Ask PinkLouLou, HAIR edition!

Bonjour ladies, PLL here to answer some of your hair related questions! I picked a few for this week, and will work on getting the other ones answered too :)

Well Miss April, I got ya covered. First, I love love your bangs. So stinking cute. I like your hair longer, so I agree, I wouldn't take much off. As far as color goes, no dyeing,-I also agree-but have you thought about some natural highlights? Maybe some copper-y ones, not chunky at all of course.

Thoughts?? I love this color. 

As far as perms go, I am no expert, but when I hear perm I think of this-

PLUS... it is kinda permanent (kinda permanent?) anyhoo, I would advise against that at the moment, and maybe try to get a fabulous curl look from this fancy contraption I blogged about here 

I also think trying different looks is key for you. Not necessarily changing what you are working with, but changing the way you work with it. Make sense? I think all of these styles would look fab on you, and totally allow you to feel new and fresh!

For those lengthy curls, you could totally get that super fierce look by adding in some clip in extensions. Details and DIY directions here. :) 

Hope this helps, and send pics of your new looks!! xoxo

Alright Beth, girlfrand put the teasing comb down for a second if your hair is getting damaged. Teasing can definitely put stress on your hair. I recommend using this comb (it's my favorite)...

it has three rows of further spaced out teeth, so it is not creating as much mess, but still getting the job done. I also take slower big strokes, rather than fast short ones. You would probably benefit from using velcro rollers after you blow dry as well, for added body with minimal teasing. (pssst...there is a video below of the velcro rollers!)

xoxo

Well Kate, I slack in the long hair department, so I will have to find you a model for some long hair looks, BUT I can show you how I use velcro rollers to help add body and height to my hair. :)

Products I use in this video:

pink rollers 

three row comb

Tresemme, Tres Two, level 4 (any store)

Well hi there Sandra. I am so happy you already have some extensions, shew, half my work is already done.  I like to incorporate my extensions for lots of other looks other than just wearing my hair down. I use them in ponytails, side buns, buns on top of my head, you get the drift. Basically, you can get any look you want, but you just may have to fake it with yo weave ;) haha. I filmed a little video for ya of how I use my extensions for my top messy bun. 

{DIY extensions post}

Alright, gotta give away some secrets here. Kali, I do not wash my hair everyday, clearly. WHO has time for that ;) I usually wash my hair every other morning. I wear it down on the days I wash it, and up on the second day of no washing. I love the Psssst brand dry shampoo, it seems to really help with body. If you are washing at night, I would always blow dry it, not air dry it, if you are wanting to wear it down the next day. Also the next morning I would either flip your head over and spray some hairspray or dry shampoo to give it texture, or also put in velcro rollers while you are doing something else like putting on your makeup. I swear by rollers. Big hair says "I care". Someone said that to me recently and I loved it... 

Hope this was some help girlies! You guys are so fab with your questions!! 

Until next week! xoxo

We are running a kennel.

Seriously though, three girls, and three dogs. 

You see... what had HAPPENED was... 

Once upon a time Sadie and I were living with my BFF Chrissy, and our new buddy Brian. 

Well then one night as the stars aligned, Brian and Chrissy fell in love. Insert "awwww"...

Well then, in a short string of events, Chrissy adopted Bella, and Brian got a job offer in PA, so Brian moved out, and Nicole moved in...

and with Nicole, came Charlie. 

So now we are three girls, with three dogs, preserving our sanity with triple the amounts of wine.

And this is real life. 

{And don't worry about Chrissy and Brian}

 They are still happily together doing the ol' long distance. I have a feeling he is up there in PA just saving for a special ring ;)

 xoxo, 

SensatioNAIL at home gel manicure

I posted this picture yesterday, and you guys seemed excited to hear more about this system, so as promised here we go! 

I picked up the Sensationail at home gel starter kit at Wal-Mart for about $60. I was skeptical at first, I had tried another "last for two weeks" type kit, but it was only $10, and a major FAIL. Surely this one would be better right??

Here is what is included in the starter kit: 

  

Pick the color you want, and everything you need is in the box. You can buy refills for the basics for about $10, and I think each different color is about $12? So you are saving majorly on getting a gel mani done, which average what about $40? I never get manicures anyway, I stick to paying for pedi's only, because I am poor. ;)

I was SUPER impressed with the system. It worked exactly how it said it was going to, and I couldn't believe how fast it dried to look exactly like the gel mani's I have gotten in the salon. 

The process actually took less time than it usually does just to polish my nails. And I had no smudges, or uneven color. 

Voila. Quick and easy, and I was left with this lovely manicure. I am on day three now and they are still just as shiny, and not one chip. I am SOLD. 

They have some great new colors too, I am going to pick up the chocolate brown, purple, and navy for fall! 

Removal seems pretty painless too (I'll let you know in two weeks, ha!) just soak in acetone, and use this handy little scraper to get the excess off. 

I highly recommend this if you are looking to do your mani's at home and save on the salon dollars! I am so glad I picked one up! Roomies are pretty glad too ;) 

xoxo

Hard Candy makeup

For some reason yesterday, I had this hankerin' to buy some makeup. Being it Sunday, the mall closed early, so yours truly found herself perusing the aisles of Walmart come 9 oclock. 

I was pleasantly surprised with my finds. 

I was actually looking for this Loreal illuminating serum stuff, but couldn't find it, and decided to give the hard candy one a go. Verdict? Me likes. It has a similar consistency to the Too Faced primed and poreless, however it packs a much more budget friendly price tag.]

LOVE both of these. Who doesn't like more lipgloss, I mean really. It looks a lot more orange in the pic above, than it really is. 

I have been wanting to try some of these eyeshadows since Miss Emily blogged about them awhile ago. I like the small size, perfect to keep in your purse for touch ups.

No if we are being honest here, I have a love/hate relationship with eyeliner. I feel like I can never find one that truly gets me, the real me. I go back and forth between pencils, liquids and gels... never truly satisfied. I am giving this one a go currently. Pros for this baby include it's easy and streamlined application, as well as the fact it does not itch my eyes. You'd be surprised how many of them do...


And last but not least in the slightest, I picked up one of the SensatioNAIL at home, gel starter kits.

I was dripping with skepticism, but color me thrilled when the product actually worked the way it said it was going to!

More on this tomorrow, I will be doing manicures tonight on all residents of my house, whilst sipping wine during quality reality TV.

xoxo

Baby PinkLouLou.

ONE day. I will make this mine... 

I mean really, have you ever SEEN anything cuter??? You can get one too! 

Also, I should have posted this days ago, but Lexington girls, come to Trust tonight at 6 for Purses, Pouts and Pearls!! It is a Bluegrass Belles Night Out, benefiting the American Cancer Society! 

There will be a silent auction, purse bingo, and cocktails, of course!! Simply Flawless is also giving away a gift certificate... don't miss it! ;) 

Have a great weekend chics. 

xoxo

AskPinkLoulou, round 2

Hey ladies! You all submitted some fabulous questions for AskPinkLouLou! I am saving the hair related ones for next week, because I will need to do some tutorials for those ;) 

This next question is one I get asked often, so hopefully there are more of you out there who will benefit from it!

Miss Betsy... I am so glad you asked. 

Everything on my blog, I do myself. I am pretty self taught when it comes to all things blog design.

Photoshop and Indesign are my favorite programs for all things design related. I use them both, just for different things. Either one will let you write on pics, and arrange them in little collages etc.  If you don't have access to these programs, pixlr is a fantastic free website, that does many of the same things. Also, there is a FAQ section which should be able to help you a lot.

I am not exactly sure the difference between Photoshop, and Photoshop elements, but from what I understand elements will let you do most of what you will be wanting to do, for simple photo editing.  

Now anything blog design related... I googled. At one point I had no idea what I was doing, so I literally googled everything. The answer is out there, but you just have to find it, and have patience to learn how to mess with html codes. Fun stuff right? ;) 

For example, you want three columns in  blogger? Google it. It's pretty easy once you get the hang of it. 

I am by NO means a blog design pro...like at all... but I have learned a lot thanks to the trusty web. 

Oh GURL. You just spoke to my heart. 

Nothing makes me happier than being organized. In all life aspects. 

1. Here is a post I did on how I organize my hair accessories, makeup, nail polish, jewelry... and even my hair. Yes, my hair. 

I thoroughly enjoy these cheapy trays for organizing anything really... great for bathroom, and bedroom. I make a point to go through them every couple of months and get rid of stuff I am not using. I am the complete opposite of a hoarder. 

Now other ways I stay organized you ask? 

2. My Erin Condren Planner. (I just heard angels)

Bottom line, I write shit down. BOOM. Take my word for it, and get you one of these babies. 

3. My life binder, for lack of better title. 

I usually don't carry this with me, because it has every single important paper ever. Like ever. Account numbers and statements, passwords, birth certificate, tax forms, all that jazz. It helps me keep all the important stuff right there, where I can find it. Somehow I like it better than files. 

ALSO, heaven forbid there were ever an emergency such as a fire in my home, I could grab this (and Sadie!) and run out. I know it is weird to think about, but it is precautionary people!! 

4. My daily iphone apps. 

enough said. I check my bank account daily, call me crazy, but you can never be too careful. I also like to keep all my diet/nutrition/exercise info logged in My Fitness Pal. Makes it SO easy to track things!!

What else... hmm... I go through my closet every season, and get rid of things I didn't wear the previous year. It is cutthroat, but it works. :) 

I will tell you, that I am not $20,000 richer. Dammit. But it was super fun. As to when the show airs, your guess is as good as mine. They said Fall at the earliest, so keep those fingers crossed you get to see me embarrass myself on national television. I wouldn't keep you guys in the dark, trust. 

Shew, ok that was windy, sorry chics, but we had lots to cover. More AskPinkLouLou next week on all things HAIR AND MAKEUP! 

xoxo