How I keep my hair healthy between trims

How I keep my hair healthy between trims

Monday, September 4, 2017

I think we can all agree that being a "shampoo snob" or "hair snob" comes naturally to many of us. We love to find shampoo and conditioner that smells amazing while also making our hair feel great. However, hair care doesn't end with shampoo and conditioner, nor does it start with frequent trims. What happens between trims is honestly one of the most important steps in how we treat our hair and keep it healthy. 

I don't get my hair trimmed as often as I should, probably only about twice a year. Nevertheless, I am still very focused on keeping my hair healthy, smooth, and unbroken. My typical hair routine every morning is to curl or straighten it if I am going out, so you can imagine how dry and broken my hair can become. If you didn't know, I actually used to have REALLY long hair...like almost to my waist long hair! However, I somehow decided that I wanted a change and chopped it all off  to shoulder length and then almost a bob. Needless to say I am ready for long hair again, so keeping my hair healthy is a top priority. 

When it comes to hair care in between trims there are two things I focus on: hair serums or hair oil and masks. My two go to products are Suave's Biotin Infusion Anti-Breakage Serum and Briogeo's Don't Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask. Suave's anti-breakage serum is amazing and has really helped my hair become stronger and unbroken amidst heat from straighteners and wands. I use just a few pumps of the biotin serum every night and gently rub it through the tips of my damp hair. Apart from the serum, I just recently received the Briogeo deep conditioning hair mask complementary of Influenster and OH MY GOSH I have NEVER met a hair mask this amazing! After just one use my hair felt like it just got a fresh trim, is amazingly soft and easy to brush. What I love most is that Briogeo's products don't contain sulfates, parabens, silicone's, or artificial colors. The secret to it's charm is the unique blend of avocado, sweet almond & argan oils as well as essential hair vitamins and biotin that repair damaged hair, enhance shine, and reduce breakage by up to 81%! 

**This post is not sponsored, although I received Briogeo's mask free from Influenster. All opinions are my own from experience**

What are your go to hair treatments?

-Madison

I've Got Sunshine On A Cloudy Day

I've Got Sunshine On A Cloudy Day

Friday, September 1, 2017

Dress: Made 

Shoes: Old Navy (old)

Purse: Vintage

Belt: Vintage

Earrings: Vintage

It feels like FOREVER since I have posted something on the blog! Student teaching has definitely put my life in a while different gear work and time wise. Oddly enough however, I have actually had the entire week off, but blogging just didn't seem like a top priority with everything else going on.
If you keep up with the news you might have heard about Hurricane Harvey that hit the coast of Texas and Houston. Thankfully my family and I didn't have any damage from the storm, but sadly we know a number of people who lost their homes.

Seeing the destruction that hit Houston and other towns was heartbreaking and seeing the number of people who lost their homes and all their possessions made me realize how fortunate and abundantly blessed I am. While it almost seems horrible to realize that my family and I were spared while others lost so much, it gave us an opportunity to go out into our community to volunteer, pick up supplies for local shelters, and help those who were hit hard by the storm.

Despite the horrible events and aftermath of a disaster such as a hurricane, it has been AMAZING to see people come together and lend a helping hand, financial support, supplies, and prayer....often times for complete strangers. Even more incredible, is that in the midst of a divided nation whether it be in regards to government, religion, or anything else, people were willing to drop everything, forget about their differences and help one another. Sometimes it takes storms (physical and metaphorical) to teach us lessons and pull our focus off of ourselves and instead focus on others and the world around us. Even amidst this devastating destruction, my hope for the American people has truly been restored this week! Yes, there is still much to recover from and our country is still divided, but if the events of Hurricane Harvey have taught me anything it is that people still care for their neighbors and for complete strangers, and above anything there is still HOPE!

I pray that in the aftermath of this storm and in the midst of Houston and other towns recovering and rebuilding, that people will hold onto that hope and that it will become our focus every day!

______________________________________________________

In regards to this outfit, these pictures were actually taken back in June (I know....why has it taken me this long to share them)! However, this is definitely one of my FAVORITE sheet dresses.....yes, you heard me right, I said sheet dresses because I do in fact have 7 dresses (all my favorites) made out of sheets (see here, here, here, and here). I don't always wear things that are fully, cheerfully colorful but this dress reminds me of a lollipop and I LOVE it! Plus it's ridiculously comfortable and cool and twirly so:) I decided that with color comes color and paired it with a cheerful bouquet of flowers from Trader Joe's (who doesn't love their flowers), heels from old navy, vintage clip on earrings, and this colorful embroidered vintage purse. Plus an pop of pink lipstick and a milkmaid braid (which my hair is long enough to do now) didn't hurt either!

-Madison

Spring Trend: DIY Velvet Bows

Spring Trend: DIY Velvet Bows

Saturday, April 1, 2017

If you haven't noticed, BOWS are kind of all the rage this season and I'm not complaining at all because bows are one of the cutest, most versatile, and feminine accessories to ever be created! With that being said, I thought you all would enjoy a fun and easy DIY tutorial on my process of making velvet bows. Since bows really are so versatile I will show you 3 different sizes and styles that I have been loving that you can easily make for yourself. 

What you will need:

Velvet Ribbon - 1" width and 1.5/2" width

Hair clips - black or silver (hobby lobby)

Hot Glue Gun low temp 

Sewing needle

Thread to match your ribbon

Scissors 

Are you a fan of bows?

Do you think you will try your hand at making some for yourself?

-Madison

Making The Cut

Making The Cut

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Dress: Lula Roe (Thrifted)

Purse: Thrifted

Shoes: Cato's

Watch: Sam Moon

Lapel Pin: Shop Luella

Earrings: Forever 21

**All Pictures By Me**

Person: "Did you do something different with your hair?" 

Me: "Yes, I cut bangs!"

(every comment from this past week)

SURPRISE! Well.....probably not that much of a surprise if you caught this weekends post or follow me on Instagram, but I took the plunge and cut bangs, and when I say "cut" I mean that I cut them myself......yes, you heard that right! 

Okay, so flash back to my Junior year of High School when I had hair down to my waist and decided to cut bangs (basically I was just copying Taylor Swift). However, when I decided to cut them the first time I failed to watch a really good tutorial and I totally did not know what I was doing! They didn't turn out horribly, but they were definitely to thick and not as flattering as I had imagined, thus after 6 months I decided to grow them back out. Three years later I have chopped off my hair to shoulder length, then went for long bob (which is back at shoulder length), and now I have gone for bangs again.....but here's the funny story!

I had been toying with the idea of bangs since spring break when I got my hair cut shorter (again I just see to be copying Taylor Swift's hairstyles), however I never could get up the nerve to go get them cut or find the exact style that I wanted. Then, last weekend one of my best friends was up at college staying with me and well....we decided to cut bangs. The sum of the story is that we sat down to do homework (which we both had a lot of) and 20 minutes later we found ourselves watching hair tutorials for cutting bangs, hopping in the car and buy scissors at Walgreens, and then proceeding to CUT BANGS!!! 

Thankfully, this time I knew what I was doing because I found some FABULOUS hair tutorials HERE and HERE (if you are thinking of cutting your own bangs check them out!). The fact is that I have always been one to cut my own bangs because every time I would get bangs (usually only side) cut at a salon I never liked them and I feel that when I cut them myself I have more control (plus I can't get upset if they turn out wrong). After having bangs for a week now, I am still getting used to them, but definitely LOVE how they change up my hairstyle and are truly perfect for fall!. 

Also, can we just talk about how FAB this Lula Roe dress (that I thrifted at Goodwill) is! Totally in love with the simple a classic silhouette which definitely pairs perfectly with my new "Introvert" lapel pin from Shop Luella, and this super fun and colorful satchel purse. 

Any of you toying with getting bangs?

Have you ever cut your own hair?

-Madison

4 Easy Short Hairstyles

4 Easy Short Hairstyles

Friday, April 22, 2016

I thought it was high time I did another hairstyle idea post. Quite honestly it makes me chuckle thinking about how these hairstyle posts come to life because it usually involves me running around my room 20 minutes before class and snapping pictures!! This time my hair is about three inches shorter than it was in the last hairstyle post so here are 4 easy hairstyles for all of you who have short hair (though these can easily go either way). 

 First up is "The Flip" and it is everything it sounds like....just take a curling iron or straightener and curl the ends of your hair up, by doing this you get a flip! I used to wear this style ALL the time when I was growing up and now that I have short hair again it works quite nicely and offers a different look and feel than simply curled hair. 

Number two is a style that I honestly don't wear enough but after putting it together for this post I fell in love with how simple and different this ponytail was. It isn't your typical ponytail however, because not only does it have wispy little hairs in the front framing your face, but it also incorporates a classic and girly ribon which completely reminds me of the hairstyles that Rebecca from A Clothes Horse would wear. After fitting in this shoot on Tuesday morning I ended up wearing this hairstyle for the rest of the day!

Number three is easy peasy as all you need is a headband! Granted, you might have slightly unruly hair that threatens to spread out in every way and thus you have to tame it down, but even after you quickly do that you just throw in a quick headband of your choice. This particular headband is a gathered cotton headband I picked up at Forever 21 while back and I simply LOVE the blue color. With this style and variations of it (depending on the headband) I have come to realize how easy short hair is when you just use a headband. 

Last but not least, and a style that takes me back to my own pigtail running around days is this cute and quick style:) I have always loved how pigtails look and how they take you back to your youth, but I never wear them enough. However, when putting together these styles for the post I quickly discovered how easy this style was for my short hair and how much I liked it! Pretty sure this will be a recurring style this summer.

There are two weeks left of school....I can't believe this semester is almost over! When I reach the last day I might just have to have an impromptu dance party in my room complete with crazy dance moves and a brush microphone....whose with me?
For any of you wondering "Madison, why didn't you talk about what you are wearing?" As much as I could easily talk about what I am wearing in these pictures I figured I would make you all wait:) Have no fear dear readers, this look, dungarees and all will be getting photographed this weekend and will hit the blog sometime next week!!

For now I am off for a full weekend of blogging "stuff" complete with multiple photo shoots and maybe even a thrift video of I have some time:)

Do you have short hair like me?
Would you or have you ever used one of these styles?
What will you do at the end of your semester?

-Madison