Unmask

Photo by: Rory M.

With Halloween (or "Halloweek", as they say it at my school) upon us, there are so many opportunities for costume and style-related posts. However, I'm taking time to write about something that's bothered me every Halloween for much of my adolescent/adult life.

Each year, I get very excited to put together the best, most creative, most cost-effective costume out there. (I secretly try to beat out everyone in the entire world for "Best Costume".) But each year, there's something that haunts (pun intended) my costume-related thoughts, and that is sex appeal.

It's pretty impossible nowadays to shop for a Halloween costume without seeing advertisements for "Sexy This" or "Sexy That", "Sexy Potato", "Sexy Carrot", etc. As for me, I take Halloween as an opportunity to express myself creatively, and it often isn't very sexy. The truth is, that just isn't me.

I spoke with a couple of friends on the matter, and they agreed. There is a social pressure to look "hot" or "sexy" on Halloween. The other night, I attended an event hosted by my school, and dressed up as a particular 1930s television star. It wasn't very sexy, and I felt unattractive, as if no one would appreciate (or even notice!) my costume because it still left much to the imagination.

Talking to my friends helped me realize that being myself was the sexy part. We agreed that the amount of skin you show doesn't make a difference if you look uncomfortable in it. This Halloween, we're challenging all you ladies out there not to dress the way you think you're expected to, but rather the way that makes you feel your best, whether that is a 1930s television star or a sexy potato.

This year, be the best version of you.

Rory

Straightening Curly Hair

Photo by: Rory M.

Photo by: Rory M.

Photo by: Rory M.

If you've been following us for a while, you should know by now that my sister Tessa has the most wonderful curly hair. Unlike many curly-heads I've talked to, Tessa love-love-loves(!) her curls. Despite her love for her natural locks, sometimes she craves a sleeker look when leaving it down, or even when putting it up. For that, we enlist the help of our good friend: Mr. Hair-straightener.

Photo by: Rory M.

Now before you throw rotten fruit at me saying, "But Rory! Heat kills hair!", let me clarify that everyday straightening will, over time, hurt your hair, and I would never suggest you do that. However, once-in-a-while straightening will not kill your hair.

Now that we've got that straightened out (Haha, get it?), let's get to it!

Step 1: Begin with dry curls and brush them out. I know this part isn't fun, but good luck trying to straighten curls without this step. Seriously, brush those babies.

Photo by: Rory M.

Step 2: Separate your locks. Trying to straighten a large chunk of hair often doesn't work, and you end up running two hot plates over the same area, exposing it to heat damage. So we put half of Tessa's hair up, and began working with smaller sections.

Step 3: Start straightening! The pieces we did were about 1/8 inch thick and 2 inches wide. We intentionally left the ends curled (She eventually braided it, and the curly ends looked so cute!).

Try not to hold the straightener on a particular spot for too long. It could result in burning the hair. Just clamp it shut, and run it down to the ends.

Photo by: Rory M.

Step 4: Once you've succeeded in straightening the entire head, use some product to smooth and hydrate the 'do. We used John Freida Frizz-Ease Extra-Strength Serum.

Photo by: Rory M.

Remember:

Your hair wants to revert back to its natural state, so keep it away from water and humidity, if possible.

Your ends are the most delicate parts of your hair. be gentle on them when straightening because it is easier for them to get split or damaged by excessive heat.

Feel free to use a heat protective serum or lotion to protect your hair against damage. I usually use Got2be Crazysleek Flat Iron and Blow Dry Lotion. 

Like every part of our bodies, the health and safety of your hair should come before style! Be sure to consult a hair stylist or a friend if you're concerned about how heat straightening may be affecting your hair over the long run. My sister and I have been doing this for years, but we're always very careful. So take care of your hair, and have fun switching up your style!

Photo by: Rory M.

Lean on Me

Photo by: Rory M.

I was sitting in class the other day, listening to the pre-lecture chatter. I suppose you could call it eavesdropping, but the way I see it is if you're talking loudly in a room full of people, you're pretty much fair game.

Anyway, I overheard a conversation between two girls about someone they knew in high school. I tuned in at the line: Yeah, that bitch will never be skinny again.

Ouch.

Part of me cringed, a lot. And it wasn't because the woman they were discussing had gained weight (if it were, I'd be cringing at myself every other week). It was the condemning and spiteful tone in which she said it. The girls continued talking about the girl they disliked in high school; she had gotten pregnant at a young age, and was now struggling as a single mother of two.

It was pretty painful to listen to, and a couple of times I couldn't help but turn and stare in wonder at their cavalier judgment. But mostly it made me think.

It's so easy for me to say, I would never do that, and maybe that's true to an extent. But how many times have I judged someone for their appearance, or taken pleasure in their pain, or even used other people to make myself feel better? The answer is...too often.

We are inherently judgmental as people and as a culture that values outer beauty and the philosophy that subscribes to "The World According to Me". I have no doubt that those girls felt avenged by putting down their old peer, but what good is it now? The hurt has been caused, and the choices are to make something good out of it or to perpetuate the cycle. I feel like I'm just sharing an old message, but clearly we need a reminder. I need a reminder nearly every day.

Ladies, we're all in this together, and we can start growing inner beauty by building each other up, even if it's by what we don't say. This week, I'm checking myself and using my words to encourage others, rather than to feel better at their expense. Who's with me?

Rory

Our Daily Red

Photo by: Rory M.

I had always made excuses for why I couldn't do red lips. Too pale. Not the right lips. Not the right red. Recently, I'd started noticing Taylor Swift's red lips at nearly every red carpet event and thought, "She can't be much darker than me. If she can do it, so can I!" That started me on the quest for the perfect red. These were my requirements:

Shamelessly red.
Long lasting.
Easy to apply.
Mess-free.

I started trying everything, from stains to glosses, from sticks to balms, and nothing had those four rules.

A couple of weeks ago, I found Milani Lip Flash. These gloss pencils were everything I'd wanted in red lip color. The two I am featuring in the photo above are 05 Hot Flash (I'm also wearing this one!) and 03 Flash Light.

The pencil-top is perfect for lining the lips for a no-mess application, and they were as easy as coloring in a picture! As you can see, they are also quite red, and they last longer than any other red I've tried.

Do you have a recent beauty find? Send us your story at anewbeautyblog@gmail.com!

Scrunch Me

Photo by: Rory M.

Photo by: Rory M.

Hey Beauty Bloggers! We have a quickie hair tutorial for you today! What I love about this scrunchy braid is that it goes with any length hair! 

This summer, my friend Sam cut her hair herself, and I think the bob suits her face and personality perfectly! 

To begin, we section off a small bit of hair from the topmost layer and make a loose braid from the roots to a half-to-an-inch (depending on your ends) from the tips. 

Photo by: Rory M.

Now comes the tricky part. At the end of the braid, separate the two outermost pieces from the center piece. With one hand, hold the center piece in place, and with the other, slide the two outermost pieces up the braid. This will give it the "scrunched" look. 

Then, just slide and assemble the now-scrunched outer pieces until they achieve your desired look. 

When it looks the way you want, tie it off with an elastic, and you're ready to rock it! 

Photo by: Rory M.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Send them our way at anewbeautyblog@gmail.com!

Just Kidding Around

Photo by: Rory M.

Petite.
Hobbit.
Fun-sized.
Vertically challenged.

They all mean the same thing- short. I stopped growing at the age of twelve, and it's had its perks and not-so-perks. The good things are that I still get hand-me-downs, and much of my old high school wardrobe still fits. The bad thing is that as a woman breaking into the professional world, hand-me-downs and high school band tees don't always work for a given occasion.

Recently, I discovered a shopping technique that has saved me both money and time. It's also a trick my mother (another petite lady) has been exploiting for the past twenty-something years.

Are you ready for this? The Children's Department.

Yes, I'm serious. Gap Kids, Crew Cuts, Abercrombie, '77 Kids- These are all name brands that I have bought children's clothes from in the past year. Obviously, I'm not going to be fitting my hips into a pair of kids jeans, and some clothes just look childish. However, outerwear, tops, tights, skirts, and even some dresses have fit, and you wouldn't even know they weren't petite! (The shirt I'm modeling in the photo is from Abercrombie Kids.) The benefit to this is that I can get some items that are proportionate to a smaller frame without paying extra to get them tailored.

I wouldn't recommend searching for your entire professional wardrobe in the children's department of your favorite store, but it's sometimes fun to poke around and see what you might find. Give it a shot, and send us your finds!

Rory