Hair

Rita Hazan Root Concealer Touch-Up Stick

May 26th, 2017 by Karen 2 Comments

I’m holding on for dear life till tomorrow afternoon, which is when my roots will finally be obliterated into…oblivion (for at least six weeks!) by my friend and hair stylist Alis, THANK YE GODS!

It’s getting harder to hide those little gray baby hairs, which is why I’m living for the Rita Hazan Root Concealer Touch-Up Stick. It’s a chubby, waxy twist-up crayon for coloring in gray hairs and roots in those hard-to-reach places on your mug (and you can also use it on on your brows).

All I do is run the pencil back and forth a few times on the hairs I wanna cover. The pencil deposits a layer of product that feels like a thin wax, and then I comb the hairs with the spoolie that comes with it.

The product covers everything, and it stays put till I wash it out.

The sticks are $25 each at Sephora and Ulta and come in Dark Brown/Black, which is the shade I use, Light Brown and Dark Blonde.

I just gotta hang on for one more night… Come on, Karen, you can do it! LOL!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sephora Adventures: Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo, Drunk Elephant Tinted Umbra Tinte Daily Defense, and Pinrose Perfumes

May 23rd, 2017 by Karen 7 Comments

sephora adventures with connor — Practicing her #RBF

I swear, my last trip to Sephora was Connor’s idea. If she looks a little crabby in this picture, it’s because she’s practicing her #RBF (resting baby face).

I went to grab a couple things I’ve been wanting to try from my lust list, and speaking of that, that list has been exercising my wallet in ways I did not anticipate, LOL!

First, there’s this clarifying Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo.

I had a a lot of product buildup in my hair after using a Klorane shampoo and mask, and Sunday Shampoo, which I used on Saturday (such a rebel!), got my hair feeling normal again. Buuuuuut, I still think I’m going to return it, because I read on the Sephora website (and don’t ask my why this didn’t sink in beforehand) that it isn’t recommended for color-treated hair, which I have.

Oh, well… It was fun while it lasted.

I do like the idea using a clarifying shampoo every so often to remove buildup from dry shampoo and other hair products, so I’m thinking about exchanging it for a shampoo by Briogio, a natural hair care line at Sephora, called Be Gentle, Be Kind Green Tea Clarifying Shampoo. It’s $24, so about the same price as the Bumble shampoo, which is $25, but it’s supposed to safe for color-treated hair.

I hope it smells good. 🙂

Also, while I was there, I picked up a tube of new Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 ($36) with 20% zinc oxide.

Zinc oxide usually leaves a white cast on darker skin, but this one doesn’t! It’s really neat. I thought it would be too deep or peachy for me, but it isn’t. I can’t see it at all, which is great, and there’s no white cast! I used it on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and my skin really likes it so far. It has a light mousse-y texture, so it absorbs quickly, and I don’t have to sit there working it in for days and days. Plus, it isn’t sticky, so it doesn’t leave my neck feeling gross, and it layers under foundation well.

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Is There a Graceful Way to Go Gray?

May 18th, 2017 by Karen 43 Comments

Literally counting the seconds to my next coloring appointment

I’ve been dyeing my hair for what feels like forever. I think the last time I rocked my natural color from roots to ends, gosh… It must’ve been when I was in my 20s. Maybe? It’s been a really long time.

I’m currently two weeks out from a hair coloring appointment with my friend Alis, who lives and works in Las Vegas but visits here to California every couple of months and takes some appointments (I usually go every six to eight weeks).

Girl, I love going to the salon. It’s like a getaway experience for me. For two hours, I tune out, read trashy magazines and just get to be pampered for that short block of time. 🙂 Ah…

But even though it’s a fun thing for me, little by little, it’s starting to feel less like a treat, and more like hair handcuffs, because now whenever I go, it’s like, “Ugh, gotta cover up these grays!” My hair is getting to the point where my roots are very obvious while they’re growing out.

I’m seriously considering letting my hair go to its natural raw state, but I just don’t know if there’s an elegant way to make the jump to gray, especially with dark hair.

Yes, this is not a serious problem in the greater scheme of things. I realize this, but still.

Maybe it would be easier if I were completely gray. I’m probably about 15% now. Actually, more than that. Maybe 20%. 30%? Anyway, now gray hairs are starting to show up in my baby hairs on my forehead and, like, in my bangs and on the veeeeeery top of my head, so they aren’t as easy to hide.

If I were 100% gray already, at least it would be a single color, like cool girl gray hair, but that’s not the case. I would be salt ‘n’ pepper, but without the dope rhymes or Spinderella.

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Brand Spotlight: IGK

May 18th, 2017 by Karen 10 Comments

Getting to know the IGK hair care line

Girl, there’s this IGK display at the Sephora by my house that I’ve walked past…I don’t know how many times, and I swear to gawd, up until about a month ago, I thought it was a display for R+Co!

Doesn’t the packaging look similar?

R+Co High Dive

IGK has cute packaging, yeah?

Still, I should probably, like, get my eyes checked soon. Maybe I should break down and get Lasik already.

IGK is a pretty new brand. I think they showed up in 2016, so they’re still the new kids on the hair block.

The name “IGK” is an acronym based on the names of the founders — two brothers and two of their friends — Frank Izquierdo, Leo Izquierdo, Aaron Grenia and Chase Kusero.

There’s a reference to “X-Men.” Wait for it.

They’re all US hairstylists who work in different cities, and if you look closely at the labels, they have a code at the top — MIA, NYC and LA — which is a shout-out to their respective city and the name of the scent, of which there are three in the line.

MIA, or the Miami scent, has guava, coconut water, pink lotus, violet and vanilla notes.
LA, the Los Angeles scent, has notes of bergamot, lemon zest, mimosa, heliotrope and black amber.
NYC, the New York City scent, has of black pepper, blackberry, violet, geranium and leather notes.

They’ve got everything you need to take care of hair — shampoos, conditioners and hair styling products. All of the products are cruelty free, offer UV and heat protection protection, and are made without mineral oils or petroleum.

Smoke & Mirrors Conditioning Cleansing Oil ($29)

I’ve tried a handful of things, and the product I’m totally and completely in love with is Smoke & Mirrors Conditioning Cleansing Oil.

Smoke & Mirrors Conditioning Cleansing Oil

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What’s Your Default Bad Hair Day Hairstyle?

March 23rd, 2017 by Karen 12 Comments

Is it a slicked-back low-pony? A textured dutch braid? Or do you just throw that mane under a hat and call it a day?

My bad hair day hairstyle is a high, messy bun. The messier, the better.

And if I’m feeling fancy…I’ll smooth down the sides with hairspray and a toothbrush.

Your turn! What’s your default bad hair day hairstyle?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Have You Ever Worn a Half-Up Dutch Side Braid?

March 9th, 2017 by Karen 9 Comments

No, it’s not a real thing. (Well, it might be… I don’t know.)

Ah, the things you do when you’re trying to NOT chop your bangs.

Girl, it’s been less than a month since I started growing mine out again, and they’re driving me absolutely ? bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S. ?

On the plus side, it’s forcing me to find creative ways to keep my bangs out of my mix, like this half-up Dutch side braid, which is basically an inverted French braid.

When the braid gets halfway down my head (just above my ear), I secure it with an elastic, then wrapped a piece of hair around the elastic to hide it. Then I curl the rest of my hair into loose waves for texture and body.

Dude, honestly, I don’t know how much longer I can take this growing out business. My patience is wearing thin!!!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Try This Hair Hack to Boost Color and Deep Condition at the Same Time

January 31st, 2017 by Karen 17 Comments

Mix a color-boosting conditioner and a hydrating hair mask to ramplify (ramp up + amplify) your hair color and deep condition yo’ mane at the same time.

I mean, why couldn’t I have discovered this genius tip years ago!? MIND BLOWN! I wish I could take credit for it, but I can’t. Shout-out to Chelsea from the comments for showing me the light!

Needs more moisture! PLEASE!!

I’ve tried quite a few hair color-boosting conditioners over the years, and even though I love how rich and refreshed my hair color looks after using them, they haven’t been moisturizing enough on their own. Consequently, I like the results, but I don’t use them consistently because I’d just rather skip right to a hydrating conditioner. My hair needs the extra moisture.

But by mixing a color conditioner and a mask, I get the best of both worlds — moisture AND rich color.

I’ve been doing this for the past couple weeks every Sunday night, which is when I take a longer shower to do the “special sauce” things I like to do to get ready for the week.

Get into the mix

After I’m done washing my hair (which, seriously, is such a job #longhairstruggles), I grab Aveda Clove Color Conditioner, and mix it with Pai-Shau Supreme Revitalizing Mask in the palm of my hand (about a 50/50 blend). Then I rake it through my hair from roots to ends.

Next, I comb through my hair using a wide-toothed comb (I love this pink one I got from Sephora years ago), just to make sure I’ve coated everything. At that point, if I still feel like my ends need more moisture, I’ll work in another dollop of the hair mask.

Buns and claw clips FTW

(Note: The following step is totally key if you have long hair!)

Then I put my hair up in a bun, and clip the bun into place with two hair claw clips.

Here I’ll do other things for a few minutes while I wait for the conditioner to do its thing, like maybe exfoliate, daydream, shave, or go to town on my heels with this foot cheese grater thingamabob I have.

Then I take the bun out, rinse away the conditioner, and run a comb through once more to further de-tangle. And when I’m done, my dark chocolate locks look extra chocolatey, shiny and conditioned. 🙂

Color conditioner recs?

I do like Aveda’s Color Conditioner (the shade I use is Clove), and Chelsea told me that she likes DPHue Color Boosting Gloss + Deep Conditioning Treatment, which I think I’m going to try after I finish my tube of Aveda. But do you have any color conditioner recommendations? Please let me know, because I’m on the market for a new one to love.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Would You Ever Consider Flying (or Driving Hours) to See Your Favorite Hair Stylist?

January 18th, 2017 by Karen 37 Comments

I’m asking because of a very sad turn of events… 🙁 My hair soulmate Alis, who’s been doing my hair for years, just moved to Las Vegas (SAD ? PANDA!), and it crossed my mind (I even looked up airfares) to schedule a trip out there just so that she can cut and color my hair.

The rational part of my brain realizes how crazy pants this sounds, because 1) the money, and 2) I live 30 minutes from San Francisco, so I should be able to find someone within driving distance who can trim and color my mop and do it well, but it’s SO SCARY to go to someone new, especially when you have wavy hair that’s been hacked and butchered by strangers before.

A trip to Las Vegas almost seems rational… Almost?

No, I don’t think I’ll do it. I should just suck it up and find someone new, but if my California Lottery dreams ever come true, I’m heading to Vegas that afternoon!

Has this ever occurred to you? — either flying or driving a loooong distance to get your hair done?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen