Executing your SMART Hair Goals (PART 4)

We vocalized, we planned and now it’s time to execute.  An unexecuted plan is as good as the paper it’s written on.  You must execute in order to get what you want.  Say goodbye to wishful thinking.  Now is the time to start executing the plan, to have the hair you always wanted. 

As promised here’s the fully executable SMART #HairGoals plan.  We warn you it is pretty long. 

SMART Hair Goal #1:  Grow all the hair on my head an additional 5 inches by December 31, 2017.

Executable SMART Hair Growth Plan:

1.    Determine three sections of hair to measure throughout the year.

•    Need to be consistent in order to take accurate measurements.

2.    Measure and record the initial length of my hair in the three designated sections.

•    This measurement will serve as the baseline and this is how I will determine if my hair is growing and if my regime is working.

3.    Measure my hair every month and record the length.

•    I know my hair grows ½” each month, thus there no need to increase the frequency.

4.    Only use products that promote my hair growth.

•    I’m a product junkie, however, for operation hair growth, I will only use products that promote hair growth.  This will help me save some coins as well. 

5.    Use low manipulation styles only.

•    Based on what I know, my hair grows that fastest when it’s braided up, thus wigs and sew in will be my go to styles. Triple L Hair will be the go to spot for my extensions.

6.    Keep my hair hydrated while wearing weaves, wigs and protective styles.

•    I know my hair will break off and or shed if it’s not well hydrated during protective styling.

7.    Do not use any direct heat on my hair. 

•    Since I don’t know how my hair will react to prolong direct heat, I will continue to refrain from using a direct heat source on my hair.  No blow dryers, No flat irons, and No hot rollers.   I don’t want to sabotage my progress.

8.    Stay away from synthetic proteins and only use proteins from a natural source. 

•    My hair loathes synthetic proteins, it becomes dry and brittle when I use then them.

9.    If using natural proteins follow up with a deep moisturizing treatment.

•    My hair is sensitive to proteins thus I must follow up with a deep moisturizing treatment in order restore balance to my hair.

10.    Increase water intake for three months to see if it makes a difference.  

•    Hydration is the key to healthy hair growth, however, I don’t know if this will help, thus I will try if for three months.   If it doesn't work I will stop, if it does work then I will continue.

11.    Have fun.

•    I am prone to cutting off my hair if its starts to become a chore.  Thus fun is a must! 

It’s ok if you plan is shorter or longer than our plan.  The main goal is to create a plan that’s executable.  Just like writing SMART goals, you must be honest with yourself.  

Now that you know how to write and execute SMART hair goals we fully expect you to slay your 2017 hair goals. 

We would love to feature you!  Comment below on how you plan to #Slay in #2017.  Share this article with your hair bestie!  

Planning SMART Hair Goals (PART 3)

Welcome back to our Healthy Hair Goal Series.  In last week’s post, we showed you how to create SMART hair goals.  This week, we will cover how to create a fool-proof plan.  Just for the record, the planning part is where most people struggle.  Don’t worry we got you covered! We will go step by step. 

STEP 1: Determine What You Do and Do Not Know.

This is the most important step in creating an executable plan for SMART #HairGoals.  In order to have an executable plan, you must know what you know and what you don’t know.  Sounds strange but you have to know what tools and resources are available to you and if they will work for you.  You also must admit to what you don’t know.  We don’t want you to waste valuable time and money on things that won’t and don’t work for you or your hair type.

To demonstrate this we will use my SMART hair growth goal as the example.

Here’s What I Know:

1     My hair grows at a rate of ½” each month.

2.    My hair loves the combination of avocado oil, mango butter and Shea butter and coconut oil and water.

3.    Coconut oil by itself does not work on my hair.

4.    My hair is sensitive to synthetic proteins. Natural proteins are ok however only in small doses.

5.    I have medium porosity hair.

Here’s What I Don’t Know:

1.  How my hair will react to prolong use of direct heat.

2. How my hair will react to crochet braids using synthetic hair.

3. If increasing my water intake will cause my hair to grow faster or thicker.

4. If taking hair and nail vitamins will make my hair grow faster.

 

STEP 2:   Make a List

Based on what you know and don’t know, make a list of all the steps you will take to execute your goals.  Depending on your hair goals your list may be long or it may be short.  In this step, you are aiming for quality over quantity. 

Here’s an example of three of the steps I will take to accomplish my #hairgoals.  Remember these steps are based solely on what I do and do not know.  Also, I have way more than three steps.  I will share the full executable plan at the end of the series.

Here’s an example

1.    Measure my hair every month and record the length.

2.    Only use products that promote my hair growth.

3.    Use low manipulation styles only.

STEP 3:  Know the Why

For every step, jot down a short note to explain why.  You need to know why you are doing what you are doing.  If a step provides no benefit to you then remove it.  You don’t want to waste valuable time on something that doesn't work for you.

Here’s an example

1.    Measure my hair every month and record the length.

•    This is how I will determine if my hair is growing and if my regime is working.

2.    Only use products that promote my hair growth.

•    I’m a product junkie, however, for optimal hair growth, I will only use products that promote hair growth.  This will help me save some coins as well. 

3.    Use low manipulation styles only.

•    Based on what I know, my hair grows that fastest when it’s braided up, thus wigs and sew in will be my go to styles.  Thank goodness for Triple L Hair. 

STEP 4: Review and Rewrite

Review your list and make sure it’s thorough.  You can always remove steps if you later find out that they don’t work for you.  Remember, you are aiming for quality over quantity.

Next week we will reveal my SMART hair growth plan for 2017.  Until then happy planning.   Write us below and let us know some of your #hairgoals.

How to write SMART Hair Goals (PART 2)

Continuing from last week post, here’s how to create SMART hair goals.

Quick, get a piece of paper and a pen or crack open that fancy journal/ planner and jot down some things you want to happen with your hair in 2017.  Do you want to try out a new style, want to grow out your hair, looking to go natural, need to take better care of your hair?

In essence, what are your #hairgoals for 2017?   Even if you don’t have hair you can still benefit from setting healthy scalp goals.  Keep in mind your hair and or scalp makes up at least 35% of your selfies.   We don't want you looking crazy in dem streets.

I have three broad hair goals for 2017 which are as follows: Growth, Retention, and Styling. These goals are not only broad they are also vague.  Broad and vague goals are hard to achieve thus, I’m going to turn these three hair goals into 3 SMART hair goals.  Here’s how I did it in three easy steps.

Let’s take Growth for example. 

1. Get Precise!

Instead of being vague, get precise.   Write down exactly what you want, this is the time to be clear and intentional.  You want to be very specific, this is the time to be anal.  It’s ok we’ll give you a pass this time.   

2. Review

Review your goal to make sure it follows the SMART format.  The goal must be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time Bound.

Here's my growth hair goal Let’s see if it’s SMART.

Goal: Grow the all the hair on my head an additional 5 inches by December 31, 2017.

(S) - Specific:  Yes, I want to grow hair in one specific area, my head.   

(M) - Measurable:  Yes, I can measure the length of my hair with ruler or tape measure.

(A) - Attainable: Yes, I have hair on my head, it’s healthy and it’s capable of growing.

(R) - Realistic:  Yes my hair grows at the rate of ½” per month, thus it should take 10 months to accomplish this goal. I have allotted 11 months to accomplish this goal. 

(T) - Time Bound: Yes, I have 11 months to accomplish this goal.

My goal follows the SMART format so I'm all done for my growth goal.  If your goal follows the SMART format then you are all done, if not proceed to step 3.

3. Rewrite

Keep rewriting your goal until it follows the SMART format.  It might take a couple of tries to get this right, so don’t get frustrated.  The key is to be completely honest with yourself.

See that was easy!  Now it’s time to convert all of your hair goals into SMART hair goals.  

Join the conversation! Let us know below some of your SMART hair goals for 2017.  

Healthy Hair Goals For 2017 (PART 1)

In our last post, we talked about bringing in the New Year with a new hair color.  To continue on the theme of slaying in the New Year, let’s talk about something important.  Goal planning!  We all start the year off with a list of ambitious goals, our daily checklist and a constant reminder of tasks that look great on paper that we never get around to doing. 

I was once guilty of doing this myself.  I even had a cute leather bound journal that contained all of my goals.  If you’re going to write down goals, you might as well write them down on some fiyah paper with a fly matching pen.  I like to call this book, “The Shit I Didn’t Accomplish, But Aint This Planner Fiyah Though”.  Since all of my goals were written down and bounded by that fine Italian leather stitching, I decided to keep the book and reuse it the following year.   I’m glad I did because I realized having a journal/planner to write down all of my goals was smart but I was missing a key ingredient, a plan of attack. 

I reflected back, on some of my goals from the previous year and I realized that I could have accomplished most of the goal if I had simply written down an execution plan. Instead, life attacked most, if not all of my goals.  This reflection session led me down the path of not only writing smart and healthy goals but also writing down, how I planned on attaining those goals.  I’ve been using this technique for over a decade and it works!  Each goal is SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Bound) and each goal has an executable plan.

Goals without a plan are nothing more than a wish list.  This year let’s implement SMART goals for our hair. Yes, I said it, our hair!   We spend so much time and money on our hair; we should at least see some return on all of the money and time spent.

This year I encourage you to Plan, Execute and Review your healthy hair goals.  We know goal writing can be a daunting task so for the next two weeks, we will show you how to write, review and execute healthy hair goals.  As always, remember we’re here with you on mission “Slay 2017”. Your success is our success!

Corporate Friendly Fantasy Hair Color

     Now that the hectic holiday seasons is over you are finally able to step from behind your desk and take off your Santa hat.  Wait!  Put that hat back on.  With all of your running around to make everyone else’s holiday Merry and Bright you forgot to take care of you.  Your hair could use some tender loving care. 

     You made a New Year’s resolution to live a fuller and bolder life!  With that you want to join in on the fantasy color hair trend.  There’s only one problem.   You work in a corporate setting and corporate frown against any hair color that do not fit into the following categories: compliant black, mousy brown and our favorite basic hair color of all time, drum roll please, institutionalized blonde.

Here three fantasy colors that you can rock in a corporate setting and get the HR nod of approval.

 1. NAVY BLUE

     At first glance it looks like basic black.  However there is nothing basic about a deep navy hair color.  This blue hue is a far cry from your great aunt Pearl’s blue rinse hair dye.  This color is bold and powerful without being over bearing.  Under corporate fluorescent lights navy colored hair closely resembles black hair.   You can twurl right pass HR and they wouldn't be able to tell the difference.  

     Now when you head outside under natural light, that where all the magic takes place.  When viewed in natural light deep navy blue hair is simply brilliant.  Deep navy blue hair color has so much depth and intensity it's an instant winner.   Since navy colored hair color closely resembles black it's easy to grow out if you natural hair color is black.



2. CHOCOLATE  CHERRY

     This is chestnut brown baby sister that went off to college and came back all grown up.  This color is great for brunettes and all of my corporatenista that have dark red hair. This color is slay worthy, it's warm, sultry and it evokes passion even if you're only stirring up a romance with the overdue projects that are sitting on your desk.

     Under fluorescent lighting this color leans more on the cooler subdued red side.  Natural light brings out the sultry intensity of this color. 

3. ROSE GOLD

     This color is a mental bender when it’s done right.  It's an optical illusion for your hair.  Not quite pink and not quite blonde.  Your hair is in a perfect balance between cool and warm.  

     Under fluorescent lighting this color leans more on the cooler side.  While viewed in natural light the nuances between cool blonde and warm rose gold meld together to create a soft and edgy hair color.

Know someone who wants to experiment with fantasy hair or did you update your hair color for 2017?  Comment below or share this post with your hair maven.

www.TripleLHair.com

Back to School for your Personal Brand

The other day while I was blissfully enjoying my summer, I decided to pop into Target to look for some good ole’ fashion home clearance items. Don't judge me.  While I perused the aisles in search for that $9.99 home item that was once $29.99, my shopping was abruptly stopped.  I saw what no mother of two should see during her summer vacation

the back the school section!

Yes!  I wandered into the section looking for deals on garden tools, patio furniture, heck, I would have even settled for some solar powered lawn lights.  But the whole entire backyard oasis section was replaced with, wide ruled composition books of various colors, #2 pencils and book bags.  

Surely there had to be some kind of mistake!  I had at least 5 weeks, 3 days, 10 hrs. , 23 mins and 15 seconds until back to school.

Was this some Jedi mind trick?  Was I being punked?  Nope, it was real and the display that housed the supply list for our school was my pinch test.  While I pushed my cart away from the back to school section, I slowly started to think "Am I ready for the new school year".  Sure, I graduated from college years ago, but it was time to update my wardrobe and my personal brand.  

Certainly, I didn't need a pack of 24 washable crayons but a new baylage hair color in mahogany brown would suffice. A new book bag wasn't needed either, but a new saddle bag in crimson red would do the trick.  While I was at it, my makeup up bag, which was an old Kate Spade pencil case needed to be upgraded as well.  

How will you update your personal brand this fall?  

Corporate Branding 101

When people hear corporate branding, they often think of business logos, corporate letterhead, and fancy business cards. They often forget that they themselves are brands. Yes, you are a brand!  You are a walking, talking billboard.  With that being said, what does your Personal Brand say about you?

One of the easiest ways to brand yourself is with your outward appearance.   Hair, makeup, clothes, and jewelry all play an integral part in your personal brand. What subliminal messages are you sending with your Personal Brand?  Are you telling people you are fun and carefree, polished and well put together, or are you sending mixed messages?  

One day, you're put together and the next day a hot mess?  A schizophrenic look may fly in your personal life. However, in the workplace, it's a no go!  You should be intentional with how you look and how you present yourself in the workplace. 

I know you are saying to yourself, "People judge me by my work product and not by how I look".  Yeah right!  We all get summed up by that one fatal glance.  We take one look at someone and immediately form some type of opinion.  Sometimes we're  right, and sometimes we're wrong.  Now that you know you're being judge lets do something about it.

For starters, take a long hard look around you.  Do your brand fit in at work?  Do you work in an ultra conservative corporate environment while your Personal Brand screams edgy, sexpot? Or rather, do you work in a creative and fun environment and your Personal Brand screams safe and mousy?  If so, then fix it!  

You could be getting passed over for promotions because you don't fit the company's image of a Manager, Director or Senior Executive.  This may sound harsh but it happens all the time.  You could be the smartest, sharpest and baddest chic in the entire building, however, your personal brand could be saying something entirely different about you.  

Just take that long hard look.  Were you passed over for a promotion this year?   Did you do all of the work, but got no recognition?  Do you put out an excellent work product, but no one ever approaches you about your work product?  Instead, they talk to your manager or colleagues about your work content.  If so, then your personal brand, may be talking behind your back.  It could be telling people that you're  unpolished, too young and lack experience, or maybe it's telling people you're  too old, too conservative, set in your ways, and stodgy.  

I suggest that you snatch your personal brand up by the collar and have a long pow wow.  Your Personal Brand should only tell the story you want it to tell and without any add lib.

What story will your Personal  Brand tell?