The Curly Girl Method For Natural Hair

What is the curly girl method? The curly girl method is just an alternative to caring for your natural hair that is different from your typical, shampoo, condition and style regimen you are probably used to. The curly girl approach was created by Lorraine Massey a licensed cosmetologist who wrote the book, Curly Girl: The […]

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This Beauty Supplement Curbs Appetite & Helps You Reach Your Body Goals.

Eating non-stop throughout the day is one of the frustrating habits to have.  For me, it seems to come in waves. Sometimes, I can exercise incredible amounts of will-power when it comes to eating sensibly, other times, I eat well above my normal requirements.

Over the years, I've known friends who've sought out the help of supplements to aid with appetite control.  I've always stayed away from this approach because I have this perception that diet pills were dangerous or unhealthy.  Plus, many of them are meant to be taken for a short period of time. What happens when you stop consuming them?

Recently I asked myself if there was something I could take to help control my appetite when I'm out and about.  Typically, when hunger sets in while I'm away from my house, I make poor decisions.  My intention is to have something (healthy) that I can take to hold me over until I got back home.

 It didn't take me long to come up with the perfect solution.  Not only does this supplement keep me fuller, longer, it also helps to promote healthy hair, skin, and nails!
When I worked in an office, I would pack a lunch in an attempt to make healthier choices.  By 11:00 am, I had already eaten my prepared meal knowing that I'd be hitting up the snack machine in a couple of hours because I'd be hungry again.

What if there was something I could possibly take with my lunch to help me stay fuller, longer.

 Years ago, when I first learned the wonders of collagen, I visited Amazon and made my first purchase.  By accident, I purchased gelatin instead of hydrolyzed collagen because, honestly, I didn't know there was a difference.

My morning routine was to blend a green smoothie that contained a plethora of super ingredients.  I then added a heaping scoop of gelatin to my smoothie in hopes of enjoying even more benefits.  Soon, I realized was that the gelatin was a thickener and would make my smoothies a lot denser.  Since my smoothie was also my breakfast, I really didn't mind the thicker texture.  It wasn't long before I noticed an unintended side effect.   Hours would pass and I wouldn't feel any hunger or cravings.  I never experienced anything like it.

Next, I determined that gelatin's appetite curbing powers could be applied strategically.  If I had a long day of errands ahead, I would fix a nice smoothie with ample gelatin.  By the time I arrived home, I wasn't starving.  This was helpful because I didn't consume everything within eyesight the moment I walked in the door.  Eventually, I purchased hydrolized collagen and have been drinking that ever since.  Don't get me wrong, hydrolyzed collagen is great, but it doesn't have that extra added bonus of helping to stabilize my appetite.

If you tend to overdo it at mealtime, take comfort in knowing that gelatin was shown to help reduce the amount of food you consume at lunch when taken with your breakfast. I suspect the reason why gelatin is so effective is because it swells up in the stomach making you feel full.  Not only does gelatin help you feel fuller, it also has the ability to regulate hormones in the body that cause hunger. 

But what makes gelatin so beautiful is that it's a form of collagen. Which means you can still expect to experience the same wonderful hair, skin, and nail benefits of the much more expensive hydrolyzed collagen.  There are also some gut health benefits associated with gelatin as well. Oh, did I mention that gelatin is also said to help regulate the stress hormone cortisol and you can use it topically for hair?

What can't gelatin do?

 I grabbed a bottle of some gelatin supplements for when I'm on the go. If you go the supplements route, you may have a take a couple more than the recommended dosage since capsules don't contain a lot of powder.  I remember putting a small scoop into my smoothies to enjoy the thickening benefits.  The best way to leverage gelatin for appetite is to incorporate it with a meal to help keep you filling fuller, longer.  None of the studies I found involved people taking gelatin alone in place of food.  The point is not to skip eating altogether, it's to get a little help from a product that provides a plethora of amazing benefits.

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Kelli-Nicole’s Braid-Out Tutorial

Get ready for cuteness overload because little Kelli-Nicole is totally adorable! Alicia James who we have featured here on BHI a few times has a little girl named Kelli and she created a hair channel dedicated to just her hair. We often get questions about regimens for little girls, and honestly we totally understand the concern […]

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Curlformers On Type 4 Natural Hair

My first experience with curl formers left much to be desired. I purchased the set at Sallys for a disrespectful amount of money and rushed home way too excited about plastic curlers than any woman should be. I started out on freshly washed hair applied my styling product grabbed the grey stick thingy and tried […]

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Winter Weather – DIY Natural Oil Spray For Dry Hair And Skin

It’s cold. I’m sorry but that pretty much sums up the weather quite nicely. For most of us bracing the cold there really isn’t much more to say. It’s cold and we are tired of it but with the Polar Vortex calling the shots, the rest of January won’t be much different. So, I say […]

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Stop Setting Goals, Start Raising Your Standards.

I spent the better part of the weekend cleaning the house for company coming over this week. Whenever I receive visitors, I invest a set amount of time to deep clean and declutter.  During the process, I realized how much I fell in love with the final outcome.  It felt amazing!

But then a thought crossed my mind.  Why didn't I clean my home to this level on a routine basis?  Why wasn't this my normal standard? 
This question led me to realize all the areas of my life that were operating below my ideal standard.  We set our standards based on the level of quality or excellence that we desire.  Sometimes, we do a great job of maintaining certain standards.  For instance, if there's a certain food you don't like, you'll hold steadfast to your commitment not to eat it. 

But, in other instances, we let ourselves slide.  This is a scenario that quickly leads to unwanted results.

I can identify a few areas in my life where I'm operating below standard (or with no standard at all). When someone maintains a set standard, they're usually very consistent in their behavior.  It doesn't have to be huge. A simple example is someone who makes sure to keep their nails done consistently. She has a clear standard and rarely deviates from it. 

While clear standards sound like a lot of hard work, in reality, they actually help improve our quality of life.  Imagine what life would be like if you set some clear ground rules for your life and operated within those parameters? 

Standards for your home environment.
Standards for the types of men you date.
Standards for your health & fitness goals.
Standards for your personal appearance. 
Standards for your earning/income potential.
Standards for maintaining your self-care routine. 

....and so forth.

How do we know what our standards should be? One suggestion is to use outside influence to help set the measures.  For example, if you quickly clean and wash your car because you'll be driving someone around.  That should be your standard for how you maintain your car on a regular basis.  If you know you're going to run into someone you know on your errand run, how you dress for that interaction should be your standard for leaving the house.  If you try to quickly lose 10 lbs before going on your beach vacation, that weight goal could be your new standard for yourself.  You don't have to use outside influence as your ultimate personal standard, but it's a good place to start.

Standards make us happier.  When we consistently maintain them, we streamline and simplify our lives.  When standards aren't set, we allow ourselves to go down a slippery slope. We eventually become acclimated to pretty much any circumstance without trying to uplevel.  If I'm not happy with the way I'm presenting myself to the world, it's because I failed to set personal standards or I'm not adhering by them. 

I often listen to podcast interviews with successful online entrepreneurs.  When they share their story of what made them successful, one of the common denominators is consistency.  They often took action every single day which eventually compounded over the course of time.  That consistent behavior is an eample of setting a standard for how they wanted to operate their business and sticking with it. When they maintained that standard long term and they were handsomely rewarded for it.  Setting goals is fine but they don't have a built-in system for their achievement.  If you have a set standard for how you'll live your life, you'll likely end up achieving your goals by default.

The right set of standards will absolutely change your life. I used to work for a company that operated hundreds of locations across the U.S.  the managers who set the highest standards for themselves and their teams would receive the largest bonuses and would often be selected for promotions.  If you feel like your life isn't reaching the potential that it can have, I advise you to start by taking a look at where you need to implement new standards.  They don't necessarily have to be the highest standards possible, just set some guidelines around what you will and will not consistently do.  Be specific and set multiple standards for different areas of your life.  As you maintain these standards, review them to see if the bar needs to be raised once again.

We all know people who live by a high set of personal standards.  Oftentimes, those people seem to achieve results with the greatest of ease.  The secret sauce to their success is consistently maintaining their standards.  It's a lifelong habit. 

I promise you that your life will be transformed if you put this philosophy into practice. 

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Transitioning 101 – How Long Should You Long Term Transition?

Transitioning to natural hair does not have to be hard. If you arm yourself with the right knowledge and give 100%, you can not only succeed but actually enjoy it. So many “naturals in the making” are happy to have finally taken the plunge but there are still many who are afraid or have tried […]

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Transitioning 101 – Mini Chop Pixie Cut Tutorial

When transitioning to natural hair there are a few alternatives to doing your typical big chop, to be honest wearing a semi bald head might not be for everyone, so some of us prefer to explore alternatives to getting to natural faster. We discovered the above mini chop pixie tutorial on YouTube by naturalhairnskincare which involves […]

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Professional MUA Shows Us How to Create the Glass Skin Bronze Look for Summer.

I'm so looking forward to summer.  I often find myself searching for inspiration on simple makeup looks made for summer.  Days ago, I stumbled on the perfect summer face. What made me fall in love is how this makeup look will work perfectly whether a day or night.

The finished product is stunning but what really sold me was that the entire face featured a single item.  And don't worry, this product is super easy to use even if makeup isn't for forte.  I was so inspired by the look that I'm going to try it this weekend!
The makeup artist who's responsible for this "Glass Skin Bronzed Goddess Look" is Fenty professional artist Priscilla Ono.  She is a wizard at creating flattering, bold makeup looks that are also very wearable.  Sometimes I'll stumble on a makeup artist's page, admire their work, but have absolutely no idea on how to execute something similar.

Fortunately for us, Priscilla was generous enough to share step by step tutorials on how she created some of her greatest masterpieces.  It's not often that I find a makeup look from a professional artist that flatters deep skin tones but this look blew me away.

When Fenty Beauty first launched, I sprinted to Sephora and picked up their foundation and a set of Match Stix for dark skin.  I'm not even sure why I bought the Match Stix, I don't really contour. But somehow, I felt the urge to own them.  Although I did play around with them from time to time, the Match Stix never really became a part of my regular routine.

After watching this tutorial, I quickly fell in love with these magical makeup stix once again.

If you pay attention to the video, Priscilla uses the deepest shade to contour the model's eyelid crease.  I tested this out and the end result was beautiful.  It's such a natural contour that enhances the eye without looking powdery or dry.  This is exactly what we want for a summer look. What makes these contour sticks so awesome is that they have a creamy matte finish that glides effortlessly on the skin. Priscilla actually uses a brush to apply the product which creates a more blended result.  I was in a rush so I rubbed it directly on my eye crease (then blended with my fingers) and it still looked great.

What really really took this look to the next level was when Priscilla used a Shimmer Match Stix to highlight the model's eyelids, lips, and cheekbones.  The shade she used is perfection.  But the bad news is that Cognac isn't sold individually.  Cognac & Vault (the other stick used) is part of a limited edition 12 piece collection. Since I didn't have Cognac on hand, I substituted with Sinamon.   Although Sinamon on the lighter side, it still performed beautifully on my lid and cheeks.  I'm still hopeful that I'll one day come across a Cognac Match Stix on Ebay or something.  I'm still considering purchasing the 12 piece set since the sale price Sephora is offering comes up to about $7.50 a piece.

There are a few additional steps to create this complete look. Be sure the checkout Priscilla's archived stories on IG for details.

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Interview with Dr. Kari Williams, Trichologist and Educational Stylist

I absolutely adore Dr.Kari! When I decided to take my first steps towards a new hair direction, Dr.Kari’s Mahogany Revolution Salon was the first and best place for me to start. I learned so my much about my hair, health and scalp in a nurturing and beautiful environment and I also felt armed with great […]

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5 Heat Free Hairstyles You Should Try This Winter

You would think that three years in the Midwest would have adequately prepared me for winter with the three winters that I have faced so far. Think again! Getting used to the cold has been a slow going process for this young Florida native. I also will argue that I have been a bit spoiled […]

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Stylist Feature – Jocelyn

Introduce yourself and which salon if any you work at… How long have you worked as a licensed cosmetologist (or equivalent in your country) and where did you study? What is your specialty, relaxed, natural hair, locs or anything special? What in your opinion is the most rewarding thing about working as a hair stylist? […]

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