It Works Hair Skin and Nails Review: Does it work?

In my quest to get longer, stronger hair I love trying new things to see if it will help. My hair is slow growing and somewhat weak thanks to health issues and over processing. In my previous posts, I shared about how essential oils helped me a lot with growth (going from nothing to something, yay!). I also dyed my hair darker in order to cut down on damage from bleaching. After two years of being a brunette, my inner blonde called to me and I had to go back. My hair is much healthier now with lots of love and care, but I have yet to reach my desired length. Ten weeks ago, I decided to give It Works! Hair, Skin, and Nails vitamins.

After seeing pics like this, I was willing to try:

These results look absolutely amazing and you see these pictures posted all over social media. I did  product swap with an It Works consultant and signed up for the three month autoship. The autoship was a lot cheaper than buying it outright. You can buy a 30 day supply for $55 with no commitment, or commit to 3 months of autoships for $33 per month. The catch is, you have to keep it for three months or pay a $50 loyalty fee. Once your three months are up, you can cancel at any time and still receive a loyal customer discount without doing the autoship program. 

Sadly, I did not see these results. I also sucked at taking quality pictures. And realizing that straightening my hair made for better pictures lol. So here is my 3 week hair compared to my 9 week hair. I chose these two to compare because my hair was in the same style, nicely straightened. In hindsight, I wish I would have taken all of them that way, but hey, some Saturdays you just don't do your hair. 

 As you can see, there isn't hardly any difference between the two. From Week 1 to Week 3, it looks like there is a difference, but the truth is, my hair was just incredibly messy for week one and two. Oops! Seriously though, after nine weeks and those example pictures, I should have Rapunzel hair by now! On another note, how did my hair look better in week 3 than any other week???!!

Pros:

• The vitamins were easy on my stomach. I did not feel sick, unlike some other vitamins that make me nauseous. 
• They really are filled with lots of goodies.
• My nails were already long, so I wasn't really taking them for that, but they do seem a little stronger
• There was some hair growth during my time using the vitamins
• $33 isn't a bad price if you choose the autoship program. 
• Autoship was nice because it came every month just in time, before my supply ran out
• Buying from a direct sales rep means you're supporting someone REAL, not just a huge corporation and CEOs. 

Cons:

• Obviously, the results in the promo pictures are not typical (or maybe I am a weirdo and it didn't work for me!)
• I still noticed the same amount of hair falling out as before I started the vitamin
• $55 is wayyyy expensive if you choose not to autoship. But autoship is kind of crappy if suddenly you don't have the money for vitamins. 
• The pills are rather large, and they taste weird. Not bad weird, just.... grainy.
• My skin wasn't any different. Still had my usual break out places. 

I will be finishing off my last jar here in a week or so and then trying Omnitrition Hair Skin and Nails vitamins. I refused to give up hope that there's some miracle pill out there for me ;) Or maybe Younique will come out with hair fibers like our lash fibers (totally joking)!  I will post those results too. I still have reviews of Olaplex, and my latest Stitch Fix to post later! 

Monat Hair System Review

You know if you're reading my blog that I am on the obsessed side of growing my hair out. I am willing to try anything once just to see if it works. So I dropped some big bucks and tried the $99 Volumizing System from Monat Global (a direct sales company). *This is an unbiased review of the product. I am not a representative of this company, nor helping one. I purchased it with my own money simply out of curiosity.






My system came with Shampoo, Conditioner, and Volumizing Root Boost spray. I traded someone in a swap group for the leave in hair masque later. I feel like that was a huge chunk of change to spend on such a small package, but worth a shot. To recap, I have hair that is difficult to grow and continues to fall out, though not to the "thinning" point just yet. I used the system until I ran out of conditioner and here is what I thought:

Pros:

• The system smells good
• There are no icky chemicals, it's naturally based
• It made my hair softer
• The shampoo lasts forever, a little goes a long way
• The  hair masque is heavy duty but doesn't leave your hair feeling greasy or weighed down
• Autoship orders always come with a sample of the product of the month
• I felt like the system did add some volume to my hair and I really liked the root boost spray
• My hair feels healthier than it did before Monat
• You're supporting someone's business by using Monat, go #teamMOM!
• Although I chose the volumizing system, there are lots of different combinations to choose from, including one specifically for men

Cons:

• The system is SUPER expensive
• The conditioner is smaller than the shampoo, yet you need to use more of it than the shampoo (why, why, WHY do they always make conditioners smaller?!?!)
• You have to pay to get the VIP price and they sucker you into autoship
• Said autoship cannot be cancelled online, it has to be done over the phone
• To get free shipping on your VIP order, you have to spend $100, which turns into $115 because there's literally nothing that adds up to $100
• I did not see an increase in thickness or growth while using the system

My verdict: If you're going to use Monat, start with a system, find the products that work best for you and just stick with those instead of dropping large amounts on the systems again. I will continue to use the root boost and hair masque since I like the way they function. I will not be purchasing the shampoo or conditioner again. I'd love to try the Rejuvenique oil but I am definitely not willing to drop $99 ($84 for VIPs) on ONE product, yikes. 

Stay tuned for my review of Olaplex hair bond repair system and ItWorks! Hair, Skin, and Nails. While you're at it, check out our new products (and oldies but goodies!) at www.3DbyKimmy.com! 

Until next time!

Kimmy

Stitch Fix #1

I bit the bullet and decided to try Stitch Fix. I signed up using a referral link from my mom and it was a pretty easy process.

A simple overview of the program: Sign Up Here. You pay $20 and a stylist uses results from a questionnaire you fill out in advance to choose five items to send directly to your doorstep. You try it on in the comfort of your own home. They give you three days to make a decision on what to keep and what to return. If you choose to keep all five items, you get 25% off. Otherwise, each item is priced individually and your $20 styling fee is applied to what you keep. There are no autoship requirements, which is one of the reasons I decided to give it a go. Whether you want one every month, every other month,  or just for special occasions, you can choose when you receive packages.  They also have a pretty amazing referral program.

I was pretty excited to receive this box today (especially since the day hasn't gone as planned...but that's another story!)

The inside of the box is very pretty and has instructions that are clear. You really can't mess this up if you read what they send! There was a small envelope as well with a personal note from the stylist who chose my pieces. I'm sure they probably all say the same thing, but it was nice anyway! There was also what I like to think of as a paper pinterest board. It has each item paired with two different outfits to show you how to wear your new articles of clothing.

There is also a slip that shows the name of each item, what each item costs, and your total with and without the Buy Five discount. My shipment would have been an average of $37 per item if I chose to keep them all. Your initial $20 fee counts toward whatever you keep as well. 

So let's get to the good part, my shipment!

Item 1: Jeggings/Skinny Jeans. This was the only thing I did not like in my box. That waistband?! I am not a child who needs an elastic waistband, thanks. I did not even try them on as they were obviously too long for me just by looking at them. I think I need to go change my pants length, I must have messed that up :) These were priced at $78.

Item 2: Cross Front Top. I really liked this shirt and the way it felt. Definitely high quality materials. It was a little awkward to put on, but once it was on, it looked and felt great. Coming out of the box, I thought it was going to be very low cut, but the fit was professional once on my body. It is $48.

Item 3: Open Cardigan. This was very comfortable and I loved the pockets on the side. But it was a bit "messy" looking for my tastes. Again, high quality fabric. $48 to purchase. 

Item 4: Striped Dolman. The pictures don't do this one justice, it's navy and tan. I really like the fit of this shirt. It was loose at the top and fitted toward the bottom. It would look great at work with khakis as well as with jeans and boots. I cannot say it enough, the stuff they send is really good product. I can't necessarily afford it all, but there is a reason they can charge $30-$50 for these. This one is $48. 

Item 5: Chevron Henley. There are several reasons why this one is my favorite. I love chevron, it's peacock colors, and this was extremely flattering to my figure. Plus it is SO soft (like, I wish you could feel it through the screen!). I will be keeping this item out of the shipment. Of course, it's the most expensive shirt in the box at $54. What can I say? I have expensive tastes and a teacher's paycheck, they don't mix often. 

Honestly, I probably would have kept my whole shipment if I had liked the pants. That's what plastic is for, right?! I kid, I kid. I am trying hard with my family to get out of debt from my daughter's bills wayyyyy back when so we don't use the charge card anymore unless it's an emergency. Seriously though, they did a great job choosing items that fit me and my questionnaire. Now is when I can let the stylist know why I am returning things (uh, ugly pants?!) and give a little more insight to her (Thanks Holly!) for my next shipment. I will definitely be doing another shipment in the next month or so. My overall impression is that everyone should get a box at least once to try it out. You don't have to commit to anything and the worse thing that can happen is.... you're out $20 but you had fun trying on things you might not have picked for yourself. 

Get your fix here! 

Grow Yo' Hair Challenge: One Year Later

I have wanted long hair for years. And years. And guess what?! It is finally happening for me! I wrote in a previous post that my hair is the kind that just does not grow, no matter what I do to it, what vitamins I sporadically eat, what products I use, etc. It was the same exact length for years. I begged my hair dresser to only take a millimeter when we trimmed. The answer to my wish? Young Living Essential Oils. 

Let's review:

This was me at this time last year. Sad hair, sad face!

Started using oils and one month later.... much better!

And here I am in all my gloriousness a year later! 

Like, Oh My God Becky, look at those inches?! (Do NOT look at that face with no makeup on though!) I cannot be any happier with the progress I have made over the last year. It takes a lot of work and some smelly oils, but the additional growth is totally worth it. I used cedar wood on the ends, and rosemary and cedarwood on my scalp. Come see me by signing up as a customer or better, a distributor for Young Living here. 

My New Year's resolution? Add another 6 inches onto my hair and have an Elsa braid. Yes, I went there. I want an Elsa braid damn it! Who cares if I am almost 30 ;)

Have a productive New Year and stay pretty!

Holy $*!& Eye Lashes!!!!

Yeah, I said that! There is no other way to describe what Younique 3D Lash Mascara does for you. I love make up, a lot. And I cycle through it like crazy. Rarely does something do what it says, especially mascara. Like those little fancy brushes actually extend your lashes or give you the "falsie look" without the glue and lashes? Yeah right.

So when one of my SB mommy friends started selling Younique make up, I rolled my eyes a little and thought "Oh geez, another direct sales cosmetic company". And then the pictures came. One after another of these AMAZING eye lashes. The kind my daughter has without mascara, the kind a woman dreams of! But again, would this actually work or was I wasting $40 on a bottle of black goop that works exactly the same as the $7 black goop I already had? And.... wow.

Fab-u-Lash?!














The first is without any mascara, freshly cleaned so no leftovers either.




This is my mascara, using "Falsies" blackest black.


And then BAM! This is ONE coat of Younique 3D mascara.



In conclusion: I don't think I will ever be able to live without this mascara again. The pictures speak volumes so I don't even have to say why. I like products that do what they promise and I am willing to pay the extra money to get them. With shipping, it's around $39 but one tube lasted me a little over three months so it was worth it. Here's my Lavish Lash Link <3

As far as my no heat summer hair challenge, it's not going so hot (full pun totally intended). Oh my gosh I am horrible at it! I tried for about a week and decided I could not live without my blow dryer. But I did cut out the straightener and have only used it three times since the beginning of June. I'm still using cedarwood oil and rosemary religiously as well and I am in love *still*. I'd take some pictures, but it's a little unfair at the moment with my pretty peacock hair in there ;) Monthly photos will resume at the start of August when I go back to teacher hair!

Go out and sparkle*+*+*+*+*

Looking for Change?

Are you looking for change in your life? Or maybe just your hair! Micro-Loop extensions are the way to go if you want to add a pop of color without the commitment of bleach and wild hues.

The way micro loop extensions work is that an extension is paired with a  thin piece of your hair and held together with a bead. These cause virtually no damage to your hair, unlike adhesives which can cause breakage high up on your hair shaft. They can be worn for as long as 6-8 weeks (more if you take good care of them!) and the best part is that they are reusable. Once your hair grows out, your hairdresser can simply squeeze the beads in the opposite direction, move the extension closer to the scalp, and re-squeeze!

Here are my new loop extensions. Being a teacher, I have to look professional for my job (who's idea was that to decide purple wasn't professional?!) but in the summer I like to get my crazy out. As you know from the rest of my blog, I am working very hard on growing my hair out long and healthy, so I did not want to bleach large chunks of my hair to dye and then have to work my way back to brown. All that damage isn't work a few months of fun color. So I decided on my first set of loop extensions and I am SO happy! They're made of real hair so they can be styled right along with the rest of your hair. They're light weight as well, so I don't feel like they are pulling down on my own hair.

They come in packs of all one length, so you will have to have them cut. I recommend having a professional put these extensions in, because they will need to be blended with your own hair to give them the natural look.So while I am still working on growing my own hair, these give me a little oomph to keep me satisfied :)

*see my previous blog post for hair progress pictures using Young Living Cedarwood and Rosemary Essential oil then go buy some here>>>>> https://www.youngliving.com/signup/?site=US&sponsorid=1605262&enrollerid=1605262*
Have a Happy Hair day!!

Growing Hair When Hair Just Won't Grow

You know that moment when you want to smack your friend because she had a cute little sling bob four months ago and now her hair is down to her shoulders? Yeah, me too. My hair grows SO slow. As in, I've had my current license picture for almost four years now and up until about six months ago, the only thing that changed was the color. I decided that if I really wanted to grow my hair out, I had to be super serious. I ditched the bleach blonde (that alone SHOULD have worked, but didn't by itself!?) and took up a strict regimen with my hair care routine. Here's the strategies I used. Check out my results afterward :)

1. I dyed my hair a dark brown. For years, I had been bleaching my blonde hair even blonder. It's bad, period. Color actually deposits onto your hair shaft rather than drawing out, so hair color alone helped me get on track to long hair.

2. I started using Nioxin System 3 for chemically treated hair. This is a miracle worker in itself. After my pregnancy (check out my little butterfly here: callistasjourney.blogspot.com) my stress levels went up and my hair fell out. Like, clumps, gobs, and handfuls. Eew. After starting Nioxin, I could see the difference in about two months. I had all these tiny little hairs sticking up from my scalp. My awesome hair dresser informed me that yes, they were indeed NEW HAIR! Woo hoo!! But with Nioxin, it's important to be consistent and use the whole system. Otherwise you're just wasting your money on a minty scent.

3. I vowed to only use one kind of heat every day, and to avoid heat if I could. I already wash my hair every other day to try and grow it, but I was blow drying and then straightening after. Invest in some heat protection spray that can be used with your dryer AND your heat tools. I love Silk Olive heat spray for super cheap at Sally Beauty.

4. Within the last two months, I have added Young Living Essential Oil Cedarwood to my hair process and I can already tell the difference. Just look at the pictures... All that growth (an inch or more!) after just adding cedarwood. That stuff is crazy good! Yeah, it's smelly, but who the heck cares when you see THESE results?! Here's my sign up link if you're interested in purchasing this or any essential oil: https://www.youngliving.com/signup/?site=US&sponsorid=1605262&enrollerid=1605262 

I will be working on my No Heat Challenge starting in June (when I don't have to look presentable over summer break LOL) so I look forward to posting the next set of pictures after that!!