The process of life has a way of changing how we see ourselves. Women, in order to survive the journey, have to constantly adjust themselves, and often, in doing so, lose sight of who they really are.

Realizations Later in Life

Most of us don’t come to this realization until later in life, usually due to a life alternating circumstance that leaves us bewildered and battered. It is at this time that an onslaught of doubt in both the universe and ourselves sets in.

Coming to terms that we are actually in control of very little, including other people and what happens to us, is a bitter pill to swallow. We suddenly feel susceptible to life’s cruel twists of fate and realize that no one gets through unscathed.

When Avoidance Isn’t Working Anymore

When all hope is lost, there is only one option left and that is to finally peek inside of ourselves to get the answers that elude us everywhere else. For some of us, this is simply terrifying. What will we discover about ourselves?

We work hard, for years, to avoid this through denial, self-sabotage, drinking, shopping, and many other forms of escapism. The numbing effects of these are not working like they used to. Questions and emotions are bubbling up through the cracks, shaking the steady ground we thought we stood on.

The Universe Steps In

Some women do this to keep their family intact, some to outrun their feeling of emptiness, others to bury the past, and many due to fear of change. Why or how we do this is not important because eventually, we all run out of rope.

The universe will give us, at first, subtle signs that it is time to stop, listen and go within. Most of us ignore these signs because we have made an art form out of what we call self-protection. So that leaves the universe with no other choice but to circle back and give us a stronger nudge. Nudges come in the form of loss, disappointment, heartbreak, and other unpleasant, soul rattling experiences.

Time to Push Negative Thoughts Out

By quieting the mind and going inside ourselves, we can push out the negative self-talk in tiny bursts. It might only last two seconds and come back – but we have won! You pushed it away and in its place you made room for positivity, self-love, and forgiveness.

You will gradually see that the negative self-talk during the day is less frequent and at least you are aware that it’s happening. Now, you are able to push it away or stop and replace it with a positive thought. The good thoughts will outweigh and crush the negative ones.

Facing the Dark Parts

When you start to get better at going within, you can start to feel your body while meditating. You might be drawn to your lower back, for example, and may even have lower back issues. Just concentrate or put yourself in that part of your body and see what happens.

Just stay with it, you do not have to relive anything or force yourself to remember something. Just stay there, and if feelings come up, acknowledge them and they will float away. We all have light and dark within ourselves. Of course, we want to focus on the light side, but real change comes from exploring and accepting the dark side of ourselves, too. This can be difficult, but it is the core of doing inner work.

Finally Discovering Your Inner Beauty

I believe that as women, part of our rite of passage later in life is to discover our inner beauty. Perhaps partly due to our outer beauty fading away, we turn inward instead. Whatever the reason, the journey of going inward is always a loving gift to give your self.

Women like us, who have lived, loved and lost, gain wisdom, peace, and self-love. You can’t have one without the other. It’s the light versus dark concept again. But by going within we can transmute the dark and make much more room for the light.

Don’t we want to live the rest of our lives in peace, acceptance, and love? They all are residing inside of us, and we have the power to find them.

What experiences in your life made you feel vulnerable and scared? What things do you do to avoid real self-discovery? Do you know the dark parts of yourself? If yes, how did you discover them?

One of the best and easiest ways to show off your unique sense of style is by coloring your hair. Or, maybe you’re like me and simply bore easily with your beauty choices. Either way, it’s the kind of pick-me-up that is initially exhilarating but can easily get stressful AF if you aren’t prepared for the maintenance that comes after. Between highlights, dyes, single process, and double process color, there are so many options out there for getting your hair just the way you want it. But even once you decide on what you want, you still don’t always know what you’re getting yourself into, whether it be at the salon or at home.

For instance, should you wash your hair before you dye it? Should you warn your friends and family that your appearance is about to change dramatically? (For the record, the answer to both is no.) Here are 10 things no one will ever tell you about coloring your hair—but should know.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Sally Beauty is a STYLECASTER sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

1. When to Get a Keratin Treatment

Sally Beauty.

If you’re getting a keratin treatment, it’s best to get it when you color your hair. Whether it’s directly after or within a couple of days, an at-home keratin treatment helps to seal in the color and prevent excess damage from bleach and other dye irritants.

2. Tricky, Tricky Multidimensional Color

Sally Beauty.

Multidimensional color can trick the eye into thinking there’s more volume, so don’t be afraid to have fun with different tones; especially if you have finer strands. If you look closely at photos of most celebrities, their hair isn’t just one shade: Universal hair-crushes like Miranda Kerr and Julianne Hough have multi-tonal dye jobs, which highlight their faces and give the illusion of more movement and body. For an at-home color option, check out the formula above (note: for blonde and platinum hair, we recommended seeing a professional for a consultation.)

3. You Need More Than Just Shampoo

Rahua.

Buy: Rahua Hydration Detangler + UV Barrier $32

Shampoo isn’t the only thing you need to buy to protect your color. Yes, you should be using color-treated shampoo and conditioner formulated specifically for your hair color, but you should also be using a color-protecting styling spray and a UV spray. Harmful UV rays can fade the color of your hair, making salon trips more and more necessary.

4. Use At-Home Cover Up

Color Wow.

Buy: Color Wow Root Cover Up $34.50

Whether you get a kit for root touch-ups or simply use a touch-up pen, stretch the amount of time between salon visits with a quick fix of your own. This best-selling powder brushes into roots to camouflage growth–and is even sweat-proof.

5. Use Moisturizer and Petroleum Jelly

Vaseline.

Buy: Vaseline Petroleum Jelly $6.59

Dripping dye onto your skin is a good look for no one. Use your regular moisturizer on your face, then apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly around your hairline before coloring—this way, your skin is protected, and you’ll be able to wipe off the color immediately once you’re done.

6. It’s OK to Mess Up

Color Oops.

Buy: Color Oops Hair Color Remover $14.99

Not that we recommend messing up, but it’s comforting to know that with products like Color Oops, your hair color catastrophe can be washed out completely if absolutely necessary.

7. No Ammonia, Coal Tar, and Lead Acetate

Revlon.

Buy: Revlon Total Color Hair Dye $6.98

There is a slew of gnarly ingredients that can hide in at-home hair color products, so you should keep an eye out for all of them. Ingredients like ammonia (which can completely dry and fry your hair) and lead acetate (uh, lead poisoning?) should be avoided like the plague. If possible, try to use the most natural hair color you can find, and talk with your colorist about which products they’re using.

8. Single vs. Double-Process Color

L’Oreal.

Buy: L’Oreal Colorista Bleach $9.89

A single process is exactly like what it sounds like: applying one color to the hair at one time. A double process requires bleaching out the hair—the first process—and then toning the color—the second process—to get the desired result. Double processing takes longer and is harsher on your hair, so you should be aware of that going into it.

9. Going Darker Is Less Damaging

Clairol.

Buy: Clairol Nice n Easy Hair Color $6.92

Going lighter means stripping hair of some color and moisture while going darker means depositing color into your hair. It’s the basic laws of subtraction and addition: Adding color is less damaging; removing your color is more damaging.

10. Leave Your Hair Dirty Before You Start

pH Plex.

Buy: pH Plex Full Service Kit $13.99

Color not only holds better to dirty hair—clean hair can be too slippery—but if you wash your hair before coloring, the dye or bleach may burn your scalp because it won’t have the natural oils to protect it. If you have to arrive with clean hair, try adding a little hair oil to your scalp to help create a barrier against bleach irritation or a scalp-protecting formula.

A version of this article was originally published in May 2015.

Is there anything better than getting your hair cut and/or colored, leaving the salon and feeling like a supermodel? No, we don’t think there is. But because of the current climate, seeing your hairstylist might not be as easy and getting your split ends cut off or your roots done might just be a quick in-and-out appointment without all the fun. That’s one reason why we’re so obsessed with actors and influencers who switch up their look on a dime. We’re jealous, sure, but it’s also aspirational AF. So, we’re rounding up the best celebrity hair makeovers of 2021 as they come so you can drool with us.

Though, it’s not just about drooling over these looks. Saving this page and referring back to it at the hair salon can help you decide if curtain bangs or a bob is right for you. Hairstylists actually love when you show them photos because they can get a real feel of the vibe you’re looking for and can adjust the look into something that suits your wants and needs. This goes for color, too. Did you ask for balayage when you really meant a shadow root? It’s easier to just give examples of what you want.

Some of these celebrity looks aren’t permanent. Stars love to play around with wigs, extensions and faux bangs. But there’s nothing wrong with that. Real or faux, we’re taking inspo from our favorites to figure out our next look for 2021 and beyond.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Source: Instagram

Florence Pugh

The actress is giving us Y2K vibes with pastel purple ends. We’re not sure who did the color (maybe she did it herself?) but the gorgeous waves were created by hairstylist Peter Lux.

Instagram.

Demi Lovato

Mullets are trending like crazy and apparently, Demi Lovato got the memo. The front of her hair is short and the back is all the way past her shoulders.

Instagram.com/sophiet.

Sophie Turner 

Just a week after debuting piece-y bangs, the Game of Thrones star went fully red! She shared a cute mirror photo wearing Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour merch and showing off her matching red Casetify Cottage Core case.

Source: Instagram

Ciara

“Pelirroja,” Ciara wrote on Instagram. (Pelirroja is Spanish for redhead.) The singer is looking stunning with long ginger hair giving off a bit of a sexy princess Ariel vibe.

Instagram.com/sophiet.

Sophie Turner 

“Ya gal’s bang’d up,” the Game of Thrones star wrote on Instagram stories over the weekend. The choppy, piece-y style is different from the blunt bangs we’ve seen her rock before. We love this low-key fringe for summer because it’s easy to pin back or grow into curtain bangs.

Source: Instagram

Kim Kardashian

We’ve seen the media mogul try just about every hairstyle but the lob will always be our favorite. This one has a gorgeous curled-under ’70s vibe.

TikTok.

Charli D’Amelio

We’re obsessing over D’Amelio’s new chop with ’90s-style layers that feel so fresh for summer.

Source: Instagram

Miranda Cosgrove

She’s back, baby! Hairstylist Clayton Hawkins gave Cosgrove pretty blonde highlights for the iCarly revival.

Instagram.com/kimkardashian.

Kim Kardashian

Look who’s blonde again! But it was only for a few hours. Kardashian was shooting an upcoming campaign either for KKW Beauty or Skims. She actually did get her eyebrows bleached and we actually loved the look with her naturally dark hair. But then when they put the blonde wing on it was like, whoa. Right before she left the studio, she snapped a photo showing us she’s back to brunette again, including the brows.

Source: Instagram

Sabrina Carpenter

Say goodbye to curtain bangs and hello to ‘Bardot bangs!’ Hairstylist Laurie Heaps gave Sabrina Carpenter piece-y bombshell bangs inspired by the iconic French star Brigitte Bardot. We’re obsessed.

Source: Instagram

Selena Gomez

In an Instagram photo promoting her beauty brand, Rare Beauty, in April 2021, Gomez showed off her newly dyed blonde hair. The picture saw the former Disney Channel star light blonde tresses and dark roots. She most recently dyed her hair blonde in 2017 in a color dubbed by her hairstylist Nikki Lee as “Nirvana Blonde.” Gomez’s 2021 color was also done by Lee and Riawna Capri. “We’ve been doing Selena’s color for over a decade now. She typically keeps it pretty natural, but this time she went for a big change. This blonde is unique to her as we had to make sure there was an equal balance of cool and warm for her skin tone. It’s an edgier look and perfect for summer,” the hairstylists said in a statement.

https://twitter.com/eolsenarchive/status/1372591228886396930

Elizabeth Olsen

At the virtual launch of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier miniseries, Olsen debuted a totally different look from her usual copper-blonde hair. The bangs! The darker color! So chic.

Source: Instagram

Chrissy Teigen

We love how Teigen is playing around with wigs lately and experimenting with hair color. Although she only kept the silver shade for a day, we hope she brings it back. It looks amazing on her.

Source: Instagram

Kristen Bell

It seems like Bell is dressed up in character to film a TV show or movie but we’re loving these piecey bangs on her and we hope she keeps them up IRL.

Source: Instagram

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

While filling us in on the Covid-19 relief package, AOC showed off her adorable new haircut. When followers commented saying they loved the chop, she replied, “Let’s not start another national crisis over it, right?”

Source: Instagram

Gigi Hadid

The model mom returned to the runway, walking in the Versace fall 2021 show. Hairstylist Panos Papandrianos wrote “Ginger for Gigi” on Instagram, making us believe he really did dye the model’s hair this gorgeous red shade for the occasion.

Source: Instagram

Olivia Rodrigo

The ‘Drivers License’ singer jumped on the curtain bang trend thanks to hairstylist Clayton Hawkins. They’re subtle but make a big difference in her look. One interesting note: Sabrina Carpenter has them too.

Source: Instagram

Lana Condor

The actress looks so great in this pastel pink wig, maybe she’s considering doing it IRL? “Get ‘Anyone Else But You; to 5 mil streams and I’ll keep it,” she wrote on Instagram. Though, she told STYLECASTER last year, “I don’t know that I’d ever dye dye my hair. I think my mom would kill me, you’d know?”

Source: Instagram

Ashley Graham

The model had everyone thinking maybe she got a pixie cut but her hair is actually the result of new growth post hair loss. “Postpartum baby hairs come through!” she wrote on Instagram.

Source: Instagram

Emma Roberts

A new color and cut for the birthday girl! “Emma always looks and feels her best blonde,” said her hairstylist and Nine Zero One co-founder Nikki Lee. “We decided to keep her a warm blonde and went for a ’90s supermodel vibe. With a new baby and a big birthday, we went out with a bang! Lisa Satorn added extensions for length and fullness. I kept her haircut free and flowing with piecey layers around the face.” Lee keeps her client’s hair healthy with the In Common 3 Step Treatment System ($105 at In Common).

Source: Instagram

Katy Perry

Why not start with one of the biggest hair chameleons? Though she’s been ultra-blonde for a while, we can’t help but miss a brunette Katy Perry. It’s classically chic and fits her personality. So, when we saw these photos of backstage at Jimmy Kimmel Live, we were so excited to see the long brown hair. But it seems it’s a wig and she’s already back to blonde.

My mother had a fabulous collection of what is now called “fashion” jewelry, much of it acquired through her sister’s costume jewelry company. One of the greatest thrills of my childhood was walking through the aisles of stacked wooden drawers at my aunt’s office warehouse.

Each drawer held a sample of the pieces inside: colorful dangling cluster beaded earrings, chain necklaces with keepsake pendants, button clip-on “pearl” earrings surrounded with tiny rhinestones. And, oh the rhinestones! The glittering, cascading rhinestone earrings and tennis bracelets!

So when my mother died, we went through her jewelry collection, figuring there might be some wonderful items there that the younger generations in the family would enjoy. Sadly, as is the case with a lot of costume pieces, it all looked very tired and worn.

That’s the thing about jewelry. The better stuff lasts forever, or at least looks new for a very long time. And even if it isn’t new, it usually has lasting value as a classic period piece with sentimental value and personal history. So it’s kind of hard to let it go.

The Sentimental Value of Jewelry

Although most of the things my aunt sold were costume, my mother acquired for me a small cultured pearl necklace from the very few higher end items in the inventory. I wear it to this day.

Jewelry carries our memories. It marks the big milestones in life: weddings, births, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations. It can be a gift to acknowledge and celebrate a dear friendship, or received from someone who appreciated something we had done for them.

And it’s sometimes the very thing that we reward ourselves with for making it through a challenging time, like surviving a scary diagnosis and treatment, or an achievement like completing a degree for ourselves later in life, or even a divorce.

Interestingly, the jewelry business was one sector that actually did very well during the Covid pandemic; it actually even grew. People bought talismans to protect themselves from the evil eye. Some bought jewelry etched with uplifting sayings.

Some bought signature or initial necklaces as a kind of statement: “I’m still here, I’m alive.” Others just simply craved something of beauty to get them through the dark times. And since pretty much everybody was living in sweats, jewelry became the one thing that made them still feel feminine.

When and What to Give Away… and to Whom

All that said the very concept of giving away these pieces can certainly tug at the heart. But, as we age, we tend to look around at all our stuff, especially if we are planning to downsize, and think, “Who is going to want this?”

In our heightened awareness about global waste, there is a tendency, especially among the younger generations, to turn away from brand new acquisitions. They also tend to want experiences and not things.

Then there’s their concern about not flaunting possessions in the faces of those who have much less. But the flip side of that is their growing embrace of the re-use culture: recycling clothing, furniture, household items. And something inherited from an ancestor might carry more cache and less stigma than a newly bought piece of jewelry.

Depending on your heirs and their lifestyle, there are some things that they might love, even some of them among the jaded younger generations. An expensive watch, men’s or women’s, is now kind of “cool,” specifically for its retro vibe. This would make a fabulous graduation gift this month.

Simple pieces, like gold chains, fine or chunky links, are eternally fashionable, and as some of the newer gold plate versions look real, only your recipient will know it’s the real deal. They will feel glorious wearing it. As for rings, my husband wore his Dad’s family signet pinky ring for decades.

But as these items are not of equal monetary value, one estate planner strongly advises her clients to sell all their jewelry before they die, specifically to avoid being blamed for engaging in favoritism. This is not a bad idea if there is some history of familial in-fighting among the heirs.

And of course, giving monetary gifts from the sale of those items for special occasions – graduations, weddings, birthdays, etc. – while you are still alive assures that they aren’t counting the days until you kick the bucket.

My Own Jewelry and Thoughts on the Subject

After the death of her aunt, my sister-in-law and I were looking through some of the estate items she left behind. She had already bequeathed to me her very extensive silver flatware collection, which was a tremendous gift. I use it often, not saving it just for special occasions, and always say a “thank you” to her in heaven when I do.

But when we went through her aunt’s jewelry collection, much of which was made for her by her husband (who as a hobby made gorgeous gold jewelry), my sister-in-law said, “What do you think about giving these away to each of the girls (her nieces) for their birthdays?”

I know she phrased it that way because she is an attorney. She states the answer in the question. I imagine she thought I was eyeing some of those items. I replied, “I think that’s a great idea!”

The thing is, and at the risk of sounding un-sentimental and a little weird, I personally don’t accept jewelry handed down by my own ancestors, let alone anyone else’s. Maybe that’s because superstitious people, who purport to see or sense “energies,” suggest that jewelry not only carries our memories, but also the long-term energetic imprint of the wearer.

So, the only pricey jewelry in my collection consists of two gemstone rings that were specifically prescribed for me based on my astrological chart. I wear them daily. They are said to increase my good vibes and ward off any bad “juju” I may have earned in this or a previous lifetime. I pity the soul who will inherit them… maybe I should just burn them when I die.

The rest of my jewelry collection consists of a lot of costume jewelry. Frankly, it suits my style and I love playful things. It’s not often you will find expensive fine jewelry that could be labeled as particularly playful. They tend to be more “serious” and showy kinds of things. Besides, I’d rather spend my money on clothes… or to just give it away now.

Have you collected some high quality jewelry over the years? Do you wear these regularly? Or are they just sitting in a vault somewhere? How do you feel about letting these items go? And to whom would you give them, and when? Or are you just planning to sell them at some point?

Sutton Stracke’s Green Square Sunglasses

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 11 Episode 4 Fashion

Lately, I have been reallllly into bold and oversized sunglasses. So when Sutton Stracke walked up wearing her green square sunglasses I was sold. The bigger sunglasses IMO are the best for days when you’re not on your A game. I just feel like they hide all of your problems. And by problems I mean a little blemish or feeling puffier than normal (just some of my many). All you have to do is just throw on a nice big pair of sunglasses and voilà, you’d never suspect a thing. Even if you are on your A game they simply just enhance your outfit making you an A+.

Though for Sutton the only problem she may be trying to disguise with her very chic sunglasses, is her possible tears. So when the purple facial roller isn’t there for you in the time of need, the green square sunglasses are.

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here to Shop Her Gucci Green Square Sunglasses

Originally posted at: Sutton Stracke’s Green Square Sunglasses