Product Review- ELF Natural & Dramatic Lashes

Hey Bellas,

I've been wearing these lashes for about a month. The Natural lashes are shorter, but more defined. The Dramatic lashes are longer, and more.......dramatic! LOL Before I continue with this review, I first must say that the glue that is included with these lashes is CRAP! Use this glue only if you love being frustrated and have a lot of time to waste. Now....on with the review:

*How much are they? & Where did you get them?- They are $1 a pack, and I buy them in bulk (14 pairs at a time) at Dollar General stores.
*Are they easy to apply?- With the help of a Lash Applicator, these lashes are fairly easy to apply. It takes practice, patience, and a steady hand, but the payoff is worth it. Instead of using the ELF glue, I use Ardell Lash Glue, it dries clear and is easy to apply.
*How do you apply the lashes?

****Before you apply your lashes, make sure that they fit your eye properly. If they are too long, cut them. Also, line your eyes with a black liner before and after you apply the lashes. This will allow the lash band to be unnoticeable.**********

1. Place the lash inside a lash applicator/holder.
2. Distribute a very small amount of the lash glue on a clean surface (I use a small mirror). Dip a clean toothpick in the glue, and apply a thin line of the glue to the lash band.
3. While holding the lash in the applicator, allow the glue to dry for 30 seconds to 1 minute in order for the glue to get tacky. Pay special attention to the ends of the lashes, because this is where lifting occurs.
4. Close your eye, and starting at the inside corner of your upper lash, tilt the applicator until it is parallel with your upper lash. Apply the lash carefully as close to your lash line as possible.
5. After the lashes have dried for 5 minutes, I curl them with a heated eyelash curler, and apply an obscene amount of  black mascara. I find that the mascara allows my natural lashes and the false lashes to blend easier.
6. And lastly, I use my NYX felt tip black eyeliner to fill in any spots on my lash line where the lash band is noticeable.

And there you have it, these lashes are affordable enough to be worn everyday, and with practice, applying them can be done very quickly! I love them! As always, I hope this review was informative and helpful. If you have any questions, just leave me a comment.

Be Well,
Southern Bella

Wig Maintenance

I got an email from a reader a few days ago asking how I washed and took care of my wigs. So, instead of just responding to her, I decided to write a post about my wig maintenance routine. Since I only wear curly, synthetic wigs, my routine may be different from how others would instruct you to wash a straight, or human hair wig. So, let me preface this by saying this is how I wash MY wigs. I am by no means saying this is how you should wash yours. I am simply sharing my routine. Get it? (I had to put that disclaimer in before someone leaves a comment talking about how I made her mess her wig up! LOL)

Ok...Here Goes:

1. I make sure that my wig is as detangled as possible.
2. I fill my bathroom sink with lukewarm water and squeeze a teaspoon of wig shampoo in the water stream.
3. I take the wig and submerge it in the water and swish it around for a few minutes.
4. I transfer the wig to the shower and rinse the shampoo out with lukewarm water.

**Repeat steps 3& 4 twice**

5. I apply I palm size amount of a cheapie conditioner ( usually V05) to the wig with my hands and distribute evenly. I leave the conditioner on the wig for about 5-10 minutes.
6. I transfer the wig to the shower again, and rinse the conditioner out with lukewarm water.
7. I wrap the wig in a towel, being careful not to disturb the curls. (messing with the curls while the hair is dripping wet may alter the curl pattern.)
8. I place the wig on a flat surface, on top of a towel to dry. (hanging a wet wig up to drip-dry may elongate the curls, and alter the original curl pattern.)
9. After the wig is about 90% dry, I spray it with lightly with distilled water, brush through it with a paddle brush, (or detangle with my fingers), cover wig with a net cap, and lay the wig on a flat surface to dry.

Throughout the week, after I take my wig off at night I repeat step 9, spray with distilled water, detangle, cover with net, lay flat to dry. No special wig sprays, no special products, just distilled water. I find that using actual  "wig maintenance products" on my wigs limits how long they last. Distilled water does the trick for me.

As always, I hope this information was helpful. If you have any questions, just leave me a comment below.

Happy V-Day! & Small Drug Store Haul

Hey Bellas,

Hope your V-day was lovely, and that all is well in your world. I started off the day, as I do most Sundays, hitting my local Drug Stores (Rite Aid, CVS, Freds, & Walgreens) armed with my brand new sales fliers from the Sunday paper, and my debit card. My dad alerted me about a year ago about all of the BOGO's, and 50% off sales that drug stores have on Sundays. I've been hooked ever since! Also, I like how quiet and peaceful the stores are at 8AM. Just me, (and sometimes my father) and the workers stocking the shelves. My dad stocking up on toothpaste, dryer sheets, and air freshener (don't ask me why......LOL....he loves a bargain!), and me stocking up on conditioner, eyeshadow, and boxes of tissue for my perpetual runny nose! Today, CVS had a great sale on cheapie conditioner and also a 72 color eyeshadow palette. I've never tried the Freesia version of V05, since they were $0.77 each I bought 4 of them, and the eyeshadow palette was $4.99.

  

Also, Rite Aid had an awesome sale. 40% off ALL Wet N Wild Cosmetics! Who knew that Wet N Wild had started making quality products?!? Not me! I always thought of Wet N Wild as the cheap brand that made that God awful cherry red, hooker lipstick! Lord knows I hate red lipstick!! But I digress.......long story short, Wet N Wild has started producing quality products for the same inexpensive price. I took advantage of the 40% off sale. I got a Intense Mascara in Very Black ($2.99), an eyeshadow palette in Sand Castle ($2.99), a Brow Kit in Brown ($2.39), and a blush ($1.79)

I haven't used any of the products yet. However, if anyone would like a review of one or more of these products, just let me know. Oh, I'll have an Ulta Haul sometime this week. My local Ulta has just started carrying NYX cosmetics, so you know I'll have some goodies to review!

Random Musings....

Hey Bellas,

I know my posting has been sporadic lately. Mainly because I haven't done or tried anything new. I've been using the same products, following the same regimen, and wearing the same wig (my beloved Tammy) since January. I realized this morning, that next month will be my one year anniversary! It will have been a year since my last relaxer! Wow....time flies! I am so proud of myself. My decision to "go natural" was more of an experiment on my part than anything else. In all honesty, I'm surprised I lasted this long. I talked a good game....trying to sound confident in my decision.  But in reality, I wasn't 100% convinced I could leave relaxers behind. So, just like my friends and family, I've been in "wait & see" mode this past year. Waiting to see what my natural hair looks and feels like. I have almost 7 inches of new growth! It's AMAZING!

Thankfully, the more my hair grows, the more comfortable I am with my decision. This year, I'll continue on my transitioning journey. I'll continue protecting my hair under wigs until I end my transition sometime in May 2011. Hopefully, the way that I'm choosing to transition will help someone else as they consider transitioning. I am by no means trying to convert anyone, however, choosing to transition, and sticking with it, has been one of the best decisions I've ever made for myself.

Be Well Bellas,
More Content Coming Soon....

GEAUX SAINTS!

I can't express how proud I am to be from Louisiana! I'll never leave. This Southern Belle is overjoyed for our home team victory.I still don't think it's hit me yet.....The Saints actually won the Superbowl!! I'm BEAMING! Saints, you did us proud! I know my Grandmother in Heaven is literally on Cloud Nine right now!! WHO DAT?!?!  Geaux Saints!!

Hairsisters.com, You Just Lost One....

Hello Bellas!

Last month I bought 4 wigs at Hairsister.com's after Christmas sale. They were a wonderful price, and they arrived in 7 days.....HOWEVER, I had to call EVERY day to ensure that my items were in stock, that my order had been processed, and that my order was on its way. It was time consuming and tedious. But for the price, I put up with the incompetent service.

Two weeks ago, I placed another order with Hairsisters. I called the next day to make sure my items were in stock, and that my order had been processed. PROBLEM.....one of my items, even though it was advertised on their site, was NOT in stock. So, of course I asked how long it would take them to get the piece from the manufacturer. Their response? 3 to 6 WEEKS!!!!! Nope! Nada! Not Gonna Happen!! So, I canceled the back ordered item, requested a refund for the price of the item, and asked them to ship the other piece that they had in stock. After a few days of checking my bank account and checking my Hairsisters account, I noticed that the other half of my order had NOT been shipped, nor had my money for the canceled item been refunded. By this point, I am beyond inconvenienced, and have moved on to being majorly pissed!

So, I called Hairsisters AGAIN (I have their number memorized by this point.) After I called 10 times finally someone answers and tells me my refund request had not been properly processed and that it would take an additional 3-5 days before it would be credited back to my account. In addition to that, she told me that the other half of my order had been "delayed" (ie- forgotten) and that she would make sure that it would be shipped out today. (9 days after placing my initial order!!!)

It shouldn't take this much aggravation to order some dang hair! So now Bellas, I am officially DONE with Hairsisters.com. Businesses only have one time to mess with my money before I drop them like a bad habit. One strike and you’re OUT!!

The good news is that I've found a NEW Hair/Beauty Supply website that I LOVE!!!! Golden Mart Beauty Supply. I ordered a piece from them on 1/29/10 (a Friday night),  Monday I received a shipping confirmation email, along with a tracking number (something I NEVER got from Hairsisters.) And my package arrived Wednesday!! THREE BUSINESS DAYS!! Also, their site has a 99.9% in stock rate, which means if you see it on their site, in your color, THEY HAVE IT!!! No waiting for it to be ordered from the manufacturer!! Also, none of that choosing a 2nd color nonsense! An added bonus is that their selection is MUCH larger than Hairsisters, and their customer service is a DREAM! If you have a question, all you have to do is email them (during business hours), they wrote me back in less than 5 minutes!! Oh, and they also included a nice comb as a free gift!

Now.....the downside......their prices are, in some cases, a little more expensive than Hairsisters, and their shipping is kinda steep. I ordered a $12.95 ponytail, and the shipping was $7.95. But, their shipping is FAST, and I don't have to babysit my order! So, for me, it's well worth it!

Sorry for the rant, but hopefully you'll benefit from my experience. Due to their poor customer service, Hairsisters.com has just lost one.....