Adventures in depotting makeup

I consider myself a fairly low-maintenance gal when it comes to makeup. I keep my makeup choices muted or neutral, usually opting for an enhanced, polished fresh face with the occasional smokey eye thrown in for a night out. Over the years, I’ve amassed a small collection of makeup palettes because they are a no-brainer way to pair complementary colors and also great to travel with. The downside is that I’ve eschewed buying single shadows, and when it comes time to get ready at home, I become overwhelmed by the choices and fall back to the same palette.

I have only recently heard of depotting makeup and thought it might be a great option for me to be able to see at a glance most of the shadows I own. I’m also on a de-cluttering kick and the thought of getting rid of all those sized palettes was so appealing. After a ton of research and some failed DIY, I’m sharing my tips and tricks below.

* You will need: A box cutter (I tried using a small kitchen knife, and after breaking the tip of my J. Henckels paring knife, decided a box cutter was a better choice), rubbing alcohol, a dropper (last used to administer oral meds to the pup), empty palettes, patience.

* Deciding what to depot: I wish I had taken some before pics of all my palettes. I had a few Clinique palettes (acquired during Clinique bonus time), two Laura Mercier palettes, a Benefit palette, a Bobbi Brown palette, and a Nars palette. The only one I hesitated to depot was my Nars 15th anniversary Love palette, but ended up doing so towards the end of my depotting frenzy. I did NOT depot my Urban Decay Naked palette or Laura Mercier Master Toolbox, because I preferred to keep those colors together.

* Doing the deed: There are countless Youtube videos explaining how to depot MAC shadows, but curiously, I found few on Nars and none on any other makeup brands. So I basically figured it out on my own. Several sources will tell you to use some heat source (like a flat iron, hairdryer, or oven) in order to melt the glue holding the pans to the plastic palette portions. Frankly, the thought of breathing in plastic fumes terrified me, so I opted for the alcohol route. No, that doesn’t involve enjoying a cocktail while making a night of depotting (although this may have occurred at some point over this two-weekend project). First, I used the blade of a box cutter to see if the pan would easily pop out on its own (a few did, since they had very little glue attached). If the pan did not easily come out, I used the dropper to drop rubbing alcohol around the perimeter of each pan. After a few minutes and using the box cutter, I carefully wedged the blade between the pan and pot (there is usually an open space on one side or corner that you can get into) and used leverage to slowly pop it out. In most cases, this worked well, and I was able to remove leftover glue by generously placing a few drops of alcohol on the underside of each pan, and scraping off the leftover glue after a few minutes. A few of my shadows cracked even after removing them gently, so I followed this general repair tutorial and it seemed to work well. Laura Mercier palettes were the easiest to depot. Nars was a bit more difficult, and Clinique and Benefit was the most difficult (they use a TON of glue and a few of my pans got bent or cracked upon removal).

* Organizing your pans: Once I had depotted most of the makeup from the palettes, I had to organize the pans. I turned to Z Palettes for a few relatively cheap empty palettes. The bottom of each palette is magnetized, and most metal makeup pans will automatically stick. I still need to purchase some magnet paper for the few pant that did not stick at all. I ordered my empty palettes from beauty.com with a discount code, and through double cashback on ebates. I’m pretty happy with them so far…love that you can see through the clear top and although they are cardboard, the construction is sturdy and the size is great.

* Travel: I had originally wanted to retain my empty Nars palette as a travel option to house my pots, going so far as to buy magnet paint for the interior. Alas, none of my pots will stick to the bottom, and I am stuck with a full jar of magnet paint! I am hoping that some magnet paper will fix this, but if not, I plan to buy a Unii Palette for travel. I did buy a small size Z Palette for weekend trips, which you see in the picture collage…you can also see a sample of what I might take with me on a weekend trip (Nars Powder Foundation, Laura Mercier blush, Clinique shadows, Bobbi Brown lipstick). For the bigger Unii palette, I would probably store a few travel-sized Laura Mercier brushes right inside the palette.

I consolidated my depotted pans in 3 large-sized Z palettes. In the pic collage, you can see that the top left palette contains my neutral shadows (browns & greys), the top right palette contains my pink and purplish shadows and lip products, and the bottom palette contains my blushes, bronzers, and Nars powder foundation. This arrangement has already simplified my makeup application, and I know it will be perfect for travel!

Summer makeup 2012

I left off giving you my new and improved skincare regimen for spring/summer 2012. It’s only logical that I follow with my summer makeup! I hesitate to say routine or regimen here, since I don’t regularly wear makeup, but these products together give me a fresh look that’s polished, but not too ‘made up.’ Also, I don’t usually wear all of the products at once, unless it’s for a night out. Usually, I’ll just go with the base, a bit of spot concealing, blush + bronzer, brows, and a random lip gloss or balm.

The product list:

• Base: Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in Cuba (I’m between Cuba & St. Moritz)
• Concealer: Revlon PhotoReady Concealer in Medium Deep
• Blush: Nars The Multiple in G-Spot
• Bronzer: Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder
• Eyes: Maybelline Full n Soft mascara AND EITHER Milani Shadow Eyez in Champagne Toast OR Maybelline Tattoo Eye Shadow in Bad to the Bronze
• Brows: Anastasia Brow Fix Clear Wax Pencil
• Finishing powder: Tarte Smooth Operator Micronized Clay Finishing Powder
• Lips: J Crew Poppy King Lipstick OR some light/nude gloss

The breakdown:

1. Base:  I mainly bought the Nars Tinted Moisturizer because I needed a darker shade to mix in with my currently too-light bases. For the record, I fall squarely between Cuba and St. Moritz. Depending on my coverage needs for the day, I’ll mix Cuba with a variety of other bases. So, going from light, sheer coverage to more full coverage, I’ll mix the Nars TM with: Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer, Tarte TM in Agent 14, Laura Mercier Oil-Free TM in Almond, or Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 6.5. *Sidenote: I like applying my colored bases with the Sephora Stippling Brush (at home) or a flat-top retractable Kabuki brush (for travel).
2. Concealer: Thanks to my skin finally clearing up, I find I need minimal concealer on top of my base. I picked up Revlon’s PhotoReady Concealer, which is creamy and perfect for underneath the eye.
3. Bronzer: I’ve got medium-dark skin, so I thought I never really had a use for bronzer. Then I found Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzing Powder, which is a shade or two deeper than my own skin and matte. It’s wonderful and gives my skin dimension and a sun-kissed look. I lightly dust it on my forehead, beneath the cheekbones, and underneath the neck.
4. Blush: I finally mastered how to use the Nars Multiple in G-Spot, which is that it’s really only good for cheek color and maybe a lip stain in a pinch. It’s a dusty rose flecked with very fine gold – super subtle. I pick some up on my finger, and apply it in light circles over the apples of my cheeks, blending up. It’s very buildable, just remember to use a light touch!
5. Eyes: I’ve gone back to the Maybelline Full n’Soft mascara in Very Black that I used throughout most of college. Never clumps, builds volume without much length, never flakes or irritates my eyes while wearing contacts. As for color, for daytime or a very casual evening, I’ve discovered Milani Shadow Eyez in Champagne Toast. Ridiculous spelling aside, this stuff is magical for giving you a bright and awake look. I always use a bit of primer before applying (Laura Mercier’s face primer). Dot it on near the lashline and quickly blend all over the eyelid with your finger. For a deeper look, Maybelline’s Color Tattoo Eye Shadow in Bad to the Bronze is wonderful, no primer needed. I apply both shadows with my ring finger.
6. Brows: My left eyebrow has been wonky since I first discovered the wonders of a tweezer for my thick brows. Those clear gels or hairspray on a clean brush never quite worked. The Anastasia Brow Fix pencil is as close a solution as I’ve ever found. I dab a bit directly on my brows and brush straight up with a clean brow brush.
7. Finishing Powder: I feel strange even calling this Tarte smooth operator powder a finishing powder, because I often dust it on when I am sans-makeup. It gives a wonderful finish to your face after makeup, but is also great for absorbing oil and freshening up. I apply with a mini kabuki brush from EcoTools.
8. Lips: If it’s not plain old Rosebud Salve, it’s either NYX lip gloss in Beige or my new favorite bright color, J Crew’s Poppy King lipstick. If you can find it, hoard it, because I’m not sure it’s being made anymore. It’s a coral-red color that is so buildable and wonderful for my dark, yellow-based skin. I’ve applied this as a stain with my fingers, as a full-on opaque color straight from the tube, or layered underneath a clear gloss, and every single time I get compliments. Short of finding this in-store, I’ve read that Revlon”s Lip Butter in Candy Apple is a close dupe.

Summer skincare 2012

In the last few months, I’ve overhauled my entire skincare regimen and thought my experience might help others. I started to notice small hard bumps on my cheeks and other random acne, and after a visit with a new dermatologist, discovered I had developed milia (tiny non-inflamed bumps that form from dead skin cells). The rich Estee Lauder and Clarins moisturizers I had been dutifully slathering across my face and neck were, in fact, too rich for my (in the words of my derm) “non-mature, young skin” (bless her)!

I’ve been on this new regimen for 2 months now and have noticed a substantial difference. My skin is much clearer, and the milia are starting to slowly subside (as an aside, there are only 2 ways to deal with milia – letting them clear up over time or letting a derm break the surface and suction the crap out for several hundred bucks). The dark spots on my cheeks are fading and I am starting to feel glowy and confident about leaving the house sans-makeup again.

Here is the complete product list, followed by a breakdown of reviews:

• Face wash: AM: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser + Vivite Daily Facial Cleanser, PM: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser OR Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser (if removing makeup)
• Exfoliator: Salma Hayek Walnut Facial Scrub
• Moisturizer: AM: Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture for Sensitive Skin, PM: Cerave cream (dabbed where needed)
• Eye cream: Clinique Repairwear Eye Cream
• Sunscreen: Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Liquid Daily Sunblock, SPF 70 (mixed in with moisturizer)
• Acne: Ziana
• Tool: Clarisonic Mia

1. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser: This is a wonderful, basic cleanser that is creamy, yet gentle and effective. A little goes a long way…all you need is a dime-size amount to create a nice lather. One tube will last many months.
2. Vivite Daily Facial Cleanser: This was given to me by the derm, and it is powerful stuff (15% glycolic acid). I found that using it twice a day was too drying, and my face felt too sensitive when I would use it at night along with the acne medication. It is a very creamy cleanser (almost lotion-like), so I mix it with the Kiehl’s to get that lather I love and a squeaky clean (but not dry, never dry) feeling.
3. Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser: I raved about it here. It’s basic, easily found, cheap, and works amazingly well at removing makeup (esp. when used with a Clarisonic).
4. Clarisonic: I have been using this about 3 times a week over the summer, and it’s done wonders for keeping my skin glowy and flake-free as it adapts to the Ziana. I find that in the warmer months, my skin can handle more frequent uses.
5. Salma Hayek Walnut Facial Scrub: I use this scrub all over my face about 1-2 times per week. Even though my skin is delicate and sensitive, it can handle this scrub, and I credit this and the Clarisonic with helping exfoliate away my milia. It’s only available at CVS, but you can always find coupons! I find this especially useful when I plan to wear makeup for a day or night out…it helps everything glide on and look dewy in a non-oily way.
6. Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture for Sensitive Skin: I bought this on a whim, fed up with spending $40+ on department store moisturizers that I hated but was too lazy to return. This has never irritated my skin and is nicely, but not overly, moisturizing. It might not be enough for the winter months, but so far, it’s great.
7. Cerave cream: Another one I’ve raved about, and the only rec that stuck from my past derm. This is gentle, yet heavy, so I tend to just dab it on dry spots after the Ziana. For travel, I store a bit in an old Clinique sample eye cream jar, and use it for nighttime moisture as well as an eye cream.
8. Clinique Repairwear Intensive Eye Cream: Reviewed here and so happy with it still. The first and only eye cream to have never irritated my skin. Hooray!
9. Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Daily Liquid Sunblock: No matter the season, a sunblock alone is never enough moisture for my skin. I’ve found that combing a few drops of this with the Oil-Free moisturizer creates the perfect base for summer, and my skin has neither burned nor gotten much darker since I’ve been using this combination. The bottle is teeny, yet holds a good amount and seals shut nicely, making it perfect for travel or a day at the beach.
10. Ziana: This replaced my beloved Differin. It’s tretinoin (a touch stronger than Differin) plus Clindamycin (antibacterial). My skin transitioned quite well, and after 2 months, I’ve had noticeable skin clearing and fading of scars and dark marks. It was a pain to obtain this through my insurance, so hopefully others might have better luck.

That’s my skincare in a nutshell! Funny that as a I get older, I find myself going back to the tried-and-true drugstore brands for most of my skincare needs. Up next – my summer makeup!

review: Bumble & Bumble Tonic Lotion

Bumble & Bumble Tonic Lotion 8 oz. $20

I’ve only known apartment living for most of my adult life and while being sandwiched between neighbors has its advantages, the toll that radiant heating has on my skin in the winter is not one of them. Every year it gets worse, as I get older, and this year I added ‘itchy, flaky scalp’ to the growing list of beauty woes. I wash my hair about 4 times per week, which is probably 2-3 more times than I should, but I just can’t forgo a good shower after a spin class or interval run at the gym.

I’ve used the Target dupe of Neutrogena’s T-Gel shampoo for years to keep my scalp clean and nourished, but it’s too drying to use regularly. So when I read about this B&B Tonic Lotion in a magazine, I was immediately intrigued, since the main ingredient is tea tree oil, which I suspected would be perfect for my scalp.

B&B sells this product as a post-shower treatment, to nourish, detangle, and prep hair for other products before styling. It can even be used as a leave-in conditioner. For me, it’s all wrong on dry hair…turning it greasy and flat. Where it shines is on soaking wet hair. After I towel dry, I spray this fairly liberally close to my root, lifting my hair all around as I do, and follow with a gentle comb-through using a wide-tooth comb.

It tingles and feels invigorating, but the best part is that it really helps control the itchiness and flaking! My hair seems to take other products better as well – especially when I heat style. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now and it’s still very full, telling me one bottle should last quite some time. I don’t love a lot of B&B hair products, but this is definitely one that will have a permanent place in the bathroom!

review: Loreal Nail Polish

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nails

I spotted these Loreal polishes at my CVS, they were doing a BOGO deal, so I grabbed a few. I’ve been curious about these…I know that Essie is owned by Loreal and wondered if the quality of polish would match that of Essie. I bought Now You Sea Me (a sea blue), After Hours (a rich, non-shimmery cobalt blue), and I Will (an opaque white).

I’ve only tried Now You Sea Me, and will update as I try the others. As a disclaimer, I love Essie polishes (vs. OPI). I like that the formula isn’t too thick and the small brush is great for my small hands. I find OPI to be hard to control. So, I’m comparing the Loreal polish to Essie. The formula is decent. I did 2 coats of medium thickness to achieve opacity. The formula did get a little streaky on the 2nd coat, but nothing that couldn’t be covered by a topcoat. The brush is very similar to Essie’s – small and easy to maneuver. As for the color, I love it! It’s an aquamarine with a touch of green. While it’s a bit loud for my hands, it will make a fabulous toe color come spring/summer.

I can’t yet speak to the wearability, as it’s only been one day so far. I used Essie’s First Base base coat, and finished with a thick coat of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri topcoat (since I’ve been using it with the Essie basecoat, I really love it…no chips for days and dry to the touch in one minute).

I would recommend picking these up with a coupon. The colors aren’t groundbreaking, and the polishes aren’t the cheapest, but they do have some pretty options. I am most excited to try I Will, which reminds me of painting nails with highlighter back in middle school. I have yet to find a truly opaque white polish that is non-streaky, so I’m hoping this will work out!

Update: Now You Sea Me lasted a week with no chips…quite amazing for a drugstore polish! I currently have on After Hours – a wonderfully-deep blue that reminds me of OPI’s Russian Navy (but with no shimmer). It went on opaque in 2 medium coats, and is still chip free 4 days later. The formula is more of a gel than Now You Sea Me (which is more of a cream). My cuticles are horribly ragged, so no pics…you’ll have to trust me on this one!

my latest eye products

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makeup, skincare

I’ve been using a mild retinol on my face several times a week for the past 4 years or so, and won’t be stopping anytime soon. That, combined with getting older, means my once oily-and-could-take-anything skin has become combination/dry and super sensitive. The worst area is my eyes. While I don’t have fine lines quite yet, I do have dark circles that have only gotten worse over the years. 

I’ve tried so many eye creams, and found that even the ones labeled ‘for sensitive skin’ can be offensive (I’m looking at your Burt’s Bees sensitive eye cream). I know a cream is due for a return when I wake up with red, itchy, or super dry skin that is sometimes raw and swollen. Not pretty. 

My requirements for an eye cream are simple. Moisturizing, but not overly emollient. Not irritating in the least. Since I only use it at night (I use my regular moisturizer with SPF all over my face by day), how well it works with makeup is a non-issue. 

The only brand I’ve had success with is Clinique. I used to alternate between All About Eyes (spring/summer) and All About Eyes Rich (fall/winter), but have been using Repairwear Intensive Eye Cream with success. It’s got a light texture, but is quite moisturizing and seems to be making a difference with my undereye circles and puffiness. I highly recommend it. Even the 0.5 oz size ($40) will last forever, since you just need a dab of product for each eye. 

About once a week, I’ll give my eyes a break and dab a bit of Cerave around my eyes. It is the most gentle, healing moisturizer I’ve yet to come across. It’s a bit rich for everyday use, but for extra moisturization and to keep winter flakies at bay, nothing beats it. One tub lasts forever, and you can find it at most drugstores. 

Finally, in semi-unrelated news, I broke down and bought the YSL Touche Eclat Highlighter. My color is #3. While it’s not my desert island makeup necessity, it’s pretty good for brightening up the undereye area. I’ve found that it works best on top of moisturizer and primer, to ensure that you skin is nicely plumped. I gently dab/blend a few dots into my skin, and then set with a light dusting of powder. Still searching for my HG concealer, but I’m a fan of the YSL, and must say that the gold casing looks pretty chic on my dresser. 

review: Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser (re-discovered)

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skincare

Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser (around $6)

My parents have lived in the same house since 1986…one of my earliest memories as a kid is sitting on a rolled-up carpet in our old house, pouting about moving…and then later that day joyfully running through the new house screaming and hiding in closets. And yes, some of my earliest memories only date back to the ages of 4-6.

Anyway, I’ve never lived beyond driving distance of my hometown (with the exception of college, but that doesn’t count), so my NJ home has served as temporary residence, storage space, and dumping ground. When I have clothes that I can’t bring myself to donate quite yet, or furniture and books I can’t seem to part with…to my parents’ basement they go. And my childhood bathroom has become a space where products go to die.

This is how I re-discovered Neutrogena’s Fresh Foaming Cleanser. I started using this in college, after borrowing it from some sorority sisters, and continued through grad school, until I dropped it for Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple. Silly me! Using it again made me remember that this is one of the best cleansers around. It’s made for removing makeup, which it does spectacularly, but also leaves my face feeling incredibly clean. So many many fancy cleansers these days seem to leave a film on my face…I suppose this is because they’re designed not to strip your skin, but I prefer a squeaky clean face when I wash. The Neutrogena face wash gives you that, without making my skin feel too tight. The consistency is about the same as Philosophy’s, and it foams way more. The best part? I picked some up at the drugstore, on sale, for $5 (less than half the price of Philosophy, per ounce).

review: Essie Power Clutch

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nails

Everyone’s got their thing when it comes to being stressed out and procrastinating.  Me? I do grooming.  My preliminary qualifying exam for my doctoral program was a week-long take-home analysis, to be picked up at 9am on Monday, and dropped off at 5pm Friday. It was a marathon exercise, during which I slept very little and somehow churned out a 50-page coherent document.  Somewhere around day 2, when I started to lose my focus, I would take a step back, and pluck my eyebrows or something.  When it came time to turn in the godforsaken thing and throw back a few beers with my cohort-mates, everyone marveled at how I didn’t look totally ragged after all was said and done (and yes, in a fit of complete frustration and wordblock on Thursday, I flat-ironed my hair).

Anyway! I’m in the midst of prepping for my final defense, what did I do? Paint my nails in what is the most perfect fall color.  Essie Power Clutch.  On me, it reads a deep charcoal…like a great charcoal men’s suit…but when I’m out in the sunshine, it takes on a deep military green undertone.  It’s a nice alternative to the Essie Wicked that I tend to wear, which feels a little vampy sometimes.  Power Clutch is a wonderful neutral.

Coverage was good…2 coats were opaque, and I followed it up with a new topcoat I’m trying (Sally Hansen’s Insta-Dri). Let’s hope it lasts for at least a few days without chips!

*Update: The Sally Hansen topcoat was a flop – I had chips in 2 days! This teaches me to stray from my beloved Essie 3-Way Glaze (or Essie Good-to-Go for a somewhat faster-drying topcoat).

review: Tinted Moisturizers

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makeup, skincare

Over the past few months, I’ve become slightly obsessed with trying different tinted moisturizers. Ok, I should backtrack. I began researching foundations, but it all became very overwhelming. I would still like to find a nice, lightweight, medium coverage foundation, but that would involve a visit to a makeup counter, which I just haven’t had the time for. If you can believe it, I’ve settled on 3 different TMs that each have a different, yet permanent place in my makeup drawer.

Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer ($42)

I have used Laura Mercier’s Oil-Free tinted moisturizer for years, and so far it’s served me well. My closest match is Almond, which is a medium-rich brown. In the summer, it’s sometimes all I use on my face, but in the winter, I need to layer a lightweight moisturizer underneath. There are 2 problems I have with it. First, it veers a little pink for my yellow-toned skin. Second, the coverage is on the thick side (although it spreads and blends pretty effortlessly). Recently, I’ve begun layering this on top of the LM primer and a lightweight moisturizer, and that seems to help with smooth coverage and staying power.

The verdict: It’s a classic and a bestseller, and for those who want a bit more coverage, it’s perfect.

Missha M Perfect BB Cream (retails for $29.99)

I first read about BB creams a few years ago, and was always interested in trying one out. Unfortunately, the shades have always been on the light side, since they are mainly aimed at an Asian market. Then I stumbled on Missha BB Cream, which seems to be the only one available in darker shades. This cream claims to do everything – soothe and condition skin, offer sun protection, lighten skin, and even address wrinkles. I can’t attest to any of those claims, but I will say that I do like the formulation. My closest match is #31 (I also purchased the next lightest shade, #27, to mix in when my skin is at it’s lightest during the winter). The BB cream is heavily pigmented, thick, and on the dry side. I always layer it on top of a moisturizer (and find that it spreads easier this way). A little goes a long way though, I put a tiny pump in my palm and use my fingers to really work it in all over my face. The color takes a few minutes to oxidize to my near-perfect match. The good news is that this is easily layered and has great coverage. I’ve only ever ordered straight from the Missha website – while the shipping is ridiculously slow, they often run deals (I got my last tube for $8).

The verdict: A great option to try if you are interested in BB creams, wears more like a foundation.

Tarte Smooth Operator ($36)

I read about this from the MakeupandBeauty blog…Karen has a very similar skin tone to mine, and I often depend on her reviews for what will look good on me, if I can’t get to a Sephora or makeup counter. She raved about the Tarte TM, and of course, the shade she used (Agent 14) was perfect for me. This TM is the lightest of the bunch, and I only really use it on weekends or over the summer. It’s oil-free and it’s never broken me out (unlike nearly every other mineral makeup – I’m looking at you Bare Escentuals)…but is still creamy and spreads and blends amazingly well. It’s got tiny tiny pigments that add a subtle sparkle to your face (not in a glittery way, but a glowy way that you wouldn’t notice except for close-up). It’s VERY lightweight, which means it doesn’t cover many dark spots, and I always need a moisturizer underneath. Still, on days when I’d like to look natural, and can barely manage makeup at all, I turn to this.

The verdict: Skip this if you need to cover dark spots or breakouts. Good in the summer or for those who don’t wear much makeup.

Braids, Beautiful Braids!

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I went through a braid phase between the ages of 4 and 6.  I had to wear a braid every.single.day.  French braids, pigtail braids, or one big braid…it didn’t matter, I just needed the plaits in my hair.

Well, I’ve fallen back in love with braids, especially in the last year or so.  I’ve been enjoying long hair (past the middle of my back) before the inevitable chop when it comes time to re-enter the workforce after school. My hair is super thick and layered…often a ponytail, or even a high bun, puts strain on my head.

The solution has been an assortment of braids to keep the hair out of my face and in one place, and when I have to do things like walk the pup or go grocery shopping, braided hair helps me look put together (even if I have not an ounce of makeup up on besides lip gloss).

I think this is one the best tutorials I’ve seen for achieving the ubiquitous french braid across the head.  Her tip about tucking hair under, instead of over the other pieces (as you would for a traditional braid) is something it took me ages to figure out. This is a great, easy look for running errands, Sunday brunch, or casual evenings.

(Haven’t quite figured out how to embed youtube videos here, so for now, this blog link will have to do):

http://www.sugarlaws.com/tutorial-favorite-braid