Will Blog for Beauty

CND Shellac Beau

2013-01-09T10:18:00.001-08:00

A new year called for a new color and since I had been packing, moving and unpacking for what seemed like forever, my nails were in bad need.

I went with a creamy-pink neutral color. The perfect alternative to winter whites.

Dream Closets

2013-01-02T02:30:00.000-08:00

If you follow me on Pinterest (you can do so here), then you may have noticed my recent (and abundant) closet pins. I LOVE my new closet - I will post pics soon, I promise - it is the biggest closet I have ever had AND it has a window in it! Yep...a window...in the closet. I.AM.IN.LOVE.

Anyways, here are some of my closet inspiration pins that I wanted to share:

I love the closet below because of the oh-so-cute leopard wallpaper!

I am in love with the pink chandelier and pink chair in the last photo. But being that I am sharing the closet with my hubby it's just NOT.GOING.TO.HAPPEN. ::sigh:: I will figure something out ; )

Stay tuned for pics of my own closet!

Happy (almost) New Year: 2013

2012-12-26T21:51:00.000-08:00

Happy Almost New Year! I am taking a little break to spend time with family and move to my new house! I can't wait to share it with you!

In the mean time, have yourself a very happy rest of 2012!

CND Shellac Wildfire Color & Tinsel Toast

2012-12-18T13:03:00.001-08:00

I got a little bananas (I kid, obviously) with my Shellac today at the nail salon. I paired Shellac Wildfire Color with Shellac Tinsel Toast on my ring fingers for a bit of sparkle. Remember, a girl can never have too much sparkle. Anyways, here's how it turned out:

TRIA Trials ~ Halfway Through!

2012-12-17T14:00:00.001-08:00

I can't believe I am halfway through my TRIA Trials! I wanted to give you all an update on this hair-y situation (ha ha).

So far so good! Here's what I can report:

Underarms: I haven't seen much hair reduction under my arms, which is disappointing but I still have a few sessions left.

Arms: My arm hair has been reduced about 25% from what they were, which makes me happy!

Bikini Line: I previously had my bikini line zapped via in-office laser sessions but a lot of the hair was growing back. The TRIA has knocked out the majority of my bikini line hair so I hardly even have to shave there! YAY!

Legs: I have noticed that there are spots on my legs where hair just doesn't grow any more so I just have patches of hair. I am hoping the next few TRIA sessions will take care of that.

If you are dying to try the TRIA for yourself, the company is offering a holiday special of $50 off for Will Blog for Beauty readers. It's only good for 3 days though so grab your TRIA on special while you can!

Enter promo code “FIFTY” at TRIABEAUTY.com by 12/20 to save $50!

Reader Nails

2012-12-17T13:50:00.000-08:00

I love when I can inspire someone to take a leap and try a new beauty item. Recently, a reader sent me this picture of her Shellac mani:

Do you recognize the color? It is Shellac Rubble that I posted about a few weeks back here. Here is the Shellac Rubble pic I posted:

If you've got a pic, you'd like to share please do so via email or our FB fan page!

Look What I Found...

2012-12-17T10:21:00.000-08:00

I was visiting my in-laws recently and when this happens, my sister-in-law and I always get together. And when we get together we always tend to get 1) a little too tipsy and 2) a bit sneaky. So, being that we were both at the time, we decided to rummage through my mother-in-laws cupboards. Boy, were we in for a real treat. Look at this vintage curling iron we found:

It's a vintage curling iron with an ingenious idea - this curling iron has 3 different interchangeable sizes. Here's another pic of the backside of the box:

So, basically, you have a 3/4", 5/8" and 1/2" curling iron all-in-one. I think that is a pretty savvy idea, don't you? I have never heard of the "Curl Master" curling iron prior to my sister-in-law and my discovery. Have you ever heard of it?

Here is another pic of the actual curling iron:

It is a great concept - please leave a comment and let me know if you have ever heard of this thing or something similar!

The Little Things

2012-12-13T10:10:00.001-08:00

It really is the little things in life that make everything better. The little thing I am specifically referring to in this blog post is a little bird jewelry dish I found in the Pottery Barn magazine. Here is the pic I saw in a recent catalog that showed up in my mailbox:

Isn't it the sweetest little dish to stash your jewelry while you wash up? I love it! I rarely every buy anything from the PB catalog though. If it isn't in-store, then its a rarity that I will snag it up.

So a few weeks went by and I still had this little dish on my mind and I stopped in to our local Home Goods store and found this:

Yep, a bonafide PB knockoff. I like my little knockoff a bit better though because of the two love birds and because the price tag was only $6.99 compared to $19.

But, if you love the dish as much as I did, you can purchase it from PB here.

2012-12-02T21:00:00.004-08:00

I had the honor of helping plan one of my best friends' baby shower recently. Kelly (the mommy-to-be) and I have been friends since before Kindergarten...I won't tell you how many years since that would give how old we are away, but let's just say that Kindergarten was a LOOOONG time ago.

Anyway, we had the pleasure of spoiling her at her shower over the weekend. Since she was having a baby girl, the shower was pink themed and turned out beautifully. We served brunch and had such a fun time! I got to catch up with old friends from my school days. Here is a picture of all of us ladies that grew up together:

You can see the cute little pink pom-poms in the background of the above picture. We also featured a pink candy bar (which I should have taken a pic of!).

I have such fond memories of us as kids - I even got to visit with Kelly's mom for a bit. Here is the soon-to-be grandma with Kelly:

How adorable are they in their matching stripes?

Well, it was such a fun party that I just had to share! What were you up to this weekend?

CND Shellac Sugared Spice

2012-11-27T20:48:00.001-08:00

Guess who got a mani today? That's right! And it was much needed. This gray weather got me down but this color was the perfect pick-me-up!

CND Shellac Sugared Spice is a taupe-y gold and has just the right amount of glitz for my pre-holiday partying.

What do you think of the color change?

Black Friday and a Boho Braid How-To

2012-11-23T01:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Black Friday! Do you dare go shopping today? I never have but my BFF does every single year with her family. I'd rather snuggle up and watch Christmas movies in my jammies than freeze my bum off waiting for Target to open extra early. But if you are headed out, happy shopping!

I love when celeb stylists share their secrets with me (and you too!). Not only does it help me in my professional life, as a hair stylist, it also helps all my readers achieve certain styles at home too. It's a win-win.

Today, celeb stylist to Florence Welch (from Florence and the Machines) will be sharing her secrets to achieving this boho braid look. Here's the look:

Here's how to get the look:

1) Begin with clean, damp hair.

2) Spray the Davines Defining Texturizer at the roots and the MELU Shield on the length of the hair. The Texturizer provides hold and volume, while the MELU Shield protects the hair from damage caused by styling tools.

3) Blow dry the hair using a round brush.

4) Apply a couple of pups of the Davines OI/OIL on the ends of the hair. This will condition the hair and protect it while in braids and add shine without heavy greasiness. Plus, it leaves the hair smelling incredible!

5) Divide the hair into two sections and braid each side, beginning just above the ear.

6) Wrap each braid across the top of the head and secure with pins.

For added glam, you can incorporate a couple of necklaces and pin them into the hair, as Florence did.

Here's another look at the style:

Pinteresting

2012-11-21T09:46:00.000-08:00

I am on Pinterest at least once daily. I cannot believe that I actually survived without this amazing website before. Without it I couldn't plan fabulous birthday parties for my daughters, revamp furniture, whip up amazing recipes, organize and decorate my home or come up with 100 new ways to use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. I kid, obviously, but I really do love that site. If you want to follow me, you can do so here.

Here are some of my favorites from Pinterest this week:

What do you pin the most of on Pinterest? Beauty, recipes, home decor?

Girls' Night Out

2012-11-18T11:24:00.001-08:00

Last night I got a little grown-up girl time when a group of my girlfriends and I went to go see Breaking Dawn Part 2.

Are you as obsessed with the Twilight series as I am?

We met up for an early evening showing and then went out for cocktails at a local restaurant afterward.

It was much needed and so much fun! How often do you go out with friends? I don't feel like we get to do it enough!

And here is a snapshot of the 5 of us:

Breaking Dawn Part 2

2012-11-14T02:30:00.000-08:00

I am BEYOND excited to see Breaking Dawn Part 2 with my girlfriends this weekend! Have you followed the series? To celebrate, I have some fabulous makeup secrets for you. It comes straight from Lancome's makeup artist (and wife of Patrick Dempsey) Jillian Dempsey...thanks Jillian!

Here's the look:

Jillian said that she enhanced her eyes and lips with vampy tones which helped to enhance her features and her porcelain skin.

Here's what she used:

Face ~ Armani Luminous Silk Foundation #44
        ~ Lancome Blush Subtil Palette in Nectar Lace

Eyes ~ Lancome Color Designs 5 Shadow and Liner Palette in Ruby Affair (Holiday Color Collection)
        ~ Lancome Liner Design Gel Eye Liner in Black Fishnets
       ~ Lancome Hypnose Star Mascara (only at Sephora)

Lips ~ Lancome L'Absolu Rouge in Rouge Velour

So, now that you know how to get this vampy look, tell me...are you team Edward or team Jacob?

Hair Color No-No's

2012-11-12T16:23:00.003-08:00

I have been having so much fun being back behind-the-chair in the salon. It's been amazing to get to know my new clients and co-stylists! As a matter-of-fact, I just got back from a color education event. It refreshed my skills and I learned a ton too! Here is a little peek of Shelby and I in class:

We were being the class clowns but I promise that I learned a lot too. Ok, I will get to the point of this post now; I wanted to share with you some hair color no-no's that I think are important for everyone to know:

KRISTLE'S HAIR COLOR NO-NO'S

1 ~ Wash your hair at least 24 hours prior to coloring your hair. Dirty strands (due to natural oils, product, etc.) can keep the color from properly penetrating your hair. This could lead to uneven color or color that doesn't take.

2 ~ Use a clarifying shampoo. Ok, so now you know it is important to cleanse the hair prior to coloring but I also want to add that you should use a clarifying shampoo. It's amazing what type of things that can mess with hair color. Mineral makeup is just one thing that can hinder hair color. The minerals in the makeup build up on the hair around your hair line and can cause uneven hair color in this area. So be sure to use a good clarifying shampoo (I like Bumble & Bumble Sunday Shampoo) a day prior to your appointment.

3 ~ Leave hair color to the professionals. Hey, I know that you want to save some money and color your hair yourself sometimes, I get it! However, if you are changing your hair color more than one shade different than your current color, then a professional hair colorist is a must! There are so many things that could go wrong (trust me, I see these home hair color mishaps ALL.THE.TIME.) so please, please, please leave the tough stuff to us!

Keep all my hair color no-no's in mind before your next hair color appointment! If you have any hair color questions, please feel free to leave a comment or question below in the comment box.

CND Shellac Dark Lava

2012-11-08T17:24:00.001-08:00

It was time to get my nails done again and surprise, surprise, I went with Shellac. You can't go wrong with a mani that lasts at least 2 weeks and stays bright, shiny and sans knicks throughout. So without further ado ~

Makeup Brushes Decoded

2012-11-05T01:00:00.000-08:00

Are you one of those people that uses your (gasp) fingers to apply your makeup? Or are you one of those who only has 1 makeup brush for the face, 1 for the eyes and that's it? If you are, boy, do I have a fabulous little decoder for you. Personally, I have about 2 dozen brushes, all of which are NOT used daily, but all of which are definitely used and actually, I could use more!

I know, it's hard to believe that 20-something makeup brushes wouldn't be enough. Alas, it isn't though. I would love to have a better concealer brush, a large foundation brush, fresh powder and blush brushes and a new lip brush. Is it possible that I am actually addicted to brushes? Hmmm, something for me to ponder. In the mean time, check out this amazing makeup brush decoder I found for you~

Pirate's Booty

2012-11-01T10:28:00.001-07:00

Ok, well the title is a bit misleading since I am not going to show you a picture of my booty. Instead, here is a little glimpse of my pirate costume that I wore on Halloween. My hubby & I had bought these costumes years ago and never wore them so we decided to bust them out on Halloween night.

What did you dress up as this year?

Happy Halloween

2012-10-31T14:25:00.001-07:00

Happy Halloween everybody! I'm just running around trying to get prepared for tonight's festivities. Here's what I have accomplished so far-hope you like it (even though it's not beauty related):

Can't Wait for My Brazilian Peel

2012-10-26T11:30:00.001-07:00

It seems like Brazilian women really know what's going on in the beauty industry. I'm sure you've heard about Brazilian Hair Straightening but have you heard about the Brazilian Peel?

I can't wait to try this little baby when it arrives! The Brazilian Peel promises it will firm, smooth and brighten this face in about a month!

I can't wait to share my results!

Got My Nails Did - Shellac Rubble

2012-10-23T13:32:00.001-07:00

I heart Shellac! My nails were bare for the past 3 weeks due to my hectic schedule combined with being sick so I was oh-so-thankful to be able to get into the nail salon this morning for a little Shellac mani with my 2 favorite girls (I'll share pics of their mani's later this week).

Anyhow, I went with another dark color this time - Shellac Rubble - which I think is perfect for this drizzly Fall weather we've been experiencing out here in California. Here's how it came out:

A Little Trick for Your Longest Lashes

2012-10-19T03:00:00.000-07:00

I have tried just about every type of mascara made. I consider myself a mascara addict. It seems like my lashes can never get that lash double effect of being long and thick without getting that spider-y look. Am I right?

Well, I stumbled upon this trick in a beauty video on YouTube (I wish I knew where I found it so I could give her some serious credit). The big secret is to use 2 different types of mascara. It doesn't matter what type, just any 2 you choose. Now here's what you've got to do -

Step 1: Curl your lashes. Get your lash curler as close to the base of your lashes as possible and curl. *I blast my lash curler with the blow dryer to heat it up right before I curl my lashes.

Step 2: Apply the first mascara - get a good 2 to 3 coats on there. Allow this mascara to get somewhat tacky before moving onto Step 3.

Step 3: Apply your second mascara of choice. Another 2 to 3 coats should do the trick. I also apply a bit on the upper side of my top lashes. Does that make sense? - I apply just a little bit of mascara to the tips on the other side of my lashes that I normally put mascara on. I really hope that makes sense!

That's it! Don't your lashes look fab?!

TRIA Trial Week 4

2012-10-17T02:30:00.000-07:00

Week 4 of my TRIA trials and I am already noticing a difference! Hair on my legs is growing back in patches and the peach fuzz on my face is less fuzzy.

I cannot wait to continue my TRIA treatments and see my hair disappear altogether.

How Amazing is This Blow Dryer?

2012-10-15T00:30:00.000-07:00

I saw this picture floating around Pinterest the other day and just had to share:

What Zone Do You Break Out In?

2012-10-01T03:00:00.000-07:00

I came across this article about "What Your Acne is Telling You" on U Look Haute awhile back and just had to share. I find it so interesting because I am always trying to pinpoint why I am breaking out (especially when I feel that I take excellent care of my skin). Here is the full write up from U Look Haute:

Have you ever heard of face mapping? If not, it’s pretty much the key to unlocking the mysteries behind problematic skin. Thanks to the combined knowledge of dermatologists who have analyzed skin behaviors and ancient Chinese medicinal methods there is a smarter way to interpret and treat skin imperfections by way of “face mapping.” Face mapping is a type of skin analysis that explains why and how certain areas of your face are connected to other parts of your body. If you ask me, it's pretty amazing stuff...

Why do you break out in some areas and not others?

Think of your blemishes as X’s on a map that is your face. Different zones correspond to different problems. With this “map” as your guide, you can address the underlying causes of blemishes and correctly determine how to prevent them from recurring. (Don't you wish you know about this in middle school?)

So, what are your breakouts telling you?

Using the face mapping method to decode what’s going on with your body is both incredibly informative and very extensive if you ask me. Here is an overview of the basic areas and what breakouts or abnormalities in those areas mean:

Zone 1 & 3: Bladder & Digestive System — Improve your diet and drink more water.

Zone 2: Liver — Try cutting back on alcohol, heavy food or dairy. This area can also indicate a food allergy.

Zone 4 & 10: Kidneys — Make sure you’re keeping yourself hydrated with water and cut back on liquids that dehydrate you. This means nix the soda, coffee and/or alcohol.

Zone 5 & 9: Respiratory system — Those who smoke or have allergies tend to have acne here.

Zone 6 & 8: Kidneys — Dark circles are usually a result of dehydration. Drink up!

Zone 7: Heart — Check your blood pressure and make sure you’re not using makeup that irritates your skin.

Zone 12: Stomach — Consider a detox or adding more fiber to your diet to help with digestion.

Zone 11 & 13: Hormones — Stress and hormonal changes can sometimes be alleviated with more water and a few extra servings of dark, leafy greens but if breakouts in this area persistent, make an appointment with your doctor to look into a possible hormonal imbalance. Additionally, breakouts in this area also indicate when you are ovulating (and which side).

Zone 14: Illness — Can be a sign of your body fighting bacteria to avoid illness. Take a breather and drink plenty of fluids.

So the next time you breakout or notice dark under eye circles, look to your map (or shall we say face map).