The Beauty of a WOMAN

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.

written by Sam Levison
for his Granddaughter.....

Maintaining Your Hair While Working Out

EW would certainly like to commend those women who have decided to put their health before their hair! According to The New York Times, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina M. Benjamin attended the Bronner Bros. International Hair Show with a message for black women in particular to drop the "I just got my hair done" excuses when it comes to exercise. She wants women to have the ability to look good while also leading healthier and more active lives. “We want to encourage people, and also give women the ability to look good and feel good and to be empowered about their own health.”

The Essence Beauty Experts advise whether you have relaxed or flat-ironed hair, the best thing to do is smooth the hair into a ponytail.  This keeps hair off the neck and away from the moisture caused by sweat.  They suggest tying your hair back with a satin scarf or investing in a Save Your Do Gymwrap, which is desgned to absorb the moisture keeping your hair pressed down during workouts.  They also suggest keeping your hair in the ponytail and tied down until your hair is completely dry; this to minimize swelling and frizz during your workout. 

For those sisters rocking the natural do's, the two-strand twists and puffs are workout friendly.  To avoid dry, crunchy hair after your workout, mix a little bit of water and leave-in conditioner into a travel-sized spray bottle and keep it in your gym bag to refresh curls post-workout. We love Beautiful Textures Tangle Taming Leave-In Conditioner.

Single By Choice....

 Columnist, G. Ann Wilkerson writes about the lessons she learned about herself and life after making the choice to be    "purposefully single" for a time.

Unfortunately, many of us are out there dating aimlessly - clueless as to what we want and, even more unfortunate, who we are. Awhile back, I took some time out to soul search and reflect, deciding not to date until I figured some things out. And although I cannot claim to know everything (I still make mistakes but, who doesn't?), being "purposefully single" taught me not only how to better conduct myself in love, but how to better conduct myself in life. The following are just a few lessons I learned.
10 Lessons