Holiday gift idea: Essie nail polish for $3.98 at Beauty Brands
Time’s running out. Money, too, maybe. So here’s a cheap stocking stuffer. Beauty Brands is offering Essie Private Wine Cellar nail lacquer for $3.98. It’s regularly $6.98. Such a deal!
There are two beauty brand stores in Oklahoma City — Council and Northwest Expressway and 13820 N Pennsylvania.
Is Walmart becoming the new “in” place to shop?
Kathryn Finney’s The Budget Fashionista certainly stirred up a debate when she said Walmart is the ”hot new thing.”
Blame it on the economy, a move away from reckless consumerism, a return to one-stop shopping and a more fashionable Walmart, she says.
Read her blog and the comments, then post your comments here. Agree, disagree? Share your thoughts.
Stylist comes clean about hair myths
Paul Cucinello, creative director of the Chris Chase Salon in New York City, hears the same myths from his clients all the time. You know the ones — don’t wash your hair every day, drug store products are just as good as salon products, etc. Here’s what Cucinello says:
1. “100 strokes a day makes hair healthier and shinier.” TRUE!
Well, maybe not 100! But, gently brushing your hair before bed with a really good brush (like a Mason Pearson) will evenly distribute the oils from your roots down to the ends and protect them from over drying. It will also exfoliate your scalp and prepare your hair for effective cleansing and conditioning the next day.
2. “Don’t wash your hair before you get it colored. The color will take better.” FALSE.
Hair color is always best absorbed on clean hair. A buildup of oils and styling products may protect your scalp from being irritated by chemicals, but a dirty head of hair will only turn off your stylist. Try washing your hair the night before you color it for perfect results.
3. “You should trim your hair regularly if you want to grow it out.” FALSE.
If you keep cutting it, your hair will only get shorter. During the awkward stage, try pinning it back, getting bangs or wearing some cute hats or headbands.
4. “Short hair just isn’t sexy/Guys don’t like short hair.” FALSE.
Confidence is sexy. Short hair is sexy on confident women… Look at all the hot women in Hollywood with short hair and HOT guys like Rihanna, Victoria Beckham & Katie Holmes.
5. “Spraying lemon juice in your hair while you’re at the beach will bring out natural highlights.” TRUE.
But at what cost? Lemon juice will actually burn tiny holes into the hair that will allow light to pass through it (an effect similar to bleach) and severely dry your hair out. If you want highlights, go to the salon.
6. “Burning the ends of your hair will seal split ends.” FALSE.
Burning your hair is probably the most dangerous, terrible thing you could ever do to your luscious locks! Trimming your hair is the ONLY way to alleviate split ends.
7. “Coloring hair during pregnancy can be harmful to your baby.” FALSE.
There has never been one documented complication directly related to coloring hair during pregnancy, but talk to your doctor if you are worried. Since your body temperature is higher when you’re pregnant, roots might take too much or get too light. Cucinello recommends sitting in a well ventilated area of the salon to avoid inhalation of strong chemical odors.
8. ”You have to wash your hair everyday if your roots get oily quickly.” FALSE.
It’s kind of the other way around. Roots get oily because you wash your hair everyday. Your body works on supply and demand. Every time you wash your hair you are removing the protective oils from your scalp. What’s worse is that most people who tend to have oily scalps also forgo conditioner all together, making their scalp drier, forcing it to produce more oil.
Here’s the fix: Before washing, bush your hair to pull the oils down to the ends. Then, shampoo your hair with a moisturizing shampoo and a volumizing conditioner. Shampoo every other day. On day two, skip the shampoo and just rinse and condition. Use your conditioner the same way you would a shampoo and make sure to really massage your scalp. This way, your scalp will be moisturized and gradually your roots will become less oily.
9. “Salon products are just overpriced versions of the drugstore brands.” FALSE.
Salon products have much higher quality ingredients. Salon products also come with a recommendation from your stylist based on the haircut or chemical service your just received and your hair type. Some drugstore brands tend to be glorified versions of a detergent and a wax and can strip the oils out and put them right back in. Some high-end salon products (like Kerastase,) actually chemically alter the hair texture and always seem to do what they actually claim to do.
10. “Your hair gets used to shampoos and styling products” TRUE.
All products can build up over time causing your hair to stop responding to their active ingredients. You should always keep two different types of shampoo and conditioner in your shower and select each one based on how you choose to wear your hair that day. Ask your stylist for an alternative to your current roster of products.
Chanel introduces new nail color trio
Chanel has introduced its Moscow Nail Collection, paying homage to the beauty of Russian women. The limited-edition collection was first seen at the Chanel Paris-Moscow show in Paris on Dec. 3.
The collection was conceived by Peter Philips, Global Creative Director for Chanel Makeup. The collection will launch in late December exclusively at Chanel boutiques and on chanel.com.
There are three shades, the base of each is black. Sparkle was added to each — red, gold and blue.
Chanel says the shades, which are rather dark, capture light so they create a fireworks effect.
The cost: $30.
Holiday gift idea: Coach beauty and fragrance
Still looking for holiday gifts? Coach has several new beauty and fragrance items that would be welcome under any tree.
The brand’s second fragrance, Legacy, was launched this fall and is already a favorite. Check out the fragrance, body cream and cosmetic case set for $195, pictured below.
Legacy is a blend of soft florals with amber , vanilla and precious woods. The result is a scent that’s classic with a bit of modernity. The fragrance is available as a 1.7-ounce bottle, as well as a compact 
purse spray ($45).
There’s also the new Coach Legacy lip gloss charm. The jeweled charm opens to reveal two classic shades of pink ($58).
The signature Coach fragrance is also available with body cream ($68) and candle ($65), each in a signature etched glass. The signature lip gloss set ($58) features a trio of Gardenia, Hibiscus and Heather shades .
There’s a Coach store in Penn Square Mall.
Mad for plaid: OSU now has its own tartan
The official OSU tartan plaid.
The OSU clan has voted for its favorite tartan plaid, and yes, it’s black and orange.
Designed by junior Stephanie Michalko of Oklahoma City, the official OSU tartan is a weave of orange, black, gray and white threads.
In September, OSU students who had completed a course in textiles were eligible for the competition to design an original plaid that reflects the OSU spirit. Four finalists were selected and voting began in October. Michalko’s design got the most votes.
“I am an interior design major, but I am very interested in textiles and their use in interior design,” Michalko said. “This was a great experience to be able to apply what I have learned.”
Pendleton stadium blankets and scarves will be the first items produced using the OSU Tartan. Judy Barnard, OSU director of trademarks and licensing, said she expects several products from stationery to kilts to be available soon in the plaid.
The OSU plaid will be registered with the Scottish Tartans World Register.
Paulette Hebert, professor design, housing and merchandising; Dean Stephan Wilson, College of Human Environmental Sciences; and Stephanie Michalko, Oklahoma City junior design, housing and merchandising
You can still enter the drawing for Clinique blush
Before you get buried under shopping and wrapping paper, take time to enter the drawing for Clinique Fresh Bloom Allover Colour in Blackberry Bloom. I’ve only got one to give away, but someone’s got to win!
Clinique’s long-wearing powder creates a sheer, subtle radiance that looks fresh, stays fresh (at least that’s what press info says). Sweep over face for an allover, luminous glow, or brush on to cheekbones to highlight.
Retail cost: $29.50.
To be included in the drawing, e-mail your name and address to fashionmatters@oklahoman.com. Deadline is Dec. 14.
Dress like a celebrity … only cheaper
Check out the patent T-strap shoes worn by Kristen Stewart. She and Robert Pattinson were making the promotional rounds in Paris for their hit movie “Twilight.” No telling what brand shoes she’s wearing, but I got an e-mail this morning from DSW Shoes letting me know that the stores have similar styles.
Rampage Catalina Patent T-Strap Pump is $39.95 at dsw.com and a Nicole Miller Jodie Leather T-Strap Pump is $79.95. There’s a store at Memorial Road and Pennsylvania in Oklahoma City.
Holiday gift idea: Funky Colored Flames
Here’s a great stocking stuffer, even though it isn’t beauty or fashion related. It’s Funky Colored Flames, an easy-to-use packet of food grade crystals that you place over the top of an established fire. They can even be used in a back yard fire pit.
The crystals start to burn, creating a show of colors that the company says will radiate through the fire for about 30 minutes. The crystals are small and easy to carry if you’re heading to the lake for a weekend camping trip or just want to fire up the ol’ pit in the back yard. The crystals are in the camping/outdoor aisle at Wal-mart. The cost: $4.99.
Tim Gunn … no matter where he talks, women listen
Tim Gunn, everyone’s favorite mentor on television’s “Project Runway,” is jetting across the country, presenting runway shows and talking to women about fashion that matters to them. He was in San Francisco recently. Here’s a story that ran in the San Francisco Examiner. If you love Tim Gunn, read it
