april watts, au naturale, butter n jelly, charlene brown, coco lea, crochet designs, dc natural hair, go-go, H street festival, house music, mini me, mz sixx, paul wharton, releaxed, weaves, wigs

Mini Me: Natural Hair Model-H Street Festival

My mini me was a model in the H Street Festival Day held Sat in Washington DC. She was representing Coco Lea Crochet Designs ( Designer, Annette Williams) and Sophizticated Ladyz Hair Salon ( Celebrity Stylist, Charlene Brown 1010 H Street, NE-2nd Level, Washington DC). The H Street Festival is an annual street festival designed to showcase the unique qualities of this vibrant Washington, DC community. The event is a part of the revitalization strategy to bring attention to the developing arts and entertainment district at the eastern end of the H Street NE corridor. This year’s festival includes more than 30 musical and dance performances, an art car exhibit, two live performance stages that are produced by the Rock & Roll Hotel, a fashion show preview of DC Fashion Week, face painting, rock climbing, basketball games, carnival games, free popcorn, cotton candy, and dog tag making, a fully-loaded Hummer display, luxury car displays, free health screenings, crafts, and international foods.

The night before I co wash mini Me’s hair with conditioner, coconut milk, and honey. After co washing and moisturizing I completed a “faux hauk” look by using Butter N’ Jelly styling aid and applied 3 pony puffs along the center of the head with a 3 strand twist out in the front.

Charlene accented the faux hawk with a braid that wrapped through out the head-still spot lighting the natural hair style.




Milaki Conner applied the makeup ( the lighting wasn’t good in these pictures, however the make up was FLAWLESS and age appropriate).


Next up was the show!!!!! Mini Me ROCKED!!!!!! It had begun to rain, the runway was wet. She adjusted, kept the beat when the music changed mid walk, and gave the photographer what they wanted at the end of that runway. She RIPPED THAT RUNWAY!!!!!! I was very proud of her and was gleaming from ear to ear.. She almost made me wanna adorn my stilettos and rock out for old time sake ( lol..lol).




Mini Me met Paul Wharton ( model coach and member of the Dc Housewives Cast). He gave me lots of advice, advised me to keep mini me in the modeling game because she is a natural. He also said he could feel her confidence and she was a natural beauty ( yeah!).

We also had a opportunity to network with April Watts ( a multi-talented performer best known to audiences for her work hosting television and radio programs in the Washington, DC metropolitan market including her current gig on Magic 95.9 (radio) and WHW Rock ( indie talent showcase Produced and Hosted by April Watts)

I didn’t get an opportunity to capture additional photos. Along with being the mom-anger I was also assisting behind the scenes. There were some fierce models rippin the runway- BUT Mini Me was the ONLY CHILD/TEEN NATURAL!!!!! I love the fact that despite all the straight hair, weaves, and wigs she didn’t feel pressured to “look” like them. She said to me “Mommy, can you do my hair and make it big? ” I admire my munchkin for staying true to herself and rocking HER WAY! I love…love…love.. that my mini me looks up to me and I ‘m her role model. She is so much like me ( her smile, her personality, her confidence) – everyone that meet her in person always say ” she really is a mini you!”

Mini me brought along a friend for moral support ( I ended up putting her to work..lol..lol..). After the show we walked up and down H street looking at all the vendors, and the food that was available for purchase. Despite the rain and the cool weather it was a great day!!!!


S/N: With the festival being held in DC I was expecting to hear Go-Go the entire day-that wasn’t the case- there was a DJ there ROCKING HOUSE ( my 1st love).. WHEW it was giving me FEVER!!!!! Almost made me think I was 21 again partying at Nell’s.

Disclaimer: These images may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without the written permission of Mz. Sixx. Use of any image as the basis for another photographic concept or illustration (digital, artist rendering or alike) is a violation of the United States and International Copyright laws. All images are copyrighted © 2011 – Au’Naturale by Mz. Sixx.

coily, curlfriends, dc natural hair, dread locs, Facebook, girlfriends, hair accessories, jaspers, kee-kee, kinky curly, MD, meetup, miss sixx, naturals, Twitter, youtube

DMV Natural Hair Meetup- Recap

Last Saturday I co hosted and attended my 1st natural hair meetup with my sista Kee-Kee All Natural at Jaspers in Largo, MD. I had been wanting to attend a meetup for a while and when I saw her posting about the meetup she was working on- I contacted her and got on board! I wasn’t sure what to expect, what was suppose to happen, or what we would “talk” about for 3 hours, but I did know that I was extremely excited.!

When we initially advertivtised the meetup- the RSVP’s filled up in a few hours!!!! Alot of my Facebook and Twitter friends had their curls in a knot because all the RSVP’s were taken. We established a waiting list advertising that as space became available we would open up additional RSVP’s.



Days leading up to the event were stressful for me ( not really, but thats how I operate..lol..lol…). I really wanted all to have a GREAT time. Between working my full time job, family, and mixing products – THIS DIVA WAS TIRED.COM. The night before my daughter and I sorted the product samples from our sponsors and put together the gift bags.



Our sponsors


African Pride

http://www.african-pride.com

Au’Naturale by Mz. Sixx

http://www.etsy.com/shop/AuNaturalebymzsixx

Bo Beam

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Laquita33

Kee-Kee All Natural * certified natural stylist/braider *

Mobile: 202-315-8479

Email: ChiChiSophistication@comcast.net

Oyin Handmade

http://www.onyinhandmade.com/

Tailored For Naturals

http://www.tailoredfornaturals.com

Tropical Traditions

http://www.tropicaltraditions.com

Twisted Sista

http://www.twistedsista.com

Asaze Natural Hair Salon

Pooka Pure and Simple

http://www.pookapureandsimple.com

Madam Walker Braidery & School

Mobile: 301-505-5313

Imani Joy Naturals

http://www.IJNaturalHair.com



Defined Physique-Personal Training Studio

http://www.definedphysique.com/

I arrived at out venue 2 hours early!!!! lol..lol. I wanted to ensure that we had all the requested accommodations and set everything up. Beleive it or not I have a fear of public speaking, so I needed a cocktail of some sort just to introduce myself. Shortly after I arrived- the sky fell wide open and it rained cats and dogs!!!!!!

The control freak that I’am, I created little booklets that would serve as an agenda along as a “keepsake”. We’ll you know the ONLY thing(s) we did on the agenda was the welcome and introduction..lol..lol.. ( my “strutruced agenda quickly went out the window). lol..lol..

Once we all ordered food and had a couple of cocktails- we chatted about everything from natural hair, to grand children to cupcakes, and mishaps on the metro ( kee-kee- I will never forget that story 🙂 Before I knew it, we were product swapping, drawing numbers for door prizes and give aways, and having some good “curl friends” conversations, sharing tips, and tricks, laughing up a storm!

I made some new friends, chatted up with some old friends, and over all had a GRAND TIME!!!!!! Much love to all that attended, and Kee-Kee thank you so much for allowing me to be part of such a magnificent event.

au naturale, curly knots, dc natural hair, east african shea butter, frizzies, good hair, hair butter, loc's, miss sixx

Today is my 2 year loc anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!







It has been 2 years since I first began my locking journey! Every year my only wish is that I had begun it sooner. Being natural for about 10 years off/on prior to starting locks, I was able to experience all the ups and downs of having a thick head of tight coils to manage, style and love! It’s so interesting to see how my locks have changed over time…and how my love for all things natural have emerged!!!!!!

In 2008, after being laid off from my job in Human Resources- I took part of my first unemployment check and got comb coils all over my head. Because funds were SUPER-TIGHT I only saw my locthican 3 additional times after the initial visit. The last time being in March of 2008- when she performed my first wash (OMG- my head was begging to be washed.. OOOH.. I still remember that invigorating feeling of the peppermint shampoo penetrating through to my scalp) As she started to tighten my locs I asked her to turn me around in the mirror so that I could see exactly what she was doing. I knew that would be my last visit for a while- I could not afford to spend $75-$90 on maintaince- I was going to have to learn this on my own…..
I palm rolled them once a month with a black protein gel (that’s what the locthican used). I wasn’t happy with the “look” so I started using Mango and Lime products. Other than the scent I wasn’t much happier with that product.” Many of you remember me complaining of the amount of time it took me to retwist and I often wore them on top of my head as they grew because they weren’t mature yet and they weren’t long enough, (so I thought) to style them. It was all very new to me. So I invested in hand bands and scarves and turned to You Tube to seek assistance on how to rock a hand band and how to wrap my hair with scarves. I didn’t do much with them but watch them grow.

At 12 months, I was enjoying the fact that my hair could “hang” and “shake”! I continued to palm roll each month and especially loved the thickness of my hair. The locks were pretty uniform by way of size and I hadn’t lost any nor had any become too thin at the scalp where they would need to be combined

At 14 months, I was just beginning to experiment a bit more and I also had made some attempts to latch my own new growth. I could only get a few done then would get tired. I didn’t know what I was doing, although I watched many You Tube videos.. Mine looked NOTHING like there’s.. I tangled one so bad that I had to cut it.. My locs appeared a bit thinner than before, because when I palm rolled them, they were thick and fuzzy- and some of the length was gone…. Then I thought I would “trim” my frizzes- JACKED THAT UP TOO.. Needless to say- I no longer take scissors to my head.. NOPE.. I started visiting blogs and hair forums on what products to use. My head was a HOT AZZ MESS and it was all my fault.. What did I do?? Every week I was threatening (myself) to go to a barber, shave my head, and start over… Something held me back EVERYTIME (thank GOODNESS-hey DONI.. I was scared of you!!!!). I never knew anything about reading labels, avoiding petroleum, or mineral oil, etc.. I wasn’t doing my loc’s any justice.. What have I done.. ????

At 16 months, I began to play around with natural hair care recipes, started a blog and started creating my own products “ Au’ Naturale by Mz. Sixx ( http://etsy.com/shop/aunaturalebymzsixx). Before I knew it- I became the mixologist.. I began to re mix recipes, add my touch and experiment.. People was coming to me for advice, I became a member of several natural hair care forums, and began mastering my craft. I started trying different hair styles, attempted color (lol..lol..- don’t ask), and have a healthy head of BEAUTIFLY LOC’s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE THEM…LOVE THEM… LOVE THEM…

I cant believe I’m here- 2 years later.. After all the doubts, all the days when I wanted to cut off because I had an imagine of what my loc’s would look like (I realized- I had to let them do what they do- I cant change that) products are hot!, my hair is beautiful, and COMING SOON- The salon and store!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What? You didn’t know?? Oh yeah.. its coming doll.. the mixologist is grinding- and I owe it all to my loc’s!!!! Happy Anniversary

au naturale, baltimore natural hair, brown beauty blogger, dc natural hair, event, keepitsimplesista, miss sixx, mixology 101, oyin handmade productds

YOUR INVITED: Oyin Handmade Event

Whether you have natural hair, relaxed hair or locs, Oyin Handmade cordially invites you to spend the day with us on Saturday August 29, 2009. We’ll have hot music to vibe to, independent movies playing in the media section, hand massage and on the spot hair analysis! Yep, no matter your hair type, length, and regardless of your age or gender, we’ll hook you up with what your hair (and body!) needs. Plus, there are hot tee’s, handbags, independent Black music, art and literature.

Oyin Handmade is launching a few new products, including Honey Water! This moisturizing mist for the body is simply delish and leaves the skin feeling well nourished. It comes in four scents, Black Cedar Fig, Coco Mango, Rich Almond and Original Honey Scent. Also, there’s a brand new cleanser, black soap cleansing gel. This unscented gel is deep cleansing, hydrating and it’s packed with antioxidants. Want to glow from the inside? Here you go! Plus, we are officially launching the 32 oz. bottles of the infamous Honey Hemp Conditioner! It’s about time, right? I can wax off a bottle of conditioner in no time, so this is definitely a must for me! I say this all the time, but I really wish I found this condish when I was still relaxed! It’s so jam packed with healing ingredients, it may have helped save my hair. Ah well, I have it now!

Here are the details!
Who: You and The Oyin Gang
What: The Honey Water Launch Party
Where: 2103 N. Charles St, Baltimore, MD
When: August 29, 2009 2-5pm (The store is open from 12-7)
Why: Because we love you and your hair!

For more information on the brand, check out http://www.oyinhandmade.com.

au naturale, baltimore natural hair, braidery, dc natural hair, image awards, Madam Walker, maryland, meetup, miss naturrale, miss sixx, natural hair

Madam Walker Braidery S.E.L.F Image Awards

When: September 12, 2009 7:00 PM

Where:
Colony South Hotel
7401 Surratts Rd
Clinton, MD 20735
301 856 7500 or 301 856 3343

For more details, see the full listing:
http://www.meetup.com/Baltimore-Natural-Hair-Locs-Sisterlocks/calendar/10926133/

You can always get in touch with me through the “Contact Organizer” link on Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/Baltimore-Natural-Hair-Locs-Sisterlocks/suggestion/

au naturale, baltimore natural hair, dc natural hair, headbands. natural hair, meetup, miss sixx, natural hair, natural happily day, sisterlocs

7th Annual Happily Natural Day

When: August 29, 2009 11:00 AM

Where:
Nubian Villiage Academy
2022 Sledd Street
Richmond, VA 23221
(804) 329-3900

For more details, see the full listing:
http://www.meetup.com/Baltimore-Natural-Hair-Locs-Sisterlocks/calendar/10925758/

You can always get in touch with me through the “Contact Organizer” link on Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/Baltimore-Natural-Hair-Locs-Sisterlocks/suggestion/