Bun Look of the Week/Bun Idea #5: The Cinnamon Bun

Happy Hump Day lovelies!

I'm back with another bun idea for the week!! For those of you following the bun challenge, we are about a month into it with another month and some change to go. I'm hoping that this challenge is helping you to find new bun ideas. If not, that's what this blog is for! I'm hoping that the weekly suggestions are helping you guys try something new.

Anyway, the bun for this week is the Cinnamon bun. No, it has nothing to do with the Cinnamon challenge (I've heard of it-still don't know what it is). It's actually called the Cinnamon Bun because well....it looks like a cinnamon bun! This bun is a great alternative to the tried and true donut bun (which, can get a little boring after awhile). I came across LuxyHair's tutorial on YouTube and decided to give it a whirl.

As I am 18 weeks (?) post now, this bun was done on air dried hair. I also kept my hair straight back (I'm really not a fan of hair in my face...it bugs me) and will probably top it with a handband later this week. You guys can jazz up the style any way your heart desires but the point is to make the bun look like a cinnamon bun-which is pretty cool in and of itself. Because of the twisting, I think this bun is great for ladies who are around APL and beyond. SL ladies can give it a shot too but the bun may be smaller.

But don't take my word for it, check it out for yourself! (<---yeah, I just had a major Reading Rainbow moment lol).

Bun of the Week/ Bun Idea #4: Skinny Headband Bun

*photo from www.glamour.com*

Happy Tuesday lovelies! I'm back with this weeks bun look! The look for this week is super easy and is on trend with what is going on currently...hair-wise of course!

A big trend this spring are hair styles that utilize an accessory that I'm sure all of us have in our arsenal- a skinny headband. Personally, I have quite a few of these babies laying around the house. I use them whenever I'm wearing a braid out or bantu knot out (keeps the hair off of my face). Now, however, I have an excuse to wear them with a bun! This hair style was one that caught my eye as I was thumbing through a recent issue of Glamour magazine.

This week, my hair is similar to what you see in the above pic. I air dried my hair and basically formed a loose bun (that was secured with Goody Spin Pins...not a hair tie!), placed the headband on, and teased the crown for some volume. It is a super easy style! I honestly think this style would look even cuter on hair that is on it's last legs of a braid out, twist out, or any other kind of -out. I think it will give a very casual/cool style. This style is definitely a good one for ladies who are SL and beyond!


A few shots of me with the style:

Bun of the Week/Bun Idea #3: Lauren Conrad Inspired Ballerina Bun

Happy Hump Day loves!

I'm here with the bun look that I'm rocking this week. I'm currently rocking a Lauren Conrad inspired ballerina bun. What I love about this bun is the fact that its a little looser and not as structured as your typical ballerina bun and not as....knotty as a top knot bun. However, it makes for a very classy and elegant style. GraceNBeauty on YouTube has an excellent tutorial here.


A few things though: I do not tease my hair at all for this bun. I find that my air dried hair provides more than enough texture and volume for the purposes of this bun. I simply gather my hair into a high ponytail and form my hair into a loose bun. I secure the bun to my head via bobby pins. That's all there is to it! A quick, classy look for a warm spring day!

Check it out!

'Like' The Awkward Stage on Facebook!!

I'm back with a quick blurb. I finally created a fan site on Facebook for The Awkward Stage! I'm hoping it can be another way to keep you guys in the loop with updates (especially when I fall off the map for stretches at a time!). If you could stop by, like the page, and show your support, I would appreciate it!


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Thanks y'all! :)

First Impressions: Organic Root Stimulator Hair Repair Nourishing Conditioner

Happy Tuesday lovelies! I am back with a review of a DC I tried over Easter weekend! While I love my beloved Aubrey Organics conditioners and my Silicon Mix, I understand that they may not be readily accessible for all people. For that reason, I love trying products that you guys can pick up at your local Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, etc. It gives you guys options and (I think) doesn't give you the feeling that you HAVE to order products online to get the best possible products ever. I have certainly found some hair care gems in my local drugstore.

That brings me to the ORS Hair Repair Nourishing Conditioner. Let me start by saying that ORS is a solid line. As you know, ORS Replenishing Conditioner is one of my staples as well as ORS Carrot Oil ( a moisturizer I use during the summer when the weather is warm and I want something light). Don't forget about ORS Creamy Alone Shampoo, ORS Herbal Cleanse.....yall get the drift. Let's just say that I haven't met an ORS product that I didn't like.


With that said....let's get to the review!


Price: $1.57 per pack (in Wal-Mart. Random side note: Wal-Mart has started carrying Shea Moisture products. I was kinda shocked!)


Ingredients: aqua (water), polyquaternium-37, propylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, PPG-1 trideceth-6, hydrolyzed collagen, tridecyl stearate, neopentyl glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, tridecyl trimellitate, dimethicone PEG-7 cocoate, musa sapientum (banana) fruit extract, dimethicone, leaf/stem extract, panthenol, hydrolyzed wheat protein, lanolin oil, phenyl trimethicone, quaternium-80, hydroxyethylcellulose, disodium EDTA, DMDM hydantoin, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, parfum, (fragrance), benzylbenzoate.


Product Tag: "Conditioner with banana and bamboo extract for dry and damaged hair"



This DC is the good DC for the money. As I mentioned in the price listing, this DC comes in packs only (which I didn't like--I wound up purchasing three of them.). In terms of smell and consistency, this condish is pretty thick...and smells like bananas. I mentioned on Twitter that it was like they took a banana, mashed it, and jammed it into a pack. If you aren't a fan of the smell of bananas, you probably won't like this condish. Anyway, I wound up applying two packs to my hair ( I really could have gotten away with using one but I was particularly OCD about the condish coating my hair that day) and sitting under the heat cap for about an hour or two (I got sidetracked and lost track of time lol). When I rinsed it out, my hair was so soft and pretty easy to detangle. It doesn't have the amount of slip that I would prefer but that doesn't affect my review either way.

Bottom line: A solid DC. It is definitely a good DC to incorporate into your reggie if you want to try something new. Please take note (if you haven't already) this is not an all natural product! Please keep that in mind before you buy if buying all natural products is your thing! I think I still prefer my beloved Replenishing Conditioner a bit more though. My only gripe is that this stuff doesn't come in a bottle! It gets expensive paying $1.57 a pack and you're buying multiple packs at a time!

What a Difference 3 Years Makes!

This post right here is a little snippet.

The other day it dawned on me that I have been growing out my hair for 3 years!! My hair journey has been an amazing one to say the least. I have learned so much about my hair and how to care for it, I will never be dependent on a stylist again!


Aside from that, I absolutely love documenting my journey for my blog readers! As corny as it may sound, I absolutely love it when my journey can encourage others to grow their hair out to amazing lengths and show them that having long hair isn't something beyond their grasp. What can I say? It gives me warm fuzzies on the inside lol. I love giving product recommendations and just sharing what I know about the hair care game. I also feel like their is so much to gain from documenting my pitfalls, too. As we all know, the hair care journey is never an easy one.


Anyway, without further ado, I just wanted to post of pic of where I started in January 2009. I had hacked all my hair off into a Rihanna-esque cut which I loved. I was really in awe that it managed to look right since I didn't shave the back of my hair ( I just had it cut really, really short.) I then want to end with where my hair is now. It has taken 3 years but I went from a short cut to BSL ( at least I think it's BSL....I can't call it lol). Either way, this is the longest my hair has been in my life. Although I'm constantly going back and forth with the idea of growing my hair to WL, I can say that I absolutely love where my hair is now. Let this be a source of encouragement for all of you guys. My hair has not grown overnight (although it seems like it has). With some patience, and an awesome regimen, your hair will flourish! Have faith!

January 2009

March 2012

Wash Day 4/8/12

Happy Sunday lovelies!


I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter! I can't complain about mine as it was just me and my doggie (Polo) napping on the couch all day lol.


Also, today marked my first wash day since the blowout I got last weekend. I have to say that even with working out, the blowout held up quite nicely. Before each workout session, I would wrap my hair and cover it with a scarf. My hair was good to go! I had little reversion which was awesome! My hair finally decided to revert on Thursday after I completed a CRUNK class which was immediately followed by a kickboxing class. Smh. I don't know what I was thinkin' 'bout. In keeping with the challenge, I did wear my hair in a bun. It wasn't a fancy bun, just one that I threw together quickly in the morning. You can see it below:

Anyway, let's get down to the wash day. For this wash day, I had to get whatever silicones that were residing in my hair after the straightening out. So, I used KeraCare 1st Lather Shampoo for well....my first lather lol. I then followed up with Elasta QP Creme Conditioning Shampoo (trying to get rid of all these extra bottles of stuff). For this wash day, I tried a new DC: ORS Nourishing Conditioner. As I will be writing a review on it, I will spare you guys the nitty gritty details. However, I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised. My hair came out nice and soft! After that, I rinsed the DC out and dried my hair using the scarf method. This week I will be wearing my hair in a Lauren Conrad inspired ballerina bun (which I will post later!).


What did you guys do to your hair this Easter weekend?