Best beauty decision you've made?

[Lenore]

Totally off topic: I've always wanted a streak.. but I'm too lazy to do it myself... and am sooo envious of anyone that has them.

 

[W-D Forties]

I started to colour my own hair again after I lost my job and it's not bad (and I have saved a fortune). I do my white streak myself every 3 weeks or so. If i'm honest I have overdone the timings on that a couple of times and my (white) hair is very damaged now, but as it's only a streak I don't really care, although I probably should!

 

[C-dot]

What does ColourFix do exactly? The color my stylist uses isn't any better than the Colorsilk I was using and id like to stop coloring my hair.

ColourFix removes pigment from your hair, and since it is not a bleach or peroxide derivative, it will not damage it or lighten it beyond its natural hue. It's not outrageously expensive for one good application, and will restore your hair to its original colour quite easily and effectively.

A few things to be wary of:

- Don't expect perfectly uniform results;
- It has a terrible smell which will hang around for a week or so after using it;
- It will make your scalp tender temporarily if it is left on for too long or used with heat.

 

[Penny Dreadful]

Best? Wow, hard to choose. First of all, dying my hair. I wasn't me with blond hair. It was boring and washed out. Since I went dark I feel so much more comfortable. When it fades I start debating trying new things, going back to blond, etc. But then I know it's time to redye, and all becomes right with the world when I'm back to deep, rich red.
Switching to dresses was huge for me too. Mixing and matching always left me feeling like I was doing it wrong, like everything was just hashed together, and I never seemed to be able to find the right outfit for the occasion. Dresses have been such a perfect solution it's positively unreal. People think I spend so much time getting ready and I must be so high maintenance, but being low maintenance is precisely why this works. I never have to match anything, I always feel perfectly put together, and I'm always ready for anything (except something messy I guess lol). I would be lost without dresses.

 

[fortworthgal]

Re: Colorfix

As a home haircolor aficionado, I want to chime in on the Colorfix talk. Colorfix removes dye no matter how long it has been in your hair, but it won't restore your virgin hair color. The only way to totally restore that is new growth.

Most hair dyes bleach out/lift your natural color to deposit the dye color. So, when you remove the dye, you're going to be left with lighter (and usually really brassy) hair. My hair is naturally auburn and I have dyed it everything from strawberry blonde to a deep burgundy over the last 15 or so years. When I have used Colorfix, my hair comes out a cross between carrot orange & banana yellow. It *has* to be re-colored after. And if you re-color after, you will need to choose a lighter color than you normally would, and use a protein filler - otherwise the color will probably "grab" very dark.

If you've been using peroxide-free color only, only colored once or twice, or using a semi-permanent color close to your own natural color, then it might work to restore your natural color. But please don't use it expecting your virgin color to be miraculously restored.

 

[Miss Stella]

Re:Colorfix:
I didn't think it would bring back my original color....shoot, that would have been too easy!
I hear you about the brassy after awhile...its fine when my hairdresser does it but after three weeks the brass starts to sneak in. Maybe theres something she can do so that doesnt happen? I had her put highlights back in it today as last time we just did a light brown to tone it down...it had gotten quite blond after a year of her putting in highlights...
maybe the best beauty decision I could make would be to quit dying it!!!

(Nah....not ready yet )

 

[JennieWren]

Switching to OCM and mineral make ups. Forcing myself to drink 2L of water a day...and this last one is more of a lifestyle decision than a beauty one, but it reduces my stress levels, makes me feel better and consequently look better; meditating for at least 15 minutes every day.

 

[C-dot]

As a home haircolor aficionado, I want to chime in on the Colorfix talk. Colorfix removes dye no matter how long it has been in your hair, but it won't restore your virgin hair color. The only way to totally restore that is new growth.

Whoops, I didn't mean to infer that it would miraculously restore your virgin hair colour (which, of course, it won't) but as long as you haven't been lightening your hair, it will get damn close. I was dying my strawberry hair a dark cherry colour, as in my avatar, for a few years and the ColourFix took it all out, leaving me with a brassier version of my natural colour. I did have to give it a new colour rinse, but the new growth is blending in with it.

 

[Flicka]

Starting to set my hair with pincurls would be one, and no poo'ing another. Also getting medication that sorted out my chronic insomnia.

 

[lolly_loisides]

I just wanted to thank c-dot & fortworthgal for the info on colorfix. I recently used a permanent hair dye & I'm really unhappy with the result & was wondering how to remove the colour. Of course colorfix isn't available in Australia but I did find it on ebay, so I'm going to give it a go. Thanks ladies.

 

[Vixen]

I think that the best beauty choice I've made would be dying my hair a natural looking red.
It looks very good with my pale skin and really brings out my blue eyes.

I used to have tons of different colours in my hair such as blue, pink and even once had rainbow hair.
I think red really suits me and my style though.

 

[strawberryjenn]

I'd have to say for me, it's defining my eyebrows. Up until recently, I didn't know how to do my eyebrows or even that you should fill them in. My makeup never looked complete though. Filling them in really does make a difference and it's true what they say-it frames your face.

The only problem I have is my eyebrows are pitch black and trying to find a color that looks natural is quick tough. Black is too harsh and dark brown is too obvious and un-natural. If anyone knows of any good brow colors for black eyebrows, please let me know

 

[St. Louis]

The best thing I've done was to start a real nighttime beauty routine. That includes cleansing with a real product, not just any old soap; putting on some night time cream and eye stuff; starting my morning coffee (which helps me relax at night, because I know I'll wake up to a nice fresh hot cup) and acquiring a mattress topper. I found one on sale at Bed Bath etc. for about $20, and it's been heavenly. So nice to fall asleep cradled in that lovely wonderfulness of softness. I wake up with a real personality.

In fact, around the same time I started that nighttime routine I also decided to stop trying to do my own hair color. I always made such a gawdawful mess of it, and when one of my brothers asked me why I had three different colors in my hair I realized I couldn't go on looking like such a spectacle. It's a terrible splurge, and I had to give up a few other things, but it's been completely worth it in my case.

 

[velvetongue]

Learning martial arts, taking up running, staying away from processed foods, and getting plenty of sleep.

 

[Juliet]

I'd have to say for me, it's defining my eyebrows. Up until recently, I didn't know how to do my eyebrows or even that you should fill them in. My makeup never looked complete though. Filling them in really does make a difference and it's true what they say-it frames your face.

The only problem I have is my eyebrows are pitch black and trying to find a color that looks natural is quick tough. Black is too harsh and dark brown is too obvious and un-natural. If anyone knows of any good brow colors for black eyebrows, please let me know

Have you tried a dark grey?

 

[SkullChick]

Best thing happened to me is gaining 30 pounds and finally got the curves I wanted (I used to weight 85 pounds until age 20 I ate so many cupcakes everyday for 3 months to get started and increase my food a bit at a time so I don't get nauseous from overeating and now I'm maintaining my weight at 115) never felt this pretty about my body in my life I'm 24 now I want to start taking care of my skins now I'm starting to get icky brown spots on my face with some of red blotches I was never the one to wash her face, moisturize or wear make ups and now I'm paying for it foundation and concealer can't hide my flaws so I have to tackle this by washing my face daily, and moisturize it as well. I'm interested into doing cold cream cleaning, adding toner and night cream to my skin regime

 

[Lenore]

*Bump! for the new ladies*

And I might as well chime in. I've got several.

1. Coloring my hair black. All throughout high school I was a blonde, trying to recapture that perfect blonde I had when I was a small child. Looking back now, I'm astounded by how awful it actually looked because it wasn't the right tone for my hair, and the general lightness of it washed me out. When I finally got the guts up to go black ('cause you *cannot* go back!) it was almost like meeting an old friend when I looked into the mirror. The stars had aligned and that was that.

2. Making an effort with my eyebrows. I had never really paid much attention to them apart from plucking the dreaded unibrow and getting the occassional wax (where apparently they couldn't see because they would ALWAYS make one eyebrow obviously shorter than the other and I would look lopsided.) Now I keep a pair of tweezers at my desk to catch a stray when it pops up, and actually take the time and effort to shape and fill them in. My what a difference it makes!

3. Keeping my nails painted. I noticed that I feel much more feminine when I've got my nails done as opposed to just having them natural. When I feel feminine, I feel much more happy with myself. I'm not sure why.. Probably because I don't get to be all girly at my work, so any little thing is more appreciated.

There are more, but I can't think of them right now...

 

[Little lady]

Finding the right bra size.

 

[JessKelly]

Sticking to skirts and dresses instead of trousers. I prefer how it looks on me, it reflects my personality better and there is a skirt or dress suitable for most situations. I also find it really comfortable and since I don’t make a habit of jumping hurdles or doing cartwheels in the centre of town it’s never a hindrance. Gardening, long walks, hoisting myself onto buses; not a problem since I steer clear of the tinsy tiny micro mini.

 

[chanteuseCarey]

to change from having my brows waxed to getting them threaded instead. It was burning my skin. Also I get my brows tinted (and not with hair color) at the same time. Some of my brows are blonde and white now (I'm 54). What a difference these two small changes have made to my looks.