~ SHOE CANDY ~

LOVE !

~ POSTING MORE HERE~

Visit me on twitter also "AuNaturale Zaainab1". Thanks!

~ NEVER LOSE A SOCK ~

Hello Ladies!

First let me say is this chick sharp or what in the picture above!  head to toe sharp!

I hope you all had a great and productive weekend.  A came across a read I found quite interesting and beneficial. As we all know doing laundry can be looked at as a  joy or a chore. Depending on your personal taste. As for me I really don't mind doing laundry, I know it has to be done. So I try not to sweat it.

During the course of laundry , some how you may seem to have started with pairs of socks, but oddly end up with one sock missing from the pair. Here are a few ways you can avoid that problem:

1. Purchase laundry bags for your socks only:

 You know the mesh bags I find them all the time at my local dollar tree. By doing this your washing them all together in one bag. Therefore they can not get separated and or lost.

2.  Purchase your socks and or your families socks to be all the same:

 Same colors , same brand etc. Now I'm not sure  if this is something you may be able to actually do especially since every one more than likely has different size feet. But for yourself perhaps this may work.

3.  Clip your pairs of socks together  using clothes pins:

By doing so again they are more likely to stay as a pair during your wash. Thus keeping them pinned during your drying process as well.

I thought these tips were really neat. If you are one or a family of those who seem to always lose a sock or two during wash day. Hopefully this will help.

Thanks for stopping by Ladies, take care. And remember to stay positive, fly, naturally healthy and fabulous!

Zainab1

~ FOLLOW AUNATURALE ,TWEET AND FACEBOOK ME !~

Hi Ladies!

AuNaturale is now on both Twitter and Facebook !

Twitter @Zaainab1

Facebook: AuNaturale 

Feel free to follow me there, while you'll receive updates on me, my  Natural hair journey, updates on my T-Shirt Line and more !

Still working on both pages, so changes to come. Instagram and YouTube to follow !

Thanks for stopping by Ladies, take care. And have a fabulous weekend!

Zainab1

~ TALK ABOUT IT ~

REPOST:

TALKING ABOUT OUR PROBLEMS IS OUR GREATEST ADDICTION. BREAK THE HABIT . TALK ABOUT YOUR JOYS.

#JUSTLIKETHAT

~ HOW IMPORTANT IS CUSTOMER SERVICE, TO YOU ?~

Hi Fabulous Naturals!

With all of the independent business on the rise, we are all aware of how we want to be treated as customers.  However , not all businessness consider the importance and value of their customers. Many businessness struggle to survive due to the lack of customer service.

Customer service is the meat to every business whether its up and coming or a seasoned business. Many customers form their opinions at the very heart of customer service. Promoting your business is one thing but without the connection between the customer and the business, promotion will mean nothing.

Just as running sales. Running sales is a great way to also show customer appreciation as well as helping in reducing product stock in making room for newer items. But here again without the connection with your consumer, its baseless.

In fact studies show ( and a little common sense) that its customer service that bring customers back.  The key is making sure you are receiving and sending your customers away , happy. Ultimately, producing return customers.

Customers typically remember what you do, not what you say. How you interact with them whether its in person or online. It will and can leave an impression. When starting a business, the reason you started that business is because you had something you wanted to share with the world.  But, sharing it just doesn't cut it, often you must do more. Starting with the customers is the most important factor.

Lets take blogging for instance, although its not exactly an "business" but there are business aspects of it. Like the importance of interacting with those who comment.  Who take the time out of the tons of other blogs and visit yours. There is also a form of selling involved in blogging as well.

And again showing appreciation is key and very important to me. If I say nothing else, I must at least thank them for visiting.

So how about you ladies, what are your thoughts on customer service and how important is it to you? and what do you like to see from a business owner in the way of customer service?

Thanks for stopping by, take care. And remember to stay positive, fly , naturally healthy, and fabulous!

Zainab1

~SMALL DISCIPLINES ~

 Small disciplines repeated with consistency everyday lead to great achievements gained slowly over time.

~ PROTECTING YOUR NATURAL FROM THE SUMMER SUN ~

Hello Ladies!

I hope everyone had a great yet beneficial weekend.  With the warmer weather quickly approaching, It is important to find ways to protect our tresses from sun damage. Which can be just as important as direct heat damage.

Many of you fabulous ladies, may enjoy a bit of beach action from time to time during the summer. Whether sunning on the beach , at a summer barbecue or in your very own back yard.

Did you know that the many rays from the sun can cause permanent damage to the outside of our hair strands. Which is the cuticle,   then  penetrating into the center of hair. Which is the cortex , therefore causing sometimes irreversible damage there.

There are a few ways that can help in protecting your hair.

Invest in a small personal pocket sized spray bottle:

 Fill your spray bottle  with a bit of water mixed with a  bit of Aloe Vera Juice. Give your hair a few quick sprays of your favorite water mixture. By doing this it will allow your hair to stay moisturized thus preventing  dryness from the sun.

Adorn a Hat , turban or scarf : 

In today's world wind of fashion there are a few fly hats that can be worn during your barbecue or beach outings , particularly the wide brimmed  floppy hats...sharp!. Then there are the very popular Turbans, or a beautiful summer material type scarf. Either of the mentioned here will protect your tresses from the hot rays of the sun.

Wearing your hair in a bun:

This will allow protection of the ends of your hair. Which as we all know are the oldest and likely the most damaged parts of our hair. Although doing this does not give you overall protection. However it is a start.

Checking your products:

 Making sure we are using moisture based products are just as important as using them any other time of the year. Sitting in the sun can definitely cause dry, brittle hair. We want to be sure our hair has moisture before setting out for a great day of sun and barbecue. Additional, making sure not to use an overabundance of oil filled products may further aide in burning or damaging  your hair due to the sun rays.

I hope you ladies find these tips to be helpful. Thanks for stopping by , take care. And remember to stay positive, fly, and naturally healthy and fabulous!

Zainab1

~ BOSTON~

In the recent unfortunate events in Boston. I wish to send my thoughts to those in Boston or who may have family and friends in Boston.

In most cases, no one is taught initially to do these horrible acts of violence. People choose to do and be apart of such behavior.

  My hearts go out to those affected, as I think of you today. I am glad you are all safe.

Zainab1

~ THE T SHIRT FACTORY ~

 

PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR "THE T SHIRT FACTORY'STORE NEAR YOU THIS SUMMER 2013!

YES!  CALL ALL OF YOUR FAMILY , FRIENDS , AND FELLOW NATURALS !   I WILL BE CARRYING MY VERY OWN LINE OF T SHIRTS.

 PLEASE FOLLOW AUNATURALE FOR ALL OF THE FORTHCOMING ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPDATES ABOUT " THE T SHIRT FACTORY".

I've been working very hard with diligence and  focus. In creating and designing  my line in hopes of bringing you a great selection to choose from. Stay tuned!

P.S.. I' AM VERY EXCITED AND TICKLED PINK !

TAKE CARE!

ZAINAB1


UPDATE:

AFTER FINDING THAT THE NAME "THE  T SHIRT FACTORY WAS VERY COMMON AND USED OFTEN. i DECIDED TO CHANGE THE NAME. STAY TUNED!

~ DISCOVER~

"DISCOVER YOUR UNIQUENESS THEN DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO DEVELOP IT"

~ JMARIE CURL BOOST BUTTER ~

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Ladies!

 

Today I bring you a product review of the Curl Boost Butter from the lovely JMarie on Esty. She has a lovely store there that includes hair products , as well as other items.  Let's start the review:

 

She states via her store:

The curl boost butter is nourishment for parched curls , and get great twist outs and braid outs , moisture and frizz elimination.. The Curl Boost Butter is her best seller.

 

This hair butter gives great results for natural hair styles. This gives your curls more bounce, softness, shine and definition. This is the butter to use if you want to combat dry, frizzy curls and condition your hair at the same time.

 

Directions:

Use on damp hair. If you have a TWA or Wash & Go, rub butter in hands, then gently rub butter all over hair. If you are doing a Twist/Braid Out, place butter on each section of hair and then twist/braid. A little goes a long way.

 

 

This is a Petrolatum, Mineral Oil, Synthetic Coloring, and Chemical preservatives free product.

 

Ingredients:

Avocado Butter, Olive Butter, Rice Bran Oil, Fragrance Oil.

 

Price:

$10.99/4oz (medium jar)

 

Packaging and shipping:

This item came well packaged and very quickly.

 

The Scent:

I must admit I am not a huge fan of the scent. Please know it is not a bad scent at all. It's just that I have a very sensitive nose, and must have something a bit lighter for scent. However, it is not a lingering scent nor does it carry an offensive smell.

 

The consistency:

The consistency is one of a creme, in the pictures provided above it may appear to be a bit looser than it's original consistency due to the warmth in my home from time to time ( I'm thinking it may be time to move this little number to the refrigerator). 

 

My thoughts:

 

This product does as it states, it did enhance my curls once applying.  It made my hair soft and gave it a bit of shine.  A little does go a long way. This product was filled to the top, which is a great amount for the size so this should last a while. Will I repurchase the verdict is still out.

 

I think it may be the scent if anything that would be the determining factor.  If she offered more scents for this product I may repurchase. As for the product itself. It really is not a bad product. And  The customer service was great.  Which is always a factor with me as well.

 

To find the lovely JMarie and her store on esty please visit her here JMarie

 

 

Thanks for stopping by ladies, take care. And remember to stay fly, naturally healthy, and fabulous!

 

Zainab1

 

 

***Disclaimer, please note I am in no way affiliated with this company, nor was I paid to do this review. Just happen to be a fan of natural hair  product and wanted to share with other naturals in hopes of helping someone who may have just began their journey to the beauty of being natural, or someone who may be in need of great natural products. I brought this product with my very on money as well as other products I review here @ AuNaturale. Unless otherwise stated***

Thank you.

 

 

 

 

 



~ IN.SPIRE , AD.MIRE ~

IN.SPIRE-

VERB
 1. FILL (SOMEONE) WITH THE URGE OR ABILITY TO DO OR FEEL SOMETHING. ESPECIALLY TO DO SOMETHING CREATIVE : "HIS ENTHUSIASM INSPIRED THEM "

AD.MIRE-

VERB
1. REGARD  (AN OBJECT QUALITY OR PERSON)  WITH RESPECT OR WARM APPROVAL.

2. LOOK AT WITH PLEASURE.

~ REASONS WHY YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE SOFT, TOUCHABLE HAIR YOU WANT ~

Hello Ladies!

We all want our tresses to have a soft feeling , right?  There maybe some who just can't seem to get your hair to be soft to the touch. There are many reasons why this could be :

Perhaps your not Moisturizing your hair correctly:

As we know Natural hair has a tendency to be on the drier side due the texture of our hair. So we often have to work harder at keeping our hair moisturized than someone who may be relaxed.  One way to add moisture to our tresses is by spritzing our hair with water. Be careful not to get confused with the order in which our hair should be moisturized.

We should not seal in the moisture on our hair from the water we apply with a moisturizing product. A product that is water based. These types of products helps in adding moisture to our hair. After wetting your hair you want to use a product to seal in that moisture.  Coconut oil is a great sealant and conditioner, or any cream based product that is not water based. Many naturals use a pomade to seal in their moisture. I also do this from time to time, resulting in great results.

Not to say you can not add a creame based product that has water in it. Doing so will simply add MORE moisture to your hair. If you so choose you can apply a water based moisturizer after wetting your hair and then apply your sealent.

Be sure to never put a sealing product on dry hair. Remember sealants are to lock in moisture from previously wet hair. Therefore you would be adding a sealant to your hair strands that are dry on the inside, and coating it with a product on the outside. I would think this may lead to dryer hair strands, and product buildup.

PRODUCT BUILDUP:

We spoke about product buildup in a previous post. Beware of the dreaded product buildup. Many naturals use maybe a very few products on their hair. While some others may use quite a few.  To remove product buildup you can use  clay washes, Apple cider vinegar ( although I don't use this stuff on my hair, I feel it's to strong) But many naturals have had great results with apple cider vinegar. Or you can invest in  clarifying rinses.

PRODUCTS:

Be mindful of the products you purchase and take note of the one's you are currently  using.  Sulfates is really  not a naturals best friend. The feeling of striped dry hair after washing, certainly is not a sign of moisturized hair. This can cause your hair to feel dry and brittle., not to mention possible breakage.  One of the best things we as naturals can do for our tresses is to invest and use a very good , rich moisturizing deep conditioner.

I have found that sticking to the tips above has helped me retain soft , touchable hair. I hope you ladies find these tips to be helpful.

Thanks for stopping by Ladies , have a great weekend. And remember to stay fly, and naturally healthy and fabulous!

Zainab1

~ LEARNING, GROWING, CHANGING ~

If there were ever a time to dare,  To make a difference, To embark on something worth doing, IT IS NOW.  Not for any grand cause, necessarily-
But for something, that tugs at your heart, something that's your aspiration, something that's your dream. You owe it to yourself to make your days here count.
Have fun. ...Dig deep....Stretch...Dream big.
Know, though, that things worth doing seldom come easy. There will be good days. And there will be bad days.  There will be times when you want to turn around, pack it up, and call it quits.
Those times tell you that you are pushing yourself, That you are not afraid to learn by trying.

#IWILLNOTSTOPPUSHING.
#IWILLNOTSTOPREACHING.

~ SPRING INTO SPRING CLEANING ~

Hello...Hello Ladies!

Yes! Spring has finally Sprung. And with that many find it the perfect time to do a deeper cleaning of there homes. Its time to open the windows, and allow the sweetness of the fresh air fill your home.

I am a avid DIY Natural home cleaner.  Finding them to be of most benefit , effectint, and inexpensive..
 
 There are a few basic simple supplies needed to begin your journey to becoming a DIY Natural cleaner fanatic, like myself *lol*. Below I will share a few of them, many in which you my already have in your home. And many you can find at your local supermarket, health food store, etc.

Baking Soda-  Also known as bicarbonate of Soda. Which can be found at any supermarket usually in the baking supply isle.

Borax-  A combination of water, oxygen, sodium, and boron.  Comes in powder form normally located in your local supermarket or dept store in the laundry aisle. The most popular brand is 20 Mule Team by the Dial Corporation.

Castile Soap-   liquid castile soap can be found at local health food stores, some supermarkets, and online.

Citrus seed extract- Usually made from grapefruit seed, this natural perservative is a powerful antimicrobial agent. Often sold as grapefruit seed extract, and can be found at your local health food store or online.

Essential Oils-  These concentrated volatile Oils of plants can be found at health food stores, speciality shops , or on line.

Glycerin- Glycerin is a useful liquid for cleaners, medicines, and some craft projects. Glycerin can be found in art and craft stores, some pharmacies, natural food stores and online.

Washing Soda-  Washing Sodas generic name is sodium carbonate, and it's also known as soda ash. Many super markets and some dept stores carry Arm & Hammer's super washing soda in the laundry isle. If you can not find it there , then try online. I know Amazon carries it.


White Vinegar -  Can be found in your local supermarket in the Oil aisle.

 A great start for Essential oils to do your cleaning:

Citronella - antibacterial

Citrus ( lemon, lime, or sweet orange) -
Lemon- antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial.
Lime- antibiotic, antibacterial.
Sweet Orange-  antibacterial.

Tea Tree- antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial.

Great Herbs to have on hand for your DIY cleaning are :

Basil
Lavender
Lemon Balm
Mint ( any of the mints)
oregano
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme



With all the goodies needed to make your cleaning supplies. You will also be in need of basic equipment.  Many which are probably already on hand. Be sure to label your DIY products with a list of ingredients. A great way to keep your labels nice and tidy, preventing them from getting wet you can cover them with shipping tape or laminate them.

Here are a few items needed:

Plastic Squirt Bottles- Many different sizes are great to have on hand.

Plastic Spray Bottles- small and large sizes are great.

Plastic Containers with shaker tops - I use spice containers or salt shakers.

Glass Jars-  Wide mouth jars with screw top lids work great.

Cotton Cloths- Cloths are much better than paper towels.And frugal, all you have to do is use and toss in wash.

Rags- Old t shirts, old towels, etc.

Cellulose Sponge Cloth- Made of natural cellouse, they are very absorbent, washable, and durable.

Gallon sized buckets- great for those larger jobs.

Mops- It's suggested to use a cotton headed mop for floors and sponge head mop for carpets and walls. Using on walls works great!


I hope this was of some help.  Thanks for stopping by Ladies, take care. And remember to stay fly, naturally healthy, and fabulous!

Zainab1

~ THERE ARE ALWAYS OTHER OPTIONS~

                     "A MISTAKE IS SIMPLY ANOTHER WAY OF DOING THINGS."

-Warren Bennis

~ ACCESSORIZE YOUR NATURAL~

Hello Ladies!

There are many things that one can do to accessorize their natural hair whether your a loc'd natural, a fro natural, etc. One of those things are earrings. I am a huge fan of earrings feeling they add to your particular style, while accenting beautiful features.

What seems to be quite popular again are large hooped earrings.  Hoop earrings are quite versatile, they compliment many shaped faces you can dress them up or dress them down and they go with almost any outfit. One of the shape faces hoop earrings are said to compliment are wider faces .

The key to selecting your earrings ( if you so choose to wear them) is selecting the right style. Not all style hoop earrings fit everyones face structure.  It's said if you have smaller features it's best to wear the thinner hoops . And if you have more pronounced features the thicker hoops would be best.

Another tip is to be sure to select a hoop shape and length that compliments for face if you have an oval shaped, or rounder shaped  face. Hoop earrings that fall beneath your jaw and down to the chin would help in distracting the eye from a wide or round jawline.

If your are a natural with a shorter neck. It's suggested to select a pair of hoop earrings in an oblong shape to help in slimming down your neck.  And choosing earrings that may fall past your  jawline and chin, anything longer may try attention to your neck.

 As for the correct color / metal for your skin tone. It's Suggested that gold suits warm toned complexions . Silver and other color metals seem to to best with cooler toned complexions.   

As for my personal taste I tend to take more of a liking to silver toned metals, etc. I am a believer, that the tones of our skin can make a difference in how well we wear certain color metals, etc.

Thanks for stopping by ladies, take care. And remember to stay fly, naturally healthy and fabulous!

Zainab1

~ LOOKING FOR A NEW DO ? ~

Hello Curlies!

I hope you all had a wonderful , yet beneficial weekend. As we know spring is here, some may be searching for a new look to go with the warmer weather. And ready to be rid of an older look saying good bye to the cold weather.

With that comes thoughts of changing our hair styles, and or hair cuts. However, not each cut and or style is complementary to the shape of our face. I learned this early on while attending cosmetology school. It's important to know which style , accents your face shape. Which in turn brings out the lovely features we all posses.  Knowing there is no one with a perfect shaped face, however if you have an idea as to which style fits you best based off of your facial shape . You can better explain to your stylist your desired haircut.

In this post we will cover a few of the shapes of the face , which are :

SQUARE:

The square shaped face typically has a wide forehead and jawline. If you are one with a square face it's recommended that you not follow the same pattern of your face. Blunt chin length bobs, and  bangs normally don't work well with this shaped face. Rather, try a pixie cut or shoulder length hair.

RECTANGLE:

Very similar to the square shaped face , but the face is a bit longer. Typically longer hair styles are OK with this shaped face but volume is need should you decide to wear your hair this way.  What works even better with this shaped face is medium length styles with volume  and lots of curls.

OBLONG:

The oblong face is often referred to as the long face. The Oval faced shapes typically have the benefit of having more overall symmetry in the bone structure, with their jawline and forehead being equal. Due to these reasons those who have an oval shaped face can wear many styles. Oval shaped faces need not avoid any particular style. They all tend to wear well with this facial shape.

TRIANGLE:

Often referred to as the pear face shape. They normally have wider jawlines and narrow foreheads . Its best for these shape faces to avoid styles that add fullness to the jawline such as chin length styles. Shorter styles for this face should be ear length or higher with volume to the crown. Longer styles look best with fullness at the top.

ROUND:

Round face shapes are slightly wider in the middle than the top and bottom of the face.  This shape face should avoid blunt hairstyles along with hair to the ear.  Typically very short hair styles or styles cut above the ear or shoulders with volume do well with this shape face.

I hope you all find this of some help when choosing your next hair cut.  Thanks for stopping by , take care. And, remember to stay fly, naturally healthy , and fabulous!

Zainab1

~ #WILLNOTSTOPPUSHING ~

Borrowed:

IF YOU WENT TO BUY YOUR FAVORITE SHOE & THEY DIDN'T HAVE YOUR SIZE WOULD YOU STOP WEARING SHOES?  SO WHY DO YOU STOP PUSHING TOWARD YOUR DREAM BECAUSE YOU ENCOUNTERED SOMETHING THAT JUST WASN'T A GOOD FIT ?


#KEEPPUSHING, KEEPGRINDING, KEEPDREAMING (zainab1)

~ SHOE CANDY ~

SHARP !   Yes, I love Shoes.

~ PRODUCT BUILDUP ~

 

Hello Curlies!


There is no denying that I love my butters and butter creams for my tresses.  With that can come the overuse of product therefore resulting in product build up. Using such products for our hair holds the importance of being careful not to use to much, or become heavy handed.

Why ? well because it's important to avoid product buildup at all cost on our hair. Product build up prevents moisture from getting into our hair strands in the way we would like. Other ways that our tresses would be affected is:

 Not shampooing regularly and or clarifying-  Included in using our butters, creams and the likes many of us use hair gel, pomades and some of us may even use a bit of hair spray. All of these are #1 reasons to be sure in watching for product buildup. And making sure to cleanse both our scalp and hair regularly.

Silicones- Silicones can  leave a film on our hair that does not penetrate our hair thus making it feel a bit coated and or waxy. Again this can also cause product buildup. A proper cleansing is the best for avoiding product buildup.

Moisturizing products that are not water based-  Now here is a catch 22 . It's well known that in order for our hair's cuticle to receive it's proper moisture it is very important to use products that are in fact water based.

However, there are a plethora of butters on the market that may not exactly be water based . Which then acts as a great sealant holding in the moisture already on our hair strands from perhaps water applied previously. With out some type of moisture either in our butters or water being previously applied to our hair. Then the butters are simply sitting on top of our hair strands not providing much benefit, but causing product buildup.

Being heavy handed with products- Just as mentioned earlier , there is no need in over using products it does more damage than good. Before you know it your losing product, your hair is limp and greasy ,  attracting lint and dirt and you have the dreaded product buildup.

Bad choices in product ingredients- Here is very important to choose great products with great ingredients. Preferably natural hair products with natural ingredients. Try  getting in the habit of checking the ingredient list in your products before buying.  It is best to stay away from harmful,  non beneficial ingredients for our tresses. believe me your hair will thank you for it !

Thanks for stopping by ladies, take care. And remember to stay positive, Fly , naturally healthy, and Fabulous.

Zainab1

~PERSEVERANCE ~

per·se·ver·ance-

Steady persistence in a course of action , a purpose, a state, etc. Especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

~ SCALP A LITTLE ITCHY, TRY A LITTLE OF THESE ~

Hello Lovelies,

I can not count how many times I have heard ladies speak of their scalps being dry , having dandruff and or itchy. There are a wealth of shampoo's, and creams for the scalp for sale. But there is also a more natural way to help remedy this problem as well. Essential Oils  are very handy and for many different things one being an itchy scalp and dandruff. Below I will list a few that are great for this problem:

Lavender
Peppermint
Tea Tree
Bay
Cederwood
Clary Sage
Eucalyptus
Juniper
Lemon
Rosemary
Ylang Ylang


All are great for both and itchy dry scalp , and dandruff.  They are easy to find and easy to use. Simply add a few drops into your favorite carrier oil, and apply to your scalp as need.  Message in gently using the cushions of your finger tips. You can also add a bit to your final rinse, water spritz,  shampoo, or your conditioner.

You can easily find Essential Oils at your local health food store or on line at these stores:
Texas Natural Supply

Star West Bontanicals

From Nature With Love

Mountain Rose Herbs


Thanks for stopping by Ladies, Take care. And remember to stay Positive, Naturally healthy, Fly and Fabulous!

Zainab1


***  When using Essential oils , please use caution and safety. Its recommended while handling essential oils to wear gloves, Should any of the oils get on your skin. Wash your hands with soap and water , immediately. ***

~ DREAMS~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Powerful Dreams Inspire Powerful Action.

When you can taste, smell, and touch your dream, you can enroll the world.