It's My Anniversary- Three Years Natural

If you are not natural it may seem odd to have an anniversary centered around your hair. Well I am natural and it still feels odd to me as well. But there was something very special that happened three years ago today it was the day that I embraced my beauty. As you can see by the pictures below I went from past shoulder length to less than an inch of hair. This drastic change was triggered by my desire to donate my hair to Locks of Love a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. So in addition to helping others regain a since of confidence in their appearance I was able to find a different level of confidence of my own.

June 2010

So this day became significant not just because of my natural hair journey, but because the personal journey it has taken me own.  I shared in my very first post some of my insecurities I have and still do struggled with from time to time. But, it has been a true blessing to be embraced in to a circle of women  who are all about uplifting each other and embracing your own beauty, regardless if this circle is centered around our hair, the support and encouragement is un matched.

June 2011                                                         June 2012                                                        June 2013

Help me celebrate my three year anniversary by supporting Locks of Love,  if you are doing a big chop  soon consider donating your hair if not find other ways to help here!

Do you have a day you celebrate that may seem odd to others, but may mean a lot to you?

FYSIKO LASHES

Every time I look into the sweet faces of my adorable sons and handsome husband I am reminded of one thing I always longed for LONG LASHES. How in the world did all the men in my life end up with these long and thick lashes that I could only dream to have. For so long I wanted to try an Eyelash Growth Serum, but couldn't convince the hubby that it was a warranted purchase. Fortunately for me I have been given a complimentary bottle of  Fysiko, a growth serum that can be used on both the upper, lower lashes and your eyebrows. I will be using the product and sharing my results with you here on my blog.

Before I tried the product here are a few questions I wanted answered:


Q. Can I use FYSIKO with extension?
A. Yes! You Can!

Q. How is it different from LATISSE?
A. Fysiko is made with natural ingredients, doesn't need prescription and it is cheaper.

Q. Is FYSIKO safe for contact lenses?
A. Yes, put contact lenses on 10 min. after applying FYSIKO.

Q. How long until I see results?
A. First results may be seen in 4-6 weeks, depends on the person, full results of FYSIKO will be seen in 16 weeks.

Day 1 

For the past two weeks I have been applying Fysiko on my upper and lower lashes nightly, and have had no ill side effects to date. Make sure to check back here for an update on my progress. I am on my way to longer and fuller Eyelashes!!!

Curly Hair Gone Straight- A Simple How To

Every now and than I get a sudden urge to wear my hair straight and this passed weekend was one of those times. If you hair is curly like my own you know that wearing it straight can be a challenge. I try to keep my hair routine as simple as possible whether I wear it in its natural state or not, so here's how I   straighten my hair in a few simple steps with minimal heat. 

Step 1. Wash hair and deep condition. 

Step 2.  Detangle hair

Step 3. Apply a heat protectant and twist/braid several sections of hair

Step 4. Allow to air dry a few hours 

Step 5. Once hair is only slightly damp blow hair. Working with a small section (1 inch thick and 2-3 inches wide) detangle section if needed and have the dryer follow behind the brush down the length of hair for a straighter end result. (Only need TWO passes of the hair dryer per section). Complete Entire head.

Step 6. Taking an even smaller section (1/2 inch thick and 2 inches wide) of blown dry hair, using the same method as blow drying have the flat iron follow slowly behind the brush take ONE past down the length of your hair. Repeat until your entire head is straight.

*Dryer was set on 125 degrees

*Flat Iron was set on 400 degrees

 ***BONUS***

How To Maintain Hairstyle Without Reapplying Heat

Step 1. Part your hair into two sections

Step 2. Take one section and twist it AWAY from your face and wrap it around itself to for a bantu knot secure with a hair pin.

Step 3. Repeat 

Step 4.Wrap head in a silk scarf

Step 5. Wake to full hair with subtle waves.

Hey curly girls how often do you straighten your hair? Do you do it yourself or get it professionally done?

Scandal "You're Ornamental, Not Functional"

Image courtesy of ABC

It's been a couple of weeks since one of my favorite shows SCANDAL had it's season premiere, but there was a phrase in that episode that has really stuck with me. The scene in which President Grant (Tony Goldwyn) and the first lady (Bellamy Young) were arguing after a press conference in which she over stepped her boundaries. “Your opinion doesn’t matter,” the president said. “You’re the first lady. Your job is to plant gardens and decorate rooms and let them blog about your clothes. You’re ornamental, not functional.” 

"You're ornamental, not functional" really resonated with me, it made me sit back and evaluate my role in the lives of my loved ones, friends and acquaintances and their roles in mines. I have come to realize that I give far too much weight to the length of time someone has been in my life vs. the value they are currently bringing to my life and I to theirs. And I therefore have allowed relationships to linger far longer than they need to. 

That is not to say that I feel that my relationships are all about what I can get out of them. It's important that I remember that sometimes I may meet someone in order to be a blessing or a positive influence on their life, and that I  may not benefit from their presence in any significant way. If neither party is benefiting from a relationship be it love, friendship, emotional or support what is the point of putting my energy and time into it. I say there is no point and my energy will be better geared towards other more "functional" relationships in my life. 

I realize Scandal is a television show and should be viewed as entertainment, but I believe that a lesson can be learned or a gentle reminder can come from anywhere. So with all that said I am working on playing a more functional role in the lives of those I value and being more aware of those who are merely ornamental in mines. 

Image courtesy of ABC

Are you playing an ornamental role in someones life? Is there someone in you life who is merely ornamental?

Dark Chocolate My Not So Guilty Pleasure

I was around 11 years old when my aunt told me that "One day my pallet would expand." Now when she made this statement she was referring to okra and I still haven't acquired a taste for that, but certain foods have made their way into my repertoire. I can contribute the addition of caviar, sushi, most seafood and numerous other foods to the hubbies persistence and his mature pallet.

Here recently I have made an effort to maintain a healthier diet. Just like anyone else I have cravings, chocolate in particular, and do often succumb to my sweet tooth. Many times after sending the hubby on a late night sweets run he has returned with my favorite milk chocolate bar and a candy bar of the dark chocolate variety for himself. I always turned my nose up to his choice, but since I have been making an effort to make better food choices I decided to give dark chocolate  a try. And I am hooked! After finishing my first dark chocolate bar, since I was an adolescent, and actually enjoying it (can you say mature palette) I decided to look up its benefits.

FIT DAY shares 6 Health Benefits to Eating Dark Chocolate. Three of which really resonated with me. The first is it being good for your heart by lowering your blood pressure and helping with circulation. Secondly dark chocolate helps control blood sugar levels protecting the consumer against type 2 diabetes. Also it's full of antioxidants and can help reduce your chances of getting cancer and slow the process of aging. I was sold. Like with anything enjoy it in moderation. The recommendation according to WebMD is to eat it 1.6oz of dark chocolate daily. I can live with that!!!

So the next time you have a desire for chocolate try dark chocolate it may taste better than you remember!

The Body Shop Beauty's Night Out

Recently I was treated to an awesome experience at the The Body Shop at Lenox. From the initial greeting by the General Manager Andre Atchison to the fantastic services provided by my consultant for the evening Channtel I couldn't have asked for a better experience, but what captivated me the most was what I learned about the company and its values. 

Any company that is against animal testing, support community trade, defends human rights and strives to to protect our "beautiful" planet is certainly worth at least a visit. I will warn you that if you visiti this boutique and experience the high quality of there products and customer service you will be won over.

While receiving my skin care consultations and prior to my makeover I enjoyed a hand massage that was taken over the top by the products that were used, the Brazil Nut Body Butter in conjunction with their Body Oil, left my hands super soft and moisturized. During my makeup application I learned that you too can receive the same treatment that I experienced by contacting the The Body Shop at Lenox and booking a Beauty Party for you and your friends to enjoy! 

Disclosure: I received admissions to this event along with complimentary products in exchange for posting about it.  As always my opinions are my own.

Miss Jessie's Pillow Soft Curls Review

I was fortunate enough to recieve Miss Jessie's new product Pillow Soft Curls at a preview event hosted by Lexi of curlscoilsandkinks.com. I choose to experience the product a couple of times in order to have a more accurate review of this product made specifically for a wash and go style. 

Description: The name says it all.  Miss Jessie’s PILLOW SOFT CURLS™ is the new styling lotion that borrows fabric care technology and marries it to haircare. It is perfect for achieving static-free, big, soft, curly hair that we all dream about. If you don't want ramen noodle definition and instead want a larger, expanded, fluffy curl then PILLOW SOFT CURLS™ is for you! It's the first “fabric softener” type styling lotion that will leave your curls clothesline fresh and fluffy soft.  You will see that  PILLOW SOFT CURLS™ is so easy to apply. It spreads so smoothly and feels as light as a feather on your curls.                                                         

During the preview a licensed stylist shared her technique for applying the product on a hair model. Her technique included applying the product to extremely wet hair and smoothing the hair while twisting it around her finger several times. Then the model sat under the dryer for 15 minutes in order to set the hair. Ultimately achieving these results.

I decided to use the method I always use for wash and go's in order to compare apples to apples. So after cleansing my hair and it is still sopping wet I apply a generous amount of the product to my hair and rake it through. I then vigorously shake my hair to help my curls pop. Here is a picture of my hair 90 percent dry.

My first impressions was that I loved the scent and got compliments on the pure scent of my hair everywhere I went during the first day of application. I enjoyed the simplicity of applying just this one product without having to sacrifice moisture and shine. Second day hair was easily achieved by misting my hair with water and shaking in order to re awaken the curls. With that said like other style products initially there is a bit of a hold/stiff factor to it that is easily remedied by lightly scrunching your hair in an upward motion.

I am not much of a wash and go girl myself because I like my hair in a more stretched state and prefer not to leave the house with wet hair or having to diffuse it in order for it to be dry. But, for you lovely naturals out there that wash and go is a staple style for you this product is definitely one that you must try.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary bottle of Miss Jessie's Pillow Soft Curls.  As always my opinions are my own.

Bags and Dark Circles Be Gone

I have both bags and dark circles under my eyes and this is my first attempt at doing something about it. If you follow my blog you know I drink green tea several times a day and was looking into other uses for the tea bags. I came across a wealth of information at Live Strong.com including a step by step guide on how to use green tea bags to treat my eyes.

 I steeped a bag and than placed it in the refrigerator to cool while I enjoyed my cup of tea. Once the bag was cooled to the touch I laid on my couch and placed the tea bag on my right eye for 15 minutes.

The tea bag was applied to the eye on the left side of the picture. 

One positive side effect that wasn't mentioned as I searched the internet was that it actually relaxes your eyes. I may not have noticed if I did both eyes, but my treated eye was super relaxed while my untreated eye felt overly tense. The caffeine in the tea shrinks the size of the blood vessels and could be why my eye felt so relaxed.

I am very pleased by the results, I was surprised that it worked and so quickly. While I realize that it was not a dramatic change, I would recommend if you are experiencing dark circles, bags and/or tired eyes to try green tea bags as a natural alternative to over the counter products. 

A SWEET SMILE!!!

I recently noticed that my son's lips had become extremely chapped. So in addition to monitoring his water intake more closely, I turned to a website I frequently visit that listed at home organic spa treatments . Here is what I found for immediate relief:

 

As you can see I applied petroleum jelly and sugar to his very chapped lips, he and I rubbed the sugar over his lips and then wiped off what remained with a napkin. 

His review of this mini spa treatment was summed up in three words "All better mommy."

Protect Your Hair While Swimming

How to protect your beloved hair from chlorine or salt in 3 simple steps.

Water Water WATER

Leave in Conditioner + Oil

Saturate your entire head with water. Than apply a generous amount conditioner concentrating on your ends. Next apply an oil (I used Olive Oil) it will lock in the moisture and since water doesn't penetrate through oil easily it will further help to protect your hair while swimming. I put my hair in a high puff, but you can style as you wish.

Now it's time for some fun in the sun don't forget your sunblock!

Wordless Wednesday- Egg White Mask & Cartoons

Check out my tutorial for an Egg White Mask.

Happy National Afro Day!!!

Happy National Afro Day... oh yeah and Independence Day!!!

Drop Dead Diva

I have recently become obsessed with the the television show Drop Dead Diva which runs on Lifetime on Sundays. It is  a comedic drama that tells the story of a shallow wannabe model who dies in a sudden accident only to find her soul resurfacing in the body of a brilliant, plus-size and recently deceased attorney, Jane.

The draw for me was the the main character  she has the qualities that any plus-size woman that you think of as absolutely fabulous. She is very light on her feet, seemingly gliding as she walks into a room. She is very up beat, approachable, brilliant and confident. And has impeccable style from her perfectly applied makeup to her tailored suits. The key in this character's case is actually having a skinny girl inside her , but what I would rather thin of as her inner beauty.

I must admit sometimes I loose sight of my own inner beauty and get to caught up in the emotions behind what I perceived as my flaws. I know it sounds silly but aside from the hour long entertainment I have received from this show I have chosen to use it as a weekly reminder to put my best foot forward at all times and to make certain that those who come in contact with me can see the smart, witty, charming, loving  and outgoing person that I actually am.

The shows star Brooke Elliott said it best when she appeared on the Wendy Williams show "it's about identity, figuring out who you are...it's actually not about weight it is about being who you are no matter what you weight."

Egg White Mask

Every now and than our skin needs a little pick me up. I have found a mask that helps to visibly reduce the size of your pores, eliminates black/white heads and helps with oily skin. The mask consist of egg whites and toilet paper. Check out the video below to see how quick and easy it is to apply at home.

Why “Your Unexpected Beauty?”

There are pivotal times in my life that determined how I percieved myself. When my sister and I were pointed out as the “dark ones” in my family, during a time where all I was exposed to was that light skin is beautiful. When I was flipping through a bible at church and saw that one of my cousins had written (in the bible) to one of my sister  “What are ya’ll feeding Yolanda?” and my sister responded “EVERYTHING.” This made me feel like whenever anyone looked at me all they saw was a little fat girl and where disgusted by me. Then there was the time when one of my closest cousins told me as we spoke on the phone “Your voice doesn’t sound like your fat” WTH. Which although meant as a compliment was very insulting on many levels. I guess when she was talking to me in person she was so distracted by my fat that she couldn’t hear my voice. Got to love family they are the ­­foundation for everything that makes you you. And then here comes the world who never pointed me in my face and said you’re not beautiful, but instead backed into it “wow you’re so pretty for a big girl,” “wow I can’t believe you wear your arms out I could never do that” funny how many of my compliments starts with a “WOW” or some other over the top word to disguise their surprise that I can pull myself together despite my skin color, despite my hair straight or natural, despite my weight and the list goes on and on. So in spite of all this, I have learned to love and embrace the beauty of me and my life.   Here I am Your Unexpected Beauty!!!