Products I Love

Hair

Conair Straightener

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I've had this exact straightener for years now.  It's a 1" straightener that I use to curl my hair (an oxymoron?), and to achieve this look.  Any straightener between 1-2 inches works well to get that wavy curl on long hair.

Conair Ionic Styler

I have been using this since 1990-something.  I've probably gone through a dozen of them.  Without this hair dryer, I would cut my mane of hair off to my shoulders in a second!  This amazing gift from God allows me to dry my hair in layers, de-frizz, and add body to my roots, all at the same time (and without having a severe temper tantrum).  It's the closest I can get to a professional blow out at home.  I take it on every trip I go.  I don't care if I have to unpack my favorite pair of shoes to make it fit.  With all this hair, if I have to use a regular hair dryer in one hand, and a brush in the other... Yeah, there will likely be whole in the wall before I'm finished, or I'll end up with 7 years bad luck. 

Maybe both.   

 Conair, if you ever discontinue this hair dryer, I will find you. 

Thermal Brush (Large)

When drying my hair, I first dry my bangs, and the hair that frames my face, with a round thermal brush like this.  It lifts my bangs up at its roots, and smooths out the frizz.  When I'm finished with my whole head, I'll use it to turn in my ends.  This brush and my hair dryer go hand in hand.

Wen

When I first got this, I used it as a Shampoo/Conditioner.  However, I couldn't get used to it.  This product doesn't contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (the detergent ingredient that makes things lather) which is apparently a good thing, but it just wasn't working for me.  When I read the back of the label, I noticed it could also be used as a leave in conditioner.  DING DING DING!  Thank God, because I couldn't stand letting it go to waste.  The stuffs not cheap.  I use a little less than a pump after I'm done shampooing and conditioning with the cheap stuff.  It makes my hair brushable when wet, and smooths down the frizz.

Nails

Essie nail polish is my new favorite brand.  It's affordable (about $8 at Target) and goes on nice and smooth.  They also have all the trendy colors.  Score!

I break my nails left and right.  I also have the bad habit of forgetting about it a minute after it happens; leaving myself looking like a cave woman for days.  When we were in the OBX a couple years ago, we were in one of those cheap beachwear stores, and I discovered nail clippers on a key chain!  Genius!!   Now I can immediately groom my nails as soon as disaster strikes.  I found this pair on Amazon.com.  It has good reviews, although I've never tried this specific pair.  If interested, click this.

Remedies

I crazy hate wrinkles.  I don't care if I'm going to the gym, or on a road trip... I will not have wrinkled clothing.  I will not wear wrinkled sweatpants around the house when no one else is home.  My friends make fun of me because I iron my jeans.  What they don't know is that I also iron my cami's that go unseen under my shirts.  A few years back, a friend introduced me to Downy Wrinkle Releaser.  When she showed me how it worked, I swear a light came down from the sky and I heard the angels sing. 

It works best on slight-moderate wrinkles.  Not so much on the severe creases.  Overall just spray, tug, and smooth!  I keep one in my car, and pack another in my suitcase.  Quick- everyone go buy some so they never discontinue it!! :)

Tip- they come in travel size!!

Sweater Shaver

This cool gadget brings new life to older sweaters.  Pills are right up there with wrinkles...I Can't handle them.  Sweater shavers don't make your sweaters look brand new, but they take back a few washes.

Stains

I'm a Tide girl.  It's what Mom used, and it's what I now use.  I had a coupon for this awhile back, and decided to give this a try.  It works very well IF you follow the directions.

* all images from Google