The Perfect Texturized Ponytail with MoroccanOil and Hair Slinky by La Vita Glam

Since my hair is so fine and straight (seeing it in its natural state is a rare occurrence), if I want to wear my hair up (another rare occurrence), creating a ton of texture is key. Without it, all I've got is a very sad looking ponytail. It was thus rather fortuitous that I was sent some products from MoroccanOil a few months back, which allowed me to come up with this routine for the perfect texturized ponytail.

After showering, I dispense a golf ball sized amount of the MoroccanOil Beach Wave Mousse, concentrating from mid-length down to the ends. You can let your hair air dry if you've got the time but to speed things up, I blow dry with my diffuser attachment on. Since my hair is so slippery, this mousse adds a good amount of texture without feeling gritty (though you can definitely feel that there's some sort of product in it).

To create a bit more volume, I like to add some random curls with my ghd 1" styler. Next, I use the MoroccanOil Dry Texture Spray, lifting my hair at the roots and spritzing. I like this spray because it definitely adds texture but doesn't seem to leave a lot of product buildup like the mousse.

Finally, for a more piecey look, I rub a little bit of MoroccanOil Texture Clay on my hair ends. I think this clay is probably intended for shorter hair styles as it's considered a unisex product but it works for this purpose as well.

To secure my hair up these days I have been using the Hair Slinky by La Vita Glam. These probably look familiar to you as I'm pretty sure I've seen key chains that look like this. However, you can also use them for your hair! The company claims they're creaseless and won't cause breakage when you pull them out. Plus, the bigger ones can double as bracelets which is kind of fun.

I like the idea of the Hair Slinky but don't love how visible they can look when they're in your hair -- just my personal preference. As such, I've been opting for the smaller sized ones since they're not as noticeable when worn (I'm wearing the small brown one in the picture below). Another pro tip: if your Hair Slinky stretches out, which is inevitable, you can drop it in a cup of hot water and it will shrink back down. Apparently blow drying works the same too.

Hair Styling with Mint Hair Lounge and OSiS+

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be treated to a hairstyling session at Mint Hair Lounge in Port Moody thanks to Schwarzkopf Professional (the salon is linked with the brand and carries their full line of products). Upon entering the establishment and being introduced to my stylist Matthew, I quickly realized that this was unlike any other salon I've ever been to. It felt very hip, and everyone was so friendly and joking around with each other - while still being professional, of course! 

After washing my hair, Matthew started by spraying on OSiS+ Blow & Go Thick ($21 CAD). This product is a blowdry spray that helps hair dry faster while adding body. To make sure it doesn't clump up, the trick is to spray it in a downwards direction then scrunch at the roots. Next, Matthew blowdried my hair with a round brush, concentrating on the roots to add lift and body.

We could have left my hair like that (it was already looking quite voluminous), but we decided to add some bouncy waves. For this, Matthew showed me his patented way of getting effortless curls. First, he sectioned my hair into four pigtails around my head and then curled smaller sections of each pigtail with a flat iron. Then, he removed the elastics and had me turn my head upside down so he could comb through the curls with his fingers. It looked a bit funny but it worked! Lastly, we finished off with some OSiS+ Magic Finish Anti-Frizz Shine Serum and OSiS+ Session Extreme Hold Hairspray to keep my hair in place.

You may actually recognize the finished hairstyle from my most recent outfit post. I loved how effortless and bouncy the waves ended up looking and feeling. 

Port Moody is a bit of a ways from Vancouver but if you're in the area, Mint Hair Lounge is definitely a place I recommend checking out. It has a great unpretentious vibe and Matthew was a ton of fun to talk to. In fact, I'd say the salon is worth the drive.

Location: 2337 Clarke Street, Port Moody, BC
Website: http://www.minthairlounge.ca


P.S. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I certainly did :)

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" Nail Art Tutorial

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" is coming out next Friday and I could not be more excited (I love Jennifer Lawrence). I hear there are going to be some really cool outfits in the movie, and because beauty and aesthetics are such a huge part of life in The Capitol, I also thought it would be fun to put together this flaming nail art tutorial inspired by The Hunger Games.

To recreate this look, there are just 4 simple steps:

1. First, paint on a shimmery coal nail polish as your base colour. I used MAC Cosmetics Military from their Holiday 2013 Divine Night Collection.

2. Next, paint on a gold polish (I used mark. Trend Mini Nail Lacquer in Gleam Scene) partway down the nail, creating flicks to look like flames.

3. Add a red polish (I used mark. Trend Mini Nail Lacquer in Snowberry) on top of the gold flames, being careful to leave some peeking through.

4. Last, I decided to top my nails with Essie As Gold As It Gets, which is a gold top coat. This step is optional but adds a bit of dimension and sparkle.

In honour of the movie's upcoming release, I also have a super exciting giveaway for any Hunger Games fans in the Vancouver-area. One lucky reader will win:

• Two advanced screening tickets to "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" on November 20, 2013 playing at 7 p.m. in the Scotiabank Theatre 
• A Hunger Games Prize Pack (including the book trilogy, DVD, and lots of other swag)

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER, KATHERINE!

Tutorial: Volumized Hair with OSiS+ Refresh Dust

I'm super excited to announce that I will be working with OSiS+ over the next few months sharing tutorials and reviews on some of their fabulous hair styling products! For those of you who aren't familiar with the brand, hopefully these posts will give you a little insight into the products I recommend and the different ways you can use them.

First up is Refresh Dust ($23.50 CAD), a light control dry shampoo that adds volume and texture. The sprayable powder also refreshes hair between washes thanks to its mattifying properties and clean, fresh scent. Plus, unlike many other dry shampoos, it doesn't seem to leave the dreaded white residue which is often a problem for those of us with dark hair.

After testing Refresh Dust on second day hair, I was pleased to find that it worked pretty well in terms of absorbing oil. However, my hair gets greasy no matter what so I still prefer washing it everyday in order to avoid looking like a hot mess. Instead, I have been loving this product for work days because it doesn't take much time to add some volume to my otherwise straight/limp/fine hair ("before" examples here and here). Here's how I do it:

1. If your hair is freshly washed like mine, blowdry to ensure it's completely dry. Refresh Dust doesn't work well on wet hair.

2. Shake the can well and lift sections of hair, spraying the product directly on the roots. I also like to spray a bit on the mid-lengths of my hair to add more texture.

3. Using your fingers, fluff and comb through the hair to work in the powder. You should be left with perfectly volumized, texturized hair!

Tutorial: Pastel Rose & Stripes Manicure

I know rose/flower nail art is nothing new but I was playing around with the Essie Bridal 2013 Collection recently and thought the colours would lend themselves nicely to this easy pastel rose & stripes mani.

I opted for Using My Maiden Name (an iridescent violet inspired by hydrangeas) as my base colour and My Better Half (a blue-toned pink inspired by peonies) as my base rose colour. For the rose highlight colour and stripes, I used AVON Nail Art Enamel in Cupid, Styled Green for the leaves, and Kiss Nail Art Paint in Silver Glitter also for the stripes.

1. Paint on your base colour and let dry.
2. To create the roses, dab your base rose colour in roundish shapes randomly on each nail.
3. Add the rose highlight colour to the roses to create some dimension.
4. Add leaves to the side of each rose.
5. Paint on stripes if you decide to have an accent nail (or two).

Lastly, finish with a top coat (I used AVON UV Gloss Guard Top Coat) to protect your work and keep your nails looking shiny.

The stripes are, of course, totally optional but I thought they added a bit of whimsy. Next time, however, I'm planning on sticking with roses on all my nails for a full-on floral explosion!


P.S. This nail look is also featured as my contribution to this week's FASHION Magazine Beauty Panel challenge on how to wear pastel makeup. Be sure to check out the post here.

ghd Candy Styler Tutorial: Retro-Inspired Glamour Waves

ghd has long been hailed as one of the best (if not the best) brand of hair straighteners around. I'd wanted one for ages but eventually put the purchase on hold for what I thought were very practical reasons. Since my hair is naturally straight I figured spending money on a flat iron didn't make much sense, even if it did have additional styling capabilities apart from just straightening. I finally got the chance to check this straightener off my lust list when ghd (which stands for "good hair day") sent me one of their new Candy Stylers. Well, apparently I've been missing out all these years!

Inspired by retro sweetshop favourites, the candy collection features the ghd IV styler in three limited edition colours: mint, lemon, and violet. I opted for the mint, which is super cute.

While I don't have much personal experience with hair straighteners, I've found the Candy Styler very easy to use. The ceramic plates heat up quickly and the 2.8 metre swivel cord makes handling a breeze. Plus, the curved barrel means you can also use the straightener to curl or wave your hair.

I've really been liking the side-swept glamour waves a lot of celebrities have been sporting on the red carpet (for example, Jessica Alba and J. Lo) so I thought I'd put together a tutorial on how you can use the ghd Candy Styler to get a similar look.

First, start by combing your hair to get out any knots and spray on a heat protectant (I'm currently using Tresemmé Heat Tamer Protective Spray).

Next, take a section of hair and place it in the ghd Candy Styler as if you're about to straighten it. Turn the styler outwards (away from your face), wrapping the hair around it. Pull the styler all the way down the length of your hair, creating a curl. This part can be a little tricky but holding onto the ends of the hair as you're turning and pulling helps a lot. Repeat until all of your hair has been curled.

Once your whole head is done, brush or comb out the curls (I'm using a pick comb) to create softer waves. Apply a mousse or serum like UNITE Shina Liquid Gloss for smooth, shiny hair and to keep it in place.

Lastly, bobby pin your hair to one side and the look is complete!

ghd's hairstyles inspirations page has a lot of other great ideas on how the Candy Styler can be used. I can't wait to experiment some more with mine!

OPI Skyfall Magnetic Lacquer: Morning, Moneypenny

Apparently it's nail polish week here on the blog (check out my cupcake nail art tutorial if you haven't already). This post features Morning, Moneypenny, which is part of the recent OPI Skyfall Magnetic Lacquers Collection. The Skyfall Collection celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the James Bond enterprise and is full of gorgeous colours that are perfect for the holiday season. In addition to the 12 regular polishes, OPI released a set of Pure Lacquer Nail Apps and 3 Magnetic Sets.

Magnetic polishes have been very popular this year but I personally hadn't found any I was too intrigued by. However, when Vervegirl asked me to review this polish, I figured now was as good a time as any to give them a go!

OPI's Magnetic Set is different from a lot of other magnetic polishes I've seen because it includes a unique and easy-to-use plastic magnetizer that you slide your finger into to create the design.

I thought it might be useful to show you guys how the magnetizer works so I've created this quick tutorial. As a note, with magnetic nail polishes, it's best to do one nail at a time since you want to ensure the polish is still wet when you're applying the magnet.

1. Apply two coats of Morning, Moneypenny to the nail.

2. While the polish is still wet, place your finger onto the bottom of the magnetizer with the magnet positioned over the nail. Press the top side down until the edge touches the finger below the cuticle being careful not to touch the nail with the magnet. Hold for 10-12 seconds.

3. Release the magnet and pull it away carefully to reveal the design.

4. Finish off with a top coat since the polish does finish a little gritty.

Interestingly, the design revealed looks more like a chevron pattern as opposed to the picture shown on the magnetizer. I think I actually like the chevron effect more anyway, and I love the extra dimension this polish gives to my nails. Looks like I'll need to pay more attention to magnetics from now on!

Tutorial: Cupcake Nails

It's been a while since my last nail art tutorial (see my gradient nail tutorial and leopard print nail tutorial), so I'm super excited about this one... Cupcake Nails! Aren't they cute?

For this tutorial, I used a number of  products from AVON and Vervegirl, including the new Nail Art Enamel which will be available as of January 2013 through AVON Independent Sales Representatives, 1-800-265-AVON, or online. These small polishes come with a precision brush for more detailed nail designs. If you don't have nail art polishes, however, don't worry! You can just use regular nail polish with a small paint brush or a toothpick might even work for the cupcake wrapper, cherry, and sprinkles.

Before you begin to create your cupcakes, you may want to start off with a base coat. I used AVON Gel Strength Base Coat.

1. Paint your nails the base colour and let dry. 

2. Create the cupcake wrapper by drawing thin lines from the base of your nail upwards.

3. Add the icing by painting "clouds" from the tips of your nails to a little less than halfway down.

4. Dot on a cherry at the very tip of the icing.

5. Add different coloured sprinkles in a random pattern.

Lastly, finish off with a top coat to protect your hard work. I used AVON UV Gloss Guard Top Coat.

One thing to note is that this particular mani works best if you have rounded nail tips like mine. If you have square tips, you can simply reverse the cupcake orientation to have it facing out and it works great that way too.

As always, please let me know if you try out this tutorial. I'd love to see your versions!

Summer Hair Tutorial: Beachy Waves & Volume

You may have noticed that I really only wear my hair two ways: straight or curled. Lately, I've been experimenting with different styling methods within these two categories and thought I'd share how I achieve a "beachy wave" look on my naturally pin straight and very fine hair.

Here's the look we're going for:

Since heat styling is an integral part of this tutorial, start by spritzing your hair with a heat protectant. I'm currently using the Got 2B Guardian Angel Heat Protect 'N Curl Spray and Gloss Finish. My thoughts are largely the same with respect to the Got 2B Guardian Angel 475°F Heat Protect 'n Blow Out, which I've reviewed before, so read this if you want to know what I think about it.

Next, curl your hair as normal. I recommend using at least a 1.5" curling iron for looser waves.

To achieve the "beachy" look, you'll want to use a beach/salt spray of some kind. Here I'm using the Sedu Beach Beauty Sea Salt Spray which smells just like coconut, one of my favourite scents! To use, you simply shake the product up to mix it and spray all over.

I had initially hoped to use this spray as a way of creating texture when I wear my hair natural but unfortunately it does absolutely nothing except leave it feeling a little more "piece-y" than normal.  I would not recommend it if you have hair like mine (long, fine, straight) unless you are going to curl it like I've done in this tutorial. This product does have great reviews, however, so if you have a natural wave to your hair you may have more success without having to resort to a curling iron.

Once your hair has sufficiently been coated with the beach/salt spray, scrunch to create texture and loosen your curls.

To get some extra volume at your crown, spray your roots with a volumizing spray like Alterna Bamboo Uplifting Root Blast. Unlike a dry shampoo, this is a root boosting hair spray made with organic bamboo and maca root. It works best on dry hair and I have been quite pleased with the results. The only thing I'm not particularly fond of is the scent, which smells like stale men's cologne, but thankfully it wears off quickly/I stop noticing it.

Lastly, hair spray to set all your hard work. I'm a really big fan of Tresemmé Tres Two Extra Hold Hair Spray, which can be found at any drugstore and usually for very cheap. I've found it does an especially good job keeping the frizzies at bay and my curls usually last the whole day unless I get caught in the rain.

And that's it! The whole process only takes me about 10-15 minutes to complete (curling takes the longest) and I'm left with a great casual hairstyle that's perfect for the summer!


Disclaimer: I received the Sedu Beach Beauty Sea Salt Spray and Alterna Bamboo Root Volumizing Spray for review from Folica. All other products used were purchased by me. 

Tutorial: Gradient Nails (No Sponges Required)

I've posted my gradient nails on this blog before (see them in pink and green) and have been meaning to do this tutorial for ages. I had initially wanted to make a video but alas, I have no idea how to film/edit... so I hope this pictorial will help explain things!

My version of the gradient nail look doesn't require sponges like many other tutorials; however, you will probably need some patience at the beginning as there are lots of polishes and multiple layers involved. Here is the final look:

To start off, you will need 4 nail polishes (or 5-6 if you count base coat and top coat). Your base colour must be semi-sheer and light (I am using OPI Tijuana Dance?). Your 2 next colours must be in the same colour family going from a light colour to a darker one (they make up the gradient). For this tutorial, I decided to go with blue. My middle gradient colour is Deborah Lippmann Across The Universe and my tip colour is Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Navy Baby. Lastly, you will need a glitter top coat to help conceal the harsh lines between each layer of polish. Here I am using Revlon Galaxy Top Coat.

To explain this tutorial, I will be referring to the names of the polishes I used to avoid confusion. Just substitute whatever polish colours you are using accordingly.

1. Paint on a base layer of Tijuana Dance? and let dry.
2. Paint a layer of Across The Universe from the tip of your nails to 3/4 of the way down and let dry.
3. Layer Tijuana Dance? on top of Across the Universe to conceal the harsh lines and let dry.

4. Paint the tips of your nails with Navy Baby and let dry.
5. Layer Tijuana Dance? over Navy Baby to conceal the harsh lines and let dry.
6. Layer the entire nail with Galaxy Top Coat to conceal the harsh lines between each gradient colour.

7. Brush on top coat, and you're done!

NOTE: Once you've completed all the steps, you can play around a bit with your polish layers to get the right look. For this mani, I actually ended up layering a bit more of Across The Universe on top to blend in the colours.


I know there are a lot of steps but once you get the hang of it, I swear it's really easy to do. Let me know if you try it out for yourself!

Tutorial: Leopard Print Nails

A number of people were wondering how I did the leopard print nails in this recent blog post so I thought I'd do a quick tutorial. These are actually really simple to do and are super customizable because you can choose whatever colours you like. Who says leopard print has to be "traditional" anyway?

So to get started, you will need three different nail polishes: a base colour, a colour for the spots, and colour to line the spots with (it's easier if you have a nail art pen but you can use a paint brush/old eyeliner brush with regular nail polish too).

Here's what I used for this tutorial:

OPI Pamplona Purple, AA Peacock, Kiss Nail Art Paint in Black

1. Paint your nails the base colour and let it dry.

2. Use the spot colour to paint different sized spots over your nails.

3. Using the liner colour, dab around the spots randomly. Don't worry if it's a little imperfect.

4. Brush on top coat (I've been loving Essie Good To Go recently), and you're done!


I hope this tutorial was somewhat useful... please let me know if you try it out - I'd love to see your take on it!