Boycotting My Flat Iron

Boycotting My Flat Iron

I wanted to buy a large, round, vented hair brush for a while & recently I purchased it. In order to see if I really liked it, I decided to put it to the test by using the brush to blow dry my hair straight without following up the process with a flat iron. It took time to blow dry, but I loved that my hair was straight, had a lot of volume & wasn't pin straight. Since then I decided that if I can get better results by blow drying my hair, then I'll stick to that instead of applying direct heat through a flat iron. I have washed my hair 6 times since then (for reference, I wash my hair every 3-4 days) & I have not used my flat iron since! Oh, & have I mentioned that my hair is naturally curly? Yup, curly not wavy.



My weapon of choice while blow drying my hair is a brush called Beautique Large Metal Thermal Round Brush that I got at Sally Beauty. In case you are interested, I got the large one & the model number for the large brush is 738628.



Sally Beauty's website states that "Beautique Metal Thermal Round Brushes contain a thermal core that holds heat from a hair dryer longer reducing drying time." The brush is curved, so it fits the shape of your head; the handle has a good, comfortable grip; & as it states on the brush, it is very light, which makes the brush easy to work with. This brush has definitely played a big role in giving my hair volume.

Besides the volume, another thing that I like is that blow drying makes my hair look a lot thicker as compared to what it looked like after I flat iron my hair. One thing that I don't like about blow drying is that I get a lot more flyaways after I'm done as compared to when I'm done flat ironing. This can easily be fixed using some sort of mousse, hairspray, etc. but I prefer using less products on my hair, so I don't do that. I also have stubborn hair on the sides, which take a lot longer to tame using a blow dryer. It's also a pain trying to blow dry long hair, not only because it takes longer, but also because my hands just start hurting after a while.



I absolutely love how I can create curls at the end that look so natural, volumized, & effortless. I have created more defined curls than what you will see in the pics below, but this time I didn't want that look. If you want defined curls, you can do that with a round brush & then use hair spray to hold the curls. I just like how the ends are not completely straight, but have a bit of texture & my hair overall has a lot of texture & volume when I blow dry.



I'm loving that I don't have to use a flat iron to get my hair as straight as I want it. It's a step toward starting to take better care of my hair along with using hot coconut oil & some homemade treatments more often. I think the next step for me should be finally getting a haircut so I can get rid of the split ends of my split ends! Eek, I know.. I'm bad.

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Fringe Benefits

Fringe Benefits

5 reasons why I loved having a fringe/blunt bangs & went back to it twice:

1. I had been wanting a fringe for years, but would get talked out of it each time by the lady I used to go to for my haircuts. Finally, I got so annoyed that I decided to go to a different hairdresser to get it done. I'm so glad I did because the result was superb! I've never felt so good after a haircut. I loved it so much that it gave me a confidence boost like nothing had ever before.
2. Since the fringe covered my eyebrows, I didn't have to worry about doing my eyebrows too much, especially since my eyebrows grow out fast.. haha, sneaky! Hidden messy eyebrows is always a plus when you don't want people to notice that you're growing out your eyebrows to get them reshaped.
   
3. I felt like I could sport bright or coloured eyeshadows on a daily basis without looking like I went overboard since the fringe tones it down a bit.
4. I've never really liked side-swept bangs on me, especially when I have my hair up. I feel like a fringe allows you to play around with updo's, while looking cute & flirty at the same time.
5. Most people know that I haven't coloured my hair, instead I experiment with hair lengths when I want a different look. A fringe changes your whole look without you having to do much.
   

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M.I.A

M.I.A

Hi everyone,

I know I said I'd try to blog once in a while even though school has started and I'm busy but I haven't really been doing that. I would have but there's just a tiny little problem.. I don't have my laptop! It took 4.5 weeks to repair it and when I got it back, it was still giving me problems so I've sent it back again hoping that it will be repaired and returned to me before I have to start researching for and typing up my essays, research proposals, papers, etc.

I miss blogging so much that I'm blogging via my iPhone now. It would be a pain to edit pictures on here though, so even though I'd love to share some pictures with you, that will just have to wait till my laptop is fixed and running properly again!

I do have a picture on my phone that I'd like to share with you though. It's a picture of me of course. I decided to go back to my blunt bangs/fringe because I think they really suit me and I have received TONS of compliments on them when I've had them before. So here I am sporting the new (well, not exactly new anymore) hairstyle...


I've also been wanting to blog for a while now, especially about the smudgeliners by Annabelle cosmetics that I've been using recently! Also, I want to do a picture post of all the different haircuts that I've had to date which should be neat. And I've also had the chance to try out the Runway Collection nails by Revlon which most bloggers have had the chance to try already, but I still want to review them. Maybe the review will be a little different than the other reviews since it was the first time that I've tried glue-on nails, so it's from the perspective of a beginner.

All that and more coming up. Just don't know when though.

Hope you have a great Thanksgiving weekend!


- Posted using BlogPress from my fabulous iPhone

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Things I'm loving & missing

Things I'm loving & missing

Loving:

1. Neutrogena's Fresh Foaming Cleanser. I realized how much I love this cleanser when I stayed over at a family friends house for 1 night & didn't take it with me. When I use this cleanser I don't have to worry about carrying around a makeup remover & then using a face wash because the cleanser does it all. I plan on doing a review on it, but that will have to wait till I finish up with at least half the things on my 'to do' list.
   
   
   
2. Going au naturale most of this summer. I used minimal makeup (with the exception of a few days) to give my skin a break. I also reduced the amount of products that I used in my hair & left it curly most of the time & just straightened the front bit that frames my face. I didn't use any hair gel or anything either. Instead of using products, I took a really little bit of Parachute coconut hair oil in the palm of my hand (as much as a Canadian nickel) & worked it in my wet hair (from the tips, working my hair to the mid section & a little bit at the roots). My mum was so skeptical about this when she saw me do it because coconut hair oil usually stinks but I asked her to smell my hair right after I had applied it& to her relief, she could still smell my conditioner. This method worked best when I slept an hour or 2 max after applying the tiny bit of hair oil & I woke up with gorgeous curls.
   
   
   
3. Working at Bath & Body Works. Whenever I'm in the States, I stop by BBW (& Forever21 too). The American chain is expanding in Canada & I'm surprised our store opened before many of the other locations, but that's a bonus for us :) If there isn't one in your area, don't worry because there are around 11 or something stores opening in the fall. Anyway, who wouldn't like to work at a store that smells good all the time? & the best part is that we don't have to push for large sales & trick customers into buying expensive products.
4. School starts soon! As silly or nerdy as it may sound I can't wait to go back & be around my close friends all the time. This year is gonna be a bit harder not only because I'm entering my 3rd year now (eek!), but because all my courses count as my major since I'm doing a combined major now. Sigh, I'm gonna miss taking easy electives.
   
   
   
5. Winning. If you've read my blog in the past, you will know that I love entering contests & have won a couple of them. Recently, I've also been winning little contests at work. I never win giveaways though which sucks because they're so easy to enter, but winning contests is a great feeling because I know that I'm working hard to achieve something & my work is being recognized. & as long as my hard work pays off, I'm happy :)
6. Experiencing the Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours once again. The first time that I went on this attraction was in grade 9 for a Geography school trip. Ever since then, I've recommended this attraction to all of my friends & family who are visiting Niagara Falls. I usually tell them: if you don't have enough money to see all the attractions in the area, save your money & just go on this one attraction because even though it's a bit pricey, it is def worth it & it's better than all the other attractions combined! Perhaps I love it so much more because I am a Pisces & I love being in or around water ;)
   
   
   [Click image to enlarge]
   
   
   Childhood family friends & I getting soaked in the front row on the Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours
   
   
   

Missing:

1. My laptop. Seems like I always have some kind of problem with it. The latest thing that came up was that the wireless wouldn't work on it at all, so I had no option but to give it for repairs. I miss using my laptop from the comfort of my own room, sigh.
   
2. Playing card games. When my childhood family friends were staying with me for a bit, we played various card games all night long. It was SO much fun. I miss playing Poker on Facebook too because my home computer just wont co-operate when I try to play it, which takes me back to me missing my laptop!
   
   
   
3. Having more watches. I never used to wear watches before but thanks to a good friend, I now wear my watch every time I go out. Sadly, I only have one that fits right. The other that I have is a bit big & I haven't had the chance to get that sized yet. I wanna buy more watches soon. I came across a Valentino one online that I adore, but it's too dressy to wear every day & I wanna get one that I can wear on a daily basis first.
   
   
   
4. My old body. I'm so not used to my body right now. I'm the heaviest that I've ever been & since I've always hated working out, getting my old body back seems like such a difficult task. I've never been the kind of person that has complained about their weight or anything of the sort, but lately this whole issue is frustrating me to the point where I'm not even buying clothes anymore cause I don't know how to dress my new body. Now if only I can use that negative energy to take some positive action & work to get my body back to where I want it! Luckily, I'm not that short so I can hide my weight more than a lot of other shorter people probably could.
5. Blogging & entering contests. Summer was too short & somewhat busy too, so I didn't update my blog as much as I wanted to. Even though I had a lot of posts in mind, every time I signed on to Blogger there were so many blogs to catch up on & most of the time I was so overwhelmed that I never got the chance to update my own. As mentioned above, I didn't wear too much makeup this summer either so I didn't really have any makeup posts. I def missed reading the lovely comments on my posts from everyone though. Some of you did keep in touch through e-mail & comments though which was much appreciated :)

That being said, I really want to keep updating my blog once in a while. Even though I'm going to be busy with school & work, I will try to blog simply because I love doing it & I love the response that I get from family, friends, fellow bloggers, & complete strangers at times as well. I'm not making any promises but don't worry, I'm not going anywhere... yet.

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Natural Beauty by Aldo Facetti

Natural Beauty by Aldo Facetti

I got a book from the library on natural treatments for healthier skin & hair. Most of the treatments in the book use ingredients & essential oils which I do not have at home & the majority of people don't keep these ingredients in their home either. I liked a small passage from the book though, so I thought I'd add that here.

"...do not forget that hair and fingernails are often the first parts of the body to tell you that something is wrong; you may not be ill, but pay attention to the alarm bell.
Avoid the mistake many make of thinking that hair is like grass and the more you 'prune' it and the more 'fertilizer' you put on it, the thicker and faster it will grow. The only ones likely to benefit from such treatments are the hair salons and the companies selling the products.
The fact is that a well-balanced diet, including fresh seasonal foods, is the best insurance policy that there is for guaranteeing strong hair and nails."
- Natural Beauty by Aldo Facetti. c1991

Of course I knew that diet is key to better health, but I didn't know that you can tell if something's wrong by examining the health of your hair & nails.

I really like using natural ingredients that you can find at home to use for face masks & I hardly ever use leave-in conditioners or deep conditioning hair masks. Instead, I try to oil my hair once a week using coconut oil. I used to apply almond oil, but coconut oil is much cheaper so I stick to that instead. I thought I'd find something in this book, but sadly, there are only a few treatments that I can prepare with the ingredients that I already have.

Which natural treatments have you tried? Have they worked for you or would you rather go for a quick fix & go to the salon or grab a product off the shelf instead of taking the time to prepare a natural treatment?

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AVEENO® NOURISH+ Hair Care Collection Samples

AVEENO® NOURISH+ Hair Care Collection Samples

When summer comes along, it is important to not only give your skin a break from all the products, but it's a good idea to let your hair breathe for a bit as well. After a long winter, anything that promises to treat damaged hair in any way will probably sound good to most of us because in the winter most of us tend to overload on styling products & hot tools (i.e., blow dryers, flat irons, curling irons, et cetera).

The new AVEENO® NOURISH+ Hair Care Collection promises to treat damaged hair & it is:

Made with a breakthrough ACTIVE NATURALS® Wheat Complex formula, these products nourish damaged hair back to life in just three washes.

Sounds great, doesn't it? But then again product descriptions are meant to lure the consumer in, so don't get too carried away, hehe.

I came across a link to get free samples from the AVEENO® NOURISH+ Hair Care Collection line. There are 4 different shampoo & conditioner samples that you can choose from:

1. NOURISH+ MOISTURIZE Shampoo & Conditioner
2. NOURISH+ REVITALIZE Shampoo & Conditioner
3. NOURISH+ VOLUMIZE Shampoo & Conditioner
4. NOURISH+ SOOTHE Shampoo & NOURISH+ REVITALIZE Conditioner

When you go to the link to get your free samples, you might notice that you have to enter your e-mail address. This of course means that the company will most probably be sending other e-mails to your inbox as well. Don't let that scare you though. Once you get your samples, you can always open the e-mail & find the unsubscribe link, which is usually found at the bottom of the e-mail.

Just one sec, we're not done yet. What would a contest or free samples giveaway be without rules & restrictions, right? Here are the restrictions:

Free AVEENO® NOURISH+ Hair Care Collection samples are limited so please sign up quickly. Limit one sample per household. Must be 18 years of age and older or age of legal majority in your state at the time of registration. Offer limited to the United States and expires 10/31/2009 or while supplies last. Please allow 4 - 6 weeks for delivery.

It sucks because this means that I can't get my hands on these samples since I'm not a resident of the U.S. *sigh*. But if you sign up to receive free samples, please let me know once you get them. I'd love to know the size of the samples & how they worked for you.


Okay, I think I've made you wait long enough. Click here to get your free AVEENO® NOURISH+ Hair Care Collection samples now. Or just paste the following link in your browser, if the link does not work for you: https://secure.startsampling.com/sm/100630/quickQuestion.iphtml?item=100630&source=aveeno.com


Also, try to deep condition your hair to restore it back to life & use leave-in conditioner to tame down your frizzy hair when it gets humid outside. It's au naturale season baby. Hah, yeah right. I know that aint happening, but I'll def be reducing the amount of products that I use.

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Bump it Up

Bump it Up

Do you hate spending time trying to tease & backcomb your hair to try & get that pouf/volume? There's a product on the market for you! It's called Bumpits. There are 3 different sizes so you can try them with different styles/heights & are available in 4 colours: black, brunette, dark blonde, & light blonde.

[Click images to enlarge]


How do you use them, you ask?

Here's one of the videos that I found on YouTube:

If you type Bumpits in YouTube, you'll also come across a few videos by some girls who have bought & tried it out. One of the tricks was to backcomb the hair slighty & wiggle the Bumpits in, to make sure it stays in place. It's available at Sally Beauty Supply or you can just order it online.

I think I'd be fine with having plastic in my hair once in a while to get that dramatic pouf. Would you feel comfortable with it?

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

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