Guess Who's a Briogeo Brand Ambassador?!

On Friday, I received some wonderful news from Nancy T., the founder of Briogeo, about an opportunity to partner with the brand to become an ambassador.

I'm extremely excited about this opportunity and I just wanted to share this news with you all.  I will have a link on my blog where you will be directed to the Briogeo site to learn about the brand and make purchases. ;)

Briogeo products are some of my favorites because of the natural ingredients and the results!  Not to mention, they smell wonderful. :)

You can check out my review of Briogeo products here.

Let me know if you have any questions about the brand. I'd be happy to help if I can!

Xo,

Ashley.

Do you have any questions for me about Briogeo?  Comment below!

Check Out My #HairStory on the IAM MY Hair Blog!

I'm so excited to have been featured on the IAM MY HAIR Blog to share my #HairStory!  The creator, Janae, is a sweetheart, and I was lucky enough to have met her at #Curlfest. :)

Anywho, make sure you swing by the IAM MY HAIR Blog, and check out my feature. :)

Until next time,

Ashley, xo.

Make sure you swing by the IAM MY HAIR Blog to check out my feature as well as some other naturalistas, tips, and advice.  Do you have any questions for me about my feature?  Comment below!

Curlfest: The Ultimate Summer Picnic

Curlfest, Prospect Park, BK 2014

On Sunday, June 22nd, a couple of friends and I packed a blanket and some snacks en route to Prospect Park, Brooklyn for Curlfest.  Curlfest is described by the Curly Girl Collective as "the ultimate summer picnic" where you go to enjoy music, games, vendors, and the company of your friends and fellow curly girls.

Spotlight Monday: Andria

Tell us about yourself.

> My name is Andria; I'm from Chicago, but I hope to move to New York in the near future.  I want to become an editor for Vogue or Teen Vogue.  I'm a very shy person and become really reserved in huge crowds.

How long have you been natural?  What is your hair type?  Describe your curls!

> I have been natural for a year and a half.  It will be two years in July!  I don't hair type because I can never find my hair on those darn charts, but I would fall in the 3 range.  Part of my hair is wavy with spirals at the end and other parts are just spirals.  My edges don't really curl at all; they (for the most part) stay semi-private, which is why it's so easy to lay my edges down.  The front of my hair doesn't have deep waves like the rest of my hair. 

Did you transition or big chop?  Why did you take that route?

> I transitioned but wanted to big chop so bad, but my mother wouldn't allow it.  Had I been who I am now, I wouldn't have listened and just went for it lol.  Hair played a big part of who I was; I was always that dark skinned girl with "good hair".  So when I told my mother I wanted to cut my hair off, she had a fit and gave me an either or situation.  So, I waited until my hair was to my ear and cut it.

On big chopping-- how did you feel?

> I was so excited when I saw my curls.  I wasn't a child getting relaxers when I was younger, but I always got my hair pressed, which damaged my curls.  I remember growing my hair out and posting it on hair blogs asking my type, and I would always get that it wasn't my real curl pattern, and that I was black so my hair would be much nappier than that 4 inches of growth I had.  Funny thing-- that was really my hair texture.  Either way, I was willing to accept whatever grew from my head.

What was it like when you experienced your natural hair for the first time?

> When I cut my hair I felt so happy because I did it for me.  I didn't care about how long my hair was; I didn't even do it for the health of my hair.  I just wanted my hair to be curly.  When I wore my first wash n go I was so excited; I didn't care that it stopped at my ears!  I loved my curls.

What are some of your favorite products? (top 3)

> Cantu Shea Butter leave-in repair cream, Shea moisture curl enhancing smoothie, Eco Styler Gel

What are your go-to hairstyles?

> My go-to styles would have to be braids, buns, and wash n gos.

What is a haircare lesson that you'd share with someone who wants to go natural?

> One hair care lesson I've learned is to NOT FOLLOW HAIR TRENDS!  I can't stress this enough.  I do not believe in only buying products geared towards African Americans, nor do I believe in not clarifying your hair with a shampoo.

What are your hair goals?

> I just want my hair to remain healthy and to grow out.  I recently cut it just because, so now I just want to get back to the length it was before.  Anything longer would be a bonus.

How do you feel about your hair today?

> Since I cut it and it's growing out, I'm back in the "awkward stage".  But I have to say I'm enjoying it.  I didn't realize how much I missed my hair at this length.

Instagram: anicolec_

YouTube: andriachildress

Do you have any questions for Andria about her natural hair journey?  Comment below!

Curlfest: The Ultimate Summer Picnic

Curlfest is an event by the Curly Girl Collective where natural beauties are celebrated!  It takes place on Sunday, June 22nd from 1-6pm in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY.

Attendees are encouraged to bring snacks and blankets; there will be music, games, vendors, and giveaways!  Some of the sponsors include EDEN BodyWorks, Ouidad, and Curls.

I'm super excited to be attending, and I hope to see some of you there!  If you are going, please let me know.  I'd love to meet some of my fellow curly girls! :)

See you then!

Ashley, xo

Are you attending Curlfest?  Do you know about any other curly girl events taking place in NYC this summer?  Comment below!

Spotlight Monday: Courtney

Tell us about yourself.

> My name is Courtney and I was born and raised in Dallas, TX.  I graduated from Prairie View A&M University in May 2011 where I received a B.A. in Accounting.  I’ve been working in Finance for almost 3 years now.  However, I’m currently changing my career field and going into nursing.  I realized quickly the cubicle life is not for me and I need to do something that allows me to help and interact with people (nursing was my original major at PV haha).

My Skincare Routine for Combination Oily Skin Types (Part 2)

My Skin as of June 2014

Hey all!  I've updated my original skincare post, which includes the products and tools that I use on the daily to cleanse my skin, fade old scars, and moisturize.  However, this post is to tell you about the extras that I didn't include on the first post!

Spotlight Monday: Michelle

Tell us about yourself.

> My name is Michelle, and I am a recent Syracuse University grad; I majored in both Information Management & Technology and Women & Gender Studies.  I live in Long Island, NY, and I believe 50 Cent is my soulmate!

A Transitioner's POV Submissions

Transitioning?  No worries!  There is a Transitioner's Point of View feature for you as well. :)  Please send me an email at curlsfothegirls@gmail.com with Transitioner's POV (Your Name) as the subject:

1. Tell us about yourself.

2. How long have you been transitioning?

3. What influenced you to transition?

4. What has been the most difficult part of your journey thus far?

5. What have you learned about your hair since transitioning?

6. Have you ever thought about big chopping?

7. What are some of your favorite products so far? (3-5)

8. What are some of your favorite hairstyles?

9. What are your hair goals?

10. Any advice for new transitioners?

(Optional, but encouraged) How can you be reached? (Twitter, Instagram, etc.)

Don't forget to share with your followers that you have also been featured.  Shout #curlsfothegirls out on social media & let everyone know that they can be featured, too!

Xo,
Ashley

Spotlight Monday Feature Submissions

Interested in a Spotlight Monday feature?  Send me an email at curlsfothegirls@gmail.com with Spotlight Monday (Your Name) as the subject:

1. Tell us about yourself.

2. How long have you been natural?  What is your hair type?  Describe your curls!

3. Did you transition or big chop?  Why did you take that route?

4. If you big chopped-- how did you feel?

5. What was it like when you experienced your natural hair for the first time?

6. What are some of your favorite products? (Top 3)

7. What are your go-to hairstyles?

8. What is a haircare lesson that you'd share with someone who wants to go natural?

9. What are your hair goals?

10. How do you feel about your hair today?

(Optional, but encouraged) How can you be reached? (Twitter, Instagram, etc.)

Please include 3-6 photos that highlight your hair throughout your journey (options are always best!).

Don't forget to share with your followers that you have also been featured.  Shout #curlsfothegirls out on social media & let everyone know that they can be featured, too!

Xo,
Ashley

Guest Editor: 3 Awesome Summer Trends

Hello everyone!  It’s Jair from fashionroyaltyblog.wordpress.com, and I’m back to share three awesome fashion trends that will be in this summer.  The summer is the perfect time to wear effortless and bold looks, while staying cool and confident.  Summer is right around the corner and we are all wondering what are some awesome trends we can indulge in.  Well, I am excited to bring you three amazing and easy trends you can sport this summer.

Spotlight Monday: Qubilah

Tell us about yourself.

> My name is Qubilah, but I like to go by Lady/Sister Shabazz.  I am a recent graduate from UNC-Chapel Hill, and I am currently interning with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation in Washington, D.C.  In the meantime, I’m looking for employment in the non-profit or public service sector.

My Thoughts on BeautyConNYC

Last week, I was chosen by @BrandingMuse on Instagram to attend BeautyConNYC.  BeautyCon is a "fashion and beauty summit for the internet's most influential and everyone who's obsessed with them!" (http://www.beautycon.com/about/).  This year, it was held at at Pier 36, which is way downtown.  It seemed like fun at first, but I wasn't impressed.

Spotlight Monday: Nisha

Tell us about yourself.

> My name is Nisha and I am a third-year graduate student, currently studying Criminology and Justice Specialization. I am 23 years old and I love all natural everything!

Check Me Out On NaturallyFromMe.WordPress.Com!

Hey lovelies!

This is a quick post to tell you all about my feature on naturallyfromme.wordpress.com.  I was lucky enough to get in touch with Sarie, the creator of Naturally From Me, through twitter for a chance to feature on her blog.  It's was a nice change to be in the spotlight. :)

You can check out my feature here, but also check out the other stories and information that Naturally From Me has to offer.

You can also check Sarie out on Twitter.

Until next time,
Ashley, xo.

Head to naturallyfromme.wordpress.com to get in touch with Sarie.  If you have any questions for me about the post, feel free to comment below OR send me an email at curlsfothegirls@gmail.com!

Spotlight Monday: Cheryl

For this week's Spotlight Monday post, I've decided to do a loc edition.  Woo!

The first Loc Edition Spotlight Monday post features my older sister, Cheryl :)  She's done some of the most creative and pretty things with her locs, and I'm glad she was willing to share her story with us all.  Let us begin..

How long have you been loc'ing your hair?

> I've been loc'ing my hair for 7 years.

Why did you make the decision to do so?
> Truthfully, I was tired of combing it!  There was no grand epiphany this wasn't my calling.  I was really tired of perms and braids, and just refused to comb my hair any longer, but I wanted my Locs to be nice, not crazy looking.

How did you feel after beginning your journey?
> At first I was excited because this was something new. It wasn't at all what I expected since the goal was no work or maintenance.  It was actually a lot of work that needed to be done, and several times I started to forgo Locs and go back to a perm.

What are your hair goals?
> I have commitment issues (including an ex husband, lol), so it started by proving to him that I could follow through with something.  The more I saw it annoyed him, the better I felt about them, but with all the complements I've received, and people asking me could I help them, I feel this is the hair for me.  I didn't start from scratch with the close cut knobs, I still had some perm in it and I would just cut the ends every 6 weeks and I began to see the transformation; I love them!  Currently, I'm trying to see how long I want to let them grow so that's my next challenge.  At this point, they are midway down my back, but I want them even, so by this time next year, I will check to see if I'm any closer to where I draw the line and clip them.

Do you try different/creative styles?  If so, what is/are your favorites?
> At first I didn't; I just curled them and was ready to go!  Now that they are longer, I love a Mohawk, or spiral curls.  The Mohawk is my favorite.

How do you feel about your hair today?  
> My hair is like a tree-- I water, nurture it, and watch it grow.  I love being natural and the different scents I can use as well as the shine which let's me know it's healthy.

I love the way my sister colors her locs!  They've been brown, blonde, and I believe some shade of red at a point.  I also love when she curls them with pipe cleaners (very creative I must say)!  She also has 177 locs.  She counts them when she styles 'em! :)

Until next time,
Ashley, xo.

Hair Terminology

After a few weeks since the launch of Curls Fo' the Girls, I asked my friends if they liked the blog, if they had any suggestions, etc., and my friend suggested that I do style tutorials and the such.  In the midst of her suggestion, she said she didn't know how to do a TWA, and I busted out laughing.  

I corrected her and explained what a TWA was.  She then suggested that I do a post on "Natural Hair Slang".  Below, I have listed some of the most common words used within the natural hair community.  However, these are NOT in alphabetical order!  But do comment below if you have any that I did not mention!  The more words, the better :)

TWA= Teeny Weeny Afro

CoWash= Conditioner wash, to wash the hair with conditioner

SLS= Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate; the lathering agents in shampoos that strip hair of its natural oils

LOC= Liquid Oil Cream, a method to moisturize, lock in moisture, and seal the hair using a liquid (water based leave in conditioner), oil to lock in the moisture, and cream to seal the hair

Humectants= ingredients that help draw moisture from the air into the hair (honey, glycerin)

BC= Big Chop

DC/DT= Deep Conditioner/Deep Treatment

DIY= Do It Yourself, often refers to homemade hair products

EVOO= Extra Virgin Olive Oil

EVCO= Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

JBCO= Jamaican Black Castor Oil

Pre-Poo= a pre treatment before shampooing the hair, EVOO or EVCO is often used

PJ, Product Junkie= describes a person that has to buy/try almost every hair product/brand :(

2nd Day Hair= hair that has been styled and looks good for a second day

HG, Holy Grail= a staple product that works perfectly for your hair

Slip= describes how slippery a product (conditioner) is to allow fingers/wide tooth comb to glide
through hair for optimal detangling

Transition/ing= the stage of moving from permed hair to natural hair

Demarcation Line= the place where natural hair meets the permed hair.  This line is very sensitive and breakage is very likely at this point.

WnG= Wash & Go, a style where you wash the hair, apply your leave ins & go!

HIHS= Hand In Hair Syndrome, constant touching, twisting, twirling the hair that can lead to frizz and other damage

Protective Styling= styles that require low manipulation to hide the ends of the hair to promote healthy hair growth (buns, braids, sew ins)

Sealing= a method of using an oil or other products to seal the ends of the hair, limit breakage (JBCO is great for sealing the ends of hair)

Finger Detangle= the process of using your fingers to detangle (one of the best methods)

HTH, Hope This Helps! :)
Until next time,
Ashley, xo.

Do you have any other Hair Terminology words that we should know about?  Share them below!

My name is Ashley, and I am a recovering Product Junkie.

Hiii Ashley!

I swear I hear this in my head every time I visit a Target, CVS, whatever!  It's like I can't go in any of these stores without taking a stroll down the hair care section.  However, I am managing to recover from my PJ ways, and I have found products that I absolutely love!  Those marked by *asterisks* are my MUST haves.  They include:

• Conditioner/Detangler: TRESemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner*, Suave Naturals Conditioner*

• Deep Treatments: Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask*, Curl Junkie Curl Rehab Moisturizing Hair Treatment*, ORS Hair Mayonnaise*

• Leave ins: TRESemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner*, Kinky-Curly Knot Today*, Neutrogena Triple Moisture Silk Touch Leave-In Cream*, Shea Moisture Restorative Conditioner, Infusium 23*, Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream

• Stylers: Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie*, Shea Moisture Curling Gel Souffle, Curly Kinks Twist Whip*

• Oils: Sweet Almond, Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO)***, Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)*, Organic/Extra Virgin Coconut Oil* 
• Gels: Olive Oil Eco Styler Gel*, Miss Jessie's Jelly Soft Curls Gel

• Refreshers: Infusium 23 (mixed with water)*, Shea Moisture Hold & Shine Moisture Mist

Unfortunately, I do have all of these products (merp), however, I do NOT use all of my leave ins, stylers, and oils at the same time.  I use different combinations for certain styles, etc.  I will say that I am on the hunt for a really good shampoo.  Cowashing (conditioner washing) does not always work for me, especially if I have used Eco Styler Gel for the last 3 days before wash day!  I would like to be able to cowash, BUT I feel that cowashing only works if I have little to NO product buildup.  So suggestions for really good shampoos are appreciated :)

Until next time.
Xo, Ashley. 

Are you currently a PJ, or recovering?  What is your must have product?

& Here is the Moment We've ALL Been Waiting For!

It's about damn time, I must say! 

First things first-- I want to thank you for stopping by to my blog, Curls Fo' the Girls.  It's been a long time coming, and I've finally decided to go through with this!  

Thanks to everyone that pushed me, all the questions I've received, all the compliments and things I've learned, here's to you all!

I  created Curls Fo' the Girls as a platform to share my natural hair knowledge, makeup tips, etc. with you all.  I've received a lot of compliments on things I have done with my hair and makeup, and I wanted to create a space that would be my own.  I will try to incorporate as many topics as possible with help from friends and supporters, routines, tips and tricks, and the like!

I'm excited to begin this project with you all, and hope that you all will grow and learn from me.  I also hope to learn and grow from this experience, too!

Now, let the fun begin!

Xo, Ashley.