#literally clay is not special in any way he’s a normal guy and he only became a knight bc he dedicated himself to it and worked hard

[p-s-yokubo]

I love how basically the entire ninjago community is in agreement that Arin shouldn’t get powers bc that would ruin the point of his character but the nexo knights community is just totally chill with clay getting powers even though that also ruins the point of his character

[bobbydagen24]

yeah this aspect I think is actually really sad and interesting and while I don't feel its very likely it will be explored in the future it'd be so interesting if they did imo.

the age gap between Branch and the others is pretty Hefty to the point they all have years worth of memories together and established relationships.

I mean Bruce and Clay despite not talking for 20 years very easily slotted back together and even remembered their little handshake from when they were younger.

but with Branch they left when he was a literal Baby Basically at the start of his life he knew Creek for longer prior to the first film than he knew his Brothers let that sink in for a sec.

so they are pretty much almost strangers to him given how early they left and how much time passed inbetween they know nothing about him and what little he knew about them has probably changed in the 20+ years that passed.

so yeah its actually pretty sad when you think about it as Branch is kinda the odd one out in the family they all had years of memories together before he was born.

and much more of an already established relationship before they broke up whereas Branch was like you said at most 3 or 4.

so he had way less of an established relationship with any of them to build off of in present day.

like I said I don't think this will be explored but it'd be so sad and interesting if they did like imagine all the other Bros just easily slotting back into the family dynamic.

since as I said before they all just had much more of a relationship with each other in the past that they can build on in present day.

but with Branch he could feel like he doesn't belong given how little he truly remembers about them and how little they know about him and they all have these memories they laugh and reminisce about.

but Branch doesn't really have that with them practically all their funny stories that they remember fondly could be from before Branch was even Born.

and maybe Branch notes that actually when he tries to think about the past the only memory he actually has of his Bros is them arguing and leaving.

and everything else from his childhood is either memories of their Grandma or mostly just memories of being by himself.

plus unlike the others he spent most of his childhood years without any sort of family to speak of which I'm sure would make bonding with them in present day 100 times harder.

poor guy would be way too used to being a loner after growing up an orphan.

really makes me think he'd probably feel some sort of Imposter Syndrome when being around his family with them all acting happy and like its normal.

but for him it just feels weird and almost like it isn't actually real which maybe leads to him not being able to handle it.

and his Bros realise just how alone he was for a good portion of his life and how much an effect it had on him.

like I said this is fucking Heart-breaking stuff when you really think about it just imagine if they did actually cover it in a future Christmas Special or Film.

it'd be so emotional 😭😭😭😭

Branch's brothers are essentially strangers to him and I WISH that fact got acknowledged more frfr

I mean cmon they got to form next to no memories with him before they left he was a baby! How many memories of your life do u have as a baby???

On the flip side they also know next to nothing about him beyond the baby era.. they have plenty of memories of eachother cuz they had been growing up together YEARS before Branch was born so they have that bond with eachother(no matter how messed up or broken) that they just don't have with Branch and I think that's super sad frfr

It's no wonder they treated him like a baby In the movie. Beyond being the youngest brother they literally have nothing else to know him by besides being "the baby" so of course they are gonna latch on to that familiar aspect of him cuz beyond that there's literally nothing for them to familiarize him by

I know Branch be feeling like like the odd one out many times after they all reuinted due to having next to no memories of them meanwhile they all sharing all these memories of eachother and having that level of relation they just don't have with him

It's a sad reality and I really wish it was more acknowledged

[starlight-writes-stuff]

Can I request how the feral boys would ask you/ what they would do for your first time sleeping over as their girlfriend? That sounds weird but I hope you know what I mean lol. I love your writing by the way!

hi friend , and thank u ! i appreciate it <3 this is a super cute idea and i had a lot of fun writing it ,,,,, im so soft for them i can't . xoxoxoxoxo , starlight

AYO LOOK AT THESE : the smallest bit of smut but overall fluff ! soft feral boys content , come get yall juice

reblogs are always appreciated !!! <3

dream

wouldn’t be planned tbh , you’d been at his place all day and you’re both too tired to drive

you’d start to call an uber and clay would turn your phone over

“you could… stay here, if you want?”

it was a no brainer

of course you’d stay with him

clay would be so excited , smiling through his sleepy haze

he’d finally get up from his computer just to shower you with kisses all over your face

he’d tackle you back onto his bed , his soft , silly kisses turning into lingering, hard kisses

all teeth and tongue and his hands all over you

he’d get one of his legs between yours, shuddering at the way you’d whine into his mouth

his hands would make their way down to your hips

he’d grind your hips down on him , your sleepiness only making you more sensitive

you bet your ass that he’d make you cum just from grinding on his thigh

he lives in a constant state of horny™ even when he’s tired

clay would be so cocky at how he’d made you finish , doing virtually nothing

but he would go so soft at the way you were exhausted after that , yawning and rubbing your eyes

‘baby’ , ‘love’ , ‘pretty girl’

so affectionate 

you could’ve fallen asleep just like that but clay makes you get up and change

“baby , you don't want to sleep in your clothes” 

“sleep in mine instead”

you would just grumble back at him until he would physically lift you out of bed

clay would help you out of your clothes 

he’d put you in his sweats and a giant dream hoodie

just incase sap walked in for some reason

doesn't want him seeing any of the goods™

he’d carry you to the bathroom and find an extra toothbrush

clay would absolutely try to talk to you while brushing his teeth and the two of you would laugh s o hard at each other trying to talk with mouths full of toothpaste

again , he would pick you up and carry you back to his bed , shutting the door behind the two of you

“don't you want to say goodnight to sap?” “no :)”

the two of you would fall onto his bed and be asleep within 10 minutes , completely tangled in each other

he talks in his sleep

but you snore

so its even

☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁

george

soft george my beloved

he’d probably plan your guys first ‘sleepover’

he would want to make it special , and definitely do something memorable

george would bring it up to you like a week before

he’d practically invite you like it was a birthday party :,)

i can't

he’d make reservations for a nice dinner before and get all dressed up

george would pick you up and hold your hand on the console

he’d open all the doors for you 

he'd pull out your c h a i r

yall would definitely be cracking jokes all throughout dinner in the middle of this fancy restaurant

george would ABSOLUTELY knock his silverware off the table at some point

you would have to fight to not spit your drink out , laughing so hard

he’d skip on desert at the restaurant and take you to dairy queen or something

it would be the two of you in your fancy attire , sitting outside some tiny ice cream parlor

looking at eachother like you were the only two people on earth

yall are in L O V E 

once you two got home george would carry your overnight bag in 

he would change immediately 

bc he h8’s fancy clothes 

but wanted to dress up for you 

after you guys changed into pajamas , you’d stay up talking for hours

he’d tell you stories of him and all the feral boys

you’d tell him stupid things you did as a kid

the two of you would want to make the most of the extended time you had together and stay up until like 2 in the morning

george’s voice would get all low and raspy from talking for so long

you’d fall asleep on the couch together when you physically couldn’t hold your eyes open anymore

george would wake up when the sun started shining through the blinds

he would carry you up to his bed 

then promptly fall back asleep with you in his arms

☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁

sapnap 

snapmap my love .

this man doesn’t plan shi t

it would be very spur of the moment , the two of you laughing at some joke that he made when he’d grab your hand suddenly v serious

“will you sleep with me tonight?”

he’d look so earnest while asking that and you would BURST into laughter

it would take nick a hot sec to realise what he’d said and once he did . he would simply . disintegrate .

he would be so dramatic about it too

“i was trying to be romantic ! stop laughing at me !”

and you would just sit there , laughing so hard that you couldn’t produce noise anymore , just silent wheezes

you would start to cry and nick would pOUT

you would just nod , literally unable to produce words

but sap would brighten up at that

“so you’ll stay the night?”

once you got control of yourself , the two of you continued on doing what you were doing

it was like a normal day other than the fact that it ,,,, wouldn’t end

you two watched movies and played minecraft all day , being lazy together

you’d doordash dinner or order pizza or something so you didn’t have to leave the house

he’d have to stream and you would just chill , eating pizza in bed

once it became apparent that the stream was gonna last longer than planned , you would quietly come up behind him and drop a kiss on his cheek

he’d grin at you but be confused ???

you’d text him so your voice wouldn’t pop up on stream

‘gonna take a shower / keep myself busy’

he’d text back a single ‘👍🏼’

sapnap texts like a dad and NO ONE can tell me otherwise

you’d shower and get dressed , then wander down to the kitchen trying to find something to do

scavenger hunt™ for cookie ingredients

you’d bake his favorite and surprise him with a warm cookie im s o f t

the SMILE that would cross his face my god

he would feel so loved

he’d mute stream to thank you, putting his hands around your waist and burying his face into your stomach

you k n o w he’d find some way to end stream early after that , wanting to be with you

the two of you would finish off all the cookies , watching scary movies together

he’d hold you when you jump at all the spooky shit

you’d do the same for him bc sap is baby

chat . i'm kinda scared . lowkey .

you were both half asleep by the time you made your way back up to his room

you’d be lights out the minute your head hit the pillows 

and he’d be big spoon

☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁

karl

karl would probably ask you that day , texting you before you’d even come over to ask if you would stay the night

you two had technically slept over before , but never at karl’s place (usually pulling all nighters with the feral boys on stream or with the beast crew)

you can not tell me . that karl . would not build a fort . with you .

and he would 100% go all out with it

he’d get lights to string up on the inside (the twinkle ones for sure)

he would get a fuckton of pillows and the softest blankets he can find and pile them in

karl would essentially make a nest for the two of you

you’d spend the first hour alone sharing soft kisses and cuddling so close that you weren't sure where you ended and karl began

he’d hold you , letting you lay on his chest and listen to his heartbeat

you’d talk about everything and nothing at all , just wanting to hear each other’s voices

until someone’s stomach growled

he’d laugh until he couldn't breathe 

you had tears rolling down your face , your stomach hurting from the giggles 

he’d either take you to get food before or doordash your favorite

because neither of you can cook blESS

you’d pick out cute , matching pajamas for your first official night together

but

he’d end up giving you his clothes to sleep in 

because he likes you wearing his stuff 

and it's more comfortable than your fancy pajamas

he’d cover his eyes and face a blanket/wall while you were changing

the only time either of you would leave the fort would be for more snacks or to go to the bathroom

karl would bring his laptop in and turn in a movie as you two were settling in for the night 

(some super dumb kids movie) 

(my brain immediately went to the lorax) 

(i’ll see myself out)

and he’d stay awake until you fell asleep, your face buried into his t-shirt

it made his heart so full that you felt safe enough to fall asleep with him

he’d play with your hair and trace over your features as soft as possible

because you're just so beautiful when you’re asleep ??

karl murmurs how much he loves you , everything that he loves about you while he knows you can't hear it

he’d drift off with you still in his arms, his lips pressed to the top of your head in a sweet, gentle kiss

and the two of you would stay like that the entire night , keeping each other warm

im so soft for him

can u tell

karl jacobs my love

☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁

quackity

listen

everyone writes big q as a stupid dumb dummy

and while he can be that at some times

this man would be so fucking thoughtful ??? when it came to his girl ?????

you literally can't tell me otherwise .

much like gogy he would plan something special

but like

he can COOK yall

he’d make you a nice ass dinner

and set up a picnic in the backyard 

he’d light candles and make it all fancy

literally it would be a scene out of a movie

once you finished eating dinner the two of you would watch the sunset

he’d play guitar and sING FOR YOU

you’d stay outside soaking in the heat even after the sun had gone down

stargazing for as long as you could

alex would put his arm around you and have you lay on his chest

you’d listen to his heartbeat while you pointed out the big dipper

he’d make up his own constellations aljidhkuvgfhadj

you two would only go inside because you were being eaten alive by mosquitos

one of you would play music off your phone and yall would slow dance in the kitchen

he would repeatedly tell you how much he loved you , pressing tender kisses to your neck , your jaw

until a fucking ad would play

and alex would just lose his shit

he would laugh so hard he’d ipad kid cough

then you would simply ascend

the two of you would be laying on the kitchen floor absolutely D Y I N G of laughter

you’d stay there for a while , trying to recover

by the time you did , your ribs were sore from all the giggles

alex would pick you up and throw you over his shoulder , walking you up to bed

he’d suplex you onto the mattress

the two of you are children around each other tbh

that would lead to a wrestling match

until you’d found your way onto his lap , pinning him by his wrists

w h e w

the way that man would kiss you after that ? bye im gone

lets just say by the time he was finished you would both be exhausted

he’d tell you how pretty you were , how good you did

the two of you would fall asleep with tangled limbs , half kissing

[jay-cult]

A Golden Promise

Hey guys :D I wrote a little one shot for Rhon during my free time in school. After this I can start working on chapter fics and stuff during class. For now have this lovely fic.

*Features Rhon and Scree, told from Rhon’s perspective primarily *Hints of Jaya, maybe more than hints *Also has lots and lots of Jay. Lots *Mild swearing because Rhon is a hecker *I actually have no idea how making jewelry works, I literally made this up I’m admitting this now, but I’ll fill in that hole with “it’s Rhon’s way”

While “lounging” around in her freetime, Rhon puts on a new task when her nephew brings her news and asks for help with a creation, and perhaps with more.

A Golden Promise

Rhon was having a sort of usual day.

“So, what are you thinking for this one, eh? How much are you gonna rip me off this time?” Her client asked, half joking.

She leaned in. “I told you the price,” she said flatly, but still repeated the obviously fair payment that he was to give her. In return for his vehicle being fixed, he would give her money. That’s how life worked, weirdo.

Scree was perched casually on her shoulder, and he leaned toward the client like her, trying his best to appear intimidating. The eagle fixed him with a piercing stare.

“Alright, alright, I’m jokin’, calm down,” he smiled and waved his hand in a sweeping motion as if to say, “Forget about it.” He readied a bag full of gold coins and tossed it at her.

Scree hopped off from her shoulder and quickly grabbed the bag before it hit her, but the weight of it immediately made him drop to the ground before he could spread his wings enough. He let out a screech.

Rhon looked menacingly toward where her client had just stood, but he was already climbing into his newly fixed vehicle.

“Ninjago should really establish some form of paper money,” she muttered to Scree while picking the bag of gold up from the ground.

To keep property private and all that, Rhon wouldn’t usually do her business while her airship was docked where the ninja’s place of residence was, which at this time was the newly built Monastery. She wasn’t there often. The lack of business, the noise of her companions, and the distance from fresh resources also made for a not-so-beneficial time. But today, she was staying with said companions for the simple reason of wanting to spend time with them. She did care about them, after all.

She and Scree made their way inside her airship, the Grayscale. It was big enough to hold a workshop where she could work on a couple of business and creative projects, a bedroom, a large guestroom, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a general piloting area atop the deck that contained many control panels filled with levers, buttons, and monitors, and of course the cockpit with a steering wheel. The deck itself was plain, with a few masts with sails enabling its flight. It was maybe two thirds of the size of the ninjas’ many previous models of the Destiny’s Bounty.

She built it herself, with some help from a friend, a long time ago.

Rhon set the bag down on a table in her workshop. She sat down and sorted through the coins, counting up the value. Scree disappeared while she was counting and returned with a couple of lizards in his mouth, settling down on a perch by the table to consume them. Rhon looked down at her calculations. One gold coin short. Figures.

“RhooOOOOON! AUNT RHON! Hi-”

Rhon jumped in her seat, scattering coins all over the table. Scree lifted into the air and let out a surprised shriek. Rhon exhaled and relaxed, but Scree continued to flap in midair, clearly choking on something.

“Scree? Fuck-” Rhon stood out of her seat again, jumping up to grab her bird.

“Aa! Oh no! I’m sorry, ooohhhh no.” It was Jay. He ran over quickly, clearly not really knowing what to do and looking on concerned.

Finally, after a few retches and hits on the back, Scree coughed and a lizard came flying out of his throat. It splatted on a wall.

“That... literally could not have gone worse,” Rhon sighed.

Jay scratched his neck, embarrassed. “I am SO sorry, shoot, I didn’t mean to-”

“Of course you didn’t, don’t get all twisted up,” she interrupted, though frowning. If it was any normal person they would be up to their ears in Rhon’s insults and accusations, but this was Jay. “Just… shake it off.”

Her nephew suddenly brightened up. Scree flapped over and landed on his shoulder, signifying forgiveness. “Okay, okay. I came here to tell yoouuu something great, oh man.”

Rhon crossed her arms and narrowed on of her eyebrows, looking at him curiously. Sure, Jay was enthusiastic and, well, emotional, but him being THIS excited-looking was a rare case. “Alright, what?”

“So, uh, like, you know, Nya.”

“Yes, yes, I know Nya, she’s kind of a close ally of mine,” Rhon said slightly sarcastically. She couldn’t really help it.

“Yeah, yeah, Nya, well. Going to….. I’m going to….. ask her to be my Yang!” Jay revealed enthusiastically.

“Oh wow, really?” Rhon asked, actually surprised. “Wow, uh, congrats!” She awkwardly smiled.

She noticed that her nephew was about ready to jump out of his pants.

“Damn Jay, calm down,” she said a bit forcefully, putting a gentle hand on his shoulder. Rhon knew that her Jay was an expressive person, so something this huge might just have made him explode. “I can barely understand you.”

“Sorry, sorry, just.” He forced himself to stop being so jittery. “I’m…. really excited, and nervous especially.”

No kidding. She stood there looking at him with Scree on his shoulder and thinking it over. Jay and Nya were, at the least, different. That’s what made them special, she thought. The two were quite obviously mad for each other. The reason was, quite simply put, that they had just been through so much. Through suffering and even through death… real death. Young love, am I right? She thought sarcastically. To herself.

“Anyway, um.” Jay chilled down a little bit, becoming much more like himself. “I’m not just telling you the news.”

Rhon raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“I really need your help.”

She thought he must have been joking for a second, and was about to say that he got her. But for once he had a serious look on his face. “Wait,” she said after a few moments of silence. “You’re serious?”

“Yeah, of course, I need a charm.”

Rhon let out a huge sigh of relief. “Oh, thank FSM. I thought you meant- oh, nevermind.”

Her nephew stood confused for a while before he burst out laughing. “WHAT? You thought I wanted to ask you to help with the general thing? Like th-the asking and the romance and like, the wooing-”

Rhon wasn’t really used to being made fun of, so she just stood there frowning and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, hell no am I a romantic. Great Garm does that generate a weird image.”

Jay laughed more at her statement. “Oh man I’m just imagining this like, you, but Scree’s kind of flying around in majestic circles,” Scree let out a little noise at the mention of his name, “and your cape is flowing in the wind and you’re going, uh, ‘hey there, sweetheart,’ with a twinkle in your eye or something.”

She started to laugh a little. “Imagine I’m making some sort of a heart made of lightning.”

“Ah, Garm,” he let out his breath, “that’s funny. Wait wait wait, look, you mean like this?”

Jay brought his hands up to his chest and jerked them a little. Lightning flew out of them and formed a fantastic heart shape. His face was twisted in extreme focus.

“Hey, that’s actually really good,” Rhon complimented. She followed, bringing her hands up to her chest, and trying the best in her mind to flex out the bolts. Same jolted off to the side, while others flew up too far.

“Try bending your hands back a bit more,” the blue ninja instructed. “And you gotta focus, which yeah, is really hard, but you can- yeah, there you go!”

Rhon smiled upon seeing herself be able to do the fun trick. She was extremely tempted to bust out a “Hey there, sweetheart,” but as much as she loved her nephew, she retained her dignity.

“You could try this thing out on your girl,” Rhon suggested.

“Ooh, yeah you’re right, that’s a great idea!” He said, accepting her suggestion. “I sure will sometime.”

She rolled her eyes again. “Okay, fun’s over. You wanted the charm, right?”

“Yeah, you know how to make stuff, right?”

“Well, don’t you?”

“Yeah, but I’m not exactly the craft-tsy type. Draw-tsy, sure, but…”

“Bold of you to assume I’m not the same.”

He chuckled a bit.

“Ah, I’m just kiddin’. I’ve made odes of gold from my last fix. I may not be ‘crafty’ but I’ve got an idea. We can try it out.” She ruffled the short boy’s hair and walked off to retrieve a stool from her workshop’s auto-fixing… area… thing. The place where vehicles would go when she worked on them.

She returned to her desk and set the stool beside her chair, making an area of two seats. Rhon looked at the still-scattered coins on the desk. With the help of Scree (Jay was off poking around in her workshop. She let only him and sometimes Nya if they were together do so with the whole ship) she gathered the coins up into a bag.

Rhon readied her smelter and placed a large amount of coins- there not being enough later would be a problem- in it. Finally, some hard clay and carving tools in her hands, she made her way back to her desk.

Jay returned there at the same time and Scree made a perching area out of his head. She placed the glob of clay in front of him, leaving a little for herself. In front of him she also placed a piece of paper and a pen.

She sat down, ready to give him a few hours of her time. “What are your ideas?”

“Well it’s a Yin and Yang charm, obviously,” he replied. “We’ll be making that symbol with the charm. Each part goes to its respective party.” Jay reached for his head and scratched Scree on his neck. The eagle let out a soft churr. “So then maybe we could the elemental signs on each respective part.”

He carefully sketched out the symbol. He drew another circle around it, putting his two lines on one side and Nya’s curvy splash on the other. He labelled his with Yin and hers with Yang.

“Well it’s really nice but also too bland,” he sighed.

“Creativity’s your thing,” Rhon pushed. “Do something with it.”

“Well I can’t just… force myself to do it,” he argued. “Ideas aren’t made, they pop out of thin air, during the wrongest times, like in the shower, or in the middle of making-”

“OKAY, alright, yeah, sorry,” she interrupted, “I just hoped you’d at least have gotten an idea already. How long ago did you start thinking about doing this again?”

“Like a week ago, but in all honesty, there’s so much else to distract me about it, I can hardly think about something as detailed to the situation as charm designs. Like what about the clothes I’ll wear or the way I’ll have to have my hair look on the day I ask.”

As Jay spoke he looked down at his gi, emphasizing his point. His eyes trailed the intricate gold designs of the beautiful dragon that stretched across him. “Oh, wait! Dragons… dragons are really cool.”

Rhon nodded as he sketched down the design onto the paper. “You know, I hate being prodded, but I’m still gonna prod you. You seem a little nervous to do this. ‘Little’ is, ah, relative.”

“YEAH YOU THINK?!” Jay yelled. He seemed to know what to do, as he took the clay and some tools and began carving the shape of a half of the charm, frustratingly digging out the curves and lines. “I mean, what if I’m not really the best. Actually, yeah, I’m not the best, it’s a fact. What am I even doing, I’m not even as strong as Cole, I’m not as smart as Zane. I don’t have near Kai’s looks… those do run in the family… and Lloyd’s leadership abilities and social skills are beyond my ability. And Nya, well she has like, so much of all of those skills. I’m just a rip-off compilation of everyone. And I mean, I have freckles. What cute person has freckles?”

Rhon was taken slightly aback. Very aback, actually. It had been ages since someone had ever expressed such deep negative feelings to her before, since she wasn’t exactly the best giver of advice. When her sister had yelled in distress, she had listened.

When it came to family, she’d still listen.

She made sure her nephew was done and looked at him. “What cute person has freckles?” she mumbled. “I’ll show you what cute person has freckles.”

“Huh?” Jay said. “Nevermind. Stop staring at me like that, you make eye contact as often as I enter a fight without fear.”

“Jesus,” she said, tilting her head and frowning. “You sure know how to put yourself down.”

He suddenly looked as if he regretted everything. His eyes widened in realization, he scrunched back guiltily, and he purposefully looked away, focusing back on his project and saying not another word.

“You know,” Rhon piped up quietly, “I may not be the prettiest woman alive… I mean I’m getting so OLD. And my eyes definitely show how tired I am, and I’m rarely seen smiling. And have you seen this slouch?”

He continued to pick delicate strokes into his clay. “Old, huh? Thirty is old…”

“But when I was a kid, and I grew up with your mother, I thought she was the prettiest person alive. Us Staticholders valued beauty and wealth, so the way I was raised should really show how right I was. And you’ve seen your father, yeah? Up on the big screen, bein’ that cool, hot mess, famous n’ all. And though not nice-looking myself, I have a say in the matter for sure. And what I will say is that you’re a perfect mix of the two. You are the hottest kid on this side of Ninjago.”

He smiled a little bit. “Yeah, yeah, I guess that makes me feel a little better.” Scree flew off his head and landed behind his carved cast, cooing at him.

“And even if you had the grossest, most repulsive face in the history of every creature alive, your heart of gold wins above everything. You care so much about all your friends, and definitely about your girlfriend, and that’s all that matters.”

“And don’t forget you, you crazy old geezer,” he snickered.

“Oh yeah? Call me a geezer one more time and I’ll kick your ass,” she laughed, standing up off her chair and plunging her hands into his hair, messing it up in the everlasting aunt move of rufflement.

“Geezer, geezer, geezer,” he prodded.

“Oh you’re just asking for it!” she yelled, messing it up even more.

They settled down and she patted his head in a finishing touch.

“Okay,” Rhon said, “One more thing. What the hell is up with the freckle thing?”

Her nephew chuckled and shyly answered, “Ah, yeah, sorry, didn’t mean to offend you or anything..”

“Freckles, dear Jay, are like the beauty spots of the waking world. Nobody hates freckles. They are a damn blessing.” She tugged on the wraps on one of her arms and wrapped it off quickly.

“Holy shit,” he marveled, seeing her freckle-invaded arm.

Rhon gasped and smacked him upside the head.

“What was that for-?”

“You don’t just say shit like that!”

“But you do- you JUST-”

“Just because it’s me, doesn’t mean it should be you,” Rhon growled.

“Aw, come on,” Jay was smiling, an eyebrow narrowed. “I’m VERY grown-up.”

“The minute you say grown-up you lose the ability to BE grown up,” she commented back. “But anyway. How is your charm coming along?”

He picked it up and placed it in front of her. It was very intricately carved, a dragon with the dot in its jaw in line with the flow of the shape.

“Okay, good,” she said. “Now we have to put this in the oven so it hardens.”

~

Scree A. Buckbeak III soared above the monastery on his midday hunt. His independence from Rhon was only certain times, usually in the relaxation periods of the day. Relaxation for her, that is. He flapped down to perch on the roof. His claws scraped the fresh brick, still so smooth and perfect because of how recent the monastery had been rebuilt. He twitched his head sideways so that his eye faced the commotion of the humans below.

A newly-old-bodied Sensei Wu sipped some tea under the shade below. In the shade beside him, Rhon leaned against an outer wall. Wu put the teacup down and closed his eyes in a focused thought.

In the blazing sun, six brightly-dressed ninja were already standing aside, weary. They had already grown tired of their previous excitement for the brand new training equipment, and as it moved and mechanized in the searing heat, they whined.

“But Sensei,” Jay, Scree’s favorite, argued. “We’re already so… trained up and old and learned. Do we have to still..?”

“Yeah,” the red one agreed. “Isn’t there better things to fight around the island somewhere?”

The green one stepped forward, looking a little reluctant. “I’m afraid I have to agree with them, Sensei. Why train on useless things when we could be saving people and fighting crime out there?”

Wu opened one eye, gazing at the ninja. “I am quite aware that you wish to be the heroes of every crime in Ninjago,” he replied, “however not every nuisance needs a ninja.”

Scree turned his head and scratched the back of his neck with his claw. As the ninja began to train like police dogs the sun sunk lower into the afternoon, lengthening their shadows across the course.

He watched as Jay stumbled over to the girl, exhaustion evident in every one of his limbs. “The FSM is merciless,” he groaned.

She giggled and patted his back. “What happened to all that spunk you always had after hours of working?”

“It’s just not the same anymore,” he replied, smiling. “I don’t feel like a student anymore. This is basically a profession. We’re on the end of eighteen.”

“Come on,” she said, but her hopes looked like they fell a little. If Jay was the most positive ninja, him being negative usually meant a real emergency. “Just because we’re a lot older doesn’t mean we have to be so serious all the time. We can work without the weight of people’s lives or possessions in our hands, and just have fun like we used to.”

“That’s much deeper advice than I signed up for, Nya,” he joked. “I’m just… tired.”

“We always are, but we gotta keep pushing,” she responded. She lowered her voice. “Especially because of old guy and old guy junior over there.”

They both laughed, glancing over to where Wu and Lloyd were working on moves.

“Think they’ll care if we just run and ditch the rest of the day?” She asked.

“Oh, yeah. We’ll be in trouble, big time,” Jay answered.

“What’s life without a little risk?”

“No, seriously. Let’s not.”

“Okay. Well in that case, let’s do what we have to!” she quickly kissed him on the cheek before jumping up and getting in a position with her weapon.

With renewed strength, Jay too jumped into action, facing her, ready.

The two worked like magic, in and out, back and forth. Fighting against each other was a rare thing for them now, that was sure. It was different from fighting alongside each other. They knew each other’s moves to well and rarely struck.

Scree hopped off the roof and flew away to hunt again.

    ~

After the clay had been heated, hardened, cooled, carved, and all the works, the gold had been poured and set out to cool the same, twice. Rhon slid the second golden half from the cast, handing it to Jay for him to ink in some black designs.

“Can’t believe you’re really growing up, buddy,” she commented as he focused on the intricate patterns.

“Don’t be nice, it’s creepy,” Jay said, but smiled. He put the inking instrument down and smiled as he looked at the two halves. He picked them both up in his hands, studying them as if he were an archaeologist studying an artifact. They were precious to him.

He looked up. “Thanks to the ends of Ninjago, aunt Rhon,” he said slightly nervously. “I’m actually really glad I was able to think of things and you know. Make it myself.”

“It’s all gotta be from the heart,” she pointed to her chest.

Scree soared in through a window and greeted Rhon with a nuzzle after landing on her shoulder. She patted his head.

“Now get outta here, kid. Show her how much she means to ya.”

[dherzogblog]

songs/17

Hey everyone. Welcome back. In a break with tradition I expanded this year’s playlist well beyond the 80 minute limit of a CD.  in addition, and let’s be honest here, I did have some extra time on my hands to listen to music in 2017. So for your listening (and reading ) pleasure I present 1 hour and 50 minutes of the good stuff from the past year. I know, I know, it’s a lot. So is this blog for anyone who actually tries to read it. I’ll promise to try and get it back under control next year, but in the meantime…. enjoy! PS- Click on the bold type below for the music, extras and surprises.

Ride with Me- The Mavericks My theme song for 2017. This year was all about travel and figuring out what I was going to when I grow up. I checked ALL the boxes on the travel end, while the latter remains a work in progress. As the year began and I found myself “unencumbered”, I literally told Noreen to keep her bags packed. A few weeks later the always dependable Mavericks echoed my thoughts with this tune singing: “I gotta go… a whole world to see. So pack your bags up baby, Come along and ride with me “. And ride we did. From Havana to The Grand Canyon, Tokyo to Tel Aviv,  Motown to Muscle Shoals and many places in between, It was trains, planes, and automobile’s across thousands of miles with Noreen and as well as some good friends. It was nothing but good times, and I was so grateful for the opportunity.

No Particular Place To Go- Chuck Berry In 1973 a concert film entitled “Let The Good Times Roll” was released. It was a document of the then popular Richard Nader Rock & Roll revival shows that filled Madison Square Garden regularly. The film featured performances by Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Fats Domino, The Shirelles, and Chuck Berry. It was an era of great popularity for the vintage rock sounds of the 50′s. American Graffiti, Happy Days, Sha Na Na, and even The Beach Boys had helped usher in a “oldies” music revival. It was “retro” and” throwback” before  anyone coined those terms. And it proved that music that was once considered disposable as well as the exclusive domain of pimply teenagers had true enduring appeal. At the time Chuck Berry was riding the wave of his somewhat regrettable “My Ding A Long” novelty single. That song, as well as the 50’s/60’s revival in general is probably what got my 12 year old self into the theater. It was incredible to watch Little Richard climb all over the stage in a frenzy, his androgynous image predating Bowie, and his frenzied stage antics providing a blue print for Prince. Then there was Bo Diddley all in black, strutting the stage with his signature guitar chugging like a freight train, and Chuck Berry duck walking the crowd into a frenzy, it all had me mesmerized. Upon seeing the film, I was so blown away I went back to see it a second time just days later. It was the only way to see it again back then. The acts were all well past their prime and were considered mere “oldies” acts at the time. Berry was not yet 50. (He wouldn’t have been old enough to play Desert Trip) For me, it was a crash course in rock history helping me understand and process almost everything I heard after.

Champagne Corolla- Justin Townes Earle More Songs About Cars And Girls. JTE covers a lot of ground on this outing. He’s 8 albums into his career, and stepping out of the long shadow of his father. 

How to Boil An Egg- Courtney Barnett One off single from Australian singer songwriter making her return to the list. More messy, jangly musings on Millenial angst. She returned later in the year with a full length album with in partnership with Kurt Vile.

On The Rock- Bash & Pop Speaking of jangly and messy, Replacement Tommy Stinson delivers one of my favorite songs of the year. Good fun.

Bad Art and Weirdo Ideas (Quiet Slang)- Beach Slang The original version of this song appeared on the songs/15 list. James Alex the band’s leader starting touring under the moniker Quiet Slang last year. This EP contains some remakes as well as covers recorded in a “Quiet Slang” setting that includes strings. I loved this song the first time around, and even more so now.

Slow Me Down- Jess Ware  This year’s model. Yet another of the UK’s seemingly endless supply of soulful female vocalists. I love a good torch ballad.

Brand New Me- Aretha Franklin and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra I’m normally suspect of these types of projects. Too gimmicky. Messing with these seminal records borders on sacrilege, But it being Lady Soul, along with some of my very favorite songs I gave a listen. Pairing classic Aretha vocals with brand new backing from London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra  these reboots seem to reach for something else. Imagine them as part of an Aretha Franklin Broadway jukebox musical or the lush soundtrack to an Aretha biopic.  And while this particular cut doesn’t have the low key swing of the original, it does have it’s own big, brassy charm. Cinematic orchestration aside, these Aretha vocals remain stone cold classics in any settings. 

At The Breaking Point- Zeshan B Remarkable debut from an Indian Muslim soul singer out of Chicago. The album, recorded in Memphis, is a mixture of obscure R&B , and retro feel originals expertly capturing a mid sixties soul vibe. Sung in three different languages , including Punjabi, the disc also features a great rendition of George Perkins Civil rights song “Cryin In The Streets”

Feeling Alive- Earl St. Clair This young man from Alabama delivers a positive and upbeat message in a modern R&B setting. Plus, I am totally down with the sentiment: “My friends say I should live a little, gotta say yes more”. From his gospel influenced singing to the fiddle heard near the end, their are echos of the deep south felt throughout.

Sweet Love- Wizkid Slinky exotic riddims from this Nigerian hip hop artist

Skin and Bone- Phil Cook I don’t know much about this guy. From north Carolina by way of Wisconsin. His previous record (this was a one off single) was mostly performed in an acoustic country blues/gospel vein. This track reminds me of a late era Sly Stone groove meeting conscious hip hop. The message is right on time, so “clap your hands”.

Birds Of A Feather, We Rock Together- Vulfpeck Vulpeck are back with all their funky, eclectic, quirky charm intact. You not be be able to get the title refrain out of your head after hearing it once. 

Brutal- the Expanders “Man say it brutal out deh”. Perfect description for the world at large in 2017. This Southern California unit specializes in rekindling the spirit of 70’s roots reggae, specifically the unique sounds of the eras classic vocal trios. This is a faithful remake of the Itals track from 1981. Original Ital Ronnie Davis died earlier this year. 

Ladies Nite- Bootsy Collins It’s ladies night in America folks. Bootsy always knows what time it is. O.G.Funk style.

My Old School- Steely Dan (Walter Becker) When I got to college in the fall of 1977, Steely Dan’s Aja was just about to hit record shops. It was an immediate smash upon being released. Prior to that release I knew their pop hits, but not the LP’s to a large degree. I really loved Aja. I was a big jazz funk fan and it had a lot of that influence. Later that school year, during the blizzard of 78, I have vivid memories of that record blasting from nearly every dorm room stereo and radio as we were cooped up for days on end. My next door neighbor in the dorm (from Worcester/“"Woostah" Mass) was a true Steely Dan fanatic. He considered Aja a bit of a sell out on their part.  He insisted I listen to the 5 albums in their catalogue that proceeded it. So I did, borrowing from his collection one LP at a time. I liked them all, especially the magnificent Katy Lied. But the song that always stayed with me was My Old School. A funky (and and not a bit bitter) anthem with a blast of horns straight from E Street topped off with an unforgettable sing a long chorus. As of this printing the Becker estate is now suing Fagen. California might fall into the sea just yet, and but no one is gong back to their old school.

Heart Of The City- Los Straitjackets In 17 years I’m not sure I’ve ever included a rock instrumental. Los Straitjackets remain the premier purveyors of that long forgotten genre. On their latest the band tackle’s the great Nick Lowe’s canon. Super rockin fun all the way through.

Jackpot- Nikki Lane Stylish Nashville rebel with a great voice, rolls the dice and comes with a twangy and rocking winner

A Little Pain- Margo Price A slice of country soul heaven from alt country’s it girl.

Living In The City- Hurray For The Riff Raff On her latest outing band leader Alynda Lee Segarra embraces her Bronx bred Hispanic roots moving ever so slightly away from the alt country sound of previous albums. This track splits the difference nicely. 

Here Comes My Girl- Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers I vividly remember both the first time I saw Tom Petty perform, as well as the last time. The first was in Madison Square Garden as part of a tremendous line up at one of The No Nukes Shows headlined by Bruce Springsteen. The under card was pretty strong that night. Bonnie Raitt, Peter Tosh, and Gil Scott- Heron. I was a fan of all the acts and had seen them all play live, save Petty. I was not sure what to expect from Petty that night. At that time he had three songs garnering airplay and scratching the Top 40. There was the Byrds like “American Girl”, the AOR ready “Breakdown”, and the taught, urgent energy of  “I Need to Know”. That track had me wondering if The Heartbreakers might just be another skinny tie band. In addition there was the slight confusion because punk rocker Johnny Thunders band was also named The Heartbreakers . So I wasn’t exactly sure what I was about to see. His short dispelled any notions of a the act being new wave flash in the pan. It was clear Petty was more straight ahead rock classicist. The release of Damn The Torpedoes just a few weeks later would confirm that. Petty had arrived and was thrust onto the charts and into the big leagues. I was never a huge fan. I loved the best albums and ignored the others. I never found him a great live performer, but always left his shows happy. The songs were great and the band was top notch. Somehow despite his nuanced low key approach he became an unlikely MTV video star. He made continually great clips and they dominated the channel. Despite that, he never did promotions and contests, was rarely interviewed, and his managers did not work us nearly as much as his superstar peers. He toured regularly and always seemed to have a clip in rotation. He was the every man rock star, not bigger than life, not overly political, just writing great songs, hanging with The Wilbury’s and doing his thing. It felt like he was was always there, but he never was. A huge star, yet somehow in the shadows. Hence I rarely ever came face to face. My one memory is standing on stage at Live Aid next to him, and then Heartbreaker drummer Stan Lynch as they waited like anxious school boys to see the reunited Led Zeppelin. They could not have been more excited, anxiously awaiting the set to begin. The band hit the stage and started too play. It was a disaster, just awful. Half way through the second song Petty threw Lynch a sour look. In a flash they were gone, back to the artist compound. They could not bear to watch. I saw Petty perform for the last time just ten days before he passed. I was in the first row at The Hollywood Bowl. Early on I remarked to my wife “He doesn’t look good” (although truthfully, did he ever?). His energy seemed good, and his demeanor upbeat, but he was pasty and wan. He stumbled crossing the stage a few times, took some quiet puff of a cigarette hidden on the drum riser. And he was doing a weird thing with his mouth/lips/teeth. But honestly my reaction was not unlike running into a friend you haven’t seen in a bit where they did not look their best. Like everyone else, I was shocked when I heard the news. When all is said and done for me, it was the songs. Lyrics clear and concise, monster melodic hooks, classic influences and great production.  Petty had a chip on his shoulder for sure, but it fueled the hope, ambition, and longing in his best songs and allowed him to achieve pop perfection over and over.

Gentle On My Mind- Glen Campbell 1968. I listened to what ever WABC played on the radio. Around that time there were three sappy and saccharine pop hits that always managed to make my cynicism free, nine year old heart ache with melancholy. The country soul of “O.C Smith’s. “Little Green Apples”, the maudlin mush of Bobby Goldsboro’s “Honey”, and the gorgeous,”Gentle on My Mind”. 1968 turned dark quickly with the assassination of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy, the simmering controversy around the Vietnam War, and a divisive presidential election. The bright sunlight of The Summer Of Love disappeared as quickly, as did this type of 60′s pop (and psychedelia for that matter). Campbell continued to write mainstream and country hits, star in his own prime tine TV series (”Hello, I’m Glen Campbell!”), and later become tabloid fodder with his drama and drug fueled marriage to country bad girl Tanya Tucker. All of this conspiring to obscure the fact that he was a truly a tremendous songwriter and performer. I was moved recently watching the heartbreaking documentary “I’ll Be Me” which chronicles his battle with Alzhiemers on his final tour. Its well worth a watch and adds to the story of this somewhat overlooked legend.

Tupelo- Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit Beautiful ballad from the ex Drive By Trucker. A great album overall as well.

Transformation- Van Morrison If this sounds familiar, that’s probably the point. This track echoes back to Van’s great mid 70′s albums. It’’s smothered in enough tupelo honey, crazy love and  celtic soul to turn on your electric light and send you into the mystic. I’m gonna guess you’re all ok with that.

Midnight Rider- Allman Brothers Band  (Greg Allman) CLICK HERE for my earlier Greg Allman post (REVISED AND UPDATED)

Find Yourself- Lukas Nelson and The Promise of The Real Willie’s son and band fresh off the road deliver a promising set. This southern soul track recalls classic’s like William Bell’s “I Forgot to Be Your Lover”, and Delaney and Bonnie’s version of “Everybody Loves A Winner. That plus the pedigree gets my interest. Willie clearly raised him right.

 What Would I Do- Lizz Wright The elegant and soulful Lizz Wright delivers plenty of grace on her latest set of well chosen covers like this Ray Charles gem.

Have You Heard Anything From The Lord Today- Cody Chestnutt Elusive and genre hopping Cody Chestnutt returns with only his fifth album in over 15 years.  Better known within the industry than out, he always delivers something interesting. This time it’s a little bit of a little bit of faith.

Not Dark Yet- Shelby Lynne& Alison Moorer Two of country’s finest voices, and sisters, finally team up for an entire album. This is one of my very favorite latter day Dylan tunes, and they sing it beautifully. I was haunted by their version the very first time I heard it and have played it quite a bit since. I’ve always interpreted the lyrics to be the final reflections of someone getting ready to meet their maker. As 2017 brought some very tough days, there were times I couldn’t help thinking of it as a reflection of the state of our union and the planet. “It’s not dark yet, but it’s getting there” I thought to myself once too often. Here’s to a better 2018. Here’s the whole thing on Spotify: songs/17 The Herzogs wish you and all of yours the very best. Look forward to seeing you in the new year. xo dh Los Angeles, December 2017

[easynaturalhairstyle]

Dealing with thick, wavy and unruly hair for men

So many of us are obsessed with the thought of a thin reetch, it is easy to forget that baldness is not a man's only concern when it comes to his barnet: thick, wavy and usually unruly hair can do all the problems , also.

And with a Don King hair day, more than just your appearance can be affected. According to a Yale University study, men who aren't happy with their hair tend to be more confident, self-critical, and less sociable than their well-deserved colleagues. Even the thought of a bad hair day has been shown to dramatically affect self-esteem.

Before you literally pull your hair out, keep in mind that there is no such thing as "normal" when it comes to things on your head – just the hair that you have been treated by accident: hair that is unique to you. And what makes it unique depends on its structure.

Evaluate your hair type

Hair varies in thickness – from 50 microns (a unit of 1 millionth of a meter) for people with fine hair to over 100 microns. The thickness also depends on the number of individual hairs on your head.

How the hair behaves depends on the shape of the individual waves. Asian hair, for example, is often round, lying flat and straight; caucasian hair is slightly oval, which tends to make it fine with varying degrees of waviness; and Afro-Caribbean hair is flat and curved, which gives it its distinctly curly look.

In addition, hair density – how many individual shafts there are on the head – is influenced by its color, with blondes being the least haired and redheads the least.

"Half of the battle learns how to work with the hair you got," said Wendy Lewis, author of Hair Affair. "You may know best how your hair behaves, but making it look healthy, shiny, and manageable can take a little knowledge."

At this (shared) end, this guide is here to help. Whether your mop is wavy, curly, frizzy, thick or just refuses to lie flat, we have a battle plan to defeat any kind of bad hair day.

Dealing with: thick hair

In the same way that it is difficult to sympathize with a billionaire who complains about the price of maintaining his yacht, it is hard to feel pity for a man who complains that his hair is too thick. But if you're that man, a thick reetch can be a constant source of annoyance.

"For thick hair, the main issue is manageability and sheer volume of hair," said Jaymarie Winkler, general manager of the new Ruffians hair salon at Liberty department store in London.

How to style thick hair

In general, slightly shorter hairstyles work best here. "Think about Caesar fringes, buzz cuts, structured plants and short choppy quiffs," says Winkler.

If the hair is particularly thick, ask your hairdresser or stylist to take some of the weight off with special thinning scissors. "This can help if your hair is very thick, but avoid it if your hair is coarse as it becomes carbonated and more complex."

It is also worthwhile for the hair to dry naturally if possible, as blow drying can increase volume and make it look even thicker. If blow drying is important, stick to a cool setting.

What products to use for thick hair

Non-volumizing mousse, on the one hand. Thick hair benefits from styling products that provide hold without adding volume or stickiness, so Winkler suggests stowing on clay or pastes.

According to Paul Morgan, a hairdresser at Jacks of London, a good moisturizing shampoo is also important, as is a decent conditioner. “They will not dry out the hair and keep it in good condition, which is important because when the hair is dry, the cuticle stays [die äußerste Schicht des Haares] open and it will appear even thicker and straw-like. ”

Conditioners also help keep thick hair manageable and result in a sleek and less voluminous look. “Moroccan oil is great for thick hair because it moisturizes and can change texture and soften hair over time,” says Morgan.

Dealing with: wavy hair

Around 40 percent of Caucasian men have slightly wavy hair, and if you're one of them, you're in good company – David Gandy, Orlando Bloom, and Roger Federer are three well-known men who know how to drive the waves.

Like curly hair, the wavy stuff can appear voluminous and tends to react to the weather – whereby the wave is more pronounced in high air humidity or with drizzle in the air. Additional waves can also sprout in places you would rather not have done and become knotted and tangled if your hair is long.

How to style wavy hair

"Instead of a bad thing, wavy hair is in many ways the holy grail of hair types," says Winkler. “Pretty much all styles work, but everything that has been pushed back really shows off that wave. If your hair is thick and wavy, your hairdresser can take out part of the mass with a razor or thinning scissors without risking frizz. ”

Particularly good cuts for guys with wavy hair are the undercut (where the sides and back hold an ultra short with the hair worn long up), the public school side part (where the fringe falls forward) or loose and bridled (think Jon Snow or Harry Styles). Remember: the longer the hair, the more pronounced the wave. So if control is your goal, keep your hair under three inches or so in length.

To tame longer wavy hair that tends to be somewhat unruly, Morgan suggests tying it loose overnight. "In the morning it will have a natural, messy, wavy look – very easy to care for and effortlessly cool."

Which products to use on wavy hair

"I recommend using sea salt or a volume spray to give some oomph before styling with a shiny pomade or styling paste," says Winkler.

You can maximize (and maintain) your waves with hair products designed to define and improve curls and waves, while reducing the crazy scientist look with an anti-frizz serum.

If you really want to wave goodbye, you can always temporarily remove them with the help of a pair of ceramic flat irons. If your cut is particularly short, choose a model with smaller plates, as they offer greater precision – that's the difference between smoldering optics and second-degree burns.

Dealing with: curly hair

"Curly hair is curly because the follicle from which it grows under the scalp is not straight," says celebrity hairdresser and trichologist Guy Parsons. Typically, curly hair is coarser in texture, and the coarser the hair, the less water it holds and therefore it is the dryer.

"It also absorbs light instead of reflecting it, so it doesn't tend to look" shiny "like straighter hair would," says Parsons. "The other downside is that it can become frizzy in wet weather, so it's important to use products that create a protective shield around it."

How to style curly hair

Many people find curly hair care overwhelming and neglect it to the point of the 1980s comedy Scouser ("It's certainly not the easiest hair type to manage," Parsons admits).

You have three options: fight it by cropping it (that's how Justin Timberlake attacks his infamous curly mop above), remove the curls with a relaxing treatment, or – and this is by far the easiest and most authentic option – you can simply make the most of what nature has given you. After all, it's not like there aren't many poster boys for curly hair: think James Franco, Adrian Grenier and Carlos Valderrama. Okay, so maybe not Valderrama, but you have the idea.

"To groom and define curly hair, ask your hairdresser for a flat, layered cut to create a full, curly finish," advises Morgan. "You don't want too much thinning or texturing to take place." A curly undercut (short on the back and on the sides, long and curly at the top) always looks good, as does a curly quiff and hair that has grown to the length of the jaws a la Aiden Turner in Poldark.

Whichever style you choose, make sure you cut or shape it when you're dry. Curly hair is more relaxed when it is wet, jump back a little when it is dry so it is cut this way, guaranteeing the style and length you want.

What products to use on curly hair

"Product selection is critical to curly hair," says Morgan, who recommends a moisturizing shampoo to prevent hair from becoming dry and frizzy, alongside a styling product like Moroccan Oil Molding Cream. "It can be applied to wet hair and, because it's incredibly moisturizing, is perfect for curly hair," he says. "It will help define the curls and give them good hold."

If you are in a knot, take the right tool too. The hair can be tangled with a brush specially designed for thick and curly hair. These have flexible teeth that gently detangle and smooth the cuticles of the hair while minimizing damage. Likewise, drying hair with a hair dryer with a diffuser will help protect the hair and define curls without making them frizzy.

"For a more relaxed, loose look, simply dry the hair with a towel and use a standard hair dryer nozzle or funnel to straighten the hair for a more relaxed curl," says Morgan. "Or if you want to get rid of them, flat irons could give you a new look for the day."

Keep in mind that using heat on curls – along with alcohol-based sprays and mousses – can make dry hair even drier. So don't forget to reverse the effects with a moisturized, non-volumizing shampoo and occasionally deep conditioner.

Dealing with: unruly hair

Like young children, hair can be obedient and well-behaved, or unruly and defiant. Since your hair is unique, it is likely that it will have its own kinks and quirks. Most of them will hug you and have learned to live, but a couple – cowlicks and double crowns – can be particularly problematic.

Crowns are (mostly clockwise) hair swirls that form at a central point on the back of the head directly from the top of your head – but some people have two of them that create a "double crown". These can be difficult for hairdressers because they have to deal with two centers of growth to style.

Cowlicks, meanwhile, are small sections of hair that go against the general direction of hair on the head to create gravity-defying tufts that hold and defy most attempts to tame them with products like waxes and pomades.

Knew how:

"If you have a distinctive double crown, you have to commit to either a long, very choppy, or short style," says Winkler. "Longer the crown will complain, make it less noticeable, and short and choppy will hide it." Everything in between and you ask for trouble, with different hair pieces noticeably growing apart.

The easiest way to deal with a stubborn cowlick is to make a short, spiky, or structured style that works with it and not against it, disguising the hyperactive hair.

What products should be used on unruly hair?

There is no magic potion that can help here. However, some styling techniques can help make things easier.

For example, blow drying can temporarily change the direction of hair growth if cowlicks are an issue, while hair growth can help longer by weighing it.

Interestingly, washing the hair is less often a good hack, since the natural oils weigh the individual strands at the root.

Dealing with thick, wavy and unruly hair for men

[qualitytacolover]

Dealing with thick, wavy and unruly hair for men

New Post has been published on https://www.easypromhairstyles.com/dealing-with-thick-wavy-and-unruly-hair-for-men.html

Dealing with thick, wavy and unruly hair for men

So many of us are obsessed with the thought of a thin reetch, it is easy to forget that baldness is not a man's only concern when it comes to his barnet: thick, wavy and usually unruly hair can do all the problems , also.

And with a Don King hair day, more than just your appearance can be affected. According to a Yale University study, men who aren't happy with their hair tend to be more confident, self-critical, and less sociable than their well-deserved colleagues. Even the thought of a bad hair day has been shown to dramatically affect self-esteem.

Before you literally pull your hair out, keep in mind that there is no such thing as "normal" when it comes to things on your head – just the hair that you have been treated by accident: hair that is unique to you. And what makes it unique depends on its structure.

Evaluate your hair type

Hair varies in thickness – from 50 microns (a unit of 1 millionth of a meter) for people with fine hair to over 100 microns. The thickness also depends on the number of individual hairs on your head.

How the hair behaves depends on the shape of the individual waves. Asian hair, for example, is often round, lying flat and straight; caucasian hair is slightly oval, which tends to make it fine with varying degrees of waviness; and Afro-Caribbean hair is flat and curved, which gives it its distinctly curly look.

In addition, hair density – how many individual shafts there are on the head – is influenced by its color, with blondes being the least haired and redheads the least.

"Half of the battle learns how to work with the hair you got," said Wendy Lewis, author of Hair Affair. "You may know best how your hair behaves, but making it look healthy, shiny, and manageable can take a little knowledge."

At this (shared) end, this guide is here to help. Whether your mop is wavy, curly, frizzy, thick or just refuses to lie flat, we have a battle plan to defeat any kind of bad hair day.

Dealing with: thick hair

In the same way that it is difficult to sympathize with a billionaire who complains about the price of maintaining his yacht, it is hard to feel pity for a man who complains that his hair is too thick. But if you're that man, a thick reetch can be a constant source of annoyance.

"For thick hair, the main issue is manageability and sheer volume of hair," said Jaymarie Winkler, general manager of the new Ruffians hair salon at Liberty department store in London.

How to style thick hair

In general, slightly shorter hairstyles work best here. "Think about Caesar fringes, buzz cuts, structured plants and short choppy quiffs," says Winkler.

If the hair is particularly thick, ask your hairdresser or stylist to take some of the weight off with special thinning scissors. "This can help if your hair is very thick, but avoid it if your hair is coarse as it becomes carbonated and more complex."

It is also worthwhile for the hair to dry naturally if possible, as blow drying can increase volume and make it look even thicker. If blow drying is important, stick to a cool setting.

What products to use for thick hair

Non-volumizing mousse, on the one hand. Thick hair benefits from styling products that provide hold without adding volume or stickiness, so Winkler suggests stowing on clay or pastes.

According to Paul Morgan, a hairdresser at Jacks of London, a good moisturizing shampoo is also important, as is a decent conditioner. “They will not dry out the hair and keep it in good condition, which is important because when the hair is dry, the cuticle stays [die äußerste Schicht des Haares] open and it will appear even thicker and straw-like. ”

Conditioners also help keep thick hair manageable and result in a sleek and less voluminous look. “Moroccan oil is great for thick hair because it moisturizes and can change texture and soften hair over time,” says Morgan.

Dealing with: wavy hair

Around 40 percent of Caucasian men have slightly wavy hair, and if you're one of them, you're in good company – David Gandy, Orlando Bloom, and Roger Federer are three well-known men who know how to drive the waves.

Like curly hair, the wavy stuff can appear voluminous and tends to react to the weather – whereby the wave is more pronounced in high air humidity or with drizzle in the air. Additional waves can also sprout in places you would rather not have done and become knotted and tangled if your hair is long.

How to style wavy hair

"Instead of a bad thing, wavy hair is in many ways the holy grail of hair types," says Winkler. “Pretty much all styles work, but everything that has been pushed back really shows off that wave. If your hair is thick and wavy, your hairdresser can take out part of the mass with a razor or thinning scissors without risking frizz. ”

Particularly good cuts for guys with wavy hair are the undercut (where the sides and back hold an ultra short with the hair worn long up), the public school side part (where the fringe falls forward) or loose and bridled (think Jon Snow or Harry Styles). Remember: the longer the hair, the more pronounced the wave. So if control is your goal, keep your hair under three inches or so in length.

To tame longer wavy hair that tends to be somewhat unruly, Morgan suggests tying it loose overnight. "In the morning it will have a natural, messy, wavy look – very easy to care for and effortlessly cool."

Which products to use on wavy hair

"I recommend using sea salt or a volume spray to give some oomph before styling with a shiny pomade or styling paste," says Winkler.

You can maximize (and maintain) your waves with hair products designed to define and improve curls and waves, while reducing the crazy scientist look with an anti-frizz serum.

If you really want to wave goodbye, you can always temporarily remove them with the help of a pair of ceramic flat irons. If your cut is particularly short, choose a model with smaller plates, as they offer greater precision – that's the difference between smoldering optics and second-degree burns.

Dealing with: curly hair

"Curly hair is curly because the follicle from which it grows under the scalp is not straight," says celebrity hairdresser and trichologist Guy Parsons. Typically, curly hair is coarser in texture, and the coarser the hair, the less water it holds and therefore it is the dryer.

"It also absorbs light instead of reflecting it, so it doesn't tend to look" shiny "like straighter hair would," says Parsons. "The other downside is that it can become frizzy in wet weather, so it's important to use products that create a protective shield around it."

How to style curly hair

Many people find curly hair care overwhelming and neglect it to the point of the 1980s comedy Scouser ("It's certainly not the easiest hair type to manage," Parsons admits).

You have three options: fight it by cropping it (that's how Justin Timberlake attacks his infamous curly mop above), remove the curls with a relaxing treatment, or – and this is by far the easiest and most authentic option – you can simply make the most of what nature has given you. After all, it's not like there aren't many poster boys for curly hair: think James Franco, Adrian Grenier and Carlos Valderrama. Okay, so maybe not Valderrama, but you have the idea.

"To groom and define curly hair, ask your hairdresser for a flat, layered cut to create a full, curly finish," advises Morgan. "You don't want too much thinning or texturing to take place." A curly undercut (short on the back and on the sides, long and curly at the top) always looks good, as does a curly quiff and hair that has grown to the length of the jaws a la Aiden Turner in Poldark.

Whichever style you choose, make sure you cut or shape it when you're dry. Curly hair is more relaxed when it is wet, jump back a little when it is dry so it is cut this way, guaranteeing the style and length you want.

What products to use on curly hair

"Product selection is critical to curly hair," says Morgan, who recommends a moisturizing shampoo to prevent hair from becoming dry and frizzy, alongside a styling product like Moroccan Oil Molding Cream. "It can be applied to wet hair and, because it's incredibly moisturizing, is perfect for curly hair," he says. "It will help define the curls and give them good hold."

If you are in a knot, take the right tool too. The hair can be tangled with a brush specially designed for thick and curly hair. These have flexible teeth that gently detangle and smooth the cuticles of the hair while minimizing damage. Likewise, drying hair with a hair dryer with a diffuser will help protect the hair and define curls without making them frizzy.

"For a more relaxed, loose look, simply dry the hair with a towel and use a standard hair dryer nozzle or funnel to straighten the hair for a more relaxed curl," says Morgan. "Or if you want to get rid of them, flat irons could give you a new look for the day."

Keep in mind that using heat on curls – along with alcohol-based sprays and mousses – can make dry hair even drier. So don't forget to reverse the effects with a moisturized, non-volumizing shampoo and occasionally deep conditioner.

Dealing with: unruly hair

Like young children, hair can be obedient and well-behaved, or unruly and defiant. Since your hair is unique, it is likely that it will have its own kinks and quirks. Most of them will hug you and have learned to live, but a couple – cowlicks and double crowns – can be particularly problematic.

Crowns are (mostly clockwise) hair swirls that form at a central point on the back of the head directly from the top of your head – but some people have two of them that create a "double crown". These can be difficult for hairdressers because they have to deal with two centers of growth to style.

Cowlicks, meanwhile, are small sections of hair that go against the general direction of hair on the head to create gravity-defying tufts that hold and defy most attempts to tame them with products like waxes and pomades.

Knew how:

"If you have a distinctive double crown, you have to commit to either a long, very choppy, or short style," says Winkler. "Longer the crown will complain, make it less noticeable, and short and choppy will hide it." Everything in between and you ask for trouble, with different hair pieces noticeably growing apart.

The easiest way to deal with a stubborn cowlick is to make a short, spiky, or structured style that works with it and not against it, disguising the hyperactive hair.

What products should be used on unruly hair?

There is no magic potion that can help here. However, some styling techniques can help make things easier.

For example, blow drying can temporarily change the direction of hair growth if cowlicks are an issue, while hair growth can help longer by weighing it.

Interestingly, washing the hair is less often a good hack, since the natural oils weigh the individual strands at the root.

[dry-the-rain]

Sweet Little Surprises- 13 Reasons Why ( Clay Jensen) Imagine

Request: Can you write something about, first kiss, something sweet? I hope this is okay I made it totally cute and fluffy and stuff cos I'm a fluffy mode. ***************************

You felt something prodding in your side as you slept comfortably in your bed. You groaned turning over thinking maybe it your cat giving you its usual early morning ’ give me food you useless human’ wake up call. “Tibs, go away.” You mumbled swatting your hand around in hopes to find the ball of fluff. “I know I’m cute but last time I checked I wasn’t a cat.” You’re best friends voice startled you from your early morning daze. “Clay what the hell.” You yelled before crawling back further underneath your bed sheets. “Wakey wakey miss sleeps a lot” He joked pulling back the sheets and prodding you again. “No too early” You grumbled reaching again for your sheets, which were no out of reach. “Since when is 8am too early.” Clay laughed. “Since it’s a weekend and we don’t have school for one.” You mumbled burying your head in your pillow. “Uh… But have you forgot what today is” Clay smirked. “No I haven’t forgotten what today is, even more reason for me not to get out of bed.” You sighed. “Come on Y/N, it’s the anniversary of the day the world was first graced with your presence and I’ve got a whole load of fun planned.” Clay chuckled before blowing one of those annoying party whistles. “Oh come on.” You moaned. “Nope no more groaning and moaning, get your self ready we’re leaving in 10….” Clay smiled “… And you have to wear this.” Clay left a birthday hat and badge at the foot of your bed before leaving the room so you could change.

After a few minutes you where ready, you picked up the hat and badge contemplating putting them on, but you didn’t really wanna go around and have the entire world knowing it was your birthday. You walked downstairs to see Clay stood at the bottom by the door waiting. “Your chariot awaits you my lady.” Clay said in a pretend posh voice reaching his hand out for you to take. “Um Clay love, you my friend can’t drive and I don’t think that your bike seats two.” You asked confused. “Ah I’ve already got all that planned, just you wait and see, come on.” Clay beamed his adorable dimples showing making you find him even more cute than normal. You had known Clay a very long time and over that time you had developed a little, no massive crush on your best friend. But you never wanted to do or say anything about it cos you didn’t want to ruin your friendship with him and having him in your life as a best friend was better than not having him around at all.

“You guys took you fucking time.” Another familiar voice shook you from your thoughts. “Good morning to you too Tony” You scoffed. “Lazy pants here didn’t want to get out of bed.” Clay laughed. You punched his shoulder lightly. “Hey it’s my birthday you’re meant to be nice to me.” You pouted. “Happy birthday Y/N” Tony smiled handing you a gift bag. Tony had been your friend almost as long as Clay had, literally, you meant him a month after you met Clay. He was the only one who knew about your feelings for Clay, but he as any good friend would kept it as your little secret.

“Let’s go then…” Clay grinned before opening the door of Tony’s Mustang for you “… My lady” You stifled a laugh as Clay continued to act posh.

You were told to close your eyes until you arrived at the first destination. “Ok we’re here.” Clay said poking you in the side again. You opened your eyes to notice you were parked outside the Crestmont movie theatre where Clay works, it was dark inside, none of the lights were on not even the ones that light the sign out the front and there was a sign on the ticket booth saying ‘sorry we’re closed, come back soon’. “It’s looks kinda closed.” You questioned confused. “That’s because it is, to everyone else�� Clay grinned fishing a set of keys out of his pocket. He got out of the car rushing to the door unlocking it. You followed behind him expecting Tony to fall in step beside you but he didn’t you turned around to see him still sat in the drivers seat of his car looking at you out the window. “Aren’t you coming to?” You asked. “Nope I’m just here to drive. Have fun kids, and don’t do nothing to naughty in there.” Tony laughed before starting the car and driving off.

You stepped inside the now lit movie theatre to notice Clay no where to be seen. “Clay” You called but no answer. “Clay where the heck are you” You yelled again starting to panic slightly. See ever since you were young and lost your parents at the mall you had this strange irrational fear of being alone, and Clay knew that, hence why he was attached to your side almost constantly. “It’s ok, right behind you…."He said placing his hands on your shoulders.”…. I just had to press play on today’s feature.“ He smiled taking your hand and leading you over to where the concession stand is. "May I interest you in any sweet or fatty delights.” He chuckled. You picked out a few of your favourite snacks. “So what is it we are seeing.” You asked. “That’s for me to know and for you to find out.” Clay replied smug before leading you into screen 1. You took your seats and got comfy. The credits at the beginning of your favourite movie began playing.

You left the movie theatre hand in hand with Clay. “And on to part 2…"Clay beamed and as it on cue a car horn sounded and there was sat Tony in his trusty Mustang. ”… I’ve just gotta lock up I’ll be with you in a minute.“ Clay said heading back into the theatre to shut down.

"So have you two kissed yet?” Tony asked as you got in the car. “Haha very funny. No, I wish we would that would probably be the best present I could ask for.” You sighed sadly. “You never know…."Tony remarked”… You never know.“ "All done” Clay smiled sliding in beside you in the car.

You drove to the top of the mountain look over spot that looked over the entire city. This spot was special to all of you, it was your thinking space, your talking space. Out laid on the ground was a picnic and a stack of perfectly wrapped presents. You got out of the car following behind Clay as he went. “Look Y/N I’ve never been brilliant with romantic crap and stuff, so I’m just going to come out and say it. I like you, no I…I love you, more than just a friend and before you say anything and before you run a mile away from me and never speak to me again I just wanna do something.” He quickly pressed his lips to yours in a deep loving kiss. For a guy who hadn’t had much of history with girls damn he was a good kisser and he was sure as hell passionate. “Wow…” You stuttered as you pulled away. Clay looked at the ground nervously, kicking the dirt with his shoe and bright shade of pink ghosting his cheeks. “….Clay I’ve loved you for a very long time too. I just didn’t want to say anything cos I couldn’t ruin our friendship but I guess if you feel the same then…” You trailed off. “Be my girlfriend Y/N” Clay interjected. You pressed your lips to his again in a more gentle loving manor. “I’m hoping that’s a yes.” He asked. “Of course it is you idiot.” You grinned. You heard the sound of clapping behind you, you turned around to see Tony leaning against his car clapping. “About fucking time to…"Tony laughed approaching you both giving you both a hug. ”…Do you know how hard it’s been for me for months knowing you both had feelings for each other and not saying anything.“ He smiled. "Shall we eat” Clay asked gesturing to the picnic. The 3 of you sat down and munched your way through the picnic food, this was going down as the best birthday ever.

••••••••••••••••••••••• AN: Sorry I hope people liked that I'm taking requests for any 13 reasons why imagines so anyone who wants one send them my way. Love and Rockets Kay xx

[kadobeclothing]

Dealing With Men’s Thick, Wavy & Unruly Hair

So many of us are obsessed by the thought of a thinning thatch that’s it’s easy to forget that baldness isn’t a man’s only worry when it comes to his barnet: thick, wavy and generally unruly hair can all present problems, too.And having a Don King hair day can affect more than just your appearance. According to a study by Yale University, men who aren’t happy with their hair tend to be more self-conscious, more self-critical and less sociable than their well-coiffed counterparts. Even the thought of a bad hair day was shown to affect self-esteem dramatically.Before you literally pull your hair out, remember that there’s no such thing as ‘normal’ when it comes to the stuff on your head — just the hair you happen to have been dealt: hair that’s unique to you. And what makes it unique depends on its structure.Assessing Your Hair TypeHair varies in thickness — from 50 microns (a unit of measure equal to 1 millionth of a metre) in people with fine hair to over 100 microns. Thickness also depends on the number of individual hairs on your head.How the hair behaves depends on the shape of the individual shafts. Asian hair, for example, is often round, so lies flat and straight; Caucasian hair is slightly oval, which tends to make it fine with varying degrees of waviness; and Afro-Caribbean hair is flat and curved, giving it its distinctly curly appearance.What’s more, hair density — how many individual shafts there are on the head — is affected by its colour, with blondes having the most hair and redheads the least.“Half the battle is learning how to work with the hair you’ve been given,” says Wendy Lewis, author of Hair Affair. “You may know best how your hair behaves, but getting it to look healthy, shiny and manageable can take a little knowledge.”To that (split) end, this guide is here to help. Whether your mop is wavy, curly, frizzy, thick or just refuses to lie flat, we have a battle plan to defeat any kind of bad hair day.Dealing With: Thick HairIn the same way that it’s hard to sympathise with a billionaire who complains about the price of maintaining his yacht, it’s hard to feel pity for a man who complains his hair is too thick. But if you’re that man in question, a thick thatch can be a constant source of annoyance.“With thick hair, the main issue is manageability and the sheer volume of the hair,” says Jaymarie Winkler, a store manager at the new Ruffians barbershop in London department store Liberty.How To Style Thick HairGenerally, slightly shorter hairstyles work best here. “Think Caesar fringes, buzz cuts, textured crops and short choppy quiffs,” says Winkler.If the hair is especially thick, ask your barber or stylist to take some of the weight out using special thinning scissors. “This can help if your hair is very thick, but avoid doing it if your hair is also coarse, as it’ll make it fizzy and even more unmanageable.”It’s also worth allowing the hair to dry naturally whenever possible since blow-drying can increase volume, making it look even thicker. If blow-drying is essential, stick to a cool setting.What Products To Use For Thick HairNot volumising mousse, for one. Thick hair benefits from styling products that provide hold without adding volume or stickiness, so Winkler suggests stocking up on clays or pastes.According to Paul Morgan, a master barber at Jacks of London, a good moisturising shampoo is also essential, as is a decent conditioner. “They’ll stop hair drying out and keep it in good condition, which is important because if hair is dry the cuticles [the outermost layer of your hair] will remain open and it will seem even thicker and straw-like.”Conditioners also help keep thick hair manageable and result in a sleeker and less voluminous look. “Moroccan Oil is excellent for thick hair as it moisturises and, with prolonged use, can change the texture and soften the hair,” says Morgan.(Related: Men’s Short Haircuts Gallery)Dealing With: Wavy HairAround 40 per cent of Caucasian men have slightly wavy hair, and if you’re one of them, you’re in good company —David Gandy, Orlando Bloom and Roger Federer are three well-known men who know how to ride the waves.Like curly hair, the wavy stuff can appear bulky and tends to react to the weather — with the wave becoming more pronounced at times of high humidity or when there’s drizzle in the air. Additional waves can also sprout in places you’d rather they didn’t and get knotted and tangled if your hair is long.How To Style Wavy Hair“Rather than a bad thing, in many respects, wavy hair is the holy grail of hair types,” says Winkler. “Pretty much all styles work, but anything pushed back really shows off that wave. If your hair is thick as well as wavy, though, your barber can take some of the some of the bulk out with a razor or thinning scissors without risking frizz.”Particularly good cuts for guys with wavy hair include the undercut (where the sides and back a keep ultra short with the hair worn long on top), the public school side part (where the fringe falls forward) or loose and tousled (think Jon Snow or Harry Styles). Just remember: the longer the hair, the more pronounced the wave, so if control is your aim, keep your hair under three inches or so in length.To tame longer wavy hair that tends to be a bit unruly, Morgan suggests tying it up loosely overnight. “Taken down in the morning it will have a natural, messy, wavy look — very low maintenance and effortlessly cool.”What Products To Use On Wavy Hair“I recommend a sea salt or volumising spray to give a bit of oomph before styling with either a glossy pomade or a styling paste,” says Winkler.You can maximise (and look after) your waves with hair products designed to define and enhance curls and waves while reducing the mad scientist look with an anti-frizz serum.If you really want to wave goodbye, you can always temporarily remove them with the help of a pair of ceramic straighteners. If your cut is particularly short, opt for a model with smaller plates as these offer greater precision — which is the difference between smouldering looks and second-degree burns.Dealing With: Curly Hair“Curly hair is curly because the follicle that it grows from under the scalp is not straight,” says celebrity hairdresser and trichologist Guy Parsons. Typically, curly hair is more coarse in texture, and the coarser the hair, the less water it holds and therefore the dryer it is.“It also absorbs light rather than reflects it, so it doesn’t tend to look as ‘shiny’ as straighter hair would,” says Parsons. “The other downside is that it can become frizzy in humid weather, which is why it’s important to use products that create a protective shield around it.”How To Style Curly HairA lot of guys find caring for curly hair overwhelming, neglecting it to the point of comedy 1980s scouser (“it’s certainly not the easiest hair type to manage,” admits Parsons).You have three options: fight it by keeping it cropped (which is how Justin Timberlake tackles his notoriously curly mop top), remove the curls with a relaxing treatment, or — and this is by far the easiest and most authentic option — you can just make the most of what nature has given you. After all, it’s not as if there aren’t plenty of poster boys for curly hair: think James Franco, Adrian Grenier and Carlos Valderrama. Okay, so maybe not Valderrama, but you get the idea.“To maintain and define curly hair, ask your barber for a flat, layered cut to create a full, curly finish,” advises Morgan. “You don’t want too much thinning or texturising to take place.” A curly undercut (short at the back and sides, long and curly on top) always looks good, as does a curly quiff and hair grown to jaw-length a la Aiden Turner in Poldark.Whatever style you choose, make sure you get it cut or shaped when dry. Curly hair is more relaxed when wet, springing back a little when dry, so having it cut this way guarantees the style and length you want.(Related: Men’s Curly Haircuts Gallery)What Products To Use On Curly Hair“Product choice is crucial for curly hair,” says Morgan, who recommends a moisturising shampoo to prevent hair becoming dry and frizzy alongside a styling product like Moroccan Oil Moulding Cream. “It can be applied to wet hair and, as it’s incredibly moisturising, is perfect for curly hair,” he says. “It will help to define the curls and give good hold.”When you’re in a knot, pick up the right tool, too. Hair can be kept tangle-free by using a brush designed specifically for thick and curly hair; these have flexible teeth that gently detangle and smooth down the hair’s cuticles while minimising damage. Equally, drying hair with a hair dryer featuring a diffuser will help protect the hair and define curls without making them frizzy.“For a more relaxed curly look, just towel dry the hair and use a standard hair dryer nozzle or funnel to help straighten the hair for a more relaxed curl,” says Morgan. “Or if you want rid of them, straighteners could give you a new look for the day.”Just remember that using heat on curls — along with alcohol-based sprays and mousses — can make already desert-dry hair even drier, so don’t forget to reverse the effects with a moisture-rich, non-volumising shampoo and occasional deep conditioner.Dealing With: Unruly HairLike young children, hair can be obedient and well behaved or unruly and defiant. Since your head of hair is unique, chances are it’ll have its own kinks and quirks. Most of these you’ll have embraced and learned to live with, but a couple — cowlicks and double crowns, namely — can be particularly problematic.Crowns are (mostly clockwise) whorls of hair that form at a central point at the back of the skull just down from the top of your head — but some people have two of these, creating a ‘double crown’. These can be tricky for barbers to deal with because they have to deal with two centres of growth to style around.Cowlicks, meanwhile, are small sections of hair that go against the general direction of hair grown on the head to create gravity-defying tufts that stick up and defy most attempts to tame them with products like waxes and pomades.How To Style“If you have a pronounced double crown, you have to commit to either a long, very choppy or short style,” says Winkler. “Longer will weigh the crown down, making it less noticeable, and going short and choppy will hide it.” Anything in between and you’re asking for trouble, with different sections of your hair growing noticeably apart.The easiest way to deal with a stubborn cowlick is to go for a short, spiky or textured style that works with it rather than against it, disguising the hyperactive hair in the process.What Products To Use On Unruly HairThere is no magic potion that can help here. However, a few styling techniques can aid in making things easier.For example, blow-drying can temporarily change the direction of hair growth if cowlicks are a problem, while growing the hair longer can help by weighing it down.Interestingly, washing the hair less frequently is also a good hack as the natural oils will weigh the individual strands down at the root.Now Watch: 8 Grooming Hacks That All Men Should Know Source link

source https://www.kadobeclothing.store/dealing-with-mens-thick-wavy-unruly-hair/

[braindamageforbeginners]

Alternative Christmas Films

Full warnings in advance, I will probably be somewhat less coherent than normal, thanks to my terminal sleep deprivation getting tweeked by the holiday festivities. America has a long, proud tradition of basing the holiday season on what the media tells us it should be (in other countries, you’ll notice that Santa Claus looks much less like the classic character of Coca Cola ads). I’m not going to go full Sarah Palin and tell everyone that we shouldn’t get our celebration ideas from Madison Avenue and Hollywood, but we probably shouldn’t. We certainly shouldn’t get them from our super-creepy White House decorations (I’ll admit that we, as a culture, overdo holiday decorations, but there is a middle ground between “Puritanical hatred of Christmas” and “Santa binged on hallucinogens and threw up,” and it is not, “Krampus’s Winter Lodge”). At this time of year, if you’re American, you’re probably binging on both assorted chemicals, and that holiday staple, the Christmas movie. The problem is, there are very few of these around - there’s Bing Crosby’s Christmas Movie, the Grinch, The creepy clay-mation one (the other creepy claymation one)(the other other creepy claymation one if we include Robert Zemeckis’ “Polar Express”), A Christmas Story, and Home Alone. There are also two other Grinch movies, but no one cares. to quote the great R. Atkinson regarding the vast array of mediocre options, “The agony of choice.”

The good news is, since there is so little choice, Americans have started broadening the definition of “classic Christmas movie” to “Die Hard,” which takes place during an office Christmas party, and stars 1988 (some might say the star is Bruce Willis, but he’s completely overshadowed by the delightful excesses of stereotypical action films of the 80s). I’ll admit, it’s a tenuous connection, but when you have so few options, widening the net isn’t a bad thing, also, after seeing The Grinch 9000 times, I’ll happily nominate a different title. In a similar vein, here are my recommendations for everyone tired of seeing wealthy white people celebrate an idealized form of conspicuous consumption prior to global warming. And, just like I think there’s a firm middle ground when it comes to decorating, there’s a lot of films between “Nightmare Before Christmas” (or,  for a deep cut, “Silent Night Deadly Night”) and “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Like making a toxin-themed playlist for chemo, making this sort of list is surprisingly hard, both because every major director and actor in the entertainment business has some sort of Christmas movie or television episode (they gave Denis Leary a Christmas movie), and because there are shockingly few watchable ones. So, my primary criteria were, 1. This would be a film I would actually watch, and, 2. Requires a little creativity to directly connect it to the holidays. Of course, because it’s me, I cheat on those rules (I’ll note that where applicable).

L.A. Confidential - Like Die Hard, it takes place during Christmas (the first twenty minutes, anyway), and features almost-schlubby everyman Russell Crowe running around punching, shooting, and drinking heavily (this was in the 90s, before we learned that was just Russ’s daily schedule)/ The Thing - Trapped indoors while a subzero storm ravages the neighborhood, with strangers we barely know, as fatigue and paranoia about a potential alien invader take their toll, and death becomes slowly inevitable for everyone involved. If that doesn’t say “Christmas,” it definitely says, “Christmas 2018.” Side-note: This film takes place in Antarctica, and has become a huge part of the culture there (supposedly, after the very last flight leaves, the winter crew of the Antarctic research stations have a double-feature movie night featuring this and another classic on the list). Roadhouse - I’ll admit, I’m kind of grasping at straws with this one in order to add some cheer to this list, and what could be cheerier than Patrick Swayze in a mullet - at the height of his Swayze-ness - running around shirtless and punching people? Oh, wait, it features a guy being killed by a stuffed polar bear falling on him, that should count. The Shining - This is the other film shown in the Antarctic after the last flight out. Again, it features creeping madness, overwrought specters of Christmas Past, being indoors for extended periods, and murder. Which is both a very traditional way to celebrate, and also just an average Thursday for Jack Nicholson in 1978. 101 Reykjavik - I haven’t seen this one start to finish, but it features malaise and a really weird love triangle, which, as we now know, is far more traditional than we’d like to think. However, weird parental lesbian love-triangles were usually unavailable to the serfs unless it was Boxing Day. Okay, so it features Iceland (what could be more Christmas-y than a land literally named after ice?), emotionally unavailable people, and dysfunctional relationships. The Christmas Trifecta, if you will. Jingle All The Way - This is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s entry on this list, and, like “Christmas with the Nuge” was largely forgotten by everyone ten minutes after it was released to massive fanfare. It features a wealthy man slowly being driven insane by the pressures to be successful (and/or get that “Must Have” toy)(I am so glad that trend is gone from my life), and a blue-collar worker forced into petty criminality just to make ends meet during the holidays. It’s Christmas in America. Scrooged - Okay, so this is another one most readers will be familiar with, but it’s a modern day satire of the holiday excesses through the lens of Bill Murray in the only version of “A Christmas Carol” I’d still watch. Almost Any Shane Black Film - He’s actually admitted that he sets most of his films during Christmas as a cultural touchstone. And he’s written so many films, there’s probably one you can readily find to meet your tastes (maybe not “The Last Boyscout,” though). Three Days of the Condor - Again, it’s set during Christmas. And I’ve also seen it (and enjoyed it), and no one else will choose it. Also, CIA overreach and overreaction, while not exactly Yuletide themes, have probably shaped the holiday in more ways than we’d admit (that’s not exactly tin-foil hat conspiracy territory, Carter’s national security adviser  Zbigniew Brzezinski made a Christmas special with the Muppets (this is true, as far as I can tell, but it’s so out-there that I won’t vouch for its veracity), and if the CIA is willing to spend $20 million on telepathy research (that is absolutely true, and if anyone wants to know how America will pay for universal healthcare or university enrollment, we can probably get it by cancelling Pentagon programs that are based on urban legends), it’s hardly a stretch to imagine them tossing a little extra to producers to skew pro-’Merica in their Christmas specials). Santa Claus Conquers the Martians - This is another you’ve probably heard of. And, unlike some other entries on this list, I have both time and access to this title (sort of, I’d have to go rummaging through the DVDs), and still haven’t the stomach to sit through it. It is amazingly terrible (I’m using “terrible” to mean, “It’s so poorly-written and boring that you’ll get up to scrape the grout off your tiles).

[jesusvasser]

Dreamscape: Running Supercars Up Switzerland’s Gotthard Pass

The rain has stopped, but headlights still glimmer on the road’s slick surface, and fog swirls over the mountainside like lace curtains whipping in the breeze. Immediately ahead, there’s a Ferrari 812 Superfast and a Dodge Viper ACR. Beyond them, Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR and Porsche 911 GT1 road cars queue side by side, homologation specials from 25-unit production runs. In the rearview mirror, a Ferrari FZ93 and Aston Martin Zagato Shooting Brake stand out in the line of exotics that coils down the Tarmac, coach-built rarities normally found in museums. Soon we’ll run with this incredible pack up the Gotthard Pass in Switzerland, closed specially for the occasion. No oncoming traffic, no speed limit.

The event’s organizers claim that the Gotthard Pass has never before been closed for fun, nor has any other street in Switzerland. The road climbs to 6,909 feet over the Saint-Gotthard Massif in the Alps, tying German-speaking Andermatt in the north to Italian-speaking Airolo in the south, a vital link that just so happens to be awesome to drive.

In fact, there are three ways of making it from Andermatt to Airolo. You can drive the original cobblestone route or take the Gotthard Strassentunnel, constructed in 1980 to bypass the altitude and the wiggly bits in an arrow-straight line. The third option is the newer mountain road, built alongside the original cobblestones. What this road lacks in history, it makes up for in driver appeal, geography you’d normally require a parachute to appreciate, and the majestic engineering of its vast tunnels and precipice-spanning bridges. Guess which road we’re taking?

For $3,400, two guests get a night at the Chedi hotel, an evening meal, and the chance to run up the Pass as fast as they like before letting loose on a nearby airfield.

Florian Lemberger, a lawyer specializing in finance, regularly organizes driving events with the Supercar Owners Circle, and he somehow convinced the Swiss authorities to close the Gotthard Pass. In total, 72 supercars are here, the rules dictating that only one example of each may attend, though there’s been some inevitable flex—it’s hard to begrudge a trio of McLaren P1s. There’s definitely only one Maro Engel driving a  race car, though. “It’s a chance to drive the SLS but also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drive the Gotthard Pass,” the DTM driver says. “I couldn’t miss that.”

For a pretty reasonable €2,800 (approximately $3,400), two guests get a night at the high-end Chedi hotel in Andermatt (Lemberger’s real estate fund bought the place), an evening meal and presentation, and the chance to run up the Pass as fast as they like before letting loose on a nearby airfield.

Our ride is somewhat modest in this company, but it holds its own: the latest Porsche 911 GT3 with 4.0 liters, 500 horsepower, and a six-speed manual transmission. You’ll pay $144,650, if you can get one. That’s the same as a PDK model, but you get a mechanical—not electronically controlled—locking rear differential and lose 37 pounds, and the 3.8-second 0-60 time is 0.6 second slower.

A day earlier, we collected the car from Stuttgart and were soon driving in pouring rain in one stretch through Germany, touching 160 mph once it dried and traffic thinned on unrestricted autobahns, slowing over the border into Switzerland with its colossal speeding fines, then skirting past Zurich on toward the Alps.

There are detail changes throughout this 991.2-generation GT3: revisions to springs and dampers, a new operating logic for the rear-wheel steering, and a new engine cover and rear wing that sits three-quarters of an inch higher. The latter sounds insignificant, but you notice how much more it impedes rear vision than before. Together with a revised rear diffuser, though, the payback is 20 percent more downforce, Porsche says.

Supercar spotters mobbed the event (left), presumably really hoping we didn’t crash. Or perhaps hoping we would.

Most crucial of all, a new 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six, the one shared with the GT3 Cup, RSR, and GT3 R race cars, replaces the 3.8. Along with that 500 horsepower, it produces 339 lb-ft of torque, increases of 25 hp and 15 lb-ft over the 3.8. And you of course also get to choose manual or dual-clutch auto.

The 4.0-liter in the previous GT3 RS and R is mind-blowing, but there’s even more energy to how this new GT3 revs, an extra kick to a power delivery that feels entirely free of inertia. Push past 5,000 rpm, and the howl gets even wilder, and when you’re screaming to an outrageous 9,000 rpm, it consumes the cabin. This is easily the best-sounding 911 of the present lineup, a hair-raising soundtrack rivaled by few modern performance cars.

As we arrive in Andermatt, teenagers with $3,000 cameras spill into the road like some hybrid of Hollywood paparazzi and 1980s Group B rally fans. They move in zombielike packs, stirred by the growl of an approaching V-8 or V-12. They know the GT3 is worthy of a picture, but it’s understandable when the hotel valet asks us to park around the back.

A young guy, Johan Jakobsson, seeks us out. He runs what must be an inordinately successful wholesale coffee business (“and a few other companies”) and will drive his Ferrari 458 Speciale over the Gotthard Pass. “The manual?” he asks, eyeing the GT3. “May I sit inside?” He sets the perfect driving position, grips the wheel, and slices the gear lever back and forth with a satisfied grin. “I’ve ordered one,” he says. “I know someone at Porsche. They got me on the list.”

Beneath the hotel, the parking lot is filled with the most remarkable cars you’ll ever see. There’s a Ferrari FXX K, the track-only version of Maranello’s already insane LaFerrari hypercar. The owner fires up the V-12, the almost painful yelp of every throttle stab intensified by the concrete walls.

The car park of the Chedi hotel in Andermatt, Switzerland, (right) had never seen anything like it. No valet parking today.

Nearby there’s a Ferrari F12 TRS (one of two), its body inspired by the 1957 250 Testa Rossa and its silvery gold paint apparently inspired by C-3PO. The hood leaves the V-12 partly visible, its blood-red plenum covers exposed like a beating heart, and its chopped wraparound glasshouse is more speedboat than supercar. The driver turns out to be a minder because the real owner can’t be here. He also owns the red one.

There’s an Aston Martin One-77, one of the new-old Jaguar E-type Lightweights, a Maserati MC12, a beautiful Ferrari 250 SWB that’ll be voted car of the meet, and a lovely Porsche 930 Turbo with a RUF CTR conversion.

That evening, I attempt to mingle convincingly with the super-rich. There’s the guy who loaned his McLaren P1 to Ferrari for benchmarking ahead of LaFerrari’s launch; an Italian property developer, he would’ve been in his late 20s back then. Elliot Ross looks even younger, and he owns the 911 GT1. He’s from Scotland, says the GT1’s clutch is heavy; you can’t see out of the cockpit, but he loves it. Oh, he’s also got a Ferrari Enzo and an F50.

The Ferrari FXX K made much noise in the underground car park, but it didn’t run up the Gotthard Pass because of the FXXing weather.

Eugenio Amos, 32, owns the CLK GTR, a V-12-powered homologation special made so Mercedes could contest the FIA GT championship of the late 1990s. He says he made money in real estate, has raced in the Blancpain endurance series, and is enjoying the car. “There’s plenty of traction, and even on cold tires or if you drift it, it’s not so bad,” he says. Gah.

More than ever it seems like everyone is building a low-volume sports car. Paolo Garella is here in a Glickenhaus SCG 003 mule; Ameerh Naran runs a private-jet business and has secured an engine deal with BMW for his sports car; the CLK GTR owner plans a “kind of Singer version of a Lancia Delta Integrale” and has created a full-size clay model of the project. There’s even a presentation for the Aston Martin AM37 powerboat.

The next morning, this most extraordinary gathering of supercars fires to life outside the hotel, the constant volleys of revs sounding as though a SWAT team is storming the lobby. With the poor weather, some cars, like the FXX K and TRS, are heading straight to the airfield. The rest roll through Andermatt’s narrow main street, ready to run the Gotthard Pass in small packs at timed intervals. I can hear the first cars leaving, our group edging closer all the time, nerves jangling, the road still disappearing into fog above.

As a flag waves, a Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale leads us away. There’s the gruff growl of its flat-plane-crank V-8, the yell of the 812 Superfast’s V-12 immediately in front, and the induction suck from the GT3’s flat-six as I release the clutch and get back on the gas after each gear change; that’s a markedly different signature from a GT3 with a PDK. As the rock faces close in to our right, the rush of mechanical noise combines into one swirling din, soaring on the straights, rumbling through the corners.

The GT3 feels sensational. There’s no doubt the PDK shifts faster, but the physicality of the manual definitely adds another dimension of interactivity: The short little shift lever demands you work a bit to pull it home, and the clutch is delectable with its midweighted heft and oily consistency. Some might find the brake is higher than ideal for heel-and-toe downshifts; you might have to roll your foot over excessively to blip the throttle during downchanges. At least the blips come automatically in Sport mode.

The new Gotthard Pass isn’t as twisty as the old cobblestone, but it’s faster, smoother, and a better drive

But the precision of the GT3’s steering—there’s more definition at its top-dead-center, perhaps a side effect of the chassis tweaks—the violent stopping power of its carbon-ceramic brakes, the car’s perfect balance, and the way its feral speed never feels like it’ll overload the chassis unless you demand it are unreal. It is difficult to imagine feeling more at ease in anything else here.

 “What an unbelievable event,” he says as we pull to a stop. “I’ve never experienced anything like it.”

The road flows so smoothly as it rises from the valley that there’s little need to brake hard initially, but the wet, high-speed kinks get me wobbling at the wheel, praying the Porsche’s cold front tires bite. They always do. We climb quickly, and the route becomes more technical, ascending aggressively through hairpins, those kids stepping out into the road again, digging for YouTube gold and—you’ve got to assume—desperate for us to crash.

Someone tries. As we approach the summit, the road enters a tunnel that hugs the mountainside, protecting the road from rock falls and avalanches. I hear the 812 accelerate, presumably the better to hear its raucous V-12 melody. We’re doing probably 80 mph, and as the revs flick up, I watch the Ferrari’s back end snap out of line, the wiggle quickly slapped down by electronics. It’s probably no bad thing that the fog becomes much thicker as we reach the top of the Pass, forcing the pack to slow ahead of the checkered flag.

I park, unable to see more than the road around me, and wait for photographer Richard Pardon to get a ride to meet me as one extraordinary car after another punches like a phantom from the gloom. No one, it seems, balled themselves up.

Writer and photographer reunited, we run with a Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster with Monaco plates toward Airolo, and as the fog lifts, its V-12 battle cry rises, slamming gear changes giving a throaty punctuation to the soundtrack. The GT3 never loses touch.

At the airfield, suddenly it’s a summer day, and we watch as McLaren P1s duel against Porsche 918 Spyders in hypercar drag races. They accelerate off the line like marbles fired from stretched elastic bands, a sonic blur of screeching tires and hybrid-powered fury, the crowd peering into the distance, unable to see whether England or Germany actually won, just two hypercars on fast-forward vanishing in the haze.

[jonathanbelloblog]

Dreamscape: Running Supercars Up Switzerland’s Gotthard Pass

The rain has stopped, but headlights still glimmer on the road’s slick surface, and fog swirls over the mountainside like lace curtains whipping in the breeze. Immediately ahead, there’s a Ferrari 812 Superfast and a Dodge Viper ACR. Beyond them, Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR and Porsche 911 GT1 road cars queue side by side, homologation specials from 25-unit production runs. In the rearview mirror, a Ferrari FZ93 and Aston Martin Zagato Shooting Brake stand out in the line of exotics that coils down the Tarmac, coach-built rarities normally found in museums. Soon we’ll run with this incredible pack up the Gotthard Pass in Switzerland, closed specially for the occasion. No oncoming traffic, no speed limit.

The event’s organizers claim that the Gotthard Pass has never before been closed for fun, nor has any other street in Switzerland. The road climbs to 6,909 feet over the Saint-Gotthard Massif in the Alps, tying German-speaking Andermatt in the north to Italian-speaking Airolo in the south, a vital link that just so happens to be awesome to drive.

In fact, there are three ways of making it from Andermatt to Airolo. You can drive the original cobblestone route or take the Gotthard Strassentunnel, constructed in 1980 to bypass the altitude and the wiggly bits in an arrow-straight line. The third option is the newer mountain road, built alongside the original cobblestones. What this road lacks in history, it makes up for in driver appeal, geography you’d normally require a parachute to appreciate, and the majestic engineering of its vast tunnels and precipice-spanning bridges. Guess which road we’re taking?

For $3,400, two guests get a night at the Chedi hotel, an evening meal, and the chance to run up the Pass as fast as they like before letting loose on a nearby airfield.

Florian Lemberger, a lawyer specializing in finance, regularly organizes driving events with the Supercar Owners Circle, and he somehow convinced the Swiss authorities to close the Gotthard Pass. In total, 72 supercars are here, the rules dictating that only one example of each may attend, though there’s been some inevitable flex—it’s hard to begrudge a trio of McLaren P1s. There’s definitely only one Maro Engel driving a  race car, though. “It’s a chance to drive the SLS but also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drive the Gotthard Pass,” the DTM driver says. “I couldn’t miss that.”

For a pretty reasonable €2,800 (approximately $3,400), two guests get a night at the high-end Chedi hotel in Andermatt (Lemberger’s real estate fund bought the place), an evening meal and presentation, and the chance to run up the Pass as fast as they like before letting loose on a nearby airfield.

Our ride is somewhat modest in this company, but it holds its own: the latest Porsche 911 GT3 with 4.0 liters, 500 horsepower, and a six-speed manual transmission. You’ll pay $144,650, if you can get one. That’s the same as a PDK model, but you get a mechanical—not electronically controlled—locking rear differential and lose 37 pounds, and the 3.8-second 0-60 time is 0.6 second slower.

A day earlier, we collected the car from Stuttgart and were soon driving in pouring rain in one stretch through Germany, touching 160 mph once it dried and traffic thinned on unrestricted autobahns, slowing over the border into Switzerland with its colossal speeding fines, then skirting past Zurich on toward the Alps.

There are detail changes throughout this 991.2-generation GT3: revisions to springs and dampers, a new operating logic for the rear-wheel steering, and a new engine cover and rear wing that sits three-quarters of an inch higher. The latter sounds insignificant, but you notice how much more it impedes rear vision than before. Together with a revised rear diffuser, though, the payback is 20 percent more downforce, Porsche says.

Supercar spotters mobbed the event (left), presumably really hoping we didn’t crash. Or perhaps hoping we would.

Most crucial of all, a new 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six, the one shared with the GT3 Cup, RSR, and GT3 R race cars, replaces the 3.8. Along with that 500 horsepower, it produces 339 lb-ft of torque, increases of 25 hp and 15 lb-ft over the 3.8. And you of course also get to choose manual or dual-clutch auto.

The 4.0-liter in the previous GT3 RS and R is mind-blowing, but there’s even more energy to how this new GT3 revs, an extra kick to a power delivery that feels entirely free of inertia. Push past 5,000 rpm, and the howl gets even wilder, and when you’re screaming to an outrageous 9,000 rpm, it consumes the cabin. This is easily the best-sounding 911 of the present lineup, a hair-raising soundtrack rivaled by few modern performance cars.

As we arrive in Andermatt, teenagers with $3,000 cameras spill into the road like some hybrid of Hollywood paparazzi and 1980s Group B rally fans. They move in zombielike packs, stirred by the growl of an approaching V-8 or V-12. They know the GT3 is worthy of a picture, but it’s understandable when the hotel valet asks us to park around the back.

A young guy, Johan Jakobsson, seeks us out. He runs what must be an inordinately successful wholesale coffee business (“and a few other companies”) and will drive his Ferrari 458 Speciale over the Gotthard Pass. “The manual?” he asks, eyeing the GT3. “May I sit inside?” He sets the perfect driving position, grips the wheel, and slices the gear lever back and forth with a satisfied grin. “I’ve ordered one,” he says. “I know someone at Porsche. They got me on the list.”

Beneath the hotel, the parking lot is filled with the most remarkable cars you’ll ever see. There’s a Ferrari FXX K, the track-only version of Maranello’s already insane LaFerrari hypercar. The owner fires up the V-12, the almost painful yelp of every throttle stab intensified by the concrete walls.

The car park of the Chedi hotel in Andermatt, Switzerland, (right) had never seen anything like it. No valet parking today.

Nearby there’s a Ferrari F12 TRS (one of two), its body inspired by the 1957 250 Testa Rossa and its silvery gold paint apparently inspired by C-3PO. The hood leaves the V-12 partly visible, its blood-red plenum covers exposed like a beating heart, and its chopped wraparound glasshouse is more speedboat than supercar. The driver turns out to be a minder because the real owner can’t be here. He also owns the red one.

There’s an Aston Martin One-77, one of the new-old Jaguar E-type Lightweights, a Maserati MC12, a beautiful Ferrari 250 SWB that’ll be voted car of the meet, and a lovely Porsche 930 Turbo with a RUF CTR conversion.

That evening, I attempt to mingle convincingly with the super-rich. There’s the guy who loaned his McLaren P1 to Ferrari for benchmarking ahead of LaFerrari’s launch; an Italian property developer, he would’ve been in his late 20s back then. Elliot Ross looks even younger, and he owns the 911 GT1. He’s from Scotland, says the GT1’s clutch is heavy; you can’t see out of the cockpit, but he loves it. Oh, he’s also got a Ferrari Enzo and an F50.

The Ferrari FXX K made much noise in the underground car park, but it didn’t run up the Gotthard Pass because of the FXXing weather.

Eugenio Amos, 32, owns the CLK GTR, a V-12-powered homologation special made so Mercedes could contest the FIA GT championship of the late 1990s. He says he made money in real estate, has raced in the Blancpain endurance series, and is enjoying the car. “There’s plenty of traction, and even on cold tires or if you drift it, it’s not so bad,” he says. Gah.

More than ever it seems like everyone is building a low-volume sports car. Paolo Garella is here in a Glickenhaus SCG 003 mule; Ameerh Naran runs a private-jet business and has secured an engine deal with BMW for his sports car; the CLK GTR owner plans a “kind of Singer version of a Lancia Delta Integrale” and has created a full-size clay model of the project. There’s even a presentation for the Aston Martin AM37 powerboat.

The next morning, this most extraordinary gathering of supercars fires to life outside the hotel, the constant volleys of revs sounding as though a SWAT team is storming the lobby. With the poor weather, some cars, like the FXX K and TRS, are heading straight to the airfield. The rest roll through Andermatt’s narrow main street, ready to run the Gotthard Pass in small packs at timed intervals. I can hear the first cars leaving, our group edging closer all the time, nerves jangling, the road still disappearing into fog above.

As a flag waves, a Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale leads us away. There’s the gruff growl of its flat-plane-crank V-8, the yell of the 812 Superfast’s V-12 immediately in front, and the induction suck from the GT3’s flat-six as I release the clutch and get back on the gas after each gear change; that’s a markedly different signature from a GT3 with a PDK. As the rock faces close in to our right, the rush of mechanical noise combines into one swirling din, soaring on the straights, rumbling through the corners.

The GT3 feels sensational. There’s no doubt the PDK shifts faster, but the physicality of the manual definitely adds another dimension of interactivity: The short little shift lever demands you work a bit to pull it home, and the clutch is delectable with its midweighted heft and oily consistency. Some might find the brake is higher than ideal for heel-and-toe downshifts; you might have to roll your foot over excessively to blip the throttle during downchanges. At least the blips come automatically in Sport mode.

The new Gotthard Pass isn’t as twisty as the old cobblestone, but it’s faster, smoother, and a better drive

But the precision of the GT3’s steering—there’s more definition at its top-dead-center, perhaps a side effect of the chassis tweaks—the violent stopping power of its carbon-ceramic brakes, the car’s perfect balance, and the way its feral speed never feels like it’ll overload the chassis unless you demand it are unreal. It is difficult to imagine feeling more at ease in anything else here.

 “What an unbelievable event,” he says as we pull to a stop. “I’ve never experienced anything like it.”

The road flows so smoothly as it rises from the valley that there’s little need to brake hard initially, but the wet, high-speed kinks get me wobbling at the wheel, praying the Porsche’s cold front tires bite. They always do. We climb quickly, and the route becomes more technical, ascending aggressively through hairpins, those kids stepping out into the road again, digging for YouTube gold and—you’ve got to assume—desperate for us to crash.

Someone tries. As we approach the summit, the road enters a tunnel that hugs the mountainside, protecting the road from rock falls and avalanches. I hear the 812 accelerate, presumably the better to hear its raucous V-12 melody. We’re doing probably 80 mph, and as the revs flick up, I watch the Ferrari’s back end snap out of line, the wiggle quickly slapped down by electronics. It’s probably no bad thing that the fog becomes much thicker as we reach the top of the Pass, forcing the pack to slow ahead of the checkered flag.

I park, unable to see more than the road around me, and wait for photographer Richard Pardon to get a ride to meet me as one extraordinary car after another punches like a phantom from the gloom. No one, it seems, balled themselves up.

Writer and photographer reunited, we run with a Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster with Monaco plates toward Airolo, and as the fog lifts, its V-12 battle cry rises, slamming gear changes giving a throaty punctuation to the soundtrack. The GT3 never loses touch.

At the airfield, suddenly it’s a summer day, and we watch as McLaren P1s duel against Porsche 918 Spyders in hypercar drag races. They accelerate off the line like marbles fired from stretched elastic bands, a sonic blur of screeching tires and hybrid-powered fury, the crowd peering into the distance, unable to see whether England or Germany actually won, just two hypercars on fast-forward vanishing in the haze.

[wanderlust225]

Friends in Brazil - I'm a lucky girl

Growing up in South Florida, you meet a lot of Latinos and I was lucky enough to befriend a super sweet Brazilian girl sometime between 2nd and 3rd grades. Almost instantly, the Ribiero's became long-term family friends -- us kids would spend SUnday afternooon in the pool, Mirma and my mom would cook the Brazilian and US desserts (brigaderos and brownies) and our dads would tease each other over the perfect doneness of their steaks on the grill. Then in 7th grade, they moved to Maine, but our families stayed close and my mom reminded me just before my trip that they had fmaily in Salvador. WHen I told Kendrick when we would be visiting, he immediately reached out to the cousins and one of them, Marcos, offered to take Aaron and I out to show us the sites! After our new "routine" acai bowl and coffee (and today, a few Advil), Marcos picked us up and took us to the old city of Pelourinho. We parked down by the water, close to the old Mercado Modelo and then took the Elevator Lacerdo (literally a building that surrounded the thin elevator that took you from sea level to the hill above -- and cost all of 15 centavos or 5 US cents) up to the old city. The traditional sqaure was lined with old buildings from the early 1600s -- and I found it incredible to think that they are older than almost any buildings we still have standing in the US. They were all beautiful in the old Portuguese colonial style, but also colorful to reflect their beachy flare. When you visit Salvador you will learn two important historical points: 1) it was the first capital of Brazil (until the 1800s), before Rio (until the 1960s) and now Brazilia (the "created" city of politics) and 2) Salvador has the largest population of African American people in Brazil (and possibly LatAm, though no one could confirm that). This history created a gorgeous backdrop of old, but still grand, European streets (many which reminded me of Salamanca Spain, especially the ornate carved stone wall on the church of Sao Francisco). This backdrop, coupled with the sounds, dance and dress of Afro culture with bongo drums, samba and women in huge colorful skirts was supremely unique and is the specialness that many people talk about in Salvador. Marcos took us to our favorite restaurant for lunch, where we had moqueca which is a very traditional seafood dish of shrimp and fish cooked in a special coconut oil with African spices in a cazuela clay pot, all mixed together on your plate with a yellow cornmeal / flour topping and (of course) white rice. Although I'm not a big fan of seafood, I had to try it delicacy and it was so good that I had seconds -- though I'm sure the obligatory lunch caipirinhas didn't hurt my enthusiasm! After we said goodbye to Marcos, Aaron and I spent the last bits of the afternoon walking along the beautiful beach boardwalk and enjoying the last Salvador sunset. We passed the ferol (lighthouse) and Porto de Barro and went all the way to the old Portuguese fort, all which were fantastically backlit. THe people of Salvador were also enjoying the boardwalk and I ws surprised at the large number of runners! We also saw a scout troop (both boys and girls together - what a concept!) and tons of couples, families and friends trying as we were not to be blwon over by the immense wind (which I'm told is normal for Salvador, like SF's fog). The next morning Aaron and I both had early flights to catch - he back to NYC and me to Sao Paulo. It was super sad to have him go, but I smile to think how lucky I am to still have such a close friend from my Ameriprise days. ...now to convince him to move to the West coast... In Sao Paulo I was lucky enough to meet another old work friend - Gui, from my JPM associate training class. We sat next to each other on the first day and had the fun task of "presenting" each other to the group. Over the next 10 weeks we all became fast friends and since, Gui has come to visit both London and SF while I've lived there, so I was long overdue to come see him! Gui was an incredible host and even picked me up from the airport. As we headed into town, he gave me a drive-by tour of the city. He also presented me with a new (!!) pair of Havianna sandals - honestly the most considerate person! He lives in one of the main downtown neighborhoods with his super-sweet girlfriend, Silvia, who also works at JPM, and we headed to their apartment first. He showed me the gorgeous 3 bedroom apartment which is only blocks from their offices and later told me they together pay about 2/3 of what I pay aloe for my studio in SF. Ugh. Silvia's sister and friend were in town (visiting from Salvador actually) and we spent the day touring around with them. First we went to "Park of the People" next to their apartment building and watched the Paulistas in their normal Sunday park activities of exercising, tanning and lounging with friends and/or family. It was almost instantly obvious the ethnic makeup of Paulistas was much different than in Salvador and SP actually felt more like a European city than anything I've seen in LatAm. It was also interesting to hear the difference in political views (especially at this point in history when both Dilma and Temer - the past and current presidents, respectively -- were both under corruption investigations). But I'll leave that commentary off here... too much politics talk lately anyway... Back to happier things, Gui drove us through the jardines (garden districts). First, there was Jardin Europa which is the ultra-luxury neighborhood and with high walls and huge mansions, it reminded me of Beverly Hills in LA. THen we passed into Jardin America which was full of streets named for both North and South AMerican countries. Next we walked around Jardin Paolista which is on eof the other main business districts and, on Sundays, is closed off to traffic so people come out for a giant street fair. AMong the normal food stands and street performers there were also political protests. Gui took us to lunch at Tordesilhas, which hd lots of traditional dishes (like the moqueca!). I opted for dried beef which came with pureed squash and (super excitingly!) with kale. Greens! Finally, we went to Vila Magdalena which is the hip bar and restaurant area. In the states, most cities are fairly quiet on Sunday nights, but in SP, this is the day to spend out with family and friends. I had to laugh when Gui tried to assure me that people don't stay out "too late" though, "only until midnight." He was serious! We enjoyed a few caipirinhas while watching recaps of the day's soccer games on huge screens, situated both inside and out, of the bars, while also listening to live samba bands. Then, Gui drove me back to my "hotel" which was a Fast Sleep and conveniently ended up being inside the terminal I was leaving from! I only had to wake up at 4:25am for my 5:55am flight (making sure to fit in a quick stop for pao de quejo at the airport lounge)!

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Nowadays, restaurant and cafe growth is so rapid here in Kolkata that if you go to a place after about 3 months you are bound to see a new restaurant or cafe there!

Most of us like North Indian Cuisine, especially because of the richness and spicy preparations. On the same line, there are a few speciality restaurants focusing on individual territories as “North India” has many places!

We were recently invited to try out the offerings of one of the renowned in Kolkata: Peerless Inn for their Punjabi Food Festival at Oceanic. So, as the name suggests these guys focus on Punjabi Cuisine and the way they present their dishes are impressive (their taste is even more!) I had a chance to meet with Mr. Jimmy Tangree, Head at 91.9 Friends FM. We used to grow up with Love Songs played by him at Red Fm station in every Friday via “DIL SE WITH JIMMY”. Such a lovely down to earth person. He was just surprised when I asked him for an Autograph. “Me?” Eventually we ended up with a Selfie. He actually came there to cover the Punjabi Food Festival launch.

Oceanic has displayed a very special lineup of authentically Punjabi dishes for this festival. From Mango Lassi and Samosa Sadabahar to Makki Ki Roti and Sarson Ka Saag, the Punjabi menu is available for a limited time only i.e. 31st March to 13th April.

Not every body can live upto the expectations of a Punjabi Dishes and its taste buds. But these guys surpassed our expectations . The food was so so so yummy.

The word “Punjab” is a combination of the Persian words Panj means five & Aab means Water giving literal meaning of “The Land of Five Rivers”.Punjab is also known as “The Granary of India”, the northern state of India is very popular for rich food. Traditional Punjabi food is cooked in Earthen Tandoor known by Clay Oven which lend it a unique aroma.Punjabi cuisine has an immense range of dishes and has become world leader in the field.while talking about Punjabi food one cannot miss the essence of Vaisakhi in Punjabi culture. to celebrate the succulent Punjabi cuisine and Vaisakhi, at Oceanic, the multi cuisine restaurant at The Peerless Inn, Kolkata we are delighted to celebrate THE PUNJABI FOOD FESTIVAL with all pomp and grandeur from 31st March to 13th April.

The buffet spread will herald with starters like Samosa Sadabahar,Vegetable cutlets,Chaat chatpati, Chicken tikka,Chicken chaat, followed by Non vegetarian dishes like Butter Chicken,Chicken tikka masala,Mugh Shaan-e-Punjab,Tandoori Chicken Gosht Nawabi,Masala prawn and vegetarian dishes like Makki di Roti te Sarson da Saag,Dal Makhani,Dal Handi,Malai Kofta,Gobhi Kasturi,Palak Paneer. The buffet course will end with delightful dessert like Punjabi Malai Kulfi, Mango Kulfi,Gulab Jamun. Not to miss the special Punjabi lassis will also be there to give a gratronomic pleasure to our adorable guests. One can savour the cusines from the land of five rivers, from Monday to Friday at dinner and on Saturday and Sunday, for lunch and dinner. Sanjay Punj, General Manager informed that Cgefs from Punjab have specially have been flown in to design this menu to enthralls taste buds of all diners.

– PRESS RELEASE

The Dishes We Had : 

Starters :

Paneer Tikka – Paneer tikka has been a mainstay in the rich North Indian cuisine since ages and is a perfect example of a luscious yet healthy dish. House made paneer grilled with fresh exotic spices.

Chicken Tikka – A traditional and very popular Indian Chicken dish which is bursting full of flavor & colour. The word ‘Tikka” means bits, pieces or chunks. Chicken chunks are marinated in special spices & yoghurt and grilled on skewers till it is brown & tender.

Main Course :

Basmati Rice – A simple pot of Basmati rice can defeat even the most experienced cooks, especially when it comes to getting it right. 

Ragda Chana Dal –  I was not a big fan of chana dal during my childhood days and would try to avoid all the possible way but now it’s just opposite I like it much now to my delight. That’s a perfect looking dal don’t think the dal is not mashed, it’s not suppose to be.  Perfect to start with rice.

Vegetable Jhalfreezi – This Jalfrezi is a spicy smoky vegetable preparation with crunchy veggies, tangy cumin spiced tomatoes. A well prepared Jalfrezi  without having any creamy curry.

Malai Kofta – A delicious and rich main dish for any special occasion.  Kofta or Veggie balls are made from shredded paneer that’s been seasoned with fennel, coriander and red pepper flakes for a little kick. A nutty curry sauce of onion, garlic, ginger, cashews, tomato and green chilies complement the savory paneer dumplings in this healthy spin on an Indian classic.

Aloo Barain Curry  –

Gobi Matar –  This curry is traditionally a North Indian sabji. It is a very simple vegetable  dish that you can have with roti or rice. This dish is very light in the food and also gives a feeling of stomach fill up. This is so simple yet delicious dish.

Sarsho Da Saag – Sarson da saag is the favorite dish of winters. This is another gem of a Punjabi dish. Rich in flavor, nutrients and color, reflecting the culture of the region. Green, glorious, gratifying dish. It tastes really nice with Makai Di Roti.  The evergreen vegan combination.

Makai Di Roti – Makki ki Roti is a classic Punjabi corn meal flat bread that is spiced with green chillies and ginger. Famous Punjabi dish needs no introduction. Gosht Nawabi – Mutton sauteed with onions, tomatoes, cooked in creamy gravy. A delicious spicy dish and rich in appearance. Here Mutton is thoroughly cooked and seasoned with Indian spices. I was really ready to give me a royal treat with this mouth watering preparation. The pieces were succulent and tender and it melted in mouth. 

Kukran Shaan-e-Punjab – This dish is a balle balle Punjabi dish. It is yummy and delicious. Chicken is sauteed in onion tomato masala and flavored with aromatic spices and that is what makes this dish is so delicious. The taste is overwhelming and the taste is unforgettable. 

Methi Machhi Masala – Fish cooked in a Methi flavored Curry. It is a mildly spiced fish (Rohu) curry in yogurt gravy and a lot of fresh fenugreek leaves.

Bhutta Ka Pulao – This pulao is loaded with yummy sweet corn kernels, and is undoubtedly a favourite with young and old alike. I liked it very much.  With spices, Basamati rice and beautiful corn kernels, really packs a punch to complete a meal. 

Salan –  Phool Gobi Aur Mirchon Ka Salan is prepared with Cauliflower, Green Chilies and Tamarind Pulp. A vegan dish with warming taste.

Chicken Tawa Pulao – Chicken Tawa pulao is a traditional and classic punjabi dish. It’s a pleasant rice based delicacy which has its own unique and distinctive flavors. Normally the Punjabi dishes are spicy and flavorful. This dish is popularly known as the Kodi pulao which means chicken pulao.  I just loved the flavor ! This is delicious!

Mango Lassi – Mango, the King of Fruits has many followers world over. Punjab is no different. Punjabis love mangoes and have mango-based recipes in almost every course. It is soothing cold drink for hot summer days or to brighten up any meal. This pale drink is a blend of mango and yogurt. Relief after such Gargantuan meal.

Kulfi – Who doesn’t love a creamy Kulfi ? Prepared with milk and flavored with pistachios, almonds and saffron. Loved by people of all ages!

Rasgulla – Perfect beautifully presented Rasgulla. The Bengali twist in Punjabi festival. At the end of the day who does not love Rasgulla ? No Food Festival cant be ended without  Rasgulla in Bengal. These were juicy, spongy and soft.

Gulab Jamun –  Gulab Jamun is easily the most popular and loved dessert in India. Spongy milky balls soaked in rose scented syrup were yummy. 

If you truly want to experience dining like the royal Punjabis, with their lavish spread of extremely heavy yet deliciously indulgent dishes, Oceanic at Peerless Inn is your destination this summer. Of course, make sure you carry a gargantuan appetite.Though, you must not forget to renew your gym membership. I have to really start hitting the gym soon. Do not miss this festival because happiness is the feeling when your stomachs perpetually full with delicious food but you cant resist having one more bite.  We left with happy tummies and could not resist doing a “Balle Balle” .

For reservation kindly call : Ashim : 98317 80403 Sanjib : 91633 08730 Pradipta : 90077 70841

Special thanks to:

○ Debasree Roy , Senior Vice President at Peerless Hotels Ltd – For hosting us so nicely and extending the warm hospitality  and her team for service us amazing Dishes

○ Soumi Sarkar , PR at Peerless Hotels Ltd – For inviting us.

○ Rajdeep Bhattacharjee (Gourmets Travel Guide) – For leading us

○ I am a Proud Member of Panch Phoron #panchphoron

For more details:

https://www.facebook.com/ThePeerlessInnKolkata

http://www.peerlesshotels.co.in/Kolkata

Oye Balle…Balle…Punjab Flavour at Kolkata Peerless Inn Nowadays, restaurant and cafe growth is so rapid here in Kolkata that if you go to a place after about 3 months you are bound to see a new restaurant or cafe there!