Giveaway announcement!

Avant Garde Look done by me :)

Hello Makeup Friends,

The website is finally up!!!! There are still some minor tweaks to be done, but I decided to put it live so that you can all see it. I am very proud of the work that I have done through the years and I am happy to now have a website that showcases this. 

We received a lot of entries for the giveaway, but unfortunately a lot of you did not read the instructions, because we got lots of Email entries, but not as many followers. I know a lot of you thought that the colors would be Pink, White and Black, but as you can see I went with a completely different color scheme.

The official Giveaway winner is blog follower Miranda!!! I have the box here ready to go and will be dropping it off at the post office later today. Congratulations!

I want to give a special thanks to Carlos, of  SBM Design Firm for his fabulous work in designing and creating the Adorned Faces website. I recommend them to any of you that are in need of a website or any marketing products.

A NATURAL HAIR MUST HAVE!!!!! ORS OLIVE OIL EDGE CONTROL!!!

Hey Blossoms,

One of my biggest hair battles has always been with my edges. As in most people your edges are the finest and shortest area of your head, prone to the most tension from different hairstyles, product buildup from hair products AND makeup, and even a build up of sebum from sweating. Basically, your hairline and edges take a beating and it can definitely be the most difficult to overcome in any hair journey ESPECIALLY a natural hair journey.

My hair is coily...very coily..and shrinks up to 85% of its actual length!!!! WOW!!! Don't believe me check out my recent Youtube video on my 1 month natural hair update  HERE where I stretch my hair out and show you what shrinkage really is! So imagine what the hairline around my edges does! It curls into these individual little coily "circles" and it REFUSES to lay flat! When I first went natural I chucked having tamed edges up to just being a total lost cause. Imagine my sheer surprise and HAPPINESS when I discovered this product.

Now I tried this product BEFORE going natural when I wore weaves but it didn't work that well. So I chucked it in the garbage and didn't think twice about it. When I tried it again natural it made ALL THE DIFFERENCE! Without further wait that holy grail edge control product is.....

ORGANIC ROOT STIMULATOR OLIVE OIL EDGE CONTROL



Now I'm sure many of you have heard of this product before but have you SEEN the wonders it works? NO! Well I'm here to show you.

I also included a link where you can purchase your own. This retails for about 6-7 dollars in many beauty supply stores. So at $4.69 your definitely saving!!

The key ingredients are: Water, Olive Oil, Aloe vera, Wheat protein, Glycerin, Castor Oil, (it has a slight fragrance so you do not have to fret your hair WILL smell good!)

It's texture is very light weight and its neither greasy or sticky and it does NOT harden when it dries.


Here's a picture of my hair when I first went natural. Notice how my edges are coiled up and gives the illusion of being dry but actually my hair is well moisturized and very soft here.

My hair along my edges and nape of my neck are the areas of my head I'm working diligently on to aid in its growth. Being that I always had my hair covered or permed (which is a temporary fix for loss of edges because with the coils straightened it gives the illusion that the edges are longer than what they really are) I didn't care how my edges and nape looked. Now that I'm natural I wish I took better care of my hair OVERALL (I'm sure many naturals have this feeling from time to time too!)

Now here is a photo of my edges and nape after using ORS Olive Oil Edge Control. The above pictures were taken the first day I went natural 3/20/11. These pictures below were taken after I BC (Big Chopped: I went from 6 inches of hair to 3 inches!) and I HAD to use something to help make my puff look more presentable. I bought another ORS Olive Oil Edge Control and after my hair air dried I placed it on the edges and nape and smoothed it in and these were the results....

WOW!!! Super smooth! To avoid a shellac' look (think of a cowlick or super slicked back) I place the product at the tips of my fingers and smooth it out to a thinner consistency up to the middle of my finger-beds. This allows for the product to be applied evenly giving a smoother look and evenly distributed shine. Another bonus of this product is it definitely bought out my wave pattern!

I would not recommend this product to be used for wash and go's because it is way too thick to be used all the hair, just use it along your hairline, nape and edges. Also use this product in moderation a little goes a long way.

Another trick is when you smooth the product along your edges take a soft bristle brush and brush your edges and nape lightly and place a silk wrap around your head. This will help your hair stay flat as the product dries (which takes a few minutes if you use a little so don't overdo it!).

This product is DEFINITELY Sherry Blossom Approved! I noticed that at my local beauty supply store these sell out quick so I always buy 2 at a time. I use this almost every day and it's become a staple in my natural hair care arsenal! I may go a day without it if my hair stay wrapped properly but I ALWAYS mess my hair up in my sleep so those rare days are few and far in between.


CONS: 
This product can be hard to find! Don't be surprised if you have to go to a few stores before you hit the jackpot and cross your fingers that when you do the price won't be trumped up due to it's rare availability! (Remember I've included a link above for you where it can be shipped to you! No hassle!)

This product does have many great natural ingredients in it but with continuous uses without washing there can be slight build up. So if you use it throughout the week be sure to co-wash or shampoo.

If you use this product frequently the small jar of product will be done QUICKLY. I wish they came up with an economy size! I also wish they had a small travel size jar that can fit in a backpack or purse without taking up to much space for when you need those quick touch ups!

HEY ORGANIC ROOT I HOPE YOUR LISTENING!!!!!

Have you ever tried ORS Edge control? What product(s) would you say are similar? 

BLOSSOMS PLEASE COMMENT! THIS IS AN INTERACTIVE BLOG AND I DO WRITE BACK!!! DONT BE AFRAID TO SPEAK UP!!! IM LISTENING!!!

Until Next Time,

Later Blossoms!

MAKE YOUR LASHES LOOK LIKE FALSIES WITH WET & WILD CLINICAL MASCARA

Hey Blossoms,

Your eyes are the gateway to your soul! Yes that's deep! On a lighter note we want our eyes to look alluring and intense and we'll do anything to achieve that. Mascara is a necessity in many women lives. It gives our eye lashes that oomph it needs to set us on our way to a "va-va voom" look. Translation: We want a mascara that makes our lashes look as if we are wearing false eyelashes (falsies) even when we aren't. I've found a mascara that does JUST that!!!

Wet & Wild Mega Lash Clinical Mascara

Here's what it claims:

• 87% of women say they have visibly fuller, thicker and longer lashes upon application
• It's custom designed brush lengthens and defines without clumps
• contains Moroccan Argan oil that conditions, nourishes and adds shine to your lashes
• contains Vitamin E,C, and B-complex, Soy Protein & Arginine to help stimulate stronger lashes
• Ophthalmologist tested
• Safe for contact lens wearers
• Wiper helps to deliver ideal amount of formula to every bristle

Here's the packaging:

Let's break down all that it claims and I'll let you make the final decision on this mascara (I KNOW but YOU have to find out!)

87% of women say they have visibly fuller, thicker and longer lashes upon application

I guess I'm lucky enough to be able to be apart of that 87%!!!! One application and my eyelashes INSTANTLY LOOKED fuller, thicker (DEFINITELY!) & longer! 

BEFORE 

AFTER

Next claim: It's custom designed brush lengthens and defines without clumps

I'm wearing the mascara below put your magnifying glasses on for this so you can truly be convinced because there are NO clumps!!!!

Next few claims:

• contains Moroccan Argan oil that conditions, nourishes and adds shine to your lashes
• contains Vitamin E,C, and B-complex, Soy Protein & Arginine to help stimulate stronger lashes
• Ophthalmologist tested
• Safe for contact lens wearers

Unfortunately these are claims I can not prove through pictures. I can say that this mascara is super smooth, glides on and does NOT dry down to a hard brittle matte finish. I've touched my lashes while this mascara was still on and although the mascara does dry (not to a hardened dry finish though) my lashes STILL felt soft and flexible and has an intense black look (my lashes don't look dry and thirsty!). I also loved the perfect curl this mascara gave my lashes! This mascara is NOT water-proof but it glides off seamlessly with a makeup wipe, water and/or makeup remover. You don't have to worry about getting raccoon eyes, sore lids/eye area from scrubbing or your lashes breaking off with this mascara. I'm always amazed at how easy this mascara is removed . Sometimes my left eye gets teary and my mascara runs into it and that can BURN but with this mascara I didn't feel any stinging. (I STILL DO NOT recommend getting this mascara into your eye so BE CAREFUL!) Overall I think these claims weren't too far fetched. Although not as instantly noticeable as the first 2 claims these claims held up to their end of the bargain and I was beyond satisfied. 

Last (but certainly not least) claim: Wiper helps to deliver ideal amount of formula to every bristle

Overall, this mascara is worth trying and INEXPENSIVE TOO!!! Highly recommended! SHERRY BLOSSOM APPROVED! 

BUT nothing is PERFECT!!

Cons

The wiper can become loosened and start to come out as you pull the wand out but it can be held down while pulling the wand out. Be sure to hold the wiper down if  it loosens and pull the wand out slowly or else too much mascara will come out onto the wand. This is minor and can be wiped off by gliding the side of the mascara wand  with the excess product along the top of the tube of mascara and wiping off anything that may not go into the tube (if you own it personally) for MUAs (wipe the excess into a makeup remover and clean the top with it too.. do NOT put the mascara back in the TUBE!)

Be careful not to dunk the wand all the way in and pull it out quickly. Otherwise you may get a glob of mascara to come out the top and then the end of the mascara tube starts to get messy all the extra mascara that comes out when the wand is removed. This is minor and can be wiped off. 

Here's more photos of HOW this mascara TRANSFORMED my lashes!

Can you tell which eyelash has mascara and which doesn't?

MY LASHES LOOK LIKE FALSIES...THANKS TO WET & WILD CLINICAL MASCARA...MY NEW LOVE!

So all I want to know Blossoms is: When are you purchasing yours????!!!!!!!!

Until Next Time,

Later Blossoms!

5 MOST USED BRUSHES! INEXPENSIVE TOO! *HD VIDEO*

NATURAL HAIR JOURNEY: PROTECTIVE STYLE: CURLS

Hey Blossoms,

After manipulating my hair so much during another "How will I wear my hair today?" episode. I accidently knotted a few strands of my hair and that SCARED ME STRAIGHT!!! I decided that day that I would wear a protective style.

If you read my hair story you will know I've experimented with all types of hair styles one of the easiest and low maintenance styles I wore were wigs whether lace fronts (hated them!!) or half wigs (loved them!!). I decided on a full wig that can also be worn as a half wig. I decided to get a curly wig that was big as I admire hair like that and know that one day I will have similar hair.

I snapped a few photos of the new protective style. I have worn it a few days and I already want a change. It's cute but it doesnt feel like THE style for me especially if I plan on wearing the style for a month or so it has to be one that I am completely in love with. I just like this one....

So what are your favorite protective styles?

Until next time,

Later Blossoms!

1 MONTH NATURAL: 1IN GROWTH & QUESTION FOR NATURALS

SAM FINE IS COMING TO TOWN--- HARLEM, NY!

Hey Blossoms,

If you don't already know Celebrity Makeup Artist, Sam Fine is one of my favorite makeup artists. I've done a blog post on him before and even showcased some of his work. I also have a Youtube video where I showcase a makeup look I did that was inspired by the makeup techniques he teaches. That video can be viewed HERE! Mr.Fine does amazing work. Skilled and personally selected to make up the faces of icons such as Patti LaBelle, Naomi Campbell, Vanessa Williams and Iman to name a few, he is the MAN! So of course when I received an email stating he was coming to town...not just ANY town but MY home town...HARLEM, NY I smiled! (and attempted the moon walk but it didn't turn out that well thats why its in parenthesis..lol)

I was born and raised in Harlem, running up and down the streets surrounding landmarks like the Apollo, Riverbank State Park, Sugar Hill and even the place where the FIRST attempt to assassinate Martin Luther King Jr. was made (YES there was a first attempt made!). in Blumstein's Department Store which is now a women's clothing store known as High Energy on 125th street. The year was 1958 and Dr. King who was 29 years old was attacked by a deranged woman and was rushed to Harlem Hospital where he had emergency surgery by a trauma team lead by Harlem's first black chief surgeon, Dr. Aubre Maynard, to remove the steel letter opener she stabbed him with. Ten years later in 1968 the 2nd attempt to assassinate him was made and sadly carried out in Memphis, Tennessee.

I was born in Harlem Hospital and later worked my first 2 years in EMS in that same area. Truly carrying out the saying "giving back to my community". So anytime there is an event or when I feel nostalgic I'll return to the place I love so much. Well here is an EXCELLENT opportunity to not only be around one of the greatest in the makeup artistry field but to visit my community, which is still very much a part of me. When people mistake me for being from the area I currently reside in I confidently but kindly correct them and say "No, I'm from Harlem!"

So SAVE THE DATE and if any of you are in the area be sure to drop by! Here are the details below:

SAM FINE APPEARANCE

Harlem Vintage Presents

Beautiful Reds a tasting of Red wines

And Special Appearance

Celebrity Makeup Artist, Sam Fine

Date: May 12th, 2011

Time: 7pm-9pm

Place: 2235 Frederick Douglass Blvd. (also known as 8th avenue for true Harlemites) between 120th and 121st streets Harlem, NY 10027

Ph: 212 866 9463

FREE ADMISSION

Purchase Fine's instructional makeup DVD for the special price of $20.00*

Receive a FREE Covergirl Queen Collection Lip Color with the purchase of the DVD

*price does notinclude tax

Sam Fine, makeup, wine, laughter, networking , Harlem and an overall good FREE time what more could you ask for?! I'm hoping I can clear my schedule and attend this event after all I did tell Mr. Fine what FOTD (face of the day) stood for!!!! I hope he remembers me!!  :)

Will you be attending?

Until Next Time,

Later Blossoms