Review: I Skipped Deep Conditioning on Wash Day Thanks to Femme Noire

I gotta admit, I'm in love with Femme Noire's packaging.

Y'all, I did the unthinkable.

You read that title correctly - I completely skipped deep conditioning on wash day. Nope, I'm not clickbaiting you either. I didn't use a regular, or rinse-out conditioner either. I legit completely skipped the step - and felt zero qualms about it.

Femme Noire is to blame.

Some of you guys may be looking at the photos and thinking, Femme Noire looks real familiar!

It should. Femme Noire is the rebirth of of the curated subscription service Curl Collection, focused on nourishing the hair and scalp with vegan, non-toxic ingredients that truly embrace natural. Femme Noire is a Black and woman-owned business, with a product line that focuses on self-love and confidence for women with coily, kinky, and curly hair.

In addition to inspiring women, Femme Noire is a brand that spreads love by giving back. A portion of profits from products sold are contributed to women's empowerment charities and used to donate clothes, blankets, and beauty products to women's shelters.

Now that's a mission, I can get behind.

Come along and explore the world of Femme Noire with me - and learn why I skipped deep conditioning on wash day!

If you're not big on the details but just want to see products in action, here's the video:



If you want to know the magic behind Femme Noire, keep reading for ingredients and more!

Dirty Curl Cleansing & Conditioning Clay
Cost
$24 for 8oz

Where to Buy
Shop Femme Noire

Active Ingredients

• Moroccan Rhassoul Clay: Also known as Moroccan Red Clay, is naturally found and mined from ancient deposits in the northeastern region of Morocco. Rhassoul clay is mineral rich - high in silica content and also contains significant amounts of magnesium. Rhassoul clay is great for reducing dryness in hair, improving elasticity, removing toxins, and leaving hair with body and bounce.
• Bentonite Clay: Bentonite is a natural clay that forms as a result of aged/weathering volcanic ash and water. Bentonite is incredibly powerful, possessing a negative charge (anionic), making it an ideal clay for cleansing and detoxifying, as it has the ability to remove positively charged (cationic) conditioners and products that can build up on the hair and scalp.
• 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.
• Water
• Vegetable Glycerin: Vegetable-based humectant that draws in moisture to the hair.
• Cocoa Butter: An anti-oxidant rich, nourishing, moisturizing, shine enhancing, and UV protecting emollient known to help reduce damage to hair, soften, and stimulate growth.

Protein Free?
Yes!

Curly Girl Friendly?
Yes!

Definition from jump. 

The Good
I don't know if this is a good or a bad thing - but Dirty Curl looks and smells like a decadent chocolate icing. On more than one occasion, I considered tasting it. But I maintained my dignity, and kept Dirty Curl about the hair. And I'm glad I did. Dirty Curl is by far one of the smoothest clay blends I've ever used, and definitely made for a positive first-time experience with rhassoul clay. Dirty curl was not gritty or drying (far from it!), and made it really easy to work the tangles out from my hair.

The best part about Dirty Curl? I don't know what sorcery or magic Nadja employs, but my hair felt so soft and moisturized after I rinsed out Dirty Curl. The Femme Noire collection of products doesn't have a deep conditioner, and I see why. The moisture, softness, and definition in my curls felt as though I had already deep conditioned, so I went right into styling.

The Bad
My first instinct was that it couldn't possibly be healthy to use rhassoul clay as a regular cleanser without a serious case of the build-ups. After doing some research, and checking out The Natural Haven (my trusted science blog of choice), I realized I was wrong. Rhassoul and bentonite clays are about as effective as co-washing in terms of removing oils and buildup from the hair. Poof to my theory. Lol!

The Bottom Line
Dirty Curl is an excellent co-wash substitute, and does exactly what it says it will do - gently cleansing and leaving behind soft, conditioned strands. I literally could not ask for more. Except for Nadja to get in the business of making desserts.

Knotty Nectar Leave-In Conditioner
Cost
$19 for 8oz

Where to Buy
Shop Femme Noire

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.
• 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.
• Stearalkonium Chloride: Cationic surfactant derived from stearic acid, a fatty acid found in plants. It is an antistatic agent, and positively charged salt that attracts and binds proteins, which are negatively charged. It is found to increase luster and improve the condition of wet or dry hair, often serving to detangle the hair.
• Silk Amino Acids: Building blocks of protein that help repair the cuticle layer of the hair. 
• Vegetable Glycerin: Vegetable-based humectant that draws in moisture to the hair.

Protein Free?

When it comes to amino acids, you gotta make that call. Technically, it's hydrolyzed protein free.

Curly Girl Friendly?

Yes!

Perfect for these hot days of summer coming up!

The Good

More chocolate-inspired heaven. Knotty Nectar is a spray-on leave in with a silky, velvety texture that hydrates the hair, adds moisture and strength, and primes curls for styling. It was the perfect follow-up to Dirty Curl, and really set my curls up to pop. Typically, I'm not impressed with spray-on leave-in conditioners, because I find them to have significantly less moisture than their creamy squeeze bottled counterparts. Clearly, a reoccurring theme with Femme Noire is proving me wrong. Not only is Knotty Nectar silky and babysmoove, it packs tons of moisture and helps keeps the curls untangled. Y'all saw in the video what happened after I sprayed it on my hair in sections - right? Right. Plus, because of its thinner consistency, it plays nicely with so many different curl definers.

The Bad

Not a single thing. The spray nozzle didn't even get clogged up. Lol.

The Bottom Line

If you find that most leave-in conditioners sit on top of your hair or take a while to penetrate, Knotty Nectar is definitely worth a try. I'll for sure be keeping her around for Summer 17!

Sweet Cream Daily Moisturizer

Cost

$24 for 8oz

Where to Buy
Shop Femme Noire

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.
• Coconut Oil: Oil high in saturated fats (which is why when cold, it is solid). One of the few known oils to penetrate the hair shaft and truly moisturize hair. Coconut oil helps to moisturize, seal, and prevent breakage.
• 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.
• Cocoa Butter: An anti-oxidant rich, nourishing, moisturizing, shine enhancing, and UV protecting emollient known to help reduce damage to hair, soften, and stimulate growth.
• Palm Oil: Oil rich in vitamins E, D, K, and beta carotene - all which help boost scalp health and hair growth by nourishing and promoting cell growth. Contains essential nutrients to reduce breakage, shedding, and dry itchy scalp. 
• Vegetable Glycerin: Vegetable-based humectant that draws in moisture to the hair.

Protein Free?
Yes!

Curly Girl Friendly?

Do CG folks use butter creams? Y'all gotta bring me up to speed on this one.

Lightweight, everyday moisture.

The Good

I'ma just say this - butters have a permanent place in my regimen. Especially aloe-based ones. Aloe mixed with butters and oils makes a world of difference for my hair - in softness, moisture, and shine. Aloe-based butters like Sweet Cream Daily Moisturizer work magic on my hair and ends, without weighing it down or making it feel greasy. As you saw in the video, I used Sweet Cream twice in the same day - as a sealant for my leave-in, and again to help break up my gel cast and protect my ends. Hair still wasn't greasy! Total winner in my book.

The Bad

The only bad thing about Sweet Cream Daily Moisturizer is something that's not even Femme Noire's fault. My house gets so hot (no central AC), that things just melt and perpetually stay that way. Coconut oil been liquid since May, and every single hair and body butter I own has literally turned to oil and putty. 

I tried to salvage Sweet Cream for the video by freezing it, but I left it in for too long.It was still workable, but have you ever seen frozen butter? 

Like I said - totally not Femme Noire's fault. Next time I'll just refrigerate 'em.

The Bottom Line

Sweet Cream is a butter that's lighter than shea, but still softens and helps seal moisture in the hair. If you're a LOC, LCO, etc. method follower, then you'll love the shortened version with Knotty Nectar and Sweet Cream. Tons of moisture, shine, and softness with only 2 products.

Scalp game on 100!

Flower Bomb Hair Growth Oil

Cost

$21 for 8oz

Where to Buy
Shop Femme Noire

Active Ingredients

• Olive Oil: Olive Oil is rich in high levels of mono-unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant, which is good for hair growth. Both mono-unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E are good for moisturizing, protecting and nourishing hair. Olive oil makes hair grow stronger and its emollient properties prevent hair loss.
• Coconut Oil: Oil high in saturated fats (which is why when cold, it is solid). One of the few known oils to penetrate the hair shaft and truly moisturize hair. Coconut oil helps to moisturize, seal, and prevent breakage.
• Avocado Oil: mega 3-rich nourishing oil extract that can enhances shine, moisture retention, softness, and elasticity in hair.
• Sweet Almond Oil: Smoothes hair cuticles, promotes hair growth and thickness, boosts shine.
• 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.

Protein Free?

Yes!

Curly Girl Friendly?

I believe so - I see lots of curly girls all over the place using botanical oils.

The Good

First of all - it's SO pretty! I spent extra time on it in the video - did y'all catch them flowers?! I love it when oils are infused with dried petals and herbs. Not only is the infusion potent and long-lasting, but it consistently smells amazing.

Flower Bomb did not disappoint - in fact, I became kinda obsessed with it. Not particularly for hair growth, but really for soothing my scalp on and between wash days.

It's no secret that I have scalp psoriasis. Dryness and flakes can literally appear the day after I wash my hair - the same day in some cases. To keep from having to wash my hair every day, I rely on some oils to help soothe my scalp and ease flaking. Since Flower Bomb landed in my lap, it's been my go-to. I even used it when I had my silk press!

Not to mention, hats off to Nadja for giving me a blend with olive oil that doesn't smell like it. Y'all, I can't stand the smell of olive oil. Flower Bomb is so delicately fragranced, I never would have guessed it contained olive oil. Definitely a favorite of mine from the collection!

The Bad

To be honest, some of you guys may be put off by the price - and I get it. $21 for a floral-infused oil isn't exactly Wal-Mart Rollback prices. But when I did my googles, I discovered that forever-knocking-off-and-perpetually-in-bad-taste Urban Outfitters is selling similar oils in 3.9oz bottles for $28. In context, I'd happily give Femme Noire my money on this one. #perspective

My hair is SO full of moisture and softness! 

The Bottom Line

I can't speak to the hair growth angle, but the soothing properties of Flower Bomb are spot on. It's legit one of the best - if not the best- oil I've ever used on my hair. It's up there with the Be Kekoa Tamanu.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed Femme Noire. The straightforward and effective, minimalist approach to wash day was something different for me - and definitely showed me that with the right stuff, you can skip a few steps.

 Which products from the collection are you interested in trying? Let's chat in the comments below!

from The Mane Objective http://ift.tt/2suN6xe

Study Claims that Fewer Trips to the Gym Can Still Produce Similar Results.

I'm about 12 lbs down from my heaviest weight.  At my height, 12 lbs makes all the difference in the world.  I attribute the weight loss to a change in my eating habits.  While I appreciate being a bit slimmer, I'd prefer to have a bit more muscle tone.  I take full responsibility because I barely visit the gym.  The thought of driving to the gym 3-4 times a week for workout sessions seems so laborious. So I avoid it altogether.

All hope is not lost.  Because I've recently discovered that going to the gym 3 times a week may not be necessary to build muscle.
According to a recent study, fewer visits to the gym could produce similar results to those who worked out numerous times a week.  The participants were separated into two groups.  The first group were labeled The High Frequency Trainers (HFT) while their counterparts were known as The Low Frequency Trainers (LFT).

Team High Frequency trained each muscle group 3 times a week, completing 3 sets per muscle group. The breakdown of their workout looked something like this:

Day 1) pectoralis, deltoids, and triceps
Day 2) upper back and biceps
Day 3) quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, and abdominals.

The Low Frequency folks trained only 1X a week. Basically, they completed all 9 sets of exercises in one session.  Essentially, both groups completed the same amount of work per week.

The duration of the study was 8 weeks.  At the end of the 8 week period, researchers assessed the participants based on any lean muscle gained during the trial.   The study was 8 weeks long because researchers determined that 8 weeks is the average amount of time it takes for muscle to develop.

At the end of 8 weeks, the results were clear and very promising!

Both the HFT and LFT experienced similar changes in lean muscle mass and improvements!  I dunno about you but this excites me so much.  Basically, we can enjoy the same muscle stimulating benefits with less frequent sessions as long as we're getting in enough reps per session.

The down side to this is that the low frequency group worked harder per session because they had to exercise their entire body in one workout.  That's the drawback, but if could save you a bit of time, it might be worth it.  Don't get me wrong, I do think there are  benefits of more frequent workouts. Being in the gym multiple times a week puts you in an environment where you're surrounded by other fit people.  This could have a positive effect on you subconsciously.  It may also give you motivation to eat healthier versus if you're a 1X a week gym goer.  With all that said, it's still nice to know that a full body workout just once a week can make a real impact.

I'm very optimistic after reading this article.  I'm one of those people that's really sporadic with my workouts.  Sometimes I go to the gym, have a great session, but don't get the chance to visit again that week.   I feel like that one workout wasn't enough which discourages me from going back for a while.  Now, I can remain confident in knowing that I should stay consistent for the long haul because the results will still come.

Check more details about the study here.

from BELLEMOCHA.com http://ift.tt/2tgX9Zj

Self Care with Soultanicals Day 6: Detoxing from Social Media

It's Bailey's first appearance on the blog! Yes, she has an IG - @baileythesheprador lol 

I know this post is a lil' late - and I'm sorry. The words that follow are brutally honest, and I sat on them for a few days to make 100% sure that I was comfortable sharing my innermost thoughts.

Here they go.

I put my first post on Instagram in 2012 - a few months after I re-launched my blog as The Mane Objective (formerly Kinky Crown). It was a simpler time back then - blogs were poppin', YouTube hadn't become the absolute monster it is today yet, and Instagram was all about sharing everyday experiences in real-time. There was no such thing as an "Instagram Influencer", photos were confined to 612x612 squares, and the Valencia filter reigned supreme.

And Snapchat wasn't even a twinkle in Evan Spiegel's eye yet.

When I opened the box of goodies from Soultanicals for this 7 Days of Self Care series, one label stood out immediately - Curl Blaze Hair Glaze. Talk about a trip straight down memory lane.

I first experienced Soultanicals in 2013, while still transitioning. Ayo was one of the first business owners happy to work with me as I built my blog and launched the series spotlighting Black owned natural hair businesses. Curl Blaze Hair Glaze was one of the first Soultanicals products I tried - and I've been a loyal customer and supporter since then.

Over the years that The Mane Objective brand (saying that feels so weird) has grown, I've been blessed to cultivate relationships with some amazing folks online and in real life. I'm grateful for every single reader, follower, and subscriber - because you all allow me to occupy visual real-estate in your life. In turn, I do my best to respond to every comment (sometimes it's hard to keep up and if I didn't answer a question you asked - I'm sorry and I promise it's not personal) and inquiry. In turn, I consistently push myself to churn out creative, unique, and useful quality content that is both educational and informative. 

And my promise is always to keep it 100% real. That's why I have to get this off my chest - being a blogger can be emotionally draining. 

Before you click that X in the upper right corner, hear me out. I'm not one of those "influencers" who lives on sponsored content and ad revenue alone. I work a full-time job, and would never give it up to blog for a living. I'm not cut from that cloth.

But if I can keep it 137% real, I've had my fair share of frustrating moments with the blogosphere. Over the years, I've had my words stolen, watermarks cropped from images I've taken and re-used, and plenty of folks with bigger audiences boost my ideas and re-create them as their own (without so much as a mention or credit). Most influencers claim the source of their woes is the people that follow them, ask questions that were answered in the caption or description box, or that come on their pages/channels starting drama and spreading chisme.

See, my issue isn't with you guys. Even if you ask a question I answered, I'm happy to answer it I again - because sometimes I'm long-winded and unclear, and sometimes humor is lost when read and not heard. I've been blessed with the best community ever - there's like, never any negativity on my blog or social media. Even on YouTube it's rare - which is no easy feat. And for that, I love y'all. You guys are dope.

My issue, my axe to grind, is with my fellow "content creators", and the brands that enable them. Creativity, honesty, and authenticity have become lost art forms on social media. Everyone is rinse and repeating what someone else has already done - and not even trying to hide it. Blogging/Vlogging/Instagram Influencing is now a system that rewards solely based on aesthetics. Content creators are going off the deep end, staging photoshoots for what should be intimate experiences. Taking 100 photos to get 1 that looks "candid" instead of actually living in the moment. Living to give the appearance of 24-7 slayage, and taking weekend excursions for photo ops instead of creating memories.

I'm caught somewhere between "I refuse to participate in the foolishness" and "gotta play the game to keep up" - and it's emotionally exhausting. I've put blood, sweat, and even some tears into The Mane Objective, and I want my blog to be recognized by brands and treated with the respect I believe it deserves. But it's hard to score in a game when you don't agree with the rules.

I've gotten plenty of no's and denials from brands - especially those that claim they didn't have the budget to work with me - only for me to turn around and see they've decided to pursue 5 popular Instagram influencers instead. I've been turned down for mainstream campaigns because I don't have enough Instagram followers - even though my blog is SEO gold. And don't even get me started on the limitations of not having a whole bunch of pretty pictures of myself in cool outfits against dope city and tropical backdrops, or not spending my days with my face contoured and highlighted to the gawds.

But that's another story.

I say all this to say, it gets hard to keep going sometimes. I spend a lot of time feeling like I'm behind the curve, because I refuse to turn my entire life into a series of pretty photos instead of actually living it. It almost feels like I'm not cut out to be an influencer in 2017.

As I walked down memory lane with Curl Blaze Hair Glaze throwing myself a personal pity party, I hit a realization - I've been running The Mane Objective blog and social media for over 5 years, virtually nonstop. I've taken mini-breaks (like 2 or 3 weeks tops) from blogging, and gone a few days here and there without posting on social media. And then it hit me - I've never really unplugged and stepped away.

Not to invalidate my own feelings, but perhaps I was in too deep? Could it be that the culture of blogging - and consistently taking it in - was skewing my perception of reality? Maybe it was time to step back and divert my energy elsewhere.

So on day 6, probably my most-needed day of self care, I totally unplugged. No Instagram, no Facebook, no blogging, no Snapchat, no nothing. I spent my time cooking, focusing totally on my workout, spending time with Bailey, reading the Bible and my devotionals, catching up on Adam Ruins Everything, and being present in my relationship.

And it felt great.

Not a bunch of pretty pictures to show here - because I even pulled myself from behind and in front of the camera lens. #sorrynotsorry #selfcarehasacost

Back in the day, this used to come in a jar. The pump is much more effective, lol.

Curl Blaze Hair Glaze

What it is
Curl Blaze Hair Glaze is a botanically-based curl defining gel. It's lightweight but has a solid medium hold. It's the perfect curl definer for transitioners who are confidently in the wash & go stage, or for full-blown naturalistas who prefer bigger hair on day 1.

How I used it
Because I was detoxing from all things blog related, I chose not to spend a bunch of time on my hair I co-washed, did a quick condition, scrunched a little Marula-Melon Moisture Guru into my hair, and raked Curl Blaze Hair Glaze through my hair. No rake & shake, no praying hands, no Felicia Leatherwood Detangler Brush method, nothing. Just rake, and keep it moving.

Key benefits
Thanks to Blue Malva and Marshmallow Root, Curl Blaze Hair Glaze has tons of slip and adds crazy moisture and shine to the hair. Aloe vera pH balances the hair, while honey, coconut oil, and glycerin hydrate, soften, and thoroughly nourish the hair from root to end.

Day 6 helped me SO much y'all. And while I'm a work in progress, spending a full day completely detached put me on the right path. On Day 6 of 7 Days of Self Care with Soultanicals, I walked away understanding:

• That unplugging from social media is something I need to do regularly. Probably monthly, if I'm honest about it. I thought I would be immune from the pressures of social media, but I'm impressionable just like everyone else. Admitting that alone has been incredibly helpful.

• That I need to actively work toward finding balance between social media and real life.

• That things about blogging are going to get under my skin. The game is cutthroat, but I don't have to be. I need to remain grounded in my integrity, stay true to who I am, and always remember why I started.

• It's so important to be present. I didn't realize how much I'm always on my phone - even absentmindedly - until I couldn't go on social media. I'm now making an effort to be totally present and give my full attention to the things and people that matter.

How has the presence of social media impacted your life? 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/2sJy9X6

How to Slay Your Silk Press on Natural Hair at Home with the Design Essentials Agave + Lavender Collection

I feel like I channeled my inner ATL Silk Press Master for this one, lol.

I've been mentally preparing for this for at least a month.

The last time I did a blowout on my hair was over 6 months ago, in early December. And my hair ain't seen a flat iron since October of 2015. Back in my transitioning days, I used to flat iron my hair every 3-6 months for a length check and trim. But after I discovered the glory of the wash & go, those straightening sessions became a lot less frequent.

I knew I was long overdue for a straightening when I found myself obsessed with silk pressing videos and blog posts. I was almost convinced that I'd be able to do a professional straightening job at home. And once I learned about the new Design Essentials Natural Agave & Lavender Blow-Dry & Silk Press Collection, I knew it was meant to be.

Available EXCLUSIVELY at Sally's. If you see it somewhere else, issa bootleg.

The collection is brand new and available only at Sally's (aka my 2nd home). It features 4 products that are perfect for the naturalista who'd rather DIY than visit a salon. The collection includes 4 steps designed to provide moisture, strength and protection from heat damage:

• Moisturizing Hair Bath
• Moisturizing & Detangling Conditioner
• Blow-Dry & Styling Primer
• Thermal Protectant Creme

I was so excited to use not only a cohesive collection for my hair, but by a Black-owned company, no less! Did you know that Design Essentials was a BOB? Yasssss! #support

Come along with me as I break down the 411 on each product in the collection, and share how I used each product to create this bangin' blowout and silk press on my natural hair.

Moisturizing Hair Bath

Cost

$11.99

Where to Buy

Exclusively in Sally Beauty stores and online.

Active Ingredients

• Water
• Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate: Water soluble, coconut derived surfactant. Is known to be incredibly mild, and one of the safest on the market.
• Cocamidopropyl Betaine: Coconut oil-derived detergent, anti-static, and hair conditioning agent.
• Sodium Methyl Oleyol Taurate: Mild surfactant and foaming agent derived of the sodium salt of coconut fatty acid.
• Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate: Salt surfactant derived from the fatty acid of coconut oil.
• Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate: Gentle cleanser used to increase the viscosity (thickness) in a surfactant mix, and provide lather.

What it is

The Agave & Lavender Moisturizing Hair Bath is a sulfate-free shampoo designed to hydrate the hair and scalp while gently cleansing and improving the overall look and feel. It conditions and softens by smoothing the cuticle and removes dirt, oil, product buildup, and other debris from the hair and scalp while replenishing moisture. 

How I used it
Following my pre-shampoo detangling session, I shampooed twice with the Agave & Lavender Moisturizing Hair Bath. When using direct heat on my hair, I always shampoo a minimum of two times. Hair with any old dirt or product buildup can actually singe, burn, and cause heat damage. I was also able to keep my hair from tangling back up, thanks to the slip in the Moisturizing Hair Bath.

My thoughts
The shampoo has a very delicate, high-end salon fragrance that's lightly floral with a hint of sweetness. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's addicting and I love it. To be honest, the Moisturizing Hair Bath is easily my favorite product in the Agave & Lavender collection. It's super moisturizing, yet cleans the hair and scalp thoroughly. You guys know I have scalp psoriasis, and I found that after 2 thorough shampoos with the Moisturizing Hair Bath, my scalp was flake-free - even in the days after straightening (which is no easy feat for those of us with scalp issues). The slip was off the charts for a shampoo - another winner in my book. I definitely plan on using the Moisturizing Hair Bath on GP, as a regular shampoo.

Did you know the first 2 steps in preventing heat damage involve shampoo and conditioner? #issafact

Moisturizing & Detangling Conditioner

Cost

$11.99

Where to Buy

Exclusively in Sally Beauty stores and online.

Active Ingredients

• Water
• Cetyl 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.
• Behentrimonium Chloride: Quaternary ammonium compound and close cousin of cetrimonium chloride. Also penetrates the hair, conditions, and acts as an anti-static and anti-microbial agent.
• Amodimethicone: Silicone-based hair conditioning polymer that becomes water soluble (yes, a water soluble cone!) when accompanied by cetrimonium chloride and trideceth-12. In this case, amodimethicone is water soluble.
• Glycol Stearate: A compound of ethylene glycol and stearic acid, which is a naturally occuring fatty acid with opacifying, emollient, and conditioning properties.
• Glycol Distearate: Fatty acid compound that acts as an emollient and controls viscosity (thickener).

What it is
The Moisturizing & Detangling Conditioner is the 2nd prep step in the collection for blow drying and styling. It's a rinse-out conditioner that's designed to hydrate, strengthen, improve elasticity, and stave off heat damage by boosting internal hydration within the hair. The instructions advise leaving it on for 1-3 minutes following the Moisturizing Hair Bath, but it can also be used as a deep treatment with heat or steam for enhanced benefits.

How I used it
3 minutes of conditioning before heat styling didn't sit well with me, so I applied a generous amount of the Moisturizing & Detangling Conditioner and combed it through my hair to evenly distribute. After my hair was thoroughly coated from root to ends, I put on a plastic cap and sat under my hooded dryer for 30 minutes.

My thoughts
The Moisturizing & Detangling Conditioner carries the same bomb fragrance as the shampoo, and is definitely thicker than the average rinse-out conditioner. It doesn't have a super creamy consistency, but it definitely feels moisturizing. I would have liked a little more slip, but it wasn't difficult to work with by any means. When it comes to applying direct heat to my hair, I'm super picky about which products I use. I always look for conditioners and heat protectants that contain ingredients like cetrimonium chloride (improves tensile strength of hair when it comes into contact with heat), silicones (to protect and delay transfer of heat to the hair), and humectants (to draw moisture to the hair and prevent drying out). The Moisturizing & Detangling Conditioner hits all the marks with cetrimonium chloride, amodimethicone, and agave, respectively.

This duo added so much shine, softness, and moisture to my hair.

Blow-Dry & Styling Primer

Cost

$10.99

Where to Buy

Exclusively in Sally Beauty stores and online.

Active Ingredients

• Water
• Isopropyl Myristate: Emollient and conditioning agent composed of isopropyl alcohol and myristic acid, a common, naturally occurring fatty acid.
• Polysorbate 20: Emulsifier that enables oil and water to mix. It helps product disperse, is a thickener, and stabilizer of essential oils.
• Glycerin: Vegetable-based humectant that draws in moisture to the hair.
• Cetrimonium Chloride: Compound close in composition to Behentrimonium Chloride. In addition to having the same penetrating, conditioning, and anti-static properties, centrimonium chloride has been scientifically proven to strengthen the hair when activated by heat.
• Propylene Glycol: Humectant and conditioning agent.

What it is
The Blow-Dry & Styling Primer is a lightweight blowout spray that primes the hair for blow drying and flat ironing. It provides moisture, softness, and strength while protecting from heat damage. To use, simply shake to activate the product, and spray throughout the hair and comb through for complete coverage. Then, blow dry. The combination of lightweight moisturizers and conditioners make the blow-drying process easier and up to 50% faster. 

How I used it
As directed, after rinsing out the Moisturizing & Detangling Conditioner, I parted my hair into sections to work the Blow Dry & Styling Primer through. I combed each section to make sure I had covered my hair evenly.

The results speak for themselves, yo!

My thoughts
It looks pretty, smells pretty, and works pretty well. When first spraying and combing though my hair, the primer almost seemed too lightweight. But as I applied blow-dry heat section by section, I realized that my hair felt soft, and I couldn't find any breakage on my shoulders or shirt. The no-breakage is a total win in my book and a top concern when blow-drying natural hair. It didn't particularly make my blow-drying time shrink by 50% - but that's because thanks to YouTube, I was convinced that I was a round brush pro (I'm not). I definitely need to go back to the attachment, because ya girl does not know what she's doing there. I'm sure had I used the blow dryer attachment, the experience would have been a breeze.

Themal Protectant Creme

Cost

$9.99

Where to Buy

Exclusively in Sally Beauty stores and online.

Active Ingredients

• Water
• Mineral Oil: Cosmetic-grade petroleum byproduct with excellent moisturizing and thermal protection properties. When applied properly, it is a better moisturizer than silicones and can be washed out of hair easily. When applied to damp hair prior to thermal styling, it helps to protect hair from heat damage.
• Vegetable Oil: Vegetable-based carrier oil blend used to moisturize the hair.
• Oleth-10: Compound used to help reduce surface tension of formulas and get ingredients to dissolve in liquids that normally would not. Oleth-10 helps ingredients better penetrate the hair as well. 
• Isopropyl Myristate: Emollient and conditioning agent composed of isopropyl alcohol and myristic acid, a common, naturally occurring fatty acid.
• 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

The Agave & Lavender Thermal Protectant Creme is exactly that, and step 4 in the collection of products. It's a lightweight creme designed to seal in moisture and provide heat protection and shine. It's formulated for silk pressing medium to coarse textured hair, and provides heat protection up to 420 degrees Fahrenheit.

How I used it
I pumped a bit more than a dime-sized amount of the Thermal Protectant Creme into my hands, and rubbed them together. I distributed the creme throughout my hair, and brushed it through for even coverage. I then separated my hair into sections to prepare for flat ironing.

I'm now a beliver in the Thermal Protectant Creme.

My thoughts
At first, I was super confused by the creme. I swore up and down that I needed to use it before blow-drying and not after, because of the water content. But everything I read said to use it after. So I did - and I was pretty impressed by the results. After applying the creme, I flat ironed my hair in small sections on 410 degrees Fahrenheit. Based on past experiences with my natural hair, I know that 410 is a safe temperature for me to make with two passes to straighten. My first pass was with the flat iron only, and I used the chase method with a fine-tooth comb on the second pass. I noticed instantly that my hair glided through the iron with ease, and zero snagging. No funny snap, crackle & pop sounds, either. Oh, and it smells amazing - just like all the other products.

For the final step in my style, I applied a tiny bit (like, less than pea-sized) of Thermal Protectant Creme to my hair before using my flat iron to add curls. I'm 100% confident that my curls will revert, because I tested all four steps of the collection on a small section of my hair, a few days prior to styling:

Left: Agave & Lavender 4-Step Collection test. Right: Post-wash and heat damage free! 

To see all of my steps and the Agave & Lavender Collection in action, watch my video below:

[EMBED VIDEO]

If you'd rather read along with the video, I've got you covered. Here are the 10 steps I took to silk press and curl my natural hair:

My 10 Steps to Silk Press & Curl Natural Hair

1. Pre-shampoo treatment and detangling with Design Essentials Natural Almond & Avocado Conditioner. This was an important step for me to remove tangles and begin the process of hydrating my hair. Hair that is properly hydrated internally is less susceptible to heat damage.

2. Shampoo twice with the Design Essentials Agave & Lavender Moisturizing Hair Bath. I always shampoo at least twice prior to straightening, to remove buildup that can cause heat damage while keeping my hair moisturized. It seems counter intuitive, but shampoo can moisturize and hydrate the hair!

Talk about a transformation! After shampooing, and before conditioning. Shrinkage is a beast!

3. Deep condition with heat for 30 minutes using the Design Essentials Agave & Lavender Moisturizing & Detangling Conditioner for deeper moisture, better penetration of ingredients, and strengthening of hair to prevent heat damage and improve elasticity.

4. Rinse and towel dry to remove excess water, and then apply Agave & Lavender Blow-Dry & Styling Primer in sections. After spraying each section, I went through with a wide-tooth comb to remove any tangles and distribute product from roots to ends.

5. Blow dry in sections, thoroughly. If you know your way around a round brush, definitely use it to achieve straighter blowout results. But if you can't hang, don't be like me. Just use the attachment and be humble, lol.

My blowout probably would have been straighter if I just used the dang attachment, lol.

6. After hair is completely dry, apply a small (pea to pearl-sized) amount of Agave & Lavender Thermal Protectant Creme to the hair. I rubbed it in my hands first to make the small amount easier to distribute and not go on too heavy in certain sections. After thoroughly applying, I went through with a paddle brush to ensure that product was distributed from roots to ends.

7. Flat iron the hair in small sections. I used two passes on 410 degrees Fahrenheit, but use however many passes and whatever temperature works best for you.

8. Trim the ends of the hair (optional). Not mandatory, but this step is recommended. I always lightly trim my hair when it's straightened, because I can better see the damaged ends. Plus, healthier ends make for a better style.

9. Wrap and set under a hooded dryer. Another step that's not mandatory, but works - especially for more frizz-prone natural hair. I skipped the saran wrap and went straight for the satin scarf, but the result is still the same - enhanced shine, and hair that lays a little smoother.

Shine. Body. Softness. Moisture. #teamnatural #aintnovixensewin

10. Unwrap and curl with flat iron for finished look. I applied a bit more Thermal Protectant Creme, brushed it through, and curled my hair in medium-sized sections. The trick to curling with a flat iron is to start mid-shaft, turning the iron inward, rotating as you pull down to create the curl.

I can't wait to bust out this collection again in another 6 months or so!

That's it! To maintain my hair, I wrap it at night with a paddle brush and secure using a satin scarf.

Will you be giving the Agave & Lavender Blow-Dry and Silk Press Collection from Design Essentials a try? Let me know in the comments below!

Oh and by the way - The Agave & Lavender Collection is on sale at Sally's - Buy 2, Get 1 Free until 7/30/2017! 

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How I built a Six Figure Business without working with Mentor

When I decided to leave corporate America, I set an intention to link up with a mentor that would help guide me through the process.  I envisioned meeting a successful woman who ran a highly profitable business.  She would give me all the advice, motivation and inspiration necessary to carry me through every phase of my business.  I told all of my friends about how badly I wanted a mentor. I wrote it down as a goal.  At networking events, I made my intentions known.  But, in the end, I never found that mentor I was looking for.

Even without the mentor, I still was able to launch a relatively successful business.   Someone once asked me the question of how to find a mentor.  Since I was never able to find one myself, I couldn't really respond.  But after reflecting I realized that we can still gleam the valuable advice from successful people and apply it to your situation to create massive results.
At the start of my journey, I spent most of my time and energy reading or listening to books on success.  They were exactly what I needed at the time.  I took the opportunity to work on my mindset, overcome my fears, build confidence.  But in the end, all that time invested didn't really create any real world results.  Don't get me wrong, I needed to study the fundamental laws of success but it didn't directly impact my financial life.

If you want to launch a venture or build a different type of lifestyle that doesn't involve a 9-5, you need to transition from working solely on your mindset to focusing on skill set.  

How do you know when you're investing too much into mindset based learning?  Take a look at the successful people that you listen too.  How are they primarily making their money?  If they make most of their income from teaching others, chances are that their content is mindset based and will lack the specific advice you need to take actionable steps.  

That's the beauty of working with a mentor. Ideally a mentor has walked down the path that you wish to take.  That allows them to give you clear, specific advice on next moves while helping you avoid blind spots.  Success teachers don't have detailed knowledge of your potential business. They can't help you when you're stuck.  They'll get you excited to launch something new, but can they help you get to six figures or more?

When I quit my job, my goal was to generate six figures in revenue.  The first year out, I nearly reached the multi-six figure mark.  How?  I sought out "mentors" who actually had businesses similar to mine.  Most of them were earning 7 figures.  They shared their strategy and I took action. This happened without me having to engage in a single conversation with them.  Although we didn't speak, I treated their advice as if they were talking to me directly.  Honestly, I didn't do everything they recommended, but taking some action is better than nothing.  And since their advice is so applicable, it really makes an impact.  

Some of these online mentors charge quite a bit for their training.  If you're looking for a low/cost free option, I suggest you head over to Youtube and find people who are where you want to be, and are doing what you want to be doing.  Be advised that some folks will give the appearance like they have made it, when they actually haven't. They just need to make you believe in their success so you can buy their program.  Believe it or not, there are people out there who are giving out advice without trying to get you to buy their program.  Some people are just in a good place in life and are willing to share their wisdom.  

Sometimes, you find someone online who has the lifestyle you want, but they don't talk much about how they built their brand.  My advise for you is become good at studying the behavior of others.  If you pay close enough attention, you can reverse engineer the process they took to produce the results they currently enjoy.  Even if you don't know every step they took, you can still learn a lot simply by paying close attention to what people do.  

Once I got serious about building a business, I veered from typical "success teachers" to people who created built real businesses. Some success teachers started off as entrepreneurs.  But some don't  really talk much about what created their early success.  John Asaaraf, for instance, is known for his appearance in the movie The Secret.  He does a ton of mindset coaching.  But most people don't know that his path to financial freedom started off in real estate. He made a small fortune in his late teens by putting in a ton of MASSIVE ACTION that others weren't willing to do.  Making 100 sales calls a day before noon doesn't sound as sexy as the mindset stuff so you don't hear much about it.

Another thing I look for in "mentors" is who they seek for advice.  Every once in a while, someone I'm following will share that they are receiving coaching from X person.  I'll immediately do a Google search to study their path to success.  I'd like to scale my current results, so I've been seeking out inspiration entrepreneurs who far surpassed my current results.  One thing I've noticed from my 7 figure mentors is that they are always scaling their actions.  They aren't afraid to spend money to have access to the kind of results they now enjoy.  They also work closely with real mentors or they are a part of a group of other successful entrepreneurs (a mastermind group).

Last weekend, I went to a women's business conference. On the panel was a woman who also had an online store.  During her talk she mentioned earning around $500k last year in sales.  When I heard that, my ears perked up and I made a mental note to talk to her one-on-one after the session.  Once the talk was over a group of us formed a line so we can ask the speakers a question.  I observed the people in line in front of me. Most of them were talking about their own businesses and would offer a card to the speaker.  I took a different approach.  It was my opportunity to talk to a "mentor." After briefly introducing myself and thanking her for the talk, I told her that I had a business online and wanted to scale to her levels.  Then asked for the one thing she did that created her current results.

Her response was short and to the point.  She encouraged me to get very focused and intentional with my marketing efforts because that would be the one factor that will give the results I desire.  Once she answered my question, I asked if she offered any mentorship or 1-on-1 coaching.  She informed me that she didn't.  In the end, I'm still without a mentor. But that piece of advice she gave me was invaluable. Although it's not new information, the fact that she clearly told me to focus solely on that was what I needed to hear.  If I put her words to practice, I'm sure I'll be in a different place a year from now.

To sum everything up, if you really, really want to create a different path for your life, seek out and learn from mentors who can help you, even from afar.  Apply as much advice as you can as quickly as you can.  Look for people who have already achieved what you want. That's the easiest way to get to where you want to be in the fastest time possible.  

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Natural Hair Blogger Meechy Monroe Loses Her Battle With Brain Cancer At Age 32

We wrote about Meechy a while back as she battled a rare form of brain cancer here and here so I won’t rehash all that. The popular blogger and YouTuber who’s signature style was the ‘Meechy twist out’ finally lost her battle with cancer on the 27th of June and died at age 32. She […]

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Hair Reverting Too Quickly? Here Are 10 Top Anti-Reversion Products

Ever thought about how annoyingly inaccurate the term wash and go is? Maybe for some, it is literally just that; wash your hair and be on your way. Yet for many of us, the process is more like, wash, detangle, apply gel, shingle for 2 hours or until you lose the will to live, dry […]

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