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Multiracial Mixed Woman

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SWIRL SKIN: Korean Sheet Masks


This week we're all sharing skin products we are obsessed with! I am obsessed with sheet masks! I first came across these masks when my fellow Swirl Nation Blogger (and best friend) Jenn gifted me with a handful of amazing Korean Sheet Masks. It was the first time I had seen them and quickly fell in love! They are a super easy way to treat yourself to a spa day for only a few dollars. 

When you take the mask out of the package it will be dripping wet. You unfold it and will see cut-outs for your eyes, mouth and slits for the piece that fits around your nose. The package says to leave it on for 20 minutes, but I leave it on until it starts to dry which is about 45 minutes to an hour. They are easy to wear while you watch tv, I've even worn one while I cooked dinner! When you are done you simply throw away the sheet mask and let the ingredients continue to soak in, do not wash your face. 

The Korean masks are super affordable on Amazon, they usually sell them in packs of 12-24 masks so you get a variety of masks that are infused with different ingredients. Collagen, honey, broccoli, green tea, and rice are some of the ingredients that these masks commonly include. Some also include some stranger ingredients like Snail Secretions! So far I have stayed away from those:) 

Due to their increased popularity here in the States, Sephora recently started carrying their own line of sheet masks which I have become a fan of. My favorite is the Pearl mask which evens out skin tone with broccoli extract. I feel like my skin really has a glow after I use it! Sephora also carries Korean brands like TonyMoly and Too Cool For School


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SWIRL HAIR: Coconut Oil Hair Mask


The coconut. The magical fruit with multiple health and beauty benefits seems to be everywhere and in everything.  Whether as a beverage, used for cooking or moisturizing, it really is a unique fruit.

One of the many uses of the coconut is to use coconut oil as a hair mask. Coconut oil is extremely nourishing and moisturizing, and due to its chemical structure, it effectively penetrates the hair shaft to improve hair strength and reduce breakage and split ends.  The result is lustrous shine and soft, manageable hair.

•Start with organic, extra-virgin coconut oil, which has not been refined or hydrogenated.
•Apply before going to bed, (do not apply above the earlobe) cover with a shower cap to allow it to soak into your hair overnight.
•In the morning, when you are ready to shower, apply shampoo to your oil-slicked hair before wetting it (if you apply the shampoo after your hair is wet, it will remain greasy and difficult to remove.)  Follow up with a dollop of your regular conditioner and rinse thoroughly.
•Style as desired.
 

You will fall in love with the results and swing your hair around like a model.  As you should!
 


xoxo Jenn

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SWIRL HAIR: CLIP IN BANGS TUTORIAL


Sometimes I don’t like combing my hair – it’s nappy; however, I like to look like I combed my hair. I made clip-in bangs because I had leftover hair from making clip-in weave (tutorial later).  

I sometimes wear this look if my hair is wet and in a twist-out (as pictured above), and well, mamma has places to be and things to do. Mamma is also too lazy to wake up two hours earlier than needed to do something with her hair. Sleep is a precious commodity in my world.

Supplies needed:

Hair (matched as close to your hair color and texture as possible)

Wig Clips

Hot Glue Gun

Scissors

Mirror

Scarf or Headband


Step 1:  Measure weft of hair to the desired width against your upper forehead/hairline. I double-up on the weft (fold in half), hot glue where hair is folded.

Step 2: Lay out two wig clips. Make sure the curved side is facing down/matching the curvature of your head.

Step 3: Hot glue hair to top of wig clips. Wig clips should be on each end.

Step 4: Clip hair in where desired

Step 5: Cut – I did a fringe

Step 6: Cover your whole head in a scarf with bangs peeking out, or use headband to cover where the bangs are clipped in

Step 7: Own it

If you mess up, just try again.  It’s not your real hair…


xoxo Amal

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SWIRL HAIR: INDIAN OILS


I was wearing weaves in the early 90’s. Looooong weaves that looked somewhat natural. Then I went REALLY natural for over 10 years and loved it. But childbirth and age prompted me to throw in the occasional extension. When I moved to LA in 2008, I found a weave genius and wore a beautiful full head for two years while my hair fully repaired. I took out my weave for good after losing one of my best friends to ovarian cancer in 2010. I’d throw in the occasional clip-in hair but I was finished with sewing in.

Photo from www.myhenna.us

Photo from www.myhenna.us

During a visit to India in 2013, I picked up three different oils to promote hair growth. That is when the obsession began. I now have about 10 hair oils, masks, etc from India and they are far less expensive than anything else. Oh, and they work. I just applied Vatika Naturals Garlic Hair Oil as a pre-wash conditioner while I write this but I don’t smell like garlic at all. It contains Garlic, Lemon and Rosemary and some chemicals that may be not so healthy but I do so many healthy things, I’m not going to worry.

The oils penetrate great and define my curls. My hair has pretty much stopped breaking which a a big deal for a woman over 40. The nearly 7 oz. bottle was $3.99. I’ll shampoo and condition and then massage homemade Triphala oil with Bhringraj  into my scalp. The “Triphala Plus” doesn’t smell so great (fried something!) but it keeps my hair crazy soft and again--no breakage!



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SWIRL HAIR: Renpure's Coconut Creme


This week we are all are sharing hair products we are currently Obsessed with. 

Of the four of us I would say I am least qualified in the hair department because I am pretty low-maintenance (at least when it comes to hair;). For one I dye my own hair- which I know my hair stylist friends hate, but $13 every 6 weeks is just so hard to beat! Second, I am lucky enough to get my trims in my own house (and sometimes in my work parking lot) by my friend Alex who now works with me, but used to be a hair stylist at my friend Jamie's salon in Colorado

Beyond that my routine consists of washing my hair about twice a week and then just conditioning it each night before bed. Then I twist my hair on top of my head with bobbypins, go to bed, and shake it out the next morning and hope it looks 1/2 way decent. Once a week I also use Olaplex No. 3 on my hair overnight (I will talk about in another post because it is amazing!). 

So let's talk about Shampoo and Conditioner. A few months ago I came across Renpure hair products while I was perusing the Target section on Google Express. I was intrigued for 3 reasons:

  1. I am obsessed with Coconut Oil (Like majorly obsessed. I use it for everything! Barlean's Organic Virgin Coconut Oil in Island Fresh is my absolute favorite.)

  2. It is free from all harmful chemicals

  3. The price was super low! $5.99 a bottle at Target!

So I purchased the Coconut Creme Shampoo and Conditioner for both my daughter and I to use. Before this we had been using Carol's Daughter which I still like, I just like to switch back and forth between quite a few products. Product ADD I guess you could say! 

Coconut Creme Shampoo and Conditioner

The Coconut Creme is great for dry and damaged hair which I definitely have. If you have seen my picture then you can see that my hair is a level of blonde that is basically glow in the dark and that doesn’t come without some damage! I have used expensive products in the past (Kerastase, Aveda, etc…) but for the last couple years I have just felt silly spending that much. But I have to say I am pretty impressed with the Renpure products! I like that they are free of sulfates, parabens and synthetic colors (they are Gluten Free also). I also love that the bottle says they test on the Redmond family members, never on animals!

My daughter has wavy hair that gets curlier towards the nape of her neck. I love her curls so much, I call the ones by her neck her “curly fries” they are the cutest! The top of her hair is much looser waves. I have actually only cut her hair once in her whole life because the ends are healthy and it doesn't grow very quickly- plus she has amazing blonde ends on her hair and I don’t want to cut those off:) In the summer she also gets gorgeous natural red/copper highlights. 

Even though we never use heat on her hair, it is a little dry and our beach lifestyle doesn’t help- we spend A LOT of time in the sun, ocean and chlorine. The Coconut Creme product keeps it well moisturized and her curls look great.

In addition we both use a mixture of Carol's Daughter products to style our hair. Oddly enough, while we have very different hair but my hair responds really well to heavier product that also works on her hair. So I put a small amount (like a nickel) of Carol's Daughter Marguerite's Magic and mix it with a small amount of CD Hair Balm in my hands and then run it through both of our hair. I buy this product at Target also. 

So that is our routine! Easy and inexpensive! Let me know if you have used any of these products and if so what you think of them! 

 

Here is a review from beauty blogger Tracy Timberlake on some other Renpure products that she recommends for multiethnic hair. I have not tried this particular line, but the video gives a lot of great information. 

















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DENIM ON DENIM


I love denim!  The best pairing is to mix and match light and dark denims. When done right, it looks effortless and chic.  Plus denim for children provides multiple no fail outfits.  You can work this look by tucking in the shirt messy, buttoning it all the way up, rolling up the sleeves or layering it under a sweatshirt, sweater or jacket.  Finish the look with sneakers, loafers, booties or heels.

Examples from H&M, In Style and Media Prive


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PUNJAMMIES!


I came across Punjammies on Pinterest originally and was struck by how cute the PJs were and how great the message behind the brand is! Punjammies are made by women in India who have escaped sex slavery and now have a fresh start with a job that pays them a living wage.

India has some of the highest estimates of slavery and sex-trafficking anywhere in the world and the founder, Shannon Keith, was inspired after taking a trip to India in 2005 and witnessed India’s Red Light Districts.

 


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