7 Ways To Spice Up A Simple Ponytail

     A pony tail is my go-to hairdo when I have a bad hair day, haven´t had to time to wash my hair, or just need it out of my face. Over time I´ve developed some tricks to make it look less thrown together and more intentional and chic. All of these are super quick and easy. I´ll share them with you:

Hide the elastic

   After you do your pony tail, take a strand of hair, wrap it around the elastic several times, and tuck the end under the elastic. It will look like you have magically used my hair instead of elastic!

A higher ponytail

   A low ponytail looks boring, hike it up a bit and it looks stylish and flattering. Something to do with revealing the neck and adding height. You must absolutely read this post about where to place your ponytail for maximum flattery!

via Beautyinsiders.com

A bit of braid

   If you do prefer a lower ponytail, this trick will make it look interesting: start making a braid, but stop after the first three centimeters or so. Then tie with an elastic. Voila!

The twist

   Another trick to make the simple low ponytail look like something special. Tie your hair into a low ponytail, and poke a space in the center just above the elastic. Thread all of the ponytail into that space and pull down. This extremely simple ´do looks pretty sophisticated. Here is a tutorial.

Hardware or software

   I adore the look of a simple steel clip. If you are of a more romantic type, tie a small black ribbon into a bow or a cute hair clip. Basically, you should a well-curated collection of hair accessories that you love. If you haven't yet, get creative: wrap a small scarf or add a flower!

Messy strands

   After you do your ponytail, pull out a few strands around your face. This gives a carefree and fun look.

Smooth chic

   If you prefer polished to messy, try smoothing all your hair back with gel, so that not a strand is out of place. Pin the hair at the nape with a few bobby pins, if necessary.


     Have you tried any of these? What are you own ponytail tricks? I'd love to know!

Image sources linked to images

Weekend Reads 25-02-2012

      Hi everyone, how did your week go? I attended a carnival party in an artist studio, and we made impromptu costumes out of decorations, painted our faces, danced and stuffed our faces with home-made Greek food. Today I'll be attending another demonstration against ACTA. I wish you a great week filled with fun adventures!

  

   Here are this week's lovely links:

* Home: Little Green Notebook is a really cute home decor blog I just discovered!

* Bras: Are celebrities bad bra role models?

* Life: Daily routines: What time of the day works best for you?

* Megan of Charade Style boldly quite her job and flat and is moving to the US. Go cheer her on!

* Fashion: Would you like to know what's it like to actually attend fashion week? Check out Pardon My French.

* Makeup: How placement of the eyeliner wing can change your eye shape

Masquerade Lula Mae Review

   I fell in love with the Masquerade Lula Mae the moment I saw it, but took a long time to decide whether I really wanted to buy it or not. I have all my bra basics covered, and I want to add only bras I really love to my collection. Finally I got my hot little hands on this beauty. Here is my review of the Lula Mae for you girls:

   The Lula Mae is a bra from Masquerade, the more glamorous label of Panache. It comes in olive+black, and turquoise+brown. Oh, and I also saw a lovely gold+ turquoise model on Bratabase!

Aesthetics 4.5/5

   I totally adore the design of the Lula Mae. The glossy turquoise is unexpected, and I love the way the brown mesh with white embroidery covers the cups. I know that the "lace climbing on satin cups" thing is all over lingerie this season, but I really adore this look. I think that it gives a visual lift to the cleavage and is very flattering.
   In the catalogue photos the top edge of the cup just peeks above the lace, but in reality the lace starts lower down, and that broad expanse of naked blue makes the cups look "heavier".
   I like that the straps are simple, as anything elaborate would be just too much. But they could be thinner, per my taste. There is a weird stitch where the strap is attached which could have been creatively masked.
   In the center there is a cameo pendant, a cute nod to the Baroque insiprations of the design.

Fit: 3/5

   The underwires are shorter than their tunnel, and come up low in the front as well in the underarm area. This suits me because longer underwires are often uncomfortable for me, and I've already dealt with my armpit rolls.
   A plus point for the stability of the underwires and the band. The underwires are embedded above the band (instead of the band being attached to the underwire on both sides). The band is stretchy only on the side panels (the parts below the cups are not). When I stretched the band to the maximum, the underwires held their shape perfectly.

     The cups of the Lula-Mae go up quite high, almost like in a full-cup bra. For this reason I wouldn´t recommend it for petites, they would have the top outer edges of the cups around their neck. Personally I would prefer if the cups were lower-cut: not only the fit would be better, but the whole construction would look lighter. I wonder if the Lula Mae feels so full-cuppy in bigger sizes as well?
   The cups are thinly but stiffly padded -- this are the kind of cups that hold their shape and expect the breasts to mould to them.
    Because my breasts are tear-shaped, I get the top-edge-not-lying-flush problem with anything that isn´t low-cut. Fortunately the gaping in the Lula Mae is very slight in my case, and it doesn´t affect the comfort and support.
   The cup is made out of three pieces, and in my opinion the top piece could have been omitted altogether. This would have prevented the gaping top problems I (and many other girls) have with this model (also, the bra would look "lighter" and the top naked satin part would be thinner and thus more flattering).
      Also, this bra doesn't give me any cleavage worth writing home about. 

   The straps are satin in the front half and elastic at the back half, this means that the regulation is limited, which could be an issue for some.

Comfort: 5/5

   The Lula Mae is one of the bras that are comfortable the first time you put them on. No breaking-in needed here!

Summary: 4/5

   In spite of the too-high and hence gaping top edge, I love the Lula Mae for it's effortless good looks and comfort. For me this model was true to size (like most Masquerades I've tried), but I know a couple of girls who had to go up or down a cup size. I got a 28DD, this is the size I normally wear with my 69/85cm measurements (27/33).
  I happen to own a lot of turquoise clothes, and finally having a cute turquoise bra makes total sense!

Lula Mae 28DD Stats:

Band unstretched: 60cm

Band stretched to the maximum: 71cm

Underwire length: 18cm

Underwire width: 13cm

Update: After several months of owning the Lula Mae, I have the feeling that this bra is a case of style over substance. I still think it's very pretty, but I find myself reaching for other bras that fit better and are soft /lightly padded.

    Does anyone else own the Lula Mae? What are your impressions? Also, what are you currently eyeing from Masquerade?

Ad Space For March And April, Yay!

Would you like to advertise on Venusian*Glow? I'd love to have you!

      I'm now accepting new sponsors for March and April. I have many wonderful female readers, who shop online regularly; and my rates are created with small businesses in mind. Your banner will be prominently displayed on the top left, which studies on eye movement on websites proved to be an attention-grabbing spot!
    Venusian*Glow is growing rapidly: we doubled the number of page views and moved up to Google Page Rank 2 all in one month! Interested? Let's work together! I'd love to hear from you at:

How To Prevent Ingrown Hair When Epilating

Here is a question about ingrown hair I got in my inbox:

" I have been using the epilator for 3 years now, but i keep getting ingrown hair, the little thin hairs coil up and settle into a bump and I HATE IT, I changed my epilator to one for sensitive skin and still no use, I exfoliate and moisturize all the time :(
I hate shaving and waxing takes a lot of time that I can't afford; please can you give me some advise?"

    Hey, thanks for writing in! First of all, it's great that you tried switching your epilator. I used to have an ancient epilator that I bought as a teen, and when I recently switched to a new one I had way less ingrown hair.

     From my experience and research, there are a couple of things you can do to minimise ingrown hair: epilate correctly, moisturise the skin, exfoliate, try something anti-bacterial, and chemical exfoliation.

Use the epilator correctly

     If you're not epilating the right way, the hair follicle gets pulled into an unnatural position, causing the new hair to grow in the wrong direction. A lot of us epilate in horrible little jerky movements, learned from the first days of epilating when everything hurt like hell. The correct way to do it is hold it at a right angle to the skin and drag it in a slow, steady movement.

Exfoliate

    I really recommend a DIY coffee scrub, it's one of the most effective body scrubs out there. Just take used coffee grounds, mix with a moisturioser and scrub. The coffee grounds exfoliate way more thoroughly than many scrubs on the market.

Moisturise intensively

     Keeping the skin soft is key. But it's also pretty important to stick to simple, natural stuff. Nothing with mineral oil, as that blocks the pores. Plant-based oils are the best, as well as plant-based butters. I love a mix of jojoba, wheatgerm and olive oil, with a dash of essential oil.

Topical treatments

     I've heard many good things about using something anti-bacterial before epilating. I have too few experience with this kind of stuff to recommend anything, but you could ask at a pharmacy.
    Also, many people have success with products like ingrow go. So I checked the ingredients of a couple of products for ingrown hair, and it's usually the same pattern: there is something antibacterial (like isopropyl alcohol or witch hazel), some kind of moisturiser (like aloe vera, glycerin or Propylene glycol) and some kind of hydroxy acid (chemical exfoliators that loosen the bonds of the top layer of the skin).
     The interesting thing here are the hydroxy acids: it totally makes sense that they minimise ingrown hair. If you want to try something DIY, the aspirin mask is a great beta hydroxy acid while pineapple and papaya contain alpha hydroxy acids.
     Wait, I got a brainwave: why not try urea? Urea is a great moisturiser, it works like an acid peel and it's anti-bacterial! Here I have written a bit about Urea. You can buy products that contain it (it seems to be in fashion right now), or just buy it separately and mix into your preferred moisturiser. You know what, I'll play along. Spring is coming soon (I hope) and when it gets warmer I'll be epilating often while using urea regularly. I'll be blogging about the results!

    On another note, have you tried sugaring? I haven't tried it myself but it's supposed to be be way easier and faster than waxing.




     I hope this gave you some ideas of things you can try out. And now over to you, my lovely readers. Are you struggling with ingrown hair? Has anyone discovered a trick to prevent ingrown hair? I'd love to know!

Smoothies: The Healthy Breakfast For Lazy Girls

Me and my smoothie on a cold autumn morning

My breakfast is two beer glasses full of frothy, vital goodness. Every.single.day, since two years. I'm addicted to fresh fruit-greens smoothies. Smoothies are amazing and they're the best breakfast in the world! Here is why:

* I get a shot of nutrient-dense food early in the morning. It´s an amazing head start, and even if I eat junk the rest of the day I know I´ve done something good for my body.
* It's the ultimate beauty food: fresh, packed with antioxidants and vitamins, smoothies help keep my skin clear and fresh!
* Smoothies are delicious. Whether you are a fruit or a veggie girl, you´ll find something you love!
* It´s super quick to make and drink. My husband sometimes has 2 minutes for breakfast, and that is enough to drink a smoothie. My kids slurp it all in almost long gulp!
* Morning is a great time to eat fruit. Fruit digests super quick so it is best eaten on an empty stomach and not be mixed with other heavier food (otherwise it ferments before it gets digested).
* Green smoothies are the best way to get greens into your body -- the are the most nutritious food and yet we eat tiny quantities of them. Also, morning is a great time for green smoothies: they are easier on the taste buds as we have a clean taste palette.

      I started making my smoothies out of fruit and water. I always add a banana to it, to make it creamy. I also love adding super-foods, like flax seeds (for shiny hair), maca, bee pollen.

      Over time I started adding a bit of greens (spinach, swiss chard, celery). That tasted weird in the beginning, but my taste buds grew to love it. Now I drink mostly green smoothies: a ton of greens with a few pieces of orange, a chunk of ginger and some superfood. Yum! I´m looking forward to trying wild greens in the spring!

Tips for making smoothies:

* Start simple: blend a banana, an apple and any other fruit you have in your kitchen. Don´t forget to add water! Drink out of a cocktail glass or a mason jar.
* In the beginning you will feel hungry a while after the smoothie breakfast: my body was used to muesli that took ages to digest. I think it took around two weeks for my stomach to adapt to the fast-digesting smoothie and for me to realise that an empty stomach is not the same as being hungry.
* Flax seeds, nut butter or chia seeds are a great thing to add to make you feel a bit fuller.
* You´ll need a half to one litre of smoothie for breakfast. You might think it´ s not possible to drink so much but don´ t forget that a big part of it is water!
* Start out with more fruit than leafy vegetables, gradually add more greens.

Some recipes to try:

This Squidoo lens has a bunch of good information  

Also check out Top 5 Filling Raw Smoothies For Breakfast.  

And of course my favourite smoothies: frothy beet smoothie, spinach smoothie recipe from an (ex) spinach hater and chocolate smoothie.


    Do you like smoothies? Any special recipes you'd recommend? I'm always on the lookout for new ones!

How To Make A Pokebra

     So many people land on Venusian*Glow looking for Pokemon bras, so I figured I'd go and give them what they are looking for. So, here is the Pokebra tutorial from szmoon.net.

      And if you are new here, you may want to break out of the Pokeball Bra Matrix, so that the bra that you will be turning into Pokeballs is super comfortable and flatters your, um, Pokemons. Because your Pokemons don't like to be squashed, and need a lot of support. Did you know that 80% Pokemons are put into wrongly-sizes Pokeballs?

What They Think I Do: Beauty Blogger

My contribution to the What They Think I Do meme, the Beauty Blogger version :) Feel free to reblog!

And what do I actually do? This, this and this.

Weekend Reads 18-02-2012

   How was your week, lovely ladies? I took part in an anti-ACTA protest, made banana ice cream and caught up with a couple of friends I had not seen in ages. Also, I'm really happy about warm it's gotten this week (it's -6°C, but last week we had -26°C which is, as the Germans say, ass-cold).
   Here are some lovely links:

*Food: What emotional eating really looks like. I totally loved this, and what she writes about it being so different from the stereotyped emotional eating is so true!

*Bras: Cup and Measures love Ewa Michalak bras too!

*Write: Because my handwriting is sloppy, I love these handwriting tips.

*Pretty: These photography posing tips and tricks are amazing. Did you know there is a masculine and feminine head tilt?

* Beauty: lol, this happens to me too!

* Style: Allie answers some questions on shoes. I'm so glad she considers brown boots amazing, since I like how brown footwear bookends my outfit.

* Beauty: Want to know what was Marilyn Monroe's beauty and workout routine like? The simplicity and DIY-ness of it really struck me, especially in contrast with today's celebrities who seem to have a gaggle of personal chefs, fitness instructors and nutritionists.

* Want: These Korean beauty products.

* Cool: CSI facebook timeline.

Tall Girl Seeks Bras To Fight Underarm Fat -- Your Suggestions Needed!

I got this in the mail recently:

    "I'm tall-ish and have relatively low boobs (I think), so underwiring never reaches up very high compared to a lot of online pictures I see demonstrating correctly fitted bras. I don't have a lot of migrated tissue, but I think there is a little bit and it's higher than the underwiring on standard bras reach. Do you know of any solutions to this or perhaps of brands that have high underwiring?"

     I suggested that Marion look for plunge bras as they tend to go up high under the armpit, as well as try out the tips in the post on bras to fight armpit rolls. But I'm sure that many of you could suggest bra models that would deal with migrated breast tissue in girls that are tall / long in the ribcage?
     So, please share your advice with Marion: which bras in your experience go up really high under the armpit?

PS Check out Petite Seeks Bras To Fight Underarm Bulges.

Back Pain Even After A Proper Bra Fitting?

What if your back still hurts even after being professionally fitted for a bra? Here is what you can do.

   Today's post has been written by Bras I Hate where she reviews bras and gives practical bra fitting advice. Her blog the place you need to go if you are looking for candid, no-nonsense bra reviews. She tweets at @brasihate Go check her out!

    For a lot of people, finding the proper bra size is enough to prevent back pain. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for everyone. Some women will still experience those discouraging backaches no matter how well-fitted their bra is. There are many causes for back pain, but having heavier boobs, or posture that is bad because of them, can really exacerbate these issues.

   Breast reductions are often touted as the only solution for breast-related back issues, and for some women, they are the best choice. But if you DON’T want to have a reduction, there are a few other tricks you can use to ease your pain.

More hooks!

  Finding a bra with 3 hooks instead of 2 can sometimes be enough to ease the tension. It’s even better if you can scrounge up a longline bra with 4 or 5 hooks in your size. You can even try wearing a basque or body, where the band literally covers your whole torso. Since the band provides most of the support, a greater number of hooks means that support is spread out over a greater area, so you won’t have as many pressure points.

Can you go down a band size?

   If you’ve been professionally fitted at a proper store, they probably put you into the band size that matches your measurement around your underbust. This is usually the right size, but if you have back pain, going down a band size (and up a cup size) can help — even if it is a bit of a squeeze at first. This is especially useful for women whose underbust measures above 75(34),  because bands stretch proportionally more as the band size goes up. Even if you’re wearing a 65(30), though, going down to a 60(28) (and up a cup size) might be the change you need. If the smaller band size feels uncomfortable, wear it with an extender (which is available cheaply on eBay or in many fabric stores) — that way, you can just remove the extender when the bra has stretched a bit, and you’ll have a properly firm band for a longer time.

Do you wear a bra at night?

   I personally find that, because of the size of my boobs, it’s not very comfortable to sleep braless. Whenever I do, my back aches the next day. Sleeping in a bra can help hold everything in place and supported during the night. You can try a wireless soft bra, a cami for light support, or even an underwired bra. I wear an underwired bra at night and have never had any problems; however, I do make sure to wear a looser band or an old, stretched-out bra to sleep in. Since you’re not standing, the band doesn’t need to be too tight to keep you supported.

Where are you holding your head?

   Bad posture can contribute to back pain, and if you have heavy boobs, you may have gotten used to a slumped-over posture without realizing it. But just pulling your shoulders back isn’t enough to help your back feel better. The most important thing is actually the position of your head. The head is a pretty heavy thing to carry, and when it’s too far forward, you end up carrying a lot of its weight on your shoulders. These articles are useful: Breasts Causing Upper Back Pain is a Myth and Fixing Upper Back and Neck Pain. I think the author of the articles is a bit too dismissive of the fact that big boobs can contribute to back pain, but the fix she suggests is still very helpful. All you have to do is make sure you are holding your head far back enough — straight over your neck. It can feel very unnatural at first. Try standing against a flat wall and see if the back of your head touches the wall--it should. Practice holding your head there all the time. It feels weird at first, but this is actually the most comfortable place to hold your head. You may be amazed at the difference you experience — it practically eliminated my pain.


   If these tips don’t help you, I think the next step should be to see a doctor who won’t jump to conclusions. Back pain isn’t always related to having a bigger chest, but it can be, and a good doctor will look over all the possibilities with you. If there’s no other solution, having a reduction may be the best choice. But for those who don’t want to have one, trying these tips might help make life less painful.

February Lingerie Picks, In A Big Size Range

   February is supposed to be the month of romance or something. A great excuse to indulge in lingerie fantasies and hopefully treat yourself to a cute pair! Here are my lingerie favourites for this month:

Falling in Love by Fraulein Annie Lingerie

   Every Valentine day, Kayla liked slipped an anonymous Valentine message written on rose-scented paper into the mailbox of the little old lady who lived next door. She then spent the rest of the day drinking tea on her sunlit window seat, fantasizing about winning the lottery and moving to Bali.

  {Band size from a snug 32, cup till H.}

Ewa Michalak PL Black

   Nadia didn't see what the whole fuss about Valentine's Day was, so she ostentatiously told everyone she was spending the evening at the library, like every day. However, she couldn't resist putting on her most lacey lingerie and taking extra care with her makeup. To make up for it, she stayed in the science fiction section, and developed quite and appreciation for Cyber Punk.

   {A friend of mine recently bought this sweet little number and loves it to death. A lightly padded plunge, comes in bands starting at a very tight 30 band, till a HH cup, available at Ewa Michalak.}

Lace Luxe Bra by Faubourg

     Celine spent the entire last week planning the perfect romantic evening with her man, up to the last detail. She decorated the room with peonies and candles, after which she baked strawberry cupcakes which she couldn't resist devouring all by her sweet self.

   {It's rare to see such a romantic bra in a cool colour. The brief is even more of a stunner. Right now on low stock at Bravissimo, hopefully they will re-stock!}

Freya Lyla

   Lyenne spent five hours trying to decide what to wear for dinner with her new flame. She ended up wearing the Freya Lyla set and black stockings under just a demure cream trench coat.

   {From a 28 Band till a G cup. Same cut as the Arabella, narrow underwires.}

Lucia from Fauve By Fantasie

   Della woke up to a reminder on her phone that said: "ask cute guy at cafe out". She proceeded to go about her day avoiding said cafe as much as she could, and spent the afternoone painting her bedroom walls turquoise.

   {The Lucia is one of my personal favourites. The deep chocolate colour is to die for, and a nice change from the very predictable black. If brown is not your cup of tea, the Lucia is also available in opal and ruby. Bands from 30 and cups till G. Available at Figleaves.}

Elomi Betty

   Lia loved red lingerie. She spent every morning applying tons of sunscreen and penciling in a beauty spot near her lips. She also had weird dreams about riding trains in her underwear.

{Bands 34 up, cups till HH. Available at Simply Yours.}

Disclosure: No affiliate links.

Want A 26 (55) Band Bra? Here Is One!

    Nikki Hesford from the Big Bra Bar has experimentally released the Midnight Blue Loren bra in a 26 band size! That is band 55 for you EUR girls. Nikki stated that, depending on demand, she might just produce more! Basically the success (or lack of it) of this bra model will determine whether the Big Bra Bar will produce more bras in a 26 band.
     So ladies, if you want to see more 26 bands on the market, vote for it by buying the Midnight Blue Loren. The Midnight Blue Loren bra costs £22.50 and there is a £10 discount if you pre-order. That's quite a steal! The bra currently comes in cups DD, FF, G and H (because this is a trial run). If you need a different cup size, let Nikki know via email or Facebook that you'd be interested in seeing more cup sizes and models in the 26 band. 

The Epilating vs Shaving Experiment Fail

     So last week I shaved one leg and epilated the other, just for you guys. Haven't you always wanted to know which is better for the skin: shaving or epilating your legs? So because this is a smart, sensible beauty blog, I decided to run a scientific experiment to test this out.
     I have been epilating my legs since years, occasionally using a razor when I am in a rush. I noticed that after epilating my skin would be lightly irritated (every hair follicle would look like a red spot). After shaving the skin stayed smooth and, well, skin-coloured. Was epilating too harsh on the skin, I wondered? Should I switch to shaving?
    So I decided to shave one leg and epilate the other for a couple of weeks and see how they compare. The skin on the shaved leg looked way better than that of the epilated leg on the first day. On the second day I debated shaving or skipping alternate days. As I am lazy busy, the second option won. After a couple of days I noticed that the shaved leg wasn't looking so perfect anymore: scraping the skin with a blade even every other day meant tiny irritations and microscopic nicks. The epilated leg had a week to two to recover between sessions, so the skin smoothed out.
     And then I skipped a day of shaving. later at night, in the bed, my husband let out a yowl of pain. He had accidentally rubbed his leg against mine (the shaved one). "What's that prickly stuff on your leg?!?" he wanted to know. That was it, epilating won the contest, hands down.
    So I'm sticking to epilating, ladies, At least I won't injure anyone if I skip a session. Also, I solemly swear to apply something calming like Weleda Skin Food on my skin afterwards, and always epilate the evening before.

    Do you shave, epilate or maybe wax? Or did you get a permanent hair removal? Have you every "stubbled" someone with an unshaven limb? Do spill.
   

H&M Bras--Look, Don't Touch

    If you want to know why my breasts hurt when I see women browsing through the pretty HandM bras, head over to Bras I Hate and read my post H and M Bras: Look, Don't Touch. Also, you get to find out why I used to make monthly pilgrimages to the H&M lingerie section but never actually bought any. Go check it out!

Weekend Reads 04-02-2012

      Hi everyone, how did your week go? I almost froze as bitterly cold temperatures hit the town without warning. I also at illegal amounts of chocolate. And you?

     So,here is some fantastic reading to tide you over till Monday:

* Bras: Have you spotted the adorable Fraulein Annie bras on Figleaves? There is a lovely interview with their creator Frauke Nagel, on Full Figured Chest.

* More bras: 10 Rules of Bra Alterations

* Life: Focus on fun is spot on! I plan to do something fun every day this February.

* Style: Rookie Mag raves about slips. I love satin ones best!

* Life: scary, isn't it?

* Brain: Introvert? More like Introjerk: How to Live in Harmony with Your Contra-Vert is deliciously funny and spot on.

* Style: What happens when you are totally disappointed with your shopping style? You plan, and you make shopping rules, that's what. These two posts influenced me tremendously.

* Stand up for your rights: next Saturday is the day of international anti-ACTA protests. ACTA is not the European SOPA, it is global!  Please consider joining demonstrations, signing the petition and share this info. The internet as we know it is at the brink of destruction. Do sign the petition, or this one if you are in the EU. Please take six minutes to watch this video:

Why you should be worried about ACTA 

Which Hair-Do To Sleep In Is Right For You?

   Ever wondered which hairstyle is best for your hair when sleeping ? Should you leave it open or put it into a ponytail ? Or a braid? I struggled with this question for many years.

   Here is a short overview sleeping hairstyles, tried and tested:

Loose Hair

Pros: comfortable (for some). Have heard it helps with an oily scalp.
Cons: hair can tangle, curls can get squashed.
   Sleeping with your hair open is ok if you don't toss around too much. Some curly-headed girls have perfected the art of sleeping with their hair hanging off the bed -- this way the curls stay pretty.

Braid:

Pros: hair doesn't get tangled
Cons: takes longer to make, might cause frizz in very curly hair
    You can get braid waves the next day, which may be a pro or a con for you. Great for very long hair.

Bun

Pros: Hair doesn't tangle
Cons: Hair gets squashed.
   Best for straight hair that doesn't lose its shape. Not everyone feels comfortable sleeping with a bun. Great for very long hair.

Low ponytail

Pros: hair gets less tangled, is out of the way. Comfortable.
Cons: ummm... doesn't protect from tangling as much as a braid, and offers no root lift?
    Easy and no-nonsense, though without any special advantages. Best for medium length hair.

High ponytail aka the pineapple

Pros: volume and lift at the roots. Also: curls don't squash so much
Cons: roots can ache after the first night.
    Great for anyone wanting volume at the roots, and hair with curl or wave. A variation of the pineapple is to loosely clip your hair on top of your head with a big grip.

Nightcap

Pros: great for layered hair that doesn't want to stay in braids or pony tails. Fantastic for when you have to sleep with wet hair.
Cons: hard to find one that doesn't slip off and doesn't look silly

     Try to find a satin sleep cap since satin is one of the most hair-friendly materials out there. To prevent the elastic making an imprint on your forehead, fold the whole edge back all the way around. Some cuter styles can be found on Etsy. A scarf also works for some girls.

Tips:

• Use a scrunchie instead of an elastic to tie up your hair, since it damages the hair less. 
• Get a satin pillowcase, your skin and hair will thank you.

     What do you do with your hair when you sleep? How do you keep it looking nice for the next day?

Winners! "I Quit Sugar Giveway" + Sugarfree Goodness

Hi everyone,
     I have chosen the three lucky winners of the "I Quit Sugar" Ebook via Random.org! Here they are:

Kelley

Bibi

Denocte

    Congrats everyone! You'll be receiving Sarah Wilson's "I Quit Sugar" Ebook in your mailboxes soon! Bibi you need to contact me with your email address.
    Also, big thanks to Sarah for sponsoring this giveway!

Update: Since Bibi didn't contact me with her email address, I drew Debbie as the next winner!

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   Meanwhile Sarah has uploaded her first I Quit Sugar webinar with lots of amazing bits of advice. Of course there is a lot of delightful posts on sugar and wholesome recipes on Sarah's blog. Go and check it out!