*Catch Up!*

I've fallen behind on keeping everyone updated on school!!! 😱😱😱 my bad 😚! I'm going to do a quick run down!!!

* I received "Top 2 Students" recognition in my school in January, February & March!!
* I've been ombréing like CRAZY! Love this hair trend!
* I got the opportunity to "assist" during a grand fashion show here!
* An AMAZING student that I also went to UofL with graduated last week & is missed tremendously! She's All That!
* I have side hustle on top of side hustle taking care of gas & food. Finding a reliable job is insane for the hours I need to graduate on time!
* I have pics galore! Hair & Nails!
* It's March Madness Baby!!! GO CARDS UofL BIRD|GANG L YEAH 😝

Xo

<3lways



COMING UP: Some Pics!! I guess lol

*Quick Update!!*

UPDATES!!

After passing both assessments ( I murdered those man!!!)  that allow you to move on to the next stage in school and 2 weeks of practice time, I hit the floor about 1 1/2 weeks ago meaning I can actually take walk-ins and guest and it has been crazy & fun just like I'd hoped for!! :)

*This week I went price shopping.  I made a list of everything that I could possibly need to maintain my service experience while in school.  I was on edge the entire time!! 1) I just love to shop, even if it is window shopping or checking for prices & 2) I felt like I was one step closer to whatever the future holds!! I have a game plan for my own salon, but who doesn't? Although owning/running is something I really want and WILL ultimately have I am not going to keep myself in the "open my own salon" box.  I don't plan on turning down many/ if any opportunities that come my way to better myself and my career.  Coming back to the point, it was exciting knowing what I need & getting a better idea of how much everything would cost BUT I haven't done a grand total yet... I'm not ready for that crazy amount. 

*Another thing happening this week: Worksheet Completion!  Every month we will get a sheet of required services we must perform and get an "instructor" (we call them Learning Leaders) to sign off on them when we finish. These sheets are jam packed with things to do including hair cuts, perms, relaxers, Marcel work, manis, facials, waxing, etc. Though it feels fabulous to complete January's worksheet.. I must now complete February's... -___- this cycle is sure to get old fast.

* Side-note:  a guy came in today with upgraded pepper spray that burns through clothes & tasers!!!!  He gave great statistics that made us all aware of our surroundings and taught us some self defense moves I can't wait to use if necessary!! I walked away remembering this "... acrylics & all... grab, twist & pull" okaaay? Protect yourself men & ladies!!

*As I start getting the hang of my new schedule and routine I will be sure to post more pictures of actual services I complete.  Thanks for actually taking the time to read :o)

COMING UP:  MEET BELLA, MICHELLE & FLO (My doll heads!!!) 

*Pictures!!!*

I'M BACK!!!! 

 Things have been CRAZY since my last post and I have tons to catch up on but 1st those nail pics I promised in the last post! Keep in mind these are old nail pics so if you follow me on IG you've seen them all before. I'm in the middle of importing new pics from my phone to upload (yay!), sadly there are  a total of 1646 photos processing so it is taking a while (boo!).  So here is what I have until next time!! Enjoy!!

<3LWAYS

COMING UP:  CLASS UPDATES!!!

*A Moment*

Texture Week has come and gone!! Along with it were Color Week and Cutting Week!!! I am now 4 cuts/styles away from being fully prepared to take the assessment that allows me to move on to the next level!!! *insert teen girl scream* Yes I am excited and I can not wait to finally be on the service floor! Since my last post my days have been running together with new information, procedures and techniques to share. However, if I could for a moment I want to take this post and say please just pray for one another. 

My first draft of this post was almost 2 pages long of emotions and what I felt was encouragement to you all to love one another and not to judge because we have no knowledge of what someone is really going through. Once I got it all out I realized it means nothing if it's not perceived correctly and will make no difference if there is no action. So, I'm just asking you all to please pray.  I don't care what you pray for.  It can be for you, someone close to you or someone you don't even know.  Just do it because you know there's power in prayer and it is needed right now.  Over the last 3 weeks I've seen so many tears shed by others while telling me about 1 specific problem in their life and I KNOW all of those tears did not come from that one bad/negative situation alone.  A build up of emotion can be harmful to self. To see so many going through so much pain is heartbreaking to me.  Deaths on top of deaths, people hurting others with lies, vindictive ways, selfishness and negativity period... When someone tells me they are having a bad day or I can sense the struggle within them to just be ok and smile it takes everything in me now to pry to try to help them solve ALL their problems in their entire life at that very moment.  I know that sometimes I just have to let them tell me what they need to say at that time, even if it is a lie "I'm fine" "Nothing" "I'm not mad" and just pray for them.  

My sister did this the other day and I teared up on sight (I'm an emotional mess smh) from the thought of all the people she reached that day... If you are so busy praying for everyone else that you forget to pray for you or think your needs are not as important as someone else's I will pray for you, just let me know who you are. 

I know this isn't the typical post but without the grace of God I can do nothing.  I can not ignore the things going on around me and ask that you don't either.  I wish I could give everyone having a "moment" a hug, it's going to be alright. May God continue to bless and protect you all.

<3lways

COMING UP: Nail Pics :o)

*Porosity!*

My CARDS are playing in the back so this post won't be long. (Go Cards)

The last week (school and none school related combined) has been insane! I have to keep reminding my self not to complain, I asked for this.  All of it! My class has moved onto HAIR COLOR!! I'm enjoying myself more than I thought I would in this area.  Not that I'm bad at it or intimidated by it but keep in mind, I started for nails and I'm finding myself gravitating toward other skills I didn't know I had.  Still very cautious, I don't want to turn anyone's hair green (unless that's how they want it).  

We've also been discussing the over all hair health before any salon service.  Depending on the health of the hair some services are recommended while others are restricted.  I know you may already know these things because I do but bare with me, there's a bigger point.  All hair types are not the same and based on what they've been through (heating, coloring, relaxing, perming, natural, damaged, weather change, etc) treatment and care varies.  How well the hair will hold a treatment, a chemical or even just water is based on that health check history and journey.  Today we did a team building session of sorts that was meant to get us to discover many things about ourselves and each other.  I took a collective group of "aa-ha" moments from the activities but one thing I realized that was unexpected is how much the journey of our hair and our life is the same in sorts.  We grow based on situations that occur.  Seek treatments and solutions to different obstacles.  Cut things that can cause or have caused damage out.  We even change some things to give us a new look, better feel and allow us to truly be who we are meant to be. 

The same happens with our hair.  It grows, gets treatments, cuts, colors, breaks and gets damaged by things we may do to it combined with lack of care.  Having a healthy life goes hand in hand with having healthy hair. Taking care of yourself daily by tending to those weak spots with prayer, support and extra TLC and keeping negativity away can cause a chain reaction from wherever you think you may need to start to places you would never think need to be tweaked in your life! Start with your wardrobe, hair or nails! Take that one extra step to deep condition, try a new color or cut it all off and start over! Just make sure when you look in the mirror you feel good about who you see, inside and out.  If all your tweaks are internal then do some soul searching and find what it is that you've been through or that you're seeking that will make you happy and whole.

Do not do further damage to yourself trying to cover up what needs to be removed!

Remember that how you feel is how you look.  If you look good you feel good. 

"The me I see is the me I'll be" <~ Think about who you were, who you are and who you want to be.  

This means more to me than just hair.  Making hair and nails look good is great but I did nothing if I don't help the person sitting in my chair realize I'm just adding an accessory to their already strong and healthy life, not helping cover up damage that has been done and needs to be hid. 

<3lways

COMING UP: Texture Week!

*GOODIES!!!!*

My kit full of goodies came today!!!! Today was dedicated to hair structure, roller placement and relaxers. I was bored out of my mind for the 90% of the day. My last hour was AMAZING!!! Boxes, paper & plastic were flying everywhere! I've never been so ecstatic to do inventory in my life!! I do have to go home and write my name on every single item but hey. OK, time for that pedi story I promised!!!

 Story Time: Foot Patrol
 While discussing ways to get the softest skin on the feet during class the Ped Egg (hand held device used to remove dead skin off of though and stubborn parts of the feet) was mentioned. A classmate then began telling myself and one other this event from the past. While pulled over one night a police officer noticed her Ped Egg in the passenger sit and after opening the item he claimed the white, dry & flake like substance inside wasn't dead skin cells but instead drugs! After she told him it wasn't he proceeded to stand by his initial accusation and began to investigate further. This man took his finger and twirled it around in her foot skin residue!!! Like sir??!!! For 6 months after that... awkward night, she had court dates & chemical testing done to prove that this cop didn't run his fingers through a nice amount of drugs but a laughable collection of dead skin. Now "uugh...eewww...oh my dayum... & are you serious" were the only words I could say while she told us the story. After taking it in a little I have to ask, did the officer ever find out he was wrong & if so did someone catch his reaction on tape?! I was floored!!! He probably thought he was the man that night too. I wouldn't be surprised if he had just left a class on new hiding places for drugs & Ped Eggs were on the list. He couldn't pass up the chance to have his name on that paperwork. There was so much wrong in that story but my mind just kept going back to the cops finger in dead foot skin. I don't want to touch my own dead skin let alone someone else's!! I still laugh thinking about it. If you have to take something "serious" away from the story, please don't leave dead skin inside of your Ped Eggs... If you do, a top flight officer of the law might mistake it for crushed up pills & cause you 6 months of court dates, chemistry, pain & laughter every time you think of his finger in your dead skin debris LMBO. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

<3lways

 COMING UP: Hair Health Check!!

*1st Friday!!*

I decided to take a break from practicing fishtail and french braids on my doll head, studying the skeletal system and trying to remember the steps of a manicure/pedicure for State Board (SB) purposes versus my own magical mani/pedi techniques *huge side eye*, to make updates to my process! Plus, "We Will Always Love You"- A Grammy Tribute to Whitney Houston is on... I can study when it goes off and I've watched it again on my DVR ;o) 

My class has been jumping around subject wise trying to make due while we wait on our kits full of goodies to get arrive.  This week alone we've discussed braiding, thermal pressing (hot comb), color,  cuts, manicures, pedicures, bone structure, hair texture, endless product information and standard guideline blah blah blah.  Tomorrow we will do facials, waxing, proper massage technique, more procedure information, skin knowledge and...something else. BASIC MANICURE was the highlight for me yesterday.  I couldn't wait to start! The personal way I choose to do my manicure is not SB approved, so for the propose of being correct I will only share the book steps:

Manicure
-Sanitize the hands.  Remove the polish.
-File the nails from the corner to the center on both hands (soak).
-Apply the cuticle softener and remover to both hands.
-Push back cuticles.
-Buff the nails w/a block buffer.
-Nip the cuticles and massage in the cuticle oil.
-Clean under the free edge and the nail surfaces.
-Apply a base coat (follow with 2 coats color and 1 top coat).
-Remove polish from the cuticles.

Here are some of my own helpful techniques that I've learned help make a smooth manicure procedure or simple polish change.

*Clean nails w/ soapy water or alcohol saturated cotton to get rid of lotion, dirt and debris on nail bed before applying polish.   
*Use makeup cotton rounds to remove polish instead of cotton balls (do so in straight down motion starting from cuticle. Slight twist side to side can be done for stubborn polish. NEVER go back and forth when removing polish)
*THIN COATS!
*When applying polish place brush in the middle of the nail away from the cuticle, slightly push back toward the cuticle then complete strokes down the nail bed.  This makes even strokes AND prevents cleaning polish off of fingers.
*Keep a wooden cuticle stick (flat end) near by to clean as you go if needed. 
*Roll polish bottle in hands to mix DO NOT SHAKE.
*Nail enamel spray is your friend!!

We didn't go over nail enhancements, minx, shellac, or gel nails.  That doesn't mean we won't later but I would have liked to know now if I've been doing it correctly. My nails always (for the most part) look pretty so... I think I am! 

Let me know what questions you all have, if any, as I go along. What I don't know I will find out and get back to you!!  I'm still on my "1st day of School" high and I'm loving every second of it!! :oD Back to work I go.

<3lways*

*COMING UP: Facials! & a Pedi Story [its jaw dropping, funny and gross AT THE SAME TIME]