10K+ Views Giveaway Details!

(This giveaway is closed.  A winner will be selected soon!)

It is the moment you all have been waiting for..  I'm extremely sorry for the delay, but I'm pleased to finally announce the 10K+ Views Giveaway! :)

The Details:
I've posted so many different things on Curls Fo' The Girls thus far-- from myself and some feature bloggers-- so I want to hear from you all!  I want all participants to tell me 1 thing they've learned from Curls Fo' The Girls thus far and how it has impacted their skin/beauty/hair regimen, etc.  If you want to stand out a bit more, you can use an Instagram post to showcase what you have learned. ;)

We will be using a rafflecopter to help me keep track of entries/participants.  I do encourage you all to participate and invite your friends to enter as well!  It is also a great way to share with one another. :)

Prizes:
The 1st winner will receive the following bundle that includes some of my favorite items discussed on the blog thus far.  It includes:

• 1 Briogeo "Don't Despair, Repair!" Deep Conditioning Mask ($26)
• 1 Kinky-Curly Knot Today Leave-In Detangler ($12)
• 1 Maybelline Volum' Express the Rocket Mascara ($4.97-8.29)
• 1 Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Shadow ($4.97-8.29, Winner's choice of 'Painted Purple'or 'Tenacious Teal')

The 2nd Winner will receive 2 mini Briogeo "Don't Despair, Repair!" Deep Conditioning Masks, a Maybelline Mascara or  Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow (same color choices apply).

The giveaway will start tomorrow, March 26th and will end on Wednesday, April 2nd.  Participants must complete all parts of the rafflecopter to be considered.  If you do NOT have a twitter, it is not a problem. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
If you include an Instagram post, be sure to use the appropriate tags #curlsfothegirls #curlsfothegirlsgiveaway so that your post will be seen!  For those of you that do NOT have a twitter, please leave a comment in the comment section with your name, email address, and Instagram name.  It would be best if all participants also left a comment with their name and email address as well. ;)

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns: curlsfothegirls@gmail.com.

Good luck!
Ashley, xo.

Spotlight Monday: J'Lisa

Tell us about yourself.
> My name is J’Lisa and I am from and currently reside on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands.  I have a BS in Health and Exercise Science from Syracuse University and I am currently pursuing my Physician Assistant Certification/Masters in Clinical Medical Science.

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

> I have been natural for 2 years and 3 months.  I think my hair type is 3c/4a-- somewhere in between there lol.  My hair type is sort of kinky-curly.  They (my curls) have a mind of their own depending on which part of my head they are on!

Did you transition or big chop?  Why did you take that route?
> I big chopped after about 2 months of no relaxer.  I am sort of impulsive and couldn’t wait to transition lol.  It was and still is one of the most liberating things I’ve ever done.

What was it like when you experienced your natural hair for the first time?
> I was natural until about 17yo and then relaxed my hair before I went to college.  I actually big chopped as I was finishing up my degree.  It was weird to see my natural hair again because while I was natural for a long time, I had heat damage because I would mainly blow dry my hair.  It was really eye opening to see my natural texture.

What are some of your favorite products? (Top 3)
> My top 3 products would have to be the Shea Moisture Curl Enhancer Smoothie, the Shea Moisture Reconstructive conditioner and any leave-in conditioner from Blue Magic.

What are your go-to hairstyles?
> My go to hairstyles would be twist outs or just wake up and go’s lol.

How do you feel about your hair today?

> As of today, I feel really proud of my hair length and strength.  I think back and can’t believe it’s already been 2 years!  Looking back at pictures it was a long road but I am more than happy with my decision and plan to keep it going!

Here are a few more pictures of J'Lisa and her glorious hair:

                            

Until next time,

Ashley, xo.

Do you have any questions for J'Lisa about her hair?  Comment below!

The Art of Hairshadowing

'Hairshadowing' itself is nothing new, but it has become a big thing in the natural hair community.  It is a fun and easy way to get beautifully colored curls without the commitment, trouble of color maintenance, and the worry about hair protection or damage.  With spring and summer coming around the corner, hairshadowing is a great way to spice up your curls for the seasons!

The term 'hairshadowing' was created by YouTube Vlogger NaturallyTash about 2 years ago on her channel.  It is the process of using an eyeshadow and/or hair chalk to color your hair.  The process is very easy and doesn't take very long depending on the amount of hair you have and how much of it you wish to shadow.  I usually pick a few pieces of hair to shadow just as accent pieces.  However, in the picture set to the left, we see that Tash shadows larger sections of hair for a bigger statement.

I actually started 'hairshadowing' my hair sometime last year.  I didn't learn about it through Tash, but I must admit that she is one of my favorite IG (NaturallyTash) 
hairshadowers.  She definitely uses great colors and isn't afraid to experiment.  It is because of her that I'll be revisiting hairshadowing very soon!

Tash's Favorite Shadows: Tash loves using the Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadows and the NYX High Pigments.  She doesn't use much chalk, but when she does, she uses the Color Buzz Hair Chalk. :)

My Choice of 'Hairshadow'

For my hairshadowing needs, I use the Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in 'Painted Purple' (bottom left).  The eyeshadow is a cream gel formula, which is very easy to melt between your fingers to make the application process so much easier!  This eyeshadow has great color and staying power.  I've worn this eyeshadow throughout my curls for days on end and I've never had a problem.  I've had to do minor touch ups after covering my curls with a bonnet, but I didn't have any major issues with the eyeshadow coming off or smearing throughout the day.

The great thing about this shadow is that it washes off easily during wash day.  Just wetting your hair is enough to rid your curls of the eyeshadow.  I've gone swimming with my colored curls and didn't have a single strand of color when I exited the water.  It's that simple!

Check out the pics below to see what a little shadow has done for Tash's curls:

I definitely hope you all experiment with hairshadowing.  It's definitely a fun process and allows you to have fun with your hair.  If you work in an extremely professional environment, you can shadow your hair for the weekend and wash it out before the work week.  I'm actually going to invest in some more colors for the spring and summer.  I used the purple as my starter, but maybe I'll try some kind of blue or orange... This should be very fun!

Until next time,

Ashley, xo.

Have you tried hairshadowing before?  If so, what are your favorite shadows to use?  Comment below!

Spotlight Monday: Shanelle

Tell us about yourself.
> My name is Shanelle and I am a first-year graduate student at Syracuse University. I am currently pursuing my masters in Engineering Management!  One of my many hobbies is reconstructing denim shorts for young ladies.  I’ve managed to make a little business, Eat My Shorts Vintage, out of that which is pretty dope.  I was born and raised in Jamaica.  If I could find one word to describe my personality it would be cooky-- I’m just all over the place!

How long have you been natural? What is your hair type?  Describe your curls!
> I have been natural since my junior year of college, which would be about 3 years.  I actually don’t know what my hair type is.  I don’t like the hair typing system because it doesn’t really tell us anything about how our hair reacts to different products, or more importantly the physical make-up of our hair.  My hair has about 3 textures, which is why I can’t say I’m 3c, 4a, or 4b.  My crown is very loose (almost no curls at all-- so frustrating), while the rest is more of an “S” curl pattern (I love that portion of my hair).  My hair is very easy to manage for the most part.

Did you transition or big chop?  Why did you take that route?
> I actually big chopped while I was in China living it up for the semester in 2011.  I transitioned for 9 months prior to the chop so I don’t know how big of a chop it was.

On big chopping-- how did you feel?
> UGH!!!  OMG-- I was with my roommates Dominique and Jaleesa when I big chopped.  I had just taken out those long overdue braids I had in for about 2 months.  My hair was unruly; I couldn’t deal with the two textures for much longer and I didn’t have the right products.  There was only one thing to do... CUT IT ALL!  As I saw the straight, processed, unhealthy pieces fall to the floor, my body tensed up and anxiety kicked in.  When it was all over, my head felt so much lighter.  My hair felt soft; I liked the feel of it until I looked in the mirror.  I was bald!  Even though I had grown my hair out for nine months, I still felt like a little boy.  I didn’t really get that "I feel free" feeling.  I was very insecure; I didn’t feel beautiful anymore.

What was it like when you experienced your natural hair for the first time?
> When I first experienced my natural hair, I hated it!  I like big hair and I liked my hair long.  I’ve always had long hair and that short cut was so different for me.  I’m not going to lie and say it was a walk through the park, but it definitely took some getting used to.  My family would say, “Shanelle, you should perm your hair” and in my head I’m like, “Hell no, this was a journey!  I’m not putting that crap in my hair.”  I turned to weaves to escape that feeling I got when I big chopped.  Currently, I still wear weaves more than I wear my natural hair out, but not because I’m insecure.  I wear weaves as a protective style.  I find that my hair grows with weaves and it kind of passes the time by.

What are some of your favorite products? (top 3)
> Like any woman who experiences their natural hair for the first time, I wanted to know what products would work for my hair.  I’ve learned that if I have too many products in my hair, it will confuse my hair.  I like to think of my hair as cables or wires.  When you have too many cables, they get tangled and you have to take your time to detangle those wires.  So too many products tangles the crap out of my hair!  However, my favorite products are (I’ll probably say more than 3): WATER, coconut oil, Herbal Essences Hello Hydration shampoo and conditioner (I love the conditioner as a detangler), Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque (My deep conditioner), Kinky-Curly Knot Today as my leave-in, and the Kinky-Curly Curling Custard.

What are your go-to hairstyles?
> My go-to hairstyle is a simple wash and go!  I don’t like twist outs; I don’t like that they tend to look sooo perfect because I don’t like perfect (sorry if that makes absolutely no sense to you just now).  Whenever I do wash and go’s, I make sure my hair is drenched with water.  Then, I use my coconut oil, Kinky-Curly leave-in and gel combination and work it through my hair.  Once it dries, I stretch my curls with a blow dryer.  I should invest in a diffuser; I love big hair! :)

How do you feel about your hair today?
> I am obsessed with my hair honestly, and it's not based off physical appearance, but she is my baby.  This was a journey that I will not allow anyone to ruin.  There are people out there, especially men, who bad mouth women with natural hair (someone called me Michael Jackson one time, that was a funny joke).  I have two words for those types of people.  When I was younger, I wanted a perm so bad.  I guess because it was a trend at the time, but after a while I knew deep down inside that I was supposed to be a little naturalista.  Even when I had a perm I would do twist outs (that was a sign).  I was born to wear my curls; I was born this way.  On a final note, if you are reading this and considering becoming natural, you really and truly have to be committed to it.  There will be that one ignorant being who has everything and anything mean to say about your beautiful curls.  Stay Strong and don’t be discouraged!

Until next time,
Ashley, xo.

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

10,000K+ VIEWS!

OMG!

Yes, it was all the way necessary that I wrote that in all caps.  We have reached 10,000+ views on curlsfothegirls.blogspot.com!

I just want to thank everyone-- for all the reading, tweeting, emails, IG tag features, posts, and love.  I am truly grateful that you all believe in my word, and take the time to read my posts and come to me with questions.  It really means a lot to me.  I am especially grateful because you all believed in me enough to support me and support the blog.  I can't tell you how much it means to me when I see people tweeting about the posts or retweeting them after I've just published one.

I am NOT going to leave you all hanging after all the hard work you all have done.  I definitely want to share some love and some of MY favorite products with you all!

Yes, a GIVEAWAY is coming!

Stay tuned for official rules, details, and prizes.  You do NOT want to miss this one!

For now-- send me some of your BEST hair pics via Instagram @curlsfothegirls #curlsfothegirls AND I will definitely take email submissions at curlsfothegirls@gmail.com.  Let's celebrate!

Thank you all so very much, from the BOTTOM of my heart!

Ashley, xo.

Spotlight Monday: Sasha

Tell us about yourself.

> My name is Sasha; many know me as Asha, I’m 21.  I’m an Anthropology and Forensic Science major with a minor in Medical Anthropology at Syracuse University.  I was born in Jamaica, moved to the United States when I was 13, and became an American citizen probably a year ago.  I teach dance and theatre works every summer when I can, and I have been dancing and doing musicals since I was 5yo.

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

> I’ve been steadily natural for about 2 years.  I think my hair is a 4c, maybe 4b.  My hair literally does what it wants, when it wants, and I’ll gladly let it.  My curls are sometimes super tight and coil-ish, then some days they're nonexistent.  It probably depends on the shampoo I use.  My hair gets really dry and that scares me and obviously with my curl type, when it gets wet, it shrinks to nowhere land.  I think I do a pretty good job of maintaining it since I’m a product junkie.  I have just about everything at my fingertips.

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

> I kind of did both when I was around 17/18yo.  I was going natural without much thought  to it.  My hair was red on the right side and black on the left side, and my bang was relaxed; I had a phase.  Freshman year, I randomly decided to shave my head but leave enough for some hair to cover my face; again, another phase.  During this time, my hair grew out and I just decided to keep it like this instead of frequenting a barber to cut it and a hair salon to relax it.

If you big chopped-- how did you feel?

> Well, when my hair was growing out from the shaved style, I still had some relaxed ends, and while I was twisting my hair and preparing for the winter, those relaxed ends bothered me!  So I got some scissors and snipped them away without a second thought, but then I freaked out!  I don’t know why, but I started panicking, like "Oh my God!  What did I do?!  Oh no, my hair in the front is so short now!" and even though everyone liked it, I was just nervous that it didn’t look good.

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

> I remember all the times I was natural-- from a kid, to my phase, to my chop-- each time, honestly, was traumatic.  Being of mixed ethnicity showed in my hair and it bothered me as a child.  We all had those horror stories of our mom combing out hair like she was searching for silver pieces and parting like Moses had nothing on her.  Well, my hair was long and it was thick so it took hours.  I would fall asleep as she did my hair so I hated it.  I hated my hair so much which is probably why I went through so many phases of coloring and cutting it.  Being older, going back natural was confusing.  I didn’t do any research on it and it was clearly spur of the moment.

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

> Only 3. . . . . oh boy.

1.     The Yucca & Baobab Thickening Growth Milk- makes my hair really soft after a long day so I can retwist it.

2.     Carol's Daughter, Black Vanilla Leave-in Conditioner- super helpful when I detangle on wet hair.  It really helps to loosen up those knots I get.

3.     Elucence Moisture Benefits Shampoo- I actually got this from Ash and I thought it would be bad for my hair, but it’s perfect!  It doesn’t erase my curls.  In my opinion, it defines them way better than what I’ve been using.

What are your go-to hairstyles?

> I always have a twist out, afro or a Mohawk, mainly because one is the precursor to the other for me Lol.  When I get home and forget to re-twist, I just comb it out to an afro then the next day maybe the Mohawk.  For protective styling, I usually do Senegalese twists, but I’m slowly backing away from that.

How do you feel about your hair today? 

> Today?  Well I just twist my hair and notice how much longer it is.  Man, I love my hair.  As deceitful, complicated and time consuming it is, there’s never a day I think “You know what, I’m getting a relaxer”.  It’s exciting to see how much it grows and everything I can do with it.  I’m still learning about it and realizing that my hair now isn't the same as when I first started, and I need to take better care of it.  Lord know it's been better to me than I have to it, but I am truly happy with my hair!

Until next time,

Ashley, xo.

Do you have any questions for Sasha about her natural hair?  If so, comment below!

My Top 5 Mascaras for Insane Length & Volume

I absolutely love bold lashes.  A good pair of falsies are cool, but nothing beats the power of a great mascara!  Mascara is definitely one of my must-have, can't live without cosmetics.  I love how I can take my lashes from 0 to 60 in a few swipes.

I constantly get complimented on my lashes with my favorite being, "are you fanning me?!".  So this post is going to tell you about MY favorite mascaras.  Note: The power is ALL in the brush!

Clinique High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara ($19.50)

"With every stroke, the over-the-top brush wraps lashes in instant, jaw-dropping drama. This larger-than-life formula is also safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. Ophthalmologist tested, too" (clinique.com).

This mascara is definitely high on my list of favorites.  If you want insanely bold and thick lashes, this is your go-to.  I purchased this product when it first came out during my senior year of college.  One of the women that I worked with at Clinique swore that it made her 'nearly invisible' lashes bold and very visible with just a few swipes.  She even showed me a picture where you could see her lashes in the photo!  This made my purchase so much easier!

The brush is covered in rows of tiny bristles that help get in between the lashes to create a bold look.  In 'Extreme Black' you cannot go wrong with this mascara!

Mac Cosmetics Extended Play Lash Mascara ($16)

"A lightweight curling, lifting Mascara in a glossy shade of Endless Black. Applies with a slim-line brush designed to give each lash effortless, upward bending definition and extreme volume. Easy wash-off formula. Lasts 16 smudge-free hours" (maccosmetics.com).

I love this mascara because it is great for a natural look.  It definitely lengthens lashes, but it also makes them slightly bolder.  This mascara adds fibers to the lashes, which helps with the length.  I wish I could describe what the fibers feel like, but they feel rather spongey (see what I mean upon removal).  I love how this curls my lashes just enough to make my eyes look more open.  I definitely wear this mascara when I want a little something on-- usually some super clean brows and a lippie of some kind.  I also love that this mascara lasts for hours and it is super easy to remove.

The wand aids in providing definition and curling lashes.  It doesn't take much work to get the look you want.  I use anywhere from 1-3 coats with this mascara and I am ready to go (definitely 3 if I want to be super natural, but a lil' spicy)!

Covergirl Lashblast Fusion Mascara ($7.99)

"Experience COVERGIRL's first ever volume + length mascara! The fiberstretch formula and oversized brush make every little lash bigger, fuller, longer-looking, and more dramatic" (covergirl.com).

This was one of the first mascaras I used and I still love it!  This mascara definitely gives you length and volume as the wand is covered in rows of bristles.  They get in between lashes to lengthen them and make them bolder.  I have definitely used this mascara by itself, BUT I prefer to use this mascara as a primer.  I feel that it really gets in between lashes and separates them well before I really get to work on my lashes (I use 1-2 coats before layering my mascara).  However, if you use this mascara by itself, you're in for a treat!  I've definitely received tons of compliments with this mascara alone.  It provides enough length and definition with 1-2 coats, but 3-4 coats really gets the job done. :)

Maybelline Volum' Express the Mega Plush Mascara ($4.97-8.29)

"Now, mega volume goes mega plush. Our first gel-mousse mascara. Lashes never brittle or flaky" (maybelline.com).

I actually bought this mascara a couple of months ago during a BOGO sale.  I had always wanted to try it since I saw it on the commercials, lol (it's the inner PJ).  I was definitely intrigued by the gel-mousse formula and the 'plush' part.  Like I said before, I LOVE big, bold lashes so if a mascara is vowing to give me that, then I'm all ears, lol.

This mascara definitey delivers!  After the first use, I noticed right away how big & bold my lashes were.  I also noticed that they weren't hard like most mascara formulas, but they were so soft!  The wand-- a flexor brush-- allows for easy application by giving the brush the freedom to bend.  I think this is one of the best wands I've seen in a while as the bristles are tapered with the larger bristles in the middle.  I love layering this mascara-- the bigger the lash, the better!

Maybelline Volum' Express the Rocket Mascara ($4.97-8.29)

"Now, the most explosive, beautiful lashes ever! Supersonic Brush, and Fast Glide formula. Loads on big, sleek volume instantly" (maybelline.com).

This was the other part of my BOGO purchase when I purchased the Mega Plush Mascara.  I knew the MP was going to be one of my purchases, and after looking at the mascara 'results' chart in the store, I made my decision to grab the Rocket, too!

The Rocket claims to give "explosive volume in rocket time" (maybelline.com) and I am here for all of it!  Using this mascara alone, I was asked "are you fanning me?!" which made me laugh, but I was so happy that my mascara was doing its job.

This wand definitely gets in between lashes to lengthen them and make them bolder.  Using this mascara alone will definitely get the big, bold look you want, but pairing it with the Mega Plush will get you insanely big and insanely bold lashes.  Falsies have nothing on this combination.

Quick Maintenance Rules for Your Mascara:
- REPLACE your mascara every 3-6 months-- 3 if you use your mascara daily, 6 if you use it occasionally.  This helps to prevent bacteria from growing in the tube.  An eye infection is NO joke!

- NEVER pump a mascara wand into the tube!  It creates air pockets that will dry mascara out faster.

- NEVER share your mascara!  It can increase the bacteria in the tube and it can also increase your chances of an eye infection.

- DO layer your mascara for amped length and volume.  I am definitely one to use 2-3 different mascaras at a time for extra length and volume.  I cannot say it enough-- I love bold lashes and the bigger, the better!

- DO pay attention to the mascara wands because  it is the wand that creates the magic.

- DO remove all eye makeup, especially mascara, at the end of the day.  This helps keep your ducts clear and your lashes intact.  Failure to remove mascara can clog your ducts and your lashes will fall out.  Then you won't have anything to coat in mascara! :(

Until next time,
Ashley, xo *bats eyelashes*

Do you have a favorite mascara?  Have you tried one of the mascaras mentioned above?  Share below!