Winter Hair Care (Taken from my writing.com account)
If you live in an area where the winters are long and cold, you are probably familiar with the bad hair days that come with the snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. Many men and women complain of flaky scalps, split ends, and enough static electricity to light up New York City in their hair!
Many factors play into dry winter hair. People who naturally experience dry skin are vulnerable to begin with. Freezing temperatures cause the amount natural moisture in the air to drop, and we often combat the cold with old-school heating systems that pump out dry, dusty air! Our bodies might think we are on a frozen tundra, but it’s no wonder our hair acts like we are living in a desert!
In the battle of elements vs. hair, moisture is our greatest defense. Here are some important steps we can take to make sure we are giving our hair the moisture and TLC it needs during the harsh winter months:
1. Cut back on shampooing!
Unless you have extremely oily hair (the roots look greasy and hair feels slimy 12-24 hours after shampooing), hair should NEVER be shampooed daily! Shampoo gets your hair clean, but it will also strip your hair and scalp of nature’s best moisturizer: your own natural oils! Only shampoo if your hair and scalp are starting to look oily, or if your hair has been exposed to something that needs to be washed out right away (such as excessive hairspray or cigarette smoke). Some people may need to shampoo every 48 hours, others might only need to wash once or twice a week. You may be able to hold off shampooing an extra day by applying translucent face powder to your roots if they look just a touch oily.
2. Crank up the conditioning!
Condition your hair every time you shower, even if you don’t shampoo! For an extra-deep conditioning, rinse hair with warm water, apply conditioner from roots to tips, and then wrap a towel around your head for 30 minutes. The warm water will open your scalp pores, and the towel will hold in your body heat so the conditioner can really sink in! When time is up, remove the towel and rinse your hair in water as cold as you can stand it to close up your pores and lock in the conditioning treatment!
*Extra tip: if you are a swimmer, shampoo your hair and apply conditioner before swimming and cover it with a swim cap. Rinse the conditioner out after your workout to avoid washing away your natural oils and protect your tresses from pool chemicals.
3. Give your hair a monthly protein treatment!
You can shop around your local salons to have this done professionally, or you can do it yourself! Just blend three eggs with a teaspoon of lemon juice, and apply after washing your hair from root to tip. Wrap hair in a towel for 15-30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with warm water. Wash the towel IMMEDIATELY and disinfect any surfaces that raw eggs have touched.
4. Choose low-maintenance hairstyles!
Hairdryers and heated styling tools can accelerate dryness, and buildup of hairspray and other products can make frequent shampooing more necessary. Try to stick with hairstyles that require a minimum amount of effort, and when you do use heat on your hair, make sure to spray it with a heat-protectant, first!
5. Carry the dryer sheet!
The old classic “rub your comb over a dryer sheet and comb your hair with it” really makes a huge difference! Use the dryer sheet to fend off static in your hair.
Above all else, remember that everyone has bad hair days, especially in the winter months! Use these tips to help minimize those periods, and, when all else fails, throw on a cute hat to stay warm!
*This is from my own personal writing.com account- I AM the author and have all the rights to this article!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
The Secret to Confidence...?
Recently, I read an interview with a popular actress in a magazine. The cover of the mag advertised the interview under the headline: "Steal the secret to her confidence!" Of course, the interview went on to yammer about what she was wearing, who she was dating, and all the stuff that we feel the need to know about celebrities. Then, finally the promised secret: "It's her I-don't-give-a-[expletive]-what-anyone-thinks-of-me attitude," the mag proclaimed.
Uh.......okaaaay....
Yeah, I know, people who are all hung up on what others think usually wind up with pretty low-self esteems. We all know that you can't please everybody. You can be as genuine as possible or you can wear a thousand masks, but there's always that someone who can't find anything better to do than hate on you. No, you can't become consumed with what others think of you.
But, then, have you ever met someone who decided they didn't care what others think...and just stopped there? I mean, people who REALLY don't care what others think- they don't care if their waitress, cashier, or customer service representative think that they are the rudest customer they've ever had. They don't care if their teachers or classmates think they are distracting or obnoxious. They don't care if their friends and families are embarrassed by them. You can't discuss anything with unless you want to feel belittled or attacked. Confident? Maybe...but "cocky," or even just plain "rude" might be a better word.
So, there has to be more to confidence than just not caring what people think of you. Think about some of the most "confident" people you know- the ones that you wish you were like. I'm picturing a few people, most of whom I know from church or work. These are the people who, when I walk into a room, come rushing over to me to ask how I am. Sometimes, if they have a detailed-enough memory, they ask me about some important-to-me event that took place recently (like a job interview or going to visit a cousin). They aren't trying to get something from me; they just want to make me feel valued. Their concern isn't what I think of them; their concern is what I think of myself!
It really is more blessed to give than to receive, and this is the perfect example- when you focus on giving confidence to others, you'll naturally find yourself becoming more confident, because you will like who you are and other people will like having you around!
Two examples:
A few years ago when I was in school, I walked over to the girl who I claimed as my best friend at the time, and greeted her, "Hey, what's up?"
She turned to me and replied, "Those jeans are ugly."
Well, excuse me, this was school, not the Miss USA pageant! I was looking for comfort that day, not a fashion statement. "I don't care," I told her.
"Well, I do!" she told me. (I walked away at that point. She and I aren't really friends anymore...in fact, I don't think she has many friends anymore.)
Obviously, this acquaintance of mine didn't care what other people thought...even if it meant no one was going to like her. Maybe she insinuated confidence at the time, but I'd like to know how she felt after she realized no one wanted to be around her and listen to her thoughtless put-downs.
Example two: I was visiting a church (I now attend there regularly) for the second time- my first time there had been six months ago when I was home from college for Christmas. As I seated myself, I made eye-contact with a woman who I had met the last time I'd visited- and, much to my surprise, she waved enthusiastically to me, then rushed over to give me a hug and ask how school was, how long I was home for, etc. She was taking a risk- some people don't know how to accept friendliness, and I could have acted awkward or given her a cold shoulder. But she wasn't worried about what I thought of her (if I had been rude, it was my problem, not hers!), she was concerned about what I thought of myself- she wanted to make sure I felt welcomed in the church and valued by her!
So, maybe there's something to be said about "I don't care what others think of me,"....but, only if it's followed by, "I care what others think of themselves!"
Uh.......okaaaay....
Yeah, I know, people who are all hung up on what others think usually wind up with pretty low-self esteems. We all know that you can't please everybody. You can be as genuine as possible or you can wear a thousand masks, but there's always that someone who can't find anything better to do than hate on you. No, you can't become consumed with what others think of you.
But, then, have you ever met someone who decided they didn't care what others think...and just stopped there? I mean, people who REALLY don't care what others think- they don't care if their waitress, cashier, or customer service representative think that they are the rudest customer they've ever had. They don't care if their teachers or classmates think they are distracting or obnoxious. They don't care if their friends and families are embarrassed by them. You can't discuss anything with unless you want to feel belittled or attacked. Confident? Maybe...but "cocky," or even just plain "rude" might be a better word.
So, there has to be more to confidence than just not caring what people think of you. Think about some of the most "confident" people you know- the ones that you wish you were like. I'm picturing a few people, most of whom I know from church or work. These are the people who, when I walk into a room, come rushing over to me to ask how I am. Sometimes, if they have a detailed-enough memory, they ask me about some important-to-me event that took place recently (like a job interview or going to visit a cousin). They aren't trying to get something from me; they just want to make me feel valued. Their concern isn't what I think of them; their concern is what I think of myself!
It really is more blessed to give than to receive, and this is the perfect example- when you focus on giving confidence to others, you'll naturally find yourself becoming more confident, because you will like who you are and other people will like having you around!
Two examples:
A few years ago when I was in school, I walked over to the girl who I claimed as my best friend at the time, and greeted her, "Hey, what's up?"
She turned to me and replied, "Those jeans are ugly."
Well, excuse me, this was school, not the Miss USA pageant! I was looking for comfort that day, not a fashion statement. "I don't care," I told her.
"Well, I do!" she told me. (I walked away at that point. She and I aren't really friends anymore...in fact, I don't think she has many friends anymore.)
Obviously, this acquaintance of mine didn't care what other people thought...even if it meant no one was going to like her. Maybe she insinuated confidence at the time, but I'd like to know how she felt after she realized no one wanted to be around her and listen to her thoughtless put-downs.
Example two: I was visiting a church (I now attend there regularly) for the second time- my first time there had been six months ago when I was home from college for Christmas. As I seated myself, I made eye-contact with a woman who I had met the last time I'd visited- and, much to my surprise, she waved enthusiastically to me, then rushed over to give me a hug and ask how school was, how long I was home for, etc. She was taking a risk- some people don't know how to accept friendliness, and I could have acted awkward or given her a cold shoulder. But she wasn't worried about what I thought of her (if I had been rude, it was my problem, not hers!), she was concerned about what I thought of myself- she wanted to make sure I felt welcomed in the church and valued by her!
So, maybe there's something to be said about "I don't care what others think of me,"....but, only if it's followed by, "I care what others think of themselves!"
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Pageants: How to get started
How many women can honestly say they've ever watched the Miss America or Miss USA pageant on TV and dreamed of their own "crowning moment"? For some of us, that might just be a fleeting daydream, but for others, pageants might be a great venture...if we just knew where to get started.
The first thing to consider is whether you want to do "Glitz" or "Natural" pageants. Miss America would be an example of a natural pageant- judges are looking for a polished version of a real woman. Although Miss USA is a bit more intense, it would also be considered a natural pageant. Glitz pageants are a different story- if you've ever watched the reality show, "Toddlers and Tiaras," you're seeing glitz in action. Think gobs of makeup, hair extensions, expensive nail and tanning packages, and a wardrobe that you'll wear once and then never have use for again. Okay, I admit, I am waaaaaay biased towards natural pageants over glitz. In my humble opinion, natural pageants can help a woman learn important life skills (poise, public speaking, etc), whereas glitz pageants are just a chance to play dress up and spend big money doing it. I won't come out and say glitz pageants are bad, but I will say that if that's the route you're looking to go, you'll want to go somewhere else for advice. I'm talking about natural pageants!
Next thing to consider: what is it you're wanting to get out of pageantry? Scholarships for college? Cash prizes? A chance at a modeling contract or a scholarship to acting school? Different pageants offer different things in their prize packages.
Finally, ask yourself if you can really handle pageants. Pageantry is no Cinderella story- no fairy godmother is going to appear before you and make a crown appear on your head. Pageant winners work hard on community service, physical fitness, knowledge of current events, opinions on politics, selecting a wardrobe, and practicing their talent. And, the magic crowning moment isn't just a happily-ever after. Holding even a local title may mean several appearances and appointments every week. Make sure you know what you are committing yourself to if you do win! Of course, if you don't win, can you handle it with maturity? Many girls enter the pageant to have fun and make friends- no one wants to listen to you gripe about how the winner didn't deserve the crown as much as you did. Enter a pageant with the understanding that there is only one crown, but there are plenty of other opportunities to have fun, make friends, and learn!
That said, here are a few great pageant systems with some information:
Miss America: www.missamerica.org
Ages 17-24
Main Prize: Educational Scholarships
Cost to Enter: No pageant entry fee, but contestants must raise funds for the Children's Miracle Network to be eligible to compete ($100 for local pageant, $250 for state pageant, $500 for national pageant)
Areas of Competition: Private Interview (25%), Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit (10%), Talent (35%), Poise and Presence in Eveningwear (15%), and Onstage Question (5%).
What else you should know: Miss America contestants start at the local level- if you don't see a pageant for your city or region, check for other pageants in your state that are "Open"- meaning anyone who lives in, attends school in, or works full-time in that state can enter, even if they don't live in the city the pageant represents. The national platform of Miss America is The Children's Miracle Network, plus every contestant chooses their own individual platform, which can be any topic the contestant is passionate about and wants to stand for during her reign. Be prepared for a busy year if you do win a title, and know that if you capture a state or national crown, you will be expected to take a year off of school in order to fulfill your obligations! There is LOTS of scholarship money available, even if you never take home a crown!
Miss USA and Miss Universe: www.missuniverse.com
Ages: 17-26
Main Prize: Some scholarship money to specific schools, including New York Film Academy. As a general rule, Miss USA and Miss Universe are seen as gateways to careers in modeling and acting.
Cost to Enter: $800 for state pageant....??
Areas of Competition: Interview, Swimwear, Eveningwear
What you should know: Miss USA contestants start at the state level- applications for state pageants are available online. Miss USA is NOT the same as Miss America, contrary to popular belief. The platform of the Miss USA pageant is Breast/Ovarian Cancer Awarness
Miss America's Outstanding Teen: www.maoteen.org
Ages: 13-17
This is the official "Little Sister" pageant to Miss America, so expect similarities (except that the teen pageant has a lifestyle and fitness in sportswear- shorts and a tank top- instead of swimwear). Also, you are NOT expected to take time off of school at any level, but winners are in for a busy year nonetheless!
Miss Teen USA: www.missuniverse.com/missteenusa
Ages: 14-18...??
This is the official little sister to Miss USA and Miss Universe, basically the same structure.
Miss International: www.miss-international.us
Ages: 19-29
Cost to Enter: State pageant $350
Areas of Competition: Interview (40%), Evening Gown (20%), Fitnesswear (20%) and Fun Fashion Wear (20%)
What you should know: Miss International contestants all choose their own platform to promote during their reign. This system also includes the little sister Miss Teen International and the Mrs. International pageant for married women.
National American Miss: www.namiss.com
Ages: Princess 4-6; Junior Pre-Teen 7-9; Pre-teen 10-12; Junior Teen 13-15; Teen 16-18, Miss 19-20
Prizes: Scholarships, Cash prizes, trophy
Entry Fee: $440 for state fee
Areas of Competition: Formal wear (30%), Personal Introduction (30%), Interview (30%), Community Involvement (10%)
What you should know: One of my favorite parts of NAM is that each area is judged by different people- you don't have to worry about the judges being so charmed by one contestant's opening act that they favor her for the rest of the pageant. It's also great that you can start in this system at a young age if you want to.
Miss American Co-Ed Pageants: www.gocoed.com
Ages: 3-22, various divisions
Okay, so I can't find a whole lot of information on the website, but I do know girls who have competed in this system and said it was great. Go ahead and apply if it interests you!
America's Perfect: www.americasperfectteen.com
Ages: Little Miss Perfect (Birth-11 years); Junior Teen (12-15 years); Teen (16-19 years); Miss (20-29 years); Woman (30 and beyond)
Main Prizes: Cash and modeling opportunities
Entry Fee: $895
Areas of Competition: Swimwear, Evening Gown, Interview- all equally scored.
The first thing to consider is whether you want to do "Glitz" or "Natural" pageants. Miss America would be an example of a natural pageant- judges are looking for a polished version of a real woman. Although Miss USA is a bit more intense, it would also be considered a natural pageant. Glitz pageants are a different story- if you've ever watched the reality show, "Toddlers and Tiaras," you're seeing glitz in action. Think gobs of makeup, hair extensions, expensive nail and tanning packages, and a wardrobe that you'll wear once and then never have use for again. Okay, I admit, I am waaaaaay biased towards natural pageants over glitz. In my humble opinion, natural pageants can help a woman learn important life skills (poise, public speaking, etc), whereas glitz pageants are just a chance to play dress up and spend big money doing it. I won't come out and say glitz pageants are bad, but I will say that if that's the route you're looking to go, you'll want to go somewhere else for advice. I'm talking about natural pageants!
Next thing to consider: what is it you're wanting to get out of pageantry? Scholarships for college? Cash prizes? A chance at a modeling contract or a scholarship to acting school? Different pageants offer different things in their prize packages.
Finally, ask yourself if you can really handle pageants. Pageantry is no Cinderella story- no fairy godmother is going to appear before you and make a crown appear on your head. Pageant winners work hard on community service, physical fitness, knowledge of current events, opinions on politics, selecting a wardrobe, and practicing their talent. And, the magic crowning moment isn't just a happily-ever after. Holding even a local title may mean several appearances and appointments every week. Make sure you know what you are committing yourself to if you do win! Of course, if you don't win, can you handle it with maturity? Many girls enter the pageant to have fun and make friends- no one wants to listen to you gripe about how the winner didn't deserve the crown as much as you did. Enter a pageant with the understanding that there is only one crown, but there are plenty of other opportunities to have fun, make friends, and learn!
That said, here are a few great pageant systems with some information:
Miss America: www.missamerica.org
Ages 17-24
Main Prize: Educational Scholarships
Cost to Enter: No pageant entry fee, but contestants must raise funds for the Children's Miracle Network to be eligible to compete ($100 for local pageant, $250 for state pageant, $500 for national pageant)
Areas of Competition: Private Interview (25%), Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit (10%), Talent (35%), Poise and Presence in Eveningwear (15%), and Onstage Question (5%).
What else you should know: Miss America contestants start at the local level- if you don't see a pageant for your city or region, check for other pageants in your state that are "Open"- meaning anyone who lives in, attends school in, or works full-time in that state can enter, even if they don't live in the city the pageant represents. The national platform of Miss America is The Children's Miracle Network, plus every contestant chooses their own individual platform, which can be any topic the contestant is passionate about and wants to stand for during her reign. Be prepared for a busy year if you do win a title, and know that if you capture a state or national crown, you will be expected to take a year off of school in order to fulfill your obligations! There is LOTS of scholarship money available, even if you never take home a crown!
Miss USA and Miss Universe: www.missuniverse.com
Ages: 17-26
Main Prize: Some scholarship money to specific schools, including New York Film Academy. As a general rule, Miss USA and Miss Universe are seen as gateways to careers in modeling and acting.
Cost to Enter: $800 for state pageant....??
Areas of Competition: Interview, Swimwear, Eveningwear
What you should know: Miss USA contestants start at the state level- applications for state pageants are available online. Miss USA is NOT the same as Miss America, contrary to popular belief. The platform of the Miss USA pageant is Breast/Ovarian Cancer Awarness
Miss America's Outstanding Teen: www.maoteen.org
Ages: 13-17
This is the official "Little Sister" pageant to Miss America, so expect similarities (except that the teen pageant has a lifestyle and fitness in sportswear- shorts and a tank top- instead of swimwear). Also, you are NOT expected to take time off of school at any level, but winners are in for a busy year nonetheless!
Miss Teen USA: www.missuniverse.com/missteenusa
Ages: 14-18...??
This is the official little sister to Miss USA and Miss Universe, basically the same structure.
Miss International: www.miss-international.us
Ages: 19-29
Cost to Enter: State pageant $350
Areas of Competition: Interview (40%), Evening Gown (20%), Fitnesswear (20%) and Fun Fashion Wear (20%)
What you should know: Miss International contestants all choose their own platform to promote during their reign. This system also includes the little sister Miss Teen International and the Mrs. International pageant for married women.
National American Miss: www.namiss.com
Ages: Princess 4-6; Junior Pre-Teen 7-9; Pre-teen 10-12; Junior Teen 13-15; Teen 16-18, Miss 19-20
Prizes: Scholarships, Cash prizes, trophy
Entry Fee: $440 for state fee
Areas of Competition: Formal wear (30%), Personal Introduction (30%), Interview (30%), Community Involvement (10%)
What you should know: One of my favorite parts of NAM is that each area is judged by different people- you don't have to worry about the judges being so charmed by one contestant's opening act that they favor her for the rest of the pageant. It's also great that you can start in this system at a young age if you want to.
Miss American Co-Ed Pageants: www.gocoed.com
Ages: 3-22, various divisions
Okay, so I can't find a whole lot of information on the website, but I do know girls who have competed in this system and said it was great. Go ahead and apply if it interests you!
America's Perfect: www.americasperfectteen.com
Ages: Little Miss Perfect (Birth-11 years); Junior Teen (12-15 years); Teen (16-19 years); Miss (20-29 years); Woman (30 and beyond)
Main Prizes: Cash and modeling opportunities
Entry Fee: $895
Areas of Competition: Swimwear, Evening Gown, Interview- all equally scored.
Friday, July 1, 2011
How To: Easy Homemade Hair Protein Treatment
Protein treatments are a great way to maintain healthy, shiny hair, and you can do them yourself in the comfort of your home! I learned this method from a fellow pageant-contestant; people notice the improvement in my hair whenever I do it!
Step 1) Mix three eggs and one tsp. of lemon juice together in a bowl. Use a fork or a whisk to mix well.
Step 2) Shampoo and condition your hair as usual. Once it is rinsed, apply the egg mixture generously from roots to tips of your hair. (I find the easiest way to do this is to just tilt your head back and pour the mixture directly from the bowl). Be sure to rinse any egg-spatters off of your skin. Wrap your hair in a towel and wait 30 minutes. (Start disinfecting any surfaces the raw eggs have touched while you are waiting! Don't let it sit!)
Step 3) Remove the towel, rinse your hair (make sure to get ALL of the egg mixture out!), and dry and style your hair as usual. Put the towel in the wash IMMEDIATELY- throwing it somewhere will guarentee a permanent rotten egg smell to it and anything else it touches.
I usually did this treatment once a month- depending on your hairtype and lifestyle, you might need to do it more or less often. Experiment and see what works best for you!
A few quick warnings: 1) NEVER try a new beauty treatment the day before or of a big event; everyone has different beauty needs, and we all make mistakes! Do a practice run well in advance to make sure you know what results you'll get. 2) Make sure to wash everything that the raw eggs touch with soap and hot water- 1 in every 20,000 eggs contains salmonella poisoning, and, once eggs rot, the smell can quickly become so bad that professional cleaning is required and 3) Warn your roommates or family that the bathroom might not smell so great for a few hours after this process. Try to do it in a well-ventilated bathroom. If you live in a dormitory setting, don't attempt this process in a community- bathroom!
Have fun!!
Step 1) Mix three eggs and one tsp. of lemon juice together in a bowl. Use a fork or a whisk to mix well.
Step 2) Shampoo and condition your hair as usual. Once it is rinsed, apply the egg mixture generously from roots to tips of your hair. (I find the easiest way to do this is to just tilt your head back and pour the mixture directly from the bowl). Be sure to rinse any egg-spatters off of your skin. Wrap your hair in a towel and wait 30 minutes. (Start disinfecting any surfaces the raw eggs have touched while you are waiting! Don't let it sit!)
Step 3) Remove the towel, rinse your hair (make sure to get ALL of the egg mixture out!), and dry and style your hair as usual. Put the towel in the wash IMMEDIATELY- throwing it somewhere will guarentee a permanent rotten egg smell to it and anything else it touches.
I usually did this treatment once a month- depending on your hairtype and lifestyle, you might need to do it more or less often. Experiment and see what works best for you!
A few quick warnings: 1) NEVER try a new beauty treatment the day before or of a big event; everyone has different beauty needs, and we all make mistakes! Do a practice run well in advance to make sure you know what results you'll get. 2) Make sure to wash everything that the raw eggs touch with soap and hot water- 1 in every 20,000 eggs contains salmonella poisoning, and, once eggs rot, the smell can quickly become so bad that professional cleaning is required and 3) Warn your roommates or family that the bathroom might not smell so great for a few hours after this process. Try to do it in a well-ventilated bathroom. If you live in a dormitory setting, don't attempt this process in a community- bathroom!
Have fun!!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Product Review: The Smooth Away
Some women are blessed enough to not have to shave their legs very often. Recently, when visiting my cousin, she told me she hadn't shaved for two weeks- and, if I looked REALLY closely, I could see a hint of very fine, blond hair on her legs. In the 25 years that we'd been cousins, I'd never really felt jealous of her until that moment. I am one of those women who has black stubble on her legs before her razor burn even heals!
I'm always looking for an alternative to shaving, so I was interested when the Smooth Away came out. I found one at Walmart for about 13$. Supposedly, Smooth Away removes hair by grinding it down to dust, and exfoliates your skin at the same time. In the commercial, one user enthusiastically states, "I don't have to shave! I don't have to shave, ever!"
The kit includes a large smoothing pad with a battery-powered "vibrating pod" and several crystal pads, as well as a smaller smoothing pad with some small crystal pads. Following the directions, I applied one of the self-adhesive crystal pads to the bottom of the smoothing pad, and popped the vibrating pod in the top of the smoothing pad. I tried it on my legs first- the hair was a couple of millimeters long.
The vibrations felt soothing and it did seem to exfoliate my skin, but it took several seconds to actually get all the hair in a small patch of skin. I hadn't even done the front of my shin before the crystal pad had dulled and needed to be replaced. No way were the five pads in the pack going to do what one $2 razor could do! I tried the small pad on my bikini line and got NOTHING- the hair was too course. Of course, the hair grew back just as fast as it would with shaving.
So, in short- the Smooth Away does remove hair, and it's painless. However, it doesn't save any time or money over plain old shaving! I can't say I would recommend it to anyone!
I'm always looking for an alternative to shaving, so I was interested when the Smooth Away came out. I found one at Walmart for about 13$. Supposedly, Smooth Away removes hair by grinding it down to dust, and exfoliates your skin at the same time. In the commercial, one user enthusiastically states, "I don't have to shave! I don't have to shave, ever!"
The kit includes a large smoothing pad with a battery-powered "vibrating pod" and several crystal pads, as well as a smaller smoothing pad with some small crystal pads. Following the directions, I applied one of the self-adhesive crystal pads to the bottom of the smoothing pad, and popped the vibrating pod in the top of the smoothing pad. I tried it on my legs first- the hair was a couple of millimeters long.
The vibrations felt soothing and it did seem to exfoliate my skin, but it took several seconds to actually get all the hair in a small patch of skin. I hadn't even done the front of my shin before the crystal pad had dulled and needed to be replaced. No way were the five pads in the pack going to do what one $2 razor could do! I tried the small pad on my bikini line and got NOTHING- the hair was too course. Of course, the hair grew back just as fast as it would with shaving.
So, in short- the Smooth Away does remove hair, and it's painless. However, it doesn't save any time or money over plain old shaving! I can't say I would recommend it to anyone!
Another Beauty Blog?
Hi everyone!
I am a 25-year-old living in the midwest (preparing to live in Europe for a year next year). I am a recent college grad planning to eventually pursue a Master's, but I am also a huge beauty geek. I have competed in pageants and done some modeling, and I am also building my own business through Amway Global, which includes the Artistry makeup/skincare line (one of the top five lines in the world, and the official sponsor of the Miss America pageant). Between these three life experiences, I've managed to learn some important beauty information. My friends are always asking me to share, so I thought I'd share it with everyone right here!
I am also an evangelical Christian, and I've seen two different extremes growing up in the church. There were the women who believed it was worldly and sinful to wear a dress that wasn't from a garage sale or to own a hair straightener. Then there were the women were always hosting the "ladies' luncheons" or "Girl's Nights"- but would only invite the women with the designer clothes and Mary Kay makeup. It wasn't until recent years that I realized that beauty IS a huge part of who we are as women, but it ISN'T all that we are.
Here's my stance on physical beauty: every, EVERY woman is created with natural beauty. It's great to go au natureal sometimes- wash your face, get your hair out of your eyes, throw on something comfy, and voila! Some women like to go this way 24-7, and that's great. Some other women, like myself, like to experiment with clothes and hair and makeup...but our goal should be to enhance our natural, God-given beauty and to accentuate our best features, not hide it under a false exterior.
We can hide our beauty in two ways- one way is by choosing not to take care of ourselves. I'm not talking about sweatpants-and-ponytail days (hey, we all do that!). I'm talking about foregoing basic hygiene habits, letting food control us, giving in to anxious habits like nail biting or skin picking, etc. Like I said, we all have days when we just don't have time or energy to worry about our appearance- but overall, we should show respect to God's creation, including our own bodies. But we can go to the other extreme and hide our beauty in another way- by allowing ourselves to become so consumed with vanity that we cover up God's handiwork in a shallow, fake beauty. We can spend ridiculous amounts of time and money on cosmetics, clothes, and unecessary plastic surgery. We can obsess over counting calories and go ballistic if someone interferes with our workout routine or beauty sleep. Girls who don't look as good as we do are below us, and girls who look as good or better are our archenemies.
Obviously, neither extreme can bring about true, lasting beauty. The truth is, cliched as it may sound, that beauty really does come from within. Precise makeup, flawless hair styles, and flattering clothes can only accentuate what is flowing from our innermost being.
So, in this blog, I hope to share some of the beauty tips that I have obtained over the years, but I also hope to have many great discussions on what inner beauty looks like. Please message me with questions; I will share what I know and find answers to what I don't know!!
I am a 25-year-old living in the midwest (preparing to live in Europe for a year next year). I am a recent college grad planning to eventually pursue a Master's, but I am also a huge beauty geek. I have competed in pageants and done some modeling, and I am also building my own business through Amway Global, which includes the Artistry makeup/skincare line (one of the top five lines in the world, and the official sponsor of the Miss America pageant). Between these three life experiences, I've managed to learn some important beauty information. My friends are always asking me to share, so I thought I'd share it with everyone right here!
I am also an evangelical Christian, and I've seen two different extremes growing up in the church. There were the women who believed it was worldly and sinful to wear a dress that wasn't from a garage sale or to own a hair straightener. Then there were the women were always hosting the "ladies' luncheons" or "Girl's Nights"- but would only invite the women with the designer clothes and Mary Kay makeup. It wasn't until recent years that I realized that beauty IS a huge part of who we are as women, but it ISN'T all that we are.
Here's my stance on physical beauty: every, EVERY woman is created with natural beauty. It's great to go au natureal sometimes- wash your face, get your hair out of your eyes, throw on something comfy, and voila! Some women like to go this way 24-7, and that's great. Some other women, like myself, like to experiment with clothes and hair and makeup...but our goal should be to enhance our natural, God-given beauty and to accentuate our best features, not hide it under a false exterior.
We can hide our beauty in two ways- one way is by choosing not to take care of ourselves. I'm not talking about sweatpants-and-ponytail days (hey, we all do that!). I'm talking about foregoing basic hygiene habits, letting food control us, giving in to anxious habits like nail biting or skin picking, etc. Like I said, we all have days when we just don't have time or energy to worry about our appearance- but overall, we should show respect to God's creation, including our own bodies. But we can go to the other extreme and hide our beauty in another way- by allowing ourselves to become so consumed with vanity that we cover up God's handiwork in a shallow, fake beauty. We can spend ridiculous amounts of time and money on cosmetics, clothes, and unecessary plastic surgery. We can obsess over counting calories and go ballistic if someone interferes with our workout routine or beauty sleep. Girls who don't look as good as we do are below us, and girls who look as good or better are our archenemies.
Obviously, neither extreme can bring about true, lasting beauty. The truth is, cliched as it may sound, that beauty really does come from within. Precise makeup, flawless hair styles, and flattering clothes can only accentuate what is flowing from our innermost being.
So, in this blog, I hope to share some of the beauty tips that I have obtained over the years, but I also hope to have many great discussions on what inner beauty looks like. Please message me with questions; I will share what I know and find answers to what I don't know!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)