Strong Brows, Sexy Curls & A Hint of Mint!!

This past weekend was my get it all the way right weekend... hair, nails and brows done...yaayy! However, I switched it up a little and I'm happy I did.  I usually get my nails and brows done at Hollywood Nails in Wilmington, DE every 3-4 weeks by my favorite nail tech, Trinny; but it has become more and more apparent that I was gonna need a replacement or at least a backup.  I don't live in the Philly area anymore and although I'm up there bi-weekly to pick up my babies, my time is still really limited and beyond PRECIOUS (time is money, time is yours and you don't get it back)! The wait and the nonsense at Hollywood is at an all time high lately and I can't deal...(as Jay says, I'm impatient and I hate waiting).  The dilemma I faced in finding a replacement tech, is that I'm beyond particular about my brows and my nails...it's kinda mental.  LOL. But the reality is there is not only one place and one person from VA to PA that can do what I need them to do and do it right.  The only way I would find that person, is by trying someone else.  And that's where I lucked up at this weekend!!

As usual I was in one of my favorite establishments, Bliss Elements Salon and Spa, Friday afternoon getting my hair all the way done (praise the Lord, b/c after I got my hair done the Friday before last, I took my Princess to the spa for the day in celebration of her 13th birthday (ummm yea, 13 at the darn spa...I didn't get there til I was in college but that's a whole other story!!) and I spent a little too much time in the sauna and clearly forgot I'm relaxer free b/c when I came up out of that joint my hair was all the way over before it ever even started)!  While I was there getting my hair all cute (how cute are those curls), my stylist kept suggesting I let the new aesthetician do my brows.  I was resistant at first (NOOOO!!), but he convinced me enough and she was such a sweetie pie and professional it wasn't that hard.  Well much to my surprise, she did the thang and I think I got myself a new brow girl!!!  Not only did she produce good results, but this experience was beyond expectation! It was straight up spa quality...I honestly felt like I was getting a lux facial when I was really only getting my brows..that good.  I say its an absolute do!! So check out Ms. JoVanna Butler, licensed aesthetician and new edition to the Bliss family. You pay a little more but you get a whole lot (including the convenience and value of my time) and you support black professionals and black business.  That's what I call Milk AND Honeey!! What do you honeeyz think about my fab brows? 

After I got my brows and hair all Blissed up, I was still left with the dilemma of getting these nails done.  They were looking a hot mess and the whole Valentine's Day theme I was rocking was sooooo beat down and over but again, Trinny was out of commission.  So I decided to give the nail salon across from my house here in the DMV another try.  I used them one other time last summer and I was less than happy, but the reality is everyone in even the best places aren't qualified to do nails (or at least mine!! lol).  So I went back and I went to a different person and I watched and directed her like a hawk...told u I was crazy.  And it all worked out just fine.  I went with a mint color and a splash of gold (you know I need that little extra).  I think they turned out awesome! Mint is the color of the moment and I'm still debating on a few clothing pieces to add to my wardrobe so i figured I could be in the moment by putting it on my nails.  This choice is an OPI color and I totally forgot the name but it had "grandma" and "apple" in the name somewhere.  :-)) 

For more candid pics of my curls, brows and nails click below!! :-)))

My hair + Michael Flagg + The Wand = Pure Bliss

I always get questions about my hair b/c my stylist, Michael Flagg of Bliss Elements Salon and Spa, is a beast (heyyy Mike)!!  More recently, I've been wearing my hair in a curly/wavy style that was achieved with one of Michael's own creations, "The Wand."  I know you honeeyz may have seen a commercial version of a similar tool but Mike actually created and designed this tool decades ago and unfortunately for he and I, he was discouraged by a trip to a patent attorney back in the day and never had the wand patented before others swooped in and duplicated the tool.  At that time, I was in high school somewhere dreaming of becoming an attorney but boy do I wish for their sake and mine that I was out of school and practicing b/c I certainly would have helped them patent the design and we'd all be rolling in the dough right about now!!! LOL.

Anyways, the wand is a hot tool with a cylinder type shape that is used to create a wave/curl/spiral type pattern with heat.  The look is similar to a wet and wavy style but super soft with lots of body.  You don't have to use a lot of product or worry about the crunchy dry look that sometimes comes with the traditional wet and wavy or rod set looks.  I decided to capture the unique process in photos during my trip on Friday so I could share with you honeeyz.  Be sure to check out the Bliss site where you can buy Pure Bliss products (ummm yes, honeeyz Bliss has their own product line which is created and produced by Mike and his wife, Sherell...amazing).  The products are genius! Check out the process below....

**First, I start out with a great wash, conditioner and then I'm under the steamer for 15-20 mins.  In addition to Pure Bliss products, Bliss Elements uses Kera Care (which I typically use for my wash and conditioner, unless I need a particular treatment) and Paul Mitchell products.   

Hey Steve!!! :-)  Steve is a style assistant at Bliss and he gives some of the best washes and massages out there! Sweet Baby Jesus!!!! LOL. 

As most of you honeeyz know, I'm 4 years relaxer free so when I get my hair washed it curls right on up!

**Next up, I get a fabulous blow dry and I'm back to straight hair without the chemicals. 

For the next steps and the final results click below!!