Hair

Hair hair everywhere. I swear I think about it 24/7. Are other people this obsessed lol?
So I wanted to post my current routine in hopes that it will help me stick to it and avoid my further downward spiral as a product junkie.

Cleanse hair w some shampoo about once every two weeks or use Bentonite clay which I just started experimenting with. Its 100% pure and really cleansed my hair but not stripped it. I'm still using it as a mask (it annihilates blackheads, in case you wanted to know).
Conditioner Wash with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration.
Deep condition with ______ (im still looking for a great deep conditioner, i've been alternating between pantene pro-v and deva, they're ok, nothing phenom about them)
Style with DevaCurl One condition
Loosen curls and refresh with Deva Set it Free
Occasional use of 100% Shea Butter to protect ends.

I just ordered a new condish from Jessicurl called the weekly deep treatment, of which, CurlyNikki is a fan. I'm all in her regimen because her hair is fly.

February will be the two year mark since I've straightened my hair and I just think thats crazy. Never in my relaxing days did I think i could go without one and the thought of my curly hair made me squirm. But I am so pleased with the growth, health and versatility in my hair. I'm not going to say I will never relax again, because I've been eyeing that kelis hair cut for a while, but I am truly pleased.

I really love these secrets....

Here's a new batch for your Monday viewing pleasure. There were so many good ones. These and many more can be found at the PostSecret website.

Do Me Longtime Pumps

Hey, I just posted an ad on craigs list for a hot pair of pumps from Te Casan (killer shoe store in Soho that's now closed).

Take a look and feel free to forward to others who may be interested!

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/clo/1000257189.html

There's also a link in the ad that will lead you to pictures.

Part 2: Holy Grail

So if you remember on Sunday, I was ranting and raving and throwing out the Holy Grail words in reference to DevaCurl One C. And guess what!! My verdict stays the same. My hair has gone through 5 days, I think I washed on Friday night, and now on Wednesday, though the curls are a little looser, there's hardly any frizz and they are still on and popping. So that's 5 days and 2 workouts. Case closed. lol

Bisous Bisous

So lips kinda a big deal for me. Chapped lips kinda of an issue for me, especially now during the winter lol. Consequently, I go through chapsticks the way people go through toilet paper, its that serious. Most recently, I've tried Mac Lip Conditioner, plain ole vaseline, Aquaphor, Chapstick and at first they appeared to have done their job, but as soon as I tried to apply my lipstick/lipgloss combo, it was a hot mess. (I was going to insert a pic of chapped lips for the visual, but ewww, the pics I saw were just nasty!)

During the winter, I have to exfoliate my lips, there's no way I can get around it, in order to achieve a kissable pout. But the lip balm you put on afterwards is just as important. Sooooo, successfully, I've found the following combination of Mac Wipes and Caudalie lip balm. Mac wipes do a kick ass job of removing flakes and general grime (ewww) from the lips. I found this out by accident one day when I was at a Mac counter trying to find my holy grail nude lip, a la Kim Kardashian. (which I found!! I think, but will share later.)



But buying MAC Wipes just for my lips is not a luxury I can afford right now, so I am happy to say that any type of makeup remover worked for me.

But the magic tool is definitely the Caudalie lip balm. Its exactly what I've been looking for. It's a waxy lip balm with some stamina lol. Yes, I like waxy lip balms. Its so much better than the creamy coatings offered by Mac's Lip Conditioner or Vaseline. I don't like creamies, they're like psyche me outs and don't do doing anything. In conclusion:




+ =



(lol if only it was that easy!!)

But seriously, this is has been a great combo for me ;)!

Hottest song out right now!!

I love it!! Thong and all!!

How you gonna be talking ish??

Why did I find the first 60 seconds of this video more interesting than the entire actual Diva video??? I loves B.SCOTT and I can only hope one day I will be this fly.

Holy freakin Grail!!

Dare I say, I've found a product that gives me fabulous, buoyant curls. I almost hesitate to write this, in case I wake up tomorrow and realize it's all a dream. So if you recall from my past posts, I tried a twist out a la Curly Nikki and Honey Brown Sugar with less than stellar results. I couldn't understand what the issue was, until I looked closely at the products I used. I used DevaCare One Condition and noticed that Honey Brown Sugar had used DevaCurl One Condition. Two conditioners under the same brand with very few ingredient differences. No big deal right??? Ugh no!! Huge deal!!! With DevaCare, my curls were limp and non-existent, not so with DevaCurl. I did my usual Apple Cider Vinegar rinse (not drying like shampoo, but will remove buildup from other products), deep conditioned with Pantene's Nourishing Conditioner and then applied the DevaCurl One C through sections in my hair and some Shea Moisture. Clipped the roots for volume, sat under a hooded dryer, and seriously f-a-b curls.

I'm so mad I can't find my usb cord to my camera, because I would soo upload pics. I even went to the gym yesterday and today still had great curls!!! I'm so freakin excited, my hair is moisturized and fly ladies, f-l-y. This is a big deal for me because I was using gel before and have been looking for a replacement because 1. the gel was drying out my hair, even though it has no alcohol 2. the gel i use is expensive as hell and I'm tightening the budget belt. So I really hope this conditioner keeps giving me positive results because I really really want big hair!!

Louis Who??

She's a bad bish....baaad......

Payless??? Oh Hell Yes!!

Peep these pics of the Abaete Spring 2009 show. Can't wait to find these in the stores! Oh Hell Yes! I'm especially going after those black ones. You've been warned lol.

Jaded New Yorker???

So I'm coming down the 34th Street train steps and this woman in front of me slips and falls hard on her ass. She gets up almost as fast as she fell and keeps it moving. Remember its been raining all day in New York, so this is very common, as I too have falling on my ass before. But the thing is I didn't say anything. Not a word, not an extended hand, didn't even blink. But before you cross me off as a biatch, let me tell you how this other woman behind me reacted enough for the both of us!! She first yelps the oh so loud "Oh My god!" and proceeds with the 101 questions of "are you alright" "did you go down hard" (lol, that was funny), "can I help you" etc. Mind you the woman was already on her feet and trying to move past the temporary humiliation. I perceived her as being alright, if she had gotten hurt then I feel I would have reacted differently or maybe I'm just lying to myself and I am a jaded New Yorker.

Secrets are a bitch

Nothing new with the hair today because of the freesing raining in NY. I will attempt to do it tonight.

But in other news, one of my favorite sites, PostSecret, has been udpated and you really should take a look at it, if you haven't already. Here are some of the ones that stood out for me today.

Big Pimpin

Check out this cute video of Jay Z and Bey partying during New Year's Eve. (peep Mariah next to Bey).

bwboard.net
Uploaded by Thizzordie007

In the Flesh

Sergio has done it again. Or maybe I'm just just on a shoe kick or something. But I recently started perusing for nude pumps. I've seen them more and more lately and even watched something on them on the style network and they are truly a great pair of shoes. Talk about legs that go up to heaven, nude pumps will elongate and extend and I'd like a pair. Thank you.

So at first, I always look at the unattainable and nothing screams "you can't have me!" like Christian Louboutin. *sigh*

If these aren't the prettiest damn shoes you've ever seen, then I don't know what to tell you. I'm just waiting for Rihanna to wear them!

Petal Sandals $995.00

Next, is a classic hidden platform pump. My thing is if you're going to do a high heel like Louboutin, you have to have a platform pump, or the only place you'll be walking is inside your apt.

$860.00

And I promise you, I do not have a thing for banded vamp shoes, but damn that Sergio. If these ain't the ish, I can't help you lol.

$650.00

But realistically, my tight budget will probably only allow one of the following (and they would have to be on sale! lol)

Steve Madden Trinitie $89.95

Jessica Simpson $89.99

Daniblack $185.00

Copy Cat

So last night, I decided to try a twist out on my hair a la Curly Nikki and most recently a la Spiced Honey (both blogs are listed on the right). The results were underwhelming for me lol. I had a hunch it would suck just because I've tried this technique before. But I got caught up in other people's positive experiences and the fact that I'm at witt ends with my own hair pushed me to try it again. It basically consists of sectioning your hair into fours after washing and conditioning and twisting hair in about fours per each section. I didn't do it exactly like Spiced Honey or Curly Nikki, in that I didn't use anything to curl my ends (straws or curlers), but my less than stellar results weren't because of my ends. When I unraveled the twists they were shapeless and blah and my hair looked even shorter lol. Maybe I'll try this again when I get more growth.

But the night wasn't a total bust, because I did revist an old product that I previously deemed useless, Deva Set It Free. It comes in a spray bottle and it works like a setting spray to help keep frizzies at bay. I sprayed about 5 pumps in the palm of my hand and appled to each section (total of four sections) before moving onto the styling cream or whatever I'd use to give my hair hold. I also do an all around final spray before I sit under the dryer to set the curls in place. My hair was virtually frizz free when done, which we all know for us curlies it's quite a feat. It's rather expensive though at $17.95 and wouldn't call it a must product, but it is nice. And sometimes your hair just needs something nice. :)





Check out what other curlies think on naturallycurly.com.


http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlproducts/view/1787/devacurl-set-it-free

Teyana does Single Ladies

I saw this floating around on youtube and bossip.com and wanted to post. I'm a Teyana fan, well I'm a Teyana hair fan, but I think its cute. Yes Single Ladies is played out, but I don't care lol.

The Truth

So the real reason I started this blog was to mainly talk about my addiction of things that would go in one's bathroom. In my bathroom, I have a mini salon and beauty counter. And the only reason its a mini is because my bathroom can only hold but so many things, regardless of my attempts to buy clear plastic bins to stack on top of each other. So of course, there is spillage into my bedroom and the linen closet. The most of any one item right now are my hair products. About 2 years ago, I decided to go natural in hopes that it would be easier for me to manage and offer me more styling flexibility. Does it offer me more flexibility, hell yea, I can be quite creative sometimes, but it has not been easier for me to manage, womp womp. And maybe its because I haven't found the right type of products, but how many wrong ones do I have to go through!!!

On the right hand side, I have Curly Nikki's blog listed, and her hair is amahzing. She's found a good group of products that have really given her amazing results and her hair is such a great motivator. Take a look at some of my other inspirations.

(L to R: Shakara Ledard, Girl Group: Sweet Rush, Tanika Ray, Nik ANTM, Tracee Ellis Ross)

I could probably go on posting pictures forever and ever. But to start things off, I'll list some of products I've tried thus far, just so you get a sense of things.

Hair Rules Curly Whip

Curlisto Structura Lotion

Curlisto Control Gel II (currently using)

Curlisto Pommade

Curlisto Deep Treatment

DevaCare One Condition (currently using)

Biosilk Hard Gelee

Miss Jessie (all excpet the new stuff she came out with)

Mixed Chicks (all products)

Terax Silk Mousse (disastrous, I don't who's hair I thought I had that I could use mousse)

A/G Re-Coil, Fast Food

Kinky-Curl Knot Today and Curly Whip

Aubrey Organics GPB, Honey Suckle Rose, White Camelia Conditioners (not bad)

Pantene Pro-V Moisture treatment (currently in use and me likey)
Jane Carter Solution - Shampoo, Condtioner, Sculpting Gel and pommade

J.F. Lazartigue pre-poo treatment (heard the Tracee Ellis Ross uses, I liked it, but its expensive)

I'm exhausted and believe me there's more!! BTW the reason I tried so many Curlisto products is because my stylist, Temeeka (shout-out!) works there lol. My review of her and these products will come at a later post.

Daily Gossip

So one of my favorite past times/addictions that I share with a good friend of mine, who also has a small bathroom/closet, is going on our favorite gossip sites and commenting on the who what when and where. Its really fun and helps the day fly by lol. One of our favorite sites is theybf.com. If you haven't been on, you may not want to go, it is completely addicting.

http://theybf.com/index.php/2009/01/03/solange-jamie-foxx-host-nye-at-karu-y/#more-6729
How much do I love Solange and her eccentricity. I'm so glad she's stepped out of the shadow of her bigger sis, at least in my eyes, and has really proven herself to be a diva all on her own. Take these NYE pics, I love what she's wearing. The little tutu added something extra to an otherwise plain boring dress. And with the shoes and the makeup, she looks good and interesting, she's always visually appealing. Please note that the tutu directs the eye to the middle area, if the belly ain't tight, it won't be right. I'm just saying.




Same link, scroll down. What's up with Meagan Good's outfit?! Y'all know those are the American Apparel Disco pants for $90.00! Yea, $90.00. http://store.americanapparel.net/rsaah300.html I mean no doubt she has a sic body and she can rock them, should she though?? should anyone??? I don't know. One of my friend's tried this pant on and it does look dope. I mean it's very grease lightning. Don't wear these if you have a problem with gawkers. I'm just saying.

Happy New Year

It took about five days for me to muster up the courage to start writing and like clockwork I found my Monday morning inspiration. People say hello to Sergio Rossi's Edwina Banded Vamp Pump and if thats not the most perfect name for this shoe, I don't know what is. On sale at Shopbop for $195.00, I was disappointed (yet relieved) that they only have a size 40.5 (10.5).

http://www.shopbop.com/edwina-banded-vamp-pump-sergio/vp/v=1/845524441822414.htm?folderID=2534374302076317&fm=sale-category-viewall-shopbysize This is one of those shoes that you don't need, well I don't need, but really really wanted and usually would continue to go back and forth in my head thinking about why I should buy them, thus the reason I am relieved they are not in my size, I can rest now. Welcome to my world of addictions. I don't know about you but the minute I saw these I thought of a vampy outfit of a short high-waisted leather skirt, a gold watch and red nails. This is funny because its not how I dress at all, but its how my alter ego would dress. Damn that Sasha Fierce.



*Big City Little Bathroom will often go outside of its scope and address my even smaller closet lol.