Mother’s Day Gifts To Give or Receive (Hint, Hint)

April 28, 2008 at 11:48 am (Bath and Body, uncategorized)

Mother’s Day is fast approaching.  It’s hard to believe April is almost over already.  Anywho, I’ll be posting more cool gifts to give (or buy for yourself) for Mother’s Day. 

Don’t forget, Mother’s Day is May 12, 2008.   

THE IVORY MAGNOLIA - Dedra Brown Harvin is the owner of Etsy shop, The Ivory Magnolia.  Read this busy owner’s profile here.  The Ivory Magnolia has an extensive collection of bath and body products which are created utilizing natural, high quality ingredients.  I had the opportunity to try the Kiwi Goats Milk Soap and Kiwi Satin Body Cream, which were both amazing.  My skin stayed smooth and soft the whole day.  An added plus was that the delightful Kiwi fragrance also lasted the whole day.  Make sure to visit The Ivory Magnolia for all of your Mother’s Day bath and beauty product needs.  Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

a.        b.        c.        d. 

 e.      f.      g. 

  • a.  Kiwi Satin Body Cream with Vitamin E, $12.00, 7 oz.  Loaded with vitamin-rich ingredients and whipped to perfection, this luxurious soft as satin body cream will make your skin feel smooth and silky soft.
  • b.  Kiwi Natural Body Mist, 8 ml, $2.95.  Our “water-based” body mist contains certified organic African Acacia Gum which is rich in proteins and other nutrients. 
  • c.  Triple Stack of Satin Body Creams, 1 oz. each, You Pick the Scent, $7.00. 
  • d.  Goat’s Milk Soap, 3 oz., You Pick the Scent, $4.00.  Luxurious soap made with 100% vegetable oil, goats milk, and glycerin. These ingredients work together to moisturize, heal, and improve the elasticity of our skin.
  • e.  Shea Butter Soap, 6 oz. Luxe Bar, $5.00, Your Choice, You Pick Scent.  Luxurious soap made with 100% vegetable oil, shea butter, and glycerin. 
  • f.  Lavender Pedicure Collection Travel Bag, $14.00.  It contains a 9oz bottle of Foot Soak, a 1oz jar of Foot Butter, and a Pedicure Tool … all the necessities for an instant pedicure.
  • g.  $15 Gift Certificate Via Snail Mail, $15.00.  This listing is for – ONE - $15 gift certificate to be delivered via USPS First Class Mail with delivery & signature confirmation.

 ****NOTE:  Mention “Mature Natural Blog” and receive 15% off your purchase.

REUSABLE BAGS

   Built NY Gourmet Getaway Insulated Lunch/Tote, $23.95.

DIAMOND ORGANICS

  Organic Moms Gift Basket, $110.00.  Basket includes organic apples, pears, strawberries, citrus, almonds, cookies from our bakery and fresh organic flowers.  Price includes free overnight delivery to most areas. (Add $5 for rural addresses and $10 for Saturday delivery.)

 FTD 

a.       b.  

   Macy’s Sterling Silver Diamond Puff Heart Pendant (1 ct. t.w.), Reg. $350, sale $175.00.

ACACIA Plush Spa Lounger, $69.00.  

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Kinky-Curly Hair Homemade Spritz Alternative

April 24, 2008 at 9:27 am (afro, braids, curly hair, dreadlocks, hair care, locs, nappy hair, natural hair, twa, twists)

The weather is getting warmer and if you’re like me, a homemade spritz is a quick fix to hair that needs a little extra moisture in the middle of the day.  I finally found an alternative that is comparable to my homemade spritz that is offline, easy to find, and cheap.  Ion Leave-In-Conditioner (anti-frizz solutions) Daily No Rinse Treatment is the next best thing to my homemade spritz.  This double duty leave-in is currently on sale at Sally Beauty Supply ($3.99) and is also a great detangler.  The back of my hair is tangle city and just spritzing the area with this leave-in detangles instantly and easily. 

There is a cone in this product (amodimethicone) and a paraben at the bottom of the ingredient list (methylparaben), but overall, Ion Leave-Conditioner is a good product.  So far, I haven’t had any problems with buildup or itching.  Please note that this product does not define kinks and curls, but does soften and detangle, leaving hair fluffy and tangle free.  Cool product for a chunky fro, twistout, or to soften braids or locs. 

Other notable Ion product: Ion Reconstructor Treatment, $1.99, 1 oz. pkg.  Perfect for those monthly deep conditioning/strengthening treatments.

 

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Online Hair Products for Locs

April 23, 2008 at 8:25 am (braids, hair accessories, locs, nappy hair, natural hair, twists)

I’ve always been facinated with locs and loc maintenance.  I’ll never forget an elderly woman I encountered while out shopping.  She had to be about 65 to 70 years old with salt-n-pepper locs.  Her locs were pinned up in a beautiful updo and there seemed to be a certain “regality” about her.  I couldn’t stop staring at her and, of course, I had to tell her how beautiful I thought her locs were. 

I’m curious as to what loc hair products (online, homemade, etc.) are utilized, maintenance regimen, spiritual significance (if any), trials, and tribulations for each individual.  I would love to have locs one day, but I know I’m not ready yet.  I can’t stand having my hair braided or twisted for more than 3-4 days at a time.  I love the touch and feel of my loose hair.  I do see myself starting locs some time in the near future though. 

In the upcoming months, I will be posting more info regarding locs (starting locs, types of locs, maintenance, etc.).  I also encourage any of my blog readers with locs to share with us the type of locs you have and what product(s) are working for you.  Chic Afrique Herbals and Handcrafted Naani Naturals are two online product lines with products specifically for locs.

Chic Afrique Herbals

The Chic Afrique Herbal Line are 100% Natural.

    Odara Hair Oil, $9.99 for 4 oz. Odara Hair Oil contains essential oils of petitgrain, lavender, mandarin orange, grapefruit, which leaves a refreshing clean citrusy fragrance, that lasts all day.

   Odara Hair Butter, $9.99 for 4 oz.  Odara consists of Shea nut butter blended with Olive oil, Lemon, Mandarin orange, Cedar wood and liberal amounts of Lavender, Sage, Rosemary, Nettle and Chamomile, fragranced with a citrus blend of Petitgrain and Grapefruit.

     Odara Conditioning Hair Food, $15.00 for 6 oz.  Odara hair food contains water, jojoba oil, olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, vegetable emulsifying wax, steric acid, Xantham gum and
essential oils of Rosmary.

  Odara Loc Butter, $9.99 for 4 oz. It contains Lanolin, Shea Butter, Candelia Wax, Sunflower Oil, infused with Coltsfoot, Horsetails, Nettle, Lavender herb, Rosemary, Sage, and Elders flowers. The essential oils of Petit Grain, Lemon, Rosemary Sage, and Patchouli are aslo added.

Handcrafted Naani Naturals

Naani Lock’d Down Dreadlock Butter, $16.15 for 8 oz., $8.00 for 4 oz. Ingredients:  Herb Infused Olive Oil, Jojoba, Cocoa Butter, Beeswax, Coconut Oil, Illipe Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, Essential Oil and/or Fragrance Oil Blend. Available in 6 aromatherapy blends.

Naani Lock’d Down Dreadlock Butter II, $9.25 for 4 oz., $18.00 for 8 oz.  No beeswax formula.  Ingredients: Cocoa Butter, Herb Infused Olive Oil, Shea butter, Jojoba Oil, Coconut Oil, Illipe Butter, Vitamin E, Essential Oil and/or Fragrance Oil Blend.

Aromatherapy Moisturizing Twist & Lock Design Crème, 8oz, $15.99.  Ingredients: Aqua, Aloe Leaf Juice, Witch Hazel, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Herbal Growth Formula (Jojoba, Shea, Olive, & Grapeseed oils, Organic Herbs-Burdock Root, Comfrey Root, Nettle Root, Calendula Blossoms, Chamomile Flowers, Salvia Apiana Leaf & Black Walnut Hull), Cyclomethicone, Keratin Amino Acids, Carbomer, TEA, Methyl/Propyl Paraben, Essential & Fragrance oils.  Dreadlocks:  Use stand-alone or in conjunction with Lock’d Down Dreadlocks Butter.  I prefer to combine 1 part Butter to 1 part Design Creme for initial twisting.  The  combination helps moisturize and soften coarse hair for easier styling, while imparting hold. 

ZAYANU BY DESIGN 

How could I possibly write about loc’d hair products without featuring handmade loc jewelry?  These exquisitely crafted creations belong to Zayunu by Design shop on Etsy, as well as her website at Zayunu By Design.  Add a little bit of “regality” to your locs with any of these. 

         

I had to share this.  It’s funny that after almost 6 years of wearing my hair natural, I still get those looks of pity, disgust, or disbelief from family, friends, and strangers.  I’m at the point in my journey where I feel I don’t have to explain my reasonings for “my natural hair choice”.  Hell, then again, I could display those same looks of pity, disgust, or disbelief for “some of their hair choices”  (LOL), but I won’t.  Just do you, okay, cause I’m good.

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