Friday, May 18, 2012
Nailed It
by Lauren
Last fall, I went on a two week trip to the Amalfi Coast...I was beyond excited but, to be quite honest, I was a little stressed about the nails situation. Forgetting about the fact that my normal mani wouldn't last one full week, let alone two, but just unpacking was bound to cause a few chips. I did base this stress on past experience...the year before, I headed to the South of France with a light light pink nail color and, within a few days, my nails made me look a fool and I had to hightail it to the closest salon. Considering the euro to dollar conversion, this ended up costing a small fortune. This time, I was going to be more prepared.
My sister and mother had been raving about gel and shellac manicures for a while and I decided to give them a try. I got a darker pink color this time and it withstood packing/unpacking several times (went to a bunch of different towns), the beach, exploring, shopping and all vacation activities. Needless to say, I was hooked. Gel/shellac is the perfect solution for someone like me. Truthfully, when I get a regular manicure it really seems like mine chip way quicker than average...probably within two to three days...between rummaging through my bag and going to the gym, I am somewhat careless at avoiding chips. Also, two weeks is the perfect amount of time...any longer, and I would be completely sick of the color. As you can see above, there are several colors to choose from and for every season. Sure, the price of a gel mani may cost a bit more than a regular manicure, but it truly does last two weeks; so you only have to pay for them half the amount of time (considering you go every week.) I started with these manicures last fall and never looked back.
Happy Friday!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Blowdry Skillz
by Devon
I love getting a great blow dry from a salon -- but I feel like a lot of the time, I can do just as good a job myself if I put my heart into it. I would say that on a scale of 1 to 10, the annoyingness of my hair is about a 7. I say this because I don't want you thinking I am some girl that has naturally straight hair that is telling you about blow drying her easy hair. This is coming from someone who has frizzy and naturally wavy/curly hair. It has taken me years of practice and information gathering to create the look that I want for my hair, and still yet, a humid day in New York has the ability to destroy all of my hard work. But here it goes:
1. Moroccanoil: This is one of the best products I have come across in a long time. I actually have a very small bottle and it has lasted a pretty long time. I put a dime sized portion in my hair while it is wet that will make my hair softer and more tame --- I never apply at the roots because that makes it greasy.
2. Bamboo Volume Mousse: I rub it in liberally at the roots - where I need volume. I really don't like it when my roots lay flat, it seems limp.
3. Featherweight T-3 blowdryer: I remember when this blowdryer came on the market. I told everyone I knew about its greatness -- lightweight, quiet, and blowdries hair in half the time. A year warranty. They also have a nifty travel version. Expensive, yes, but try for it on eBay. I use the attachment at the end of the blowdryer to get a direct flow near my hair so that the hairs are focused and stay in line rather than having a mind of their own.
4. Frederic Fekkai Large Round Brush: The bristles on this brush are unbelievable -- in recent years, I have become a big believer in the quality of bristles on a brush. Blow drying with great bristles keep the hair smoother. Better bristles grab the hair and poise it for the dryer.
5. THI Flat Iron: The last step. The flat iron, like the blow dryer, is pricey. Per Lauren's instructions, I actually got my THI flat iron on eBay and saved a bundle. Worth the effort and the savings: The iron heats up in a matter of seconds and creates an ultra smooth finish. I only flat iron the ends of my hair because I don't want to undo all the work I put in making my hair voluminous. Flat ironing the ends also highlights the angles and layers in a great haircut.
This is a pic where I did my own blow dry, judge for yourself:
Good luck out there in the summer months! I need it anytime the humidity index rise over 40.
1. Moroccanoil: This is one of the best products I have come across in a long time. I actually have a very small bottle and it has lasted a pretty long time. I put a dime sized portion in my hair while it is wet that will make my hair softer and more tame --- I never apply at the roots because that makes it greasy.
2. Bamboo Volume Mousse: I rub it in liberally at the roots - where I need volume. I really don't like it when my roots lay flat, it seems limp.
3. Featherweight T-3 blowdryer: I remember when this blowdryer came on the market. I told everyone I knew about its greatness -- lightweight, quiet, and blowdries hair in half the time. A year warranty. They also have a nifty travel version. Expensive, yes, but try for it on eBay. I use the attachment at the end of the blowdryer to get a direct flow near my hair so that the hairs are focused and stay in line rather than having a mind of their own.
4. Frederic Fekkai Large Round Brush: The bristles on this brush are unbelievable -- in recent years, I have become a big believer in the quality of bristles on a brush. Blow drying with great bristles keep the hair smoother. Better bristles grab the hair and poise it for the dryer.
5. THI Flat Iron: The last step. The flat iron, like the blow dryer, is pricey. Per Lauren's instructions, I actually got my THI flat iron on eBay and saved a bundle. Worth the effort and the savings: The iron heats up in a matter of seconds and creates an ultra smooth finish. I only flat iron the ends of my hair because I don't want to undo all the work I put in making my hair voluminous. Flat ironing the ends also highlights the angles and layers in a great haircut.
This is a pic where I did my own blow dry, judge for yourself:
Good luck out there in the summer months! I need it anytime the humidity index rise over 40.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Let There Be Bright
by Lauren
Nike Air Max (get similar)
Now that I have a dog (my little cutie goldendoodle Oliver), I feel like I am constantly taking him for walks around the city...and keeping up with Ollie takes some serious footwear. Out little ventures have left my old gym sneaks with little to no support and I recently hit up Lady Foot Locker in search of a new pair of athletic kicks. More specifically, I was looking for a pair of sneaks with neon...either all over neon or neon detailing. I've been noticing other people sporting the trend recently and love the idea of playing around with fun colors on sneakers. I tried on several pairs and fell in love with the Nike Air Max in black with neon pink detailing. Since I'll be wearing them for long walks as well as to the gym sticking with the more subtle neon detailing seemed like my best bet... I could wear them with almost any other color. Don't get me wrong...I am obsessed with all over neon sneaks and will probably end up purchasing a pair of those as well (maybe not for everyday.) Below are the three I am trying to choose between:
from top: Reebok Zigtech Pulse | New Balance 574 Sonic Brights | Adidas adiZero Prime LT
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