Beauty Review: Shea Moisture Creme Concealer

Loves! It’s Monday, it’s May, and I’m back! I could start this post and go into where I’ve been this last week or so but I don’t even want to relive the craziness that was me waiting to pick up my Macbook from being repaired. It. Got. Real. I’d rather just jump right in and put all that behind me :). What better way to get back into things this week than with a beauty review! I’ve been trying and testing and trying some more and here it is finally! My first review of the Shea Moisture makeup line!

Natural Hair | New Style: Marley Bun

Natural Hair | Beyond The Regimen: Wash Day

I still can’t believe we’re in the anniversary month of my natural hair journey. Man, what a difference a year makes! Don’t worry, I have a complete post with pictures, details, thoughts and more on this milestone. Y’all know I get deep when it comes to the crown so it’s only right ;). Coming up on 1 year since I began my journey got me thinking back and reflecting on those beginning stages. All the research, and blog stalking. The countless hours I spent trying to figure out the best way to go about it. Not to mention the abundance of hair products I consumed while trying to figure this whole thing out. The hardest part in the beginning was building a regimen that would work FOR ME. There are so many out there it was easy to get lost. I’m sure I not alone and I thought I’d to do a mini series on my regimen and really get into WHY I do what I do, use what I use, and the thought process behind it all.

Vintage Natural | What Are We Teaching Our Sons?

*VINTAGE NATURAL post from This Brown Queen originally posted in June 2013*

As most of you know, I’m about 2 months into my journey of transitioning to natural hair and I have my good days and bad. I think it’s safe to assume that, anyone who has been on this journey experiences moments in the beginning where you’re just not sure. Not sure about a lot things. If you’re me, your unsureness would go something like: Am I using the right products? Will this leave in work? Did I do those twists right? Does this bantu knot look nice? Do I look crazy? Why am I doing this? Whatever the case may be, you go through it. This past weekend, I was having a particularly rough time with my twist out. I’m somewhere between the point where, I “like” my natural texture, but I still don’t really know how to handle it. I’m wishing that I could just NOT have the relaxed ends anymore because they make me frustrated. I find myself trying out styles and loving the natural curl pattern at the root and just being utterly disappointed at how my relaxed ends just don’t hold up. BUT I still can’t really grasp the idea of cutting it all off. It’s a catch 22 I tell ya.

Natural Hair | As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner Review

Happy Friday Queens! I can’t believe next month…well tomorrow (how is it already March?!) is the one year anniversary of my returning to natural journey. I remember last year being in such an unsure place with all the products and regimens and everything else that comes along with being a natural girl. My my how things have changed ;). Now, here I am one year in and 3 months post big chop! I’m finally in a place where I’m still learning every day but am now able to share some of my knowledge that I’ve gained along the way. It’s been an incredible journey to say the least and I can’t wait to share my reflection post with you guys next month! But today, we’re reviewing a product that has become a STAPLE in my routine. This right here is my crowns bff for real! The As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner is is simply amazing!

Natural Hair | Regimen & Style Update!

Heyy loves! It’s been a little while since I’ve posted about my hair and I wanted to check in with all my lovely naturalistas! Let ya’ll know what’s been up and fill you in on how I’ve been maintaining my crown. For those of you who’ve been following my journey, you’d know that back in November I ended my transition and cut my hair. If you haven’t been following definitely read about my big chop and my initial thoughts!

Hair Diaries | Embracing Natural

Hello my lovely queens. So I’m about two weeks post big chop and the feelings of “what in the world did I just do” are finally subsiding. At the end of the day loves…it’s just hair. Or is it?

Chopping all your damn hair off is a pretty monumental moment. I mean, hair, as I referred to it in my last post, is your crown and glory. And people regard it as such. Not just for us naturals but for everyone. We spend millions on hair products whether it’s shea butter, relaxer, or brazilian remi, we take great pride in our hair. So to cut it…all…it’s a bold move. I had a come to Jesus moment staring at my reflection and kinky hair. There is no hiding at that moment queens. This is you.

What were my thoughts? Oh I touched on everything from what hashtag I can use on my instagram pics to dreaming of going to Africa. I’m weird like that though…my mind tends to wander. But in all honesty it got deep. Somewhere between what would people say, and I how I could explain my decision…I got to thinking. What am I defending? The natural hair that grows out of my head? My thinking that kinky hair is MY beautiful?  I didn’t have to put chemicals in my hair, or iron it bone straight to fit a standard of beauty that was not me.

It got deeper though. I started to realize how crazy this whole thing really was. When I really started to think about it, it was upsetting. Why did brown women chemically relax and straighten our hair? Why was straight hair something to be admired and kinky hair frowned upon? Why are we changing who we are in order to feel beautiful? I thought about so many phrases and things people have said over my life in regards to hair. What’s “good” hair, and how to make your hair “look nice”. According to what standard though was the question. I concluded that it honestly didn’t matter. The hair that I was given WAS good. The way my hair grew from its roots LOOKED NICE. Period.

This is a journey, as you’ve probably heard many of us making the return to natural say. It’s a process that doesn’t end after you cut those last relaxed ends off. Honestly for me…it was actually just the beginning. Embracing my natural hair.

Peace, Love, & Blessings

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Hair Files | As I Am Leave In Conditioner

My loves! I hope you are all gearing up for Thanksgiving tomorrow! I’m so excited! I’m a sucker for all things related to Thanksgiving & Christmas. I mean there’s family and gifts and food and love and gahh!! So very much to be thankful for this and every day :D! Today I have a review for you and it isn’t a typical one for me. Ya’ll know I usually do makeup reviews but this natural crown of mines has me expanding my horizons so that meanssss more products to review for my queens! My product obsession is for ya’ll. For you <3. See what I did there? 😉

To start my new journey, of course I had to do some shopping. It’s only right. This IS a celebration after all. So I went on a mini haul to develop my new natural hair arsenal. While I’m still trying and testing new products, there was one that stood out to me. So much so that I’ve been using nearly every day. And when something is that good…ya’ll need to know about it! Cue As I Am Leave In Conditioner.

Here’s what the lovely people at As I Am say:

This natural wonder keeps tangles away and provides a great foundation for natural styling. It contains an organic strengthening agent, plus natural ingredients that promote hair growth.

Here’s what This Brown Queen says:

Man listen. It’s not everyday that I’m this excited over a hair product. This crown is picky. She don’t like anybody or anything. I’ve only found like one or two other products that I actually say my hair LOVES and this is one of them! It is absolutely divine. It provides great slip for detangling. Is the perfect leave in after cleansing your hair. And works wonders as daily moisturizer. Triple threat for real!

My crown is love, love, loving this leave in and that makes THIS brown queen a very happy natural! If you haven’t tried it, I suggest you go do that! Get yours at most stores like Target, Rite Aid, or online.

Try it and let me know how it works! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Peace, Love, & Blessings

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Hair Love | Transitioning No More

Hello loves! Today’s post is dedicated to my crown (I like the way that sounds 😉 )…also known as…my hair. For my new loves and old ones who have wondered what’s happened, let’s catch up shall we? I officially started my transition to natural hair in March. My initial plan was to transition for a year. I salute all you naturalistas that were able to big chop from the door but I was not ready for all of that! So I thought a year would give me enough time to grow my hair to what I thought would be a comfortable length. My transition was…”rocky” to say the least. You can read allll about my trials  and recent triumphs here. But I was determined and I’m not the kinda girl who gives up so I was going to do this. Around the six month mark (September) I started getting antsy. I mean not only was I thoroughly over the transition, I felt myself really straddling the fence on the whole thing altogether. Either I was going to DO this or I wasn’t. After weeks of failing twist outs, major breakage, and sad scraggly ends, I made my decision. I couldn’t do this anymore. While standing in front of mirror this past Saturday night. I did it. I big chopped.  I had finally returned to natural.

The first question I was asked was “So, how do you feel?” How DID I feel. I mean, I just chopped my hair off. All of it. I have maybe 3 solid inches of hair on my head. How do I feel?? Crazy. But liberated. It is gone. Those last strands of hair signified so much. Holding on to my previous images and thoughts of beauty. Holding on to the last part of security I really had when it came to my hair. This whole thing is way bigger than one simple little post. I have a million thoughts and feelings post big chop that I can’t wait to share with you all. From my thoughts on hair typing to my husbands overwhelming support of this all. I’ll be visiting those topics later and also adding more natural hair posts in general featuring my updated regimen, styles, new products, and more. For now, I’ll get it to it and let you guys get a sneak peek (and the very first introduction ever) of my baby fro. I like her <3.

I’m a natural girl now…what does that even mean? Am I part of #sheabutter Twitter? LOL you see where my priorities lie.

Peace, Love, & Blessings

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Hair Crush | My Natural Loves

Happy Thursday Queens! My post earlier this week on my transition has me feeling all types of inspirational. My renewed sense of determination has me floating and I’m gonna bask in it as long as I possibly can. Or…at least until wash day. Oh wash day *sigh*. Anyway take a look a some of the most gawjus brown beauties to rock a natural crown like no other. I think I’m in loveeee.

In no particular order: The love of my life Erykah Badu, sister in my head Solange, the gorgeous Chrisette Michele, my best friend but she oeno Janelle Monae, my girlfriend Tracee Ellis Ross, and my favorite model everrr Yaya Dacosta <333

Happy Thursday Queens!

Peace, Love, & Blessings

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