Queen Ashanti

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Winter Hair Care: Textured Tresses

Winter is such a hard season for our hair. Textured tresses will require some TLC during these next few months, but with a little work you can roll into spring with longer healthier hair.

Hydrate:

Shampooing your hair every week or every two weeks will help your hair to stay hydrated. Use warm water while washing to keep the cuticle in the hair open so your hair can be cleansed. While rinsing your conditioner out, use cool water. This trick will close the hair cuticle, which you want especially in the wintertime.

Condition: 

Pay attention to your lifestyle when choosing a conditioner. Are you outside often? Do you drink a lot of water? Is a hat or hood always rubbing on your hairline? Look at how you like to live your life so your hair wont miss a beat. I like to use the Paul Mitchell Tea Tree & Lavender Mint Shampoo and Conditioner for my hair during these months. It helps lock in moisture even while shampooing.

Oils:

When my hair needs extra attention I will put Coconut Oil inside my conditioner. You can place a plastic cap over your hair once mixture is applied and let it sit for as long as you wish. I usually aim for about 15-20 min. This can be done every time you shampoo your hair, or when needed.

* To make sure your hair is not weighed down with oil, mix oil with conditioner before you place it in your hair.*

Cover your hair at night:

It's a simple thing but we often dismiss this step. Cover your hair so your tresses can sleep peacefully without being disturbed. Be kind to your hair and it will be kind to you.

XOXO

Obsessions:

At home French mani

Great skin

Adorable dresses

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Lucite Heels

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Guess Who's Back...

Took a hiatus, but I am so ready to start blogging again. I have so many things to share about hair, nails, beauty, fashion, and life itself. 

I have been wearing my real hair out and working out everyday. Which is so unlike my usual weaved up self! I'm trying to wear less weaves, so I can figure out how to effectively maintain my real hair. 

Getting the Most Out of Your Extensions: Indianhair.net

You all know I have been rocking the straight hair look for a few weeks now. But with the weather getting warmer and working out, I had to go back to my roots...literally! I knew that I needed my hair to be curly again, but I didn't know if my "Signature Curly" from Indianhair.net would hold up. There was only one way to find out. So I installed the hair......and viola!

By deep conditioning the hair, I breathed new life into it! After washing the hair, I filled my bathroom sink with very warm water and tons of Aussie Moist conditioner. Then I let the hair sit in the sink for a few hours. Partly because I forgot it was there, and also because I knew it needed a lot of conditioning. When I put the hair back into my head I felt like a brand new woman!

I liked the color, but I was not feeling it anymore. So I decided to put a Paul Mitchell Shine on it..

For those that don't know, a Shine is demi permanent color. It is translucent, not opaque like regular color is. Think of a Shine as lip gloss and regular color as lipstick.

I got the Shine put in my hair and I loved the color. I was more amazed however, at how it changed the hair quality...

It was like a face lift for my weave! It gave it movement, body, shine and it was crazy soft! I am going to continue to use Shines on my hair, mainly because I believe that it increases the longevity of my extensions.

When you feel like your extensions are getting tired and worn:

1. Take it out and store it in tissue paper
2.  Leave it alone for about a month or two.
3.  When you want to put it back in, wash hair, deep condition, and then install.

I bought my Signature Curly from Indianhair.net last spring. Since then I have lightened, colored, and reused it numerous times. Even though this hair isn't the highest quality, there are things that can be done to it to help you get all you can out of it.

Hope this helps!

New Obsession: Nasty Gal

Here Comes the Bride....

I styled the hair for a photo shoot this past Sunday in DC. Please believe me when I say, the location was stunning. We were at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in DC, and got some great shots. Here are a few...

The chemistry pictured below was great. Two great models...



This picture is one of my favorites. It looks like it could be in a major fashion magazine. So beautiful.



Woo Woo Woo!!!

I just love my Ruby Woo lipstick! Review and How-To on how to apply and wear red lips coming soon!



Keep Your Fingers Crossed!

I am submitting my work into Beacon 2012. If chosen, I get the opportunity to to fly out, have education classes, and rub elbows with a lot of influential people in the industry. I am really proud and blessed to share this so here goes...

BEFORE:

 AFTER:

 BEFORE:

 AFTER:

 BEFORE:

AFTER:

We also had to submit a video marketing ourselves:

Photography by Karl Tigges
Video by Sam Sheline

I was going for a very edgy look, so I hope you all like it!

Nail Crazy

I am a lover of all things beauty, which includes nails. I recently had an interview with top nail technician Chauna Brown. Brown is the owner of Bmore Polish Nail &Lash Bar in Baltimore, MD, and has worked for various celebs and fashion shows. Some of Brown's recent work was seen on the runways of New York Fashion Week last fall. Read on for her trends, tips, and more...

What would you say are some spring trends we should watch out for?

It's all about texture and color for the spring and summer. Green is the new black. You are going to start seeing a lot of Money Greens and Sherlock Greens. Pattern work, tribal detail, and even velvet nails are going to be in. The palette is a lot more edgy and different. Free hand art designs are also in.



Nail Art done by Chauna Brown



 People are getting more adventurous with their nail choices. First it was crackle, then it was oval nails. What's next?

This will definitely be the year of DIY. People are more into doing their nails themselves. Blinged out nails and Junk nails, which is adding a cluster of crystals, rhinestones, beads etc to nail bed, will definitely be in. Lace nails, which is actually taking lace and placing it on your nail, will also be very big.



Lace Nails done by Chauna Brown



For those of us who don't like to wear polish, how do we keep our nails beautiful?

A proper diet is key, along with drinking water, eating protein, and getting vitamins play a role. A good moisturizer, like the body butters from Nidassi, will help your cuticles and nails beds.

What is your price range for a mani or pedi?

Manicures can range anywhere between $18-$25 and pedicures can range anywhere between $25-$40.

To find out more on Bmore Polished or Chauna Brown, you can check out her Facebook page here or her Twitter page here 

You can also look up more on her nail salon, Bmore Polish Nail & Lash Bar, and her Beeline Colour Correction line here

Before and After...Laila

We had a mini makeover with the owner of VirginCurl.com. I had the privilege to install Laila's hair in for her and I wanted to share the experience with you all. 

Before:

After:

My VirginCurl Review

Hello all! Hope everyone had a good weekend. I know my weekend was fabulous, partly due to my new hair from VirginCurl! Check out my review on the hair!