Make-up hints

Emelee26

Hi!

I just got the smashbox o glow lip gloss - it's like the blush - it goes on clear and then interacts with your skin to make a custom shade..I love it!

I did see the Benefit cupid's bow..looks cool Beth

Love Marisa

Anonymous

Welcome home, Beth! It does sound like you're feeling a bit frantic, though, so hopefully, everything will settle down soon. I do hope that you got to use the candles and wear that slinky number Matthew picked out for the hot tub..? I'll expect details over on "Singles - Mojo" board very soon!

Suz....When my lashes fell out the first time (I had 3 fallouts, like Tina), I gently rubbed the lids with a soft baby's toothbrush. I have no idea if it helped, but it made me feel like I was doing something. And the good news is that they grow back much quicker than the hair on your head. One day you'll see a tiny ridge of little lashes and every day they get a little longer. It's actually quite cool!

Oh Beth, I'm excited about the Rimmel and plan to get to Target this weekend for it. I'm gonna brighten up these chemo-reddened eyes yet!

The tanning process sounds way tedious! I think I'd chance a few sessions under the lamps instead. But that's me....livin' on the edge, ya know ! 

~Marin

suz41

Tina....Thanks for the good advice.  Bummer about losing your lashes three times!!  This is my first time and they are not all gone yet but I guess I better get used to it.  I'll try the eyeliner trick, I usually wear a thin line but I guess I'll try a littel thicker and smudgy.  Is biotin sold in health food stores only?   Suz

abbadoodles

Suze, you can get the Biotin at CVS, too.  Their own and other brands.  Quite cheap.  I take 1000 mcg per day but I think Marin takes 5000.  It's a water soluble B vitamin.

Living Earth has it, too.  Hey, look for it in the supermarket.

Tina

Anonymous

Yes, I do take 5,000 mcg (5 mg) and it's Country Life brand that I buy at Whole Foods. It's amazing stuff!

A few more questions, my chicas.....

Staying with the hair theme, I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a blonde rinse that is not heavy and damaging and can be used between salon visits. I pay almost $150 at each hair appointment and am trying to stretch them out a bit - like 8-9 weeks between them - but my roots begin to show (not too ugly though, since my hair is so multi-colored) and the color gets dull. So I'm looking for a light rinse to use to prolong the look before my next visit. Any ideas?

And I also want to ask what you all wear on your legs when you wear a skirt or a dress? I just read in O magazine that flesh-colored hose is aging  and that everyone should spray their legs with liquid stockings....Body Bling. Do you spray your legs? If so, what is a good, inexpensive brand?

~Marin

wackyjackie

Hi Girls,

I don't know if I'm in the right spot, but my nails are all chipped and just splitting and ripping apart.  I just finished 28 tx of radiation and before that 8 tx of ACT chemo.  The nails are so weak they are getting caught on everything.  Anyone have any suggestions???

Thanks,  Jackie

Anonymous

Jackie...The biotin that many of us take helps not only hair growth but also promotes the development of strong nails. Give it a try! Also, be sure to keep a strong clear base coat on at all times and never wash dishes or handwash without rubber gloves. Use lotion every night and keep your hands warm and dry outdoors.

My mother used to swear by gelatin. She's put a pack of unflavored gelatin in her juices and even ate alot of jello. Her nails were great, but I'm not certain that's why!

~Marin

wackyjackie

Marin,

Thanks so much for the advice.  Is biotin a pill?  Sorry to sound stupid but I never heard of it.  I do need my hair to grow also.

Hugs, Jackie

Anonymous

Tina, I've already talked to my PS about ditching my implant and going for a diep. I have to have the genetic testing done first before I decide since I may be in for another mast.  Want to do both at once if that's the case.

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Regarding lashes during chemo ... heavy on the eyeliner, drew in my brows and that part was fun .. changed 'em up all the time: pencil thin, Marilyn style, modern ... Sometimes, I wish I'd have the guts to tweeze them all out and leave em off!!  But then when you run to the supermarket, I'd forget them.

Raye99

Beth - That is scary about your brother! Makes me want to get online and check my credit right now. It also pisses me off. On a brighter note, I'm glad you had a nice time in Florida.

I am going to try some of the Rimmel White as well to bright up the eyes.

Laura - haha. You crack me up. That machine would scare me too and the fumes - are there fumes?  I might just have to go lie the "bed" a few times - just a few...and do some Loreal tanning cream.

Suze - I agree with Tina, although when I was missing my lashes I used a liquid eyeliner and drew a very fine line on the top lid, no one even noticed I was missing the lashes unless I pointed it out. I also mostly wore hats over my wigs, so the brim would somewhat detract from my eyes. I did use false eyelashes a couple of times, but what a pain they are and I kinda felt like a drag queen with them on. 

abbadoodles

Well, Marin, God forbid that I contradict Oprah's experts, but what the heck do you do if you live in a cold climate and you don't want to wear opaque hose or it doesn't go with your outfit?  Freeze your butt off with tinted bare legs?  Gimme a break. 

That being said, I have not worn hose in about 15 years.  Hmmm.  I guess I only get into a dress in the summertime.  I will definitely have to polish up my act! 

Anyone want to start a Dressing Well thread?  How to Dress Like a Hot Mama, maybe?

Tina

Anonymous

Well, now that Raye has brought up false lashes, I'd like to ask for some recommendations regarding good ones AND specific directions on applying them. During chemo, I must have thrown out almost a dozen sets, after trying to cut them correctly and messing up, applying them and getting the glue everywhere but the proper spot and then getting them all tangles up and they'd harden like that...it was always a disaster and if I did get them on somehow, it looked like I'd applied Halloween spiders to my lids. There must be a better way?!

Jackie...biotin is a supplement that comes in capsule form. You find it with the vitamins or in a nutrition or health food store. Google it for more info.

~Marin

BethNY

my favorite lashes are from MAC, they are called like 20's or something.

They are not a full row, they go from the center half to the outer lashes.  They have great glue too.

You take the lash on a tweezer, then I apply the glue onto a q-tip, and apply directly to the lashes, then with the tweezer and the qtip I put the lashes on my eyelid, then go over it with a black or brown liquid liner.

IT TAKES PRACTICE. A lot of practice to get it right.  But, once you've done it 4 or 5 times, you'll get really good at it.

The liquid eyeliner, really helps to make it look real.

If you go to a store like MAC or sephora you should ask one one of the makeup artists to show you.  Buy two sets, and let them put on on you in the store so you see every step.

Jorf

Marin,

I've been using the John Freida (sp?) glaze and it works great. But, I don't know about blond. My hair is light brown (thanks to my great hair person) and I use the dark brown glaze.

I wasn't sure it did anything until I went to brazil for a month and my hair got all bleached out and gray. When I got home I used it every night for a week and at the end of the week I noticed that it had completely given it color again....

Jorf

snowyday

My sister does sugaring and she's really good, has people come from Toronto, London all over SW Ontario, she told of a story once about a husband, who was a male stripper and just gorgeous and for valentines day he wanted the shape of a heart made down there and she did it. She said she was nervous as it was the first time she had ever done a shape back then and he loved it and tipped her 100buckola's.  I thought it was really sweet that he did that for his wife and it was only for his wife because he had the heart removed a week after valentines day. My sister is a true believer in sugaring instead of wax, because it's never ever reused, and if there is a problem you can just wash it off she hates wax and thinks it's dangerous.  But I'm lucky and get free sugaring so I can get the brazilian or whatever I want for nothing, and that's a bonus. My other sister is a hairdresser and she is already planning styles for my hair as it grows in because eventually I want it long again, but don't want to go through the weird hair phases.  But she told me to stay away from false eyelashes because it could pull roots out of natural ones and they might not grow back, so I stayed away from them, but I really wanted them.pearl49  Oh yeah why don't they make fake eyebrows I missed my eyebrows more than my hair.

Emelee26

Marin..I have used leg spray but it was expensive from Nordstrom...the local drugstores carry Sally Hansen which I have also heard is good...

It was weird how smooth it makes the legs look...

I also have fake eyelashes from Sephora and I cut them down to be half the lash line instead of the whole and I apply the same way as Beth and use liquid liner too...

wackyjackie

What a great idea about the eyelashes.  I never thought of that!! Thanks for the info.

Marin...thanks for the info on the biotin.  I had no idea, but I'm off to get it tomm.

Have a great night.

Hugs, Jackie

abbadoodles

Girls, I need your advice.  On a hair matter.  Does that count as make-up?

I started going to a new hairdresser, 50 minutes drive away (UGH), when my hair started growing out from chemo.  He was recommended by my wig/bra lady.  She is now going to him.

#1.  He is very nice.  Funny.  I like him personally.

#2.  He has been very good about my hair, telling me not to cut it, just selective trimming here and there to neaten it up, as it is growing out.  Actually, I am very grateful that he has discouraged me from messing with it, as I think it is looking fab (as fab as it can be under the curly circumstances, that is) and anything I or he could do to it would be a step back.  Sometimes you have to know when to leave things alone. 

#3.  I have been having him color it.  Normally, I color my own hair, but I have been having him do it to give him something to do and to let him get to know me and my hair while it is growing out.  Building a hair relationship, if you know what I mean.

#4.  He cannot seem to get the color right.  Time before lasts, at my urging, he finally did get it ash enough, no gold or red and it looked great.  Last week, though, he says he used the same formula and it came out gold/orange at the roots.  I am really not amused, especially at $45 a whack.  Plus the drive time.  This is low peroxide demi-permanent color.  My hair is ash brown/blonde naturally.  I like it like that and it really complements my skin tone.

Here is the dilemma.  When we saw how gold the color was after he rinsed last week, and I expressed my dismay and he expressed his puzzlement, he offered to re-color it this the next week.  I am feeling like I don't want to drive back there and I should just bite the bullet and re-color it myself.

How do I do this, should I do this, and still keep him on the string for future haircuts, which I am hoping he is good at?

Tina

BethNY

I'd go back one more time, and let him re color it.  This has been the hair saga of my mothers life.  She has 50 different shades of blond in her hair, and I can't tell you how many zillions of times, it was never quite right, even though the girl used the same formula.

Give him one more time. Then peace out.  Although, you still may have trouble getting it back on your own, in such a short amount of time.  Remember, this is new hair, and too much color treating will seriously damage it.

He's right about the cutting.  I got two major cuts in the beginning, to correct my Dr Phil regrowth... then let it be.  A year later, when it was almost at a bob length I had it trimmed on a photo shoot, and the guy said DO NOT CUT IT FOR AT LEAST 7-8 MONTHS.  PS-- it's been a year and a half, and I haven't cut it.  I had my girl look at it, about 6 months ago, and she said I had zero split ends, and it was so healthy she wouldn't dare trim it.

I know I could use a little trim right now, but I'm not doing it.  The longer my hair gets, the further away I feel from cancer.

I finally had a few highlights put in about 6 months ago, and they were so natural looking, that they still look so good.  I think I will touch up my hair again once it starts to get warm.  I might go a little lighter...

You don't need to entertain this guy if you don't need your hair cut.

I would be honest.  Let him do it for you once more, and tell him, you'll call him when youre ready for a cut.  So you don't leace it on bad terms... you don't owe this guy anything.  And, its your hair.  If he can't get it right, well, that's just business.  And you've got to move on.

I vote one more time, and then forgo the 50 minute drive, and do it yourself.

Harley44

Beth,

Is that pic your hair NOW?!!  WOW!!  My last chemo tx was 10/9/07, and my hair is about 2 inches long... but, it's growing SO slowly, I fear it will NEVER reach my shoulders ever again! 

Everyone tells me it looks 'cute', but... it's gray, and I feel so old and ugly... 

You give me hope that it will eventually be long enough to make me feel 'human' again. 

I read that I should wait 6 months after my last tx before coloring, so I will... I am concerned about using color (any color) on my hair.  What kind do you think would be the most gentle?  I guess I can ask a hair professional... but, I will have to get a new hair stylist because my other one isn't exactly working out.  She was a friend (my realtor's wife), and not once did they call to see how I was doing after my dh called to tell them about the bc dx.  I decided that I should look for someone else, because she was kind of expensive anyway, and I was just going there because they were "friends".  Now I realize that they really aren't friends... 

Thanks for the encouragement, Beth!

Harley

BethNY

That picture was taken a few months ago.  Notice the chubby cheeks cause I've gained about 30 pounds in the last year and a half.

My last chemo was 2/05, and my last herceptin was 7/06, and I feel like after the herceptin was over my hair took off in growth.

I tried everything at first like Nioxin, and not coloring it, but nothing really worked.  The first year of growth is insanely SLOW.  After a year, it will still only be a short boy style haircut.  Thats just how it is.  Human hair grows about a half inch per month.  Slower if you are malnourished, don't get your vitamins, and are dehydrated.

The bright side, are the hair milestones.  The first time I bought a pony tail holder, first I had to start with the baby size, then I gradually went back into big scrunchies... to my recent purchase of a new huge wide brush for long, thick hair... it's such a delight.

Haircuts are almost as bad as Dr. appts in my mind.  I just don't want to think about it.  My ends are even, and healthy, and I attribute that to avoiding crazy heat styles, and coloring when it first grew in.

There are some strands that NEVER took color after chemo.  They are in the crown of my head, and I just try to ignore it.  They do catch the light, b/c they shimmer in my dark brown locks. but my hair is so super curly (it was blown out in that avatar picture) so the silver mixes in, and kinda looks cool.

There are a lot of lines that make color safe hair care, especially AVEDA products, but they are expensive.  Do some research in your area, make some calls, and ask them what type of color products they use, and what the price range is.  With short hair, it should cost MUCH less to color, espcially b/c you're doing one process, and not high and low lights.

Patience is all it takes.  Which I have none of, so just hang in there.  It will eventually be right where you want it.

abbadoodles

I think you have to consider what your natural hair is like when deciding to color it.  Some people have very fine and/or fragile hair.  I would think twice about coloring it soon after chemo in that case.

In my case, I have horsehair.  Pretty coarse and very strong.  I've colored it since two months after chemo and it is in great shape.  No breakage or split ends.  My problem is my hair is so coarse it takes a long time for the color to develop; my demi-permanent color has to stay on for 45 minutes for the color to take. 

So, use common sense when deciding on chemical treatments. 

Tina

abbadoodles

Just have to tell you girls that you have been such an ispiration to me that I have started wearing foundation most days and I really do look better!  It's amazing what a tiny change in skin tone and eveness (sp?) can do.  Thanks!

Tina

Anonymous

Tina - I LOVE the idea of a Fashion thread...I was just thinking about that a few days ago. For the last 4 years I have worked from home, so I haven't had to be concerned about what to wear. But...I am possibly going to be going into the office 3 days a week soon, so I will need some help.  

Harley - Just FYI...I dyed my hair 1 month after it started growing. My hair girl used regular dye and it worked great...no problems at all with it.  

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UPDATE: On Tuesday I had the first set of 4 Cutera Laser Genesis and LimeLight treatments to reduce the fine lines, age spots, etc. So far, I am real happy with the results. I had a big patch of light brown on my forehead by my hairline (from taking birth control pills years ago) and even though it was just one treatment, it's almost completely zapped away. When I get back from MX I will have another set and then 2 weeks later another...etc. BUT THIS IS SO COOL! I have a 1" wide (horiz)  wrinkle line in the middle of my chin. My mom has the exact same thing! I asked the Dr about it and she said that Botox would get rid of it. AND THEN OMG...she said they are having a seminar on the 9th, and a Botox pro is flying in for it and they need a "model" to demonstrate on. She asked me if I want to do it! She said I would only have to pay her cost for the Botox liquid which is only $40! BUT if I was to have it done on my own - the price would be $300! IT'S MY LUCKY DAY! Although I am going to be really embarrassed, but hey, I'll save a lot of $$$$. She probably figures, if it works on my chin, it will work on anyone, so I'm the perfect candidate! LOL LOL How embarrassing! They'll probably introduce me like this: "Here's Laura, look at the huge wrinkle line on her chin." LOL

abbadoodles

Hey, Laura, you are really going for it!  Good for you.  I think it's great that you're getting a "free" treatment.  Wow.  $30 for the goods and another $270 for the labor.  Nice business to be in.

The fashion thread:  I hate to be a thread hog.  Does anyone else want to start it?  Laura, why not YOU? 

Tina

abbadoodles

Can someone tell me what is involved in "sugaring" to get rid of unwanted hair?  Process, price, where to get it done?

Tina

Raye99

Laura - that's awesome! Why are you going to be embarrassed? You have absolutely no reason to feel that way! You're gorgeous, darling.

I think the fashion thread is a grrreat idea. Let's do it.

Harley - I agree with Beth (and thanks Beth, you inspire me as well), the hair grows so slowly at first, but before you know it, it really starts to take off.

Here is a pic (excuse the goofball expression, as I was trying to get a side view of my hair). I am about 13 months out of chemo and am able to put it up with about 8 clips in my hair. Hang in there!

 

BethNY

you look so adorable... omg.  Your hair is fabulous... you have such a cute, inviting face... you're definitely one of those people that represents my "hotness potential" theory...I think after cancer, your hotness factor only increases.  Your hair gets thicker, fuller, and longer.  Your skin color goes back to a normal shade, and you have more pep in your step.  So while your friends around you that didn't have cancer, are worried about their sagging breasts, and latest set of vericose veins, you are looking in the mirror, and saying, YES! Look at my hair, HERE IT IS!!! FINALLY... and it just puts you in a happier mood.

You really do look phenominal!

Raye99

Beth - thank you!!!! You are so sweet. Hotness potential, I love it. There is somuch we have to be thankful for, things that we may have taken for granted before. HAIR being one, health (looking and feeling good), not to mention the spring in our step that others just might not have. A rebirth of sorts - that's what we have.  

Anonymous

Hi Raye - I am spread so thinly...I almost forgot about this awesome thread! YOU LOOK MARVELOUS! I love Beth's words...You're a doll. and so funny too!

Tina - Sorry - I never had sugaring...or you know I'd be posting about it! I hope someone chimes in soon, as I would also love to "hear" about it! I would still love a fashion thread...I'm chicken though! LOL

Raye - Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...maybe you could start it! LOL

Stay beautiful girls...inside and out!