Moisturizing Sea Salt Spray

 I have been on the hunt for a good beachy sea salt spray for sometime now. There are a couple options I could buy but this is something I knew I could make and I'd even seen a few diy's on pinterest that peaked my interest a bit further. Then I saw this post on ABM and knew this was a good sea salt spray recipe to tweak for my own diy spray.

Moisturizing Sea Salt Spray

One spray bottle

1/2 cup warm water

1/2 teaspoon Organix Keratin Oil conditioner

1/2 coconut Oil

1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt

1 Teaspoon Garnier Curl Sculpting Cream Gel

Simply Combine these ingredients into the spray bottle, & shake well before every use.

Style Hair by spraying until hair is damp and scrunch hair to create beachy waves. Allow to dry naturally.

I'm really pleased with the results from this sea salt spray. I love that it gives my hair beachy texture and also emphasizes my natural waviness. The conditioner and the coconut oil really help to moisturize my hair so it feels softer after every use. I also really love that I don't have to use any heat to style my hair this way. It's become such a quick favorite that I've already remade it several times.

Please let me know if you make your own sea salt spray as well as your results or any tips you may have!

-Reagan

Hair Growth Picks

 It felt appropriate to me to share some of my more recent hair growth tips with you all since today marks one month since I've used any sort of heat styling tools on my hair. I've shared a few posts about some products I've been using, styling routine without using shampoo, as well as some tips and tricks for maximizing hair growth. I've tried a lot of things to try to restore my hair after damaging it by a lot of dyeing, styling, and bleaching. I've done a lot to my hair, and around a year ago I decided to really cut back on all the damage I was inflicting on my hair to try to encourage growth. A huge part of this process for me was to attempt to stop the breakage caused by split ends from years of hair abuse.

Organix has been a brand that I have come back to time after time when searching for the miracle products to fix my split ends. The keratin oil line is my shampoo and conditioner of choice right now. Since I haven't been using any heat on my hair in the past few weeks these products have already made a difference in my hair. I'm seeing a lot less breakage when I wash and brush my hair, and my hair also feels and looks a lot better as well.

 The keratin oil 3 minute recovery cream has been my good to deep conditioning treatment. I usually apply this after shampooing, sometimes with the Keratin Oil conditioner and leave it on for several minutes, more than the recommended three. I use a generous amount, and concentrate most of the product on the ends of my hair and comb throw the length of my hair with the remainder of the product, avoid the roots.

The Coconut Water mist is to be used while hair is damp and combed through. It makes my hair incredibly soft and super shiny, and also makes it a lot more managable while damp.

 One of my favorite uses for it is to mist my hair with it when it just about dry and then to braid it to create soft shiny waves when the hair is dry and the braid is undone, the trick is to not braid too tight.

 It also works beautifully as a finishing spray to tame fly-aways. This stuff also smells incredible, just be careful, as with any product, not to over do it ;)

After a month of no heat styling, and using these Organix Anti-Breakage Keratin Oil Shampoo, Conditioner & 3-Minute Recovery treatment, plus their Coconut Oil Mist I believe that my hair growth has been increased due to a reduce in breakage. I definitely recommend these products if you're also trying to fight damage while growing out your hair.

-Reagan

5 Hairstyles With Braids For Summertime

 Today I wanted to venture out from my normal beauty type post to share a few hairstyles to inspire you this summer. I have a lot of fun trying new things with my hair, and now that it's a bit longer I have a lot more options to try as well. I really like braids and think they're a versatile hairstyle option, so all of these styles will involve braids.

1. Braided Bangs

If you don't have bangs it's a lot easier to just braid that front section of hair, if you do have bangs try following this tutorial. This hairstyle is a life saver during the summer when having bangs can just be frustrating.

 2. Maiden Braids

 This hairstyle is nothing new but it's perfect for getting long hair off your neck and shoulders during the summer. You can always try doing fishtail braids for a new take on this old classic as well.

 3. Sock Bun With a Braid

For this hairstyle I used a conair bun maker and pinned a braid around the bun. This is just another example of how you can alter a classic look to make it your own.

4. Half-up, half-down, Side Fishtail Braid

 This hairstyle was inspired by this look from the Barefoot Blonde. It's a super easy boho hairstyle that takes just minutes.

5. Side Fishtail Braid

 This has been a go to look for me for a few years now, it's just a quick way to get your hair off your neck and shoulders, plus it looks cute and put together.

& there you have it! 5 ways you can style your hair using braids this summer :)

Do you have any other braid styles I need to try?

-Reagan

More Haircare Picks

 I wanted to do a quick post to share a few hair care products that I've been using and loving lately. This time its all about conditioner for me. My main focus has been on trying to make my hair as healthy as possible while I'm growing it out. I've done a lot of damage to it in the past by bleaching, over dyeing, heat styling ect. Right now these are my three favorite products for treating my dry and damaged hair.

 I have used some L'oreal hair product in the past and been impressed and this conditioner is no different. It has a rosemary-mint scent and is also sulfate-free. I love how fresh it smells and also how great my hair feels after I use it. 

This deep conditioner has been in stores for a while now, but it is a really great inexpensive deep conditioner that has done wonders to my dry split ends. I usually leave it on for just a few minutes but I'm sure that if you left it on under a shower cap for an hour or more you'd have some seriously gorgeous hair later. 

This was my most recent find, Pantene's new Ultimate 10 BB creme for hair. You can use it after washing and conditioning as a leave-in treatment or after when hair is dry to tame fly-aways and frizz. I love this product and have been using it like crazy since I bought it. I can already tell that my hair is softer and there is less frizz due to dryness. 

Do you have any conditioning treatments that you swear by?

-Reagan

Haircare Fall Favorites

Since I began trying to grow out my hair I've tried numerous types of haircare products to help make my hair healthy and to also stop breakage. I have dyed my hair so many times in my life resulting in both frizzy and damaged hair. It's not really a good idea to begin growing out your hair with you have split ends but I didn't want to lose the length I already had. I began trying different haircare products to combat the damage that I had already done. If you've ever over dyed your hair you probably already know that there are hundreds of drugstore products that promise to "undo up to six months of damage" with less that satisfactory results. I've been there. Having over bleached my hair there isn't much to do. I began trying to restore my hair's health by trimming my split ends. It wasn't something I had wanted to do so I tend to trim my ends just every few months. I don't get haircuts. This step really really helped. I had to sacrifice some length but ultimately it is worth it because it ensures less breakage that would result in shorter hair anyway. This step also makes your hair look a lot better. Split ends are a huge part of what makes my hair frizzy instead of shiny and smooth. Products like Nexxus Promend Leave-in Treatment Creme, Garnier Fructis Shine Glossing Spray as well as Chi Silk Infusion have been my go to products for taming my split ends and frizz. The glossing spray and silk infusion help my hair look and feel better while the Nexxus Promend Treatment makes my hair healthier. My latest find L'Oreal Evercreme Cleansing Conditioner has really transformed my hair and transformed my hair routine. Read some amazon reviews if you don't believe me. This stuff is comparable to Wen but for so much less. I have been using the Cleansing Conditioner for the least amount of time of all of the products and have seen the most results from it. My frizz is.... GONE! I haven't used my straightener in so long. My hair is actually soft. If you get anything from this post Give the L'Oreal Evercreme Cleansing Conditioner a try. It does have a strong vanilla scent that some people express a dislike for in some reviews but I don't mind it. Since I began using it I have been using the three previous mentioned products less and less. I really haven't been this impressed with any product in quite some time.

I should probably mention that my hair is naturally thick, frizzy, and slightly wavy and years of dying and sometimes bleaching it has resulted in it just being unmanageable without using product. I cannot attest to how the Cleansing Conditioner would work of fine or curly hair.

Okay so I've probably rambled on about haircare enough for one post. 

Until Next Time,

-Reagan

Diy: Turban Handband

 

Begin by cutting two pieces off the bottom of a cotton t-shirt (I used a men's small), the pieces should be 3-5 inches wide.

lay the pieces down in a cross formation with the pieces slightly off from the middle.

 Fold the vertical piece over first and then the horizontal piece over that. It should look like the image above.

 separate the halves in to top a bottom sections.

fold the bottom pieces into the top pieces (on both sides) so that it looks like the above image. (you may have to tuck in some bits and arrange the knot a bit to get it to sit right).

Repeat the process of tucking the upper section into the lower section (your head band should be the inception version of a headband. 4 layers, a headband within a headband). flatten and arrange your knot to make it the most comfortable. viola! you have your very own turban headband!

 I suggest using a solid color fabric for this as it hides any weird folds or what not. These headbands work great for girls with or without bangs and are also super handy for gym use! You can add little stitches to hold the pieces in place if you'd like but it's still easy to wear without. The best thing about this DIY is that you can finally find a use for any old T shirts you've had lying around. nothing better that a DIY that costs no money ;)

 This (as usual) is a pinterest inspired project. To find the original instructions check out Cultured Blog. (Her instructions are a bit more comprehensive so if you have any questions after following mine, do be sure to take a peek at her's as well!)

-Reagan

hair growth tips and tricks

Truth be told I've thought about doing a post like this for awhile because I'm always interested in hair care and am in a perpetual state of trying to grow out my hair. I think most women (and some men as well) have known the tortures of getting a bad haircut and having to undergo the slow painstaking process of having to wait for hair to grow. If you search online you will no doubt find hundreds of different tricks or products that promise quick hair growth. I've tried a lot of different products on my hair and I've settled on a routine that I believe not only makes my hair grow faster, it also makes it shiny, soft and ultimately much healthier.  Being someone who has done some major color damage to my hair, it needs all the help it can get. I want to share the products and routine that I practice myself to help you to optimize hair growth and treat frizz and dryness for your own hair as well. (I should also mention that my hair is pretty thick and slightly wavy. I also deal with split-ends and dryness associated with color damage, so this routine is best for people with hair similar to mine.) 

The first thing I can recommend to anyone hoping to grow out their hair is to eat a healthy diet first and foremost. Your body operates best when you fuel it well. Hair growth is no different. To boost hair growth from the inside out I take Biotin daily. I've also heard of Fish Oil also promoting hair growth. I definitely noticed a difference after I  began taking biotin regularly. As someone who dyes their hair it's easy to gauge how quickly my hair grows by my roots, but I also noticed a difference in the hair growth on my eyebrows!

The next recommendation I have to increase hair growth is to switch to a low-sulfate or no-sulfate shampoo and conditioner. I've already mentioned it here before but my current favorite is Organix Awaphui Ginger line (which is also repairing for damaged hair). This product is perfect for damaged hair like mine. I love the scent and it leaves my hair so so soft and shiny. I'm in love.

To protect hair further from breakage rinse hair with as cold of water as you can stand.

Once out of the shower use a towel (or old t-shirt to fight frizz) to remove excess moisture from hair. When hair is damp I like to use a nickle size portion of Chi's Silk Infusion beginning with the ends of hair and working the product up, but avoid the roots because it may make them appear greasy.

Once I put the silk infusion in my hair I like to let it dry naturally and avoid messing with it until it has dried completely. The easiest way I have found to achieve this is to wash my hair before bed and sleep with wet with a towel on my pillow.

Other important factors that can affect hair growth is the amount of damage you inflict on it through styling. Some damage is treatable through deep conditioning treatments but there are some things that one trying to grow out their hair should simply avoid (Based on my own experience).

 The first of those things (and probably the most important) is never bleach your own hair when trying to grow it out. If you decide you want to lighten your hair during your hair growth process my advice is to go to a professional to minimize the chance of damage ends and promoting breakage. Same goes with at home hair color. If you're trying to grow out your hair consider going natural for a while or dying hair less frequently.

The next styling tip to promote hair growth through preventing breakage is to minimize your use of heat styling tools on your hair. If you can't live without your blow dryer, straightener, or curler then you need to invest in a heat protecting spray to use prior to any heat styling.  I've been using Tresemme's Thermal Creations Tamer Spray and have been satisfied with the results for the price.

Another thing to consider when growing out your hair is to skip shampooing on some days and invest in a good dry shampoo. Shampooing your hair frequently can dry it out and using a dry shampoo on days you skip washing it can help fight back any greasiness you make experience on those off days and they smell good :) I've been using Tresemme's Fresh Start Dry Shampoo but have also heard great things about Batiste Dry Shampoos and am interested in trying them soon.

My final tip I have for anyone trying to grow out their hair is to do a deep conditioning treatment once or twice a month. Again I like the Organix line's Awaphui Ginger's Recovery Mask.
The longer you leave a conditioning treatment in the better. If you have a shower cap you can keep the conditioning treatment in for hours. This will help to hydrate hair a prevent breakage.

To grow out your hair you have to take care of both your body to make sure your hair is growing at it's full potential, treat any damage you already have through conditioning, and protect hair from further damage.
Growing out your hair is never a fun process thanks to all those awkward stages but through good hair care you can make the process quicker and easier on yourself.
Hopefully my long winded rant about hair care is at least somewhat helpful to anyone hoping to make hair growth a more simple process. I am by no means an expert on the subject and must admit much of what I have learned about taking care of my hair I've learned through trial and error or through the wonderful pinterest, primarily from Maskcara who has a million wonderful hair secrets.
I'd love to hear about any suggestions or question you may have about hair growth.

1-2-15 Edit: This post original contained borrowed images that have been removed. Follow links for a better idea of what products are mentioned.
-Reagan

New Hair

I had been going back and forth for a while on whether or not I should cut my bangs. I've been growing my hair out now for over a year and have been itching to make a major change. I didn't want to cause any more damage by a color change because that could affect hair growth. The solution? Cut my bangs. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out afterall.

-R

5 Things: pretty hair edition

1. handbands in pretty hair

2. pretty twisted style for shorter hair cuts

3. fishtail braid via tumblr

4. milkmaid braids via tumblr

5. victory rolls with a pretty head scarf

-R