Learning to Love My Hair Without Heat

If you follow me on Snapchat (thehannahgold for those who've been sleeping), you may have seen the struggle I went through last Saturday trying to curl my hair for Her Conference. I watched 2 tutorials, switched tools 3 times, and spent a total of 75 minutes wrapping my hair around a rod/straightener only to look in the mirror in sheer disappointment.

I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting, though. I've never been able to curl my hair. I've spent years watching tutorials, studying my friends, and practicing on my own to no avail. I've tried products, a bunch of different tools, and praying. Nothing works. I end up with burns on my neck, ears, and hands and a hairstyle that I have to straighten or throw into a bun.

I feel like a bad feminine woman and a bad fashion blogger for not knowing how to curl my hair. Everyone I know who chooses to curl their hair knows how to, and everyone is so confused as so why/how I can't do it on my own. It's such a simple, universal task, but I can't do it. Accepting your weaknesses is difficult, even when they're something as inconsequential as being able to curl your hair. For now, though, I'm putting down the curling iron and picking up some product to enhance my natural waves.

The Bed Head by TIGI activation at Her Conference was able to hook me up with some products that would help me feel comfortable and confident wearing my hair sans heat. Because I can't curl my hair and don't like wearing my hair straight, I'm used to wearing my hair au natural. Since bleaching it, though, I've struggled to find products and drying methods that would keep my hair nice and wavy. The stylists at the booth set me up with a Foxy Curls Contour Cream to give my curls definition and some Foxy Curls Get Twisted to kill the frizz.

I started out with the Foxy Curls Contour Cream, which you're supposed to use on damp hair. I used it about an hour after I got out of the shower, though I probably should have used it sooner. This kind of product on half-dry hair can make your hair super sticky, something I'd forgotten after being out of the product game for so long.

After waiting too long to use it, I immediately made another rookie mistake: using too much. Bed Head by TIGI prides itself on making high-performing products, which means a little goes a long way. I used 2 pumps, but could definitely have done with just 1.

I'm well versed in scrunching product into your hair: spread the product across your hands and make sure not to scrunch the same part of your hair too much. Touching your hair too much alone can create frizz and kill curls, so you want to be careful about how you scrunch.

Once my hair was mostly dry, I picked up the Get Twisted spray. This product can be used on wet or dry hair, which is great news for someone like me, who only showers once or twice a week. I want to be able to use product in between showers. This product is especially essential to be able to use on dry hair because it protects against humidity. That's right, fellow swamp-dwellers: you can use this product during the summer to make sure your hair stays the same shape and volume all day long. New York was at about 85% humidity the day I first tested this product, and my hair didn't poof out at all.

I always prefer sprays to creams because it's easier to spread out the product, so you're less likely to end up with too much in your hair. The application is easy: point, spray, and scrunch. Simple yet effective.

Whether you wear your hair straight, curly, or wavy; blow-dry or air-dry; straighten, curl, or go natural, Bed Head by TIGI has a product for you. Bed Head by TIGI is partnering with Ulta Beauty for an exclusive offer! Get $5 off a $15 online purchase of Bed Head products at Ulta.com. Just enter coupon code 509843 in the space provided in your shopping bag and click “apply coupon”.

This post is sponsored by Bed Head by TIGI and Her Campus Media. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Broke & Fabulous possible!

City Proof 24 HR Waterproof Eyeshadow

These eyeshadow sticks were one of the goodies in a Her Campus Survival Kit that my team got during Fall Quarter. I took a couple to check them out, and they ended up being so inexpensive and awesome that I picked some more up from Target. I use at least one of these every day (if not two or three), so I decided to review them for those who are looking at trying them out.

Like I said, I use these every day. I've never really liked wearing eyeshadow because I could never quite get the hang of it, but these eyeshadow sticks are so easy to use and look so good. They go on smoothly and quickly and evenly. What more could you ask for?

From left to right: #610 Tribeca Taupe; #605 Brooklyn Mocha; #650 East River Romance; #630 Empire State Building; Eye Primer; #620 Murray Hill Champagne; #635 New York At Night; #655 Madison Square Park; #615 5th Ave Gold Rush

I also got a City Proof 24 Hour Eye Primer to use on my eyes to make the eyeshadows pop.

In all honesty, I didn't notice too big a difference when using the primer. Still, the results are worth sharing.

DIY Review: Get Rid of Blackheads

When I'm not blogging, doing homework, hanging out with my dog, or sleeping, I'm loitering on Pinterest looking for some awesome DIYs to try. Sometimes they work, but sometimes they don't. To contribute to the already expansive collection of tutorials on the internet, I've decided to start documenting my trials of certain DIYs. Sometimes the person who does DIYs on a regular basis is able to DIY something much too difficult for us common folk to accomplish.

This first DIY is from Drop Dead Gorgeous Daily. It's a trick to get easily get rid of blackheads. As a human being with pores in her skin, I happen to have quite a few blackheads. After trying quite a few different methods, I decided to try this out.

The first step was to apply Vaseline to the area that had blackheads: in my case, my nose. I decided to gunk on as much as possible... Just in case.

Then I applied the saran wrap to keep the heat concentrated within that area. I'm assuming this helped catalyze the process of the Vaseline sinking into the pores infected with blackheads, but I'm no science major.

I was meant to hold a hot washcloth to my nose to further heat the area for 5 minutes, but I had a hard time keeping the washcloth hot. So, I held a damp and mostly lukewarm washcloth to my nose.

Remove the saran wrap...

And apply pressure to the area to push the now enlarged (and easier to remove) blackheads out!

Voila! Well, kind of. I didn't actually notice any significant decrease in blackheads on my nose, though I will admit the area was much smoother for several days following this DIY. I had decent results, but nothing I would call home about. To be honest, though, I didn't follow the instructions as well as I could have (specifically with the hot washcloth...), so it might be worth a try again in the future.
Check out some of my favorite DIYs on my Pinterest and try this one out for yourself!

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