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Monday, June 22, 2015

Curly Hair Care 101


We have recognized a lot of sorority sisters and friends embracing their curly hair, that we seeked out TSS reader, Danielle Davis, to share with us her best tips on maintaining your natural curls. Check out her advice below and be sure to share your thoughts in the comment box below!


Curly Hair 101-
Starting your natural hair journey can be a daunting and sometimes overwhelming process to think about. With all of the products promising miracle results, natural hair gurus and your hair straightener calling your name it is hard to even know where to start. There is a lot to navigate so the tips below will provide you with my top 10 suggestions on how to start you on your own journey to healthy, beautiful curly hair.

1. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize- Without a doubt this is the most important advice I could give. Curly hair is notoriously dry, especially at the ends. Concentrating on providing your hair as much moisture as possible within your entire routine will help you exponentially. Moisturizing helps eliminate frizz and perpetuates defined curls.

2. Do Not Be Afraid of the Big Chop- My natural hair journey started 3 years ago and I was so attached to my length. I was paying $100 to a DevaCurl specialist for a haircut and would only let her remove ½ an inch- silly! One day I decided to go for it and go for the scary Big Chop, which ended up being the best decision I could have made. Curly hair is very forgiving so even when cut short you can get a lot of volume. The best part is that your hair will grow back extremely fast. When I get my hair cut now, I tell the stylist to cut anything that is dead, straight or just weighing my hair down. You will leave satisfied every time knowing your hair is healthy. Short, healthy hair is much more desirable than long unhealthy hair.

3. Sulfates are Bad- As I am sure most of you who have an interest in natural hair care have heard, sulfates are not your friend. It’s essentially like rubbing soap all over your hair; drying it out and depleting that moisture we talked about earlier. Always check the ingredients label on your products before using them. There are many products out there so be picky, you deserve it.

4. Deep Condition- It’s relaxing and your hair will love you for it. Pick one day out of the week to really concentrate on repairing your hair and deep condition. There are many options in the natural hair care world but one of the most raved about is coconut oil. After showering, slather this all over your hair and sit under a dryer. Your hair will be shiny, strong and feel amazing.

5. Put Down the Heat- I had to hide my straightener from myself in order to follow through with avoiding heat- the struggle was real! The hard reality is that you won’t get the results you want applying heat to your hair all of the time. If going cold turkey is too much for you set goals for yourself like only applying heat once or twice a week and then keep extending your goal until it becomes second nature.

6. Drink Plenty of Water- Beauty on the outside starts with what you put inside your body. The benefits of drinking more water go way beyond just beautiful hair. You’ll see a difference in your energy levels, skin, eyes and hair- talk about a win!

7. Safely Detangle- Curly hair is fragile. Always detangle starting at the bottom using a product with some slip and use your fingers or a wide toothed comb. This will help keep the cuticle and curl pattern protected.

8. Sleep on a Silk Pillow Case- Apparently I’m a wild sleeper so when I try to wear a bonnet to bed I wake up with it on the floor- fail. I started using a silk pillowcase because it eliminates the hassle of actually putting the bonnet on, helps keep your hair from breaking and retains the moisture in your hair that a cotton pillowcase depletes.

9. Be Patient- We are the generation obsessed with instant gratification. Unfortunately, this is just one avenue where patience is key. There is no miracle product, pill or haircut that is going to give you that beautiful curly hair you desire over night or even over the next month. However, with patience and a lot of trial and error you will begin to see the results you want.

10. This is Your Journey- Not Your YouTube Gurus- Between watching the endless YouTube videos and curly hair Instagram posts of all the women who seem to have the perfect curls it is very easy to develop hair envy. I’ve had many moments of thinking “ WHY DOESN’T MY HAIR LOOK LIKE HERS?” In the end, the journey is different for everyone and everyone is at various stages in their journey. It is important to realize that all hair types are beautiful and sometimes that Guru’s curly hair pattern is simply just different from yours- and that’s okay!

Curly hair has never been more celebrated than it is now. The natural hair care journey is a very personal one and it is amazing to think that something as simple as hair can cause one to self reflect on who they are as an individual. What a wonderful thing to grow in your journey and feel more beautiful than ever as a woman embracing her curly crown.

-@thecurlycrown

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Top Summer Hikes


The weather has been just right in some of our favorite places in the U.S. making it the perfect time to "take a hike"! We really enjoy being outdoors (allergies and all!) and there is just something so liberating and freeing about climbing and walking some of the coolest trails. After all, we are not IN nature; we ARE nature! It's important to have moments of meditation and tranquility in addition to challenging yourself physically and hiking does just that. With all that being said, we started to ponder where some of the cool places to hike are and we jotted down some suggestions of cities and trails from TSS Reader and Alpha Chi Omega alumnae, Alyssa Conti, in conjunction with our faves. We then created  a list to share with you. Find our must-try places and/or cities to hike for the summer below and let us know which ones we are missing by leaving a comment below!

  1. Twin Peaks in North Bend, WA
  2. Grand Canyon in Arizona
  3. Cascade Falls in Lake Tahoe
  4. Waipio Valley, Hawaii
  5. Rocky Mountain, Colorado
  6. Durango, Colorado
  7. Bryce Canyon, Utah 
  8. Zion Canyon in Utah
  9. Nounou Trail in Hawaii
  10. Glacier National Park
  11. Boulder Trail in Payson, AZ
  12. Coal Creek Trail in Washington
  13. Franklin Falls Trail in Washington

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Things To Remember When Meeting the Parents For the First Time


1. Dress appropriately. Here's a cute outfit we would wear!
2. Be respectful, but friendly.
3. Don't make yourself feel at home.
4. Don't wear too much make up.
5. Show how much you care about him.
6. Ask them questions; get to know them.
7. Sell yourself, but don't overpower conversations making it all about you.
8. Act interested (even if you're not).
9. Be confident.
10. Show your manners by thanking them for their hospitality!

Good luck!


Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Summer Travel Tips Every Traveler Should Read




According to the U.S. Travel Association, there was $645 billion spent on leisure travel in 2014. Much of that is spent during the summer, when people take trips to visit family, explore new destinations, and hit the beach. Any time of the year there can be challenges when traveling, but especially in the summer, when the weather poses different types of things to consider. The good news is there are plenty of ways to help ensure travel this summer is safe and healthy for everyone involved.

“The first thing people think of when they are going to do some summer travel is having fun,” explains Tina Aldatz, chief executive officer of SAVVY TRAVELER. “But what they should put at the top of their list is staying safe and healthy. That’s the only way to actually be able to enjoy the trip to begin with.”

Here are some summer travel tips to keep in mind when planning a trip as shared by SAVVY TRAVELER over the next few months:
  • Be a minimalist. Forget packing everything and anything you can, which will weigh you down and drag on your mind. This year, aim to be a minimalist by packing the least amount of items you can, while still making sure you have the essentials for your vacation. You will appreciate the benefits that come with being a minimalist when traveling.
  • Get physical. It’s important to maintain an exercise routine of some sorts even while on vacation. This is a great time to mix up your usual workout by adding in some swimming, hiking, kayaking, or other traditional summer recreational opportunities.
  • Keep hydrated. Summer months mean that it’s warmer across the country, so be sure to stay hydrated. This will help your body fight off any illnesses and keep you feeling better.
  • Dress accordingly. Plan ahead to see what the weather is like where you are headed to, so you can include the appropriate clothing. Don’t overdress if it’s going to be warm, which can lead to becoming overheated during the summer months.
  • Sanitize. Traveling exposes people to numerous germs that could lead them to become sick. One of the most effective ways to fight back against this is to sanitize using wipes for the hands, body and surfaces around you. SAVVY TRAVELER has made a line of eco-friendly convenient wipes, including sanitizing ones, designed for the health conscious traveler.
  • Relax, too. Getting relaxation in while on your vacation is good for your health. It will clear your mind, and leave you refreshed and ready to take on the world when you get back home.
Staying healthy and taking the time to be aware of your surroundings can go a long way when traveling so we hope that you can take in all of this awesome summer travel advice!

Monday, June 15, 2015

Scavenger Hunts Made Easy With Eventzee


Whether you're planning a fun sisterhood, 21st birthday, or bachelorette party, we've come across the best app to help you have a scavenger hunt worth participating in! The app is called Eventzee and it allows you to follow clues, snap photos, and keep track of your scavenger hunt status all through the app. TSS reader, Keley, shared that "When it was time to go to the next place, you can send a message to the group. And you can assign judges. It was fun!"  Not only can you host a private scavenger hunt, but you can also participate in worldwide scavenger hunts by submitting your photos. We really love that you can relive the moments of the scavenger hunt in a special photo gallery too. Best of all, the app is free! Download it here and gather your friends for some fun!

Thursday, June 11, 2015

The Airfare Secret


 

Traveling can be super expensive, especially over the summer. We have been crying over the hefty airfare prices we have come across and have been seconds away from begging a friend of a friend of a friend for a buddy pass (yeah, we know--desperate!). But, then we got put up on quite possibly the most genius site ever (well, besides ours).

Skiplagged is an airline fare loop hole. The model is designed off of the idea that it's often times cheaper to buy a flight with more stops. Here is how they explain it!

Skiplagged is the only airfare search engine to not only find tickets where your destination is the final stop, but also any stop leading up to some other destination.

Why the latter? As part of the pricing model of many airlines, they would sometimes charge less for tickets where your destination is a layover rather than the final destination. This is price discrimination that has to do with being competitive in the industry. At the end of the day, what you would be doing here is purchasing more of a service than you need for less. There are some caveats though:

(1) no checked bags because they'll end up at the final destination [carry-ons are okay]
(2) must book two one-ways for round-trips
(3) shouldn't associate with frequent flyer programs
(4) there is risk of airlines removing your actual destination from your itinerary during times of irregular activity such as really bad weather
(5) you may be violating the contract of carriage for some airlines. Keep in mind that as the consumer, you have all rights to partially use the services you are paying for, so these trips are completely legal.

The savings are sometimes substantial (e.g. 80%), but it's up to you to decide whether they're worth it.

In addition to providing this transparent service, Skiplagged provides features like:
(1) seeing the cheapest destinations for almost any combination of departing airports and dates
(2) showing the prices of tickets for dates near your searched date(s)
(3) monitoring how the price for any search fluctuates every hour
(4) receiving alerts when the price of a search is near your reservation price

All of this is completely free and always will be. Some of the features may only be available on our desktop website right now, so for the full experience, check out skiplagged.com.

You can also download it here for the Android or here for iTunes.





Wednesday, June 10, 2015

College Bucket List

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Be it that we have lived through college, we definitely have a pretty seasoned College Bucket List to share with our fellow college readers. Whether you're embarking on your college journey soon or midday into it, check these College Bucket List items off of your list:

  1. Join a sorority (I mean, that's obvi, right?!)
  2. Live in college housing
  3. If you're a sorority girl, live in your chapter house
  4. Take a college credit dance class
  5. Do Race For the Cure with your friends/sisters
  6. Attend Spring Break in Viva la Mexico!
  7. Go to at least one college football game
  8. Sit in the student section
  9. Pull an "all-nighter"
  10. Go to a frat party
  11. Compete in a dance off
  12. Eat Chick-fil-a like every single day (partially kidding)!
  13. Attend at least two campus events
  14. Have a Power Hour
  15. Go to a date dash (with or without a date)
  16. Decorate your grad cap (after all, you did earn your degree so show your accomplishments off)!
What does your College Bucket List look like? Share with us in the comments below some things you hope to achieve while in college?
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