hair Archives - Twenty Something Plus

January 18, 2021

New Year, New Beauty & Hair Care Goals

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Nordstrom and ShopStyle, and contains affiliate links.

I’ve never been all that big on New Year’s resolutions, and this year I’ve been even more hesitant to set one. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have goals, and some pretty lofty ones! Since I’ll be continuing to stay home at this time, I figured I would make the most of it as much as I could, by trying to refine my makeup, skincare, and hair care routines. For makeup and skincare, my goal is to get better at applying the products I already know that I love to create Instagram-worthy beauty looks. And also pin down routines that work, so that I can be more consistent with them.

Now, with hair care it’s a bit different. If you’re at all familiar with my hair journey, then you know that it is all over the place. But you also know that I’m not good at doing hair, my sisters usually are the ones to do mine for me, and when I find something I can do, I do it on repeat (hello, slick ponytail, that involves A LOT of gel)!

After checking out the Allure Best of Beauty 2020 winners, and scoping out Nordstrom’s new beauty arrivals, I decided to give a few things a try, including the Sigma Beauty F79 Concealer Blend Kabuki Brush and T3 Lucea ID 1-inch Smart Straightening & Styling Flat Iron.

Having used the flat iron a few times now, I 100% get why so many bloggers and influencers rave about it. It’s that good! I really want to try one of their curling irons next! I’m still getting better at doing my own hair, especially since going natural, and have a ways to go. But being able to straighten it with ease means I can try more styles, which is the goal.

What are your 2021 beauty goals?

No matter what you hope to achieve this year, Nordstrom has all your beauty needs to help you accomplish it. And with The Nordy Club, you get some pretty great perks, like earning points towards Nordstrom Notes when you shop, that you can use on future purchases. I’ve used a few already!
Not sure where to begin? Here are my current top Nordstrom beauty picks:

December 3, 2018

Knappy Hair, Don’t Care

Disclaimer: This post is in partnership with Knappy Hair Natural Hair Extensions

For what seems like forever, I have struggled with my self image. This is especially true when I comes to my hair.

I’ve relaxed, dyed, shaved it, you name it!

I like my hair long, so I thought the only option for me was to relax it and wear extensions. And when the relaxer (and neglectful hair care on my part) damaged my hair, I thought I have to start over.

After the second time shaving my hair all off, about a year ago, I decided that I wanted to give going natural another try.

My hair started to come in nicely, and this time around, I embraced my TWA. But then like clockwork, I missed have long (albeit faux) locks, and starting reconsidering chemically straightening my hair to blend better with the extensions.

That’s when I came across Knappy Hair Natural Hair Extensions on Kaye McCoy’s Instagram page. And let me tell you I am SO unbelievably happy that I did!

Being able to find extensions that match and blend beautifully with my natural hair has helped me feel stronger in my choice to stay #teamnatural. Here I am wearing the 16″ set of the Kinky Coarse Clip In Extensions. I love that my hair looks full and has the volume of what my natural would have at that length. I recently learned about the Kinky Koily set and believe me when I say that is next on my list!

The fact that Knappy Hair is a black woman own business is an added bonus.

September 1, 2016

Donuts, Rosé + My Wig Wardrobe

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

T-Shirt: Daisy Natives (similar) | Jacket: Forever 21 (similar) | Jeans: Old Navy
Shoes: Zara (similar) | Sunglasses: Prada

There are times when doing my hair is something I just can’t do. Like, legitimately. Not even a ponytail. My Wig Wardrobe is the solution. Celebrities have turned to wigs for ages, and today most beauty YouTubers do as well. Whether you’re looking to cover up a bad hair day, switch up your look or protect your natural hair, you need a wig. Or, even better, a wig wardrobe!

I’ve tried a number of subscription services (including Ditto for these sunglasses), and My Wig Wardrobe is the first online wig subscription program.

In addition to celebrity inspired hair looks, all subscribers also gain access to a private Facebook group, where the owner, Yondel Gilfurt, shares beauty hacks and hair industry secrets! Since I know next to nothing about wigs, I love that Yondel does live videos explaining how to make them look natural. She also shows you how to care for your wigs. Which is important so you can wear it again and again.

Shop this post:

July 29, 2016

DIY Clip-In Extensions

When it comes to hair, I can do a ponytail and that’s pretty much it.

That being said, my hair isn’t long enough for me to really do anything with, so I wear clip-in extensions 99.9% of the time.

It’s not that I have any problem with short hair. After all, I loved how I looked when I shaved all my hair off. And, when it grew back a little, I sported a super cute pixie. Right now though, my it’s just at this kind of awkward length, that I don’t know how to deal with.

This is my ponytail before:

This is my ponytail after:

On the other hand, clip-ins can be expensive, so after my sister (who can actually do hair) gave me a set of clip-ins that she’d made (yes, made!), believe me, I was PUMPED.

Then summer came.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the summer.

But, the sun changes my hair color and the extensions no longer matched. I needed a slightly lighter color and figured I could try my hand at making them myself.

I was able to grab all the supplies I needed (and then some) from Sally Beauty Supply for under $75!

Making clip-ins requires basic sewing skills. Other than that the steps are pretty simple.

Measure.
Cut.
Attach clips. (This is where the sewing comes in.)

If you are using any type of hair other than 100% virgin, you can NOT bleach it. I found this out the hard way. No mermaid ombre hair for me…

For more beauty secrets, make sure to follow Sally Beauty on Instagram!

July 7, 2016

Hot Iron Holster

I have a question for you.

Where do you put your hair straightener or curling iron, while you’re doing your hair?

Embarrassingly enough, in the past I’ve used everything from a towel to a plate. Yes, the kind you eat off of…

I have to admit that for the longest time, I’d wished for something that I could use that was not only heat resistant, but wasn’t intended for something else.

When I learned about the Hot Iron Holster, to say I wanted to test it out would be a major understatement. It is exactly what I’d been wishing for, and then some!

My vanity feels a little more complete. I can fit my Hot Iron Holster right over the edge. And I’ve been storing my straightener inside the holster when it’s not in use. What I really like about it is that it’s safe to use even with a hot flat iron.

Since my vanity is really just a table, I don’t have drawers. So, the Hot Iron Holster has really been a big help storage wise as well. I’ve been needing a new hair dryer, and when I finally get one, I’m thinking I may need to get another holster…

March 28, 2016

The Only 3 Hair Brushes You Need and How To Use Them

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GoodyBrushEd #CollectiveBias

One of the questions I get asked the most is about my hair. When it was blue, everyone wanted to know how I did it. Did you bleach it first? How do you get it to look so good?

The truth is, even though I have bleached and dyed my hair countless times in the past, I haven’t recently. So, how did I do it? Hair extensions.

Currently, I have been wearing clip-ins, because they are easy to put in and take out, which allows me to take regular care of my own hair. The Goody Clean Radiance Oval Cushion Brush from Walmart helps me do that, by reducing buildup and restoring my hair’s natural moisture balance. The bristles give a little, but not so much that they can’t brush through my hair. And my hair is THICK.

If I could only use one brush, this would be it.

With or without extensions, there are really only three ways that I typically style my hair. The classic ponytail, the princess roll, and a sleek top knot.

It is vital to use the right hair brushes to achieve the desired look. Click To Tweet

Even though all three styles are considered easy to do, it is vital to use the right hair brushes to achieve the desired look.

The Classic Ponytail

An everyday ponytail should look effortless.

I brush through my hair with my Goody Clean Radiance Oval Cushion Brush
Pull my hair back into a ponytail with an Ouchless ribbon hair tie
Tease the ponytail with The Goody Amp It Up Medium Round Brush to create the perfect volume

The Princess Roll

When I don’t have extension in, the princess roll is my go to.

I brush my hair down with my Goody Clean Radiance Oval Cushion Brush
Slide on an Ouchless ribbon headband
Then wrap the ends of my hair all the way around the headband

Sleek Top Knot

For a little more of a sophisticated look, this is ideal. And the Goody Straight Talk Boar Styler Brush is ideal for a sleek hairstyle.

I brush my hair up with the Goody Straight Talk Boar Styler Brush
Secure into a high ponytail with an Ouchless elastic
Twist pony into a bun
Secure bun with another elastic and bobby pins as needed

All three brushes can be found at Walmart and for more Goody Brush tutorials, be sure to check out #GoodyBrushEd!

March 14, 2016

Hask Hair Monoi Coconut Oil

This is not the first time I have tried Hask Hair shampoo and conditioner. As much as I liked the Argan Oil, I really wanted to try the Monoi Coconut Oil set.

Because, coconut.

Not only does it work just as well, it’s even more moisturizing.

Plus, it smells AMAZING!

And as a bonus, Hask Hair included a cute brush. It’s travel size, so I tossed it into my tote bag and use it to brush my hair whenever I’m on the go.

The brush is pretty sweet, but I am obsessed with the Nourishing Shine Hair Oil. If I wasn’t afraid of accidentally not putting the cap back on properly and it coming off and spilling all over everything, I’d keep it in my bag too.

Of all the shampoos, conditioners and hair products I’ve tried, these are my favorites.

February 5, 2016

Splurge or Save: Straightening Hair Brush

During my 12 Days of Christmas Wish Lists the hair wish list included a $300 straightening brush by Dafni. While a lot of hair tools aren’t cheap, I just couldn’t justify spending that much on something I wasn’t even sure would work that well on my hair type.

But, thanks to a boutique deals website called Jane, I was able to get my hands on a much more affordable one.

It has rubber ball tips to help prevent burning your scalp. I broke one of the rubber tips off the first time I used it, to me it wasn’t a huge deal, but it is something worth mentioning.

Also worth mentioning, the temperature is in Celcius, not Fahrenheit, so you do have to keep that in mind when setting it. I’m not great with number and really not good with converting degrees, so I’ve been setting it to the highest temperature and then turning it down a few from that. It gets pretty hot, but definitely takes more that a few seconds to heat up.

More to keep in mind is that I have course chemically relaxed hair. It works well with my hair, but if my hair were natural, I don’t know that it’d be all that much better than just combing and using a flat iron.

I still haven’t tried the $300 version, because, well, it’s $300. But I can say that a straightening brush for around $20 is very much so worth it!

Shop this post:

December 3, 2015

12 Days of Christmas Wish Lists: Hair Wish List

Disclaimer: This wish list contains affiliate links.

You didn’t believe for a second that I’d do a beauty wish list and not do a hair wish list, did you?

We all know very well that a good hair day has the potential to make you feel on top of the world. The products on this hair wish list are some that I love, some that I’m lusting after, but all of them are selfie approved.

Even on the not so great hair days…

Hair Tie Bracelet | $45

DAFANI Hair Straightening Brush | $300

Wen Lavender Cleansing Conditioner | $32

Bumble and Bumble Invisible Oil | $39

Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Crème | $20

Bleach London Colour | $10

Living Proof Restore Mask Treatment | $42

Moroccanoil Treatment | $44

Floppy Wool Hat | $58

Harry Josh Pro Dryer | $340

November 4, 2015

Healthy Hask Hair

Remember when I said I was considering about shaving my head again? Well, my sister, who does my hair from time to time, pointed out that my natural hair was super dry.

She suggested using argan oil to help with that.