Flatter those lashes!!

Hey all, 
So the last couple of days I've had weddings and events and clients wanting false lashes. So lets talk falsies...
I love false lashes as they can take your look from wow to va va voom...Big sultry lashes are so in and who cares if they not yours you bought them right?? Don’t be afraid of fake lashes, embrace them!! So here are some  tips for easy application. 

Before you apply false eyelashes:

• Apply eyeshadow, if desired (I always apply eyeshadow before I apply false eyelashes, because the lashes could get in the way if I applied them first. However, wait to apply mascara until after the false lashes are on securely).
• Apply eyeliner.
• Coat the entire false eyelashes with powder while they’re still attached to the plastic tray it came with in the packaging. This helps prevent the false lashes from sticking together, but this isn’t a required step.

APPLYING FALSE EYELASHES

STEP 1

Gather the following (or similar) items:

• Pair of false eyelashes
• Eyelash Adhesive 
• Small scissors
• Brush with thin handle
• Orange wood stick  or a Q-tip
• Tweezers

You will also need mascara at the end to blend in your real lashes with the fake ones.

STEP 2

Gently peel off the false eyelash by rolling it off the container with your thumb and index finger.

STEP 3

Tug the eyelash band a little, and then squish them inwards (as shown on the right). Roll the false eyelashes by moving one side down while moving the other side up — do this a few times to help make the band more flexible.

STEP 4

Look down and align the false eyelashes along your lash line. It helps to hold the false eyelashes with a tweezer. While keeping your iris as centered as possible, notice where the color of your iris begins (the side closer to your nose, as indicated by the pink line). Then count the number of lash clusters on the eyelash band from the end closest to your nose until you reach the part where the color of your iris begins.

STEP 5

Clip the inner part of the false eyelash band that you counted off in Step 4. The inner part (the one that will be closest to your nose) is usually the part of the band where the lashes are the shortest — if this is not the case, then check that you have the correct false eyelash band for the eye you are applying it to.

Since everyone’s eye shape and size are different, measuring the false eyelashes and clipping off a part of it will help the false lashes fit better as well as prevent it from irritating your inner corner.

STEP 6

Apply some Duo Eyelash Adhesive on the end of an orange wood stick.

If you don’t have an orange wood stick, you could break a Q-tip in half and apply glue on one of the broken ends.

STEP 7

Apply glue along the false eyelash band with the orange wood stick (or Q-tip). Make a few passes with the glue to make sure there is glue on the entire band, especially the middle and both ends.

Allow the glue to dry for a few seconds — the tackier the glue is, the better.

STEP 8

Hold the false eyelashes with a tweezer on the outside corner and your thumb and index finger on the inner part. Look down and align the false eyelashes by focusing on the middle first by making contact there, and then pressing down the ends. Follow the shape of your eyeliner/your natural eyelash curve.

Then lightly pinch the false eyelashes and press the band into and slightly upwards on your skin.

STEP 9

Use the end of a brush with a thin handle to help press the false eyelashes in and upwards. This will help the eyelashes sit up and be even more noticeable.

You can also use the end of the brush handle to press in the outer and inner parts of the lash band to make sure they are glued in well.

STEP 10

Touch up your eyeliner by going over it again, making sure to cover up the false eyelash band.

STEP 11

Apply mascara to both your natural and fake eyelashes. A trick to bond your real lashes with the false ones is to lightly place your pinkie finger behind the false eyelashes, and then use the mascara wand to press your natural lashes to the fake ones.

Now go back to Step 2 and repeat the rest of the steps for your other eye!

REMOVING FALSE EYELASHES

To remove your false eyelashes, just take a Q-tip and soak it in some eye makeup remover. Swipe the Q-tip along your lash line back and forth a few times, and you will start to notice the false eyelashes loosening from your lash line. Once the false eyelashes are pretty loose, use your thumb and index finger to gently pull it off.

CLEANING AND STORING FALSE EYELASHES

For future use, you can use some of the same makeup remover and a tissue to remove the remaining glue and mascara on your fake eyelashes (lightly wipe them repeatedly in the direction from band to tip of lashes). Then place the false lashes back on the plastic tray it came with. You can also put some glue along the tray to help the false lashes sit the same way it came in the packaging. 

If you’re good about cleaning your false eyelashes and are careful with them, they can last for a few wears. If the hairs are falling off, the band is damaged, etc., it’s time to throw them away.

So rock those lashes!!!

Be blessed

Friday Hair Queen

Hey all,

Our Beautiful Friday Hair queen is a lady I met recently at Super Cosmetics and we got talking about natural hair and became fast friends. Her name is Victoria Kagai and here's her hair story to date and you can catch up with her on her blog  http://nappy-glam.blogspot.com/...and see how she reaches her goal from her oh so cute Big Chop..

1.       When did you decide to go natural?

I have been thinking about going natural for the last two years, I knew I was going to do it this year (2012) but had not set a specific date.

2.       How did you go natural? Transition or Big Chop?

I tried to transition a couple of times, but it was a challenge to work with the two textures and always ended up re-touching the growth. Eventually I BIG CHOPPED after 4 months of transitioning.

3.       What reaction did you get from family and friends?

The reactions were mixed but mostly positive. My relaxed hair was almost 14” in length, and ‘looked’ quite healthy so it was definitely a shock to most people that I had cut off all that hair, but they also still liked the look.

4.       What’s your maintenance routine?

·         DAILY: I co-wash every morning, followed by water & glycerine (50:50) spritz, a water based leave-in conditioner, curl activator gel for styling & finally seal with a light oil.

·         WEEKLY (Saturdays):  I Pre-poo with coconut oil (overnight) then shampoo with a sulphate free shampoo or soap the next morning. I follow this up with a deep-conditioner which I leave on all day under a shower cap, scarf & head wrap. After rinsing out the deep-conditioner, I apply my water & glycerine spritz, and an oil based moisturizer.

·         MONTHLY: Henna Glossing – Henna glossing is conditioning hair using 50:50 mixture of henna & a light conditioner. I do this once a month (I have actually done it once) after shampooing. I let the Henna soak in hot black-tea (true-teaJ) for about 4 hours then mix with the conditioner. I also add 2 tables’ spoons of olive oil & honey. After applying it evenly all over the hair, I allow it to sit overnight, and then rinse out the next morning. The result is super soft curls with a hint of burgundy. I finish off by deep-conditioning and light oil based moisturizer.

5.       What products do you always use?

·         CONDITIONERS: Suave Naturals Coconut, Herbal Essence Hello Hydration, SPRITZ: Water & Glycerine 50:50 mixture

·         LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER: Oriflame Hair X Daily Care Leave-in Treatment, IC Moisture Leave–in treatment, ‘Oliive’ Olive Oil leave in conditioner

·         GEL: Revlon silk & protein gentle hold styling gel, World of Curls 3 in 1 curl activator & moisturizer

·         OIL: Alison’s Coconut Oil, Bertolli Extra light Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Root Stimulator Nature’s Shine Oil

·         SHAMPOO: ‘Oliive’ Olive Oil Shampoo, Dalan 100% Olive Oil Body & Hair Soap – tried this today & my hair was still silky soft afterwards

·         DEEP CONDITIONERS: Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayonnaise; Oriflame’s Hair X Mask

·         HENNA: Black Gold 100% natural henna

6.       What is your hair goal?

·         To have long, healthy natural hair J BIG A** AFRO!

Hair update

Hey y'all,
So after the protective styling that I had last week decided to change and so I undid my hair and deep conditioned it then decided to put in some two strand twists and man oh man did it look bad!! My hair is fine and so they looked ridiculous and scarce. Anywho after removing them the next morning I still didn't like the looks so I sprayed my hair with water and the shrinkage caused by the water was great and the results I liked. So  this is how I wore my hair in the lines...

My hair after I undid the lines.

 after my deep conditioning and twists

euwww scalpy...

Hair goal is to thicken my hair ..so hate this!!!

anywho here is what I came up with after the twistout and adding water

 So I think I'll rock this look for this week...

Be blessed y'all

Moisturising 101

So this cold weather is a bit much and to my surprise I've realised my usually oily skin is now kinda dry. So this got me thinking as to why and then I remembered reading that you need to change your skincare routine according to the season changes.
When it gets cold the moisture in the air dries up and that can cause skin to feel dry. Anywho here are some few tips on how to cope with the weather and your skin.

• You may have found a moisturizer that works just fine in during the warmer weather.  But as weather conditions change, so, too, should your skin care routine.  Find an "ointment" moisturizer that's oil-based, rather than water-based, as the oil will create a protective layer on the skin that retains more moisture than a cream or lotion. (Hint: Many lotions labeled as "night creams" are oil-based.)
• Choose your oils with care because not all oils are appropriate for the face. Instead, look for "nonclogging" oils, like avocado oil, primrose oil, or almond oil. Shea oil -- or butter --.
• You can also look for lotions containing "humectants," a class of substances including glycerine, sorbitol, and alpha-hydroxy acids that attract moisture to your skin.
• No, sunscreen isn't just for summertime.Try applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen to your face and your hands (if they're exposed) about 30 minutes before going outside. 
• The skin on your hands is thinner than on most parts of the body and has fewer oil glands. That means it's harder to keep your hands moist, especially in cold, dry weather. This can lead to itchiness and cracking so keep them well moisterised.
• Avoid really hot water in the shower and bath as it can cause skin to become tight and dry.

So if your experiencing any dry skin conditions try and change your skincare routine to suit the current weather.

Be blessed

Stop Hating, Start Loving

Hey all,
So I get many people asking what I've done to my hair and I say "nothing it's natural". And then I get wow your so lucky "mine is so ngumu like steel wool" and your curls how do you get your curls and I say again its natural and more often then not I get disbelieving looks and more your lucky's and then more self depreciating comments about their own hair.
This made me realise how much we hate on our hair!! When I was relaxed I always wanted my hair to look like someone else's and I was always looking for the hairdresser who could achieve the look I wanted. Needless to say I was never completely happy but since I've been natural, I own my hair and what I do to it to make it healthy and manageable is my responsibility not a hairdresser. 
Do I still have hair envy..yes I do as I grow my hair healthy I've realised that my hair is fine as opposed to the thick hair I see many natural women rocking, so I cant really rock a full afro. But that's okay cause I can still do so much with my hair in it's natural state. I have come to love my hair and appreciate what's growing out my scalp. I feel like I've finally found me and I feel committed to my journey to grow my hair to its healthiest and longest because I am worth it. I love my hair because I can style it in so many ways and find so many things to use in my house to style and treat it with. Most of all I love my hair cause its the hair that My Heavenly Father gifted me so if I am fearfully and wonderfully made then I must love ALL of myself from my crown to my feet.
So to y'all out there with  natural, relaxed or loc'ed hair embrace what's coming out of your scalp be it kinky, coily, curly, fine, thin, course, short or long whatever just LOVE and ACCEPT your HAIR!!

Be Blessed !!!

Moisture vs Protein reviewed

Hey all,


So a pal of mine read my last post on moisture vs protein and wanted me to point out how one can over moisturise their hair or over use protein.
So here's what I found out...
When you over use moisture products such as conditioners and deep conditioners they can over load your hair with moisture. Here are the ways you can cause moisture overload

• overzealous “baggying” in a shower cap
• back-to-back conditioner washes that don’t allow the hair to ever dry
• regular lengthy/ overnight deep conditionings
• keeping the hair wet in general (water or oil) for extended periods of time without a break
• the complete elimination of protein products altogether.

On the other spectrum you can can overload on protein by using loads of products with protein like 

• moisturisers with proteins in them i.e. Collagen, Keratin etc. 
• Deep conditioning often with a protein treatment
• Not using moisture based products 
• Not using a sealing oil to ends of hair

So I hope this further explains how to maintain a proper balance.

Love this!!

Hey all,
Saw this on the net and wanted to share the versatility of accesorising with a scarf..have tried a few and will try some more..so be inspired!!

Friday Hair Queen

Hey all,

This weeks feature is my cuz the gorgeous Patricia Kihoro, who also happens to be my hair crush...here is her natural hair journey to date..Enjoy

1.       When did you decide to go natural? / How did you go natural? Transition or Big Chop?

I have shaved my head and gone natural more times than I can remember but the last time I did was in January 2010 and it was completely unintentional. I had gone to Mombasa for a while with my hair braided into tiny twists and I swam in the sea and rolled around in the sand and had a great time. But, when I got back to Nairobi and took my braids out, my hair was a HOT MESS, tangled into a mass of kinks and ropes. I decided to shampoo and condition it before detangling, but that just made it worse, so I went to the bathroom mirror, frustrated, with a pair of scissors, and did something I had done many times; I chopped it all off. I was going to texturize it again, as I had done a few times before, and do my usual ‘whatever’ regimen but then I bumped into some really cool naturals, the girls from Kurly Kichana, and started reading a lot of natural hair blogs. Since then, my hair hasn’t been the same.

2.       What reaction did you get from family and friends?

Close friends and family didn’t even flinch because I’d BC’d and changed my look so many times. Fans and new friends were a bit shocked, though, asking if I’d cut my hair so that I could go the “Afro-Fusion” route. But they’ve gotten the hang of it, and most people say I should stick with short, natural hair for the rest of my life. 


3.       What’s your maintenance routine?

Initially I was co-washing a lot, and rocking wash n go’s but now with my hair longer I’m doing more twist outs and braid outs, deep conditioning when I can, and moisturizing and sealing every other day. It really just happens when I find the time, which is not very often nowadays. I must admit, I neglect my hair quite a bit. I also braid it, and cornrow it once in a while, just to keep it under wraps for a bit. I straightened it out for the first time this week since I BC’ed two and a half years ago and as much as it feels weird to have hair blowing in my face, I’m glad it’s so thick and healthy and has grown so much.

4.       What products do you always use?

Water, Kiss My Face Saponified Olive Oil and Honey Bar to wash my hair with, it really gets the job done and has absolutely no chemicals, Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Conditioner, Suave Green Apple or Coconut Conditioner, Nupur Henna, Coconut Oil and Raw Shea Butter.

5.       What is your hair goal?

A Big Ass Afro. I was recently very tempted to get a much shorter hair cut because I was really missing my TWA(Teeny Weeny Afro) but a recent mild blow out showed me just how big my afro has grown, and it’s motivated me to keep growing it. I will also stop chopping it off in the name of trims as often as I do.

Moisture and Protein?? huh?

Hey beautiful people,

So when i started my natural hair journey I heard alot about how our hair needed loads of moisture and how good moisture was..bla bla bla..Anywho then I started reading and watching videos about protein and how our hair needs protein if its moisture logged...so then I went huh..I thought moisture was good?? So after some research this what I've learnt and  I'm trying to get the balance my hair needs cause I've noticed some shedding and breakage lately..

Moisture

Hair needs water to maintain its elasticity, or ability to stretch. Since water is the ultimate moisturiser, water-based products are best for really getting the greatest moisture benefit. Moisturisers are simply products that are water-based and nourish your hair deep within the strand. Products with moisturising properties tend to be your conditioners and other specific moisturiser sprays or creams. Moisturisers may also contain large amounts of protein, but these protein based moisturisers do not have the moisturising benefit that moisture-based moisturisers have. Good moisturisers will not contain cheap, filler ingredients like petrolatum, mineral oil, or lanolin. Avoid products that claim moisturising benefits and contain these ingredients. There is nothing moisturising about them! Petrolatum and mineral oils seal out the precious moisture our hair needs.

Protein

Protein is what gives the hair its strength and structure. Hair is about 70% keratin protein by nature. There are a wide variety of proteins that serve different functions and roles in hair care. Some enhance elasticity, while others reduce it. These proteins bind to the hair cuticle and help temporarily rebuild any weakened areas. Protein-based products reinforce the hair shaft, and help it remain strong enough to fight breakage. Some proteins are stronger than others, but daily or even weekly use of even the milder protein treatments may result in an imbalance between the protein and moisture levels within the hair strands in some people. Keeping the hair balanced between these two entities is very important. Protein loss from chemical treatments is almost always followed by a moisture loss of some degree. Hair that is properly proteinated absorbs moisture more efficiently because water molecules bind easily to a sound protein structure within the hair. Achieving the proper balance involves using the right combinations of protein and moisture based products for your hair type.

When the hair has too much protein, it can feel very dry, rough, crunchy, and brittle. It can also break off very easily. The hair does not have enough elasticity, so it breaks with the slightest pull. 

When the hair has too much moisture, it can feel gummy, limp, mushy and very stretchy when wet. The hair is very weak due to the lack of structure, so it can stretch and stretch until it finally snaps off. 

 Hair that is shifted too far on the protein side will break easier, both wet and dry, because it lacks elasticity. Elasticity is what allows us to style, stretch, and manipulate our hair without breakage. Hair that breaks with very little tension or stretching is a sign of an overabundance of protein, and a deficiency of moisture. Too much structure makes the hair rigid, and decreases its elasticity.To treat over-proteinized hair, you will need to go into a simple deep conditioning and moisturising regimen.  To treat over-moisturised hair, you will need some kind of protein to give the hair structure again.

http://blackhairscience.com/hair_breakage.html

So this is the balance I'm trying to maintain and hopefully I can tell when my hair needs what.. hope this was helpful for you as it was for me.

Be blessed all!!

Hair Update

Hey all,

So Thursday is usually hair wash day..dunno why Thursday just seemed a good day to do my hair. Anywho decided to do a henna gloss, shampoo and deep conditioning treatment. Will post my wash day routine soon.

After wards I tried to do finger coils and here are the pics of the outcome..Finger coils is just using my finger to coil my hair then when hair dries you separate the coils making a finger coil out...

I kept this style till Sunday night when I co-washed with Suave Naturals Coconut Conditioner then applied Dax Roots Olive cream as my leave-in and sealed with Extra Virgin Coconut oil. I then let my hair air dry till it was about 80% dry then I did some matutas about ten of them and slept with my satin bonnet.

In the morning I undid the matutas and the outcome was

Anywho today decided to go into protective styling so had some lines done and here are the pics...must say I love them..hope I can keep them for at least a week.

Thanks guys for checking out my blog.

Be blessed!!!

Grooming Eyebrows

I absolutely love to do my eyebrows.  In my daily makeup routine, my eyebrows are the first thing that I work on.  As you’ve probably heard a million times, a nicely groomed eyebrow can really frame your face.  If you wanna see how to get well groomed brows, continue reading.

1.)   Use a spoolie brush to groom eyebrows.  2.)  Using an angle brush, apply brown pencil underneath the brow to shape. A little goes a long way!    3.)  Do the same to the upper part of the brow and fill in any gaps as needed.  4.)  Using short strokes, brushing in one direction only,  brush the brow powder or pencil through your brows using the spoolie.  5.)  Using a small concealer brush apply concealer directly under the brow to give the brows some pop.  6.)  Trace under the entire brow.  7.)  Blend by pulling the concealer down into the lid. Continue to blend until you can see no rough edges.  8.) Voila! Your finished brow!

WTH is PONDS!!!!

Hi all,big
So today's blog is a bit of a rant about a serious pet peeve...People calling foundation and pressed powder Ponds!!! What is that? Where did that come from?? Can anyone tell me? Anyway decided to do some research on the origins of Pond's cause I've never seen this brand on make-up just on skincare creams.

So after asking the great oracle (Google) I found out that there was a Ponds Face Powder made by the Pond's Extract Company. This powder was available since early 1900's in a loose talcum state and was to be worn over the Ponds cold cream. In the 1930's they had a loose powder in different shades then in the 1940's they had a pressed powder that came to be known as the Angel face powder. Now this came in the following shades white, flesh, dusk rose, brunette, mocha among other colours.

http://www.cosmeticsandskin.com/companies/ponds.php

So me thinks that this powder was available here back in the day and people started to refer to all pressed powder and foundation as Pond's??
What do y'all think?
Let me know....

Friday hair queen

Hey all,
So on Fridays I will be posting stories about different people's natural hair journey's.  Be it natural hair or dreadlocked hair, its all about embracing your hair journey and loving the hair you have.
Hope these stories inspire you as they have me.
Enjoy

Our first Hair Queen is the my former school mate and friend the beautiful and talented Julliet Opondo. Her amazing locks are a testament that locks can be looong, healthy and gorgeous!!!

1.       When did you decide to go natural?

It was 12 years ago when I was in Uni. I was surviving on a shoe string budget with no source of income but what my folks gave me as pocket money. I had a beautiful haircut, way before the whole of Nairobi caught on to the craze of keeping short relaxed hair. Problem was I would have growth in 1 inch growth in like 2 weeks and I could not get the money to keep maintaining the hair style.

At the time keeping a fro was not an option as my hair was too tough, so I realised dreadlocks would be best suited for my type of hair texture.

So I started doing my homework. No real access to the internet back then. I then decided to talk to those who had been in the game longer and they gave me tips about how they started and how they maintain their hair.

You see going to get it done at the salon was not an option because that was the one thing I was trying to eliminate, the salon expense. I then swore, if I was not going to be able to maintain the dreads I would go really short and have the hair maintained at the barbers...

2.       How did you start your dreads?

From the information I gathered I needed to at the very least have about 2 inches worth of natural hair. So at the time my hair was in braids and after about 2 month(don't ask) I cut off all the relaxed bits

I had then been advised that to make the hair extra kinky I would need to do the first was with detergent to give it that steel wool effect and remove all the natural oils, making it easier for the hair to be twisted and lock faster. So I proceeded to do that. I was not to treat or put conditioner, as this way soften the hair again . These days there are better ways of starting dreads that dont involve detergent :-)

I then sat in front of a mirror and started parting my hair in rows and twisting while it was damp. In about 2 hours I was done. All the dreads were twisted in the same direct and I opted for anti clockwise. I was then told I needed to wait at least 2 months before I washed it....So not going to happen. So after about 3 weeks I had to get it washed, problem was they had not started locking. So I came up with a way to do it. I took three strands and braided them together. I then proceeded to lather my scalp with a cloth and literally worked in the shampoo around the scalp to remove all the dandruff and dirt....Proceeded to rinse it out. By the 3rd rinse the braids had slowly started untwisting but they were still intact. This routine continued for about 3 months. By this time the dreads had started forming buds, so I was well on my way....12 years later and here I am :-)

3.       What reaction did you get from family and friends?

Not the best. Gosh, I was threatened and told how people will confuse me for being a thug and a hoodlum, because at the time they were the only ones who had dreadlocks, but I hang in there. I remember one time we were set to take family portraits and my dad was like "When are you going to get your hair done." to which I replied "But its been freshly done." The look on his face was priceless...hehehehehe

4.       What’s your maintenance routine?

Technically to maintain the hair I need to get it shampooed and treated every 4 weeks. And yes I said treated. This ensures that the hair remains healthy and does not break. I also like to colour it at least twice a year as the direct sunlight tends to tint the hair to a weird brown that makes the hair look dirty.

5.       What products do you always use?

I recently discovered about 2 years ago how wonderful detangling shampoo is for dreads as it makes it easier to retwist the growth without pulling the hair apart and causing thining.  Absolutely fantastic for hair that has already locked

I also use a good treatment...Especially enjoy anything with mint or menthol in it as it leave my scalp feeling so nice and fresh after a good rinse

To twist the dreads I like to mix Dreadlock gel with Indian hemp hair oil. I use this to retwist while the hair is still damp as it locks in the moisture and keeps my scalp well oiled thus avoiding episodes of dandruff occuring.

6.       What is your hair goal?

Lol....hair goal....Don't think I have one. Its been 12 years to the month since I started keeping dreadlocks, and they have become such a major part of my image. Though I have toyed with the idea every now and again I am looking to cut them and start over. But I guess I am waiting for the right buyer to come along. I have been told I can make a pretty penny from selling these ones.

Keeping dread locks is a labour of love and I urge everyone donning this style should learn how to maintain them on their own. You get to appreciate the labour that goes into it. Besides the more you show your hair love, the longer it grows.