haircare – Her Own Skin

TOP RESULTS IN LITTLE TIME: WASH & GO!

November 23, 2015IKA Leave a Comment

GUYS! This past weekend was intense. I had so much going on and so little time. I was feeling like my hair needed a boost of something different so I went for the wash and go. Let me start by saying, I don’t do this method often. Actually I’ve only done it once and while it was ok, I knew that there was something that I didn’t quite grasp.

I figured it out in two easy steps. I can’t even believe how simple it was! And the best part, it took me a total of 1.5 hours from start to finish and $4.50! No need for a “wash day” 😉
WASH AND GO POST
Plain and simple, I cowshed with VO5 Coconut Conditioner. Guys, first of all this conditioner was $1.49. Like really? And to be honest I think I’ve seen it cheaper in some places. Second of all, my hair was SO SOFT AND TANGLE FREE after running this conditioner through it. It felt better than some of my expensive brands; and I have quite a few. Why have I been spending so much money? Just like every time I wash, I sectioned my hair into about 4 parts. When my hair was nicely cleaned and conditioned, I simply ran the Xtreme Professional Wet Line Styling Gel through each section. Btw, it was $2.99 (Should have bought 10 of them 🙂 ). I was generous with this because I wanted the style to really hold. I sat under the dryer for about 20 minutes since I was in a rush. I prefer no heat so had there been time I would have let it air dry like I normally do.

THAT’S IT! I mean, I think I’ve wasted some time in the past. lol
This will be my quick, in-a-hurry go to style, go forward. When time permits I certainly treat my hair with a little more tlc. I deep condition (before I wash) and most people use leave in conditioner. I’m still up in the air about that step but it’s up to you.

Share with me some of the ways you get top results in a little time. It’s perfect for someone like me who is always on the run. I’m out there finding the best products for all of you! That takes time my friends! 😉

xo IKA

DIY SKINCARE!!! HOMEMADE & NOURISHING!

November 19, 2015IKA Leave a Comment

I have been the queen of product obsession for years. The list of skincare, haircare, cosmetic brands in my aparment can go on for days! But lately I’ve revisited my once LOVE for DIY (DO IT YOURSELF) products for the skin. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t thrown out my Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser, let’s not get carried away, but here’s a list of my favorite DIY products. All made in my kitchen and a surefire way to embrace an all natural living 😉

1. Daily Moisturizing Body Oil (Summer): I love a light misty oil in the Summer. You don’t want anything too heavy in the hot months but strong enough to keep the skin dewy. Mix coconut oil and rose water in a small spray bottle. This combination creates a light fragrance and keeps the body feeling fresh. If it’s solidified, place the bottle in a cup of warm water while you’re showering. It’ll be ready to spray on your damp skin shortly after.

2. Daily Moisturizing Body Butter (Winter): I mean, just talking about this makes me happy! I’m probably happier in the winter months just becuase I get to use the heavy stuff! With Winter knocking on our door, I’ll be busy for the next few months. Here you go; super easy: Mix raw shea butter, coconut oil, and almond oil in a small jar. Boom, done! This combined with an exfoliator (see #3) during the harsh winter months will have your skin feeling like a baby’s bottom!

3. Weekly Exfoliator: HELLO! Have we met? You should already know this is my favorite. My DIY Brown Sugar Scrub not only tackles dead skin cells on my dry skin, but is highly requested by my friends and family! I’m going to start CHARGING! Mix raw brown sugar, coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil and honey(optional) in a small jar and keep it in your shower. I can tell you from experience this is a great gift! It comes from the heart!

4. Weekly Hair Oil (Pre-Shampoo): I’m convinced that this concoction of oils makes my tresses thick and healthy. Get a bottle with a nozzle for easy application and mix grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, avacado oil, rosemary essential oil, tea tree essential oil together for a hair treatment that has you wanting more! This particular mix is for before shampooing. The rosemary scent is quite strong and isn’t recommended for everyday use. For an even deeper moisturizer, warm this mix up and create your own hot oil treatment.

5. Daily Hair Spray (For Braids, Locs, Twists): A few months ago I was sporting Senegalese Twists in my hair which I absolutely LOVED, btw. It’s important to treat my hair underneath styles like this so that it isn’t too dry and brittle. I created a daily spray that boosted the moisture up and kept my twists looking fresh. In a spray bottle, add 3 parts water and 1 part vegetable glycerin, tea tree essential oil, and jojoba oil. I LOVE THIS MIX! For natural textures, moisture is essential, regularly.

6. Daily Post-Workout Scalp Spray: So this is super important; especially when you’re in a protective hairstyle. After a workout or simply when you feel your scalp needs a little something extra without the hassle of washing, it’s crucial to freshen the scalp and keep too much buildup from happening. We all can’t wash our hair every single day so here’s a trick I do for inbetween washes. It’s simple! Mix 100% pepermint oil with a little bit of jojoba oil. Don’t overdue the jojoba; the point is to avoid buildup. What the peppermint does is breaks up the salt from the sweat on your scalp! Amazing right? It’ also gives a little tingle and cooling sensation which can feel quite refreshing after a hard workout!

7. Sugar Lip Scrub: Have you seen my lips? SOFT! LOL 🙂 Here’s the trick: Mix Brown Sugar (or white sugar) with a little bit of olive oil (you can also use coconut oil or honey) and pop it into a small jar. If you scrub your lips every other night, you’ll see a major difference! Trust me, this is an all year round essential!

I hope my list inspired you to get in the kitchen and start mixing. We love healthy skin and hair. There’s no better way to improve them than using what comes from the earth. Work on it! 😉 You know you want to! What are some of your favorite DIY skincare/haircare products? Share with us!

xo IKA

NATURAL vs. RELAXED

May 4, 2015IKA 8 Comments

It’s YOUR Hair. Do What You Please!!!

It’s obvious! There is a natural hair movement going on right in front of our eyes! You see beautiful natural tresses all over social media and all over the streets! For years black women (not all) but many have been relaxing their hair to make it straight. I AM ONE OF THEM! This is a huge topic in the black community and constantly discussed among my friends and family.

At the very young age of 5 my mom put my first kiddie relaxer in my hair. Yes, 5! I’ve never looked back. Well actually, I’ve tried to reverse the cycle a few times and failed. There was a time in high school where I wanted Locs! The problem is, once your hair is relaxed, that hair can’t be reversed. You can’t wake up and say, “I’m not into this perm let me bring it back to natural.” You would have to cut off all of the relaxed hair to be natural again, or grow it out with the pains of transition breakage for some. Breakage is horrifying for all women! You would also have to get adjusted to natural hairstyles that you might not be used to. I’ve found that today, most of my friends and family are natural; even my mom went back, last year. I’m like the last girl standing! Lol

So…

I want to hear from you! Ladies who are newly natural, what made you decide to transition? Send me a note about your natural hair journey. Take pictures, express your feelings. Let me and the rest of our readers know what you went through and what worked for you. What struggles did you come across? Relaxed girls, I haven’t forgotten you (I’m in the same boat). I want to hear from you too! Why do you choose to stay relaxed, or have you been thinking about switching? What works for you and which ways have kept your relaxed hair healthy? This blog is here as a platform for women who support each other and learn from one another in all journeys; natural or relaxed! Afterall, it’s your hair! To be honest, I’m half relaxed and half natural! LMAO! Do what you want; no judgment! Whichever way you choose, do it with CONFIDENCE! Let’s Talk! 😉

xo IKA

MAKEUP JUNKIES UNITE! IKA’S FAVORITES

April 13, 2015IKA 2 Comments

LET’S WEAR THEM ALL!

I won’t hide my problem! I’m a makeup and product junkie! 🙁 No, seriously, I’m a junkie. I have it all, from skincare to haircare products and almost every shade of nail polish; IKA’s got it. But hey, I’ve been blessed. There was a time when I had access to the SELF magazine beauty closet and visited quite a few Conde Nast beauty sales. I’ve stacked up for life!

I’ve gone through my makeup products and came up just a few of my favorites and must-haves for the Spring/Summer. Let’s get started!

1. Moisturizer with SPF: I do have a favorite moisturizer and it is kind of pricey for every day, but it is number one on my list. Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturizing Balm. I don’t go without it. This particular kind of moisturizer provides the heaviest moisture (which I need). You of course can try other moisturizers at Bobbi Brown based on your skin type. I love it because I don’t always have to add makeup on top. It does the job!

2. Matte Lipstick: Ahhhh I love matte lipstick. Shiny is over-rated! 🙂 For a sexy pout, try these inexpensive matte lip colors at NYX. I personally feel they are just as good as any high-end makeup brand, if not better!

3. Face Primer: I admit it, this one’s new to me. I never used to add primer to my everyday makeup. Now that I’ve discovered it, I can’t get enough! My current favorite: MAC Prep and Prime. This keeps my consealer and powder on for the entire day! You can also try one of Laura Mercier’s foundation primers which are also a hit!

5. Faux Lashes: My devoted readers, you already know how I feel about this. I am a faux lash lover! I wrote a post a while back called Face Pop and made it a point to show you my love! If you don’t want the commitment of extensions, you can try a low cost version for special occasions. Try ELF’s Lash Kit which is the incredible price of $1!!!! Can’t beat that!

6. Liquid Eyeliner: Here’s a little bonus. I love a winged eyeliner. It just does it for me! It takes practice but once you get the hang of it it will be a breeze. Currenly my favorite is Makeup Forever’s Ink Liner. It’s something kind of amazing. This liner finishes matte. Did I say I love matte? 😉

I hope you enjoy the above as much as I do. Tell me what your favorites are. I still have space in the beauty closet. I’m all for trying new goodies!

xo IKA