In a past life, I thought to ask the barber which clipper settings she uses on my hair was simply good old fashioned small talk. As it turns out—wow, actually useful information to remember when you can’t get a shape up for weeks or worse, months. I’m not volunteering as tribute to do this right now, but knowing how to fade hair at home is a skill I may have to eventually use.

As it turns out, the process isn’t as scary as I thought. According to Oswald Wiggan, Master Barber with The Art of Shaving, there are a couple things to consider first. Most important is deciding whether you’re doing this on yourself, on someone else or vice versa. Of course, another person “can see the back of your head more easily and make sure your neckline is straight,” but don’t throw in the towel if you’re solo.

HYOUJIN.

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Just make sure you have a large mirror with a handle so you can guide yourself. A neck guard is also helpful if you want to clean up the neckline and of course, a towel to keep your clothes from getting covered in hair.

Quality Time.

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“Make sure you have plenty of light so you can see what you are doing,” adds Wiggan. “Shadows can blur the area you are trying to cut and make it harder to get a clean line.” And if you can, don’t give up on a messy style too easily. Play around and see if it can be finagled to look presentable with styling products because ultimately, haircuts are best left with the pros. But if it can’t wait…

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Clippers and shears are required to properly fade hair. For the most common short style, one that’s high and tight or faded on the sides, you’ll want to use clippers on the side and shears on top with a graduated approach. This is when that whole “knowing your barber’s clipper setting” comes in handy. If you don’t, schedule that conveniently timed catch-up over Zoom or text, like, right now.

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First, comb and separate the top from the sides so you have a clear idea of where the growth is. Imagine a line that divides the two and if needed, rest a comb there while trimming the sides to keep everything even. Also, avoid doing this on wet hair since it can elongate or shrink the actual length, which leads to mistakes.

Source: Instagram

Next, grab the clippers. Remember that this process requires finite detail, especially if you have hair like mine that grows in a million different directions. (With that being said, it may also be helpful to ask your barber for the exact patterns they cut, specifically, every spot they go with and against your natural hair grain so you don’t give yourself a bald spot. Yiiiikes.)

Generally speaking, you can trim against the grain on the sides and back of the head. “Start with a lower setting and work your way up in small increments. Where you start and end will depend on how close to your skin the lower portion of your hair cut is,” says Wiggan.

Go around the perimeter of your head a couple times so you don’t miss any spots and remove the neck guard after to clean up the neckline if you want. “You can do this with clippers or by shaving the area,” adds Wiggan.

The Art of Shaving.

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If the top of your hair needs to be trimmed, use a comb or your fingers to section the hair and use shears to cut on the outside of the comb or your hand in a clean line. For those with textured hair, clippers are typically used on the top of the head, too. You can also do this at home, but remember to start with the lowest setting as you would on the sides and work your way up.

Source: Instagram

In a video for cleaning up the beard and neckline, Wiggan also says not to underestimate the power or simply snipping flyaways which can more quickly upgrade a grown-out look. Once you’re finished, use a brush to remove any loose hairs from the face and voila—you’re good as new.

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Personally, I like washing my hair and working in a moisturizer immediately after, but it’s up to you. Ultimately, the most important tip to keep in mind is that fading your hair at home should be about low-key maintenance, not a dramatic transformation.

“Remember the goal is to clean yourself up. It’s not to recreate your look, but to maintain your look,” says Wiggans.

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 and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Last year, I set up an
online exercise studio for people who want to improve their balance, feel
stronger, and move more easily.

When I tell people
about the Studio, they sometimes say things like…

“That sounds like such
a great idea, but I’m not the kind of person who could do that.”

“I’m not motivated
enough to exercise by myself.”

“I wish I could be
more disciplined to do videos like that.”

Every time I reply by
saying, “It’s not about you, or how motivated or disciplined you are…. It’s
about how easy you make it for yourself. You can do it; you just need to make
it easier.”

So, here’s how to make
it easy and set yourself up for success with exercising at home.

First of all, why does
exercising at home matter?

Use It or Lose It!

This is what I am
saying to anyone who will listen at the moment:

If we aren’t using our
muscles, we are losing strength. If we aren’t putting strain on our bones, we
are losing bone mineral density. And if we aren’t challenging our balance, we
are losing our balance capabilities.

What’s So Great
About Exercising at Home?

Exercising at home is
brilliant for so many reasons. And, right now, it’s the only option for many of
us.

You can do it any time
– whenever it’s convenient for you. Even when you have only 5 or 10 minutes to spare.

We’ve been slightly
brainwashed by the fitness industry into thinking that, unless we do a whole
hour of exercise in one go, it’s not enough.

Any exercise is better
than none, and there’s lots of evidence that doing small bouts of exercise
throughout the day is better than doing one longer session and then doing
nothing for the rest of the day.

If you are having
trouble with your balance, then it’s even better news. The best way to improve
your balance is to do a few minutes of balance exercise
most days. You don’t need much equipment, and it’s very easy to
do balance exercises at home.

Whatever kind of
exercise you want to do, even 5 or 10 minutes is great. If you are doing the
right sort of exercise, at the right level for you, you will feel better after.
You will feel physically better, more energised, and more positive.

So, how can you make
exercising at home easy?

Don’t Try and Go
It Alone!

Everyone we know who
has been successful with home exercise has had support. Whether it’s a trainer
who comes to the house (not possible right now, of course) or following a
program, having that guidance and support is crucial.

Books and printed
programs can be great, and if they work for you, keep using them! Many people
find videos to be more helpful though. You can hear the instructions and see
the demonstration as well. Plus, it feels like someone is in the room
encouraging you.

There are so many great
videos online (and lots of terrible ones too, so be careful!). You can look on
YouTube, websites, or various apps. Make sure that your instructor is qualified
and experienced and that the exercises are at the right level for you.

Here’s a short video
you can do now – enjoy these quick exercises to relieve stiffness in your upper
back, neck, and shoulders.

Start Small

The smaller the
better.

Seriously! The two
minutes of exercise that you actually do are infinitely better than an hour of
exercise that you planned but didn’t quite manage.

Make it as easy as
possibly to succeed. Plan to stand on one leg for 30 seconds while your eggs
boil. That’s it!

You will start to
develop a habit and that’s where the magic begins. You will find yourself
wanting to do more, and it will soon snowball into something bigger.

Don’t Rely on Your
Memory

Yes, exercising is
good for your brain and your memory, but you might still not be ready to rely
on it! So, set reminders (yes, even for that 30 second one-leg stand).

Reminders can include:

• Creating a calendar note.
• Putting a notification on your phone.
• Sticking a post-it note on your fridge or laptop.

Or do them all –
whatever works for you!

Prepare Your
Environment

So, you’ve got a
program to follow, your reminder worked, and you’re ready to exercise.

But, if you don’t have
everything you need in one place, you will spend more than the time planned for
the exercise trying to organise yourself.

Get it ready in
advance, and you’ll be straight into it next time!

Here’s how to set
yourself up for success:

• Decide where you are going to exercise.
• Have your equipment ready in one place (including any
  clothing, e.g., shoes).
• Have your book/ printed program/ tablet or other
  device in the right place.
• If using a computer or tablet, make sure it’s charged
  in advance.
• Save passwords, links, etc. so you can get to your
  videos quickly.

Reward and
Celebrate

Celebrating your
successes (yes, even 30 seconds of exercise) is crucial.

Some of our members
put stickers on their calendar every time they exercise, others reward their
efforts afterwards by doing something they enjoy (drinking coffee with the
newspaper, calling a friend or checking on their garden).

At the end of the week
or month they might reward themselves with something more substantial. But it’s
the immediate rewards that are most important for imprinting these habits. Find
something that’s meaningful for you and keep doing it.

Motivation Isn’t
the Issue After All – Set Yourself Up for Success!

The people I work with
are relieved when they realise it’s not about how motivated they are. It’s a
great feeling when you understand it’s about making it easy for yourself and
setting yourself up for success.

If you want to exercise from home, take a look at the Studio from Vida Wellness.

It’s an online exercise studio for people who want to improve their balance and posture, feel stronger, and move more easily. Members enjoy an extensive Video Library, community support, and advice from specialist instructors.

What could you do to
make it easier to exercise at home? Do you need more support or a program to
follow? Could you set your environment up better? Join the conversation below!

Porsha Williams’ Floral Jacket at the Hair Store

Season 12 Episode 21 Real Housewives of Atlanta Fashion

I was verrrrrry glad that Porsha Williams wore this floral jacket to the hair outlet while chatting with Dennis and his mother. One, it was super cute. Two, I was especially grateful for the extra layer of fabric when Dennis pretended to breastfeed from Porsha. I’ll definitely file that away under things I can’t unsee, right next to the “Sold Out” label on this stylish spring piece.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

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Originally posted at: Porsha Williams’ Floral Jacket

I can’t quite remember what caused me to part ways with my last roommate. It was 50 years ago and I have a vague memory of an unannounced party, a broken window and… finding my dog covered head to toe in ice-cream and hot fudge sauce? No… wait. That last part can’t be correct!

In any case, something bad happened and I swore to myself that I would never have another roommate. And, until I met my husband, I stuck to my guns, living frugally in small apartments and avoiding co-living situations of all kinds.

It wasn’t until I started Sixty and Me, a community of over 500,000 baby boomers, that I started to reconsider my position on roommates. In fact, the more I heard from other women like me who had decided to give living with a roommate a second look.

Here are 3 reasons to consider getting a roommate in the years leading up to, or during, retirement according to boomers who have already taken the plunge.

Keep Your Living Costs Low

Probably the most obvious reason to get a roommate is to reduce your living costs. Not only can a roommate help you to cover your rent (or mortgage), but, they can also help with utilities.

As one of our community members, Susan W commented, “When I got divorced in my late 50s, I still had 10 years left on my mortgage. I fought with my husband to keep the house only to find myself at risk of losing it for lack of money to pay the mortgage and other expenses. So, I made the decision to get a roommate… at least for as long as I had a mortgage. Now, 15 years later, my house is paid off, but, I still have a roommate. I guess I really like having someone else around. And, the extra cash really helps, especially now that I have retired!”

As we have discussed before, an extra $500 in income is like having $150,000 in retirement savings. So, getting a roommate really can make you feel richer. And, this doesn’t even account for the income you can make by investing your rent or mortgage savings!

Stay Social and Fight Loneliness

Loneliness is a big problem for older adults. How big? Well, depending on the study you read, between 33-40% of people over 50 experience loneliness some of the time. And, when I conducted my own survey of our Sixty and Me community members, 75% of them said that they occasionally felt lonely.

To be clear, being alone is not the same as being lonely. I know plenty of people who genuinely love the silence that comes from living by themselves. But, for the rest of us, getting a roommate can help to fight loneliness and keep us social.

As a community member, James A said, “My work has always been my life. I didn’t really realize it at the time, but, all those coffee room conversations and pointless meetings really did help me to feel connected. When I retired, I found myself alone every day of the week – except Sunday, when I went to church. A couple of years into retirement, a friend suggested that I get a roommate. I was pretty skeptical, but, I decided to give it a shot. The guy that I share my apartment with now is great. He’s not much of a talker, just like me. But, we get along and it’s nice to have someone to have a beer with while you’re watching the footie.”

Stay Safe and Independent

When we are in your 40s, 50s and even 60s, most of us don’t think about the fact that we will one day lose our independence. Then, one day, it hits us. We take a fall down the stairs. Or, we slip in the bathroom and bump our head. Or, perhaps we find out that we are suffering from an illness. And, suddenly, we realize that our independence is at risk.

Getting a roommate can’t protect you from every possible injury, but, it can help you to get help quickly if the unexpected happens.

As Jane R from our community said, “It might sound crazy, but, I actually think my roommate saved my life. It was the stupidest thing. I was walking from my car to the house one evening when I slipped on a patch of ice and hit my head. My right arm was also in a lot of pain and I was pretty scared. I remember just sitting there looking up at the lights above my door thinking ‘This is it. I’m just going to die here in the snow.’ Luckily, Amy was in the kitchen and had seen the car pulling into the driveway. She came out to check on me when I didn’t come in after a few minutes and called an ambulance. We still live together and I will always be grateful to her for helping me that night. I don’t know what I would have done had I been living on my own.”

How to Find a Roommate After 60

There are dozens of websites that claim to be able to help you find a roommate. Some of the most popular are Roomiematch.com, Roommates.com and Roomi. But, to be completely honest with you, I haven’t met too many people who have successfully found a roommate through these sites. They are simply too focused on Millennials and many also require you to filter through plenty of scam/spam messages to get to the real gems who might actually be a good fit as a roommate.

You may have a better chance with Silvernest.com – an online home-sharing platform that pairs boomers, retirees, empty nesters and other older adults with compatible housemates.

Most of the boomers that I know have found a roommate through their own network – either online or in their neighborhood. For example, if I were looking for a roommate, here are a few things that I would do.

First, I would reach out to my Facebook network. I would post a message on my Facebook page. Then, I would reach out to all of my friends who still live near me to ask for their suggestions.

Second, I would go for a walk around my neighborhood, knocking on doors and letting people know that I was looking for a roommate. Who knows, maybe one of my neighbors would even be interested in joining forces.

Third, I would post a “roommate wanted” notice at my local community center and in my church. And, speaking of church, I would also talk to my church’s leader to see if they have any roommate recommendations. Chances are they would!

Finally, I would look through my contacts on LinkedIn to see who might be able to recommend a roommate. Who knows? Maybe one of my colleagues would have found him or herself in a similar situation to me. Or, maybe one of their friends might be interested.

Deciding to get a roommate is a major decision… and one that should not be taken lightly. But, if you can deal with finding someone else’s socks in your laundry basket and the occasional box of old Chinese food in the fridge, getting a roommate really can help you to live a richer life in retirement.

It’s not just about the money. It’s also about the peace of mind that comes from having someone you trust around. And, who knows, your new roommate may even become a friend.

What do you think of the idea of getting a roommate in the years leading up to (or during) retirement? Do you have a roommate now? How would you describe your experience? 

We keep saying, and you probably keep hearing, that you should refrain from making any big hair changes at home. You don’t want to spend a ton of money and time fixing it when salons re-open. Celebrities don’t seem to be heeding to this advice. Hilary Duff’s blue bob is the latest example of a star doing a big hair transformation while physical distancing. This is key because the chances of them having their glam team, or at least a colorist, at home with them are slim (though, it is possible). In Duff’s case, we’re not exactly sure who gave her this new look but we have to admit, it’s pretty awesome.

The Younger star debuted her shorter and, well, bluer hair over Easter weekend. We’re so used to seeing her with a sunny blonde hue that it’s pretty jarring at first. But it’s not the first time Duff has gone blue and probably won’t be the last. While not working, she seems to have a lot of fun with hair colors.

Source: Instagram

While giving her daughter Banks a bath, we got a better look at Duff’s hair on her Instagram Stories. It actually looks like she went fully brunette, but with blue ombré highlights. This is seriously tough to pull off on your own, though we have some theories.

Image: Instagram.com/hilaryduff.

It’s probable Duff just removed her hair extensions, revealing a shorter ‘do. For the color, her light brown roots started growing in so she probably dyed all the leftover blonde this cool blue shade, making it look like highlights. Any color conditioner can help you achieve a look like this and it’s unlikely to damage your hair. It’s actually a really fun way to play around with a new hue while you’re stuck (safe) at home. We’re hoping Duff keeps this around for a little while.

At the end of this physical distancing, will there be any faux blondes left?