You may have seen natural dry shampoo bar soaps flaunting your social media or Youtube recommended feed lately and for a damn good reason. Except from their obvious practicality when it comes to their size and all-natural, vegan ingredients, lathering up with something other than liquid shampoo has become more and more common these past few years.

Also if you are one of us who already made the transition from buying mass-produced liquid hair shampoo from giant corporations that don't take into consideration the huge amounts of plastic waste they cause each day, to purchasing from independent businesses, you are in luck! The following solid shampoo recommendations are about to tick all your boxes, plus, they come straight from the virtual selves of Beauty Lounge, one of the best German natural dry shampoo brands. Don't take my word for it, trust German's top model and many other beauty gurus who can't seem to stop raving about this product.

 

As firm believers of Natural Beauty, Beauty Lounge aims to educate people about the incredible benefits of nature-derived ingredients without synthetics lab-made chemicals. In fact, one Wild Rrose Shampoo bar can replace up to 7 shampoo plastic bottles - bringing new values for the visitors of the luxury cosmetic shop.

Because of their long-renowned scalp-calming, oil-balancing, and growth-promoting properties, the best natural solid shampoos are undoubtedly a warm-weather essential for all your future seaside adventures. Here is why:

I’ve decided to start wearing wigs again. But this time I didn’t want to do the fake scalp type of wig that has lace in the parting area. It always looks good in pictures online but in my real life, it just wasn’t fooling anyone. I was considering a U Part Wig which would allow me to wear a section of my own hair out in the top crown area. While researching u part wigs, I came across this new wig called the Thin Part Wig. The videos I found on YouTube have me convinced this might be a good fit for me. 

If you’re not familiar with u part wigs, there is a weft also known as a track, at the top of the wig. To cover this weft you need a section of your hair to hide it. The problem is that sometimes it can be hard to blend your leave-out with whatever texture or color you have decided to wear. Blending a leave-out is not always easy. This is why a lot of people started wearing full wigs with no leave out. But now that people are starting to realize that the lace does not actually look realistic in person without the filters you can use on IG to hide the lace holes, many are starting to turn back to u part wigs or look for better options.

This is is how I ended up coming across the Thin-Part Wig. The top of the opening of the wig mimics real hair roots instead of a hair weft. The website says a thin part wig can be worn with no leave out while wearing your own real scalp or it can be worn with a thin leave out (90% less than u part wig). From the videos I’ve watched on YouTube, it appears that curly textures like kinky curly hair can be worn with no leave out, while straighter textures can have a thin leave out. I’m thinking this is what I will go with. With the hair being 100 virgin human hair, I can dye it to get the perfect color match and the hair will last longer than synthetic hair or Remy hair. Here is a video I found that has the length that I want. I love the wedding guest style she did.

Let's face it, whether you like to admit it or not, you have probably wanted to achieve the oh-so-sleek straight hair look at some point in your life. No matter if you are a curly gal like myself, or simply rock your wavy hair with pride, sometimes all your outfit needs is a high, tight ponytail to get you through yet another night-out with your BFFs. Then, there are those days when you forcefully try to perfect that straight-hair look with a frizz-free finish to match the business casual dress code of your important meeting.

Unfortunately, if you’re one of the thousands addicted to their flat iron (yes, I belong on this list as well), you’re probably very familiar with the fact that this love affair comes hand in hand with some pretty negative repercussions. You know what I am talking about. All those early mornings when you find yourself pressing your hair over, and over again in the hopes of transforming your "bad hair day" into something semi-presentable for the public. 

Let's be clear, we don't see our Sephora and Nordstrom shopping trips ending any time soon. Seriously most of us have long-lasting attachments to these brands that will require much effort to get rid of. There is no need to stop investing in some quality fashion and beauty products as soon as they are made ethically of course. That being said getting familiar with female-owned brands that don’t compromise the safety of their ingredients and formulas for a few quick bucks is a must.

No matter if you are a bag lover, a skincare hoarder, or simply enjoy hair care formulas that can actively help your hair get longer and healthier, surely there is a small, female-owned brand ready to deliver some well-packaged goodies to your doorstep. There is no need to hunt down the best-emerging businesswomen in your area, with the rise of social media we can instantly spot all the career-driven, talented individuals who decided to dive into the world of entrepreneurship. There is no need to spend all your hard-earned money supporting a giant corporation when they are so many lesser-known businesses that deliver the same (or even higher) quality products- they surely deserve your trust and recognition.

Unfortunately even the most female-centric industries like beauty, haircare, and fashion are still predominantly run by men. For me, it's all about celebrating women who continuously try to subvert the industry standards by embracing their individuality and follow their own path to success. As someone who is constantly sharing stories both here and on numerous other media outlets, every time I get the chance to feature an up-and-coming brand made by women for women, the answer is an instant "yes".

If you feel like doing some much-needed retail therapy today, It's perfectly understandable. Whether you are interested in adding a few wallet-friendly, all-natural hair oils to your cart, or simply looking to invest in some wardrobe accessory staples for an easy winter to spring transition, supporting female-owned fashion brands is a must. There is even a modern Instagram marketing ebook bellow that will definitely help you step up your social media game.

If you’ve already been schooled, keep scrolling to discover all the amazing goodies some small brands are willing to deliver right at your doorstep this year.

Since we spend most of our days indoors, it's safe to say that we have already made all our essential skincare/beauty purchases. However, most of us don't put the same emphasis on our hair treatments. The sad reality is that our skin is super absorbing (that includes our hair too), meaning we expose ourselves to more than 100 different chemicals on a daily basis- that's precisely why the all-natural hair care regimes are on the rise. 

All the above formulas are based on the miracle properties of plant-based ingredients including grapeseed, jojoba, almond, castor oils, rice grains, and tea tree extract to name a few. With these hair growth oils, you are able to increase growth and retain the length grown, especially when you use them consistently. The Beautae Bar is a mobile salon that specializes in natural hair care and products, specializing in protective styles on natural hair and regrowth regimens for healthy, long strands.

They also offer online consultations for all their first-time clients who want to treat their hair. The short online questionnaire will help them analyze the type of your hair and suggest the right products according to your needs! From what I hear Shantae McDonald, the founder of Beautae Bar is ready to release shampoos, conditioners, and hair masks, so you definitely need to keep this brand on your radar.

Fashion is a tool that has the ability to empower women to feel confident and strong. This was a driving force behind Nefertari Designs, a handbag, and accessories brand that recently hit the market with their Winter 2021 collection.

Nefertari Designs is budget-friendly, not to mention extremely chic and versatile. From monochromatic mini clutches to chunky chain handles and animal print, there is definitely something for you on the website. Time to add some day-to-night handbags to your 2021 wishlist.

Last but not least, for all of us who love to deep-dive into the world of social media, but have no idea where to start, the Modern Instagram Marketing: 6 Steps To Building A Real Following On Instagram is simply a necessity. Whether you are a new female entrepreneur who wishes to grow her following and bring awareness to her work or looking for ways to achieve the influencer status, you can have access to this ebook for only $9.99.

If you are reading this article, then you are definitely one of us who love to keep it simple when it comes to our skin and hair care formulas. Incorporating Mother Nature into your skincare routine can not only be very simple but also super affordable. The reality is that our skin is super absorbing, meaning we expose ourselves to more than 100 different chemicals daily- that's precisely why more and more people prefer organic, all-natural skincare regimes. Most of these formulas are handmade based on scientific research about the miracle properties of plant-based ingredients- let's all try to stay away from the harmful chemicals many established beauty brands use even to this day.

Green beauty is definitely on the rise, but if you aren't yet on board with natural skincare and beauty products, don't worry. You will most definitely make the switch the moment you lay eyes on our list of all-natural, handmade formulas for your hair and skin. Yes, all of the products below are actually handcrafted, aiming to provide top-notch results to women and men without breaking the bank. Whether you are looking for an easy transition to clean skincare or simply want to add some new formulas to your collection, keep on reading.

Kiss your frizzy hair goodbye with this moisture-rich Hair Butter Cream. It contains the perfect mix of organic oils and unrefined butter. The formula is jam-packed with moisturizing-locking ingredients and antioxidative vitamin E for stronger, shinier, and softer hair. Unlike many other hair care products, this one does not rely on synthetic elements and harmful additives that could pose a risk to your hair and scalp. Don't worry, you can keep adding items to your cart because these natural treatments are under $10.

Sure, your cult-favorite skin moisturizer with 20-letter ingredients works great, but what about the equally amazing indie products that use penetrating abilities of Hyaluronic and kojic acids to give your skin genuinely deep moisturization? For those of us who weren't blessed with crystal clear skin, the Kale Kò W Head To Heal Moisturizer promises to glow dark spots, even our skin tone, and smooth the appearance of fine lines and texture.

Best part? Every formula comes from a newly established female-owned business that offers handmade, affordable, all-natural hair and skin care products to the black community. Pao and Jo Clean Beauty, founded by Sylvine, a pharmacy-biochemist, herbalist, and now a full-time stay at home mom, entrepreneur. aims to help everyday men and women to be kinder, bolder, and beautiful inside and out. 

Before I came across the Vegan movement almost 4 years ago, I never gave much thought to the ingredients in my favorite skincare products. Not once did I take a minute to consider whether the chemicals and ingredients were harmful to my body, let alone the planet or animals. It was all about how I looked wearing- I know, pretty selfish.

As soon as I started reading about the tremendous impact my top skincare choices had on animals, I was in shock! Suddenly none of my favorite makeup, skincare, and hair care products were appealing to me. That quickly made me start researching, eager to find some vegan skincare alternatives that didn't encourage the exploitation of animals - not to mention the health and environmental consequences. 

Despite the progress we have made so far, there are still plenty of brands that continue to test on animals, no matter the backlash. Luckily in Europe animal testing was banned in 2013, this sadly isn't the case for the US and China. Contrary to popular belief, all natural-cruelty free brands don't come with a big price tag. In fact, some of your all-time favorite skincare and makeup brands may already be vegan, without raising the price of their products.

Ahead you can find some very affordable vegan skincare products that have never been tested on animals.

Skincare

2021 Holiday Gift Set

We put our hair through a lot. In the shower, we often use harsh shampoos and conditioners and then reach for a hairdryer and other heat tools to dry and style our hair. This is all not even touching on the other potentially drying or harmful products many use on a daily basis, including gels, pomades, and more. 

Thankfully, there are a few simple steps that you can take to start eliminating this unnecessary stress on your hair. To begin, take a close look at the products you reach for in the shower. 

You may think that your current shampoo or conditioner is good enough and gets the job done, but if you are trying to improve the health of your hair it could be helpful to actually take a look at those ingredient labels. 

Here are a few specific ingredients that those who care about their hair health should avoid: 

Why are these ingredients bad? The answer to this question depends on the specific ingredient. For some of them, such as triclosan, DEA, mineral oil, and parabens, there are concerns surrounding potential health risks. For others, including SLS and propylene glycol, the concern centers more around the tendency for these ingredients to irritate the scalp and dry out your hair. 

Simply reading the ingredient labels on products you consistently use, like shampoo and conditioner, allows you to identify these harmful ingredients and subsequently remove products that contain them from your hair care routine. If you do end up discontinuing the use of your shampoo and conditioner, there are several great alternative options available. Solidu shampoo and conditioner bars are great environmentally friendly options that are also free from the above mentioned harmful ingredients. They have several formulations to target different hair care needs, such as this rosemary and mint shampoo bar for oily hair. 

Yes, it is common advice to stop constantly using heat styling tools on your hair. But it is not without good reason. Hairdryers, straighteners, and curling irons are staples in many of our beauty routines, but that doesn’t change the fact that they can dry out your hair, contribute to split ends, and ruin your natural curl pattern. 

While these tools are certainly convenient and can help speed up the process of getting ready for the day, they do more harm than good. If it feels like asking too much to completely quit using your favorite heat styling tools, then a solid step would be to simply reduce the number of times per week that you use them. For example, if you typically blow dry your hair every morning and then pick up a curling iron to complete your look, maybe you could skip the curling iron three out of the seven days per week. While this doesn’t completely eliminate the potential for heat damage, it does reduce it. 

Whether you naturally have straight hair, waves, curls, coils, or fall somewhere in between, everyone can benefit from embracing styles that lend themselves to their natural hair pattern. 

Investing in quality leave-in products to comb or scrunch through your hair after you shower can help keep the temptation for reaching for heat styling tools at bay. Gels, pomades, and leave-in conditioners can all help tame and style your hair while avoiding the harsh effects of heat. 

However, while you are researching which products you should use for this purpose be sure to keep an eye on the ingredient list. Just like shampoos and conditioners, other hair products can also contain the aforementioned harmful ingredients. Especially when checking out holding products like gel or pomade, be sure to avoid any harsh alcohols that could dehydrate your hair and leave it dry and brittle. 

Remembering to read ingredient labels, avoid heat styling tools, and reach for various leave-in products are each small steps that you can take to improve the condition of your hair. Hopefully, these ideas can give you a starting point for moving toward your hair goals, and inspire you to look into even more options to optimize your hair’s health! 

Watch the Before and After of my hair .