Digipermed Hair: How To's

Hi everyone! It's been ages since I last posted an entry on this little space I have on the web. Been busy with a lot of stuff, mostly work and I just recently had a month-long "vacation." More of that on the next post though.

So anyway, I've been constantly telling everyone how much I miss my curls. So guess what? I got a perm again! This time, it's digital.

Being abducted LOL

Tadaaaa!

First, I had to re-dye my hair, as the roots were becoming incredibly annoying to the eyes. I was supposed to go for ombre, but the stylist advised against it. My hair was too damaged and he was scared that it might not survive the entire "ombre and digital perm" saga. I had it retouched from root to tip with ash brown. When my hair was permed and set with a neutralizer, the lower parts became evidently lighter, which was good because I was going for that look anyway.

I have an entry somewhere here regarding the hair lotion I used before. It was called Monea. It was a decent product, and for the 8 months that I sported my permed hair, it worked. However, I felt that after a while, my hair became really brittle---and the lotion was too sticky so it made me feel really hot and icky and gah! 

The stylist introduced me to Cynos Hair Squama Repair. It's a clear liquid gel with a smooth consistency. The product itself is like Vitresse, or something of that sort. At first, I doubted the product because I didn't think it would hold the curls in place when my hair dries up. For the first couple of days, I endured the painstakingly long minutes of prepping my hair before going out. After a week though, I noticed that my hair became "alive" again. What's great about Cynos is that you don't need to apply a lot on your hair. You just need enough to moisten the tips a little bit, and you're good for the entire day! Cynos Hair Squama Repair comes in an 80ml clear plastic bottle and can last up to 2-3 months max. It's being sold for PHP350 in selected salons. You can order online too. Google it! :D

It's a great product that all you should try. I put it on the straight parts of my hair too just to keep the luster in.

So how exactly do I care for my digitally permed hair? Well, it's just like having rebonded or treated hair. Of course, I try my best to clean my hair every day; sometimes though when I don't go out, I just let it be. Haha! I shampoo my hair every other day. I only shampoo the upper parts of my hair and let the bubbles trickle down then gently rub the tips of my hair just so they won't "die." Others don't feel comfortable with this practice, so it's really up to you. Whatever rocks your boat. :) Of course, I use hair conditioner every day. Right now, I'm also using Cynos (both shampoo and conditioner); but if I run out, I plan to use Dove. I'm a sachet fan because I get to know the exact quantity of product I use on my hair. Usually, it takes me 2 sachets of conditioner to feel "at ease."  I get rid of tangles and knots during this stage. 

Rinse. It's a must that you rinse your hair well. Make sure all products are stripped off your hair. 

What I do is I don't dry my hair with a towel. I just squeeze all the water out and tousle 'em around using my hands. Whenever time permits, I use a blow-dryer. If not, well, the AC or electric fan will do. When using a blow-dryer, remember to set it on cool. 

Usually, I divide my hair into two parts (this is when I want big curls), apply Cynos, and then twirl my hair inward. When I want to go for the "wala lang" type and smaller curls, I just let my hair be, apply Cynos, and scrunch it upward. If I want to go for the medium-sized curls, I divide my hair into four and twirl each "group" (inward still). And then I let it dry.

Big curls

Medium curls

When you scrunch

Just whatever

During the day, when I feel like the curls are "fading away," I just twirl or scrunch them. 

How about you? What's your digiperm story? Share! :)

DIY Facial Scrub: Baking Soda and Oatmeal

I have vowed to take care of my skin this year, and I've done everything in my power to do so. Unfortunately, the last "set" I purchased didn't work. I am now left with *even worse* facial problems. My friend says I need to exfoliate. Well, it would have been easier if I lived in the city where facial centers are just around the block. I live in a remote city, and I'm cheap, so yeah.

So I decided to make my own facial mask/scrub/whatever.

Here's what you will be needing:

1) 1 tsp baking soda
2) 2 tsps oatmeal (I used Quaker's instant oatmeal)
3) warm water
4) facial wash
5) cold water or ice
6) a CLEAN towel

Instructions:

Step 1: CLEAN YOUR GODDAMN HANDS.
Yes, because no matter how many you exfoliate or scrub or do whatever to your face, if your hands are not clean, well . . . you know what'll happen.

Step 2: Prepare your ingredients as stated above.

Step 3: Crush your oatmeal until it becomes powdery or appears to be flour-like (see photo). You can do this using a spoon. Go figure.

Step 4: Mix 1 tsp baking soda and 2 tsps of oatmeal together with 1 tsp of warm water. Stir using your fingers until a soft paste forms.

Step 5: Wash your face with warm water to open the pores and your choice of facial wash. I used Olay Natural White Foaming Cleanser. Pat dry with a clean towel.

Step 6: Using your fingers (and this is why you really need to have clean hands), apply the paste on your face and let it stay for about 5-8 minutes.

Step 7: Scrub away. Massage your face until all the dried-up flakes fall off. Be careful not to rub your face too much. You still do want to have a face after this, don't you?

Step 8: Wash your face with cold water to close the pores. Make sure you remove all the flakes/paste from your face thoroughly. You can also rub some ice after you've gotten rid of all the flakes.

Step 9: Pat dry with a clean towel.

Step 10: Feel pretty hahaha

Right after this procedure, you will notice that your skin will feel smooth and clean. Personally, I noticed that my blackheads were lifted. You can exfoliate at least once a week.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments, or violent reactions! :)

2012: The Year That Was + Resolutions

Yes, it's February. It's not even the first day of February. Yes, I should have written my New Year's Resolutions before 2012 even ended, or at least at the very beginning of 2013. But who are you to tell me what to do with my life? Who are you to dictate me when and how I do things? You are nobody. I own my life, and I can do whatever the frick I want to do with it. And no, there will be no photos in this posts. Just words. Suck it.

Thus resolution no. 1. I will not let anyone take the wheel (except Jesus, you know, just like the song says---because I'm religious and stuff). All my life, I've lived in fear. I may have been labeled as "strong," "firm," a "fighter." But you know what? I actually was never any of those. I've always woken up each morning, thinking about what I can do to please others, devising ways on how to be a better person---a better friend, a better daughter, a better granddaughter, a better partner, a better workmate, a better everything. I've never once considered how much happier I'd become if I had just let the shit get in the way. It's messier, but I'd be more comfortable that way. I always did well in school because I felt it was the only way I could make people happy. I obeyed people, most of the time putting me in a real bad spot. I let my relatives talk me into studying nursing, which I LOATHE. I hate the profession, I hate hospitals, I hate sick people. If you're sick, please don't let me take care of you. Believe me, it's for your own good. 

You know what else makes me sick about my profession? Well, it's the fact that when you're a registered nurse from a third-world country, everyone expects you to get the hell out of the country and make lots of green money that you are required to send home so that your relatives can buy 52-inch LCD TVs and put air-conditioning systems in every room of the house (including the bathroom if possible) and brag to their friends how their "apo" or "anak" or "auntie" or "cousin" is in the States, in Canada, in Saudi, in Bahrain, in New Zealand, in wherever! Sometimes, I meet people who ask me why I'm still here. Why? Should I really be somewhere else? I'm a Filipino. I live in the Philippines. What's so odd about that? Is a person's worth measured by the money he/she makes? Or what currency his/her salary is? That's just fucking lame. Seriously, people! Stop it. 

Resolution no. 2 brings us to the cosmetics industry. I've never been a fan of makeup, of facial cleansers, or anything relating to hygiene for that matter. But I just realized I'm 25---and overweight. The least I could do is take care of my skin and hair. It's so difficult to go on a diet because I was born to eat. If the zombie apocalypse came and there's no more food to eat, I'd definitely have no problem eating any one of you. I live to eat. Fuck me, right? So anyway, cosmetics. Recently, I've been addicted/obsessed with all these beauty products and I've been shelling out a relatively huge amount of money, which has brought me to near-bankruptcy. I have unpaid debts of this. Irresponsible, right? I know! Judge me.

Coming in third is my need for space and freedom. Yes, SPACE and FUCKING FREEDOM. I am so cooped up in this place that sometimes I can barely breathe (or maybe that's just because I tend to just sit down or lie down after a heavy meal, *shrugs*) I need to go out more, to see the world more. My father always says that I need to explore because the prime of our lives goes by too fast. But look, I've got a preschooler who needs my attention. And right now, I want to be the best mother I can be to him. But it wouldn't hurt to go around a bit, would it?

All in all, I just want to be someone that I enjoy being. You know, no pretensions, no hassles, no BS.

2012 went by too quick. Really, I didn't even feel it. Most of the highlights of the year were concentrated on the first two quarters. Of course, there's Hanson. My little fangirl self was all hysterical and happy in March. Then there's the hospitalization and diagnosis of this stupid medical condition I have. In April, I had a major relationship relapse which nearly tore Horace and I apart. Then May, I quit my job to focus and Yuri. Then June, July, August, September---well, these were what I called I-can-do-anything-I-frickin-want months. I was in Cebu and doing whatever. October, my favorite grandfather passed away---oh, the heartbreak. November and December were nothing new, except that these were the months that began the series of wedding invitations (still is on a streak right now!

I am not going to end this post by claiming that 2013 is going to be my year because that's a cliche, and it's cheesy and korni and baduy. 2013 will just be another year, and I will try my very best to actually live it.

How Do You Explain Death to a Four-Year-Old?

By far, this is one of the most common "qualifying" questions I have encountered in my life. In the last five years of employment, I've been asked the same question at least four to five times in job interviews. I've never really expected that soon enough, I would be faced with the challenge of actually having to discuss the concept of death and dying to a four-year-old---my four-year-old.