If I were to make a list of cool girls who I wish I could be, Dakota Johnson would top that list (and Lizzo would be a close second). Everything she does—lying to the world about loving limes, calling Ellen out while on her show, rocking every Gucci outfit known to mankind—is iconic and show-stopping. So, when I had the opportunity to sit down with her hairstylist, Mark Townsend, I jumped out of my office chair and into his salon one in approximately 2.5 seconds.

Not only did he style my hair incredibly, he gave me life-changing intel gathered from none other than Dakota herself. To make her locks look as full and have as much volume as possible, she uses a Kevin Murphy dry shampoo. According to Townsend, this hero product “makes hair look thicker and fuller, and is a great solution for any hair loss.”

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RELATED: Shoppers Swear This $10 Shampoo Leads To ‘Thicker, Fuller, Better Looking Hair’ In Just A Few Weeks

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Courtesy: Kevin Murphy.

Kevin Murphy Fresh Hair Dry Cleaning Spray

To get an effortlessly cool and full-looking hairstyle on his celeb clients (including the Olsen twins and Gal Gadot), Townsend uses a trick from Johnson’s book and applies the spray to the back of the scalp along the root. When you section off and divide the hair into layers and spread the product throughout this way, you’ll be able to achieve a noticeable lift that even a Bump-It (tbt) couldn’t achieve.

Kevin Murphy Fresh Hair Dry Cleaning… $37.07

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“She sprays at the crown of her head and roughs up this area to get a natural lift,” Townsend said, adding that the lightweight texturizing spray also has an incredible ability to “prevent waves from falling into each other” once hair is styled. 

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Courtesy: Dove.

Dove Care Between Washes Dry Shampoo 

Dating at any age can be challenging. Here are some ways you can deal with the most common things that can happen in language that might be new to you!

Being Dumped

Being dumped can be painful and impact our self-esteem. Sometimes rejection comes out of nowhere, and other times the writing was on the wall for a long time. Women tend to hang on to the last moment in fear of not finding another, being alone and losing self-respect.

If you’ve been dumped after any relationship it could be for a number of reasons.

Maybe you’ve been dumped by Mr. BBD, ‘Bigger Better Deal,’ the guy who wants to move on to the next. It could be a married man or someone that was already in a relationship on a ‘hiatus.’ Or it could have been a more sinister reason.

To make myself feel better, I would always create potential scenarios as a defense mechanism: he was married, really gay, a criminal, seriously dysfunctional, addict, psychotic, bankrupt or bad in bed.

Even if our keen radar has missed the red flags, there can be circumstances we know nothing about. It’s hard but don’t take it personally.

Dumped Online?

If you get dumped online by someone you thought was your soul mate, remember you never met this person. Who’s to say they really exist and if their story is real?

My friend Brenda corresponded with a guy named Brian, who romanced her for weeks online. He was keen to not only visit her but also move in to her house! Google is a marvelous invention as it yielded a criminal history for Brian and his brother.

Have You Been Ghosted?

If, after a flurry of dates, texts or phone calls, you suddenly get no response, you’ve been ghosted. Ghosting has nothing to do with Halloween or haunted houses. It’s the sudden ceasing of all communication when dating with no apparent reason.

This can also happen with a platonic relationship. Surely, everyone has had a friend that out of the blue stops contacting you. This is usually a result of them being too afraid to tell you they don’t want to continue.

It could take the form of avoidance because of fear to hurt feelings, to have difficult conversations and an uncomfortable confrontation.

Remember that before ghosting there may be the ‘Fade Away’ stage. The fade away is a slow road to the ‘dump.’ The person does not completely disappear but does not make himself or herself available. There are longer gaps in communication until complete silence settles.

What’s Love Bombing?

If you’ve been showered with affection, gifts and promise of a glorious future after a first encounter, you’ve been love-bombed. It’s a whirlwind romance where you received daily ‘love bombs.’

They are anxious to progress quickly and show love, care and affection by throwing daily love ‘bombs’ your way. Their true colors are revealed when they become possessive, manipulative and furious when you show interest in anything other than them.

Love-bombing is a form of abuse. It is intended to manipulate and exploit another’s weakness or insecurity. Watch out for the narcissist, psychopath and controller. They could be entertaining but best to avoid. But do keep all those gifts.

Benching and Cushioning

Benching, also known as ‘bread-crumbing,’ is when someone you’ve been dating stops agreeing to meet in person, but continues to contact you over text, email and social media. These people, much like a sports coach – keep you on the bench while they play the field. Mr. BBD?

Cushioning is when you keep others on the backburner, communicating just enough to keep your attention when in reality, you’re looking for the ‘BBD.’ In previous decades, remember there was a double standard when we would call this guy a ‘player’ and a woman ‘loose’ or worse names?

Haunting and Cyber Stalking

Remember that person that ghosted you? Haunting is when they decide to make a reappearance. However, instead of having any direct contact with you, they’ll follow you on social media. This seems to be more a millennial practice, but I wouldn’t put it past some tech savvy seniors.

Cyber stalking is similar, but you may not know about it. Many of us are guilty of endless Google searches on a person we just met. There are so many great websites and ways to look in on the profile of someone you have just met.

Practically, you can get information about their work, past and where they live. I admit to Google Earth for this purpose, do you?

Tips on How to Cope

• Ask yourself what would I do differently next time?
• Was there a recurring theme or attracting same wrong type?
• List qualities you want in a mate – the dealmakers and the deal-breakers.
• Get physical – walk, run, yoga and a massage.
• Try something new and outrageous.
• Set some new clear goals and get back in the dating game.

If you are looking for love in your life, don’t give up. The numbers are on your side. The more “no’s” you get, the closer to a “yes” you are. Eventually, you might find the right mate.

Stay positive and believe there’ll be no rejection, ghosting, love bombing, benching, cushioning or haunting in your future. Always hope for the old-fashioned love and romance.

For more dating tips check out the boomer dating guide in “Suddenly Single Sylvia.” The guide is based on a team of dating and singles experts as well as my own personal experience of dating after divorce and loss.

Have you personally gone through any of these dating break-up experiences? Are you still hopeful that you might find true love and romance in your 60s? Please share your thoughts below!

Meredith Marks’ Red Button Detail Suit at the Bar

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 2 Episode 5 Fashion

Although chaperone Meredith Marks may have no longer been seeing red after Jen Shah finally apologized to Brooks on this week’s episode of RHOSLC, we totally were with her red button detail suit. Which needless to say sets the bar for housewives fashion very, very high. 

Fashionably,

Faryn

Click Here to See Her Prabal Gurung Blazer

Click Here to See Her Prabal Gurung Pants

Click Here to See Her Gucci Bag

Photo #1: @MeredithMarks

Originally posted at: Meredith Marks’ Red Button Detail Suit

Candiace Dillard’s Marble Serving Tray Talking to Husband Chris Bassett

Real Housewives of Potomac Season 6 Episode 13 Decor

We love cheese/serving trays here at Big Blonde Hair and Candiace Dillard’s marble serving tray is no exception. Candiace served up a mini-charcuterie with drinks during a end-of work-day impromptu date with husband/husband-ger Chris Bassett. I respect Candiace’s stop-clock on shop-talk because its important to put business aside and make time to just be a couple when you work together. Besides, nothing spoils a good cheese board faster than conflict (which happens often in love and business as we’ve seen) and Candiace’s black marble is too pretty to not be enjoyed.

Until next time,

Chelsie

Click Here To Shop Candiace’s Black Marble Serving Tray

Originally posted at: Candiace Dillard’s Marble Serving Tray

As I looked out at my smiling family, in our lush backyard summer gardens on that sunny August day, I whispered to myself, “I never imagined this.”

Not in my craziest dreams did I ever expect to be a septuagenarian bride, exchanging wedding vows beside my Charlie, also in his 70s. Yet there I was, remarrying after the death of my late husband.

Fast forward three years. That’s when I recently posted this composite picture below on Facebook, including a card I made for my husband as we celebrated our 3^rd wedding anniversary. Our story delighted readers, as they gave us 162 heart-warming likes and comments.

Remarriage Wasn’t My Plan

I was a Boomer who hadn’t dated for decades when I entered the dating game in my 60s. Such a novice I was. A wise widow in her 90s advised me to stay away from men who “want you to be their purse or their nurse!” She was right! I met those fellows she described. My mantra for many years was “I’ll date, but I will never remarry!”

Several Suitors Had Money Problems

As a professional financial planner, I was comfortable asking money questions that pinpointed their heavy debts, spending disorders, negative bank balances, or no plan to fund retirement ahead.

Most were fun guys to date, but I declined marriage proposals as I saw danger ahead. (Indeed, in a scholarly research my team and I published later, we found that money issues were a big problem for many women who remarried later in life.)

Health Concerns Plagued Others

I remember a first dinner date with one older guy who said during dessert, “The way you cared for your husband during his cancer was phenomenal! Would you do that for me when we get hitched?”

Shocked at his question and the inference that a proposal might be coming soon, I stumbled through my chocolate cheesecake choice. I mumbled that we could talk about it later and suggested ending the evening soon. The next week I was ready when we met again.

“You asked me something strange before,” I said. “You seem like a nice fellow, but NO, I wouldn’t take care of you as I did for my husband. Tom and I were together for more than 20 years. I’ve only known you for a short time. Do you have some undisclosed health issues you haven’t told me about?”

He did! He reached for a pen and drew little pictures of his heart, aorta, stents, and more on a napkin. I sure got an anatomy lesson. Yes, he had major health problems and described himself as a “ticking time bomb.” Although we saw each other a few more times, I recommended that he needed to date a healthcare professional. Guess what? He married a nurse shortly afterward!

Later-Life Love Arrived

And then along came Charlie.

I feel blessed to have found later-life love with this man after our losses of widowhood. When we started dating, I felt comfortable – safe and secure. Indeed, we each had thought about priorities we wanted in a partner, and with the help of an online dating service, we came together as extremely compatible.

For example, family relationships were especially important for us both. Financial stability and general well-being were high on our lists, too. I also liked being older than Charlie, which will probably help to even out our life expectancies.  

Charlie and I were together for many years before we married. We meshed well from the start, and within a year were a committed couple. Most folks thought we were husband and wife already.

Although I previously never anticipated I would remarry, my stance softened. I wanted to be a wife again. Just felt right for me. And so… we tied the knot three years ago. For us and our blended family, this was a great decision.

A Second Type of Later-Life Love Also Fills My Life 

But wait, there’s more!

Now in my 75th year, I’m “reFired” with 5 great F words as shown in the graphic below! This focus gives me passion, purpose, and joy in retirement. Yes, I love waking up each morning excited about the day ahead.

Certainly, it’s NOT vintage retirement. This life chapter includes an emphasis on family, fun, focused purpose, friends, and fitness.

I’m still penning pieces centered on widows and money, while also doing legacy writing – stories and poems. Also speaking at selected conferences and college events. That includes leading classes on “How to Write Your Legacy Letter for Family and Friends.” I love assisting nonprofits to start or grow their endowments to help their organizations make a better world.

Since my guidebook for widows was published (about 80,000 copies in circulation now), I’ve moved forward in many ways. So can you – if you’ve experienced a major life transition, such as widowhood or divorce. Later-life love is rich with positive possibilities. The rewards can be very satisfying. Try it. You’ll like it!

Have you found later-life love? In whom – or in what? What later-life love gives you passion, purpose, and joy?