Benefits of Deep Conditioning

If you are skipping deep treating your hair, you are likely not seeing the kind of results you hope for.  Deep treating the hair simply refers to the use of deep conditioners or oils that are used for a prolonged period on the hair.  Standard conditioners are not deep treatments.  They are formulated to lubricate not penetrate, although oils and other additives that have penetrating abilities can be added.  When looking for products to use as deep treatments, look for the words “deep,” “intensive” or “penetrating.” 

These products are formulated to travel deep into the hair shaft and attach themselves to weakened or compromised areas along the hair strand.  While nothing can regrow damaged areas, deep treatments can go a long way toward enhancing elasticity and stopping further protein loss.  While many such treatments’ instructions suggest that you leave them on for 3-5 minutes, most treatments are greatly enhanced by prolonged contact with the hair strand.  30 minutes to an hour or longer is advised.  When it comes to deep treating the hair, more is better.  More time and more contact are advisable.  Always make sure and section the hair so that each and every strand is getting saturated with the treatment. 

Leaving a treatment on overnight is a wonderful method to use, as is incorporating a heating cap or overhead dryer.  Heat in this instance is therapeutic, because it causes the hair shaft to relax and the cuticle to raise – ensuring maximum penetration of lubricants, moisture and nutrients to troubled areas.  Keep in mind that commercial treatments are not the only way to go.  Natural oils, honey, eggs and herbs such as henna and cassia make superb deep treatments.  Natural oils and additives should generally be used as a “pre-poo” or pre-shampoo treatments, as they need to be thoroughly cleansed from strands. 

Some wonderful oils to use as pre-poos are olive, castor oil and coconut oil.  Their molecular structure is clinically proven to easily penetrate the hair shaft and attach itself to compromised areas -  helping to stop protein loss.  Commercial products can be used as pre-poos as well – just make sure that you are using a conditioner for moisturization after shampooing them out.  Deep treatments should be used on a weekly
basis to gain maximum benefits.  With consistency, you’ll begin to see the results you’ve been longing for!

Source: Tress Buzz

Introducing The Hair City

Yay it’s official!!! If you’re one of those women or girls desirous of achieving healthy and longer hair(whether its’ relaxed or natural), it’s our pleasure to introduce ‘The Hair City‘ to you. Hair City offers you the platform to place orders for all your hair needs. Basically, we’re here to provide products you don’t get to see or buy regularly within our shores. For  women who’re currently on their hair journeys, we will be providing answers to some of the deep rooted fears you have had over the years about African hair. Our products are available and guaranteed to deliver results. Remember growing your hair to the desired length takes time, patience and effort.

If you’d like to see what we have currently in stock, click here

We deliver via EMS Speedpost and for residents within Lagos, it takes a single day for delivery while inter-state takes 2-3 working days. Alternatively, you can call us on 07026364892 for further questions and clarifications about your hair matters.

Today I’ll be addressing questions some readers have sent.

Q: Does hair only grow when you’re asleep? That’s pure myth playing out here. The answer is ‘No’. What your hair requires to grow is moisture and only moisture alone. Moisture happens when you deep condition, apply leave-in. Often times, I use green tea as a leave-in while using grape seed oil to lock in the moisture. Green tea is effective in stimulating your hair follicles and it promotes hair growth & shine while preventing split ends.

Q: Can castor oil be used for receding hairline in relaxed African hair? Yes it can.

Q: How to use Jamaican black castor oil on receding hairline? Dab a bit of castor oil on the affected area and massage your scalp three times weekly.

Q: How long does it take to see a difference using Jamaican black castor oil on receding hairline?
Within 3 months, you’ll see changes. Please be consistent and patient while using castor oil.
I’ve been using it & seen remarkable changes.

Q: Where can I purchase Jamaican black castor oil in Lagos? Send a mail to todaysnaira@hotmail.com to place your order.

Q: I’m in Ghana. Where can I purchase Mane N’ Tail products? Send a mail to todaysnaira@hotmail.com to place your order.

Q: Where can I purchase Elasta QP Olive & Mango moisturizing butter? Send a mail to todaysnaira@hotmail.com to place your order.

Hair Myths

Myth 1: Cutting hair makes it grow faster.

Hair is dead. Otherwise, it would hurt when you cut it. There is nothing you can do to your hair strands that will make it grow faster. Cutting the hair does however make it appear healthier since damaged ends are being removed. While getting a cut twice a year will improve the overall look of your hair, it does not make it grow faster. 

Myth 2: Black hair is stronger than other hair types.

The internal structure of black hair actually makes is more susceptible to breakage than any other hair type. If hair is chemically relaxed this adds to the possibility of breakage. Protein and moisture treatments should be used to rebuild the structure of relaxed hair and minimize breakage. Organic, virgin coconut oil is very effective at moisturizing and strengthening the hair. It actually penetrates the hair shaft to moisturize inside the hair, unlike most oils which only coat the hair. 

Myth 3: Brushing your hair makes it grow faster.

Brushing your hair excessively can actually lead to breakage, especially when hair is relaxed. 

Myth 4: Greasing your scalp is good for moisture.

If you have noticed that your hair is dry even though you are using a variety of moisture products on it, the reason is that grease, oils, and other moisturizing products that contain petrolatum, lanolin, and mineral oil do not moisturize your hair effectively. Instead of moisturizing, they actually seal moisture in or out of your hair. These types of products should only be used to seal the hair and add shine. Water based moisturizers (and virgin coconut oil) effectively penetrate and moisturize the hair.Some examples are:

• Triple Moisture Silk Touch Leave-in
• Organic Root Stimulator Carrot Oi
• Profectiv Mega Growth
• Elasta QP Mango Butter
• Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in

You can also try applying your oil moisturizer after rinsing the moisture treatment to combat dryness.
Use a light oil moisturizer following the application of these water based moisturizer to seal moisture in the shaft.

 

Myth 5: Prenatal Vitamins make hair grow longer.

Many women experience very good hair growth during their pregnancies and attribute this growth to hair vitamins. In fact, the hormone estrogen, which is present in large amounts during pregnancy, locks the hair into the growth phase. This allows hair to grow much longer than it normally would. However, once the baby is delivered, the hairs will start to enter the shedding phase. At this point, many women experience extreme shedding and hair loss. Eventually the hairs will get back into their normal growth pattern and the hair will return to normal. Use of birth control pills can also have this effect. Learn more about Prenatal Vitamins and Hair growth. Vitamins can help hair grow if they contain the right ingredients. A good hair vitamin should contain nutrients such as Biotin and Folic Acid that make your hair grow faster. Also, they should contain MSM which lengthens your natural anagen, or growth phase. This allows your hair to grow much longer. Learn how HairFinity Vitamins can help your hair grow longer. 

Myth 6: Relaxing your hair makes it grow faster.

Natural hair has a curly pattern, when the hair is stretched it may seem to appear longer, but in fact it is not. This is what happens when hair is relaxed as well. The hair is stretched out to its maximum, like stretching a rubberband. However, this leads to reduces elasticity, which is the hair’s natural ability to go back to its original shape without breaking. Hair that lacks elasticity is very susceptible to breakage. 

Myth 7: Black Hair grows slow.

Hair grows at an average rate of 1/2 inch per month. Black hair can sometimes grow a bit slower than this, but not much. Actually the natural curly pattern of black hair can make it seem to grow slower because it is not stretched. Also, use of relaxers and other products can cause breakage. If breakage is equal to growth, hair will seem as if it is not growing at all. 

Myth 8: Black Hair will not grow long.

If your properly care for your hair, it will grow long. See the 10 Steps to Grow Black Hair Stronger and Healthier 

Myth 9: Heat makes your hair grow faster.

Heat styling can actually damage your hair, especially if done too often. When you straighten your hair with heat, you are temporarily altering the protein bonds in your hair and weakening it. A good thermal protectant should be use when heat styling, try Silk Elements MegaSilk Heat Protection Spray (available at Sally’s). 

Myth 10: Going to the salon everyweek will make your hair grow long.

- Your hair will grow long if you properly care for it. This means using protein and moisuture treatments, using water based moisturizers correctly, limiting the use of heat, and treating your hair like a delicate flower. If your beautician is using the appropiate treatments each week, this is only part of the equation. You still must do your part for daily care. Keep in mind, however, that all beauticians are not created equal. Finding a good one is like finding a good doctor, or a good bra. 

In order to achieve the longest hair possible you need to do the following:

1. Stop Hair Breakage – by following the hair care techniques in Secrets for Faster Hair Growth, you can minimize your hair breakage and allow you hair to reach it maximum length.
2. Increase Anagen (Growth) Phase- Using Hair Vitamins with MSM will naturallly lengthen your anagen phase and allow your hair to grow much longer before entering the resting and shedding phases.
3. Address Any Other Problems that May Limit Growth- Using specific types of products as part of a hair care regimen can help reduce breakage and increase your hair length.

- Source: Hair Finity

Books, Books and more Books

My favorite pastime is reading books. Nothing too serious though, only historical, chic lit and contemporary romance. When I was living in Ibadan, you could always find me at Booksellers in Jericho, buying stacks of novels. I also made an habit of buying books during vacations overseas. I believe it improves your diction and it’s like taking a holiday as well when you can immerse yourself in a different world.

Overtime I lent friends and family these books and never got them back. It usually gets lost and that’s money down the drain. Anyway once I moved back to Lagos, it was a bit hard getting the kind of books I loved. So I resorted to searching for novels to download online via 4shared and other sites that allowed anyone to download free books. Fast forward 2 years later and these options are limited now due to copyright issues involved.

So I was happy when a friend introduced me (Lagos, brace yourself for this) to Nigeria‘s foremost digital bookstores known as ‘BOOKATI‘ . The owners of this bookstore offer a wide range of contemporary and historical romance for lovers of this genre. The beauty of the service offered is the ease at which you can purchase a book as a digital download instead of the physical thing. So what did I order for? I placed an order for the following novels displayed below. I paid N500 ($3.13) for each book and my purchase was sent to my email box as a PDF file which I downloaded immediately and commenced reading. Were the books worth it? Oh definitely.

Would I recommend their services to a friend? Yes and yes I would. On their facebook page, old novels are sold at the rate of N500 ($3.13) while current release go for N1,000 ($6.25). For lovers of audio books, there’s a flat rate of N2,000 ($12.50) charged.

Readers can provide a review of their favorite books and authors. Well what are you waiting for. Visit BOOKATI today to renew your love for books. The innovative thing about this is they are not restricted to a location or place. So whether you’re in Ghana, South Africa, Angola, Kenya or any part of Africa, you can place your orders at once. I’m stacking up on my Christmas reading list already.

Merry Christmas peeps!!!

The Emerging Face of Ghanian Films

It’s no longer news that DSTV has upgraded the content and added new channels to cater for lovers of African cinema. What’s not news however is the quality of the films that are being curned out within the continent.

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity of watching the following films; Bursting Out (An Emem Isong Production) and A Sting of A Tale and Perfect Picture (A Shirley Frimpong Manso production).

I know most people are of the opinion that Gene is an outstanding actress but everytime i’ve watched her films, i’ve always gotten the impression that she’s emotionally detached from her roles. To me she always puts up a cold front and I’m yet to see the script or watch a film that will bring out the warmth in her cos she’s got a lots of fire but hasn’t got the right platform to showcase it. In ‘Ije’ I saw a little bit but I still want more from her. Maybe her role as ‘Ms Adebayo’ in Chimamanda’s ‘Half of A Yellow Sun’ will showcase her warmer depths.

For the movies, ‘Perfect Picture’ and ‘A Sting of A Tale’, they were outstanding films. The dialogue was witty and short and the actors also made perfect use of their body language and facial expressions to carry the audience along. So we didn’t have to really on comical relief that does not tie in with the film (which was what I saw on ‘Bursting Out’ which had a lot of corny dialogues and scenes the producer could have done without).  The scenery and sound production was of utmost quality and I felt I was watching a ‘Tunde Kelani’ or ‘Kunle Afolayan’ film. Shirley Frimpong has done exquisite work with these films. For anyone who’s yet to watch these two films, do make it a date to see them whenever you can.

Travel Photography Scholarship 2011 – South Africa

Go on assignment to South Africa and be mentored by a National Geographic photographer!

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Applications close November 8th 2011, at 2pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (GMT +11)

WorldNomads.com and National Geographic Channel are giving one exceptional individual the chance to go on assignment with renowned wildlife and natural history photographer Jason Edwards to South Africa!

This is your chance to photograph in Kruger National Park on an 8-day trip with Gap Adventures. Step into the heart of Big 5 game country with lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo, as well as zebra, giraffe, kudo and monkey…to name a few. You’ll also photograph Cape Town in all its vibrant colour and visit a pre-school community project on the outskirts of Cape Town, offering you a well rounded view of modern South Africa, courtesy of South African Tourism.  

A selection of your best photos will be published on National Geographic Channel where they will be viewed by thousands of travellers worldwide, offering you a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get your foot in the door of one of the most revered exploration organisations in the world!

Highly regarded for his wildlife and remote landscape photography, Jason Edwards is represented by National Geographic Image Collection.

Jason Edwards, National Geographic

Your Assignment Brief

* We’ll fly you in from your country of residence to Johannesburg where you will meet your mentor and small travel group for your bespoke 8 day trip with Gap Adventures. You’ll need to be available to be in South Africa between January 18-25, 2012.

* On the trip you will work alongside Jason Edwards photographing wildlife and landscapes in Kruger National Park at various times of the day and night. You will also work through a specific shot list as part of your assignment.

* You will gain invaluable mentoring and hands-on experience in everything from shot set up, technique and composition through to insights into his many years of diverse experience as an award winning photographer.

* Your assignment will involve observing and assisting Jason as well as undertaking your own photographic work. This will involve long days, early mornings and late nights working!

* You will keep a daily diary about your time on the trip and upload this to a WorldNomads.com travel journal, including pictures you’ve taken.

* On your return you will work with Jason Edwards through the editorial process to shortlist your top photographs and colour balance to achieve professional looking shots for submission to National Geographic Channel for publication.

* Most of all, you’ll be experiencing what it’s like to be a photographer on-assignment with National Geographic!

See past travel photography scholarship winner Dat Vu’s photos (2010) on the Nat Geo Channel website, and Anna Zhu’s (2009) exhibition with Jason Edwards in Sydney.

Jason Edwards, National Geographic

 

Who can apply

* This opportunity is open to any non-professional trying to start a career in Travel Photography -  photography students or keen amateurs/pro-amateurs looking for a foot in the door.

* Minimum age 18 with a good level of physical fitness.

* This is a global opportunity – you may be a resident of any country.

* You should be an exceptional photographer with a lust for adventure, have a strong desire to be mentored and grow your photographic knowledge and skills, an ambition to forge a career in Travel Photography, and of course a desire to travel to South Africa.

* Remember this is a scholarship, a learning experience, and therefore will not be suitable for professional or semi-professional photographers.

* Find out more about eligibility in our FAQ video blog

Jason Edwards, National Geographic

Apply now

Please look carefully at the 4 steps required to complete your application.
If your photos are not ready, we suggest you come back later to complete this entry.

1. Shoot a series of photos (maximum of 5)

They must tell a story about a place you have visited. ‘Place’ may be anywhere; somewhere in your own community or much further away. The judges will be looking for:

* originality
* ability to convey a story through photos
* excellent technique

Each of the 5 shots must have accompanying caption text to help contextualize the shot (see Point 7 in Jason’s Judging Criteria).

Please see our FAQ video blog about the theme, making digital adjustments and Jason’s judging criteria.

2. Add your photos to WorldNomads.com.

Firstly create a journal, which is where your photos will be hosted, and fill in the entry form. Upload your photos either as a Flickr set or directly in the journal. (If you are already a member or have a journal, please sign-in.)

*Please don’t remove the tags and title of the gallery we have set up for you – this is how we find you*

3. Tell us in 300 words or less about yourself and why you should be chosen.

Your written response will have significant weighting in the judging process, so think carefully about why you should be chosen.  Tell us about yourself, your passions, why you love photography, what drives you to take a better shot, where you would like to go with your photography etc. Help us form a picture in our mind of you as a person with your text (see Point 8 in Jason’s Judging Criteria).

Remember this is a once in a lifetime learning opportunity, not a junket for professional photographers.

4. Finally the legal bit.

You know the Terms and Conditions of entry.

One entry per person

Applications close: 2pm November 8, 2011 (Australian Eastern Daylight Time)

The recipient of the Scholarship, along with the best entries, will be published on WorldNomads.com on December 1, 2011.

Blog your Backyard & Win

Hey travel bloggers! Yes, you with the laptop and the half-packed suitcase. We’ve just launched a new campaign to feature you, our travel writing community… and your local knowledge. We invite you to take part in our Blog your Backyard program and share your expertise on your country or a country that you had spent a lot of time in and know well. Many times we are so focused on travel and writing about new destinations and adventures that we don’t step back and share our local knowledge for travelers planning to visit our home (or adopted) cities and countries.

For the next few weeks we will be posing a new prompt every week for you to write a blog post about. All you have to do is sign up to become a World Nomads member and start your free travel blog with us and submit your posts for each weekly deadline. Or, if you are already an avid World Nomads travel blogger, simply submit your story each week in your existing Journal. This campaign is open to anyone with a passion for travel who wants to share their expertise. While we do take your writing seriously, this is not a serious writing competition. We don’t care if you’ve written every guidebook on the shelf or if you’ve only ever recorded your travels on a series of well preserved napkins.

We just encourage you, as world nomads, to share your knowledge with other travellers. Entertain us, tell us your insider tips and make us want to hop a plane to your home country. Prompts Each week we will be calling for your submission to a new topic.

Here are the topics and the dates:

• Week of August 8: Do’s and Don’t’s in my Country (e.g. Do’s and Don’ts in Italy)
• Week of August 15: The Best and Worst of my Country (e.g. Best and Worst of Australia, Best and Worst of the USA)
• Week of August 22: In my Backyard – 5 Must Do Things in my City (e.g. 5 Things you Must Do in Auckland, New Zealand, 5 Things you Must do in Toronto, Canada)
• Week of August 29: What it means to be ________ (Nationality)
• Week of September 5: Best Ways to Work, Stay and Play in my Country (e.g. Best Ways to Work, Stay and Play in France)
• September 9: Entries close
• September 14: Winners announced

How to ensure your article is considered for judging Each post you want to submit to the competition needs to include the following: a relevant photo (can be your own or from Flickr Creative Commons) the hashtag #BlogYourBackyard (in the tags section of your article) a title that follows the format above with the country included (for example: Do’s and Don’ts in Norway).

Note: You can complete the prompts anytime during the campaign, you are not limited to a specific week to complete each prompt. However, all of your entries must be completed by the campaign end date. What’s in it for you? Well besides some good travel karma, a little notoriety and some warm and fuzzy social love, wait…you wanted more? Well, of course. The top 20 submissions, as chosen by our internal panel of judges at WorldNomads.com, will receive a AUD$50 voucher from Urban Adventures towards an adventure of your choice, whether it is in your backyard or on the road.

You only need to submit one post to enter, but the more posts you submit, the better chance you have at winning an adventure and being published in our Connect Locally eBook. For the winners of the Urban Adventures experiences, all that we ask is one final blog post sharing your excursion with Urban Adventures with our community! We are looking for quality, engaging and informative content that we can publish and share with our community through a downloadable ‘Connect Locally’ eBook on our site. We want this to become a local guide for travelers with real insight and tips from locals and other travelers.

Are you a professional travel blogger with your own site? Great! We do allow that you post your Blog your Backyard articles on your own site, but you must also post them to a Journal on WorldNomads.com (as outlined here) in order to enter to win. You must also attach the following promotional boilerplate to the bottom of the post: The ‘Blog your Backyard’ Project Share your local expertise and join the Blog your Backyard project! Become an ambassador for your country (home or adopted) by sharing your experiences and tips with other travelers. Submit your entries starting August 8th on WorldNomads.com for a chance to win one of 20 awesome excursions with Urban Adventures.

Plus, if you want to share more of your local expertise or get answers to all of your travel questions, download the FREE ‘Ask A Nomad’ iPad app. Judging Criteria We’re going back to basics with these ones:

1.) You made us want to visit your home country, and if we did you would definitely be our local guide.

2.) Your tips were useful and informative (who needs a guidebook now?!).

3.) We were able to gain a sense of your personality through your writing.

All decisions made by the judging panel at WorldNomads.com are final. Get Writing! Already a World Nomads member? Log in to your account. New to World Nomads? Sign up for your free travel blog. Want to check out the articles that have already been submitted? Click here!

Travel Video Documentary Scholarship 2011 – Arnhem Land, Australia

Go on assignment to the Arnhem Land, far north Australia and have your doco broadcast on Nat Geo Adventure!

Applications close June 16, 2pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time)
Kick start your documentary career by going on assignment to one of the most remote Yolngu Aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land (far north Australia), and be immersed in traditional Yolngu Aboriginal knowledge and understanding of the land, sea and animals.

Flying to the Northern Territory with Virgin Blue,you will take part in a special project withWorld Expeditions, working alongside the indigenous Yolngu Aboriginal rangers to restore sea country by removing and cataloging marine debris, the by-product of South East Asia’s fishing industry.

Under the mentorship of documentary producer Trent O’Donnell (who filmed our Positive Footprints series screened on Nat Geo Adventure Channel)you will find your story and create your own short documentary.

It will then be considered for broadcast on Nat Geo Adventure! That’s right – the holy grail documentary makers work their whole lives to achieve!

_{Photo: Cameron Herweynen, winner 2007 Travel Photography Scholarship}

Your assignment brief

Join a 7 day  World Expeditions‘ community project in North East Arnhem Land, working alongside the indigenous Yolngu Aboriginal rangers to restore sea country by removing and cataloging marine debris, the by-product of South East Asia’s fishing industry.

The virtually pristine  coastline is facing a significant environmental threat from marine debris washed in on the ocean currents. Discarded fishing nets, rubber footwear, empty bottles and plastic bags are all carried by these currents from throughout the South East Asian region and deposited on the Arnhem Land Coast. All of this waste is a major threat to the wildlife, as animals get caught up in the nets and choke on the plastic rubbish.

Not only will we be using high-tech techniques for dealing with this modern problem, but also relying on and learning from Traditional Yolngu Aboriginal knowledge and understanding of the land, sea and animals. The group may break into mens and womens groups to share in the gender-specific aspects of culture and lifestyle. Men can learn traditional hunting and fishing and women can be involved in traditional bush medicine, bush food and handicrafts.

This project aims to work alongside and under the direction of Yolngu Aboriginal Rangers from Dhimurru and Laynhapuy Land Management as we together collect, catalogue and dispose of the marine rubbish.

Working with the Yolngu people under the mentorship of Trent O’Donnell you will find your story and film your own short documentary.

  

What’s the deal?

* We’ll fly you to the Northern Territory, Australia with Virgin Blue from your country of residence.

* You need to be available to be in Australia from September 3-9, 2011 to participate in the project.

* Under the mentorship of Trent O’Donnell you will shoot a video documentary about the experience.

* You will keep a daily diary about your time on the trip and upload this plus pictures you’ve taken to your WorldNomads.com travel journal.

* You will edit together your 5-10 minute documentary and submit it to WorldNomads.com within 2 months of your return.

Watch Mo Soliman, our 2010 winner talk about his experience

Who can apply?

* Any non-professionals can apply – this is open to film students, or anyone who’s trying to build a career in documentary making!

* Minimum age 18 with a current, valid passport and you must available as per the dates set out. Please note these dates are not changeable in anyway.

* You may be a resident of any country.

* You should be a mad-keen auteur with a lust for adventure and burning desire to be a documentary maker.

* You must be fit and healthy as moderate levels of physical work are involved, and happy to camp for 7 days.

Am I eligible? What makes a non-professional?

This is a grey area, and very tricky to put measures around. We appreciate documentary filmmaking is a difficult industry to crack and there are a lucky few who can count themselves as a professional full time documentary maker.

This scholarship is very much about the mentorship opportunity, and the judging panel will be selecting someone who they feel will most benefit from the learning opportunity. So if you have already been commissioned to make documentaries or have had your work broadcast on numerous occasions, it is unlikely you will be selected.

You will be asked to outline your experience to date in the submission process, and it will be the judging panel who decides who is most suitable based on their video and written component. So whilst we are not stipulating exactly what does and does not constitute a professional, think about the spirit of the mentorship program and whether you think you would make the most ideal candidate.

Apply now

If you want it, you’ve got to show it. To apply you need to:

1. Compile a maximum 3 minute video documentary in English based around the theme; ‘Local Encounters’. Remember, 3 minutes maximum means that 3:01 videos will be ignored. In a professional video environment, you need to be able to deliver up to the exact time, we’re no different in this case. Do not go over !

Your ‘local encounter’ may be from your travels or somewhere closer to home. You should explore how this encounter changed your perspective on the world. The theme is open to interpretation, so be creative! The documentary may be compiled from previous travel videos you’ve shot.

It’s up to you to convince our judging panel through your video that you have the spirit for adventure and passion for filmmaking to be chosen for this scholarship. Our judging panel will be looking for;

* The ability to convey a strong narrative within a short time-frame
* Originality
* A visually engaging story
* A candidate whose passion for documentary filmmaking makes them an obvious choice to benefit from this professional mentorship opportunity.

We strongly recommend you look at the previous winners (below) to give you an idea of the quality we are looking for. Entries compiled solely of still shots will not be considered, you need to demonstrate your skill with the moving image.

2. Upload your video : Go to Youtube.com to upload your video

3. Add your video to Worldnomads.com: Create a journal and fill in the entry form, then follow the simple instructions to upload your video into the post. In under 200 words tell us about your video;

- What inspired your subject matter?

- What has been your documentary experience to date?

- What is your ambition as a documentary maker and what would winning this scholarship mean to you?

You will be judged on what you write as much as your video submission, convince us you are a worthy candidate!

4. Additionally, we will be offering a Nomad’s Community Choice Award for the entrant who receives the most combined Facebook ‘Likes’ and Twitter ’Tweets’ for their video on their submitted journal application page. The winner will receive a digital video camera worth AUD$2500! (This award will have no bearing on the scholarship judging). So get your submissions in early and start gathering support !

One entry per person (no longer than 3 minutes, again remember, entries that exceed this will not be considered)

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Watch our 2010 winner’s & shortlisted documentaries

Watch our 2009 winner’s & shortlisted documentaries

Entries close June 16, 2011, 2pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time)

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Dust your butts and get cracking

The difference between successful people and unsuccessful is the opportunity to obtain information at the right time. If you are an African woman desirous of owning and running a successful business, this is the time to do it now. Enter for the 2010 Business plan competition organised by BiD Network and realise your dreams.

Last month, I applied for  the ‘Getting African Businesses Online’  initiative organised by Google Nigeria in conjunction with other organisations and my application was successful. My business model was selected amongst 199 successful applicants. So, wish me luck as we commence the second phase of this initiative.

Ponds Flawless Radiance Cream

 

Update: Facial Skin Alert

An ethnic skincare stalwart gets a facelift. And, no, I’m not talking about a person!

 

Ponds’ highly successful Flawless radiance range is now hitting shelves in much chicer packaging. And very nice it is too!

The Flawless radiance range was launched to help women fight the battle against uneven skin tone. This is caused by an over and uneven production of melanin (the stuff that gives our skin colour). This can create ugly dark marks on the skin, and who wants that?

The Flawless Radiance range contains a specially formulated ingredient designed to work with your genes to decrease the production and dispersion of melanin. Leaving you with gorgeous, radiant skin.

 

 

Imagine my delight when I received a call from MemoryEvergreen Enterprise (the promoters of Toletta) that they had added a new brand to their portfolio. I was curious enough to visit their office to find out what the brand was.

Well it’s none other than the effective Ponds Flawless Radiance Cream which I blogged about some time ago. Read the excerpt from the interview here…

Today’s Naira: Yipeeeeeeeee….you guys finally nailed it. I have been in search for this brand all over Lagos and I have been thinking of asking my sister to buy on her upcoming trip to South Africa in a few days time.

MemoryEvergreen Enterprise: What’s the feedback about the brand? Bearing in mind that we strive to bring effective brands to the Nigerian consumers especially our female folks.

Today’s Naira: I commenced use of this product around July 2009. I had seen the advert on DSTV and it was purported to guarantee flawless skin within 7days. Based on the advert, I decided to try it out since I was heading to South Africa for a much needed vacation. At my first purchase which occurred at Pick ‘n’ Pay stores @ Sandton, I bought 3 sets (Day and Night cream) and while I was paying, the cashiers had asked why I was buying that much if I had never used it before?  I responded that I was willing to take the risk. As at then I had dark acne spots and an uneven skin tone which was also prone to pimples breakout especially during my monthly period (I mean my forehead was way darker than every other part on my face).

I also received the usual flak from my sisters who believed I was just wasting money and will not receive value for what I bought. Did I achieve flawless radiant skin within 7days? Absolutely not considering the state of my facial skin. It took me 2months to achieve a flawless radiant skin. Since then, I have had to send anyone travelling to South Africa to stock up this brand being manufactured by Unilever South Africa. The best thing about this brand is you get real value for money. My sisters have also adopted the brand and use it religiously. For the day and night cream cups, you’ll use it effectively for 4months before buying another set. Can you tell me of any other brand out there like Lancome, Elizabeth Arden, Mary Kay that”s effective without being expensive and delivers what it states on the pack?

MemoryEvergreen Enterprise: Wow that’s the longest consumer review I have ever read concerning a product targeted at females. I can understand your excitement. You’re completely right. Ponds Flawless Radiance is effective and works. It also has effective UVA/UVB sunscreen agents to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun.

Today’s Naira: So how can readers of this blog or any interested individual place an order?

MemoryEvergreen Enterprise: You can place an order by calling this number now: 08051198305/ +2347026364892 (for buyers outside Nigeria) or send an email to: tolettainquiries@hotmail.com