It wasn’t until I was 25 that I really got the hang of my hair. There are so many different types of curls! Yes, they are hard to control. And, it’s especially important to find someone who knows how to cut curly hair. Growing up we always just went to a Super Cuts, and I now know why paying the extra money for a super awesome stylist is worth it when you have tricky hair.

Everything I know about my hair I have learned from my amazing stylist, Shannon Debin.

Tips and Tricks of the Trade:

1. Don’t wash your hair every day. Maybe every other, or every couple of days. Curly hair is generally super dry and washing it every day zaps the moisture.
2. After conditioning, rinse hair with cold water. Yeah, it sucks to end your shower with cold water, but the colder the better.
3. Wring hair out with your hands before you get out of the shower, and spray in DevaCurl’s Set it Free to set the curl.
4. Skip the towel to dry your hair. I usually use an old t-shirt {ex-boyfriends’ are the best because they’re bigger}. Paper towels also work well, but are less eco-conscious. The point is that a towel will also suck all the moisture out of your hair; and moisture is key.
5. I flip my head over and scrunch in the Scruncha {redundancy, much?} Gel.
6. Air dry is best, but most of the time I’ll dry it part way with a diffuser.
7. Finish with a couple sprays of Set it Free to ward away frizz!

I’m also trying out another product called Boing right now {also by Unite}, so far it gives a little bit more a natural look, but seems more prone to frizz. Will keep you posted!

One look at the timeline below and you can see I’m a signature fragrance kind of girl. Once I find something I like, I stick with it. For years. I remember in college, my roommate Monica had this great assortment of perfumes; it was always like a game, picking which one to wear for the night.

Now that I have my vanity set up in my bedroom again, I do think it would be romantic to have a perfume tray with a collection of fragrances.

If I was a go-back kind of girl, I’d probably return to Chanel Allure and Marc Jacobs Lola {which I’m still currently wearing}. I just purchased YSL Parisienne, which I had been wearing for a week or so and decided I liked {Thanks Sephora for the sample!} and am also in love with that Michael Kors fragrance. Oh, what to choose for 2011?

And because you know I like to quantify…most-used words? Sensual, Warm, Sexy, Feminine. Granted, there are only so many words you can use to describe perfume.

But if perfume descriptions meant something, what would yours say about you?

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I am notoriously clueless when it comes to makeup. Really. I have no idea what I’m doing. My first lipstick in middle school was very rose & very shimmery, my hair was uncontrollable. Sometimes the tooth fairy would bring me Clinque samples in a gesture of goodwill, but that wasn’t enough to save me. It’s been a long process…but I think I’m {finally} starting to get the hang of it.

My top 5 tips for looking undeniably stunning. Ready? Go.

1. Clean your makeup brushes. You can pay money for brush cleaner, or you can use baby shampoo. Either way, it’s worth it.
2. Set the foundation and keep it in place! 1. Eye primer. I just use the Sephora brand, but it has made all of the difference, especially with eyeliner {which makes me feel fancy}. Raccoon eyes be gone! {I have dark undereye circles in general, and the smearing eyeliner/mascara only exacerbated the issue.} 2. Finishing spray…instrumental in avoiding reapplication.
3. If you’re like me, get your makeup professionally done at least once & watch what they’re doing. I’m always honest and tell the makeup artists at MAC that I have no idea what’s up and they are, without fail, extremely helpful.
4. For curly haired girls: do NOT use a towel to dry your hair. It will suck out all the moisture. Use a t-shirt instead. I use an ex-boyfriend’s because they’re bigger than mine. Paper towels also work wonders, but they’re the less eco-conscious choice.
5. Drink water. It’s obvious, but it’s the secret to glowing skin.

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There’s a happy girl, with a fresh hair cut {and her leggings}! My hair stylist was right: the color settled down, and the hair cut helped, too. Shear genius!

 So, it’s not exactly what I expected…supposedly it’s going to settle down in the next couple of days. I’m going in to get my hair cut on Friday, so if it’s still too much we’re going to tone it down a bit. Can you see the crazysuperwhiteblonde chunks? I’m channeling my inner storm.

I haven’t dyed my hair in 5 years. 5. Can you believe it!? Probably saved sooooo much money. I love being all natural, but if there’s ever a time to make a change, it is now. I have an appointment booked for July 31st. And I’m pretty excited. My stylist says it’s going to be edgy. I’m down for that! Here’s kind of the color I am going for…basically the same as it is now on top, but lighter at the ends:

YES!

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This is making me want to grow my hair out in a major kind of way. Although in actuality this would NOT look good on me…I don’t think petite frames should not be overwhelmed by that much hair. Pretty, though!

Tibi, Fashion Week 2010.

After my recent haircut debacle, perhaps I should take Ashley’s advice. Thanks for contributing, Ash!

I’m a huge fan of bangs – heavy, wispy, long, short, side-swept, straight across.  You name it, I like it.  But (and this is a big BUT), I find fringe incredibly high maintenance.  If your stylist cuts too short, you look ridiculous.  If she doesn’t trim enough, you need to return for a touch-up after a week.  And the whole styling process takes time to master.  So, here’s some advice based on years of trial and error.

Embrace dry shampoo!  I use it when I don’t have the time to wash my hair, but I need to cut the oil from my bangs.  Try Oscar Blandi’s Pronto Dry Shampoo ($11).  The small tip works great to deposit product exactly where you want it.

 Pronto Dry Shampoo

With freshly washed hair, use a light styling product.  Let them air dry almost fully before using the blow dryer – the shape will hold longer.  Finally, practice makes perfect.  You will need to experiment before you find the process that works best for you.  Dry bangs using just your fingers or a round brush.  Remember, bobby pins can save any disaster. 

As for trimming maintenance, less is more.  It’s a lot easier to go back for a touch-up than it is to speed up the growth process.

*Ashley

I know I’ve been a bad blogger, and I’m sorry!

But in great news, I got a new necklace last night…isn’t it pretty?

Also, in reference to my aforementioned hair cut, thank you for all your support! Only slightly ironic: I think I actually have the hair cut I was talking about waaaay back in 2007. And the comments? Not nearly as lovely as the ones I’ve received here.

More soon, promise. {someone needs some lipstick!}

Recently, I’ve been completely enamored with red lips.  They ooze glamour, sex appeal, and mystery.  A woman who wears red lipstick conveys power and control.  In other words, red lips symbolize everything I want.  Until now, I’ve been too intimidated to wear it, but with the new year and a new me, I decided to take the plunge. 

Since I’ve never owned a red lipstick, I did some research and decided to try the most highly recommended products.  I went slightly nutso at Sephora and bought the selection below – only a sampling of what’s to come! 

(In case you are wondering, this is what obsession looks like.)

It will be a long process, but I’m committed to finding the perfect red lip or at least falling in love with a few.  So, be on the lookout for more hot stuff because red lips (and me by association) are ready to bring it. 

*Ashley