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Monday, April 11, 2011

Gothic Lolita Wigs Review: The Hime Edition!

In one of my recent articles I discussed the fashion substyle, hime-lolita (princess inspired lolita - check out my full-length guide here!) and quelle coincidence, the wonderful wig company Gothic Lolita Wigs shortly afterwards debuted a new line of hime wigs! I just had to give it a shot.

First of all, let me dish the terms of princesshood. Sometimes this style of wig is listed as a 'himegyaru' wig or a 'hime lolita' wig. These are separate fashions both inspired by princess themes, and may have some overlap depending on who you talk to. There has been a lot of talk about which term you prefer to use, and hime lolita and himegyaru discussing who's right. Here's the answer: this wig can be worn in any style you choose, depending on how you style it. Fashion is interpretive, and therefore, even with structure, is up to you to interpret. You can choose this wig to represent lolita style, himegyaru style, or to dress up as Cinderella if you want. What makes the difference is how you decide to style and wear it. Even something as lolita-worthy as a petticoat or a big bow can be worn with different styles or flavors. Nothing is really inherently 'lolita' on its own except for a full dress, perhaps. So please keep this in mind when bandying terms, or even more likely, pointing out how others bandy their terms. Fashion can be structured, but like a unicorn, you can't exactly pin it down into a medical drawing or a dictionary definition.


So here I am in the new wig! I purchased the diamond blonde, going for a very princess look (they also have it in medium brown, bordeaux red, golden blonde mix, light brown, and black - but light pink and white will be available in a few weeks!). The diamond blonde is a slightly yellowish, warmer blonde, less ashen or white than the blonde of my split Minty Mix wig. The texture is very soft, with long easily manipulated curls. I wanted more length, so I simply finger-combed and tugged at mine a little, and it lengthened easily. For massively long princess hair, you could easily attach a long curly blonde weft or a few blonde clip-in extensions from other wigs. 

The height is amazing! I didn't have to do a thing to this wig to make it huge. It soars above my head in a way Dolly Parton would be proud of. The bangs, I was cautioned, are thin - this, unfortunately, is true. The bangs are a little thin and wispy, which I solved by brushing them to the side. Another buyer has discussed using hair from the crown to trim in more thickness to the bangs, but I'm not sure I'm up to such surgery personally. The other structural issue with this wig is the shortness of the bangs - the 'hime bump' leaves little room for large bows or large decoration. Thinning the volume could help here, or adding a weft or clip-on bangs. I made it work out of the box with a small tiara and comb, but my big chiffon bow was out. Still, I think the intense volume and height of this wig beckons for other decorations, such as faux roses or possibly a large sweet-styled bonnet. 

I think this wig is a great style for upcoming spring events, like your local cherry blossom festival (you are going to your cherry blossom festival, right?!) It's light enough to be worn in warmer weather, with plenty of oomph and swing as a backdrop to cheerful spring and summer coordinates. That being said, for all you girls in the southern hemisphere, it'd look lovely with a winter coat and some fuzzy pink earmuffs!

As usual, customer service with Gothic Lolita Wigs is excellent, and shipping and packaging are fast and high-quality. I received my wig in a matter of days after ordering - I think only three! If you're looking for fast, quality wigs, this is definitely your shop! As a special extra, their hime line has a great introductory price of only $46 - knocked down from the usual $52!

Check out their hime wig line here! 



Outfit: Dress, Angelic Pretty; tiara, Chocomint; bow, Chocomint; gloves, made for me by Michelle/osea_chelleo; ring, Betsey Johnson 


xoxo,

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posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 8:39 PM 1 Comments

Thursday, March 10, 2011

How to Wear a Wig (And Look Like a Model Doing It)


As lolitas, especially the girls who are sweet lolitas, we've amassed a pretty large collective group of wigs in the past few years as they rose to popularity (What is the collective known for wigs? Perhaps a tangle of wigs?) Whether you're in love with candy colors, unique blends, fades, and splits, or simply soft natural tones, there's nothing like a wig to instantly transform your appearance. Girls sick of long hair can have bobs to avoid the big chop; girls with cute pixie cuts can play Rapunzel for the day. I myself own plenty of wigs - long, brunette, lilac, curly, wavy, short, you name it. In lolita, wearing wigs is common, among some groups considered almost necessary, if you're looking for a place to pin all of your hairclips, bows, and kitschy 80s toys. But how do you take the wig - often associated with costumes - from the meetup and runway to the classroom or office?

Some days when I get ready in the morning, my hair is throwing a protest. Won't be straight, or curly, or sit flat. Rather than fight it, I simply tame it under a wig for the day, ready to negotiate with terrorist hair (and conditioner) later that evening. But how do you wear a wig for school or work? Won't it be... like, weird?


Not so! There are plenty of ways to make your simple wig look like the best head of hair on the block.

Step I: Prepping the Wig



The first thing about your wig is to make sure you've styled it before putting it on. Nothing looks weirder than an unstyled wig plopped on and run with! Start by gathering your hair under a wig cap, in a dark or light color depending on your wig (light for blondes and pastels, dark for brunettes, blacks, deep reds, etc.). I find it best to not only pin up my real hair, and put on the wig cap, but also to pin the wig cap in place with snappy clips or whatever your pleasure is. If you have bangs, make sure to sweep them deeply to the side, not just under the front - they'll stay under better and look less crazy when the wig comes off.

After you have the wig cap on, put on the wig, front to back. Make sure the elastic in the back is securely around your head, just above the nape of the neck. If you are wearing a wig with bangs, get yourself some scissors (I use nail scissors to trim a wig and my real bangs) and start trimming the bangs until they fit your face. I leave mine about eyebrow level, useful if your eyebrows are nowhere near the wig's color. The front of the wig's base should be at the same level of your wig cap, and the bangs trimmed to fit that position. Eve if you're planning to sweep the bangs to the side, you gotta trim 'em. Trust me. I went to a meetup once without the bangs trimmed and looked like a doof; wish I knew then what I know now...

If you want to wear this wig often for daily use and don't trust yourself not to be Edward Scissorhands, get yourself to a salon and ask the stylist to trim it best to suit you. Wigs, layers, the whole nine yards. This will make a huge difference in the way your wig looks.

Step II: Styling Your Wig


The next step is to style your wig. You've got it on, now it's time to work with it. First, if you have a 'lolita' wig (meaning it came with ponytail clips), take those off - they look great for lolita, but aren't very natural looking. Now you're left with the base wig, either curly or straight. One of the best ways to make a wig look natural is to put it in a simple style - a pair of braids, low pigtails, a casual ponytail. You can also do unique things with the wig's bangs - either swept to the side, straight across, pinned back, etc. Add a little hairspray if you'r worried the wig will go haywire. Most people aren't used to the idea of wigs doing anything but 'sit there' so doing something different with your wig like you would your real hair is a great way to make it look less fake. Check out a lot of the wigs on Gabalnara - they've been pre-styled for the photoshoots (there are even a few easy tutorials among the product pages). Here's one with a small side braid and bow.



After you have a simple style, dress it up! I always wear a hair band or hat with a wig. A broad hair band, headband, a soft knit cap, a sun hat as the weather warms up... Anything really! Breaking up the visual appearance of the wig makes it seem more natural and more intentional.

If your wig seems too shiny, try adding a little talcum powder with a powderpuff. If it seems to frizzy, a little wig spray can tame stray ends. 

Step III: Complimenting Your Wig

Consider your overall appearance after you've finished styling and accessorizing your wig. When I've chosen to wear a huge, full curly wig, I keep my makeup very simple and natural - too over the top and you'll look like you got the wrong address for a rave. If you'll be showing your eyebrows, you can consider darkening them a little for a darker wig.

Keep in mind that you can wear an unnaturally colored wig 'naturally' by complimenting it well with the rest of your look. A bright pink wig (styled and accessorized) can look very darling with a more simple coordinate (lolita or not). A simple blonde bob however might appreciate a more outrageous hair accessory or some dramatic eyeliner. Like any coordinate, try to keep your look in balance - perhaps only one or two focal points. Your wig can definitely by a 'focal point'!

Step IV: Aftercare for Your Wig

After you've removed your wig for the day, give it a gentle shake out and a little finger combing. Make sure you keep your wig on a wig head so it retains it shape. If you aren't using a wig head, at least wrap it back up in the netting it came with to avoid tangling. Depending on weather conditions and styling product, wash or condition your wig every 8 - 12 wears. 

Don't Want To Wig Out? 



If you want some of the ease and great look you get through a wig but don't want to wear the whole deal, there are plenty of options for you! I'm fascinated with half wigs and extensions right now, specifically those from Pink Age and Gabalnara (Korean brands - they don't ship overseas, but this group will be running another group order in April for Canada and possibly USA). They sell full sets of extensions (9 - 12 clip-ins, heat-resistant synthetic), half wigs (which you wear with both the wig and your real hair), ponytail clip-ons, and bun covers ad bun scrunchies. You use them to supplement your real hair, meaning they look much more natural. The hairstyle above is achieved with a full 9-piece set of pre-curled extensions.

Here's a basic collection of illustrations from wig company Prisila that explain:


half cap wig; clip-in bangs, clip-in extensions, and stretch wig ponytail

Prisila sells full wigs as well various hairpieces (extensions, clip-ins, etc). Currently they do not ship overseas, even from their Rakuten site (I tried... they cancelled my order and sent an email that simply said DOMESTIC ONLY ). They do have a very wide range of items however! You can download an entire booklet or how to use their extensions, wigs, and other products here (Prisila Hair Arrange).

Does it Pass the Natural Test? 

Here's the test. Grab a friend or family member, without telling them you've decided to don a wig, and ask if they like your new 'do. Do they think you really went to the salon? People at school often remark 'oh, you changed your hair!' and I simply smile and say, 'For today.' You don't have to tell everyone it's a wig, but don't be ashamed or secretive about it either. You're just fashion-forward after all!

Where to Buy

Here are some of my favorite wig shops! I've worn many of these companies' wigs both with a editorial lolita style and for a casual school or work appropriate lolita style.

Cyperous - full and half wigs *ships overseas*
Prisila - bangs, half wigs, rope wigs (basically a long boa of curly hair), scrunchies, volumizers...
Gabalnara - full, half wigs; extensions, scrunchies, bun covers, bangs
Pretty and Cute - a limited selection of wigs and extensions, but cheap and heat-friendly; I just ordered a scrunchie bun from them for $5! *ships overseas*
Yumetenbo - sometimes a few limited styles of gyaru stretchy wigs or bun covers *ships overseas*
MintyMix - A personal favorite for unnaturally colored wigs; my pink and lavender fade wig is wonderful quality, and so 'natural' in style if not color that it passed the natural test at school! *ships overseas*
Cosplay Wigs USA - Typically lolita wigs; very full bases. I wore my light brown wig to school last week with wonderful results. *ships overseas*

Don't be afraid to try something out, to stand apart, and show off your style! Keep on being fashionable!

xoxo,

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posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 7:59 PM 0 Comments

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Doll Faced: 4 Favorite Cosmetics for 2011

New year, new face! I'm reorganizing, taking stock of my makeup bag (packed with ancient blushes and decreipt mascaras...yuck!), and deciding what trends I want to wear this year! These are my four top product picks for a light, delicate dolly look with a pop of fresh color. I think they're a refreshing take on make-up after heavier styles loaded up with eyeliner and mascara, or super-deco styles with stickers and a blurring rainbow of pastels.


I am in love with Tarina Tarantino - a pink-haired businesswoman, hello! - whether it be with her franchise or her jewelry. But what I love best lately is her makeup line! Her Get-Pretty collection is a perfect match for lolita style - luminescent powders that take their cue from her love of Swarovski rhinestones, and bright-pink blushes and lip sheens. As I mentioned in January's Style Tips, I just got the pearl glow face primer and love it! It goes on smooth, finishes and smooth, and illuminates the skin. It's mostly sheer, and won't change the overall color of your skin - it just adds a subtle glow and gets your skin ready for the main attraction. And see how she uses her other products to create this lolita-friendly Alice-in-Wonderland-worthy makeup! Exclusively available from Sephora.


BB cream - a product I absolutely swear by. It's kind of a miracle elixir for the skin, in the way Gregory Maguire says miracle elixir - you're not exactly sure what's going on, but it seems to do the trick. BB cream touts a plethora of promises from moisturizing, to SPF, and back again. I use mine in place of foundation, which gives a very light and smooth appearance with a subtle glow. Originally, this product was used for patients recovering from laser surgery on their skin - and then its regenerative properties became a fad among Korean celebrities, starting the mass-available market we know today. I have definitely seen BB cream heal minor scars and dryness on my face with prolonged use. Not only that, a little goes a long way - I got over a year out of my tiny tube. You can choose from a whole raft of them at prettyandcute.com. I've used them many times and their products come quickly and as ordered :)


Candy Doll is a brand I stumbled upon when browsing various makeup blogs. It's created by Tsubasa Masukawa, the Japanese model who is also the creator of DollyWink! While their products range from smooth face powder to beautifully vibrant blushes, I fell head over heels for their lipgloss and concealer. I suppose you could use any lip concealer, but I really recommend it to make the lipgloss look best - it will let the cosmetic's color stand forefront and camouflage your own lips' tint. Their lipglosses, besides giving that beautiful doll-like shine, come in adorable shade of pink, such as Pink Macaroon, Gelato Gritter (Glitter, I assume), Milk Tea Beige, and Strawberry Milk. You can buy their products at DollyEye if you want to skip the shopping service! And make sure to check out their Japanese website - they have tutorials for almost every product they sell.


DollyWink started out as a gyaru eyelash brand and quickly spread to lolita fashion, most notably in the magazines Kera and Alice Deco a la Mode. The creator, Tsubasa (show above in Candy Doll as well) claims they give an 'adult cute' look - not so youthful, but still with a very soft and coquettish appearance. They change is dramatic, but without looking heavy. They make both top and bottom lashes, as well as several other lash-related products - their own glue, case and liquid felt-tip liner.

If DollyWink is a little steep for you to spend on eyelashes (they do have a limited life, it's true) I would also recommend Pa brand eyelashes. They come in a variety of full or criss-cross styles for gorgeous, romantic eyelashes. I'm wearing some that I bought in Seattle in this outfit shot. You can find them at many Asian-beauty supply stores or drugstores/supermarkets - for example, Chinatown in NYC or Uwajimaya in Seattle. Prettyandcute.com also carries this brand as well as Dollywink.


Psst! Want to get makeup products without making your Hello Kitty wallet cry? Try retailmenot.com. I've been obsessed lately with it - anything I buy online from a mainstream site, I'm hunting up coupons. Just search for your store - in this case, Sephora - and see what pops up for discounts, like a percentage off or free shipping. Right now you should be able to use the code TARINATOGO to get a free sample of her Pearl Glow Primer.

What are your favorite makeup products or trends right now? Do you have any cute looks you want to channel for 2011?

xoxo,







.

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posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 1:41 PM 0 Comments

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Three Easy Ways to Style A Lolita Wig + My Melody Deco Watch!

Lolita wigs are becoming more and more available, spotted on nearly everyone these days. The typical lolita wig consists of a curly base and is usually supplied with two clip-on falls, like curly ponytails. Mostly you just pop on the wig, clip on the falls, and go! It's instantly cute and a great way to change up the color and tones of your coordinates. But that's not the only way to go! They're so much more versatile than that. The one I'm using here is from Cosplay Wigs USA, in their wavy light brown model. I love mine, it's such a pretty warm cinnamon with beautifully full curls!  You can see me wearing it here.

So here are three really easy ways you can style your lolita wig that will stand out from the crowd!

This one I've dubbed the 'Sailor Moon' because it reminds me of her signature 'odango' style. It looks best if you add on brooches, clips or matching hairbows on elastics. I've decided to use a Chocomint star clip, because it reminds me of the fantasy space theme and continues the Sailor Moon look, but anything you think is cute would be a great accent! [As always, click for larger~]


The Braided Crown is perfect for more classic, toned-down sweet, or even mori girl styles. The braids are a pretty accent of texture, and this look beautifully sets off faux roses or an elegant bow. Make sure you braid to the very ends, and use clear elastics - I used regular fabric ones so that you can see how the braids are wrapped.

The Hime (for those not in the know, hime is the Japanese word for princess ) Fountain gives the appearance of very full, cascading curls, and looks best accented with a large head-eating bow or tiara comb. This is probably the easiest style here - it's still clip-and-go, you just move the extensions up a little! ;) I saw Maki wearing this look at the San Francisco Angelic Pretty opening and thought it looked so adorable! I'm wearing this look with my pink and blonde wig at the Tangled meetup!




And just a little extra - did you know it's Sanrio's 50th birthday this year?! As a final bang, McDonald's is giving out digital Sanrio watches. I swung by (mm, caramel mocha!) and got one... but was a little let down by how plain it looked! Even though I got My Melody  ... she looked a little sad, not good for a Sanrio character!


The six watches you could get with Happy Meal... I'm dying for the white Sugarbunny! I'm not sure why this picture doesn't show brown Sugarbunny, I think in some places they have Badtz-Maru instead.

So I sat down with an extra packet of Swarvoski rhinestones and a leftover glitter bow cabochon! I'm so pleased with result:


I think it's kind of kitschy cute! I can't wait to wear a My Melody coordinate now! She's never been my absolute favorite character (a spot reserved for Sugar Minuet & Little Twin Stars) but I can't say no to anything that comes in pure pink with a tiny little smile!  Just goes to show that you can find cuteness anywhere ♥



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posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 6:01 PM 1 Comments

Thursday, November 18, 2010

MintyMix Split Wig Review!

I was so excited when MintyMix came out with their split wig collection! Keeping my hair half pink and half blonde was adorable, but a hassle... it's much easier to just slather the whole thing in pink icing dye than to have to worry about staining the blonde side or bleaching the pink. So this wig makes me really nostalgic for my summer hair... but I can have that look whenever I want now! I'm super-fascinated by wigs lately, I have a huge list of new ones that I like and want to buy. They really can completely change or pull together an outfit, and I think they're a vital part of any lolita wardrobe. Here's my photo:


Service/Ease of Ordering: I ordered my pinkxblonde wig through the MintyMix website, got a confirmation, and received it a few days later in the mail! The service was great, absolutely no hiccups or glitches whatsoever. And for all you Paypal lovers, yes, they take Paypal!

Quality: This is honestly my most beautiful and top-quality wig to date. It is perfectly soft and has just the right kind of curl - not too wavy and not too sausage-curly. It has two clip-on falls, one in each color. Sometimes I alternate them for a different look (pink on the blonde side, blonde on the pink side). I love that the pink is really that soft, crystalline pure pink that looks best with wigs, not peachy or reddish or purplish at all. The blonde is also a just-right pale blonde, without being too white or fake looking. And the blended bangs in the front have a very subtle, multiple shine transition effect. The wig is also plenty full (so it can be worn without falls... I love the falls-pigtail look, but sometimes I'd like to wear a bonnet and they don't fit!) and has a secure seamless mesh scalp.


here's the Minty Mix stock photo.

This wig is also available in black/lilac, black/pink, and white/blue :D

And the trial run! Here I am in the wig!


I wanted good lighting even though it was a dark winter day... so I had to stand in front of my house's plastic siding (not cute!)... so enjoy some pixel hearts background instead!

I pinned it up into two ponytails as shown by in this tutorial by Angelic Pretty's Maki and Asuka! All you need are two falls and a matching base wig. It only takes a few seconds (can't beat that!) By the way, the wigs used in Maki and Asuka's tutorial are from zephyr. 




You can also see the method by video from shelbycloud.I really love her videos, she's so cute and they're so informative! I can't wait to see part 2 of her wig video :)

I was so excited to try this style, I haven't had a typical lolita wig before... I feel so dolly like and delicate! (Mostly cause... if I move my head too much I'm afraid I'll lose a ponytail...Yipe!) And it's a little heavy but... I think all lolita wigs are heavy once you add clip-on falls, a huge bow,star-shaped lollipops, My Little Ponies... I think you get the picture!

Wigs are my new fascination, I want so many! I'm in love how it can instantly and completely change your look and outfit! By the way, I'm going to be selling my pink Miwako curls wig for anyone interested. I love it, it's so bouncy and poodle-y, but it's not quite the right pink for my skin :(

I can't wait to see what else Minty Mix comes out with! Which is your favorite split wig color?

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posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 11:26 AM 1 Comments

Monday, October 11, 2010

Cosplay Wigs USA Review!

Recently I decided that the area in which I've really been lacking is wigs. I love my natural hair and its unnatural color - Little Twin Star pink - so I've always internally considered a wig to be betraying my hair! Especially if it wasn't pink! But ever since I saw a Kera where a girl with blue hair went brunette for the day, I feel freed to try new styles. But with my newest wig purchase I didn't deviate far - it's still a pink curly wig ;)


I wanted something poofy and poodly, almost in line with the current lolita-afro trend. Cosplay Wigs USA answered my call with their Miwako Sakurada wig - a pink base wig with giant, fluffy, never-fail ringlet ponytail clip-ons. Here's their stock photo:


And for everyone who doesn't know Miwako, she's my favorite character from the manga/anime Paradise Kiss. Before anyone jumps to conclusions, yes, Cosplay Wigs USA does cater to the lolita market with lolita-specific wigs, not just ones for cosplay. Miwako is actually a lolita character however, so she straddles the line. (She's sort of a hair/style hero for me!)

Miwako and her signature giant pink curls:


Service was excellent. I was dubious when I decided to order through their Facebook page, but they replied promptly with an invoice that I could easily pay through Paypal. I needed my wig for NYAF/NYCC event and knowing that some lolita shops run on a whole other time schedule, I wanted to make sure I would get it within two weeks. It came within two days - from order to my door. Pretty soon I was wrestling it out of the bag and trying it on.

Seeing as it has ponytail clips and I still felt guilty about betraying my hair, I tried to use them as clip-ins a few times. With some creative twisting and clipping, they would stay. The only problem is that they have small mouths on the clips, which means hiding my ever-lengthening hair wasn't that easy. And unfortunately, the pink chosen for the Miwako wig has a slightly orange cast, which didn't quite match with my purer pink. For color reference, the KiraKiraJenJen wig I owned until recently matches my hair perfectly. Here's the photo of me in just the clip-ins (roots and all):


The nice thing about the wig base is that it matches perfectly and of course never has roots. I like to experiment with it by changing the location of the clips, like placing both of them on one side for the giant fluffy ponytail affect. Sure beats teasing, spraying and curling my own poor hair before a big event! I'm trying to be kinder to it, it's going through the breakage stage :(

The wig base worked out fairly well for a big day at the con. My only thought was that the base was a little small - it didn't quite cover the roots along the base of my neck. But I didn't have to trim the bangs, which was a bonus. It stayed in place all day and was very comfortable and didn't look too cosplayish or odd with lolita. As said, I wish it was a purer, crystal pink, but the oranger pink is an interesting twist that could look very pop-kei if used right. Here's a picture of me from NYAF (with the lovely Paulette! thanks so much for the photo!):


My favorite part about this wig is that it's a great deco-lolita base. I managed to fit on a lolita hairbow, a Hello Kitty fluffy bow, two heart-shaped earrings, a felt bear brooch, a mini tiara, and a star lollipop brooch (the curls even wound around the stick! the wig eats candy! O-O!!) It's also quite soft to the touch. I finger-combed the curls to make them look less artificial and separated, which seems to have worked pretty well.

If you want to buy your own Cosplay Wig USA lolita wig, I recommend their Facebook page. Their website is still small and doesn't have all the styles for sale. Just send them a PM with your invoice email and which model you want, and they'll send you an invoice direct to your email.

I'm hoping to take that big leap into the natural-color section soon and try a honey-brown lolita wig next! We'll see how strange THAT looks! ;)

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posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 9:52 PM 8 Comments

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Bluehaired Boys

As is obvious from my pictures and endless prattle, I'm an advocate for unnaturally colored hair - the entire rainbow spectrum from shockingly sugary pink to deepest violet. In my previous post from this winter, Pink Please!, I talked about the process of becoming - and being - a pinkhead. Being a pinkhead (or pinkhaired person) has honestly been one of the best decisions of my life. I started out in a dorm bathroom with two chunks of raspberry hair framing my face, then moved on the pink hilights on blonde, and from there was just overwhelmed with color. Pink hair isn't just about looking different for me or celebrating my 'favorite color' - it's about expressing part of who I am. Pink hair is because I am some crazy kind of princess; pink hair is because I really don't need to blend in. It's been a very personal choice for me and I am proud to be celebrating over a year of pink hair this spring! ♥


Recently I welcomed another pretty-feathered person into my life - my boyfriend Matt, who keeps his hair with a river-blue turquoise underlayer. So this post is two-fold in purpose - one, about using unnatural dye for male styles, specifically our experience; and two, because some of my readers have requested to see more of my new prince ;)

I did Matt's hair myself, so I can easily give you the basics of what went into his plumage:

-one box of bleach from the drugstore, Herbal Essences (I was lucky enough to pick up a box n sale for $4, most others look about $9)
-a rat tailed comb, the kind with a long handle ending in a point
-one bottle of my favorite brand of dye, Special Effects, in Fishbowl (you can see me wearing it last summer by clicking here!) This color is just the right balance of blue and green. Matt wanted a green, but I thought a blue would pick up his eyes more - and this color is the best of both worlds.
-tinfoil
First things first, we started off with a clean head of hair and a test strand. This means I snip out a chunk of his hair from where it's darkest - the lower layers in the back, closest to his roots - and tap it securely to a piece of paper or tin foil. Then we put some of the bleach on to see just how long it takes for his hair to lighten enough. To recap for those unfamiliar with the process of unnatural color dying: your must bleach hair first to attain any kind of brightness. The dye itself is like colored cellophane - most easily distinguishable when shown against light colors.
Therefore if you are not a light or diamond blonde, it's best if you bust out the bleach first.
In Matt's case, it took half an hour before his hair lightened to a color reminiscent of honey or peanut butter. We wanted a deeper jewel tone instead of a techno-ish neon, so this was the right choice. I used the rat-tail's comb to select a few under layers in his bangs to bleach, then wrapped them in tin foil so they could develop. Half an hour later, the now-blonde strands get the same treatment - except they get smothered in blue dye before being wrapped in fresh foil. Don't forget plastic gloves when you do this! The dye can definitely stain your hands, nails, and clothes. (Protip: put the best brand away when dying your or your signifigant other's hair!)
If you're shooting for a pastel, let the dye sit for only ten minutes or so - refreshing my candy pink means a very short time on my hair, which is especially susceptible because multiple dyings make the hair more porous, or likely to soak up the color. In Matt's case we were shooting for something darker and more in the denim/teal family, so we left his dye on for about half an hour. For super crazy bright color, you can even leave the dye on over night. There's no developer or chemicals, just veggie dye, so it's safe to do so.
The result? One very happy bluehaired boy! (I'm not sure the term 'bluehead' is ever going to catch on...)
Our next challenge is to dye his beard with a little blue to match. Bleach is likely to irritate the sensitive skin of the face, especially since he has sensitive skin to begin with, so it will be an interesting experiment. But the appeal of a modern French fairytale Bluebeard is too great to resist! Hopefully with a little luck, I'll post photos of his new devilishly bluebeared prince style next!

Links
Buy Special Effects Dye from Amphigory!
click the links on Pink Please! for more helpful and how-to articles on unnatural hair dye!
psst! want to see more secrets about Lolita Charm's Victoria Suzanne before it hits the blog? Follow lolitacharm on tumblr - home of all kinds of pretty inspirations and LC easter eggs!

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posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 2:04 PM 13 Comments

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Cutesy Shop Wig Review

I've decided to expand my wardrobe of wigs as of late, and going on recommendations from a few online communities, ran across Cutesy Shop wigs (also known by their eBay seller name, snowygurl). Miss Lumpy and I decided to group order and get a wig each. I chose a blonde bob and she chose a dark, short and curly style.

For your convenience, I've broken down the shopping experience into a few distinct categories to rate.

Ease of Ordering: Ordering these wigs was a very convuluted process. First, you need an eBay account, for which we had to enlist Miss Lumpy's very patient boyfriend - neither of us regularly shop on eBay and prefer to use Paypal for shopping places like egl_comm_sales. But before you can buy the wigs you have to send the seller a message and inquire as to if your particular wig is in stock. After paying them, they then informed us that the wig I originally wanted (long, blonde, curly, and no longer on the website) was out of stock. At this point I chose the bob instead. However it is rather irksome for them to advertise merchandise and accept payment for merchandise that they do not actually have for sale.
Shipping: This was an entire other kettle of fish. Each wig is shipped for $25, which is how it gets from China to an intermediate seller to your doorstep. The reason Miss Lumpy and I wanted to group order was to get two wigs shipped for $25 and not $50. The seller informed us that she does not combine shipping prices for the wigs, meaning we would have to pay the full, individual price regardless of how many we bought. After much discussion, she relented to shave $8 off the fee a we were buying two after all. We were much affronted to discover that the wigs were shipped together in an unpadded paper envelope, hardly worth the money paid to ship them.
If you are interested in purchasing wigs from this seller, it is NOT worth it to buy more than one wig at a time. Your shipping charge will be ridiculous to ship, say, three wigs in the same unpadded paper envelope.


Product as Described: Perhaps the wig on the model is style differently, but mine is not quite the same shape (more of an angled bob than a typical bob) and is distinctly less blonde. I make a comfortable blonde and a comfortable pinkhead, but this wig borders on dark blonde to light brown. The photos make it look a very Barbie doll blonde, not the light caramel color it turned out to be. It's actually strands of blonde and brown mixed together, which looks very hilighted from far away but odd up close. I'd prefer a solid blonde wig, but that's just my preference. I may also try to style the wig more by trimming the bangs into a rounder shape, and possibly trimming away part of the angled portion to more resemble the stock photo.

Quality of Product: The wig I got I am mostly pleased with. The fiber is soft and silky, and has great movement just like real hair. The wig does not look thin at all and the cap cannot be seen when being worn. It's also fairly lightweight and doesn't seem like it would be too hot or unable to breathe in warm weather. However, upon combing it with my fingers, a few strands routinely come out of the wig. They are small and light, but this is highly common. While it doesn't show on the wig that its losing hairs, they should not be so lightly anchored as to come away with simple arranging.

In all, I would not order from snowygurl again. While the wig is of moderate, workable quality, it is not worth the hassle and very poor service we received in purchasing the wigs, let alone the exorboritant shipping cost. For my next wig, I will be trying to find a more reputable, hopefully Japanese source rather than a Chinese-to-eBay one.


If you want to see photos of the wig being worn, click here to see it coordinated with a sweet/punk casual lolita outfit.

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posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 9:08 PM 8 Comments

Monday, April 12, 2010

Faites Attention Au Hale!

At least for us in the northern hemisphere, the days are getting longer and the sun is starting to heat up lolita petticoats and brows. Dealing with the actual heat is one thing, but what about taking care of your skin? Are you the kind of girl who burns, tans, or both? Even though I'm naturally super-pale, I also tan like the devil - I'm already starting to look like Momo from Peach Girl! Here's some basic tips on coping with the sun, your skin, and you:

Sunscreen. I can't emphasize sunscreen enough. Even though it's only April, the sun is making a big appearance. Actually, it's advise that you wear sunscreen all year round, even on overcast days. Pick up a bottle to stash in your bag, and apply it to any skin showing. Clothing doesn't even afford that much protection from the sun - about 5 SPF (sun protection factor). I like to use the mist-on kind rather than slather on a thick cream. So before you slap on your bloomers and petticoats, give yourself a light misting of sunscreen. Make sure that the label says it defends against UVA and UVB, which encourage the skin to age. Usually my sunscreen of choice is Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist, SPF 45. I've actually found and used suncreen up to SPF 75, but it's harder to find. The number of SPF, by the way, measure how much percentage of rays it wil protect from. 30 SPF, for example, covers 97% of sun rays, compared to 15 SPF, which only covers 93%. And remember, especially if you are bouncing around, or outside often, to reapply about every two hours. (And even you're coming up on winter in the southern hemisphere - don't forget sunscreen! Snow can reflect the light and still effect your skin!) By the way - even if you have an old bottle of sunscreen, get a new one - they're not meant to last forever!

Parasols. So I'm a huge supporter of the parasol. I know they seem superfluous at times, especially if you have to get yours shipped from Japan, but they really can help a girl out. Most of the brand parasols say they defend against UVA and UVB (though obviously not much study has been done on the matter, so you'll have to take their word for it). And essentially, you're making your own shade. Now that the sun is starting to show, I've been bringing one to campus every day. They keep the light out of your eyes and off your skin, and I still think that it's cooler under there. I don't know much about offbrand parasols and their sun-resistant abilities, but you can buy a collapsible brand parasol for about $30 - $40, and a full-size classic one from Victorian Maiden for as much as $140. They're also excellenting for hiding yourself from creepers, having secret trysts behind them, and propping them on the lawn as an instant sunshade. Personally I think they're just indispensable ;)

Bonus: Parasol Care

I opened the trunk of my car the other day to find the long-lost body of my favorite BABY Versailles parasol - unfortunately completely splattered with some kind of grungy, grayish yellow stain. At first I thought about throwing it out - but then I decided to give cleaning it up the old college try. The answer - dish detergent! I just took a little water, a paper towel, and a bottle of Dawn and was able to scrub out all of the stains. Where previously I had a gummy, gross parasol, I now had my new one back! It's amazing what little things can fix up an item instead of throwing it away.

Avoid the Hottest Hours of the Day. The hottest hours of the day are from 1pm to 3pm, and then of course at noon and nearly noon the sun is right overhead. If you can arrange to be elsewhere, then do so. No need to schedule your picnic for the hottest and brightest parts of the afternoon - why not go for a morning brunch picnic or an early evening one? And with any luck, you'll be more comfortable before the heat builds to a head or after it breaks. I have a health issue that requires I try to keep out of the sun, and usually my family and friends tell me to stay out of it around this time!

Water. This is always a biggie no matter the time of year, but especially so in the heat - both to replenish your skin and to keep from passing out. If possible, bring a bottle (hopefully reusable!) of water with you, that you can refill from water fountains or at restaurants. If you're really not into water, I'll be posting a green tea smoothie recipe soon, so look forward to it!

Save Face. Stock your makeup bag with a tinted moisturizer with SPF for the summer. It's lighter than heavy foundation and should afford you some protection from the sun and drying out. I haven't found my perfect tinted moisturizer yet, but this one from Benefit Cosmetics looks promising as it has added aloe. If anyone has suggestions for a tinted moisturizer, leave a comment!

If you tend to sweat a night, some of that oil on your scalp or hair can get on your face and irritate it. If you know it's going to be a warm night, pin back your bangs or wear a cloth headband to keep the hair away from your skin. It's also important to change your pillowcase at least once a week to keep it from accumulating oil - more if it's really sticky at night where you live.



Hopefully some of these tips will help you handle the sunny days with sunny skin! Got any special summer skin tips? Feel free to add your own two cents!

psst - bonus question! Faites Attention Au Hale (the Japanese translated this as 'pay attention to your sunburn' but it more translates to 'pay attention to your tan!') was the name of a print back in the day. Can you guess which brand made a skirt with this saying and lots of cute parasols?

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posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 10:31 AM 6 Comments

Friday, December 18, 2009

Pink Please!


I've had a lot of requests to do a basic primer on dying your hair pink and having pink hair, so I've decided to fufill these wishes in favor of the holiday season :)
Making the Commitment


Dying your hair an unnatural color of any kind is big decision. For one, it is not a low maitenence style and needs a lot of upkeep; for another, it may attach to you a social stigma you don't want.

Like any color, your roots will eventually come in, so you'll need to be able to go to the salon for touch-ups or have the expertise and time to do the job at home, probably about once a month (twice for the daring, but I really don't recommend longer than that. Hair with roots can often look greasy or piecey, even when it's clean). If you're not able to bleach your own hair (and I don't blame you, it's not for the faint of heart) you will also have to go to a hair salon for the whole head, which can be expensive. If you are not naturally a white blond, you will need bleach anywhere you want the unnatural color. Unnatural hair dye is semi-permanent, meaning that instead of penetrating the strand, it is more sitting on top. It's also almost sheer - like cellophane, it shows up best on a white background.
You'll also need to get the dye. I buy mine locally, but this is pretty rare. You'll most likely have to order it online. I prefer Special Effects, which is $10 a bottle (two bottles covers my whole head). There are other brands as well, like Manic Panic, Fudgebox, and Directions.
So next let's talk about bleach. I get mine professionally bleached because I don't trust myself with one pair of eyes and a bottle of chemicals, but I know plenty of hair-savvy girls who do it themselves. Make sure to test your skin, as your scalp may be sensitive. There are many different opinions on bleach volume, but it's enough to say that bleach is not good for your hair. It can make it dry, brittle, easily breakable, and 'fried'. I'll talk about working with your hair quality later in this post.
To cap off, it's a big commitment. It requires a lot of extra care, time, and money, and shouldn't be something you really do on a whim.

Social Aspects
Next let's talk about being a 24/7 pinkhead. Lots of girls own pink wigs that they can wear for lolita, even myself - I like that it's pre-curled with perfect bangs. But wearing pink hair constantly isn't quite the same. The public will make assumptions about your personality, no matter what you're wearing - whether they think you are a delinquient, a raver, or a freak. I've had guys says they find my pink hair unattractive, I've been asked by stoner kids if I 'rave', and plenty of otakus assume that I'm their favorite anime character come to life. One woman today even told her daughter that I was wearing a wig!

You may also find it hard to be taken seriously with pink hair. I've often worried about getting a job, being on good terms with professors, or simply under scrutiny from family. You will stand out and get attention (though if you're a lolita, you're probably used to this!), both positive and negative. There is plenty of positive attention, too: little girls are in love, many people like the look, and it's impossible for me to be forgotten by professors or potential employers. If you have unnatural hair, it'll also be easy to meet like-minded people: those will be the people who like your look. But it's not like lolita - at the end of the day, you can't take it off. If you want to be pink only sometimes, invest in a wig.

The Process


First, you'll need to bleach your hair. As said, I prefer a salon, and I'd recommend you do that if you're not experienced with hair. It will cost you somewhere in the area of $70+ to bleach the entire head, however, so be prepared for price. Afterwards, make sure to treat the hair with a deep conditioner - either by yourself or ask your stylist. This will go a long way to repairing the damage you just did.
The dye should be applied to dry hair, from root to tip, and let sit for at least half an hour. Make sure to wear gloves, because otherwise you'll look as if you killed a Hello Kitty. If you do get any on your skin, you can remove it with alcohol. To preserve areas like your ears and hairline, swipe on Vaseline or petroleum jelly as a shield.

Afterwards, rinse with cold water until you don't see any more tint to the water. Cold water seals the hair follicle, whereas warm water opens it. After you first rinse out the dye, you may find that you shed color on your towels or clothes. Some people have reported staining constantly, others very little. I only recently started staining small things, like the backs of collars and the pearls on my necklaces. There isn't really a way to prevent this, but it does come out of clothes and other items.

Aftercare

Unnatural colors fade fairly quickly, typically within the first few washes. There are ways to prevent this, however. First, wash your hair in cool or cold water. Heat is really one of the big agents to pulling out color. The other is to switch from shampoo to baking soda, as I recommend in my previous post about cosmetics. Color-protectant shampoo is for permanent colors, and is designed to strip out colors that aren't natural - not what you want! A blonding shampoo, for example, cuts out all of the colors that aren't blond. Baking soda doesn't have harsh chemicals, is natural, and fairly inexpensive. You can read more about the benefits of baking soda here.

Make sure to condition, especially your ends especially (as they get the most damage and are most vulnerable). A glaze can also repair a lot of damage as well. Try to limit how much heat or product you use on your hair, and be kind to your ends with the curling iron if you can. I curl my hair often, but I'll often skip the spray or mousse so that it doesn't require scrubbing or washing to remove it.

Links


(photos of pinkheads from We ♥ It!)

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posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 5:43 PM 17 Comments