summer favorite handbags

Sooooo guys this will be my 1st fashion Post 

im so excited so as summer start here comes the beautiful...colorful.... handbags.

From sleek and professional leather satchels to cute and convenient clutches, there’s a bag for every occasion and style taste. These summer 2015 bags fuse of-the-moment fashion trends with on-the-go functionality.

1.Cross body bags

 

 Cross-body bags have been a staple in many women’s closets for years. 
provides a hands-free carrier for women on-the-go.

2.Retro Bags

These bags will never go out of style. Retro bags, inspired by years past, offer a unique take on the everyday handbag

  3. bucket bags                                                  

ladies this is a major trend this summer season a cinch at the top to keep your valuables secure, and offers plenty of room inside for summertime essentials like a water bottle and sunscreen.

                                                                                                                                   

  

4.Straw/Woven Bags

                              

                         

this is what summer is all about. The airy, fun bags are great for holding sandals, towels, and other beach items. easy packing for those summer vacations.

5. Envelope Bags

                                              

Envelope clutch bags are classic accessories, ideal for evenings out or formal events.

and just enough room for credit cards, cash, and your cell phone

6. Fringed Bags

Fringe is all the rage this summer season. Its low-key boho nature makes these bags the perfect ‘everyday bag.’ There’s options for all styles and budgets

whats your favorite ladies let me know.  

Combing ....or finger combing decisions decisions

                                                           

Let's face it we all have this debate before 

Type 4 hair is the most fragile of all hair types because every curling point along the strand is a potential point of breakage and the curlier the hair the more potential points of breakage. In addition , us Naturals have to factor in dryness that results from a lack of sebum traveling down our highly textured strands and yes this sucks but i ask few naturals (40+ )  and  most of them preferred finger combing   most said they saw improvement in density, length and health to their hair due to finger detangling. 

 If you have never tried finger detangling and want to give it a shot here is what I would suggest; after finger detangling a small section of hair run a wide tooth comb through that section to test your work. If it goes through, then you’ve done the job right. If not, you have more work to do.

 Keep in mind that longer hair equals more work and time — and if you don’t want to put in that time, shorter hair might be the best option. if you are seeing a significant amount of breakage each time you detangle finger combing is something to at least try for the health of your hair. It may be time consuming but it sure beats seeing all your growth on your bathroom counter top.


 Any tips on how you finger comb your hair  let me know 

5 detox recipes you should try

                           

Heyyyy Naturalistas.

So lately i been searching for ways to detox my hair  yes people detox!!! why you ask a detox is great for exfoliating the scalp and removing any buildup on it. This gives your head of hair a real chance to breath and grow. so here a few i use ever 6 months.

pH balanced Shampoo 

I haven’t tried this detox shampoo yet because I am a weary shampooer (more so a co-washer but not strictly following the curly girl method) but I came across this recipe and it looks super interesting. The contents of the diy recipe seem to be gentle enough to cleanse/detox the scalp without stripping my hair of natural oils and moisture.

INGREDIENTS:

1 ½ cups of coconut milk

1 ¾ cups of Aloe Vera Gel

Directions: You put all of the ingredients together into a bowl and whisk them together as if you were whisking eggs. Once they are fully mixed together and voila you are ready to go. You can use the mixture just like you would use any other shampoo. You may want to find some sort of container to keep it in. The original creator of this recipe had a great idea of putting the mixture into ice trays and storing it in your freezer. Why you ask??? Well  when you are ready to use one of the home made shampoo bars you just pop it out the night before you know you are going to use it and put it in a bowl or container in the fridge until it is go time. How awesome is that! No wasted ingredients and gentle detoxifying shampoo that controls the pH balance of your hair! 

2. Detox Hair Mask :

This recipe I already knew of and have been using once a month personally in a slightly tweaked/altered version. This recipe calls for the following ingredients:

INGREDIENTS:

½ cup of Bentonite Clay (use a wooden or plastic bowl no metal bowls or utensils when interacting with bentonite clay)

½ cup Aloe Vera Gel(I get mine from GNC but it can be found in many health food stores, beauty supply stores, or online at Amazon)

¼ cup Apple Cider Vinegar (preferably Braggs brand with “the mother” still included)

1 additional cup of apple cider vinegar (optional or can be replaced with water) 

DIRECTIONS: My detox clay mask featuring bentonite clay powder. I also add in the additional cup of water because I feel the mixture may cause too much dryness if it tips further into the clay/vinegar as the main ingredients. That is just a personal preference. I mix these ingredients together and use the clay mask once a month when cleansing my hair or right after the removal of a protective style. I leave the mask on for 20 minutes with a shower cap over it to prevent over drying. Once I rinse this mask off my scalp feels amazing and my curls are POPPING, fully refreshed and ready to tackle the co-washing faze of wash day.

3. Honey Shampoo:

 I use honey as a part of my pre-poo regimen and deep conditioning but have never once thought to use it as a part of a cleansing/detoxification method.

INGREDIENTS: 

3-4 tablespoons of honey

mason jar/ random jar or container

Essential oil (optional)

Directions:  You are going to add the 3-4 tablespoons of honey into the jar or container you will be using for storage. Then you add in warm water until the container is filled to about its half way mark . Once the honey appears to have entered a liquid/watery state you can add any essential oil of your choice for fragrance. Use the mixture the same way you would use regular shampoo. This mixture will help not only to detoxify but to cleanse, moisturize and balance the pH of your hair as well while leaving it with a nice health shine.

4. Cucumber Lemon Shampoo:

This shampoo mix helps to detox the scalp but also helps alleviate a dry itchy scalp as well, while offering an amazingly soothing citric tingly feel.

INGREDIENTS:

1 lemon

1 cucumber

Food processor or blender

Directions: This mix/blend is probably one of the easiest creations to make to help detox and alleviate toxins on your scalp. Peel the lemon and the cucumber. Chop them up (if you are using a low power blender like I am) or just throw them into your food processor and bam… mix them up until they turn into a thick liquid paste consistency. Then apply to your hair like you would with shampoo.

5. Baking Soda Cinnamon Detox 

This is probably one of the most popular scalp detoxes in the natural hair community. It was the first one I ran into and the first one I actually tried on my self. Here’s what you will need for this mix (hint: the title gives most of it away thanks Thirsty Roots )

INGREDIENTS: 

1 teaspoon of baking soda

½ teaspoon of cinnamon powder

2 tablespoons of olive oil

DIRECTIONS: Mix the ingredients into a small container and massage the mixture into your scalp gently. (its best and easiest to do so when your hair is in sections…. but as a naturalista you should have already known that!). Leave the mask on for 10-15 minutes covered with a shower cap and rinse. This mix will help fight off dandruff by providing more antioxidants and decreasing hair loss. Sounds like something I need to try asap!

And recipes you love to Use and would love to then share them on my Fb page facebook.com/thenaturalinblue 

5 Bad Hair Habits to Break for Hair Growth!!!!

                                                                     

Let's Face it....We all want to care for our hair as best as possible. We buy all our products, stick to our regimen, and pay attention to our hair’s needs.we get accustomed to doing things that harms our hair instead of nurturing it. If we do it for so long, it turns into a habit which causes major damage to our hair in the long run. Here are five bad hair habits to break!


1. Hands in Hair 
The art of keeping our hair moisturized and soft, we have the tendency to always want our hands to feel just how soft and moisturized our hair. This causes a major problem. When touching your hair so often, your fingertips are removing your hair’s moisture. Also, although you may not be able to see it, your fingertips and under your nails carry lots of dirt that is placed into your hair when you touch it.

2. Frustrated Detangling
We all know to be gentle with our natural hair, but some days, being gentle with ANYTHING is the furthest from our mind. When you realize that you’re having a hard day or have just stepped away from a frustrating situation, take a moment to do something that will ease your stress. Read your favorite book, call your mom, watch a little bit of TV, or call your best friend. If you’re in a rush, take at least 30 seconds to take a few deep breaths. Your hair will thank you later.

3. Going to bed without protection 
We all know that we should be sleeping with our satin bonnet on or on a satin pillow case. This doesn’t mean that we all do it. Once or twice after a long day or long night of partying won’t do you any harm, but once it becomes a habit your hair is in a lot of trouble. Cotton pillows absorb moisture. Therefore, when going to bed without your satin bonnet or pillow results in a great amount of moisture lost from your hair.


4.Caring more about length than health 
If you’re one of those people that absolutely loves long hair, it’s normal to feel like the most important goal for your hair is length. If you think about it, healthy hair grows. For your hair to achieve length, your hair must achieve a great amount of health. Therefore, if you dedicate yourself to healthy hair, long hair will come without you even monitoring it.

And Last but not least

5.Comparing your hair to others We all have a hair crush. One thing you must remember when drooling over your hair crush is to admire their hair, not compare it to yours. Comparing your hair to others can make you discouraged about your hair and you may start to neglect your hair. Next thing you know, you’re not deep conditioning as often or have started slacking on daily moisturizing. Therefore, the number one rule of a hair crush is to NOT COMPARE

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2 new Brand backer product review

                                                     

hey guys so here another lovely 2 product reviews brought to you from BrandBacker. All opinions and thoughts are 100% my own.

This one  is a probiotic designed to help promote healthy oral health and keeping your mouth in oral optimal condition. It is meant to help your oral and nasal health. 
The probiotic S. salivarius M18 produces an enzyme that helps dissolve and loosen the formation of plaque and bio-film that eventually leads to cavities, staining, tooth sensitivities and unhealthy gums. Studies show that a special 2% of the population rarely experience plaque or tooth decay (that leads to the domino effect of dental problems) with the only differentiating factor being that they have sufficient S. salivarius M18 colonies.

TARGET BAD BREATH AT ITS SOURCE. Did you know that when you use mouthwash to prevent bad breath, you kill both the good and bad bacteria? And, did you know that it is up to the good bacteria to keep the bad breath causing bacteria in check? In fact, S. salivarius is often found in healthy mouths yet is deficient in halitosis sufferers. This means that the best long-term solution to eradicating bad breath is to repopulate your oral cavities with the good guys found in PRO-Dental.

REPOPULATE YOUR ORAL MICROBIOME. You might be familiar with your gut microbiome, but did you know that different probiotic strains populate your oral cavities? Your mouth is your first line of defense and the entry point for most infections. When your balance of healthy oral microflora is compromised by diet, disease, stress or antibiotics, you can quickly develop oral health and immune related problems. With PRO-Dental, you can finally keep this often forgotten microbiome in optimal shape!

REDUCE ORAL HEALTH ISSUES. The overgrowth of bad bacteria in your oral cavities contributes to health challenges such as plaque, teeth-staining, gum disease, bad breath, tonsil stones and ear, nose and throat infections. PRO-Dental is formulated with the most effective and clinically proven oral probiotic strains to restore the balance of good bacteria and promote oral and dental health.

PROMOTES HEALTHY EARS, NOSE, THROAT AND SINUSES. Upper respiratory and ear infections are caused by a buildup of bad bacteria that travels throughout your oral cavities. When your oral microbiome is populated with strong probiotic colonies, you are equipped with natural defenses against these nasty invaders. In fact, one clinical study shows that children treated with S. salivarius K12 have a 90% reduction in sore throats (including bacterial and viral) and a 40% reduction in ear infections!

What I though about the supplement:

I have never taken a probiotic for dental health before this one. The tablet is small and chewable, easy to take. It has a great minty taste, not too strong. They are 100% natural with no added sugar, 100% vegetarian. They have a great impact on your morning breath when you first awaken not as bad as it would be if no probiotics had been taken. As far as helping with sinuses and such, I don't normally suffer from those problems so it is hard from me to tell whether they would help in those circumstances. 

I have had no negative experiences with the product and will continue to use for the dental aspects of the product, as I have a few teeth that have become sensitive and the probiotics have seemingly helped to ease the sensitivity. 

You can find the Hyperbiotics PRO-Dental on Facebook and Twitter, and can visit their website. 

Or You can purchase the product on Amazon. 

 

                                                               

Ok my 2nd Product is this Amara Organics serum is an awesome duo for me having 2 of my favorite skin care items in one serum. Both are amazing for skin health & for helping to keep skin looking healthy, I am not really looking for a youthful look I want a look of someone healthy inside & out Vitamins C & E are great for doing that with my face, some may call that youthful, I call it healthy.

I tend to get a lot of compliments on the health of my skin & when I am trying a new product I try to pay attention to what others think & so far everyone has noticed my skin looking brighter & has a healthful glow. I have only used this serum about 2 weeks so look forward to continual use & its effects on my skin.

Amara Organics Vitamin C Serum is safe for all skin types and conditions, including dry or irritated skin, acne, and eczema. It will not clog pores and does not contain parabens or alcohol.

I am very pleased with this product. I am a true Vitamin C Serum believer and that this product also includes Vitamin E AND Hyaluronic Acid makes this product a top pick when choosing a serum!

Get the Amara Vitamin C Serum  here.

Believe me this price is worth it as many companies charge way more for less active ingredients! It is never too late to start to include Vitamin C into your skin care routine- and never too early! :-)

I received this product from BrandBacker for my review purposes, all opinions are my own. 

Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration line Review

                                                                              

Happy Spring!!!! It's that time of year again where you may or may not need to tweak your hair regimen. If you've been following me on Instagram (@Thenaturalinblue) which i just started so go follow and like. About a month ago, I was on a mission to find either the Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil line or the Manuka Honey line. Alas, I went to every CVS in my area and they were always sold out so luckily my local Target had the Manuka Honey line. This line promotes itself as being a dry hair recipe and typically in the cooler months, preventing dry hair and its  importance to naturals. 

The three advertised ingredients are specifically for preventing moisture loss and hydrating the hair. As stated by the brand: Manuka Honey has anti-inflammatory properties to sooth the scalp and helps create moisturizing barrier; Mafura Oil has high levels of beneficial oleic acid to help replenish oils stripped from the hair; and African Rock Fig contains antioxidant vitamin C which helps to keep the hair looking vibrant. Now that sounds like the perfect recipe for a cold weather product line! I have used the entire line and I must say I was impressed with some of the line. Here's my review and results of how it worked for me.

                                                   Intensive Hydration Shampoo

                                        

 

This shampoo cleanses while infusing hair with intense moisture and shine enhancing nutrients.This is the only product of the line that doesn't contain all of the advertised ingredients. Honey is not listed as an ingredient which is odd since this is the Manuka Honey line. ok ''kanye Shrugs''  this shampoo is sulfate free but lathers a lot. I used very little of the shampoo because there was so much lather which I don't mind. If the shampoo doesn't lather I get worried .This shampoo has great slip and I was able to run my fingers through it. Once I rinsed it out my curls was lovinngg it lol . I agree with the claim of it infusing the hair with intense moisture. I definitely recommend this shampoo and would re-purchase it if I ever finish it lol. A little goes a long way. 

Intensive Hydration Conditioner

This rinse out conditioner instantly softens and detangles while infusing hair with intense moisture and shine enhancing ingredients. The conditioner did not soften my hair nor did it have any slip to aid in detangling! My hair sucked it up, I was unable to detangle so I attempted to use a wide tooth comb which I had to give up on and how my hair just soaked it all in. I also tried to use this product as a leave in styler but my hair didn't dry and it there wasn't enough hold. I can't recommend this product for anyone with kinky, high porosity, thick hair. I won't be repurchasing this product. 
  
                                                      Intensive Hydration Hair Masque
                                                                              

This intensely deep conditioning hair masque infuses hair with a powerful dose of moisture and nutrients. Can we just pause for how AMAZING this hair masque is!!! Lets fast forward to will I repurchase it... YES! Do I recommend it... YES! The consistency is like any other Shea Moisture hair masque but this one has amazing slip and penetrates the hair shaft. I was able to finger detangle, my hair was soft and moisturized, and my hair had a great shine too it as seen in the pictures. My hair felt transformed like butter! If you've used the honey hair masque and you liked those results, you'll receive the same if not better results with this hair masque. The honey in this product has a strong presence and my hair loved it. It really softened my hair making it more manageable and easier to style. I can already say this will make my favorites list for 2015!!! Nothing more to say but let the results speak for themselves.  

Hopefully I will be able to check out  the new Shea Moisture lines  I will use the shampoo but I have others that are my favorite so it will have to fit in where it can lol. 

Questions, comments, or your own experiences with this line please leave them below.

HAIR TIP MONDAY

In this week’s edition, I thought I’d pick up from where we left off ....

 This natural hair stuff doesn’t have to be as difficult or as confusing as some might make it out to be. One way to keep from pulling out your hair in frustration is to keep a simple and consistent regimen, starting with a handful of products. In my experience, there are just a few basic things you really need to get you started on a decent regimen.

Cleanser

Whether you use a commercial shampoo or a natural alternative, the choice is yours. Bottom line- clean hair will lead to healthy hair.

If you do go the route of commercial shampoos, it’s great to have both a moisturizing sulfate-free shampoo as well as a good clarifying shampoo to thoroughly cleanse all the random gook (gels, creams, butters) that you may have piled on throughout the week… aka product buildup. Apple cider vinegar and baking soda are also great for clarifying.

Conditioner

This is used to improve the condition of the hair and can come in the form of a moisturizer (to put back what you might have lost in the cleansing stage) a protein treatment or a combo of both as in the case with some deep conditioners. Generally, kinky or afro-textured hair craves moisture more than it does protein. So, protein treatments, while helpful, may not need to be used as frequently as a moisturizing conditioner. I’ll have more on all of this in a future post. 

Leave-In

Leave-in conditioners pretty much continue the moisturizing process after washing and may even include a form of light protein to give the hair a good moisture-protein balance. I never skip this step!

Oil/Butter

Here’s where it all comes together. While the hair is still slightly damp, seal all that lovely moisture in with an oil or butter of your choosing, depending on what agrees with your hair (for many, porosity comes into play here and you may need something light). I like whipped shea butters as well as coconut and grapeseed oils, to name a few. Fiddle with a some to find what works.

Styler… Optional

While I often end the process at the oil or butter, many take it a step further with a styling product, usually something that provides some hold for flawlessly defined hair. These may include your soufflés, creams, gels and such. I have found, though, that I can get a well-defined twist-out or braid-out without a styling product just by setting the hair while it’s still damp and allowing it to dry completely.

So that, as they say, is that! My suggestion to “newbies” is always to start with just a few things, one… maybe two from each category. Assess what your hair needs are, read the labels and make your selections. Try ‘em for a few weeks and see how your hair responds. Even if your products change, be it due to the change in season or otherwise, your routine should stay pretty consistent.

Hope this was helpful!