Beauty N' Curlz

Fall Approved: Titles to Provoke Thought & Inspir

After a summer of reading some really awesome titles… why not continue this trend year round? Reading helps to expand one’s vocabulary, gets the imagination going, and last but not least helps to open the mind to new ideas. We love reading around here and this fall I’m diving into two titles that have been on my MUST READ list. I like titles that will motivate me, give me something to lean on…

Motherhood Chronicles: Am I Doing This Right?

Going into motherhood, my expectations for myself were sky high. I thought I had it figured out before the baby was even born, which is an instant set up for failure. I had an idea of how I thought motherhood would be and when it began to unfold, I began to see things differently. Imagining a situation and living the situation are quite different. I used to imagine how I would handle a tantrum…

I noticed that all the vegetarians/vegans that I follow on Instagram all had extremely clear, flawless, and damn near perfect skin! So I knew one thing for certain; it’s not just enough to treat acne on the outside, it must be treated from within also! Now, I’m nowhere near making that type of lifestyle transition, I love meat wayyyy too much. However, with a few alterations to my eating habits, I was underway to creating a facial regimen that would fight the breakouts that have been plaguing my 20s. :-/

I started by creating and sticking to a strict morning and evening facial routine. Wash, Tone, Moisturize, and Prevention using a combination of gentle cleansers, masks, and toners.

Here are the Top 5 (okay so it’s a little more than 5, but you can pick and choose which masks and cleansers work best for you) Products used to Fight Acne:

Cetaphil Cleansing Bar / DIY Face Wash

LUSH Masks (faves: Mask of Magnaminty, Ocean Salt, and Cosmetic Warrior)

Thayers Witch Hazel /Rose Water (Toners)

Cerave Moisturizer (Night Time)

Olay Moisturizer with SPF 15 (Day Time)

In addition to topical treatments, I implemented an increase in my water intake and greens.

DRINK WATER…LOTS AND LOTS OF WATER!

GREEN…EAT LOTS OF GREENS i.e. Salads (I use a spring mix with spinach)

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LUSH Facial Products

LUSH Facial Products

Toner Magic

DIY Honey Face Wash

BACK with another DIY! This one’s for all the ladies/gents out there battling with acne. I suffer from Acne and it’s probably one of the most frustrating battles in my life. Clear skin is a major goal for many women and when breakouts occur it can leave you feeling so insecure. A few years ago, I finally gave in and sought the help of a Dermatologist because my face looked like it had exploded .…

Are you guys on Pinterest? If not you’re totally missing out! Believe it or not, my mother is responsible for my current addiction to Pinterest. I have boards (not exactly curated to perfection) for just about everything. Recently, I departed from my job and decided to undertake some D.I.Y projects that I didn’t exactly have time for. Well…with TIME on my hands to re-focus on my life…I decided to check off some projects off of my DIY Pinterest board. I know I’m late on the train, but I had been dying to create a chalkboard wall in my room for some time now, but decided against it as I didn’t have a wall or section that I could dedicate to painting. Then I had an ah-ha moment, I could paint the door to my room. I know it’s not perfect but I think it’s so cool that you can transform a simple door into something interesting to look at in a room and has multi-purpose functionality. If you have kids, creating a chalkboard wall or door (or any space for that matter) is an awesome way to keep kids busy; it’s a fun alternative to t.v. or the iPad. :-)

Here’s What You’ll Need:

Chalkboard Paint

Brush

Frog Tape

Patience

Duration: 1 Full Day

Cost: $30 (including paint, tape, paint and brush)

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Paint & Primer in 1

Chalkboard Paint

I had to actually paint the door, as shown in the collage above. When the perimeter was dry, I used the green frog tape to prevent the chalkboard paint from bleeding into the white painted part of the door.

You’ll need to paint about 3-4 even coats of the chalkboard paint in order to create a good chalkboard surface. I actually think I may need to go over it again with a few more coats to create the perfect texture. I waited about 30 mins for each coat to dry, before applying the next coat.

Paint Drying

I allowed the paint to dry overnight…After your paint is dry, you will need to “Treat” the surface by rubbing chalk all over the board. This will ready the board for it’s actual day to day uses.

Rub Chalk All Over…All Done!

Here it is! The completed Chalkboard Door. I can’t tell you who was more excited to use this door…myself or my son? I use the top portion for lists and motivational quotes, while the bottom portion is strictly for my son to express himself. Trust me, it’s better than seeing pen or marker markings on the wall. I still have more chalkboard paint left over, I’ll be doing more DIY projects, so stay tuned!

Till Next Time,

Jamilah

FTC Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. 

DIY: Hair Oil/Hot Oil Treatment

Pre-poo magic! Does your hair appear dull? Lifeless? Experiencing breakage? Sometimes a trim is the only thing that can save us! But natural hair, is like a garden, you must tend to it, love it, and nurture it, in order for it to flourish. Hot Oil Treatments could be the answer to some, if not all of your problems. Some Benefits of Hot Oil Treatments: Protect against dry scalp/dandruff Prevent…

Brown Sugar Scrub I took a stroll over the Brooklyn Bridge with my family recently and the long walk took a toll on my feet! To make matters worse, I was captured on camera with my feet looking like Betty Flinstone and my hair looking like an 80s style mullet. I was horrified; here I was thinking that my bi-weekly pedicures were doing me justice. Eh-eh…not enough. I needed an at home treatment in…

DIY Series: Natural Hair Butter ft. Shea Butter

I’ve been in the DIY mood lately…I blame Pinterest for this sudden inspiration. In an effort to curb my product-junkyism, and saving money, I thought it would be worth it to create my own Hair Butter packed with my favorite oils. Hair butters make great moisturizers for dry, natural tresses and DIY allows you to control which of your favorite oils enter the batter and subsequently into your hair.…

Who Reading Wasn’t Sexy?? Summer is in full swing! Can you believe it’s technically winding down? UGH!! I walked into Target yesterday and saw displays for back to school…I almost fell out right there! But I digress, this Summer I wanted to read more, so I’m checking it off my Summer Bucket List. I’m an avid lover of books and words, anything that can get my wheels turning, is a win for me!…

Product Review: Red by Kiss Ceramic Tourmaline Dryer

I have been through numerous blow dryers and each time the same drama occurs. I use the machine, the hair attachment breaks, I replace hair attachment several more times before chucking it in the corner. On other occasions, the attachment stays whole, but the actual dryer is difficult to maneuver with my small hands. The last tragedy of traditional dryers is the burning of one’s hands while…

Summer Protective Style: Senegalese Twists

I decided to undertake several projects at the same time (typical of me), one being creating a chalkboard door (more on that later) and installing Senegalese Twists as a protective style for part of the summer. The truth is, I watched several YouTube videos of the “easy” install process and finally worked up the nerve/courage to try them. With my hair freshly washed, conditioned, and blow dried,…

@Theajaraquel definitely marches to the beat to her own drum with her hair and electrifying sense of style. Read more about her natural hair journey and her life’s passion below..

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Aja (pronounced like Asia). I’m 26 and I’m a designer for a living. Right now I’m specializing in handbags but I can navigate in apparel as well. Born and raised in NJ (West Orange)

How long have you been natural?

I’ve been natural for about 4.5 years

What made you decide to go natural?

I decided to go natural because I was really feeling the versatility I was seeing with other natural ladies. The freedom to be curly on monday, pressed on weds, bantu knotted by friday, etc. Thats so dope to me and I wanted in. Also, I had a pixie all through undergrad, and I wanted to see how my hair could flourish in other ways.

What is your hair care regimen?

I try to keep it simple and this is probably redundant. I shampoo every other week since I have a problematic scalp and have to use Rx shampoo. Cowash on the alternate weeks, DC with Aphogee 2 minute keratin reconstructor, and moisturize with the LOC method and style.

What do you love best about being natural?

Again, as I mentioned before. I love the versatility of being natural and the different styles and shapes our hair can achieve.

Is there anything you did while being natural that you regret? If so, what?

Umm it would definitely probably be the last time I colored. Usually my hair is resilient to color and bleaching (I’ve gone super blonde plenty of times since HS), but this last time I went really light framing my face and I didn’t have the time to properly take care of my hair. I had just gotten promoted at work and I was just too tired at night to make sure it was moisturized. I was rushing thru detangling and washing. Just no bueno all around and it broke off. It looked bomb while it lasted tho!

What are a few hair care tips you would give to new naturals or someone deciding to transition?

Mainly just be patient. I think that’s really key. There’s a lot of trial and error in the beginning (and throughout the journey if were being honest), and taking your time to find what works for your strands is what’s going to lead to a flourishing crown.

What inspired you to start your own business/ pursue your passion?

I’d have to say my mom. She’s always been super supportive in my goals and helping me cultivate whatever skills I needed to see my dream come to fruition.

What is your passion?

My passion has always been to be a fashion designer, which is what I went to school for and am now doing for a living.

What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs chasing their dreams?

Just do it. The timing will never be 100% perfect and if you wait for that then you’ll never do it. Write down your end goal and then make daily/weekly/monthly goals so that they are attainable and go! Start checking ish off the list. It’s absolutely going to be scary, but after that first step…

Where can our Curlfriendz find you around the web?

You can find me @The_AjaRaquel on Twitter. @THEAJARAQUEL on IG (its private but I accept most people) and coroflot.com/ARHarris for some of my work.

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Before The Transition

Protective Style

#FunNatural

I remember about a year ago I was trying to convince my sorority sister, Rahbbea, to go natural. Let’s just say she wasn’t beat. She loved her relaxers and really wasn’t trying to hear what I was telling her at the time…UNTIL she changed her mind. “Keish, I’m going natural and haven’t had a relaxer in about 6 months”, she said. She had crossed over to the natural hair world and she had my full…