About a month ago, an acquaintance rescued me from my fast swelling natural hair as we enjoyed a free outdoor concert with our fellow local naturals. She has dreads down to her arse and I have free flowing kinky curly shoulder length hair. So, how did she rescue me? She took off her Tomoka's hair twist and tied it around my hair. Now, you're probably wondering how a hair accessory that could hold dreads almost as tall as me could also secure about a three-quarters less hair. It's the ultra flexible copper wire! Not only does the flexibility make these a feasible option for almost any hair length and thickness, they won't damage natural hair. I do have to be careful with the tiny hooked ends of the wire to avoid snagging my hair, but this is a minor issue. So, far I've worn it as a headband and loved it. It's so lightweight and non-headache inducing unlike traditional headbands. The hair twists can be worn in almost any style imaginable, from headband to ponytail holder. Mimi Fleming, the owner and designer of Tomoka's Twists, has crafted such a nice variety of hair accessories that you'll find one for any and every occasion. 

Ms. Fleming is also a gracious business woman. After a couple of visits to the website and discovering her shop was still out of stock of the design I was most interested in, she took the time to find out exactly what I wanted and contacted me when it was available. Small business owners take note of excellent customer service. And I'm not mad at her for having such an in demand product. Even in a recession, I find her prices fairly reasonable. Considering the amount of ponytail holders I go through annually and that I could wear my "curly girl" hair twist EVERY.DAY, the $16 price tag was worth it. 

So, all my natural hair havin', dread lock wearin', curly 'fro pickin' beauties, click over to Tomoka's Twists and support a brown girl and handcrafting artisan. 

First of all, I was completely shocked that I won the Feminist Review's November giveaway. I was to leave a comment on which item I'd love to win from Etsy seller, Coco's Greenhouse. Well, everything is so wearable by this jewelry artisan. My usual aesthetic is earth tones, but this time I went for more color. The Bohemian Garden necklace, with its red beads and blue flower, is bold and makes a statement. I was unable to get the cute little denim dress I really want to wear with the necklace. So, I settled for a black button-down with, yes, a high collar. I know it's a slight fashion faux pas, but I couldn't wait any longer to wear this beautiful necklace and that was my best option from the closet. Nonetheless, I was pleased with how it looks against black. My mom asked me if it was really an antique and I think that said it all. It's new vintage which the designer, Kristy Malecki, does beautifully. The quality in the craftsmanship is flawless. All of her pieces are classic and very budget friendly. I'm now such a fan...as you should be too. Check out Coco's Greenhouse for your next must-have accessory.