13 Little Known But Effective Hair Product Gems in the Natural Hair Community

I suppose there is hardly anyone who’s oblivious to the heavyweights in the natural hair care industry. Tropical Isle Castor Oil, Aphogee Hair Reconstructor, and EcoStyler are all household names, but there are some products that have been operating under the radar. Today we put a spotlight on little-known gems that have been holding their […]

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Could Copper Water be your next hair, skin and nail supplement?

The other day, I was perusing through Amazon in search of some cute copper mugs to enjoy one of my favorite new beverage, the Moscow mule.  Little did I know that I would come across an ancient Indian method that would help me create my own health & beauty water at home.

Prior to this, I was watching a Youtube video on how to cut flowers fresher longer.  One tip was to add a penny to the water.  If I remember correctly, adding a penny allowed her lilies to stand up in the vase longer and not fold over.  Back then, I didn't look further into why the penny worked, I just made a mental note for the next time I bought fresh lilies.

The reason why pennies help the flowers to last longer is because of copper was slowly releasing it's goodness into the water.  Copper water is so powerful that it impacts the life cycle of these precious plants.  Next, I learned that we can make our own copper drinking water.  And, that copper water directly benefits our skin and hair.
So what is copper water?  It's basically, an infused beverage you create by allowing water to sit in a copper container overnight.  The end result is a mineral rich tonic that nourishes the body with an essential mineral. This practice is a tradition that was followed in India for centuries.  Today we can replicate this technique to help fortify our diets.

Why drink copper water?

Simple. Copper is one of those minerals that have a direct impact on our beauty goals.  Several years ago, I started seeing an influx of gray strands.  My first instinct was that the graying was induced by the high-stress levels of my job. The could be true but another reason for the premature grays was probably because of a mineral deficiency...namely copper.  I've read multiple accounts of happy individuals who now enjoy their normal hair color thanks to the help of copper water.

Let's also talk about how copper is a crucial ingredient in countless anti-aging skin creams.  Most high performing anti-aging skin remedies include the help of copper peptides to bring back your youthful glow.   Basically, copper is an essential component in the collagen formation process.  When the level of copper in our cells increases, collagen production goes up. That's extremely exciting news.

Best of all, copper is one of those nutrients that's ACTUALLY beneficial when applied topically.  Heck, a study that determined that women who used a copper laced pillowcase experienced a noticeable reduction in wrinkles in as little as 4 weeks.  Yes, copper pillowcases are a real thing and available to purchase if you're ever interested.  They even make copper eye masks if you just want to focus your attention on one area of the face.

I was going to purchase a skin cream with copper peptides. But first, I think I want to experiment with making my own copper infused facial mist. Facial mists are amazing but I need something that does more than just put water droplets on my face. I'm looking for products that have a real impact.  I'd like to make a nice batch of copper water to mist my face and body on the regular.

Internally, I think I'll go for a copper/zinc supplement since the work synergistically to bring out the best results. Or maybe I'll try more natural sources of copper like beef liver, sunflower seeds, or black strap molasses. Oh, I should also mention that there's a video on Youtube where a guy swears that taking copper has such a profound impact on sagging skin that it even has the potential to reverse sagging breast tissue.  There was a second video from a woman co-signing on this copper for sagging breasts theory.  Both of the people who released the videos were at least in their 60's so perhaps taking copper has a greater effect on older individuals.  Even if we don't see a noticeable difference in sagging, it's nice to know that adequate copper levels can be our secret to maintaining our youthful appearance now and in the future.

Keep in mind that copper toxicity is a potential side effect so if you decide to make your own copper water at home, be sure to drink it in moderation.

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5 Beauty Items that I Now Keep In My Fridge

A couple of weeks ago, my ancient AC unit finally gave up.  The worst thing that could happen was being without AC in the middle of July.  Part of me contemplated enduring a hot summer without the modern necessity of cool air, but then I thought of how the sweltering temperatures would affect my beauty & nutritional items.

Needless to say, I gladly made the hefty investment so I could survive the summer while preserving my favorite products.  I thought I was doing my part.  But then I came to realize that some serious beauty enthusiasts have really taken their beauty regimens seriously.  Believe it or not, some even go as far as to procure mini-fridges to keep their valuable beauty stash at optimal temperatures.

I'm not gonna lie, I contemplated getting a mini beauty fridge but the lack of space prevented me from moving forward.  If I ever get my dream house and huge bathroom, I'll definitely revisit this concept.  The very least I could do is ensure that I store my current products in the right place.  Part of this weekend's agenda includes tossing out old bottles of condiments so I can make room for my most beloved beauty favorites.
Because space is limited, I plan on making sure that I only focus on the products that will thrive in cooler temperatures.  Here's a short list of what I have so far:

Sheet Masks
I'm kinda on the fence when it comes to sheet masks.  On the one hand, sheet mask warmers were invented for the purpose of heating our masks so the product is better absorbed by our thirsty pores.  On the other hand, placing sheet masks in your fridge prior to use can help close pores while providing a wonderful cooling sensation. So which one is better?  Both.  Let's say, for example, that I've stepped out of the sauna and want to indulge in a sheet masking as part of a full spa day experience.  That's when I want to reach for a chilled mask (post cleansing).  This also holds true if you do a steam facial that day.  But, winter months, a warm sheet mask might make more sense so the product is better absorbed.

Facial Rollers
All of the face rollers I own have now found a new home.  And that place is the freezer.  We've talked briefly about how well the face responds to cold temperatures.  All of that added blood flow and increased circulation does great things.  In the mornings, I like to grab my giant "ice roller" and sweep it across my face and cheeks.  Then I grab the smaller jade roller to deal with puffy eyes.  Finally, I reach for my micro current facial roller to finish off the routine.  I also keep it in the freezer because it feels so invigorating when it first touches the skin.  I'm hoping it tightens my pores as it firms the facial muscles.  What more can one ask for?

Leave-In Conditioner
Back in the day, I used to keep my leave-in spray in the fridge.  We all know that it's highly recommended to conduct a final rinse using cold water. It helps to close the cuticle layer.  But, sometimes I was too chicken to deal with the frigid temps so chilling my leave-in was the next best thing.  I haven't done this in a while but I'm definitely reinstituting this practice ASAP.  Humidity levels are at an all time high and I need all the cuticle sealing help I can get.

Eye products
The next group that will be migrating to my fridge are all of my eye products.  This includes, but is not limited to, eye creams, serums, and eye sheet masks.  Not only will my eyes be experiencing maximum hydration, they'll be less puffy as well.

Let's also add any product with vitamin C to the list of beauty items that benefit from being stored in a cool environment.

Facial Spray
Lastly, I'm keeping at least 1 bottle of facial spray in the fridge.  Here's what happens.....I spend precious time applying makeup only to break out in a sweat once I sit in my car.  We all know that warmer temps make us sweat but the worst part may be how hot weather ignites oil production.  That's the last thing we want, especially after just applying makeup. So my plan is to lightly mist with chilled facial spray just before leaving to keep my skin cool for just enough time to allow my car AC to kick in.  Hopefully, my plan works and I can avoid overly greasy skin this summer.




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Now Serving: Super Moisturized Curls with HairVeda [Review]

Don't let dry curls get you down this summer!

This review has been a looooong time coming. HairVeda is one of those brands that's been on my radar since like 2013, but I never got the chance to get my hands on.

2017 is straight up blessings on blessings on blessings - because not only did I get to test drive HairVeda products, but I discovered some new faves in the process! Which products might end up on the Christina's Choice 2017 list?

Keep reading and take a guess!

By the way, if you just want to see HairVeda products in action and don't quite care for the details, feel free to scroll down to the demo video :) Either way - thanks for being here!

If you're new to HairVeda, let me give you a quick rundown. HairVeda is a Black owned natural hair company specializing in handcrafted products to moisturize dry, thirsty hair. And they're legit reasonably priced, especially considering ingredient quality. All of the products in this review are silicone free (for those who follow CG), and only the Red Tea Nourish Curl Popping Gel Smoothie contains protein.

Let's dive in!

The shampoo that lives up to its name.

Deep Cleanse Silky Shampoo + Aloe & Flax
Cost
$10 for 9oz

Where to Buy
www.hairveda.com

Active Ingredients

• Water
• Aloe Vera Juice: Acts as a natural conditioning agent that restores the hair's sheen, luster, and shine. It not only makes the hair soft, but it also enhances strength and suppleness.
• Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate: Natural, plant-based surfactant, cleansing and foaming agent.
• Disodum Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate: Natural, plant-based surfactant, cleansing and foaming agent.
• Cetyl Betaine:Antistatic and hair conditioning agent.
• Lauryl Lactyl Lactate: Mild, naturally derived surfactant and cleansing agent.

What it is
An SLS-free deep cleansing shampoo designed to gently remove oil and product buildup without drying out the hair.

How I Used it
Because I filmed wash day on camera, I couldn't hop in the shower like I normally do. I wet my hair down and distributed shampoo throughout my hair from roots to end. I alternated between massaging my scalp and lightly finger detangling to prevent major tangles during the process. After I felt my hair and scalp were thoroughly cleansed, I proceeded to rinse with warm water.

My Thoughts
I feel like 2017 is the year of the dope shampoo. I've encountered so many great ones, I'm seriously going to have some tough decisions come December when it's time for Christina's Choice 2017. Deep Cleanse Silky Shampoo is definitely no exception. I love that it's super silky, goes on smooth, and has enough slip to do a lil' detangling while still cleansing my hair and scalp.

But did you see my curls after rinsing though?! POPPIN'. Like as in super moisturized, defined, and serving all sorts of product-free naturale realness. Deep Cleanse is the kind of shampoo I live for - one that almost makes you not wanna deep condition afterward. Oh and a SUPER bonus for my sensitive scalp and nose naturalistas - Deep Cleanse is fragrance FREE. Like, as in you gotta inhale deeply to smell even the slightest somethin' somethin'. For someone who deals with psoriasis like me, this is a HUGE bonus in the scalp health department.



Acai Berry Phyto Restoring Conditioner
Cost
$12.50 for 16oz

Where to Buy
www.hairveda.com

Active Ingredients

• Water
• Soybean Oil: Carrier oil used to lubricate and nourish the hair, providing softness and shine.
• Hydrolyzed Soybean Oil Butter: Soy-based emollient and moisturizing protein
• Acai Fruit Oil: Antioxidant rich extract that helps fight and reverse the signs of aging and damage in hair. 
• Cetyl and Stearyl Alcohols: Considered "fatty alcohol" -- NOT to be confused with drying alcohols such as ethyl. Acts as a lubricant, thickener, and emollient. Also gives conditioner its velvety feel without making hair greasy. Is additionally used to keep product ingredients from separating.

Can you believe this 16oz bottle is only $12.50?!

What it is

An intense oil therapy conditioner designed to hydrate and restore dry, damaged, and color treated hair. Infuses strands with strength and nourishing moisture.

How I Used it
After shampooing with Deep Cleanse, I applied a generous amount of the Acai Berry Phyto Restoring Conditioner throughout my hair. I worked it in from roots to ends using my fingers to make sure it covered every single strand. I was totally heavy-handed with it. I then deep conditioned using my Hot Head Thermal Cap for 30 minutes and rinsed - again with warm water.

My Thoughts
Hairveda did 👏NOT👏COME👏TO👏PLAY👏!!! You guys saw how much conditioner I used. And the bottle still has the nerve to still be 85% full. I absolutely LOVED how the Acai Berry soaked right into my strands. Not sure if you guys know or not, but the front half of my hair and crown are low porosity. Normally, conditioners sit on top of my strands before eventually soaking in with heat. The soak-in realness with Acai Berry was nearly instantaneous.

As far as as slip goes, I give it an 8 out of 10. Not the slippy-dippyest, but absolutely work-withable for detangling. Plus, it made my hair feel suuuuper smooth on contact. After rinsing, my curls were crazy moisturized, defined, de-frizzed, and all around amazing. I definitely recommend for my low porosity gals looking for some extra moisture and strength.

A must-try for the low porosity gals!

Whipped Creme
Cost
$10 for 9oz

Where to Buy
www.hairveda.com

Active Ingredients

• Water
• Shea Butter: Emollient fat from the nut of the East or West African shea nut tree used to soften hair and skin, and aid in moisture retention.
• Castor Oil: Thick, highly viscous oil with antibacterial, antifungal, and humectant properties. It is also a great moisture sealant, and promotes hair thickening and growth.
• Sweet Almond Oil: Smoothes hair cuticles, promotes hair growth and thickness, boosts shine.
• Vegetable Glycerin: Vegetable-based humectant that draws in moisture to the hair.
• Cetearyl Alcohol: Considered "fatty alcohol" -- NOT to be confused with drying alcohols such as ethyl. Acts as a lubricant, thickener, and emollient. Also gives conditioner its velvety feel without making hair greasy. Is additionally used to keep product ingredients from separating.

What it is
An oil-in-cream style moisturizer and leave-in conditioner designed to impart hydration, softness, shine to dry hair.

How I Used it
I generously applied Whipped Creme throughout my hair after rinsing Acai Berry. I used it as my leave-in for wash & go styling.

My Thoughts
Whipped Creme is PACKED with moisture - yet does not feel greasy or leave the hair weighed down. It has a consistency true to its name - light, smooth, and easily workable in the hair. I would have enjoyed a teeeeeny bit more slip, but I can't deny the levels of moisture it gave my hair in preparation for styling and in the days after. If your current rotation of leave-in conditioners leaves much to be desired, I highly recommend Whipped Creme.

Now serving...transformed curls!

Red Tea Nourish Curl Popping Gel Smoothie
Cost
$12.50 for 9oz

Where to Buy
www.hairveda.com

Active Ingredients

• Aloe Vera Juice: Acts as a natural conditioning agent that restores the hair's sheen, luster, and shine. It not only makes the hair soft, but it also enhances strength and suppleness.
• Riboos Tea Extract: Infusion of Riboos tea provides a beneficial boost of natural antioxidants, antibiotics, and stimulation of blood circulation to hair follicles, all which promote hair growth.
• Argan Oil: Oil rich in vitamin E and contains omega 3 and omega 9 fatty acids that provide nutrition for hair. It also contains Linoleic and oleic acid that helps to hydrate and moisturize hair. Helps repair damaged follicles, imparts shine, and prevents frizz and rough ends.
• Carrot Seed Oil: Beta carotene-rich oil that promotes healthy hair growth and hair elasticity.
• Corn Oil: Oil rich in Vitamins E and K to improve blood circulation, prevent hair loss, and help retain moisture in the hair. 
• Carbomer: Chemical composed of acrylic acid monomers that acts as a viscosity controlling agent (thickener).

I need this in 16oz.

What it is

An aloe and African red bush tea-based cream gel fortified with lightweight, nourishing oils to tame frizz, define curls, and provide long-lasting style.

How I Used it
The Curl Popping Gel Smoothie was my curl definer of choice that I layered on top of the Whipped Creme. Section by section, I generously coated my curls in the Curl Popping Gel Smoothie using the rake & shake method. I chose this method over my detangling brush method because I wanted more elongation in my curls.

My Thoughts
The opaque-ness and consistency reminded me instantly of my fave Obia Naturals Curl Enhancing Custard, and it definitely did not let me down. Curl Popping Gel Smoothie is creamy, smooth, tames frizz, and defines curls. And to be honest, the results speak for themselves. Curl. Poppage. Moisture for days. A gentle gel cast that easily loosened by day 2. Basically, Curl Popping Gel Smoothie is a winner, and I can't wait to grab more come Black Friday :)

Honestly, I now want to try the entire Red Tea collection.

Doesn't it just look yummy?!

Red Tea Nourish Curl Sealing Ends Repair Serum
Cost
$8 for 4oz

Where to Buy
www.hairveda.com

Active Ingredients

• Caprylic-Capric Triglyceride: Fractionated coconut oil that is light weight, nutrient rich, and fast absorbing. All the benefits of coconut oil without the heaviness.
• Soybean Oil: Carrier oil used to lubricate and nourish the hair, providing softness and shine.
• Butylene Glycol: Colorless, organic alcohol that helps water and oils mix. 
• Water
• PPG-26-Buteth-26: Conditioning agent used to restore the appearance of dry, damaged skin and hair by reducing flaking and improving suppleness.
• 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.

What it is
A multi-use oil designed to serve as a pre-poo or hot oil treatment, sealant, scalp massage aid, shine enhancer, and end repair serum.

How I Used it
I used the Curl Sealing Serum two different ways. As you see in the video, I used it on my scalp directly to keep it moisturized and prevent itching and flaking - which I did again between wash days. Secondly, I used the Curl Sealing Serum to seal and protect my ends from damage by scrunching a few drops into the ends of my wet hair.

My Thoughts
I appreciated the lightweight nature of the Curl Sealing Serum - it definitely wasn't oily, greasy, or heavy. And you guys already know I'm a sucker for herbs and flowers floating around in oils - so the hibiscus petals made it that much sweeter (and better for my scalp). The Curl Sealing Serum added tons of shine to my hair and definitely kept my scalp itch at bay.

Super moisturized curls...yassss!

I've mentioned previously that I'm not a huge fan of soybean oil. I would have loved to see carrot or argan oil in its place - but I'm not complaining because the Curl Sealing Serum didn't have that soybean oil smell at all. All in all - still a good oil that I'm happy to use to the last drop.

Well guys, the verdict is in. HairVeda promised moisture, and they delivered! Will you be giving their products a try? Let me know in the comments below!

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Brazilian Beauty Secrets || Can Adding Vitamin A to Your Shampoo Boost Your Hair Growth?

The other day I picked up a bottle of vitamin D capsules at a local grocery super store.  For a couple of years, I've talked about the benefits of ensuring that we have enough vitamin D in our diet.  Because of our melanin, most of us might actually be vitamin D deficient.  For the past couple days, I've noticed a renewed sense of well-being. Not sure if it has to do with the vitamin D intake or if it's a residual effect of having just returned from a much-needed vacation.  Since incorporating B vitamin shots and, now vitamin D, I'm starting to feel like my old self again.

A few years ago, I took a bunch of vitamins every day and it really made a difference.  Since then, I've fallen off the wagon. But as I get older, I realize that my body isn't as efficient as it used to be.  Plus I'm not eating as great as I should.  It's time to take my nutrition seriously again. So I started to browse around Amazon for other vitamins that I could incorporate into my daily life.  While there, I somehow stumbled on vitamin A.  Whenever I research a product on Amazon, I always go to the reviews and do a quick search for the word "hair" or "skin."  I do this to discover products that positively impact our hair & skin.  That's how I stumbled upon hyaluronic acid.

When I did my customary search under vitamin A supplements, I uncovered a little-known hair growth secret that Brazillian women swear by.
These crafty women of Brazil somehow determined that mixing a little liquid vitamin A to their shampoo could somehow stimulate hair growth.  They call this concoction shampoo bomba. It began when these ladies experimented with combining a liquid vitamin A, primarily sold in veterinarian's offices, with shampoo.

Somehow, adding vitamin A topically to the scalp made a difference in the hair growth rate for some.  I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical at first.  But then I remembered the time I visited a salon in L.A. that boasted of special treatments consisting of vitamin enhanced conditioners.  Honestly, the idea of infusing conditioners with vitamins seemed a bit gimmicky.

That was then...

Since launching my own vitamin based hair enhancer, I've changed my tune.  I notice a difference when I add vitamin B enriched bamboo extract to my conditioner and others do as well.  The idea of lacing my shampoo with vitamin A really peaked my interest.  At the very least, I'm sure my strands would feel healthier because of the process. And, maybe I'd even experience a positive benefit to the growth rate.

Take a look at what one reviewer had to say after making her own "Bomba Shampoo" at home:

Byizavampiraon September 22, 2016

Verified Purchase

People... attention... this is the purest vitamin A I found in America... and is the " key " secret to make the famous " bomb shampoo " in South America.
I have no words for how it works... my hair grows ultra fast.
You can give it a try.
Take a picture of your hair after mix in you shampoo without sulfate.. and compare 15 days later.... it's extremely insane how it works... plus, when you wash your hair the vitamin A runs on your face and body, making your skin baby soft ".
It's like a magic potion for being young again...
( mix all the bottle with half gallon of shampoo without sulfate)
You can do the same with conditioner and some body lotions...THAT'S MY SECRET

Here's another one:

4.0 out of 5 starsReviewWithElly

ByElly Filhoon July 9, 2016

Verified Purchase

I bought this to use on my hair. Let me explain.
I use a lot of chemicals on my hair by coloring it every 3 months.
I started to lose all my hair. It also started to become very dried and fine. Someone told me vitamin A was great for hair growth. As I was searching Amazon I was looking for something that would make your hair grow with vitamin A. I came across this Pure vitamin I didn't really read the description where it said it was a supplemental vitamin and to take one drop daily. I was so worried and horrified about becoming bald all I wanted was a vitamin A for my hair. The one everyone was talking about was supposed to be an oil, not this liquid pure vitamin.
Funny thing when It arrived I opened it and was laughing very hard at myself, then I went to read the description and was like "" Ohhhhh ""
I decided to add this bottle to my shampoo anyways. I figured either it will be good or I'll just buy a wig.
I bought a deeply clean Pantene shampoo and added the vitamin to it.
Mixed it well and started to use it on my hair 3x a week. I would wash my hair leave it in for 3 minutes and wash it out.
Condition with regular conditioner and style as I regularly did.
Now before I did this I measured my hair and it was 16" long ( straight )
That was 2 months ago in May
Today in July I measured my hair again as my shampoo ended ( yes it lasted that long because I used a very small amount )
My hair is 18" long and it's healthier. I'm loving the results
I do have a photo but not of the final measurements sorry.. hope this helps.
I do recommend this vitamin for anything I guess, it is 100% pure and it works for whatever your needs are.

Ok, so here's what I got from the first review.  Obviously, this vitamin A treatment worked well for her.  She actually noticed a boost in her growth rate.  She urges us to make sure we use sulfate free shampoo.  Chemical heavy shampoos will interfere with the effectiveness of the vitamin A.   My favorite part of her review is how she lets us in on a secondary benefit.  Apparently, the vitamin enriched water run-off will nourish our skin as well.  What could be better than that?  And, just like Beautifully Bamboo vitamin extract, she mixes a little vitamin A in her conditioner and lotions.

 If I had acne prone skin, I'd play around with adding a little vitamin A to my skin moisturizer to apply at night.  A lot of the popular, professional strength,  acne treatments on the market incorporate vitamin A as a main active ingredient.   I'm not saying this will work, but I'm curious about the potential.  There are a bunch of videos on Youtube reviewing this vitamin A + shampoo combination. Unfortunately, none of them are in English. But most of them have impressive progress pics as their thumbnail pic so one could assume that they're experiencing positive benefits.

I may just give it a try.

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Monday Motivation \\ How to Inspire Yourself Every Day when You First Wake Up

Over the weekend, I checked out some house/apartment tour videos on Youtube.  One video, in particular, featured a loft style apartment with a modern aesthetic and killer views.  I loved the minimalist decor and monochromatic design.   Everything about his apartment was intentional and perfect.

There was one moment in the video that caused me to pause and reflect.  As he showed us his bedroom, the points the camera out towards the amazing city view.  He then informs us that when laying down on his bed, he has a clear view of the city skyline.  This, he says, was one of his biggest life goals (to wake up every morning to amazing views).  What he said next is what inspired me to write this post.

This exclusive city view, according to the blogger is, "what motivates me to get up in the morning and to do the most."
I let his words marinate in my brain for a few minutes.  This guy, like most of us, dreamed of waking up in a place that's inspiring and representative of achieving a certain level of success.  This "life goal" was such an obsession of his that he worked on his brand until it finally became a reality.

Now that he's arrived, he enjoys the fruit of his hard work.   Even though he's achieved his dream, he's still motivated to keep pushing to reach greater levels.  I'm certain that he wakes up most mornings filled with clear intention.  So I asked myself, "Is there anything I can do to create that level of inspiration when I first wake up every day?

Ideally, motivation should come from the inside out.  But I'm also aware of how our external environment can affect our internal state.  Although I'm certain of this fact, I haven't leveraged it much to my benefit.  One day I too hope to wake up every day in a room with majestic views.  Until then, I can still take steps to create an environment that inspires me into massive action each and every day.

Instead of focusing on my bedroom, I think my efforts would be better utilized by elevating my office.  Currently, I have inspiring images posted on the wall but I can do so much more.  And since the office is where I do all of my work, it makes sense to place all of my attention there.

I realize that I don't have any of the things I love in my current office space.  There are no live plants, no scented candles, no fresh cut flowers, no updated images of future goals.   Nothing that represents where I want to be. Visually, there's not much in my office to stimulate my creativity.  No wonder I sometimes start the day feeling unmotivated.

Back when I wanted to start a multi-six figure business, I was very intentional about my personal space.   I invested heavily in high-quality candles, bought fresh flowers on a weekly basis, and I'd strategically display my designer items in a certain way.  The primary focus was in creating a feeling of abundance since I would soon quit my job causing my income to change drastically.  It was part of my well planned out feel good routine.  Every time I walked into a room, I felt a surge of inspiration. It was a joy to work on building my dream.

Let's never forget the incredible power of our environment.  If you're feeling uninspired, a simple change in our space will immediately alter your mood and outlook and will motivate you to the absolute most.





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Straightening Your Natural Hair a Sign of Insecurity?

Content: Some Of Us Weren’t Ready Impatient Or Incompetent Stylists We Want The Best Of Both Worlds Final Thoughts So straightening hair is a sign of insecurity which indicates that you hate yourself? Well according to some in the natural hair community that is the diagnosis for those of us who enjoy straight styles. This […]

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Let's Discuss Your Plan for Flexible Passive Income

I'd like to bring up a topic that has been an interest of mine for many years.  Early on in my financial journey, I stumbled on an audio book that forever changed my viewpoint on the most effective way to earn money.  That book was called Multiple Streams of Income by Robert Allen.  In the book, Robert encouraged us to diversify our income sources.  I loved the premise of the book and contemplated someday putting his ideas into practice.

As time when on, my career began to take off and I relied solely on a paycheck.  But that wasn't a bad thing because the money came every two weeks.  But as I moved up the ladder, I noticed a flaw in this system.  One article I read even called a job a risky way to make money.  In my mind, I'm like "how can that be?"  The money is always there on payday.  What could go wrong?

But over the course of my career, I fired a countless number of people.  Most of them came to work that day not expecting their income to suddenly stop.  Sure, you can get another job, but who knows how long that'll take or if your earning will be similar to what you had before.  Basically, your livelihood is in the hands of strangers.  That is completely risky if you ask me.  One day, I was at a seminar and the speaker said something I'll never forget.  While speaking on one topic, he suddenly proclaimed to the audience "I don't work for a paycheck, I live my life and I earn money while doing so."  That's all I ever wanted.  Since then, I've wanted to live up to this mantra.

This past week, I spent some time in the wonderful country of Belize.  I rented a luxury villa and relaxed as I experienced all the amenities the island has to offer.  As I ate fresh seafood at restaurants on the beach, the only thought that constantly went through my mind is "how do I make this last forever?"
I ran through scenarios in my mind and technically, I could pack up, move to Belize and continue to earn a living that could support my new lifestyle.  My husband, on the other hand, couldn't easily transition because he earns money from a traditional 9-5. If we were to move.  His income would completely stop. I'm not saying I want to live there permanently, but I do want more of these types experiences without the restriction of having my income tied directly to my time.

The most obvious way to do this is to focus on generating passive income.  Passive income is such a sexy term because it implies that we make money without having to do any work. The concept of passive income is real but somewhat misleading.  The type of income that's generated from little to no work will likely be minimal.  You might get to a place where you can live off passive income, but that typically happens once you've been building up your income streams for years.

The key is to start the journey.  Take small steps now and they will eventually grow into larger opportunities later on.  For the sake of our conversation today, I'll refer to passive income as flexible income because there is work involved. But it still entails creating revenue that isn't directly tied to you being at a certain place during a fixed time window during the day.  Flexible income can be scaled where traditional income is more linear. You don't have to wait a year for a performance review to increase your earnings.  And if you wanted to travel or incorporate more adventures into your life, you can.

So how does one begin their journey to flexible income?

The options are endless but for the sake of this article, I'll try to narrow down the options to keep it simple. Nowadays, people fall into two main categories -- consumers and producers.   Most of the population are consumers.  We get our paycheck then spend it on stuff.  Every time we use our money to buy a good or service, we are contributing to the producers.  They create the products we use, provide our services and entertainment, they are involved everything we utilize in maintaining our lifestyle.  Most people pay for their goods/services and move on.  Rarely do we think about the fact that someone else is on the receiving end. Someone's business & life is thriving because of where we decided to spend our money.  It didn't really connect with me until I started walking/driving through the high-end neighborhoods in our city.  In my mind, I knew that these people did not have typical jobs. They were making their money in a completely different way than everyone else.

We've been consumers for so long that it's hard to switch our mindset to become producers.  We think it's too hard and completely out of reach.  And maybe it was out of reach years ago.  But times have changed. The internet has broken down the barriers that once kept us bound to a restricted way of life.

Now it's fairly "easy" to make a side income.  When I say easy, I really mean it's accessible.  The knowledge of how to do it is at the tip of your fingers. All you have to do is ask Google or Youtube and you'll find countless resources on how to get started.  My message to you is "do what you can to earn your first independent dollar."  Once that happens, anything and everything becomes possible.  For a while, your paycheck income will still be a main source of funds but that doesn't matter.  As long as you're generating some type of income, you're moving in the right direction.  If for some reason, you lose your main source of revenue, you can choose whether to look for another job or grow your business.

Everywhere you look nowadays, producers and consumers are commingling.  On social media, you have people who go there purely for entertainment. But there are also people on there who make tens of thousands of dollars on there.  When you go to Amazon, you shop. But do you ever think about how many individuals have replaced their work income thanks to opening up a merchant account on Amazon?  Those are real people.  And they're not special.  You can do what they do.  But you probably haven't thought of yourself as one of them.

I have friends who love to travel.  They're always talking about wanting to quit their jobs to travel full time.  I tell them about all of the people who travel the world while making a healthy income.  They are aware that this possibility exists, but they remain immobilized and don't do anything about it.  They believe that they have to automatically make six figures while traveling and they don't know how to do it.   My advice to them is to see if they can small goals and ignite the domino effect.  If it were me, I'd set a goal to get reposted by a hotel or travel page on Instagram.  Once that happened, I'd set another goal to try and obtain a lower price hotel stay by offering to feature them.  If that worked, then I'd set a goal for a free stay or free trip. Eventually, I'd move towards getting compensated for the work I did to bring awareness to the hotel or travel destination.

You see, most people think about starting something and focus too much on making millions. It's intimidating and keeps us stuck.  I say start with the smallest goal you can think of and start working from there.  Keep moving the needle forward and, before you know it, you will be within reach of making that six figure income we all dream about.  A friend of mine called me the other day and was like "guess what Nadege, I made my first $100.00!"  I couldn't contain my excitement.  Months ago she talked about starting her online jewelry business and soon it was a reality.  She's been working on it in between the other projects she has going on.  She took a while to build her online store but I kept telling her.....keep pushing until you earn your first dollar.  Her first sale came in and then she quickly made over $100.00.  Now my message to her is to try to get to $1000.00. Once you earn $1k, you can convince yourself to try to earn $5k then $10k.  It doesn't have to happen right away, but it needs to happen.

What I'm saying is that, in this day & age, almost everyone can (and should) have a means to generate additional income.  A really good book I highly recommend if you want to transition from receiving only paycheck income to building an income that supports your ideal lifestyle is MJ DeMarco's Millionaire Fastlane.  MJ just came out with a new book called Unscripted: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Entrepreneurship which currently has a 5-star rating.  I haven't read it yet but I trust his philosophy on creating wealth outside the typical earning structure of the corporate world.   Even if you adore your job and the people you work with, why not try to make extra money just to elevate your lifestyle or to save for large purchases in the future.  Don't leave your entire financial standings at the hands of others.  I urge everyone reading this who wants to improve their lifestyle, to just start! Take the first step.  And once you do, keep moving forward 'till you reach your destination.








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Stylist Feature – K_TheStylist

Introduce yourself and which salon if any you work at… My name is Kahdija (K_TheStylist) IG. I have been a professional cosmetologist for 15 years. I currently work at M’Bellish Hair Studios in Chicago IL. I am a life time learner in this business and I am always looking for new ways to grow my […]

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[MUST TRY] Your DIY Post Shower Hair Oil for Sleek, Shiny Moisturized Hair

I've been known to randomly poke around Amazon in search of unknown beauty products that could potentially change my life.  This morning, I stumbled on a wonderful little gem and I couldn't be any happier.

The actual product itself is manufactured by a well known Japanese beauty brand.  In fact, they are the makers of one of the most popular cult facial cleansing oils on the market.  It just so happened that they also carry a line of "after shower hair products."  These items are specifically made for application post shower.

We already know the value of adding product to damp skin post shower.  Applying an oil/lotion to wet skin enhances our skin's moisture retention levels in a wonderful way. Why not apply this same principle to our hair routine?  Thanks to the inspiration I received from DHC, I may have found a way to replicate the perfect DIY after shower hair oil recipe.
The after shower hair treatment is a simple oil based product applied to wet hair to retain moisture, prevent frizz and add shine.  The timing of the application is what matters most.  While the hair is wet, the cuticle layers are slightly lifted to absorb the water particles.  This can be a dangerous time for our hair because lifted cuticles are more susceptible to damage and breakage.  But, on the other hand, we can leverage that situation for our benefit.

The folks who reviewed DHC's After Shower Hair Oil Treatment claimed to experience softer, shinier, smoother hair post use.  Another wonderful benefit that I'm super-excited about is how this product also manages frizz.  In mid-July, frizzy hair is our greatest enemy.  If this product can free us of this burden, I'm here for it!

Just before I made the purchase, I took a quick look at the ingredient list.  At first glance, I noticed that the primary ingredients were silicones.  That's understandable since most frizz elimination products utilize silicones to block moisture and humidity from disrupting the strands.  Some people tend to avoid 'cones because they coat the cuticles promoting product buildup.

As I continued to survey the ingredient list, I noticed the after bath oil also contained squalane, olive oil, shea butter and vitamin E.  That's when I realized that I could create a quick DIY version.  For my first experiment, I kept it simple by mixing a little squalane and baobab oil.  Squalane has a similar consistency and feel as silicone hair serums but it's all natural.  Baobab is my favorite oil at the moment so I figured that pairing them together would be a winning combination.

First I misted my hair with soft water mixed with a little leave-in.  Once damp, I ran a little of my blended hair oil into the strands. Immediately, I noticed the difference.  My hair was smooth, shiny and moisturized.  I've instantly fallen in love with this hair oil concoction.  Although I'm not sure it will repel humidity, long term,  as well as a product with silicones, I feel like this combo gives a similar initial result and I'm very happy about that.  Next up, I try this on wash day after applying leave-in.  I might still pick up DHC's formula for those times when I need that extra bit of humidity fighting power.  Also, silicones have heat protectant qualities which makes it a great product to use prior to blow drying/flat ironing.  But, until then, this DIY version is absolutely perfect.

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Palmer's May Have Created the Perfect Summer Glowing Skin Product

Years ago, I met a gorgeous flight attendant who let me in on the secret to her glowing skin.  During our convo, she made certain that I was aware of oil gel.  Unlike lotions, oil gels have the ability to hydrate and nourish the skin for long periods of time.  Plus, they leave a layer of shine on the skin which gives it a nice glow.

As soon as I got the chance, I purchased my first bottle of oil gel and I've been hooked ever since.  They basically save my skin in the winter.  Now that summer is here, I'm eager to integrate these gel based oils into my daily routine.  Although I like the ones I currently have, I still kept my eyes and ears open for a better version for summer.   I'm happy to report that my wish has been granted because I may have stumbled on the perfect drug store oil gel for summer.
Thank you Palmer's for creating my dream summer must have.  Why is it so amazing?  Simple. Because this oil gel also contains SPF.  I've longed for a hydrating body product that showcases my skin while protecting it from the sun.  This is it!

I'll be honest with you, I rarely think about daily sun protection on my body unless I'm going to the beach or something.  Other than that, the skin on my body is pretty much exposed to the elements.  In my heart, I new I needed a hydrating product that nourished & protected my skin at all once!  Honestly, I didn't think this product existed.  I figured, that I would start off with a gel oil then layer a sunscreen on top.  But Palmer's was already on it!  They've formulated a coco butter gel with SPF 15 UVA & UVB sun protection.

Beyond that, they've also included a myriad of skin loving ingredients including cocoa butter, vitamin E, shea butter, and jojoba oil.  None of my other gel oils have as many natural skin boosters.  I think I've found my new best friend.

 For those of you who've never used gel oil before, you should know that the product is thick and somewhat heavy.  If you have really dry skin, you'll love it.  Otherwise it's best to use a little at a time after jumping out of the shower while your skin is still damp.  The damper your skin, the less of this product you'll have to apply.  You can also experiment with mixing lotion & baby oil gel together in your hands before application to thin it out.

I haven't gotten my hands on this stuff yet.  It's on order from Amazon and should be here soon.  I'm hoping that on top of all the benefits I mentioned that this product has the fine hint of chocolate scent that I've come to love from cocoa butter products. Skin glowing while smelling like chocolate would be the icing on the cake of an already amazing product.

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Want Hip Length Hair? Learn The Hair Length Retention Secret From The Women Of Chad

Contents: Length Retention Secret? Ingredients For Chebé Traditional Chebé Recipe Their Process A Substitute Maybe? What Are The Key Principles Of Their Phenomenal Length Retention? The Takeaway Final Considerations Here we always stress the importance of ensuring health if you want to achieve length. This is a holistic approach of course, inclusive of diet, mental wellness, […]

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First Impressions // Did a water softener make a difference to my hair + skin?

A few weeks ago, I allowed my mind to wander in the shower as I typically do.  Out of no where, I said in an audible voice "I need a whole house water softener."  A water softener is something I've wanted for many years.  Hard water has been the bane of my existence for as long as I can remember.  It coats my shower doors and dishes with a thin layer of mineral deposits.  But, worst of all, is how it affects my hair and skin.

Within days of me making that random comment in the shower, I received an unsolicited sales call.  The people on the other line wanted to schedule a time for me to have my water tested in exchange for a $25.00 gift card.  I happily obliged.  Soon, a slick talking salesman was at my home hoping to convince me of the benefits of having a whole house softener.  Most of the his sales pitch consisted mainly of information that I was well aware of.  But I wasn't completely sold until he gave a demonstration that changed everything.
He pulled out three small empty glass bottles.  One bottle he filled with tap water. The other was filled with spring water I purchased from the store.  In the last bottle, he poured some water from his special filter.  He then went on to add a special chemical to each bottle that would allow us to see the mineral content.

A few moments passed and I was astounded by what I saw.

Bottle #1: Tap Water was cloudy in color and had a thick layer of white powder that collected at the bottom.  The white powder, he explained were all the mineral deposits.

Bottle #2: Bottled Spring Water was clear in color with a layer of white powder collected at the bottom.   There wasn't as much "white powder" as the tap but there was still quite a bit.

Bottle #3: Filtered soft water was clear in color with no white mineral powder.

He then asked me to pour myself a cup of tap water and a cup of his filtered water from my tap to see if I could taste the difference.  After taking a couple sips of the filtered tap water, I could barely stomach the taste of the plain tap water.  It had a weird smell and tasted quite strong perhaps because of all the chemicals added to it by the city.   Although I couldn't remember the last time I drank tap water, I still shower with it everyday.  We know that our skin is somewhat porous and prone to absorb what it comes in contact with.  The through of my body taking in this chemical-laden water made me cringe.

I needed a water softener ASAP.

Finally, I made the decision that I had been putting off from years.  That same afternoon, the technician installed my new unit.  It's been a couple weeks and I'm ready to discuss my first impressions including the pros and cons.

First and foremost, I expected an immediate difference to my skin.  Having hard water means that my skin was always covered in a thin layer of white film.  Especially on my hands, legs and feet.  Since the installation of the water softener, this issue no longer seems to exist.  Sure, I still get dry but it's definitely not the same.  It's a "normal" level of dryness, not the extreme kind brought on by a layer of hardened minerals.

The best thing about having a whole house filter is that any water that comes out of any faucet is much more hydrating. Which means that I can wash my face or hair anywhere in the house and experience the same wonderful results.

A few days after the softener was installed, I washed my hair.  Since then, I've washed about three times and let me tell you....this is where I've seen the biggest difference.  As expected, my hair is MUCH more moisturized than before. It's softer, more elastic and responds to products better.  I've also noticed increased definition in my curl pattern as well.  All these years, I've done everything I could to battle dry hair.  But I neglected to make a move on the silver bullet that could have solved all of my problems.

Hydrated hair has saved me a little more time on wash day.  I suspect that long term, my retention will improve since I'll no longer have a layer of rock particles coating my hair.  Even though I'm excited about this awesome benefit, there's also a drawback.  I realized that I have to be a bit more diligent when rinsing out product.  One endearing quality about bathing with soft water is that feeling of silkiness on the skin after you rinse.  It still feels like you haven't fully rinsed of your body wash.  I think the same thing happens with our hair.  This could be a good thing but could lead to product buildup on the stands if we aren't careful.

Aside from the hair/skin benefits, there's also the fact that your clothes feel softer after doing laundry and my glasses no longer have a white film covering them..which is a plus.

The only negative aspect about having a whole house softener is that it's not really recommended that we drink soft water.   During this demonstration, it appeared as if the soft, filtered water was the best option for drinking.  The bottle demonstration he did was to convince me of that.  But one thing he said didn't quite make sense to me.  He said something along the lines of "see all of that white stuff in your water, it's all the calcium and magnesium."  In my mind, I'm like "but isn't calcium/magnesium good for you?"  I question his logic out loud but he still tried to convince me that my bottled water was "bad" simply due to the presence of minerals.

The minute he turned the corner, I did a little research and, sure enough, I discovered online sources that urge us not to drink soft water because the minerals found in hard water seem to have heart protective qualities.  Some studies indicate that people who live in hard water areas are less prone to heart related issues over time.  So, in the end, I still drink my store bought spring water because I want the internal benefits.  Heck, I even add a few additional drops of liquid minerals for extra nutrition.  But I don't want it sitting on my skin.

Looking back, I wish I had made the decision sooner. The difference I noticed was almost immediate and they continue to be evident weeks later.  If you live in a hard water area and constantly struggling with chronic dryness, I invite you to consider making this investment.




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Let's Discuss the Waist Length Hair Retention Secrets of the Women of Chad

One of the most important aspects of a successful hair journey is our ability to retain length.  Even if you aren't trying to have hip length hair, retention serves as an indicator of how solid our hair routines are.  If we're constantly loosing length, there's a problem somewhere.   Either we need to improve our products or our practices.

If you still haven't quite yet grasped the proper techniques to help you retain length, you've come to the right place.  Because today, I'm featuring a video that details the regimen of women who have truly mastered the art of length retention.
These woman are native to the country of Chad. They pride themselves in perfecting a ritual that results in hair that doesn't break.  Because they use ingredients native to their surroundings, we can't duplicate exactly what they do step by step.  But.....we can certainly pick up a few tips that integrate well with our routines.

First, I'll share the takeaways learned from my observations.  Then you can watch the video for yourself to see if you can learn a trick or two.

These Basara Arabs pride themselves in growing tailbone length hair.  As such, they've perfected the exact regimen that pretty much eliminates breakage.  One key factor is a blend of locally harvested ingredients that, combined with the application method, keeps their hair "extremely hydrated and moist."  Since we can't readily access these ingredients, we won't focus much on them. Essentially, they practice a variation of the L.C.O method. But instead of using a cream, they substitute with a finely powder.  In essence, they apply a liquid (water), powders ground from grains, and an oil/hair butter.

What interests me most is the application process.  I feel like this process is super important.  In my own experience, when I take the time to painstakingly apply product to my hair, it flourishes.  While watching the video, I was reminded of the strand ceremony that I practiced years ago.  It takes me a long time to do a proper strand ceremony but, when I'm consistent, I'm rewarded mightily.

Since these women don't really have a weekly wash routine, they perform a "strand ceremony" while they moisturize and seal.  It's during this process that they are able to create unbreakable hair.  When you watch the video, pay attention to how much time and attention is given to a section of hair. Every strand is engaged in the process.

If I'm being completely honest, I have to confess that I don't give my strands the level of attention I should when moisturizing.  That's probably one of the biggest areas of opportunity I have.

 When you watch the video, I want you to notice something else.  If you pay close attention when the product is applied, you can see the woman is smoothing it into her hair.  Years ago, I came up with a theory that smoothing conditioner into the hair can enhance the results in a similar way that smoothing relaxer creates straighter hair.

Our hair is porous and very receptive to the products we apply. If it can draw water particles from the air, it can certainly take in the products we layer on.  But, more importantly, if we lightly massage the product into the strand, perhaps we create an even greater impact.  Of course, this is just another one of my crazy theories but I'm pretty confident that there's a little bit of truth to it.  I've smoothed in conditioner after application and liked the results.  But I've never thought of smoothing in my moisturizer/oil until now.

Once all of the product is applied, the women braid their hair for 5 days until the process is repeated again.  This is the epitome of protective styling.  We all know that protective styling must be a factor if we are to retain major length.  Without it, our efforts will be severely hampered.

 Their routines are simple but super effective.  How do we know? Well because they don't utilize the same process on their bangs.  These women wear two tiny braids near their hairline.  These two braids remain short because they don't undergo the same rigorous retention process.  I'm sure this is intentionally done for aesthetic reasons.  But it just goes to show you that they aren't blessed magically long hair.  It's a result of consistent moisture and regular protective styling.

Take a look at the video and see if you pick up on any helpful tips.


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4 Ways That Summer is Ruining Your Beauty (and how to stop it).

Summer is in full swing.  I'm sure we're all enjoying the longer days and the warm sunshine.  While you're enjoying fun filled days outdoors, I want to you keep a little something in mind.  Summer, may be one of the most damaging seasons when it comes to our beauty routines.

Let me explain.  Winters may seem like a harsh season when it comes to our skin, hair & health (and it is).  But we are well aware of the issues that arise from cold weather.  The side effect of dry air is pretty obvious. So we minimize the risk by amping up our moisture routines.

Summer is a bit trickier because the dangers aren't quite as obvious.  I believe that summer has the potential to accelerate aging and other beauty related concerns.  Worse yet, we might not even be aware of what's happening.   Let's discuss the potential downside of summer and how we can avoid it.
Skin
Let's start off with the most obvious.  I'm sure all of us are aware the dangers associated with UV rays.  Pretty much all of the visible signs of aging we see in others is related to the break down of collagen as a result of sun exposure.  As women of color, we do have some natural sun protection in the form of melanin, but that doesn't protect our skin 100%.  When my skin was observed under one of those machines that can see signs of sun damage, I was shocked to learned that I had some trouble areas.   The good news was that the sun damage was only evident near my hairline and around my eyebrows.  This tells me that wearing sunscreen daily was actually making a difference.....I just needed to pay a bit more attention to detail during application.

The worse part about sun damage is that it's occurring the below the surface. It'll take years for the effects to show.  Meanwhile, we act like nothing is happening while making the whole situation worse.  We have to religiously apply sunscreen whether we want to or not.  It's like investing in the future of or skin.  This summer, I'm taking it a step further and applying sunscreen all over whenever my skin is exposed (not just on the the face).  Especially when I'm wearing a cute summer dress.

Simply put, if you aren't putting sun protection as a priority, you are actually contributing to the aging of your skin.

Hair
The other thing we have to worry about this time of year is the health of our hair. There are threats coming from all sides.  First off, the sun hates your hair.  Too much sun exposure is taking away the actual integrity of your strands.  Take necessary action to protect your hair.  You might want to experiment with products that give your hair a little sun protection or those that contain 18-MEA. This is a compound found in the strands that protects it from damage.  Too much sun exposure is robbing your hair's natural lipid (18-MEA).  That's why your hair always feels so dry after a day outside.

On a positive note, our hair is growing faster this time of year, but on the flip side, we could be causing excess damage from UV rays, chlorine from swimming pools, and the like.  Summer provides the perfect recipe for dry hair and I suggest we stay on the offense by making sure we deep condition like crazy, find powerful products that actually impact the cuticle, and keep moisture levels as high as possible.  

Diet
The other pitfall of summer is our diet.  I noticed that last winter, all I ate was bone broth with rice noodles and I sipped on several cups of green tea or bamboo tea throughout the day.  Now, I'm eating burgers & fries while enjoying various tasty mixed drinks.  The amount of sugar and fat I'm consuming is not cool. Summer is all about BBQs, ice cream, and food festivals.  Not only are we at risk for gaining weight, put processing all the sugar and junk food is impacting us at a cellular level.  Junk food is typically harder to process & digest.  Most processed food are void of micronutrients and provide very little benefit to our gut bacteria.  Our gut bacteria is so important and must be protected at all costs!  This time of year we just have to be a little more mindful of what we're eating so we can balance it with nutritious, nourishing foods as well.

Dehydration
The last, and maybe not most obvious, danger of this season is dehydration.  Never mind the fact that we're sweating more than ever and need to replenish it with water. Keep in mind that we're more active and require more water on that fact alone.  Let me remind you of yet another reason why we should up our water intake this time of year.

The other day, my AC went out.  It's an older system so it was time to finally get it replaced.  The sales guy talked me through my available options.  As he walked through the features of newer units, he boasted of how they would remove humidity from the air making it a more comfortable environment.  In my mind I was like "hold up!"  The last thing I want is drier air circulating throughout the house.  I told the guy that I sleep with two humidifiers and wouldn't want an AC to rob me of valuable moisture.  He understood where I was coming from and showed me options that didn't have the special "anti-humidity" feature.

Even if you aren't outside sweating, your AC unit could be robbing your skin & hair of additional moisture.  Remember that.  It's the silent enemy that most of us aren't aware of.  Everything I talked about aren't concerns that create immediate consequences, but they are impacting us little by little.  So let's start practicing habits that reduce the possible damage that can occur this summer.



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Unbreakeable Hair? The Protein Treatment That Beats Pure Protein

Contents: Errr…What? The Streets Are Talking How Does It Work? The Process Comparison To Similar Protein Treatments Recommendations Conclusion It has been scientifically proven that hair is made of protein. It is responsible for the structure, density, texture and curl pattern. That’s why we usually turn to protein if we feel that our strands are […]

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Self Care with Soultanicals Day 7: Reflections & Redirections

Do you see the SunKissed GLOW on that leg?! Photo Credit: Samuel

If there's nothing else I learned from 7 Days of Self Care with Soultanicals, it's that you never know what you need until you need it. Spending 7 days exercising self-care has been nothing short of powerful.

I woke up on day 7 feeling a sense of energy, clarity, and direction that seemed wane in recent months. I immediately felt the need to harness this opportunity and chart my course for the rest of 2017.

There was only one problem - I couldn't for the life of me find my goal journal. I turned my office upside down looking for that thing, and came up empty handed.

Not one to be deterred, I went to my favorite place to think - the shower (anybody else a shower thinker like me?) Craving something to match my upbeat mood - Soultanicals Skinny Dippin' Mango Trippin' Organic Sippin' Body Juice and SunKissed Melanin Mist were calling my name.

Yes - Ayo has finally brought skincare products back into the mix!

While in the shower, I thought, and thought, and thought about where that journal could be. It wasn't on my newly de-cluttered desk. Not on my book-turnt-product shelf, either. It wasn't hiding in that extra drawer Black folks just seem to have with everything from pens and pepper packets to twine and telephone cords, and I checked every closet, work, and gym bag. I knew exactly where my Class of 2008 UCLA Afrikan Grad stoll was, but couldn't find the journal I wrote my goals in from January.

I was in too good of a mood to stress it, so I let Skinny Dippin' take me away (#nocalgon) while I came up with a new game plan.

Then it hit me - use your iPad, silly!

I spritzed myself down with SunKissed Melanin Mist, got dressed, and sat down with my iPad notes to chart out some new goals.

Shower game tight all summer 17!

Skinny Dippin' Mango Trippin' Organic Sippin' Body Juice

What it is
An organic, vegan, body wash bursting with skin-loving oils and tropical realness. Loaded with organic coconut, olive, hemp, jojoba, shea, and aloe, this cleanser leaves skin feeling soft and supple instead of dried out.

And it smells heavenly.

How I used it
Skinny Dippin' is a body wash (and a good one at that), so I definitely lathered it all over myself. But what I also discovered is that it makes a kick-butt shaving soap - especially for sensitive skin. Skinny Dippin' left my skin soft, smooth, and feeling like I needed to be laid up at somebody's pool.

Key benefits
Crafted with some of the best oils for the skin, Skinny Dippin' gently lathers away the dirt of the day (sorry, I didn't mean for that to rhyme lmao) without stripping skin of essential moisture. I highly recommend it for dry and sensitive skin.

SunKissed Melanin Mist

What it is
A vegan, oil-based body spray that produces a natural glow while providing gentle UV protection and intense moisture for the skin.

How I used it
Depending on my mood, I'll either spray SunKissed on while I'm still in the shower and my skin is damp, or on my exposed skin right before I leave the house. Either way is a win - and the fruity, earthy fragrance will definitely have me skipping perfume all summer 17.

Key benefits
Cocoa butter, carrot, moringa, and sunflower oil provide the skin with powerful antioxidants to help prevent free radical damage while softening and moisturizing. SunKissed also gives you a gorgeous, natural glow while out - and can even help you tan a lil' bit. Have you seen my legs? They need all the help they can get. #justkeepingitreal

I wish you could smell these through the picture! Photo Credit: Samuel

On the 7th Day of Self Care with Soultanicals, I decided it was time to make a pivot and start fresh in July. I walked away:

• Understanding that self care is necessary, and should be ongoing.

• Believing there was a reason I couldn't find my old goal journal. It was almost like God was telling me, "don't look back that way. It's time for a new season." He's going to do a new thing (Isaiah 43:19 NIV) - and I'm excited.

• Feeling like July gave me a fresh start. The first half of 2017 was behind me - the second half, is ahead of me. How I finish the year will define how well I spent it, not how I started.

• Wanting to become a finisher. Full transparency moment - I'm great at starting things. I'm really good at picking up the pieces to get moving - I know how to ramp up, build momentum, and taxi off the runway at full speed. My comfort zone is in starting. But I suck at finishing stuff. Half-written e-books and blog posts, unmet fitness goals, and even a few books with pages unturned plague me. That stops here. I'm going to close out the year by closing in on my goals - finishing the things I started. Crossing that threshold into completion. Pray for me, lol.

Have you ever felt the need to start over in the middle of the year?  Let's discuss in the comments below.

Catch up with the entire 7 Days of Self Care with Soultanicals series here!

from The Mane Objective http://ift.tt/2sxVEmL