I like the finished product, but not the necessary work to get there. What I mean by this is that I want to look good, but I don’t really like the beautifying process. I like things easy. So, the theme for this week’s Fab Friday Favorites is Lazy Beauty…short-cutting the process to looking good.
Hair
I don’t like going to the hairdresser. I have my hair done at Mane Advocates…but not nearly often enough. Tamara constantly reminds me that I should, at minimum, come in every 6-8 weeks for a trim. When I couldn’t seem to do that, she lowered it to every 3 months. I can’t seem to do that either. I love the way she does my hair, and my not going has nothing to do with her. It has everything to do with the fact that it takes too long. For me, “too long” is an hour. I get restless. So, on the recommendation of a friend, I bought a wig from Hadiiya Barbel. I don’t wear it all the time, but I like having it available on bad hair days. Days that say “it’s probably time for color and a trim…or maybe just a wash and conditioning”, but I’m stalling. Yet, I don’t want to scare anybody. Those are the days I slap on my wig and just go.
My hair, on a good day –> A bad day –> My wig, the savior
Eyes
Lately, I’ve fallen in love with false eyelashes. I love the way they look, all thick and long and lush. (That is, if I put them on right. When I don’t get them quite right, I look drunk…or crazy.) A friend gave me a $15.00 pair of Eve Pearl lashes, which I’m waiting for a super special occasion to wear. Most days, I wear really inexpensive ones –either Andrea ($2.99) or Revlon ($5.99). Anyway, there’s not enough coats of mascara that can make my eyes look as lovely as they do when I’m wearing the “falsies.” Plus, as part of my lazy beauty routine, I don’t take them off at night. I sleep in them and wash around them when I wash my face so they’ll stay on for several days. I don’t know if I’m supposed to do that…
Naked eyes –> ”Lashed” eyes
Nails
I rarely get manicures because I don’t know how to take care of them. I don’t care where I have them done or how much I pay for them, my nails are chipped by day 3. So, years ago, I just stopped getting them. But I like the look of a well-manicured hand. Recently, fake nails have come into vogue again. I was one of the first in line to buy them, after I received a free sample of imPress Nails. They’re a new-and-improved version of Lee Press-on Nails popular ‘back in the day’. I became a fan right away. I can give myself a “manicure” with them in 15 minutes. And they last a week. Sometimes they’re a little rough around the edges and the tips need serious filing, but that’s not a big deal. I’ve also tried Sally Hansen’s Salon Effects. They’re not as easy to put on as imPress Nails are, they don’t have enough sizes to fit my nails, and they started chipping the next day so I’m still in search of a back-up fake nails brand. A good fake nail is easier and lasts longer on me than any salon manicure. That’s what I like.
Sally Hansen’s Salon Effects
Lazy Beauty is good! But let’s not stop here: what lazy beauty tricks and tips can you share with us?
After washing & moisturizing, wait a minute or so, blot & just ‘use pressed powder’ instead of foundation… You still get coverage, it’s less messy too. Essentially, foundation is ‘color w/lotion’, so skip a step & ‘keep steppin’–(especially on the weekends!)
-The shorter you keep your nails & w/clear polish, the fewer the manicures if wearing polish. Nothing looks worse than chipped polish on either your hands or, feet. But if you keep your nails short, you can better manage in between manicures. You remember Eddie Murphy’s look of horror when looking at Robin Givens’ toes in that old movie…, right? I get pedicures all year long, cuz I have to look at my feet daily and I want them looking good!
-One of my favorite tips, is the roller brush that you use for pet hairs/human hair & lint removal, you can use on a bathroom mat/bedroom mat and quickly pick up hair on a mat/rug/floor. Comes in handy when a surprise guest appears, always leave in bathroom.
I agree with the clear nail polish suggestion! I don’t ever do anything fancier with my nails. Even after it starts chipping, most people won’t notice because the clear is pretty subtle.