My Hair Faourites!

My hair is one of my favourite features. It's curly, wild, sexy and always fun! It is very versatile and in GREAT shape. The fact that it is super healthy is not just genetics, but the result of a LOT of work. Many, MANY people ask me what I do to maintain it's spirals and shine, and I'm here to go over my routine and favourite products.

Daily Routine:
I wake up at 5am daily and head immediately for the shower. I like to soak myself in hot water for a few minutes, but try to avoid using it on my hair. It is VERY important to wash your hair in warm water, NOT hot!! It will strip the natural, health oils your scalp produces. I know, it sounds weird, but trust me! Your hair needs some oil to remain healthy! :)

Step One:Washing
~I begin by saturating my hair with warm water. I have 3 methods of washing that I go between.

*I usually do what's called a co-wash. Basically, I use NO shampoo, just conditioner. Applying it from root to tip, I let it sit for approx 2 minutes while I wash my body. Then, adding a bit more of warm water, I massage my scalp with the PADS of my fingers. NOT the nails, the pads! Working it into a semi-lathery state, I then rinse with warm water.
*Once a week I use No-Poo by Deva Curl. It's a nice, smooth, pleasantly scented Non-Sulfate Shampoo alternative. Massaging it into your roots, I wet with warm water and then rinse. Much like Shampoo, minus the lather.
*And about once or twice a month, if my hair feels heavy or sticky (or if I've used some extreme styling products, such as a lot of gel or hairspray) I will use ACTUAL shampoo. I only use it on my roots though, never the ends.

Products:
Co-wash Favourites:
-Loreal Ever Strong Sulfate Free Conditioner (Smells nice! Rosemary and Mint! Thick and rich texture, but refreshing! Perfect for the morning!)
-Suave Tropical Coconut (Mmmmm! Like a slice of heaven! Not too thin, not too thick! And it's in their "Natural" line!)


Step Two:Conditioning
~After washing, I use a deep, moisturizing conditioner. I apply from my ears and downward to avoid gunking up my roots. I allow to sit while I finish washing my body. Then I detangle with a wide-tooth comb and rinse with warm water. You don't want to wash 100% of it out, only about 75%. Leave a little, but not enough to make the hair dull or heavy. Then, I give my hair a final blast of cold water to seal the cuticle and seal in shine.

Products:
Conditioning Favourites:
-John Frieda Sheer Blonde Conditioner in Honey/Caramel (mostly for my highlights! Leaves your hair soft and smooth!)
-John Frieda Smooth Start Repairing Conditioner (Thick, luxurious, very nice!)

Step Three:Styling
~I then step from the shower and immediately wring my hair out with my hands.

For fat, tamed curls:
Step 1: Once the excess moisture is gone, I begin styling immediately. Using my fingers, I comb some leave-in Conditioner through my hair, root to tip, lightly.
Products:
~Deva Curl Heaven in Hair Intense Moisture Treatment (Hear me out! It's a masque, but a small dollop works AMAZING as a leave in!)

Step 2: I liberally apply a heat shield spray. Apply from root to tips, then comb it through to distribute evenly.
Products:
~Pantene Pro V Heat Protection Spray for Curly Hair

Step 3: I then apply a balm/cream to my hair, using my fingers to comb it through, starting from my ears down.
Products:
~AG Re:coil Curl Reactivating Balm (AMAZING stuff! A little goes a LONG way and it provides awesome texture!)

Step 4: I then scrunch my hair with a mico-fiber towel. I lay the towel over my hand and then lower my hair into it, while scrunching upward. DO NOT RUB! Just scrunch in sections!

Step 5: Ahhh, the gel! I then generously apply gel, root to tip. Now, I don't do it all at once. I like to section my hair and apply evenly and thoroughly!
Products:
~Ouidad Heat and Humidity Gel (The BEST gel I've ever used! It's a bit thin, but a little goes a CRAZY long way!!)
Step 6: Time to dry my hair! I use the Ion Conditioning Ionic-Ceramic Tourmaline Dryer with a bowl diffuser. I don't touch my hair while drying, I just lower my hair down into the bowl and dry it on low heat, low speed. Go slowly, don't touch it and only dry until 80%. Let it air dry the rest of the way.

For kinkier, smaller curls:

Step 1: Once the excess moisture is gone, I begin styling immediately. Using my fingers, I comb some leave-in Conditioner through my hair, root to tip, lightly.
Products:
~Ouidad Moisture Lock Leave-in Conditioner (Medium consistency, nice smell. Can also be used like a regular conditioner!)
~Paul Mitchell's "The Conditioner" (Medium consistency, awesome smell-leaves your hair super soft!)

Step 2: I liberally apply a heat shield spray. Apply from root to tips, then comb it through to distribute evenly.
Products:
~Pantene Pro V Heat Protection Spray for Curly Hair

Step 3: I then apply a balm/cream to my hair, using my fingers to comb it through, starting from my ears down.
Products:
~Beyond the Zone Noodle Head Curl Creme (It's smooth and smells great! Perfect for a light hold with a soft touch!)

Step 4: I then scrunch my hair with a mico-fiber towel. I lay the towel over my hand and then lower my hair into it, while scrunching upward. DO NOT RUB! Just scrunch in sections!

Step 5: I then scrunch mousse into my hair, section by section, root to tip! It gives a nice, light, airy feel to the curls.
Products:~Beyond the Zone Noodle Head Curl Mousse (smells awesome, gives a light, non-sticky hold!)

Step 6: Then, the finishing touch! I use a scrunching spray and spray lightly, section by section. I focus mostly on the ends. I cannot stress ENOUGH, keep it light! It's almost like a non-aerosol hairspray,...kinda...
Products:~Beyond the Zone The Scruncher (it smells VILE! omg, ug! But it is key to the wild, rocker curls we're going for here!)

Step 7: Time to dry my hair! I use the Ion Conditioning Ionic-Ceramic Tourmaline Dryer with a bowl diffuser. I don't touch my hair while drying, I just lower my hair down into the bowl. Now, with this, I alternate between low speed on low heat and low speed on high heat, on and off. I dry to 100%, which is what gives it a bit more of a edgier look. Then finish with a last of cool air to seal in shine and style!

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Well, there are my secret techniques! Maybe I'll start making youtube tutorials? ;)

Beauty Blogger, entry 1

China Glaze Metallic Crackles! T-B/L-R
Haute Metal, Tarnished Gold, Cracked Medallion,
Oxidized Aqua, Latticed Lilac and Platinum Pieces!

SoooooOOOoooOooOoOOOoooo....

So much has been going on lately! My first comic has been published, "Compendium"! Written by Lee Newman, illustrated by Yours Truly! It will be officially released end of October at XCON in Myrtle Beach!  XD SO excited! I will finally be able to make myself a living off my TRUE love! Art!

Now, onto the point for this blog! My newest beauty hauls!

~China Glaze Metallic Crackles!

Much of my beauty booty comes from my beloved fiancé, Chris! He spoils me terribly w/art supplies, makeup, hair goods, etc! I only wish he wanted material things so I could return the favor! But no worries, I draw him TONS of art to show my appreciation! XD
Back to the crackle! Soooo...I got all 6 shades:
-Haute Metal (a rosey pink, TRES CHIC!)
-Tarnish Gold (an older gold, aged and wise-looking)
-Platinum Pieces (a stunning, glitzy platinum)
-Latticed Liliac (a pale, yet dazzling lilac purple)

Tokidoki 5 gloss pack! CUTE!

5 Prisma glosses! L-R
Donutella, Ciao Ciao, Arlecchino,
Diamante, Adios

-Oxidized Aqua (a sea-blue, light aqua)
-Cracked Medallion (a bronzy/gold delight!).

ALL are super gorgeous! My favourite combo is Cracked Medallion over Secret Peri-winkle-SUPER gorgeous! Like, mystic fire over ancient stone! :)

~China Glaze Halloween Haunting Collection!


3 Shades, paired with a black crackle!
-Cross Iron 360 (a golden, autumn orange metallic)
-Its Alive! (a sicky green/yellow, with large and small glitter)
-Ghoulish Glow (an industrial strength glow-in-the-dark polish)

Obvs, I LOOOOOVE It's Alive! It's like Zombie Zests' not-so-hideously-yet-lovely younger sister. A bit more playful, no duo-chrome like ZZ, but more chunky-fun glitz!

Now, for cosmetics!

I've recently bought a LOT of Tokidoki makeup! And am LOVING it!

5 Prisma Gloss set included:
~Donutella, a creamy nude
~Ciao Ciao, a baby pink
~Arlecchino, a ripe pink
~Diamante, berry pink w/blue undertones
~Adios, a sheer-yet deep grapey-black

All smell AMAZING! Non-sticky, SUPER glossy, non-drying! LOVE THEM! A gift from Chris after my surgery! XD And isn't the packaging to die for!??!

Tokidok Brilliante Glitter Eyeliner in "Carina", a pinky beiga w/gold glitter! SEX-APPEAL-IN-PENCIL-FORM! omg! It's shimmery, nude, sexy! reminds me of Lancome's "Rose Fishnets" lip gloss, almost! XD Or "Kitten", an eyeshadow by Stila! GORGEOUS!

Also got a Professional sized Urban Decay Primer potion, HALLELUJAH! I use it EVERY day to keep my shadow on lock down! A super sized Too Faced Lip Injection Gloss and Lip Injection Extreme gloss-the BEST plumping glosses EVER! Not to mention some Urban Decay De-slick in a tube mattifying gel for my face! Fall is ALL about the matte!

I'm currently doing a Ole Henrikson mini/micro peel. I'll report back on that tomorrow!

For now, time to sleep before shopping tomorrow morning, karaoke on the PM and then doing the Breast Cancer walk on Sunday!

Bai for now, loves!

ZOMG!

OMG! More press!!!!!

http://www.wrdw.com/home/headlines/Aiken_man_starts_publishing_company_months_after_layoff__126435163.html
Another news article!!! XD *instert giggle frenzy*

http://sunnyvillestories.com/2011/07/ringtail-cafe-and-swamp-fox-media/
We got a shout-out here! :) Yay!

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/6/prweb8561030.htm
Press release here!

http://www.comicbooked.com/swampfox-media-starting-a-comic-revolution/
And our interview!

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand DON'T FORGET!

Our FB page! give us a like!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Swampfox-Media/211716905518710
Our website! give us a view!
http://www.swampfoxmedia.com/


XD OMG! I am so excited! I've been busting my butt! Our kickstarter is here:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/swampfoxmedia/project-swampfox
Any donation helps! Even $1!!! And is MUCHO appreciated! Check out the sidebar for some AWESOME offers we have for our donors! :)

Love that Fox!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Swampfox-Media/211716905518710


Feel free to click and show some love! :)

Zazzle shop!

So, we have a zazzle shop!!! :) Yay!

http://www.zazzle.com/gifts?ch=swampfoxmedia



Suh-weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!


Oh! And some recent nail polish updates!

Recently got my hands on ALL 6 of the China Glaze metallic crackles!! OMG, too lovely!! Especiall the pearly pink and purple!!! XD Got Claire's "Bedazzled", a near dupe for Deborah Lippman's "Happy Birthday". GORGEOUS! It reminds me of the confetti in funfetti cupcakes! Like sprinkles for a birthday cake or a hand full of confetti! GOR-GEE-OOOOOS!
Also got 2 nice cheapo finds: Wet-n-Wild improved formula's "9.0.2.1. Orange" (a luscious, brilliant orange wgolden microshimmer) & "The Wonder Yellows" (shimmery sunshine yellow). LOVELY summer colours!!  And Claire's "Mystical", a purple and blue microglitter w/good coverage. All in all, I'm drowning happily in nail polish heaven! *le happy sigh*
Chris got a new laptop, too! And we got some more stuff for the house! :)
All in all life is sweet!

My surgery is coming up 7/22. I'm excited for it to be done and over with! Goodbye, gallbladder! I'm going to ask the surgeon if I can keep my gallstones after he takes the bladder, lol!

Chris & I get classy on AIM!

(Chris & I on AIM, talking aout vampires and various gay things. He mentiones their ability to 'telepathically communicate" w/night animals. Bats, wolves, cats, etc...)

 Lilith Hellmann 2:58 pm
I can sense you own more ass-less chaps than a normal man should, vampire! The cat hissed.
Christopher Gaugler 2:59 pm
And then Caine shot the cat with his vampiric laser-eyes, and all was right.
Lilith Hellmann 3:00 pm
And then Pandora staked him and pooped on his ashes. And all was right.
Christopher Gaugler 3:00 pm
And she got poop and ashes on her new rug. And all was right. And she had sexy time with the carpet-cleaner man.
Lilith Hellmann 3:01 pm
Indeed.
Christopher Gaugler 3:01 pm
Indeed. *Smoke smoke smoke* Tariffs.
Lilith Hellmann 3:02 pm
*twirls moustache* Quite. The cotton gin.
Christopher Gaugler 3:03 pm
Elie Whitney. *Sips expensive wine* Indeed. Quite a balling-good fellow.
Lilith Hellmann 3:06 pm
John Denver. *kills a cloned Dodo for amusement* Country roads, take me home. West Virginia...mountain mama. Take me home, country roads.
Christopher Gaugler 3:07 pm
Slaves......we need more of 'em.

Lilith Hellmann 3:07 pm
LOL
Christopher Gaugler 3:08 pm
Oh take me home, where the large furried, equestrians with horns roam, where the veal-meat and the coyote-fodder play.
I love you!!
Lilith Hellmann 3:08 pm
Where not oft does one hear a word of negative connotation, and the skies are lacking any cloud covering for the majority of the sun-lit hours.

Comic info!

http://sunnyvillestories.com/2011/07/ringtail-cafe-and-swamp-fox-media/
We got a shout-out here! :) Yay!

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/6/prweb8561030.htm
Press release here!

http://www.comicbooked.com/swampfox-media-starting-a-comic-revolution/
And our interview!

DON'T FORGET!

Our FB page!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Swampfox-Media/211716905518710
Our website!
http://www.swampfoxmedia.com/