Every time we write about natural hair versus permed hair we get a huge response from all our clients and readers. We know this topic is near and dear to you. Treasured Locks is here to support Black women and provide information and products to help you be the best you can be whether you decide to rock it straight or natural. I love “I Am Not My Hair” by by India.Arie. My girls and I love to sing at the top of our lungs in the car. The second verse goes like this:

Good hair means curls and waves
Bad hair means you look like a slave
At the turn of the century
Its time for us to redefine who we be
You can shave it off
Like a South African beauty
Or get in on lock
Like Bob Marley
You can rock it straight
Like Oprah Winfrey
If its not what’s on your head
Its what’s underneath and say HEY….

Continue Reading >>

All of us Black women over 30 have a hair journey. Sometimes we feel we are alone in our struggles. You are not alone. I’m going to journal my story over the past 25 years. This is Part I.  It begins with me about 25 years ago.

The first time I put chemicals on my hair was Fall of 1982. I was starting college and I figured my hair would be easier to manage. After all, neither my Mom nor my pressing comb were coming to college with me. Besides I was trying to fit in at college not stand out with my 2 French braids. So I decided on the “jheri curl”. My Mom had always had trouble with perms that made her hair straight, so she suggested the curl. I loved “the curl”! I wore it on the dry side. So I did not leave my mark where ever I landed. I have very thick, hair. So I thought it looked really good on me. I never had a bit of trouble all the years I wore the curl. The only down side at the time was wearing the plastic cap at night.

Around 1987 after wearing the curl for several years I made the switch to wearing my hair straight. I had a perm applied. It was the beginning of about 20 years of ups and downs, or should I say long and short, with my hair. My hair would be great for a while, then a single spot in the back would start to break. That spot never seemed to be able to hand the chemicals, no matter which perm I tried. Still I continued to perm. I kept saying “What choice do I have?” What was I to do with all my thick, coarse, tightly coiled hair. I was so out of touch with my hair that I did not realize how much I was damaging it. How I longed for my jheri curl……….Part II coming soon!

Are you searching for the ideal skin care products for a special young lady? Look no further than j. blossom all natural products designed just for children! She will love the deliciously sweet scents and smooth, clean feel of these premium products. And the vibrant labels and their wholesome messages will delight her! Our girls were absolutely thrilled when they saw the j. blossom products. We know yours will be too.

The j. blossom line offers young ladies a family of lotions, lip balms, and bubble bath & shower gels. These delicious, fruit-scented creations are made with natural ingredients like coconut-based cleansers, organic jojoba oil and aloe vera. But, the very essence of these products is more than a simple list of ingredients.

For good measure, j. blossom also throws in a dash or two of laughter and love. The company’s ambition is to deliver a message to girls in a lovely effort to help them feel good on the inside as well as on the outside. The charming labels offer various positive messages on every bottle such as “Short or tall, thick or thin. I love the skin that I am in!” and “I love my beautiful brown skin, especially when it’s fresh and clean!”

Click here to learn more j. blossom and their enchanting products.

We often receive requests for coupons. The best way to be informed of sales and buying opportunities is to make sure you subscribe to our customer newsletter and/or our blog. You can sign up for our newsletter by visiting our site and clicking on the button near the bottom of each page. You can sign up for the blog right here!

Please understand that it is our intent to bring the best possible values to you every day with or without a coupon. Many stores have artificially high prices, which they “discount” to make you feel you are getting a deal. We want you to feel comfortable buying at any time knowing you are getting a great value. We offer volume pricing on many of our products and free ground shipping. We encourage you to take advantage of those opportunities, which can add up to significant savings. We also throw in gifts with many orders and often upgrade shipping from Ground to Priority or UPS Shipping with Tracking, at no extra charge.

We will occasionally have sales and offer special discounts to customers who read the blog or the newsletter. If you’re on those lists, you’ll be notified when we have coupons available.

Zents’ Body Oil Hydrating Elixir is a moisturizing blend of natural oils with many uses. Scented in seven of Zent’s most popular fragrances, there’s certain to be one that is just for you. Or, do what the stars do and custom blend your own by combining two or three favorites.

Zents features highly fragrant, but subtle perfumes that are perfect even for those with scent sensitivities. Using fragrance and essential oils, Zents has created wonderful scents that you can customize by mixing yourself or wear each alone.

Uses:

Spray on after bathing for all day hydration

• Use as a bath oil
• Use after a long day as a massage oil
• Spray on hair for a nice “hair perfume” and hydrating treatment. Makes your hair smell delicious!

Nubian Heritage’s Shea Butter infused with Shea Butter, Lemongrass and Tea Tree is a pure Shea Butter infused with spicy Lemongrass Oil, healing Aboriginal Tea Tree Oil and sweet Orange Oil to create an uplifting and refreshing skin treatment. The Shea Butter moisturizes the skin, while the antiseptic Tea Tree Oil cleanses the skin from impurities and the Orange Oil perks up the senses.

Nubian Heritage’s Raw Shea Butter Stick is a big old whomping stick of Shea Butter. At 3/4 of an ounce (several times the size of those wimpy lip moisturizers), this stick will last you a long time. Raw Shea Butter has been used for generations as a natural moisturizer, blemish controller and lip protectant.

Major ingredients:

• Shea Butter
• Olive Oil
• Vitamin E
• Herbal Extracts

We recently received an email from someone concerned about a huge faux pas made by someone representing Glamour Magazine. The email calls for a boycott against Glamour Magazine in reaction to some remarks made by a representative at a luncheon. If you get such an email, we encourage you to do your own investigation. We clicked on a link in the email to get “the rest of the story”. And while the incident does provide us for a great opportunity for discussion, even here at Treasured Locks, we differing opinions of what the proper reaction should be. What do you think?

Here is an excerpt from the email we received:

I am deeply offended by this editor’s statement as should all women of color (natural or relaxed). I didn’t realize that the way my hair grows out of my head naturally had political implications! I’ve been an avid reader of Glamour over the years, but I propose a permanent STRIKE ON PURCHASING GLAMOUR MAGAZINE. This attack on black women is no different than Imus’ recent “nappy headed hoes” statement and we have to show our financial power by hitting companies like Conde Nast where it hurts the most: their pockets.

If you agree with this strike on GLAMOUR MAGAZINE, please pass this email along to your network of family and friends. Also, if you know of any television show producers, I think it’s time for this issue to go from the web to television.

The offending remarks were made at a presentation to a group of women lawyers. The topic was the dos and don’ts of corporate fashion. Unfortunately, the person making the presentation didn’t understand the dos and don’ts of racial sensitivity.

First slide up: an African-American woman sporting an Afro. A real no-no, announced the Glamour editor to the 40 or so lawyers in the room. As for dreadlocks: How truly dreadful! The style maven said it was “shocking” that some people still think it “appropriate” to wear those hairstyles at the office. “No offense,” she sniffed, but those “political” hairstyles really have to go.

The thing that is shocking is how clueless this presenter was. But, we’ll get around to that later. You can read a more complete accounting of the tale here: Clearly Gottlieb Has A Bad Day
Continue Reading >>

Well, I am really feeling the love now!!! Thanks to all of you for your well wishes and amazing, inspirational stories. I have truly enjoyed reading all of the entries. I wanted to send out a thank you for now, but plan to journal my last year with you so those just starting out can get a look at what the first year was like for me as well as get input from some of you veteran naturals. I think it always helps to see where others like yourself have been as well as where they are now. I am not sure where my journey will take me, but it is great to know that I am not alone.

Peace to all of you!