How To: Keep Your Long Hair Fun & Healthy for Summer!

How To: Keep Your Hair Fun & Healthy for Summer!

Today I'm working in conjunction with Brooke Elise on this haircare How To! We've both got a few tips and tricks for keeping your hair type healthy and happy. Personally, I've got super long (almost to my butt) naturally blonde hair - so I'll be telling you what I do!

Stay away from the hot tools!

This is my natural hair! (and natural curl)

No seriously - it may look awesome for like a second but it ends up damaging the hair more. If you want to style your hair try the blow dryer on cool, braids, or rollers!

Speaking of braids...

They will become your best friend, and are practically a necessity if you want manageable hair. A braid is also a super cute hairstyle and is perfect for windy days. I personally braid my hair every night before bed - sleeping with your hair loose just creates tangles and a mess to brush through in the morning. Also - use a metal free hair tie. I bought a pack of 100 at the dollar store!

Find the perfect brush/comb

Personally, I use a wide tooth comb and a tangle teezer to brush my hair. I also own a wet brush that I never actually use in the shower anymore - but dry when my tangle teezer is no where to be found. The wide tooth comb is a shower staple when I've got conditioner in my hair to make sure that the conditioner gets in every nook and cranny.

Washing your Hair

Now I know everyone is weird on hair washing, and we all have our own system. But I'll tell you mine - I was my hair MAYBE once or twice a week. I don't have super greasy hair although it definitely can get that way, it just depends mainly on how sweaty I get during those inbetween days. I use a moisturizing shampoo too - I know there is all this chemistry behind shampoos but I'm gonna be honest, I buy my shampoo and conditioner at Sams club. (which is a wholesaler) So I've got a very large shampoo and conditioner pump sitting in my shower.

Conditioning your Hair

This is going to sound weird probably, but I always apply conditioner to the ends of my hair first. I feel like this is the part of my hair that is most fragile and I will apply a large portion of moisturizing conditioner there before anything else. My hair is also long enough that I pull it up in a bun of its own while I shave/wash my body and the last thing I do before I get out of the shower is wash conditioner out. I always end up letting my hair air dry as well.

Stay away from permanent color!

This is kind of a no brainer - peroxide based hair colors damage hair. Long hair is sensitive and you need to be gentle with it. But I've used demi/semi permanent colors on my long hair before with no repercussions. (I prefer using brands like Manic Panic)

Be Gentle!

No seriously - have patience and be gentle. It may take up some time of your morning- but it'll be worth it in the long run!

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1 Year Blogiversary && HelloWench.com

ITS MY 1 YEAR BLOGIVERSARY

This past year has been an absolute roller coaster and you guys were there with me EVERY step of the way. Lets just do a quick recap:

• Moved out of my parents house and into my first apartment with my fiance and best friend
• Learned how to sustain myself and maybe even cook a little
• Moved my fiance ACROSS THE COUNTRY to live with me
• Juggled my last year at university as an engineering major with a full time job, fiance, and family
• Adopted/Rescued Buster
• Lost 30lbs (and then gained it back, whoops!)
• My cousin finally got married!
• First Christmas/Holiday season with the fiance
• Managed finances properly while the fiance was out of work
• Kept team morale up!
• Had pneumonia (wtf, who gets pneumonia in the middle of Spring?)
• Pushed through the final semester and GRADUATED with a 3.0 GPA.
• Took my first vacation in years
• Hit my 1 Year viewing goal of 10k total pageviews!

I can't believe the friends I've made along the way and you guys are seriously the best. Thanks for being there for me.

Also: if you hadn't noticed I finally bought my domain as my one year present to myself! Hello Wench finally has a home! 

HelloWench.com

Here's to another year! *clink*

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Summer Walmart Beauty Box 2015

Summer Walmart Beauty Box 2015

This season's Beauty box was honestly kind of disappointing. One of these items I had received before and the other things were things I wasn't really a fan of. But lets get into it anyway.

So starting at the left is an NYC Liquid Lipshine Lipgloss in Rivington Rose. Which is a pretty mauvey pink color. I'll probably use to to top off other lipsticks and is a nice neutral. It sells for $2 in store.

The next thing in the box was a Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy Complete Care Shampoo. (no conditioner, just shampoo) I mean, I'll probably use it for when I go away, but otherwise the retail size shampoo is only $5 - and this was a sample.

To the right of that is the AWESOME Dove Go Fresh Body wash in mandarin and tiare flower scent. It smells amazing, and I used the sample I had previously received. A retail bottle of 22oz bottle sells for ~$5.50.

Next in the box is this St. Ives Blackhead Clearing Green Tea Scrub. It looks weird, it smells 'okay'. I've yet to see if it works, but my fiance has been having trouble with blackheads and whatnot lately so we're going to give this sample a go. Plus the other St. Ives face scrub we own works wonders on both our faces. A full size (6oz) of this stuff will cost ya $4.

Also included in this box was the Nivea Soft Moisturising Creme. I haven't used it yet so nothing to really comment about - but I've been hunting for new moisturizers so I'll give this one a go. This comes in multiple sizes but the 6.8oz one will only set ya back $4.

This box also came with a small sample of the Neutrogena CoolDry Sport sunscreen with an SPF 70. Neutrogena makes some pretty awesome sunscreens and when I'm at the beach for the 4th of July I definitely will be using this on my face. Chris and I want to go paddleboarding/kayaking again so we're gonna investigate and see where that takes us.

Last but not least is the One Direction You & I perfume. As much as it pains me to say it - it doesn't even smell that bad either. I'm glad I got a sample but I won't be purchasing the bottle unless I absolutely fall in love with it.

Not pictured is a few manufacturers coupons I got for $2 off 3 different brands of brushes and a packet sample of the Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer for medium to Dark Skintones. (which I am not... so... what do I do with this?) 

Overall I was underwhelmed by what I got in this box. It seemed just thrown together and kind of lazy. The only thing I'm really happy for is the Dove body wash and the perfume sample. Oh well, you can't get lucky with them all! Maybe Fall will be better?

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Mini Target Haul

Mini Target Haul

I don't haul many things very often - but this past Sunday I grabbed a few things that I definitely (didn't) need. But I did grab a few things that I DID need.

HTML/CSS Tips and Tricks

HTML/CSS Tips and Tricks

If there is something that a lot of bloggers need help with - its coding. So I've assembled a few quick and easy tips, tricks, and a few resources so that when you look at some simple code you can get the gist of what's going on.

Current Netflix Obsessions June 2015

Current Netflix Obsessions

Okay so, OITNB 3rd season came out early. And I'm dying because I still haven't caught up with the other 2 seasons before it. I guess I know what my weekends look like soon. But here are some of my current Netflix obsessions.

May Instagram Round-Up

May Instagram Round-Up

I love seeing these posts pop up every once in awhile - esp for people who post to Instagram a lot more than I do! But May seemed to be a month where a lot of exciting stuff happened so I guess I instagrammed a little more than I thought I did! Most of these pictures are of my fiance or my dog - because this is my little lion pride and they are the central focus in my life. I also spent quite a few days at the beach this month and therefore have a few (pretty awesome) beach pictures. Three of these are actually screenshots from the videos that I took so you should totally watch the videos on my instagram. I promise most of them are funny (and of the dog jumping in the pool).

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Riens Handmade Soap Review*

Riens Handmade Soap Review

Hey everyone! So today I want to sit down and have a chat with you about Riens Handmade Soap*. First things first though, this is a sponsored post and I was sent these items in exchange for an honest review.

I was sent two AMAZING handmade soaps though - one being Jasmine Rice Milk Chai Tea and the other being the Shea Butter & Olive Oil. One thing that is awesome about both of these soaps is that they are both paraben free, have no preservatives, no chemical ingredients, no SLS or detergents, no harsh ingredients, and are cruelty free!

OOTD: Comfy Summer Romper

OOTD: Comfy Summer Romper

Okay ladies and gents - its finally summer time! So you know what that means - rompers and shorts and super fun OOTDs! I'm excited to show you my first (I have a collection of like 5) rompers for the summer. Rompers are super cute, easy to wear and style, and cool (literally) outfits to gear up for summer in.

I particularly like rompers because it makes a statement without really having to think about it. + this one is a pair of shorts, perfect for this hot Florida weather.

Sucker For Packaging Tag

Sucker for Packaging Tag

Last week my blogging bestie made a new tag all about Makeup Packaging! And even though she didn't directly tag me in her post, I got this message about 10 mins after for posted it.

Which I'm pretty sure means that she wants me to do the tag. So I am!

 Have you bought anything just for the packaging?

Absolutely! I looove how Tarte, Urban Decay, and Too Faced package their products.

What limited edition item do you own that has the prettiest packaging?

Tragically, I don't own any limited edition items. (I think) I tried like hell to pick up the Tarte Rainforest After Dark palette from last fall and EVERY TIME I went to Ulta, they didn't have it. I still feel some type of way about it.

What permanent item do you own that has the prettiest packaging?

I love the simplicity of the Urban Decay Naked Palette I own. But I have to say I love how Too Faced packages my Melted Liquid Lipsticks.

Pretty or practical?

I'm a practical and drugstore kinda gal. So while pretty is nice I'm all down for practicality. 

 Name the most practically packaged item you own.

Damn, it would have to be my elf BB cream. Its in a tube, has a pump, and the pump can be twisted off and removed if you want. Its simple and easy and I totally love it.

 Can packaging be pretty and practical?

Definitely! The UD naked Palette I own is sleek, with a bunch of shades that I actually use and while its mirror isn't large - it definitely gets the job done.

Name your all-time favourite packaging!
I loooooved the look of the Tarte Rainforest After Dark palette (can you tell I'm still hung up on it?)

 What's the most boring packaging something you own has?
Its definitely gotta be some of my elf products - although most of them are black, they aren't always sleek. Some of them are even just outright oversized and poorly made. I'll continue to use them though because the product itself is pretty good for the price.

What do you look for in packaging?
Def something sleek and chic. I don't like products with bulky packaging.

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