Youtube Tutorial: Removing Teeth from your Denman Brush

Although I like my Denman-I always felt like I was tearing through my hair even when I had loads of conditioner on it. I happened to find this tutorial on YT from Vivacious1083 that shows you how to remove some of the teeth from your Denman.

Let me say that I'm in love with it now! It's so much simpler and not as "full" as it was before. I really feel like I was using it with way to many teeth and it was grabbing my non-shed hair as well SMH, I can't have that!!

Check out the tutorial below! You can also check out Vivacious1083 over at A Grl Can Mac

Fab Celebrity Style: Kim Kardashian

Honestly, I don't know what her job is either (Tommy from "Martin" comes to mind, LOL) but this chica stays looking fab and I love it! Either way, I can't deny her hustle is a good one might I add so I say stack those chips while the getting is good girl!

As inspiration for my next weave install, I'm thinking of taking on a Kim K. inspired style and getting glammed up for the summer! Here are some of my favorite looks for the style diva!

Images from Kim Kardashian's Offical Site and Celebrity-Gossip.net

Lemon Sugar Facial Scrub

I've been looking for a gentle exfoliating scrub I could use on my face that wouldn't run me over $20. These days all these "natural" products are pretty much hitting my pockets hard so I gotta cut corners with somethings as long as I can find a healthy substitute.

I decided to begin using a lemon sugar facial scrub to help exfoliate my skin while providing some of that wonderful vitamin C lemons have to help smooth and soothe as well. Lemon juice is a natural astringent so it can help tighten and clear pores, as well as help kill harmful surface bacteria. This is exactly what I need!

Some people love to add honey, olive oil, yogurt, etc... but I love to keep it simple and use just fresh lemon juice & sugar. A little goes a long way so have at it! I use 2 teaspoons of sugar and add lemon juice until it's consistency I like.

SIMPLE.AS.THAT.

Apple Cider Vinegar

(ACV) Apple Cider Vinegar  has been a popular product used in natural hair care for years. This a great product used for both hair and body that produces healthy benefits for women and men. A lot of people love to use this product for their hair as a cleanser in place of shampoo or as a rinse at the end of washing their hair. I prefer to use raw, unpasteurized/unfiltered apple cider vinegar as it is has plenty of beneficial nutrients, enzymes, and amino acids. I personally believe that it's better to use the natural form. Here are some benefits and precautions below.

Benefits for Hair

• Removes scaly build-up and residue from hair shafts and closes the cuticles
• Promotes blood circulation in the small capillaries that irrigate the skin
• Vinegar helps restore natural pH  and aides in preventing an itchy scalp
• Rinses have results that leave your hair shinier, smoother and easier to manage
• Can be used to treat dandruff, lice, and hair loss

Precautions:

• Apple cider vinegar has a high acid content and should be diluted properly
• Unpasteurized apple cider vinegar products may contain harmful bacteria or toxins** Read Below
• It is not known if apple cider vinegar is safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding

**I use the brand in the picture above with no problem, however, everyone has different reactions to different products therefore please proceed with caution when trying ANY product. Please make sure that the manufacturer of your apple cider vinegar is trusted and reputable.

As with any product, please research and find out what will work best for you. There are many more precautions out there so take the time to find out if they may apply to you. No advice on any hair board or blog can substitute for advice from a professional health care provider should you have any in depth questions. Although ACV has many benefits, if used incorrectly (like any product), there could be negative consequences.

So, you can get great deals...

if you go to that back corner of the stores and check out the clearance sections.

I found this beauty over in TJ Maxx for $12! I thought the pattern was gorgeous and I'm hoping to incorporate once we get settled in our new place.    

 Isn't this pattern gorgeous?!!!?

FYI: I purchased this item last month way before I started the challenge. I've decided to start posting different topics as we continue on this journey!

My Wish List

Some products I'm hoping to try in the future:

• Trader Joe's Tea Tree Shampoo & Conditioner
• Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner
• Bolthouse Carrot Juice
• Ouidad Detangling Comb
• Steamer

Short and Sweet, huh? :O) I'm still on my no-buy challenge for the rest of March so I haven't given up on myself completely. I believe in order to be successful I've got to stick with it!

If you have a review on any of these products, post it below in the comments!

**The comment form is listed in each individual post for those that don't see it. Just click above link and the comment form will be at end of post!**

So....some changes have been made

I hope you guys love what I've done to the blog! I love to change it up every so often and try something new. I've added my blog to Networked Blogs so be sure to follow along in the box at the bottom of the site.

I'm still working on adding some things on here so please bear with me while I figure things out.

Let me know your thoughts if you have any!

Current Sales at Jasmine's and Shescentit

Just a brief announcement for any of you that don't know about the sale going on over at Jasmine's Bath & Beauty Products and also SheScentIt....they are both having 20% off sales so get over there while the getting is good!

3 Tips to finding a great stylist

How many times do you go on hair boards and blogs and read about a salon visit gone wrong? I mean, be honest, how many times have we read horror stories about a scissor happy stylist that has detangled your natural hair with a rat tail comb without deep conditioning your hair? Okay, I might have stretched out the deep conditioning BUT I have been reading these kinds of stories lately and I want to make sure I put some tips that I used to find my wonderful stylist.

I’ve noticed that a majority of the time [we] clients don’t take the opportunity to research and find a stylist that will help us reach the healthy hair goals we are trying to accomplish. Bad stylists don’t become bad overnight…they usually are already at or way past that stage! So take the time out to find a great stylist that will give you the healthy hair and look that you’re going for…trust me-IT’S WORTH YOUR TIME :O)


Tip # 1
Let Google Be Your Friend

I found my current stylist on Myspace. Yes, on Myspace! This goes to show that by doing a little bit of searching and twitter stalking…err ummm “following” you can get to the info you need! I will say two of the easiest places to start are Twitter and Facebook.

Oh, and if a stylist you’ve heard of can’t be found ANYWHERE online…don’t even bother. It’s 2010 and internet marketing is a business owner’s best friend. An up-to-date stylist should have a webpage somewhere with updated pictures of their work and current contact info. I don’t know about you all but I’m big on easy access to pictures and if I’ve only got your email or a phone number…I’m not going to waste my time.

Remember, negative reviews can also be found online and that’s definitely a red alert so take heed and proceed with caution! Personal reviews can be a client out for revenge or a true horror story. You be the judge!

Upcoming Projects

I have been slaving away ya'll!!! Really, I have been doing sooooo much research and articles for the blog. I'm trying to gather up more valuable info and organize it in a way that will allow people to come here and find what they are looking for without having to go through millions of tags and posts! (We all know how that is *rolls eyes*) LOL!

Okay, so I've been working on different topics such as oils, homemade products, reviews, scalp problems, etc.... so much stuff to finish up. I'm wrapping up a few of the posts tonight and will be resuming a more "regular" schedule. (I know, I know...I'm trying!!!!) I'm going to be doing 2 posts a day- a morning post and a late afternoon post. Will that work? :OP

I'm going to be adding a few things to the blog as well as taking some things away. I want to make this more user-friendly and share my thoughts on hair care with the world (or all my fellow hair sistas :O)

I'm really excited to get back into blogging and although it's hard work...I love to do it and hopefully you guys will love the changes!

Stay Lovely!

Financial Fitness: No Buy Challenge for March

So, I've been buying up stuff left and right...and guess what. I'm officially putting myself on a no-buy challenge.

That's right....the only things I can buy will be necessities...I repeat, NECESSITIES!! I've got so many products right now that I'll be doing product reviews for the next couple of weeks. I really shouldn't be proud to say that. I'm actually resisting the urge to purchase some unrefined shea butter right now...LOL.

Anyhow, the purpose of this challenge is to curve my spending habits. I'll keep an update on here....probably every week to update whether I was successful or not for the week. Since this is my first time doing this I'm going to start slow and ease my way into stopping impulse purchases. I must say that I've honest done a great job so far!