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Showing posts from 2018

How To Do Overnight Deep Conditioning

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When you are a mom and a career woman like me, spending time at night putting things in order can be the best moment to nourish your hair. Most deep conditioners require 30 minutes under a steam cap and because we can't spare that amount of time in the morning, doing it whilst sleeping can be a better option.  Now, most deep conditioners complete their work within 30 minutes to an hour hence the purpose of overnight deep conditioning isn't about the deep conditioner working but rather, you saving time! Here's how I do mine.  In the process of taking the night shower, I shampoo the hair and take the shower. I then apply the deep conditioner to the hair. The pwieos between the shampoo and conditioner application allows the hair to dry a bit so that the deep conditioning is done on damp and not wet hair. I cover with the steam cap or shopping bag and follow up with a bonnet. If you share a bed with your partner, be sure they won't mind the smell of the products Lol.  Next

Washing Your Hair In Harmattan

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With this year's harmattan being so severe, protective styling is definitely a must. Unfortunately, I can't wear any styles yet with this short hair do what can i do? Right from the wash day, my attention has been on preventing moisture loss. This means from the shampoo process to the sealing process, each step involves maximizing moisture. I probably shampoo once every 2 weeks but I water rinse very often. This keeps the moisture levels up as well as keeping the hair less dirty.  I do well to sprit z the hair each morning before anything is done. With the new growth so thick, getting the hair damp is very crucial for moisture retention. I love length but moisture retention during this time of year is the key to a healthy hair. Another form of moisture retention technique I employ is ensuring that the deep conditioners and conditioners I use are moisture based. The Sheamoisture manuka honey conditioner is amazing at this and I really love.  The next thing I want to invest in is

Moisturise and Seal (3 Steps)

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This is an updated version of how to moisturise and seal your relaxed hair or natural hair.  T his technique can be done in the morning or evening although I prefer doing mine in the evening. All you need are your moisturizers, water and oil or butter.  Click  Here  to watch the full video! 

How To Prepare Your Skin For Harmattan

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Dry lips,  ashy feet and skin as well as constant struggle to keep the skin hydrated all battle with is during Harmattan. To begin with,  focus on Hyaluronic acid.  This will certainly be the time to use the HA to the maximum potential! I've also realized that my skin absolutely loves the vitamin C Suspension 23% from The Ordinary too. Thi serum has squalene oil and in this harmattan, the oil keeps the face soft and supple! I'm definitely going to get squalene oil soon to take me through the coming weeks. In addition to the light weight oils, my skin seems to be dryer with chemical exfoliation so I've slowed down the frequency. I'm going to rather do more face mask treatments to infuse moisture into the skin.  The last thing about the harmattan tran is that my skin isn't breaking out. Probably because my face uses up the extra sebum to keep it moisturized against the dry weather. This is the reason squalene oil and other light oils like Argan oil will be of great be

Clearing Dark Spots

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I've been doing a double moisturizing routine to speed up the process of clearing Dark spots as the acne is under control now. The main area of concerns are the cheeks so I use the Brightening Anti wrinkle cream on just the forehead, nose and chin areas.  For the rest of the face, I use Nadinola This has 3% hydroquinone and that makes it extra strength.  I began just 2 days ago so we will have an update in some weeks time. 

Salicyc Acid For Scalp Issues

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Aside being an amazing ingredient for our skin,  salicyc acid can also help exfoliate your scalp. How?  There are shampoos formulated with salicyc acid and they exfoliate the dead skin cells. You'll find the SA in anti dandruff and anti itch products too.  As part of keeping your scalp clean and healthy, you should invest in these products to enable your scalp detox itself too.   When you exfoliate the dead skin cells from the face your products get aborted better and are able to get deeper into the pores.  This is the same principle behind the Salicyc acid in the shampoos..  In addition,  scalp scrubs are also awesome for healthy scalp and I've invested in that too.   The Inkey List has also developed a salicylic acid scalp treatment for exfoliation of your scalp!  Lastly, if you have a salicylic acid based toner, you can use a spray bottle to apply it on your scalp, leave for about 20 minutes and rinse off. Example is The Ordinary glycolic toning solution. You may also use bo

Four Products To Fade Scars and Spots

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The headache that follows a breakout is how to get rid of the dark spots and blemishes. For us in Ghana, a skin care routine is a recent trend and especially with the influx of affordable Chinese and Korean skin care products. We grow up with using bath soaps to wash our face and body lotion to moisturize our face, sometimes, Vaseline is our go to. Now, if you are reading this, then, it means you've gone beyond that stage and that's a good sign of great things to come. After years of damage and not caring about our skin, you should understand that it will equally take a few more effort to get the skin you need. There are several products on the market targeting fading spots and blemishes but before we jump on them, do remember that you daily routine is essential in achieving results with those products. Getting rid of the spots won't be a matter of days. All you'll need is to combine a few products and definitely some trial and error in order to get your spot free skin.

From Alpha Hydroxy Acids to Beta Hydroxy Acid Products

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I enjoyed the impact and effect of The Ordinary  Lactic acid 10%+HA (An alpha Hydroxy acid) and still enjoy it but I decided to step up the exfoliating to Beta Hydroxy Acids. Why? Beta hydroxy acids such as salicylic acid goes deeper than just exfoliating dead skins cells;  it dissolves oils in the pores rendering those blackheads and pimples powerless over your skin. Instead of using salicylic acid serum,  I opted for a toner with a high concentration of salicylic acid yet gentle enough. The Cosrx BHA Power liquid toner is a rave among Korean Beauty addicts and I just had to give it a try too. It is used after washing the wash and since it's a toner, it becomes the second step after the wash. The process still counts as cleansing since exfoliating is a cleansing step. If I want to use any toner,  I would apply that toner first before the BHA Power liquid toner to allow it to work. It is recommended that you wait at least 20 to 30 minutes after using chemical exfoliating prod

How To choose The Ordinary Vitamin C Serum

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If you missed the post on the types of vitamin C serums carried by The Ordinary, then, just go through it and come back to this. Paula's Choice and The Ordinary seem to have a lot in common when it comes to formulations and I love that! Let's start with the highest form which is the L-ascorbic acid. This is found in the The Ordinary Vitamin C silicone and vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%.   Much like our Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% formula, this product also offers a suspension but in light silicones for a smooth, non-gritty skin finish. Despite the very light forms of silicones used, silicones do impair dermal exposure to Vitamin C slightly but the additional (30%) concentration of Vitamin C helps compensate for this slight inefficiency. A very strong tingling but non-irritating sensation is expected during the first 1-2 weeks of use until the skin's tolerance to such high exposure is elevated. If desired, this formula can be diluted in a cream base pe

Niacinamide 10%+Zinc 1% and Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner

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When you are new to skin care, the target is usually acne or pimples and once you get rid of that, the next obvious problem is dark spots and blemishes. This is the purpose for grabbing Niacinamide from The Ordinary.  I got these to test them because Klairs is such a popular brand and the supple preparation toner is a huge bandwagon for a lot of K beauty lovers. I know enough around Korean skin care but the one thing about that routine is to understand the purpose of each product before plunging into it if you don't want chaos. In that regard, I got the mini size and have been using it for the past few days. I find it a bit thicker and you use your palms to apply. I may probably be so used to the Thayers toner because I don't find the Klairs easy to work with when it comes to layering other products. Everything I apply, either via patting or rubbing, doesn't sit without balling up or pilling! I'll keep using it though till it is empty because I need to allow it a substa

The Ordinary Lactic Acid +HA

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I took the bold step to use a chemical exfoliating product and because I needed to start of gently, I picked lactic acid 10% from The Ordinary. The lactic acid is used at night so I wash and apply toner before using it. For the first application, I used my fingers to pat it into the skin. The skin looked oily for a while but that subsided within minutes. My skin felt dry the next morning but nothing severe. Within a couple of day, I noticed my skin tone looked even and I had nice glow too. Honestly, I love the changes and would certainly work to keep it up. On another note, I've been taking hair gummies which contain vitamin c and it may be another contributing factor for this glow. *A few pointers I has no reaction to the lactic acid. I did feel a tingle or sting for a few seconds and that was it. I use a few drops and I'm limiting it to 2x a week in order not to over exfoliate the skin. Ill be moving on to other serums eventually but I want to exhaust The Ordinary products fi

Dear, Klairs Supple preparation toner review

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K beauty addicts rave about the supple preparation facial toner from Dear,  Klairs and I was super excited to also jump on the bandwagon.  After using the toner after several weeks,  I think it's time to share my thoughts on it.  Here

How To Use Hotfro Chebe Powder and Oil

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Visit my shop at  www.shop.ghanaianemprezz.com  to purchase your chebe powder and oil. Then,  contact me on 0541458372 for the steps. When you are done,  be it relaxed hair or natural hair,  follow these tips. 1.Be sure to shampoo your hair before the mixture is applied. 2. Get the hotfro growth pomade to use along with thw chebe powder and oil. This will boost your hair growth too. 3. Follow the directions you'll be given in order to have a successful application. 4. Decide on the hair style you want to wear with the chebe IE cornrow, braids, wigs etc. 5. Be sure to use the chebe oil every 3 days after the first application of the mixture (I'll direct you when you get your set). 6. Don't mix other chebe brands/ products with the hotfro one should you wish to.  It's best to use the products from one brand. So,  as you begin your chebe journey, just relax and allow your hair to enjoy the benefits.

K Beauty (Korean Beauty Products)

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Koreans are noted for their enviable skin but do you know what they use to achieve such a feat? K Beauty as it is popularly called,  has gained it'd popularity as a result of being affordable yet effective. The bonus is that most skin types from across the world are able to use K Beauty products! Hada Labo is one of such well known K Beauty brands and I'm about to dive into that world.  There are several Korean Beauty products,  techniques and skin care routines, from Cosrx,  Pyunkang, Dear,  Klairs, Missha,SkinFood, Benton, Etude House,  Innesfree  and more!  If you want to learn more about K Beauty,  then,  subscribe to the blog for updates.  Also,  we will be doing the learning together!  If you are in Ghana and want to purchase any of these,  visit shop.ghanaianemprezz.com

How To Speed Up Scalp Healing

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6 out of the 12 months of 2018 has been spent torturing my scalp- from hair dyes to relaxers!  It's probably going to take several months for the scalp to be as healthy as I want. Therefore,  I have about 3 products I'm using to speed up the healing. 1. Aloe Vera soothes the scalp and keeps it hydrated. I use this at night with a bit of Emu oil.   2. Rose water to also help with hydration  two to times a day.  To speed up the growth too,  I'll be taking 10000mcg biotin for some weeks!  This is a serious venture because I know my body doesn't tolerate anything biotin but since my collagen isn't in yet,  I'll make do with it. That bottle will last a month so hopefully, by new year,  my scalp should be much healthier!  The biotin I'll be taking is the Life flo liquid 10000mcg biotin. I'll keep you updated. 

Clay Facial Mask

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There are about 3 facial masks of which 2 are mud masks and one is a peel off mask. In the facial routine,  here's my typical steps.  1. Cleanse 2. Facial exfoliator in the form of facial scrub  3. Apply the mud mask for about 3 to 10 minutes.  4. Rinse off and follow with facial toners( First one to wipe the face and the next one is patted in)  5. Follow with a serum and moisturizer. The mud clay detoxes the skin and unclogs the pores too so I pretty much like them. I use the facial scrub to ensure that dead skin cells are off the surface for better impact! Mud clay treatments can also help tighten the skin as I have experienced.  Have you used any clay mask? 

'Bad' Ingredient or 'Bad' Product?

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Similar to hair care,  we won't all love the same skin care product nor would our skin react to the ingredients the same way.   Just as there a variety of hair textures,  the various skin textures and types do matter when it comes to how a product or ingredients will fare with your skin.  Take retinol for example. The first thing most people think about is the peeling effect. However,  you'll be amazed to know that others will equally not have that effect!  With my own experience with The Ordinary vitamin c 23%suspension +HA Spheres,  I've come to the realisation that jumping on bandwagons within the beauty community is comparable to the hair community . Whereas some hate the vitamin c suspension serum, my skin had no qualms when applied.   On the other hand,  my skin might  or may not fare so well the BHA peeling solution because I am yet to use it. You won't know until you try it.  Usually, one ingredient or a few might be the reason something will or won't work. 

How To Wash Natural Hair At The Salon

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After doing the series for relaxed hair, it's time to help naturals when it comes to washing your hair at the salon. So remember that these tips are a guide and not fixed advice.  http://www.ghanaianemprezz.com/2018/08/washing-your-hair-at-salon-for-relaxed.html 1. Finger detangle your hair: It's best if you apply enough oil the hair and use your fingers to untangle the knots before going to the salon or even at the salon. 2. Prepoo the hair: Cover with shower cap as you move to the salon to allow your hair to retain moisture even during the wash.  3. Let them use wide tooth comb: When removing tangles and knots, be sure to use a wide tooth comb.  4. Shampoo and conditioner.  Work in sections.Let the stylist do everything  in sections to prevent tangling your hair. After shampoo,  be sure to use either your deep conditioning treatment aka steaming cream or conditioner to infuse moisture in your hair.  5. Apply leave in conditioner after rinsing the conditioner  and immediately

My Skin Care Regimen Summary

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Start with the basic skin care.  Don't focus on the problem you have yet.  Sometimes,  just the cleaning steps clear your skin. After about 3 to 4 weeks,  you can work on the specific areas.  For me,  the focus was even texture and I have had a lot of improvement in that aspect with just the cleansing steps.  Cleanser- daily Scrub- once a week  Toner - daily  Moisturizer/face oil - daily.   By month 2,  I did  Cleanser- 3x a week  Toner- daily.  Use it first time to wipe dirt off,  second time,  to add moisture.  Hyaluronic acid -  a product that can boost moisture in your face up to 6 litres!  Best time to use it will be harmattan too  Moisturizer / oil - daily  Sunscreen  By month 4, I focused on the acne spots Cleanser- 3x a week  Toner- daily.  Use it first time to wipe dirt off,  second time,  to add moisture.  Hyaluronic acid -  a product that can boost moisture in your face up to 6 litres!  Best time to use it will be harmattan too  Vitamin C serum to prevent skin damage  Mo

SkinFood Beauty In a Food Mask Sheet, Ginseng

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Directions Extract mask and tightly apply on facial skin, following the contours of your face. After about 10-15 minutes, remove the sheet and pat face to absorb the remaining essence. Apply any remaining essence in the pouch to your neck and body. Thanks to my first awesome experience with my first SkinFood sheet mask,  I went in for another sheet mask and this time,  it had ginseng extract! To prep my skin,  I used exfoliating wash with the Vanity Planet facial brush.  I needed a very clean skin for it to absorb all the nutrient from the mask. After cleansing,  I used the moisture from the make as a toner before putting the make on.   First of all,  I loved how easy it was to apply this time round as I've had the experience already thus if you are worried about trying things,  remember the first time doesn't mean the end, push more.  The smell is certainly mild but definitely ginseng Lol. I,  actually,  love the smell and it was quite hydrating to touch.  I did apply what was

How I Use Facial Serums Daily

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I didn't title this how I layer serums because I hardly do that.  What I do is to work with each serum on different days. The only serum that fits in all the routines is the Hyaluronic acid. The Hyaluronic acid I use this after cleansing and the Thayers   toner I spray a face mist before going the Hyaluronic acid and then allow it to dry. Niacinamide I use the Niacinamide after the HA and allow it to dry before I follow up with jojoba oil. Vitamin C Serum I use The Ordinary vitamin c  suspension 23% +HA.  I use this at night after cleanser and toner. I mix the hyaluronic acid with it and apply it.  The reason is this serum is too gritty to work with during the day. See my review  Here Lactic Acid This is what I use as an exfoliating serum. The Ordinary lactic acid with HA is very mild for my skin. I use it about once or 2x a week after cleansing and toner. How do you use your serums?

My 5 Step Skin Care Routine

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I've been chilling with The Ordinary products a lot and it's been amazing delving into skin care over the past few months. To start, I use an inexpensive face wash from Beauty Formulas and then follow with either Thayers Rose petal toner or Dear Klairs supple predation toner, then, The Ordinary Vitamin c 23% suspension wit HA Spheres 2%. I allow the vitamin c serum to sink in. I don't follow up with any oil or moisturizer since the squalene oil in it is enough. That's the routine for night and for day, I use Niacinamide rather than the c serum. The 23% suspension is gritty hence I mix with hyaluronic acid before application and I use it at night since anything else will pill when you use the serum. During the day, I add a sunscreen and off to do my rounds. 2x a week, I cleanse and use The Ordinary lactic 10% with HA to exfoliate my skin. I cleanse, allow the skin to dry and put a few drops on the skin. I leave it and wash off in the morning. My skin ha

30 Day Beauty Secret vitamin

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I'm back on the 30 day beauty secret vitamins rather than taking the biotin because I had very positive results which was very encouraging. When I initial had a bottle, I couldn't do the 3 times a day as directed but with a bit more time to spare, I'm able to manage it. The other advantage is that the packets will be easy to carry around so I don't have any excuse now. I'm not looking for hair growth though. I just want some balance in my body after taking only biotin for so long. I don't want to over do the biotin. If I do get extra growth, which is expected anyway, I'll be able to braid this hair as I wish! Wish me luck 😀

Wash Day At The Salon #4 Protein Deep Conditioning

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Protein deep conditioning is popularly called protein treatment. They are deep conditioners with protein to help strengthen the hair. ( Call or WhatsApp 0541458372 to buy one) There are 2 types of protein deep conditioners. The Hard Protein is done once every 6 months and some people use egg for that (stop doing the weekly egg treatment to prevent protein overload which will make your hair hard and cause severe breakage). These are very strong and are usually in the first five ingredients on the package. Eg keratin. The medium to light protein deep conditioners usually have protein ingredient in the middle or bottom of the ingredient list. Eg hydrolyzed silk. The steps . 1. Shampoo the hair and rinse out 2. Apply the hard protein and leave it as directed. Rinse out . 3. Follow with moisture deep conditioner else your hair will feel hard! 4. Rinse out and apply leave in conditioner and roller set . If you use a medium or light protein, you don't have to use a moistu

Washing At The Salon #3 Moisture Deep Conditioning

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Deep conditioning also known as steaming in Ghana should be done at least once a month. Here's the sample routine at the salon. (Call or WhatsApp 0541458372 to buy any of these). 1. She will shampoo the hair and rinse out . 2. Then , she will apply your moisturizing deep conditioner (Usually doesn't have protein in the first ingredients). This means the steaming cream will provide more moisture. 3. Leave the deep conditioner for the duration stipulated on the package and then rinse out. Most of them require sitting under the dryer for 30 minutes. 4. Allow the hair to cool down and rinse out, apply the leave in conditioner and oil and roller set. That's it!

Washing At The Salon #2 Tea Rinse

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This wash process has to do with doing a tea rinse and going to the salon. A tea rinse helps with shedding. Brew your tea(no milk nor sugar) and allow to cool. Now, take it to the salon. (Call or WhatsApp 0541458372 to purchase any of these products). 1. She shampoos the hair and rinse out. 2. She will pour the tea on your hair and leave it for about 5 minutes without washing it out. 3. She will apply the conditioner as the tea is in the hair and leave for 3 minutes . 4. She will rinse out the conditioner 5. She will apply the leave in conditioner, hair oil and setting lotion and roller set the hair . Are the steps clear enough? Comment below and share this with friends too.

Washing Your Hair At The Salon For Relaxed Hair #1

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This series is to guide those who go to our hair dressers and don't know how to follow the wash steps. I'll be doing about 10 posts to cover all the diy and other things you try to incorporate at home during your wash. Let's begin with a regular wash. The boot camp routine. (Call or WhatsApp 0541458372 for a wash set ) 1. Let the stylist shampoo your hair using your product or her product. She will rinse out the shampoo. 2. Let her follow with the conditioner and leave it for 3 minutes. 3. She will wash out the conditioner and follow with Leave in Conditioner and setting lotion. 4. She will roller set your hair 5. When the hair is out of the rollers, she will apply your hair growth oil on your scalp and your hair oil on the hair itself. I prefer using the oil on the hair during the setting of the rollers. (It is able to infuse into the hair as it dries). That's it for the relaxed hair wash.

How To Use Chebe Powder and Oil On Relaxed Hair

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In case you have relaxed hair and wondering if you can use chebe powder the answer is a yes. All you need is to be able to plait your hair or twist up. You can also use cornrows. To prepare the chebe mixture, add a few tablespoon full to a creamy product. I usually recommend your moisturizer or butter for a good hold. Shampoo and condition your hair well and apply the chebe mixture. Plait up the hair and leave it for at least 7 days before reapplying the chebe mixture. When you are ready to wash out, which could be in a month or whenever you want, just shampoo the hair and condition as usual. You can use the mixture again for another couple of weeks. In case you need chebe powder or chebe oil, call or whatsapp 0541458372.