My Hair with Henna

Back in January, I decided to try henna to color my hair. I had been getting it highlighted professionally for years (and years…and years), and it was feeling a bit damaged. Plus, I had to pay $150+ every time I got a color/cut.

The henna I use is called Light Mountain, and I use the “light brown” shade. I don’t really consider it to be light brown, but I love it nonetheless. When I first started using it, my hair came out pretty red. After three applications, it has settled into a nice, light auburn.

I should note that this stuff costs $6.50 and is available at Whole Foods. Yes, it’s somewhat messy…and it smells kind of gross (to me, anyway). But you develop techniques to control the mess (it’s kind of like smashing mud into your hair), and the smell fades within a few days. It’s all natural, and your hair is left feeling SO freaking soft. It’s also very shiny. See for yourself in the pics below.

My Hair Before Henna

My First Henna Application - January, 2009

Second Henna Application - March, 2009

Today's Henna Application - Love it!

How to Stop Wearing Makeup

You’re probably thinking that was a trick title of some sort. Nope. It’s not. I’m really going to tell you how to stop wearing makeup.

Why? Well, you probably look better without it. Plus, you’ll save a lot of money if you’re not buying $20 lip gloss. And finally, there are some pretty nasty chemicals in many cosmetics. And FINALLY finally, did you know that most cosmetics are all the same thing, produced in the same factory, with the same ingredients…and a different brand/price slapped on them? It’s true. (If you don’t believe me, go here. Notice the looooow wholesale price.)

I used to be a makeup junkie. I wore only MAC, Laura Mercier, Bobby Brown and Bare Escentuals. Now, I wear some lip gloss I got at Whole Foods and the occasional mascara/dusting of powder/light blush. And anything beyond lip gloss is pretty much reserved for special occasions.

Here’s how I did it:

1. I stopped wearing foundation. Foundation for me was four containers of Bare Escentuals powder. I got sweeped into one of those infomercials at night, and I ordered the kit. It really is great stuff. I got compliments on my skin all the time. However, it looked really matte and was kind of heavy. It was also a pain to do the whole contouring process every morning.
2. Once the foundation went away, I had to start taking really good care of my skin. I don’t want you go to spend the money you saved on makeup on expensive skin products, but I do swear by MyChelle. There was a time when I had to use Retin-A and benzoyl peroxide to control my acne, and my skin was red and painful all the time. I started using MyChelle at the recommendation of a Whole Foods employee, and I have never looked back. I bought the oily skin pack to try (it’s not exactly cheap), and then I purchased replacement products as I ran out of the things I like. I currently use the White Cranberry Cleanser, the Pumpkin Renew Cream (you can even wear it in the day with oily skin, and it doesn’t feel gross), the Fruit Enzyme Mist, the Fruit Enzyme Scrub every other day and the Clear Skin Serum. I have also used the Capillary Calming Serum and the Perfect C Serum to help with redness and scarred skin after breakouts. You could get by though with just the cleanser and the moisturizer. Also, there’s no sunscreen in it, so you’ll need to take care of that, too. Within two weeks, my skin was nearly perfectly clear.
3. Attend an event where you would normally put on makeup with your new, lighter look. For example, go on a date with just lipgloss and mascara. Or go to a meeting at work that way. Or just go shopping. You’ll feel really self-conscious at first, but this will help you become more confident without your “face on.”
4. Wash all your makeup off as soon as you get home from work or whatever. You’ll start to really appreciate the refreshed and clean feeling of no foundation, powder and blush.
5. Stop wearing lipstick and/or lipliner with your gloss. Just put on the gloss and go!
6. Gradually start wearing less makeup to work and other public-facing things, but make sure you’re still presenting yourself well. Do a scrub on your face every couple days to keep it glowing (and to shed all that makeup residue), and use a little lipgloss. Keep your hair simple and clean.
7. Soon, you will start feeling more awkward WITH your makeup than without. (Trust me, it takes time, but it WILL happen.) Your husband/boyfriend/friends/girlfriend  might even tell you they like you better this way. Mine certainly does.
8. Get so used to seeing yourself without makeup that it feels natural. I can now go to work or on a date with NO makeup and feel totally confident.

Keep this in mind: many women  never allow their significant others to see them without makeup…so whenever they do, their SOs are shocked at the way they look. On the other hand, if you ONLY wear makeup for the most special occasions, your SO will say, “Wow, you look amazing! But you look gorgeous all the time.” Wouldn’t be better to shock them with how awesome you look than how scary your makeup-less face is?

Oh and…please, when you’re going through this process, please do not put any photos of yourself up on Facebook or whatever and caption it with “OMG I don’t have on any makeup I LOOK GROSS.” You do not look gross. In fact, I usually think you all look much better in those photos.

Be confident. Embrace your natural beauty. Save money. Be healthy.

Enough said.