Winter Must Haves: Curly Girl Edition

         

It's time to officially say good-bye to summer and get ready for this chilly fall weather. Here in Texas you can typically walk around in shorts til November and carry a light jacket. Last year I know a week before Christmas I was rocking a sundress. This year global warming has graced us with really cold weather earlier than usual. Winter is one of my least favorite seasons so when I walked out my house into the 45 degree weather last week I was completely unprepared. Time to put away all the summer clothes and prepare for the super cold season approaching. With a new season comes a new clothes and I have a few things in mind to pick up this season...

Recap: Natural Hair All- Star Weekend

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending  Natural Hair All-Star Weekend & Expo here in Dallas which was a real treat. The event was hosted by TeamNatural, Bellakinks, and TheHodgePodgeFiles along with Courtney Natural Hair, Iknowlee, and EClark6 who hosted the events....

There was so much energy and natural hair that weekend. Us curly hair girls were taking over and it was refreshing to see all the different styles, lengths, textures, and colors that individuals were rocking. I was definitely feeling some fro envy.  Overall it was very successful from an attendee standpoint and you could tell a lot of time and energy went into making this event come alive. 

I had a fabulous time and look forward to attending next years....

Day 1: 80s Night

I haven't skated in years so this was definitely a treat. 

Here I am dressed in my 80s attire

Aerobic Girl

Got to meet the amazing Iknowlee

{Photo Credit: @veepeejay}

Costume Contest

{Photo Credit: @iknowlee}

Finalists!

The guy and woman on his right were the winners

{Photo Credit: @classyc83}

Curls girls in their tutus with Constance Cash of TeamNatural

Day 2: Natural Hair Expo/ Naturals Night Out

{Photo Credit: @itstierranicole}

Natural Hair Panelist Courtney Natural Hair, Iknowlee, and Eclark6

Educating the audience with tips and advice

{Photo Credit: HoneybenaturalMag}

Hair models from LocStar

{Photo Credit: HoneybeNaturalMag}

After a long day at the Expo, we went to Eatzis in Grapevine to relax before the night's events

Naturals Night out was held in a New York loft style building with 3 floors

Upper level view 

Me and my Curlfriend Devi reppin' Curls

{Photo Credit: HoneybeNaturalMag}

Owner of Cantu

{Photo Credit: HoneyBeNatural}

The Curls Girls serving up Curls Products

{Photo Credit: HoneyBeNaturalMag}

Vashti holding the cake they served, doesn't she look gorgeous?

Me and my friend being silly in the photo booth
One of my favorite parts of the night

{Photo Credit: HoneyBeNatural}

This woman was definitely the life of the party

Got everybody up and groovin'

{Photo Credit: HoneyBeNaturalMag}

The women who made this whole weekend possible

Vashti, Julian, and Constance

Day 3: V.I.P Brunch

{Photo Credit: HoneyBeNaturalMag}

Founder of Curls- Mahisha Dellinger

"Be Fabulous, Be fierce, Be you"

Brunch is served!

My goodies from this weekend, can't wait to try all these new products!
Shirts from LocStar and JourneyTees

For more photos and information about the event visit
naturalhairallstarweekend.com
HoneyBeNaturalMag
#Naturalhairallstarweekend or #NHASW on Instagram

Got an Itch? 3 Remedies to fight the Madness

We've all had that itch that just wouldn't seem to go away. No matter how much we scratched, beat our head, or doused our head with oil you just couldn't get rid of it. Here are some simple and affordable ways to help you fight that annoying itch.

From Fashion to Home - Great Gatsby

My favorite movie seen this summer was undoubtedly, The Great Gatsby.  Directed by Baz Luhrmann,  the movie is staged in the fictional town of West Egg on the prosperous Long island in the summer of 1922.  Young Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) is drawn to New York because of boom in stocks and lands himself next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio).  Intrigued by his neighbor,  Nick is suddenly drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness within and without of the world he inhabits, he writes a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams, and tragedy.....

My Current Natural Hair Staples

I get questions alllllllll the time from people asking me what I put in my hair and to be completely honest I use so many different product combinations depending on the style or look that I'm going for. But after 3 years of trying products dealing with disappointments, bad hair days, taming the frizz, and the changes my hair endures I have finally found products that help me deal with my hair issues...

Havana/Marley Twists Review

 For like a month I kept going back and forth on what protective style to do and finally decided on Havana/Marley Twists because I really like that boho dread head look and desperately want to dread my hair one day. It was a really smooth process and didn't take long at all to put my extensions in....

Quirky DIY Ideas for the Home

Whether you're moving into your first apartment, in the mood for decorating, or just want a new vibe  throughout your space, take a look at these affordable quirky ideas to help inspire and take your space to the next level...

Product Review: Curl Junkie Honey Butta

      

  I decided to change it up from the usual wash n gos or twist outs and do a braid out for work. I was going through natural hair stash and dug out my Honey Butta by Curl Junkie. A year ago I happened to stumble upon this product at a kiosk in the mall and was very hesitant. At $20 and a college student it was definitely very steep. Swooned by customers raving about this product, I decided to give it a chance. 

SMELL

The scent smells just distinctly like bubblegum from the hibiscus and you can slightly smell a hint of banana.

CONSISTENCY

• The product is a cross between a creme and a liquid. 
• Thick and has elasticity, which helps stretch your hair and the liquidity of it helps to moisturize
• Use it as a twisting product or as a daily leave in. 

USES

This product is great for 3s and 4s as a leave in, moisturizer, twisting, braiding, or styling product. If you find the product too heavy Curl Junkie also has a Coffee Coco Curl Cream which is a bit lighter.

I personally love this product! I am a type 3c/4a and love the definition that this product creates no matter if I do small braids or big chunky twists my hair is still defined nicely. This product tames frizz and is very moisturizing. Normally, there is no need for a moisturizer until day three or four. The product is very slick, great for twisting, and although it is white, the product evaporates and doesn't leave residue. It curls my ends nicely and stretches my hair so my end results don't result in a heavy amount of shrinkage.

PROCESS

I start off first by coating my medium sized section of hair with the product then splitting it into three strands of hair to create medium sized braids throughout my head. After I get to the ends I run a bit more of the product on the ends in order to seal in the moisture and then place a wave rod on the end in order to achieve a even curl throughout my entire head. Next goes on my satin bonnet cap and its time for bed! Allow at least 6-8 hours for the braids to dry.

                                              

                                                Ends after dry

Results of Hair Definition

Day 1

Day 2

Looking to try Curl Junkie's Honey butter on your next braid out or twist out?
Find it here at curljunkie.com or naturallydivinebeauty.com

From Fashion to Home: Be Bold with Cobalt Blue

                                                             Mirror Shades- Agaci
                                       

                                 Cross Earrings - Affordable Fashion Accessories by Tracy

                                                       

                             Printed Leopard Top- H&M
                                       Faux Leather Crossbody- JcPenny
                                                    Black  Loft Cardigan- Thrifted

                                                     Cobalt Blue High Waist Capris- TJ Maxx
                                                        Black Platform Wedges- Forever 21

Photography by Jaleesa Howard

One of my favorite colors this Spring/Summer is the bold Cobalt Blue. To some people this may be a little out of their comfort zone but by adding a little bit of this color you are able to accent not only your outfit, but your home as well...

     Start small by adding a major accent piece in the room with smaller accents in
                 pillows, art, or accessories around the space to create cohesion.

Or go big by putting in an accent wall to help create a focal point

                                               or to give the room a little flair.

                              This helps the furniture in the room pop and define the space.  

     

                                                

Try incorporating Cobalt Blue into your next design plan through the use of 

pillows, furniture, accessories, art, or wall decal

 to give your space a bit of bold flavor.

Large World Map Painting   

                    

2 for 8 Watercolor Floral Cushion 43 cm x 43 cm               

Kartell Ero S Chair

Unique and Decorative Pillows

Watercolor Art

                                             

My Natural Hair Transformation

      Growing up, I longed for the straight hair that white people had. On wash day sitting between my mother's legs as she detangled and plaited my hair I wished for straight hair just like all the other girls in my class. I begged my mom to let me get a perm or at least straighten it, but she told me it wasn't necessary because although my hair was thick it was manageable. My little sister on the other hand got her hair permed when she was 5. As I grew up I watched my other black friends transition out of the plaited hair to wearing their hair straight and here I was rocking long plaited pigtails in the 5th grade. My mother finally gave in and let me get my hair straightened before the end of 5th grade and I was hooked. I had to have my hair straight, bone straight at that. It took a lot of persuasion but I got my first perm when I went to 6th grade. Four boxes of the Just For Me Perm Box and I had the long bone straight hair I had longed for as a child. The only problem is I was an avid swimmer growing up and perms and chlorine don't mix. I remember the first time I noticed my breakage problem was right before my freshman year. My stylist said she needed to trim my hair because I was having a breakage problem. My trim turned into being a 3 inch cut. From there it went down hill. I started experiencing severe shedding, to the point my mom would always know when I combed my hair. My hair just kept getting shorter and shorter. From what was bra strap length hair went to being shoulder length. My junior year in an event to save my hair I stopped getting perms every 6 to 8 weeks to just 3 times a year. That helped a little bit, but my hair would still shed pretty bad. I was washing my hair one time and noticed my hair was wavy at the roots and straight on the ends. I liked how wavy my hair was and asked my stylists how I could get my hair to be wavy all over. She responded, that I had to go natural. I had no idea what that meant. She told me that I could cut all my hair off or transition. I wanted to cut my hair off and just start all over, but I was in high school. Guys liked girls with long hair so I opted to just transition.                 

        September 2010 I got my hair cut about two inches and stopped getting perms. When I started transitioning, I wore my hair straight. Then I had no idea that straightening your hair could give you heat damage. I switched stylists right before I went to college and she did my first natural hairstyle on me, a twist out. My first year of college I experienced the good, the bad, and the ugly with my hair. I did nothing but braid outs and twists outs and I would always set my ends on perm rods so they would blend in with my natural hair. May 2012 I got my first mini big chop and most of my permed hair was gone. My hair was great. A little short but I loved how my hair looked. I wanted to change it up before I started in the fall, so I got some color added to my hair. The first time it didn't come out the way I wanted to so I got it recolored a week later. BIGGEST MISTAKE EVER! My hair was a hot mess. My hair was limp, dry, and lifeless I couldn't even do a twist out on my hair. But with time and trial and error I got my hair back to a healthier state. I love my hair and can honestly say going natural was one of the best decisions I've made in my life. It wasn't easy and there were moments when I wanted to just perm my hair and be done, but I just pushed through. To those women who are just starting out and spend their nights watching natural hair videos. I was you and still am. I'm still learning things about my hair with the change of each season or any length or color I make with my hair. I'm fully natural, 3c/4a with thick hair and I still can't get my hair to perfectly create the styles I see on youtube tutorials. But I've learned how to do things with my hair that others can't. I salivate over the curls of 3as and am amazed at the styles that 4bs and cs can do. To me all hair no matter what your hair type is is beautiful, everyone's different, do what works with your hair.

NaturalChikana