Ask the PFMs: Natural Shampoo & Conditioner Picks for Creating Volume

Hi ladies (and gents!) It had been a while since we did one of these posts...and now it seems the questions keep on coming. We love it, so keep asking!

Q. I'm looking for a new volumizing shampoo and conditioner. I want to try a natural, organic product and I've been shopping around and reading labels but I'm not sure which to try. Can you help?

A. Oh yeah...I have some ideas for you! Reading labels and understanding the long list of ingredients to avoid can definitely be overwhelming...so let me break it down for you a bit. I've come to learn that there are major offenders to steer clear of, and I'm more happy to direct you to this helpful list created by the ladies of the Green Beauty Team. When it comes to research, I don't hesitate to dive right in (actually, I thrive on it.) I consulted reputable green beauty sites and read through numerous product reviews to discover that there are plenty of options to amp up your locks while protecting yourself and the environment. Depending on how thrifty you want to be, I came up with three shampoo/conditioner duos to choose from. Without further ado, let's turn up the volume!

Un, get Wallet Friendly with Acure Organics Pure Mint and Echinacea Stem Cell Shampoo and Conditioner. There is a beautiful story behind this beauty line...designer Kristy Guerra founded Acure Organics as a way to honor her grandmother, who battled breast cancer for over 10 years. Kristy wanted to help raise money for breast cancer research and awareness while also providing healthy products that promote healthier living and a greener planet. This safe, affordable, beautiful line of organic beauty products is the result of her efforts. Side note: whether I've been at Bikram yoga or I just have product build-up, I use their Lemongrass and Argan Stem Cell Shampoo/Conditioner...the clarifying properties are amazing!

Deux, do you have the Urge to Splurge with Rahua Voluminous Shampoo and Conditioner? Although this is a pricier option, the rave reviews are hard to ignore. This luxurious line contains rich, potent natural ingredients that protect and improve the health of your hair and the rainforest.

Trois, sometimes you just have to Treat Yourself Like a VIP with Yarok Feed Your Volume Shampoo and Conditioner. I've already sung the praises of Yarok's Volume Enhancing Mousse, so it's no surprise that this duo is on the list. Their hard-working hair care line is free of alcohol, paraben, sulfates and cruelty to animals. The idea is to nourish the scalp with vital nutrients while serenading the senses...that's wellness from the inside out. xoxo Becca

PFM Styling - DIY Twisted Locs

i have been feeling bored with my hair recently.  i felt like i was wearing it in the same styles over and over again.  some styles are tried and true, but i was looking for some excitement.  after reading the September 2012 Essence (the one with Jada Pinkett-Smith on the cover) article about "7 Days of Hot Styles for Relaxed or Natural Hair", i was inspired to try this two-strand twisted style for my natural hair.  it was simple and only required time and patience.  you can try this too!  here's what you'll need: 

1. a rat tail comb for parting  
2. your hair moisturizer of choice - i love the smell of this one from Shea Moisture.  the ingredients are mostly things that i recognize - an added plus- and the scent reminds me of the beach!
3. rod rollers like these from Ricky's. remember that the smaller the roller diameter, the tighter the curls.
4. you'll also need some hair clips to secure your hair out of the way as you are working.

now for what i did:

first, i washed and conditioned my hair.  after towel drying to keep it from dripping, i then, used the rat tail comb to section a portion of my hair.  i made smaller sections as went along, about 1/2" wide by 1/2" high (think boxes).  after moisturizing the smaller section, i twisted it.  when i had 4-5 twists, i wrapped them around a roller while they were still damp.  repeat until your whole head is complete.  it took me about 2 hours and remember about 1/3 of my head is shaved.  i let my hair dry on the rollers over night and you can see the results above!  love it!  to keep them curly, at night, i put them back on the rollers; so much for looking sexy lol but it sure pays off the next day! xo sesheta

PFM Obsession: Becca's Beauty Fresh Five #2- Hair

image via Spirit Beauty Lounge

Hi beauties! Bringing you #2 on the Fresh Five countdown today...it's time to show some love for your gorgeous locks! I'm a firm believer that your hair is your cheapest accessory (thank you Beth Jones!) and you have plenty of opportunities to use it to your advantage. So we should take good care of it- right? 

Summertime means I'm either fighting frizz or creating beachy waves (usually both at the same time) and I wanted to find an all-natural hair product that can help. After making the conscious decision to green my beauty routine, I discovered the Yarok line of hair care products online at Spirit Beauty Lounge. Yarok means green in Hebrew, and their mission is to make the greatest positive impact on hair and scalp health with the least negative impact on the natural environment. Don't you just love that? The glowing reviews pushed me to try out Yarok Feed Your Roots Volume Enhancing Mousse on my naturally wavy hair. So glad I did! I'm a huge fan of letting my hair air-dry in the summer, and this product has been a lifesaver. I dispense about 2-3 pumps of this lightweight mousse and then use my fingers to squeeze, scrunch and define. My long hair becomes shiny, bouncy, and not at all crunchy. It gives me loose waves that are soft and full of body...no frizz! I've also used it to amp up the volume after my hair was already dry and styled. This is what I consider "hair care"-  a 100% natural plant-based product that actually nourishes my hair, makes it healthier, and *gasp* makes it look good? More please. xoxo Becca

image via

I leave you with this...feel free to share it someone special!

PFM Styling: Taking the Blonde Plunge

there is nothing like dyeing your hair to make you feel brand new.  i have alluded to my desire for color for over a year now and i finally took the plunge!!  i have been rocking my natural color since early last year and i officially missed having two-toned color (lol i was once referred to as the girl with two-toned hair).  i'm soo happy with the results too.  doing your hair yourself can be hit or miss.  luckily, i haven't had bad results.  it may be due to my attitude going in.  either way, you can't be afraid to do it.  i tell myself that i am going to love it no matter what. ...and i actually do! thank goodness!!!! lol, cause it could've been really bad.   i used the tie-dyeing technique so my hair would have that dip-dyed look.  exactly what i was going for!  ...and just in time for my summer tan! yay #ilovemyhair #naturalblackhair xo sesheta

PFM Styling: Kyoto Japanese Maxi Dress, Take 2

Sometimes you have to celebrate a dress in style. Sesheta passed on this gift to me from Sugarlips, and wearing it beach-side seemed to be the perfect way to pay tribute. The sheer floating layers on the Kyoto Japanese Maxi Dress kept the look fresh in the heat. It was a gorgeous evening...the setting sun...the waves...and the dress caught the breeze just right. At first I wasn't sure how to make this piece work for me, but I was totally inspired by the bold print and decided to give it a splash of warm-weather glam. Vintage wooden bracelets, a sleek twisted ponytail with tousled waves, and dangling gold earrings are all I needed to easily go from walk on the beach to dinner date. Side note: I love going barefoot but it seems shoes just had to be required for dinner! xoxo Becca

(Mini Mandalas Earrings- MavenFresh, Dress- Sugarlips, Bracelets-Vintage & Metal Monk, Sandals- Dolce Vita)

PFMs Do It Better: Fighting Frizz!

Do you fear frizz and bad hair days? Are you tired of the rainy humid weather that we've been having for the past two weeks? Ladies (and gents) you are not alone...I give you two solutions for fighting frizz: my savior and my go-to.

 

Lately I've been getting well acquainted with Oribe Impermeable Anti-Humidity Spray. I discovered this stuff during my trip to the Whittemore House Salon. The stylists are big fans of this line over there, and now I'm addicted too! This spray is perfect for keeping my fringe under control- a major plus for us gals with bangs. So far I've put a few different hairstyles to the test (loose natural waves, messy side bun, and a deep side sweep with flat iron) that ended up staying relatively frizz-free and not at all greasy. Yay! I highly recommend it although a bit pricey. You won't really be using this every day,  just as your savior from heat and humidity...boy do I see a bunch of those days in our near future.

When in doubt this spring and summer, grab a silk scarf and tie it around your head into a bow or wrap it turban-style. A bright color and pretty print will step up your outfit and let you embrace any unsightly frizz. Simple as that. My go-to collection of vintage silk scarves keeps growing every year. But I don't have a polka dot version just yet...!!!

So what do you use for frizz protection?

PFMs on the Town: Happy Weekend!

photo by PSV

I'm ready for the weekend to begin! Tomorrow we are heading out east once again to the North Fork wineries with some close friends and family...we've had this planned for a while and I'm so glad the weather is looking fantastic for the occasion. Yay! I can't wait to relax and soak up some rays with people I love. Here's the rundown of our fave vineyards on Long Island, in no particular order: Bedell, Borghese, Paumanok, and Jamesport. There's more where these came from...so don't hesitate to ask if you live in the area and you're interested in planning a trip out there.  With that, I wanted to share a couple of links that have inspired me lately. 

Love these hairstyle ideas...being that I have lots 'o hair I'm the perfect candidate...just gotta make some extra time for beauty!

Spring & summer perfection in a dress. If this dress was in my closet I would definitely be styling it up tomorrow for wine-tasting.

This book is on it's way to me, I can't wait to dive in. My body is telling me to up the juice and veggie intake...and I'm listening.

Now I am officially unplugging from the computer to spend time in the great outdoors. Hope you enjoy your weekend too!

Daily Outfit: Naturally Curly

fly away skirt lol

my fro-hawk

though it was not my original intent when putting this outfit on, Becca's hair post inspired this ode to my naturally curly locks.  

those of you out there with naturally curly hair understand the plight of good curls days and kinda curly days lol.  this was a good curl day because my hair was freshly washed and still doing it's thing.  it just so happened that i threw on my "curly" tee 'cause i thought it would be a fun addition to the vintage goth vibe i had going on.  the t-shirt is a souvenir from my visit to Miss Jessie's Salon, back when it was located in Brooklyn.  (for a long time, there were some horrible before and after pics of me on their website!)  my hair has been through so many transitions since then - lengths, colors and symmetry!  despite those changes, the one constant is my curly texture.  there is nothing more freeing than learning to embrace the natural texture of your hair - hair freedom.  i no longer worry about the things i used to when it comes to hair like rain or humidity.  do you have that same freedom?

becca's cut has me revisiting my longing for color though... stay tuned! i may just show up one of these days with a brighter 'do!

(Curly t-shirt - Miss Jessies, puffed shoulder sweater - H&M, studded belt - J Crew, vintage polka dot pleated skirt - MavenReFreshed, Bubble Shaker black leggings - Tarik NuClothes, Doc Martens, Gold Shoulder Strands - MavenFresh)