DIY Beauty

There are some things in the beauty/personal care range that you should never attempt on your own. (I began weekly blowouts after reading in BAZAAR that SJP gets them.) Your eyebrows (you can't tell symmetry that close to the mirror with tweezers in your hand), cutting, coloring or highlighting your own hair, microdermabrasion, and now, a recent addition, waxing - ANYWHERE - but especially your bikini. Between us girls (and the occasional male subscriber), I had a momentary (but increasingly more frequent) bout of insanity and decided to take such matters in hand to save time and money (note to self: there is absolutely NO amount of $$$ worth saving when it comes to a bikini wax) and hurry preparation for my departure to the tropics for the wedding.

Big mistake. HUGE, actually, because now I will be attending the poolside weekend kickoff event (swim attire required) in my Juicy dress, which, by the way, I've worn more times than I care to admit and am retiring it upon setting foot back on the continental USA after the wedding. There may be a few of you out there who claim to know the trick to keeping hot wax off the floor (and other areas) and successfully eliminating the need for the SPA downtown, but I am not one of them.

However, I'm not ready to give up totally on a DIY (do-it-yourself) beauty regimen. After consulting with several girlfriends who can empathize in one way or another, I came up with a list of beauty practice basics that are easy to execute at home, and that for the most part we should know how to do anyway.

DIY for Every Girl

• You hair. Don't you just love that fresh-from-the-styling-salon feeling? Your hair is shiny, swingy, free from spit-ends and falls fashionably (and perfectly) around your face. You glow. You have an added bounce in your step. And you take full advantage of this feeling because you know that tomorrow morning your hair will do exactly what it wants, and not what you want. Suggestion: have your stylist show you exactly what she does to get your hair to behave. While most will say that it's all in the wrist, there is a bit of prep work and a few tricks of the trade that my stylist shared with me. First of all, never work with completely wet hair. Towel blot (don't rub) your hair, squeezing out excess moisture. Apply a miniscule amount of styling cream (Hamadi Shea Hair Creme is my absolute fave because it can be used for both straight and curly styles) and allow hair to 90% air dry.
• For straight hair: If you want a bit of volume, apply a small amount of mousse to the roots only. (You can also create volume by bending at the waist and drying just the roots of your hair upside down.) Now for the trade secret -- divide your hair into manageable sections, pinning excess damp hair up on top of head. Blow your hair dry in horizontal sections, using a big round brush and a 1500 to 1900 watt blow dryer, directing the air flow down the hair shaft (this protects the hair and creates more shine). Work from section to section until hair is completely dry, styling with round brush as you go. Smooth on grooming cream to tame flyaways and give added shine. Spritz with holding spray to finish.
• For curly locks: apply a curl enhancer or mousse to help coax out your natural curl. Let hair 80% air dry. For naturally curly hair, begin scrunching hair, working from the tips to the roots, misting when needed. You can also use a diffuser, but be sure to push your fingers into the style to lift the roots, or flip head upside down while scrunching hair with fingers. Do not brush hair; this causes hair to frizz. Coax soft curls or waves into your hair. Continue scrunching till hair feels dry, but still cool to the touch. You may want to use a small barrel curling iron to give more definition. Set curls with a holding spray. I like Alterna Hemp Seed Volume Lock which allows movement while holding the curl and it doesn't feel crunchy.
• Mascara - the most important item in my cosmetic bag . Let's face it, applying mascara successfully is a bit hard. The wand inevitably touches the eyelid, your lashes fail to cooperate and you leave the mirror with 7 lashes total (for both eyes). It's not a good time. Until now. I chatted with a super-smart apothecary owner and she gave me the skinny on getting big eyelashes. First curl them (duh), then while looking down, brush the wand along the 'back' side of your lashes. Once finished move to the front and wiggle the wand at the base of your lashes then move brush forward. Instant foxy lashes.
• Touching up a manicure (or pedi). I'll admit that I would rather find myself back in the chair than fix a chip, but sometimes time doesn't allow it. To correct the unsightly chip, lightly dab a small amount of paint only to that area --this will even the color out. Once dried, apply a sealant or top coat to seal it off and be sure to use Solar Oil daily to maintain your nails.

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