This Is What Makes Us Girls

My Haircare Routine 

Hello Lovelies. I'm Jordan Nicole :) I wanted to do a blog post about my haircare routine because I have spent the past three years focused on my hair and settling on products. I'm going to name the things I use, how I use them and how often I use them. I have been growing out my hair for two years now and these products have helped me along the way :)

Before I get started naming the products I use, I think its important to say that many of them are for color treated hair. Earlier this year I decided to do something that I had wanted to do since I was a little girl, go blonde. Now I know that not everyone would understand this desire but my natural hair color is red (my hair is auburn, which some people argue isn't red) and I grew up being teased about this by my peers. I always resented my hair color and hated that my mother wouldn't let me color it. She claimed that I had been blessed with a color many woman pay a lot of money to get and that she was doing me a favor. As I have gotten older I have come to realize she was right but that didn't take away my desire to have blonde hair. I went to a salon and was told that the only way for me to go blonde was to do multiple rounds of highlights. I got through two before I changed my mind and decided the upkeep was going to be to expensive. After my first round I went straight to Target and bought products that I thought would stop my hair from being dry and damaged. A lot of the products I am going to mention were purchased on that trip.

Shampoo & Conditioner

Pantene Color Preserve Shine 

Though I didn't go completely blonde, I still have a lot of highlights. Going blonde from red is really hard because your hair naturally wants to turn to a brassy color. I have gone through a few shampoos & conditioners trying to keep the brassy color from coming through but none have done as well at keeping my highlights blonde as this Pantene combo. Not only does this keep my hair from getting brassy but it also conditions my hair, keeping it soft and healthy. On top of all of that it also smells wonderful! I wash my hair about every 2 to 3 days to keep it from getting to dried out.  

Hair Mask

Organix Hydrating Macadamia Oil Intensive Moisture Mask

This mask was one of the things I picked up on my Target trip. I had never used one before but I now love having this as part of my routine. I do it once a week, usually on the weekends, and it really makes my hair feel softer and less brittle. I just put it in my hair while I'm in the shower (after I have used my shampoo and conditioner) and keep it on while I shave. You just leave it in for a few minutes and then wash it out. It is such an easy addition to any routine.

Detangling Spray & Brush

Johnson's Buddies Easy Comb Detangler Spray & Tangle Teaser

I have had a problem with tangles since I was a little girl. If you saw my July favorites I mentioned this as one of my favs for the month :) The combination of this Johnson's detangle spray and my tangle teaser have made brushing my hair the simplest task, which is crazy for someone who could spend ten minutes trying to brush their hair without it. I just spray this in my wet hair generously after a shower and then brush through with my tangle teaser. It doesn't leave my hair feeling like there is product in it and makes it feel soft and look shiny.

Heat Protectant

Organix Ever Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy Flat Iron Spray

I have been wearing my hair naturally more often out of sheer laziness but when you are growing out your hair they do say to avoid heat, so I suppose it has worked out for me! When I do decide to straighten my hair or touch up my natural curls with my wand I use heat protectant to try and minimize damage. I never blow dry my hair because it takes up to 45 minutes (my hair just holds onto water like crazy!) and I am not willing to take the time. I admittedly never used a heat protectant before I got my highlights but I got this when I made the Target run I mentioned before and am glad I did. The bleach took a toll on my hair and this spray has really helped to keep it healthier. It smells amazing too :)

Straightener

Chi Ceramic Hairstyling Iron 

I have had this straightener for about four years now and you can definitely tell that it has been well loved. I have rubbed off the Chi even. If there is one heat tool that I use the most it is my straightener. My hair is naturally curly/wavy so if I want it to be straight I am dependent on it. In high school I used it all the time and when my hair was shorter I had to use it every day to style it. Now that it is longer I am not as willing to take the time (it can take more than 30 minutes) but for anyone in the market for a straightener I still stand by my Chi as the best one I have ever owned.

Curling Wand

Conair Infiniti Curling Wand 

This Conair wand is so inexpensive and it has lasted me well through four years. It was a great investment. It produces a nice spiral curl and is really simple to use.

Hair Oil
Garnier Fructis Marvelous Oil Color Illuminate 5-Action Hair Elixir

I bought this Garnier oil on my Target trip to try and keep some moisture in my hair. I mainly apply it after I have straightened my hair and want to keep the ends from being frizzy and dry. As long as I don't apply to much it doesn't make my hair look greasy and it smells really nice. It gives me a good shine on my ends. I only apply it there and not near the root, to stop my hair from getting greasy between washes.

Dry Shampoo 

TRESemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo Volumizing for Fine/Oily Hair

I didn't have dry shampoo in my routine until recently, when I found it for those days between washes and to add some texture to my hair when it has been freshly washed. My hair is very smooth when it is clean and that can make styling difficult. I will spray some of this into my clean, dry hair so that I can braid it or curl it easier. It can also add volume at the root if you spray it in when it is dry. The one problem I have had with it is that if you don't massage it in with your fingers quickly enough it can leave a gray coloring in your hair.

Hairspray 
Not Your Mother's She's A Tease Volumizing Hairspray 

For those rare occasion where I completely curl all of my hair or try and be fancy with an up-do, I love this hairspray. It works really well without making my hair stiff or hard. I don't use it for any major things so I can't say how long it lasts but I have enjoyed it for my simple uses :)

Texturizing Sea Salt Spray 
Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray

I have used this sea salt spray for years and really like the texture it gives my hair. I have a natural wave to my hair so I love that this spray gives me more of a beach-y vibe to my hair, like when I swim in the ocean. I just put this on my hair when it is wet and then go. So simple to use and such a cute hairstyle.

That is my haircare routine :) I am now at a length where I look in the mirror and finally think my hair is long and healthy. I hope you found some of this post helpful. Let me know in the comments what products you use!

Side Note: By the title of this blog I am not implying that having long hair is what makes us girls. I love pixie cuts! I was merely alluding to us girls caring about our haircare routines :) 

Constant Craving

My July Favorite 

Hello Lovelies. I'm Jordan Nicole :) It's that time again: monthly favorites! This month has gone by in the blink of an eye. Suddenly school is only a month away and life is about to get so busy! Until then I am attempting to make everything of the time I have left! This month has been all about my move into my new apartment so I haven't had much time to focus on fun things like clothes and make-up. My time has been more focused on things such as storage bins and effectively using a small space to its fullest potential. Nevertheless, I still had my favorite things of the month (as lacking in certain categories as they may be) and here they are! 

Fashion

Abercrombie Super High Waisted Jegging  

It has always been hard for me to find jeans that fit properly on my body type. I have a tiny waist and big bottom so there was always a gap in the back of my jeans. Anyone else who has had this problem knows that it makes life more difficult, especially when it causes your underwear to be exposed while you are seated. A year or two ago I found these jeans after working at Abercrombie and have never had a pair that fit me better. I know that Abercrombie as a brand is over rated, they don't really cater to bigger sizes and they aren't the best quality jeans out there but I soley purchase them because they fit me well with their high waisted cut and I really love their dark wash. Even though I've had this type of jean for a while I am including them this month because I just purchased two more pairs to have just in case they ever don't make them anymore which has opened my eyes to just how deep into my addiction I have gotten. I have them in multiple washes and would say anyone with my body type should try them out! 

Victoria's Secret Bra 

I have only purchased one bra from Victorias Secret and if I am being honest I don't wear it often. My friends drug me in and forced me to get measured. The woman told me I was a 34 C and this was insane considering I had never, even at my biggest, been larger than a B. My opinion of them wasn't to high, until recently when my friend Casie gave me three bras from them that her sister had purchased for her in the wrong size. They are all 34 B's and I wear one of the three every single day. My favorite is a sheer lace one that doesn't have any padding. It is a little more on the sexy side than I am used to and I don't know that I would have picked it for myself but I love it now!

Accessories

Big Clip 

I have gone back to the 90s with this hair clip! I actually remember wearing one when I was growing up. I'm not entirely sure where I even got this from because I'm sure it was just at my house and I grabbed it when I was desperate for something to hold back my hair but I do know you can still buy them :) I have been grabbing this all the time, not only to put back my hair while I wash my face, but to actually style my hair. I love the volume that it gives my 'pony tail'. It's simple to use and cute to boot!

Nude Heels 

I found these at a garage sale for $1! They were originally $30. I think they are so great because they are a classic shape and comfortable to walk around in. The color isn't quite nude, its more of a beige or tan which is so nice because it doesn't wash out your feet but it also goes with everything!

***I am currently out of town visiting my parents and though I tried to remember to bring all of the things on my favorites to take pictures I failed with this item! I will insert the picture when I am back home :)***

Beauty

Detangling Spray 

Ever since I was a little girl I have had a nasty problem with tangles in my hair. I used to cry the whole time my Mama would comb my hair. Recently the problem has been getting even worse because I have been growing out my hair. After seeing my cousin use a detangle spray on her three year old daughter I realized that I needed to buy one of those to help with my problem. I went out and bought a Johnson's detangle spray and have used it after every shower. It is a God send. With enough sprayed in I can run a brush from top to bottom without stopping. It also doesn't leave my hair feeling dry or oily, which is a huge bonus! And on top of everything else it smells amazing :) 

Face Masks 

At times I can be quite lazy with my skin care routine but occasionally I feel like I need to do something a bit extra to give my skin an extra boost. I found these face masks a while back and bought the avocado & oatmeal one (which was funny because I don't like avocado or guacamole) to start off with, I enjoyed it but I wanted to branch out so recently I went and bought the dead sea minerals and charcoal & black sugar ones. I have really been liking changing up which one I use and I think that they each do something for my skin that is a little different but equally beneficial. They do what they claim to do and that is the main thing I look for in a product.

Food

Garden Salsa Sun Chips 

I have always loved Sun Chips and thought that maybe they would be good in a flavor too. I was wrong. They are better than good, they are fabulous! I love them! If you haven't tried the original ones then get those too of course but the Garden Salsa is so yummy :)

Entertainment 

Kim Kardashian App

I was hesitant to admit this but I figured that I want to be honest with what I really have been loving in the month and I have been addicted to this app since I downloaded it. The Kardashians are a huge guilty pleasure for me (I'm actually not ashamed of it!) and when I heard about the game I just felt like I needed to try it out. I now find myself scheduling things around my modeling gigs and dates... It really pulls you in! I have so much fun playing though, so I would think other people must have fun with it too! Give it a try, opinions on Kim put aside.

Friends

This is in no way a new favorite. I bought the friends box set two summers ago and have been hooked ever since, but in the past month (seeing as I didn't have cable when I first got into my apartment) I have been watching a ton of Friends. I started at the beginning again and have been watching it straight through. It really is a classic and if you haven't seen it then where have you been??

Harry Potter Books

I started the first book (for the second time, I read the first four as they came out) on July 1st. I have since gotten through the first three, finishing each in about 24 hours. I didn't have time to read them all back to back but I have managed to read three and that is a lot in a month. I have really enjoyed them and have watched each movie once I have finished the book. I'm not saying I didn't like the movies but I was shocked to see how disloyal they are to the actual books. I didn't remember them varying so greatly and it really surprised me considering that the movies are so treasured. I have a feeling they are more loved in their own right then in comparison to the novels. Anyways, moving on past my mini rant, I have been enjoying them even if they are for younger kids. If you haven't read the series I'd say give it a try :)

All About Us- He Is We 

I found this song a few weeks ago and it has been on repeat ever since. I have added it to so many playlists, as I now think it is appropriate for all occasions. It has great lyric but also a great sound. I would definitely recommend it :)  

That is all for this month. I have pretty much settled in to my new apartment (which I have been saying I'm doing a post on for way to long.. it will be up soon) so things should be more calm this month. I have already purchased a ton of new make up and beauty products that I want to try out so there will be some reviews coming too :) I hope that July treated you well! Be sure to fully enjoy August before school starts back up!