Tips and tricks

  • No carb breakfast muffins!

    So I’m not exactly the world’s greatest cook. The inside joke in my family, when we have bring and share, is: “Bet ya, Luchae is making pasta again.” I’m that girl. With that said, I’m always looking for easy recipes (preferably one that makes me look like a master chef) or food hacks that make for quick and delish meals and snacks. My most recent discovery (yes, I know, it’s like I’ve been living on the moon for the past few years) is this super-duper easy peasy no carb breakfast muffins. Did I mention that there are no carbs in it? Yes sir! Carb free!

  • How to make your own nail art stickers! [The DIY Tut that almost never was]

    Going through my old Blackberry photo folder (ag shame) I found a bunch of pics that I took while attempting to make a nail art sticker using a baggy and nail polish. I remember not using the pics (or ever posting the tut) because, let’s face it, my Blackberry pics are terrible. But a bunch of people have been asking me about nail art stickers, so I thought: Oh what the hey! Let’s post the terrible pics today! Tra lala lalaaaaaaa.

    It’s pretty easy to make these stickers and I’m sure you’ve noticed by now that I am no artist, but if you are, then you are going to have a ball with this! I have met a ton of really talented nail artists and I am sure that they are super duper pro’s at this kind of thing. But you and me… not so much pros. So this is what could work for us, normal civillians.

    I start by making sure my plastic bag is clean. I use a Glad bag because the plastic is thicker and if I wanted to trace my image from normal paper, I could just slip the paper into the bag and seal it. Clever! I know, right! (and so modest too).

    I then thickly apply my base color of choice. Most people prefer using a clear polish for this, but I prefer matching it with the base color on my nail. I’ll explain why later, but basically this polish will be the “canvas” for your drawing or image. I always apply one coat, allow it to dry, and then another on top of that – it should be nice and thick so that the image will be able to peel off easily.

    Once that’s dry I use my nail art brushes and other polishes to paint my image onto the base. I sometimes use koki pens, just because it’s easy and I aint no Picasso. I am sure that there are a ton of things that you could do!

    While waiting for the artwork to dry I apply a protective base coat on my nails and then my base color of choice. (You can check out the polishes I used in these pics and why I did this particular mani in this post). I then use a tweezer (or my nails, if they are nice and long) to carefully peel the entire sticker from the baggy. At this point you could either use a nail art scissors to cut your image out (which is why using a clear polish would work for you) before applying or, if you’re lazy like I am, apply the entire sticker to your nail. I apply it slowly and neatly to my finger of choice and use my finger to smooth it out over my nail. The edges peel off quite easily once the entire sticker is on your nail.

    Top coat.

    And that’s that!
    Really easy!
    If my blurry pics hurt your eyes too much, please check out Youtube for some more step by step tuts!

    Happy Nail Arting!

  • I ate too much

    How to get rid of that “I ate too much” feeling

    Let’s be honest, when it comes to December, the last thing you’re thinking is “Ooh I really can’t wait to stick to my diet!” In fact, most days I feel like I ate too much. And it’s a crying shame!

    I totally hate the discomfort one feels after indulging in the rich foods that this time of the year brings around. In my heart of hearts I know that prevention is the best solution. Instead of “I ate too much”, I could rather eat until I’m full. But we are not living in a perfect world, are we, Susan? So here are a few practical tips on how to beat the indigestion blues:

    1. Time 
    Waiting for the feeling to pass (and your food to digest) is pretty much the most effective solution. While waiting, try to resist the urge to lie down (and groan about how full you are) because laying down will only cause more discomfort and may lead to acid reflux and heart burn.

    2. Move around 
    Try to stay upright and go for a walk. I’m not saying run a marathon or jump hurdles, Bob. In fact, strenuous exercises should be avoided after a huge meal. But a lovely, brisk walk, can only do you good.

    3. Medication 
    I don’t do medication unless really needed but I’ve heard that antacids are a must for combating indigestion and other digestive system qualms. They neutralize stomach acids and can assist your body with breaking down all the fatty foods you shoved your face into an hour ago. Charcoal tablets and powder are also recommend since it absorbs excess gas in the intestinal tract. But we shouldn’t be popping these on the daily.

    4. Have a drink 
    Water is the natural way to flush your system and aid digestion but chamomile tea and other natural caffeine-free teas are also a great way to get things going on the digestion front.

    5. Hula Hoop 
    I heard this advice and now I really want to eat and then hula hoop just to see if it works! Hula hooping is a great way to tone your abs but it also aids with getting your body into digestion mode. Repetitively moving your hips and abdomen stirs up your internal organs and reduces the discomfort that overeating gives you.

    6. Stretches
    Another suggestion is to do a couple of easy Yoga stretches to get your body to respond. So when all else fails, you could always try out these gentle stretch techniques.

    And friends, while enjoying your  festive meals, please spare a minute for those in need. Your “I ate too much” syndrome can be managed but their hunger cannot. You are blessed to be a blessing to others!

    Merry Christmas!

  • Gift ideas: What to put under the tree this Christmas {featuring Ruth Abercrombie}

    I love Christmas! But I don’t love “uhmming” and “ahhhing” about what to get my family and friends for Christmas. So I’ve called in the experts! As a build up to the most wonderful time of the year, a few of my blogging buddies have agreed to share their ideas on amazing Christmas gifts for the whole family. Check out their picks and please, by all means, feel free to choose something special to put under MY Christmas tree too 😉 

    IMG_20151215_152738

    I fell inlove with Ruth’s honest writing (over at Pursuing Purpose) when I stumbled across something she had written with regards to choosing faith over fear. She had decided to start blogging as a form of therapy in the brink of taking on her new role as divorcee and single mom to daughter, Jaz. It has been amazing to watch this lady grow and share… I’ve learnt so much from her already! Besides for being a deep well, she is also quite creative and I thought it would be interesting to see what she has up her Santa sleeves this Christmas!

    Here are her favorite Christmas gift list picks:

    CroodsChatter500

    For my loved ones
    This year I’m getting my parents a family portrait, my dad has been asking for it for the longest of times and just gave up talking about it recently, and my mom speaks of filling the empty space on her wall so I figured this would be the perfect gift! Seeing that we have an ohk quality camera, I’ll just give my friend a few tips then booking a photographer won’t be necessary (I’m not stingy, just cost effective)

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    For the kids
    Jaz is 6 years old, and it’s so easy these days to find age appropriate toys for your child. I always strive to buy educational toys, (two birds with one stone- play and learn at the same time) I recently came across the cutest gift for girls at CNA for under R90.00. It’s a box of beads with strings, paint and other decorative things. This crafty gift is sure to keep her busy and fun is guaranteed. Maybe she can sell a few of her jewellery pieces to our family members and make gifts for her cousins. I love doing crafts, and currently I’m going through a beer cap – fridge magnet craze, which all of my family member will be getting this year. Mass production, coz my family is HUGE!! I print Bible verses / motivational quotes or even use photos, buttons etc. to decorate it with.800-christmas-dog-cat-2013

    For me
    I would absolute love to unwrap Purple / Lime green Earphones or a Blender this Christmas. Seeing that I love smoothies and trying to live a healthier life style.

    Special mentions
    Sometimes we lose focus of what/who this season is really about. It’s nice to give & receive presents, but let’s remember the gift of LOVE in John 3:16. I wish everyone reading this a merry Christmas and I pray God’s hand of protection over you and your family during this festive season.

    What are your favorite gift ideas, this Christmas? 

  • Gift ideas: What to put under the tree this Christmas {featuring Anniemation Floe}

    I love Christmas! But I don’t love “uhmming” and “ahhhing” about what to get my family and friends for Christmas. So I’ve called in the experts! As a build up to the most wonderful time of the year, a few of my blogging buddies have agreed to share their ideas on amazing Christmas gifts for the whole family. Check out their picks and please, by all means, feel free to choose something special to put under MY Christmas tree too 😉 

    Anastasiya Meintjes from Anniemation Flo blogs part-time, like I do, and is a copy and content writer by day. I don’t know how she does it all, with a 3 year old AND a 5 month old! (I’m sure it helps that they are adorable!)

    I love Ana’s blog because it’s REAL. She chats about her family quite a lot and is a bit of a randomy (which I can relate to). She say’s she has never been good at picking out gifts for others – she suffers from, what I call “Gift Anxiety”. This is the very reason why I started this series! My gift anxiety rivals others, I’m sure!

    Here are her favorite Christmas gift list picks:

    For my special someone
    It’s quite simple when it comes to choosing a gift for him. His passion lies in rugby and he coaches at one of the clubs in our area. So anything rugby related is a winner. Since rugby is part of his passion, I know he will take the gifts to his heart.

    For the kids
    The oldest is really a breeze with gifts, if it has wheels on it, he’s happy. He’s also starting to take an interest in action figures and enjoys his imaginary play with them. The youngest has everything handed down from his older brother, however we do want him to feel special by giving him something that is his. He loves to cuddle so we decided to get him his own cuddle toy (he’s currently using his older brothers, who isn’t very happy with the idea).

    For me
    There is something on my mind that I would really like – a bookshelf. I have three boxes full of books that have been standing under my stairs for almost four years because in all reason, I can’t afford one. I’d love to be able to access all my books without having to unpack them out of a box to find the one I’d like to read.

    Special mentions
    Family members and friends, I look out for what they enjoy using or spending their time on. Some are shoe obsessed, others like crocheting and some like books. So it’s easy to choosing a specific gift for every person.

    All in all, I’m not so big on gifts. I would rather use the money to create a memorable day with my family than spend the money on gifts that will be forgotten or, in the case of kids, broken not long after receiving them. To me, Christmas is about giving yes, but it’s about giving time to each other and celebrating together. The gifts are just a bonus.

    What are your favorite gift ideas, this Christmas? 

  • Gift ideas: What to put under the tree this Christmas {featuring yours truely}

    I love Christmas! But I don’t love “uhmming” and “ahhhing” about what to get my family and friends for Christmas. So I’ve called in the experts! As a build up to the most wonderful time of the year, a few of my blogging buddies have agreed to share their ideas on amazing Christmas gifts for the whole family. Check out their picks and please, by all means, feel free to choose something special to put under MY Christmas tree too 😉 


    I’ve been enjoying the different gift ideas my friends, JustEllaBella and Melanie have sent through for my “What to put under the tree this Christmas” series. So I thought, “Oh what the hey! Share your favorite ideas too!” and so now I am. Ta daaa!

    As you may or may not know, my newly extended family means that I get to think up incredible gifts for 2 more kideos (step son and baby girl), so that means more gift-gifting drama and intrigued in our household. Woohoo!

    I love Christmas because December means summertime in good ol South Africa!
    I love the feeling of freedom and fun and that there are sooo many exciting things to do.
    I also love that everyone is in that “togetherness” spirit – wish we could learn to appreciate each other like that all year around!

    Here are my favorite Christmas gift picks:

    photo: goodtimebanjos.dom

    For my special someone
    My husband is a musician and a music buff. He loves anything that sounds different (think banjos and instruments made out of tin cans). So I think he’d actually appreciate a real banjo as a Christmas gift. If not that then some cool CD’s and DVD’s. Those are always winners! I’v found that Takealot always gives me CD/DVD bundles that are so worth the spend! I also love to Bid or Buy really old/hard to find albums that makes him go “where’d you find THAT?!”. I’ve done this once and he really appreciated it!

    For the kids
    My little girl is really easy, since she’s all of 1 years old. She has this obsession with books right now. (She even tears out her favorite pages so that she can kiss the characters on them. Not ideal, but okay who am I to curb her affection.) So I’d probably get her some more books and perhaps a doll. Every girl needs a doll. Our boys are 14 and 9. The 14 year old has a passion for fashion (yep, he’s at THAT age), so probably clothing or vouchers. The 9 year old also loves books (sometimes I swear that he’s in fact my biological and the other one is my husbands!). I plan to take him to his first musical this December – I have a feeling it’s going to open some theater doors in his life! Whoop whoop. He also really loves soccer, so maybe a soccer ball or something soccer related. I might also get them a new XBox game (to share).

    For me
    Here’s the thing, I don’t really get that many Christmas gifts. I know, right? One would think that as the queen of the house, I would be bedecked with presents every year! But I would definitely appreciate small things like new slippers or pretty Essence Gel Look and Sinful Colors nail polish.

    Special mentions
    Bath salts and spoils are always a nice treat, if you’d like to get a whole bunch of something and wrap it up for when an unexpected visitor pops in. For guys, try biltong packs. I am also considering taking the 2 hand bags that I’ve never used and filling them up with sanitary goods, treats and special goodies, to bless someone who may not have as much as I do. It IS the season of giving after all. Who says it needs to stop with your family?

    What are your favorite gift ideas, this Christmas? 

  • How to pose for pictures: 8 photo hacks!

    How to pose for pictures
    It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It’s also the most photographed time of the year, if you know what I mean. The weather permits us to wear less and festivities encourages us to take more photos, and I’m just over here like “aaack, somebody stand in front of me!” Are you that person? Do you know how to pose for pictures? Or do you mentally cringe when you see a camera and tell yourself to  “get ready to suck it all in and smile!”

    Well, today I come with glad tidings of great joy, my friends! My endless watching of Tyra Banks and America’s Next Top Model has certainly paid off. How, you ask? Well, thanks to Miss Banks, I now know that there are ways to beat the bad photo blues.

    Yes, that’s right, you can definitely learn how to pose for pictures in ways that are both flattering and appealing. Well, models have been practicing it for years, isn’t it? And Google is filled with various tuts and videos, instructing us how to do so. And now it’s time for us, normal civilians, to get in on the action too! Here’s what I’ve learnt:


    Slimmer torso
    Twist your torso so that one shoulder is turned towards the camera and the other away from it. A straight-on body shot will give the appearance of a wider torso. Standing at an angle will give the appearance of a slimmer torso.

    Unflab your arms
    Placing your hand on your hip will not only slender your arm, but it will also help to give the appearance of a more prominent waist line. If the hand on the hip pose does not work for you, try holding your arms out from your sides, slightly. The trick is to make sure your arm is not pressed against your body.

    Pretty posture 
    Standing and sitting up straight will help to elongate your figure. Pulling your shoulders back will also accentuate your collarbone.

    Double chin no more
    Elongating your neck, by pushing your face out slightly, will help to create an illusion of no double chin. Keeping your chin up and out and your face at an angle, rather than full on facing the camera, is also more flattering. A few celebrities swear that keeping your tongue on the roof of your mouth will also help with making your face seem slimmer. Go figure!

    Tame your eyes 
    If you tend to blink a lot in photos or you seem to have a squint in your pics, try to close your eyes just before the picture is taken and open them slowly before the snap.

    It’s all about the angle
    Always try to avoid being photographed from below. A low angle will add on the pounds and make you look heavier than you are. A higher angle – think: above the eye line – will not only be more flattering, but when you turn your face upwards; it will elongate your neck and torso.

    How to group selfie
    When taking a group pic remember to never stand on the end! Stand in the middle, with your body slightly turned. This rule works especially well when the group poses in semi-circle format because whatever is closest to the camera will appear to be larger.

    Sitting pretty
    If you have to sit, be sure to cross your legs at your ankles. This not only looks more elegant and prevents excess thigh disclosure, it also makes your thighs and calves look slimmer. By strategically placing your arms in front of you, you can also hide any unsightly bulges.

    Well there you have it! Thank you for the applause, but please, you must know that the advice is not my own. Instead, find links to their source articles below. My pleasure.

    Resources:
    http://stylecaster.com/beauty-high/how-to-look-skinny/#ixzz3s1FUYm3v
    http://dailymakeover.com/how-to-be-photogenic/#ixzz3s1DLWbBx
    http://instyle.com/beauty/10-ways-look-better-pictures
    http://www.whowhatwear.co.uk/how-to-look-thinner-in-photos-selfies-instagram-spring-2014/slide13
    http://stylecaster.com/beauty-high/how-to-look-skinny/
    http://blog.ravenbergphotography.com/?p=258

  • Gift ideas: What to put under the tree this Christmas {featuring Melanie Blignaut}

    I love Christmas! But I don’t love “uhmming” and “ahhhing” about what to get my family and friends for Christmas. So I’ve called in the experts! As a build up to the most wonderful time of the year, a few of my blogging buddies have agreed to share their ideas on amazing Christmas gifts for the whole family. Check out their picks and please, by all means, feel free to choose something special to put under MY Christmas tree too 😉 

    Melanie blogs over at Wind in a Letterbox and I really admire all the crafty things she gets up to with her darling little girls Angie (5) and Emmy (3). She is a homeschooling mom, who loves the Lord, so all their crafty attempts usually have a lesson tied to it – I love that! I cant wait to try some of it out with my Curly one day.

    Mel always comes across as really sentimental, much like I am, so I was really eager to see what she has up her sleeve this Christmas.
    Here are her favorite Christmas gift list picks:

    CDs and DVDs: Always a great gift idea! 

    For my special someone
    My husband is a movie buff, so he’s always happy when I buy him the DVD of a movie he really likes and doesn’t already own. I usually put a DVD or CD in his Christmas stocking, and give him something more personal for his actual present. I haven’t yet decided what I’m going to give him this year, but it might be something handmade, like this date night jar I made for his birthday or something the little boy in him would love, like this light saber torch or Darth Vader action figure. If I go with a personalised, handmade gift then I get bonus wife points for the “one of a kind, made especially for you” aspect. Also, I know I’m not buying him something that he might already have (like a CD that he may have on his iTunes account). If I get him something for his inner child, I also get bonus wife points because, well, what little boy hasn’t dreamed of his very own light saber? 🙂

    Outdoor equipment for the kids maybe? Photo: livestrong.com

    For the kids
    I’m not going to mention the F-word, because my girls (Angie is 5 and Emmy is 3) have enough Elsa and Anna paraphernalia for a lifetime. I always give some practical things in their stockings (like new toothbrushes and loofahs) as well as fun things (like stickers and hair accessories). For their big gift, I’ve been thinking of getting one of these mini trampolines. Okay, to be honest, this gift is mainly for me. As in, “Go jump away that excess energy before you drive me nuts.”

    takealot.com

    For me
    I’ve been thinking that I might like to have a Kindle. (Even though I said I would never, ever, not in a million years get one. Never say never.) I’ve got the app on my laptop because I’ve discovered there are tons of free kindle books on Amazon, but I don’t want to sit reading books on my laptop.

    If someone were to gift us an all-expenses-paid trip around the world, that would be amazing. 🙂

    Photo: Joburg South

    Special mentions  
    I like to give homemade cookies to our friends and family at Christmas. Last year, I made gingerbread cookies; the year before, sugar cookies. We usually buy clothing for our nieces (because shopping for little girls is just such fun).

    What are your favorite gift ideas, this Christmas? 

  • Gift ideas: What to put under the tree this Christmas {featuring JustEllaBella}

    I love Christmas! But I don’t love “uhmming” and “ahhhing” about what to get my family and friends for Christmas. So I’ve called in the experts! As a build up to the most wonderful time of the year, a few of my blogging buddies have agreed to share their ideas on amazing Christmas gifts for the whole family. Check out their picks and please, by all means, feel free to choose something special to put under MY Christmas tree too 😉 

    Elle, blogs over at JustEllaBella. She is mom to Aidan (a very opinionated 2 year old curly kid) and wife to Robin. She also runs online kids boutique, Oh!Boy, and can pretty much make anything out of anything. Literally. Anything. Out of anything.

    Here are her favorite Christmas gift list picks:

    Ooh! Box

    For my special someone
    My hubby is a total foodie so I think something like the Ooh!Box  – R559. (Each box has 4 Wines, One “Hot” Drink, One Condiment, One Sweet Treat and One Gourmet Treat) You don’t have to fully subscribe so getting a box just for Christmas is very possible. He loves trying new things so this is a bit of everything  and it takes us away from all the darn Xbox gifts

    For the kids
    My baba is 2 and a half but will argue tooth and nail that he is 6. I looove the Kids Book Club subscription which basically means that for R145 a month he gets two books (plus two magazines for mom) and a bag delivered every month which is awesome. After the Chrismas excitement wears off the book club keeps on giving, I like that he gets something every month, also I don’t have to pay for the whole year in one go, I don’t have money like that.

    Little Black Bag

    For me
    Okay mine is a subscription box too, I’m not sure why I am all subscriptiony this year…I want the Little Black Bag at R249 you get a ton of spoils honestly it’s like 6 designer products ALL FOR ME!!! I never spend money on myself really so this would be great, once off spoil.

    Oh! Boy

    Special mentions
    I love hand made gifts, so I make a lot of things for my loved ones, I also own a little kids accessories business, Oh!Boy, so this year I get to make on behalf of others which is incredibly special to me 

    What are your favorite gift ideas, this Christmas? 

  • Happy Hair: 7 things I do that seems to be working

    Whether you’re a curly girl or a straight haired chick like me, I’m sure you’ll agree that having a good hair day is the same as wearing a really great pair of shoes. Invaluable! My favorite days are the days where my hair is happy. But it’s crazy how unnecessarily expensive hair treatments are. Especially when there are equally awesome (and less expensive) counter parts out there that can bring about ‘happy hair’ too! Maintaining and caring for your hair goes beyond the shampoo and conditioner. It’s an every day thing yo. I’ve found that there are ways to ensure your hair is happy all the time, and it doesn’t include hair products or salons.

    I only wash and condition once a week 
    Yep. I know. It’s a real thing yo. Apparently Avril Lavigne goes for weeks without washing, resorting to dry shampoos (spray ons or powder) to keep her roots looking fresh. You can totally train your hair to not over oilarize itself. (Hey, that’s a word, okay)

    Why would you want to do that? Well, the benefits of not over washing is that you don’t strip your hair of all the natural goodness that your body creates for it. Your hair NEEDS those oils. The other pluses are that hair is easier to style when its “not fresh.” Hair stylists have also confirmed that skipping days between shampooing actually decreases oil production. Go figure.

    What about the smell, I hear you ask. Well… I don’t really have the “dirty hair” smell thing going on, but I know that the struggle is real. A drop or 2 of essential oils massaged through your hair will help with that. Essential oils are quite pungent, so you don’t need alot to get the job done. If you must wash your hair more often, try to use a light weight shampoo that is specifically designed for regular hair washing, which is meant to be more gentle on your mane.

    I only apply dye to my roots
    I have inherited my mothers “grey” genes and literally have to dye my hair every 6 weeks or else I start to look like I’m aging like Benjamin Button. The greys take over so quickly and stealthily that I sometimes go to bed with dark hair and wake up looking like like a Golden Girl. Needless to say, I dye my hair regularly.

    I stick to dark colors (the amount of peroxide in going lighter is never a good idea for anyones hair!) and I only apply the dye to my roots (or the areas affected by the greys). Dyes, in general, are not something you’d want to be applying to your hair often, because of all the chemicals and stuff. After dyeing, it’s also a good idea to find a good nourishing hair mask to treat your hair with now and then. I normally apply a hair mask the week after I’ve dyed my hair, which helps to keep my hair feeling loved and amazing and not like I am trying to change it into someone that it doesn’t want to be. Clicks has awsome hair masks that costs less than a Macdonald’s meal.

    I cold rinse
    The scientific explanation says that: when you wash your hair with warm water, it opens up the cuticles, which is a good thing while shampooing and conditioning. The cold rinse then helps to “close” and seal the cuticle. The cold water also helps to increase the circulation of blood in your scalp. So all in all, a cold rinse is a good thing!I always try to make sure that my final rinse (after shampooing and conditioning) is a cold rinse. I’ve found that my hair appears to be shinier after a cool rinse.

    Shampoo Shmmampoo
    As I’ve said in pre-paragraph, I don’t have a specific shampoo and condish that works for me. I generally just go with whatever my heart tells me. (Look at me making it an emotional thing). A couple of experts say that if you use the same kind of product too many times, it becomes ineffective. So swop it up a bit! Shake it up! Woahhhh crazy times!

    Other things I do while shampooing and conditioning:
    I apply conditioner to my bottom ends first and focus more on them, working my way up to the scalp, so as to not make my scalp too oily. I also try to focus on shampooing my roots and not my scalp – which, to me, was the same thing, but apparently it isn’t. Clue: Your scalp is your actual skin.

    Combing vs Brushing vs “Did I brush my hair today?” 
    Combing: I only comb when my hair is wet. This helps to avoid breakage and is generally the only way you should be unknotting your wet hair yo.

    Brushing: I brush my hair from the bottom up. So I would first detangle the bottom ends and work my way up to the roots.Again, this helps to avoid breakage and split ends.

    “Did I brush my hair today?”: Don’t judge me. I have a baby. And in retrospect, not only is running your fingers through your mane the best way to brush it, but over brushing your hair is like hair suicide and can cause hair loss and split ends. Oh and brushing too much can also cause your scalp to produce too much oil, which results in greasy hair, which results in you having to wash your hair every day, which results in you failing part 1 of this instructional. Be wary. Be alert. Do the right thing.

    I air dry like a boss
    Look, I was not always brave enough to air dry my hair. Especially not when we had visitors over and I feared looking like Tina Turner in her glory days. But applying as little heat as possible to your hair can only result in magical things happening to your mane. Trust me. My routine includes air drying and then flat ironing a bit, where needed/when needed.

    Ponytails and Buns 
    I only ponytail my hair, like, never. That’s because I hate my ears. But if you love your ears, then please, by all means, ponytail your hair. Just make sure you are using a hair friendly scrunchie or hair tie. Preferably something that is not overbearingly elastic.

    I am the avid “bun”ner and if I must, I rather opt for tieing my hair in a loose bun, secured with a hair clip. I wear my hair down alot more often though. Like right now. It’s down right now.

    So there you have it. My super secret guide on how to not have to go to a salon every month. I love that there are tons of amazing products out there, catering to every single hair type. So with all of this said, I encourage you to find what works for YOU. Google your hair type and you’ll find that there are tons of great advice on the net that will help to make YOUR hair routine super easy and beneficial to you.