These Products From The Ulta Beauty Gorgeous Hair Event Will Give You The Perfect Blowout
This article is in partnership with Ulta Beauty.
When it comes to blowing out natural hair, it can be tricky. Naturally, our hair thrives with less manipulation, but that doesn't mean you can't blow it out from time to time. Depending on your hair, it could cause damage depending on how often you blow out your hair and how much heat you add to it. It's no doubt that blow-drying your hair is less damaging than flat ironing it, but if not done correctly and too often you may sacrifice your curl pattern.
This week's Ulta Beauty Gorgeous Hair Event has a lot of great sales on products and tools that will make blowing out your hair healthier and easier. One of the best dryers to use on natural hair is the Deva Curl Devadryer and Devafuser, which is 50% off this week. It's a two-in-one dryer that you can use for drying your curls or blowing it out without too much heat.
Here's a step-by-step tutorial of how to get the perfect blowout without ruining your curls and what the best products to use are.
Step 1:
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Start with your hair washed and conditioned.
Step 2:
Ulta Beauty
Deep condition your hair with the It's A 10 Miracle Hair Mask and apply a medium palm-sized amount all over your hair. This hair mask helps strengthen and protect hair while softening it. Deep conditioning is important, especially when preparing for your blow out. The It's A 10 Miracle Hair Mask is on sale for 24 hours only today Oct. 10 for 24 hours only at 50% off.
Step 3:
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Comb through hair to remove any knots with the Tangle Teezer Mint & Lilac Ultimate Detangler and wrap your hair with a plastic cap for 10 minutes.
Step 4:
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Rinse thoroughly with cool-water rinse (if desired).
Step 5:
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Apply a leave-in conditioner and heat protectant.
Step 6:
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Apply the Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer by tgin, a Black-owned brand that promises to add additional moisture, shine, and seal moisture.
Step 7:
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Create small sections and blow-dry your hair with the DevaCurl Deva Dryer & DevaFuser.
Step 8:
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Add more of the Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer by Black-owned brand, tgin as needed and style as desired in a stretched twist or braid out, a flexi/perm rod set, or prep for a protective style.
The Final Look:
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Krissy Lewis for xoNecole.com
Lastly don't forget that you can get each of these products 50% off this week only during Ulta's Gorgeous Hair Event. Click below to shop!
It's A 10 Miracle Hair Mask (Saturday, Oct. 10 - 50% Off)
Ulta Beauty
Regular Price: $52.99
Sale Price:
Tangle Teezer Mint & Lilac Ultimate Detangler (Thursday, Oct. 15 - 50% Off)
Ulta Beauty
Regular Price: $14
Sale Price:
tgin Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer (Sunday Oct. 18 - Entire Brand 50% Off)
Ulta Beauty
Regular Price: $6-9
Sale Price: $11-17
Deva Curl Devadryer and Devafuser (Thursday, Oct. 15 - 50% Off)
Ulta Beauty
Regular Price: $159
Sale Price:
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Featured image by Krissy Lewis for xoNecole.com.
Freelance writer, content creator, and traveler. She enjoys the beauty of simplicity, a peaceful life, and a big curly fro. Connect with Krissy on social media @iamkrissylewis or check out her blog at www.krissylewis.com.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
I Took Three Months Off From Work In The Name Of Radical Self-Preservation
In the fourth quarter of 2023, I finally did it. I pulled the plug! To be honest, it was a long time coming. I spent years juggling all of the balls in my life, and on October 2, 2023, I dropped every one of them and fell into surrender mode.
I couldn’t take it anymore - work, family, relationships, politics, death, the ramifications of COVID-19, and my fears creeping in. I had either put off dealing with these things, or I simply didn’t want to acknowledge them. Instead, my time, energy, and focus were on everyone and everything beside me. I pushed myself to the limit; then everything started to consume me. Burnout was swallowing me whole, you feel me?
All of this forced me to do some much-needed introspection which I turned into my self-proclaimed, "Fade to Black Season."
What is a “Fade to Black Season,” you may ask?
It’s a call to rest.
It’s a call to reset.
It’s a call to retreat into a deep, quiet space.
It’s radical self-preservation.
Deciding to step back from everything was not an easy decision for me. I contemplated taking a break from everything for many years until I couldn’t put it off anymore. If I didn’t take this time off, I knew I wouldn’t be able to truly show up for the life that I claimed that I wanted for myself.
I know I’m not the only one who has felt this immense weight on their shoulders. Why? Because I’m a Black woman. According to Every Level Leadership, 88% of Black women sometimes often, or always have experienced burnout. And let’s be honest here - Black women work harder than any other group. We are the backbone of our jobs, families, and community. Because of this, we must incorporate rest as an integral part of our well-being. In case there’s some pushback, I’ll leave this quote here for you to marinate on:
“If you are silent about your pain, they’ll kill you and say you enjoyed it.” - Zora Neale Hurston
The reality is that with piles of work and life obligations, many of us are walking time bombs. And, for me, two weeks of PTO/vacation wasn’t enough time needed to balance myself, so I took three months off. If you feel called to do so, let this be your inspiration to take your own “Fade to Black Season.”
Here’s what I did.
- Shadow Work: I became best friends with my journal and illuminated the things I hid from myself to heal. Shadow work consists of the things you don’t like about yourself, your conscious and unconscious fears, and other negative emotions that exist due to past experiences and trauma.
- Trigger Warning: During this time, I let my triggers become my wisest teacher. I asked myself why various experiences, news, or communications resulted in negativity. I observed them, listened, and learned why they took up so much space in my life. Then, I allowed myself to choose to be open to a different outcome or feeling moving forward.
- Get Back To Pleasure: I re-centered my pleasure. I had to remind myself of what turned me on. I allowed myself to take life slowly, engage my senses, and play. I signed up for every tantra workshop, went to art museums in the middle of the day, took movement classes, and went to dance parties. I moved all the stagnant energy out of my body.
- Let Others Lift You Up: I let my people love on me. I let my loved ones take care of me. This wasn’t easy. I was used to being everyone’s support system and soft space to land. However, in my time of need, I finally let my tribe show up and show out for me. My only regret is not letting them do this sooner.
- Social Media Break: I broke up with social media during this time. Reclaiming my time and attention was an integral factor in calming my nervous system. I put blockers on my phone, and when I felt the urge to swipe and scroll, I took a walk or picked up a book.
- Redefine Your Life: After doing this type of work, I knew that I would never be the same. In this new space, boundaries and balance are prioritized, and everything else has to fall in line. I now have the mental/emotional space and capacity to do my best work!
Best of all, during this time, I found God in myself, and I loved her, fiercely.
My “Fade To Black" Season allowed me to grieve in peace, rest, tap into unrelenting joy, and simply be. At this point, me and peace got a good thing going on. Nothing else will be tolerated!
For those of you who are nervous about taking the first step, use The Dufree Foundation’s DIY Sabbatical Guide to help you plan, prep, and prepare yourself for your sabbatical - this is something I wish I had done before I leaped. Consider going on a Divine Pause Retreat to learn tips and tricks to avoid mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual burnout.
For those who work in social impact, apply for The Durfee Sabbatical program, which offers $60,000 and a three-month sabbatical, so nonprofit leaders can be a lever for whole systems change.
The choice to take a sabbatical is up to you! Just remember to prioritize yourself and never pour from an empty cup.
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Featured image by Maskot/Getty Images