No, this is not a story devoted to Lady Gaga (although she certainly is worthy of a mention). Plenty of celebrities have sported some way out-there hairdos. Now I'm all for risk-taking, I've been sporting this crazy 'do as of late, but some of these looks are so bizarre that you have to wonder what the heck they were thinking.
Any A-lister would love a $10,000 Sephora shopping spree, but we'd rather give one to you. Find out how to win it here.
Bad hairstyles are one thing, but bad hair color is a whole other deal. Save yourself the embarrassment with these tips.
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Call me a wimp, but I find at-home hair color pretty intimidating. I look at all the boxes and the little shade charts and see the long list of instructions and I just know that my klutzy self will botch something up along the way.
Do you feel the same way? Even if you don't, it's still worth checking out this at-home hair color video if you're thinking at all of coloring your hair. Even seasoned pros will learn a thing or two.
A few things I learned (spoiler alert!):
No. 1: Damaged hair is a no-no for color. Sure, you may be thinking well, duh, but I know plenty of people with fried hair who wonder why their color doesn't come out evenly. If you need help repairing your hair, check this out.
No. 2: Pay more attention to the shade chart than the color name. It's tempting to just pick up the box color that has the shade you want on the front, but you may not end up anywhere near that hue if your hair isn't the right color to begin with. That's why it's crucial to look at the color chart to determine what shade your hair will end up at based on your starting point.
No. 3: Start at your roots and work your way down. Trust me, it's much better than willy-nilly applying it all over your head. By doing it this way you'll ensure that your healthy roots absorb as much color as your damaged ends -- so you avoid that two-toned or stripey look (like this -- ew!).
Most of the debates I see on the TotalBeauty.com message boards are centered around which brands or products readers like or hate most (they're what inspired this list of most controversial products), but this week's dispute is about two beauty stores -- Ulta and Sephora.
People seem to feel pretty strongly that one may be better than the other. What do you think? Do you like Ulta better or is Sephora more your style? Check out the arguments for each below then tell us if you're on Team Sephora or Team Ulta by commenting or going here.
"In my opinion I like Sephora better but they are both very good. Most people think that Ulta has way better prices but if you look Sephora has some steals. -- iluvsmileymiley
"There are pro and cons to both stores. Ulta carries some of the major makeup brands that are found in department stores along with drugstore brands. They also have a nice selection of hair care products and fragrance. The last thing they offer is an in-store salon. Sephora carries a large selection of makeup brands and fragrance. They only carry a few hair care lines but do have plenty of accessories for cosmetics. The cons for Ulta would be a small selection of cosmetic lines, hair care and fragrance. The cons for Sephora would be the small selection of hair care lines and no salon services." -- makeupaholic
"Ulta seems to be just a high-end, overpriced, fancy drugstore. They have tons of body products and shampoos, etc. but they are outrageous in prices just like Sephora is. I do like that Ulta has sales and coupons, which I have never seen at Sephora. -- Cheryl57
"Sephora has better customer service than Ulta in my experience." -- Lipglossuser
On Team Sephora? Then check out this list of their 22 best buys.
Is Ulta more your cup 'o tea? Then stock up on these products the next time you're there.
Do you skip both stores in favor of drugstore beauty shopping? Then you'll flip over these products, and this one, and this one! Okay, I'll stop now.
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My feet are firmly encased in boots for the next couple months, but I still can't seem to give up pampering my toes. Even though I'm the only one who will see them, I still keep my feet in decent condition during the fall and winter.
One caveat though: During these chilly, closed-toe shoe months I'll usually skip the nail salon in favor of an at-home pedicure -- and with these tips, it's just like being at the salon, minus overwhelming smell of nail chemicals and $30 charge.
What's your opinion on this? Do you keep up regular pedicures even when no one will see your feet, or is it sayonara to polish until sandals make a comeback? And if you do polish, what winter colors are your favorites?
Winter is no time to waste pricey polish on toes no one will see. Find cheaper alternatives to those must-have shades here.
Toes are one thing, but winter is no excuse to let your hands look shoddy. Fix them up with these tricks.
Guys getting pedicures!? Stranger things have happened (but not many).
It might sound weird, but it's totally true: even if you have super oily skin, you should still use moisturizer.
I wish I had known this as a teenager. I, of course, had super-oily, acne prone skin and I never touched moisturizer because I was sure it would break me out more. Instead I just applied every acne product I could find and tried to dry my skin out as much as possible. Sound familiar?
The reason this doesn't work is that your skin needs some moisture and if it gets too dry, it will produce more oil to make up for it. So by drying out your skin and not adding moisture, you're actually making it oilier! (As if the world wasn't cruel enough already.)
Now, the trick is to find the right moisturizer for your oily or acne-prone skin. TotalBeauty.com readers have a few suggestions:
"Use one with tea tree, witch hazel or seaweed in it," suggests TotalBeauty.com reader Bianca_S.
"I made that mistake for so many years, but since I've been moisturizing regularly my acne has became better There are also some moisturizers out there that also have salicylic acid in them, so not only do they moisturize, but they also help treat acne as well. I know Clean & Clear makes one that I used for awhile," says ama1221.
"I really like Neutrogena's Oil Free Moisturizer, but any good oil-free moisturizer will work," says Retrodiva.
"I have oily, acne prone skin as well and the best thing I have found is Cosmedicine Medi Matte Oil Control lotion. It leaves your skin hydrated but absorbs oil while leaving a nice, matte finish. It also has SPF 20 and makes an excellent primer. It is well worth the $42," says makeup_love.
"I've been using Juice Beauty Green Apple Antioxidant Moisturizer and it is AMAZING. It will help keep your skin clear, smooth, and hydrated, because it has lemon juice, honey and glycolic acid in it (and lots of other great stuff)," says happyphantom.
Still looking for the perfect moisturizer? Get help here.
Need more help with acne? We've got that too.
Trying to fight the dreaded combo of acne and aging? No sweat with this guide.
In this EXCLUSIVE Total Beauty contest, we're giving away Christi Harris Precision Brow Planing Systems to TEN lucky Facebook and Twitter fans! The kit includes everything you need for beautiful brows: The Precision Brow Planer, Adda Brow, Color Blend Trio, Duo Diffuser and five Professional Quality Brushes.
The multi-step kit walks you through the three Ds of brow shaping: Design, Define and Diffuse.
DESIGN: To create the perfect brow, begin by using Christi Harriss Color Blend Trio for matching and mapping your custom shade and shape. With the exclusive Adda Brow formula you can fill in bald areas, elongate the brow tail extension, and add texture for a flawless shape with a natural finish.
DEFINE: To shape the brow, use the Precision Brow Plane to create a perfectly straight, elongated V shape.
DIFFUSE: To create a natural finish, use the fan end of the Diffuser/Refiner Brush to sweep Diffusing Powder Duo from end to end, blending across the entire brow. Finally use the Angled Spooley end of the Diffuser/Refiner Brush to eliminate any excess powder and groom brows.
The kit provides everything you need for total eye makeup application, making it an all-in-one collection of eye essentials. The goof-proof makeup offers an effortless eye lift to complement your new brow lift.
For more information on how to use the system, check out their step-by-step video here.
Some might consider me a pessimist, but I think I'm more of a realist. So whenever I hear about "miracle eyelash-growing creams," my bs radar perks up. True, there are products that can re-grow hair with varying degrees of success, but I still have my doubts, especially about some of the non-prescription products.
I must admit though, in this instance I think my caution is only somewhat warranted. I've heard great things from people about Latisse -- and even some of the non-prescription products too. Check out a few of them below, do you think any are worth trying?
Beauty Society Enormous Lash Eyelash Enhancing Serum, $95: My mom tried this, and in about a month she went from sparse, are-they-even-there lashes to ones so long she didn't even bother with mascara. I was truly impressed. Also, 19 TotalBeauty.com readers have tried it, and all but three absolutely love it.
DHC Eyelash Tonic, $19.99: Only one TotalBeauty.com reader has tried this, but the natural ingredients do make it appealing.
Talika Eyelash Conditioning Cream, $30 and Talika Lipocils Gel, $40: This has been around since 1947! Eight readers on TotalBeauty.com claim the cream works wonders and more than 40 are loving the gel.
Peter Thomas Roth Lashes to Die for Night Time Eyelash Conditioning Treatment, $125: There are only two real reviews of this on TotalBeauty.com right now, but neither are very good (although the high price tag might be responsible). Do you know anyone who's had a different experience?
RevitaLash, $150: This one has been around for awhile, and 30 people have reviewed it on TotalBeauty.com. Most are very positive, but for that price, you'll want to read the reviews and decide for yourself.
P.S. I know a lot of people have heard rumors about Latisse changing your eye color. I talked to dermatologist Dr. Jessica Wu, who is working with Latisse, and she said that the changing eye color happened when they were originally using the product to treat glaucoma. It really only happened while patients were putting it directly in their eyes at larger doses for years. So while there is a slim chance it could happen, it's not the huge concern most people are making it out to be.
Would you rather just make your lashes look longer with mascara? Then try one of these stellar products.
Does Latisse freak you out or are you dying to try it? Talk about it here.
You could have the longest lashes ever, but if your eyes suffer from this, you'll never be satisfied.
Ask any makeup artist and they'll tell you the same thing: never skimp on foundation. Why? Well, like it's name implies, this product is literally the foundation of your makeup look, and if it's not quality and doesn't make your skin look flawless, then all the other makeup in the world isn't going to give you a perfect look.
But -- and this is a big BUT -- not skimping on foundation doesn't necessarily mean you have to drop a lot of cash. In fact, you can find great foundations that will give you that flawless look for under $15! Don't believe me? Check out the reviews here from TotalBeauty.com readers. They managed to combine thrift with quality, so there's no reason you can't too, right?
Not into the drugstore scene? You can still get a flawless face with these other top-notch foundations.
Liquid, powder, matte -- there's a lot to choose from when it comes to foundations. Find the right one for you by taking this quiz.
Can't get enough of quality-but-cheap beauty products? Then, you'll flip over this.
Now, let me make this clear: when I say "big problems," I don't mean a broken nail or frizzy hair (although those can suck when you've got an important day ahead of you, but let's get a little perspective here). No, I actually mean "big problems," the kind that aren't easily solved and may require professional help.
If you're suffering from one of these beauty dilemmas, then read this for advice. Also, in case you think I pulled this information out of my a--, er, brain, I should tell you that it actually came from these experts.
Did I miss a problem you'd love some advice on? Then tell me about it here.
Need help with more minor issues? We've got those covered too.
With this video, faking flawless skin while you deal with one of these issues is no sweat.
Congratulations to the following Six lucky ladies who have won the Dermalogica gift certificates for a FREE microZone treatment at the Santa Monica Location! If you do not live nearby, feel free to give it to a friend who does.
Facebook winners:
Jill Weinberger
Esther Wu
Courtney White
Twitter winners:
Amanda Porubsky
Marsha Jones
Patricia Herbert
Want to win fun prizes like this? Then follow us on Twitter and friend us on Facebook!
