I love the ease of styling my hair when it's blown out or stretched. Watch this tutorial to see how I achieve a top knot half up half down on natural hair. 

Watch to see how I minimize shedding, knots, and breakage using the Tangle Teezer Brush after removing faux goddess locs I had installed for 5 weeks. 

If you've seen any of my prior hair videos, I've either used a Denman brush or a wide tooth comb to detangle my hair. The downside to using these tools is that I experienced a lot of shedding. What makes the Tangle Teezer brush unique is that the  bristles are soft and flexible, which allows the brush to glide through your hair instead of ripping through your coils. Here's a list of the things I'd recommend having on hand when detangling your natural hair:

•  Conditioner (I like to use Aussie Moist Conditioner)
• Hair Shears (for your natural hair only)
• Scissors (for your hair extensions only)
• Tangle Teezer Brush

Until next time, stay beYOUtiful, keep life sweet, & never stop feeding your soul. -xo

Marley twists are one of my favorite protective hairstyles for the fall/winter. They're super low maintenance, but there are a few things I like to do to keep them feeling fresh and brand new even at week 5. Here's this week's sorta kinda not really #60SecondHairHack:

Apply Castor Oil Every 3-5 Days
Castor oil will keep your scalp moisturized, promote hair growth, and prevent product build up. Be sure to get a thick, good-quality oil. I love using Shea Moisture 100% Pure Jamaican Black Castor Oil. It doesn't smell great, but it's the real deal and it's under $10. 

To put things in perspective, I've tried using Cantu Cleanse Root Relief to keep my scalp moisturized and I regretted it. I did experience relief for about a day, but the product built up in my scalp and made my hair look dirty. It was a complete no. By using castor oil, I haven't had any issues with itching or product build up. My scalp actually absorbs it and feels nourished. 

Apply Mousse As Desired
I apply mousse about every 2 weeks. It's by no means necessary but it does keep your braids smelling fresh and adds shine. I use Cantu Wave Whip Curling Mousse.

Edge Control
This is just a beauty must of our time. When it comes to edges, slay and lay them. It always create a polished look. I use Eco Style Gel. I'd love to know what other edge control products you use that create a nice hold without damaging your hair. 

Wishing you and yours a magnificent Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter, and great food. Stay BeYOUtiful, keep life sweet, and never stop feeding your soul. -xo

As always, beYOUtiful, keep life sweet, & never stop feeding your soul. -xo

Are you struggling with keeping your hair moisturized? Do you feel like nothing truly keeps your hair from being dry? I know I surely have! To my surprise, I've finally found a product that helps with this reoccurring issue. Watch this quick review on the NaturAll Club Fresh Avocado Deep Conditioner - Dry Hair Solution to see how this product left my hair feeling like silk!

NaturAll Club: https://naturallclub.com

​Fresh Avocado Deep Conditioner Bundle: https://naturallclub.com/collections/...

Until next time, beYOUtiful, keep life sweet, & never stop feeding your soul. -xo

​Ever had a bad hair day? Here's a quick and easy fix for when you're feeling too lazy to do your hair, but you want to look effortlessly fabulous in no time. Voila! The answer is in this video. Watch to see how I transformed my 1-week old braid out into a gorgeous fluffy fro! 

As always, beYOUtiful, keep life sweet, and never stop feeding your soul. -xo

There's 3 key tips to mastering the takedown process for your braid out/twist out. I love a braid out that has great definition and enough frizz that I don't have to pick out my hair once I"m done taking the braids down. This was one of those moments! Watch to see exactly what I mean. ​

This is the most frequently asked question I get as a naturalista. The answer is in the 60 second video below. 

BB Super Gro: This product helps define my curls, lock-in water, and add shine. Since the oil is so thick, it's able to wrap around my coils and define each strand. This product also helps keep my hair hydrated because it seals in water. 

Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Leave-In Conditioner: This is my FAVORITE hair product EVER for ALL TIME. Why? Because it's a one and done. If I'm putting my hair in a pony tail, all I need is water, oil, and this conditioner. That's it! If you want to keep your hair moisturized in a protective style that involves extensions or a wig, this conditioner will do the job. Don't use  this product sparingly, use a lot to moisturize every strand. You won't be disappointed!

​Mielle Organics Mint Almond Oil​: This is one of the BEST hair oils I've ever used in my entire life. It's minty, which allows your scalp to get a tingly massage. The 8 fl. oz. bottle lasts for months. You don't have to use very much of it for it to be effective. It nourishes your scalp without leaving an oily residue on your scalp by the time you get to wash day. It's the bomb.com. Go try it. 

As I Am Doublebutter Cream: I've been using this product for the last year. I'm four years into my natural hair journey and it would have been so nice to know about this product sooner. It's the ULTIMATE curl definer. It's the perfect product to assist with a twist-out or braid-out because it defines the texture you're creating when you style your hair. It's not a moisturizer, it's just a cream/butter. You can't swap this product out for a leave-in conditioner. It's truly a styling product that will make your hair look luscious. CAUTION: People will want to touch your hair after you use this product. *cues Solange*

These products work well together because they all serve a different purpose. The Super Gro is great for my hair, while the Mint Almond Oil is best suited for my scalp. Depending on the style, I like the way the Super Gro and the Mint Almond Oil work together in my hair.  The leave-in conditioner is  necessary every time I do my hair. Whereas the double butter cream is only necessary for certain types of styles. 

Please remember that my favorite products are ever-changing. Over the years, products that worked for me at one point are no longer effective for reasons unknown to me, which is why I'm always open to trying new products. If you watch my hair videos, you'll see different products come and go. However, the exception is the Shea Moisture Leave-in Conditioner. 

If you have any questions about these products, please leave a comment or ask me on Instagram. Hopefully, this has introduced you to at least one new product that you're interested in trying. Until next time, stay beYOUtiful, keep life sweet, and never stop feeding your soul. -xo

Sent Athletics: senitaathletics.com

• Lotus Sports Bra - Blue Geo
• Let It Glow Tights - Blue Geo
• ​Risk Tank - Blush

Aim'n: amin.com

• Dusty Pink Crop Top
• Dusty Pink Tribe Tights
• Dusty Pink Loose Fit Singlet

Snatched Fitness: snatched fitness.co
Discount Code: SNATCHED10

• Black High Impact Sports Bra
• Black Classic Legging
• Orange Classic Racerback

Old Navy: oldnavy.com

• Light Support Strappy Sports Bra - Black
• High Rise Color Bock Compression Legging - Into the Deep
• Mid-Rise 7/8 Length Mesh Panel Compression Legging - Black
• Relaxed Graphic Performance Printed Bottom Tank

​
As always, beYOUtiful, keep life sweet, and never stop feeding your soul. -xo

Click here for the playlist.

At the start of 2017, I made a commitment to my health. I wanted to workout 2-3 times per week. Despite missing a few weeks here and there, I do feel like I achieved this minor lifestyle change, which also means that I should set a more challenging health goal for the upcoming year. If there's a health victory that you've achieved this year, please share your story in the comments. I would love to read how you've grown in 2017 whether it's eating habits, physical fitness, mental fitness, overall health and well-being, etc. 

Due to working out more frequently, I started listening to different playlists to assist me in my new pursuit. I prefer to workout to the 'Hip-Hop Workout: Can't Stop, won't stop.' playlist because it's endless for the most part, whereas the 'Hip-Hop Workout: Apple Music Hip-Hop' playlist is barely thirty minutes. I also enjoy working out to the 'Latin Pop Workout: Apple Music Pop Latino' playlist, which is just under an hour. Another go to is 'The A-List: Hip-Hop' playlist. However, these playlists all have one thing  in common and it's not the genre. Nearly all the songs on the playlist are by male artists. 

I was running on the treadmill one day and Nicki Minaj's "Beez in the Trap" (featuring 2 Chainz) played.  After the song ended, I pondered on why that was one of the few songs on the playlist that had a female lead. Even though Hip-Hop is a male dominated industry, I still felt like I was being gypped because women are phenomenal artists who should never be underrepresented.  

​Therefore, I made my own workout playlist mostly comprised of pop and hip-hop jams by women from the 90s to now. It's a little over 5 hours to give you variety every time you workout. I recommend you play it on shuffle. Let me know what you think. Click here to check it out! 

Per usual, I was plagued to do more research into the representation of women on the Billboard Hot 100 over the years. I looked over this week's current chart and noticed that it's dominated by male artists. In 2017, there have only been two women with numbers 1s, Taylor Swift's "Look What You Made Me Do" and Cardi B's "Bodak Yellow" (Click here to learn more).  Contrarily, this year is not an accurate depiction of how female artists have ranked in prior years. Over the past three decades, women have increasingly topped the charts. But what does this mean and how is it determined? 

Billboard along with their market research partners Nielsen BDS, Nielsen SoundScan and Next Big Sound track how fans interact with music through sales and downloads, touring, and radio airplay. They also track streaming and social interactions on Facebook, Vevo, Youtube, Twitter, Spotify, and other popular digital music hubs. Artists and their songs are ranked by these metrics.

The graph below details the percentage share of no. 1 hits on the hot 100 by decade for female soloists, all-female groups, and all-female collaborations. The gender barrier for no. 1 was first broken in 1960 by Connie Francis' "Everybody's Somebody's Fool". Since then, women have more regularly ranked on the Billboard Hot 100.  Click here to learn more. ​

The reality is that I would love to see every decade mimic the 90s for no. 1 hits, top 10 hits, and top 50 hits. Despite women disproportionately ranking on the Billboard charts, it's clear that the data doesn't lie. While we do primarily listen to male artists, I think there's a behind scenes reason as to why women are not receiving the same opportunities, which has led to a misrepresentation within the music industry. It's also clear to me that as women, we have to support one another. 

In the end, this is deeper than music and charts. This is about progress and ensuring that as women we're heard and that we stand up for one another. In 2017, I believe that we've seen a new community of women emerge that are woke, conscious, inspiring, courageous and ultimately activists for our advancement. We've always existed, but there's a boldness about us today that reminds me just how unstoppable we are. If you're lost, start by googling the 2017 Women's March. That's a great place to start. 

Please share this playlist with a friend or two. Let me know if you would like any songs from your favorite female artists to be added. Wishing you many bomb workouts to my 'gal hits' playlist. Until next time, beYOUtiful, keep life sweet, and never stop feeding your soul.  -xo