How you doin’? Keirston finally gave me an opportunity to talk to you! She told me that she has been talking to you about everything glasses or necessory as she calls it. In my opinion, she’s giving these glasses too much credit and definitely too much spotlight. There shouldn’t even be a necessory without me! Listen. After starting her day with prayer and meditation, Keirston begins & ends her days with me. She makes sure I’m tucked safely in my bonnet at night and freshly washed or fluffed in the morning. Really think about it. I’ve been with her the longest. We’ve gone through so much together: all of her happy moments, sad moments, and life changing moments. We literally grew up together. What does she focus on in this little lifestyle blog - glasses? Why is it that so many women avoid the conversation about the importance of hair health when it comes to their lifestyle?

I’ve seen Keirston watching all these hair videos on Youtube and countless hours of scrolling on Instagram through haircut ideas. I’m sure you're laughing because your guilty of doing it too. It doesn’t matter if your hair is relaxed, natural, loc’d, or purchased, you subconsciously spend so much time researching hair because it’s the foundation of your confidence, yet it can be one of the most neglected aspects of your life when it comes to physical presentation and health.

What does your hairstyle say about your confidence? This week, in Justine’s blog, I’ll encourage you to appreciate the correlation between your hair confidence, its health, and how you project it!

Growing up, Keirston’s parents made sure I was taken care of.

We traveled for over an hour to make sure I was relaxed, washed, trimmed (regularly), and wrapped for the gods. Where did we go: The Golden Touch Salon and she and I both felt golden when we left. Janet (hey girl) made sure that Keirston understood how to take care of me. You know what I mean: never too much heat, protect me at night with a silk scarf, protect your edges, and the importance of keeping me trimmed, but the most important thing Keirston learned sitting in Janet’s chair was to love herself! Janet always encouraged her to be unapologetic & true to who she was in the past and who she was becoming. No matter what mood Keirston was in when she sat down in that shop (including the tears cried because we’re so tender-headed), we felt we could conquer the world when she got up.

In college, Keirston and I went through some hard growing pains.

The Golden Touch was no longer easily accessible, and we never found the right substitute. So, I noticed I kept getting shorter and shorter, especially after her daughter was born (that child has a lot of hair - geesh). We had to grow up. Somewhere during that part of our journey, Keirston forgot how to love herself. Over the past several years, she started paying more attention to her internal and mental health and man did I reap the benefits of it. Keirston left that relaxed “side -part under roller wrap” and focused on accepting and loving us in our God-created form - for me, it was all natural. I flourished; not because she wasn’t taking good care of me, but because she decided to appreciate and love me just the way God intended. She finally loved herself first!

Now keep in mind, I never mentioned that I had to be natural to feel appreciated. I am just another representation of how she loves herself - inside and out. Your hair can tell you a lot about how you love yourself and how you take care of yourself mentally and physically. Think of your hair as a houseplant. You feed it, water it, and keep it trimmed, but there’s something about how your plant reacts when the sunlight touches it. Your reflection in the mirror is your sunlight! How you view you, treat you, respect you, and love you is the best accessory you could ever wear! Regardless of how your hair grows from your scalp, if it is chemically treated, or how you cut the price tag to put it on, healthy hair is an outward representation of a healthy you!

Remove the weight of the world from your daily life. As O.T. Genasis’ song says: you need to cut it! Cut off all the toxicity from your life. This includes (but is not limited to) dead ends on your hair, negative thoughts, negative people, and life-threatening bad energy! Once you do all of that - you & your hair will flourish! I promise! As Janet would say, “You’re about to feel a million times better!”

THIS WEEK’S EYEWEAR:

Frame # 4429923 priced $27.95 from www.zennioptical.com

Left: Look at me all press out out & sliced back. Reminds me of my relaxed, curl free days! | Right: Look at your girl all clean and coily. Curls just poppin’!

For this week’s eyewear, I chose Keirston’s clear frames purchased from www.zennioptical.com. Selecting this frame for the blog was the perfect compromise: she still is able to discuss eyewear with you, but the see-thru frame keeps the focus on me LOL.

Typically, Keirston pairs this frame with any outfit that the eyewear needs minimal focus. She also chooses this frame when she wears apparel that fits best with silver-toned accessories. The geometric shape is cute and is outside of her normal Cat-Eye frames. These frames can easily be dressed up and dressed down.

All About #-4419923:

That 9-5: Yes!

Girl’s Day Out: Yes!

BAE Night: Yes!

Loungin’: Yes!

Overall, I give these glasses a 4 out of 5. These are one of my favorite pairs of glasses. I’ve heard Keirston complain that sometimes light reflection off of this frame causes a headache. She’s constantly having to clean these frames because of fingerprints.

Although some days Keirston and I have our moments where we may fuss or fight, but we know what we mean to each other. We both agree that we only want what’s best for us! Even though she constantly wants to change me up & try new things, I thank her for putting my health first before all of her crazy hair ideas.

Take a moment to appreciate your crown. You may not talk to your hair like Keirston and I converse, but show your girl that you appreciate her.

Keirston will be back soon and available daily on Instagram @_necessory_ (unless you tell her to let me come back for a more detailed conversation - we must talk about this “Good Hair Bad Hair’ nonsense.)

Until then - stay safe and wear your mask!

-Justine (oh, and Keirston)