Not too long along when I had my eyebrows threaded (will post a pic later!), the lady doing my brows expressed I should rub Vitamin E into my brow to preserve its thickness. Apparently my brows were thin for my age (I'm only 23), and she was mildly concerned that my brows would thin without proper care. Well, since I already had Vitamin E laying around the house from putting it on bad blemishes to soothe and burns, I thought there was no harm in taking her advice and giving it a try.
Well let me just tell you, I've found a new way to use Vitamin E that I love!
Since Vitamin E has a pretty thick texture, I've been using it to not only nourish my brows, but to keep them in place, almost like a brow gel! Vitamin E is pretty awesome because its not only assisting in my brow health, but taming my brows and fixing them in place!
I am definitely a big supporter of finding more natural and healthy ways to do things! Also, last night I rubbed some Vitamin E on my lips to treat dryness and I woke up with amazingly soft lips that were completely unchapped and gorgeous!
The most exciting thing is 1 capsule of Vitamin E goes a long way (Vitamin E comes in a clear plastic shell that can be ingested orally or punctured to use the actual Vitamin E gel)! I've used 1 capsule about 3 times on my brows and once on my lips, so Vitamin E is my new exciting and cost-effective multi-tasker! :)
Father's Day
Its been really hard for me to come to grips with this, but Father's Day has always been a really rough time because my father passed away when I was 18. Even though we went through some really really tough times together, I couldn't help but love him unconditionally. So I'd like to pay special respects to him peacefully and gracefully flying through the clouds in Heaven. If you can read this: I love you no matter how many times we may have hurt each other and I notice everyday that you are gone, but know you are happier now than you've ever been on Earth.
On another note, my mother did remarry and my stepfather has been a present force in my life. Thank you for all the things you have done for me, albeit big or small because you never had to and you still did. I'm so sorry its so hard to call you dad, but I really hope you understand. It doesn't make you any less important.
Thank yous out to all the fathers that are doing what they need to do and doing it well.
On another note, my mother did remarry and my stepfather has been a present force in my life. Thank you for all the things you have done for me, albeit big or small because you never had to and you still did. I'm so sorry its so hard to call you dad, but I really hope you understand. It doesn't make you any less important.
Thank yous out to all the fathers that are doing what they need to do and doing it well.
A Curly Girl's: Wash & Go/ Wash & Go Twist-out
Since these were the first photos I found, I decided to elaborate on this style first. Now I know what your thinking. A wash & go is a wash & go so what's up with the addition of the wash & go twist-out?
The wash & go with a twist out simply serves to preserve the style while taming some of the frizzy bits I couldn't get to the conditioner with. All I do is take medium to large parts and gently twist the hair and seal it with my fingertips (I just hold it a second). Then all I do is scarf it up. Then in the morning, I undo the twists, separate and massage the parts, and fluff. This just helps to preserve the style but also polishes it a little because all the curls that were not defined lay down a little bit and get with the curly program! This comes out as shown below, and was actually acheived from the wash & go from the first photo. See how my hair kinda stretched a little? I also oil the sections a little before twisting if needed because my ends tend to get dry. 
Well...
My hair is very soft and as someone pointed out to me yesterday: "your hair looks different every time I see you". That's because depending on how I wrap my hair up for the night, my curl pattern will be more or less defined, or will just be a wave. So as to deliniate between all these patterns, I've assigned them names to distinguish one from the next.
Now for my wash & go's, I use the method described on tightlycurly.com, and if I am using shelf products (ie. something that's not natural), her product reviews and ingredient guides are awesome tools for me to pick the safest products on the shelves. If natural products aren't as widely available to you, then that is a good place to start to find safe products for curly hair that are on the market and sold in drugstores.
Now for the wash & go:
After washing, I follow with a conditioner applied on sopping wet hair (the wetter, the easier it is to define your curls), and proceed to detangle with a comb or finger comb. Then I simply let it dry. For another lovely method for drying, you can google "plopping" and see my review on it in the blog with the same title. I like this style for when I'm in a rush and need to get going for the day. It dries to look like below. I think the Phanatic liked it...right? Lol anyway...
The wash & go with a twist out simply serves to preserve the style while taming some of the frizzy bits I couldn't get to the conditioner with. All I do is take medium to large parts and gently twist the hair and seal it with my fingertips (I just hold it a second). Then all I do is scarf it up. Then in the morning, I undo the twists, separate and massage the parts, and fluff. This just helps to preserve the style but also polishes it a little because all the curls that were not defined lay down a little bit and get with the curly program! This comes out as shown below, and was actually acheived from the wash & go from the first photo. See how my hair kinda stretched a little? I also oil the sections a little before twisting if needed because my ends tend to get dry. My Favorite Natural Hairstyles, Go-to Hairstyles, & Hairstyles to Try
Ok. It's taken almost 2 years to do this...but I've finally found a large handful of natural styles that I love to go to anytime I want to change it up. Since I know how hard it was to find what my options were for natural hair, I've compiled them here. I think what I plan on doing is listing them and maybe taking them in depth in another series of blogs so I can accredit the proper sources and show pics, etc.
The descriptions for the following styles (and any other particular hair advice I have to give) will start with the label "A Curly Girl's..." (cute right?).
The descriptions for the following styles (and any other particular hair advice I have to give) will start with the label "A Curly Girl's..." (cute right?).
Written in no order in particular:
-Two strand twist
-Two strand twisted updo (my favorite way to wear my twists!)
-Twist out
-Curly fro (c/o Dr. Atkuri)
-Twist and curl (c/o Curly Nikki)
- the Doodling method (c/o tightlycurly.com)
-the "Doodle" twistout (which is my absolute favorite favorite style of the moment!)
-The fro-hawk (my hair has gotten a little long for this, but I tried it and loved the results)/half fro-hawk (a variation that I can show and describe)
-the Bouffant (with many style variations including a ponytail and a french twist and tendrils falling down the side of my face)
-the twisted updo (so sorry I can't remember what youtube video this was!)
-the Bantu knot-out fluffy bun (c/o Curly Nikki- I haven't tried this yet but it looked so pretty!)
-Puff w/flower pin
-Wash & go w/ side part or wash& go twist out
Sitting in the Dark
Can make silence so loud
And the world so clear.
And the world so clear.
Maybe that's why I'm still afraid of the dark.
A Curly Girl's: Review on Plopping
Sounds dirty doesn't it? It's not. Its just a way curly girls dry their hair!
Well for the first time ever I tried it after seeing a video by curlychronicles (I love her!) on youtube about it. Not only was her texture beautifully defined, but her hair was not dripping wet with water! Either way, I had to try it!
Plopping is basically a method that envolves washing and detangling the hair, and then wrapping it in a t-shirt or turban to let it dry for a few hours (I chose to do it overnight because otherwise my curls get all matted to my head during sleep).
When I woke up in the morning, my hair was damp, but not dripping with water, and my curls were still intact! I needed to add a little extra conditioner and do some fluffing, but besides that it was pretty awesome!
I definitely plan on trying this again, maybe with more moisture, and see what my results are. But I definitely will be trying it again!
A Curly Girl's: Thoughts on Shampoo & Washing
Back in the days of yore, me and shampoo were best friends. I used it often in my former natural hair journeys to wash my hair as often as every day to accomplish what I thought would be beautiful curls and waves.
Boy was I wrong.
After washing, I noticed my hair would sigh in its residual frizziness, dryness, and lack of soft, shiny luster that I wished for.
Well after hours, days, years, of research, I have learned an amazing thing...shampoo is my enemy! Oh how I felt backstabbed in realizing what cleaned my hair was actually drying it and stealing its natural luster for life!
Well, after numerous experiments, I have discovered my new best friend: ACV or apple cider vinegar. And I know what your thinking: "Ew vinegar, why would I want that in my hair?". Well can I tell you one thing: you definitely do!
After some research, I found out that ACV (pardon my affinity for shorthand) had moisturizing properties, and is also helpful with loosening dandruff from the scalp! I already was using ACV for a once a month rinsing treatment for when I had trouble with dry scalp and dandruff, but after a little more research, I realized it was a safe and gentle way to cleanse my hair!
For the first time last night, I decided to give it a try and use it to wash my hair. I used a mixture of 1 part ACV to 8 parts water (vinegar is really strong so you can't simply put it to use with no dilution, you must add water to make it a safer substance for use!), and poured enough over my wet hair (watch your eyes!) to saturate, and rubbed my scalp. I rinsed and then repeated. Afterwards, my hair was so soft that I could comb through it without catching many tangles! And wow, can I say its the softest my hair has been without conditioner! So in short, ACV is an an awesome resource and I will be adding it to my arsenal of hair products to use on a very regular basis!
Boy was I wrong.
After washing, I noticed my hair would sigh in its residual frizziness, dryness, and lack of soft, shiny luster that I wished for.
Well after hours, days, years, of research, I have learned an amazing thing...shampoo is my enemy! Oh how I felt backstabbed in realizing what cleaned my hair was actually drying it and stealing its natural luster for life!
Well, after numerous experiments, I have discovered my new best friend: ACV or apple cider vinegar. And I know what your thinking: "Ew vinegar, why would I want that in my hair?". Well can I tell you one thing: you definitely do!
After some research, I found out that ACV (pardon my affinity for shorthand) had moisturizing properties, and is also helpful with loosening dandruff from the scalp! I already was using ACV for a once a month rinsing treatment for when I had trouble with dry scalp and dandruff, but after a little more research, I realized it was a safe and gentle way to cleanse my hair!
For the first time last night, I decided to give it a try and use it to wash my hair. I used a mixture of 1 part ACV to 8 parts water (vinegar is really strong so you can't simply put it to use with no dilution, you must add water to make it a safer substance for use!), and poured enough over my wet hair (watch your eyes!) to saturate, and rubbed my scalp. I rinsed and then repeated. Afterwards, my hair was so soft that I could comb through it without catching many tangles! And wow, can I say its the softest my hair has been without conditioner! So in short, ACV is an an awesome resource and I will be adding it to my arsenal of hair products to use on a very regular basis!
Thinking "Slim": My Droopy Butt Skinny Jeans
Ok, I know. Not the most savory title.
But all I have to say is I'm estatic about this.
So I'm walking down the street with my friend and walking partner, Erica, chatting as we get off the train and head to work. I am wearing an old pair of favorites: some skinny jeans I wore often last year until I could no longer button them, even laying down. About 2 months ago I realized they fit when I was rushing to prepare for work, put them on, and didn't realize until I got on the subway that I wasn't sporting my old 22's, but my old trusty 18's that I cherished so dearly.
Can I just say I was ready to scream?
Anyways, so I am walking down the street and realize, these jeans are no way near as snug as they previously were! My jeans actually have a little sag in the rump!
Ok, I know, I know. Sag in the rump is not cool and I needed a belt, but this is a great breakthrough! Not only was I able to fit in my old jeans, but I was actually able to have a little room in them!
31.9 pounds later and I am feeling so awesome!
Those skinny jeans may have been my old faithfuls, but I can't say I'm less than estatic to buy a smaller pair!
But all I have to say is I'm estatic about this.
So I'm walking down the street with my friend and walking partner, Erica, chatting as we get off the train and head to work. I am wearing an old pair of favorites: some skinny jeans I wore often last year until I could no longer button them, even laying down. About 2 months ago I realized they fit when I was rushing to prepare for work, put them on, and didn't realize until I got on the subway that I wasn't sporting my old 22's, but my old trusty 18's that I cherished so dearly.
Can I just say I was ready to scream?
Anyways, so I am walking down the street and realize, these jeans are no way near as snug as they previously were! My jeans actually have a little sag in the rump!
Ok, I know, I know. Sag in the rump is not cool and I needed a belt, but this is a great breakthrough! Not only was I able to fit in my old jeans, but I was actually able to have a little room in them!
31.9 pounds later and I am feeling so awesome!
Those skinny jeans may have been my old faithfuls, but I can't say I'm less than estatic to buy a smaller pair!
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