30 Day Smoothie Challenge!

Smoothies are an excellent source of energy and nutrition especially for people always on the go like me. Buying these power packed purees while out can really add up! The DIY Princess in me always wanted to try making my own smoothies at home but I dreaded the thought of pulling my bulky blender  out everyday.

So I'm searching the internet one day (I have no idea what I was looking for but I can bet you it wasn't a Nutribullet *side eye*); anyway, I came across a very well priced version of the personal sized blender and decided to give it a try. I debated on wether or not I wanted to buy the Nutribullet but the price was a little to steep for me to spend on something that I barely knew how to use.

                                                        You can find them here and here

By the time I get my little London up, dressed, fed, changed, and down for a nap, its already 1pm and mommy has missed breakfast AND almost lunch. There were times where I'd literally forget to eat; no breakfast, no lunch, and maybe dinner, but then thats not too healthy is it? To stay in shape I definitely need to stay healthy! So, instead of skipping meals all together I decided to find a way to condense them. 

I've done my research and found a plethora of recipes both nutritious and tasty. All ingredients are super affordable and interchangeable. There's a smoothie for pretty much everything, energy, stress,  sleep, breakfast, all types of flavors, the possibilities are endless! For the next 30 days I will be finding and posting new smoothie recipes and letting you know which ones are worth trying. 

My General Recipe:

* Yogurt (my favs are vanilla and toasted coconut)

* Fruit (frozen and fresh)

* Vegetables (mostly spinach and kale)

* Honey (just because its an awesome natural low calorie sweetener)

* Ice (optional, can substitute for frozen fruit)

* Liquid

        - Orange Juice

        - Apple Juice

        - Coconut Milk

        - Almond Milk

        - Soy Milk

 Stay Tuned!

How do you make your smoothies at home?

Riri Hearts MAC Holiday Collection (REVIEW+GIVEAWAY!!) ***CLOSED***

I freaking LOVE giveaways!

Rihanna teamed up yet again with monstrous makeup label MAC Cosmetics to collaborate on a second line, Riri Hearts MAC Holiday Collection.

I got my hands on two of the lipsticks from this collection, below is my review+swatches.

This collection also included some other items as well; one additional lipstick (Riri Woo), blushes, bronzers, nail and lacquers.

GIVEAWAY RULES & ENTRY DETAILS

1. Must Be Subscribed to my Youtube channel (lannafoxxfab)

2. Must like this video

3. Must follow my instagram (@lannafoxxfab)
4. Leave a comment with your instagram name and which lipstick color was your favorite from this collection!

Ends March 28th 2014

Winner will be chosen at random and posted HERE on 3/29/2014

Good Luck!

***CLOSED***

Winner: Jambeauty098280 (youtube)

Please contact me with your shipping information via Youtube asap.

Which Riri Hearts MAC collection do you like better; Summer or Holiday?

Makeup Monday: RiRi Hearts MAC Summer Collection Lipstick Review + Swatches

(L-R: RiRi Woo, RiRi Boy, Heaux)

I know it's been about a month or so since this collection has come out (I have a TON of products to review, I just haven't got around to them yet) so I'm super late with this review but here it is!

After waiting online for approximately 2 hours, I finally got my hands on all three shades of this much anticipated lipstick line.

In addition to the previously released cool red 'RiRi Woo' (June 2013) the online exclusive included two other shades; vivid lavender 'RiRi Boy', and matte berry 'Heaux' (absolutely FABULOUS name by the way).

All of them are retro matte, which is about as matte as you can get (and one of MAC's most popular formulas). You'll either really love it, or really hate it. Personally I think mattes are TDF (to die for) so this collection was right up my alley!

RiRi Woo

Almost identical to its brother from another mother 'Ruby Woo'. This version of the classic red is slightly darker, emphasis on slightly.

RiRi Boy

Lavenders are a huge hit this summer and this one is definitely one to have in your collection. Not as pale as Viva Glam Nicki 2, infact im not even sure I would call this one a pastel. However is is an awesome shade of lilac.

Heaux

This super sexy berry, though not really a summery color, will definetly fit right in with your fall wardrobe. Did I mention that berry lipsticks are so "IN" this fall?  

They are a bit drying, so as with all matte lipsticks, be sure to prep your lips properly with a super moisturizing lip primer. Also be sure to exfoliate your lips before applying as this lipstick will highlight any lip crust dead skin you have lingering around.

The color pay off is gorgeous, super pigmented from the first swipe. Initial application lasts all day with barely any touch up needed.

Overall I was pleased with RiRi's summer collab. Each color can be worn with a variety of skin tones. I would have expected a more tropical palette of color from the Bajan beauty but I see she decided to go with her sexier side with this collection (shocker).

Were you able to get any lippies from this collection? Which one is your favorite?

Should I Wash My Weave?

I've been asked this question a million times, "Alanna, should I wash my hair before I put it in? How do I prep it for the install? What do I do to it when I first get it?" I am going to give you an outline of how I prep my hair, both new and old, for an install.

You will need:

*a basin (a bucket can work, or even just your kitchen sink with the stopper in it; it just has to be able to hold water)

*shampoo + conditioner

*leave in conditioner

*a wide tooth comb [optional]

*a large plastic bag (storage zip lock bag OR a plastic shopping bag) [optional]

1.   First squirt a generous amount of shampoo across the bottom of your basin.
2.   Fill the basin halfway with lukewarm water and submerge your hair (I would recommend removing the rubber bands first, but it's totally optional)
3.   Let the hair sit in the basin for about 1 minute. Then you want to pick up each bundle, one at a time and "swish" or "dunk" it in and out of the water a few times. This is the gentle alternative to scrubbing your hair clean!
4.   Pour the water out of the basin and rise the hair thoroughly with lukewarm water. Make sure you remove ALL traces of shampoo from the hair.
5.   Squeeze out the excess water and apply a generous amount of conditioner to each bundle, working the conditioner throughout the hair with your fingers. Take a wide tooth comb and comb through from the ends up to the weft.
6.   After all hair is thoroughly drenched in conditioner, you can either:
     (1) Let the hair sit in the basin uncovered for an hour
     (2) Seal it in a large plastic bag (squeeze out excess air) and let it sit for 30 minutes
     (3) *My Fav* Seal it in a large plastic bag (squeeze out excess air) and microwave for 1 minute, remove the bag and let it cool for about 15 minutes.
7.   Rinse thoroughly with cold water. Squeeze out excess water, apply your fav leave in conditioner & let air dry!

Try it out and let me know which conditioner method you like best!

Mixing an Amazing Leave In Conditioner

Leave in conditioners should be a staple in everyone's virgin hair washing regimen, and a truly good leave in conditioner will keep your luxurious locks conditioned between washes and maximize the life of your extensions.

Best times to add a leave in conditioner:

* After washing & conditioning hair extensions

* After coloring hair

* After long periods of excessive heat 

* After swimming in chlorine or sea water

Quick & Easy Recipe

                  1 part leave in conditioner (any of the first two listed below)

                  2 parts water

                  Combine together in a empty spray bottle

Infusium 23 Original Formula Pro-Vitamin Leave In Treatment

* I love the original formula bust honestly any version (as long as it is a leave in treatment) will do.

Buy it here

Razac Perfect for Perms Leave in Conditioner

Buy it here

Motions Nourish Leave In Conditioner

* This one i don't recommend diluting, you can spray this one directly onto hair from the bottle. I love this conditioner, my only complaint is that compared to the others you don't get much bang for your buck. 

Buy it here

Hair Extensions in the video were provided courtesy of alannafoxx.com purchase yours here!

Changing The "Natural Hair" Stigma

When you hear women refer to themselves as "natural" visions of mounds of untamed hair, afro's, and dry kinky coils may appear in your head. Now I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with wearing your hair in an fro, by all means, if you like it, we love it. I'm just saying that wasn't the look that I was personally going for. Honestly, I believe this is one of the biggest reasons why black women are so afraid to let go of their relaxer. So, when my hair dresser suggested that I cut out my perm (which had my hair about as brittle as a saltine cracker) I looked at her like she was crazy.

After some thought and research, I finally realized, just because a woman of color chooses to wear her hair "natural" doesn't mean she has to walk around looking like a woman of the wild. There are plenty of "glam-friendly" hairstyles that allow you to both maintain your preferred straight look AND protect the health of your NATURAL tresses.


1.) Dominican Blowouts 
Want your hair super straight, but don't want to add too much heat? I am almost 100% sure that your local Dominican hair salon can help you out with that. This procedure usually includes, a wash & condition, getting your hair blown out with a round brush, and lightly pressed with the flat iron. The hair dressers use products that promote hair growth as well as protect your hair from the heat applied. A Dominican Blowout is very low maintenance (just requires a simple wrap & headscarf at night) and will last you anywhere between 2-3 weeks. Be consistent with this styling and you'll start to notice your hair growing (healthy) in no time.


2.) Weaves
Of course weaves are the ultimate glam "natural" hair style. This is because weaves are so versatile that you can achieve maximum styling while majority of your real hair is protected underneath. Usually with this style, women braid their hair and sew (or glue) tracks onto those braids to create the illusion of a full head of flowing hair. When wearing a weave, you should leave out as little hair as possible, just enough to cover your tracks, and ALWAYS remember to use a heat protectant before applying heat. This style will last you anywhere from 1-3 months and with proper maintenance of your hair underneath, you should definitely experience hair growth when you remove the install.


3.) Buns
This classic up-do is super cute, and super simple to create and maintain. This style is ideal for natural hair gals because it is a great protective style and requires no heat at all. How healthy is that?! A bun can be achieved easily, and if you have trouble laying down those untamed edges, try some pomade and a tight scarf for 5-10 minutes.


4.) Wigs
When most women hear the word "wig" they automatically turn up their noses at the thought. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing a wig, especially if it is a good one. I recommend purchasing a wig (or making your own) that is made out of 100% human hair. Synthetic wigs tend to look fake and don't last for very long, while human hair wigs look more natural and can be styled a variety of ways. If you think you'd feel uncomfortable in a wig, it may help to try one with bangs. This style is great for those transitioning because it's removable, perfect for maintaining for your healthy hair care regimen and protecting hair.

Take Care of that Hair Under There!

Just because you have extensions in doesn't mean you should neglect your real hair under there!
Wearing virgin hair extensions should motivate you to care for your natural hair as well as those expensive additions.

Even if you don't feel comfortable with thoroughly washing & conditioning your braided hair underneath (because its a lot of work and absolutely MUST be done correctly to prevent mildew) you should still keep your hair and scalp well hydrated.

*Top 5 Best Scalp Oils*

1.) Extra Virgin Olive Oil- Yes the one that you cook with! This oil has the ability to penetrate the hair shaft. It nourishes, moisturizes, and conditions hair while relieving dry scalp (dandruff).

2.) Jojoba Oil- Great for all hair types, especially dry or damaged hair. This oil is the closest to the scalp's natural secreted oils, therefore very beneficial in moisturizing both hair and scalp.

3.) Virgin Coconut Oil- With it's antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, this oil is great for treating and preventing scalp problems. It's great for softening & conditioning strands, as well as retaining length.

4.) Grapeseed Oil- Odorless, with a non- greasy texture, this oil is perfect if you are afraid of weighing your hair down. It's easily absorbed, moisturizing & nourishing to reduce brittleness.

5.) Sweet Almond Oil- This natural oil is rich in vitamins A, B1, B6, and E. It contains antioxidants that promote circulation in the scalp, creating strong and healthy hair growth. 

All of these oils are very light and can be easily applied between your wefts using an applicator bottle (which can be bought at any beauty supply store).

Target the oil application directly to your scalp to avoid getting it on your extensions. Remember to squeeze the bottle very lightly, when it comes to oil, a little goes a long way!