Jul 26, 2010 | Beauty
Add a brooch to a folded wide scarf for a headband-look. (Fold scarf into about 3″ wide to replicate this.)
I know you guys are probably completely sick of my going on and on about my favorite magazine Vivi, but I thought this particular editorial on styling with hair accessories was really useful. With summer here I’m suffering from bad hair day after bad hair day (what with the hot, dry Oregon summer and me growing my hair out n all) – so hair accessories for me a MUST to induce a little bit of chic-ness into my outfit when everything on my head has fallen flat.
So here you go – I made these extra big so you can click on them and enlarge to see the how-to. Hope this is helpful and gives you some styling ideas!
Bohemian-style hair: using an elasticized headband and a flower headband.
Using scarves: 1) Regular Bow (uses 30″ square scarf) and Big Bow (uses 69″ long scarf) , 2) Petite Ponytail Scarf (uses 19″ square scarf), 3) Turban (uses 63″ long scarf)
from Vivi Magazine August issue
xoxox
Carly
Jul 12, 2010 | Beauty, From You
img from giftofhair.org
from formspring.me (continued from an earlier question):
I will be shaving my head in a couple of weeks for charity and as I will be pretty much bald (eek!) I was wondering if you had any ideas for cool hats or headscarves to cover me up during the hot summer. For more info on the cause visit my blog: www.susanna-d.blogspot.com
Wow! Good for you! That takes guts to do, though it’s certainly for a great cause.
If you’re looking to cover up and aren’t into purchasing a wig while waiting for your hair to grow back, either a hat or a head-scarf (or a combination of the two!) will probably be your best bet.
clockwise, from green hat:
Right now is a really great time for hats, as Target currently is stocking their Eugenia Kim for Target line of stylish, chic hats – for a fraction of the cost of what Eugenia Kim hats usually sell for. Kim, who shaved her head after suffering a bad haircut, found there was such a lack of stylish headgear on the market that she designed her own cover-up. Thus, she’s certainly no stranger to your dilemma – and I love that this wide-brimmed straw hat has its own scarf built in to it – an added plus. This green fedora is super-cute and city sassy, which would look great paired with a floaty tee and bermuda shorts. You could also try different shapes to see what works with your body type and style; military-style caps, wide sunhats, and boater hats are all on-trend options.
If you’re uncomfortable about a lack of hairline showing, then a head-scarf underneath your hat may be a good (though warm) choice. You could also, of course, wear the head-scarf on its own, tied in a chignon, bow, or donut shape. A fun print (like this monotone faces print) can look summery or sophisticated depending on how you tie it. Here is a video showing 3 variations of tying a head scarf and here is a list of links to other headscarf-tying resources. If you’re daring, you could also try a turban, though you’d have to pick and choose your coordinating outfit carefully to avoid it looking too matronly.
A cloche is always a great option since it covers your head completely, though they’re often made of felt and may be too warm for summer. A cloche-shaped straw hat, though, has a slightly retro-feminine feel to it, and looks super-sweet with any casual, breezy outfit. As the weather cools down you can also go for bucket-shaped and fuller hats made of thicker materials. Small details like ribbon trim, a flower or rhinestone clip, bows, or tiny fabric flowers elevate something that looks like you’re desperately trying to cover your head up…to a stylish accessory in your ensemble.
Excellent sources of such accoutrements (besides the obvious like department stores or boutiques) are places that specialize in headgear for people who have suffered hair loss for medical reasons, like chemotherapy, alopecia, or trichotillomania. Headcovers Unlimited and Hat, Scarves, and More are two great online places to start. (The reversible soft hats from Just In Time are super-chic too!) And since I’m suck a DIY maniac, I might try my hand at sewing up my own head-covering, choosing from the wide variety of patterns for hats and scarves from Brimming with Love.
As always, the more confidence you have, the less people will notice any lack of hair – and most people will just assume any head-covering is part of your stylichly chic ensemble anyway!
Best of luck-
xoxox
Carly
Jun 28, 2010 | Beauty, From You
from formspring.me:
Hi Carly, I really love you blog. Been reading it for a while now and you always manage to inspire me into new sewing projects! I have a little DIY question for you… I’m shaving my head for charity in a couple of weeks and as I will be pretty much bald
Hi there! Can you continue your question in the comments to this post? The question got cut off by formspring, as you can see!
Thanks-
Carly
May 16, 2010 | Beauty
I was messing around at the Ulta store yesterday (with a long list stuffed in my greasy paw that I made after reading the spectacular nail polish blog All Lacquered Up– an hour of so of browsing fueled my desire for some new nail polish). I tried on this color, I tried on that color – and by the time I was done I had a multi-hued hand in a pleasing variety of sorbet tones. So rather than take it all off I just painted the other hand to match.
The grey nailpolish I DIY’d last year smells like a chemical explosion when I take off the lid, and the colors continue to separate. Not to self: next time, only mix the same BRANDS of nail polish! (I mixed Sally Hansen and Rimmel, which probably accounts for the reeking toxic smell.) So I had to find a new gray nail polish – and couldn’t decide between Chinchilly and Wet Cement!
Multi-hued nails are in (at least in my corner of the universe) for Summer!
xoxox
Carly
May 9, 2010 | Beauty, From You
To tell the trutch, my first reaction was ewwwwww…but they’re very editorial-looking. Sure,for a party or photo-op, why not? Def. not for the office! (I feel the paper would be somewhat distracting on the eyelids for the wearer, but who knows?) They may take off unlike Lancome’s tattoo decal eyebrows from way back when…
Inspired by the art of Chinese paper-cutting, Eyelashes blend an element of traditional culture with contemporary design.
Intricately cut and delicately pretty, Eyelashes are available in three styles, each infused with symbolic meaning rooted in Chinese culture:
Horses: symbolic of success
Peony: for happiness and good fortune
Peach blossom: a symbol of love and romance
Unique and expressive, Eyelashes come in two sizes: accentuate the corners of your eyes with the smaller lashes for a subtle daytime look, or make a statement with the full lashes for a special occasion.
Mar 26, 2010 | Beauty
We all hear the same tired skin care tips year in and year out. You know the ones…“moisturize daily” and “drink plenty of water.” Effective? Yes. Interesting? No. Here are some WEIRD ways to care for yourself that actually work:
1. I’ll have the Bird Poop Please: Based on a traditional skin care secret practiced by the beautiful Geisha of Japan, this facial combines powdered nightingale droppings (generally sanitized using ultraviolet light technology) and delicate Japanese rice bran. This unique mix both exfoliates and lightens dark areas of the face. This facial is known as the “Geisha facial,” and it is showing up as a new offering at many day spas.
2. Extra Ssssspecial Scalp Care: If your scalp is “shedding” and dandruff is an issue, try a scalp massage with Solid Snake Oil Shampoo. The natural blend of oils heals dandruff quickly while making hair buttery soft and shiny. (no oil was extracted from snakes in the making of this shampoo, LOL)
3. Put on SPF 285: When outside, shielding skin from damaging UV rays is vital to combat anti-aging. But what about when at home working or playing near your windows? Recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation, professionally installed Panorama window film will protect your skin from 99% of the most damaging UV Rays.
4. Pretty in Pink The old tried and true go-to belly fix, Pepto-Bismol, makes a fantastic face-tightening mask. Slather it on with a facial sponge and let it dry. Then remove with warm water. Skin will feel moisturized and tighter immediately. As an added benefit, this mask can also help cold sores heal faster.
5. Knock Your Socks Off! With sandal season around the corner, now is the time to fix those dry, cracked heels and feet. After showering at night, smear Vaseline all over feet especially on the heel area. Don’t be shy! You’ll need to use a lot for it to really work. Next, pull on a pair of thin white socks and hit the sack. When you wake up in the morning remove socks and be thrilled at how soft and beach-ready your feet are.
tips courtesy of Panorama Window Film
And…a couple of my own weird yet wildly EFFECTIVE beauty tips:
6. Super-dry cuticles and nails that won’t grow? Before you go to bed each night, massage cuticles with Neosporin. Within only a few days, not only will your cuticles be healed…but amazingly, your nails will be significantly longer than without the massaging. Make it a nightly habit, and in 3 weeks you’ll be astounded at how fast your nails have grown! (And how strong they are:-) [The Neosporin aids in quick cell turnover, healing, and regeneration, and the massage stimulates bloodflow to the cuticle bed.]
7. Spoon me After a cry and your eyes are puffy, nothing, I repeat nothing feels as good as two spoons on the eyes that have been chilled in the refrigerator (or freezer, for faster chilling). It brings the puffiness and redness down right away, with none of that concern of Preparation H getting into and irritating your eyes [a commonly-recommended remedy for under-eye bags].
8. Black Licorice Chew black licorice pieces when canker sores pop up. Studies have shown that licorice extract has been proven to aid in the healing of canker sores in the mouth. (from Health Magazine)
Do you guys have any weird but effective tried-and-true beauty tips?
xoxo
Carly
images from womansdays.com, usa.lush.com, Panoramafilm.com, drugstore.com, oneida.com, istockphoto.com, amazon.com
