Carolyn Braden's New E-How Article: How to Style With a Straight Iron

New article I've written for e-how.com.  It's teaching how to style your hair with a straight iron.  I'm really enjoying writing for Demand Studios. It's a new venture for me and I'm liking the new challenge. 


http://www.ehow.com/how_7781517_style-straight-iron.html

Carolyn Braden's Felt Flower Headbands

Easier and cheaper than ever craft!

I purchased the felt flowers and balls from Hobby Lobby. (About $5.00 a pack). I purchased the headbands in a set of 5 at Target. I assembled them together to figure out the perfect way to glue them. Then I used a hot glue gun to attach them onto the headband. I did this about a month ago and have received tons of compliments since.  Each headband cost less than $5.00 a piece to make. 

Carolyn Braden's Sally Hansen Salon Effects: Girl Flower

Carolyn Braden is Trying CND Shellac

I've done a lot of research and decided to purchase the CND Shellac nail polish system. I absolutely love my Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips but I knew I would want to change it up soon. Shellac has gotten wonderful reviews about being consumer friendly. I know many certified nail techs would disagree with me but I believe I will be able to do it. I went onto Amazon.com and purchased the UV light needed to cure the polish, the base coat, top coat, the Rose Bud color and the glittery Red Baroness. I watched a video someone posted on YouTube.com on how to remove them. I'll be watching another one on the polishing process. With a little practice, I believe this may be something I'll be really happy with. I will post my results when I get everything next week and begin the experimentation. 

Carolyn Braden's Kitty Kitty Nails

Carolyn

Carolyn  Braden's nail art by Sally Hansen's Salon Effects.

Carolyn Braden "Loving Sally Hansen Salon Effects!"

The "black lace" nail art I previously wrote about came off so easily.  I used regular nail polish remover, cleaned my nails up, and put on "Kitty Kitty".  I love these!  They truly live up to what the package claims.

Carolyn Braden's Update to Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips

I am happy to report how successful I was with Sally Hansen's Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips.  Tomorrow will mark one full week of perfect polished nails!  This product is for you if you are tired of spending money in salons on manicures that chip within one or two days.  I am not talking about acrylic nails.  Polish stays on acrylics for weeks at a time.  (I used to have acrylics and I tried gel sculptured nails too).  Regular nail polish does not last very long on natural nails.  It's a fact.  I am still interested in OPI Axxium Gel Polish, but for now I am absolutely loving this Sally Hansen product.  I have only a couple of tiny chips, but other than that, the polish strips work.  I am currently teaching art.  I started back to school Monday and that was going to be the true test.  I've washed my hands about 15 times a day at school, worked in clay, painted, cleaned tables, used oil pastel, and sanitized my hands over and over the last 3 days.  The strips stayed on my nails.  I can't believe someone finally invented a nail product that lives up to what it says it will do.  


I still have the "laced up" pattern on and today I purchased leopard print and another box of laced up.  You can purchase them in colors or in patterns.  Each box of 16 strips retails for $9.99. (I bought mine at Walgreen's).  I received a good deal today because they were buy one, get one half price. The lady at the make-up counter had a coupon for me too, so I got them even cheaper.  I believe you must follow the directions perfectly in order for them to work like they did for me.  The only test now is seeing how easy they are to remove.  The directions say it will come off with nail polish remover, so I will wait until the weekend to take it off and then report what the removal is like.