I was recently given the wonderful opportunity to partner up with We Are Onyx by bringing you their May box. If you aren't familiar or haven't heard about We Are Onyx, they are the first ever all-in-one online beauty destination dedicated to Black Women. Who's mission is to educate and empower OnyxGirls to embrace and take charge of their own beauty.
This months box was curated by celebrity nail artist Kandi Banks, the owner of Kandiland, so it was all about nails and manicures. Let me just say that Kandiland + We Are Onyx = A MUST HAVE BOX! There were items from Biao Beauty, Shea Moisture, Milani Cosmetics, and Colour Gossip in my May Box and I was so glad about it.
The items in my box retailed at $47, however the monthly subscription box is a steal for only $25 which includes (5) Full Size or Deluxe Size Products and shipping. Ladies, you can search high and low but you won't find another beauty subscription box at such a bargain.
Make sure you head on over to http://weareonyx.com to sign up or to find out more information about We Are Onyx.
Check out my May | We Are Onyx | Unboxing Video Below!!!
Hey Everyone….I am back today with another Fabulous Feature Friday!!! Today I have the Beautiful Donna, also known as, MrsHairToday on social media sharing her natural hair story, so let’s jump right into it.
Hey Donna, thanks for taking time out to share with us today. Can you start off by letting everyone know a little bit about yourself?
My name is Donna. I am 33 years old. I'm a mother of 3 wonderful children and I've been married to one man for 7 1/2 years. I love vlogging about natural hair and empowering women all over the world to embrace their natural beauty.
Awesome….now let’s get into this beautiful hair of yours.
How long have you been natural? I have been natural for 3 1/2 years.
So, were you a slow transitioner or did you Big Chop? I did the "Big Chop" because I was wearing protective styles and decided to make all of my hair one texture. It was hard trying to maintain permed hair and natural hair. It's doable but once I built up enough confidence to cut off all the chemical remaining in my hair, I was ready to do it with no turning back.
How did you feel after going natural? I felt nervous at first. But soon afterwards, I felt refreshed. I felt like a "new me". I was ready to start experimenting with different products to see what my hair would like and what styles I could teach myself.
How did family and friends react to your decision to go natural? The reaction I received from my family was positive. They were in shock that I cut my hair but they have supported me all the way. As far as friends, there were mixed reactions. Some people thought it was a fad. They told me that I would eventually go back to getting perms once I see how hard it was to maintain natural hair. Boy was they wrong. Today, they now want to know how they can start their own journey. I love it! Always be Fierce and Confident in your decisions!
That is some great advice right there!!! I’m glad you stuck it through and didn’t give up.
Well, do you mind describing your hair for us? My hair is 3c in the front and 4a in the back. I never got it straight about the numbers but I think I'm pretty close to it. My hair in the back is more course and dry. I have to apply more products to the back of my hair to make sure it stays moisturized. The front of my hair is pretty much soft. No matter what I do to it, it works out every time.
What’s your current hair routine? I can't really say I have a routine but I try to make sure I deep condition at least once a month. I try to wash my hair every other week to keep my naturals oils in. Washing your hair too much will cause you to take out oils in your hair which can lead to breakage. I also give myself a trim every 2 months now, even if it's dusting the ends. As the weather changes to warm weather I will do more co-washing. Lastly, I'm finding out which products work for me and sticking to it. I keep a leave-in in along with a twisting cream to keep moisture in my hair.
What are some of your favorite products?
Some of my favorite products are the following:
Eco Styler Gel (a must), Jane Carter's Nourish and Shine, Entwine Couture's entire line, Herbal Essence Honey I'm Strong, Organix Coconut Milk shampoo and conditioner, Design Essentials Stretching Creme, As I Am Twist Defining Cream and Cowash, Miss Jessie's Curly Meringue, Cantu Shea Leave-in, Beautiful Textures entire line, Creme of Nature entire line, etc... I have so many favs!
You sure do!!! LOL!
How do you maintain your hair at night? I try to apply oil to my hair each night and secure my hair with my satin bonnet.
Sounds easy enough!
I want to thank you again Donna for taking time out to share with us.I am sure many women have seen your pics floating around on social media, so this will give them a little bit more insight about you and your hair routine.
Before I let you go, can you tell us what the best thing about being natural is? The best thing about being natural is the versatility. I can rock my hair in an Afro, twists, puff, Updo, or wear it straight or curly. There are no limitations when it comes to natural hair. It's just that FAB?
To keep up with Donna on social media you can check her out below:
I am bringing you another kid friendly natural hairstyle, that is actually ideal for those of any age including adults.
This style is flat-twists and a roller set, but could be changed to cornrow if you are unable to flat-twist the hair. The style takes roughly 30 mins to 1 hour to complete. It should be done on freshly washed hair that has been air dried just a bit. You can do it on soaking wet hair, but it may take the rollers longer to set. The style should last up to about 1-2 weeks.
Below are the products that were used:
Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Conditioning CoWash
Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream
Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Moisturizing Twist and Lock Gel
Cantu Shea Butter Pomade (Sleek the Edges)
Beautiful Textures Curl Defining Mousse
Coconut Oil
Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Hold & Shine Mist
Hair Pins
Perm Rods (various sizes)
Rat tail Comb
Shower Comb/Denman Brush (Detangling)
I hope you like it. Let me know if you try it on your child or yourself.
Hey Everyone....this is a way overdue favorites video showcasing some of my favorite items and a few extra items that I have recently received. This video has a little bit of everything. Fashion, Hair Care Products, and Beauty Products are all in the video. Let me know if you like any of these of if you have tried any of these.
Some of the links to the items will be below if you want to check them out.
Hey Everyone....as fly and fabulous as we are, there are still people around us who we draw inspiration from. Whether it's a celebrity or someone within our own families, someone or something tends to influence our sense of style.
Well....a few weeks ago I teamed up with Entwine Couture as apart of their How-To ICON SERIES. This series brought different vloggers together showcasing different hairstyles that were created with the use of Entwine Couture Products and that were inspired by our own style icons.
My Style Icon is Tracee Ellis-Ross. I was a huge fan of hers since "Girlfriends". I sure was heartbroken when that show ended. Okay....let me get back to the subject at hand. I absolutely love Tracee's since of style when it comes to fashion and I absolutely love her big, full, and voluminous natural hair.
I wanted to find an easy way to recreate her signature big hair, so I decided to do (2) French braids that I slept in overnight and then took them down the next day.
Check out the full tutorial below to find out what Entwine Couture products I used and to see my results.
Hi guys….I am so excited to have Ginny on my blog today, sharing her natural hair story and regimen with us today. I follow this beauty on IG and absolutely love her hair and personality. I am glad she was able to take time out of her schedule and allow me to interview her. Check out the interview below:
Hi Ginny….Thanks again for sharing your hair journey with us today. Let’s jump on into and start by telling us a little bit about yourself.
Tell Us About Yourself:
Hi, my name is Ginny and I from Detroit, MI. I have a twin brother, three sisters who all wear their hair natural, and I’m also happily married and a mommy of a boy and a girl!
I am a natural hair blogger and new vlogger. I am obsessed with natural hair, fashion on a budget, and heavily interested in health and wellness. I also organize natural hair, beauty, health and wellness events in the Detroit, MI area. The next event is called Make Me Up Natural on June 7th, 2014 at the McGregor Memorial Center at Wayne State from 1pm to 5pm. See www.embracethenaturalyou.com.
Lastly, I went to the University of Detroit Mercy for undergrad with a degree in Business and I went to University of Michigan and I have a Masters in Finance.
Other interests include reading graphic novels, steam punk novella, and sci fi books. I also like to sketch and paint. J
Awesome….you are quite interesting and it sounds to me like you stay pretty busy. Well, let’s get into these beautiful tresses of yours.
How long have you been natural?
I have been natural I would say all my life but depends on how what you mean by ‘natural’. I never had a perm or relaxer but plenty of heat damage and string lifeless hair pushed me to cut chop it all off back in April 2012.
Wow….so no transitioning just straight into the big chop?
Yes, I did the big chop. I was an accidental natural. I didn’t know what transitioning was until after I stood in the bathroom on a Sunday and asked my husband if he cared if I cut all my hair off. He told me to go ahead because he was sick of me complaining about it. That night, I was frazzled and ending up downloading the “Curly Girl Handbook” by Lorraine Massey and then I found the likes of You Tube vloggers such as Mahogany Curls who was following the curly girl method. I kind of wish I had transitioned and cut off my damaged ends slowly but again I had no idea that I could have done that.
So, how did you feel after the Big Chop?
I felt pretty self-conscious until my curls and new growth began to grow in. I felt fierce when I had like 1-2 inches of hair. I’m really happy with the arm pit length hair I have now. Once I figured out how to manage my hair then the easier things became.
Awesome…so how did your family and friends react with your decision to cut it all off and start over again?
I think I inspired all of my sisters to go natural. I think they saw how fast my hair was growing too. My husband was real supportive too since he actually encouraged me to cut it all off anyway. J
How would you describe your hair?
My hair is wavy on top like 3c probably and coily all around the sides and back so 4a probably.
Can you take us through your current hair routine?
I wash my hair 1x a week always. I typically pre poo and finger detangle with coconut oil and water and then put on a shower cap for 30 minutes, 1 hr or overnight prior to shampooing. I then shampoo my hair with a no poo cleanser or low lather cleanser in 1 pass meaning I don’t repeat since I will be using my deep conditioner right after. I then use a leave in conditioner, followed by a water based moisturizing creamy styler or and then seal with a butter. Sometimes I will use a leave in and then a butter styler that is not water based. I mostly use the LCO method (vs. LOC method) or rather the liquid-cream-oil method because it works for my hair. I also massage Jamaican black castor oil on my edges nightly to keep them strong and healthy.
That is a great hair regimen…..I also go with the LCO method vs. the LOC method. I like using the oil to seal all of the moisture in.
What are some of your favorite products? I love a lot of Shea Moisture, NATURALICIOUS, and Original Moxie products. I list these and other holy grail products on my blog – http://anyiahessentials.wordpress.com
I love low lathering or no lather shampoos such as Original Moxie Get Clean No Foam Poo or Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo. I really don’t use a lot of conditioners unless they are deep conditioners since I wash my hair 1x a week. When I co wash I like to use my NATURALICIOUS 5-in-1 Moroccan Rhassoul Clay Treatment. My favorite deep conditioners are NATURALICIOUS 5-in-1 Moroccan Rhassoul Clay Treatment (leaves my hair buttery soft and I can skip a leave in), Original Moxie Intense Quench Deep Conditioner, or Shea Moisture African Black Soap Purification Masque. I rotate between these three because some have protein and some don’t.
My favorite leave in conditioner hands down is my Original Moxie Leave In. It’s just right, not too oily, not too watery, and not to thick and it has pumpkin seed oil. I can use this under any styler with no issue.
I have a lot of styling favorites. My favorite moisturizing creamy stylers are Camille Rose Naturals Almond Jai Twisting Butter, Original Moxie Shape Shifter, and NATURALICIOUS Moisture Infusion Styling Crème. Water is the first ingredient and I can go days before applying additional product to my hair. As far as a styling butter I love Karen’s Body Beautiful Super Duper Hydrating Hair Cream. For two strand twists I love Oyin Handmade Juices and Berries Pomade because it’s heavy and allows your twists sets to be really shiny and last longer.
My favorite sealer is NATURALICIOUS Diving Shine Sealing Oyl but I like to mix it up and a new fav is Tree Naturals Citrus and Vanilla Whipped Hair and Body Butter. As far as refresher sprays, I love NATURALICIOUS Heavenly Hair Hydration Hair Mist. I don’t have a super favorite gel just yet as I don’t use them much.
Girl…the way you are describing these products you got me wanting to get back on the product junkie tip, just so I can try them out. LOL!!!
What is your night time routine?
For twist outs, I do like 8 maintenance twists meaning I don’t apply product just twist my hair up in random sections to retain the hold. I do the same thing for braid outs. I then wrap my hair with a satin scarf or a satin sock type thingy. For wash and go’s, I set my hair in maintenance twists too. For two strand twists I wrap my hair at night with a satin scarf since I don’t want my hair moving around and my twists getting messed up.
Ginny….Thank you very much for taking time out to share with us today. I am sure your hair story and regimen information will be beneficial to many. In closing, what would you say is the best thing about being natural?
It’s so fun! I can change my look in so many ways. Natural hair is so versatile, I can rock two strand twists, a textured up do, twist up do, braids, a twist out, a braid out, a bantu knot out, etc.
Great!!! Thanks again Ginny!
To stay connected with Ginny you can find her at the following locations:
Hey Everyone....over the weekend I decided to take part in the "Natural Hair Tag" in order for my supporters to learn a little bit a more about me and my natural hair. I haven't opened up as much on YouTube, nor have I shown much of my personality, so this video gives you both of those from me.
I hope you enjoy it and feel free to upload your own "Natural Hair Tag" video and at me in it. I would love to hear more about you and your natural hair.
Below are the questions:
Where are you from?
How is the Natural Hair scene in your area?
Why did you decide to go natural?
Did you Big Chop or Transition?
How long have you been natural?
What is your favorite hair product(s) or line(s)?
How long is your natural hair?
What is your hair type? Do you like to hair type?
What is your go to hairstyle?
What advice would you give someone struggling with their natural hair?
Today, I have the pleasure of having the lovely Sheena on my blog today sharing her natural hair story with us. To check out her interview below:
Hey Sheena…..Thanks for taking time out of your day to share your natural hair story with us today.
Can you start by letting everyone know how long you have been natural? I have been natural for 2 1/2yrs
Did you take the transitioning route or did you jump right on into it with a Big Chop? I skipped the big chop and honestly at times I regret it. I wish I was bold enough to completely cut it off. I transitioned with my hair, I started getting relaxers only 4 times a year after a relaxer broke all my hair off in the back freshman year of high school. That whole year I was natural and I had no clue what to do with my hair so I wore it in this hideous big braid until I found a stylist that introduced me to flat twists. Since I only got relaxers once every few months transitioning wasn't that hard for me. I have been fully natural for about 2 1/2 yrs.
I’m glad you were able to connect with someone that was able to help introduce you into some styling options for your hair. I know a lot of women who give up because they simply don’t know how to style it and don’t reach out for help or seek it.
So, how did you feel after you were completely natural? It might sound corny but I did feel sexier. I knew some people wouldn't like it but I didn't really care. I think with natural hair you can manipulate it a lot more than you can do with relaxed hair or weave. I can wear a bush one day the next curls and the day after that an elegant up-do or bun.
Absolutely….Natural hair is so versatile and allows you to switch it up at the drop of a hat!
You said you felt sexier after going completely natural, I’m interested in knowing how your family and friends reacted with your decision.
My niece did the big chop before I decided on transitioning so to my family it wasn't a big deal.
That is awesome….I know so many women who receive backlash from close family and friends. I’m glad you didn’t have to experience any of that.
How would you describe your hair? My hair has different textures. My hair is thick and curly/wavy. If I had to grade it I would say it is 3A across ear to ear then 3B+C in the back.
How do you care for your hair? What is your current hair routine? My summer routine is Co-washing with Ogx Smooth Hydration Argan Oil & Shea Butter Conditioner I love love love it. I use my Denmen brush to detangle then cold rinse most of the conditioner out. Next whatever oil I have on hand either olive or coconut oil and work it in my hair. I use Herbal Essence Totally Twisted line Curl Define and Hold Crème. To top it off sometimes if its really humid I will spray Herbal Essence Tousle Me Softly Hair-Tousling Spray Gel, spray some oil sheen, scrunch and go. I've tried eco styler in my routine and every time it came out terrible. I only use it if I'm rocking a bun. If I have a style I am going for than I co-wash using either Ogx listed above or Garnier Sleek and Shine conditioner, my favorite moisturizer is Camille Rose- Almond Jai twisting butter. I cant tell you enough how I love this as a moisturizer. Definitely has become a staple for me.
What are some of your favorite products? Ogx Smooth Hydration Argan Oil & Shea Butter Conditioner is a must have for me either I co wash or I use this as a deep conditioner. Recipe (3 tablespoons of conditioner, 1 tablespoon of honey, 1teaspoon each of olive oil and coconut oil. Heat in microwave for 10 sec, mix then apply to hair) I leave this on anywhere from 30mins to an hour, you will definitely feel the difference in your hair. Garnier Fructis- Sleek and Shine Conditioner and leave in conditioner. I have to have my denmen brush for me it works better if I co wash in the shower then comb from the bottom up then rinse out my conditioner. My favorite moisturizer is Camille Rose's Twisting Butter.
Awesome and Thanks for the Deep Conditioner Recipe….ladies that was an extra bonus! Lol!!!
So, how do you maintain your hair at night? The pineapple does not work for me :( I twist my hair in 4 or 5 big twist and put on my bonnet. Nighty-night.
Lol!!! Well….Thank you again Sheena for taking time out of your day to share your hair journey information with us. I thoroughly enjoyed having you and I am sure the ladies gained something from your story. In closing, can you tell us what the best thing about being natural is to you?
Pure freedom, I love the variety that I can achieve with my hair. This summer I want to shave one side, not full Cassidy but shave it to the ear.
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