AmyB Photography

I am super duper excited about my new

photography website and my brand new logo!!

 

 

 

See?? Isn't it pretty?

 

Ha ha. Good times.

Happy Birthday, Sarah!

 

Embracing the curl...

I have been instructed by my new hair stylist to embrace the curl. So the past six weeks I have been using the products I bought at the salon and started following my stylist's instructions on how to handle my hair. I have also completely stopped using a flat iron or blow dryer on my hair.

 

I have always thought I had the wrong kind of curly hair. Whenever I left my hair curly, it was ALWAYS frizzy and I had the ugliest curls/waves. BUT ever since I started doing the below steps - I've noticed a HUGE difference in my hair. I know that my hair isn't 100% how it could look because I have straightend and dyed my hair for many years - so the processed hair will need to grow out and be cut off before I can have the hair I want. But again, I have noticed a huge difference just by following the instructions below.

 

This is what my curls look like now. Sadly, I don't have a "before"

picture...I hated my curly hair so I NEVER wore it curly!

 

I guess this can be my "before" picture for

when my processed hair finally grows out...

 

 

 

So here are a few things I have been told from my stylist on how to handle my curly hair:

1. Never run your fingers through your hair. The only time you can run your fingers through your hair is when you are in the shower and you have shampoo or conditioner in your hair.

2. Use a Deep Conditioner once a week.

3. Only use shampoo on your scalp and roots. Never put shampoo on your entire hair. When you rinse it out, it will clean the rest of the hair.

4. Never use a towel on your hair. "Towels are too heavy and absorbent for hair. Most towels cause friction, which ruffle the sensitive hair cuticle, causing frizz. If you want to use a towel use a Microfiber Towel for Hair. Microfiber towels are designed to gently pull excess water from your curls absorbing just enough water to allow styling products to set curls and keep them defined."

 

I personally don't use a towel. As soon as I put in the styling gel (per the instructions below) I leave my hair dripping wet and let it air dry. But it does soak my shirt - which is why I do the entire process below about 4 hours before I go to bed instead of doing it in the morning when I have to go to work. But I plan to eventually purchase the microfiber towel and try it and see how it works. All the reviews I have read rave about it.

 

5. For days when your hair is extra dry - try leaving in your regular conditioner instead of washing it out.

 

6. When letting your hair air dry - DON'T touch it until it's 100% dry. Seriously. Continuing to scrunch it as it dries cause your hair to frizz. After you shower and put your product in, keep your hands out of your hair until it is completely dry - follow the styling instructions below on how to shake out your curls once it is dry.

7. Don't ever use a brush or comb in your hair.

8. DON'T blow dry or straighten your hair - it causes severe damage to your hair. (Same goes with dyeing your hair from a box.) The only time it is okay to blow dry your curly hair is if you purchase the blow dryer / diffuser specifically for curly hair. DevaCurl has one - you can find it here. 

 

My friend Ashley actually has the DevaDiffuser and I tried it for the first time last night and it is AMAZING!! I hope to purchase one next paycheck! It is worth every penny!!

 

9. My stylist also recommended that I get the DevaCut from now on...which will layer my hair and help my curls lay the right way. You can find a Deva-inspired stylist who specializes in the Deva Cut in your region, here.
      



Instructions for washing & styling your hair:

(sidenote: These instructions are from the DevaCurl website)

 

I use DevaCurl products ...but if you don't want to spend that kind of money on shampoo/conditioners make sure you buy hair products that are sulfate, paraben and silicone free.

SHAMPOOING
Detergents found in most shampoos produce lather but dries your curls. Cleanse your curls gently with DevaCurl cleansers which are sulfate, paraben and silicone free. Formulated with a rich blend of botanical ingredients, DevaCurl cleansers provide maximum moisturization. When switching from shampoo to DevaCurl, continue your normal cleansing schedule. Once the hair becomes more hydrated and healthy, you can cleanse less often. To prevent tangles and overwashing, use our basic curl cleansing techniques:

-Wet hair thoroughly without disrupting the hair’s basic shape

-Apply cleanser along fingertips, then evenly distribute to fingertips on the other hand

-Apply cleanser directly to the scalp taking care not to disturb the curls

-Firmly massage the entire scalp using circular motions

-Let the water spray through the hair to rinse dirt and product build-up

 

CONDITIONING
Most curl types will benefit from a small amount of DevaCurl One Condition left in after rinsing. Curly girls with a high frizz factor and thick curls can skip the rinse and just squeeze out the excess water. Curls will naturally absorb the conditioner it needs, and release what it does not. To achieve maximum hydration, we suggest these conditioning tips:

-Use a generous palmful of DevaCurl One Condition

-Glide conditioner downward through the hair with your fingers
-Squeeze hair in an upward motion toward the scalp

-Listen for a squishy sound which means hydration penetration has been achieved

 

STYLING
DevaCurl styling gels are an essential step in the curl care routine. Our styling gels are alcohol and silicone free. They also contain humectants and nourishing ingredients to protect hair against outside elements. Once applied, the styling gel will harden creating a gel cast—and when dry, the cast is released and the result is soft, defined, touchable curls. To style your curls like a pro, consider the following tips:

 

-After conditioning, tilt your head forward and let your curls fall freely. Place a palmful of DevaCurl gel in one hand and distribute to the other hand. Apply evenly, covering all curls, by sliding your hand down on one side and then the other. Squeeze hair in an upward motion toward the scalp. Listen for a squishy sound. Tilt your head to the left and repeat. Tilt your head to the right and repeat. Slowly turn your head and stand up straight and repeat.

 

-Air-dry or use the DevaCurl Dryer and DevaFuser to dry your curls. Then, after it is COMPLETELY dry use your fingertips to very lightly shake the hair at the roots. Finish by gently lifting your fingers off the scalp.

 

 

You can order a trial kit and try the shampoo/conditioner/styling gel/moisture lock spray for $29.95 - you can find it here.

 

 

Helpful Links:
1. To find out the kind of curl you have - go here.
2. For more DevaCurl tips & tutorials - go here. 

I'm back... (maybe)

Hey kids! You guys doing okay?

I thought I might try getting back into blogging but not sure if I will fully commit...I guess we will see what happens.

My last post was back on March 26, 2012 - so I will try to catch you up on what has been happening in my life since then...if you happen to be interested in knowing...

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APRIL

The month of online dating.

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I started working out quite a bit. I was getting up every morning at six and doing two miles at the track every day. I was eating right and I felt awesome all the time! I lost 16 pounds.

 

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I discovered that I like apples!! Let me just tell you that this was a HUGE discovery because I hate all fruit. Yes, that's right! ALL FRUIT!! (except for apples now)

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I tried the online dating thing again this past April and I met a really cute guy. I talked to him constantly for almost four weeks. Seriously. We texted back and forth every day, all day. (And most of the time HE initiated it.) We got to know each other very well via text. (I hate talking on the phone but I love texting) I found out what all of his favorite things were, what his hobbies were and he told me all about his family.

Then we had an awesome first date.

This was right before I left for my date.

It lasted almost six hours and only felt like one. We got along very well and we both laughed a lot. We talked for another week (via text and again HE initiated most of it) and then we planned another date for the upcoming weekend.

Then three days before our date - all communication came to a halt. BAM he fell off the face of the earth. No warning, no nothing.

That sucked.

But what made it worse was that he was a grown man who didn't have the balls guts to just say he was no longer interested. He just cut off communication and didn't respond to my last text. We went from texting all day to complete "radio silence". Pansy.

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APRIL INSTAGRAM PHOTOS:

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May

The uneventful month.

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Uhhh... I got a new laptop and iphone cover...

 

 

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I made friends with a squirrel that lived in a tree in my yard...

 

 

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At the end of May, I made the decision that I would move back home, where my mom would let me live there for free so I could pay off my debt and get money in savings so I can buy a house within a year (or two). That was a very hard decision to make. I loved having my own place. And I love love LOVED living with Ashley. But the idea of being completely debt free and buying my own place was too strong of a pull... I made the decision and started making plans to move in mid-June. I had a garage sale. Sold a lot of my furniture. And started boxing up the rest of my home and getting it ready for storage. My lease didn't end until June so I had to wait a few weeks after the decision was made to move...

 

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MAY INSTAGRAM PHOTOS:

 

 

 

 

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JUNE

The month of my birth.

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The first week or two - I spent packing and getting ready for my move. I spent quite a bit of time with Ashley before we were separated. And one day, she dressed my dog up in her bikini... I have weird friends.

 

 

Romey was a little anxious because he knew something was happening. There were boxes everywhere. I sold my bedroom furniture and slept on the floor for the last two weeks. So he knew something was up...

This was our last night in our home...

 

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I moved in to my mother's house the second week of June. I was really excited that the new furniture I ordered from Urban Outfitters came in just a day or two before I was set to move in. I was really quite happy with how my room was set up. I was able to change the entire style with my new furniture. (I used to have the cherry wood sleigh bed set with matching armoire, side table and dresser. My taste had completely changed since I purchased that set back in 2002)

 

 

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I took off the week of the move - so after I was settled in (it only took me one day to completely unpack) I got to spend a lot of time with my sister-in-law and nephew.

 

 

 

We went to the zoo...

This is the only picture I posted on Instagram.

The rest are on my computer that I took with my Nikon.

I actually haven't even gone through them yet.

I'm way behind on going thourgh and editing all of my photos.

 

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I had a photoshoot with my friend's daughter for her Quince and it was the most fun I have ever had on a shoot. She was the easiest person to take pictures of. She was absolutely beautiful!!

 

 

You can see the full photoshoot on my new photography website, here.

 

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I celebrated my 31st birthday. We went to dinner at Moonie's Burgers and went to Karoke! It was so much fun!! And I was so happy that Sarah (who is very shy) was a good sport and got up and sang with everyone!!

 

My gifts from Ashley.

 

 

 

 

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July

The month of fireworks.

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We celebrated my nephew's second birthday at the Splash Pad and then went to a festival at Old Settler's Park and watched the fireworks! (My nephew was born on the 4th of July)

 

 

 

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 My work got awesome because they gave me a second monitor which makes things so much easier!!

 

 

 

Then it got a LOT worse because this thing ran underneath my desk...

 

 

It was seriously the size of my hand!! I almost quit my job right then and there but my coworker came to my rescue and got it from underneath my desk and killed it before it came to that. I swear it felt like something was crawling all over me the rest of the day. I wanted to go home and shower but sadly I had to stay at work.

 

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I petsit for almost two weeks for the sweetest golden retrievers you will ever meet! Now that I am living at home (where there is currently a full house of people living there) petsitting gave me a nice break from all of the craziness. :)

 

 

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We celebrated Hudson & Adelaide's birthdays!! Hudson wanted a Rachet theme and Addie wanted a Hello Kitty theme. Sadly, I didn't take more pictues of the decorations because Sarah did an amazing job (as always)! :)

 

 

 

 

 

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August

The month of photography

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I had a couple of different photoshoots this month. I decided to change the focus of my photogrpahy to individual or senior portraits only. And I created a new website and asked several friends to be my test subjects so I could post the portraits on my new website. I haven't edited them all yet or and have only posted one of the sessions on my site. I have 4-5 other friends who have signed up to be my test subjects over the next several weeks. So I will be updating my website soon...

 

 

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I rearranged my room... I love it so much better this way because it makes the very small room feel a bit bigger...and I can see my TV better from my bed...and I was able to fit in both of my chairs.

 

 

 

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I went to get my haircut and was instructed by my stylist to embrace the curl in my hair. Which means NO MORE blowdrying or straightening my hair. I always thought I just had ugly curls but she showed me the process of how to have beautiful curls.

 

She also convinced me to stop dyeing my hair... (I have been dyeing my hair since I was thirteen.) She told me that once my processed hair grows out my curls will be even prettier!! 

 

I go back in at the end of September for a cut and a glaze!!

 

PS. I plan to post a tutorial (later on) based off the instructions

I was given by my stylist on how to maintain curly hair.

 

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My best friend's daughter started kindergarten on Monday. Beware these pictures will break your heart!!! She was terrified!!

 

 

But it went better then she expected...

 

 

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AUGUST INSTAGRAM PHOTOS

 

 

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The end.