Artist Madrid, Naturally

Organized by: Columbia Curly Girls Hosted by: Curls Natural Hair Care Products Panelists: Tracey - Lovely Products, Inc. (in the natural hair care business for 40 years) spokesperson Chasity Shipman -Owner of Nappyology 101 ( 619 Lady St, Columbia, SC 29201 ) Wilbur - Hair repair & texture specialist at Nappyology 101(the science of hair) Keisha (not pictured)- Locs specialist at Nappyology 101 The overall theme of the night was definitely how to get and maintain healthy hair through the science of natural hair. Hair Care Tips & Facts: ·         Hair should be trimmed every 8 to 10 weeks, 3 months at most ·         When your hair goes through different stages, it needs different things ·         It needs to be washed once a week: "Each head of hair is a work of art; your canvas must be cleaned" ·         Braids should only stay in 6 to 8 weeks ·         Shampoo, condition and treat hair with braids ·         Issues

Neem oil is a wonderful asset to your hair and skin. It comes from the neem tree, which is found in many parts of India. The neem tree has antiviral, antihistamine, antiseptic, antifungal and antibacterial properties.  No wonder the United Nations has declared it the “Tree of the 21st Century”.  Personally, I love neem oil. I use it in my deep conditioning mix , as a pre-poo, and sometimes I even use a neem shampoo (when my hair needs extra TLC). Note: Because of its pungent smell, I would not recommend using it daily by itself. For the first 6 months of going natural, I used it to treat my severe dandruff (which is no longer a problem). The night before wash day, I would massage the oil into my scalp and put a plastic cap on my head. Then in the morning, wash as usual. It’s said that neem oil also stimulates the scalp, promoting hair growth. Neem oil has even helped me with my eczema when I am unable to get my prescribed cream refilled. So where can you can you get this “miracle” oi

I used to love fall and winter because you get to be bundled up. When you are wearing like five layers, it’s hard to tell where your clothes end and you begin. I would eat whatever I wanted and gained weight without anyone being the wiser. This year I am enjoying this season for a similar reason. Don’t be alarmed! I am still eating healthy and staying active. It’s just my appearance has really changed. I see it and everyone else does too. When I pass a mirror, I have to stop and check. “Is that really me?” And people are always commenting on my weight loss as well. At times it can be overwhelming. Don’t get me wrong, I love my new body, my newfound energy and everything else.  It is a lot to deal with mentally because when I picture myself, I still see the old AM. I am still trying to learn how to reconcile those two versions of myself. Until then, it’s nice to look lumpy again for a few hours a day. My only real concern is that I will subconsciously do things to make myself gain the

So about a month ago, I started doing this body weight circuit training routine . I knew I needed to incorporate a full-body workout into my exercise routine. I chose this over a kettlebell workout because I already had all the necessary equipment. I have now worked my way up to doing all three circuits (yes, it took me that long) with a 3 minute jog to warm-up. I have a love/hate relationship with this workout. I love that I can do it in about 20 minutes and it's strength-training and a cardio workout! However, it is definitely a challenge. Once you've completed it, you feel like you've had your butt kicked. But the saying goes: "If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you" . And I love the results. The squats and lunges have made my legs stronger, which is great for running. The plank variations really work your core and my arms need all the help they can get with those push-ups lol. AM's Body Weight Circuit Training: 20 squats 20 lunges 10

Look how time has flown by. Artist Madrid, Naturally is celebrating its first anniversary and what a year it has been. Starting this blog is up there with those life-altering decisions of going natural and getting healthy. Coming here and writing about my missteps and my progress has been like therapy for me. And I hope you have enjoyed following me on my journey as well. So much has changed in my life. I am glad that I have been able to share it with you; from going gluten-free to completely my first 5k to falling out and then back in love with LeLola (my hair). I look in the mirror and I see a new person. I am stronger because I have learned how to fight cravings and how to push myself further. I am wiser because I now know what I should put in my body and how I should treat it. I am bolder because I have learned how to let my hair down (literally), as well as my protective walls. I am happier because I have finally learned to accept and love myself. I have shared a lot with you. Tha