Nai at Afro Hair and Beauty Live Show 2012.

Hey  bloggers and lurkers out there! Holidays are finally here, as you are aware  I have been missing for a while, but for the love of Bajan Lily who missed my eccentricities, I will try to make more time for my favourite pastime ...

So ... Saturday morn and FB updates Jane Carter Solutions, they broadcast a message that they would be set up at London's biggest afro hair and beauty show of the year.
The venue, The Business Design Centre Islington. Entry fee was £12 on the door. It was held over 2 days Sunday and  bank holiday monday.

It has been 20 odd years since I last attended that show, then I was relaxed (hair),19 (i think) and bored silly. Today however, Is a different story.

I ventured out at the crack of bank holiday dawn ( 9am on a deserted street and station) caught the 9.33 and arrive at Angel Station by 10.10am

On way to the venue, Miss C and Mum D found there was no queue, so decided to meet me at the station.
Unfortunately,  back to the BDC there was indeed a queue forming and tickets were not being sold until 10.30am. I don't do queues and feel that early birds should be rewarded for their efforts ... Hmm!

After a 20 minute wait, we were finally allowed in. The paying line a LOT shorter than those that had pre booked ... hmm! Noted!

On entry we were bombarded with goody bags and freebies, mainly information leaflets and product samples. I was happy with this as I aimed to fill said 'empty' bags with many things ha!

My agenda for the day was simple, to solely, purely, single tracked mindedly,  umm no that's not a word, aim like an arrow for Jane Carters' stall. I advised my lovely compadres of my agenda and they were accommodating ...

The atmosphere was relaxed (and no not all of it was the hair either lol!)

Loads of lovely naturals ALL over the place! It was so good to see, there was a lovely, positive, friendly vibe, I admit I was very pleasantly surprised.

Happily the BDC space is not huge and one was able to circulate rather quickly. There were many familiar stalls and one or two surprises. Miss Jessie's launched their product range for sale in the UK.

MISS JESSIE'S 

JML Jamaica Mango and Lime.

On my way I was happy to see my old fave JML or Jamaica mango and lime. I stopped and had a great chat for a while with Michael, representative and proprietor of JML. plus I got a free Tee too! Michael briefed me on the company and the founder who was unavailable for interview at that time. We discussed the products and I obviously thanked him for Cactus Leave in which was my fave as a newbie, I cheekily requested a version that maybe didn't use mineral oil, and could possibly be (more) water based, with maybe glycerine instead? We shall see! Hey, if you don ask, you don't get ... ;)

Determined to keep on track I moved on, JC was not at the previously publicised spot so had to go on the hunt, 10.40am ... and finally I found them ... :(

I was soo disappointed, having read, studied, searched and researched all that was Jane Carter Solutions, my one chance to purchase products I know are the correct chemical composition for my hair type and my hopes were dashed! 

I reluctantly wandered off, but I didn't stop hoping for an appearance.

NATURES PARLOUR.

 

While consoling myself I found a British couple from Leeds doing great things with a product range of their own ... Natures Parlour. I spoke to Xina about lock maintenance (she has traditionals) Y'all know my babies are 3 years long now and needed to compare notes with a well seasoned locked sister, whose locks btw were fabulous!

AND THEN ...  suddenly, they appeared ....

JANE CARTER SOLUTIONS

... were in the house! Finally, and let me tell you, she was worth the wait. Poor Ms Carter was pounced on and gushed over by some strange woman before she had a chance to uncover the products, umm yes, that was me ...

But it was worth it! A lovely lady with a great product line, that quite a lot of us have been waiting for, for a long time.

Jane Carter Solutions is finally here and is now imported and sold by gidore.com uk website,
http://www.gidore.com/search.aspx?searchterms=jane+carter

from what I understand. I had a very insightful conversation and personally understand why we were not yet able to purchase JCS in the UK, and I completely, utterly, and totally agree! snm!

Ms Carter knew my lock type, and made recommendations. I loved that! Meeting someone who was not just familiar with Sisterlocks but able to appropriately prescribe to my lock needs. 

Obviously I left the show arms full to the brim with, mainly JCS goodies, most other products at the show were literally sold at US prices or very close. I left JCS with 6 products and Ms J gave me a complementary item. The price was not what we would pay for the import version. very reasonable.

On my earlier excusions I came across 

CURLS.

I tested this product line, and searched the ingredients list, glycerine based. My babies LOVE them some glycerin but the consistency has to be right. a correct balance between glyc and water.

I bought 3 of their items and they smelled really good! ALL products purchased were clear water based and naturally natural. That was my aim for the day, and that ws my day in a nutshell. I stayed for the barber of the year competition, and the fashion show, but I it was time to go. It was a good day, a very good day. I was surprised, I didnt expect it to be so naturally focused. I hear  the last few years had not been so.

I came across TALIAH WAAJID too.

A word to the Black Hair and Beauty world and organisations out there. 

Natural hair is growing, and it is hair to stay, no mispelling. 

Natural is hair to stay, yes a play on words. But on a real deal, since I became natural, 

I suffered no burns, no scars, I lost no hair, I have no signs of traction alopecia. 

Natural hair may require more of my time and effort, more care and research, but it remains and grows and in time I will get better 'at it'. 

However my natural black hair is me, and I will no longer reject it, hide it, hurt it, treat it as an  inferior type in comparison to any other.

I am independantly responsible for learning and loving what is growing freely from me. 

God makes no mistakes and for my coily locks, I thank Him.

Nai ... Loving everything natural about me <3