My Brassy Orange Is Back!

Recently, I noticed that my hair color was a bit bright.  Bright as in almost orange. Yes, I love the color, and I’m not one who thinks you have to be toned down in winter.  I still got compliments on the color so I thought I was OK, right?  Wrong!  I took a good look at my roots.  My hair color was right back where I started before my Ebony Magazine makeover last spring.

Now I know Rihanna is trying to bring that two-toned, care-free, day at the beach, look back and she just may succeed.  But for me personally, I need to be a bit more polished.  So I went back to where it all started-Devachan Salon in NYC to get my hair color touched up.  Being the inquisitive spirit that I am, I asked my stylist, Rachel, a few questions to help me have a better understanding of the process.  Here’s what she shared with me.

Me with Devachan Stylist, Rachel

Denise: So what is the plan for today?

Rachel: Since you like the warm brown tone, we’re going to stay with that.  This time, we’re going to blend it with your dark roots, leave a bit more warmth on the ends. As your color lightens with time, it won’t get as brassy.

Denise: Exactly how did I end up here-with an orange hue to my once fabulous color?

Rachel: That brassy/orange look is due to your hair color oxidizing over time.  The hair releases more pigment.  Also, using shampoo that has sulfates-the same chemical found in detergent-can effect your hair also.

Denise: All over color  or highlights.  Is one better or safer for your hair?

Rachel: Now there is hair color that doesn’t have ammonia.  So it’s not damaging to your hair.  So it really depends on what look you’re going for.

Denise: How should we care for color-treated hair?

Rachel: You want to make sure that you hydrate the hair more often.  One of the products I recommend is Heaven In Hair.  You want to make sure that you treat your hair with an intense hydration every two to three weeks.

Denise: What process are you using today?

Rachel: This process is called Pintura, wich means “painting” in Portuguese.  It was developed by Denis DaSilva.  It’s a healthier and quicker way to do highlights; it’s painting done by movement to the hair.  I prefer the “pintura” technique to foil because there’s more precision.  When you use foil, the ends of your hair go back into the foil. Using this method we don’t do that, which eliminates over processing the ends of the hair.

Denise: When choosing hair color what is most important to consider?

Rachel: When choosing color you want to consider skin tone and maintenance. There’s no real formula or rule that says certain skin tones should only wear certain colors but you want to choose a color that is complimentary.

Denise: What is one of the biggest misconceptions women have about hair color?

Rachel: I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that doing more to your hair is better,  hen doing less is better.  One example is women who want to cover their gray.  When they cover it and it begins to grow back, it’s much more obvious.  I always recommend that they blend the gray, which makes the new growth easier on the eye.

Denise:  What is your advice to women when it comes to hair care?

Rachel: Your hair is an extension of you.  Respect it.  Don’t use sulfates, excessive heat, or products containing alcohol.  Make sure you keep your hair moisturized and hydrated.

Tyler Perry Is Wesley Deeds; Good Deeds 2012

So Tyler Perry returns this month with a new release titled Good Deeds.  Perry plays Wesley Deeds, an executive whose perfect, yet monotonous, life takes a turn in an unexpected direction when he performs a good deed.  This one seems to be another feel good movie, and while I never tire of those on the big screen, Good Deeds is taking this concept from the screen to real life .  A campaign has been built around the movie called Good Deeds: Great Needs.

The purpose of this initiative is to provide support to Covenant House-a non-profit organization that provides hearty meals, warm beds, and safe shelter to homeless youth.  They  are partnering with a company called Gift Card Giver,an Atlanta-based organization that collects unused gift cards and distributes remaining balances to non-profit organizations.

Gift Card Giver will donate all gift cards collected through the Good Deeds: Great Needs initiative to Covenant House.  To further support the initiative, Lionsgate will make a financial donation in support of Covenant House each time the Good Deeds:Great Needs video is shared through www.gooddeedsgreatneeds.com!  The cast includes Phylicia Rashad, Thandie Newton, Gabrielle Union, and Brian White.  Good Deeds opens nationwide on February 24th!

What good deed has someone done for you and how did it touch you?  You can see the trailer and share it by clicking here!

]]> http://rainydaydiva.com/2012/02/good-deeds-more-than-a-movie/feed/ 0 http://rainydaydiva.com/2012/02/remembering-whitney-houston/ http://rainydaydiva.com/2012/02/remembering-whitney-houston/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:54:32 +0000 Denise http://rainydaydiva.com/?p=5388

Whitney Houston 1963-2012

This weekend I was saddened and shocked to hear of Whitney Houston’s passing. What I really loved and appreciated about Ms. Houston, aside from her amazing vocals, was her style and presence.  With her debut in the mid-1980′s, she showed a generation of young women what elegance looked like.  I remember so well, standing with my friends and seeing that album cover for the first time.  Whitney looked like a queen from a distant land.  She was regal and yet something about her was familiar.

There probably wasn’t a High School prom, dance, or homecoming that didn’t have someone attempt to sing The Greatest Love Of All.  Whitney struck a delicate balance between youthful sophistication and free-spirited fun. When we saw videos like How Will I Know and I Want To Dance With Somebody, she showed so many of us that we too could rock that ever-so-popular pretty-in-pink look and dance like no one was watching.

Whitney Houston, I Want To Dance With Somebody

She made us comfortable with giving our sneakers a break and our jean jackets some options!  Every note that she sang, echoed possibility. When you heard her voice, whether you could sing or not, you felt you could soar! Her voice lifted us and her style made us want to grow. That is why we have never stopped rooting for her and cheering her on.  Her legacy will forever be celebrated.

Farewell, Ms. Houston.

Whitney Houston, I Look To You

HOW WILL I KNOW

I WANT TO DANCE WITH SOMEBODY

THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL

I’M EVERY WOMAN

With temperatures going up and down, not to mention the rain and snow, it can take a toll on one’s hands.  Not only do dry, cracked hands hurt, but they also age you.  Who needs that?  Wearing gloves and getting manicures may not be enough.  And let’s be honest, paraffin wax is a nice treat, but it doesn’t solve all problems. Here’s a few other tips and tricks to make sure your hands stay soft and pretty.

• Use a deep moisturizing lotion several times a day.  Massage it in thoroughly and make sure to pay attention to your cuticles and fingers, not just the palms.  My favorites are WhoopAsh and Shea Butter Lotion by L’Occitane.
• Before bedtime, apply your deep moisturizer and sleep in cotton gloves to lock in the moisture.  Your hands will feel amazing in the morning.  If you can’t find cotton gloves, cotton socks will do.  It sounds funny but think of a cotton sock as an impromptu mitten.  It gets the job done!
• If you have a callus or rough spot on your hands or between your fingers, use a fine to medium grade nail file to gently smooth out those spots.  A file can help buff and smooth the spots that a pumice stone can’t reach.
• Exfoliate the backs of your hands once a week as you would your face.  You can use some of the same exfoliating products for your hands that you use for your face.  Or you can add a teaspoon of sugar to your cleanser to do the trick.  Make sure you follow with a rich moisturizing treatment.
• If discoloration is your issue, use an over the counter skin brightener on your hands.  Always follow with a moisturizer and  sunscreen.
• Sunscreen wipes are also available for a quick re-application to your hands.

Dior Nail Vernis, Water Lily and Forget Me Not

Dior introduces two new spring nail colors, Water Lily-a soft green and a lilac shade, Forget-Me-Not.  When dry, both polishes will release a scent of roses.  I can’t wait to try this, simply because of all beauty products, nail polish is the last that would come to mind for mingling with fragrance.  I’m wondering will the scent compete with other fragrances (lotions, hand creams, perfume, etc.). While the two colors look hot solo, I think they might work well together,being that they are bouquet-inspired.  Scented nail polish.  Really?

Borghese Fango Restorative Hydrating Mask

When I said lights out, I didn’t mean for good.  My blog-cation is over and it feels good to be behind the keyboard again.  I spent some time re-evaluating and prioritizing my goals.  I’m not talking about quick fix, feel-good, off-the-cuff resolutions.  No, I’m talking about rejuvenating and recalibrating my lifestyle.  That encompasses a lot.  But one of the things that is most pressing for me is skincare.  The goal is flawless-or as close as I can get.  For me, skincare feels like a full-time job.  Now, if you’re one of those “never had a blemish in my life” types, then you may not understand.  But it’s true.  I’m talking hyper pigmentation, oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, adult acne, need I go on?

I’ve been to dermatologist after dermatologist, spa after spa, expert after expert and haven’t gotten the results I wanted-for years.  Some times there are so many things to do (and not do) in these extensive regimens that I forget a step here and there.  I understand it’s a process, but it’s frustrating one.  But once I accepted that this is the journey, just taking the reigns again in my own skin care, I’ve seen improvement in under a month’s time.  I can’t wait to tell you some of the things I’ve tried- the ones that worked and the one’s that didn’t.

I will tell you this: you never miss your moisture until the air turns dry.  These blistery cold days have taken their toll.  I’m usually oily, but with my very necessary products and these blasts of cold air, my skin got so dry it looked like it could crack and fall into a million pieces.  If you have dry skin, Borghese’s Fango Restorative Hydrating Mud Mask is worth it.  Even if you are using products to reduce oil, clear acne and clogged pores, you still need to moisturize your face and neck.

After 5-10 minutes, I removed the masks with a sponge and tepid water.  My skin went from visible lines (due to dryness) to soft and supple.   After using it once per week, I noticed that I had fewer days when my other products caused sever drying.   Even though it’s a hydrating mask, I still follow with an oil-free moisturizer.  The great thing is, this mask is for face and body and comes in two sizes ($67-17.6 oz; $35-7 oz.)

What are you doing to keep your skin glowing this winter?

By the way, I’d like to thank all of you who supported me in my effort to win the Pepsi Refresh grant to provide teens with school clothes for the upcoming school year.  I didn’t win the grant.  However, I’m of the “ain’t no stopping us now” generation and I’ve decided to still move forward with the project.  I’ll keep you posted!

]]> http://rainydaydiva.com/2012/01/hello-gorgeous/feed/ 0 http://rainydaydiva.com/2011/12/2011-lights-out/ http://rainydaydiva.com/2011/12/2011-lights-out/#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 04:13:35 +0000 Denise http://rainydaydiva.com/?p=5342

Mine Design Chalkboard Candle (also in Green)

So there I was in Saks Fifth Avenue (I’m not in there often), searching for something new when I discovered this chalkboard candle.  This super cute candle from Mine Design.  The outside of the candle is a chalkboard and it comes with a stick of chalk, so you can write a message and change it later.  It’s also a soy candle so it burns clean and can last up to 35-40 hours.  I love candles.  The glow, the fragrance and the calming effect.  And at just $25 this one is priced right.

On a personal note, this year has been fun, but I’m blowing out the candle on 2011.  Deadlines are looming and I’m going to take a much needed break.  I’ll resume posting in 2012.  In the meantime, you can catch up with me on twitter: @RainyDayDiva!  Thank you for clicking by.  Until January 2012!

As many of you know, I’m vying for a Pepsi Refresh grant to provide school clothes to middle and high school students, along with fashion tips and tools to help them develop style and build confidence.  In order to win the grant, I need votes.  I’m so grateful that so many of you have expressed support and have logged on and voted.

However, the voting period is not over.  It ends at midnight on December 31, 2011.  So there’s still time for you to vote.  Whether you are a regular visitor of Rainy Day Diva, or just passing through, please take a moment to either:

Log on to Pepsi’s Refresh Everything site, here and  click “Vote” or text 110341 t0 73774.

I’m looking forward to kicking off this project next year and I will keep you updated!

Note: If you decide to text, standard text message rates apply.

Loving Your Tresses - Curl Peace

Just in the past week, I’ve had two people consult me on their curl issues.  Basically, they’ve not only asked for product recommendations, but have also gone on rants about their frustration with their hair.  I understand the frustration.

I still feel like a first-grader when it comes to natural hair.  I have days where my curls shift, puff, and frizz out!  I’ve gotten tons of compliments and a considerable number of blank stares.  Literally, we’ve been stressed and perplexed about what’s going on on top of our heads.  At some point we have to make peace with our hair.

Loving your hair and having it love you back is a process.

Get to know your curls. It’s no secret that I’d rather go to a salon than experiment with hair products.  The thing about it, is that doing my own hair has helped me to understand my strands better.  It makes it easier to work with and keeps my expectations realistic.

Know your power. I had to understand what my hair will and will not do.  Loose, bouncy, elongated, silky curls is not my forte.  So I embrace my springy, coily, sometimes (shrinking) style.  Your hair will not look like the person’s next to you.  You’d have to change your DNA.  Just look for those styles that work for you!  There are plenty.

When you rock a style with confidence, there are those that are going to be attracted to it.  Don’t worry about the masses.  Or those that subscribe to only one narrow, standard of beauty-they are boring folks!  Your job is to widen your perception of beauty to include you!

I had a close family friend, give my curls that blank stare.  I was a bit taken back. Then it hit me, “Didn’t you have a jheri curl back in the day?”  Ha, I had him.  He had to laugh.  Yeah, not only did he like those soupy curls enough to buy them.  But as I recall, he financed them for the whole family.

Peoples perceptions change.  And sometimes people don’t know what they like until they see it.  So just make sure that when it comes to your hair, you love it!

Here’s one more bonus to making peace with your hair.  Curls are freedom!  Rain is no longer an enemy.  A workout is no longer a hair challenge.  Dance as hard as you like.  Sweating your hair out is a thing of the past.  Relax by the pool.  No, really.  You can relax.  A few splashes won’t mess up your style.

Now don’t get me wrong, a fly style is still work, just no worries! Whether your curls are spiraled, coiled, or puffed, here’s to curl peace!

Photo Source

Tracee Ellis Ross Shops in LA

So last night was the finale of Reed Beetween The Lines, with 3 episodes airing back to back.  As usual Ross’ style is always noteworthy, but last night I was really feeling the natural hair versatility of both mother and daughter. We may not know all the stores where Reed’s costume designer’s shop, but we do know Ross does make an occasional visit to The Gap. (See stills from the show, below).

By the way, Twitter was abuzz with people commenting, not just on the looks and style, but on the subject matter.  You see Dr. Reed discovered she has some deep, lingering “issues” concerning her ex-husband now that he’s about to remarry.  Instead of trying to heal her self, she went to therapy.  Yep! But not before she consoled herself with ice cream and tried to hide in her pregnancy pants. Sound familiar?  Emotions can cramp your style if you let it.

Anyway, she realized that she was a wee bit jealous and still expecting an apology.  After all those years and falling in love again, she still hadn’t completely moved on! Interesting.  While she was ridding herself of all the feelings left behind by the bad deeds of her ex, the man of her dreams was teaching the kids to “let go” and free themselves unwanted “things” (toys, clothes, etc.), but hold on to the things that are important.

This is why I love this show.  By the second episode, Carla and hubby had helped his parents keep their marriage alive and by the third episode, they were taking on a relationship-hustling author (Anthony Anderson) who was telling his throngs of female readers to focus less on themselves and “take care of their man.”  Of course, Dr. Reed (Malcolm Jamal Warner) stood up to him and for his wife (and all women, really).  When you love someone, support comes naturally.  Thanks, Dr. Reed.  Can’t wait for season 2!

Reed Between The Lines (RBTL)

Dr. Reed Takes Center Stage

Dr. Reed (Ruby Woo, anyone?)

Photo Source (top): Essence.com