So, many of us have graduated and are joining the ranks of the “real world.” With that, a sudden dose of “professionalism” and “maturity” has suddenly been prescribed by parents, mentors, and most importantly your hopefully-boss-to-be. I myself am facing some early mornings come July, since I’ll be attending school first as student, then as teacher. Blech.

For the past year or so, I’ve been getting by with the philosophy that I’m young and reasonably attractive, so I don’t need to wear any makeup. That philosophy still holds true for various activities such as sitting around the house, watching movies, reading, exercising (such as it is), etc. However, my faith would be shaken whenever I would grab a bite to eat with a more glamorous friend. Some days at my old job (I’m currently unemployed as you may recall…WEEEEE) I would arrive at a school and our contact person would look all nice and coordinated, while I was a scrubby bed-bug version of myself. (Uniforms will really spoil a person.)

The coup de grace? Performing at middle schools and high schools. Those girls are like weird, perfect little Hannah Montanas/Seventeen magazine models. Totally put-together, fashionable and chic. And I understand: at that age I was pretty painfully obsessed with how my hair/makeup/clothes looked at all times. What’s really startling and funny is how I was never convinced that I looked good enough, just as I’m sure these girls feel daily when they all look like they just walked off the page of a glossy magazine.

And now, everyday I will be standing before them, trying to convince them that I’m cool and hip and dangerous and that they should listen to what I say because I am an expert. And let’s face it, high schoolers are HIGHLY JUDGMENTAL CREATURES. So how do I find the balance between my wanting to sleep longer/not wanting to wear tons of makeup and coming across as someone who gives a care and knows where these people are coming from?

Enter Carmindy’s 5-Minute Face!! I love Carmindy from TLC’s What Not to Wear. (Makeover shows are my ultimate guilty pleasure.) Although I don’t always agree with some of her more elaborate/eccentric makeup choices, the people she makes over are always satisfied, and 8-9 times out of ten I like what she does. Watch this video to see exactly how to implement the five-minute face look.

Now, this spring I went to the outlets and bought myself some really nice makeup (foundation, powder, and cream blush by Clinique), but there were one or two items that Carmindy used that I did not have, most byBenefit cosmetics. But Benefit cosmetics are a designer brand, and although they are easy enough to get in my area, they’re a bit pricey. So here I have for you a few less-expensive alternatives that can be found at ye olde Target!

1. Neutrogena Soothing Eye Tints in Petal Shimmer.
 I use this sweet pearlescent eye cream in place of the High Beam highlighter that Carmindy uses in the video. It really captures the light nicely and brightens up the eyes, and it only cost me $7.74, whereas High Beam from Benefit starts at $24 online (so who knows how much department stores might mark it up)!

2. Wet n Wild Idol Eyes in Dark Brown
Come to think of it, I think I actually got this one at Rite Aid, not Target, but all the same it’s a nice retractable eye pencil – that means no sharpener required! – that’s effective and inexpensive. (Usually WnW products are between $5-10.) There is a smudger attached, but I recommend using a Q-tip. I’ve tried both methods and the ol’ cotton swab was the better of the two for me.

3. Cover Girl’s LashBlast Mascara in Black.
The thing I like best about this mascara is the brush: the little bristles are made out of silicone, so there’s much less clumping going on. The mascara also has a separate cap, which I think you are supposed to throw away, but I chose a more resourceful clump-avoidance scheme! Once I use the mascara, I put the little cap back on and use a wad of T.P. (like three or four squares folded up) to wipe the brush off. Then I store it in a Ziploc bag so it stays nice and clean. This way, the brush isn’t stored immersed in mascara, building up residue that clumps over time. Also, when I’m applying, I give the brush a little wiggle from side to side before pulling through, which separates the lashes and avoids clumping even more. Not to say I never see a clump, but it definitely helps avoid the 80’s stepmom look. Anywho, this stuff is pretty neat, and costs a mere $6.99 at Target, as opposed to Benefit’s $19 models.

4. Neutrogena MoistureShine Lip Soother in Shimmer 
I like this stuff for several reasons. It smells really nice (as anything positioned directly beneath your nostrils should), it’s not super sticky or goopy, and it looks great for the long-haul. Now I have long had a love-hate relationship with lip gloss. Love the way it looks. Hate the way it feels tacky after five minutes, and when I had long hair the strands were constantly getting caught in the goop. Now, I can’t testify from a long-haired perspective on this stuff, but it’s definitely one of the less sticky glosses I’ve used. Also, as long as you’re not eating or drinking (this includes excessive biting/licking of the lips, weirdos), this stuff looks the way you did when you put it on for like 30-45 minutes afterwards. Pretty kick-butt. I like the color Shimmer because it’s light and just a little bit tinted so it gives a nice natural look. It cost me $6.24, in comparison with my Clinique lip color (that I also adore) which cost me $12.25 at outlet store prices. (And that’s for 0.16 fluid ounces people!) Yeah. Wicked expensive.

So there are some fun things you can blow your tax rebate/economic stimulus/paycheck/tips/allowance on this weekend without breaking your bank account! Enjoy, look great, and most importantly feel great.

I am an impatient person. I am also an impulsive person. These two characteristics combined have had a substantial amount of impact on my hairstyle ever since I started driving myself around town at the tender age of seventeen. (That’s the age people get their licenses in New Jersey.) It’s funny, but whenever some big change occurs in my life, I feel the need to change my hair as well. Breakups, the school year ending, new apartment: all of these have been play buttons for the musical “snip-snip” of barber’s shears. I rush out to the salon without a moment’s hesitation or a second thought.

Inevitably, the thought creeps into my mind, “I should grow my hair long again and curl it. That looks pretty.” This desire becomes ingrained in the core of my being and I obsess over it as I look in the mirror each morning. Actually, one of the tell-tale signs that I’m dreaming is that I’ll look in a mirror and my hair is suddenly six inches longer than I remember it. I get that “Wait a minute…” feeling and usually wake up to my close-cropped ‘do. So, I let it grow and bide my time until the day comes where it reaches that awkward in-between phase. Or maybe some random life-event occurs. Whatever the cause, the itch stirs within me to cut my hairs again! I wrestle with the idea and then start this cycle over.

At first, I flirted with the idea of hair extensions. Actresses like Kate Hudson and Heather Graham inspired this idea, and it seemed a pretty nifty way to achieve the fast length I was hoping for. Then I hit the ol’ Interweb to do a little research, and the results dashed my hopes faster than you could say Nick Arrojo. Hair extensions cost a LOT of money. No wonder movie stars and models are the only people I could find with them in.

Now couple all of these details with my career choice: when educating the young and restless, generally it is thought unprofessional to dye your hair outrageous colors. (I’m a science teacher.) However, I have always maintained my desire to be a rock star on the side, having dedicated many years to singing, songwriting, and learning various instruments. The answer dawned on me: a wig! Removable hair that could be any length and color I want!

But I did not act immediately. After all, society tells us that wigs are only for old ladies and actors in movies about the 1800s. Surely it would be too scandalous: I would be laughed off the street into the quiet recesses of my apartment. So I talked over the idea with a coworker, who found the idea so ingenious that she also pondered the purchase. She, however, was already planning to dye her hair blue and thought the wig would be a great way to cover it up and toy with a shorter length without having to commit. This fortified my determination. I was going to buy a wig.

Off to the local Beauty Shop! I was nervous, having never bought a wig before, and the beauty plaza near my house has a mostly African-American clientele (I’m a small white girl). I felt a little out-of-place, but the store owner took really great care of me and helped me try on several wigs. I finally found one that looked pretty natural (probably because it was the same style I wore my hair when it once was long) and had some snazzy fuscia ends.

To get used to the wig, I spent an evening wearing it alone in my apartment. I did my makeup and put on clothes and accessories just like I was going out for the evening. Then I spent some time playing with the wig: brushing it, placing it at various angles on my head, etc. I got it positioned the way I wanted, but in the small bathroom mirror I looked like one of the Supremes. The wig just didn’t look natural anymore. So I went to the bedroom to check myself out in front of the full-length. 

What a difference! Suddenly the rockstar inside was standing right there in front of me! I danced around giddily for a moment, then figured I should take some photos so that the next morning, after some space from “the new me,” I could get a more objectionable perspective on the look.

 

 

I even sent some copies to my boyfriend, who was out of town, to see what he thought. He really liked the look, and I did, too. I decided to wear the wig when I went out for drinks with friends that weekend. Two of my male friends were fooled completely – thought it was my natural hair. My female friend (different from aforementioned coworker) really liked it, and said she wanted to try on some brunette wigs, being a natural blonde. I’ve worn this wig to several more events, and the top two comments I’ve gotten are how natural it looks and how great it looks.

This time I decided to try for a shorter style and a color different from my own. I got a blonde wig in a medium-length style. The result was a little more shocking than the first wig, mostly since my eyebrows are so dark. But I liked it okay and wore it to a rock show in Washington, D.C.  I didn’t know anyone there, but I also did not get any strange looks, and one dude who I hung out with a little bit didn’t seem to notice it wasn’t my real hair. I wore it to work one day, and after the over-all shock wore off, the response was mostly positive.

I haven’t worn it publicly since, but I did a photo shoot today similar to my last one. I’m hoping that once I’ve seen myself in the blonde wig over and over again, I’ll come to like that one as much as the first one. I should also point out that my long wig is human hair, while the blonde one is synthetic, so that could account for some of the difference, too. The blonde wig doesn’t move as much, so it kind of looks like I have a lot of hairspray in my hair. Overall though, the wigs are a fun way to experiment with new looks without having to make a long-term commitment.

My actual hairstyle nowadays, as opposed to:

I also found that a headband not only diffuses some of the severity, but also keeps errant strands in line:

 

Each of my wigs cost less than $20 (my beauty store has a Sale section), but the average wig costs between $40-50. I definitely would recommend trying wigs on at a store before buying them, especially if you’re a first-time wig buyer. You never know how a wig will look: even though it might look great on a model or wig form, it could look very different with your face shape, complexion, eyebrow color, etc. I’m definitely planning on buying more wigs, though I’m thinking about branching out to a shop a little farther away that I’ve been told has a wider selection. 

Now if you’re going to try wearing wigs, I must warn you: you will be met with some surprise, shock, and possibly confrontation (i.e. close friends or family members asking what/why the hell is that thing on your head). Remember the reasons why you’re trying the wig out. You’re being adventurous and trying something new. You’re testing a new color/style without committing to it long-term. You’re breaking out of your usual routine. Then, tell your incredulous entourage those reasons. Or, the response “Why not?” always works well, too!

Joe reminds us why it’s important to get a wig that looks natural!