How to Give Yourself (and Your Family) a Haircut at Home

Going to the salon is a pricey endeavor in today's world. Even a quick trim of the bangs can set you back more than a little, and a full wash, cut and style can easily run into the triple digits (and that's before tip!). If you're like me, you're looking for ways to reduce household expenses every day, and the easiest way to save money is to not spend it in the first place.

That doesn't mean you have to let your hair completely go, get it trimmed twice a year, or constantly wear a ponytail or cap. It's easy to trim your hair (and your family's) at home with the right tools: the hardest part is getting past the fear to try it the first time. Once you try and and see the results, though, you'll be hooked!

My husband was easy: he doesn't like the thinner spot he is noticing on his crown, so he decided to go from his longer, wavy locks to a short, uniform cut. He initially went short at a barber shop, but once the cut was in place, it became very easy to maintain using this Wahl trimmer. We have been using it for almost two years now, and I have to say, it paid for itself after the first month. It's so easy to use, and it only takes a few minutes every couple of weeks.

My daughter and I were a little harder. Neither of us was particularly interested in the Sinead O'Connor look, so I had to look a bit harder for the right tool for the job. Both of us have thick, medium-length hair, so keep this in mind - what works for us may not work for other hair textures and/or lengths.

After a little bit of online research (I love online reviews - what did we ever do without them?), I found the Seki Edge. Its low price and great reviews convinced me to give it a try, and I have to say that I love it! I have used it on myself and my daughter, and it's so simple to use.

Here are a few pointers I have learned:
-Start with a salon cut you like, that way you can follow the same shape without having to experiment yourself.
-Start with longest setting, and when you get more comfortable, and if you want, work your way up. It's easier to cut more than to realize you've cut too much, then have to wait for it to grow back out.
-Never start at or near crown. Same as the above - you can always move up a little as you go, but if you start to trim near your crown, you'll have a bit of spike going on, whether you want it or not.
-Use a light touch - don't apply a lot of pressure.

And for any styling and cutting tool, always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for cleaning and maintenance. Cleaning and maintaining trimmers and tools will prolong their life and ensure that they remain clean, so take a few minutes after you use them each time to clean them up!

Once you get some confidence and want to try different styles, there are many awesome how-to videos now available online for practically any style. I'm really impressed by the wealth of information that is out there - have fun with it and feel free to experiment - you'll love the results and so will your wallet!

How to Throw a Mad Men Party, Part 2 of 4: Dress

Who doesn't love to dress up, right? And the '50's and '60's fashions that we see in the Mad Men episodes are not only still very stylish and elegant, they're widely available as vintage clothing in local thrift and vintage shops, as well as online on sites such as Etsy and eBay.

For over a month, I searched for the perfect dress. I did find some gorgeous ones on Etsy, and some were on year-end clearance and priced to move. Unfortunately, though, vintage sizes run much smaller than modern sizes, so most of the stylish dresses were too small for me.

Every few days, I stopped by our local Goodwill second-hand shop to see if they had any vintage dresses for sale. Lucky for me, my local shop always has a good selection of dresses, and even though none of their actual vintage dresses were my size, I did find a lovely modern dress in a vintage style that reminded me of many worn to the office by Peggy.

I picked it up for $9, and found a pair of plain pumps for another $5. I added in a string of pearls (formerly my grandmother's), gold-tone earrings, and some beige stockings (the less sheer, the better!), and my party dress was complete!

Now, for the hair and make-up. I have really thick, shoulder-length hair, and I toyed with the idea of putting it up, Joan-style. I didn't have any luck, though - my hair was too heavy, and as the hostess trying to get all the food ready before guests arrived, I ran out of time to try any longer. Instead, I pulled the front back, with a bump, and left the very front section loose. I then pulled the loose section to the side and secured it with a bobby pin in order to give me a faux set of Peggy short bangs. I used my curling iron on the bottom sides to give me a little flip.

I didn't do anything too outlandish for makeup - I used liquid eyeliner on the top only, making sure to get the eyeliner as close to my eyelash as possible. I also put mascara only on the top. I used the brightest red lipstick I could find.

Dry Hair Haiku

Hair, dry and brittle

Don't fear ethnic hair care aisle

Hair is smooth once more

My skin is just about as pale as a human's can get, but these really have been the greatest products for my dry, frizzy blond(ish) hair. We have well water, and the extra minerals dry out my hair even more. I don't know why the company that makes these products doesn't market them more broadly - I mean, dry hair is dry hair, regardless of your race, right?

Anyway, you can check them out here.