They're baacckkk!

Hey everyone! I'm back & braided up for the summer. My wonderful mother again slaved over my scalp to create the beautiful long Patra braids! Patra braids are basically thick + jumbo + long box braids; almost reminscient of Janet Jackson Poetic Justice Box Braids. I've had them in for a few weeks now and plan on taking them out at the end of July. Check out my latest YouTube videos on my braid review and how I style my braids down below. Also, I finally reached over 1,000 subscribers on YouTube!!!! So I will be doing a giveaway very soon (please bear with me, I have been extremely busy with life in these recent weeks lol). However, I'm stuck as to what I should give away! What do you guys think, what kind of (reasonably priced) goodies would you like to receive? Leave your feedback down below. Don't forget to subscribe to my channel and blog (if you haven't done so already) to participate. Love y'all <3

XOXO,

Simone

LOIS | The Hair Typing System

Are you a naturalista who is curious about what all the hype is around declaring your 'hair type'? I was & still am. I've recently discovered a website that describes our natural hair types in a cool, funky way: through acronym letters. The system is called LOIS. Each letter stands for a genre of hair, deeming which 'daughter' you are. Determine your curls, kinks, and coils by find your curl pattern group:

L – If the hair has all bends, right angles and folds with little to no curve then you are daughter L.
O – If the strand is rolled up into the shape of one or several zeros like a spiral, then you are daughter O.
I – If the hair lies mostly flat with no distinctive curve or bend you are daughter I.
S – If the strand looks like a wavy line with hills and valleys then you are daughter S.

In my case, I am a daughter O. My hair has an abundance of tight spiral curls but still has daughter L like textures. Take a picture of your own curls & see which daughter you are!

 *these pictures are in its fully air dried state

XOXO,

Simone

Happy June + Life Update

Happy June everyone! These summer months are already flying by. I've been out of school for almost a month now & things are great. I've decided to set personal themes for myself for each month of this summer. This month, I'll deem it 'time'. Working on my time management whether it's for getting to work on time or spending quality time with my little sister. I need to work on cherishing my time instead of wasting it! I didn't realize it but last month's personal theme ended up being 'spontaneous'. A word that so perfectly describes me. I got another new job, applied to several others, went gambling, cut my hair for a third time, and so much more...all on a whim. With all this, I think I'm going to write out a summer 2013 bucket list. I'm trying to complete as much on bucket list as I can before fall semester starts. Here it goes:

- Get my hair braided up for the summer

- Get a new job

- Go to a casino/gamble

- Drive a far distance by myself (2+ hours completed so far!)

- Attend multiple concerts (just came back from Hot 97 Summer Jam 2013 yesterday)

- Hit 1,000 subscribers on my YouTube channel (subscribe here...it's free!)

- Take a road trip with a friend &/or friends

- Visit friends in the Tri State & DMV area

- Go on vacation with my boyfriend

- Re-apply for my dream job

- Buy a Moschino &/or Hermes belt (stretch goal) 

- Attain 3 inches of new growth!

- Start weekly Zumba classes

- Go to a strip club

- Pay off my credit card debt

- Plan a weekend getaway with my family

- Shopping spree in SoHo

- Save at least $2,000

- Finalize academic plan to study abroad in London

- Complete a 1 week NutriBullet Detox Cleanse (NO SOLID FOODS)

& the list continues as the summer goes on!

As far as posting, I'll be keeping you guys updating about myself & some neat tips and tricks on hair & beauty related things I find along the way. Tata for now,

Simone

Best wishes these next 30 (now 27) days!

OOTD: Simple Retail Work Attire

Tribal Pants - Forever 21 | White V-Neck - Sister's Closet | Peach Blazer - Marshalls | Watch - NY & Company | Earrings - Forever 21 | HOTD (Hair of The Day) - Dry Braid Out

Got called in to work a five hour shift yesterday. Decided to put on something that 'stood out' but would be toned down by a warm color. Peach & tribal print, my favorites. I like this outfit combination a lot. Makes me look like I actually know how to dress lol. I'm no fashionista, just a naturalista showing off her simple retail work attire.

XOXO,

Simone

3 Reasons Why You May Be Losing Your Edges by CLASSY CURLIES (Guest Blogger)

Hey lovies!

The lovely Victoria has reached out to me  recently to be a guest blogger here on Naturalista Neff. The post is a great article about how to maintain those mini "prized possessions" we have on our foreheads: our edges. Here's the guest blogger post by Classy Curlies. Read the article below:

3 REASONS WHY YOU MAY BE LOSING YOUR EDGES

Hey Curlies,
I constantly get questions about how to grow out your edges and how to keep them healthy. Most people aren't even sure why their edges may are thinning. Here are a few reasons why you may be losing your edges.

**Tip: Remember to condition and spritz your edges daily with a leave-in conditioner or create your own (pictured above)**

WIGS

Don't get me wrong, wigs are a great protective style and some can even look more natural than real hair, but here is the downside. Usually when one wears a wig, they wear some sort of stocking cap or wig cap. That cap usually fits pretty tight around your edges so that the wigs stays in place correctly. If not careful, the friction from both the cap and wig and cause breakage along the hair line.
Solution: Always apply a light moisturizer and oil before using wigs. Also do not wear them for extended amounts of time. Try to switch things up.

BONNETS
Bonnets are my best friend and many companies even create them in cute fashion patterns and colors. The issue with bonnets are the same as wigs. When wearing the bonnet at night, the bonnet is constantly causing friction against the hairline while you toss and turn during your sleep. Not something you've thought about huh?
Solution: Again, always moisturize and seal before bedtime. This process quenches thirsty hair and cuts down on breakage due to dry hair. You can also try using hair scarfs to tie your hair up and night or a mesh wrap.

TOO MUCH PULL, NOT ENOUGH MOISTURE
Think those high top knots buns are cute? YES! Do you also love wearing ponytails and puffs? Probably so. These are very cute styles that are "in" right now. Yes, these styles are fashionable, however they do cause stress to the hairline. Be gentle and keep your edges moisturized.
Solution: Wear these styles in moderation and be sure not to pull your edges to hard when creating these styles.

ClassyCurlies

If you are interested in being a guest blogger on my page, feel free to contact me or simply drop a comment below.

Blog Feature!

Hey y'all!

Quick update, I've been featured on this wonderful blog, LIONESS Blogs, as this week's 'Lioness of the Week' feature! It's my very first blog feature and I'm pretty excited. A special thanks to the owner, Jacque, for featuring me on the page. If you want to check out the article, click here.

XOXO,

Simone

THE NATURALISTA IS BACK!!!!

HELLO EVERYONE!!!

I apologize for the lengthy hiatus on my blog. I've been quite busy at the end of the school semester, so keeping up with all social media sites was a hassle. But needless to say, I'm back!!!! I tried to revamp my page a little (I'm still in the process so please be patient lol). This time around I will be posting more often with my daily routines & tips on all things beauty related. Also, as you may know I've been natural for quite some time but now I am starting a new chapter of my journey that I will definitely be keeping you up to date with. In the mean time, I've posting new videos on my YouTube channel NaturalistaNeff so check into that for tutorials, reviews, and daily vlogs from yours truly. I'm glad to be back in the swing of things with my first love, blogging. If you have any questions, topic suggestions/requests, or concerns feel free to leave a comment or contact me! Talk to you soon.

**EDIT**
I will be changing the name domain of this blog from "Nappily Ever After" to "NaturalistaNeff" to match my other social media sites soon. Sorry if this creates any confusion!

XOXO,

Simone