theNotice: a beauty blog

For those of you who don’t already follow @theNotice on Twitter: I finally, finally got a haircut! Have yet to decide how much I love it, but you’re welcome to pass judgement on my behalf…

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The product: Dariya Hair Pad (Magic Hair Pad dupe)

So – hair pads? A little strange. But at the same time, you kind of look at the pad and go “huh. Why hadn’t anyone thought of this sooner?”

For those of you who haven’t heard of them before, hair pads (or “fringe holders”) are pieces of velcro-like material designed to keep your hair out of your face. It’s so simple, but for whatever reason, they just haven’t really taken off the way that hair elastics and headbands have!

Unlike elastic-based hair accessories, they don’t squish your hair to your head – so if you’ve, say, already curled your hair, they won’t wreck your curls. I use mine when I wash my face, but they can also be used for things like putting on your contacts or doing your makeup; anything that you’d need to hold your bangs or front layers back for, really.

The Dariya pads are $4.99 for a pack of two (reg $7.99) through AJHairPad.com, who were kind enough to send these in. Each piece is 6.5x10cm, and features little bristle-like hairs: unlike velcro, there aren’t hooks and loops, so they slide into and out of your hair with ease (but have just enough hold to stay in while you’re using them). I think they’re probably best for shorter layers or bangs, but they do a more than decent job in my long layers, too.

Win it

The Dariya pads aren’t too costly to begin with, but we do have a pack (in pink) to give away! You have until next Saturday at midnight to get your entries in, and we’ll contact the winner by email during the week of the 27th.

This giveaway is open internationally, and will be opened to comment entries in one week’s time. Good luck!

Pink hair pad photos »

So, I guess I like, went and got really ill and returned to school and started Remicade and blah blah blah, which sort of led to our posting schedule getting shot to hell. (Remember the good old days, when I used to post, like, fifty times in a month?) (… yeah, I don’t remember them too well, either. Everything’s kind of a blur.)

Anyhow. Let’s fix this neglecting thing, yeah? :) Here’s what I’ve been up to.

A tangent about… hair

For starters, I went and put a bunch of black lowlights into my hair. Which is exciting! (Be excited, dammit, it’s exciting.) I mean, you’d assume that my hair would already be pretty black to begin with (what with the being Asian thing and all), but it’s actually quite light – light enough that my natural colour is now functioning as hilights.

(Just how light, exactly? Check out my hair in this post – that’s how light.)

I wasn’t sure about it at first, but now I’m certain: I love it. I love it a ridiculous, ridiculous amount. I can’t believe I didn’t do it sooner!

A tangent about… closets

And then there was a closet redo. I forgot to take “before” photos, because I’m ridiculous and forgetful, but here’s a quick photo of the “after.” I’ve long been a fan of built-in shelving (it just feels so roomy!) but – well, let’s just say that I’m inordinately pleased with this as well.

(Yes, before you ask, I’m a bit of a clothing minimalist. This is in part due to the fact that I feel uncomfortable about extraneous items, but honestly? It has more to do with the fact that I absolutely abhor shopping.)

A tangent VERY RELEVANT SEGMENT about pretty shoes

One of the things I found while cleaning out my closet was my favourite pair of heels: my “goal shoes,” if you will. One of these days, I’m going to be well enough that I can wear them again, without having to worry about MTP swelling or spinal support or ankle joints.

This is the plan.

It’s going to be fantastic.

And, lastly, late at night:

Hope you’ve all been well!! xxx

The product: Dove Men+Care Thick & Clean shampoo

Maybe I’ve just developed a weird sense of fondness toward the no-frills Men+Care line, but there’s just something about this one that I’m kinda secretly (okay, not-so-secretly) enjoying. I think it has something to do with the fact that the gel is blue. Oh, and erm, also has to do with the scent, of course! It’s fresh and bright, but not agressive; generic enough that it slips into the “white noise” category of scents, but not so generic that it stops me from enjoying the fragrance in the shower; neither masculine nor feminine.

Its just kind of easy, like how flip-flops are easy to wear but don’t really influence an outfit one way or another, you know? And in the way that they’re comfortable when you wear them, but you know they’ll do some serious damage to your arches if you wear them all the time.

The ingredient list for this one (full list below) is pretty short, and though I’m not thrilled to see sodium laureth sulfate as the second ingredient, at least it’s ‘cone-free and paraben-free. I’ve been using this once every week or two as a clarifying shampoo; it leaves my dry hair feeling a little stripped if I use it too often, but is awesome if my hair’s feeling particularly icky or limp that day.

The verdict?

Whether you’re looking for a shampoo for you or your guy, I’d say this one’s a good, affordable choice. It’s really no-frills, has a very inoffensive scent, and works best for either clarifying or for those with oily hair.

(Ingredients and additional photos…)

As someone who makes choices very poorly (and I mean it when I say very poorly), the drugstore hair aisle is a pretty intimidating place for me. But, well, products have to be chosen no matter how daunting the task may seem! Here are my tips for figuring out the aisle of intimidation like a pro.

Keep one goal in mind

Let’s be honest: unless you’re on the cast of Gossip Girl, chances are, your hair’s fair from perfect. So, instead of going all crazy with the things you’re unhappy with, pick one thing that you want out of your shampoo/conditioner duo (or two, tops, if you really insist). It’ll be a lot easier to choose products if you’re just looking for one or two things, rather than five!

Some common concerns that might apply to you:

- Dry scalp. If you’re flaking, it might not actually be dandruff. Watch for small, dry flakes and a tight, uncomfortable scalp that’s soothed by moisturizers and oils.

- Lack of volume. Fine hair, straight hair, and product build up are all common culprits for this one, but the right styling products and tools are usually the way to go if you have major concerns about it.

- Oily scalp. Feel like you need to wash your hair again before the day’s even over? Make sure to keep conditioner only on your ends, and try not to fidget with your hair too much during the day.

- Coloured hair. Nowadays, most lines have products (if not entire ranges) made specifically for coloured hair. I say embrace them; the longer you can get your colour to last, the better!

Know the language

In the beauty world, nothing is as it seems – but most things can be decoded with a healthy dose of logic. Most marketing buzzwords follow a sort of “template,” if you will; here are a few that might come in handy.

If you have dry hair, look for words like hydrating, nourishing, and smoothing – they all indicate added conditioners that will help tame and protect your hair’s cuticle.

If you have an oily scalp, tend to have build-up or if you need more volume, look for words like clarifying, volumizing, and revitalizing, which hint at an emphasis on lightweight conditioners and heavy-hitting cleansers.

If you have sensitive skin, look for the “frees” – paraben-free, silicone-free, fragrance-free, SLS-free, etc. Be prepared to read the ingredient lists, though, because for sensitive skin doesn’t always equal a concise, simple ingredient list.

(Keep reading; I dare you…)