Loose Curls for Short Hair Tutorial

I am the girl that loves to change up my hair. I’ve experimented with different colors, lengths, and styles in my hair past. Long hair provides a lot of flexibility, but after growing my hair for 14 months for my wedding (trims were involved, so I didn’t have caveman hair for the big day) I made The Cut. I cut like a hundred inches ( really probably like 8 ) off my long flowy stringy locks. So, I was in need of styling options for short hair because I can’t just wear my hair the same way every. single. day. and short hair doesn’t allow as many options. WRONG… I have found so many! One of my favs and a fav of the commenters on Flickr Working Closet Pool is what I am going to show you today. So, let’s get this started, shall we? (Please disregard the roots shown in these pics. I repeat, disregard.)

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Step One: Gather your supplies. You will need at least two clips to separate and pin up sections, a flexible hold hairspray (I prefer Aussie Sprunch Spray, which I told you about here.), a small brush, and your trusty one inch curling iron

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Step Two: Start out with dry straightish hair. If you are blessed with natural wave or curl…we will just be enhancing the natural beauty. My hair isn’t that lucky. Cowlick City, People. You have never seen the likes of this. I have thrown many a hair stylist into shock and awe with these babies, calling their fellow stylists over to take a gander.  You might think it’s wavy, but no. You would be wrong. Those are just cowlicks. I promise. So, what you see here is the cowlicks tamed with a flat iron.

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Step Three: Pin about half of your hair onto the top if your head, leaving the bottom free to get down to business. Separate the bangs because we aren’t curling them. I sported curled bangs in my childhood years and that is a look I do not care to revisit.

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Step Four: Separate a small section of hair. I like to make my sections uneven so it adds more of a tousled look instead of a Shirley Temple look.  Grab your curling iron, clamp the section about a half an inch away from the end and roll the iron away from your face. When hair is all rolled up, spritz with hairspray. Continue this pattern all around the bottom free section.

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Step Five: If some of the curls are not optimal, you can pull them apart and recurl using the same technique.

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Step Six: Unleash more hair out of your pins and continue curling in the same fashion as Step Four.

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Step Seven: When you get the the section of hair at the crown of your head, I separate a front and a back section.

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Step Eight: Roll the back section and make sure that you turn your curling iron vertically.

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Step Nine: Separate the remaining hair along your natural part. Curl each section like you did in Step Four.

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Step Ten: From here on is the important part. Once all hair is completely curled (and I know I look ravishing in this first pic… SIKE!), pull the curls apart with your fingers.

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Step Eleven: Scrunch your hair gently.

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Step Twelve: Separate bangs along your natural part line at this time.

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Step Thirteen: Grab just the crown area of your hair and tease the roots.

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Step Fourteen: Spray hair all over and scrunch some more.

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Step Fifteen: All Done!

What I love about doing my hair like this is that I can just reach up and kind of scrunch it throughout the day if I feel like it is falling due to the massive amounts of humidity I face everyday. It seems like a lot of steps, but once you are used to it you will finish in no time. It typically takes me about 10 or 15 mins max when I am not being photographed as I style.

Wake Me Up Before You Go Go!

Every morning my “pick me up” involves one cup of black Dunkin Donuts coffee (or four…don’t judge) and one packet of Nestle’s Hot Chocolate…fat free of course because it makes it all better if it has that label of fat free right?  Anyway, I LOVE this combo and yes it matters on the brand of coffee and the brand of hot chocolate.  It will taste different if you use a substitute.  I’m a perfectionist, what can I say.  Speaking of perfection, as I was flipping through my new CB2 catalog, I ran across something that might just make my morning routine even better.  Check it, it’s a mug with ITS OWN SPOON!

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CB2, Spoon Coffee Mug

Knock Your Socks Off

We’ve all seen the Trumpette Mary Jane Socks for girls but what about the little guys?  What do we have to cover up those chubby little baby cankles??  I’ve got just the thing to keep those baby toes toasty!

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  1. Uncommon Goods, Johnny Skater Socks
  2. Boden, 7 Pack Sock Box
  3. Amazon, Trumpette Baby Camo Socks
  4. Uncommon Goods, Johnny Infant Socks
  5. Amazon, Trumpette PeeWee Argyle Box Set

Haircare for the Humidity & Unruly Challenged

As my fellow Tipsy buds, Der and Court have posted about their tried and true hair products, it got me thinking about how the four of us have such different hair and the challenges that we face living in this humidity pit we live in.  My hair=thick, unruly, ALOT, thick..did I say thick?  Good Lord I have a lot of hair on this head of mine.

Here is the stuff I’m currently using…I say currently because I think I’m a closeted hair product addict–I like to pretend I don’t need a lot of hair product assistance when in actuality I do.  And my hair gets used to certain products after a while, so I have to change it up from time to time.  This is what is currently working for me…I’ll keep you posted when I change it up.

  1. Pureology Super Straight Shampoo-LOVE the smell of this.  Like LOVE love.
  2. Original Crema Ultra Moisturizing Conditioner by Terax-I originally heard about this from the great Whoorl/Hair Thursday and while I was a little skeptical when I realized the consistency of it was THICK, man o man do I love this conditioner!  It’s done wonders for my hair and it detangles like nobody’s business.
  3. Pureology Serious Colour Care Superstraight Serum-they call this a “serum” but when I think serum I think sorta liquidy, its not, its a gel.  My wavy/unruly hair needs some sort of gel type product when I blow dry it and this is what I’m currently loving.
  4. Pureology Antifade Complex Super Smooth Hot Iron Protection-I use this after my hair has been dried and before I flat iron it.  I’ve tried just spraying it all over and then flat ironing and I’ve also tried spraying as I go with the flat iron.  My hair seems to do better with the later.  I’ve read some reviews where people have said it leaves their hair sticky and crunchy or something, but I haven’t had this experience.  It leaves my hair really soft and shiny and it almost seems easier to get my hair straight with this stuff.
  5. Redken 03 Water Wax Shine Defining Pomade-I use this after I’m done with the flat iron…I get a little bit on my fingers and just kinda run my fingers from underneath all over my hair and then tame the crazy hairs around my face.  I also morph my bangs in the direction I want them to go and it seems to stay pretty well with this stuff.
  6. Moisture Barrier Firm Hold Hair Spray Frizz Ease by John Frieda-I don’t always use hair spray but if the weather is particularly wet out or the humidity is like a wall of hot steam when I walk outside, I spray a little of this all over.  My trick is that I lightly spray it, let it dry and then carefully brush it out.  It leaves just enough hold but my hair still moves.

So there you have it, those are my current tricks for taming this head of hair.  Some days the products win, and other days the humidity wins.  I bet you anything, the minute I post this info the humidity will win.

Cross Bodies

I am always on the hunt for a good crossbody bag.

For the fall/winter season, I am trying to decide between these 5 fabulous finds!

  1. Fossil Gwen Crossbody
  2. Pax Eco ll Convertible Crossbody
  3. LeSportSac Deluxe Everyday Bag in Fado
  4. LeSportSac Madison in Ardor
  5. Haiku City Satchel Branch

Stop to Smell the Roses and Bows

I love girly, feminine clothing. So, count me IN on anything that has a rosette or bow involved. These are some swoon-worthy pieces that I have run across lately… simply GORGEOUS!

  1. LuLu’s, Swank Satin Halter
  2. LuLu’s, Little Ruby Dress
  3. LuLu’s, Blanche DeBouis Top
  4. LuLu’s, English Rose Tank
  5. LuLu’s, Camilia Headband
  6. LuLu’s, Petite Fleur Necklace

5 Ways to Work Out Without a Gym

I have held many gym memberships in my past, 4 to be exact. Every time I start out pumped to no end, only to have the very same outcome of membership cancellation. About 2 years ago I realized that I am just not a gym person, as I signed the cancellation documents of my latest gym member failure.  Here are the ways that I stay in shape WITHOUT a gym.

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  1. Jillian Michaels Banish Fat Boost Metabolism is the hardest of the Jillian videos. Your thighs will hate you, but they may thank you later when they are looking oh so fine.
  2. Jillan Michaels No More Trouble Zones is great circuit training. There are many 7 minute circuits that you can choose from to highlight different areas that you want to work on or you could do the entire workout all at once if you are some kind of badass.
  3. Jillian Michaels 30 day Shred is one of the best sculpting workouts that I have found. I never lost any pounds on this workout, but the improvements that I saw in my overall tone and fitness were outstanding. And did I mention it’s only 20 minutes long. Anyone can find 20 minutes to workout.
  4. P90X DVDs is an out of this world workout for the entire body. BUT you may not be able to just jump right into this one. I feel that it is more of a challenge than all of the others that I will list below, but totally worth it.
  5. Turbo Jam: Punch Kick and Jam is a longer workout, at 45 mins, but it is great on one of those days where you just want to punch kick and jam someone’s face off.

What Did You Do With My Keys? Oh Nevermind, My Bad

My husband and I use these his/hers key holders from Uncommon Goods and have gotten tons of compliments and “where did you get those” questions. They come with little keys you add to your keychain or key ring and when you get home, insert key, done. Have at it: Uncommon Goods, His And Hers Key Holders

Etsy Spotlight: Jennifer Ladd

I ran across Jennifer Ladd’s Etsy shop when I was looking for gifts to give all the girls that threw me a baby shower way back when I was a waddling fool.  I can’t tell you how much I drooled over all the different fabrics.  So many different colors and patterns.  I would like one of each please.  You can never have too many “going out” purses, can you? Don’t answer that.  Have a gander at all her past and present items…tons of cuteness!

$50 Fridays: Full of Glee!

I am completely in love with Glee, specifically the wardrobe of Emma Pillsbury. She is so quirky and cute it makes me want everything she wears on that show.

  1. Forever 21, Blair Ruffle Sweater Cardigan
  2. Forever 21, Lacquer Floral Pearl Bracelet
  3. Forever 21, Solid Woven Skirt
  4. Target, Women’s Merona Collection Clarissa Spectator Pumps-Black Patent
Glee promo photos via GleeImages.com