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Check out my list of must-haves for textured haired beauties. 

As you beauties know, I have short to medium length kinky curly locks. Kinky, curly, and coily hair is gorgeous, but it requires a little more TLC than our straight-haired friends. Kinky and coily hair (my hair type) is considered the most fragile. Each curl on the strand is weaker and thus more vulnerable to breakage. If you’ve ever seen a strand of coily hair up close, you know that there’s a lot of opportunity for it to snap off. It’s very tightly curled – hence the term coily. 

I’ve been embracing my natural texture since 2012- that’s nearly a decade. I’ve tried many techniques, hair styles and special tools over the years. These are my favorites that leave my hair feeling soft, moisturized and ultra-defined!

1. Silk bonnet and pillow case. 

You need both. This might seem a bit excessive but hear me out. The purpose of using a silk or satin head covering or pillow case is to protect you strands. Silk and satin materials are gentle on hair and help decrease breakage. Unless you sleep like a princess (ie. no tossing, turning, rolling, etc.) it’s a good idea to use both. I sleep on a silk pillow case and have a silk turban styled bonnet for bed time. This means that if the bonnet comes off OR if I roll off my pillow- I’m covered. Silk and satin pillowcases are also linked to better skin.

• Eco Style Gel

Most naturally curlies are familiar with this brand. I always emphasize the fact the no 1 product is great for EVERYONE. That said, this is hands down the best gel out there for my curls. Eco style gel is thick with a medium to hard hold. My hair does not respond well to light weight gels. This product consistently gives me my most defined wash and goes, twist outs and braid outs. I use the original, Argan oil and flaxseed versions of the product. Flaxseed and Argan oil are tied on my favorite list.

• Micro Fiber Towels

Microfiber towels are worth all of the hype! I’ve used regular old bath towels (the standard method) and the trend of using an old t-shirt. The microfiber towel wins- hands down. Microfiber is less likely to snag your hair, compared to a traditional cotton towel. When I use microfiber, I experience less frizz and a faster drying time. So many brands sell them nowadays! I highly suggest grabbing one ASAP and introducing it into your wash day routine.

I love sharing my simple approach to beauty, so I thought I’d spill my top beauty secrets with you. You don’t have to be a makeup artist or a model to slay. Spoiler alert, it’s all about health, balance and attitude.

1. Get A Good Night’s Sleep

You’re at your best when you’re well rested. Typically, it’s recommended that adults get around 8 hours of sleep per night. Getting a proper night’s rest can improve one’s health, skin, and energy. As it turns out, the term beauty sleep is pretty accurate.

If getting a quality night’s sleep is a challenge, I have a few suggestions for improving your sleep.

Make sure your mattress isn’t worsening your sleep. Believe it or not, we spend approximately 1/3 of our lives sleeping. That makes it super important to sleep on a mattress that’s both comfortable and supportive. 

Some of us have issues getting or staying asleep. If you’re one of those people, a supplement like melatonin may be helpful. Of course, you’ll want to talk to a medical professional before changing any vitamin or supplement regimen. 

2. Practice New Beauty Techniques at Home

Some makeup and beauty techniques are more difficult than others. Whenever I want to try something new, I practice it on a day that I don’t have anywhere to be. That gives me a chance to take my time. If I mess up, I simply wash my face and start again. Sometimes that means practicing 3 or 4 times before I feel like I know what I’m doing. That’s OKAY! When I finally feel ready to wear it out and about, I’m not self-concious and insecure. Be confident about your look.

3. Challenge Yourself to Smile More.

It shouldn’t be a surprise, but a happier you is a more beautiful you. Not only are smiles lovely to look at, the act of smiling can uplift your mood and literally help you feel better.

4. Stay Hydrated

Drinking water is vital for many of our body’s systems. Proper hydration can improve the tone of our skin and reduce inflammation. Drinking enough water can also reduce acne issues. 

5. Pick a Focal Point

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with your beauty routine. For everyday looks, I believe in really highlighting 1 feature. For example, if you’re doing something dramatic to your eyes, balance it out by keeping the rest of your features subtle.

6. Find ways to De-Stress

Stress can do a lot of annoying things to our bodies. It can cause us to hold on to excess weight, trigger acne breakouts, increase wrinkles, in addition to more serious health challenges that are connected to stress. I recommend being purposeful in finding ways to reduce stress. Try incorporating self-care activities like exercise, prayer, meditation or journaling into your daily routine.

7. Focus On the Little Things That Bring You Joy

As I said earlier, a happy you is a beautiful you. I encourage you to focus on cultivating joy. Try making a list of things you’re grateful for or take 15 minutes during your day to do something that uplifts your mood. Joy is more of an outlook on life than an absence of difficult circumstances.

8. Build Your Confidence

Confident girls are the prettiest. Being confident is easier said than done. I can speak from personal experience. Confidence doesn’t change you, how you look, or your abilities. What it does change is how you feel about yourself. You can look stunning but still have a complex because you lack confidence.

Be comfortable with who you are. Do things that stretch you. Don’t shy aware from the spotlight. You are enough.

Need help with this? Check out my list of affirmations to help women own their beauty.

9.Don’t Get Caught Up With Trends

Trends are fun. It’s so tempting to want to hop on every trend. While there’s nothing wrong with trying out fads, believe me, not every trend is for everyone. In my humble opinion, some trends should be for no one. (Does anyone remember the wavy eyebrow trend? I cringe just thinking about it). There’s absolutely no reason to try something just because everyone else is doing it.

INSTEAD

The bulk of your beauty routine should focus on timeless looks and techniques.

10. Stop Comparing Yourself With Others

Embrace your own brand of beautiful. Comparison is the thief of joy. It’s not about being better or worse or prettier than the next person. We are all different and no one can compare or compete. Learn to love your uniqueness as well as what makes others special.

Have you tried any of these tips? Let me know how they worked for you!

Have a beautiful and breezy day!