Hey guys! I've been meaning to bring a new series onto the blog for awhile where I share my photos of the week with you. Just a nice little recap! I'm in my third? Or fourth week of classes now. :)
My flexi rod set on dry hair came out nicely. And you've gotta love a red lip.
Pampering my hair with Nubian Heritage products and my eyes with these cool Leaders mask things.
Michael and I went into Charlotte for the day to do job search stuff and go shopping. <3
It's snowed where I live which is rare!
My new robe from Amazon.💜
Nails! Essie going incognito for the green and an identifiable bronze by wet n wild.
Lots of studying of Arabic vocabulary. :P
My makeup for my new empties video. Red lips + winged eyeliner.
My new glasses! Something new...
Some Cinnapie on Super Bowl Sunday. Mmm!
Whew! What a packed week, but it was lots of fun. Hope everyone's weeks are off to a good start.
Hello curlies! Today I am going to share a bit about my hair growth experience with y'all. I recently reached hip length hair when stretched and I am very happy about that. I'll bring you guys through my length journey (in photos) in this post. And if you want to know I grew out my hair this long, makes sure to watch my "Tips on Growing Long Hair Fast" video that's out on YouTube.
Ok. Let's start at sort of the beginning. So very early in YouTube career, and about five years ago I cut off my hair for the second time and went for a shoulder length bob. This was actually my second time doing this, as I did it a long time ago when I first started to follow the Curly Girl method (first photo).
2007 - note my ridiculous glasses
5/2009
5/2009 - this bob is so cute. it was cut by Kim who works at an Aveda salon in Lexington, KY.
Flash forward seven months and my hair has already grown to a few inches below my shoulders. I know- I'm sorry. My hair grows like a weed, y'all. XD I guess you could call this the beginning of my journey to hip length hair, but I really wasn't too focused on length then. I was just making hair videos and having fun with my hair.
12/2009
There are a lot of haircuts between the end of 2009 and when I really started to focus on growing out my hair to a long length. Exhibit A is below. These cuts did not help me grow my hair longer, but just held me back, because although I love this stylist, she always chopped off several inches.
2010 - After a DevaCut by April Couse Walker at Salon Sabeli (Cornelius, NC)
At the beginning of 2011 I started to get serious about growing out my hair and I made my first length check video. I was really excited and my goals were to grow it as long as possible.
1/2011 - when I started my length check videos
Later in 2012 I posted another length check and I learned how to self trim my hair. But then towards the end of the year I got another DevaCut. And *surprise surprise* I was set back again on my length journey. I was positive about the cut, and I stated in a video I made at that time that I wasn't concerned with length too much. But something in my head had unconsciously clicked. Although my hair was growing and it was healthy, my stylist continued to take 3-4 inches off every visit. So I knew... I can't get my hair professionally cut and expect it to grow.
spring 2012
one of my first self trims - summer 2012
another great DevaCut by April - winter 2012
So after that cut in late 2012, I stopped going to the salon. I relied on my self-trimming skills which I learned from the Curly Girl book. And lo and behold my hair grew at its usual weed like speed! Somewhere in 2012 I hit waist length, which was awesome. And then in 2013 I hit hip length. It only took me about a year and a half to go from bra-strap length to hips (when stretched)! But as you, dear blog reader, know I started this journey four years ago by cutting all my hair off, which I had already done two years before that. So it's time again, once the warm weather rolls around, for a short cut. This is the cycle of my hair. So don't be too sad about it. :)
winter 2012 - freshly henna'd hair
summer 2013
nearly hip length?? - september 2013
september 2013
december 2013
december 2013 - hips
december 2013 - hips!
As a blog or YouTube follower, thank you for coming along on this journey with me so far. I wish y'all the best of luck on your hair journeys. And remember hair is just hair. Any length of wavy, curly, or kinky hair can be beautiful with the proper care. You just have to learn to love YOUR hair. <3
Hey guys! Today I am venturing away from the hair stuff, and reviewing some new Revlon lippies for y'all. These are new as of the fall and seem to be a permanent edition to Revlon's lip products. Here's some swatches, and check out the video review at the end of the post! :)
*this just doesn't apply super opaque when compared to standout... not just me being lazy lol! :)
Hey curlies! So I am soon going to post a vlog and haul from the Natural Star Expo that I attended in Charlotte, but I also wanted to type out some of my thoughts on the event here. I didn't want to add all this to the vlog because 1) I lost the cord to my mike for voice overs and 2) the vlog was already long anyways! :)
lil ol me
So this was the first year that this event occurred. I was fortunate enough to meet the founder of the event when my friend and myself were just walking around, and she was super nice! Overall I had fun networking- I met lots of people at the event and I need to bring business cards if I go to another one of these.
my friend Tyler
The event ran from the morning into the afternoon, but my friend and I arrived about noon. The event was very organized; we were handed a schedule when we arrived. The venue was gorgeous and so was the set up for the event, which you can see more of in the vlog. There were lots of stands from what seemed like local vendors and small businesses with a handful "bigger names" mixed in. For that reason I didn't go crazy and buy a bunch of products, since I hadn't heard of any before.
During the event there was always a supplementary activity going on besides the general shopping. While I was there there was a singer, keynote speaker, a makeup demo, and a natural hair lesson. I went to "Natural Hair 101." I wont say much, but let's just say the stylist arrived kind of late. She had some good stuff to say, but I wish she had focused less on heat styles and "taming natural hair" as she put it. She did show some interesting styles for type 4 hair with pipe cleaners and popsicle sticks. Also I was probably just bored because it was "Natural Hair 101"; I'd love to see a hairstylist do a lesson on a more advanced topic.
As a side note, I found myself to be one of a handful of other Caucasian women at the expo. Now this doesn't bother me, but it makes me think about what the phrase "natural hair" means. Because for me personally, I think that includes all women that wear their hair without using heat or chemicals to change the hair texture.
So should companies in the natural hair market try to appeal to a broader spectrum of not just type 4 girls (kinky coily), but also type 3 and 2 (curly and wavy)? Are they losing business or should they stay in more of a niche market? I started this debate with a few online friends of mine, and we came to the conclusion that companies should be more inclusive in advertising to other races and hair textures. But also the consumers would have to make this change too, by creating their own meetups appealing to a wider range of women, contacting the companies, etc. What do you think? Let me know down below in the comments.
Overall this was a really fun event and if I'm in the Charlotte area and this happens again I will definitely go back. I feel like Charlotte deserves an expo or a convention with more "big" name vendors though, since it definitely has the population for that event to be successful. And I would love to see a hairstylist like April Couse Walker or Joy from JoyfullyCurly.com, who have a different approach to natural hair, at the expo.
Sarah @:-)
*Photos in this post were taken by my friend Tyler (@color_character on instagram).
Hey curlies! Today I am posting what may be my first ever hair product review (as a blog post). Let me know if you like these as an addendum/companion to my video reviews. Anyways let's get cracking.
**Disclaimer: Product results may vary on your own unique coils, waves, or curls depending on your hair density, porosity, and thickness! YMMV.**
As I Am Leave In
Claim: "A great leave-in is a vital first step in styling. Smooth it on after
cleansing and conditioning. Your finished style will be softer shinier
and more manageable.
This natural wonder keeps tangles away and provides a great foundation
for natural styling. It contains an organic strengthening agent, plus
natural ingredients that promote hair growth."
Sarah's thoughts: This is a wonderful water-based leave in conditioner that is very similar to my favorite Kinky Curly Knot Today (KCKT) leave in (for a few bucks cheaper). It smells great- sweet and citrusy- and the ingredients are pretty natural and very moisturizing. This leave in leaves my hair soft and moisturized throughout the day. The consistency is between thick and thin- again similar to KCKT. Love it! This has become my new go-to leave in.
As I Am Hydration Elation Intensive Conditioner
Claim: "A rich, penetrating conditioner, As I Am Hydration Elation Intensive
Conditioner is an exceptional blend of hair softeners and fortifiers,
including coconut, sugar cane, green tea, apple and lemon, shea butter
and vitamin E.
Moisturizes deep within the hair shaft
Smooths and aligns cuticle layer
Repairs split ends and strengthens weak areas
Promotes shine
Infused with pure herbal ingredients that stimulate the scalp and hair roots
Sarah's thoughts: This deep conditioner (DC) was just OK. I used it two times, and while maybe my hair would have gotten more of the benefits over time, the product doesn't seem to live up to its claims. My hair felt softer, but it did not feel amazingly softer or super moisturized once I rinsed the treatment out. (For reference, I love Curl Junkie Curl Rehab Conditioner for to give me that amazingly refreshed and soft hair.) Since it's protein free, I'm not sure how it's supposed to "strengthen weak areas" either. This is not a DC that can double as a detangling/rinse out conditioner; it did not aid with detangling, which is something I personally look for in DCs. The product does smell amazing and it has a thick texture that distributes well in the hair. I will use up this product, but will probably not repurchase, especially at this price point.
References - photos, ingredients, and product descriptions from NaturallyCurly.com
Hello twirlies! Awhile ago on here I posted an explanation of dew points. However, I don't actually follow the standard guidelines that I summarized in that post; I more so made the video because someone requested it. So today I will share with you what I do with my curly hair when the colder weather comes. I live in North Carolina which does get slightly less humid in the colder months, but not terribly so so keep that in mind.
My winter curly hair routine includes:
Moisturizing my hair more! I find that my hair gets dryer in these months, whether it's from the low temperatures, in door heating, or dryer air. One way I like to combat this is by doing deep treatments. I like Curl Junkie Curl Rehab or As I Am Elation Hydration Conditioner. I like to always deep condition with heat, so I use my Hair Therapy Heat Cap.
In the shower I need a super mositurizing day to day conditioner to keep my hair strong and moisturized. For me that's Sally's Beauty Supply Generic Matrix Bioalge Conditioning Balm.
I use more moisture when styling my hair. I generally use way more leave in conditioner. My favorites include Kinky Curly Knot Today and As I Am Leave in.
I worry about frizz less! Because there is less humidity in the air my hair tends to frizz less; the frizzies are not being pulled outwards looking for moisture, because there is not usually much to look for. So I apply less (maybe a dime sized amount to each side of my hair) or Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper.
Going along with the last bullet, I use gels with less hold. Because it's less humid out, my hair needs less control. Some of the gels I like to use in the colder months include Curl Junkie Pattern Pusha, Aussie Instant Freeze Gel,Pantene Curly Hair Curl Shaping Gel, and Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Gel.
A downside of the decreased humidity is that I often get much looser curls. In order to amp up my curls when I need them looking extra good I will use a curl activator like AG Curl Re:coil and my blowdryer and diffuser (Revlon 1875W).
I love wearing my hair up in slouchy hats in the winter because it's such a great fix for a bad hair day.
I also really enjoy braidouts because 1) it means I don't have to shower on cold mornings and 2) it's a style I can tuck into my hats until it's ready.
A braidout with Karen's Body Beautiful Creme
A braid out with Mahogany Naturals Leave in & Butter
That's all I have to say about my winter hair routine! Please leave your winter tips and products below in the comments.
Hello curlies! So I know a lot of gurus on YouTube have been doing the boyfriend tag for quite awhile, so I finally got around to doing mine. And let's just say that I didn't want to do one of these until I was sure I wouldn't have to take it down later. ;)
I tag anyone else to do this with your significant other. Also check out my vlog channel videos with Mike on my second channel!
Questions:
How did we meet?
How long have we been dating?
How/when did we meet the families?
She sits down to order a drink at a restaurant; what does she get?
What's her favorite cereal?
What was your first impression of her?
What is one special talent she has?
If she is eating a sandwhich was is it?
What type of dressing does she get on her salad?
She's watching TV; what show is on?
Thanks so much for watching girls! Feel free to leave any comments down below. If you would like to see Michael in any other videos let me know. :)
