The Hair and Makeup Blog

Your Guide To High Definition Makeup Without Airbrushing

1. Silicone is your friend
2. All flaws, natural or cosmetic become magnified in Hi-Def
3. Important to soften imperfections, minimize pores
4. Skin can't be too matte
5. Skin can't be shiny
6. Use color correcting Make Up For Ever HD Primer before foundation
   • Green primer reduces reds  
   • Pink brightens skin
   • Carmel primer combats ashy in medium and dark tone skin
   • Neutral makes the skin luminous
7. Use High Def Foundation
   • Make Up For Ever Hi Def Foundation covers invisibly without having to use an airbrush

8.     Use Make Up For Ever High Def Microfinish Powder

• Use non-pigmented powder.  You don’t want to change the color of the makeup with the setting powder
• Smoothes the skin and absorbs oil without matifying
• Mineral silica powder softens the appearance of imperfections

       

Have you used hi-def makeup or Make Up For Ever HD makeup?  

How do you feel in general about hi-def makeup?

Shiny, Softer, Silky Hair Extensions At The Start

Condition 100% Remy hair extensions prior to wearing:                                    

• Gently comb through human hair extensions with a medium width comb   
• Wet human hair extensions and apply generous amount of Bain de Terre Balancing Conditioner in a bowl or sink
• Let hair extensions sit in conditioner for an hour or overnight
• Rinse hair extensions and let air dry or use warm dryer
• Have your stylist apply your human hair extensions

Why you need to know if your European and Indian hair extensions are cuticle hair extensions

Human hair extensions that have not been processed are considered virgin hair extension or Remy hair extensions. Once the hair has been color treated it is no longer virgin hair because the hair has been chemically altered. There are some establishments that sell color treated hair extensions as virgin Remy hair. This is a bit misleading. Blond Indian hair is not virgin hair. Indian hair comes in natural occurring blacks and browns.  European hair extensions are available in natural occurring reds, blondes, and browns and black.

There are pedigrees in hair extensions. Cuticle hair extensions are the highest level human hair extensions available. Cuticle hair is cut from the donors head. All of the hair is aligned in the same direction and applied to a weft or arranged in bulks for fusion or pre-tipped hair. There is less tangling and the hair has longer shelf life.

Non cuticle hair is hair that has been swept from floors and removed from brushes sometimes referred to as garbage hair. All the hair is not aligned in the same direction. Non cuticle hair causes tangles, matting and poor performance.

Top stylists are recommending and using cuticle hair European and Indian hair extensions. Now more savvy women are catching on and women with knowledge are seeking better quality hair. Who can blame them? No one wants to spend money on throw away hair. Informed women are realizing that they can save money in the long run by purchasing quality reusable hair extensions. Cuticle hair extensions are long lasting, durable, do not tangle, maintains sheen over time and therefore reusable beyond a year.

Did you find this article informative? Bookmark this article and share with your friends and stylists.

Shop cuticle hair extensions now. 

Caudalie Beauty Elixir

Let me just say that I am a big fan of the Caudalie French skin care line and will be featuring more  posts on their products.  I sampled the beauty elixir a year ago while waiting in the Sephora checkout line.  I sprayed the elixir on my face and immediately I felt my pores and skin tighten.  I fell in love with the scent of the elixir and was captivated by the grape extracts, rose extracts, mint and essential oils.    So like any product junkie I purchased the beauty elixir and have been a faithful Caudalie user.

I experienced younger looking skin, smaller pores and many other benefits from using this product, some that are not advertised.  The beauty elixir is medicinal in the way it relieves and calms irritated skin.  Although a favorite with women, the elixir can be used by men after shaving.

So what ingredients are in this wonder product?
Extracts of grape, essential oil of rosemary, orange blossom and rose extracts, benzoin, myrrh essential oils of organic balm mint and mint

You can find the Caudalie Beauty Elixir here

You can also find the beauty elixir in my makeup kit.  I use the elixir to prep the skin before applying  makeup primer and foundation.  Sometimes I follow the foundation or powder with the beauty elixir to help set the makeup.

Shampoos, Conditioners and Your Human Hair Extensions

Just like your own hair needs appropriate hair care products so do your Remy hair extensions.  Select the right products whether you are wearing European hair extensions, Indian hair extensions or Brazilian hair extensions. 

Some people have the misconception that any products can be used on hair extensions. That kind of cavalier approach can leave you singing the hair blues.  Trust, been there done that and don't want anyone having a bad hair day.  Protein based shampoos and conditioners should be avoided as they can leave your hair looking dull and feeling dry.  So before you reach into your bathroom cabinet for your regular shampoo and conditioner consider using a balancing shampoo and conditioner.  We love the Bain De Terre Green Meadow balancing shampoo and conditioner. What we love is how well the Bain De Terre line works with color treated hair extensions, virgin Remy hair extensions as well as your own hair.  We can go on about the benefits.  Bain de Terre shampoo and conditioner provides new life to hair extensions. The balancing shampoo removes buildup and the conditioner detangles.  These Green Meadow botanical products have a refreshing smell.  The shampoo and conditioner  leaves hair revitalized, shiny, soft, and manageable. 

Reusability: Hair Extensions and The Economy

Read closely if you wear human hair extensions or human hair weaves.  How often do you buy hair extensions that you throw away?  How much do you spend a year on throw away hair?

The economy has some of us scrutinizing spending.  No purchase is too small for scrutiny and this goes for hair extensions.  But what does this mean?  Do we have to g ive up looking beautiful?  Absolutely not.

Consumers want superb quality and practicality.  Quality Hair = Reusable Hair Extensions and Cost Savings in the long run. 

Quality Remy human hair extensions can lasts for a year or longer.  Now is not a time to throw your hard earned dollars on "throw away hair.“  Spending a little more today will save you MORE in the long run.

See one of our earlier post:

3 things to consider before purchasing hair extensions

Buy 100% Indian Hair Extensions

Buy 100% European Hair Extensions

 

How much hair do you need to purchase when using traditional hair wefts?

This is a question that we get asked with some frequency and the answer is it depends.  Two factors to consider when determining how much hair you will need are:

1.       1.  The length of the hair extensions

2.       2.  Is your goal to add a little body to your own hair?  Are you wanting a partial weave or a full weave?

 The longer the hair extensions the more hair you will need.  For example you will require between 8 to 10 ounces of hair if the extensions are 16 inches or longer.  Shorter hair extensions require 6 to 8 ounces.  Better to have and not need than need and not have when you are in the middle of weave appointment with your stylist.  

A common practice for some women is to supplement their own hair with hair extensions.   This is often referred to as a partial weave and helps women provide a more flattering body to their natural hair.

3 things to consider before purchasing hair extensions

The Look:
Before you spend any money on human hair extensions decide what look you want to achieve. Are you going for straight, wavy, curly, short, medium or long length?  Most importantly, do you desire the option to wear multiple looks?  Curly and wavy human hair extensions can be worn straight with the use of heating devices: hair dryer, blow dryer and a flat iron.  Conversely, this hair can be reverted back to wavy or curly with the use of water. 

Know what you are buying:

Everything is not as advertised.  Just because the package says Remy Hair does not necessarily mean the hair is Remy: know the origin of the hair. Purchase hair extensions like you would a good pair of shoes, look for quality and the right fit.  You would not go into Payless looking for quality Italian shoes.  Likewise, it is important to select the right merchant to purchase hair extensions.  Be careful, as many beauty supply stores might sell counterfeit or lower end Remy hair extensions – sometimes without knowing the difference themselves.  Keep in mind that the best quality hair extensions are Indian hair extensions, Brazilian hair extensions and  European hair extensions..

Reusability:
Perhaps you want to consider reusing purchased extensions: the best reusable hair extensions on the market for African American, Hispanic or mixed race women are Indian Remy hair extensions that have not been processed (sometimes referred to as cuticle hair or virgin hair). Indian hair extensions come in naturally occurring wavy, straight and curly textures.