2011's Most Popular.

My top 3 posts of 2011:

1. Day 1. Can you believe that was 3 months ago already? I mean, it wasn't that long ago... but I look so young and naive!

2. Scene Hair. I can't figure out why this one is so popular... but I'm fairly certain that most of the people who end up clicking on my site are looking at how to do it... which means we're sort of after different things, here. #1) I don't try not to do duck face. #2) I'm not 13. #3) My hair looks, um... normal.

3. Bantu Knot-Out. That was BY FAR my worst hair day of this 365-day project yet. OOF-dah it was bad.

Oh wow... of all the posts in the past couple months that I really like... it seems your favorites are 3 of my least favorite. Maybe in 2012 my most popular posts will be ones like the Holiday Updo, my Chignon, or the Braided Bun... only time will tell!

Oh-- and P.S. If you're visiting today from Heather's blog-- you rock! So happy to have you!

Cheers! xoxo

The Braided Bun.

As I promised yesterday, I said I would try a new style, inspired by this style from The Beauty Department. The braided bun.

Let me begin by saying, I followed their tutorial to a T, minus the added hairspray spritz in the end. It is so easy. I did make one modification by changing my top 2 braids to corn row French braids instead of regular plaits.

My only complaint about this hairstyle, in my eyes, is that if you have thin or fine hair... this one will be tricky. It's not hard to do, by any means, but making the bun look nice and full is definitely a trick. I pulled my braid plaits apart like they suggested, and even tried to strategically pin my hair... but I couldn't do anything to make it look more full. Clearly, the girl from TBD has amazingly thick hair. Her bun is outstanding. Mine is just so-so. I also apologize for my visible clear elastic bands. Those buggers were tough to hide with my fine, shorter hair!

Nevertheless, it is a gorgeous style that I can't wait to wear more often. I am seriously considering it for a New Year's Eve style. Any plans yet on what you'll be doing with your hair?

xoxo

NYE Hair Idea.

Good morning, fancy ladies!

Yesterday, The Beauty Department posted the most fabulous style, a tutorial for a braided bun. Please consider going to their site and checking it out. They feature a step-by-step tutorial and it looks so amazing. I might have to try this look tomorrow!

Source.

Goody Pony Pouf.

Mornin', Ladies!

Have you heard of the Goody Pony Pouf? It promises to give your hair oomph and fluff without the hassles of teasing. I was convinced that I had to give it a shot, so I picked it up at my local Walgreens the other day.

You're supposed to secure your hair in the barette and then pull little sections into the holes to make them pouf out, giving them that teased-to-perfection look.

The only problem... it's not all it's cracked up to be. It didn't hold my hair in place and seemed to keep slipping down my ponytail. That's probably because my hair is so fine. My hair didn't stay in those little holes... so that looked weird. And even when my hair was in the pouf-holes, you could still see them so it just looked like I was wearing a funky barette all day. Not a fan.

If you insist on giving this a shot... be my guest. But it wasn't my favorite.

[[UPDATE]]

WELL... THIS IS EMBARRASSING. I was informed by a lovely reader that I put it in upside down! No wonder!! 

Braid Up Your Bun.

Happy Day-After-Christmas!!

I totally already got my post-jingle-bell shopping in, and saved no money. But that's alright, it was at a consignment shop... so the prices were all drastically reduced anyway.

I'm constantly looking for new ways to mix up my bun, so today I tried a little trick that I saw on The Beauty Department. It's a ballerina bun with a French braid up the back. It's modeled after this style.

Now, you may be wondering how in the heck I did this on my own head. Simple. Kind of.

I pulled the top half of my hair into a ponytail. Then, I flipped my head upside down and French braided the bottom half away from my neck. I secured it with a clear plastic elastic and then included it in the ponytail on top of my head. For the ballerina bun, I simply twisted my ponytail around the ponytail holder and pinned it in place, just like they did at The Beauty Department.

Oh-- and if you're not the most skilled at French braiding... have a buddy help you out! That's why my braid is so messy... it was hard to braid upside down! It's a rockin' style that adds spunk and personality to any messy bun.

xoxo

From The Arc-HIVE.

Here's to reminiscing hairspray, teasing, dyeing and frying:

December, 2006 with my brother Stewart.

December, 2007 with my friend Sarah.

Have a Good Hair Day.

Last week at work we had a Secret Santa gift exchange. My good buddy (and blogger extraordinaire), Zoë, ended up having me, and she gave me the cutest and funniest gift.

A BSU scarf, a Forever 21 BSU-colored beanie, and a Sally's gift card. I laughed out loud at that gift card. Thank you, Zoë. You truly made my day in many more ways than one.

P.S... Zoë did mention that the gift card was not due to my consistent haphazard appearance... however I think she was just saying that with a little *wink-wink* that seriously... I need to get it together. So Zoë, thank you for funding my future beautiful hair days. You're a rockstar. xoxo