I used to go to the salon every 4-6 weeks to get my hair colored. As time and money constraints kick in, these regular visits to the salon are not feasible.
I have experimented with just about every hair color brand on the market today. I would buy the ones that were on sale, the ones I had a coupon for, etc.
But the only brand that I get consistent results with is Preference by L'Oreal. I have used a natural version of the hair color and achieved very good results month after month.
What hair color product do you use? Have you used the same one for years? Leave your comments below.
Showing posts with label Salons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Salons. Show all posts
What Hair Color do you use?
Ask Lydia: Upper Lip Waxing
Hi Lydia,
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Hi and thanks for your question.
It sucks being a mammal. We have hair all over the place, and it can show itself in some truly horrifying places.
When it comes to facial hair removal, we do have options: tweezing, cream hair removers, waxing, or more permanent hair removal techniques. And all options have pros and cons. Now, fair warning: I am not an expert...so if anyone has anything they want to add, be sure to leave a comment.
TWEEZING
Pros: it's easy, it's almost free (you just have to pay for the tweezers), it requires very little skill, it is a precision job, and it's best for small areas of hair (upper lip, eyebrows, etc.)
Cons: you need really good lighting, it can be painful (have you ever pulled a root out? Ouch! Plus it can bleed--yuck!), it's easy to miss hairs, ingrown hairs can happen if you over-tweeze or incorrectly tweeze, and it seems like tweezing is a never-end job
Do it right: if you want to tweeze, invest in a decent pair of slant-ended tweezers (check out Tweezerman's selection at Sephora--they're worth the money), a decent mirror, and a good light. Click here for pointers on how to tweeze properly.
CREAM FACIAL HAIR REMOVERS
Pros: potentially not as painful as other hair removal techniques, relatively easy to use, readily available
Cons: creams can be irritating to skin, can smell nasty, and can be messy. You may need to get a prescription if you use products like Vaniqua.
Other thoughts: I have never bleached or used a cream facial hair remover, but I have tried products like Nair on my legs in the past. I found the product to be harsh-smelling and it didn't do as good of a job at removing my leg hair as my trusty razor. Since the blade has no place near your face, I'd personally recommend tweezing or waxing over cream removers.
WAXING Pros: excellent results, someone else does it for you, hair takes longer to grow back
Cons: somewhat painful, can be irritating to your skin, requires regular upkeep which means regular visits to your salon/spa for a wax
Other thoughts: This is my preferred facial hair removal method. I personally like the way a waxing feels...it's somewhat painful but also a bit cathartic. You will need to let the hair grow in a bit before going in for a wax. You may also want to exfoliate the area somewhat regularly before your waxing appointment to deter ingrown hairs. You might experience some redness, swelling, or tenderness immediately after a waxing. (If you're in the Seattle/Everett, WA area, the Mill Creek InSpa does excellent waxing and I've rarely had to deal with post-waxing redness after an appointment!)
PERMANENT MEASURES
There are more permanent options for getting rid of unwanted hair. If you're interested in laser hair removal or electrolysis, I would strongly recommend that you talk to a professional. They should be honest about what you can expect, how much pain and money will be involved, and how many sessions you'll need to undergo.
For facial hair, I prefer waxing and tweezing. They seem to be the most easy and cost-effective. If anyone has any thoughts on this, go ahead and leave a comment!
Blunt Bangs for Spring 09
I never know what to do with my hair! When I go to a salon, it usually goes like this:
STYLIST: What would you like to have done today?
ME: Oh, I don't know. I guess just make it blonder and trim it.
STYLIST: Do you want to add layers or change your part?
ME: Sure...whatever...I don't know. As long as my new style is easy to maintain...
See? That's pathetic and hopeless. And I know I am not alone when it comes to hair confusion/fear in the stylist's chair.
Well, I'm finally here to help you and myself. Nicholas Penna, Jr. of SalonCapri outside of Boston is predicting that blunt bangs are going to be hot this spring...and he was good enough to share some tips on how to get this look the next time you go to the salon.
Nicholas Penna, Jr. of SalonCapri:
1. What is the hot style for Spring?
Blunt bangs are the hot style for spring because they add edge to hair. For a long time, soft hair was the trend and now there’s a change with some attitude. Celebrities such as Kate Hudson in the new movie Bride Wars and Erin Lucas from MTV’s newest reality endeavor, The City, are both sporting blunt bangs which makes it even hotter.
2. What hair type does this style work best on?
Blunt bangs typically look best with straight hair that is cut all at one length. However, we've recently seen stars like Kim Kardashian wearing her blunt bangs with wavy hair creating a contrast between the hip, edgy bang with romantic, tousled hair. Another variation to the blunt bang is to incorporate angles that frame your face, such as Anne Hathaway’s haircut.
3. What face shape do these bangs look best on?
Blunt bangs work well for everyone, if done right. Many times, younger people can pull off the style the best, but virtually anyone can sport this look. The best face shape for blunt bangs is a longer, oval-shaped face.
4. What are some other great bang choices for girls who do not have the appropriate hair texture/face shape?
Longer bangs that can be pushed to the side of the face add movement to the hairstyle, such as the side swept bang. This type of bang is the most universally worn and can look great on many different face shapes/hair textures.
5. Additional tips...
Blunt bangs add to style to your look, even when your hair is pulled back into a ponytail. You can just blow out your bangs and throw your hair back. It adds an egde to your look and gives you a change that's not as drastic as a shorter haircut.
I think that this style is definitely going to last well into this season. It is a faddy look, but I think it’s one that will stand the test of time. As it evolves, I imagine people will start to wear the bang in different ways, more tailored to their personality.
There you have it! One great idea for a new Spring 'do!
Be Kind To Yourself
Holy guacamole! It's been a hell of a week and it's only Tuesday. This is not a good sign for me, and I'm sure I'm not alone.
Now that the holidays are over, all we're left with is the residual signs of excess: debt from buying too many gifts, extra pounds from all the yummy things we snarfed down, and a feeling of exhaustion from all the get-togethers and now getting back into the swing of things at work. In my humble opinion, January sucks. Sure we have the whole fresh start with a new year, but once we're a week or two into the month, we get into the wintertime blahs.
My advice for all this: Be kind to yourself, now more than ever. How? Well, here are some things I do:
- Pamper yourself with a mid-winter pedicure. Even though no one will see your perfectly painted toenails, you'll feel better. And looking down to see 10 lovely bright red toenails will lift your spirits. Plus your heels will feel softer and smoother. Good stuff.
- Go for a brow wax. There's something so cathartic about having my brows waxed. I love the way it feels, as sick as that may sound. But what's better than having my stray eyebrow hairs yanked out of my face is the way a brow wax looks. It's subtle, but having cleaned up, professional shaped brows does wonders for your looks. Plus it's relatively cheap and quick.
- Give yourself an at-home facial. If you have a microdermabrasion kit, use it. If not, head down to the drugstore and pick up a fun, inexpensive face mask. Slather it all over your skin, lie down on your bed and relax for 15 minutes. Your skin will look better and you'll feel more rested. Don't forget to apply a decent moisturizer and lip balm once you're done.
- Take a bubble bath. We just celebrated National Bubble Bath day last week...if you weren't able to participate, go ahead and indulge whenever you get the chance. You deserve 30 minutes to an hour of alone time, and bubble baths force you to turn off the TV, hang up the cell phone, and step away from the computer.
- Shave your legs. During the winter, I don't shave my legs as often as I do in the winter. Sometimes I forget about it completely for far too long. My husband doesn't complain, but there comes a point where I get downright irritated with my hairy legs. I take time to shave my legs, making sure not to miss any patches. And I follow up a shave with a whole hell of a lot of moisturizer, especially in the winter. It feels so good to have smooth, satiny legs!
- Start each day with a wonderful body moisturizer. Instead of applying perfume, try using a scented body moisturizer. Doing so will provide double duty: your skin will be soft and touchable, and you'll smell great. No one else may notice, but that's ok. You'll know you spent a few minutes in the morning lavishing attention on yourself...and there's nothing wrong with that.
These are just my suggestions. What do you do to pamper yourself when you need a little TLC? Leave me a comment and let me know!
Save Your Pennies
Times are tough, economically speaking. The Dow Jones seems to hit a new low every week, and the news is filled with scary stories about people losing their homes, their jobs, their entire savings accounts. Because we're tightening up our budgets, many of you may be wondering where you can save on beauty treatments.
Thanks to the editors at Allure, here are a few hints on when to save and when to splurge:
BROWS
Splurge on: Professional brow-shaping. The pros can work magic on shabby brows but you can keep costs down by plucking stray hairs that pop up between visits.
Scrimp on: Brow products. You can use your inexpensive eyeliner to lightly fill in your brows or find a drugstore-brand brow pencil to give your brows a better shape.
Skip: Brow gel. You can use Vaseline to keep crazy brows in place. Or pick up some cheap clear mascara to coat your brows. One word of caution: the mascara may flake a bit, so be prepared!
SKIN
Splurge on: Anti-aging creams if you need the help. Try to get something containing retinoids to help reduce wrinkles and increase firmness. If you really want the most bang for your buck, visit a dermatologist and get a prescription-strength treatment.
Scrimp on: Expensive treatments. Instead of a professional peel at a doctor's office, try an at-home microderm abrasion kit. Just be sure to use the product regularly to achieve the maximum benefit.
Skip: Facials. They don't do much any way. Just be sure to wash your face regularly, use your daily moisturizer, and don't forget the SPF!
HAIR
Splurge on: Highlights. You cannot achieve the same rich, high-definition highlight at home that you get in the salon. If you need to save a few bucks, opt for a partial foil rather than a full color/foil. Just having the highlights around your face will brighten up your look.
Scrimp on: Shampoo. Really cheap shampoos only contain cleaning agents that may strip your hair of moisture and shine. But shampoos in the $5 range are all you really need: they clean and moisturize perfectly. The same goes for hair products. Stay in the middle of the price range and you should be a-okay!
Skip: Salon blowouts. Unless you have a special occasion to go to, you don't need to have a pro do your hair for you. When your in the salon getting your highlights and cut, ask your stylist to show you how to blowout your own hair. Try out a few things like flatirons and large Velcro rollers to add volume to your hair.
For tips on whether to spend or splurge on makeup products, click here for one of my very first posts...it still has some good info!
Spa Week Giveaways!
The good people over at Spa Week have some great deals and giveaways...if you're interested in pampering yourself at all:
JULY Travel Giveaway
What: Win the “Lifestyle Makeover” of your dreams at Hilton Head Health, situated on the beautiful South Carolina Coast (Retail Value: $7,990). Enjoy a 7 night stay for two in a private 2-bedroom villa. Throughout the course of your stay you will dine on healthy gourmet meals and snacks. Take advantage of the great variety of fitness classes each day, and 3 private personal training sessions. Also, check out the nutrition, cooking, stress management, and motivational classes available! After all those intense training sessions, make sure you relax those muscles with a complimentary 60 minute massage.
How: All you have to do is click here and forward this giveaway to two or more friends, and you will automatically be entered to win this all-inclusive trip for two!
Why: Because you’re sick and tired of reading about Celebrity Slim Down Secrets. We know the truth – celebrities spend countless hours with their personal trainers and have their meals cooked by gourmet chefs to keep their figures flawless. Well, Spa Week can give you the chance to live and train like a star. America’s premiere weight-loss retreat will have you (and your guest) looking and feeling like a celebrity. Move over Jessica Biel, the Spa Week winners will have the best bikini bods on the beach after their stay at Hilton Head Health.
JULY Steals & Deals
Hit the town in your maxi looking like a silky smooth bronze goddess, minus the harmful UV rays and premature aging, with an affordable Spray Tan from Spa Week’s Steals & Deals. If you’ve already got your bronze on, indulge in a Tutti Frutti Body Treatment or a Gold Bling Facial. This season is all about showing skin! Book your Body Salt Glow, Spray Tan, Vitamin Facial, Brazilian, or Mani/Pedi Combo today and kick off summer the right way - at the spa! After all ladies, that bikini line isn't going to wax itself.
To find new monthly spa specials, promotions and exclusive deals near you visit www.spaweek.org/content/deals.
JULY Wellness Getaways
What: Discover the award winning Canyon Ranch Resort & Spa with a friend this summer – and save. If you plan a trip for two, each person gets 15% off the package stay! Simply mention Two New, Too Terrific when you call for reservations and you will receive the special discount. This beautiful destination spa is a perfect getaway for the summer. Kick off those heels, lay back, relax and recharge with your best bud in tow.
Where: The wooded hills of Lenox, Massachusetts. Get further details at http://www.spaweek.org/content/wellness
When: July 1st – August 30th
Why: Because you deserve a break, and with the Spa Week special you’ll have extra money to burn at the Prime Outlets, conveniently only 5 minutes away!
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