2 Easy Hair Tricks I Learned From My Stylist

Keep reading for how to get instant volume and wave.

I have always had straight (pretty flat) blonde hair. I’m terrible and only get my hair cut about once a year. And I’ve mentioned it here before, but outside of one other time getting it professionally done, my sister has always highlighted my hair…from a box.

My color was starting to get drab and muted and the box wasn’t cutting it anymore. Right after I moved to Dallas I was on a walk with a friend who lives down here and her color honestly just looked really good. I got her hair stylist’s number and immediately booked an appointment. Three days later I was sitting in her kitchen on a Sunday night (pretty sweet deal) getting my hair balayaged. I went with the balayage instead of highlights because it is more of a subtle ombré. It grows out with your hair so you only have to color about 1-2 times a year. Music to my annual haircut ears!

Not only did I love my color, but I walked away with two tips from my new stylist that are too easy and good not to share.

I use Shimmer Lights purple shampoo 1-2 times a week to keep my blonde hair it’s brightest shade.

1. Use a purple shampoo

   Blonde colored treated hair can often take on a gold/yellow hue after time. To keep your blonde color a bright and more silver/white hue, incorporate a purple shampoo into your routine. I use Shimmer Lights purple shampoo, per my stylists recommendation. Use it once a week or as needed. My stylist also suggested using it on a Friday or Saturday night before an event or going out. It gives you hair and your confidence an instant boost!

2. Wear your hair in a bun with bobby pins after blowdrying

   For instant volume and wave, twist your hair into a high bun after you blow dry it. Using just three bobby pins, I twist my bone straight hair up into a bun loosely secured. Then let it sit while you finish getting ready. When you let the pins down, your hair will have a subtle wave and some extra volume without a crease. I also do this while I sleep. I used to use a silk scrunchy, but the bobby pins leave my hair up out of my face without creasing it.

Do you have any quick tips you swear by?

Annie

Sunday Self Care

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Since the new year, I’ve adapted a new Sunday, enter trendy buzz word “self care,” routine. On most Sundays, especially those following a weekend of lots of eating and drinking, I try to end the weekend with the same routine. It’s a sure way to help detox and ease the Sunday scaries…

Sunday Self Care Routine:

Take an epsom salt bath. I love Dr. Teal’s epsom salt bath, but I really love the coconut oil scent. Bonus, it makes your skin extra soft. Epsom salt baths are said to detox your skin of toxins, leave your skin smooth and ease sore muscles. A warm bath also helps with stress and aids with sleep!

Apply a thick layer of shea butter. I have really dry skin and patches of eczema. I have tried a gagillion lotions and this lotion by Aveeno has proven to be the best for an everyday lotion. However, on Sunday’s I lather up with this super thick (like really really thick) shea butter by Sun Potion.

Put on a face mask. 2018 was the year of taking better care of my skin. I’m still on the mission in 2019. When I have extra time, like on Sundays, putting on a face mask is one of my favorite acts of self care. My roommate gifted me the Super Collagen Mask by Mario Badescu for Christmas and I’ve been loving it. I put on the mask right before I get in the bath.

Sip on detox tea. I drink a lot of hot tea morning, noon and night. I often have a cup of detox tea after dinner to help settle my meal and subside any sugar cravings. But something about sipping tea, with a face mask on, in a hot bath, makes me feel like I’m really living my best life.

Get in bed early. I try to get in or start getting ready for bed around 9 each night. On Sundays especially.

Do you have a specific self care routine?

Annie

Beauty Bites

When it comes to beauty and skincare, I am not a "product person." I'm a drug store mascara, forget to wash my face, sometimes my teeth, never get facials kind of person. As I'm getting more into my 20's, I'm trying my best to change my old ways. Every article I read turns into some rant about how important your skin regimen is, or "what I would have told my 23 year old self" turns into a lesson on taking care of your skin. I don't want wrinkles by the time I'm 30, so looks like it is time to grow up. at

Like I said, I've really been trying to invest in better products, take more time with my skin regimen and care more about what I'm putting on my face and body. Below is a list of my current "beauty bites." While I'm still a girl on a budget, one product is a pantry staple and nothing is over $30. 

LAZY DRY SHAMPOO
I am new to the dry shampoo world. I always swore it didn't work for me. My hair gets greasy after 24 hours, and have always washed my hair everyday if I want it to look decent. Once I joined the working world, washing and drying my hair everyday became a long and daunting task. Enter dry shampoo. It took a few weeks to get my hair used to every other day washes, but with some trial and error I've found some dry shampoos that actually work and help prolong the washing process. My current obsession is Lazy Dry Shampoo. It's all natural ingredients and locally made in OKC! You apply the powder with a soft brush at night, then you wake up and voila, non-greasy hair! It comes in two versions for light and dark hair. Lazy Dry Shampoo can be ordered here. 

RODAN + FIELDS FOAMING TANNER
I get pale in the winter, like sickly pale. When spring hits I get eager to add some color to my washed out winter skin, but it's not that easy. It takes weeks in the summer to get a tan. With my roommate's bachelorette trip in Scottsdale this weekend, I am in desperate need for some base color before being fully exposed to the sun. My good friend Bailey recently started selling R+F and raved about this tanner. I love that is is a foam, making it so easier to apply. The color shows up almost instantly giving me the color I dreadfully need.  Shop from Bailey directly here. 

COCONUT OIL
You've probably seen a million articles about all the benefits and ways you can use coconut oil, well it's true. I've recently started using coconut oil outside of just cooking with and more for topical use. Coconut oil has replaced my old make up remover. I have a jar in my bathroom that I use every night to wipe away my make up. It works better than any bottle remover you can buy at the store.  I have really dry skin so something that gently removes my makeup and moisturizes at the same time is a win win. I also apply a little extra on my lips and sometimes use it on my cuticles and elbows. 

DIY LAVENDER BODY SCRUB
My other roommate gifted me some lavender body scrub for Valentine's Day. Made from just coconut oil, sugar and lavender oil. My dry skin was obsessed. It became my ritual to go to hot yoga, come home light a candle in the bathroom, and use my lavender body scrub in a long hot steamy shower. A little home spa action. I found my skin not needing as much lotion post-shower because the scrub helped get off dead skin and moisturize with the coconut oil base. I ran out fast, but plan on using this recipe to make more on my own!

Annie

Makeup Manners

I'm 21 and still feel like I don't know how to do my makeup. To be honest, I feel like I don't know how to properly do anything beauty related. This most likely comes from laziness. I'm a simple girl when it comes to hair, skincare and makeup. I'm all about the 5 minute look. My hair is bone straight and I can go from the shower to ready in 15 minutes. It's handy, but as I've gotten older I've realized I need to have better "manners" when it comes to my beauty routine.

I use the word manners because just like saying thank you and chewing with your mouth closed, I think those some ideas can be applied to beauty. It's time I start treating my skin with respect and applying my makeup and fixing my hair the proper way. 

I turned to my bestie and beauty guru to get the best tips on which products to use. Megan has the best manners when it comes to all things makeup and skincare. She takes her beauty routine seriously and it's definitely noticeable. 

Let's start with skin. After reading article after article about skin-care tips or "what I wish I would have told my 20-year old self," everyone talks about how important it is to take care of your skin. I've started to listen a little and added sunscreen, flossing and heavily moisturizing to my everyday routine. I've also been applying vaseline to my dry areas and eyelids before I go to sleep.

Now for Megan's tips and favorite products: 

She uses an incredible cleanser and moisturizer as well as a Clarisonic. For a cheaper version, Megan suggests
Orgins - Checks and Balances cleanser, Cetaphil - Oil Control moisturizer and Biore`- Acne Clearing Scrub. A good cleanser, scrub and moisturizer are the first steps in skin care. Below are more of her favorite products!

Step 1. Cleanse
Omorovicza Cleansing Foam -worth it

Step 2. Moisturize
Omorovicza Radiance Renewal Serum- revives tired skin
Omorovicza Balancing Moisturiser - for long lasting hydration
J.Berry Beauty Balm - A beauty lined started by Megan's facialist back home. I've tried this product and it rocks, put it on everything. 
Kiehl's Creme D`Elegance Repairateur - you can't beat Kiehl's

Now for makeup. I love having Megan do my makeup for special occasions, she makes me feel like I'm sitting at the makeup counter in the mall! She has all the brushes, primers and highlighters to make you look great without looking like you tried too hard.

Step 1.  Prime
Laura Mercier Hydrating Primer - Julia suggests it too!
Too Faced Hangover - for that red puffy "after a night out" skin
Smash Box Photo Phinish - to reduce redness 

Step 2. Foundation
Bare Minerals Original powder - for light coverage 
Chanel Viltalumiere Aqua - for medium coverage
Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation - for full coverage

Step 3. Conceal
Laura Mercier in Secret Camaflage

Step 4. Add some color
Nars Bronzer in Laguna
Nars Blush in Orgasm
Nars Highlighter in Albatross
Urban Decay Naked Palatte - every girl's favorite eyeshadow

Step 5. The finale
Chanel mascara #10

Now that's a long list, so I asked Megan to pick her tip top/can't live without products and she said...

1. Omorovicza Cleansing Foam
2. Nars Blush in Orgasm
3. Bare Minerals Original powder
4. J.Berry Beauty Balm
5. YSL Touche Éclat
6. Chanel mascara #10

Okay so who just wrote down all the beauty buys they need to go make? My hand is raised. To start, I'm thinking a big tub of Kiehls, Laura Mercier's primer and Nars blush and highlighter. Thanks Megan for sharing all of your wonderful makeup manners!

Annie