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

Hair length doesn't always mean your hair is healthy
When it comes to hair growth, hair retention, and overall hair health, I've learned that a combination of things can play a huge factor in helping you achieve your hair goals. Here's a few items I think are worth noting to ensure happy, healthy hair:

• Daily vitamin
• Regular scalp regimen (typically water & oil)
• Trim dead ends
• Protective styling or low manipulation styles
• Keep your hands out of your hair (Ha! Yes! I said it, and we all do it.)
• Balanced nutritional diet
• Keep your hair moisturized (deep conditioner, water, leave-in conditioner, & oil to lock it all in)
• Cover your hair in satin every night
• A positive, mentally fit mind and heart

Leave your hair alone
Keep it simple. Style your hair and rock that style for as long as presentably possible. I use water and spray conditioner (i.e. African Pride Moisture Miracle Coconut Milk & Honey Leave-In Conditioner) to keep my hair refreshed and moisturized between styles. 

Try 1-2 new products at a time
I believe hair products can get pretty pricey if you're interested in trying a complete collection. I recommend starting with 1 or 2 products to test out if you should buy more. I think a leave-in conditioner can tell you a lot about whether a product line is suitable for your hair's needs. I always keep my staple products on hand just in case my hair doesn't respond well to the new products. 

Don't fro and go 24/7
The tug, pull, wear, and tear of everyday life can have a huge impact on your hair. As much as I love wearing my fro out and showing off my length, sometimes it's just healthier to put your hair in a puff or bun. There's so many ways you can get creative with protective hairstyles, so I definitely recommend following naturalistas on instagram to get some regular hair inspo. 

Your edges don't always have to be laid
I'm in the process of strengthening my edges. Laying and slaying them 24/7 hasn't been helpful. Instead, I've learned to reserve the impeccable edges for significant occasions. I encourage you to slay and lay your edges at your own discretion. 

Your hair will change & react to products differently over time
The products I used when I first went natural are not the same products I use today. Your hair will evolve so enjoy the evolution and shop your natural heart out when that day of change arrives. 

Find a scarf routine that works best for you
Period. Point. Blank. 

Your hair doesn't define you
You're so much more than your hair. While it is a beautiful piece of you, it is not all of you. Know that your worth is not in your hair, it's in your heart. 

Let your hair breathe and rest
Unfortunately, I am the girl who found out what happens when you over protective style your hair with extensions (i.e. braids, faux locs, marley twists, passion twists, etc.). Learn from my mistakes and accept that you must give your hair time to rest and breathe. 

Please stay safe & take great care of yourself. Even in these uncertain times, beYOUtiful, keep life sweet, & never stop feeding your soul. -xo

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

What's Included:

• Equivalent to 6 packs of crochet hair
• Hair jewelry (wooden & gold beads, gold string, shells, gold & colored clamps, etc.)

What You'll Need: 

• Crochet needle for hair braiding​

Hair Featured in Video:
https://boholocs.com/collections/goddess-bob-locs/products/bob-choc-bronde-boho-goddess-locs

Website: 
https://boholocs.com/

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

This is a super quick and easy hair tutorial. Let me know which style is your favorite!

To recreate these styles you'll need:

• ​Pony tail holder
• Bobby Pins
• Edge Control
• Headband or head wrap

BeYOUtiful, keep life sweet, & never stop feeding your soul. -xo

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. 

Products

• Mielle Organics Mint Almond Oil 
• Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Leave-in Conditioner
• Beyond Zone Turn Up The Heat Protection Spray
• Eco Styler Gel
• ORS Monoi Oil Edge Control Hair Gel
• Aussie Hair Spray 3

Utensils 

• Denman Brush
• Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Styler
• Ponytail Holder

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

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

I love a blow out, but it used to take me 3 hours just to do it. Luckily, Ulta Beauty has the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer & Styler which has cut the time it takes me to blow out my hair in half.

Naturalistas, I recommend ditching your traditional handheld dryer for the Revlon dryer. Here's why: 

• Lightweight: There's nothing worse than drying your hair for several hours and dealing with pain in her hands/wrists from holding a heavy dryer. The Revlon dryer is super lightweight and has an easy-to hold handle that's similar to the shape of a brush.
• Affordable: This dyer typically ranges from $30-$40. 
• User-Friendly: This dry is very easy to use. It has cool, low warm, and high warm settings. I always use the cool and low warm settings.

Purchase the Dryer Here: https://www.ulta.com/one-step-hair-dr...

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