New Pages in the Glossary
There are a few new pages in the Modern Traditional Illustrated Style Glossary. Among them is a page on the dhoti and how to wrap one. Check it out.
Featured Article
Restructuring
Sis. Nicole Lasher, webmatron of ModernTraditional.com
We’re in the process of restructuring the site. We hope to make it easier to navigate and more of a community. In the near future, we plan to create a discussion forum and perhaps a gallery as well. So get your links, pictures, essays and questions ready. More updates soon. 
Rolling Your Own Cigarettes
Disclaimer
To start with, this article is intended for people over the age of 18, or whatever age legal majority starts in your area. It is not meant to promote smoking, or to encourage any non smoker to begin smoking. It is a potentially harmful habit that carries a level of risk somewhere between working in a garage and actually driving.
If you do already smoke though, and don’t intend to quit, I would like to strongly encourage you to consider rolling your own. The hand rolled cigarette or “zig-zag” has come a long way since the old days.
R.Y.O.
The best reason I can think of to start rolling your own is because the vast majority of pre-packaged cigarettes aren’t really just tobacco. Most people who smoke them think they’re smoking a real cigarette, but
what they’re getting is a cocktail of chemically treated paper, solvents, and only a fraction of it is tobacco. It’s usually tobacco of such a low quality that it should embarass the manufacturers.
What is in there is also dry, which makes it harder on the throat and lungs. The physical damage from this starts long before the smoke enters the lungs. It’s just plain unpleasant, and there’s really no reason to do that to yourself except nicotine addiction.
…and speaking of nicotine addiction, did you know that your body will automatically react badly to a nicotine overdose, no matter how addicted you are? Nicotine is one of those chemicals that a person can’t
tolerate more than so much of it at a time. If you have too much, your body will treat it like poison. You will sweat, become dizzy, probably throw up, and maybe even faint.
I assure you though, that you would have to smoke many, many pre packaged cigarettes before you have a chance of passing out. This is because pre packaged cigarettes are specifically designed to keep you addicted.
Lights are even worse than regulars, because the less nicotine there is in a cigarette, the more cigarettes you’ll have the urge to smoke. Whereas, the more nicotine there is in a cigarette, the less often you’ll have the urge to smoke. Your body will react badly to getting too much nicotine.
Better Smoke = Less Smoking
This brings me to the second good reason to start rolling your own: you will smoke less. When you’re smoking real 100% tobacco cigarettes with no paper except for the wrapper, you’ll get the full flavor and full nicotine dosage. It will be much tastier, and stronger, and you won’t want to inhale the smoke as deeply as you would with pre packaged cigs. You’ll also take fewer puffs.
Something amazing will happen along the way too. You’ll start to view cigarettes the same way most coffee drinkers view coffee. Sure you might have some withdrawals when you quit, but it won’t seem nearly as impossible as before to go say, half a day or more without having a cigarette. You’ll realize that tobacco/nicotine is indeed a stimulant. It helps you stay awake, keep dancing, and be less hungry.
You might even start experimenting, which brings me to a third very good reason to start rolling your own: you can put whatever you want in your cigarettes.
As you become less dependent on smoking, and more into the tobacco for its actual effects, you might want to consider other smoking herbs. There are so many beautiful, aromatic plants available, that will help you to cut back or maybe even eliminate your nicotine addiction.
I seriously advise consulting an herbalist who specializes in smoking herbs before trying things on your own, and once you do you will be glad you did.
Starting to roll your own cigarettes takes some commitment though. Starting out, it is very tempting to go back to the pack, because pre packaged cigarettes are so convenient. It’s difficult to break the habit of easy access. On top of that, some people may look at you suspiciously because they think you might be smoking something illegal. This can be especially problematic when smoking perfectly legal herbal mixtures.
I once got accusatory remarks from a waitress at a pub while smoking a fatty with my sweet mix, that includes tobacco, passiflora incarnata, and chamomile. So prepare to be asked and to answer many questions.
On the positive side of being observed though, some guys find my rolling abilities to be very sexy. Real tobacco also smells better than pre packaged cigs, and you can even flavor it to your liking. So no more “ashtray mouth”, sour smell, and triggering allergies left and right. Some will still complain, but not as much.
To me, it was worth the patience it takes to actually roll each cigarette one by one. It is also worth the questions and strange looks. I was smoking two packs of pre packaged cigarettes a day for almost 7 years. Now I smoke maybe 12 cigarettes a day on a very hard day. Usually I might smoke 6, but I never really finish any of them.
When I was smoking two packs of pre packaged cigarettes a day, I used to smoke them almost to the filter. I almost always had a cigarette in my hand. I took them with me wherever I went, and my life revolved around having a smoke. I was spending about $270 a month on it. Now I spend less than $100 a month on it, and that mainly because I like very good, natural tobacco, and some expensive flavored ones mixed.
Filters
One more thing though…filters. Filters are the reason many people won’t start rolling their own. What you should know is that you can get filters at almost anyplace you can get papers. They’re usually made of cotton or cellulose, just like the filters of the pre-packaged cigarettes. These are not to be confused with “roll-ups”. Roll-ups
often come with some packs of papers, and don’t do the same job. You need to buy filters separately, but they’re very inexpensive.
Some people prefer to use pre rolled paper with filters, and an “injector” that basically rolls a tube of tobacco, and shoots it into the pre roll. I don’t personally like these though. They break more easily, and you end up dependent on pre rolled papers. You’re much better off using a rolling machine or just doing it by hand. Practice makes
perfect. A quick tip is to curl one of the corners, and insert the paper diagonally. This way you’ll get a perfect roll, and no back-flapping if the paper is a little wide.
So in summary, rolling your own gives you a better cigarette at a better cost. It will also ultimately free you from having to smoke as much or as often. Quitting smoking would be the healthiest way, but until you do, rolling your own will be alot better for you than pre packaged.
Pros and Cons of Mineral Oil for the Skin
Winter is here, and the battle against dry skin and the effects of close fitting clothing begins. With all the new research and conflicting opinions, it can be difficult to decide what’s the best and safest way to moisturize one’s skin. I hope in this article, to help you to figure out what choices are best for you as an individual.
Mineral Oil vs. Animal Oils vs. Vegetable Oils
The research came out a few years ago, that cosmetic grade mineral oil is relatively safe for skin. Since then, there has been an intense debate between scientists, estheticians, and laypersons, about whether or not it is truly safe, or if the claims of safety are just propaganda.
I don’t personally know who is right about mineral oil, but I am certain that anything that is mass produced has some risk of contamination. So the olive oil that you use in your salad, and actually ingest, may be more unsafe than your facial cream, since you eat the salad oil and don’t eat face cream. If something isn’t causing you problems, then there’s no reason other than personal preference to choose one thing over another.
Taking personal choice into account though, the more relevant question about mineral oil vs. others is what you need an oil to do for you. Would your needs be better served by mineral oil or some other? Superiority
is a more relevant question than safety.
Mineral oil is an emollient. It basically creates a seal over your skin that helps to hold moisture in, and keep other things out.
For people who live in climates that are colder and/or drier than they are naturally adapted to, mineral oil has been helpful in preventing cracking and flaking, as well as in keeping warm. We also know that well moisturized skin is better protected against bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
…but is there something better?
Recently, it has been found that well refined sunflower oil is better than mineral oil at protecting the skin and preventing infection.
Emu oil is also bacteriostatic, and shea butter even helps to kill bacteria while balancing the skin’s natural protective oil, sebum. So why is anyone still using mineral oil, when there are so many alternatives?
Well, for one, it’s cheaper than some, and it tends not to aggravate allergies. For a generally sold product, this is a good thing. It also blends well with other oils and extracts, so if you mix them yourself, you can make a nice, smooth suspension in your own kitchen.
So mineral oil might not be the evil that proponents of “natural” cosmetics made it out to be, but it’s certainly not the best choice either. It’s also not an either-or choice. You can use a mixture, and get the benefits of many oils at once. Just whatever you do, don’t do it blindly. Try different things and see which is right for you.
Ah…what’s right…
Well, there is another thing to consider before choosing whether or not to use mineral oil or others. That is the contribution, albeit very small, to the fossil fuels industry. Mineral oil is a petroleum product, and regardless of which political side you’re on, we can all agree that there are a few people getting rich on the backs of the poor.
Big oil companies are so ingrained in the world’s infrastructure that almost nobody can completely avoid any use of any products in their chain, but if everyone did what little they could, it would still make a difference.
Even when you use a plant oil, those plants were harvested and processed using machines that are directly or indirectly powered by fossil fuels. However, plant and animal derived oils support farmers more than they support
oil fields. If you live in the right area, you may even be boosting your local economy by choosing the non mineral option.
So if you’re the type of person who doesn’t drive, or drives a hybrid car to reduce your environmental impact and contributions to big oil, then you should be using a plant oil whenever you can. In the long run, this is better for your skin and your world.
Professional Head Wrap Styling
Gelee, khimar, and other scarves and headwraps are usually done by the wearer for themselves, but if you know an expert, you can have your wrap done professionally. Head scarf artists in Africa, the middle east, and other parts of the world provide their services for weddings, formal occasions, and those who prefer a precise wrap that looks good from every angle.
Aisha Bilal, Nanees Selim, and others use beautiful fabrics, pins, and decorative materials to create unique and fabulous designs. A trip through YouTube will reveal many willing to teach others their head wrapping methods and styles.
If you’re a hair stylist, especially a natural or African hair culturist, becoming an expert in scarves will be good for your business. Wrapping is good for times when the hair needs to rest from styling tension and to protect the hair from the harsh elements. It will also enhance your services to the modest dresser, since you’ll be able to finish them
with a beautiful wrap, not just shoo them away when you’re done with their hair and let them fend for themselves.
Adding wrapping to your repertoire is inexpensive, but you will need to know where to get the right supplies, and be aware of safety and sanitation. If you’ll only be doing wraps, you don’t need a hair styling license, but you will still need to study proper disposal, contagious diseases, and proper handling of hazardous materials, as well as proper cleaning and storage of fabrics. You don’t want to cause any allergic reactions because you didn’t use a green detergent or spread pediculosis because you put a used scarf back in your box.
You can get swatches and remnants for cheap from just about any fabric store. It’s nice to keep a supply of these handy aside of a collection of full sized scarves, so that you can have things on hand that will match the patrons’ clothing more closely. The smaller pieces can be made into flowers or used to cover hair sticks or for other nice accents.
Be creative with it.
Good pins are also important. Though some are okay with straight pins, I prefer safety pins and hair pins. They’re not as easy to conceal, but they are more secure. I recommend getting a collection of hair matching and colorful hair pins, many small safety pins, and sitting down to make a nice collection of hijab/scarf pins. You can also buy pretty pins already pre made for this purpose.
Practice makes perfect in this art. Seek as many opportunities as you can to style scarves for your friends and family. If you like, send us some photos of your work.
