By Katrice
I've been natural now for four years and thankfully have found a selection of products to help keep my hair healthy and happy. It was a long road, so when people stop me to ask what I'm using, I feel compelled to share as much as I can. I like to try a lot of new products, but truthfully there a few staples that I use without fail. Finding just the right mix helped me to recover from being a product junkie. So, I thought I'd update my product diary ... I haven't done it here in a while.
1. Shea Moisture Organic African Black Soap Deep Cleansing Shampoo: My go-to for an always-itchy scalp. I love that my scalp is refreshed without my hair being dried out by the formula.
2. I bought a trial size bottle of MORROCANOIL at an event two years ago and I'm just half way through it. A little bit does the job.
3. Elasta QP Olive Oil & Mango Butter Moisturizer changed the entire trajectory of my natural hair journey. I struggled with dry hair before trying it. Now, I use it once or twice a week for my twist outs. It's light and leaves no residue.
4. I discovered Beautiful Textures Moisture Butter Whipped Curl Creme by chance when I needed something to smooth my edges and I was out of my usual product. It was a perfect stand-in. Like a lotion, it's heavy enough to lay my edges down without of getting hard.
5. While I'm always telling others to read the label of products and follow the directions for optimal results, the first time I used One 'N Only Argan Oil Curl Cream my best friend handed it to me to try. I put it in my hair hoping for moisturization before pulling it up. When I got home, I read the label and thought, oh, this is a leave-in conditioner ... and started using it as such. It's not, but my hair is so super soft after using it that I'll keep doing what I'm doing.
What are you loving for your hair right now?
I've been natural now for four years and thankfully have found a selection of products to help keep my hair healthy and happy. It was a long road, so when people stop me to ask what I'm using, I feel compelled to share as much as I can. I like to try a lot of new products, but truthfully there a few staples that I use without fail. Finding just the right mix helped me to recover from being a product junkie. So, I thought I'd update my product diary ... I haven't done it here in a while.
2. I bought a trial size bottle of MORROCANOIL at an event two years ago and I'm just half way through it. A little bit does the job.
3. Elasta QP Olive Oil & Mango Butter Moisturizer changed the entire trajectory of my natural hair journey. I struggled with dry hair before trying it. Now, I use it once or twice a week for my twist outs. It's light and leaves no residue.
4. I discovered Beautiful Textures Moisture Butter Whipped Curl Creme by chance when I needed something to smooth my edges and I was out of my usual product. It was a perfect stand-in. Like a lotion, it's heavy enough to lay my edges down without of getting hard.
5. While I'm always telling others to read the label of products and follow the directions for optimal results, the first time I used One 'N Only Argan Oil Curl Cream my best friend handed it to me to try. I put it in my hair hoping for moisturization before pulling it up. When I got home, I read the label and thought, oh, this is a leave-in conditioner ... and started using it as such. It's not, but my hair is so super soft after using it that I'll keep doing what I'm doing.
What are you loving for your hair right now?
By Katrice
I love a good chunky afro puff, but you probably already know that if you're here often or follow me on instagram {MyVicariousLyfe}. I can dress it up or down, and change the look of the style by its positioning. People always ask me what I'm using to hold it up and to smooth my edges. So, I'm overdue for a how-to.
What I use: Organic Root Stimulator Smooth-n-Hold Pudding or Beautiful Textures Moisture Butter {I discovered BT Moisture Butter because I ran out of ORS Pudding and had to use the products I already have since I'm on a shopping hiatus. Good things have come of this! lol}, a medium bristle brush, cloth stretch headband.
What I do: The best afro puffs are after I've had a twist out for a few days {sleeping with it covered by a satin bonnet} and my hair has volumized into a chunky afro. The bigger my afro, the better the poof.
Apply just enough ORS Smoothing Pudding or BT Moisture Butter to the edges of your hairline to brush them to the smoothness you desire. Neither of these products harden or remain greasy, which is a plus for if you like it to look natural.
Even if you can't find stretchy multi-strand cloth headbands like the ones I have from Goody, you can use a pair of pantyhose that has been fashioned into a headband. You need one that's just large enough to wrap place around your neck and twice, so that it's tight but not too tight to push up over your face and onto your hair.
Tip: As you get the band to the edge of your hair and start to push it up, pushing it up in the back versus too far back from the front will allow a more full puff and not put so much pressure on the crown of your head. You shouldn't have a headache with this style. {smile}
By Katrice
Last night I marked My Vicarious Life 2nd birthday with a Social Soiree at the LOFT at Castleberry Hill. What a spectacular evening! Thank you to everyone who came out to help me celebrate and to The MVL Social sponsors — Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine, Avon, Shea Moisture, Color Me Beautiful, Beautiful Textures and Blackberry. I could not have done it without you!
Toy Matthews
Swag courtesy of Avon and Shea Moisture
And more swag. Love these clutches from Color Me Beautiful
Me with Ebony Janice Moore and Yolanda Mines
K Thuy Ng, Charis Finesse and Tao C
Natasha Davis-Bowen and Ann Keys-Spencer
Tasha Robinson, Dea Win, Shawntel Asemota, Alaina Garrett and Kristen Cottrell-Henderson
The winner of a Color Me Beautiful tote giveaway
The winner of a Blackberry Play Book
John Stephens, LaToya Stephens and Myleik Teele
By Katrice
I attended 'Fro Fashion Week at Hotel Melia in Atlanta for a few hours on Saturday and saw some of MVL's favorite folks {Myleik Teele of curBOX, Felicia Leatherwood of Loving Your Hair With Natural Care, Ken Burkeen of Huetiful, Tia of If I Were a Brit Girl, Trina of The Baby Shopaholic, and Eboni - The Fashionista Next Door}. I've been trying to get to the celebration of natural hair, beauty and style since first hearing of it last spring. Naturally Me! Media LLC hosts a phenomenal presentation of workshops, vendors and events centered on natural hair as a lifestyle. Some workshops included: Transitioning to Natural Hair, How to Make Your Own Coconut Oil, and Thermal Straightening. I was only able to attend Design Essentials' class previewing it's new Natural Line and demonstration of the products, which feature a lot of butters and oils to help maintain texture by giving you the weight and moisture you need to enhance your natural curl. I also looked in on one by Kynx and best of all — spent some time in my host Shea Moisture's Total Body Spa. Yes, Shea Moisture was offering an introduction to all of it's luscious products, 30-minute massages and light manicures. After a long week, I needed that in my life. I even got some tips from another MVL friend Chimole Williams of Shea Moisture on how to get a better twist out finish with the Curl Enhancing Smoothie.
I attended 'Fro Fashion Week at Hotel Melia in Atlanta for a few hours on Saturday and saw some of MVL's favorite folks {Myleik Teele of curBOX, Felicia Leatherwood of Loving Your Hair With Natural Care, Ken Burkeen of Huetiful, Tia of If I Were a Brit Girl, Trina of The Baby Shopaholic, and Eboni - The Fashionista Next Door}. I've been trying to get to the celebration of natural hair, beauty and style since first hearing of it last spring. Naturally Me! Media LLC hosts a phenomenal presentation of workshops, vendors and events centered on natural hair as a lifestyle. Some workshops included: Transitioning to Natural Hair, How to Make Your Own Coconut Oil, and Thermal Straightening. I was only able to attend Design Essentials' class previewing it's new Natural Line and demonstration of the products, which feature a lot of butters and oils to help maintain texture by giving you the weight and moisture you need to enhance your natural curl. I also looked in on one by Kynx and best of all — spent some time in my host Shea Moisture's Total Body Spa. Yes, Shea Moisture was offering an introduction to all of it's luscious products, 30-minute massages and light manicures. After a long week, I needed that in my life. I even got some tips from another MVL friend Chimole Williams of Shea Moisture on how to get a better twist out finish with the Curl Enhancing Smoothie.
After a few minutes chatting with Tarin Boone, the CEO of Naturally Me Media and founder of 'Fro Fashion Week, my experience on the whole made sense. One of her main intents when organizing the event was that brands would have an opportunity to really engage with customers. Done.
I'll definitely be back in September.
I'll definitely be back in September.
