5 Months Post BC: Maintaining Length

Hello World and Naturalistas ! 

For the most part we as women deem our hair as our crown of glory. We have to make sure it looks good before we leave the house and if it doesn't, we cover it up, to avoid embarrassment. For many, it means having long hair but to others it means having healthy hair .. So today I'll list and talk about things that contribute to healthy hair and how to maintain it, whether you're relaxed, transitioning, or natural. 

1. Moisturizing: If you watch YouTube videos or keep up with hair blogs, you've heard of the LOC or LCO method. For those who may not be familiar it stands for Liquid (Water), Oil (That seals),  Conditioner/Cream. When all three of these are applied on the hair strands they help moisturize the hair. The water adds natural moisture to the hair, the conditioner adds other adherents, and the oil seals in all the moisture. When doing this LOC/LCO method there are a couple of things to keep in mind. 

First Thing: Not every oil is a sealant. Some oils sit on top of the hair shaft instead of penetrating it. The three main oils that can be used to seal are: Castor Oil, Grape seed oil, and Jojoba oil.

Second Thing: Some oils are a moisturizing oils like olive, coconut and avocado. I think that many people get the terms "moisturizing" and "sealing" confused. There is a lot of misconstrued information going around. Truthfully, the best way to know is to try it for yourself.

Third Thing: How do you know if your hair is moisturized? Well if styled wet, after it dries it should not feel wet or oily nor should it make a sound if it's rubbed in between your finger tips. Just because your hair is soft it doesn't mean the moisture is sealed in, it could just be laying on top of your hair shaft. 

Fourth Thing: Do deep conditioners, hot oil treatments, protein treatments, and cholesterol treatments.

2. Trims: Some people refuse to cut their hair because they want to grow it out long. But the important thing to keep in mind is that after 4 months or so, trims would be needed. If you see split ends, cut them off because it can cause really bad breakage. If you're natural .. when you do a wet set style like, rods or twists on wet hair and your ends flair out like paintbrush bristles, it's time for a trim! 

FYI: Always use hair sheers !

3. Breakage vs Shedding: Knowing the difference between breakage and shedding is essential to maintaining length. One way to depict shedding .. if you see a white bulb at the end of the strand, that is a sign that it's coming directly from the root. In this case, the strand is growing a new and pushing out the old one. Breakage are hairs that have broken at a point in a hair strand.

Breakage can be caused by many factors, such as:

1. Too much manipulation

2. Being too rough

3. Split ends

4. Moisturizing scalp: I watch a lot of natural YouTube guru's and only once did I come across a video about scalp moisturizing. Everyone rants about hair but they neglect the scalp. We produce natural oils but some people, like me, suffer from dry scalp and need to put extra effort on moisturizing it. That's where my hair grows from, so it is important for me to stimulate that growth. 

 5. Heat: Natural or Relaxed, Transitioning ... If you are going to burn your hair strands, make sure the process is short, sweet, and not frequent. Make sure you protect the strands so they can't feel the heat. Relaxed chicks .. I know you don't want thin, shedding hair. And the naturally curly chicks ... will be crying for their curls back... So protect your hair !

6. Low Manipulation: Doing styles that require less hand on hair stimulation tends to respond better .. people with hair like this ... have really picky hair... that does not like to be touched. So, protective styling like weaves, braids, twists, and crotchet braids, will assist in growth.  Though you should be careful of styles done too tight or those that stay in too long .. because it can cause more harm than good ... (breakage) and then you'd blame me for the bad advice.

OVERALL 

It's important to Know your hair: The key to learning is trial and error ... knowing what products your hair loves and sticking them. The quote "If it's not broke don't fix it" applies here. PRODUCT JUNKIES HOLD OFF AND SAVE YOUR MONEY. Learn what habits it loves and stick to them. If your hair loves low manipulation because you over manipulate it when it's out ... do protective styling. Also, protect when using heat. & Don't forget the scarf !!!

THANKS FOR READING, STAY BLESSED !

Photo Cred: http://my-kinky-hair.tumblr.com/

T.M.I. TAG

Hello World !!

Alright so I was on Youtube watching one of my subscriptions MyInvisibleChyrsalis (Check her out, she's hilarious) on Youtube and she recently posted this TAG, so I figured I'd do it. It's different from the usual posts and it's just a way for you guys to get to know me a little better. Please do enjoy these 50 facts about me ... 



1. What are you wearing? Well today was church day and now it's chill time (literally) cause I feel like I'm outside inside .. so a tee, a blazer, a pea coat, a scarf, jeans, and socks. (compliments of forever 21, H&M)
2. Ever been in love? :) Half of my readers would probably think no, but I beg to differ.
3. Ever had a terrible breakup? Yea
4. How tall are you? The best size lol, truthfully I don't know.
5. How much do you weigh? Too much to carry, light enough to ride the merry-go-round.
6. Any tattoos? ... no...
7. Any piercings? Are ears considered one or two? lol if considered one, then I have 3.
8. OTP (One True Pairing: what's your favorite fictional couple)? The Huxtables
9. Favourite show? Well, when I actually watched TV... Grey's Anatomy.
10. Favourite bands? I would like to consider Chris Brown a One Man Band for this one
11. Something you miss? hanging out with my partner in crime .. my momma.
12. Favourite song? No such thing.
13. How old are you? 20
14. Zodiac sign? Scorpio & believe me, it gets no better than this.
15. Quality you look for in a partner? Ambition

16: Favourite Quote?

17: Favourite actor? Between Will Smith and Denzel Washington.
18: Favourite color? Red.
19: Loud music or soft? Depends on my mood.
20: Where do you go when you're sad? Youtube ! To listen to some music or watch my fav youtubers.
21: How long does it take you to shower? Long enough.
22: How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? If I know what I'm wearing and don't have to do my hair like, half hour. If not, an hour.
23: Ever been in a physical fight? Yes..
24: Turn on? Sincere, funny, attractive, ambitious, spiritual ...
25: Turn off? Arrogance.
26: The reason I joined Youtube? There's a video for EVERY/ANYTHING I guaruntee it.
27: Fears? Bugs and rodents.
28: Last thing that made you cry? The episode of Mobbed when he proposed to his girlfriend and married her on the spot. He had the dress, her best friends, and family there. It was beautiful man lol.
29: Last time you said you loved someone? I tell it to my friends all the time!
30: Meaning behind your Youtube/Blogging Name? blog name: bucketlistdreams .. which means I want to fulfill all my dreams before I die.
31: Last book you read? Some picture books ..
32: The book you're currently reading? Where the Sidewalk Ends for my Children's Literature class.
33: Last show you watched? Can't remember .. I don't watch tv
34: Last person you talked to? My grandpa
35: The relationship between you and the person you last texted? My boyfriend
36: Favourite food? Jamaican and Portuguese Food.
37: Place you want to visit? Paris, Nigeria, Brazil
38: Last place you were? The basement
39: Do you have a crush? Dwyane Wade ... Yes Lord !
40: Last time you kissed someone? I plead the fifth.
41: Last time you were insulted? smh... a few minutes ago
42: Favourite flavour of sweet? APPLE .. yum
43: What instruments do you play? I went through, a recorder, trumpet, and keyboard ... and learned nothing.
44: Favourite piece of jewelery? necklace my mom bought me 2 years ago
45: Last sport you played? ... this college work ... I burn at least 754 calories writing these papers.
46: Last song you sang? The old rugged cross hymnal .. it was communion Sunday
47: Favourite chat up line? "Soooo .. what's your major?"

48: Have you ever used it? All the Time !
49: Last time you hung out with anyone? Friday night.
50: Who should answer these questions next? Everyone I know that who has a blog !

Thanks For Reading, Stay Blessed !

 

Photo Cred: http://sanctuaryofstyle.net/category/style-tips/

5 Months Post BC:Staple Products Review

Hello World & Naturalistas !

I'm back with another hair blog post. I honestly love doing these kind of posts. I enjoy experimenting with hair products as a "natural sista." I'm still learning what my hair likes and what it doesn't like. For those people who are serious about hair care, I'm sure there was a point and time you tried a new product and it didn't work for you like you thought it would. Well, I've also tried a number of things that were just horrible .. UNTIL I used it in a different way or with a different product. Here are three of my staple products .. products that my hair loves and that I will continue to use.

I got this product because my aunt recommended it. She said many natural vloggers rant about it and how much it helps though it was not a staple product for her. So I tried it while I was transitioning. After washing my hair I applied this as a leave in then I would apply oil. After air drying my hair would be brittle. So I stopped using it after that. But now that I am creeping up on month 5 post BC and it's still sitting around, I decided to give it another try but in a different way. 2 months ago I would do a protein pre poo treatment every week. My results weren't very impressive so I stopped doing them. I decided to use this as a pre poo instead. I spray my hair first then apply an ample amount and let it sit under a cap for 20-25 minutes. After rinsing this out my hair felt like butter ! SERIOUSLY. *yasssssssss* I'm happy that I decided to give this product another chance. It was totally worth it and has officially become one of my staple products.

Alright so, I came across this product on a Instagram photo. I went straight to YouTube to get reviews and everyone loved it. So, I looked it up and it was very cheap, like 3-4 dollars, so I had to get it. A couple months later and I still love it. It's moisturizing just like it says. When my hair is wet and I apply it to my hair, my hair curls right up. Now the last time I washed my hair I washed it out without using a conditioner afterwards and my hair was so soft. I cant help but think  I've been using it wrong the whole time or just with the wrong products. Either way, I am loving it now ! My official deep conditioning staple product.

My aunt had this product in her house and I figured it was decent, so I purchased it in the very beginning of my journey, after my BC. It's the most expensive product I own. It's listed at around 10-13 dollars, depending on where you get it from. The consistency is very jelly like and it feels sticky in your finger tips. Because of this, many people may not like it but I love the hold it gives my twist outs. I also learned not to use this product alone because it leaves my hair dry. In the beginning I mixed it with Dark and Lovely's Au Naturale Coil Moisturizing Souffle. The combination left my hair  feeling soft. But about 3 months ago I started using it with the shea butter mix mentioned in my previous blog .. [Check it out !]. With this product, less is more. When you use too much your hair feels .. for lack of better words .. nasty. But despite that, this has become my staple styling product.

THANKS FOR READING , BE BLESSED

True Life: I'm Addicted to eBay

Hello World !

As insane as this may sound ... I think I am developing a strong satisfaction for selling things through EBay. But then again who isn't strongly satisfied with making money... By any means necessary. (though there are limits) Right?

My Story

Well, over a year ago, I decided to sell a textbook through Amazon, I was so excited when I got my first "bite" . I had realed in a customer who paid MONEY for my item. Of course there's the whole purchasing packaging supplies and such but it wasn't much considering the amount I had charged for the item. Also, Amazon takes a cut of the profit but there was still a decent amount left. The process took days but I eventually received it through direct deposit.

Then, in about September I made a couple of online purchases just before school began and unfortunately the worse thing happened. I received a pair of shoes that were entirely too small for me to fit and I bought them on sale. So yep, FINAL SALE. So as you know, I couldn't return them. So an idea popped into my head .. hmm, maybe I can sell them. At that point, I decided to give eBay a try. Well, I did .. and what do you know? I sold the shoes ! After that I was hooked, Let the games begin.

Get to know more ...

Though this is a very viable way to make money, there are a few things you ought to know. Like one, eBay charges for just about everything. They take 10% from your final selling price, 10% from shipping costs (if you charged for shipping), Fees to list your item, so on & so forth. And after all your fees accumulate, you are left with a bill for the previous month. eBay will notify you by email when they will take the money. *eBay will notify you by email about EVERYTHING, which is a pro and a con*

eBay requires payments be done through a PayPal account and you as a eBay member are required to set up an account with them. And as if eBay's charges weren't enough PayPal also charges you. But there charges are less than 10% and are taken immediately from the amount received from your buyer. So basically, you get the difference.

You maybe thinking "They take so much, what's the point?" but they have to make a profit somehow. So, based on what you sell you can determine whether it's worth it or not.

One TIP for you though .. Make sure you have the means to get to a post office because if not, you'll have a lot of angry customers. (Not like I'm speaking from experience or anything LOL)

Wrap up ..

To continue my story, Since that day in November I've been searching for things non stop to sell on eBay things I don't use anymore, want anymore, wrong sizes, etc. Just going crazy with things. And it's been working. It's not a steady income because there's such a long process; between waiting for it to sell, waiting for them to pay, then shipping the item, waiting for it to reach it's destination and PayPal doesn't give you the money until the buyer's receives the item. So, it can take a while. But,it is an awesome way to make extra money with things you have that you don't want OLD and New.

 

So here are some things I've learned:

1. DO NOT just click Yes, I agree to the Terms and Conditions without actually reading them because those charges will catch you off-guard.

2. When posting a sale always take decent pictures of your item. Make sure the pictures are clear. If you can find them on Google, that's even better.

3. Try not to OVER price your item just to make money. When you're selling an item, you have to think like a buyer. Make it reasonable. Search eBay for what others are selling your item for and go lower. That way there's a great possibility that people will bid and it can go above other seller's asking prices.

4. If the item is used; price it cheap.

5. If you see your item isn't getting any views add keywords in the title to attract buyers

6. Make sure not to under price your item so that you actually make a profit off of it. Consider packaging and shipping costs.


For now I will continue to fuel my new money making hobby addiction through college, as best as I can !

THANKS FOR READING

Winter Fashion Lookbook 2014

HELLO WORLD !!

Back again with another personal Fashion Look Book for the winter in the New Year of 2014.

Before you enjoy the pics I have a PSA: Ok, So there is a website called Ebates.com. You may have heard about it or saw the commercial ... but I am here to confirm it is LEGIT. They have promos for stores like Nike, Macy's, Nordstorm, Old Navy, Amazon, Target, and Walmart.... to name a few. They also offer coupons for EVERYTHING: clothes, electronics, jewelry, even Victoria Secret. They are also efficient in refunding you your cash. If you enjoy online shopping as much as I do then you'd LOVE this website. When you shop through Ebates.com you get a certain percentage of what you paid, back. It's a win, win. You're literally shopping to save.

If you're interesting in giving it a try, click HERE


Please enjoy my Lookbook








LOOK 1 - Afro-Centric Flavor

Top- White V-Neck Tee - F21
Blazer - Navy Blue - F21
Bottom- Green and Blue Tribal Print - F21
Belt - Brown - F21
Shoes - Black Booties - F21
Bag - Black - Rainbow
Necklace - Silver Heart Pendant - Gift
Watch - White & Gold - F21

LOOK 2 - Comfy Class

Top - Grey & Black Sweater - F21
Bottoms - Light Blue - F21
Shoes - Black Combat Boots - Rainbow
Necklace - White & Gold - F21
Watch - White & Gold - F21

LOOK 3 - Fashion Spot

Top - Camel and Black Polka Dot High Low - F21
Jacket - Black Faux Leather - F21
Bottoms - Black Pant - F21
Shoes - Cheetah & Red Pumps - Rainbow
Necklace - Gold - Gift
Watch - Michael Kohrs - Gift

LOOK 4 - Movie Date

Top - Rust V-Neck Sweater - F21
Vest - Destroyed Denim - F21
Bottoms - Dark Blue Jean - F21
Shoes - Brown Combat Boots - Rainbow
Necklace - Gold Chain Link - Gift
Watch - Michael Kohrs - Gift
Bag - Black - Gift

LOOK 5 - I Woke Up Like This

Top - White & Turquoise - F21
Bottoms - Black Jean - F21
Shoes - Tan Peep Toe Spike Heel - Charlotte Russe
Necklace - Pearl and Gold Choker - F21

LOOK 6 - Girl's Night Out

Top - Black and White Stripe - F21
Bottoms - Blue Jeggings - Charlotte Russe
Shoes - Black Booties
Bag - Black and Gold - F21
Watch - White and Gold - F21

Thank You for reading :) 

 

NEW PRODUCT REVIEW !!

 

 

 

 

 

HELLO WORLD !

 

Alright, so if you know NOTHING about Trader Joe's, its like Whole Foods. An all natural/organic supermarket to buy your necessities. And like Shoprite they sell personal care products as well. One of the things they offer is a Tea Tree Trio (body wash, conditioner, and shampoo). I was watching one my subscriptions on YouTube and she reviewed this conditioner and said she loved it.And I quote, "After rinsing, my hair felt like butter and it was only 2.99" I immediately felt the need to get it. Especially because I don't necessarily like the way my hair feels after using the Garnier Fructis Conditioner. Also all the other products I use are expensive on a College Student budget. But the nearest Trader Joe's is kind of far so I checked EBay, a person was selling one for $10 .. the cheapest I found it. So basically, I wasted 7 dollars because I was too impatient. BUT I tried it for the first time last week as a co-wash and I must say I love it and it made my hair feel soft after rinsing.

If you're looking for a co-wash conditioner or just a regular wash out conditioner, go out to your nearest Trader Joe's and buy this one. It's only 2.99, don't waste money like I did getting it else where. You cant beat that price and you never know, you just might LOVE it.

FYI - it has a very strong peppermint smell

3rd Month Post BC

Hello World !!

So I'm back again with another Natural Hair Post :D I get so excited to do these even though in the beginning I promised my self I wouldn't make one EVERY month so that you guys could actually see real progress. So I skipped one month, I just couldn't resist this time around. But I make a promise *right now* to my readers that my next update wont be until Month 6. (Hold me to that) I also promise my self to use NO heat styling until that time.


FYI: since it's already January I'm technically late for my 3rd month but still early for my 4th

Here are some photos in comparison from month 1 to 3 Post BC

This a comparison of my hair after being blown out from the end of October to the end of December

Top Pic: November Flat Iron & Trim







Bottom Pic: December Flat Iron & Trim



(It grew a decent amount in just one month if I do say so myself)

*Heat Protectant: Fantasia IC (Red Bottle)*





So in case anyone is wondering or just curious I do have a regimen, FINALLY. But it will most likely change as my hair journey continues. But currently...

Maintenance:

- Shampoo Wash Hair Once EVERY week
- Deep Condition EVERY Week
- Thin Hair Treatment EVERY week
- CoWash in between one week period (when necessary)
- Trim Once a MONTH (or when necessary)

*a lot of people rant about co-washing because shampoo strips the hair strands of natural oils. But my scalp hates co-washing. I get so much build up and my scalp itches like crazy. So I personally need to shampoo. This is why I pre-poo AND deep condition*

MY Current Steps and Staple Products:

Pre-poo (Thin hair treatment) - water, honey, 1/2 banana, olive & coconut oil. blend and place on hair for 15 minutes with cap NO LONGER (personal experience)
Shampoo - Palmers Coconut Oil Formula Sulfate Free Conditioning Shampoo
Deep Condition - Hollywood Olive Oil Deep Conditioner & Oil
Condition & Wash - Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Conditioner
Leave in Conditioner - Giovanni Leave In Conditioner
Moisturize - Shea Butter Mix, Olive Oil
Styling - Shea Moisture Curling Gel Souffle`

In case you are wondering about what the Shea Butter mix includes see HERE:

Using:
-Unrefined Shea Butter at Room Temperature
-About 1 Tbsp Coconut Oil
-About 1 tsp Olive Oil
-About 1 tsp Castor Oil
-About 1 Tbsp Jojoba Oil
-About 1/2 tsp Vitamin E

 

DISCLAIMER: These steps and products are what work for my hair and in no way are they guaranteed to provide you with the same results. My advice to you is that if you're using a product or products that already work for you, DO NOT change them. But if you are still looking for products, then it won't hurt to try something new.

FALSE THINKING: I used to believe that using one line of all their products would ultimately be best but that's not true in any case. You may love one lines conditioner but hate their shampoo or love a moisturizer but not their gel. Unfortunately it takes a lot of trial and error to get it right. Personally I swap products with friends and family (whether they're going natural or not), therefore no money is wasted.



I attempted to be as informative and helpful as possible if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask. I love answering questions :) AGAIN, thank you for reading!

Until Next Time :D



"I'll desire to inspire until I perspire." - Dyme C