HOW I DISGUISED MY DRY, BRITTLE HAIR!

Heeeeeeeey Girlfriends! So I have been missing my long tresses a lot lately. Like a lot. Growing it out sucks. Then, I always get to thinking about how I had the worst long hair. It was deader than Abe Lincoln. You think I'm joking but I'm not... When I had long hair it was awful but I always disguised it so noone would know. I'm kinda a pro at it. I did everything to try to fix my split ends. But, at the end of the day just remember nothing can fix them. Hence, me cutting off all my hair. But you can mask them!

If you want healthier looking hair though-- 1st things 1st get a haircut. Sorry, I know you don't want to hear this but thats the only thing that will help!

ANTI-SNAP! ANTI SNAP WILL BE YOUR BEST FRIEND IN THE WORLD IF YOU LET IT! It helps smooth the cuticle to make the look of split ends look tons better and helps further more damage. It is the bees knees. I literally used to soak my ends in this every single day. 

I would ALWAYS air dry my hair. ALWAYS if I could. My hair just always looked less huge and frizzy if I just let it do its thing. I know this sucks but embrace your natural hair. I hated mine. Until I just started being lazy. HAHA. All of a sudden, the cool thing was (thank the lord) beachy natural waves. So just go with your hairs flow. Im sure its awesome. Use some sea salt spray and you're good to go!

If you do use heat- never forget a heat protectant. Just don't. Think about makin some nice old eggs. You always want to use Pam. Unless that'd just suck and ruin your eggs. Not using a heat protectant is going to do damage on your hair. I promise you.

Introduce some Awapuhi in your life. No joke. Every product in their line just literally makes anyones hair look 10 times more amazing. A great ones for my bland girls is the Shine Spray. This makes your hair look crazy beautiful and shiny. Who doesn't some shine in their hairs?!?

Use oil! Yes oil! Some Chi Silk Infusion your dry ends will suck that sucker up and look refreshed! I would put it in my hair when it was wet. Then, after styling.

As I tell you girls all the time, skip washes. Washing your hair everyday strips all of the essential oils out of your hair making it dry and brittle.

Use a leave in conditioner--- I used to use Healthy Sexy Hairs Soy Tri-Wheat Leave in Conditioner. Its on sale right now at Ulta for $10. WOOT! I put this in right out of the shower to work as a detangler. I would spray this all on my ends. Then ALWAYS take a wide tooth comb or tangle teezer and comb out my hair. Never use a brush. Start at the ends and work your way up. This helped a lot with the dry months when my hair was just awful.

Lastly, get a gloss! At my salon we have demi-permanent colors so they don't effect the cuticle (doesn't damage your hair) and it just brings back the shine and puts some depth into your hair! Book your appointments girls :)

Everything mentioned you can get at Ulta!*

I hope this helped your tangled tresses! But, make sure you get those ends cut regularly! Comment below and let me know how it works for you! Whats your favorite way of faking healthy hair?!?

3 QUICK&EASY HAIRSTYLES WHEN YOURE RUNNIN' LATE!

Helloooooo everyone! Most of you know, I am not a morning person and when I say I'm not... Like I really HATE mornings. I will do the least amount of effort so I can push snooze and sleep until I have no time to get ready. It happens every single morning. What can I say I like to sleep?? So over the years of me being a lazy bum I figured out good ways to be able to sleep long and look cute! Who woulda thought??!?! Dry Shampoo is a savior I am telling you.. Check out my post here.

So the first hairstyle is a cool braid. Its super simple to do.. You start out with day old hair.. In this case its curled but it could be straight.. Start braiding each part of your hair from your part to like two inches above your ear on each side. Secure it with a hair elastic. If you like to tease your hair I would do it now! Pull each piece of the braid out like in the picture, to make the braid fuller. Then, wrap one braid around your head and bobby pin it. Do the same with the other side but tuck the part thats sticking out under the other braid.  Then VOILA! Cute hair that looks like you spent all day. 

Next is a side bun! This is super cute all the time. I love buns... -_- I love hair buns. Its sooo easy. So you take all of your hair to one side of your head. Use a brush to really make sure its smooth but not to smooth. Then literally just bunch up all of your hair into a bun right behind your ear and it might take a few pony tails to get all the stray hairs exactly where you want but thats all you do! With some nice dangly earrings this would be so 'fetch' ;)

Lastly this is a really messy cute pony. First you put on a headband, any would be fine. Then tease your crown. Put it in a pony but make sure its loose. Then take pieces from the top of the pony and pull them to make sure its higher. Then tease the pony and you are set!

Send me some of you doing these looks on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! I would love to see it!! 

I hope this helps all my ladies get some more beauty rest;)

I bet you $10 you can have hair like Lana Del Rey.....

Elllooooo!! So yesterday was Lanas' makeup now today is HAIR! I love these loose effortless waves to dress up or to wear with a oversized t and skinny jeans. Its super versatile and honestly, everyone and their mother can do it. Who doesn't love a hairstyle that takes 10 minutes??? I do! If I had long hair again this would be my everyday look. But lets stop dreamin' cause I don't. 

A teasing brush

1 inch curling iron

Brush

Smoothing Serum

1) First things first, start off by taking hair in sections and teasing your hair. If you were born with naturally voluminous hair I hate you-- But you can skip this step ;)

2) Start curling your hair with a 1 inch curling iron all away from your face. 

3) By this step your hair looks like your Susy Q and I understand thats not cute but hold on! Have faith in me!

4) Brush through your hair with a wide tooth comb or a paddle brush.

5 and 6) Put some smoothing serum on your fingers and emulsify it by rubbing your fingers together and finger comb it through the bottom half of your hair.

Tell me thats not easy! Try it out ladies!!!! 

Beauty Dictionary: Face Brushes!

 


Hi Ladies!! I am back with a new series called 'Beauty Dictionary'. I will be answering some of your beauty issues that you never knew the answers to! Today I am doing Face Brushes.. I get a lot of questions about which brush to use when and why. I thought maybe bringing all my favorite brushes in together and explaining them to you for example: when you use them, what part of the face, cream/powder, etc. etc. would be a lot easier to understand. Honestly, different brushes can change the look of any foundation. Brushes are essential in your beauty routine. There is no reason to use your fingers now a days or disposable sponges-- It is 2014 and brushes make your makeup look 100,921,098x better! With that said-- LETS TALK BRUSHES:)


From the top left to right to the bottom:

Real Techniques Powder Brush- This is my favorite for bronzing and to set my powder. You can find this at Ulta. I use this just for an overall bronzing not to be confused with contouring.. So when I just want some color I will sweep this in 3 and E motions on each side of my face where the sun would naturally hit..

Sonia Kashuk Double Ended Foundation Brush- I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS BRUSH! I have had it for like 3 years and I wouldn't know what to do without it. I use the foundation end for my fuller coverage foundations.. It is pretty dense and with a dense brush you are going to get a thicker application. I just think it makes my foundation awesome! You all know my obsession with my Beauty Blender-- if not you can read here-- one end is like a sponge material like my BB but you don't get this wet or anything like that.. I use this side to just blend out around my nose and eye area just so you can't see any strokes or anything from the brush. You can find this at target!

Mac 168 Large Angled Contour Brush-- I love this brush for contouring because with the angle shape I fee like it just fits right in the dip of your cheekbone. If you don't know how to contour check out my post. This will help a lot more with how this brush!

Sephora Pro Flawless Airbrush #56-- This is just a recent love of mine but I think it will be an essential for a long time in my kit. I use this for my foundation on a more everyday basis. It really provides a natural-airbrushed look to your foundation. I pat my foundation on my face then buff it out in circular motions with this brush and it looks faaaaaaaab;)

Real Techniques Stippling Brush-- I use this to blend out my contour and blush to make sure there is no hard lines! I also used to use this a lot for my foundation.. This is a very multipurpose brush! You can also use it to dab on your highlight right above your cheekbone-- Or to use a cream blush for a real flushed look. You can also get this at Ulta.

Sigma F25 Tapered Face Brush-- I use this for my powder blushes! I think its not a dense brush so it really makes my blush light and natural.

Sigma P86 Precision Tapered-- I love this for my concealer.. What I do is with my ring finger is tap the concealer where need be and buff it out with this brush. With the tapered head it really gets into all of the hard to get areas you couldn't get with a regular foundation brush. Its dense so it adds a lot more coverage-- which I need if I am using a concealer.

Nars Ita-- TELL ME THIS DOESNT JUST FASCINATE YOU! Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I am in love. I use this for nights out when I want a strong contour. Its not that dense but it really makes that sharp, clean line you are looking for when contouring. I first apply the bronzer with Ita upright to make a sharp line then take the brush sideways to buff it all out. Its amazing. Just believe me when I say this. You can also use this for highlighting as well!

Elf Kabuki Face Brush-- This kabuki brush has been my favorite for a long long long long time. It has withheld every punch and throw its gotten. It will never die I swear to you. I use this for bronzing and to set my powder.. Also to bronze my body! For a meer $5 YOU NEED THIS!

So lets recap-- A dense brush gives more coverage, a less dense brush is for a lighter coverage! I hope this helped a bit! Let me know in the comments or on social medias which brushes you like the most! :)


Elf and Sonia Kashuk can be found at Target!
Real Techniques you can get at Ulta.
Sephora and Nars Brushes you can get at Sephora.
Mac brushes are available only at Mac!
Sigma brushes are found on their website.

5 Products That Really Do What They Claim!

I don't know about all of you... But, I am super gullible. Anything anyone says I immediately believe. Its honestly ridiculous, I know. Someone could tell me that Obama just jumped off a cliff and I would honestly believe it. So with that said, reading the back of hair products I automatically believe every claim it says and buy it. I'm always like "Cool, this will magically get rid of my split ends!" Girls, nothing can get rid of your split ends lets just get that straight right now... Except a haircut. Sorry to ruin all of your days---from someone who bought every single product out there to try, nothing is going to take two hairs and seal it back into one. It doesn't work like that unfortunately.. I just hate it when products lie to me at the end of the day. I thought I would dedicate a post to all of the products I have tried and all the claims do actually work and your hair will thank you:)

Disclaimer: All of these products are pretty pricy but I learned in beauty school-- You can't wash a Maserati with Dawn Dish Soap! You get out of your hair what you put into it.. 

1) Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Mask--- You can get this from Ulta... It is $33! 

It claims:

"Macadamia Deep Repair Masque is a revitalizing hair reconstructor for dry, damaged hair. A combination of macadamia oil and argon oil along with tea tree oil, chamomile oil, aloe and algae extracts rejuvenate and rebuild the hair, leaving the hair deeply nourished for improved elasticity and shine with long-lasting conditioning benefits"-- per Ultas site

Honestly, I believe every single thing... I use it religiously and my big tub of it has lasted me a year. When I had super long hair my hair was always so gross, just like straw from coloring it so much and what not.. So once a week I would apply this product, use a wide tooth comb to comb through and keep it on for five minutes and wash it out. Sometimes if my hair was so bad I would keep it on overnight and put a shower cap on and boy did my hair love me...

2) Paul Mitchell Shampoo Two-- You can get this from ME at Vitality!

It claims:

"Basics: Deeply cleanses oily hair and scalps.

Benefits: Leaves hair fresh, shiny and full of body.

Bonus: Minimizes oil production so hair becomes less oily over time.

Details: Wheat-derived conditioners boost body and shine. 

Fresh lemon fragrance. 

Color-safe formula"

-Per Paul Mitchell Website

Yet again I believe all of this... I use this again once a week before my Macadamia conditioner to get rid of buildup in my hair and honestly it makes the world of a difference.. I have theee worst oily scalp as you read here so it honestly helped me sooo much. For someone who doesn't use a lot of product in their hair I would use this maybe once a month. It could be a little harsh on the hair if used to often. 

3) Its a 10! Miracle Leave In Product-- You can get this from your hairdresser or Birchbox for $20

It claims:

Does 10 Things INSTANTLY!

1) Repairs Dry, Damaged Hair 2) Adds Shine 3) Detangles 4) Controls Frizz 5) Seals and Protects Hair Color 6) Prevents Split Ends 7) Stops Hair Breakage 8) Creates Silkiness 9) Enhances Natural Body 10) Thermal Protector -Per the back of my bottle ;)

Soooooo basically how about I just say it how it is--- I wouldn't be caught dead without this product. I literally have 3 bottles in my closet right now. If you think I am kidding.... I'm not. This is my holy grail and I honestly think it was the reason my hair got as long as it did (aka last year) This just really sped it up and made my hair feel healthy. Its honestly odd but I swear its like gold in a bottle. 

4) Redken Quick Tease-- You can get this from Ulta for $18

It claims:

"The patented spray technology offers three benefits in one bottle! Mist allows it to instantly create volumizing and texturized results while maintaining a long-lasting matte finish and hold." -Ultas site

I believe it.. My hair sucks at teasing but if you put this bad boy in right before you tease it will be huge and last all day long... I even used to use it just to funk up the rest of my hair a bit to add some grit and texture! Its one of those products at least to me that you would never know it really works until you get it and are amazed. I am obsessed!

5) Sea Salt Spray-- You can get this from Lush for $12.95

It claims:

"Our sea salt, sea water and seaweed spritz holds hair in place, adds shine and gives body for a beach-beautiful look. A gorgeous orange flower, grapefruit, neroli and rosewood blend perfumes the spray. It smells so divine, we've been spritzing it in our hair just to smell the fragrance! Use anytime you want to refresh, re-style or add some volume, texture and shine." -Lush.com

I don't even need to say anything because they just said it all.............. You look and smell just like you have been at the beach all day. Thats my favvvvvve look! Yet again, wouldn't be caught dead without this.

Sorry this blog was so long guys!! But let me know in the comments below what your favorite hair products are-- As you can probably tell I love trying new things! :) Cya lata!

Get the Look: Selena Gomez Hair!

Hi Everyone!! I have a question-- Do you love Selena!??!?!?! Or at least her hair!? I do! All the girls in my chair always complain about not having texture, grit, meat and vegetables for their hair... If you catch my drift, so I thought I'd help everyone in 4 simple steps! This is a great style if you wanna funk it up for the holidays or New Years! Have fun with itttt; Messy hair is the best hair!

Tools:

1. A curling wand-- 1/2 inch

2. Straightener

3. Redken Wool Shake (You can get here)

4. Teasing Comb

5. Hairspray

Steps:

1. Taking little sections curl the hair away from the face with the curling wand making sure to keep the ends out.

2. Once curled the entire head, take pieces and start straightening them and curling random ends under.

3. Put head upside down and spray Wool Shake. Then, scrunch hair with your hands.. Mess it up! 

5. With your teasing comb start teasing random sections just to frizz it a bit.. Give it a little texture. 

6. Hairspray and your great to go! 

A big thank you to Sam for helpin' :) Keep a lookout for the makeup for this look! 

Comin shortly.....

Product Doppelgängers: Splurge vs. Steal!

If you knew me you would know I'm kinda a bit obsessed with The Vampire Diaries.... Ok.... I'm really obsessed. All I do is work, watch The Vampire Diaries, eat, blog and sleep... That is all. So since I am waiting oh so patiently for the rest of the episodes to go on Hulu I thought I would make a doppelgänger post! (Everytime I pronounce it in my head I say it like Rebekah in a british accent i.e doppel-gangah.. Please say I'm not the only one!?) If you don't watch the show I'm sorry for ranting but a doppelgänger is a "paranormal double of a living person." In this case a product! Each one is a splurge than the other is a dupe for the product at a lower cost for my girls on a budget! 

1. Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer-- $28.00 vs. NYX Concealer Wand-- $5.00

The NYX Concealer Wand is a staple in my makeup collection. Its one of my all time favorite concealers to highlight with! I would say it has the same consistency as the Nars and they both have light reflecting particles and are very light weight! They both have medium to heavy coverage. I would honestly take my $5 and run to get the NYX Concealer because why waste the $28 when its almost the same product. 

2. Benefit They're Real Mascara-- $23.00 vs. Covergirl Lash Blast Fusion Mascara-- $6.35

I really do love Benefits mascara I must say... The Lash Blast I love overall but it can dry out after a bit I'm not going to lie but other than that it is a complete copy of the They're Real Mascara.. If you love long, long, long lashes on top and bottom with volume as well this is your mascara! 

3. Stila Kitten Eyeshadow-- $18.00 vs. Loreal Infallible 'Iced Latte' Eyeshadow-- $7.99

I can't believe I'm going to say this but I actually like Loreals better! They are both a shimmer nude pink color and a great base to any shadow look you're trying to achieve! It is great for everyday but you can spice it up with a dark crease for night and its soooooo beautiful. With Kitten I feel like you get a lot of fall out and I never have that issue with the Iced Latte. Another plus is right now on Ulta.com you can get any Loreal products for Buy one, Get one for %50 and it says special gift with purchase woooooohoooo! Can't beat that!

4. Benefit Brow Zing-- $30.00 vs. Elf Brow Kit-- $3.00

Yet again I really love the Elf Brow Kit more but they are sooooo similar. I'm just being fussy. I am so weird about smells and the Brow Zing smells like plato and it just yerks me I don't know why hahahah. But, all in all they are both great products but the same. I don't feel like color wise I get any different look which I should paying $27 more! Also, with my brows I like to use a harder brush and the Brow Zings brush is very flimsy. So ELF ELF ELF! I always go back to that kit no matter what.

I hope this helped my ladies on a budget with Christmas right around the corner! Let me know in the comments if you would like to see some more doppelgangaaa products:) 

Which Naked is for Me?

With my last post you're probably getting a little overwhelmed I'm sure. So theres all these Nakeds but one normal sane person does not have to own ALL of them. Just crazy nut cases like me.. These palettes are just so convenient in so many different ways to just stick in your bag and run. If you are just starting out in makeup these are great over all just to have one and you will have different eye combos for dayyyyyz! On the other hand if you are more obsessed with makeup (I know how you feel) its just a great choice to add to your collection--with great color pay off these shadows are hard to beat and are also great everyday basics to mix with the rest of your makeup.

Naked 1:

My first baby: Naked. This palette ranges from light to dark shadows with 2 matte shades and 10 shimmery. Its perfect to achieve a great day to night look on the drop of the hat. It comes with a one sided brush and the primer potion (which is the best eye primer hands down) In my opinion I think that this palette looks the best on warmer skin tones just because so many of these shadows in this palette are so bronze goddess-esque.  My all time favorite shadows are in this: Sin & Sidecar. I love toasted as well. I literally could use those shadows for the rest of my life and never get sick of it.... Ok, maybe after a year or two....But, If you are into a more bronzed smokey eye this is your palette.

Naked 2:

Now Naked 2... Yet again there are 12 shadows ranging from light to dark with now 3 matte shades and 11 shimmery. They each share Half-Baked which is a gold shimmery color. These colors are more taupey almost like they have a gray undertone. Definitely a lot more cooler than the first one so it tends to go better with the cooler skin tones. My favorites in this one would have to be Tease, Verve and YDK. YDK takes the cake though. Naked 2 comes with a dual sided brush this time. One side is great for patting the color on and the other for blending. To finish your look, the palette also comes with a cute mini lip-gloss.

Naked 3:

            

 Last but not least: Naked 3.. Theres 12 colors ranging from light to dark with 3 mattes, 6 shimmers and 2 glitters!! Naked 3 shares none of the same color with her sisters but now is more rose hued which is awesome for almost every skin tone! This one has a lot more mid-colors-- not too light or dark-- for me thats a huge plus! It also comes with a dual ended brush thats a little different from the Naked 2.. But one side is still flat while the other is for blending! I heard it comes with a primer but, I think I lost it :( 

I hope this helped you out a little more!! They have swatches of each palette on the Sephora website if you wanted to stop over there.. On a side note, can you believe its almost Christmas.... Ugh IM NOT READY!!!!

Naked 3?

First, the Naked.... The best makeup pallete out there.... Then....... Naked 2 came out and then that was the absolute best...... THEN! NAKED 3! Go figure, its the bomb.com!! I went into Sephora on my day off at 9pm and got my hands on this bad boy just so I can show all of you!!!

Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhh how perfect is this!!!!!! Its the perfect rose, romantic colors and I am ub-sesssed! How amazing is the color 'Buzz' Can we all just sit and stare at its beauty for 10 seconds.... Blackheart is so unique too. The colors are just so different from all the other Nakeds its insane.  With these new matte shades its perfect for an everyday eyeshadow kit. You can go from really subtle to great smoky eye. 

Would you guys like some tutorials?!!!? Comment belowwwww!

Should I Buy? - Beauty Blender

Ok... So a lot of you might be asking what is this and NO I would not buy it! If you like natural looking makeup you should be all about this--- Its called a Beauty Blender! It is a makeup applicator that is a spongey material, one end is rounded while the other is more at a point. This is the perfect design because the rounded edge is for your foundation on most of your face while the pointed end is better for your concealer around your eyes, nose, and little crevices that rounded edge wouldn't fit into! I have been eyeing this for a bit but I have not wanted to make the purchase $19.99 for this little sponge.. I would rather use my brushes I already have! But I finally bit the bullet and bought it....... 

I just tried it anddddd I LOVE IT! It makes my skin so flawless and my foundation feels so much more light weight then just with a normal foundation brush. The blender is so easy to apply and covers my planets perfectly!

So heres how to use it..... 

 Firstttttt run the sponge under water for a few seconds.....

Then when it gets damp squeeze all the excess water out of the sponge.

 Voila! Ready to go!

When you apply the foundation put it on the back side of your hand then blot the Beauty Blender into the product then blot on to your face.. Do not use side to side motions always blot the skin with the sponge up and down! Around your eyes and nose again, use the small pointed side! Thats all there is to it! Perfect looking airbrushed foundation every single time! You'll never have caked on makeup again:) 

You can buy it at your nearest Sephora or at Sephora.com for $19.99! Its totally worth every penny!

             

Greenday, Its time to wakeup.. Septembers Over

Was it just me or did September go by so fast? I'm not complaining or anything but, how crazy. With September ending here comes one of my favorite months: October. Now that we are finally getting past the random 80 degree days (Pssst: Upstate NY can be a little bipolar) October means: FALL CLOTHES! Lately, all I have been doing is searching for cute oversized sweaters, scarfs, slouchy hats... My favorrriiiiteeeeee.... Ive found some gems so I thought I would share some with you:

I am loving this dress from TOBI. With some black tights and black booties, It's fall approved! AND its only $36... What beats that?

The next one is just a basic tee from Urban Outfitters.. I just love the pale pink color but it also comes in 5 other colors. But with a cute cardigan this is a staple for every girls wardrobe.

Leather leggings IM OBSESSED WITH! You can dress them up, dress them down, but still be so comfy like you're  in PJ's. These ones are again from Urban Outfitters for $29! 

The last clothing item I am about lately are...... You guessed it: Cardigans. Especially huge, oversized, comfy, sweaters. This ones from TOBI and on sale for $29 as well!

My last favorite is hair accessories! Im loving the dainty hair necklaces, to the flower headbands to the big turban styles to all in between!!! I've seen ones I loveeee at Forever21, Necessary Clothing and Urban Outfitters!

                             

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