Beautiful Anomaly - Purple Ferdinand

The benefits of Aloe Vera for Your Body & Hair

Growing up I always thought of aloe vera as the slimy green bitters my mother would bribe me to eat with the promise of a piece of chocolate right behind it.  I also knew aloe vera as  "Single Bible", that's what people from that Caribbean call it.  So when my mother would say my name and "Single Bible" in the same sentence I would cringe.  The good ole days.  Here are a few reasons why you should use aloe vera to enhance your health.

What Aloe Vera can do to Help Hair:

• Promotes hair growth
• Cleansing Shampoo Treatment
• Hydrates hair/Conditioning
• Helps decrease breakage
• Protects against heat

The gel-like substance of the aloe barbadensis leaf gives it a similar chemical composition of keratin, the naturally occurring protein in hair cells. This structural similarity allows for easier penetration along the entire length of the hair shaft

   The Effects of Aloe Vera on the Body:

•  Aloe Vera  strengthens the immune system with is contents of  23 peptides contained by the plant
•  Accelerates and regulates the metabolism
•  Purifies the human body from toxins 
•  Stimulate the cell-renewing process
• Aloe vera nourishes and supports the digesting of aliments

Aloe Vera can also be digested internally with its amazing nourishing capabilities. When mixed with other fruits, aloe vera can be ingested as an excellent natural beverage rich in vitamins and minerals. Also, it is recommended that it is ingested during travels to prevent dehydration.

I hope this helped! 

Until next time 

Xoxo

-Rain

Disco in Space

Took a stroll in Brooklyn today and yeah it was lovely as usual.  I so badly wanted to get some Nutella ice cream  but it was too brisk out there! On my stroll I met some lovely folks who were on vacation from Germany and we talked about dragons for some reason or another, haha, and they kept wanting to touch the fro. Now we all that's a no no. The random things I love. I woke up feeling like  going to a disco in outer space so I dressed accordingly.  I danced with the quasars and comets in Brooklyn.

My hair is a result of a braid out I'm in love with the volume.
Fringe coat & Leather Silver disco top  AbstractRain.bigcartel.com
Galaxy Pant Topshop.com
Platform Heels Urbanoutfitters.com

Indigo

I never wear dresses, well maybe like once a season or so.  I found my disco mini dress in my closet and I felt like busting loose! Whoop! I added some thigh high studded tights to give a peak a boo effect.  Ok now the fringe western jacket I must say was by accident. I was walking in the city and it found me. Purple and fringe make everything OK  I love this jacket!!!  Platform sneakers are a great way to add height without the pain.  These red suede platform sneakers are from the Jeffery Campbell Play collection. They are my new favorite shoe.  I felt like I was in a band today.

xoxo
-Rain


Disco Mini Dress & Fringe Jacket from AbstractRain.Bigcartel.com
thigh High Studded Tights from Topshop.com
Jeffery Campbell Platform Sneakers From UrbanOutfitters.com

Moisturizing Box Braids, Twists and Yarn Braids

When dealing with natural hair it can become frustrating at times pertaining to the growth rate and overall care.   I know many of us natural goers are turning to styles like box braids, twists, and even yarn braids and dreads as protective styles. While all of the above can help protect your hair they can be the very culprit to destroy it.  Many of us are guilty of throwing in some box braids or twists and just forgetting about taking care of our hair while in protective styles.  Here are 3 Easy steps to get you on the path of moisturized hair!

Rule #1 Moisturize Braids/Twists etc.

Not the entire braid/twist but the part from the root to where your real hair stops.  That causes you not to waste product on the many other inches of extensions.  A good product that I stand by is Jane Carter Revitalizing Leave-in Conditioner.  It’s a natural spray on leave in conditioner that works wonders.

Rule #2 Nourish Your Scalp

You must treat your hair like a plant if you want it to grow.  Think of your scalp at the roots and soil.  You must fertilize!!  I use Olive oil and  raw Coconut oil to nourish my scalp and also my hair in protective styles. Both can be found at the grocery store or health store.

Rule #3

A silk or satin scarf/head wrap is your best friend.  The fibers in a silk or satin scarf/head wrap do not pull and tug on your edges which leads to less breakage and dryness as appose to a cotton scarf/head wrap.

Stay moiturized!

Xoxo

Rain

GenesisTramaine

Artist: genesis TRAMAINE

This past Thursday I was blindly invited to an art exhibit in Brooklyn and it went like this….

genesis TRAMAINE is an abstract artist, a member of Brooklyn Artistry & Company, who embraces blackness, misogyny, womanhood, and individuality.  Her paintings have properties such as black face and her own distinctive interpretation of the world around her. genesis is also a public school art teacher, educating primarily African American and Hispanic children.   In addition to a phenomenal collection of her own work, what I found extremely fascinating within the exhibit, included a wall dedicated to her students’ artwork.  It was a wall of self-portraits.  I found this wall to be so charismatic and was shocked at how truthful the students were in interpretation of themselves. Children can tell the truth better than any adult. My favorite piece at the exhibit is “Big Lip Tyrone” by genesis herself.  I love the exaggerated features and mustard-tone yellow is one of my favorite colors.  There was wine and the crowd contained insanely beautiful dapper women who were very pleasant.  A Thursday night spent absorbing art is a Thursday night well spent.

“I am totally excited about art.” – Genesis Tramaine

xoxo
-Rain

Concrete

There is nothing like some runs in my stockings and a Badu wrap to make any outfit look like I don't care. The fabric store around my way shutdown so I trekked it all the way to Harlem to find some fabric for my badu wrap. I fell in love with this fab lose knit sparkle sweater that I layered over a simple all black mullet maxi dress.  Electric blue ankle boots and some circle stunna shades kicks some rockstar in the soul. I felt like careless fun today.  

xoxo

-Rain

Head Wrap is just 4 yards of Black Lace Fabric (Can be found at any fabric store)

Knit Sweater & Sheer Plum Tights from UrbanOutfitters.com

Mullet Maxi Dress from AbstractRain.bigcartel.com

Electric Blue Ankle Boots from CallItSpring.com

Circle Sunglasses from SusysCloset.com

Photography by AfricanCreature

Tipping the Tightrope

To Whom It May Concern,

I don't mind being androgynous.

Sometimes, its when I feel the most beautiful.

It was brisk today so I thought I’d bring out the heavy coat.  I absolutely love my multicolor print jacket.  It was only $30!  My shirt is a result of a bleach tye dye experiment in my backyard which turned out pretty cool.  I thought it would go well with my canary yellow creepers I had for a year and wore only once. I found them under the bed and just had to wear them the same day.  Oh and let’s not forget the circle sunglasses and head wrap, they make me feel like a super hero. Today’s outfit was a collage that came out fly.

xoxo
-Rain

Bleach Tye Dye Button Up, High-Waisted  Denim Jeans, & Canary Tire Bottom Creepers from AbstractRain.bigcartel.com

Multiprint Jacket from Susyscloset.com

Photographed by: Africancreature