Eat, Drink & Play ...

Working a 7-5 can really take its toll especially when the sun is shining outside and you're confined to the indoor wonders of four computer screens, SO after a long day at work it's often the most simple and not so exciting things that seriously excite me! Making smoothies, hanging out with my sisters, an episode of Scandal [can you start back already please!!! arghhh] and blogging! In fact I'd pick making a smoothie over a trip to Zara [store addiction] any day, how much fun is shopping when you're exhausted eh?!

Hair wise there's nothing much exciting going on except that I am slowly clearing out my product stash, I think it's fair to say a product that has been on the shelf for a year and still doesn't work for you, is officially worthy of being binned. I'm holding off on restoring products so that I can think hard about what my natural hair may want this time in 3 months when I'm fully au natural! 

Besides that I am protective styling as usual, and will be putting  in some braids in the next week or two! I haven't had braids in over 7 years, to say I'm excited would be an understatement!

So back to my eat drink and play... an evening in the weekday life of me!!!

Creta girl after 3 months of wear! I think it's high time we had a change of hairstyle!

Fruit shopping!

Scooped out watermelon perfect for a chilled drink on Tuesday

Added a cupful of lemonade to this just for the extra 'mmmm'

A baking lesson from my younger sister, the chocolate icing was divine!

Avec amour...  Fiona

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Quick Fix | Single Strand Knots? An Oil Rinsing Solution

I had no idea just how deadly single strand knots were until I reached a good 12+ months into my transition, they literally popped out of nowhere and attacked what seemed like every God given strand of hair on my head!! But it soon became apparent that I experienced them mainly when airdrying or simply whenever my hair was not straight! I started to research into what I could do to eliminate the awful things, because I knew continually straightening or blowdrying my hair just wasn't an option!
After much research, some testing, and hoping for the best, I found four simple solutions to my SSK problem, one of which I had never tried before and now love! Here are my quick fixes, hope they can help you too!

O I L  R I N S I N G
How ? Shampoo your hair as usual in sections Rinse out shampoo and then apply your fave hair oil [you know how I feel about Coconut Oil!] The next step depends on time and preference but here are some of the options:
- leave oil for 5-10 minutes, rinse with warm water, apply conditioner, rinse with cool water - leave oil for 5-10 minutes, rinse with warm water, deep condition with conditioner, rinse with cool water - apply conditioner on top of oil and deep condition with conditioner for as long as you need, rinse with cool water
What & Why? Oil rinsing is the process described above whereby you add oil to your wash process in order to ease detangling, retain moisture, soften hair, add shine and help reduce/eliminate single strand knots. I don't have an outstanding research article to support this but it works for me as has it for many others so that's research in itself right?! 
I find it is best to detangle with a good detangling brush during the final rinse out stage, which leads me unto my next quick fix solution...

D E T A N G L I N G  B R U S H
Ladies, gents, boys, girls and homies this right here is a big deal! If you do not have a good detangling brush and are experiencing these nasties then you're a long way from being rid of them. A good, in fact great detangling brush can be the difference between matted tangled hair and cotton candy soft hair. I have so far found the Tangle Teezer and Denman Brush to be my best detangling tools yet. More so the TT because the brush bristles are extremely flexible and flow with the direction of each given brush stroke. I swear by detangling directly beneath the shower head, it works a treat for me every time!
I also have a review on the Tangle Teezer from not so long ago HERE

S E C T I O N S 
Everything in sections loves, everything! Not much to say on this but 4 sections or even more =  easier detangling and easier styling. The last time I did not wash in sections was almost 2 years ago!!! Definitely no going back ^_^

M O I S T U R I S I N G  &  S E A L I N G
Finally, and one I'm sure you do already, keeping those ends and strands moisturised followed by a dash of oil. Our ends are usually the victims of SSK's so keeping them moisturised and sealed especially when worn down should help keep SSK's at bay. If you aren't doing this yet I dare you to start now and let me know what you think!

All of these combined following an initial light scissor dusting of my knots have kept me single strand knot free [bar the occasional knot] for a good couple of months now. I hope these tips work a treat for you too! 

Avec amour...
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T R A N S I T I O N E R L O O K B O O K - Part III - Perm Rod Twist Out

As you may know I decided to give the hair lookbook thing a go and well... I'm on post three already! This has to be my fave hairstyle of them all. I feel so quirky and in the mood to dress up and go out when I'm rocking the [here it goes] perm rod twist out up do! #longnameorwhat... why put a good hairdo to waste eh?!
I'll admit this is not an every evening prep kind of hairdo, I managed to stretch it out three days which was great but the arm ache it gave me means I won't be doing this for another week or so! Did I mention twists or braids will be my next hair venture?! Well now you know! 
Anyway, for anyone transitioning who hasn't yet braved the curly look, here is a style to give a try! Who knows you may just fall in love like I did! Hope you enjoy the video, let me know what you think!

Avec amour... 
 Fiona
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Ten Must Have Hair Goodies [Transitioner Approved]

Happy Monday Beautifuls!!!
Having officially hit 21 months posts transition I've had more than enough time to trial out a gazillion products in hopes of finding some staples that have made and continue to make my transition easier. The results? The fantastic ten below! Now please take note these are by no means only for transitioning hair, in fact in the 'O' residence most if not all of these products have proven to work wonders on both of my sisters hair [relaxed and natural], so this definitely is a post for everyone!

Before you cast any stones, yes I know... where is the 10th product image ?!! I ran out of the mystery tenth product so a mention will have to suffice!  Here goes my low down on why these really are a 'transitioner approved' top ten!

[From Left to Right]

N A K E D little miracle leave-in conditioner - I came across this product just over a month ago and have added it to my staples list. Marketed as a leave-in conditioner it's slightly thick consistency smooths unto your hair and works well in doing this whilst also moisturising and softening. I use this after washing my hair and also mid week to refresh my twist outs for blending with my homegirl Creta! All in all it's great for a light no crunch hold and leaves you with super soft bouncy results. #canIgetawhoopwhoop 
[150 ml, 5 oz - £4.99] CLICK HERE FOR INGREDIENTS 

S H I E L O moisturizing Shampoo - This shampoo is hands down the best shampoo I have used during my transition. The bottle has been empty for a miserable 4 months now but I've still held unto it due to fear of forgetting the name or something! The shampoo smells absolutely beautiful, but most importantly does not strip/overdry my hair. During the transitioning phase a shampoo that isn't too drying is a must as detangling can be a nightmare. The only downfall is the price and lack of availability in the UK. This was gifted to me and I simply haven't been able bring myself to purchasing another bottle, £26 for a Shampoo [inc delivery] just can't be legal! 
[237 ml, 8 oz - $24]  CLICK HERE FOR INGREDIENTS 

J A N E  C A R T E R  S O L U T I O N revitalizing leave-in conditioner - A joint first place with the naked leave-in, this JCS product is what I describe to friends as hair okra. The slip it provides supersedes that of any leave-in I have ever used, and for that I love it!!! I have used this almost every day since receiving it a few months ago and it does a great job of super softening new growth. I would recommend this for any and all hair types and can imagine you going spray crazy with this stuff like I do everyday! 

 [237 ml, 8 oz - $9]  CLICK HERE FOR INGREDIENTS AND HERE FOR UK PURCHASE LINKS

C O C O N U T  O I L extra Virgin - Does this require an explanation? Coconut oil has been one of my faves since the very early days of my 'haircare journey'. It has proved itself even more so worthy of a double thumbs up during my transition because of the wonders it works when used as a hot oil treatment/deep conditioner. I won't go into the nitty gritty because I'm sure you already know this is not my first rave about EVCO. Does the 'Coconut Relaxer' ring a bell? Check out these posts for the scoop! [1], [2], [3], [4]

J A N E  C A R T E R  S O L U T I O N curl defining cream - The 2nd JCS product in the list, Jane definitely had me in mind when she started up!  I absolutely love and depend on this, plus it's name definitely holds true, this stuff defines!!! The cream gives great slip, has an ambrosia custard consistency and again if you're after soft bouncy curls with no residue or crunch then this cream is that and more #gonewiththewindfabulous. I use it for blending my hair with the infamous Creta Girl, and for my new staple weekend perm rod twist out. Unlike the Naked leave-in which I at times double up as a curl cream, this is more creamy and also gives your hair a nice amount of shine.

 [177 ml, 6 oz - $18]  CLICK HERE FOR INGREDIENTS & HERE FOR UK PURCHASE

C U R L  H A R M O N Y Intensive Repair Deep Conditioner - Do you like your DC thick or runny? This DC is the second half of my perfect DC duo. There's something about the product consistency that has my hair acting right, using this to detangle leaves my hair feeling cotton wool kinda soft. I get the perfect DC when I mix this with my all time ride or die ORS conditioner which of course leads me onto the next product!
[250 ml, 8.5 oz - £14.50]  CLICK HERE FOR INGREDIENTS 

O R S  O L I V E  O I L Replenishing Conditioner - Number one DC award for me has to go to this conditioner, from relaxed to almost natural this DC has been my number one. Paired with the Curl Harmony DC this provides slip slip and more slip. Even better, on days when my hair is in need of extra deep conditioning I definitely do not shy away from squeezing this all over my hair because the price tag is a winner #swipewswipekeepthechange. It smells great, softens, and its velvety texture leaves your hair feeling very well looked after.
[370 ml, 8.5 oz - £4.07]  CLICK HERE FOR INGREDIENTS

K E R A C A R E Butter Cream Everyday Moisturiser - My very early relaxed days saw a lot of Keracare use and then I went a complete 3 years without even thinking about it! However not too long ago Keracare introduced their Natural Textures line and the Butter Cream wowed its way into my product stash. The Butter Cream is very thick and is great for a more defined twist/braid out. Its thick texture calls for no strays when used and unlike the above mentioned curl creams this has a slightly stronger hold.  I tend however only to use this on freshly washed hair as opposed to using it for re-twisting because it is quite heavy.
[227 g, 8 oz - £8.69]  CLICK HERE FOR INGREDIENTS

 A N I T A G R A N T Babassu Amla Shampoo Bar - I use this shampoo bar on days when my hair needs good clarifying following the use of many curling creams and hot oil treatments. This is not to say that the shampoo is in anyway stripping however it leaves your hair squeaky clean, a common find with most 100% natural shampoo bars. It was the use of this shampoo and an eventful washday session that made me realize this time 21 months ago that my hair had not properly relaxed and henceforth my transition would begin. If you're natural or transitioning you will find this shampoo really makes your curls POP!

[110 g, 4 oz - £7.05]  CLICK HERE FOR INGREDIENTS

Finally!!! The mystery 10th product...
 P H I L I P  K I N G S L E Y Elasticizer Extreme - Of all the products I've mentioned this has been the most beneficial with regards to the health of my hait during my transition. The Elasticizer is a pre shampoo treatment made for extremely dry, porous and thirsty hair, it works to feed the hair with nutrients that help nourish, moisturise and improve hair elasticity. I aid this treatment with heat using myHiartherapy Head wrap and I strongly believe this, deep conditioning and scalp care have allowed me to avoid any setbacks during my transition. This treatment followed by a good DC session are an absolute must for me every week. A little goes a long way so the price tag is well worth it.
[150 ml, 5 oz - £27.50]  CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

Stay tuned for another lookbook video tomorrow, this will be my fave look so far!!! 
Avec amour... Fiona
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Insta Lovin' Again!

The past two weeks have literally gone over my head. After a weekend retreat with the youth at my church [those folks have SO much energy], followed by a very stressful first day in my new role at work, I decided a trip to the spa was a must! So I took my camera, tripod, laptop, bikini and some DVDs to Champneys and of course kept you all in the loop via our beloved Instagram! I would definitely recommend all my Londoners take a trip to the Champneys Tring resort, top notch is all I can say! 
Anyway here is my week plus the last on Instagram, if I'm not here best believe I'm there!

[ Left to Right ]

1- Two friends were featured on CNN for their amazing African print swimsuit range CROWNROSE. I know how much work has been put into this so I'm so proud of them, this is just the beginning!!!

2- A cheeky pic of bathrobe chilling at Champneys, the robes weighed 10kg, I almost fell asleep in mine but woke up at 3am in sweats!

3- Dinner date with the older sis

4- Successful perm rod twist out updo. Sore arms and a late night = worth it!

5- Terrace view #Champneys

6- Filming another Lookbook, will be out soon! Have you checked out the others? [1], [2]

7- Doing what I love most. Blogging is definitely therapy for me these days...

8- Fellow Hair lovers... When the hair is pulling a diva on you, pull out the headscarf not the straighteners!

9- Finalement, I still can't get over how smart the Sun played the birth of Prince George! Hilarious!!! Hats off to the Editor for that one! #freshprince

See you in a day or two with my top ten products of the year!!! Transitioner approved too of course!
@loveyourtresses on Instagram
Avec amour...   Fiona

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