Cost Cutting Cutie

Brand: L’Oreal
Product: Shimmering Hair Coloring in Starlet

I’ve been dying my hair off an on for about five years. I became tired of the cost of professional highlights, and those self highlighting kits at the drugstore reeked of effort. Box dyeing seemed my best bet. I wasn’t thrilledwith the results I got with Garnier and Clairol, so L’Oreal Preference became my color brand of choice. I’ve always been happy with my color results.

The new year aroused a desire for a little change. I got my sassy new haircut at Great Clips and then swung by my local Walgreen’s to pick up a new box of hair color. I decided that I wanted to stay blond, but I wouldn’t mind a brighter, bolder color. I stayed within the L’Oreal brand but selected something from the more cutting-edge Feria line.

So far, I’m loving the results. I know that I’m little more than a week into the color, and it remains to be seen how quickly the color will fade, but I’ve gotten so many compliments on the color (and that has never happened to me before), that I felt the need to share. Starlet, on my naturally dark blond hair develops into a glistening, and indeed shimmering, buttery blond. It imparts multi-tonal color with tons of highlights without the “obviously dyed” look. The color was quick to develop, only taking 20 minutes for the whole head and theprocess was gentle, (no burning scalp, ouch!).

For $10, I don’t think you can buy better color results.

Cut Costs Cuties!
Gemma

Chain: Great Clips

I am faithless. I have rarely visited the same hairdresser more than twice. I guess I just have not found “the one”. In pursuit of “the one”, I’ve endured countless bad haircuts and poured a ton of money down the drain. I’m tired of $65 haircuts. I’m tired of tipping the stylist, the shampoo girl and the colorist. Truth be told, I get the most compliments when I get my hair cut at Great Clips.

Great Clips is a nation-wide chain. Haircuts for women cost about $15, but can be sometimes had for $7 or even $5 with a coupon. No appointment is necessary, so you can stroll in whenever you find the time. The salons are impeccably clean, if not super-trendy. The stylists are licensed, friendly, and just as attentive to detail as the stylists at more shi-shi salons. Your $15 won’t buy you a shampoo or a head massage, so you won’t leave with that
ultra-fab blowout. But, let’s face it, how long does that blowout really last?

I’ll skip the shi-shi. Great Clips it is for me!

Cut Cost Cuties!
Gemma

Brand: Yves St. Laurent
Product: Opium
*Splurge Item

The eighties are back in a big, and not so good way. Shoulder pads and acid wash jeans abound. While I wish we could seal all this eighties gear in a time capsule for good, I fear it isn’t possible. Fashion is cyclical. What was old always becomes new again. Banana clips, boyfriend cardigans, etc. etc.

I can only hope that the resurfacing of eighties fashion means a resurfacing of bold eighties fragrances. Although Opium officially launched in 1977, it along with Obsession, Giorgio, and Poison define the eighties scent landscape for me. These powerhouse fragrances declined in popularity during the nineties when women began seeking “clean” scents, and I have long feared they would be discontinued. However, I’m encouraged by YSL’s redressing of their iconic Opium scent. The old, tacky rectangular bottle has been replaced by a sleeker sexier vessel more worthy of the sensuous and seductive scent within.

Sprayed sparingly, this is the sexiest juice out there, bar none. It’s what I imagine ancient beauties like Cleopatra and Helen of Troy wore. Laced with jasmine, bergamot, myrrh and amber, it really is fit for a queen. The spiciness could not compliment the winter chill any more. So, instead of buying a new frock for that holiday thing your attending, throw on that standby LBD, and spritz on some Opium instead. Opium is available in various sizes in both EPD and EDT. I recommend the one ounce EDT which retails for $50.

Visit YSL here.
Cut Costs Cuties!
Gemma

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 »