Summer 16″

Ok, Queens well officially begin Summer, and I know you ladies are looking for ways to maintain your coils, kinks, and curls. Looking for protective styles, just plain ole ways to take better care of our crown of curls.

Let’s get started. Here in Baltimore, Maryland the weather is starting to heat up and at night, it becomes sticky and Let’s face it ladies “These curls ain’t loyal”!! Here are a few *Tips* to use to help your hair from becoming fluffy.

Picture courtesy of Google Images

 

Add Eco Styler Gel/ or any clear gel with a hair cream or butter to help with the hold when styling Twist-outs, braid-outs, rods, etc. Hair creams or butters will moisturize your hair, and when the moisture in your hair meets the muggy, humid air, it may become a *BIG* Bush. Not saying I don’t like the Big Bush because you guys know I do. However, if that’s not the look you are going for you may want to add a gel.

It’s best to mix the two products together on your hand first before apply on your hair. If the two products create a white residue on your hand, it will do the same in your hair.

 

courtesy of google images

 

Heat Protectant Serum, spray, or cream. Yes, that’s right. I love the Cream of Nature and Tresemme’ Heat protection and Serum. I know you would normally add to your hair when using heated styling tools, however, these products can help to control fly-aways as well as to hold a good curl pattern for wash and go’s and twist-outs. Plus, it’s perfect for protecting your hair from chlorine in the pool or salt water at the beach. I love big hair (Defined curls), and Heat Protectant helps to keep your hair softer, shinier and helps your hair from frizzing and drying out on those hot summer days.

This is my favorite say it with me now! ***EDGE CONTROL*** Nothing screams summer is here more than melting edge control or edge control that only got your back for the first 5 to 10 mins of life. Quite frankly It’s disrespectful to put all that work and money in a good ( slick down ) just for the edge control to abort the mission. I know ladies it’s hard to find a good edge control that’s not flaky, sticky, leaves the white residue, or just don’t well control the edges. Well, these are a few I love. Yes, I tried each item and loved them all.  These edge controls give me the best slick down of all the slick downs.

The next thing is my Second favorite.  When your hair just refuses to be your friend I mean refuse to give you any act right. Well, it’s time to try an Updo, Flat twist, crown braids, etc. These kind of styles are convenient, easy to do and just plain cute to style.

Picture from Pinterest Flat twist w/2 strand twist

Crown Braid  (Picture from Pinterest)

 

 

Two strand twist(photo from Pinterest)

Single two strand Twist (Picture from Pinterest)

 

Or you may want or miss your curls. You can always unravel your locks (twists and braids) and let’em flow. And Did I mention you can’t go wrong with a High Puff, Rods and crochet braids? These styles seem to be the trendiest styles for summer 2016. 

This is a picture of my beautiful 14 y/o babygirl. (rocking crochet braids)

 

 

 

Red hair don’t care. I just love rods during the summer months. They will start off tightly curled and loosen up by the end of the week.

 

Well, Queens, that’s all for now. If you would like to see any other summer style to help maintain your natural hair. Please feel free to let me know by emailing me ourkinksrcurls@gmail.com or contacting me on my social media pages.

Happy Summer 2016 Queens

Be kind to yourself, Remember to NEVER give up on your hair.

Love Peace and Hair cream.

Blogged By: Tanya

courtesy of google images 

 

Ballin on a Budget for Natural Hair Care

Hello Queens & Happy New week and New Season;

Since I became natural, I would hear and still hear to this very day comments on how “Natural hair products are so expensive. I totally agree Queens, Yes Natural hair care items are on the expensive side and will have you in the store making life decisions between picking out a hair care item you may need, may want to try or lunch and & gas. I hear you ladies and I been there. Unfortunately, when you are a newly natural I recommend to try as many products as possible to find out what works for you and learn to stick with that.

GOODNEWS!!! I’m here to shed a little light on being a product junkie on a budget. Yes, homegirl on a BUDGET!!!  from oils to vitamins I have the list for you.

Ok, Let us begin.

Tip: Always check the websites of the stores, yes the weekly paper will show you sales, but the stores Website are mostly more accurate than the Sunday paper. Walmart & Target carry trial sizes in some products starting prices $2.99 and up.

Walgreens: Currently have Carol’s Daughter on sale Buy 1 Get one-half off.

http://www.walgreens.com/store/store/product/view_product_details.jsp?id=prod6262858

Walgreens has reduced Cream of Nature price (not in sale paper)

http://www.walgreens.com/store/store/category/productlist.jsp?N=360463&Eon=360463&No=80&

Cantu Line for Kids & Adults

http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/cantu-kids-care-curl-cream/ID=prod6269082-product

Nature’s Bounty Hair, Skin, and Nails with Biotin Gummies Buy 1 Get 1 Free http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/nature’s-bounty-hair-skin–nails-gummies-with-biotin/ID=prod6204470-product

http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/nature’s-bounty-hair-skin–nails-gummies-with-biotin/ID=prod6204470-product

CVS

Has Shea Moisture and OGX products for 25% off.

http://www.cvs.com/shop/beauty/hair-care/styling/N-diZdjZdhZ3uZemjrglZiyizZ13twe1Z2k?DCSext.TriadCampID=B2786&WT.ac=Shop-Beauty-LeftNav-Cat-HairCare&sortBy=highestRated

This sale happens often and does not appear in the sale papers. Need to a card for these sales, Plus the extra bonus sign up for coupons to be emailed to you. I a $20 coupon sent to me and my hair products came to $50 with card and coupon, $17.89 after card and two coupons.

Target ( Every natural chica hang out spot) Part 1. Target Beauty aisle is Lit. Depending on your area Target has a Heavy flow of Products for us Curly, kinky chicks with coils. Target always have sales on some or all hair and beauty items Plus, have a $10 off coupon via text and receives a $5 gift card when a certain amount spent. Plus, Shea Moisture has coupons in the Sunday’s paper not as often as we would like, but nonetheless it’s best to use the coupons during the sales.

I love to support Carols Daugther, Shea Moisture, etc., But lately, I decided to venture off to other more cost-effective lines of the store.

Ok, Now I started using this line called Renpure and Hask for my Hair Care. I mention these products in two article I written in May, and it costs less when I may need something that works well with my hair, and I can afford during the (Rent is due week). I fell in love with the line. It’s cheap, and it works well with kinky, coiled hair. I like to add Honey to the treatments. The line is available at Target, Walgreens, and CVS. It’s always on sale as low as $1 for the treatments and $3 for shampoo and Conditioner. Yes, this line works well on type 4 hair. 

This inexpensive line is Great when you need something to get you by.

Another tip is **In-Store Coupons*** usually when you purchase something at Walgreens, Target, and CVS you will get a coupon or two along with your receipt and it usually be a coupon for the product you just bought for you next visit. You can combine these coupons along with others and only pay tax.

Sally’s now prints out $5 coupons for card holders. This is a plus. So ladies if there a product you are itching to try but it’s not in your budget, This is when the coupon come in handy. For example, I have a $5 **In-store coupon** I want to try an item from The Mane Choice line, Let’s say the shampoo and it’s cost $12.89 (Cardholder price), and I give the cashier my $5 off coupon. I only pay $7.89 and stay under my $10 budget for Natural Hair Products.

Moral: Ladies, I know it can be a headache to apply for Club cards, but it’s worth it when you want to save more. All the stores I mentioned in this article cards are free except for Sally’s card. It cost $5. However, you get a $5 in return as a coupon for you next purchase. Plus, every time you visit and make a purchase you get a $5 coupon. That’s pretty cool.

Now: For natural hair oils. I would recommend the Supermarket baking aisle, Trader Joes or a few farmer markets. Oh yes, for oils it’s pretty easy to find and buy. They come in large jars and lasts forever. Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Avocado Oil, Grapeseed oil, Peppermint oil and the list goes on. All can be found easily in any baking aisle in any market or store that has a food goods aisle in them. Coupons for these goods can be found in the Sunday paper or online at Coupons.com.

Happy Saving Queens, I want to hear about you guys saving on these brands and couponing   on these items, Don’t torget your club cards can also come in handy.

Until next time Love, peace & Haircream

Be Kind to yourself first

Blogged by: Tanya K.

 

 

 

Catching up. Came a long way.

Hello, queens.  Hope all of you beauties enjoyed your Spring break and Easter holiday. This picture you see here is an old picture of me dated 5 years old during my 5th anniversary with my job. As you can see from this picture I was a bit on the heavy side and yes, I know what you are thinking. Yes, this was my real hair. I was relaxed and had bleached my hair. This was how and when I began my Natural hair journey. You can’t tell but my roots were thick as cornbread and my bangs had breakage and kinda thin. All though my hair can take coloring very well, it did not take relaxers well at all. Every time I would get a touch-up my day 1, day 2 and day 3 hair was slamming. But by day 4 through 7 my scalp was itching, my hair was flat, I couldn’t hold a curl, and I had to maintain my style for another week until my next appointment and my hair was shedding like crazy. I use to comb my hair to the front of my head to cover my burnt, thin edges. I was miserable trying to maintain 2 different textures of hair. So, I big chopped right after this picture was taken. BEST DECISION EVER!!!

Now, let’s fast forward a bit. Today is my 10th anniversary with my job, I lost all my baby weight and gain just a little back (lol) I moved up 2 more positions since this picture and I am now a little over 3 years natural and may I add again I LOVE IT!! Part of the reason I lost my weight was I did not mind sweating my hair out. Yes, queens you and I both know a few people who hate to sweat out a good relaxer ( I was one of them).  When my edges got damp it was over and I didn’t want any parts of it. (real talk) Once I big chopped I knew I could workout and not worry about my hair. I knew that water and a healthy diet would help with my hair growth and yes contribute to my weight loss as well. See, as momma would say “I’ll killing 2 birds with one stone”. #Nopunintended

Since returning back to natural I learned how eating and living a better lifestyle can help with my weight control and hair growth. I started to save more money by not needing a salon visit every 2 weeks instead every 2 months for a trim or press. I still love to try products but I make smarter choices when I go product shopping. I only buy products that are on sale and I mean a GOOD SALE. I would stock up on my favs and try any newbies that I heard good reviews about. Since the natural hair industry is booming you can catch a good sale at CVS, WALGREENS, TARGET and of course SALLY’s. (BTW) if you do not have club cards for these stores you CAN NOT get the products at the sale price. So, please go to your nearest locations and apply for your keychain cards. Now, as for Sally’s it cost 5 bucks but you get a $5 coupon you can use for your next purchase and the membership last for a year.

So, there you have it queens I wanted to tell you guys what I’m been up to and I’m sorry for not blogging as much as I should. However,I made a commitment to post a blog every Wednesday and Saturday night.