Channel 4 Hair Casting Alert!!

Hi guys I've recently been contacted by Maverick TV, the makers of Channel 4's hit show "Embarassing Bodies" who are now casting for people to take part in their second series of "The Last Chance Salon".

If you'd like to take part, just call or email Last Chance Salon, and mention this blog (United KinKdom) or me (Crystal Afro):

Email - lastchancesalon@mavericktv.co.uk
Tel - 0121 224 8429

"Did a trip to the hairdressers leave you with the hairstyle from hell?  Maybe it’s a DIY beauty fix which has left you unhappy and wishing you'd gone to the professionals?  Our world renowned cosmetic surgeon, award winning hairdresser and skin doctor to the stars are waiting to hear from you. This is one beauty appointment you can't afford to miss."

Mizani Breakfast with Shingai Shoniwa

Firstly, I'm still struggling to believe this actually happened!

I've officially met one of my hugest inspirations ever!!!

I know a lot of people were very pleased when Shingai Shoniwa, lead singer of the Noisettes was announced as the new face of Mizani hair products. I definitely felt they made the right choice. Not only is Shingai a successful artist, but she is also a massive natural hair icon for many women, especially me!
Last week I was invited to join Shingai for an intimate breakfast at the Mayfair Hotel, courtesy of Mizani, to discuss all things hair.

The Amarillo Suite was absolutely gorgeous, and although there was food, I was way too nervous to eat.

Promotional pictures of Shingai were hung around the suite and a "behind the scenes" video was played opposite a sofa, allowing us to see how Celebrity Stylist Charlotte Mensah, used the Mizani products to create the styles for the campaign billboards.

Shingai came out to join us, looking absolutely gorgeous. Her white lace gloves, pearl earrings, and tousled waves, loosely pinned away from her face, gave her a delicate air of 50 glamour and elegance.

Despite most of the room being hooked on how gorgeous she looked, Shingai had barely taken a seat before looking around, and graciously complimenting those of us there; she really was just as lovely in person, as I could've hoped.

Shingai spoke to us about how she'd come to be the new Ambassador for Mizani, having already been a frequent user of the products.

As I haven't yet tried any of the Mizani products I was interested to hear Shingai mention the True Texures Leave-In, as one of her favourites.

After the interview we all had a chance to take pictures and have a quick one-to-one chat, where Shingai told me that she knows of some of the natural hair blogs around, and is looking forward to being sent a list of some to check out.  Let's hope UNITED KinKdom is on that list!

Other familiar faces on the day...

Celebrity Stylist Charlotte Mensah

I finally met beautiful Bloggers Yinka and Natalie,
aka @VexInTheCity & @beautypulse_ldn

Krissy from Black Hair & Yemesi from OK Nigeria

 Natalie, myself & Louisa (aka @Afroblush)

Ooo! And of course a few bits from my Mizani goody bag. 

So looking forward to trying these. Have you tried any Mizani products yet?

Make-Up Glow & Glam by Kickin' It Wih The Kinks

You may remember that I took a trip to Manchester earlier this year >here<, well here's the finished result: 

Episode 1 of Make Up Glow & Glam

Make Up Glow & Glam is a web series of make-up tutorials, brought to you by Cynthia Butare of Kickin It With The Kinks. You already know how much I LOVE Cynthia's work and have done since the very first stages of Kickin' It With The Kinks, and that heated debate >here< . 

Her videos are always fantastic and so is her photography, but on the this occasion the pictures were taken by Gbenga Afolabi who has amazed me with these shots.

I'm actually amazed!

If you haven't seen her documentary Kickin It With The Kinks, there will be an £11 Screening of it at The Ritzy Cinema in Brixton, this month. You can check the flyer or the events page >here< for more info.

Check out the Kickin It With The Kinks Blog >here<

Putting Out My Smouldering Fire!

I played around with a few styles following the creation of "Smouldering Fire", including pinning it down for work... 

 ....re-twisting the front before going to bed, for a twist out the next day....

and a finally, wash and go.

My experiments with the loose section of my hair definitely lacked the precision and professional touch of Kimberly, but were still great. I loved all of them but after a week it was officially time to kiss good bye to the Crazy Twists.

They could easily have survived another week and bit, even, but I missed my my loose fro, and I figured the longer I left it, the more effort I'd have to put into detangling.

So now the Fro is officially back.

Hair Modelling for Design Essentials - Part 2: Creating a "Smouldering Fire"

If you saw the post prior to this >here<,  you'll know I recently had the opportunity to do some hair modelling for Design Essentials at their Chic To Chic Showcase. Most of the attendees were professional stylists and salon owners, interested in seeing how the products work.

I arrived at MJM Hair Studios in Marylebone the day before the event to have my hair prepped. It was great to see Tola & Folu of My Long Hair Journey Blog, who were also being hair models. As conversations developed, we quickly came onto the hot topic of Stylists vs Bloggers. 

The debate was VERY interesting and I plan to address it in a separate blog post soon. I hadn't really thought about the effect Blogs and social networks were having on Salons, but it seems that we're definitely having an impact, and not everyone is happy about it. 

After my hair was shampooed, one of the Assisting Stylists placed some colour on my hair, as instructed by Kimberly. I've never coloured my natural hair, but it was nothing drastic and can't really be seen. Kimberly just wanted it done to enhance my natural colour.

Kimberly eventually styled my hair by doing what she called "Crazy Twists". She parted my hair so that the twists travelled diagonally from the back of hair, towards the front left side, where she then did one continuous flat twist in a "S"shape.

From what I could gather, the Crazy Twist are created using one strand of hair which is then rolled continuous, while adding hair as you move along the parting; and at random intervals the hair is rolled similarly to that of a bantu knot, before continuing to roll along the parting again.
It's hard to explain but I hope to try some myself, soon. Kimberly used the Design Essentials Sleek Edge Control to roll and hold the twists.

The next day Kimberly took out the flat twist in the front, while I was on stage, so the audience could see how she used the products to created the final look. I absolutely loved it.

Overall I love the style (check out the other pics >here<) but I did have questions about some of the techniques Stylists (in general) use to get the finished result. 

I can understand the need for using hair dryers to set styles, and other things that are done due to time constraints, and there's no way that Stylists can run a business by pandering to everyone's personal hair care practices (for example I dont dry my hair with towels and I prefer to wash my hair in sections). However, I did spot some fine tooth combs in use on natural hair, and although I'm not a professional I don't think that can be a good thing. 

None the less, I really enjoyed the experience as I definitely learned a lot and came away with a fabulous hairstyle as well as a lot to think about.

(Make sure you also check out Parts 1 >here< of my hair model experience with Design Essentials)