Donna's Salon Utopia

Dream Hair

2010-12-31T21:54:00.005-05:00

Happy New Year Everyone! I'm having a quiet evening at home listening to Erykah Badu right now. I still have to read Jill Scott's poetry book and I hope to get through it before the end of this evening. Speaking of Jill Scott, here is a picture of her included in this blog post. This is my dream hair. I am hoping that my hair gets to this fullness and length by the end of 2011 and just keeps growing beyond that. I would keep my hair black though, with the bit of accepted gray coming in :-). I am getting there.

Happy New Year!

Robbin Melton Making Hair Hot

2010-12-30T20:38:00.006-05:00

I must share with you all about this wonderful product that I got from my friend/research participant Robbin Melton who is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is a "cocoawhip" as she calls it and it is shea butter with cocoa butter added. It is absolutely wonderful! I highly recommend that you get some and you contact her at: robbin.melton@gmail.com. The shea butter has been a lifesaver to me. She whips it up within a day and sends it out to you really fast! She is great! She has also been an extremely valuable research participant for my politics of black hair online study.

I got a chance to strut my stuff (thanks to my former terrific professor Mr. Frajkor) at a National Ethnic Media Council of Canada function at the Cypriot Community Centre in Toronto with the shea in my hair. This picture I am including is not how I looked that night, however as you can see - the product really can improve the health of your hair.

I also wore Robbin's product when I went to my niece Oshun's Christmas Concert. My Mom said "this is the best I've ever seen your hair :-)." Well, so far, Robbin's product is getting rave reviews and my mother's opinion means the world to me. She is an extremely wise woman.

Also what you may notice from the picture is that from my declaration of going with dreads from my last posting...my hair is not locked :-(. I just keep finding it too hard and I have decided to give up. People who think having beautiful locks are easy really do not know! I do not even know because I have not been able to achieve them. My hair has been natural since 1993, 2011 makes 18 years - my hair is now an official virgin adult from chemicals :-). I'm alright with that. Things are good :-).

So many blessings to all of you beautiful people for the New Year. As my new friend Sarah says, may you have 1001 blessings as they say in Nepal apparently.

New Hairdo!

2010-11-10T01:52:00.006-05:00

Hello everyone,

Sorry it has been so long since I have blogged. I have been wanting to do something different with my hair for a long time. I get really tired of wearing it in a bun or tying it up in a conservative fashion. Perhaps it is the fact that I am reaching 40 in two years that makes me think of doing something more hip and easier to deal with. I have been thinking of locks for a long time and I found the thin ones did not look good on me, just like a thin body does not particularly look good on me either. I'm reading an amazing book called The Fat Studies Reader that I saw a fellow thesis group colleague with in Dr. Lance McCready's circle at OISE/University of Toronto.

So...I thought about going back to the woman Charmaine who did my hair back in August. Then I thought of calling another woman named Charmaine who comes to your home. Then I thought, I spent years and years doing my own hair in my 20s and 30s...why stop now? It seems to be working, actually I know it is working. I wish I had a picture to share with all of you of when I cut off all of my hair back in about 2004. It was the idea of a very nice man I was dating, however I was not happy with the results and if I just knew better how to take care of my natural hair - it would not have happened.

With that said, I recommend the same books many black hair naturalists recommend for hair care...Pamela Ferrell and Lonnice Brittenum Bonner are great. These two I truly think are the best. There are many, many more I could suggest and that will be coming in future. Just give me some more time. I'm still working on my research on black hair politics.

Well...I have started big plaits that I am hoping at the moment will lock. I hope I stick to it. Sometimes I get scared because locking is so permanent. I actually find it easier to stick with my PhD program than locking my hair and I really admire people who do it. I see some really beautiful locks all over Toronto. It is quite the beautiful sight. Sisters and brothers of all colours, persuasions and religions rocking the bounded twists. Wow! You all inspire me. Well...here is my contribution to the "royal bed head." May I have the faith to wear my hair like a crown - Gloria Wade Gayles.

The Politics of Black Hair Online Course Book

2010-08-28T20:32:00.005-04:00

Hello everyone,

Soon...The Politics of Black Hair Online Course Book will be published through Lulu.com. I'm really looking forward to this work. It is a compilation of discussions that have been on-going over a 7-week period of time from July 19th to August 29th. The discussions have been part of my research on the politics of black hair in education. I will be doing a discourse analysis of the research as part of my dissertation work. Here is a sneak peak at the cover of the book.

On Hiatus

2010-08-05T20:34:00.002-04:00

Hello everyone!

I am on a brief hiatus from this blog until the online politics of black hair course finishes up at the end of August.

Finally!

2010-07-17T22:57:00.005-04:00

I can barely believe it. I went to a hairdresser for the first time in five years. Thank you Jill Andrew for having the BITE ME! Festival because I swear it was the inciting incident to my personal drama with my hair.

I washed my hair on Friday and my hair was becoming quite dry because I was washing it too often. Charmaine told me I should only wash it every two weeks, which makes sense. Even Caucasian Jamie (my former student with the most beautiful hair!) told me that you should not wash your hair too often because it takes out the natural oils. Charmaine said the same thing!

My best hairdresser so far in my life has been my younger sister Lisa. Charmaine is a very loving and lovely person. You really do need to have a loving heart to be a hairdresser. It's interesting because my sister is a Scorpio and Charmaine is also a Scorpio. My former fiancé is a Scorpio and he has terrific hair. Scorpio have good hair from my experience. Plus, they tend to be very loving people - just do not cross them! Their hearts are so big they cannot take it so I know from experience they will cut you off so they no longer need to feel pain. I actually admire this method. I'm just a stupid Leo :-).

Charmaine is a wonderful hairdresser. Wow...finally...I'm back on the track of starting locks again. So, I guess, yes...what I changed the title of my book to in 2006 about hair What Happened to the Afro? is turning out to be completely appropriate. I sent a copy to a hopeful supervisor at OISE, Dr. Lance McCready and I know the book is good. He will discover faster than he thought that I do know how to write. Not that I am taking myself too seriously - it's just that there are many things I am NOT good at - such as organizing huge events like Jill Andrew is so good at. I can write - this I have known since God Bless her soul, Mrs. Chen my former teacher told me since I was 7. I have trusted her opinion ever since. Does the woman even know what a powerful effect she has had on me?

OK...back to my hair. It looks great. The five-year break from hairdressers have done it some good. I needed that. I'm getting old (yet, still young in the grand scheme of things - actually very young). The reason why I mention this is because when it comes to my hair, I needed to get some help to make it look its best. I used to know a lot about hair maintenance (I still know some), however Charmaine really gave me a refresher course in just 120 minutes and less. She should teach! She's good.

My online black hair course starts on Monday, so this was another inciting incident for my professional drama. Going to Charmaine was like paying to be reminded of the kind of issues that will be coming up for my course. It was like training and I thank you from the bottom of my heart Charmaine. You are truly a wonderful person.

If you would be interested in Charmaine's work, please contact her at: lovin.locks@yahoo.ca. She is also extremely affordable.

Dealing With Leaner Economic Times

2010-06-28T23:09:00.004-04:00

Well, I sent my funding package confirmation to OISE/University of Toronto today. I am extremely grateful to be receiving funding, although this will cause a significant setback in my finances compared to previous years. The positive side is that I have the strong potential to get out of this degree relatively debt-free, if not completely debt-free. When I did my undergraduate degree at Carleton, I had a scholarship from the school, as well as a scholarship that my Dad had paid into. By time I graduated, I was $12,000 in debt. I was lucky though and I found work, so I was able to pay back the loan system of Ontario within the six-month grace period.

When I did my graduate degree at Concordia in Montréal, I ended up being $23,000 in debt. I was extremely fortunate to have a great common-law boyfriend at the time who helped me to pay off a lot of that debt. If you are reading this - I thank you to this day! At least I no longer have that sitting on my head. So, I guess I really should not complain because the goal ultimately is to make good money with this PhD, not to be in a ton of debt because of it.

My mother was also very supportive when I told her about my economic loss because she said "It's not like you're not working towards something - you're not sitting around." That was extremely kind of her and I appreciated the fact that she could acknowledge that I was already working hard with this degree, and also in fact loving every moment of it.

I am pushing really hard to try to get my committee together. I do not want to push so hard that I end up shooting myself in the foot. I guess it's just that especially since my dissertation is an extension of my master's research, I have written a book on the politics of black hair, plus been following the development of the topic over the 10, almost 11 years since I graduated from my master's - I'm rearing to go! I do not feel in the lost state that some other students may be in at various schools all over the world who enter a PhD program and do not know really what they want to do. Plus, I will be 38 in August and I have maturity on my side. I am the oldest person in the intake of my cohort.

So...the journey continues. Despite these comments - I feel very happy. It is quite unlike the depressive state I was in when I started my graduate degree at Concordia. I guess being in Toronto and living close to family, friends and coworkers really helps with that. When I went to Montréal, if it were not for the two lovely souls I knew from Ottawa who I lived with - I really did not know a lot of people when I first went there. Toronto is a great city and I really hope it recovers well from all of this chaos that has gone on because of G20. God Bless Toronto - we really need it right now! God Bless the World - we all need it all of the time!

Looking for Research Participants

2010-06-28T00:33:00.003-04:00

Hello!

I'm looking for as many participants as possible, from all different walks of life and cultural backgrounds, etc., to participate in a survey on my online multimedia magazine Donna: http://kakonged.wordpress.com. The topic is the politics of black hair. I look forward to your participation.

All participants will later be invited to be extraordinary students in a free online course linked to the politics of black hair that would last over four months and be targeted to young and old adults - and everyone in between like me. After completing the survey, please send me an email to both: dkakonge@sympatico.ca and dkakonge@gmail.com to avoid computer problems.

The cap of enrollment for the online global course is 300 people. That is about all this teacher, journalist, author can deal with at max. I would like to fill it to maximum, so please - participate, help, learn and grow. Times of the classes will be flexible and will be modeled after a University of Toronto course I have taken at U of T. U of T is also the school where I am currently a PhD student at.

Thanks again!

Cheers,
Donna

Building on My Dissertation Proposal

2010-06-27T15:04:00.005-04:00

I have come to some major decisions this week. My work with Centennial College and Seneca College will be sporadic because I will be focusing on my PhD. The aim is to get it done ASAP. Other possibilities will still come up, however like anyone else - I am extremely interested in working less hours for higher pay so I can devote the time to my PhD studies, as well s the graduate assistantship position I will have with a professor.

I have completed a preliminary draft of a research proposal that is very brief - about 10 pages in terms of actual content. I have gathered a lot of research material pertaining to the politics of the black hair. It is amazing how writing and research on this topic has just exploded over the last decade that I have not been actively researching in the field. The movie Good Hair by Chris Rock really just touches the surface. His name recognition is what creates a situation where everyone associates the topic with him more recently.

I'm still waiting to hear the word from my professor for the Foundations of Curriculum course at OISE about my research proposal. I have gone ahead and started to work on a draft of the dissertation. It may seem premature, however I had been reading a lot of other dissertations over the summer, as well as I have read my Dad's. He did his back in the early 1970s on fresh water by the Great Lakes. His master's and PhD were on the same subjects and he graduated from the University of Waterloo.

I now feel a lot more secure about the mixed research methods I will be using. I plan to incorporate comparative personal narrative, comparative media interviews as my qualitative research, an online participatory action research (PAR) project in the spirit of Julio Cammarato and Michelle Fine (2008), I will be framing my theory around a particular film or group of films from a specific genre such as Cammarato and Fine (2008) have done. As well, I am including survey research as qualitative research. I have posted a survey that anyone can do at: http://kakonged.wordpress.com. I will also be using Reporter Connection to get the word out about people doing the survey, as well as people to take part in my online PAR. I'm really excited about the whole thing and I am hoping to have all the key elements (including my committee) firmed up ASAP.

This PhD entry is such a blessing from God for me. The fact I am receiving funding is also a blessing. The way I see it, I am getting paid to read, take notes, research and write. The extra work I want to do essentially goes towards my savings plan so I do not end up old and poor, being the freelancer that I am. It truly is a blessing. Thank you to all of you who believed in me.

Unexpected Update

2010-06-15T19:49:00.003-04:00

The power went out in my neighbourhood this afternoon. I'm at a local cafe sipping on cafe and waiting for the power to come back. It could of even come back by now. I miss my home.

I must say it was kind of nice having the lights out. I lit some candles and sat outside talking to my Dad who lives next door. I got some news last night about a dear, dear friend of mine and I have dealing with that. Really...the news is so devastating that it is something he is going to have to deal with for the rest of his life. It's a good thing that he is such a strong and stable person that I know he will get through it just fine.

I'm reading through some curriculum theory and actually starting to find it easier to understand. It's going to take me awhile with this one. I am sure after some years, I will be able to sprout all this theory into plain language and teach a class with it if I am so inclined. The prospects are exciting.

Well, off I go. I do not want my coffee to get cold.

June Update

2010-06-12T23:19:00.003-04:00

Wow, how time flies! I can hardly believe we are all halfway through the year. This year has been an interesting one for me. Getting into OISE/University of Toronto was realizing a dream I have had for years now. I am so excited about being in the program and now I am coming very close to completing my first course in the program.

I'm currently working on a dissertation proposal on the politics of black hair. I am thinking of branching this idea out to discuss hair in general. There is so much to include on this topic, and so many great works that have come out since I started this research back in 1998 that I am really glad that I am revisiting it.

My teaching with Ryerson for the Spring/Summer semesters this year is drawing to a close. It has been a wonderful experience that I have thoroughly enjoyed. I have applied to teach there for the fall, and will be applying to teach for the Chang School again in the fall too. I am hoping that by keeping my bases covered, something will pan out.

I am also still waiting to hear about teaching with Seneca@York for the fall as well. I will be teaching there for the summer semester. The course I will be teaching is media writing. I am really looking forward to it, especially since this is a course I really enjoy teaching. I am fortunate that I consistently receive courses that I really enjoy to teach.

Well...it's getting late and I better start preparing for bed. Even though my inner financial advisor is against it, I am having Crystal Clear Maids come in and clean for me on Sunday morning. I tried cleaning myself again, however I am just guiltily addicted to the expert clean that this company provides. There is supposed to be a great Jewish Festival happening in Toronto on Sunday, so if you are in town, you should check it out. Plus, there are also great games with the World Cup to catch. An old friend of mine is hosting the games, Kim Brunhuber. He's doing a fantastic job. We went to school together at Carleton University.

Whatever you do tomorrow, especially if you are in Toronto, the weather is supposed to be cloudy, but a high of 26 C. Not too bad. Enjoy yourself!

May Update

2010-05-13T11:39:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone!

I started my PhD program as a full-time student officially on May 3, 2010. I am taking one online course in foundations of curriculum with Dr. Heather Sykes and an in-class course with Dr. Stephanie Springgay on arts-based research. I am enjoying both tremendously.

With the online course, it is really interesting how you can respond to the discussion postings, as well as produce work that has links to videos, podcasts and include stories from blogs and photographs. I'm having a lot of fun with it. I have not received any marks back yet, however I hope the fact I am having a lot of fun with it is an indication that I am doing well.

The arts-based research class is a blast too. On the first day we all learned some fascinating things about the origin of arts-based research, as well as some of the schools of thought on the topic. On the second day, we went down to Trinity Square Video at 401 Richmond St. W. in Toronto and saw three documentaries and a piece of video art. It was a lot of fun. We all went to a café after and discussed what we saw. On the third day, we made felt in class and Dr. Springgay mentioned that unlike knitting, when you make felt it cannot be undone. It got me thinking that creating dreadlocks, or locks for hair, is like this too. Once you do them, they cannot be undone. Tonight I will be doing a presentation for that class. Soon I will also check Blackboard to see about my discussion posting for the new unit in the foundations class and then off I go to Centennial for the afternoon to present at a conference about a trip I took to Germany.

My teaching at Ryerson is thoroughly enjoyable. Last night we watched Night of the Living Dead, directed by George Romero. I really enjoyed seeing the film again, since it had been decades since I had seen it before. It's funny what you remember.

So these main three things are the bulk of my life over May and June. When July comes, I will be teaching media writing at Seneca College, plus taking two more courses at the University of Toronto. I will be taking Schooling in Hollywood Movies, as well as Education and Popular Culture. Both these courses are in different departments than the CTL (Curriculum, Teaching and Learning) one I am in. I am looking forward to them.

I hope everyone is enjoying May! The weather has been cool in Toronto, however I feel very optimistic that it will pick up.

More of an April Update

2010-04-21T21:08:00.002-04:00

Things continue to go great through the blessings of God. I am really excited about starting my PhD coursework at OISE/University of Toronto. I start in May. I have now paid my fees and looking forward to getting my Robarts library card activated so I can make full use of their wonderful resource. OISE looks as though they have a good library too.

I found out some terrific news lately. I will be teaching a dramatic writing course at Ryerson University's Chang School. This is in continuing education. The contract should come in the mail by Thursday. I'm really looking forward to this. I have been sent the course outline and I now have the required text that looks really interesting to teach from as a base. I have seen the movies we will be screening and it's going to be a really exciting class over May and June.

For July and August I will be teaching the second half of media writing, taking over from the esteemed Roger McTair at Seneca College. I'm really looking forward to that too. I have an interview for another teaching job this Monday coming up, plus finally a face-to-face interview for some bilingual consulting work I have been working on in French and English. Things are looking good. I had another interview on Tuesday for some occasional work with a consulting firm working with the University of Toronto and I should know for sure about that by Friday.

I have completed my work at George Brown College. I learned a lot while I was there and the students were absolutely excellent. I'm just wrapping everything up with Centennial College and also wrapping things up for the winter semester with Seneca College. My latest book has been Teaching Curriculum Ideas. My book sales have not been too bad, however I am really looking forward to the booth I have rented at the Word on the Street Festival in September that takes place in Toronto.

My recent intern Chris Temelkos from Seneca College is working out really well. I found out that my hunch about Rachel Muenz's career was right. She is a former intern of mine on Donna, and now will be working for a newspaper in Saskatchewan, Canada. I'm so happy for her. She will do excellent work I know for sure. I know she will really enjoy her experience too. Another one of my more recent students, Jonathan McGill, who is actually related to one of the founders of McGill University, is an extremely talented singer. Please check out his MySpace page by following the link posted up on my magazine at:http://kakonged.wordpress.com.

I was recently a guest on a show with host Robin Marvel (her real name) on "Live out Loud." It was a lot of fun. On the show I discussed a lot of things, as well as a play I was going to be in at Artscape Wychwood Barns in my neighbourhood. It turns out I will no longer be in the play. The experience helped me to fully realize that I should stick with what I know - the nuts and bolts of what my business is about (freelance communication). Well, it was a great experience and I got a chance to work briefly with some really amazing people.

The wonderful thing about the play experience is that every black woman I met associated with it was wearing her natural black hair. It was a great experience and I am still pondering if this project could work into part of my research for my dissertation on hair and clothes politics, art and education. It sure was a refreshing experience considering that it is in the aesthetically dominated field of the creative arts. Something to think about.

I'm having a blast. It sure does help that my place is tidy. Thank you Crystal Clear Maids. I recommend them. I do not do it often, however, when I do - it really does help to clear my head. I also washed my hair and that helped too :-).

April Update

2010-04-10T21:50:00.005-04:00

Things are going great. I'm starting my PhD in May. I have some great part-time job prospects on the horizon. I will most likely be working in French again - which I love. My students are terrific! I was just doing some marking today and the things they come up with are excellent. I'm so proud of them. I especially love it when they come to class. I'm taking on an intern from Seneca College's Journalism program. He will be working with Donna Magazine for a month at least. He's a very promising writer named Chris Temelkos and expect to see great stuff from him on the mag.

I'm coming up with a strong idea for my dissertation at the University of Toronto that will follow in the tradition of Salon Utopia and Afro Forever. Afro Forever was the original title of my thesis at Concordia University that I did more than 10 years ago. I'm loving the Macbook Pro I'm typing on now and I know it is going to come in very hand for the work I will doing over a few years.

One my former interns with Donna Magazine, Rachel Muenz, looks as though she is on the verge of making a huge career breakthrough. I'm so excited for her. Another one of my former students at Centennial College, Thandiwe Vela, will be reporting for the Edmonton Journal this summer. She is an extremely promising young journalist. Another one of my former students from Centennial College, La-Ttoya Comrie, just had a beautiful baby boy. I'm so happy for her and her partner.

One of my students, Michael Albertini who is now at Seneca College is promising material to be a MuchMusic of MTV Canada VJ. Anyone reading this who could give him a job, hire him now! He is absolutely brilliant.

I was in the Toronto Public Library doing research on my advisor at the OISE/University of Toronto, Dr. Stephanie Springgay, and I bumped into another one of my former students, Abbas Somji. Abbas is doing his master's degree in communication and culture through a joint program with Ryerson University and York University. He also recently contributed to a spoken word project.

The list can go on and on about all of the terrific things the students in my life are doing. I'm really looking forward to this summer and things are looking as though they will be really exciting. I'm learning a lot and enjoying every second of it.

Going Back to School

2010-03-22T18:00:00.004-04:00

Well...after more than 10 years of being out of school to formally study - I'm going back. I received today my official letter of acceptance from OISE/University of Toronto to do my PhD in curriculum, teaching and learning development.

I feel lucky. It's even raining in Toronto today. The thing is, and the great thing is, I did not get into the University of Toronto's PhD programs on first try. This year marks about four years of applications, every time a round came up just to the University of Toronto. This does not even include my years of applications to York University and Ryerson University.

Bothering all of my bosses, former teachers and colleagues over so many years as I applied from one program to the next - sometimes throwing that dart at the same program over and over to get rejected just the same. Thank you to those of you who were so patient, supportive and encouraging.

All this to say that perseverance pays off. I am so happy with where I have landed and it is a good fit for me. I may get comments about this comment I am about to make - but hey, there is a God if you just believe.

Love at a Distance Published

2010-03-13T19:57:00.004-05:00

It's here! My new book is called Love at a Distance. I published it this morning and I must say I love the ease and facility of the self-publishing platform on both Lulu.com and Amazon Kindle that can make your works of art come alive so fast.

The book started its creation at the end of February, and you will enjoy the script-like nature of the book. It is compiled from chats that took place with one person over Datehookup.com, as well as Gmail. You can buy it today at: http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged. You can also find it available on Amazon Kindle and Amazon in a few days.

New Book Coming Out

2010-03-12T16:53:00.003-05:00

I have a confession to make. I have been in a long distance relationship over the past month. I've just decided today to write a book about it tomorrow that will be called Love at a Distance. The good thing is the publisher will be Lulu.com and it will also be available shortly afterwards on Amazon, as well as Amazon Kindle. Look out for it in the next day or so.

Bringing Two Wonderful Things Together

2010-03-11T19:26:00.005-05:00

Hello everyone,

It has been a really long time since I have written on this blog. I hope you have enjoyed the new Donna Magazine's Salon Utopia. I am writing this entry from a new Macbook Pro 17" that I bought used on Craigslist. To tell you the truth, when the battery wore out I was a little scared that I had been shafted. Now everything seems fine with it and I am extremely pleased with my purchase.

I'm planning to do some disciplined research in the area of hair, clothes and the body in the near future. More details of that will be announced once everything is confirmed. I'm really excited about it though because I have not delved into this area on a full-time basis since the late 90's, or 1999 about, when I graduated from Concordia University in Montreal with my master's degree. So many new developments have occurred in the area of hair, clothes and the body that this really needs to be explored more in depth. May I also add, especially giving some of a Canadian touch to it too.

I'm telling you - this computer is amazing! Once I've gone Mac, I may not ever go back. The interesting thing too is that I have Adobe software on this computer - the full master edition suite of CS4! I guess I am a nerd as my sister says. My friend Noha says that is a compliment.

Well...I will be giving an update soon. I will also have a podcast coming up soon that you can check out at: http://kakonged.podomatic.com. Thank you to all of the wonderful people who keep making a friend request of me on Podomatic. It's a cool space and I would recommend it. Plus, now you can upload video - which is super cool. Have a groovy night everyone. By the way...I just had to hypertext the Podomatic link. Thank you to whoever was that kind soul who taught me how to use an Apple computer way back when. I think there is enough glorious space in the universe for both Mac and PCs.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-10-12T07:07:00.004-04:00

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Chris Rock has a new documentary out called Good Hair. This would be a terrific time to purchase What Happened to the Afro? at http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged. Enjoy!

Sit-Ups to the Rescue

2009-10-03T05:21:00.004-04:00

A former student of mine at Seneca College is looking terrific. Her stomach has shrunk significantly after her dedication of doing 300 sit-ups a day. I found this knowledge inspiring.

I was speaking to a colleague of mine who was pointing out that most people who have been trained in voice breathe from the diaphragm. Due to this fact, it develops the stomach muscles and causes a bit of a paunch. Since like my colleague, I use my voice for a living, most likely I would not ever have a female version of a washboard stomach. I would always have a bit of a paunch. I do believe this. This is fine for me. Ultimately it is healthier and improves the voice to breathe from the diaphragm.

The Best of Donna Magazine Published

2009-09-21T07:22:00.004-04:00

You can take Donna Magazine with you anywhere! While you are on the bus, in the doctor's office - anywhere. You can buy it now in hardcover, paperback or ebook format at: http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged.

The Issue of Weight

2009-09-05T12:34:00.004-04:00

I recently was dating someone (very briefly) who told me that if I were to lose more weight he would find me more attractive. Well, some may think that at least he was being honest and I do appreciate his honesty. The thing is that telling someone that is also a form of control. It is far from acceptance and when you are with someone - you are with them. Outside of grievous errors to their personality that you as a partner can help them to learn and grow from - if you do not like your partner's size, colour, height - whatever those fickle external things may be - then leave. You can always find someone who will be more attractive to you, however would be different in many other ways.

Call it age or something, I'm not sure what it is - however, I do not find myself as obsessed about my image the same way I was when I was younger. As long as I shower, wash my hair on the days I have planned to do so, plus comb my hair and dress in something cheery that does not have holes or smell - really - I am happy after that. Is this a good way to attract a man? Well, time will tell on that front. As much as I know and understand beauty - it is not the only thing I am looking for in a partner. Even though I did my thesis on a topic that may seem quite vain to some (about hair), truly my point was to get to the root of the issue - what is inside the head more than what is on the outside. This society needs to stop being so image conscious and focused on first impressions. What ever happened to the art of communication in order to get to know someone, rather than the art of show and tell? There is a difference.

Some may say it is just a human thing. Even a thing for all creatures. We mate based on physical appearances. I really cannot say I have the answer to this one, if you have thoughts...please do chime in. If you would like to have more information about Natural Beauty, I have a book by that name that can be bought at: http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged.

The Glories of Castille Soap

2009-09-04T16:30:00.004-04:00

Nothing else has helped to grow my hair as the combination between castile soap and olive oil.

I used to use this combination while in my mid-20s and (age too) helped to grow my hair into the middle of my back. I wish I had pictures, however you will have to take my word for it. Not only is castile soap ph-balanced, it also contains essential oils that are perfect for super curly hair. The olive oil also added oil to my hair too, however sometimes I would feel as though my head was baking during the summer time.

At Noah's Health Food store at Spadina and Bloor in Toronto, I bought my first bottle of Dr. Bonner's Castile soap in ages. It was wonderful that I actually remembered the shampoo that had been so good for me for so long. The only reason why I ever stopped using it was because when I moved to Montreal - I was not in tune with the health food store shopping thing and picked up Lush products (which were not bad) instead.

If you have super curly hair, you may find castile soap to be exactly what you need. I am still going through my bottle of the ph-balanced glycerine soap I bought before. By time the really cool, harsh and dry weather comes - which can play havoc on super curly hair - my castile soap will be there to protect me.

The Issue of Magazines

2009-08-16T06:14:00.004-04:00

Magazines can be a wonderful thing. When I was younger, my sister and I created a magazine called Miss Sassy. My Dad was working for the Ministry of Natural Resources then and he would come home with these glossy pieces of paper that as a true environmentalist, he did not want to throw out. So, he gave them to us. We created issues of a magazine out of these pieces of paper. The magazine ran during the early 1980s.

It was fun doing that magazine. We would do the drawings of our dolls, some of them Barbies, and there was always a cover model. Since we both really enjoyed watching Little House on the Prairie, we would have the late Michael Landon do the interviews with the cover model for the inside spread of the magazine. Our knowledge of magazines came from all the pre-teen rags that were out there that we devoured.

All this to say that creating your own magazine can be a wonderful experience. I have my own now called Donna that you can look at here: http://kakonged.wordpress.com. So you see, my interest in these things run deep. I also remember how much reading and looking at magazines such as Glamour, Vogue and Elle affected how I felt about myself as a teen and how damaging some of those images were.

It is a great thing that I went to journalism school and did my graduate degree in media studies, plus continue to work in the field. This allows me to look critically at the images in the media, such as magazines, and not to be affected by them as much as I was as a teenager. I can now look at a beautiful woman in a magazine and not wish to be exactly like her. I can now look at expensive things in a magazine such as Vanity Fair and not pine wistfully for things I do not have such as a private jet. Who knows...they may come in time any way, however these are not things that I truly do not desire. With age and wisdom it is much easier to define yourself, yet still be creative if you chose to be.

PH Balanced Shampoos

2009-08-14T07:33:00.003-04:00

I have always found PH-balanced shampoos to be the best. As my sister says, they restore the moisture that needs to be restored to your hair. I have started using this kind of shampoo and already I have received comments on how much stronger my hair looks.

When I was in my 20s and my hair grew into the middle of my back in a natural state, I was living on PH-balanced shampoo and olive oil. I do not plan to go back to the olive oil, however I am already extremely happy with the PH-balanced shampoo.

You can find PH-balanced shampoos at any health food store. Many of these shampoos also have multi-purposes so you can use them for your hands and body.

Curly Wurly Shampoo Disappoints

2009-08-12T03:55:00.002-04:00

The Lush bath and beauty products are usually quite good. There is one product that I have bought recently called Curly Wurly that I have found is not ideal for natural black hair.

It is a coconut and vanilla shampoo that smells great and is a lot of fun to wash your hair with. The downside is that the shampoo has these coconut flakes that tend to get trapped in the extreme curls of natural black hair even when the hair is dry. The experience of using the shampoo has made my dresser filled with coconut flakes where I comb my hair, and even just before I am ready to wash my hair again - I find flakes falling out. I would not recommend this shampoo to anyone who has super curly hair.

Ottawa Woman Loves Shea Butter Market Products

2009-07-29T00:18:00.002-04:00

Christen Bennett, in her early 30s, is a family friend of Gifty Serbeh-Dunn, owner of the Shea Butter Market company. For a time while in Ottawa, Serbeh-Dunn lived with Bennett’s family. Out of friendship and a deep belief in shea butter, Bennett tries to promote the Shea Butter Market products in the Ottawa region.

“My mother’s done a lot of work in Ghana and throughout our childhood she always brought back raw shea butter for us to use,” says Bennett. “This is what Gifty has done with raw shea butter and all of the colours. I think it’s fantastic and makes it more appealing to everyone else. What Gifty has done with shea butter is great stuff. Different textures, creams, lip balms, it’s just a wonderful product and makes it more versatile for me especially. It’s healthy and also very natural. There should be a bigger demand for products like that with less process.”

The lip balms are Bennett’s favourite products. She finds them moisturizing and the flavours are “fantastic.”

For more information about Shea Butter Market products, visit: www.sheabuttermarket.com. As well, Donna Kakonge has a new book out called Natural Beauty that can be bought at: http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged.

BC Woman Loves Shea Butter Market Products

2009-07-27T05:25:00.001-04:00

A 71-year-old woman in British Columbia (who preferred not be named) loves the Shea Butter Market products that Gifty Serbeh-Dunn owns. “I love them,” she says. “I’ve used pretty well everything that she’s had out. First of all I’ve used her shea butter and the moisturizing cream and the body lotion and the foot cream.”

Before the BC woman tried the Shea Butter Market products, she had been having trouble with cosmetics. Her esthetician recommended extremely expensive products and she has found Shea Butter Market, far more affordable, as well as something that suits her sensitive skin when she uses the products that do not have a scent.

“I will be 72, and like Gifty, I have nice smooth skin. I have no wrinkles. It’s genetics. It’s not primarily to do with shea butter, but it’s been working for me.”
The BC woman’s favourite product is the natural shea butter that she also buys for other people. She appreciates that Serbeh-Dunn’s business also gives back to the women in Ghana who produce the shea butter.

For more information about the Shea Butter Market products, visit: www.sheabuttermarket.com.

If you would be interested on a book about Natural Beauty, Donna Kakonge has written one that can be either downloaded or shipped to you at: http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged.

SHEA BUTTER MARKET – BRINGING GIFTS TO THE MASSES

2009-07-18T01:52:00.003-04:00

I CALLED GIFTY SERBEH-DUNN AS SHE WAS FEEDING HER CAT. HER BOYS WALKED BY THE CAT WITHOUT FEEDING HER. HER BIG BOY IS HER HUSBAND WAYNE DUNN WHO HAS A BUSINESS DEGREE FROM STANFORD. HER SMALL 7-YEAR-OLD BOY IS HER SON KABORÉ. SERBEH-DUNN HAS MANY THINGS TO DO SUCH AS FEEDING HER CAT AND RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS SHEA BUTTER MARKET.

“SHEA BUTTER MARKET WAS INSPIRED BY THE WOMEN IN MY COMMUNITY AND ENCOURAGED BY MY HUSBAND,” SAYS SERBEH-DUNN.

WHEN SHE WOULD TRAVEL TO HER HOMELAND GHANA, SHE WOULD GET SOME SHEA BUTTER AND BRING IT BACK TO CANADA. ANOTHER TIME SHE WENT HOME SHE ASKED PEOPLE THERE WHAT THEY WANTED HER TO BRING BACK FROM CANADA AND THEY SAID – “NOTHING, WE JUST WANT TO WORK.”

HER HUSBAND IS INVOLVED IN CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY WORK. SHE RAN THE IDEA BY HER HUSBAND TO START A BUSINESS WITH SHEA BUTTER FROM THE WOMEN SHE KNEW IN GHANA TO HELP THEM TO GET WORK.

MAINLY HER FOCUS WAS ON WHOLESALE ACCOUNTS. SHE CONNECTED WITH GREG SULLIVAN WHO LIVED WITH HER FAMILY 30 YEARS AGO AND WAS IN SUPPORT OF HER BUSINESS. SULLIVAN LIVES IN COLORADO AND WORKED WITH THE PEACE CORPS IN TAKPO AS A VOLUNTEER. HE INTRODUCED HER TO THE WIDOWS’ COLLECTIVE WHO NOW PRODUCES THE SHEA BUTTER FOR HER.

TAKPO VILLAGE IS WHERE THE WOMEN WHO WORK FOR THE BUSINESS IN GHANA ARE BASED.

“WE WENT TO THE VILLAGE, WE MET WITH THE CHIEF. HIS WIFE MONICA IS THE SECRETARY AND DOES THE BOOKS FOR THE WIDOWS’ GROUP. THE CHIEF WAS FAMILIAR WITH MY CONCERNS WITH QUALITY CONTROL AND TIMELY DELIVERY OF THE PRODUCT, BECAUSE HE LIVED IN CANADA HE UNDERSTOOD. HE WENT TO LAVAL UNIVERSITY YEARS BACK. NOTHING WAS FOREIGN TO HIM.”

THE WOMEN WERE JUMPING UP AND DOWN WITH JOY. THE WOMEN JUST WANTED TO WORK AND NEEDED A MARKET TO SELL THEIR SHEA BUTTER. SHE WAS GIVING THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY.

“RIGHT THEN AND THERE I ORDERED. I TOLD THEM IN ONE MONTH…CAN YOU MAKE THIS AMOUNT OF SHEA BUTTER?”

SERBEH-DUNN WAS IN GHANA FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS AND SHE TOOK HER SON, KABORÉ. IN THREE WEEKS, THE WOMEN HAD A TON OF SHEA BUTTER.

“WHEN I BOUGHT THAT SHEA BUTTER, EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY, EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY PITCHED IN SO I COULD PACK IT AND SHIP IT. THERE WAS SO MUCH EXCITEMENT AND ENCOURAGEMENT AND SO MUCH SUPPORT, THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK ON THIS THING.”

A MICRO-LENDING FUND HELPED THE WOMEN TO PRODUCE THE SHEA BUTTER. SERBEH-DUNN USED HER OWN MONEY TO BUY THE SHEA BUTTER AT FAIR TRADE PRICES. A PERCENTAGE OF THE PROFITS ARE PUT BACK INTO THE FUND SO IT KEEPS IT GOING.

“YOU SEE HOW ENTREPRENEURIAL THESE WOMEN ARE,” SERBEH-DUNN SAYS. “THEY REALLY ARE CREATIVE. IT’S THEIR WILL, IT’S THEIR INTEREST, IT’S THEIR BABY. I’M NOT A PHILANTHROPIST. I’M TRYING TO CREATE EMPLOYMENT FOR MYSELF AS WELL.”

SHE WAS INTERESTED IN CREATING A JOB FOR HERSELF AND THE WOMEN IN HER COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO TO BRING…CLEAN SHEA BUTTER TO NORTH AMERICA.

“I WAS NAÏVE IN THE BEGINNING,” SAYS SERBEH-DUNN. “[IT WAS HARD TO SELL]. PEOPLE GO INTO THE STORES AND BUY.”

HER CHALLENGE WAS WHOLESALING THE PRODUCTS. SHE TOOK A COURSE WITH A WOMAN IN BRITISH COLUMBIA WHO TAUGHT HER HOW TO MAKE BEAUTY PRODUCTS. SHE MET HER THROUGH THE FIRST STORE THAT SOLD HER SHEA BUTTER.

“IT WAS JUST ALL COMING TOGETHER,” SERBEH-DUNN SAYS. “I GOT EIGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR THE COURSE AND WE TOOK THE COURSE AND EVERYTHING WAS COMING TOGETHER.”

ANOTHER FRIEND WHO TOOK THE COURSE IS A HERBALIST BY TRAINING. SHE HAS A MASTER’S DEGREE IN NATURAL PERFUME MAKING. SHE CURRENTLY HELPS SERBEH-DUNN WITH PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT.

THEN CAME THE MARKETING. THE HEALTH FOOD SECTOR WAS THE PLACE TO GO. IF YOU GO THROUGH SERBEH-DUNN’S WEBSITE, YOU SEE AN IMPRESSIVE LIST OF PLACES WHERE YOU CAN BUY HER PRODUCT: HTTP://WWW.SHEABUTTERMARKET.COM/PURE_SHEA_BUTTTER_MARKET_RETAIL.HTM

“OCTOBER 2004 WE LAUNCHED THE BUSINESS AT THE CANADIAN HEALTH FOOD SHOW IN TORONTO,” SERBEH-DUNN SAYS.

THERE HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE STRUGGLES ALONG THE WAY.

“OVER THE YEARS IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KEEP THAT PRETTY, PRETTY PACKAGING. NOW THE PACKAGING IS FAR MORE SIMPLE, STILL BEAUTIFUL, WITH THE SAME DESIGNER. THE MAN THAT DOES THE DESIGNS FOR THE PACKAGING IS PAUL FREISEN.

“SALES…WE STARTED OFF WELL,” SAYS SERBEH-DUNN. “TWO SUMMERS AGO I HAD TO DECIDE TO DOWNSIZE. THE BUSINESS WOULD HAVE DIED TWO SUMMERS AGO IF I HAD NOT TAKEN CHARGE. I WAS GETTING THINGS TOGETHER, BUT I NEEDED AN ADMIN PERSON. I HIRED CINDY. IT’S BEEN GREAT WITH HER.”

SHE HAS BEEN ABLE TO PAY AN EMPLOYEE FULL-TIME, BUT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PAY HERSELF MUCH. SHE CAN ALSO PAY HER LOAN.

“SALES COULD BE BETTER. THE RECESSION THERE WAS A DROP. WE HAD STARTED TALKING ABOUT INCREASING SALES BY GOING INTO THE GIFT SECTOR.”

SERBEH-DUNN WAS RELYING ON HER HUSBAND’S INCOME FOR HER SURVIVAL BUT THE BUSINESS PAID FOR HER EMPLOYEE. SHE NOW HAS AN AGENT IN THE PHARMACY AND GIFT STORE SECTOR. THEY RECEIVE SOME OF THEIR ORDERS THAT WAY.

GIFTY SERBEH-DUNN HAS A MA IN CANADIAN STUDIES FROM CARLETON UNIVERSITY AND A MA IN CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND ANALYSIS FROM ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY.

“I’M FROM NORTHERN GHANA, EVERY TIME I SAW HOW THE RESOURCES IN GHANA ARE NEGLECTED JUST BECAUSE OF POVERTY. THE SHEA TREE IS A TREE OF LIFE. IT WOULD BE SO PAINFUL FOR THEM [THE WOMEN] TO CUT DOWN ONE OF THOSE TREES. WOMEN TAKE GOOD CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT WHEN THEY ARE WELL-POSITIONED.”

THE WOMEN HAVE APPROACHED HER ABOUT A TREE-PLANTING PROJECT. YOU NEED $5,000 USD TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. SERBEH-DUNN IS WORKING ON RAISING IT.

SHE OFFERS MANY EXCELLENT PRODUCTS – ALL NATURAL. SPLAX IS A PRODUCT THAT CAN BE FOUND AT MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT COOP. IT IS A NON-CHAFFING PRODUCT.

“THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A CLEAN NON-CHAFFING PRODUCT,” SAYS SERBEH-DUNN, AND SHEA BUTTER MARKET DELIVERED.

“LATELY, I’VE STARTED TO HEAR FROM CUSTOMERS ‘AH, YOU’RE STILL AROUND – GREAT I’LL TAKE ONE OF YOUR PRODUCTS.’”

JUST AS WE WERE GETTING OFF THE PHONE, FRIEDA, HER CAT IS BY THE CREEK AND THE BOYS ARE OUT PRAWNING. SHE LIVES ON VANCOUVER ISLAND.

SERBEH-DUNN TOLD ME A STORY THAT ONE TIME A GROUP OF GIRLS PHONED HER AND SAID, “WE LOVE YOUR LIP BALM. IT IS THE BEST LIP BALM IN THE WORLD! WE CALLED BECAUSE WE WANT MORE.” THEY DID NOT LEAVE THEIR NAMES OR NUMBERS.

“I COULD NEVER REACH THOSE GIRLS BECAUSE IT DID NOT SHOW UP ON CALLER ID.”

ALSO WHAT SHEA BUTTER MARKET HAS IN THE WORKS IS BEING PART OF A FUNDRAISING CATALOGUE. THE CATALOGUE SELLS PRODUCTS AND SOME OF THE FUNDS GO TO THE SCHOOL.

“THEY WANTED GOOD STUFF, SO THEY CAME TO US,” SAYS SERBEH-DUNN.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SHEA BUTTER MARKET: HTTP://WWW.SHEABUTTERMARKET.COM/INDEX.HTM#.

A Great Day Ahead

2009-07-16T02:14:00.003-04:00

Today I will be going to Seneca College to teach. I am looking forward to a great day.

Yesterday I was at Trebas Institute and I administered a test to the students. I think I get as nervous about those tests as some of the students do at times. Everything seemed to go well. I also played a podcast about Internet marketing that was done by a man named James Scramko. He has a website called: www.askjamesschramko.com. You should check that out for any of your online marketing questions. The guy is good.

Well...that is it for today. I am keeping this short because I am still working on Abilene's Child. It is a fascinating story and I know it will really do well.

When Discrimination Rears Its Ugly Head

2009-07-15T05:47:00.004-04:00

Yesterday I got into an argument with one of my neighbours. This is definitely the kind of thing that would make for interesting conversation in a salon. He called me a "nut bar," "manic depressive," and all kinds of other names. Plus he said "I hope you're taking your medication."

Surprisingly....I was not really taking complete offense to these names and comments. There are a lot of great things about being bipolar, which I am. And yes, for the record, I do take my medication. The saddest part of the encounter is that someone so ignorant could think that you could belittle someone else by calling them names based on a condition to which they have no other control but to manage it well, as I have been. It is really sad that in this millennium people think this way.

Well...let God bring light and understanding into the mind of this tortured, ignorant and confused soul that is my neighbour. I have slain my demons and I "ain't gonna let nothing break-a my stride."

For more information about mental illness, please buy my book Do Not Know at: http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged.

What's In Your Head

2009-07-14T06:02:00.004-04:00

Yesterday I had a great day. I met with someone about writing book and I have been looking into doing French language teaching. As well, I received my schedule for the fall semester from one of the schools I teach at. I'm still working on Abilene's Child/Tormented Hope.

One of my interns for Donna Magazine wrote an excellent short story called Bicycle Time. She is really a good writer and I am so happy to have her on board. As well, I have been working with a fellow collaborator, Brikena Ribaj, a PhD graduate who also teaches and knows writing and the Internet well. She even has podcasts of hers up on iTunes. She has been sharing her material with me on her blog that I have been reposting on my magazine.

Things are going well. I am hoping that I can have another podcast up today on my podcast site: http: //kakonged.podomatic.com. Things are going really well.

Dairy King

2009-07-13T05:23:00.003-04:00

Many, many, many years ago in my youth I used to be a model. At one point I got some pictures done by a photographer named Steve Chung and had a stylist named Ian Hylton.

The magical thing about one of the photographs that I am showing here is that a copy was given to the other man who was in the photograph. It was taken beside a ice cream truck. That man kept the picture on his ice cream truck that is mainly parked down by Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto for at least 10 years.

One day I went down there, after I had been living in and out of Toronto. I went up to the truck without the hair, makeup and figure I had in my youth. I told the man there (a different man) that it was me in that picture. He did not believe me. Well...things change.

Back To Africa

2009-07-12T04:39:00.003-04:00

It has been quite a long time since I have been to Africa. The last time was when I was in South Africa back in 2002. I remember being in a store and seeing this woman with the most beautiful dreadlocks. When I asked her about her hair, she said she created the look by washing her hair every day and using a towel to create the locks. I have heard of this method being used before.

Before I went to South Africa, I had been in Uganda back in 1996 to 1997. I was working at the time and I remember that before I left for Uganda I put my hair into braids. A woman I knew at the time said to me that it was not exactly wise for me to braid my hair before going to Africa simply because it was so much cheaper to get it done there. I did not know this beforehand, however she was absolutely right, although I am not quoting her. It amazes me that at that time, you could get a full head of beautiful braids for $7.00 CDN. One would be hard-pressed to find anyone that was not either a relative or a friend to do their hair for that amount in Canada, or anywhere in North America.

Africa is a flurry of hairstyles. You can find any hairstyle under the sun and the picture I show to you today is of a woman with a neatly braided hairstyle. The photo is courtesy of Morguefile.com.

If you would be interested in more hair talk, please check out my book that was originally written for my graduate research and then became a book. It's called What Happened to the Afro? You can buy it at: http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged. There is a 10 per cent coupon right now where you can enter the code: JULYCONTEST10 to receive your 10 per cent off.

2009-07-11T07:20:00.004-04:00

I am currently very happy with the state of my hair. I have decided to stop experimenting with it and just decided on the adage - "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Meaning I have decided to keep my hair the same way I have been wearing it for years now.

The good thing about the way I wear my hair is that even though I keep it in a simple natural style, it is extremely cost effective. All I need to do is to make sure I am buying healthy products for it and just wash, comb and go. I wash my hair anywhere between two to three times a week. Since it is extra curly - it is not advisable for me to wash it every day. I also use a leave-in conditioner to help to keep it in good condition.

I also have the flexibility of altering my usual hairstyle into different styles. I could blow dry it straight, although I avoid doing this. Heat is not a good thing for natural hair or any hair for that matter. I could also put it into braids and twists just using my natural hair, or extensions. The problems with braid and twist extensions is they have been known to be cancer-causing. I can also wear my hair in a big afro. This is the picture I show to you today. Plus...there is always the option of wearing wigs and ponytail extensions if I really feel like playing dress-up. In my line of work of teaching, there is barely cause to go to these extremes in hairstyles.

The picture you see here was done by Caitlin Cronenberg, renowned filmmaker David Cronenberg's daughter. Caitlin has garnered public attention in her own right by being a renowned photographer.

Zhara's Blog - The Actual Site

2009-07-10T10:50:00.002-04:00

This is it everyone! Here is Zhara's blog on natural hair. Remember that she is on hiatus for the summer, however she will be back in the fall! Enjoy.

More on Zhara's Blog

2009-07-10T02:18:00.003-04:00

Here are some pictures from Zhara's Blog:

Here is another picture:

Zhara's Blog

2009-07-09T02:05:00.000-04:00

Donna: What started your interest in hair?

Zhara: I think for the majority of black women myself included, I've always been obssesed with a major interest in my hair! Lol. My hair has always been a forefront of never ending years of hair dilemmas and styles. Black hair is the most fragile and versatile texture in the world.This has made my hair journey an interesting one from being natural as a child to permed in my teen years with good and bad hair days that brought about emotions and experiences that lay down deep in the soul. A black woman can never escape her personal hair struggles unless she makes peace with it and works with her hair in tune with nature....thankfully going natural has definitley lead me to this path :)

Donna: Tell me about your website?

Zhara: It's actually more of a community of support and motivation more than a personal website per se. I joined a community online photo blog called fotki.com to document my personal hair journey among thousands of other black women who have gone natural mainly for support and motivation. I knew I would need some company on this journey and I have met the most fabulous women on this site they are all so beautiful inside and out!!!!

Donna: What special features does your website have?

Zhara: My albums in particular have a healthy alternative holistic approach to them. I showcase 100 per cent natural products and how to use them on natural hair. I provide my readers with alternative hair treatments like a natural hair detox using apple cidar vinegar, herbal hair rinse and healthy hair growth tea recipes. I talk a lot about health and wellness and the importance it has in helping grow long beautiful hair.

Donna: Why did you decide to go natural with your hair?

Zhara: I had to put an end to the constant struggles I was having over my hair. My hair had finally plumeted-the years of hair abuse caught up with me. I couldnt retain length anymore beacuse it just kept breaking off from repeated use of chemical relaxers. And honestly looking back it really didn't look very healthy at all...it was straggly and lifeless and the ends were discolored.

Donna: Why do you think keeping your hair natural is important?

Zhara: Wearing your natural God-given texture is important not only for your health but also for your sanity as a woman. We are meant to have this texture for a reason! Its part of our culture and heritage...it has a story. It's remembering and celebrating where we come from. Wearing your natural hair seperates your beauty form the most unique image a black woman can have – it establishes and distinguishes your roots. Also the versatility is endless with natural hair you can do more styles with natural hair than you can with relaxed and wow does it ever look amazing!

Donna: How do you keep your hair natural?

Zhara: I keep my hair protected during the week when I'm at work. I work out for a living so I usually keep it in braids or twists and then I take the style down and wear it out on the weekends. When I have a very special occassion or want to celebrate my natural hair with my blog readers I wear it in its unmanipulated natural state...fragile but breathtaking.

Donna: What special tips do you have for people who would like to have natural hair?

Zhara: Make sure to do your research....there are man, many black hair care forums and websites. There are a tonne of natural hair communities not to mention natural hair care books out there to teach you what to expect when you want to go natural and how to take good care of your tresses. Keep in mind the transition to going natural is a very personal one. It has many positive elements to evolving one's womanhood to be prepared to go through the challenge of change :) If you can find a mentor to walk you through your journey this can be very healing.

Donna: What do you think of the natural hair business - is it growing, etc?

Zhara: The natural hair business is booming!!!!! like every other trend everyone seems to be jumping on the band wagon lol. From commercials on TV, to natural hair salons, websites, books and hair shows you name it, it's out there...we are blessed to have gotten this far in the natural hair revolution is here to stay and thank God for that :).

Donna: Is there anything I have not asked you that you would like to discuss?

Zhara: Hair is a major part of a woman's image but remember that healthy hair comes from a healthy mind body and soul...they are very much connected. A large number of black women who go natural discover this connection and become a better woman inside and out...there is a bond that becomes so much tighter than your kinks and curls!
Thank you Donna!

You can contact Zhara at zhara@live.ca to find out more about her blog that is currently on hiatus for the summer.

Experimenting with My Hair

2009-07-08T05:39:00.000-04:00

I have been experimenting with my hair.

Yesterday I received some great products from my friend Gifty Serbeh-Dunn who is based in British Columbia. She owns a company called Shea Butter Market that I did a story on for Donna Magazine: http://kakonged.wordpress.com. She sent me some lip balms, a great smelling hand cream, and a body, face and hand cream.

I am thrilled to receive these things and started putting the hand cream in my hair to help me to form locks. We will see how it goes. I still have time to take them out if I change my mind. Let me know what you think of them so far in this picture I am including. I apologize for the picture being blurry, however I took it without my glasses and could not tell how unfocused it was.

Business Running Through My Head

2009-07-07T08:11:00.000-04:00

Today is a special kind of day. I just received an opportunity last night to work on a documentary as an Associate Producer. I definitely plan to go for it. The sad thing is this will cut into my volunteer work for VoicePrint, which I do enjoy doing. With the economic situation such as it is right now - I need to make the decision to also do something I would enjoy doing, plus get paid.

Things are going well with my business. I have been able to sell more books and I am looking forward to showcasing at the tables at the conferences I will be involved in this month to generate more sales. I have many more books other than What Happened to the Afro? So far I have written 25 of them and I am working on a book with a woman named Susie Hortman in Texas called Abilene's Child for now. this books will prove to be extremely interesting and will also definitely be a lot of work. I plan to keep from pulling me hair out about it though because I want my hair to grow.

Well...if you would like to contact me - please do feel free at: dkakonge@sympatico.ca. Plus, remember that I offer free life coaching with the purchase of one of my books.

Have a wonderful day!

Good Hair Day!

2009-07-06T14:48:00.001-04:00

I'm actually having a good hair day. I've included a picture of one of the worst hair moments of my life. I became inspired to actually express how I am doing with my hair by reading some of a blog on someone doing their MA in TESOL. That sounds so interesting and I remember how busy I was when I was doing my thesis on the politics of black hair at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. It consumed most of my life, even though I still made time to do other things, such as work.

Things are going well lately with my book sales. Currently there is a $5 off coupon to celebrate Canada Day until July 8, 2009. When you buy, you need to enter CANADADAY. This would be a great way to buy What Happened to the Afro? or as many books as you like. I am up to 25 written books by me. Well, actually, one of them is edited. There is also another code that is for 10 per cent off. This one can work out well too for bigger purchases. I have bought some of my own books so I can showcase them at tables at two conferences I am going to this summer. At one of the conferences I am also presenting. This latter one is taking place at York University.

I'm looking forward to doing the interview with Zhara coming up soon. She has a blog on natural hair care. I have sent her the questions by email since she is based in Vancouver and she will get back to me with the answers. We did touch base for a bit on Saturday before she needed to step out. I actually would have been able to conduct the interview then, however got bogged down with house issues and there being a problem with the water in the upstairs unit.

Overall, I'm having a great hair day. I washed it around noon with Lush's Curly Wurly shampoo. I like this shampoo, however it has some flakes in it that I find rather annoying. These flakes are coconut - however they can make me and anyone who uses it look as though they have a huge dandruff problem. I condition my hair with a product called Giovanni that I get at Loblaws and it is natural. I have bought some glycerin soap with no preservatives for when the Curly Wurly is done.

Have a fabulous rest of the day!

Upcoming Interview with Zhara

2009-07-05T07:14:00.000-04:00

I will be doing an interview with Zhara who is based in Vancouver and has a blog on natural hair care. She has some amazing photographs to share, plus some interesting insights about natural black hair. Stay tuned.

If you would like to read more about What Happened to the Afro? Please buy the book at: http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged.

Discussion: History, Stories and Hair

2009-07-04T06:34:00.000-04:00

History, Stories and Hair

Edit
From: d_kakong
Posted: June 17, 1999

"And in still other 'houses of worship' throughout Virginia and in such cities as Philadelphia and New Orleans, a fine-toothed comb was hung on a rope near the front entrance. If one's hair was too nappy and snagged in the comb, entry was denied"(from the Color Complex pg. 27)

There is a whole history to hair, but what is your hair history? What can you share about the hair history of others?

Discussion: Language and Hair

2009-07-03T07:12:00.000-04:00

Language and Hair

Edit

From: d_kakong
Posted: June 17, 1999

"Nappy...kinky...dreadlocks" - do the words we use around our hair really matter? Can it be compared to the difference between black and African-Canadian, African-American?

Posted by
Date Posted

Discussion on Passing and Hair from Original Salon Utopia

2009-07-02T04:25:00.000-04:00

Discussion: Passing and Hair

Passing and Hair

Edit

From: d_kakong
Posted: June 17, 1999

"Because I'm white too, and if I have to be coloured then I want to die...I want to have a chance in life. I don't want to come through back doors, or feel lower for other people, or apologize for my mother's colour...she can't help her colour, but I can, and I will" (Sarah Jane in Imitation of Life).

Imitation of Life is a story of Sarah Jane, the white-looking daughter of black Addie Johnson. Sarah Jane and Addie live with a white family, a woman named Lora and her daughter, Susie. Sarah Jane desires to be white and pass in society, and reject her black mother. Her light skin and straight hair gives her a chance to escape this life, to declare "I'm White too."

Is straightened hair a form of passing in a white society?

Discussion on Locks from Original Salon Utopia

2009-07-01T04:50:00.000-04:00

Discussion: Locks

Locks!

From: tojane
Posted: February 26, 1999

Can we have a discussion about locks? Most people call them "dread locks," but a little while back, Alice Walker insisted on dropping the "dread" from the locks, because, "there is nothing dreadful about them." Most people don't realize the politics (and the HISTORY) behind them. Shall we talk about this?

I've been considering locking my hair for some time now, but am not ready to do it, not because of any spiritual or political thang; but for the simple fact that I like to play with my styles, and change from time-to-time. But seriously, I love the way they look on so many other beautiful people!

Here is a little tidbit of politics that takes us beyond the side of the Atlantic. Back home, in Nigeria, locks have very definite meaning. The only people who wore them were either crazy, a part of a certain caste (outcaste) of society, or a "Rastafarian." I went back a couple years ago, and had a lengthy discussion with my aunt about them. She just couldn't understand why anyone wouldn't want their hair free. Of course, she had a long, flowing weave in her own hair.

Anyone else have anything to say about locks? Any stories, interesting conversations they've had about them?

Replies

[1 of 5]
d_kakong March 7, 1999

Tojane, Tojane, I sympathises with your dilemma about locks. I am thinking about getting them myself and have been thinking about it for quite awhile. Doesn't Lauryn Hill has the most beautiful hair. The thing is that I think my mother would have a heart attack if I started locking my hair. This may seem silly, but I do worry about job opportunities and some of the social stigma around wearing locked hair. Even though more and more people are doing it and it is becoming more mainstream, there is a conservative element that still thinks locking your hair means your dirty because you don't wash it, and you smoke dope. The late Audre Lorde had a problem getting into the British Virgin Islands because of her locked hair - imagine that. She finally did get in, but she had problems at customs.

I agree with you Tojane about losing the word dread in dreadlocks. It's similar about the whole debate around the "n" word. Language is powerful, and what we say and the words we choose to use mean something.

By the way, sorry about taking a while to respond, I was in Barbados for the Spring Break where there was some serious hair going on. The only dreads I saw there were men on the streets who I think were Rastafarians. There were a lot of women with that neo-dread(please excuse the word) look of twisted hair. It looked wonderful and it was so pleasing to see so many sisters wearing their hair natural.

Anymore feedback on this topic? What do any of the non-blacks think about locks?
What about non-blacks who lock their hair (there are lots of them in Montreal)? What
do the men think about women who lock their hair?

[2 of 5]
tojane March 19, 1999

It's interesting you bring up the issue of non-blacks with 'locks.' Here's the difference, and I know, because I had a white friend who had them for a while. They have to do so much to get their hair to do it, comparatively speaking. All we have to do is stop combing, keep twisting, and we can still wash our hair regularly. My white friend put bees wax and a whole bunch of other stuff in it, and then not wash for unbearable amounts of time. The dirt mixed with the stuff she put in worked to mat the hair. It doesn't seem natural for naturally straight hair to be that way. While it is predisposed to 'tangle' it is not predisposed to mat in a few days.

Adding to the historical bit, I've had discussion with friends who have locks, who also notice the prevalence of whites with mats. There is a real sense of resentment because these whites are seen as appropriating a piece of our culture/history/identity.

Just another form of appropriation. The question most often is, 'why they gotta own everything?' I understand, and to a certain point, agree with this sentiment. The only problem, and it is more rhetorical than anything else, is: culture ownable? Perhaps it is; yet the nature of the way in which it works, culture is open, meant to be expressed, and even shared.

I guess the problem with whites matting their hair falls under the realm of
consciousness. Do they understand the culture/history of this piece of culture they are consuming. I guess we can say that not all blacks who have locks have this level of consciousness either. BUT, is it so much a necessity for them who already 'own' it than it is for whites who must consume it to make it theirs.

I'm not sure if I'm making myself clear here, so let me just stop for now...

Later,
Toja.

[3 of 5]
David_Seto March 24, 1999

White mainstream culture is not only appropriating culturally non-white hair styles, but look at other cultural hallmarks of American culture, i.e., jazz, cooking, pop music.

Does white appropriation lead to a consciousness of the origin of the cultural hallmark? To some yes, to others, no. It is the same thing with the proliferation of for example, take-out Chinese food and pizza seen on several TV shows. Is U.S. mainstream culture more accepting of Italians and Orientals? The former yes, the latter, less evident. So thus the same will too go for hair. Can those from whom these cultural hallmarks control or influence the diffusion and adoption (appropriation) by white main stream culture? Not likely, since these there is no monopoly or conglomerate of hair salons or of expertise to do so. The most important thing that can be done is to promote an awareness of the origins of these hallmarks in mainstream society that would serve to educate at large.

David

[4 of 5]
d_kakong March 24, 1999

Hi Everybody,

This is a very interesting discussion on appropriation, a topic that has made me very mad in the past. It's like White boys doing rap. The thing is, it's never really the same. Locked White hair just doesn't look like Locked Black hair and it fascinates me why any White person would go to all that trouble Tojane described to lock their hair.

There is this guy in my program that looks completely White, but he's actually half Moroccan. He says his hair is in locks to put him closer to his African roots. That is definitely the most legitimate answer I've ever gotten for why a White person locks their hair, although I have not done an extensive poll on this issue - I only ever asked him.

I wonder if locks will ever truly become mainstream. It's sad to say this, but it was Bo Derek wearing braids in the movie 10 that made it more acceptable for Black women to wear their hair in extensions or braids - but there is still a level where you don't see this hairstyle in conservative settings, such as women anchoring the news. Using Bo Derek as an example, I think White people wearing Black hairstyles doesn't really liberate the expression of the hairstyle into every facet of White society. I THINK that it takes a certain kind of White person to wear locks. They probably aren't the kind who vote Republican or for the Reform Party. This is just a guess.

Cultural ownership is a hard issue to address. There is such thing as intellectual property, and perhaps the expressions of Blackness, be it hair, or music, or clothing, is in a sense a collective intellectual property of Black people. This is just a thought, what do others think about this?

[5 of 5]
nubchewy March 25, 1999

This is a very interesting dialogue about locks. I plan on locking my hair one day but right now I am dedicated to showing people just how many different styles you can accomplish with beautiful, natural black hair. I know that a lot of sisters who have perms say "I would wear my hair natural if I could get long locs right away" but they are still dealing with that "having hair hanging down" issue. I think locks are a beautiful part of our culture (BLACK CULTURE) and, to be honest, I don't mind the "dread." It has long been an opinion of mine that it takes a certain conscious mind-set for a person to wear locs (that is, before it became a part of mainstream popular culture!) and that conscious mind-set is one that often fills white people with dread. So the "dread" in dreadlocks is not directed towards our hair but towards the feeling that our hair brings out in the oppressor.

Salon Chat From What Happened to the Afro?

2009-06-30T12:43:00.000-04:00

Folder: Salon Chat

Politics of Black hair
Welcome d_kakong | Sign out

Discussions : Salon Chat

Share the last conversation you heard in a hair salon - what are people chatting about their, or on virtual hair salon chats on other websites?

Item

Folder: Salon Utopia Feedback

Discussions : Feedback on Salon Utopia

What do you think of the virtual salon? All comments, the good, bad and the ugly are welcome. What improvements do you think could be made - the staff would really like to serve you in the best way.

Item
Posted by
Date Posted

Coloured Hair

2009-06-29T04:09:00.000-04:00

d_kakong March 24, 1999

Hi DivineMiss,

I just wrote a whole response but my time expired before I could send it.

Thank you for your profound comments and I did see the New Yorker article and bought it, but I haven't read it yet. There is a book by Grant McCracken called Big Hair that goes into the same issues raised in that article, based on how you describe it.

It's interesting to contemplate how the political nature of Black hair changes. Just thinking about present times, where there are Black women blonding their hair, could fall right in line with Mariame Kaba's argument about straightening hair as rational choice. Perhaps blonding hair is a rational choice for Black women too, it's not enough to have straight hair to access the White power structures.

I know that colouring hair is nothing new to Black women. An old boss of mine who had gone to Ethiopia had told me that the women there use henna (which I think originally comes from East Africa) so in the pure sunlight there, their hair will shine brilliantly. And it works.

I think definitely that there is an impermanence to the meaning of why women colour their hair - but it depends on what colour. In the Big Hair book I mentioned earlier, a book that concentrates on White women's hair, in the early part of this century it was not desirable to have blond hair. Bad women like Mae West were the blonds and this was a time when exuding sexual power wasn't favoured. It wasn't until Marilyn Monroe came on the scene that blond became such a sought after item. I think the politics of hair colour and hair aesthetics in general can be closely tied to the politics of the male psyche. Do women rule what they do with their hair, or do men? I hope this isn't a heterosexist question.

I will add more once I've read that New Yorker article.

Discussion Section of Original Salon Utopia

2009-06-28T11:32:00.000-04:00

Ask the Administrator:

From: Ingww

Posted: February 15, 1999

Donna, when I was at Big Life, one of the producers did an item on black hair. You may want to get in touch with her to get a copy.

Her name is Lisa Gabriele and she can be reached at 416-205-3064. As for me, I often wonders why Asian women want curly hair (which usually results in hair being fried into a Ronald Macdonald's poodle perm) and why black women want straight hair
(resulting in breakage and oddly shaped bobs). Is it that women of colour are being encouraged to strive for a Caucasian ideal of beauty? I suspect so. No hair on this Chinese head has been permed or blonded once!

Replies

[1 of 2]

tojane February 17, 1999

I was impressed with the website. There always seems to be a good reason for processed hair (it's supposedly easier to take care of; it's more accepted in the
workplace; it goes on and on). Until we start seeing positive images of BLACK women in mainstream popular culture, we will continue to aspire/pain ourselves to that white ideal that has been affecting us for centuries. Now-a-days, it's in to be not too black, to have "good" hair, and figures that fit within this society's ideal of who we are. Black women have yet to appear in positive ways on TV, in our magazines and on the fashion runways (if they exist at all). When they do show up, their skin tone and hair texture are used as props in themselves to push the exotic image that we tend to fall into sometimes--hyper sexualized and hard. Either that, or we are chocolate images of our white counterparts. Aside from this there is a virtual absence of positive Black female images. This could be said of all women of color. We tend to remain silent or remain sex objects for male spectators.

Personally, the relaxing thing was too much to handle. Plus, it didn't feel right. I've worm my hair naturally for quite some time now, and the work I put into dealing with it everyday is actually fun, a part of who I am. There are so many things to do with natural hair. We just need to be willing to turn our heads away from what's thrown at us/shoved down our throats.

I'll write more lately.

[2 of 2]

SErickson6 February 19, 1999

Speaking from my current state of consciousness, I love black hair. By black hair, I refer to hair belonging to people of color - of African descent. I prefer it in its natural glory, with all its "kinkiness," curls, "naps," bends and loops.

I must admit however, I haven't always felt this way about black hair. At one time I was swayed and influenced by all those straight hair, blond blue eyed, pale-skinned commercials. I wanted my hair to move when the wind blew just like my TV. favourites.
Black entertainers also upheld the image of whiteness by frying, and dying, and relaxing hair that was meant to stand firm, stand tall.

After much reading, and studying, and soul-searching, I discovered that being black wasn't so bad after all. My heroes became those who were not afraid to be natural. I'm proud that I dress and conduct myself with pride; not wanting to be likes another culture. God has given each one of us a certain uniqueness. And there's nothing wrong with experimenting with fashions and styles, but to alter ones looks to appear more acceptable to another culture is a denial of ones spiritual essence. Some would even say that it is a form of self-hatred.

I whole-heartedly endorse freedom of choice. However, you need to check out motivations behind choices to ensure a healthy acceptance and appreciation of
yourself.

I'm a black man, and I applaud and adore black hair. I love my sisters and all the colors, styles, shapes and sizes they come in. Keep black hair alive, let's all dread in 2000 - just kidding! Stay strong, love your project Donna. Peace - Out.......

From: _DivineMiss

Posted: March 23, 1999

Hi all -

First things first - kudos to Donna for doing such a fine-looking job on looking at hair.

I was wondering if anyone saw the New Yorker that came out this week - (Mar. 22)? There is an article that made me think about Donna's page and the ideas her project engages with. The piece is about the politics of coloured hair - blond hair mostly - and I think methodologically (ugh, gross boring word)and thematically it speaks directly to Salon Utopia.

In short, the author argues connotations of women coloring their hair is constantly being revised. What it meant to color your hair was different depending on countless things - the rhetoric of advertising, the allusions to notions of beauty, how notions of female virtue collided or collaborated with popular images, and how
these images were assigned or appropriated by the tropes of motherhood, liberated woman, sexpot, etc.

I liked the way there was an impermanence of what it means when women color their hair. Can we see a similar impermanence in the meaning of black hair? I'm wondering how much it is about resistance - or more accurately, how the political nature of black hair changes? The article in the New Yorker really seemed to think that the political (read: volatile, subversive, revolutionary) nature of coloured hair has been defused. Hmmm...I would argue that there is ALWAYS intent in representation, but agree with the author that the efficacy/power/social relevance is forever shifting. The question is - who decides what is important? Oh wait, and one more - why, in the tussle between the issues of race and gender, is race so unproblematically fore grounded here? I think notions of femininity
deserve to be seriously interrogated.

Enuf said - thanks again Donna...my last two cents? Thumbs up to Lauryn's hair. Oh yah,....and the album are pretty cool.

Replies

First Chapter of What Happened to the Afro?

2009-06-27T18:56:00.000-04:00

What Happened to the Afro?

Afro Forever Research Paper
for the M.A. in Media Studies at Concordia University

By: Donna Kay Kakonge, M.A.
Advisor: Dr. Martin Allor
Committee member: Dr. Kim Sawchuk
Outside Examiner: Dr. Lorna Roth
@ 2006

What Happened to the Afro?
Afro Forever Research Paper

Intro

Transformation
In Loree’s Beauty Shop
hot combs sizzled
against
wet oily scalps
branding
grown woman fantasies
into tender young
heads.
Thick busy afros
became
long glossy black curls
transforming
natural Black queens
into
commercial mahogany princesses (Boyd, 14).

This poem by Julia Boyd from In the Company of My Sisters is tragic, but it happens all the time. Afros and natural hair is transformed into something artificial, “fake boobs, fake hair, men don’t seem to care whether a woman is real or false.” The hair salon is the main site where the transformation happens. This paper accompanies the web-based project Salon Utopia (now defunct) that aimed to transform its clients in a natural way. In the virtual realm, it is not yet possible to do any hairstyles to transform anyone, but the site did aid in transforming the source of where hair comes from, the mind.

The objectives of this paper are many. First, a history around the formation of designing the website Salon Utopia and creating the on-line community will be presented in a journal entry style and essay format where no journal entries were made. This first part will also include information on perceptions of who would be part of the on-line community. Second, the paper will include a sense of the methodology used in creating the website and this paper. Particular attention will be focussed on my role as instigator/participant in Salon Utopia. Third, it will be briefly discussed how a discussion or a news group invites conversation. Fourth, a brief history of hair politics will be included. Fifth, interviews done with five black women in Montreal that are included on the Salon Utopia website will also be included in this paper. Sixth, the outcome of the exploration in creating an on-line community will be presented and examined. And, seventh, but not least, the problems of creating an on-line community will be discussed.

The Beauty of Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T06:29:00.001-04:00

When I think of the beauty of Michael Jackson, I think of him at all stages of his life. His style and grace became known world over. He will be missed. I am so happy that his music lives on.

Almost Had Dreads

2009-06-25T05:56:00.000-04:00

Last night I sat down and tried to lock my hair.

It actually looked good at first, however as I continued to do it...I realized it did not look the way I wanted it to. I would recommend that anyone that wants to lock their hair seriously go to a certified loctician. This would have been the second time I would have locked my hair and I was not pleased with the previous results either.

The last time I tried to lock my hair I used bee's wax and that was a really bad idea. This time there was barely anything in my hair. Although the twists I formed stayed, I did not like the way the twists were sitting on my head and it did not look very good. I took the ones I had done out and decided to stick with the same hairstyles I have been doing for years now. They are "tried, tested and true." Does not mean I do not appreciate a beautiful head of locks though.

Trey Anthony Interview Canceled

2009-06-24T08:11:00.000-04:00

Turns out I will not be doing the Trey Anthony interview after all. It is the time commitment to do it and the editor does not think I have the time to do it, which is probably true. It is also a non-paying job and this is not completely "cool" with me, even though I do volunteer work for VoicePrint.

Oh well, perhaps I will get my chance to meet Trey Anthony another time.

Upcoming Interview with Trey Anthony

2009-06-23T04:33:00.000-04:00

I will be doing an interview with Trey Anthony, star and creator of the "'Da Kink in My Hair" fame. This was a play that performed at the Princess of Wales theatre in Toronto and is also a television show on Global TV.

I'm excited about interviewing her. Anthony has achieved a lot through hard work when it comes to bringing artistic expression to hair.

The article will be for a magazine called Black Ink, however I am also hoping the information will help with research I am doing into beauty aesthetics that will follow from my book What Happened to the Afro?.

Recently I have also done an article about Gifty Serbeh-Dunn's Shea Butter Market company that provides healthy beauty products. I will be posting that article soon on this site.

Have a beautiful day!

Section 4: Site Structure

2009-06-22T07:06:00.000-04:00

Site Structure Summary
There will be three main types of metaphors included with this website, organizational, functional, and visual.
The organizational metaphor will be of a hair salon and the links will be like different conversations going on inside of the salon.
The functional metaphor will be an afro pick. The audience will be able to use the pick to pick from the different elements of the site and to move back and forth through the site.
The visual metaphor will be of a waiting room. While the audience has to wait to get their link and listen in on the conversation going on in the hair salon (the organizational metaphor), there will be a picture of a waitingroom.
The fourth metaphor will be oral. To simulate the atmosphere of a hair salon, music will play on the site, all related to hair. Such artists like Arrested Development, Des’ree, Digible Planets, Erykah Badu and Nina Simone will be played, particularly their songs about hair.

Home Page Set-up for Hairnet:
1. Cutting edge book buy
a) amazon.com
b) afrocentric book stores
2. A hair-must resource list
a) books, journal articles, newspapers and magazines
b) videos
3. Itchin’ for your feedback
4. Excerpts from Mariame Kaba’s thesis on hair
a) intro and literature review
b) collective representation of straightened hair
c) conclusion
5. Hairnet: other web hair links
6. Donna Kakonge’s research under construction
a) research proposal
b) quest for research subjects

Architectural Blueprint
(see page 13)

Global and Local Navigational Elements
Global Links:
The hompage and the cutting edge book buy will be the global links that the web user can access from any part of the site.
Local Navigational Links:
The hair-must resource list, itchin’ for your feedback, excerpts from Mariame Kaba’s thesis on hair, Hairnet: other web links, and Donna Kakonge’s research under construction will all be links on specific pages.

Section 3: Site Content

2009-06-21T06:11:00.000-04:00

Pieces of Content and Sorts of Functionality
The static elements of the site will include: the homepage of Salon Utopia consisting of a video picture of a real life salon with haircuts, press and curls, relaxers and weaves going on. Ultimately I would like music to open with this page, preferable Nina Simone singing “Black is the colour of my true love’s hair.” The other static content elements will include links in the banner ad to cutting edge book buy, a hair-must resource list, itchin’ for your feedback, the politics of Black hair from Mariame Kaba’s perspective, the politics of Black hair from Donna Kakonge’s perspective, and weaving hair knowledge with other web links. Other elements such as the information in the links will be dynamic.
The dynamic elements will include the updating of the hair-must resource list. The feedback will also be posted on-line for everyone to read and respond to, and that will always be changing. Weaving hair knowledge with other web links will also be updated. And finally, as Donna Kakonge’s research evolves, excerpts will be posted on the site.
The functional element will be part of the politics of Black hair from Donna Kakonge’s perspective. My research will include finding out who is the audience that comes to the site. Web surfers will be asked to fill out a brief questionnaire of why they have come to the site and if they want to be contacted by the researcher. A warning will come up for the web surfer that any information they give over the net may not be private.
The transactional part will be part of itchin’ for your feedback. There will be an on-going chat session that will be recorded on this site. As well there will be an on-line purchase in the cutting edge book buy to a place like www.amazon.com

Section 2: User Experience

2009-06-20T06:47:00.000-04:00

Audience Definition (3 Scenarios)
Cindy is an American graduate student doing her dissertation on Black style and its political significance. She plans to include a chapter which concerns hair. Cindy comes across the Hairnet site and finds out about the research Mariame Kaba has done on the topic, as well as the research Donna Kakonge is doing. She jots down the names as people to email in future with research questions. As well, she receives an impressive list of resources for her dissertation, that include a summary of the materials. Right there on the web she is able to make an instant order for books and videos that will be useful to her research. As well, she continues her web research by checking out the recommended sites from Hairnet: other hair web links.
Arnold is a journalist for the Toronto Star. He is doing a story on the oldest living hairdresser for the Life section of the Saturday edition. In a pre-interview with the woman, (Mrs. Barnett), she goes on at length about the political significance of hair for Black people. Arnold, who is balding with blonde hair, does not understand how hair could be such a big deal. He turns to the internet for some understanding and finds just that with Salon Utopia. Through a historical analysis of the significance of Black hair, as well as information about all the lawsuits which have taken place for Black women and their employers because of their hair, he begins to understand. This is all information coming from the research of Mariame Kaba and Donna Kakonge. He now feels more prepared for his interview with Mrs. Barnett.
Dr. Mary Douglass is a professor at Dalhousie University who is looking to implement a new cross-referenced course for Black Canadian studies and women’s studies at the undergraduate level. She is particularly interested in issues around beauty and the politics of it for all women, but Black women in particular. Being computer literate, she spends a lot of her time doing her own research on the web, or she assigns it to her assistants. One afternoon in her office, she punches in hair in a search engine while she tucks her own once curly now straight Black hair behind her ear. She finds Salon Utopia and it helps her structure her new course.

Competitive Analysis
General Site Features blacksalons.com www.afrohair.com/ digitalsojourn.org/river.html
Site Design (1-10) 9 8 6
Navigation (1-10) 7 9 6
Bookmarkable URLs Yes Yes No
Layout (1-10) 7 8 7
Look and Feel (1-10) 8 8 7
Advertising Allowed Yes Yes Yes
Personalization/Personal Start Pages - - -
E-mail Newsletter No No Yes
*Techonology VB Script Animated Gif -

Section 1: Site Goals

2009-06-19T04:10:00.000-04:00

Q1: What is the mission/purpose of the organization?

A1: The organization being represented on this website is owned by Mariame Kaba. She produced an essay entitled Restoring Black Women’s Agency: Hair Straightening as Rational Choice.
Briefly, the background on the client and the product is that Ms. Kaba is a PhD student at Northwestern University in the Department of Sociology. She has an B.A. degree from McGill University and an M.A. from the City College of New York. It is her master’s level work where the 21-page essay on Restoring Black Women’s Agency comes from. Her thesis was on the topic of the politics of Black women’s hair and the essay is a shortened version of that thesis.
The client originally wanted the entire thesis to be turned into a website. Unfortunately, there are some logistical problems involved with retrieving the entire document. Therefore, the shortened version will become the main knot that will hold the website together.
The rationale of the essay is based on the fact that 75 per cent of Black women straighten their hair. Based on mass media articles, journal essays, poetry, novels and interviews, Ms. Kaba aims to address the question: Why do so many Black women succumb to the often painful practice of hair straightening? Through her essay she aims to educate her audience as to what she sees as “white power envy”being the principal reason why so many Black women straighten their hair.
Ms. Kaba’s purpose is to educate people on how straightened hair is a significant symbol in the white power dynamics that exist in American society. Using her scholarship as a main thread, this site will weave together a hair piece that will highlight the purpose of the organization.
Ms. Kaba is also interested in promoting the research efforts of the webmaster. She has made it possible for the research of Donna Kakonge to also be a feature on the website. The research relates to the politics of Black hair.

Q2: What are short and long term goals of the site?
A2: There are three short term goals of the site. First, to educate a wider audience on the politics of Black women’s hair. Second, to create a virtual resource centre for anyone in any field looking to do research on the topic of Black hair. Third, to publish Ms.Kaba’s work to a wider audience.
The long term goal is to provide a site that will be the basis for an on-going dialogue from all races of people on the topic of Black women’s (and people’s) hair. The audience is key to the long term goal because their reactions, comments, suggestions, etc. will prove vital in terms of further research concerning Black hair and its politics.

Q3: Why will people come to the site?
A3: People will come to site initially because of its attractive layout. People who are interested in politics, in particular racialized politics will find the information about hair of interest. Not only is the issue of Black hair inclusive in an evaluation of Black politics, it also encompasses feminist issues around racial identity, it’s a media studies issue which brings in a critique of popular culture. Most importantly, a high percentage of people have hair and understanding its significance would be interesting for anyone with the mind space or who is willing to make the room in their mind for this information.

Q4: Who are the intended audiences?
A4: The intended audiences I will arrange in explanation in a racial way since we are talking about hair, and it is second only to skin colour when it comes to determining race:
Black women with super curly hair are an important audience so that they will feel more pride in their hair. Black women with wavy to straight hair are a secondary audience who will come to know more about the super curly hair, and more about their own hair. The aim is that these women might stop seeing their hair as the only “good hair.”
Black men with various textured hair will understand the role they play in enforcing a beauty standard that demands straight hair. The website may appeal to those gentlemen that do not prefer blondes. One Black man once said that he thought for the longest time that all Black women had naturally straight hair, unlike Black men. This website will give people like him a different perspective.
For all those women who are non-Black who have various textures of hair, they will come to understand how hair influences the public image Black women have in society. For those non-Black women with Black hair, they too can come to understand how their hair affects them in society.
Non-black men with various textured hair will come to understand the role they play in constructing and maintaining a society that rejects Black hair, and ultimately rejects an essence of Blackness.
Finally, for those without any hair, this website will illustrate how our society places such an importance on hair.
The feedback of everyone will be vital to maintaining the website. All audiences are desired.

Hair Design Doc

2009-06-18T05:02:00.000-04:00

Design Document
for
Hairnet:
Curly Q & A for Web Design

Donna Kay Kakonge
#4021932
New Tek 1 - Multimedia Authoring for the Internet
Instructor: Iain Cook
Tuesday, October 13, 1998

Intro

Black hair is the super curly hair found naturally on most Black people, as well as other races. It is difficult to define what is a Black person, and I will leave that up to self-definition. The author of this hair design document considers herself Black. The following outline for a website is primarily concerned with the super curly hair that exists on Black people due to the racialized society that we live in.

The super curly hair is sometimes referred to as kinky, nappy, or coily. For this document the hair will be described as super curly.

When one combs natural Black hair it has to be parted and put it into sections. Then, a wide tooth comb is used to prepare it for a style. This is what I have done with this hair design document, I have put it into sections and tried to comb through all the necessary elements to create hair web design.

As the author is in an on-going search for the perfect hair design, this design document is also an outline for an ideal hair web design. It includes references to video and sound being part of the web. This might not be possible in the final cut.

Long Days for Eye Surgeon

2009-06-17T04:57:00.000-04:00

His name is Dr. Samuel Boles and he is the medical director and an ophthalmologist at Anne Arundel Eye Center in Annapolis. His salary is $150,000 and he is 46-years-old.

Boles received his medical degree from Georgia in 1989. His post-doctoral work involved an internship at Yale University, a cornea research fellowship at Harvard University and a residency at George Washington University. He went into ophthalmology because the demand is great.

He worked at the University of California, San Diego, as well as a private practice in Baltimore for nine years before opening the Anne Arundel Eye Center in 2007.

Boles works 60 to 80 hours a week. He is in the office about three to four days a week and is in surgery for about two days a week. In an average day he sees almost 30 patients. The patient care involves everything from follow-ups to in-depth patient consultations. With each patient he spends about 15 to 30 minutes. For operations he does anywhere from two to 10 a week.

He has two front-desk receptionists and two technicians, as well as a manager who work under him.

Boles enjoys spending time with his family as well as windsurfing and racquetball. He is also involved in charity and founded the Glaucoma Co-Management Roundtable. He is also on the board of the Polakoff Foundation that raises awareness of glaucoma.

A Women Experiences Complications with Lasik Eye Surgery

2009-06-16T06:40:00.000-04:00

For some people who may think the problems with their eyesight stem from old age or heredity, it is actually coming from Lasik eye surgery.

In April, patients who have had the surgery told the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States stories about side effects including glare, halos, dry eyes and pain. In one situation the pain was so bad for a young man that it drove him to suicide.

About 7.6 million Americans have had the surgery and about 40,000 people are showing major side effects.

Increases in technology have reduced the amount of cornea cutting, making it easier to predict problems after an operation.

This story comes from the St. Petersburg Times and the original author is glad she had the surgery. At least she can read without her glasses.

Eye Surgery in India Takes Gates Award

2009-06-15T04:10:00.000-04:00

An eye surgery network in India that has prevented blindness in millions of people won $1 million from a Gates Award. This is the world's largest prize for international health.

This award for global health is given by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Aravind Eye Care System is based in Tamil Nadu in southern India.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN20319164

Iris’s Perspective – Wearing Glasses in the 1980s

2009-06-14T06:40:00.000-04:00

I knew I had a problem seeing far when I would sit really close to the television by about the age of six. Once I reached higher up in the school and I needed to sit at the front of the class to see the chalkboard, glasses were an obvious consequence by time I turned about 12.

At first I did not want to wear glasses, however I found the frames fun. I came across a pair of white ones and would wear them without the lenses, even though I needed still needed to see.

Growing up in the 1980s in the age of the material girl, looking your best was a priority and glasses did not always go with that image. I had not heard of anyone who had received laser eye surgery – I really did not even know what it was.

At first when laser eye surgery came out there were reports about people going blind. Others would say it changed their lives. I decided to just stick with my contacts, no matter how much they bothered me. I did know of some cultural groups who would get surgery to add an eyelid to their eyes. One of my best friends at the time had this surgery.

By time the 1990s rolled around and I was in university, I wore my contacts exclusively. They were one of the biggest pains in the world. I also find that putting in contacts is a skill itself…something that is developed as a skill with practice. When I would revert to my glasses for a time and then go back to contacts, I could not pry my eyes open long enough to put in those tiny, clear, round circles.

I can completely understand why someone would choose to do eye surgery…especially when it comes to issues of vanity and how important it may be when it comes to how they look. This would depend on the career they are in.

I keep wearing my glasses mainly for convenience. When I heard in a news report that contacts are actually bad for your eyes, I started to wear my glasses. Plus I am older now and less affected by concerns surrounding vanity. I have had flashes in the past of considering laser eye surgery; however figure that the money can be better spent in other ways.

Ways of Preventing Needing Eye Surgery

2009-06-13T10:29:00.000-04:00

There are many ways you can prevent needing eye surgery at all and always make sure that you have 20/20 eyesight.

If you are a parent, make sure you do not allow your children to sit too close to a television set. As well, when they are reading, the area should be well-lit.

This is also true when you are an adult and your are parenting yourself. Always make sure that you do not sit too close to the television set, as well keep in well-lit places when you are reading. You may also want to try to purchase or borrow books from the library that are in large print, creating less strain on your eyes from small type.

Make sure you get enough sleep, this is also important for maintaining proper eye care. Try to avoid rubbing your eyes as well because this disturbs your cornea.

When in front of the computer screen, make sure it is set up properly so that it does not disturb your eyes. Make sure you have enough light to do your work. As well, it is important to take breaks when you are working at the computer for long periods of time.

The Fear of Surgery

2009-06-12T03:58:00.000-04:00

Most people feel fear when it comes to doing any surgical procedure. The eyes are a delicate area and anything can happen. If you pick the right time to do your surgery, this may help problems to occur.

Choosing the right time to do your eye surgery is key to the success of it. If you are already feeling stress in your life and things are quite chaotic, it is probably not the ideal time to have surgery done on your eyes.

It is best to choose a time when everything is going well for you – when things are going smoothly. This way you can also find the time to heal and enjoy the new change in you.

Making sure you get the adequate time off work, or even scheduling it during your holiday may make for a pleasant experience as well.

Iris’s Perspective: Some Wear Their Sunglasses at Night

2009-06-11T05:22:00.000-04:00

When I think of how difficult it is for me to see at night, this does make me think of laser eye surgery.

My vision is so bad at night that sometimes I do not even go out. When I am sitting in my backyard and have seen raccoons passing by around garbage and recycling days, once in awhile I have mistaken them for cats. My vision is really bad at night.

Laser eye surgery could be something that would correct this. I have heard some people say that they find when they do the surgery their night vision looks a little like a cable TV when the connection is not as strong. I know other people where their vision with laser eye surgery is so good it is like looking at HDTV. This must be really great.

During the day when I can see better, I once saw the brothers from Lasik and Lasik Eye Surgery bicycling down the street close to where I live. This is something else that would be great with eye surgery too. There would be an ability to bicycle without worrying about wearing eyeglasses that can restrict the range of sight.

This is also true of driving. I cannot stand wearing my glasses when I drive. Sometimes I really think they affect my effectiveness as a driver. I am legislated by law from the time I took my road test at 16 to wear my glasses when I drive – or at least my contacts or to have surgery. All these things help me to understand why someone would choose laser eye surgery.

There was a time when I was driving at one of the intersections in downtown Toronto and I was turning left. The sign said you could not turn left from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Due to my vision with my glasses, I thought it read 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. I was also driving at night.

I made the turn and got a ticket. To this day two points are off my license because I could not see the sign correctly. Yes, laser eye surgery can be a splendid thing.

IRIS Laser Eye Surgery

2009-06-10T03:26:00.000-04:00

Considering this column is called Iris's Perspective, I could not help but focus on a place called IRIS Laser Eye Surgery.

Eye surgery allows more freedom when you are golfing, swimming, driving or shopping. Restoring one's natural vision can be a dream of a lifetime. The process of gaining the freedom to see without glasses or contact lenses can be quite easy.

IRIS has been the business of providing laser vision surgeries since 1998. They have clinics in Montreal and Vancouver. Both of the locations feature North America's Carl Zeiss MEL 80 laser, Wavefront Sciences Aberrometre and AMO Amadeus Microkertome – this is the latest and most advanced equipment.
Visit IRIS to find out how laser vision correction may be the right choice for you.

Cheap Eyeglasses

2009-06-09T18:10:00.000-04:00

Not everyone who wants to get eye surgery can get eye surgery because something may be wrong with their eyes that would prevent getting the surgery done. If this is the case for you, there are some inexpensive choices you can make to find eye wear.

Many people will go to the Dollar Store to buy reading glasses. For the cost of just $1 CDN, you can find reading glasses that will help you to get through everything you need to see with to read.

As well, at one time when I was not receiving benefits, I went to the Dollar Store and bought a pair of sunglasses, punched out the lenses and got prescription lenses put in to help with the near-sighted life I lead. I found this to be an extremely inexpensive way to deal with not having an insurance plan to pay for my glasses at the time. The whole thing cost me about $40 to $60.

Later when I did have an insurance plan I bought other glasses that snapped because a child in my life kept playing with them. I went back to my old glasses from the Dollar Store and actually received more compliments on my inexpensive glasses than the more expensive frames. Thank goodness children are so smart.

Sheridan Denies Claims of Surgery

2009-06-09T03:21:00.000-04:00

Despite what people are saying about actress Nicolette Sheridan having cosmetic surgery, she insists that her looks come down to “good genes.”

Sheridan is one of the stars of “Desperate Housewives.” At 44 she says she has not been under the knife yet, however does not rule it out for the future.

Men Having Plastic Surgery in Droves

2009-06-08T07:05:00.000-04:00

Plastic surgery is not just for the wives of Hollywood stars anymore – their husbands are getting it too.

George Clooney has admitted to some eye work, many other men are spending thousands to fight the signs of aging.

Chiseling the jaw line, getting rid of fat in the rear end and bellies, as well as smoothing wrinkles around the eyes are some of the surgeries men are performing to give them the edge in the business world, physicians are saying.

In 2007, men did 1 million cosmetic procedures; this is an increase of 17 percent from 2006. The major growth for men is in non-surgical procedures such as Botox, lip plumping and skin resurfacing. These procedures have increased 21 percent.

In the United States, the common surgical procedures for men are liposuction, eyelid surgery, nose work, male breast reduction and hair transplants.

Men are also getting laser hair removal, micro-dermabrasion, and fillers to plump up sagging cheeks and laser skin resurfacing.

Loans for Cosmetic Surgery

2009-06-07T05:15:00.000-04:00

There are so many people out there who believe that looks make them matter that are seeking out professional experts. This results in cosmetic surgery. Sometimes, not everyone can afford plastic surgery that would then lead them to find other ways to finance it.

Taking out loans for cosmetic surgery has become more common. In some cases, people are taking out any where from 1,000 to 2,5000 British pounds sterling to get such treatments done as breast augmentation, liposuction, hair transplantation, plastic surgery and laser treatments.

These loans are different from other loans and are available in a secured and as an unsecured way.

With the secured loans, you would need to pledge any valuable asset. This is beneficial for major surgeries and the interest rate is lower.

Unsecured loans offer a smaller amount and are good for minor surgeries. The interest rate is slightly higher.

These loans are basically short term loans where the repayment usually takes about two to five years maximum.

Britney Spears Plans Plastic Surgery

2009-06-06T04:41:00.000-04:00

Britney Spears is planning to undergo cosmetic surgery because she has slacked off her diet sources say. Spears would like her body to be the way it was before she had kids.

Spears has been ripping pages out of magazines to choose what she thinks are her favourite body parts.

Sources say Spears is insecure over how much her body has changed since having her kids. She is reported wanting to do whatever it takes to be back to her best, even if that means plastic surgery.

Psychologist Linda Blair says that Britney may need more than just plastic surgery to feel better about herself. Blair says people often think plastic surgery is the answer and will solve their problems when it really does not.

Spears is looking into getting a tummy tuck, liposuction, breast enhancement and rhinoplasty. She is also looking to get a chemical peel for her facial skin.

Botox Most Popular Surgery

2009-06-05T06:35:00.000-04:00

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) says that 2.8 million botox procedures were done last year. This makes botox the most popular cosmetic procedure since 2000.

The numbers just keep rising and have jumped to 82 percent in the past five years.

Although many reports about botox have been positive, there have also been some alarming trends such as “Botox parties.” This is when a group of people get together to have botox performed.

The ASAPS says that it is important that if you are seeking botox you need to make sure a qualified person does it. These are some of the questions they would ask:

· Have you been asked to provide a complete medical history?

· Have you been advised on alternative treatments?

· Have you been advised of the risks and given your informed consent?

Is a qualified clinician administering the treatment?

· Is the physical setting appropriate for administering medical treatment, including handling emergency situations?

· Do you know what you are being injected with?

· Are you willing and able to follow post-treatment instructions?

· Will you receive adequate follow-up care?

"Botox parties" can be good for you to reduce the cost of an individual treatment, however you need to make sure a qualified professional is doing them.

Beauty Business Doing Well

2009-06-04T04:25:00.000-04:00

In the past, the only place available for Filipinos to look great was to go to their neighbourhood beauty salon. Now there are many places to choose from such as the facial salon, the spa, the medi-spa, the cosmetic surgeon and more.

Dr. Jay, who established his cosmetic surgery and beauty services eight years ago, says he has seen an increase in Filipinos requesting his services. He also says the prospects for the future are good.

Jay’s business called Faces & Curves also gets many foreign clients through the medical tourism program. They call these clients balikbayans, from the U.S., Japan and Europe.

In the Philippines, prices for plastic surgery are more affordable. They are one-third less than in the U.S. or Europe. Breast augmentation can be anywhere from $3,000 to $4,000.

Their website also helps to drive a lot of clientele to Faces & Curves too.

They do about 30 surgeries a month. Not just anyone can get surgery; they do a test before they decide to take the client on. The test involves looking at the holistic nature of why the client is choosing to go with plastic surgery.

Malaysian Cosmetic Surgery

2009-06-03T07:04:00.000-04:00

If you are looking for that perfect get-away and to rejuvenate yourself to look younger at the same time, you just might find it in Malaysia.
There is a holiday called “Beautiful You” offered in Malaysia. This holiday specializes in cosmetic surgery abroad. It is the first of its kind. This unique world-renowned medial organization is located in Malaysia.
These foreign top-quality medical facilities offer cosmetic surgery at the fraction of the cost you would find them in places like the United States, Europe and Japan. The added benefit to doing these services abroad is that you would not need to pay taxes on them either.
The facility makes sure that if you are at all worried about traveling to a foreign country alone, a patient coordinator will assist you with everything you need such as learning the local customs, as well as helping you with the language differences.
This will allow you to relax and to be able to truly call it your “beauty holiday.”
Instead of needing to go to follow-up appointments, as you would need to do in the U.S., qualified registered nurses take care of you in your private hotel room for your follow-up care.
If a problem does occur with your surgery, the supportive staff with “Beautiful You Holiday” will make sure you are well taken care of to make sure you look exactly the way you want to.

Health Warnings For Cosmetic Surgery

2009-06-02T12:35:00.000-04:00

The popularity of plastic surgery is huge. In Toronto, Canada there have been reported cases of people who have had the surgery and things have happened to them as serious as death. Does this mean there should be stricter regulations on cosmetic surgery?
Some places in the world have strict regulations, while others do not. The training of the surgeon should be considered an important factor, as well as the research you have put into finding the perfect doctor for you to do the surgery.
Going with recommendations can help a lot. At least you would know that the surgeon has a good reputation and will most likely do a good job for you too.
In Canada, there is an association called the College of Physicians and Surgeons where you can find out more about the surgeons you are researching. You can also find out what are the ideal qualifications for a surgeon for you.
Most surgeons have studied for about eight to 10 years after graduating from medical school.
You should also find out in terms of paying for the surgery what your healthcare plan will cover and what it will not. In Canada, breast reduction surgeries are covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, or OHIP. Many women do not realize this when they are also experiencing problems with excessively large breasts.

Cosmetic Eye Surgery

2009-06-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

Many people will choose cosmetic eye surgery to prevent the signs of aging. Surgical methods can lift the eyes, known as an eyelift as well as smooth the contours under the eyes to make you look younger.

Some cultural groups also get a surgical procedure done to add an eyelid where a significant one was not there before.

Laser eye surgery is used to reverse poor vision back to 20/20. The procedure costs anywhere from $4,000 to $5,000 for both eyes – even less in some cases. Those figures are maximum ballpark ones. Laser eye surgery is relatively unobtrusive for those people who are little squeamish when it comes to knives, needles and blood.

One of the benefits of cosmetic surgery is that it is meant to enhance your existing features. If this is something you would like to consider, perhaps you are tired of your eyeglasses and the way they make you look – or you are simply aiming to look younger because that is a value that you hold dear, then speaking with a cosmetic eye surgeon may be a good choice for you.

Make sure you do your homework to find the right ones. Do your research, ask friends who may recommend someone – check the person out with places like the College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Good luck on your journey to improving your physical beauty.

The Model World

2009-06-01T06:54:00.000-04:00

I had my days when I was in the model world. Weighing in at 118 pounds at the height of 5 feet 10 inches, my model agent once told me that I should lose five pounds at that time.

The main reason why I got into modeling was because a boyfriend of mine was doing it too. I had a lot of fun doing it and when I was in my late teens and early 20s I did not ever think of getting cosmetic surgery – nor did I plan to in the future.

As the years rolled by and friends that knew me for a long time starting telling me I was gaining weight – those were the brave ones – I must admit that once or twice I did think about going under the knife. It is a good thing I am afraid of knives though because this is probably one of the main reasons why I have not considered cosmetic surgery.

I really do think many people need to be thankful for the looks and the body they have. A lot of weight issues for example can be solved through exercise, rather than cosmetic surgery. Perhaps in some cases if there is a grave deformity I can understand why cosmetic surgery would be done. In cases where twins are born joined, I can completely understand why this kind of plastic surgery needs to be done for the health of the children. Or in other cases where a facial situation or body situation at birth will make it difficult for the child to manage in life and surgery will solve the future problems.

Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. This is often said because it is so true. There are even some models that others find unattractive where if you asked someone else, they would think they are the most beautiful people in the world.

If you are considering cosmetic surgery, think carefully about it and look deep within. There may be other things that need to be changed such as your confidence level before going under the knife. If you are one of those people where your identity is really tied into the way you look – then cosmetic surgery may be the right thing for you.

Getting Old and Fat

2009-06-01T05:25:00.000-04:00

I remember the days when I was young and skinny – they really were not all that long ago. Those days are gone now and it is probably a good thing that I am afraid of knives that keeps me from doing cosmetic surgery.

In general I am happy with the way I look. It is an au naturel look that I strive for, an Earth Goddess kind of thing. At least I tell myself this and it helps me sleep at night so I do not miss being the “hottie” I once was.

There is an expression that “beauty is wasted on the young.” I would say this is absolutely true. All of the beauty I had when I was younger would come in more handy now and be a lot more useful. On the other hand though, I have things like wisdom at my age that I did not have in my teens and in my 20s that is hard to get from a knife.

I do understand why some older people would choose to get plastic surgery to have a look that they feel will give them the competitive edge in the career market. Some occupations really require a certain look. I am glad I am a writer and do not need to worry as much about my appearance. I need to worry more about grammar, spelling and punctuation.

Would I go under the knife? I do not think so. At the end of the day I am just happy that I breathe in and out and I am in a relatively healthy state. I could use some more exercise though and perhaps more soya milk.

New Hair Business

2009-05-31T18:00:00.000-04:00

There is a new hair salon that is offering services to men and women who are losing their hair from thinning and baldness.

The salon is called Georgina’s Hair Studio and is owned by Georgina Mauriello. Mauriello has teamed up with Vincent Farricielli who has also opened the Global Hair Systems next door to Georgina’s Hair Studio.

A cosmetologist performs the consultations in a professional and private atmosphere.

The two salons also offer hair extensions.

At the grand opening that is taking place on June 5^th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., refreshments will be served and the staff will explain the services. All who attend receive a $50 gift certificate towards a wig or hairpiece.

Source: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1661&dept_id=9538&newsid=19729506&PAG=461&rfi=9

Improper Hair Care

2009-05-31T10:17:00.000-04:00

Can poor hair care practices cause hair loss?

Yes.

These are some of the hairstyles that can cause traction alopecia, pronounced, al-oh-pee-sha.

· Pigtails
· Cornrows
· Tight hair rollers
· Hot oil treatments
· Chemicals used in permanents (also known as “perms”)

All of the above can cause scarring on the scalp and swelling of the hair follicle that can result in hair loss.

Hair Loss Treatments

2009-05-31T06:55:00.000-04:00

Is there a treatment for hair loss?

Depending on the source of your hair loss, there may be a treatment available.

If the cause is a medicine, a different one can be prescribed so your hair grows back, or at least you will not lose it. Treating and recognizing an infection may help to stop hair loss. Correcting a hormone imbalance can help your hair to grow back.

Some medicines can help prevent or slow the development of common baldness. There is a medicine with the brand name of Rogaine, also known as minoxidil that is available without a prescription. This medicine is applied to the scalp and both men and women can use it.

There is another medicine with the brand name Propecia, also known as finasteride that is available with a prescription. It is available in pill format and is only for men. For some of these medicines, it may take up to six months for them to start working.

Different hairstyles such as shaving the head, wigs, hairpieces, hair weaves and artificial hair replacements are also answers to solve hair loss problems if medicines will not work.

Getting Help To Stop Hair Loss

2009-05-30T14:41:00.000-04:00

Can your physician do something to stop your hair loss?

What your doctor can do is ask you questions about:

· Diet
· Medicines you are taking
· Whether you have had a recent illness
· How you take care of your hair

If you are a woman, your doctor may ask about:

· Your menstrual cycle
· Pregnancies
· Menopause

After all this, your doctor may want you to do a physical exam to look at any underlying causes of your hair loss.

At the end of it all, blood tests and/or a biopsy (small sample cells taken to be examined under a microscope) of your scalp may be requested.

General Hair Loss Question

2009-05-30T07:52:00.000-04:00

What is the normal cycle for hair growth and hair loss?

Each hair grows about half an inch, 1 centimetre per month. About 90 percent of the hair on your head grows at any one time, 10 percent is in the resting phase. After about two to three months, the hair that is resting falls out. New hair grows in its place. The normal cycle of hair growth occurs from about two to six years.

Shedding hair each day is normal in this cycle. Some people, including men, women and children, may experience excessive shedding, or hair loss.

Ford Refuses to Cover Grey

2009-05-29T12:30:00.000-04:00

For the new Indiana Jones movies, Harrison Ford is refusing to dye his grey hair.

Mega-star filmmakers George Lucas and Steven Spielberg wanted Ford to cover his grey hair to look younger for the movie, however Ford fought them and won.

Cosmetic Surgeon

2009-05-29T03:22:00.000-04:00

A different hair transplant procedure is offering hope for pattern baldness in both women and men.

Antonio Armani used to be a general cosmetic surgeon. He has founded AlviArmani to help people with hair loss.

Armani is a bit of an artist who has studied Roman and Italian art. He is basing a lot of his current work on the fact that natural aesthetic beauty was viewed in those times as the relation between the hairline and the facial features of an individual.

Armani is using this philosophy in his hair replacement techniques.

For more information, please visit www.alviarmani.com.

Source: http://www.thetelegraph.com/articles/hair_13657___article.html/offering_artistic.html

Common Baldness

2009-05-28T03:28:00.000-04:00

What is known as common baldness?

”Common baldness” usually refers to permanent-pattern baldness or male-pattern baldness.

Male-pattern baldness is the one that is the most common for hair loss in men. It is usually an inherited trait.

The earlier the age a man starts losing their hair, the more extensive the baldness they experience. With male-pattern baldness, the hair loss is typically displayed by a receding hairline with baldness on the top of the head.

Women as well can be affected by common baldness. This is known as female-pattern baldness. With this type of hair loss, the hair becomes thin over the entire scalp.

Cause Of Excessive Hair Loss

2009-05-27T08:15:00.000-04:00

What is the cause of excessive hair loss?

After an illness or surgery, for three to four months after this, you may experience hair loss. This is related to stress. Hormonal problems can also result in hair loss. A thyroid gland that is under active or over active may cause your hair to fall out. Correcting the hormonal imbalance can also greatly help the hair loss.

For women who have just had a baby, about three months after, many women notice hair loss. The hair usually starts growing in a normal pattern after this.

Some medicines may cause hair loss. Chemotherapy to treat cancer is a treatment often associated with causing excessive hair loss. Too much Vitamin A, birth control pills and antidepressants can also result in hair loss.

Infections can also cause hair loss. These may occur in children and can be easily treated with anti-fungal medicines.

As well, hair loss can be associated to other diseases such as lupus or diabetes.

What Is Trichology?

2009-05-26T18:57:00.000-04:00

For problems with your hair and scalp, a trichologist is the person to go to. They specialize in hair loss, baldness, scaling of the scalp, itching, hair breakage, dryness and excessive oiliness, including other things.

Training as a trichologist includes a completed degree from a recognized trichology educational program and there are organizations that would recommend that a trichologist be a registered member of an organization such as the International Association of Trichologists.

In an initial consultation with a trichologist, you can expect that there would be questions about your diet and exercise level, as well as a blood test taken to observe any underlying factors.

These tests are identified as the following:

· Hair analysis
· Microscopic analysis
· Mineral analysis

Trichologists bridge the gap between naturopathic medicine and traditional doctors.

The Myths of Baldness

2009-05-26T11:53:00.000-04:00

Baldness has been linked to many myths surrounding intelligence, virility, ethnicity, career, social class, wealth and virility. Some of the myths may have some truth.

· The first myth is: “you inherit baldness from your mother’s father.” The gene associated to baldness comes from the X chromosome and is linked to the mother’s side
· "Intellectual activity or psychological problems can cause baldness." Due to the fact that many people go bald as they age, having a higher intellectual activity and more complex psychological make-up could be linked to baldness
· The idea that those who are bald are not as attractive or appealing is often played out as a stereotype in films. A writer and actor such as Woody Allen is a good example of this. This stereotype is a controversial one
· "Your ethnicity can increase the chances of going bald." Studies have shown that men who are Greek or Macedonian do have a greater chance of going bald
· "Baldness can be caused by emotional stress, sexual frustration etc." Emotional stress has been shown to speed up the balding process
· On the other hand though, sleep deprivation and stress, lowered testosterone levels in military recruits, however did not affect their susceptibility to going bald
· "Bald men are more 'virile' or sexually active than others." There is no scientific evidence to prove this
· "Standing on your head alleviates baldness" There is no scientific evidence of this
· "Tight hats cause baldness." This may be a myth, however hats can cause hair breakage and split ends

LOCKS OF LOVE

2009-05-26T07:03:00.000-04:00

Locks of Love operate in the United States and Canada. It provides hairpieces to disadvantaged children suffering from any diagnosis resulting in hair loss. It is a public, non-profit organization.
The benefits of Locks of Love are great. They help to improve the self-esteem of young children who often may be ridiculed for not having hair due to an illness.

Unlike other charitable organizations that accept donations of money, the main charitable donation base of Locks of Love is hair. People who can afford to lose their long locks to share with disadvantaged children who cannot afford hairpieces or wigs, donate their hair to Locks of Love that work with designers who create hairpieces and wigs.

Here is their mission statement from the Locks of Love website:

“Our mission is to return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children. The children receive hair prostheses free of charge or on a sliding scale, based on financial need.”
Here are some other helpful resources, however Locks of Love is not affiliated with these organizations:

· Childrens Alopecia Project
· American Cancer Society
· American Hair Loss Council
· National Alopecia Areata Foundation
· Trichotillomania Learning Center
· The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
· Lupus Foundation of America
· National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias
· American Skin Association
· American Academy of Dermatology Kids’ Connection
· Hair Loss Expert

Baldness and Psychology

2009-05-25T14:40:00.000-04:00

The psychological effects of going bald change from person to person. Some people adapt well, while others keep fighting it every step of the way and spend thousands in replacement surgeries and medication that may or may not work.

Other alternatives include hairpieces and wigs. Business mogul Donald Trump is a celebrity who is famous for his hairpieces. Even with all of this money he has not been able to find a solution that looks truly authentic for his hair loss.

When it comes to people who have cancer and have undergone chemotherapy losing their hair – self-esteem issues can often arise. There is an organization called Locks of Love that donates hair to children who need it. Most of these children have lost their hair due to chemotherapy treatments.

Tips on Keeping a Healthy Head of Hair

2009-05-25T08:14:00.000-04:00

So many people do creative things with their hair that may actually lead to hair loss down the road. Here are some tips that will help you to keep the healthy head of hair you were born with on your head for the rest of the life:

· Avoid colouring your hair. Colouring your hair is actually something that strips the natural oils from your hair leading to thinning of the hair. If you could try to avoid colouring your hair, or if you must, using gentle products such as henna, this would really help.
· Cutting your hair in fashionable designs that are chic for the moment, however may stunt some of your hair growth should be avoided. Overall, if you just leave your hair alone and keep your hairstyles pretty practical, this may not be the most artistic thing, however it does help with hair growth.
· Avoid using chemical treatments on the hair. If you could try to make sure that you avoid using chemical products on your hair to alter its original state, you will find you have healthier hair that does not thin
· Avoid abusing flat irons, curling irons and hot rollers. Applying too much heat to hair can also be quite damaging
· Watch out for gels that are damaging for your hair. If you go with moisturizing products if you have dry hair, or products that are clean and pure if you have oily hair, this will also help to maintain the health of your hair
· Try not to pull your hair into styles that are stressful for your scalp. This will help to improve the health of your hair.
· Try to keep going to the same hairdresser. Once a hairdresser knows your hair, they will tend to do a better job than flip-flopping between different stylists.

These are just some tips that will help you to keep healthy hair. In general, the main message here is that if you just leave your hair alone as many people with the most beautiful hair do – you will find that you have healthier hair.

The Real Hair

2009-05-25T06:27:00.000-04:00

If because of hair loss you need to wear a wig or a hairpiece, you will be in the company of many stars and celebrities who wear wigs and hairpieces for professional reasons.

Beyoncé Knowles is a famous singer who wears hair extensions to further her career. In a recent video by Alicia Keyes she was wearing hair extensions and plays with different hairstyles.

Diana Ross was once known for wearing a wig for many years. As well, another legend in the world of song, Tina Turner, will often wear wigs in her performances.

Madonna has been known in her early career to play with various hairstyles, using different wigs and hairpieces, as well as even intertwining patent leather into her hair to create a sleek look for a video.

The business mogul Donald Trump is known for wearing a hairpiece. As well another media icon, Oprah Winfrey, will sometimes play with wearing weaves, hair extensions and wigs to dramatize the effect and look of her show.

Know that if you need to wear a wig or hairpiece due to hair loss, you are in some very talented company.

Buying Wigs

2009-05-24T07:18:00.000-04:00

There was a time when I was far more foolish about money. I was on the streetcar with a good friend of mine and we decided to get off so I could look into a store on west Queen West in Toronto.

I got into the store and decided to buy a $200.00 CDN wig! The wig was long and black with bangs and I am not completely sure what possessed me to spend that much money on a wig that was synthetic hair.

Once my friend and I got back on the streetcar, he very smartly suggested to me that I had spent too much on the wig. He was even nice enough to call me out on buying the wig in the first place. Mind you - I did not have a lot of money coming in at the time.

I got angry and told him off and went to sit in another part of the streetcar. Before we reached our destination - I smartened up and realized that he was right and everything was as right as rain after that.

Keep in mind too - I do not have the wig anymore. That was like throwing $200.00 out the window.

Some Salons Really are a Cut Above

2009-05-23T15:29:00.000-04:00

Imagine a professional salon that is donating their earnings to help cancer survivors with their hair loss.

The Salon Professional Academy will be having a cut-a-thon benefit for cancer patients on Sunday, June 8th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Haircuts will be $10 USD with the opportunity for people taking part to donate more.

There will be other services offered as well, such as manicures, pedicures and facials.

All of the money earned that day will benefit Couture for Cancer that is a nonprofit organization that donates custom-made hair replacement systems for free to people suffering from hair loss.

For more information on this event, please visit: www.salonproacademy.com/services

Source: http://www.onalaskalife.com/articles/2008/05/30/news/08briefs.txt

French Lessons with Dominique

2009-05-23T12:57:00.000-04:00

You are more likely to make more money with your existing work if you know French. As well, if you are looking for work - knowing French increases your chances of getting a job and opens doors and opens opportunities for you.

Dominique is just the person to help you reach your goals with French. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced - or even if you are fluent and just want someone to practice your written and spoken French with so you do not lose it in a city like Toronto - Dominique is your tutor.

She offers tutoring services in French. She is Quebecois, educated in Quebec at the bachelor's level in translation and has several years of experience at this work. Her rate is $21.00/hr., however this can be negotiated if you are short on funds.

Do yourself a favour and learn French today with Dominique. She can be contacted at (416) 760-4635. Leave a message and she will get back to you right away. She also has great hair!

Menopause Hair Loss

2009-05-23T09:32:00.000-04:00

Some women experience hair loss as part of menopause. There are ways of getting around this irritating situation.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is one way a woman can deal with the hair loss that comes with menopause. There are natural solutions too.

Seeing a naturopath may also bring solutions to hair loss experienced by menopause. There are cures such as acupuncture, herbal remedies and vitamins that may also help to prevent this situation.

It is usually best to seek help early in the process so something can be done about your hair loss. This is one of the best ways you can make sure your crowning glory, which is what many women view their head of hair, will stay on your head throughout an older age.

How To Help Your Dog Prevent Hair Loss

2009-05-23T08:43:00.000-04:00

Many dogs lose their hair on a regular basis. If you are dog owner, you may find the occasional clump of hair on the sofa or carpet. With double-coated breeds, this is especially true. Examples of breeds with a double-coat are German Shepherds, Collies, Husky and Welsh corgi.

Seasonal hair loss is known as “blowing coat” or “shedding.” Some dogs also lose a lot of hair when they are getting rid of their puppy hair and developing their adult fur.

Here are some tips to deal with your dog’s hair loss:

· Brush your dog daily
· Always brush your dog in the same direction the hair is growing
· Feed your dog the best dog food
· Do not feed your dog from the table
If a dog is going through excessive fur loss, there may be some underlying problems. Here are some possible causes of canine hair loss, and their symptoms:
· Your dog may have seasonal allergies
· Your dog may be allergic to his food
· Your dog may be allergic to household chemicals
· Your dog may be extra sensitive to flea or mosquito bites
· Hormonal diseases such as hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease can cause your dog to lose hair in tufts
· Ringworm may be the cause, also known as sarcoptic mange
· Anesthesia or surgery can cause a sudden loss of hair in a dog

Keep in mind that canine hair loss is normal and just a part of owning a dog. If there seems to be an excessive problem, it would be wise to consult a veterinarian.

Growing a Beard

2009-05-22T15:50:00.000-04:00

Beards can be an attractive look on a man. Sometimes growing one can cause problems.

There are some men who are lucky and they can grow beards quite easily without any patches. If you are finding you are having difficulty growing a beard, you may want to consider shaving it off and continuing to go clean-shaven.

The other option is that you may be able to grow a goatee that is like a half-beard. This often looks quite attractive on a man too.

Especially when a man is experiencing hair loss, growing facial hair could complement the lack of hair on top of the head and make for a stunning look.

You may want to check out some photo galleries online of other men who wear beards to see what style suits you best. A barber may also be able to help you to trim your beard in a style that suits your facial features and creates a handsome look.