Cosmetology Portfolio

Cosmetology Portfolio, a set on Flickr.

Greetings, readers! I’m thrilled to say I’ve successfully made it through my first semester of cosmetology school, I’m loving every second of it, learning a ton, and am officially on my first break! Although, after the past four months of a full-time (40 hours a week) course load, I kind of don’t know what to do with myself. So I went ahead and created my very first online slideshow portfolio of some of the work I’ve been doing in and out of school, including hair cuts, haircolor, updos, vintage hairstyles, and even nail art. Check it out!

A Year of Natural Health & Beauty Tip #39: Enhance Your Hair’s Dark Tones with Coffee or Tea

Image by THOR via Wikimedia Commons

To view all tips so far, click here or simply scroll to the top of the screen and click on 52 Tips.

If you’ve been following along so far, you’ve already gotten tips on making homemade blonde highlights, and perking up red hues with hibiscus tea. Well, if you’ve got lovely chocolate-hued or raven locks, you’ll be happy to know that you can enhance your dark hair just as easily—and just as naturally, too!

This easy DIY home remedy will also help to cover stray greys and peek-a-boo light roots. If you’re a natural-born brunette, you might notice your hair getting mousy over time. And if you color your hair brown, you might want to add rich depth without spending a fortune.

My favorite all-natural, easy way to enhance dark hair is to simply use coffee or black tea! Unlike the blonde and red highlighting sprays, though, this remedy works best when your hair is completely saturated. So be sure to give yourself at least 30 minutes to an hour—and try to avoid using light-colored towels for clean-up

Coffee will impart a rich, chocolatey tone; black tea will give your hair a deep tone with fantastic shine. If you’re feeling extra-bold (mmm, just like a fresh cup of coffee), use both coffee and tea!

And remember, if you are a blonde or redhead, be sure to check out my previous posts for tips suitable for your locks! (My hair has been just about every shade in the book, so believe me, I’ve done them all.)

Stuff to Know:

• This rinse is recommended only for hair that is its natural color or has been colored only with natural products, such as henna or herbs. If your hair has been chemically treated or if you go to a salon for highlights or coloring, please talk with your stylist first.
• Spot test any products or ingredients before using any homemade products on your face, head, or body, especially if you have sensitive skin or are prone to irritation and/or allergies.
• This rinse is best used right away. Do not store it.

Coffee / Tea Hair Rinse for Brunette Highlights and Depth

Ingredients

• 1/2 gallon brewed coffee, very strong. Do not use instant coffee, only freshly brewed.
• OR 1/2 gallon very strong black tea (use at least 5 tea bags and brew for at least 5 minutes)
• OR a blend of coffee and tea

To use:

• Make sure your coffee/tea has cooled completely before using.
• With a towel wrapped around your neck, align your head over a sink basin or bucket.
• Very slowly pour the coffee/tea over your hair until each strand is fully saturated.
• Comb through. Style your hair into a bun if possible, and cover with a shower cap or plastic wrap to prevent drips.
• Leave on for one hour, then rinse and shampoo as usual.
• Repeat as needed to keep you hair rich and deep!

Do you have dark hair or dark lowlights?

Have you ever used coffee or tea in your hair care?

A Year of Natural Health & Beauty Tip #14: Enhance Your Hair’s Red Tones with Hibiscus

Photo by Andrea Drugay

To view all tips so far, click here or simply scroll to the top of the screen and click on 52 Tips.

Red is a temperamental hair color! It likes to make a bold entrance, but doesn’t like to stick around.

If you’re a natural-born redhead, you might notice a gradual fading of your vibrant hue over time. And if you color your hair red, you might notice that it often fades quicker than other colors.

There are a couple of easy home remedies to perk up your fiery hues, without slathering your head with chemicals.

The first, and perhaps most well-known, option is to use henna instead of hair dye. Henna is a plant that’s been used since ancient times ~ think Cleopatra ~ to impart a red luster to locks. It’s an excellent all-natural choice if you’re looking to dye or to replace chemical dyes with something simple and time-tested. However, be aware that it’s a commitment, usually taking several hours from start to finish. Hairdressers claim it coats your strands, making it impossible to ever be stripped, so if you’re a commitmentphobe, stay away.

However, if you’re looking for all-natural, easy ways to enhance any naturally existing red tones or to brighten up fading color, look no further! It’s extremely simple to make your own red-highlighting hair rinse using just tea. If you’ve tried my homemade hair lightening spray, you already know how easy that one is. This one is just as easy ~ even more so because it only contains ONE ingredient!

This DIY spray will impart warm, red highlights. You can use it on individual strands or chunks, or on your entire head for an allover refresh. When used over time, it will keep your color vibrant, bright, and fiery!

If you are a blonde or have blonde highlights, be sure to check out my post on DIY hair lightening spray. If you’re dark-haired, stay tuned. I’ll be posting tips for you, as well! (My hair has been just about every shade in the book, so believe me, I’ve done them all.)

Stuff to Know:

• This rinse is recommended only for hair that is its natural color or has been colored only with natural products, such as henna or herbs. If your hair has been chemically treated or if you go to a salon for highlights or coloring, please talk with your stylist first.
• Spot test any products or ingredients before using any homemade products on your face, head, or body, especially if you have sensitive skin or are prone to irritation and/or allergies.
• This rinse can be stored in a cool, dark, dry spot for up to 1 week.

For a container, I used a small plastic spray bottle from the drugstore, which cost $0.99. I had all other ingredients on hand.

Photo by Andrea Drugay

Hibiscus Hair Rinse for Red Highlights

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried hibiscus flowers OR 3-5 bags of hibiscus tea **NOTE: Celestial Seasonings Zinger teas ALL have hibiscus as the first ingredient! You can use any one of the zinger teas for this hair rinse, but Red Zinger, Raspberry Zinger, or Tropic of Strawberry are your best choice.
• 2 cups purified water
• pinch of paprika (optional)

Steps

1. Boil the water in a saucepan. Once the water has reached a rolling boil, turn off the heat.
2. Add your tea bags or flowers to the steaming water. Steep for 5-10 minutes. The longer you steep it, the stronger your rinse will be.
3. Strain the flowers or tea bags and allow the water to cool completely.
4. As an optional step, you can add a pinch of paprika to the tea. Mix well until incorporated.
5. Transfer to your container. Store the remaining tea ~ or drink it!

To use:

• Spray on dry, clean hair, either all over or in small sections for targeted highlights.
• Comb through. Leave on for one hour, then rinse and shampoo as usual.
• For expedited red highlights, blow dry your hair while the spray is still on it, or sit in the sun while your hair air dries. The heat will speed the highlighting process.

Do you have red hair or red highlights?

Have you ever used henna or other natural hair coloring?

A Year of Natural Health & Beauty Tip #8: Rinse Your Hair with Beer for Volume and Shine

(M. Minderhoud, http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

It sounds like a frat party practical joke, doesn’t it?

To view all tips so far, click here or simply scroll to the top of the screen and click on 52 Tips.

This post is in honor of today’s Mardi Gras celebrations! Come tomorrow, many of you will be putting down the bottle for the next 40 days and might find it grueling to stare at that beer in the fridge, just teasing and taunting you. I know, many more of you won’t give it up, but bear (beer?) with me, because at some point in your life, it’s likely that you will have leftover, stale, or flat beer that would otherwise go to waste.

To some of you, I know that sounds completely absurd. Who in their right mind has leftover beer? If you’re a hardcore beer drinker who would rather chug backwash than watch any ounce of hops hit the floor, you’re welcome to skip right over this post

If you’re a beer liker, however, or a beer snob who doesn’t know what to do with cans of PBR after a house party, or if you’re a teetotaler who would otherwise use beer to prevent slugs in the garden… then, read on.

Rinsing your hair with beer will give it extra volume, shine, and manageability. It can be used on all hair types and is safe for color-treated or processed hair. You can use fresh, flat, stale, or old beer; ales, porters, flavored beer… whatever you have on hand, try it out.

Stuff to Know:

• Use room-temperature beer, not beer from the fridge or cooler.
• One full bottle or can of beer is plenty, even for long hair.
• Normal and oily hair will not require conditioner. The sugars from the beer will strengthen and smooth your hair. If your hair is extremely dry, use a light conditioner after the beer rinse.
  

  (Adrian Scottow, http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)

Beer Hair Rinse

1. Wash your hair with shampoo as you would normally do.
2. Make sure all the shampoo is rinsed out. Gently squeeze excess water from your hair.
3. Pour the beer slowly and gently into your hair.
4. Begin at your scalp. Work the beer through your hair with your fingertips and massage through to the ends of your hair.
5. Work the beer through for 1-2 minutes.
6. Rinse well with tepid or cool water.
7. To reduce any lingering beer smell, place a few drops of essential oil on a comb (try rosemary, lemon, or orange) and gently comb through your damp hair, moving from the ends toward the roots. Rinse again with tepid or cool water.
8. Dry and style as usual.

Have you ever used a “crazy” ingredient in your grooming routine?

Do you know any other good uses for leftover beer or other foods/drinks?

Things I Love Thursday: Special Valentine’s Edition

I’ll admit ~ I can be a fool for love. I’m also a fool for anything red or pink ~ or chocolate ~ and let’s not forget that I write (and read) romantic fiction! And while I can’t say doilies and red-cheeked Cupids are exactly my style, I do think it’s hard to go wrong with a day entirely devoted to LOVE in all shapes and forms.

So, in honor of next week’s V-Day, here are some supercute ~ or superdelicious ~ neat-o, maybe non-traditional, Valentine’s Day things I love from around the webs. Enjoy!

1. Raspberry White-Chocolate Cheesecake Bars via MyRecipes:

For the non-chocolate-eating loved ones in your life.

2. From GeekSugar: 50 Geeky Valentine’s Day Dates

Including: Make a pot of Earl Grey tea and watch a Star Trek marathon ~ which sounds like a normal day around here! Hahaha. It’s true. Especially now that you can Netflix all of the old Star Treks! All of ‘em! Oh, geeks. Yes, we are.

3. Super-great bike-themed Valentine e-cards from the San Francisco Bike Coalition:

4. Easy Melted Crayon Hearts from Martha Stewart Living:

Especially good if you have extra crayon nubs that you just know you can do something crafty with.

5. How to have a romantic Valentine’s Day alone, via The Frisky:

I personally would ditch the socks and do a pedicure instead, but to each her (or his, I suppose) own.

6. Awesome e-cards from someecards, always telling it like it is:

7. How to Make a Realistic Duct Tape Rose, via Instructables:

I think my honey might end up with black and silver roses. So Goth!

8. Via various craft blogs & Pinterest: Make a Deck of Cards Love Book

(from http://transcraftinental.blogspot.com)

(from http://papervinenz.blogspot.com/)

Beyond Valentine’s Day, I feel like this “book made with a deck of cards” has so many possibilities!

9. And don’t forget Rover and Fluffy! Valentine’s Day treats for your pets, via Etsy:

Not sure about Goldie and Tweetster, though…

10. Finally, I think this necklace says it all. Via Etsy (of course!):

I lurve youuuuuu! Have a fab-o weekend, y’all! <3

Are you a lover of love? A dreamer of dreams? Or a more practical, common-sense type?

Do you have any special Valentine’s Day plans?