Our first ever fitness challenge!!!!

Good Morning readers, 

                     Woot woot what day is it???? Hump Day Lol I hope you all are having a positively productive work week. We have made it to the middle of the week and the weekend is on the horizion. Not that it makes a difference to me. I work weekends too (lol). We are alive and blessed to see another day. I am also happy to announce out first ever fitness challenge!!!! (Pictured below) Woot,woot..lol

                                              

 I have been wanting to do a fitness challenge. But my crazy schedule wouldn't allow for me to do one. So, I kept putting it off and making excuses why I didn't have the time to do a fitness challenge. Until I completely forgot about it. 

Protective styles challenge update week 1-5

It has been quite a crazy hectic week for me. I have been playing doctor to a sick household and working. So you know that equals little to no sleep. I hope everyone who decided to participate. In the protective styles challenge is having a good experience. If you have been checking out our IG or twitter. You would know that we decided to install Marley twists for this challenge. Since I am "special" when it comes to doing braided extensions.  Coco does all of my braided extensions.  Initially I was going to get box braids. Coco was going to be the only one with Marley twists. The beauty supply store associate and Coco convinced me to step out of my comfort zone. So I decided to give Marley twists a  try. We purchased this type of Marley hair for $7.99 a pack.

                                    

Protective style challenge update week 6-7

   Good afternoon readers, I hope all is well we have completed finally completed our protective styles challenge and updating you on has happened throughout the duration of the challenge. This update is for what occurred during the 6th and 7th week of our protective styles challenge. If you checked out our previous update post for the protective styles challenge. You will remember my irritation with frizz beginning to peek from my twists. Well it's offical now the frizz monster has made it return(grrrr...). I have tried to retwist these bad boys but they are not coming out right and my little sis Coco isn't on break yet. So I have taken the Marley twists out. At least I was able to make this style last for 5 weeks frizz free. Before the frizz really started to show up during week 6 of our challenge.  

 

At the  end of the sixth week, I took my Marley twist out. Then deep conditioned my hair with olive oil and coconut milk. As you can see I struggle with frizz and I find It very annoying . If any of you know of ways to fight frizz please let me know.

I headed to the beauty supply store to figure out what protective style to rock next. I decided I was going to rock a wig. Now I know that a lot of naturals feel some type of way about other naturals who rock weaves and wigs. Now here is my personal option, as long as you wear your own natural hair and do not use wigs and weaves to hide your natural hair. I really don't care it's your hair and your choice how you want to rock it. There is nothing wrong with switching it up as long a you are comfortable in your own skin as a natural. But I didn't know what kind of wig I wanted to purchase for myself. After trying on various wigs, I  ended up choosing something a bit out of my comfort zone.  But overall I like the wig I chose and will have fun rocking it.

                                  Until next time,

                                         Red Velvet

Curse you influenza and etc.

Readers, we will have a post giving you an update to our protective styles challenge coming very soon. We have been taking care of sick family. 😷😷😷 #redvelvet 

Another Simple How to Braid Tutorial w/ various styles

Hey readers, I'm back with another braid tutorial for those days you do not know what to do with your hair. I also show various way you can wear your hair to get the most out of your braided hairstyle. Thanks for watching!!!!!!



                                                                                    ^_^ Coco

Yippee for Ipsy

I'm not much of a makeup girl just give me some eye shadow, lipstick, gloss or balm and I'm good to go.

Lately, I have been wanting to update my look but I have been stuck. I didn't know what to do or how to start the process of updating my look.

Thank goodness for friends!!!! She told me about IPSY and gave me the website link. Later on that day I checked IPSY out.

What  is IPSY exactly???


IPSY is beauty service created by Michelle Phan. Below is excerpts from their website explaining how she started IPSY and what IPSY is...

Michelle Phan has inspired countless women around the world through her beauty video tutorials on YouTube. Every day, the question Michelle gets asked the most is: "What are the right products for me?" and her team of stlyistd

With infinite beauty product combinations in the marketplace, choosing the best items for your needs can be a challenge! That was why Michelle created ipsy. Michelle and her team of stylists have selected products they love, for you to try. 

Each month, subscribers will receive a beautiful Glam Bag with deluxe samples and full-sized beauty products. Members can watch and play along with the stylists with the same products that they are using. All for only $10 a month. 

It's always better the second time around!!!

We are excited.....We are excited.....lol

This will be our 2nd hair challenge for this year. This challenge will take place for 2 months.  If  you remember our 1st protective styles challenge  that lasted 3 months. We barely made it and it almost drove us insane. 

This challenge will begin on Oct. 14th, 2013 and end on Dec. 14th, 2013.

Coco and I have not selected what type of protective style to rock for this challenge yet. We will keep you posted. Below are the styles that are acceptable for this protective styles challenge.

 Just in case, You do not know what's a protective style is.......

My fro-tastic weekend is over....

Good afternoon readers,

                                      I hope everyone had a good weekend. I was busy with work but was able to enjoy a night out with my ladies.  I rocked an Afro. I was so excited this was my attempt thus far at pulling off an Afro. Normally when I try to pull off an Afro.  It never stays it turns into a messy kinky curly bush like the picture below.

Simple Mohawk

 Hey readers, It's Coco. I have been super busy with school. But here's a quick tutorial on how to do a simple Mohawk with braids. If you want me to do a tutorial for how to do the braids. Please leave your comments below or on the Youtube video. 
Thank you for watching!!!!



                                                                                                        ^_^   Coco

It's almost challenge time !!!!!!

The hiatus is almost officially over...

Good afternoon readers,

          We have to apologize for not posting any new content for you to read. But we will be back soon. During this period, I have been busy with work, school and planning my daughters party. Meanwhile, my sister Coco has been away at school studying hard and practicing with her softball team. This past weekend, She played her very first collegiate softball game. 

She rocked a natural bun for her very first game.

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend her game. That same day was my deceased grandmothers bday and my honeybunny'a actual bday/bday party. We had a blast and Facetimed Coco to make sure she wasn't left out of the festivities.

Coco's Friday Natural Hair Crush Unknown ???

What's up world!!! Sorry about leaving you all hanging I had so much going on. I have some free time before I hit the books. So here is my Natural Hair Crush for Friday. I do not know who she is but OMG I am loving that hair and color.

This is my hair crush what's yours???
                                    
( Don't forget to check out our IG  and FB Kinks and Curls of Two Island Girls to share your Friday natural hair crushes with our hashtags #NHCF  and #NaturalHairCrushFridays)
       

Until next time,

                                                     

                               Coco

Red Velvet's Friday Natural Hair Crush Igers ajadblaq_pearl

It's Natural Hair  Crush Friday's!!!!!! So let the hair crushes begin...lol. I have a lot of hair crushes but this Friday.  I am crushing  Igers @ajadblaq_pearl hair. Her hairstyle is so dope.

I have told u who's hair I'm crushing on today. So, readers who is your hair crush on this interesting and humid Friday???

( Don't forget to check out our IG  and FB Kinks and Curls of Two Island Girls to share your Friday natural hair crushes with our hashtags #NHCF  and #NaturalHairCrushFridays)
                                          

                                                                                                     Xoxo,
                                                    
                                                                                                            Red Velvet

Natural Hair Crush Fridays

Readers, we are sorry that we left you all hanging for a while. We had gotten so busy with work, internships, kids and school. That we got a bit sidetracked and for that we are sorry. So we are going to kick off the last day before the weekend with Natural Hair Crush Fridays!!!!!

The natural hair crush can be anyone so happy hair crush hunting and be sure to check out 

&

Follow our IG @KandC_of2island_Girls   

 and our FB Kinks and Curls of Two Island Girls

Creating a hair regimen

Sorry about the delay readers, a lot has been going on since we last posted on our blog. Thank you for your patience. In this post, we will be talking about how to create a hair regimen.

So what is a hair regimen exactly.....

                                               A hair regimen is a regulated routine for your hair. The main goal of a hair regimen is to restore and maintain a healthy head full of kinks and curls. The key to creating a successful hair regimen is listening to what your hair needs and considering the environmental/seasonal factors that affect your hair.

Dear readers,

Dear Readers,


                       We had some serious that caused us not to post fresh content for you. We apologize for the inconvenience and will have fresh posts for next week.



                                                                                   Red Velvet

Red Velvet's Update to the 3 month protective styles challenge

Sorry about the delay in posting our update to our 3 month protective style challenge. 

Coco is still finishing up her end of the year exams. I was trying to wait for her but she will post her update soon. Our protective styles challenge ended on the 15th of April. In case, you haven't been following our protective styles challenge on our blog. For the past 3 months, Coco and I have been rocking protective styles to help grow and retain the length or our hair. 

What are protective styles?????

A Protective Style is....

•  A low manipulation hairstyle that gives your hair a break from daily manipulation. It also protects your hair especially your ends which are the weakest and oldest point of your hair from the elements and damage. 

To get more info on what are considered protective styles or what the purpose of a protective style please click the link below:

                                  Red Velvet and Coco's 3 month Protective Styles Challenge 



I cannot tell you how elated Coco and I were to finally end this challenge. Here's was how the 3 month challenge turned out.

Miss Jessie's Super Sweetback Treatment Vs. III Sisters of Nature Honeyrose Treatment

A few weeks ago, I told you about my discovery of a new product line called III Sisters of Nature that claims to be comparable to Miss Jessie's and Kinky Curly Products. I am still in process of trying all these products. So far I have tried both  Miss Jessie's Super Sweetback Treatment and III Sisters of Nature Honeyrose Treatment. 


So without further adieu... Lets's get this battle of DC Treatments started


Out of the far right corner, weighing 16 oz. We have in the clear jar with the pink and brown label with white lettering.....

Miss Jessie's Super Sweetback Treatment!!!!!!!!

Out of the far left corner, weighing 16 oz. We have in the white jar with the brown and pink label with the black and white lettering......


III Sisters of Nature Honeyrose Treatment!!!!!!!!

There can be one winner so.......Let's Get ready to rumble ...LOL

I have been searching all over for you...

I do not know about the rest of you guys but I have edges that refuse to cooperate no matter what product I put in it.

 I have tried different types of gels and pomades with little or no success. So, I continued to search for that "product" that would lay my resist edges down. I have found that "product" that works the best for my resist edges. This product is called Hicks Edges by Hicks Total Transformations.

III Sisters of Nature Sweet HoneyRose Treatment Product Review

So my sister Red Velvet got me the hook up on some new products she wanted me to try while I was home for spring break. One of them was III SISTERS OF NATURE "SWEET HONEYROSE TREATMENT". I loved this product while it lasted. It was just a sample so I only had enough for one use, but I will be purchasing this product.

  The sample packet I got looked like this one:

                                                   

This is what the full sized one looks like.

Mini Pj Splurge @ B & BW

Thank you all for being patient until we recovered from a bout of influenza and  stomach flu. We are feeling a whole lot better and ready to blog :). 

Any who last month, I decided to stop in to one of my favorite places Bath and Body Works. Every now and then, a hard working student and mother like myself deserves a treat (or in my case a few treats...lol).  As I walked into Bath and Body Works. I was greeted by two very awesome & helpful Bath and Body Works associate's Phoebe and Cierra.

Sorry :(

We have been struggling to recover from a bout of influenza and a stomach virus. We will have posts for you as soon as we are feeling better.

                                                                                 Xoxo,
                                                                                           Red Velvet

III Sisters of Nature

Last week, I took a trip to my local beauty supply to replenish my supply of Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave-In and ORS Deep Penetrating Conditioner (I will be posting a review on those products soon). As I was cruising the aisles in search of my products. A display case of natural hair care products caught my eye. On this display case it showcased a new product line called III Sisters of Nature.

III Three Sisters of Nature Hair Products

Mini Natural Hair Diva Kiara

Hailing from one of the most gorgeous places on earth..... St.Thomas, U.S.V.I!!!!!

Mini Natural Hair Diva Kiara

Suave Professionals Almond and Shea Butter Conditioner Product Review

In 2011,  Suave decided to debut a Professionals hair care line that is comparable to top salon brands like AVEDA and etc. at an affordable price. 







I have been using their Almond & Shea Butter Conditioner which is comparable to Aveda's Dry Remedy Conditioner. 
This conditioner has become one of my favorites. Suave Almond & Shea Butter Conditioner is so versatile. It can be used as a regular conditioner or to co-wash your kinks and curls. It can also be used as a leave-in,  a DC treatment or an addition to a DC treatment. I use this multi-purpose conditioner for all of the above and its never let me down. I love how this thick & creamy conditioner has great slip to make detangling your hair a breeze. 

Oo La Laaa! Cantu Shea Butter Growth Strengthening Treatment Product Review

  Finally! I've found something that actually works for me. My hair is very hard to moisturize. In order to keep my hair moisturized, I find myself doing lots of overnight oil treatments. Now I don't have to do them so often because I found a product called "Cantu Shea Butter Grow Strong-Strengthening Treatment".

Mini Natural Hair Diva Cas

I am pleased to introduce OUR first mini natural hair diva nicknamed Cas.

This is my little one and protege.

You can tell she loves the camera...LOL

Sending out an E.O.S

Yes, I have been sending out an E.O.S. LOL... I mean a S.O.S for a lip balm that would keep my lips soft and moisturized without that waxy feeling.  I have purchased endless lip balms with little or no success.  I am shopping in the beauty aisle @ Target looking for the latest lip balm to purchase. All of a sudden, my eye gets caught on some colorful cool looking spheres. So you know the PJ in me made me  pick the package up. It turns out the colorful spheres are lip balms made by E.O.S aka Evolution Of Smooth.  

Sweet Mint E.O.S Lip Balm (Mint Green Colored Sphere) and Strawberry Sorbet E.O.S Lip Balm (Pink Colored Sphere)

Let Us Never Forget.. Remembering Devon Mansa T. G.

I know this has nothing to do with hair or hair/beauty products. But it has a great deal to do with our life's journey.  This has been an extremely tough weekend for Coco and I. It's something that has greatly affected my family and countless friends.We are struggling to cope with loss of my little brother Devon.

Devon G. ( 7/6/1992 - 2/8/2012)

This Feb.  8th marked a WHOLE YEAR since my little brother..Coco's older brother was murdered in a senseless act of violence. It really breaks my heart to have to be forced to come to terms with his death. On 2/8/12 @10:16 pm - 10:26 pm an assailant(s) decided to shoot up our childhood home. Never in a million years would we have foreseen something like this.The images of what we saw in our childhood home will be permanent etched in our minds. It's heart wrenching and very troubling. What troubles us the most is that he wasn't a bad kid. He was robbed of being able to graduate, get his very first job and have a bright future. It's been hard for all of us. Especially Coco since it all happened a few hours before her birthday. She never got the chance to hear her big brother tell her happy b-day. So,  I  just want  share a video with you today paying tribute to my little brother Vonn, a victim of gun violence.

May you continue to Rest in Jesus Devon you will be eternally missed.

Take Em' Out

      Yes, it's about that time...... Time to take these braids out LOL. I had a nice break from doing my hair. But it's time to freshen it  up and create another style. My braids were really really long.   So the first thing, I did was cut my braids shorter. I cut them a few inches below  my natural hair . After cutting my braids I applied lots of conditioner to loosen my braids and to soften my hair. When I felt my hair was ready to come out the conditioner made it easier to come out.

 So after I took my hair out and added more conditioner to my hair. Then I added extra virgin olive oil to moisturize my hair. Once I did that I noticed my kinks and curls started to pop back up. After I finished moisturizing my hair. I put a shower cap over my hair and wrapped it up with a satin scarf to keep the oil and conditioner from leaking out on my pillow during the night. I took my hair out on a Friday night and I washed my hair Sunday night because I know my hair had needed some type of moisturizing treatment. After I washed my hair I let it air dry completely which didn't take too long and measured my hair which is now 3 1/2 inches long (Yayyyyyy!!)

Give me a L...Give Me an O... Give Me an I...Give Me a S... What does that spell L.O.I.S Hair typing system

When I first decided to become natural in 07/08, there were only two kinds of hair typing systems that I knew about the Andre Walker hair typing system and the L.O.I.S hair typing system.

In this post, we will be discussing the L.O.I.S hair typing system created by Ms. Snips. 
Okay...Okay...Okay, I know I just talked Andre Walker hair typing system. Now your are like..... What the heck is the L.O.I.S hair typing system??? Who the heck is Ms. Snips???

 Unfortunately, their website Ourhair.net no longer exists and due to a lack of information online about Ms.Snips. Her identity remains a mystery. The L.O.I.S hair typing system was created as an  alternative to Andre Walker’s hair typing system. Many naturals felt like were clustered into limited categories with Andre Walker's hair typing system. These limited categories still created "good" and "bad" hair divisions. The L.O.I.S hair typing system addressed the dissatisfaction that many naturals felt with Andre Walker's hair typing system. The L.O.I.S hair typing system used all the aspects of Black hair. It also eliminated the need for a hierarchical system that created "good" and "bad" hair divisions.  The L.O.I.S hair typing system is made up of three variables hair pattern, strand size and hair texture.

HOW YOU WOULD FIND YOUR HAIR TYPE USING THE L.O.I.S HAIR TYPING SYSTEM……..

Inspirational Mondays

Remember you can have the most beautiful face the world has seen but it means nothing. If you have an ugly heart and spirit. The person with the kind heart and giving spirit is beautiful. Happy Monday Readers!!!!

Its a Sale going on @ Target

Yes, I said it there is a sale going on @ Target. If you know me, I (Red Velvet) am somewhat of a PJ. Since I started  my new budget. I love nothing more than a sale. I cannot count how many times my PJism has gotten me into trouble (SMH). I am leaving the pediatricians office from my honey bunny's appointment. I get into the car and decide to stop by the local target in the area to stock up on baby products for her. I hit the baby aisle and got her everything she needs for the next few weeks. As, I headed to the checkout. I  passed by the hair care aisle. I couldn't  resist the temptation and turned back around.

I'm getting ready turn the corner, Lo and behold one of my favorite hair care lines is on sale...SheaMoisture!!!!!

SheaMoisture products on the top aisle.

I was too excited. I almost did a dance in the aisle....lol. I'm sure they are having this sale to make room for some new additions to their line which I have been patiently waiting for to appear on the store shelves.  But who cares at..... Buy one get one 50%off, You know I had to stock up. The best part about this sale is that it lasts until Feb. 22nd. So, you already know I will keep stocking up their products (...yay me!!!!...lol).

 Did I mention I love SheaMoisture hair products?Lol..... Especially most of their products from their Organic Coconut & Hibiscus Line for Thick and Curly hair & Organic Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Line for Dry, Damaged Hair. Coco and I, will be posting reviews on those products soon.

They also have two other lines that I will be trying soon the Organic Yucca & Baobab Line for fine/thin hair & the Organic African Black Soap Line for dry & itchy scalps.

You can see other customers weren't playing...lol

As you can see these products are going....going...almost gone at this local Target. So Grab your SheaMoisture today!!!!!. In this trip, I only purchased SheaMoisture's Organic Curl & Style Hair Milk Coconut & Hibiscus & Organic African Black Soap Dandruff & Dry Scalp Elixir.  I will continue to stock up until they either run out of products or until the sale ends.

NOTE: Coco and I are not affiliated or paid to review any of the products we use. If we are we will let you know. We only give honest opinions about the products we review. If we call a product a holy grail or just simply love it. It's because we really love the products we have used and are not paid to give a false reviews. Although, we may be given free products to review. We will let you know and give you our honest opinions about the products we use.

                                                                                 

Inspirational Mondays

      

                           The weekend is over and it's Monday yet again....But we are blessed to be alive. I wanted to share a poem that someone shared with me. The author is unknown I really wish I knew who wrote this is so beautiful. 

I hope you have enjoyed this poem as much as me..We should never be ashamed of who we are Women of all ethnicities are beautiful...... Have a Happy Monday Readers!!!!!

What your type? Hair type that is..... Hair types 1, 2a-4c defined

Have you ever had someone walk up to you and say girl you have that 3c hair? Or have you ever heard someone talk about a natural female behind their back (SMH) and say  "ummm girl, she says she's a 4a, when she knows that she's a 4c". You are looking at them like what the heck is a 3c, 4a/4b???

In my next series of post, I(Red Velvet) will be giving you the breakdown on hair typing systems. For some time, I have noticed that hair typing systems have been gaining popularity. Every time you turn around there is a new kind of new hair typing system popping up.

When I first decided to become natural in 07/08, there was only two kinds of hair typing systems that I knew about the Andre Walker hair typing system and the L.O.I.S hair typing system (which will be the topic for my next post).

 In this post, we will be discussing the Type 1 to Type 4  hair typing system created by Andre Walker. Now you are wondering who is Andre Walker???......................

Africa's Best Ultimate Herbal Oil Review

Okay, Okay.....I, Red Velvet admit it...I am somewhat of a PJ (Product Junkie). But this time my PJism helped me find an  awesome product on accident. I was getting ready to hangout with my chica and I forgot my products -_- . I didn't have time to go back home to retrieve my oil. So, I ran out to the Target to find a cheap replacement oil because I refused to spend another 20 dollars for oil when I had a brand spanking new bottle of oil in the house. So I trolled up and down Target's hair care aisles. Until, I stumbled upon Africa's Best Ultimate Herbal Oil in their ethnic hair care aisle. 

There wasn't a price listed on the bottle or shelf. So, I walked over to the nearest price check machine and scanned the bottle. The price scanned the oil for $2.50!!. I had to do a double take on the price.  I have NEVER purchased  a herbal oil that cheap.  So, I scanned the herbal oil again (just to be sure...LOL).

On The Road....Again!!!

      So I started off going natural for the first time back in August 2010 (My sis Red velvet inspired me). But I quit, I felt like the process was going to take too long. So, I thought to myself your young and don't need NO stress especially with your hair. After about 6 months, I decided to get a perm again because I had a pageant coming up. I did pretty good even though I didn't win (sad face). I still had fun. On my way home from the pageant I realized I just got a perm for a day because after that day I realized I could have made it. One stressful day turned  6 months progress into nothing.

3 Month Protective Style Challenge

This will be our 1^st hair challenge ever and for this year. This challenge will take place for 3 months from Jan 15^th  to Apr. 15^th. Coco and I,  will rock protective styles and share the results with you. So, for the 1^st two months, the protective style Coco and I have selected to use for this challenge are Braided Hair Extensions.  

You can tell I'm amped to start this challenge....LOL

Coco is amped too...LOL

We will keep you posted with our  progress and take down results. Readers, feel free to join us with our challenges and share your results.


 Just in case, You do not know what's a protective style is.......

EV? EVOO? WHAT!!!! A guide to Natural Hair Acronyms

Have you ever found yourself  wanting to ask a question? Or respond to a post in a hair care blog, website, or forum? Instead of trolling their page everyday like a creep...LOL. You have finally summoned up the courage to publish a post or inquiry. You are so proud of yourself.  All of a sudden SOMEONE RESPONDS to your post or inquiry. You are so excited UNTIL you see the response.
This person has used nothing but acronyms. Except for the standard LOL, BRB, CTHU and etc.  you haven't the slightest clue what these particular acronyms mean. You want to seem like you know what they are talking about in their post. So you  thank them for their help and quickly log off. Now you are on the end of your computer screen confused or like this ....................LOL

Oops I did it again...

Yes, oops Red velvet has done it again. This time I have done it on purpose. On 1/10/2013 @ 11-11:47 am, I cut off my hair and restarted my natural hair journey.

It's all gone...No worries though it will grow back