Another VoxBox!!!

Hey Curl Friends!

Sorry for the absence. My husband and I went away for our one year wedding anniversary and then we had some tragic news in the family. I've also gone into protective mode (a weave), but will be taking it out next month and will be back to reviewing products. (Selene and I have not been agreeing lately so she and I decided to take a mini break from one another, lol.)

In the meantime, I just received a VoxBox from Influenster.com, which if you haven't heard of, you should take a look. They have also changed their website and have made the process of signing up to receive these boxes much easier. They also have different badges you collect and the Vox Boxes are tailored to your different interests and badges. I also like that you don't have to pay any money. I've seen some other beauty sites that have you subscribe by paying money.

(A list of the items that I received)

This is called the: Beauty Bloggers VoxBox 2012

This first thing I will go through is: NYC Colors IndividualEyes created for brown eyes.

(From L-R (top) you have the highlighter, all over lid and two crease colors. On the bottom there is the primer as well as an illuminator color. I really like that it comes with the primer.)

Kiss Ever Pro Lashes Starter Kit

(Comes with everything you need to apply the lashes) 

Bath and body Works Mini Candle in Nutmeg and Spice

 (I usually really enjoy spice scented candles, however upon first smell I'm not too sure about this one. I typically don't like candles that try to smell like baked goods. I find they are overly sweet and kind of nauseating. But I will give this one a try.)

EBOOST

 (Never heard of this before, but it's really a great timing. My husband had been under the weather and I think I might be getting what he had, so this is perfect. My only concern is that it's also an energy booster as well.)

Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin

 (I have been wanting to try these for a while now)

Not Your Mother's Smooth Moves Frizz Control Hair Cream

(If you noticed on the list I could've recived the Kinky Moves Curl Defininf hair Cream. I wish I had been sent that one instead since my hair is curly and I'm not planning on using a flat iron until next June or even later. So, I'm afraid this one may not be completely reviewed by me. I may, however, do a smell and consistency test.)

Oh! I also forgot to mention that I got a gift certificate to BedBath and Beyond for any 3-Wick Candle up to $10 dollars. It expires October 28th so I have to make sure to use this soon...tomorrow is what I'm thinking.


Until next time, stay curly!  

Looks like Santa Came Early!

Hey Curls,

Julian of Bella Kinks blessed me with a wonderful surprise in the mail today. (What a great treat to come home to after having my one year wedding anniversary). I'm looking forward to trying these items as well as reviewing them for you. I hope everyone ha a great holiday and enjoying their fall.

Until next time,

Stay Curly.

Protective Wear

Hello Curls!

I want to talk about protective styling for the fall and winter months, when doing a wash n go is a no. I live in Western, NY and we get pretty cold and snowy this way, so I've been thinking about ways to preserve my hair. In the past I have done weaves and twists and have seen my hair grow. Lately, I have been thinking about adding wigs to this protective time of the year mainly because of the low manipulation of my own hair.

(My Senegalese twists...my edges are pretty thin here...too much tension)

(One of my favorite weave color combination I've had done.)

(This was taken before my belly dance performance, and I am wearing a wig...although, it's in a pony tail. I cannot even begin to tell you how many compliments I received  from complete strangers as well as friends and family.)

(I know it's not the best photo, but I really liked this one)

(It looks really blue in this picture, but in natural light the purple really comes out)

(Here you can see the purple a bit more-sorry for the funny face, lol)

(Annnnd again...)

(Head band I got from ModCloth...they actually sent me the wrong color and are sending out the correct one...and I get to keep this! They are a really great company! Anyhoo..)

In the past, I have gotten weaves and/or twists for protective styling, but I dislike how my hair has been handled. I asked on my Facebook page "Do they always have to blow your hair "straight" in order to style? (e.g. twists, weaves and the like.) Even when I had stretched my hair out in the past, they still used a blow dryer (and comb ಠ_ಠ) before styling my hair. I had to calmly ask them not to. What have your experiences been?"

My curl friend and main editor at Bella-Kinks responded with this "I have blow dried my hair a few times now... Use medium heat, an ionic or far infrared technology blow dryer and a good heat protectant. I use grapeseed oil... If you are afraid, blow dry it yourself before going. My hair is very healthy and curls right back up... :)"

I think that is great advice. I certainly trust myself with my own hair than some salons I've been to...with the exception of one salon that I found and will be going back to. (I like that she has her hair history...among other things.)  But I love having the color options of wigs, and can still style my own hair without using heat or risk tension on my edges. So what are you doing for the weather changes? Me? I'll be sticking with wigs for a while. (*If anyone is interested to know where I got that wig from I visited Krista's Etsy store. She has everything from daring to more mild, as well as some you can customize.This piece came with a wig cap, as well as scented with a conditioner of my choice. I'll be doing a separate review for this soon.)

Until next time, stay curly!

LUSH's Rehab Shampoo: A Review

Hello Curlies!

I wanted to do a quick review about LUSH's Rehab shampoo. (This was another item that I husband gave to me as a gift for my birthday.)

(Source)

What is Claims:

"Hairspray, bleach, hair dye, styling products, poor health – these are all things that can really take a toll on your hair and leave it far away from its natural best. Treat your abused hair to some serious recovery time in the shower with Rehab shampoo. Rehab is about bringing your hair and scalp back to basics and repairing it with an array of nutritious ingredients. Enzymic papaya cleanses, while almond oil softens the follicles. It doesn't take long for this shampoo to restore your hair to youth and vitality. Once your hair has been put into Rehab, you'll never look back." (source)

What is Contains: 

(For a more detailed list)

The first thing that I noticed is that is contains Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate. Typically us curlies stay away from anything that contains the word "sulfate" in it. (A number of curlies have allergic reactions as well as experience dryness when using products that contain sulfate.) So, needless to say I was a bit nervous to try this product, but I was due for my one month cleansing and I really wanted to try it. (And as you can tell from the picture up above, I did not use much of it. A little goes a long way.)

I started my routine on a few days old mini twist, twist out. I usually try and condition my hair before I use any shampoo, but I wanted to SKIP that part of my routine to get truer results. I wet my hair and after I shook the bottle, applied the product to my scalp ONLY and used the pads of my fingers to cleanse my scalp. The first thing I noticed when opening the bottle is the smell of peppermint. Which, to me is always invigorating. I also noticed there was lather, which had me nervous, but was hoping that it would not completely strip my hair. When I finished cleansing, I rinsed (and I also figured it would "clean" the rest of my hair without stripping it completely of moisture) and conditioned with Tresemme Naturals conditioner.

Results/Thoughts:

I LOVED it!! Since I only used it on my scalp to clean, Rehab did not strip my hair. Even before putting the conditioner on, my hair still felt moisturized AND clean. This is not something I would use every day or every week, but rather once a month to get my scalp clean. (I'm still looking for a decently priced sulfate free shampoo that I can use all throughout my hair for the times when I do not want to co-wash)

Overall, I would recommend this product if used the way I did. I'm a little nervous to try it on all of my hair, but I might do that next month.

Until then, stay curly!  

L'Oreal EverCream Sulfate-Free Intense Nourishing Conditioner-Review

Hello again!

So, I've been sitting on this product for a little while now and wanted to wait to do a review after I've tried it a few times. And I have to say that I'm really loving this leave in for my hair. It leaves my hair soft, with a slight sheen and it's not too greasy...oh and the most important thing is that it leaves it moisturized! (Like, for days!)

I originally saw Jess from mahoganycurls review this product along with the gel in the same line on Youtube. I didn't get the gel, because I have the EcoStyler and Giovanni L.A. Natural Styling Gel to go through,which...by the way goes great together. (The Giovanni Gel and this L'Oreal EverCream...leaves no strange white "balls" on the hair, but that is another review..lol!)

So, I washed my hair with Lush's Rehab Shampoo, which my husband purchased for my birthday last month. I only use shampoo once a month and I wanted to try this out.(I'll be doing a separate review for this as well.) Then I conditioned and detangled with Tresemme Naturals Silicone Free Conditioner and separated my hair into six sections. Before adding the EverCream, I applied coconut oil to each section. (I'm following the LOC method, which is Liquid, Oil Cream to keep my hair moisturized.)

 (What the product bottle looks like)

(Ingredient list-This does contain mineral oil and cetearyl alcohol)

 (The front...so shiny! Side note: I did NOT use any gel to keep my twists in place. Just the coconut oil and the product I'm reviewing)

 (Oh yeah, I have color now!!)

 (Love the way the color looks in the light..and the sheen!)

 (Close up, I didn't make exact parts. I find that when I do, it doesn't look quite so "natural".)

(And I made the twists all different sizes,but was trying to go for a chunkier twist out.)

I slept with these in overnight, with my satin bonnet of course. The pictures posted above were taken this morning. So, without further ado...here are my results!!

 (This is right after taking them out. I have not separated them with a rat tail comb, yet and I didn't need to add any extra oil!)

(From the back...love the chunkiness of the hair!)

(The side, I see a little more that needs to be fluffed out a bit)

(From the front)

Overall...I love how this has turned out! This is my first time doing a chunky twist out and I have to say that I like it better than doing the smaller size. I liked that this product had enough hold that I didn't need to use a gel to keep it twisted. I will be doing this again! Have you heard of and/or tried this product of L'Oreals? If so, let me know your results. 

Until next time, stay curly! 

IberoStar Grand Rose Hall-Montego Bay, Jamaica

Hello Naturals!

So, I'm finally getting around to writing a post/review about our honeymoon...almost a year later... :-/ Oops! Better late than never,right? I wrote my original review on TripAdvisor, but I wanted to write a more in depth one on here.

(Source)

We stayed at the Iberostar Grand Rose Hall Suites in Montego Bay, Jamaica. It was an all inclusive hotel and adults only on this side. (I should mention there are two other units that are designed for family vacations as well, in case you're planning on bring the little ones.) We stayed for 5 nights, 6 days in early October. Which really is a perfect time for traveling. The pool was not crowded so we did not have to compete with other guests for a spot, the weather was perfect, with the exception of the last full day we were there. 

(Our Room...please excuse our mess...we took pictures on our last day there)

 (The view from our balcony)

(The lobby piano bar)

(The grand stair cases leading to the pool area, as well as two of the many restaurants on site)

(Practically empty, it had finally stopped raining for a bit. It had rained so hard/much that while we were getting massages, the power went out and there was a little "flooding" at the base of that stair case)

(My husband's dinner. Lobster)

(I had these yummy flounder "rolls")

(The pool bar-usually pretty busy.)

(Us)

(Nightly entertainment by the "Star Friends"

(Bye-bye Iberostar! It was fun while it lasted, but we have more adventuring to do!) 

Pros: 

• With the exception of tipping the bell hops and your personal butler...yes, your own butler, you do not have to worry about paying for drinks at any of the bars or food at any of the restaurants. 
• You get your own butler..after my husband and I would finish with the evening activities, our evening butler had prepared a bubble bath with a bottle of champagne for us. (We're still trying to figure this one out because the water was still hot when we entered the room)
• Friendly staff...maybe too friendly....The Star Friends, their job is to make sure you have the drinks you need when lounging at the pool, tell you the daily activities and make sure you feel welcome during your stay.
• Excellent Service. Everyone was really friendly and really helpful and provided a list of activities for us to do away from the resort. (We did the Dunns River Tour, full day which included lunch, a history lesson provided by our excellent driver, snorkeling, climbing a waterfall and partying on the boat)
• Lots of activities to do. If you're the type of person who likes to stay active during your vacation, there are daily scheduled activities. We did yoga on our second day and my husband played boccie on the last day.
• Breakfast buffet that is out of the world. Fresh juices, fresh fruits, eggs made to order, different pastries, breads, milk, coffee, tea, pancakes...pretty much the works. 
• Lunch buffet that like above was out of this world. If you go, order the grouper it was amazing every time! This is located by the pool and they specialize in more fresh seafood dishes as well as some items that we might be more familiar with. Such as pizza, Chinese type food, red beans and rice...really a good mix of items to eat.
• Since we were there during the low season, not only was it cheaper, but we didn't have to compete to find a day bed or lounger, depending on what kind of mood we were in. 
• There are a few pools to pick from. The one furthest from the beach is the quietest. Perfect if you want to dip in the water occasionally and relax. The second pool is a little closer to the action and is a bit more crowded. The third pool features a volleyball net. And the fourth pool, closest to the beach, has the swim up bar and is certainly the party pool. (We mainly stayed at the first and second pools, we could still have drinks delivered to us)      
• They have an on site "grocery" store in case you forget or need any emergency items. They also have souvenir shops to pick up a gift or two for your loved ones, as well as any mementos you'd like to keep. They also have a boutique clothing shop, where I purchased a swim cover. 

Cons:

• Since we were there during their low season, there was a plethora of staff...so much so that while trying to relax by the pool 5 or more would come over, one after the other and try and get us to join in one of the daily activities. We didn't mind them saying "hi" and ask how we were doing, but that got old rather quickly.
• This is more weather related, but while my husband and I were getting our massages, it rained so hard that the power went out for several minutes. Afterwards, we went to the sauna and hot tubs. The sauna was nice, the hot tubs could've been, but they were all cold. (They're supposed to be at different temperatures, but they all felt the same)
• The room service food is just alright...after our spa visit, and since it was raining, we decided that we wanted to be a little lazy the rest of the day. So, we ordered room service. 

Tips:

• They do have a spa and salon facility, but that is extra money for those services. (However, the sauna, steam room and hot tubs are free to use)
• Room service is free 24 hours a day.
• The in room mini bar drinks are free and feature alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. 
• They require that you make dinner reservations on your first night there to ensure you have a seat. But really, there were extra tables and spaces.
• If you stay at the Iberostar Grand Rose Hall Suites, you have access to all the other pools and dining facilities. If you you stay at the other two (family-in-mind resorts) you are limited to those grounds only. 

Overall, we loved our time there. By the end of it we felt it had gone too quickly. We met other couples who were staying for two weeks, but we felt that would have been too long at one resort. (If we decide to stay two weeks anywhere, we would move to a different resort/location to try something different) We would go back, but we also want to visit other islands in the Caribbean. I highly recommend this resort. 

Where are you headed? Pt. 2

Hello Naturals!

I'm back with the second part of my article about traveling. Last time I mentioned some important pre-travel steps and considerations. This is going to talk about the travel sites I use, as well as hair care tips while on vacation that I have used. (*Disclaimer. I am in no way affiliated with the companies that I mention in this post. They are my own opinions that I am sharing with you and my experience using those sites.)

(Source)

Now, everyone may have their favorite travel site that they use. From AAA.com, Hotwire.com, Priceline.com and the like. Like I mentioned in the first article, I more often than not see a destination I'm interested in on Pinterest. My first stpe is to do a quick internet search about the area (like a tourism board). Next, I like to check TripAdvisor.com. I rely on this site mainly because of the user reviews from things to do, places to stay and where to eat. It also gives me a chance to look at user posted pictures instead of just what management wants you to see. Some reviewers will even post tips about their stay that could be useful.

(Source)

Websites I use:
TripAdvisor.com: This is the first to second website that I like too look at when deciding on a place to stay. In each listing, they often have the contact information as well as the website of the property to look at any additional pictures or gather any additional information. (TIP: You don't need to sign up for this website to use and book, but it has given me a place to leave my reviews for others)
BedandBreakfast.com: I love this site. I used this to book our places where we stayed in Europe. Most of these are privately owned and DO include a meal and/or afternoon snack. This site features a search box, as well as an interactive map to find the destination of your choosing. This site also includes the property website as well as contact information. (TIP: You don't necessarily have to sign up to use this site. Often I booked directive with the personal website of the owner)
AirBnB.com: Works sort of like a "Craigslist" search in that you can type in a location of where you're heading and it will come up with a list of privately owned homes to stay in. What's ncie about this siteis that many list an option to rent just a room or the entire home. They also list the amenities included with your stay.  I will say that you have to look for specific ones that offer breakfast. More often than not, most listing do NOT include food. What's nice is that you can read reviews and tips AND get to read the profile of the person(s) you're staying with and determine if you would be a good fit. (TIP: You do have to sign up for this website in order to book your stay...it's free. If you do book, there is a "service fee")
Bookit.com: I used this site to book our honeymoon trip. This came by recommendation by a friend who used this site. I love this for any resort trip you may be planning. They have the option of just booking the hotel rooms or the package deal, which includes airfare. They often have promotional deals on their site, as well as trip giveaways on their Facebook page. Again, you can read traveler reviews about the hotel as well as tips. I think their strongest market is the Caribbean and Mexico (for all-inclusive stays). That's not to say they don't offer any other locations to stay, but those two areas have the type of accommodation that I'm looking for.  (TIP: You do not need to sign up to use this site in order to book. It gives you the option of paying by credit card/bank card and even PayPal)

(Source-She shares more in depth tips about swimming with natural hair) 

Hair care Tips:

When my husband and I went on our honeymoon, I had just done my big chop and though I had some length, I did not know what I was doing with my hair. I did make sure to wet my hair before going in the pool/ocean so as not to absorb too much chlorine and salt water. After each swim I would wash and condition my hair (with what the hotel provided...*head hung in shame*), but now I know better.

Previous trips I would get braids in and even when I had relaxed hair, I would swim, wash, condition and style and not have any issues. (When we went to the Outer Banks this summer, I had Senegalese Twists put in and that was the easiest, low maintenance hair choice so far)

I think the best bet is to buy your own travel sized containers and fill it with the products you know work well for your hair and to plan accordingly to what styles you will do while there. Being in a different country, they may not have the products you need/want readily available.

(Source-I just subscribed to her blog) 

And the most important thing about all this work: have fun, relax and enjoy the view of wherever your destination takes you. It's important to recharge and what's nice is that you can spend as much or as little as you'd like and/or comfortable with. It could be a short drive from your hometown or to somewhere faraway.

Until next time!

Where are you headed? Pt.1

Hello Naturals!

Today's article post will talk about some of my travel experiences and tips that I've gathered from my many years of traveling. I'm by no means an "expert"and will say that everyone's traveling may differ from what I've done, what booking sites I've used.With that being said, I'll dive right in!

(Source)

My trips usually begin with a thought, a picture and with the invention of Pinterest my brain is on travel overload. (I send myself e-mails and store them in my travel folder so I can go back, if we are serious about a destination...anyhoo..) From there I start researching the place to see if it would even be a good fit, not only for our personalities, but more importantly our budget (sooooo important!)

So you've finally picked the place you want to vacation. Here are a few things to keep in mind: 

• The amount of people going directly corresponds to the budget you have set. You can decide to go over or under that, but be aware of any travel emergencies, missed connections, taxi fares or any unforeseeable things that may pop up...and they do. (Anecdote: My husband and I missed our flight from London to Chicago, despite having left our hotel at what we thought was an early enough time. The underground took about an hour to get to Heathrow. We had no choice but to book the next available flight, which added an additional and unexpected cost to our travel plans.)
• Your final destination, whether it be a country, state, city; there are many different areas in which you can stay. It might be good to determine if you're going to want to stay in just one location or travel around. Another option would be a day trip and then go back to the place where you're staying.
• It is imperative to have the correct identification for each person that is traveling. (Especially if you're flying. If you're driving to your destination, you may not need to go through this) In other words, your passport and appropriate visas to be able to travel to that destination. Visas require you send your passport to the embassy of the country you would like to visit. It is important to allow for processing time. (Anecdote: We have family friends in Brasil and since I was staying in their home, they had to write a letter to the embassy, identifying who they were, how long I would be staying as well as the reason for my visit as I was not staying in a hotel.)
• Are you going to stay in a hotel, bed and breakfast, hostel, with relatives or friends? Each has their pros and cons and that is something that you have to determine is right for you. (Anecdote: For the Europe trip I planned in 2010, I used Bed and Breakfasts;  in Paris, we stayed in a place that was more like a hostel and in London, we stayed in a hotel (but the rate included breakfast). They were outside of the touristy areas and staying with locals allows you to see something you may have otherwise missed.)

(We were in the nearby town of Frisole looking down on Florence at night. Our wonderful host Carla Ulivieri  suggested we go up there on our last night in the city. I wish this picture did the place justice. It was so wonderful. 

That is my review that I posted)

You have your passport and other appropriate travel documentation.  You know the place you're heading to. Now what?

• Are you planning on renting a car? Are you taking a cab? Are you driving to your destination? Flying? Are you taking a motor coach? Train? Subway system? (Anecdote: Since I was very young, 'til now my family and I have rented a car and driven to the Carolinas to visit family. Often times staying with relatives. Renting a car is a nice option to not put miles on your personal vehicle. While traveling in Europe, we used public transportation...with the exception of Paris on our last night. After he proposed to me under The Eiffel Tower, it was too late to take the subway back to our hostel, so we had to get a cab. We would spend the first day in a new place walking around and getting our bearings and studying the train/tram/metro lines.)
• If you're taking any form of public transportation, if it is outside your country of origin, it is important to make sure you have the correct currency for tips, tickets and/or fares. I like to check the exchange rate and/or currency converter of the place where I'm going to see where we would get a better deal. Most often we wait until we get to our final destination, if it's outside of the U.S., to exchange money.
• Some people in the past have recommending taking travelers checks. My only problem with that, is you cannot track how much you are spending and is often just easier to carry around your own currency to exchange as well as a credit card. 

(Source)

A big concern these days is luggage. With airlines charging for your first and/or second checked bag, it might be a good idea to consider ONLY carry-on. I find that is the easiest and most convenient thing. Depending on the destination, here's what I like to pack:

T-shirts (Black and one bright color)

Sweater (Not only for travel day, but if there's a cold evening)

Dress Shirt

Jeans

Yoga Pants (for travel day)

Dress Pants

Shorts (depending on the location and time of year)

Socks

Walking shoes

Dress Shoes

Underthings 

What's nice about having these pieces is that you can mix and match and depending on where you stay, you can wash your clothes. (Plus, the less you bring the more room you'll have for items that you would like to bring back from your destination. 

This is just the foundation of traveling. In the next article, I will be talking about what to do a month out from your trip to day of your trip, as well as what to expect at the airport. I will also include the travel sites that I use the most when booking our vacations. 

Until next time!