Length Check and straight week 2016

It has been a while and I was itching to see what my hair had been up to. The logical step then was a length check.



Couldn't seem to get a good picture

It has become my norm to use an anti-reversion kit when I straighten my hair. I had some left over from my last straightening several months ago. That means you can get several uses out of the product- considering my frugal nature that is a big deal. I wore my hair straight for a little over a week during a cloudy and rainy week. I did not work out but that was my plan (my body needed a break).

So my hair (the longest section of it) comes to about the middle of my shoulder blades. I ended up cutting about 4 or more inches from my hair over the course of the week due to split ends and single strand knots. I have decided to make a few changes to how I care for my hair based on this, but I will explore that later.

I could not stop touching my hair all week and loved to randomly take it down to show it off. There is something about how my hair shrinks that still surprises me. I know that my hair appears bigger rather than longer in its natural state but I had no idea how much so until I actually straighten it. I also found that the longer it gets the harder it gets for people, who don't understand my hair's nature, to believe that the straight version is all me.

I was happy to have a break from the normal care of my hair and enjoy it down. It was hard though to enjoy the extra heat on my neck especially since the temperature has climbed a bit here.

 

The picture below shows how far I have come and was taken at least a few years ago.

 

I will continue to work toward growth and health, since why not.

I don't know at what point I may want to start anew but for now.....

Growth and health is the goal

This Week's Hair ~April 25th 2016~

Typically,

I attempt to do small/mini twists to keep up all week. This has been my typical for a very long time. As many of us experience, I get tired of the typical from time to time. So this week I went for protected, professional, and low maintenance for the week. It has been a while since I did an updo so this was right on time.

I have the option of ponytail or bun. 

Maintenance is quite simple, I remove my hair tie and place a satin hair tie around my twists very loosely and wrap with my satin scarf. I may add more leave in and oil to the loose twists as my hair dictates.

Products used: Giovanni Smooth As Silk  Shampoo, Aussie Three Minute Miracle Moist, Giovanni Direct Leave-in, Shea Moisture Reconstructive Finishing Elixir, Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie

Perfectly Posh Product Review (2)

At the end of May I went to the Ultimate Women's Expo in Grapevine, TX. It was a great event full of products, seminars, classes, samples, and women gathering. I had the pleasure of meeting with Tauscha Johanson a Perfectly Posh Independent Consultant. She provided me with a few products and I was happy to review them here for you. I absolutely loved the smell and results of the Brazilian Bombshell Snarky Bar, the "aggressive scrub" was a little much for me on some areas directly, but overall this was a win. The BFF facewash left my face wonderfully exfoliated and clean. I feel that my complexion is more polished. I don't love mint smells so that was a minus for me. The Apricots Overnight is a face mask that is applied and left on overnight. I love it. Leaving moisture in overnight really allows time for it to soak in. I liked the apricot smell but it wasn't as awesome as the Brazilian Bombshell smell.

 

My favorite product review this time.

 

The most surprisingly useful product:

 

BFF Daily Facewash:

 

Interested in more from Tauscha? Check here out here and here on Facebook.

Products received for review, the views shared are my own.

Walmart Beauty Box comparison to BirchBox

I have been a subscriber to Birchbox for years

I recently started subscribing to the Walmart BeautyBox I decided this month to compare the too. Below you will see what was in each box and the video review of my box. Let me know what you think.

 

Walmart Beauty Box

Birchbox

You can pick up your own Birchbox here and the Walmart Beauty Box here. Affiliate links included. 

 

Carefree Virtual Vox Box review and unboxing

Very bold post to follow

 

So I wear panty liners on a daily basis to feel fresh and clean.

When Influenster let me know that I was in on the Carefree Virtual Voxbox....

I wasn't that excited because I knew that I would have to share my experience.

 

 

So here I am sharing with who knows who.

 

 

 

So how can you be BOLD today?

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

How to spurce up corn rows/ flat twists

I mastered flat twists years ago, but thought they were not professional enough to be worn to work for the most part.

Well enter my laziness at not wanting to spend a few hours installing mini twists and the return of the flat twist. I had an idea to transform the flat twist into a bun like style that would be professional and much more protective than my mini twists.

With the mini twists I usually still touch the hair and change up the style.

 With this bun like style I planned (and succeeded) at not

touching my hair for an entire week. This made the style truly protective.

 

So I played with this style and LOVED it, it will be added into my hair routine so feel free to also think up something like this to leave your hair untouched and protected.

 

* FYI this flat twist resulted in the cutest twist out.

 



Oil Mixture

One of the biggest adjustments for me going natural was accepting oil into my hair care regimen.

I was accustomed to using grease for many years and had considered that oil because besides the petroleum there is oil in grease as well. So when I heard of people putting oil in their hair I was opposed for a while as many of the vloggers I was following warned of the hazards of petroleum in your hair. I soon educated myself more and now swear by using natural oils for many reasons.

One of my favorite ways to use oil is my oil rinse. I have a concoction of natural oils that I have in an applicator bottle that I apply in the shower after pre-pooing, washing, conditioning, and rinsing my hair. After the mixture is in I rinse it with water (since water won't rinse away all of the oil) then seal with aloe vera juice (as long as I am not out).

Below see the oils I use

Jamaican Black Castor oil, Olive Oil, Avocado Oil, Vitamin E, Almond Oil, Jojoba oil, and Lavender oil.

 

All of the oils, with the exception of the lavender oil, are carrier oils. The lavender is an essential oil which should always be diluted to avoid a negative reaction. I add the lavender to add scent and for aroma therapy. This lovely mixture is also great for your body and I will often apply it after a shower as well.