beauty Archives | MadameAkay

Protection First | Kinky Wednesday | MadameAkay

Hey Gems,

If you are new to my blog, I am doing a series where I share all things related to my 4C kinky hair. Every Wednesday I will drop a new post related to my 4C crown, leave a comment below I want this to be interactive! This is now the fourth post in the series and I hope you all have been enjoying this series so far!

I think it’s important to give your natural hair some rest in between styles as well as from your hands. Protective styles are styles that protect the ends of your hair. This helps its health and from breakage. One of the challenges I face is single strand knots, split ends, and breakage. Including a protective style here and there really helps me to keep my hands out of my head. Ladies, protection first!

Below are a couple protective styles that I have either tried or would like to try.

Box Braids

Crown Braid

Faux Locs

Wigs of Life – My go to Protective style

Faux Bun – I nearly put my natural hair into a bun and using Marley hair I create an even bigger bun

Okay this isn’t really a protective style, but one time for the culture! 🇳🇬

More braids, braids come in varying lengths and sizes.

I really enjoy experimenting with protective styles, one of the latest trends is crochet hair which I haven’t gotten into just yet, but it’s definitely on my radar. Hope you enjoyed this post and it gave you inspiration for your next protective style!

Disclaimer: The hair styles featured in this post is not guaranteed to provide hair length retention, glow, and strength.

On August 23, 2017

This Hair of Mine | Kinky Wednesday | MadameAkay

Hey Gems,

I remember the day I went through with my big chop. My cousin didn’t think I was being serious and she recounted how she cried when she did hers, but I was fearless, she began to snip away till what was left was a teeny tiny afro. I then began to scream on the inside thinking to myself what did I just do to my hair?!? I had to calm myself down and tell myself it’s just hair and it will grow back.

Fast forward, three years in and I’m wondering why my hair isn’t looking long and luscious like the girls on Instagram. I had to remind myself that my hair growth isn’t determined by the other girls on Instagram rather by genetics and maintenance. I wasn’t really showing my hair all the love it needed because in that three years I never even got a trim, rather I would just ‘dust’ my ends. Dusting your ends is a process where you two strand twist your hair and trim off the ends. I should have known dusting my ends would not be enough but it’s what I thought I needed to do at the time. I was so WRONG, like totally wrong! Chai! My hair was almost stagnant at the same length the year after. I decided to do a little more research and I figured I JUST NEEDED TO LOVE MY KINKS! It was such an easy task that I wonder why I was not doing it before.

Fast forward to present day, and I give my natural hair all the tender love and care it needs. I found a beautician that trims her, I found a couple brands that cleanses/moisturizes and I finally found my hair regime. Now, remember I told you all that I never got a trim like ever, well it was very evident in the health of my hair when I sat in my beauticians chair. She told me, “there’s no point in holding on to broken and damaged ends”. (I kind of wish I used that in my past relationship, but that’s another story). She snipped away and the picture below is what my hair looked like before after my silk treatment with a trim.

Before | Silk Press Treatment

After | Silk Press Treatment

It looks so short right, and we all know that natural hair stretches so you can imagine what it looked like when wet. Anywho, watching natural hair Youtubers became my pass time and I started taking notes. I realized that wash day was going to annoy me because it was literally a five step process that could last all day. I told myself it will all be worth it when my hair is at least waist length, right? This journey back isn’t one that will be rushed but rather your hair just wants and needs to be loved and you do that by taking care of her daily. I opt for low maintenance styles such as wearing wigs, braids, crown braid, faux buns anything so I’m not playing in my hair. Ladies, this is key, you don’t want to constantly manipulate your hair it causes damage. I could go on and on but you have to decide on what your journey will be. I decided to change my course and love my crown.
Hope you enjoyed my tell all, and inspires you to take pride in your own crown.

On August 2, 2017

Book of Nevers | MadameAkay

Hey Gems!

I’m sure we have all heard the phrase “never say never”, but in actuality, the word never has already been said! Ha! So here is a short list of never’s:

Never feel like you need a man to find happiness.
Never allow your fears to take full control over your life.
Never give up.
Never stop trying.
Never leave your margarita unattended.
Never allow anyone to steal your joy.
Never stop trying.
Never say never.

I want all my readers to be encouraged and move forward to be great! 🙂

On May 15, 2017

Fresh Air | MadameAkay

Hello Gems,

I’m back from my fun-filled vacation and I’m better!

“Let go of the ordinary and enjoy a vibrant, fully-alive purpose that God designed for you.”

I was inspired to write this post while I was worshipping in church this past weekend. Pastor Jeremy Foster’s message was directly for me and being that it’s a new month I thought I would share with you all. I hope that while you’re reading this it sparks something new in you.

“John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” -KJV

Joy. I experience joy when I am worshipping my Lord. My heart is happy when I’m in church and the praise and worship songs have me in the spirit. I experience joy when I am surrounded by people that truly love me. Seeing my niece happy and laughing makes me very happy. Oh, the joy in my heart is just overwhelming. I love her too much!

“1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” -KJV

Let us break this verse down to really understand what is being said here.

[Rejoice evermore]

It’s so easy to only think of the negatives that occur in our life and lose sight of all the good that has happened. Rejoice means to feel or show great joy or delight. In situations where you have no control over, rejoice. Think about it, there is no point in stressing over the uncontrollable. It’s like the saying goes, why cry over spilled milk if it has already spilled?

[Pray without ceasing]

In all circumstances one should pray. No matter how bad you think things are, pray. When things are going good, one should pray. Let me be real with you all, I’m guilty of praying consistently when things are bad. I ‘forget’ to pray as consistently when things are going in my favor. It’s something I’m trying to work on and with my new found independence I’m going to test myself.

[In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.]

Do I really need to explain this one? I’ll keep it brief. Be Thankful.
Breathe In, Breathe Out. How do you feel? I bet you feel a little bit better. Sometimes when you’re under pressure, take a pause and breathe in fresh air. I’ve learned to do this to keep myself from going cray cray. It honestly has helped me, it also gives you time to reconsider your next action.

On May 1, 2017

Coming Up | MadameAkay

Hey Gems!

This week I’m super excited because I’m taking a much needed vacation. I’m planning on being out of pocket for some time but I will be back.

Thanks for understanding!

On April 18, 2017

Valentine’s Day is over, now what | MadameAkay

Hey Gems!

It’s now what, three days after Valentine’s Day? Maybe you went on this lavish date with your significant other or maybe you just hung out with your girlfriends… Now that I have your attention! Oh, you thought this post was going to be about Valentine’s Day? Nope! I actually have a brand spankin’ new video on my YouTube channel! Yes, I dusted off my channel and I’m going to be posting more on there. Ladies, this one is for you. This one is for those of us that are always on the go and don’t have time to highlight and contour. This one is for us ladies that just don’t have the time.

I usually don’t feel like doing the whole, contour my cheeks and highlight my t-zone routine. So when I’m looking for a very simple and minimal effort look this is my go to foundation routine. Guess what, it only took 8 minutes! That’s right 8 minutes!
Quick 8 Minute Foundation Routine!

Let me know what you think, and if you want to see more of these types of videos.

On February 17, 2017

It’s what you’ve all been waiting on | MadameAkay

Hey Gems!

01.19.17. This date is not just any ‘ole day. It’s T H E day you have all been waiting for. It’s MadameAkay’s rebirth. June 19th was the first day I posted on my blog in 2015 and I wanted to hold off till that day again to re-launch my blog in 2017. But it was just entirely too far away. I decided on launching in January because it’s the beginning of the year and I get to really watch my blog grow and flourish through out the year.

I have so much to share with you all that I just couldn’t wait!

On January 9, 2017

Love the Skin You’re In: Skincare Tips | MadameAkay

Hey Gems!

Yes, My Wonderful People Love the Skin You Are In!
I’ve been told that I have good skin by a good amount of people. I always wondered what are they talking about? I have all these tiny bumps on my forehead that sprouted from who knows where. Pimples that show up just about every month (..ladies you know what I mean?!) and so many complexion colors! It’s frustrating for me because on top of all of things I just mentioned I also have sensitive skin.

High School

In high school I never really cared for my skin, the same soap I used to wash my body I used on my face. No care in the world! Ha! It wasn’t until I went to college and having to walk long distances for many of my classes, and sweating all day, that I realized something had to change baby! So where did I look to first? YOUTUBE of course! But I quickly found out, almost everyone on there were using 5-10 products on their face. -_- I would have quickly ran to the store to buy everything I saw, but being a college student with no job I couldn’t just buy all the products. So I asked around to see what my friends were using and the overall product was Apricot Scrub.

Brands

When it comes to choosing between brands such as St. Ives or Walmart brand, I always turn to the ingredients. I wondered why one was selling for $2 more than the other one. (Guess being an economic major is paying off) If the two products has the same Active Ingredient, in my opinion, go with the cheaper one! Now if you just really want the St. Ives brand, that’s fine. No judgement! Since when it comes to your skin you don’t want to put just anything on it!
Progressing through college I had to change the products I used because I saw just using Apricot scrub was doing nothing to my face. I still had the tiny bumps and random pimples. As I stated before I have really sensitive skin so trying new products I was very hesitant to venture away from my Apricot Scrub. But I knew it had to be done if I wanted to see a change in my face. So currently my face routine twice a day after I take a shower is:

Quick rinse of hot/warm water on my face to open my pores to remove the nasty dirt trapped inside
Using my Sephora face brush I apply my Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser onto the brush
In circular motions for about 1 minutes I apply the product all over my face
I rinse off with warm water then go back and rinse again with cold water so my pores can close
I finish off with Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel which is a pore perfecting toner which I applied with a cotton round
I finish up with Neutrogena oil free moisturizer all over my face

sidenote* I don’t always use the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, I interchange that with Neutrogena Transparent Facial Bar, fragrance free, and Apricot Scrub. There is no particular order or schedule I follow, just what ever I feel like using I use.

For my body, since I have dry skin I use any brand of body oil and then Cetaphil body cream. Sometimes I have to re-apply in the evening time since our bodies sweat and I work in a building where it is always cold.

Lastly, I take gummy multivitamins for women!

So that’s it’s!

Now you know my secret. Shhh don’t tell anyone!
You have to find products that works with your skin, look at the ingredients list because the first name on the list is what they used the most and then the last of course is what they used last. I found what works for my skin based on how my skin reacted to certain products. Don’t give up, it’s all about trial and error.

On July 2, 2015