Can I ask you a question, ladies? It’s very important. Okay, not really. It’s about bangs. I got mine trimmed a few weeks ago, and they’ve grown out to where they’re starting to work my nerves. My stylist offers free bang trims, which I know a lot of stylists do, but I’m not quite sure if I should tip her, and if I do, how much. I mean, I love how she cuts my hair. She’s gifted with curls and waves, but it doesn’t take long to trim bangs, and my regular haircuts do cost an arm and a leg… I just don’t want to be rude, but she does stress how the trims are free.
Do you ever take stylists up on their offer of free bang trims, and if you do, do you tip?
In other news, it’s Sunday! Do you know where your tabby cat is? Mine’s on my lap, making biscuits on my thigh.
What are you doing today? Got anything fun lined up? El Hub and I are going out to get breakfast, and then I’ll be back here to work on a project for tonight on the blog. Stay tuned! 🙂
The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed
OROFLUIDO HAIR
ELIXIR
When I went to get my bangs trimmed a couple weeks ago my stylist gave me a sample of Orofluido Beauty Elixer (regularly $32 for a 3.38-oz. bottle) and raved on and on about how it was to going to change my life, starting with my hair.
I’d never heard of Orofluido before, but it’s a small indie haircare line a little more popular in Europe than here in the States. They only list two products on their website — the Beauty Elixer that my stylist gave me, and something new called Shine Spray. Read more…
URBAN DECAY
COWBOY JUNKIE SHADOWS & GLOSS SET
Of course, on the ONE DAY I actually need the only cowboy hat I’ve ever owned, I can’t find it. Welcome to the story of my life. Wherever you are, my beloved black straw cowboy hat, I reckon we would’ve made sweet music together today, taking pictures of ourselves covered in glitter with the new Urban Decay Cowboy Junkie Shadows & Gloss Set ($38).
The new set rides into town for the holidays, kicking up glitter in its wake with four powder shadows, a liner and one lonesome lip gloss.
Three members of the set hail from the Midnight Cowboy eyeshadow gang, known for their eye-catching, dramatic glitter.
But this glitter is like dust on a desert trail (gets everywhere). Midnight Cowboy (a gritty, glittery peachy pink), Midnight Cowboy Rides Again (a glittery peachy tan) and Midnight Cowgirl (a glittery gold) leave fallout everywhere — beneath my eyes, around my nose and on my cheeks. Shoot, I even found some on Tabs.
I think if you’re going to try to get behind this set, you just gotta go with the glitter and fallout. Resistance is futile. It’s kinda like the zombie apocalypse that way, I guess. Read more…
LORAC BOX OFFICE HIT
FULL FACE PALETTE
How do you spell a scream, friends? Gaaaaah! perhaps? I had one of those days… I started with grand plans and great expectations to write about, among other things, the beauty gods’ gift to big hair and the new smokey Urban Decay Black Palette, but I hit The Great Wall.
No, not the one in China.
Writer’s block, which you might think I wouldn’t get anymore after four years and 4,000 posts, but I do.
I’d hoped for witty prose, but all that came out of my fingertips today was gooey green baby poo. At one point I just gave up on the whole sentence thing and decided to take a ton of pictures of the LORAC Box Office Hit Full Face Palette ($35) instead. Read more…
NYX EYEBROW
SHAPER
Some mornings I just CANNOT get it together, and even something as simple yet important as operating the coffee maker might as well be quantum physics.
I call those my makeup-for-dummies days, and when they strike I turn to instant coffee my arsenal of tools and tricks to fake a good night’s sleep.
Can’t have my neighbors mistaking me for the first wave in the coming zombie apocalypse, right?
The latest addition to my makeup-for-dummies kit, NYX’s new Eyebrow Shaper ($8.75), is one of several new eyebrow products from NYX this fall. It’s a colorless, waxy brow gel in pencil form — perfect for sculpting and taming unruly brows — and for me it takes the place of having to fill in my brows with a colored brow pencil, wax or eyeshadow, particularly when I’m tired and/or lazy (read: often). Read more…
A COMPARISON OF URBAN DECAY
PURPLE EYESHADOWS
Last night when MBB reader Steph B asked this about the Urban Decay Cowboy Junkie Palette ($38), I thought it was a perfect excuse to paint my arm purple.
Hmm… Good question. To get to the bottom of it, I busted out some of the similar Urban Decay purples in my stash to do a quick comparison.
I don’t have Purple Haze, but Flash, Freakshow, Ecstasy and Frigid are currently available as singles in UD’s permanent line; AC/DC is from last fall’s Book of Shadows Vol. II.
From the left that’s Romp (from the Cowboy Junkie Palette), Flash ($17), Freakshow ($18), Ecstasy ($17), AC/DC and Frigid ($18).
I’d have to say that of these colors here, Romp most closely resembles AC/DC in its pan, but I think it looks more like Frigid (a dark purple with hints of navy blue and black) on the skin. Read more…
CLARINS BAROCCO
HOLIDAY 2010 COLLECTION
Ladies, I haven’t felt very glamorous this week… On a scale of 1 to 10, my glamorousness has been hovering around a -3. With scrunchies in my hair and my bum glued to the couch and wrapped in stretchy pants, I’ve watched just about every zombie movie and TV show released since 1969. Has it been educational? Sure, but it hasn’t been great for glamor.
The new Clarins Barocco Holiday Collection couldn’t have come at a better time.
Look at all that fancy… 🙂 It’s like a shot of fabulous straight to the heart!
The floral swirls/filigree designs both inside and out, and the rich berry, gold, black and peach shades seduced the sweat pants right off me (actually, they were raggedy yoga pants). These are products begging to be worn with a shimmery golden gown and dangerously high heels. Read more…
NYX VELVET ROPE
10 COLOR EYESHADOW PALETTE
Oh, my goodness! Look at all that purple. Is this a Prince video or a beauty blog? 🙂
Today I left the thugs to their gangsta’s paradise while I escaped yet again to my purple one. I could go on and on about how much I love purple eyeshadow, but the No. 1 reason why I think every girl (or makeup loving boy, for that matter) should play with purple is because of how great it goes with everything.
Alright, I admit I’m plum biased, but I think purple looks great on almost everyone. Whether brown, green, gray, blue or hazel eyes, the right purple on your lid or lash line can make those peepers POP!
POP! Yeah, I use that word a lot…but you know what I mean.
Now, brace yourself for a plethora of purple, and behold the new NYX Velvet Rope 10 Color Eyeshadow Palette ($9.75)! Read more…
SEPHORA LAVENDER
CUTICLE OIL PEN
The only thing that could possibly make Sephora Stimulating Lavender Cuticle Oil pens ($12) better would be if you could buy them at bulk prices in packs.
I know I’ve mentioned it before, but this pen’s the frickin’ bomb-dot-com, particularly if your cuticles look like Snooki after a long night at da club…
Twisting the bottom soaks the brush tip with moisturizing oil. Then just brush onto dry cuticles. Simple but effective.
I picked one up at Sephora’s Friends & Family sale, and my only regret is that I didn’t get more.
This Stimulating Lavender version is one of three flavors. Last year’s was called Nourishing Cuticle Oil (there’s also Healing Eucalyptus). This one works the same as that one but has a lavender scent. Read more…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I tried to tip my guy once, and he refused it. I tried it again several months later, he laughed, and told me to quit trying. 🙂
Hi Nancy,
Your stylist sounds like a nice guy. 🙂
I always tip in cases like that, or at least try to. Nine times out of ten, they’ll refuse, but they at least *know* that you wanted to. I usually try to give about five dollars (normally I tip 15 on a $50 cut). It’s a small gesture, but one that let’s them know you appreciate their time.
And I wanna know about this secret project! Always so secretive, Karen… 😉
Hi Sam,
You bring up a good point. Sometimes it’s nice to just have someone put the offer out there.
As for the project, you’ll find out about it soon. 🙂
I don’t tip for bang trims. As long as you tip during your regular visits, bang trips should absolutely be free.
Hi LC,
Thanks for weighing in. I leave a nice tip during my regular visits so hopefully that balances the trims.
When I had bangs, I always tried to tip my stylist (Bladerunners SF) for bang trims, but he would never accept! I typically tipped 30 dollars on my 70 dollar cuts, even before I took him up on free bang trims. So most times I try to “time” my purchasing of Bumble & Bumble products with my free bang trims since I know that my stylist gets commission from the sale.
Hope you had a good weekend, Karen!
Hi Lesley,
That’s a good idea to time your trims with purchases. I think I’ll do that next time I go in.
My weekend is going great so far! It’s really warm up here in the north bay right now — almost 80 degrees! How’s it out your way?
My stylist is one of my closest cousins. I always tip her even though she is family.
Hi Christy,
That must be cool to have someone in your family be a stylist! I’d love to have a cousin who could hook me up with some color!!
i make it a point to tip for all services, including free bang trims. not always in cash though. the guy who cuts my hair LOVES chocolate so when i go in for bang trims, i bring him chocolate bars. 🙂
Hi Nina,
That’s a great idea, too, and so thoughtful!
How’s it going out there? Are you having a good weekend? We just got back from brunch… I’m stuffed to the brim!
pretty good – rested saturday and today we conquered Lowe’s and got closet stuff.
were about to go to dinner – chinese food yum! 🙂
my stylist is pretty awesome and one of the first things we bonded about was chocolate! 🙂
Sounds like a nice weekend! I hope you’ve managed to stock up on butter and onions… haha!
I just got back from Target. I meant to go in for one thing (grapes), but got distracted by the Almay makeup, oops! I picked up a concealer that supposed to transform into my “ideal shade.” We’ll see…
I just picked this concealer up the other day! So far, I like it… I would advise to apply sparingly and add more if necessary. It went on a tad thick for me the first time with the amount I used, but all in all – not bad!
why yes i have! butter and onions galore!
i always linger at the target cosmetic aisle – i think their prices are pretty fair and the selection is sometimes better! 🙂
Hey Heidi,
Thanks for the heads up. I’m gonna dig into it today… we’ll see if it tackles my dark circles. 🙂
Oh, question — did you actually notice it transforming to your idea shade?
Hi Nina,
LOL… re: butter and onions! 🙂 Those are staples every house needs, along with a jar of Nutella.
I picked up the light shade (or maybe light/medium), and it did indeed turn from white to the perfect shade for me!
Long time reader, first time commenter!
I say try to tip! I think $5 is fair, & if they refuse it, no biggie. If they do refuse, maybe bring a little treat next time-it lets your stylist know they’re appreciated, & even if it’s a free service, they’re still taking time where they could be making money on someone else. I would even go so far as to say they offer it as a free service in that it’s good customer service, which in turn brings them more business/repeat customers.
Plus, my stylist knows I’m a product junkie (boy, is that an understatement), so I’m constantly getting free products-samples, trial sizes, etc. I know she doesn’t do this for everyone, & I also know I’m a fantastic tipper 🙂
Hi Erica,
Thanks for chiming in. 🙂 Since you’re a product junkie, I’d love to hear about any new hair products you’ve found and loved. I’m always looking for new things!
Hi Karen,
I also had bands the last 2 years (now growing them out). I loved the look. my stylist really does a great job and I see him for cut and color every 3 months and tip him about 10% of the price.
he also offers free cutting of bangs and for him this is part of the whole professional treatment he gives his clients, he really takes no tip for this.
Hey, just offering my two cents. I have worked as a salon receptionist for a few different places, and tipping on a bang trim is almost always done and is almost expected by some stylists. Usually $5 is normal. Love the blog!