Turbie Towel * GIVEAWAY*

♥ 17 ♥ How I make my Shea butter mixes

http://www.youtube.com/v/LtYSAuXaJTE?version=3&autohide=1&autohide=1&feature=share&autoplay=1&showinfo=1&attribution_tag=iwf-GHUFHfgESKbmmW3QBA

Naturally Whiten Your Teeth At Home

My teeth are not as white as I would like for them to be. I was surfing the youtube channels and kind across something my mother use to do when I was small. She use to clean our teeth with baking soda and then brush with regular toothpaste. This will leave your mouth feeling nice and clean. To whiten your teeth with baking soda, mix 1 table spoon of baking soda with lime juice or lemon juice, it does not take a lot of juice. Just squeeze the juice onto the baking soda, it will began to bubble due to the acid. Then mix to form a paste. This does not taste good so, I used one strawberry with baking soda. First, I put about a tablespoon of baking soda on a small plate, cut the strawberry in half and just covered to top part with baking soda and then I rubbed it onto my teeth. It tasted better than the lemon or lime juice. You will want to use a fresh fruit that to get the juice not bottled juice.

I tend to drink coffee and tea often so I tried this and I can see a difference. Do Not do this more than once a week because it could damage your teeth due to the acid..This is a good tip for in between your dental appointments for regular cleanings.This is a good tip for my natural health journey. I hope this helps someone else...Don't forget to floss, rinse & brush regularly......I hope everyone is happy, healthy & blessed!!Enjoy~~

Happy Whitening...

It really works...

Breakdown Method on Short Hair

http://www.youtube.com/v/bX4V2I86_7A?version=3&autohide=1&feature=share&autohide=1&autoplay=1&showinfo=1&attribution_tag=2pxACmAHjoD1enrZ23eKtQ

Seven Steps For Control

I came across an article in a diabetic living magazine and thought this could help those who live with diabetes. I've been having some struggles concerning diabetes and I know I'm not alone. There are many people who live with this illness. Diabetes effects every system in the body. That is why is it's so important to take good  care of yourself and live a healthy lifestyle. I recently went to the doctor and was given a second medication to help control my blood sugar. Now is the time I should really take my health seriously, so I'm starting my health journey as well as my natural hair journey. I will be charting my weight loss, meal plans and exercises that I will incorporate into my daily routine. I believe, it's important to journal because it helps to stay on track. It also keeps you grounded.

In the article it list seven steps for glucose control and I thought I would share this to help others that maybe facing the same issues in life. This could help someone that maybe border line diabetic or someone that wants to start eating healthier, getting fit or just exercising to be heart smart.

It is important to eat six small meals a day to control your blood sugar. This helps control my blood sugar better than three large meals a day. It is easier for my body to process the food if I eat in smaller portions through out the day. This also makes me feel better and have more energy. Here are the sever steps to help control blood glucose.

• Step 1. Healthful Eating: Build skills such as counting carbohydrate grams and measuring portion sizes as part of an eating plan that helps to manage blood sugar levels.
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• Step 2: Being Active: Discover how physical activity helps you control blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, then design an activity plan that fits your life.
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• Step 3: Monitoring: Learn how to use a blood glucose meter and other skills related to recording and understanding blood sugar results.
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• Step 4: Taking Medication: Figure out how to fit your medication routine into your daily schedule.
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• Step 5: Problem Solving: Understand how to recognize and react to situations that could upset your diabetes control, such as becoming ill with a cold or flu.
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• Step 6: Reducing Risks: Realize why health problems such as kidney damage and heart disease happen and how they can be prevented.
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• Step 7: Healthful Coping: Identify coping skills that will help you work through emotional lows and feel better in body and mind.

Embrace You Natural

Embracing My Natural Hair

So far on my natural hair journey, I have learned that what works for someone else may not work for the next person. After watching many of my natural sisters' videos on you tube I have learned that every body's hair is different and however your hair grows out of your scalp, that's what God intended for you. I am no longer comparing my hair to the ladies in the videos or anyone else for that matter. I am enjoying my natural hair journey and learning a lot about me at the same time. I am  happy with my hair now although when I first decided to go natural, I was not as confident about natural hair because I did not know how to take care of it or style it. I did not know what products to use or if expensive products were better the less expensive (cheap) products. My advise to those who are new to the natural hair world is take your time getting to know what works for your hair. Don't start with expensive hair products online because you can most likely fine some natural products at your local beauty supply store or Sally's Beauty Supply store that will work for you and spend a lot less money. My big chop 02/07/12

 Five months natural & loving my natural hair...

 Seven months natural, hair remained twisted with no gel, just Coconut Shea by Eden BodyWorks

 My hair grown out a bit and I can do different styles, I am trying and learning different techniques and I am just having fun with each experience. I will not longer be a product junkie, I will use what works for me. I have learned the expensive products is not always the best way to go.  I hope everyone is happy, healthy and bless!!! Have an awesome weekend!!!EmbraceYouNatural!!!

Small Twists On My Natural Hair

Small Twists
I did small twist on my hair today. I did not wet my hair. I moisturized with coconut shea curl defining creme by Eden. This style took three hours. My plan is to wear this style for about two weeks. I hope it last. I hope everyone is enjoying their healthy natural hair journey. I sure am enjoying mine. It's a lot of work but its really worth it. I'm loving my hair....here's to being happy, healthy and blessed. Enjoy your day~~~
 Here are a few pictures of my hairstyle.

A few pictures of my afro puff style....

My hair is really growing well and I love taking care of my own hair.....

Small twists on my natural hair...

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Quick Update On My Natural Hair

Quick Update On My Natural Hair

     So for the past three or four weeks, I have be wearing my hair in twist part of the week.and then rocking some type of afro style. I love wearing my natural hair out now. Before, I did not feel so secure or confident about my natural hair. I growing really well. My routine as of lately is pre-poo and shampoo once a month. I co-wash  every two weeks or more if I feel my hair needs it. I twist my hair with Cantu lock and twist gel and throughout out the week I moisturize with water and/or an mixture of oils. To name a few coconut oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, vitamin e oil among other oils. I use shea butter sometimes and I am thinking about trying some other butter for my hair. When I shampoo, I use TRESemme' split remedy or almond shea butter shampoo by Suave. I usually mix my conditioners with oils and use it as my leave-in conditioner. This has been working so far for my hair. I will continual using these products until they all gone before I try something new. Here's to being happy, healthy and blessed....

IndigenousCurls : 4 Trimming Methods for Curly Hair

IndigenousCurls : 4 Trimming Methods for Curly Hair: Keep Those Ends In Check! 1.  Blow Out Hair and Trim Dry-  Cut the hair when it’s straight (or at least stretched with the heat o...

Embrace_Ep_1_03042013

Knots In My Hair

My hair is growing but it seems to be changing.  I noticed that it tangles more now that its a little longer. There are small knots at the ends of my hair. I cut them off but they keep returning. I'm trying to find a remedy besides cutting my hair. Does anybody have problem? If so what's your solution? How can this be prevented?

Natural Hair Up Date

Natural Hair Journey


     Quick up-date for my natural hair journey, I don't shampoo as much. I shampoo once every 2 week or once a week depending on if I have product build-up. Two strand twist is my go to style. I'll leave my hair in twist for two or three days then wear a twist out style, still learning to styling my hair. It's a work in progress. I will continue to use TRESemme' hair products. As a leave in, I mix my conditioner, carrot oil and vitamin e oil with water. I will continue to use all natural Coconut Shea curl defining creme by Eden until it all gone. I'm sure I'll purchase more because I use it on my daughter's hair as well. To maintain my curl definition I twist my hair nightly. I usually don't use more curling creme. If my hair feels dry I will spritz it with water or  my leave in mixture to dampen or moisturize my hair. This is what I have been doing to my hair for the past 3 or 4 weeks and so far this natural hair journey of mine is going okay. I am encouraged to continue my journey and I hope all my natural sisters out there are encouraged too. I'm still learning my hair and having fun at the same time.I love doing my own hair. Until next time, I hope everyone is happy, healthy and blessed!!Enjoy!!

EmbraceYou/Check-In

My Natural Hair Journey

     So I haven't been on here for about a week or so, I went out of town to my family reunion. I had a ball, not much time for blogging during that time but I did get to share about my natural hair routine and how I manage my hair. That was fun and encouraging all at the same time. I just wanted to share that I am still on my natural hair journey, still embracing me and all my flaws, happy to be me and loving me. I love my hair and I'm so proud because its growing and I've been doing it myself. It's been one full year with no relaxers and six months post big chop and I am still going strong. All the compliments and questions I get about my hair really make me feel good and proud of my natural hair. To anyone that's early in your natural hair journey, don't give up, I know it can be kind of rough early on but it does get better with time. Just be patient and find what works for your hair. I've learned that what works for somebody else may or may not work for the next person so you should try different products for at least thirty day or so before trying another product. I bought too many products at one time instead of buying one at a time or one line of products. Now I have all these products, so my plan is to use all that I have before purchasing any more hair products. I do recommend trying the products in the stores before buying over priced products on line. I hope everyone is happy, healthy & blessed!!! Enjoy your natural hair journey!!!EmbraceYou!!!

Natural Hair/Little Girls/Hair Care

Too many hair products......

     Can somebody tell me the do's and don'ts for little girls hair? There aren't many youtube videos on how to care for little girls hair or maybe I just haven't came across any yet. There are so many different hair products on the market, its hard to decide which should I use for my daughter's hair and which products are age appropriate? I do not want to purchase something and then its no good for their hair. What's best for sensitive skin? Trying really hard not to be a product junkie. I fine myself spending more and more. What's the best detangler? Shampoo? Moisturizer? Conditioner? Should I leave condition in her hair? Thanks you in advance for any feed back..... I hope everyone is healthy, happy and blessed!!!

  

A concerned mom...........HELP!!

Hairstyles...

Hairstyles


     With the weather being really really hot, I didn't quite now what to do with twa (teeny weeny afro). Because it been so hot, I did not want to use a lot of product on my hair because the oils would end up on my skin and I have sensitive skin so that's not a good thing. Another thing, I have got to practice keeping my hands out of my hair. I like my natural hair so much til I'm always touching it because I love love love the way my hair feels.
     So after I shampoo or co-wash, I use a leave-in conditioner, I use a small amount of oil, I never stick to the same oil. I may use olive oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, argan oil, tea tree oil, carrot oil, vitamin e oil, almond oil, grapeseed oil, castor oil, shea butter oil or herbal oil. I know, that's a lot of oil. When I first decided to go natural, I spent a lot of money on hair products, had I known how long these oils would last I would not have gotten them all at the same time but its cool because I have three daughters and I'm making good use of them all.
   So lately, my go to hairstyle is the two strand twist. I have been using coconut and shea curl defining creme by Eden Bodyworks. It seems to be working okay for me but once its all gone, I like that its really light and it does not leave my hair feeling greasy or oily and it has a light scent. I'm not sure if I'll purchase it again or maybe I will for my girls hair. It works well for their sensitive skin. For the most part, I will keep my twisted for three to five days and where a twist out style, after that I will change it a little more each day with hair accessories if I do not co-wash. I use to co-wash daily but with weather being so hot I do not because it tends to dry much hair out so I try to do it once a week right. I am truely enjoying my hair journey and getting to know my hair and I'm learning more about me and embracing who I am, natural hair and all. I can't embrace my natural hair without embracing a healthier me so I have started my health journey as well and it is much needed because I am a type 2 diabetic and I need to take my health more seriously. There are many health issues in my blood line so I need to take control of my health. I hop everyone is happy, healthy and blessed!!! Have a great day!!!Here are a few pic of my hair post bc..

s/o to Kimberley Williams for the inchy scalp treatment... tip, thanks again
 The tip was to oil my scalp with tea tree oil to help with dry itchy scalp...
 

Monday Blues/Natural Hair

Monday Blues

     

     Getting kinda of tire of twisting my hair every night. It's really hot outside and my hair is not staying the way I would like for it to look. I guess I've hit a bump in the natural hair journey road so to speak. I'm trying to find a style that will last for about three or four days at least, I've watched a lot of videos on how to style your twa, I'm just not sure how those style would look on me. I guess I'll never know until I try some of them out so I think I'll be trying some new styles really soon. 

Hot Weather

     Today is too hot to wear make-up.Too hot for lotion on your skin and too hot to put oil on anything. Its a  great day for swimming.  I don't like using a lot of oil in my hair when it's this hot outside. I don't want it dripping from from my hair due to the heat. I not giving up on my natural hair, I'm still getting to know it and learning how to care for it. I am open to suggestions. How do you deal with your twa on really hot days? What styles do you wear? and How long do your style last for you?

Help  A Sister Out

Share your natural hair remedies, share a day in your hair journey, what have you learned thus far.

Well, thanks you in advance for caring and sharing.....God Bless you and have a great day!!! I hope everyone is healthy, happy and blessed!!!Enjoy!!!

Relaxer Vs. Natural

 Relaxed Days

      During my relaxer days, I would get my hair relaxed about three or four times a year. For the past twenty plus years, I've been going to the hair salon getting my chemically processed. As I got older, I noticed my hair getting thinner. So I didn't relax my hair as often. It made a different for a while but not much. I paid between forty-five to eight- five bucks every times I would have my hair done at a salon. With today's economy, the cost of hair maintenance was getting to be a little too much so I started doing my own hair relaxer at home about three times a year. As time went on, my hair was shedding really bad, Many days I would wear a wig. As time went on, I was spending way too much money on wigs. I was contemplating on going natural. While debating, I wore wigs, pony tails or hair pieces.

Me wearing a wig.....

bored with my hair....

relaxed and colored
 hair

What made you decide to go natural? What's your hair care regimen?

Wash Day

July 13,2013


     Today is my wash day with shampoo. I did not pre-poo this time. After I did my exercise for today which is my three mile walk. I wash and conditioned my hair with Cherry Blossom shampoo and conditioner by Organix. This is not a staple for me. I'm bought so many different hair shampoos and conditioners when I first did my big chop so I'm just using all the products I bought before purchasing any other hair products. I have bought the cherry blossom to stimulate scalp and roots and for shine.
     After that, I let my hair air dry for about 20 minutes, next, I oil my scalp with Dr.Miracles Hot Grow. It has Aloe, Shea, and Jojoba oil. I used this for the past five months and I'm happy with this product and will continue to use it. Next, I put in my kimmay leave in conditioner. Then I did 2 strand flat twist with a part on the side, using a little gel.
     This was my first flat twist and I watched a few videos on how to flat twist.This has been another day in my natural hair journey.  Hope everyone is healthy, happy and blessed!!!


The link for the video on the Kimmay leave in conditioner can be found on youtube,kimmaytube  or
 http://www.luvnaturals.com

Embracing My Natural Hair

     It's been five months post my big chop and I'm a little bored with my hair, I've been watching you tube videos on how to style my twa (teeny weeny afro). I colored my hair about a month ago. It didn't turn out like I hoped but I am happy with the color. It's something different. It's okay. I'm still working out my morning routine as well as my night routine. Trying to get to know my natural hair has been a real journey. So far, I've learned how to pre- poo, co-wash, make my shea butter mix to moisturize my hair and the  two strand twist out on my hair. So I twist my hair at night and sleep with my satin bonnet. My hair dose better when I don't wet it every day to get a style. I not really sure if I like the wash n go method. Out of all the wash n go videos I've watched on you tube, none of the ladies just wash n go, but they do have great tips on what to do with your natural hair. They are inspiring. They make hair styling look fun and easy. We all know looks can be deceiving. It's harder than it looks. I know, I'll get better with time.
      My go to hair style is the two strand twist out. It's simple and easy and it doesn't take a lot of time. So far my night routine is twisting my hair in two strand twist all over my head, only moisturizing if needed then I put a small amount of coconut milk anti breakage serum on my end. I use the organix brand for now. That's what's been working for me. When I first cut my hair, I went out and bought too many products so I will not be shopping for hair products any time soon. I've mainly just been using my TRESemme' to co-wash and as a leave-in conditioner for split ends. It's working really well for me. These past five months my hair has gotten a lot thicker and healthier and I'm so proud of my natural hair. I would encourage anyone to give their natural hair a chance and if you don't like it go back to relaxers. I'm learning to have fun with my hair.It's all part of loving myself and being happy with who I am. Yeah, it's personal, embracing me.  Embracing my natural hair. I hope everyone is happy, healthy and blessed!!! Enjoy!!!

I Don't Think I Like This!!!

I didn't like the fact that the more I relaxed my hair, the thinner it became. I decide to take a break from relaxing my hair. During that time I would wash and condition my hair every two weeks. I would wrap it and  sit under a dryer for 30 minutes or until my hair dried. Well, I did that for 8 months. I would blow dry it to try and straighten my roots, flat iron and style. It took too much time to try to take care of two different textures of hair. I grew tire of that routine. I was thinking about going natural. Here are a few pictures before and after my big chop. Enjoy!!!

Love Tag: Interview with my husband "Duke"

This video is sometime after my big chop was inspired by Alicia James love tag, It was asking my husband questions about how he felt about me cutting my hair off and going natural. Enjoy!!!