Get Clean. Well, Sort of...

I will tell you something that you have most likely heard before: you do not need to shampoo every day! The only people who should shampoo daily are those with exceptionally oily hair; I, personally, have never met someone who fits this category. I shampoo my hair only every third day because it is wavy/curly. Those with very curly hair could easily go 5-7 days without shampoo. Straighter styles, every other day.

But! Just because we do not shampoo daily, it does not mean that we are dirty. Every one should condition daily, even those with oily hair. Get your hair good and wet and comb some conditioner through. It will keep tangles at bay and your hair fed. If you have oily roots, start at the mid-shaft with the conditioner.

The reason to not shampoo daily is that shampoo can strip your hair of its natural oils, fraying the cuticle and leaving frizz. By shampooing less, you traumatize your hair less and the oils can regenerate, especially with the aid of daily conditioning. Many chose to forgo shampoo all together but, if you use products, you really should cleanse occasionally.

When you shampoo, get your hair sopping wet, add a dollop of shampoo to your hands, and emulsify before applying it to your head. Also, take your fingers and wiggle them down your hair to spread out the suds. :-) And, of course, rinse thoroughly!!!

I want to note that I recommend higher end conditioners for daily work. Drug store brands, even those I love, can leave hair flat and dull without the shampoo addition. Brands to investigate for good conditioners are Wen, Bumble and Bumble, Aveda, and Deva. Those are the ones with whom I have been most successful. If you are unsure of a brand, get a travel size or barter for a sample and test it out.

Hair Shaping

I don't like to use the terms "hair cut" or "trim" for when I go to the salon. I go in for a shaping. Cut and trim are too negative and what you do at the salon is, more often than not, a positive.

I get my hair shaped every 8 weeks or so because it is long. If you have short hair and you want to keep it short, you will easily see your stylist every 4 to 6 weeks. Going to the salon is pivotal, even if you want to grow out your hair, because split ends are not good things. Split ends will happen due to the daily stress on hair and the only thing you can really do it to cut them off because the ends have, essentially, died.

I have a few tips for the salon:
1. Go to a stylist that you like, one that was recommended to you, or one you could see yourself befriending.
1a. Know when you need to break up with a stylist, too. Sadly, it happens...
2. Walk into the salon with an idea of what you would like. Pictures are ideal for this, as is communication.
3. Listen to any suggestions your stylist makes and be willing to compromise as needed. Your stylist sees your head and hair artistically and he/she can guide you to the right style.
4. Watch how your stylist finishes your hair and ask for product and maintenance tips.

Salon trips should be therapeutic, not stressful, so comfort is key. You will know what is the best fit.

Read My Lips

It is officially the first day of spring; the spring (vernal) equinox has come and the sun is coming back. So, happy spring!

But, I digress....

Lately, I have been getting quite a few questions about lip color and care. I am unashamedly a lip balm junkie and this is a good thing for soft, healthy lips. For a quality lip balm, I highly, highly recommend Rosebud Lip Salve, $6 at Sephora. It comes in a tin and lasts a very long time. I also enjoy C. O. Bigelow's Favorite Lip Balm with sweet almond oil, about $5.50 at Bath and Body Works and C. O. Bigelow stores. Neutrogena makes good lip balms with SPF 15; these are about $7.50-$8 at your local drugstore. I recommend that you steer clear of Burt's Bees and Carmex lip balm; the amount of beeswax in these items will dry out your lips and make your skin sting over time.

Lip color is something I hold dear to my heart. I vastly prefer lip gloss to lipstick because I can control it better and I find most lipsticks drying, with the exception of Cargo and Clinique's lipsticks. When it comes to lip gloss, or lipstick, have at least one color that is a neutral, one to accentuate your lip color, and one that is bold. The lip glosses I prefer most are anything by Philosophy, especially Pumpkin Spice Muffin; Stila Lip Glaze, particularly Blackberry and Plum; Mac's Lustre Glass in Beaux; Mac's Lip Glass in Gitane; Bare Minerals in Wild Honey; and pretty much anything by Nars and Awake. Lip glosses can be sticky at first but, as they sink into your skin, they will moisturize and stain slightly for hold. I also like lip glosses because they are quick applications that can be done without a mirror, unlike most lipsticks...

Many people also are looking for lip plumping glosses. I can give my stamp of approval to two: Sally Hansen's Lip Plumping Gloss and Bare Minerals' Buxom. These will give your lips a bit of a boost but do not expect collagen results.

On a final note, I recommend that you avoid lip liners. Very, very few people can pull them off well...

Try Before You Buy (If You Can)

I am a very big supporter of "high end" foundations because they are on your whole face and on for the longest of your makeup and higher end foundations tend to be less "abrasive" or "irritating" to skin. If you are on a budget, I recommend Maybelline's Dream Mousse foundation and Neutrogena's foundations. (In the summer, when I am quasi-tan, I use Neutrogena's Sheer Cover powder brush.)

I recommend higher end foundations for another reason: you can take them for a solid test run. If you are looking for a new foundation, go to a makeup counter or boutique and get a makeover/consultation. Then, see how the foundation feels for the rest of the day. You cannot return open makeup to a department store and this is a quality way to make sure you are making the right choice. If you feel guilty about the makeover and want to buy something, invest in a good makeup brush or a fun eyeliner.

When it comes to department store brands, I recommend Clinique and Bare Minerals over any other. Clinique foundations look and feel like they are made for you and I have been using Bare Minerals for years. I swear by Bare Minerals and probably should have bought stock, but it is not for everyone. Alas...

Hint: If you have "problem" skin (i.e. blemishes, scars, blotchiness, etc.), you will probably want light liquid foundation. If you have sensitive skin or "non-problematic" skin, go more toward a powder foundation. Steer clear of dowsing your skin in foundation--it'll clog your pores and exacerbate any skin issues.

My Pores are Needy

I always thought that I had pretty clean and well tended skin. Then, I had a facial in New York...

Apparently, there were a lot of blackheads on my nose that I never noticed. So, when washing, I have started to wash my nose first and last in the hopes that it will alleviate the situation. I'll keep you posted on the result here.

I have also started to moisturize my nose last to cut down on afternoon shine. This has proven effective. So, moisturize your "oiliest" or "shiniest" area last!

Make-Up Tips and Spring Cleaning

I just visited my favorite cosmetics shop, a little place in my town called rouge. That visit reminded me of some tips I have picked up along the way:
1. Wash your makeup brushes when you first buy them. Use warm water and shampoo or anti-bacterial soap. This will help to reduce molting. Re-wash at least once a month.
2. Have at least two sets of makeup: day wear and night. Day should be more neutral and earthy, night bright and bold. With two "sets" you can mix and match when you feel daring.
3. Figure out if you are warm, neutral, or cool toned. With my auburn hair and pinkish cheeks, I am a warm. Neutrals have a "yellow" tone to cheeks and cools have no colored tone, or a rare "bluish" undertone. When in doubt, think about what colors look good on you. If you can pull off wearing yellow or orange, you tend toward warm.
4. Test before you buy. This is easy to do at cosmetic stores and department stores. The ladies at rouge love to do my makeup and I (admittedly) love it too. By trying colors on, you can get tips from the artist and see how the colors look. When you recreate at home, it probably won't be as incredible but you will gain the confidence to make it so.
5. Be a hunter, not a gatherer. Go in with an idea of what you would like so you can control the experience and your spending. Don't buy a lot at once because a. it can overwhelm you and b. you'll feel the need to rotate through things more than mastering one at a time.

With all of that being said and spring on the way, it is time for a gentle reminder: clean out your makeup bag. If you haven't worn it in the last six months, it is probably time to dump it. (Mascara should be replaced more frequently.) If you can, trash the powders inside and recycle the container!

No Touchy Touchy!

So, I wrote earlier about not using a hair dryer and letting your hair dry naturally. (Do this, please!) What I failed to mention was the drying time...

Whether you are curly or straight, avoid touching your hair while it dries. When you touch it, you are disrupting the hair's natural patterns and it will result in frizz and the strong desire for a hair elastic.

If you want to cut your drying time, for all the impatient ones out there, invest in a hair towel. I recommend CurlEase (can be used on straight hair too), Mimi's Diva Hair Turban, and Sephora's Microfiber Hair Towel. This investment is a good one as hair towels are gentler and more absorbent of the heavy moisture in wet hair than "regular" towels. (And, be sure to not use fabric softener when you wash your towels; you just cut the absorbency when you do.)

Good luck and, remember, no touchy touchy!

Ahhh... Products

I am currently in love with this new Redken product called Ringlet 07. (They have a whole new line devoted exclusively to curls.)

I love what it does for my hair. Just wanted to share that. :-D