about me.....hmmmmm
i guess at the moment ill share a bit about my life! my husband and i have recently sold everything we own and moved thousands of km away, to get new jobs and hopefully make some big $$! We are both in our early 20's and im a hairdresser by trade! ive just got my HR license, and i am in LOVE with beauty and makeup!
Getting into the good stuff!!! im am going to start posting step by step hair and makeup pictures for all of you to look, learn and enjoy :).
talking about things is one way of learning but i know quite a few of you out there (especially if you love being creative) are very visual people, so this will help you a great deal! if you have any request just comment below and ill try the best that i can!
So keep reading and stay tuned ill be bringing you new posts as soon as i can!!!
Ok so better late then never, sorry thats its been longer then usual for a new post, but things in my new home are hectic! So today ill be talking about hair extension! different methods and also how to care for your new length.
But before i start i just have one thing to add, ive recently found that in my new home the water that all the city has is full of chlorine! this can be a huge problem for hair, especially hair with extensions like i have. Cihlorine is the stuff that give swimming pools that certine smell, good for killing off germs but not good at all for your hair. it dryes it out massively and can also leave a residue on your hair! What ive been doing to prevent this is adding some bicarb soda into my shampoo every second time i was my hair this will open the cuticle layer of your hair and allow any trapped resudue to leave you hair. also ive increase the ammount of treatments and products that im using, and basically that is all you can really do unfortunatly. But the same thing goes for anyone with copper pipes, as this can leave a nasy colour in your hair.
Ok so now to the good stuff! i am in LOVE with extensions and if they are done correctly you will be too! they not only add length but if your hair is fine they can add lots off fullness and body!
one massive thing i see wrong with so many extensions these days is they are not thick enough. meaning that there is not enough in the hair to make them look real and full. If there isnt enought they wont blend and you will be left with whispy scraggly hair. This isnt the person who puts the extensions in fault, quite oftern its the clients fault for choosing the cheapest option! if you are going to have extensions save up the money and do it propery! get the full of 3/4 head it makes it so much better trust me! Also i feel that hair around chin to sholder level is the shortest hair that can still look great with extensions anything shorter will be desasterouse!
There are so many differnt methods on the market today i will start with the easiest and most managable ones first. Also all the products that im recommending as Human hair! DO NOT waste your time with anything less then human hair! Human hair you can colour (darker only) straighten, curl and blowdry. where as synthetic hair will melt if you use any heat tool and will tangle and snag very easily!
Clip In: If you have never had extensions or long hair before this is what i would reccomend you try first. they are very easy to use and you can remove them before you go to be or when you cant be bothered wearing them. they use a spring clip which clamps nice and firmly to your natural hair! you cant see them and they look nice and natural. You can buy them at most hairdressing salons or wharehouses, and you will be able to get a great colour match with the help of a hairdresser. But they can be costly ranging form $250- $500 depending on the length and colour. Another thing you can do is look on Ebay! there are heaps and heaps of extensions, but make sure you type in something like "human Hair Clip in extensions/ Weft" it will say wether is human hair or not and they will usually be more expencive. But Ebay is ALOT cheaper then the salons i got a great set for onlt $100! most sets come in a full head pack enought to do your whole head, Also most clip in extensions or wefts, can look whispy so what i recommend its to buy 2 packets and sew the top seam together to make it fuller!
Micro Loop- This i feel is by far the best extensions i have ever had and ive basically had them all! they use a bead, can clamp the extension close to the root, using no glue or harsh chemicals, also as your hair grows you can get them pushed back close to your roots without having to buy all new extension! These extensions feel so natural i completely forget that ive got them in, they are not heavey at all and look amazing! Also the quality of the hair is fantastic! but definatly get a full or 3/4 head to make then look nice and natural! ive got roughtly 90-100 extension in my hair. because they are not glued in you may loose some hair which is completely normal. and you also need to do maintenece ( pushing the extention closer to your roots) every 3-4 months or so. these will last for up to a year if looked after and range from $300-$900 mine were $450 and they were done at a extension only salon.
Glue In- Glue in extension will not budge! you wont loose any if they are done correctly. But because there is glue in your hair it will be heavy, you wont be able to brush the roots or run your hands though the roots of you hair, also sleeping will be uncomfortable at first. Simiar thing goes for the micro loop, you will need quite a few in you hair to make them look real. As you hair grows however, you will not be able to do maitence on your extensions as they are glued in. these extension will last up to roughly 5 months or so anything more then that you will start to get dread locks where your natural hair is growing out. and finally to remove the extension they need to use aceatone ( nail posilsh remover) which will reck your hair! They will take about 4 hrs and can range in price from $500- $3000!
Ok so with extension basically you get what you pay for, you cant substitue qualitly at all in this case! be beware that you are not over paying at the same time! many salons put a massive mark up on extesions ( i know having worked in many salons!) so i recommend going to a salon that specialises in extesions only! this way they will get the extensions cheaper, direct form india without going though a middle man!
It is also very important that when you get extensions that you are ready to look afer them, and spend time on your hair! i definatly wouldnt recommend extensions for anyone that doesnt have time to style their hair!
You will need to use good quality shampoo, conditioners, heat protectents and any moisturisers or serums that you like. as the hair is not connected to your scalp so it isnt getting any nutrients as all! i recomment Kerastase or Moroccan Oil. Depending on your extensions all will come with haircare reccomendations and will show you how to care and wash your extension!
Have FUN good luck, and trust me once you have long hair you will never what to go back to short hair again!
Ok so after one whole month of being alone, fending for myself and having to cook dinner for one, I am finally flying out to see my husband tomorrow at 6am in the morning! I couldn’t me move ecstatic! It’s amazing how much I have achieved not only physically but also emotionally! You need to understand that as soon as I moved out from home, I moved straight into my husband’s arms! It was a great experience being alone for a month, and scary at times!
Anyway I have been preparing for when I step off the plane and see him again! I’ve been keeping extremely fit and healthy and toned up in places where I didn’t even think could be toned lol, my skin is clear and radiant, and I’ve just lightened my hair (slightly), and I bought some fantastic new clothes, including a great pair of patent leather grey thigh high flat boots OH I’m in love! So I’m ready to WOW him when I get to see him! SO here you have it I have 13 hrs or being in airports and on planes to prepare to see my husband again YA
It’s going to be hard leaving all ,my friends and the area that I grew up in but, I can now see what I’m moving it-to! A great new lift and fresh starts, new job, new friend’s new house WOW!
So I guess I’ll just be taking about my flight and what I’m taking to survive these 13 hrs of suspense!
Must to have on such a long flight is facial wipes, I’m planning to wear no makeup and just daggy comfortable clothes, because believe me it’s COLD at 3.30 in the morning when I have to get up! So the facial wipes will be a great toner and base for my makeup (whenever I decide to apply it!). one thing I am going to do though, seems weird but it’s a massive time and prying eye saver, I’ll put my false lashes on at home before I leave, I don’t know about you but when you’re out and about and you need to do a quick makeup touch up and there is no bath room present suddenly it like “all eyes on the woman putting makeup on!” and considering ill be putting most of my makeup on mid-flight this seems like a great way to detract some unwanted eyes hehe. So ill be in my daggy clothes with false lashes oh well who cares! It will be better that way in the long run! :D
Also I’ll do my hair today and touch it up tomorrow before I leave, I think straight is the best way because I can still brush it throughout the day, where if you go for curls its better for a short flight, but don’t brush curls as they can go fluffy and out of control! Make sure you have a small hair product with you for touch-ups!
So I have a 6hr stop over at an airport I’ve never been to so I reckon there I will read a book (yes harry potter and the half blood prince lol) and try and keep occupied! I was planning on listening to music on my phone, but in the haze of last night’s friend’s birthday party, I accidently dropped it in the toilet YES my new phone oh well!
Also another great thing to take on airplanes is eye drops, if you think about it you are at high altitude and in lots of air-conditioning; your eyes can go red and become dry! So eye drops will keep them lubricated and white!
Ok so this is basically just what’s been happening recently I’ve got to pack all my clothes now and get my day bag ready OH it’s so exciting! I will keep you all updated on how that big airport meeting goes! Keep Reading
Washing your hair. Seems like an easy thing to do right? We I’m amazed at how many people I know that don’t know how to wash their hair properly! And evey time I correct them they are so amazed, and thank me for it later!
To start of you need a good quality shampoo and conditioner. And I’m not talking about the ones at the supermarket or chemist; you need to get your hair care product from a hairdressing salon! Yes that are more expensive, but what you don’t know if you haven’t tried them is they make your hair and scalp SO much healthier and they last 2 times even 3 times longer than the cheaper knock-offs!
You hair already goes though enough with colouring and styling, don’t you think it deserves some pampering by some shampoo and conditioner designed by people who study hair?! Once you try it you will never go back!
Ok so I bet your wondering now, “What shampoo and conditioner is right for me?” There are so many different products out there and your hair and scalp both need to be treated you need something that is prescriptive! It’s about quality not quantity. Even with hairdressing brands you can still purchase the economy sized bottles, but I recommend you go for quality hands down evey time. Quality shampoos and conditioners are usually in a smaller bottle as there are highly concentrated and have a more pricer, price tag. Trust me your hair will thank you for it and it will be so much easier to manage, it will actually do what you want it to do!
For me there is only one range I’ve found to treat my hair and my scalp and make all my hair dreams come true, if you haven’t tried it I suggest you go on their website, find the nearest salon and book in for a hair and scalp prescription. Yes the product I am talking about is
I am a trained ambassador with the Kerastase collection and trust me having seeing the benefits from this product it’s a miracle. It can treat everything from hair loss, breakage, lack of volume, dull hair and on top of it all it gives you amazingly silky smooth hair
Ok so back to picking what product is right for you (its a lot easier if you get a prescription) Shampoo’s or “bathes” as they are called by Kerastase are made to treat the scalp, anything from hair loss (which can be caused by an imbalance in the scalp) to oiliness to dandruff (oily and dry, yes there are two types) if you don’t treat your scalp concern it will lead to an imbalance in the scalp and will eventually effect the hair condition. A good quality shampoo shouldn’t lather or foam too much, the more foam you get the more harsh detergents the shampoo has in it! Also you MUST shampoo your hair twice! Why? The first time will get any dust and excess oil off the scalp and the second will let the ingredients penetrate into your scalp and treat your scalp concern, make sure you leave the second shampoo on for a few seconds.
Also how often you shampoo your hair is important, try if you can not to shampoo it every day, as your hair will think it is drying out, and in return produce more oil! That is why it can seem to be oily after one day! It’s hard at first but try cutting it back to 2-3 times a week, for the first week it will be oily because your scalp is in shock and it can finally breathe so it will be letting some oil out! After that time your hair will be a lot silkier and smoother, and the natural oils of your scalp will coat and protect your hair, AND it won’t be oily!
Also a good weekly treatment is a great idea! I defiantly recommend any treatment from the Kerastase collection, or also Moroccan Oil it’s fantastic! But if your budget won’t allow it try using olive oil! Though the mid length and ends only! NOT the roots. This gives your hair a fantastic healthy shine and will keep it nourished for days to come! So apply it to dry hair and wrap in cling wrap ( keeps the heat in) for at least ½ hr or so, you can sleep in it if you like but it can be a bit messy, I suggest putting a towel over your pillow! Then rinse and shampoo twice followed by a great conditioner!
Ok so after you’re reading this, you should have washing your hair down pat, your scalp and hair will be healthy and glowing! Keep reading for more hair and beauty posts coming up!
Ever wished that you colour slim-down your nose or enhance you cheekbones, well its allot easier then you think! It’s called contouring! And it’s the final step in making you foundation and skin look flawless. No matter what the concern is this is a contouring technique to enhance or hind your concern.
So the trick is to work with light and dark. Anything that is shaded or darkened will look as if its resending and anything that is highlighted will look like it is coming forward.
There are a few different product you can use I find the easiest is a duo concealer that has a natural finish. You need a duo colour with a lighter shade to use as a highlighter and a darker shade to use to add depth to your face. Another product that is also good is a bronzer; try to get one with minimal shimmer as shimmer will act more like a highlight then to add depth. Also this is only one part to add depth, you also need one to highlight, and I’d recommend a soft shimmer gel or even a lighter eye shadow colour in a natural tone.
Contouring is all about re-shaping your face if your face is
Round- you need to build your cheekbones. To do this add either bronzer or the darker concealer colour under your cheekbones (suck in your cheeks to find where to apply) and apply in a wedge like shape from your hairline right up to under the apples of your cheeks.
Wide or round forehead- to make this area seem narrower shade just the sides or temples of the forehead with a bronzer or darker conceler to make it appear more slim
Wide thick nose- very similar to the forehead but apply bronzer or darker concealer either side of the nose, and the highlighter down the middle of the nose to lengthen it and add make it appear more balanced. If you feel your nose is too long, apply a small amount of darker concealer under the tip of the nose, it will make it appear shorter.
Double Chin- darkening under the chin right to the front of the chin but just underneath. The key with contouring is you can’t see where it starts and stops its meant to look seamless and natural
Enhance your jaw line: similar to disguising the double chin apply bronzer along you entire jaw line which will add depth and make your jaw line stand out more giving you the look of having a more angular face
So to bring any areas forward, do the opposite of adding depth apply a highlighter this will emphasise them it’s great to do this on the cheekbones and above the brow bone, it also give you a healthy glow!
Also if you are wearing blush, apple it wither on the apples of the cheeks (gives you a natural flush) or under the cheekbone on top of the bronzer or darker concealer (this will give you some colour and still enhance your cheekbones).
So there you have it! Everyone’s face is different and has different need, practice makes perfect. Follow the steps that apply to you and keep trying it makes a massive difference to your face: D
Here is a diagram as well i hope this makes it easier
Applying your foundation doesn’t mean just slapping it on and hoping for the best. Ever wondered why some women’s skin looks flawless and natural. It’s not just their skin it’s their foundation and the way that they apply it! There is an actual technique and once you have learnt it you will never look back!
So if you have the skin care down pat you shouldn’t have that many unwanted pimples to cover up!
Start with a clean dry face, and apply a primer of your choice, primers are usually a silky texture, which is designed to help with a smooth fluid application of your foundation. But make sure you only apply a very small amount; you don’t want to over apply and end up with your foundation sliding off! If you don’t have a foundation primer a light moisturiser will do for now.
Next step is concealing and mattifing, if you haven’t red my “something to hide” blog I suggest that you do it now it will really help! So conceal and mattify the desired areas.
Ok so once your face is primed and ready the next step is applying your foundation. BUT before we go into detail you need to make sure you have found the correct foundation for your skin
There are so many on the market these days and I would do the same things as your skin care go into a cosmetics shop and get some advice! What I’ve found myself is that most anti aging foundations have a high level or moisture/oil type products in them so if your skin tend to be oily I would steer clear, they are designed for older dryer skin only! Also be wary of mousse or mattifying foundations especially if your skin is dry and delicate, on my skin I find them far too drying and my skin starts to flack! I would recommend this for oily skin types only! For people with normal to combination skin don’t be afraid to use more than one foundation ( same colour of course) to treat the different areas of your face, but I busy times this can be very time consuming as different products have different textures and can be very hard to blend. So as I said before go and get some advice! And also with foundation you get what you pay for! So I recommend saving up a few dollars and spoiling yourself! The foundation will last 10 xs longer and the results will be 100 xs more satisfying!
It lasts all day and all night it doesn’t budge but it still makes your skin glowing and radiant and it doesn’t clog your pores or look cakey!! You can also apply a small amount for soft day look or add more if you’re going dancing and it has SPF 10! Could there be a more perfect foundation?! I bought mine for a birthday present to myself last October and I still have it! I use it every day! It retails for I think $68.00 but work every cent!
So finally make sure when you are picking your foundation that you get the correct colour for your skin. There are two main skin colours yellow and pink. If you have a yellow completion (usually olive tones) try to steer away from pink based foundations as they won’t look natural on your skin and the same goes if you have naturally more flushed skin. Also make sure it’s not too light or too dark there is a fine line, but it makes all the difference!
Foundation Application
Some people like to dot the foundation along the entire face first and then rub it in but personally I find that method to leave unbendable foundation blobs all over your face so I prefer to use either my hands or a foundation brush!
*make sure if you using a foundation sponge or brush to wash them in an antibacterial wash to make them sterile once your done, because any excess foundation will collect dirt and oil from your skin and be re-transferred back to your skin in your next application.
So apply a small portion of foundation to your hands, brush or sponge and start from the middle of your face and work out and up. Remember to be very gentle when working with you face. You can always add more foundation if needed but if you have too much to start off with it may go cakey or patchy. Use circular motions and massage the foundation completely into your skin. It should be easy if you have the correct colour foundation for your skin. Finally make sure it is completely blended along and down the jaw line and near the ears you don’t want to look like your wearing a mask. Also be careful of your hairline especially if you’re blonde, a foundation halo isn’t a good look! Use less foundation around the hairline and just becareful with your application!
The final step is to preserve all your hard work with powder! You may use a correction power (with the muliti tones to correct) or your favourite powder. But this step is the most important because it will set your foundation and keep it looking fresh all day and night so you can party on without a worry! Use a big soft brush and softly pat the powder on not rub.
Wa La! Your foundation is flawless! Only 10% more to go and you will be ready to embrace the day/night!
Skin care is much more then what we put on our face! Most of beautiful glowing skin is reflected on how healthy we are on the inside, and also the skin care products that we use! I’m very lucky am my skin rarely breaks out, I find that if I’ve indulged a little too much on chocolate or fatty foods that within a week’s time my skin will be about to break out L. So I’ve found the best thing that works for me is to be fit and healthy and “try” to avoid the foods that I know give me bad skin. Everything in moderation!
Just like in my earlier Blog on detoxification everything that you put into your system needs to escape somehow, most of the time that is though your skin! It can become more oily, dry and patchy or like me break out! Try drinking some cleansing tea (green tea), do a 7day detox programme or something that I take myself that I’ve found to work wonders is Silica Tablets. You can get them from the health food shop and basically it improves the zinc levels in your body and helps with all your connective tissue. Cut a long story short, it makes your hair skin and nails strong and healthy! At first if you try one of these methods it’s hard, because your skin will break out even more, which in the long term is a good thing! What’s happening is your skin is leaching out all the unwanted toxins in your body and the tea, or detoxing programme helps flush it out of your system! My advice when you start this make sure there is nothing BIG happening like a function or a party it’s good to stay in over the weekend while you are starting this programme.
Tips when the unwanted arrive!
It said not to touch or pick unwanted pimples, but no one like the sight of them. For me Prevention is better than cure! If you must pick, use clean hand and have ice ready to reduce any swelling. Try not to touch the sight or put makeup on it as it will make it worse! As I just said you may need to have a weekend in but once your body is cleansed your skin will be able to breathe! But for any stubborn blackhead I use Biore’s deep cleansing pore strips, work wonders!
When working with the skin it is very important to remember that you get a pH balanced product. The normal range for skin, hair and scalp is 4.5-5.5pH anything out of these regions will be far too harsh for your skin! Apparently in a normal day we apply 515 chemicals to our face! (Safe obviously otherwise they wouldn’t be allowed in skin care), so I prefer to use more “natural” skin care products on my face and body. It is basically impossible to recommend skin care products to someone that you haven’t met or seen their skin; everyone’s skin is so different. So my best advice would be to go into a skin care shop and talk to the girls there and get their advice! They know what they are talking about as they deal with the products everyday! My favourite place is Lush! I’m totally addicted the products last so long and smell amazing and they have worked wonders on my skin! Take a look at the Lush Websight! I use a daily cleanser, which is softer for everyday use, toning water and also a face mask once a week! All these I’ve bought from lush, you can order over the internet as well! Bliss!
You may also want to stretch your skin care programme out to day and night or even eye creams you just need to find the product that works for you, me personally don’t use any of those “yet” lol.
Also it is very important to use a great moisturiser with preferably some SPF, if it doesn’t have any you can always buy some sun cream and inter mix it with your moisturiser! Moisturiser with SPF is so important because when we hop out of the shower or bath our skin is in a very soft state, and if it’s left on its own, external aggressions are far easier to penetrate your skin and make it dry and itchy. And will help fight pre-mature aging! I’ve used moisturiser with SPF every day for the past 10 or so years and I’ve never looked back. People say that I’m addicted and I reckon they are right! It’s SO SO SO important! It will keep your skin healthy and youthful for many years to come!
Ok so this is a big one and I’m still shock to learn that not many people do it! REMOVE YOUR MAKEUP BEFORE BED!!! Otherwise your makeup will clog your pores leading to blackhead and pimples and can cause uneven skin tone and eye infections not a good look! My favourite is L’Oreal Eye and Lip Makeup Remover- $18.00 or if you want a natural alternative use olive oil! Works wonders and you skin, especially your eye area will be smooth as a baby’s bum!
But skin care isn’t just your face! It can be your whole body! Here are some recipes for amazing glowing skin which you can use on your whole body even your face!
Olive Oil Scrub
½ C sugar
2 TBS honey
3TBS Olive oil (must be extra virgin)
Mix all together and apply small amount to wet skin! Amazing you may not need to moisturise afterwards as this is very moisturising (wouldn’t recommend it for very oily skin) Oh and don’t worry about the olive oil clogging your pores. The Olive oil particles are way too big to fit into your pores! And you’re left with smooth radiant skin!
White and Yellow Egg Mask
Apply a whisked egg white to clean skin allow to dry (will feel tight) and wash off this is a great way to brighten your skin!
Next step is to repeat same process but with the yolk, this will act as a natural moisturiser! Enjoy! (Only use this for your face though: D)
Remember that doing all these things once isn’t going to be enough! You need to make time and put in effort if you want glowing skin! Keep any supplements next to your bathroom skin so you don’t forget to take them in the morning and make sure you allow enough time to cleanse tone and moisturise every single day! The fruits will blossom in time just keep persisting and find the right products that work for you!
