For someone who wears their natural hair all the time, I rarely ever talk about it on the blog. I’m not really sure why, but I decided that I wanted to change that and talk more about my curly hair journey. I’ve partnered with Maui Moisture for today’s blog post to talk about my curly love story and share how I grew to love my curls over the years.

SHOP MAUI MOISTURE HERE!

Click here to get quality, affordable, vegan hair care products! I’m also going to share what I use on my hair to keep it moisturized, defined, and healthy using only the best products. So let’s get into the story…

This may come as a shock to most of you, but when I was growing up in middle school and high school, there wasn’t a natural hair movement taking place and it was cooler to have straight hair than to have curly hair. I remember sitting down between my mom’s legs as she braided up my hair, and I would complain very loudly about how much it would hurt. I was very tender headed, but I enjoyed how easy it was to wake up and go in the morning without worrying about my hair. Which I’m sure is the reason why my mom kept my hair braided all those years.

But once I hit high school, my mom told me that it was time for me to learn how to take care of my natural curly hair and I had no idea what to do with it. Most of my classmates had straight hair except for a few, and the ones that had curly hair straightened it every day. So of course, I did what everyone was doing and would wake up a few hours earlier just to straighten my hair before school.  I literally fried my hair so much that I completely changed the curl pattern of my hair! 

I did this same routine up to until halfway through my sophomore year when I tried to embrace my natural curls and learn how to manage them. It was a slow progress of transitioning, but I did it. And then I had the great idea of dying just my bangs blonde (at home!). Alas I obviously damaged the front of my hair doing this at home bleach job. It wasn’t until my senior year when I did my first big chop that I learned how to love my curls for what they were. My crown.

In my senior year of high school, I organized a hair drive to support kids with cancer, and I challenged my high school to get 25 donations at my event. If I did, then I would shave my entire head and donate what I could for cancer. When I tell you, it was the most freeing experience I’ve ever had I truly mean that. I’ve shaved my head twice now for different reasons, but each time was a special memory. When I shaved my head, I grew an appreciation of my curls and learned to appreciate me as person. I learned that my hair didn’t define who I was, and my beauty didn’t come from straight or curly hair. It came from within.

Skip to 2020 and I, of course, love my curly crown and have finally found a brand that works for my curls. I’ve been using the Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter line for a few weeks now, and my hair has been loving it! The reason that I love this line, which you can find online during these trying times, because it’s vegan, silicone and paraben-free, and it leaves my curls feeling moisturized. Plus it even has Aloe Vera as the first ingredient, which we already know is nature’s miracle worker. 

CLICK HERE TO ADD MAUI MOISTURE PRODUCTS TO YOUR CART!

For me, I only need to wash my hair once or twice a week. Any more than that, my hair gets very dry. I like to start off my curly hair routine by using the Heal & Hydrate Shea Butter Mask all over my head. To make sure I get every curl, I like to section off my hair into 4 parts and lather on the product from the tips up. The ends of your hair are typically the driest part of your hair because those strands are open more often to the elements, which is why they need the extra love. 

Next I go in with the Shea Butter shampoo and conditioner to cleanse and moisturized my scalp. This set does a great job of refreshing my hair while leaving it feeling hydrated and bouncy. After my scalp is cleansed, I use the Combing Cream to detangle my hair with a detangler brush. 

I highly recommend checking out Maui Moisture, if you’re looking for a new curly hair brand to test out. You can find all of their products online in the multicultural hair section.

SHOP NOW!

The post How I Fell in Love with My Curly Hair appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

I always put highlighter on the high points of my face in the exact spots that the sun would naturally hit, as if I was actually sun-kissed. Nobody has to know the wiser.

Cheekbones: I apply my highlighter slightly above my blush and pull it towards my temples for a nice, even glow to the skin. This is a traditional spot for highlighter because your cheeks are what touches the sun first.

Above the brows: Since Rihanna started doing the highlighter “C” where you attach the highlighter above your brows to your cheekbone highlight, I’ve been totally obsessed. It just gives your face a “wow” factor that is really cool and unique. This can be a lot for some people, but honestly my curly bangs cover my face, so you can only see it when the wind blows anyways.

Bridge of my nose: Right between the eyes is my sweet spot for dabbing a little highlighter. It’s such an attention grabber!

Tip of the nose: This spot is a very classic place to swipe a little bit of highlighter. I love doing this because it’s so pretty and highlights an attractive part of the face.

Cupid’s bow: I love putting a little bit of highlighter above my cupid’s bow right before I line my lips and fill them in with a matching lipstick. It really highlights the curve of your upper lip and gives it a fuller look.

Under you’ll find my current favorite highlighters that I’ve been using no-stop for the year:

Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter in Rose Gold ($7.50-$10)

I actually discovered this gem by watching a review from Tati Westbrook on Youtube, and it looked so stunning on her that I knew I had to have it for myself. It’s a very smooth, but powdery highlighter that just glides right over the skin. The best part about this highlighter, besides the amazing price (less than $10), is the color rose gold. The name is perfectly matched, and I love it on my skin tone.

Becca Pressed Highlighter in Champagne Pop ($20-38)

This is another one that I picked up due to the media hype around this product, and the hype was totally well-deserved! I was not disappointed in this product at all. It’s definitely a more glitter-y highlighter, but the texture isn’t chunky at all when it goes on the skin. Becca has several color options for this highlighter, but I love champagne pop because it’s a beautiful gold color. I actually picked up the travel of this just so I could test it out before splurging on the big size.

Smashbox x Casey Holmes Spotlight Palette in Gold ($35)

If you’ve been following me for awhile, then you know I love Casey Holmes and I’ve been following her channel since I was in middle school (I know long-time supporter of her). So when she announced that she was coming out with a trio highlighter palette, I knew I had to snatch it up to support her in her endeavors. Of course, it’s the perfect little trio for traveling and for my everyday makeup looks. This palette comes in two colors, silver and gold, but I’m a gold-gal so I had to pick up that version.

Anastasia Sun Dipped Glow Kit ($39)

I told you that I love me some gold highlighters, and this fits that category perfectly with a few differences. I love highlighter palettes because you get so many options to choose from and you’re only paying $10 a color. My favorite colors are Tourmaline and Bronzed for my cheekbones and above my brows, but I’ve been recently using Moonstone for the tip and bridge of my nose.

That’s it for now! There are a ton more highlighters out there that I want to check out, but we’ll see if they make it to the master list of favorites. What are your favorite highlighters and where do you light to shine the most? Let’s chat in the comments below!

You may also enjoy: My Top 6 Nude Lip Products and How to Create the Perfect Spa Day

The post My Favorite Budget-Friendly Highlighters appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

Here are my tips that have helped me avoid hair salon anxiety and have the best experience getting my hair done by the professionals…

Do your research

Don’t get too stuck in the research phase, that you never take the leap to actually go to the hair salon. I’m going to be honest that this is the part that I get stuck in. I do so much research that I never feel like I know enough. But trust me when I say, you’ll learn more about the salon when you actually call the salon or go into the salon in person to see the way the shop runs. If the person on the phone is really nice and helpful, then that usually calms my nerves and makes me trust them more. The same goes when I walk into the salon with a ton of questions and everyone is super nice when replying to my essay.

Look at photos of the hairdresser’s work

A picture says a thousand words, right? Same goes for pictures of a hairdresser’s work or the salon’s work. You can see what the beginning and ending of each hairstyle, including if you like the results. I always look to see if the hair stylist can do amazing work on different types of hair textures. With my curly hair, I need a pro to make magic happen.

Read any reviews

I always check out Facebook and Instagram for the true reviews of the artist’s work. Nothing tells it all if there are stunning reviews from former customers posting about their new do. Plus that means I get to see more angles and more photos of their work, so it’s a win-win.

Make sure to discuss every aspect of the hair cut or style before they start

During the last haircut that I got, I made sure to ask every question that I had and my stylist made sure to walk me through everything that she was doing. Every snip or turn, I knew exactly what and why she was doing what she was doing. That calmed my nerves so much, and I really enjoyed myself. So ask away!

Making sure that you’re comfortable with the salon and the individual hair stylist is the best way to levitate any anxiety that getting a haircut gives you. Knowledge is power, and it’s the same for learning more about who’s going to take care of your hair. Truly see what you like and don’t like it before making a decision. Going to the hair salon doesn’t have to be scary!

The post 4 Tips to Avoid Hair Salon Anxiety appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

If you want to learn how to get silky smooth legs and any other body parts, then just keep on reading to learn the 5 tricks to save the day!

Use a razor with multiple blades

When I was growing up, I always used the single blade razor, which is great to start with don’t get me wrong.  But if you want to get the closest shave, then multiple blades is the way to go. Why do you think men’s face razors typically have three to four blades? You want to get as close to the hair follicles as you can without cutting yourself. While you can totally buy a men’s razor, I personally still love the feel and the options that are offered in a women’s razor. My favorite razor is the Gillette Venus Swirl razor. I actually received this razor in an Influenster Voxbox to try out for free and I truly loved how it worked.

Here’s why Gillette Venus Swirl razor is my favorite razor right now:

• Color: This razor comes in purple and blue, which are my favorite colors.
• New Flexiball technology: The little ball in the razor allows you to get those hard to reach places and easily contour over bones, such as your ankles.
• Multiblade razor: The Venus Swirl razor has 5 blades that individually adjust to every curve and corner to get the best shave ever!

Use a shaving cream

Until recently, I never realized the importance of using a shaving cream when you’re shaving your legs or armpits. I always thought shaving cream was for men and so I always just used my body soap to create a safe guard for me to follow. The safe guard was more of a shaving guide so that I wouldn’t miss a piece. But shaving cream actually creates a barrier between your skin and the blades of the razor so it’s not as easy to nick yourself. It also pumps up your skin so after shaving, your skin still feels moisturized and silky feeling. After trying numerous brands of shaving creams in the market, my favorite by far is the Skintimate Shaving Gel. It comes out like a gel but once rubbing the product onto your skin, it becomes more like a foam consistency. It smells wonderful and leaves my skin feeling super soft after using it.

Shave in multiple directions

Your hair doesn’t all grow in the same direction so shaving in different directions helps to get a closer shave. It also helps with those hard to get places, such as your ankles, knees, and armpits. Instead of just shaving up and down, try going side to side or crisscross across the area to get every hair.

Use a body scrub after shaving

A good quality body scrub has a slightly rough or beady texture and it does a good job of getting rid of the dead skin that collects on top of your skin. I personally like the kind that is more abrasive because then they actually work for me and leave my skin feeling super soft, unlike some other brands that I’ve used. More expensive doesn’t always mean better quality body scrub. This one is from Tea Hut Shea Sugar Scrub in the Coconut Lime scent. The smell alone is amazing and so yummy, but it really does work as a body scrub.

Use a thick body butter at night

I love getting out of the shower after shaving and lathering on a thick body butter. Its keeps all of the moisture in and leaves your body feeling super soft. You might feel a little bit like a greased monkey, but the morning after, you’ll feel like a baby’s bottom. So I think it’s totally worth it!

For a more natural solution for a body butter, you can always use coconut oil as a lotion and that will also lock in the moisture for a long period of time.

Isn’t shaving the most peaceful and relaxing experience? Okay maybe it’s not that great, but the after effects of shaving are amazing! You get soft beautiful skin that’s silky and hair-free. Hopefully you learn something from this post and this post has helped you gain the best experience you can from shaving. If you enjoyed this post, please share it across your social media accounts so that this post can reach even more people!

What are your shaving tips? Do you have any funny stories from shaving or from when you were learning how to shave?

You may also like: 4 Tips to Avoid Hair Salon Anxiety and  My Favorite Budget-Friendly Highlighters 

The post 5 Tricks You Must Try Today to Get the Smoothest Legs Ever appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

At first, I was scared of doing something so drastic to my appearance, especially since my hair was long and curly down my back. But honestly, it was the best decision that I’ve ever made and I would do it all over again. I originally wanted to cut my hair for numerous reasons. One being that I didn’t like my hair. I didn’t know how to style it or how to take care of it, and since my hair was long, it always hot down my back. There was also a lot of damage for me bleaching my bangs at home. The second reason was that I’ve always believed that hair doesn’t define a person. It’s just an extension of your beauty, not the creator of it. I wanted to prove that to myself that was something I fully believed in, not just something I spoke about.  Finally, I wanted to show other girls in my school that motto of mine and give my hair to someone who needed it.

The Reactions That Followed

When I shaved my head the first time, I didn’t really think that people would treat me any differently or that I would be constantly stared at.  But that’s exactly what happened. People and children questioned my health, my gender, and my sexuality. While for a hot second, I enjoyed the attention because I knew I was different and that people were finally noticing that. But after a while, it became annoying. I would rather have people ask me why I shaved my head, instead of gawk at me in the aisles of a store. So when people finally started having the guts to ask me, I was able to tell my story and gain awareness of children’s cancer even further than I had anticipated.

[bctt tweet=”Hair is an extension of your beauty; Not the creator of it.” username=”uniquelymickie”]

My Thoughts Now

Looking back on that moment in time, I am really proud of myself for going through with my decision and setting up the entire hair drive at my school by myself. I definitely would do the whole experience over again! I hope to one day be able to organize more hair drives around the US to give back to the girls who are going through cancer treatments. I can only imagine what they are going through and if donating hair and making wigs for them to feel beautiful can help them through their journey, then by all means, I want to do everything in my power to do that.

I truly enjoyed not having a full head of hair. It’s a very liberating feeling being able to wake up and walk out the door. At the beginning stages, I didn’t really have to add a lot of products to my hair for it to look pretty. And even when my hair started to grow out, it was very low maintenance.

In 2015, I decided to grow out my hair to be able to learn and love my hair for the curly mess that it is, through all of the awkward stages. Having a shaved head, it made me learn to love myself for who I was and to appreciate all of my features. I could no longer hide behind my big hair. I was being noticed and I had to confront that fear of mine for being noticed and looked at.  

My Motto That I Stick By:

“Hair doesn’t define a person’s beauty. It’s an extension of your beauty, not the creator of it”- Makaela

Do you have a motto that you live by? And would you ever have the courage to shave your head for cancer?

You may also like: 4 Tips to Avoid Hair Salon Anxiety, My Favorite Budget Friendly Highlighters, and How to Create the Perfect At-Home Spa Day 

The post Storytime: Why I Shaved My Head for Cancer appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.