By: Stephanie A. Catchings, Health & Beauty Editor

Threading is an ancient hair removal process that originated in the Middle East. Threading practitioners usually hold one end of a thin, twisted cotton strand in their teeth and twisting the other end in their hand to create enough tension to pull the hair out. Then, the thread is placed over the hair and rolled across the skin to pluck several strands directly from the follicle at one time.

Though it can be apinful at first, the threading process usually pulls a very straight line of hair making this method of hair removal more precise than others like tweezing or creams. Another added benefit of threading is that it is less likely to produce ingrown hairs after the procedure is done. Threading is rather safe for people with sensitive skin as well.

Beware of amateur or novice threaders because their inexperience can lead to a painful experience. Those with acne should be careful when having facial areas threaded as it may typically done on bikini areas or legs.

If you are interested in threading, you can call a local salon ot mall near you to see if skilled professionals are available. Be prepared to spend at least $10.00 and 15 minutes of your time for a basic service like eyebrow shaping. Results should last about 4 weeks, however individual results may vary.

Check out http://www.pamf.org/teen/health/skin/bodyhair.html for more information.

By: Maurice Harris, Contributing Writer

When you think of health problems, you wouldn’t consider yourself having those issues. Could it be because you are young and full of life, or the fear of the unknowing is what keep you from being proactive about your health. Health and fitness is a way of life. It is the fuel in our bodies that keeps us moving. Many of us share similar family issues like high blood pressure, diabets, high cholesterol and heart disease. Africian Americans lead in all four of those categories. You don’t have to go through the hard time of health problems like your ancestry. When does the generational curse stop? Well, it starts with you. You and only you can make that change. Just because your grandmother and grandfather suffers with diabetes does not mean you will.

One out of three African Americans suffer with some type of health related issues. What are some of the things you can do to avoid becoming a part of your family’s health issues? There are three simple steps you should follow. One, make better choices with the foods that you eat. Instead of eating fried food, try eating grilled foods. Grilling is better for your heart. For example, frying your food in trans fat which are bad for your cholesterol and even worst for your heart. Grilling will avoid that exposure. Grilled foods lower your transit fat intake by 60 - 80%.

Two, get up and get moving. Walk around your neighborhood or go to a nearby park to take a casual walk, this also helps relieve stress that builds up over time. Just doing some type of activity will help you burn those extra stored calories in your body.

Three, get plenty of rest; this is what many of us can’t get enough of. Nearly 60% of people do not get proper of rest at night. Instead of staying up late watching that movie, DVR it and go to bed. You will notice a big difference in your energy level when you get an extra hour of sleep.

These three steps can lower your risk of becoming part of your family past health issues. Proper diet and exercise is given to people everyday by their doctors as an order to improve their health. I know sometimes that being a teenager you may feel invincible, but what you do now is laying down the tracks to your future. If you create good healthy habits as a teenager it will carry over to your adult years, then the cycle of unhealthiness is broken. With your life changes, your kids become healthy and that positive cycle has started.

**Maurice Harris is a Certified Personal Tranier, Sport Specific
Specialist and a member of the IDEA Fitness and American Senior
Fitness Association.

TCM would like to say Congratulations to Michael Kors for being the designer of the month. Kors began designing clothes at the young age of 19 and studied Fashion Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

In 1981, Kors launched the Michael Kors womens wear line but building on his success, Kors was named the first ever women’s ready-to-wear designer and Creative Director for the French fashion house Celine in 1997. Kors launched his menswear in 2002 and in addition to the Michael Kors Runway Collection, the MICHAEL Michael Kors and KORS Michael Kors lines were launched in 2004.

KORS collection is considered the mid-tier line, between the runway and Michael collections. The MICHAEL collection line includes women’s handbags and shoes as well as women’s ready-to-wear apparel and the KORS line contains footwear and Jeans. Among the celebrities who have worn Michael Kors’ designs are Jennifer Lopez, Elissa, Heidi Klum, and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

By: Audreyanna Garrett, Feature Writer

The phenomenal new book written by Steve Harvey has women all over the world hasting to book stores to get their copy.  This book was created to guide women into understanding men in general and educating women on why it is men do what they do in relationships. 

Harvey’s book is more or less a Handbook to dating men.  Understanding men, their make-up, their drive are key factors in participating in a successful long lasting relationship with them.  Chapter 3, titled  ”Three Things Every Man Needs” expresses the 3 key things that men want from a woman in a relationship. 

So ladies, if you have no clue maybe you should pick up the book.  This book is especially significant to ladies in their teens because it prepares you for the future.  It shapes your expectations early so you know what to look for in a gentleman; when to entertain a relationship and when to run from one.   

If I were a man I would read the book just to see what tales Harvey has unleashed and his viewpoint on the gender.  He is not bias in the novel at all.  Harvey does an excellent job of laying the information out there on the table and putting all of women’s incorrect methods and theroies in check. 

In Chapter 9 he introduces the point that men like standards.  He encourages all women who lack standards to obtain them.  Standards in a sense of boundaries not in a sense of demand.  He instructs women on who to obtain standards if you lack; what questions to ask your self; he suggests that we ponder the requirements of a partner so we know what to look for.

Harvey has done a marvelous job in taking a real issue for women and making it plain.  This book is easy to read and would be an asset to many.  I am sure thus far, the novel has impacted many lives.  I have my copy… Do you have yours?

 By: Audreyanna Garrett, Feature Writer

February 17, 2009 President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law.  This recovery plan was created, developed and supported, not by one party or by those that reap the greatest, but it was embraced by all Americans.  This recovery plan was composed with great compromise  of many individuals and groups of varying viewpoints. 

This recovery plan is said to establish three to four million new jobs by the conclusion 2010.  These jobs contribute to the reconstruction of America; reconstruction of levies, and remodeling transits.  An educational investment said to develop 21st century libraries, classrooms and labs for millions of children, and create $2,500 annual tax credit to make college more affordable for middle class families.  This puts college degree in the in reach for all Americans. 

This plan encompasses ways to conserve energy; alternative electric grids that allow us of alternative energy.  “This investment will place Smart Meters in homes to make our energy bills lower, make outages less likely, and make it easier to use clean energy;” with hopes that we save over one billion dollars by the reduction of energy costs (President Obama). 

The plan of course encompases the ever popular tax cuts; specifically developed for middle class working Americans.  President Obama refused to continue to allow wealthy Americans to reap from middle class Americans hard work.  President Obama remarks, ” …it’s a plan that rewards responsibility lifting two million Americans from poverty by ensuring that anyone who works hard does not have to raise a child below the poverty line.” 

President Obama has also created Recovery.gov to allow Americans to verify the actions of the plan; to ensure that it enforces and establishes all that it’s said to.  I advise you to take advantage of this website.  Ignorance is not bliss.  Know about what your President is doing for you and what you are capable of receiving.

For more information, or to verify any of the information presented in this article, please visit www.barackobama.com.

It’s summer time and that means fun in the sun! Whatever you decide to do this summer, you must do it in style.

 Photo Shoot Credits:

Photographer - Eric Wilson

Photographer - Mike Charlton

Makeup Artist - Chaela B

Creative Director - LaTas Turner

Stylists - Misty Dawn, Audrey Garrett & Jemery Phillips

Location - Magnolia Hotel (Houston)

Clothes Featured:

DIMRI

Macy’s

Old Navy

Biographie

Dream Culture

JB Amari

CROSS by J.Phil

Overachievers Clothing

Teen Chic Mag Summer Chic Shoot 09′ from Teen Chic Magazine on Vimeo.