Tag Archives: health

BEAUTY, FASHION, NATURAL HAIR, SELF LOVE

Oooh SNAP!

January 31, 2014 writtenintentions Leave a comment

The January issue of Natura Magazine is here! With the gorgeous Kerry Washington gracing the cover I am even more proud to say that I am a part of Team Natura. With a focus on self empowerment, this issue is full of inspiration and encouragement for women to be who they are which you all know is right up my passion alley!

As a contributing natural hair blogger expert for this amazing online publication I always look forward to seeing the finished product that founder Malia Brown and team have worked so hard to produce. I highly encourage you to go check it out! From natural hair care, fashion and health, it is 188 pages of Awesomeness! Click the cover below to see what the January issue has to offer. You won’t be disapointed!

You can also check out my weekly blog posts for this great publication here.

BEAUTY, NATURAL HAIR

So Twisted

November 5, 2013 writtenintentions Leave a comment

I absolutely love the bun life. I have a different bun for every day of the week. But this week, I decided to do small twists as my primary protective style.

These twists took me about 4 hours to do. I twisted on co-washed and conditioned hair (Tresemme Flawless Curls and Cantu leave-in). Typically when I do these twists I prefer to use a locking creme like Carol’s Daughter Loc Butter along with my Eco Styler gel. It just so happens that I was out of both of these fabulous products but was still committed to getting the twists done before the week began. I ended up only using Cantu’s Grow Strong Strengthening Treatment, a product I am heavily relying on during my growth challenge. Consequently, because I didn’t use anything to really lock these twists in, I don’t expect them to last very long at all. I’ll be really happy to make it to Friday. Personally, I think that four hours of twisting for 4-5 days of not having to really do anything to my hair is a pretty great trade-off, but that’s just me!

I am moisturizing and sealing my ends at least every other day, if not every day with Bioinfusion Olive Oil Shine Serum and the Grow Strong Strengthening Treatment, Cantu’s Creamy Hair Lotion or Motions Hydrate My Curls Hair Pudding.

That’s about it! Still protective styling and treating my hair for maximum growth! Off to drink two cups of water and take my vitamins. Let me know if you’d like to see a tutorial on these twists. Be you beauties!

BEAUTY, NATURAL HAIR, SELF LOVE

Feeling Myself

October 26, 2013 writtenintentions 2 Comments

So, my growth challenge has got me really feeling myself! Feeling incredibly encouraged and excited about my potential to reach my waist length goal, not necessarily within 6 months but perhaps in 12. It’s amazing to me how one small initiative like a hair growth challenge can inspire you and build up your confidence.

I’ve been taking my all natural vitamins twice a day, playing with protective styles and trying to be more active. The big challenge this week has been drinking more water. Gotta find a way to get it in!

I did get a few new products that I’m really excited to try: Cantu Grow Strong Strengthening Treatment, Bioinfusion Curl Cream, Motions Define My Curls Creme, and Motions Hydrate My Curls Hair Pudding. Super excited about trying these products!

Check out my YouTube video below to find out more about my growth challenge as well as these products and how I plan to use them.

Well…one thing is for sure, my self-love is definitely on overtime! I suppose the natural Be You Beauty thing to do to maintain such a healthy level of confidence like this would be to find more positive, healthy initiatives to take on. Who knows…this could be the beginning of something Be-You-tiful!

BEAUTY, NATURAL HAIR, SELF LOVE

Challenge!

October 23, 2013 writtenintentions 2 Comments

I seem to be in the beginnings of my usual seasonal go to of FALLing for straight hair. Although I typically embrace my curly hair throughout the year I do enjoy spending some time wearing my straight hair when fall comes around since this is one of the few times of year that the Florida weather permits it. After recently straightening my hair to trim my ends I thought it might be a great idea to start a 6 month growth challenge. My 3 year natural hair anniversary is on April 3rd and I’m really curious to see what kind of hair growth I can achieve from now to then.

I’ve been researching various growth challenges that others have done to get an idea of some solid parameters I might be interested in. I found a great 2-Year Waist Length Healthy Hair Challenge on Facebook with some rules that appealed to me and since this is my natural hair length goal I thought it was perfect. What I love most about this challenge is that it includes so many other healthy elements that I could totally stand to make habits out of. With that being said, there are also some parameters here that will serve as extreme challenges for me, all which I’ve notated below. So, I’ve decided to do my very best to adhere to these rules for the next 6 months. I’ll do monthly updates on my progress. Here’s a look at my starting point. I’m right around bra strap length. Wish me luck!

Wash/Cleanse your hair 1x per week
Always Deep Condition after every Wash & Hot Oil treatment followed by a Leave In Conditioner
Blot hair with a t-shirt & Air dry the hair 99% of the time
No heat (blow drying, flat iron, curling iron, etc.) until you’ve been in the challenge for at least 2 months, after that you’re allowed only one (1) Heat pass per month (Going to be tough since I love straight hair during the fall but, gonna do my best!)
Remain FAITHFUL to Moisturizing & Sealing your ends at least 3x a week to prevent breakage & split ends
Wear protective or low manipulation styles 3-5x a week (I LOVE trying new things with my hair so this will be tough!)
Take a hair growth aide or multivitamin if you choose to benefit the health & growth of your hair & body (Discuss this with your physician to see if this is appropriate for you & your health)
ALWAYS protect your hair at night with a silk/satin scarf and/or bonnet. Sleeping with a satin pillowcase will be beneficial as well.
Eat a healthy diet, eliminating fast food and as many processed foods as possible (I totally need to do this anyway! Will do my best HOWEVER Thanksgiving and Christmas are off limits! lol!)
Exercise at least 2-3x a week, whether it’s walking, running, jogging, aerobics, etc. Do something that will get your heart pumping & get your blood flow circulating. (Yep! Totally need to do this more consistently too!)
Drink PLENTY of water (Another one!)
Keep your hands OUT of your hair when you’re not styling or massaging it (Challenge!)
Every day, look in the mirror at yourself & say a positive affirmation about yourself to motivate yourself. (Critical for embracing my Be You Beauty!)
Take a picture of your hair before starting this challenge. At the end of every other month, take a picture and do a length check to track how your hair is coming along. Post a picture to the Wall whenever you are making progress for your encouragement and others encouragement & inspiration as well.
Periodically post how much growth you’ve had.

Anyone want to join me??!! What would be your goal for a 6 month growth challenge?

SELF LOVE

Go get pampered woman!

October 5, 2013 writtenintentions Leave a comment

“When was the last time you pampered yourself?” I asked myself this question and completely ran a blank. Between my 9 to 5 and home life I have not really taken any time for myself. Good old meaningful self love me time. Time that I can just relax my body and mind. Time to get pampered. I’d have to say that I am overdo. Am I floating lonely or is any body else in this same boat? I spend 10 hours of my days on a marketing grind at work, thinking up strategies, putting out fires, trying to execute against ridiculous time lines…blah, blah, blah. Then for AT LEAST 3 hours of the day I’m answering the same timeless sweet call “Mommy!”. Love my baby boy to pieces but omgeee! Then I’m trying to get in some genuine QT family time, followed by hubby time and then…it’s repeat time. Oh, and of course there are my few quick 10 minute breaks I use to chat it up with Jesus or escape into my next blog or YouTube concept.

Yep! That’s my life. Pretty awesome actually. But it’s definitely time for some pampering, after all…you can’t take care of anything or anyone else if you don’t take care of yourself first right?

Pampering yourself is a big part of self-care that easily gets lost in between being a mom, wife and building a career. Most women do these three things on overtime, pretty much all the time. So, something has to be done. I have got to schedule some time to love on myself. A massage, facial, spa treatment….something! So, this is my official mental note….it’s time to get pampered woman! And if you’re overdo too…that also goes for you! Do what you need to do in order to keep BEING YOU.

TJ Luvs Being Natural