For Me, Myself, and I... locs, 3 months.

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music just sounds better out of headphones on the C

J.Cole - Friday Night Lights - "too deep for the intro"

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come one come all...

MiKasa Friday is hosted by Gradys Collective Market. It hosted a multitude of small businesses all as diverse as the previous. Come join the lot for an art opening, some vintage clothing, get something framed, and of course... pick up some all natural hair and skin care!! (All with refreshments) - 923 Fulton St. Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn.

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Did anyone else realize that my man used a natural leading lady...Beautiful!

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From Boy Sands Show @ SouthPaw...

A Brooklyn Night Continues...

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Come Chill with me for a Couple of Hours Tonight...

WHAT: ME'KASA
FIRST FRIDAY'S
ART . MUSIC . FASHION .

WHEN: Friday November 5th 6 - 10PM

WHERE: GRADYS COLLECTIVE MARKET
923 FULTON STREET (BETWEEN CLINTON AND WAVERLY)
BROOKLYN NYC.
WHY: TO OFFER A "THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT" TO ALL OUR PATRONS.

There Goes the Neighborhood...Sneak Peak in the LocLife Brooklyn Location!!!

The only power I have in this American system is my money. The little of it that hits my hand, for every cent I spend, I am disseminating my power... some power over my life to you, Toyota... and some to you, Macy's... and a little to you McDonalds. With this realization comes an incredible sense of responsibility- what are you giving your power to? What ideals are you supporting?

It is with these questions answered in a satisfactory manner that I recommend these businesses...

Essential Cakes

With incredible coffee, the best pumpkin spice muffin I've ever tasted, and free WiFi, it's easy to see why Essential Cakes is the neighborhood favorite for special occasions, holidays, and events. I spend hours and hours sipping my coffee, watching the neighborhood, and teaching myself all sorts of things online. I realize at 4:00pm, the door is rarely closed, as child after child enters the bakery. Jessica the customer service woman has clearly been in the neighborhood her whole life as she coaches and reprimands the kids. It's then that I realize that Proprietor Etwin Gordon, a graduate of the American Institute of Culinary Arts, bakes the cookies so that they are finished exactly when the kids come out of school. Jessica doesn't only know the kids, she asks about their parents and remembers what her guests got on their last visit. I highly recommend Essential Cakes for your casual sweet tooth needs, party desserts, and holiday baking.


Level's Barber Shop

Levels doesn't seem like your average barbershop, from the cleanliness of the shop, to the sprawling wooden floors, and the barbers in uniforms Levels is clearly on a whole other level. Proprietor Kamal brags that barber DeNorval (notice the barbershop tattoo on his arm...) is one of the best salesmen that he has ever met... and it clear in just a few conversations that these guys really know their job. Levels Clinton Hill will be the first shop to use LocLife Mens prototype products - get your hair cut and have a sneak peak at what LocLife has in store for our Kings line. Levels hosts heated barbershop talk, like any good shop, but like cutting hair - they do it just a little bit differently. Two LIU Brooklyn students (Hi Stephen, Hi Quincy) debate over the role of black people and minorities in their communities and the (debatable) obsolete Euro-centric education for the African Diaspora. The barbers listen in intently, with the two young men bringing everyone they can into the discussion... If you're in the Clinton Hill area, and looking to get a cut, Levels Barbershop is the place to be.

The 'Cure Beauty Bar BK

"Look Mom, No Fumes" yes - you can get a five dollar manicure two doors down (manicures at 'cure run about 15 dollars), but The 'Cure is doing it the Brooklyn way. With an entire retail space stocked chock full of Natural Products, The 'Cure Beauty Bar brags a different kind of Manicure/Pedicure. The 'Cure also offers water and herbal tea while you primp and pamper in chemical free air. Owner Lashunda Davis definitely hones in on her ability to connect... listen... and deliver the best products and service this side of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Grady's Bklyn

Not just another flea market... Grady's Brooklyn brings together a Collective of transient, incredibly talented entrepreneurs. With 5 booth spaces (one of which belongs to LocLife Brooklyn) you can always find some eclectic things for your home and closet. Grady's Bklyn is also home of Brownstone Custom Framing - for all of your custom framing needs, plus any bit of creativity . Bring in an old chair, door, tree stump, and there's no doubt that Damien will build you a custom piece that can be displayed in any interior. For collective pricing rates contact:
Gradysbk@gmail.com

The Cure BK

The Cure will soon be offering the BK Pedi using Loclife products!

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"I like that about myself and I like myself, I have a lot of other great qualities as well...

Minority Changes

Minority is something that I was once...

When I was the only black kid in an all white school... town
(I know Gavin, but I was there for a while before you showed up...) I was a minority then, and I felt like it. My hair was different, I had friends, but I didn't feel like they knew where I was coming from. I put up with nick names like "Niggs" "Niggi", and while brownie doesn't seem so bad now, it created quite a bit of turmoil at the ages of ten, eleven, and twelve. I was asked more than a few times what color MY poop was, and I think a couple seniors said that when I was born I came out of the wrong hole. Who am I kidding.. I know that they did. I've been the black version of so many people, and I'm also clear that I'm "not really black" (my speech, the way I carry myself...) - I still wear my hair mostly in ponytails and buns at 28 years old to avoid the 11 year old's anxiety about spit balls and pens in it. To this day I refuse to eat Oreos...

The majority of the people who said these things are on my Facebook wall now and will barely remember that these were their words... nonetheless I carry these memories around intertwined with my memories of my youth; in some cases they overshadow any other memories I had of my peers.

I was a minority then.

But if you think I'm going to be a minority NOW... you're buggin. Whatever box I have to check on whatever form I'm given. Whatever percentage or statistic that I'm a part of. We are the majority, whatever it is that we may be called. And we need to own the responsibilities that go along with that.

A lot of things are changing in this world around us. Political climate is becoming increasingly more tense around the world and more importantly here at home. But there are things that we can do to make sure we still get the change that we were expecting, but we have to realize that we have to do more- It was never going to get done for us. No one needs to fix our communities, and if you're outraged that "they" are moving in and opening coffee shops... then you should be even more outraged that we didn't do it ourselves. What we're doing here isn't just about hair. It's about culture, empowerment, loving yourself, and supporting your communities.

If we don't give a fuck about ourselves, why should Corporate America give a fuck about you?

Welcome to the Majority.

HomeBoy Sandman: "Embodying 'The Essence' of Hip-Hop"

I first met the 6'5" Indie Rapper years ago on the New York underground hip-hop scene. He seemed to be at every show with a book bag full of CD's, even though his own shows were packed to the brim. The absence of ego is the first thing you'll notice... the second? That Boy Sands closes his eyes, and seems to sip hip hop like a wine tasting- taking in the body, and depth of ever bar. On the heels of being a Made Coach on MTV, touring, and promoting his newest Indie project we caught up to Homeboy Sandman for Five Questions with LTB.  Being a consistent supporter of all things natural (especially all women natural) what he had to say was very interesting…

LTB - The rest of your fans and I noticed that you made an image change that was seemingly against the grain, at what moment did you decide to make the change?  
HS - you mean when I started letting my hair and beard grow last year? I was really busy and shaving my head and my beard takes mad time. Now I cut my hair more often because my pop got a clipper set to cut my nephew Rico's hair and so he cuts mine too. It's good bonding. He used to cut my hair when I was a kid too. It's nostalgic. 

 LTB - In what ways to you incorporate natural eating into your own life style (are you vegan, vegetarian, raw?) 
HS - I eat mad raw food. Today I’ve eaten 1) a raw green smoothie that had broccoli, spinach, pea shoots, bananas, and raw cacao. All organic except for the bananas. 2) An egg and cheese quesadilla with sun dried tomatoes, in sun dried tomato wrap 3) a plum 4) another green smoothie same as the one above 5) an avocado salad with baby lettuce and carrots and balsamic vinaigrette.

LTB - do you think that men help to impose the pressure for straight hair, weaves and relaxers, or do you think women impose this on themselves?  
HS- men and women go for that corny ass artificial ass look. I think natural is beautiful. If your hair is naturally straight, beautiful. If you're hair is naturally curly, tight super curly super thick, beautiful. Imagine how crazy it would look if all white women were walking around with artificial Afros. We need to work on this folks. We look ridiculous.

LTB -Naturally we also have to blame the music industry - what percentage of blame should we assign to media? 
HS - people need to blame themselves. Media and education and parents and etc. etc., but if we take responsibility for ourselves it overrules all that.

 LTB - You were recently on an episode of MTV Made coaching a teen into becoming a rapper- what lessons did YOU learn from the experience? Who are your role models? 
HS - my role models are my pop and moms and my sister and my niece Mia and my nephew Rico. I learned that people love good hip-hop so much more than audio garbage. This kid embraced the good stuff so quickly, and then it nourished him and he thrived.

Check out Homeboy Sandman at his next show - November 5th at one of the hottest venues in Brooklyn. Shows are typically packed, so pre-order tickets at Song Kick.

Not Always Easy – But Always Right

www.LocLifestore.com
  *** Taken from the LocLife Blog

I know it’s a little cryptic, but we’ll get there.

One of the biggest complaints about the natural journey that I’ve been hearing is that being natural is hard to maintain. I’ve heard that with a perm, or a weave, you can set it and forget it – and all you have to do it touch it up every now and then and you’re as fresh as ever. However, with the “natural style” you have to keep maintaining it and maintaining it.

So I remembered this statement I had heard about telling the truth at all costs. It went, “It’s not always easy – but it’s always right.”

So here we are – talking about what’s easy and what’s right.

Why does a “manufactured” hair style seem to be easier to maintain? Well to be blunt, it’s because of the processing (mostly chemical) that’s done to it. Essentially, the chemicals that people of color introduce into our hair are mostly intended to make it manageable, or easier to handle, or hold a style better – or a million other cliches. What it comes down to, it that the intention is to remove the nap from our hair so that it can fall, blow in the wind or be styled in a way that more closely mirrors Euro-centric hair. Why? That’s a whole other discussion which I’m sure you can chase down anywhere on the web.

Bottom line is this: If you apply enough chemicals to change the texture of your hair, you end up making it do what you want it do do rather than what it wants to do!! Sure it’s “manageable” – just like a child would be if you broke his or her spirit!! Manageable – but lifeless. So after rendering it “manageable but lifeless” you now have to add more chemicals to make it appear shiny, lively and “healthy”. The reason why most folks claim that this is easier to maintain is that after beating the hair into submission, you only have to “touch up” the new growth – and make sure that it doesn’t betray you by showing what your natural hair texture really is. But your hair is a living, breathing organism. And it should be treated as such. Embalming away it’s natural texture, nap and heft are inexcusable – no matter what the arguments made.

Naturally styled hair “appears” to be harder to maintain because you have to take more consistent care of it. This is because it’s not soaked in chemicals or baked in intense heat and rendered almost embalmed…. It’s natural!!! And its natural state requires that it be treated more gently.
Think of your average grocery store with rows and rows of cheerful looking, symmetrical genetically modified fruit – that will keep looking that way for months on end. Then at the end of the shelf there’s a display of organic fruit which don’t all look like soldiers, but taste a whole lot better. There’s a reason why they’re more expensive and probably won’t last as long on the shelf. Simply put – they’re natural…

Making sure your crowning glory stays natural, well hydrated, well groomed and otherwise well cared for isn’t always easy – but it’s ALWAYS right.

For Free Consultations for Natural hair, and access to our line of Natural handmade (made with organic ingredients, and vegetable based glycerin) please visit www.loclifestore.com and at the Transcendence Hair Show.

Incredibly Inspiring...

William Kamkwamba: How I harnessed the wind 
At age 14, in poverty and famine, a Malawian boy built a windmill to power his family's home. Now at 22, William Kamkwamba, shares in his own words the moving tale of invention that changed his life.

The Answer to the Problem that we call 'Bottled Water'...

My newest obsession.

Bottled water seemed like a good idea at the time- and the idea caught on quite quickly. Now we spend Billions of dollars a year on a product that is not nearly as regulated as the same product that we get for free. From the price, lack of regulation, and the amount of petroleum it takes to make the bottles - bottled water doesn't seem to make sense.

Why Bottled Water is Bullshit.

Pen and Teller explore a number of topics in their show "Bullshit" - but this one was particularly interesting.

In Search of Her Name: Anita Woodly Journeys to Africa

Check Anita Woodley in an Interview about her life Changing Trip to Africa to Find her Ancestry.

Dr. Georges Bwelle works in Cameroon, West Africa. He has a day job, but on the weekend he heads into the bush with a rented van and medical supplies to do surgeries for people in remote villages.

The Story producer Anita “Bekang” Woodley was in Cameroon this past  summer, with a tape recorder, looking for her own ancestral village when she happened upon the doctor by chance. Today, we’ll hear Anita’s story of returning to her village, and Dr. Georges' story of bringing health care to rural Africans...

** excerpt from  thestory.org click the title to see the interview with Anita, and hear more of the story.

Naturally she'd LOVE it!

We've all tried to make changes... and it typically blows up in our faces because we try to change the actions before we actually change our minds.

After spending 3 hours in the chair making a transformation from relaxed to natural, a woman refused to look at herself in the mirror. Steam, de-tox, deep condition, double strand twist out, and flat twist later- she swears that she hates her hair. It shouldn't have been a surprise, because she hated it in the consultation, she hated it in the wash chair, hated it in the steamer, and hated it in the ionic dryer. Preachy is so annoying - so communicating the danger of relaxer to your BODY (not just your HAIR) took a lot of finesse. The crazy thing was that she has ALREADY decided to make the switch for the health of her hair, but was still dealing with all of the self esteem junk that goes along with the switch. This occurs so often that some natural hair stylists prefer not to take transitioning clients. The reality was that hating her hair - had nothing to do with her hair at all...

And did she like it when she finally looked? She laughed when we commented on her radiance, and said she had no idea what we were seeing - she un-did it with her fingers (all four stylists watched in horror), No one said change would be easy.

Selfless Plug: LocLife BK will now have a customized line that will not be available anywhere else. BOOYAH.

Here's some propaganda reading to support my point...

We've got LOCs to talk about!

Thought a blog about all natural things and nothing terrible would be pretty cool. Natural life tips for Natural eating- Natural hair and Natural Living from someone who's never really done any of it before.

You know when you first walk into the gym and everyone ELSE is buff, healthy and beautiful? This blog will inevidably be dripping with that feeling ~ change ain't easy. To diffuse some of the awkward I figured I'd lace it with Interviews of Musicians and Artist, vendors, and entrepeneurs whose natural lifestyle is reflected in their artistic expression and business. That and there's some pretty cool shit out there.

Now I have to go see which of my coworkers is willing to lend me money on my last day...