Broke but workin’ it!

I’ve had a lot of friends who don’t always wear make up or are new to make up what they need. Everyone is different but there is a solid list of things I believe will get you through your day to day wit some room for making it fancy when you wanna. Let’s go.

First you need things to take good care of your skin. Don’t believe the hype that you have to use all these random products. No. Find what works for you.

Personally my skin is happy with a cleanser and some light moisture. I used to use toner and all that jazz but I found my skin broke out more often.

So you’ve got that covered now you want your pretty clean canvas to look fancy.

I believe you really only need a few products. If you’re face is prone to being shiny get yourself a pack of rice papers or a good translucent loose powder. If you’re not worried about coverage Cornsilk makes an excellent no color powder that sets very nicely. I’ve used their products for years and still stand by them as tops of drugstore products.

First, powder your face. I like to use a deluxe body puff like this one. If you prefer or it’s easier for you feel free to use a big fluffy brush. Like this one.

Now that you’re powdered what do you need?

This depends on how much time you want to take. For a very basic look use mascara in a shade darker than your natural lashes if they are blonde or black. Use the same (very carefully) to set your eyebrows in place and then BAM you’re done.

For something a little more adventurous find yourself one or two neutral eyeshadows. This can be a daunting process for a beginner but have no fear. What I did until I learned what worked for me and what didn’t was when I saw a color I saw in a magazine etc, especially if the model had similar coloring to me I’d take it with me to the drugstore and find something similar.

To be safe here are some guildlines.

If you are light complected or pale and don’t tan well consider a nice (shimmery perhaps) taupe or lighter brown.

Medium complected? A little tan or you tan easily try a more golden brown.

Darker complected? Brown skinned, try out an earthy bronze.

If you’re just starting out with make up feel free to use the little applicator. Brushes can come later. Follow the shape of your eye. Don’t try to reshape you don’t need to.

If your eyes are more round I think adding color all over the lid and a little bit above the crease, with mascara on looks fantastic.

Want to open up your eyes? Use darker colors sparingly.

Lips next. If you’re not a big lipstick fan and don’t know which gloss to buy I have a super simple solution that works for everyone. Buy yourself a Bonne Bell (you remember those) LIp Smacker in Dr. Pepper. Why? Because it’s moisturizing, adds a nice shine and bonus that flavor has just the barest reddish tint that if you use a lot of it all day gets a tad deeper.

If you’re ready to experiment with a shiny sheer wash of color I also love the Bonne Bell VitaGloss line.
These are almost always at a price that screams for experimentation and if you get a color you don’t like you’re only out a few dollars.

As you can probably tell I am a huge advocate for doing things on the cheap. Being fabulous does not have to cost you fabulous type money.

Other drugstore brands that have some fantastic colors and don’t cost your left pinky finger include:
Prestige Cosmetics. I have yet to find a drugstore you can’t find Prestige in. I absolutely recommend their lip glosses, nail colors and their liquid liners. Great stuff, great price.

And of course Wet N Wild.. How many of us as teenagers spent tons of money on these great cheap colors? Wet N Wild has updated and for the price is bar none the best deal going. Their nailpolishes are great, they have some amazing colors to play with. You can try out an entire new look from eyes to lashes to lips to nails for under ten dollars in product. That my friends is the deal of the year. I have also tried some of their retractable lip pencils and they are great. Last well under gloss and are very pretty.

In closing darlings, let’s go over the basics.

Keep on hand mascara, one or two eye shadows and some lip stuff and you are good to go.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money.

And beauty is an adventure don’t be afraid to make a mistake. Reemember it’s not permanent and you can always take it off.

Until next time.

Ciao!

I stretch relaxers for usually about 8 weeks. I’m right around 7 post right now give or take a few days. My new growth is wild and due to a big snafu with my last wash last night my hair was really tangled and dry.

What had happened was that after I did my regular pre shampoo deep condition then shampooed I lost my wide toothed comb. And if you have a lot of hair you do not untangle with anything less unless you want to lose a lot of hair.

So I had only marginally untangled hair and put it up best I could until I got a new comb yesterday. But by last night my hair was a dry tangled angry mess.

Here’s what I did:

I use Freeman Papaya and Seaweed deep conditioner. Add a squeeze or two of Doogro oil (or if I have it jojoba oil), shake the tube.

Part your hair into a manageable section. I did my hair in six sections. Then I worked the mix of conditioner/oil and added a little Profectiv break free into the roots and new growth. I untangled with my fingers first, then with two combs until I got it tangle free. I then used a bigger dollop of the conditioner, with an extra squirt of oil, worked it through that section, made a mini bun with terry cloth elastics.

I did that all over my head, made sure I sealed the ends. Tied it up for the night I got up this morning it looked like I’d either relaxed or did a really good job with a straightner of some sort.

Bonus my hair is soft, shiny and silky.

However, if your hair is thin this would probably be too much for it. My hair is extremely thick and thirsty usually and this did a wonder. I was about in tears when I started combing my hair out last night because the new growth was so tangled and I was really afraid I was going to break out big chunks.

Now, for folks with hair that’s fine, normally oily I suggest doing this but, wash it out in the morning. Also you can substitute the Doo Gro I use with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, packs of hot oil from the drug store, jojoba oil as mentioned above, sweet almond oil, castor oil. Look in your pantry and you probably have something suitable. Remember, the main point of doing this is to ask your hair to forgive you after treating it roughly.

This is also a good daily treatment for hair that’s been bleached or otherwise fried. Do this for a week or so and your hair will start feeling much much better.

My braidout is fantastic.  Soft waves of varying sizes.  The only thing I’d really do differently is to use a styling product of some sort for a little more body.

Here’s what I did:

First I oiled my scalp and new growth with Doo Gro oil. (Though I name my products feel free to use whatever works for you, and this can work for you non afro haired folks to, I will notate what to leave out.) If you do not have afro textured hair, you will probably not need to do any oiling of your scalp.  However if your hair is very thick and or dry a couple of palms slicked with oil (try jojoba  oil or sweet almond oil worked from roots to ends.  Not much just enough for some lubrication and softening).  After oiling my scalp I used two different width wide toothed combs to gently comb out my hair.

Please note when you are doing this especially if you have very thick hair, start from the ends of your hair and work up to the roots to avoid yanking out more hair than need be.  Also work in small sections.  You will look funny but use a few ouchless elastics to hold other sections of hair out of the way so you can detangle and braid as you go.

Next the section you are going to braid, get it dampish with whatever cream or setting lotion/styling product you want to use.  I used Profectiv Mega Growth cream.  If you are non afro textured try an alcohol free gel or light mousse.  Now braid this section, remember the tighter/smaller the braid the smaller and tighter the waves will be. 

Repeat this all over your head.

To finish my braids I oiled the ends of my hair (because they tend to be super fluffy) and rolled them in foam rollers.

I left mine in a little over a day, how long you leave yours in will depend on your own comfort and how much of a wave you want.  Also take into consideration how your hair curls.    My hair in particular takes a curl very well.

When you take down your braids no need to do anything aside from seperate the waves to fall how you like, if you need to give it a spritz with a holding spray and go.

Cute and low maintanence!