Blaq Vixen Beauty

Before I mention anything else, let me just say that you have to visit the Avlon Facebook page and become a fan so you don't miss out! They have been giving away FREE, FULL SIZE products away since August! So far, Facebook fans have won free sets of KeraCare Natural Textures, KeraCare Overnight Moisturizing Treatment (like I did) and KeraCare Finishing Spray. They haven't announced the free product for November but when they do, please make sure you're one of the first 25 respondents. Follow them on Twitter too: @Avlon. Just received the new KeraCare Overnight Moisturizing Treatment on my doorstep about 30 minutes ago!

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I'm sure many of you are welcoming autumn with a new hair color and cut - I'm still not done experimenting with new hues this season - so I thought it would be appropriate to post how to get your best sideswept shag with tips that celebrity hairstylist shared with Glamour magazine back in July 2009:

Start with the right cut. This remix (as Taraji P. Henson models here at the 81st Annual Academy Awards last year and in the Tyler Perry film I Can Do Bad All By Myself) of the classic bob is all about layers. Ask for longer ones on the sides and angled fringe. "Asymmetrical bangs add sex appeal," says stylist Dante Blandshaw, who gave Taraji P. Henson her shag.

Piece out. Rub smoothing cream between palms and then onto damp hair, starting at the ends; it keeps them choppy in a good way.

Ditch your brush. After blow-drying, run a wide-tooth comb through hair (a brush will flatten it). "Or shake it out," Blandshaw says. A good cut should fall right into place.

Editor's Note: This post has been edited on 19 September 2011.

I didn't post pictures of my new hairstyle because (1) I couldn't really capture the color and (2) I didn't want to do a full face of makeup in order to show it off. I told myself that this was the last time that I'll be cutting my hair in a while. I never realized how hard it could be to maintain a half weave when your own hair is considerably short at the top! Also, my hair is much lighter than you see in the picture - I guess I should've taken pictures outside.

Right after I took my half sew-in, I figured that I dyed my hair. I just happen to have a box of Dark and Lovely Permanent Haircolor in Sun Kissed Brown (377), which I found out was so similar to my own hair color. My hair usually turns brown in the summer anyway but not as brown as the shade on the box. That was until the sun hit it though. My mom remarked that my hair looked red in the back. In a couple of weeks, I'll be adding some auburn highlights.

Did you know that Bria Murphy is the new face of Dark & Lovely? Check out her ad above! Look out for new Dark & Lovely ads starring her in January 2011.

This past Friday, I got my hair cut again. However, this time, instead of a bob, I opted to go shorter. My inspiration was a picture of Ciara in Sophisticate's Black Hair Styles and Care Guide. It was back when she debuted her short pixie cut back in July of 2009.

Of course, it turned out to be a wig but I think it was cute look for her.  My hairstylist Esther thought that her cut would look just as cute on me. I was worried that the crown wouldn't be as full but Esther assured me that I had more than enough hair for the style.

Love, Sex and...Hair??

This past Friday, I saw "Why Did I Get Married Too?," the sequel to Tyler Perry's 2007 "Why Did I Get Married?" If you haven't seen it yet, I won't go into details about the movie but I am tempted to go see it again just because. In the meantime, I've contacted celebrity hairstylist Charles Gregory Ross, who was the head of the hair department for the movie. You have (hopefully) also seen his work in I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Madea Goes to Jail, Black Dynamite (shocker!), Meet the Browns, and The Family That Preys.

Why did you get married too...or not?