Shopping

Subterms

    More stories

    • 138 Shares

      in beauty and fashion

      Headbands Are My Holiday Hairstyle Secret Weapon—Here’s How I Style Them

      by

      Going natural is one of the best things I’ve ever done. My 4-type hair can shapeshift into many different styles while keeping its unique curl pattern. However, one style that I love to see on others but have been afraid to try is pulling my hair back into a sleek, middle-parted bun. I have seen the simple-but-classic style everywhere lately, and two of my beauty icons—Sade and Meghan Markle—wear the style so well, but their hair types are totally different from mine.

      Luckily, I’ve seen many ladies with coiler hair textures on YouTube and social media taking this style on, which inspired me to give the look a try myself. I am happy to report that I achieved the look with a couple of products I already had in my bathroom, and I even added a sparkly holiday hair accessory for good measure. Here’s how I achieve my new look!

      I start with my wash day 

      One thing I’ve learned about my hair over the last few years is that water is my curl’s best friend. Water not only hydrates my curls, but it gives me the ability to work with them without damage or excessive breakage. With that in mind, I start my journey to a slicked-back bun with—you guessed it—H2o. I wash, condition, and apply all of my products in the shower. In-shower product application is important for my hair because I have low-porosity hair, meaning my hair gets the most benefit from products when it’s soaking wet.
      After applying my leave-in conditioner, it’s time to apply the products to mold my springy, tightly-coiled curls into a bun. I start by hopping out of the shower for a few moments to part my hair down the middle and hop back in to apply my Aunt Jackie’s Grape Seed Frizz Patrol Setting Mousse. I love it because it doesn’t flake and has a firm hold without the crunch. I re-soak my hair with water and then apply three pumps of mousse to the front of my head, three pumps to the crown, and two pumps to my ends. Next, I use my Felicia Leatherwood Detangler Brush to smooth all of these products through my hair from root to tip. Once my cocktail of products is evenly distributed and my hair is detangled, I braid my hair length to the end to keep the most fragile (and dryness-prone) part of my hair protected. 

      I add a few more products post-shower for hold and shine

      Once I get out of the shower, I apply a few more pumps of mousse, followed by a palm-full of Creme of Nature’s edge control to keep my hair down without the crispy crunch that gel can leave behind. Lastly, I add Prose’s shimmer oil for shine and to lock in the moisture. For those with coiler hair textures, at least from my own experience, tying the hair down with a satin or silk scarf after molding it is crucial. Because my hair is soaking wet at this step, I sit under a bonnet dryer for about an hour. If you don’t have a bonnet or hooded dryer, you can always tie your hair down overnight to set it, but it may not be completely dry the following morning, so keep that in mind. 

      Once my hair is dry, I use a hair tie to secure my braided ponytail and add a couple of bobby pins to secure my braid into a bun. One thing I want to note: if you have coily hair, shrinkage is still going to be a thing even when setting and stretching your hair with minimal heat. So, don’t get discouraged. If you want a sleeker ponytail, blow your hair out first. But if you want a no-heat style, this is the way to go. 

      I felt a little self-conscious the first time I tried this style and my hair was set because my entire face was in full view with no curls or bangs to frame it. But once I added my headband, I felt like I was four again, when headbands and anything sparkly instantly made me feel like I was walking into one of my beloved Disney movies, and I felt like my face had some framing. I want to note that my Lele Sadoughi headband is an investment piece. I love that it’s got bling, it’s gold (which is my favorite color and can go with almost anything), it’s well-made, and best of all, it’s comfortable. No headband headaches over here. With that in mind, I want to share a few of my budget-friendly favorites that can bring on the holiday glam and cheer: 

       
      As a woman with 4-type hair, I have heard every negative thing you could imagine about my curls, from “Your hair isn’t professional” to “You can’t do that with your hair.” I love to prove the hair-shamers, colorists, and even myself wrong as I continue to shine a light on Black hair’s beauty and versatility. Black hair can do anything, no matter the texture, and my little holiday hairstyle further proves that point.  More

    • 88 Shares

      in beauty and fashion

      The Best Plus-Size Loungewear on the Internet

      by

      “Oh, lounging around the Christmas tree…” that’s how the song goes, right?At the beginning of this year, I loved getting dressed up as much as the next girl; but by now, we know that 2020 had other plans for our OOTD posts. This year, I noticed an immense need to expand the loungewear portion of my wardrobe. I needed (though some may say wanted) more waistbands that didn’t dig into my tummy and blouses that didn’t hug (suffocate) my chest. 
      The good news? Many companies started making cute loungewear. The bad news? A lot of them weren’t making those selections in plus sizes.
      Here’s the truth: the hunt to find cute and comfy loungewear in my size was tough. Luckily for us, challenges like that have never stopped a shopaholic like me; I’ve compiled a list of the trendiest and coziest ‘fits you could dream of. Since we’re friends, I’m sharing them with you below—all you have to do is shop them and get cozy.

        More

    • 138 Shares

      in beauty and fashion

      The Cutest Jewelry Gifts to Give or Ask for This Year

      by

      If there is one gift to give that is always loved by the recipient, it’s jewelry. I truly don’t know anyone who wouldn’t love to receive a beautiful and thoughtful jewelry gift. It doesn’t even matter if the person is more of a minimalist or doesn’t wear a ton of jewelry daily, I would still bet money that there is something out there that they would love and wear. Classics and everyday staples like chain necklaces, signet rings, and hoop earrings are effortless and timeless, so you know that whoever is receiving them will be able to wear the items for years to come. And the personal factor of something like an initial, monogram, zodiac sign, etc. just makes it that much more special. 
      And don’t forget about yourself this holiday season! If you’ve been on the hunt for the perfect layered necklace or chainlink bracelet, what better time than now to gift it to yourself or add it to your wish list. 
      Keep scrolling for 25 of our favorite necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelets to gift or ask for this season:

      Necklaces

      Earrings

      Source: @stellaandhaas

      Rings

      Bracelets More

    • 113 Shares

      in beauty and fashion

      20 Statement Coats That Will Instantly Elevate Any Outfit

      by

      We all know how getting dressed in winter goes: you could strategize your top and pants and accessories until the cows come home, but at the end of all of it, it doesn’t matter. It’s all going to be covered up by a giant, puffy coat.I know that by now our team has complained enough about Chicago winters for you to check out at the mention of them, but if Chicago winters have taught me one thing, it’s that having a cute coat can transform your entire winter. Sure, my black parka will always be hanging by my door ready to swallow me in warmth before I leave the house, but this year, I’ve decided to invest in one “fun” coat too—so when I leave the house, I don’t think about what’s underneath it… I’m just excited to show off the coat itself.
      Have a little fun with your wardrobe this winter with one of these coats that are a look in themselves—even if you’re just wearing them to the grocery store, you’ll thank yourself every time you put it on. More

    • 88 Shares

      in beauty and fashion

      21 Gifts for Your Most Fashionable Friend

      by

      We all have that person in our lives: the friend, sister, or cousin that you absolutely dread buying a gift for year after year. Why? Well, she’s just a little bit too cool.Finding a gift for the ultra-fashionable, on-top-of-every-trend person can be impossible to know where to start. Do you opt for a fun accessory? An out-of-the-box piece of loungewear? The possibilities are endless, but not all of them are equal. 
      We’ve scoured the depths of the internet for the coolest, most foolproof gifts to get your most fashionable friend—from a cheeky graphic tee to a matching set she’ll live in. We promise: for once, she won’t be using that gift receipt.

      Shearling Slingback Sandal

      Update your friend’s slipper game with the coolest ones of the year. Available in 8 colors, these slingback slippers from Ugg are worthy of wearing for years to come.
      (8 colors available)

      Unfortunate Portrait
      Haute Yoga Tee

      Finding a cool graphic tee isn’t easy, but this one stopped us in our tracks. A cheeky fashion pun? Sign us up.

      Boy Smells
      Hypernature Neopêche Scented Candle

      Not only is this one of the most popular scents of the year, but the gorgeous packaging from this up-and-coming brand will be something the cool girl in your life will have front-and-center in her apartment.

      Wool Blend Beret

      “Emily in Paris” made it popular for the season, but berets are here to stay. This is a perfect, safe accessory to gift, and will be a perfect thing to swap out their go-to beanie for.

      Brinker & Eliza
      Booyah Mask Chain

      Masks aren’t exactly the accessories we were hoping for this year, but until they’re gone for good, we might as well be making them as fun as possible. This chain can be attached to any mask to make it a little more fashion-forward.

      The Gracey Bag in Croc Green

      It’s not easy to find a cool bag that not everyone has yet, but this one from a small, Black-owned business is worthy of wearing everywhere. It comes in every color under the rainbow, but we vote for this emerald green.

      DEZI EYEWEAR
      On Read Sunglasses

      Desi Perkins’ eyewear collection was one of the coolest accessory releases of the year, and this pair from her most recent release is at the top of our wishlist. You can’t go wrong with these.

      Abercrombie & Fitch
      Vegan Leather Mini Puffer

      This cropped puffer comes in every material and color under the sun, and anyone who needs to wear a coat this winter would be thrilled to have one in a faux-leather or faux-fur option. Dressing for winter just got a lot more fun.

      Stella and Haas
      Circle Initial Necklace

      You can’t go wrong with a gold piece of jewelry, and this initial necklace shows that you went above and beyond with a little customization, plus can be layered and worn with just about everything.

      Jennifer Zeuner
      Carmine Enamel Ring

      Depending on the type of girl you’re buying for, this fun enamel ring can be bought in a neutral, or used as an opportunity to gift a little pop of color.

      Etsy | Flawless Drips
      Purple Satin Face Mask

      You don’t know how much of a game-changer a satin mask is until you have one, and this is the gift that will keep on giving (hopefully not too far into 2021). We currently have our eyes on this fun, lilac color.

      Oma The Label
      The Simone Ring

      Give the gift of adding to your friend’s ring collection with this one from one our favorite Black-owned brands. It strikes the balance of being a statement, but also being classic enough to wear for years.

      Custom Clear Watch Band

      Anyone who wears an Apple Watch knows that it isn’t easy to make them particularly fashion-forward, but this clear watch band is one of the coolest we’ve found.

      Siren Teddy Faux Fur Coat

      Everyone and their mother is on the teddy coat bandwagon this year, but we love shorter, sweatshirt option that can be worn day in and day out.

      A Hot Pocket of Conversation Knit Lounge Set

      The matching set unintentionally took over this year, and this one with a slouchy sweater and wide, knit pants doubles as both loungewear and something your fashionable friend will love to style when she leaves the house layered underneath a go-to jacket.
      Our editor loves this plus-size lounge set too!

      Sam Edelman
      Laguna Waterproof Chelsea Boot

      The shoe of the year? The chunky boot, and this chunky (but not too chunky) choice is impossible not to please with.

      x Atlantic-Pacific Faux Leather Trousers

      One of the best trends of 2020 was faux leather, but given the nature of the year, we didn’t wear them nearly as much as we wanted to. This timeless pair will be worn for years to come, and we love that they’re a camel color, rather than a go-to black.

      Mauve Beanie

      The number of beanies you can have? It doesn’t exist, especially in this muted, dusty rose color.

        More

    • 100 Shares

      in beauty and fashion

      10 Last-Minute Gifts You Can Save Big On

      by

      My biggest flaw in life is that I wait until the last minute to do everything. I could come up with a million excuses as to why my holiday shopping isn’t done yet (i.e., waiting for that paycheck to hit, standing by for certain giftable items to go on sale, or placing blame on my cat who chewed up my credit card, making it unreadable for future purchases), but at the end of the day, the truth is that I perform best under pressure. Thankfully we’ve found the perfect hack to all of your last minute “oops, I forgot about that person” gifting. Gilt City, an online shopping and lifestyle site, has our backs. They offer a variety of unique gift ideas at some incredible prices that are almost too good to be true. Even if you’re unable to meet this year’s holiday shipping deadlines (a real 2020 problem), Gilt City makes it easy to buy vouchers for everyone on your list, which means you won’t even need to feel stressed about trying to find something that’ll ship on time. Here are 10 Gilt City sales you’ll want to shop now to save big on your holiday shopping—even if you’re gifting at the last minute.

      Calling all wine lovers! This Üllo Wine Purifier is the perfect gift for the vino-obsessed in your life. This game-changing, must-have item purifies and restores the natural taste of any type of still wine and pairs well with any socially-distanced reality-TV-a-thon. It’s BPA-free, dishwasher safe, and a sleek tool to add to any wine collection. Shop through Gilt City now for wine purifier packages that are up to 36 percent off! A total steal if you ask us.

      A lot of us love espresso, but let’s be real—espresso pods aren’t cheap. Enter these L’OR pods (compatible with the Original Nespresso machines) that are up to 50 percent off if you purchase through Gilt City! Gift your loved one the pure indulgence of high-quality espresso without the hefty price tag. Because nothing says “I care about you” quite like the gift of caffeine.

      This gift is the perfect package for the person who has everything and/or the one who is looking to try something new. These online video courses from The Skills are a to-do that your loved one will actually want to check off of their list. The Skills offers one-of-a-kind sports education courses from world-class athletes like Michael Phelps, Shaun White, Maria Sharapova, and more. Enjoy up to 57 percent off of master courses when you purchase through Gilt City and let the good times roll.

      Adding to your loved one’s beauty collection has never been more empowering. This year, gift REALHER—a brand that’s redefining the beauty game while offering high-quality, cruelty-free products. Beyond the incredible packaging and formulas, REALHER takes pride in its mission to inspire women, evidenced by their self-affirming product names like “Embrace Yourself,” “I Will Succeed,” and “I’ve Got This.” Thanks to Gilt City, you can enjoy 50 percent off on products you can feel good about gifting.

      Luxury beauty and wellness treatments are the ultimate way to treat yourself, but we all know that one person who just won’t splurge on themselves. The solution? Give them a gift they won’t give themselves. In this case, help your loved one treat themselves to an at-home teeth whitening treatment from GLO Science. Buy now through Gilt City to snag 50 percent off of whitening packages. Now that’s something to smile about.

      Luxury meets comfort meets affordability with Blush Lingerie which makes Blush the perfect gift for the feminine person in your life. Designed by women, globally sourced, and ethically made… just the way we like it. It’s daring yet refined and, with 50 percent off via Gilt City, it makes for the most affordable luxury gift of all time. 

      Buy a gift that the fashion guru in your life will fall head over heels in love with. And we’re not talking gifting this season’s “it item” that everyone already has… we’re talking something greater. Enter DESEDA, a Chicago-based, women-owned silk scarf company that collaborates with artists around the world to come up with limited edition designs. Their scarves are a versatile item to add to any wardrobe and 40 percent off when you shop through Gilt City. 

      Cheese lovers, unite! Gift your loved one (and yourself) the experience of a cheese making class from Big Mozz. Through Gilt City, the on demand or in person course includes a mozzarella-making kit, shipping, and taxes for 23 percent off. Gift one to a friend and one to yourself to set yourself up for the perfect at-home zoom date!

      I don’t know about you, but being gifted sweet treats is the most direct way to my heart! What if we told you that you could gift that special someone irresistible designer cookies for up to 33 percent off? It’s not too good to be true… with Gilt City, you can gift Duchess, home of the designer cookie and one of the tastiest cookie experiences on Earth. With a deal that sweet, you have to take advantage!

      Give your favorite foodie the luxury gourmet gift they didn’t see coming. With California Caviar Company, you can do just that. CCC has uncompromising reputation and brand integrity that focuses on sustainability, innovation, and education. It’s the food gift that can make any night in extra special. If you purchase through Gilt City, you can score 30 percent off of caviar gift sets and give them a gift they’ll never forget.

      This post is sponsored by Gilt City, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.
        More