Sponsored by Hair Food. All opinions are my own.
In 2020, I started a process of self-love and accepting my curls. When I was young, I was very self-conscious about them. I felt I didn’t look professional or pretty enough.
I stopped straightening my hair, I got my first curly cut, and I switched all my hair products.
I switched to Hair Food because it is free of sulfates, parabens, dyes and they are cruelty free. They also give my curls the hydration they need.
You can also see my other curly articles here:
But recently, something in me has changed. I don’t want to be defined by my curls. My natural curls are a part of me but that’s not all that I am.
- I learned that my curls are beautiful, professional, and versatile.
I learned that I don’t need to straighten my hair to fulfill the standards of beauty.
I’ve learned how to take better care of them. I started thinking of what I put in my hair just like I think of what I eat. I love how Hair Food contains superfood ingredients (like coconut oil, aloe, mango, avocado, etc). And so many of you have been compliment how long and healthy my hair looks…this is it! This is what I use.
I’ve learned to pay more attention to what my hair needs.
For example, if I feel it needs a bit more of a “deep clean”, I’ve been loving Hair Food Tea Tree Oil & Lavender Water Purifying Shampoo. Tea tree oil is an amazing ingredient and the lavender just makes is the perfect scent.
And for the days I feel it needs a bit of extra hydration, I love the Avocado & Argan Oil Hair Mask. I especially use it if I use heat and KNOW my hair needs a bit of pampering!
I definitely want to start playing with my hairstyles more- either straight or curly- and not because of one is better than the other, but because it is FUN!
Click here to shop my favorite products mentioned above.
Sponsored by Hair Food. All opinions are my own.
I started fully embracing my curls over two years ago; and I get questions about the products I use and my journey every time I do a Q&A! So, I want to go ahead and answer all your questions.
Hair Food has been part of my hair routine for almost two years for several reasons. I love that Hair Food is free of sulfates, parabens, and dyes! I also love that all of their products are cruelty free + they truly work on my hair. I can’t recommend them enough! I only partner with products I love and I would recommend to my offline (and online) friends.
Secret #1
I wash my hair once a week. This is what works for my hair type and curl pattern the best.
So that weekly wash is SUPER important, and I must use products that keep my hair nourished and hydrated.
My current go-to: Hair Food Avocado & Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner, which is part of the Smooth collection. It smells amazing and it hydrates my curls!
If I have to wash my hair more than once a week, I skip the shampoo and only use the Hair Food conditioner. I apply it from the roots to ends and I massage my scalp. Many curly girls do this to hydrate their hair even more. The reason: the massage/friction stimulates and loosens any dirt or product residue!
Secret #2
Ok, let’s talk styling!
When it comes to styling, I’ve realized that the less quantity of product I use, the better!
After washing, I comb my hair (always starting from the bottom up), and I apply gel to hold my curls as much as I can. I apply generously and scrunch it!
Then, I use a microfiber towel (or an old t-shirt) to “plop” my hair. This is going to help your hair dry faster and without frizz!
Secret #3
99% of the time I let it air-dry, if I’m in a hurry I’ll use the diffuser, but it is something I don’t do often!
Because I am being totally honest, I do use a curling iron to curl some pieces around my face or if there are any strands that are feeling a little rebellious (always use a heat protectant). I do this because a big part of my job is to be on camera or video. But if we are not recording anything, I try to avoid heat tools completely.
To break the curls from the gel, I run my fingers through it while applying Hair Food Avocado & Argan Smoothing Hair Oil. I love this product when I travel, I always take it with me because it makes my curls so shiny and pampered!
Secret #4
Let’s talk SLEEP and how to make sure your curls last throughout the night.
If your hair is long enough, try the PINEAPPLE technique, where your hair is loosely gathered at the highest point of the head. This helps maintain the volume and curl pattern.
I try to avoid regular hair ties as much as possible as they break your hair a lot- I learned this the hard way! My recommendation is using spiral hair ties or a clip.
In the morning, sometimes I spray a bit of water to bring those curls back to life- and a little bit more of the Hair Food Avocado & Argan Smoothing Hair Oil!
Now it’s your turn to share a secret about your curls/hair with me!
Click here to shop my favorite products I mentioned at your local Walmart or on Walmart.com!
Wow. It’s been 8 months and I’m finally sitting down to write a bit more about my second pregnancy. I wrote Nico’s birth story within a few weeks, it’s definitely so different with the second kid- whenever, I have a moment, I just try to spend them with either of them!
Here is the pregnancy announcement, from a year ago (oops! I am so sorry). I really miss writing in this blog!
But before I write about Leo’s delivery…let’s start from the beginning.
Leo wasn’t 100% planned as Nico. We have always wanted two kids, but the pandemic started when Nico was about 1.5 years old, and our planned shifted a little bit. *You can also read here "are we ready for baby #2?" from May 2020*
By August-September 2020, we stopped being as careful- like if it happens, it happens! A three year old difference felt good. Nico would be *hopefully* in school, and a bit more independent.
I found out I was pregnant right around Halloween 2020, and oh boy I was surprised! There is a funny story actually. In October 2020, I was hired to create content for a pregnancy test company. It was purely for their usage, I didn’t have to be in the pictures or post them in my social media. The company sent me several pregnancy tests + ovulation kits. I thought “oh well, whenever we really want to try for Baby #2, I already have these ovulation kits”.
After Halloween, I had a feeling I was pregnant. I just KNEW it! (with my previous pregnancies, Nico and the miscarriage, I also KNEW!) So I went ahead and took one of those tests I had in my vanity..and it was POSITIVE! I started freaking out and I texted my manager asking if the tests actually worked or they were made to say positive (as they had to show positive in the pictures). They 100% were real tests, and we started joking saying that gig brought “fertility vibes” into my life.
This time, it was different. I told all my friends as soon as I found out. And I told my parents as soon as the pregnancy was confirmed by an ultra-sound. I had a miscarriage in 2017, before Nico and I was so scared throughout Nico’s pregnancy that I did not enjoy it. I learned that I really wanted to tell the people I would also share bad news with, people that have been there for me unconditionally.
Long story short, I had a lot of issues with my health insurance (“the American dream”, sarcasm included). So it took a while for my OB to see me.
By the time I was 17 weeks, I started bleeding after working out. I was working out a lot before getting pregnant, so I wanted to stay active (with little modifications, of course). We were shooting a reel and I noticed the bleeding and I started to freak out- because that's exactly how my miscarriage started in 2017...and this time, I had SEEN the baby, I knew he was a boy, and he had a name.
I cried uncontrollably the whole trip to the emergency room- and because of Covid, I had to enter alone. I started crying even more thinking of all the women that had received bad news in those rooms ALONE- without their partners, without a hand to hold. That made me even more upset with the Covid situation, as I kept scrolling on my phone and everyone seemed to be partying out and about.
Thankfully, the baby was perfect. It was my placenta that was very low (placenta previa) and that's why I was bleeding. So I had to be in bed-rest for two weeks: I couldn't carry my 2 year old, workout, do any lifting, etc. I was told to reach out to a high-risk doctor.
The next day I saw my doctor, the midwife that also delivered Nico. He was horrible, he scared me saying what you SHOULDN'T tell a pregnant woman. He told me I would need a c-section, that I might need blood transfusions, that there were a lot complications, that they might need to remove my uterus.
It was really scared, I would hold Nico so close thinking I was just told I could die in birth. Obviously I changed doctors immediately, and my new doctor (Lorena Tinoco and her partner) were absolutely amazing, they explained everything to me and they would just check the placenta every time. It slowly started migrated towards the top of the uterus.
Around 25-26 weeks, I was out of the danger zone. I started doing pre-natal yoga and walking. and I could carry my toddler, it broke my heart every time we wanted me to hold him and I just couldn't.
Spoiler alert: I did have a great delivery (more on that later), vaginal delivery with no complications.
So if you have been diagnosed with placenta previa in early pregnancy- stay hopeful! Everything will be okay!!
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