Bringing Back the Bangs!

Oh hey! It's me! I've been a little absent lately. What have I been doing?

You know, stuff. Work stuff. A lot of work stuff. Exercise stuff. Not running stuff due to major heel pain (another story for another day). Just stuff. Oh yeah, and I got bangs. How did that happen?

So one random Thursday at midnight when I should have been in bed...

I wondered what I'd looked like in bangs. Why? I have no idea. I guess I was looking at celebs like Taylor Swift, Emma Stone, and Lauren Conrad who recently tried bangs and looked great. Not to mention Zooey Deschanel, who has long been known for her bangs (and happens to be my favorite celebrity style inspiration!).

I haven't had bangs since my awkward middle school phase.

We're talking glasses, frizzy, wavy hair I didn't know how to style, high-waisted 90's jeans that didn't fit well, an honest but sad effort to play volleyball, my first experience trying to (unsuccessfully) manage my weight, my nose typically in a book, and endless insecurity as I struggled to feel accepted by my peers. Oh yeah, and bangs that went to my nose, that I poofed out with a giant round brush and curling iron. Yep...

It was a rough time to say the least. The memories from those years are still real, but I've grown and moved on. In fact, I'm trying to find an old picture to submit to The Awkward Years Project. When I was 15, I moved to a new school (where I met my husband), got contacts, became a makeup junkie, and grew my bangs out as part of a clean slate. I was determined to put my nerdy past behind me. It didn't completely work - I'm still an introverted, quirky, nerdy person at heart, which somehow works better as an adult - but at least I felt like I looked better.

Fifteen years later, I've sworn I would never go back. I've moved on. I'm an adult with degrees, a job, friends, a husband, and I'm a runner.Why would I reopen that chapter?

Until that fateful night on little sleep, too much celebrity news, and possibly some dark chocolate, when I opened up a hair simulator site and "tried on bangs". Those simulations always look ridiculous, but the Nicole Richie style I tried didn't look half bad.

That led to my 1 AM venture upstairs to mock-up bangs with hair clips. This was looking promising! I'd be a quirky Zooey Deschanel type! I just needed a fun dress!

Believe it or not, I still thought about bangs the next couple of weeks. Could they really work? Here's how I approached the decision and what I recommend thinking about:

What type of bangs are right for me?

• My face shape - My face is pretty round. Often times really short, blunt bangs make faces look rounder, so I looked at examples of other fringed celebs with round faces, like Emma Stone.
• How thick? My forehead isn't big, so I didn't think couldn't handle super thick, heavy bangs.
• What shape and texture? Because I didn't want a style too blunt or heavy, I thought wispy, layered bangs that were longer at the sides would be a good fit. Also, my hair has natural wave, which I thought would work with the cut.

I recommend researching bang styles for the shape of your face, and looking at friends or celebrities with similar face shapes as examples.

Ask your hairstylist!

I have a great hair stylist that I've gone to for over 5 years. She knows my hair's texture, has cut everything from chin length to long layers in my hair, and knows what works and doesn't work on me. I walked in and told her to brace herself, and I explained what I wanted. I came armed with all of these examples, expressed no poofy 90's bangs, and asked for her opinion. She agreed with my wispy, layered approach for the texture of my hair and was excited that I wanted to do something new! She was on the same page and brought my vision to life! 

Also - she offers free bang trims in between cuts, and she is located less than 5 minutes from my office. Since bangs typically need to be trimmed every 3-4 weeks, I recommend asking your hairstylist what he/she offers in terms of trims.

The result?

I also found that fun dress at Old Navy!
Find it here.
It was $12 on clearance in my local store!
I'm ALL in on the chambray now!

I'm pleasantly surprised! I love the shape and texture. The longer sides look great when my hair is up. 

Oddly, I do see a little "middle school me" now, and I don't know if that's a good or bad thing...

How I style them

I asked my hair stylist if I should blow dry them with a round brush. She promptly replied, "I thought you didn't want poofy 90's bangs?"

Touche. Here's what I do instead: 

• After washing, I leave my hair in a towel to apply my moisturizer and foundation. 
• Then I take my hair out of the towel and I use a paddle brush under the bangs to blow them out straight. I dry and style the rest of my hair. 
• Finally, since my hair has a natural wave, I flat iron them so they aren't poofy. I run the flat iron straight down and barely turn it under at the ends so the bangs slightly curl under instead of stick out. 
• To avoid heaviness and clumpiness, I don't use any product - not even hairspray! 
• Also try to not touch them during the day! That's easier said than done, but it will just make them oilier and clumpier. I actually like when the wind hits them - it just makes them wispier, like I have effortless style (yeah, right!).

What I like about them

I like that they add more shape and dimension to my overall look. When I didn't have bangs, I had long pieces of hair in the front that laid heavy and were hard to style. I don't have to deal with that anymore. They add an extra "something" when my hair is completely up.

How they are (slightly) more difficult

Keep in mind that this is very minor. I don't think you'll ever hear anyone say, "OMG! My life is so overwhelming now that I have to style my bangs!" I mean seriously. Remember those first world problems I talked about?

However, it does change the way I do my hair in the following ways:

• My morning hair and makeup routine is a little more detailed, as I stated above.
• I'll have to go in every few weeks in between cuts for bang trims. 
• Refreshing hair in between washes is a little more difficult. I have oily hair, but I can wash my hair every other day if I use dry shampoo on the off days. Unfortunately, that just doesn't cut it for bangs. They are too oily and clumpy. Instead, on the off days, I do the following:
• I pull the rest of my hair back into a ponytail and and use shampoo and water at the sink to wash, rinse just my bangs.
• Then I style my bangs, just like above.
• Finally, I work dry shampoo in the rest of my hair and style however I want - curled, straightened, up, whatever.
• I feel a stronger need to wear lipstick. Don't ask me why, I just think my bangs need lipstick to go with them. Maybe because there's a lot going on over the forehead, and I need to balance it out? I don't know. I just think styled bangs plus a good lipstick look sophisticated and great together. It could be just me. My fall and winter go-to lipstick is Buxom (R) in Bombay.

Overall, I like the the bangs. I'm also glad that Brandon likes them (although his opinion is secondary to mine). Remember it's just hair, and it will grow!

Do you have bangs, or are you considering bangs? How do you like them?

-Amy

My Favorite Things for Summer

I don't know about the rest of the country, but here in the Southeast, it's hot! We're seeing high temperatures in the 80-90 degree range daily. Hot weather always presents a challenge to look our best - hair frizzy from humidity, makeup melting off, etc. Lovely.

I decided to share some of my favorite items that are trying to keep me together (a tall order) in the summer. At some point, I'd also like to share products that help me in my running life, but for now, here are some products I love day-to-day this time of year.

Boscia BB Cream

So what is all of this hype about BB creams? At first, I thought it was just a passing fad (and it may be), and didn't bother to pay attention to it. Then, I learned about what they are. A BB cream is like a "one-stop-shop" in the morning - a moisturizer, sunscreen, pore refiner, primer, and a light tint. I've always wondered why such a product didn't exist before to make our lives easier.

Because they want us to buy multiple products. C'mon, Amy, you're a marketer.

However, it appears that Asian beauty companies finally started making such a product, and American companies are catching on.

I was running out of a foundation I didn't particularly love when I found out about BB creams. Intrigued, I headed into Sephora to check them out. There is now a huge selection of BB creams on the market among both department and drugstore brands. It was overwhelming. A sales consultant in the store walked me through their selection and recommended Boscia for my skin, which tends to be on the oily side. I loved it! I prefer light coverage in a foundation, so it was all I needed. It moisturized, mattified, and evened out my skin tone. It has replaced my foundation, sunscreen, and moisturizer, so I only need to wear my BB cream and eye cream before applying eye makeup and blush. Optionally, you could set it with a powder. I also wear it when running for the SPF benefit.

Crossbody Bag

I think summer is all about going lighter! When sightseeing on vacation, shopping, going to concerts or music festivals, or simply perusing around town, who wants to carry a heavy bag! While I love a good statement tote or satchel for fall and winter, I like to lighten up in the summer. Crossbody bags are in and vary from super casual to dressy. My casual choice is currently one of two Vera Bradley crossbody bags, which are bright, summery and happy. These styles are retired, but you can find similar choices here.

Sanuk Flip-flops

Last July, I was headed on a vacation to Savannah, GA with my husband. We knew that we would spend a lot of time exploring the historic district downtown and we'd be doing a lot of walking. I wanted to wear sandals, but was concerned about comfort. A friend recommended I try Sanuk flip-flops with a yoga mat sole. Yoga mats? In flip-flops?

Skeptical, I found them at my local Dillard's, and they felt amazing! They really are squishy like a yoga mat. I thought the Yoga Spree style in brown and white was a light, classic look that would match a lot of things. I wore them to my more casual outings in Savannah and was amazed! I couldn't believe I had worn flip-flops while walking all day and felt great at the end of the day! Since then, that pair has become my go-to flip-flops for casual day-to-day wear. I prefer dressy sandals or wedges to nicer events. This year, they are still in great shape and I wear them often.

Note - these should only be worn in casual situations. I'm not judging, but please don't wear flip-flops to work, a nice social gathering, etc. Dressy sandals, heels, or wedges are a MUCH better option. Also, I'm a strong believer in only wearing open toed shoes when feet and toes are well groomed. Eesh!

Crabtree & Evelyn 60 Second Fix for Hands

With the gardening projects I take on during the summer, my hands take a beating! Because I do a lot of hobbies with my hands and polish doesn't stick well to my nails (even gel polish!), I usually don't keep polish on my hands. Instead, I keep my nails trimmed, buffed, and clean. I also like to keep my hands and cuticles moisturized.

To accomplish all of the above, I follow a morning (and nightly if I remember!) routine of cleaning and filing my nails (if necessary). Then I follow up with a hand scrub, hand cream, and cuticle cream.

I'll admit that most of Crabtree & Evelyn's scents are a little strong for my preferences, but I love the Citron scent! It's so fresh and smells like spring. The 60 Second Fix (hand scrub and cream combo) is perfect for my routine!

Extra - I also love to use Burt's Bees lemon cuticle cream. Unlike cuticle oils, it's not greasy and it stays on my hands. I also love the lemon scent! I also do this routine after gardening or other projects.

A Summer Scarf

Yes, you CAN wear a scarf during summer! You just need a scarf made of a light material and bright summer colors. If you're going to be spending the majority of the day outside it might be overkill. However, if you spend part of the day inside or are out during a cooler summer night, a light scarf is a great accessory. It can make a sundress, tank top, or tee more interesting by adding color and pattern.

I think the keys to staying cool in a summer scarf are picking the right material, and draping it the right way. Obviously, the lighterweight fabric, the better. My favorite ways to wear a scarf in the summer are either loosely draped around my neck (not tight and close to my neck), or as a vest.

A vest? What? Yes, I learned that trick this year. It's SO easy - requires no sewing or pinning and takes 5 minutes. You can learn how to do this here.

I'm not a fashionista, but here are my two favorite summer scarf looks:

See? It really does look like a vest! Shirt - Gap (last fall), Shorts - Old Navy, Scarf - Old Navy

I love pairing a 3/4 sleeve top with shorts for cooler summer nights!  This is the top I wore my About Me pic. I LOVE it, as it adds texture to any outfit. I can't find it online, but a short sleeve version is here.
Scarf - Charming Charlie's. Cami - Target (love!). Shorts - Old Navy

Before I recruited B to help me take pics (what a good sport!), I tried being like the cool fashionista bloggers who take selfies with their phones. I'm not sure if I'm cool enough to pull it off. It was hard to get the angle right and make sure I was looking in the right place! I felt like a 16 year old on SnapChat (which I don't know how to use). I got one good pic out of it!

Maybelline Color Whisper Lipstick

Lipstick is tough for me. On one hand, I have very fair skin, so dark lipsticks don't work. On the other hand, my lips are a natural rose color, so really light lipsticks don't look great on me either. My usual solution is a rose colored lipstick a shade slightly darker than my natural lip color. During the fall and winter, I like to wear Buxom Big and Healthy lipstick in Bombay. However, I wanted to brighten and lighten up in the summer.

I'd read a lot of great things about the new Maybelline Color Whisper line. I'm not afraid to explore both department and drugstore brands, and usually wear a mix of both. I love it! It's the perfect hybrid between a lipstick and a gloss. It's shiny but not sticky like a gloss. It's not quite as pigmented as your typical heavier lipstick, so it's great for summer. It still has a good amount of pigment (more than lip gloss - my usual concern with them) so the color definitely stands out. It goes on very smooth and lips stay moisturized. The "Rose of Attraction" shade is a lighter, brighter rose color than I wear in the winter, so it has become my go-to summer lipstick.

Updo for Hair

On days when I know I'll be running in the evening (and even days I don't), I want a hairstyle that is off my face and shoulders. I especially want a style that's a little more elaborate than a simple ponytail. That way it's dressy enough for work, and it's ready to go when I run in the evening. My favorite beauty blog is The Small Things Blog. The blogger, Kate, has an amazing way of breaking down elaborate hairstyles into easy to follow video tutorials. My hairstyle in my blog head shot just happens to be from the texture tutorial!

My favorite updos are the Messy Bun and the Side French Braid Bun. They get messier from running, but then that just makes it even cooler in a "messy on purpose" way.

My attempt at the messy bun. FYI -  I changed and took these pics after running. I still like it. It's never going to look the same as the tutorial.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh

I'm a little new to venture into fragrance. Over the years, I've tried different fragrances, but I'm sensitive to strong floral or musky fragrances. They often give me a headache. To keep it light, I've mostly stayed in the realm of body sprays from Bath and Body Works or Victoria's Secret. Since I'm almost 30, however, I decided it's time to find a grown-up signature fragrance for myself. After much sampling, my favorite is Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh. It's light, clean, fruity, with a hint of floral. I like it better than it's original cousin, Marc Jacobs Daisy, which is a little too floral for me. It's more grown-up, but not overpowering. I carry a rollerball with me when I'm on the go. Worth a try if you want a lighter fragrance for summer!

Some other items I'm hunting for summer - a good sunscreen, a powder to set my BB cream, and hairspray that stands up to humidity. I'll let you know if I find them!

What are your favorite beauty and style products for summer?

-Amy

*I don't know anyone from these companies. These were all products I purchased for myself, and I wasn't compensated in any way for this post.

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Coconut Oil to Condition Hair...without the Oiliness

Anyone who reads blogs on beauty, health, or natural living, or simply peruses Pinterest has likely seen that coconut oil is the "it" natural beauty product these days.

I have to admit, I'm a little jealous of it's popularity.

There are articles on how it can give you softer skin, better hair, remove makeup, and likely 50 other things you can do with it.I decided that being the natural DIY cool girl I wanna be, I should try hopping on this bandwagon.

So when I was at Trader Joe's (yep, workin' on that natural cool girl status) I picked up a jar. If there isn't a TJ's near you, you usually can find coconut oil in any natural foods store, or the natural section of your usual supermarket.

I was surprised to see that it's not a liquid oil at room temperature. It's semi-solid, almost like Vaseline (but natural instead of made with petroleum and chemicals). I LOVE coconut, so the creamy coconut smell was divine to me. No fear for those who don't like the smell of coconut - it's actually pretty light, and doesn't linger.

I started by making a scrub with the coconut oil and raw sugar. I had to fight the temptation to eat it! It felt great. I loved that it was moisturizing but not as greasy as baby oil or other oils. I also found it does a great job to gently remove eye makeup.

Then I read it makes a great conditioning treatment for hair. At first I wasn't interested, as my hair is annoyingly oily instead of dry. I have to wash every.single.day. You don't want to see it if I don't!

Then the Great Curling Iron Incident of 2012 happened last fall. My curling iron malfunctioned and quit managing temperature. It got really hot. Sadly, being the oblivious person I am, I didn't realize this for days until one morning my husband Brandon said, "What did you do? You smell like burned hair."

Just what every girl wants to hear.

I had already burned the ends of my hair. They were broken and frazzled. My stylist confirmed several inches of my hair were damaged, but I wasn't willing to amputate all of it. She trimmed what she could and blended the layers around it so it wasn't as visible, but I still had to deal with the frazzled ends for several months. About 4 haircuts later, it's finally almost gone.

Enter coconut oil. I read several articles online about using it as a hair conditioner. Since the rest of my hair is oily, I tried using it on the ends. I started by applying it to the ends of already wet hair, then shampooing and conditioning as usual.

Unfortunately, that didn't work as planned. Defying the laws of physics, the coconut oil had somehow worked its way up my hair almost to the root, and hadn't completely washed out. After I dried my hair, my hair still felt wet and flat to my head. It was like I hadn't washed my hair in a week! I had dinner plans that night, and had to wash my hair another couple of times to get back to normal. 

The ends of my hair looked great, though! While not completely repaired, they weren't quite as frizzy. Thus, I set out to develop a technique that could condition the ends of my hair without causing an oil spill! I experimented and figured out my own technique that works for me.

With that said, here's the solution that works for me:

1. Start with dry hair in a ponytail. This helps me keep the coconut oil contained to the ends of my hair.
2. Apply the oil to the part of the hair sticking out of the ponytail. I used a small spoonful - probably 1/2 to 1 tablespoon. I work it in with my hands.You can wash your hands afterward or leave it on to moisturize them, too.

Okay, it's a little oily during this step.
You also caught me on a good day when my nails were done.

1. Leave it on anywhere from 5-30 minutes. Obviously the longer you leave it on, the more conditioning you're going to get from it. I usually leave it on about 15 minutes.
2. Time to wash it out! Leave hair in the ponytail. Start by shampooing only the part of the hair sticking out of the ponytail. Your usual shampoo is fine. Rinse out the shampoo.
3. Take the ponytail out and shampoo and condition your hair as usual.
4. Dry and style your hair as usual. Done!

I usually do this Saturday morning after running. This past Saturday, I decided to curl my hair (with my new fancy ceramic curling iron on a lower temperature ;)) after the treatment.

All ready to grab a latte and run errands!

I felt a little silly taking this picture, but was trying to show how it helped the ends of my hair

Then I took a shot outside with my phone, which gave a totally different lighting effect.

If your hair needs a little love but you don't want a ton of weight and oil, I've found this to be a great solution. If you have dry hair, other techniques like using it all over your hair, as a mask, or scalp treatment might work better for you.

Do you use coconut oil as a natural moisturizer or beauty product? Have you used any other natural beauty products? How do you deep condition your hair?

-Amy

*I'm not a licensed cosmetologist or beauty expert of any kind. I'm just a normal girl who experiments with new products and techniques, and I'm writing from my own personal experiences. Your results may be different than mine.

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