PRACTICE SAFE STYLING .. PT.2 .. THE NATURAL WAVE

I'M BACK WITH PT.2 ON MY SERIES DEDICATED TO HELPING YOU ACHIEVE ULTRA HEALTHY HAIR, AT WHATEVER LENGTH YOU WANT! IN THIS POST I'M GOING TO BE SHARING WITH YOU A COUPLE STYLING TIPS THAT I PRETTY MUCH USE ON A DAILY BASIS, AND THAT I'VE PERSONALLY HAD HUGE SUCESS WITH! BELOW IS MY NATURAL-AIR DRYED TEXTURE. NO HEAT USED- WHATSOEVER. IT'S ALL ABOUT ENHANCING YOUR HAIR'S NATURAL TEXTURE BY USING THE RIGHT PRODUCT COMBINATIONS FOR YOUR SPECIFIC HAIR TYPE. 

LIKE I SAID IN PT.1 OF THIS SERIES, I NEVER EVEN KNEW I HAD WAVY HAIR. I KNOW THAT SOUNDS CRAZY, BUT AS SOON AS I WOULD GET OUT OF THE SHOWER I WOULD START BRUSHING AND BLOWDRYING. STEP ONE IS ABOUT AVOIDING THAT HABIT SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT TEXTURE IS TRULY THERE! WHILE YOUR HAIR IS STILL DRY, BEFORE SHOWERING, BRUSH THROUGH IT THOROUGHLY TO RELEASE ANY TANGLES. YOU CAN THEN CLEANSE AND CONDITION AS USUAL. WHEN YOU GET OUT OF THE SHOWER, RESIST THE URGE TO BRUSH! IF YOU CAVE, IT WILL RESULT IN YOU BRUSHING OUT MOST OF YOUR NATURAL TEXTURE. 

STEP TWO- HOW TO PROPERLY TOWEL DRY YOUR HAIR. PLACE A TOWEL INTO THE PALM OF YOUR HAND AND SCRUNCH UP INTO YOUR HAIR. THIS WILL RELEASE A LOT OF  THE EXCESS MOISTURE, WITHOUT DISTURBING YOUR HAIRS NATURAL WAVE/CURL PATERN. OTHER TOWEL DRYING METHODS CAN CAUSE FRICTION WHICH WILL RESULT IN FRIZZY HAIR. 

STEP 3- NOW YOUR READY FOR PRODUCT APPLICATION! AT THIS POINT YOUR HAIR SHOULD BE TOWEL DRIED AND FREE OF EXCESS MOISTURE, BUT STILL DAMP. IT'S THE PERFECT TIME TO APPLY THE PRODUCT BECAUSE THE FORMATION OF YOUR WAVE IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE AS ITS DRYING. SO THE BIG QUESTION IS... WHAT PRODUCTS SHOULD YOU BE USING? THE EXACT PRODUCT AS WELL AS AMOUNT OF PRODUCT TO BE USED IS GOING TO VARY FROM PERSON TO PERSON. IN THE BEGINNING IT'S ALL ABOUT TRIAL AND ERROR UNTIL YOU FIND WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU. BUT I CAN GIVE YOU A COUPLE KEY POINTERS TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR PERFECT PRODUCT COCKTAIL..

THE FIRST PRODUCT I APPLY IS THE KEVIN MURPHY YOUNG AGAIN TREATMENT OIL. THIS PRODUCT IS CONSIDERED A LEAVE IN TREATMENT BECAUSE IT MOISTURIZES DRY AND DAMAGED HAIR, INFUSES SHINE,  HELPS REGAIN ELASTICITY, AND OFFERS PROTECTION FROM HEAT AS WELL AS THE ENVIRONMENT.  FOR MY TEXTURE AND LENGTH, I USE ABOUT 3 PUMPS PER SIDE. I CONCENTRATE THE SERUM MAINLY THROUGHOUT MY MIDS AND ENDS. YOU CAN ALSO APPLY ONE PUMP TO DRY HAIR TO SMOOTH OUT ANY FRIZZ OR FLYAWAYS. 

I LAYER ON TOP OF THE SERUM WITH THE KEVIN MURPHY MOTION LOTION. THIS  PRODUCT IS GOING TO HELP DEFINE AND ENHANCE YOUR NATURAL WAVE. IT HAS A WEIGHTLESS HOLD, SO IT'S NOT LIKE USING A CRUNCHY GEL. MY FAVORITE ASPECT OF THE MOTION LOTION IS THAT IT'S A NATURAL HUMECTANT WHICH MEANS IT PULLS IN  MOISTURE FROM THE AIR AND DELIVERS IT RIGHT INTO YOUR HAIR. THIS IS AN AMAZING BENEFIT IF YOU LIVE IN A DRY CLIMATE LIKE I DO! MOISTURE IS KEY FOR ENHANCING CURL. THATS WHY YOUR HAIR BECOMES MUCH CURLIER IN A HUMID ENVIRONMENT.

THE LAST PRODUCT I APPLY TO MY DAMP HAIR IS THE KEVIN MURPHY ANTI-GRAVITY SPRAY. IT'S AN OIL FREE WEIGHTLESS SPRAY THAT IS MEANT TO BE USED ON ANY HAIR TYPE. WHILE SEALING THE MOISTURE INTO YOUR HAIR, IT'S ALSO WORKING ITS MAGIC TO GIVE YOUR STYLE BODY AND VOLUME!! IT CAN BE APPLIED DIRECTLY TO YOUR ROOTS, AS WELL AS MIDS AND ENDS, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BALANCE OUT THE OIL PRODUCTION FROM YOUR SEBACEOUS GLAND. *BONUS* THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS GRAPEFRUIT EXTRACT WHICH PROMOTES HAIR GROWTH!!!

 NOW IT'S TIME TO RELAX AND LET YOUR HAIR DRY NATURALLY. IT'S THAT EASY!! ONCE IT'S COMPLETELY DRY, YOU ARE FREE TO STYLE IT IN ANY WAY THAT YOU WANT.. BUT THE BEAUTY OF THIS LOOK IS YOU DON'T HAVE TO! WHATEVER YOU DECIDE, JUST REMEMBER TO WAIT UNTIL IT'S 100% DRY SO YOUR NOT DISRUPTING YOUR CURL PATTERN.

 THE ONE DOWNFALL I EXPERIENCE FROM LETTING MY HAIR AIR DRY IS THE LACK OF VOLUME AT MY ROOTS. IT'S TRUE, I'M NEVER GOING TO GET THE SAME EFFECT AS I WOULD IF I WERE ROUND BRUSHING MY HAIR WITH A BLOW DRYER, BUT I DO HAVE TWO FINISHING PRODUCTS THAT REALLY HELP GIVE YOU THAT EXTRA BODY-BED HEAD-VOLUMINOUS LOOK.

THE FIRST IS THE KEVIN MURPHY POWDER PUFF . YOU SPRINKLE THIS THROUGHOUT YOUR ROOTS OR ANY AREA OF YOUR HAIR THAT YOU WANT TO CREATE A MESSY CASUAL LOOK ON. TO CREATE VOLUME AND TEXTURE, PLACE YOUR HAND UNDERNEATH YOUR HAIR AND RUB IN A CIRCULAR MOTON TO BUILD THE TEXTURE. ITS LIKE MAGIC! 
THE SECOND IS THE BUMBLE AND BUMBLE DRYSPUN FINISH. THIS TRANSLUCENT DRY SPRAY CREATES INSTANT FULLNESS AND DRY TEXTURE. YOU CAN SPRAY ALL THROUGHOUT YOUR HAIR TO BUILD THAT AIRY TEXTURE, AS WELL AS ADD HOLD TO YOUR STYLE. *BOTH PRODUCTS ARE TO BE APPLIED TO DRY HAIR. 

I'M SO EXCITED FOR YOU TO PLAY AROUND WITH YOUR NATURAL TEXTURE, AND HOPEFULLY FIND A STYLE YOU LOVE! I HOPE THESE TIPS WERE HELPFUL TO YOU! LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS! 

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY THE TALENTED SHANNON ELIZABETH.

BEST BLOODY MARY IN TOWN..

OUR SUNDAY MORNING SPOT OFTEN ENDS UP BEING THE MARKET STREET OYSTER BAR. I KNOW A GOOD BLOODY MARY WHEN I TASTE ONE, AND MARKET STREET DELIVERS EVERY TIME! THEY HAVE TAKEN THE TRADITIONAL GARNISHING FOR THE BLOODY MARY A STEP FURTHER BY ADDING THEIR OWN SEAFOOD TWIST: A GENEROUS SIZED SHRIMP, SEASONED WITH CAJUN SPICES.
*WHEN YOU ORDER, ASK THEM TO MAKE IT WITH ABSOLUT PEPPAR VODKA. IT ENSURES THE PERFECT AMOUNT OF SPICE TO YOUR DRINK, BUT NEVER OVERPOWERS THE OVERALL FLAVOR. IN MY OPINION, THEY HAVE THIS FAVORITE COCKTAIL OF MINE MASTERED!! CHEERS!

IF YOU LOVE CLAM CHOWDER, TRY THEIRS! PAIRED WITH THEIR FRESH SOURDOUGH BREAD.. ITS SO DELICIOUS!

I HOPE YOUR ALL ENJOYING THE WEEKEND! SUNDAY MORNINGS ARE MY FAVORITE...

A BIT OF FLORAL FOR BEAUTY GLAM NOW...

A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, I WAS CONTACTED BY BEAUTY GLAM NOW TO MODEL THIS PRETTY LITTLE FLORAL NUMBER, PROVIDED BY BOHME. I WAS BOTH COMPLETELY FLATTERED AND BEYOND THRILLED THAT BGN HAD THOUGHT OF ME FOR THIS SHOOT! IT WAS ALSO A TOTAL BONUS TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET TWO AMAZING WOMEN THAT DAY. THE FIRST BEING ELAINA JADALLAH , ONE OF THE BUSINESS AND BEAUTY MASTERMINDS BEHIND BGN. AND SECOND WAS CLAIRE HUNTSBERGER , THE ULTRA-TALENTED PHOTOGRAPHER FROM CLAIRE HUNTSBERGER PHOTOGRAPHY.  IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT DAY WHEN YOU GET TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE WHO SHARE SIMILAR GOALS AND VISIONS FOR LIFE! 

FLORAL DRESS: C/O BOHME // BOOTIES: FOREVER 21 // CANTALOUPE PURSE: C/O LAUREN CECCHI 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLAIRE HUNTSBERGER 

MIRROR, MIRROR..

SPRING/SUMMER TREND: MIRRORED SUNNIES! 

FOR ME, SUNGLASSES ARE ONE OF THE MOST FUN ACCESSORIES TO BUY! AND OF COURSE I FEEL THAT ONE PAIR IS NEVER ENOUGH! WHILE I WAS OUT SHOPPING FOR WHAT WOULD BECOME THIS YEARS FAVORITE ADDITION, I DECIDED MIRRORED AVIATORS WERE A MUST HAVE TO ADD TO THE COLLECTION. AFTER TRYING ON ABOUT 10 DIFFERENT PAIRS, (WHICH I ALWAYS RECOMMEND SO YOU CAN SEE WHICH STYLE OF SHADE IS GOING TO BEST COMPLIMENT YOUR FACE SHAPE) I FINALLY DECIDED ON THIS RAY BAN PAIR FROM NORDSTROM. 

SUNGLASSES ALSO OFFER A PRACTICAL BONUS: WE'RE LECTURED EVERY DAY TO SLATHER ON SUNSCREEN , BUT WE OFTEN FORGET OUR EYES NEED PROTECTION TOO!! I'M ALL FOR AGING GRACEFULLY, BUT IN DUE TIME! I DON'T NEED ANY UNNECESSARY LINES AND WRINKLES FROM SQUINTING AND SUN DAMAGE. LOOK FOR A PAIR THAT OFFERS BOTH UVA/UVB PROTECTION. SEE, IV'E GOT YOU COVERED!! 

NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO TRY OUT THIS TREND FOR YOURSELF BECAUSE THEY ARE CURRENTLY 25% OFF AT NORDSTROM! THEY ASLSO HAVE OTHER COLORS TO CHOOSE FROM! GOOD LUCK IN THE SEARCH FOR YOUR PERFECT PAIR!!

PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE LOVELY SHANNON ELIZABETH 

PRACTICING SAFE STYLING... PT.1

 SITTING, WAITING, WISHING. WASH AND REPEAT. SIT, WAIT, AND WISH FOR THOSE COUPLE ADDED INCHES. I KNOW-I KNOW, LENGTH ISN'T EVERYTHING.. BUT TO ME, IT SURE DID SEEM LIKE IT. I FELT LIKE I WOULD FINALLY START TO GAIN SOME GROUND, JUST IN TIME TO NEED YET ANOTHER TRIM. SERIOUSLY, THIS WAS THE STORY OF MY LIFE UNTIL ABOUT A YEAR AGO. 

I HAD JUST RETURNED HOME FROM VACATIONING IN TAHITI FOR MY HONEYMOON, AND MY HAIR FELT BETTER THAN IT HAD IN YEARS. HOW COULD THIS BE? I HAD DEFINITELY BEEN INDULGING IN MY FARE SHARE OF SALT WATER AND SUN FOR 10 DAYS STRAIGHT, SO THIS REALLY DIDN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE. THEN IT DAWNED ON ME. I HADN'T APPLIED ANY HEAT TO MY HAIR WHATSOEVER DURING OUR ENTIRE VACATION. THAT HAD TO BE WHAT DID THE TRICK. I DECIDED TO FURTHER TEST MY THEORY BY RESTRAINING FROM HEAT FOR THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS. THOSE WEEKS TURNED TO MONTHS , WHICH TURNED INTO WHAT HAS NOW BEEN OVER A YEAR. AND GUESS WHAT, I DON'T MISS IT A BIT. I LEARNED TO LOVE AND APPRECIATE MY NATURAL TEXTURE, AS WELL AS THE EXTRA TIME I HAD ON MY HANDS NOW THAT I WASNT BLOWDRYING, STRAIGHTENING AND CURLING EVERY MORNING. 

FINALLY, I WAS ON THE FAST TRACK TO GROWING LONG, HEALTHY HAIR AT A MUCH FASTER RATE THAN EVER BEFORE BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER BREAKING OFF DUE TO SPLIT ENDS AND WEAK SPOTS WITHIN MY HAIR STRAND. EVERY WEEK IT WAS NOTICEABLY GETTING STRONGER. DON'T GET ME WRONG, IM NOT 100% HEAT FREE. OCCASIONALLY I STILL LOVE TO CREATE SOME HAIRSTYLES THAT REQUIRE ME TO USE HEAT, BUT WHEN I DO, I ALWAYS PRACTICE SAFE STYLING :) I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH JUST HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS. UNFORTUNATELY, IT ONLY TAKES ONE TIME OF USING HEAT WITHOUT A PROTECTIVE BARRIER TO BURN AND WEAKEN YOUR HAIR, WHICH RESULTS IN SPLIT ENDS. 

WHILE MY HAIR IS STILL DAMP FROM CLEANSING AND CONDITIONING, AND BEFORE I BEGIN BRUSHING, I APPLY THESE TWO PRODUCTS. UNITE 7 SECONDS DETANGLING SPRAY, AND KEVIN MURPHY YOUNG AGAIN SERUM. THE COMBINATION OF THESE TWO HAVE BECOME MY SAVING GRACE. 7 SECONDS IS HANDS DOWN THE BEST DETANGLER THAT - GET THIS- ACTUALLY WORKS! HAVING A GREAT DETANGLER ON HAND IS CRUCIAL BECAUSE IT SOFTENS THE CUTICLE. YOUNG AGAIN IS GOING TO RESTORE THE ELASTICITY IN YOUR HAIR. BY DOING SO, YOU'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO COMB THROUGH YOUR HAIR WITHOUT CREATING BREAKAGE. CONSISTENT USE OF BOTH OF THESE PRODUCTS WILL REPAIR, STRENGTHEN AND MOISTURIZE HAIR. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY BOTH CONTAIN HEAT PROTECTANTS THAT ARE GOING TO PROTECT MY HAIR AGAINST UP TO 427 DEGREES OF HEAT. *NOTE: MANY FLAT IRONS CAN REACH AS HIGH AS 450 DEGREES, BUT RARELY DO YOU NEED MORE THAN 350 DEGREES TO ACHIEVE GREAT RESULTS. ALSO, YOU DONT WANT ANY EXCESS WATER LEFT IN YOUR HAIR TO DILUTE THE PRODUCT YOU JUST INVESTED IN, SO MAKE SURE YOUR HAIR IS TOWEL DRIED BEFORE PRODUCT APPLICATION. 

STAY TUNED FOR MORE HAIRSTYLING TIPS AND ADVICE TO HELP YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY TO ACHIEVING BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY HAIR AT ANY LENGTH YOU DESIRE! 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE WONDERFUL SHANNON ELIZABETH

FESTIVAL FASHION.. SELECTION 2...DENIM ON DENIM

MY SECOND COACHELLA ESSENTIAL WOULD HAVE TO BE DENIM, LAYERED UPON A BIT MORE DENIM :) OH AND A FLOPPY WIDE BRIMMED HAT MAKES THE PERFECT ACCESSORY TO GO ALONG!! 

DENIM JACKET- KOODEKER // DISTRESSED JEAN SHIRT- MINKPINK-FLIGHT BOUTIQUE // JEAN SHORTS - FREE PEOPLE // HAT- ANTHROPOLOGIE // BLACK BOOTIES - FOREVER 21

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY THE BEAUTIFUL SHANNON ELIZABETH

FESTIVAL FASHION... SELECTION 1... THE KIMONO

THE TIME IS UPON US. WE'RE APPROACHING THE OFFICIAL WEEKEND DEDICATED TO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING BOHO CHIC... IT'S COACHELLA! IF YOUR AS OBSESSED WITH MUSIC AS I AM, AND FEEL AS IF YOU COULD NEVER HAVE ENOUGH CUTOFF SHORTS, FLOWER CROWNS, AND ANKLE BOOTS, THEN ATTENDING COACHELLA SHOULD  BE AT THE TOP OF YOUR BUCKET LIST.

THIS YEARS LINEUP INCLUDES TWO OF MY FAVORITE ARTISTS OF ALL TIME, LANA DEL REY AND LORDE. I'M KIND OF DYING THAT I'M NOT GOING TO BE THERE TO SEE THEM PERFORM.   NOT TO WORRY, MY TIME WILL SOON BE ARRIVING TO SEE LANA AT THE RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATER IN COLORADO THIS MAY!!!!

 THIS LIGHTWEIGHT FLORAL KIMONO IS ONE OF SEVERAL MUSIC FEST MUST HAVES. STAY TUNED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK TO SEE MORE OF MY FESTIVAL ATTIRE SELECTIONS! XO.

FLORAL KIMONO- REVOLVE // DEEP V VELVET HEELS- FREE PEOPLE // GOLD JEWELRY- HOUSE OF HARLOW

PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE TALENTED SHANNON ELIZABETH