Increased Thickness

Quick hair update via photo... It's a camera phone pic so the quality isn't that great but I noticed that my hair seems to be thicker. I've been using JBCO on the back area to help it grow in better and it looks like it's working.

Makeup Brush Cleaning: Beauty Break

If you don't wash your makeup brushes, you are doing your skin a disservice. Dirty makeup brushes can lead to breakouts! I always clean my brushes once a week, it's simple and only takes a few seconds. Every week I spray my brushes with Sephora Daily Brush Cleaner to the point where they are wet and lay them on a clean paper towel to dry. I especially love this one because it's a spray bottle, so it's easy to use and it's antibacterial. Since I don't wear heavy makeup on a daily basis, I really don't need to clean my brushes daily - weekly does the trick.

About every other week I use baby shampoo to thoroughly wash all my brushes. I get warm soapy water and dip the brush head in the water and swirl it around. After I finish that I allow the brushes to dry on a paper towel. Simple and easy. Don't want to wash your makeup brushes? Use your fingers to apply your makeup!

The Orange Squirrel: Lifestyle Leak

Whenever I read about great restaurants right in my area, they are automatically added to my mental list of places to try. Then when I read about the place having amazing steak, it immediately hits the top of my mental list which was the case with The Orange Squirrel.

The location of the restaurant is terrible, but that's not a deal breaker for me. I ended up getting a parking spot right in front of the restaurant, so no complaints there. When we walked in there was no one to greet us so we stood there for about 1 minute before getting seated, but we were about to select our table (there's only about 10-15 tables). The decor is very simple, pretty much just plain tables and orange chairs.

I read an amazing review on the Dry Aged Rib Eye so naturally that's what I selected. My boyfriend on the other hand selected the Salmon with spinach cream. I was not in the mood for alcohol so I didn't have any drinks so no reports on the bar. For side items, which did not come with our meals, we picked the Fontina Macaroni & Cheese and the Creamed Spinach.

I ordered my steak medium well and it was just a tad bit overcooked! Seems to be a trend lately, huh? It smelled amazing and came to the table an old school cast iron skillet, but it really didn't taste that great. I ate a few bites and took the rest home, my grandmother liked it and my puppy Prince LOVED the huge bone.

My boyfriends meal was lacking too, first of all it came out in a puddle of green 'sauce'. The top of the salmon had a great crispy texture and a nice flavor but the piece was so thick that the inside wasn't as cooked as we like, but that's a preference thing. The sauce under it had little to no taste, so that was disappointing and the side dishes fell flat as well. Overall our meal did not live up to our expectations and was a bit on the pricer side, not a problem if the food had been outstanding. Bottom line: We won't be back.

Try it for yourself:

The Orange Squirrel
412 Bloomfield Ave.
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
Tel. 973.337.6421

website

Hair Read: Lorraine Massey's Curly Girl

Lorraine Massey's new book, Curly Girl is a great read for anyone who is natural, going natural, has a curly child, or is just curious about curly hair. The book serves as a guide and a support group for ALL curlies, women, children, parents, and men! I was impressed with the wealth of information on not only type 1-3 but type 4 curls as well, from washing and conditioning, to styling, to cutting, and everything else in between. The book also comes with a DVD, which I actually haven't had a chance to check out yet.

Check it out for yourself.

Design Essentials Solves Scalp Issues with Shampoo

Whenever the seasons change my scalp gets a little freaked out, whether it gets really dry and itchy or overly oil whenever the weather starts to switch up my scalp gets confused. I'm sure I'm not alone on this one, right ladies?

We all know that a healthy scalp is one of the keys to healthy hair, that's why I pay attention to what's going on down on the scalp level to ensure things are going well. Lately, I've noticed that my scalp is really dry in certain areas and nothing seems to be helping. That is until I tried the Design Essentials Therapeutics Anti-Itch Shampoo, I decided I didn't want to use it all over my head and instead I focused on the driest spots which was right in the front by my hairline. Even though the shampoo is gentle, for some reason I didn't want it all over my scalp. It worked good after the very first use and the results lasted even longer after each wash. Now I'm finding that I actually don't even need to use this shampoo anymore so it's back in the hair care closet until it's needed again.

If you can't find this product at your local BSS, you can purchase it online for just $9.90

Next Relaxer Update: Coming Soon

My next relaxer session is coming up and I plan on using an Arganics Relaxer. Arganics is a new company from mother-daughter team Marty & Mary Lee Joshua of ISOPLUS. What makes Arganics relaxers so special? They have included a new step in the relaxer process called, the "Chelating Rinse." The additional step in their new Arganics Double Conditioning & Moisturizing Relaxer helps remove that dull build-up, so hair is stronger and shinier. A chelant simply is an ingredient that has the ability to bind calcium hydroxide and other heavy metals so that they can be more effectively removed from a surface, like the hair shaft and scalp.

My last relaxer was on Jan. 15, 2011 and I plan on relaxing on Wednesday, March 30th at 10 weeks and 4 days about 1 week after my latest henna treatment.

Maximum Heat Protectant Spray

Okay, so I know there are tons of ladies out there that just cannot give up their heat tools. Not only do you use heat more than once a week, you turn your products up to the highest possible amount of heat and then proceed to go over each section of your hair over and over. Sound like you? Well, now there's a product to help you reduce heat damage without giving up on your heat tools. Salon Grafix’s 450 Maximum Heat Protect Spray – the FIRST ever 450 degree thermal protection spray in the industry! It’s suitable for all hair types and it’s super easy to use – all you have to do is spray the 450 Maximum Heat Protect Spray evenly throughout your hair and you are free to create all of the styles that you love without the worry. This fabulous new formula is a true necessity when trying to protect your hair from extreme heat. An added plus is the 450 Maximum Heat Protect Spray is also the affordable choice retailing for only $7.49 and is available or purchase at CVS and Rite Aid.

Creamy Henna for Hair

Just when I thought Spring had sprung Mother Nature throws some more "wintery" mix at us. The above photo was snapped as I was driving home in NJ just yesterday! Needless to say, I decided to spend the day at home and give myself a henna treatment. It's actually been a while since the last time I henna'd but it's about that time for a relaxer and I decided I'm going to henna 1 week before and 1 week after my relaxer to increase the strength of my hair. Anyway, the mix that I whipped up last night was amazing. The henna had a creamy frosting like texture and was easy to apply, work through and rinse out.

As always, I used BAQ (body art quality) henna from Mehandi.com. I have a stash of Punjabi Prime that I really like a lot. So here's the mix:

1 package of Punjabi Prime

1 cup of warm (not hot or boiling) Green Tea

Large squeeze of Honey

A few tablespoons of EVOO

A few pumps of Paul Mitchell Mint and Lavender conditioner (just for scent)

A squirt of Philip B. Katira Hair Masque (for extra shine)

I never ever measure anything to a T, I just like a dash of this, a hint of that, probably why I don't like baking but that is what I used and it came out super duper smooth and easy to apply. Which was the total opposite of the last time I henna'd and it was full of clumps and hard to smooth.

I let the mixture sit for about 3 hours before I applied it. I washed my hair, conditioned, and then towel dried and detangled. I sectioned my hair into three sections, two in the front and one in the back and started applying the henna. I always apply my henna like I'm applying a relaxer to the entire length of my hair, applying to small sections and smoothing it down. When I was finally done, I put on my plastic cap, wrapped up the edges of the cap with gauze strip and put on my scarf. The total time the henna was left in was about 10-12 hours, and then this morning I co-washed it out with VO5 moisture milk conditioner. Once it was completely out I applied a deep condition and now I'm typing up this blog post. For the rest of the day I plan on deep conditioning my hair to restore the softness, because my hair is always a little hard post henna treatments.

Read more about my henna experiments!

Creme of Natures New Scent

CON (creme of nature) continues to be one of the most loved hair care products out there. Now they have added a new fragrance to the shampoos and conditioners, which they say 9/10 testers preferred. The new scents are light and fresh and have floral and citrus notes, but my nose says they just smell "fresh".

"It was definitely time to marry the benefits of our Creme of Nature Certified Organic Ingredient formulas with the experience of a fresh, intoxicating natural fragrance to enhance the consumer experience," said Shawn Tollerson, VP of Marketing, Colomer USA Multicultural. "Both consumers and salon professionals agree that this new fragrance takes the shampoo and conditioning experience to an enjoyable new level."

Want to try it for yourself? Get a free sample, here.

Sedu Revolution Clipless Curing Iron

Thanks to Folica.com I was able to try the brand new Sedu Revolution Clipless Curling Iron before it's launch on the site. Previously, I've shied away from Clipless Curling Irons because I had a bad experience with one particular brand and I just thought all the rest would be the same. Well, the Sedu Revolution Clipless Curling Iron is different. The barrel comes in two sizes (1 inch or 3/4 inch) and it's polished up like nothing else to create smooth long lasting curls. The heat is adjustable and goes up to 350 degrees (which I don't recommend you use). It heats up fast and comes with a heat resistant glove. Now, please keep in mind that just because you have this glove that doesn't mean you won't burn your hand so please use caution.

The end style result after using this product was more wavy than actually curly which I happen to really like right now. Soft wavy hair is so in for Spring 2011! If you've never used a clipless curling iron before it might take a few tries to get it perfect so I recommend you practice swirling your hair around the iron before you turn it on, no need to cause heat damage right?

My favorite feature is the kickstand that's built right in to keep the iron off of the sink, toilet seat, floor, or where ever you put your heat tools when you're styling your hair. Overall, this is a great curling tool and it's far superior over the less expensive brands that don't come with a glove and aren't ceramic.

Available at Folica.com for just $119.99 with free shipping!

Plus use this deal for Free 1 Year Allure Magazine Subscription with $50 Purchase + Free Shipping

Spring Hair Care Regimen

Today marks the first day of Spring 2011! I'm super duper excited that it's finally here and I'm hoping that the weather warms up for good, so I can get outside to start being more active. This Spring I plan on continuing with my weekly Dominican Roller Sets with minimal blow dry action. Instead of getting my entire head blown out, I ask for only the roots to be blown so that it has the look for a fresh perm without the damage. To maintain the style I wrap my hair at night and use a few products to keep it shiny and moisturized. For the first few days, I only use a light serum to add shine. Then towards the end, I use coconut oil on the entire length of my hair just prior to wrapping it up for the night. Other nights I will add some JBCO to the nape area before I get started with the coconut oil. But for the most part that's it and that is what I will continue to do before pool season starts! For the summer months I have a whole other plan that should help me retain lots of length and allow me to swim just about every day. I'll be sure to keep you posted on that regimen too, so look for it on the first day of summer!

Alexus Steakhouse: Lifestyle Leak

Alexus Steakhouse in Clifton, NJ used to be one of my favorite places to get a steak, a Delmonico steak to be exact. My family and I have been going to Alexus for birthday celebrations, retirements, and other parties for years but I couldn't help but notice that the quality of the food and the service has gone way downhill and I will not be back.

First, the hot wings was always a staple at our table. The sauce was great and despite being covered in spicy sauce the wing itself was completely crispy, fast forward and the wing was completely soggy and there was hardly any sauce on there. Another thing I always looked forward to was the hot peppers and pickles that were brought to the table, like a typical restaurant would bring bread. But instead, I was asked if I would like the pickles and peppers. I know we're in a recession and everything but geez they gave me 1 pickle sliced into four spears and 2 slivers of a pepper. You asked me if I wanted it and I said YES! Bring me the real deal not some scraps that you just thought you could spare, please and thanks.

Now on to the biggest deal breaker, my steak. I always request my steak to be medium well and if the waitress tells me that they tend to over cook the meat I will ask for it medium because what I'm looking for is a light pink center, not bleeding onto my plate or totally brown in the center. If it was a restaurant like Fridays, I wouldn't expect it to be cooked correctly but this is supposed to be a STEAKHOUSE! Needless to say, my steak was overcooked. It was dark all the way through and tough. When I let the waitress know, (which took some time because she seemed to vanish) she goes oh yeah they tend to overcook the steak. Well, don't you think you should have shared this information? Overall, the experience was terrible and it's really sad to see how far this restaurant has slipped. But the good news is, I've found a new spot! I'll be sharing it for Lifestyle Leak in the upcoming weeks.

Try it for yourself:
Alexus Steak House & Tavern
955 Valley Road
Clifton, NJ 07013
Phone: 973-746-6600

Design Essentials HydraStrength Relaxer System

Design Essentials Salon System has created HydraStrength Relaxer System, a new suite of relaxers, shampoos, conditioners, and a vitamin treatment that is "redefining relaxed hair". To address the special needs of consumers with relaxed hair, the entire relaxer system is infused with the HydraStrength Vitamin and Protein Complex which is a proprietary blend of protein and botanical ingredients - which are a natural source of vitamins, minerals and amino acids - designed to nourish, moisturize and strengthen the structure of the hair.

"While the relaxer market has seen declines over the last few years, Design Essentials has defied the negative trends, experiencing continuous growth in this category year after year," said Tracey A. Gibson, Director of Marketing for McBride Research Laboratory (MRL), the creator of Design Essentials. "But we also know that our relaxer customers are seeking products with less harsh chemicals that are more fortifying and moisturizing. Therefore, we have completely reformulated our relaxer system to address the primary needs of the relaxer customer and our pre-launch market tests indicate that we have made a sound decision."

The HydraStrength Relaxers consists of 5 strengths: Regular with Olive Oil and Shea Butter, Time Release Special with Honey Nectar, Super with Olive Oil & Shea Butter, Lo Lye with Shea Butter and Sensitive Scalp with Olive Oil and Shea Butter. The line also includes the newly reformulated Design Essentials® Neutralizing Conditioning Shampoo, 6N1 Reconstructive Conditioner & Restore Vitamin Treatment, which are also infused with moisturizing botanicals.
The benefits of the system include:

• Creamy texture for easy application, while relaxing evenly and rinsing quickly
• Conditioning buffers reduce irritation
• Vitamin-rich botanicals moisturizes and nourishes the hair while straightening
• Restores hair to its natural strength from the inside out
• Visibly fortifies the hair, leaving it smoother, softer, lustrous and more manageable

"The infusion of multiple botanical ingredients allows us to achieve three primary goals: creamy consistency for ease of application, excellent source of moisture and strengthening, and decreased irritability," Gibson added.
"The HydraStrength system encompasses all of our expertise in cultivating healthy hair, while moisturizing, smoothing and leaving hair manageable, healthy and beautiful. I have gotten amazing results on my current clients and they love the new system." Natalie Hayes, Creative Team Manger for Design Essentials explained. "As a company we believe in leaving texture in hair, so we recommend relaxing the hair only 65 to 75 percent straight, leaving a slight wave pattern when using any of the relaxers."

I can't wait to try this relaxer and when I do I will review it!

Beat Dark Circles - Beauty Break on AHS

Bobbi Brown is a makeup mastermind and now she's developed a new Creamy Concealer Kit with two steps to camouflage and lighten dark circles.

Conceal and set in one portable kit. Bobbi’s Creamy Concealer blends easily to instantly cover and brighten dark circles. It also helps maintain skin’s moisture levels for a smooth, virtually line-less look. Fuss-free pressed powder sets concealer for long-lasting wear. It comes in 14 different shades too.

Natural Hair: Celebs gone Natural

First the spotlight was on Solange when she was spotted out and about with her teeny weeny afro (TWA). Over the months, it started growing larger and larger and more celebs are stepping into the spotlight with their natural hair. Whether they have just gone natural or just decided to ditch their usual weaves, I think it's awesome. Go TeamNatural!

Make no mistake, I'm on TeamRelaxed, but I love my TeamNatural girls! Healthy Hair is my favorite hair, whether it's relaxed or natural!

What do you think? I think Kim Coles, Raven Symone, and Tiffany Pollard (New York) look great natural.

Beauty Break: Beauty on the Go

I know we are all super busy, whatever you spend your time doing we all know how precious time can be. Yet, as women we all want to look our best all the time as well. This is where on the go beauty items come in especially handy. I have a little system I use when deciding if an "on the go" beauty item is purse worthy: Size, Functionality, Ease of Use - if it doesn't cut it in these categories it doesn't make it into my bag. Here are a few of my favorite "On the Go" Beauty Items.

The Hot for Dots Matchbox Itty Bitty Files – adorably portable, practical, and playful – walk the line between super-stylish and hassle-free usability. Designed to fit easily into the palm of your hand and stored in any size purse, pocket or travel bag, the compact case conveniently houses a dozen durable, disposable mini files. Rough emery grains on one side tackle tough nails while a fine grade of emery on the other smoothly file.

• Size - Fits right in your hand and doesn't hog up a lot of purse space.
• Functionality - Not only does it have a rough side, the other side is a fine grade emery board
• Ease of Use - Snap one off and go, super easy.
• Price: $4.00 (each) / Availability: www.tweezerman.com

Mini Brow Rescue Kit: The Perfect Pocket Sized Pluck
Keep your brows looking perfect any time, any where with this convenient, travel sized brow essentials kit.

• Size - Fits in any makeup bag or purse for quick touch ups on the go.
• Functionality - The kit includes everything you need to fix up a brow or snag a stray hair from someplace else: Mini Slant Tweezer, Mini Browmousse™, Mini Brow Brush, Mini eyenhance Brow Highlighter, Stylish Travel Case
• Ease of Use - Everything is small, yet easy to use and the case makes finding all the tools easy.
• Price: $25.00 / Availability: www.tweezerman.com

Japonesque Cuticle Conditioner – Washing your hands is great for staying healthy but rough on your cuticles. This conditioner will instantly soften dry, hardened cuticles with Aloe Vera leaving them smooth, soft and healthy looking.

• Size - Each tiny little case has 24 pre-filled portable swabs, the case is about the length of a Q-tip and about a 1.5 inch wide.
• Functionality - Keeping my cuticles healthy is a one of my beauty priorities so this serves a very important function in my live but if cuticles aren't your thing, Japonesque makes other little cases that serve other functions like, Nail Polish Touch-up, Pre-Tweeze Treatment, Makeup Remover/Touch-up, Tinted Lip Conditioner, and Lipstick Touch-up
• Price - Each pack is $4.95 / Availability: www.aveyou.com

Moisturize & Seal

For all the ladies out there that religiously moisturize and seal their hair twice a day, I commend you. In all honesty, I don't have time for that. Maybe I might be able to squeeze out the time for it, but I'd rather not. Truth be told, I have to fight with myself every time I'm about to go to bed (notice I didn't say at night) to remove whatever makeup and/or dirt and grim that's on my face before I hit the pillow. My schedule gets a little crazy, especially since I'm a nurse and I do not work "normal" hours, so to remove the makeup, apply the moisturizer to my face and lips, all after I brush my teeth and clean my invisalign braces AND THEN divide my hair into sections to moisturize and seal each one? Twice a day?!? I just can't be bothered. There is a reason this blog is called the Anti Hair Slave. I can aim to do it once a day in the name of healthy hair, but even then I end up moisturizing and seal every other day.

So ladies, I ask you, do you moisturize and seal twice a day and how long is your hair?

Tamera Mowry @ 42nd NAACP Image Awards Pre-Show Gala

Tamera Mowry stepped out at the 42nd NAACP Image Awards Pre-Show Gala rocking a beautiful sequined black mini-dress and a fabulous shoulder length 'do. She rocked minimal looking makeup, with a light pink lip. But her hair stole the show!

TWA Accessories: Fancy Earrings

With so many people going natural these days, I had to do a piece on my favorite TWA accessory. If you aren't hip to the natural hair lingo, a TWA is a Teeny Weeny Afro. When you wear a TWA your face is front and center, there's no hair to hide behind and sometimes some women report feeling like they look masculine. The easiest way to stop that feeling is a little makeup and some beautiful earrings. The best way to get something that's just as unique as you is to shop outside of the box, and Etsy helps you do that.

Etsy shop Autumn Springs by Lidah Johnson provides unique and eclectic pieces. Johnson says, "I love to design for the fabulous woman who want accessories that reflect her individuality and enchances her personal style. Small quantites are carried, so your purchases are truly one of a kind!"

You can enter coupon code "thankyou" at checkout and you will receive a 10% discount.

Working Out + Relaxed Hair

I always get so many women asking me, how to preserve their hairstyle when they work out. Up until now I didn't have a great answer, I personally don't work out like crazy and when I do it's about the time when it's time to get my hair done again. But now I have a new product to help preserve your 'do even when I work out.

Product Description: The new and improved Dri Sweat line of active wear products was designed for men and women who live active lifestyles and especially for African-American casual and serious exercise enthusiasts. We all know that sweat can be damaging to your hairstyle, and many women have for years had to make a choice between starting a healthy exercise routine or ruining their fresh new hairstyles. Dri Sweat® is an opportunity to have both! Firstline’s Dri Sweat Edge Headband and Dri Sweat Fit Cap allow women to keep their style intact as the sweat is absorbed during their workout.

What do you think? Will you try it?!

Dri Sweat is available at Wal-mart, CVS, and Food Lion.

Spring Wedding Updos

At Sunday’s Dolce & Gabbana show in Milan, Redken Creative Consultant Guido finished Milan Fashion Week by creating two separate looks – one feminine, a Sicilian-inspired loose twisted chignon and the other a bit more masculine, a French twist quiff. "The looks at Dolce & Gabbana were a classic play on femme fatale, where women played with their masculine and feminine sides, it is very fun and liberating. The feminine look is how I would imagine a Sicilian woman to put her hair up for the day in a soft updo – very matronly and womanly."

Create the Look's

Feminine:

- Prep hair with layer lift 07 for extra body and volume and roll 4 large rollers in crown portion of head.

- Take out rollers and create a big beautiful blow with messy center parting to help prep for the updo making sure to blow dry the front bang portion forward over the forehead.

- Lightly twist sections on either side until they meet in the back of the head and secure with pins.

- Gather rest of hair and twist into a very loose chignon pinning into a swirled chignon.

- Let bits fall out naturally around the face.

- Finish with forceful 23 for added hold but spray lightly as to not look weighed down or heavy.

Masculine:

- Prep hair with generous amounts of structure wax 17 classic styling wax.

- Leave out a section at the front and pin this up into the 50s looking quiff.

- Part on the side and gather hair at nape of neck and twist up toward top of head pinning as you go up. Until all hair is pinned in.

- Pull out bits on the side just in front of the ears and let drop down 2 inches to create 'sideburns' and then secure remaining end of hair back into the rest of the updo.

- Finish with heavy amounts of forceful 23 to hold the look in place.

Nighttime Regimen

Recently, I was reminded of a video I made a long time ago about my nighttime regimen. That video was shot when I was still living with my parents, working 3-11pm and still had a real "nighttime" to get ready and go to bed. Fast forward a few years and I'm working the overnight shift. My nighttime is now your AM, and honestly I'm lucky if I put a scarf on my head before it hits the pillow. My hair has really been taking a backseat to other things lately, but thankfully the health of it has not been comprised.

My new nighttime hair care regimen is this:

1. Put hair into a high loose bun or wrap it (it's usually the bun option - it's faster)

2. Sleep on pillowcap

That's it! :-)

What are you doing with your hair before bed?

Beauty Break: Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess 2011

This summer, let Estée Lauder transport you to the Mediterranean with the latest Bronze Goddess collection of seductive makeup. Inspired by the hues and atmosphere of luxurious resorts on the Rivieria, the collection invites you to sit poolside and take in the cool waters, warm sand beaches and sun’s luminous rays. Experience the casual luxury and seductive spirit of a Goddess with shades that sparkle, shimmer and shine for eyes, lips and nails, while face and décolletage are transformed into golden, glowing perfection.

Inspired by hues from the surf and sand, the NEW, Limited Edition Bronze Goddess Island Oasis EyeShadow Palette of six irresistibly wearable shades brightens and defines eyes by day and transforms them by night. The eyeshadows’ delicate iridescent pigments allure with radiance and luminosity in warm sand shades of copper, bronze, gold and coral balanced by cool surf hues of turquoise, seashell pink, silver and seaweed.

Complementing this divine eyeshadow palette are NEW, Limited Edition Bronze Goddess ShadowStick Duos in shades of warm Gold Bronze and cool Pink Teal. These unique duos are the perfect, fun eye accessory for summer. Each pencil features two complementary shades in a water resistant, longwearing formula that is ideal for warm, summer months. Whether you desire a precise line or smoky look, these versatile duo pencils will be the first thing you put on in the morning and the last thing you take off at night.

Reveal your inner bronze goddess this summer with Estée Lauder’s Bronze Goddess Soleil,
Summer 2011. The full range of Bronze Goddess makeup will be available at Estée Lauder
counters nationwide and on www.esteelauder.com beginning March 2011 while supplies last.