Move over, argan oil and shea butter. Stylists are all abuzz about the latest miracle hair treatment: bull semen.

After reading about sperm-based facials, one British stylist began chatting away with her clients.

“When a client asked where she could get a sperm-based hair treatment done to feed her protein deprived locks … I was speechless,” the stylist said on Stylecaster.com.

She did some research and came across a “Aberdeen Organic Bull Semen Treatment.” Hari’s, a salon in London, is offering clients a conditioning treatment made out of bull’s semen. Hari’s has been one of London’s top salons for over 30 years and prides itself on offering some of London’s most exciting new treatments sourced from around the world.

It has become the most talked about treatment in London. Touted as “Viagra for Hair,” this 45-minute treatment ranges from £55 to £85 ($90-$138 U.S.) and uses semen from Aberdeen Angus bulls. Hari’s combines the sperm with the root of the protein-rich plant Katera. The protein-enriched potion is massaged into the client’s hair after it has been shampooed. Then the client is put under heat so the treatment penetrates the hair. The final step is the blow out, which gives the hair an awful lot of body, as well as shine.

“I have been searching for an organic product with a lot of protein because that is what hair is made of and that is what it lacks when it is dry,” says salon owner Hari Salem. “The semen is refrigerated before use and doesn’t smell. It leaves your hair looking wonderfully soft and thick.”

Salem told media that he tried hundreds of products—including wild avocados and truffle oil—before hitting on bull semen as the elusive element in a formula for making hair look gorgeous. His salon also offers such treatments as Kerastase Hair Rituals and mind-soothing Indian Head Massage.

Salem says the treatment repairs, restores and brightens any hair. He says he has no shortage of customers.

“It will be an ongoing treatment as long as the bulls perform,” he says.

According to CosmeticsDesign.com, the trend may actually have started with Norwegian based company Maritex, which stated that it was the main producer of Cod sperm for use in cosmetic products.

The company suggested that the sperm successfully binds water in body lotions and make-up, with the company said to have sold seven tons of processed cod sperm for use in cosmetics in 2002.

However, the motive behind the Hari’s salon’s decision to use the controversial ingredient was more scientific, with the protein in the semen thought to actively complement the protein contained in hair molecules.

Bull semen may be the latest attempt by hair manufacturers to find pure forms of protein that match the hair protein quantities in order to create the most effective hair care treatment. With the bull semen and Katira plant extract mix giving an almost instant and odorless finish, the treatment may be the start of big things to come, says CosmeticsDesign.com.

Because semen has to be refrigerated in straws until use, it could be a while before it becomes a staple in hair-care products. And with its high cost, the ingredient would be aimed at the premium hair care market.

According to Mintel data, other unusual animal ingredients are being used in Asia and Latin America, with many companies incorporating placenta ingredients into skin care products, according to CosmeticsDesign.

Sofface cosmetics, based in China, has created a make-up base that contains sheep placenta, while the Guangzhou Sisder Health & Beauty company has based an entire skin care and body line using the same ingredient.

And that’s no bull.

Source

Courtesy Of BlackHairInformation.com

Daily

• Moisturize and seal daily or at least every other day depending on your hair’s needs. Fine strands may want to go with light oils like coconut oil but coarse strands should go with shea butter or other heavy oil.
• Drink water daily, this helps with optimal skin and hair health.
• If you have opted to include vitamins in your regimen take them daily for maximum effect.
• Style your hair with your fingers only but try and make your styles last all week without restyling!
• Green house effect (GHE) some people add this to their regimen daily to increase hair growth, remember though that as a natural GHE will encourage shrinkage and shrinkage is not a good friend of a hair grower.
• Accessorize daily to avoid getting bored with protective styling!
• Cover your hair nightly with a satin bonnet or sleep on a satin pillowcase.

Weekly

• Naturals are not as prone to hygral fatigue as relaxed hair but pre-pooing is a good practice anyway because it prevents excessively dry strands after your shampoo.
• Choose sulfate free shampoos to wash your hair wherever possible or skip the shampoo step all together.
• Deep condition with heat while alternating your protein and moisturizing deep treatments. Naturals who don’t color their hair will not need a great deal of protein.
• Steam treatments – These will soften very coarse strands better than any conditioner so invest in a good steamer if you can afford to.
• Optimally you should include scalp massages into your regimen daily but if you are too busy at the very least give your scalp a good massage while you wash your hair every week.
• Naturally your wash day should be the only time that you use combs and brushes and even then very minimally. Detangle GENTLY from ends working your way up to the  roots.
• Do your twist/braid outs on wet hair so that you can get maximum staying power from the style. This allows you to go all week without having to restyle your hair.
• Diffusers on a COOL setting can also be used weekly without any negative effects. These are especially useful in colder months when you don’t really want to be walking around with wet hair!

Monthly

• Protective styling is very important for natural hair growth. Try to keep your hair away for a least 3 weeks out of every month. If you are not into weaves or wigs, you can do this by twisting your hair and wearing the twists for two weeks before releasing them for a twist out on the third week. That way you are keeping your detangling sessions to just 1 a month!
• For weave wearers, I would strongly suggest that you take them down and re-do them monthly. This allows you to give your hair and scalp a good cleaning, get rid of shed hair and prevents matting which inevitably leads to more breakage when left unchecked.
• Do your hot oil or other treatments like the caramel treatment or henna.
• Naturals tend to be quite heavy handed with oils and also tend to avoid shampoos in favor of co-washing so if you start noticing a flaky scalp you may want to clarify your hair at this point.

6-8 Weeks

• Hard protein treatments for naturals are on a ‘needs must’ basis. Black hair in it’s stucture is inherently weaker than other hair types so it does tend to need a helping hand in the strength department. Some naturals may be able to maintain a good moisture protein balance just with alternating their conditioners weekly but others will find that they do better with an Aphogee every 8 weeks or so. If you have every lifted color from your hair with bleach or peroxide however, protein treatments are a must!
• If it is too time consuming or expensive to re-do braided styles monthly don’t let them go over the 8 week mark because matting will almost certainly happen which could lead to a major setback.

12+ Weeks

• Hair color – If you are using box colors that contain peroxide/ammonia, for the same reason as with relaxers you will want to have a fair bit of hair growth before retouching them obviously to avoid double processing the hair. Of course if you are using herbal colorants like henna, you can touch up your roots monthly.

Occasionally

• Although I am pro-choice when it comes to how you want to wear your natural hair, and some natural ladies prefer to wear it straight, I am also well aware that it is counterproductive to give the green light on regular use of heated tools. If you are a veteran and you have conclusively demonstrated an ability to retain length while using heated tools regularly, then carry on! If things start to go a bit wrong in your regimen though, heat should be the first thing you should remove.
• It’s also worth a note that although I have mentioned heat training in the past as an option for natural hair, I think in the wrong hands it has the potential to cause more harm than good for the beginner and that’s why I don’t include it i this pyramid.
• A final word on heat, (and you are going to have to take my word on this ) you will find that as your hair grows longer, it will become harder and harder to go through the process of straightening your hair with any form of regularity. Eventually for the sake of saving time (and sanity) you will probably find that you want to use heat only a few times a year to check length or for a special occasion.

My Hair Type: 3C/4A

My Hair Color: 1B and Turquoise in the front

My Hair Goal(s):  Bra strap length 15″

Natural Since:  2000

My Hair Length:  12″

Preferred Protective Style:  Box braids and wigs

My Hair Inspirations:

HairCrush

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AliciaJames

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Teyana Taylor

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Kelis

Don’t you hate it when you’re looking for a new hairstyle and can’t seem to find anything to show your hairstylist? I’ve done many searches on hairstyles and was left empty handed.  My hair is nappy/curly and I don’t want it straightened often.  It’s usually some funky color and I want it to stay that way. With my hair being the way that it is, its hard to find inspiration photos so I figured I’d hopefully  be an inspiration or reference point for someone else.  And since everyone else is posting their hair journeys, why shouldn’t I?

Here’s my journey to turquoise hair:

My hair is approx 14″ when straight. I have a triangle starting from the top of my head and ends at my temples that’s bleached blonde.

(The Triangle)
Process:

My hair was lightened to a platinum blonde color using L’Oreal Quick Blue Powder Lightener.

I bleached this section twice. This is not normally recommended because it leaves the hair brittle but I’ll bleach until I get the exact color I want.  Bleach at your own risk or have it professionally done.

I kept it blonde for about 6 months and then decided to dye my hair blue (I’ll show some blonde hairstyles later). Everybody’s calling my hair “Thunder Blue” after the OKC Thunder.
Next I used Ion Color Brilliance Brights Semi-Permanent Hair Color Turquoise.

The only reason I used this brand was because it was on sale. I usually browse the hair dye section until I find a color I like. Right now I’m really into blues. The Ion hair color holds up nicely and I haven’t had a problem with it fading.

I wanted it straight for my birthday.

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Blue kinky twists done by Bruque

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Blue Afro

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Turquoise & Midnight Blue Braids

I ordered the turquoise braiding hair from IkickShins.

I usually keep my hair braided because I work in a factory-like environment and an afro can get HOT in the summer.

midnight blue and black braids

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Who is the best-known hip-hop artist in the fictional land of Chub City? Chub C of course. At least that’s what it says on the box. Just don’t tell Hype. He’s the white version of Chub C (a la Eminem). What the hell am I talking about? That’s a good question.

Both Chub C (black) and Hype (white) are interactive toy characters called i-Playaz from a company called Jada Toys. i-Playaz connect to any music source including your iPod, CD player, computer or even an old school Sony Walkman. Just plug in an i-Playaz character and play some music. The i-Playaz characters will then dance to the beat and even play your music through a built-in speaker in their heads. There’s also an audio output if you want to connect better speakers to your i-Playaz character.

Buy Here

I don’t know if I necessarily believe this but I could watch Truth777 all damn day.

Truth777

R.I.P.

Quote:

1. The black man’s devaluing and disrespect of the black woman has led to many black women viewing black men as villains, a burden to them and society and a liability rather than as a best-friend, father, husband, and ally.

2. Black men have proven themselves to be complete failures on so many levels…the main level being fatherhood. Being a parent is suppose to be the most important “job” that one can have, but instead of embracing the role and responsibility black men choose to run in the opposite direction. This leaves black women to play the dual role of mother and father.

3. Many Black men have adopted a “baby boy” type mentality. They expect black women to “mother” them and cater to them the way a mother would. Their expectations are too high for any woman and ridiculous to say the least. This type of black man needs to be pushed to do the simple things that come easy to other races of men. Example: Most men like to set off on their own at some point early in life…however, these type of men need to be pushed to move the hell out of their parent’s house.

4. Black men don’t value their bodies or they’re minds. While black women are reaching higher and higher in terms of higher education black men are regressing and falling further and further behind. As far as their bodies are concern, black men don’t comprehend the concept of safe sex. They are constantly putting their bodies on the line with unprotected sex and passing the shit on to black women….or other black men for that matter.

5. Black men don’t believe in monogamy. Often black men have more than one black woman at a time and are responsible for fathering several out of wedlock children by several different women. Example: Lil Wayne…shaking my damn head!

6. Black men often want black women to look pass their flaws (unemployment, low wages, street life activities), but rarely do black men look pass the flaws of black women. Often black women are made to feel they are inferior to other races of women due to black men constantly nagging and comparing them to other races or women. This is where the black man’s love for a “European” standard of beauty comes into play.

7. Black men don’t know the meaning of romance. Trying to get a date beyond McDonald’s or an all you can eat buffet is hard for a black woman. Often black men will make it very clear that her trip with him anywhere comes at a price therefore she better be ready to spread those legs later.

8. Black men have successfully damaged their image. Gold teeth, sagging pants, and white tees have become the dress code for too many. It’s embarrassing to be seen in public with these individuals. Black women often find themselves having to tell black men how to dress. It’s not just the so-called thugs either….very often black nerds lack any since of style and self-worth.

9. Black men are not ambitious enough. It’s hard to find a black man today who wants to be a doctor or a lawyer. Many black men only think about sports and entertainment both of which are LONG shots in terms of a career. A large number of black women are ambitious and take the common sense approach of going to college so there tends to be a clash here.

10. Black men are easily misled. Black men have done more damage to the black community than any white man could ever do by selling drugs to the community. Though they are quick to point out the fact that white men are importing the drugs into the country rarely do they acknowledge the fact that the white man isn’t forcing them to sell it to their own people.

Source
What do you think?

I’ve been natural for about 10 years now.  Everything I feel about my hair can be summed up by this video….

And when you get sick of it, throw a wig on top of it.

Can anyone name a movie that came out recently starring a black man who wasn’t a sociopath? Someone who had a terrific screen presence, like a young Paul Robeson? And he portrayed a character who was complex and fully drawn? Did he respect black women, too?

Anybody see that movie? I didn’t. But surely it’s out there somewhere, right? An alternative to those Tyler Perry films portraying black men as Satan’s gift to black women? But where is it?

Maybe I didn’t hear about it because of all the buzz over Perry’s “For Colored Girls,” which opened Friday and is based on Ntozake Shange’s 1975 stage play, “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf.”

Or maybe I didn’t hear about it because I was retching too loudly after seeing “For Colored Girls” – and reading so many inexplicably glowing reviews.

“This movie is powerful,” Demetria L. Lucas wrote recently in Essence, the nation’s premier magazine for black women. “It is incredible. The performances in it are astonishing, but most of all, this film will leave you lifted.”

Me, I thought the movie should have been renamed: “For Black Men Who Have Considered Homicide After Watching Another Perry Movie.”

“Oscar buzz, breaking news,” read the Hollywood Reporter on Friday. “Will ‘For Colored Girls’ blindside Tyler Perry’s critics?”

Too late. I was blindsided while watching the movie, especially when superstar Janet Jackson appeared onscreen looking like Michael Jackson with breast implants.

“Don’t laugh,” says Shadow and Act, an online publication about black films and filmmakers. ” ‘For Colored Girls,’ an Oscar contender?”

Oscar for what?

In the category for best infection of a black woman with a sexually transmitted disease that renders her infertile. . . . And the winner is: black man.

For best down-low, double-dealing husband who has sex with wife while sneaking around having sex with men on the streets. . . . And the winner is: black man.

For best portrayal of a guy who at first seems nice but turns out to be a rapist. . . . And the winner is – OMG, his third of the night – black man!

“You may need some time alone after viewing ‘For Colored Girls,’ ” wrote Tonya Pendleton for BlackAmericaWeb.com. “Whatever you may think of the fact that it was Tyler Perry who finally brought the award-winning 1974 Ntozake Shange stage production to the big screen, it will move you.”

So will ex-lax.

“You will want to know that two kids get thrown out the window by their father,” wrote Jane Nosonchuk for Hamptonroads.com. “The scene is well done.”

Do I hear another Oscar nomination?

“The men in the movie are all bad guys except for the cop,” Nosonchuk wrote. “They are a means to an end rather than any lead characters. Also, a back-room abortion may disturb some.”

You think?

What an awful year for movies featuring black actors. Samuel L. Jackson in “Unthinkable.” Thoughtless would be more like it. “Brooklyn’s Finest” had a nice cast, with Don Cheadle and Wesley Snipes. But Richard Gere and Ethan Hawke got top billing. “Our Family Wedding” with Forrest Whitaker was okay. But how many black wedding comedies can you watch? Even preacher T.D. Jakes is coming out with his own copycat wedding movie next year.

Surely Spike Lee and Denzel Washington could team up for a sweeping historical drama – say, a black sharecropper’s son, educated in a one-room schoolhouse built by slaves in Alabama, who grows up to become one of Wall Street’s most powerful CEOs.

Smarter than Gordon Gekko, but more complex. With a cameo appearance by former Merrill Lynch chief executive Stanley O’Neal.

Maybe you saw the kind of movie I’m talking about. If not, maybe it’s time to make one.

Source

Recently, the The Food and Drug Administration restated via its Web site that gay men are still banned from donating blood because of the risk of HIV/AIDS. Before giving blood, all men are asked if they have had sex, even once, with another man since 1977. If they happen to answer yes, they will be permanently banned from giving blood.

The ban was established in 1983, during the beginning of  the epidemic. Twenty-seven years later, the ban has been reiterated, and on what premise does the FDA have to maintain this ban? None. In fact, all this ban signifies is the stigma America still attaches to homosexual men and AIDS, one that is not supported by facts, but rather biased perceptions of the LGBTQ community. The FDA maintains that this policy is not discriminatory, though  last time I checked, excluding people based on sexual orientation is considered discrimination.

The fact that the FDA has not banned (God forbid) black women from giving blood is quite interesting considering the fact that African American women make up over half of the new HIV/AIDS cases in the U.S. So why is it that the FDA is so intent on focusing on the gay population and not the black female population? Because of its need for exclusion. I doubt anyone is terribly anxious to donate their blood, but knowing that you couldn’t even if you wanted to reinforces the fact that you are still a second-class citizen in this country. When giving blood, the blood supposedly goes through several rigorous tests to ensure that the blood is uncontaminated and blemish-free. If this is the case, there is no need for this ban; it is biased and unfounded. Next, they may start requiring us to disclose how many sexual partners we have had. I wonder which number would be the limit.

Regardless of whether you identify as gay, lesbian, heterosexual, anti-gay, asexual, etc., this ban is relevant to all of us because it represents the stagnancy of this country when it comes to granting liberties for all people. We have made a significant amount of progress as a nation, but obviously we still have a quite a journey ahead of us, and racial discrimination is not the only hurdle we have to conquer. –constance collins

Source

I-Playaz is from a collection of toys featuring rappers Chub C. and Hype from Chub City. Officially licensed by Volkswagen and marketed as an iPod-ready speaker for kids, the I-Playaz ‘59 Volkswagen Beetle (available in red or blue) plays music through an integrated speaker, and “moves and jams to the beat with interactive lights and sounds.” Four AA batteries provide power for the little car, which has its motion activated or deactivated by a press of the front Volkswagen seal; the headlights, taillights and windows flash with colored lights, the wheels are rotating spinners, and the car’s body pops up and shakes. There’s a sampled track built in for when your iPod’s not connected; a small audio cable is included, while the batteries aren’t.

Jada Chub City i-Playaz Character

Somehow I stumbled upon this…

Black Barbie

Ostlie’s site, Tabloach Productions is a showcase of her work. Fair and freckled dolls sit next to dolls modeled after real women – like pop star, Brandy. Ostlie has even reworked Skipper – Barbie’s long-neglected kid sister.

I want this one!

Please readers, spread the word. A couple of more uploads on YouTube and our beloved beauty and hair care professionals may be outsourced. The video-sharing phenomenon has become a modern day beauty school: providing a litany of hair style tutorials, product reviews, and transitional testimonies that have empowered black women globally to take their hair into their hands, many of which for the first time. As the rolodex of loc, weave, hair cut, and natural hair tutorial uploads increase exponentially by the hour; a few modern day transitions are safe to presume: You’re going to subscribe to a channel (if you haven’t already), Leticia, your beautician may need to find a moonlighting gig, your faithful fedora (infamous for concealing the past antics of uncompromising hair) is in for a much needed retirement, and that malnourished piggy bank of yours may soon start eating something other than clanking copper.

And as the growing practice of self-hair care spreads like wildfire, we at Coco and Creme couldn’t possibly sit back without putting in our two cents (thanks to YouTube, we got money to blow-ow-ow-ow). So here’s 10 of our favorite YouTube black hair care channels, bonafide to sprinkle something new about black hair care you may have never known prior to reading this. Click now and thank us later.

The Power Regimen
Channel: DPrincess28’s Protecting Your Crown & Glory
Specialty: Natural Hair Regimens for the Every Day Woman

These easy tips from a former damaged hair veteran are exactly what hoards of us are missing in our daily hair regimens. Princess teaches viewers how to cultivate healthy hair, vitamins to enrich the process, products do’s and don’ts, and inventive maneuvers to accelerate results- like how to conduct a quick deep condition in the sauna at the gym! Well researched, resourceful, and well rounded – Princess show’s the modern day woman how to keep a healthy head of hair on the go, wherever she goes.

Embrace the Lace
Channel: Ms Lola’s 4Designer’s
Specialty: Easy Full Lace Wig Installation

It’s in our humble opinion that this woman, Ms Lola, receives a lifetime achievement award for single-handedly combating the wild epidemic of “Lace Disgrace” one video at a time. We’ve all either seen or unfortunately, bore victim to it: That abrupt hair line and/ or pseudo baby hair residue – a dead give-away of the lace front wig; virtually erasing the practicality of a hair piece designed to be undetectable. Back when lace front wigs were only in the world of celebrity glamour- it was an intriguing and glorious hair piece. But now, as word of its accessibility trickled down to the streets, becoming mass produced and mass- misused, that revered glamour has indubitably lost its luster. Ms. Lola, a lace wig guru and valued teacher, takes us into her living room and gives viewers the clues and tips toward maintaining and reclaiming that mane – in all of its glory.

Long Hair, Don’t Care
Channel: Donna Mac’s “TheMakeupVirgin’s Channel”
Specialty: Growing Long, Healthy Hair

Emphasizing her full blooded African- American ancestry, Donna debunks the myth and fallacy of stunted black female hair growth among other stereotypical folly that asserts only women of mixed or influenced heritage can grow lengthy, cascading locks. Donna encourages women reaching for that Repunzzle mane, like the one that dangles inches shy of her elbows, how to achieve and maintain in real time. No mystic sorcery, no magic beans, no sacrificial promises of first born children; just good old fashion TLC, like a black woman does best.

Dark & Lovely
Channel: Black Onyx77’s “Natural hair is Divalicious”
Specialty: Versatile and Funky Natural Hair Do’s

Black Onyx twinkles and gleams, shining the true versatility of natural hair with her comprehensive tutorials. She walks viewers down a slew of user-friendly options toward managing stretched or shrunken natural hair. She also features a buffet of videos on skincare and fashion forward solutions that radiate nothing short of true natural black beauty.

Cuts that Kill
Channel: Alsmillion’s “Average Barbers Making Above Average Money”
Specialty: Low Cuts and Fades

As Alek Wek, Amber Rose, and the western hemisphere of Cassie’s dome have so eloquently portrayed, there is a unique and careful art to achieving the bald fade. Master barber Alsmillion provides all ladies out there that keep it lovely and low, how to achieve clean crisp line- ups, intricate cuts, and perfect hairlines with clipper happy precision.

The Huxtables of Hair Care
Channel: FamilyGoingNatural
Specialty: Loc and Natural Hair styles for the Family Tree

Through their natural hair care forum, this familial crew has officially one-upped the Huxtables. Granted, there are no James Brown renditions or funky jazz theme songs; but their tutorials on locking, strand twists, and natural hair how-to tutorials, certainly take the concept of family bonding and group hair care to a place no other black family has ever gone before.

We Still Believe in the Weave
Channel: Thomasadrianna
Specialty: Glamourous Styles with Weaves and Half Wigs

Despite popular Tyra Bank mantras and satirical box-office documentaries, some of us are not letting go of our weaves. We’ve found a place of comfortable residence under them, and really don’t want to move. For those of us, happy at home – you will also find comfort with Ms. Adrianna- the weave and half wig expert that sits cherry top above all other YouTube track stars.

The Extreme Loc Queen
Channel: Chescaleigh
Specialty: Loc Styles for the New Age

Paneled by her own idiosyncratic flair and sporadic quirks, Chescaleigh is a loc rocking maven. She takes viewers down the 6 year path of her loc growth, and gives intricate how-to’s toward achieving the Lady Gaga Hair bow, stylized up do’s via locs, and any other daring style she musters up in that uber-animated mind of hers.

Keep It Simple Sweetie
Channel: Kimmaytube’s “Medium Maintenance Women”
Specialty: Thoroughly researched fact-based solutions

Kimmy Love offers tutorials that are rich in content, research, and practicality. Aside from providing clear and affordable solutions, this humble hair guru prides herself on being a “Medium Maintenance Woman” and bares true testimony to her own personal motto: Grow longer and stronger hair through facts and education.

Public Service Announcement
Channel: Ateyaaa’s “Smuve Complexions”
Specialty: Preventative Hair Care Solutions

Ateya keeps it realer than most: walking viewers step-by-step through the grim places of black hair care via her own personal hair scares. From 5 hour sew-in weave removals, the painful aftermath of matted unsolicited locks, how to therapeutically part with damaged hair, and even being bitched-out by a disappointed beautician: Ateya holds nothing back from her viewers. She’s genuine, personable, and a whole lot like that sister/home-girl/cousin you can always count on to teach you what not do! We love her and you will too.

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