Hair Care From Your Kitchen

There are so many products out there for hair! Shampoos, conditioners, hair masks and numerous other concoctions that promise beautiful hair. You may be surprised to know that you have products right in your own kitchen that can also deliver amazing results. Here are some hair "recipes" for shampoos, conditioners and build-up removers that we found!

Remove Product Build Up

Mix ¼ cup of vinegar and one cup of water. After conditioning your hair, use this as a final rinse. Your hair will be soft and shiny.

Hair Egg Conditioner Recipe

1 teaspoon baby oil

1 egg yolk

1 cup water

Beat the egg yolk until it's frothy. Add the oil and beat again. Mix this with the water. Massage into the scalp and hair. Rinse well.

Hair Conditioner

Combine mashed avocado with some coconut milk. Comb it through the hair and let sit for 10 -15 minutes. Rinse.

Shampoo Recipe

In a blender, combine 1 ounce olive oil, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar. Blend well. You can use this as regular shampoo.

Remove Conditioner Buildup

Baking soda removes conditioner build-up from your hair. Rub in and rinse thoroughly, then shampoo with your regular shampoo.

Hair Conditioner

Mayonnaise is a great conditioner for dry hair! Depending on the length of your hair, apply approximately 1/2 cup of mayonnaise to your dry hair. Work into hair well and then cover your hair with a plastic bag. Wait for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and then shampoo as usual.

These are just some examples of food products that can do wonders for your hair. What can you find around your kitchen that can double as a beauty product? Hmmm........

Dress Up Your Hair With A Headband

If you are looking for a way to add some pizazz to your hair, try using a headband. Not only can they look quite stylish, but they can be functional, too. If you need to keep your hair off of your face while working out, a headband works really well and keeps you looking stylish while you sweat.

If you are heading out for the night, try a jewel encrusted headband to dress up your hair. This will work whether your hair is being worn up or down. A thin headband looks quite elegant with hair that is slicked back and in a bun. A thick headband with a bright pattern is a great look with hair that is back in a ponytail.

You can wear your bangs outside of the headband, or use the headband to take them off your face completely. Whether you are wearing your hair down and long or short and sassy, the headband offers so many options!

If you have a favorite thin scarf, you can also use this as your headband. You can tie it in a knot at the nape of your neck and let it hang down your back. If you want to really be "retro" you can tie the scarf around your head "hippy" style. Put together the right outfit and the right scarf, and this can actually be a very current and pulled together look.

The headband offers you so many styling options. If you are having a bad hair day, and we all do, take a really nice headband and take your hair away from your face. The headband can serve as a distraction, drawing attention away from your hair and on to your face. Try a headband!

You can see some options in the photos above for thin and thick headbands.

Adding Curls With Hot Rollers

Would you like to add some curl, wave or bounce to your hair? If you are like most women, your answer is probably yes. We've discuss how to use a curling iron in a previous blog, but hot rollers are another great and inexpensive option for achieving a different look for your hair.

Start with clean and thoroughly dried hair. Before beginning to set your hair, make sure your rollers have heated completely, and you will know this by the indicator light on your roller set. It is best to start curling from the front of your head to the back. Keep in mind that the smaller rollers will produce a tighter curl, while the bigger rollers will be a much looser and larger curl.

Separate a section with a comb and make sure it is smooth and tangle free. Spray each section with a setting spray, preferably one for use with heated appliances, before you roll your hair. If you want the curl to be bit looser, you can skip the product application.

Lift the section straight out away from your head with one hand, and then hold the roller with your dominant hand. Carefully wrap the ends of the hair around the barrel and roll it up to the base of the scalp. Secure the roller with the clips provided.

Once you are finished with your entire head, you have an option to re-spray a hairspray or setting spray over the entire area. Allow the rollers to stay in for about 20 minutes. Once you have done this several times, you will be able to pinpoint how long you need the rollers to be left in to achieve your own look.

Now, it is time to remove the rollers, and the way you do this can effect how the curls will look, too. Unroll the rollers in the same direction you rolled them in for softer curls, or if you want more of a ringlet curl, pull the roller vertically through the curl and down toward your shoulder.

To style your hair, separate the curls with your fingers or a wide tooth comb, and style as usual. If you don't have enough curl, go through with a large-barrel curling iron and touch up the curls. If you have too much curl, dampen the curls and pull through with a wide tooth comb to release them.

You know have a fresh new look thanks to a few hot rollers and little bit of technique!

Creating Curls With Hot Rollers

Would you like to add some curl, wave or bounce to your hair? If you are like most women, your answer is probably yes. We've discuss how to use a curling iron in a previous blog, but hot rollers are another great and inexpensive option for achieving a different look for your hair.

Start with clean and thoroughly dried hair. Before beginning to set your hair, make sure your rollers have heated completely, and you will know this by the indicator light on your roller set. It is best to start curling from the front of your head to the back. Keep in mind that the smaller rollers will produce a tighter curl, while the bigger rollers will be a much looser and larger curl.

Separate a section with a comb and make sure it is smooth and tangle free. Spray each section with a setting spray, preferable one for use with heated appliances, before you roll your hair. If you want the curl to be bit looser, you can skip the product application.

Lift the section straight out away from your head with one hand, and then hold the roller with your dominant hand. Carefully wrap the ends of the hair around the barrel and roll it up to the base of the scalp. Secure the roller with the clips provided.

Once you are finished with your entire head, you have an option to re-spray a hairspray or setting spray over the entire area. Allow the rollers to stay in for about 20 minutes. Once you have done this several times, you will be able to pinpoint how long you need the rollers to be left in to achieve your own look.

Now, it is time to remove the rollers, and the way you do this can effect how the curls will look, too. Unroll the rollers in the same direction you rolled them in for softer curls, or if you want more of a ringlet curl, pull the roller vertically through the curl and down toward your shoulder.

To style your hair, separate the curls with your fingers or a wide tooth comb, and style as usual. If you don't have enough curl, go through with a large-barrel curling iron and touch up the curls. If you have too much curl, dampen the curls and pull through with a wide tooth comb to release them.

You know have a fresh new look thanks to a few hot rollers and little bit of technique!

Fresh Flowers for Wedding Hair

Before you know it, the Spring and Summer wedding season will be upon us . A really nice look for warm weather weddings is a hairstyle adorned with fresh flowers. Not only does the perfume of the flowers add to the whole romance of the day, but flowers placed strategically in the hair and matched with the wedding colors add a fabulous finishing touch detail to the whole affair.

Not all flowers are suitable to use as hair accessories. Some flowers hold up better than others, and some flowers may cause allergic reactions when in contact with the scalp for long periods of time. Your florist should be able to suggest which flowers are best for use in your hair. Your wedding day hair stylist will also be quite familiar with which flowers have proven to work well in the hair.

A really great idea is to coordinate the hair flowers to be in sync with the bridal bouquet. How pretty would it be to have a bouquet of purple roses, for example, and then have miniature purple roses incorporated into a fabulous updo style?

Another idea is to have the flower colors contrast with the dress. If the bridesmaids are in a dark colored gown, like black or navy, then a red or pink rose in the hair would look beautiful as a hair accessory.

No matter what look you are going for, using flowers in your hair for a wedding is a very romantic and classic look.

Two examples of flowers in a bride's hair are shown above, with the one on top being from yours truly, the hair stylists of Gaude & Gold.

Taming Your Eyebrows With Gel

After you have your brows groomed and perfectly arched, you can achieve a very neat look by using an eyebrow gel to set and keep your brows in place. This is a quick and easy step in your makeup routine that will keep your brows looking perfect all day.

You can find gels in tinted or clear shades. If your brows are a bit sparse in places, then the tinted gel is great for enhancing what you have. The clear gel will simply serve as a tool to keep your brows neatly in place with no added color. You can also use a pencil to fill in any sparse areas before you apply the brow gel, if needed.

Brush your brows into the desired shape that you want to set with the gel.

Dip the applicator into the gel and remove the excess along side of the container; this is similar to taking extra mascara off the wand before you apply it. You only need a small amount of gel to set your eyebrows. If you apply too much, it may flake off later in the day. This will not be a good look!

Start applying the gel to your brow, starting at the inner corner and brushing outward, going with the direction of the eyebrow growth. Repeat this on the other brow.

Run your fingers over the brows to make sure there is no excess product and to give a bit of pressure to set the shape. Be careful not to disrupt the shape you've created.

Now, the brows should be perfectly set and stay that way. Take a final look to see if any stray hairs need to be tweezed. Your brows are set! Wasn't that easy?

Keeping Warm And Looking Good

On a winter day like we have today in the Northeast, keeping warm has to come before looking great! The extremities that are exposed when temperatures are below zero can become frostbitten pretty quickly. Your ears are especially susceptible to the frigid air. The good news is there are ways to keep warm without having to suffer from "hat hair."

Instead of wearing a hat, try taking your winter, wool scarf and putting it over the top of your head so it hangs down and covers your ears. You can knot it loosely under your chin or drape the ends over your shoulders. This will keep your head and ears warm, but will not flatten your hair. This technique will work if you have straight hair that has not been styled.

If you have curly hair, or if your hair is pinned up into a bun or other style, take your earmuffs and put them on the back of your head. The band will be in the back instead of over the top of your head, and it will rest at the nape of your neck. This way, the ear pad part is over your ears, but the actual band is not pressing down on your head and ruining your hairstyle. There are also bandless earmuffs that just contain the actual pad that goes over your ears. Think of them as mittens for your ears. They are warm and will not interfere with your hair at all.

If you look good in headbands, you may want to try the ear warmer headbands. These are very warm and can look like part of your hairstyle. You may have seen these worn for winter sports.

So there are some options for you to keep warm without putting an actual hat on your head. If you do have a hairstyle that will not be ruined by an actual hat, there are a variety of styles for winter hats that can look quite fashionable, too. Keep warm!

The earmuffs shown on the model are by Burberry.

Blush for Ethnic Skin Tones

If you are woman of ethnic origin you may have some trouble deciding on what color blush will look best on you. Below are some guidelines to lead you in the right direction.

You can use some of the same rules for picking lipstick hues that we have discussed in previous blog posts, but there are less blush colors than lipstick colors to choose from. You still want to pick a color that compliments your skin tone. You can not expect the darker skins to achieve the rosy natural and flushed look of lighter skins, but that does not mean your cheeks can't look gorgeous.

If your skin falls into the light end of the African-American skin tones, some blush shades for you to consider are: pale peach, coral, light pink and light bronze.

For skin tones falling into the medium of the spectrum of tones, these blush colors should be considered: peach, bronze, medium pink and light red shades.

And for the darkest tones, colors like these will work best: bronze, red, deep pink, fuchsia and plum.

Another option is using bronzers. On darker skins, bronzer can give a nice highlighting look to the cheeks, as opposed to a "beachy" look that results when bronzer is put on a light skin tone. Gorgeous dark skins are a natural for bronzer because any golden tone will look great on dark skin. Dust the bronzer on with a larger makeup brush. Touch on all the areas where the sun world naturally hit your face. This is generally wherever your face is protruding rather than receding. Bronzer would go on cheekbones, along the hairline and forehead and on the top of the nose.

There are many makeup companies that specialize in ethnic skin tones, and if you start with looking at their color selections you will probably find just the perfect color for your cheeks! You may want to treat yourself to a makeup lesson or two with a professional who specializes in makeup application for ethnic skin. They will be able to show you the best colors for you and the proper way to apply the makeup to flatter your face.

Using A Cream Eyeshadow

There are both powder and cream eye shadow formulations available in tons of colors. Most of us use powder eye shadow, but there is also a following for cream shadow. If you are used to the powder shadow, the cream shadow may seem a little bit mysterious to use. Let's take the mystery out of cream shadow.

Before we get started on the application, you should be aware that the cream shadows are sold in a few different formulations. There are some that are almost lotion-like in texture, and then some of the creams are sort of cream that dries into a powder-like finish. The creamier formulas are great if you have dry skin in the eye area. If you need the staying power for a whole day into night, a formula that dries into a matte finish will provide that longevity for you.

Using a brush or your fingers is a better way to apply cream shadow than using a sponge. Use a small pointed brush to line the eyes and a flat brush for working on the brow bone area.

Apply the shadow and blend it in well. Put your lighter shade on the area you want to bring out and the darker shade where you want the area to recede.

Start with less product rather than more, especially if you are new to using cream shadows. It will be easier to add more than it will be to take away too much. Once you have the various colors applied, then use your cosmetic sponge to blend it all until you get the look you want.

What's Your Red?

In yesterday's article we discussed ways to determine if your skin tone is considered warm or cool. Now that you have an idea which tone you are, it will be easier to select the right shade of red lipstick to flatter your skin tone. If you've been to a department store cosmetic counter lately you have seen so many shades of red, and I am sure you have wondered which red is best for you. Maybe you have been so confused that you have decided to shy away from red altogether! The information here should help you pick out the right hue for you!

If you have determined that you're a cool tone, you should be looking at reds that are blue based.

They will appear more on the pink side. Colors like brick red and berry red would be examples of a blue-based red. On the other hand, if you are a warm tone, you want to look at reds that are more yellow based. These colors will appear more orange than pink. Any red that is described as golden, warm or red anything would be perfect for a warm tone.

When you try the shade on, it should flatter and brighten your face. Most of us will know immediately if we have the right red lipstick on or not; it becomes very obvious, and not in a good way!

Once you have the perfect shade for you, you can then decide on the texture. We have discussed this in a previous blog article, if you want to read about the variety of formulas out there. Now that you understand how to pick out the best red for you, this classic and timeless color is a bit less intimidating to select and a lot more gorgeous for you to wear!

Are You Cool.....Or Warm?

A key element of deciding what shades of makeup work best on you is to figure out if you are a cool or warm skin tone. You may have heard or read these terms before, but do you know which skin tone you are? Do you know how to find out? Once you determine if you are a cool or warm tone, then you can select hues of colors that will flatter you.

Skin shades certainly come in a variety of colors, but just about all of us fall into one of these categories: dark, olive, yellow (Asian or Latin), rosy, tan or fair. A simple way to determine your shade is by holding a piece of white paper next to your face and looking in the mirror. What is the main color you see?

Another simple way to do this is to try on a bright white shirt, and then try on an off-white or cream colored shirt. Which one looks better on you? If you look better in the bright white top, you have a "cool" skin tone. If the cream top looks more flattering, then you have a "warm" skin tone. Another way you can determine your skin tone is by whether you look better in silver or gold jewelry. Silver is best on a cool skin tone, while gold sparkles best on the warm tone skin.

Now that you know which skin tone category you fall into, you can select color shades that flatter your own complexion! In future articles we will talk about what colors work best on each skin tone.

If you have a skin tone similar to the model in the photograph, then you are a warm tone. Notice the shades of lipstick and eye shadow selected and how complimentary they are with her coloring.

Choosing a Brush

For most of us, brushing our hair is part of the "daily routine" that takes place every morning. Brushing your hair is very beneficial because it distributes your natural oils throughout your hair. If you have been to a salon or beauty supply store, you may have seen numerous brushes in many shapes, sizes and price ranges. The brushes are made for different purposes and different usage. Here is some basic information about brushes.

A flat paddle hair brush is best for standard daily use, and is the best choice for your daily hair brushing routine. This brush can be used on all hair types, and is the most common brush for this type of use.

Instead of a brush, you may want to buy a pick if you have curly hair. Picks allow you to easily separate each of the curls when treating your hair and will prevent damage. Picks are also good if you are trying to add volume to hairstyles, like an Afro.

Select a round brush if you are trying to add body to your hair. A round brush used during blow drying will add extra volume to your hairstyle. Medium bristles are generally preferred for this style of brush, but choose the type of bristles that work best for you.

Brushes containing round plastic balls at the end of the bristles are fairly common and this can help protect your hair. It prevents the bristles of the brush from tearing at your hair and causing split ends. They also serve as a barrier between the bristles and your scalp.

Ask your stylist for a recommendation on the best brush shape for your hair and how to use the brush when styling your own hair, too. Many hair stylists use products that can be purchased in stores. You will find a large selection of brushes in beauty supply shops, and catalogs. Don't be afraid to try out different brushes to find the one that works best for you.

Going From Flat to Fat With Volumizing Products

Is your hair looking a bit flat? This can be an issue, especially in the dry winter air. Don't worry, there are great products and styling tools designed especially to add volume and bounce back to flat hair. Here are the easy steps for adding volume to your hair!

It is best not to wash your hair the day you're going to be styling. Hair that has not been washed for a few days tends to have more hair volume. If you must wash your hair that day, use a shampoo and conditioner designed to add volume.

Apply a volumizing mousse or root spray to damp hair. Work the hair product through the hair thoroughly with your wide toothed-comb.

Flip your head upside down and blow dry your hair on a medium setting. Massage your scalp with your fingers while drying your hair to give extra lift at the roots. If you have curly hair, scrunch the hair in your hands while aiming the nozzle at the section of hair you're scrunching.

Flip your head right side up again while your hair is still slightly damp if you plan on wearing your hair straight, and finish drying using a large vent brush or round brush to continue with the styling process.

Use your brush to lift the first one to two inches of your hair straight up away from your scalp. Point the nozzle of the dryer under the section directed upwards for more hair volume at the roots of your hair. Leave the dryer there for a few seconds and then move on to the next section using the same technique with the dryer. Use the brush to smooth the shaft and ends of your hair and finish drying your hair completely.

If you are wearing your hair curly, scrunch the hair and leave it slightly damp. Let your hair air dry the rest of the way to avoid frizz. Use a dime to quarter-sized dollop of pomade or styling wax to tame any frizz. This will also define the ends of the hair or any layers you may have if you apply it there with your fingers.

For a final burst of hair volume, flip your head upside down again and lightly mist your hair with a light-hold hair spray. Bring your head right side up again and use your fingers to fix any stray hairs.

Wow! Now your hair is out to there! Speak with your stylist about how to perfect your technique, and you can also ask them which volume products they would suggest for your particular hair type and length.

Your Perfume in Winter

Are you wondering why your favorite perfume doesn't seem quite the same the past few months? It's not your imagination! In the winter, perfume must able to penetrate layers and layers of clothing. So the quick little spritz you used in June before running out the door is not going to have the same staying power in January.

Also, a light floral spray that was fabulous a few months ago is not going to stand out as much in the winter under your wool coat and hat. A heavier scent, like a wood or musk, is much more in keeping with the weather and what you will be wearing to keep warm.

To help the fragrance permeate all the clothes covering your skin, perfumes should be used on our skin's "warm spots." This is where blood vessels are most abundant near the skin and give off the warmth of your body. They are situated behind your ears, under your arms, at the wrists, in the inner part of elbows and near the collar-bone. Think of these spots as small working fragrance atomizers.

Winter perfumes have scents that reflect the scenes of cold days and wintry holidays. It could even have a spicy or woody scent to remind us of desserts or nights in front of the fireplace. Some winter fragrances can have subtle scents that provide sexy warmth.

Wear a fragrance that is for the winter and works distinctly for you. Make sure you apply it in enough quantity to come through your big sweaters and scarves. Put a little extra on your wrists and neck and you'll smell great all winter long.

Try a Fake Ponytail for a New Look!

We all like to keep it real, but every now and then we have to "fake it." Attaching a ponytail piece to your hair is an inexpensive and fun way to change up your look for a special event or just a whole new look for the fun of it.

To get started, check your local beauty supply store for a piece that closely matches your own hair texture and color. If the ponytail looks vinyl shiny or dead and dull, this will be a dead giveaway that you are wearing a fake pony.

When you are ready to try out the new piece, start by shampooing, conditioning, and towel drying your hair. While hair is still damp, gently de-tangle the strands, while combing the hair back from the forehead and up from the nape of the neck. A wide-toothed comb is great for this step.

Hold hair in one hand and your elastic in the other hand. Wrap elastic around the hair, pull hair through, wrap elastic around again, and pull hair half way through so the ends are tucked under the elastic to form a bun.

Be sure your hair is smooth and without lumps and bumps. If hair is very bumpy, take down bun and try again. Apply water or pomade to aid in smoothing and securing hair.

Allow your hair to dry in the tight bun. Take your fake ponytail, and insert the top comb that is attached to the piece into the hair just above the elastic around your bun. Pull the "pocket" of the ponytail over your bun. Pull the drawstring until secure. Insert the bottom comb just below the bun. Wrap the drawstring around base of ponytail and tuck it under ponytail elastic. Gently comb out the ponytail if desired.

Now, you have a whole new look for a little bit of money and a few minutes of your time. You can try different ways of styling the piece too, depending on what you will be doing on that particular day.

Styling with Pomade for Curly Hair

Gels and pomades are helpful styling products for keeping your curls in shape in wind and humidity. Check with your stylist about what product line will work best on your hair type and color. Then, once you are ready to style, these hints will help your curly locks look fabulous in any weather!

Begin with gently towel-dried hair. Starting with damp hair gives you the chance to brush out your hair without pulling out curls and creating frizz. Apply a small amount of gel evenly to wet hair. Use a wide-toothed comb to distribute the product through to the ends. Avoid applying too much gel in one place; this will result in clumped together hair.

Let your hair naturally separate as it dries into natural curls. If curls are sticking together while drying, use a comb or fingers to gently separate them. If they look flat, gently scrunch them with your fingertips.

Allow curly hair to dry naturally or apply low heat using a hair dryer with a diffuser. Using an even heating method will help to prevent your hair from frizzing and keep you from blowing out your curls.

Use a wax pomade product to arrange and hold curls. With a small amount of pomade on your fingers, add a bit of the product to the ends of the hair with your fingers to sculpt individual curls to create definition and control the texture. Pomade will give your hair a polished look, making your curls sculpted and ideal to style.

To hold the shape in the curls you just defined and keep your hair out of your face, don't pull the hair back with a hair band. Use pins to secure your curls loosely in place. At this point your curls should bounce with ease, but can be crushed if pulled out into a ponytail.

If your curls start falling out during the day, simply dampen them with a little water to reactivate the product and then scrunch your hair to bring your curls back to life. The next time you visit your salon, pick up a pomade product and try this when you style your hair at home.

More Curls and Less Frizz - Using a Diffuser

If you've been to a hair salon and noticed a stylist blow drying a client's hair with an attachment on the end of the blow dryer, you may have wondered what it is and what it does. Well, it's called a diffuser. The main purpose of using a diffuser attachment is to add volume and define your curls without frizz. The diffuser allows your dryer to give off a soft blast of air instead of a direct blast that will blow your hair all over the place.

Select a high quality diffuser from a beauty supply store. There are many less expensive diffusers in drugstores, etc., but they will not provide the same results as a professional diffuser.

Attach the diffuser to the end of your blow dryer. Be sure it is secure and completely covering the end of the dryer where the air stream comes out. Use a lower heat setting when drying with a diffuser. Although it may take a bit longer to get the job done, the results will be softer looking curls with less frizz.

Flip your head upside down. Holding the dryer about an inch away from your head, briefly dry the hair, running your fingers through the hair as you go. Dry just enough to remove excess water from your hair.

Rub a dime-sized amount of anti-frizz styling product between your palms and apply it to your hair from tip to root. Dry your hair by aiming the diffuser about 1/2-inch away from the top of your head and down the hair shaft, simultaneously pulling your hair taut with a boar bristle paddle brush for a straight look, or scrunching the hair up into your palms for a more relaxed tousled look.

Once the hair is dry, continue on with your styling. Using a diffuser not only takes away frizz, it protects your hair from damage. If you have not tried a diffuser attachment, there is no time like the present!

Spotlight on Your Cheeks

Perhaps you have seen highlighter at the cosmetic counter or in the drugstore. These products are fantastic for providing a youthful and healthy glow to your face. They can definitely brighten up your makeup.

Highlighters are an alternative to the full contouring that we have discussed in previous blog articles.

Begin with a clean face. Exfoliating is recommended because highlighter calls attention to dry, flaky skin. Moisturize prior to applying makeup and allow the product to seep into skin for about a minute before proceeding.

Put on your foundation as usual, making sure to blend any lines of demarcation with a sponge or fingers.

Apply your blush and be sure to blend any hard edges. You want to look as though you are glowing, not like you are obviously made up. It isn't necessary to have blush on when you want to use highlighter on your cheeks, but the contrast with the flush and highlighter looks very good.

Select a highlighter that works for you. If you want a subtle effect, use a powder. For a glossy sheen, use a crème formulation. You should also take into consideration what is most flattering on your skin tone. Gold-hued highlighter blends in more effortlessly into skin with warm undertones, while a silvery highlighter compliments cool undertones.

Dab the highlighter on the tops of cheekbones to bring out your bone structure. When the highlighter catches the light, your face appears subtly chiseled and more defined. You may also experiment by patting a spot of highlighter onto the apples of your cheeks instead if you want to look more youthful. In either case, remember to blend the highlighter into your blush before you head out.

About Face...Powder

After you apply your makeup, using face powder will help keep it set in place for the entire day or night. Basically, there are two types of powder: pressed and loose. Here is some information about face powder for you to consider.

Loose powder is great for oily skin because it will absorb extra oils in your skin that can discolor your makeup. Pressed powder is neater and easier to work with than loose powder, and it comes in a compact which makes it great for taking with you in your purse or bag.

It is worth investing in a good powder. Finely milled powder, although more expensive, will not settle into any fine lines on your face. It creates a very silky finish, too.

You can apply powder with an actual powder puff, large makeup brush or even your fingers. Using the fingers to work around the eye area is the best way to put the powder on precisely and neatly to this area of your face.

If you have not tried setting your makeup with face powder, you really should experiment with it to see what a flawless and smooth finish it can provide for you. Try using the puff or the brush to see which application method works best for you.

Getting "Curly" with a Curling Iron

A curling iron is the perfect tool for adding curls and waves to straight hair. The curling iron is fairly easy to use, and with a bit of practice it can really be a great styling tool to totally change the look of your hair. Here are some easy steps to get you started.

Start with clean and dry hair. Spray on a product that is specifically designed to use with heated appliances. It is very important to always protect your hair when using curling irons, hot rollers, flat irons and other heated hair tools.

Allow the curling iron to heat up for several minutes before use. Comb through your hair; otherwise, the curls will look tangled and messy. Open the curling iron by holding your fingers around the handle while pushing your thumb down on the moving part.

Clip the curling iron on to a half inch strand of hair near the root by lifting your thumb. Now, slide the iron down to the end of your hair, and be sure to stop before it slips all the way off. Start curling your hair in the direction you want it to curl. If you want an inward curl, curl the iron under.

Continue to curl the hair around the iron until you reach the top part near the root. Now, hold it in place for approximately 15 seconds. Then, slowly start to uncurl the hair until you reach the point where you can press your thumb down without your hair holding the iron shut. The slower you unravel, the longer the curls will last. Open and close the barrel until your hair comes out easily.

Once you free the curl, pin it with a bobby pin and allow it to cool. This will help set the curl and make it last longer.

Repeat this process on all the sections of hair you want to curl. Once you unpin all the curls, lightly tousle them with your fingers for a natural look. Use hairspray or other styling products as needed for the look you want to achieve.

Your straight hair is now curly! Choose different sized curling barrels to get a variety of different sized curls.