Indulge in YOU... Natural Hair, Fitness and More!

"Mardi Gras in the Nude"

2012-01-23T22:50:00.000-06:00

Hello Lovelies!
I want to share my latest nail color and design with you all.

To create this look, I applied a bonder base coat to clean nails. I then applied two coats of "Moon Light" to each of my nails with the exception of the ring fingers. I allowed the polish to dry in between each coat. I then created a half moon starting from my cuticle to the middle of my ring fingers with Revlon's "Gold Coin" polish. Next, I applied "Green Grass" to half of the remaining unpolished portion of my nail and then applied "Purple" to the other half. Once all three colors dried, I used "Black Sparkles" art deco brush to outline the areas where the 3 colored edges meet. Once all of the polishes were completely dry, I applied a top coat to seal my work.

Colors from L to R: Moonlight (10 Professional Nail Lacquer), Purple (Klean Color Nail Lacquer), Green Grass (Klean Color Nail Lacquer), Black Sparkles (L.A. Colors Art Deco), and Gold Coin (Revlon)

Let me know what you think!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I purchased about 8 colors by "10 Professional Nail Lacquer" from CVS. They were all 75% off! This brand is awesome. My fingernail colors never last more than 1.5 to 2 days without any chipping in sight. With this brand, I get at least 3.5 to 4 good days out of it before my nails show any wear. This is a HUGE improvement in a polish for me. Have you tried this brand?

Take Care and Until Next Time,

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

Thrift Store Blazer Haul

2012-01-04T00:05:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year Lovelies!!!

I pray that each of you had a wonderful Christmas and I wish you the best in 2012!

Lately, I have been thrifting and I truly enjoy it. On my latest thrift store haul I picked up some wonderful blazers. Check out the video and let me know what you think.

Do you thrift? If so, what have been some of your favorite deals that you have scored?

Until Next Time,

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

Who's Your Hair Crush?

2011-11-16T19:49:00.000-06:00

Hello Lovelies!
I ran across these pictures of Tempest Bledsoe and her hair is lovely! Currently she is my hair crush. Who is yours?

Source

Until Next Time,

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

Twinkle Toes

2011-11-15T22:07:00.000-06:00

Happy Wednesday Lovelies!!!!

Have you ever tried to be creative with painting your nails be it your fingers or toes? I am more adventurous with the colors and designs on my toes rather than on my fingers. The reason being is that for one, my fingernail color wears away quicker than the nail color on my toes. Also, due to me working in the corporate arena, I keep it pretty conservative with the fingernail colors and designs.

Here are some shots of my latest designs on my toes. I was playing around and decided to do stripes with slight curves.

L.A. Colors Art Decor in White and Klean Color Nail Lacquer in Beach Blue

Do you care to share some of your designs with us? If so, send them to me with a description.

Until Next Time,

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

Happy Birthday To Me!

2011-11-13T07:51:00.000-06:00

Good Morning Lovlies!!

Today is my birthday and I am excited!! I am always excited to celebrate another year of being alive! God has blessed me and has allowed me to see this day and I am truly grateful.

I am planning on going skating and out to eat pizza later in the week....so stay tuned for pics! I thought that I would celebrate this year like we did when we were kids. I love it!

Take care and have a wonderful and blessed day!!

Until Next Time,

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

Hand Bags, Purses, Clutches Oh My!

2011-09-08T22:23:00.000-05:00

Hello Lovelies,
I just wanted to share a few deals that I have come across this year. The hand bags and purses shown below were all thrifted. I enjoy the thrill of finding a good deal while thrifting.

Sonoma $3.33 ($30 Original Price) Brand New with tag still attached.

Mondani $3.00

No Name $3.50

No Name $1.88

No Name $4.00

What deals have you scored lately?

Until Next Time,

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

Deals and More Deals

2011-09-02T14:09:00.000-05:00

Hello Lovelies!!

I hope that you all are having a wonderful Friday!

Below are a few deals that I have run across this morning while scouring blogs and websites.

Enjoy!

Download "The Dream's" Mix Tape for free.
Get your JCPenney $10 off $25 MNG by Mango coupon.
Thanks Niki! Visit her blog here.

Get 40% off of everything at New York and Company by using this coupon.
$5 Buffet at Souper Salad
Get 2 margaritas, 1 appetizer, 2 full entrees, and 1 shared dessert at Chilli's for $35

Until Next Time,

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

New Wet-N-Wild Fast Dry Polishes

2011-08-23T00:04:00.003-05:00

Recently, I won 6 new nail polishes by Wet-N-Wild from my girl Vee over at Dime on a Dime. They all have catchy names.

From left to right the polish names are as follows:

Ebony Hates Chris, Blue Wants To Be A Millionaire, The Gold and The Beautiful, How I Met Your Magenta, Saved by the Blue and Gray's Anatomy. This set is a part of Wet-N-Wild's new fast dry collection.

These colors are very divalicious! They are really vibrant and they stand out. I used 2 coats on of each color. I will be wearing them on my toes rather than on my finger nails just because the nail beds of my fingers are really wide and short. I think polish looks better on my toes.

Have you all tried any of the Wet-N-Wild nail colors lately?

Until Next Time

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

Recipe: The Concoction

2011-08-15T14:04:00.000-05:00

Hello Lovelies!! I hope that you all had a wonderful weekend ;-).

I love food. I mean, I really do. I also love trying different spices. This past weekend, I decided to whip something up to make my taste buds happy. This was super easy to prepare and cook. I don’t have a name for the dish, so I will call it one of my concoctions.

Ingredients:

1 Potato

½ bell pepper

½ onion

1 turkey sausage link

10-12 large shrimp

1 can of diced tomatoes

1 tbsp olive oil

Seasonings of choice (basil, oregano, thyme, salt, pepper, garlic powder, mesquite grill seasoning).

Cut the potato into chunks. Slice the bell pepper and onion into thin-medium strips. Add in all of the seasonings to your taste. Sauté the potatoes, bell peppers, onions, and seasonings in olive oil for about 5 minutes on low to medium heat. Slice the turkey sausage into pieces. Add the turkey sausage and shrimp to the wok/skillet. Let mixture cook until the shrimp turn pink. Add in the can of diced tomatoes. Do not drain juice from the tomatoes. Turn up the heat in order to bring mixture to a slight boil. Once the mixture begins to boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Make sure you stir mixture occasionally. Serve the concoction by itself or over brown rice or whole wheat pasta.

This was so delish!!

Until Next Time

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

Re"java"nating Coffee Scrub

2011-08-11T14:20:00.000-05:00

I don't want no scrub, a scrub is a guy that can't get no love from me. Hanging out the passenger side of his best friend's ride, trying to holla at me.......I took you back for a moment! Lol!

Anyway, I love body scrubs! My favorite one is a Re"java"nating coffee scrub. I used to not drink coffee, but I loved the smell of it. So one day I was thinking and I came of with the idea of a coffee scrub. That was a way for me to get my "cup of joe" without having to actually drink it. Well, times have changed and I am now and occasional coffee drinker :-).

This particular scrub is filled with coffee butter, mango butter, coffee grounds, and more deliciousness! It helps you exfoliate your skin to remove any dead skin cells and reveal the smooth, soft, and supple skin hiding underneath. Head on over to my website and get you a cup of body joe if you want.

Until Next Time,

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

Mane Chic Vee

2011-07-29T11:07:00.000-05:00

According to Merriam Webster’s definition, mane is long and heavy hair on a person’s head. Me personally, I don’t think it has to be long and heavy. If you have hair growing from your head, then I consider this to be your mane. Chic (pronounced sheek) is defined as smart, elegance, and sophistication. With that being said,

Meet Mane Chic Vee!

How long have you been natural?

I’ve been natural for about 12 years.

What is your goal for your natural hair?

My only goal is to maintain my hair’s healthy state.

How does your natural hair make you feel about yourself?

Being natural makes me feel empowered…empowered by choice. I can wear my hair as it grows from my scalp or straighten it, and feel 100% comfortable in my own skin.

If you could go back and change anything about your natural hair journey, what would it be and why?

In my beginning stages, I would have done more research into products and styling. It would have prevented major frustrations from not knowing how to handle my hair in its natural state.

If you were to go on a hair product diet for 6 months (summer through fall) by not using more than 5 products on your hair, what products would be in your stash?

Shea Moisture shea butter shampoo, Biolage Hydratherapie Conditioning balm, Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave in, Kinky Curly curling custard, raw shea butter.

What is your staple style? Give a quick tutorial on your staple style. If you have a picture your staple style, include it as well.

My hair is past my shoulders so I wear it up a lot to prevent breakage. My staple style when my hair is down is a side braid tucked under and secured with a bobby pin or a twist-out, pineappled on top of my head. For long term protective styling, I opt for kinky twists.

What is one product that you have found to have more than one use and you used it on your hair? For example, you look at the ingredients of your favorite body lotion and decide that it can be used as a great moisturizer for your hair.

Would have to be shea butter! I use this stuff for everything! I use it to remove makeup, for my body and for my hair.

What tips/advice do you have to share about natural hair?

Acceptance is the word that comes to mind. Accept your hair for what it is and try not to hate your hair for what it is not.

If you had to choose one word to describe your mane, what would it be and why?

Retrograde: *having or being motion in a direction contrary to that of the general motion of similar bodies

Thank you so much Vee for sharing your Mane Chicness with us!! For more of Vee, visit her at her Blog ~ Dime on a Dime.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

Today's word from Joel and Victoria: Speak to Your Mountains

2011-07-25T09:59:00.000-05:00

Speak to Your Mountains

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“And Jesus answered them, Truly I say to you, if you have faith (a firm relying trust) and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea, it will be done”
(Matthew 21:21, AMP)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

We’ve all had seasons when the challenges of life feel overwhelming. During those times, it’s easy to be tempted to talk about how bad things are. Maybe you received a bad medical report, or maybe you’re facing a financial obstacle. But the more you talk about something, the bigger it becomes in your mind. Instead, you’ve got to dig your heels in and say, “No, I am not going to give life to that defeat. I am not going to speak sickness over myself. I’m not going to speak lack. I’m not going to speak fear. I’m choosing a different report. I believe the report of the Lord which says I am blessed. I am favored. I am prosperous. I am healthy. I am whole. I’m a victor, not a victim.”

Remember, even if you don’t see how things could ever work out, God does. You’ve got to speak to those mountains in your life and declare favor over those situations. Instead of talking to God about how big your problems are, talk to your problems about how big your God is! As you speak to your mountains, they will be moved, and you will move forward into the victory God has prepared for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word which is life to my spirit. I receive Your strength today and choose to speak to the mountains so I can move forward in the victory You have in store for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

Work It Out Wednesday: Eating Healthy While Eating Out

2011-07-20T12:56:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon Lovelies!

I love to eat! I mean I really love to eat so I have to watch myself. Restaurants are trying to make eating out less stressful for those who are trying to eat healthy. Recently, I visited Denny’s for breakfast. I was scouring through the menu when I came across the New Fit Slam. It looked Yummy on the menu. I ordered the New Fit Slam, and when it came out it looked better sitting in front of me than it did on the menuJ.

This dish was composed of the following:

· Egg whites with fresh spinach and grape tomatoes

· Two turkey bacon strips

· An English muffin

· Seasonal fruit

I had water as my beverage. This breakfast tasted great! I left the restaurant feeling good about not blowing my Insanity workout (Dig Deeper!).

You also have the option of building your own fit grand slam that include options such as Chicken Sausage Patty, Egg Whites, Wheat Pancakes, Turkey Bacon, Seasonal Fruit, and Yogurt.

There are healthy options out there for us to choose from. We have to make the choice of what we put into our bodies. What good is it going to do you if you workout hard but eat badly? Eating right, clean, healthy or whatever you would like to call it is a necessity if you want to see the full benefits of your workout regimen.

Get to moving and give your body the nutrition it needs.

LEEGO!!

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

Mane Chic Andrea

2011-07-15T10:20:00.002-05:00

According to Merriam Webster’s definition, a mane is long and heavy hair on a person’s head. Me personally, don’t think it has to be long and heavy. If you have hair growing from your head, then I consider this to be your mane. Chic (pronounced sheek) is defined as smart elegance and sophistication. With that being said,

Meet Mane Chic Andrea!

How long have you been natural?

I’ve been natural for about 6 years!!!

What is your goal for your natural hair?

My goal use to be bsl, mid back, all the way down there hair but, since getting older and a little wiser I really just desire healthy, beautiful hair! If my hair grows all the way there then, thank you Jesus!!! if not, well THANK YOU JESUS ANY WAY!!! LOL!!!

How does your natural hair make you feel about yourself?

My hair doesn’t make me; it’s a part of me. There are a lot of things such as my personality, spirit, eyes, nose, smile that make up Andrea. My hair is just part of that chaotic combination! Lol!

If you could go back and change anything about your natural hair journey, what would it be and why?

I would have found what works for ME! I spent a lot of time on You Tube, blogs, etc. and tried to use everything the cyber world said works Lol! My ended up a chaotic combination of confusion!!!! Don’t get me wrong I absolutely love blogs and You Tube, but if I could go back I would have just kept it simple. You live and learn.

If you were to go on a hair product diet for 6 months (summer through fall) by not using more than 5 products on your hair, what products would be in your stash?

It would have to be my black soap, Herbal Essence Hello Hydration conditioner, Karen’s body beautiful butter love, eco styler olive oil gel, and some hair pins!!! lol!

What is your staple style? Give a quick tutorial on your staple style. If you have a picture your staple style, include it as well.

I wear my hair in twist Monday-Friday and then on the weekend I let the mane go free!!!!! I also do a lot of up-dos when I’m bored with my hair.

Oh wow that’s easy! Olive oil, it makes the bomb grilled tilapia and is awesome as a moisturizer/ pre-poo

What tips/advice do you have to share about natural hair?

Condition! Condition! Condition! Moisturize! Moisturize! Moisturize! The rest is up to you!!!!

If you had to choose one word to describe your mane, what would it be and why?

Andrea’s!!! lol!!! It’s all me!!!!

Thank you so much Andrea for sharing your Mane Chicness with us!! For more of Andrea, visit her at her Website, Blog, and Facebook!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

Work it out Wednesday: Shake it to the Left! Shake it to the Right!

2011-07-13T13:55:00.000-05:00

Image Source

Remember when you used to hula hoop? Well, I have decided to purchase a weighted hula hoop and get to shakin'. I am currently on day 24 of the "Insanity" program and I want to incorporate hula hooping into the mix. This will allow me to kick my ab routine up a notch.

Believe it or not, hula hooping can actually rev up your heart rate as well as help you shed inches from your waist. It helps you tone and strengthen your core all while improving your coordination and balance at the same time.

The great thing about the hula hoop is that you can do this while watching your favorite show that you may have DVR’d/recorded. You can also hula hoop to the music of your choice. If you have children, incorporate this as an activity with them. They can use the regular hula hoops that you can purchase at Wal-Mart, Target, etc while you use your weighted one. NO MORE EXCUSES!! Get ready to burn some calories!

Has anyone tried the weighted/sports hula hoop?

Until Next Time,

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

Mane Chic YellowCurlyGirl

2011-07-08T08:59:00.000-05:00

Meet Mane YellowCurlyGirl!

How long have you been natural?
After relaxing my hair for more than 20 years I became curious about my natural hair texture. In Feb. 2009 I decided to begin my transition from relaxed to natural. I’ve been natural for a year and a half and I LOVE IT! I transitioned for 11 months and chopped off what was left of my relaxed ends on Jan 15^th, 2010.

What is your goal for your natural hair?
My goals for my natural hair are to keep it healthy and to grow it to mid back length. (That was the length of my hair BEFORE I started relaxing it.)

How does your natural hair make you feel about yourself?

My natural hair makes me feel free, pretty, nonconforming, strong, and patient.

If you could go back and change anything about your natural hair journey, what would it be and why?
If I could change anything about my natural hair journey I would have taken the time to learn how to do natural styles. Why? Because I think I’m “stylistically” challenged. I would love to learn how to do flat twists, braids, and etc. I’ve watched a ton of YouTube tutorials but I still can’t get the gist of how the styles are done when it’s time to try them on my own hair.

If you were to go on a hair product diet for 6 months (summer through fall) by not using more than 5 products on your hair, what products would be in your stash?

The 5 products I would have on my hair product diet would be: Suave Professionals Humectant conditioner, Aloe Vera Juice, Jojoba Oil, Coconut Oil, and Eco Styler styling gel.

What is your staple style? Give a quick tutorial on your staple style. If you have a picture your staple style, include it as well.

My staple style is my trusty Afro Puff! It’s quick and easy to do. To create my afro puff I spray my hair with a mixture of spring water, Aloe Vera juice, and Vitamin E oil to wet the hair. After that I add some Eco Styler gel and brush my hair up. Next, I take a large elastic band (without the metal clip) and stretch the band around my head just above my ears. Then I gently slide the band up creating a high ponytail. Once my puff is in place I tie the down the hair down around the puff with a scarf for 10-20 mins to dry and slick the hair. Then I use my rosemary moisture spritz to fluff my puff.

What is one product that you have found to have more than one use and you used it on your hair?
Sweet Almond Oil: not only is it a GREAT moisturizer for natural hair but it’s an excellent body oil AND you can use it for food preparation and cooking.

What tips/advice do you have to share about natural hair?

The advice I would like to give about natural hair or for those transitioning to natural hair is to do lots of research. Knowledge is power! Be patient. There are times when you will get frustrated and feel like you can’t maintain your hair in its natural state but you can. Surround yourself with family and friends who support your decision to go natural. Having support is important. If you can’t find support in the real world know that the internet natural hair community is AWESOME and there is always someone who has gone through what you are going through.

If you had to choose one word to describe your mane, what would it be and why?
Curl-tacular! I made up this word to describe my hair because I think the abundance of natural spiral curls God blessed me with are SPECTACULAR!

Thank you YellowCurlyGirl for sharing your Mane Chicness with us! For more of YellowCurlyGirl, visit her "Relaxed to Natural Photo Journey" at http://public.fotki.com/TPayne75

Have a wonderful weekend!

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

Summer Must Haves

2011-07-05T00:43:00.000-05:00

Hello Lovelies!!
I hope that each of had a wonderful holiday on yesterday.

Source

Below are some items that will be a part of my summer arsenal. They are in no particular order. I just listed them in the order that they came off of the dome. Feel free to share what's on your list of summer must haves.

Evening Primrose Supplements
Bronzer
Sunscreen
Water
Free Flowing Dresses
Water and Glycerin spritzer
Revlon Pallette
Hair Accessories
Body Splashes
Nail Polishes

I will expound more on the evening primrose supplements and sunscreen in a later post so stay tuned!

Until Next Time,

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

Photo Shoot

2011-06-24T00:03:00.001-05:00

Good Morning Lovlies!!

As you all know, I love posing and smiling for the camera! I just wanted to share a few pictures from a recent photo shoot. I hope you enjoy!
Photographer ~ Robyn Hardeway http://www.robynesque.com/
Makeup Artist ~ Shykeitha Blount www.modelmayhem.com/144720

About the Hair
My hair was styled via a braid out. I approached this braid out differently that I normally would and I really liked the results.

First, I washed and conditioned my hair. I then applied a leave-in conditioning and strengthening treatment (more information to come on this product in the near future :-)). I then applied/raked Eco Styler gel throughout my hair in small sections. I let my hair air dry and I wore it in its very coily state for that day. Later that night, I lightly sprayed my hair with water and braided my hair into about 11 to 13 plaits. The key to elongating your coils when they are tightly coiled after the application of a gel is to lightly mist a section of hair with water, hold your hair at the roots with one hand, and GENTLY tug or pull the hair along the hair shaft away from the roots with your other hand. I proceeded to braid that section once my hair was stretched about 1 to 2 inches more. I continued this process until I completed all of the braids. I then donned a satin scarf. The next morning, I applied a little bit of oil to my hands before I unraveled the braids. Once I was finished unraveling the braids, I fluffed my hair.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

Mane Chic Twisted Sista

2011-06-10T13:12:00.000-05:00

According to Merriam Webster’s definition, a mane is long and heavy hair on a person’s head. Me personally, I don’t think it has to be long and heavy. If you have hair growing from your head, then I consider this to be your mane. Chic (pronounced sheek) is defined as smart elegance and sophistication. With that being said,

Meet Mane Chic Twisted Sista!

My very first twist out on transitioning hair

How long have you been natural?

Currently Transitioning for the past 9 months from texlaxed (texturized with a relaxer).

What is your goal for your natural hair?

To BC once my natural hair reaches shoulder length.

How does your natural hair make you feel about yourself?

Since my texlaxed hair closely resembles my natural texture I can finally treat it all as natural. I think big hair is fabulous! I live in an area that doesn't have a lot of naturals so to wear a curly fro makes me feel unique and beautiful.

Twist out using Giovanni's leave-in

If you could go back and change anything about your natural hair journey, what would it be and why?

I wish I had gone natural a long time ago. The more I learned on my healthy hair journey made me realize that going natural is the ultimate in loving my hair.

If you were to go on a hair product diet for 6 months (summer through fall) by not using more than 5 products on your hair, what products would be in your stash?

Shea butter, coconut oil, african black soap, flax seeds and VO5 Moisture milks conditioner.

Back view of my twist out

What is your staple style? Give a quick tutorial on your staple style.

My staple styles are wash n' Go's, twist outs and buns. I use kinky curly or Mixed Chicks for my wash n' go's. For my twist outs I rotate Giovanni's Leave-In, Shea Moisture's Curl Enhancing Smoothie or homemade flax seed gel. Majority of my styles are done on freshly washed wet hair either product is worked through or twisted with product and allowed to air-dry.

What is one product that you have found to have more than one use and you used it on your hair? For example, you look at the ingredients of your favorite body lotion and decide that it can be used as a great moisturizer for your hair.

Oils....Coconut, almond, argan, olive etc.... When applied to wet hair it helps to seal in the moisture.

What tips/advice do you have to share about natural hair?

Be patient with your hair. Take time and section hair in parts with conditioner when detangling. The more you work with your hairs natural pattern the more your hair will love you for it.

Kinky Curly on damp hair

If you had to choose one word to describe your mane, what would it be and why?

Rockstar :) It's in your face, unapologetic, wild, unique yet beautiful!

Thanks Twisted Sista for sharing your Mane Chicness with us! For more of Twisted Sista, visit her at her Blog.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

Science Improves The Sheen Level In Natural Hair

2011-05-24T08:57:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Lovlies!

Science Improves The Sheen Level In Natural Hair by Terez Howard

“It requires a very unusual mind to undertake the analysis of the obvious.” - Alfred North Whitehead

I like to believe I’m someone with such a mind. When we look at our natural black hair, many of us lament that our curls and coils lack shine. While we love our hair, we might find ourselves secretly longing for more luminous locks.

I have good news and bad news. Here’s the bad news. Tightly kinky, coily hair will never have shine. Scientifically speaking, shine (when it comes to hair) is a reflection of light. Straight, wavy and loosely curly hair textures reflect light well and thus naturally produce a high degree of shine. The twists and twirls in tightly coiled strands makes reflecting light on a shine level impossible.

I also have good news. This zigzag hair texture can and does have sheen. Between each zag and zig, tiny reflections of light peek through and create sheen. In turn, this sheen can be enhanced by the wonders of science.

The Cuticle’s Role

The outer, protective layer of a strand of hair is called the cuticle. The more flatly your cuticle lays down, the more light those strands reflect, and the more sheen your natural hair emits. Your acidic natural hair has a pH level of 4.5 to 5.5, and you can smooth and close the cuticle layer by using natural products close to your hair’s pH.

But before you decide to only apply products to make your cuticle lay down and close, know that your cuticle must be opened to some degree. The pH level in water is 7, or neutral, meaning that when you cleanse or no poo your hair with water, you lift your cuticle open. This is a good thing because common sense tells us that we humans need water to survive, and water helps natural hair to thrive.

Warm water opens the hair’s cuticle, while cool water helps to seal it. A final rinse with cool water will encourage sheen. Water does even more than that, but let’s first talk about one amazing little plant.

One Must-Have Product That Encourages Sheen

I’m going to assume that most of you naturals have moved beyond the days of slathering your scalps in grease. Did you know that the pH level in mineral oil, the primary ingredient in most hair greases, is 10.5? That extremely high pH level raises your cuticle out of control, failing to moisturize your hair and weakening it to the point of possible breakage.

According to Livestrong.com, aloe vera gel has a pH level of 4.3 and can wonderfully smooth your hair’s cuticle. With a level so close to your hair’s pH, aloe vera gel is bound to make your coils have tremendous sheen.

Remember how I said that water opens the hair cuticle? Well, when you apply aloe vera gel to wet hair, your hair cuticle will not only seal more readily, but will be infused with the nutrients found in aloe vera gel. This penetration into the hair shaft and follicle gives your hair luster and strength.

Aloe vera gel can be purchased in organic, pure forms. I recommend these types of products because if you don’t carefully read the product labels, you might find that aloe vera gel is the 12th ingredient on a long list of ingredients. The farther down on a list an ingredient appears, the less of that ingredient is in a product. That means there could be less than 1 percent of aloe vera gel in a product.

So, it might be obvious that natural black hair appears duller than other hair textures. However, it is not doomed to remain dull. We have science to thank for that.

Terez Howard, who has been researching natural hair for 5 years, endeavors to help ladies learn more about their precious tresses, including remedies for damaged hair.

Be sure to show Ms. Terez Howard some love at Naturalicious Hair. Thank you Terez for sharing your wonderful article with us!

Until Next Time,

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:
Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

Work It Out Wednesday: Lose It App for Smartphones

2011-05-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon Lovlies!!

I just ran across a free app that is dedicated to helping you get on track and stay on track with your fitness goals. You can download the app here. You can also use the site to track your progress as well. You are able to keep a daily log of your meals and exercises. You can search the foods that you have eaten to add them to your daily log. Calorie counts accompany the foods that you select. This is a great tool to have at the tips of your fingers each time you eat or perform an exercise! So take a few minutes from your busy day to focus on YOU.

Until Next Time,

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

Who's Your Hair Crush?

2011-05-17T07:32:00.000-05:00

Hello Lovlies!!

While browsing the net I happened to come upon my newest hair crush.

Khazzy

For more information about the above photo, visit this site. I was in awe of her coils. The beach in the background made me want to take off and enjoy the waves of the beach as well as the waves, kinks, and coils of my own mane.

Who's your hair crush?

Until Next Time,

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

Work It Out Wednesday: Jumping Your Fat Away

2011-05-04T15:44:00.000-05:00

Strawberry soda water hickery dock. Tell me the initials of your sweeheart........
Do you all remember that? As a kid, that was one of the songs that we sang while jumping rope.

Now, later in life, I have come to the conclusion that Jump Roping is one of the most underrated cardio exercises. I say this because it is so simple. All you need is a jump rope and proper form. This exercise is considered to be a HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). Jumping rope helps your body release a natural hormone, HGH, which burns fat. It has been stated that “Increasing your natural level of HGH in your body is your quickest route to burning body fat” (fitness black book).

You should start off with a jump rope that is appropriate for you. Jump ropes come in all types of materials and lengths. Make sure yours is long enough for you. Some jump ropes have swivel handles which makes it easy to get a smooth rotation with the jump rope. You should start off with a warm up. Try jumping rope for 30 seconds just so that you can monitor your form.

For proper technique

Elbows should be bent and close to your body
Your upper body should be relaxed and have very few movements
The motion to turn the rope should be coming from your wrists.
Your knees should be slightly bent.
Jump with your toes and land on the balls of your feet. You will feel this in your calves tremendously. Well, at least I do.
Land softly and make sure you jump up just enough to let the pass underneath your feet
Avoid jumping on hard surfaces such as concrete, tile, etc. You can put an exercise mat on whatever surface you have and jump.
Wear cross-trainers, tennis or basketball shoes because running shoes don’t give you enough forefront support since you will be jumping on your toes.

You can jump with both feet, one foot, or alternating feet. You have to find what is comfortable for you and eventually graduate to using both feet.

Jumping rope utilizes your entire body. Your back and torso work to keep your upper body stable while your wrists work your arms. Your lower body is being blasted from the jumping motion as well.

Routine

In the beginning, aim to complete 30 seconds of jumping followed by a 30-second rest period, then repeat. As you become more comfortable and as your fitness levels improve, Jump rope as quickly as possible for 60 seconds and rest for 30 to 60 seconds and repeat. Jump Rope as quickly as possible for 60 seconds then rest for 30 seconds. Build up to rounds of one to three minutes with rests of 30 to 60 seconds in between. You can also mix up this routine by adding in (without the jump rope) burpees, high kicks, jogging in place, jump tucks, etc. Read more here.

Caloric Burn

As quoted from Livestrong, a person who weighs 160 lb burns up to 730 calories an hour while jumping rope, while someone who weighs 200 lb eliminates approximately 900 calories per hour. While jumping rope for one hour is difficult, it is achievable when broken into five- or 10-minute bouts of jumping. If you jumped for an hour each day for a week, you'd lose 1 to 2 lb. a week depending on your current weight and your caloric intake. Combine daily exercise with a balanced diet for maximum weight-loss results. Read more here.

Get to jumping and have fun with it!

Until Next Time,

Indulgenceiskey

Pinned up Twist Style!

2011-04-19T11:10:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Lovelies!

Lately I have been wearing my hair in a pinned up twist style. This particular style is becoming one of my staple styles. Of course my number one go to hair style is the banana clip bun, but the pinned up twist style is coming in at a close second.

To achieve the style, I start off by washing and conditioning my hair. I then proceed to place medium sized two strand twists throughout my entire head. I then group the twists together in 3’s or 4’s and pin them up. I usually wash my hair on either Saturday or Sunday and wear this style throughout the week. About halfway through the week, I take the pins out and moisturize my hair with either water or a cream moisturizer. Once I do that, I pin the twists back up. On Friday, I take them down and wear a twist out until I wash my hair again. To preserve this style, I just tie my hair up at night using a satin scarf. In the morning I untie it, freshen up my edges with a little oil or gel and go! Here are some pictures of how it is styled now.

If you have tried this style or plan on trying it share your results with us!

Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Until Next Time,

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store

Thanks for your Votes!

2011-04-11T13:51:00.000-05:00

THANK YOU!

Good Afternoon Lovelies!!

I want to say thank you to all of you who voted for me in the Build you Brand contest that I entered. I am so excited about what is to come. I will be sharing it with you all as it develops. Thanks again and know that I appreciate each and every one of you.

Until Next Time,

Indulgenceiskey

Join me at:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
Online Store