Hair & Beauty

Fall to Winter Curly Hair Essentials

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Fall is quickly fading behind us, and I am running behind it saying, “wait! don’t leave me”! I am not ready for the heavy winter chill and my hair becoming a statid frizzball. My hair gets so DRY and tangled during the winter, but I am doing my best to keep my hair right for the rest of this year!

Alas, I wanted to share some of my hair care products that I have been keeping on heavy rotation since fall.

 

One of my new favorite moisturizing hair products has to be the As I Am Long & Luxe Grow Yogurt Leave In Conditioner. This stuff is bomb, yall!

The consistency is more on the watery side and it provides some great slip for detangling hair. It also smells amazing. It does wonders on my fine curly 3B hair. Definitely one to add to the arsenal.

Another shining star this fall has been the Mane Choice Growth Oil. I believe are over 10 different oils packed into this powerful small bottle of goodness. I love applying this oil to my scalp after a long day of work and massaging my head.

This oil is super light and is supposed to promote shiny, healthy hair. It is obviously called growth oil, so it does help in the fast growth arena – which is always good!

Well we all know that I love a good refresh. More like I am usually too lazy and stressed to wash my hair as frequently as it needs to be washed.

For us lazy curly gals, mousse is the answer! It adds enough moisture and shine that it fakes day 1 or 2 hair. I tried this Jane Carter Solution Wrap & Roll Mousse and was instantly hooked. It left my hair feeling defined and soft with 4 day hair and on fresh braid outs. One of my favorite curl refreshers ever!

Lastly, I wanted to share my favorite new styler – Aunt Jackie’s Curl La La Defining Curl Creme.

This stuff is THICC, but it is great for leaving my curls soft and defined. If I apply the product on soaking wet hair after my leave-in conditioner, then I got curls fo dayzzzz. I also love using it on day 2 hair to revive my curls.

Even though the product is thicker than a snicker, it still applies very evenly and can be great on a braid out or twist out. I personally do wash and go’s 90% of the time and this stuff always leaves my hair smelling and feeling fantastical.

Well I feel like I should go deep conditioner my hair now!

Have you tried any of the products mentioned here? Let me know which one is your favorite in the comments!

 

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Fashion, Hair & Beauty

Don’t Leave Your Couch! My Favorite Online Black Friday Sales

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**Disclosure: Affiliate links were used in this blog post. Please see full disclosure page for more information on how affiliate links are used on Stay Golden Mama.
Chestnuts roasstinng on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nooseeee… oh wait, we aren’t there yet! First comes Thanksgiving, then Black Friday, then all my Christmas songs! If you need something to help you round up some extra Christmas gifts, I have some deals for you below!
I wanted to quickly round up a post about my favorite Black Friday & Cyber Monday sales that have never disappointed me. I gave up shopping in-store on this crazy shopping holiday a few years ago and never looked back.

There are sooo many super good deals that I wanted to share with you this year, so you can pick up some goodies for your friends and family. Or for you, because you are worth it!

Target

Target: Spend $40, get $10 off Women’s Clothing, Shoes and More
Let’s be honest, if we are friends, then you are probably have a serious Target problem like me. You don’t find things at Target, things find you at Target. For this reason, I like to shop online for clothes and makeup online instead of in-store. I think I spend less money when I am forced to look at my total in my cart as I go along.

Amazon

Amazon Giveaways and Black Friday Deals
I mean, it wouldn’t be a true Black Friday without some sort of Amazon Deal, amirite? Amazon always has insane deals on electronics, so here are a few of my Favorite deals that also can be great gifts:

The Fire Stick is an awesome present for that person who never leaves their couch and wants to catch up on all the latest shows. It is $15 off from the regular $39.99 price.

I always said I would not be one of those moms that sticks their kid in front of a tablet and has a glass of wine. Spoiler alert: I am that mom sometimes. Ya girl needs to cook dinner and do laundry sometimes, so this tablet right here cold help another mom out! I hear they are supposed to be educational as well…
Also Amazon is having some great TV deals. You can save 25% or More on LG Ultra HD TVs!
Here is one that I have my eye on – my honey said he would love a new TV, so this is definitely a contender!
Basically, get on Amazon during Black Friday or Cyber Monday to find all the good deals. I plan on completing 90% of my holiday shopping this week, so I don’t have to worry about it during December!

Old Navy

Whew chile- you better start shopping now! Old Navy is my favorite place to stock up on basics and cute holiday PJs.
Try out their luxe tops – I promise that you will fall in love with them. Old Navy also has amazing kid’s clothes and I feel like the sizing is runs slightly small for toddlers. My daughter is very small for a 2.5 year old and she fits into 2T very nicely there.

Coastal Scents

Have you ever heard of Coastal Scents? Well, girl – you’ve been sleepin’ on them! Coastal Scents has some highly pigmented eyeshadows and great bargain makeup brushes. I honestly like a lot of my Coastal Scents brushes just as much as my Sigma brushes.
As for their eyeshadows, they have “Hot Pot’ shadows that are comparable to Anastasia Beverly Hills and M.A.C., in my opinion. Their Hot Pot Shadows are on sale for 50%, leaving them only $1.48 per shadow. You can’t beat that with a stick! A few years ago, I built a whole custom 28 palette for $30. It was GREAT quality and is still my most versatile and used palette. Check out my beautiful baby below.

BH Cosmetics

Ahhh, BH Cosmetics, I love you so much. This makeup brand used to be online only, but now has moved on to be sold at Target and other brick and mortar stores.
I still like to shop here during Black Friday because they have some of my favorite bargain powders and lipsticks. I live for their Creme Luxe lipsticks and for their Studio Pro Matte Finish Pressed Powder.
The pressed powder is under $10 and a dupe for the MAC Studio Fixe Powder. I have had mine for 2 years and love the matte finish on my oily skin.
The Creme Luxe lipsticks are very moisturizing and do a great job of not bleeding or feeling stiff or dry. I use mine at least once a week and at under $5, they are better than drugstore products.
Also, their palettes are surprisingly rich and pigmented. Their “Take Me 2 Brazil 2” Palette is über-popular and I kind of need it! I bought the After Dark 2 palette last year and liked the sparkly colors for a fun night out.

Hot Tips for All Online Shopping Deals:

  • Put all the things you want in the cart BEFORE the sale starts for easy checkout
  • Make sure you are signed into your account and your card is up to date. Nobody got time to mess around when it is time for payment
  • Double check size charts if you are buying gifts for people
  • Don’t forget the gift receipt! Amazon + Target are great about honoring returns/exchanges, when you have a gift receipt.

Happy Shopping Mamas! Did I miss any of your favorite sales? Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo,

Simone

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Hair & Beauty

Grown-ish Braids! Yara Shahidi Inspired Hair Tutorial

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Grownish Inspired Tutorial Blog 2

It is no secret, I am a TV junkie. Whether it is reality TV or a teen drama, you can count me in. Naturally, I fell hard for the black-ish spinoff, grown-ish! I loved Zoey (Yara Shahidi) on black-ish and I was so happy when I found out she was getting her own spinoff!

Zoey always had the most gorgeous hairstyles and I was inspired to try one of her cute braided ‘dos. I have NEVER done my own box braids, so I was pretty intimidated to try this style out. I felt like the bigger the braid, the easier it would be to create the style.

This style had 6 braids and I actually did mine with 8 because I could not figure out my parting! Luckily, my darling fiancé was there to help me part the back parts.

Steps to create this style:

  1. Start with blow dried or stretched hair. I did a heat free blowout, so my hair was ready to do!
  2. Section hair in 6-8 triangular sections and secure with black rubber bands and edge control. I did 3 triangles up top, 2 triangles below and sections in between because I did not like the way mine looked with just 6 sections. I also cornrowed my two side sections for some extra flair
  3. Add in the braiding hair to each section (I used 2.5 packs of the Sassy Braiding Hair from Sally Beauty supply. Find the one that matches your blown out or stretched texture)
  4. Add gel + edge control to baby hairs and finesse those lil guys until you feel great.
  5. Follow with mousse on top of braids and coat each braid.
  6. Add in some hair jewelry. I got mine from Amazon an I love them! I reuse them until they break.
  7. Keep maintaining with edge control and mousse throughout the week. Note that it is possible to keep this style in for more than a week, but the braids should be more neat than I made mine!

If you want to see a step-by-step tutorial for this style, please watch the video below! I am having so much fun creating different styles with braiding hair and extensions. I will keep going until I get sick of trying new things lol. Any styles that you would like to see me try?

https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=aL9uc_FQbwU

Until next time!

xo,

Simone

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Hair & Beauty

Mini Sephora Haul: Products to Make Your Makeup Last ALL DAY!

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Sephora Mini Haul August

I know what you are thinking. Summer is almost over. BUT I feel like Seattle has a late summer that bleeds into September, so there are several sweaty weeks ahead of us!

I recently stepped into my local Sephora with a list and a dream. A dream to find products that lasted all day and could stop my combo skin to become a giant oil slick. I also had a gift card to burn from my father-in-law! God bless family that gifts Sephora cards!

I gathered a list of long lasting products that were supposed to last alllll day, baby! Here is what I picked up and my thoughts on each of them. Keep in mind that I have combination to oily skin and my skin is not super sensitive.

Becca Primer Mattifying Primer

I really wanted to like this stuff. I was rooting for you, Becca! I found this primer to be super sticky and hard to apply with certain moisturizers. I used it in the sweltering 109 degree Vegas heat and it held up well! My makeup did not bleed or smudge off. I know soooo many people that love this, but I just couldn’t get over how stiff it felt on my face. I ended up deciding to return this one, but maybe I will revisit it again later.

Urban Decay All Nighter Pollution Spray

Why did it take me so long to add this spray to my collection?? I have no good reason! I also first tried this spray in Vegas and it truly set my makeup all day. I was able to go from meetings to the clurrrbb without my makeup sliding off. It is a bit pricey at around $35, but I try to only use it when I know I have an extra long day or if I feel I will be exceptionally sweaty (aka Tuesdays). We also have had a series of wildfires in WA that have left the air very toxic and polluted, so this purchase came at the perfect time! Definitely a must-have product!

Sephora Cream Stain Matte Lipstick

I have a love-hate relationship with matte liquid lipsticks. Half the time I use them, they dry out my lips or create those gross wear lines. I usually favor cream lipsticks because they can reapplied easily throughout the day. But I was struck by this beautiful color and wanted to get back on the matte train. I am so happy I took a chance on this lipstick.

Born This Way Concealer

This stuff is HEAVY coverage, so it was not the best for my skin in the summer. I find the heavier the concealer or foundation, the harder it is in the summer to keep it on. I think this stuff will be AMAZING for Fall and Winter for a night out or a full-face glam day. I don’t think I would wear it daily because I am worried that it would clog my pores. But, GIRL it truly covers all them flaws!

Fenty Beauty Foundation (color samples)

Everyone has been buzzing about the Fenty Beauty Foundation and I was late to the game! I am super picky about foundation and I actually typically do not wear it. I like to wear it for special occasions and when I want my skin to look especially flawless. I have been blessed with a fairly even skin tone, so I can usually just get by on concealer and powder.

The first time I applied this concealer, I was wowed by the medium to full flawless coverage. It went on extremely smooth and even with my beauty blender. I think my shade was slightly off, but it still blended in very well with my skin. It gave my a very subtle glow that I loved as well. This may be the best foundation that I ever tried! And it comes in SO many shades! I love an inclusive brand that has a wide range of shades.

What are some of your favorite long-lasting products? Let me know if there are any that I should pick up on my next Sephora Run!

Talk soon!

xo,

Simone

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Hair & Beauty

The Easiest Sleek & Chic High Pony! High Sleek Ponytail Tutorial

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Drawstring Straight Ponytail Tutorial Blog v2

Disclaimer: There may be affiliate links in this post.

If you are like me, you love long walks down the beauty supply store isles. I was at my local beauty supply (black hair store for the less informed) when I stumbled across a lovely drawstring ponytail.

I have been craving a sleek ponytail look, but I did NOT want to spend the time and energy straightening my hair. Also, the heat damage from straightening is insaneeee. So when I saw this lovely synthetic ponytail, I was jazzed. It was only $10 and looked very close to my hair texture when it is flat ironed.

Unfortunately I can’t find the ponytail online, so here is a similar-ish one from Amazon.

Steps for the perfect high sleek drawstring ponytail:

  1. Blow dry hair or do a heatless blowout with braids or a bun
  2. Slick back hair into a high ponytail, using gel and edge control
  3. Braid ponytail and then pin into bun. The smaller the bun, the better! The less likely it will show.
  4. Comb out the ponytail hair, then attach the combs in the ponytail to the top and bottom of the bun.
  5. Tighten the ponytail cord around the bun
  6. Take a chunk of the ponytail and wrap it around the base of the ponytail
  7. Sculpt those edges and finesse the heck out of them!

Some things I loved about wearing this ponytail:

  • Took 5 minutes to install/attach to my hair
  • Super sleek and believable hair
  • 24″ of glam, honey!
  • Gave me Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj vibes
  • Perfect wedding guest hair

If you want to see how I made this ponytail come to LIFE, then check out my YouTube tutorial below!

Thanks for stopping by! What style should I try next? I have a natural hair bucket list that I am tackling!! So exciting 🙂

Talk soon,

xo Simone

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Hair & Beauty

Best Hair Dryer EVER for Natural Hair! Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer & Styler Review

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*Disclosure: There are affiliate links included in this post.

I don’t need another hair dryer. I don’t need another hair dryer. I whispered to myself over and over as I added the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer to my Amazon cart. I started reading reviews, as I always do before I purchase anything off of my happy place. And you guys, the reviews and photos swayed me to buy this hair dryer.

Sooo many naturalistas shouted their praise to the rooftops about this thing, so I felt like it was my duty to mankind to give this bad girl a twirl. See what I did there? Heh heh.

I decided to try out an Ariana Grande inspired ponytail, so I felt like it was the perfect time to give this dryer a spin. I blow dried my hair to make it sleek and easy to brush back into a smooth ponytail.

My Honest Review Highlights

  • Took 15-20 minutes to blow dry my entire hair. It usually takes 45-60 minutes to blow dry it with a normal dryer + comb attachment
  • This thing gets HOT, but I found that the low setting would have taken a lot longer to blow dry my curls. I have a lot of fine curly hair, and I always dread blow drying my hair because it takes forevaaaa
  • Very wide brush head, so it can tackle a lot of hair all at once.
  • It did not get my hair perfectly straight, but did give it a lot of volume and it kept my hair feeling very soft
  • This is perfect for thick hair, fine hair, curly hair, wavy hair, basically all hairs!
  • Bottom line: This thing WORKS!

What You Need to Know

  • The bristles did not get caught in my hair
  • The handle towards the brush got hot, but if you hold it below that you will not feel any heat
  • It has a cool, low and hot setting. I used mostly the hot setting and did not feel any heat damage. The cool setting is great for setting styles and taming flyaways

 

Have you guys tried this hair dryer? Let me know if you have it or are planning on purchasing it below!

xoxo,

Simone

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Hair & Beauty

The Best Edge Controls For Fine Natural Curly Hair

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best edge controls - stay golden mama

I have a confession to make. I am not a pro at laying my edges/baby hairs. I feel like it is a right of passage for black girls to learn to properly lay their edges. I have struggled with this for a long time!

I can say that I definitely have gotten better at laying these things to the gawds. We still aren’t FKA Twigs level yet though. Give it time though, I will catch up!

I wanted to share a few edge controls that do help get your baby hairs in tip-top laid shape. As mentioned in the title, I have pretty fine curly natural hair, so I have found that gels are the best option to keep my hairs down. If you have thick hair, these could work for you as well, but I can’t guarantee it!

Olive Oil Eco Style Gel

I know, I know. There is a lot of controversy surrounding Eco Style and their reportedly carcinogenic ingredients in their products. I just bought this tub before the report came out about the possibly harmful ingredients, so I will be finishing it.

Am I worried I will get cancer? Honestly I think most of the products we use on a daily basis will give some people cancer. I plan to do my research and move to more organic and natural products soon, but for now this stuff works very well and taming the bbhairs!

Hold: 6/10 (my edges tend to curl up with this stuff after a few hours)

Good for: Laying edges for a few hours and taming ponytails

Gorilla Snot Punk Gel

You guys, this stuff is LIFE! I finally took the plunge a few months ago when I wanted to try something new and MAN. What was I waiting for? I love how this stuff stays in place pretty much all day and gives a really firm hold. Almost crunchy. But I like crunchy, so it’s cool.

Hold: 8/10 (lasts almost all day, but has tendency to flake if you apply too much)

Good for: Taming extra curly curls and a very firm hold

Murray’s Beeswax

This beeswax thing is growing on me. I recently created 2 “fun buns” that were super cute with beeswax and I loved the results! Beeswax naturally repels water, so it can be hard to get it out of your hair. I noticed that it worked well with my fine curly hair and kept my flyaways and curly pieces from popping up.

Hold: 7/10

Good for: Making hair shiny and repelling moisture, smoothing curls

Murray’s Edge Control with Beeswax

Ah yes, the cousin of the Murray’s Beeswax – the elusive Murray’s Edge Control. I like this stuff, but if you put too much on… well you might need to wash your hair. I found that building this product is your best bet. Start small and work your way up!

Hold: 6/10

Good for: Smoothing edges and more of a waxy gel hold

Design Essentials Sleek Edge Control

I love Design Essentials. As a brand, I feel like they have it down pat. I have been using this edge control to touch up my edges and I have been loving the flexible hold. I love using this for my stubborn fine hairs that will not lay down all the way.

Hold: 7/10

Good for: Keeping baby hairs down and adding shine, flexible hold

Curls Passionfruit Control Paste

Oh, Curls. At first I did not like you, but now I love you! I don’t really use this on my edges because it makes them curl up. But I had to give it a shoutout because it works wonders for smoothing back hair for buns and ponies. It also would probably work great for box braids. I will by trying some box braids in the next few weeks, so weeee shall see! Throw up a lil prayer for me, because I have never done them and I am scared!

I hope you enjoyed reading about the best edge controls for fine natural curly hair! If you have a good edge control recommendation, please drop it in the comments!

xoxo

Simone

 

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Hair & Beauty

Bronze, Highlight, Repeat! Best Products for Healthy Summer Glow

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Summer Glow

Disclaimer: there were no affiliate links used in this post.

Break out the BBQ, throw on some fun shades and head to the pool, girl! Summer is all about the effortless beauty routines, so I thought it would only be right to share some of my favorite glowy products.

To be honest, I usually wear less makeup in the summertime because sweat gives me that lovely natural glow lol. I have combo/oily skin, so it is tough for me to wear heavy foundations or blushes. It all just melts off, so I usually just opt for a pretty bronzer and a highlight with some mascara and powder. I keep it basic af because my skin WILL break out with too much sweat and makeup.

Here are my top picks to help you give Kim K and Bey a run for their money! Glow baby, glow!

Anastasia Beverly Hills So Hollywood
Such a pretty shade!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Illuminator (So Hollywood)

Okay, so this highlighter is a bit of a splurge at $38 BUT I promise that it is worth it. The glow that this highlighter gives me is UNREAL. This was one of my gateway ABH products and I am in love with the high pigmentation and gold sheen that this gives my skin. It is definitely more of a “going out” highlighter because the glow is intense, I still like to pop it on for work every now and then to remind people what time it is.

MegaGlo Highlighting Powder

Wet N Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder (Crown on My Canopy)((TBD): https://www.amazon.com/MegaGlo-Highlighting-Powder-Crown-Canopy/dp/B01N6NW88P

Now that we have our luxury product, here is a worthy drugstore dupe. Wet N Wild has really stepped up their game in the last few years and they released this beautiful highlighter a few years ago. It is a STEAL at $5 and I love how it still competes with high-end brands in terms of color pay-off and quality. It is definitely a MUST have for summer!

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush (Dazzled)

I won’t lie to you guys, I received the next few items in my Ipsy bag and I have to say that I am impressed. The Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush is something I have wanted to try for a very long time, but I did not want to cough up the $32 on a full size. Anyways when I saw this in my Ipsy bag, I was beyond jazzed. It gives a nice light rosy flushed look. It gives me a “drinking wine in the afternoon with my girlfriends” type of glow.

IBY Radiant Glow Highlighter (24k Magic)

I honestly had never even heard of IBY, but Ipsy decided to be real sneaky and just slip this little gem into my monthly pouch. The audacity!!! Once I lightly dusted this magical highlighter on my cheeks, I was instantly transported into a gilded world of opulence and glamour. This is a pretty close dupe to the ABH So Hollywood, so I am happy to report that it is only $12! Add that to your cart, baby!

Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer

Okay guys, only one more high-end product! This was another product that I received in my Ipsy bag and I was so happy with the beautiful payoff. This stuff will contour those cheekbones and have you looking like you are Naomi Campbell’s distant cousin. Sometimes I swipe it on casually, but I usually reserve it for a date night or when I just want to feel like a high-maintenance childless person. Also, I had no idea that this was WATERPROOF! Like whaaaaat? Helllooo sweatproof makeup *heart eyes*

Hikari Shimmer Bronzer Flush

HIKARI Bronzer (Flush)

Have you ever met a product that instantly made you look like you had 10 full nights of sleep? Me either. This bronzer/blush quad does come pretty close though! I thought I would NOT be a fun of this stuff, but I completely fell asleep with the bronzy rose color with a hint of sparkle. I was wearing it daily until I dropped it and it died a thousand deaths on my floor. I truly shed a few tears. The good news is that I found it again on Amazon and will be ordering it again shortly!

What are some of your favorite bronzers and highlighters for a stunning summer glow? Drop some below!

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Hair & Beauty

Best Affordable Products for Natural Hair Under $15

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Disclaimer: There are NO affiliate links in this post. I will always disclose when I use affiliate links.

Ladies and gentleman, I am a product junkie. I cannot be left alone in a Target and I am not even allowed to step foot into an Ulta. Online shopping is not as bad for me, but in person shopping gets me every time!

Sometimes I cannot resist picking up a product that is on sale but my main weapon against overspending is buying drugstore and affordable products. I wanted to share some of my all time favorite affordable products. You can walk into Target and be like yeeeeeehaw – I am spending $50 instead of $250 on products! Or just avoid Target all together and save your coins.

My first and newest favorite affordable product is the Design Essentials Curl Enhancing Mousse. I can’t get enough of this stuff! At only $10.99, it gives the best hold, definition and shine out of any mousse that I have ever tried. It is great for 2nd day hair and braid outs. I am bummed because I am actually running out of it and I have to buy more. The good news is that it won’t break the bank once I restock!

Design Essentials Curl Enhancing Mousse: $10.99
https://www.jcpenney.com/p/design-essentials-natural-curl-enhancing-mousse-75-oz/

One the cheapest and most effective products is the Cantu Coconut Curling Creme. You guys, this product is only $5.99!! I am in awe of how moisturized and defined this creme makes my hair. You can just casually slip this into your cart and barely even notice it on your bill. It also smells like delicious coconut, so you really can’t go wrong here.

Cantu Coconut Curling Creme: $5.99
https://www.target.com/p/cantu-coconut-curling-cream-12-fl-oz/

This is an OG product. If you have been natural or using curly hair products for over 5 years, you have definitely heard of this stuff. From the tantalizing coconut hibiscus smell to the creamy formula, this product is a budget winner! I have this in like 3 different sizes, so I will NEVER run out. It is a must-have for vacations as well. I use it after conditioning my hair and it serves as 3 products in one while vacationing! Who doesn’t love a good multi-tasker!?

Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie: $7.99
https://www.ulta.com/coconut-hibiscus-curl-enhancing-smoothie?productId=xlsImpprod16681019

Okay, so this one is not exactly a styling product, but it is still a natural hair must-have! Most shampoos make my hair dry and terrible, but this one makes it soft and manageable. I have to say that I hate wash day because my hair is so long and it gets tangled easily during the great wash. I love this stuff because it keeps the moisture in your hair instead of stripping it to the dry nubbins. Plus, who doesn’t love a great shampoo fro under $7!?

Creme of Nature Argan Oil Moisture & Shine Shampoo: $5.99
https://www.target.com/p/cr-232-me-of-nature-174-moisture-shine-shampoo-with-argan-oil-12-fl-oz/-/A-14382912?

Following the theme of the last product, this is actually not technically a styling product, but it is one of my fave bargain finds. This big ol’ tub of slippery conditioner is only $3.99! This is one of my holy grail products for detangling and adding moisture to my dry hair. I love to try new conditioners, but I always end up coming back to this conditioner because of the quality and amazing value.

Tresemme Moisture Rich Conditioner: $3.99
https://www.target.com/p/tresemme-174-moisture-rich-conditioner-28oz/-/A-13074981?

Okay one last item that falls outside of the styling product lines. This is one of my top must-have tools: my bae spray. All jokes aside, if you have curly or natural hair – YOU NEED THIS. This spray bottle delivers an even mist that is way more reliable than a Sally’s bottle or whatever repurposed bottle I used to use. It also can be used to water finicky plants! A win-win, my friend.

Water Spray Mister: $8.99
https://www.amazon.com/Groom-Industries-Solvent-Sprayer-Flairosol/dp/B00D7BJ6MW/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_194_bs_t_1?

The next one is another newish favorite. This is my lovely organic Jojoba oil. I do not understand what took me so long to try this stuff, but I am hooked! It mimics the oil production of your natural hair and smells real nice. It also leaves a very nice sheen and shine on your hair without making it overly oily. It also works great on scaly elbows – so I have heard. I have beautiful and smooth elbows. Okay fine! I use it on my scaly elbows.

Jojoba Oil: $11.99

Gorilla Snot $2.99:
https://www.target.com/p/moco-de-gorila-punk-squizz-hair-gel-11-9oz/-/A-13974383?

Yooooo, this is the only product that can tame thy sacred edges. I have tried so many gels and edge controls and this stuff is just like it sounds – sticky and snotty! For some reason my hair loves it and gives me those FKA Twiggs/Chilli inspired babyhairs. See how I incorporated the young folks and the old folks!? I know pop culture, people.

Well that brings this affordable product roundup to an end! Let me know below if you enjoyed learning about my favorite cheap natural hair care products.

TTYL!

xo,

Simone

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Hair & Beauty

Tutorial: The Perfect 3 Minute Bun

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I don’t know about you, but I typically have about 10 minutes or less to look like a supermodel functioning human every morning. That leaves very few options to look presentable while saving time. Enter the 3 minute bun! I style my hair in some sort of bun for about 3 days or more per week. I find it to be one of the easiest and most protective styles when I want to be lazy or stretch out my wash days.

I wore this bun for a special date night with my fiancé and I was digging the ballerina/Riri vibes I was serving. Here is exactly how I get my hair in a Rihanna worthy bun!

1) Mist hair with water bottle

I used my FAVORITE spray bottle from Amazon to mist my hair around the perimeter of my head. I made sure not to completely saturate my hair. You do not need to have hair that is dripping wet!

2) Apply Passionfruit Curl Paste

After misting my hair up real good, I added some Passionfruit Curl Paste from Curls. I bought this with the intention of using it to lay my crazy curly edges. I learned that it did NOT tame my loco edges, but it does a great job of smoothing my hair down for a bun. I applied the paste all around the perimeter of my head.

3) Smooth hair and brush hair into a ponytail

I used a boar bristle brush and smoothed my hair up into a ponytail. I wrapped the hair tie around my hair twice and then on the third time, gathered my hair into a bun. I added a few bobbies and voila – near perfect bun! This step sometimes takes the most time to “finesse” because the bun is all about the shape. I like a very FULL bun, but it can look cute if it is a small bun as well.

4) Add baby hairs and smooth edges

This is the step that takes you from cute to cayuuutee! You know, when you catch your reflection in the mirror and do a double take!? Yes, that is the look. I used my good old reliable yellow Gorilla Snot Gel. I was very skeptical about this stuff, but I have to say that I worship this stuff. It is so sooo amazing. I smoothed my edges and added some pretty lil baby hairs to top my look off.

So there you have it – the easiest and most chic hairstyle for natural hair! If you would like to see the complete tutorial, check out the video below on YouTube!

Thanks for learning about my easy breezy hairstyle!

xo,

Simone

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