New Orleans Natural Hair Expo in Review

Happy Fourth of July from Naturally Happy Hair

New Orleans Natural Hair Expo

The 1st Annual New Orleans Natural Hair Expo and Natural Happy Hair Magazine is pleased to be the media sponsor for the event!

So what is the New Orleans Natural Hair Expo? It's two days of fun and sophistication in a social environment that celebrates and promotes the natural hair community and culture. The expo will feature workshops, product demonstrations, a blogger panel, vendor suites, vendor mall, profesional DJ, catered refreshments and a cash bar.

Saturday, July 5, ItsMeItsMo will be hosting the New Orleans Natural Hair Event from 10 am to 4 pm at the Contemporary Arts Center of New Orleans, which is located at 900 Camp Street.  On Sunday, July 6, the expo will close-out with an exclusive brunch featuring  MsVaughnTV, BlackOnyx, and StrawberriCurls.

For more general and ticket information, visit www.neworleansnaturalhairexpo.com.

The Scalp: The Hair of the Hair

One of the most anticipated benefits and for some, the sole purpose of “going natural,” is the potential for length retention. There are community groups, Tumblr blogs, and even T-shirts created to assist in tracking and obsessing over retaining length. The desire to eliminate breakage can be so great, that at times the scalp is neglected.

Cleansing the scalp is essential to growing and maintaining healthy tresses. But even beyond cleansing the scalp, it is important to understand that diet, exercise, stress, and genetics are all related to your scalp’s health. Hair grows out of a follicle, which is the host for the production and growth stimulation for hair. If the follicle is not receiving proper nutrients from the body, the potential for it to produce hair can be hindered.

“The scalp is like soil; if the scalp is not healthy, the hair won’t be healthy,” said Dr. Kari Williams, a trichologist (a dermatologist who deals with the health of the hair and scalp). “Hair is the barometer of health. Because the epidermis is the largest organ of the body, its cells replicate the fastest. Observing your hair, skin, and nails can give you an idea of the body’s condition as your diet, exercise, and stress levels fluctuate.” The healthier your lifestyle, the more your scalp can function at its highest efficiency. After acknowledging the overall care for the body, maintenance can be addressed.

Ensuring that your scalp is cleansed is important to sustaining growth. Although the convenience of wearing protective styles for weeks and months on end requires less manipulation, it is important to regularly cleanse the scalp from excessive sebum, debris, and product build up. Like other areas of your skin, it has to breathe in order to function properly. There are multiple methods of cleansing the scalp outside of using shampoo. Many women identify shampoo as a product with sulfates, but not all shampoos contain harsh detergents. With the increased acceptance of kinky, coily, and curly hair, hair care companies are offering formulate sulfate-free shampoos and even co-wash conditioners that have less harsh cleansing ingredients. Apple cider vinegar rinses can indeed cleanse the scalp, and the acidity in ACV helps to keep the cuticle healthy, Williams said. “The pH of the scalp needs to be regulated and cleansing will ensure that.” 

The scalp produces its own sebum (an oily skin moisturizer secreted by the sebaceous glands), so oiling or greasing the scalp is not necessary. Having an oily or dry scalp is a dysfunction of the sebaceous glands. If your scalp is dry, you should first pinpoint why, Willams said. Sometimes it may be the result of climate change. Essential oils like jojoba oil and coconut oil are great ways to lubricate the scalp. If your scalp is oily, jojoba helps to regulate the scalp and should be applied after the washing process. Dandruff can be caused by a number of factors: reaction to ingredients in a product, eating, and also a change in climate. For some, consuming sugar and saturated fats increases the yeast production of the scalp, which attributes to itching. Incorporate a shampoo that either contains coal tar or salicylic acid for those with seborrheic dermatisis, so that the scalp is properly relieved of dry or oily flakes, Williams said. Ultimately, whether your scalp is normal, dry, or oily, having a nutritious diet and cleansing regularly will assist in proper scalp maintenance — which can then help to ensure that your follicles are a nurturing foundation for growth. Like anything in life, it is important to start at the source of a problem prior to addressing the symptoms. Get to the root.

There are vast reasons for going natural, whether it be the desire for longer hair, big hair, or to be more health conscious. The choice is yours. Nevertheless, when you begin with properly caring for your body, everything else will be more attainable.

I AM

Poem written by Poet Brooke Brunson

I Am 

I am young in spirit,

I am free with words,

I am beautiful like a diamond,

I am unique like a rose.

I am gracious with my walk

I am powerful in my stride,

I am loud like a tide,

I am flawless like the sky.

I am grateful to have life,

I am fortunate to have love,

I am blessed to see the light,

I am proud to be number one.

I am young in spirit,

I am free with words,

I am beautiful like a diamond,

I am unique like a rose.

A freelance writer and blogger Brooke Brunson is also a contributing writer for The Black View. She has also contributed some of her work to various magazines and blogs in New York and her hometown Philadelphia. For more info you can check her out on her blog at www.brookebrunson.wordpress.com. Also follow her on Twitter @Brookepoets

Lady Emmy on Overcoming Self-Esteem Challenges

Interview with Shannette Prince Bryant

Many women have challenges with self-esteem beginning at a young age. This challenges lead to negative self-talk, bad habits and we begin to devalue ourselves.  We talked to Lady Emmy again and she has some advice for Naturally Happy Hair readers on how to work through some of the struggles and possess a confidence that will exude from our inner core.

It can be a real challenge to improve your self-esteem. It takes a serious commitment to change

the way you see yourself. There are no quick fixes. However, there are a few things that you can do to help you to begin the process.

      1. Spend some time really getting to know yourself and evaluating your life.  Ask yourself:
              • What’s your purpose?
               • Are you willing to explore and develop your gifts and talents?
               • What’s really important to you?
               • What do you love to do?
               • What do you really want?
Then you must be willing to make whatever changes may be necessary to move in the direction of all those things. When you have peace within yourself and you’re fulfilling your purpose it creates a confidence and an inner beauty that comes through in your outer beauty.

     2.    One of the most important things is to make sure the people that you have in your life are people who encourage and value you.
The people in your life and their voices have a great influence on you. Make sure the people and voices in your life are good for your overall well being. You need people in your life that can encourage you in your lowest moments and celebrate you in your highest moments.

    3.     Take the time to really take care of yourself physically.                  
How you feel about yourself often effects your eating and sleeping habits as well as whether or not you will take the time exercise. All those things affect your health and contribute to your inner and outer beauty. Eating healthier, exercising, and getting enough rest will all make you both feel and look better.

    4.     Compare yourself only to yourself                                                    
Make sure that you don’t spend more time focusing on who you’re not and what you don’t have than you spend working on who you are and what you do have. Don’t waste time comparing yourself to others. Spend your time focused on improving yourself and your own life. Each day try to be a better you than the day before. Not only will you improve your self-esteem but it will also help to keep you driven.

You can find more information about Lady Emmy on her website www.LadyEmmy.com.

Twitter: @theladyemmy

Facebook: LadyEmmy

Beautiful You & Lady Emmy

Interview with Shannette Prince Bryant

Lady Emmy is a TV personality, professional model, beauty expert, lifestyle expert on women's issues, and board certified family and relationship counselor. She possesses an inner strength and a message that resonates with women. She has been traveling the country speaking to women on issues related to beauty which includes both inner and outer beauty as well as self-love.

Lady Emmy sat down with Naturally Happy Hair Magazine to tell us more about her new radio show on Houston’s KCOH as well as how to let our inner beauty and confidence shine.

NHH Mag: What led you into the beauty industry?

LM: I’ve always had a love for all things beauty. As a model, I’ve worked with many cosmetic and hair care companies on different print campaigns over the years. As I became a beauty expert, my love of the industry and the products has grown even more.

NHH Mag: You are launching a new radio show Beautiful You and listeners can hear it on KCOH on Saturday afternoons.  What are your goals for the radio show and why did you choose radio as a platform?

LM: Beautiful You airs live on Saturdays at 12pmCST/ 1pm EST. Listeners can currently tune in on KCOH. It is a national show that will also be available online and through app. The show is a new adventure for me. It’s an opportunity to further connect with my audience and share great information. I’ve been in TV for 9 years, but this will be my first radio project. The show is a unique, entertaining, informative, and fun show. There isn’t another radio show like it. The show is about beauty, inside and out, including skin care, hair, makeup, grooming, and men's grooming, as well as self-esteem and other inner wellness themes to help develop an overall “Beautiful You”! We’ll be talking beauty tips and information, as well as discussing the things that affect our inner beauty such as self-esteem, healthy relationships, and other lifestyle topics. We have guests and take call-in questions. We also have some great product giveaways and prizes each week for our listeners.

NHH Mag: Your list of accomplishments is pretty extensive. What’s the one thing you are most proud of and what do you want your legacy to be?

LM: I’m most proud of the fact that I haven’t compromised who I am, what I believe, or my gifts to get ahead. Through the grace of God I’ve accomplished a lot. In a world full of short cuts and compromising opportunities, I’ve remained focused and true to myself.

                                              

I hope my legacy includes my life and my work making an impact on the lives of others, especially women. I hope to build a brand and an organization that inspires people and has a lasting positive effect on their lives.

  

NHH Mag: NHH Magazine was created as a resource that provides education, inspiration, guidance and support for women with natural hair.  As a model, how do you handle your natural hair for photo shoots, television appearances and the like?

LM: I always strive to take great care of my hair. I try to work with hair stylists who focus on healthy hair. I usually deep condition my hair at home the night before a shoot or on-air appearance. I also avoid excessive heat when styling my hair. Whenever I’m styled by a new hair stylist, I always communicate any concerns I may have about their styling techniques or products.

NHH Mag: Beginning next month, we will kick off the Beautification Project. We are starting the campaign in hopes of encouraging women to re-evaluate adding artificial products like weave, heavy makeup and lashes.  We want women to know that beauty is tied to who you are inside and out. Adding enhancers is one thing, but some women are becoming unrecognizable.  What are your thoughts on true beauty?

LM: True beauty is an inner confidence and self-love that radiates out. Taking care of our outer appearance is important. However, it’s not more important than inner beauty. Self–esteem and all the things that make up our inner beauty determine our perspective on our outer beauty. We must love and value ourselves first. We should allow makeup and hair to enhance the beauty that we already know that we are. Artificial products should never be used to compensate for any lacking self-love or esteem issues. True beauty should start on the inside and radiate out which should affect the way we carry ourselves and should be our motivation to take care of our outer appearance as well.

You can find more information about Lady Emmy on her website www.LadyEmmy.com.

Twitter: @theladyemmy

Facebook: LadyEmmy

Texas Black Expo's 4th Annual Naturalista Weekend

Join Naturally Happy Hair, Beauty Under One Roof, Trichologist Betty Mark (also known as "Mother Nature"), Naturally GG and Georgette "SoulSister" Whaley this Saturday, June 21st, for the 4th Annual Naturalista Weekend at the Texas Black Expo! There will be a panel discussion featuring natural hair experts, hairstylists and bloggers, hairstyling demonstrations, product giveaways, a photobooth and much more! This is a FREE event with the purchase of a general admission ticket to the Texas Black Expo. 

Texas Black Expo | Naturalista Weekend
Saturday, June 21, 2014
George R. Brown Convention Center
1001 Avenida De Las Americas
Houston, TX 77010

Panel Discussion w/ Q&A
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Presentation Stage
Speakers: Betty Mark - Trichologist, Khallida Marshall - Hairstylist, Amber and Carissa Gardner - Bloggers, Chimere Norris - Editor-in-Chief Naturally Happy Hair Magazine (Questions will be taken from the audience in addition to being pulled from our social media pages).

Hairstyling Demonstrations w/ Q&A
Time: 12:30 - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Presentation Stage
Hairstylist: Georgette "SoulSister" Whaley of Salon de la SoulSister
Demonstrating: 1 loc style, 1 loose natural style (hair models will be chosen from the audience)

Blue Something New

Post written by Crystal Knight 

There’s been much controversy surrounding the Blue Ivy Carter photos that have been circulating the internet with her hair, in some people’s opinion, appearing to be unkempt. Last week Jasmine Toliver of New York started a petition on Change.org asking Blue Ivy’s parents, Jay-Z and Beyonce, to comb her hair. Toliver later spoke out, stating that the petition was “a clever joke!” However, more than 4,700 people headed to Change.org and signed the petition.  
 
Change.org has thousands of petitions available to sign. Petitions ranging from requests for the USDA to label antibiotic feed meat accordingly, to a petition to save the life of Meriam Yehya Ibrahim who is 8 months pregnant and has been sentenced to death for converting to Christianity.

 Throughout the week I have seen the reports on various media outlets speaking about the “Comb Her Hair” petition. Here’s my opinion on the topic.

When we look around the world today it is filled with sickness, depression, poverty and disease. Our youth, the future of this world, are lost. We have taken away prayer in schools and allow our children to worship idol gods. There are people opening fire in elementary schools, high schools, movie theaters and college campuses. Where are our country’s gun control measures? 

Map of school shootings that have taken place in the 
United States since Sandy Hook Elementary in December 2012.

There are parents taking the lives of their children; children taking the lives of their parents. There are girls being abducted from schools in Africa, a plane carrying 239 passengers goes missing and still we have no answers.

This world is in utter chaos and 4,700 people chose to use their voice to urge Jay-Z and Beyonce’ to comb Blue Ivy’s hair. I can only hope that while they were on change.org, they also found a worthy petition to support and used their vote to encourage change that matters.

I would like to challenge each of us, myself included, to spend more time exploring our inner selves and getting in tune with what’s important. Do something for the greater good, find ways to help in your community, seek opportunities to mentor a child who’s lost their way. Support change that matters.

Crystal Knight is the founder of Naturally Happy Hair and co-founder of Naturally Happy Hair Magazine. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

International Natural Hair Meetup Day #INHMD 2014 Unites Curly Girls Across the Globe!

Once again International Natural Hair Meetup Day, sponsored by Koils by Nature, was a huge success across the globe.  This international celebration of natural hair took place on Saturday, May 17, 2014 in various regions around the world.

Naturally Happy Hair Magazine, which served as the 2014 Media Sponsor for International Natural Hair Meetup Day, had the privilege of attending Natural Hair Affair which was the official #INHMD event for Houston, TX.   Tendrils & Curls, Houston’s premier retailer for a wide range of products and accoutrements for wavy, curly and kinky hair, hosted the event.

Pictured (Left to Right): Crystal Knight, Publisher of Naturally Happy Hair Magazine, Dr. Paula Chrishon, owner of Tendrils and Curls and Chimere Norris, Editor-in-Chief of Naturally Happy Hair Magazine

Natural Hair Affair took place at Houston’s swank Hughes Hanger in the Heights.  Naturalistas drove from all across Houston, parts of Dallas, San Antonio and Austin to take part in the festivities and learn about caring for their natural tresses.

Guest speakers included Tamika Fletcher, co-founder of Natural Resources Salon, Youtube vlogger iknowlee and was MC’d by Georgette Whaley of Salon De LaSoulsister.  DJ Superstar kept the crowd moving as she filled the air with the latest in hip hop, R&B and neo-soul.

Tamika Fletcher also provided live styling demonstrations to show attendees how easy it is to create chic, yet simple natural hair styles in a matter of minutes.

A beautiful fashion show took place on the outdoor patio. The show featured the designs of A Leap of Style, which specializes in bold ethnic-inspired prints with a twist.

Check back soon for photos from other #INHMD events that took place around the world on May 17^th!  #INHMD also received coverage in the Hair Street Style section of Essence.com.

For more details about International Natural Hair Meetup Day or for information on how you can host or attend an event in your city, please visit www.nnhmd.com

Retaining your hair's moisture

Guest post by Kim Isaacs

You’ve already learned that porosity is your hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. Now you are probably wondering how to determine your hair’s porosity. There are a few tests you can perform to find out.

                             

How does your hair respond to water when you are washing your hair? Does it get thoroughly wet the minute you step in the shower? Or does it take a while and you find yourself manipulating your hair in order to make certain it’s wet? How long does it take your hair to dry?

If your hair gets wet easily and dries very fast, then chances are your hair is highly porous. If your hair gets wet easily, and doesn’t dry fast, chances are your hair has normal porosity. If your hair takes a minute to get wet in the shower, and takes forever to dry, your hair probably has low porosity.

Each level of porosity has different hair care methods.

I have found that many of us with low porosity hair — including me — can keep our hair moisturized by using the liquid, cream, and oil method. Wash your hair and while it’s still wet (liquid) apply your leave in conditioner of choice (cream). Next, apply a butter or (oil) to seal in the moisture. You can then apply a styler of choice. This is an excellent way to moisturize low porosity hair. 

If your hair is highly porous, your hair tends to be the driest hair type, as moisture leaves your hair very quickly. People with highly porous hair can use the liquid, oil, and cream method (LOC). When your hair is wet (liquid), apply oil or butter (oil), and then apply your leave in (cream). This works extremely well.

If you have normal porosity, try either method to determine which one works best. However, I would imagine that the LOC method may be too heavy for your hair, as you don’t have a problem keeping your hair moisturized.

Keeping your hair moisturized is the No. 1 thing you can to do have gorgeous, healthy curly hair. Our hair has so many twists and turns, any natural oils that our scalp produces can’t make it down to our twisty hair strands. This is why most curlies tend to have dry hair.

Beautique Hop Success

Good times, good friends and good finds. That's how we felt as we walked away from Natural Happy Hair Magazine's 1st Annual Beautique Hop. 

Here are a few pictures from our ultimate shopping excursion. Want to see more photos? Check out Naturally Happy Hair Facebook's page!

Cocktails anyone?

Us shopping at Heiress Boutique 

                                         (Photo courtesy of Jasmine Berry @Spookieloo92)

                       Here we are at Melodrama Boutique 

Have you heard about Obsidian Beauty Supply?  

Are you joining us for the Beautique Hop?

Are you boarding the chartered coach for a day of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, mix and mingle and SHOPPING? We’ll travel the city, stopping at the best boutiques Houston has to offer. 

Naturally Happy Hair pulls it all together in our signature “Beautique Hop” on Saturday March 22, 2014 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

At each boutique, hop members will receive a special discount on purchases, SWAG from sponsors and a chance to earn points towards winning our GRAND PRIZE giveaway! 

Join us for a day of SHOPPING, FUN and SAVINGS! Get your SWAG up while being chauffeured around Houston, making new friends and sipping on cocktails!

Get Your Tickets Here ---->http://nhhevents.ticketleap.com/beautiquehophouston/

Understanding Your Hair Texture

Guest post by Amanda Starghill

When embarking on your natural hair journey, it is normal to seek information on maintenance and styling from those who share your hair texture. One of the Merriam-Webster dictionary’s definitions for texture is “the visual or tactile surface characteristics and appearance of something.” But sometimes we focus too much on visual and not enough on tactile. It is easier to create a regimen where the focus is on nurturing your strands versus the manner in which they cluster. With curl pattern being the least important factor, the porosity, density, and width of your strands are better determinants to understanding your texture.

Curl Pattern
Some Naturals don’t like solely categorizing curl patterns as a guide for maintenance, because the chart seems to mimic a grading scale. Emphasizing the diameter of curl “clumpage” has the potential to divide Naturals, which directly conflicts with the unity the movement brings. But I challenge you to not regard it as completely irrelevant for two reasons: Product application and appearance. Every curl pattern can benefit from oil, but it is thickness and amount of oil that varies in application. Naturals with corkscrew curls and pen coil curls could enjoy some TLC from coconut oil, but those with looser curls may find that too much may weigh their hair down. When it comes to thicker oils, like olive oil and castor oil, our tighter-curl counterparts may love those two oils as sealants, while the looser textures may solely opt for a hot oil treatment. For some textures, the combination of the length in addition to weight could cause your curl pattern to appear looser.

Porosity
Porosity relates to how well your hair is able to absorb and hold moisture. Each cuticle contains a minimum of five layers. When it comes to porosity it is important to first address that the tighter the curls and the less defined they are, the more it will appear and feel dry … but that’s OK! You cannot expect a tight, undefined texture to feel like 3B or even straight hair. Curlier or coily textures are naturally drier but there is a difference between dry and damaged.

Highly porous hair is a reflection of damage. When those cuticles are damaged by holes or are completely gone because of manipulation, it makes it difficult for the hair to retain moisture. Aggressive cleansing, drying, and combing can cause damage to cuticles, as well as UV rays and chemical treatments. Low porosity and medium porosity strands are in good shape but may require different products. Hair with low porosity has a problem with receiving and releasing moisture, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Although it may take time for a product to absorb into your hair, your hair is less prone to being dry and maintains moisture much longer. Medium porosity strands are identified as the perfect meeting ground between low and high porosity, but I would encourage you to incorporate protein treatments into your regimen.

Width
Coarse, medium, and fine are three ways people identify the thickness of their individual strands. This is often mistaken for density. The thicker the strands, the heavier the products your hair may require. For those with coarse strands, they may lean toward sealing butters such as shea butter, mango butter, or thick oils. People with finer strands may prefer sealing with jojoba and grape seed oil. Any texture can benefit from the use of oils and butters, but the technique and quantity vary by preference.

Ultimately, understanding how much hair you have (density), how thick the strands are (width), and what condition they are in (porosity) is the best way to determine how to care for your hair. Visual is not everything but it should not be excluded either, especially when it comes to styling.

Adeea Rogers, Founder of International Natural Hair Meetup Day

NHH: Tell us about yourself and what you've been up to. 
Adeea: My name is Adeea Rogers. I am known online as The Trendy Socialite. I was born, raised and still reside in Greenville, North Carolina--home of the East Carolina University Pirates (aaarrrgggh!). I am currently employed at East Carolina University as the social media manager for the Department of Student Involvement and Leadership. Prior to that, I was an event planner for 14 years. After 5, I have a website and YouTube channel dedicated to natural hair, beauty and fashion. I also help equip and empower people to pursue their passions with purpose and power through my online group iGrind Naturally. I hold events in North Carolina and beyond including The Mane Ingredient Dinner for my fellow naturalistas and iGrind Coffee Chats where people can network and receive help with their brands. In 2012, I created and founded, National Natural Hair Meeup Day. Later that same year it changed to International Natural Hair Meetup Day.I wish I could say I had a "Damascus Road" experience when it came to returning to natural hair. But it boiled down to sheer curiosity as to what my texture was and what it would look like. I was in an online hair group; because after wearing short hair for 10 years, I decided to grow my hair. One of the practices in the group was to "stretch your relaxers." Through my interaction with the group, I noticed a lot of people in the group transitioning and going natural. I spent the better part of 2008 looking at and researching natural hair. At that time, the pickings were slim online. I got my last relaxer on December 16, 2008. I transitioned for 6 months and did the big chop on June 26, 2009. I think I shocked everyone but myself.I actually started recording YouTube videos before I went natural, but was never consistent with it. When I started posting pictures on FaceBook, friends began asking questions and encouraging me to share my journey online. Plus at the time I started, there were literally only a handful of YouTube vloggers and very few with my 4ish hair texture. So I started recording videos, and the rest is history!

Social media information for Adeea:

WEBSITE: http://trendysocialite.com

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/TheTrendySocialite

TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/trendysocialite

INSTAGRAM: @trendysocialite

YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/arr1216

PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/trendysocialite 

NHH: In your opinion, what is the biggest misconception about natural hair and how do you suggest we as a community work to change it?

Adeea: In my opinion, one of the biggest misconceptions is that natural hair is not professional. In my workshop, Natural Hair in the Workplace, I share with people that you do not have to straighten your hair in order for it to appear and be professional. One suggestion is that each of us help fellow naturalistas find appropriate hairstyles for their profession, situation or occasion. What I see online, when people post questions about how to wear their natural hair to work, is people (with great intentions) telling others to wear their hair however they choose. But by offering them a few suggestions, that will actually give them viable solutions to their question or challenge.

NHH: Why did you start INHMD and what message did you want to convey when you created this annual celebration of natural hair?
Adeea: The concept of International Natural Hair Meetup Day (INHMD) began after attending the World Natural Hair Show in Atlanta in 2011. I came back to my city of Greenville, NC and started hosting events in my area. As I started doing that, I began to connect with other people and hosts in different parts of the country, especially the Midwest and West Coast. In our conversations, a lot of them stated that they wish they could have an event with the infectious feel of the World Natural Hair Show without having to travel quite so far. That started my wheels turning to find a way for people to have the "feel" of large scale event like the World Natural Hair Show within relatively close proximity to their own communities. Secondly, yet equally as important to me, coming from a "smaller market" like Greenville, I wanted brands and the community at large to know that the natural hair community is not relegated to pockets of large metropolitan areas. But there are thriving, vibrant natural hair groups and communities across the country (and now the world).

NHH: What can naturals look forward to experiencing when attending an INHMD event in their city?
Adeea: The types of events vary from city to city--which is one thing I love about INHMD. We have events from indoor/outdoor festivals and expos to dinners to fashion shows. But the things they can be assured of is an excellent event with information and inspiration to help them on their natural hair care journey. This year I am also super excited that Koils by Nature is our Title Sponsor. Pamela Jenkins, its creator, has been a host and sponsor since INHMD began in 2012. She brings a level of enthusiasm, professionalism and skill to our event that will cause us to expand our reach this year.

NHH: How can readers find out more about INMHD and locate an event in their city?

Adeea: Readers can connect with us online at our website, http://www.inhmd.com. Event information will begin to appear on our site in the next few days. On the homepage, they can enter their state in our search box and find the events in their area. Cities are chosen based on their being interested event hosts in that area. We also highly encourage people to receive up to the minute information by connecting with us on Twitter (@inhmd), Instagram (@inhmd), FaceBook (http://www.facebook.com/nnhmd) and Pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com/inhmd). We release events as they are added to our website via those social media platforms.

Adeea R. Rogers
"The Trendy Socialite"
Creator, Founder and Chief Operating Officer
International Natural Hair Meetup Day
#1 Multi-City Natural Hair Meetup in the World!
May 17, 2014
http://www.inhmd.com
https://www.facebook.com/nnhmd
http://www.twitter.com/inhmd
http://www.pinterest.com/inhmd