Contents Hair Journals – The Secret To Hair Growth Success Benefits of Keeping a Hair Journal Tools for Keeping a Hair Journal Organizing It Final Considerations Hair Journals – The Secret To Hair Growth Success New years resolutions are notoriously difficult to stick to. Whether you decide never to eat a donut again or you […]
You may have sworn off mini twists but every so often you see someone else wearing the style and suddenly you want them again. In truth, mini twists can be a great low manipulation style if you treat your hair appropriately when putting them in and taking them out. In my case, I was itching […]
You guys know that I'm always up for a good beauty secret reveal. Usually, around this time of year, we get glimpses of not only beauty tips, but summer body secrets as well. Last year, Brittany Hampton filled us in on her favorite "skinny tea" tonic. It turned out that her beverage wasn't really a tea at all. Instead, it was a concoction of various juices that helped stimulate circulation while helping to keep her waistline in check.
Today, I bring you yet another "fit tonic" reveal. This one is brought to you by model Lori Harvey. On Snapchat, she let us in on a couple of her favorite fit drinks to get ready for summer. The beverage is sold by a brand called Tea Tonic. I've seen other products of theirs in my recent trips to Marshall's. Lori's caption tells us plainly not to say that she never put us on. This is her way of stating that she was letting us in on her little secret on staying slim.
Not taking the moment for granted, I quickly grabbed a screenshot then proceeded to look into this "skinny body" body tonic a little further. According to their website, I LOVE MY SKINNY BODY is here to help boost our metabolism, reduce cravings and stabilize blood sugar levels. It's also infused with the taste of chocolate, cinnamon, and vanilla to help satisfy your urges for sugary snacks.
One ingredient from Lori's tonic that I hadn't heard of before was gymnema sylverstre. Basically, this herb has the ability "numb your glucose receptors to the taste of sugar." If you were to put a little of the herb on your tongue, then ate something sweet, you wouldn't detect the sweetness of your snack. This helps curb our desire for sweets because the reward of the sugary taste in your mouth wouldn't exist. Not only that, the herb also has the ability to block sugar receptors internally which means that your body doesn't realize that it's receiving sugar as an energy source. Because it helps block the absorption of sugar, your body will then promote the use of fat for energy. The herb pretty much works on two levels. For one, your craving for sweets should be diminished. If you do indulge in sweets, gymnema could help lessen the impact of a potential blood sugar spike.
This is exceptionally important when it comes to weight management because elevated blood sugar levels trigger the body to store fat. Blood sugar management is a critical component of weight management. This is why other blood sugar lowering tonics, like apple cider vinegar, are effective allies in your weight loss journey.
Substituting a healthy beverage in the place of a sugary snack is a smart move. Especially, if you're prone to reach for sweets. Not only are you eliminating unnecessary calories, you could be giving your body added benefits. For example, gymnema is said to help lower cholesterol and was shown to lower inflammation in studies done on rats. We all know that inflammation is the root of all evil so anything that helps manage that evil tyrant is all right in my book. Aside from the Love My Skinny Body drink, you can also get gymnema in tea form or go for the capsules.
If I had a quarter for every time I suffered a breakout prior to an important event, I'd have a down payment for my beach villa. It never fails, the exact moment where it's important to have flawless skin, a pesky pimple pops up.
In the past, I figured a few things that could help manage the inflammation. But I had to make sure I caught it in time. None of my home remedies had the ability to destroy live acne in a matter of hours.
But, thanks to this Instagram Beauty Secret reveal, I've stumbled on a product that clears breakouts in no time. Never in all of my years of suffering did I think that skin scientists would develop a simple solution that gets rid of pimples fast. So fast that if you woke up with a breakout this morning, you could be pimple free in time for date night.
Fun fact, when I met my husband, I had very active acne. I was so embarrassed that I barely looked at him directly. I remember giving him my number and thinking "I hope he's cute cause I really didn't get a good look at him." Then I was like "it doesn't matter because he's never gonna call a girl with a face full of pimples anyway." Luckily for me, he looked past my skin imperfections and by the time we met again, some of the blemishes had calmed down. But that took quite a while.
Waiting for breakouts to subside seems to take forever. What if you don't have that kind of time? Thanks to the advances in the beauty industry, we can now rely on blemish patches to save the day.
What exactly are blemish patches? Basically, they provide targeted pimple-fighting ingredients where you need it most. The patch that we see Emmelie using contains volcanic ash to help unclog the pore, tea tree oil to fight the inflammation and salicylic acid to help up dry up the acne lesion. Imagine having all of those acne-eliminating ingredients in one tiny little package, delivering its acne fighting power for hours.
While searching for alternatives, I found this brand which features hydrocolloid as it's hero ingredient. Having never heard of it before, I did a little research. One person described hydrocolloid patches as having the ability to absorb fluid from a pimple. Once the moisture is absorbed, it's trapped within the gel contained in the patch for easier removal. It's you've suffered from acne before, you know that the fluid trapped below the skin's surface is a bulk of the problem. The old way of "removing the fluid" involved popping the pimple, but that's only gonna leave you with an unsightly scar. Since these patches cover the blemishes, they help take away the temptation to pick.
Perhaps, hydrocolloid patches can spare us from the heartache of discoloration long after the acne lesion is gone. Where were these patches when I needed to lead a presentation at work with active breakouts?
But I'm not going to look back and think about what was. Instead, I'll remain grateful that these patches exist. And when the next breakout strikes, I'll be ready.
I’ve heard it said that with boar bristle brushes, you either love em or hate em. If you are one of those who hate them, then you are using it wrong. First things first, a boar bristle brush is as it sounds made from the hair of a wild boar/hog. There are synthetic versions too […]
A while back, I was inspired to write a post on the topic of "being amazing" in order attract amazing experiences and people into our lives. While I do feel that the message is relevant, I'd like to tweak the verbiage just slightly.
While I do still believe that being amazing will attract wonderful people and experiences into your life, I think I've found an easier (clearer) method to constantly attract more of what we want. When you tell someone to "be amazing" the first thought that pops into your head might be "sounds good, but how exactly do we do that?" I can try to answer that question to the best of my ability, but I instead, I suggest you try my alternate technique.
Instead of trying to "be amazing," I want you to focus on "feeling amazing."
Feeling amazing is a much more objective outcome that you sorta can measure. If I were to ask you, how you're feeling right now, you'd have no difficulty answering my question. Law of Attraction experts urge us to focus our attention on our feelings if we wish to attract more of what we want. Apparently, when we are feeling amazing, we vibrate at a higher frequency. Eventually, we supposedly get to the point where we vibrate at a frequency similar to what we desire to attract.
If we maintain a high frequency for a long enough duration, then we start to experience a shift in our everyday reality. I've known this information for a while but never put it into practice as fervently as I have recently. Ensuring that I feel good has been a priority for the past several weeks. I'm happy to report, that because of my efforts, manifestations have been occurring on a very regular basis. I haven't won the lottery or anything like that, but I have noticed an ease in how my intentions are becoming manifestations.
On a practical level, all I do is ask myself (numerous times a day) how I am feeling. If my response isn't that I'm feeling great, I take a series of steps to instantly shift my mood from good to great. From there, I try to maintain my feelings of elation for as long as possible.
That's it.
Basically, I made a commitment to put the law of attraction into real practice in my daily life. But, instead of thinking positive thoughts, I focused on generating powerful positive emotions. And, as a result, positive experiences have been continuing flowing into my life. Even if nothing changes your life as a result of this process, at least your mood is lifted. Most of the time, we want something simply because of the feeling we associate with having that thing. What I'm attempting to do is to generate similar feelings as a precursor of what's to come.
And, so far, things have been working out really well. Best of all, it takes little to no effort. If I'm not in a good feeling place, I simply rely on some go-to activities that instantly lift my mood like playing music, transforming my environment, making sure I lookpretty, or focusing on everything that's going right in my life.
Feeling amazing is the prerequisite to becoming amazing.
If I continue this practice on a regular basis, for the entire year, I'm pretty certain that the compound effect will come into play to create massive results. And that's exactly what I'm looking forward to.
Since my commitment to weekly deep treatments whether in the form of an after shampoo deep conditioning treatment, steaming or a 1-2 hour pre poo I have been on the hunt for new and interesting natural ingredients to experiment with depending on what my hair needs… that is Protein or Moisture. Recently I came across […]
You won't believe how much this regimen has changed my hair in less than 3 weeks!
Is your hair dry, frizzy, and difficult to define? Does your hair poof up almost immediately after wetting it? Let me guess - there's a curl somewhere in there, but no matter what you do (shy of texturizing), it won't come out to play.
Come, come give me a hug. 2/3 of my hair has that exact struggle. You're in the right place for help - and I'm going to walk you through the perfect set of products to do it - Koils By Nature by none other than Pam Jenkins.
Lawwwwwd. Have. Mercy. I've learned so much about photography in 5 years!
Clearly, we've both come a very long way. 😂 And for comparison, here's how we're looking in 2018, 5 years later:
1,897% BETTER! Hello, lighting!
A lot has changed in 5 years, especially when it comes to me and photography. But you know what hasn't changed? How AMAZING Koils By Nature products are for my hair.
Before I go into the nitty gritty of why these products are amazing for incredibly frizz-prone, dry, low porosity hair, I want to share a few things with you about the Koils By Nature Brand. First of all, Koils By Nature has LAUNCHED IN NEARLY 50 TARGET STORES NATIONWIDE!
Why is this such a big deal?
Pam has been crafting and perfecting Koils By Nature since 2009, with her official brand launching in 2010. She's an avid supporter of Black owned businesses, not just talking the talk - but walking the walk. From supporting Black owned businesses and freelancers to work on Koils By Nature endeavors, to partnering in the development of Black Biz Live, Pam is always – ALWAYS down to see Black businesses win, and be an active participant in the process. She coaches, supports, offers advice, puts her money and time where her mouth is – all while running the unapologetically Black Koils By Nature brand.
I'm beyond proud of Pam, and thrilled to support her in this new chapter of Koils By Nature's growth. For those of you who don't really need all the details, but just want the quick and dirty, I've got you covered.
Here's the quick rundown on Koils By Nature products:
The Rundown
Black Owned
Woman Owned
Curly Girl Friendly (Sulfate and Silicone Free)
Certified Vegan
Cruelty Free
Contains No: Mineral Oil, Parabens, Petroleum, Phthalates, DEA, Propylene Glycol, Artificial Colors, Animal Byproducts, Sulfates, or Silicones)
Annnd here's the video showing my wash day experience:
All of the Koils By Nature products used in this video and mentioned on the blog are available at select Target Stores. Click here to find the one nearest you. No Koils By Nature near you yet? No worries. Shop online here.
If you're more into the details, or need a little more convincing that Koils By Nature can work for you, welcome! Just keep on scrolling.. The Problem with My Hair
At various points throughout my natural hair journey, I've used bits and pieces of Koils By Nature products on different occasions. All of which I've enjoyed tremendously. But I didn't have my AHA!OMGOMGOMGOMG moment until I used all the products for 3 consecutive wash days, together.
Before using Koils By Nature, I was almost at my wits end with my hair. My drier, more frizz-prone and low porosity sections (aka everywhere but the back 1/3 of my head) were getting on my last nerve. They tangled more than usual, felt hard and crispy, and my ends were really, really porous and rough. My wash and go's weren't lasting, and I was thiiiiiis close to sneaking in a dye job, just to get my hair to act right.
Clarifying didn't work.
Co-washing didn't work.
Henna didn't work.
Bentonite clay didn't work.
Baking soda didn't work.
Deep conditioning didn't work.
Deep conditioning overnight didn't work.
A protein treatment didn't work.
Now do you see where I'm coming from? I was desperate, and in a hair slump for real. So when that Koils By Nature box landed at my doorstep, I figured, what did I have to lose? As it would turn out, I'd lose nothing (except for more money at Target, lol) - but gain a whole 'nother appreciation for this line. And most importantly, I was able to recognize my hair again.
Just to give you an idea of what I was up against, here's a side-by-side of my hair before my consecutive Koils By Nature wash days, and after 3 wash days with KBN:
Left: 4 days after a "regular" wash day.
Right: 4 days after my 3rd KBN wash day.
I couldn't make these results up if I wanted to.
The Perfect Regimen
If you're at your wits end with your hair, I'd like to share EXACTLY what I did 3 wash days in a row (over the course of about 2.5 weeks) that basically solved EVERY single problem I was having.
Step 1: Soak Hair with VERY Warm Water
Most naturalistas on the internet and social media will tell you that cold water is the way to go for frizz reduction, enhanced curl definition, and shine. They're right - except for when you've got frizz prone, dry, and low porosity hair. You need a hefty dose of very warm water (well beyond lukewarm, but not scalding or painful) from top to bottom in order to get your curls back into shape. So whether you need to do a pre-shampoo detangling session with conditioner, or plan to hop right into cleansing, start with very warm water. Rinse your hair with it until it is completely, utterly soaked and drenched. Don't squeeze the water out either - grab a towel, an extra t-shirt, or something - and let it drip.
Why it Works
Science has shown us that the cuticles of our hair are responsive to temperature. Cold water tightens and flattens the cuticle, sealing in moisture and enhancing shine (because the cuticles are compact and reflect light better this way). HOWEVER - if your hair is dry, frizzy, hard to define, or low porosity, keeping cuticles shut isn't your problem. You need that very warm water to perform that opposite function and gently raise the cuticle layer to allow hydration in. At the same time, that gentle cuticle lift will make it easier to remove any product buildup that's blocking hydration and moisture from penetrating the shaft of the hair.
The FOAM has slip. I repeat: the FOAM has slip!
Step 2: Cleanse with Koils By Nature Refreshing Anti-Dandruff Hair & Scalp Cleanser
This is the one step that in my opinion, is most vital. Forget the other shampoos. Put that co-wash down. The Refreshing Anti-Dandruff Hair & Scalp Cleanser is THE weekly cleanser your regimen needs. It's sulfate free, and doesn't even contain those not-as-harsh-sulfate-alternatives that tend to be in other shampoos. It's packed with botanicals and oils like calendula, nettle, olive oil, hemp seed oil, jojoba, tea tree, and peppermint to cleanse, nourish, ease dry scalp, and remove product buildup without stripping.
That soaking wet hair you've got there? Generously apply the Refreshing Anti-Dandruff Hair & Scalp Cleanser throughout the hair and scalp, root to end. It has tons of slip, and should be really easy to work through the hair. Don't be afraid to use as much as you need. It's not going to foam up a whole bunch (remember, it's missing those sulfate alternatives), and as you move throughout your hair, you'll notice that the foam begins to disappear. Don't worry, the cleanser is still working. Suds are more psychological than functional, anyway.
I haven't 137% confirmed it, but based on a little sleuthing and comparison of ingredient labels now and back in 2013 (ingredients have to be listed differently for retail), my conclusion is castile soap. Which makes sense, for a few reasons. One, castile soap is super slippery, and rich in oils. It also rings in at a higher pH than other shampoos, around 9. What does this mean for your hair?
Without going into an entire chemistry lesson, the significance of this pH is that our hair cuticles again, respond by opening and closing according to the pH of a product. More acidic products (below 7) lay the cuticle flat, sealing and enhancing shine. More alkaline products (8 and above) raise the cuticle. In the case of dry, frizzy, low porosity hair, this is a good thing. More hydration is getting in as the hair is properly cleansed. If you watch the video, you'll notice that even after rinsing, my hair has significantly less frizz than it normally does, and my curls appear more lively and defined.
Now, don't go getting all alkaline crazy on me. Because you could mess around and end up with a perm, lol. But that's only when you start venturing in to the pH of 11-14 territory. I'd advise against kitchen mixtressing and playing with pH - just let those who have the gift (like Pam and Koils By Nature) do the work.
The name doesn't lie.
Step 3: Deep Condition Using the Ultra-Moisturizing Cocoaloe Deep Conditioner with Heat
Noticing a theme yet? Yep, I've been keeping my wash days warm! After rinsing the Refreshing Anti-Dandruff Hair & Scalp Cleanser with warm water, go right in with the Ultra-Moisturizing Cocoaloe Deep Conditioner. It's packed with so much slip, that finger detangling or using a wide-tooth comb to remove shed hair is a walk in the park. Saturate the hair thoroughly with deep conditioner, paying special attention to the ends and the more frizz-prone sections of hair. Twist, clip up, put on a plastic cap (or bag), and put some heat on that hair for 20-30 minutes. A hooded dryer, or Hot Head works best. Why it Works
By now, you've caught on that a key component of this regimen is keeping cuticles gently raised to allow for the maximum penetration of hydrating ingredients. That exactly what we want for this step. The gentle heat allows for the nourishing ingredients like coconut oil, aloe butter, argan oil, and macadamia oil penetrate, while also helping the hydrolyzed quinoa protein get into the shaft and patch up weak areas. Because the Ultra-Moisturizing Cocoaloe Deep Conditioner does contain cuticle sealing ingredients like aloe vera juice, the end result is still shiny, strong, moisturized, and well hydrated hair with a smooth strand feel and perfect elasticity.
This leave-in will leave you wondering why you didn't get your hands on it sooner.
Step 4: Rinse with Warm Water + Apply Moisturizing Shealoe Leave-In Conditioner and Nourishing Hair & Body Butter to Seal
When deep conditioning time is up, the next step is to rinse with warm water (it doesn't have to be as warm as your very warm water, but can be if you like). On that soaking wet hair, generously apply the Moisturizing Shealoe Leave-In Conditioner. Rake it through your entire head or section-by-section - however works best for you. If parts of your hair begin drying up, grab a bottle with warm spray water to re-wet.
After distributing the leave-in conditioner, seal all the moisture in with Nourishing Hair & Body Butter, paying extra special attention to the ends of your hair.
Why it Works
This whole time, we've been working with heat to get the cuticles of your hair raised for maximum hydration. If you were wondering when they'd get lowered back down, that process starts now. The botanical and aloe-based Moisturizing Shealoe Leave-In Conditioner lowers the cuticle, sealing all that good wash day hydration in, while adding extra moisture courtesy of coconut, shea, olive, and Jamaican black castor oils. Additionally, the ceramide-rich rice bran oil helps reinforce the cuticle layer. The bonus level of protection provided by the Nourishing Hair & Body Butter helps improve elasticity, shield hair strands from wear and tear, and prolong the internal hydration of the hair.
Step 5: Smooth and Brush Herbal Curl Defining Gel in Small Sections
It's no secret that I love gel. Like, LOVE IT. I don't do wash and go's without gel. They just don't work for me. For me, gel is an essential part of capturing the natural curl pattern and creating a long-lasting wash and go. For maximum curl poppage and long-lasting definition, work in small sections and apply the Herbal Curl Defining Gel from root to end. My preference is to then use the Felicia Leatherwood Detangler Brush to define my curls (and create those spiraled ends), but you can feel free to use whatever defining method works best for your curls.
You can see how soft my hair is!
After your style is complete, air dry or sit under a hooded dryer until 60-70% dry.
Why it Works
The Koils By Nature Herbal Curl Defining Gel contains the perfect blend of curl defining and moisturizing ingredients that deliver a medium hold that lasts for several days. Working in small sections insure that all strands are equally coated, promoting curl clumpage and longer-lasting style. Inevitably, you will have some super stubborn patches that act a stone cold fool. I do too, but they're improving steadily with each wash day.
For those portions, after your hair dries, re-wet them with more warm water and apply extra gel. They'll come around eventually.
My best hair days are to come!
Stick with this regimen, and I promise, you'll watch each wash day get easier, and easier. And each wash and go get better, and better.
Do you plan on giving this regimen a try? Let's chat about it in the comments below! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @maneobjective! This post is sponsored by Koils By Nature.
Cleopatra is said to have taken honey baths, and it’s been said that Nero the Roman Emperor’s wife; used honey on her face. Honey has been used throughout centuries for many uses, even in beauty products. In modern times, honey is becoming that much more popular in all kinds of beauty and hair care products. […]
“Laying your edges”, “taming your hairline”, “slaying your baby hair” whatever phrase you favor, neatening the little hairs around your hairline is the final flourish that finishes off most hairstyles. I remember receiving a comment on a post a few years ago where somebody was complaining about the use of the word ‘edges’ to describe the […]
After watching ‘Supa Fly’ for the first time with hubby I asked him the other day why he thinks there was such an emphasis on straightening hair using chemical relaxers back in the day. What was it about having ‘permanent’ straight hair that was so appealing to Black/Afro Caribbean/African American individuals? Is it related to […]
Contents Hair Journals – The Secret To Hair Growth Success Benefits of Keeping a Hair Journal Tools for Keeping a Hair Journal Organizing It Final Considerations Hair Journals – The Secret To Hair Growth Success New years resolutions are notoriously difficult to stick to. Whether you decide never to eat a donut again or you […]
You may have sworn off mini twists but every so often you see someone else wearing the style and suddenly you want them again. In truth, mini twists can be a great low manipulation style if you treat your hair appropriately when putting them in and taking them out. In my case, I was itching […]
I’ve heard it said that with boar bristle brushes, you either love em or hate em. If you are one of those who hate them, then you are using it wrong. First things first, a boar bristle brush is as it sounds made from the hair of a wild boar/hog. There are synthetic versions too […]
Since my commitment to weekly deep treatments whether in the form of an after shampoo deep conditioning treatment, steaming or a 1-2 hour pre poo I have been on the hunt for new and interesting natural ingredients to experiment with depending on what my hair needs… that is Protein or Moisture. Recently I came across […]
Cleopatra is said to have taken honey baths, and it’s been said that Nero the Roman Emperor’s wife; used honey on her face. Honey has been used throughout centuries for many uses, even in beauty products. In modern times, honey is becoming that much more popular in all kinds of beauty and hair care products. […]
“Laying your edges”, “taming your hairline”, “slaying your baby hair” whatever phrase you favor, neatening the little hairs around your hairline is the final flourish that finishes off most hairstyles. I remember receiving a comment on a post a few years ago where somebody was complaining about the use of the word ‘edges’ to describe the […]
After watching ‘Supa Fly’ for the first time with hubby I asked him the other day why he thinks there was such an emphasis on straightening hair using chemical relaxers back in the day. What was it about having ‘permanent’ straight hair that was so appealing to Black/Afro Caribbean/African American individuals? Is it related to […]