If you want to maintain healthy hair and you are traveling, I have some essential hair care and travel tips to share with you. My hair has gone through a lot during my travels around America and abroad, and my successes and failures with my hair have both taught me a lot about how to maintain healthy hair while away from home. Here are…

Our healthy hair journeys provide a mix of different feelings. Feelings of elation as we see progress or meet a given length goal.  Feelings of boredom as we continue to go through with the same humdrum processes day in and day out.  Also, we experience a wide range of experiences that cause us to grow in…

Anytime you put chemical in your hair, whether perm, color or a relaxer, both moisture and protein is lost. Hair outside of the head is NOT alive. So if damage is done, it can't be reversed. We can try and help protect it from further damage or make it appear better but the key is to PREVENT damage! Getting regular deep conditioning treatments and/or Protein treatments will…

HUMIDITY & YOUR TRESSES

Those of you with curly hair know, trying to fight the effects of the weather is a struggle. So why struggle at all?? Your Blown-Out style will only last for so long before the curls will begin to creep back in again. This may be the perfect time to embrace your natural texture. Instead of coming in for a Blow-Out, why not get a roller set or twist set??…

You're hearing it all over now-Thermal Reconditioning- but what does it mean? What service are you actually getting? Let's break the term down. "Thermal" means heat. So right there, the service will include some form of heat. "Reconditioning" means to change the condition your hair is currently in. So where we've noticed the confusion is that this could mean SO many things. If you have curly hair and blow dry it straight, you have just…

COVER UP The best way to protect your hair from the sun's rays is abstinence!  Block exposure to the sun by covering up your tresses with a hat or scarf.

STYLE WITH COVERAGE Many products including leave in conditioners have SPF built right into them.…

More often now than ever before, I hear women talk about single, ambitious, caring, and attractive black men as if they are a figment of the imagination or a Tyler Perry movie concept. In light of today's stereotype that black men cannot commit to black women or are not economically compatible with black women,…

This last semester, I had the pleasure of taking an African American Studies course with Professor Danielle L. McGuire.  To my pleasant surprise, it turned out to be the best class I've taken in my entire collegiate career so far.   One of the most interesting books assigned to us to read was…

Every woman knows what it is like to wonder if a guy is into her. The question plays around in the mind like an annoyance that simply won't go away until it is answered. "Does he like me? Does he not like me? Did he give me any signals to indicate that he wants to be with me?" It's not like we…

Why do men cheat in relationships? How powerful is the allure of another woman that would incline a man in a relationship to want to pursue her? Should you blame the other woman, or should you blame your man for cheating on you with her (or both)? Are men naturally inclined to cheat? Or are men pressured by…

Scandal premiered tonight on ABC (10pm/9c), starring Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope. Olivia, a former communications director for the President of the United States, runs a "crisis management" firm. The firm operates as a public relations company that "fixes problems" (silences scandals) for high profile…

A culture of paranoia encapsulates American black men within an invisible cloak of suspicion from birth. It is a cloak that passes down to every new generation of black men, who at some point in their lives come across a situation that makes them realize: I am not equal. While local, state and national…

I'm going to come right out and say it: Some women have an unhealthy infatuation with the notion of a prince charming: an absolutely dashing man packed with charm, credentials, the best looks, and financial stability. In essence, he is the perfect man to settle down with forever and ride off into the…

College is an incredibly rewarding experience. It provides an excellent environment for intellectual growth, career opportunities, as well as lasting relationships. In order to make the most out of your college experience, you should be strategic and keep the following key points in…

Here are pictures that I took of my hair yesterday and today:

 …

Hey fashionistas! If you are in or near the New York area and love fashion, we highly recommend that you check out Noir La Mode's events starting this week! Noir La Mode is an organization dedicated to promoting the spirit and style of diverse talent in the fashion world, and will bring the ethnic arts community together to inspire young designers to follow their dreams. It is geared towards exceptionally talented…

When it comes to natural hair, a relatively hot topic is whether natural tresses are truly accepted in corporate America. After speaking with friends and reading various opinions on this issue, and I can honestly say that the answer is: It depends. 

Let me first provide a personal anecdote about…

As you know, Cafe Belle is an online magazine dedicated to encouraging, inspiring, educating, and entertaining all women of color. We write for the woman of color who is multifaceted in her interests and is looking for a one-stop blogging experience that will satiate various topic interests, week to…

The elusive brown bra

(the bra featured is the new demi bra by…