Pretty Obsessed

I guess you can say I’m one of the lucky ones. I have long, thick, healthy straight hair…and as you can see I am very humble about this fact. You won’t see me bragging about how amazing my hair is, that is not my personality.

Because I am blessed with great hair (like I said I’m very modest), I tend to spend very little time styling it. What I like to do after I have washed my hair is to towel dry it then let it air dry. Before it dries completely though, I French braid my hair and let it stay this way overnight. The next day I let out the braid and finger comb my hair.

It is THE easiest way to get a sexy, sultry, beach-hair look.

If your hair is curly I am jealous of you. I for one can never get my hair to have that bouncy, curly hair look. The trick for you privileged haired gals to achieve the tousled hair look is to loosen it up and recreate the shape of your hair. After you have towel dried your hair, divide and braid four sections of your hair and secure the ends with an elastic band. Once your hair is almost dry unwind the braid and use your fingers to distribute a styling product (Pantene Pro-V Texture Foam Wax ~ $6.50) from roots to tips, and blow-dry using a diffuser while scrunching to create texture and volume. To create a more controlled look, use a two-inch curling iron vertically, and let the curls drop. And just like the straight haired gals, use your fingers to comb and loosen the look.

If you have wavy hair then you practically walk around with this sexy look all the time already. To perfect this look, follow the directions for straight hair BUT instead of washing your hair, simply mist your hair a little and then follow braiding and styling directions.

I have been aware of my posture as far back as I can remember which makes it really hard for me to stop myself from screaming out, “Stand up straight!” at the nearest hunchback around.

The first thing I notice is posture because it screams messages about a person. You can be drop dead gorgeous, but if you have terrible posture I will automatically assume you are ashamed of taking up space. Whereas a person who stands up straight, shoulders back, stomach in, gives off a vibe of confidence and pride.

But looking good and giving off the right aura is not the only reason to be aware of your posture. It is your health. A good friend of mine ALWAYS points out people with bad posture. He is one of the few people who I know who considers posture to be an important aspect of fitness. What begins with an unawareness of your body can lead to real health problems in the long run if not corrected.

I am not a fan of working out and being too active. But if you feel as though you have poor posture, or sit at a computer all day long, then you might consider doing some basic yoga exercises. Yoga frequently requires you to sit erect and pull your shoulder blades back.

Truth is for the majority of people, having excellent posture does not come naturally, it takes effort. You have to work at it until it feels abnormal to slouch! The payoff in terms of your health is high and well worth the little effort it takes to get there.

So please sit and stand erect so I don’t have to force myself to quiet down…because next time I will yell at you!

Well- lined eyes with nude lips, is a classic sex kitten look which never fails to make an impact on your night out. It draws attention away from the mouth over to your eyes for an incredibly sexy impact.

You will first need to find a color that works with your skin tone so you won’t look washed out. The key is to stay within two shades of your natural skin tone. Girls with fair complexions can look for a shade that has a pink undertone, while girls with darker skin can lean towards beige undertones. It’s not easy finding the perfect nude shade, but Loreal has made it easy by developing Made For Me Naturals collection with 8 different shades meant to match your hair and skin.

To perfect your Bridgette Bardot-esque look, give your eyes an intense smoky look with dark eye shadow, black liner, and 2 coats of mascara. A touch of peach blush and your look is complete…completely sexy that is!

Whitening your teeth can make a huge difference in the way you look, literally brightening up your entire face. Improving the way you care for your teeth will result in a brighter smile,

unless you’re Amy Winehouse.

~Clearing your mouth of stain causing materials such as tea, coffee, dark sodas, wine, or cigarettes is a good start. If you have no desire to quit any of these habits then start carrying a travel size kit which includes toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash. An effective rinse helps to kill bacteria that can produce bad breath (gross), plaque, tarter and stains.

~Visit your local health food store and purchase a non-peroxide brightener/polisher.

~You can also make your own teeth whitener combining strawberries, orange peel and some baking soda! It is a mild polisher but much milder than bleaches. Overusing bleach can leave your teeth and gums feeling sensitive…ice cream will never be as enjoyable again, and is that something you really want? Of course not.

Achieving the sexy come hither cat-eye look is easier than some of my gal pals. To draw attention to your beautiful eyes, simply follow the steps below.

But first, take time to perfect your eyebrows. Tweeze any stray hairs, lightly fill them in with brow shadow and sweep them in place. Because cat-eye makeup is dramatic, any un-tweezed hair will draw unwanted attention!

Now that the top part of your face has been groomed you can start on your eyes.

Apply your foundation/powder and concealer as you normally would to allow the natural glow of your skin to shine through.

-First you want to start with some black shade stick and apply it all over the eyelid so you have a dark black smokey look. Come out at the end as you would normally…now lift it right up towards the direction of your brow. The end of your brow can be a good guide for the lift placement. Be gentle on making the end shape, you do not want a sloppy look. Then, you want to add just a little bit at the outer corner on the lower lash line.

TIP: If your shade stick is a bit scratchy, rub it between your hands to warm it up for a more creamy application.

-When you have your shape, take some black eye shadow, while using a small brush apply the black shadow over the shadow stick to give it some depth. This will help set the look and prevent lids from getting ugly eye shadow creases.

-Now blend a small amount of light colored highlight cream, or shimmery light gold shadow under your brows.

-Lastly, curl your lashes and add two layers of dark black mascara. Avoid clumping by building the layers gradually, once finished comb them out with a lash brush.

Meowwwwww!            

Crying may help us cleanse our soul of emotional burdens and stress. But it will leave you looking less than presentable pretty easily. As someone who is very prone to tearing up in public I have picked up a few tips to cover up the emotional redness.

The first rule of crying is to not rub your eyes. Blindly wiping under your eyes and pressing a tissue over your eyelid will smear your mascara. Instead, fold a tissue several times and gently blot under your lash line and towards your leaky inner corner. You’re not removing your makeup, just trying to prevent mascara lines. Now, get your butt to the ladies room and do some damage control. Tap some water on another folded tissue and blot again lightening up the eye makeup. Next, apply some eye drops clearing your eyes of redness or puffiness. If your crying has left your face blotchy then simply take a warm paper towel and press firmly on your cheeks and neck. Lastly, re-apply a very light layer of makeup (don’t bother reapplying mascara), take a deep breath and smile… You’re now free to cry tears of joy!

Tip: If you know you will be crying (you rented The Notebook, going through a breakup, watching Feed the Children infomercials, etc.) then skip the waterproof mascara. Seriously! Waterproof mascara will run, and it will be difficult to wash away leaving you with tarantula lashes.

Bollywood eyebrows are the HOTTEST depilatory fad since the Brazilian bikini line! It has long since become a major craze for salons and high-end spas across the country. Threading is an ancient Indian art of hair removal used to give flawless shape to the eyebrows and a clean look to the face by removing access hair.

It involves rolling and twisting cotton thread over hairlines pulling rows of hair from the root. Unlike tweezing or waxing the process is quick and precise. The beautician will begin by looping the thread around her hands about ten times and then pulling it taut over the area of hair. Her experienced hands will then cast her thread lasso-like around the ‘hairy’ region and remove the hair.

The standard hair threading session can last up to 20 minutes depending on the area you need cleaned. Any desired shape and thickness can be given so be sure to voice your desired look to the skilled beautician.

Like most hair removal methods, threading can be a little painful but no more than waxing and tweezing, and in the end the results are worth it. To alleviate some of the pain place a cool cloth on the skin when you get home and apply light moisturizer to the area.

Your sharp new look should last you about three weeks. Splendid!

Super skinny brows with high arches have been pushed aside to make room for the full natural looking brow. In other words, the unnatural astonished expression some gals walk around with can finally be laid to rest.

If you were born with sparse brows or went tweeze happy, there is a simple solution to filling in your eyebrows.

You’ll need:

Soft Pencil (shade lighter than your brows)

Powder, or eye shadow (Match the shade to the color of your brows)

Brow Brush (Small, angled brush with pointed bristles)

Clear mascara, or clean mascara brush

Grooming 101:

Since the pencil tends to stick to the skin, not to the hair, you will lightly shade in the area where the hair should grow using short, feathery strokes. You want to create an appearance of natural hair so avoid making any definite lines. Next, using the brow brush dab some powder along the brows. Be sure to swipe some over the pencil as well blending in the color perfectly. To pull the look together, take the clear mascara and brush eyebrows into place.

It’s easier than shooting a fish in a barrel!

The bikini line should never be ignored. I have pretty strong opinions about the subject and being nicely groomed down there is the way to go as far as I am concerned. I am a firm believer in waxing- not shaving the bikini line. Shaving in between is fine from time to time, but waxing will leave you looking great for weeks. It may feel strange at first having a stranger handle your genital area, but keep in mind she is dealing with vaginas all day long and has seen it all. So don’t feel too self-conscious it will all be over in a matter of minutes. She will apply baby power, wax, and in the end lotion and leave you feeling beautiful.

 How far you go with the waxing is really up to your taste or partners preference. If you love the au natural look so be it… if not there are other options:

The basic bikini wax involves removing excess hair from the sides and shaping what remains into a neat little triangle. It’s the least painful and least invasive way to go if you’re the shy type.

The Brazilian removes everything from front and back and in between except for a little landing strip of hair on top. It might be a little embarrassing to talk about the “back” but I still come across girls who don’t know what to expect when getting waxed. If you order a Brazilian wax the aesthetician will free the entire perianal area of hair… you can thank her later by tipping her.

Feeling creative? You can ask to have your pubic hair shaped into anything that makes you happy. A heart for Valentines day maybe? Or your special someone’s initials. Tacky? Sexy? You decide.

My tricks and tips:

·          I always wear a skirt when I go to my appointments because after being waxed the skin is extra sensitive and rubbing against clothing can irritate the skin. Going commando is key  ;-)    Just be careful not to flash your Britney to strangers.

·          I swear by Nad’s Ingrow Solution I will not use anything else. This stuff is amazing!

·          Buy a pair of loofah gloves and gently exfoliate daily using soap. The gloves will help with getting rid of any dead skin cells and this way you avoid ingrown hairs.

·          Baby powder is great for the first few days after getting waxed. It keeps baby skin silky soft and it will do the same for you!

·        And always make sure the waxing area is clean and that any wooden spatulas used to spread wax on your body are brand new. If you are not sure, do not hesitate to ask, you are paying for the service!

I’m sure everyone would agree with me that having long hair takes a lot of time and effort to maintain. I have very little patience when it comes to styling my hair, so you will see me sporting one of two styles any given day: Pony tail, or half-up with a magic clip. Having long hair is hard enough, unless you are one of those gals who have already discovered hair extensions. It is the instant way to long hair. It is almost impossible to tell when one is wearing hair extensions unless you happen to be a celebrity who went from having a pixie cut to looking like Rapunzel the very next day *ahem* Paris Hilton.

It’s not just celebrities wearing add-on tresses anymore, hair extensions are popping up everywhere.

What are Hair Extensions?

Its horse hair, okay that’s not quite true. There are various materials used to create hair extensions. It can be created from 100% synthetic hair, 100% real human hair, or a mixture of human and animal hair. They come in just about any color, length and texture. You are to wash and treat the fake hair as you would your natural hair. However, as your hair grows your extensions will be affected which means a visit back to the professional will be necessary. Too lazy? You can remove your hair extensions at home by twisting the tiny braided attachments and then gently snapping the seal.

If hassle-free is more of your cup of tea then clip-on hair extensions are ideal. They will add instant volume with little or no fuss. I know a little birdy who uses them and she looks fantastic. Adding a little personality has never been easier!