Saturday 9/29/12

Hope everyone's weekend is going swell.

Last night wasn't what I expected at the race track. The race car got spun out and hit in the rear and wasn't good enough to race the main event. The modifieds put on a good show leaving tonight a mystery of who will win that 10,003 dollar prize! Here's some pics from yesterday and my lovely lunch today!

It's FRIDAY!

It's finally Friday! 

I hope everyone enjoys their weekend!

I'm off to the local dirt racetrack tonight to watch a big race! Every Friday for the past 4 years, I've been going out to the speedway to watch and cheer on friends! It's such a great experience and a nice little get away from here, even though it's 5 minutes from my house! Now I don't live up north near Sacramento or anywhere, where central coast! I'm about a 45 min drive from San Jose, an hour from San Francisco! And 30 minutes from Monterey/Carmel! Yes right smack in the middle. I live in a beautiful beach town! And it's pretty awesome to have a dirt track nearly 10 minutes away from the beach. 

My boyfriend races so I'm in the pit area every Friday. You won't believe how much dirt I go home with. I always have to wash my face when I get home, even if it's midnight, because I hate that dirty feeling. But I must say, all the products I use on my face, keep my makeup looking natural and fresh. I don't go out there to look all done up, I'm in an industry where you always have to have a good appearance and going to school Fridays, I'm already wearing makeup! I don't add anymore because I know I'm going to get a lovely rain of mud later.

 ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND!

Skin Care for Combination Skin

I will share some tips on how to keep your skin clear.

First, you must always wash your face! Yes it's hard because sometimes you just feel too lazy to wash off that makeup before bed. But letting that makeup sit on your face for about 8 hours at night is the worst thing you could do! Your pores get extremely clogged. Unless you have magic skin and never have to wash it, props to you. But I doubt that. Your skin has a natural pH that needs to be balanced with the proper cleanser. Depending on the type of skin you have, you should really consider your skin remedy.

Use a cleanser that will clear your acne if any. I tried proactive and I liked it. It's not for everyone. It's made for oily skin. Now I use Boscia black. It's amazing! It doesn't have any acne medicine in it, but when you apply it to your face and begin to massage it in, it heats up! It has many ingredients that help keep your skin radiant.

Dermalogica is a brand that has a lot of good reviews about it. I have never tried it but many girls I've chatted with tell me it's a must. This will be my next future purchase once I run out of my current cleanser.

You need a toner. It refreshes your skin and clears out any unwanted dirt in those pores, even after washing. It helps balance your skins pH.

If you have acne problems, use acne medicine after those two steps. It will dry out your unwanted pimples. I've use Neutragena On the Spot and I loved it. It has a 2% benzoyl peroxide and works wonders. There are stronger medicines that you can get without seeing a dermatologist, but be careful, they can dry out your skin and cause flakes!

Next use a MOISTURIZER! Any type will work. I prefer one with SPF 15! SPF stands for sun protection factor. It will prevent wrinkles in your future :)

I also take Hair and Skin vitamins by natures bound. It really helps my skin look fresh and helps the strength of my hair.

I hope this has helped!

My everyday makeup routine

My everday makeup routine!

I have oily skin, so some of these products are not necessary for everyone.

URBAN DECAY DE SLICK $29.00

I spray this after I wash my face and use my moisturizer. I spray arm length away and let it dry before continuing my routine.

TOO FACE PRIMED & PORELESS PURE $30.00

I love this product! Works wonders for my oily skin and really helps my foundation stick. I love the original product of this and used to use it until they came out with this! Must for oily skin people. Glides on very easily and helps your makeup look flawless.

 

MAKEUP FOREVER MAT VELVELT + $36.00

This is a matifying foundation and I love love love love this. Im shade 30 and it's a perfect match! It's perfect for combo/oily skin. A little goes a long way because it covers. You can build up for more coverage but be careful because it can look cakey. This foundation is what I've been wearing for the past 2 years. I couldn't find something that would work. Everything would slide right off. Not this! It stays on. Its for sensitive skin and waterproof! Which is true! I went swimming with this on, and it was still on when I got out! Love! Makeup Forever is only sold at Sephora. 

 

MAC 188 SMALL DUO BRUSH $35.00

I apply my foundation with this brush! It's just my preference and I love it.

SMASHBOX PHOTO SETTING FINISHING POWDER $28.00

I lightly dust this on with my sephora fluffy brush. Makes my face oil free and last all day. NO TOUCH UPS REQUIRED! Better value than Makeup Forever HD powder, I feel its too small!

URBAN DECAY NAKED PALLETE $50.00

I first apply TOO FACED SHADOW INSURANCE before I apply my eyeshadow. I forgot to add a picture but any primer will do! I use sin over my lids and smog in my crease with a MAC 217. I love the colors in the pallete! They are very pigmented! Its worth the value. I've owned this since November of 2011 and I haven't hit pan in any of the colors! Little goes a long way!

MAC FLUIDLINE IN BACKTRACK $15.00

I love this eyeliner. It glides on very easily! I use a bare essential eye liner brush, and it's usually winged out a bit! I'm only halfway with this and I've owned it since December. I use this stuff everyday! It's a must!

 

BENEFIT THEY'RE REAL! $23.00

I must say, I wasn't into it at first, but I've come to really love this! It's amazing since I don't have voluminous full eyelashes.

BAREMINERALS BROW POWDER $11.00

I feel in my eyebrows to make them look fuller. Without anything, they're sparse and don't look right. I use the darkest color since my hair is dark. I love this product. It's a must and it last such a long time. The price is cheap! 

After everything is on, I spray once with the DE SLICK to hold it all on and make sure it all looks good. It gets rid of areas that could look cakey. It sounds like a lot of things but it's not and I wash my face every morning and night. I'm out all day with school being 8 hours a day and going out, my makeup will not come off! I never have to touch up with anything and I love that.

 

 

 

 

Big Change

HOW I WENT FROM BLACK HAIR BACK TO NORMAL HAIR!

Like in my last post, I mentioned I boxed dyed my hair. I really wish I never did. I do want people to know not to do this because its difficult to remove from your hair, and it will damage it.

Heres my before and after:

 My hair was very very black. I looked extremely pale. I just went with it because I didn't know what to do! It did bring out my hazel eyes more, but I regret it. Thankfully, getting help, especially since I went to beauty school, I got the black out! Here's how:

• I sat at the shampoo bowl
• Mixed equal parts of bleach, 10 volume developer, and shampoo
• Mix
• Apply to darkest areas first, usually at the nape
• Don't apply to your roots for they are new growth and will lift faster. Avoid hot roots!
• We let it sit for 20 minutes
• My hair was no longer black, but was a mahogany color
• Applied a level 5N with some ash to tone the red down

3 months later (the bottom picture I posted) I got highlights

I received a half head of highlights. As a student, we perform student services on one another and it cost nothing but products to do these services. My friend Courtney has been doing my hair since. She did diagonal sections, weaving thin highlights all over. I didn't want chunky highlights for it would look bad on me. We used a 20 volume developer with Wella Bleach. We left this on for about an 50 minutes since the bleach stops processing afterwards. My hair lifted to a blonde nacho cheese, yum. Once my hair was washed out and blow dried, we applied a Paul Mitchell PM Shines as our "toner". The color we used was a 6BV which stands for Darkest Blue Violet Blonde. The BV tones out orange/yellow tones that were left in my hair. We diluted the color with 1 ounce clear shines to make into a 7BV since Paul Mitchell only makes 3BV, 6BV, and 9BV. But diluting lets you make any level you can get to. You let the shines process for about 20 minutes, and your done!

After time I kept receiving highlights with a 30 volume which came out lighter than this. We used a UTP toner to knock out that orange I still would get from previous coloring (damn black). Then we applied the BV over. I loved it! But the maintenance was getting a bit much. My natural level is a 4 which is dark brown. It's noticeable when my hair would grow out, even if it was weaved! I just have strange hair. Now I am an all over medium chocolate brown. I will get highlights again in the summer, but for winter I love being brunette. My underneath is still darker due to being dyed a dark brown with the highlights, but I don't mind it! It looks good and I love it.

If you get highlights, make sure to tell your stylist what you want exactly. They will understand. Sometimes what you say and what a stylist say are completely different. If you feel like you can't explain it in technical terms, take a picture or say you want natural woven highlights. They will come out looking gorgeous. Yes us brunettes can get highlights! Not platinum blonde though, but caramel colored. Also, deep condition that hair because bleaching dries it out! This will make your hair look amazing. 

DON'T BOX DYE YOUR HAIR!

DON'T BOX DYE YOUR HAIR!

Ladies, I know we all are tempted with coloring our hair to change our appearance or hide those unwanted gray pigmented hairs. But honestly, box dye is the WRONG way to go. Why? But it's cheap? Do you ever wonder what's in that box? Why it makes it so cheap? 

Companies don't know what color your hair is. Whether it's light or dark with cool tones or warm tones. What if your both? What if you put a color that looks light on the box, but turns black when you wash it out?

BEWARE. Box dye ruins your hair.

 There's this thing called developers. When developers are mixed with oxidation haircolor, it supplies the necessary oxygen gas to develop color molecules and creates a change in hair color.

When you go to a professional, they determine the level of your hair, the level you are trying to achieve, and the level of developer that needs to be added to the mixture.

5,10,20,30 and 40 are the ranges.

5 and 10 are not use for permanents. We use 5 or 10 for toners and a processing solution for semipermanents.

20 is normal. It won't lift, it deposits.

30 is medium. With bleach, it lifts through dark colors. With color, it intensifies the color and will make your hair lighter.

40 volume developer is the strongest. I steer clear from this unless needed. You don't mix this with hair color! It's used with bleach or high lift.

You don't know what developer your hair needs to achieve the level you are getting too.

There's this thing call the level system.

  Stylist use the natural swatches to determine your level of hair color

that you are trying to change & achieve. How do you know which color you are? It's hard to figure that out in the drug store trying to find that color. I know it's cheaper and it saves money. But what happens when it fades? Turns brassy? Or comes out black!? This has happened to me. Before beauty school, I had no idea how damaging and cheap drugstore hair dyes were. I purchased one certain brand because I used their colors before, but they always faded. I bought Medium chocolate brown to go over my brown hair with some grown out highlights. I left it on for the amount of time it said, hopped in the shower, washed it out, and it came out about a shade about black! I freaked out! My brown hair was no longer brown! I quickly thought to put a brown over again. I wasted my money again and purchased another color. Guess what? COLOR DOESN'T LIFT COLOR. Well shucks, I wish I would've known! It had a brassy look to it, and when it started fading, turned orange. Uhhhhhhh? So what did I do, I died it black! DON'T EVER DYE YOUR HAIR BLACK. It will always be in your hair, and is one big pain to remove. So honestly, go to a professional. They went to school for this! They know the color wheel, what give to you so your happy, and advice!

Our school used Paul Mitchell the color, Paul Mitchell PM Shines (semi) and Redken Shades (aslo demi) and Paul Mitchell Inkworks (direct dye)

 Depending on what brand your salon you go to uses, you will have so many options to choose from! No one color will ever be the same! They can mix in match to enhance a certain tone, or to hide anything. This color swatch is for the Paul Mitchell The Color. It's a bees wax based and will cover grays. I love it! These colors don't faded because it gets into the cortex, and the cuticle is closed letting your hair hold this color to permanently change it.

Box dyes don't do that. The cuticle isn't closed letting that color you just put on, fade away.

Many steps can prevent fading.

Use a color shampoo. These are made for specifically dyed hair. I suggest sulfate free. It will NOT strip your hair color.

Buy color protectant spray. Paul Mitchell has a color lock spray that is sunscreen from your hair. Love this stuff!

For blondes, use products that will help keep the blonde tone in your hair and to prevent it from being brassy. My mom who has blonde hair with highlights, recently bought its a 10 blonde. It made her hair look lighter, due to the lemon, and helped tone out any funky-ness that she had.

Don't wash your hair everyday! On the days you don't, deep condition it! Any drug store has good deep conditioner. Anything moisturizing because that will restore the potential hydrogen. But make sure it's safe for colored hair!

I am in no way associated with Paul Mitchell. I am just formalized with their products since our school had PM instructors, colors, and products. I have a good knowledge on these items. I've purchased colors from Cosmo Prof myself. Cosmo prof sells Paul Mitchell, Well, Goldwell, and more.

Popular braid, the waterfall

The waterfall braid.

 Very popular with teens. This was a popular look for prom & graduation.

This young lady was my client for this look. I honestly had no idea what a waterfall braid was while at school. They teach you the basics and follow the state board ways. So what did we do? We went on YouTube! It's amazing what you can learn from watching videos. It took a couple of practices on one of my friends, after, we all started braiding each others hair! This look is acheived by doing the braid first! Otherwise your going to mess up all those curls you just made and they will just start to look frizzy (trust me, I've tried!) You can connect both sides together, or do one side (like this). If your really fancy with braiding, you can keep adding on braids. This is fun and easy to do on one another. CURLING: I suggest no bigger than a 1 inch curling iron, otherwise your curls WON'T LAST! Another thing, don't do the "basic curl", it will look too shirly temple. You can even achieve this look with a wand, but it still works with a reqular curling iron. Hold the iron horizontally so it won't create creases, and wrap no larger than 1in (determined by their hair texture & density) around the rod. Once you remove, hold the curl for a couple of seconds so the hair can set in it's place. After curling all of the hair, you can brush through them with your fingers and spray your hair with a flake free hair spray. If you do want larger waves, take larger sections. The bigger the section, the less curlier your hair will be. If you have thick hair, like me, big sections will only leave a crimp, so it will take time to curl.

You don't have to curl your hair if you don't want to, it's an option!

PRODUCTS I SUGGEST:

HOT TOOLS CURLING IRON.

These are the irons that we use in beauty school and salons. They heat up fast, last forever, and are very affordable. They make different types. Any type that you are comfortable will work. Ours weren't the basic curling iron, as the clamp moved and never locked. These curling irons are sold at Sally's Beauty Supply. Or if your a cosmo student, they are sold at Cosmo Prof. Being a student and licensed offers great things for a cheaper price. 

We use these in school, they can be tricky to use and if not used with caution, you will burn yourself! Ha! Like I said, they're hot!

 

PAUL MITCHELL HOT OFF THE PRESS

Best heat protectant & hairspray combined! You use this on dry hair only has it helps protect the cuticle and seals it for a shiny frizz free look. Also the added spray helps with the hold.

ITS A 10 HAIRSPRAY

Honestly any hair spray works, if your hair is thick, a stronger hold will be the best option for you. If you have fine hair, stay away from heavy products for they weigh your hair down and can make it look greasy.

My very first blog!

Wow. I would have never picture myself writing blogs in my free time. I've always enjoyed reading others about fashion, makeup, etc, but never never never thought I would want to share my personal experiences with this topic. Yes my passion and life is hair & makeup. I am a cosmetologist who just graduated about a month ago. I'm excited for this journey I'm about to adventure on! 

A little about myself. I'm 21 years of age. I live in beautiful northern California! I'm very lucky to live where I am, as there are beaches everywhere and cities within an hour of driving. I attended college for about two years. School was NEVER my thing. Even in high school, I wasn't that "top" student. I tried community college and just felt like I was struggling even more, but I didn't want to disappoint my family. My dream was to become a nurse, but soon that dream died once I realized how long it will take just to be on a waiting list for the nursing program! I couldn't believe it. No matter how hard I tried, the classes I needed were always full, even the waiting list! It drove me crazy, and made me feel like I needed to give up. Bad thing about our jr college here is that the budget cuts have really affected it, cutting a lot of classes and cramming 60 students into a class that's supposed to be 30 or less. In this county, it's the only junior college around and its one of the top. But if you aren't lucky, it can be a pain. 

That's where cosmetology comes in. I have always found interest in hair a makeup, as I watched YouTube videos all the time. I've been a very artistic kid growing up and worked well with my hands. I can do computer things, but found if I would be crammed in a cubicle all day, I'd go crazy. So one day after a year passing of NO school, I went to the forum at our local cosmetology school. There are many around where I live ranging from a understandable price range to a price where you can buy yourself a range rover. Honestly? You learn the same things. Everything has to be taught so you can go take your state board test and pass. So easy for me, I found interest in the school around my house. About a month after my forum, I started school! November 15th was the start of my career.

It was crazy! That first day was full of paperwork. Mind I tell you I attended the full time program, which is Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00 to 4:30pm. So that was a lot of paperwork! I was really excited to be a level one student and to learn the basics of hair. Our instructor was amazing! She made class so much fun. About 5 weeks after that first day, we took our "exam" and officially became a level 2 student. That means we go to theory class from 8-9:30, afterward, we take clients till 3. I was nervous but excited! I never knew how much I really enjoyed hair until I went to school. I might add that I've been a shy person my whole entire life, but this school opened my confidence and I became an outgoing person who enjoyed her job! Around June 2012, the 13 students and I became level 3's. The highest level you can be. It rotates itself practically. Students graduated and we moved up. Bringing the freshmen to level 2's and a set of 15 new students began. Your always meeting new people and you become a big happy family! 

I feel pretty accomplished being a level 3. This means you are still on the salon floor from 10-3, but you are beginning to learn the procedures for your state board exam. I was feeling very nervous. It was helpful to know that we had 3 months before we graduated to really get a good feel how our state board experience will go. Everyday we learned each step and were timed. After concurring the basics, we took a "mock board" and I passed! This helps you out so you know how your exam day will look. It's pretty much all day for about 5 hours doing the practical exam and 2 hours with your written exam. I never realized how much really goes into this. I never credited those in the business before because I thought it was a piece of cake. It's not. It can be, but you really have to devote your time studying! 

Speaking of studying, I never realized how many scientific words they had for simple forms like dandruff or head lice to even athletes foot. Insane! I feel like a nerd. But I won't ramble on much about this. This post is supposed to be about introducing myself...OK good. I am now in my last week of studying before I take my exam. I have lots of things to look forward in my future and can't wait to share my advice with the world.

-jessica