Us teens definitely have a love hate relationship with our hair, but in the end we all want beautiful healthy long hair. For African Americans in particular, we may find it a little harder to maintain our hair length due to the improper care of our hair strands, breakage, overly heat styling and other high manipulation styles. There are different ways that we can protect and maintain our hair to achieve longer hair.

Leave it Alone!

We all love those hairstyles that give us great hair days, but let’s be honest we put a lot of time and effort into them which results in using heat, styling tools such as combs and other styling tools to achieve these looks, but high manipulation can cause breakage because of the stress we are causing to the hair strands.

So How Can We Fix That?

With protective styling, it’s a great

way to ensure low manipulation with your hair, protective styling can be done on all different hair types, from the silkiest straight hair to the kinkiest curly hair.

For girls who want to use their own hair to protective style buns are great low manipulation style. From high messy buns to low and sleek buns this style is very versatile. This allows your ends to be protected without using heat and little styling tools. Always vary the placement of the bun and don’t make them too tight, so your hair won’t break off in a particular area, because of the tension your hair might receive. If you want to spice up this style, go for a cute headband or bows and pins to add your own twist.

For girls who would rather not deal with our hair at all and love using heat but don’t want to damage your natural hair, I got something for you too!

Weaves, wigs and other extensions can really be beneficial. With weaves, wigs, and other extensions you can use heat that allows you to wear some of your favorite styles without the worry of damaging your own hair. Braiding your hair underneath will allow you to have a complete break from your hair but don’t neglect your hair, use oils on your scalp to ensure when you do decide to take out your weaves and extensions that your hair is still strong and healthy.

This is just two of many different ways you can protect your use protective styles to help retain length. This with the help of a great hair care regimen. I can ensure you that you will see great results and be on your way to healthy beautiful hair that retains length.

What is a Skin Care Regimen?

For me a skin care regimen is daily steps taken to achieve healthy, beautiful skin. I won’t be stating any specific products but more so the outline of what your regimen should be based on.

To embark on your journey to beautiful skin you will need to know what a regimen consist of right? Start your regimen with these 4 simple steps to achieve skin of your dreams.

1.Cleanse

2.Tone

3.Block

4.Moisturize

Cleansing

Cleansing your skin is very important especially for us makeup wearers, cleansing your skin gets rid of dirt, oils and build up throughout the day caused by foods, daily activities, even weather changes. I would recommend cleansing twice a day once in the morning and once at night to ensure your skin is clean, any more than twice a day you might find that your skin is becoming dry, in this case, you are over cleansing which is very possible to do.

Toning

Toning, what is that? Just think of the overall vibrancy of your

complexion. Toning your skin balances your faces ph., it also gets rid of dirt an oil that you might have missed during the cleansing process. I didn’t really understand the importance of toning, but realized that it helped nourish and even out my complexion naturally. I encourage you to stick and not skip this important step in developing your skin care regimen.

Block

We all love the sun but it can really do some harmful things to the face, it can increase the visibility of dark marks, uneven the skin tone and surprisingly burn the face. Blocking your skin from the heat rays with sunscreen is very important. Living in Florida, the sun is out a lot, me not being aware of the importance of sunscreen I would skip this step and noticed that my skin just didn’t look the same. The Barrier between your skin and the sun with sunscreen helps so the sun doesn’t penetrate through your skin and pores causing dark marks becoming worse, uneven tone and other skin problems.

Moisturizing

This step may just be my favorite part. After you do these previous steps of cleansing, toning, and blocking, you should be ready to complete your skin care regimen with a moisturizer of your choice. Moisturizing is an important step because it does exactly what it says putting the moisture back into the skin from cleansing, toning, and blocking, which can result in your skin feeling tight or little dry. Moisturizing gives the skin elasticity so the skin can appear smooth, soft and rejuvenated.

Hopefully you guys enjoyed this post. This is just a guideline to begin your skin care regimen not including other stuff like exfoliates and masks and other once a week or bi-weekly steps, but more so what you can start out with and do daily. Remember don’t give up if you don’t see results right away, it will take time. Rome wasn’t built in one day right? but look at the end result which is beauty. So be patient and persistent and you too can achieve great results.

Being that this is the teengirlguideblog, I set up 5 different looks for 5 different personal styles featuring the boyfriend jean. These are just outfit ideas that of course can be switched around to suit you.

Here is a list of 5 personal styles and what I believe they embody.

Chic- elegant, stylish fashionable

Edgy-fierce, confident, trendsetter

Preppy-school girl, uniformed outfits, simplistic

Tomboy- mix and match of men’s and women ‘s wear, structured

Bohemian-free and flow fabrics, earthy colors and prints

Chic

Being that the boyfriend jean varies from overly slouchy to relaxed fit, chic styled girls should go for the more relaxed fit, with not so many rips and tears, paired with your structured, fitted blazer, bold but elegant jewelry and your favorite sandal heels you will give the boyfriend jean a more girly feminine touch.

Edgy

Fierce, confident and the girl that set the trend you are sure to rock these jeans. I would recommend the most slouch and rips which will suit your scared of nothing attitude. Leathered jacket, vampy dark lips and big hair you will surely turn heads.

Preppy

Sweet, innocent, lovable your school girl style is to die for. If you have never worn boyfriend jeans before, I would shop for a pair that are light washed preferably ankle length rolled up. Button downed shirts with delicate bowed, hair accessory and favorite eye glasses, light pink nails will complete your look.

Tomboy

 Why do I feel that you have tons of these jeans already, but of course, I am here to help guide you, with that being said the darkest shade may make you feel the most comfortable, styled with your heavily worn essential Chuck Taylor's and messy bun, people will really be thinking; did she really wake up like this? because of how effortless you look without trying too hard.

Bohemian

Such a breath of fresh air, with your neutral earthy, colors and free approach to life, you will love these jeans. I would go for the slouchier feel with your Coachela inspired off the shoulder top with your favorite floral head piece and your laced up sandals, you will embody the bohemian babe.

8 Wardrobe Staples for the Teen Girl

     

Personal style is about expressing yourself through clothes. Only you know what you like and what you don't, right? so here are 8 wardrobe staples ideas that you change around to fit your edgy, chic, sophisticated, simple or any other personal style.

 Your "Shirt"

This is a must have in my wardrobe. For me, the over-sized tee is what I go for, it gives off an effortless look, but still chic because of the color. For the edgy girl it might be your sleeveless band tee, chic you say? that may be your neutral colored V-neck, sophisticated and polished, your sharp tailored button down. Color, length, and size are of course up to you and ultimate make the look your own.

Your Favorite Pair of Bottoms

   

      I am loving the whole oversized look, sticking with that, my go to staple pair of pants are boyfriend/girlfriend jeans. These babes right here definitely give an interesting spin to my outfits. They vary from overly slouchy to relaxed fit to give a comfortable but of course put together look. The more sophisticated teen, the chino cigarette leg can suit you, edgy, your ripped black skinny jean, chic, the creased trouser is what you might go for. Next time picking your outfit for school, or a day with the girls, try these option that I suggested to really show case your personal style.

Hats

     

Maybe a bad hair day or need the sun out your face, or simply want to add flavor to your outfit, this piece gives a sporty, fun, edgy twist to any look. For the sportier chic teen like me, the classic fitted baseball hat is my staple. The bohemian babe the over-sized big floppy hat you will surely make an entrance, sophisticated and polished the fitted fedora will suit your style and edgy the beanie will definitely become your staple through warm and cool weathers. Don't underestimate the power of a hat it can really take your look to a different level.

The "Little Black Dress"

Not necessarily black or little, but that "go to” dress that looks, feels and is perfect for you, because at the end of the day you want to feel comfortable and confident. I cannot live without my maxi dress, the flow or more fitted approach gives an effortlessly but put together feel. Depending on your personal style find a dress that showcases your best body feature or ditch black and go for a dark blue to really bring out your striking eyes.

Rings and Things

      Jewelry, a girl’s best friend... well, diamonds to be exact, but for us ladies on a budget costume jewelry is a fun and inexpensive way to add sparkle, shine and life to those simpler outfits. I have been loving rings, especially midi rings, add some pretty polish to your nails and you are sure to be finger flirty. For every personal style you can change up your accessories from statement watches, triple chain necklaces or simple stud earrings.

The Everyday Shoe

   

Either flats, heels or sneakers we all have one pair of shoes that with any outfit looks great but still comfortable for the long days. My favorite pair of shoes at the moment are my h&m black flats. I love how versatile they are and how many different outfit combinations I can pair them with. For the chic, the sandal heel could really compliment your simplistic approach, edgy, ditch the flat and go for your beloved chucks, sophisticated rock those oxfords. I would definitely recommend a comfortable but cute shoe that allows your unique personal style to shine through.

Overlays

Living in Florida, jackets are not used 80 percent of the time, but for that cold class, or when the weather finally decides to get cooler I love the lightweight long line cardigan, it's my grab and go piece that looks good with any outfit. Blazers would look great with your sophisticated or chic style; edgy the Letterman/bomber jacket would complement you perfectly. Of course dress appropriately for the weather, these are just some ideas that could be used to layer and style your outfit.

     

Bags

      Last, but definitely not least, the everyday bag. From handbags to satchels to cross body, book bags, should I go on? It is vital for me to have a good quality bag because these are the pieces that can last forever if taken care of. There is no problem splurging on a clothing pieces or accessory if you feel you can where it many times or even in the future pass it on to your children. There are many different variations, styles, shapes, colors of bags that can fit any personal style perfectly. Invest in a good quality bag that will last you years to come you will not be disappointed.

     This post is not to tell you what to wear and what you should not wear, I'm giving ideas and options to every teen girl to express yourself through clothing and accessory pieces that you feel comfortable and confident in. Never change who you are for the latest trend or item piece but more so take that trend or item piece and customize it to fit your personal style and be YOUnique.