Hello everyone!

I know I haven't been super present on all my social media platforms and I want to apologize for that. I don't want to make up excuses but sometimes, your girl just needs a break. I think people often forget how much of a toll the internet puts on your life. Think about it for a second, being an influencer requires you to post everyday; if not twice a day, share the latest products or what is going on in your life ( which in essence is airing out your dirty laundry for everyone to see), update all your platforms and links so everything is working properly, answering emails and DMs and of course, creating TONS of content. For the average part time influencer/blogger/business owner and part time human, you feel like there is NO TIME! No time to stop and think for yourself, no time to deal with REAL LIFE issues and circumstances. That's basically why I've dropped off the face of the blogging community. I've realized, especially at this time of the year, seasonal depression kicks in for a lot of people. It can be hard staying motivated and happy when you have no time for self care or self reflection. In this blog post, I want to shy away from my regular beauty content and focus on mental health. I truly hope that sharing what I do when I'm not okay helps someone in some way *air hugs*

What to do when you're not okay:

1. Start saying no and take a break:

I know this is easier said than done and you can't stop doing everything in your life. What I found that helped me the most when I feel like my head was going to explode was start saying no to plans, people, tasks and taking a break. Even if it was for 30 minutes, I would turn off my phone, turn off my lights, close the door and just sit and be in the moment. Let myself feel what I was thinking/ feeling at the time and sometimes, even cry to get it out. Allowing yourself to have a break IS NOT SELFISH. Trust me, if you don't go to the movies with your friends or do the laundry at 6 pm, the world won't end. The most important thing is to declutter your mind and allow yourself to breath. There's a saying that comes in handy with this action, you cannot pour from an empty cup.


2. Rediscover what you love to do and do it

Doing what you love is sometimes the best thing to do when you're not okay. For example, if I know that I'm being triggered by someone/something, I will leave the situation, go to my room, hop into the shower and sing my head off. I know, call me crazy but it works for me. Singing is one of my favourite things to do so I just do it in times when I'm stressed out. Find something that you love to do and try doing it for just a few minutes.

3. Talk to someone

This one is kinda loaded for me because there is a difference between talking to someone and talking to someone who will actually help you process and get out your feelings. Finding someone who will listen, understand and be gentle with you is VERY VERY important. Whether it is a counsellor, therapist, close friend or a loved one, find someone who will not invade your mental space with negativity and doubt, but will uplift, support and help you process what you are going through. For me, I find that praying to God and talking to certain people in my life help me a lot. They put me at peace and they remind me that I am special and whatever I am going through will pass.



So there you have it folks. I know this may not have been super novel ideas or something profound but I truly hope this helps someone out there.

Love,

Candy

Hello everyone!

I know it has been a long time since I have written another blog post but I promise you it is for good reasons! I have launched my very own apparel which has been super nerve-racking but also very exciting. I've also been filming a ton of content for my YouTube channel (so definitely check out what's new on my channel). Anyways, enough with the updates, I am going to share with you my top 3 favourite curly hair buns! Now, buns are my hair BFF because 1. they're super easy 2. they look cute not matter which bun you try and 3. gets my hair out of my face when I need it to be.

Now before I share my top 3 buns, I have to share something with you:

 The tighter the bun, the more tension on your hairline. Now, I'm all for a tight sleek looking bun, however, what I am not here for is missing edges! The tighter the bun or the elastic used in your hair, the more tension on the hairline. As much as we want to think that our curls have all the power in the world to withstand the tugging, pulling and smoothing, IT CAN NOT. If you're going to wear a tight bun, please don't keep it in for hours and hours or even overnight. The hair strands get weaker over time and will fall out. After wearing that sleek bun, feel free to give yourself a scalp massage. Unwind with your favourite oil/ essential oil and massage your scalp. Not only will that relieve the tension (literally) but, it also promotes hair growth.

Now, I just realized, it would be better to show instead of trying to explain it and confusing all you. Why don't you check out this video that I made and if you're still stuck, leave me a comment down below? Seems fair? Good. I hope you enjoy this tutorial!

Hello everyone!

Before I start this blog post, let me just put this out there.

*I'm not a doctor, health care provider, hair stylist or hair guru. I am just relaying what I have done to help MY hair. This may not necessarily work for you so if you have any questions or concerns, please a doctor or someone you trust before using my tips.*


As you can tell by the title, I'm going to talk about how you can get your curls back. Whether you suffered or currently suffering from chemical damage or heat damage, this post is for you! The reason why I even started my YouTube channel was that I had my own experience with chemical damage. If you want to know the full story you can click on this blog post or watch this Youtube video to learn more. As debilitating damage is, there is a way to have a head full of healthy curls. First, I'm going to share with you some general tips and tricks that you can start using right now, then I will go into other methods of regrowing your curly tresses. So, let's begin!

General tips on how to nurse your curls back to health:

1. Deep conditioning will be your best friend

Say it with me " Deep condition once a week". I cannot stress how important it is to deep condition your hair. For those who don't know what deep conditioning means, in short, deep conditioning is the process of adding moisture, protein or a combination of both back into your hair with the use of a deep conditioner or hair masque. When it comes to curls, they thrive on moisture! They need moisture in order to become the defined spirals and coils that we love. When damage has been done to the hair shaft, it becomes deficient in one of these areas, therefore, you have to replenish the hair shaft with what it needs. If you want to see some of my go-to deep conditioners, check out my YouTube video where I recommend my top 5 favourites.

2. NO MORE HEAT!

I mean it, heat is probably what got you to this point. Even if you suffer from chemical damage, heat styling can and will cause more damage. The high heat of the styling tools we use breaks the bonds within the hair causing it to become weaker over time. That being said, if you want healthy curls, I strongly recommend hiding your flat irons, curly irons/wands for a while!

3. Patience young grasshopper

Trust me, I know those moments where you look at your hair and you either want to a) ball your eyes out b) shave it all off c) leave in a bun for weeks cause you can't figure out a hairstyle that works for you. I wish I could give you a magical cure that would give you healthy curls in seconds but those don't exist. If they did 1. they company or product is LYING and 2. tell a homegirl so I can hop on the express train to healthy curls. It took me two years to get rid of all of my damaged ends and have a head full of healthy curls. What helped me ease the pain was not obsessing over the condition and growth of my hair. Your hair will grow and as long as you think it may take, just enjoy it. Rediscover why you love your curls and the end goal. Invest in yourself and learn to love your hair at every stage.

Okay, now that we have all the general tips, let's talk about what methods other natural curly girls have used to transition from damaged tresses to healthy curls.

There are two methods that everyone seems to spew out when they talk about reviving from damage.

1. Transition
2. Big Chop

So, to explain both of those methods, transitioning is to let your hair grow out naturally and ever so often, trim the damage off until there's no more damage left.

PROS:

1. You can keep the length of your hair

CONS:

1. You will be dealing with different textures which have been a challenge for some.

Big chop, however, is when you cut all the damage off in one shot.

PROS:

1. You're damage free, yippee! ( like that rhyme?)

CONS:

1. If you're not a fan of short haircuts then this may not be the one for you.

Depending on what you're most comfortable in and what you can personally handle, either choice will get you to the same end goal, healthy curls!

Hello everyone!

Exciting news, SHEA MOISTURE IS NOW BEING SOLD IN WALMART IN CANADA! This is not a drill, this is real life! Back in February, I notified my snapchat fam (if you don't have me on snapchat, go ahead and add me: heyitscandicia) that I saw two products from Shea Moisture on a random shelf in the hair section of my local Walmart. Now, mind you, I was on pain medication from my wisdom teeth removal, so I thought I saw things. A few weeks later, I saw an influencer by the name of samanthajaneyt on Instagram at a meeting for Shea Moisture Canada. I kid you not, I felt like my heart stopped and I was about to pass out. I was overwhelmed with joy and shared that joy with my Instagram family (Follow me: www.instagram.com/heyitscandicia). A few days after the announcement, I went to my local Walmart and saw the beautiful display of Shea Moisture products. I went a little crazy and bought way more than I should have, but it was so worth it.

If you want to see a few videos about what exactly I purchased and my thoughts on their Manuka Honey and Mafura Oil line, then click here:

Walmart Drugstore Haul:

Shea Moisture Manuka Honey and Mafura Oil Review:

When I first used the Mixed Chicks Curl Sculptor, I swore I heard angels singing. This product was perfect for my curls. Styling 2C/3A curls can be challenging at times because adding too much product, or a heavy, rich cream can weigh down the curls. This product has a watery consistency which, contrary to popular belief does moisturize the hair efficiently and gives fantastic definition! Many people think that the thicker the consistency of their styling products, the more moisture and shine they will receive. I would like to challenge that notion with the vice versa. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good cream styler from time to time, however, having thick creams can sometimes impede the penetration of the product to the hair shaft because of the richness. Having a styling product that is water like can penetrate the hair shaft and the deliver the much-needed moisture that the hair needs. Personally, my curls love water like leave-in like the curl sculptor, because not only are my curls shinier, they clump together more readily, and my definition is noticeable as soon as I apply the product. After scrunching my hair, I can get more definition, and I know for a fact that my wash-n-go will be straight fire!

Now, back to the Curl Sculptor. This product also smells lovely and has my hair defined for more than three days! Yes, I said it, three days! I was so shocked at how defined my hair was on day four which RARELY happens to me. I would recommend anyone with any curl pattern to try out this product. Don’t shy away from this product if the consistency is your concern. I am sure that many people will love this product. To watch my full review of new products, including the curl sculptor, check out my video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ubk_E4oI22o  

Hello everyone!

Wow, where shall I begin? First of all, I want to say thank you for stopping by to my blog. It truly means a lot that you decided to click on the link to see what all the hype is about. I created this blog to further connect with my audience. I started my Youtube channel (click me!) to share my curly hair journey with the world. Long story short, I permed my hair to smithereens, and I was left with broken, brittle, thin, lifeless hair. I tried everything to restore my hair and what do you know, four years later, I decided to share what my journey was like and how I took care and continue to take care of my curly tresses. 

My channel has evolved to more than just "TOP 5 DEEP CONDITIONERS" and " CURLY HAIR ROUTINE" to makeup tutorials, fashion lookbooks and everything in between. It has taken lots of trial and error to get to this point but through it all, I've always wanted to share. Share my ups and downs, my dos and donts, and the successes and failures. I want to share more of myself with the world, and that's why this blog has taken form. I hope you enjoy learning more about me and hopefully learn more about yourself as we grow together.