Eyebrow Raised in Speculation...

This post can be summed up by two nice, neat bullet points:

• I don't trust mall kiosks
• I sorta like the process of waxing

Random?  Perhaps...but keep reading.

So....over at my closest mall, the central pathways are littered with people selling all sorts of crap interesting things from kiosks.  They sell cellphone cases, tacky stickers, hair straighteners, creepy sketches, ironic t-shirts, crummy art, etc.  Kiosk vendors frighten me a little--they're like the mall equivalent of freakshow barkers, but unlike freakshows, I have no interest in what they're peddling. They can be a little aggressive, and when you're trying to dodge through the slow-moving mall masses who are intoxicated by the ulta-potent stink spray wafting from Abercrombie, the last thing you want is a kiosk vendor trying to clip fake hair into your scalp.

Then one day a few months ago, I noticed it.  Right near the food court.  Some unsuspecting mall shopper was plunked down in a salon chair, leaning back.  Another woman (kiosk barker) hovered over the sprawled out shopper, raking what looked like a long, thick piece of dental floss over the shopper's face.  I couldn't stop staring.  The kiosk lady had one end of the thread IN HER MOUTH while she dragged the rest of the thread over the shopper's eyebrows, chin, and so on.  Then I saw the sign, "Eyebrow Threading."

I had never heard of eyebrow threading, so I looked into it a bit:

• Threading is a "ancient" hair removal technique that comes from Asia
• It removes hair from the follicle, so it's relatively long lasting
• A pure, thin, twisted cotton thread which is rolled over untidy hairlines, mustaches and so on
• Threading removes an entire row of hair, resulting in a straighter line 

I'm all for trying new things, but a few things struck me here:

1. When I am getting a spa procedure done, especially one that involves having hair removed from my body, I prefer to have said procedure done in private.  This eyebrow threading kiosk was, as I said, in the middle of the mall, right near the food court.  Thousands of people walk by on their way to get their hit from Aunt Annie or that slut Cinnabon.  There's no privacy smack in the center of the mall. There was no partitian, nothing to allow for at least the appearance of discretion.
2. The threader kept holding the thread in her mouth.  HER MOUTH!  ICK!  I'm probably just being a germ-phobe, but the whole mouth thing just hits me wrong.  It seems so unsanitary.

On a final note: I am going tomorrow for a much needed brow and upper lip waxing (and express pedi!) at my favorite (private and hygienic) spa.  There's something about waxing that is almost pleasurable to me.  I like the feeling of the hot wax on my skin, the way the gauze is rubbed into the wax, and that moment right before the gauze is ripped off my flesh.  Those silent seconds of anticipation are a hoot.  I don't think I'd give that up for someone to rake a thread (dangling from their mouth) over me.  But that's just me.  I'm stuck in my ways, I suppose!

If you've had threading done or if you want to convince me that it's better than waxing, leave me a comment!

Ask Lydia: Upper Lip Waxing

Hi Lydia,

I have a question about lipwaxing. Am a lipwax virgin. Afraid to try for fear the hair will grow back thicker, true? Is bleaching an option? Or is there a cream ointment I could use that will kill the hair follicles? Funny how the older you get you start losing the hair you want (like the hair on your head) and start growing it in unwanted places, like around the mouth!

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Hi and thanks for your question.

It sucks being a mammal. We have hair all over the place, and it can show itself in some truly horrifying places.

When it comes to facial hair removal, we do have options: tweezing, cream hair removers, waxing, or more permanent hair removal techniques. And all options have pros and cons. Now, fair warning: I am not an expert...so if anyone has anything they want to add, be sure to leave a comment.

TWEEZING
Pros: it's easy, it's almost free (you just have to pay for the tweezers), it requires very little skill, it is a precision job, and it's best for small areas of hair (upper lip, eyebrows, etc.)
Cons: you need really good lighting, it can be painful (have you ever pulled a root out? Ouch! Plus it can bleed--yuck!), it's easy to miss hairs, ingrown hairs can happen if you over-tweeze or incorrectly tweeze, and it seems like tweezing is a never-end job
Do it right: if you want to tweeze, invest in a decent pair of slant-ended tweezers (check out Tweezerman's selection at Sephora--they're worth the money), a decent mirror, and a good light. Click here for pointers on how to tweeze properly.

CREAM FACIAL HAIR REMOVERS
Pros: potentially not as painful as other hair removal techniques, relatively easy to use, readily available
Cons: creams can be irritating to skin, can smell nasty, and can be messy. You may need to get a prescription if you use products like Vaniqua.
Other thoughts: I have never bleached or used a cream facial hair remover, but I have tried products like Nair on my legs in the past. I found the product to be harsh-smelling and it didn't do as good of a job at removing my leg hair as my trusty razor. Since the blade has no place near your face, I'd personally recommend tweezing or waxing over cream removers.

WAXING Pros: excellent results, someone else does it for you, hair takes longer to grow back
Cons: somewhat painful, can be irritating to your skin, requires regular upkeep which means regular visits to your salon/spa for a wax
Other thoughts: This is my preferred facial hair removal method. I personally like the way a waxing feels...it's somewhat painful but also a bit cathartic. You will need to let the hair grow in a bit before going in for a wax. You may also want to exfoliate the area somewhat regularly before your waxing appointment to deter ingrown hairs. You might experience some redness, swelling, or tenderness immediately after a waxing. (If you're in the Seattle/Everett, WA area, the Mill Creek InSpa does excellent waxing and I've rarely had to deal with post-waxing redness after an appointment!)

PERMANENT MEASURES
There are more permanent options for getting rid of unwanted hair. If you're interested in laser hair removal or electrolysis, I would strongly recommend that you talk to a professional. They should be honest about what you can expect, how much pain and money will be involved, and how many sessions you'll need to undergo.

For facial hair, I prefer waxing and tweezing. They seem to be the most easy and cost-effective. If anyone has any thoughts on this, go ahead and leave a comment!

Blunt Bangs for Spring 09

I never know what to do with my hair! When I go to a salon, it usually goes like this:

STYLIST: What would you like to have done today?
ME: Oh, I don't know. I guess just make it blonder and trim it.
STYLIST: Do you want to add layers or change your part?
ME: Sure...whatever...I don't know. As long as my new style is easy to maintain...

See? That's pathetic and hopeless. And I know I am not alone when it comes to hair confusion/fear in the stylist's chair.

Well, I'm finally here to help you and myself. Nicholas Penna, Jr. of SalonCapri outside of Boston is predicting that blunt bangs are going to be hot this spring...and he was good enough to share some tips on how to get this look the next time you go to the salon.

Nicholas Penna, Jr. of SalonCapri:

1. What is the hot style for Spring?
Blunt bangs are the hot style for spring because they add edge to hair. For a long time, soft hair was the trend and now there’s a change with some attitude. Celebrities such as Kate Hudson in the new movie Bride Wars and Erin Lucas from MTV’s newest reality endeavor, The City, are both sporting blunt bangs which makes it even hotter.

2. What hair type does this style work best on?
Blunt bangs typically look best with straight hair that is cut all at one length. However, we've recently seen stars like Kim Kardashian wearing her blunt bangs with wavy hair creating a contrast between the hip, edgy bang with romantic, tousled hair. Another variation to the blunt bang is to incorporate angles that frame your face, such as Anne Hathaway’s haircut.

3. What face shape do these bangs look best on?
Blunt bangs work well for everyone, if done right. Many times, younger people can pull off the style the best, but virtually anyone can sport this look. The best face shape for blunt bangs is a longer, oval-shaped face.

4. What are some other great bang choices for girls who do not have the appropriate hair texture/face shape?
Longer bangs that can be pushed to the side of the face add movement to the hairstyle, such as the side swept bang. This type of bang is the most universally worn and can look great on many different face shapes/hair textures.

5. Additional tips...
Blunt bangs add to style to your look, even when your hair is pulled back into a ponytail. You can just blow out your bangs and throw your hair back. It adds an egde to your look and gives you a change that's not as drastic as a shorter haircut.

I think that this style is definitely going to last well into this season. It is a faddy look, but I think it’s one that will stand the test of time. As it evolves, I imagine people will start to wear the bang in different ways, more tailored to their personality.

There you have it! One great idea for a new Spring 'do!

Be Kind To Yourself

Holy guacamole! It's been a hell of a week and it's only Tuesday. This is not a good sign for me, and I'm sure I'm not alone.

Now that the holidays are over, all we're left with is the residual signs of excess: debt from buying too many gifts, extra pounds from all the yummy things we snarfed down, and a feeling of exhaustion from all the get-togethers and now getting back into the swing of things at work. In my humble opinion, January sucks. Sure we have the whole fresh start with a new year, but once we're a week or two into the month, we get into the wintertime blahs.

My advice for all this: Be kind to yourself, now more than ever. How? Well, here are some things I do:

• Pamper yourself with a mid-winter pedicure. Even though no one will see your perfectly painted toenails, you'll feel better. And looking down to see 10 lovely bright red toenails will lift your spirits. Plus your heels will feel softer and smoother. Good stuff.
• Go for a brow wax. There's something so cathartic about having my brows waxed. I love the way it feels, as sick as that may sound. But what's better than having my stray eyebrow hairs yanked out of my face is the way a brow wax looks. It's subtle, but having cleaned up, professional shaped brows does wonders for your looks. Plus it's relatively cheap and quick.
  
• Give yourself an at-home facial. If you have a microdermabrasion kit, use it. If not, head down to the drugstore and pick up a fun, inexpensive face mask. Slather it all over your skin, lie down on your bed and relax for 15 minutes. Your skin will look better and you'll feel more rested. Don't forget to apply a decent moisturizer and lip balm once you're done.
• Take a bubble bath. We just celebrated National Bubble Bath day last week...if you weren't able to participate, go ahead and indulge whenever you get the chance. You deserve 30 minutes to an hour of alone time, and bubble baths force you to turn off the TV, hang up the cell phone, and step away from the computer.
  
• Shave your legs. During the winter, I don't shave my legs as often as I do in the winter. Sometimes I forget about it completely for far too long. My husband doesn't complain, but there comes a point where I get downright irritated with my hairy legs. I take time to shave my legs, making sure not to miss any patches. And I follow up a shave with a whole hell of a lot of moisturizer, especially in the winter. It feels so good to have smooth, satiny legs!
• Start each day with a wonderful body moisturizer. Instead of applying perfume, try using a scented body moisturizer. Doing so will provide double duty: your skin will be soft and touchable, and you'll smell great. No one else may notice, but that's ok. You'll know you spent a few minutes in the morning lavishing attention on yourself...and there's nothing wrong with that.

If you don't take the time to be kind to yourself, no one else will. You have to treat yourself the way you want to be treated.

These are just my suggestions. What do you do to pamper yourself when you need a little TLC? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Save Your Pennies

Times are tough, economically speaking. The Dow Jones seems to hit a new low every week, and the news is filled with scary stories about people losing their homes, their jobs, their entire savings accounts. Because we're tightening up our budgets, many of you may be wondering where you can save on beauty treatments.

Thanks to the editors at Allure, here are a few hints on when to save and when to splurge:

BROWS
Splurge on: Professional brow-shaping. The pros can work magic on shabby brows but you can keep costs down by plucking stray hairs that pop up between visits.
Scrimp on: Brow products. You can use your inexpensive eyeliner to lightly fill in your brows or find a drugstore-brand brow pencil to give your brows a better shape.
Skip: Brow gel. You can use Vaseline to keep crazy brows in place. Or pick up some cheap clear mascara to coat your brows. One word of caution: the mascara may flake a bit, so be prepared!

SKIN
Splurge on: Anti-aging creams if you need the help. Try to get something containing retinoids to help reduce wrinkles and increase firmness. If you really want the most bang for your buck, visit a dermatologist and get a prescription-strength treatment.
Scrimp on: Expensive treatments. Instead of a professional peel at a doctor's office, try an at-home microderm abrasion kit. Just be sure to use the product regularly to achieve the maximum benefit.
Skip: Facials. They don't do much any way. Just be sure to wash your face regularly, use your daily moisturizer, and don't forget the SPF!

HAIR
Splurge on: Highlights. You cannot achieve the same rich, high-definition highlight at home that you get in the salon. If you need to save a few bucks, opt for a partial foil rather than a full color/foil. Just having the highlights around your face will brighten up your look.
Scrimp on: Shampoo. Really cheap shampoos only contain cleaning agents that may strip your hair of moisture and shine. But shampoos in the $5 range are all you really need: they clean and moisturize perfectly. The same goes for hair products. Stay in the middle of the price range and you should be a-okay!
Skip: Salon blowouts. Unless you have a special occasion to go to, you don't need to have a pro do your hair for you. When your in the salon getting your highlights and cut, ask your stylist to show you how to blowout your own hair. Try out a few things like flatirons and large Velcro rollers to add volume to your hair.

For tips on whether to spend or splurge on makeup products, click here for one of my very first posts...it still has some good info!

Spa Week Giveaways!

The good people over at Spa Week have some great deals and giveaways...if you're interested in pampering yourself at all:

JULY Travel Giveaway
What: Win the “Lifestyle Makeover” of your dreams at Hilton Head Health, situated on the beautiful South Carolina Coast (Retail Value: $7,990). Enjoy a 7 night stay for two in a private 2-bedroom villa. Throughout the course of your stay you will dine on healthy gourmet meals and snacks. Take advantage of the great variety of fitness classes each day, and 3 private personal training sessions. Also, check out the nutrition, cooking, stress management, and motivational classes available! After all those intense training sessions, make sure you relax those muscles with a complimentary 60 minute massage.
How: All you have to do is click here and forward this giveaway to two or more friends, and you will automatically be entered to win this all-inclusive trip for two!
Why: Because you’re sick and tired of reading about Celebrity Slim Down Secrets. We know the truth – celebrities spend countless hours with their personal trainers and have their meals cooked by gourmet chefs to keep their figures flawless. Well, Spa Week can give you the chance to live and train like a star. America’s premiere weight-loss retreat will have you (and your guest) looking and feeling like a celebrity. Move over Jessica Biel, the Spa Week winners will have the best bikini bods on the beach after their stay at Hilton Head Health.

JULY Steals & Deals
Hit the town in your maxi looking like a silky smooth bronze goddess, minus the harmful UV rays and premature aging, with an affordable Spray Tan from Spa Week’s Steals & Deals. If you’ve already got your bronze on, indulge in a Tutti Frutti Body Treatment or a Gold Bling Facial. This season is all about showing skin! Book your Body Salt Glow, Spray Tan, Vitamin Facial, Brazilian, or Mani/Pedi Combo today and kick off summer the right way - at the spa! After all ladies, that bikini line isn't going to wax itself.

To find new monthly spa specials, promotions and exclusive deals near you visit www.spaweek.org/content/deals.

JULY Wellness Getaways
What: Discover the award winning Canyon Ranch Resort & Spa with a friend this summer – and save. If you plan a trip for two, each person gets 15% off the package stay! Simply mention Two New, Too Terrific when you call for reservations and you will receive the special discount. This beautiful destination spa is a perfect getaway for the summer. Kick off those heels, lay back, relax and recharge with your best bud in tow.
Where: The wooded hills of Lenox, Massachusetts. Get further details at http://www.spaweek.org/content/wellness
When: July 1st – August 30th
Why: Because you deserve a break, and with the Spa Week special you’ll have extra money to burn at the Prime Outlets, conveniently only 5 minutes away!

Spa Week!

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been exceedingly busy at work lately. I had to deal with all the logistics of an 800+ person meeting on Monday. That required a ton of work and put me in a lose-lose situation. No matter how much work I did or how organized I was, it was impossible to please everyone. Even though the meeting was a success and everything ran smoothly (thanks to my efforts, I must say), I have yet to hear a "thank you" from my boss. Ah, I live to serve.

Anyway, the point of my complaining is that I need a break. And thankfully, Spa Week is here. If you ever needed an excuse to splurge on yourself and enjoy some much needed pampering, this is the event for you!

Here are three promos from Spa Week:

STEALS & Deals
What: Delectable Spa Discounts for the Cost Conscious Consumer. Indulge in a Body Glow, Spray Tan, Brazilian Wax or Mani-Pedi Combo at one of our favorite spas to ensure you look your best when you hit the beach.
Where: 64 days spas across the country are offering fun summer discounts and packages
When: The full month of June
How: Check out the deals here and book directly through the spa
Why: The summer is here and with Spa Week’s June Steals & Deals you can be confident baring all. With prices this great, you’ll have enough money left over to splurge on a new pair of shades.

JUNE Travel Sweepstake
What: Win a free trip (Value $2,830)! Escape with a friend for 4 Days and 3 Nights in the Four Diamond-rated luxury suite at the Green Valley Spa. Spa Week brings you the luxurious fitness getaway to start off your summer right!
Where: The Green Valley Spa set in Utah’s scenic backcountry
How: It’s quick and easy, just visit this site and enter your e-mail and two friends to win.
Why: Slim Down, Shape Up and GET FIT quick. Green Valley Spa will have you looking fabulous on the beach in just 4 days! Get your tummy taught with all the Yoga and Pilates classes you can handle, and get bikini ready with your very own personal trainer and healthy cooking classes.

WELLNESS Getaways
What: Book a vacation or just get away for a few days with the special Spa Week discount at Bedford Springs, a AAA 4-Diamond resort famous for its Springs Eternal Spa. Rates start at $298 per person with free $100 spa credit. Just visit this site to check out the details.
Where: Bedford Springs Resort – Bedford, Pennsylvania
Why: The dog days of summer have officially begun, and you’re stuck in front of a computer. Wouldn’t it be nice to get away for a while?

I have so much comp time built up at work. I should totally cash in all those days and escape from my busy work schedule to one of these fabulous resorts! If you're like me and need some ME time, these promos may fit the bill.

A Thousand Lashes...

I was getting my hair colored a few weeks ago, my hair looking very much like a baked potato all wrapped up in pieces of foil. My stylist was chatting with her colleagues while she painted on the bleach, gossiping about their girl crushes on a former salon employee. They went on and on about how gorgeous she was, my stylist commenting on this girl's eyelash extension and how great they looked.

That's when it hit me. I know nothing about eyelash extensions. I don't know anyone who has them. Honestly, the thought of getting fake lashes stuck on to my own freaks me out, so I have not been paying attention to this not-so-new beauty trend.

So...in order to educate myself and you, my fabulous Kiss-and-Makeup readers...here is my lowdown on eyelash extensions:

What is it? Eyelash extensions are semi-permanent, synthetic fibers that give you longer, thicker, natural looking lashes.

How are they applied? Lash extension specialists apply the extensions among your natural lashes one by one. It takes about an hour to get extensions put in; touch ups take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes.

How long do they last? Natural lashes fall out every 60 to 90 days, but the extensions need to be touched up once or twice a month depending on how you care for your lashes and other individual factors.

Can I wear mascara with lash extensions? It's not necessary, but it is ok to wear a water based mascara if you get this treatment done. However, you should not use eyelash curlers if you have lash extensions and you should only apply mascara from the middle up, avoiding the base.

How do I care for the lash extensions? You can't get the lashes wet for the first 24 hours after the procedure. You should avoid saunas, hot steam, getting lashes wet, rubbing your eyes, or pulling at your lashes.

How much does it cost? It depends on where you go and how many extensions you have put in, but plan to spend anywhere between $150 and $300 for the initial extension addition and around $50 for touch-ups.

Hmmm.....I think I'll pass. I'm not all that into extensions, where its hair extensions or lash extensions. I think I'll stick with mascara. Imagine how many tubes of high end mascara you can buy for that $300! Wowza!

You Talk Too Much

Here's a question for you: when you go to a salon, do you like to talk to your stylist/nail technician, colorist, etc.? And...what does "salon etiquette" have to say about this?

THE CASE FOR SILENCE
I went for a pedicure on Friday and am now sporting very cute OPI Russian Navy toes. Since it was the end of a stressful work day, the last thing I wanted to do was talk to my nail tech. So I just sat there, nose in an Oprah magazine, barely saying a word. Was that rude? It didn't feel rude, but at the same time, the silence was obvious. As I sat there, I thought "wow--I'm an uppity bitch," but I still didn't break my silence or look up from Oprah to engage in mindless (and mind numbing) chit-chat.

My sister went to get a haircut yesterday with a new stylist, and when I asked her how everything went, my sister said, "the girl was very chatty." She further explained that the stylist asked lots of questions like "are you married?" "what does your husband do?" "do you have kids?" "are you going to have more kids?" and so on.

While these may seem like harmless, surface-y topics, they're not. My sister has a long-term significant other who would be her spouse if she were legally allowed to get married, but my sister will never have a husband. Though my sister has one child, she and her partner recently made the heart wrenching decision not to try to have more kids due to fertility issues. Now, should she have to divulge all this to a stranger she's pay $50 to cut her hair? I think not. And I know I'm tired of having to explain myself whenever anyone asks me why my husband and I don't want to have children. It's a personal decision that I have come to terms with--it's not one I like to discuss idly while getting my hair done.

THE CASE FOR CHIT-CHAT
There are some people I don't mind talking to. My former hairdresser (who I liked as a person but not as a stylist) and I would talk about books, movies, her tattoo, school, all sorts of safe but socially acceptable subjects. My current stylist likes to talk to me AND everyone in the entire room--that's fine. It makes the whole thing more fun, and we never get into real personal stories or lines of questioning.

Sometimes silence can be awkward. Once I was in the middle of a brow wax when I realized my waxer girl and I hadn't said more than a handful of words to each other. The room seemed heavy with the anticipation of sound--it was almost unbearable. Even more unnerving was the fact that she was very aggressive with the waxing and tweezing and my mid-wax realization that we had not discussed what I wanted from my waxing. I sat paralyzed, worrying I wouldn't have any brows left when she was done (thankfully, she did a pretty good job despite the lack of communication).

So...what do you prefer? Talking or silence? What's the right way to visit a salon?