Naptural Hair Arsenal: Road to becoming a Hair Product Junkie

I never thought I'd become a hair product junkie or an HPJ for short! But alas, I am! I have read a number of natural hair care blogs and have seen a good chunk of YouTube natural hair mavens and truth be told, as a Naptural, one may have to try a plethora of products before finding a combination that may work!

What's in my arsenal? Have a look for yourself:

Brushes and combs! A spray bottle for water! Gel! Jam! Grease! African Shea butter! Cantu Shea butter leave in! A leave in by Garnier Fructis! Oil sheen! There are a few more products I would love to add to my arsenal but my local beauty supply store I frequent does not carry what I want, such as, pure castor oil, vegetable glycerin, and pure coconut oil! 

One thing I have noticed as a Naptural is the number of other women who have joined the force, for whatever reason! Mine! I had a rather large section of my hair break off and I couldn't cover it up anymore! I didn't want braids or a weave. I just wanted it gone and I never looked back! My only regret, not doing it sooner! 

Another thing, my local beauty supply store (oh, just one of a few but I frequent this shop) gave me some samples for my hair! She told me, "I seen that you went natural! I have some samples I'm going to put in your bag for you!" That made me smile! Those extra things made my day!!

So to all my naturals (straight naturals, curly naturals, kinky naturals, coily naturals, and transitioning):

Peace, Love, and Naptural Baby!!!

Johannah

Review Alert: FreeJewelry.com

Who doesn't like jewelry? I love jewelry! Better still, free jewelry! That's right y'all! You heard me, free jewelry! So, right after Christmas, I was reading a Nook book called, Who Knew? Beauty on a Budget by Bruce Lubin and Jeanne Bossolina-Lubin. This interesting trinket of knowledge gave me so much insight on the little things I could be doing at home to save money on makeup, fashion, and laundering my garments! The most interesting tidbit of information shares was the following website: http://www.freejewelry.com/

Photo courtesy of http://www.freejewelry.com/

So of course I had to check it out! most items are free with no catch! no tricks! no gimmicks! All you pay is $6.99 shipping per piece of jewelry you purchase! Now, i know what you are thinking! The shipping costs can add up! True! But in my humble and honest opinion, could this be a bad thing? It's about setting limitations! I, myself, only purchased two items! My trick was to find a set, which means, an earring and necklace set! It's like getting two for one! So here is what I purchased:

 

I like what I chose but I don't know about quality yet! I'll show them off soon!

Warm regards,

Johannah

Natural Hair Journey

I have now been on my natural hair journey for just over a year! Many call this change a Naptural hair journey! 

Either way you call it, coin it, or term it, I have vowed to never return to relaxers! I have not even had my hair pressed and/or curled! I am almost ready to see how long it is but I have enjoyed ever step of the journey, from the teeny weeny Afro or TWA to the hard to tame naps to my now almost understood hair! 

I have learned quite a bit so far! The one thing I have learned over the course of this journey is that I had to learn my texture or textures as other professional naturals explain! I also learned, YouTube is my friend, water is the best moisturizer, and leave in conditioner is a must! I learned to always wear my satin bonnet to bed and to always use a wide toothed comb to detangle! 

There are so many wonderful, beautiful naturals out there, most of whom I have followed on Instagram, Facebook, and of course YouTube! I've mastered my Afro, my medium top fade, the faux fro hawk, the medium fro hawk, and now, I am giving the two strand twist Bantu knot out a try! 

This is how I set my hair to prepare for my knot out the following morning!

I used a spray bottle of water, Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shibe leave in conditioning cream, and Softer Mango Butter. 

And this is how it came out this morning:

I have to say, I have a lot of work and more learning to do, but I'm happy to admit that I am a work in progress!!

Always as forever,

Johannah

31 Day Lippie Challenge Days 22-31

31 Day Lippie Challenge Days 22-31

I decided to finish out the last 10 days at once. So here we go for the final looks!

Day 22: December 22, 2013- MAC RiRi Woo! Love this more than the MAC Ruby Woo! I love all the different shades of red lipsticks I own!!

Day 23: December 23, 2013- OCC Lip Tar in Melange with a little lip gloss to mute the color! ***side note, I love this striped coat! That is all!!!!!

Day 24: December 24, 2013! Merry Christmas Eve!! This is my Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer in Luna! I must state: I received Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer complimentary from Influenster on behalf of Rimmel London.

The color initially caught me off guard but I like it! Plus, the formula is not to sticky and goes on smoothly!!!

Day 25: December 25, 2013- NYX Glam Lip Gloss in GLG03 Beat Goes On

Day 26: December 26, 2013- MAC Angel

Day 27: December 27, 2013- MAC Lustreglass in Wonderstruck

Day 28: December 28, 2013- Tarte natural lip stain pencil with Lipsurgence in Joy. These has a minty smell and tingles a little!

Day 29: December 29, 2013- MAC Girl About Town. I really love pink lipsticks!! Pink is my go to color!!!

Day 30: December 30, 2013- NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in SMLC02 Stockholm. This color showed out too much on my skin coloring, so I blended it with my finger as much as I could to mute out the brightness! I love it like this even though it doesn't show much color!

Day 31: December 31, 2013- be a bombshell in lipgloss in Hot Mess.

Last night of 2013! This is what I would be wearing with a nice LBD and a full face of makeup! It would be a wonderful night of making a hot mess of this lipgloss ringing in the New Year planting a big fat kiss on my husbands face!!! But, I'm ringing in the New Year with my husband and beautiful daughters!

Happy New Year Everyone! May 2014 bring you all love, joy, happiness, and prosperity!

Love,

Johannah

I am an Influenster

It's official! I was accepted in the Influenster VoxBox program and received the Jolly VoxBox! I love the contents of the box! Skinny Cow candies, Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer, NYC HD Color Trio, Duck Tape mini, and a small Puffs Kleenex! For Your Information: these products were given to me complimentary by Influenster for review! I must say, so far I have reviewed two of the products and here they go!:

This is the NYC HD Color Trio. These are of course neutral colors. I am not a big fan of neutrals but these were easy to use. Before you get to the product, there is a plastic separator which guides you on jar color should go where! In short, it tells you the lid color, the crease color, and the highlight! For those of us who are still not professional, this tip is helpful! It also came with its own applicator but I like to use my own brushes! 

Next is the Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer in Luna:

Honestly, the color caught me off guard, but it's true what they say, looks are deceiving! The color looked a lot brighter coming out of the tube, but once I put it on, I was happy with the outcome! It's a nice neutral color for me that I can wear everyday! It goes on smooth; however, the staying power is not long! Other than that, I love it and it will be one of my I to colors!

I look forward to reviewing more of my products soon!!

Warm regards and Merry Christmas!!!

Johannah

31 Day Lippie Challenge Days 15-21

Days 15 through 21! I'm almost to the finish line! This has been a tough challenge!

Day 15: December 15, 2023- Revlon ColorBurst Lacquer Balm in Whimsical

Day 16: December 16, 2013- Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Standout Remarquable

Day 17: December 17, 2013- Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Showy Flamboyante 

Day 18: December 18, 2013- OCC Lip Tar in Anime

 

I really like this one! I thought the OCC Lip Tar in Black Dahlia was my favorite bit Anime is giving that color a run for the money! 

Day 19: Decemer 19, 2013- NYX Lip Smacking Fun Colors in Apollo

Day 20: December 20, 2013- MAC LipGlass in Oversexed

When I first got this LipGlass, it was one of my favorites, especially the little bit of plumping action it has going on! 

Day 21: December 21, 2013- Be A Bombshell cosmetics The One Stick in Flustered

I was really not sure what to use the one stick for, so I opted for a lipstick! It's a nice pink color! I think it's an all purpose highlighting color for the cheeks, eyes, and lips, but I could be wrong! It wouldn't be the first time!

Well, I only have 10 days left in this challenge! I must admit, it is more challenging than I thought! 

Best Wishes during this holiday season!! 

Johannah

31 Day Lippie Challenge Days 8 through 14

Here are pics of Days 8 through 14!!

Day 8: December 8, 2013- Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Shameless

I've read other bloggers talking about this color and heard this appeared to be a dupe for Mac Heroine! I don't know but if it is, this matte balm is way more affordable, which is right up my alley!

Day 9: December 9, 2013- Cover Girl blastflipstick in 855 Minx

I love the two tone colors and the gold makes me shiver!

Day 10: December 10, 2013- Buxom Lip Tarnish in Caught on Tape

This is very glossy and the pink is of my taste! It also has a minty smell and tingles slightly when applied!

Day 11: December 11, 2013- OCC Lip Tar in Momento

This is not exactly my color but I liked it! My secret, I added a little LipGlass to it to make it shine! 

Day 12: December 12, 2013- Urban Decay Lip Junkie in Perversion!

Dark and Glittery! Just the way I like it! Can you say, vampy! Yes!!

Day 13: December 13, 2013- From the MAC Marilyn Collection Deeply Adored!

This was and is my favorite red lipstick! It's matte but it's not too bright! It goes on smooth! I love, love, love this lipstick!

Day 14: December 14, 2013- MAC Rebel

This was my first MAC purchase ever and my husband helped me pick it out! I love this color! It's not too matte! It's not too glossy! It's a good mix of in between! Very smooth and soft!

There you have it! Week two has come to an end! What will week three bring?!?!

Thanks for reading!

Johannah

Monthly Subscription Service: Volupties

So, one of my favorite bloggers, Chastity Garner of Garner Style, posted on her Facebook page this monthly subscription service for "the unmentionables!" That's right! Underwear!!! Have you all heard of Volupties?????? Because she is one of my favorite plus sized style icons, I had to check it out!

I found this to be a really neat service, especially for me because I do not always have the time to spoil myself with underwear! Plus, I get bored with the same ole, same ole selections! Haha! This service caters to voluptuous women with booties and curves for days! I was lucky enough to snag my first order for $10! The normal monthly price is $17 for three pairs of underwear! The best part, it's a surprise as to what you are going to get every month! No opportunity for a sneak peek!!! So here is what I got this month!!

I really don't care for the white pair and I really love the fun polka dot pair. But, my absolute favorite is the beige with the lace bottoms! Super cute!!! When you get a chance, go check out Volupties! It's a premium monthly subscription for undies!! 

Check them out here: http://volupties.myshopify.com/ 

Later my loves!!!

Johannah

31 Day Lippie Challenge Week One days two through seven

The rest of the weeks look from December 2, 2013 to December 6, 2013 went a little something like this!!

Day 2: December 2, 2013- OCC Lip Tar in Black Dahlia

Day 3: December 3, 2013- Cover Girl blastflipstick in 815 Flashy! One of my favorite duos! 

PS: Forgive the eyebrows and the "no full makeup" but I had just finished at the gym! Day 4 will be better! 

Day 4: December 4, 2013- MAC LipGlass in Silly

Day 5: December 5, 2013- Pixi Lip Blush in No. 3 Happiness. I really love this one! I feel this is one of my favorite lippies by far! And, it smells great!!!

Day 6: December 6, 2013- MAC Pro Long Wear in Soulfully Rich! I love this dark color!!! 

Day 7: December 7, 2013- MAC Deliciously Forbidden!

I have to say, I loved all of the Lippie colors this week, but the I really, really loved then OCC Lip Tar in black Dahlia!! 

Stayed tuned for week two!

Warm regards,

Johannah

My 31 day Lippie Challange!

So I have created a challenge for myself! I have so many lipsticks, stains, balms, and glosses, so I thought, why not challenge myself to wearing one Lippie a day! Easier said than done! Rather than create a post every single day, I will do weekly installments except for today, of course! So here is to Day 1 of a 31 day challenge!

Lippie of the day: Revlon ColorBurst in Sultry with a hint if BH Cosmetics lipgloss in Peace, Love, & Mod!

Warm regards,

Johannah