Fashion Impulse Mania

Box braids are one of my favorite protective hairstyles. They're low-maintenance, give me tremendous length, and offer a much-needed break from using heat tools on my delicate natural hair. I'd say these stylish plaits are an all-around win, except that after a couple of months of carefree living, my strands are left in serious need of help in the thickness department. That's where hair masks come in to save the day. These handy pots of nutrient-dense goodness are a catchall for any hair problem you might be experiencing that's causing your tresses to appear more thin than you'd like. My post-braid thinness is mainly perpetuated by the overuse of clarifying shampoo, which I have to use for a few days to get my hair clear of product and scalp debris. Not to mention the weeks of routine hair shedding that's finally free to fall—a process I can only imagine is akin to that of a husky losing his winter coat. Yes, it’s that intense. So you get it — hair masks ...

I'm not ashamed to admit that reading through ingredient labels on beauty products sometimes makes my head spin. The multisyllabic words and stickers boasting those buzzy, clean, and natural monikers alone are enough to cause a mental frenzy. Compound all of this with the fact that everyone from scientists to overly confident Twitter "experts" has a different opinion about which ingredients to avoid in skincare, and it's enough to send anyone into a mental spiral. Does everything cause cancer ? Is moisturizer poisonous ? What is the truth? "We are living in an era where consumers are raising awareness of any ingredient that might be suspect of causing harm," says Ron Robinson, cosmetic chemist and founder of  BeautyStat . "In fact, any ingredient studies that have shown even the slightest safety concern, if consumers get wind of it, they may warn others to avoid that ingredient. If this news builds, then some manufacturers may decide to not use that ...

I’m really sorry to say it, but when it comes to our body, time takes its toll on just about all of it. And although we know all too well what aging does to our skin, when it comes to other areas of our beauty regimens, age is rarely factored in. From swapping in serums that tackle fine lines and wrinkles to acid treatments that work against age spots and pigmentation , products that cater to aging skin seem to be everywhere. But what about our hair? It turns out that besides going gray, aging can affect our hair in a number of ways. From thinning to dryness , the ways in which our hair deals with getting older means that as time goes by, we may need to change up our routines. And one of the most effective ways we can do that is by trying out a new haircut. As hair ages, it’s normal for it to become a little more difficult to style, meaning that it’s often all too appealing to chop it off. As we get older, keeping hair short  comes with its benefits. Not only does it keep loc...