What I'veBeen Up To.....

Hey guys,

I've been doing a whole lot of protective styling.. Loose twists are my new best friend, and except for a few days in between taking them out and installing a new set these have been my go -to for about 2 months now. 



loose twists with the roots braided.



That one time I wore my hair out..

 

 

 

XOXO

 

 

 

 

 

Bella Joya

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: 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: 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: DO'S AND DON'TS OF WEARING HAIR EXTENSIONS

Hey Guys,

I have worn my hair in various extensions styles here are a few helpful tips for maintaining your hair while it's in extensions



Havana Twists

Crotchet Braids

Curly sew-in

Jumbo Box Braids



Jumbo Box Braids

 

 

 

 

Installation

·         Make sure your hair has been thoroughly cleansed, deep conditioned and stretched out before installing the extensions

·         Braids/twists/cornrows should be firm but not too tight.

·         Try not to braid every single strand of hair around the perimeter of your head (the hair here is usually delicate, and can be ripped easily)

·         Stretched hair gives a smoother finish, you can either air dry using 2 strand twists/dookie braids or blow dry

·         While braiding or twisting avoid using any thick or heavy products as this may lead to build up

 

Maintaining

·         Moisturize at least once a week with water, a light leave-in and seal with a light  oil such as grape seed or sweet almond oil

·         Scalp massages are great, use a mix of a light oil such as coconut, and a few drops of peppermint or tea tree essential oil.

·         Apply witch hazel to a cotton ball, and use to lightly clean the scalp if you don’t plan on washing your hair while you have extensions in

·         You may consider washing the extensions if you plan on keeping them in for a long period of time, just be sure to moisturize and seal.

·         Avoid leaving in braids for longer than 6 weeks.

·         If the edges get fuzzy you can easily re-twist so the hair looks neat the entire time you have them in

 

The Take down

·         Take down the extensions and lightly finger de-tangle each section making sure fingers are coated with a light oil such as coconut oil.

·         Once all the braids have been taken down, part of the hair into workable sections, spritz with some water, apply a conditioner with a lot of slip, and de-tangle each section either using your fingers or a comb. Twist up each de-tangled section so it stays stretched and you avoid further tangles.

·         Only wash your hair after it had been thoroughly de-tangled. DO NOT SHAMPOO WITHOUT DE-TANGLING FIRST

·         Be sure to follow up with a deep condition.

 

Hope this comes in handy

 

XOXO

 

Bella Joya