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What can you handle on your own, beauty-wise, and what do you need help with? We're all good at something: are you great with a hair-dryer (I seem to need three arms), do you have a steady hand with nail polish, can you whip up a creamy facial with things from your own kitchen?
I'm here to suggest five things you can do yourself -- five things anyone can do themselves -- to save money and look better without making an appointment.*
1. Trim your bangs.
Hair trimming is best done with scissors made for cutting hair -- and you can easily purchase those, but you needn't if you have good sharp scissors at your disposal. There are dozens of helpful sites and videos available to guide you. I like to work with dry hair and a comb and I make very small cuts with the tip of my scissors at an upward angle and I work slowly to insure I don't snip too short.
2. Color your hair.
Be brave! Get yourself a box of something semi-permanent the first time you try coloring your hair -- and here's a tip: pick up a box of color that is exactly the same as your actual hair color before you start so you can switch it back if you aren't happy. I don't recommend purchasing coloring kits online -- hit the drugstore to choose your color and, unless you are ready for something very dramatic, only go a shade or two lighter or darker than your natural color. Follow the instructions on the box and make use of the customer service number provided by the manufacturer if you have questions -- I've found that the reps on the line are well trained to deal with any issues you may have. Don't like it after it's done? Dye it back (though this is easier to do if you go lighter than darker, fyi).
3. Banish the mustache.
I'll talk about waxing in a couple of weeks, but, for now, I'd like to recommend a cream hair remover, made for faces for your upper lip. There are a lot of options out there, but I like Nair Face Cream. It goes on easily, takes just minutes, doesn't leave a rash and is cheapcheapcheap. Works on chins too.
4. Give yourself a pedicure.
I'm not always good with fingernail polish -- but I can certainly manage to get my toes looking pretty. I use a pumice stone (lightly) in the shower and moisturize my feet at night and have become pretty adept at applying polish after cutting and shaping my toenails. It's summer -- go for something bright and fun.
5. Make your own sugar scrub.
Summer can be rough on skin and beauty experts have told me time and time again that I need to exfoliate! Allison at Petit Elephant posted this simple recipe for home made sugar scrub. Go easy and remember to moisturize.
Now hit the beach! And don't forget your hat!
*In a couple of weeks I'll give you five things you should see a professional for, so check back!
Photo courtesey of Allison Czarnecki.
blackbird writes all kinds of stuff at blackbird17.blogspot.com.
