I have used her regular curl shampoo and let dry naturally, but nothing? Why did this happen and how do I fix it?

Cozy: It is quite possible that your daughter’s hair has been changing and you didn’t realize it because of the length of the curls. You may have noticed that the top of her hair was straighter than the bottom. It is quite common for children’s (as well as adults'”> hair texture to change throughout their lives. Perhaps you can bring out a natural wave/curl with a different cut, adding some long layers. In any case, it is important that you embrace her natural hair to encourage good self-esteem in your child, no matter what her texture is.

Q: I grew up hating my curls because no one was around to teach me that they were beautiful. Actually, I didn’t really know that I had curls until I was 15. All I knew was that I had hair that was frizzy and unmanageable. Plus, I kept hearing that my hair had to look “nice,” which meant smooth and perfect. I was also told natural curls looked like you’d stuck your finger in a light socket. I finally went curly at 16, and my hair finally looked good and got me compliments. Now, my 3 1/2 year old daughter has wavy hair, and I’m trying to take care of her curls and just let them go free. I don’t want her to hate her hair like I used to.

Cozy: Your daughter is lucky to have a mom who totally understands how difficult curly hair can be for a child (and an adult, too!”>. Nothing looks worse than straightened, frizzy curly hair! I grew up not understanding my hair, spending too many hours worrying about it. It sounds like you will help her embrace her natural curls, which is a gift! Keep up the good work!

For more information about buying So Cozy products, visit CurlMart.

Sunflowers are a special flower in the Midwest and they are the state flower of Kansas. They grow quite freely alongside highways, beautify waste dumps, add color to fields and grace our gardens. Wherever their seeds blow, sunflowers take root. But their beauty is more than skin deep. The extract, oil and butter from these flowers are being used in a growing number of beauty products because of their moisturizing, smoothing and healing qualities.

As a sun-loving culture, the ancient Egyptians would have loved this plant. The plant’s name tells us why: helios means sun while anthos means flower in Greek. The French word for it is tournesol. or “turn with the sun” which, is precisely what it does. The plant is called phototropic meaning that it follows the sun. This is a flower intimately tied to the sun, and it can brighten you life in several key ways.

Sunflowers have a venerable history in American healing. The Native-American medicine people from various groups make use of sunflowers as poultices, skin washes as well as eating the seeds and working with the stalks to make life-preserving floats. Spiritually, bowls of the seeds are left on the graves of loved ones by some cultures.

Not limited to North America, today sunflowers are grown in the sunny climate of South Africa to create substantial flower-yielding medicinal oil from its seeds. South African sunflowers are known to be rich in unsaturated fatty acids.

General info

• Light taste and color, making it good for soapmaking and cosmetic blends
• Abundance of vitamin E more than any other vegetable oil.
• Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats with low saturated fat levels.
• Outstanding for cooking (stir frying also as a healthy salad oil”>
• Rich in unsaturated fatty acids

Chemical Constituents

Palmitic acid : 4 – 9%,Stearic acid : 1 – 7%,Oleic acid : 14 – 40%,Linoleic acid : 48 – 74Contains: lecithin, tocopherols, carotenoids and waxes

Why it’s in Your Hair and Skin-care Products

Sunflower oil is an unsung hero in a marketplace saturated with oils. It has many healing applications, including herbal infusion used in massage and hot-oil treatments; nail soaks; cooking, salad dressings, marinades and formulating homemade cosmetics.High linoleic acid lends an anti-inflammatory, acne-reducing, moisturizing quality. Linoleic acid acts as an emulsifier in shampoo, soaps, and conditioners.Sunflower oil contains vitamin A, D, and E and a good amount of protein for skin and hair; it’s a high-quality source of zinc (protein is very good for most types of hair, vitamin E is a great antioxidant and zinc is protective against the sun’s rays”>.

• Low saturated fat levels.
• Has skin and hair smoothing properties—a boon to curly tops.
• Skin and hair benefits from moisture-retention quality.
• Considered hypoallergenic; making it safe for most skin types.
• Healthy addition to anti-aging, wrinkle formulas.
• It’s inexpensive and widely available.
• Helps boost the immune system.

Unique Attributes of Sunflower Oil

• Has cardiovascular benefits: appears to lower cholesterol which, in turn, results in a smaller risk of heart disease.
• Studies of adults suggested that a balanced diet in which small quantities of saturated fats are replaced with sunflower oil has detectable cholesterol-reducing benefits.
• Shown to benefit premature infant with underdeveloped skin who are susceptible to infection; infections decreased by almost half in infants receiving daily skin treatment of sunflower oil.
• Sunflower oil provides a protective barrier against infection in infants.

Note: Julia Rizzo has entered her freshman year at Cornell University where she will continue to write about being a curly teen.

I was browsing through my favorite bookstore last weekend when the title of a thin hardcover collection of pictures caught my attention. Big Hair by James Innes-Smith is a diminutive, easily overlooked book that celebrates hair that is anything but. The photos showcase big hair from several different eras—hair that’s curly, straight, long, short, teased. It made me smile to see so many pictures celebrating hair that makes a statement.

My sister is a poster child for big, curly hair. Even though she’s three years younger than I am, Lilly is my curly role model. She’s growing out her hair right now, and “out” is definitely the direction it wants to grow. It’s gotten several inches longer but still doesn’t touch her shoulders. Our stylist has several recommendations for any curly girl growing out her hair. She told us that regular trims are still important, even though they seem counterintuitive. Curly hair is particularly prone to split ends and damage, so if you stop cutting your hair while you’re growing it out, the end result may be an unmanageable mess.

One thing to consider if you’re trying to add length to bangs or short hair is keeping it out of your face during the awkward period when it can’t be tucked behind your ears or put up. There are tons of options, including clips, headbands and scarves, have several on hand! (Check out CurlMart’s selection.”> I still remember using sparkly clips to keep my bangs away from my face in fifth grade. Split ends aren’t the only sign of damage, be aware of the breakage hair ties can cause and always take them out gently. One of my friends, who has hip-length hair, prefers to use hair sticks instead of elastic ties. Since hair can’t get tangled around them, they are a gentle alternative to elastics.

Lilly has been growing out her hair for a few months now, and she gets more compliments on it than anyone I know. She confidently rocks her hair at an age when I downplayed mine. When I was in middle school my rebellious hair made me uncomfortable. In contrast, my sister embraces her unconventional hairstyle as part of who she is. She’s shown me that the best way to refrain from judging other people is to refrain from criticizing yourself. When you’re comfortable with your own appearance, it’s easy to see the beauty in those around you.

Stay Curly,

Julia

---

Email your questions to Julia.

Q: My daughter is 4 with 3b hair. It’s so pretty if I wet it, use detangler and use a leave-in conditioner. But as the cold weather approaches, and now she’s in school, letting it air dry isn’t as much of an option, and the diffuser seems to kill the luster and definition of the curl. Any specific suggestions?

Cozy: Wow, you really know what you are doing! Continue your routine in the evening. In the morning all you will need to do is re-activate her curls. Use So Cozy Fruity Delight Detangler & Leave-In Conditioner. Spray it evenly around her hair when she wakes up in the morning and do some quick, gentle scrunching. Her hair will be dry and her curls will be reactivated by the time she’s finished with breakfast.

Q: Help! My curly-headed daughter is 10, and she’s really starting to care about her hair a lot more. She has been suffering her whole life with very long, dry, curly hair that gets matted daily and requires a minimum of two hours of raking through to make it look presentable. Because her curls are so tight, they end up getting matted into what can only be described as dreadlocks! She is horrified by this, but also by the whole process we have to engage in whenever we do it. We have very infrequent wash/detangle sessions because the water only serves to tighten the curls and the mattes get that much harder to work out. When we do have a session, it takes two to three hours to do just half her hair, and we have to leave the other half for another day. Either she needs to go to bed or we have an appointment or her brother needs something or I have to make lunch or dinner or do the laundry or go grocery shopping. We are very stressed out. We live three hours from a city where services are available, but are willing to drive if we can find a stylist to help us. FYI: I am biracial (African-American and Mexican-American with a relaxer”> and my daughter is multiracial. The curls run in the family on both sides, so curls are her destiny. We do not want to cut them. But if the dreadlocks continue, that may be the route we are forced to take. Aaarrgh! Any advice/help/etc. would be greatly appreciated!

Cozy: You may not like what I’m going to say, but you need to comb her hair more frequently. If you keep up with it regularly, it won’t be such a long and painful process each time. Also, you need the help of some products that have been created for this kind of hair. Try the So Cozy It takes two to Detangle Kit. It comes with Lucky Lime Pre-Detangler, a wide tooth comb and Fruity Delight Detangler & Leave-In Conditioner. Use the Pre-Detangler in the bath with the wide tooth comb. To prevent tugging on the hair and thus avoiding pain to your daughter, hold an inch-wide strand in one hand and start combing from the bottom of the hair, an inch at a time, working your way up toward the scalp. Continue working your way around the head. You will avoid damaging the hair if you do this, which will help to prevent further knots. Use the Detangler in between bathing, any time you comb out. Never brush her hair. Other helpful tips: Have her wear her hair in a loose pony or braid at bedtime to avoid knots and wear her hair back when she’s doing sports or other activities. It may seem like a lot of work now, but it will certainly be much easier and save you a lot of time and anguish in the long run.

Q: Do you have any recommendations on what to use on a 4-month-old baby with extremely dry scalp and skin? He is constantly scratching his poor head.

Cozy: You should always consult your physician for skin issues. You may want to try massaging a little baby oil into the scalp.

Q: My daughter is almost two. I am a curly-headed Irish woman and my husband is African-American, so her hair is a mixture of both. I need suggestions on products for detangling or even just to keep her hair maintained. I’ve tried products from Wal-Mart, but nothing really works.

Cozy: You should try So Cozy Fruity Delight Detangler & Leave-In Conditioner. It really, really helps with the tangles. Equally important is to make sure that you are combing the hair properly. To prevent tugging on the hair and thus avoiding pain to your daughter, hold an inch wide strand in one hand and start combing from the bottom of the hair, an inch at a time working your way up toward the scalp — inch by inch. Continue working your way around the head. You will avoid damaging the hair if you do this, which will help to prevent further knots.

Q: My niece is 9 months old and it’s looking like she’ll have curly hair. She has the cutest little curl at the back of her head! The rest of her hair isn’t curly yet, but her dad is a curly and her mom has wavy hair on very humid days. I hear all this stuff about not using shampoos with sulfates, but wanted your opinion on whether it’s okay to use them. And if not, what should she use? It’s not like her hair is dry or dyed.

Cozy: There is so much talk about natural ingredients that it can be very confusing for the consumer. Many products claim to be “all natural” when in fact they aren’t. The problem is that it is an unregulated industry and many companies are taking advantage of the ignorance of the customer. First, make sure you are using a tear-free formulation for the baby. You don’t want to irritate her eyes. Next, take a good look at the ingredient label. Try to avoid parabens. Parabens are synthetic preservatives that are under suspicion for being harmful. The same is true for sulfates. Although there is no hard-core evidence at this time, it is best to use natural products until more is learned. I know that at our company, we have been busy reformulating So Cozy, replacing parabens with natural preservatives and removing sulfates. All So Cozy products are paraben-free and most are sulfate-free as well.

Q: My daughter is 8 years old and has a beautiful set of even, ringlet curls. The first day of washing/conditioning/combing, it looks beautiful. Of course, being a kid, she doesn’t want to fuss with it the next day by getting it all wet in the shower so she puts it up in a ponytail. Well, it starts to look dry and frizzy even in the ponytail. Any ideas? Should she spray it down each day with something? Any recommendations?

Cozy: How lucky your daughter is to have such beautiful curls! It sounds like a leave-in conditioner would be very helpful to remove that fuzz. At the same time, it will keep her hair properly moisturized so that her cuticle stays smooth. Try So Cozy Fruity Delight Detangler & Leave-in Conditioner. When she wakes up in the morning, spray in evenly and then gently scrunch her hair to help distribute it more evenly. Her beautiful curls should be reactivated and her hair should be dry before she leaves for school.

Note: Julia Rizzo has entered her freshman year at Cornell University where she will continue to write about being a curly teen.

Although I’m writing this column in 2007, you’re reading it in 2008. I love New Year’s; the ball drops, and with the change in date comes the opportunity to change a habit or reverse a state of mind. As 2008 transitions from the future to the present, I’d like to share three resolutions, curly-girl style. The first is concrete and practical. The second two are things I can focus on to improve my confidence and boost the spirits of other curly girls in my life!

First, I resolve to get my hair cut every six weeks — not every six months. I love my long hair, and sometimes I forget that no matter how long it is, split ends make it a mess. In 2008 I will not bemoan my spit ends in the shower, get chastised by my stylist or resort to a trim from Mom before picture day. (I’m sure many people’s parents do a wonderful job cutting their hair, but my mother has had straight, short hair since she was 11 and doesn’t have a clue.”> Seriously, a little trim can go a long way toward improving the look and health of your hair, making it feel bouncier, lighter and oh-so-swingy, which for me is an automatic confidence booster. I’ve suffered a bad haircut or two in the past, so it’s good to remember that no one has more experience with your hair than you have. Don’t be afraid to speak up when your stylist is doing something that makes you uncomfortable.

Second, I resolve to accept compliments about my hair graciously, and forget negative comments quickly. It’s easy to disregard Great Aunt Beatrice’s glowing comments and take one classmate’s snarky remark to heart. As I’ve mentioned in past columns, I have a tendency to vividly recall acerbic asides, a negative mindset I’m determined to shake. Ultimately, self-confidence can only come from yourself, and you have the power to decide the messages you want to internalize. This applies to the media as well as your relationships. This site has oodles of curl-positive articles and information.

Finally, I hope you’ll join me in resolving to encourage the curly girls closest to you. Every time a kind, confident curly girl (or guy”> lifts me up with a few positive words, it reminds me of the importance of sharing an upbeat mentality with other girls and guys around me.

So, 2008, welcome! I’m glad to say that this year, more than ever, it’s good to be a curly girl.

Stay Curly,
Julia

P.S. I’d love to hear your curly resolutions for the New Year!

---

Email your questions/comments to Julia.

It’s the time of year when you always seem to have an empty wallet.

You have gifts to buy for Yule-Kwanzaa-Christmas-Hanukah, a new dress for the office party, decorations, food and beverages. And the list of potential giftees seems to grow by the day.

Let’s see, there’s Mom and Granny, Sister 1, Sister 2 and Sister-in-law. There’s No. 1 Daughter, maybe a Step-daughter, your son’s girlfriend. Your BFF, the girls in your coffee-klatch, your boss, your secretary, the babysitter, your weekly housekeeper, etc.

A gift of beauty doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are some of the best of the season’s offerings from budget-conscious to extravagant. Bonne Bell has multi-packs of their always-popular lip-smackers available at this time of year. These are usually less than $10 for a dozen flavored glosses. This year, they are also offering the Winter Wishes Collection – 12 products including lip smackers and sparkle cosmetics for $12 (www.bonnebell.com”>.

Your local drugstore or discount department store (Wal-Mart, Target, Zellers”> offers huge displays of inexpensive bath products. Reusable baskets, boxes and make-up cases are filled with an array of soaps, bath salts and lotions often with scrubbies, nail brushes and sometimes manicure implements. These are often less than $20.
The major skin-care companies have entered the seasonal gift market with zippered plastic make-up cases containing cleansers, toners and lotions, often full-sized and at a price greatly reduced than buying them separately. Neutrogena, Dove, Olay, Garnier, Nivea and St. Ives all have products available in these kits this year.

Philosophy, Bliss, Fusion and many other high-end skin care lines also make these today at slightly higher prices. Fragrance sets are a holiday-season tradition – soap or shower gel, lotion and (usually”> a bottle of eau de toilette come boxed for easy gift giving. These are often accompanied by a miniature of the perfume, a luxe make-up bag or piece of jewelry (like the Jewelry Box Set from Lolita Lempicka – $60 at Sephora”>. If you don’t know the fragrance taste of the woman (or man”> for whom you’re buying, many perfume houses offer miniature sets of their top sellers – Dior, Gauthier, Elizabeth Arden are just a few.

Sephora has scent-sampler boxes for him and her this year. Each box contains 10 samples of the store’s best-selling women’s and 8 for men’s fragrances for $50. Inside is a gift certificate for the recipient to take to their local Sephora to redeem for a full-size bottle of the scent of their choice.
Color makeup kits have become a holiday staple for every major makeup company. MAC has had 2 dozen palettes and gift packs available since the end of October. Consider these offerings too:

Best of Benefit – Eye Bright Pencil, BADgal Mascara, Dallas blush. $46.

Stila Gift of Glow – Sun Bronzer, an eye shadow trio, lip glaze, 2 sample-size smudge pots and a liner brush.

Make Up Forever Diamonds Forever – eye shadow, mascara, liner and lip gloss in a reusable case. $49.

Smashbox Platinum Surge – soft lights blush/highlighter, an eye shadow quad and 2 lip glosses. $59.

Sephora’s Supermodel Kit – a sequined black clutch containing a mini Smashbox primer and O-Glow blush, Make Up Forever eye shadow #307, Stila lip glaze Brown Sugar, Sephora blush Apricot Plaisir and Diorshow mascara in black.

Hard Candy Delinquent Mini Nail Kit – 7 mini-bottles of nail polish with matching jelly rings. $25.

Pop Day to Play Wallet – 12 eye shadows and 12 lip glosses in a silver faux-crocodile clutch. $42.

Bare Escentuals Classic Rock Collection – shimmer powder, blush, mascara, eye shadow, lip gloss and 2 brushes along with a silver-white clutch. $59.

Too Faced Lights, Camera, Glamour Makeup Collection – a lighted case containing 8 eye shadows, 6 lip glosses, powder, bronzer, 4 highlighters, 2 eyeliners, 2 brow powders, 4 blushes and a mini-brush kit. $40.

Lorac Fairytale Life Makeup Collection Kit – 8 eye shadows, 2 blushes, 2 glosses, mini-mascara and eyeliner brush. $52.

If the budget allows, why not a spa day? Better yet – after all that shopping/planning/cooking/cleaning … book that spa day for yourself!

Happy Holidays!

Majoring in Curls
Email your questions to Aimee.

With the holiday season upon us, it’s tradition to attend gatherings and New Year’s festivities. It’s one of the few times in the entire year when you can splurge on a new dress or shoes. They’re necessities, of course!

Along with brand-new outfits comes the dilemma of how to give your hair a little holiday flair. Most curlies I know (myself included”> have tried-and-true “fancy” updos they can whip up for any occasion. Although curls tend to look gorgeous no matter what you do with them, sometimes there’s an uncontrollable urge to use hair accessories! But what’s the best way to use them?

Colorful barrettes, funky hair pins, and classy hats are so much fun to play with and provide a perfect compliment to your outfit. But it’s all in how the hair wears it, especially when the situation calls for a classy look.

For a holiday soiree, sparkle is definitely acceptable. Bobby pins adorned with crystals or elaborate metal barrettes are an effortless way to look amazing. Sometimes all you need is one stunning piece placed in your regular ‘do to create something spectacular.

If you’ve got a lot of sparkle in your hair, avoid too much glitz in your makeup. It’s all about balance.Headbands also look great on almost any face and hair cut — from short, super kinky hair to long waves. Try out different widths and materials to find one that suits your curls the best. The one thing that might cause a problem is pushing on a headband tight to your scalp and trying to pull the hair into place with the band. As lovely as that looks on straight-haired girls, it ruins the curl pattern and strains the locks. Instead, try lowering the band on from above, right into the curls. If there’s too much hair in front of the face, pull out the bobby pins and pin the hair back over the band in random spots. Or try a stretchy band, like one from This is J.

For a party that calls for a classier look — maybe a staff party or university gathering — you can use pretty much anything as well. But tone down the color and glam a little. For example, instead of using hair sticks to create a French chignon, use neutral-colored bobby pins and attach a thin, jeweled barrette in the crease. If you’re creating an updo that pulls most of the hair back from your face, be careful it doesn’t look too severe. By gently teasing out the little wispy pieces, they’ll frame your face. It softens the look without being too casual.

Any occasion calls for a few rules that apply to most curlies. Go easy on the hairspray! If you want to keep her curls in place, opt for one designed for curly hair, like Curlisto Structura Spray. A few gentle spritzes should do the trick. It will avoid the crunchy feel curls and still help retain shape.Resist the temptation to touch your hair! If you keep checking it or try to fluff it back into place, it will only create lots of frizz and volume. Carry a small spray bottle in your purse with a taming product, and give the curls a few spritzes throughout the night. It’ll refresh the tresses and keep you going for a few more dances!

Check out the new accessories from France Luxe and Colette Malouf Ion CurlMart!

Tina Turner was a wigless and weaveless Anna Mae Bullock when she was born November 26, 1939. But when she grew up, hooked up with Ike and hit the road as Tina Turner, sightings of her real hair was history. A few years back I wrote about Tina’s relationship with her hair that appears in my book, “Nappyisms: Affirmations for Nappy-Headed People and Wannabes.” I’d like to share those musings with you:

I have always admired Tina Turner.

I admire Tina for her uninhibited stage presence and for having the sexiest set of legs on the planet.

I admire her for finally finding the courage to leave Ike.

But what I have found most intriguing about Tina was the special bond she had with her wigs.
No matter what wild gyrations my favorite rock diva executed during her high-octane performances, her wigs always held tight.

Tina was one of those sisters who wasn’t about to let anyone see what was really going on with her roots. I often wondered whether she used some sort of special adhesive to keep her chosen hair in place.

During television interviews, she was always fond of flipping and tossing her false tresses. I was a teenager when I watched those interviews and worried that she would accidentally hit a snag and expose what she didn’t want anyone to see.

Back in those days, one of the most mortifying things that could happen to black women who wore a wig was to have it fall off accidentally or be snatched off during a fight. Back then, we wore wigs not only to make a fashion statement but to cover up our naps. We were crazy like that.

I am convinced that fear of “wig shift” and nap exposure is what kept the Supremes, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Aretha Franklin and other soul divas of those days from moving around too much when they performed.

But Tina never worried about wig shift. Her wig had such a grip that it even withstood the Proud Mary test.

For those too young to remember, “Proud Mary” is the rock-and-roll tune that Tina began by singing the words, “nice and easy.” Toward the end of the song, she would lead her backup singers in a wild, rough and frenzied dance. But through all of Tina’s wailing, flailing and strutting all over the stage, her hair remained firmly anchored.

A reporter for the Swiss News interviewed Tina, who lives in Europe, about her hair. According to the article, Tina described her wigs as being a part of her. She said that she purchases her hair from Spain and has it cut, colored and shaped to her specifications.

Tina is so attached to her wigs that she even wears them when she is puttering around her homes in Zurich, Switzerland and the south of France.

But Tina doesn’t put her hair through the grueling workout that she used to when she was on the road.

She is now in her 60s, and after doing countless concert tours and selling more than 180 million records, she is taking it “nice and easy.”

To mark her retirement, Tina made some changes in her lifestyle. Instead of “rolling on the river,” she spends more time relaxing by the Riviera. She has given up the flashy attire that suited her rock queen stage persona and replaced it with a wardrobe that is more low-keyed and comfortable.

But Tina hasn’t let retirement go to her head. She still hasn’t let go of her wigs.

That is certainly her choice.

But even though the former Anna Mae Bullock of Nutbush, Tenn. would rather flaunt her mane from Spain, the Swiss News revealed something that suggests that she has not strayed too far away from her roots.

According to the article, the real hair underneath Tina’s wig is styled into a bunch of little baby locks!

That’s right. Tina is a closet dread head!

Maybe we can convince her to come out of retirement long enough to perform Proud Mary one more time and rock her natural locks.

That may never happen. But we can only hope that one day she’ll let the poor babies come out long enough to get some air!

Q: My daughter is a 3b, I think. Back in April, her hair starting coming out around the edges. The doctor prescribed her Nizoral and Selsun Blue. I used it twice and noticed the texture of her hair was changing. I immediately stopped using it, but within a week’s time, I noticed her hair started breaking off. The breaking has not stopped yet. I first told the doctor and she told me that Nizoral can sometimes cause breakage. So she recommended olive oil and mayonnaise. That didn’t work. Then a beautician recommended using another product. That didn’t work. Now she is getting treatments once a week to repair her hair. But that doesn’t seem to be working either. Her hair is extremely dry, brittle and it looks very wiry. Her hair is usually very curly, thick and long. Now it’s a lot thinner, and it seems the breaking is only getting worse. Anytime I run my fingers through it, I get strands of her hair. Please help! Is there ANYTHING out there that can stop the breakage or even remotely get it back to the texture it use to be.

Cozy: This is a very difficult question to answer, especially without knowing the age of your daughter. But the first thing that comes to mind is your child’s diet. Does she take any vitamins? I would keep a journal of her daily food intake and possibly meet with a nutritionist. Second, I would talk with a dermatologist. Her problem sounds like more of a medical issue than an actual “hair” issue. While you are trying to get to the root of the problem, try to be very gentle with her hair so you don’t damage it more. Avoid tight elastics, wash infrequently to retain natural oils and use a generous amount of conditioner in her hair to keep it moisturized.

Q: My daughter has such thick hair. It almost looks like some sort of wig! She hates me touching her hair, but I have to wet it down with a spray bottle and put on a lot of gel to cut down some of the “bigness.” My husband is a barber and he cut a lot of layers into it and keeps it short. Any suggestions on cut and product?

Cozy: You are smart to ask about a cut and products for your daughter’s hair. The proper cut can make all the difference! A common mistake with thick curly hair is to try to “tame” it with a lot of layers. Very often, that will backfire and create that wig look you are describing. In my experience, longer hair with long layers will help avoid that “bigness” you are referring to. The right product is also very important. Try So Cozy Groovy Grape Styling Gel. It is alcohol free, so it won’t dry out the hair, but it will help maintain the natural curl and avoid frizz. Scrunch it into wet hair after bathing and let her hair dry naturally (or use a diffuser”>. You can also use it on dry hair to refresh the curls during the day.

Q: With my fine but thick and frizzy curly hair and my husband’s coarse thick curly hair, we knew our kids would have some major hair issues. We knew we’d have a hat baby — a baby that needs a hat all the time cause his hair is uncontrollable. I have no clue what to do with my baby’s hair. He has my texture, but it’s extremely dry in some areas. It’s coarse in one spot and frizzy. He has a huge mohawk with hair that’s pretty long. I put baby oil on it but it doesn’t help much. I’ve tried not washing it as often but then it looks dirty. Any suggestions?? If he was a girl, I’d actually put it in a ponytail right in the middle of his head. But, as a boy, i don’t think it would look right.

Cozy: Your son absolutely needs a haircut! A baby’s hair does not grow in evenly. Call ahead to a salon and find out who they would recommend to cut your baby’s hair and schedule an appointment with that person. Make the appointment at a good time for your child (not during nap time or when he is hungry”>. Bring along a few toys, a snack or a book to keep him busy and distracted during the haircut. Bring a spare t-shirt in case he doesn’t want to wear the cape. Don’t forget to save the first lock for your scrapbook!

Q: My daughter is in kindergarten and totally hates her hair. She is the only little girl in her class with curls, so she feels different. Because we live in a humid area, it gets really frizzy, which only makes her feel worse about it. How can I help her feel better about it? What styles are good for a child with baby fine, curly hair. What products do you recommend?

Cozy: It’s not easy being different than everyone else. But you need to help her embrace her curls and appreciate them. In order to do that, you need to enhance her curls and get rid of the frizz. When her curls are looking good, she will be able to enjoy them. This took me many years myself! She is so lucky to have someone to help her understand this. Generally speaking, putting some long layers into her hair will enhance the curls. Since you say she has baby fine hair, I would make sure to use a very light styling product that will eliminate frizz without weighing her hair down. Try So Cozy Kooky Kiwi Styling Cream. You can scrunch it into her hair either wet or dry. Never brush her hair, this will create frizz. Rather, comb hair with wide tooth comb when in the tub to remove knots. I recommend combing her hair in the tub while using So Cozy Lucky Lime PreDetangling Treatment. It will remove tangles and condition at the same time, and it smells great too.

Q: Do bangs work with curly hair or not? I want to try something new with my 5-year-old daughter’s tight ringlets.

Cozy: It is very difficult to wear bangs properly with curly ringlets. Instead, try long layers. This will help give her hair a different style, yet will work well with the ringlets.

Q: I don’t like to wash my second-grade daughter’s hair at night because it gets all frizzy and pouffy by morning. But I don’t want her leaving the house in the morning with her hair wet. Is it okay to blow dry a child’s curly hair? If I do, should I use a diffuser?

Cozy: It is fine to blowdry curly hair, but only with a diffuser. There is an alternative to washing her hair in the morning. She should sleep with a loose ponytail or braid, to help prevent her hair from getting out of control overnight. In the morning, you can scrunch in some So Cozy Kooky Kiwi Styling Cream. This will help to reactivate her natural curls and get rid of the frizz from overnight.

Note: Julia Rizzo has entered her freshman year at Cornell University where she will continue to write about being a curly teen.

Every month, before I sit down to write this column, I grab a pencil and paper and I spend some time brainstorming. I write down any topic that comes to mind. Some are practical or motivational. Others are outlandish and obscure. Then I pick my column topic from the list.

At home, I frequently seek my family’s advice at the dinner table But since leaving for college, I use a web cam to connect to “the fam.” This month, when I asked them if they had any ideas for my November column, their responses immediately turned silly. They shared every ridiculous idea they could think of, and suddenly offbeat stories and amusing comments were springing up left and right. So I’ve gathered together all the crazy things that I thought were too “out there” to put in a column, and the result is a column on my Curly Teen Scene ideas that never quite made it — until now.

The Unlikely Advantages of Curly Hair

As soon as I mentioned I was looking for a couple of ideas, my mother immediately suggested that I should talk about how “curly hair can be used as a storage unit,” citing the fact that I frequently stick pens and pencils in my bun absentmindedly. My siblings also had their own suggestions. According to them, having curly hair increases your chance of being cast as the lead in Annie or hired as a circus clown. It was the general consensus that having curly hair is useful for predicting the weather, as it has a tendency to grow exponentially as the amount of moisture in the air increases. It also keeps your head warm as the temperature drops — something my brother cites as an advantage over his soccer teammates with buzz cuts.

Our Classmates’ Unusual Misconceptions

My siblings and I have had heard some unusual ideas about what having curly hair is like. We’ve all had acquaintances test whether or not small, airborne projectiles will bounce off our hair (to the kid who threw the paper airplane at my head the other day, the answer is NO”>, and we’ve been asked if they hurt (yes”>. Curly hair isn’t a force field, people! Other eyebrow–raising questions we’ve been asked include “If you shave your head, will it grow back straight?” and “Do you hide stuff in there?”

My friend Allison and I discovered another strange phenomenon — no matter how often we bathe and no matter how well styled our curls are, our straight-haired counterparts can’t seem to get over the fact that we don’t own a hairbrush. When was the last time we brushed our hair? We can’t remember. How do we keep our hair detangled? With our fingers and some leave-in-conditioner. They think we’re joking.

Over the last few years I’ve realized there is a kinship among anyone who has ever felt a little different because of their curly hair. Do any of these kooky comments sound familiar to you? Do you have goofy curly hair stories of your own? I’d love to hear your questions, comments, and ideas for new column topics. Click the link on the left-hand side of the page and send me an email. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

Stay Curly,

Julia

---

Email your questions to Julia.

Majoring in Curls
Email your questions to Aimee.

Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday of all. I love it more than Arbor Day, Valentine’s Day, the 4th of July, and even more than Christmas.

A lot of the Thanksgiving love comes from the well-founded myth, that any calories one consumes upon a day of celebration do not ever add to one’s waistline. Ok, I made that one up, but it’s not considered completely gluttonous to gorge a little bit on Thanksgiving. Also love the fact that I get to see my family and hang out with them, if only for a couple days until I head back to school. And I can’t tell you how much I adore the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

But the best thing for me about Thanksgiving is the being thankful part. At dinner, my family goes around the table and everyone has to say what they’re thankful for. I’m always grateful that everyone is healthy and safe. And of course we’re all thankful for good food, close friends and great opportunities.

Now let’s look at it from a curly girl’s point of view.

In the first place, I’m thankful to have a head full of curly hair. It’s one of the things about me that makes me, me! When I straighten my hair (which happens once in a blue moon”>, I feel like something’s missing and incomplete. Instead of complaining about my hair when it’s humid, or envying my friends’ pin-straight hair, I remind myself that I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I’m also grateful that people in this world are increasingly appreciative of the natural qualities in a person’s appearance. It’s no longer the case that to be considered attractive you need to be need to be slim, toned, tanned and straightened.

I’m thankful that I’ve been blessed with a rather large family, most of whom have curly hair as well. Having two sisters, a mom, a brother, a grandma, and a great-grandmother who have all gone through the same curly struggles is a blessing. We share de-frizzing tips, horrific haircut stories and have witnessed each other curl transformations over the decades.

I think in general, many U.S. women take for granted the amazing freedom we have. I’m grateful to live in a country where I’m not persecuted for wearing certain clothes and hairstyles, or for being a woman. There are so many females who suffer daily, and I give thanks for being free to be a woman. I have the choice to wear my hair up or down, curly or straight, mohawk or clean-shaven, and no one can take that from me.

We need to be thankful every day of our lives, and not just on Thanksgiving. We can be thankful for big things, like family and friends, but it’s not shallow to also be thankful for curly hair, cute noses, and freckles. As a society, we tend to take a lot for granted.
So eat your turkey, slice up some pie, do some high-kicks with the Rockettes, and show off your curls on Thanksgiving! Live it up and happy holidays!

The sea is calming and exhilarating at the same time. It is one of the Earth’s most spectacular natural features. Whether you’re swimming, basking on the beach or taking a brisk walk along the shore, being near the ocean makes us feel healthier, both mentally and physically.

The same can be said about hair and skin-care products that contain one of the ocean’s most important elements: seaweed.

I enjoy products that I formulate using sea kelp, a type of seaweed. I find the smell to be reminiscent of holidays at the seashore. After using bath products containing sea salts and seaweeds, I leave the tub feeling revitalized, tingly and nourished.

This article will focus on seaweed because it appears in many different hair products. It is definitely something we curly tops should consider adding to our daily beauty regimens.

There are many different types of seaweed. Following is a list of healthful, readily available types of seaweed you might find in hair products:

Kelp (Alaria esculenta”>

Kelps include wakame and kombu (Laminara japonica kombo”>, and are sometimes called bladderwrack. Kelps contain alginic acid, which detoxifies by removing heavy metals, radioactive isotopes from the digestive tract and bones as well as toxins from the hair. Kombu is being investigated for the low breast cancer rate in post-menopausal Japanese women. Evidence suggests it may reduce estrogen, and lower estrogen levels provide less fuel for estrogen-dependent cancers like breast cancer. Kombu contains vitamins A, B, B12, C, and E, which is part of the reason it nourishes the hair. Kelp is added to various foods like sushi and miso soup. It also is wonderful in hydrotherapy. I recommend the dried, cut and sifted kelp as an additive for healing sea salt bath soaks.

Dulse (Rhodymenia palmata”>

Dulse is a type of kelp similar to black-strap molasses. Dulse is very high in iron. It also is high in calcium, which is one of the most abundant mineral elements in the body, helping with strength and vitality.

Irish Moss

(Chondrus crispus”>

Irish Moss, also called carrageenan, is a stabilizing and gelling agent in many foods, including puddings, soups and ice cream. Today, with the call from consumers for no animal products, and no products that have been tested on animals, it is being used to stabilize shampoos, conditioners, gels and other hair care products. Irish moss is frequently used cosmetically as a hair gel.

Spirulina

Spirulina is blue-green micro-algae containing beta-carotene, an important antioxidant. Its green color is from chlorophyll. Dried, sifted spirulina is added to smoothies, soups and teas by the level teaspoon. It is used in some weight sustaining and weight-loss formulas. In addition to its use in hair-care and skin-care products, Spirulina is used to boost immunity and fight diseases such as cancer, AIDs and diabetes.

Consuming Seaweed

With greater availability of Asian foods, we are blessed with the opportunity to consume more seaweeds, particularly in Japanese dishes such as Miso and maki (Japanese seaweed and rice rolls”>. Eaten regularly, seaweeds help combat several cancers, including those of the breast, ovaries and uterus. They also help with other feminine concerns, such as mastitis when breastfeeding, irregular menstrual cycles, fibroids and ovarian cysts, infertility, PMS and menopausal problems. It is a good source of calcium for the lactose intolerant. Seaweed also helps regulate the thyroid, which in turn regulates the metabolism, conditioning the digestive system and helping reduce or maintain weight.

Consuming seaweeds helps health and beauty by improving over-all vitality, encouraging healthy cell growth renewal and and improving the hair’s strength, shine and growth because when we are healthy on the inside, it shows on the outside.

Seaweed’s Helpful Qualities: Hair and Skin Care

Hair and Skin Conditioning: emollient, defining and softening curls.

Nourishment: trace mineral supplement, rejuvenating and aphrodisiac.

Preventive: anti-oxidant, anti-toxic, antibacterial and disinfects.

Treatments: pain, nervous conditions burns.

Cell-renewing: cultivaties a healthy scalp

Tips for seaweed as a natural beauty ingredient: Look for dried, cut, sifted, pulverized kelp, or dried Irish Moss. Chlorophyll and some seaweed come in liquid form as well.

Sweet Water Wash

This is an overall cleanser (body wash”>, and conditioning shampoo. The African sea goddess and god Yemaya-Olokun inspire Sweet Water Wash. It combines sea kelp, Irish moss, perfumed with an ocean fragrance.

1 cup distilled water ½ cup soapwort root ½ cup powdered Irish moss ¼ cup powdered sea kelp ¼ cup coconut milk ¼ cup lavender water

1 teaspoon ocean scent (skin-safe fragrance oil”>

Bring distilled water close to a boil. Add soapwort root; reduce heat to low and simmer 30 minutes. Remove from heat and steep an additional 15 minutes; strain through a sieve or coffee filter held over a non-reactive bowl. Return infusion to the pot and bring close to a boil. Add Irish moss, a tablespoon at a time, stirring vigorously with each addition. When finished adding all moss, reduce heat to low. Cover and allow thickening for a half hour. Then strain again.

Whisk together the coconut milk and lavender water. Then continue to whisk add soapwort infusion. Add sea kelp, one tablespoon at a time. until smooth. Then add in ocean scent (available here“>. To use, wet hair and add a small amount, lather and rinse. Wash the body in the same manner.

Store in sterile, dry, capped bottle with squeeze top, in the refrigerator. (Makes about 10 ounces; shelf life: 1 week”>.

Irish Moss Hair Gel

This natural gel will not flake or encourage dandruff. It adds body and shine and can be created for a fraction of the price of commercial hair gels.

1 teaspoon Irish moss

¾ cup water ¼ cup grain alcohol or vodka

1 teaspoon essential oil of your choice

Dissolve 1 teaspoon Irish moss in water. Put in pot and bring to a boil. Stir. Reduce heat to medium and simmer 8 more minutes. Then remove from heat. Whisk in vodka and scent. Whisk again. Leave to thicken overnight, or about 8 hours. Apply natural gel to freshly washed hair, divided into small sections. It will help define curls and hold hair into smooth up-dos or chignons. Or you can use it as you would a commercial setting lotion to set your hair in curlers before going under the dryer.

Herbal Sea Soak

This recipe combines the healing properties of Dead Sea salt, seaweeds and a green-blue crisp scent created from a hair-nurturing blend of essential oils.

2 cups Dead Sea Salt

¼ cup cut and sifted kelp

2 tablespoons pulverized dulse

2 tablespoons pulverized Iceland moss

1 tablespoon cut and sifted dried rosemary

1 tablespoon cut and sifted, pulverized dry lavender buds

10 drops Scottish pine essential oil

8 drops lavender essential oil

6 drops juniper essential oil

4 drops vetiver

Place salts, seaweeds and dried herbs in a non-reactive bowl such as Pyrex or stainless steel. In a separate small Pyrex bowl, drop in individual essential oils (from their individual droppers”>; swirl to mix. Pour oils over salt, seaweed herb mixture. Stir with a stainless steel spoon. Add to a clean, dry glass jar with top. Shake gently each day for two to three weeks. Add one cup to bath. (Makes enough for two baths; shelf life is three months if kept in a cool, dry location”>.

Q: I have an 11-month-old daughter. Her hair was super straight as a baby, and now it is very curly. My hair is curly, but I am a 3b. My daughter is a 3c/4a. I’ve been putting coconut oil and moisturizing lotion on her (like my mom did with me when I was a child”>, but it’s still very dry on the sides and back. Could you please tell me what I can do to keep her hair looking moist all day? I know her hair could look so nice, with the proper care. What products can I use and where can I get them?

Cozy: It sounds to me like you are doing all the right things. Coconut Oil and moisturizing lotion are both great You may want to add a great conditioner like So Cozy Sweet Strawberry Conditioner into her routine. Here’s the special trick. Instead of rinsing it all out, leave in a little, especially in the areas on the sides and back that are the driest.

Q: I have an 18-month-old daughter who has 4a/b hair. The front of her hair is more 3c/4a but most of it is in the 4s, which means it’s very dry. This is my first child and I’m not sure if I’m supposed to be doing her hair every day. I might have her hair in little braids or 4 pony tails for two weeks and then I let her hair rest for a week in one or two ponytails. Is it necessary to redo her hair every day even if we don’t go anywhere? I feel I need to do something because her hair needs moisture, but don’t want to put stress on her hair by doing the style all over again.

Cozy: You are absolutely right to keep her styles in for a couple of weeks. This will definitely help to keep her hair in a healthier condition. Use coconut oil to help moisturize.

Q: I need help with my 2-year-old daughter. She has curly ringlets from the chin down. The crown is as flat as can be. I didn’t think I was curly until a friend had me put products in my hair. Wow was I amazed! So I was thinking this might be the same for my daughter’s hair. What products should I use, and how do I get her to let me touch her hair? She won’t let me near it?

Cozy: It is true that using the right products will make all the difference. But a proper cut is equally important. Perhaps your daughter need a few layers to help enhance her curls. That and some So Cozy Kooky Kiwi Styling Cream should really help. Do not brush her hair after her bath. Instead, wring out excess water and “scrunch” in some styling cream. Let her hair dry naturally or use a diffuser on your blowdryer.

Q: I have naturally curly hair which I inherited from my Mom, who inherited it from my Grandfather. It is very thick and frizzy! I have tried everything to tame it: long, short, shoulder length; gel, hair spray, mousse; wearing it down, wearing it up, wearing it down with the top up. Nothing works! I will be starting high school next year (I’m 13″> and I really want to have nice, manageable hair!

Cozy: Thick and frizzy hair is certainly a challenge to tame, but very doable! First, a proper cut is critical. Call your local salon and find out what stylist they recommend to work with curly hair. Some stylists are better with curly hair than others. Second, take a look at your hair-care routine. You should NEVER, EVER brush or comb dry curly hair! That is what makes it frizzy. When you get out of the shower, you should squeeze out excess water and then “scrunch” So Cozy Groovy Grape Styling Gel into your hair, evenly distributing it throughout your hair. Keeping your hair moisturized will prevent frizz, so make sure that you are using a good leave-In Conditioner. Try So Cozy Fruity Delight Detangler & Leave-In Conditioner. You can spray it right in and it will help re-activate your curls when they start to dry out and get frizzy.

Q: I took my daughter, Julianne, to a hairstylist today to have the horrible matting and knots removed from her hair since it was beyond my ability. My poor child endured nearly an hour of painful tugging on her head while the stylist, whom we’ve seen before, worked to unravel the mess. Lots of conditioner and many tears later, Julianne is in a braid and doing fine. But I promised her she’d never have to go through that again. The stylist has suggested a perm to relax the hair and make it manageable. She wants to run the perm through the last few inches. I’m scared to death. We’d do a strand test first, of course, to check the result. What do you think of perms for little girls? I feel like we have few choices: Cut it short, relax it with a perm or suffer with knots, which isn’t an option at all.

 

Cozy: You didn’t mention how old your daughter is, but I’m not a fan of perms for young children. Instead, you need to get your daughter into a great maintenance routine that will help prevent her from getting to that horrible point of matted hair. Here are a few tricks: sleep with a loose braid to prevent tangling over night. Wear hair up when being active. A daily pre-detangling treatment in the tub will really help with daily maintenance. Get So Cozy Lucky Lime Pre-Detangler and a wide-toothed comb and comb through her hair in the bath everyday (or as often as you can”>. Daily maintenance is so important. In the morning before school you can use So Cozy Fruity Delight Detangler to gently remove any tangles that occurred over night. You can get the It Takes Two to Detangle Kit, which has both of those products plus a hook handle detangling comb (to hang in shower”> and a cute little rubber ducky.

Curly Teen Scene
Email your questions to Julia.

Note: High school columnist Julia Rizzo has entered her freshman year at Cornell University where she will continue to write about being a curly teen.

As I boot up my computer and sit down to type my column, I can’t help but remember writing last month’s column, sitting in the family room at my house, the sound of conversation and SportsCenter in the background. I took a break to eat dinner with my family, and then did a little packing.

I was packing because I was going to be leaving for college in a few days. I’m a freshman and it’s hard to believe I’ve been away for more than a month. As I meet new people I frequently hear “Oh, I love your hair! Do you ever straighten it?!?” Not really, I tell them, I prefer to wear it curly.

It’s strange, starting over, coming to a new place. For the first time I had the opportunity to fully reinvent myself. People only know what you tell them. They have no other insight into your past. I could become someone completely different.

There is my curly roommate who can’t believe how rarely (read: almost never”> I straighten my hair. We had an interesting conversation during our first week of classes when she realized I had curly hair, she assumed I’d be adept at using a flat iron and could help her (at home, her mother lent a hand”>. She told me this while she was straightening my hair, in the middle of our communal kitchen.

It was kind of an odd scene, so I’ll start from the beginning. We were getting ready to go out and she asked if she could straighten my hair. Wanting to get to know her better, plus a little curious about how I’d look, I assented. She plugged the flat iron into an outlet in our room and promptly blew a fuse. (I should have taken it as a sign.”> After getting some help resetting the circuit breaker, we relocated to the kitchen. After a considerable amount of time (and a few odd looks from people who came in to use the microwave”>, she was done. My new look went over well with my hallmates, but their reaction was different than how my friends at home would have responded to the new look. Since they didn’t know me very well, they weren’t aware of the significance of the change. Seeing my roommate, Cheryline’s, hair straight, and then curly, and then straight, they thought I styled my hair the same way. After I showed my friends this column, they made me promise to admit to my readers that I let my hair be straightened. So, in the interest of full disclosure, that’s what I’m doing!

My change in style was interesting, but it was kind of a relief to wash it the next day and have it revert back to curly. Cheryline quickly realized that I wasn’t going to be straightening my hair regularly. But I haven’t given up trying to convert her to a full time curly girl. I’m getting there.

Stay Curly,

Julia

The “smoky eye” is one of the most popular looks around as we head into fall, and the subsequent holiday party season. It’s a look that is easy too over- and under-do. But with some practice, and the right tools, you can easily master the look of a 1920s silent-film temptress in no time.

There is a myth that the smoky eye is a look achieved only with brown or grey/black eye shadows. The truth is that blue, green, purple – even burgundy – can all be used with great effect, depending on your own eye color and personal taste. Once you get comfortable with the technique, try mixing colors – green with black, brown with burgundy. And one I’ve done that is a bit peacocky is a mix of emerald green with navy blue and black.

Choose three shades for maximum effect: highlighter, base color and intensifier. Use a different (clean”> makeup brush for each color and another for blending. (A fifth brush – angled – can be used if you want to line with shadow instead of pencil.”> I like to use small brushes (Loew-Cornell Maxine’s Mop in the ¼-inch size”> for precise placement of each color.
When doing smoky eyes, it is advisable to put your eye makeup on first because of the higher likelihood of dark shadow falling out on your freshly made-up face. I put a layer of skin cream or silicone primer underneath my eyes to catch stray flakes of shadow, while other people prefer powder. Then I apply a primer to my lids: Benefit Lemon Aid is my choice, but every major makeup company makes a primer product today, including Smashbox and Laura Gellar.
If you are going to use false lashes (either single or strip”>, apply these before starting your makeup.
There are two techniques that can be employed to create a smoky eye. The first involves applying the darkest color at the outset and then adding lighter shades. The second is more traditional – going from lightest to darkest.
My favorite every day (yes, I wear this to work sometimes”> smoky eye starts with Naked Lunch swept from the inner third of my eyelid over the brow bone, Mulch over the outer 2/3 of the eye, Mystery or Chocolate Brown pigment in the crease. I line with Showstopper. All of these colors are made by MAC. I finish with a dot of MAC Gold Bit or Stila Kitten in the inner corner of my eyes.

Some products to try:

• Smashbox Master’s Class Expert Eyes Set – $59 at Sephora
• Pop Beauty Eye Class – Smokey Eyes – $32 at Sephora
• Bare Escentuals Tutorials – Lesson 1: Smoky Eye – $32
• Cargo Eye Shadow Palette – Ten Thousand Islands – $28
• Tarte Peep Show – Smoky Eye Palette – $37

Stila has a Smoky Eye Palette – $40 at Sephora – that not only has the perfect colors to create a lovely smoky eye; it also has a voice recording in the case that you can play back to learn how to apply the shades contained within. I also recommend YouTube as a source of information. Many young ladies post their makeup looks to this site along with detailed instructions on how to achieve what they have created. A quick search reveals over 200 such videos, including those of MAC makeup artist Chantal Miller for Ford Models.

Remember that practice makes perfect with the smoky eye. Try different colors on each eye, wash it off and start over until you find something you like.
Pair smoky eyes with a great nude lip – MAC Viva Glam V or Nars Dolce Vita lipstick. Though the daring could try red for an über-goth punk princess look!

***

It’s October again – Breast Cancer Awareness Month!Don’t just shop pink, volunteers are always needed to support fundraising events in your community.For more information:
http://www.breastcancer.org/
http://www.bcsc.ca/
http://www.nbcc.org.au/
http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/

I promised to share with my readers occasional updates about people or issues that were once involved in controversial hair matters — nappy hair issues in particular. I refer to these updates as my “Whatever Nappened to . . . .” reports.

My first offering is about Chicago Bulls basketball player Ben Wallace, formerly known as “Fear the ‘Fro.” Wallace, once known as the NBA’s “Most Valuable Defensive Player,” and also known for his wild and wooly Afro.

During his glory days as a Detroit Piston, Wallace’s Afro was as intimidating as his awesome moves on the court. Whenever Wallace made a particularly powerful slam dunk or slapped a shot out of the air, he made a point of directing attention to his ‘do. He claimed that his Afro was his source of power. He was the one who gave himself the nickname, “Fear the Fro!”

His fans in Detroit never disputed his boastful words. In fact, they frequently paid tribute to Wallace’s “mane” asset by showing up at games wearing oversized Afro wigs.

Wallace and his familiar ‘fro were also mentioned in the movie “Four Brothers,” which takes place in Detroit.

Wallace left the Pistons in July, 2006, and signed a four-year, $60 million contract with the Chicago Bulls. His disgruntled fans in Detroit fans balked and sarcastically changed his nickname from “Fear the ‘Fro,” to “Fear the Dough.”

Wallace’s playing skills haven’t diminished since he moved to Chicago, but his nappy crown hasn’t had the same fame in Chicago that it had in Detroit.

A few months after playing with the Bulls, he was pulled from a game against the New York Knicks in November 2006. His temporary suspension had nothing to do with his ‘do. It had everything to do with the ‘ornament’ that he wore in it.

Wallace was benched for wearing a red headband.

Wearing headbands was forbidden by Bulls head coach Scott Skills and general manager John Paxton Wallace knew that but decided to be hard-headed and wore one anyway. He said at the time that the only reason he violated the rule was to shake up the team. The Bulls were 4-9 in the early season. The next month, the Bulls went on to have a 14-3 month. He never wore the headband again.

Every year, around this time, I feel an urge to revamp myself. Something about going back to school makes me want to focus on my studies, be more outgoing or get in better shape. My room is clean, my books and school supplies are neatly organized, and I’m ready to face the world.

But sometime during the school year, this feeling fades. I find myself brushing my neglected hair out of my face with one hand while moving scattered stacks of paper from my bed onto the floor with the other.

My point (and I do have one”> is that we should maintain the pride and enthusiasm that comes so readily at the end of the summer, all year long. Yes, I don’t look forward to going back to school like every other sane teenager. But I also look forward to the possibilities the new year brings. Those possibilities, however, aren’t limited to the start of a new grade or a new school. We can find opportunities to create positive change at anytime, if we’re looking for them.

Maybe, for the first time, you make a promise to say nothing negative about your appearance. For me, this was a big step in accepting my curly hair. When I was 13 or 14 and received a rare compliment about my hair, I would brush it off with something like “It’s really hard to take care of” or “You’re just seeing it on a good day, I guess.” I tended to forget the positive things people said and focus instead on the negative. I do remember the time an older boy spit Pixy Stick sugar in my hair at summer camp and told me I needed a haircut. In hindsight, this may simply have been a slightly misguided 11-year-old’s attempt at getting a girl’s attention. But I was devastated. This memory easily eclipsed years of teachers and friends telling me positive things.

I’ve also learned that the way you perceive yourself affects the comments that you’re likely to absorb. This works both ways. If you’re convinced you’re ugly, stupid, or just a nerd, you’ll barely hear other’s statements to the contrary. If you know in your heart that you’re intelligent, uniquely beautiful, and just the right amount of nerd, (I embrace the bookworm in me”>, any negative comments from others will roll right off your back.

So whether you want to make a small change in your life or simply decide to think more positively, what matters is the way YOU view yourself, not the way others view you. My mom always used to say “I wouldn’t be happy if any of your friends said these mean things about you, so I’m not letting you say these negative things about yourself.” And you know what? She’s right.

Stay Curly,

Julia

---

Email your questions/comments to Julia.