Jennifer Anniston-Level Hair!

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I want  Jennifer Anniston's hair. I have spent years trying to achieve the perfect mane of glossy, golden caramel locks.  I haven't quite mastered her enviable do,  I have picked up a few tricks along the way. Here are my top 5 tips to enhance what you've got!


1. Find a great colorist!

I am a bit of a hussy when it comes to colorists. Stylists change salons and move away so I find it best to keep my options open. Right now I am in a committed coloring relationship Josh at 1213. http://1213hairstudio.com/#/meet-joshua  It's hasn't been long but our future looks bright! (with perfectly placed golden highlights!)

This handsome fellow is a color genius!

2. Find a hair cut that flatters your face!

Do your research and ask around. Spy a hot haircut on a girl in the grocery store? Ask her where she got it done! Don't always rely on "Best Of (insert city name here)" my experience has been that these polls are more of a popularity contest then a measure of true talent, talk to someone who has been to that stylist or salon.

3. Find a great shampoo and conditioner!

We all have different needs and different budgets when it comes to hair care and I have sampled a ton! I have found John Frieda's  product line to be a great product and easy to find at most drugstores. As far as salon-level products I am all over the place, different products for different reasons. I'll be reviewing hair thickening lines soon!

4. Have fun with it!

Although eager to try permanent hair extensions, I change my hair color way to often to commit time and money to the process. After getting my feet wet with inexpensive clip-ins from Ulta, I decided to try Laced Hair I- do clip-ins. I ordered them and they were here in 2 days. I received a packet of shiny golden hair that blended perfectly with my current color with the added bonus of  lighter blonde highlights. I took them to Josh and he trimmed them to match my length and cut. While I haven't worn them all at once yet (you get a ton of hair) I enjoyed the clipping in a few to add volume to my hair for a night out! To read more about Laced Hair extensions check out Maskara.com. Here is a before and after of the lovely Cara from the best beauty blog out there! (also the best beauty blog out there!)

Check out more before and afters on Facebook!

....MY NUMBER ONE TRICK TO ACHIEVE JEN A's SLEEK HAIR?

5. Keratin

Save your pennies and get to a reputable salon for a Keratin Blow Out! I LOVE,LOVE,LOVE this product!  After washing your hair with special shampoo and blowing it dry, your stylist with apply the Keratin (liquid gold) and flat iron your hair. You can't wash your hair, put it in a ponytail or get it wet for 3 days but at the end of that 3 days you will be gobsmacked by silky, shiny locks that can last about 2-3 months. Everyone I have recommended this to has been amazed with the results!

Pluck You!!! My Journey in Hair Removal....

This will probably come as a surprise for any men reading this ( I am sure there are just scads of you! ) but most women I know struggle with unwanted facial hair ranging from peach fuzz to full on 5'oclock shadows. It's been the bane of beauty existence to try and find an effective and long  lasting cure. Below is my journey and the fabulous solution I found!

 

I found Nair for face effective but it doesn't last long, is smelly, and can burn your skin if left on too long leaving you with irritated red blotches.

At home waxing was an epic fail leaving me with a sticky chin and upper lip and no hair removed for my troubles.

Professional laser hair removal worked the best. After 5 minutes of rather painful (a large rubber band being snapped repeatedly against your face) zapping,  I was pretty hair-free for about a month or two before the regrowth began and I had to decide whether I wanted to shell out the 100 bucks and brave the pain.

Behold! The miracle of at home laser hair removal! After researching laser hair removal products on blogs and beauty websitesI decided on ME because they stocked it in store at Ulta and they have a 60 day money back guarantee making the steep price ($395.00) a tiny bit less daunting. I decided to begin on my face, under arms and bikini line. I started out on high and it was a little warm on the skin and with my low pain threshold I found it about a 2 out of 10.  I used it 2 times a week with 2 passes on each area. (this is NOT what they recommend and I am not recommending it I am just reporting  what worked for me) After a month of use my facial hair is fine and light with slow regrowth, my under arm area is almost smooth and my bikini line is light and fine. For the cost this is the best solution I've found to unsightly stubble and I highly recommend it!

Sunday Funday!!

On a typical day I sit home making jewelry in my sweatpants and hoodies (they might double as pj's) It's not unusual for a week to go by without me seeing or talking to anyone besides my husband. It's easy to slack in the makeup and grown up clothes department but lately I have been wanting to put in a little more effort in my day to day look. So today's Sunday Funday challenge was to try this 4 minute make up post on my favorite blog www.maskcara.com . Cara makes it look SO easy! Although I might have gone over the 4 minutes it was definetly under 10 and do-able for a typical day! Check out the post with video here.

Why yes, that is a hoodie!

Changed into my fancy aqua T Shirt, this little bit of effort got a double take from my husband and a "You sure are pretty!" Worth it!

Silky, Silky...

Every once in  awhile I come across a combination of hair products that make my over processed, color abused hair feel like silk and when I do I want to shout it from the rooftops for all to hear. Please keep in mind all hair types are different but this combo worked miracles on my hair and makes it feel like I had a keratin treatment. (no joke!) I washed it (it felt a little strawish after the washing, never fear!) conditioned, towel dried, oil (about the size of a pea, rub your hands together and apply) and about 5 pumps of the leave in. Here is the combo for you to try:

Terax Hydrating Shampoo. A little pricey but so much cheaper than a keratin treatment! If you are in the Richmond,Va area get it at Look salon in Carytown. (same with the conditioner)

Terax Crema plus Keratin Conditioner

The Ranch Dressing of Leave in Conditioners!

Added to anything and it makes it better! Get it

at Bombshell Brazilian Waxing and Beauty Salon or on Amazon

Crazy, Sexy Lips!

Remember back in the 90's  when Cindy/Naomi/Christie would over draw their lips with dark lip liner and fill them in with lighter lipstick? This is a tweak on that technique that I've been using ever since I saw it in Vogue. After experimenting with different liners I tried this taupe eyeliner. I have tried every lip plumper out there and have not found one to beat this combination. Cover Girl in Smokey Taupe and Sexy Motherpucker Lipgloss I like Candy Gloss but they all go on super sheer so you can't go wrong.

Lightly outline your lips with the pencil, you can go right outside you lip line for the illusion of poutier, pout, and use the smudger to blend the line in towards the center of your lips. Add a layer of gloss (and a dab of something sparkly in the middle of your bottom lip) and you have your perfect lip without the injections!

Instant Face Lift!

I thought I should start out my brand new blog by posting about my absolute, hands down FAVORITE beauty mask. I have been doing face mask since I was a little girl in Wyandotte, Michigan when I found an old paperback book about natural beauty recipes. Egg white masks were  may favorite then and this new fancy mask kinda works the same way. I give you....The Peter Thomas Roth Instant Firm Face Tightner (say that 3 times fast!)

At $48.00 per tube it's a little on the pricey side, I do about 2 masks a week and it lasts me about 3 months. If you aren't a crazy obsessive like I am you could probably it once every 2 weeks or so. 

Before, no makeup, clean skin

If you keep making that face it's going to freeze like that!! 

After, shiny and happy!