My curly hair is part of who I am. It only took 33 years to fully embrace it!

It may come as a surprise to some, but it wasn’t until just a couple of months ago that I decided to wear my hair completely natural and embrace the waves (or kinks) that God gave me without heat styling. I never saw a reason to change up my usual routine. My hair would blow-dry straight-ish, pretty easily, and I figured letting my curls go wild would be more of a hassle than a quick blowdry. When using heat styling tools, I would always use a heat protectant to avoid breakage, however, I had to think that I was still doing some damage to my hair and wanted to give it a break.

Recently, my curiosity got the best of me and I started experimenting with my curls. But how did I manage this without looking like a giant pouf ball? Lots of research and some trial and error. Read below to find out.

After shampoo and conditioning (I use Olaplex No.4 & No.5) I will towel dry my hair with a microfiber hair towel. (I use Turbie Twist Hair Towel) A few minutes after putting on my hair towel, I spray a leave-in conditioner on the ends of my hair. I am currently using Amika’s Wizard Detangling Spray and love it. After the detangler, I will comb my hair with a wide-tooth comb to keep my natural curls intact. After combing, I mix about a dime size of both Amika’s Curl Corps Defining Cream + Amika’s Curl Corps Enhancing Gel in my hands. I will then run this delightful combination through my locks and start scrunching my hair helping to form my natural curl. Quick PSA: All of Amika’s hair products smell incredible!
Next, I will either A.) Scrunch my damp hair for about 2 minutes and let air dry, or I will diffuse with my blowdryer using the Dry Bar Diffuser Attachment. (If using my diffuser, I will have it on cool or the lowest heat setting.) Once my hair is dry, either naturally or with the blow dryer, I will add a little oil to tame frizz or flyaways.

That is it! Sometimes I will simply add a couple of curls with my 1 inch Hot Tools Gold Curling Iron if my hair needs it that day but most of the time I do not! A little heat is better than a lot of heat. Just make sure that if you are using any hot tools to apply a heat protectant spray before hand to protect your hair from damage.

To sum it up into a few easy steps:

1.) Shampoo & condition hair.
2.) After washing, ring out excess water using a microfiber hair towel.
3.) Apply a leave-in conditioner to ends.
4.) Comb through hair with a wide-tooth comb.
5.) Add curl cream and gel. Scrunch.
6.) Let hair air dry or diffuse! (I apply a heat protectant if diffusing even though I use cool air.)
7.) Add a smoothing fluid or oil to tame flyaways and frizz. (Optional.)

TADA! Beautiful Curls!

Disclaimer: As mentioned in previous posts, I am not a professional hairstylist or expert on hair. These tips are simply things that have worked well for me and my naturally curly hair. I hope this post inspires anyone looking to embrace or enhance their natural hair.

XOXO

-Kate.

It is December 1st which means that Winter is officially here…While I love the cold, this time of year in Minnesota can be extremely drying to the skin and hair. In order to achieve and maintain healthy, lustrous locks during anytime of the year, I have found a few key things to be absolutely essential… Before I get into specific tips and products there is one thing I believe to be the foundation of hair and skin health. That is to make sure that you are drinking enough water. Experts recommend that you drink half of your body weight of water (in ounces) daily. Ex.If you weigh 130 lbs. they say that you should drink 65 oz. of water per day. If I am low on my own water intake, I will see a noticeable difference in both my skin and hair.

If I had to choose only one take away from this post it would be to make sure that you are staying properly hydrated. In addition, I also recommend incorporating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to your diet. (Which also contain water!)

While some hair products can be amazing on their own, they are not a fix all. A healthy and balanced diet is the foundation to gorgeous hair and skin.

If you have been following me for the past few years, you know that I am a skin fanatic… However, it wasn’t until recently that I started to take a more targeted approach to my hair care regime as well. I have always been interested in a nice conditioning treatment and styling products, but I wanted to focus on the “how” of achieving a hydrated, soft, vivacious hair and maintain it.

Overall I would say I have a decent hair. (Fine but lots of it) Thank you, mom and dad. However, the past couple of years I noticed it was looking more damaged than ever, coarse and dry…Because of this, I have tried several products, but nothing seemed to do the trick. There were key things that I should have been doing that I wasn’t, However, once I learned these new tips that I am about to tell you it was a GAME CHANGER. In this post, I am going to explain how I transformed my dry, dehydrated stands into smooth, buoyant, healthy head of hair. And maintained it! So, with all of that said… Let’s get into it!

1.)Use A Hair Oil Pre-Shampoo

My first tip is to use a hair oil, before shampooing. This helped immensely with dryness, split ends, and growth. I will put a small amount on my ends followed by a head massager to really work the product into my strands. After massaging for a couple of minutes I will put my hair in a low ponytail and leave the oil on for an hour or so before shampooing and conditioning. Doing this technique 1-2x weekly has made a big difference in my hair. 

A few of my hair favorite oils are… 

1.) Olaplex No.7 Bonding oil $28.00 (I get mine from Sephora) 

2.) Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil $9.99 (From Target) 

3.) Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil $46.00 ( Expensive I know) I haven’t actually purchased the full size yet. I bought the travel size to see if I liked it and it has lasted a while! It smells heavenly and makes my hair so shiny and soft. I also bought the trial size of their deep conditioning treatment which is incredible.

2.) Use A Scalp Massager To Stimulate Hair Growth.

As mentioned above, I like to use a scalp massager after applying a small amount of hair oil to my ends. It stimulates the scalp encouraging hair growth in addition to working more of whatever product I am using into my hair. Win win! It also feels like a mini head massage which is so relaxing. You can find one of these bad boys at Sephora or Amazon. They are relatively inexpensive. I got mine awhile back from Sephora. It was somewhere between $5.00-10.00.

3.) Use A Good Shampoo & Conditioner That Works For Your Hair Type:

I have been a loyal Olaplex fan for a while now. There is a reason that they have thousands of almost 5-star reviews… Because it works! A little product goes a long way. I like to try other shampoos but always find myself going back to Olaplex No.4 Shampoo.

Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo $28.00

Olaplex No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner $28.00 

(Both from Sephora)

4.) Use A Conditioning Hair Mask 1-2x Weekly:

I have recently been introduced to and have fallen in love with the Amika hair product line. I can go on and on about every single product I have tried from them (literally!) but I will save it for another post. My ABSOLUTE favorite hair mask at the moment is the Amika Soulfood Nourishing Hair Mask. It makes my hair feel so soft and hydrated. I love it. It is a big container for $28.00 so you really get some bang for your buck. Try it. I promise you won’t regret it! 

5.) Use A Leave-In Conditioning Spray After Getting Out Of The Shower.

When I was researching hair health tips I came across using a leave-in conditioning spray ALOT. (almost every single article.) Once I started using one I understood why! It nourishes and protects the hair making it so smooth and silky. I am so happy I started using one. I don’t think I will ever go without it now. There are a few I have tried and liked. I am currently using Amika’s Wizard Detangling Hair Primer from Sephora and It’s A 10 Miracle Hair Conditioning Spray from Target. A few other brands that I have tried and liked.. Aveda, Kristen Ess, and Oui. 

6.)Goodbye Bath Towel. Hello Microfiber Hair Turban.

Ok, am I the only girl who is behind on this trend?? I just saw someone post about using the Turbie Twist on TikTok recently and I have to say, once I tried it, I was obsessed. It protects the hair from breakage (especially around the hairline) doesn’t pull on the hair like a regular bath towel, and helps to dry your hair SO much faster than a regular towel. It is a simple tool but a darn good one. I got 2 hair towels from Amazon for about $13.00.

7.) Use A Heat Protectant Spray Anytime You Apply Heat To Your Hair.

Do not skip this step if you are applying any kind of heat to your hair!! It is important and essential to use a heat protector if you style your hair everyday. I remember hair stylists telling me this and I would brush it off. Big mistake. I could have saved myself a lot of unnecessary breakage and damage. I now use it EVERY single time I blow-dry, curl, or straighten my hair. My hair is much healthier now that I started using one regularly. I am currently using Aveda’s Speed Of Light Blow Dry Accelerator which works fantastic for protecting the hair while speeding up blow-dry time! Wohoo!

8.) Hydrating Oil Or Serum For Ends And Flyaways:

This is something that I have been incorporating into my regime for some time now. After styling, I will apply a small amount to my ends and flyaways around the hairline. It helps to give hair a smooth and sleek look while protecting your hair. I have tried and loved several brands over the years but a few of my current staples are Olaplex NO.7 Bonding Oil, Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil, and Amikas The Closer Instant Split-End Hair Repair Cream. (All from Sephora.) 

• Lastly, I want to mention that if you are eating healthy regularly, drinking water, and still struggling with hair breakage, loss, or any other hair problem, I would recommend reaching out to your regular doctor or physician. Sometimes there may be an underlying health condition affecting hair health.

Xo

Kate 

It is officially 2021, and I wanted to do a little update on my current favorite beauty staples. I am a creature of habit, so after finding a great product, I will stick with it but am always searching for and interested in finding new products. I try to buy mostly “clean” makeup and beauty products; however, this can be challenging to accomplish with all brands, and I continue to use some favorites that are not. Below you will find some of the new favorites that I have fallen in love with and wanted to share. 

1.) Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinol Serum

If I had to choose a favorite of the products I am currently using, this would be it. It is an advanced strength retinoid serum that delivers 6.5 % of retinoid blends into the skin. I have noticed my fine lines becoming less noticeable, more even-looking skin tone, and a brighter and glowy complexion all over. I have tried several retinol serums on the market and felt that they didn’t do much for me, so I stopped looking to use one. It wasn’t until my girlfriend told me about Sunday Riley’s version that I decided to give it another shot and have fallen in love with their formula and results. 

2.) Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment

If you asked me to pick my 2nd favorite product, this would be it. It Is an all in one AHA treatment that essentially evens out, smooths, and retextures the skin’s appearance. This product works perfectly with its retinol serum above. The two products work together to exfoliate and brighten the skin for a radiant-looking complexion. ( Example: I will apply the retinol on Monday night and then use the lactic acid treatment on Tuesday night). I am obsessed with this duo and will continue to use them in my beauty routine for a long time. 

3.) Beauty Counters Counter + All Bright C Serum

This fantastic vitamin C formula contains a 10 % blend of 2 different vitamin c formulas. It helps to even out skin tone, eliminate or lessen dark spots, protects the skin from environmental stressors, and gives you a gorgeous dewy glow. I use this first thing after washing my face, and it wakes up my skin. 

4.) Saie Glowy Super Gel In Color STARGLOW

I LOVE this stunning illuminator. After applying my vitamin C serum, eye cream, face cream, and gua sha facial massage, I will use it. It adds an instant glow and radiance to the skin. After applying this illuminator, I will apply my tinted moisturizer. 

5.) IT Cosmetics CC + Cream Illumination With 50+ SPF In Color Medium

I have been on the market for a new CC cream/tinted moisturizer but have yet to find one that works better than this one. It covers, illuminates, evens out skin tone, and has such a natural-looking coverage. When you wear this, it doesn’t look like you are wearing any makeup. It also has 50+ SPF in it, which is a win. 

6.) Beauty By Earth Self Tanner Lotion

I was in the market for a clean, natural-looking tanning lotion. While conducting my research, I found this fantastic lotion. It is rated among the lowest toxic self-tanners on the EWG’s website. It leaves a very natural, even looking tan that lasts for 2-3 days. ( Make sure you use a tanning mitt) I have even used this on my face, and it works beautifully with no breakouts. It is also $29.00, which is super reasonable compared to other self-tanners on the market. There is a reason this lotion has 10.9K 5 star reviews on Amazon! 

I hope you enjoyed this post on my latest and greatest beauty finds. 

XOXO Kate 

With two kids under the age of 4, a quick everyday makeup routine is essential. I don’t have 30 minutes to spend applying makeup. With that said, I have mastered this swift, effortless look in just under 10 minutes. As the season’s change and new products come out, my routine will vary. Below, you will find some new products that I am currently loving, while others are some of the staple products that I have been using for years. 

Step 1:

After I wash my face, apply my serums and day cream, I will prime my skin with the Saie Beauty Glowy Super Gel. It gives you a beautiful dewy glow under your tinted moisturizer. Next, I apply IT Cosmetics CC Cream in the color medium. This tinted moisturizer has a massive following for a good reason and is gorgeous. It has SPF 50 in it, which is fantastic!

Step 2: 

Next, I will fill in my brows with the Beauty Counter brow gel in the color light. It is so easy as you just brush over the eyebrows. 

Step: 3

After finishing my brows, I will apply the Tom Ford Emotionproof Eye Color to the base of my lids. I LOVE this cream eye shadow. It is a little pricey, but a little goes a long way, it doesn’t move on your eyes, and it lasts forever. I use the color Naked Eye. 

Step 4:

Once my base shadow is done, I will lightly blend in Mac Cosmetics eyeshadow in color TEXTURE velvet all over my lid. After I am finished applying to the top of my lid, with a thin brush, I will lightly line under my eyes with this same color. I notice that it makes my eyes pop. After I finish my shadow, I will add a thin line of Urban Decays eye liner in color Rockstar. Lastly I apply Beauty Counters volumizing mascara to my top and bottom lashes.

Step 5:

The next step is concealing under my eyes and over any blemishes that I may have. I am obsessed with the Cleau De Peau concealer. It is expensive, but it lasts forever, and I have never found another that does the job like this one. I honestly think I will use it forever. I am loyal to this product! I use color Beige. 

Step 6:

After concealer, I will add some color to my cheeks using ILIA’S Multi-Stick Cream Blush in tenderly. It is a beautiful light pink (think NARS Orgasm blush). Once I finish applying blush, I will add a little of Saie Beauty’s Dew Balm in color rosy gold on top of my cheeks, chin, and forehead. This gives you even more of that dewy look that I LOVE. 

Step 7:

Last but not least is lips. Lipstick is my favorite makeup piece that I wear. I am so picky. I like a particular color and almost always have to mix two colors to create my perfect shade. First, I will line the outside edges of my lips with Mac Cosmetics lip pencil in the color soar. ( I have been using this lip pencil color for over ten years.) After the lip pencil, I will add Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick in color Kim K.W. to my lips and blend.  

Click here for Tom Ford Eyeshadow

Click here for It Cosmetics CC Cream

I think that it’s fair to say, not every day is a good hair day. Personally speaking, my hair has seen a lot of “action” during my modeling days. 

From heat styling to teasing, my hair has endured a lot of damaging styling techniques. I have tried many different at-home conditioning treatments over the years but have remained loyal to just one. Hands down, I love the Kerastase Nutritive Mask (for dry hair). It smooths and “calms” the hair. Of course, everyone has different hair types-determining your actual hair type can play a massive role in finding a proper hair care routine. 

However, I notice that when I use the Kerastase Mask, I wash my hair significantly less. It just makes your hair look and feel healthy. I haven’t found another conditioning treatment that has this same effect. It is a little pricey at $56.00 but worth it and is on par price-wise with its competitors. Shockingly, it lasts you several months as you only need to use it once a week. 

Another side tip is to avoid washing your hair daily; washing the hair less often will help preserve the natural oils in the scalp and helps to keep your hair more moisturized.