I am very excited to feature the "Beauty of the Week" Jamilya Windham!  Not only is she gorgeous, but she is very respectful and sweet.  She's 13 years old and full of life. This melanin beauty is both beauty and brains.  Check out her bio below: 

"Jamilya is an 8th grader and takes Pre-AP courses for which she’ll obtain high school credit. She is also an A-B Honor Roll student.  Jamilya is a part of National Junior Honor Society, a part of FBLA (future business leaders of America), and she loves to dance, is very silly, and outspoken.  She plays softball and travel volleyball.  Jamilya also participates in life groups at her church.  Jamilya is an average teenager that loves a good skin care routine and she “does not want pimples!”  She loves a good friendship and often is the go to for advice from her peers."

Help me celebrate the "Beauty of the Month" Jamilya Windham!


​

I am so excited to honor this beauty this month!  Melissa Davis is an entrepreneur, mom, wife, and woman of God who is blazing the trail.  I had a chance to catch up with this beauty this month and asked her a few questions about herself, her definition of beauty and much more.  Take a look at what Malissa had to say:

Melissa tell me about yourself?

Melissa:  I am 31 years old I was born in Long Island, New York my husband name is Lamarcus Davis we have been together since 2004, we have had 4  children one is no longer with us as 2007 their names are Keriana 11, Lamarcus jr May 2017- Aug 2017, Jeremiah 7and Malachi 6, I am currently a stay at home mom and I love it mainly because my husband and I are entrepreneurs and I have so much flexibility in my schedule, I love being involved in the schools, I like to make  hair bows, and im currently attempting to make bowties for bows.

What is your definition of beauty?

Melissa:  I define beauty as good moral inward quality and standards, I feel like if the inside of you does not look good then the outside doesn’t matter.

How have you learned to accept yourself over the years?

Melissa:  Accepting myself took sometime, I was so busy looking at what others had and how they did things that I allowed myself to be blind to my own uniqueness and abilities, so over the years I stopped blaming my past for my present, I started affirming myself, I embraced my own ideas and stopped limiting myself through my own words.
Things really changed for me in Feb.2017 I did a big chop and started my natural journey, this was the best decision I’ve made as far as my hair is concerned I felt like I stepped into my true identity I felt like at this point nobody else was going to tell me who I am, because I knew I felt it, I’ve never felt better in my entire life.

What impact are you making on your local community?

Melissa:  As far as the community is concerned I haven’t done much YET , In April 2017 I did a Women's Wellness Expo I only wanted to do it once but it had such an impact I was mandated to do it again in 2018, I have a few things to do for 2018 like a gospel Zumba party, financial classes for kids, kids gospel karaoke, make up seminar’s and other things.

What kind of an influence are you having on your daughter?

Melissa:  I really didn’t know how much of an impact I had on my daughter until I saw her writing down a plan to start her own girls group, she has some on the same passion for helping just like me, she wanted go natural like me and she is wants to go to school for business just like me, when she was smaller she would carry her purse just like me and made sure she had her chap stick, this makes she very careful of my actions and attitude everyday to know that my daughter is a reflection of me.

Our daughters are so impressionable.  It is our responsibilities as moms to make sure we are setting the example for them as well as nurturing them.  Our best advice isn't always what we say, its what we show them.  We are raising queens and it is important that as they grow, we help them adjust their crown and show them how to wear it proudly!

Hey everyone! I am so excited to be back with you for another blog!  Pampered Pretty has embarked upon another year of business and we are celebrating 2 years of amazing business! Yay!!! I am super excited about what God is doing for Pampered Pretty!  As a celebration of our 2 year Pamperversary I decided to celebrate other natural beauties and have a "Beauty of the Month"!  This month our beauty to highlight is Tara Carmichael.  I had an opportunity to interview Tara and discuss her natural hair journey and how her journey has impacted her life. 

Tara had an amazing outlook on her journey.  This is what she had to say:

Corene: Thank you so much Tara for interviewing with me today! How are you? 
Tara: I'm doing great and excited about this s opportunity!
Corene: Awesome! I am so excited that you submitted your beautiful photo into the contest to be featured on the Pampered Pretty website!  What does this feature mean to you?
Tara:  This is so amazing, I’m concentrating on living fearlessly. I normally over think and analyze everything, which has kept me from doing a lot. So, I have really been focusing on living a fearless life and living life to its fullest. Years ago, I would have never posted my picture to enter a contest or to be featured on a blog. But so far, this new lifestyle has really lead me to some amazing places and it feels great to see that it’s still working in my favor. It’s a blessing to be recognized for something positive and I thank you for this opportunity!  
Corene:  Oh wow! I love it!! I am so extremely proud of you for having the boldness to post your picture because as soon as you did, God told me that you were the one! I am in awe of how God works.
Tara: OH WOW!! I just literally got goosebumps! I feel the spirit all over this right now!
Corene: Yes! Me too!! It is amazing how the natural hair community is connecting so many of us beautiful women together.  I have met so many ladies over the past few years that I have lasting relationships with today.  Tara, tell me about your natural hair journey and how you embraced your journey?
Tara: I started my natural transition in November of 2011, I was having a lot of breakage, shedding, & scalp issues. My scalp was always dry and itchy *hair wasn’t growing, and my stylist suggested that I maybe having a reaction to the relaxer.  I wanted to wait before getting the chop in September of 2012. However, once I got the chop, I knew that there was no turning back.  Once I started it was kind of frustrating, I had a lot of issues dealing with the different hair textures.  I’m a gym person, I love working out.
Corene: Ok I see.  So it was almost as though you were “forced to embrace your natural hair journey”?
Tara: Yes you could say that. I wanted to save my hair and knew it was the best option for me at that time because of what I was experiencing with my hair.
Corene: Tara, a lot of women say that they are enlightened by embracing their natural hair journey.  It may sound cliché or funny but some women say that they are awakened or feel a sense of freedom once they embrace their natural hair.  Did you experience any of those feelings?
Tara: I have discovered a since of empowerment, strength, freedom, and self- acceptance. It’s an inner strength and empowerment that reminds me that I’m a Queen, I’m beautiful and that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. I have the freedom, because my hair is versatile, I can wear my hair anyway I choose (straight, curly, twists, etc.) I feel beautiful when I leave the house. I have learned and is still learning self-accept; accepting the real me… not who I want to be or who people think I should be, but the person God wants me to be…. learning to love all the parts of me (my flaws, the good and the parts I don’t like). If I can truly accept me then I can focus on working on the parts of me I don’t like and I can change for better. Like putting too much pressure on myself, because I have truly accepted that part of me I can now work on showing myself a little more compassion.  I experienced inner growth.  I am a person who once I start something, I like to complete it to the end, not worrying about what people said about my decision.   I had to learn to accept my natural beauty after years of being relaxed with long straight hair.
Corene: That is powerful!  There are so many women with similar testimonies of experiencing freedom and self-acceptance.  It is definitely a beautiful journey and one that can’t be entered into lightly.  I believe when we embrace the journey for ourselves, that’s when we have the best results.  I am married and my husband LOVES my natural hair.  How does your boyfriend feel about your natural hair?
Tara: My boyfriend loves my hair. He said my natural hair was one of the first things he noticed about me when we met.  We met at the gym and he said “I saw you in the gym working out and I noticed your hair and it was natural hair and I liked that”. He prefers woman that wear their hair natural.
Corene: That is a beautiful story! I love that he loves your hair.  With the society that we live in today with the media glamourizing beauty and the beauty industry, long straight hair is the symbol of beauty but things are changing in a major way! Natural hair is becoming more common and accepted because we are rocking our natural hair with confidence and pride! Not I am not going to sit here and say that every day is easy because we all know that it is not.  There are days when I get frustrated with my hair but I never have a day that I want to go back to the relaxer.  Do you ever experience frustration with your hair or have days when the “struggle/journey is real”?
Tara: The struggles I have is just on deep conditioner days. I make my own deep conditioner and I like to take my time, so it normally takes almost a whole day. As a result, I normally deep condition my hair on a Saturday and I break down the process. I’m not good at sleeping with conditioner on my hair so I apply it early in the morning and leave it on for a few hours or more. I normally go to the gym and workout for an hour, and sit in the steam room or sauna for about 20mins. Before washing the conditioner out, I will go through and detangle, then on to washing and styling. The struggle is not exactly my hair but the process and time. The great thing is, I deep condition only once a month.
Corene: Time is always of the essence when it comes to our hair.  I have to schedule a day for my hair because it is below bra strap length and my 11 year old daughter’s hair is almost waist length so you can imagine how much time that takes.  I try to separate the days so I can recover. It’s funny but I wouldn’t trade our hair for the world.  Products play a huge role in making the process easier when it comes to styling our hair.  What products do you use?
Tara: I use Coconut oil, Black Castor Oil, Cantu leave-in-conditioner, Eco Argan Oil styling gel, and Organix Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo & Conditioner, and other natural ingredients. My stylist use Design hair products. I don’t spend a lot of money on hair products, although I have in the past. When I was in Grad school funds were limited and I need to find a way to get natural products for my hair that I could afford. So, I start using natural ingredients that I had in my fridge. That’s when I stop buying so many products and start making them myself.
Corene: I love it! I also make my own all natural hair product.  What is your hair regimen? 
Tara: Wash or co-wash every two weeks and at the end of the month I do a deep conditioner. I make sure I go to my stylist every 3 to 4 months for a trim and get my hair straighten once a year, normally around Christmas. I eat a clean and healthy diet that includes a lot of water and a multivitamin.
Corene: That is extremely inspiring.  I have also embarked upon a journey of eating healthier as well as being mindful of what I put in my body.  My natural journey has awakened me to be more self-aware and more health conscious.  It’s like a journey of self-love, self-acceptance, and self-awareness.   Thank you so much Tara for this opportunity to feature you!  If you could leave any encouraging words to someone who is wants to embrace their natural hair journey but maybe hesitant or afraid, what would you say?
Tara: I would tell her my own story.  It wasn’t an independent choice of my own. I couldn’t worry about what people would say.  Of course I was concerned about what it would look like but I had to experience it on your own to see if its for me.  If you decide it’s not for you, then you can move on but you will never know until you experience it and give it a try.  It has helped me to grow as a person and save time.
Corene: Well said Tara! There you have it ladies! I am so grateful for this opportunity to feature you Tara! I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to speak with me and allow me to highlight you as “Beauty of the Month”.  I look forward to seeing you at the Pampered Pretty Presents Natural Hair and Beauty Expo on October 21, 2017 @1pm.  I am excited that you and your boyfriend will be apart of the Husband/Boyfriend Tag for the Natural Hair Panel.  I can’t wait!
Until next time ladies, be blessed and Stay P.R.E.T.T.Y !

Hey ladies and gentlemen,

​Pampered Pretty is going in a wonderful direction and I am super excited about it.  This newsletter is the beginning of something GREAT and I can't wait for you all to read and enjoy!  It is so important to partner and connect with people who can help birth your vision alongside you.  God never intended for us to do everything on our own.  He purposed for us to be divinely connected to those who would help us get to the place and position of birthing.  It is not everyday that you see women highlighting other women or women allowing someone else to shine while they continue to shine.  With the way society is set up, everyone wants all the credit, all the spotlight, and all the glory! God never intended for it to be this way.  We are blessed to be a blessing and I am confident that this newsletter will not only bless you, but it will empower, inspire, and ignite the fire on the inside of you! 

​Thank you so much for all of your continued support of Pampered Pretty! You guys have no idea how much your support means to me.  It is human nature to appreciate the cheers and celebrations of others but also be distracted by the naysayers and doubters.  I am determined to NOT be distracted! I am determined to appreciate those that love and support me genuinely and continue to move forward in VICTORY! No one has the power to stop what God has in store for us! 

Go ahead and click on the box and Enjoy! Don't forget to subscribe  and comment! I love you guys!  As always......STAY PRETTY!   

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog! I don't take it lightly that you are interested in what I have to say and that you are willing to take time out of your busy schedule to learn and grow.  Today's blog will be about shea butter and the many beautiful benefits of using it.  You may be surprised to see it's many uses and benefits.  Pampered Pretty Parfait is a shea butter based product(meaning it's first and main ingredient is shea butter).  Pampered Pretty Parfait is not a water based product so you don't have to worry about your hair reverting back or shrinking up.  The shea butter in the product actually helps to elongate my hair and allows my hair to stretch naturally!  While it is totally fine to spritz your hair lightly with water before applying, the parfait can be used on dry hair as well.  Personally I prefer to use it on slightly damp or lightly spritz hair just to make sure that the moisture is absorbing properly.  You will learn in this blog that the hair is not the only place you can use the parfait.  Let's dive right into its other uses.  Hang on because you are in for a adventure as we explore the beautiful benefits of shea butter:


*Moisturizing -the vitamins and fatty acids in shea butter make it amazingly nourishing to the skin.  Individuals with eczema and other skin related irritations find that shea butter relieves dry and itchy skin and leaves the skin incredibly smooth, soft, and moisturized. 

*Reduces wrinkles- with continuous use of shea butter, some individuals found a reduction in their wrinkles

*Shea butter can be used on the face and body as a daily moisturizer

*Shea butter is known to reduce stretch marks

*Reduces inflammation under eyes ( under eye bags)

*Used in body butters

*Shea butter can be used as a lotion

*As a lip balm

*Shea butter helps to improve skins elasticity

*When mixed with other natural ingredients it can be used on the hair and scalp

*It can be used to resituate skin after exposure to the sun

*  As a eye lid primer

*As a natural healer for a sore or raw nose during the winter season

*Natural beard softener for men

*After shave soother

These are just a few of the many uses of shea butter.  As you can see it is quite remarkable how much we can benefit from this amazing product!  The Pampered Pretty Parfait is a shea butter based product infused with natural oils and prayer.  This amazing product not only smells great but it works wonders on the skin and hair! 

Thank  you so much for joining me today for this Pretty blog.  If you have any questions for me, please don't hesitate to contact me.  As always, STAY PRETTY!

XoXoXoXoX Corene

First,  I want to say that it was an honor and privilege to interview Jaleesa concerning this awesome giveaway! It is our prayer that every young woman that is apart of this event knows their worth and knows that someone is thinking of them. 

Corene: Thank you so much Jaleesa for taking the time out to interview with us today.  We really appreciate you sharing your story and also sharing this event with us!  This is such a wonderful thing that you are doing and I know that this is only the beginning of what is to come.  I was so excited when I read your post on social media that you were going to be putting this event on for young ladies so that they can enjoy their senior prom stress free.  Before we get into the details of how this got started, please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Jaleesa: Thank you so much Corene for the opportunity to share my story and share this event with  The Pretty Blog!

Corene: You're welcome Jaleesa! I am so excited! Let's get started beautiful. So please tell me a little bit about yourself?

Jaleesa:  My name is Jaleesa Copeland and I am a senior at Clayton State University where I major in healthcare management and will be graduating in December 2016. I was born and raised in Waycross, Georgia where I was always involved within the community. I was apart of my middle school’s and high school’s cheerleading team, Motions Of Grace Dance Team at Family Worship Center, 2010-2011 Debutant, and other organizations. I have always been pretty much obsessed with the beauty community and everything that involves being a woman. Due to this I have teach free live makeup classes once a month and I am preparing to launch my You Tube channel in May called The Queen Jo Network. My channel will cover everything from makeup application to helping women deal with daily struggles such as anxiety and how to let go of toxic people. One of my favorite past times is to just get together with friends and celebrate even our smallest accomplishments, hence why I’m also called the TURN UP Queen LOL.  I’m just a strong believer in making the best of your life and doing everything that makes you happy and brings inner peace. Lets be honest here, life is really what you make it and I’m determined to make mine one where I can be both fulfilled and happy as can be.

Corene: That is amazing! You and I are from the same hometown and look at how God brings things full circle.  I love what you said about coming together with others to celebrate each other.  My husband and I find it very rewarding to celebrate others and their accomplishments rather big or small.  Why do you think that is so important?

Jaleesa:   Growing up, my parents always taught my siblings and I the importance of celebrating accomplishments.  They would celebrate us for anything that we did no matter how big or small.  They would let us know that our accomplishments were worth praise and they would encourage us to go even further.  With validation being on the rise and the way young woman seek attention for the wrong reasons, I feel as if as though celebrating them in a positive way will help build self esteem and shine the light on them in a different way.  Instead of wanting to be the next video vixen they can actually create goals that can take them to the next level in life.  That is why I feel it is so important to empower young woman. I am still young and I know woman my age would appreciate encouragement and motivation. 

Corene: That is so good Jaleesa.  A lot of times young woman go down the wrong path because they are seeking attention from men and also seeking validation.  I tell my daughter everyday how beautiful she is so that she wont be looking for it from other people or men.   It is my responsibility with the help of her father to teach her that she matters and to help her understand her worth.  Taking the time to celebrate accomplishments with our friends and family lets them know that we care and brings about a level of trust and encouragement.  I totally agree with you on this one!  I feel as though there is a movement going on when it comes to empowering and encouraging especially women to celebrate one another!  Society teaches us to hate one another, belittle one another, call each other out of our names, and so much more.  You hardly ever see woman lifting each other up and celebrating one another.  That is why I was so impressed with what you are doing.  The Queen Jo movement is absolutely amazing!  For those that have not heard about the movement, tell us about the Queen Jo Movement?

Jaleesa:  The Queen Jo Movement is a movement all about helping every women embrace their inner Queen. Women on the day to day wear so many hats such as mom, wife, head of household, nurse, counselor, and so much more. Therefore, so many women lose themselves in playing all those roles and forget to take care of themselves in order for them to continue to be the best they can. I believe women are the most slept on individuals on this planet and we don’t receive the recognition we deserve. This is not saying that Men are not needed in this world, but men can not bring to this world what a woman can and I mean that in more ways then one. Since women are the only people that birth people into this world, they have the biggest impact on the children and the family as a whole. I believe if you help a woman become the best they can be both spiritually and physically they will help their husband become the best he can be as well as helping their kids be the best they can be. The children will then grow to become the best adults they can be which will result in the population being filled with more people who are mentally stable and are an asset to the world rather than a problem. One can’t make the world a better place without making the person who births people into this world a better person. The Queen Jo Movement will help better women in every aspect possible such as motivation, beauty, finances, and spiritually through both social media outlets and non profit outreaches. The target audience of The Queen Jo Movement ranges from middle school aged girls all the way to the most matured audience. I believe there is no age limit to achieve greatness and becoming the best you that you can be so that is where The Queen Jo Movement comes into play.

Corene: Wow that is powerful!  That is the perfect age to spark the attention of that age group to get them going in the right direction. I am so proud of you for what you are doing to impact young woman.  That's what its all about at the end of the day. In the day and age in which we live it is important to lead by example.  To push further than that, it is important that we show young girls that we not only support them with our words but we support them with action as well.  Giving back to the community is definitely the way to show you care and a way to let the community know you understand.  Giving back doesn't have conditions, it doesn't have premeditated thoughts nor does it seek attention.  That is why I am so blown always by what you are doing Jaleesa.    Tell us about the Queen Jo Prom Giveaway?

Jaleesa:  The Queen Jo Prom Giveaway is all about giving all girls the prom experience fit for a queen no matter their financial state. Prom is a huge deal to every high school girls’ life and something every girl looks forward to. Rather the experience be good or bad every girl remembers that once in a lifetime night. Prom is typically the first time every girl gets to get all dolled up and live their fairytale dream of being Cinderella for the night or should I say Queen for a night. Since I feel like every girl deserves to live out that fairy tale dream, I decided to create The Queen Jo’s Prom Giveaway. The giveaway will include free dresses, free makeovers for both hair and make up, and cash money to go toward other prom necessities such as the prom tickets, accessories, shoes, and etc. The giveaway will consist of 2 parts which are the Dress Drive and The Queen Jo’s Prom Giveaway Contest. The Dress Drives will consist of girls donating their old prom dresses and girls who can’t afford a prom dress to receive the dresses to cut down tremendously on their cost for prom. The girls don’t have to do anything to receive the dresses but show up to the dress drive and pick the dress that’s best for them. The Queen Jo’s Prom Giveaway Contest will be a chance for girls to win a free makeover which will include hair and make up as well as a chance to receive money to put toward their prom expenses. In order for them to enter this contest, they just have to write me explaining to me what winning the contest will mean to them. The amount of winner will depend on the amount of people who donate their hair, makeup, and nails services as well as money donations.

Corene:  This is absolutely amazing what you are doing young lady! I am sure you have been hearing this but I salute you for what you are doing! I know when I was in high school, this would have totally been a God-send for me.  My mother raised three children on her own and I was the first to graduate from high school.  My senior prom was great but I struggled to pay for it on my own.  If I had something like this to look forward to, it would have not only took the pressure off of me, but my mom as well.  Let me ask you this, why do you think this event will be important or  beneficial to the community?

Jaleesa:  Honestly, I feel like my hometown has lost its sense of community and that’s crazy to me because Waycross is such a small town. Although our community is always 100% behind the football team, that leaves little support for the girls to feel as if they are important or that they have a support system. People always talk so much about how all the girls get pregnant early, but there are very few outlets in Waycross for the girls to get involved in. Instead of being like everyone else, I decided to create something that will not only give the girls something to look forward to but also showing them that the community does care about them. Basically, this is just an outlet for everyone to get involved and feel useful. The girls receiving the dresses and such will receive a boost of confidence and the girls donating will feel good and useful for being able to make a difference in another young lady’s life. This is a winning situation for everyone involved. The Queen Jo Prom Giveaway is just the beginning of how I plan to bring unity among women in Waycross and all over.


Corene:  I am super excited for you because I know the type of impact something this will have on the community as a whole.  How do you think this will impact these young ladies specifically?

Jaleesa: The Queen Jo Prom Giveaway is going to greatly impact the recipients in so many ways such a self confidence and the comfort of knowing that someone actually cares about their well being. The girls will finally feel like they’re the center of
attention and will receive all the love and support they deserve that they may or may not receive on the daily basis. When someone receives love and support they tend to create great things and give that same love and support to others. I hope with the kindness that these girls will receive they will want to return the favor to the recipients of Queen Jo’s Prom Giveaway next year. I also desire for the
kindness to become a domino effect so I can continue The Queen Jo Prom Giveaway for years to come and it can just become bigger and bigger each year .

Corene:  Jaleesa you such a woman of vision and I am so proud of you! This is such a selfless effort that you are doing and I know this will not only impact those involve but it will inspire others in more ways than one.  This event touched my heart in one ways than one and I knew I had to contact you and talk with you more about it.  Thank you to much for allowing us to interview you! It has been an absolutely pleasure getting to know you and hearing your heart.  I know there is so much in you that needs to come out and I am excited to watch you grow and expand the Queen Jo Movement!! Thank you again for allowing us to speak with you today!

Jaleesa: It was my pleasure, thank you for allowing me to share my heart and my vision for the Queen Jo Movement!

Hello Pretty ladies! I hope you had an amazing Christmas and New Year filled with the love and support of your family and friends.  I wanted to take some time to answer a few of your FAQ that I get from time to time in my inbox on Facebook on my "NaturallyBeautiful" page and also my "Corene Gardner" page as well as IG.  I hope you ladies find this information helpful and please let me know if you have any additional questions for me :)


1. How long have you been natural? 
I have been natural for over 5 years. My 5 year Nappaversary was the end of Oct.

2. Did you BC (Big Chop)?
Yes I did. I had a really low hair cut that was adorable! I did a second BC after I had colored my hair and cut about 6months off of my hair to cut the color out. 

3.  How often do you shampoo?
I shampoo during the winter months once a month and I co-wash every week to 2 weeks in between to cleanse my scalp.  This helps keep my hair detangled and moisturized.

4. How often do you Deep condition?
I DC at least 2 times a month. I make sure that once I shampoo my hair that I DC immediately afterwards.  I make it a point to DC my hair EVERYTIME I shampoo.

5.  How long is your hair?
My hair is below bra strap length when straightened.

6.  What Products do you currently use?
I am so glad you asked! I use Shea Moisture-Moisture Retention Shampoo, Olive Oil ORS Penetrating Conditioner for my DC, and I moisturize and seal my hair with Pampered Pretty Parfait.  Sometimes I use the Giovanni Direct Leave-in Conditioner and the Parfait but lately I have been using the Parfait by itself on my freshly washed hair and it works AMAZING!! My hair stays moisturized and extremely soft for days at a time!

7.  Can you use the Parfait on wet or dry hair?
I use the Parfait on both wet and dry hair. It works well on both.

8. Can I use the Parfait on my skin?
YES! The Parfait can be used as a daily moisturizer for the skin, scalp, and hair!  It is gentle enough to use on baby's skin, on eczema , diaper rash, under eyes, and much much more!

9.  Can my husband use it on his beard?
Absolutely! The Parfait moisturizes the beard and makes it extremely soft to the touch and manageable.  My husband uses it daily on his beard to keep it soft and he also applies it to his skin when he has to shave his beard off. 

10.  How do you care for natural hair while you are pregnant?
Developing a consistent routine is essential.  Pregnancy can cause fatigue so it is important to have a simple routine.  Ensuring that your hair is properly moisturized is important because the hormone balance during pregnancy can cause excess dryness which leads to breakage.  Mostly during pregnancy woman say that their hair flourishes and grows but once they have the baby they experience post partum shedding.  Drinking lots of water and watching your diet is essential.  Protective styles make things a lot easier for you as well as wigs.  Make things easier for yourself by developing a routine and sticking with it. Consistency is key!


I hope I answered all of your questions and I look forward to answering other questions along the way.  Don't hesitate to send me a message :) I will answer it as soon as I can. I love you guys so much and appreciate your continued support! Until next time Stay Pretty!

Sincerely,
Corene
xoxoxoxoxoxox

The most frustrating part of being natural is trying to figure out why your hair is so dry and brittle.  It seems almost heart wrenching once you shampoo your hair(hopefully with a sulfate free shampoo) that your hair is left feeling dry as a scrub pad.  It seems no matter what you do, your hair is constantly dry and brittle for no reason at all? Sounds funny and all too familiar right? Well I have the answer to your dilemma.   Are you deep conditioning your hair? I am going to let you in on a little secret......EVERY TIME you shampoo your hair, it is a must that you follow it up with a deep conditioner. 

What is the difference between a deep conditioner and a regular rinse out conditioner you may ask? Well let me tell you ladies, it is a BIG difference.  The regular conditioner is designed to moisturize your hair and give it the boost that it needs after the shampoo.  It immediately restores a level of moisture to your strands once applied.  The deep conditioner is designed to penetrate your hair shaft and infuse intense moisture to your strands and penetrate from root to ends.  It is very important to cover your hair with a plastic bag to ensure that your body heat penetrates your hair shaft to open the cuticles of your hair to deposit the needed moisture.  A good indicator whether the conditioner is a regular conditioner or a deep conditioner is......does the instructions say "leave on for 15mins and rinse out"=regular conditioner.  Does the instructions read "Leave on your hair for 30-45 minutes while covered with a plastic bag"= deep conditioner.  There are key indicators of deep conditioner.  Most packaging reads "deep conditioner, deep penetrating conditioner, hair masque, or something similar.  

The weather is cooling down even the more as the last few weeks of this year quickly  approach.   Know that you know the essentials of deep conditioning your hair, you will be ready to restore the luster, shine, softness, and moisture to your hair! I know you are excited to hear this good news that there is hope for the dryness, brittleness, and brokenness that you hair is experiencing right now.  LOL

There are a few that I will recommend for you ladies that I have personally tried and LOVE! These are going to be in no particular order: Olive Oil Deep replenishing conditioner, Shea moisture deep penetrating masque, and Macadamia Naturals deep repair masque.

Well ladies I hope this helped and made sense :) Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have by using the "contact me" button. I so look forward to serving you but until next time.....stay PRETTY!

Xoxoxoxox,
Corene