Setting Your Hair Without Rollers, or How to Look Like a Victoria Secret Model pt. 2

     In one of my favorite posts on this blog Setting Your Hair With Rollers and How to Look Like a Victoria Secret Model, I went over how to set your hair using hot rollers and velcro rollers. This method is similar but only requires duck bill clips, no rollers at all. All you need is:

• Blow Dryer of your choice, I use a Paul Mitchell ProTools Express Ion Dry v.1
• Cricket Tourmaline Thermal Round Brush anywhere from 1 1/2 - 3 1/4 inches in diameter
• Duckbill Clips

With freshly washed and damp hair add volumizing product of your choice, I used Aveda Pure Abundance Style Prep, Confixor Liquid Gel and Phomollient Styling Foam. Next dry hair with fingers until it's about 80% dry, remember to keep your blow dryer pointing down your hair shaft and use a nozzle to avoid placing the heating coils directly on your hair. Once your hair is 80% dry section into 2-3 inch wide sections and start round brushing, after you've finished a section while the hair is still warm begin to wrap it around two fingers until it's formed into a barrel curl at the base of your scalp. This part may look intimidating, but the key is to work with warm hair and if it seems too difficult try using a smaller section. Place a duckbill clip inside of each curl and move onto the next section going up the head, remember not to move onto a section without setting the curls in the last one!  

The process of rolling and clipping a Barrel Curl to create those famous Victoria Secret Waves!

     Spray with a setting spray of your liking, I wanted a strong hold so I used Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Spray. Then let the curls cool for 5-10 minutes before removing the clips and gently combing through your hair with your fingers to loosen up the curl. Spray again and you're done!

   
xo.

All Sensitive Skin Collection & Tips for Sensitive Skin

Did you know Aveda has a very extensive skin care line? From dealing with acne to aging Aveda is there to help you with personalized skin care. The All Sensitive line is great for those just starting out with a skin care regimen or those who have tried every product with no success, the All Sensitive line is great because it works on any skin type without causing irritation or excessive oil. This line includes the All Sensitive Cleanser, All Sensitive Moisturizer and the All Sensitive Body Formula Oil. Everything in the line is aroma free and dermatologist tested to ensure it's safe for even the most sensitive sin types. Try out this awesome skin care line by finding an Aveda salon or Experience Center near you today!

If you have sensitive skin using a gentle product like the All Sensitive Line is perfect for you, however there are some other simple tips you can use to treat your overly sensitive skin;
-Keep skin hydrated by drinking lots of water and moisturizing every night and morning.
-Dampen your skin very lightly before applying moisturizer, this evens out the skins surface and reduces dry spots.
-Avoid spicy foods, highly caffeinated drinks or alcoholic drinks since all of these things can dry out your skin and body.
-Be aware of aromas and perfumes in products, and make sure to always get dermatologist tested products.
-Avoid over exfoliating, try exfoliating gently 1-2 times a week to remove dead skin cells without damaging the skin.

xo.

Setting Your Hair With Rollers, and How to Look Like a Victoria secret Model..

Yes I'm talking about rollers, the old school ones that your grandmother still puts in her hair every Saturday so she'll look nice for church on Sunday. I'm definitely not recommending you do your hair like your grandmothers though, rollers need to be chosen carefully and used with caution because without proper instruction you can easily end up looking like Bob Ross or worse.

So, what kind of rollers am I talking about using then? BIG ones! Find the biggest rollers that your hair can wrap around at least 1 and a half times. I wouldn't recommend sponge rollers because they give too much curl, velcro rollers or hot rollers are going to be your best bet to get Victoria Secret-esque waves and volume.

Using velcro rollers is simple, you want your hair to be about 80% dry already. Use some type of volumizing spray like Aveda Pure Abundance Style Prep and focus on the roots, drying upwards to give volume (you can even flip your head upside down and dry that way if it's easier). Take sections of hair that are the same width as your roller and roll em' up! The ends should be a bit damp still, so just blow dry them until every thing seems dry, set with your favorite spray and carefully remove the rollers once they've cooled off completely. Letting the rollers cool is really important because it sets the style and makes it last longer. Run your fingers through everything with a little shine serum, spray again and you're ready! Using hot rollers is very similar and maybe even easier than velcro, just make sure hair is completely dry and use a product that protects against heat before putting the rollers in, follow all the same steps for velcro rollers and you're good to go!

Using rollers like this is going to give awesome wave and body, similar to when you get an awesome round brush at the salon but a lot easier!

xo.

beauty tip: how to clean and maintain your blowdryer

what's that burning smell? when was the last time you cleaned the air vent on your blowdryer? did you know that it's absolutely essential to keep your blowdryer in working order?

the filter in your blowdryer catches dust and debris to keep the motor from overheating, which extends the life of your blowdryer. the idea is similar to cleaning the lint trap in your dryer after every load of laundry.

lucky for you cleaning your blowdryer is super easy, it just gets overlooked by most. i clean my blowdryer in the salon once a week, but at home i'd say about once a month is enough. i use a paul mitchell express ion dry in the salon and at home, if you're looking for a new blowdryer i couldn't recommend this one enough! dries quickly, lightweight, quieter than other blow dryers and if you treat it right it'll last you a long time. (mines limited edition, so they no longer have the same wooden pattern! sad i know)

most blowdryers have a lockable vent on the back, turn the vent in the indicated way to unlock it and gently pull it off. some blowdryers have a spongey mesh filter in addition to the metal filter, so wash that with cool water until all product buildup is gone and then with a damp cloth wipe away at the metal filter protecting the motor. let your blowdryer dry completely before reassembling it, and you're done!

i realize some may have never cleaned their blowdryers before, and i'm hoping you notice a big difference when you do! remember to do this regularly to keep your motor from overheating (which can also be a fire hazard), because once it does you'll have to buy a whole new blowdryer!

xo.

beauty tips from around the world

Wouldn’t it be great to have amazing Brazilian legs, long thick, luscious Indian hair and a Scandinavian complexion? Well, it’s not all genetics.

Every country and culture has an age-old secret to keeping their woman beautiful. These tips are fun, and have been passed through generations. Plus, we all have genetic origins from other parts of the world. So if your heritage is from a certain culture, then it just follows that the advice could be applicable.

ITALY:

Teens are instructed by their moms and their grandmothers to keep their eyelashes from breaking by applying castor oil at night

CHINA:

Take one teaspoon rosemary oil, and mix it with a cup of green tea. Pour it over your head as a final rinse for hair that really shines. In China white tea holds the anti-aging secret! White tea comes from the silver tip of the green tea plant. Its also known as the Emperor’s tea. Harvested over a four day period, the plant houses all the anti-oxidants in the tip. It acts as an enviromental shield that the free radicals cant penetrate. Recently, a few skin care lines have realized the benefits of white tea and actually incorporated it in their products. You can find white tea in Origin Products.

GREECE:

Grecian teens head to the beach where they oil their bodies with baby oil, exfoliate their skin with sand, and rinse it all off in the ocean. Of course they apply sunscreen before they lay out.

POLAND:

Honey is used as a beauty product. Although their moms warm it up and apply it all over their faces as a super moist facial treatment, polish teens use honey as a lip-softening treatment.

BRAZIL:

At the beach its common to see Brazilian women, known to be some of the most beautiful women in the world, rubbing handfuls of sand on their bodies. Why? It helps with cellulite and smoothes and stimulates the skin. In fact, Lush, a company out of England that makes fresh, hand made cosmetics, just came out with a body bar that contains sand and hydration to help smooth the skin and break up the cellulite and boost sluggish circulation.

INDIA:

Yogurt and Almonds are an every night necessity. Grind ten almonds to a pulp with a mallet, and then add just enough whole yogurt to make it easy to spread. This beauty mask is applied to a clean face and left on for twenty minutes. Then its wiped off with cheese cloth and rinsed. Besides, in India, coconut oil is the trick to getting full, thick and shiny hair. Its also great to help strengthen thinning hair. The woman in India do a hot oil scalp massage once a week. Heat some up in a bowl and give yourself a scalp massage once a week. Sleep with it on and wash in the morning! It will help seal the cuticle and rid those split ends.

EGYPT:

Keep teeth white and beautiful with a combination of baking soda and coarse salt. Apply it with your fingers and let it sit a minute.

AUSTRALIA:

Girls here love to walk barefoot and wear sandals. To achieve flawless feet, they rub avocado skins all over their rough spots.

SPAIN:

Spanish teens often party just a bit too much. When they have circles to show their good time, they take a potato and cut it thinly. Then they apply it on the eyes for ten minutes, allowing the juice to seep into the darkness.

JAMAICA:

These caribbean beauties treat their skin with banana peels. They rub the peels over their face to soften and protect from the sun. They also use it on sunburned areas.

SCOTLAND:

Fair girls from this country have very sensitive skin. They use almond oil after cleansing.

RUSSIA:

On the coldest days, Russian teens express their style with jeans and the best coat they can buy. When they cut themselves shaving, they rub garlic cloves on the affected area. Garlic contains antibacterial compounds.

JAPAN:

The secret of the Japanese smooth, flawless skin is camellia oil. White camellia nut oil, contributes moisturizing, conditioning, nourishing and softening benefits to the skin. It gives the skin a texture and glow unmatched by any other skin care product. There are special formulations for helping to eliminate wrinkles after giving birth, revitalizing hair growth, and treating burns. It helps to restructure the skin and strengthen nails. It is one of the most rapidly absorbed oils making it an excellent choice as a facial oil. Seaweed, is also the big secret in beauty here. Its sold at supermarkets and is prized for its cleansing  and toning, and its ability to make the skin glow. Teens here use it on their bodies for cellulite, on their faces as masks, and eat it in their salads to make their hair grow.

AFRICA:

In some areas of Africa, teens pour milk over their heads and let their hair soak every other day for twenty minutes before shampooing.

KOREA:

Generations of Korean teens treat dry areas with kukui nut oil, which comes from a native tree.

TURKEY:

Turkish teens eat a lot of kefir, a fermented milk product similar to yogurt. You can get the same benefits by choosing yogurt with five cultures. They help you break down food and get more nutrients from your food.

SCANDINAVIA:

Scandinavian women know the beautiful skin is easy to achieve. They simply drink at least 1.5 liters of pure spring water every day and splash their faces 15-20 times twice a day with ice cold spring mineral water. This encourages the skins own natural functions, so it regulates itself without the aid of expensive exfoliating and rejuvenating lotions. The ice cold water also helps to reduce puffiness as well. Its heard that some people use the Evian spray on clients not only to refresh them but to set make up.

TAIWAN:

These teens not only drink a lot of tea, they swab it on their body to cool sunburn. The tannic acid alleviates the sting.

FRANCE:

French teens are more resistant to tooth day because they eat cheese. It contains substances that strengthen tooth enamel and neutralize plaque.

SWEDEN:

Swedish beauties eat wild blueberries with cereal and their meats as their no. 1 beauty food.