A few months ago, I balayaged a pair of hair extensions.  Essentially, I had an old pair lying around, and grown out hair that no longer matched any extensions I owned, and I wasn't feeling dropping $300 on these beautiful extensions.  I have zero hair colouring experience, but figured it was worth a shot.

The end result ended up coming out really well--you can see me wearing them in the photos above and below--and I loved my renewed extensions.  They were a great match, and for an older pair I hadn't worn in years, it was $25 well spent.

I recently had my hair coloured, and the blonde did not exactly turn out how I had hoped, and my former extensions no longer matched--my new blonde was much darker.  I had another pair of extensions that matched a bit better on the ends, so decided to grab some colour and try my hand at balayaging again.  I filmed the process so hope you enjoy and it can help out if you're considering this approach.

As always, thanks for watching! xo


 
Hi ladies, I'm sharing a secret:  I've been cutting my own hair for about a year, and today I'm showing you how to do it.
 
Grab some shears (I use these ones), a comb, a brush & press play.
 
Thanks for watching! xo

Hi ladies!  How many of you are heading to a holiday party, want special hair but don't know what to do?

I find this time of year is especially the time of year for undoes and pulling out all the stops.  That said, today I'm sharing a video on a half-up half-down do that is perfect for a festive party, but also not so complex that you can't do it.

The key to the look is adding extensions to give volume and length, but you could do this without them if it's not in your budget or you aren't comfortable with them.  That said, I do quickly show how I clip in my extensions at the beginning of the video so hopefully that helps.

Click below to watch the video...


Today I'm sharing a really simple and easy way to curl your hair: with tinfoil!

I know this sounds a little odd, and it is, believe me, but it works!  If you're not a pro with a curling iron or only have 15 minutes to whip up some curls, this tutorial is for you.

Click below to watch the video...

Hi ladies!  Today I'm sharing with you this pretty pulled apart fishtail braid.  You can leave it out or pull it back for a half-undo look.  

I have been loving braids and fishtails lately and while they take a minute to get the hang of, practice makes perfect (and the look is a little undone and messy anyway!).

If you'd like to see how I created this look, click below for the video...

Valentine's Day is this weekend, and whether you have a man in your life or not, I'm showing you how to re-create this cool pulled-apart Dutch braid.

I'm not sure what our plans for Saturday are, last year I spent the day at Place d'Orleans spreading the love and then Marco took me out to dinner at a restaurant we like.  This year, I would really love to stay home for a home-cooked meal; preferably not by me!  Ha!

Hope you enjoy the tutorial and leave me a comment down below letting me know what your plans are.

Click to watch the video tutorial...
Outfit deets:
* Zara top (new!).
* Zara pants (new!).
* Aldo wedges (old) which you've seen a million times because they used to be my fave and seen with a mini skirt and low-back sweater (love this post) & in a construction zone (love this one too).
* Accessories: Ardene necklace, various bangles & Gucci shades.

I twisted and pulled my hair back on this day to create a faux side-shave to emulate a Cassie or Rihanna-like hairstyle.  As I was leaving my building, a neighbour who I'm familiar with asked if I had shaved half my head!  Mission accomplished.

On another note, the boyfriend was not a fan of this look and asked me to never wear my hair like this again.  Haha, I guess some styles are more for the girls, case in point.



 Outfit deets:
* American Eagle cardigan (new!), I saw this sweater about a month ago while shopping with the BFF but passed on it.  After giving it some though, I should have purchased it and made an impromptu decision to call them and see if, by chance, they still had it (it was already on sale a month ago) and they still had one in medium!  I rushed to the store and picked it up in purple as well for $14 each.  Score (plus another neon item to add to my collection).
* Winners top that I bought over a year ago and wear quite frequently.
* Jacob skirt (old) and seen in one of my first outfit photos with a big orange necklace from India and nude fishnets.
* Christian Louboutin wedges.
* Accessories: vintage necklace, Auslini bangle & Suzy ring.
 
I'm getting my hair done this Saturday.

Conversation with someone went something like this:

Someone: (looking at a picture of me) "Wow, you're not really blonde anymore!"

Me: (looking at my roots, cinging) "What?  Yes I am, I just need to get my hair done... and having my car impounded and ticketed recently has left me with lack of funds."

Fast forward one day later & I have book an appointment for this weekend.

Okay then.

But in reality, it really is time to get these roots touched up.  I always wait till I'm at the I-can't-stand-this-any-longer point, where even my fresh, clean hair looks greasy due to mousey roots and/or I look as if I'm coppin' a half-way-to-ombre look, when in reality, I'm not.

And I mean... it was February when I got it last done.  If that's not getting your money's worth, I don't know what is.

 


Sorry for the lack of quality photos lately, my camera battery is dead and the charger is no where to be found.  I figure, better something than nothing, right?  Right?  Say right...
So here it is, the before and after!! I love it.  

I went to get my hair done Thursday night after work and first I just want to say thank you all so much for your sweet comments and kind words and advice on how to handle the situation.  I was a little anxious going there, but once we got talking, it was fine.  Turns out she was aware of my life situation, she didn't say who told her but specifically said it wasn't him.  She was so normal about everything, which made the whole ordeal a non-ordeal and so great.  I admitted I was a little apprehensive about going to see her and hoped it wouldn't be awkward.  Her response?  'Why would it be awkward!?'  Perfect!  I'm so grateful and felt at ease almost immediately.  A superb experience.

It takes forever to get my hair done as my natural colour is quite dark and getting darker as the years go by (aka, I'm aging).  She does a full head of foils and then I sit and wait for a good hour before she takes them out.  But it's worth it, so worth it, because she is amazing and I'm always super happy with the results.  Yay, fresh hair!   I (almost) feel like a new woman.

Have a great weekend!


1. & 2. Hangin' with my favourite 'neice'.
2.  Valentines' Day outfit options (check back tomorrow for some ideas on what to wear).
3.  New magnetic nail polish from Nail Polish Canada (review coming soon).
4.  Chocolate croissants.
5.  New jeans (a brand I haven't worn since high school).
6. & 7.  I finally bought myself some real hair extensions (buy them here)!
8.  Grocery shopping.
9.  Saturday (and Sunday) morning breakfast: flax pita french toast (with real maple syrup).




Are you the winner of the Cutey giveaway?  Find out HERE.

I wanted to do a quick product review on a few (drugstore*) products I'm loving that I recently picked up.

NYC 'Smooth Skin' Loose Face Powder

Love. This. Powder.  It's the second time I've bought it and I love it.  I think this is just a loose powder, but I like to use it as a setting powder for my foundation or as a light bronzer.  I haven't used many loose powders before so I can't compare, but I love that this doesn't have any sheen or sparkle to it, it's matte; goes on and stays that way.  Another great part?  It's $2.67.


Wet 'n' Wild 'ComfortZone (738)' Palette

I purchased this after seeing YouTuber LolaMarie using it multiple times (and it just looked so good).  It was $3 so I figured I couldn't go wrong.  And I was right.  I'm super picky with eyeshadows; favourites being NYX and MAC (I also like Mark by Avon & CoverGirl).  FYI I cannot stand Maybelline eye shadow (not enough pigment transfer).

After using this palette just once, I'm hooked and wish it came in more varieties (they are three different palettes to choose from).  There are a total of eight eye shadows per palette and they have handy words written in the shadows (eg. brow bone, crease, etc.) in case you're like me and unsure where things are 'suppose' to go.  The lasting power is great and only after a sweaty workout at the end of the day, was my shadow creased.


Fructis 'Hold & Flex: Body Boost' Hair Spray (level 5)

I'm a huge TrèsSemmé fan so when I ran out last time, I initially went to the store to pick up my regular can.  However, it wasn't on sale and this kind was (half the price of TS), it smelt pretty good so I figured why not.

I have used it a few times and love it so far.  It's a pretty heavy spray (compared to TS's 'fine mist') but doesn't goop and get really sticky or stiff.  The scent is great (slightly floral) and it has great holding power.  I will definitely buy this again.


Revlon 'PhotoReady' Foundation

I love this foundation.  I initially purchased it about a year ago when PharmaPlus had a 50% off sale.  Since I was new to using foundation, I wasn't ready to spend almost $20, but I was willing to spend half that.  I ended up getting the 'Nude (004)' shade which turned out to be a little be on the light side for me (especially if I'm trying to add some colour to my face), but mixed in with a slightly darker shade of foundation (Maybelline 'Instant Age Rewind' in 'Sandy Beige (1)'), it worked out okay.  I was excited to see another 50% off sale and snatched up the next shade up, 'Natural Beige (005)'.

Something about this foundation that I love is that it's creamy and not too thick.  It covers well, but depending on the amount you use, it can go from a light to medium coverage foundation.  I find it really lives up to it's 'Photo Ready' name as I feel like it smooths out my skin and makes it look much more even.  I like to use this alone or mixed in with another foundation to give it lasting power.




* I mainly buy all my make up from the drugstore/Walmart.  I just have a hard time spending a small fortune on make up (I'd rather buy shoes) especially when you can buy something like the Wet 'n' Wild palette above for $3 bucks and be so darn happy with it.
Before                                                                                  After  

I got my hair done by someone new one month ago, and she turned it grey.  Okay, let me start at the beginning.  I was looking for a new hair colourist and was at the point where my roots were so bad I couldn't take it any longer (ever let your hair get to that point?  I always do, it's bad, but I do it every time, le sigh).  So while grocery shopping one evening, I was walking behind a pretty blonde (with the perfect shade of blonde) and boldly asked her where she gets her hair done (this was, of course, after I complimented it).  She gladly told me where she normally goes and I booked an appointment the following day.  

When I got to my appointment, I met with my new colourist and she seemed very nice.  I described to her how I came to be in her chair that day and she knew exactly the girl I was talking about  from the grocery store and described her to a T.  She said she knew what kind of blonde I meant (beige, not golden, ashy but platinum...) and while I sat nervously in the chair trying to focus on the stacks of magazines I pulled, I couldn't help but worry.  Sure enough, I had reason to.

When she finished toning my hair, the wet result of the blonde was far from what I was used to.  It was not a bright, vibrant, platinum blonde, but a dull, dark blonde (if you can even call it that).  I decided not to worry as the real test would be when my hair was fully dry and styled.

While she blow dried my hair, we talked about the blue shampoo blondes should use to brighten up their blonde and remove the gold (I have been using blue shampoo for years, once a week). and other topics  I tried not to peak at my hair as she was drying it, but a few quick glimpses here and there were not proving to be very promising.  Once she was done drying and styling my hair, I was just about to get out of the chair when it was evident; I had grey hair!  I commented to her about how grey it looked and she said something along the lines of, 'Oh that girl you saw likes it really ashy to ensure it doesn't go golden'.  I tried to smile but it was forced.  She could tell.  She told me to not use my blue shampoo and reassured me that after a few washes, it would be less grey.  

I then proceeded to pay the most expensive hair bill I've ever had in my entire life (more like two visits for the price of one!).  I wanted to cry.  Not what they quoted me on the phone and I wasn't happy?  Awesome.

I left the salon hoping it was all in my head.  I walked confidently through the mall (fortunately it was almost closing time) until I stopped in at a store and caught my reflection in the mirror.  Sheer horror.  Grey.  Seriously grey-green hair.  I wanted to wrap a scarf around my head and run to my car.  I called my best girl friend almost in tears and she met me at Starbucks.  I was scared to get out of the car to show her, let alone the world (dramatic, yes, but cut me some slack).  She (gently) agreed it was kind of grey, very dull and not at all like the colour I normally get.  I proceeded to spend the next hour mulling with her over how to fix it (this included texts to her own colourist, a conversation about dish soap as shampoo, and making bad decisions).

The next day I decided to call the salon to get it rectified, if possible.  They were accommodating and said I could come in that afternoon (thankfully) to try and do something.  When I got there, my colourist wasn't mean, but she wasn't the happiest to see me.  She proceeded to use a very strong shampoo to wash my hair four times to remove some toner.  It helped.  I was less grey, but my blonde was still dull.  I left feeling better, but still not feeling like myself.

Four weeks later, and lots of shampooing, and my hair looks normal in that pic above, but in real life it's still not what I'm used to.  Lesson learned: next time (I will have to find another new colourist) I will bring photos of myself with the blonde I like, as well as some photos of blondes.  Oh, and I won't pay an arm and a leg for a trim either.  

Ever had any bad hair experiences?




* The photos above have not been modified in any way.  
That was my actual grey hair two days after my appointment.  
The 'after' picture is about two weeks later.

I have recently become a huge fan of tutorial hair vlogs and attempted to do this one.  While my hair didn't turn out exactly like hers, it's a starting point and learning different techniques is always great.







I sound like... a weirdo.

Hello everyone, I'm Christie from In Fashion & Style and am excited to be guest blogging for A.Co while she's sipping margarita's on the beach in the Mayan Riviera on her honeymoon.

This season is all about 40’s glamour with a twist of rock. Most of the clothing that came off the runways is feminine, elegant and in deep colours that reminisce of the “old world”. One of my favourite things about the trends this year is that it has reminded us to be more playful and expressive in our attire with head pieces! You’ll see hats, headbands, pins, and other accessories in all different flavours to give our outfits a chic, and polished look.
I’m so excited about this trend, because one of my favourite movies is the classic, “My Fair Lady” with Audrey Hepburn. In my mind – there has never been a movie with more glamour. All of the designs in the movie were so elegant. The hats that are in the movie are so feminine; so chic; and so detailed. I swoon just thinking of all of the options they created.

That’s why I wanted to turn everyone’s attention to an amazing designer named, Blair Nadeau, creator of “Feathered” designs. She makes the most stunning head pieces with feathers. They have the most European vintage flair that just wearing her designs instantly makes one look chic and fabulous.


Just looking at her website makes me instantly want to dash to the nearest street side cafe for a glass of champagne.

Not feeling bold enough for a beautiful cocktail hat? Blair also creates hair designs and creative pins for all of your different moods and occasions! She has such a wonderful variety of things to choose from!

On top of her already genius line, each piece you wear has been hand crafted by Blair herself. To top it all off – she also offers consultations for her clients to have a custom piece created just for them! She offers a variety of embellishments for each of her designs in, “rhinestones, sinamay ribbons, fresh water pearls, salt water pearls, sequins, covered buttons etc, as well as available on hair pins, clips, combs or headbands.”

Le *sigh*. Stunning.

Check out her website for more details.
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