Hair Warfare: The Battle For My Edges!

***Waving*** Hey Y'all!!!

 

Okay...this post is going "keep it real"! By real, I mean as honest as I can be. Do you mind if I get on my soapbox for a second? I get tired of people posting about their hair journeys/issues/roadblocks, but they never really show the struggle! Do you know what I mean? They talk a lot about problems they encountered, but where's the proof? Many show us the beautiful "after" pictures. The pictures where they have followed some strict regime and they obtained the length or thickness or whatever they were aiming for, but where are the BUSTED pictures? *Smile* I know that no one really wants to be put themselves out badly on the world wide web, but I think if more did, it would add some validity to their claims.

Alright, on to my post....as some of you may have gathered, my husband and I recently had a beautiful bouncing baby boy in July of this year. I love my little Ty and he's such a blessing to my family! Now, Ty isn't my first baby. I also have a 3-year old so pregnancy and dealing with postpartum issues were not strangers to me. This time around, however, I experienced something I didn't with my first child. I had to deal with SHEDDING! Now, many moms in the postpartum phase deal with a much more noticeable amount of shedding after having a baby because while pregnant, hair stays in the growing phase and it doesn't shed. So basically, in the postpartum period, you start to shed all that hair that you more than likely would have shed if you hadn't been pregnant.

Now let me be clear, I have never had edges that almost touch my eyebrows or really thick edges. By genetics, my edges have always been the finest part of my hair and that's fine with me! I know what I can and cannot do with my hair and I work with my hair instead of trying to make it do things that would stress it out. As long as my hair is healthy, I'm just fine with what God has given me to work with! (Self-love starts with acceptance!)

Well, after I had Ty, I expected that I would have some shedding, but I never would have imagined that the shedding would take place mainly in the front of my hair, near my hairline! Imagine my utter dismay, when I was washing my hair and it kept shedding...in the front! I was like, "Come on God! You know I have a big forehead! Can I get some shedding in the back please! That's much easier to disguise." By mid-September, I was almost on the verge of a major freak out! Instead of having a break down, I started to ask questions and do some research. After consulting with a few people and surfing Google, I developed a plan of action. My regime and products were fine so I stuck with what I was doing, but I decided to incorporate Castor oil and supplements (MSM and Biotin) into my routine.

****DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical doctor nor am I in the medical field. I chose to use things that I felt would work for me. I am not advising that anyone do what I did without consulting his/her physician. If you choose to do so, you do so at your own discretion and risk.****

Now, many people raved about Castor oil, MSM, and Biotin, but I didn't see too many believable pictures/videos that showed if they actually worked. So I decided to really document the process, like I did when I was transitioning to natural hair. For most folks, seeing is believing! This is an ongoing thing, but I'm posting these pictures because I really want to help somebody. I know that for many, hair issues can be discouraging, but with consistency, diligence and most importantly, patience, I believe many hair problems can be fixed with positive results.

This picture was taken on September 22, 2011 at 7:17 PM CST. (I have time and date stamps on my pictures.)

This picture was taken a little over two months later on November 30, 2011 at 3:31 AM CST. (Yes, I took the picture this morning!)

Now as you can see from the pictures above, there is definitely a difference in my edges! They are not 100% back to how they were pre-pregnancy, but they are definitely getting there! If you also look closely, you should be able to see a difference in my eyebrows. I use the Castor oil on my eyebrows and eyelashes and I can also notice a difference in them. With the right mascara, it looks like I'm wearing some falsies. (As a matter of fact, my husband thought I had on some lashes last weekend so y'all know there has to be some difference if a man notices!) I'm very happy with the results so far and I'll do another update in a few months.

This post is getting long so if you guys want to know exactly how I used the Castor oil and supplements (amounts and frequency), leave me some comments! If I get enough feedback, I'll give you the play by play of how I use the items in conjunction with my normal hair routine.

My challenge for today is to start taking proactive steps to handle whatever situation you might be going through in your life. Instead of crying about it, get up and do something about it! If your significant other isn't acting right or your job isn't fulfilling or your prayer life is not where it should be, take the steps to make things better. Counseling, filling out job applications, making time to communicate with God---whatever it takes, do it! We have to stop talking about things at some point and start doing something to see the change! God bless!

My Puff: The Difference in a Year!

***Yawning*** Good morning....

If I were talking, my voice would sound like a groggy whisper. I've been up since about 3:45 AM with my Ty Ty. It's just part of being a mother to a 4 month old...

Anyhoo, this post will not be long. I just wanted to post a couple pictures to show how my puff has grown in a year's time. Now, I did give myself a mini hair cut (About 1 1/2 inches) about 2 months ago so keep that in mind.

The first picture is from November 2010. You probably recognize it from the home page of my blog.

 The second picture was taken last week so it is from November 2011.

Now, how do I get growth? I can't say I do protective styles all the time, BUT I do keep my hands out of my hair and I try not to overmanipulate hair, even when it is in my staple style---the puff. Over the last year, I alternated from my Freetress Creta Girl half-wig to puffs to WnGs to buns. Occasionally, I would do some two-strand twists or bantu knots. My hair is always moisturized! I really think that played a huge part in te growth I saw in this last year.

This year, I plan to try more twist styles and try to do protective styling a little bit more because it does help with retaining length. I just don't think I will ever be the type to wear protective styles all the time because I want to enjoy my hair and having it tucked away all the time just doesn't fly with me. My hair is a decent length and of course, I wouldn't mind it growing out more, but obtaining length isn't the only part of my hair journey.

My challenge for you today is to make sure you love yourself. I keep being bombarded by blatant cases of self-loathing, especially when it comes to accepting one's hair. It makes me sad to see that some people really don't like themselves, epecially because of their hair texture. I don't care what anyone says, you have to love yourself so that you can love others. God bless!

(Updated and CLOSED) Beauty on a Budget Giveaway-Take Two!



The winners of the 2nd Beauty on a Budget Giveaway are as follows:

Set 1: ChocoBama1

Set 2: NaturalhairLatina

Set 3:Lovely Lola

Congrats to the winners and thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway! Don't worry; Christmas is right around the corner and it is my FAVORITE holiday so more giveaways are coming! Winners, please contact me (mrsvaluable@gmail.com or DM me on Twitter) to claim your prize by Friday, December 2, 2011!





Some of the hair accessories I made. I went a little DIY crazy...hee hee hee!

 Hey Y'all!

WARNING: This post is PICTURE HEAVY! I was in a store this weekend about to spend $8-$10 a piece on a few headbands and clips, but I stopped myself. It's like a little DIY angel appeared on my shoulder and reminded me that I could go get some materials and create my own hair accessories and make exactly what I wanted in the color schemes that I wanted. So, I headed to my neighborhood Michael's and Hobby Lobby (after going to their websites and getting a coupon for 40% off one regular price item) to pick up some ribbon, a new sewing kit, and a few other things. I also went to Wal-Mart and purchased a new hot glue gun because I got tired of sewing. In all, I probably spent about $25, but I would have spent that and only got 3 or 4 headbands at one of my favorite stores.

Well, the DIY bug bit me hard and I made so many things! Making your own accessories really isn't hard. There are so many tutorials online. Just Goggle "make my own headband" or "make headband out of ribbon" or "no sew hair bow instructions"; you'd be surprised at how easy it is to do. You don't have to follow their guidelines strictly; use your imagination and determine what works best for you. Now, it will take some time when you're starting out, but once you get the hang of it, it's piece of cake!

    



Rocking one of the bows I made







Rocking a skinny headband



 

Hair clips are so versatile!

 As you can see from the picture at the very top, I created so many hair accessories. I decided to share with my readers! Three readers will win one of the sets of hair accessories below!



Set 1



Set 2



Set 3



To be entered to win, you will need to follow the rules as stated.

1. Follow this blog.

 2. Comment on this post and state which set you prefer.

3. Like my page on Facebook.

Once you have done the steps above, you are entered. To earn an additional entry, you must get at least one of your Facebook friends to like my page and your friend must comment on my page's wall with the statement, "________ referred me to your page!" (Each time one of your friends likes my page and comments on the wall, you will earn an addition entry in the giveaway. The more entries you have, the more chances you have to win!)  

The contest will run until 11:59 PM on Tuesday, November 29, 2011. The winners will be announced on my blog on Wednesday, November 30, 2011.

My challenge for you today is enter to win this giveaway! You know you want to spice up your twist out, or add a little sparkle to your 'fro, or maybe you're not Natural, but you appreciate a good hair accessory. Whatever the case may be, enter to win! Have a blessed day!

Just Chatting with @Mz_Terra...

Good evening Y'all!

I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Terra, the recent winner of the Beauty on a Budget Giveaway. Terra also recently made a BIG decision; she decided to do the BC (Big Chop) and get rid of her relaxed ends! I was surprised by her choice because I had seen her a few days ago (when I delivered her earringss) and her hair was still all there. She didn't say anything about cutting her hair so when she told my yesterday that she did, it inspired me to ask her some more questions! Her story was so interesting and I just had to share it. I asked her was it okay and she said of course! Below, you will find the conversation that happened between she and I!

Just Val: Girl, how do you like the earrings?

Terra: I love the earrings and I will be wearing them a lot.

Just Val: I saw you a few weeks ago, I remember you saying that you had decided to go natural. How long did you transition?

Terra: I transitioned from May 18, 2011 until November 19, 2011.

Just Val: Let's back up a little. What made you decide to go natural?

Terra: I wanted to go natural because as a little girl, my hair hair was so long...until my first perm in sixth grade. I want that long healthy hair back!

Just Val: How was the big chop?

Terra: It was great! I didn't plan it. I washed my hair and the permed hair was just sitting there, attached to my new growth and I starting cutting. I was free.

Just Val: Cool! Is there anything else you would like to add?

Terra: Yes, this isn't my first time cutting my hair to go natural. I cut it in 2006, but listening to others, I ended up perming it. People told me my hair was ugly and they liked me better with long, relaxed hair. This time, I don't care what others think! I love it and I won't perm again!

 

Buh bye relaxed ends!

 

Newly Natural!
Check out those earrings!





























Well, it makes my heart glad to welcome another lady to my side of the tracks! Let me stop before y'all start thinking I'm one of those militant naturals. At the end of the day, I'm an advocate for HEALTHY hair. I do like to see my sisters going natural, but I am always happy to see people doing them! If you're truly doing something because it makes you happy, then do it. That might mean hitting the creamy crack (relaxer) or choosing to go back to your natural texture. Don't sacrifice your happiness to please others because honey, most aren't going to stop doing what they want to please you.


Well, this is probably going to be my last post of the day. I'm going to spend some time with my boys! I should have given you plenty to think about for now and I'll be back soon! I do hope you found yourself in somebody's church today! Be blessed!



Hello Shrinkage!

Hey Y'all!

This post will be short, but I just want to ramble a little bit about something natural hair divas deal with now since giving up relaxers. Some of us seem to have deal with it more than others (depending on your hair texture), but most curly/coily/kinky divas deal with SHRINKAGE.

For me, shrinkage isn't a matter of bad or good. It's just something you deal with in whatever way pleases you. Some counter shrinkage by doing styles that stretch their hair like braids or twists. Some choose to embrace the shrinkage by doing WnG styles or rocking puffs. Some, like me, just do our hair however we feel and if it looks stretched, cool. If it looks like we only have 4 or 5 inches of hair, cool. Shrinkage used to really get on my nerves because it seemed liked my hair wasn't growing, but when I saw that my hair was healthy and growing, I stopped being concerned with it. Tip: Something that helped me was taking pictures of my hair. After a few months, I go back and look at the pictures and guess what? It is easy to see the growth that way.

Don't let shrinkage bum you out! If you don't like it, rock styles that help stretch your hair. If you don't mind, leave it be. No matter how you wear your hair, make sure you are moisturizing your hair and sealing those ends with an oil to lock in the moisture. Dry hair will lead to breakage and be mindful of your ends! Happy hair is healthy hair!

Some Inexpensive Must-Have Products

Good morning!!!

I started this post yesterday, but I decided to spend some quality time with my boys so I didn't get to finish. You understand, right? I knew you would!

Anyhoo, I said I would be posting about my hair regime so today, I will be focusing on some of my staple products that are effective, but inexpensive. Let me tell you all that I'm no longer a product junkie. However, these are not the only products I use; these are some of the ones I use frequently. I will tell you the name of the product, where I purchase it, the approximate cost, and how I use the product.

FYI: All of the products mentioned are things I bought with my own hard-earned money. I am not being compensated in any way to do these reviews. My opinions are my honest experience with these products. Use them at your own discretion.
1. Humco Castor Oil: I bought this from Wal-Mart. (It was in the medicinal section.) It was around $3. Let me just tell you that I really like Castor Oil. It is great way to help thicken hair. I use it on my eyebrows, eyelashes, on my edges, and to send the ends of my hair to lock in moisture. I also use it on my husband's beard because he's trying to grow it in more evenly. I'm going to post an in-dept passage on Castor Oil in a few months after I have enough pictorial evidence to show what Castor Oil can really do for hair. If you decide to use Castor Oil, don't use too much. A little goes a long way.

2. Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner: I have bought this from Dollar General and from Wal-Mart. It normally runs for around $1.25. I started using this conditioner when I first went natural to co-wash (washing your hair with conditioner instead of shampoo). I still use this product to co-wash, but I do not wash my hair as much as I did when I first went natural. My hair is longer now and it's much more work. I like this product because it has great "slip". By slip, I mean it really makes it easy for me to "slip" my fingers through my hair and work out tangles. Also, it helps make my hair soft and it has a nice smell, which is always good. When I first went natural, I also would use a small amount of this as a leave-in conditioner if I was out of my leave-in. (When I do shampoo my hair, which is no more than 2 times in a month, I sometimes use the Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Shampoo. I can get if from the same places for around the same price.)  

3. Smooth and Shime Polishing Curl Activator Gel (For Extra Dry Hair): I have bought this from Dollar General and from Wal-Mart. It it normally no more than $3.75. This is my go to product if I want to do a WnG (wash and go) or if I want my puff styles to be less fluffy/frizzy and look my defined. This product will not make curls appear. You have to have some type of curl/coil/wave pattern. If you do, this can help your curls/curls/wave be less fluffy/frizzy and be more smooth looking. I'm not one of those people who has to have curls, but when I want my curls to act right, I whip out this product. I really like this because it doesn't make my hair crunchy or hard. I normally apply this to wet/very damp hair and then let it air dry. Also, when I use this product, I normally apply a moisturizer or light oil after applying the gel to help my hair remain soft for several days. People always ask do I use Ecostyler. I tried that when I was transitioning (the Olive Oil kind) and it made my hair hard. I might revisit it again when Sally's has a sell on it because now I know how to use products better.

Here are a few styles I did this year and used the Smooth and Shine Polishing Curl Activator. (From left to right) The first picture was my first attempt at a WnG from Spring 2011. The second picture is a WnG I did about 3 months later in the summer of 2011. The last picture is a side puff I did a couple days ago. This is currently how I'm wearing my hair. I am going to do a protective style again soon (probably some two-strand twists put into an updo or bun), but the weather has been warm so I decided to take advantage of it!

My challenge for today is go to church! If you don't have a church home, go visit a church. Don't just sit at home and watch a tv evangelist. The Bible says would should not forsaken to assemble together. That means that you need to get out and fellowship with other believers. Churching at home doesn't take the place of worshipping with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Y'all have a blessed Sunday!

And The Winners Are...

Good morning everyone!

Today is the DAY!!! The winners of the Beauty on a Budget Giveaway will be announced in just a few moments!!! I'd like to thank all my readers and everyone who entered. If you didn't win this time, don't worry! Another opportunity to win is coming up VERY soon!!! Check in on the blog daily for the upcoming giveway. (I believe the holiday season has me in a giving mood.) I do love the next two holidays coming up, but let me stop prolonging the time. You want to know who won, right?

Before I get to that, let me tell you how the winners were chosen. I wrote down the name of each person who entered and their choice of earrings on equal sized slips of paper. I put the folded slips of paper in a bag and allowed my impartial 3 year old to choose from the bag without looking. The names he chose are the winners of the giveaway!

And without further ado....

The winner of the first pair of earrings is Terra!

The winner of the second pair of earrings is Olivia!

YAY!!! Winners, please contact me at mrsvaluable@gmail.com or DM me on Twitter sometime today to claim your prize! Once again, to my readers, another chance to win is coming up soon so stay tuned!!!

So my challenge for today may seem corny, but go with me, okay? This giveaway has inspired me to let you all know that we are all WINNERS!!! Even if you haven't hit the jackpot or been given a million bucks, you're still winning because if you're reading this now, you have to be in your right mind. And, if you're reading this now, you must have internet and you also are still breathing so those things, among many others, make you a WINNER!!! Don't forget you are a winner on today and every day. Don't walk around living a defeated life! Take charge and claim your victory! Have a blessed day Y'all!

How I Wash My Natural Hair

Hey everyone!

(((Don't forget about my Beauty on a Budget Giveway! Click here to find out how you can enter to win!!!)))

As always, the weekend has almost flown by! Whyyyyyy???? Oh well...that's life! Can't be the weekend all the time....*sigh*

So, I've been telling you all that I would start posting about my hair routine and products I am using. This post will be the first of several which explain how I care for my hair, what products I use on my hair, what styles I do, etc. This weekend, I took  a few pictures of what I do when I wash my hair so I could share with you. The way I wash my hair isn't really complex or too time consuming. My "hair washing day" is on Saturday. I wake up early to give my hair some time to air dry if I have somewhere to go later on in the day, especially since the temperatures have dropped. In the warmer months, I don't mind leaving the house with damp hair. To start, I dampen my hair with my spray bottle. (It normally has water and some type of oil in it. Side note: Throughout the week, I lightly mist my hair with water for moisture and apply castor oil to my ends to seal in that moisture.) Wetting my hair makes it easier to do the next step.

I part my hair in 8 sections and make those sections into large twists. I apply my choice of conditioner (I normally use Suave Naturals Coconut, but lately, I've been using Tea Tree Mint Conditioner by Organix and my hair loves it!!!) to the twists, apply a plastic cap, and go do whatever I need to do. That could be tending to my 4 month old baby or getting juice for my 3 year old or finding something for my husband or taking care chores around the house. Basically, I let the conditioner sit for a while. How long depends on how much time I have on that day. I usually keep it on for at least 10-15 minutes.

Top Picture: My hair in 8 large twists
Bottom Picture: The conditioner I am currently using.

Top Picture: Conditioner applied to twists.
Bottom Picture: Plastic cap on to allow conditioner to sit.

 

When I wash the conditioner out, I do it section by section. I start at the back of my head. I unravel a twist and use my wide-tooth comb to go through the section. I start at the ends of my hair and work up to the root. Once I feel the section is properly detangled and the conditioner is all gone, I move on to the next twist. I do this to my entire head.

Washing my hair this way really helps to minimize tangling. Also, it makes it easy for me to style my hair. I can easy divide each section and do two-strand twists or bantu knots or band my hair to stretch it for a bun. After washing, I apply my products and go on to style my hair---which will be another post so stay tuned!

 If you have your own tips or tricks for washing your hair, let me know!

For today, remember that prayer really can change things! If you are in a situation that you can't see a way out, try prayer. It has worked so many times for me. Until next time, be blessed!

Beauty on a Budget Giveaway!!! ***CLOSED***

Hey Y'all!!!

I've learned sticking to a budget and sticking to my beauty regime can go hand in hand. From waiting for Shea Moisture BOGO sale at Walgreens to doing the surveys on receipts to get a discount, I like to find ways to get what I want for less. One way I save cash is by doing things myself. I do my own hair. I do my own nails and I've even dabbled in making my own accessories. Those accessories include headbands, scarves, and even jewelry, like these earrings.



First Pair





Second Pair



I bought some materials from Walmart over a year ago to make some earrings. I got the kit out because I wanted to make some earrings to match a certain outfit. In the process, I made several pair of earrings which include the ones pictured.

Do you like them? Are you already thinking about the outfit you have that these earrings would top off? Well, today is your day because I'm giving 2 lucky subscribers a chance to win these. The winners will be announced on the blog next Friday, November 18, 2011. It's simple to enter. Here are the rules:

1. Subscribe/Follow this blog.
2. Follow me on Twitter.
3. Leave a comment under this post stating, "I want the 1st pair, 2nd pair, or either pair."

To have your name entered into the drawing more than once, leave a comment(s) on any new postings that go up from now until Thursday, November 17, 2011. (You can only earn one entry per post I put up, even if you comment more than once on a post.) You must follow all the rules to be entered!

Don't forget my challenge for today! Thank a Vet! You still have some time! : )

Reppin' #TeamNaturalHair

Happy Veterans' Day Everyone!!! Even though I've picked up a stomach virus, I'm still grateful for this day!

Ok, on to my post...since going natural, I've realized the sisterhood I was unofficially inducted into. As with any other sisterhood, of course, I wanted to rep it! Unsuccessfully, I searched in my city for Afrocentric wear that expressed my love for #teamnaturalhair. I turned to Google and I hit the jackpot!

I was in a natural hair forum and ladies posted links to their favorite Natural Hair t-shirt line. From those suggestions, I found B. Natural Apparel. I ordered a couple of shirts last Sunday and I received them in the mail VIA USPS on yesterday.

My experience with B. Natural Apparel was awesome! I had to pay via PayPal, which was my first time using that service. When I received my order confirmation, there was a small issue with the shipping address. I contacted B. Natural Apparel and the owner, Joy Diggs, replied the same day and fixed the issue. She was very prompt and professional! I was so excited to get my shirts on yesterday. She included instructions on how to care for the shirts. I will be repping' #teamnaturalhair to the fullest this weekend and I will definitely be ordering more from B. Natural Apparel! (I will post about how the shirts hold up and how others react to them in an upcoming post.)

Note: This is my honest opinion of my purchase from B. Natural Apparel. I used my own money to purchase the items. I am not being paid or compensated for this review.

Now, my challenge for today should probably be expected....thank a veteran! I'll be calling my dad and thanking him for his service in Desert Storm! Veterans have done so much for us. Let's show our appreciate on today and every day!!! God bless America!

Bunning Aint Easy...But I've Got To Do It!

Good Afternoon Y’all!

Yes...I let the Southern gal in me come out at times. Don’t judge me! This post probably will not be too long, but I might get carried away so who knows??? Anyhoo, I told myself that I SHALL be using protective styles this fall and winter to help me maintain moisture, protect my ends, and help me reach my length goals. Last year, I mainly used Creta Girl-my FAV half-wig by Freetress-to do protective styling, but I’m really not feeling weaves or wigs this year so I decided to do protective styles with my own hair. I’m utilizing buns and twists for my protective styles and so far, I’ve been staying on track! I LOVE LOVE LOVE to rock puffs-from curly and defined to big and bushy-but when I wear my hair in puffs for too long, I experience the HATED SSK (single strand knots) so I’m saving my beloved styles for the weekend.

Last night, my annoyingly loving husband told me he was tired of the bun style I’ve been rocking the last few days. He said it made me look like an old lady. Looking older is not a bad thing for me yet because even though I’m getting close to 30, I’m often mistaken for a teenager. Most of the time, I laugh it off but it can get annoying when people see me with my two boys and I just know they are trying to see if they recognize me from an episode of “Teen Mom” or “16 and Pregnant”.

Old Lady Bun

Ok ok ok…back to my bun. My husband requested one of my puff styles (which tempted me so badly), but I told him I had some hair goals and part of reaching those goals would include the bun. I told him I’d revamp my bun and he said okay. My original bun was positioned at the nape of my neck, with a diagonal part in the front. Nothing fancy, but it served its purpose.

To revamp my bun, I sectioned off some hair in the front and did a couple two strand twists. Then, I moved my bun from the nape of my neck to a higher position on my head. It’s not at the top of my head, but it’s not as low as it was earlier this week. I went to sleep and when I woke up, I took the twists down to create a bang in the front. (One of my good friends who is a Natural often wears bangs and I thought of her when I did this style. S/O to Annie Mae!) To keep this style for the next couple days, I’ll sleep in my satin bonnet and re-twist the hair in the front at night. Of course, I’ll use my products to keep the moisture in my hair. (I’ll do another post soon about my products and hair routine!)

Revamped Old Lady Bun

When I showed my husband the slightly revamped looked, he said, “Yeah, I like that. It’s different!” Now, the bun is really similar to the other one but you know how men can be. I’ll be rocking this style until this weekend when I get to….UNLEASH THE CURLS!

So, my challenge for you today is simple. Please make sure you’re right with God. Time waits for no one and we never know when it’s going to be time for us to fade to black and meet our Maker. Whatever it takes for you to get it right, just get it right! If you need to forgive, forgive! If you need to stop lying, stop lying. If you need to confess that Jesus Christ is the son of God and accept Him into your heart, please do that. Whatever is hindering you, take care of it right now because waiting a few moments might be too late! Be blessed!

SHELLAC…the “Miracle” Manicure!!!

Good afternoon!

Wow…two blog posts in one day! Well, when the creative juices are flowing, I just go with it---especially when I have the time. Anyhoo, I’m into natural hair and I’m also into natural nails. Now, I’m not knocking artificial nair wearers because I’ve done it in the past. However, wearing acrylics/gel sets always made my nails so flimsy. My natural nails grow very nicely and they hold up well so I decided to invest in some materials to do my own nails at home, but have the look of a nail salon service.

That’s when I discovered….SHELLAC! I started hearing about the miraculous manicure that can last up to 14 days without chipping. Well, I went to the Shellac website to find a nalon salon in my city that did Shellac manicures. I found one and went to find out what all the hype was about. Well….I received a mediocre Shellac manicure from the place and kind of wasn’t feeling the results. I had watched many reviews on YouTube so I felt confident in the product, but the nail technician didn’t do the application correctly. He also wasn’t using all the products from the CND Shellac line so that probably contributed to that mess of a manicure I received. I would not be paying anyone $35 for a Shellac manicure that couldn’t outlast my usual $10 manicure.

So….I, the self-professed DIY Queen, went on Amazon and bought all the things I needed to do Shellac Manicures at home. I bought the CND Shellac base coat, UV nail colors, and base coat. I also bought a UV lamp, which you must have to do the Shellac manicures at home. Now, the Shellac website says you should only use their special UV lamp to cure the manicure, but I bought a comparable lamp and my manicures last around 2 weeks. I just wasn’t about to pay hundreds of dollars for the CND UV lamp. I bought a $50 lamp and it it’s working like a charm.  (I will do a tutorial soon on how to do your own Shellac manicure at home!)

I normally do my manicures in Wildfire or Rosebud, but my nails grow so fast that you can see the new growth after like a week. Lately, I’ve been doing clear manicures with a design. To do the clear manicures, I just use the CND Shellac base coat and top coat. I apply the design to my nail before applying any CND products.  

This is my current mani! I did this 4 days ago...

I like the Shellac manicures because they last and also, they help my nails feel more sturdy than usual. My nails hardly ever break anymore, which I know is partly because due to the new vitamins I am taking, but the Shellac contributes as well. I sometimes give my nails a break from the Shellac or when my nails or clear, I might go more than three weeks before redoing because I’m lazy and they still look nice. I would definitely recommend Shellac manicures to someone who to stop wearing artificial nails. They are so shiny and they definitely have that “nail salon look”, when done properly!

Don’t forget my challenge for the day; flash those pearly whites to someone! You never know how much a small positive action can affect someone’s day!

Why We Must Prevent and Cure HIHD (Hands in Hair Disease)

Good morning!!!

Before I get started, I want to say I’m so happy that this week is only a four day work week for my Hubby and me due to the holiday this week! (Happy Early Veterans’ Day to all the Vets and thanks for all you did for our country!!!)  Having an extra day to spend with my sweetie is so exciting; the anticipation is making this work week fly by! Ahhhh….to be in love!

Ok….I’ll stop gushing about the love of my life for this moment and on to why I’m posting today…

(cue scary music on organ) THE DREADED HIHD or in its full scientific name, Hands in Hair Disease!!!

Ladies (and Gents), we must fight diligently to prevent and cure this ailment because it causing us to experience more breakage and less retention which directly affects the health of our hair-as well as our length goals! Natural hair is so GORGEOUS! The curls, the kinks, the coils---once we learned to love them, we just can’t seem to keep our hands out of it. For many of us, going natural was the first time we truly have been able to experience our natural tresses and like with anything new, we want to play with it, which can lead to unnecessary wear and tear.

Some of the steps to help prevent/cure HIHD are as follows…

-Only touch hair when necessary such as washing, detangling, styling, etc. DO NOT keep trying to tweak your curls/kinks/coils throughout the day. DO NOT keep touching it to feel how soft and fluffy it feels. DO not twirl your hair because you see some cute guy and you know it make you look irresistible. Fight the urge!

-Utilize protective styles. Style your hair in ways which help to keep your hands out of it. Examples would be buns (not too taut or tight), braids (watch those edges and tightness), twists, or weaves (please take care of your hair underneath). Remember, protective styles stop becoming protective when they do more harm than good so don’t keep weaves in for too long and don’t make the styles too tight.

-Low manipulation. Do not over manipulate your hair. I know we want our hair to be fierce every day, but all the brushing/combing, and twisting, and touching---it’s not good when done day in and day out. Let your hair BREATH! Let it do what it does sometimes and if it doesn’t look good by your standards in the morning, a quick protective can be your best friend!

 Seriously, I know it can be hard. I have told myself that during these colder months, I’ll be doing protective styles during the week and I’ll unleash the curls on the weekends if I feel like it. Sometimes, I see other naturals rocking a puff or twist out and I absentmindedly go to touch my hair, but I slap my hand away and tell myself, “You have length goals and you’re not going to reach them when you suffer from HIHD!” This usually snaps me back to my reality!

Well, I hope this comical serious take on this “condition” has helped someone. I have TWO challenges for you all today. If you suffer from HIHD, start making the necessary changes to cure yourself and smile at someone today! You never know who needs that smile to just make it through the rest of the day. A smile-a small gesture that might mean the world to someone who is experiencing an unfavorable day. Have a great day and God bless you!  

Au Natural…Why I Jumped on the Natural Hair “Bandwagon”

Heyyyyy everyone!

So, I’ve been natural a little over 2 years now. (Brief History: I stop relaxing in September of 2009. After 10 months of transitioning, I did the big chop and got rid of my relaxed ends.) I didn’t go natural for political or health reasons. I mainly went natural because I was SICK of salons---the wait, the prices, the attitudes…I was over it! Also, I’ve always like big hair and I was paying stylists to give me sew-in styles that mimicked the look of an afro or kinky curls. One day, my husband asked me, “Wouldn’t your hair look like that if you didn’t get a perm? Then we wouldn’t have to pay for it.” I think he was saying it jokingly to make me mindful of what I was spending on my hair, but that made a light bulb go off in my head. I was already over the salon experience and the prospect of saving money made going natural seem like an option. I did a lot of research via YouTube, hair forums, and some of my friends who are natural and I decided that it was something I could try!

Yep…that’s how I became a natural hair DIVA and my only regret it that I should have done it sooner! I recently put myself in “rehab” because I was definitely becoming a product junkie since my hair has gotten longer and I wanted to try new things with it. I’m currently using the Shea Moisture products (LOVE! THEM!) and my same old other staples like Suave Natural Coconut Shampoo (only once a month), Suave Natural Coconut Conditioner, Smooth and Shine Curl Activator Gel, Castor Oil, and good ol’ water! I’ll post later about my hair routine (which is very simple because I don’t have time to be doing the MOST).

Oh…I had a great time this weekend! I went to a natural hair meet up that the CEO of Huetiful Steamer put on here in my city. I met a lot of great ladies with GORGEOUS hair! It made me want to play in my hair, but I’m treating my HIHD (Hands in Hair Disease) because I’ve gotta make myself stick to the protective styling my hair needs during these colder months.

Here’s my challenge for today….resist the urge to get caught up in drama! How can we do that? Stop talking so much! I like to watch the drama on the television (like last night’s new episode of Real Housewives of Atlanta), but drama in my daily life…not so much! Drama=stress and we all have enough stress without adding to it with petty drama so when people start talking about foolishness on today, don’t say a word. Better yet, walk away. Standing there listening to the mess can be just as bad as partaking in the conversation. Happy Monday and be blessed!