All About Blonde Hair

As of summer 2013 I am officially blonde. It only took me a little over a year to get the color blonde I achieved. I have read up on so many blogs and websites. Watched so many tutorials and catch all videos. Asked hair dressers, professionals, and enthusiasts alike. And let me tell you, there is plenty of info to benefit from out there! I must say I am quite happy with my hair right now. That goes for color and the health of it. It could stand to be a little thicker but that is sacrifice for over-processing your hair. Otherwise, my hair is healthier then I ever thought it could possibly be as a blonde.

This video encompasses everything I know about blonde hair.

How to achieve the color

Avoiding Bleach

Repairing Your Hair

Smoothing the cuticle

Keeping it soft and shiny

Keeping it healthy and gorgeous

Never go to a salon again! This is how I went from a darker brown all the way to platinum blonde. Here's everything you need to know!

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Products Mentioned:
.Ion High Lift Color 305215 High Lift Natural Blonde HL/N 12.0
.Salon Care Professional 40 Volume Creme
.Garnier Nutrisse Extra Light Ash Blonde {White Chocolate} 111
.Garnier Olia Lightest Cool Blonde
.AG Sterling Silver Shampoo Mild Toning Shampoo
.Redken All Soft Conditioner
.Mane and Tail Conditioner
.Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum {or any serum for that matter}
.Paul Mitchell Forever Blonde Dramatic Repair
.Tresemme Heat Tamer Spray
.Silk Elements Heat Protection Spray

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References. Learn More!

The Natural Haven Bloom
Black Girl Long Hair
Natural Beauty Wellness
How to Get Bleach Blonde Hair At Home. Maintain Platinum Blonde Hair
Drugstore Dye Job - How to Dye your Hair Blonde At Home

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If you have any questions leave them down below.
If you have some other tips, leave those in the comments too!

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Disclaimer!!!!
Yall know I am just a normal who went from a dark color to light blonde at home, right? Obviously, I am not a professional. But don't worry! I learned all of this on my own and did all the experimenting for you so you don't mess this up- You can do it! Please watch the videos and read the blog post's I have listed here for you. If you want to take care of your hair, these are great places to start!




I know all my of beauty bloggers have some great tips. Leave them down below? 
Thank you!

take care,
Erica

Mind Body Beauty for Elle See's // Favorite Curly Hair Products

Eeeek! I am really exited to have my blog post on Elle See's, right now. That's right! I am a guest blogger over there for the day! Elle is seriously amazing. If you haven't checked out her blog and love beauty blogs, what are you waiting for? I really mean that- When she announced she was looking for guest blogger's, I was all over it. I feel humbled - haha! Elle, I can't thank you enough!

Elle's Blog
 Here's my blog post

Ok so when I get out of the shower, I do not towel dry my hair {thank you to Elle for that tip} I dry my body, then wrap a towel around my shoulders after I wring my hair out of it's excess water. As soon as I do that, I use John Frieda's Frizz Ease Serum. I also really love Paul Mitchell's Skinny Serum, but Frizz-Ease is targeted towards extra frizzy hair/curly hair. Works like a charm to really tame any frizz you might have. It starts the foundation for sleek, soft hair.

Directly after that, I take a good amount of Miss Jessie's Quick Curl's Curl Cream. I got this in my Birchbox awhile back and at first, I hated it. It made my hair so sticky! It's because I wasn't using it right. The trick is to use it while your hair is really, really wet. Don't waste any time letting your hair dry. I use a tablespoon amount {or 2} and scrunch it through my wet hair. This is when waves start to turn into curls. The curl cream is sticky, but don't let that throw you off. If you apply it to wet hair, your hair won't feel gross once it dries. Did I say apply it to wet hair yet? (:

Big Sexy Hair Root Pump is my next step. I may or may not use this. It's really 50/50. I do think that the mousse's I use after really help to give my hair volume, but if I am feeling I want a little more lift, I apply this directly to my roots and scrunch my hair upwards. I don't like to use this in my hair when I am not blow drying it. It makes for some serious product build up and does nothing for my hair if I do not blow dry.

Paul Mitchell's Round Trip is my favorite of this bunch. When my hair wasn't bleached blonde, it worked even better than it does today. It gives me really pretty, defined spiral's. It isn't sticky like Miss Jessie's Quick Curl's Curl Cream either. It's pretty awesome. I actually use a bunch of this stuff. I don't think there is any limit. The more, the better. Again, I scrunch it through my hair.

John Frieda Luxurious Volume Thickening Mousse. Anything that says thickening on it, I am sold. This mousse really helps to hold to curls in place and also builds a ton of volume. I use 1-2 palm fulls of it and start at the roots. Really work it in! Then start working it down my hair shaft in a scrunching motion.

Suave Mousse Extra Hold: I have been using this forever. Since the 8th grade for this hair style. Even though this hair style has changed dramatically over the years, I never do my hair like this without this mousse. I use 1-2 palm fulls and scrunch it through my hair.

Now I blow dry my hair upside down. But I don't blow dry all the way. I do it until it is 3/4 of the way dry. If you saw me at this point, you would think I did this all on vain. Then another half hour or so passes, and you see that my hair has actually gotten more voluminous and it dries to really nice tousled curls.

Here's some examples:

2nd or 3rd day hair:

Let me know if your inclined to try this out! I love it because it is easy, fast and fuss free. In the summer, I don't want to mess with hot irons only for my hair to get damp/wet or just fall from the humidity and heat. I never have to worry about my hair becoming flat or looking awful mid-day. I can even take it into a few days without washing it. After a while, you wont have to work as hard for tighter curls. It's the beginning of the summer {the start of when I do this hair style} and by the end of the summer, by curls will be even more defined. After months of styling my hair like this my hair starts to know what it is supposed to do, and will look better the each time I do it. I swear you can train your hair.

Thank you so much Elle for letting me take over for a blog post! Elle See's is one of my favorites yah no!
xoxo
Erica

The Things I Loved in January

Hey! Time for my favorite things from January! I have adopted a lot of new techniques this month which you will see. I also have been doing a little something different in terms of my normal blush colors. Lot's of good stuff this month! I hope you enjoy (:

Products Mentioned:

John Frieda -Luxurious Volume- Blow Dry Lotion- Root Booster
2 rules to make this give you really good volume while still making your hair really soft. 1: add to the roots of wet hair. 2: blow dry with a big round brush. I love it (: I didn't add a picture because I feel it was getting a little bit crazy but in the collage above, it's the blue bottle right in the middle (obviously)

YBF Correcting Cream/ Illuminating Cream

 Another new technique I have been using is adding this correcting cream underneath my eyes as a concealer and adding it to the high points of my face. It brightens really well without adding shimmer. This correcting cream is a good one! Creamy, opaque, but still thin enough so it wont settle in my fine lines. Im wearing it in the video.

 Hard Candy Concealer Pencil:

 I have been using this as an eye liner for my water line! It has been working great as a nude liner. Who woulda thought? This actually came with the Glamoflauge Concealer as a little bonus. It doesn't irritate my eyes.

Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner

Maybelline Bouncy Blush in Fresh Pink

Also wearing this in the video

Elf Studio Blush in Mellow Mauve + Giddy Gold

 Love both of these! Both colors are really different than any other blush I have. The rest are pink, haha! Giddy Gold is my top blush. It is so pretty on my cheeks. They both are a nice change up! Click on the link to go to my full review on a bunch of the ELF Studio Blushes.

Wet n Wild Single Eyeshadow in Creme Brulee

Mally Age Rebel Eyeshadow in Sugar

 Be on the look out for a full review on all of the Mally stuff from Mally's Favorite Things Kit. That includes everything I will be talking about in this video/blog post from Mally.

Mally Volumizing Mascara

Mally Lipgloss in Punch 
Review coming soon on lots of Mally stuff!

ELF Essentials Lipstick in Flirtatious
Perfect with the lip gloss. They are exactly the same color. The Essentials lipsticks are really creamy and pigmented. For $1, it doesn't get any better.

Favorite T.V. Shows

Catfish: 

I have been loving this show! I can't believe all the Catfish they actually found but I am always so happy when they document a true love story...well, as true as your going to get! Something about Nev I love. He is my crush right now.. He looks oddly similar to someone I know who is my boyfriend....hmm. Also, the music they play on that show is so good! 

Family Guy : 

I am not sure if you guys know this about me but I am a huge fan of Family Guy! It just might be my absolute favorite show and has been for years. The new one about "The Giggity Wife" was hilarious! South Park coming up a close second of course. Oh yeah, I can't forget about American Dad! We call Stella "Roger Dog" because she looks like Roger the alien when she sits up. She's so cute!

 Online Favorites:

Twitter:
Has been one of my favorite things! With #HowtobeHappyJanuary and #Jadorelavie hash tags, it has been a lot fun connecting with people, staying on track and staying inspired. I am taking this high, happy, motivated energy well into February! Howboutchu?

Lumosity:
One of my new years resolutions was to stay healthy: healthy mind, body, + soul. That includes the brain! Lumosity has been really fun. It takes a total of 5 minutes a day and it's easy and fun.  You can play 3 different games a day for free- as many times as you want. If you want full access, it's something like $7 a month. I just do the free games. 

Favorite Bloggers:  

Beauty:
Elle Sees:  
This girl is freakin' creative! She always has themed blog post's and things going on over on her blog. Right now is Love Week  

Healthy:
Bess Be Fit:
I just found her a couple of days ago but I am a big fan of hers. She is always making up really good workouts and recipes and how she uses Photoshop {or Gimp} to bring a certain finesse to each one reminds me of how I like to post recipes here. Am I even making sense? Just go check her out and you will see what I mean!

That's just about everything! I have some food favorites as I have been back to eating healthy but this would be way too long if I added those too! Thank you for reading!

xoxo
Erica

CVS Beauty Clearance Sale

This is a really quick heads up on the CVS sale along with some of the stuff I bought that wasn't on sale. I am doing a video on all of this stuff + some holiday items (gifts, decor, cookie boxes!) which I have yet to film but I will link it here as soon as I do it so you can hear more about each item. I really wanted to get this up quick so you guys know what your going to find at CVS. The sale usually goes pretty quick!

1. Milani Lipstick in Orange Gina $1.49 ......................................................................................................................................I saved $4.50
2. Wet n Wild Bronzer in Princess $1.49......................................................................................................................................I saved $1.50
3. Wet n Wild Single Eyeshadow in Creme Brulee (matte cream color) $0.99....................................................................I saved $0.83
4. Revlon Top Speed Nail Polish in Cupid $1.45.......................................................................................................................I saved $4.34
5. Rimmel Eyeshadow Quad in Precious Crown $2.89...........................................................................................................I saved $2.90
6. John Frieda Root Booster Blow Dryer Spray $5.46 (not on clearance).............................................................................I saved $1.83
7. Physician's Formula Trio Eyeliner for Blue Eyes (the best drugstore liner! It wasn't on clearance but they did have the 3 packs of cream liners on clearance!) $11.49

I spent a total of $27.97

some stuff is 75% off while other items are 50% off. Go get it before its all gone!

Thanks for reading!

Yours Truly,

Erica

Dear John, Will You Marry Me?

I am in love & I dont care who knows it! -Buddy the Elf. 

I am talking about John Frieda and his awesome Full Splendor Conditioner for Luxurious Volume. Remember my CVS haul? If you do, you may remember that I did have high hopes for this and I really was looking for a good conditioner as I do have really dead-ends. Even tho this conditioner isnt esp. for damaged hair, it does help it.

My hair type is thick, curly/wavy, frizzy (at times), damaged, & color treated. I usually buy shampoos and conditioners that add volume even tho my hair is pretty voluminous, I think I can credit that to the products I use. Including this one. John's promise to us Voluminous sisters:

"Builds fullness at the roots, strengthens and conditions where needed for silky, full-bodied hair."

&

Usage: I squeeze a palm full of this stuff in my....well, palm (lol). My hair goes a couple inches past my shoulders. I always start at the roots and really concentrate on my ends first.(that is where I need the most care), and then whatever I have left over put just below my scalp. Putting any products on your scalp can make your hair greasy faster and its not good for it. I apply at the beginning of my shower and right when im about to get out, I rinse it out. Even my wet hair is soft! This shit rocks.

After I do blow dry my hair out it is much softer. I am not joking when I say that my hair has never been that soft in my life. No fly-aways or tangles. My hair is easier to style & get volume. I am not saying once you get out of the shower, you are going to have volume. You obviously do need to blow-dry as you would to get volume, but this stuff def. helps. I don't use another volumizing product after my shower w/ John Frieda.

Thats not even the best part of this product- it did really target my damaged areas, which are my ends.I was expecting more volume than mending but I actually got alot more tlc than I thought I was going to get. If you have split ends- grab this stuff!

Availability/Price: It was on sale for $5.29 with the original price of $7.29.It is readily available at any drug-store and even some salons because it is a higher end brand but the only complaint I do have is how much you actually get. I think you should get a couple more fluid ounces for that price. I have long hair! I need a lot of conditioner! I have used it about 4x and I have about 2 more uses out of it.

Consistency/Scent: Of course it smells so good like any other conditioner and yes the smell of my hair did linger into the second day so that is a good thing. I would say it's about as thick as any other conditioner. If I am comparing it to Wen conditioner, the Wen is much thicker. another FYI.

So end result is even tho it is targeted to volume & not for split-end mending, I think it does help with your dead hair, as promised, as well as volume. I love this conditioner (can you tell?) I just feel like you should get a little more for the money you are paying for it! luckily mine was on sale and I think I can hopefully catch it on sale whenever I need it.

HOTD: Party Curls

hey ladies! I hope everyone is having a really fun weekend! I know the weather is gorgeous & HOT here! These curls are so much fun, but they are for summer nights, at the bonfire once it cools down! These were inspired by the clipless iron which are a million dollars (well not really but like $100..which is alot) so I found a great way to achieve those curls with a regular iron.

Here's what I used (in order):


John Frieda Frizz Ease Hair Serum: I recently found this tucked away in a box, it used to be my favorite product, I remember why! I pretty much is the same thing as Paul Mitchell Skinny Serum which is also one of favorites. A serum you put in your hair while it's wet, although with this product you aren't supposed to towel dry your hair. Either way once it dries, its makes your hair really soft and smooth and prevents frizz...hence the name after I smoothed that through my hair, let it air dry for a few mins, considering I couldn't towel dry it which was annoying! I put in...

Paul Mitchell Round Trip Serum: This is another serum but it's instead for wavy, curly hair. Since my hair already is a bit wavy it adds lightweight detail & gives it a flexible hold and bouncier curls to to my hair type- which is great, because in the end I don't have to use as much hair spray. I recommend this serum for my wavy hair chicks, especially for days when you don't feel like blowing it out & you just wanna scrunch your hair...No crunchy curls allowed! You will get a perfect texture to your hair with this stuff, plus it smells freakin good!

Redken Guts 10: This is a volume spray-mousse foam...no kidding that is what the bottle reads.I spray this on the roots of my hair near and around the crown of my head, then kinda work it in by massaging it in my scalp/hair- Give it some oomph!

L'Oreal Studio Secret Hair Putty- It does the same job as the Redken 10 Guts, this one is a cream/wax (dont worry it doesn't feel wax, actually pretty creamy) why would you be worried? IDK, I just work this into the roots at the tippy-top of my head to give it even more oomph! You really dont need to use both I just had them both on had. Oh yeah, I don't use this until my hair is dry, & im ready to curl!

Then let it dry...I was on a kick the other day and was trying not to blow my hair out. It has been years since I haven't used a blow dryer so I threw curlers in and let my hair sit for a little- and then I did cheat and blow dried it for 10 minutes at the end, with the curlers still in my hair...oh well its better than nothing! my hair needed a day off....which is a contradiction because I am using a curling iron in this post..lol whatever dis-regard this - lets move on

With the curling iron (which is a 2" barrel) I open the clamp and holding it with my left hand, I take the hair on the right side of my head, turning the curling iron upside down, wrap my hair around the barrel (with the clamp still open). Did we follow that? Then after the hair is wrapped around, let go of the clamp and that will hold your hair for a few seconds.

While your curl is still hot right out of the iron take the strand of hair and cup it in your hand. Now take a bobbi pin and clip it to your head so that way when all of your hair is done and all of it is clipped up and cooled down- what I do is just give it a few spray's with the hair spray I had on hand. This generic hair spray was fine- my hair wasn't extra crunchy or anything and the hairspray says it also conditions, protects and holds- awesome, sounds good to me.

Wow long post, no? I hope everybody is having a good week-end. I am off to ride my bike and go swimming! I always feel like a kid in the summer time, playing outside and all. Me and Alex (BFF) found out about this really nice bike trail that I am thinking goes around the whole county if im not mistaken...I mean it's freaking long! We wanna be able to ride the whole thing by the end of the summer...wish me luck!

thanx reading too!

CVS - %75 off! Hurry - Go Now!

Before you go...check out what I got! Lot of really expensive things for cheap! cha ching! haha but for real guys, my bill was $21.37- John Frieda, Essie, Almay, Sally Hansen- great products for a great price. I am so exited to get on with it and share it with everybody!This is the stuff I live for! Im sucha dork- (:

• Essie Sand Tropez (nude) and French Affair (pink) I paid $3.89 for each and I saved $3.90...I love these pretty pale colors I cannot get enough of them! I never bought Essie polishes before because I just thought they were a little expensive, so I was exited to try these out- esp. the Sand Tropez. I dont have any other color like it. Really pretty and different- its nice to change it up once and a while!

•  I also got the Sally Hansen in Yellow Kitty (paid $1.95 and saved $5.84) and I have been wanting to try it forever ever since I seen it on MissGlamorazzi's cupcake nail tutorial I thought it was really pretty- I actually posted it here I like this because it is a pastel as opposed to a true bright yellow - I dont like the bright yellows and if your into the pastel nails - this color is for you! Trust me, the picture of Yellow Kitty on my nails doesn't do it any justice. I dont think I have seen any other yellow like this yet anywhere- and *trust* I have been looking!

• Sally Hansen Continuous Treatment Hardening Formula for soft thin nails. I have my avon nail hardener which comes off much more liquidy- which is a surprisingly great formula- then this one does. I have tested this nail hardener and I am on the fence with this one- I might review it if I do see any positive changes. This formula is time-released so maybe im not giving it enough time...I dunno. The promise is that it will provide nourishment and transform nails for 10 continuous days. it's been 2 days so far and I unfortunately don't see or feel change a huge change, like the Avon one however, I only paid $2.47 and saved $7.42! so it was nice to try it out anyways. For the $2.50 I paid, It's not bad at all

John Frieda Collection Luxurious Volume Full Splendor Conditioner- This was not part of the %75 off sale this was $7.29 but they have a deal right now for some John Frieda products that are $2 off so I paid $5.29. I have been hating my Tresemme conditioner- I feel like it weighs down my hair and makes it greasy after only a day or so, so I really wanted to try something different. My main thing when it comes to my hair is volume...I gotta have it! The promise John Frieda makes is that it "builds fullness at the roots; strengthens and conditions (lets hope so on the conditions part!) where needed for silky, full bodied hair." My hair tends to split at every single end of my top layer and in turn makes my top layer ends really frizzy! So I have high hopes for this-

Almay mascara One Coat Dial Up and Liner - for $2.12 bucks! what?!? I saved $6.37 with this! yay! I always need a new mascara and I was running low on liner so this was perfect. The brush for the mascara im not too fond of. at almost a buck a piece I really cannot complain. I personally like the first setting (there are 3 settings) on the mascara just because the higher the number goes, the more the mascara packs on to the brush...which means spider lashes...no. I really believe it is all about the brush, and it was a miss with this one. I do have really long lashes and what I look for in a mascara is a thicker wand with smaller "fingers" if you know what I mean...I hope. Regardless, not bad for two bucks. The liner is fine as well. Nothing special, but nothing horrible.

thats my haul- what did everybody else get at CVS? if you didn't get anything or didn't hear of the sale until now- go shopping and then come back and tell me EVERYTHING lol jk- but no seriously...do it