Why You Should Create Your Own Mani Pedi Kit
by Guest Blogger Linda “Princess Dominique” Grosvenor

I always and I mean ALWAYS take my own nail polish with me to the salon. Initially it wasn’t because I was afraid of anything, but it was because I’m particular and their colors are normally too neon bright for me or too dark and dreary. Nowadays I’ve come to learn that safety is another issue that’s urged me to recommend everyone put together a kit of their own. You can carry your kit with you to the salon, because you just never know what conditions clients are walking into the salon with, and with the high turnover of clients you can’t always be sure that the tools they’re using are completely sterile. I talk about one major risk further down with Dr. Colon. Let’s get started.

What Should Be in a Mani Pedi Kit:

1. Nail clippers, you can find them large enough for your toenails or short enough for your fingernails. Bring you own to assure they are good quality clippers.

2. A quality emery board or nail file. The ones with foam in the middle are better than the flimsy ones. I just find a new one or your ability to replace your own board better than getting a manicure with a recycled one that’s used on everybody else.

3. Cuticle clippers. Forgo the cheap 99 cent kind, they do more damage than good. Again you want quality when it comes to a manicure or pedicure. Look at it as an investment in your health.

4. Nail Buffer, this 4 sided one is great for the fingernails and toenails. As they’re buffing your fingernails or toes, it’s great to know that you’re using your own not the same one they used on the woman with that toe condition.

5. Nail polish remover. Non-acetone works best for me. I say bring you own again because as they are putting the cotton to the bottle and rubbing it on someone else’s toes and then recapping it to use on somebody else–that just doesn’t seem very sterile to me.

6. A quality nail oil to saturate your cuticles before pushing. BYONO – that means bring your own nail oil. Just like with the nail polish remover something fresh out of your own kit just seems more sanitary.

7. A cuticle pusher. I like the tiny wooden ones, but you can use plastic or stainless too. They are inexpensive and there’s no need to reuse even the ones you bring–unless you want to.

8. Your favorite flavors of nail polish. I love Opi products. You can browse them here. Nail polish ties in to the key question I asked Dr. Colon about. Keep reading.

9. Nail brush, something soft will do. Keep in mind that germs can breed in brushes if they aren’t cleaned properly.

10. Miss Whoever You Are recommended the Opi Natural Nail Base Coat and the Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat on her blog. She raved about them so I added them to my kit too. You should add them to yours too. We’ve already learned that bringing your own is best.

Bringing your own is a great start, but make sure you clean your own kit too. Most items can be cleaned in soapy water. Let air dry before you pack things away for next time.

On to the icky stuff. Never again will I let them use recycled base coat or top coat on my nails in a salon and neither should you–you know the kind they’ve used on 20 other people before you. Here’s why.

I posed the following question to Dr. Michele Summers Colon who is a foot doctor in California who has come face to face with some of these issues and her response was shocking, but expected and very in line with the experience that residents had at an assisted living facility where I once worked at:

Can you get a nail fungus from using nail polish that has been used on someone else who has an active nail fungus?

“Yes, yes, yes! And you can get ingrown toenails from the salons too if the nail technician cuts the nails too short or at the wrong angle.”

She also kindly included a link to a medicated nail polish that they recommend to their patients that actually fights the infection. You’ll probably want to add that to your kit too. It costs $16 a bottle but is worth it. She also shared an article link with me about nail fungus in general since most people don’t know what it looks like or what to do about it. You can follow her at @SoCalFootDoc on Twitter and visit her website at www.ElmontFootDoctor.com.

As a bonus to my kit I always take my own lotion with me. A 99 cents bottle of something made mostly of water will never do for my dry skin.

Hopefully, creating your own kit will reduce the risk of fungus or any of the other contaminates or at the very least make you more aware of how recycled most of the products and items in salons really are. Share this will someone you know will benefit from it.

Linda Dominique Grosvenor is a true shoe connoisseur and a Fashion Insider for Hautelook’s new member only shoe-of-the-month website SoleSociety.com. She has appeared on The Today Show to dish about “Why Women Love Shoes” and believes all women who love shoes have a little exhibitionist in them. She is also the brainchild behind The Weekly Shoe Giveaway™ and spearheaded Project Prom Angel in which she partners with generous sponsors to assist lower income teen girls with acquiring shoes, dresses and accessories to attend their prom. The legal guardian over a massive shoe collection, she invites you to visit her website and take a peek at PrincessDominique.com.

Hair Wigs are a Great Fashion Accessory
By Shelia M Goss

If you would have asked me five years ago about wearing wigs or hair weave, I would have looked at you crazy. It only took one bad experience at a hairdresser and my mind changed.  I asked for a Rihanna bob cut and apparently she didn’t fully understand. Anyway, when I was trying to grow my hair out and not use a curling iron on it on a daily basis, I became an advocate for wigs. Wigs are a great fashion accessory.

Reasons why I love wearing wigs:

1. Convenience – I don’t have to mess with my hair every morning. I can just brush my hair and attach and go. I get a relaxer every six weeks and I wash and condition my hair weekly.

2. Style Versatility – If I’m wearing wigs, I can change my hair on a daily basis to match my mood. I also like wearing different hair styles and wearing wigs offer that option instead of having to run to the hair salon every other day. It’s also great to add color to your hair style without worrying about damaging your hair.

3. Savings – Although a good wig may cost money; it’s still cheaper than going to the beauty salon. If you take care of a wig, it can have a long life span. I normally keep a wig for about two to three months but some I only wear once a week.

Tips on picking out the best wig for you:

Always try the wig on before purchasing them.

1. Wigs come in a variety of lengths and colors. I prefer the half wigs because I can blend them in with my real hair and it gives it a natural look.

2. Synthetic hair or human hair – it depends on the brand, whether the synthetic hair looks real. Synthetic hair is normally cheaper than human hair. Once you learn what style or brand looks good on you, you can shop for wigs online. I shop at three stores here locally and I can get real good deals on wigs made out of human hair for the same price as a wig made with synthetic hair.

3. Lace front wigs are the new fad. This is another option. If you wear a lace front wig, whether synthetic hair or human hair, no one can tell it’s a wig.

How to maintain your natural hair while wearing wigs:

1. Wash and condition your hair regularly

2. Daily maintenance includes combing, brushing and for some people using daily oil moisturizers.

3. Protect your hair by using a satin stocking cap before putting on the wig. I usually wrap my hair and then use the stocking cap. Some people put their hair up in a rubber band. I opted not to do that when I noticed some of my hair in the rubber band.

Although my hair has since grown out to a nice length, I also like wearing hair weave so I might write about that one day.

Shelia M Goss is the national best selling author of over eleven novels, including, Delilah, Savannah’s Curse, Hollywood Deception, My Invisible Husband and more.  Visit her bio page on  www.sheliagoss.com for more information.  

Kandie Delley hosts today’s tour stop.  I share some of my favorite beauty products. Check it out here: http://www.kandiedelley.com/main/2011/01/12/a-few-beauty-items-for-writers-on-the-go/

by Guestblogger Shelia M. Goss

As a writer, I spend a lot of time behind the computer, but when I dare to venture out into the real world, I like to look my best. For a finished face that can rival any model, here are several products that you shouldn’t do without:

To read the post, go to: http://www.princessdominique.com/fashionblog/2010/05/a-few-beauty-items-for-women-in-the-know/

Back in the day, it was every little girls wish to meet her fairy tale prince charming. As we grow older, the realization of that NOT happening can hit harder than a ton of bricks. Although I’ve let go of believing in the fairy tale prince, I do think regardless of your age, your “Mister Right” is out there. No, he won’t be like the ones you read about in my books, but he does exist. Here are some things you can do that will make you feel like the superstar that you are. I like to call them the 5 B’s:

1. Be Prettty. I don’t care if you’re the CEO of your own company or a young lady working behind the counter at McDonald’s, all women want to feel pretty. We want the man of our desires to find us attractive. Being pretty doesn’t have to cost you. Try to be the best “you” by making sure when you leave the house your hair and clothes are together. If you’re not into wearing make-up, try Shock-o-late Lip Glass by M.A.C. or Wetslicks Sugar Maple Lip Gloss by Cover Girl. Accessorize: earrings, a belt, a scarf, etc can bring a dull outfit to life. Pretty is a state of mind—let it shine through from the inside–out.
2. Be Friendly. Nothing says “I’m approachable” like a big ol’ beautiful smile. If you’re in the store and pass by a man you find attractive, it doesn’t hurt to speak first. Don’t walk around frowning. Nobody wants to be around a sourpuss. A friendly gesture might be all it takes for your prince charming to give you a second look.
3. Be Fresh. Have you ever been somewhere and ran across a man where he smelled so good, you just had to know what he was wearing? Well the same works for women when it comes to attracting men. There’s nothing like wearing perfume that will get any stranger to asking—“what are you wearing?” Every body is different, so you may have to experiment until you find the right fragrance that mixes with your body chemistry. I will let you in on a little secret: Issey Miyake perfume is like an aphrodisiac. When I’m feeling flirty, I’ll wear it and I get results no matter where I am. It works at the post office, at the store, etc. Smelling good is a good first impression and opens the door for communication. Find a fragrance that works for you and let the conversations begin.
4. Be Cool. Never let them see you sweat. Life comes with its challenges, but there’s no need to have an attitude about it. Also when you meet someone who is in your eyes all that and a box of shoes, don’t sweat him. Let him come to you. If you’ve shown him that you’re approachable, then, relax and be cool. He’s the hunter; let him hunt.
5. Be Yourself. Know yourself. Know your limitations. Know what you’re looking for in a man. Don’t settle for less. You deserve the best and contrary to statistics, the best is out there. Be your best and expect the best in return.

Here’s information about a project, my local book club, Sistah Circle Book Group, participated in recently.  Cynthia Harrison and Rosie Roberson (see pic below) from our book club helped pack supplies at Galilee Baptist Church. Tannie Bradley organized the packing party for the Sister Soldiers Project. The Sister Soldiers Project was founded by Myraline Whitaker.

One hundred care packages are on their way to be received by 100 black female soldiers stationed at sea and in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait…

Starting in January, Bradley started collecting money. In conjunction with Sistah Circle Book Group, Women of Wisdom Book Club, Galilee Baptist’s Angels of Love, the National Association of University Women and Organic Root Stimulator Hair Care Manufacturer, Sistahs BookClubbing raised $2,248 for purchase of items and shipping of packages, which cost $10.35 each… Read full article.

To view video clip: click here.

More pics from event:

To see how you can help out our sister soldiers, visit the website:

www.sistersoldierproject.com

Made you look, didn’t I?
Why wait on someone else to pamper you, when you can pamper yourself. There are several things that I absolutely can’t do without (well I could but…)
The Top 5 things I use on a daily basis are:

1. Pink Motorola Razr Phone

2. Sweet Pea Bath and Body Products

3. Issey Miyake Eau de Parfum Spray or Calvin Klein Escape Body Spray

4. Sansa MP3 player

5. Shock-o-late M.A.C. Lip Glass
What are some things you absolutely can’t do without?