Do you ever have one of those days when you just don’t want to wear a stitch of makeup? One of those days when you just want to to incognito? You know, when the big dark shades and big floppy hat are necessities?  Well, that’s what I’m feeling today.  But, since my business is beauty, I can’t afford to leave the house schlepping.

Think about it.  When someone tells you they are a hairstylist and they hair looks like crap, are you going to trust that person with your hair?  Or a dentist with a front tooth missing.  Don’t think so.  So, I think that even on a Saturday or whatever your “off” day is, it’s important to look pulled together.  You know that saying about opportunity…

So here are my steps for Simple Saturday Beauty:

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I recently whacked all my hair off. I don’t know if it was post mid-life crisis, my ADD or a combination of both, but I made the cut.  And it’s pretty cute.  Kind of Halle Berry-ish, but medium brown with blond highlights.

Now, since I am having hot flashes on a regular basis, my hair doesn’t hold it’s flat iron too well, but that’s fine by me.  I like my mixed curly/wavy textured hair. But it’s the frizz thatI can’t stand.

Aubrey Organics Hair Smoothing Serum

So, I finally tried out Aubrey Organics NuStyle Organic Hair-Smoothing Serum, and it’s just perfect for smoothing my frizzies, without being heavy or unnecessarily coating my hair. I love it.  I can go “natural” without looking like I stuck my hair in an electrical socket.  And the best part is that my hair FEELS good.

1.7 oz. $21

About Aubrey Organics NuStyle Organic Hair-Smoothing Serum:

Made with quinoa protein and other plant-based certified organic ingredients, this nutrient-rich serum replenishes moisture and smoothes the hair’s cuticle to reduce frizzing and repair damaged ends. Use after or in-between shampoos to protect hair from blow dryer and flat iron damage and restore manageability and shine. Makes an excellent deep-conditioning treatment for damaged, brittle hair and split ends. USDA, NOP certified organic.

I give Aubrey Organics NuSTyle Organic Hair-Smoothing Serum 5 Blings!

I’m the poster child for frizzy hair. BUT, I have been using the no frizz line from Living Proof for awhile now, and my hair is under control.  When I’m wearing my hair in it’s natural state, I love the No Frizz wave, curl styling cream.

Living Proof No Frizz wave, curl styling cream

Formulated for medium to thick frizzy hair, No Frizz Wave, Curl Styling Cream is a lightweight lotion that eliminates frizz and contains conditioning to replenish hair’s moisture. It also contains a lightweight, touchable holding polymer to define wavy, curly hair. No Frizz features PolyfluoroEster - the first new anti-frizz technology in 30 years to effectively block humidity for beautifully soft, smooth, frizz-free hair. Works great on colored hair, too.

If you would love to try this Living Proof with a 20% discount, click here.

Do you ever have one of those days when you just don’t want to wear a stitch of makeup? One of those days when you just want to to incognito? You know, when the big dark shades and big floppy hat are necessities?  Well, that’s what I’m feeling today.  But, since my business is beauty, I can’t afford to leave the house schlepping.

Think about it.  When someone tells you they are a hairstylist and they hair looks like crap, are you going to trust that person with your hair?  Or a dentist with a front tooth missing.  Don’t think so.  So, I think that even on a Saturday or whatever your “off” day is, it’s important to look pulled together.  You know that saying about opportunity…

So here are my steps for Simple Saturday Beauty:

1.  Simplify your skincare routine.

I love products that are double duty.  Favorites right now are Black Opal Brightening Mask/Scrub and Vichy Liftactiv Retinol HA SPF 15.

The Black Opal scrub is awesome because not only does it deep clean my pores, but it truly brightens my complexion.   I hate taking time to mask, but because I’m a scrub junkie, I get my scrub fix and the benefits of a deep cleansing mask in one.  Ladies, this is a wonderful product for your guy too.

Vichy Liftactiv Retinol HA SPF 15 is not just double duty, it’s triple duty — moisturizer, treatment and SPF.  Plus it’s lightweight and melts right into my skin.

2.  Keep makeup minimal.

I start with Vapour Organic Beauty Stratus Instant Skin Perfector.  This handy stick brightens, evens tone, makes my pores disappear and is the perfect primer for makeup. Even days when I don’t wear foundation, Stratus is a must.  Plus, it’s organic and feeds my skin. That’s a win-win for me.

Next I apply a bit of foundation under my eyes and fan out.  A touch of cream blush, fill in brows, touch of mascara and gloss.  That takes about 2 minutes.

3.  No fuss hair.

No fuss hair for me is a pony tail.  A low pony tail can is a chic alternative to the big hair that I love.  I have curly frizzy hair, so keeping that stuff in laying down is a necessity.  I love Garnier Fructis Style Conditioning Glaze.  It holds my frizzies  in place without being heavy and makes my hair ultra-shiny.  Add a nice hair clip or colorful scarf around my scrunchie

Chaka Khan circa 1975

I have a penchant for big hair. I think it began when I first saw and heard Chaka Khan.  Even though I couldn’t sing a lick, I secretly yearned to be Chaka Khan, Chaka Khan, Chaka Khan. So, since I could only sing into my lotion bottle and live vicariously through my Rufus LP’s, I made a pact with myself that one day I would have big hair.

Diana Ross photo courtesy of askmen.com

Thinking back on it, significant women in music have pretty much always had big hair.  Think about Diana Ross; some of the biggest hair I have ever seen.  Maybe Chaka was trying to outdo Diana’s hairdo. I think I will call them hair divas. And maybe that big hair thing is genetic, just look at Tracee Ellis Ross.  Her hair is voluminous and tres sexy.

Tracee Ellis Ross

Today, there are more hair divas.  Beyonce’ is the queen of big hair. And I must admit, she wears it well.  Even Rihanna’s hair is big, albeit short. In  view of the trend of musical women sporting big hair, I have come to the conclusion that men must love copious amounts of hair on women.  Heck, I’m a woman I love all that hair on women.

With that said, clearly then, big hair must be an accoutrement that breeds fierceness.  Today is Friday, and it’s it’s all about getting fierce.  So go for it ladies, get big hair– get fierce.

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I’ve said it before and I will say it again — I’m the poster child for big, frizzy hair. Without products that actually tame my fine, curly curly frizz, I might as well just go funky ‘fro. (Which by the way is my current state of tress…)  I do however have a segment to take with our local CBS affiliate tomorrow and this hair must be under control.  So, I am going to work with what I know handles my frizz.  I might mention that right now in the San Francisco Bay Area, most specifically, Oakland, it’s pouring! So I know that my hair is at risk for not holding up and looking sleek unless I bring it with both barrels.

I know from personal experience that the Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine line — all of it, shampoo, conditioner and styling products — works unbelievably well on my hair.  I didn’t expect it, but I got results!  My bangs that suffer from a constant onslaught of personal summer perspiration remain straight, whereas with other products I have had combination hair. Yes, you read it right — combo hair, not skin.  My bangs are big and frizzy and the rest of my hair is still straight.

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 We have all been affected by the economy.  I have had to tailor my beauty budget to my actual budget.  They never seem to balance, but I really don’t care.  I’m an avowed beauty junkie and with that being said, I have made some adjustments.  So now I have budget beauty bling. 

I traded down from this lovely Tiare scented NARS Body Glow to Palmer's Leg Shine and saved $50!

 There are a few beauty items that I just can’t live without.  So I have just learned to trade this for that.  I’m sure you can do it too.  It’s all a matter of finding your favorite beauty necessity at Walgreens or Target or Walmart instead of Saks, Nordstrom or even my beloved Sephora.

Here are my top 5 beauty finds that are worth their weight in blings:

1.  Body Lotion

I used to use a pricey body lotion which shall remain nameless just in case I come into a windfall, then layer on

This all-in-one leg gloss for $8.50

Michael Kors Leg Shine  $32 or NARS Body Glow to give my legs a beautiful sheen.  Now I just use Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Smoothing and Perfecting Leg Gloss Lotion, 13.5 fl. oz. for $8.50.  Granted the Palmer’s doesn’t have the wonderful scent of Michael Kors Leg Shine of NARS Body Glow, but I can smell like cocoa butter for 10 minutes for the price difference.  I made the trade and have saved over $50!

And look at what it does:

This revolutionary product is a tinted moisturizer that adds gloss and imparts a satiny smooth finish that masks imperfections to improve the appearance of your legs. It contains pure Cocoa Butter, Vitamin E and tiny light-refracting particles to illuminate the skin. This product also contains a hair-growth inhibitor, which minimizes the need for shaving, leaving the skin smoother longer. This fast-drying formula blends marks and blemishes, creating the appearance of flawless skin – virtually eliminating the need for pantyhose, stockings, etc.

2.  Mascara

I love mascara.  I want big thick, trashy lashes.  I’m leaning towards Tammy Faye  on the lashes.  I used to be a die hard Lancome mascara girl.  But the choices kept growing - there was a mascara launch each season.  Good grief.   The problem is that you can get carried away with the mascara choices out there.  I mean, there are mascaras with fibers, primers, spinning wands, vibrating (ahem) wands that curl, lengthen, thicken, darken and help grow your lashes to boot.  Well, I just can’t pay $30 for a spinning mascara.  Maybelline now makes one for under $10 if that was my choice.  NOT!  I love, love, love my Loreal Voluminous mascara.  It’s $7.99 and works as well if not better than it’s $25 counterparts.  The good news is that drugstores often put Loreal Voluminous on sale for buy one get one free and then I stock up.  I even use this mascara in my professional kit.  It comes in Carbon, much like Dior Show and Voluminous also comes in waterproof forumlas.  I just stick with Blackest Black and it’s perfect for every occasion.

3.  Hair conditioner

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