Sunday, April 9, 2017

Spring Curly Hair Routine

If your allergies aren't letting you know it's spring, maybe it's the urge to bust out those cute skirts now that the weather is warming up! We've spent months being bundled up and seeking shelter from the cold. It's about time we get out for some fresh air and do some spring cleaning, but don't forget about your hair! It needs some changes to it's routine too!!

spring hair care






1. Cowashing!!
For me this is an absolute MUST! With spring comes allergy season, and even though winter lets you get away with less wash days, spring and summer aren't as forgiving. You see, all the evil pollen flying around decided that messing with you while your outside isn't enough. They cling on to your clothes and hair and go home with you. Think about what that means when you toss and turn on that pillow case... Unless you want to invest in Japanese allergy goggles (it is a thing. google it) or an eye mask, washing your hair becomes the logical answer to de-pollenizing your hair. Yes, I know us curlies can't just wash our hair everyday with shampoo (unless dried out, frizzy hair is your thing), but that's where co-washing comes to the rescue. You can find lots of co-washing products (cleansing conditioners) in the beauty isle these days, but if you don't want to all another product to you ever so extensive hair routine, simply use your conditioner alone. Conditioners have some surfactants that help to cleanse your hair to hold you until the next wash day. But be careful, if your brand of conditioner has a lot of protein it can cause a bit of build up.



2. Revamp Your Hair Products<3
Your wardrobe changes to suite the weather and so should your hair products. Winter was all about heavy creams and ultra moisturizing products to combat the dry air. With spring, you get a little more humidity back, so switch over to lighter products that work for your hair type. Shea Moisture has this cute quiz that matches you up with perfect products your your hair type and needs. Click on this link to check it out! Also hair is affected by the sun as well and we are getting a lot more daylight now! Although you don't need sunscreen for your locks you can use more protein treatments to help strengthen it. Are you the queen of extra? Grab your heat protectant (I hope you have some if you use heat to style your hair) and give your hair a spritz before heading out into the sun.





3. Don't Abandon Protective Styles~
April showers bring May flowers, but all I hear in that is RAIN! I don't know about you, but humidity can do a number on my hair... I do love volume and big hair but sometimes it can get a bit much... So either invest in good products that fight against humidity or reconsider those protective styles to get you through it. I always love going through pictures of cute styles on pinterest. And with the right protective style, you might be able to have a cute twist out when you take it out! (unless you are plagued by allergies and must wash it out). Getting scarves in cute prints for spring to wrap your hair is also a must for this season. The options are endless my friend!



What's something special you do for your hair when you welcome spring? <3




Thursday, September 15, 2016

Fall 2016 Capsule Wardrobe

This fall, I decided to add some warm, earth tones to my capsule wardrobe. I have gone as far as to incorporate gold jewelry, but I can say the last time I had brown boots was...actually never. I like my blacks and grays. I like my silvers. I like my color schemes the way I like my music in the 2000s. Dark, cold and emo.

However, this fall I'm embracing the reds, coppers, and browns, and surprised that I'm actually loving it. Some of my pieces won't stay from last fall since I've gained weight. I figured by this fall I would have lost it and only have had to replace my summer wardrobe this year, but unfortunately it's too late and I might as well come to terms with my new size.

Fall 2016 Capsule Wardrobe

Fall 2016 Capsule Wardrobe by nia-maki featuring trench coats

I still have a few more pieces to get to complete the wardrobe and just the accessories and shoes left on the list. I was really happy with Mary Kay's fall line as well! The metallics are not only gorgeous, but the have lots of browns and golds, and the shadows go on SO smoothly and pigmented.



So far, what I've done with my capsule wardrobe in the past has been the planning of what colors and items I'd want, but this season I also want to give some thought into how I store and organize my closet. The last few years has involved so much moving that I've never fully felt like it would be worth organizing things. But like my weight change, I should just embrace this and have it organized in a way that's conducive to my "nomad" life. It should be easy with such a small wardrobe, right? Who knew how zen this whole process of minimalism would turn out to be?!


"Hard times arouse an instinctive desire for authenticity" - Coco Chanel 

Monday, August 29, 2016

My Defined, Frizz Free Curly Hair Tutorial


Here's an updated curly hair tutorial for my low density, 3B/3C hair! I usually have enough time to dry all my hair with a diffuser which adds more volume and loosens the curls a bit, but I had to cut it short and head out so it's wasn't as fluffy as it could get.

I hope you like this video, let me know what tips and tricks you use to get more volume or frizz free curls!

Friday, September 25, 2015

My Road to Minimalism: Fall Capsule Wardrobe

It's officially fall. By process of elimination, it technically should qualify as my favorite season. Winter sucks balls, summer is too hot, spring causes horrible allergies... Yet this year I notice this feeling of dread as the temperature begins to drop and the day's get shorter. I feel as if summer ended too prematurely, and the fact that fall is upon us only reminds me of the dreary realization that winter is just around the corner. Suddenly, what should be my favorite season -the season with the best flavored coffees and cozy attire to match the perfect weather, not too hot or cold -becomes the bane of my existence. O.K. that was pretty dramatic. It's not that bad. But it also means that I need my new capsule wardrobe for the season.



Fall Capsule Wardrobe







Again, some useful links for capsule wardrobes and minimalism: