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: 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: 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

3LRCHALLENGE: STYLING TWISTS/BRAIDS FOR WORK

Here are a few different ways I have worn my twists/braids  to work

 

Top Side Bun



Top Side Bun

twisted Up-do



Loose twists

Twisted Up-do on Havana Twists

High Bun on Havana twists

Twisted Up-do on Havana Twists

Braided Back

2-Strand Twists pulled back with hair bands

Low Side Ponytail

Twisted Up-do

Flat Twisted 2-Strand Twists

Be Sure to check out Tega's blog, she has a few tutorials on how she styled her loose twists

XOXO

 

Bella Joya

3LRCHALLENGE: Meal Prep 101

Hey Guys,

 

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle by eating properly and exercising is one of the goals for the 3LRCHALLENGE. To help with achieving that goal I will be featuring some health and fitness articles that will help us out and make it a little easier to eat properly and exercise. The first of these features is the idea of Meal Prepping.

 

Meal Prep 101

 

When trying to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, one of the challenges a lot of people face is sticking to the meal plan. With all the things that go on in our daily life it is usually easy to eat out, or just eat what is available when you are hungry. A good way to combat this issue is my meal prepping. In other words setting a meal plan, and preparing in advance for it so you can stick to your meal plan. Meal prep allows you to cook food in advance so you take away that extra burden of cooking every day. A few basic steps to follow:

 

Plan and shop for Meals

· Write out a list of meals you plan to eat during the week

· Search the Internet or your favorite food blogs for recipes

· List all the ingredients that will be required to prepare your meals

· Allow for 1 or 2 cheat meals during the week

· Get Re-use able containers they are a good way to portion out each meal

· Plan what items you will freeze or store in the refrigerator

· Stock up on fruits, vegetables, nuts and things you can snack on

 

Prepare the Meals

·          Set aside about 2-3 hours every weekend for prepping meals

·          rinse and cut things like fruits and veggies, and note that most fruits and vegetables for smoothies can be cut up and frozen in Ziploc bags

·          Cook Batches of food that can be eaten multiple times during the week proteins, veggies and carbs (soups, baked chicken, baked fish, carrots, rice, broccoli, potatoes)

·          Portion out each meal for as far in advance as you want, e.g you can portion each food container with baked potatoes, veggies and chicken.

·          Considering your body needs and fitness regimen allow yourself about 5-6 meals during the day, with the major ones being breakfast, lunch and dinner, and then 2 or 3 snacks.

·          Snack options include fruit, nuts, veggies, salad.

·          Store your meals either in the refrigerator, or the freezer (most meals can easily be thawed the night before and heated up in the oven or microwave when needed)

·          don’t forget to stay hydrated.

 

I hope this information helps and don't forget to drop a comment if you have any issues or concerns.

 

My Co-host for the challenge Tega is also sharing lots of tips and helpful information on her blog so be sure to follow her blog Social Hermit

Follow us on twitter and instagram @3lrchallenge

If you are not yet subscribed to the challenge go to http://eepurl.com/B5eJPto register.

Our first newsletter is also posted here

https://us7.admin.mailchimp.com/campaigns/preview-content-html?id=59697#

If you missed our welcome email here is a link, http://eepurl.com/CVZmv

 

XOXO

Bella Joya

 

3LRCHALLENGE: KICK OFF

 

Hey Guys,

 

To start off the 3LRCHALLENGE, I decided to do a little introduction for all those who are new to my blog, and just answer some general questions about me, and my hair. I will also list out my regimen for the next 3 months, and show some 'before' pictures of my hair.

 

About Me:

My name is Adejoke, aka Bella Joya, a traveler/natural hair enthusiast/lover of good food. I work as a tax accountant by day, and spend my down time travelling, sampling meals from different parts of the world, and trying to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. I went natural because I was bored with my hair, and was ready to switch things up to something new and exciting. I have been natural for about 3 years and 3 months (Big Chop was April 17, 2010). My hair goal is to be waist length by April 17, 2015.

I am participating in the 3LRCHALLENGE because I want to see the effect protective styling has on my hair as far as length retention, and I am training for a half marathon, so I hope the health/fitness part of this challenge helps me stay focused and on track.

 

Hair Regimen:

The hair challenge happens to fall at a period of time where my work schedule is very hectic, so I would like to keep my regimen as simple as possible, because I know I will not have a lot of time to devote to styling my hair. The beauty of protective style is it allows me weeks at a go of not doing much to my hair besides moisturizing. I will be trying out some new products over the course of the challenge, but my regimen will stay simple and straightforward.

 

• · Week 1 and Week 3

oPre-poo with my personal hair oil blend (alternatives include coconut and olive oil)

oDe tangle: Using a cheap conditioner (Suave naturals, tresseme, etc.)

oWash: Using a shampoo or cleanser (crème of nature Argan oil shampoo and Tukka hair sulphate free shampoo)

oDeep Condition with heat wrap (homemade deep conditioning mix, Tukka hair deep conditioner, Eden body works coconut Shea deep conditioner)

oMoisturize: Leave-in conditioner (Oyin handmade, Eden body works, Tukka hair, personal hibiscus refreshing spray)

oSeal: Personal Hair Butter/ Hair Oil Mix.

oAir-dry/blow-dry/thread stretching/ single plaits stretching/bun stretching

oMini Twists/braids/loose twists/Havana twists/wearing a wig: Personal Hair Butter, Belle Butters

oMidweek moisture: Water, Hibiscus Hair Spray, and a light leave-in

oProtein treatment at least once.

· Week 2 and Week 4

oCo-wash if necessary

oRe-twist edges if needed

oMoisturize and Seal

· Weekly Care

oMassage edges with hair oil blend at least once a week

oScalp massage at least once a week

Before Pictures:

 

Loose Hair

 

 

Tega has also taken her before pictures and posted her regimen on her blog so feel free to check that out as well Social Hermit

 

 

 

In case you haven't signed up for the challenge make sure to check out 3LRCHALLENGE to sign up.

Also follow us on instagram and twitter:
Hair Challenge Instagram/Twitter: @3lrchallenge and hash tag your pictures #3lrchallenge
Blog Instagram:@rootsdontlie, #rootsdontlie
Share your pictures, and email any questions or comments to


XOXO

Bella Joya