Spotlight Monday: Kenvi

Tell us about yourself.

> My name Kenvi (IG: naturallykenvi) & I am from Houston, TX.  I am a girly girl that loves shopping, natural hair & everything beauty!  I am currently preparing to apply to Physical Therapy school with hopes of graduating & owning my own physical therapy clinic.

How long have you been natural? What is your hair type?  Describe your curls!
> I decided to go natural by accident.  As a college undergrad, I didn't have time to keep up with my hair so I stopped getting relaxers.  Once I stopped, I fell in love with my natural hair pattern.  After a year without chemicals, I cut my relaxed ends off & became fully natural.  That was January 2011 & I have been natural ever since.

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

> I transitioned with my hair because I was too afraid to do the big chop.  However, I had no fears about going natural.  I liked my hair, so that was all that mattered to me.  I get more compliments on my hair now than I ever did while getting relaxers.  

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

> My favorite hair products are virgin coconut oil, African Pride leave-in conditioner & Shea Moisture's kids shampoo & conditioner just to name a few. ;)

What are your go-to hairstyles?

> My go-to styles are twist outs, flat twist outs on a blow out & my all time favorite is a big, curly bun. 

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

> One lesson I've learned is that you have to be a product junkie.  You have to try different products to see what does & doesn't work for your hair.  No two naturals have the exact same hair.  Find out what works for your hair & rock it! 

What are your hair goals?

> My natural hair goal is to always have healthy hair.  Of course, we all want long or "big" hair, but your hair must be healthy in order to reach those lengths.

How do you feel about your hair today?

> I love my hair.  My hair is constantly changing & I love the fact that I have so much versatility with my hair.

Until next time,
Ashley, xo.

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

Bentonite Clay Review by Melissa

Melissa & 'Le Puff Zaddy' the day after the Bentonite Clay use, a bigger & more defined 'Le Puff Zaddy'

Melissa has previously appeared on Curls Fo' The Girls as a Spotlight Monday feature.  This time, she's bringing a product review on a natural clay that can be used to cleanse and help define curls!

Product: Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay - Bentonite clay ($4.99, Vitamin Shoppe)

Why did I purchase this product?
> I decided to buy this clay because of all the amazing and satisfied reviews I read and heard from so many different people (on and offline).  When I heard that your hair gets so clean that your curls soften and become more defined, I said "that's it, I have to try it!"  The clay is fairly inexpensive so I was lucky enough to purchase a pound from the Vitamin Shoppe for only $4.99!  I have had so many failed attempts at trying to define my curls with different products and retain the definition after my hair dried, that I was becoming discouraged.  After detoxing with the Bentonite Clay, I was absolutely more in love with my hair than ever!  I didn't even need anything else in my hair after I used it.  I was really impressed with the results and happy that those reviews steered me in the right direction.

Clay Mix and Application

> I measured each ingredient by eye instead of precise measurements.  Luckily, I've been managing to make the exact amount for one use-- not too much and not too little.

I mixed the clay powder, some castor Oil, aloe vera juice and apple cider vinegar together because this is what works for my hair.  I used the castor oil to give my hair a little more moisture, but you can use any oil that works for you.  This mixture works better than water and the clay alone.  The ACV also made a fizzing sound when it touched the powder!  I highly recommend that you don't use water and the clay alone because there is a possibility of dryness.  However, everyone's hair is different!  When you mix the clay, do not use metal bowls and utensils because the chemical reaction can actually mess up your dishes.  I used a plastic bowl and a plastic spoon until I got a heavy paste.  I sprayed my hair with some water and aloe juice.  Then, I applied the clay section by section-- from the back of my head to the front.  I applied it from my scalp to the ends of my hair almost like I was applying a relaxer LOL.  I also made sure to rub the mixture along my scalp to ensure that my hair and scalp were as clean as possible.  When I was done, I applied a little more to my edges and then I let the clay sit until it was about 80% dry.  I left it in for a little over an hour, but you can leave it in for as little or as much time as you want.  Your hair will start to get hard while the mixture is drying, but once it's time to rinse, it will come right out!  I rinsed my hair in the shower and refrained from disturbing my curls until I saw clear water.  This knocked out the shampooing and conditioning process!  However, I did do a deep conditioning treatment to add more moisture although my hair was super soft.

Results & Recommendation

post treatment

> When I was done, it was safe to say that my hair was amazeballs!  It felt really soft, my coily curls popped, and I saw definition I had  never seen before.  I cowash more than I shampoo, but after using this, I do not think I will ever buy shampoo again.  I like the fact that it's a natural powder from the earth (literally from deposits in the ground from old volcanic ash) and you can use it as a weekly facial and body detox, a twice a month hair detox, to remove dead skin from your feet and calm bug bites, stomach aches, etc.!  It balances the pH in your hair, removes toxins and product buildup from shampoos, conditioners and other products, and it releases minerals in your hair.  It does a lot for $5 so I definitely recommend that every natural try this hair detox at least once.  I am a frugal person, and I am happy that I found something very affordable and simple to add to my already simple regimen.  I believe your wallet and hair will thank you if you use this clay.  I now have hope my first "wash and go" instead of a "wash and no".

Do you have any questions for Melissa about the Bentonite Clay detox?  Comment below!

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.