L’Oreal Paris Relaunch in Nassau, Bahamas

Hello Beautiful,

L’Oreal Paris is relaunching their Hair, Makeup & Skincare products in the Bahamas and had a launch event on Friday, July 14th to celebrate.

Fortunately for me, I found myself on the invitation list, and had an amazing time at the event! I learned so much about L’Oreal and its diverse subsidiary brands, one being Maybelline, a favorite of mine.

Do ya’ll remember when I met the Maybelline trend squad last year September? Click here to see the video from our day away workshop in Eleuthera, Bahamas.

Now… back to the L’Oreal Awakening event! It was nothing short of GLAMOUROUS!

After taking a few pics on the step and repeat, I walked into the Melia Ballroom to purple floor lights, high cocktail tables and a big screen that said “L’Oreal” above the stage. I knew I was in the right place!

To my right was a beautiful sweet treats buffet filled with cotton candy, macaroons, bubble gum, cookies and cupcakes! Yum, yum, yum! To my left was the bar serving soft drinks, and wine! Oh… and natural fruit popsicles!

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I found myself a vacant table and chair at the centre of the room, with a great view of the screen and stage.

The host, Bahamian singer Bodine welcomed the crowd and introduced the first speaker. Through out the night international reps for L’Oreal, Maybelline and Garnier spoke about the brands, their affiliation with one another and their target markets.

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During the presentation breaks, I visited the different brand booths around the room. The first booth I stopped to was the Garnier Hair Care booth. There I met Bre & Tanisha, two of the Garnier’s representatives. These ladies were so friendly and knowledgeable. They told me all about the Garnier’s shampoo and conditioner sets such as Whole Blends and Green Tea, their formulas, and which ones were best for certain hair types. I also learned that Garnier’s products are paraben and silicone free, and that they carry a vegan shampoo and conditioner, which tells me Garnier is a very health conscious brand.

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242BlqRze and Garnier

Throughout the night, Bodine, the host asked trivia questions based on the presentation. I didn’t win any of the trivia prizes, but I already felt like a winner just being in the room.

Curiosity wouldn’t let me keep still. The next booth I visited was the Maybelline booth.

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Being a big fan of Maybelline’s lipstick, I was like a kid in a candy store when the rep showed me all these cool colors for fall and most importantly for my chocolate complexion. There was a lot of “Oooo’s” and “Ahh’s” from my side of the table. I had the rep write down the name and numbers of the lippies and I will be visiting one of Nassau’s several Lowe’s Pharmacy’s to purchase them.

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In real cocktail style there were hor’dorves waiters floating the room, making sure every one had their small bites of deliciousness. I ate a little salmon on a toasted bread, some cheese with grapes and quiche. Oh! And let’s not forget my white wine with the popsicle in it! That was a surprising twist on my favorite cocktail.

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Apart from the awesome candy buffet, delicious hor’dorves, and amazing decor, the DJ was playing the latest “party girl” hits and there was even an instant photo booth with props.

Of course there was no way I could leave the event without visiting the L’Oreal station. I honestly saved the best for last! L’Oreal has always been an affordable makeup brand that was raved about, and I’m so happy they’re introducing more darker shades for the coloured woman.

The L’Oreal representative tested the Infallible Matte Finish foundation in the color 112 on me, and I instantly fell in love!

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Apart from foundations, the L’Oreal rep introduced me to L’Oreal Infallible Paints lipglosses, and liquid liners that I didn’t even know existed. I may have to cheat on Maybelline with a few of these L’Oreal Infallible products (covers face). Their colors are amazing for summer, especially the electric blue eyeliner!

I can go on, and on about my experience at the L’Oreal Awakening Relaunch event! It was truly enlightening, fun and glamorous. I was already a fan of Maybelline and L’Oreal but now I’m a bigger fan of these brands and a new fan of Garnier.

I made a list of products I’m going to purchase from each brand, but the L’Oreal Infallible line has truly made an impression on me. Thank you Lowe’s Pharmacy (Nassau, Bahamas) and L’Oreal Paris Hair & Makeup!

See more pics from the L’Oreal Awakening Relaunch Event:

 

 

||Hair It Is||… My Hair Regimen!

Hello Beautiful!

I’m so happy My Hair Journey is inspiring so many other beauties to start their own! Although everyone’s journey may be different, a lot of my friends and followers have been asking for My Hair Regimen!

So here goes…

Moisture Shampoo Wash Day: Sunday (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Sunday of the Month)

Products Used: Elasta QP Creme Conditioning Shampoo

Elasta QP DPR – 11+ Treatment

Organic Root Stimulator Replenishing Conditioner

Elasta QP Leave In H-2 Conditioner

Clarifying Shampoo Wash Day: Sunday (4th or LAST Sunday of the Month)

Products Used: Organic Root Stimulator Creamy Aloe Shampoo

Elasta QP DPR – 11+ Treatment

Organic Root Stimulator Replenishing Conditioner

Elasta QP Leave In H-2 Conditioner

Co-Wash Day or Conditioner Wash Day: Wednesday

Products Used: V05 Moisturizing Conditioner

Organic Root Stimulator Replenishing Conditioner

Elasta QP DPR – 11+ Treatment

Elasta QP Leave In H-2 Conditioner

Pre-Shampoo Treatment: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Night

Products Used: Castor Oil

Moisturize and Seal: Every Night

Products Used: Elasta QP Olive Oil and Mango Butter Moisturizer

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil or Elasta QP Olive Oil and Mango Butter Growth Oil

There is it! My simple hair regimen, everything I do daily, weekly and monthly. After every wash, I usually let my hair air dry in braids instead of styling with heat. Then the next morning I’ll loose out the braids for a wavy, crimpy or curly look.

If this regimen fits into your schedule, feel free to use it! If not, use it as a guideline and tailor it to your routine.

I hope you enjoy this post! Comment below and let me know what’s on your Hair Agenda!

Stay Beautiful,

Conesha

||Hair It Is||… Back on My HAIR Journey w. Waves Hair Studio

Hello Beautiful,

I’m so excited that more and more of you are joining my journey… my SECOND hair journey!

I’m even more excited that many of you are starting YOUR OWN hair journey, and planning to grow your hair long and healthy!

Well, before I started my new hair journey, I watched my hair go from beautiful, to bad to HORRIBLE! My hair and scalp were dry, my hair was brittle and breaking, it still had some length but it wasn’t growing and lastly it was becoming very, very thin! I was frustrated and honestly… depressed over my hair.

So, I made up my mind one day to kick start my hair journey by visiting an elite hair salon in Nassau, Bahamas called Waves Hair Studio. I decided to treat myself to EXCELLENT hair care by one of their Cosmetologist, Aline Cassandra. I’ve worked with Aline before on a photo shoot that I styled, and I was very impressed with her hair care. So I decided to have here revive my hair before I began my hair journey…for the second time.

When I walked into the salon my hair needed a perm, I must have been about a month and a week post relaxer. My hair looked like this:

I was almost embarrassed to have my hair in such bad condition, but Aline examined my hair carefully and decided on what relaxer, and treatment my hair needed. Then she began to prep my hair for the relaxer. She separated my here into sections, then based and pre-treated my hair with a silicon or gelly like treatment to protect my hair from the relaxer:

Then it was time to apply the relaxer. But first! Let me take a selfie…

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Aline used an Affirm relaxer and a soft rubber spatula to apply it. I thought the spatula was so cool! Because of the soft rubber tip my scalp was not irritated and did not burn. That was the FIRST TIME I had a relaxer and did not burn!

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The relaxer did not take long at all to break down my new growth, and in no time I was at the shampoo bowl. However before she rinsed off my relaxer, she informed me that she would rinse the relaxer, then treat my hair and THEN used a neutralizer. Normally people would relax, neutralize, then treat. But her reason for doing it the other way was because a neutralizer closes the hair follicles after the relaxer opens them and she didn’t want to reopen the hair follicles for the treatment. So she treated my hair first, then neutralized it.

Here I am at the shampoo bowl:

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After a nice scalp massage, and nearly falling a sleep at the shampoo bowl, it was back in the chair for my cut and results. Yes! I asked Aline to even my hair, by cutting it to its shortest point or side. I was anxious and excited but I knew it was necessary.

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Aline didn’t want to cut so much of my hair, but I insisted on getting rid of all the damaged, over-processed, dry ends. So, when she was completely done cutting my hair looked like this:

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After she was satisfied with the cut, Aline roller set my hair in big rollers using the Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum that controls frizz and serves as a heat protectant…

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and placed me under the dryer.

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Oh! And I even had a little coffee courtesy of the salon…

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Hunnie! I was loving my day at that salon… Can you tell? Lol.

Ok, so after my hair dried completely she removed the rollers and styled it into loose curls. Here is the finish look of my relaxer, treatment, cut and roller set:

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I loved the way my hair felt when she was done. My hair was light, soft and had lots of body for days after my relaxer.

So now, I’m even more excited and motivated to grow my hair long, but also to maintain its health and thickness!

Comment below and let me know if you’re on a hair journey, and what helped you kick start your regimen!

Stay Beautiful,

Conesha

||Hair It Is||… HAIR JOURNEY PRODUCTS

Hello Beautiful!

I’m determined to grow My Hair to MY WAIST! I started my hair journey back in 2013, and was just about waist length but life got so hectic I discontinued my hair regimen and my hair suffered!

Anyways, I’m back on it! Recently I purchased almost ALL the items I would need to get started. Click here to watch my RELAXED HAIR JOURNEY PRODUCT HAUL video on Youtube.

Here is a List of the Products I’ll be using on My Hair Journey, and what I’ll be using them for.

1. A Moisturizing Shampoo : Elasta QP CREME CONDITIONING SHAMPOO

2. A Clarifying Shampoo: ORS (Organic Root Stimulator) CREAMY ALOE SHAMPOO

3. A Moisturizing Conditioner: V05 MOISTURIZING CONDITIONER

4. A Moisturizing Deep Conditioner (Treatment): Elasta QP DPR – 11+

5. A Protein Conditioner (Treatment): ORS (Organic Root Stimulator) REPLENISHING CONDITIONER

6. A Leave-In Conditioner: Elasta QP LEAVE-IN H2 CONDITIONER

7. Moisturizer(s): Moisturizing or Protein: Elasta QP OLIVE OIL & MANGO BUTTER MOISTURIZER

8. Oils: Elasta QP OLIVE OIL & MANGO BUTTER GROWTH OILGood ‘N Natural ORGANIC EXTRA VIRGIN COCONUT OIL 

9. A Wide Teeth Comb

10. Satin/Silk Scarf or Bonnet or Pillow Case

11. Pre-Shampoo Treatment: Ashley Lynn RASPBERRY MINT OIL

I will be starting my NEW hair journey with these products, and will be letting you know how they’re making my hair feel. If you’re on a hair journey too, comment below and let me know what products you’re using! 🙂

Stay Beautiful,

Conesha

Welcome

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Hello Beautiful!

I wish you could see my face as I type this welcome message for the relaunch of this blog! I’m smiling… BIG! I’m just so happy to restart two of my favourite things: blogging and inspiring you!

If you were following me on my old blog page, www.242blqrze.blogspot.com, then WELCOME to my new page, 242blqrze.com! I wanted to return to you fresh, new and beautiful!

If you’re new to my blogging world, I’m happy you decided to join the party. I created this new site specifically with you in mind.

My goal, for 242BlqRze, is to bring out your inner and enhance your outer beauty; to help you find the beauty in life and to create a community of girlfriends empowering one another to respect and love themselves.

So visit this blog anytime. Let’s talk about Makeup, Fashion, Hair, and DIY Projects. And, if there’s anything personal you want to discuss just drop me a message on the contact page.

My 2015 mantra is, “Stay Beautiful”. Say it with me…“STAY BEAUTIFUL”! Good, you gat it!

So let’s make it a beautiful 2015 as we bloom into Beautiful Black Roses, one blog post at a time.

XO,

Conesha

Hair Journey

Hair Journey Smaller

Hey beautiful,

In 2013, I started a hair journey. My aim? To grow my hair to my waist. I washed and treated it on time, moisturized and sealed it with oils every night!

In 2014, I  became busier with work and life. As a result, my hair routine slowed down and eventually stopped. But now, its 2015 and I’m back on it! Hair journey reloaded!

Now don’t get me wrong, I still love a good weave in or wig cap! So I’ll be posting my latest hairstyles, hair journey milestones and how to maintain healthy hair with or without extensions or wigs.