Learn to Become an Off-Duty Cutie

Removing your make-up daily should be as important as putting it on.  Failing to do so will only clog your pores and provide a breeding ground for bacteria, ultimately, resulting in nasty breakouts.  Your goal should be to achieve beauty with or without make-up.  The best way to achieve natural beauty is to take small, necessary steps to give your skin the attention it needs and this does not mean breaking the bank.  My suggestion is to start by leaving a pack of make-up remover wipes on your nightstand.  This is great for those nights when you are too exhausted to go through your extensive, beauty regime.  At minimum, the wipes will aid in wiping away majority of your make-up.  Throwing a pack of make-up wipes in your gym bag isn’t a bad idea either.  I know some women intentionally go to the gym with a full face of make-up determined to hook a bulked up, gentlemen caller, which I am not opposed to.  Yet, my suggestion is to wipe away the face paint before actually working out.  Sweat, make-up and open pores are just not the greatest combination.  Plus, the guys will probably like you better because you won’t look so desperate.  Peace, Love and Good Skin!!!

Hot Hair or a Smokin’ Hot Body?

Goodness, I loathe talking about this because this is one topic I absolutely try to avoid. If you haven’t inferred by now, it is super personal. I am sure women everywhere can relate when I convey my issues with working out and managing my hair. I absolutely hate untamed hair. I think my mother must have traumatized me when I was younger. I can still here her saying, “Ladies don’t step out of the door with uncombed hair!” I am telling you, I have major issues. However, as I strive to live a healthier life, the hair factor is getting tossed out of the window. No more excuses. So often, African-American women get stigmatized with not working out because of the hair factor. OK…it may be some truth to this. Yet, on the other hand, I feel like this is a concern of women everywhere, not just African-American women. By no means am I discounting the fact that the array of hair textures of African-American women makes the task much more daunting. 


Trust me I am totally with you and apparently so is the retail industry. The concerns of women have been heard, as products are now being designed especially to address workout hair. Beyond the ponytail, hair extensions, “The Big Chop”, and constantly rocking braids, there are two products on the market designed to make working out a little easier for women. The first product is Nicole Ari’s product, the Save Your Do headband. The headband is designed to minimize sweat absorption through a unique blend of materials that allows heat to escape while letting cool air in. Sounds Interesting? The second product, which appears to be all the rave, is dry shampoo. I don’t know too much about dry shampoo but it is a powdered substance used to clean the hair when you want to extend the length of a blowout or when it is not practical to use water and traditional shampoo. Nevertheless, I have decided that it’s time to get back in somebody’s gym and I hope you have too. Wish me luck, God knows I need it. I have attached the link to for the Save Your Do.  Peace, Love and Team Healthy but Fly!!! http://saveyourdo.com/

One Bald Momma

If you are a mother, I am sure you are extremely familiar with this topic. With so many of my friends and family members recently experiencing childbirth, the topic of post-pregnancy hair has come up quite often. While doing my normal perusing of the internet, I began to realize post-pregnancy hair loss (Telogen effluvium) is a universal issue for mothers. As a matter of fact, according to the American Pregnancy Association (www.americanpregnancy.org), 40-50% of women experience hair loss following childbirth. Apparently, this occurs when pregnancy hormones cause your hair to go into a resting phase, consequently, preventing your strands of hair to shed regularly. Throughout a normal shedding process, you tend to lose approximately 100-125 strands per day. Yet, because pregnancy hormones prevent your hair from shedding as frequently, your hair begins to look super thick and super gorgeous. 


Following childbirth, your hair which was previously unable to shed, begins to come out by the handfuls, often propelling women into a panic. What I found to be even more interesting is that any major fluctuation in hormones can cause hair loss such as, discontinuation of birth control, miscarring or following a terminated pregnancy. Presently, there is no way to prevent post-pregnancy hair loss, however, following the below steps can assist with hair maintenance while coping with the condition: (via www.americanpregnancy.org):

· Consult with your health care provider to ensure a proper balance of hormones
· Avoid any unnecessary stress on the hair, i.e. harsh chemicals, ponytails, hair weaves, and braids
· Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables, which contain flavonoids and antioxidants that may provide    
  protection for the hair follicles and encourage hair growth
· Use shampoos and conditioners that contain biotin and silica
· Hair is fragile when it is wet, so be gentle; avoid fine tooth comb
· Stick closely by your Prenatal vitamins


Good Luck!!!

Chopping it All Off

Have you ever wondered why women chop off their hair when going through emotional stress or a serious break-up?  Alicia Keys recently traded in her flowing tresses for an edgy bob.  During a recent interview, she indicated her new cut represents a new start.  So many factors affect a woman’s decision to cut off their tresses.  Beyond obvious reasons such as, chemical and heat damage, you may want a sassy new look or you may be weary of long, limp tresses.  I personally believe there is nothing hotter than a good, choppy cut, especially on mature women.  Because women have a tendency to express themselves or tell a story through their hair, some may choose to go the completely dramatic route by electing “The Big Chop”, while others may opt to stick to a more conservative route.  With that said, it appears women tend to select hairstyles, which represent who they are and where they are at a particular time in life.  It’s for this reason; I believe women are enticed with parting from their tresses after divorce, bad break-ups, death of a loved one, completion of school, childbirth, etc.   It seems as if there is a correlation between the cutting of hair and freedom or evolution.  Whereas some women choose to go on a good vacay or a fabulous shopping spree, so many others go for the “The Big Chop”.  I’m indifferent on this particular topic.  Yet, I am a strong proponent of doing whatever makes you feel good.   If chopping off your hair is a form of stress relief for you and you feel great doing it, by all means chop away.   Besides, you can always purchase a wig or get a fully sewn in weave if you absolutely hate the end result.  Just be sure to leave enough hair to be braided for the weave.  Peace, Love and Freedom!!!

The Natural Hair Movement

Since Chris Rock’s documentary “Good Hair” hit the big screen in 2009, there has been much dialogue surrounding the topic of natural hair vs. relaxed hair. Blogs have been popping up solely dedicated to natural hair care. You can even find blogs, which provide remarkable step-by-step instructions for those attempting to transition from the use of chemicals to a natural state. I am sure several factors have contributed to this recent decision of many women to abandon hair chemicals. Yet, I would venture to say the most important, contributing factors are: the desire to lead healthier lifestyles and the availability of extensive research via the internet. This topic is somewhat controversial, as I have been around numerous heated debates between women who have made the decision to become completely natural and women, who embrace relaxers or “Creamy Crack”. I will be the first to admit I have not abandoned hair chemicals and I still secretly love a good relaxer. While I am constantly researching and reviewing beauty products and have obtained a great deal of knowledge regarding the pros and cons of specific ingredients, I still haven’t been able to shake my Creamy Crack addiction. On a more positive note, I have altered my habits. I now go much longer without straightening my hair. My decision to lessen my chemical application was based on several factors, but the primary reason is my attempt to live an overall healthier life. Though I will admit, I am slightly envious of those women who have been able to embrace their natural, curly goodness. It appears to be freeing. Maybe one day I will convert, until then I will remain enslaved to the Creamy Crack. Peace, Love and Creamy Crack, or not!!! 

Summer Fierceness

What does Ombre hair color, bold/neon and neutral clothing, high buns, bright colored fingernail polishes, maxi skirts/dresses, pleats, nude lips, and good skin all have in common? One beautiful and fashionably fun summer. After several years of being bored with everything, my senses were truly aroused this summer. I have had a wonderful time perusing some of my fav blogs and reading magazines, to keep you abreast of the latest trends. I absolutely love doing research for my followers, but the trends this summer have made my job a breeze. I truly hope you have had the opportunity to embrace some of this summer’s trends. Even if you aren’t a “dare devil” and tend to be somewhat conservative, I highly recommend trying one or two of the trends before the season is out. For the most part, trends tend to be universal, yet, the key is to wear the trend and don’t let the trend wear you. Still don’t get it? Regardless of your age or size, you can always refine a particular trend and make it work for you. It’s so easy to get complacent with your appearance making it frightening to test the waters. If you have been on the fence about refining your look, this is definitely your time to make the change. Speaking from experience, it’s exciting trying different trends, hairstyles, etc. Trust me you will feel great once you do it. Good Luck!!!

Fishy Pedicures

My blood pressure rises at the thought of fish nibbling on my toes.  At the same time, I do recognize I am an extremely squirmish person.  So, you on the other hand, may love the feeling of little fish feasting on the dead skin troubling your toes.  According to abcnews.com, this concept was introduced to the U.S. by way of a spa in Alexandria, Virginia in 2008.  It was first introduced as an alternative to using razors for removing dead skin.  The article further states, 6,000 clients had received the fish pedicure within five months of its’ inception. Unfortunately, due to the live creature factor and so many other reasons including the inability to effectively sanitize, ten U.S. states have banned this unconventional pedicure.  Apparently, scientists in the U.K. have tested several fish, which have revealed positive strands of bacteria, which have proven to be resistant to specific antibiotics.  Yikes!!!  To date, there have been no published reports linked to infection, within the U.S.  I guess that’s one pro. I had the opportunity to google fish pedicures and discovered several spas, who offer the pedicure as a service. I just don’t know how I feel about this.  For now, I will pass. Stay Gorge and Always Informed!!!

Welcome to Cucumbers and Lipgloss!!!

I am so excited to finally launch Cucumbers and Lipgloss.  If you haven't guessed by now, this is a totally girly blog. Here you will find a wide range of topics pertaining to beauty and women's wellness. My irrepressible passion for all things beauty, wellness, teaching and my love for writing have collectively contributed to the inception of Cucumbers and Lipgloss.  Admittedly, you will also probably detect my slight cupcake addiction from time to time--just ignore it.  Nonetheless, I will take you on a wild and crazy journey into the worlds of beauty and wellness.   Fasten your seat belts as you prepare to experience one beautiful adventure.