Beauty & Trends | WhyDid.com

Why Don’t You Try It: Home Remedy Hair Color

By Kirsten|April 21st, 2011|Beauty Buzz|

Gurrrrl, you better get your hair did up right. The summer is fast approaching and we are all going to pop up out of our holes like Punxsutawney Phil. So, it’s time to do some summertime maintenance and part of that starts at the root… or your hair. We all love the look of sunkissed hair, but paying for it in salons can be a bit pricey. How can you achieve that beachy blonde surfer girl hair without breaking the bank? Easy. With a few items you can pick up at the store. (FYI: I am NOT talking about Sun-In either. Ugh.. the misery of my hair that 7th grade summer…).

Make Lemonade: I’m fairly certain every girl on the planet has probably tried this little summertime trick, but in case you have not, here’s how to turn lemons in to gorgeous golden hair.

While lounging pool or beachside (or just while puttering around outside), fill a spray bottle with concentrated (and by concentrated I mean fresh squeezed) lemon juice and spritz on your hair. Um, I shouldn’t have to tell you to avoid your eyes— but I will anyway: AVOID CONTACT WITH YOUR PRETTY PEEPERS. Some people also add a little olive oil to the mix to add some nutrition to your strands while lightening them.

I’m fortunate enough to have my very own Meyers Lemon tree in my yard… so check back in mid August to see whether I’ve made more hair color than lemonade this summer…

Color with Chamomile: If you’ve already gone down the lemon route or you just have something against lemons in general, another little trick for ladies with lighter locks is using this chamomile concoction. *Bonus: You can also make yourself a little soothing tea while you wait.

Place 1 cup camomile flowers into an enamel pot with 2 cups of boiling water.
Lower the heat to just under boiling and simmer for half an hour.
Let the infusion sit for 3 hours.
Strain the tea with a nylon mesh strainer, and pour it over your head several times, catching it into a pot or bowl as you pour.

Cinnamon Bun: I mean, I have never tried this one, but it sounds delicious.

Combine cinnamon powder and hair conditioner in a one to one mixture. The amount you will need depends on the length of your hair; however, you should have enough to evenly coat your locks from root to tip.
Wet your hair and wring out the excess water. Comb your hair carefully to release any tangles which may prevent even distribution of the cinnamon and conditioner.
Apply the cinnamon and conditioner mixture evenly to your hair, mixing an extra batch if necessary. While you can’t use too much, if you use to little your lightening will end up uneven and streaky. You can comb through your hair periodically to help move the cinnamon and conditioner evenly throughout.
Gather your hair in a bun and secure it with a hair clip. Cover your head with a shower cap and leave the cinnamon and conditioner in your hair overnight. Rinse the mixture from your hair in the morning, shampooing as normal. If you would like to lighten your hair a bit more, apply the mixture again with no worry about damaging your hair.

If all else fails, you will have a delicious recipe for tea. Chamomile + lemon + cinnamon? Pass me a crumpet, please.

xx,

WhyDid

Photo via Murray Mitchell

Why Don’t You Come in for a Tune Up?

By Kirsten|April 7th, 2011|Beauty Buzz|

Just like the finest automobiles, women need tune ups from time to time. Our bodies are complex machinery and need to be treated as such. Taking care of yourself should be for no other reasons than selfish ones. Do not do it for a man or for anyone else. Do it for you.

When cars aren’t serviced they don’t run as well. They get all rusty and sputtery and they just aren’t as fun to drive. When I wasn’t taking care of myself, I just did not feel good, let alone sexy. Chances of me feeling frisky and wanting to skip around the apartment in my birthday suit was slim to none. This made my fiance sad. Very, very sad.

I finally pulled it together and got myself back on the road (I used my blinker, of course). So what exactly should we be doing to make sure we’re in tip top running condition?

Ripped Off: Every four weeks or so I head in for self inflicted torture of the nether regions. The first time is by far the worst and the longer you wait between waxes, the stronger the hair gets because the root has a chance to really grip in there. However, the more regular you are with your mangrove maintenance, the thinner the hair gets and the less painful the experience is. Even when I was not tied down with a mate, I still took care of my special place because I just felt better about myself. Besides, we don’t need any “spill over” at the pool.

Save Face: I never realized the importance of a facial until 1) I reached 25 and 2) lived in a house with mass amounts of natural sunlight. As we get older, our cells turn over slower. This can make your skin look dull, increase the amount of blackheads present, and lead to more breakouts. By going to a facial professional every 6-8 weeks you’re having an expert rid your skin of all the gunk so you can be just as glowing and gorgeous as you were as a baby. Between facials, you can try out one of my favorite products from Murad:

Splitting Hairs: Recently, a gal pal told me that her hair was finally growing. For years she’d been under the impression that her hair would never grow past a certain length. Her former hairstylist had been chopping her locks off every time she came in and letting her think that was as far as it would grow. While getting a trim about every eight weeks is needed, make sure that your stylist is only removing the straggly ends rather than getting all scissor happy on your ‘do.

Check Under the Hood: Every single year you should be going to visit the lady doctor to get your little princess checked out. You should start doing this the minute you become sexually active or when you hit 18 (whichever comes first- hopefully 18). I am horrified to hear girls say that they don’t go either because they are “scared” or just lazy. There is absolutely nothing to be scared about except for what could happen if you don’t go. With things like HPV, ovarian cancer, and endometriosis, you’ve got to be careful. There is some serious pipework down there and you want to take good care of it.

Find a Spot: While we are being serious, let’s move on to another health concern. Skin cancer. Even if you think you aren’t susceptible to melanoma, it’s probably a good idea to have a dermatologist check out your skin once a year as well as any time you notice a bizarre mole of freckle. The best way to avoid serious health problems is prevention. Check out this slideshow of skin conditions to look out for. It’s a little gross… but so is skin cancer. Well you can discover this info here about healing skin cancer.

Twinkle Toes: While this may seem trivial and on the verge of diva-like, hear me out. One of the least expensive ways to put some pep in your step is by pampering those tired toes. Adding a bit of color can brighten you day as well. If you can’t spring for a professional pedi every two weeks, try giving yourself an at home version. You can also keep your tootsies soft by using this awesome moisturizing duo from bliss:

By taking better care of yourself, you’ll feel like a whole new woman and you may even keep the “new car” smell.

Now, hit the road.

xx,

WhyDid

Photo via HPIBajaForum

Beauty Buzz: Big Bang Theory

By Kirsten|March 24th, 2011|Beauty Buzz|

The bangs this season are serious. Designers like Twinkle by Wenlan (shown above) and Mulberry showed their collections styled with blunt bangs. If you’re going to try out bangs, you’re going to need to commit. They are thick, heavy, and blunt. These bangs are not for the faint of heart. In. It. To. Win. It. Think Anna Karina:

Bangs are a great way to change up your look without the permanence of color or full on cut. Many a celeb has tested out this trend herself:

Maybe you’ll love them, maybe you’ll hate them, but they’ll grow out in a couple of months! And luckily, side pinned bangs are another one of springs hottest trends.

You’re banging, baby.

xx,

WhyDid

Photos via Elle and Paristocrats

Would You Wednesday: Scissor Sisters

By Kirsten|March 23rd, 2011|Beauty Buzz, Why Did or Why Don't?|

Today I did something that I really dread doing. No, I didn’t go to the dentist. Not the gyno either. I went to get a haircut. Ever since I moved to Los Angeles and my old hairdresser moved out of the states, I have not done a thing to my hair. No color, no cutting, no nothing. I have a hard time trusting just anyone with the care of my hair. Finally, I gave in as I stared at my straggly strands. It was high time to care of the straw I was calling “hair.” I headed over to Neihule Salon, crossed my fingers, and hoped for the best.

Luckily, I was in good hands. The woman in charge of the fate of my locks was Whitney Thomas. I told her all about my follicle fears and she understood. She showed me how much she was going to cut and made sure I was okay with it. A wash, snip, and blow dry later, I left with shiny, bouncy, freshly trimmed hair.

I did my due diligence by coming home and inspecting every square inch of my head to make sure I loved it. I did. (So, if you’re scissor shy just like me, I’d head on over and give Whitney a visit). I felt even better about my new ‘do when I saw these photos of Brooklyn Decker:

WTF?! What made Brooklyn do such a thing to her hair? Did she think looking like Meg Ryan would help her movie career in the Rom-Com arena? Perhaps she thought that this was the hairdo of marital bliss. (I did see a few moms in my pilates class with the same style). She spent an awful lot of time on set with Jennifer Anniston, so it’s also possible that she figured creating her own “Rachel” would land her a recurring role on a sitcom. Welp, at least her dress was cute.

BTW- she’s TWENTY THREE! So… did BK get a little scissor happy?

snip, snip.

xx,

WhyDid

Photos via JustJared

Beauty Buzz: Orange You Going to Try This?

By Kirsten|March 17th, 2011|Beauty Buzz|

While red lips are here to stay, at times they can seem a little heavy for the warmer spring and summer months. Luckily, makeup artists everywhere were painting a new shade on the lips of the models backstage at the Spring shows (shown here at Milly). A variation on fire engine red was tangerine orange. Whether is was glossy or matte, deep coral or soft peach, this hue showed up on runway after runway.

Just like red lipstick, orange also takes a bit of trial and error to find the perfect shade for your skin and hair. Below are three citrus fueled shades to test out on your pretty pucker:

1. MAC Pro Longwear Lip Creme in Good To Go, $16, 2. Napoleon Perdis DeVine Goddess Lipstick in Hara, $22, 3. Makeup Forever Rouge Artist Intense #40, $19