B2B: 1.1 What is hair? {science version}

B2B 1.1

What is hair?

Scientifically speaking, hair is protein. Keratin protein to be exact.  It's the same material for all people.

That doesn't explain a lot, I know...and is probably more confusing when you think about how different everyone's hair looks, but we'll get into that.  We're starting from the ground up.

The strand of hair is comprised of three things.  The medulla, the cortex and the cuticle.

These three components are what makes hair, hair.  However, not everyone has a medulla.  Science isn't exactly sure why this is, but medullas are typically found in afro-ethnic hair and some Asian hair.  The theory behind this is that hair can be like a fiber optic cable for some people, in that UV light can pass through the hair shaft.  Some scientists believe that in these cultures (where the people historically spend a lot of time in the sun...ie: tribesman) the medulla was necessary to prevent UV light from passing into the scalp and causing severe damage to the head, like skin cancer.  However, this is just a theory.  Either way, we're not exactly sure why some ethnicities have them and others do not, but they may have something to do with the texture of ones hair also (like, how tightly wound the hair is upon itself in relation to the tightness of a curl).

The cortex is where the pigment is found.  Natural pigments are called melanin, and all natural hair colors are made up of eumelanin (black) and pheomelanin (red) in various combinations.  The cortex is also the part of the hair that determines the shape of the hair.  When we curl or straighten our hair, this is the part of our hair that is being affected.

The cuticle is the outermost layer that protects the cortex and medulla.  It's similar to shingles or pinecones, with overlapping layers to wick moisture away.  The cuticle can also open and close, though opening it is almost always against its will, and what we "see" when we see damaged hair.  When we see frizzy hair, what we're seeing most often is hair whose cuticle has been damaged and remains open in places, resulting in inconsistent porosity (how much moisture the hair absorbs and retains) and elasticity (how much the hair can stretch and return back to normal) from root to ends.

So it's actually pretty simple here...the basics on what hair is.  It's keratin protein that makes up 2 to 3 parts of a hair strand with some melanin thrown in.  The combinations of melanin, or thickness of the components are what makes all of our hair so different...the basic level is all the same.

Next article B2B 1.2 - How does hair grow?

i like your hair...who does your hair...

i like your hair....who does your hair...

Hi everyone!  Krista here...been a while, I know...but life happened and I got side tracked...but, lately I've been feeling like myself again, so I'm baaaaaack!  Plus, I haven't been here for any of my wild and crazy hair adventures to share with everyone!

If you noticed, the title of this entry is "i like your hair...who does your hair..." all credits to that genius up there ^-^-^-^ (ok, so I used genius loosely) but I actually get asked this question a LOT.  The reason this is kind of a big deal for me is that before, it was always "oh I like your hair!" but now I also get asked "who does your hair??" from people looking for a reference and it makes me proud to say ME! Cut, color, and style; all from home, and mostly with non-professional products.  Yes, I have cosmetology training, but the most important part of good healthy hair are things that EVERYONE can do with their current skill sets (and maybe some advanced techniques for the wow factor.)

So, this begins a series...I don't really know how many parts there will be to it exactly; while I'm an avid planner for every other detail in my life, when I write, I wing it, but this is "back to basics" with a twist.  Instead of being remedial sounding, I hope to debunk some myths, prove others, and really clarify things that were never really explained to us by our moms when we were growing up.  I'll also outline some "must have tools" that aren't brand specific and WILL include some cheap items or DIY substitutes and I will link it all here and have a new tab!  So excited for this "new start" oh and I'm running on 2 hours of sleep so I apologize if this is one big ADHD chaotic excited wall of babble lol.  

Swimsuit Season: What Are You Wearing?

Yes, the dreaded/hated/despised swimsuit season is here in full force. You may or may not have lost the weight you resolved to on New Year's Eve, but whatever your size, chances are good that you will have to shimmy yourself into some sort of swimwear at least once this summer. This doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. Yes, we all have problem areas that we'd like to keep under wraps, but you don't have to hide under a ginormous beach towel, sweltering your tush off to save face. You need to suit up and work it, momma!

Okay, first things first, you are a mommy, but you don't need to limit yourself to the full-body-cast type suits that scream: "I only put this on in the off chance that I have to jump in the water to save my *insert important object here*!" I'm not saying that you're going to tie yourself into an "itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini" either. But there is middle ground, people!

Take this suit from Alloy:It's cute, stylish, inexpensive, and as long as you aren't 10' tall like this model most likely is, the top will be long enough to cover those stretch marks that your most adorable second child gave you because he decided to hang out in your uterus an extra week (thanks, kiddo). Tankinis are great options for mommy-physiques. Plus, they have an added bonus of being easy to pull down for a bathroom break as opposed to doing the full-suit strip or the crotch strap pull-aside (come on, we've all done it).

Now if you just can't get away from the one-pieces, there is now this wonderful thing called a MONOkini. Looks like a bikini fromthe back, and a one-piece in the front, giving you full coverage where you really need and/or want it. Example:Now this particular one might not work for the more full-chested of us, but there are monokini styles that accommodate bigger boobies so don't rule them out.

Now I know some of you are thinking, "This chick is crazy! There is no way on God's green earth I'd be caught dead in something like that." But trust me, the full-on old lady suits that we've just come to accept as normal swimwear for us after-kids crowd is NOT doing any of you any favors. If you're initially uncomfortable, go for a cute coverup or sarong:This one doubles as a dress or a skirt for custom coverage!

Whatever you decide, break the mommy-swimsuit-mold! You don't have to wear the granny-suits of yore. Challenge yourself to try something new! Be daring! Strut your sexy stuff, mommas!

Mascara Review: Clinique - High Impact Mascara

I received a sample of Clinique's High Impact Mascara in the mail from Clinique to try out. I have always been a Lancome girl, but I'm always ready to try new things! I have to say, I'm rather impressed with this mascara!



Price: About $15.00 on Cliniqe.com

What It Claims: "Kicks up the volume and length of each and every lash for a look that’s lusher, plusher, bolder. Pure, deep color only adds to the impact. Wear it once and you’ll feel naked without it. Ophthalmologist Tested. Volumizing/Thickening Mascara."

The Truth: It's pretty awesome if I do say so myself. It's not as voluminous and I usually would use, but it doesn't clump and it doesn't make your eyelashes look like scary spider legs. The formula goes on light, so you need a couple coats but I'm pretty much in love with this stuff as I've used it every single day since I received the sample! The brush is awesome, it's not too big, and the bristles seem to catch every single lash! The formula really separates, and "fans" out your lashes which I am absolutely loving. It's great for sensitive eyes as well because it doesn't clump, and it doesn't irritate my eyes which I seem to have a lot of trouble with a lot of mascaras. It's pretty expensive for a mascara in comparison as to what I usually buy, but compared to other counter brand mascaras... it's actually not that bad. Lancome mascaras usually run about $20.oo, so it's about $5.00 less than other brands that you would find at a department store.

After Two Coats:

Would I recommend it: Absolutely! Especially if you have sensitive eyes, or want a nice "everyday" mascara. I will definitely be purchasing a full tube of it myself.

Have any of you tried it? Rants or raves?

Bzz!! CoverGirl NatureLuxe Foundation & Gloss Balm

So normally Rebecca is the one who brings the makeup info to the table, but as a BzzAgent (www.bzzagent.com) I was chosen to participate in the CoverGirl NatureLuxe foundation and gloss balm campaign and try the products and share my opinions. 

So, to give you some history and a general disclaimer...the information provided to you as facts are from CoverGirl.  I have no legal "ownership" to the claims about facts.  Following the facts I am giving my honest opinion after using the product on myself.  I am not being paid to share my opinion, I do however get to keep the makeup (lucky me in this case!!) and you can sign up to take part in campaigns too!  It's not limited to people who have too much free time and write about beauty online ;) 

Also, some history about myself and my skin.  I have the most difficult to match skin when it comes to foundation.  I have combination skin (dry in some areas, oily in others) and I have quite possibly the WORST skin care regimen ever.  As in, I don't have one.  I hate washing my face.  My skin is so sensitive that medicated washes hurt very, very bad.  I typically rub my face down in the shower with hot water only.  I also don't remove my makeup.  I've never suffered from bad breakouts (except around my hairline when I have bangs) and some blemishes in my T-zone, so I've never really cared to take that extra step.  I also hate moisturizer.  I have touch and sensation issues which has caused me great anxiety over things that are uncomfortable, and sticky skin is one of them.  I feel absolutely GROSS if I'm sticky or slippery.  Anyways, I digress...back to foundation.  I am one who uses liquid foundation mostly because of the coverage.  I have freckles and I don't sleep well, so I have dark undereyes pretty much all the time.  I don't love liquid however because I typically feel sticky or dirty, but I've learned to deal with it in the name of beauty (or confidence, whichever you prefer.) I don't love powder foundation because my skin feels heavy after like it can't breathe.  I do use it occasionally, however, because I live in Texas and it's freaking hot down here and regular foundation MELTS off and then, I sometimes resemble Mimi from the Drew Carey show.  (If you have NO idea what I'm talking about, google it, you'll appreciate it.)

Without further adieu, my review.

To start: The facts, from CoverGirl.

1.  Provides a smooth, silky feel.
2. Contains a refreshing cucumber water to help balance the creaminess on application.
3. Made with hints of jojoba and rose hip extracts.
4. Available in 14 shades ranging from light to dark tones.
5. Oil-free, SPF 10 and dermatologically tested.
6. Suggested to retail for $11.99

My opinion:

1. (*****) Five stars.  It's true, it leaves your skin feeling very smooth and soft, but I also feel velvety could be another word used here.  There seems to be a soft texture versus what I associate with being "silky smooth" and having a slick texture.
2. (*****) I'm not sure that it's the cucumber water that does it, but it does apply very smoothly and I didn't have any problems with pigmentation lines, as in, if you weren't to apply it 100% evenly, how it may appear darker and have a streak or line in one area versus another.
3. (n/a) If you say so!  I wouldn't know the difference, haha!  A google search says that the chemical makeup of jojoba oil/wax is very similar to human sebum (oil) so that's great!  It means that it mimics the services that our own natural oil does for our skin, which is to protect and moisturize and also maintain a healthy pH, so that's awesome!  Rose hips are high in vitamin C (an antioxidant most commonly marketed for preventing or aiding the immune system in ridding the body of common germs, such as the common cold, or influenza) and also A & B, which are essential fatty acids and also antioxidants.  It's also been prepared in some way to help relieve rheumatoid arthritis, showing some benefit as an anti-inflammatory.  What does that mean for your skin?  Well, I noticed my dark under eyes were not only covered, but seemed less puffy in my after picture.  Its possible the rose hip in the foundation helped reduce the puffiness!  (But I won't swear to that, I have a phD in google, not medicine.)
4. (****-) Yep, only 4 out of 5 stars on this one.  There are only 14 shades!?  I got lucky that this particular shade matches me, but the darker ones seem to be the colors hit hardest.  This definitely seems like a product marketed to the fairer skinned.  Is that a bad thing? No, but compare it to Maybelline Fit with 18 shades, or L'Oreal TrueMatch in 24 shades, or even Revlon ColorStay (softflex) in 20 shades.  I'm sure there are other CoverGirl foundations with more shades, but I'm talking about this one, and I was disappointed.  However, since the color I got DOES match, and there are more than 8 or 10 shades, it gets 4 stars.  I hope the rest of you have the same luck as I did!
5. (*****) It is most definitely not oily.  If it were, I would have been feeling slimy and gross, and I have not.  It does feel slightly dewy, however.  There's a light shimmer/glow to it that some might find to be too much (especially if they're used to matte finish) but it's not shiny.  
6. (****-) $11.99 seems a bit steep to me, however, I have considered that most brands suggest to retail at a higher price so that stores can offer a "discount" to seem like you're getting a great deal.  I would predict finding it for $10.49 in stores instead as a "sale price." You know, kind of like how it seems Kohl's is ALWAYS having a sale.  Seem suspicious yet? (:shiftyeyes:)

Things the experts don't list that I felt deserved mentioning:

1. It doubles REALLY well as a mineral shadow primer.  It's got a unique texture that is just enough to grab the mineral shadow without it just falling off the skin.  In fact, it feels like the ELF primer, but nicer, with more moisture.  My makeup has lasted all day (even including a long nap) without creasing, rubbing off or smudging and I didn't apply primer like I normally do.  Added bonus - if you don't have to apply foundation AND primer - you don't end up with any weird lines or problems with the two mixing.  Sometimes, when I use both, the primer actually becomes gooey if it mixes with the foundation and makes it difficult to apply shadow.  With this, problem solved.  Bye bye primer. (and hey, if you're buying sephora primer, or urban decay...hello saving money!) A+
2. They call this full coverage!  I had to dig to find that information.  I have a feeling I know why they don't say that.  Full coverage is usually associated with thick, goopy foundation.  This is not, at all.  In fact, it made my skin feel clean and tight and my pores looked smaller.  A+
3. It smells.  It doesn't smell bad, on the contrary, it smells nice, but I was not expecting a fragrance.  I'm not a huge fan of being able to smell my face, so I had really mixed feelings about this.  It's not strong enough to stop me from using it - but it does cause me to rethink if I wear any perfume, or what scent I wear.  No one else would notice a clash, but since the scent is right by my nose, I would be able the smell the two together.  Oh, but I should note, even with the fragrance, it didn't burn the skin around my eyes like I was worried about. B-
4. Most importantly, it stays.  It is 95 degrees outside and I'm wearing a tee shirt and full length jeans and I'm quite warm and it didn't budge.  It almost seemed to keep my face feeling cooler (maybe it allows more respiration than my former foundation so my face doesn't get so hot?) and I didn't end up with any weird sweaty "melty" spots.  A++ 

Overall, I give this foundation a solid 4 stars, and would go as far to say as it teeters on 4.5.  I typically do NOT like CoverGirl cosmetics, as I've found them unreliable and cheap (not inexpensive, poor quality) in the past, but this product really makes me rethink my decision.  I will continue to use this foundation and speak its praises to everyone I know that like me (until now) has been a foundation hoarder trying to find the perfect combination or product, but I hope for them, this will be the last foundation they need to try.  I'm certainly happy I get to keep what they sent me, and they have one more customer in me.

The gloss balm - I didn't forget, but I am very wordy, so I'll keep it short.  It's good.  I may have said it was great before, but I'm on the fence.  It's got a lot of moisture when you apply it, and it's not sticky, and the color is sheer for everyday use for people like me who play up the eyes over the lips, but its only "good." It didn't last very long, I felt like I was over applying because it seemed to "melt" onto my lips, and after it wore off, my lips felt very dry and cracked.  I'm not sure if it's because they were in moisture shock in general (it's hot and dry here) or if it was the balm, but I haven't had this problem in the last month until I start using the balm....so I'm kind of questioning it.

So, here is my picture from last night after trying it - I can post more pictures if anyone is interested, please let me know. 

Oh!  I should add, BzzAgent and CoverGirl supplied me with coupons to pass out to friends as well, and I wish they had given me more that I could offer to all of you.  Honestly, try it.  I really, really like it!

PSA: Love your mouth!

So, normally I wouldn't even come close to giving health advice to strangers (I might guess with friends whom I know aren't going to sue me for malpractice lol) in fact, the closest I would come is - gee, that doesn't look good...you should get that checked out!

Until today.  Dun...dun...dunnnnnn.

The thought occurred to me that I don't smile in a lot of my pictures.  There are a couple of reasons for that...1) I don't like my chipmunk cheeks that I've always had...and 2) I'm not a huge fan of my teeth.  The problem is, however, that it's very hard to ignore a mouth.  You can put all the makeup on in the world, but the health of your teeth can't be fixed with makeup, or covered up unless you just keep your mouth shut...and where is the fun in that?  The whole reason we apply makeup is to look and feel beautiful...and if you've noticed what I've noticed...the most beautiful girls have big ol' smiles on their faces.  When you look good, you feel good...and when you feel good, you smile. 

So what do you not like?  Is it the shape of your teeth?  A gap?  A broken tooth?  The color?  All of these can be fixed, it just depends on what you're willing to do or can afford.  Sometimes you can get insurance to cover the cosmetic stuff for mental health reasons (ie: your confidence level) instead of paying out of pocket.  Sometimes you can make changes at home.  Drink less coffee and tea, or follow it up with whitening gum....brush more, floss more, change your toothpaste, change your tooth brush, etc. 

I always say to those who have a hard time investing in expensive shampoo and conditioner...your hair is one of those accessories you can't hide and you'll be miserable if it suddenly goes away, right?  You'd probably be pretty pissed if you woke up one day and were bald and you KNEW you could have prevented it.  I know that's not a thought that crosses our minds often, so I'd believe we have the same view about our teeth.  For fear of bad news or going through some procedure that's so uncomfortable...how would you feel if you woke up one day and your teeth just...broke. 

So for those of you who are terrified of the dentist and haven't gone in ages...just go.  Have a family member make the appointment and surprise you the day of so you can't back out or reschedule.  I bet you every single one of us walk out of there going...that wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.  Well, and if it is as bad as you thought it was going to bed - ask your dentist to drug you.  It's pretty popular these days! 

Don't ever put off your own needs just because you have kids.  Every woman deserves to feel beautiful.  This year, don't forget to focus on yourself...reset the standards.

HOW TO MEASURE PROPER BRA SIZE!

Did you know up to 80% of women are walking around every day with the wrong bra size? Now think, do you hate wearing a bra? Well ladies, it may be because you're wearing the wrong bra size!

First, put on a comfortable bra... one that doesn't minimize or boost your breasts. (Not a bra that's too small, or has a lot of padding, like a push up bra.) Then grab a measuring tape that can wrap easily around your body. Don't have one? Use a piece of string and then measure it!

Band size:
Measure under your armpits, and across the top of your chest, above your breasts. Don't let it sag around your back, make sure it's snug, but not too tight.

How many inches do you get? If this measurement is an even number, that will be your band size. If it's an odd number, add 1 inch and that will be your band size. So if you measure 36 inches around, your band size will be 36. And if you measure 35 inches around, your band size will be 36.

Cup size:
Measure loosely around the fullest part of your chest, keeping the measuring tape level with the ground.

Now subtract your band measurement from your cup measurement. Each inch represents a cup size. For example, if your band measurement is 34 inches and your cup measurement is 35 inches, the difference is one inch, and your cup size is A. If your band measurement is 34 inches and your bust measurement is 37 inches, the difference is three inches, and your cup size is C.

Difference (band minus cup measurement) / Cup size
Less than 1” / AA
1” / A
2” / B
3” / C
4” / D
5” / DD

Make sense? I hope this helps! : )

FAQ's

The thought occurred to me in another group that if you are a newcomer or late bloomer or born again makeup addict, the terms or even products and their usage might be confusing to some.  We have a beauty group on facebook called "Beauty & Fashion Mommas" and our FAQ's and even topics we write about are inspired from there, but if you don't belong to the facebook group and you have a question, please feel free to e-mail us with your questions or post them to the Reset The Standards fan page.   Thanks!!

Q: Wtf is a primer? - E.R.
A: A primer is the term used in cosmetics that describes something, usually cream-like, that you apply to increase the life of the makeup applied over it as well as the appearance. It is most importantly used to prevent creasing, like when the oil in your skin starts to make the shadow smoosh all over. It also often will make your makeup appear brighter in color and more concentrated than if you were to use on "plain skin".  Most primers that people refer to are for eye makeup, however there are face primers also that will even out your skin, help reduce the appearance of pores and blemishes, and give you a nice smooth canvas to apply your foundation to.  In my experience, the texture on your skin is very velvety and soft. -Krista

Primer is also great for using LESS product! It makes foundation, or eyeshadow "stick/glide" better so less product is used. ♥ - Rebecca

Where to purchase:

Face primer:
-http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/face/primer/mineral_face_primer
-http://shop.avon.com/shop/product.aspx?src_page=product_list.aspx&level1_id=300&level2_id=301&pdept_id=314&dept_id=0&pf_id=34410
Eye primer:
-http://shop.avon.com/shop/product.aspx?src_page=product_list.aspx&level1_id=300&level2_id=301&pdept_id=312&dept_id=0&pf_id=39723
-http://www.eyeslipsface.com/minerals/eyes/concealers_and_primers/eyeshadow_primer
-http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml;jsessionid=COKHJKY51MMNOCV0KRRQQAQ?id=P254226&categoryId=S10520&shouldPaginate=true


Q: How exactly does mineral makeup work? -E.R.
A: Mineral makeup is the marketing term for "finely ground mineral" makeup.  The claim is that it's better for the skin, though there are some that argue that point and call it a marketing gimmick.  The minerals most commonly used in mineral makeup are mica, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide.  The largest draw is that because the minerals have not gone through processes to pack them into compacts, or turn them into liquid formulations with fragrance, etc, that they are kinder to the skin.  There are thousands of different color combinations and because they are loose powders, you can easily create a mixture that is uniquely perfect for YOU.

They also can be worn lightly for just a very soft coverage (which many prefer over cakey liquid foundations) or built upon for those who need more coverage in some areas and less in others (reducing the need for heavy foundations used all over)

The best way to use most mineral makeup is by brush (for foundation and blush anyways).  The easiest way to pick the right brush is to ask whomever you're buying it from what they recommend as they may find that one type of bristle or shape works better with their product.The eyeshadows come in a ton of colors both neutral and bright, matte and glittery, and the people who make them can often custom make you a color to match something for an event.  They can be applied dry or wet (called foiling) for two different looks, are super easy to blend and often times have a wider variety of colors as compared to drug store brands.  -Krista

Round face? Diamond? Oval? What am I anyways!?

You may have heard it before "She's got an oval face, she can wear her hair any way that she likes!" or maybe you've seen a haircut you really love in a magazine and you get it, the stylist turns you around and....you hate it.  It looks awful!  It looked so cute on her...why didn't it look as good on me!?  It's probably as simple as your face shape. 

The shape of your face can make or break your haircut, it can make style "shopping" simple, and yet we don't really know much about it. 

What face shape do you have?  There are 2 fairly simple ways to find out...you can either upload a picture of yourself and trace around your face, starting with your hairline, down your cheeks to your chin, then look at the shape and see which one it closest resembles.  The other option is to stand in the mirror with some lipstick and trace around your face, step back and take a look at the remaining shape.  It may not be 100% dead on with the shapes listed below, but it should resemble one more than the others.

Now I'm sure you can see in the illustration above, there are 7 primary face shapes. 

• The oval shape is slender, narrower across than it is tall. The cheekbones are of an average definition, the jawline is soft, and the hairline is about as wide as the jawline. 
• The round shape is almost as wide across as it is tall, more like a circle.  The cheekbones aren't very defined, and the jawline isn't very strong.  
• The square is just that, very square.  The temples are strong and cornered, the jawline is cornered, and the face isn't very long.  
• The oblong is like a rectangle; very similar to the square, except elongated, almost masculine.  
• The pear shaped face is narrower at the hairline than it is the jawline, giving a bottom heavy look.  
• The diamond is narrow at the hairline as well as the jaw line; the cheekbones are quite defined and prominent.  
• The heart shaped face is like an inverted triangle.  Unlike the oval, the hairline is wider, the cheekbones slender, and the jawline slightly narrower than the hairline.

Once you know what kind of shape your face is (which can vary by weight gain, so sometimes those styles you can't get go of suddenly don't look as nice) you can determine what kind of haircut is flattering.

Without being insulting, we all strive to have an "oval" appearing face.  It's symmetrical, and we as people find beauty and comfort in symmetry.  Don't believe me?  Try rearranging a bookshelf sometime in to something that makes no sense - tall books next to short books, hardcovers mixed with paperbacks, etc - and see how you feel about it later.  Things that stick out bother us.  However, with hair (and makeup) we can create the illusion of balance. 

Let's take a look at a whole body comparison of balance...

In the full figured body, the addition of volume through the hair and around the head creates the illusion that she is slimmer because her head no longer looks tiny!  The skinny girl, her straight hair makes her body look more "normal" and not so tiny.  Does this explain why starlets have all that crazy hair and curls? Ha!

So now that you see how balance can change an overall look, let's look at it by each individual face.

Oval

As you can see, the oval face can easily wear her hair on or off her face either sleek or with lots of volume.  Oval really can wear just about everything...(Idk about a mullet...)


Round

This is one of the more common face shapes...blame genetics or your diet, but a lot of women have a hard time with a round face shape.  Fear not!  There are lots of haircuts that will flatter a round face!
 

Stay away from width.  What is width?  Well, in the picture above it's 2 things...one I'm sure you're noticing is the volume...the other which you may not see at first is the length of her hair.  It hits at the fullest part of her face creating the illusion of more width and weight.  (A haircut that's cut straight across will appear heavier and wider than a haircut with soft layers)  So, if you have a round face shape, avoid getting your hair cut around your cheek bones, and avoid lots of layers that create too much volume.  Opt for a longer, smoother cut.

Square

 

If you recall, in the round image I made a note about blunt cuts creating weight and width?  This is a prime example in the "avoid" image as above.  A person with a square face is already dealing with weight and width in her face, she doesn't need it from her hair also.  A rounder, softer shape from her hair can really take the edge off of her facial features.  Also, with the square face, the face is very short, keeping the length short will help make her face look longer.


Oblong

Like the square face, the oblong face has some very strong features, but this shape doesn't have the problem of being short; instead, this face shape is very long and angular.  Soft layers are the way to go for this shape.  There are things that can be done so that it's not just one haircut to be stuck with...like the angle of the layers, the color of the hair, the overall length...either way, it should stay soft.

Pear

 

The pear shape is one of my favorite.  Maybe it's because I love short, glamorous, soft feminine cuts.  Who knows.  Either way, you can see all the width and weight is in the jaw area, to balance that, keep the hair above that line and keep it full as it will help balance the lower half of the face out.  I just LOVE her hairstyle in this picture and she's not even a real person!

Diamond

The diamond shape is one of those that you don't see so often in celebrities.  Amanda Peet is likely a diamond shape, Rhianna, and Scarlet Johansson is in some pictures.  For a diamond face shape, you'll want to balance the width in the middle by creating volume above and below the cheekbones.  Layers on top with soft lengths on bottom are very flattering.

Heart

The heart shape is one of my favorite shapes...it always seems so romantic and flirty with such a big space for eyes...but the jawline is narrow and some may not like that, however for an every day haircut, adding width and volume around the chin can help balance out the wider forehead.

Now that you've seen all of the shapes in illustrated practice, what does this mean for real people?  Is it THAT effective?  Lets take a look at some celebrity makeovers and what their hair did for them.

Christina Ricci has what I would consider a heart shape face...in the first image her hair is long and sleek and doesn't do much for her in general.  The second image she has some nice softness around her jawline and neck, the hair above the shoulders, and a softer color.  Look at how much more flattering her hair looks.  Not only does her wide forehead no longer look like it's overpowering her chin, there is some width and volume at her jawline to balance her face out. 

Katie Holmes has a pretty square face shape.  If you do a google search of her, you'll see a lot of pictures of her tilting her chin down to make her face look longer and to reduce the squareness of her jawline.  As you can see in the image above, her face is not very long, her temples hit at the same place as the corners of her jaw, and you can connect those two dots without her cheekbones standing out much further.  She's rather square.

 

As you can see in these two images, the first shows just how square and angular she is, and the second is totally different!  Her hair falls in a nice round shape, her bangs brushed off to the side create movement on an diagonal line drawing your eyes to move around the shape instead of focusing on one point, and the length softly covers her jaw without creating a hard line.

So that's about it!  As you can see, your hair can be your most versatile accessory and can make or break your look.  Spend some time figuring out your face shape, look for pictures of haircuts on people whose face shape resembles yours, and ask your stylist if they have any recommendations when you bring pictures in.  Good luck and hope you enjoyed reading.  For those of you who are in the market for a new hair cut, I hope you reset the standards and take a chance on that cut you just weren't sure you could pull of but now feel confident that you can! 

Face shape images from Salon Fundamentals - Pivot Point International (taken by myself out of my textbooks)
Celebrity images are not owned by me - images are pulled from google search for demonstrative purposes only.

We're on facebook!

We now have a facebook page for you to like and follow.  Of course, we'd love for you to visit the blog, however, you can follow us from the comfort of facebook, like our page and stay up to date with everything.  We hope to gain sponsors from some of the brands we love, as well as work with them to host giveaways and contests for being fans! 

Click "like" on the right side, and see you there! 

Style: What's the Freaking Point?

Does the idea of getting dressed and looking stylish every morning seem as appealing as pooper-scooping your entire neighborhood? I mean, really, it seems like it takes an army just to get kids up and going. By the time you get done with that fiasco, a nap feels more in order than picking out a matching and attractive outfit for yourself, right? Well ladies, it's time to RESET THAT STANDARD!

If you're like me, style quickly took a backseat to comfort – especially after I decided to quit my job to be a SAHM to my two children. I mean, why take the time and effort to look good if no one is around to appreciate it. Well, I'll give you a few reasons:

1. You will feel better if you look better. I guarantee it. You will be more motivated and have more confidence and who wouldn't want that?
2. You will be ready to leave the house at moment's notice. Granted, getting the kids out the door always takes a bit of work, but at least you won't have to worry about having to run to the store in sweats with yesterday's mascara shellacked under both eyes.
3. Your husband will appreciate it. Okay, okay, please don't misunderstand this statement. I'm not a housewife stuck in the 50's sitting around waiting for my hubby's constant approval. Far from it. But reverse the roles here for a minute. Would you want to come home from work to your husband in grubby sweatpants and an old pit-stained t-shirt? Not exactly the image that comes to mind when I think “sexy”.

I understand that those reasons are really just common sense, but sometimes we need to be given an excuse to spend time and money on ourselves. Mainly because we tend to devote all of our time and money on our family and consistently allow ourselves to take a backseat to everyone else. I will tell you right now, you will not become a mean, self-serving be-yotch if you make yourself a priority once in a while!

So how do we go about making style easy, affordable, and attractive to us modern-day moms? Easy! Here are some topics that we will be covering in the coming weeks to help you in your style metamorphosis:

1. Make a trip to Goodwill! You need to get rid of stuff. Seriously. Get rid of the sweats, the maternity clothes if you are done having children, and most of all, *GASP* the boxes of old, skinny clothes you have been saving for when you finally get rid of the baby weight. Because let's face it, if and when you DO lose the weight, those clothes will be out-of-style, won't fit the same, and you'll want to go shopping anyway to celebrate. My point being, if you don't have these clothes lying around, you won't be tempted to get lazy and throw them on.
2. Purchase clothes that flatter your shape and can be mixed and matched. Jeans are a staple for most women so make sure you find and buy the styles that look the best on your figure.
3. Try everything on before you buy it. You don't have to sacrifice comfort to be stylish so make sure you feel comfortable before the items pass through the register. And bring a friend or two who can be brutally honest about how you look in certain pieces.
4. Distinguish what items are worth spending extra money on and what aren't. Sometimes spending a bit more is definitely worth it!
5. Your undergarments need to be cute, too. Rocking a pair of granny-panties under a sleek pair of ass-blasting skinny jeans just doesn't work...for a few reasons, so don't do it. I'm not suggesting you need to load up your underwear drawer with butt-floss or bras that hike your boobs up to your chin, but look for pieces that are designed to be hidden under clothes with cute accents (bows, a pretty pattern, etc.) so you have the complete package going on.
6. Lay out your clothes the night before. It's much easier to think straight and concentrate when the kids are in bed than in the morning when your house seems like it's morphed into the local sanitarium. And if you get simple, stylish items that mix and match easily, this should take very little time, but leave you much more sane in the morning.

Obviously, we will cover a bunch more, but that gives us a good place to start. I can already tell you are all quaking in your boots with excitement for what's to come. So am I! Squeeeee! Get ready to become one haute momma!

*Picture courtesy of ~malara-art on deviantart.com

Mascara Review! Maybelline - Volum' Express One by One

There are always new mascaras coming out, and Maybelline seems to have a new one every time I turn around... but I'm not complaining, because that's just one more mascara to play with! Overall, I love Maybelline mascaras! If I buy drugstore brands, it's from their display and I'm proud to announce, that this one is right up there on my favorite list!

In Comparison to L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes (Left) :

Price: About $7.00, at Walmart.

What It Claims: "Exclusive lash by lash brush captures, coats and cleans ever single lash for the most refined volume root-to-tip. Instant clump-free volume."

The Truth: It basically does what it says, although it does clump up a little bit. Don't let that scare you away though ladies, the clumps are minor and they can easily be combed out with a mascara comb. It makes each lash nice and thick while also giving that fanned out look that seems to be all the craze at the moment! Out of all the Volum' Express Mascaras, this one also is the best in lengthening! In comparison to L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes, (which claims to do the same thing, and I will be reviewing here soon!) it's the better buy for sure. Way to go Maybelline, you've won me over yet again!

Without Mascara:

With Mascara:

Would I recommend it?: For a drugstore brand mascara, yes. This is by far one of the top ten drugstore brand mascaras on the market right now. It doesn't flake, and the clumps are so minor that it really isn't something to be worried about. As always, open up your new mascaras, then close them and let them sit until you want to use them. Super wet or, *new* formulas are never the real results, so don't hate a mascara until you've done this because you're not even getting to try it in all it's glory!

Have any of you beauties tried it? What do you think?

What does "Salon Quality" really mean?

You hear it every time you go into the salon..."what shampoo and conditioner are you using?" "__insert store brand here__" "ohhhhhh.....well....I really would recommend ________" 

Are the stylists being pushy, or is there really a good reason they're recommending salon brand shampoo, conditioner and styling products?

Let's review.

If you don't currently use salon products, have you EVER come home and recreated your hair to look and feel how it did in the salon after your stylist did it?  I always hear that the client can never recreate the look.  Can you get close?  Believe it or not, but a large reason for this is the shampoo and conditioner, a smaller part the styling product, and then technique.  Yes, I listed technique last.  If a 10 year old girl can flat iron her hair, so can you.

On an emotional level, often times the products in the salon are produced in pretty bottles, nice scents, and with very specific things that they "treat."  You might be someone that buys hair products based on the smell, or how pretty the bottle looks and you're not alone!  Emotional purchases are one of many reasons people spend money. 

If you're more scientific, you may need to know what research there is to back the theory that salon brands are better.  Using basic math, we know that quality ingredients cost more, even in bulk, they cost more.  So right off the bat, you get what you pay for.  But what are you paying for?

Here's an ingredient list for Suave shampoo (approx $1.50 a bottle)

Tropical Coconut Shampoo
Water (Aqua), Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium, Chloride, Cocamide MEA, PEG-5 Cocamide, Glycol Distearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Fragrance (Parfum), Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Polyquaternium-10, Tetrasodium EDTA, DMDM Hydantoin, Citric Acid, Ammonium Xylenesulfonate, Propylene Glycol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate [Vitamin E Acetate], Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Silk Amino Acids, Methylisothiazolinone, Honey, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract

Water you know, but remember you can't tell how much water is in the mixture.  You may be paying for diluted shampoo causing you to have to use more, and buy the shampoo more often to be effective.

Next there are sulfates.  What is a sulfate?  Sulfates are what is commonly used in soaps.  It breaks down grit and grease by increasing the surface tension between water and an object, foams up and gets things clean.  Did you know sulfuric acid is a sulfate?  You know when you drop sulfuric acid on objects it foams and bubbles as it's burning?  Diluted sulfuric acid is doing that to the oil on your hair. 

Ammonium is a compound that's formed from ammonia.  Also known as the waste product of animals.  Ammonia salts of nitrogen are explosive. 

Chloride is an ion formed from chlorine.  It's corrosive.  When bonded to ammonium to form ammonium chloride it's commonly used as an acid. 

Silk amino acids are silk protein.  Which doesn't do you much good because your hair is made of keratin protein, so it doesn't hold or stick or absorb, but it does coat your hair leaving it feeling soft. 

Cocamide MEA and DEA are more sulfates made of the fatty oils of coconut.  They foam and cleanse as well.  They are very irritating to the skin and can cause severe allergic reactions.


So in summary - suave is:  water, sulfates, silk protein and fragrance. 


In contrast, only a couple dollars more for a bottle (approx $7) and still available in many beauty departments at grocers and departments stores, there's Bed Head products by TIGI. 

Bed Head Tigi Moisture Maniac:  Aqua (Water) Sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine, lauryl glucoside, alcohol denat. (sd alcohol 40) glycol stearate, sodium chloride, polyquaternium-10, hydrosypropyl methycellulose, fragrance, panthenol, dmdm hydantoin, tetrasodium edta, ampisostearoyl hydrolyzed wheat protein, methylparaben, propylparaben, yellow 6, red 33, yellow 5, red 4 and blue 1. 

First difference - suave's 26 ingredients to tigi's 21 including coloring. 

There's still sulfates in them, however there is only one kind.  It's not as good as sulfate free shampoo, but it is less damaging.  The cocamidopropyl betaine is the synthetic compound from coconut oil that is made to replace the severely irritating cocamide MEA/DEA and be more gentle on the skin. 

Lauryl Glucoside is a compound made from lauryl alcohol (a water insoluble solid with a  floral fragrance often used as an emollient) and glucose (simple sugar). 

Alcohol denat is denatured alcohol.  It's added to make the shampoo taste bad...probably to keep children from drinking it.

Glycol stearte is an emulsion.  There are preservatives, coloring, vitamin B, etc also in the shampoo.

So, in summary the TIGI is water, a smaller amount of sulfates including a less irritating chemical substituted for what is used in the cheaper stuff, fragrance, and vitamins. 

There are other brands like Pravana that doesn't use ANY sulfates.  As per their website:  Our unique brand infuses all shampoos and conditioners with Pravana’s Proprietary Naturceutical Complex™, comprised of nine time-proven Meso-American botanicals known for their therapeutic and healing properties teamed with three different hydrolyzed proteins to enhance hair’s strength, elasticity, and shine from the inside out. Pravana’s Shampoo are exclusively sulfate, sulfite, and salt-free. All Pravana hair care formulas are also free of cocamide DEA and MEA, and contain no phthalates or other hazardous ingredients. We employ no animal testing or animal ingredients in our products.

So now that you know what goes into shampoos and what you're paying for - why does it mean you can't recreate the look at home? 

Simply put, cheap shampoos dry your hair too much and irritate the skin causing your scalp to overproduce oil to compensate.  I'm not even going to go into depth about conditioners, but animal fat and wax is widely used in cheap conditioners to make your hair feel soft, covering up the dryness.  Using the cheap stuff might make your hair FEEL ok, but it doesn't mean it's healthy. 

Healthy hair is shiny, soft, manageable and has elasticity.  Damaged dry hair is frizzy, brittle and dull.  Healthy hair has a pH of 4.5-5.5...damaged hair is all over the place.  Our hair is naturally slightly acidic, but sometimes the shampoos and conditioners we use alter the balance...opening the cuticle and leaving it open for chemicals to get into the hair, weakening the structure, and drying it out.

So now you know even though your hair might not feel dry, it IS dry, preventing you from being able to style it the same way your stylist does.  (Also, ever noticed you can go 3 sometimes even 4 days after getting your hair done in a salon and still have it look great, but you can't do that with your own products?)

Believe it or not, salons are not in business to sell you hair products.  Salons are in business to keep your hair healthy and looking its best.  You'll never keep customers in your chair whose hair looks awful.  Companies like suave, pantene, etc are in business to make money.  They don't care about the health of your hair, and if you have a problem, will be very quick to give you a coupon or something as they have no personal investment in you.  A salon knows that it doesn't matter who is at fault, that future business relies on happy customers and most importantly, healthy hair. 

So is it worth it to spend the extra money?  Even if you spend $40 on shampoo and conditioner and it lasts you 4 months, that's a $10 investment each month.  That's 2 frappucinos from Starbucks, one super size meal from McDonald's, 10 candy bars from a machine.  That's almost nothing compared to the health of your hair that can literally take years to repair.  Is it worth it?  I think so!

The importance of color...

Many of us look through our makeup pallets and see a lot of the same color...some of us have all neutrals, some lots of vivids...pinks, purples, blues...but have you ever wondered why you are drawn to those colors?  Or, why you don't feel comfortable trying something out of the box?




Color is both subjective and objective...meaning we use color as something we perceive as indisputable fact...like, red falls between the wavelengths of this and that.  However, color also has power.  We can FEEL color.  It ties into our emotions, it's visceral.

If you'd like to read the scientific mumbo jumbo about the theories of how color is perceived, feel free to read up on it here - Color (Standford).  Otherwise, we'll skip to color as how its used in marketing and real life.  You can read up on that here.

We associate color with things whether historical (royalty wearing "royal blue" or purples) or social (the golden arches of McDonald's or facebook blue) or even emotional ("seeing red", "green with envy") and they really can change our moods.  Hospitals are painted in calming blues to relax the patients, or soothing yellows to lift the spirits.  Restaurants are decorated with oranges and reds to agitate your senses and get you up and out of your seat so a new customer can take your place.  Neutral decor just takes a back seat to whatever is around it...kind of how the stem or the trunk is never the focal point - it's about showing off the flower or the leaves. 

We do the same thing on our face.  Do you find yourself pulling out the blue on days when you're going to be doing something relaxing?  A trip to the spa or beach?  Perhaps you pull out gold or yellow on gloomy days to add a little bit of sun.  Maybe you just wear a color you like, but now you feel stuck in it, or haven't had the guts to branch out.  We wear our emotions with our clothes, express our desires with our shoes but sometimes when it comes to makeup the message gets mixed up.  Perhaps it's time for a change of pace to clarify your thoughts, or to remind yourself that you deserve to feel great and color is a great, simple way to do that! 

Have you been feeling kind of blah lately?  Maybe a little tense?  Try using the color theory on your eyes.  Want to feel grand and royal?  Throw some deep purples...eggplant, or royal blue on your peepers.

Need a pick me up?  Try some rich golds or soft yellows.  Been tense?  Try a teal or aqua to soothe that spirit of yours or even some pink to calm that aggression.  Feel like you're always the one being talked about - maybe try some neutral shades for a change of pace.

For those who feel scared to dive into the color and attention or self expression, a splash of color may be all that you need.  A new shade of eyeliner, or just a dab of something brighter to ease you into trying something new.  Who knows, maybe this spring, instead of changing yourself to prepare for summer, you just need to change your makeup kit. 

Credit to these images goes to whomever the original owner is...they are strewn about on others blogs so I have no idea who did them first.  Thanks to whoever did, but they are definitely not mine.

Simple Highlights - Slicing

Ok some background here - one, it's easier to get my hair to stay when its wet, so I took pictures right after I got out of the shower.  Forgive my lack of makeup lol.  Two - you will NOT be bleaching your hair wet - it is for demonstration purposes ONLY!  That said...

Ever wanted some highlights without spending an arm and a leg at the salon, or giving yourself weird stripes?  You're in luck because...it's not that hard. 

What you'll need:

1) Color Bowl

2) Color Brush

3) Salon foils

4) PLASTIC clips - no metal...or you'll oxidize and rust when it comes in contact with the developer

5) Comb (highlighting comb preferred, but rat tail will do)

6) Bleach & Developer (not shown)

To start - fold your foils in half and tear them down the middle.  If you have long hair, do it length-wise.  My hair is short, so mine are torn width wise.  Then mix your bleach.

Section your hair where you'd like to start your highlights.  For demonstration, I started at the apex (top of my head, close to the crown) however my real highlights are only through my bangs.  Comb what is not being highlighted away from your face, and what you want to put highlights in toward your face.

I'm sectioning straight across because of the way I part my hair.  If you part down the middle, section your hair on an angle so you don't have chunks of highlights.  I part mine on an angle and direct it toward my face, so straight across works fine. 

Clip it back since it'll be dry and will flop back to where it was :)

Fold your foil across your comb tail.  It'll help get it close to your scalp when you're protecting the hair you're not bleaching.

The basic method we're going to do with foils is what I call "sandwiching".  You aren't going to worry about folding them or doing anything fancy, just stacking them.  This is your base foil.  Clip it down to protect the hair you do NOT want to bleach.  This will be your "base foil".  

You'll see in following pictures that you'll be stacking in a pattern like this:
-Foil
-Bleach
-Foil
-Natural Hair

-Foil

-Bleach

-Foil

etc...etc...etc...

Take your first selection of hair.  This is what you'll be bleaching.  Section about 1/8" out...meaning, between the partings is only 1/8" of hair.  This will make sure the bleach is saturated well and that you don't end up with crazy chunks of bleach.

Lay it down on the foil, and brush your bleach mixture onto it.  (You don't have to use one hand, but since the other hand was holding my phone/camera to show you, that's how it came out.  Plus, I didn't actually bleach my hair at the time I took pictures...so you're not missing something here lol)

It will stick to the foil and not move.

Press another piece of foil down, sandwiching the bleached section between foils...again, the foil will stick to the bleach.

Section about 1/2" to 3/4" of hair that will not be bleached.  Clip it down as this will not stick to the foils.  This is your part that will be "left out".

Lie another piece of foil down to be your "bottom layer" for your next bleach sandwich.  I didn't show it in two pictures because, well, I think you get the point by now. 

Apply bleach, and another foil over the top.

Again, the section of hair should only be 1/8" thick! 

Repeat as often as needed.

Let process per the instructions with whatever brand bleach you're using, then rinse, shampoo, condition and style.

Here are my highlights.  I only have two slices, so it's just through my bangs.

As you can see, I wear a side part and comb my hair toward my face, so the highlights are well blended and don't appear chunky anywhere.

You can use this technique for low-lights, or bright funky colors as well to get some dimension without spending a fortune at the salon!

Hope you enjoyed this little tutorial, and reset your standards!!


Makeup is:
Foundation: L'Oreal True Match liquid foundation & Revlon ColorStay Aqua

Eyes: E.L.F. Mineral Primer, Mineralface FX (www.mineralfacefx.com) in Apple Martini, Cat Eye & Omega.

eye liner: NYC Liquid Liner, mascara: L'oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes