5 Easy Ways to Style Short Hair

Last year, I took the plunge and got myself a pixie hair cut (see above).  There is something about chopping all your hair off that just make me feel liberating.  As much as I love it, after a while, I started to miss my long hair.  That is what I have been doing this year, growing out my hair again.  I like my hair either really short or long, but just short can be blah.  It is like there is not much you can do with it and it is not quite as chic as a pixie.  I have come up with a few different ways to style it to help ease the boredom.

1.  Flat Iron : it helps make it look more polish and defrizz.

2.  Clip It Up:  Clip it up to the side using a pretty barrette.

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3.  Headband:  Putting on a headband is such an easy way to spice thing up.  You can go girly with flower and lace or modern with leather.

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4.  Wave:  This has got to be my favorite, I tried it for a party and it turned out great.  Make sure you use a curling iron that is no larger than 1 inch since you do not have much length to work with.  If you have natural wave, you can skip the heat and do a beachy wave instead.  After you wash your hair, apply mouse or spray gel and crunch it from the bottom up using your hand.  Let it air dry.

5.  Give Yourself a Bang:  Last but not least, bang is a great way to update any hairstyle without really cutting it. 

If you have any other great idea on how to style short hair, I'd like to hear from you.

Beach Essentials

Can you believe it, we are almost half way through summer already.  Have you been to the beach this year yet? We are going in 2 weeks, I am excited as this will be my daughter first time to the beach.  She LOVES water, I think she'll have a blast.  Anyway, it got me thinking, what are your beauty essential for a beach trip?

1.  Obviously, Sunscreen!
I'll pack Shiseido Extra Smooth Sun Protection Cream SPF 38 and Clarins Sunscreen for Eyes Wrinkle Control Cream SPF 30 for my face (full review on both products here).  As for the little one, I'll pack Lavanila Healthy Baby Block Spf40.  I have not find my HG body sunscreen yet...do you have one you'd recommend?

2.  Antioxidant. 
Research have shown that topical antioxidants can help skin from sun damage.  If you have sensitive skin, Origins Dr. Andrew Weil Mega Mushroom Skin Relief is design to help sooth irritation and minimize redness.  It has proven to be quite effective for me.  I also favor DHC Acerola 100 Serum in keeping my skin balance and even tone.

3.  Light Makeup
The last thing I want is wearing heavy makeup in the heat.  Lately, I am really loving The Balm Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 in Light.  It matches my skin tone perfectly and diffuse redness and even things out nicely for me.  I'll even say it is my best tinted moisturizer so far.  Review and swatches coming up.

4.  Tame that Frizz
Salt water and the humidity make my hair both dry and frizzy.  I am currently using DHC After Bath Hair Treatment Oil Type.  It is oil base but it is really light.  It makes my hair a bit shinier, softer, and less frizz yet so light, it does not feel like I am wearing any hair product.

That is all folks, I am trying to pack light.  Well, of course, there will be a few makeup items.  Also will be bringing my ipad so I can play Tiny Sheep.  I am quite addicted to Tiny Sheep, it is a farming game, where you take care of these cute tiny sheep.

Well, I would love to hear what are some of your essentials.


Disclaimer:  I purchased all the items mentioned except for Origins serum.

research showing that topically applied antioxidants can help protect from sun damage - See more at: http://www.paulaschoice-eu.com/learn/uvauvb-sun-protection-antioxidants/#sthash.rxjkUILR.dpufRes

research showing that topically applied antioxidants can help protect from sun damage - See more at: http://www.paulaschoice-eu.com/learn/uvauvb-sun-protection-antioxidants/#sthash.rxjkUILR.dpuf

TOTW: Clarifying Shampoo

Wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo once a week or every other week to remove build up.  By the way, my favorite is the anti residue shampoo from Neutrogena.  I always find that it gives my root a lift afterward.

Tickle My Fancy: Garnier Olia Oil Powered Permanent Hair Color

I rarely ever color my hair and when I do, it is normally done at home, by myself.  Lately, the new Garnier Olia is so tempting that it makes me want to color my hair.  The fact that it is oil based, it contains 60% of oil blend and amonia free automatically make me feel like it is less damaging than traditional hair coloring.  Also, the tear drop shape dispenser is cute :)

If you go to the Garnier website, there is a little 3 questions survey you can take and it will give you recommended color that is best for your hair.

Have you tried it? 

Got2Be Rockin’ It Dry Shampoo Review

Dry shampoo has been around for a long time but I did not try it until now since I normally do not fuss around too much with my hair. I picked up Got2Be Rockin’ It Dry Shampoo recently and let me tell you, I am like, “Wow, it actually works. Why didn’t I try it sooner?”

Price: $5.99, purchased at Ulta

Pros: One day, I decided to do a scalp treatment, not something I normally do. Perhaps I used too much oil, it still look very greasy after I shampoo. I had to shampoo twice and my hair still look like it has not been wash in a week, just plain gross. Next morning, I sprayed Got2Be Rockin’ It Dry Shampoo and it just soaked up all the grease. My hair looks normal again. I was worry that it would leave white residue on my black hair but once I worked the product in and shook it off as instructed, the white powder disappear. Another great thing is that it also gives a bit of extra volume. All in all, two thumbs up.

Cons: Nothing that I can think of.

Rating: 5/5

Disclosure: The product(s) being review was purchased by me for personal use or review purpose.

Joico K-Pak Color Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner Review

The last time I highlighted my hair was in 2005, while on vacation. The result was chunky, brassy, orange streaks. I was traumatize and had to color my hair black to cover the big boo boo. I left my hair alone ever since until a month ago. This time my highlights are much better, more subtle and natural, I got quite a bit of compliments actually. Anyway, I bought the Joico K-Pak Color Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner set for my newly treated hair and has been using them the past 4 weeks.

Price: I paid $11 for 10oz each or $30 for 1 liter. Available at Ulta stores or Amazon.com.

Pros: The first thing I notice about this shampoo and conditioner combo is that even though they are not advertise as volumizer, my hair is more bouncy and volumizing. I am please that my highlights did not turn orange and retain their original color. I also notice that my ends is not as dry and less tangle compare to my old shampoo and conditioner (Umberto).

Cons: Regular price, Ulta sell each for $30 a liter. It is not terribly expensive but still more than I like to pay for shampoo and conditioner. However, Ulta is currently having a sale, I think 1 liter bottle for around $16, great deal.

Overall: Even though, this shampoo and conditioner does nothing for frizz and is a little expensive, I can’t ignore its quality. It helps me keep my color, add volume, and prevent my ends from drying and stiff. The combination of nourishment and volume is ideal if you have dry hair and want volume at the same time.

Rating: 4.5/5


Disclosure: The product(s) being review was purchased by me for personal use or review purpose.

Easy Beachy Wave: A dupe for Remington Emi Airwave

I can’t believe it take me so long to write this. Months ago, I saw a hair tutorial from Jen over at Head to Toe on how to get sexy beachy wave using the Remington Emi Wave blow-dryer. I look everywhere online and even my local Wal-marts and it was nowhere to be found, it has been discontinued.

After some more persistence search, I found another model that has the exact same attachment as the Emi Wave. It is call Remington 3-in-1 Styler model D-5015, sold at Target for $25. You probably can find it online too.

This is THE perfect tool when you want nice hair but only have 15 minutes or less to spare. It’s so fast and easy. Basically all you do it put 1-2 inch section of hair in the funnel and just turn on the blow dryer as usual. The way the air circulates in the funnel will cause a spinning while drying your hair. For looser curls, just use your fingers to move left and right as you brush down your hair, like a light shaking motion. I hope this help.

Got2Be Guardian Angel 425 Degrees Heat Protect ‘n Curl Iron Spray and Gloss Finish

Happy Valentine Beauties!  I hope everyone have a sweet sweet time today, whether it is with a significant other or with your friends.  Moving on to the review...

I like to be as low maintenance as possible and still look good when it comes to my hair. I don’t use a lot of product, just the basic shampoo and conditioner most days and now that I have long hair, a few drops of serum to detangle. So, unless I see a noticeable difference, I won’t even bother adding anything else to the routine.

Price: $10

Pros: It smells really nice; it makes my hair soft and shiny without weighting it down. Most importantly, it helps my hair hold its curls. I have naturally wavy hair. However, lately, I am not sure if my hair’s structure changed or because it’s getting longer and heavier but it doesn’t seem to hold curl like it used it. Also, unless I curl my hair the same day as I washed it otherwise, if I wait till the next day, good luck. This allows me the option to curl my hair the next day if I want to and best of all, it does not make my hair crunchy at all.

You can see here that it is frizzy and kind of brittle hence, I didn't look too happy :)

The act of heat curling itself smooth out your hair.  However, this spray gives it more shine, softer and longer lasting curls.  It will hold till the next day with some loosening.

Cons: It is hard to find, I couldn’t find it at Target or Ulta, which does carries Got2Be. I had to order mine from Amazon.

Overall: It helps my hair hold curls, soft, shiny, smell good…what is there not to like? I just wish Ulta carries this.  Rating: 5/5.

Disclosure: The product(s) being review was purchased by me for personal use or review purpose.

Barista Bath and Body Products Review

Awhile back, I introduced to you a new company called Barista Bath and Body. You can read more about them here. I have been using their bath and body products and I have to say, I am impress with certain products.

Perk It Up Energizing Shampoo – Got to be my favorite. It smells so good, just like freshly made coffee. For a product that does not contain SLS, it lathers and cleanses really well. I think it makes my hair shinier as well.

Sooth Those Jitters Moisturizing Conditioner – It does not smells as good as the shampoo, actually I can hardly smell anything. Some day, I find that it does not moisturize enough. To me, it is just okay, nothing special.

Triple Shot Body Wash – Smells lovely, lathers and cleanses well, just like their shampoo. I love how it does not leave my skin feeling dry afterward.

Room for Cream Moisturizer – This cream should be package in a jar or a squeeze tube (with softer plastic). It’s really hard to get the product to squeeze out which is annoying. The cream itself is moisturizing without being greasy, absorb easily.

Barista Bath and Body

I have good news for fans of natural skincare and coffee lover. A luxurious natural hair and body skin care line, Barista Bath and Body was launched in July 2010. Their focus is on offering natural products using organic coffee as the main ingredient. I have seen coffee in skincare but this is the first time for me to see it in hair care products. It contributions to beauty products include aiding in removing impurities from hair and offering a natural PH level to sooth and protect the skin.

Their products range from $4.50 to $28. You can get sample or travel size of 2 oz for around $5 for most products. I have a set that includes shampoo, conditioner, body cleanser, and body lotion that I am saving for my upcoming trip and will report back on my experience.

Review Avon Advance Techniques Lotus Shield

The new Avon Lotus Shield is an anti-frizz serum that designs to add a waterproof layer to the hair to repel moisture and humidity.

Packaging: A squeeze tube with a small nozzle opening. Much like Elmo glue tube but prettier.




Price: $12 for a 2 oz tube, available at avon.com. This is a new product that will be release sometime in late July. Avon tends to have special introductory price for their new products.

For reference, I have medium thick, naturally wavy long hair. My ends are a little bit coarse and on the dry side. My hair can get very frizzy in the summer especially in humid weather.

Pros: It has a pleasant smell, non greasy, and weightless. Some serum, after I applied it to my hair, there is still this greasy residue left on my hands, but not with this.

As for performance, when use correctly, I am happy with the result. It does help with frizz by maybe 80%. That is pretty good considering it is summer. My ends are kind of coarse, dry and dull and what I like most about this serum is that it softens and adds shine to my ends.

Cons: It does not say on the bottle that it will protect your hair from thermal heat. So, does this mean I need to use a separate product when I use heated styling tools?

Overall: It eliminates frizz, adds shine, and soften hair, all this without being greasy or heavy. What is there not to like? I have to note that I was disappointed the first time I tried this. My hair was still really frizzy that day. I discovered that since there is no direction on how much to use, I started with a pea and it did nothing. I have since used more, about a nickel to quarter size for my long hair. So if it is not working for you initially, try using a larger amount.

Disclosure: This review contains sample sent by PR for consideration. The review is base on my honest personal opinions and experience. We do not promise review nor receive compensation for doing so.

SensEpil - Hair Be Gone!

Imagine getting ready for a hot date. You are running late and as you slip on that sexy black dress, you realize, crap, you forgot to shave! How nice would it be to not have to worry about stuff like that...ever again? Imagine not having to deal with razor burn, ingrown hair or feeling like your skin is being rip (during waxing). I have been seriously comtemplating about laser hair removal but I have not yet dare to venture into. Last night, I saw this little device on Sephora.com that claim to give the same result as an in office laser hair removal treatment in the convenience and privacy of your home.



(The information below is from Sephora website)

What it does:
Silk'n SensEpil™ is an over-the-counter innovation that delivers the clinically proven effectiveness of the well-established, market-leading Silk'n™ sold by physicians. This breakthrough product harnesses the power of proprietary Home Pulsed Light™ (HPL™) technology to create a cutting-edge, safe, user-friendly hair-eliminating solution. Look no further if you want a quick, gentle, safe, and affordable way to diminish unwanted body hair. This must-have device and replacement cartridges provide a lifetime of personal treatments at a fraction of the cost of physician office visits.

On the website, it states that "80% of users experienced a noticeable reduction in hair after 3 months". I interpreted this as, you got to have a realistic expectation, patient, and dedication to use it on a consistent basis. It is retail for $499 plus a $50 cartridge. Do you think it is worth it? Have you tried it?

Natural Remedy for Hair Loss Treatment

My hair has always shed more than I like it to especially, the last few years. I am not sure what the cause is since I do not color my hair or excessively use hot styling tools. I have been taking vitamins which does make a noticeably difference but I still like to see better result. As we all know, currently there is no sure way in preventing hair loss.

A dear friend of mine have been applying fresh Aloe Vera gel to her scalp and hair the past couple months, with positive result. I saw her last week and her hair was definitely fuller and softer. Lucky for me, I have a big old tree at home. Here is my baby, he is huge.



I did some research and indeed, the Native Americans have used this method for centuries. Aloe Vera has enzyme and anti-inflammation properties that help heal and balance the pH level of the scalp while cleansing the pores. The easiest way to reap the benefit is to cut a fresh leave and apply the gel to your scalp and hair, leave it for 30 minutes and shampoo as usual. If you don’t have your own plant handy, you can also purchase Aloe Vera gel from the store, just make sure it is 100% pure or as close to it as possible. I know Jason Natural brand make Aloe Vera gel that you can purchase from Wholefoods.

You can also look for shampoo with Aloe Vera gel in it. A common preparation of Aloe Vera gel with a small amount of wheat germ oil and coconut milk is used as a shampoo and has traditionally shown great benefit. Another alternative is to mix your regular shampoo with Aloe Vera gel, a 1:1 ratio. You will not need to use conditioner afterward unless your hair is very dry or long and tangle.

I tried the treatment last night and while I don’t expect to see hair regrowth until a few months with continuous use, I did get softer and shinier hair. It is obvious that this is good not only for people who are losing hair, but even for those that just wants to have healthy and shiny hair.

2010 Hair How To with Celebrity Stylist Tippi Shorter

I had the pleasure of doing a Q&A session with celebrity stylist Tippi Shorter, whose clients include Beyonce and Alicia Keys. The focus of this interview is on 2010 hair trends and professional how to tips.



1. What are 2010 hair trends and can you give us tips on how the average person can style this hairstyle in 15 mins?

Controlled volume and sleek ponytails are two of my favorite 2010 hair trends. They can easily be achieved in around 15 minutes or less, depending on your hair length and texture. If you have a limited amount of time, a ponytail is a classic that looks fabulous on almost everyone.

Here is the scoop on how to:

Big, sexy volume
- Begin this look by running volumizing mousse through hair from root to tip.
- Create soft curls by setting hair with curlers (like Advance Techniques Pillow Curlers). Spray a light mist of hair spray to ensure hair will hold curl.
- Remove the curlers from your hair. Flip hair over front of head and spray with additional hair spray to create extra volume and hold. Run fingers through hair to loosen curls for a soft finish.

Sleek ponies/bun
- To create the perfect canvas for a defined part, start with clean, smooth hair.
- Apply serum to the ends of your hair and a straight smoothing balm from root to tip. Using a brush (she recommends Advance Techniques Cushion Brush), blow dry hair straight.
- Use a comb to create a defined part on the side of the head. Pull all hair into a tight, sleek bun at the back of the neck to make the part really stand out. Spray a light mist of shine spray to create a high-sheen finish.


2. Can you give us tips on how to grow and maintain long hair?

Always make sure to nourish hair with masks and treatments that have hydrating and soothing ingredients. Each person’s hair is unique and needs special attention. Advance Techniques Moisture Sleek Collection is a universal collection from Avon that works to smooth several different hair types. Also, to maintain long, healthy hair, get trims regularly.


3. What is the trend for 2010 bridal hairstyles? Is there any new trend for bridal hair accessories?

Weddings are a time to celebrate and experiment with hair styles and accessories. Trends for 2010 include flowing, luscious waves, sleek ponytails and ballerina buns used to achieve a formal yet chic and sexy look. I love accessories; they can change the look and feel of a hairstyle! Brides have so many choices from jeweled headbands to clips to wearing fresh flowers in the hair. The accessories greatly depend on the fabric, style and build of the dress.


4. Can you give us some recommendation for both higher end and budget friendly hair care products?

Look for multi-tasking hair care products. I love Avon's Advanced Techniques Dry Ends Serum, which works to repair damaged hair and add shine (and it's only $5.00). I also love Ojon if you're looking for a splurge. The most important thing is finding products that work best for your hair type.


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