Back to Basics: The Five Minute Face

Feb 2, 2011 by Clueless Fashionista

One of the main reasons I hear women give for not wearing makeup is a lack of time. It doesn’t take me much more than 5 minutes to do my daily face so I wanted to find a video of a woman applying her makeup in five minutes. Now this doesn’t mean she’s doing a full glam face with false lashes and all that. This is an everyday look that will punch up your look and make you look more polished overall. I came across quite a few videos and here is one of them. This is a very informal video. The lady, named Stacey, is doing her own makeup and she offers some great tips during the process.

See, that’s not too hard and she looks really natural without taking an hour. Makeup is supposed to highlight your features so it doesn’t have to take a long time to apply and look great. One thing I suggest you may want to skip if you’re a newbie is the eyelash curling portion. It’s not too hard to do but if you’ve never done it before, it will slow down your five minute face. Let me know if you have any questions about what was done in this video or if you want more tips on how to do a quick every day face.

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Hair tips to take you into the new year-guest post by Mandrill Hardge

Dec 10, 2010 by Clueless Fashionista

As we take the time to reflect over the year and give thanks for the many blessings that have been bestowed on us, I would certainly be out of order if I did not say thank you for your continued support and faithful following of my articles here on the awesome site of Cluelessfashionista.com.

This month’s article is simply my 3 most essential tips to keep in mind throughout the year.

1. Protein/Trim ~ Be sure to maintain consistent timing with these services. You will want to obtain your Protein Treatment every 4 to 6 weeks based on the strength of your hair and hair type. It is essential to your hair health and manageability to have a trim every 6 weeks.
2. Wash satin scarf and pillowcases ~ To keep hair from becoming weighed down with the natural oils from your scalp, be sure to wash your hair scarves and also your pillowcases at least once a week. Also run hot water over your combs and brushes weekly to dislodge any oils and loose hairs in them.
3. Build a Relationship ~ In an effort to obtain healthy hair and manageable hair, it is vital that you build a relationship with your stylist and also with the salon assistant. Ask those questions that you may think are dumb, because they are NOT. Probe your stylist for product knowledge and advice. This is the single most important thing you should do to gain and keep a healthy head of hair.

These are just a few of my favorite tips and also essential tools that I use with my clientele here in Atlanta and abroad. It has been an honor to serve you in this capacity over this year and I pray that something I have advised you has paid off and aided in your gaining stronger knowledge about products, styles and even building a relationship with your stylist. Remember to always be good to yourself AND your hair.

Happy Holidays from my family to yours!

Mandrill Hardge, hair extraordinaire
For more information about Mandrill or to schedule an appointment with him, visit www.mandrillhardge.com

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Product Review-Liquid Palisade

Dec 3, 2010 by Clueless Fashionista

Several months ago, I embarked on a mission. I was looking for a product that would make it easier for me to polish my nails and ensure that they turned out as good as they do when I go to the nail salon. Although I’m pretty good at it, I still end up doing touch ups and clean ups after I’m done, especially when I go with the darker polish. In the moment, my mission was unsuccessful but a few months later, I learned about a new product called liquid palisade.

I immediately contacted the creator of the product, Kisque, and requested a sample so I could try it out. I was cautiously excited but optimistic. I gave it a go on two different occasions. First, I tried it out with a deep red polish and I was extremely pleased. It is very easy to use and I did not have to go back over my newly polished nails with a cotton swab and nail polish remover to clean up the edges. Then I tried it again with a clear polish (which I typically wear) and was still very pleased.

My mission to find a product that makes it easier for me to paint my nails is now officially a success! I’m excited to have had an opportunity to try liquid palisade and I suggest you do the same. Currently, the price is set at $22, which is a steal when you consider how much you spend at the nail salon to get a mani/pedi. Plus, you can use the liquid palisade multiple times for many different manicures. While I used it largely for my basic manicure with a darker polish, you can use it for any kind of polish and even for those fabulous french manicures. I am excited at the opportunity to actually do my own french manicure. I never attempted it because I knew I didn’t have the steady hands it would take to make it look even. And for you more artistic types, this product is great when you want to get fancy with your nail art.

Give liquid palisade a try for yourself or give it as a gift to your do-it-yourself beauty loving family and friends. Visit their website www.liquidpalisade.com.

When you give it a try, let me know how you like it. I would love to hear your thoughts!

*I received free product to conduct this review but that did not affect the nature of the review in any way.

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Fall Essentials for Healthy Hair-guest post by Mandrill Hardge

Oct 5, 2010 by Clueless Fashionista

It is officially Fall which means that the braids come out, the hair extensions taken down, short hair is allowed to grow and the color is darkened or refreshed. Here are a few essentials for healthy hair after the summer. They are not optional but requirements!

1) Protein Treatment ~ This is the most important of all the “add-ons” in the salon. A protein treatment will aide in restoring the essential nutrients and vitamins that the hair has lost over the summer due to having hair braided up or hair extensions. It also is enriched in Biotin and other ingredients that help strengthen and promote growth for the ladies that choose to grow out their cropped cuts.

2) Proper Trim ~ A proper trim should be performed every 6 weeks, however due to some summer styles it’s just not possible. Therefore, a trim of at least 1″ off the ends is necessary to rid the hair shaft of dead and fragile ends. This is also necessary when color is involved. Colored hair tends to fray easier and could began to climb up the hair shaft and cause damage to otherwise healthy hair. If you have gone the entire summer without a proper trim, it may be necessary to go beyond the normal 1″ in an effort to keep the hair at its healthiest state.

3) Consultation ~ A consultation is essential at this stage to maintain the health of your hair and to also move forward into the fall and winter months. It will assist you and your stylist in determining which direction to go with your hair needs and desires. You will need to be honest about any products you used over the summer and other “habits” you developed in regards to the care of your hair, especially if you did not keep your regular appointments. Based on this information, your stylist will be able to make professional recommendations.

I hope you take the time to follow these recommendations. Mandrill Hardge is an amazing stylist who cares about the health of his client’s hair. If your stylist doesn’t do the same, you should consider changing stylists.

If you want more information about Mandrill Hardge or to book an appointment, visit his website http://mandrillhardge.com.

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Back to Basics: Why should I care about my face shape?

Sep 28, 2010 by Clueless Fashionista

You may be wondering why you should take the time to figure out the shape of your face. First of all, your face is the first thing people see. If you are wearing a hair cut or earrings that don’t flatter your face, it will automatically take away from your overall look.

Have you ever gone to see your hair stylist and asked for a hair style of a famous celebrity or in one of those hair books only to have it look completely unflattering on you? Often times it’s because you do not have the right face shape for that particular hair style.

If you want to take your look up a notch, figuring out the basics is the best way to do it. Once you know the shape of your face, you can focus on finding hair styles and accessories that are the most flattering. Besides, it will only take a few minutes to put in the work but those few minutes can pay off for the rest of your life. Think about it, no matter what happens to your body (gain weight, lose weight, etc.) your face shape remains virtually the same.

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Doing the big chop-short hair tips by Mandrill Hardge

Sep 14, 2010 by Clueless Fashionista

Thinking of going short with your tresses? NOW, is the ideal time to do it. I have been giving consultations based on my clients’ desire to cut it off! This is exciting, not only to the client but also to the stylist. It shows versatility in the client’s lifestyle as well as the stylist’s skills. Listed below are a few of the reasons why now is the time to go short!

1) It reduces time and stress on the hair! ~ Lets face it, we all HATE getting up early in the morning, especially during the fall and winter months when temperatures are chilly. Going short now will aid in hitting the snooze button one more time…lol. Also, it protects the hair from the need of heat daily, especially if you are rocking a sexy spiked style.

2) A cut shows your confidence! ~ Only a secure lady can go from 14″ to 2″ spiked with confidence! Going short commands the attention of any diva and lets not even mention going short WITH color. Talk about a traffic jam!!!

3) Shorter is more professional! ~ FORGET WHAT YOU HEARD..short hair in the office sets a standard for excellence and lets your coworkers know without a doubt that you mean business. Short hair can be sexy and feminine for those after hour dinner meetings. 

4) Most importantly, short hair has the tendency to make you look younger and more lively! ~ Long hair on some occasions can make you appear matronly and boring. Going shorter or even adding shape can brighten your style as well as personality.

These are all points that I mention during consultations with my clients in the salon and although some choose to keep it long and just add a punch of color for the fall, others are excited about the change and LOVE it!. I challenge you, my readers, to spice it up this fall and GO SHORT!

If you want more information about Mandrill Hardge or will be in Atlanta and want to schedule an appointment with him, visit http://mandrillhardge.com.

PS: I’ve seen one of his short hair cuts and it is fierce!

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