Faux Bob Hairstyle How To

Inspiration:

Emma Watson's faux bob

How I did it:

I wanted to emulate the look of this cute faux bob, but I wanted mine to be a little longer. 

• Start with Straight hair

• Part the hair into two sections, but make sure to leave plenty at the top. 

• Pin the bottom section into a low bun. Try to make the bun as flat as possible, especially if you have thin hair like I do.  This bun will come in handy in the next step.

• Secure the top section in a very very loose low ponytail. Don't use a fat hair-tie like the one I used. It was all I had and it actually didn't work. I just twisted the end and flipped the hair underneath itself to pin into the bun. 

That's all there is to it! Pin any loose peices up into the bun and use some hairspray to secure it. Some pieces will probably fall down later, but it's part of the look, just go with it!

Thanks for reading!

XOxo

DIY Studded/Spiked Armbrace Legbrace, or Garter

I have had a few inquiries about the leg garters I've created and I promised this post a while ago, so I'm sorry for the wait!

Anyway, as many of you are aware I am a huge fan of accessories. I love finding new ways to wear things, and I truly believe that accessories can make or break an outfit. Shoes, jewelry, clutches, hairbows and headbands, makeup, I go nuts for the stuff. Maybe because (with the exception of purses and shoes) accessories are usually cheaper than clothes-thus it's easier to justify the purchase. Or maybe because accessories are amazing.

Naturally when I discovered that girls were making decorative garters and "leg braces" I was excited to get on board. The first pieces I came across are selling on Etsy for about $40 each. If you want to buy one, go check out Fox and Owl. They probably didn't pioneer the idea, but they're doing the best at it that I know of. But I didn't want to pay $40 for mine. If I were making them, I would probably sell them for close to that because that's how business works, but to me making them looked like more fun.
I started by making a few studded garters. Then I decided to try making one for my arm.

This post will show you how to make an arm "brace." I'm putting brace in quotations because it doesn't actually function anything like a brace. Maybe I'll come up with a more creative name later, or you can feel free to leave suggestions for me! After you look through this tutorial you will be armed with all the information to make a garter for your leg, or a brace for your arm, or something even cooler!

What You'll Need:

• Black Elastic (or whatever color you like)
• Pyramid studs, or spikes, or both (I buy mine here. They ship from Seattle so it's really fast. You can buy cheaper from Amazon, if you have time to wait until they come from China.)
• A needle and thread, or a sewing machine.
• Scissors
• Pins (if you can't do it without them)

What to Do:

• Take a piece of elastic and measure around the area you want to decorate. Make it a little snug. 

• Sew the elastic into a nice circle. 

• Trim the elastic down so there is a minimal overlap. If you're only making a garter all you have to do now is decorate it!

• Repeat this process with another piece of elastic that is measured to fit the area nearby. 

• Measure the distance in between. Cut a third piece and pin the pieces together so they don't move while you're sewing.  Attach the connecting piece on the inside so you don't have edges showing.

• Add spikes and studs as you like them. I like to place them strategically to cover any visible stitches. 

Screw on spikes are very easy to add. Just pierce or cut a small hole, and slide the screw through. Then screw on the spike!

Pyramid studs stab right through the elastic. No need to make a hole first. 

I use pliers to bend the pyramid spikes nice and snug with the elastic. Make sure they are tight!

• That's it you're done! Wear it proudly! But be careful if you used spikes ;)

Double-wrapped version and single studded garter.

If you'd like to do something different, try substituting cute buttons or beads for spikes or studs. You could also use fabric and velcro or snaps instead of elastic. I just use elastic because it's the easiest to fit.

Thanks for reading! 

XoXO

How to Make Naturally Straight Hair Unnaturally Curly

I've said it before, I'll say it again. My hair is naturally straight. It's also thin. And it doesn't like to hold a curl very well.
But just to be difficult, I wanted to get as close as I could to an afro for a look at a recent shoot.
I modified the recipe for no-heat curls known as "cocoon curls" and this is what happened.

What You'll Need:

• Dirty, unwashed hair
• A spraybottle full of water
• Some spraygel (optional)
• A bandanna or headwrap

What to Do:

• Take a small section of hair and spray it lightly with water. It should be damp, not wet. You can also spray a small amount of spray gel. Twist it until it is tight.

• Place two fingers at the top of the twist and bring the hair up and behind, wrapping it around itself.

• Wrap the hair around itself, with your fingers in place as many times as you can, while keeping it twisted.  

• When you can't wrap the twisted hair around anymore, grab the tip with the two fingers inside the loop of hair, but don't pull it all the way through.

• Slide the top of the knot down so that the loop tightens and holds the hair in place. The little tail should hang out so you can easily untie it the next day.

After I did this to all the hair on my head, using small, 2-3" sections, I wrapped it up in a bandanna and went to sleep. Luckily when I took out all the knots, it was exactly how I wanted it. HUGE.

I think next time I'll combine the faux hawk and these crazy curls for a whole new look!

Here's a sneak peek from the shoot!

Thanks for reading!

XOXO

Newspaper Nails DIY

This might just be the easiest nail tutorial I've done yet.

What You'll Need:

• Fingernails
• A light nail polish color of your choice
• Rubbing alcohol
• Q-tips
• A newspaper
• Topcoat

What To Do:

• Paint two coats of the light color onto your nails and let it dry. 

• Select an article or section of the paper and tear off a small piece.

WWD (of course)

• Use a Q-tip to apply rubbing alcohol to the surface of your nail.

• Firmly press the newspaper against your nail.

• The ink will transfer onto your nail like this:

• Add a topcoat and you're done!

SO EASY!

Enjoy :)

xoxo

Paint Your Own Graffiti T-shirt Tutorial

Inspiration comes from everywhere. The inspiration for this project came from a combination of 2 things: working for a company that specializes in screen printing, and coming up with ideas for shirts that I don't have the capability to make. Until now.

Now I am not about to start tooting my horn about my artistic powers, because honestly I am not an artist in the conventional sense. I am not excellent at drawing, painting or sculpture, although I dabble for creative satisfaction. But this was something I knew I could do. 

Here's how I did it. 

What You'll Need:

• Fabric Paint-available at most craft stores. I actually picked this up at Walmart.

• A shirt of your choice. I used an old one I had laying around. 

• A piece of paper or cardboard- I used a paper bag from fast food. Classy, I know. 

Kitty!

• Brushes and a pallete. I used a plate covered with saran wrap. I would get chalk too, but I didn't have any.

What To Do:

• Figure out exactly how you want your design to look. Make sure to have the design handy so you can look back at it as you start your brushwork. 

My design. 

• If you have chalk use that to map out where you will be putting the paint. I didn't so I just had to be careful. I did a once over with very thin lines instead of chalk. 

• Go for it! It will probably take two coats to cover all the thin spots. Just be careful. Move slowly and steadily. 

• Let it dry overnight and wear it out for everyone to see! 

How I wore it. 

About My Design: 

You may be wondering how I decided on the design I chose. Well, my boyfriend is a graffiti artist, and he has taught me a lot about the specific art form, as well as the culture associated with it. It's all very interesting, but as someone who is motivated by the way things look (fashion!) I find it to be especially pleasing aesthetically. The entire topic of graffiti is an interesting one because as a whole, popular culture loves graffiti for it's aesthetic pleasures. Graffiti is highly glamorized in photography, fashion, and art. But when someone paints on the side of a building, everyone hates graffiti, and it is seen only as a crime. Like I said, it's interesting, because graffiti isn't about painting in a controlled environment, or even selling it for money. It's about spreading art in a rebellious way. I think our country could use more art, but there's a fine line between artwork, and just vandalism. If you're going to paint on something, make it look good! 

Anyway,  I chose a graffiti font for the letters because I find graffiti interesting, and fun to look at. But there is more to the story. I made the letter 'A' into an anarchy symbol, and the 'O' into a sad/sick face. This is obviously not because I have a poor view of fashion. Moreover it is because fashion is chaotic. It is a monster that consumes so many, especially those that try to resist it. On the inside of my left arm I have a variation of a quote by an American essayist and poet Logan Pearsall Smith:

"She who goes against fashion is herself its slave"

The quote really spoke to me, and I felt it was a perfect fashion tattoo. The meaning is that if you try to go against fashion, you have to know what is fashionable. This ideology played into the choice of the letters on the shirt as well. All in all, I'm happy with the way the shirt came out. I know the message is not clear to the person who just sees the shirt. It just looks like an oximoron: a fashionable girl wearing a fashionable shirt that appears to condemn fashion. But you and I know what it means ;) It can be our secret.

Thanks so much for reading!

Xoxo

Infinite Coolness: Galaxy Nails Tutorial

The Galaxy print is trending. Is it a fad? Who knows. I think it's nothing but fun. The galaxy print's popularity (in my humble opinion) is mostly due to the trendsetting cult brand Blackmilk which first made printed galaxy leggings. Since then, the print can be found everywhere on dresses, tees, shoes, and of course fingertips!
If you are a fan of the outer space look and want it on your nails here's how. Oh, and it actually isn't that hard!

What You'll Need:

• Makeup Sponge
• Scissors
• Foil or a piece of plastic
• Tweezers

• An assortment of nail polish colors including at least one very dark color and one glitter

• About 20-25 minutes

What To Do:

• Use the scissors to cut the makeup sponge into a bunch of small pieces. 

• Paint your fingernails with two coats of the dark color and let dry completely. I painted mine a few days ahead of time.

I chose black.

• Place drops of each color on your palette.

• Using the tweezers, grab a small piece of your makeup sponge to dab your first color onto the nail. Make some areas heavier than others, and don't worry too much about the shape. Just try not to cover all of your nail. 

Light blue

• Repeat this process with the second color.

lavender

• You can use as many colors as you like.

Pink

• Repeat the process for each nail.

• One of the best things about galaxy nails is that mistakes are easy to fix by adding more color!

Feel free to mix colors together on your palette too

• When you feel you have enough color on your nail, add the glitter. 

• Add a topcoat and you're done!

Out of this world nails!

Hope you get a chance to give this a try. It's sure to be a conversation starter, and somehow goes with many different outfits!

Thanks for reading ;)

XOXO