The Hair Rebonding Saga

Beautiful skin usually goes with an equally nice hair. Unfortunately, I wasn't blessed with either. I have had acne flare ups since high school and my hair has suffered from treatments including perm, straightening and coloring. In 2002, right after passing the physicians' board exams, I rewarded myself with a trip to the salon.

I went to Hairbytes in Shangrila mall for straightening and hot oil treatment because my hair looked exhausted as if it was stressed out from the board exams as well. The attendant advised me to go for hair rebonding instead. At that time, it was the latest buzz in hair technology and I usually heard celebrities undergoing that treatment. Kris Aquino and Pops Fernandez were among the remarkable ones to endorse it. To me, it seemed unaffordable and was reserved for the celebrities. After much prodding and thinking that it was a treat for myself, I gave in. I paid P3000 for my short hair, just a few inches below the ears. I totally loved the effects that hair relaxing/straightening became alien to me.

Months after that, I managed to grow my hair long, which I never did before. I always sported a short hair because the in-between stages was just too difficult for me. Though I have a naturally straight hair, it tends to be fluffy and needs a constant dose of hair creme or gel to keep it tamed. With rebonding, I was finally able to pull off a sleek, long hair which I've always dreamed off. It cost around P7,000 when I had my hair about the level of the 8th thoracic vertebra , milk rebonded at the Ricky Reyes Salon in Megamall. I had a couple of rebond sessions in between. I even tried doing the procedure on myself with a DIY rebonding kit. The result was drab, though. Doing it on your own hair is not as easy as applying hair color on yourself. Find somebody who can do it for you unless you're ready for a disaster.

According to my husband, it was my long hair that caught his attention the first time he saw me. Too bad, I had to lose my high maintenance locks when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. I had to go through chemo. See how much of a bitch cancer can get. I went bald and had to wait for my hair to grow back. From 2006 up til now, my hair has always been short. I had to get frequent haircuts from X-salon here in CDO because it was easier to manage that way. A few months ago, I decided to grow my hair long once again because looking at my pictures before, I missed how I used to look with long tresses. But then my fluffy old hair starts getting messier by the day, I decided it was time for a rebond.

The last time I had it in a rather pricey salon here, I didn't like the results and it was torture to have my hair practically pulled by the lady doing the procedure. Sometimes, the scorching hot hair iron would get too close to my scalp that I wondered if she had any resentment towards me. That's why whenever I had the chance of going to Manila, I had to get the rebonding done there.

I have no plans of going back to Manila anytime soon, so I had to look for options where I could have my hair rebonded here in cdo. I tried searching the net for recommendations on a good salon here that can do excellent rebonding, to no avail. Finally, upon texting one of my former interns, Milay, who knows her way around beauty stuffs, she referred to me a rebond expert named Tata. She does home service and charges low. I paid P1,700 for my short hair. She was very courteous even when texting, came early and a fast worker with no ouch elicted from me nor my wallet.

I'm loving my newly rebonded hair which I got for a fraction of the cost from the going rates in salons. I highly recommend Tata for your rebonding needs. If you want her number, just message me through this blog. No, I'm not getting any cuts from this plug. I'm just happy with the result. Even my husband is amazed at my tamed, revived locks. A refreshing change from my natural bedhead 'do .

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Make Your Own Palette of Lip Colors And Pressed Eye Pigments

I've been running out of space in my train case. My makeup stash keeps on growing that i have to put the others in separate cheaper plastic cases from handyman. In the end, I forget about them and some makeup samples are still left unopened up to this day. They are gorgeous colors that would have been great in photo shoots but bringing all of them inside my professional train case would take up too much space.

Pressed eye minerals

I've always been a fan of mineral makeups because they really work for my acne-prone and oily skin. The wide array of eyeshadow and blush colors are drool-worthy. Plus, the absence of harmful chemicals make it a healthy alternative to expensive conventional makeup brands. However, I find it too messy to apply on models during shoots or clients for different occasions because they come in loose form. It's probably the reason why not a lot of makeup artists use them. No matter how tightly they are closed, some still end up spilling on my train case. For that, I have to resort to hoarding MAC eye shadows which are awesome but a little pricey compared to mineral makeups.

I have tons of lipsticks too, which I cannot stack up in my case. Some have turned rancid and thus I had to throw them away despite their designer brand names. Some are still in excellent condition but are cut in halves or too short already.



Lately, after surfing tutorials on the net, I found a way to re-organize my stash by coming up with my own customized palettes. I pressed eye shadow minerals using alcohol as binder and coins and clean fabric to press them on empty eyeshadow cases. Some were more difficult to press, though.

The easier task was to customize my lip colors. I melted the lipsticks, added some jelly and vitamin e to prevent them from turning rancid anytime soon. I mixed colors
to come up with my own customized colors as well. Since I can't find empty lip palettes for sale, I used water color containers for this. They sell for about P37 or P67 at national bookstore. I transferred the water colors in mini jars. It's good enough vs busting $22 for an empty lip palette sold online in the US. Shipping fee excluded. I enjoyed this so much that I intend to buy more watercolor palettes. I just hope the kids don't find out who's been making the watercolor palettes on National Bookstore extinct.

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Steal This Look

On Nicole:

Face-
Smashbox Primer with dermaxyl complex
Stila pivotal skin liquid foundation shade C
Bare Escentuals Fairly Light Foundation
Mac NC 25 studio fix
Monave Angel Mineral Veil
YSL Touche Eclat
Mac cork eyeshadow for contouring

Eyes:
Mac Beiging shadestick as base
Luminare Fresh Plum on inner lid
Maybelline Purple shadow on outer lid
Mac Rice paper beneath brow bone
Smashbox cream eyeliner
Elianto brown shadow as brow filler
Maybelline volume express mascara

Cheeks:
Nars Orgasm
Bare Escentuals Clear radiance

Lips:
Uglogirl lip gloss
My own concoction of lip colors in my palette

Brushes Used:
Suesh 28 pc set

Photography by: Dustein Sibug
Model: Nicole Floirendo
Makeup by: Grace Bandoy


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Rx: Maalox For Oily Skin

I read on discussion forums online, that this medication for hyperacidity can actually work wonders as a skin mattifier. The Tyra Banks show featured the use of milk of magnesia as the solution to the perennial problem of oily skin. Milk of magnesia consists of Magnesium hydroxide.Maalox is a local brand name for a medication containing Aluminum Magnesium hydroxide. Aluminum OH provides the added benefit of shriking pores These are in fact ingredients of some cosmetics including concealers.

A lot of makeup junkies swear by this DIY remedy. Maalox can be used as toner by applying it to the skin after washing with cleanser. It should remain on the skin for several minutes before it is rinsed off. Another use is enabling makeup to stay put for several hours, Maalox can be applied thinly to the skin as a primer. It is important that very thin layer is applied as it dry up to a chalky consistency afterwards. Others are even using it as an eyehadow primer to prevent creasing.

Being an oilspill myself, I roadtested it today, in lieu of my regular primer. The control of oiliness was good. I'm just not too sure if it's due to the Maalox or the Aubrey Nicole Rice finishing powder which arrived in the mail today. As a bonus, the zit on my nose dried up a bit. Since its an antacid, I wonder if will do additional good to my acidic skin, which darkens makeup after oxidation.However, there was a little whitish cast which may not be good for photography.

Promising, huh? An alternative to expensive primers that are not available here in cdo, anyway. I am a loyal mineral makeup user as these are my best options for oily skin. The addition of an effective primer should do the trick. On the downside, i'm not sure if it's wise to use this on a regular basis as it can be drying. Not good for dry or aging skin.The feedback mechanism of the body could also cause rebound oiliness. I don't want to look at the mirror a week after to see an aged/ dehydrated yet oilier face looking back at me. Moderation is the key, I guess.

Studies have not been reported as to its safety on the skin so try it at your own risk. It would be safe to do a patch test for allergies on the anterior surface of the forearm before putting it on your face.

About MUA In Scrubs

Make Up Artist In Scrubs stands for passion. It was my winning entry to the Nokia promo last year, through Summit publications (publisher of leading magazines like Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire and Preview). I won, along with two other contestants who got chosen out of the many entries that were sent. The prize was a Nokia N76 phone for each of us. Cool, huh?

We had to send in a photo and a short description of our passions. My passion was makeup artistry. The photo was me doing makeup while I was on duty that time as a 3rd year Radiology resident. My willing victim was one of our interns, Donna. They dropped by the radiology office, since I was through with my xray plate readings and it wasn't a toxic duty, I took out my makeup brushes, mineral makeups and started dolling up Donna.

I stopped from my residency training for almost a year now. No, I didn't get fired for my obsession  with makeups (lol!). It had to do with my health issues. Stress doesn't help kick off my cancer cells. It feeds it further. Along with the other work hazards, I decided I still wanted to live and hence resigned. It was a difficult decision but I had to choose my health. Makeup still continues to be my art form though I'm not doing it full time. I still work as an MD primarily, without 24 hour duties this time. This gives me the luxury of doing things that I love, including makeup, writing, music and being a wife to my wonderful husband. This is my idea of the good life.