Thursday, July 25, 2013

Testing the "No Poo" Theory

I have heard several things about the "No-Poo" hair cleansing method. Some were good, while others weren't so great. In my opinion the best way to test a theory is to try it yourself, so that is what I'm going to do!

hair


What is the "No Poo" hair cleansing method ?

The "no poo" method is simply eliminating typical shampoo from your beauty routine. No,no I'm not telling you to stop cleaning your hair! With this method you replace the shampoo with natural ingredients. These will include : baking soda and vinegar for the basics. For normal to dry hair you will use apple cider vinegar and for normal to oily hair white vinegar. For deep conditioning I plan to continue my coconut oil method, which I will explain later.

Why "No Poo" hair ?

Typical shampoo contains harsh chemicals. These range from your cheap drugstore brands all the way to the expensive salon brands. Shampoos contain additives such as sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate.In addition many contain silicone. These will all damage and strip hair causing breakage and hair to have excess buildup leaving hair weighed down. Your conditioners are the same way. WHo really wants buildup and extra chemicals in their hair? 

What are the Benefits of "No Poo" ?

Keep in mind that your hair will have to get used to this and may take a week or two. When you first start you are cleansing your hair of the extra junk from these shampoos! Once you eliminate those you can look forward to :

  • Hair that is much less oily
  • More manageable hair
  • Healthier hair
  • Hair that will grow faster
  • Hair with more body
  • Less frizz
  • Great for all hair types
  • Great and SAFE on color treated hair
  • Fewer washing's
  • Actually clean hair 
  • No chemicals
  • Saving tons of money on shampoo and conditioner products

No poo cleansing supplies

How do you "No Poo" ?

There are several methods I have heard about, but here is my plan :

You will need (the basics) :

  • Baking soda
  • Vinegar (either white or cider depending on your hair type.See above)
  • Spray bottle
  • Jar/container for baking soda

Additional for deep conditioning:
  • Coconut Oil
To cleanse your hair :

1)Put a decent amount (quarter to half-dollar size) of baking soda in the palm of your hand. Add water until it forms a paste like substance and massage into roots. You can leave this on while you continue your shower. After the mixture feels "slick" in your hair you can rinse it out. The baking soda mixture only needs to be applied to the roots. 

2)After you rise your hair add your vinegar. In a squirt bottle mix your vinegar and water. I will be using 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. Squirt this on your hair, finish your shower, then rinse. It is easy as that.

3)To deep condition hair I use coconut oil. I have been using this for quite some time now and love it! If you plan to use the deep conditioning method focus on the middle and ends of hair. You don't want to put a ton of oil at your scalp. Apply pure coconut oil to hair and leave on for as long as you would like. One hour is ideal, but most of us don't have an extra hour to condition our hair! I say a few minutes before your shower. Rise out well then apply your baking soda as you would in step 1. In addition to the deep conditioner a tiny (dime size) amount of coconut oil can be used as frizz control! Don't over do it though!

Keep in mind there are several ways to do this and today is day one for me! I plan to keep you updated each week on this method with plenty of pictures. I think that visuals are needed for this so you can see how hair will change through the process. Below are two pictures from my first "No Poo" cleansing. This was 24 hours after the first "No Poo"! Not too bad!

 
Check back for updates on how well this works!! Happy Thursday!
 
Xoxo,
Brandi
 
 


 

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Insta Update

Check out what's been going on lately via Instagram! Here are a few shots over the last two weeks! I have tons of posts scheduled for the next couple of weeks! I've been really busy working on those lately! Check out tomorrow's post for a new theory I'm testing out! This one is going to be interesting!

I hope you are all having a great Tuesday!



















Xoxo,

Brandi 

Monday, July 22, 2013

Influenster Sunkissed Voxbox : Check out what's inside!

Wow! I wanted to get this post done earlier, but I haven't had the time until now! I was really excited to receive my Voxbox in the mail! This was my second one and I was really pleased with the free samples! All of the products I received are full sized products and some great ones I might add!
Before I break it down here is a quick shot via Instagram of my Voxbox!





This awesome voxbox included : Dr. Scholls for her High Heel inserts valued at $10.99, Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream in Light valued at $12.99, Sinfulshine Polish in Rendezvous valued at $2.99, and Goody Ouchless Ribbon Elastics valued at $4.99.

The first product I tried was the SinfulShine Gel Tech polish. I am giving this a C-.
The polish went on very thick and almost goopy. It took entirely too long to dry and within 24 hours the polish peeled like a latex paint. I have several Sinful Colors polishes, but I'm not a fan of this new polish at all. The colors are great, but I need a polish to be durable and withstand day to day activities.


The second product I tried were the Goody Ouchless Ribbon Elastics. I remember when these first came out. I heard tons of great reviews, but I'm thrilled I finally tried them myself. I'm giving these an A! These are great hair ties and they don't leave any of those horrible dents in your hair after wearing it up! This is a first for me! I have never come across any other hair tie that didn't leave some type of mark in your hair! The only downfall is that if you have really thick hair sometimes getting the elastic to stretch over again to securely hold your hair might be a problem. Other than that I'm thrilled with the outcome!



Next on the list is Olay Fresh Effects BB cream. This is an all-in-one skin care, tinted moisturizer, sunscreen, etc. I am also giving this an A! It went on very smooth and was the perfect amount of coverage. It blended well and had a great smell! The picture below is without any concealer, powder, etc.





And finally, Dr. Scholl's For Her Heel Insoles! I give these an A! I am on my feet all day and these worked wonders. They took some of the pressure off my feet and made my shoes more comfortable! These insoles will actually work with sandals, slides, slingbacks, and more !! If you haven't already gotten a pair of these you definitely need to try them out!



I hope you are all having an amazing day! Please keep in mind all the above opinions are solely mine. I am not getting paid to advertise any of these products. These were all included in my Sunkissed Voxbox from Influenster! Please check out their link as well!


Xoxo,

Brandi

Friday, July 19, 2013

The Ankle Pant

I wasn't big on the ankle pant look at first, but I must admit I have grown more fond of it and have recently purchased and worn three different pair. Everyone has their own style and can totally take any look and make it their own!

Ankle pants come in a variety of styles, cuts, and colors. I like the fitted or skinny style best! Here are a few different styles, cuts, colors, and materials . I will always be a fan of the basic black, so I did get those! I also have a great mint shade and a Royal blue.

Ankle Pants


This style of pant is very versatile. It can easily be dressed up or down. These can be transformed from a day look to a night look with the right shoes and accessories. A day look can be worn with a casual pair of gladiators or flats then dressed up with some cute ankle strap heels or platform wedges! The possibilities are endless!


ankle pants

 
What is your favorite way to wear your ankle pant? Are you into colors and prints or basic black? Do you wear yours cuffed or uncuffed? I hope you are all having a great week so far! Don't forget to check back for my upcoming Sunkissed Voxbox Review! I was excited to receive my second Voxbox filled with goodies!

Here was a quick shot of one of my ankle pants via instagram! 
 
 
Xoxo,
Brandi