Self-Care Tips For Looking & Feeling Great This Winter


Self-Care Tips For Looking & Feeling Great This Winter
Come winter, we all need a little extra care. Not only because of the impact of the cold weather on our skin and hair, but also because of its impact on our moods and mental health. Studies have shown that the colder winter months tend to be the time that there are the highest amount of cases of depression. This is linked to the fact that weather is colder and the nights are longer. Bearing that in mind, below are a few self-care tips to ensure that your skin and hair stay looking good all winter. Because when you look good, you feel good.

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For perfect skin:

The combination of cold winter weather and constantly keeping our home’s heating on can have a big impact on our skin. It can dry it out, cause soreness and irritation, and can even lead to outbreaks of acne.

To keep your skin looking and feeling good in the colder winter weather, moisturising is a must. As part of your daily skincare regime, aim to moisturise at least twice a day. While face creams can work well, oils can sometimes be a better option because they are able to penetrate deeper into the skin’s layers. The best oils to use tend to be coconut oil and shea butter.

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It’s also a good idea to remove any dead, dry skin, by exfoliating twice a week before applying moisturiser. It’s best to use natural products for this, such as homemade coffee scrubs or salt scrubs. As the chemicals found in some unnatural products can make the skin even more prone to drying out.

It’s no secret that a lot of us have visible facial hair on our upper lips, chins, and sometimes cheeks. Unlike on men, beards and moustaches just don’t look right on us ladies. So most of the time we choose to remove facial hair. One of the most common methods of doing so is via waxing as it’s quick, easy, and offers long-lasting results. However, if you’ve got thick, dark hair, it can leave visible marks on your skin, where the hair has been ripped from the follicle. Which is why hair removal creams, like Vaniqa, can be a better option. You can order Vaniqa cream online, as well as various other hair removal creams. This includes ones made especially for sensitive skin.

For beautiful hair:

Come winter, hair can dry out, split, or even break off if it doesn’t get the proper care. That’s why it’s so important that you do everything that you can to take care of your hair during the colder winter months.

To protect your locks from the elements - wind, rain, etc., wear a hat when outdoors. If you’re worried about damage being caused to your hair by the hat rubbing against it, put your hair in a bun and wrap a silk scarf around. Then, pop your hat of choice on top.

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It’s also a good idea to deep condition your hair once a week during the winter months. This helps to prevent split ends and dryness from developing. This will replenish the amount of moisture your hair has, helping to keep it healthier. Another option could be to apply hair oil to the ends of your hair each morning after you’ve styled it. This will lock in moisture and help to ensure that your hair doesn’t dry out.



So there you have it, everything that you need to know about achieving beautiful skin and hair this winter.


Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity
Leilu
(in collaboration with other writers)

Rise of the Skin and Hair Drinks


Rise of the Skin and Hair Drinks
From the beginning of time, woman has relied on natural grown food to provide all the nutrition that her body would ever need but it has only been in relatively recent times that we have seen a trend towards consuming special, healthy ‘drinks’ to improve the quality of our skin and hair. 
Using organically grown produce was just the way things were done until in the late 19th century when a number of factors, including a rapid rise in urbanization meant that people stopped producing their own food and started relying more on mass produced foods instead. 

While very necessary and convenient, this would eventually end up causing people to consume more and more processed foods and less fresh ones. At the same time knowledge of food as medicine; what kinds of foods to eat to fight many health conditions, promote overall wellness and improve specific problems, that was passed down from generation to generation became very difficult to come by.  
The good news is that what once was old has become new again and within the last few years, we have rediscovered the benefits of consuming raw or unprocessed foods and vegetables to improve nutrition and overall health.  
Juicing, the process of either blending or extracting juice from fruits and vegetables have become extremely popular and a subsection of the juicing industry has focused on juices and nutritional drinks to improve the hair and skin.   
The term ‘nutricosmetics’ is often used to describe this resurgence of nutrition based drinks for the hair and skin. Nutricosmetics come in many varieties, including drinks, and many claim to reverse the visible signs of ageing skin when consumed on a regular basis. 


Some Fruits & Vegetables for Great Skin & Hair 
Natural juices, and by this we mean raw and not the processed store bought varieties, work because they detoxify organs like the liver that allows it to function better.  When organs are functioning at optimal levels, they quickly rid the body of toxins that cause problem skin and problems with the hair.  
The juices also deliver all the necessary vitamins and minerals, nourishing your cells so that your skin and hair will look great.  Below are a few fruits and vegetables that you can try juicing and see for yourself the effect they have on your skin and hair.
Carrots
Carrots are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and when consumed regularly, may bring about an improvement in the skin’s texture and the skin may appear smoother.
Cucumber
Cucumber contains several antioxidant nutrients and trace minerals.  It’s a very hydrating vegetable good and it’s known for improving the skin’s softness and strengthening hair and nails.  
Apples 
Apples are rich in antioxidant flavonoids and in addition to providing a myriad of benefits, it is also said to reduce the risk of skin cancer. 
Kale
Kale is one of the most nutrient dense foods available and contains numerous cancer fighting compounds.  
Tomatoes
The tomato is actually a fruit, not a vegetable. They have a high level of lycopene, which protects the skin and it’s also good for heart health.
Are there any other fruits and veggies that you have used to make ‘drinks’ for your skin and /or hair? We would love to know all about them so please share with us!


There are also retail drinks for those who would like to purchase a drink that advertises glowing skin and longer hair & nails as results.

Skinade
Skinade™ is the next-generation liquid food supplement that boosts your body's natural collagen production and improves the way your skin looks in as little as 30 days.




Available here



ShiShake
A hair drink, promising longer stronger hair. Unfortunately we were unable to find more information about this particular product but will let you know when we know more.




Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity 

Seven Beautiful Autumn Hairstyles for Weaves or Blown Out Hair

Guest Post: Seven Beautiful Autumn Hairstyles for Weaves or Blown Out Hair

Black hair is generally textured and curly and can be styled differently in the Autumn to get classy looks to make you look more beautiful and stylish. As black hair is classified as wavy, curly and kinky, getting the desired Autumn look is all the more fun as you can experiment with your own hair  or protective styles like weaves and can get stylish. Thus, I have come up with seven top Autumn hairstyles for black hair that would enhance the natural beauty of the women who wear them and make them flaunt their hair with confidence.

Seven Beautiful Autumn Hairstyles for Straight Hair 
Black hair can be styled differently for the Autumn season as there are plenty of hairstyles that can add a glam quotient to your personality and style. Moreover, you need to choose a hairstyle according to your face cut and features to get the desired look. So, let’s have a close look at the top 7 Autumn hairstyles for Black Hair.

It is precisely significant to reveal that the most happening look of black hair in Autumn is going to be a stylish bob cut that makes you look your best with aplomb. Moreover, you can make it look more stylish with the option of having the bouncy side bang that would complete your entire look to perfection. In fact, a bob cut with a massive bang adds to the sleek look and lets you flaunt your classy style. Along with this, you can also opt for layering the textured bob cut which would get you looking like a real diva.

The long loose curls are one of the most preferred hairstyles for black hair in the Autumn as this hairstyle virtually suits all face shapes and requires the use of a flat iron or a curling iron. In fact, the long loose curls are considered suitable for any occasion to make you appear more classy and dignified with inherent charm.


Black women with short hair can opt for the pixie cut this Autumn and can get it styled with purple colour. In fact, the pixie look is heightened with a glam quotient if you experiment with a dark purple colour and get the desired outcomes.

This short and sassy hairstyle is always a preferred choice for black women and won’t go out of fashion owing to its simple yet trendy looks. This short and sassy hairstyle can be styled with spikes in the middle section of the hair accompanied with short side sleek to get the flawless look.

The long pixie cut is yet another fantastic hairstyle that is going to be the trend for the Autumn 2016 as it requires long bangs and fullness particularly in the crown area to get the desired look. Moreover, it is highly suitable for all face shapes, and you can have this hairstyle with incredible perfection to get the powerful yet stylish look to perfection.

6. A Classic Blown Out
The classic blown out hair do is a sleek hairstyle that is one of the popular choices among black women. It is just elegant and adds to the glamorous touch of your personality to get the desired look to perfection. Moreover, it remains to be one of the preferred choices of the black women in the fashion industry as it makes you look effortlessly stylish with remarkable results.

The shaved side style look is considered as one of the most sought after look of the younger black women as it lends a great style quotient to whoever carries it. Moreover, it is designed for young women who desire to show their tough personality to the world and have strong ideals. Furthermore, it is ideally suitable for all face shapes and gives a classy and edgy look to the one who wears this look with confidence and grace.


In a nutshell, it can be seen that these seven hairstyle for Autumn bring out the latest hairstyles for women who desire to look their best with style and grace. Moreover, the Autumn hairstyles are a fun way to experiment with your looks and add style to your hair to make you look more beautiful and charming. So, get your favourite Autumn look by just choosing one of the hairstyles as mentioned above and get ready to rock the world with incredible confidence, grace, and style. 

Author Bio: Hi guys. My name is Miranda, and I am a professional hairstylist based in New York. I have been in the fashion industry for the past 10 years and have been graced to work with the some of the top ranking professionals in the field. For the latest information on the top hair straighteners, styling tips and more, check out my hair straightener reviews.

Why You Should Start Co-washing If You Aren’t Already




 Why You Should Start Co-washing If You Aren’t Already

The wave that caused the natural hair revolution brought with it many perks and innovations. Some came and went as quickly as the summer sun but others, like the current co-washing trend, seem to be here for the long run. Naturalistas all over the world have embraced this new hair care trend. If you haven't started co-washing as yet, here’s why you should get on this train.

What is co-washing? 
Co-washing is essentially a conditioner only washing technique. This method, also known as the curly girl method, is where you skip shampooing and use a regular conditioner or a cleansing conditioner to wash your hair. The co-washing method is a part of the “no-poo movement” which is in essence a challenge to take shampoo out of your hair regimen. There are other techniques in the no-poo movement that provide safer ways to wash your hair with substitutes for shampooing. Co-washing is has become the go-to technique for many naturalistas, because it cleanses and simultaneously provides hydration.

How does it work?
So, how does it work? The idea might sound a bit crazy, because we know that shampoos clarify, so how does co-washing really work for your hair? Many shampoos contain harsh chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulfate and parabens, which are good for clarifying and stripping hair but unfortunately can make hair dry due to the loss of essentials oils. Conditioners generally have cleansing agents but they also provide moisture.

Benefits
One of the major benefits found in co-washing is its ability to help hair retain moisture. This is because unlike shampoos, conditioners don’t strip your hair of its natural oils, this helps to keep hair soft and shiny and for many naturals it prevents breakage. Another benefit of co-washing is that it makes detangling quick and easy, a good conditioner that provides a lot of slippage will have you combing through your hair with ease. Co-washing also helps to cut down on the time spent washing your hair, and we all know wash days can be long. Traditionally, naturals shampoo at least twice then move on to conditioning, now you can skip to the conditioning and save time. 

How to co-wash
  • Apply a generous amount of conditioner to scalp and hair
  • Massage scalp and gently distribute conditioner on your hair shaft
  • Rinse

*Optional (you can add a natural oil while conditioning, this will make hair extra soft and you can also leave the conditioner and oil in for a few minutes, to ensure they penetrate the hair shaft)


Our Advice
Many naturalistas have joined the no-poo movement, but when it comes to our natural hair we are all different. Co-washing may or may not be the right thing for you. Learn about your own hair and its needs. For persons who might have dermatitis, for example, co-washing alone might not be sufficient. Generally speaking however co-washing is a good technique to add to your hair regimen as it adds moisture and who doesn’t love moisture?

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity 
Zunammie K.