Search Results: Hotlanta

Atlanta, GA -One of the nation’s largest hair shows combined with the nation’s largest cheerleading competition at the Georgia World Congress Center. At first glance, these two enormous groups didn’t appear to have much in common. But both groups—from the pint-sized cheerleaders to the veteran stylists—shared an obsession: hair. Ponytails were flying as thousands of cheerleading and dance squads from around the country gathered in Atlanta 2011 National Cheerleading & Dance Championship. Some ponytails were straight, and some were curly. Whether a squad should go straight or curly—and squads must all wear the same style—could make or break their squads’ chance at victory. On one squad’s web site, this weighty decision was to be left up to all parents and guardians. “We will let you know the results of those votes and whether or not your child’s team will/will not need to purchase cheer curls for competition. Families are responsible for ordering their own set of cheer curls.” “It’s whatever looks cleanest,” Emily White, who coaches the Georgia Elite All Stars of Atlanta. “It’s every important how the bow looks and how the bobby pin looks. And you have to keep the flyaways back. Curls just look sloppier.” Obviously many other coaches disagreed, judging from the abundance of cheer curls sprouting from heads all over the convention center. Different girls use different techniques to get their “cheer curls.” There are those who use curling irons and those who use sponge rollers and those who use products like CurlFormers and those who use The Wand. And some use curly hairpieces. In many cases, the process of achieving those curls can take more than two hours and an abundance of hair spray. Rochelle, whose squad traveled from Buffalo, NY, for the competition, has naturally curly hair. But to get the ideal curls, she must curl it—when it’s dry—using a 3/4-inch curling iron to reform the curls. Then she uses a flat iron to straighten the top. And then she plasters it with hairspray. How long does this take? “A long time,” says Rochelle. How important are cheer curls? So important that an entire industry has emerged. There are companies that make curly hairpieces for cheerleaders, like Cheerswirls and Cheerleaderhairpieces.com. Many cheerleading supply magazines now carry hair products for cheerleaders, including hair ties with fake hair attached. These pieces are great to use for competitions because they are easy to attach to the head and require little maintenance. Kippan and Amelia from Asheville, N.C., explained the process of using the Wand to get cheer curls. “I like twirl it and leave it for like 10 seconds and then it’s like really curly,” says Amelia. “Our team must have curls!”

Atlanta, GA – It was big news at Bronner Brothers, the convention. Bronner Brothers, the brand, unveiled its NuExpressions Naturals for Natural Hair product line—a 4-piece collection that consists of Scalp-Ale Shampoo Spray, BLT Twist Cream, Braid & Lock Oil Spray Oil and BLT Twist Cream For Braids, Locks & Twists. If ever there was a doubt that natural hair is being taken seriously, the doubt was erased at Bronner Brothers in Atlanta, a 4-day convention that attracts more than 60,000 hairstylists, exhibitors, distributors and cosmetology professionals. Over the past six decades, the convention has gained a reputation for its exciting, jaw-dropping extravagance. This year, for example, six of the most sought-after stylists are dueling in a boxing ring at the “Hair Battle Royale” for $20,000. Bronner Brothers is recognized as the largest beauty and trade show of its kind in the world—an Atlanta institution celebrating 64 years of family tradition, African-American pride, family unity and creative hair. In past years, much of the focus was on highlighting ways to relax natural texture rather than enhance it. But this year, many of the exhibitors showcased products for natural hair. They included smaller boutique brands such as Jane Carter Solution, Shea Moisture and Black Onyx World. But brands including Design Essentials, Softsheen-Carson, Mizani and Bronner Brothers also showed off their natural hair offerings. An entire series of classes at the show is focused on natural hair techniques—classes like “Dynamic Hair,” “The Art of Natural Hair,” “Natural Reaction” and “Innovative Styling for Natural and Locked Hair.” “All Curls Are Not Created Equal,” taught by natural hair guru Taliah Waajid, was designed to teach stylists how to work with clients who are free from chemicals and those who want to transition their hair to its natural curl pattern. “When you leave this workshop, you will have everything you need to service all curly, wavy, kinky and coily textures of natural hair.”

Atlanta, GA—When CurlyNikki hosts a meetup, watch out!

Nikki Walton—and Baby Gia—spent a night surrounded by her hundreds of readers, who came from all over for the chance to meet the blogger and meet others with curls and kinks.

The event at the Livingston Bar at the Georgian Terrace Hotel went well into the night as the women talked hair, feasted on cupcakes and talked with Walton. One of the bar managers pulled us aside midway through, begging us to host another event because “I have never seen such a beautiful crowd of women.”

Walton was in town from Raleigh, N.C., to attend Bronner Brothers. It was a perfect chance to meet many women she has gotten to know on her blog.

One woman traveled from Maryland with her teenage daughter for the chance to meet Walton. It was a great chance for the teenager to see the beauty and confidence that come with celebrating natural texture.

After the event, Walton got an email from attendees that summed up the event. “I just wanted to email you and tell you THANK YOU SO MUCH for hosting the meetup in Atlanta tonight! The turnout was amazing! There were so many BEAUTIFUL heads of natural hair in one place—it was almost a little overwhelming. Everywhere I turned I was like, “I love her hair, and her hair, and her hair… oooo, and her hair, too!!”

Fro Fashion Week 2011