Monday, 12 August 2013

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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Tuesday, 6 August 2013

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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Tuesday, 23 July 2013

T R A N S I T I O N E R L O O K B O O K - Part II 'Bowed Scarf Love'

Happy Tuesday!!!

I'm back with another L O O K B O O K, it's no surprise to most of you that I'm super into headscarves [1, 2, 3], especially on bad hair days!!! Well this is most certainly another styling option when it comes to getting through my transition. I decided to get a bit dressed up for gelato and a movie with one of my faves... any evening with Idris Elba on screen and a scoop of milk and coffee gelato is a good one!

Hope you've had a great start to the week! Peep the Lookbook video below...






Avec amour...

Fiona

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Friday, 19 July 2013

T R A N S I T I O N E R L O O K B O O K - The Video [1]

Morning Beautifuls & Happy Friday!!!

Thank you for letting me know the video did ot show in yesterdays post *mwah* [I've re-added it there now] Here it goes in case you missed it!

Will be filing Part II this weekend ^_^



P.s don't forget to watch in HD!


Avec amour...
Fiona


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Tuesday, 16 July 2013

T R A N S I T I O N E R L O O K B O O K - Part I 'Curled Protection'


Hello loves,

 I've decided to try something very new on the blog and I hope you like it! For the more fashion savvy you'll be very familiar with the term LOOKBOOK, 'a collection of photographs compiled to show off a model, a photographer, a style, or stylist or a clothing line' thanks Wiki!

Well, I decided as per your lovely comments from the 3 year birthday giveaway entries that it was high time I invited you all on a more personal journey with me during the last few months of my transition, a.k.a more pics and more transitioner updates.

I'll have about four lookbooks, five if I can squeeze it and hey I thought I'd do a mini get ready with me for all of them too! P.s do excuse my mediocre makeup skills! God definitely did not intend for me to be an MUA!!! I guess you can think of it as Fiona's quick fix!

Right so here goes look one and dare I say my absolute favourite, 'Curled Protection', this has gotten me through the past 3 months of my transition and I wish I had braved it much earlier.

Fingers, legs and toes crossed in hoping you like it! Check out the video below and have a fabulous Thursday xxx

Love always,

Fi







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Monday, 15 July 2013

D.I.Y - Ankara Espadrilles


P.R.I.N.T.S are an absolute no.1 for me this summmer and there's nothing more fulfilling than tranforming something you were so close to chucking out, into something you cannott see your shoe stash surviving without!

Feeling the look? Well here is what you need...


E S P A D R I L L E S 
A N K A R A
G L U E  G U N
P E A R L  P I N S 
S C I S S O R S
T I M E ! ! !

[Espadrilles from £3 @ Primark, Ankara can be bought from most markets e.g. Liverpool Street Market, Glue Gun £9.99, Time - 1-2 hours]


INSTRUCTIONS
[see photos below]

- Cut slightly oversized piece of Ankara and place unto the drilles using pins to secure
- Once pins have been secured, begin to fold and glue the side unsecured by the pins
- Once one side has been glued, move unto the unglued/pinned side, remove pins gradually and begin to glue the material to the drilles
- Repeat above for the front of the drilles
- FINISHED!!! -

Please be careful with the glue as it gets very hot, don't be tempted to touch it like I did! Also, allow 10-15 minutes for last glued section to cool and set.

Et voila!









Any cool ideas for the next project? I'm on a D.I.Y high?!

Avec amour...
Fiona


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Monday, 8 July 2013

G I V E A W A Y - 3 Years & more to come [closed]


It's a rare thing to find a hobby you love and can stick to for a long time, I've tried to pick up so many different hobbies over the past 2/3 years, from Arabic, to pattern cutting, to becoming a young black Martha Stewart, and out of all of those things this is the only thing that has been consistent for me! I'm so grateful for the support from each and everyone of you, for the new found friends, funny comments, Youtube love and for simply making this hobby worth its while!

Literally three years ago I started my hair journey as a heat loving, hair just past shoulder length relaxed chick, I then became a hair forum, long hair loving junkie and challenged myself to longer, healthier hair... just over a year later R E S U L T S baby! My hair was longer and a lot healthier. I then reached 'Bra Strap Length'... oh the length I had longed for... BUT my ends were on the thin side and as the matured individual I had become I decided they had to go, so snip snip snip and right back to just past shoulder length I went! It was at this point my journey then took a complete U-turn and I decided it was time to embark on a new journey... the journey to natural Hair!!! Well, here I am 3 years later no longer owning a pair of straighteners and I'm about to do the one thing I had never thought I would do... go Natural!

The journey goes on and I'm just thankful for your love & support every step of the way. I would raise a glass but who am I kidding a giveaway is much better!!! 


G I V E A W A Y   G O O D I E S

Pukka Organic Castor Oil
Jane Carter Natural Hold Spray Gel
Jane Carter Hydrate Quench Spray
Olive Oil Mango Butter Moisturizer
Mixed Roots Curl Stretching Custard
Naked Shine Hydrating Conditioner
Naked Style Little Miracle Leave-In Conditioner
Ojon Rare Blend Oil
Anita Grant Jasmine Floral Water


E N T R Y

Comment below with what you like the most about the blog & what you would like to see more of

Giveaway Ends: Wednesday 10th July @ Midnight, winner to be announced shortly afterwards



UPDATE

The winner of the LYT 3 Year Birthday G I V E A W A Y

........... [drumroll]


     J U L I A S   C H A N N E L 

Thank you so much for your entries, as ever there will be many more giveaways to come! 

Julias please send your mailing address to fiona@loveyourtresses.com within the next 24 hours to redeem your gift xxx




Avec amour...

Fiona


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Wednesday, 3 July 2013

Under the Cover Up



Before I go ahead and explain the mysterious title of this post I just have to say merci, cheers and spud me for being so patient whilst I sat exams! My work course is now done and liberated does no justice for how I currently feel! 

So... I officially crown this the resumption of blogging...  Here is what is going on in the wonderful world of me "hair care" wise...

19 + months post transition and approx 4 more months before I snip off my relaxed ends!
Protective styling 99% of the time minus weekend hair style experimenting

I really should stress that the 99% ought to be 100%! Any and every hairstyle I've rocked over the past few weeks has kept my hair up, away and super protected.  In fact it's gotten to that protective style "crazy" stage where you  max out things like deep conditioning, baggying, steaming etc just because you can and nobody can tell because your hair is hidden ... Hidden under your wig, weave, hat, turban, headscarf... it's just HIDDEN!


As of late and especially during exam month I opted for the coconut deep conditioner a.k.a the coconut relaxer as my main method of deep conditioning, it may ring a bell from this ancient post. In my last haircare focused post on deep conditioning I mentioned that coconut oil can take up to 16 hours to fully penetrate the hair shaft. If you have hair that does take well to coconut oil and you allow it to sit on your hair in a warm environment for this amount of time, I'm sure you'll  know how darn amazing your hair can feel afterwards. This does not mean that I no longer deep condition the "normal" way, but I've been sticking to the 15 minutes post shampoo dc and compensating with this pre-shampoo treatment. 

So... that's pretty much me summed up over the past month, I've crowned July and August as months of hair styling and have invested in a heap load of perm rods, flexi rods, styling creams, and finally another order which I can't wait to share with you! 

My new found headscarf wrap look, channeling my inner... India Arie?!

Have a fab Wednesday Loves!!!





Avec amour...
Fiona

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