How to avoid a bad hairsylist

So, as everyone knows, my last salon experience wasn't the best. Here's some steps to avoid that same experience as I did. Finding a good stylist is important. Everyone at least once in their life as had gone in wanting one thing and came out looking like something completely different. When I was younger I loved red hair. I wanted my hair fiery red without going extreme red. I went in to a local hair salon because that's where my mother went. Well, I have naturally dark hair but I didn't think it would be that hard to dye it red. Well, I walked out with just a red tint to my hair. I wasn't very happy that I spent all that money for nothing.

So first step before walking into a salon is to find pictures of what you would want. Visuals work better to ensure your on the same page. Also, don't be afraid to talk to them about your hair, about your hair texture, recent treatments, damages, those will help them a lot better. Also, make sure what your doing is in your budget. If your wanting something a little extreme or completely different, be aware that all the touch ups will add up.

Ask to see pictures of clients that they have worked with, they might think they are a wonderful hairdresser, but sometimes what they learned 20 years ago just won't work these days. If their style isn't in line with yours you might want to find someone else. Next, if your not happy with the way your hair turned out, don't go back in again. If they weren't on the same page as you before they are more than likely to still not understand and get it right the second time. Find someone who is on the same page as you to fix it and do it the way you wanted it originally. Don't think that you have to settle for something that your not happy with.

Just Ridiculous

So, just yesterday I went in to get my hair trimmed, which I have neglected to do in maybe three months. I was always the girl with shorter hair, I've always had a bob. But my junior and senior year of high school I decided to grow it out. Well, lately I have been so proud of my hair and it's length that I've worked so long on. I'm not a very vain person, but I took pride in how long my hair was, since I've never had long hair.

I went in thinking he would trim it maybe just an inch, NOT THREE INCHES. My hair went from long to medium and I honestly thought he might as well have cut it all off. It looked awful. I don't think I had cried about a haircut since I was little. I mean, I now understand how hard it is to be confident no matter what. It is true though, you really can't let a bad haircut weigh you down. Life will go on.

But I guess that's just how life goes. It just reminded me of art. That's just how girls kind of see themselves as. You work so long and hard on something and then it gets ruined. And your angry. But it's not the end of the world though. Hair grows back. Everything will go back to normal. The whole time my fiancee was just looking at me like I was just ridiculous about getting angry about a small three inches of my hair. He was right. It kind of made me mad when he said I will love you and your beautiful to me. I mean that's sweet and all. But I guess he just doesn't understand. Guys are so much different than girls. They worry to an extent but they won't cry about it.

So, I still don't like my haircut. But I'm going to rise above it and not cry about it. There is so much more things to worry about and it just takes too much energy to worry about it. So stop worrying about little things and spend your energy on other things.

Metamorphosis

As I was putting on my makeup today I was thinking, isn't it just so amazing how your mood can change when you start putting your self together. How you just feel complete with your hair done and your makeup fixed. Your mood changes when you change your appearance. Like when you dye your hair darker you feel more mysterious. Your look for school or the office is a lot different then the vixen you turn into once you do your makeup for the club. How a simple change of color in your lipstick can lead you to a different night.
When I get out of bed in the morning, I admit, I'm not the most beautiful person in the world. Once I start to fix my hair, put some lip gloss here, eye shadow there, I feel brand new. Just as if you were to go to work or school with no makeup on you feel naked or maybe even just more drained and tired. It's amazing to me how makeup can change a person's appearance and mood all together.
But I understand that some people just don't like looking that made up. Which is just fine but you still don't have to go out look sick and pale. What's so wonderful these days is there are so many makeup products out there these days that when you put them on you can barely feel them and don't feel like its all caked on. There are also easy tricks to look all natural with a hint of makeup on.
One I love to do is to use moisturizer all over the face. Use concealer only where needs such as under the eyes or on any blemishes and blend well. Also most girls don't have naturally glowing skin or blushing cheeks so if your going for a sunkissed look I like to use some bronzing lotion on the apples of the cheeks and the bridge of the nose. Now if your going for a softer look, use a soft rose creme blush onto cheeks, temples, and chin. Also apply basic brown eye liner to the upper lashline and then use a very soft pink blush to dab on the eyelids.
So ladies, taking two minutes out of your day to put on just a dab of makeup is just a small price to pay to achieve complements such as, "I wish I could be like you, just hop out of bed and look great!"

Out With The Old!

"However you arrange your makeup, the goal is to organize yourself so that you can concentrate on applying it well." Trish McEvoy, The Power Of Makeup

I think before you can start doing your makeup for everyday use you should clean out your cosmetic bag. You have no idea what you can find in there that you probably don't use that you hold on to because your hoping one day that shade will match or was your lucky eye shadow in high school. Get rid of anything that smells funny, cream formulas separate over time. If you have any any makeup for over a year replace it, except for mascara, which should be replaced every three months. If your lipsticks in rotation, slice off their tips now and then to uncover the fresh pigment.

"If you don't love it, lose it"

Also, if you have been using the same makeup in the same way for the last ten years, then you probably look out of date. What suited you when you were younger probably doesn't suit you now. If you don't know where to start when changing your makeup I would recommend going to the department store and getting advice from one of the beauty consultants. Look inside beauty magazines to see the latest styles of makeup and how they are being used.

Some looks though that you have had maybe can be a signature. Look through old pictures of yourself over time and see what you have always used. Something that can be reinvented. Always be yourself but clean out your makeup bag so you can look your best!

Lose The Guy Look Better?

So, I just saw a friend of mine that I haven't seen in a while. She used to date one of my fiance's friends. They dated for maybe four years then decided to break it off. Now this girl was never very big to begin with but when I saw her you could tell that she had lost some weight. Not only that but she just seemed to have this glow to her and her hair was done differently. It remined me of an article I had once seen in a magazine.


A 2008 study from UNC Chapel Hill put some scientific might behind anecdotal stories that newlyweds pack on the pounds. Over the course of about five years, men who got married gained 6 more pounds, on average, than those who stayed single. Women made out even worse — those who said “I do” put on 9 more pounds than their counterparts who hadn’t settled down. Read more: msnbc

The same happens more in just a regular relationship. All of that eating out and cooking amazing candle light dinners can really pack on the pounds. Plus your more than likely going to pick up on the others bad eating habits. In an article one woman says, "I ate whenever he did, even if I was stuffed." Eight months after moving in together, she had gained 40 pounds.

Some women just aren't as lucky as my friend who looks so great after her breakup. Some people, like in most movies, lean towards ben and jerry's ice cream and would rather sit on the couch and watch romantic movies all day than going for a nice jog to clear their head. So girls, just practice good health and don't let a guy ruin your body...=]

Before You Make Your Face

So here's what I think, if you skin doesn't look great to begin with it might not look the best with makeup on either. I saw girls in school with bad skin cake on more makeup because they thought it would cover up the blemishes. But lets think about it, if your skin has blemishes on it I don't think it helps when you smother it with makeup. If you learn how to take care of your skin and prepare it for makeup it will look better.
So first things first, your skin, what's it like? Is it dry, oily, sun burned, what?
The first thing that Kevyn Aucoin talks about when speaking of skin care is sun damage. It can cause long term effects that sometimes we just don't think about, from wrinkles to melanoma. So don't be surprised when the worlds renowned beauty experts say USE SUNBLOCK! Just because you use it doesn't mean you won't get tan ladies..it protects you. Also moisturize, Dr. Wexler has said about skin, skin does NOT have a clock. A day cream is a night cream. So don't go spend a bunch of money on expensive creams that will all work the same.
Also, you need to commit to a product, Dr. Wexler also says, skincare is not cosmetic surgery. What created a fresh and tight look yesterday will more than likely need to be used today. If you wash your face at night because you have a pimple and it looks better in the morning, use it again at night, after putting on your makeup and putting your skin through the things you do all day it will more than likely need another boost again.



"Our Skin is always changing due to age, hormones, and climate, as well as our activities. Because skin is always changing, it's needs are always shifting. You'll look your best if you analyze your skin on a day-to-day , climate-to-climate basis and treat it accordingly."-Trish McEvoy

One thing I like to do when washing my face at night is to splash freezing cold water on my face first then use hot water to open my pores. It promotes good circulation in your skin. But always wash your face with warm water to open up your pores so your skin care products with be able to get deep and wash out any extra makeup that you left behind or any toxins. Also I always use makeup remover first on my skin, I used to not do that when I was younger because I thought my Clean And Clear would do the work, but you should let your medicine do its job after everything is out of it's way.

Things Kevyn Aucoin tells you to use when cleaning your face...

1. Cotton balls- Great for removing makeup

2. Eye drops- Whitens and helps remove 'gook' from your eyes

3. Light moisturizer- For normal to dry complexions

4. Astringent- Good for helping makeup last longer on those oily complexions

"Beauty doesn't stop at the face. All of your skin deserves some beauty treatment." Trish McEvoy says. Some women think because you have great makeup and great skin care products you should look great always, and then just can't seem to figure out why in the world they still get blemishes. "Our skin is an outward reflection of what is happening inside our bodies." Dr. Wexler says. If your skin is dry stay away from dehydrating elements such as alcohol and smoking. Diet and exercise will help you gain your best looking face and body. So when it comes time for makeup your skin will be ready!

Let Them Eat Cake

As this is my second post but more so, kind of my first, the first subject I would like to talk about is self confidence. There are so many 'rules' in makeup and hair. As a child I grew up thinking straight hair was the prettiest. Of course that was coming from my mind because I had curly hair. What most young girls don't realize is that you will always want what you don't have. As I got older I started to accept that my curly hair was just fine and may I add easier to do in the morning. I used to get up for school everyday at 5:00 in the morning every morning just to straighten my hair and make sure it was perfect.

As I said in the first post, a compliment goes a long way. If you see that someone has an insecurity about something, compliment them on it. I was always complimented on my curly hair by girls with straight hair. First I thought they probably didn't mean it but as time went on I started to realize it was true. Girls kill to have what they don't have. May it be curly hair, straight hair, bigger lips, smaller nose, whatever. When you realize that you have something that people want and will pay lots of money for, the more confident you become.

That being said, I still straighten my hair, but it doesn't mean I don't love my curly hair. But before you make a decision to spend a ton of money each month on getting your hair relaxed or permed, realize that you have something that someone else would love to have. Embrace it. Love it.

I'm not saying be all natural and never do anything daring. There's nothing wrong with changing the color of your hair or texture. It's just that girls get this crazy idea in their heads that the way a girl looks in a magazine is how they are supposed to look, and that they are inferior.





"I feel the goal should be to expand our definition of what we consider 'acceptable,' 'normal' and 'beautiful.' The future belongs to those with open minds and open hearts, who can appreciate beauty in all its forms." -Kevyn Aucoin.

What most people think is beautiful ranges in many countries. In Thailand woman coiled their necks with brass rings to make their necks longer. Mursi women are known for inserting a large balsa wood disk in their lower or upper lip.



Once you embrace and love what you have the easier things will get. Instead of getting up early to straighten your hair every morning you can sleep in. It really all depends on what you think is beautiful. It doesn't matter what everyone else thinks is beautiful, everyone will have their own definition. Its never healthy to go by what other people think. But no matter what, if you think something is beautiful, chances are someone else does too. So go ahead and put pink streakes in your hair, wear siren red lipstick, as long as you think you look good, you do! And don't get mad when someone tries to copy your outfit or your hairstyle, its flattering, it means they liked what you did and they want to try it.

I actually think it's good to copy someones ideas when it comes to style. But you can always make something your own. In school I loved walking around with red lipstick on. No one else did. I took a chance and made it one of my signatures. If you question if it looks good or if you look like a fool, look around you, maybe the next day someone will come to school with red lipstick on trying what you did. Or maybe everyone else is just too scared to try something new. But always take chances. The most notable people in fashion didn't do it by conformity and following the crowd. Like Elizabeth Hurley and her famous safety pin dress or Marilyn Monroe and her red lips.




"Listen to your inner voice. No one knows better than you what makes you feel good about yourself and look fantastic." Victoria Beckham

The First Post

Be your most amazing. That is the heading of my Regency Beauty Institute folder, the one I received after I took a tour of the school. Yes I, Brandy Howard, will be going to one of the top cosmetology schools in the United States.

I am not a writer, as I'm sure whoever is reading this can probably see. I am a lost girl who doesn't know anything other than putting on some lipstick and blush. I don't really finish anything. If anyone who knows me reads this they will probably stop reading my blog after this first post assuming it will probably be my last. But I am on a mission. A mission to stick to this and to school. If nobody in the whole entire world reads this, it will be fine. This is my mission and mine alone.

I'm sure someone who would stumble upon this blog would assume that I'm just a stuck up snob who is superficial and only cares about looks. But that's not true. I care about self confidence. I care about art. I believe that a face is like a canvas and my makeup is the paint. I believe that a good hair day can make anyone feel like they can rule the world. Its more than just 'making the world a prettier place'. I want to make people feel like they can walk into a room and the whole room stops to stare.

I was never a pretty girl in school. As a child I was very awkward, I had big glasses, short hair with bangs uneven because my mother thought why go and spend $5 on a haircut she could do herself. But I remember one day for picture day I got up early enough to do my own hair. I brushed my hair 100 times and used my lucky ponytail to put my hair in a high bun (which I had recently learned to do) and used a ribbon from an old dolls hair to tie a bow around my bun. That day I felt like a million bucks. I went to school and walked with my head held high knowing it would be an amazing day. As I walked into the room for my picture to be taken the picture lady said to me, "What a cute bow". That was the biggest smile I had in a school picture.

A compliment like that can shape a persons life, and it was all because of a simple bow that I borrowed from one of my dolls hair. The purpose of my blog isn't to see how many readers I can get or write a book. I am not a writer. I was a lost girl who has found what she has been looking for her entire life.

I thought I was going to become a nurse. I went to college for pre-nursing and thought I would work at a hospital and bump into a handsome doctor who would forever take care of me. Well, that's not going to happen. I quit college and took a year off of school. It was hard for me to find or decide what I wanted to do with my life. Well I have now decided, a year later, but at least now I know what to do. I should've known all along.

Now here I am writing to whoever will read this. The purpose of this blog is for myself I suppose. I will be writing everyday. On July 19th I will be starting school. Each day I will share my experiences and share my tips. Until then
I will be reading Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin and The Power of Makeup by Trish McEvoy. I will make my way through the books and post what I have learned on here. Maybe whoever reads this will take one of those tips and use it. Maybe even get a nice compliment out of it.

Quote of the day: "For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." Audrey Hephurn.