Embracing Thicker Hair with Vegamour

Let's connect about something many of us can relate to: thinning hair. I've been feeling a bit bummed out after noticing my curls lost density during postpartum and my scalp started to flake (which never happened before). And since postpartum, I've tested out many different brands but never saw results. But, there's hope on the horizon, and it comes in the form of Vegamour. 

I've been eyeing Vegamour for some time now for a few reasons:

1. All-Natural Goodness: Vegamour products are like a breath of fresh air for your hair. Packed with botanical extracts, vitamins, and other natural ingredients, they're gentle yet effective at promoting healthier, fuller-looking locks.

2. Backed by Science: You know those bold claims some hair products make? Vegamour doesn't just talk the talk; they walk the walk. Clinical studies have shown that their key ingredients work wonders when it comes to promoting hair growth and reducing shedding.

3. Options Galore: Whether you're in the market for a serum, a supplement, or a shampoo and conditioner combo, Vegamour offers a range of products designed to tackle different aspects of hair health.

4. Cruelty-Free and Vegan: Vegamour products are not only good for your hair, but they're also good for the planet. Cruelty-free and vegan, they're made with love and respect for all living beings.

I've only begun my journey with Vegamour and plan on sharing monthly updates to show the progress around my temples. I'll be using their Gro+ Advanced line, along with their Scalp Detoxifying Serum to give my scalp the TLC it deserves.

Before

Before

If you want to learn more about Vegamour, check out their website: Vegamour.com

**Products were gifted in exchange for my honest review. As always, all my thoughts are my own.

NYC: Where Curly Girls Go for the Best Cuts

Please raise your hand if you've been a victim of a haircut gone horribly wrong. Now please raise your hand if you've heard your "stylist" mutter "this must be karma" when dealing with your gorgeous hair. Alright, what about getting charged extra because we were born with ringlets? Now for the kicker, feeling ashamed or different because our hair won't fall flat.

None of the above are any fun to experience, but us curly girls have experienced them all. It's also a little bit insane that more salons don't cater to our ringlets since at least 80% of women wake up with curls or waves.

When it comes to our hair, we all have a story that tells the struggle of understanding our roots (pun intended), finding the perfect cocktail of hair products, and then finding the right stylist + salon that gets it.

It took me a really, really long time to finally understand my hair. Then an even longer time to find products that didn't cause ticking frizz bombs. And when I finally found my salon, it felt like I came out of the dark ages. It was such a life-changing moment which is why Devachan will always get rave reviews here.

So when I wanted a big change, I knew exactly where to go.

For kicks, I decided to take a stroll through memory lane featuring my hair from super long to my new dreamy haircut. It starts with the first photo and ends with...

Jessica F., my Devacurl stylist, took me super short with a side of bangs back in May. And for the first time since my accident (+ surgery), I felt amazing inside and out. My gorgeous curls perfectly cascaded around my face and had this amazing healthy, sheen radiate from within each ringlet. Jessica, if you're reading this -- you were a godsend just when I felt like giving up on and turning into a recluse with a bad wrist.

It's amazing how a great haircut can impact your life.

If you have never been to the salon, then I'd love to walk you through the experience. 

When you first enter the salon, you'll be greeted by a friendly receptionist who will escort you to the waiting room. You won't wait long if anything this is when you'll change into a silky robe and be served delicious ice tea. Refill please!

Next, your stylist will meet you and bring you back to her chair. This is when your stylist will ask all the heavy-hitter questions such as how do you style your hair and what kind of cut are you looking for. She'll also learn about the texture of your hair. I usually bring in a picture of a particular cut that I'd like to achieve or an old photo of when I loved my haircut best. It makes the process easier.

After the consultation, your stylist will start to cut your curls. The Devachan stylists believe in cutting your hair when the curls are in their natural state and dry. My favorite part about this is how they take each ringlet into consideration. It's easier for them to see how the curls will fall which will make it easier for us to style and achieve our desired cut!

Next up, is their famous wash and set process. You'll get escorted to their zen-like washing station where each shampoo sink is connected to basically a daybed. Needless to say, I have fallen asleep during this step more than once. At this stage, your curls are gently cleansed, conditioned, and detangled. This is a really great time to learn how your stylist uses the products or you can be like me and take a nice nap.

After your curls are cleansed and conditioned your stylist will walk you over to her drying station. Each individual ringlet will get styled and shaped using a prescribed curly cocktail of Devacurl products. This part is worth taking notes on and if you have questions make sure to ask away! Once your curls are styled your stylist will start the drying process and check in to see how your hair is drying.

Once your hair is fully dry, your stylist will make the final assessment and snip any needed ringlets to give you that bombshell cut. It's honestly quite the experience and could take two hours, but it is so worth the individual attention and education you get from each session.

If you can't make it to NYC or are just curious about my prescribed curly cocktail, I am totally down to share the goods. They have an online store so their products can be shipped almost anywhere.

I cleanse and condition my hair using two products from their Decadence line. It hydrates my curls and brings them back to a softer state from all the heat-styling they have endured this summer: No-Poo and One Condition.

For styling, less has always been more in my book. My stylist took that into account and recommended their B'Leave-In to help hydrate and plump up my curls. Once I scrunched my hair with product, I move onto their Ultra Defining Gel for lasting hold and crunch-free, frizz-free texture. I let my hair do it's thing while it air dries but once ready I shake my curls out at the root for a soft, touchable look. And for days I want to extend my style (or zero time to wash my hair), I've been loving their No-Poo Quick Cleanser. Spray at the roots and it'll sop up the extra oil to give your curls a refreshed look.

Phew, what a long post! Devachan will forever be my curl bae so I wanted to be as thorough as possible on what makes them amazing. Other salons just don't compare. 

Here's more helpful information:
425 Broome Street
Hours: T-Sa 8a-8p, Su-M 10a-5p

www.devacurl.com

Shot by Lydia Hudgens + Victor Cerejo.

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#LoveYourCurls with Dove Quench

This week, I want all you curly-haired ladies try something new. 

I want you to Love Your Curls. Just for a week, instead of complaining about frizzy hair or running into the nearest Drybar to disguise our ringlets - give your hair a chance to be. It might be hard, when long luscious straight hair is advertised everywhere we go but hopefully this amazing #LoveYourCurls line and wonderfully touching video can change that. In fact, Dove and Walmart are asking for your #LoveYourCurl story to help inspire the next generation to do the same (you can even win a Dove Quench prize pack). You can do that here.

If you've been keeping up with me for a while, you'll know my backstory. For those of you joining in, I'll be the first to admit that it took a very long time to love my curls. As a child, I was ridiculed for having curly hair and often ran home crying. Chia Pets were being heavily advertised during those formative years - which didn't make life any easier. Every day I would beg and plead with my mom for a trip to the fancy salon.

The few times she did I'd make sure my blow out lasted f o r e v e r. 

All of this changed after getting noticed and scouted for, essentially my hair. Crazy how life works.

It took a lot of self-love and beauty trials to finally settle into my roots. But once, I got my curly system down it's pretty much about accepting and loving who I was. Throughout all the drama I learned that my hair is gorgeous just the way it is (even on the bad days). If you find yourself hating yourself over hair follicles do me a favor and stop.

Trust, you are beautiful. Natural is beautiful. And we are all beautiful.

Dove and Walmart were awesome enough to let me try out the new Quench line and it definitely lives up to the name. The full Dove Quench Absolute collection includes Ultra Nourishing Shampoo, Ultra Nourishing Conditioner, Intensive Restoration Mask, and the Supreme Creme Serum. The products didn't weigh down my curls at all and gave them a softer feel (no crunchy curls here). For days when more curl hydration was needed, I'd leave the mask on for a few minutes longer (i.e. frizz be gone). As you can see in the photos above, the line left my curls looking more defined and softer (#winwin) and loving my curls even more.

Like what you see? Learn more about Dove Quench and share your #LoveYourCurls story here.

Today's post is sponsored by Lunchbox - thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible! And as always, all opinions are my own.

Photos by Victor Cerejo.

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