To Be or Not To Be Natural-Beautiful Textures has the Answer

Strength Of Nature Global Inc. Introduces

Photo Credit: Vaughn Dabney

Strength of Nature's new hair care collection, Beautiful Textures, was introduced to the Atlanta market on Monday, November 21 to a select group of media and beauty influencers at Bar ONE for an evening of curls, coils and cocktails. Beautiful Textures is designed specifically for women with mixed textured hair including curly, wavy, kinky-coily, and frizzy hair textures. Ladies, let's be honest, our hair has been through a mixture of ups and downs and I have gone from perm to natural and back again, but one thing that stays consistent along our journey for the ultimate hair-do is maintaining Healthy Hair.

After listening to the live Q & A sessions of women with various hair types and watching the live demonstrations, it's clear that Beautiful Textures is dedicated to helping you achieve amazing manageability and styling versatility. Kimberly Walker (Tress Talk: Multi-textural consulting firm), natural hairstylist, and brand ambassador for Beautiful Textures, sat down with me to discuss everything hair and her decision to go natural.

Sareena Beasley(SB): How important is Beautiful Textures to the natural hair care market?
Kimberly Walker (KW): It is extremely important. We are at a point now where people want to go natural, but they can't afford it. It's hard to pay your bills and pay an outrageous amount of money for a moisturizer. Beautiful Textures is an amazing product at an affordable price. All the products are under $7.00 and keeps your hair healthy and ready to face any type of weather because its not heavy on your scalp. All of your curly girl favorite ingredients are included throughout the entire product line. It was created with the African American woman in mind. This line is so versatile that it can handle any type of hair- from curly, wavy to kinky. You can't beat that!

SB: How long have you been natural?
KW: I have been natural for about 9 years.

SB: Why did you decide to go natural?
KW: I was tired of relaxing my hair and wanted to connect with what my real hair looked and felt like. I just started to grow out my perm, not really knowing what was going to happen. I saw some curls and said ok, I can do this, and cut the rest of the perm out my head.  

SB: Do you believe that people really understand the meaning and transition it takes to fully embrace a natural hairstyle?
KW: I always thought that going natural was somewhat of a movement. I take it very seriously, maybe because I am on the styling end. Honestly, I didn't realize how emotional it really was to be natural until one day someone wanted to change my hair. At first you think, it's just hair..it will grow back, but once you have worn natural hair for a certain amount of time it becomes a spiritual and emotional experience. Overall, I think people are starting to realize that there are all kinds of things that you can do with natural hair that others may have said couldn't be done. There is actually a curly boy movement going on as well and Beautiful Textures can accommodate their needs too.

SB: How does Beautiful Textures help your hair grow in addition to defining your curls?
KW: All of the ingredients are extremely nourishing for the hair. The overall goal is to achieve Healthy hair so it will grow, and this product line helps to maintain that moisture and protect your scalp to ensure growth.

SB: What Beautiful textures products would you recommend to someone that is transitioning to natural hair?

Photo Credit: Vaughn Dabney

KW: Shampoo and deep conditioner is number 1, because when you are transitioning your hair can be really tangled and weak as it begins to define where the curly hair starts, and the straight hair ends. The shine and silk&growth oil is also important in a leave in conditioner so you can still do your roller sets or twists. The collection comes complete with a Tangle Taming Moisturizing Shampoo, Tangle Taming Leave-In Conditioner, Rapid Repair Deep Conditioner, Moisture Butter Whipped Curly Créme, Curly to Straight Flat Iron Silkener, Shine and Silken Growth Oil, and Curly Control Defining Pudding.

SB: Where can we purchase Beautiful Textures?
KW: It will be available this winter in beauty supply stores. For additional information visit www.BeautifulTextures.com.

Continue to embrace your Beautiful Textures....

Beautiful Textures Models

Kimberly Walker Hair Demonstration

 

Nicole Garner & Sareena Beasley

Guest at Beautiful Textures Launch

   

Bravo's "The Real Housewives Live Tour"- ATL

From the big screen to the big stage...The Cobb Energy Center was bananas (and not just because Tarzan/ Melissa's husband was in the building...) on Saturday, October 15 as fans got to witness NeNe Leakes (Atlanta), Jill Zarin (New York), Melissa Gorga (New Jersey), and Marysol Patton (Miami) up close and personal. The ladies discussed the most talked about moments, revealed cast secrets and answered questions straight from the audience. There were no cat fights (but the highlights brought back memories...oh the drama), and everyone seemed to get along (considering the combination of different cast mates which may have simmered things down a bit). Honestly it was a great event, plus it didn't hurt that I was gifted with a hefty Swag bag by Bravo and invited to a pre-show cocktail reception with the ladies. Check out the highlights from my one-on-one time with the ladies below.   

Look out for other cast members coming to a city near you. For the red carpet treatment and all the details visit www.BravoTV.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Photos and Video Courtesy of: Take1ATL

Get Linked To::Remix Atlanta-Entertainment Industry Mixer {9.15.11}

Rolling Out presents NBC's "Playboy Pop Up Club" at Vanquish Night Club on September 7, 2011

From Academy Award-winning Executive Producer Brian Grazer, "The Playboy Club" is a provocative new NBC drama about a time and place that challenged the existing social mores and transformed American culture forever. It's the early 1960s, and at the center of Chicago lies the legendary and seductive Playboy Club, a living, breathing fantasy world filled with $1.50 cocktails, music, glitter and of course, beautiful Bunnies. The key to the club, which offers the ultimate in beauty, is the most sought-after status symbol of its time. Presented by Rolling Out Magazine and hosted by lifestyle specialist and NBC Playboy Ambassador, Kenny Burns, the Playboy club will came to life in the city of Atlanta for an invitation-only Pop Up Club launch affair on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at Vanquish Night Club.

With only 250 Playboy signature keys being released to the city's influencers and power players, the Pop - Up Club was an event to remember. Incorporating select "bunnies" , cocktails courtesy of Grey Goose, live jazz provided by the Ike Harris Collective and a true red-carpet experience, Rolling Out Magazine in conjunction with Liquid Soul Media re-awakened this timeless VIP experience. Tune into NBC on September 19th, to see the debut for the anticipated series "The Playboy Club".

Notable Attendees included: Andrea Kelly (choreographer), Anthony Dalton II (Actor - Tyler Perry's Laugh To Keep from Crying), Miykal Snoddy (Music Producer - Diddy Dirty Money, Trey Songz, Lupe Fiasco), Constantine Tzortzis (ABC's The Bachelorette), Luscious (Radio Personality V103), Roger Bobb (Bobbcat Films), Tirrell Whittley (Liquid Soul Media), Nick Nelson (Liquid Soul Media), Sean Falyon (Recording Artist), Untitled (Recording Artist - Disturbing The Peace Records), Otis Threatt (100 Black Men of Atlanta) and many more.

Visit rollingout.com for the one-on-one interviews and exclusive photos following the event.  

View the direct link to the trailer for NBC's "The Playboy Club":
 http://www.nbc.com/the-playboy-club/video/clips/1327501/

The Georgia Entertainment Association Brings Nationally Syndicated Radio Hosts and Executives to Meet and Greet

Ok so if you were late to work today celebrating Friday with those crazy morning show jocks you were not alone. We hear them every morning, dishing the dirt and business that makes those water cooler breaks a lot more interesting and August 17 I was able to put a formal introduction and face to some of those familiar voices at the In The Mix Radio Mixer. Moderated by former radio personality of 99 Jamz in Miami,
DiDi Skky. This month’s panel from the Rickey Smiley Morning Show (107.9 FM/Atlanta) were co-hosts,
Ebony Steele, Gary with Da Tea and Headkrack, Jaye Delai, former radio DJ and personality and creative
director of Voice Of A Nation Communications Imaging Demos and Lori Hall, marketing director of Radio
One Inc.

Also in attendance were V 103’s Ryan Cameron, Tony Brown, former program director for CBS Radio
and Radio One's Hurricane Dave, plus Zuri McDaniels, wife of DMC of Run DMC.

Panelists gave a true insight into the Rickey Smiley Morning Show and how a radio show is produced.

They encouraged those interested in pursuing radio as a career and gave advice on how to be successful
in the industry by willing to start from the bottom, willing to work for free, work hard and then
work harder than anyone else. Hopefully you read some of my live tweets from the event which sparked immediate conversation on the topic of the future of radio, how to break in the industry, and talent vs. who you know (what, you missed them...no worries twitter will recap everything with the click of a button, so make sure to follow me @T_3Concepts).

Ebony Steele gave the attendees a glimpse into her personal life and how she dealt with having Breast
Cancer and the support from her radio show co-workers was monumental in her survival. She also talked
about how she met Rickey Smiley at a shoe store he was working at and promised her he would have her
as his co-host when he made it big in radio. *Hint, you never know who you are talking to*

I can honestly say that this was an EARful that I was happy to hold onto. Afterwards the networking began which connected participants directly with the personalities. Check out the pictures below from the night and don't miss the next mixer:
****August 31st, 7pm-10pm
GEA Music Presents "CONFESSIONS OF AN A&R"
A panel discussion and meet and greet with the top creative music executives
Join Today by visiting www.georgiaea.org/join


(Pictures courtesy of Aric Thompson of Dream Photography)

Left From Right
Cat'rice Simmons (GEA), Freddy Cameron, (Founder & CEO - GEA), Zuri McDaniels (Wife of DMC from Run-DMC), Taneka Ervin (GEA), DiDi Skyy (Former Radio Personality 99 Jamz Miami), Ebony Steele (Co-Host Rickey Smiley Morning Show, Lori Hall (Director of Marketing from Radio One), Gary with Da Tea (Co-Host Rickey Smiley Morning Show), Jaye Delai (Former Radio Personality and voiceover actor) Headkrack (Co-Host of the Rickey Smiley Morning Show.

Freddy Cameron with Zuri McDaniels

You Have Just Been Linked......

Runway Red Celebrity Charity Fashion Show:: (ATL)

Dream Kids Hair Care in conjunction with Macy's presented the third annual Runway Red charity fashion gala benefiting Show Me The Way Foundation on Sunday, August 14, 2011. Mark Hayes, Fox 5 Good Day Atlanta, hosted the evening’s affair set at the acclaimed Fernbank Museum. The fashion show garnered over 600 supporters of the Show Me the Way Foundation's mission in raising imperative funding for children infected by or affected with HIV/AIDS. Pint-size socialites, mini-me movers and shakers and their well-known celebrity parental escorts also viewed exclusive fall and winter Back to School collections from Macy's and high-end fashion designers from all over the world.    

African Pride's Dream Kids Hair Care, a proud sponsor of Runway Red, also announced the launch of the highly anticipated Olive Miracle formula Hair Care collection. The newly developed formula will help parents start their children's mains on the right path to healthy tresses, and can be found in Walmart and other fine beauty retailers. "Dream Kids Hair Care is truly excited to  partner with the 2011 "Runway Red" celebrity kids fashion show. As a brand we believe strongly in the mission of the Show Me The Way Foundation and that every child, no matter the adversity they face in life, has the right to dream", states Charlene Bastien (National Marketing Director, Strength of Nature Global, LLC). 

For more information on the Show Me the Way Foundation, 

visit www.showmethewayfoundation.org 

and for African Pride's Dream Kids Hair Care, visit www.african-pride.com 

Notable attendees included:: Nadji Jeter & Zoe Soul (BET's Reed Between The Lines), Tameka Raymond Foster, Shawty Lo, Cynthia Bailey (Real Housewives of Atlanta), Q Parker (112), Deena Beasley (One Tree Hill), Jessica Black (Miss United States 2010), Dondria (So So Def Recording Artist), Nivea, 

Tameka (Tiny & Toya) Harris, Deion Grant, The Sh'Boss Boys (America's Got Talent)The OMG Girlz, Gabbie Rae (Purple Ribbon Kidz),   QT Jazz and many more.

Special thanks to: The Garner Circle PR for the invite. 

( Photos courtesy of G. Paras Photography)

Dream Kids Hair Care Product Launch

Deena Beasley (One Tree Hill)

Dondria (So So Def Recording Artist)

Gabbie Rae (Purple Ribbon Kidz) performer

Cynthia Bailey and daughter Noelle

Cymia (Cash Money Recording Artist)

Jessica Black (Miss United States 2010)

Kayla Dean(Miss Black Georgia Teen USA)

Mark Hayes, Good Day Atlanta, Host

Q Parker (112) and family

QT Jazz (performer)

from l-r (Nadji Jeter, guest, Zoe Soul) BET's Reed Between The Lines

Shawty Lo and family

The Sh'Boss Boys- performers

( Photos courtesy of Freddy O)

Tameka "Tiny" Harris and The OMG Girlz

Tameka Foster Raymond with Naviyd & Usher Raymond V (sons)

Winner of "Drab 2 FAB" Contest Announced::

:: One Reader's Special Journey 

After reviewing hundreds of letters from our dedicated readers, we finally selected a winner for our summer make over edition- congratulations to Andrea Elise. 


Our finalist is in her late 50's, and has survived numerous back and foot surgeries. Additionally, Andrea is coping with the loss of her mother and struggles with her weight, and because of these challenges, we truly believed that it was time for her to be spoiled. 


IGIGI by Yuliya Raquel (www.igigi.com) graciously provided 2 FAB looks, that truly enhanced Andrea's figure. Their clothing is specifically made for the sexy, sophiscated, plus size bomb shells in sizes 12-32. Their couture brands and unique blend of color will complete any transformation.  

What Is IGIGI? (ee zhee zhee)

IGIGI, a designer of plus size clothing, is synonymous with fashion-forward styles including plus size dresses, plus size career wear, plus size wedding gowns, and trendy plus size separates.
Founded by Yuliya Raquel in 2000, IGIGI's mission is to transform the world's view of beauty. IGIGI creates sexy, stylish, and sophisticated collections in plus sizes to be a major part of the lifestyle of a fashion-loving modern woman - her wedding, the parties she attends, her work, her fun, her fashion! Its designs accentuate and celebrate the beauty of the curvaceous female figure. A major focus of IGIGI is to provide our customer with the right fit for her body shape. IGIGI offers its styles in the highest quality fabrics and workmanship with all of the apparel designed and made in San Francisco, California. IGIGI's plus size clothing, plus size dresses, and plus size accessories can be found here as well as at specialty boutiques and stores worldwide.

Celebrity hair stylist Alexus of Hamer & Co. Hair Design created a unique blend of color and style that complimented Andrea's face.


Consequently, Andrea connected with a fitness and health expert who developed a unique diet and exercise plan. In addition, she is re-dedicating herself to grow spiritually to complete the full transformation of her mind, body, and spirit. 


The "Drab 2 FAB" Contest gave Andrea the courage to embrace her  beautiful curves, along with a glowing outside appearance, and to help her create a new lifestyle. We are so honored to have been apart of Andrea's life, and wish her the best in all that she does.

Check out the before and after pictures of  Andrea Elise.

Before 

Before 

After- Look 1

After- Look 2

Guest & A.B. at "New Look" event

Special Thanks To::

IGIGI by Yuliya Raquel (www.igigi.com)

Hamer & Co. Hair Design

Taste-T Cafe (www.sotastet.com)  

T-3 Concepts (www.T-3Concepts.com)