www.beautifulbybrittany.com

I haven’t been getting mani/pedis for the last half year to basically save money. If I have time, I can do my mani/pedis at home and they look just as nice… but every now and then I just don’t wanna do all that work! I gave in recently to get a manicure with my girl back at home… and I may be late in the nail game, but I got GELISH (Gel Nail Polish) for the first time. This is the same as your regular manicure except they are using a gel polish and UV light… which Sally Hansen’s Tough as Nails has nothing on. This is super strength polish! I got a gelish french manicure (costing about 30$) and I fell in love at first sight. My nails were down to nubs when I went in. I really wanted to get some fake tips put on, but my friend told me to try the Gelish and grow my natural nails out. I’m so glad I did because now my nails have grown out and aren’t weak and brittle as a result of fake nail application. When I get fake tips put on, I keep em short anyway… just enough to look feminine, so now that my nails have grown out… I’m very happy with the look of my nails and will definitely keep up with Gelish. The best thing is that it lasts about a month if you take care of them, which is better than getting a fill in every 2 weeks. They have all kinds of colors and gels as well. I just had to share this goodness with all of you…

More information on the different types of Gel Nail polish:

Shellac is made by CND (Creative Nail Design), which is a more popular and well advertised brand. Shellac only has 40 or so colors. Shellac is gel and polish.

Gelish, which is made by Harmony, boasts thicker, longer wear and bigger bottles and less expensive at the same time. Gelish has about 80 colors or more, including solid colors and sparkles. Gelish is also a true gel polish, a mixture of gel and pigment, giving brighter colors and thicker solution.
Both are applied like a polish, are cured with UV (or LED lamps which makes curing time even quicker with Gelish) and both last longer than normal polish. Both can layer colors and make nail art easy. Neither needs the natural nail buffed before application.

Basically… You can’t go wrong with trying both and figuring out which one you love! I’m a creature of nature though and think I’m going to stick with Gelish. Try it out and let me know how you like it! I want to buy the Gelish Home Kit with a UV lamp… I’ll let you know how that works out. hehe XoXo  Follow me on Twitter: @BEAUTIFULbyB

www.sigmabeauty.com

fem-fATL is a lover of Make Up and all things Make Up.  As much as we love M.A.C…. we don’t dig the cost of their products.  I bought a small kit from SIGMA because I read that their brushes are comparable and affordable.  The brush is SO important in completing your Game Face ladies.  Check out SIGMA BRUSHES  for your next purchase!  Tell me what ya think!

MAC Peacock Beauty

When doing make up, some of the best looks are inspired by nature… in this case… a Peacock.  Check this picture I took of a peacock up close and personal.  Its feathers are so beautifully rich in color!!!  This look is fem-fATL approved… Make sure to try your own version of the peacock inspired eye.

First Name: Pea Last Name: Cock

Here are some colors to help you achieve the Peacock Eye:

These are good colors to work with... of course, there are no rules to make up! Use varying colors as you wish.

             Top Row: “Noir Plum”, “Mating Call”, “Prance” 
             Midde Row: “Dandizette”, “Odalisque”, “Ego” 
             Bottom Row: “Unflappable”, “Center Stage”, “Dalliance”

There are no rules for applying the colors!  Mix them in there creatively so that each color stands out.  Check out @Urbansocial’s Peacock eye.  She looks beautiful!

@urbansocial

fATL‘s,I am on the transitioning journey…again.

I tried to give up the creamy crack about a year back and failed in an epic fashion. I transitioned for a few months and did the big chop. Unfortunately, my mini fro and I didn’t work out. After about a month of battling my curly hair, I waved the white towel and gave up. The reason? I didn’t know what to do with it. My main issue was keeping that ish moisturized. I’ve had relaxers for as long as I remember, so dealing with my natural hair was a pain in the donk. We didn’t know each other too well and I didn’t have the time or patience to deal with the hell it was putting me through. I relapsed and put the perm back in.

Since then I’ve done my research on natural hair. I read up on common issues and solutions curly girls encounter. The #1 return to perms seems to be managing moisture. A close second is transitional styles. Apparently, there is a goddess in the natural hair world who has the key to our salvation. Kim Love, bka Kimmaytube, is a natural hair guru who has concoted her own moisturizing leave-in conditioner that some women live by. Recently I purchased all the organic ingredients and gave it a try. The homemade conditioner consits of:

2 tablespoons of YOUR preferred conditioner (silicone free)
2 tablespoons of (Whole leaf version) Aloe Vera Juice with a pH 4.0 or 4.5
2 teaspoons of Castor Oil (optional. I sometimes do without it)
2 teaspoons of Jojoba Oil

I’m telling you gals. This recipe is the bomb[dot]com. It has me over here looking like the Black Rapunzel or some ish. My hair has never retained moisture this long or been this soft. In my recipe I used Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In and Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Juice. Note: when using organic aloe make sure to keep in refrigerated once you open it. It doesn’t contain preservatives so the shelf life goes to crap really quickly if opened and left out to the elements. Be sure to put the recipe leave-in on freshly washed, damp hair. I personally apply the mix and then immediately do a flat twist out. Whether still flat twisted or taken out my hair is cay-ute!

Test the recipe and send pictures over. We wanna see those curls guuuuuurl!

Do you have your PTRs?

I am one of those people who’s bathroom cabinets look like CVS.  I have every kind of acne-reducing and beauty product, um, known to man… And recently I added Peter Thomas Roth right up there with Clean & Clear and Neutrogena.  Truth is, I bought some wax strips to try them out so I could wax my lip and brows.  I must have done something wrong because all of my hairs stayed in tact… And all I got was a major break out.  I got pimples all over the damn place! 

Looking like shit was enough motivation for me to find a cure.  Thankfully my girl from work was in the same boat.  We actually went dutch on this stuff (sooo 20$ each for 30 pads) and split up the product evenly.  And yes, I did count each pad to make sure I got my half.  From some reviews of other consumers, some people even cut the pads in half, but there was plenty to go around.  The pads have the standard 2% salicylic acid that many O.T.C. Products have, However PTR Max Correcting Pads have Glycolic acid and other skin soothing products.  The idea is that it dries up pimples, prevents ‘em, and also helps rejuvenate the texture of your skin. 

Glycolic acid is a great for maintaining and preventing signs of aging, smoothing out texture, and vanishing dark spots.  I have a good wash also… but I really like the pads for those lazy nights when I don’t feel like doing all that extra work.  (I know I’m not alone on this one!) 

Cue Kid Sister’s ‘Pro Nails.’ The ladies of fem-fATL keep their toes done up and fingernails matching. We can’t be caught out in these streets with WTF looking nails. I know a few us us change our nail decor at least weekly. Yeah, it’s that serious! Personally, I’ve tried every type of nail are there is: marble, shellac, polish, gel, acrylic, and the ever popular minx. My minx experience was an okay one. Metallic nails that don’t need to dry and last a few weeks. Who can complain? The only down side to the semi-permanent nail stickers was the price tag. I paid a cool $60 for my nails and $50 for my toes. I shudder at the memory.

Thanks to Sally Hansen I can fear no more. The recent release of Salon Effects has saved my clutch! The nail art is basically a DIY version of minx. Kinda. The strips are actually real nail polish, not some sticky-backed substitutive. Unlike minx that you pull off (causing nail damage), Salon Effects strips come off with nail polish remover.

Worried about not having that massive minx selection of patterns and colors? No need. There are 24 patterns and solids to choose from that last up to 10 days. Leopard, army fatigue, houndstooth, checkerboard, lace, there’s something for everyone. You can snatch up the $10 packs at most drug stores, Targets, and on Amazon.

-LiaDelFresco

They say Beauty is Pain….but damn, nobody told me it was excruciating!

Seriously, what women go through to look good is ridiculous.  I’m not sure if these men even notice…or give a damn.  But they need to realize, these days to keep yourself up to par, we have to deal with the expenses of getting your hair done, manicures & pedicures, facials, and ON TOP of that the gym membership to keep it all lookin tight.

BUT NOW that summer time has hit, before you even think about putting on that bikini there is YET another expense you have to worry about.  Gettin it all waxed off down there.

Being a woman who prides herself on keeping a nice outward appearance, I was intrigued by all of my friends who said that getting a Brazilian wax is a monthly ritual for them.  So it was pretty shocking when I announced that I had never experienced a true Brazilian wax.  NOW DON’T GET ME WRONG, I take care of my “situation” and always make sure there is no Macy Gray growing down there (as all women should do).  I have gotten bikini waxes before…but the thought of getting it ALL WAXED OFF seriously scared me.   My friends told me to just suck it up…

So one day I decided to bite the bullet, stop being such a p*ssy (no pun intended) and go to the waxing salon to see what the hype was….

Before going I did my research of course.  Most of the feedback that I read said that the Brazilian hurts pretty bad your 1st time going, but its not nearly going to be as bad as you think.  I’m a chick who is addicted to tattoo’s, so I knew I could possibly handle it.  Some people indicate that taking Tylenol or ibuprofen before hand will help ease the pain.  Before you decide to go, the most important detail is that you let your hair grow out (the suggestion is for 4 weeks) and making sure that its not too short, this way they will be able to pull it from the root….uggh, I hate body hair, so that was seriously the hardest part of the entire situation!!!

After reading the reviews of all the waxing spots in ATL, I decided to go to Sweet Samba located in Midtown.

What intrigued me about this spot was they were also a spa, which equals a serene and calming setting with candles, music, and all that other bourgie stuff that comes along with nice spas.  I knew that since I was a first timer, I needed as much of a serene setting as possible.  I arrived at Sweet Samba, and it was pretty much what I expected, a very nice and serene spa (the tv on the ceiling playing sex in the city was a plus).  My waxer was named Natasha, and she told me I had nothing to worry about.  She put the wax on me, with her bare hands (they use ‘hard wax, which is strip-less wax) and ripped it right off in small sections.  *internal scream* MANNNNNN.  I had to take some deep ass breaths to prepare for that.  When they say “wax it all off” they are NOT playing.  They get EVERYTHING, even to the point where you are lying face down, on your stomach with the cheeks spread apart!  I didn’t scream, I didn’t kick, I didn’t cuss, but I did flinch…yet in the end it was not nearly as bad as I thought!  She held up a mirror when she was finished, and I was indeed rockin a Mr. Miyagi. lol.

The wax lasted as long as they told me it would, 4 weeks, and now I gotta say I’m addicted!  The 1st time only hurts the worst, as with anything, once you continue doing it the pain is not nearly as bad.  After you get it done make sure you exfoliate with a loofah, to avoid horrible in grown hairs.  Seriously, you will feel soooo sexy after you get it done, you might whip out your camera phone and send pics of it to your friends (not that I did this or anything….).  This will not be a summertime only ritual for me, this will be a life long ritual. I will probably be a 90 year old woman getting Brazilian waxes, with pride!!

So if your interested in getting your Brazilian Wax, here are a few ATL wax spots you should def check out!

• Sweet Samba Spa & Boutique: Midtown & Vinings Locations – $35 special for 1st time visitors, Student specials as well!  Pricey but your paying for the spa atmosphere.

• Brazilian Waxing By Aundrea: TONS of locations, and only $35 for a Brazilian wax. Don’t expect a spa setting or small talk, but they get you in and out under 30 mins.

• WAX :: Atlanta: Really nice  & chic spot, focusing on only waxing…but a little pricier than the rest

My hair has undergone a few changes, but for the past 4-5 years I have pretty much stuck with the au’ natural and opted for shine and length. Occasionally I’ll chop my bangs right below my eyebrows for that Cleopatra look. However, I’m starting to feel like Jennifer Aniston, who is known to play it safe with her hair color and style.  Every time I think of doing new styles/colors, I chicken out!  I have even dyed my hair at home and paid out the ass for highlights at the salon, and ended up dying my hair back to “natural darkest brown” within a couple of days.  Then, the other night I was watching Celebrity Apprentice, right when Donald Trump was firing Latoya Jackson… and I immediately took notice of her hair.  I looove this look! She got her hair done my Kimmi Hendrix in NYC (for who knows how much).  Ms. Jackson’s hair was dyed a sultry chocolate brown with soft highlights.  I love the color and the cut!  What do you all think? Can I pull it off? OR Should I just stay with the tall, dark, and sexy look? lol…

I’m gonna let you know right now– I’m about to get gritty. I’m gonna talk about body hair. + I’m gonna talk about shaving. But not about pubes or anything. Or waxing.  Chiiiiill.

Ok no. Speaking of waxing and slightly off topic because that’s my style– I’ve got a semi-funny story…

(or whatever. it may be a “you-had-to-be-there” moment at the end of this, but who cares)

:: [start scene] ::

I graduated from the Aveda Institute Atlanta in February. A master cosmetology license covers a little bit of everything– hair, makeup/skincare, and basic esthiology. Basic esthiology includes waxing. + novice waxing situations include tears.

Yoooooo. So I am mixed with a bunch of stuff. Somewhere in my background I have some ancestor that was just super adapted to wherever they were and the good Lord blessed them with combative body hair. Mayhaps part of the blessings of Abraham– I dunno. Now, before you grimace and all that because you think I’m about to get personal, I am. But calm down. Be an adult. You are a mammal too and you’ve probably got hair all over unless you’ve got some kind of alopecia or something.

Long story short (haha not really), I’m not by any means a grizzly bear but I have freakin stubborn hair and it grows SUPER fast. I get my brows threaded and the thread lassos those caterpillars and tames them right up.  I tried to do the whole Nair thing when I was younger and after leaving it on my legs for the entire 10 minute limit, a few hairs shriveled up but for the most part it was for naught.

So at Aveda, I am in class during wax week + I, being the fearless “I’ll go first” person that I am, decide I want to get my armpits waxed. “Dang,” you might be thinking, yes yes… I allowed a little extra growth under my arms for this very occasion (it was winter! and its wax protocol! + I do what I want!) So two of my great friends in my class offered to get out the hard wax (best for small areas; opposite of soft wax) and start a’waxin’.

WORST. PAIN. EVER.

You remember Dave Chappelle said he wanted to test out some dude’s “Native Americaness” by throwing a gum wrapper on the ground and waiting for his reaction? As soon as he did that, a single tear rolled down the Native American’s cheek and he then knew he was authentic.

Well,  I had a single tear experience. I wasn’t bawling. I actually didn’t even know that the tear was coming. And it was followed by a few other silent tears. I laughed through the pain and a la 40 Year Old Virgin, I did not allow this waxing torture to be seen to it’s completion + I walked out with some super sore, patchy lookin armpits. I even iced them for a few hours after. Granted, my buds were far from professionals at the time, but the memory of pain and my patchy-pits still remains.

I share this babbling story to simply show my resistance to waxing. I have been scarred. I can look back and laugh, but man I have never had an uncontrollable tear experience. My mind was at peace but my body felt the need to send out a battle cry.

:: [end scene] ::

So continuing along this same vein, I also have fast-growing, coarser-than-average leg hair.

::cue your lame grimace here::

+ so I shave regularly and typically have invested in a nice razor; I don’t do the disposible thing usually. Until I get me some sweeeet laser hair removal (which I see in the future), I toggle from different razor brands and gimmicks and ALAS!! I had an epiphany in my favorite Edgewood Kroger…

WHAT IF I BOUGHT A MEN’S RAZOR?! Usually I have been using the Quattro or something with a lot of blades (I suppose it makes a difference). I have dated a few bald men [[who am I kidding, I'm a freakin bald guy magnet for some strange reason]]  and it seems that THEIR hair is SUPER coarse on their head and face and the razors are easy to clean and yea… it seems to work.

Thusly, I decided to toss my cute baby blue; yet, insufficient Venus or whatever the heck it was, and ante-up on Kroger’s BOGO 3 pack of men’s Quattro razors. There is really NO difference– except if you are crossing over brand lines, which I suppose I’m more of a Schick girl.

And lemme just ADMIT that they are rockin my world. I thought I needed all that extra “aloe padding” and “shapes perfectly around the knee” crap but I get a great shave and men’s razors are cheaper. and most people know I gets down with some savings. I’m not cheap but I’d rather save my money to travel or have some food adventure.

So try it out.

Tell me your results!

Tell the world!

All can unite under one razor!

CHEEEEEEAH.

A few of my clients have sparked my interest in making my own homemade hair care recipes as well as customers I chat with at Whole Foods. The pros of this: I know exactly what’s going on my hair + I can pronounce all of the ingredients + no unwarranted chemical reactions + cost-effective. Cons: I’m no scientist + this may get kinda messy + be aware of interactions when pre-existing chemicals are involved (color, relaxer, etc.) + possible allergic reaction.

Taking this into account, certain ingredients I put in my hair could possibly affect my hair color so if you, my dear reader, chose to proceed and try some of these remedies, be aware that these natural mixins’ could affect chemically treated hair (colored/bleached, relaxed, keratin treated, permed). I imagine that natural hair is safe but could experience adverse effect like dryness or overly oiliness (yea, that’s a word). You could get the same reactions from shampoos you get off the shelves

… but its all trial + error. Really.

If you have food allergies or aren’t sure, test a small spot on your skin or do a test strand with your hair to see how your hair/scalp will be affected.

One of my clients came in for a haircut and told me not to wash her hair but just to wet it because she didn’t use shampoo. I immediately got curious (I am the question queen + I need to know why). She told me that since she stopped using shampoo, her hair has behaved so well. Then she divulged that she had been shampooing her hair about every 3 days with Organic Apple Cider vinegar + baking soda.

DOPE! I would’ve totally tried it, but 3 days before, I got some awesome paneling done (paneling is similar to highlighting, but a bolder effect)…. URGGGG.

Apple Cider Vinegar is very clarifying for your hair (great internally + externally!) and baking soda, when rinsed out completely, does a great job at cleansing, deodorizing, and removing impurities. This recipe is great for my girls (and guys) with heavy product build-up—if you DO NOT remove that build up off your scalp, you’re hair will get dry dry dry and everntually break off.

If you don’t have heavy product build up, it may not be best to do this rinse as often– maybe every 2 times you shampoo; you don’t want to dry your hair out. I find that if you have drier hair you want to use more vinegar + less baking soda. If oiler, you may want to use more baking soda + less vinegar. Play with it.

Check these recipes!

Cider Vinegar Rinse

Ingredients
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1 1/2 cups cool water [the cooler the better]

Directions

Mix ingredients in an unbreakable bottle. Shampoo and rinse hair as usual. Pour vinegar rinse through hair, do not rinse again [the cider vinegar scent will very quickly dissipate]. Conditioner should not be needed but you can apply a leave-in conditioner to ends if necessary. Ratio of vinegar to water may be adjusted according to the amount of clarifying needed or frequency of use. This rinse is probably the most popular homemade hair product, it will effectively remove product build-up from hair [including silicone] and leave it very soft and shiny.

Cider + Baking Soda Clarifier

Ingredients
3 tablespoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons creamy honey
1/4 teaspoon water
Cider Vinegar Clarifying Rinse [see above]

Directions

Mix ingredients together to form a paste. Add additional water, a few drops at a time, if the mixture is too thick. Shampoo hair as usual. Apply mixture to hair and leave on for up to five minutes. Rinse hair as usual. Pour Cider Vinegar Clarifying Rinse through hair, do not rinse again [the cider vinegar scent will very quickly dissipate]. If your hair is “squeaky clean” apply a light, silicone-free conditioner or silicone-free leave-in conditioner.

This is best used for first-time clarifying, by those who use a full line of hair products that include silicone that have left behind a heavy build-up, or those who clarify rarely. Honey has the ability to lighten hair over time, so keep this in mind.

Experiement a little to see whether baking soda and vinegar works for you as a regular method of haircare or an occasional treatment. Everyone is different.

*IMPORTANT: if you EVER see “clarifying” or “clarifier” on ANY product (shampoos, rinses, cider vinegar is clarifying as well) it WILL NOT be 100% color-safe. It’s called “clarifying” for a reason.

Here’s a great deep conditioning recipe after you get done clarifying:

*remember, unless you have fine hair, you should be deep conditioning once a week!

Jojoba Hair Conditioner

Ingredients
1 cup rose floral water
1 tablespoon jojoba oil
10 drops vitamin E oil

Directions

In the top of a double boiler, gently warm the rose water. Once rose water is warm, add jojoba oil and vitamin E. For extra conditioning, leave on for several minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. Shampoo and rinse again with cool water.

Rose water strengthens hair roots and believed to stimulate hair growth + soothes an itchy scalp. Jojoba is an amazing oil that has a pH close to your skin and hair so it will absord better. Add heat to your deep conditioning regimen in order to open the hair cuticule to ensure maximum absorbtion and conditioning.

These are a few helpful recipes. Play with them and do your own research; find out what works best for you.

Yes, it’s more time consuming to prepare natural hair recipes, but you’ll be surprised how nice your hair will feel and how much money you can save! And how much nicer it is to know exactly what your hair works well with rather than purchasing and testing a ton of shampoos and conditioners to find out what works best.

You don’t have to completely toss all of your professional products but be open to trying whipping up your own hair magic.

It’s worth a shot, right??

vanguardísta