Showing posts with label beauty tools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beauty tools. Show all posts

4/25/2012

Wednesday's Beauty Tip


Beauty Tip of the Week

Hey Dolls,
I know it's been a while since I posted my Wednesday Beauty Tip of the week. To be honest, I started to run out of tips! lol, I posted a new tip every week for almost a year. I didn't want to post tips that weren't helpful or that you already knew about. So I figured it would be better to only post a tip of the week when I found a new one. Hopefully I will have new tips more often for you guys. 

4/15/2012

A Year's Challenge Week 16: Dotticure Mani

Dotticure?? Hmm..I'm guessing that this is just a fancy word for a polka dot or dotted mani. That's the way i interpreted anyway. I love learning all these new names for manicures I never heard of.

I knew I wanted to come up with something creative, even though Im not usually that creative. So I got out my set of dotting tools and basically just started dotting away. I noticed that when i don't think about it too much ahead of time, I have a lot easier time deciding what Im gonna do. That's how I came up with my dotticure mani.

12/19/2011

REVIEW: 5 PC DOTTING TOOL SET

Hey Beauties!!!
I hope everyone's having a good day. I am going to be reviewing a product that was sent to me from BornPrettyStore.com. If you've never heard of them, there a website with all different nail supplies, tool, stickers, stampking kits, brushes,etc. If you are into doing nail art and designs like myself you'll really like the site and what they have to offer.

I was contacted by them about a month ago asking if I would be intrested in trying out one of their products to review and of course I said yes. I had never heard of them until they contacted me. When I took a look at the site to pick out a product, I immedieatly saw there Dotting Tool Set and knew I wanted to try this product.



11/23/2011

Wednesday's Beauty Tip


Beauty Tip of the Week

GIVE YOUR HAIR BRUSHES SOME LOVIN ♥ 

Did you ever notice when your at a hair salon how they have their hair brushes and combs soaking in water?  which is actually disinfectant. They do this for sanitation reasons but also to keep everyone's hair looking nice and clean. Think about it, if they didn't clean their brushes then there would be dirt, oil and dandruff from everyone's hair, ewww!!!

10/26/2011

Wednesday's Beauty Tip


Beauty Tip of the Week

DIY CLAMPLESS CURLING IRON

I know there's a lot of girls that struggle with using the clamp on a curling iron, you can end up with crimp marks and sometimes its just a pain. It finally took me a year to learn how to use the clamp correctly. But for those of you that would rather not use the clamp, try this out.

8/19/2011

Review: Face Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner


Believe it or not this is the first brush cleaner I’ve ever bought, I’ve always washed my brushes with baby shampoo and never had a problem. I purchased Face Secrets Professional Brush Cleaner about a month ago and I’ve been meaning to try it and do a review. The only reason why I bought it was because it was 50% off at Sally’s Beauty Supplies, I think I only paid $4.99 for it. I have never heard of this brand so I figured I would clean a few of my older brushes that I don’t use that often, just in case. .


For this review, I cleaned three different brushes, eyeshadow, concealer and a medium sized powder brush. They were all spot cleaned and I have to say I’m happy with the results. The brushes I used for this need to be deep cleaned so I wasn’t expecting them to be 100% makeup free, they had a lot of built up makeup on them. I ‘m surprised at how quick they dried, I guess I'm used to using baby shampoo and water so that’s why. All I did was pour a little bit of the cleaner into a small plastic bowl and dipped the bristles in for a second then wiped them on a paper towel until I couldn’t see anymore makeup on the paper towel. For my powder brush I poured some in an empty spray bottle, I learned that tip from YouTube guru EnKore, he said its better to use a spray bottle on your bigger brushes. There is one con to this product,  I don’t like the fact that its blue only because when I cleaned one of my lighter brushes I noticed that it stained a small part of my brush. It could have been worse and stained all the bristles. I did have low expectations for this product mainly because I’ve never heard of the brand. I am glad I bought it though. That just shows you cant judge a beauty product by its cover..lol





How do you guys clean your makeup brushes and what products do you use?












8/10/2011

Wednesday's Beauty Tip

Beauty Tip of The Week



Having a Bad Hair Day?

JUMBO HOT ROLLERS TO THE RESCUE!




Waking up in the morning to either limp, flat, wavy, frizzy or just hair that wont go the way you want it to can be very annoying. Usually when this happens to me, I feel like there’s nothing I can do or try to make it better, especially when you don’t have the time to start over by washing it. That’s where hot rollers come in, a lot of people underestimate hot rollers or they think it’s something people only used back in the day. There not just for curling your hair either, jumbo rollers are great for giving you volume while smoothing and adding some shine. All you have to do is spray some dry shampoo to your roots first, then add a few hot rollers on the top of your head (starting from the front then towards the back). You can add a few to the sides too (it's up to you how many you want to use). Then it's so easy, leave them in while you're doing your makeup, getting dressed or whatever you have to do. Then take them out before your ready to leave, maybe add some hairspray and you should forget about your bad hair day….

You don’t have to go out and buy an expensive set either, I’ve seen some sets at Wal -Mart for only $15. Conair makes some really good ones that wont cost you a fortune

7/25/2011

Hair Brushes 101

HAIR BRUSHES 101


Ceramic/Thermal Brushes


          


     













There are all these different types of brushes with different kinds of bristles. There are five main types or classes of brushes (vent brush, paddle brushes, Denman styling brush, thermal/ceramic and round brushes) each designed for a special purpose. Brushes are often determined by their brand name (Denman is an example) but its what you can create shape wise with the brush, that is important. The right brush will give you volume, height, bounce and curl for “big hair” or smooth, flat sleek and straight hair. The right hair tools do make a difference.

What usually happens, (at least it did to me before I got into experimenting with different hair tools), is that we have this one “old favorite” brush that we use for all different types of styling and expect it to be a jack of all trades when in reality its robbing you off getting that style you want.

I named this post “Hair Brushes 101” because I wanted to give you a description of each brush and what type of hair works best with each. I own each one of the brushes above, I’ve realized that I don’t need all of them but that was just me wanting more hair products in my room..lol. But,, im glad I got to try out each brush so I know from now on which brush is best for my hair type and style. I hope this post helps any of you that weren’t aware of the major effects a certain type of brush can give you.

1. Ceramic/Thermal Round Brush:   Round brushes aren’t just for creating curl. The more “open bristle type” is good for creating maximum height and lift. The densely packed real bristle round brush is great at smoothing and straightening your hair, with the tension need for hair that has a natural wave or curl. The size of the brush you use needs to depend on the length of your hair and the effect you want. *Your hair needs to be long enough to wrap around the whole brush*.

These round brushes also come in vent or style types. These brushes work using metal or heat material as the center of the brush and this gets hot by using the heat from your blow dryer. As you increase the heat that is drying your hair it will be working not only on the surface of your hair, but internally as well. You can get effects similar to setting your hair with hot rollers when you really get the hang of using this kind of brush.

  * To use these round brushes correctly; practice makes perfect!!  I have medium length, naturally very thick hair. My hair cut has lots of short layers on the top and longer layers on the       bottom which makes my hair feel a lot lighter. I use the thermal round brush (medium size) to achieve volume at the crown of my head. These brushes also reduce drying time (and that’s super helpful if you have thick hair).

2. Paddle Brush:  Paddle brushes have a cushion base, used to smooth hair without lift or volume. Their used when you have lots or long hair to deal with.They are great to smooth naturally straight hair or to finish off with after using a round brush to straighten wavy, frizzy or curly hair. There very simple to use and actually very popular with men to create smooth shapes without creating any lift.

3. Boar Bristle Round Brush:  If your looking to achieve smooth and shiny hair and is ideal for someone who has thick or wavy hair. It smooths the hair without tearing your hair or leaving static. You can also achieve volume with boar bristle brushes that are “round”. (just like the “round brush is meant to do). These brushes are also very helpful after teasing your hair by smoothing the top hair over the teased part to make it look natural and smooth. Try to purchase a brush like this with natural bristles and make sure you buy the right size. Smaller brushes are good for shorter hair and medium to big brushes are good for long hair.

4. Vent Brush:   This is a good starter brush and  is probably the simplest brush to usen and we all probably own one, but it only gives you the simplest of effects. The “open vents” where air can flow reduces your blow drying time. It’s also used to create root lift and volume for your hair and to give some movement and direction, like flicking out the ends of your hair. It’s a great brush for easing out tangles on medium to thick hair. To get added volume with this brush: hold the hair away from the roots with the brush and spray it lightly with a finishing spray.

5. Denman Styling Brush: I’ve had this kind of brush forever and never knew there was an exact name for it. “Denman” is just a brand name often used to describe this type of brush. They have no vents and a solid couching backing. They are best used on bob haircuts and medium length hair to achieve a little root and to smooth and straighten the lengths and ends of your hair. Like the vent brush, it is easy to use, but if you can’t get the smoothness you want from this brush, it is because your not getting enough tension and you would be better off using a large round brush.

6. The Wide Tooth Comb:  This is something everyone should own. I’m sure you know that you’re not supposed to use any kind of brush when your hair is wet or you can really damage your hair. I use this comb to detangle my hair after I just get out of the shower and use it up until my hair is dry enough to blow dry with a brush. It’s also good to take in the shower with you and comb you hair after applying your conditioner to evenly distribute it.  Its also good to use in the shower if you have a lot of tangles, because if you comb through them with conditioner in your hair, it will be a lot easier when your out of the shower.



I hope this little article on hair brushes helped at least one person..lol. I’m sure you guys way past the “Hair Brushes 101” stage. But I learned a few things about the different types of styles you can achieve with certain brushes. I always learn great new things when doing research. Hope you guys enjoyed this and leave comments! xOxO!


7/06/2011

How To: Give Yourself The Perfect Manicure Step by Step

We all love pampering ourselves by getting a manicure at the salon. However we all know it can get a little expensive if your hitting the salon up weekly. If your looking to save some money, you can easily learn how to get a professional manicure by doing it yourself.
Things you will need:

*Acetone free nail polish remover

*Emery board/Nail file

*Nail buffer

*Cuticle trimmer

*Cuticle cream/oil

*Orange stick

*Hand lotion

*Base coat

*Top coat

*Your nail polish of choice

*Cotton balls

*Bowl of warm water

*Nail cutter (optional)

*Nail dryer (optional)

Preparing the Nails:  

1. Start off by getting rid of any traces of nail polish with your acetone free nail polish remover and cotton balls

2. (If needed) trim nails with a nail cutter to your desired length.

3. File nails with an emery board or nail file so that the edges are smooth. File towards the tip and only file in one direction. Never file to deeply onto the sides.

4. Soak your fingertips in a bowl of warm water to remove the nail residue from filing and to soften the cuticles. Leave in for 5 to 10 minutes then dry your hands with a towel.

5. Drop a trace of cuticle oil onto the base of each nail to loosen the cuticle. Then massage the nail base with lotion and use the orange stick to gently push back the cuticle of each nail until the dead skin loosens up. Use the cuticle trimmer to carefully trim away the dead skin around the nail.

6.  Buff your nails to file the ridges and to add shine. Again, only buff in one direction. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water to get rid of any cuticle residue. Dry hands and apply your favorite hand lotion and massage your hands.

Polishing Nails:

1.  Apply a base coat to protect your nails from chemicals and help make your nail polish last longer. Do one stroke down the center of the nail then one on the right and one on the left.

2. Before applying polish rub the bottle between your palms for a few seconds to warm it up for easier application. Never shake the bottle, this will cause tiny bubbles. Paint the nail in three strokes – one down the center and two on the sides. Be careful not to paint the cuticle. Repeat with a second coat but make sure to let nails completely between coats.

3. Touch up the edges of your nails by wrapping a small piece of cotton around the orange stick and dipping it in nail polish remover.

4. Apply the top coat. Use one coat of polish for each nail. The top coat makes the color last longer and gives the nails a brilliant shine.

5. Dry your polished nails for at least 30 minutes. To speed up the drying time use a nail dryer spray. Spray 6 inches away from your nails.

Easy, right? Just make sure you have enough time dedicated for this and especially to let your nail polish dry completely. Nothing would suck more than going through all that just to chip your polish because you were in a hurry. Hope you guys liked!!! xoxo

**See updated post by clicking here!**

6/27/2011

The Easy Steps It Takes To Blow Dry Like A Pro



After years and years of trying to blow dry my hair like my hair stylist would, I finally learned and I actually don’t hate blow drying it anymore bc I’m happy with the results. It took lots of practice to get the techniques you need to get a great blow out down. But I promise you once you understand them and are using the correct products and tools, you to will be able to get salon like results.

I’m sure there's a lot of you that already are satisfied with the results you get but for those of you that are still struggling or want to get some extra pointers, I decided to dedicate this post solely on how to blow dry your hair to get professional results. I hope you guys enjoy and please feel free to comment or add any tips you have. xoxo!

I absolutely believe that one of the main tools that will make a difference is the blow dryer your using. With blow dryers the price is really right. They can range anywhere from $10 to some that are over $100 (those most expensive are the professional ones that salons use). It all really depends on what your personnel needs are: (i.e heat settings, attachments, wattage, etc.)  If you have short hair or don’t use a blow dryer very often, then an inexpensive dryer with fewer options will likely work for you.  When you get into the $50+ range, you are investing in a dryer that will last longer, use newer drying technologies to reduce damage on your hair, and contain more options for cater to your hair needs.  While the more expensive, salon-quality models do tend to have all the bells and whistles, you can get a good, well-equipped dryer with great features for around $40 or $60. You want an ionic blow dryer with at least 1800 watts (will reduce the drying time and are less damaging to your hair), make sure it has variable heat setting with a cool button (that button is important). It should come with a diffuser and a nozzle for smoothing the hair.

Now that I got that out of the way lets get started! After you wash your hair instead of using your regular towel try paper towels.  Take 3 or 4 sheets and wrap around your hair to get out excess wetness. If the paper towels come away soaked, do it again. Then let it air-dry as long as possible, or wrap it in an absorbent towel, such as an Aquis Hair Towel ($18, amazon.com), to remove excess water. You don’t want to start blow drying your hair until its about 70% dry and don’t bother putting in your hair products yet either, hair really wet wont take in the styling products like you want them to.

I will start pre-drying my hair with the blow dryer on a medium heat setting and massage your roots while doing this. I wouldn’t do this for more than 10 minutes, the thicker your hair is the longer you’ll want to pre dry and vise versa for thinner hair. You always want to get your roots dried first so with your fingers lift your hair away from your roots while directing the blow dryer at the roots.

Once your hair is almost dry apply your products. I have normal to dry hair so I use a leave in conditioner right after getting out of the shower. Then when its almost dry I use Paul Mitchell’s Skinny Serum ,It helps smooth out the hairs and cuts down on drying time. The trick is to make sure you coat every strand, besides the crown because that will weigh the hair down. I flip my head over, use a dime size amount in my palms, rub your palms together and start at the ends and work your way up to the mid shaft. Then comb through your hair to evenly distribute. For volume I use Sauvé's Professional Root Boosting Spray, spray the roots by parting hair into 1-2 sections and continue to mist evenly through roots and mid shaft. Everyone has a different hair type so you’ll probably have to experiment with a few different products before you find the right ones for your hair. Once you do find the right mixture, it will make your life a lot easier. Smile 

I have thick hair so I like to part my hair into a lot of different sections. Like the diagram on the right shows. But if your lucky to not have as much hair as I do,  you can just do three sections, from the top, the middle and the nape.( on the diagram that would be numbers 1, 4 and 6). Leave the nape section loose because this is where you'll begin blow-drying. You might have been told to start blow drying your bangs and front section first and if it works for you go with it, but I personally have tried it both ways and prefer doing the front section last, my reason is bc I feel it’s easier to start at the bottom and work your way up because when you drop the hair down, you aren’t putting dry hair on top of wet. It’s also easier because you can see what you are doing more easily. (just my personnel preference).

As far as brushes, if you want a very straight look you can use a paddle brush but if you want a straight look with some volume use a big round brush (my favorite brush). It can be tricky to use at first but once you get it down it’s a no brainer. I used to hate using these brushes bc I didn’t know the correct way to use them but now that I do I love them. To use the round brush, take a section of hair that is about the same width as the brush. Place the hair over and around the brush. Apply the dryer and rotate the brush as you dry. The bristles work to smooth each hair as they rotate. If this seems to be too  complicated, leave out the rotation of the brush. Always point the nozzle attachment on your dryer facing down the hair shaft. This helps to flatten the cuticle for the sleekest results. Once your done with the bottom half, unclip the middle section.

You want to achieve some volume in this section.  I do that by placing the brush right under the section of hair, and then bringing the brush up. Direct the dryer flow against the hair as you lift to lock in volume, then smooth through the rest of the strand as usual.

Extra Tips: Remember when your section is dry, use the cold shot button on your hair dryer for a few seconds to set the shape

                 As you dry, turn and move the brush toward the ends of your hair.

When your done with the middle section unclip the top and you'll want to dry your bangs in a desired style, depending on the length and cut of your bangs. Typically bangs respond better when dried forward, but you will have to experiment to see what works best for your hairstyle. For me, I like to spend the most time on this section bc I want to achieve volume while framing the layers around my face.  I do that using my large round brush and blow drying the hair forward and up while over directing the hair. This creates a great deal of volume and body especially when used with a volumizing mouse or spray.

Before you put away the blow dryer, feel with your hands that you haven’t missed any areas that are damp. You might want to go over you bangs again with either the blow dyer or a flat iron to achieve your desired style. After your hair is dry to the touch, give it a blast of cool air to set the style in place. Finally, massage a pea-size amount of smoothing serum (or styling cream) into the ends to flatten fly aways, and pat the top of your head with your hands so that any residual serum will level shorter, broken hairs that tend to stand up around the crown.

So that’s it, I hope this was somewhat helpful and not confusing. Let me know loves xoxo

6/15/2011

A Quick Way To Wash Your Makeup Brushes

Since you probably aren't going to wash your brushes as often as you should (or probably ever, yuk). You can always grab a baby wipe or makeup remover wipe and do it that way. Just a few sweeps  over the wipe will work out the makeup and the oils that collect on the bristles  preventing you from getting fresh color on the brush and a good blended look. It's a ton easier and only takes a few minutes. Not to say you shouldnt take the time out once every few weeks to give them a deep cleaning. You don't want to ruin your good brushes or transfer the bacteria onto your face causing your skin to breakout.
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