[Review] Karen's Body Beautiful Hair Nectar Leave In Conditioner (Battle of the Leave-Ins)

Pomegranate Guava

Price: $16 for 8oz

Can be purchased at: 
Karen's Body Beautiful/Select Target Brick & Mortar/Complimentary sample received at BHK Expo

Promises: 
Detangles. Softens. Moisturizes. Works best for- Medium thick to loose curls, relaxed, color treated or dry hair.

Ingredients: 
Purified Water, Grapeseed, Jojoba and Coconut Oils, Vegetable Glycerin, Vegetable Wax, Panthenol, Yucca, Horsetail, Nettle, & Melissa Extracts, Essential and/or Fragrance Oil, Ascorbic Acid & Vitamin E
Directions: 
Apply a generous amount to hair when damp or dry to refresh and moisturize. Can be used several times a week or daily.  Use before you apply heat (flat ironing, blow drying, etc.), since this product is water based.
My Thoughts: 
I received this 2oz sample as a part of an awesome swag bag during at the BHK Expo back In July. After chatting with the KBB reps during the expo about my hair's needs, they recommended the Hair Nectar line of moisturizers. I checked out the ingredients. Water first---perfect. Grapeseed, Jojoba and Coconut oil---even better. Vegetable Glycerin---Hmm..jury's out on that one. I haven't had much experience with glycerin. All that I do know is that many discourage its use during cooler weather. Of course my weird self had to smell it. Yeah. I did it right in front of the KBB reps. (I've got to work on my home training.) OMGosh--- Pomegranate Guava---I love you. No joke. The scent of this moisturizer is amazing. It's right up there with hibiscus coconut scent from Shea Moisture that I love more than puppies, glitter, and rainbows combined--and I really LOVE rainbows. Never have I met a natural product with a better scent. 
Aside from the scent, I love Hair Nectar's consistency. It absorbs into my hair instantly, leaving all three textures almost plumped, fat, and full with moisture. I was a little shocked that my hair felt so hydrated but light. I've applied to damp hair and completely dry hair with the same results- smooth, shiny, soft tresses. I can't speak much to its detangling properties, but I can say that my hair stayed tamer longer (read: little to no SSKs during my next wash session) with this leave in than many others that I've tried in the past. There were days when I didn't really feel like I needed to moisturize but I really wanted to. (Blame the intoxicating scent chicas) Even with daily use, my hair didn't feel coated or weighed down. With each use, my roots did feel refreshed, light and fluffy all over again. It spreads evenly, I never needed a lot to reap its full benefits, and best of all---it plays so well with my hair butter. Using this product as the "moisture" component of my bantu knot cocktail was a success each and every time. I'm not sure if the winning ingredients are the oil blend or the glyercin but either way, I'm not complaining. I started using this at 2-3 weeks post, so it didn't get as much testing as Jessicurl deep into a stretch but the back half of my hair is just barely processed and loved this hair nectar.
My only gripe is THAT PRICE. Yes, the ingredients are top notch, but the price tag on a full size bottle hurts. It's the pricest of all of leave ins in this battle. Good thing that a little goes a long way. My 2oz sample lasted for a month. Thus, the 17oz full size bottle that I'm craving should last at least 8 months. (Is my math is right y'all?--I have a BA in English---not Math. If that's wrong don't sue me. #highereducation) If it can last for that long, then maybe a $24/bottle price isn't that scary. I think...

Has anyone else tried KBB before?

Besitos!
KLP

[Review] Bee Mine Daily Leave-In Conditioner (Battle of the Leave Ins)

Price: $12.97 for 8oz 

Purchased at: Bee Mine

Promises: Dramatically improve the moisture balance of your hair with the natural and organic nutrients in our new Daily Conditioner "Bee Lovely." With the soft & creamy consistency of Cupuacu Butter, offers exceptional daily moisture for the hair also provides some protection against UV-A and UV-B rays.  Enjoy hair that feels soft and smooth all day after just a single use without weighing it down. With daily use, even dry, brittle and damaged hair can see noticeable improvement in softness, smoothness and manageability.
 
Ingredients: Distilled Water, Chamomile Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Castor Oil and Stearalkonium Chloride, Cupuacu Butter, Organic Coconut Oil, BTMS (mild emulsifier), Organic Raw Honey, Preservative (Paraben & Formaldehyde Free), Fragrance (Phthalate Free)

Directions:
Apply to hair from roots to ends on wet hair. Rinse it out or use use it as a light leave-in. Good for daily use very moisturizing, and doesn't weigh down the hair.

My Thoughts:
As soon as I received this 2oz sample size as a part of the Loving MY Hair giveaway sponsored by the lovely Miss Age in ATL back in March, I smiled. One of my favorite bloggers Ebony @ Longing4Length has raved about this company for months. Next, I checked out the ingredients; Water first--excellente. Castor Oil--not exactly what I expected as a number 2 ingredient. Cupuacu butter---I had to google that one. Ha-ha! Lastly, I smelled it. (I see that judgey look in your eyes. Y'all know that my nose is particular!) To my surprise, its scent was very faint and that weird smell that I usually associate with natural products wasn't present!

I tried applying this to damp hair and completely dried hair with similar results. While the product appeared to be light and creamy---it was very oily. My hair seemed to absorb it well, but it doesn't play so nicely with my hair butter. Adding the butter on top of it lead to very oily next day hair---yet moisturized hair. The curliest inches of my strands seemed to like it. The straightest bits were overwhelmed. My multi-textured hair just wasn't on one accord. I moisturized every other day in an futile accept to prevent icky build up. But my hair was still pretty oily by the next wash day---BUT when I hopped in the shower, my hair felt like butter. This got me thinking, If it had just a little more slip, this would be an interesting co-wash. I also used it for a bantu knot out that you guys will never see. I did not take a single pic. Yep--It was that bad. Ha-ha! It has been hard to want to use this one consistently. I just kept choosing other products over it. If this was a battle of the best co-wash; this would would have a real potential. But, Bee Mine Daily Leave-in--- I got asi asi moisture but super oily hair. Meh, I don't think that I'm a fan.

Have you ever tried any other product in the Bee Mine Collection? 

Besitos!
KLP

 

Battle of the Leave-Ins

Battle of the Leave-Ins

A good leave-in can make or break your hair's shine, elasticity, and most importantly---your moisture swag.  My hair has been  dating a few leave-ins here and there, in search of it's ultimate soul mate. It's been a fun discovery process that I intend on sharing over a few posts. Before we get started, let me give you my perfect leave in run down:

What makes a moisturizer good...to me?

1. Hydration- My forever leave-in has to be the boost of moisture that wards of breakage in drought-like conditions and maintaining my post wash day moisture levels. I love my texlaxed hair because it's sassy, big, and very temperamental. The ideal leave in has to roll with the punches, warding off frizz and fuzz.
2. Nourishment- Read: ingredients that prevent the evaporation of said moisturizing product, preventing me from having to re-up daily. I need a margin of error for when I forget to moisturize at night and want to crash in bed---life is always trying its best to sabotage my hair.
3. Absorption- My strands have to want to soak up every bit of the moisturizer that I add. I'm not about that sticky-repelling-coated-icky feeling-hair-life. Yep. I just made that up. But y'all know what I mean. I'm all about smooth and soft strands. If it just sits on top of my hair and looks back at me stupid---it will be disqualified immediately! I'm looking for silkiness when spread plus a thick and creamy consistency. This leave in also has to play nice with whatever I choose to seal my hair with. Right now, I'm all about butters.

A little about my mane:

1. My strands are thick- Super thick. Many a bobby pin have been lost for days thick.
2. My strands are inconsistent- Thanks to my last relaxer, the back half of my hair looks like I'm transitioning. I have about an inch of super curly, 3-4 inches of not quite super curly, with the rest being wavy fluff. Not a bad thing. I actually kinda like it. But this leave in will have a few textures to keep muy contenta.
3. My strands are hydrophilic- Water loving. All day. Everyday. The first ingredient will have to be water.

If you are a regular SOS_Hair-ista, then you've seen these leave-ins here and there before. They were great contestants and I would have loved to keep them all, but there can only be one (for now...lol) winner!

Our first contestant: Jessicurl Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner

Besitos!
KLP

[Review] Jessicurl Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner (Battle of the Leave Ins)

Price: $16.95 (USD)

Purchased at: jessicurl.com or Amazon.com

Ingredients: Water (Aqua) infused with Equisetum Maximum Lam (Horsetail), Mentha Piperita (Peppermint), Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary), Laurus Nobilis (Bay Leaf), Ocimum Basilicum (Basil), Arctium Lappa (Burdock Root), Althaea Officinalis (Marshmallow Root), Origanum Vulgare (Oregano), Cymbopogon Flexuosus (Lemongrass), Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme), Salvia Officinalis (Sage) and Urtica Dioica (Nettle); Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Hydrolyzed Oat Flour, Soy Lecithin, Diazolidinyl Urea (and) Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate

Directions: 
Apply to wet hair, comb through and rinse after 3-5 minutes. Follow with your favorite Jessicurl styling products. Too Shea can also be left in for all day moisture on dry curls or used as a deep conditioner for finer hair that gets weighed down easily.

My Thoughts:
I received this product as a part of the Loving MY Hair giveaway sponsored by the lovely Miss Age in ATL back in March. She promised that my texlaxed hair would adore this conditioner and I was absolutely skeptical but excited. Does anyone else drool over her hair or is it just me?!? I digress---I've been searching for a daily light yet nourishing leave in to keep my hydrophilic roots happy, so I gave Jessicurl a try. 

My first impressions: Meh--I.hated.the.scent. I still don't care for it. Island Fantasy it is not! The scent isn't overpowering, extremely floral or perfumey. It just smells "earthy." Real talk---It smells like wet dirt to me. Which is typically why I shy away from natural produced products. They tend to smell weird. Ha-ha! So, I don't like the scent. However, it absorbs well, its not oily, and my hair adores that ingredient list! 

I love that this product is multipurpose. I've used it as a daily moisturizer, to cowash, and a post wash detangler. Used daily caused no build up. Cowashing with it was absolutely amazing; even my 14 week post relaxer roots were smooth and springy. Plus, this is my go to moisturizer when I want to create lasting, defined, and shiny bantu knots. It plays along nicely with hair butter as a sealer. Lucky for me---there is an unscented and citrus lavender version!

If the only thing that I can honestly complain about is the scent---then this one is leading the pack out of the gate.

The next challenger in my battle of the leave-ins: Bee Mine Daily Leave-In Conditioner.

Besitos!

KLP

{Even More} Big Bad Curly Vacation Hair: Historic Georgetown Waterfront

Curls in the city. This time on the historic Georgetown waterfront in Washington, DC. If ever you're in this part of the world, try the "Shorty" from Circa. Love. @. First. Bite.

Left-Right: Wine Cruise Bound | Founding Farmers | Scenic Waterfront Walk | Key Bridge Selfie

Monuments pic taken from the Potomac | Georgetown Cupcake (as Featured on the hit TLC show DC Cupcake) | Circa's "Shorty" & Turkey Burger  Delicioso!| View from the Le Meridian Boutique Hotel

Besitos!

KLP

Wash Day

Bantu Knot Set

Last weekend, my hubby and I pretended not to be adults by spending the weekend in the city kid-free to celebrate our anniversary. I used my knockoff version of KBN's whipped hair butter as the sealant in my bantu knot cocktail. My knockoff butter version is definitely heavier and more difficult to spread than my beloved KBN's butter, but I loved the results. My hair felt full of moisture during take down. The curls were gorge and totally survived a day (and night) out out by the water. They were frizz and fuzz-less the next day, but I still opted for a high bun with bangs. I can only deal with my hair being wild and free for a few hours at a time. This wash, I decided to give my hair a good shampoo then fuse a heaping helping of moisture into my strands with a good deep conditioning. Here's how the moisture max wash day went:

Wash Day Products

1. Detangled- using my Magic Star Jumbo Rake seamless comb and a little avocado oil to aid in detangling.
2. Scalp Massage- with JBCO. I covered with a plastic cap for about an hour.
3. 1st Lather Shampoo- I applied about half the sample size of Mixed Chicks Shampoo diluted with water to scalp using a narrow tip applicator bottle. Being careful not to tangle my roots, I added the shampoo then rinsed. I'm so glad that I used in place of a clarifying shampoo. My hair felt squeaky clean and completely stripped. I'd probably never buy a full size of this one.
4. 2nd Lather Shampoo- To restore a little moisture, I followed with diluted Matrix Biolage Hydratherapie Hydrating Shampoo in an applicator bottle. Fingers crossed that this poo is never discontinued.
5. Extreme Deep Condition- Next, I deep conditioned with with a 3-1 ratio of Roux PC Conditioner and Matrix Biolage Hydratherapie Conditioning Balm on the length of my hair. Then, I massaged my strands with, Chi Silk Infusion, covered with a plastic cap and relaxed for 2 hours.This cocktail works like magic on relaxer days so I thought that it would be a delight in a regular wash.
6. Tea Rinse- I rinsed the conditioner then with 2 green tea bags steeped in 2 cups of water, I applied my tea rinse using a narrow tip applicator. I let it sit for a few minutes and rinsed. 
7. Smoothing Treatment- Next, I applied a large dollop of Nexxus Hydralight Weightless Moisture Conditioner, massaged it in from root to tip for a minute or two then rinsed. I'm glad to be done with this bottle. It wasn't a win for me at all. Keyda had much better results.
8. Air Dried- 70% with silk scarf.
9. Leave-Ins- Herbal Essences Touchably Smooth Split End Protector + Argan Oil

Results:
Some of the most moisturized tresses of the summer! My hair felt super light and very clean. I noticed that I lost a little more hair in the shower than I usually do, however, that was off set by only having 3 strands lost during my post wash detangle. Totally a #win! This week I intend on being laid back (but not lazy) with my hair. Time to whip out a few Bun Effect styles then keep it moving.

How was your last wash day? How do you keep your hair laid back without being negligent?

Besitos!
KLP

Weekly Wish

Sunset with my little guy

I invite you to make a positive wish, each week to combat a sucky part of life in an attempt to sprinkle the world with more positive pixie dust.
 
Your responses to my wish last week for my marriage were so heart-felt, fiercely honest, and truly up-lifting. Muchas Gracias. I'm so emo; I totally cried #tearsofjoy. In a world were everyone is "hatin," I'm honored that SOS_Hair is a place where support and care for each other resigns supreme. This is why I adore blogging. 

This week's wish is dedicated to the educators of my little ones (and yours too). Lots of little ones are gearing up or have already returned to school from summer holiday. Our educators are over-worked, underpaid, and highly devalued. Yet, they are the examples that our children see for 8 hours a day. I believe that my child's teacher is an extension of my family, therefore it's my job to uplift, support, and pray for each one of them as I would my mom or mi prima. My wish is for every educator to exhibit their integrity through their teaching and to never EVER give up, even when it feels like what you are doing doesn't matter. It matters to me. It matters to my child. And we are forever grateful for you. 

Have you noticed an absence of my partner in crime, Keyda? Well it's because she's one of these amazing educators that I'm referencing. The first year of high school counseling is tough. But she's tougher. Buenas suerte chica!

What's your wish this week? Big it big or small--speak it into existence!

Quieres Más? Check out www.thenectarcollective.com.

Besitos! 
KLP

Sunday Healthy Hairology Medley

Here are a few of the weeks best blogs, vlogs, and forum features that we've found about the web. 

1. Achieving Consistent Texlaxed Results- JustGrowAlready: If you're struggling with different textures in your texlaxed head, Jeni, has some great notes on how to correct it and then keep it consistent. Don't forget to join the JGA forum!
2. How often should I trim my hair?- Mixedhair: Hi, my name is KLP and I'm an over-trimmer. (Okay, that sounded better in my head...) I struggle with when to whip out the scissors and when to leave well enough enough. Here's Chantelle's take on trimming. 
3. The Ultimate Guide To Lush's Hair Care Range- shemightbeloved: Georgina is the biggest Lushie that I know! It probably helps that she works there... Any who, I've used Lush's face and body products for years and have wanted to try their hair care line, but not quite sure where to start. If you've new to Lush--print this guide and go find a Lush location. Right. Now.
4. My "Teyonah Parris Up-do" On Relaxed Hair- hairliciousinc: Nailed it!!! *in high pitched sing-song voice* I shared this do a few months ago with you guys and still haven't had a reason to whip it out(side of my house). Sunshyne has got me smitten all over again! Check out her remake of this gorge do.

Besitos!
KLP

SOS Kitchenista: Tangerine Vanilla Hair and Body Whipped Butter

Top: Ingredients | Left: Cocoa, Shea, and Mango Butter | Right: Mixing in Action

If you're an SOS regular, then you know that I've mentioned wanting to DIY some hair butter. A few weeks ago, I feel in love with Koils by Nature Nourishing Hair and Body Butter (Heavenly Delight). I ran out of my sample size; Because KBN is relocating, I couldn't repurchase more. And yes---this made me a very sad chica. Anywho, I loved this hair butter too much to wait any longer, so last Sunday, I pulled out my hand mixer and went to work! As soon as their website is back to business, I'll repurchase. In the meantime-- here's how I whipped up my own: 

Tangerine Vanilla Hair and Body Whipped Butter 

    Ingredients:
    1/2 cup Shea Butter
    1/2 cup Cocoa Butter
    1/2 cup Mango Butter
    2 tbsp Jamaican Black Castor Oil
    1/2 cup Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
    1/2 cup Sweet Almond Oil
    2 tbsp Vitamin E Oil
    1/2 cup Aloe Vera Gel
    Tangerine Essential Oil
    Vanilla Oil (I purchased from my local farmer's market)

    Directions:

1. Melt the solid butters together over a double boiler (pot of boiling water and a glass/metal bowl).
2. Remove from heat. 
3. Using a hand mixer add the remaining ingredients, except the tangerine oil. 
4. Mix until completely blended (no lumps, hard bits, and homogenous color) and add Tangerine oil. 
5. As the blend cools, keep mixing until light and fluffy. Simple enough right?

How does this kitchenista verison stack up to KBN's butter:

So um---The fragrance is fantastic! I told my bestie that after using, I smelt like a Florida Orange Grove. She replied " Your so weird." <shrugs> That was totally a compliment, she just doesn't know it yet. Ha-ha! I love light, sweet, and citrus-y scents. The downside (imo) is that the scent doesn't linger as long as my KBN butter. The consistency is as light and fluffy as the KBN butter, but I wasn't quite able to incorporate the mango butter as well as I would have liked. I've noticed a few lumps in the mix. Will it prevent me from using it? Nope---I just rub a little between my palms, wait for it to melt, then apply to my hair (or body). A little goes a long way and putting it in a tub makes access to the product super easy, just like the KBN butter. I used it last wash day to seal and then every other day since. No real complaints. I do notice much more shine with the KBN butter than with my knockoff, but I think this can be cured by adding more oils to the next batch. I think that I'll also add a little aloe vera into the next batch to lighten things up even more. I'm using this batch for my curls this weekend--fingers crossed for fabulousity!

My Verdict:  
I'll definitely make this again. It was fun experimenting and getting to put exactly what I want in a product. Of course, I'm probably still buying the BIG JAR of KBN butter once the site is back up for business! My wallet hopes that it will be on sale!

Have you ever tried a whipped hair butter?

Besitos!
KLP

[Review] Koils by Nature Nourishing Hair and Body Butter (Heavenly Delight)

Price: $5 for 2oz sample size

Purchased at: Koils by Nature website (I purchased from the BHK Expo)

Ingredients: Shea butter, coconut oil, kokum butter, mango butter, avocado butter, aloe butter, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, *organic extra virgin olive oil, illipe butter, *Jamaican Black Castor Oil, Vitamin E, Pro-Vitamin (B5), *organic essential & fragrance oils.

Directions: Nourishing Hair & Body Butter is made from the best butters & oils nature provides, it will moisturize, revitalize, heal, and protect your hair and skin. The lightly scented heavenly butter will have you thinking of cookies, cakes and pies oh my! This butter smells delightful, please do not ingest, for external use only.
 

My Thoughts: I've tried a lot of products and techniques in my healthy hair journey, however this was the very first "hair butter" that's touched my strands. And I'm not sure if you noticed, but I LOVE IT. There is nothing about this product that my hair doesn't want. 

The scent is heavenly? Absolutely. It smells sweet, light, and slightly citrus-y; A lot like cake batter. The consistency is light and creamy. *shame face confession* I did think about tasting it.  It looks exactly like the whipped butter from my fave restaurant Mike's "American." Yum! *drools a little while deep in thought* Okay, okay. Back to the review... If you love the sealing properties of butters like shea and coconut but hate the heaviness, then this butter is a winner. Yes, it does sit a little on your hair, but within seconds, all of that buttery goodness absorbs into your strands sealing in moisture and locking out fuzzy frizz. It's super easy to apply---it melts with the warmth of your hands and you'll only want to use just a dab at a time because a little goes a long way. Here are a few ways I've used it: 

• Daily sealing after moisturizing my hair with a creamy leave-in. 
• As the "oil" or sealant in my bantu knot cocktail
• To moisturize my entire body. (Perfect for rough knees and elbows)

Did I mention that this stuff smells AH-mazing? *reads back* Yep--I did. Okay, but I just want to reiterate. It is the best smelling product in my hair stash. This butter delivers a low product build up with a high sealant ability. Being in a tub, allows easy access to every nook and cranny. The 2oz sample lasted me for a little over a month (even with use as a body butter on both myself and my kiddos). Would I buy again? Heck yeah! Why haven't I? Keep reading---

As I alluded to in my last wash day post, I made a kitchenista Tangerine Vanilla Whipped Butter mimicking the ingredients in this butter. I bet you are asking why in the world would I go through all the trouble to make it myself? Well---KBN is in the process of moving their headquarters from the DMV to Atlanta, GA (Congrats, Pamela!). But they have temporarily closed their website. *sad face* Long story short, I love this hair butter too much to wait any longer, so last Sunday, I pulled out my hand mixer and went to work! As soon as their website is back to business, I'll repurchase. The BIG JAR this time!

Have you ever used a hair butter or any products from KBN?

Besitos!
KLP

{More} Big Bad Curly Vacation Hair: DO AC

Just stopping by to share a few of my mini-(va)cation curls with you; Heat free and low manipulation. Wondering how I got these whimsical curls? Check out my guide to the best bantu knots ever! 

Atlantic City, NJ

Besitos!
KLP 

Mini Wash Day

*This mini wash occurred on Sunday 8/18.

My boring weekday hair- a variety of buns: low, high, and pulled to the side. My sexy weekend hair- big bouncy curls courtesy of bantu knots. I haven't really fussed with my hair during the week because my weekends have been super busy. Last weekend, my hubby and I traveled to Atlantic City for a little fun in the sun. I was worried that my hair would become a big old fuzz ball from the humidity and wind, luckily my knot cocktail of Jessicurl Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner + Shea Butter + Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie kept my curls looking amazing. 

I considered using a little shampoo this week because I wasn't sure if I would be able to get a good deep condition because of product build up---then the thought of jumping in and out of the shower made me shudder. I'll definitely shampoo next week. Here's how my wash day went:

Wash Day Products

1. Detangled- using my Magic Star Jumbo Rake seamless comb.
2. Extreme Deep Condition- with JBCO and my essential oil blend on my scalp and Carol's Daughter Monoi Repairing Conditioner on the length of my hair. Then I massaged coconut oil into my strands, covered with a plastic cap and relaxed under my heat cap for about 2 hours.
3. Tea Rinse- I rinsed the conditioner then with 2 green tea bags steeped in 2 cups of water. I applied my tea rinse using a narrow tip applicator. I let it sit for a few minutes and rinsed. 
4. Smoothing Treatment- Next, I applied a large dollop of Nexxus Hydralight Weightless Moisture Conditioner, massaged it in from root to tip for a minute or two then rinsed in sections. I probably manipulated my hair a little too much while rinsing because I noticed more tangles than usual post wash--Note to self not to do that again.
5. Air Dried- 90% with silk scarf.
6. Leave-Ins-  Herbal Essences Touchably Smooth Split End Protector and my kitchenista Tangerine Vanilla Whipped Hair Butter.

Results: 
Say it ain't so; Have I really found a product by Carol's Daughter that I like? Meh---I won't say it just yet. Ha-ha. But I do adore the soft, fluffy, strong hair that I was left with. My scalp felt clean in spite of not using shampoo and my ends look decent. After detangling and applying my leave-ins, I pulled my hair back into a low bun to finish drying. This week will be full of buns and of course my big curly hair will make an appearance this weekend! We'll be celebrating our anniversary in the city so y'all know that I gotta look cute! Ha-ha!

How was your last wash day?

Besitos!
KLP

Weekly Wishes

last weekend in Atlantic City

I invite you to make a positive wish, each week to combat a sucky part of life in an attempt to sprinkle the world with more positive pixie dust.
My wish this week is devoted to my husband. On this day, 5 years ago, I made scared vows to God for my husband. I promised to love and to cherish, to honor and obey, and do this all whether in sickness or in health. My husband means the world to me---but that doesn't mean that keeping these vows have been a piece of cake. In 5 years we've struggled through deployments amidst war with 2 little ones under 4 surviving countless sleepless nights while living in a few different states. Life in general has been messy and our marriage has been in a pressure cooker, to say the least. Even with all of the odds stacked against us---I can honestly report that I still like him. He'll never laugh at my corny jokes. I still like him. He'll never understand how I was an honor student geek with assorted piercings, a handful of tattoos and an unhealthy love for Shakespeare. But, I still like him. He'll never get why I'm totally obsessed my hair. Yet, I still like him; A lot. We may have been knocked down and kicked around by life---but here we are: still together--not because of anything special or breakthrough that we are doing--only because of God's Grace. I won't pretend to understand it all, however today, I stand ever so grateful for him. My wish this week (and forever) is that DJ and I continue to choose to walk together hand in hand opting for faith over fear and trust over doubt---because we'll never understand it all.

What's your wish this week? Big it big or small--speak it into existence!

Want more Weekly Wishes? Check out www.thenectarcollective.com.

Besitos!  
KLP

Sunday Healthy Hairology Medley

Here are a few of the weeks best blogs, vlogs, and forum features that we've found about the web. 

1. Pros and Cons to Texlaxing- JustGrowAlready: If you have an affinity for drama hair, then texlaxing is for you. Ha-ha. Your roots want this, your texlaxed length wants that, while your bone straight ends hate everything. Nonetheless, I love my big fluffy hair. Read why Jeni loves her texlaxed hair and the pros outweigh the cons.
2. Why do you flat iron the week before you relax?- Fancy Flair Lady: Stretched and detangled hair on relaxer day is a must! Here's how Kim prevents tangles and knots during self-touch ups.
3. Maintaining a Hemline: Turning My V Into a U!- Smooth Cuticles: My all time favorite hair cut shape is a neat U. Check out how Miss Tasia shapes her natural V into a blunt U and how you can do it at home too!

Besitos!
KLP