Summertime heat, natural hair, & oily skin!

Today in the DMV (DC, MD, No. VA area), it is supposed to get up to a whopping 100 degrees with an index of 101 to 105 degrees. Can you say blazing?!?! Its so hot, the devil is pissed and sitting in a corner somewhere fanning.

Needless to say, this heat is making me drink more and more water with lemon to stay hydrated and have a good vitamin c in take. However, the heat is still putting a toll on my hair and my skin. The water i drink keeps my skin somewhat hydrated, but because i've been working out more and sweating more because of all that i drink, i'm still loosing out slightly. I can literally see the difference in my skin when i dont have enough water. It starts to look dull and lack of life no matter how much moisturizer i put on or the amount of blush to rosey up my cheeks. One thing it does do for sure is getting super oily when outside. I blot my face with facial tissues, which is a very temporary fix and rubs off my makeup a little bit, which i hate because i really dont like to have to touch up my makeup more than once a day.

In regards to my hair....what do i say?!?! I can DC (deep condition) all day everyday, co-wash, use a leave-in conditioner...it doesnt matter. During this heat, my hair soaks up water and any product. if it doesnt soak it up, i can later find it running down my neck. There's no winning. I'm in dyer need to find something that will keep my hair moisturized during these hot summer days and winter that is soon to follow.

I've been doing a little research and i have found a couple of things i want to try to rid myself of oily skin and dry-undefined curls-no matter how much product you use-hair! :-)

For my oily skin, i found Pallido Rice Paper Powdered Blotting Tissue.

Palladio rice paper tissues "natural" [also comes in translucent and beige] is a very unique, oil-absorbing two-sided tissue made with natural rice which is much gentler for the skin compares to pulp. With added rice powder to eliminate shine and to leave skin feeling and looking smoother. Use to blot off excess oil that causes skin blemishes. The matte side (without powder) is for blotting to absorb the excess oils and the powdered side is for finishing. Packaged in a pull out tissue component with the convenience of fitting in a purse.

In short:
* Made with rice instead of pulp
* Powder-coated for continued oil control
* Eliminate shine and skin imperfections
* Ideal for midday touchups

As for my hair goes, i have been from vblog to vblog and heard raving reviews about Huetiful Hair Steamer.

Huetiful Hair Steamers are designed specifically for your unique wavy or curly hair. We understand that your hair creates unique hair frustrations that can never seem to disappear. Dry hair, breakage, split ends, or dandruff? A Huetiful brand hair steamer can resolve all of these frustrations and allow you to stop buying multiple deep conditioners and hair treatments that never seem to completely restore enough moisture back to your dry hair.

Huetiful Brand Steamers have multiple benefits:
* Restores moisture to your dry hair 5x better than deep conditioners or hair treatments alone
* Opens up your hair cuticle to allow your conditioners and hair treatments to work more effectively
* Bathes your hair follicle with warm, ionized mist to replenish moisture lost from chemical or heat treatments
* Reduces future breakage and split ends caused by dry hair
* In colder months, keeps weather-dried hair moisturized and strong


You can find both of these products here:
Huetiful Hair Steamer - http://www.behuetiful.com/store/index.php (or Amazon)
Palladio Rice Paper Powdered Blotting Tissues - www.Amazon.com

Who can ask for anything more?!?! I'm excited to try both products in the the next coming months and i'll be back to give my results! :-)

SincerelyNiah

Nappturality done right!

As some of you may already know from reading my blogs or knowing me personally, i have recently shaved my hair off in efforts to go back to the way i came into this world. All of a sudden, it seems to be the buzz nowadays with African-American woman. I initially had my big chop back on 02/07/2007, but impatience only allowed me to stay napptural for almost 2 years. I was so anxious to run my fingers through my hair again, so i did the inevitable...permed it! Bad choice, but i dont regret it. I had fun with my hair, doing all the things i had never done...getting bangs, doing blunt shoulder length cuts, short sharp rihanna cuts, sow in weaves...i mean, i did pretty much everything to it but color it. Now i am back to being my napptural self again where i belong (for now) and love. One of my favorite R&B singers felt the same way.

“I was tired of black sista’s feeling subject to having their hair pressed and straightened, and damaged, with relaxers, and heat. I wanted to make short and nappy hair fashionable, and let the industry know that there is nothing wrong with the texture that we have been born with. So I plan to grow it out to the big beautiful nappy hair that I have.”
-Chrisette Michele

I'll be honest, my first reaction to this bold move caught me off guard. Its very rare you see anyone in the industry do something like this, and with meaning. Yeah, you have the Rihanna's and Cassie's shaving half of their heads off to be a part of "the now", and to be what is considered hip to set a trend, but to do something with meaning that is so much deeper than the surface, i can appreciate that.

I was my first inspiration to shave my hair off the first time, but of course, my fellow pisces and other favorite R&B singer Erykah Badu did the darn thing too, but way before shaving your head as a woman was cool. But that is what i love about her. She has that "I dont care what people think about me" attitude. And when i tell you homegirl rocked the heck out of that cut, it is not a game. Her beauty magnified.

Most people ask me, why did you just shave it all off instead of getting braids first to allow the new growth to grow out first? Well, i'll tell you why. I believe, to fully appreciate what you are doing, its a must to start from scratch and to not half step it. I must say, it's a bold move to shave your hair off, but when you do it, it is by far the most liberating experience for a woman. To walk around with your head held high knowing that you are beautiful in your natural state and don't have to conform to what society and mainstream considers acceptable, is a huge statement to make without saying a word. Its so powerful.

So although some trends are cute for the moment, like shaving your hair off on the side like La La Vasquez who is said to have mocked Cassie and Cassie who is said to have mocked Rihanna and Rihanna who is believed to have mocked...., well, you get the idea, be original.

Do what feels right for you but don't cheat yourself.

More of my favorite bald beautiful bold bombshells below!!!! :-)

And of course (saving the best for last)....ME!!!

Sincerelyniah xoxoxo!!!

Vintage at its best

Spring is FINALLY here (well, still feels like winter), but technically it is Spring. It's my favorite time of year. The sun is out, the flowers are blooming, the birds are singing and it all makes me want to shop!!!

I'm not your typical shopping girl that runs to the mall and gets excited about running from store to store. Nope...not me at all. I'm a pisces, which consists of me being creative, so i like to mix it up a bit and make it WERRRKKK!!! LOL! When it's time to shop, i go straight for vintage.

Normally, i keep it local and try to find vintage shops in the DC, MD, VA area, but not this year. I plan to venture out. I hear Philly is the next best thing to sliced bread when it comes to vintage shops, so i think i'm going to give it a go.

I look back on all the fantastic outfits my mother wore back in the day and i think to myself, "Sheesh, i wish my mother kept all of her clothes from when she was younger." From high waisted fitted jeans and high waisted pencil skirts, to the gorgeous hats with the short mesh veils in the front. i just LOVE IT!!! It's all so funny to me because my daughter begs me now to keep all of my clothes so that she can wear them when she gets older. I take that as a compliment, so i must oblige!!!

I must say, one of my favorite things to shop for when it comes to vintage is the accessories. More along the lines of handbags, the oversized clutches, sunglasses and the jewelry. I guess this is why i favor star actress Tracee Ellis Ross from the hit tv show 'Girlfriends' and also the daughter of Diana Ross.

Tracee Ross' style is so beautiful to me. In my opinion, she defines elegance, classic, chic, edgy and vintage. No matter what she wears, honey is fierce!!! From baggy pants and a blazer, to a dress that can make the red carpet blush, honey is always on point with elegance!

This is a woman who embraces her curves, her nappturality, simplicity, her sense of being bold.....in short, she exudes confidence and to me, that is what every woman should do. I don't care if you are full figured, hour glass shaped or skinny as a twig, be fearless honey!!! WERKKK!!!

On a vintage note, its all about doing and wearing what feels good to you. If you wear it with confidence, than that is what shows. Vintage isnt for everyone for sure, but i dare you to give it a twirl.

sincerelyniah...xoxoxo!

Fetish...

fet-ish [fet-ish, fee-tish] - noun
an object regarded with awe as being the embodiment or habitation of a potent spirit or as having magical potency.

i'm not usually one to have a fetish, but when i do, i am frenzied! I mean literally!!!!


First it was lip balm. Yes, i have admitted to having a slight addiction to lip balm, but hey, everyone has their poison and thank God, mine isn't deadly. Currently, my lip balm of choice is Nivea A Kiss of Moisture. IT IS THE TRUTH!!! You can thank me later. :-)

Back to the topic at hand. My fetish for the past couple of months has been nail polish. Crazy right?!?!? Well, not to me. Here's the thing. I am in love with change, i am in love with innovation. change is the only consistent thing in life and that is why i have learned and accepted to adapt to it the best way i know how. I change my hair at least every 6 months or sometimes less than that. In one year, i went from natural, to permed straight long to my shoulders, a blunt straight cut with a bold blunt bang, short "Victoria Beckham" cut, then back to shaved off natural again. My hair is my playground. Better yet, it is my canvas and when i get bored with the way it looks, i wipe that canvas clean and paint something new. i hate the question, "girl, when are you gonna just stick to one hairstyle?!" What?!?! Why?!? The world is full of changes, so why should i stick to the same thing. no no boo boo! Not this one.

Moving on...


Since i have recently shaved my hair off, i have been excited to change something else. So what better to change then my nail color and design?! Its so much fun and i literally change it weekly if not sooner. I have a large drawer in my dresser specifically for my plethora of nail polishes. I have every color imaginable. My favorite for the fall season is called "circus elephant". I LOVE IT!!! And i have gotten so many compliments on it. Other than that, my favs have been this deep lilac purple, teal, hot pink, yellow, mint green, moon over mambai, tickle me francey, and teenage dream just to name a few.


Right now, i am amped about trying this, not new but still fly, design. Its called minx nails.

Minx nails are made from flexible films which are applied with heat and pressure and does not require any drying time.
So....Imagine peeling nail polish...only ALOT more fabulous. Only a few select salons perform this magic, so check for listings in your area. When i get mine finished, i'll let you know the outcome.









Sally Hansen has tried to replicate it, but trust and believe, they can't do it like Minx. It may be a little bit more cost effective, but "Quality over quantity" is what i always says. However, if you are on a budget and not good with painting your own nails, i would definitely give Sally Hansens line a shot. It's $10 for a box of 16 strips and i hear the application is very simple if you follow the instructions. They also have a huge selection of styles, which is really cool i think.


Have fun! xoxoxo!

Happy New Year!!! (Late you say?!?!...NOPE!)

Yeah I said it....HAPPY NEW YEAR and i am in the month of March. Most people typically celebrate the new year in January, but me on the other hand, celebrate on my born day. Granted, it's still in a new year, but i was born on March 12, 1979 at 5am and that is when life begin for me, so when better to celebrate newness?!?!

So no, i didnt make a new years resolution, but i did, however decide that i will continue to strive towards greatness and to live life to its fullist. I mean, you only get one of them. I dont want to live to work. I want to work to live and be alive. By saying that, one of my favorite quotes from Nicki Minaj, "But to live doesn't mean youre alive." I'll let you digest that.

Anyway, to start out my new year, i did it with a bang. Not the unusual, but something that i love to do and what liberates me?! Guessed it yet?!!? Probably since you already peaked at the picture below. hahaha! I shaved my hair off. Ahhh...and it felt so good.



Some may not understand why i do it, so here is a brief explanation...

For years, i was told i was a pretty girl, but i never believed it because i was teased so badly growing up. From my skinny long legs, to my deep chocolate complexion and my over bite that took over my small framed face, i was convinced all these things made me ugly. Being teased from kids in school is one thing, but then to have it come from your family, the people you love and trust is another. For years, i trusted what they said about me and i didnt believe i was beautiful nor waas i comfortable in my own skin. So i hid from everyone with silence. I tried at every cost to make myself invincible until one day....

One day, i was walking through the mall, 3 months pregnant, feeling miserable, sick and depressed about living in a foreign place (VA opposed to FL). As i was walking with my head down, a guy (or you can say girl if you know what i mean) and a girl where walking past me, and with such conviction and genuine context he said, "she is GORGEOUS!" i lifted my head and looked to see who he was talking about and to my surprise, they were both looking at me and smiling. It may seem simple, but to have a total stranger make such a statement took me by surprise.

I went home, looked in the mirror and cried because i still couldnt see what they saw. To fast forward, a couple of years went by. i picked up an Essence magazine from the grocery store and read an article by the comedian and Grammy winning actress Monique, who talked about the hard times she went through in life. She said one statement that stood out to me and i have kept it with me ever since..."I deserve to love me!" She wrote it on her mirror in her bathroom and said it every morning until she begin to believe it in her heart and her soul. I decided to do the same thing, but i did it a little differently. I wanted to go back to that little girl that was told she was not beautiful, so i shaved my hair off with no hesitation. I wanted to see what i looked like completely naked. That turned my life around and i begin to love myself and more than i ever thought possible.

So with that...Happy New Year! Loving myself...everything about me and striving for excellence. xoxoxo!!!