Fashion 101: The Building Blocks of a Balanced Wardrobe

   A great way to make sure your clothing budget stays intact is to first take the time to build a solid wardrobe foundation. Meaning your clothing should consist of more than various cut jeans.lol...and also should not only contain career wear. At its most functional a wardrobe should be a balance of casual and career wear with select pieces for special occasions/evening attire & events. Also a diverse color palette is optimal...of course indulge in the love for black, as most people do. But also do not forget the other flattering colors available such as taupe, navy, grays, white, and a few vibrant "pop" colors. We can go into how to find the most flattering colors for your complexion and body type on a different blog. However on this article I would like to share a few steps on how to get your wardrobe balanced.
...Get ready to take a few notes...
Step#1: Divide and Conquer
Before your next shopping trip I invite you to take a personal challenge. Clean out your closet.
Pull every item of clothing out of your closet and separate it...casual wear, career, special occasions/evening.
Of those 3 categories make a separate section of clothes you have not worn in over 2 years, outdated trendy pieces, bad fit, just don't want anymore.  Put those items in a bag and take it to a donation center. This can be used as a tax write off as a charitable donation. Or if you have couture and designer clothing in good condition take them to a consignment shop, Plato's Closet, and/or sell them on Ebay.

Step#2: Re-Evaluate what you currently have in those three categories
Casual Wear:
Is it diverse...or only consisting of jeans and t-shirts.
Do the pieces make a complete outfit?....if not note what you are missing to complete the look.

Career Wear:
Is everything black and white?...or do you have a navy, gray, and beige suit attire as well.
Are the career separates interchangeable to create more looks with less pieces?
Note what career separates, suit pieces, accessories are needed to update or complete any looks.

Special Occasions/Evening:
Note a look you desire and find similar looks in magazines, online etc that depict the look you are going for. When you are ready to achieve the look, you won't get overwhelmed putting it together because you have a game plan established. Also deters straying from a beauty budget..shopping for nightlife and special occasions its easy to get caught up in the glamour and overspend.
Do you have a "little black dress" that properly fits?
Do you have proper undergarments for evening wear? never underestimate the power of proper undergarments, it can change the way you look and feel in an evening dress. 

Step#3: Organize Your Clothing 
 Re-place your clothing back in the closet...but not randomly. Organize the flow of your closet space, one end should representing your casual/day wear...going to your career attire and followed by evening and special occasion clothing. By organizing your closet by the type of look you can see at a glance what you may need to focus on purchasing.  This also helps avoid buying duplicate items....i.e. some people buy several black shirts, making their style seem redundant. If its the style of the shirt you like purchase a different color in that style.

Step#4 Complete the Looks
Now is the perfect time to take a shopping trip... you will feel the rewards of taking the closet cleaning challenge:0)....This is where the NOTES really are awesome because they provide you with a focused shopping game plan. With those notes you know exactly what you need without guessing about what you already have.

Other things:
Details matter...be sure your fashion trinkets and accessories are in good shape. Not faded or tarnished...Juicy Bracelets and trinkets are notorious for changing colors.:0/

Belts are your friend. Belts are a powerful accessory because they can create a waist line with proper positioning. They can also bring an outfit together, especially when layering.

Bags...Just my own personal preference I prefer to have a top of the line Kenneth Cole bag..than waste my money on a fake Gucci or Vuitton bag. Its about quality, not the cost.
 Either way its good to keep a clutch...tote...and carry all "speedy type" bag. These 3 styles are very versatile and are timeless pieces.
A personal tip: I recommend that my clients purchase newer trendy bags from Aldo, Nine West, DSW, Macy's etc...but in the designer collections purchase vintage bags. Like the Vuitton Speedy 25 or 30 and the Gucci satchel. The reason I recommend this is because those are iconic timeless bags. Most fashionistas are aware of release dates of the trendy designer bags... so certain designs look dated. However with the iconic vintage bags thats a none issue...the look always looks polished and current. Saves money with the same overall results with the look.

I hope these tips help you gain a better balance of your overall wardrobe, and help you enhance your everyday and after 5 looks.
Thanks for reading & Please Subscribe.

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Kickin Oil Slick Skin to the Curb! Amazing Bentonite Clay

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June is right around the corner and that means hot humid weather. If you have combo skin like me, this also means annoying oily skin and a shiny forehead..lol. As much as I LoVe summer, I hate dealing with my oily t-zone. Not to fret a powerhouse of nature can help not only clear out pores and remove oil and debris...but also tighten the skin and reduce the size of pores...thus reducing those nasty forehead oil slicks. Its the power of the pulse also known as Aztec Bentonite Green Clay here to save the day.
*Bonus* this quick summer facial only takes 10 mins of your day to see great results, you could do this once a week or bi-weekly.
All you need:

(l-r) Coconut Vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar, Vitamin E, Aztec Healing Clay and a mixing bowl & teaspoonI prefer to use Coconut Vinegar in my facial mixtures and ACV in my hair mixtures, due to the acidity levels. Coconut Vinegar is slightly less acidic but not by much. 

  Take 3 teaspoons of Aztec Clay add it to the mixing bowl...

  Add 6-8 drops of Vitamin E and stir together.

  Then slowly add vinegar while stirring. Adding just enough so that the mixture is smooth but not runny. 

Stir until its a evenly smooth consistency and not too runny or thick.

As shown on the video clip it should glide on the face and adhere. This not only minimizes any mess, but also insures your skin is getting all the benefits from the clay mixture. Also make sure its evenly spread and not too thick in any area on your face. If its too think it will be difficult to rinse off later. 

Now that you have it applied get ready to feel the pulse:0)....Don't be alarmed this is the clay doing its magic; detoxing the skin and tightening those enlarged pores.

I applied it over my entire face. But it could also just be applied to problem oily areas like the T-zone.

As the mask dries it will start to harden and crack, this is normal.  Allow it to sit for about 10 mins.

It takes about 8-10 minutes for the mask to harden and you can loosen it with a white steamy face clothe. Just tilt head back and place the hot damp towel on the face for a minute or 2. Then remove the mask with  warm water or a facial brush if you have one. I then follow up by swiping my T-zone with witch hazel and applying an oil free facial moisturizer with SPF for sun protection. When its hot and sticky out, I skip on the makeup and just allow my skin to breath and sweat.
Healthy skin never goes out of style and this simple mask is a key element in my skin care regimen:0)

Product Review: Hair Rules...Not all Rules are Bad

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 Hair Rules is a line of haircare developed by J. Dickey `aka` Haircare Guru and author of HairRules haircare guide. I personally have wanted to try HairRules for a long time because it is free of paraben, sulfates, sodium chloride, artificial colorants etc....Not all haircare marketed towards natural haircare are like this. Plus of course if you view their website you can see the beautiful before and after testimonies. I tend to take those with a grain of salt...I'm sure some people get those results, but not everyone...and I tend to fall into the not everyone category often. http://www.hairrules.com/index_flash.cfm
 One reason that has hindered me a bit has been the cost $$...I'm not cheap, but neither is this product.lol. Average cost for a 8oz bottle of any of the products is about $20.00+. Travel sized 2oz bottles are also available for about $10 bucks. Keeping in mind its recommended to saturate and be heavy handed with the product, also means buying it often at this price.
 However fortunately for me I had a stoke of shoppers luck! I was in Ulta browsing after my 2nd Big Chop *yup I'm starting over yet again*. Anyway post BC I felt the need to try new products this time around, so I looked thru all the  natural curly hair products. I was tempted buy Mazani or Curly Dejavu...but just wasn't impressed with the ingredients. I happen to walk thru the clearance and noticed all the Hair Rule products were 50% off...so of course I saw that as a sign to finally try the entire line:0)

I purchased the following products:

L-R: Kinky Curly Cream, Leave-in Conditioner, Quench Conditioner, Daily Cleanse no sud Shampoo....
Not shown but also purchased: Hydrating Finishing Cream, Blow Out your Kinks Straight Styling Cream.

I wanted to know the full effect of the product as a complete line so I use each of the products on every wash day. Eventually I will probably only use the Daily Cleanse no sud Shampoo on heavier product days, and simply co-wash with Quench Conditioner.
 I'm following the rules
#1 Wet hair and apply the Daily Cleanse Cream. What I enjoy about this shampoo is that its so rich and really doesn't strip the hair. Nice and clean...but not squeaky clean is good.
#2 Rinse then saturate the hair with Quench Ultra Rich Conditioner. The ingredients are what I adore about this conditioner along with its moisture boost power. Shea Butter, Honey, Glycerin, Coconut, and Olive Oil...this conditioner delivers and I think is worth the price. I started with a small bottle just to give it a try...and went back for the large bottle after the first use! Awesome stuff...plus of course it doubles as a deep conditioner. Just put on a plastic cap and sit under the dryer for 20 min's. Quench has landed directly on my staple list.
#3 Cool water rinse and apply Nourishment Leave-In Conditioner. I like this leave-in because it only requires a nickel sized amount to be highly effective, plus it contains coconut oil which my hair loves. Just rub it in from tip to root...I apply it while I'm still in the shower. Its suggested that its applied to wet hair.
#4 Follow with Kinky Curling Cream...or the wave mousse, whichever is best for your hair type. I have type 4 coils so I chose the Kinky cream. Its stated to elongate, stretch and define tightly wound kinks transforming them into bouncy spiral curls. I currently cannot vouch that this cream does all of that at the moment, due to I recently cut my hair. BUT I can tell a difference in the definition of the coils of my hair...

Wet Hair Results 

Normally it would require the use of Eco gel and several other products to get this type of coil definition. These pictures are the results of using the HairRules system only. Once I apply the Kinky Curl Cream and set the coils/style, I don't touch my hair again until it is completely dry. I prefer to air dry, but could also use the blowdryer with a diffuser attachment if  time is limited and need my hair to set faster. Once dry I apply a light oil to my scalp and gently massage. Right now I use pure argan oil mixed with peppermint oil as my preferred scalp mixture.

Hair is Dry and the Coils are softly set and frizz free

 The next day my hair is actually still nice and soft, just to refreshen I spritz it with purified water and apply a small amount of the Hydrating Finishing Cream, which is rule #5.

Right now Rule#5 isn't too vital to my hair because it is so short I normally wash it daily. I have tried the hydrating cream on my hair and its a wonderful daily leave in. When my hair is longer I think I'm going to fall in love with it. Its not to heavy, but packs alot of moisture power.

When its time to use heat I look forward to updating how Rule #6 performs.

#6 Blow your Kinks is the heat protection and styling aid designed to help kinky hair not get frizzy and damaged during the straightening process. Once my hair is neck length again I will give this a try:0)

I must say Im upset I did not try this product one sooner. Thumbs up! on all of the products I've tried so far. I look forward to seeing great results as my hair gets longer.

April: Style Updates...BantuKnots and Shingling Curly Girl Staples

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April is a great month....And I'm hoping to have a few great hair days. Its been nine months since I decided to fully cut my hair to its natural texture. At this point I'm pleased my hair is long enough (neck length) to try out my old favorite way to coil my hair...Bantu Knots. Initially I was hesitant to try the bantu knots on natural hair shorter than shoulder length, because of the shrinkage/frizz factors. However I'm glad I did try it on neck length hair because the knot out provided a defined coil. It didn't get frizzy when the hair was separated and fluffed, which tends to happen when I try twist outs.

I clarified using the Aztec Bentonite Clay mixed with ACV and Olive Oil. Once that was fully rinsed I deep conditioned using the As I Am Elation Hydration moisture mask. After allowing that to steam on the hair for 30 min's I rinsed with cool water while fully detangling the hair. Working in 2 sections I applied the KimmayTube leave in conditioner and pure argan oil to seal the ends. To set the Bantu Knots I used Shea Moisture Hair Smoothie and thin hair pins to secure the coils. I allowed the bantu knots to remain in for 2 days, applied Gro Aut Oil to my scalp and styled with scarves. On the 3rd day I did a bantu knot out style, and re co-washed on the 4th day.

On days that I simply do not have a lot of time to bantu or coil hair I have found a new luv for shingling.

A big factor in my new found luv for shingling has to do with my tools. I do not like using a fine tooth combs on my hair...it just seems to tear at it. But my trusty Denman brush does an excellent job shingling my hair without damaging or pulling it. In the above pics the hair is still wet...
  I did a quick co-wash in the shower using As I Am Coconut Co-Wash and >Because my hair is type 4 and very thick<...while in the shower I pull my hair into 2 sections. Upper and lower, each section is held with a clip. This allows me to smooth my edges and wrap the elastic around my poof easier.
Applied KimmayTube leave-in made with Knot Today detangler and scrunched it thru the hair. I used argan serum on my ends to help eliminate frizzing while the hair dries throughout the day. I then used Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding to shingle the hair in the poof. Working in sections I gently brushed the hair from tip to root.
*note* The edges could have been smoothened with a boar bristle brush to get a "neater" appearance.
It has been 9 months since I have straightened my hair...I have 3 more months until my 1yr anniversary milestone.
 Patiently waiting, hoping for the healthiest hair I can grow.

Cute Style Options for Short Natural Hair....Office Suitable.

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  A major concern I intially had about doing a complete big chop wasn't really dealing with my natural texture. It was moreso about style options that would be available because I do not like wearing my hair the same way day in and day out. Another understandable concern I faced as a career woman was having short natural hair in a VERY conservative career environment. In an ideal perfect non-bias world  my hair should not matter as long as I can complete my job duties...however I live in the real world and yes my hair does in fact matter along with my overall appearence. So I've had to find ways to not only please my self but also my employeer. My low fade haircut has now grown to a ear length afro, and its kind of a wierd length to deal with, especially when the shrinkage element is added into the equation. Dont get me wrong I'm stoked about the growth as this means I'm closer to my goals of a fierce full blow out fro....BUT this ear length has its limitations.
    My hair health is first and foremost no matter what style I chose to rock for the day.
 I'm all for protective styles especially during this winter season and of course full wigs provide ultimate style versatility. However I can no longer just throw my wig cap on my head without first securing my tresses. Now to avoid tangle issues and single strand knots I always fingercoil my hair after I co-wash.
 It is a easy process of sectioning the hair while wet so its easier to manage, applying moisture to the hair and coiling the hair around the index finger. Their are other techniques including using a comb to coil...or even using the boar bristle brush and brushing in circular motions. I prefer to finger coil for a tighter coil and to avoid tangling during the process.

Also using a curl enhancement cream is ideal to ensure the ends fully coil and are not frizzy. I suggest a full natural mixture of Shea Butter and Olive Oil, or a product I currently enjoy is Organics Shea Moisture Smoothie. Simply apply your choice of moisture product thru the hair and coil. Once the hair is fully dry *either naturally overnight or I will sit under a hooded dryer* I then put a satin wig cap over the coils and secure a wig over it as a style.
 I personally do not like to wear the set fingercoils as an actual style, but I do enjoy the coilout as a cute natural look.

  Later during the week normally 3 days or so after the intial co-wash, I then wear my hair as a coil out, as shown above. You don't comb the coils that may cause un-required damage. You simply loosen the coils by twisting them in the opposite direction that you coiled it. Once the coils are lossened then massage the scalp to blend together any parts or sections and make a more uniformed style. I really enjoy this look and the versatility of it as a low manipulative styling option.

   Shingling is another short hair option that I have grown to adore. I dont do this option very often because it requires that I comb my curly type 4A/B hair. Which is fine...but only in moderation. The key to minimizing any damage with this style is to fully detangle the hair in the shower and only shingle the VERY wet hair. Also use leave in conditoner that is very moisture rich so the comb literally glide thru the hair as much as possble.

Miss Jessies Curly Pudding

Some people prefer to use products such as Miss Jessies Curly Pudding to Shingle the hair, because it is thick and provides a moisture buffer enabling the comb to glide thru. I however again prefer to use Organics Shea Moisture Smoothie. In my opinion the Miss Jessies product can be to heavy on the hair and leave it feeling like a built up gooky feel, that I do not care for. Whatever product you decide the technique is the same. For best results apply your moisture curl enhancement product all over the hair and rub it thru.  Re-wet the hair to make sure its as wet as you can tolerate. Then in small sections use a rat-tail comb and camb the product thru the hair. YES you read that correctly...rat-tail comb! So it is inparitive you really detangle your hair, make sure each section you are working with is saturated wet and take your time to gently comb thru small sections at a time. If you rush thru in large sections the curls may not "pop" as well and you could snag and pull your hair. Its also very much okay to be heavy handed with the curl enhancement product..its quit normal to see your hair look white with product before its fully dry...

Completed Wet Shingling using Organics Shea Moisture Smoothie

Once the hair fully dries it should not be white or see any residue or product. To help move the drying process along, you could use a blow dryer with a diffuser attached on a low setting. This can help enhance the coil/curl texture. Also do not further manipulate the coils as this will lead to frizzy hair once dry.

Shingling is a beautiful way to really show your natural texture in any style. For a more secure hold you could also shingle with hair gel such as Eco-Styler, S-Curl Activator gel or pomades.
And of course don't be afraid to accessorize:0)...headbands, cute flower and feather clips, etc...are awesome with shorter hairstyles as well as long hair.
I hope these suggestions help ease the anxiety of what to do with your hair once you decide to go for the chop. Please Subscribe and thanks so much for reading.

Is Faster Hair Growth Possible??....Can GroAutOil Deliver Speedy Length

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Hello Beauty of a Jetsetter blog readers:0)
Yesterday I tweeked my hair regimen just a bit to follow along with the Gro Aut Oil Solutions recommendations on their website . I did this because I want to know the true results of using their hair oil product and I dont want any janky results.lol.
So here is the link to the actual website so you can check it out for yourself and get a better idea about the oil, as well as the other products they offer.
Website: http://www.myfasthairgrowth.com/pages.php/page/affiliate/?ref=3
I'm also apart of the hairlista.com community and the GroAut Oil Lovers group which is currently holding a video competion so I posted a quick starter video that I will edit again once the competition is over. The timeframe for the competition is October 21,2011 thru January 20, 2012.

Soooo I'll definitly keep you guys posted on my progress:0)