winter hair tips + my two favorite things

whew! it’s been a hot minute since i’ve popped in to share my tips + tricks. #life so! what better time to share a couple of my favorite hair care tips + hair goods than when the seasons change to drier, cooler air. i am in the midwest, but if you live in a place where there is no cold or snow, you will find value in my favorite hair goods.

• oil treatments. i am a BIG fan! find a non-flammable, silicone free oil to do scalp treatments. massage into your scalp + hair strands. i do this the night before i plan on washing my hair. i recently did a LIVE pyro experiment demonstrating the flammability of a variety of hair oils. (i do not recommend doing this at home). check it out here: https://youtu.be/RLjilPrQAyo

• hair masques. i had never used them until three years ago, but they are a game changer - especially during the dry months. my favorite is one that replenishes + hydrates dry/over-processed hair, which eliminates frizz and reduces split ends.

• refrain from washing your hair daily. i know i know, but i promise it’s worth it. over washing strips hair of its natural oils that keep hair moisturized + hydrated. plus, second day texture is ahhh-mazing!

• regular hair trims. this goes for all year around and is worth the investment. 

• buy a humidifier. indoor heating causes the air in your home to become dry, pulling moisture from your hair (and skin).

• drink more water. it does a body good!

two of my favorite hair goods no matter the season - scrunchies + wet/dry brushes. 

i am more obsessed with scrunchies than i was as a kid. i mean, have you seen all the fun fabrics, designs + sizes!? scrunchies are gentler on your hair than traditional hair ties. the majority of damage actually comes during the detangling process when you take it out. so go easy!

the wet/dry brush can be found everywhere. i cannot stress how much i love them - especially if you have children with long(er) hair. morning brushings can get a little hairy :) humans of all ages have a tendency to yank on their hair to get out knots. this is incredibly damaging on both wet and dry hair. the thin bristles are extra bendy and firm enough to get through knots yet soft enough not to rip the hair.

one more thing (for those heading into winter): refrain from going outdoors with wet hair and/or putting wet hair in a pony tail. wet hair is more prone to damage than dry hair. while it is best to allow hair to air dry, and it is far better to blow-dry than head outdoors with wet hair. 

how to simplify your beauty routine

for me - simple beauty routines are essential. I recently had the privilege of doing a live video + blogging about how I achieved simplicity while getting ready plus a couple hair tips.

check it here: femcity.com/blog/simplyyourbeautyroutine 

xo

protect your hair this summer

you protect your skin in the sun so why not your hair? did you know your hair can get sunburned just as easily as your skin? crazy right?! ⁣
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monat’s color locking + protective spray is your answer to healthy + protected hair this summer.⁣

what makes this so effective? our natural uv absorber ‘crodasorb’ that does the trick - and as an added bonus, this (magic in a bottle) will help protect your locks from all of that chlorine while adding hydration! the more hydrated your hair is, the less tangles you’ll have. and that’s a win-win.
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so when you’re sitting by a pool or on the beach, i’ve got you covered. 
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(and if you’d like to learn more hair care + skin care tips, join me in my FREE Facebook group!)

Fighting Oil with Oil

did you know you fight oil with oil?

it’s true! healthy hair starts at the scalp. i do overnight oil treatments to help combat overproduction of oil in the warmer months and under production of oil in the colder months. the treatments protect, nourish + hydrate my hair from the inside out. i use Rejuveniqe Oil because it’s molecular structure is so tiny it actually penetrates, rather than "bandaid" or sit on top of scalp + hair strands, to heal. 

and that’s where change begins.

hair shedding 101

First things first - Hair shedding is normal + most people will shed 50-100 in a day.

If you’re not one to wash your hair everyday or wear it in a ponytail often, you may be one that notices even more shedding at once. The medical term is Telogen Effluvium.

Shedding is not actually "losing hair” it is in fact just the transition of follicles from growth phase to resting phase. They don't fall out and die, never to return, they "go to sleep", to return several months later. Hair follicles work in cycles as part of their normal processes. Even someone not losing their hair goes through the same cycles. The hair will grow for a while, and it will rest for a while.

While it may seem counterintuitive to lose hair while trying to regrow your hair, hair shedding is actually part of the natural hair regrowth cycle.

Why do some people notice more shedding when they start with MONAT?

When you use MONAT, it starts to penetrate the scalp and begins to reinvigorate shrunken hair follicles, making them larger. This may cause the old, thinner hairs to shed in order to make way for the thicker hair to grow thanks to the larger follicles.

MONAT contains powerful active botanicals including Capixyl and Procataline. They wake up sleeping or sluggish follicles, enlarge them and then provide the necessary nutrients for growth. If the follicles are small and neglected, when they begin to wake up, they get rid of the old hair and dead cells that have been clogging them up. Depending on your hair cycle and rate of turnover, this shedding process may seem drastic at first but, this is a good thing because it means the products are working. With continued use, everything will balance out, the shedding will stop and you will see growth. Remember, we are Treatment Systems, and that means long-term health and results

If you believe this is more then normal amounts of shedding, you may want to contact your doctor, as there could be other underlying health issues causing it.

The medical term for hair loss is Anagen Effluvium and is always from internal issues.
Main causes of excessive shedding or hair loss:
- Stress
- High Fever
- Hormones
- Medications
- Surgeries
- Giving Birth
- Postpartum
- Stopping Birth control
- Recovering from an illness
- Losing weight
- Extreme change in diet
- Aging
- Genetics
- Hairstyles that pull on hair follicles

Keep in mind, the hair loss or excessive shedding most often times happens 2-3 months after a stressful situation, medications have stopped, after surgery (recovery) etc, which is why many do not realize the true cause.

april is my anniversary month

april is my anniversary month.

i’m often asked why i started selling this line and its pretty simple - my results + fun money a.k.a not dipping into necessary funds.

however, what started as wanting extra spending money for fun, fancy shoes, clothes, spa days, etc. - ALL the things ryan would not agree with, has evolved into so much more. not gonna lie, i still enjoy a “treat yo’self” purchase, but i have grown so much. i am aligned with a company that focuses on the bigger picture - family + giving back.

everything to follow is not to brag - that’s not who i am. it’s simply all the things that i thought were only promised on infomercials or under circus tents. funny, but it’s true.

and to be honest, it feels pretty good to type them out because i’m proud of myself. i put in the hard work + didn’t give up when contrast arose.

i’ve earned all expense paid trips for ryan and i. i love them. i really do. there’s nothing like taking a trip and having it all covered. not even ryan’s trips are all expense paid… and he’s a physician, ok. and we get to have FUN with all those people i never would have met until three years ago. i like fun.

i’ve earned bonuses that i didn’t believe were possible. tournament fees, piano lessons, theatre classes, my plant addiction + landscaping projects… they add up and i get to help lighten the load.

i’ve been able to give back to our community + to others in ways i’ve never been able to do on my own. i cry every time i see my logo or name listed as a sponsor. it’s surreal.

i have the opportunity to earn quarterly commissions on a one billion dollar company that continues to grow. yes, that’s a B and we’re *just* five years old. for real. go on, google it.

in three years, i’ve been shown what i’m capable of so i can inspire those who want this, too.

why makeup balm is best

Did you know?

Cleansing balms dissolve makeup and cleanse dirt + impurities off of the surface of your skin while moisturizing + protecting the skin's surface barrier in the process?

Rejuveniqe S:
MONAT famed proprietary signature is a cornerstone of skin looking its best at every age. This clinically proven ingredient combines the nourishing and revitalizing powers of 17 botanical oils and extracts with a patented, activated oil from olive and jojoba seed extract to infuse skin with immediate and long-lasting moisture, hydration, youthful resilience and instant luminosity. 

Natural Fruit Acids (AHAs):
MONAT superfruit AHAs from sugar, mango, banana and cajá to energize, brighten, refine, and gently exfoliate skin. This skin renewal powerhouse combines the power of four different naturally derived acids promoting radiance for healthy looking skin. 

As always, our promise to you:

- does not contain phthalates, SLS/SLES or parabens

- vegan

- cruelty-free

- dermatologist approved

- allergy tested

- clinically tested

- ophthalmologically tested