Gabrielle Union Is Launching Her Own Hair Care Line In Ulta Beauty

Gabrielle Union recently announced that she is launching her own hair care line called Flawless. The same company that created the Macadamia Line who we are very familiar with teamed up with Union to create this one. Read more via WWD: “For me — having skin in the game — it deepens the connection,” said […]

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Reveiw: Cantu Apple Cider Vinegar Root Rinse

Root Rinse is new bae.

I'm a total sucka for new products.

There, I said it.

About a week or so ago, I was perusing Sally's and Cantu's new Refresh line of products caught my eye. After looking over the options, I decided it was my solemn duty as a blogger and product junkie to take one for the team and purchase a bottle of the Cantu Refresh Apple Cider Vinegar Root Rinse.

It looked interesting, the ingredients were (shockingly) amazing, and the price was just right. Plus, you know Sally's will let you return your left sock if you ask nicely. 

So what exactly is this stuff, and how does it work? Keep scrolling for the 411!

Cost

$5.19 for 12oz ($4.99 online)

Where to Buy

In stores at Sally Beauty, and online at Target

Active Ingredients

• Water
• Vinegar: Apple Cider Vinegar is believed to have a ton of internal and external benefits, including being able to kill lice, serve as an antimicrobial agent (warding off infection), and helping to  ease the itching and flakiness associated with scalp conditions such as dandruff, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis. Apple Cider Vinegar is also touted for its ability to improve the shininess of hair and increase moisture retention by causing cuticles to lay flat via pH balancing the hair. Through this same mechanism, it is also believe that Apple Cider Vinegar can correct hair porosity issues.
• Tea Tree Oil: Essential oil with known antibacterial and antifungal properties. Tea tree oil assists in naturally cleansing the scalp, fighting itchiness and flakes that are common with dandruff, psoriasis, and sebhorreic dermatitis
• Shea Butter: Emollient fat from the nut of the East or West African shea nut tree used to moisturize and soften hair.
• Hydrolyzed Baobab Protein: Water-soluble protein extract derived from the baobab fruit that provides anti-aging and UV protection benefits to the hair, along with damage recovery, damage protection, strength, and conditioning. 
• Panthenol: Form of vitamin B that can penetrate the hair, and is known to moisturize and soften.
• Oat Beta-Glucan: Solution of soluble oat bran fibre that has been shown to soothe skin, reduce redness, and provide relief for skin conditions that cause redness or discomfort (like dandruff, eczema, psoriasis, and sebhorreic dermatitis). It improves the tensile strength of hair, while moisturizing dry and flaky scalp. 
• Bilberry Extract: Relative of the blueberry, and equally rich in antioxidant properties. Research has shown that bilberry extract improves scalp circulation and strengthens collagen production, leading to healthy hair re-growth.

Protein Free?

Nope!

Curly Girl Friendly?

Methinkso - no cones, no sulfates. 

The Good

I'm not gonna lie to you, I went into this purchase with the side eye of all side eyes. First of all, I've been doing my own DIY ACV Rinses on wash day for about a month now (with fantabulous results, might I add). I've known for some time that my hair loves and responds favorably to Apple Cider Vinegar. But did I need a super fancy concoction, or would my simple solution work?

More: My DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Spritz for Natural and Transitioning Hair

Y'all.

My hair, with Root Rinse on

I'm bout to throw all my ACV away. Okay, I'm not gonna trash it, I'm gonna drink it. But still. 

My lil bootsie DIY operation is NOTHING in comparison to the Cantu Apple Cider Vinegar Root Rinse. 

NOTHING.

On mamas.

Like, I was all set to make a blog post sharing my simple ACV rinse recipe and stuff, but I don't even want to now. Cantu done stole my shine.

Not quite water, not quite serum.

The consistency of the root rinse is thicker than water, but not by much. It reminds me of a really thin serum. it glides right over the hair, coating it without running directly off. Here's the kicker though - it has a slight foaming action. Not full-on shampoo, but a slight sudsiness that makes you feel like some actual cleaning is happening. Beyond that, I'm quite floored with the ingredient list. Although I stopped deep-diving into ingredients years ago (because the first 5-7 ingredients after water comprise the bulk of the product and have the most impact on hair), I'll just say this - from beginning to end, Root Rinse has a stellar ingredient list. 

But that's not even the real magic.

The real magic is this - somehow, some way...it has SLIP. As in, I detangled with Root Rinse.

Don't ask Sway how, he ain't got the answers.

And it it gets BETTER! Straight up, no lie.

My curls AFTER rinsing off the Cantu Apple Cider Vinegar Root Rinse? EPIC.

Look at 'em:

Product-free curls. Not even dripping wet, but still poppin'.

What you see here is the reason why I love ACV on my hair - shine, softness, smoothness, supple curls, and mad shrinkage. My curls become the healthiest versions of themselves and pop to extreme levels when apple cider vinegar is in the mix. 

And as you can see, Cantu's Apple Cider Vinegar Root Rinse lived up to and surpassed my expectations. Even though it's marketed for women rocking braids, wigs, weaves, and other protective styles, it beyond blessed my regular ol' curls.

The Bad

The only downside is, I can see myself going through this stuff fairly quickly. Although 5 bucks is more than affordable for 12oz of product, I'd love to see a 33.8 salon back bar size. But then again, I'm just being greedy. 

The Bottom Line

Cantu's Apple Cider Vinegar Root Rinse has earned a spot in my regimen. I can't decide if I'm using it to replace co-washing, or regular shampooing. But it's in there like swimwear, for sure.

Would I Buy it Again?

At the time of publication, I've already purchased 2 more in addition to the 1 I initially had. Sooooo yeah. There's that.

Have you tried any of Cantu's new products? Admittedly, this was my first foray into Cantu. Let me know in the comments below if you'll be checking out the Apple Cider Vinegar Root Rinse!

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Why Micellar Water Might Be Your Next Go To Hair Product

How To Make A Ginger Root Hair Mask For Extreme Hair Growth

Fresh ginger is a must-have for any kitchen for a number of reasons. For one ginger when added to your dishes can give them amazing flavor and two a little boiled ginger can settle an upset tummy in minutes. Honestly, the benefits of ginger root outside of what I will share with you in this […]

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Here’s My Go-To Hair Care Routine For Kinky Curly Clip Ins and Weave

In my opinion, hair extensions that match your natural texture are the best because you don’t have to manipulate your hair to match a different texture, it looks realistic, and it’s a great way to see what certain styles might look like on your hair without ever having to touch your actual hair. Kinky curly […]

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What Does a Doctor Have to Say About Natural Hair Products? An Interview with Dr. Susan Walker, ND of Earthtones Naturals

What Beyonce & Mariah Carey can teach us about having a Successful Day.

When I first entered corporate America, many years ago. I worked in a career that I thought would allow me to interact with a diverse group of people.  Little did I know that part of my job responsibilities also included giving presentations to large groups.  The only experience I had in public speaking was a speech class I took at a community college in which I barely received a B.

I recall the early days when my supervisor forced me to speak in front of a crowd. My voice cracked, I was covered in sweat and my heart raced a million miles a minute.  Years later, I "mastered" the art of public speaking.  My presentations were so perfected that I would receive countless compliments on how well it went.  I even had people come up to me afterward asking if I could coach them on becoming a better speaker. A couple years ago, I attended a success conference.  During the break, I told the woman hosting the conference a story about how I was introduced to her organization.  Unbenounced to me, she randomly invited me up on the stage to share my story with her audience as an illustration of her effective marketing strategies.  I got up, grabbed the mic off the stand, said a few words, and sat down.  Later during the break, a few people came up and praised me about my stage presence and speaking voice.  This happened multiple times over the two-day conference.

When I tell people that I used to be afraid to talk in front of an audience, they're shocked! They immediately ask me what I did to become the confident speaker I am today.  The answer is simple and can be summed up with one word.





That one word is preparation.

The reason why I used to trip over my words and lose my train of thought in front of an audience is because I tried to speak eloquently on the spot.  I hadn't learned how to become an effective speaker yet I used "in the moment" situations for practice.   This isn't an effective strategy at all (especially if you aren't skilled).  The difference between preparing adequately for a presentation vs. being unprepared is like comparing Beyonce's show to Mariah Carey's New Year's Eve performance.

Let's be honest, although Mariah experienced technical difficulties, you could still tell that little preparation was done to fine-tune her performance.  For every spectacular show you've  ever witnessed, know that countless hours of preparation was required to create that outcome.

Today's article isn't about public speaking, it's about the power of preparation.  By making preparedness a priority, I completely transformed my greatest weakness into my strongest skill.

This morning, I listened to a video on work ethic.  The guy in the video shares a powerful lesson learned from his mentor. "Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance" was the mantra his mentor lived by.   The moment I heard those words, I resonated with how true they were.

The mentor's request was that he always prepare the night before because "the guy who's the most prepared wins."
-Prepare the Sunday before
-Prepare the week before
-Prepare the night before

"Everything is about preparation!"

I'll be honest with you.  I don't do a great job of preparing for the day.  Sure, I mentally create a list of a few things to do, but is that preparation or am I simply planning?

Preparation involves a much more detailed process than planning.  In a lot of cases, preparation actually involves real work.  I can honestly say that I didn't do any real work to prepare for today.  I set some simple intentions and that was it.  Today might still go well, but I'll be winging it as I go along.

Winging it is like gambling with success.  Preparation ensures it.

   It's time to figure out how to incorporate daily preparation into my rituals. In the past, I heard the suggestion to visualize your entire day the night before.  Doing so increases the likelihood that your day will go as planned. Once you visualize the day, start the preparation process to help ensure that you follow the path you envisioned.  Any part of your life where you continue to struggle day after day, ask yourself if there's any prep work you can do to avoid experiencing the same outcome.

 There's so much I can do in this area of daily preparation and I'm pretty excited to explore it.  If I experience even a fraction of the results that I got in improving my public speaking, it'll all be worth it.






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Guavas: Why And How You Should Use Them

What do you know about guavas? Well word has it that it isn’t just a delicious fruit but it has major powers for battling hair loss and promoting healthy lustrous hair! You know when it comes to hair care we are strong supporters of natural ingredients because for one, they are potent enough to get […]

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The Simple Makeup Trick that Helps You Get Rid of Resting Mean Face

If you've ever had someone tell you that you're much nicer than they expected? If so, then you're probably the victim of resting mean face.

You're one of those people that others automatically characterize as being unapproachable or having an attitude.  You're  unknowingly walking around with a look that says "please don't talk to me." Sometimes having "resting mean face" can be advantageous for those days when you don't want to be bothered.  But, who wants to walk around looking like that all of the time?
Appearing approachable is an asset. You never know who's looking at you from across the room waiting for a chance to say hello.

 Recently, while watching an everyday makeup tutorial,  the Youtuber shared her quick & easy technique for making it appear as if she's "smiling all the time." While applying her lip liner, she made sure to focus on the outer most corner of her mouth.  Ever so slightly, she added a tiny little "flick" that extended her lips outward.  The extension was so subtle, it was barely noticeable.

But at the same time, it was noticeable. 

It's sorta like a tiny little "cat eye" for the lips.  After watching her method, I realized that I never really paid attention to my lip corners.  From that day forward, I started making sure that I applied lip color all the way to the outer corners.  I noticed an immediate difference.  

Please keep in mind that there's a very fine line between highlighting your lip corners and looking like a 3 year-old did your lipstick.   Don't ever cross that line otherwise, you'll end up looking like you're rocking a Joker inspired lip.  No one wants that.  

If your mouth naturally curves downwards, there are things you can do to address that.  Tanaka Facial Massage has a technique that is said to help lift the corners of your mouth.  I've tried it myself and have found that it works pretty well.  If you do it once, the results are temporary, but if you make this massage a regular part of your routine, you'll regain that natural life that once had.  

Try this out and see if it works for you

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Here’s What Happened When I Stopped Following The “Hair Typing” System

At the beginning of my natural hair journey, I was completely confused by all of these women describing their hair textures and curl patterns with letters and numbers. I thought it was just a really creative way women were categorizing all the different hair types. I had no clue that there was actually a formal […]

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Kelly Rowland talks Confidence, Self Care & Self Love in this video Interview

 I've always admired Kelly Rowland's gorgeous skin and toned figure.  I've always got my eyes and ears open to learning more about Kelly's beauty secrets. What I know thus far is that Kelly believes in and invests in her self-care routines. Even back in the Destiny's Child days, Kelly revealed that she loved to indulge in facials and various spa treatments.  As a matter of fact, she often performed facials on her Destiny's Child bandmates. We also know that she isn't afraid to spend a little extra on her skin.  Kelly is a huge fan of the luxury brand, Nutra Bisse. Some other notables who also love this line include Brandy, Beyonce, and Meagan Good.

We also know that Kelly maintains her washboard abs by knocking out at least 200 sit ups a night.  She also works out faithfully with trainer Jeanette Jenkins.  This screams of a woman who's dedicated to living a fit and healthy lifestyle.

When I got word that Allure conducted a video interview with Kelly to discuss her self care routine, I was all over it.
In the video, we follow Kelly as she enjoys a day of pampering.  She looks happy & comfy wearing a cute topknot and an every day face.  At one point in the video, Kelly receives an LED light treatment.  It makes me feel a little better about invest hundreds of dollars to purchase my own at home unit.

Kelly's self-care mantra is "if you can't take care of yourself, how are you going to have anything to give to anyone else?"  Wise words from a woman who's lived by this message pretty much all of her life.



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10 Reasons Your Hair Is Dry

Youtuber Olivia Rose recently tackled the reasons we experience dry hair and we agree 100% with all 10 points that she made and thought I would share her video with you here. We have a ton of content on dry hair under various headings but it does not hurt to reiterate them in list format […]

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The Simple Tweak That Increases Your Fat Burning Potential by 9X!

I live within walking distance from the local park.  I try my best to get at least 30 minutes of walking in on a regular basis. This park is pretty big and if I do a full round it's over a mile long.
I know that walking is good for me but I've noticed that my leisurely stroll in the afternoon doesn't produce the weight loss I want. This is because my regular walks aren't really doing much to impact my fitness levels.
Then I learned that I've been doing it all wrong.

You see I've been engaged in what they call steady-state exercise. Basically, steady exercise is when a person engages in activity at a consistent speed or motion for an extended period of time. So when you get on a treadmill or elliptical and just walk on it or run for an hour you're engaging in steady state exercise.

The problem with that is that steady-state exercise isn't really optimal for fat loss. There is a much more effective way to impact your body through exercise and it's called high-intensity interval training (HIIT). We've discussed high-intensity interval training before. As you may recall, this type of training can impact stubborn fat cells in the abdomen like no other workout can. High-intensity exercise usually involves short bursts of activity followed by short rest periods. I used to think that HIIT training was optimal when done on a treadmill but I heard a recent interview that changed all of that.

The guy introduced me to interval walking.  This form of high-intensity training that can be easily incorporated into your daily walk.  Instead of walking at the same pace for 30 minutes to an hour, you switch things up by adding short bursts on intense power walking, jogging, or sprinting (depending on your fitness level).  He talked about studies done where interval walkers were shown to burn fat and build muscle at greater levels than "normal walkers."  If your goal is to ramp up fat burn, then steady state exercise isn't really your friend.  As a matter of fact, HIIT was found to burn fat 9 times more effectively than regular exercise.  Nine times!!!!  Working out at a high intensity, even for short periods revs up your metabolism so you continue to burn calories at a faster rate long after your workout is over (the afterburn effect).

Since I've learned that interval walking is a thing, I've been taking full advantage. I'm already seeing positive movement on the scale.  Just a simple little tweak and I've improved my results in a noticeable way.  If you're an avid walker, but you want to increase your fat loss, then switch things up! Start by bumping up your exertion levels.  Incorporate power walking, jogging or sprinting with your walk and experience the difference.

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Video: Inahsi Naturals Curated Collection Unboxing & Review!

Day 3 Styling Results AFTER using Inahsi Moisture Collection products

I have something really dope to share with you.

If you kept up with Christina's Choice 2016, then you already know that Inahsi Naturals came in and stole my heart in the Shampoos and Deep Conditioners categories.

Turns out, Inahsi Naturals is just warming up. I'd like to introduce you guys to their Curated Collection - a boxed set of Inahsi Naturals products specially crafted and tailored to meet specific hair goals. 

There are 4 Curated Collection boxes - Styling, Moisture, Hair Growth, and Kids. Each box is filled with 3 full size products, 2-3 2oz products, and an assortment of tools and necessities to help you in your natural hair journey. 

Easily my favorite aspect of the Curated Collection box is the collaboration between Inahsi Naturals and other Black-owned brands. Each box contains a carefully selected product from a Black-owned hair care company.

In my box? The Sassy Cap!

Yassssssss!

My Moisture Collection Box

In case you were wondering, the retail value of the Moisture Collection is $86.95 - not including the cost of the comb and clips. This Curated Collection goes for $70 - which is pretty darn good, if I must say so myself!

More: Co-Washing, Shampooing, and Clarifying - What's the Difference? 

There's tons more info on the Curated Collection, Inahsi Elite (which is an AMAZING value), and how I used the Moisture Collection in the video below.

Check it out!

Have you tried Inahsi Naturals yet? What you waiting for, girl?! Make sure you jump on their e-mail list ASAP - because a little birdie told me there's a sale coming up :)

Per the FTC, I have to let y'all know that this post is sponsored by Inahsi Naturals. But that doesn't mean anything - I'm still keeping it 100 and giving you guys the real.

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Black Woman Applying To Work For Harrod’s In London Told To Chemically Relax Her Hair

It’s 2017 and women are still being told what they should look like and what chemicals to use to tame their “unacceptable” natural hair. Recently news broke of a black woman who was seeking a job at the well known high-end store Harrods in London. To get the job she was told she had to […]

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