The Kinky New Yorker: 2012

Dec 10, 2012

Style Profile..."Holiday Sparkle"

Stand out and shine!! Clothing and accessories inspired by the season.

Style Profile..."Holiday Sparkle" by kinkycurlynyc featuring bracelets jewelry

Nov 25, 2012

It's Only Natural..."Tips For Curly Hair And Winter Weather"

With the changing of the seasons, new issues always arise with curly/kinky hair. In the spring/summer its frizz...while in the fall/winter it's the concern of dry, brittle hair. Wind, snow and cold air are the enemies of the season and the harsh conditions that come with the winter time can wreck damage on our already fragile hair. Here are a few tips that I live by during the colder months:

photo: beautyxoxo.com

Condition, Condition and Condition: Conditioning is a step that is done all year round when caring for curly hair, but in the winter is especially crucial to keep curly/kinky hair healthy and moisturized. Your hair will hold onto the moisture that it needs to combat the dryness that can occur and frizzing as well.
Shampoo Less Often: Due to colder weather, your scalp tends to produce less sebum, which can cause for drier hair. Curls will need to hold onto whatever natural oils that it already has. Shampoo is known for cleansing and stripping strands of oil. To keep dryness at bay, opt for sulfate-free shampoos and shampoo hair less often than you would during the warmer months.
Moisturize Hair: Moisturizing your hair as much as possible is important to give it the moisture that is lost on daily basis.
Use Creamier Styling Aides: Gels are not really a plus in the winter, the ingredients can cause for a drying hair experience that can end in unwanted breakage. Instead of gel and gel-like products, reach for puddings, butters and creams. They hold the right amount of rich moisture that curly/kinky hair is craving in the winter. The fact that these products tend to be heavier, it's important to play around with the amount of that your hair will require to stay moisturized without being weighed down.
Protective Styling: Something that I live by all year long, but during the winter months this method of hairstyling allows for the ends of your hair to be hidden away from the harsher, drying elements. This will allow for your hair to retain moisture and help to hold on to length that can otherwise be damaged by the season. Buns, updos, braids, twists, and weaves are all great alternatives to wearing your hair out and free. And with the ever growing abundance of styling options...the possibilities are endless!

Nov 18, 2012

Style Profile..."H&M...Into The Black"

I just fell in love with this Ad Campaign for H&M...I am obsessed with all things leather and a little bit of grunge (maybe it's the mid 90's pre-teen/teenager in me) and the look of hard mixed with soft pieces. There's a warmth that just draws me in....not to mention the black&white photography and grayscale is amazing!!

Nov 6, 2012

The Resilient New York City...

After witnessing the devastation of Hurricane Sandy...I thought about how strong of a state New York is. We have endured a lot of horrible things and still...no matter what...are able to bounce back...one step at a time. Many people in New York are still struggling in the aftermath, but I have faith and it stems from a feeling of love and strength that I have for my city. The entire tri-state area and East Coast has been torn down by this storm...but I know that they will slowly piece themselves back together.
Once the trains were up and running...I took my Nikon to the city and to the center of it all...Times Square...to snap a few pics and admire the energy and the people with hope for the usual busy streets. And it was then that I was reminded...that even in darkness and in times of sadness...there is always life, light and people...in the city that never sleeps.

all photos: property of thekinkynewyorker

P.S. Today is November 6, 2012, Election Day,....Please go out and exercise the importance of your right to vote!!

Nov 1, 2012

Well Looky Here..."Falling for Fall"

A peek at some of my favorite looks on Lookbook:

Using a fleece vest as a layering piece and the hint of color in the oxblood booties adds the right amount of pop and warmth

Black on black on grey...

My obsession with leather is being filled with this outfit...

Blue, purple and dash of pink adds fun to the simple sophistication

Bright yellow, red, leopard print and hot pink...surprisingly refreshing for fall!!

A camel colored wool coat and floppy hat gives off a laid back sophisticated feel

Cable-knit sweaters and leggings are a personal fav and I have a soft spot for those boots... (I want a pair!!)

Love the military and leather sleeve jackets for fall

A camel mid-thigh skirt and lady like bag adds a girly vibe to a plaid shirt.

Tweed and leather...

Grey and periwinkle blue...muted tones give the effect of a cold and rainy day

Neon green...a little pep for the all over black look. (I secretly wish for a Celine bag as well...a girl can dream, lol)

Love the layering of sweaters over a delicate dress. The booties add a casual vibe to it as well

Mustard is a beautiful warm color for fall to add some life to the usual black and grey. And the bag and jacket... =)
(all photos: lookbook.nu)

Oct 31, 2012

My Hair Stories..."Straightened Out And Closed In"

My cousin insisted on having her bridesmaids wear their hair in a sleek low bun, with the styling of the swoop up to interpretation. In total, there were 8 of us maids in waiting: 7 bridesmaids and 1 maid of honor, with the dilemma that 4 of us had natural hair. Now I have not had my hair straightened in almost 3 years and while I loved the change...the memory of the heat damage still haunts me to this day (it was like my own personal horror story, fitting for halloween...).
To offset this, I originally opted for a straight weave, which I never had before, with the front of my own hair blown out and lightly straightened, using the MaxiGlide.

Looking a little bit unfamiliar

For the wedding, Nellie put my hair in a low curled bun and created a side sweep of curls that mimicked the form of a flower. I loved the finished look:

Wedding Glam

My cousin Shay and I

After the wedding, the weather went from pleasant to muggy and the hair that I had straightened, became a big ball of puff...and seeing how much I hate re-straightening my hair in fear of heat damage and how much spent to have my hair done in the first place, I refused to not get my money's worth out of this weave, lol. So I kindly made my way back to Nellie's to have the weave closed to protect the rest of my hair. It's an adjustment seeing as though I'm not used to having my hair straight, but it's a welcomed change none the less and another beautiful hairstyle by Nellie!:

The Life And Times..."Happy Halloween!"

Despite all that is happening around us...Halloween happens to be a personal fave. I love nothing better than to dress up for a day and become something other than the norm. We racked our brains of who we would become and tried to stay away from the usual peek-a-boo outfits that have served us sooo well in the past.
At the last minute, my friend Franny and I decided to pay homage to an oldie but a goodie, of the cartoon cult variety that is...and I think we did a pretty bang up job...if I do say so myself. We headed to a couple of house parties on Saturday in the spirit of Halloween. Can you guess who we were?

We look unimpressed and bored on purpose

Answer and more pics of the night after the jump

The Life And Times..."Wedding Time!!"

October 14, 2012 was the wedding day of my cousin, Taleshia to her fiancé, John. And while she drove a good portion of the family crazy with her bridezilla rants and antics, it was worth it in the end. Even with the lack of sleep the bridesmaids had to endure, myself included, we did our duties and made sure things went off without incident (they should really give out medals to bridesmaids...lol!). The evening was a beautiful event and she was a beautiful bride! It was wonderful to participate in such a momentous event in my family and to be able to see love at its best and purest. Here are some pictures of the night: