Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Buns, Knots, and Chignon's

Buns, Knots and Chignon's

It's all the rage right now!  The old school dancer bun is making a come back.  Sleek or messy are in all the fashion magazines and on the runways this fall.  I personally like wearing my hair in a cute little knot when I don't have time to dry my hair all the way!  The steps to creating a Chignon:

Things you will need:
Hair pins, Headband, or sticks
Clear elastics
Round brush, brush, comb
Hair spray, hair mousse
Anti frizz serum
Old toothbrush

1. Begin with damp hair, apply a quarter amount of mousse and either blow dry hair or let air dry for a more messy look.  For a more sleek look try blow drying with a round brush.

2. Once dry brush your hair back into a low ponytail.  For messy look just gather with your fingers into a low ponytail. I like to secure the ponytail with a clear elastic.  Then get a firm grip around the base of the ponytail and use your other hand to twist the tail into a tight spiral.


3. Hold the base of the ponytail with one hand, then lift the tail straight up with the other. Begin to coil it clockwise around the base. When you've made half of a circle, release the hand holding the base and use it to hold the forming bun as you continue to coil the tail of the chignon.
4. Complete one rotation, keep twisting if you have longer hair, then tuck the end of the tail under the chignon. If your hair is long enough, you might be able to push the tail through the bun and make a knot.

5. Secure the chignon using a few hair pins or a hair sticks. Push one pin through at any outside edge, collecting a small amount of the bun as you make the insertion. Secure the opposite side with a second pin. If you're using a hair stick, push the tip up through a corner of the chignon. Rotate the stick 180 degrees and push it gently through the base of the bun.

6.  Then take a old toothbrush and put a little anti frizz serum on the bristles and smooth out your fly aways.  

Sounds a little complicated but once you start playing around with it you will find your own little technique!

Here are some beautiful examples of sleek buns:










and a few messy: 







Others added a little braid or twist:








Jessica Simpsons Hairdo brand even has a clip in chignon:


The cheaters way to a perfect bun:


These great little doughnuts can be found at most retailers that sell hair products.  You simply make a ponytail.  Slide the doughnut on the ponytail and then start wrapping the hair around it until the doughnut is completely covered.  Then pin the hair in place and tada! Perfect bun!

You can add a little spice to your bun or chignon by pulling it to the side of your head or parting your hair on a deep side part.  Have fun with this style and remember it doesn't always have to be perfect!!  



Tuesday, August 2, 2011

My Sephora Addiction...

If you love anything beauty and especially love playing in make up then I'm sure you all have been to ....



Although if you haven't, you honestly are missing out!  They now even have smaller Sephora stores in JcPennys!  It's my addiction and I normally can't leave the store without a few new things.  So in my recent trip to Sephora I picked up some new things and got back ups for things I was running out of.  Here's what I got...


Another Clinique Bottom Lash mascara, I absolutely love this stuff!!


These are two new purchases.  Nars lipstick!!! OMG I had never tried anything Nars before but the girl helping me had it on and I loved it.  She took me over and we started playing with the different colors.  I like it because it's almost glossy and you can make it lighter or darker by applying more!! It stays on very well also.  Then is my new foundation brush.  It is Sephora's Professional line, airbrush precision foundation brush.  The girl told me to try this and I would fall in love with how flawless my makeup would look.  She of course was right!  I use it everyday now!


First square is my new under eye concealer brush.  It's also from Sephoras Professional line, airbrush concealer brush.  She recommended I use this brush with the under eye concealer I got to help blend it better and get in the small creases   Second box is one of Sephoras lip glosses.  They have a few fun colors that put a little color on your lips and alot of shine!
Bottom left box is a Urban Decay eye shadow.  This is about my 5th eye shadow that they make and I love them all.  They are so pigmented and stay on your eyes all day without creasing or losing their color after a few hours.  The new color I got was called "X"!  Then the last thing I got in the bottom right square was a back up of my favorite foundation.  Make Up Forever's Mat Velvet Foundation.  Love, love, love this foundation and it truly makes your skin flawless.  I like to wear this defiantly on special occasions.


Top left box is Peter Thomas Roth's powder sunscreen.  I bought this before I went to Destin and it was perfect for the beach.  Normally this product is $30 but they had it in the bins by the register for $12!  Now I keep it in my purse for sunscreen touch ups through out the day.  Top right is the under eye concealer the fabulous girl that was helping me introduced me to.  It's Hourglass hidden corrective concealer.  She tried it on me in the store and I looked so much more awake afterwards. It was a must buy purchase and I am so happy I did!  Bottom left is a replacement head for my Clarsonic.  The deep pore cleansing brush head that's great for black heads and deep pores.  Bottom right is Sephora brand lip stick.  I really like their lipsticks and feel like they stay on well and have a good variety of colors.

I'm sure alot of you have gotten lost in Sephora many times and spent way to much money before.  What all have you  bought at Sephora recently that you love?!?!?