Firstly, I need to say I typically color my hair myself.  I often have my friend Tristan (also a cosmetologist) help with my cut, however it’s pretty simple to maintain on my own.  How I color my hair is relatively simple.  I use a level 3N all over (though I’m switching to a mixture of 1N + 4V), and apply this to the sides and back.  Here comes the difficult part.  I then proceed to foil all of the top of my hair.  This is because I use one inch of regrowth to be the dark color, then the rest is bleached out (I don’t have to lighten the ends since they are already lightened, so instead I just lighten what needs to be).  Once this is rinsed and shampooed, I apply Joico’s semi-permanent violet color to the lightened portions of hair.  I let this process for however long I feel like (it’s a conditioning color, so it is non-damaging to your hair), and then rinse with cool water.  I do not shampoo this out, in fact I typically don’t shampoo it for 24-48 hours after this is applied.

It also helps to sometimes use heat to help process your semi-permanent color.  A hair-dryer will work for doing this at home, anything to open up the cuticle and help the color penetrate.  I have another trick, but I don’t think it’s safe for anything except in a salon because if done improperly it can burn the scalp. 

Doesn’t it fade fast? To be honest, no.  I don’t have problems with Joico fading.  I also sometimes use Pravana, and again have very few issues.  These aren’t products that mass consumers can get, it’s not the stuff at Sally’s, it’s high-end color available to professionals.  I don’t think it’s necessary that semi-permanent colors be done by a professional, so I am honestly tempted to check the legality of me selling these online would be — since they are non-damaging hair color and kind of vital to own your own tube for maintenance!

I often will also wash my hair in the sink so that I can utilize the effects cold water has on my hair.  Cold water is great to wash color-treated hair in.  Heat opens the cuticle of your hair, making it more porous and allowing the color to fade.  Cold water will help to keep that cuticle sealed, and protect your color!  The kitchen sink is especially handy for this, due to the material it doesn’t stain as easily as a bathroom sink.  And let’s be honest, nobody likes cold showers.

I also use professional products for shampoo, conditioner, and styling products.  My favorite color care shampoos and conditioners are from Pureology.  Each line is specifically formulated for color-treated hair, and is very gentle.  My hair gets absurdly soft from using any of these products, which is why sometimes I switch over to using sulfate-free TIGI products (Rockaholic and Bed Head Superstar are my personal favorites).  They don’t make my hair as soft so I can actually style it, something that is necessary with my short hair!  I use a styling product that leaves the finish to my hair matte, so that it doesn’t look so greasy if I don’t shampoo it every day (which also helps with making your color last).

I like to keep a tube of the purple just in case I need to touch it up between sessions (which…. well, hasn’t happened yet).

Any other questions?  Leave them in the comments!

Readers, what is your favorite color to use for semi-permanent color?  Color and brand!  Sound off!

I was out of my typical Urban Decay Primer Potion, low on cash, and needed an alternative — fast, even if it would only be temporary.  I hurried to my local Ulta in hopes to find something, anything that would possibly suffice.   As I rummaged through the mass cosmetics, I saw something new; NYX Eyeshadow Base.  I figured, what the heck and grabbed it in white (it comes in white, pearl, and skin tone).  Keeping my fingers crossed, I headed home to see how well it would work in comparison.

Holy cow!  I was surprised.  This stuff was so easy to work with (easier than when I first started using the UDPP, which can be confusing for beginners), and it didn’t take much.  Plus, the vibrancy of the color as I applied it completely made my day.  What a nice, affordable alternative.

Price: $6 USD
Availability: Ultas, drugstores, and of course online at nyxcosmetics.com and cherryculture.com
Rating:
Product Details (taken from nyxcosmetics.com):
To get the maximum brilliant color of eyeshadow on your eye, an eye primer is a must!  Apply eyeshadow base to eyelids, then apply NYX’s high pigmented eyeshadows and see the colors pop with vibrant and sparkling luster.  Eyeshadow base grabs and firmly holds finely milled powder so the color in the pot is what ends up on your eye — not a pinch lost.

Product Pros:

• CHEAP!  This stuff is only $6 MSRP.
• Comes in a pearl base, a skin tone base, and a white base.  Handy!
• Can be applied easily with fingers or a brush.
• Packaging makes it easy to access all the product (unlike UDPP).
• Makes eyeshadow last!
• The vibrancy and color payoff is better than with many eyeshadow bases, including UDPP and TFSI.

Product Cons:

• NYX can be hard to find for some people who don’t live near an Ulta or a drugstore that carries it.
• Packaging.  While it’s great to access the product, can be a little bit unsanitary since it’s a pot if you’re using it on clients.
• I have had it crease…. Only twice, and I’ve been using it for well over a month now — so not too shabby, but still a concern.

Would I recommend this product?  Yes.  Do I plan on purchasing it again?  You bet!  In fact, I plan on selling it in my online make-up store (whenever I get that up and running) to bring everyone cost effective beauty.  NYX has always been good about bringing us affordable products that are great in quality, this is no exception.

Readers, have you tried this product?  What did you think?

Many women feel they don’t have time to do their make up every day, let me start by saying that it doesn’t take much time to do something completely simple.  Even the most minimal make up (some concealer, powder, mascara and lipgloss) can make a huge impact on your day and how you feel about yourself.  I recommend exercising this.  I’ll put alternatives next to the products I use.  These are the products that work for ME!  Just because it works for me doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll work for you!

Products I use:
Urban Decay pore perfecting primer (you can use any primer you prefer, or skip this step all together.  I do not use a primer daily)
Mirabella skin tint creme in C1 (any lightweight foundation, tinted moisturizer, or powder foundation will do.  You can always make your foundation a tinted moisturizer by mixing it with some of your own moisturizer!  This is described as full coverage, and while it excellent coverage…. I wouldn’t particularly call it full.)
Urban Decay de-slick (Any face powder to set your foundation will do.  Of course if you use powder foundation, you can skip this step if you’d like.  I love L’Oreal True Match powder, and NYC translucent setting powder as well.)
Hard Candy blush in Honeymoon (just a nice, soft natural looking blush with slight shimmer to highlight your cheeks)
NYX white eyeshadow base (or any eyeshadow base, whatever you prefer)
Bed Head white eyeshadow (this isn’t particularly white, it’s more of a bone white with shimmer.  Any shimmery nude color will do…. Pale pinks, golds and taupes are lovely here)
Bed Head big fat fun eyeliner in purple
Cover Girl LashBlastFusion mascara in blackest black (use your favorite mascara, everyone’s lashes and sensitivities are different)
Lip color…. Lip gloss, lipstain, lipstick…. It doesn’t take long to apply especially if you’re using a more nude color and not going too bold.

How I do it:
I begin by applying my face primer to the oiliest parts of my face, specifically the t-zone, and then following up by applying my foundation using my fingers or a dual fiber brush.  Apply concealer to necessary areas (if applicable, I rarely use concealer) then set with powder.  Apply blush to the apples of the cheeks.

After I’ve finished the face, I move onto the eyes.  I start by applying my eyeshadow base all over the lid.  I then use a fluffy blush to apply my Bed Head eyeshadow all over the lid and up to the brow bone.  Next, I fill in my eyebrows.  I line the outer rim of my eyes using my Bed Head liner.  Follow with a couple coats of my mascara.

Then I keep my lips simple, applying either a lipgloss or my lip stain.  Voila.  I’ve finished my daily face.  Sometimes I’ll add a little extra cream shadow in the corners of my eyes for some definition.  It’s also an easy look to take to night by adding a crease color and a black liner, so I find it superb!

Hope this helps.  Keep harassing me so I remember to film a video for you all on it!

If someone asks me to not doing something, I won’t do it.  Or I will do my best not do it.  I’m not the type of person that would ever intentionally hurt someone’s feelings, or cause drama.  It’s just not me.  I most often try to mind my own business (and rarely share my own business with most people), as well as keep other people’s business to myself if it is shared with me.  I’m not a secret spiller, I keep them under lock and key.

When I feel attacked for any of the said above (because I assume people should know this about me), I often get snippy and short, or try to crack jokes to make light of the situation.  Neither seem to make it better, and I’m always left feeling like a bad guy.  I think people often forget that I have feelings, too.  While I claim to be a robot, I’m in reality still a human-being…. A cyborg, at best.

I’m also not psychic.  I don’t understand why people assume that you will know what they’re thinking and feeling when you have absolutely no clue.  I only know what I’m thinking and feeling, and what I’m told by others of their feelings.  I don’t know if you don’t tell me.  And I would appreciate if when people told me, they didn’t try to make me feel like a complete asshole — because I’m not, and more often than not they successfully make me feel like one.  It’s ridiculous, really.

I think my tough exterior leads people to misunderstand me.  It’s the only way I know how to be, to protect myself.  I don’t know how to be any other way.  I wish people would accept me the same way I accept them.

Thanks for contacting Olay, Molly.

I’m sorry you’re having trouble finding Olay Complete Moisturizer with SPF 15 for Sensitive Skin. This is the original formula and we’re currently shipping it to retailers. This product is in a white box with yellow swoosh. It has a green line across bottom indicates “Sensitive” and a green “bubble ” in the top left corner that says “Classic Gentle Formula”.  We hope you’ll watch for it over the next couple of weeks.  We suggest you check with your local grocer, drugstore, or other large chain retail stores.  They’re often the first to have a new product on the shelf because they buy directly from us.

Hope this is helpful.

Alicia
Olay Team

I hope this helps you guys, so you know what to look for next time you go shopping!