Weekend Shopping: Zara & Nordstroms (& My Hair Trim)

I woke up at 6:20 this morning (ick!). I tossed and turned until I officially got out of bed at about 8:40.  I hate when I can't sleep in on weekends, and that's been happening a lot lately.

I got ready and headed to my hair appointment at Toni & Guy in the Galleria.  I was so nervous when I got there, but my best friend gets her hair done there all of the time and hers looks great so I tried to have faith.

I went to Stephanie, and my experience was amazing. I sat down and immediately told Stephanie about all of my crazy neurotic hair issues and how I absolutely cannot lose the length of my hair blah blah blah. She listened intently and said "don't worry, I'm not one of the scissor-happy ones."  She explained exactly what she is going to do and talked me through every step of the way, even stopping to ask if "x" was OK (she would show me how much she was cutting off, etc.)  Her technique was VERY precise, which I loved.  I'm thrilled with the result. My hair is still long, just bouncier and softer from having some of the dead ends trimmed off. Stephanie also has an amazing blow-out technique that gives you awesome volume.  I'm going to post some pics below, but keep in mind that I tried on clothes all day so my hair is a bit messy compared to how it looked when I walked out of the salon. Houston ladies- if you are looking for an amazing stylist, Stephanie is the way to go. She listens to you and does exactly what you ask for.

Now on to the shopping.  I bought two on-the-pricier-side tops today, but I love them so much. They were worth it!

The first is a sheer blouse from Zara (size small, $59.50.)  I was actually leaving the store when this blouse caught my eye. The pattern and colors were just so gorgeous. I can't wait to wear it tucked into a skirt or with skinny jeans or shorts.

While at Zara I also tried on this amazing skirt which I now regret not buying (in fact, I might swing by and get it tomorrow.) I just thought the colors and pattern were so unique. I thought it looked flattering on, too.  The reason I was hesitant is because I couldn't figure out what top I'd wear with it...but now I realize white, black or navy tees would be perfect with it. Just a simple top in a solid color.  Here it is:

*Sigh* What do you think ladies...do I need to go back and get it?

The other top I got was from Nordstroms. I don't shop there a lot because I always assume it's only designer stuff, but I got this great top in one of the sections that sells more affordable clothes and I love it.

I just love the detailing at the neck and bottom of the top. It's going to look incredible over skinny jeans. It was $78.00.  I think it's such a versatile top that it was worth the price. It also comes in a great ivory color.

Happy weekend to you all!

xoxo,

Veronika.

I Got It (Clarisonic) & Other Weekend Buys (Oh, and My Hair Cut)

Well ladies, I finally got it! I went and bought the Clarisonic Mia at Sephora with my 10% VIB discount. I got the pink one. I got the Mia because I like the size of the Clarisonic itself, and the charger takes up less space. Since it is the same brush head, I hope to get awesome results.

I have a strategy for my Clarisonic use. I pray I won't go through a purge period, so to avoid it, I am starting off slow. I am not going to use it twice a day (or even once a day) and I am going to use it only on my non breakout areas (so I'll use it on my forehead, nose and cheeks, and avoid my chin and jaw.)

I will give updates as I use it. I can't use it tonight because it has to charge for 24 hours first. So Sunday will be my first Clarisonic cleaning day.

Here is a pic of my Mia, right next to my Sonicare toothbrush:

Before I get to the rest of my purchases, I'll show you lovely ladies my new haircut. Today was hard because I actually had more cut off than I had planned to. I love it though. I needed it. Basically, my hair was so damaged and snapping off, that my "length" at the back of my hair was actually just the longest part of my hair that hadn't broken off yet, so it kind of formed a "V" at the back. When my hairdresser showed me in the mirror, I was like, just cut it off. David talked me through what he would do, I took at deep breath, and off we went to the washing sink.

I really love how much lighter it feels, and how he took the front layers up shorter. Now keep in mind, this is hair I've been running errands with all day, and laid on the couch with for hours before I took these pics (watching the last episodes of Season 2 of True Blood: love love love):

Here is a shot of the length so you can see how far it goes down my back now:

Here are some more shots of the layers:

Anyways. I really like it. It's a bit shorter, but it's healthier and softer.

I've made a new commitment to myself this year. I want to focus on making everything the best it can be. Taking better care of my hair, skin and body. I want to take my vitamins regularly and just focus on keeping my skin in great condition. Next on my list is a Vitamin C serum for my skin.


Now onto my purchases. My friend Heather (who got married on the beach) wore these gorgeous earrings on her wedding day from Swarovski. I had to have them. Not only are they oh-so-pretty, but they are exactly like my engagement ring! It is the same look of a round center stone with pave around it. Love them. They are the style called "Angelic." They retail for $75.00. I told my husband they were his Valentines day gift to me, and he said I ruin surprises. I think he meant to say "thanks for making gift-giving so easy."


Love them.

I also got this great final sale skirt from Ann Taylor today. It has an awesome animal-print-like texture (and we all know how much I love animal prints). It was $39.98...originally $120, which obviously I wouldn't have paid for it.


I was once again disappointed with my trip to Forever 21. The stock just wasn't great today. I tried about 7-8 things on, and bought one top. It's just a simple pink and black striped top, for $10.80.
It looks kind of shapeless, but it is really nice on. It's actually one of those tops I picked up thinking "this could be very good, or very bad." For $10.80, there wasn't much to lose.

You know I can't resist a Victoria's Secret coupon, so when I got one in the mail for a FREE lacie panty (they are my fave!) and $10 off of any bra, I was sold.

I got this cute animal-print bra for $24.50.

Here it is on VS model Miranda Kerr:

I love her. So pretty. Speaking of Miranda Kerr, how awesome is this recent pic of her ( I believe it's from GQ):

I love her hair...kind of actually reminds me of how mine is now (the length and layers.)

Back to shopping... I got this cute workout headband for $1.50 at Forever 21:

Yes, I wear headbands with bows on them to work out. I still like to have cute accessories. Plus, this one has little teeth in it to really hold hair back.

My final purchase was this awesome bracelet from Forever 21 for $7.50. It looks a lot like some of the ones I've seen at J. Crew and Ann Taylor for $80-$100.

It is much more sparkly and awesome in real life. Very happy to have gotten such a great deal on an accessory I've had my eye on for awhile.

That's all for today ladies. As always, thank you for reading and if you have any questions or comments, please leave them below!

xoxo,

Veronika.

New Year, New Look?

This post is difficult to write for me, because I always pride myself on trying to maintain my apperance to the best of my abilities, and I realized that an area where I totally failed is my hair.

Yes, that's right, I'm admitting it. A couple of posts ago, a few commenters mentioned that my hair was looking a little "bottom heavy" (I had never heard that expression before, but I knew what they meant.) One of them commented "maybe it's time for a change." Well, they were right, it is.

Typically, I take criticisms with a grain of salt, but this one really got to me because as much as I wanted to deny it, I knew it was true.

For the last few months, every time I've blown out my hair, I've noticed that my ends are pouffy, frizzy, frazzled. I have more split ends than I can count. My hair, despite all of my efforts just ends up "hanging there." It's long, it's heavy, it's blah. Sure, I wanted long hair, but the price I'm paying for it just doesn't seem worth it.

Now, before I delve further into this, I want to relay to my lovely readers that this isn't at all my hairdresser's fault. He is brilliant but I limit him when it comes to cutting because I am so afraid to lose my length that I've spent over three years growing (my hair is like the slowest growing hair ever.) My micro-trims just aren't cutting it anymore, no pun intended.

I still want to have long hair, but I need to do something...more layers, a little more of my ends snipped off, the front pieces cut shorter...I need SOMETHING that is going to get my hair out of this rut.

I'm going too wait until after my vacation to make the cut. I just feel like since I'll be exposing my hair to so much sun and salt water etc, that it probably isn't the best idea to do it before I leave for vacation.

So I have almost a month to find pictures of haircuts and styles I like.

Here are a few I like right now:

I love the way her hair is styled and how the front layers are shorter. I've tried side bangs before and they just don't work for me, but these just look like face-framing layers.

No matter how many times or which hairdresser I've ever been too, none can seem to cut my hair exactly like Carrie's (above), minus the bangs. I absolutely love how bouncy and shapely her hair looks.
I love Jennifer Garner's hair in this pic. It just looks really full and bouncy. I like the way it's parted too.Cheryl Cole is definitely one of my favorite hair inspirations. It looks like she's got a bunch of layers through her hair and some shorter face-framing layers. Like I said before, I grew my face framing layers out so long, that they don't really frame anymore, they just hang. Ugh.


Here's another one of Cheryl. I just like how full and bouncy her hair is and how much volume she has. I also like it when you can tell where layers start and end. I feel like my hair just all blends together into one big curtain right now.


No hair post is complete without a picture of VS model Alessandra Ambrosio. I love her soft curls here. You can tell she's got some pretty layers through her hair.


This look is a little more polished, but I like how much volume she has and how smooth her hair looks. I'd want to keep mine a bit longer than that though.

Sigh. Blake Lively. I love this pic from her Marie Claire photo shoot. Her hair just looks perfect and voluminous and has texture to it. Maybe I just don't have enough texture going on or I need to try different products. I would love it if I could make my hair look like this. Love.

Ladies, if you have any suggestions for me, I'm open. If you have any styles you think would suit me, please post a link in the comments below (nothing short though, I don't want to go into shock!)

My hair is definitely my security blanket...but it might be time to let go and just have an actual style to my hair. I also want to start styling it wavy again, I miss that sometimes.

I always feel bad because people tell me how much they like my hair...but trust me, it doesn't always look great! I've gotten lazy in maintaining it, and its lost its shape, luster and volume.

Thanks for listening to my rant. All thoughts and opinions welcome (unless they involve a serious chop!)

xoxo,

Veronika.

Tressy Thursday: An Interview with my Hair Guru

Ladies, I am SO excited about this post, I can't even begin to write the words! This interview speaks for itself. My wonderful hair stylist and colorist agreed to share his best tips and tricks with us, and I am so thrilled that he did! He works at Cutloose Hair Salon in Houston, TX. If you live in this area, he is definitely worth a visit. He is the only colorist ever in my life that was able to color my naturally light/medium brown locks into a color that was so blended and natural, that I only have to get my roots done every 4-6 months! You can call 713.520.7401 to make an appointment.

David, my bestie Candice and I at Hotel Zaza

I hope you ladies enjoy this interview as much as I did!

Name, Age, Occupation:
David Tran, 30, stylist/colorist and extension specialist

You've been a stylist and colorist for more than 10 years, what service do you like to do better, and why?
I've been doing hair for almost ten and a half years which is hard to believe. I honestly can't say I prefer one service over the other because I enjoy creating the total package from head to toe-- which is why I like to be involved in every aspect. Control freak? Maybe, but I think it's important that the cut, color (and extensions) go hand in hand because you want all the pieces of the puzzle to fit seamlessly.

What are the best ways a client can communicate to you what they want in a color or style?
Pictures work very well because sometimes clients can have a hard time articulating what it is they want. "Colored" Red heads for instance can vary greatly depending on the tone whether it's a true copper tone , a rich mahogony red brown, a bright punk influenced candy apple red, or just a warm brown with red undertones. Pertaining to up dos for an event, pictures work awesomely to get an idea of whether the style should be sleek and formal or loose and romantic.

Have you ever had a client who demanded a color or style you totally didn't think would work for her? what did you do?
Yes! Recently I had to turn away a potentially new client and told her that I didn't think i was the stylist for her. We were going through our consultation and I could sense her hesitation as she requested that I cut her hair with a #4 guard and clippers. She didn't understand how I could cut hair with cutting shears as she was used to a "pro cuts" style haircut. Now I'm not knocking pro cuts. They are skilled hairdressers but just because they are doesn't mean they will be the best for you. Same with me. I am trained by various schools but if we aren't communicating on the same level--I may not be the hairdresser for you.

It's always a good idea to set up a consultation with a stylist if you're doing an overhaul to communicate any fears you have. Another tip--never make a dramatic change before your wedding, switch stylists before your wedding, or cut off your hair while you're pregnant. But in the end, your stylist knows you best and can adapt your style based on what you want. That's why its important to find a stylist who you can connect with and knows technically and creatively how to create your own unique style.

You work with Bumble & Bumble products. Which products from the line do you think are essentials for a woman who likes to have healthy, bouncy hair?
The Damage Therapy line works wonders for color treated hair. It will keep it soft, silky, and luxurious. As far as styling products--the trinity is as follow: Prep or Tonic first, Thickening Spray, with a bit of Styling Balm on the ends. Of course the products will change based on the look that you're trying to achieve and the season but those are my go to products day in and day out.

What trends are you seeing in color right now that you love?
ROOTS and slightly lighter ends. diffusion of colors, reflective brunettes. Anything shiny and not too matte and one dimensional.

What trends in cuts/style techniques are you loving right now?
I love a strong fringe or what Texans call "bangs" (although not everyone can pull it off) and I am loving messy up-dos and I always love retro/period dos as well

Name 5 celebrities who you think have the best hair, and tell us why.
Charlize Theron because of her simple and elegant red carpet style, Drew Barrymore for her willingness to try different colors, styles and textures. I hate to say her because I was sick of doing her bob, but Victoria Beckham because of her chopping her hair off to a pixie then growing it out so gracefully. Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs because only she can pull off that black mop hair do. My last pick would probably be Julianne Moore because of her beautiful copper hair. It's stunning.
What is the craziest hair request you have ever gotten?
A mullet!

What are your favorite magazines for hair inspiration?
W, In Style, Hairdressers Journal

What is the biggest mistake women make when it comes to caring for their hair?
Heat styling without any products or heat protectors. Pulling your hair back in a tight pony tail while it's wet.

How can a woman achieve the best blowout ever? What tools, products and techniques do you recommend?
I love ionic dryers, and it's always best to use the nozzle of the dryer if you have one. It helps to direct the air to eliminate any frizz. I think a good ceramic flat iron is always good for touch ups on second day hair if applicable and a good ceramic 1" to 1 1/2" curling iron is wonderful if you have mid length to longer hair to create some loose waves and texture. Oh--and headbands are great too for hiding roots, dirty hair, or to double as the perfect accessory!

What are the most damaging things a woman can do to her hair?
Wash, dry and flat iron EVERY DAY and not getting it trimmed regularly.

What do you like best about your job?
Seeing the smirk on a client's face when they love their hair. I love making people look and feel better about themselves!

Thanks so much for answering my questions for everyone, David! <3 you! Ladies, if you have any questions for David, please leave them in the comments below, and I will ask David to answer them for you! He is the expert!

Thank you SO much for reading...I noticed I am at 93 followers, wow, I feel so excited and amazed at that. I wanted to do a contest when I reached 100 followers, so please watch out for that. Thank you for all that you contribute!

xoxo,
Veronika.

A blush called "peony?" I knew I had to have it.

Yesterday afternoon I headed to the Galleria mall with high hopes of finding Chanel's "Jade" nail polish. After seeing beauty guru Tiffany D rave about it on YouTube and her blog, I knew I had to have it.

I went to Neiman's, Nordstrom's and Saks...and the actual Chanel boutique, where it was sold out. Apparently, the color is a boutique exclusive. The search continues. My only hope is if they get more stock on the Chanel.com website. It is just such a unique color. Sigh.


I paid a visit to Trade Secrets and picked up some Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum, which was recommended to me by fellow beauty blogger Saltwater Dreams. I plan to use it for my Monday morning blowout, so I will post a review at that time. It is supposed to smooth hair and cut blow-drying time in half. Now if only they could make a super skinny serum for the body!

During my hunt for the Chanel nail polish, I got a blush from Bobbi Brown called "peony." I had been eyeing it the last few times I hit the BB counter. It is shockingly pink in the container, but gives cheeks a perfect pink wash of color when applied. I am a blush fanatic, and I always believe pink cheeks freshen up the face and make it look youthful and rested. Plus, the name of the blush totally got me, since my wedding bouquet was pink peonies galore!

Bobbi Brown blush in "peony":

My wedding bouquet:
I also picked up a free lipgloss from MAC through their "Back to MAC" program where you can return six M·A·C primary packaging containers to a M·A·C counter and recieve a free lipstick (which they have expanded to include lipgloss and eyeshadows...yay!).

I ended up picking up a Dazzleglass (I just can't get enough of em') in "Rags to Riches" which is a pink-y gloss with blue and pink and purple reflects. I wore it out yesterday night layered over NARS' "Roman Holiday" lipsick. Here is the result:

Not great quality, but you get the idea. I wanted to get another tube of "Baby Sparks" Dazzleglass, but I took a chance and ended up loving "Rags to Riches," pictured below:

Ok, so let's get to the haircut, as promised, I would post a pic. As many of you know, I have been growing out my hair for 3 years. After a few years of being a blonde, my hair was in a deplorable state, so I went back to brunette 3 years ago and haven't looked back since. My hair grows very slowly, so I am very concious of how much I get trimmed off of it.

Another issue- I side part my hair (I just like the look better) and my hair on the side I part it gets so heavy that I have to use a bobby pin to keep that side of hair out of my face. I talked to my hairdresser about it, and he agreed that it was really heavy and so after trimming my hair dry, he blew it out, and then cut into the front parts more, to get some of the weight out. I believe this term is referred to as "texturizing." I am really happy with the results. Keep in mind, these photos were taken after having slept on it, and touching it up a bit. (Click to enlarge)

It is still long, which is exactly what I wanted. He really takes very little off of the length and just works on re-shaping the layers and taking some of the heaviness out. Not many stylists are open to not cutting off a lot of length, but I always make it clear with a new stylist from the start that cutting inches off of my hair is NOT going to fly.

I am coming to the realization that my digital camera needs a new battery. I was warned when we bought it that the battery lasts for about 2 years...and it has been longer than that. Even when charged, the battery doesn't provide my camera with the power it needs to create crisp, bright images. I am having to Photoshop a lot for brightness and contrast just to get acceptable images. Anyways, below is my eye makeup from going out yesterday evening.


Eyes:
Coastal Scents 88 warm palette (I used one of the very lightest matte shawdows as a base and highlight)

MAC "Satin Taupe" e/s in the crease

Urban Decay "Midnight Cowboy Rides Again" e/s in the inner corner (layered over Anastasia highlighting pencil)

MAC "Retrospeck" e/s on lid

MAC Fluidline Gel liner in "Blacktrack" on top lid and in "Dipdown" on bottom. I used Bonne Bell eyeliner in "Black Ink" on my waterline.

DiorShow Waterproof Mascara w/ CoverGirl Lash Blash Waterproof layered over it

You can see in the pic that I had a bit of fallout from the Urban Decay shadow. Oh well! You can also see the "peony" blush in that photo. Love love love.

What did you buy this weekend? Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo,
Veronika.

ps- here is another shot of the hair. I realized the first one was kind of dark so I adjusted the contrast more. Hope this gives a more clear idea of the cut! You can also see the "peony" blush a bit better in this photo.

Air-Drying Left me Damp (Literally)

Yesterday evening, I proudly came home from the gym after a good workout and washed my hair so that I could embark on the wonderful journey of air-drying. Unfortunately, my-air drying experience left much to be desired.

After applying mousse to my roots and Morrocanoil to my ends, I dried just the front and top part of my hair with a hairdryer to ensure my side part would set properly. Then I put two velcro rollers just at the very front of my hair.

I went to sleep and ended up waking up several times, shivering from the ceiling fan blowing on my wet hair. I made an effort to towel-dry it as best as I could, but alas it was not enough.

My hair looked surprisingly good when I woke up for work. The waves/curls were not frizzy and my hair seemed to have unprecedented bounce to it. I had to blast some sections (mainly the back/ends) with a hairdryer to get the rest of the moisture out, then, I set it in velcro rollers. I used a flat iron to straighten the underneath parts of my hair (they always get the curliest).

I must admit, I was pleased with the results. However, I need to develop a new approach so that I don't end up with wet hair that makes me shiver all night. Next time, I plan to blow dry all of my roots (front, top and back) and only let my ends air dry. The way I see it, I only wash my hair twice per week, so the damage I inflict on it with my hairdryer isn't as severe as someone who heat dries daily.

Tomorrow is my long-anticipated micro-trim. I will post pics after my haircut, even though I'm certain it won't look much different.

Speaking of hair, I just stumbled upon this awesome new pic of VS model Alessandra Ambrosio and I am loving the way her hair is colored...it's a little but blonde, a little bit brunette.

I also can't resist posting these gorgeous pics of Kate Beckinsale's hair. It's official- If I could have ANY hair (color, cut, style) it would have to be hers. Be still my heart. (Click to see larger: photos from The Skinny Website)


xoxo,

Veronika