Polished Hair Care's Client of the Week

Hair by Polished Hair Care

Check out Polished Hair Care's client of the week. For your appointment call Nicole Pembrook at Polished Hair Care - Paris, Champs Elysees.

Up Close: Felicia Leatherwood of Loving Your Hair with Natural Care

Felicia Leatherwood

As you know, Felicia Leatherwood is coming to Paris! Owner of Loving Your Hair with Natural Care in Los Angeles, this natural hair specialist will no doubt make a huge impression here on April 1st. In fact, the event is already sold out! Ms. Leatherwood recently took time out of her busy schedule to speak to me. I can't wait for this event! 

BHIP: Is this your first time doing your workshop in Paris? In Europe?


FL: This will be my first time presenting a workshop in Paris, but I hosted a successful one last year in the UK.


BHIP: I read that you're touring Europe a bit. Do you expect the Paris workshop to be different than the one in London or Amsterdam? 

FL: I get excited about all of the workshops I do and no two are the same. I look forward to the Paris Workshop and the response has been amazing!


BHIP: As an American expert I am sure you will be well received here in Paris. Do you feel that European women will have different hair needs or questions for you than African-American women? Or do you think that naturalistas will pretty much have the same issues anywhere?

FL: I think that women all over the world have some of the same hair care needs and concerns, the only difference is, what products are available. A lot of work goes into making sure you can get the products that you need to keep a good kinky curl of hair!


BHIP: What do you hope participants will get out of your workshop?


FL: Inspiration, Empowerment and good hair advice!

Rama Yade

Rama Yade

Mame Ramatoulaye Yade (born 1976) is a local politician who served in the government from 2007 to 2010. With the upcoming presidential election she's back in the news again...Hmmm... A suivre! 


Still looking good as Rama!

Permanent Blow Outs at Polished Hair Care

Polished Hair Care

Polished Hair Care Salon, owned by fellow American Nicole Pembrook, is an upscale hair salon located on the famous Champs Elysees. Now this salon is offering its clients the permanent blow dry (also known as the Keratin straightening treatment, The 12 week blow dry, and The Brazilian Blow Dry)!

According to professionals, the permanent blow dry is the only anti frizz hair straightener designed to be used on bleached, highlighted, colored, relaxed, dry & natural hair. It straightens and conditions leaving the hair soft and easy to manage. It also returns the hair to its original healthy, shiny, smooth condition. You can see the results immediately after the treatment is completed and it lasts up to four months as the treatment fades progressively.

I haven't tried this blow dry because I've recently gone "natural", but I did talk to four different women (including the one pictured above) and they all swear by it.

From now until a limited time only, the salon is offering the permanent blow dry for an introductory price of 250€ (first visit only).

For more information, visit their Facebook page, or call and make an appointment at the salon today!

Address

Polished Hair Care Salon
76-78 Avenue Champs Elysee
75008 Paris
Tel: 01 43 59 31 48
International: +33 1 43 59 31 48
Fax: 01 43 59 33 89

Up Close: Clarisse Libene of Bellebene

Clairisse Libene of Bellebene

This week Clarisse Libene of bellebene was gracious enough to answer a few questions regarding the upcoming Natural Hair Academy she's sponsoring. Featuring Felicia Leatherwood of Loving Your Hair With Natural Care, Jane Carter and other notable hair experts, this rare event is taking place in Paris on April 1. As a new naturalista, I cannot tell you how excited I am about attending this workshop. Here's what she told me.

BHIP: When and why did you decide to do the Natural Academy workshop with Felicia Leatherwood?

CL: When I saw the videos of Felicia's Natural Hair workshop, I knew we would have to work together. I created the concept of Afro Hair Academy in Paris since 2010 and it is pretty much the same. Coaching, giving tips and advices and teaching women of color to embrace the beauty of their natural hair texture. I am a real fan of Felicia as a hair artist and as a person and wanted my French girls to meet her.

BHIP: Is this the first time Felicia has done this event with you in Paris?

CL:Yes it is our first time together!

BHIP: Who do you expect to attend - women who are transitioning? Full naturalistas? Hair stylists? Beauticians?

CL: Mostly women who are transitioning, relaxed women and full naturalistas. Most of the people who already took their tickets and called us told us the same thing wether they are natural or not: they cannot find the right routine to take care of their hair. We will be here to help!

BHIP: What do you hope participants will walk away with?

CL: Tips and advice of course but mostly confidence in the beauty of their hair. This is my major goal and I hope Felicia and I will be able to do that.

BHIP: Will you do more workshops like this in the future? If so, when is the next one?

CL: Well, with the opening of our flagship store in Paris, we had to postpone the next academies in our agenda. We pretty much expect to have another event in the summer.

BHIP: I have to ask you about bellebene.com. I've just discovered the site and I love it! Why did you launch it? Has it been successful? I would think so. There is indeed a need!

CL: Hey, thank you. I created the blog nearly four years ago when I decided to go natural. At the time, all the resource about natural hair was on American blogs and youtube channels, we did not have anything for us in France. So I decided to test products I could not find here, and give advice. Hair is really a passion for me. and then, the creation of an online store came a bit as something logical. We were the first to carry Miss Jessies or Jane carter in France. The website is meeting a larger audience each year and we are really happy about that. I means that what we do is helpful.



The Natural Hair Academy Details:

Date: Sunday April 1, 2012
Time: 12 noon until 4:30 pm.
Workshop: 12-2pm
Cocktail and products, photos questions/answer session: 2pm-4:30pm
Place: Peniche Alize, port de la Rapee 75012 Paris - Metro Gare de Lyon

Contact: contact@ak-a.fr This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
More information: www.facebook.com/Natural.Hair.Academy.Paris
and on www.bellebene.com/html/naturalhairacademy

Buy your ticket here:http://parisnaturalhairacademy.eventbrite.com/

Parisian Beauty: Abie Hardy

Abie Hardy, President & Founder of Zuhint Cosmetics. Photo by Zuhint Cosmetics.

Kim Kardash Hair

Kim Kardashian

As I was walking home yesterday I did something I rarely do in Paris: I struck up a conversation with a complete stranger.

I'd seen said stranger many times before in my neighborhood and noticed her beautiful hair swinging behind her. She was always impeccably dressed in heels galore and nice bags. I'd always told myself one day I'm going to ask her who does her hair. And then after one day I'll have to interview her for my new blog when I launch it.

Of course said day has arrived.

So there I was walking down the street talking to my best friend on the cell when I saw her again. I shared the news with my friend who ordered me to TALK TO HER. "It's for the blog. Women need to know."

"OK OK", I said before catching up to the girl and saying

"Excusez-moi" (excuse me.)

I was immediately surprised because she was a lot... different than I had imagined. From behind she was a long haired diva killing it with black fitted slacks and a Burberry raincoat, with a bright yellow Bridget Bardot (Lancel) bag. Face to face she was a gum smacking teenager with Chris Brown belting out of her earplugs.I gave her my business card and told her I wanted to interview her for Black Hair in Paris. Before I could get the rest of my sentences out she interrupted me.

"Who have you met? Have you met Naomi Campbell?"

"No. Would you be interested..."

"Have you met Tyra Banks?"

"Um, no...."

"Beyonce?"

"Hey I'm not a Hollywood reporter, sorry."

"Who have you met then?"

"OK. Christine Kelly?" I offered, just to close the subject.

"Who's that?"

"You don't know who Christine Kelly is?"

"Pas du tout", (not at all) she said, losing interest.

Maybe she had misunderstood my accent. I tried again. "Christine Kelly? She is an award winning journalist, one of the first black women on French TV, with origins from Guadeloupe? She's written books on people like William Gallas the soccer star and Francois Fillon, the Premier Minister of France? Sarkozy’s right-hand mand?"

Dazed and confused...she was.

I finally got my point across regarding the blog only to find that my new friend didn't want to be interviewed or photographed just yet because she went to a Jean Louis David salon and gotten a Brazilian Blowout last week. Said blowout had managed to break off huge pieces of her very long hair.

"Why did you go to Jean Louis David" I asked. I mean, she was black. For me it didn't compute. JLD does not do black hair! I've been in their salons and they looked at me like I was an alien before not so politely telling me that they don't do "frizzy" hair! ( Now here I must point out that French hair schools do not teach students how to do black hair, but that's an article to come).

"Well, I thought it would be good. You know I’m from Martinique. It was 140 euros. And look what they did to me."

At that moment she started running her fingers all through her hair showing me the damaged bits. I must admit that before then, I thought she was wearing a weave at least in the back! I know, shame on me. Black girls can have really long hair, I know, I know, I know.

As if she'd read my mind she said "I'm from Martinique." 

I guess that explains everything? Or does it?

"OK that's nice." I said, as I looked around to see if anyone was watching two black women standing in the middle of the street talking about and looking at hair.

"But you know what?" she continued, "I'm going to change it. Do you know about the New York blowout?"

"No, ever heard of that."

"The Toyko blowout?"

Did she just say Tokyo? As in Japan? Why would that be any good for us? But “No, non plus" (no, neither") is all I said.

"Well I'm going to get a weave because I want Kim Kardash hair."

"Pardon?" (Excuse me?)

"Kim Kardash, you know, American celebrity?"

"Um, yeah, I'm American too. I think most people know her though"

"Are you American oh mon dieu! C’est cool. Yes I want hair down to my butt."

"But you have really long hair already."

“Anyway I want Kim Kardash hair."

I smiled and gave her my American friend/hair stylist's business card (silently wondering if I’d be killed for sending a Jessica Simpson-like client there) and told her to get there to have any further salon treatments. I also warned her to stay away from Jean Louis David!!!! 

“And don’t try anything called Tokyo blowout”!

 I walked off thinking, Next time I'm going to mind my own business!

(But don’t worry, I won’t.)