Bettie Hawk

So I sort of cut myself a mohawk, but instead of spiking it up I decided to use a more girly look. I call it my Bettie Hawk (like Bettie Paige). This was how I did it.

Lip Stain Suggestions

We can all agree that lip gloss is pretty much a thing of the past. Especially with the new and always improving lip stain products. I'm an avid user of lip stain, and I can honestly say I will never go back to gloss or lip stick now that I'm free to live without smearing and fading. Here are some of my favorite stains: 

REVLON ColorStay Overtime

This one is by far my favorite. ColorStay stays on all day through eating, kissing, whatever. It comes in all of your basic shades from pink to red to brown. There are many to choose from. The ColorStay tube comes with stain in one end and a top coat gloss in the other. The brush is a little stiff, but the gloss still goes on pretty easy. You can buy ColorStay Overtime anywhere Revlon products are sold; Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart, etc.

REVLON Just Bitten

Here's a new revelation not everyone is familiar with: Lip marker! Just Bitten has two ends, one with the lip stain and the other with lip balm. This stain comes in more bright and stand out colors. Also sold anywhere that sells Revlon make up. Do NOT use on chapped lips. This stain can easily dry your, that's why it comes with lip balm. Also, dry or chapped areas appear darker when Just Bitten is applied. The result is very unattractive.

Due to the shortcomings and advances in this line, I will soon be reviewing the newer Just Bitten Kissable Balm. The stain and balm are mixed together to avoid dry lips. So far that's all I know. More on this soon! 

I just realized these are all Revlon products (I already knew. Just didn't register I guess.), and I want it to be noted that this isn't any kind of paid or compensated promotion. All me, pure opinion. I'll look into some different brands as well to even the field, regardless of my preference. 

Platinum/White Hair

It's summer, boys and girls! Which means that it's probably time to go crazy and dye your hair a bright, unnatural color. But how can you get the full effect of these colors? Dyeing over blonde hair can dull your color, so for many tones your hair needs to be platinum blonde or white.

What you'll need:

Ion Color Brilliance Powder Lightener 1 lb. Tub (best option especially if you bleach often or have dark hair)
40 Volume Creme Developer 32 oz. (For darkest hair. Natural blondes should use 20 Volume!)
Tint Bowl and Brush Set
 Ties/clips (to section hair)

For white you'll need all of the above plus:
MANIC PANIC Semi-Permanent Hair Color Cream Virgin Snow (White Toner) 4oz

OR

Bottle of any regular white or silver conditioner & RAW Deep Purple Demi-Permanent Hair Color (other demi-permanent purple dye can be used. Raw has the best effect though.

Before starting, make sure your hair is clean but has not been washed in the past 24  hours.

Step One

Pour about one cup of powder bleach into the mixing bowl. Gradually add developer, mixing as you go. Keep adding until you have a thick paste. If your bleach is liquidy it wont work properly! 

If this isn't enough to cover your head, make more later. You're better off stopping to make more than letting a bunch of product go to waste. Once mixed, products are not re-usable. 

Step Two

Use your hair ties/clips to section your hair. No certain way is right. Whatever is easiest for you, just make sure you get fully covered.

Apply all over using gloved hands and your tint brush. Work quickly, especially if you have light hair. Bleach works fast.

Step Three

Wait. Put on a dye cap/shower cap. Use foil if you're only bleaching strips, bangs, or another specific part. Apply heat with a hair dryer. Check every ten minutes. 

Blonde/Fine Hair: 20-30 minutes

Red: 30-40 minutes

Brown/Resistant Hair: 40-50 minutes

Never leave bleach on for longer than 60 minutes. Shampoo, rinse, towel dry. If you have black or brown hair, you may need to wait 24 hours and bleach again.

Step Four

Your hair should be platinum blonde or very close. If you want to stop at platinum, buy a regular toning conditioner. The following instructions are for white hair.

Once your hair is dry, apply Manic Panic Virgin Snow. If you're mixing your own toner do so now. Pour out the conditioner into a large bowl. Use just enough dye to make all the conditioner purple. Too much will stain your hair. Use a funnel to put conditioner back in the bottle.

Coat your hair well and leave toner on for about an hour.


Warning: Your hair MIGHT be purplish when you get out of the shower, but it should be white when dry.
Now you're ready to dye or just wear white hair!

Synthetic Dreadlocks FAQ/Prep

Before you get synthetic dreadlocks you should probably know what to expect and how to care for them. First off expect your head to be sore for the first day or two. Your head needs to adjust to the extra weight. For the first week you may have an itchy scalp, which is just part of getting used to the hair. If it doesn't go away you may want to take them out; you could have an allergic reaction to the hair.

How much hair do I need?

It really depends on how thick your hair is and how many dreads and color variations you want. I have pretty thick hair, and I used about 5 packs. With my size dreads I get about 6 double ended dreads per pack. For I full head with color/style variations such as candy canes and stripes, I'd suggest anywhere from 8-10 packs.

What kind of comb do I need?

A regular plastic comb is fine, but eventually it will break. A metal comb is best. I've even heard a pet brush makes backcombing very easy, though I haven't yet tried it.

Why are my dreads poofy?

They probably weren't sealed tight enough and need to be sealed again.

Why are the roots so stiff?

The roots will be stiff and standing away from your head because the braids are so tight. They will relax on their own especially after the first time you wash them. I like to wear a bandana over my hair for the first few days to help them relax.

Can I get them wet?

Yes, water won't hurt your dreads. It will make them heavier though. Remember that when swimming. Also keep in mind if the water is too hot, it can unseal your dreads.

Sealing

You can pour boiling water over your dreads to seal them. For this you'd need a) a kettle and a large bowl or b) a large pot, a small bowl or cup, and a large bowl. You'll also need something heavy to hold down the dread. You can also use a hair straightener and a damp rag or a steamer.

Washing

The dreads can get wet, it'll just make them heavier. Dilute (add water to) your shampoo before washing then just scrub your scalp. The diluted shampoo should run down your braids. As you rinse give the dreads a good squeeze to rid them of any shampoo. Remember: If your water is too hot it can unseal your dreads!

You should only need to wash them about once a week. If you have bangs or other loose hair just tie up your dreads into a shower cap or plastic bag and wash your real hair as often as normal. 

When you take them out
Don't get scared when you see a mound of hair in your shower or on your floor. You naturally shed 100 hairs a day. When your hair is braided, that shed hair is unable to fall. So when you take them out expect a lot of hair.

Tip: My boyfriend often complains that my hair smells like plastic, so I like to spray a flowery body spray on them while wet to create the illusion of shampoo as opposed to plastic.

If you have any other questions just leave them in a comment, and I'll help all I can :)

Homemade Hot Oil Treatment

For your homemade hot oil treatment you will need:

• Coconut Oil- This can be found at the grocery store in either the baking aisle or the vitamin/supplement section. It is in a jar and solid at room temperature.
• Olive Oil- Found with baking supplies also.
• Cup of water
• Towel
• Small mug or bowl (try not to use plastic or it may warp)
• Pot

First wash your hair. This ensures no oils or products can get in the way of absorbing the oil.

Heat up your water to a boil in your pot on the stove. In your cup or bowl you'll need 2 tbsp. of coconut oil and 1 tbsp. olive oil. Sit your cup in the boiling water. Do not submerge, it should be floating. Heating your oils this way will melt the coconut oil and get your mixture warm without getting too hot. Check the temperature with your fingers. This is safe as it should be warm, not hot. Remove your cup or bowl with an oven mitt.

Your hair should be damp, not soaking wet. Dip your fingers in the mix and start by rubbing into your scalp. Move on down the rest of your hair. If you have longer or thicker hair, you may need to adjust the mixture by an extra tablespoon or so. Once you've worked the oil all the way into your hair heat up your towel with a hair dryer or dampen it and stick it in the microwave. This keeps the oil heated and active. Alternatively you can use a plastic cap and rely on the heat from your head.

Once you've wrapped up, go relax and enjoy your little hair spa for about 15-20 minutes. (If you used this time to watch a 30 minute TV show, it's OK  The extra minutes wont hurt.) As a suggestion, I like to use this time for an extra spa feel. Maybe you could give yourself a manicure or pedicure. When your time is up you can rewash your hair and check out how it feels! This treatment is good to repeat once a month to keep your hair in good condition.  

Bleached Hair Repair

Bleaching and dying your hair is tons of fun...until your hair starts thinning and feeling like straw. Can you take care of your hair to avoid damage to your hair? The answer is yes. I've come up with some hair treatments for those of you who bleach often or just want to take precautionary measures after one time.

When you wash your hair, dilute your shampoo with water. You can just do it in your hands if you share shampoo with someone else or just don't want to dilute a whole bottle. The reasoning for this is shampoo strips your hair when it cleans. Ever run out of conditioner and notice your hair feels weird? Bleach does the same but more so, and you don't want to double strip your hair. Be generous with the conditioner as well. Hair dye also has a conditioning effect so dying right after will help more than hurt.

Try to stay away from the blow dryer, especially if you use other heat tools. A hair dryer can be essential in styling though. If you really need it let your hair air or towel dry about ¾ of the way before using the dryer. Another very helpful tool is Pantene's Hair Protection and Shine Spray. I'm sure other companies have a product similar, but that's what I use. You spray it on and rub it into your hair before using your heat (straightener, curling iron, crimper, etc.) and it not only protects your hair, but the slight dampness causes a steam effect which makes your hair style easier.

To really protect or repair from bleach damage I find it helpful to give my hair a hot oil conditioning treatment once a month. If you have a Sally's Beauty Supply near you this store carries the treatments for just a few dollars. If not it should be at any beauty supply store. (There is also the method of making a homemade hot oil treatment, which I will have up soon.) You heat up the oil and apply it to your clean, wet hair and leave it for about 5-10 minutes before rinsing.

These steps should prevent or cure any bleach damage to your hair. If you have any questions or comments, let me know below :)

Why You Should Take Vitamins

For a long time I thought vitamins were just for old people. As it turns out they're good for everyone (and I REALLY needed them). Your body needs protein, calcium, iron, and all kinds of other nutrients. Whose to say all those are in the food we eat in a day? I know I don't check the labels.

I started feeling weak all the time for a short while when I started reading more into health and realized I wasn't getting what I needed. I especially needed help because I have low Calcium and Iron from being lactose intolerant and anemic. There are foods to help this, but there's no guarantee I'll eat them every day. Who would want to eat the same thing every day?

Vitamins are a good way to substitute anything you're missing in your diet. Personally I like the "One A Day" brand. It includes a lot of nutrients you could be missing due to a special diet or just being unaware. There's almost always something you miss without realizing. Getting all of these nutrients every day will make you feel much better and give you energy you didn't have before.