Giveaway! Say Bye-bye to breakage and split ends with Mama’s Best

Hair - - July 20, 2017

Continue reading to find out how YOU could WIN a set of Mama’s Best hair products.

What are your initial thoughts about using Jamaica manufactured hair products in your hair? Would you go for a Shea Moisture or a Kurlee Belle before you’d think to put Jamaican made stuff in your hair? Do you think Jamaican made product can give strong competition to Cantu? What is it that might turn you away from the good ole’ Jamrock products? Is it the local packaging?

Well let me tell you … One day, I had every intention of snagging myself a Shea Moisture Leave in Conditioner, however, I was a few (a lot of) dollars short. As I headed out the door, my eyes caught the Mama’s Best Hair Strengthening & Moisturising Cream.

I’m not gonna lie, I was skeptical to pick it up, but having read the ingredients, benefits to my hair, and most importantly the PRICE TAG. I went for it.

joanne

LET ME REPORT TO YOU GUYS … IT’S BOMB.

That product had me shook.

totally shook

Before using the product, this is the amount of hair I lost on wash day; so this is the amount of hair I’d lose daily.

wash day hair loss

Fresh out of the shower, I massaged about two “bottle cover sizes” of the Hair Strengthening & Moisturising Cream into my 3b/3c hair, and as it dried I just couldn’t keep my hands out my hair. My hair was as soft as a freshly washed and fabric softened blanket.

I doubted its ability to make my hair soft because although it’s a cream, it’s watery. This is simply because it’s a water based cream and a lot of its ingredients are herbs, and natural and essential oils such as castor and rosemary. I knew my hair would have shine because of the oils, but when oil is mixed with wet hair it usually feels and looks stringy and often results in crisp, dry hair.

Don’t be alarmed by the watery consistency; remember it’s a daily moisturizer. Heavy dreams aren’t the best to apply on a daily basis because it can’t work into curls effortlessly, and often disrupts the curl pattern making it more likely to go stale and frizzy. A watery product will move around the curls and be absorbed far easier; imparting moisture the hair would need to be refreshed and appear visibly soft.

For the relaxed mama’s out there, this would be good as a weekly moisturiser to work in the hair when you’ve just washed it.

It far exceeded my expectation to impart moisture and just be good at all. I couldn’t keep my hand out of my hair because it.

My hair didn’t break nearly as much anymore and I was able to see my hair growth; (I bleached my hair right to my scalp so I can easily see new growth, so you must know I’m telling you the truth. I also only used the product 3 times out of the 7 day week).

On its own it gave me very conditioned, shiny curls that had bounce and hold. I would not use it as a styler, but definitely as a leave in.

curls with mamas best

It’s purpose is to repair and help growth so I know it would be good for guys as well.

This collection of hair is not just for wash day, but for the entire week …

hair loss for entire week

Yeah. I found it hard to believe myself. I had to try it again to make sure I wasn’t the bearer of false news. . . And I got similar results the next week.

Why wouldn’t you chase after an all natural, affordable and performing product?

For a chance win the hair products in the image below, simply register to become a member of the blog, like and comment how you think these products will work for your hair.

This is a Jamaica only giveaway. This giveaway goes through July 20 – July 23, 2017 at 11:59p.m.

What have you got to lose? I think this could be your lucky day!! Enter into the giveaway today! 😀

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Here’s why you should try the new Kurlee Belle line

Hair - - July 19, 2017

Do you ever get that feeling? The one where you just wanna try a new product for the sake of discovering if it’s gonna work wonders for your hair? Well that was me over the weekend. I managed to snag two products from the Kurlee Belle It’s only Natural, hair line. Below I’m going to review how their Kurl Defining Crème worked on my 3b/3c hair and how the Jelle Coconut Styling Gel worked on my friend’s 3c/4a hair.

Firstly, the packaging is very simplistic, and might even mislead a curly girl into thinking that its content would pale in comparison to a Shea Moisture or Cantu. The packaging uses hot pink, white and teal to make up the very minimalistic label. It, nonetheless, served its purpose to call forward the kinky, kinky curly and curly hair types to nourish themselves in a product that aims to de-frizz, moisturize, soften, define, and elongate curls.

When you first open the jar, a subtle, coconut fragrance unfolds before you. It’s so gentle; it’s almost hard to pinpoint the exact tropical aroma that tantalizes your nostrils. On the first day, the scent tended to linger, ensuring that its pleasant presence was known. Its consistency is smooth, lightweight, soft and almost fluffy, which made it easy to distribute and incorporate into the hair. While applying the product, I noticed it left a sort of oily remnant on the fingertips, signaling to me that it was going to do wonders with moisturizing my bleached and colour treated hair. After applying, although defined curls were formed, it made my hair feel stiff and hard when it was dry which raised a red flag for me.

The next morning, however, the gel cast or ‘crunch’ had been broken. My hair had much more volume, visibly softer and tight curls, it was soft to the touch, and overnight the fragrance had become fully acquainted with my hair and it was no longer a scent that lingered but it had fully become its own warm, summer day, tropical festival. The product helped the red colour in my hair have shine and vibrancy.

I would give this product a strong 7/10 mainly because I would have loved to see it help clump my curls more. It ranks up major points in its subtle smell, ability to moisturize and give the hair a lot of shine.

For someone with the 4a – 4c hair type, this product surely has the consistency and ingredients to impart moisture. It would be great for making twist outs, and bantu knots without the crunch and with lots of shine.

The Jelle Coconut Styling Gel, on the other hand, is formulated from 100% coconut oil, which might explain why it has a faintly less perfumed fragrance than the crème, and has a more natural undertone. As for its consistency, it has a little more movement than the Eco Styler Gel, in that it was marginally less heavy and thick; this made it easy to distribute throughout the hair.

Being that I’m not a fan of gels, I tested it on my friend who has 3c/4a hair. The product quickly mingled with her raw, kinked mane perfectly, using its ingredients to clump her hair into the most beautiful curls and coils without the need for water. The product definitely delivered on shine and hold.

For her hair, I would definitely give this an 8/10. Points were lost because unlike the crème, the styling gel did not impart as much moisture into the hair, leaving the hair with a crunchy appearance. To fix this, a few drops of the Kurlee Tropical Oils Blend will add moisture and extra shine – especially for my the 4 hair ladies. However, if I’m to be honest, we were a little heavy handed with it, and since gels are not particularly for moisturizing purposes, too much of it made her hair hard and dry; less is more.

Do you think you’d give this product a try? Have you ever used these or any other products from the line? Comment down below and let us know !

To see this product in the hair types mentioned above, watch this quick tutorial below.

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HAIR TREND ALERT ! AFROCENTRIC BEADED BRAIDS

Hair - - July 18, 2017

It’s starting to take social media by storm this summer ’17. Time to throwback and get groovy again with this very afro-chic 80’s inspired look.

The look generally consists of one or two ‘cornrow/cainrow’ plaits on each side of the head, beginning the plait at midpoint and ending towards the front of the head.

@imadamejay

The hairdo definitely gained more traction after American pop singer, Alicia Keys debuted with the look on May 1st. Since then, many naturals worldwide have drawn their own inspiration and have taken their own unique spin on the infamous look.

@aliciakeys

It can be left plain, and be a statement in itself, or you can dress it up with antique or shell beads, braid cuffs or your favourite headband. This is definitely a functional hairstyle where you can look stylish and keep cool during summer’s heat waves. The braids can pair perfectly with your bantu knots or twist outs.

@nenny_b

@kotton.x

The look seems to be very time appropriate as the hairstyle is nothing new to the African American community. These types of statement looks were often used throughout the 70’s to 90’s by African Americans as a means of rebelling against the Eurocentric times they found themselves in.

These hairstyles were a mark of pride and unity; a way to stand out and embrace the culture. This is precisely what we’re doing again today in the African American circle, with our movements to love and accept our colour, hair and culture. Of course much of these intricate designs developed out of Africa where these women style their hair with these complexed patterns as a means of tribe identification, ritual, social position, wealth, marital status. These patterns are often handed down from generations.

You can be a part of something great. Join the expression and unity. Give the style a try and stop by Fontana Pharmacy for the best hair accessories to slay this look. Also, use #FontanaBeauty under your hair inspo pic to get featured on our social media !!

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Relaxed hair matters, too !

Hair - - July 3, 2017

Relaxed Vs. Natural? Does relaxed “black hair” count as natural too? Are they apart of the natural hair movement? This is a very controversial topic.

With all the talk and movements centred around becoming a natural, shade is often casted on the ladies with relaxed hair, which may lead to some of them feeling guilty for not allowing their roots to run freely.

I personally think that needs to stop. A movement that is as important as this should not be hijacked by hair politics.

I figured that the natural hair journey was to step away from some of the practices that have a way of washing away a rooted part of our identity as black men and women – our hair. You know, ‘black pride’ because there are so many unique and special things about who we are and our history that should not be striped away and hidden. However, taking a vow to stop relaxing one’s hair is not the only act that matters in such a movement.

Throughout the natural hair journey uprising, fingers have been pointed and stares have been pelted at the African American women who still have relaxed hair. I’ve observed through some social media comments, posts and in friendly discussions that relaxed hair women are predisposed to backlash (not necessarily harsh or vile), because somehow they might be viewed as ‘not conforming’ to the expectations that have been created out there. Of course this does not go to say that everyone goes around judging relaxed hair women, however there’s a lurking expectation that hovers over them.

This blog post only serves to express my opinion that it is okay to have relaxed hair.

I think there’s enough love and appreciation to pass around in the African American community, and that’s where the strength and peace lies – in unity. That’s when people will notice the change that we’re trying to display – when we embrace our African culture in more ways than one, and create a strong, loud voice crying out against our marginalisation.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a woman who prefers to tame her mane with relaxers. It makes her no less of an Empress, Black, African, Negro, whatever you want to call it. It doesn’t erase her melanin one bit, nor does it cast away the history that grew her.

The segregation and profiling should not be. Some women actually keep their hair relaxed because it’s far easier to handle because their natural hair may be too unruly, leaving them to struggle and become unhappy with it.

I believe that we’ve gotten too grand and powerful that some of us took our eyes off of the mission and have turned on ourselves by frowning upon our sistas for other reasons beyond the realm of hair.

Fontana pharmacy welcomes relaxed hair women with open arms, with products that can help you to maintain and love your hair, and skin just the same. You do not have to conform. If relaxed works for you, there’s no need to be ashamed or feel marginalised. For the ladies that want to become natural, we welcome you as well.

Become a part of the discussion and lets us know what you think. Comment down below !

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10 Things We DON’T Do As Naturals But YouTube Says We SHOULD …

Hair - - June 20, 2017

We all know that the natural hair gurus on Instagram and Youtube swear by certain steps that helped them reach the ultimate hair goals. If you’re anything like me, you’d binge watch all their Youtube posts and make mental notes of all their steps. You’re now motivated to do everything that they’ve said, but now that you’re up and about, hand in hair … that feeling hits you.. ‘I JUST CAN’T. IT IS TOO MUCH CHILE’.

With trying to check every box on the hair to-do list, you’d much rather just shave your head and be done with it. Below are some hair rules that seem to aggravate the natural hair journey.

1) Pre-poo?

Isn’t the point of shampooing to get product build up and oils off my hair? For crying out loud my hair was already drenched in product and oil. That’s why I wanna wash it.

2) Drink lots of water and eat right.

I’m in University and I survive on a steady diet of Ramen Noodles and burgers; I’m lucky if I finish one bottle of water in 3 days.

3) Scalp massages to increase and encourage blood flow to get longer hair in the long run. But long is just too long

4) Hanging upside down to direct blood to scalp to aid in hair growth … I think not.

5) Trim every 3 months… girl.. I’m trying to get my hair to grow !

6) “Just be patient”, they’d always say. It’s been two days since I drenched my scalp in castor oil … where the growth at?

7) Coconut oil. Perhaps you’ve seen some of the memes celebrating the marvellous wonders that coconut oil can perform.

or

Almost every naturalista and every healthy hair care Instagram account praises the miracles that it can do for the hair, skin and overall health. But! … There’s no need to feel guilty or excluded if you can’t relate. If you find that the ‘miracle oil’ does nothing for your hair, there’s nothing wrong with using another oil like castor, olive or jojoba oil etc etc. I’ve been using coconut oil for a while now, and if I’m being honest I don’t know if it’s even doing anything for my hair. I now mix olive, coconut and castor oil and hope for the best.

8) Deep condition at every wash. This is truly a goal of mine. While this step is important and beneficial, how many of us can testify that after shampooing and conditioning; sitting back, watching a show and allowing our hair to air dry actually doesn’t seem like a bad idea at all. There’re just too many steps to this natural hair journey.

9) Wash your hair every 3 days or at least once a week. We all know how our weekday schedule can be packed, and by the time the weekend comes around, we’d rather just cuddle up under our favourite blanket and fall asleep to our favourite show. Sometimes just about two weeks pass before I’d muster up the strength to tame and cleanse my mane. But hey, I believe by doing this the hair has a better chance to relax, recuperate and show you how long and healthy it’s been getting.

10) Stay away from products with sulphates, silicones, parabens, petroleum and a bunch of other ingredients I can’t spell. Sometimes I manage to get products without these ingredients, but if I don’t, I’m pretty sure my hair will survive and thrive.

How many of the 10 healthy hair rules have you broken? How many do you swear by?

Comment down below and let us know.

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Happy New Year! Hello Spring?

Hair - Nixx Woolery - January 24, 2017

Hello there Beauty Vibers!

Happy new year!!

Am I the only one feeling like we’ve been in 2017 for a while now?! Just the other day we were popping champagne, ringing in the new year and now it’s almost spring!

The times of dark, vampy looks are almost over and I am absolutely ready to take on the bright, bold and pastels that come along with Spring. But what do we do until then? We embrace the transition!

Here are a few tips for the transition.

Liquid or cream foundation

Choose liquid or cream foundation to keep your skin moisturized! If you have oily skin, that’s not a problem, you still need to stay moisturized.

My go-to foundation now is the Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless. If you’re more for a Dewy look then give the Maybelline Fit Me Dewy and Smooth. I have normal skin, for the most part and I tend to get oily throughout the day and this foundation set with a loose powder, like the Sacha Buttercup powder, the Mary Kay translucent powder or the Black Opal Deluxe loose setting powder, keeps me looking great throughout the day- often only getting a bit shiny towards the end of the day.

Top 4 Makeup Setting Powders

Mix up your nail polish!

Right now at Fontana you can get Pink Princess Nail Polishes for 50% off! Yes! 50% off!

This nail polish brand carries beautiful spring-ready nail polishes. Try out a few of the colours!

Nail it!

Bold and beautiful lips!

So before we even get into putting on lipstick, during this dry and cold time, we need to keep these lips moisturized. Before applying lipstick, exfoliate to get rid of any dry patches and dead skin.

Tip

Mix a little brown sugar with some honey or olive oil and apply to your lips; wipe with a wet cloth and voila! Apply a little lip moisturizer / balm and then apply your lipstick.

New Lips

Pink Princess Lipsticks are also on 50% while supplies last so you need to go get them before they run out!

These are just a few ways I’m getting ready for spring!

Share your thoughts! Comment below!

Nixx

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Big Chop or Transition?

Hair - Nixx Woolery - November 10, 2016

So you’ve decided to take the plunge. You’re not sure what the results will be, but you’ve decided to give it a try regardless. Not ready to jump in? Maybe you should transition? Continue Reading

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Clear Skin in 1 week?

Hair - Nixx Woolery - October 27, 2016

Hello Beauty Vibers!

Skin care and health is very important to me. Recently, I had a few breakouts in my problem area, which is my right cheek, and for some reason, I went and squeezed and irritated the area, which left me with a lot of dark spots.

I was given the AriClearSkin Acne Treatment System line and because I haven’t used the entire line together, I decided to give it a try. For one week, I included these products into my skin care regimen and consistently used the products to see how they would work and if they would remove the spots.

Personally, I’m not a fan of sulfur and given that I’m not having an acne problem, but a dark spot problem, I decided to use the AriBriteTone cleansing bar instead of using the AriSulfur bar which comes in the acne system.

Unfortunately, I did not document my time using the products, so I will not be able to show you my results. As I said before, I incorporated the Ari products into my regimen, so they were not the only products used, but I replaced many of my usual products with the Ari products. The great thing about this is it is just four steps and it doesn’t take too long.

Cleanse: I cleanse my face with my favourite cleanser, which is the Irie Rock Tea Tree and Witch Hazel Scrub, just to wash away any makeup or dirt on my skin. This is not something you need to do, this is just my preference. I then follow up with the AriBriteTone bar which I apply to my face as usual then I use a spin brush to wash my face. If you don’t have a spin brush, that’s fine. When you purchase the regular size bar soap you get a cleansing sponge which will work well.
Tone: I apply the AriToner after cleansing to remove anything that may have remained on my skin after cleansing. This toner closes the pores and brightens the skin. I put the toner on to a cotton pad and then apply to my skin, concentrating on my cheeks.
Moisturize: After cleansing and applying the toner I apply this lightweight moisturizer and work it into my face, just like I would any other moisturizer.
Spot treatment: Dab just a little of the spot treatment onto the spots. This is a bit concentrated, so you don’t need to use a lot.

I started to see results two days after I started using these products consistently. The spots started to fade and my skin just looked brighter, not lighter, but brighter. I have a little bit of discolouration and I’ve seen where that is minimized and my skin looks clearer. There were a few spots on my forehead and my left cheek which were barely noticeable which are now gone and the spots on my right cheek are almost gone, will probably be gone by the end of the week.

Please note that results will vary. Using the products consistently has definitely contributed greatly to my results. During my time using the products, I did not make any significant changes to my diet or water intake, nor was I taking any medication.

Comment below for a one day discount code!
Lickle more,

Nixx

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Stay Hydrated Pt. 2: Hair

Hair - Nixx Woolery - October 13, 2016

These tips are not just for my curly girls! Relaxed or natural, these tips will work for you… Continue Reading

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Healthy Hair Regimen

Hair - Nixx Woolery - September 9, 2016

People either come up to me and ask me whether my hair is real, comment on how huge it is and often they ask me what products I use, how I get my hair to curl, how I maintain my curl and how I get my hair to look the way it is.

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