How Often Should I Wash My Hair?

I get asked this a lot.  There are many different opinions on this.  Some stylist will recommend that you go as long as you possibly can between shampoos.  Some people will go a week or more without washing their hair.  To most of us this seems crazy.  How on earth can one go that long without their hair looking greasy?

 Well, here is how...

Your scalp produces oil constantly.  The good for you kind that moisturizes and protects your hair and the dirty, stinky kind.   Shampoo doesn't know the difference and strips away both kinds.  Every time you shampoo your scalp, your oil glands work in overdrive to replenish the good oil that has been stripped away.  Your scalp gets used to being shampooed everyday so it is used to producing a generous amount of oil regularly.  So when you skip a day shampooing, since your oil glands are so active, they produce what they are used to producing resulting in oily hair.

So how do you fix this?  It is't a quick fix.  It takes time to train your scalp and oil glands to not produce as much oil.  But if you endure the process, eventually you will be able to go longer between shampoos.

Why should I not shampoo my hair as often you ask?  Well, even the most gentle shampoo can be very abrasive to your hair.  As stated earlier. the chemicals in shampoo strip your hair of all natural moisture- drying the hair out.  Shampooing too often can also strip your hair color over time.  So by going longer stretches in between shampooing, you will notice that your hair is shinier and less dry and also a bit healthier and your color will last longer too.

Here are a couple things you can do with your hair on the "non-shampoo" days.  Keep in mind that it is totally cool to rinse your hair and even condition the ends on the off days.

1. Use a dry shampoo.  Here is a blog post listing my faves.  Dry shampoo is great to spray on your roots to absorb any unwanted oil.

2.  Wear your hair up to conceal any unwanted shine.

3.  Wear a stylish hat.

I usually go the first day by blow drying it out nice.  The second day I will curl it loosely with my iron and use some dry shampoo if needed.  On the third day (if I go a third day), I may touch it up with the curling iron or wear it up in little updo or wear a hat.

Hopefully this helps.  Keep in mind that it's okay to do what you have to do in regards to shampooing your hair.  For instance if you work out every day or if you are outside a lot and work up a sweat often.  It's okay to wash your hair if you need to.  Just keep in mind that giving your hair a break from time to time is good too.

What Mommy Wore: Starting to Show!

I'm about 15 weeks into this pregnancy and boy, has it been a rough one!  Morning sickness, migraines and fatigue have been my main complaints, but thankfully I'm slowly feeling better.

So now that my belly is starting to poke out a bit, I've been having fun with showing it off a little.  I'm still not quite big enough for maternity clothes so I'm making use of my flowy tops and stretchy dresses.

This dress is from Forever 21 for only $15.80!  It's super comfortable and there is still a little room for me to grow.  I wore this dress a lot before I was pregnant as well. 

I just layered it with a black tank and added a little brown belt that I found in my closet.  I think it came with another top that I bought who knows how long ago.

My sandals are from Target. 

Just Follow Your Heart?

So I've been thinking a lot about this today.  I have a heaviness in me for my generation of young women, and the generations to follow. In a world where Kim Kardashian is a  role model and Cosmo has the answer to all of life's problems, it seems like all around us there is the mantra,  "follow your heart". Well, I have a problem with that, and so does the Lord.  I found some interesting scriptures to back this up.  We are taught to follow our hearts, but the Word says that our hearts are to follow God. 

Interesting. Ps. 119:30. "I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on Your laws."  Ps. 119:112, "My heart is set on keeping Your decrees to the very end." Proverbs 23:19, "Listen my son and be wise, and set your heart on understanding."  So many women have made devastating choices and have ruined their lives or the lives of others because they heeded the council to "follow your heart".  Basically just go with whatever you feel like doing.  

The heart represents our emotional inner person.  The seat of the emotions is the heart.  As women, we all know that our emotions fluctuate.  We are up and then down.  That's why the Bible says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond all cure" (Jer. 17:9).  How many times has my heart pulled me in a direction that was potentially destructive?  You'll notice people who live by the "follow your heart" philosophy are inconsistent, in and out of relationships, and constantly changing their minds on what they want to do with their lives.  We spend to much time trying to figure out what WE want instead of diligently seeking what His will is on our life. 

Parents!  instruct your kids to follow the Word!  Seek wisdom and understand and just do the right thing even when our hearts want to do something else.  When things are tough, or complicated our hearts are weary and may long for something more pleasant. In these times, which we all can relate to, we shouldn't be trying to figure out what our hearts want (aka, our flesh), or what feels better, but what the will of God is. Hide His Word in your heart (Ps. 119:11) and follow that!

Delight yourself in Him, knowing that in time, your hearts desires will be met.  You know, if you truly delight yourself in the Lord, the desires of your heart shift and change to where you just simply desire Him alone.  Turn your heart toward wisdom.  Guard it. Trust Him with all of it.  Seek His kingdom first.  Put your flesh aside and THEN everything you want will fall into place. Instead of following our hearts, let's pursue the calling that the Lord has placed on our lives and encourage others to do the same.

-Maria

Weddings and Events!

A very special announcement!  I am now available for service to all brides and bridesmaids and those needing their hair done for special events in the Brunswick/St. Simons, Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida area.  I'll come to you!  I love to do special occasion hair and I have over ten years experience. If interested please feel free to contact me at mommydoeshair@gmail.com for prices and any other info.  

Morning Sickness...yay!

Well, I haven't posted in a while because, well, I'm expecting!  I'm about 9 weeks along and I've been feeling pretty rough.  I have good days and bad days.  I'm so thankful for a supportive and helpful husband and a sweet baby boy  that makes my job as a mommy a breeze.  So excited about the new bundle that will be in my arms coming in February!

Stay tuned for more post about hair and beauty.  Also, I have some more recipes I would love to share!

Playing with Parts

                         

 

So maybe you're wanting a new look but you're scared to get your hair cut or colored.  Here is a little tip on how to get a different style without changing your hair dramatically.  Just change the part!

You may say that your hair will only go one direction, or you may think you look "weird" with it in a different part than usual.  But, don't be afraid to try something different!  Sometimes what looks weird to you could be really flattering and it only seems different because it is our if the usual. My hair has a natural strong part on the right going towards the left.  If I want to part it in the center or on the opposite side, I may have to use a blow dryer to help redirect it.  You may even have to use some teasing and product to get it to cooperate.  I think it is worth a try.  Have fun and change it up!

                    

                        

                       

                       

                       

Ashley's Wedding

So this past weekend I got to do my sweet friend Ashley's hair. The wedding took place in Orlando, Florida. It was beautiful! It was a joy to see some old friends and to have a small part in such a special event in Ashley's life!

How to Fix and Prevent "Chlorine Green" Hair

It's pool time again!  Many of you know exactly what I mean when I say '"chlorine green".  Typically this happens with younger girls with lighter hair.  It's when the hair turns a dull greenish hue due to extended times swimming in a chlorinated pool.  Well, this can be fixed!  It can be prevented to.  And even if you don't have blonde hair, these prevention methods are really great for anyone who swims a lot and would like to protect their hair from that yucky chlorine build-up.

How to fix it:  So your little mermaid has green hair from the pool.  Here's what ya do.  Shampoo hair like normal and while the shampoo is lathered up, pour about a tablespoon of baking soda in your palm and add it to the lather.  Work it in through out really well.  Rinse and condition.  It may take a couple treatments of the baking soda to get it all out depending on how much build up there is.  BTW- This is also a great treatment to do if you have serious product build-up in your hair, like after having an up do where there are layers and layers of hairspray.

How to prevent it:  The best thing you can do to protect your hair is to wet it really really good with tap water before getting in the pool.  When your hair is saturated with the clean water, it won't absorb all the chlorine in the pool.  Another thing that you could do would be to wet it and add just a little conditioner through it.  Don't rinse it out.  The conditioner will be a barrier.  You could even keep a spray bottle on you with watered down conditioner to periodically spray in your little one's hair.  This is a good idea especially if you're planning a day at a water park or something of that sort. Think of the watered down conditioner as lotion for your hair.  It's really good for anyone being out in the sun.  There are even conditioners out there with spf to help prevent color fading.

Stay tuned for more summer hair tips!


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1920's Inspired "Faux Bob"

I actually made this video a while ago.  I wasn't sure if I was going to post it or not.  But since to craze of "The Great Gatsby" in theaters (which I have yet to see), I thought it would be fun to post this inadvertently "gatsby" or 1920s inspired do.  It's a fun, easy look.  It's also fun to let your friends think you chopped your hair off. :)

Beauty Dupe!

So, sort of on accident I found an eye shadow beauty dupe!  I was looking through the Target cosmetic clearance and saw all these cool eye shadow books that were originally $6 bucks marked down 15%!  I grabbed a couple thinking they would be just for fun, but to my amazement, they were beautiful colors with great coverage!  Much like my $50 Naked palette...that has seen better days.  I do really like this product, though.  It is high quality cosmetics, and if you are interested in trying it, you can purchase it here but, you see, I can't keep spending 50 bucks for eye shadow...There was a time when I would have no problem justifying it but now...not so much... The e.l.f. palette is not available on the target website.  I was able to find it on the e.l.f. site at regular price, though.

My Favorite Products for Volume

Keep in mind that products alone will not magically make your fine, thin hair suddenly thick and full and luxurious.  The truth is, these products are only aids to be combined with the right styling technique.  Same thing with smoothing/anti-frizz products.  They help.  But using the products alone will not automatically make your hair suddenly straight and sleek.  You need to use styling tools and sometimes a little effort...I know :(

So for volume if you are willing to put in the work to blow dry your hair and use a round brush, these products can really help assist you in your volumizing quest.  If you would like, I can post a video of how to blow dry your hair for volume.  Please send me some feedback if you'd like that.

1.  Thicken Up, by Paul Mitchell

-This is a great serum that you apply to damp hair before you style to add a little thickness and grit.  This is great if you ultra fine hair and just want to add a touch of volume or thickness.  You can layer it with a mousse if you'd like.

2. Extra Body Sculpting Foam, by Paul Mitchell

- A good over all mousse to be applied wet before you style.  Gives flexible hold and lift throughout hair.

3. Sea Salt Texturizing Spray, by Aquage

- This product is great to put in your hair before you style or even if you want to leave it and let it air dry.  It adds serious volume if you use it to blow dry but if not, it adds that beachy grit, especially if you have wavy hair.

4. Your Highness Root Boost Spray, by Tigi Catwalk

- Okay, so if you're so if your wanting serious lift and volume, apply this to your scalp liberally before you blow dry.  It gives mega grit and lift.

5. Powder Play, by Big Sexy Hair

- This product is so cool! It is one that you actually use after you style.  Works really well with teasing. You can watch a teasing tutorial here if you'd like.  You literally sprinkle some of this powder right at the root where you want the must volume, and it actually does magically give your hair serious volume!  I use it a lot for up-dos and weddings.

6. A really good hair spray.

What Mommy Wore: One Outfit, Two Ways

Look 1

Lovely pink blouse: Papaya- $11.99

Necklace- Forever 21

Skinny ankle jeans- Forever 21

Nude pumps- Walmart- $18.47

Can you believe these shoes are from Walmart?

Look 2

Necklace- This was a gift, but I have seen this style necklace for a very low price at Body central in a variety  of colors.

Shoes- TJ Maxx

What Mommy Wore

Ivory shirt- Forever 21

Coral tank- Old Navy

Jeans- Old Navy

Shoes- Target

Necklace- Forever 21

How to Keep That Color From Fading

Here are a few tips on how to keep that beautiful color from fading.  Whether brown, red, or black, these tips can help your rich color last longer.  Now, I can't do anything about your roots from here...I actually had a client complain to me once about how quickly she saw here new growth come in at the scalp as if it was my job to keep here hair from growing out...Also, this doesn't necessarily pertain to blondes (although all of these steps are good to promoting healthy hair for anyone). Keep in mind, blonde hair doesn't "fade". Blonde is actually the absence of color.  Now, if you have lightened hair. and have had a toner or corrective glaze applied to adapt your shade of blonde, then follow these steps as well to help make that shade last longer.

1.  Shampoo with cool to tepid water.

Hot water actually opens up the fish like scales on the strands of hair, giving those color molecules a chance to escape and run down the drain. Cold water actually seals the cuticle down.

2. Try to shampoo your hair less often.  

You may have to get creative here.  Think carefully about how you want to style your hair and when.  For instance, I wear my hair straight or curled on the first day after shampooing, and on the second day, I'll throw it into an up-do or something.  Also, make good use of dry shampoo which you can learn more about here. Use your own discretion as to how long to go between washes.  Not only will it help preserve your color, it is just good for your hair and scalp in general.  Even moisturizing, gentle, "sulfate-free" shampoos can tend to be abrasive and harsh to the hair and scalp.

3.  Stay clear from any shampoo that has the words "clarifying" or "purifying".

These shampoos are particularly abrasive.  Designed to strip away oil and grease.  But the also strip your hair of the natural "good" oils.  And wash away your beautiful color. Try to use one that specifically says "for color treated hair".  Moisturizing shampoos and conditioners are generally color safe, as well.

4. Wear a hat whenever you're out in the sun.

The sun can lighten your hair and dry it out, too.

5.  Consider a tinted conditioner.

There are several professional product lines that carry conditioners with subtle pigment to help preserve your color.  Ask your stylist about this.

Hope these help!

What Mommy Wore

Shirt and necklace from Forever 21. Bermudas from Target. Shoes are from Ross...dress for less. :)

How Do I Know if He's "The One"?

I thought I might give a little testimony to the power of surrendering to God's will.  Because really, that's what it all boils down to.  God's will over our own will.  What I have to say in this post will only matter to you if you are at a place in your life- in your walk with Christ- where you truly want only what HE wants for you in the area of your relationships.  Do you truly want only God's best that He has hand picked for you?  Do you truly want to advance His Kingdom single or not?  Do you really believe His promises?

How do you know if you are in God's will or your own in regards to the man your interested in? Well, ultimately, only you can know that for sure.  But, here are some things that may indicate one way or the other.

 Are you in place in your walk with God where you are filled with His Holy Spirit and have regular communion with God on a daily basis?

This is of utmost importance in waiting for the right mate, because if you are not filled with His Spirit, how do you expect to hear his voice and feel his gentle leading?

With that said here are a couple questions to ask yourself when trying to identify the mate God has selected for you. If the answer to any of these questions is "no", than you need to do some serious soul searching and prayer to ask God what is the right step to take moving forward. Be honest with yourself and to God. Trust Him completely that if this one you're interested in, or even in a relationship with isn't the one, He has someone so much BETTER for you than you can possibly imagine. Trust me, the pain and loneliness of being single doesn't hold a candle to the pain and despair of being married to the wrong one. As my mom once told me in response to my whining about being "alone", "Maria, just because you have someone sharing a bed with you doesn't mean you'll never feel lonely." You have to sort out your own issues of insecurity, trust in God, faith in His promises, and ability to wait, before you'll ever find fulfillment in a man.

Here goes...

1. Does he challenge you to live up to higher standard in your walk with Christ?

- As a husband, God has ordained him to be the priest of your home. Someone who you can trust with the big spiritual decisions. You will be working together, but ultimately the weight of the spiritual well-being of your home falls him. Can you trust this man as the priest of your home? Someone who will hold you and your children accountable to a deeper relationship with God? Someone who will be a pastor to you in addition to your husband.

2.  Does he treat your parents with respect.  Does he enjoy their company and does he respect their authority over you?

-  If he has a problem fitting in with your family, there is a problem.  Marriage is a package deal.

-  If he has a difficult time abiding by the rules and parameters established by your parents within the courtship/relationship, red flag.

3. Are you in love with who he is now, or who he'll be some time after you've fashioned him into the man you're hoping he'll be?

- Don't get me wrong. In marriage both the man and woman grow and learn through each other, resulting in maturity. But, if what is keeping you hanging on in a relationship is the hope that one day he'll change into the godly man you want him to be, you could be setting yourself up for a real disappointment. And I'm not just talking about spiritual traits here. How is he with money? How is he with his friends and family? Is he trustworthy? Is he wise?

4. Can you really, truly, honestly be completely, totally, fully yourself with him?

-If you feel the slightest pressure that you need to be a certain way or act a certain way with him that isn't a true representation of who you are, it's wrong.

- If there is anything that you feel you can't be open about yourself to him...any subject you feel Ike you can't broach, and topic of conversation you need to steer clear of, it's wrong.

- If you feel self-conscious about yourself around him, it could be wrong.

5. Since engaging in a relationship with him, have you grown closer to God?

- This should be obvious, but I know what it is like to be caught up in the emotion of love/lust. You start slacking on your responsibilities and commitments, especially in church.  You devote more time to dates and late night phone conversations than to prayer and fellowship with Him.  When it is right, God will be the center of the relationship. You will be inspired to serve.  You will be praying together! God will come first, and your walk with Him will grow more intimate. Thus, my next question...

6. Is there a struggle to maintain sexual purity within the relationship?

- It's completely natural to have sexual desire for the one you love. But, when Christ is the center, each of you should be so focused on maintaining the other's purity that you will do whatever it takes to do so until the appropriate time- marriage. Limit alone time. Have accountability partners. Whatever it takes. One of the fruits of the spirit is self-control. If you feel like you're losing control, then you are not walking in the Spirit. If you are in a situation where you have compromised in the area of purity, know this, God still loves you. I still love you, but you need to make a change.

7. Are you both "one" spiritually?

- You're not going to agree on everything. Your differences can make your relationship stronger! But, trust me on this- you must see eye to eye on areas of doctrine and beliefs. You must be one in spirit. Your standards of holiness must be compatible. (Amos 3:3) Your callings that God has put on each of you must somehow compliment each other. If you're called to be a missionary to China, God isn't going to pair you up with someone who isn't called to some form of missions as well. Your callings and giftings will be unique to each of you, but they will compliment each other beautifully, if it is right. You should never feel like you need to put aside the dreams and passions that The Lord has put in you for the sake of a relationship with someone.

8. Is there peace?

- This one is key. Hear me! If you feel like you need to give yourself a sales pitch about this guy-  convincing yourself that he is the one- then he is not the one! If your asking yourself, "is he the one?", than you don't have peace! He may be an amazing person- even one who meets all the criteria that I've written, that doesn't necessarily mean he is the one! There are a lot of nice, good, even godly guys out there. That doesn't mean that they're THE guy. You must have peace. And those closest to you will have peace, as well. A knowing. And once you know, you know. Really, in any decision in life, if there is a wrestling, or a back and forth, then the answer is most likely no. And ultimately only you can make that decision. Be honest with yourself. Don't ignore that gnawing in your gut. That could be the Holy Spirit saying, "wait, I have something better for you." Don't fear that this one who has feelings for you is the last one who ever will!

Please, if your single or in a relationship, or even engaged, take what I have written to heart. I am writing from experience here. I know what it's like to be alone...it's tough.  I also know what it's like to be with the wrong one...not fun. And by the grace of God, I know what it's like when it's right! Believe me, it is worth every day...month...year...of waiting. Trust God with your whole life!  It truly is worth it!

McKenna's Wedding

A couple weeks ago I had the honor of doing the hair for sweet Mckenna's wedding.  McKenna and her now husband, Matt, are true testimonies of what happens when you hold out for God's best.  True examples of purity!  They wanted to honor God by sharing their first kiss on their wedding day.  The day was definitely special.  Such a peace and a real sense of the presence of God throughout the whole day.  Ladies and gentlemen- that is how it should be when God is in it.

Here are just a few pics of some of the hair, courtesy of Mindy Kerr Photography.  There will be more pics to come!

What Mommy Wore

So it's the middle of April and chilly here in south Georgia. So why not give my boots one more go around before packing them up for the summer?

These boots were actually a gift and I do not know where they came from, but I love them and thought I'd showcase them anyway.  The necklace was a gift from my sister that you can find here.  The cardigan was another Ross find for $12.99.  Basic skinnies and a white tank.

The Dirt on Dry Shampoo

What is it?

Dry shampoo is a powder like substance that you put into dirty hair to absorb the unwanted oil (aka "grease").  It's nothing new.  Dry shampoos have been around for quite some time.  They were more often used to help ladies who were ill or elderly and unable to wash there hair in a sink.  It's basically doctored up cornstarch.  In fact, you can use straight-up cornstarch in your hair if you'd like to absorb any unwanted shine.  Baby powder works, too.  The thing is with these, is that it can get messy.  If you have darker hair, it can leave a chalky, whitish residue that you'll have to brush out really well.

Now days, the new thing is the dry shampoo in the aerosol form.  This is wonderful because now the product can be distributed evenly without a mess.  I love this product for those second or third days after washing when I want to freshen my hair up.  I spray it right where there is  any greasy shine, and it goes away instantly!  It is also a great product to put in your hair even when it is clean to add in texture and volume. There are many brands out there now jumping on the bandwagon, coming out with their on version of the product.  I have a couple favorites, even though I have not tried all that are out there.  Some work, but smell weird.  Some aren't strong enough and feel like I'm just spraying air in my hair with no effect.  Here is my all time favorite.  It works great and smells great, too.


Dirty Secret from!  "Rockaholic" line.

Runner up...

KMS Hairplay Makeover spray.

This one is a little lighter...not quite as potent as the first one, but still good.
Give dry shampoo a try!
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What Mommy Wore

I found this comfy skirt at Wal-mart for $12.99!  Sometimes your can find some cute stuff there.  I'm learning not to rule it out when shopping for clothes and accessories.  The shirt is from Forever 21, but I've had it for a while.  Shoes are from Target online, here.  The necklace is from Kohl's. Here's the link.  It's on sale for $8.99!

Encouragement for Step-moms Part 2

The next couple pieces of advice are things that I haven't fully accepted and I haven't fully overcome.  It's a daily struggle. And not just for step-moms.  All women struggle with the past.  And we all need constant reminders of God's grace to overcome and move on.

So in handling the day to day life as a step-mom, here are a couple more tidbits of wisdom and advice that I have learned and I am still learning.

1. Never compare yourself to the women in your husband's past.  

Enough people are already going to be comparing you.  Some may even mean well in doing so.  It's hard when people say things in comparison, even when they're in your favor-  I know.  Sometimes it would be nice to be recognized as YOU and not as your husband's "new". So in light of this, do yourself a favor.  Tune it out.  Accept the intended compliment.  And also accept that some people may not like you.  Accept that you are YOU and your husband chose YOU.

Whether you compare yourself to your spouse's past in a positive light or a negative light-  either one is dangerous.

The first type of comparison tears down.  It puts unnecessary pressure on you to measure up to something that doesn't even matter! When you beat yourself up over how you cook, clean, look, and what you weigh, in light of your spouse's past - that is a miserable life!  The pressure mounts up and you can't fully enjoy the gifts in life that you have. And you can't appreciate the unique traits that make you YOU.  When you get in that pit, and all women have experienced that pit at some point, it affects all those around you - your spouse, your kids, your step-kids.  And potentially leads to depression.  Give it up.  Talk about it with your spouse.  Talk about it with a trusted friend who will give you Godly counsel and encouragement.  Don't bottle it up.

The second type puffs up.  We all like the feeling of knowing we're better at something than someone else.  Especially if it's our husband's ex-girlfriend or ex-wife!  That doesn't make it right.  It's vanity. And it's sin. This type of thinking also adds pressure.  Now there is pressure to stay better...stay on top.  Fighting for nothing.  Dangerous.

The only person you ever need to compare yourself to is Christ.  He is the standard.  He is the one to strive to be more like every day.

2. You must forgive.

This may seem like a no-brainer.  But, even when I am madly in love and fully devoted there is that little weed of unforgiveness that can creep up at the most inopportune times.  I hate to admit but there you have it.   And the weed needs to be dealt with by the root, not just chopped off.  It's easy to think about the pain or situation you may be feeling in the moment due to the past of others, but don't forget the pain that those others went through too.

Nothing exposes our own issues quite like marriage.  I'm thankful for it all though.  And as I said in the beginning, I am still learning these lessons.  It really is a daily battle.  That is where God's grace comes in.  I have to ask the Lord for strength to love, forgive and only compare myself to Him.

What Mommy Wore...

So I found this cute "dress"  at Ross just the other day for just $11.99!  Paired it with some skinny ankle jeans and neutral wedges.

I found this super cute necklace at Kohl's recently, as well. I have a thing for Eiffel Towers and all things Paris. I wasn't able to find it on-line for you, but it was by Vera Wang for her "princess" line.  I want to say it was around $20 and I got it on sale for half off.