Clear Proof Voxbox: 1 Week Check In

It's been one week since I started using my complimentary ClearProof Voxbox from Influenster and Mary Kay. Although I plan on using the system for 30 days, I wanted to compare my before pics with my pics after 1 week of using ClearProof.

Excuse the white stuff in my hair. I took this picture during wash day, hence the conditioner in my hair. Lol.

10/26/14- 1 Week of using Clear Proof

I think I see a difference especially on the sides of my face. It's too early to tell but so far I like what I see.  I'm crossing my fingers for great results and I promise to post a full review of the system after 30 days. 

Until next time :)!

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Natural Hair Journey: 6 Months Natural

It seems a little crazy that it has been six months already. 

Current Length:  I haven't gotten around to doing an official length check. But I promise to do one for my 1 year anniversary. My guess is that my hair is somewhere around 5".

My Go-to Styles this month: This month was all about wearing my afro without any accessories. I've accepted the shorter hairdo and I appreciate my twa. I know that when my hair does grow out, it will be a lot more work. So for now, short is easy and fun :). That being said, my hair cut is starting to grow out. And as I feared, if you look close enough, you can see that my hair is uneven.  I don't plan on fixing it right now so we'll see how it grows out in the next several months. 

 Hair Regimen: It took several months but I think I have a pretty good regimen. Incorporating new products  has helped me tackle my moisture problem. My hair is like a sponge--soft and springy. Oh and thanks to Carol's Daughter and SheaMoisture my hair always smells amazing! I love the way my hair feels now and I find myself playing in it a lot more than before. 

Plans for next month:  Find ways to incorporate protein treatments into my regimen.

Until next time :)!

Wash Day Recap + Carol's Daughter Joins Loreal

                                                                          Wash Day

[1]  Pre-pooed with Jamaican Black Castor Oil and EVCO under a plastic cap for an hour. 
[2]  Co-washed with SheaMoisture Co-wash Cleansing Conditioner.

[3]  Conditioned with Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner for about 3-5 minutes.

[4]  ACV rinse + Water after I washed out my conditioner. I left the mixture on my hair for about 5 minutes and then washed it out. 

[5] Tea Rinse: I didn't do a tea rinse this wash day but I plan on doing one on Friday.
[6] I applied my leave-in conditioners:  Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Leave-In Conditioner and Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner

[7]  Detangled with my wide tooth shower comb.  I try to make it a point to detangle with my wide tooth comb or my Denman brush at least once a week. 

[8] Finished up by applying  JBCO and Shea Moisture's Curling Custard before putting on my satin bonnet and going to bed.

Since adding new products to my regimen, I've noticed that my hair has been thriving and retaining moisture.  My only problem now is...I can't keep my hands out of my hair!

                                                             Carol's Daughter Joins L' Oreal  

I'm sure by now everyone heard the news but just in case, here is the video.



After the company filed for bankruptcy back in the spring, I was anxious to see what the next few months would hold for the company. Although I'm a new customer of Carol's Daughter, I've always admired Lisa's commitment to quality products for her customers. Now that I'm a customer, I'm concerned about how this change will affect the products. While I want to believe that the quality will continue, it seems this could be the beginning of the end of Carol's Daughter. The brand may survive for the next several years but the question remains, at what cost? A partnership with a company that focused on healthy hair products for natural hair would have made more sense. But, maybe this will be a good thing.  Although something tells me I should stock up on all of my favorite Carol's Daughter products now. Lol

What are your thoughts? Is this a good move for Carol's Daughter or is this the beginning of the end? Feel free to comment below.

Until next time :)!

Fashion Finds: The Red Dress Boutique + Influenster #ClearProof VoxBox

Fashion Finds

One of my goals this year, really the rest of this decade, is to cultivate/improve my sense of fashion. I've never considered myself a fashionista at all but I'm at a point in life, when I feel like I need to step it up a little. Not that I don't dress nicely but I feel like I want a little more diversity in my wardrobe. Since fashion is not my area of expertise, I plan to use any help I can get. I believe that you can look great without breaking your pocketbook.  Here are some of my fashion finds:


The Red Dress Boutique 

Yes, I admit it, I watch Shark Tank and I love it. Anyway, the story behind this online boutique pulled at my heartstrings and I knew I was going to be a fan. The clothes are cute and I love that you can shop by outfit, lookbook and price. You can also pair shoes and accessories with your purchases. And if you're like me, you will appreciate how they coordinate each outfit to give you an idea on how to wear it. I find more and more that visuals, especially when it comes to fashion, are very helpful. Plus, this site has outfits that I can actually afford!

Here is a cute dress that the co-owner wore on the episode of Shark Tank this past Friday...I've been trying not to buy it. We'll see how that goes.

                                         

Photo courtesy of The Red Dress Boutique

Le Tote

A couple of months ago a friend of mine shared her cute outfits from Gwynnie Bee, a subscription service for sizes 10-32. I loved the idea and immediately started researching alternatives to Gwynnie Bee. Thanks to the 3bestof everything, I found three options that I plan to try out. Le Tote was her top recommendation and from what I've seen so far, I would have to agree.  For $19 a month, you can get a jewelry box that lets you try out three accessories at a time. Or, for $50 a month you receive three garments and two accessories in every tote. In either case, you try out what is sent to you, return what you don't want and buy the items you want to keep.  Right now, they're running a great deal: refer a friend and receive a free month.  I haven't signed up for a subscription yet, but I'm seriously considering it.

Check out the 3bestofeverything for her other picks.

What do you think of Le Tote? Would you try it out?

Influenster #ClearProof Voxbox

For this campaign, I received a complimentary #ClearProof Voxbox courtesy of Mary Kay and Influenster. It's like they know the struggle that I have with acne. I thought my acne filled high school days were over and then my acne returned with vengeance in my late twenties. I've tried a number of acne systems that either didn't work or were too expensive.  I'm excited to see how this system will stack up with the rest. Here's a look at what I received in my Voxbox:

The system includes: cleanser, toner, spot treatment and moisturizer

I will use the Clear Proof system for 30 days (I started using the system yesterday) and show you all my results. As much as I hate highlighting my acne for all to see....here are my before pics. Side note, I was deep conditioning my hair when I took these pictures, hence the white stuff in my hair:

                                                       

Do you struggle with adult acne? If so, which products have worked for you? Have you tried Clear Proof my Mary Kay? Feel free to comment below.

Until next time :)!

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Recap of Wash Day+ Calling all Naturalists: Help me find a protein treatment for my hair!

Happy Friday everyone!

Here's a recap of Wednesday's Wash Day.

[1]  Pre-pooed with Jamaican Black Castor Oil and EVCO under a plastic cap for an hour. 
[2]  Clarified with Alba Botanica Daily Shampoo. I can't remember if I clarified in September I know, so it was important that I did it this month. I'm a big fan of this shampoo and how clean my hair is after.

Photo courtesy of albabotanica.com

[3]  Conditioned with Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner for about 3-5 minutes.

[4]  ACV rinse + Water after I washed out my conditioner. I left the mixture on my hair for about 5 minutes and then washed it out. 

[5] Tea Rinse:  This week I did a green and black tea mix. I left the tea mixture in and wrapped an old t-shirt around my head for about 10-15 minutes
[6] I applied  Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Leave-In Conditioner and used my Denman brush to detangle. I also used Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner, JBCO and Shea Moisture's Curling Custard before putting on my satin bonnet and going to bed.

Calling all naturalists: Help me find a protein treatment

Finding a protein treatment for my natural hair has been on my to-do list since my big chop in April. There are so many products out there and as much as I love researching things on my own, I would love some suggestions! I'm apart of the #curlygirlmethod, so I'm looking for something that has no sulfates, silicones and is natural. If you have a product that you love or want to recommend, leave a comment below on on the Adventures of a Nappy Chica's facebook page!

Until next time :)!

How to Survive A Bad Haircut

It's been exactly one month since my unplanned second big chop. Although it took some time, I was able to bounce back and use it as a learning experience. Here are some tips and suggestions for surviving a bad haircut.  

Find a support system

The first hour after my unplanned chop I cried.  I kept thinking about how it would set my hair journey back and how much length I lost. Fortunately, my husband reminded me that my hair WOULD grow back. He encouraged me to take it as a learning lesson and to come back stronger than ever.

Whether it's a spouse, partner or another family member, find someone that can help you put things into perspective.  Sometimes it's tough to see the bigger picture when you're focused on the problem.

Fake it til you make it 

When I decided to go natural I prepped myself for months for the Big Chop. I knew what to expect and I was confident with my short do. My trim/unplanned second Big Chop threw me for a loop because I didn't see it coming. Needlessly to say, I'm not happy with it.  So until I my hair grows out, I plan to wear hats, scarves, wraps and other accessories.  Vine80 has some cute, fun bows that can help hide any bad haircut.  If that doesn't work, try wearing braids or extensions until you feel more comfortable.

If you take care of it, it will grow

A bad haircut can leave you feeling depressed and defeated. Instead of mourning your loss strands, use this time to revamp your hair regimen and go-to products. Drinking plenty of water, exercising and eating a well balanced diet will also help you grow strong, beautiful hair. Taking a supplement such as Biotin may also aide in hair growth. Be sure to talk to a doctor first and do your research before taking any supplements for hair growth.

Be prepared the next time 

I did all of my research before my trim and I thought it was prepared. In the end, I didn't speak up when I thought the hairstylist was cutting too much. Part of me thought since she was a hairstyle, she knew what was best for my hair.  Make sure you outline your expectations BEFORE your haircut. Be sure the hairstylist talks to you throughout the process and gets your approval before doing anything drastic. Remember, it is YOUR hair and it is okay to speak up if you disagree with something.

 Until next time :)!

Results of 30 Days of Moisture Challenge + Fall Castor Oil Challenge Check-In

Results of 30 Days of Moisture Challenge

By now, you all know that I like to participate in the hair challenges. It's a great way to focus on different aspects of my hair regimen and help keep me motivated. September's challenge was 30 Days of Moisture sponsored by Relaxed Thairapy and Just Grow Already. Since moisture has been an issue for me, something common in the twa stage, I was definitely on board. Here was my plan of attack:

[1]  Find moisturizing hair products

Because my hair wasn't retaining moisture, I thought it was time to try some new products. First, I need to find a new deep conditioner. I decided to try SheaMoisture's Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner, which I love. Check out this post for my full review. Then, I focused on trying a new leave-in conditioner. I've heard great reviews of Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Leave-In Conditioner in conjunction with Kinky Curly Knot Today (this leave-in conditioner was already in my stash and is great for detangling). I also bought Marguerite's Magic Restorative Cream by Carol's Daughter. 

[2] Change my nightly routine

I have to admit, I definitely slacked in this area starting around month two. Now, however, I do the LOC (liquid, oil and cream) method every night before bed. For my liquid, I use the Black Vanilla Leave-Conditioner,  JBCO to seal in the moisture and finish by using Marguerite's Magic Restorative Cream. 

[3] Deep Condition every week

I'm a big fan of co-washing and so far it has worked for my hair. Right now I co-wash twice a week with a co-wash cleansing conditioner. I make it a point to deep condition once a week during one of my co-wash days. And believe me, the hype surrounding deep conditioning is real. My hair always feels soft, moisturized and more manageable after I deep condition.

I have to say that making these changes and adjustments have truly made a difference. I also do a refreshing spray with either the Black Vanilla Leave-In Conditioner or DevaCurl Set It Free if my hair needs it. Going forward, I need to make sure I have enough protein in my regimen to keep the moisture balanced. Too much moisture can cause damage to hair as well. 

Fall Castor Oil Challenge Check-In

Last week was week 5 of the Kinky Coily Curly Me's Fall Castor Oil Challenge. I really like Tropic Isle's Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO) so I've decided to use it again. Here are my length check pictures and I'll post another one at the end of the challenge in December.

                                  

                                                              

                                                           

                                               

Side view with a close-up of an acne flair up. Lol.

Until next time :)!