3LRCHALLENGE: Product Review: Belle Butters Unyevu Butter

Hey Guys,

I heard about this product like from Hey Fran Hey on YouTube, and let’s just I found the best body butter ever made. Here are a few details about the product:

 

 

Unyevu (oon-yay-vu) is Swahili for moisture.

This awesome butter is filled with ingredients that will help promote moisturized skin, flexible skin and healthier hair.

I used a super combo of butters: Shea, mango and avocado. I then added neem oil which helps relieved an irritated scalp thickens hair and removes dandruff. Apricot kernel oil is rich in vitamins A and E and sunflower oil retains moisture and is an emollient for the skin.

The neem oil in this butter has a very nutty scent, paired with the fragrance oil used; the overall smell is earthy, a little musky and ending with amber.

Default price is for 4oz

4oz., $14, and 16oz is $26

Ingredients: Shea butter, raw pressed mango butter, refined avocado butter, apricot kernel oil, neem oil, sunflower oil, fragrance, vitamin E (preservative)

www.bellebutters.com

Pros:

·         This butter is a super light and rich moisturizing butter

·         It smells heavenly, I can’t get enough of the smell

·         It works wonders on dry skin.

·         It is not greasy, and easily absorbs into the skin

·         It can be used on both the hair and body, I use it just on my body because I can just sit and smell my body all day. Lol no seriously I love the smell

·         Helps soothe itchy skin

·         A permanent member of my body products as long as it is produced.

Cons:

·         It is pricey

 

Final Thoughts:

I absolutely love this product. It is very moisturizing, smells divine, and although it is a bit on the pricey side a little goes a long way. I will definitely be re-purchasing once I run out, and I’ll probably use this product as long as it is being produced. I definitely recommend this product. Tasha, the owner, also has a range of skin and hair care products so be sure to check out her website, and enjoy.


XOXO

Bella Joya

3LRCHALLENGE WRAP UP REFLECTIONS.

Hey guys,

We finally made it to the end of the 3 month protective style challenge, and I for one am very excited to get back to wearing my hair out. The weird thing is that I have gotten so used to my hair being in protective style that now all I can think of is er…… what do I do to my hair??? (Insert confused face / a feeling of doom and confusion). I am very eager however to get back to playing with my hair and experimenting and all that goo hair goodness. The protective style challenge was great for me and as much as I am excited I don’t think I retained as much length as I would have liked to retain but I reckon its more an experience and a lesson on patience and learning how to take care of my hair.

Highlights of the 3 month

·         I discovered a new go to hairstyle, loose twists, I love them and these will probably replace my mini twists

·         I got to experiment with styling my hair, up-dos and buns

·         Although I was super busy with work and a bunch of things I have going on I found time to train for my run and I completed my first half marathon!!!! Whoop I am excited for the next one

·         I drank a lot of water and I ate healthy with the occasional cheat means

·         I joined a friend’s push up challenge and completed 1,000 push-ups during the month of October.

·         I was busy at work ,and the protective styles were a life saver.  

Lowlights:

·         I did horrible with moisturizing, hides face, I actually went 2 weeks without putting water on my hair, I mean who does that.,, I have to do better

·         I did not try out as many new products as I thought I would mostly because I wasn’t washing my hair as often, and when I did wash my hair, I was testing out my own hair products

·         I missed playing in my hair a few times

·         I stopped taking the multi-vitamins after a couple of weeks, I had a lot going on and I wasn’t exercising as much as I wanted.

 

Here are the after pictures as well as comparison.

 



Left side is before, right side is after; this is where all the lenght retention happened it seems.



Left side is before, right side is after



Left side is before, right side is after, I almost dont see a difference but its actually there..lol



Left side is before, right side is after, it doesnt look like much growth.. oh well



Left side is before, right side is after; i dont see a difference in the back which is very strange because my back usually grows faster than the front



Left side is before, right side is after



After



Left side is before, right side is after

After comparing my before and after pictures, I realized my hair was not as stretched out in the after pictures as it was in the before pictures so it’s likely that’s why it appears I did not retain as much length. I thought I would be disappointed if I did not retain as much length but I realized it doesn’t really matter to me. In the end what matters was that I was able to learn more about my hair, take better care of it, and also commit to something and see it through till the end. I am already looking forward to the next 3LRCHALLENGE.

What was your 3LRCHALLENEG experience like? What were some of your high points and low points?

To see Tega’s final thoughts on the challenge, make sure to check out her reflection post

XOXO

Bella Joya



3LRCHALLENGE: Favorite Leave-in Conditioners, and home made deep conditioner

Hey Guys,

Here are a list of my favorite leave-in conditioners

1.       Curl Junkie ’curl assurance smoothing lotion’ conditioner

 

2.       Eden body works peppermint leave in conditioner

 

3.       Tukka Naturals ‘Koko du lait’ leave in conditioner

 

4.       Karen’s body beautiful ‘sweet ambrosia’  leave in conditioner 

 

 

Check out my post on my favorite home made deep conditioner recipe here

 

Check out Tega's list of favorite leave in conditioners   

XOXO

Bella Joya
 

3LRCHALLENGE: SEPTEMBER WEEKLY GIVEAWAY WINNERS

 

 

The Weekly Give away winners for the month of September are:

1. @dmarie789
2. @bailarparati
3. @princesslush
4. @eneni

Send us an email to  hairchallenge@live.com with your contact information to claim your prizes.

Make sure to follow us @3lrchallenge.
To find out the September Monthly Giveaway Winner check the link here


XOXO

Bella Joya

3LRCHALLENGE: PORTION CONTROL TIPS

A Quick Guide to Understanding Portion Control

Portion control in relation to food intake refers to understanding how much food is being consumed in a meal as well as nutrition information, and benefits provided by the foods being consumed. Portion control is usually seen as important for weight management because it incorporates eating a healthy balance of different food types, and balancing extreme over eating and extreme under eating.

Tips:

1.       Each meal should have fruits, veggies, protein and then carbs. So split your plate into half and fill that half with fruits and veggies, and then the other half should be split into two quarters, one for protein and one for carbs. For example, potatoes in one quarter, steak in another quarter and then half filled with fruits and a salad.

 

 

 

2.       Try not to skip out on meals, because what happens is when you skip out on meals we tend to over eat when we are starving. Eat a minimum of 3 meals a day, and you can incorporate healthy snacks in between meals.

 

 

3.       Most adults need only about 2000 calories a day so try to keep an eye out on the calories in each meal so you know what food items are higher in calories.

4.       It is better to consume 100 calories of fruits and veggies than it is to consume 100 calories of pastry. You don’t want to fill yourself up with unhealthy and empty calories.

5.       Use smaller plates, we are more likely to fill up a big plate and eat all the food on it, so if the plate is smaller we end up eating less

 

 

6.       Incorporate a variety of different food into your meals so you don’t get bored.

7.       The more colorful your plate the more beneficial it is

8.       Drink water while eating, as it tends to make for full and you are less likely to go back for a second plate

9.       Avoid eating out a of box or bag, and instead measure out servings onto a plate, that way you only eat what is on the plate as opposed to over eating from the bag

10.   When you do treat yourself to ice cream or chips try to limit your indulgence to one serving (the containers will list what one serving is)

Handy-Dandy Portion size Chart

 

Note: I am not a health expert but merely sharing tips and ideas. Make sure that if you do adapt any of these into your lifestyle you consult a doctor or a health professional to ensure you are adapting these correctly into your lifestyle.

Be sure to check out any missed posts and Tega’s blog for more health and beauty tips.

XOXO

Bella Joya

 

 

 

3LRCHALLENGE: POWER LEGS WORK-OUT ROUTINE

Hey Guys,

Say hello to toned and scuplted legs with these leg workout variations. Try one, or try all of them

 

Set 1

2*10 jump squats

2*10 lunges

2*10 burpees

2*10 squats

50 jumping jacks

(Repeat 2x)

Burpee

Set 2

2*20 duck squats

2*20 knee highs

2*20 walking lunges

2*30 second wall sits

50 knee highs

(Repeat 2x)

Set 3

2* 10 box jumps

2*10 sumo squats

2*10 calf raises

2*10 plank lifts

50 lunge knee hops

Plank Lift

 

Feel free to adjust or modify this to your fitness level, and make sure to grab a friend to help you stay motivated and keep exercise exciting

XOXO

Bella Joya

3LRCHALLENGE: DE-TANGLING WITH A COMB

Hey Guys,

Detangling curly hair can be a nightmare, but these easy steps can make the task a little less daunting

TOOLS NEEDED:

·         Wide tooth comb

·         Spray bottle with water

·         Conditioner with slip e.g. suave naturals, Tresseme

·         Clips for sectioning

 

STEPS:

1.       Part hair into workable sections

2.       Spray each section with 3-4 pumps of water, to get each section damp and workable

3.       One section at a time, work about 2-3 pumps of conditioner into the entire length of hair

4.       Hold the hair in one hand, and then gradually comb out the tangles from the ends to the roots.

5.       Twist up or Bantu knot each section once done, and clip away

6.       Work through the entire head, and once completed rinse out conditioner

TIP: I usually rinse out my conditioner in section, making sure to pull the hair down with one hand, while using the other hand to move the hair around so the water can rinse out all the conditioner. This prevents the hair from getting tangled again.

For tips on how to finger detangle check out my co-host Tega’s post, and if you are not yet subscribed to the 3LRCHALLENGE be sure to click the link for information and prior news letters.

XOXO

Bella Joya

 

3LRCHALLENGE: MY TOP 3 FAVORITE OILS FOR NATURAL HAIR

3 FAVORITE OILS FOR NATURAL HAIR

Coconut Oil:

Coconut oil is extracted from the kernel or meat of the coconut plan tree. It can be consumed in foods and in topical use. It is known to bind with the protein structure of the hair which reinforces the hair and allows the hair retain moisture better

COCONUT OIL

 

·         It is a light non greasy oil that is easily absorbed on the skin

·         It helps to reduce frizz and dandruff

·         It is great for pre-pooing, and oil treatments and helps to condition the hair leaving it shiny

·         It is great for the nails

·         Mixes well with other products for a deep conditioning treatment

·         The smell is not offensive or overpowering, and doesn’t linger

·         Rich in vitamin E which plays helps promote hair growth

·         Anti-fungal properties, and helps to reduce dandruff and other scalp irritations

·         It does not leave residue on the hair

Shea Butter: 

Is an ivory/yellow colored fat from the nut of the African Shea tree. It is popular in the cosmetic industry and it known to protect the hair from heat, and UV rays. It also possesses some anti-inflammatory properties.

SHEA BUTTER

SHEA NUT

·         It is a great sealant and does a good job of sealing in moisture without leaving my hair greasy

·         It can also be used on the skin, and is known to help reduce skin irritation and scars

·         It is rich in fatty acids which is great for the skin

·         Rich in vitamin A and E

·         Helps protect against heat and has a small amount of SPF

Extra Virgin Olive Oil:

Is obtained from the olive tree, and is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, soaps and as fuel.. It is known to ward off fungi and bacteria, improve blood circulation and is rich in antioxidants which help protect the scalp.

OLIVE OIL

 

·         Is a light oil and doesn’t leave buildup

·         Works well as a sealant and doesn’t irritate the scalp

·         Good for adding shine, and can be used for hot oil treatments, and

·         Helps fight dandruff

Note: Feel free to mix and match these oils together

XOXO

Bella Joya

 

3LRCHALLENGE: TIGHTENING THAT CORE

Hey Guys,

Here is to working and improving that core.. Say hello to your new abs.

SET 1

·         30 SECOND PLANK

·         30 CRUNCHES

·         30 BICYCLE CRUNCHES

·         30 SECOND PLANK

·         30 SECOND WALL SIT

 SET 2

·         20 TOE TOUCHES

·         20 RUSSIAN TWISTS

·         20 MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS

·         20 SECOND LEFT SIDE PLANK

·         20 SECOND RIGHT SIDE PLANK

SET3

·         10 BURPEES

·         10 SIT UPS

·         10 SECOND SPRINT

·         10 BRIDGES

·         10 LEG RAISES

If you want to challenge yourself a bit more, try to complete the exercise routine twice. 

Check out HangTightwMarC for more core workouts such as this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2em4zHD_2g

Turn to google for any of the exercises you are unfamiliar with..  

 

XOXO


Bella Joya

3LRCHALLENGE: 1 month down 2 to go

Hey guys,

We are done with month 1 of the 3LRCHALLENGE, I hope you guys are all sticking through and excited for the next month. 

A few updates.. 

August Winner: Congratulations to the August giveaway winner Lauren Davis

 

September Giveaway: For more information on the September Plank Challenge click

Weekly Giveaways: Congrats to Tasha Harris our picture challenge weekly giveaway winner.
There are still many more giveaways throughout the duration of the challenge. To learn more click the link

 

 

If you missed any of our prior newsletters be sure to subscribe by registering here

 

Make sure to check Miss Tegas Blog

 

 

XOXO

 

Bella Joya

3LRCHALLENGE: 10 REASONS TO DRINK MORE WATER

Hey Guys,


We all hear that water is important but just in case you were wondering exactly why, here a 10 reasons to drink more water.

1.      The body is made up of about 60% water, which helps regulate body temperature, transport nutrients in the body, digestion, and circulation to name a few. Replenishing the water in the body, which is lost through breathing, sweating, urinating and bowel movement, helps to ensure the body carries out its functions properly.

2.      Water helps to transport all the toxins, and waste produced by the body out of the body. A quick way to check if you are hydrated is by the color of your urine, if its light yellow/pale/clear in color then you are hydrated but if its dark yellow/orange and has a strong smell you know you need more water.

3.      Lack of water leads to dehydration, which is when your body does not have enough fluids to carry out its daily functions.

4.      Drinking water helps to fill up the stomach and reduce hunger while at the same time increasing your metabolism.

5.      Water has zero calories.

6.      Proper hydration keeps the joints and muscles well lubricated which reduces the likelihood of pain/soreness.

7.      Water helps improve skin elasticity, and leaves the skin moisturized.

8.      Water can help prevent headaches.

9.      Water helps reduce fatigue during exercise, and reduces recovery time

10.  Water helps to regulate the body temperature.

8 ounces a day is a good starting point

Note: Please make sure to consult your doctor before engaging in physical activity.

Be Sure to visit Tega's Blog for more Hair, Health and Beauty tips

XOXO

 

Bella Joya