Larabar and Food Should Taste Good's 2012 Holidays Simple Survival Kit Review!

Hi everyone! This is super belated but I received this really awesome 2012 Holidays Simple Survival Kit. I received this from LaraBar and Food Should Taste Good. It contained a bunch of awesome goodies.



The kit included:

Chocolate Food Should Taste Good Chips
Sweet Potato Food Should Taste Good Chips
Justin's Organic Peanut Butter Cups
Little Duck Organics Dried Fruit
Sprout Cinnamon Lip Balm
SmartWool Socks
Teatulia Organic Tea
Larabar in Peanut Butter Cookie
Larabar in Banana Bread
Uber Larabar in Cherry Cobbler
Uber Larabar in Apple Turnover

This was such an awesome pleasant surprise and all the items are so wonderful. There's yummy snacks that are great all year around like the Larabars, Food Should Taste Good Chips, and Justin's PB Cups but it was cool that they also threw in items that kind of catered toward winter like the SmartWool Socks, the cinnamon Lip Balm, and the tea.

They're all so great and all helpful. The one item I was hesitant about was the cinnamon lip balm just because it sounds odd but ended up probably being my favorite, it smells and feels so smooth. The chocolate chips sounded weird too but they were so, soo good. All of the food items definitely did not last in my house, they were so delicious.

Overall, literally all of the items are great and it was a nice little kit to receive during the holiday season. Definitely check out LaraBar and Food Should Taste Good as well as all of the other products, you won't be disappointed!

Buy It! Head on over to Larabar's website and Food Should Taste Good's website and browse their awesome selection!

Win a $100 Walmart Gift Card!

Hey guys! Check out this awesome giveaway to win a $100 Walmart Gift Card! 


The new year is almost upon us! And in order to celebrate in true Tip Hero fashion, we're offering one lucky person the chance to win a $100 Walmart gift card to start 2013 off right.

This giveaway will run for 2 weeks and end on January 2, 2013 at 11:59pm US Eastern time. Open to United States & Canada, 18+.

Enter for your chance to win this helpful prize by filling out the PromoSimple entry form below. Good luck!

Novica Review and Giveaway!

Hi everyone! My next review is for Novica. You may remember that I did a review for them before and you can check it out here. Novica is a great company that artisans from all over the world sell their wonderful pieces from jewelry to pottery to furniture, they have so many unique pieces and you can definitely find something for everyone.



I received the Margarita glasses, 'Eco Happy Hour' from Mexico.

As their website says: "These beautiful margarita glasses demonstrate Javier and Efren's design skill. Handcrafted using traditional blown glass techniques, the set extends an invitation to share fresh and happiness. Because each piece is handmade, shape and size can vary slightly and tiny bubbles may appear within the glass. This exemplifies the hand-blown technique, making every piece a unique example of blown glass craftsmanship."

I really love these glasses. My roommate and I have been rocking some margaritas but we never have any nice glasses but now we do. We may even have a margarita get together or something now that we have six of them.

They aren't super big but the perfect size and really well made. My roommate and I really love them.

Novica is a great company though, as their website says: "The purpose of NOVICA is to create a revolutionary system through which the artists and artisans of the world can display their fine works to a global audience of prospective customers." I love their mission statement and their whole company, these are real people making great products. They're not a crappy little knick knack from Marshall's but actual artisans making lovely products.

They actually have an awesome new Gift Finder. There are so many easy ways to narrow your search, people are loving it! Things get very specific quickly - Handbag Gifts for the Adventurer, Romantic Christmas Gifts for Her, Yoga Gifts for Men... we even have Cooking Gifts for the Animal Lover Man!

Definitely check them out they have something for everyone, they also have delivery by December 24th guaranteed if ordered Priority Premium Shipping by 12/20/2012, so you can still grab some last minute gifts!

Buy It! Head on over to Novica's website and check out their awesome selection!

Win It! ONE winner will receive a $40 credit to Novica!

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EO Products Review and Giveaway!

Hey everyone! My next review and giveaway is for EO Products. EO products is a great company that has a variety of awesome bath and body products that are great for everyone.



I was sent their Everyone Soap and Lotion in Coconut Lemon.

They are so great for everyone that they actually have an Everyone line of products. As their website says, their everyone line of saop is "a natural plant based soap made with pure essential oils, gentile and fragrant, a perfect shower, bath and shampoo for the whole family."

I really loved the GIANT jugs they came in. This batch will probably last me years. They give you so much though because you can do so much with them. For instance, the soap is also a great bubble bath and shampoo. The lotion is great for your face, hands, and body. They are both also great because they are cruelty free, paraben free, polysorbate free, disodium EDTA free, gluten free, non-GMO verified, sodium laureth/lauryl sulfate free. As well as gentle and fragrant with ingredients and essential oils that are pure, natural, and organic.

As for the scent, the lemon is super strong but afterwords you really can smell the coconut. I also really enjoyed how they felt. They didn't irritate my skin or anything. The lotion was really great and made my skin feel super soft and great.

Overall, I really loved these products, they are great and make wonderful gifts too! Definitely check them out you won't be disappointed!

Buy It! Head on over to EO Product's website and browse their awesome selection!

Win It! ONE winner will win an EO Products Everyday soap and lotion!

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Pretzel Crisps Review!

Hey everyone! My next review is for Pretzel Crisps®. Pretzel Crisps® are amazing thin, crunchy pretzel crackers that are so addictive.



The flavors I received are:
Original
Garlic Parmesan
Buffalo Wing
Chipotle Cheddar
Everything
Jalapeno Jack
Sesame

I was a little familiar with Pretzel Crisps® but never had them before and now that I have tried them there is no looking back from this addiction. The assortment of flavors are so, so delicious. I ate practically each bag in a day. It's great because you can eat them solo or with dips. The chipotle cheddar tastes amazing with guacamole. The original is great with hummus.

I just loved the variety of flavors they were so unique and just exploded with deliciousness in your mouth. I had never heard of Buffalo Wing or Chipotle Cheddar flavored chips before, they're so SO Good! My favorite was the Chipotle Cheddar and Garlic Parmesan, the Chipotle Cheddar was addictive with guacamole and the Garlic Parmesan just tasted amazing solo.

Some added benefits aside from them tasting AMAZING is that they have 0g trans fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, and only contain 110 calories per serving. Problem is one serving is only 10 crackers which can be eaten pretty quickly.

Overall, I was super impressed with these Pretzel Crisps®, they are so, so delicious. They also make great snacks or hors d'oeuvre with some dip for holiday parties coming up and going on right now.

Buy It! Head on over to Pretzel Crisps®'s website and browse their amazing selection, you won't be disappointed!

WB Holiday Widget and DVD Giveaway!

Warner Bros. wants to wish you a happy holiday season and to celebrate they want you to check out this awesome widget and enter to win a festive holiday DVD!

Ho Ho Ho, it’s the holiday season and that can only mean one thing... Shopping! But finding presents for your loved ones can be no easy task! That’s why Warner Bros. has come up with their awesome Happy Holidays Blog App featuring some classic and new movies out on Blu-ray sure to please everyone from your teeny nephew to grandma wrinkles!





Some fun things you can do with this widget:

• Holiday Movie Challenge! Are you a true cinephile? Then take the WB Holiday Movie Challenge! Keep your movie skills sharp with this awesome quiz! Ready. Set. Go!

• Decode-A-Scene Game! Time is running out! Can you figure out what movie scene is slowly being decoded in front of your eyes? The sooner you figure it out the more points you earn!

• Holiday Survival Guide! Throw an epic holiday party this season! We have some awesome tips to make you look like a total holiday master!

• Get Social! Tweet with the #WBHoliday hashtag to get your audience exited for the awesome holiday titles Warner Bros. has this season.

Pretty awesome and fun little games to get you in the festive holiday spirit!

Win It! ONE winner will win a copy of Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection, Classic Christmas Favorites or Dr. Seuss’s Deluxe Holiday Collection on Blu-ray! (Prize will be chosen randomly from the above Blu-ray titles!) But hurry! This giveaway ends the 20th!

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YOYO Lipgloss Review and Giveaway!

Hey everyone! My next review and giveaway is for YOYO Lipgloss. Longtime readers might remember I worked with them as my first blog review and you can check that out here.



YOYO sent me their new Justice retractable lip glosses in:
Kiwi
Berry
Bubblegum

I really like these glosses they are perfect little gifts for your tween cousin or sister. You can either put them in your stocking stuffer or attach it to a present as an added bonus, they will love it.

The retractable clip is blinged out with a star, heart, or smiley-face. The flavors aren't super overpowering. I didn't think the kiwi was super kiwi-ish but the bubblegum smelled soooo good. I also love that they are sparkly but no too crazy glittery. Perfect for a thirteen year old girl who girl at heart. I also like how they tingle a bit, it really soothes your lips too when they are a little chapped.

I really like that they are retractable too so you don't lose them. You can clip them to your belt, backpack, or purse and can always find them. I know with me I always have a few in my bag and they always fall to the bottom of the bag and I never find them at least these you can find them when they're clipped to your bag.

Overall, I think these are really cute and make great gifts for your little sister or cousin. Definitely check them out but hurry! They're only a limited edition!

Buy It! Head on over to ShopJustice's website to purchase the glosses on there!

Win It! ONE winner will win one of the lip glosses above!

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Merlot Skin Care Review and Giveaway!

Hey everyone! My next review is for Merlot Skin Care. Merlot Skin Care is a great company that sells wonderful skin care products that are focused mainly on grape seeds.



I was sent their Daily Beauty Gift Set which includes:
Merlot Moisturizer - a lightweight, anti-aging formula with SPF.
Grape Seed Facial Cleanser - an ultra-gentle cleanser that softens skin and removes impurities with non-drying soap-free formula.
Hydrating Toner - a refreshing splash that helps clean pores and prep skin for deep moisturizing.
Grape Seed Eye Cream - a moisturizing formula that helps reduce puffiness and eliminate dark shadows, while also relieving dry skin in the delicate eye area. Helps improve skin's look by boosting collagen production and increasing circulation.

I really enjoyed how it was shipped and packaged. It was in a really cute zebra-wrapping paper and came with a pine-cone and bow. Really a perfect little gift for someone special this Christmas season.

The website describes it best, Wayne Beckley created Merlot Skin Care "utilizing the power of the grape seed in each unique formulation. Harnessing nature’s most powerful antioxidants, Merlot products work to fight free radicals – molecules caused by smoke, smog, pollution, stress, and UV rays – and protect skin against the signs of aging."

I really enjoyed these products especially the cleanser because I used that most. I thought it was odd at first because it didn't lather up like most cleansers but that's because it is soap free, but I did get used to it. I really enjoyed that it didn't dry out my skin like a soap cleanser may. It didn't irritate my skin and worked really well.

Overall, I really enjoyed this skin care regimen. It made my skin feel great, soft, and didn't dry it out at all. Definitely check out Merlot Skin Care, it's really great and I recommend it!

Buy It! Head on over to Merlot Skin Care's website and browse their awesome selection!

Win It! ONE winer will receive a Daily Beauty Gift Set, too!

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Splaff Review and Giveaway!

Hey everyone! My next review and giveaway is for Splaff. Splaff is a great company that sells a variety if eco-friendly products. From belts to bags they have a variety if products for everyone!



I received a zip pouch from them to try out.

As their website says the zip pouch: "Features one smaller exterior velcro pocket and a larger interior zip pocket. For carrying convenience, this pouch includes a snap clip, and a belt loop. The perfect eco stash bag."

I really like it because of the size, you can easily fit your ID, credit card, house keys, and maybe some change in it. Or connect it to your house keys when you bring it to the gym. That's what I plan on doing mainly because there has been a few locker break-ins at the gym lately and so I hardly use them, instead of bringing my gigantic purse and putting it into my trunk, I can just slip my ID in this and bring it with me to the gym. Boom.

SPLAFF has been making eco-friendly products and only eco-friendly products since 1997. Our products are carefully handcrafted in North America in a 100% waste-free, earth-friendly process in which all leftover materials are either reused or recycled. They don't believe in or use sweat shops, animal products, toxic glue, or waste. Their products are least 90% of all materials used in our products are environmentally-conscious materials and at least 90% recycled content.

Definitely check them out, they have a great array of products that are super handy. Even sandals! Splaff makes a great variety of products, perfect gifts or even the zip pouch makes a great stocking stuffer, too!

Buy It! Head on over to Splaff's website and browse their awesome selection!

Win It! TWO winners will receive zip pouches!

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Conscious Box Holiday Giveaway! -- CLOSED

Hey guys! I have a super special giveaway for you! Well, Conscious Box is turning 1 and in honor of their birthday they are holding a super special giveaway! I know and love Conscious Box, they are a great company and you can check out my previous review of them here.



Similar to the jewelry and makeup monthly boxes that are the current trend but focuses on sustainability, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. As the website says you:
- Get a variety of unique pure & natural products every month
- From organic food to vegan beauty products, you’re sure to find new favorites
- Discover ethical and purpose-driven businesses of all sizes
- Get content on daily living tips, exciting monthly themes, and creative ways to use your box!

In my Conscious Box that I reviewed I received tortilla chips, whey protein, java juice, a gift card for mineral makeup, and even more. See the variety? It is awesome box, and you will definitely find something you will love in it!

At only $12 a month it is totally worth it. Definitely try it if you want to lead a healthier, more green life but also want to try some new awesome products that you might normally not or still be surprised by old favorites, like salsa chips. Or they also make great gifts. Giving a friend a subscription to a Conscious Box for the holiday season is a really great and unique gift. Especially for those health nut friends that we all have.

Buy It! Head on over to Conscious Box's website and sign up for a month or three! It is totally worth it!

Win It! ONE winner will receive a November Conscious Box, but hurry! Giveaway ends on December 18th!

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BassBuds Review!

Hi Everyone! My next review is for BassBuds. BassBuds are really great high performance ear buds that come in a variety of awesome colors and are insanely awesome. They even have a hands free mic and MP3 controller.




I received the Platinum color which is a great silver color that goes practically with anything.

These BassBuds really are awesome. Here's some features these babies have:
-They are integrated high-quality with a mic and call/mp3 controller. So you can use these for your smart phones too!
-They have crystal clear HD audio via the Advanced Crystaltronics Virtual Surround Technology.
-They're anti-tangle, durable, and have a double wrapped cable.
-They have precision-cut, high quality aluminum housing.
-They have gold-plated 3.5mm audio jack for optimum connectivity and sound quality.
-Lastly, those little crystals on it aren't just any old rhinestones for decoration but are genuine Swarovksi Elements, embedded into the design.

These are the definition of bling. Seriously pimped out earbuds but they are so awesome and the sound quality is vastly improved from those cheap ones you find in the checkout line at Marshall's or the 99 cent store. These will last you a long time.

I go through earbuds a lot because I'm always using my phone or my ipod to listen to music when I work out and I just toss my earbuds in my purse, they get all tangled and hit things and almost as soon as I purchased them the one ear is out or the wire is broken. These won't do that. Also they come with a pouch too, which I found to be super useful so they don't get snagged or all messed up in your purse.

Overall, I was extremely impressed with these because they do work and are so much better than your regular run of the mill ear buds. Definitely check them out, you won't be disappointed!

Buy It! Head on over to BassBuds' website and use the promo code BB59807 to get $30 off your order!

Red Envelope Gifts Review!

Hey everyone! My next review is for Red Envelope. Red Envelope is a great company that sells a variety of great gifts from Christmas related ones to jewelry to barware and everything in between. Stumped to find a gift for someone for the holidays? This is a great site to get inspiration! Or a just a great site for you to shop for yourself, too!




I received:
A personalized mirror compact
A T-rex planter

The mirror compact I actually personalized for my godmother, my Aunt Bernadette, for Christmas. There's always those certain people hiccups on your Christmas list you don't know what to get them and you don't want to be too impersonal and get them lotion or candles, so when I saw this I felt it was a perfect little gift for her. My mom really liked it and I know I would enjoy this, too. It's simple but still really pretty and useful. I really love the detail on it, it makes it look vintage and really lovely.

The t-rex planter I got for myself just because I love dinosaurs and I can't not get a dino planter. Tyrannosaurs Rex's are my #2 and they didn't have a stegosaurs, my #1, so I got it. We are actually slowly creating a dinosaur-themed kitchen and this is going to look lovely on our table. He's pretty big too and it has a nice cushion under his feet so he doesn't scratch any surfaces. I love it and it is so awesome.

So as you can tell by the two completely different products I received from Red Envelope they literally have something for everyone. You name it they might even have it or something similar. My one qualm is that right after I got this dino planter it went on sale so I could've gotten BOTH. Oye. Oh well. Next time.

Overall though, definitely check them out they have a great assortment of gifts and even christmas stockings!. Like I said, you can even be inspired to get a certain present for a special someone if you spot it on the site!

Buy It! Head on over to Red Envelop's website and browse their awesome selection!

Covergirl's Blast Flipstick Review!

Hey everyone! My next review is for Covergirl's Blast Flipstick. You may recall that I've reviewed Covergirl before and you can check them out here. I received this opportunity thanks to BzzAgent.



I received three different colors:
Stunner
Minx
Vixen

Let me start off by saying what a crazy variety of colors. From purple to brown to gold, it's crazy the assortment of colors this collection has. I love it, especially that they're dual lipsticks. So when you don't really like one color, it actually can be improved by mixing the two together and look pretty awesome.

These sticks are made with ultra blendable formula and expertly matched shades. It also also lets you create the current "ombre" trend but on your lips.

Each stick contains one creamy side and one shimmery side.

I really liked these for the most part, though I feel like some of the colors I received didn't really work well with my skin tone. The minx is a dark brown and gold, even adding the gold shimmer on top I still looked goth. The Stunner is a bright coral and a pinkish/gold shimmer. I know the coral color alone will look nice on me in the summer but not this time of year. The shimmer I feel makes it worse on me. But I did love the vixen color. It's a nice, almost mauvy pink with a frosty pink shimmer and both complimented me very well, solo and mixed.

While I may not have been a fan of some of the colors I do love this concept. I'm sure the stunner and minx will look good once I get used to mixing the two colors and creating a cool ombre affect on my lips, I'm just not very makeup savvy like that without a little practice.

Overall though I really love this concept, it's a great almost futuristic approach to makeup. And, more importantly, it makes makeup fun again! Definitely check them out and they make great stocking stuffers too!



Buy It! Head on over to CoverGirl's website and browse all their colors, then search for them in a store near you!

Be sure to "Like" CoverGirl on Facebook!


Disclaimer-
I was provided a product in exchange for my review.
You can read more about my blog policies in my disclaimer.

Crux Watches Review and Giveaway!

Hey everyone! My next review and giveaway is for Crux Watches. Crux Watches are really awesome interchangeable watches that come in a great variety of awesome colors.



I was sent the rhapsody watch and an aquamarine band.

These are so easy to switch and use, too! You just pop out the watch part, which isn't too hard, all you do is stretch the band a tad, and pop it into another band. Really awesome and great for people that want to switch up their watches. I've had the same black watch for a few years now so it's nice to add some color.

They have a variety of colors to choose from too from light purple like the rhapsody one to black to even a glow in the dark band. Pretty awesome! You can buy a pack of bands or just try one out and add more along the way.

I also liked the size of the watch, it is a great unisex size. It's not too small where it's clearly for women but it's not overwhelmingly large and masculine, it's a nice medium for everyone to enjoy. Plus, the rubber-like band makes the watch really light, too!

But this isn't just any average, cool watch company, they try to make a difference too.

As their website says: "Crux Watches were created to express style and help change the world. Crux faces & bands are interchangeable and part of the purchase price helps great non-profits. Change your watch, change a life."

They give at least 10% of their profit to non-profits like Rooftop519, up to 25% of gross sales.

Overall, I was really impressed with Crux Watches. They're really awesome and make a difference too. Plus they make great gifts! Definitely check them out, especially this week they have their week-long Cyber Monday sale, so you definitely won't be disappointed!

Buy It! Head on over to Crux Watches' website and browse their awesome selection!

Win It! ONE winner will receive a $50 credit to Crux Watches!

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BioBrite Sunrise Alarm Clock Review!

Hey everyone! My next review is for BioBrite. BioBrite is a great company that sells a variety of fantastic alarm clocks, lights and more!



I was sent their awesome SunRise Clock.

Their SunRise clock is the world's first fully integrated dawn simulator, can help you fall asleep naturally and wake up feeling refreshed.

As their website says, "the SunRise Clock™ Sleep Sound model offers a full complement of programmable features, including the ability to set your own sunrise and sunset for 15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes; a back-up audible alarm; a snooze option; a smart display that dims at night so it won't disturb your sleep; a nightlight option; your choice of 12 or 24 hour time read-outs; and a security feature that turns the light on at random times at night to indicate that someone is at home. This model also comes with several soothing sounds to help you relax and fall asleep easily, including ocean waves, white noise, gentle rain and a babbling brook."

I really love this alarm clock. It is incredibly unique. I love how to has a nice big light that is super great for reading but also can dim down to a not-bothersome but soothing night light. Let's be honest, sometimes you need a night light after being an idiot and watching a scary movie before bed, I know I do.

I also LOVE the sounds. I actually like the white noise one the best because water noises tend to make me have to wake up and go to the bathroom. But I live next to a high school and the basketball courts are right under my window so lately I've been using my fan to try and block them out but this is perfect. It's right next to my head so it drowns everything out.

Overall, I really love this clock, it is rather large though but that's because it is a clock and light. I definitely recommend it if you are in the market for a new clock or want to give it as a gift. Browse their website for other useful gift ideas too like SleepPhones which are headphones that play music as you sleep. What an awesome idea!

Buy It! Head on over to BioBrite's website and browse their awesome selection!

JammyPack Review!

Hey everyone! My next review is for Jammy Pack! JammyPack is an awesome company that sells portable speakers that you carry around your waist. Like fanny packs but way, way cooler!



I chose the Eh Sport one because I love purple and I liked all the extra pocket space. I know that this is a perfect pack for traveling and hitting up the beach. I like the extra pockets because I can put all my stuff in it like my phone, wallet, etc.

The JammyPack is super easy to use. It has two plugs, one is an earphone jack which you plug into your iPod, phone, music playing device, and the other is a USB port which you plug into the power source. I was sent a rechargeable battery pack and two other battery packs that you just put 4 AA batteries in. Plug it into either and you will be blasting music for 6-10 hours! Sounds like a long, awesome day at the beach for me!

The rechargable battery pack as you can see looks cute, with the little squirrel on it, and also works with phones too! So carry this 2" lovely little wonder around in case your phone or iPod dies, which my phone does quite often. You recharge it by plugging it into your computer.

The quality is awesome, 3W of stereo-amplified beats per speaker. You control the sound as you usually would do on your iPod, so set the volume and forget it. Put it on a playlist and just jam out.

The quality of the pack is awesome as well. It is made of high-density, woven, rigid material (600D Poly) that form fits to your waist to give the owner maximum support.

Overall, I was super impressed by the JammyPack, it makes everything just that much easier. Definitely check them out, you won't be disappointed!

Buy It! Head on over to JammyPack's website and browse their awesome selection!

Hair Coverings Review and Giveaway!

Hi everyone! My next review and giveaway is for HairCoverings.com. HairCoverings is a great company that sells a variety of hair accessories from headbands to hats to even bandanas. You may remember way back when I did a review for them and you can check it out here. They definitely have something for everyone whether you like flashy things or prefer to keep it simple.



As you can see, I kind of stick to the simple.

I chose the Goody Ionic Style Hairbrushand the Goody Ouchless elastic hair tie.

The Goody hairbrush is the perfect size to put in your purse, it is small and compact and works wonderfully. Plus, I did need a new one, the last one I had I actually bought at the Limited Too about 12 years ago at least. Yeah, the bristle part was coming off too, so it was time. This one feels nice, it's not too hard and does the job. Plus I like the colors, they're bright so you can easily pick them out of your purse.

I chose the scrunchies too because I always get them and they always disappear. I used to get the thicker ones but they have less in a pack and might as well have more than less. I'm sure there won't be much difference either, I don't have crazy thick hair so I am pretty confident my hair will hold in these. Plus I love that they're "ouchless" meaning that there's no metal thing to hurt or snap back on you. Pretty awesome.

Overall, I was definitely super happy with what I received. They are awesome products and will last a long time. The selection on Hair Covering's website is awesome too, literally something for everyone. Check them out, you won't be disappointed!

Buy It! Head on over to Hair Covering's website and browse their awesome selection!

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