Natural Hair: Summer Styles for Kids

The perfect protective style!

The Mohawk

Products we use: 

Shampoo: Shea Moisture - Purchased at Target

Conditioner: Giovanni Direct Leave-In - Purchased at Target

Moisturizer & Styler: Bee Mine Luscious Balanced Cream Moisturizer - Purchased online at beemineproducts.com 

Edges: Curls Control Paste - Purchased at Target 

The Process:

Hair is washed with Shea Moisture Shampoo

Conditioned with Giovanni Direct Leave-In

Natural Oil is added (grapeseed or coconut oil)

Bee Mine Luscious Balanced Cream Moisturizer is added

Hair is blown dry (Unless I wash J's hair at home and band/air dry overnight)

Once style is determined her beautician/braider will then section hair into small sections and begin braiding

How long does the style last:

I typically do not go past 3 weeks. I find keeping braids longer than that causes extra tangles and breakage plus by this point J's hair is fuzzy and no longer looks fresh. I tend to be very particular about the appearance of my daughter's hair. 

What we do at night:

Always, always and always use a satin scarf or bonnet in conjunction with a satin pillow case just in case the scarf/bonnet should come off during the night. 

Never, never, never use a cotton scarf or sleep on a cotton pillow case. Cotton scarfs, bonnets and pillow cases sucks the moisture right out of the hair in addition to causing unnecessary dryness, brittleness and breakage. Taking the time to wash, deep condition, condition and moisturize and then sleeping with or on cotton material defeats the purpose. Natural/healthy hair is delicate and requires a lot of patience. It's not the easy route. If you go into this thinking it's a get up and go type of situation you should RUN, not walk, to your nearest beauty supply store/salon and get a relaxer. Having relaxed hair (in MY opinion) is easier to maintain. However, having natural hair is far more rewarding, freeing and versatile. It's all about preference!

The take down:

I mist J's hair with water, add your oils of choice, add a cheap conditioner of choice and start from the bottom of the braid unraveling until the braid is completely removed. I then finger comb the section of hair that I just took down to remove the shed hair. The moisture from the water and oil and the "slip" from the conditioner makes this process easy as pie. 

F.Y.I.  This is what works for us and may not be ideal for everyone

PSA:  I AM NOT A LICENSED BEAUTICIAN in any way shape or form......please do your own research as I have and find what works for you and your daughter's hair.  

Natural Hair: Braid Styles for Kids

J and Her Braids!!

Side Pony Tail & Mohawk

Products we use: 

Shampoo: Shea Moisture - Purchased at Target

Conditioner: Giovanni Direct Leave-In - Purchased at Target

Moisturizer & Styler: Bee Mine Luscious Balanced Cream Moisturizer - Purchased online at beemineproducts.com (pictured below)

Edges: Curls Control Paste - Purchased at Target (pictured below)

Hair has been washed & blow dried

Her beautician starting the braiding process

NARS: Realm Of The Senses & Soulshine

As I've said before I've never met a NARS product I didn't love and these two newly released blush palettes are no exception! I do believe in the saying "You get what you pay for" and that has been true for me with each NARS purchase. I don't mind paying for a good quality product. As you will see below these two blushes are stunning and a must have for the remainder of summer. I will even be carrying these beauties over into fall and winter!

Realm Of The Senses:
Golden, pink, bronze glow is how I would best describe how the color looks on me.

Soulshine:
Pink, peachy, coral, golden, bronze glow is how I would best describe how the color looks on me.

Both have tiny specks of golden glitter. Just the right amount where mature women can feel comfortable wearing it without feeling like a teenager. Both blushes are very pigmented and can be applied lightly for more everyday wear or heavier depending on your preference.

I have to admit these blush palettes are similar. I don't think it's necessary to purchase both for this reason. However I do believe once applied on the skin you can tell the difference. Skin tone will play a big part in bringing forth the differences in color once applied on the face.

Both palettes will be released 8/1/13 exclusively at Sephora.

I'm not certain if these are limited edition or if they'll be apart of the permanent blush line so if you are interested I suggest you head to your nearest Sephora counter and check them out or purchase online.

NOTD: Nail of The Day

Polka Dot Accent Nail

I wanted to try something different for my weekly mani so this is what I came up with using all Zoya nail polishes. ( See previous post to see what I use for base coat, top coat and insta dry top coat)

Blu: Light Blue

Robyn: Blue

Sweet: Baby Pink

I polished my nails as usual. Once the accent nail dried completely I took the end of a bobby pin (pictured below) dipped it in the baby pink color and made small polka dots on the nail. Easy Peezy!! No worries if it's not perfect it's all about having fun experimenting with different colors/designs. Let me know if you try this. I'd love to see it!!

RiRi Boy Dupe

I was going through my lipsticks today and discovered an almost spot on dupe for MAC's RiRi Boy, a gorgeous lavender/purple-ish color with a retro matte finish.

Corvergirls's Divine Divine 330 is a close runner up. The only noticeable difference is the finish. Divine Divine is a very creamy, bright shiney moisturizing lipstick while RiRi Boy is a very dry, matte, dull lipstick. Both are gorgeous shades of purple and will easily compliment multiple skin tones. I would recommend wearing a little lip balm under RiRi Boy to combat the dryness. Also please note that Divine Divine will stain the lips. All in all these are two great choices if you're in the market for a lavender/purple lipstick. If you don't want to fork over the $15 for MAC then Covegirl's Divine Divine is the way to go.

Marvelous Mauve's

Nude Mauve's

Who doesn't love a nude/mauve color? I do and I have found the perfect pair to rotate between. There is a 3rd on the horizon but it is currently sold out. As soon as I get the "in stock" email I will be placing my order because of course, I must have it. I will come back with an update as soon as I receive it. Until then lets talk about Lancome's Vintage Rose and Buxom's Hooligan. Can you say perfection? That is exactly what these two lipsticks are for me...Perfection! Perfect creamy consistency and perfect color for my skin tone. I'm almost certain that anyone could pull these colors off. Their like my lips but better. I say that because the natural color of my lips is similar to the color and undertone of the lipstick which makes for a perfect nude. That's not to say that you can't see the mauve when the color is applied but on me I feel like I can get away with calling it a nude. On lighter skin tones I think the colors would show as a true mauve, not as nude toned. Either way you can't go wrong with either one. Both are great for a nude summer look and will be great moving into fall. Needless to say I have definitely elevated these two products to my holy grail list of beauty products for the lips. Go out and grab a nudey-mauve!!

Smashbox Liquid Halo HD Foundation & Small Haul

Smashbox Cosmetics

I decided to do a little shopping this weekend and thought I'd share. I picked up some high end and budget items. If I like it I buy it!! If it's $200.00 or $20.00 and it peaks my interest I'll make the purchase. I shop everywhere from Target to Nordstrom and everywhere in between.

The Foundation
Nordstrom was one of my stops this weekend to purchase the newly released (released 7/10/13) Smashbox Liquid HD Foundation. I also purchased their new Photo Op Eye Brightening Mascara Illuminateur and the Photo Set Finishing Powder. There was a representative/make up artist from Smashbox at Nordstrom specifically for the launch of this new foundation. Needless to say I was like a kid in a candy store.

I decided to have Smashbox's make up artist make up my face using the Liquid Halo Foundation. I knew I was in love instantly. The foundation is perfect for my combination dry/oily skin. It applied smooth, no clumping, no streaks, non greasy and non drying. Believe it or not of all the make up I own I only have one foundation and one tinted moisturizer. I am not big on foundation. If and when I do decide to wear anything it's never full coverage. My skin is my skin and I'm comfortable in it however imperfect it may be. There are those days though that I want to get a little cute and fancy! LoL This foundation will be my go to for those cute and fancy days. I would consider this foundation sheer to medium coverage but buildable.

• Light weight
• Sheer to medium coverage but buildable
• No "cake face" look
• Goes on super smooth
• Last all day
• Skin is still touchable and soft
• Not ashy looking

The Mascara
Elongated my lashes to the point I thought I had fake lashes on. If that's the look you are going for then this mascara is for you. I have to point out though that it's hard for me to be blown away by a mascara because my lashes are naturally long and full so the mascara is just enhancing what is already naturally there. It's not doing anything amazing to my lashes. Did I just toot my own horn? Yeap, TOOT TOOT, BEEP BEEP :)

Photo Set Finishing Powder
LOVE IT! Imagine finely milled silk...that's what this feels like. She applied it after the foundation, blush and bronzer and my face was "set" for the rest of the day. My makeup did not move until I removed it at the end of the evening. I'm impressed. This matte translucent oil-absorbing powder banishes shine and leaves you with a flawless finish.

Just me...Real Regular

A lil fancy in the face but still me. I love that I still look like me. I still see my face, my skin. My imperfections that make me...ME! I'm not caked under tons of foundation. This foundation is like a second skin. Very pleased with my purchase.

 Bonus Pic: Other items I picked up over the weekend. With the exception of these exceptional flats I purchased from payless.com for work. Every year/season I purchase a couple pairs of shoes to leave in my desk at work. I like these flats so much I might have to incorporate them into my regular wardrobe.

Shoes: Payless.com DexFlex comfort flat
Make Up: Smashbox from Nordstrom
Bangles and striped Vintage T's: Old Navy
Nailpolish: Sephora.com
Real Techniques Blush Brush: Ulta
Lipstick: Lancome from Ulta
Lipstick: Buxom from Sephora
Shorts: Torrid from at least 2yrs ago. Planned on wearing them today but ended up in Capri's instead