Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Don't Cha Know No Good???

Often times us girls fall victim to the traps that the manufacturers of the labels of tons of hair products that are extremely unhealthy for our hair. All we need to see is a label that says something like "GROW", "SHINE", "CURL", "STRAIGHTENING", or "DEFINE", and we just gotta have it. Oh and don't let it have a cute bottle (you know the ones that shimmer), then it's definitely a done deal!

It's really important that we be tougher than that because we simply can't afford to put some of the chemicals that those products contain in our hair. Many of these products have chemicals such as Mineral Oil and Sulfur that are very VERY, SUPER, DUPER bad for our hair!

Mineral oil and petroleum, which is usually found in conditioners and moisturizers, suffocates your scalp keeping any nutrients from entering your scalp or hair follicles as well as trapping in any toxins that your body is trying to release. So basically it keeps the good stuff out and keeps the bad stuff in. Mineral oil and petroleum have the same effect on your skin so stay away from lotions, oils and VASELINE that contain these products as well.  So, it might be a good idea to let go the family tradition of greasing your face, hair, feet and knees with petroleum jelly. 

Petroleum is something used to make tires along with rubber and it just doesn't belong in your hair! It has the same exact effects on your hair as does mineral oil. 

Sulfur, which is usually found in shampoos, is a harsh chemical that is actually used in some cleaning products and laundry detergents, and it strips your hair of most of its nutrients; and dries it out big time! Sulfur is also found in a lot of body washes and soaps, and it has the same effect on your skin as it does on your hair. 

It is a bit of a challenge to try to limit yourself to using only hair and beauty products that do not contain mineral oil and sulfur because the majority of products you will see on the shelves of any store will contain these chemicals. However, one good thing about this is that you will be less inclined to spend a bunch of money on hair products just because they have a persuasive description and cute container. When I discovered the effects that mineral oil and sulfur had on your hair and skin I went on a anti-mineral oil and anti-sulfur rampage. I threw out every thing that I had that contained these chemicals. Because I realized that products with those chemicals were actually preventing my hair from being healthy; causing dry itchy scalp, serious breakage, and lack of moisture.
I dug deep and did some research on what products I could use that didn't contain these chemicals and I cam across a few goodies!

These are the products that I currently use in my hair...






This Organix brand is heaven sent!!! I personally love the coconut milk, but they have a ton of different lines for all of your hair needs! 
 All of their products are mineral oil, petroleum and sulfur free!!!

You can find these products at any walmart, target, drugstore, and most of your Chinese hair
stores! 
This pretty much my main jawn when it comes to shampoo's and conditioners because they are all the way like that! The shampoo makes your hair feel squeaky clean after just one wash (oh yea and you should try to just stick to just one wash to prevent over-washing), an the conditioner leaves your hair   amazingly soft. Not to mention the decadent scent of the coconut milk. 



 This is another great product. Its a great deep conditioner or co-wash product. Another plus is that it is alot cheaper than the organix products. You can also find this at any drug store or walmart/target. 


 I started using this shampoo when I dyed my hair. Its a moisturizing shampoo which is really good for color because the color dries your hair out so much. Its also specially designed for us dyed girls. 




For extra moisture and shine while I'm running out the door, this olive oil spray is the way to go! And you can best believe on days that I ran out of this bottle I went right to the kitchen cabinet and slapped some olive oil from the jar right on my head. 

These few products n a brush every now n then is all I need to do my low fade.  




While I know it may hurt your feelings a little to rid your bathroom cabinets of all the yucky petroleum, mineral oil an sulfur products, your hair, skin, and body will love you for it!

Peace and olive oil* you beauties!

Wise words I needed to hear.

"I poured a half glass of juice in my cup nd I questioned myself, is this glass half full or half empty? Then I thought y does that matter I am extremely thirsty. Sometimes we focus on minor things and pay no mind to The MAJOR issue at hand. :D stay GOLDGEOUS :D. FOCUS ON WHATS MOST IMPORTANT."

I was feeling a little less than peachy today, but these words helped put things into perspective for me.
These are the words of a good friend of mine, a very wise man, LIFE COACH and MOVE-I-VATIONAL SPEAKER, Elias Zechariah Barnes.

This is just a taste of the many wise words that this man has encouraged me and many others with. 
I am thankful to be blessed by such GREATNESS.

 Friend him on facebook & follow him on twitter

I needed that...

Monday, May 23, 2011

SUNNIES!

This season's sunnie trends are more fabulous than ever with trends from the with trends from the 50's, 60's and 70's like Cat eyes, John Lenon's, and Chunks!




Cat eyes


John Lennon's


Chunks

I did some web browsing and found some must have sunnies in this season's brilliant styles. I found some for you ballers but I also found some cheapie but goodies! (The not so cheapies are marked with a *)


Studded winged cat eyes from topshop.com


Red chunky cat eyes from asos.com


Clear chunky cat eyes from topshop.com


Retro futuristic cateyes by Super from 80spurple.com *


Alexander Wang brass sharp cateyes from 80spurple.com *



Vintage cat eye slims from anthropologie.com *


Chunky cat eye geeky specs from asos.com


Metal John Lennon's from topshop.com


Chunky tiger stripped John Lennon's from urbanoutfitters.com


Clear, yellow lense johnnies from topshop.com 


Chunky John Lennon's from asos.com


Red John Lennon's from topshop.com

Oversized John Lennon's from topshop.com


Status Sunglasses by Grey Ant
worn by celeb SUPERSTYLIST, June Ambrose





Oversized color block chunky frames from asos.com


Chuncky round sunnies by Culter & Gross from anthropologie.com *


Square chunkies from topshop.com





Hopefully all of this talk about sunnies will send some sun our way, because lately the forecast has been so depressing!
But until then we might have to have fun with our sunnies in some imaginary sun...

Love. Peace and SUNNIES.


Sunday, May 22, 2011

Crochet Craze!

I have always been attracted to the idea of making fashion No-no's into fashion "YESYESSYESSS"'s! And this is soo happening with this new CROCHET CRAZE that is sweeping the streets these days! 
When most people think of crochet, they don't think of fashion because the act of crocheting is something usually done by our grandma's, who take about a year to whip us up that God forsaken hat, mitten n scarf set. Or something like this...



Now crochet is not just a bad gift from granny, it was actually quite the trend during the 70s aka CROCHET IS  A RECYCLED TREND & WE LOVE RECYCLED TRENDS!!!



The only problem is that I don't kno if I'm jive enough to pull off the look that these two lil bad mamas are so innocently owning...Lucky for me thats not exactly what the crochet trends of twenty-eleven look like.

The crochet trends of this season are new, improved and hotter than ever!
...and while on my crochet hunt, I found crochet everything...check it out!




tops


vests





Dresses


Shorts





Bags

As you can see there is some 70's inspired hipness happening in these threads, but they are also altered a little to  appeal to the more modern eye. Nevertheless, I AM LOVING THIS CROCHET CRAZE! And I see some things I need to add to my wardrobe asap!


These goodies can be found @ anthropologie.com, asos.com, and topshop.com

Thursday, May 19, 2011

OH Happy Day!!!

Palozzo Pants!!!
It's no secret that we recycle fashion, we bring things back from later decades and swear we did it better than before. Let me start off by saying that recycling and reusing is one of my favorite themes of fashion, so recycle on beauties!!! One of the recycled trends for this season that got 3 finger snap-waves and a head dip from me is PALOZZO PANTS!!! They are definitely an 80's fashion trend that has been recycled, and I'm loving their return!!! Although this is not a recycled trend that is fresh off the runway, I got too damn excited when I started seeing them more often in stores and online!!! You know what that means... Palozzo pants for everyone!!!!

This season you should be able to find them in lots of fun styles...

high waisted& cropped

brights

pleated

pleated & printed


(these particular palozzo's can be found @ asos.com!)


Just for fun, I did a mini shoot yesterday of a couple of different ways you can wear a pair of simple black palozzo's! Now mind you it was raining so my frickin pants got wet, but you should get the idea!








I love when the wind has it's way with my palozzo's!!!
FUN. FUN. FUN...

I originally fell in love with palozzo's when I saw my girls Kimberly "Kim" Reese  and Winifred "Freddie" Brooks nailing the look in the hit 80's sitcom, "A Different World"!!! This is my fav show like EVER && the fashion on this show is absolutely to die for!!!

The cast of "A Different World"!!!
And of course Kim is working the printed chiffon palozzo's with an over sized big-bird-yellow blazer! Like what else would she be doing??? 
Ughh cant get enough of her!!! Effin Love it!

Add.this.