Curls and Pearls: Summer Tips for Great Hair!

Good Morning World!
Today, let's just have a little girl chit chat! It's the start of July, and if you're like me, this month holds
dread for your head! Humidity, sweat, heat and more heat...all combined can be disastrous for those tresses! What's a girl to do??? (Yikes!)

Although scripture encourages us not to put too much emphasis on the exterior (1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Peter 3:3) there's nothing wrong with the maintenance and up keeping of our bodies and the routine beautification of our appearance. God took a lot of time, care and effort to mold us, sculpt us, shape us and form us! He counts every single hair on our heads... The least we can do is comb it!!! Lol.
So here are some hair healthy tips and helpful blog sites that we've come across to help us all out in this dire time of need! In addition, some of our Pretty Pearls also offer their suggestions on how they maintain their manes, using their favorite hair products and regimen. So read up and enjoy... you're hair will be so happy you did! :)


3 Tips for Summer Hair:
1) Hydrate: YES!!!!! This is so imparitive, but many of us over look it. Just like the rest of your body needs water, so does your hair. Staying hydrated is essential in the summertime for tresses and is so necessary for healthy hair, in general. Soda is cool and lemonade is fine, but girl, water is the body's miracle worker! Us southern girls love our sweet tea, I know! But try to substitute a cool glass of H2O instead. If water is a challenge issue for you due to taste (or lack there of), try squirting some lime juice in it, or add some fresh fruit, like raspberries or cucumbers for a fun taste enhancer! The goal is to drink at least eight to ten glasses of water a day and even more if you’re active outside during this time of year.


2) Protect: This is a fun tip and has been trending since forever!!! Find clever ways to cover your hair from the harsh UV Rays of our favorite star! The Sun is super brutal on the hair and the darker and courser your locks, the greater potential there is for damage! Did you know your hair could get sunburned? Every year, I personally deal with this issue! We can all protect our locks by wearing a scarf, hat or cap when out in the sun for a long period of time. This can serve three purposes: protection, shade and fashion statements! Viola!

3) Use Less Heat: Let's face it, sleek looks are always classic and familiar, but every now and then, especially in the
summer, it's a good rule of thumb to give your good 'ole Chi a rest! Try to blow-dry your hair as little as possible and wind that cord around your flat iron to prevent temptation! Due to the Earth's position in the universe, your hair Is already exposed to a significant amount of heat on a daily basis in the summer, so you don't want to add any more than necessary. Use this time to explore and create more natural looks or beachy styles! It's safer, healthier and sometimes easier! Who knows, you may find out that your natural look is more becoming!

*Pearls Spill...
BB: Loose Curls

I really just go with the flow. I get routine treatments at the salon and I'm sure to keep my scalp clean. That's most important. I'm natural, but I like to experiment with different types of color so I use rinses pretty often. I change from red, to blonde to black and chestnut brown. It's fun and creative and it keeps me looking fresh! Right now, I'm rocking a short style and I switch between wearing it curly and straightening it whenever I feel the need. A head band is also cute, too. I'm all about whatever is simple!

Katrina: Coarse Ringlets

My hair is coily and super dry, all year around, so in the summer, I rely on heavy oils and constant conditioning! I don't shampoo very often, but I use intense moisturization. My staple oils are Jamaican Black Castor Oil because it is rich in vitamins and combats dandruff and works as a natural cleanser. It smells awful though, so if you try it, be sure to cover it with your fav hair creme! In addition, coconut oil and macadamia nut oils are also a favorite! I use both in a homemade deep conditioner. Just mix a tablespoon of your choice of oil, 1/4 cup of honey, a ripe banana and about 1/4 cup of coconut milk in a bowl. Squeeze a glob of conditioner in there, stir and apply to damp hair, cover with a shower cap and warm towel and leave on for 20-30 minutes. I'm telling you, my curls liven up every time and it smells great!

Angela: Wavy with Color

My hair is wavy and as of recently, I've noticed that it gets greasy at times. A week ago, I decided to try a pastel look and all the Pearls love it! The color is Rose Gold. I had to bleach my hair 3 times to get it light enough, so it's no longer greasy! lol. Since it's now bleached, its all about putting moisture and protein back into it. Pastels fade very fast, so for shampoo and conditioner you always want to use a color protectant. I'm currently using Redken color extend magnetics. Because of the Bleach, I'm also doing more conditioners, too, like Redken Extreme Cat, which is a protein reconstructing treatment, and Joico K-PAK deep-penetrating reconstructor. While my hair is wet, I use Redken Extreme Anti-Snap which provides heat protection and prevents breakage and split ends. To help eliminate fade from sudsing shampoos, I like to use a dry shampoo from Redken called Pillow Proof Blow Dry Two Day Extender. This works wonders for me! Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum keeps my hair smooth and conditions. I love hair products! Sometimes I will straighten it, but right now I enjoy wearing it curly, using my curling wand and heat protection.

Ariel: Natural Red Head 

I have thick, coarse, dry Red hair. It's always been really easy for my hair to get matted when wet, so I use Cream of Nature shampoo. I've been using it since I was a child. To help with the dry look and texture of my hair, I use Pink Oil Moisturizer. I currently get relaxers, but want to revert back to natural hair, so I've been experimenting with protective styles, like extensions, wigs and braids to keep my hair strong. I really want to cut my hair and start all over, so protectives styles will be my "go to" procedure, once I make the decision to cut.

Kourtney: Healthy Coils

I always had perms until 3 or so years ago when I did the big chop. It was the best decision for my hair and I really got the chance to learn my hair and explore my natural self. I've gone through lots of different types of hair products like Miss Jessie's and Shea Moisture. I focus on keeping my hair very healthy and taking vitamin supplements for shine and strength. I recently put color in my hair and now I use the whole Influence' product line. One of the things I really like is the hair antiseptic because it cleanses my scalp really well. Alikay Naturals Moisture Rich Hair Parfait is also good for my twisting styles. It's made with Shea Butter and it doesn't require extra wetting of the hair. It keeps my styles very moisturized.


We hope these tips and tricks were helpful! How do you combat the wear and tear of hot weather on your hair? We'd love to hear from you! Share your comments and favorite products with us!
*No matter your style, shade or texture, you are fearfully and wonderfully made- from inside out and toe to crown!
~Pearls

For more hair tips, visit:
http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20411674,00.html
http://www.curlynikki.com/2013/05/quick-summer-hair-tips-and-tricks.html
http://madamenoire.com/144666/5-great-hair-blogs-for-the-natural-sistahs-who-need-support/

God Sees Your Pain

Good Morning and happy Sunday!!! I am currently sitting outside, enjoying fresh air... muggy as it might be. The simple pleasures of experiencing a bird's chirp or watching an ant crawl in the grass are privileges that we so often take for granted. It's not until you are unable to do those things, hear those things, taste those things or experience those things that we begin to long for them. I've had a true mental turn around regarding my appreciation for the "for granted". The start of this week held some scary experiences for me and my family. Without going into too much detail, I basically found myself in the hospital for a couple nights, hooked up to machines, being tested and poked and prodded and drugged. Friends and family sent me love and prayers, which were great comforts, but inspite of their love, I was afraid... And in pain. There were even moments when all I could do was quietly ask God, "why, Lord"? I felt so alone.

Laying in that hospital bed with an IV in my arm for the first time in my life, loopy from pills and a head full of worry concerning my little one who is still growing inside of me, I began to distract myself from that present situation by praising the Lord through my pain. To be honest, I didn't want to. All I wanted was relief, but I remember, from one of our past studies, learning how our weaknesses become evident so that God's presence can be magnified. Over and over again, we see in scripture how brave men and women, including our Lord Jesus, found their times of testing and pain as opportunities to call out to God as their source, their healing and their refuge. So many times, we allow our circumstances to dictate how we respond, but praise is not only meant for rejoicing, it's also pertinent in sorrow as well.

King David paints a picture of Gods heart for us during hard times:
"When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul"- Psalm 94:19

Paul reminds us in scripture to stay consistent in prayer and joy, no matter the circumstances:
"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer"- Romans 12:12

In 2 Corinthians, Paul addresses God's love for us through our pain:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves have received from God"- 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

There are many more scriptures on how we ought to respond to God in our pain, but in particular, I have been encouraged by the way God responds to us in our pain. He is not a far off distant being who is too concerned with spinning planets than to involve Himself with you. He loves you! He cares especially for you and every pain, hurt, worry and fear that you harbor. He notices them all and He cares so deeply. Scripture tells us that he takes account of every tear and keeps them in a jar (Psalms 56:8). How comforting and loving He is!
We serve a God who wanted so much to have relationship with us, that He clothed Himself in skin, volunteered to go through human experiences of joys and pain, just to be relatable with you and I! Our suffering is not uncommon to Him (Hebrews 4:15). He knows the feelings of sickness, broken and betrayed friendships, disappointment in others, the sting of being gossiped about, the pain of a broken heart, the grief of dying loved ones and the agony that comes from scars. There is nothing that we can go through that our Lord is oblivious to. So as we go through our trials, our hurts and our moments of discontentment, we can rejoice, because inspite of it all, we have the victory over everything in Jesus!

I was so grateful to come home Wednesday evening...finally!!! Exhausted from all the physical, emotional and mental pain and stress, all I could do was be thankful to my God, who promised to never leave me or forsake me. My recovering is still in process, but each day I am reminded that His love never fails and that His Spirit is always with me. We are not alone- left to barely go through by ourselves. We belong to a loving King, who prays for us (John 17:20), who weeps with us (John 11:33-35), who celebrates over us (Zephaniah 3:17) and cheers us on. We don't have to be afraid or down hearted during our hurting times. We can rest our hearts in knowing His unfailing love, no matter the difficulties or the pain...and that is truly something to rejoice about!

You matter to God. Never ever doubt that.
~Pearls

Pearls of Hope: A Glimpse at our Tuesday Meetings

Happy Sunday, everyone! As you are preparing for your day, please take some time to check out our latest youtube video! As you watch, you will get a sneak peak of what goes on every Tuesday evening in our Bible Studies! We are extremely excited to share with you our journey with Jesus and we pray that we will be an encouragement to you as you travel through your own path with the Lord!

If you have any questions or topics that you would like us to address, please feel free to add any comments or suggestions! We are here to support you and each other! Remember, Jesus has HUGE plans for you! You are not alone and we love you!

~Pearls