Update

Hey curlies, i know i've been M.I.A. but I promise it's for good reason. I got into medical school and so i'm now trying to begin that med school journey and get settled. I won't have as much free time as I use to before but i'll still have videos and blog post coming for you all each month. If you have any video requests please let me know.

Love you all and thanks for the support!

Milk + Honey - Hydrating hair Custard Review

Hey Curlfriends, this post has been months in the making. Like any post that I'm going to do for a product that was sent to me i'm going to place my disclaimer. There has been much talk in the natural hair community about noting products so i want to begin my making sure you understand where I stand in terms of this review.

242Naturalista Disclaimer -This review is 100% my opinion and I was not monetized in any way for a good review. I also blog on hair facts and stories for the company in my spare time because I love sharing the knowledge i've gained with you all.

Milk +Honey hair care sent me their Hydrating Hair Custard for me to review.  I’ve used the product a couple months and now feel it’s the right time to write this review. The product is 98% organic and like other products by their line it is tailor made to 4b-4c kinky hair otherwise termed coarse and coily. This hair type usually requires less manipulation and more moisture and also poses serious shrinkage issues.  The Hydrating hair custard does not contain mineral oil, sulfates, petroleum, gluten or parabens which is great for those of us who are concerned about the ingredients in some of our favorite products.  Moreover, this product is marked cruelty free which indicates that it is never tested on animals and that’s another plus for me.

When I first opened the box I noticed a couple things about the product:

The labeling of this product is very colorful, having a chevron design.

The product came in a box with a card that also featured the chevron design and pointed you towards the company website.

The product is very fragrant but not overpowering. You don’t have to open the bottle in order to smell it.

This custard has a very light creamy consistency and does not contain any dyes.

Special care was also placed into the directions for the product indicating that if in warmer climates (like mine) the product may separate but this does not change the effectiveness of it and can be quickly remedied with a vigorous shake or some chill time in the fridge.  I don’t know about you but I love when companies make note of special things like that.

The ingredient list is pretty lengthy but contains some very good moisturizers and sealants like shea butter, coconut oil and sunflower seed oil. The ingredients are listed below.

Ingredients: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut Oil), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter And Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Butter And Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil And Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit, Coffea Arabica Seed Oil (And) Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Coffee Butter), Azadirachta Indica (Neem Oil), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil (And) Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Sweet Almond Butter), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract And Canola Oil (Aloe Extract), Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil (And) Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Avocado Butter), Ricinus Communis Oil (Castor Oil), Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter (Cupuaçu Butter), Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil (And) Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Hemp Butter), Behentrimonium Methosulfate (And) Cetearyl Alcohol (Conditioning Emulsifyer), Phenoxyethanol And Caprylyl Glycol (Optiphen), Fragrance

So after reading all of that  here’s what I like and what I don’t like.

Pros

-          The product has a bubblegum scent and some fruity notes which smells great. However, the scent is not overpowering and can last through two weeks of a twist/twistout.

-          Although the product is light, when used it really coats the hair and does not leave a film on the hair as some would expect due to its list of butters.

-          This product also lightly detangles and smoothes through hair very nicely. This allows for it to give way to extra defined twists/ braids.

-          Like its name implies it is very moisturizing. “Hydrating Hair Custard is great for quenching brittle and dry natural hair. This creamy custard blend works to embellish natural tresses while giving thirsty coils the nutrients needed for growth and nourishment.  ”

-          You don’t need to seal over this product with oil. When you take down your hair it will be very shiny and will not crunch.

Cons

Like most organic products, it may get a little pricey when compared to other non organic products. ($18 for 6 oz)

Also when twisting/ braiding hair, I usually have to squeeze out some of the product onto a jar in order for me to reapply product to the ends of my hair. This is a bit inconvenient in my opinion. The bottle does contain a pop top which is great for distributing product evenly but can make for difficulty when trying to seal those ends with product.

Overall this product is really great even though I’ve had developed ways of stretching this product lol.  I’ve found that when using this product you don’t have to be extra generous. As you section your hair apply a dollop sized amount based on the section and work it through. You want to also pay special attention to the ends of the hair which is the oldest and most dry part. By sectioning hair and using a dollop sized amount you will conserve product. I love that the hydrating hair custard has great moisture content, can be used to complete a number of hairstyles not just twists or braids and that it focuses on us coily and coarse haired lady’s.

 The pros outweigh the cons for me and so this product gets notable mention . I’m not just hyping a product line I believe in sharing the wealth about really great products and this one is no different. Milk and Honey is a part of the Barefruit Company and its an organic line created by Tasha Branham.

To check out more Milk + Honey hair products visit their website http://www.milkandhoneyhair.com/

All portions in grey were taken directly from the milk and honey haircare website.

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Update- Lifestyle change

So I know I haven't posted for a while. So much is on my mind right now, planning to head back to school, tweaking my eating preferences, job hunting, gardening, exploring mineral makeup. You name it, it's probably there lol. 

One of the things I wanted to mention was my lifestyle change, cause for me this won't be a diet. "Palean".  I have no known allergies/intolerance's towards any foods but as i've gotten older, like most people my preferences have changed.  I no longer appreciate the taste of whole milk and so i rarely use it. I've also given up pork products a couple years back. I've also discovered that certain foods cause particular flair ups on my skin and eyes, during certain times of the year and i want to see if food can reverse it. Something that men of you don't know about me is that I am big on health and achieving wellness the good old fashioned way.

 Beginning next month I'll be exploring a paleo lifestyle, (grain free, refined sugar free).  Don't know what that is? Well the paleo diet basically is a way of eating in which you mimic the food choices/groups of our ancestors who lived during the paleolithic era (hunter-gatherers). Most people subscribe to this diet because of medical conditions such as  SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Disease), Celiac Disease etc. This "diet" is not as restricting as it seems. The first list comprises foods you can eat, the second are things to avoid.

• Grass-produced meats
• Fish/seafood
• Fresh fruits and veggies
• Eggs
• Nuts and seeds
• Healthful oils (Olive, walnut, flaxseed, macadamia, avocado, coconut)

• Cereal grains
• Legumes (including peanuts)
• Dairy
• Refined sugar
• Potatoes
• Processed foods
• Salt
• Refined vegetable oils (listed in The Paleo Diet Cookbook and The Paleo Diet for Athletes)

 (Taken from http://thepaleodiet.com/what-to-eat-on-the-paleo-diet/)

There are so many websites that are tailored to folks wanting to explore this lifestyle because in the beginning it is a bit overwhelming attempting to eliminate grains. (Grains are in everything- got to read food labels). It helps one to boost their veggie intake, which in my opinion is a good thing. I currently dont' eat terribly but I do need more energy, I carb load and crave sugar, so this will be my way of testing out my body, more or less. My culture is one that definitely carb loads. We eat at least 3 starchy products at one meal and I'm working towards being healthier for my future. Wish me luck on this journey. I am not saying that this change in my life is going to be easy but I like challenge and as i mentioned prior i'm working towards being healthier. I will be blogging about my Paleo experience as well as recipes that I love and some of my cultural dishes that I have tweaked like Conch dishes etc. 

 Please, as a future health care professional, if you have any illnesses etc, please speak with your physician and most importantly do your research. I am not taking on this new lifestyle lightly i've been researching for months. 

Helpful blogs

http://thepaleodiet.com/the-paleo-diet-premise/

http://www.againstallgrain.com/

http://www.elanaspantry.com/

http://www.paleoplan.com/resources/paleo-plan-food-guide/

http://paleodietlifestyle.com/zucchini-cakes/

Thanks for reading. See you soon! 

Blessings & Love Drea12:9

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Short Natural hair - Life post big chop part 1

Hey loves, i know its been a while but i'm back with another post.
I've been rocking a curly fro ever since last week...Why? because I big chopped honey!

I big chopped my hair May 16th, 2013 after transitioning for 1 year. I did not go to a salon, I had my mom do it for me. I chose not to do it myself because I was in a giddy mood and may have gotten a little scissor happy. My mom did get a little scissor happy on one side so i have to definitely hit up my barber. If you choose to big chop yourself you should either see a stylist or barber afterwards for a quick trim otherwise you will have to keep trimming a few times after your chop. This is because even with your hair loaded with conditioner you may not see all of those straggly relaxed ends.

Post big chop
I had about 6 inches of hair on my head. I have way more hair in my crown area which also has my tightest curl pattern. Around the edges of my hair is pretty loose but I don't mind that at all (a little over 4 inches). I'm not going to go into curl specifics because I love my hair. I don't want to put labels on it or allow others to project on me what my hair should be or what it isn't because its not like theirs.

What to expect when you Big Chop
1. A serious case of HIMH
Don't look at me like that...I'm sure you know what HIMH is..If not its Hand in my hair syndrome lol copped that from Mae of Naturalchica.com....I honestly cannot stop touching my hair...It feels amazing. It feel so different from what i'm used to in a really good way.

2. A big shock
Depending on when you big chop you may have to get used to your hair..and i'm not talking about getting used to its dopeness lol but use to your hair. You may see another natural who transitioned or big chopped when you did and it may be great to look at their journey and what they did but all in all you have to love your own hair. God gave it to you and it may not respond like everyone's.  So chopping your hair and thinking your going to look like the next natural is the wrong place to start. My big shock was the fact that I can actually rock my natural hair and it doesn't look so-so. I actually look good with it. I say it like that because if you read my hair story you would know that I haven't really seen my natural hair from I was very young (got a perm early).

Everyone's big chop experience is different. What was yours like?

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Side note

After big chopping I also wondered whether too much heat was used on my hair for my graduation photos. I had a slight big of heat damage on a section in the front of my head. I made the decision not to put direct heat on my hair for another 3 years. I may go longer than that but for right now its 3 years.

Flat twist out using Milk + Honey hair care's hydrating hair custard! Smells amazing review coming soon!

In part 2 I'll discuss going to the barber and my trim experience!

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Hair update

Hey loves, so while co-washing and deep conditioning my hair this week I decided to take a few pics to show you all my curl pattern and how my hair is coming along. I will be posting an update video really soon! 

Dirty Hair full of conditioner (pre-poo)!

Curls after rinsing out the conditioner

Deep conditioner

Close up of my kinks

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L.A.Colors single eye-shadow review

Hey loves, so I just wanted to share with you something and its not a hair posts. I had a bit of retail therapy over the weekend and decided to pick up some new eye shadows to add to my collection. So I walked in this store and saw a bunch of L.A.Colors products and thought yano what i'm going to give them a try. Ain't no harm in trying right? lol

Well anywhoo, I heard about the products by l.a.colors and l.a.girl from a girlfriend of mine. She loves their eye-shadows and they make up the base of what she uses on her face. Not only are they cheap, which helps us out as college students but they also have good color pay off.

I picked up 4 single shades for $1.99 each...I know that's like $0.99 more than in the states but this is the Bahamas people. They also had the trio's and quads etc but I wasn't really that interested in them. I gravated towards the shades that just spoke to me. The shades I chose were fabulous teal, sunshine, periwinkle and fuschia (not pictured).

Color swatches only (no base)

So in honor of Easter, I tried a simple look. Fabulous teal reminds me a bit of the water in the Bahamas so I think that's right now my favorite color.

So onto the look I created.

Pros
1. Cheap
2. Very pigmented
3. Great for packing color onto the lid
4. Blends easily
5. Company is cruelty free

Cons
1. A little cakey

Overall I really like the colors and this product. These would be essential for any beginner and for those who want to test out different looks and improve their technique. Not every product in your arsenal has to be costly, some can be really cheap and when applied correctly can make you look like really beautiful.

Hope this helps you all out!
XoDrea12:9

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The Great Graduation Hair Debate

Hey loves I know its been a while...but I have been doing lots and lots of thinking. As graduation season approaches, i've been thinking really hard about hairstyles that would suit my head and especially that 

LOL! So this is the GGHD! Didn't know this one existed right. Lol it does if only in the mind of the natural/transitioning hair community. 

Graduation is a time in our lives when we want to feel appreciated for our hard work during our tenure in school. For such a happy time a lot of us get really flustered not by the chemistry, calculus or accounts but by our hair, plain and simple. We may have gotten by by protective styling up until that point and want something a little different on that day. So with that said i'm here to offer a few tips the biggest one being getting around that HAT!

Graduation styles definitely have to incorporate that hat. During this season it becomes a bit harder for naturals who are heat free, have "the awkward" length hair and those that are transitioning. Like myself, being relatively heat free excluding the use of my hair dryer for deep conditioning treatments. In any event, whatever stage you are with your hair there are options. In my opinion most people think of it as two big decisions and you decide which camp you fall into. I'm not even going to bring in the "I'm revisiting the creamy crack" cause if you really want to be natural that's not the way to go. So here are the two arguments.

1. To use heat or not to use heat

2. To weave or not to weave ............that is the question? lol

I know I know, pun intended but seriously that's what graduation day hair usually breaks down into. Using heat or other methods to lay our hair down or using a weave to protect our hair from the excess heat.

I'm not going to tell anyone how they should style there hair for graduation or much less grad pictures but I hope to offer a couple solutions that will help anyone in this situation.

1. Weave it- Weaves are an excellent protective style when persons do not forge to take care of their natural hair underneath

2. Low bun - You can always rock a low bun. The length of your hair will determine a lot of factors about that bun such as its size and style. For shorter hair you can always supplement your bun using marley braiding  (more defined) hair or kanekelon hair (less defined) depending on your hair texture.

3. A braid out/ coccoon curl/ flat twist out - These are so pretty but you do have to be careful. Your hair cannot be too high in the crown to prevent the graduation hat from staying on your head. So don't fluff the crown area too much. Also don't forget to use bobby pins to keep that hat LAID! lol 

4. Flat iron- If you are going this route, please, please, please use a heat protectant, although they do not protect your hair 100%, heat protectants do offer your hair a great deal of protection. 

Whatever you decide make sure you are comfortable with it because you will have to look back at the pictures from that day. Naptural85 also has a great video with some graduation hair ideas, so feel free to check out her channel.

Hope this article was helpful to you.

Blessings & Love Drea

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