It seems to me that most women don't tend to their eyebrows like they could. Of course most women have them waxed or pluck them themselves, but that's not what I'm referring to. There are a number of ways to change the look of your brows.
Number one on the list would be waxing and plucking. That one's pretty self-explanatory.
Next would probably be trimming. I don't think this is for everyone, but it's certainly for me. My eyebrow hairs are relatively long and therefore can become unruly. Because of this, I like to keep my brows trimmed. Here's how to do it. Use an eyebrow brush and brush your eyebrows straight up (if it looks really funny, you're doing it right). Now, trim the hair by following the line your natural eyebrow follows and cutting along that line. Personally I use professional hair cutting scissors. Obviously not everyone has those lying around the house. Instead, I'd suggest using a sharp pair that you can be fairly detailed with. Generally you are only supposed to brush the hair up and cut it, but I also brush it down and follow the same process. I'm not sure, but I assume this works for me because I have thick eyebrows. Also, I have an unfortunate cowlick on one of my eyebrows. The inner end of it grows straight up. In order to combat this, I just cut it down to the shape it should be by mirroring my other eyebrow.
You can also pencil in your eyebrows. Yes, this does sound counterproductive, but it creates a stronger (and for those with lightly colored brows), more visible brow. I like to save this look for when I have strong eye make up on, otherwise your eyebrows get sort of lost on your face. Also, you can use powder and a thick, stiff bristled brush to fill them in. A pencil provides a sharper look than powder. I also think powder looks more natural. To fill in your brows, just follow their natural lines. If you're using a pencil, use short strokes in the direction your hair grows. This creates a more natural look as the strokes mock individual hairs.
Last but not least is keeping your brows in place. To do this, you can use either wax or gel. Wax has a little less hold than gel does, but is easier to apply (too much gel gives your brows a wet look). These methods also seem to keep the pigment on from filling in your brows, especially if you used powder. There are even some eyebrow pencils that include wax in them, though this probably has the least staying power of the three methods.
I feel like foundation is often an overlooked step in make up. Of course most girls use it, but I don't think most use it to its full advantage. There are a lot of ways to play with foundation.
The most important aspect to foundation is choosing the proper type for you. There are cream, powder, liquid, and even moose foundations. Personally, I use powder because I have such an oily face. Unfortunately, powder offers the least amount of coverage. Liquid, I would say, provides the most, but does not agree with oily faces like mine (though it does moisturize a drier face). For maximum coverage, some girls apply liquid foundation with a layer of powder on top (beware: making either layer too thick will result in a cakey look). The cream and moose foundations generally provide medium coverage.
As far as an applicator goes, this depends on both the person and type of foundation. Personally, I use a brush for my powder. It is relatively small for a foundation brush (not much bigger than a quarter in diameter) and has compact bristles for a more controlled application. Some people prefer a very big, very fluffy brush for their foundation. For cream, liquid, and moose foundations a make up sponge can be used, but a flat foundation brush (like an over sized concealer brush) generally seems to be a better method. Fingers can also be used, but again, the brush is the way to go (just make sure you clean it often to rid it of the leftover bacteria from your face and to create a more smooth look to your foundation).
Another equally important aspect to foundation is finding your perfect shade. This is a complicated process. The best thing to do is go to a professional make up store (Ulta, Sephore, MAC, Clinique, etc.) and have a store representative do it for you. You have to know what type of undertones your skin has as well as what foundations would match those undertones, and a store representative will be trained in this. Even if you don't buy your foundation from that store, it's a good thing to do. I realize a lot of really high end make up is way out of most people's price range! Just go to your favorite drug store and try to match that shade. If you go home and realize it doesn't match, a lot of stores let you return it. If not, well, just learn from your mistake.
Let's talk about concealer. Just like foundation itself, you have a lot of options. I have actually come across powder concealers (which I haven't tried as I don't understand exactly how it doesn't get swirled around your face with your foundation). The three most popular types of concealer I have seen are liquid, cream, and stick. I have tried all three, though none have worked for me. Usually (from my experience at least) concealer and powder foundation don't mix. After a little of the day's wear and tear, the foundation comes off everywhere except the concealer spots, leaving a very obvious circle. For those of you who can actually wear concealer, let's talk about the different types. All should be used with a concealer brush (this one has relatively soft, very compact bristles and is flat), though both the stick and liquid concealer can be used with just fingers. I think all three types work relatively the same. Here, personal preference seems to be the only deciding factor when choosing a concealer. One tip I have for applying concealer is to cover an area slightly greater than the area you actually want covered. This is so that when you apply your foundation, it does not wipe the edge of your concealer away to reveal whatever you'd like concealed.
Now, on to the fun stuff. Foundation is really only a blank canvas for your face. Contouring and highlighting is the paint. Here are the best places to put your bronzer: temples, under cheekbones, sides of nose, and sides of chin on jawbone. Pinpointing your bronzer adds self-created shadow to your face. Shadow on your temples creates a more stream line look to your face (thinner). Shadow under your cheekbones creates more defined cheekbones. Shadow on the sides of your nose creates a thinner nose. Shadow on the sides of your chin on your jawbone create a more pronounced chin (think Reese Witherspoon, but a little less pronounced than that).
As far as highlighting goes, hit the middle of your forehead, nose, and chin. These are the spots where the most natural light would hit your face. This gives your face a natural glow. Personally I think highlighter should be a shimmery champagne color, but it's really up to the wearer. It can also replace blush and go on your cheekbones or the apple of your cheeks (the protruding part of your cheeks when you smile). You have to find which spot works best for your face.
One last tip for foundation. Put it on after your eye make up! While most women do this the other way around, saving your foundation for last allows you to correct some of the mistakes you made when applying your eye make up. Things like fall out on your cheekbones or a bit of mascara under your eye.
Aaaaand here's the end look! Well, sometimes...
How
to get lashes just like this! Well, not really. There are about a
million ways to apply mascara. Here are a few of my tips and tricks.
(Disclaimer: I've found that in most mascara ads, the models have a
heavy amount of black eye shadow or eye liner on. This creates the
illusion of fuller lashes. So beware! Unless you do the same, it's
virtually impossible to have lashes that thick.. without falsies.)
First of all, finding a mascara that works for you is key. More expensive doesn't always mean better. If a tube of mascara you bought at the dollar store works for you, role with it. Although, some people (including myself occasionally) like to use more than one mascara. When I do so, I'll generally use a separating mascara as my base coat and a thickening mascara as the main layer, or I'll use a drier mascara (aka older) for the base and a wetter (aka newer) mascara for the main layer. For the base coat, it's very important that you don't apply too much mascara and that there are absolutely no clumps - any clumps you do have will just get worse when applying the main coat. Also, make sure your base coat is dry when you put on the main layer. When layering mascara, I've found that three coats is usually the max, though everyone's lashes and mascaras are different. Find what works best for you!
The best tip I can give you for applying mascara is to shake your brush horizontally as you apply. This separates your lashes and leaves less clumps. Also, make sure there isn't too much excess mascara on your brush. This will lead to clumps. Just rub the extra off on the opening of the tube like you do with nail polish.
Another trick I use is to also coat the top of your lashes (but be careful not to bump your brush against your lid). For this trick, I'll put my mascara on the bottom of my lashes (I'm talking about the top row of lashes. This is how you usually apply mascara). Then, while this is still wet, I'll use the same technique on the top of my lashes (remember to wiggle your brush). Usually I'll finish up with another swipe or two of the bottom of my lashes to make sure they're still pointing in the right direction - up.
Don't be afraid to hit that bottom lash line! I know if you're not used to it it can look a little odd - even goth - at first. But don't worry! It looks more normal with wear and practice. A word of caution: make sure the mascara is heavier on your top lashes than on your bottom so that they don't look too symmetrical.
One trick I've tried (but don't necessarily love) is holding your brush parallel to your lashes and moving it along your lashes (it's like putting on mascara sideways). Only do this to about the end third or quarter of your lashes. The purpose of this technique is to thoroughly coat the tips of your lashes to give them more length. Generally for me, this just creates a clumpy look, so I'm not really a fan. I figured it might work for a few of you though.
If you really have a lot of time to devote to doing your mascara, trying brushing your lashes before applying. I've found this reduces lash clumping and creates a more fan like look for your lashes (use the tool that looks like a miniscule comb for this). I use this trick for very important events and when I want my eyes to look a bit more dramatic. For this look, you need the patience to both brush your lashes and (for the full effect) layer mascara on them. If you take the time to do both those things, you won't be disappointed.
Be sure to hit both the outer and inner corner of your eyes. If you don't hit them, you could shorten the look of your eyes, and no one wants that! Personally, I'm a fan of outer corner heavy lashes, so I make sure to hit that area hard. I find it very easy to miss some of those lashes, especially because the lower and upper lashes tend to mesh on the outer corners.
Last but not least, beware of fall out! For those of you that don't know, fall out is that extra eye shadow powder that falls onto your upper cheek bones and on the top of your lashes. Too much (or any at all really) fall out on your lashes leads to an almost creepy washed out look. It causes your eye lashes to blend too much with your lids. Fall out is very hard to get rid of on your lashes. Generally, I'll brush my eye lashes to help get rid of it. If that doesn't do the trick, I'll use the reverse side of a lash brush (the part that looks like a broom and is generally used for your eye brows) on the top of my lashes. I place it on the top of my lashes very near to the base (my eye lid) and just shake the brush back and forth (horizontally). If even this does not do the trick, put mascara on the top of your lashes (which I generally do with or without fall out).
Hopefully after all of this, you can all achieve eye lashes from the gods. Good luck!
Giving yourself a salon-perfect manicure is probably easier than you think. Here's how I do it. First, make sure your hands are well moisturized. The best way to do this is by putting on about two or three times more lotion than you usually use. This allows you to easily remove your cuticles. Next (because you've just moisturized your hands), use nail polish remove on your nails (whether you have nail polish on them or not). If you can, use a remover without acetone in it. This is better for your nails. At this point, you should buff your nails. Don't go overboard though - you don't want your nails too thin! Now, shape and file your nails. Personally, I prefer the square, but there are many shapes to choose from (the square, the oval, the squoval, and rounded). Now it's time to paint! I suggest using a base coat first (because I have thin nails, I use a strengthener). After your base coat, do two coats of polish (be sure to let each layer dry completely). Finish the look off with a top coat (or strengthener) of your choice.
I think this is the best way to paint your nails. A few more tips: don't allow the polish to touch your cuticle. If you get polish on your skin, don't worry! Just scrap it off in your next hot shower - it's easy to remove. If you're not willing to wait until your next shower to get it off, or you let some of the polish touch your cuticle, use a small brush to remove it. Just it dip it in remover! For this, I use a remover with acetone in it because it's generally more effective.
I may possibly have the slowest growing hair of anyone I have ever met. It used to be very long in elementary school until I cut it to shoulder length in sixth grade. I've been trying to grow it back ever since. Up until about a year ago, I didn't have very much success. My hair is very fine and therefore susceptible to breakage. Here is what I did to grow it out (mind you, I'm not done yet):
1. DO NOT USE HEAT. Of course, I don't expect everyone to adhere to that. I'm lucky enough to have hair thin enough to dry quickly and pretty manageable. Just cut back as much as possible - it's the most contributing factor to breakage and thinning of the hair. And yes, blow drying counts too.
2. I switched all of my hair care products to nice, expensive brands. Yes, I know it sounds pretentious, but I think it made a real difference. Currently my regimen includes Aveda's Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair (a serum) and Damage Remedy Reconstructing Shampoo, Rusk's Conditioner (it's so old I can't read the rest of the label), and Moroccan Oil. After switching to these products, I definitely noticed a change in my hair. It felt softer, stronger, and thicker. Plus it appeared to have more bounce, but I think that can be attributed to its new found health. Here's a picture of the Moroccan Oil in case you haven't seen it.
All of it is expensive stuff, but I deem it well worth it if you're serious about growing and maintaining health hair.
3. Take biotin. It's a supplement that helps with the growth and health of hair, skin, and nails. Currently, I take 5000 mcg a day, but there are higher and lower doses to be taken. Warning: You should be either 17 or 18 years or older to take biotin (I can't remember which). This scared me at first. If this supplement is safe, why do I have to be a certain age to take it? Well, in all honesty I could never find the answer to that, but I did do a significant amount of research on it and found hardly any negatives to be said. Of course, you should do your own research before adding this to your daily diet.
4. Only brush your hair with a wide toothed comb. This helps cut down on breakage. Also, I only brush my hair from the tip to the root in order to avoid ripping out my hair. For some, I know this can be a large chore. For me, it's not so bad because I have such soft, fine hair. I've also heard that it's best not to brush your hair when it's soaking wet, but since mine generally isn't all that tangled, I don't adhere to that, but it may work for you!
5. Use dry shampoo! It has been a life saver for me. Because of my Italian heritage and fine hair, it tends to start producing a significant amount of grease about 18 hours after my last wash. This would cause me to wash my hair daily, which strips it of natural oils it needs to grow. The rule seems to be you should only wash your hair every two to three days to keep that from happening. I now use dry shampoo every other day in order to allow some of those oils to stick around with out that "I'm homeless" looking effect of grease. Use which ever dry shampoo you like. I think they all work relatively the same, but you can do some research to find which one works best for you. Warning: Dry shampoo cans tend to empty themselves. I'm not sure how or why it happens, but out of the four cans I have bought, it happened to two of them. You use it once, and the next day the can is completely empty. I checked online and it's a common problem. Don't say I didn't warn you. (One last thing about dry shampoos. When I told my friend about this, she said that it's bad for your hair because it takes away natural oils. I'm not entirely sure about the truth of this statement. From my understanding, dry shampoo uses baby powder like substances to soak up the grease, which I believe would still sit on your scalp. Plus, if it's dry shampoo or a wash, I'd say dry shampoo takes the cake in both time and scalp health.)
6. Don't sleep with your hair up. In fact, put your hair up as little as possible. It causes breakage (namely those tails you get at the nape of your neck when you put your hair in a pony tail).
7. Dye and bleach your hair as little as possible. I feel this one is pretty self explanatory.
8. Get regular hair cuts! What you're probably thinking is right - regular hair cuts don't aide in hair growth. What they do is make your hair healthier, therefore appear longer. Think about it. When your hair has a large amount of split ends, not only does it break, but it also has a tapered look at the ends (opposed to the blunt look of freshly cut hair). This causes your hair to look shorter than it actually is. Regular hair cuts will give your hair a longer look, as well as a healthier one. The general rule is one cut every 6-8 weeks, but I think it should be specific to you. The more split ends, the sooner the cut.
9. Just a few other tips I've heard but haven't tried. Supposedly, exercise aides in hair growth. I haven't researched this too much, but from what I've read this is what I've gathered. It has to do with the blood flow and something like hormones to your scalp. Don't quote me on that though. I've also read that daily scalp massages help hair growth. I think this works on a similar principle as the exercise, but again, don't quote me on that. Also, your diet influences your hair growth, though I'm not sure what exactly your diet should and shouldn't include. I do believe protein is beneficial.
Good luck on your hair endeavors!
Hello all. I'm just getting started with Google+ and Blogger.com and such, so things will probably start out a little rocky. Basically, I hope to post things pertaining to fashion - be it hair, make up, or whatever else. Bare with me!
