Tuesday, February 22, 2011

FOTD: Date Nite


When I was pregnant and exhausted, I tried my best to make sure that hubby and I had some alone, date night time while we could no matter what. I figured once the baby came the jigg is up and we would be stuck in the house looking at each other and the baby. Well the baby has come and flipped my life around, turning my days into nights and my nights into days, but we are blessed. Thank God for Godmothers! My daughters godmother was willing to come and watch baby Hannie for us one saturday night and we were finally able to go out on a date, dinner and dancing even! Of course there was no way I was going out without doing my makeup and as you all have probably guessed by now, pinks and purples make me feel sexy and sassy. I hope you enjoy the look!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

FOTD: Goldilux

I'm currently obsessed with Sugarpill Cosmetics. I'm finally using my products that I ordered during the holidays and I am inlove with Goldilux Loose E/S! It's so gorj it gives me shivers. Hope you enjoy the look!

 

Thursday, February 3, 2011

LOTD: Smoldering Gray


Face:
Face Atelier Ultra Foundation in 11 
Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics HD Powder


Eyes:
MAC Painterly Paint Pot - All over
Sedona Lace 120 Palette, tray 2, column 7, dark gray - lid to just above crease
Sedona Lace 120 Palette, tray 2, column 8, black - just above crease
Sedona Lace 120 Palette, tray 2, column 9, 4th color down (pinkish-purple) - above crease, just under brow bone
Sedona Lace 120 Palette, tray 2, column 7, pink - middle of lid
Sedona Lace 120 Palette, tray 2, column 2, pink - brow bone highlighter
L'Oreals Voluminous - Mascara
NYX Jumbo pencil in Black - Liner


 



Cheeks:
Mehron cheek cream in Geranium
MAC blush in Breezy

Lips:
Coastal Scents 66 Lip Color Palette, 9th column, 3rd color down
MAC lipglass Wrong Spell

~HG

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

LOTD - Sparkly Silver & Green


Face:
Face Atelier Ultra Foundation in 11 
Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics HD Powder


Eyes:
MAC Painterly Paint Pot - All over
Makeup Forever Flash Palette, black - all over lid, just above crease
Sugarpill Cosmetics Chromalust, Tiara - inner lower lid, to middle of lower lid
Lime Crime Magic Dust, Mischief Managed - middle of lower lid
Sedona Lace 120 Palette, black - Outter V
Sugarpill Chromalust, Stella - Crease
Sedona Lace 120 Palette, tray 2, column 4, green - above crease
Sedona Lace 120 Palette, tray 2, column 5, brown - brow highlighterMUFE Rock Forever Aqua Eyes, Silver - lower lash line
NYX Jumbo pencil in Black - Liner
L'Oreals Voluminous - Mascara

Cheeks:
MAC blush in Slave to Love
MAC blush in Gentle
MAC blush in Raisin

Lips:
MAC brew
MAC C-thru


~HG

Thank You

I just wanted to do a quick entry thank you all for sticking with me the last 9 months. It's been crazy. Between the pregnancy and my mother's illness, this blog had to go on the back burner. On January 12, 2011 I was blessed with my babygirl.I had an incredibly difficult delivery and a few days afterwards I ended up in ICU. On January 19, 2011 I had the heartwrenching experience of losing my best friend, my mother. You can obviously understand where my focus has been. However, now that I'm home on maternity leave I'm hoping to post at least 4 days a week.

Thank you again for sticking with me. I'm going to work incredibly hard to make this blog better than ever this year.

God Speed,
~HG

Saturday, January 8, 2011

My Natural Hair Journey - An Update

In the last 8 months I've learned a lot about my hair. The things I thought it loved I've discovered it actually doesn't. For instance, almost every product I owned had protein in it. I didn't think that was such a big deal. Wrong! I kept wondering why my hair would love a product the first two times I would use it and then renig by the 3rd time. Also, a lot of the products that folks are in love with my hair turned it's nose up at. Coconut oil? Forget about it! My hair doesn't want it anywhere near my head. I've discovered that there are 2 things that I need:
  • Heavy, thick & creamy conditioners
  • Jojoba oil for my ends
I have the latter, but I'm still working on finding the former. So far this year I have declared Mixed Chicks conditioner as a staple and that's it. I use it for deep conditioning and my hair seems to really like it. I still need to find a new co-washer and a new leave in conditioner so if you're a 4a/b like myself, and like really thick and creamy conditioners, please leave me your suggestions.

This was me last year around summer time:
and this is me today:

Although my hair has grown, it hasn't grown drastically. What has happened is that it has thickened up a lot! I love that! Unfortunately this fall I stopped taking care of my hair the way I use to and had to chop off 2 inches in November. I had to retrim my hair again last week because the ends were so dry and splitting. The reason for the second trim is that i was having a hard time keeping my hair moisturized. So much so that I was starting to go into panic mode! Now that I use mixed chicks as as deep conditioner, all seems to be right with the world. My hair can stand to be a bit more moisturized still, so the hunt is on. I don't think I will have to worry about trimming my hair so soon this time though.

My goal for the next 3 months is to find conditioners that really moisturize my hair, bun my hair as much as possible so I can stop playing with it and pulling strands out, and work on reaching APL by June. I should be able to do all of those things, I just have to be dedicated.

~HG

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Trial & Error - Burt's Bees Hair Repair Shea & Grapefruit Deep Conditioner

The longer I'm natural the more I come to understand that learning about my hair in its natural state takes some serious patience. I've found products that my hair seemed to LOVE only to turn around and have it hate the same product two months later. That has been rather frustrating. How do I know my hair hated the product? Well it laid there feeling tough, not soft to the touch, like straw. It was not a good look and it felt God awful!

After speaking with some ladies in my social circle it finally dawned on me what the problem was - protein! Apparently my hair hates protein! Now, I wouldn't say I can't ever use protein again, but my hair doesn't hardly need it as much as someone elses may. Protein was making my hair feel harsh and disgusting. Everything I was using contained protein from my conditioners to my shampoo, heck, even my styling products contained protein. No wonder I was so baffled that products such as coconut oil did not work well on my hair when others sung their praises to it.

So, this week I pulled all of my products containing protein out of the cabinet and set it aside in a bag to give away. I was then left with...nothing...I had absolutely nothing left that didn't contain protein! So I had to make a mad dash for the store, and ended up picking up some Burt's Bees Shea & Grape Fruit Deep Conditioner. I literally just used it for the first time this morning, so take that for what it's worth.



The smell is great, I love it. It makes me believe my hair will be really clean and moisturized after using it. The feel of the product, however, left much to be desired for me. I need a heavy, creamy, luscious conditioner and...this wasn't it. It was a little thick, a little oily, but it was just...off some how. I worked it into my hair leaving it in for about 5 minutes before rinsing. I lightly towel dried my hair before putting some jojoba oil on the ends, and I waited. I waited for something that didn't come. While my hair felt clean, it did NOT feel well conditioned. I was disappointed. I don't doubt that this product is great for someone elses hair, but for mine? It failed. I will probably hold on to it until I get to try one of the Suave products that I'm being promised has no oil or protein, but as soon as I find something else suitable, I'm ditching it.

The other thing I didn't really like was the price. I paid $8 for this product when I pay less than half that for Herbal Essences Hello Hydration and I get what seems like much more product! For me this goes down as another failed attempt at finding something my hair loves.

However, I must say that if your hair appreciates a lighter conditioner (lighter than what I'm looking for), this may very well work for you, so give it a go.

~HG