Not so risky hair dye

I had a request recently to write about hair dye. Thank you for caring enough to actually write in!.....Here it goes....

A friend of a friend who does hair and make up for CBS' Craig Ferguson Show and who used to tour with Kiss, once recommended that I use Natural Instincts semi-permanent hair dye to brighten up my do. Nice way of saying my hair was fried from the sun and needed help:) Although enhancing natural beauty isn't her usual goal at work (unless you find Gene Simmons to be naturally beautiful), she knows a lot more about this stuff than I do!

I tried it a while back and loved it. My friend, Hollis, tried it and loved it. So my cousin, Natalie, was in town and volunteered her head for the latest experiment. Great news especially since we all have different hair types!

Step 1: Comb and slightly dampen hair
Step 2: Separate hair into small sections and apply dye to roots
Step 3: Add more dye throughout hair and comb it through evenly
Step 4: Realize you should have applied Vaseline to her forehead and ears. Oops. Sorry Natalie.

Step 5: Wait 10 minutes then wash it out.

Voila! Beauteous maximus!

Bottom line: This formula in particular adds shine, brilliance, and makes the coarsest hair soft. The best part is it naturally fades away over a month or two rather than growing out from the roots like permanent dye. Its a great way to try a new color without having to pay an arm and a leg or commit to monthly root fills.

The "Ins 'n outs" of big hair

Hi Ladies,

So, I got a few quick tips from my hair stylist, Stephanie Ames, who works at the IBIS Salon in Richmond. For those of you with thick, curly hair who are currently losing the "humidity hates me" battle or worse, are suffering from the 1991 "I wanna look like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman" syndrome, take Stephanie's advice and try New York's latest "In and Out" cut. I'm not aware of all the techniques involved, but I think it has to do with scoping your hair into a C shape on the sides and trimming the ends with alternating "in and out" cuts (meaning the scissors are directed toward and away from the head).

Although the cut tapers heavy ends and thins out bushy hair, which makes hair easier to straighten, it's really meant for curly hair. I'd show you my hair, but I haven't styled it today and would hate to misrepresent Stephanie's good work. So here's Sarah Jessica Parker. (This is the pic I showed to Stephanie).

And another tip from Stephanie to anyone who wants to add a pop of color to their hair, but wants to avoid the cost of filling in roots every 4 weeks. Add highlights underneath the crown of your hair so it peeks through even with your hair down, but doesn't require ongoing maintenance. Please note, this is NOT the method where you bleach the top half of your hair and dye the bottom half black....Please don't do that:)

And a special congratulations to my friend Catherine Hoose on the delivery of her baby girl, Jane:)

Aspirin for Acne: Part II

Hi Ladies,

So, I repeated the aspirin mask experiment a few times and here are the results:

The mask will exfoliate your skin, leaving it smooth and a little dry. The "bug bites" on my face have faded, but they are still visible.

Bottom line: If you're in a pinch and don't have your favorite exfoliator on hand, try the aspirin mask. But don't rely on this method to zap away your face's "pink accessories" the night before a first date, a job interview, or "the big day."

Aspirin for Acne?

So, my face broke out...again. I read online that aspirin masks are a cheap treatment for acne as it includes a beta-hydroxy acid, which is commonly used in brand facial products. Since my skin decided to produce a pink accessory to my face every hour on the hour today, I decided to put aspirin to the test. After another trip to CVS, I bought a bottle of aspirin, took out four tablets and added 1/8 tablespoon of water. They slowly dissolved into a sandy paste.

Word of caution: Apply over a dish so the grains don't drop on the floor!

After my face was covered with the mess, I let it sit for 15 minutes. You can add cucumbers to your eyes for a spa-like experience, but make sure your sister's dog isn't there to eat them off your face! I digress...

At first there was a gentle cooling sensation-- nice!...Followed by a severe dryness. Eww. Then the mask started to crumble off my face, so it was obviously time to wash it off.

Scrub. Scrub. Ouch! Turns out the apirin paste is also a strong exfoliator that leaves your face red, firm, but dry. Moisturizer needed!

Stay tuned: I'll repeat this experiment three more days in a row and will report the results on Friday. Hopefully my break out, or as I like to call my "bug bites" will all be gone!

Please Note: If you are allergic to aspirin, your skin may react badly to this remedy.

Mega-T Update: After last week's blog about Mega-T, my boyfriend started taking one supplement a day and has lost over 3 pounds in the last 7 days. It's probably water weight, but ever pound counts!

The skinny on Mega-T

Hi ladies!

Thanks for revisiting my blog. This week, I wanted to blog about something we all have and hate-- water weight. I've tried drinking more water to debloat. It helped a little. I drink coffee everyday. I'm bloated by noon. I really don't eat a lot of salty foods-- nevermind that I'm hopelessly addicted to sweets....So, one day an old friend of mine, Todd Felts, recommended that I try a green tea supplement.

I made my daily CVS run (where I go for cheap lip gloss I never wear, sugar free Red Bull, an endless supply of chocolate, and celebrity magazines--the only way I know my 1988 hair needs a new cut) and I picked up the widely marketed, MEGA-T supplement. It's claims: Lose up to 20 lbs with the drug free dietary supplement. Helps burn belly fat, helps curb appetite, helps stimulate metabolism. http://www.mega-diet.com/

Although the bottle recommends two supplements per day, I've been taking one supplement each morning. Turns out that's all I needed. It burst that water balloon I'd been carrying in my belly, which made me feel pounds lighter and subsequently gave me more energy. Come to think of it, I haven't pillaged my candy jar yet today and it's 3:00!...maybe just one Dove chocolate to prove my loyalty....

Bottom line: Try one supplement each morning and feel the results within a few days. You can take a second supplement in the afternoon if you'd like. Be sure you are able to make at least 3 or 4 bathroom trips within the first hour after consumption. Taking the supplement before visiting a crowded theme park wasn't my wisest decision...If you're not used to caffeine, don't take it on an empty stomach and don't take it in the evening! My brother did that and didn't sleep all night!

Stay Tuned: Next week, I'll write about Aspirin masks and if they really "cure" bad skin.

*For those of you I don't personally know: Please note these are only my opinions about my personal experience with this product. I am not a doctor and am not suggesting that this product cures anything! If you're looking for sound medical device, please do not consult this BLOG, see a doctor!

My first blog post!...To oil or not to oil?

Hi Ladies! Thank you for reading my first blog post-- which is just about having some girl time since we don't get to see each other enough!

OK, so here's my first home beauty experiment.

To oil or not to oil?

I once read-- probably in People magazine-- that olive oil is a great, natural way to soften hair and prevent split ends, which I have a lot of. I've also heard that it can coat your hair and lock out moisture. What to believe?

One random night-- a while ago-- my sister and I decided to pour some olive oil in a bowl and dip in our long, dry, thick & curly strands. Once our hair and scalps were covered, we pulled our hair back and let it sit for...about 15 minutes. Wash and rinse. Realized I shouldn't have used the special garlic style oil. Wash and rinse again.

Once my hair dried, I noticed it was softer, not nearly as frizzy, and had a natural-looking shine that my hair has NEVER had. My sister, on the other hand, vowed never to do this again.

Bottom line: If you have thin, oily hair, you probably should never try this. For those of you who have hair made of twine, like me, give it a try for fun. But Dove's moisturizing shampoo and conditioner works even better and doesn't make you crave bread all day long.