It's A pH Thang, Ladies: Baking Soda, Hair Color + Vinegar

Okay...we have written about rinsing newly colored hair with white vinegar in a past BeautyTipToday article.

Why?....To LOCK in the hair dye + allow the color to last longer.

And now we are expanding on this inexpensive, beauty theory with yet another tidbit of beauty science:

It's the 3-step plan for lasting color results:

1. Baking Soda AFTER shampooing.

2. Hair dye and rinse.

3. White vinegar rinse.

 DONE.

 It's a pH thang, ladies. We started going gray in our early 20s ---a few silver strands here + there. So, we've been coloring a long time, and now are finding that the hair color-dye FADES very fast. 

So we have learned new stuff here, and will try it out next time we box-color at home.

Baking soda like permanent hair dyes = alkaline. Alkalinity OPENS up the hair cuticle, allowing the color to penetrate deep into the hair cortex to accept the dye.

An acid has the opposite effect---it shuts down the cuticle, sealing in the color. That's why the white vinegar locks in the dye longer.

Hope you can still follow this. Anyway...here are the How Tos from the HairCrazy.com website. After shampooing HAIR, do this:

..."A small amount of baking soda disolved in warm water will be adequate. You only need about 1 teaspoon in a pint of water. Keep away from your eyes and allow the mixture to rinse through your hair. Now blow dry the hair until it’s damp. Heat will also help open the cuticle. The hair is now ready to dye. Apply the dye to your hair and leave for 30-40 minutes. Rinse in cold water. Rinse again in a mixture of water and a few tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice (again, keep away from eyes). Condition your hair leaving the conditioner on for as long as possible and then rinse in cold water...."
Good luck!

New L'Oreal Revitalift Volume Filler Not Exactly Like Injections At The Derm

L'Oreal Paris is featuring a new TV commercial for its Revitalift Volume Filler, one of the new additions to the Revitalift skin care line.

And the giant company is using 46-year-old actress Naomi Watts as their customer/ambassador for the hyaluronic acid cream. The Aussie beauty looks fab in the ad.

Yes....hyaluronic acid gives the skin that youthful buoyancy, and as we get older, the levels of this fluid present in our connective tissue starts to drop off.

And yes, it's smart to feature the stuff in skin care serums + creams, but to suggest that Revitalift Volume Filler can PLUMP up cheeks, fill in undereye hollows and smooth away wrinkles instantly, er...well, that's a bit of a stretch (check out ad here).

However, the cream CAN provide a temporary lift to the complexion and deliver a dewy glow. Let's just not get too carried away.

We found some at Target for $20.

An over-the-counter cream cannot go toe-to-toe with filler injections at the derm's office.

But...over-the-counter products are not expensive, can provide temporary enhancement, are safe and you don't have to worry about being OVER-filled like a cabbage patch doll, which can happen at the derm's office.

So for 20 bucks, we think Revitalift Volume Filler is a good skin care product to try for very natural results.

Empire's Cookie Lyon Style with Taraji P. Henson: Over The Top Wow!

Leopard print, big Chanel pendant, Gucci pantsuit, bold brows, bold eyes + bold lips, fur jacket, glossy, long, wavy hair, huge hoops, Balenciaga clutch.....and more!

WOW.

Attitude, bad-a** glam.

That's Cookie Lyon from Fox's huge hit Empire.

If you missed the finale, shame on you. You will have to catch up. Meantime, you can try and copy Cookie Lyon, because actress Taraji P. Henson does her so well!

Put Luscious' $$$ money to good use, now Cookie!

Start off your Cookie Lyon style with a classic leopard-print top. We found one on the CHEAP, on SALE now at JonesNewYork.com ($14, S, M, L. XL).

Then begin building her bold style.

Good luck!

Idina Menzel Un-Frozen As A Warm Blonde: New Hair Transformation!

Wow. Look at Idina Menzel!

Like several celebs going LIGHTER....the amazing singer has take her dark brunette hair to a new level.

Idina is now a blonde beauty! Check out her BEFORE at the Academy Awards less than a month ago. And her AFTER photo today.

That's a major, beauty transformation!

The beautiful voice of Elsa is, er, Frozen no more, so to speak.

This is what the award-winning songstress wrote on her Instagram page, 16 hours ago:

..."Look what me and my girl @jtfranchuk did today. Needed a change. Loving it! #brunettetoblonde #blondehairdontcare."

We hope that Idina soon shares more photos of her blonde ambition project .

She looks totally different, for sure. She looks pretty to us, either way, but we prefer Idina as a natural brunette. Same with Kim Kardashian---nice change but so much lovelier
with her dark, natural roots.

Meantime.....Idina needs to give her new blonde locks some extra loving care.

We suggest this popular shampoo for blondes by John Frieda Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Lightening Shampoo
($5.99).

By Golly! The Bralette Is Everywhere This Spring

Bralette.

Yes. It IS a bra.....expecially for smaller-busted girls.

The bralette is free of underwire, lightly lined, of thinner fabric and usually looks like a bra + crop top combined.

Bralettes seem to be here, there + everywhere this Spring.

Most women like to show off a pretty, lacy bralette under a blazer or blouse, and some wear them as nightwear tops for clubbing, parties. and more.

Bralettes come in many shapes, styles, patterns, fabrics, etc.

Take a look at one here from NastyGal ($138):

And here's another pretty bralette from WindsorStore ($19.90).

Bralettes can be very expensive or very affordable.

Look around. There is a bralette for you this Spring.

Rihanna Loving The Prim + Proper, Pretty Ponytail At Red Carpet Events

Superstar Rihanna has been doing the prim + proper, red carpet dress-up + press junket thing lately, appearing at fashion shows, morning TV, afternoon entertainment shows, etc.

And it's all pretty in pink and ponytails!

Most of the Rihanna sightings are to promote the new animated film Home,  in which she stars as the leading lady.

The beautiful, 27-year-old has also been recently tapped as the new face of Dior, and this is major for the first Dior woman of color.

The singer is floored by the recognition, telling MTV all about it:

"It feels fantastic. It is such a big deal for me, for my culture, for a lot of young girls of any color. I think to be acknowledged by Dior means a lot, as a woman, to feel beautiful — to feel elegant and timeless."

So, let's take a look at prim, proper + pretty ponytail Rihanna.

To achieve a sleek, smooth ponytail, you need hair WITHOUT the frizz + fly-aways. 

Check out this one by Agadir Argan Oil Spray Treatment ($13.69).

Perfect Close Leg Shave: Trader Joe's Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, $6.

Shaving our legs.

Not the most fun part of the beauty routine, but when you can get a smooth, close shave, that's what makes the process worthwhile.

 So our quick, beauty tip for today:

 Perfecting the close shave with coconut oil

 And not just any coconut oil. We suggest this FAVE--Trader Joe's Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, for about $6!

And a generous amount---16 oz.

Hey, Juliette Lewis LOVES coconut oil and uses it for a TON of purposes.

You probably read the NYTimes.com article last week, in which she raves about the oil:

"I’m really into coconut oil for everything. I cook it, eat it, put it in my hair and use it as body lotion. I put it on my face, too — day cream, night cream, whatever. I love the smell. It reminds me of the beach. I’m not particular on what brand as long as it’s organic."

 To get that smooth shave, apply coconut oil AFTER you come out of a hot shower.

Massage the coconut oil all over your damp legs. Then use a sharp razor and go to town, shaving in the same direction your hair grows in.

The coconut oil will allow the blade to SMOOTHLY glide across your legs.