When it comes to hair products hauls where do you spend your money? Do you prefer to take trips to local salons and beauty boutiques in your area? Do you like to buy from big box online retailers like Amazon? Do you buy from specialty online retailers like Curlmart.com? Do you get all of your products from drugstores and discount stores like Wal-Mart or Walgreens? Or do you like to buy directly from the brand like at oyinhandmade.com, kinky-curly.com or www.missjessies.com?
Been living for a hot pair of yellow shoes or a gray dress? Using Kelly Rowland as the inspiration, you too can rock this look. Did you check out her hair? This is from a January 2012 Hypnotiq Harmonie party that she was hosting. We love her curly.
About the looks
For the first gray dress and yellow pump combo, a natural/cream purse with dark gray embossing and a gold clasp was paired with a mustard yellow suede pump and gold accessories. If you can find a bag with an accent that is similar to your dress, this is the perfect match up. Also, to make your look cohesive, it is a good idea to match your bag’s hardware to your jewelry.
For our next gray dress and yellow pump combo, a spiky pair of peep-toe pumps was paired with spiky earrings and an electric blue clutch. Yellow and blue are always a good idea.
Finally, a gray dress was paired with yellow and brown pumps. You can never go wrong mixing gray and brown, but a bit of yellow animal-print just adds some zest to the look.
I have been reviewing many of the applications to the Rebirth Mastermind. Thank you for joining! (If you have not joined yet, click here to find out more info.) I noticed that many people have goals of releasing weight in 2012. Notice that I said RELEASE! Why? Because we don’t want to loose weight… that implies that it can be found again. We want to release it and let it go forever! Anyway, I have a goal to release weight too and eat healthier foods in 2012.
I discovered this tool called MyFitnessPal and I’ve already lost about 7+ pounds in a few weeks just by keeping a food diary using the iPhone app. (I have about 8 more pounds to go.) I love that this program is free and easy to use. It helps me with portion control and eating junk in moderation. It has been a life-changing tool. It’s fun for me, but I need more peeps on there. It is a better experience when you have people to cheer you on and also keep you in check. I think it’s an amazing tool for this mastermind group and I’d love to connect with you on there. Please join MyFitnessPal, look for me (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/KaiChic) and add me as a friend.
According to Reader’s Digest, a University of Vermont study found that online weight-loss programs help you keep the weight off. The study found that volunteers who were assigned to an online-based weight maintenance program sustained their weight loss better than those who met in a traditional in person support group.
Today, I got another hair invention idea. It’s an electronic hair setter that uses magnetic rollers. You basically have to detangle and part your hair, put the contraption on the ends of your hair as if you’re about to roll, press a button and the Self Setter spins up with just the right amount of tension and secures your hair safely with hair clips. It popped in my head as something that looked like a potato peeler that was battery operated. Obviously it’s a bit more complicated then I am explaining here, but I think you get the just.
What problem does it solve?
Makes setting hair faster
Easy to use for people that aren’t roller-setting inclined
Uses the right amount of tension
Secures clips perfectly so that rollers don’t slip out
Just an idea that I’d like to see come to life, so I’m putting it out there.
Do you ever get any ideas for hair inventions? Please share in the comments or e-mail me.
For my 2011 New Year’s resolution, I decided to read one life-changing book per week. I stuck to that plan and succeeded by reading over 60 books. Some books I’ve been able to read multiple times. Some were good and I will definitely be carrying their lessons with me for the rest of my life, but a few were really life transforming. You can access my entire 2011 library here: Kai’s Life Changing Book Store.
As for my goal for 2012, I want to really put into practice all that I have learned from all of these amazing books. To that end, I will be organizing a mastermind group. If you’re interested in being a part of the mastermind, please apply here: Apply To The 2012 Rebirth Mastermind. Last year, I attempted a mastermind group and I learned a lot from it, but now it’s time to elevate it to another level and really evolve. There will be weekly calls and assignments and I am only looking for people who are serious about changing their lives in 2012.
Of all the books that I’ve read in my entire life, here are my Top 20 picks in no particular order. I highly recommend all of these books if you’re about your money, your business, having a purpose, improving your relationships and evolving into the person that you were truly meant to be.
On Twitter, Lexi said she wanted some tips on how to rock a sheer shirt. Here are some ideas.
(Click on the links at the bottom of this page to link to an item if you like it or just click here to shop this look).
1. If you are a bit conservative or trying to wear this look to work , try rocking a sheer blouse under a crewneck or v-neck sleeveless sweater or long sleeve sweater. Michael Kors Sequin Vest
2. Don your sleeveless shirt under a wrapped or belted cardigan. Again, you can go for a sleeveless or long sleeve piece. Some people will like to wear a sleeveless wrap vest and just have a hint of skin peeking through the sleeves of the sheer top. You might just wear something underneath this look so you won’t look so buttoned up… unless that’s what you’re going for. Elizabeth and James Shawl Collar Vest
3. A fitted top is always a safe bet. You can do the obvious and match black with black or you can play around with other colors for a cool layering effect, but be careful with that, it can be hit or miss. T by Alexander Wang Tank
4. Wear a regular bra underneath. You can do a solid black bra or whatever color of your choosing, but make sure it’s pretty. You don’t want to wear an everyday boring bra unless you’re going for a bohemian chic look. If you’re going bombshell or for a night out, look for something structured and über feminine. Polka Dot Bra
5. Go for a strapless bra top or corset. You can match the color of your shirt or get a little crazy with bold bright colors and patterns. Strapless Bra Top
6. Get lacey with it! A lace body suit, lace tee or tank are an easy match for a sheer shirt. You may have to wear 3 layers of tops for this look so you aren’t flashing anyone: a base (bra/tank), the lace piece and finally the sheer top. Lace Body Suit
7. Instead of rocking a fitted top underneath the flowy sheer top, you can try layering another flowy tank top underneath or a tank with some embellishments. Sequin Tank
8. Body suits are great underneath sheer tops especially if you’re modest, you can even leave a few top or bottom buttons open and pair with leather leggings or jeans. Spotty Body Suit
What combos are you going to try or which ones do you already wear?
Having trouble figuring out how to fit a piece you love into your wardrobe? Shoot an e-mail or tweet it to @maneandchic and your dilemma could be featured.
Dottie sent me an e-mail because she wanted to know how to rock her new leopard-print pumps to work and on date night. Leopard-print shoes are here to stay. Of course we’ve made the investment to buy the shoes and we want to be able to really work them into our wardrobes. There is some good news: leopard-print can go with most everything! Yes, everything! It can be worn the same way a neutral can be worn. Now, whether certain people can pull it off with everything is a whole different story. That being said, here are some ways to rock your new leopard pumps with stuff that most of us already have in our wardrobes. Most of us would know that we can wear leopard with any solid-colored outfit that’s black/white, red, purple… but allow these looks to expand your horizons and get you out of your leopard print comfort zone.
If you like an item, you can click on it to buy or view details.
The bottom line…
1. Leopard looks great with any solid color.
2. Mix patterns like stripes, plaids or tribal/geometric prints and even florals with leopard.
3. Mix textiles with leopard: lace, leather fringe, suede, fur, pony/calf hair, silks… whatever!
4. Treat leopard as a neutral and just go for it.
5. Have fun and push your leopard limits to get more bang for your buck.
There are so many weird American holidays and reasons to have parties and get/give gifts. There are already a few holidays that celebrate natural hair and curly hair like July 4 is National Afro Day. I don’t know who originally decided that, but it is the day that many people do their big chops. Celebrations are great… sometimes they loose meaning, but celebrating something that we are grateful for or proud of can never be a bad thing.
I certainly celebrate my curlyversary / naturalversary in a small way. I haven’t had a party… yet, but I do always seem to get gifts (kind of). Do you celebrate the day you big chopped or the day you released relaxed and/or heat-damaged hair?
Who is your favorite blogger, your favorite site to get hair/beauty info? Please participate in the poll and feel free to enter your favorite site if it’s not listed here.
