Hair

I walked out of the salon yesterday with five inches of hair cut trimmed off, lighter highlights and a new set of bangs. I wouldn’t call it a big change because my hair is still long, but I definitely feel like a different girl with this cut. 🙂

My last dramatic haircut was a decage ago — I chopped off my uber-long locks into a chin-length bob. Although I haven’t made any big changes in the past three years, I don’t rule out going short again in the future.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Dear Jake,

Did you get the card I sent for turkey day (gobble gobble!)? I hope so. 🙂 Yours still hasn’t arrived, but I’m sure it’s on its way. The Post Office has been busy as of late…

I was surprised to read about you and Reese. Thank goodness the rumors were untrue, but I’m here if you ever need a shoulder.

Yours always,

Karen

In my frantic search to corroborate the breakup rumors, I couldn’t help but notice the breadth of Jake’s hairstyles over the years. He makes bangs look so very fetching!

If/when I earn that spot on Jeopardy! and “Jake Gyllenhaal’s hair” comes up as a topic, I think I’ll be prepared.

Jakeypoo factoids

• Born Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal in Los Angeles (December 19, 1980)
• Family has deep Hollywood ties. Dad’s a director, Mom’s a screenwriter, and big sis Maggie’s a star.
• Enjoys woodworking and cooking
• Acting debut was in the 1991 film City Slickers
• Graduated from high school in 1998 and then went on to attend Columbia University, studying Eastern religions and Philosophy; dropped out to pursue film career.
• Feature films include Brokeback Mountain, The Day After Tomorrow, Donnie Darko (my JG fave!) and more

P.S. Jake, I know you’re busy, but before I go, may I ask a favor? I’ve noticed you’ve been growing out your hair for Prince of Persia (due out next spring). Please, please condition at least once/week. Split ends = not cute. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Even though I think I’m pretty adventurous with hair products and tools (don’t get me started on how I used to flat iron my hair with a real deal IRON), I’ve never used a set of hot rollers.

No particular reason why, really. I just never got around to it.

But curling irons can take forever to use! I’ve been wearing my hair curly a lot lately, and I want to get back some of the time (20 minutes in some cases) it takes me to curl.

That’s why I picked up a set of Jilbere ($35) ceramic hot rollers at Sally Beauty last weekend.

Please, oh, PLEASE, beauty gods, save me from burning myself while I figure them out! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I’ve spent a sizable chunk of this week dancing at home to Shakira’s new CD, She Wolf (it was released on Monday). I’m in love with the title track… Dang that thing’s catchy!

Would you believe that Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll (born in Colombia on February 2, 1977) has sold almost 2 million albums for every year she’s been alive? Fifty million so far, to go with her two Grammies and seven Latin Grammy Awards.

And she’s finding some pretty cool ways to use her star status by supporting a number of charities and organizations, including the Pies Descalzos Foundation, a Colombian charity that helps fund construction of schools in impoverished areas, and UNICEF, for which she travels as a Goodwill Ambassador.

When it comes to travel, it must help that homegirl speaks fluent Spanish, English, Portuguese and Italian, or that she can sing classical Arabic and belly dance, too. Wow!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The giveaway is now closed, and I’m contacting the winner by e-mail. Good luck!

Desperately seeking volume? Come hither, my flat-haired friends.

This week the follicle fiends at Redken sent me some preview products from Body Full, their new hair care line to cleanse, condition and style baby fine hair.

But since my mane lives more at the unruly/thickeningly out-of-freaking-control end of the hair spectrum, these four lovely ladies will need to find a new home.

Who’s down for a giveaway? 🙂

The prize

One beautiful babe will win four items from the Redken Body Full line (a $59 value) — created for ladies (and gents) seeking touchably soft hair with added volume.

• Body Full Shampoo ($13): A gently cleansing shampoo to simultaneously detangle and rinse away product buildup while plumping every strand
• Body Full Light Conditioner ($14): A lightweight moisturizing conditioner
• Body Full Instant Bodifier ($16): A liquid-to-foam, body-enhancing mousse to protect baby fine hair from heat damage
• Body Full Volume Amplifier ($16): A thickening spray for added volume and texture

How to enter…

Entering is easy. There are two different ways, and you can do both of them for two chances to win.

First, you can enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post. In it, describe a hair tip/trick you use to pump up your volume.

I spray the roots around my crown with Redken Layer Lift. I feel like it gives my layered hair an extra boost up top.

Second, enter by following me on Twitter and retweeting (RT) the following message:

RT @karenmbb: RT to win Redken Body Full hair care (a $59 value) http://bit.ly/7n2CQ4

Recap…

1. Enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, and don’t forget to use a valid email address so I can reach you if you win.
2. Follow me on Twitter and retweet the following message:
   
   RT @karenmbb: RT to win Redken Body Full hair care (a $59 value) http://bit.ly/7n2CQ4

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Friday, November 27.

Ke o lakaletsa mohlohonolo!!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The giveaway is now closed, and I’m contacting the winner by e-mail. Good luck!