Best Hair Gel

Why is it a simple product, like a good hair gel is so hard to find? Well that's why you have me, to be your human guinea pig and test what works and what does not.

I bring you the Phyto Strong Sculpting Hair Gel.  

I have fine, wavy hair that’s curly in some parts and tends to get frizzy along the sides. So I’ve been looking for a product that can even out the waves, holds well and leaves my hair shiny, minus the flakes.  As a hairstylist I am very picky with products and like you…it’s annoying to use products that make promises they can’t keep.

So during fashion week, I was given this gel to try and was very skeptical. But having liked other products from Phyto, I decided to give it a try.

I now use this gel religiously and I love it. After coming out of the shower I apply a quarter size of gel and comb it through.

If you have thicker hair, feel free to use more.

What I like about this gel is it will not make my hair rock hard, but the hold is great (no helmet hair). Then to change the look, I can easily brush my hair, breaking up the gel and have a softer look that still works with my haircut.  I like the ability to change my hairstyle at the end of the day before going out without having to wet my hair.

If you want it to last it last all day long (and into the night,) use the Spray De Coiffage to further lock it into place. Not to worry…you can still brush it for a softer look if you like. 

And to top to top it off, this gel is infused with a potent combination of revitalizing ginseng, vitamins B and C and a natural UV filter.

Loving it!!

Posted by Unknown at 10:55 AM - 0 comments

How To Survive A Plague

I first heard about this movie from a post on the wall of a Facebook friend. On his wall was a photo of a man named Rob Rafsky, one of the activists from ActUp (Aids Coalition To Unleash Power). There was Rob, chained to a gate covered in fake blood. This image together with what "my friend" wrote about the movie, really had my attention.

How To Survive A Plague is a documentary about the survivors and activists of ActUp, an organization that brought awareness around the AIDS epidemic in the 1980's.

What started as 41 known HIV cases in Greenwich Village, the disease quickly spread at a speed that was taking the lives of hundreds young men by the day. People who were exposed to the virus were beaten or turned away by hospital staff. (St Vincents being one of them…..)

With footage captured by activists, men and women came together to plead for help from the government to spend more resources on stopping the spread of this insidious disease...and in the process stop their loved ones from dying.

Meanwhile back in Trinidad and Tobago we first learned about AIDS in the late 1980's. The public had no idea what was happening and saw it as a gay disease. Some thought it would not affect them because of of their ethnicity. Some thought if they ate a bar of soap, it would cure them. At a clinic the nurses would say that people coming in were not afraid of the virus, it was not in their genes…

As three to four of our friends started dying every couple of months, we all became terrified. The people who were infected had no where to go. Families would disown them. They would be beaten and evicted, then die alone on the streets.

My coworker Phillip died on the streets. My neighbor hung himself in a tree because he did not know what to do. I remember the entire village came out to see it. Families turned their backs, or hid the bodies of their loved ones from their friends and partners. Not all though... some families stood by their loved ones and their partners. Some rallied together to raise money to pay for funerals for their brothers and sisters. But this was not before we lost so, so many friends.

To stop the widespread panic,  brave people like actor/playwright/proud Trinidadian, Godfrey Sealy

started becoming more educated by following what was happening in the U.S. Inspired by ActUp, more people began raising their voices asking for help from the government.

This brings me back to How To Survive A Plague. This movie is the most inspirational movie I have seen in years. It shows us a real sense of community and empowerment, how to take on a government that is neglecting its people and the right for survival.

Thank you to the many heros of ActUp, dead and alive, gay and straight for prolonging the lives of so many. From beginning to end one message was clear, "Act Up, Fight Back, Fight Aids!!"


As one activist said, "This fight was the greatest achievement by the gay community till this day…."

Posted by Unknown at 8:00 AM - 0 comments

RuPaul Drag Race All-Stars!!!

Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, kitties and poodles, get ready for the latest from our sister RuPaul, in another season of RuPaul's Drag Race. This year however, it's not just any old competition...it's the All Stars Drag Race!!!

On Rupaul Drag Race All-stars you will get great fashion that will make Lady Gaga look like she's going to church. Get makeup tips that will make Sephora look like it caters to toddlers. And talent that will make Britney Spears look like she's auditioning for the church choir in Ohio!!

Come to think of it, dowe really need to see tacky, entitled ladies in reality shows? Or the exploitation of children to make adults laugh!! If it's entertainment you want, get ready for a drag extravaganza that will keep you on your tippy toes!!

I don't know about you, but this is real TV to me, with contestants showing their uniqueness, nerve and raw talent and competiting for fierce prizes. And baby when I say talent I mean Boong-shalakah- talent, coming from the heavens of creativity to us with love (and some glitter).

So tune in to logo TV and watch the first episode Monday the 22nd of October at 9pm and see some real TV!

Oh and yes...I will be blogging about it too!!!

You better Work!!!!!

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The Making Of The Video- The Hidden War

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More From A Hidden War

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My Recent Work- Ladies This Is The Hair For Fall

LOOK INSPIRED BY ORLANDO PITA FOR CAROLINA HERRERA FALL 2012

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My Bridal video/Tips On Lovepost

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A Hidden War

I'm excited to share with you a video I worked on with a group of friends. I had so much fun doing the hair for this, I hope you like it...

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Hair By Antonio Gonzales

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T3 Singlepass Compact Flat Iron

Keeping you up to date as I discover new tools is very important to me. I am happy to introduce the latest and greatest...I bring you the T3 Singlepass Compact Flatiron.

Talk about a product that delivers in every way possible!! This flatiron provides more protection for your hair than most irons currently on the market as it boasts a digital gauge, giving you ultimate control. Plus it's easy to carry in your bag or clutch and comes with a compact case to store the iron when it's hot.

Wait that's not all. It's designed for worldwide usage so you can skip around the globe with straight, beautiful hair.

All in all, I can't help but love this iron. Try it and tell me what you think.

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A Sneak Peek Into Yesterday's Photo Shoot

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Workshop At Women-IN-Need

Hey everyone! I just had my first workshop at Women-In-Need, a shelter for single mothers and their children.

As I walked into the shelter I was greeted with smiles and questions. "Are you the beautician?" the gentleman at the front desk asked. I was then escorted to the meeting room and was happily greeted by the clients. We started to get to know each other on a first name basis and started talking about our perceptions of the beauty industry.  I made it clear that I was not there to do makeovers. I explained that my hope was to help each client recognize their individual beauty. We went into the difference between the "beauty" advertised by the media and magazines, versus the "beauty" that comes from within.

The clients were eager to hear my thoughts as well as share their own experiences and challenges with wanting to look like themselves as opposed to what the media says they should look like. I shared my views on how from my experience, we can sometimes stifle our personal self expression to fit in.

We also discussed hair care techniques, as well as having me come into the shelter to be their in-house hair stylist. The clients were very open to the idea, which really made me happy:)

Towards the end we all, especially their kids, enjoyed the cupcakes that were donated by my friends at Sara & Kates Cakery located at 1691 3rd Ave, on the Upper East Side.

Sara & Kates Cakery is under the umbrella of Lee & Maries Cakery Company, They were delicious!!

Then I handed out the gift bags filled with products all donated by friends and clients.

In each bag I also had a copy of "The Power Of Now" by Eckhart Tolle.

Big thanks to my friend, client and fabulous fashion stylist from Miami, Heather Hannon for donating the books!

All in all it was a successful evening filled with love, education and new friends! If you would like to help feel free to contact me and together we will help the  clients of Women-in-Need. I am so excited!


Thank you everyone for all your support!!!

Posted by Unknown at 7:47 AM - 0 comments

Suffering From Hair Loss?

I received a tweet from one of my African-American followers concerning hair loss. She was panicking because she's losing a lot more hair than normal and it was freaking her out. To get to the root of the problem, I asked her the following:

"Do you relax your hair?"  - "Two or four times a year."
"Do you color your hair?" - "No."
"Any extensions?" - "Never!" (...answering in a proud voice.)

Based on her responses, I quickly gave a few recommendations.

1.  First, stop relaxing for a year. This will allow you to give the scalp and hair a break. Women often think if they relax their hair just a few times a year, it's totally fine. What they don't realize is, relaxers contain very strong chemicals and its negative effects can be long lasting. It's not that relaxing your hair is a bad thing, but one must know what their hair and scalp can withstand.

2. Use only paraben-free and sulphate-free shampoos. Sometimes we suddenly develop allergies to those very popular ingredients. I suggested the Peter Lamas line of products, which contain certified organic ingredients, is 100 % vegan and is cruelty-free. It also has no sodium laurel or laureth sulphates.

3. Stay away from hair products that have heavy oils and grease...or anything that can clog the scalp, not allowing it to breathe. Keep in mind that hair grows from the scalp.

4. Then I saved the best for last. I suggested Viviscal. If you talk to most models that are constantly having their hair worked on, they will say Viviscal saved their it. 

Viviscal is a dietary supplement that promotes hair growth by reversing hair loss. Compared to other products that promise the same, this product contains no drugs, so it does not need approval from the FDA. It's great for the nail growth, glowing skin and is gluten-free.

According to the Viviscal website:

"Vivascal is not suitable children under 18, those with an allergy to fish, or women who may be pregnant or breast feeding".

So if you are experiencing similar problems with your hair hopefully this will help. For severe cases of hair loss, I recommend consulting a dermatologist for additional help.

Posted by Unknown at 7:26 AM - 0 comments