Sunday, May 27, 2012

Kitchen Testimonials: Cpj

Subscriber, Cpj, had this to say about maintaining mini twists:









I agree. In order to preserve any protective style when washing gentle handling is a must! Aside from maintaining the look of the style, I find that gentle handling avoids extreme tangling. What methods have you all found to be helpful in maintaining your twists and other protective styles?

DIY Recipe: Accidental Herbal Hair Rinse


I've been on a quest to make an all natural hair lotion that isn't too greasy but has a thick creamy texture. The inspiration for this quest is my fond memory of Luster's Pink Lotion- you know the one! I looooved this stuff, and swore it transformed my texture each time I slathered it on. Of course it did not, in fact it just created build up and attracted dirt because I piled it on daily. But that first application... on clean hair... with a hard boar bristle brush... couldn't no one tell me I didn't "have Indian in my family." o_O

I don't want to live in that delusional world anymore, but I do want to find the perfect recipe for a thick creamy lotion. The one I'm about to share with you... is not it! I found a recipe online that was inaccurately described as a nettle hair lotion. Then I personalized it by adding horsetail and chamomile. The consistency was not at all creamy... it was basically tea. It did however make a wonderful hair rinse to use after conditioning and I did see an increase in sheen and strength in my strands after using it for about a month. Check it out and tell me how it works out for you!

I used 2 teaspoons each of dried nettle and horsetail leaves.

I added in 2 teaspoons of dried chamomile flowers.


I placed all of the herbs in a tea bag and steeped in boiling hot water for about an hour (long enough for the mixture to cool down).

I used this mixture on one of my "mega-cleaning" days. I also decided to try the condition-first method. I rather liked it. This was my regimen:
- pre-poo castor oil treatment
- coconut honey avocado deep conditioner
- baking soda rinse
- ACV rinse
- herbal rinse

Have you tried any herbal hair rinses? Have you tried any other recipes for hair lotions? Please share them with us!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Kitchen Testimonials: Ellie and Unathi

While hanging with my homegirl Ellie we got onto the topic of hair care regimens (duh!) and she mentioned that she had been making her own cleansing and conditioning products for hair and home. I asked (ok, nudged) her to share what has been working for her and this is what she shared:


Since we're having "church" in the kitchen salon, I thought I'd share another testimonial with you. This is from Unathi who attended my first kitchen salon class at NYC's Cuchifritos via The Trade School. Seems like it wasn't too bad... maybe I should try another?


Have any of you tried some of the recipes from the blog? Let us know what worked, and even what didn't work! If you have a recipe, question or comment send it to submissions.thekitchensalon@gmail.com.

Monday, April 23, 2012

The Kitchen Salon Featured in Liberated Strands Magazine

* SQUEAL * It's here it's here! Liberated Strands #2 has arrived and it features an article I wrote about protective styling. See "Fight Hair in Hand" on pg. 93 for my protective styling tutorial and DIY hair care tips.

Thanks to Angela Clay for the opportunity. KS fam, this whole magazine is full of stunning photos of gorgeous women with a variety of manes. Check it out and tell us what you think. ♥


 

Friday, April 20, 2012

Style Tutorial: Fro Today, Gone Tomorrow | Another Twisted Updo


I love sporting my fro on warm sunny days. This year's early spring weather convinced me to ditch my usual winter protective styling and rock wild twist outs.


Now that my rehearsal and performance schedule is picking up I have to go back to protective styling. Here's a style I reluctantly did to keep my hair up and out the way for a while, yet another twisted updo. What do you think?









Friday, April 6, 2012

I'm Choreographing a Musical, You Should Be In It!

Casting Call for Unnamed Broadway Musical: The Musical!

Did you fantasize about being in an orphan themed musical when you were a kid?
Volunteer Performers Wanted for Collaborative Musical Theater/Video Project. No experience necessary!

We are seeking volunteer performers for Unnamed Broadway Musical: The Musical! to participate in an unusual collaborative performance based on the experience of watching and/or listening to orphan themed musicals as a child.

The casting will be based more on the willingness and desire of the performers than on singing, dancing ability, or appearance. We hope to tap into a population who perhaps fantasized as children about being in a particular musical, but for whom it wasn’t a possibility perhaps because of gender, race, talent, or other circumstantial barriers.

We will create a new musical together under the direction of Sarah Cameron Sunde over the course of 5 weeks. Chris Berg will compose and direct the music and Pia Monique Murray will choreograph. The entire process will be recorded and edited into an experimental video by artist/organizer Kara Hearn.

Interested candidates should:

  • Be available for all rehearsal and performance times
  • Be 18 years or older
  • Have a personal history/relationship with an orphan themed musical

To Apply:

  • Please send an email to karahearn@gmail.com  with a brief description of your interest in the project
  • Deadline: April 7th  at midnight
  • We will select applicants for Interviews/Auditions to be held on Saturday, April 14th

Rehearsal/Performance Times (all held at EFA Project Space, 323 39th Street, between 8th and 9th Ave.)

Monday, April 16, 6-10pm
Thursday, April 19, 6-10pm
Friday, April 20, 6-10pm
Saturday, April 21, 12-6pm
Monday, April 23, 6-10pm
Thursday, April 26, 6-10pm
Monday, April 30, 6-10pm
Saturday, May 5, 12-6pm
Thursday, May 10, 6-10pm
Friday, May 11, 6-10pm
Monday, May 14, 6-10pm
Thursday, May 17, 6-10pm
Friday, May 18, 6-10pm
Saturday, May 19, 12-8pm (FINAL PERFORMANCE)


The final video will be screened in July.

Artist/Organizer: Kara Hearn
Director: Sarah Cameron Sunde
Composer/Music Director: Christopher Berg
Choreographer: Pia Monique Murray
Curatorial Consultant: Michelle Levy
Hosting Organization: EFA Project Space