On my way to work one Tuesday morning, I stopped at the post office and there was a long line. As I stood in line there were a few people in front of me, two of which kept turning their heads to stare. I smiled in return as my casual greeting then after a few times it became a bit uncomfortable. I couldn’t understand why they were staring at me. In my mind, I wanted to believe I just looked fabulous in my work attire however if I’m truthful with myself I know that on this day that wasn’t the case. 

As usual, I’m wearing all black. I was just as casual as they come. As I made my way to the checkout counter the postal worker smiled at me and then said what are you wearing? I immediately became self-conscious as my initial thought about my outfit choice came rushing back into my mind. I asked her “What do you mean”? Insert the Chimere ain’t the one face! She responded by saying “Your perfume! What do you have on? It smells heavenly”. I answered, Oh I’m wearing Baccarat Rouge 540 and that’s when I knew then I was going to have a great day. 

You Got What?

The scent of the day was my newest purchase, Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum. I have been eyeing this brand for a while and finally made the plunge. Listen, I don’t regret a thing and in fact, I wish I purchased it sooner. I am not an expert in the fragrance community by any means but I am an expert in people. If I walk into stores and restaurants and turn heads that’s an indication that I made the right decision with this purchase. This was not a blind per se. I had a small sample from a friend and then I tried a few dupes as well. More on that in today’s video review below.

Price

Baccarat Rouge currently retails between $180 – $575 at Bloomingdales. I picked up the 2.4 oz bottle which retails for $300. Here the thing, before I purchased the actual Eau de Parfum I purchased the scented body oil. I did this for a few reasons and will go into this more in-depth in today’s video. If you’re looking to spend a fraction of what I spent, it’s a much watch. 

This is deemed a unisex fragrance, and I have a few friends who actually share this scent with their spouses. I’m not sharing lol but if you would like the larger 6.8 size bottle is a much better buy. I noticed this size is also on sale more often than the smaller sizes and saves you money over time. I will go into this a bit more in the video below. 

Do Or Don’t

As I mentioned earlier the first day I wore this perfume I got tons and tons of compliments. After I left the post office I went into a convenience store to grab some water and I had a few people offer compliments as well. Additionally, as I entered into work compliments continue for the duration of the day. Talk about smiling. It wasn’t like I had never worn perfume before. I couldn’t understand why this one, in particular, had so many people walking up to me asking me what I was wearing. I’m not complaining if anything it put a huge smile on my face. It felt great to know that I was seemingly irresistible to so many.

 Do I recommend you purchase perfume, absolutely. This has been the best buy of 2020. Honestly, the return on my investment at this point is 100%. I can’t believe I waited so long to make the splurge but I highly recommend you try either one of my buying methods above depending on your budget and what suits you best. Below I have a video explaining exactly how I purchased my perfume collection and I’m also going to offer a few tips on how to get more bang for your buck. If you don’t have $300 to spend find out how to get the scent for much less!

I hope you enjoyed this video style review of the Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdijian. To research this perfume and or purchase you can do so here.

I’m sharing all my beauty favorites this month. Make sure you read up on my favorite skincare products I’m using to fade my acne scars, HERE. Don’t say I didn’t tell you about these products when you see in on a cover of somebody’s magazine lol. Wishful thinking.

There are millions of products I can recommend for you to use that will make your natural hair grow fast and healthy. I have tried so many oils, serums, and creams to last me a lifetime. The secret to using all of these products is you have to do one thing. BE CONSISTENT. 

It’s easy to tell you to buy a particular product and make you fall in love with it. I mean, all of the products I recommend work, we all know that. But if you are not consistent with the usage of them then you won’t reap the benefits. Makes sense right? That’s the secret! 

Natural Hair Can Grow

The key to making your natural hair grow fast is to be consistent in your hair regime. Give yourself a minimum of 90 days before making any significant changes to your routine. 

When helping my new clients transition and grow their natural hair fast the formula I like to use is called “The Five C’s”. This is a term I coined to help them focus on what’s important in the growth cycle of hair. This means stop buying tons of products and use the ones you have correctly.

The Five C’s Of Hair Growth:

Cleanse:

The type of shampoo you use will determine the level of cleansing you will receive. There are many types of shampoos. Clarifying, Medicated, 1st lathers, and many more. You should have at least 3 different shampoos at any given time. 

Clarifying: These shampoos help to remove product build-up and other impurities from the hair and scalp. They are great to use when treating the hair pre-shampoo and post shampoo. 

Medicated: This will include any shampoo that deals with seasonal scalp elements. Elements such as dry and itchy scalp, dermatitis, Eczema, or psoriasis. These shampoos typically have soothing and properties to not only help remove excessive bacteria but also help to heal the scalp. 

Hydrating Shampoo: This is the shampoo that all-natural hair types should own. This is a shampoo that not only cleanses the hair and scalp but also provides moisture and hydration. This shampoo will not strip the natural oils from the scalp but will provide adequate cleansing to the hair and balanced pH levels.

Condition

Remember all things are relative. So depending on the shampoo you use will determine the type of conditioning you will need. A good rule of thumb is, for every wash add 15 minutes to your conditioning time. 

How does this work?

Well, if you are using a deep cleansing shampoo like the clarifying shampoo I mentioned earlier. You will need to not only moisturize the hair but hydrate it as well. So I would recommend 15 of a moisturizing conditioner and an additional 15 minutes of a hydrating conditioner. These of course can be applied together to give you 30 minutes of deep conditioning time. Simple right? Let’s keep it, cute honey. 

YES! 

This is every time you wash your hair. 

So stop wasting time on all those extra steps on wash day and get back to basics. 

Cut:

I don’t care how long you have been growing your hair. How long it’s been in that protective Style. The fact that you think you can cut it yourself. Your ends need to be trimmed every eight to 12 weeks.

 I know that cutting your hair seems counterproductive seeing as you are trying to grow your natural hair. But I need you to trust me here. The more you cut your ends the better the quality of new growth you will see. 

Those see- through ends need to go! Trim those ends. 

Care:

Your aftercare instructions will vary depending on how you wear your hair. If you prefer to wear your hair straight you will likely need a leave-in conditioner and heat protectant. 

If you are a textured style kind of girl you may prefer creams and gels to lock in moisture and define your curls.

 No matter what style you choose make sure you lock in the moisture. I have a full video HERE explaining how to do this. 

But you need to seal in the moisture from your conditioning treatment. 

The product of choice is up to you however, If you don’t seal it up you will be wasting money on expensive products and not seeing the benefits. This is because you aren’t using the products correctly. 

Circulation:

The final step in the Five C’s method is circulation. Anything without blood flow is dead. This includes your scalp and hair. Blood circulation is important for the cell turnover on your scalp. This is what helps produce new hair bulbs within the hair follicle. 

This is where your essential oils come in. One of the reasons I Highly recommend essential oils is because of their healing properties. They are great for stimulating circulation within the scalp as well as sealing moisture into the hair.

Oils Are Essential

Oils are my absolute favorite for locking in moisture and promoting a healthy scalp. Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp you know. 

Depending on the type of essential oil you use you will also see that your hair will appear thicker, softer and have more luster in the hair.

How To Use Essential Oils

We will start by creating  four subsections within the hair. I like to take a few drops of essential oil and apply it directly to the scalp. I then massage the scalp within the small subsection to make sure that the essential oil is evenly distributed throughout the hair. You can finger comb or use a large wide tooth comb to evenly coat the hair. I repeat this step with the other three sections and then I style.

 I feel this method works best at night when preparing the hair for sleep. This is because it allows for the product to sit on the scalp and you can cover your hair with a silk scarf or bonnet to help create heat. Heat will open the pores and allow the essential oil to activate.  Thus, helping penetrate the scalp even more. 

My favorite essential oils at the moment is lavender oil. Lavender oil has been known to speed up hair growth. It is also antimicrobial and aids in a healthy nourished scalp.  A great way to mix lavender oil is by using it in conjunction with a carrier oil like olive or jojoba oil. Add a few drops to your scalp scalp while protective styling once or twice a week.

I will list some of my favorite shampoos, conditioners, and hair mask below. I encourage you to do your own research on all of these products to make sure they are right for your hair type. Although these are products I use daily on my clients. I want you to become educated on the ingredients and brands. 

The Fact Is

The take away from this article is that there is no one secret product that you can use that will grow your hair long and fast. The secret to making natural hair grow fast is a regimen and sequence of products that you use on a consistent basis that will deliver the results you are looking for. Do not believe any product that is advertised to sell you a dream. That product does not exist. What does exist is your ability to use all of the products you currently have at your disposal in the best way possible to deliver lasting results. Product knowledge is key and a consistent routine will get you there. 

Next Up: Best Shampoos For Natural Hair

There is such a fascination with women as to why women love beards so much. Every time I and my girlfriends get together the conversation more than likely involves wine and talking about the latest love interest. Then the conversation leads to someone asking the following question “Does he have a beard”? It never fails. Women just can’t get enough of men with beards. 

Women prefer beards because they are genetic proof of masculinity. Beards are associated with power, wisdom, and commitment. These are characteristics women look for in a potential partner and qualities of a protector. 

Why Women Love Beards So Much

The short answer is, they are hot. I mean a man with a beard can be downright sexy. Is it hot in here or is it just me? This is not to say a smooth clean look isn’t appealing. It just so happens that men with full, thick, flourishing beards are just on display everywhere. 

I mean as soon as you log onto my Instagram, the explore page will have at least one bearded gent in some advertising campaign. Even selling fluffy socks, women can’t seem to get enough. It doesn’t help that they always have their shirts off. Instagram definitely has the right idea. They know exactly what women want and will use a sexy bearded man to sell it to us. 

They say sex sells, well so do bearded men. 

Women love beards because they are a sign of masculinity. It represents strength and power. It’s a dark brooding presence about a bearded that can’t allow you to look away. Have you noticed that men with beard stand taller with their shoulders back? It reminds me of Batman for some strange reason. Beards exude confidence and strength. That is what women are attracted to. Confidence is key here. Growing a beard takes a level of confidence that not all men are willing to embrace. The commitment to upkeep is also very sexy.

Beards require a level of commitment. Commitment to the growing phase and commitment to daily maintenance. This is also very sexy to women. A man who makes time for self-care and the level of commitment it requires to maintain a beard will also draw cool points with the ladies. Women love a man who manscapes. I know I appreciate it.

 Lastly, women love beards because they are correlated to a man who possesses great wisdom. A man who is mature and dignified. Even the pharaohs knew the power of a great beard. I’m a bit of a history buff so bare with me for a bit. In ancient Egypt, the Pharaohs often wore fake beards to portray divine wisdom and kingship. Even in death, the pharaohs made sure to take their beards with them into the afterlife. Talk about commitment. The longer the beard the better. The same applies today. Have you ever seen a man of a mature age stroke his beard while in deep thought? I have and it can be extremely appealing. Now add a little salt and pepper to his beard and I’m calling him Bruce Wayne. A salt and pepper beard is another blog post in itself, whew!

Reasons She My Be Apprehensive

If you don’t have a beard or maybe be on the fence about growing one. Or maybe your significant other is not too keen on the idea, here are a few reasons why beards aren’t for all women. You make think her reasoning is trivial but a beard is an important decision. 

Women don’t like change.

If she met you with little to no facial hair it’s gonna be a hard sell to get her to change her mind. I mean facial hair on a man changes the face completely. You want her to be attracted to the new look. Then you have to take into consideration how this new look will affect those around you. And she may not be too happy about all the newfound attention you’re going to get. From women on the job to the ladies in the local coffee shop. Nothing shakes up a relationship like sudden unwanted changes.

She wants to see your facial features.

One of the many reasons your significant other may be apprehensive about you growing out your facial hair is because it hides your features. If you have a prominent jawline or chin these are features that your loved one fell in love with. Even that mark on your chin from falling in the third grade. These are the things women fall in love with. By growing out your facial hair these features aren’t as prominent and maybe the reason she doesn’t I want you to grow that beard. Women also love the look and feel of smooth skin on a man.  

No excessive hair 

 A lot of women do not like the feel of excessive facial hair. Mustache sure, goatee umm ok. But a full beard maybe not. Especially if she has sensitive skin herself. Facial hair can irritate her skin and cause more problems than they’re worth. While hugging or kissing, the last thing you want is for her to be uncomfortable. Some women just don’t like hairy men so the thought of a hair face is a big turn-off.

She wants to look younger not older

As I mentioned previously facial hair on men shows signs of maturity. With women, we are often trying to slow the signs of aging. Having a partner who looks mature often translates to a woman aging as well. I know this is can be viewed as a really selfish reason but it’s the truth. Additionally, she may not want her spouse to look too mature. There is nothing worse than going out to eat and the waiter thinks you’re with your father. Talk about embarrassing. 

No dessert island beards

 In instances where the beard does not fully grow there will be patches of hair on the face. You will see a lot on social media about what we call “The Struggle” beard. This is when men who are trying to growing a goatee don’t have enough facial hair to properly connect for a full beard. One of my personal pet peeves I might add like many other women. Its like the little engine that could but just couldn’t quite make it lol. We do not like the appearance of a patchy beard. It never appears neat and well-groomed and always looks dry. So a word of advice if you do not believe your beard will grow consistently over the face you, may want to revisit the idea once you have a plan of action in place to grow a healthy beard.  

How to Keep That Beard Healthy

If you decide that growing a beard is for you there are a few steps you should take to ensure you can maintain your beard. These will include the following:

1. Keep it sanitary and soft. A clean and neat beard is the highest priority.
2. Steam your face. This helps to open the pores to allow beard products to better penetrate the hair and skin. This also prevents ingrown hairs.
3. Remove product build-up. Apply a detoxing facial wash to help remove excessive products and promote shine and luster.
4. Keep it tidy. Biweekly trims and shape-ups help to keep your beard healthy. 
5. Moisturize. Facial hair tends to be dry due to excessive washing and sun exposure. Daily moisturizing will help keep the hair soft and frizz free. Remember, hair is hair. Whether it’s on the head or on the face. 
6. Drink your water. You want a healthy beard, drink up.

Beard Products That Actually Work

Finding quality products that work for all skin types may seem challenging. Don’t worry, I’ve given you a head start with these top-selling beard kits. These kits have been tested and are proven to hydrate and moisturize facial hair and skin. Here are my top three beard grooming kits and products. Now that you know why women love beards let’s get you on your way to achieving the look for less. These products are sure to help you grow and maintain the beard you love so much. 

Shea Moisture Maracuja Oil Kit

Classic Gents Lavender Grooming Set

Clinique For Men Daily Intense Hydration

Next Up: How To Remove Dandruff