Currently Obsessed With

How do I feel about red hair you ask, well listen to the passion in Miguel's 'Adorn' or  Jessie J's 'Thunder'.  If I was to permanently dye my hair I would either be blue black or luscious red. The main reason I started using henna was to deepen my hair colour and for that red tint. I have that 'red haired ambition' you see. Three henna treatments later I was on cloud nine and off to a party, well a day later I was off to party if you have kinky hair issues you understand. If these women are not beautiful, I must be living in an alternate universe.The first time I saw Christina Hendricks on Suits, despite having a body to die for from that moment I truly understood how a woman's hair is can be her crown and glory! 

So after reading an article today regarding the stigma on red-haired women and the bullying people with red hair generally face,which I have personally witnessed. It is high time I paid homage beauties and painted this site red.  

Bare Faced Beauty

I really want to wake up in the morning looking flawless... 

I have been wearing a full face of makeup since I was  nineteen years old.  I am tired of leaving marks on my clothes, other people's clothes and well simply anything that comes in contact with my face. I am also sick of worrying if my face looks greasy, I have extremely oily skin so I tend to have that I just dipped my face in oil look in warm temperatures. No foundation simply means no  random trips to the ladies to pat my face with paper towels, just for that twenty minutes matte look. So I am going to challenge myself to a month of no face crack and God willing I will last the whole month of rehab. I will however wear eyeliner, mascara and lip stuff. Before you give me the side eye I have never heard of any addict going cold turkey so I am simply taking baby steps.

Enough of the rant here are some reasons why I want to go foundation,powder and blusher free.

1. I have not left the house without a full face of makeup for five years (yes I said Five Years!). Not even to go to Asda, the post office, the gym and I know I am not alone.
2. I do not feel as pretty without my makeup. Wearing makeup gave me self esteem issues and somehow  ingrained the idea in my head that I do not look like 'myself' without my war paint on; I have to paint my identity on every morning. I want to feel pretty makeup free.
3. The tragedy that is known as the skin on my face,  I have acne, acne scars, blemishes, huge pores, well the list goes on. I use makeup to cover all of this.I really need to take care of my skin, covering my imperfections will not make them disappear and no L'Oreal it simply was not worth it! 
4. I do not have a foundation shade despite what match master I visit, I leave the place looking yellow, red or corpse grey. 
5. Money, money, money- makeup is expensive and my bank account deserves a break.
6. I am not a celebrity or a model, I know I am fierce but I do not need to be photo ready at every moment. 

 So I am issuing a public warning I now look like the girl below.

Budget Beauty

So after countless encounters with a variety of women and girls I have accepted my fate of running a one woman PR campaign of natural hair and affordable products in the ladies toilets at restaurants, churches, shopping malls, bowling alleys even hospitals. This might be my calling so I have decided to write my restroom sermon down, a change from regularly  promoting accessible and affordable product use across cubicles and mirrors to the generous sounds of hand dryers; whilst retouching my makeup.

Buying Products for your hair.

When it comes to finding products that work for your hair it is a game of hit and miss but one thing it should not do is break the bank, it is just hair after all. Regardless of whether its a brand name or a generic product, your productions end up down the drain so products they should be budget friendly. I have been through so may products in my journey mainly attributed to product junk ism in the past. I used to have about ten different types of conditioners in my cupboard but now I actually run out of conditioner!

When choosing products try to limit your use to three or four so you find what actually works or does not work for your hair. Do not fall into the product of the moment fad, I once fell for that with the Herbal Essences craze in 2011 and lets just say 'Hello Hydration' was more like 'Hath No Hydration' and my hair dried out, flaked, shrunk and had all kinds of temper tantrums until I went back to my 99p yes I said it 99p conditioner! Let me introduce you to Alberto Balsam. 

£0.99 Asda

 This conditioner works wonders for detangling and deep conditioning hair and it can be found in any major supermarket and drug stores in the UK. My hair is fine and course and tangles at every given moment but this product melts those tangles away. Mixed with coconut oil and you have a killer combination of consistency and the right slip to tackle knots from protective styles and in my case free form locs from weeks of no combing. My review might be biased but after six years of trying other products Alberto Balsam is the last conditioner standing plus it smells amazing.

Leave in Conditioners and  Oils 

I have already mentioned my three three favourite oils, Coconut oil  for detangling, Extra Virgin Olive oil  for deep conditioning and Sweet Almond oil for sealing.These oils can be found almost anywhere ranging from a pound to three pounds.  

I have two staple leave in conditioners that leave my hair smooth, moisturised and, they are also light enough to be used on a daily basis. I do not use a lot of butters on my hair because they tend to weigh my  fine hair down and define it; I am a big hair kind of girl. My staple conditioners are Inecto Pure Coconut Oil Moisture Infusing conditioner and Cantu's Shea butter conditioning cream. Cantu being the most expensive 

Inecto Pure Coconut Oil -Superdug

Cantu  £3.99 Paks Cosmetics

Beauty of the day

So I have been feeling a bit nostalgic lately and sadly attempting to relive my childhood through music. While trying to paste memories and possibly what could be my imagination  I had a light bulb moment, 'Beauty of the day.' Finally I have inspiration to write something after a major block, I am talking years here. So to honour the rest of Black History Month we will remember inspirational women who shaped history.

 Zenzile Miriam  Makeba (Mama Africa)

Before there was Brenda Fassie or Yvonne Chaka Chaka there stood a legend, Miram Makeba! If you have ever heard of the 'Click Song' or 'Pata Pata' then this is a familiar face. Miriam Makeba was a world renowned South African born musician, civil rights activist, United Nations (UN) delegate for Guinea and a UN Goodwill Ambassador for the Food and  Agriculture Organization. She was the first African artist to win a Grammy in 1965. Exiled from her homeland for thirty years she rose to fame in the sixties. Gracing the world's stages and even performing for the american President J F Kennedy;  Makeba could not perform in a city in her home country because of the colour of her skin. She used her voice to shed light on the plight of her people who were brutally oppressed by the apartheid system. Never ceasing in her passion to fight injustice and for her music Miriam Makeba was a revolutionary who helped shape history. 

1932 -  2008

My Sweet Milk Bath

I'm sure we've read about how Miss Queen Cleopatra of Egypt had her baths in Donkey milk. Skin experts would agree to the benefits of milk, for skin as well as health.

Milk contains lactic acid, which works as an exfoliant to remove dead skin layers, leaving the skin below to look much more radiant and healthy.

Other benefits include:

-Leaving the skin feeling smooth and moisturised.
-Preventing premature ageing.
-Removes discolouration and evens out skin tone.
-Reducing irritation and skin allergies.
-Soothes burn marks and helps to heal scars and wounds. (I apply milk every time I burn myself, and it really does help them fade!)
-Makes the skim more radiant.
-Shrinks the pores.

What you will need:

-1 1/2 cups of powdered milk.

-2 cups of full fat milk.

-1/4 cup of honey

-0.5-1 oz of vitamin e oil.

-1 oz of grape seed carrier oil.

-5 drops of tea tree essential oil.

-5 drops of lavender essential oil. 

-5 drops of sweet orange essential oil.

(Some people like to add dried rose petals to get it's essential oil from there, this time I didn't have any on hand.)

Grape seed Oil:

Grape seed oil is full of vitamins E and C and can prove beneficial in conditions like, asthma, allergies, acne and dermatitis. It is great in battling premature ageing and helps to keep the skin looking young and fresh. Grape seed oil also contains fatty acids and antioxidants which help to neutralise the free radicals that our skin comes in contact with on a daily basis. Due to it's small molecules, this oil is easily absorbed into the skin and will not leave the skin feeling greasy.

Vitamin E oil:

Vitamin E oil acts as an antioxidant and repairs damaged tissue, which improves the appearance of scars. It provides protection against free radicals, which once again prevents premature ageing and wrinkles. Vitamin E prevents water loss from the skin, and helps it to retain its natural moisture. Thus, it makes dull, dry skin look healthy and well-moisturised. If it is used for the purpose of deep pore cleansing of dry skin on a regular basis, it restores the normal oil balance of the skin, which is good for those with oily skin.

Tea Tree essential oil:

Tea tree oil has powerful antibacterial, anti fungal and antiviral properties. When applied to the skin, it has the ability to destroy the bacteria involved in the development of acne. Tea tree has so many anti-viral and anti-fungal benefits and can also treat minor wounds, encourage healing, as well as preventing infection. Tea tree oil is also a pain reliever and a potent healer, because of these properties, soldiers in WWII had included it in their first aid kits. If that doesn't tell you how good it is, I don't know what will. Haha!

Lavender essential oil:

Lavender essential oil is known for its ability to eliminate nervous tension, relieve pain, disinfect the scalp and skin, enhance blood circulation and treat respiratory problems. It's a great oil for aromatherapy and helps to lower stress levels. Lavender oil is also very effective against acne, as dermatologists would agree. It inhibits the bacteria that cause the initial infection and helps to regulate some of the over-excretion of sebum. Lavender oil is anti-inflammatory, which can help to relieve irritation and easy pains.

Orange essential oil:

Orange essential oil has healing properties, which prove beneficial for curing scars and cracked skin. Orange oil is one of the essential oils used in aromatherapy and massage. It contains a key soothing ingredient linalool that helps relieves tension, stress and creates a peaceful calm atmosphere. Orange essential oil is also effective in preventing premature ageing as well as improving acne. It is also an antidepressant, helping to relieve stress and give a nice energy boost.

Directions:

-Start running the water, wait for it to get to about 3 inches high, then start adding your ingredients. (It's best to do this as the water starts running, as opposed to when it's done, because it helps to spread the oils out.)

-Mix the oils in with your hand when it's done.

-Hop in and enjoy!

My bath is always pretty high cause the tub is quite deep. I usually soak in for about 30-40 minutes so that I don't feel like I'm wasting my products. When I come out my skin feels so amazing, I massage in the left over oil, and dab any excess off with a towel. This works for me because my skin can get very dry quickly. Grape seed oil is light and absorbs into the skin very well and contains Vitamin E, so my skin gets a nice boost with both oils added. Vitamin E oil is very thick in it's concentrated form so half an ounce is ideal, it's great for skin repair.

Useful notes:

-Always take care when using essential oils as they are concentrated and may irritate the eyes and skin, always dilute when applying directly onto skin.

-Lactic acid in milk acts as a natural exfoliant, so if you have sensitive skin, don't stay in the bath too long.

-If you have oily skin or are prone to break outs, lower the quantity of oils you add, as they will remain on your skin when you finish your bath.

-It is ideal to have a quick wash prior to the milk bath, to make sure the skin is clean. This will make the bath much more effective as the pores will not be as clogged.

-Do this 2-3 times a week and you should definitely see a difference!


Sources:

http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/problems/treating/milk-baths.htm
http://scarlettswinter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/beautiful-skin-with-milk.html
http://michellephan.com/blog/post/skincare-spotlight-tea-tree-oil
http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/natural-essential-oils/health-benefits-of-lavender-essential-oil.html
http://bodyecology.com/articles/tea_tree_skin_miracle.php#.Ujzb92TEpq4
http://www.mindbodysoulessentials.com/orange-sweet-essential-oil.html

A Natural's Graduation

Graduation morning

I finally graduated university after all the blood, sweat and tears (literally).  My last year of school was probably the most emotional of all. I went to university with an idea of who I wanted to be but by the end of the last semester like many new graduates I had no idea who I was. I wished for those high school days again, the good old days were my only worries were keeping up with the latest music and dance moves. Graduation felt more like judgement day, all my life one thing always remained constant, Education, Education and Education. I was stepping into the abyss. 

Graduation morning my hair was just as scared as I was as. A light blow dry and a few raindrops later;  blessed  English weather my hair was clearly making a statement 'I cannot be tamed.' I had to fight it to put my graduation cap on, fearing my cap would 'poof off' I restrained the mane back with an army of hairpins. If I was not going to show the fear on my face it clearly was. 

After graduation

Currently Obsessed With

 Okay I am lying the title of this post should be forever obsessed with, I can confess I am in love with bald women, short haired women, women with twas and pixie cuts. If I was a man my ideal woman would have very little or no hair at all, yes I am guilty of running up to these women at functions and exclaiming how beautiful they are! If I was of the opposite sex I am pretty sure several people would have restraining orders against me by now but luckily I was born a woman and the code of conduct states I can do so without any suspicion I hope.There is something alluring and liberating about a woman with no follicles, especially in the western hemisphere where long hair usually equates beauty.

Rocking a short do' is low maintenance, budget friendly and edgy. It emits confidence, self acceptance and power. You can benefit from enhanced facial features, the world can finally see your beautiful eyes, cheekbones and lips and with some stunning eyebrows you can give 'Rapunzel effect' women a run for their money.