Curls, Twists, Coils & Kinks Magazine July/August 2017

July/ August 2017 www.ctckmagazine.com

Cover Story

Dreadlock Maintenance & Care

A Love Affair

with Body Butters Slay Your

Summer Curls

Swimming with CURLS www.ctckmagazine.com 1

2 July/August 2017

Table of Contents Departments 4 Letter from the Publisher 6 Contributors 8 Ask the Expert: Make-up Q&A with Shavonna Finley 10 Ask the Expert: Hair Q&A with Danielle Green 12

BNCouraged with J.D. Richards

14

DIY: Egg Mask - For Longer Stronger Hair

36 Horoscopes: Predictions for July/August 2017

20

FEATURES 16 A Love Affair with Body Butters for Great Summer Skin

By Juliette Samual

20 Cover Story: Dreadlock Maintenance & Care

By Ruth Wilson

16

26 Nevada Elegance Pageant

By Jancee Black

32 Swimming With Curls

By MonĂŠt Ravenell

34 How to Slay Your Summer Curls

By Juliette Samual

32 www.ctckmagazine.com 3

Letter from the Publisher Dear Reader...

Ah, summertime! Where has this year gone, can you believe we are halfway through 2017? Summertime is a great time of the year for many of us. Our kids are out of school and hopefully you can take some time away from work to vacation or staycation. This is also the time of year for you to swap out the heavier clothing in your wardrobe closet to more lightweight clothing. Don’t forget about your hair care products, change those to lighter more summer-friendly products. Did someone say “SHOPPING“? Summer is a happy time but can we be happy all the time?

A few weeks ago a colleague sent me an article that she read in the Huffington Post titled “Black Girl Happiness Is Revolutionary”. Written by Dr. Kristian H. She begins her article by saying “Black women are taught to be strong and resilient.

We aren’t allowed to simply be happy”.She says we are taught to be independent, hard-working, sacrificial, distrusting of other women and skeptical of men. When I read this, I thought “WOW“ this is so true. This realization came to her when she published “My Husband Didn’t Make Me Happy” and her e-mail inbox was inundated with surprising emails. One in particular resonated with me, the email that said “valuing your own happiness is selfish”.

How many of us have this very same thought embedded in our head? Has this been ingrained in us as a little black girls? I say, in part, yes! Growing up I remember a stranger coming up to my mother and saying to her that he thought that I was so beautiful and that I could marry a doctor. He even went so far to tell my mom how I could accomplish this goal. He said, “All she has to do is hang out at the cafeteria in the hospital and sit there for lunch, she will find a husband.” Not sure how Mother felt about this conversation, but I was seething internally. For me his comment implied that in order for me to be happy, I did not have to do anything, just find and marry a Doctor. Very insulting.

We are told to get married, have children and keep everyone happy. Sure, your children and your spouse or partner can make you happy but is that all there is to happiness? What about us? Why aren’t we entitled to also be happy in this process, or without this process? We are! Just as Dr. H. made the commitment to find her happy place we too, must make a commitment to creating a life of happiness. It will look different for each of us, whatever it looks like for you, make the commitment, don’t feel guilty and be unapologetic.

I hope you enjoy your summer and our summer2017 issue of CTCK Magazine.

This issue is chock full of summer goodness! If you have not already done so, please be sure to follow CTCK Magazine on our social media platforms and share with your friends and family. Your support and love are greatly appreciated.

Carpe Diem my readers,

Angela Turner

CONTRIBUTORS: Publisher & Editor Angela Turner Angela@ctckmagazine.com Creative Director/ Graphic Designer Rebecca Walters info@rebeccawalters.com Advertising Director Colleen Turner Ads@ctckmagazine.com Writers Shavonna Finley Danielle Green Monét Ravenell JD Richards Juliette Samuel Ruth Wilson (For more information, see page 6) INFORMATION: Curls, Twists, Coils & Kinks Published 6 times a year P.O. Box 370524 Las Vegas, NV 89137 www.ctckmagazine.com 888-601-1986 Advertise: Call toll free at 888-601-1986 or e-mail ads@ctckmagazine.com Subscriptions: To subscribe to Curls, Twists, Coils & Kinks magazine, call toll free at 888-601-1986 or visit our website at www.ctckmagazine.com/Subscriptions © 2016 A.Turner Publishing, LLC All rights reserved

Angela Turner, Publisher Curls, Twists, Coils & Kinks Magazine

CTCKhairmag

CTCK_Magazine

CurlsTwistsCoilsandKinksMag

4 July/August 2017

July/August 2017 | Issue 15

www.ctckmagazine.com 5

Contributors

6 July/August 2017

 Shavonna Finley

 Danielle Green

 Monét Ravenell

Shavonna is a Las Vegas native and seven-year licensed aesthetician and make-up artist.

Additionally, she acquired training with MAC cosmetics and is a professional skin care expert and educator in her field. Her motto “love to beat that face.” Shavonna will help you look your absolute best by creating the perfect look that caters to your individuality! www.instagram.com/ lovetobeatface

A Kansas City native and owner of Radically Curly Salon in Las Vegas, NV. Having curly hair, she continues to educate herself in the industry and always caters to clients with curly hair. Her philosophy is to embrace and rock the fabric of your hair and be “Radically Curly.” www.

RadicallyCurlySalon.com

Monét Ravenell is a freelance hair and beauty writer from Los Angeles, CA. She is a contributing beauty writer for TrendiMi.com and also works as a beauty host for WeAreOnyx. com. www.Monetfreelancewriter.com

 JD Richards

 Juliette Samuel

 Ruth Wilson

JD is a Cosmetologist, Certified Trichologist, Educator, Entrepreneur, Inspirational Speaker, Author and Certified Purpose Coach. Her heart desire is to empower and encourage women to be who they were created to be, through meet-ups, seminars, workshops and behind the chair. She has been married to her husband Lewis for 25 years.

Juliette Samuel is CEO-Founder of Nyraju Skin Care. She is an esthetician, aromatherapist, author, publisher and is the fragrance editor and ethnic beauty editor for BellaOnline.com. www.nyrajuskincare.com

Ruth Wilson loves natural hair! She is ahair video junkie who is always looking for information that will benefit curly girls and guys. She is a regular contributing writer to Curls, Twists, Coils & Kinks magazine and a friend to the Publisher who enjoys helping the publication when needed.

DEFINER | STYLER | LEAVE IN CONDITIONER | MOISTURIZER

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Q&A Make-up

Ask the Expert

with Shavonna Finley

noticed that Clinique and Mark Q.IJacobs have recently introduced

burgundy mascara. According to the description it is said to complement red lip color, which is really hot right now. What do you think of the burgundy mascara and when do you think it’s appropriate to wear?

A.

Claire, Cincinnati

Hi Cindy! I am loving this beautiful bold trend right now!

I think colored mascara is awesome and should be rocked more often! This look would be great for a girl’s night out or even date night!!!

A.

Hi Bonnie! Great question! The trend of the moment for brows is definitely naturally well groomed. Shaping brows to their natural shape, grooming them with a spoolie and adding just a touch of eyebrow pencil to fill in the blanks is everything you need to hit the trend spot on! previously read that you are a Q.IMAC expert. MAC cosmetics is

launching a new mascara called Bold & Bad on June 8, 2017. It is a 2-in-1 which gives volume on the upper lashes and a smaller brush for lower lash definition. It will cost about $23 would you recommend this product being the MAC expert that you are?

Taylor, California

A.

Hi Taylor! Great Question!

Personally I love a more natural based skin care regimen and bentonite clay is definitely a winner in my book! There are some really great products out there and one of my favorites is the Glam Glow mud mask. It’s a series of masks specifically formulated for different skin types and it works wonders! The key is finding a masks that best suits your skin type and will give you the most effective treatment and result you desire!

Tiffany, Louisiana

A.

Hi Tiffany! Love this question!

Mascara is all about the brush!

And the brushes on this particular mascara are everything!!! The brush for the lower lashes is small enough to coat every lash and the upper lash brush gives amazing volume!

It’s definitely a must buy! mask seem to be appearing Q.Clay everywhere all of a sudden. Biore

Q.

I have seen eyebrows go from well groomed and squared to boyish recently on the runway. Is this the new look for Spring 2017?

8 July/August 2017

Bonnie, Brooklyn, NY

brand has a self heating one minute mask which retails for $7.49. L’Oréal has a pure clay detox and brighter mask, which retails for $12.99. I have found other clay mask ranging in prices from $38-$100. For years I have been using Indian Healing Clay by Aztec Secret, which is a bentonite clay, to detox my skin. Is anyone better than the other?

Shavonna Finley is a Las Vegas-based make-up artist sfnatis@yahoo.com, 702-825-0394 www.instagram.com/lovetobeatface

www.ctckmagazine.com 9

Q&A Hair

Ask the Expert

with Danielle Green

Q.

Summer is fast approaching, do you have any recommendations for 2017 as far as trendy curly styles and haircolor for a type for naturalists?

Pamela, Nebraska

A.

Hi Pamela, The beauty of having naturally curly hair is being able to wear it in various ways. Hidden braids have been on trend for the season. Think an undercut without the cut just add cornrows or twists to create the illusion.

Have fun!

Here’s a few things to remember. Make sure your braids aren’t too tight because the crochet hook could rip and tear at you hair on the pull through. Don’t add too much hair. You want to make sure that the hair is balanced on the head. Too much weight will also cause stress on your scalp and hair. Lastly, have an at home care routine for maintaining the crochet braids. Cover them overnight to prevent shedding and to protect the style and lightly massage your scalp once per week.

Hope this helps.

Q.

Q.

. I have become obsessed with crochet braids and have researched to exhaustion on every possible positive and negative that I can think of. What are your thoughts about crochet braids as a protective hairstyle on natural hair?

Kimmy, Chicago

A.

Kimmy yes, crochet braids are perfect for protective styling.

10 July/August 2017

In the last issue of Curls, Twists, Coil’s & Kinks Magazine the cover model made a comment about protective styles. I felt like she portrayed protective hairstyles, if you are adding “spare hair”, to natural hair as a bad thing. When I originally went natural I would never add extensions, wear a wig or take a hair a break, but did not judge those who did.

I just wanted to embrace natural all the time. As we know being natural is a lot of work, takes a lot of patience and requires a lot of TLC. What are your thoughts about protective styling or as I like to say taking a break?

best for the individual. We are created equal but we all look different and beauty is everywhere. I even have 2 drawers at my house just for “hair”. My opinion is protect your hair how ever that looks for you love!

Q

I recently ran across this story about “laying our edges”!

Personally it has never been my thing, I just don’t get it. In the article is said that we are ditching this trend in 2017, have you seen clients moving away from that “baby hair” craze?

Christina, Texas

A.

Hi Christina, Laying baby edges may never go out of style.

Especially in the natural hair world. Laid edges complete a look, frame the face and give that polished finishing touch for many types of styles. But, in the high fashion industry it will come and go and come back again just like all popular trends. If you like the look go for it!

Lindsay, California

A.

Hey Lindsay, good point. Having the “natural” conversation can be sensitive. It is personal. My motto is “we rock the fabric of your hair.” If you want to be extension free then we can rock that-I you want to add hair then we can rock that too. It’s all about what works

Danielle Green is the owner of Radically Curly Salon www.RadicallyCurlySalon.com

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Inspiration

BNCouraged with J.D. Richards

O

ne of the topics that I am very adamant about is encouraging people to dream again. Why? Because I find that this thing called LIFE finds a way to distract us until we don’t allow ourselves to dream anymore.

For many of us, we have swept our dreams under the rug, and in its stead, we have chosen to survive. Even when we hear a sermon or a motivational speaker that may trigger a familiar emotion of expectancy we find a way to dumb it down because of the energy it takes to rise up again.

I challenge you today to take a few minutes to really think about what you would like to accomplish. Close your eyes and see yourself doing what you have deemed “impossible”. Now take a mental picture of your dream. Picture all of the people that will benefit from your dream manifesting.

Take a good look at it! Observe everything about it. How it feels, how it smells, what you hear. Now ask yourself, “What is the number one hindrance that is keeping you from your dream?”

I have found out personally that the number one reason that will keep most people stagnant and paralyzed is FEAR. FEAR is a spiritual force. You may ask, “What do I mean by that?” A spirit is a non-physical presence that can be felt and overcome. Because I don’t want to go too deep, let me give you an example.

I met someone and he told me a story that took place in the 50’s about his mom and his 4 brothers. He was the oldest of his siblings and he had been given a new responsibility to turn the lights on when they arrived home late at night, while his younger brothers and mom wait in the car. This is how his story goes: We arrived home and it was really dark because it had been raining earlier and it was still cloudy outside because I couldn’t see the moon. As I unlocked the front 12 July/August 2017

Pull the String! door to go inside, I could feel the presence of someone or something lurking in the dark. The only thing I could think of was that string in the middle of the room connected to the light bulb. All I had to do was to find it and pull it so the light would come on. As I took a deep breath and proceeded to move toward the string in the middle of the room, my imagination began to run away with me. I had to make a decision to either make it to the string or to go back to the car with some lame excuse as to why I couldn’t turn the light on. I knew that my brothers would never allow me to live it down so I swallowed hard and proceeded forward. With my arms raised and my hands moving around feverishly feeling for this string, I was about to pass out in fear! What if the string had been broken? What if someone grabbed my hand? What if I touched someone’s face? By this time, I was sweating profusely. I started telling myself that I could do it and to keep walking deeper into the room. With my arms outstretched and reaching for that string. All I wanted to do was to tap it. I kept feeling for it and feeling for it. I wore myself out! I was waving my arms and hands so, that I had to put them down for a moment. This time before I put my arms up, I took about three steps deeper into the room. I started reaching up and feeling for that string that I saw in my mind’s eye. I tapped it! Thank God! I got a good grip on it and I pulled the string so hard until I thought that I broke it. One yank and the light came on.

All of my fears quickly disappeared. I saw

that the string had not been broken, there was nobody in the room but me and my shirt was wet. Pulling that string taught me some major things about life.

• Fear will keep you from being the best you.

• Run into your fears and not away from them.

• Even when you put your dream down you can pick it back up.

• The light represented my dreams and if I wanted to walk into my destiny all I needed to do was to pull the string.

I thought that this was a powerful story.

FEAR will make you think that something badly is going happen because you cannot see your next move. That is why FAITH is so important. The young boy told himself that he could do it. All he had to do was to keep going forward. I’m sure this kid was afraid but what I loved about him was that he knew that he was too far into it to run away.

You have the power within you to try again. You have the power to pick up where you left off. You have the power to reach up and Pull the STRING! Turn the light on!

I recently read a post that says F.E.A.R has two meaningsForget Everything and Run or Face Everything and Rise……

The Choice is Yours.

BNCouraged, JD

Jacqueline Denise “JD” Richards JD is a Cosmetologist, Certified Trichologist, Educator, Entrepreneur, Inspirational Speaker, Author and Certified Purpose Coach. Her heart desire is to empower and encourage women to be who they were created to be, through meet-ups, seminars, workshops and behind the chair. She has been married to her husband Lewis for 25 years.

“It’s one thing to know who you are, but it’s another thing to know why you are”.

- Myles Monroe

www.ctckmagazine.com 13

Do it Yourself

DIY:

Egg Mask - For Longer Stronger Hair This egg mask is said to aid in hair growth, strengthening of dry brittle hair, adds moisture to the scalp, hydrate dry damaged hair from root to tip and enrich the hair with proteins. As always, our recipes only consist of all natural ingredients.

Depending on the length of your hair, you may need to double this recipe for full coverage.

Benefits: Egg Whites: High in protein, essential for hair growth and hair health.

Ginger Juice: Rich in minerals and essential oils, it makes hair more manageable, softer and shinier.

Said to aid in the remedy of dandruff and dry, itchy scalp. It contains natural anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties that help keep scalp healthy and clean.

Aloe Vera Gel: Contains proteolytic enzymes which repairs dead skin cells on the scalp. It also acts as a great conditioner and leaves your hair smooth and shiny. It promotes hair growth, prevents itching on the scalp and reduces dandruff.

What You Need:

Recipe & Application:

2 egg whites

Mix all ingredients together in your bowl.

1 Tablespoon Ginger Juice (Juicer, Cheesecloth optional – see below)

Apply recipe to dry, unwashed hair. Ensure that you cover all strands from root to tip.

2 Tablespoons of Aloe Vera Gel

Cover head with a plastic shower cap or plastic bag and leave in your hair for 30 minutes.

Bowl Tablespoon measure Shower Cap or Plastic Bag

Wash, condition and style your hair as usual. ***Important*** Avoid blow drying your hair, let it air dry.

If possible, apply this recipe to your hair 2-3 times a week. You should see results in about 30 days.

“Optional Items” - (Juicer and Cheesecloth) - Ginger Juice is available in most health food stores, or you can DIY by purchasing fresh ginger and extracting the juice with a juicer. If you don’t have a juicer follow these steps.

How to make Ginger Juice: Peel and grate several slices of ginger. Squeeze out the ginger juice from the grated pieces into a small bowl. Another option is to wrap the grated pieces in cheesecloth and squeeze the juice through the cheesecloth. As long as the ginger is fresh, squeezing out juice should not be a problem.

14 March/April July/August 2017 2017

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A Love Affair with Body Butters for Great Summer Skin 16 July/August 2017

W

hile this issue of Curls, Twists, Coils & Kinks is all about Locs and Loc Maintenance, there’s no way you can neglect the body that your head full of gorgeous locs sits upon. As matter of fact, a lot of the ingredients used in caring for your natural hair, can be and are often used to soften, smooth and moisturize your skin.

As we move into the throws of summer heat, the question for your skin becomes, is your skin beach ready? Even if you don't go to the beach, you can still enjoy the beauty of soft, smooth, luxurious to the touch, sun kissed skin. So why not enhance your regimen for summer skin care by adding body butters to your list.

Beach and butters make me think of the tropics, so a Coconut Body Butter would be a great product to have in your arsenal. You hear a lot about coconut oil and its skin softening properties. There are a lot of you that are budding beauty enthusiast that love to experiment and make things yourself. I’m going to share a recipe with you that contains coconut milk, coconut oil and coconut butter.

Here goes: 2 tablespoons beeswax 2 tablespoons coconut oil 1 tablespoon castor oil 2 tablespoons coconut butter 1 1/2 tablespoons of coconut milk In a mini slow cooker or double boiler that you’ve dedicated just to beeswax, melt the beeswax.

Once melted, add everything except the coconut milk. Stir with a spoon or use a mini whisk. When the oils and beeswax are completely incorporated, turn off the heat. Now you can add the coconut milk and stir. Don’t forget to warm the coconut milk. Warm not boil. One way to do so is by holding it in the palm of your hand. Your body heat will do the rest.

You'll now pour your mixture into a low profile jar. This makes it easy to use. Remember it’s hot! So make sure the container you choose can withstand heat.

Using a hand mixer, beat your Shea butter on high for 30 seconds.

If you warm your Shea butter first, it will give you a better whipped butter. Simply put the desired amount of butter in a plastic wrap or you can hold the butter in your hands. Make sure you’ve sanitized your hands first. Your body heat will give it the warmth it needs.

Pour in the Basic Body Oil and essential oils and continue to mix for 5 minutes or until whipped. Do not be heavy handed on the oil thinking you’ll add a quarter cup instead of an eighth of a cup. As a matter of fact, you might want to use less and test the consistency until you get your desired results.

Transfer into your container. Store in a cool, dry place for 3-5 months.

Here's the Basic Body Oil Recipe. This recipe alone will add glow to your skin and sheen to your hair. You can also scent with essential oils and have yet another moisturizer for your skin.

1/4 cup olive oil 1/2 cup safflower oil 1/8 cup avocado oil 1/8 cup apricot oil 2 teaspoons rose hip oil 2 teaspoons carrot oil In a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well.

Transfer to an airtight container. A bottle with a pump or flip top works well. A little of this oil goes a long way, no need to slather it on your body to the point of looking like you’ve just come out of the frying pan.

These two butters should give you what you need for body care and beach time. Love you butters and they’ll love your body.

As always ...

Dedicated To Your Beauty, Juliette Samuel Esthetician/Author/Publisher Nyraju Skin Care

Store in a cool, dry place for up to 5 months.

Another simple body butter recipe is the Whipped Shea & Body Oil Butter. In most parts of Africa, Shea butter is the go to moisturizer for skin and hair. Here’s a recipe for you to try, using Shea butter as one of the ingredients.

1/2 cup of unrefined Shea butter 1/8 cup Basic Body Oil (separate recipe given below) 5 drops of any essential oil or combination

Dedicated To Your Beauty Juliette Samuel Esthetician/Author/Publisher Nyraju Skin Care

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20 July/August 2017

Dreadlock Maintenance & Care

D

readlocks are a beautiful way to style naturally textured hair. Just as our naturally curly texture requires regular maintenance, dreadlocks require a very different form of maintenance, compared to natural hairstyles.

As dreadlocks mature their appearance become smoother and tighter requiring less maintenance. Depending on the age of your dreads your routine for maintenance will vary. When it comes to naturally textured hair, there are several popular methods for starting and maintaining dreadlocks. Three more common techniques are twisting/palm rolling, back combing, and latching.

www.ctckmagazine.com 21

I

f you start your dreadlocks using the twisting/palm rolling method, your dreadlocks can be very delicate. This method is delicate because your hair can untwist before it gets a chance to lock and washing the twist can also cause them to unravel. It is very common for people who use this method to avoid washing their hair for one month, this allows the hair more time to lock. Obviously not washing your hair and scalp for 30 days is not highly desired by many, in this particular case it works very well.

We have all heard the opinions of others who say that dreadlocks are dirty and have an odor, perhaps the 30 days of no washing is how this myth began. There are many products on the market that you can use to avoid odor during this period. For those who are accustomed to infrequent washings, this method may work well for you and your twist make conform quickly.

22 July/August 2017

Now What??

In between washings, keep your dreadlocks twisted. While watching your favorite YouTube natural hair videos or watching TV, start searching, by touch and twist the dreadlocks that need to be twisted. Twist gently, and remember to try and avoid over twisting and damaging your hair. After washing your hair your twist will feel looser, it is not necessary to completely re-twist your entire head, but some people do. Clean dreadlocks lock and tighten on their own and dreadlocks do not require regular trims like other natural styles.

Here are a few essential tips that will help you grow healthy dreadlocks.

Be patient

If you seek instant gratification, this is not the style for you. Deadlocking is a process and it will not happen over-night.

Avoid products that contain any type of wax including beeswax.

Wax is difficult to remove from your twisted hair and will cause build up. Wax build up will add unwanted weight to your hair strands causing breakage and thinning.

Avoid products that are cream-based

Using cream-based products can also cause build up and are often too heavy and slow down the locking process.

Avoid re-twisting too much

Fresh, newly twisted dreadlocks are fabulous, but over twisting can result in breakage and thinning at the root.

Ingredients

Read the labels try to avoid products that can cause skin and scalp irritation. Products that contain SD alcohol 40, can dry out the scalp.

Some hair types are more sensitive than others and finding the right products, as with anything will be a process of trial and error.

Read and understand the benefits and the side effects of what is in your product.

Avoid brown gel

Brown gel has a very high protein content and too much protein causes breakage. Although brown gel gives great hold it makes hair brittle and hard. It is also full of artificial colors and parabens.

Protect your dreadlocks

Protect your hair and scalp in the warm summer months as well as the harsh winter months.

Wear scarves, head-wraps, or hats whenever possible. In addition, wear a scarf at bedtime, to avoid drying out your hair strands and possible breakage. Dreadlocks can be magnets for lint from pillow cases and sheets as well as feathers from your pillows. Wearing a headscarf at bedtime will keep lint and feather at bay. www.ctckmagazine.com 23

Washing your dreadlocks

On wash day, be sure to allow your dreadlocks to dry as soon as possible after cleansing. Squeeze as much water out of your hair, by hand, as possible and then apply a hair towel to absorb as much water as possible, until no longer dripping wet. Allow them to air dry and breathe for the remainder of time. Leaving them wet can cause odors.

Most Important: Consult A Professional Loctician

Although last on the list, it is certainly not the least important.

I highly recommend that you find a professional loctation, especially in the beginning. A Loctician is someone who specializes in dreadlock hair, maintenance and styling. They will help or guide you through the process of growing dreadlocks. Professionals can educate you about dreadlocks, teach you about what to expect, recommend healthy products and give you sound advice. When seeking a loctitian, I recommend getting referrals, ask questions and make sure you get what you want from your experience of growing dreadlocks.

Ruth Wilson Writer

24 July/August 2017

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Elegance August 27, 2017 Miss Jennece Black

Held The National Ms. American Elegance Title from 2010-2011 26 July/August 2017

Finally! A pageant system that celebrates every type, size, and creed of women. Be a part of a National Organization that will connect you with women across the USA! THE QUEEN FROM WITHIN, Miss Jennece Black; Nevada State Director I'm Jennece Black and your state director for the Nevada American Elegance Pageant. I am the owner of BlackQueen Productions and we have been in business since 2011. Primarily I produce community talent shows, underground music showcases, fashion shows and pageants. Our greatest highlights are the Midwest Music Mix and Chicago Spirit Pageant. Currently we are producing the Nevada Elegance Pageant, the first Nevada State pageant in the American Elegance system, which has been in existence since 1999.

I held the National Ms. American Elegance Title from 2010-2011. In addition to that, I have participated in 13 other pageants and held a variety of local, state, and national titles. I am originally from Chicago, IL and graduated Magma Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education.

Now a Las Vegas resident and teacher for three years, I am hoping to bring together some amazing women from this wonderful city and showcase their talents, beauty, wit, and poise. Currently I am a finalist for the Heart of Education Award in Las Vegas, NV as well as a cheer coach and Director for the Disney in Schools Musical Program.

Pageantry didn't "teach" me anything! It is a forum in which women come together to celebrate one another and share their passion with women in other places. I had ZERO experience when I started and soon realized how much more confident I became over time. Pageantry increased my awareness of self-image and how I needed to be involved in my community. This is what pageantry does, it allows you to breathe- OUT LOUD and share your story.

I am seeking women who genuinely want to share their talents with one another and see the strength in their own stories. All races, sizes, and creeds are welcome. Single mothers, married, widows, college students, CEOs, aspiring artists, dreamers, women with a purpose- That's all you need to be. Pleasure to meet you, Queen!

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Areas of Competition Interview 40% Panel style for 5 minutes. For interview, you may wear either a pants suit, skirt suit or dress. Interviews are platform related. You will be asked about information on your previously submitted judge’s sheet.

Personal Expression 10% This speech is done in front of the judges in a room and it is 3 minutes or less. You can wear any attire for this portion or any attire that fits your topic. The speech can be on any topic (ex. Your hobbies, platform, family, career to name a few.) You can also use any props you feel necessary to enhance your speech. It is your time to be creative and/or display a talent.

Fashion Wear 20% Fashion Wear which is anything that reflects your personal style and taste such as pants and a top, skirt and blouse, pant suit with a hat etc. Think trendy, runway, stylish.

Evening Gown 20% Evening Gown can be any type dress of your own choosing as long as it is FLOOR LENGTH On Stage Question - 10% The contestants will draw a question at random and need to demonstrate poise while answering the question in front of a live audience.

Prize Package for Nevada State Pageant • Travel Voucher for airfare to Nationals in Chicago, IL. • Paid Hotel Accommodations for Nationals in Chicago, IL. • State Crown • Satin State Sash • Photo Shoot and Prints • Personal Parade Float • Beauty/Bath Accessories • Make-up Services • Entertainment Credits for Las Vegas Attractions • Trial Gym Membership • Jewelry Gift Set • Fashion Tote • Crown Case • Professional Pageant Coaching • ...and more are added daily!!

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Optional Awards for Nevada State Pageant • MS. PHOTOGENIC AWARD • COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD • TICKET SALES AWARD*CASH PRIZE • RUNWAY MODEL AWARD • * HIGHEST IN FASHION WEAR • SPOKEMODEL AWARD • * HIGHEST IN INTERVIEW * prize package reserved for top 2 overall winners in State Pageant, Accommodations are based on shared occupancy at National Site, travel vouchers will be airline specific and not to exceed $150.00 total per winner.

Prizes are disbursed throughout the 1 calendar year in which the title is held. The state office reserves the right to eliminate prizes if the queen fails to adhere to their contractual obligations.

The Most Diverse Pageant in History!

Join us for a night of entertainment and history as we witness women from all over Nevada compete in the Nevada American Elegance Pageant.

Women from 19yrs to 41yrs + This pageant will feature women of all shapes, sizes, ages, and backgrounds. They will compete in evening wear, fashion wear, and on-stage questions.

You don't want to miss this family fun and empowering event!

NEVADA ELEGANCE PAGEANT Sunday, August 27, 2017 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM PDT LOCATION: Clark County Library 1401 E Flamingo Rd Las Vegas, NV 89119 Tickets: $20.00 (No Refunds)

For vendor spaces please contact:

aenevadainfo@gmail.com Organizer Profile Contact:

The Nevada American Elegance Pageant at Clark County Library 1401 E Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89119

Entertainment / Hosting

Hosted by Comedian, DaShaun Marshall.

Judges include, acclaimed playwright and author Q. Allen King, Radio Host "Queen G", and NFL alum Victor B Cohen And Entertainment to feature local Vegas talent and Hit 90s group AZ YET!

© 2017 BLACKQUEEN PRODUCTIONS Visit their website for more information: https://www.nvamericanelegance.com/ Enter the pageant: https://www.nvamericanelegance.com/delegates CONTACT THE STATE OFFICE 1(800)458-4648

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Swimming With Curls

32 March/April July/August 2017 2017

H

ello beauties. Summer is here and you know what that means - it’s time to find ways to beat the summer heat. One way to refresh is by taking a nice dip in the pool. But there’s just one problem - what’s a curly girl to do with her hair? Ugh, swimming with natural hair can present quite a few challenges. But not to worry, because CTCK has got you covered! Here are 3 great tips for protecting your tresses while you swim.

of neoprene, so it’s much more durable than the average swim cap. They come in all sorts of cute styles and colors. Best of all, it is available in MANY SIZES. So even the thickest of curls can fit underneath.

Protection is Key The best way to swim safely with curls is by protecting it beforehand. The goal you should be aiming to achieve is creating a protective layer between your hair, and the chlorine.

How we do this is applying a penetrating oil such as coconut oil. Wet your hair first. It may seem counterintuitive. But it will be able to absorb the coconut oil much better, if it’s wet beforehand. Then you want to slather on the penetrating oil of your choice. Wait about 15 minutes, so that it has enough time to fully absorb the nutrients. Many swimmers believe that conditioner-alone is sufficient. But the reality is, however, is that most conditioners become weak in water, and will instantly slip off of your hair, leaving you with virtually no protection.

Condition Post Swim So perhaps you don’t have a swim cap handy, or you didn’t pre-treat before diving right in. No problem. You can still prevent any possible damage by giving it a good condition after your swim session. Spend about 5-15 minutes rinsing first. I cannot stress enough how effective this process is. Make sure you use cool water. Next, you want to cleanse. Baking soda is one of the single greatest effective tools of removing chlorine! Yep, that stuff that’s likely already sitting in your fridge. Add a good amount to your hand and spread evenly throughout your hair.

Baking soda acts as a major absorber of chlorine. However, it can be a little drying. So be sure to follow up with a very moisturizing conditioner of your choice. Let it sit on the hair for 15 minutes minimum. For the deepest condition, let the conditioner sit on the hair for a one hour or more.

Rock a Swim Cap Are swimming caps the most attractive thing in the world?

Not exactly. But they will definitely help protect your hair from the harsh element of chlorine. Chlorine can affect the hair by dissolving oil that keeps the cuticle layers together. One of the potential pitfalls of natural hair is that it can be extremely vulnerable when wet. So the best way to protect it is by keeping it nice and dry. Full disclaimer-swim caps may not keep out all of the water, but it will keep out most of it. We love, My Swim Cap ($25.99) from www.myswimstuff.com . It’s made

Wearing a swim cap, utilizing a pre and post treat regimen, will greatly protect your hair from chlorine water. But ladies, try not stress too much, and remember to keep it all in perspective.

The summer is meant to be enjoyed; not wasted worrying about what will happen to your hair. Besides, you likely won’t swim often enough for it to do any sort of long-term damage. Do your best and forget the rest. Enjoy the summer fun!

Reference: https://myswimstuff.com/products/my-swim-capbest-swim-cap-dry-hair-long-hair-braids-extensions-locs-sale

Monét Ravenell Writer www.monetfreelancewriter.com

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How to Slay Your Summer Curls A

Ah summertime. It evokes nostalgia of romantic summer nights. It sparks community because of all the BBQ invites. And it also…can wreak absolute havoc on the hair! Ladies, I know it can be frustrating. Trust me, I’ve been there.

Between dealing with frizz and the dryness, the summertime ain’t exactly a curly girl’s best friend. Fortunately, you CAN get summertime fly if you follow these key tips for your hair. Read on.

Keep it Cute and Covered

The sun can really do a real doozy on the hair. With summertime temps getting scorching hot, it can be a recipe for disaster, resulting in split ends, breakage and dry hair. To combat that, protect your tresses with a wide floppy hat, scarf or headwrap.

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There are so many cute protective hair accessories available these days. Do a simple YouTube search, and you’ll be rocking your headscarf like a boss!

Condition Like a Boss

As a naturalista, I’m sure you’ve heard a 1000 times about how important conditioner is. Well, the summertime is no different. In fact, you may want to up the amount of times you condition. Consider co-washing - doing a gentle daily wash with conditioner, or simply increase the amount of times that you condition your hair each week for optimum benefit. Don’t let the heat even THINK about getting comfortable on your tresses.

Butter Up Baby

With weather changes, you may notice that your normal moisturizing routine simply isn’t packing the same punch as it did in prior months. Don’t stress! It’s actually normal to change up your hair regimen, depending upon the season. A key tool to add to your summer arsenal should be butters. We LOVE Shea butter, mango butter and avocado butter, pretty much all things butter. Butters are thick and act as a sealant. Go forward with your normal moisturizing routine, but then add a light layer of Shea butter, on top of your regular moisturizer, as your last step. Your hair will thank you for it!

Oil Oooh La La

For those with extremely dry tresses, consider adding a bit of oil to the mix. Start doing an oil rinse each time you condition. How it’s done - wash your hair, as you normally.

Then instead of going immediately to the conditioner, slather on your hair a penetrating oil such as coconut oil, olive oil or avocado oil. Spread it throughout the hair evenly, then add in conditioner. Let that concoction sit on your hair for about 5 minutes, then rinse. And viola, the result is softer, smoother hair.

Be Fly and Clarify

One thing us curlies tend to forget is the importance of clarifying the hair and scalp. What you’ll notice is that as you use your butters, gels and other moisturizing products, it’ll start to build up on the hair. One day, you’ll wake up saying “I don’t know what happened. My products USED to work.” Believe me curlfriends, your products DO still work.

You just need to clarify. So this summer, I want you to make it your mission to clarify your hair as needed. You can use a drugstore brand, or you can use good old fashion baking soda, and/or apple cider vinegar from home.

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So, naturalistas summertime is here. We can’t hide from it.

Yes, protective hairstyles are amazing. But you know what?

Let that fro’ loose every once and a while. Just be sure to moisturize the heck out of that thang. Summer is all about freedom, joy and adventure. So make the most of it lovelies.

Monét Ravenell Writer www.monetfreelancewriter.com

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Astrology

Horoscopes Predictions for July/August 2017

Aries (21 March – 19 April )

It is a growth time for you. You’ll be able to reach your goals more easily, though, so it will be well worth your time and energy to put everything else aside. You’ll start to stretch out and explore your new territory. You can take in new information using your senses, and have greater sense memory. Business travel is a definite possibility as is a sudden increase in responsibilities. Your relationship with partner is likely to be stable, but may be a drag. If you are single, you may meet someone special through work or a group you belong to.

Favourable Dates: July 3, 9, 12, 18, 21, 27 Aug 4, 6, 13, 15, 22, & 24 Favourable Colors: Red & Yellow

Taurus (20 April – 20 May)

New practices and strategies will be required with money and its handling, especially where joint finance and credit arrangements are involved. You need to keep your financial dealings to yourself.

Some of you may have to face issues about intimacy and sexuality. You can make your biggest steps forward in your career if you pay special attention to opportunities provided by a partner or mate. You’ll be far more interested in taking care of your health and appearance — and you’ll do a great job of it, too.

Favourable Dates: July 3, 7, 12, 16, 21, 25 Aug 3, 4, 12, 13, 21, & 22 Favourable Colors: Green & Yellow 36 July/August 2017

Gemini (21 May – 20 June)

Leo (23 July – 22 August)

Cancer (21 June – 22 July)

Virgo (23 August – 22 September)

You’re electrified by a new vision, whether it’s one of reconnecting or starting fresh, and you’re electrically attractive as well. Your big heart and grand intentions fuel you in this phase.

Your dynamic style will attract attention and you might shift career tracks within the same business or industry. Singles who risk a big romantic move can hardly go wrong, and the coupled up can take their relationship to the next level.

During August, you shall have a very active life with home, family and career all demanding your time and attention.

Favourable Dates: July 1, 5, 10, 14, 19, 23 Aug 5, 7, 14, 16, 23, & 25 Favourable Colors: Grey & Blue The month of July will be especially good for you — you’ll feel grounded and really able to tackle any level of work. You’re definitely making a name for yourself, probably far beyond the walls of the workplace and getting praise and attention. You may be thinking of making a major career move — one that’s entirely possible. After the 17th of August, you may also be making your way along a whole new relationship path.

You’ll enjoy this new start, and so will those who choose to accompany you.

Favourable Dates: July 7, 9, 16, 18, 25, 27 Aug 3, 6, 12, 15, 21, & 24 Favourable Colors: Green, Red & Yellow

This period is telling you to brush up on your interpersonal skills and you’ll get better without trying too hard.

Communication skills will be vital in all areas of work. Relationships would be consistent throughout this period. It finds you beginning to focus on a special relationship in earnest; it will either be very romantic or very combative.

Whether you’re single or coupled up; this period finds you especially irresistible. Those in partnerships will hit an expansive mode and leisure activities will send the erotic temperature soaring.

Favourable Dates: July 7, 9, 16, 18, 25, 27 Aug 3, 6, 12, 15, 21, & 24 Favourable Colors: Red & Yellow

Home, career, relationships, all seem to be going well and moving along at a fast pace. Sustained effort sets new directions and you can complete outstanding matters or work in progress with the assurance that a fruitful time is coming. You listen to people who seem to be original thinkers. Your finances are looking up, and you are feeling more positive and idealistic. New friends and acquaintances can bring new opportunities for travel and social experiences. Couples make interesting new sparks now, while singletons can find someone to warm their heart.

Favourable Dates: July 7, 8, 16, 17, 25, 26 Aug 1, 5, 10, 14, 19, & 23

Favourable Colors: Green & White

Libra (23 September – 22 October)

You’ll feel like shaking things up as the period starts. You might want to switch workgroups or office mates — or go nuts and start fishing around for an entirely new job. Whatever happens, it’ll be the interpersonal connections that matter most to you. If you’re coupled up, you’re as protective of your privacy as ever to outsiders, yet you slowly see that letting your true tenderness show is a risk very much worth taking. You’ll be after true intimacy on all levels, and you won’t stop until you have it.

Favourable Dates: July 6, 9, 15, 18, 24, 27 Aug 2, 4, 11, 13, 20, & 22 Favourable Colors: Red & White

Scorpio (23 October – 21 November)

This period is excellent for communicating your dreamy feelings and abundance of sentiment. You will need to communicate some of the plans you’ve made to your social or official circle. The month of August is also a time of work, and if you are willing to put the time and effort in you can accomplish a great deal and get both financial and social recognition. You’re getting along well with your partner/mate, and in fact, they are a big help in the moment. Favourable Dates: July 4, 5, 13, 14, 22, 23 Aug 1, 4, 10, 13, 19, & 22 Favourable Colors: Yellow & White

Sagittarius (22 November – 21 December)

Your creative energy is high, and if you are single, this is a great time for romance.

If you’re married and have kids, you will find lots of happiness with the family.

August is the time to get your financial house in order. You will need to speak up for yourself as you begin something new.

Money would improve, although there can be some major expenses that soak up the excess, so remember your budget.

Keep your plans to yourself until you are ready to launch them.

Favourable Dates: July 2, 8, 11, 17, 20, 26 Aug 3, 4, 12, 13, 21, & 22 Favourable Colors: Yellow & Purple

Capricorn (22 December – 19 January)

Making the right decisions can lead to positive growth in your career. Put your energy into something constructive and make it work for you. Inspiration for your love life is available right, left and sideways, so get yourself out there. Singles should try an entirely different mode of meeting people for sweet results. Some unexpected admiration takes things to another level in August, so be ready to respond in whatever way you choose.

You finish out the period with warm and intense family connections.

Favourable Dates: July 5, 6, 14, 15, 23, 24 Aug 1, 8, 10, 17, 19, & 26 Favourable Colors: Yellow & Blue

Aquarius (20 January – 18 February)

You’ll develop an itch for new skills and knowledge as the period rolls around, and it might be a good time to take a class or involve yourself in some pro bono work that expands your horizons. Your home life should be especially well integrated with your professional life. Toward the end of July you may wish to withdraw a bit and recalibrate your thinking about your career path. The end of the period is a good time to travel or move your residence or expand your social activities at home.

Favourable Dates: July 3, 5, 12, 14, 21, 23 Aug 4, 5, 13, 14, 22, & 23 Favourable Colors: White & Green

Pisces (19 February – 20 March)

There can be great benefit in new financial opportunities that come your way. This is a good period for lots of travel and also for putting time into either working at home or home projects.

It is also a good time for you to start new things. Love is in the air and life is all about relationships, and you’re well aware of your power to make your fantasies into reality. If you’re coupled up, you can transform and re-intensify your relationship now — and if you’re single, the world had better watch out.

Favourable Dates: July 1, 7, 10, 16, 19, 25 Aug 5, 8, 14, 17, 23, & 26 Favourable Colors: Blue & Green

Astrology by Manish Kumar Arora K.P. Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Card Reader & Vastu Consultant facebook.com/manishastroconsultant manish@manishastrologer.com www.ctckmagazine.com 37 © Sad Monkey Design. Watercolor Texture. Photo sourced from Lost and Taken.

by JD Richards

I

t’s a new day for natural hair. You will find that more and more women of color are making the decision to go natural because they are concerned about the health of their hair. Those concerns are what propels the natural hair community forward and push us, the professional stylist to provide more education. As a natural hair care professional stylist and educator, I realized that those who desired to go natural didn’t obtain the educational resources in most of the salons where they received their relaxer services.

Naturalistas had to go elsewhere to find information as well as education on how to care for their natural tresses.

Bloggers and You Tube became the main source of information and how-to’s for the natural hair community.

This uprise introduced an influx of natural hair care products that began to soar at alarming rates. So much so, that the textured sisters who embraced their natural hair purchased so many products until swap meet-ups were introduced.

Because naturalistas noticed that they all had different hair types, some thought that if they had kinky hair and if they used the same products the curly girl used it would make their hair look similar. To their surprise, it did not.

Because dryness, shrinkage, length retention, manageability, texture and type acceptance are challenges that most naturalistas face, MYSTIQUE NATURAL Hair & Body was created to be the solution. Our hair care and styling products were designed to release the potential in all hair types and textures with long lasting hydration, maximum curl definition and elongation, while enabling an environment for hair growth.

MYSTIQUE NATURAL Hair & Body products allow you to once and for all take control of your hair by providing you with a hair care regimen that gives you the hydration and confidence to master and manage your own natural uniqueness. There is no reason to ‘type cast’ your amazing tresses based on alphabets and numbers, because with MYSTIQUE NATURAL it’s all about being Curly, Confident and In Control.

MYSTIQUE NATURAL has eight products that have been designed to synergistically work together for maximum results.

Each product’s name has been carefully chosen because of the quality that our company places on the importance of encouraging and building confidence in each user.

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Calm Clean Cleansing Shampoo (Sulfate Free) Great hair starts with a great scalp. The calming qualities of peppermint quiet and massage your scalp, while the hydrohoney deposits moisture to reduce breakage. Remove any buildup that is weighing you down.

Take Control Clen-ditioner/Cleanses and Conditions Take Control Clen-ditioner gives you the control to use as a co-wash to cleanse your hair daily, or a hydrating conditioner that replenishes moisture weekly. This Clen-ditioner is to be used when you decide to tame everything that is out of control.

Self-Assured Leave-In Conditioner Self-Assured Leave-In Conditioner is as bold as its name. It hydrates, moisturizes, detangles, and nourishes your tresses with the use of Argan and papaya oils. No more frizzies, weak strands or dryness. You can rest assured that your hair is in great condition.

Positive Influence Hair Strengthening Complex It is vitally important that natural hair receives moisture to combat dryness as well as strength to resist breakage. This radical conditioning system is positively comprised of amino acids that penetrate into the hair shaft to repair and protect cracked areas along the cuticle, thus providing healing to healthy hair.

Release Your Potential Hydrating Parfait This Hydrating Parfait establishes lasting hydration and moisture to all natural hair types and textures. The moisturizing influences of Shea & Cocoa Butters nourishes each strand to help promote hair growth and strength. Take your natural uniqueness to another level.

Curly Confidence ID Defining Cream The moisturizing and holding performances of CCID defining Cream incorporates Hydro-Honey, Sunflower and Castor Oil to inspire style options, fortitude and backbone to be your curly self with long lasting results.

Safe & Secure Vitamin Oil For that last look before you step, lock in your hydration and moisturization to protect against anything that may cause you hair to feel dry and unprotected. The intrinsic blend of Sesame, Safflower, Olive and Soybean releases vitamins A, B, C, E and K, to restore and replenish any dryness in the hair shaft.

MYSTIQUE NATURAL has eight products that have been designed to synergistically work together for maximum results.

MYSTIQUE NATURAL Hair & Body has created a new business opportunity for naturalista’s that will transform their lives, families and communities.

Simply put, MYSTIQUE NATURAL will show you how to: 1. Get paid for wearing your natural hair, 2. Own your own business, 3. Choose your business partners, 4. Build power teams 5. Maintain financial liberation.

Straightforward Edge Tamer Straightforward Edge Tamer incorporates Castor Oil to help prevent hair loss, Argan Oil for moisture and Bamboo Shoot Extract to encourage hair growth. When you need to put your edges in place, just be Straightforward. No buildup.

Log www.my on to nat and we uralbiz.com will how to g show you et starte d.

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