About This  Sweet Deal

Let’s face it,  even if you love your hair we all have good and bad hair days, and with the thousands of hair care products out there it’s  hard to determine which products are the best for your particular hair dilemma. Before I continue with my  list of the industry’s favorite products,  here’s some tips. My first tip is trail and error is your friend. You  must try out these products to see which one will work for you.  With that said, I suggest you search for sample sizes before you invest in the full size product,  that way if you hate it you’re not stuck with a $20.95 product you hate.  Secondly, read your labels.  Know  what is in the product you are using.  Look for paraben/ sulfate free products and products with low alcohol content. Last but definitely not least, you do not have to spend a lot of money on your hair care products.  If  it works for you and it cost $2.00 then by all means use that product! ( Although in my professional opinion, I feel professional grade products you purchase from your hair stylist is best)

Curly Hair

Moroccan oil the original- all hair types even for straight and fine hair weightless. Eliminates frizz, hydrates dry hair apply wet or dry and it smells great $12-30

Miss Jessies Quick curls— all hair types, apply to damp hair,  light weight, gives hair spiraling curls, conditioning, frizz control, great citrus scent  2oz $8-10 9oz $30

Tresemme` Flawless curls Extra Curl Moussehumidty thick curly hair,wet application, humidty resistant, frizz control, shine, hold without leaving hair “too crunchy” $3-5

John Frieda Frizz0-Ease Secret Weapon Flawless Finish Cremesystem-all medium to course texture hair, apply to dry hair, mid weight, subtle shine, no hold, smoothes frizz  restores moisture $11-12

Catwalk Curls Rock system-systemeliminates all hair types, wet or dry application adds volume, shine, hold in varying degrees with a fruity fragrance This line of products is specially formulated for curly hair and has a 4.5 out of 5 customer satisfaction rating products in line range from $11-20

Sam Brocato Curl Karma system-medium to course volume,shine, light hold, fight and eliminates frizz This line of products is specially formulated for curly hair and has a 4.5 out of 5 customer satisfaction rating products in line range from $12-50

Hair that needs more volume

Kerastase Volumactive Mousse -fine great for thinning  hair adds volume without weighing hair down $35-37

Sam Brocato’s Rootfix- works on all hair types, wet or dry styling, med hold, high shine, frizz control high volume $13-18

Big Sexy Hair Flip it Over Mousse-fine hair types, flip head over, spray and scrunch into dry hair to create a full, wild, piece-y look with medium, movable hold $8-12

VO5 Whipped Volume Mousse-fine hair, apply to wet hair,long lasting volume,hold, shine $4

Oribe’s Volumista- all hair types apply to wet hair, high volume, brilliant shine, and frizz control ( I will tell you Oribe products are the most luxurious product instant glamor in a bottle) $30-45

L’Ore`al volume expand shampoo and conditioner-fine hair texture uses mineral to swell hair leaving hair soft and controlling fly aways $24-30

Garnier Fructis Fortifying Body Shampoo and conditioneramplify cleanse hair and amplifies volume $4-6

Anti-Frizz Products

BioSilk Silk Therapy- for all hair types, wet or dry application, reconstructs, heat protectant, uv protectant, frizz control, high shine- $3-20 size varations

Oribe Impermable- all hair types, dry hair application shields hair from frizz (miami tested), intense shine, hold, ultimate finshinging spray ( oribe products have a 4.9 out of 5 consumer satisfaction rating)

Giovianni Frizz be Gone- medium to course hair , wet or dry application,  frizz control, detantgles, conditions, glossy shine $9

Sam Brocato Curl Interrupted- medium to course hair, wet or dry application, controls frizz, smooths curls, softens hair, high shine, humidity control $17-19

Design Esstentials Reflection Liquid Shine- all hair types, wet or day application, eliminates frizz and fly aways, luminous shine, weightless $15-19 size varations

Post by Shante Wilson

Karian Newby-Durham is the founder of Komplexx Blends Cosmetics. At 23, Karian created her own makeup line and sells the products on her website http://www.komplexxblends.com/. The company offers products in a variety of  color tones and not jus tin foundations. There is something there for everyone.  Komplexx Blends believes in giving back and donates a portion of its proceeds to the Parkinson’s Foundation in honor of Karian’s grandmother, Sallie V. Newby, with the hope that someday a cure will be found.  The Pink Sale is currently going on until February 28,2011.  All things pink on the site are on sale, everything from eyeshadow to eyelash curlers.  When you visit the site, it’s under category the pink sale.

Makeup will make your Valentine’s evening exciting. Keep your lips soft and kissable with lip gloss or flavored chapsticks.  If you do decide to wear lip color, make sure to test the shade before you had and top it with lip gloss to get the sexy pout! In all cases, keep your lipstick or lip gloss handy to repair the damage, if any. Make your eyes look intense and romantic with the right eye makeup. Thicken and lengthen your lashes with mascara. Apply a liner and use eye shadow with sparkle to create interest. Use powder blush to create a cute rosy complexion and heighten the color in your cheeks.

ELEGANT LOOK

Put the accent on your eyes and downplay your lips. Use coffee-hued eye shadows, black eye liner, volume mascara, and matte lipstick in pink or in nude mixed with gold.

SEXY LOOK

Focus on your lips and keep the eye make-up more subtle. Put on sheer lipstick in fuchsia (if you have fair skin) or brick red (if you have olive skin). For the eyes, use light eye shadow and grey eye liner

CASUAL LOOK

Apply bronze shimmery eye shadow and, on top of it, layer gray shadow for a smoky effect. Use a black eye pencil instead of an eye liner. Finish off your eyes with black mascara and touch your lips with soft pink lip gloss.

Finding the perfect hairstyle for Valentine’s Day can be challenging for a lot of us. As a matter of fact whenever a woman goes out on a date or a night out on the town, the pressure to make heads turn or take your dates breathe away can be very stressful. We all just want to impress with out giving the impression of trying too hard. Rremember this ladies, no matter the event you are getting ready for the best look for you is the one that makes you feel the most confident.  Nothing is sexier than a confident woman that owns the skin she’s in!

For the low maintenance girl there is no reason to fuss because healthy and shiny hair is enough for Valentines Day. You can add a little extra shine to your hair with Oribe’s Super Shine Serum for a luxurious smell and a Super shine.  You can also try a great home remedy of honey and glycerin water in place of your conditioner for a sweet treatment that ads a healthy shine.

Loose waves are  style for this special day. You can achieve this style with the largest barrel curling iron your hair can hold or roller.  Curling the hair the opposite direction of the front of the face. Remember your hair has no memory when it is heated so with any thermal style you want to allow your hair to heat evenly and for your curls to cool and set to get the most longevity out of your curls. For that wave look and less spiral you can twist your curls around your fingers from roots to end (each curl). Then finger loose or use a wide toothed comb and there you have it loose romantic waves.

Now on the other hand when it’s the super vintage Hollywood glam look you want then heated rollers are the best way to obtain this look.  To achieve that beautiful s-shape curls roll your hair in opposite direction coming one way to the right and the opposite way to the left. Let hair cool, gently tease at the root if more volume is desired, spray with a high gloss shine try Sam Brocato’s Glow Glisten Shine spray brush out curls with a Denman brush. Add some flare to this look with a hair broach to gently swipe hair our of face or pin one side back.

If you have long hair  a soft effortless brushed back or off the side ponytails might be a great option for you this Valentines Day. To give  a more “messy” look can create loose curls throughout the hair before brushing hair into ponytail.  Another great Valentines Day look is a textured braid this look is achieved by creating loose curls all over the head, finger or use a wide tooth-comb to separate the curl and then section hair and braid hair to ends. If the standard braid is too blah for you try a fishtail braid both simple yet stylish looks for your special night.

Last but not least, the up do which screams special event, is always a great go to style. Whether it’s a simple ballerina bun or a complex bohemian braid style that leads the eyes through twist and turns, you are sure to find an up do that is right for you this Valentine’s Day.  The key is to be creative not complicated especially if it your first time trying an up do at home.  It’s as simple as adding a beautiful flower or jeweled hairpins to put sparkle into your up do, or  incorporating braids and even tying your hair in knots, the possibilities are endless.

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Rose are red violets are blue any chance to get dolled up is a gift to you… whether you are going to be romancing with your boo or taking a little time to show some love to yourself we all want to feel Sexy, Feminine, and Romantic on this holiday. Here are some of this season’s gorgeous Valentine’s Day looks. Don’t feel shy about breaking these looks out for any occasion.

The Lone Star State becomes part of a new nail polish collection.  It is one of three new lines OPI will be introducing this spring-summer season. OPI is set to launch its Texas Collection this February. As a Dallas native, I am glad that my state is getting its much deserved time in the spotlight. 

 The colors include interesting names such as:

• Don’t Mess With OPI - A lean, mean, kick-grass forest green.
• Austin-Tatious Turquoise – Cowgirls love this bodacious blue-green.
• It’s Totally Fort-Worth It – A shimmery lavender grey that’s so worthy of you.
• Do You Think I’m Tex-y? A “berry” sexy bloom of Dallas Dahlia.
• I Vant To Be A-Lone Star – You won’t want to share this starry Texas-sky blue.
• Houston We Have A Purple – A galactic red-violet that’s ready to “rocket-roll”!
• Suzi Loves Cowboys – But she loves this campfire chocolate shade s’more!
• San Tan-tonio – A “honey” of a ten-gallon tan!
• Too Hot Pink To Hold ‘Em – A red-hot pink-red that deals a winning hand.
• Guy Meets Gal-veston – An “engaging” coastal coral.
• Y’all Come Back Ya Hear? – This Texas tangerine will be waitin’ for ya!
• Big Hair Big Nails - A rosy pageant peach.

I am loving the names they’ve selected for each color.  They hit on each big city in Texas. Here’s what each color will look like with its corresponding name .

 The promo pictures for the Texas Collection are hot! They feature a sexy, red headed cowgirl, whose sure to rope in her cowboy.

The haircuts that are ruling the red carpet and runway this year are all about keeping the hair looking natural with effortless shapes and textures. I’ve been keeping my eye on things in the hair world and it seems that super short hair, long healthy hair, bobs and bangs are what’s hot this year. Bangs are one of the trendiest statements of the year as long as they are natural and simple.

Short Hair styles were created for the bold woman who isn’t afraid of her features and is a great style trend for 2011. This year no texture is left out, even curly hair queens get to play around with short hair this year.  Short hairstyles are very versatile going from a day at the office, a playful night on the town, or to a romantic date with your sweet heart. This year whether its pixie or spiked you can have whatever you like!

Bobs are a classic look with many variations to satisfy your hair-desired length.  The layered short bob is a quintessential statement of style for 2011. Even if you wouldn’t dare cut your hair into a short bob there are longer versions to choose from the key to this trend is calculated messiness. For those of you who want a little me bang for your buck add a soft sweeping Bang or wispy straight bangs.  The bob will go from daytime effortless to night life glamour queen in a matter of minutes.

Mid length is the safest style trend to choose from in 2011. This hair length is jazzed up with a straight side part for  dramatic feminine flare.  You might also want to add a bang to this look as well, like a side sweeping bang that will frame the eyes and cheekbones.

Long hair and I’m talking long with soft layers. Rather it’s curly or straight if you have long hair make sure it’s effortless.  None of that extra-layered hair is in, we are keeping it natural this year. So ask your hairstylist to incorporate interior layers that will give movement from the inside. If you want a little something extra incorporate a bang. If bangs aren’t your thing then a middle part is a great way to add the word striking to your look.

Whatever your desired length is this season remember to always keep your face shape in mind. Oval and Heart face shapes you can eat your heart out this season.  It’ss yours because you have the desired face shape for all this season’s looks. Square face shape you can also wear the long/ sleek or short spiky look. Just remember if you keep it long pick shapes that round out your jaw line with layers that hit at the jaw line and continue downward. Round face shapes want to pick cuts that will make your face appear lean by choosing styles that keeps volume away from the face and fall below the chin like a long bob. Last but not least Oblong or Long face shapes its important to pick a cut that will not drag down your features but add width. Brow sweeping bangs and chin length bobs are ideal for your face shape. Remember The word for the year is Bold don’t be afraid to try something new its only hair it will grow back.

written by Shante`

We all have tried so many ways to get rid of unwanted hair in certain areas, but what exactly is more effective for the bikini area? It can be difficult to decide the best method of doing so in such a sensitive area. Women who hate the upkeep of shaving will often choose between a bikini wax or laser hair removal

Which is better?

Laser hair removal is a procedure performed by a specially trained laser specialist or doctor by which hair is removed from the body by utilizing a long pulse laser. Lasers are developed and designed from years of research. The laser parameters are carefully defined by studying the anatomy of the hair follicle and precisely matching the laser light and pulse duration to the follicle size, depth and location to inhibit the re-growth of the hair.

How does waxing differ?

A wax combination is spread over the skin, and then a cloth strip ispressed on the top and then ripped of with a quick movement removing the wax along with the hair and dead skin cells, leaving the skin smooth. How long will it take until hair grows? Generally between 3-8 weeks hair will re-grow, although generally finer.

The price is the biggest drawback of laser hair removal. Laser hair removal treatments usually runaround $400-500, though they will vary based on your specialist and the area of the country in which you live. By comparison, bikini waxes typically run about $50 per treatment, and up to $100 for a Brazilian wax. That said, if you’re planning to get a wax 8-10 times per year, for many years, you’ll see that the investment in laser hair removal is a smarter use of your money—not to mention a much more convenient, less painful alternative to a waxing regimen.

If you are thinking about getting the laser I have included a link to a phenominal laser specialist. Let her know that Fashionablyl8 blog referred you.

Applying blush correctly is all about subtlety, shading and blending. Perfect blush application means that a person notices you have color in your cheeks, but can’t tell where the blush starts. In fact, they believe your color is natural. Blush should look natural on you and the most natural blush will be one that mimics your cheeks when they really are blushed.

Quick tips for Perfect Blush:

1. Match your blush to the type of skin you have. (If you have dry skin, wear a cream blush. If you have oily skin, wear a powder blush)
2. Match the color of your blush to the same “color family” of your lipstick
3. When you will be wearing blush primarily in the day, you’ll want a lighter shade of blush.
4. When you are preparing to wear blush in the dark or at night, you’ll want slightly darker shades of blush.
5. Consider a more muted blush if you intend on an outing that goes from daytime to nighttime.
6. Use  a full and round brush to apply your blush with
7. start by brushing the blush onto the apple of your cheek, then gently brush from your cheekbone to your hairline
8. Keep blending the blush until there is no discernible line between your blush and makeup.

Dry skin is a very common condition, if you are not diagnosed with a skin condition it’s is something that can be cured. With just a few steps every day you can revitalize your skin.
The First step is to Exfoliate. Exfoliating removes all of the dead skin cells preparing your body to accept moisture. You can either use an exfoliating body bar or body wash.
Once you have showered with the exfoliating cleanser, you will not towel dry instead it’s best to brush the water off with your hands allowing the skin to remain damp.
Next you will apply a lotion or body moisturizer while the skin is damp, allowing the skin to set and soak in all of the moisture. After waitng a few minutes you will then pat the skin dry.

This should be performed every time you shower and throughout the day if you so choose. Moisturizing keeps the skin looking soft and youthful.