I'm Back....No Really. LOL!

Hey Curly Nation!

It's ya girl MusiQ and I've been away for quite a while. Last year leading up to now has been a whirlwind of changes and unexpected events and circumstances, but through it all, I am still standing by the grace of God. Having said that, I am back (for real this time) to bring you one of many reviews to come and a renewed focus to this blog and all those who have chosen and will choose to be loyal readers of my blog. I appreciate you in advance and look forward to making your acquaintance in this vast blogosphere and social media world. Til next time!

Live Free! Live Natural!





- MusiQ "the AfroCurly Chick"

"Natural Hair Is Not for Everyone...."

A friend of mine recently said that "natural hair is not for everyone" basically because" while some look great with natural hair, others don't. Honestly, to some point I could agree only to the degree that some leave their hair looking unkempt and may not be prepared for natural hair. Then, I thought about that thing....How many times have I seen a girl with relaxed hair who looked a hot mess, because she either did not know how to style her hair or did not care enough to make her hair look decent before she walked out the door. Nobody EVER says in those cases "RELAXED HAIR AIN'T FOR EVERYBODY!" It is a choice that we make, to relax or not to relax. And for those who choose to embrace their kinky hair, we have several options. We can wear it in many natural styles from kinks to coils to braids and even locs. We can choose to make an effort to learn to properly take care of and style our hair or to not properly take care of our hair and leave it looking unkempt because we either think it is an acceptable practice or perhaps we just don't care enough (I would hope the latter is not true.).  Another aspect of the conversation is each person's perception of beauty is different. Everyone may not like the natural look therefore, they don't see it as being for them. Others may think that the natural look only looks good on certain people, therefore they think that natural hair is not for everyone. I believe that natural hair IS for everyone because it is the hair that grows out of your scalp and if God didn't want you to you have it, you would not have it. Do you HAVE to embrace your natural hair? Not at all. The wonderful thing about your hair is just that - IT'S YOUR HAIR! From kinks, curls, and waves to fried, dyed and blown to the side, you have options and no one can tell you that what you can and cannot do to your hair.


- MusiQ "the AfroCurly Chick"

You Are An Abstract Painting

YOU ARE AN ABSTRACT PAINTING

"Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world." - Wikipedia

"I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the
world." -  John 17:15-18

A blank slate. That's how we all come into this world. A canvas just waiting to be painted with the vision our creator has in mind as the master artist, and as time progresses, an abstract work of art is created that is beautiful....or is it? The funny thing about going to museums is hearing what people have to say about an abstract piece of artwork placed before them. Some see the piece as brilliant, while others may think it's mundane or lacking in creativity. And then there are others who just don't get it. To them, the art piece is  just a splash of colors over what was once a blank canvas. No purpose. No meaning. What each person sees is shaped by their perception of the piece, therefore it shapes their belief. And who knows.....they could all be right, partially right, or just downright wrong. The only person who knows the true meaning of the artwork, however, is the artist that created it, and to unlock the true interpretation of the artwork, one must speak to the one who created it.

We all are abstract paintings formed and shaped by God, and no matter what one's perception is about you, it is God, the master artist, who has set the purpose of your life before you were even born. Tap into who He is to learn the meaning of the art piece He has created you to be. Know your worth, learn your purpose, and strive to fulfill it each and everyday. Of course there will be times that are harder than others and you will come across those who will not be able to understand the meaning behind the artwork God has placed before them, but don't be discouraged by that. Everyone will not understand who you are and what your purpose is, and that's just how God intended it to be. LOL! Be confident in who you are and always remember - "You are an abstract painting.

Much love,



- MusiQ "the AfroCurly Chick"

Product Review: Tré Finé Shea & Mango Ultra Nourishing Hair Creme

Hey Curly Nation!
It's ya girl MusiQ! I know it's been a while since I've done a product review, but I want to talk about a product that is near and dear to me and that product is Shea & Mango Ultra Nourishing Hair Creme from Tré Finé Body Beautiful.

Tré Finé Body Beautiful is a company located in Chesapeake, Va that specializes in hair and skin products and  believes in the idea of a "simply beautiful lifestyle." Founded by Melissa Burnett,
Tré Finé Body Beautiful is a company that believes in infusing natural ingredients into the products, while also promoting a healthy and natural lifestyle from the inside out, a characteristic that definitely makes Tré Finé Body Beautiful stand out among other companies in Beauty and Cosmetics.

I purchased this product at the Embracing Your Beauty Natural Hair Etravaganza May 21, 2011 and have since used it many times and am very pleased with the results. This product has a very light and fluffy whipped texture and has an earthy herbal scent. I like that although it is very light in texture, it is not so light that it can't be used as twisting agent. I absolutely LOVE the ingredients in this butter.  Among all of the ingredients listed, this product has my fab 5 which is Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, and Argan Oil just to name a few ingredients (full ingredient list below).

Ingredients: Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Argan Oil, Red Palm Oil, Provitamin B5, Sodium PCA, Fragrance, Wheat, Jojoba, and Honey Enzymes, Marshmallow Root Extract, Tamanu Oil, Leucidal (natural preservative).

The consistency is that of a whipped butter.

Emulsifies into an oil when rubbed into the hands.

Ways I Use This Product
Although this product can be used as a twisting butter, I often use this in conjunction with other styling products especially on my ends when twisting. I also use this product alone to retwist my hair at night after wearing twist out.

One of my most frequent uses of this product is to seal in moisture. I use this product on my shampoo days after using my leave in to seal in moisture and during the week when I need to remoisturize my hair and need a sealant. As much as I love using oils (primarily olive oil) as a part of my moisturizing routine, I've found that much heavier products like pomades and butters work best for my hair and the Shea & Mango Ultra Nourishing Hair Creme has truly become my go-to product for this reason. I truly love this stuff!              

Cost
This product is very affordable. Although it is $10 for a 4oz., it is very rich, so a little goes a long way. I didn't have to use a great deal of product which meant that it took a while for me to actually use it up, which is great.

Will I Repurchase This Product?
Absolutely!! I am a firm believer in using what works and this product works for me, so I will definitely keep it on my list of staples and continue using it. 

What Product(s) Do You Plan to Try from This Company in the Future?
Although I am on a "no buy" policy right now, I still haven't found what I would consider to be my ultimate conditioner, so I plan to try the Honeylicious Hair Conditioner in the future. It caught my eye, so I will be giving that a try. A review of course will definitely be in the works for this one.

How Can I Find Out About This Product?
If you would like to learn more about this company or purchase some of their products, simply go to http://www.trefinebodybeautiful.com/ and you can also connect with Tré Finé Body Beautiful on Twitter (@TreFine) and Facebook (Tre Fine Body Beautiful - Natural Hair & Skin Care).

Hope you all enjoyed this review. Til next time Curly Nation!

Live Free! Live Natural!



~MusiQ

Influenster Holiday Voxbox

Hey Curly Nation!

It's ya girl MusiQ! Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season and excited about the upcoming New Year that is to come. A few weeks ago, I was so fortunate to receive a Holiday Voxbox from Influenster. Influenster is a website that people can join to potentially try out products for free and give their honest review. Based on certain surveys and badges received, Influenster determines who will receive these Voxboxes and then it's up to you to review the items that you receive. It's an amazing way to try products that you may or may not have heard of and possibly gain new product favorites to purchase in the near future.

The products I received were in various categories from cosmetics to food items. All were nicely packaged and very appealing at first. The items are as follows:

• The imPRESS Press on Manicure by Broadway Nails
• NYC Liquid Lip Shine in “Nude York City”
• Mentos  Pure Fresh Chewing Gum in Mint
• The Softsoap Coconut Scrub Bar Twin Pack
• A Sample of Montage Jeunesse Face Mask in Strawberry
• A Larabar Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Energy Bar
• A Coupon for Larabar Energy Bars
• A Coupon for imPress Nails

Products that I've tried so far:

SoftSoap Coconut Scrub

The SoftSoap Coconut Scrub had an amazingly awesome smell, but oddly enough, it did not smell a thing like coconut to me. lol!
It has a very fresh and scent that I kind of reminds of watermellon jollyranchers only much lighter in scent. I find it to be a very pleasant scent.

What the soap had in scent unfortunately, it lacked in performance. This soap does not create a deal of lather which leaves you feeling the need to use more soap, which could eventually lead to the soap being used up much more quickly than other soaps in theory. The only other positive about this soap is that it doesn't leave your skin overly dry.

NYC Liquid Lip Shine, Nude York City

NYC Liquid Lip Shine's Nude York City is a lip gloss that is perfect for all complexions. It doesn't take much to give your lips a lasting shine that for me did not need to be reapplied for several hours unless I ate or drank something. It's not sticky which is a plus (I HATE sticky lip gloss. Ugh!). Definitely on my list of repurchases once it runs out.








Mentos Pure Fresh Chewing Gum, Mint

The Mentos Pure Fresh Chewing Gum in Mint Flavor was a burst of freshness in your mouth that last for quite a while. As the first hour past the gum still maintained a level of freshness even though it was not as strong as it was when I started chewing it initially. After the second hour, the gum STILL had a fresh taste. By this time, my other gum has the yucky stale taste that you throw away or get another piece by this time. Very effective and worth buying. Looks like I'm gonna be switching. lol!





This concludes my review of the Holiday Voxbox for now. Once I try the other products, I will definitely give you and update. Have a safe and Happy New Year and til next time Curly Nation!

Live Free! Live Natural!




~MusiQ



Where Have You Been Girl?!!

Hey Curly Nation!

It's ya girl MusiQ!! *gasp* Yes....it's me. lol! I apologize for my recent hiatus for over a month. I had a lot going on with the start of a new job along with some personal events that have occurred in my life that really rocked my world in 2011. It's been a very interesting year to say the least, but I wouldn't change a thing. I hope you all are enjoying the holidays as I have and are looking forward to an awesome new year. I will be reemerging with some updates on my current regimen as well as some reviews that are long overdue. Til next tme Curly Nation!

Live Free! Live Natural!



~MusiQ

The Beauty Boudoir Fall Fab Giveaway

Hey Curly Nation!

It's ya girl MusiQ and I coming to you today with my very first giveaway sponsored by The Beauty Boudoir!!! The grand prize is the fabulous earring and bracelet set below known on the Beauty Beauty Boudoir online boutique as the "Jackson."

The rules for the contest are as follows:


1. Like both the "Diary of an AfroCurly Chick" and "The Beauty Boudoir" Facebook pages.

2. Subscribe to the "Diary of an AfroCurly Chick" blog.

3. Like @AfroCurlyChick and @TBBBoutique

4. Leave a comment or respond to a topic on The Beauty Boudoir Boutique Facebook fan page.

5. Type "Enter Me" along with your  Facebook Username, and Twitter Username as a comment below. DEADLINE IS SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2011 AT 11:59PM!!

Don't miss out on your chance to win!! Til next time Curly Nation

Live Free! Live Natural!

~MusiQ