Lipstick presents MY BROWN CANVAS

MY BROWN CANVAS is a segment dedicated to WOMEN OF COLOR. MBC embraces and educates our beauty, through our skin and hair. It is our inspiration to ourselves! Whether it's our love for makeup or none, our natural tresses or flowing extensions. MBC educates on products and routines that is for all types and tones. Women that Empower Others would be contributors to My Brown Canvas. 

Thee Lipstick Canvas is a lifestyle blog, or in my mind a site that is dedicated to the powerful, empowering woman. As women we like to take pride in ourselves, the way we dress, how our hair is styled, and the education and ambitious goals that we stand behind. 

As a lover of makeup, and extension installs I want to embrace our skin and hair. I am now wearing my natural hair and it is still a learning process. There are so many makeup artists and hair vendors on social networking nowadays, and it is amazing to see their work but let's find out what routines and products, what tips and advice that we all can use when it's time to remove all of that and show our healthy skin and healthy hair. 

I hope that this section of my site can grow beyond what I can ever imagine because it will be very beneficial. It will be great to see makeup for women of color, products that are directed to brown girls, and individuals who set out to inspire others through their talents and careers. 

Please email me, and I will be contacting others to contribute to this segment on the site. Have any ideas? Do not hesitate to leave them in the comment area.

Lipstick & Love, XOXO 

Chasing Dreams: Paying the Cost for it.

Chasing our Dreams is a distinction of living and not living, our fantasy and our reality. Your dreams only become your reality when you take a step towards making it happen. But dreams can be confused with our true purpose. I believe that your true purpose is something you go to sleep thinking about, wake up too, and can't stop thinking about it. It is what you know so badly you were put on earth to do. It is not your get rich hustle or get known quick scheme. It is merely breathing life into what you love!

You have to pay the cost for your dreams. At times you will not make any money from it, when you first began you may be putting all of your money into your dreams. But showing your passion and perseverance while still working hard without any currency will eventually bring great rewards and benefits. You have to learn to start from something and build from there. It is like being an intern for yourself or for a company that brands what you want to do, and working your way from the bottom to the top.

Sometimes your dreams may require you to leave behind a current job that is stable which brings in your source of income to take care of yourself. Some people are not scared to leave their job and pursue their dreams full time. It may take moving to a state where your dream is known on the forefront and taking a low paying job for now; stable income vs minimum income. This will disrupt your financial stability but it will only disrupt it for a temporary time, just think there are bigger things ahead. Moving away can also mean getting a roommate, but just wait on it.... That penthouse that you have been eyeing is still in position to be yours.

I don't think that Chasing your Dreams only bring about negative effects and situations because in the end when you finally reach that level that you have been working so hard to get too it will leave you fulfilled and happy. Now I can't claim that once you get there it will be all gold and glitter because that would be like saying we never have any bad days. More Work, less Rest. But realizing the reward is far greater than the struggle. And always remember do not let others kill your vision because they don't have one of their own.

~Happy are those who dream and are ready to pay the price to make them come true ~ Leon J. Suenes

Photo Credit: Google Images

Let's Talk: Healthy Hair

When it comes to hair talk, what do you consider healthy hair? We as (African American) women have went from thinking the perm, relaxed hair was the best thing since sliced bread until the journey of natural hair began to take over. Is it true that either style chosen can be healthy depending on how you take care of your hair, or all the chemicals and ingredients in perms are really bad for us? Honestly I will be the first to say that I have failed to properly take care of my hair when I thought I was the bomb.com (LOL) and I am now on a journey of restoring it to it's natural and healthy state.

Let's talk about what are some of the mistakes that we as women can make when it comes to our tresses.

1. Not keeping our hair washed and cleansed of impurities, dirt and bacteria on a weekly basis.
2. Some think that wearing weaves and installs protects their real hair so they don't bother having a regimen for it underneath the caps and nets.
3. Failing to use a scarf or silk pillowcase when going to bed at night.
4. Poor diet and lack of water.
4. Not choosing and doing research on a hairstylist who actually cares about your real hair.

So, with that being said here are some tips that I think are beneficial for healthy hair.

1. Drinking plenty of H20 to keep your scalp hydrated and eating healthy.
2. Washing your hair once a week or every two weeks, and using a deep conditioning treatment.
3. Developing a hair regimen personalized for you.
4. Consultations with a hairstylist on what will be most beneficial for your hair.
5. Keeping your scalp and hair oiled and clean under your installs, plus making sure that they are not too tight where it causes traction to your edges and fine hairs.
6. Wrapping your hair up at night to keep it free from tangling.
7. Researching the products you use for your hair, and doing a spot test before using it over your entire head.

Disclaimer: I am not a hairstylist nor an avid lifestyle coach for healthy hair, these are just tips from my own personal life with my hair. *Covers eyes*

Do you have any great tips when it comes to hair care??

Lipstick & Love xoxo