Hair Envy: Hairstyles That Really Tickle My Fancy

Super Curly Cropped Hair Cut

Colored Textured Fro

Crazy Big Wild Curls

Side Fro With Clip

Huge Afro Puff

  

Thick Chunky Highlighted Curls

Wild Straightened Tresses

Makeup Look: Asian Inspired Night On The Town Look

This is a very simple Asian inspired makeup look.  Since I don't use Photoshop, you get the privilege of enjoying the condensation on my nose along with the look!

Asian women are very beautiful and exotic looking, so I really had fun with this look.

Eyes
Maybeline Eyestudio creme liner - Black
Maybeline Falsies mascara - Blackest black

Cheeks
Milani - Sunset Beach

Lips
MAC Cremesheen Glass - Double Dare

I used an angled brush to line the entire rim of my eyes including my waterline, using the creme liner.  I accentuated the natural shape of my eyes and winged the liner out a bit. I added black mascara to both my top and bottom lashes.

I popped the blush to the apples of my cheeks and added the lipgloss.

This look shows that you can get an intense look, even with using a minimal number of products.  Have fun with it!


*Tip: If you are new to makeup application and unfamiliar with some application terms, check this post for an easy to follow diagram.

What Are Parabens? Do They Pose A Health Risk To Me?

You may or may not have noticed that some of your cosmetic and personal care products contain parabens. They come in different forms with some of the major ones being Butylparaben, Ethlyparaben, Methylparaben or Propylparaben.  There has been some discussion as to whether parabens are safe or not, with the major concern being whether or not they are cancer causing.

What are parabens?
Parabens are a group of chemical compounds that are used as preservatives.  Although some parabens occur in nature such as grape seed extract, the ones that are found in personal care products are most likely synthetic. Companies use parabens to maintain the integrity of products and to help to ensure that the product remains consistent.

Are parabens safe?
There are studies from both sides of the industry with one saying that the amount of paraben that is contained in most products is not enough to be harmful, where other studies report that because a majority of the products we use each contain parabens, including some food items we ingest, that accumulatively it could cause health problems.

The concern is that parabens have the ability to act like estrogen compounds in the body. It has been shown that substances that act like parabens can pose a health risk, including increased cancer risks.

What types of products contain parabens?
Almost all of our cosmetic and personal care products contain parabens; included but not limited to:  skincare, lotion, toothpaste, sunscreen, deodorant and haircare to name a few.  Check the labels on the products that you currently use and I'm almost certain that unless you specifically shop for "parben free" items, you will find that a majority of your products do contain some sort of paraben.

How do I find paraben free products?
If you are concerned about parabens being in your products and want to minimize or eliminate the number of paraben containing products that you own, it is fairly easy to find those which are "paraben free".  Most products will say it right on the label.  More and more companies have began producing "paraben free" products so you should have no problem finding them.  Most organic products are "paraben free" as well.

The most important thing to do is to do your research.  Know what chemicals are present in the products you purchase and how they can affect you.  This post isn't meant to scare you or to make you throw out all of the products that you currently own, but to make you aware that it is our responsibility to choose products that are safe for us, because we are not always told about the possible side effects or health risks that may or may not be present.

All About Hair: Top 5 Oils To Promote Healthy Hair Growth

 

Here are my top 5 oils that I use for my hair.  Each oil has a specific benefit in which I use it for,  along with several other benefits that are added extras.  I can't say enough positive things about the positive transformation these oils have produced for my hair.

1.)  Castor Oil

Castor Oil has Omega-9 fatty acids which nourish the hair and prevent the scalp from drying. It is also a  humectant as it draws moisture into the hair and skin.  

2.)  Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil has the ability to rapidly penetrate the scalp and hair shaft. It helps to dissolve hardened sebum that can clog hair follicles. It helps to condition the hair and imparts a natural shine and even enhance the color of your hair.  It's also known to help relieve itchy scalp and dandruff.

3.)  Avocado Oil

Avocado oil supplies your hair with vitamins A B D and E  while its amino acids help to promote the growth of new hair cells.  It too, is a humectant.

4.) Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is great for helping to minimize protein loss. The chemical makeup of coconut oil is such that it can pass freely through cell membranes, which means it can efficiently penetrate the hair shaft.  It's a wonderful conditioner and imparts a healthy sheen to hair.

5.)  Aloe Vera Oil 

Aloe is a supreme conditioner. It  has anti-inflammatory properties, which help in regeneration of hair on the scalp. It has been said to be beneficial in curbing excessive hair loss.  It contains enzymes that promote hair growth and overall health.

How do I use these oils? 
These oils can be used alone or mixed with other oils for added benefits.  To give you an idea of how I use these oils the following is a typical hair washing session for me:

-Saturate my hair with coconut oil and cover with a plastic cap and allow it to stay on my hair for one hour prior to washing.  This will help to retain protein that washing can remove.
-After I wash, condition and moisturize my hair, I will massage my scalp with jojoba or avocado oil and then seal my ends with castor oil or aloe vera oil.

I know it sounds as if might hair may end up being a greasy mess, but quite the contrary, it it left feeling soft, shiny, manageable and not greasy at all!  The key is to apply small amounts (size of a nickel) of each oil.  You don't need to apply a lot to receive the full benefits of the product.

What are some of your favorite oils and how do you use them?  Recipes?  Do share!

Beauty Tip: How To Get Perfect Brow-licious Eyebrows Every Time

Browlicious

I get lots of questions about my eyebrows and how I maintain them, so I am finally revealing the secret to my brows! 


Now, if you don't have a steady hand, I do NOT suggest this, but if you do have a steady hand, you might want give this a try. It works for me!  I shape my eyebrows with mini hair clippers.  First, I use a little eyebrow wax and an eyebrow brush to brush my eyebrows upwards.  I then carefully use the clippers to shape my brows.  After I shape them, I get rid of any hairs below and above my shaped brow with tweezers.  The size of the clippers are perfect because they are the same length of the angles of my brows. After I'm done, I wipe my brows with an alcohol soaked cotton ball and voila!!  I'm not saying that this is the best way, but it works for me!  It's fast and it saves me from paying $20 every other week to get my brows waxed! 


I use Wahl hair clippers.  You can find them at your local beauty supply store or online on Amazon.com here for less than $20.

Fall Fashion 2010-2011: Accessory Cravings For Bracelets, Clutches and Gloves, Oh My!

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If it seems as though I have a new fashion crave almost every other day, it is true! I do!  These are some of my latest sightings that I must find inexpensive versions of immediately!

I am a big fan of cuff bracelets. Chanel's 2010-2011 collection is chalked full of chunky cuff styled bracelets that are beyond gorgeous!  I even love the rings that are paired with them. I MUST find a suitable dupe for these!  The Lanvin bracelet looks really eccentric and unique.  It has a Star Trek Borg feel to it and I love it!

The Michael Kors faux fur clutch is just pure genius in my opinion.  I typically don't do the whole fur thing; and this goes for real or fake.  I'm just not that crazy over fur items, but this clutch just looks so luscious! I want one!

I don't know how warm these Armani cropped gloves will keep my hands, but they are just too cute!  I've already seen several pair of these online for a reasonable price, so I'm not so concerned with finding a pair of these.  I also saw a them at several stores at a local shopping mall here, so these will be an easy find.

What are some of your fashion craves for Fall 2010-2011?

All About Hair: Using Protective Styling To Save Your Ends

(source)

Protective hairstyles can play a big role in helping you retain the length of your hair, by "protecting" your fragile ends.  With the winter weather starting to really set in, protective styling has become a necessity for me in order to achieve my healthy hair goals.

What is a protective hairstyle?

Typically, a protective hairstyle is any hairstyle that leaves your ends unexposed.  Hairstyles like: buns, braids, twists, and pretty much anything else that requires your ends to be tucked away.

What can protective styling do for me?

Protective styling not only helps you to retain the length of your hair, it assists in the health of the ends of your hair as well.  When your ends are exposed to the elements, they can quickly become damaged.  The damage can come from exposure to heat, cold, wind, or even from brushing against clothing.  

How often should I use protective styling?

If the ends of your hair are fragile like mine, I would suggest wearing protective styling as often as possible.  I wear my hair down once a week and even then, it's in the semi-protective style of a twist out.  Because I'm in the process of growing my hair long, I'm not interested in wearing my hair down. When my hair gets a lot longer than what it is now, I may start wearing it out a bit more.  If your ends aren't so fragile, you may want to try protective styling once or twice a week just to help prevent your end from becoming weak or brittle due to daily styling.

Here are a few protective styles that I enjoy wearing:

~Bun With Bangs~

~Up Do~

~Kinky Twists~

  

~Braided Up Do~

~Pinned Up Twist Out~

~Twist Out Pinned To Side~