I Tried It: Goody Spin Pin - Spiral Hair Pins

As you know, I'm venturing on a hair repair challenge, ie - operation anti bobbi pin, which means I can't use bobbi pins anymore.  So Patrick handed me a box of these spiral hair pins to try.  He said it's the clamping action of the bobbi pin that makes them bad for hair, so these would be just fine as long as I used them on dry hair.  I'd seen the Goody Simple Styles Spin Pins before but never been tempted enough to try them since I had been successfully creating buns with bobbi pins for year, but I decided to give them a go.  

Here's what they claim to do:

The Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin allows you to easily achieve three chic updo styles.  Simpley twirl your hair up and spin the two spin pins in for a perfect undone bun, side bun or double bun!  Does the work of 20 bobbies.

My verdict?  A fail.  Here's what I managed to create with them:

While I was able to create a small bun and get it to stay in place with the spiral pins, it didn't stay that way for too long.  It definitely doesn't do the work of 20 pins...more like 2-4 pins worth of work.  I'll give them this though, they stayed in place, it was just my hair that slid out.   I have fine hair and even though I dry shampooed and beach sprayed it, after about an hour my hair just slipped out into sort of a limp, lame, non-puffy bun...and all I did was go to the grocery store.  It definitely wouldn't have made it through a dance class!

What I did like about them?  They're textured and incredibly easy to slide in.  Maybe some of my thick haired friends will have better luck.  I wouldn't recommend buying these to anyone with thin or fine hair, but with some thicker hair or lots of product and teasing they could work.  Maybe I need to try the mini size?

Have you tried the spin pins?  What did you think?

~Kirsten

Hair Repair Challenge: Day by Day Instructions Week Two

Congratulations!  We made it through the first week of our Hair Repair Challenge!  Are you participating?  Make sure to upload your photos to Patrick's facebook page so we can see how you're doing!  As for me...my hair is feeling softer and silkier already!

Here's what's on tap for week two:

Day 8: Rinse hair very well and then use the Anti Snap and Iron Repair cocktailed and blended together as a leave in, style as needed

Wed- Leave the hair dry and use the dry shampoo

Day 9: Use Masque to cleans and condition, use the CAT for 3-5 mins. Use Anti Snap and Iron Repair cocktailed and blended together as a leave in and style as usual

Day 10: Rinse hair very well and then use the Anti Snap and Iron Repair cocktailed and blended together as a leave in, style as needed

Day 11: Use Masque to cleans and conditon, use the CAT for 3-5 mins. Use Anti Snap and Iron Repair cocktailed and blended together as a leave in and style as usual

Day 12: Rinse hair very well and then use the Anti Snap and Iron Repair cocktailed and blended together as a leave in, style as needed

Day 13: Leave hair dry and use the dry shampoo

Day 14: Rinse hair very well and then use the Anti Snap and Iron Repair cocktailed and blended together as a leave in, style as needed

Need some inspiration?  Check out this horrifying photo of a damaged hair strand:

Inspired yet?  
How are you doing?  Following any of these tips or using any of these products?
~Kirsten

Hair Repair Challenge: Day by Day Instructions, The 1st Seven Days

Are you ready to get healthier hair?  Do you want to go on Patrick's hair repair challenge with me?  Then get ready to get started!  As a recap, here are the rules: No bobbi pins, no wet hair styling/updos, no shampoo, and limited heat styling.  Above, a little hair care inspiration board to keep me motivated.

We talked about products on Monday, so using those, here are the first seven days worth of instruction:

Day 1:  Get an awesome blow out and styling from Patrick!
Day 2:  Enjoy yesterday's awesome blowout using a little dry shampoo as needed.
Day 3:  Use your Masque to clean and condition followed by the CAT for 3-5 minutes.  Rinse out then use Anti-Snap and Iron Repair cocktailed together as a leave in and style.
Day 4:  Rinse hair very well and use the Anti-Snap and Iron Repair cocktailed and blended together as a leave in, style as needed.
Day 5:  Use Masque to clean and condition, the CAT for 3-5 minutes, rinse, follow with Anti-Snap and Iron Repair as a leave in.  Style.
Day 6: Rinse hair very well and then use the Anti-Snap and Iron Repair together as a leave in and style.
Day 7:  Leave hair dry and use dry shampoo.

So far so good, I haven't broken any rules and am figuring out how to style my hair without it being wet and pinned up.  And although sometimes I forgot to mix the products together and the extra shower time gave me dry skin, I think it's going pretty well!  At left, my 'do from day two.

~Kirsten

Hair Repair Challenge: Products

My quest to renew, refresh, and lengthen my locks has introduced me to a slew of new products!  To get me started on my hair repair challenge, Patrick gave me these four products to get my hair repaired, with strict instructions that this was a lifestyle change, not just a product quick fix.

Redken Extreme Cat- To reconstruct and recondition.  Patrick says, use this in the shower or when you shampoo and condition. Leave on 5 mins then rinse.

Redken Extreme Anti Snap- Provides heat protection, reduces friction from brushes and helps precent breakage and split ends.  Use as a leave in.  It smells like delicious candy.

Redken Extreme Iron Repair- Helps reinforce and restructure distressed, dull hair.  Patrick says, use it as leave in when you are using hot tools.  It's fruit scent makes up from its weird looking texture.

Pureology Essential Repair Restorative Hair Masque- For immersing distressed hair in a rich masque.  This giant jar is full of creamy, rich looking nano technology.  Patrick says to use it instead of Shampoo and Conditioner for 3 weeks.  Use a quarter size amount just like you would a shampoo: apply, massage well then let it sit for at least 5-8 mins. When rinsing, leave about 15% of it in the hair. Style as usual. 

I'm happy to report it's day four and I haven't broken any of the rules yet.  Need a refresher?  Here are the rules:

• No wet updos
• No bobbi pins or bad for you hair bands (more on the later quest in an upcoming blog post)
• No shampoo/conditioner
• Minimal heat styling

I know I'll never have Kate Middleton hair, but a girl can dream, right?
(Maybe if I saw Patrick every week...?)
~Kirsten

Tune in soon for day by day instructions!

Hair Repair Challenge: Operation Anti-Bobbi Pin

I went to see Patrick yesterday for some color touch up, and having looked through some old photos of myself I decided I wanted to go longer with my hair.  So I inquired about getting more length and Patrick informed me it would be a long, difficult journey.  Why?  My bad hair habits.  I'm Kirsten and I use too many bobbi-pins.  Plus, I usually wear my hair up and style my updos when my hair is still wet.  These two things are apparently B.A.D. for my tresses.

Uh oh.

But Patrick said all is not lost.  With a lot of tlc and some habit changes, I could restore my hair to its former glory and start the process of growing it out.  Since it's still early in 2013, I'm going to give it a go.  So Patrick gave me some new products to try (at left) and strict instructions: no more wet updos, no more bobbi pins, and invest in better hair ties (flat with no braiding or ridges).  It's going to be a challenge...but if you to want to give your hair some TLC, I invite you to come on a journey with me!  Kirsten's hair repair challenge!

Check back soon for instructions, products recommendations, and nice for your hair styling.  I promise to be totally honest.  Case in point, it's 9pm on Tuesday night and I'm dying to pin my hair back in a bobbi-pin!  It's going to be a long journey!
~Kirsten

Historical Beauty Icon Inspiration: Marie Antoinette

Femme fatale of the 1700s, Marie Antoinette was renowned for her fabulous style and trend setting beauty.  She picked her fashions for the day with a pin in a special book and changed the trends in France forever...what better inspiration for a real life beauty look.  You can copy the bright pastel trends of the Sophia Coppola movie staring Kirsten Dunst, but if you're looking for something a little more down to Earth, try these ideas:

• Jazz up your beauty space by converting vintage looking frames into gorgeous counter top trays and stack your prettiest beauty essentials there to start your day on a sweet note.
• Create luminous skin (especially in the winter when you need extra oomph) by mixing a highlighter in with your foundation or applying it directly to your face after foundation (on areas that need shimmer like your brow bones, cheek bones, nose, cupids bow).  I like Tarte's Illuminating Moisturizer.
• Define your eyes.  For an ultra glam look, play up your eye line by finishing and filling in your brows, apply a neutral beige from brow to lash line, contour the socket area with a darker nude, and then apply a heavy eyeliner.  L'Oreal's HIP Studio Secrets gel liner is one of my favorites for making an impact.  Apply it with an angled eye liner brush and apply several coats of mascara.  Keep lips a pretty, neutral pink.  (I've always wanted to try this pretty eco-friendly color by Juice Beauty).
• Create a volume rich bouffant.  Marie Antoinette was all about the hair, so grab your teasing comb!  Start by spraying dry shampoo on the underside of your hair, then flip it up and apply Sexy Hair's What a Tease: Backcomb in a bottle to the top layers around the crown of your head.  This gem of a product is made with a special combination of resins that give hair instant height.  Backcomb to get more height and then sweep everything to the side with a chic black ribbon.

Who's your historical beauty inspiration?

Winter Beauty Tips

Cold weather brings on all sorts of problems when it comes to hair and makeup.  Instead of looking glossed and gorgeous we turn into a dry, static-y, and frizzy mess!  Don't let winter win though, fight it with the right products and a few tricks!

• Wear a hat!  If you'll be out and about running errands and dealing with wind and the changing temperatures of inside and out, pop on a hat.  It's an instant way to look chic and put together.  I'm currently digging the 20s style cloche.  If you like to wear your hair up a lot, buy a hat that's a touch larger or try on your hat with your hair pinned up.
• Embrace the texture nature gives you.  If it's snowing and you know wet snow makes your naturally wavy hair frizz like mad, start with your hair that way.  Or pop a bottle of a beach spray or mini flat iron in your bag so you can change the texture and look of your hair if your style starts going south.  Feeling the frizz before you walk out the door?  Start your style with an anti-frizz product, run a dryer sheet over your hair, or finish with a shine spray to tame frizzes.
• Hydrate!  The best way to ensure you have shinny hair and smooth skin is to hydrate.  Start from the inside out by drinking plenty of water.  For skin, use a moisturizing cream on any dry spots before applying your makeup and wear a night cream to bed!

Do you have any tricks for looking fabulous in the winter?

See the product links and photos from Polyvore.

Update your Makeup Bag

The new year always has me thinking about updating my makeup bag!  It's a time for fresh starts and trying new things, so while you're still thinking about the word "new" with your month of January, grab your makeup bag and freshen it up.  Make 2013 all about looking and feeling beautiful...and that starts with your makeup bag.  Try these five tips:

1. Dump out everything in your bag and give it a good wipe out with an anti-bacterial wipe.  Then assess the contents and toss out anything that's broken, expired, or generally icky looking.  The general rule of thumb for tossing: mascara/liquid liner after 3-4 months, lipsticks and glosses after 2-3 years, powders like eye shadows and blushes after about 2-3 years, foundation after 2 years.  As you put things back in your makeup bag, wipe them all off and make sure they're clean.
2. Assess your brush situation.  Clean all your brushes and make sure they're in good shape.  If you're missing something or have always needed a specific brush, now's the time to buy it.  Feeling playful?  Check out EcoTools new Fresh, Flawless Face Set with cute printed handles.
3. Add some fun into your collection.  I'm big believer that makeup should make you smile, so when it comes to basics, I always vote for picking the product that is more fun like Physician's Formula Glow and Mood Boosting Blush.  This goes for your makeup bag too!  If it doesn't make you smile, get a new one or swap with a friend.
4. Pick a couple trends to try.  Add a few trendy items into your collection.  This spring will be all about matte lips, so pick a bright, fun color to keep you out of the winter doldrums like Nars Pure Matte Lipstick in Carthage.  Another trend to try?  Grey nails, they're the perfect neutral.
5. Pick one item to simplify your routine.  Whether that's an eyelash curler, a two in one cream stick, or new eye brush, pick one gift to yourself to help you in the morning.  Not good with eye liner?  Try one of the new eye liner markers like Stila's Stay All Day.  Bored with black?  Try grey, it looks fresh and modern.

Trust me, cleaning up your makeup bag and freshening up your routine will definitely jump start your morning makeup routine.  What new products are you looking to try?

~Kirsten

2013 Hair and Beauty Resolutions

Photo from Beautifully Superfluous

Happy 2013!  Have you made your New Year's Resolutions yet?  How about including a couple of hair and beauty related ones?  Need some to get started?  Here are five things to start doing, stop doing, and vow to try in 2013:

• Try new trends in hair and makeup!  Have you always stared longingly at that display of purple eyeliner pencils or continuously dog eared the same type of hair styles in your magazine pages? Now is the time to try them!  If a trend looks interesting and suits your coloring or faceshape: go for it!  There's no time like the present.  Need an extra incentive?  Challenge yourself to one beauty dare each month where you try something you've never tried before.
• Stop picking...everything.  Do you pick at your nails, your pimples, or your split ends?  Now's the time to stop!  Need some help?  Check out Allure's Solutions for 7 Emotional Skin Issues here.
• Stick with what works.  Go through your facebook photos....do the ones you look most fabulous in have any patterns?  Your killer winged eyeliner, curly hair, or that great green top?  Make an effort to repeat those looks.  If you love the way you look with tousled hair, wear it that way more often.
• Moisturize!  One of the easiest ways to look glowing and fabulous is to keep your skin moisturized.  Hydrated, happy skin is healthy skin.  Apply a moisturizer right after you get out of the shower and for double duty make sure it includes SPF.  Don't forget to hydrate from the inside out too - drink plenty of water.
• Upgrade your routine.  When you clean out your makeup bag, take a look at your products.  Are you using the same face cream since 1997?  It may be time for an upgrade.  Visit your local beauty counter for a consultation.  Looking for a new hair style....call patrick for an update to your look.  Even a simple cut change or some highlights can instantly change the way you look and feel.  

As for me?  I vow to toss out my expired beauty products (including that half empty eye shadow palette at the bottom of my drawer) and take better care of my nails ( ie - more frequent manicures).  What are your New Year's Resolutions?  

~Kirsten