Review: Working Out with tgin's NEW Curl Bomb Styling Gel + Smooth & Hold Edge Control [GIVEAWAY INSIDE!]

This family of products right here....chhhhhh

No kidding, this review has been like 3 years in the making.

That's about how long I've been waiting for tgin to drop a styling gel. Yes, Twist & Define Cream will always hold a special place in my heart. But we all know I'm a gel girl - and the thicker, the better.

That's why the second Curl Bomb dropped (and y'all told me on IG Live that I could find it at Sally's), I headed straight there - Bailey in tow and all.

There was a buy 2, get 1 free situation going on at the time with tgin, so I took complete advantage and stocked up with 3 bottles of Curl Bomb Moisturizing Styling Gel, and 3 bottles of Green Tea Super Moist Leave-In Conditioner.

Yep, I put my own coins on the table ahead of any sponsored collaboration - because that's how much I believe in tgin. I've been riding with them since 2013.

Receipts:
Click here to see 3 pages worth of search results on my blog. Yep, every single time I ever mentioned or wrote about tgin is here.

Now, back to the matter at hand. I've been testing and trying out the new tgin Curl Bomb Moisturizing Styling Gel and Smooth & Hold Edge Control. I wanted to have a solid understanding of both before releasing this review, especially the gel. There tends to be so much hype around new products - everybody and their mama is using it, claiming it as their new favorite, rushing to do "hair routine" videos with it, and then two months later....crickets.

I got way too much love for y'all and for tgin to go out like that.

So do Curl Bomb and Smooth & Hold live up to the hype? Keep reading to find out!

Note: If you're just here for the giveaway, (thanks for the click) scroll all the way to the bottom of the post to get the 411 on entering :)

Curl Bomb Moisturizing Styling Gel
Cost
$14.99 for 13oz

Where to Buy
Amazon, Target, Sally's, tgin website

Active Ingredients

• Water
• PVP/VA Copolymer: Form filming vinyl polymer used as a hair fixative and binding agent (aka provides hold). It's a common active ingredient in many gels and styling product formulas.
• Polysorbate 20: Emulsifier that enables oil and water to mix. It helps product disperse, is a thickener, and stabilizer of essential oils.
• Maca Root: Peruvian herb dating back to Incan civilization, popular for its healing, beauty, energizing, and overall wellness benefits. Hair products infused with maca aid in thickening and strengthening the hair, with noticeable results showing in a month's time. 
• Black Cohosh: Perennial plant native to North America with thick black roots, believed to stimulate hair growth and prevent hair loss by regulating estrogen levels. 
• Milk Thistle: Flowering plant native to Southern Europe and certain parts of Asia rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The main active ingredient in milk thistle is silymarin, which works to protect the hair and scalp from UV damage and environmental pollutants. Additionally, it works to reverse scalp damage and improve cell regeneration to assist in healthy hair growth. 
• Nettle Leaf: Rich in vitamins A, C, K, as well as vitamins, minerals, and chlorophyll to soothe and nourish the scalp. Encourages hair growth by improving circulation, reducing inflammation, strengthening the follicles, and reducing shedding.

Protein Free?
Nope. The best gels never are (in my opinion).

Curly Girl Friendly?
I believe so - it's free of siliciones, drying alcohols and whatnot, and full of botanical ingredients.

You couldn't tell me nothin' in that video!

The Good
OHMYGODYESYESYESYESYES. I swear, everything Chris-Tia does, she does with excellence. Do you hear me? EXCELLENCE. I haven't met a tgin product that I don't like. I've been rocking with tgin about as long as I've been rocking with Samuel - and both of 'em are keepers for real.

Ok, fine. Samuel's been around since 2010. But still. You get my point.

Curl Bomb is now a part of an elite squad known as Gels I Never Wanna Run Out Of. Yes. Curl Bomb is up there on my shelf rubbing elbows with Obia's Curl Enhancing Custard, Wonder Curl's Get Set Hair Jelly, Up North Naturals 8-Oil Defining Gelly, and Eco Styler with the red lid.

Here's why.

First of all, I LOVE the consistency. It's a thick gel's gel. Sliiightly thinner than my beloved red-top Eco, but every bit as spreadable, and curl capturing.

It gives me beautiful definition, long-lasting wear (I can easily get 5 days out of this gel), and isn't flaky or drying.  I mean, my hair does need re-moisturizing by about day 3, but that's with any product I use. Adding moisture to the hair between washes is par for the course when it comes to natural hair. The gel cast is there (which I expect and look for in a gel), but it ain't disrespectful or ramen noodle-y.

Those ingredients though? I'm here for all of 'em. tgin about to have me up in Vitamin Shoppe adding Maca and Milk Thistle to my vitamin regimen! They definitely came through with a unique gel formula that stands out from the rest. Curl Bomb bears that signature tgin fragrance - sweet and citrus-y with a hint of floral. Not at all overbearing and incredibly pleasant.

To get multi-day wear out of my hair, I let it air dry and shrink to in all of it's glory. On day 2, I typically rock the shrunken look - it is what it is. On day 1 and day 2, to preserve my curls during workouts, I use the same big ol' banana clip you see here. Yep, I haven't changed since then. I also use the banana clip at night to preserve my hair when I'm not banding.

In the video, I had somewhere to be on day 2 (I accidentally said day 3 in the video), so I banded my curls the night before. Same method that I break down in this video here. Same scarf too...I should probably be ashamed. 😂 The only difference is, I use the Q-Redew now after taking down my bands, to help remove some of the dents and fluff my hair a lil' bit. Then I lock in that steamy goodness with the tgin Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer and keep it movin'!

Win your own gel, leave-in, and edge control. Details at the end of this post!

The Bad
I'm a firm believer that Chris-Tia and the tgin crew do everything with excellence. From day 1, tgin's branding, packaging, labeling, and ingredient profile has been immaculate. That's why it pains me to say this. I love the profile of the gel in the bottle - the clear contents in stark contrast against the dark labeling is aesthetically pleasing. But functionality-wise - I don't know if it's me or what, but I'm two bottles in and couldn't get the pump to work to save my life!

I'm hoping its an early release thing - I've noticed that the two bottles I had issues with had black pumps, and the newer bottles on shelves have clear pumps. Maybe the black pumps were defective, or maybe I just don't know how to do things anymore lol.

Either way, a defective pump isn't a deal breaker - I just squeezed the gel out onto a plastic lid and keep it moving. But a jar would've been nice.

The Bottom Line
Listen, ain't no pump finna come between me and Curl Bomb! Definition, shine, hold, touchability, long wear, and playing nicely with other leave-ins and moisturizers are the hallmarks of this gel. It's so dope y'all. I hope you don't think I'm hype beasting for tgin, or I'm being paid to say this stuff. I genuinely love the gel, love the company, and everything they stand for. Oh, and Black woman owned at that! Plus, the pricing is pretty on point. Most curl definers come in 8oz packaging, so I can always appreciate that tgin tends to up the sizes on their products to give better value.

Time for the fun stuff!

Would I Buy it Again?
Listen, I bought 3 before even collaborating with tgin. When I'm down to 1 bottle, I'm buying 3 more. #onmamas

If you want to see Curl Bomb in action, check out my video demo below! But as promised, it's so much more than a "look at my curls!" video. tgin was so dope as to partner with me in my healthy living journey - so we headed to the gym! Yep, you've got all access to my workout of the day!

In this video and the other video/blog content that follows, I'm hoping to do a few things. One, make myself publicly accountable to my goals and start being more visible in the discussion about achieving healthy hair through a healthy body. Two, dispel the notion that healthy living is for people of a certain "size". And three, to show that there's more to gym life than endless cardio, booty exercises, and 5 lb dumbbells.

Hopefully I can inspire other women who look like me to shed the self-doubt and go #beastmode! Enjoy!


Smooth & Hold Edge Control
Cost
$9.99 for 4oz

Where to Buy
Amazon, Target, Sally's, tgin website

Active Ingredients

• Water
• Maca Root: Peruvian herb dating back to Incan civilization, popular for its healing, beauty, energizing, and overall wellness benefits. Hair products infused with maca aid in thickening and strengthening the hair, with noticeable results showing in a month's time. 
• Black Cohosh: Perennial plant native to North America with thick black roots, believed to stimulate hair growth and prevent hair loss by regulating estrogen levels. 
• Milk Thistle: Flowering plant native to Southern Europe and certain parts of Asia rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The main active ingredient in milk thistle is silymarin, which works to protect the hair and scalp from UV damage and environmental pollutants. Additionally, it works to reverse scalp damage and improve cell regeneration to assist in healthy hair growth. 
• Nettle Leaf: Flowering plant native to Southern Europe and certain parts of Asia rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The main active ingredient in milk thistle is silymarin, which works to protect the hair and scalp from UV damage and environmental pollutants. Additionally, it works to reverse scalp damage and improve cell regeneration to assist in healthy hair growth. 
• Ceteareth-25: Derived from cetearyl and stearyl alcohols (the good fatty ones), and used to stabilize oils while thickening and creating a gel-like texture.
• PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil: Polyethylene glycol derivatives of castor oil used to help form emulsions by reducing the surface tension of ingredients, also acts as a solvent to help ingredients mix that normally would not.

Protein Free?
Yes!

Curly Girl Friendly?
Believe so - no silicones, drying alcohols, etc. and full of the same botanical goodness as the gel.

The Good
I'M NOT GON' STOP YELLING ABOUT TGIN. I'm not.

#youwilldealtoday 😂

First things first. Soon as I open the jar, the fragrance makes me smile. It's absolutely amazing and similar to Curl Bomb in that regard. It bears the signature jelly/jam consistency of most edge controls, but is remarkably smooth and not gummy or tacky.

But let me tell you about these edges...

LAID.

Prosperous edges is my wish for all in 2017.

Just, sleek, shiny, and prospering...out here loving on themselves in 2017.

Smooth & Hold DID THAT!

It gives me long lasting, all day hold without issue. I reapply it daily with no gunky buildup problems, and it washes out easily. To boot, I absolutely love the botanical ingredients! After all it's 2017, and everyone deserves flourishing edges.

You don't need any fancy contraptions to #laythemedges with Smooth & Hold, just a baby dollop and a finger will do ya.

The Bad
Not a peep from me. I'm in love.

The Bottom Line
Unique ingredients, an excellent product with a flawless performance (in my book). Easily one of the best edge controls I've ever used.

Would I Buy it Again?
I gotta find in on the shelf first! I've had a dickens of a time finding it. It seems to always be outta stock at my local Tarjay stores... maybe that's a testament to how dope Smooth & Hold is!

ARE YOU READY TO WIN?!

GIVEAWAY!

Alright y'all, it wouldn't be fair of me to hype up Curl Bomb and Smooth & Hold without giving one of my peeps the opportunity to WIN BIG! That's right! I've partnered with tgin to give away 1 styling set, complete with full-sized Green Tea Super Moist Leave-In Conditioner, Curl Bomb Moisturizing Styling Gel, and Smooth & Hold Edge Control! That's right - this trio valued at $40 can be YOURS!

Here's how to win:

1. Follow @maneobjective and @tginatural on Instagram
2. Watch my tgin demo x workout video (click here) and leave a comment on the video ON YOUTUBE with one wellness, workout, cooking, fitness, or healthy living topic you'd like to see a video about.

That's IT! But guess what? You can earn up to 3 BONUS entries simply by leaving a comment HERE ON THIS POST sharing what your biggest challenge is with your natural or transitioning hair. Limit one bonus entry per day. 

Rules:

Contest begins Friday 3/31 and ends Sunday, April 2nd at 11:59pm PST. All entries made after closing will not be counted. One entry per person, per day through the duration of the giveaway. One bonus entry per person, per day. U.S. only.

Winner will be notified via YouTube (comment), and subject to provide proof of completing all contest steps within 24 hours in order to claim prize. If proof is not submitted or no response is provided within 24 hours, another winner will be selected.

Questions? Please contact info[at]maneobjective.com.

GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY!!!

Per the FTC, I have to let y'all know that this post, video, and giveaway is sponsored by tgin. And there's affiliate links in here, meaning if you click the Amazon or Target link and purchase the products, I'll make a few coins. Y'all don't mind, right? Even though this content is sponsored that doesn't mean anything - I'm still keeping it 100 and giving you guys the real. Plus I bought it first with my own money sooooooooo lol!

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3 Reasons Why You Should Trim Before Summer

A couple years ago I instituted the micro trimming process into my hair journey.  Basically, I trim minuscule amounts of hair on a monthly or every other month basis.  One positive benefit I've enjoyed from implementing this method is thicker ends overall.  Micro trimming has been really good to me.  So good that I've pretty much avoided having to do a mini-chop to salvage my ends.

While I'm grateful to have not suffered any major setbacks, I'm strongly considering doing a mini chop anyway.  I'm really trying to convince myself of why I should do a "pre-summer trim" and these are the reasons why I think it makes total sense.

In my mind, the most obvious motivation for trimming is for the aesthetics.  Hair always looks and feels amazing after a trim no matter how much damage it had beforehand.  In the winter we can get away with hiding undesirable ends, but in the summer, I actually want healthy looking hair.  The easiest way to instantly have healthy hair is to remove those lackluster ends.

Summer is all about glowing skin and cute outfits.  To bring everything together, we need our hair to be on point.

Another reason to favor my argument to trim now is because of our hair growth patterns.  As you may know,  hair growth rate starts to increase during spring and summer.  One thing that sometimes keeps me from trimming is missing out on length.  Trimming just before an annual growth spurt might be the perfect compromise.  We get to enjoy healthy hair while it grows back at a faster rate.  We'll barely even miss that length.  

The last and most powerful reason to trim pre-summer is for the retention possibilities.  Again, everything is about the timing.  Trimming our hair now means greater retention over the next 6-9 months.  You guys know this.  Notice how breakage practically comes to a complete stop after a decent trim?  Let's use that to our advantage.  Let's enjoy a summer where our hair looks amazingly healthy, as it grows faster, while retaining as much length as possible.

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Clay vs. Mud. Have You Been Using The Wrong Mask This Entire Time?

Two weekends ago, I attended the Makeup Show.  This is always one of my favorite events because that's when I stock up on my holy grail beauty item.  Once I scratch that off my list, I take time to fully enjoy the entire experience.

This year, one booth in particular, had my full attention.  Their marketing banners boasted about an all natural skin product loaded with minerals that would nourish the skin instead of polluting it with chemicals.  I stood at the front of the booth and listened intently as the co-owner passionately detailed the benefits of their dead sea mud based products.  At one point during the presentation, she pulled out their "mask in a tube" and applied a little on her hand.  One of the people gathered around the booth asked "is that a clay mask?"  "No, it's a mud mask!"  Although she didn't expand any further, I made a mental note to research the difference because the level of conviction in her voice convinced me that knowing the difference was important.
As suspected, mud masks and clay masks are NOT the same.  Have I been using the wrong type of mask the entire time?

Until now,  I've only exposed my skin to clay masks. I thought they were the end all.   They work pretty well.  But after learning about the additional benefits of mud masks, I've started to question all of my choices in life.

I know I sound a bit dramatic but you guys know that I'm serious about skincare.  I'm a sucker for products that really deliver maximum results.  And, based on what I read, mud masks are superior to ordinary clay masks.  Don't get me wrong, clay masks are still pretty decent.  Everyone has a jar of Aztec clay in their product stash.  Not to mention mega clay masks like GlamGlow.  But, in the very end, they just don't live up to the potential of the all mighty mud mask.

While clay masks are great, they serve one main purpose.  For the most part, clay masks are primarily made for oily skin.  They do a great job of sucking up all the oil from our pores.   But one drawback is that they sometimes can be over drying and strip the skin.

Their counterpart, the mud mask, is a bit more hydrating and gentle on the skin.  The first thing I noticed after trying a mud mask was that it's water based.  This made for easy application on the skin.  Once dried, the mask didn't feel tight and start to crack like a clay mask tends to do.

But the real reason why I ventured into the world of mud masks were the potential benefits.  Beyond being a hydrating purifier, dead sea mud masks boasts of being a mineral rich skin treatment.  Because of the dead sea's low altitude, it's closest to all the earth's minerals. Some of these minerals are exclusive to the dead sea.  Those wonderful minerals are absorbed directly into our skin to provide benefits that go beyond oil absorption.

There's still a time and place for clay masks. Especially if you have acne prone skin.  But I love the way my skin responds to mud masks.  And the benefits are more than skin deep.  Since it's not as drying as clay, I'm thinking about increasing the frequency of my face masking during the week knowing that each mud treatment is hydrating and nourishing my skin.

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Albert Einstein's Visualization Process Gave Me Crazy Powerful Results.

Since it's Monday,  I wanted to kick off another week of experimentation.  To ensure that I have a powerful week, I decided to continue my practice of visualization.  But instead of doing it in a haphazard way, I wanted to create a definite process.

My mind isn't really wired to create clear pictures.  Some people are fortunate enough to easily visualize whatever they want.  If you're one of those people, please put that gift into practice as frequently as possible.  I struggle with it.  I struggle with figuring out what to picture. I struggle with making it seem real and believable.  I struggle with staying focused and not allowing my mind to wander to other topics.

But I think I have a technique that just might help me overcome all of these obstacles
Napoleon Hill, in his book Think & Grow Rich, urged us to constantly use our power of imagination in our goal creation process.  The more we imagine, the clearer the image becomes.  So this week, I'll imagine myself having a conversation in the near future (2-3 months) from now.

In that conversation, I'll speak in detail about my current circumstance which will consist of what I want to achieve within the next 60-90 days.  I'll speak in present tense using full and vivid detail as if it already happened.    Basically, I'll imagine that someone asking me how my life is going. But instead of simply saying "I'm good,"  I'll respond with incredible detail.  This technique is very promising for several reasons:

1.  It's easier for me to visualize myself talking about my ideal outcomes versus picturing the actual outcome.

2.  Keeping the timeline to around 2-3 months helps me to stay focused on what's realistically possible in that amount of time.

3.  Using the scenario of the future me talking about her current life helps me to incorporate an important aspect of reality creation --- powerful emotions.

This premise of describing ideal scenarios is inspired by a technique known as Image Streaming.   Image streaming (IS) is basically a verbal visualization process that incorporates crazy levels of detail.  Image streaming was inspired by Albert Einstein's method that helped him to discover the theory of relativity.

IS requires us to use our 5 senses in our visualization process.

So if you were describing your ideal beach getaway, you'll go into detail about the smell of the ocean air. The sound of the seagulls and waves crashing. How the sun's rays feel against your skin.  The sand between your toes. The temperature of your fruity drink as you take a sip.  How you feel at that very moment having finally experienced the vacation you've wanted for so long.  The more details, the better.

I first learned of image streaming back in 2008.  This was just before I started a new job.  As soon as I learned that image streaming existed, I gave it shot.  They suggested that you record your verbal visualizations and listen to it at a later time. In my first stream, I imagined being in a luxury hotel room on a beach.  I described as much as I could in painstaking detail. One thing I remember was picturing myself looking through a window facing the beach.  These large windows were covered in sheer white window dressing that flowed as the breeze flew in.

I kid you not.  Within a month or less, my new employer invited me to a company outing on the beach.  The room they secured was a high-end hotel with premium views.  When I walked in, the first thing my eyes landed on were the sheer window dressings and the beach view that I had so clearly seen in my vision.

I was shook.

In fact, I recall recording a short video on my phone of the room as a testament to how much this room mirrored my mental image.  Another time that I employed a variation of IS was to manifest my first work from home job.  On the way to work, I decided to audibly recite my goodbye speech to my co-workers.  I gave that speech with such conviction that it felt incredibly real.  Blood was racing through my body.  I was filled with elation and anticipation as I described my new position (even though it didn't exist).  Months later, I was interviewing for what would be my first job that gave me the taste of freedom.

 I'm not saying that image streaming will make every visualization come true, but it does enhance the clarity of your picture by 100% + it helps you generate intense emotions & feelings because the scenario feels so real.   These are the critical components of activating the law of attraction.  Technically, IS isn't really a law of attraction technique, it's more suited for creative visualization and complex problem-solving.  But I saw the potential in applying to manifesting and it's worked really well for me.

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Eating For Your Hair Health – How To Feed Your Hair For Maximum Growth

Contents Water Protein Foods Fruits And Vegetables Grains And Nuts Dairy If you are on a hair growth journey then you have probably heard that hair growth is a scientific process and is directly related to the food you eat and your lifestyle. If you periodically watch youtube videos on hair growth from your favorite […]

The post Eating For Your Hair Health – How To Feed Your Hair For Maximum Growth appeared first on Black Hair Information.

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Mom Creates Billboard To Help Her Daughter Embrace Her Afro Textured Hair

If you are a mom of a little girl with afro textured hair then you know how important it is to ensure that she knows how beautiful she is and how beautiful her hair is. Recently one mom, Lekia Lee, was recognized for going the extra mile for her daughter by when she rented a […]

The post Mom Creates Billboard To Help Her Daughter Embrace Her Afro Textured Hair appeared first on Black Hair Information.

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Clarisonic has entered the Anti-Aging Game with this Product Penetrating Facial Massager

I'm huge fan of facial devices.  Currently, I have quite an extensive collection of various types of facial tools.  But....like...can we ever own enough?
I thought I was good until I learned that Clarisonic has thrown its hat into the ring.  In 217, they launched a firming massage head.  This makes so much sense.  Within seconds, your deep cleansing Clarisonic brush can transform into a facial toning powerhouse.  Best of all, the price is pretty reasonable if you already have the device sitting in your bathroom. If you don't already own a Clarisonic, fear not, they're having a spring sale which could save you a ton.

When I first heard the device existed, I immediately rushed to the website to learn more.  Little did I know that Clarisonic would come through with actual before and after pics depicting the potential of their massager.

After 12 weeks of use, this woman's jawline is actually reemerging.   This 12-week transformation is quite inspiring but what I'm really interested in is preventing the sagging that comes with age.  I'm all about keeping the skin and muscles toned and firm rather than trying to reverse it.   The fact that they even did a 12-week study was impressive because they're implying real results are actually possible.

Clarisonic published a video of the device in use.  I couldn't really tell if the brush head actually oscillates or if it just vibrates.  But what I do know is that the massager also doubles as a "product penetrator" of sorts.  According to the claims, this magical brush head "boosts the absorption of your daily skin care products."  

After deep cleansing using Clarisonic's powerful brush, you simply switch heads and begin massaging your favorite serum/moisturizer deeply into the skin.  Take a look at the process in action.



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Essential Beauty Items that Should Be in Your Car

It's officially spring.  I love bringing in the new season by removing clutter, writing down new goals and such.  One idea that popped into my head is putting together a little kit of essentials to keep in my car.

It's gonna get really hot in my state really soon, and that's a huge factor in what items I keep in the car. Warm temperatures can destroy perfectly good products and I don't want that.  But there are still some essentials I want to keep on hand in the case of emergencies.
Cleansing Wipes
The first beauty essential that came to mind are cleansing wipes.  When it's hot out, makeup removal wipes can easily double as mid-day refresher sheets.  Back in the day, I'd remove sweat with napkins but makeup wipes are far more superior.   They don't just remove the dampness, they also collect the dirt or anything else contained in our sweat leaving us feeling fresh for the rest of the afternoon.  The only concern is making sure to seal the package properly so the sheets stay nice and moist.

Hair Accessories
It never fails, I leave the house with my hair looking decent, 2.5 minutes later, humidity has ruined my life.  Worse yet, I have no hair supplies on hand to salvage what's left of the original hair style.  Not to mention how many times that my hair has popped rubber ponytail holders leaving me with absolutely no backup. This has to stop.  From now on, my vehicle will have necessary hair supplies like pins, extra hair ties, a tiny size bottle of product and possibly a satin scarf.  Back in the day, I would keep my hair tied down, (if I had a long drive) until I arrived at my destination.  By the time I got there, my hair was soft, moisturized and was protected from the UV rays.

Sun Protection
Speaking of UV rays. This year I'm going to experiment with an SPF facial spray that I can easily apply without impacting my makeup.  There have been countless times when I've left the house for an afternoon walk realizing that I'm not wearing any sunscreen.  Keeping an SPF facial spray in the car would be quite handy.  Instead of walking back in the house, I can quickly mist and know that my skin is protected.

Makeup
The only makeup I think I'll keep in the car is a liquid lipstick or gloss (because I don't have to worry about it melting) and possibly a foundation stick.  Since the stick isn't a liquid, I don't have to concern myself with it getting too hot or spilling in the car.  And, if my foundation coverage wears off, I can touch up with a stick in a few seconds.  The last makeup item I'm considering to keep in the car is a coverage or illuminating powder.   Something like MAC's mineral skinfinish or NYX's powder foundation.  Just need to have something convenient to take away shine.  Blotting sheets don't really work all that well for me so they make a suitable alternative.

Let's not forget the other essentials like lotion and a small bottle of fragrance.

I know that many of these items can easily be carried in your bag but if you're someone who switches bags a lot, this makes it a bit easier.  Let's not forget the times when you're rocking a clutch with little room to fit anything else besides your cell phone and wallet.

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How to Ensure You'll Actually Do What You Say You'll Do.

An interesting thing happened over the weekend.  At the start of the year, I established the intention to "live a lifestyle that creates a desirable weight."   Ideally, I wanted to maintain a decent weight without having to work too hard for it.  The easier it was to maintain, the better.

At this point, I'm happy to say about 5 lbs away from my goal.  With 5lbs left, I decided to be a bit more intentional.  With the weekend approaching I told myself "I'm gonna eat healthy for the next few days."

Fast forward 24 hours and I'm ordering from a drive thru menu.  The following day, I place an online order for a veggie pizza.  That was in complete misalignment to the intention that I set the day before.  That's when I deiced to take a completely different approach.  Instead of putting out a weak intention and allow things to magically happend, I changed the strategy.


That very minute I decided what my actions would be the following day.

Before leaving the house, I told myself, "I'm going to the super market to pic up a salad for lunch."  A decision had been made.  Now it was up to me to follow up and make the right choice.  I headed out to attend a Beauty Convention. By the time I arrived, I had salad in the passanger seat ready for lunch time.  

The main difference between the drive thru visit and the healthy green salad is intention.  When I'm hungry (while out and about), I rely on past actions to make current choices.  This time, I was very specific about the action I would take before the time arrived.  I knew which grocery store to go,  I knew exactly what kind of salad I wanted. It was a clear imgage in my mind and every easy to execute.

You might remember from a previous article that past actions create our default future.  If we've repeated an action enough, it becomes a habit. More importantly, it's stored in our memory for future use.  We have to break that programming.  One of the first steps to take in reprogramming is to tell yourself  EXACTLY what you're going to do in when that situation arises.  When I told myself that I'll eat healthier, my subconscious had no way of interpreting that into real action.  But when I said, I will drive to Publix to pick up a water and salad, my desires were completely understood.

Last week, I told myself which specifically tasks I needed to complete on a daily basis.  I don't want autopilot making major decisions for me.

Not yet.

Running on autopilot can no longer be an option.  Not until I've invested weeks and months making the right choices.  Until then, this has to be a very manual process.  I have to chose what gets accomplished today and how I operate.  I must will chose actions that bring me closer to my goals.   Hour by hour I have to set the intention for what my actions will be for hour or day ahead.  This will be a continous process of setting intentions and course correcting along the way.  Just because I say I'm going to do something, does that mean that I'll execute according to plan 100% of the time? Of course not, but my chances of making better choices skyrockets when I set mini-short-term intentions instead of just letting things happen.

No longer will I allow leave my choices up to chance. We have to decide the exact direction of our hour/day/life before we live it.





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The Only Protective Style Guide You Will Need For Your Hair Journey

Contents Best Practices Twists Braids Locs Weaves and Wigs Crochet If you are on a hair growth journey one of the most consistent themes you will hear is that you must do protective styles in order to see real growth success with your hair. These days most of us understand this concept completely and at […]

The post The Only Protective Style Guide You Will Need For Your Hair Journey appeared first on Black Hair Information.

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Struggling to lose Weight? You're Probably Missing the Obvious Culprit.

A friend and I were having a conversation the other day about our plans to slim down by summer.  Both of us started off strong and experienced decent weight loss thanks to our newly formed habits. But now, we've hit a slight plateau.

I'm sure that a lot of that is related to some backsliding in our eating habits, but there could be something else at play.
That same afternoon, I jumped on a conference call where one of my mentors takes on business questions for aspiring entrepreneurs.  The second caller introduced herself and described her business.  She was essentially a wellness coach.  She went on to detail how many of her clients struggle with being lethargic, had brain fog and couldn't lose stubborn weight  (despite working out & eating relatively healthy).

Her strategy was to address the root cause by focusing on the gut health of her clients.  Once the gut becomes balanced, a slew of symptoms seem to suddenly go away.

A light bulb flashed in my mind.  I recalled watching a video of a Youtuber who discussed her 20 lb weight loss journey.  This girl was quite slender so it was quite a shock when she shared pics of her appearing quite chubbier.  Her issue was gastrointestinal (GI).  She actually didn't plan her weight loss.  After suffering from a sinus infection, she was placed on antibiotics.

Shortly afterward, she experienced quite a bit of pain and bloat in her intestines.  Eventually, she was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome due to the imbalance of bacteria in her gut.  IBS forced her to change her diet in a way that promoted a healthy GI tract.  Eventually, the symptoms went away and so did the extra pounds.

I've mentioned the study involving overweight and obese mice.   The difference between the two was their bacterial makeup. When we eat unhealthy for a long time, our bacterial composition shifts.  Even when we go back a balanced diet, the stubborn unhealthy bacteria remains. This could be the reason why we hold on to weight or gain it right back as the obese mice did.   Basically, the study implicated that gut bacteria actually drives weight gain.  One researcher said in her presentation that "our body's metabolic rate is directly related to our gut bacteria."

This statement is huge because when we think about metabolism, we typically only think about how it related to physical fitness.  We might be missing the biggest key to a healthy metabolism.
 We rarely think about our gut health but it's a huge part of our health.  Our bodies are made up of cells but our ecosystem contains just as much bacteria as living cells.  We feed our cells with oxygen & water. We feed our bacterial flora through the foods we eat.

Unfortunately,  diet choices, stress, and even modern medicine disrupt our healthy internal balance.  The consequences extend beyond a bloated stomach.  It affects our mental clarity, skin, overall health.   Are you constantly craving sugar and unhealthy food? This could be because of an overgrowth of bad bacteria.  The worse you eat, the more they thrive.

It's critical that we make our gut health top of mind because 80% of our immune system is in our gut.
For the past several days I've binged on countless videos on the topic of maintaining a healthy gut. At a basic level, we should all add a probiotic to our supplement regimen.  Then consider adding digestive enzymes to help break down the foods you eat.  Once we have that done, we should adjust our diet to promote a healthy gut.  Increasing our fiber intake helps a ton. It's also important to include gut-friendly choices like bone broth and fermented foods.

In recent days, I've been diligent with taking probiotics & enzymes.  I've already noticed a slight improvement in my weight.  If this continues, maintaining a healthy body weight could no longer be a struggle.

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An Open Letter Apology to Sulfates

There's a perfectly good reason to add shampoo to your regimen.

 Dear Sulfates,

Over the years, you've been given a bad rep. What started out as us just wanting to do right by our natural hair, has morphed into this anti-sulfate campaign that's got the facts all twisted and distorted - while lining the coffers of some folks looking to make a buck off the movement.

Let's be honest though - you're not completely blameless in all of this, sulfates. Back in the mid to late 2000s, you were a tough pill to swallow. You were in all kinds of products not formulated for our hair, and we didn't have a lot of options. You backed us into a corner, and triggered that fight-or-flight response.

We assailed you with full steam - accusing you of causing cancer, damaging and drying out our hair and scalps, and even causing unsightly frizz and breakage. Not only did we attack you sulfates, but we abandoned you completely in favor of co-washes, clay masks, and apple cider vinegar. Heck, we even inspired everyone and their mama to create shampoos and cleansers specifically avoiding you like fruitcake at Christmas.

But the truth is, sulfates - we were wrong. Well, kinda wrong. You don't cause cancer - we conflated your issues with those of parabens. You very well may damage our hair, but so does water. And sunlight. And combing. Protein loss is protein loss, and you're not squarely to blame here. And sure, our curls may feel a little dry after using you - but that's really just the hallmark of your effectiveness in removing dirt, oil, debris, and product buildup. In all honesty, we shouldn't have expected for our hair to feel the same way it would after co-washing when using you. That was foolish of us, and unfair to you.

I for one, would like to apologize for my role in tarnishing your name. It's my fault for not fully recognizing that things, much like people, have the ability to change and grow. You've found yourself  a new life in more cutting-edge formulas that mitigate some of the things we didn't like about you back in the day - like that dry, crispy feeling and frizz, for starters. You've even got the nerve to be in some shampoos that have slip. Slip!

Sooo yeah... my bad, dawg. We cool now?

Love, Peace, and Clarifying Every 4-6 Weeks,
-Christina

I'm seriously crushing on this shampoo...and not just because the bottle is cute!

Guys, sulfates aren't the enemy. In fact, they can be a friend and your bridge over troubled water when it comes to a healthy scalp and hair. I used to make a regular habit of shampooing with sulfates - especially when reverting back from straight hair. But somewhere along the way, I stopped and got swept up into the sulfate-free hype. Now, I'm not saying that sulfate-free shampoos are bad and I'm going to stop using them. What I'm saying is that there's a valuable place in a healthy hair and scalp regimen for both. If you've been dealing with itchy scalp or dry hair, this may seem counterintuitive - but grab a SLS-containing shampoo.

You might just be surprised.

But if you still need convincing, click here to read the truth about sulfates.

By the way, the sulfate-containing shampoo that I'm absolutely addicted to right now is 180PRO Intense Reconstruct Shampoo. It's creamy, lathers beautifully, has great slip, and didn't leave my hair tangled or feeling like a bale of hay. Plus, my curls and scalp felt super clean without being excessively stripped. You can shop for it at Sally Beauty :) #notsponsored #justbeingtheproductplug

Have you had any revelations around using sulfates in your regimen? Let's chat below!

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Acne Scars | The One Instance Where Your Melanin Is Working Against You

A short while ago, I watched a video of a young lady enjoying an Oxygen Facial.  Once all the steps in the process were complete, the esthetician grabbed the sunscreen.  This is a pretty normal way to end every facial. But it was what the woman said during application that peaked my interest.

As the woman was rubbing in the sunscreen, she told the happy client that the sun's harmful rays are "attracted" to dark spots.  There was no further explanation.  Once the video ended, I went on about my day like normal.  But for weeks now, her comment has stayed with me.  I had to find out if her statement about the sun being attracted to dark marks was actually based on reality.


The wisdom of the internet has allowed me to understand more about her warning.  What I learned was that scars & blemishes don't have the same level of integrity as normal skin.  There's a certain level of UV protection available in normal skin that blemished skin lacks.  Simply put, acne scarred skin can't protect itself from the sun in the same way that normal skin can.

Here's the kicker, if you have darker skin you typically enjoy greater sun protection...but that don't mean anything if you are dealing with acne scars.  In fact, your blemishes will "attract" the harmful rays even more which is why we're prone to hyperpigmentation.  If you're a woman of color, you've got to be extra diligent with sunscreen, especially if you have acne prone skin.   That's one mistake that I made which cost me lots of time and heartache in the long run.

Warmer weather is just a stone's throw away.  For some, that means increased chances of finicky skin and breakouts.  If you find yourself dealing with acne this summer, you've got to make sunscreen a top priority.  And because some of us sweat during the day, reapplying your SPF might be necessary.
When I struggled with acne, I broke all the rules. I popped pimples and barely paid attention to wearing daily SPF.  It's no wonder why I constantly battled with dark blemishes.  Now, I'm super disciplined, knowing that any active scarring is like a magnet for harmful rays.  This time, I'm armed and ready for battle.

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The Process of Redefining Yourself As Who You Want to Be

Sometimes, when I'm having a conversation with someone, they'll describe themselves as having certain characteristics. In my mind I'm thinking, "you say that about yourself but your actions don't reflect it."

This weekend, I realize that I've been doing the same thing.

 After reviewing my list of priorities for this week, I noticed that most of the list is a continuation of things I haven't gotten done.  Worse yet, some have been lingering for months.  I like to think of myself as someone who takes action but, truth is, I've become an avid procrastinator.  

It wasn't always that way.  I actually was someone who took fast action.  But, over time, I created a new reality for myself.  I designed a reality where I operate as someone who continuously procrastinates. I take full responsibility because I know that it was my own doing.  

It started off innocently enough.  I'd create a list of things to do, complete some of it, and leave the most undesirable task uncompleted.  The next week, there would be 1-2 more tasks that I'd ignore.  Next thing I know, a new month began and I'd still be carrying around to-dos from a month ago.  

What I was doing was redefining myself.  Once I repeated an action so many times, it became easy to perpetuate it. When we do this on a regular basis, it becomes law.  Meaning it's a method of standard operation.  It's like we're writing new software for our behavior.   I had to be honest with myself and own up to what I've been doing.

 Awareness of what is happening is the beginning.  Now comes the real work.

I need to redefine how I operate.  First I need to get clear on who I want to be.  I want to, once again, be the type of person who burns through their to-do list. I wanna be fearless with how I handle priorities. 

 Today, I can choose to operate as the person I truly want to be. All it takes are just a few simple decisions that align with the ideal version of myself.  Then I do it again tomorrow and the next day.  Before I know it, the old programming will no longer run my life.  

The important thing to remember that we're flexible.  In the same way that our cells constantly renew themselves, we are always defining ourselves through our actions.  It's a fluid process.  That fluidity is where we have the power.  Redefining is phase 1.  This is where I alter undesirable behaviors.  Phase 2 begins the creation process where I implement new behaviors that align with who I want to be.  My brother likes to refer to it as the process of "becoming."  I will explore the idea of "becoming" sometime in the future.  But for now, I will enjoy redefining myself.  

Yesterday I behaved like an ultra-procrastinator, but today, I can operate with a high level of focus and clarity.  It's completely up to me.  

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Must See // This Obagi Facial is the Greatest of All Time.

You may remember Brittney Hampton from a previous article on the topic of her favorite detox tonic.  Brittney is one of my faves to follow on social media because she's pretty transparent about her beauty routine.

The other day, I received a message from a homie on Instagram alerting me that Brittney was documenting her professional facial.  I've seen videos of Brittney's facials in the past. In fact, she's even a client one of my favorite skin centers in L.A.

But this time was quite different.  After watching the video, I concluded that Brittney was receiving the best facial of all time.
The entire thing took place at Zo Skin Centre. These centers were founded by Dr. Zein Obagi, world-renowned dermatologist, and creator of Obagi products.  Obagi's skin care line is well respected by skin enthusiasts.  I've read many rave reviews over the years from happy folks who relied on Obagi to deal with troubled skin.

The whole sequence began with Brittney discussing the issues she had with her skin.  She pointed out some barely visible blemishes near her chin and cheek area.   I caught myself rolling my eyes as I laughed at her tiny little imperfections.  But then I remembered that truly flawless skin comes from setting high expectations for our skin.

The actual facial began with the first and most important step---exfoliation.  But instead of a chemical exfoliation with enzymes, Brittney enjoyed a microdermabrasion treatment.

Following the microderm, her facialist continued by performing detailed extractions. Once the extractions were complete, Brittney was treated to a calming gel mask followed by an intense face massage.

What she did next both confused and astonished me.  The woman placed a thin mesh cloth over Brittney's face in preparation for a high-frequency treatment.  Nex,t she grabbed a glowing, vibrating wand and proceeded to move it over her face.

The high-frequency wand looked very familiar me.  I remember featuring long ago in a wishlist post.  These nifty little wands generate a gentle oscillating electrical current to the deepest layers of the skin.  The treatment has a laundry list of benefits including tightening muscles, toning the face and even stimulating hair growth when used on the scalp.  The one I wanted long ago was shaped like a comb and meant to help stimulate hair growth.

The next step in this never-ending facial is a game changer.  Immediately after the high-frequency session, Brittney's skin is rehydrated using a brightening sheet mask.   We're no strangers to sheet masks here but it's what happens next that blew my mind.

After the mask is applied, the women breaks out a NuFace microcurrent device.  She explains to the novices that the machine tightens and tones the muscles in the face (but we already knew that 😎).  We also learn that using a microcurrent machine helps the skin to absorb the nourishing contents of the mask.   But the whole time I'm watching the sequence, my face was like this....

What she didn't mention was that pairing the mask and microcurrent machine together actually could improve the effectiveness of the electrical current.  Remember, water helps improve the conductivity of electricity.  Typically, when I use microcurrent, I have to constantly reapply gel or keep misting to keep my skin moist.  But this pair of sheet mask and microcurrent solves that problem. Plus one helps the other to become more effective.  I'm so happy to know this, I could cry. You best believe that I will be trying this out today!

The next step in the process involved an LED treatment.  Like radiofrequency, LED has a host of skin and anti-aging benefits.  But instead of using a face mask, it appears that Brittney's entire upper body is enjoying the process.  It kinda reminds me of the collagen bed that I just discovered.

There's another step performed in the facial that's so foreign to me that I'm holding back on discussing it.  I will talk about it in a future post (I promise).  I just need to do a bit more research.  More importantly, I need to figure out if there's any way to replicate this step at home.

The facial concluded with the obligatory application of a high spf sunscreen.  This step comes complete with a service announcement from Brittney on the importance of not skipping this step.

Did you guys hear what the facialist said? If not, please read carefully, "80% of the aging process comes from sun damage!"  That's alarming.

*Side note, I think a more accurate statement is "80% of premature aging comes from sun damage." I'm currently formulating theories around what causes real aging and how we can combat it.  But that's a whole 'nother discussion.*

I search for Zo Skin Care center locations and learned that there several certified specialists in my city.  I tingled with excitement at the thought of experiencing this same super-facial as Brittney.   You can tell that she's a happy camper.  I mean, just look at her, the girl is absolutely glowing.

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Got Acne? Follow This Simple Advice Straight from a Professional Dermatologist

I still shudder when I reflect back on the days when I constantly suffered from breakouts.  It was years of sheer agony.  There was a lot of trial and error before finally making progress.  One thing I wish I would have done differently was visit a dermatologist for professional advice.

Yesterday, I happened upon a video where a beauty guru with amazing skin mentioned that her skin's turnaround was a direct result of partnering with a dermatologist.  He gave her a small suggestion that really made a difference in her acne routine.  After following his advice, her skin transformed.
First, he inquired about her current process.  As she shared her daily routine, he interjected by informing he to switch her cleanser.  His recommendation was to use a benzoyl peroxide based cleanser.  She advised him that a benzoyl peroxide cream was already a part of her regimen.

He responded by informing her that benzoyl peroxide as a cleanser was more effective than in cream form.

Interesting piece of advice, but she didn't elaborate on why.  So I had to find out more.

After a little bit of research, I think I understand the logic behind his thinking.   First, we must understand how benzoyl peroxide works.  I didn't know this but benzoyl peroxide has exfoliating properties.  Essentially, it cleans and clears out pores while helping to prevent blocked comedones. BP also kills bacteria on the skin that promotes breakouts.    It sorta makes sense to enjoy these benefits while washing to ensure the pores are clean and clear of bacteria.  Benzoyl Peroxide also has a pH similar to water so, in theory, it remains effective as a wash vs. salicylic acid with a lower pH. Once salicylic acid comes in contact with water, it loses its acidic power.

A study was conducted with 56 participants suffering from acne.  They were instructed to use a 6% benzoyl peroxide wash plus a 0.1% Retin A gel.  The control group relied solely on the use of Retin-A to treat their breakouts.   At the end of 12 weeks, the group that paired both a benzoyl peroxide cleanser and retin-A experienced a 59% decrease in acne compared to their counterparts without the BP cleanser who saw a 30% reduction.

In this particular experiment, a BP cream was not utilized but the results were evident. This confirms that benzoyl based cleansers are indeed effective.   That dermatologist definitely knew what he was talking about.  Post wash, the guru applies a prescription based antibacterial cream.  Perhaps you might want to experiment with using topical probiotics as a suitable alternative.

I'm not saying that BP based creams are ineffective. But there appears to be some value in adding it to your cleansing routine.  Looking back, I realized that I rarely used acne medicated cleansers.   Perhaps if I would have known this piece of insider information, things could have been different.

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Forget Lotions. Body Oils Are What Your Skin Is Craving

A few years back, I was introduced to baby oil gel by a stewardess with amazing skin.  Since then, I've been hooked.  Every winter, I stock up on a couple bottles.  But as it gets warmer, I realize that I may need to switch up.

What I needed was a lighter version of my beloved skin gel.  So I began the search for a suitable alternative.  The solution was to replace the gel with oil. But not just any oil would do.
A couple of suggestions came my way after I put out the intention.  The first option showed up on my Pinterest feed.  A few beauty gurus were singing the praises of Neutrogena's Body Oil.  I'm a fan of Neutrogena and I really respect the quality of their products.  But, after trying their body oil, I didn't fall in love.  Once I read the ingredient list, I concluded that perhaps I needed an all natural option.

A short time later, Huda Beauty proudly held up a bottle of Rodin's luxury body oil on Snapchat while proclaiming that it was her absolute favorite oil of all time!  That motivated me to look into the product further.  That's when I learned that a 4 oz bottle required an investment of over $100.00.

I don't mind spending a little more for a quality product but I couldn't wrap my head around justification for the price tag.  Maybe I'll reward myself with a bottle one day, but for now, I needed to find a suitable alternative.

And by suitable, I mean that I wanted an oil that does more than just sit on my skin.  I want my oil to soak in and soften.  I also want it to actually make my skin better!  After a few moments of reflection, two oils came to mind.

Squalane and rosehip seed oil.

These oils were my first choice because of their incredible properties.  Squalane is often referred to as a moisturizer although it contains no water.  That's because of how it feels on the skin (and hair).  It's an emollient that mimics the natural sebum of our skin.  When applied after a post-shower air dry, squalane locks in moisture creating instant softness.

But that wasn't enough.  I wanted to experiment with an oil that had the power to actually improve the skin on my body. In my opinion, rosehip oil should be in everyone's possession.  This oil can do things that no other oil can do.   What other oil do you know can regenerate collagen, reduce scars and fight wrinkles? Rosehip is rich in vitamin A which promotes younger looking skin.  People pay good money for prescription strength vitamin A (retin A) for its ability to stimulate cell regeneration. Rosehip oil mimics those results without the annoying peeling.  Beyond vitamin A, rosehip also contains vitamin E, C, and D.  It's also rich in essential fatty acids which feels absolutely ah-mazing on the skin.

The combination of squalane and rosehip are heaven.    Best of all, both are non-greasy.  If I'm exposing my legs/arms, I may add a final layer of coconut oil for a bit more shine and to benefit from a little extra sun protection (coconut oil has a low SPF).   Body oils are ideal because they help preserve hydration while helping my skin to actually become healthier.  Over the next few weeks, I'll continue my search for other oils that improve the health and look of our skin.  I'll let you know if I find anything interesting.

Simply put, the combination of intense scrubbing + nourishing body oils is a recipe for perfect skin.  Lotion can't even compare.

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Style Obsession // The Pleated Skirt

Last fall I visited New York for a few days.  Whenever I travel to a major city, one thing I always do is keep an eye out for any emerging style trends that haven't yet reached the mainstream.  Sometimes I come back unsuccessful, but this visit was quite different.
Upon landing the first thing my friend and I did was head to a local Zara store.  While she tried on a mountain of clothes, I sat back and went into observation mode.  Before leaving the store, I already picked up on the presence of several jewel-toned pleated skirts available for purchase.

I took a mental note.

Over the course of the next couple of days, I noticed several women wearing ankle-length pleated skirts under their fall layers.  Although I wasn't really keen on the full-length skirt, the women wearing them did stand out.  Since then, I haven't been able to get pleated skirts out of my mind.  Now that spring & summer is approaching, I'm convinced that the pleated skirt is a must have.

When you move, the skirt flows. It's easy, effortless and timeless.  I've seen these skirts styled several ways.  In my opinion, they're perfect when paired with a light cami or tank top.  The cami + pleat combination is a perfect outfit choice for those sweltering summers days (or nights).  This would also be a perfect date night option.

One of the most attractive aspects of the pleated skirt is the diversity in options.  There are an infinite variety of lengths, colors and pleat sizes.  Best of all, few women have this fashion item in their wardrobe which classifies it as a true statement piece.


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