Posts Tagged ‘Hair’
Super Fun Hair Time!
Hold onto your hats friends, because today’s hair tutorial is a never before attempted feat of daring!
Two of my blogging buddies (who are also well known for creating fun and interesting tutorials) and I were having a little chat one evening when we came up with this idea. It went something like this, “Hi Violet, Hi Cheesie. You know how much we love doing awesome hair tutorials? Well how about we try this?”
It is a simple and fun hair do you’ve seen me wear an casual days and asked for a tutorial on. It’s also one you can customise to your own style.
Enjoy!
You can visit the awesome Violet Le Beaux and Cheesie to see more of their fun tutorials!
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A Chic & Simple Hair Tutorial
During my trip to Sydney over Christmas I had a few hair disasters. Whether it was the heat and humidity or the windy weather, I didn’t come prepared for either and it left me at a bit of a loss for ideas as to how to fix my hair. I wanted something chic and simple that could be achieved quickly and with very little, if any, product. So I put on my thinking cap, did a little experimenting and came up with a winning solution.
You saw it in my latest Vlog and requested the tutorial, so here you are!
Enjoy!
How to Use Bumpits – A Basic Tutorial
Horray! It is tutorial time again. Thanks to my new Kodak Zi8, I can finally create much better tutorials, and thanks to Mr SKM who has been working hard to fix my software, I can finally edit them properly. Okay, the editing I am still working on, but I’m getting there.
Today’s tutorial is the first in a series on how I use the Bumpits hair inserts. These are designed to give lift and volume where you would have traditionally needed lots of teasing to achieve the look. This look is a simple updo that takes three minutes to achieve and can be just a classy or cute as you like – it all depends on the accessories you add.
Enjoy!
P.S: You may notice I’ve been nominated for another Fashion Blog Award. Yes, I need your votes! So please, spare a moment and vote for Super Kawaii Mama here.. (several times if you can) cause it is nice to know you’re loved. 
Rude Name – Great Hair
In my outfit post the other day I asked you if you knew what hair secrets I’d used to short cut the usual styling process. Some of you were right on the money! For a while now I’ve been receiving comments and emails asking me if I had tried Bumpits - these new hair “thing-a ma-bobs” that give you that kind of bouffant volume. The first time one of you asked me about them I wondered just where the hell ones “bum pit” was! They’ve been big news in the US for a while, but haven’t been regularly available in Australia yet. So I searched them out on eBay (paying attention to get genuine ones) and decided to give them a try.
I create so many different hair do’s that require teasing or other ways to get volume at the crown, that I had nothing to loose trying these… although there was the risk I’d end up looking like Sarah Palin! So I’ve been using them to create a 1960’s look, a Himegyaru look, even a bit of a Marge Simpson look! I’ve found them very easy to use, but I don’t know if this would be the case for everyone. The instructions recommend a little backcombing and lots of hairspray, but I’ve been using mine with neither. However, I do have a lot of very thick hair – the kind you could loose a pencil in for a week!
I just separate my hair, (like in the pictures shown on the official site) and pull the hair back over the Bumpit. Then I use a single hair comb to secure it at the base. I haven’t yet tried to wear them like the model, with no securing pins, as I don’t think they’d stand up to the rigors of my day without them. There are loads of tutorials around by different people showing you how to use these, but I think that the best execution depends very much on the texture of your hair. Emily Noel has some great reviews and tutorials over on You Tube that I’d recommend you check out as a good starting point.
Of course, because we are all different and have our own interpretations on these things, I’m hoping to get together a short SKM version of how I use the Bumpits for a more alternative look. If you have any advice or recommendations for each other on these – where to buy, good tips and what doesn’t work for you – please feel free to post it in the comments and we’ll see if we can all help each other make these work the way we want them to.
I have to say, I am a convert. The only thing I’d like is an even BIGGER Bumpit to make some very serious hair… or perhaps a systems where you could lock them together..
You know what they say, “the higher the hair, the closer to god!”
Daily Outfit – Romantic Spring
Sunday, a family day. This week I had a huge surprise. I met up with my family and baby brother for dinner on his birthday. My other brother had long since been travelling the world with this girlfriend and had made appearances for family birthday’s via Skype. As we settled in for dinner on Thursday night, who should walk in the door but my brother! All the way from Italy, right to our table – with absolutely no warning! Both my baby brother and I died of surprise and while his eyes misted over I promptly started blubbing in the restaurant, much to the amusement of the other patrons. Today we continued with the family theme, taking as much opportunity to see him before he has to return. So we all headed out for more food yet again!
The days are still misty spring days. Beginning and ending with a chill, but with the kind of long absent, soul warming sunshine in the middle. Days when you want to be warm and comfortable to stretch out in that sun, sneaking a nap after lunch. So today’s outfit was about stretch, flounce and softness.
The hair was loose and simple, given a bit of punch by.. you guessed it… Bumpits! I’ve been trialling these for a while now and quite like how quick and easy they are to use. They aren’t yet readily available in Australia, but I purchased a multi pack of black ones via eBay. I have heard that there are “Hollywood” versions available too that give you even more volume for super huge hair.
The bows are the most darling little clips sent to me by an exceptionally clever reader who has started her own makeup and accessories line. I’ll have much much more for you on that topic later on, but if you’d like a sneak peek, head on over to My Little Rockabilly.
Makeup Details:
Eyes – Baked Sugar collection by Physicians Formula
Lips- Aubergine Max Factor Colour Perfection
Nails- Stick on deco nails from Thailand
Outfit Details:
Black lace trim top – Entrace Skirt – Boo Radley
Stockings – Johnathon Aston Shoes – Keds
Necklace – Peter Alexander Hair Bows – My Little Rockabilly
The Hair Journey Continues
Thanks for all for your feedback and comments on the Hair Raising Adventure. It is always amazing what an emotive issue hair is for us gals, and I’m glad to read that some of you chaps understand the situation too. Given that Mr SKM has been shaving his head bald for over twenty years now, it is hard for him to understand the plight, but at least it saves on hairdressing bills to put towards the cost of looking after mine!
So to put you out of your misery, I’m going to show you the results of the hair cut and give you my verdict on the process.
Firstly, I approached this hunt by talking to lots of stylists. Showing them pictures, diagrams and generally having a chat about what I wanted to achieve. With the huge variety of up do’s I am always trying to achieve, it somewhat limits my choices of hair cut. So while part of me wants to go the whole hog and get a traditional long middy cut, it just wouldn’t have long enough layers in it to put up in some of my 1960’s styles. On these consults, I took with me a copy of a 1940’s hairstyling manual, complete with cutting diagrams and finishing tips; photos of the various styles I wear my hair in; and photos of the lovely Rita Hayworth. I went to visit a “Master Stylist”, who after assuring me he understood exactly what I needed, gave me a personal recommendation to someone who was supposed to be perfect. I felt like he has really listened to me, and had a good handle on what I wanted.
When I rang to make a time to see the stylist in question, I wasn’t able to speak with him, nor did any of my calls get returned. So I gave up and just booked an appointment. It turned out that I needed to split this appointment into two as it was to take over SIX HOURS to complete my hair! Firstly, I had the colour done. The colourist was a really lovely young hairdresser who took the time to get to know me, making real conversation and still applying herself meticulously to the task at hand. She took her time and made sure that everything was perfect, as the results were to attest to. But here is what surprised me. Given that this was a rather pricey salon I expected more than what I got. I expected to be introduced to the Stylist that was to cut my hair later that week, but wasn’t even acknowledged till I was walking out the door. I was expecting the other staff that spent any time with me to give a damn, but chatting about your week to the other stylist in the room while washing my hair at the basin is not okay. I am not an inanimate object, nor am I something to be “multi tasked”.
When I returned later in the week for the hair cut, I sat with the Master Stylist for a few minutes while he listened to what I had to say. I was feeling a little nervous at the lack of questions this prompted, as it also seemed that their wasn’t much understanding of the big picture of what I wanted. I want to be able to trust my stylist, but it is hard to know you are on the same page unless they reflect back to you what it is they think you want. I’m entirely sure that there is much lost in translation between stylist and client, as we all have different mental pictures and can even interpret the same photographs differently. Anyway, trusting more in the person who had lead me to this Master Stylist, I put myself in his hands and let him begin to cut.
So far, so good. I felt lighter (that could go either way) and could already see the natural curl in my hair beginning to give it more bounce. I was also very impressed with the stylist assisting. She was not only interested in her job, but interested in finding out the hows and whys of what had been going on with my hair. Basically, she took the time to ‘get it’. Now here I am, hair freshly coloured (win), nicely cut (win) and about to tackle the third part of the holy trinity of hair dressing – the final styling. In the last few years I have not met a hairdresser that has been able to complete all three tasks with success, so my fingers were crossed that a miracle was about to occur. But it was not to be.
After chatting to the Master stylist about “wanting to make good use of the natural curl”, the interpretation was “letting it dry naturally to see how it curls.” Okay, this is all well and good, and indeed quite practical to allow then for any other shaping that the cut may need. But I have to say that this must be the part that gets lost in translation, and as I saw the diffuser coming towards me, my nerves increased. Still, I sat there, hoping that this was just a part of the final evaluation process and was relieved to hear, “I’ll diffuse this, then stretch it out a bit”. But once I could see the product going onto it to finish it off, I was having a minor coronary in the chair. I looked like the 1990 version of myself, like Jennifer in Flash Dance, and a moment of sheer horror and panic ensued.
Were did we go wrong? Like I say, lost in translation. ( I could go on here for an age addressing where I think all these styling issues lie, but I’ll move it along until we reach the solution.) I don’t know what the Master stylist was thinking at this stage, but if he was as horrified as me, he hid it well. “Is this too casual for you?” I tired to explain that I don’t do “casual” like this even when taking the rubbish to the top of my street! But how to fix it? He tried a little more brushing and stretching to no avail, then suggested that perhaps we should wash it and try again? I was almost about to agree to another hour and a half in the chair to make myself presentable, when words were issued that spelt the death knell on this relationship. ” How about I get the girls to put some curls in with the GHD?” My stomach turned and then I knew I was back to square one. I couldn’t disguise my horror as I almost lept out of the chair to say, “Absolutely Not!” and then gave a dissertation on the directionality of curls and how it was imperative they be created the correct way to achieve these vintage styles. In the end I gave a lesson on barrel curls to the 2ic, and had to short cut the whole process which left me in a frizzy, but passable state.
The good news is that the cut is working out well, and the colour is brilliant. The bad news is that what I paid for the honor of having to style my own hair (yet again),means that it is unlikely I will ever go back. When I could already get a decent cut (albiet not perfect) and colour for a third of the price locally, it just doesn’t make good sense. Perhaps I am the client from hell, perhaps my standards are just too high or perhaps I just need to keep on looking. (Thank you for your recommendations – I will be trialling those on the list) But at least I can say that this week I have good hair again thanks to that good cut and colour – even if I still have to do the styling myself.
Now I’m off to the local bingo hall to pump the old ladies for information on who does their sets!
Making up – Behind the Scenes
I’ve been a bit slack on the Daily Outfit posts recently. This is mostly due to a crazy schedule that hasn’t given me any free time for posing around on my verandah. That and most of the things I have been doing of late have required me to be all specialty “Hair and Make-up” for events before I leave the house. So instead of today’s Daily Outfit (which happens to be a lovely warm cardigan and boots), here is a peek behind the scenes into the morning process that has been happening the last couple of weeks.
Makeup – by Laura Mercier, Liner – Sephora, Lashes – 1000 Hour corner lashes.
I’m heading out on the town tonight to the Melbourne premiere of PREY, arm in arm with my bestest buddy who is about to fly home to Texas. It is bound to be full of good times and crazy outfit shenanigans. That is, all before midnight as I have to get some rest for the big Salon Show tomorrow!
Easy Peasy Vintage Hair
And if you’re after another piece of fun to start your week with, try this quiz to find out which 1930’s film star you are. No surprises with my results!
Flowers and Beehives – How to do Amy Winehouse Hair
As promised, here is the follow up to the last hair tutorial. A 1960’s style, Amy Winehouse Beehive do, just for you. This is a little more complex than the last few, but great fun and may just provide you with the inspiration you have been looking for for Halloween. So have fun, it’s a giggle.
Hair Again
I’ll be following this one up by taking it to the next level and creating a full on Amy Winehouse style in the next episode.
