Monday, January 12, 2015

New Year, new tutorials, & many new upcoming blogs..

Hello hello, & happy 2015! It's been quite awhile since I've written a blog, & I think it's due-time to get back into the swing of doing so. My YouTube channel is still up & running, & my makeup tutorials are still going strong! That said, I'm doing tutorials every Tuesday & Friday, plus a vlog once a week that I've dubbed "Coffee-Talk Thursdays". This will help me better discipline myself when it comes to set days for tutorials, which towards the end of 2014 posed a bit of a problem; the holidays & my work-schedule were so busy, the days that I initially planned to do tutorials kept getting pushed back, for I technically never set specific days to do them. So far it's been proving very effective, it's a good feeling to be able to film & post 3 videos a week! 


When it comes to gaining more subscribers to my channel, I'm pleased to say that in the past week alone, I've gained 3 more! I now have a total of 18 subscribers, which may not seem like any big jump compared to some of the YouTube guru's- but for me it's an awesome accomplishment! Of course I'd like that number to be larger, as any YouTuber would, but it's not the end of the world if  that doesn't happen. My tutorials that I do for my channel are a great outlet, for they allow me the freedom to do more of the looks I truly like to do, & as long as there are in fact people watching & enjoying them, I have nothing to complain about. It's impossible to gauge what kind of tutorials people want to watch, so staying true to yourself, having fun with it, & believing in your own ability are the things that matter the most.

The links to my YouTube channel, Facebook, Pinterest, & Twitter will all be listed below. Please subscribe to my channel, check out my Facebook page & give it a LIKE, & follow me on Twitter & Pinterest.

My YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKlvj4oSDaI5cG_wX9tPz6g
My Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purplepeepleeater75?ref=hl
My Twitter: https://twitter.com/kelli_gilmore
My Pinterest: https://twitter.com/kelli_gilmore


Monday, August 18, 2014

A new flat- iron, Tape-in extensions update, & A special tutorial........

Hello hello! It's been awhile, but I am indeed back & I have a lot of new information to share with you all! So sit back, grab that splendid cup of caffeination, & happy reading!

A New Flat Iron: 

When I first had my tape-in extensions installed, the stylist used a flat-iron that I was extremely impressed with! I've heard great things about CHI & Ghd, & I was contemplating purchasing one of the two. This flat-iron, however, is from Sally Beauty Supply, & is also less than $100: The GVP  1" black ceramic flat-iron. I received it as a birthday gift, & at the time it was on sale for $59.99 ( it is also available in digital for $10 more) , I can honestly say that it's worth every penny! The ceramic plates help to eliminate frizz, it has a curved-edge plates designed to straighten, curl, or flip your hair with ease, heats up in 10 seconds all the way to 420 degrees ( which makes it perfect for thick or curly hair), & has a 9-foot tangle-free swivel cord. I've purchased a fair number of flat-irons in the past, some that have worked fantastic, & some that didn't-which is disappointing, especially in regards to the ones that were higher priced.As with many styling tools, it's touch-& -go, which is why I tend to set a budget as to the amount I'll pay for them-but I'm very pleased to say that this one delivers the results I had hoped for! This flat-iron is currently on sale for $49.99 at your local Sally Beauty supply,( I'll put the link to their online site at the end of this blog) so if you're looking for a a high-performance flat-iron that will give you quite a bit of style versatility, yet won't break your wallet- definitely check this one out! 


Tape-in extensions update: 

In past blogs & YouTube vlogs, I've talked quite a bit about my tape-in extensions; from the washing, styling, & coloring, to the small mishaps & my overall experience with them. I indeed still have them, & through continued research & experience with them I've learned some very useful tips along the way! I recently did a vlog about a few of these tips, (I'll put the link to my YouTube channel at the end of this blog as well), & I have decided that in the future, I'm going to be taping them in myself. It sounds risky I know, but after my last visit to the salon where I had them done, yet another weft slipped out of my hair after having them completely re-done after the first mishap! I completely understand that these things can very well be trial & error, but consistent trips back & forth to the salon are time-consuming ( as I've mentioned before). I did some research, took the chance, & re-installed the last weft that slid out of my hair myself. That was close to four weeks ago, & it has stayed secure through all the hair-washings, flat ironing, & two hair dye touch-ups. 


My natural hair has grown out quite a bit, but I definitely  plan on keeping the tape-ins for awhile! Tape-in extensions are honestly not difficult to do; do your research, find a reputable place to purchase the hair wefts & accessories ( re: tape rolls or packages of pre-cut tape strips), follow the shape of your hair, & have patience! 


A Special Tutorial: 

I recently did a tutorial on the 16th of this month called "The Dark Violinist". I usually don't go too terribly "all-out" when it comes to costumes for tutorials, but this one indeed needed something special!Those of you who have been following my YouTube channel have heard me talk about Brandon Bitner- my channel is in part dedicated to his memory, & his story has been one that has profoundly effected me since I first read about it in 2010. A very talented & accomplished violinist, he walked six miles from his own home in the early morning hours of November 5th, 2010 & took his own life by walking out in front of a Weiss tractor-trailer after five years of relentless bullying & harassment in the Mid-West school district. He was fourteen years old. 


I have had the pleasure of getting to know Brandon's mother, Tammy, & she has become a trusted friend of mine.After a fairly recent conversation with her, I came to find out that One of Brandon's favorite classical composers was Beethoven ( my favorite as well), hence an idea for a tutorial was born. "The Dark Violinist" is dedicated to my friend Tammy Simpson, in loving memory of her son Brandon E. Bitner. Artistic expression is something to be embraced, not bashed, & the way that someone dresses is only a minute reflection of what lies inside a person's heart.


Brandon Bitner had the right to dress however he felt comfortable & not be ridiculed because of  it. He was a very talented, intelligent, & warm hearted person who was literally bullied to death for the mere fact that he was different, & that is not, nor will it ever be the least bit acceptable. His memory lives on through all those that knew & loved him, & his story has impacted many. I will include the links to the Brandon Bitner Memorial website, Facebook page, & Twitter at the end of this  blog, & my message is this this: Reach out a hand to those who are different, for the beauty that lies in one's heart cannot be fully seen or understood if harsh judgement is passed. Think before you speak, for words have a strong impact, & they truly can hurt. 

Brandon E. Bitner: January 2nd, 1996-November 5th, 2010


Brandon Bitner Memorial Website: http://brandonbitner.com/?page_id=23

Brandon Bitner Memorial Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ripbrandonbitner


RIP Brandon Bitner Twitter: https://twitter.com/BEBMemorial


My Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/purplepeepleeater75?ref=hl


My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKlvj4oSDaI5cG_wX9tPz6g


Follow me on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/makeupjunkie_75

*All contact lenses used in my tutorials: http://camoeyes.com/

Photo from my recent tutorial: "The Dark Violinist...


Tuesday, July 22, 2014

My Experience With Tape-In Extensions......

Hello hello! I'm back with another blog for you all, this one documenting my experience thus far with tape-in extensions. I hope you enjoy it, & I also hope that it may give some of you who have considered this option a few tips to help you beforehand & along the way.....


WHY TAPE-IN EXTENSIONS?

I had a very bad mishap back in January of this year at a salon. I went in to get my hair colored, the bleach was left in for too long, & not only did it succeed in frying my hair, a large section of my hair also broke off. It was a month & a half-long struggle to repair my hair to the point where it would  even grow, plus more money that was invested in the products to help repair my hair. When my hair did in fact start growing again, it was a very slow process due to the damage that was done. From about the end of February until May, the few times I attempted to wear my hair down & flat-iron it were very frustrating; due to the length ( or lack thereof) , the remaining damage, & the texture of my hair-so I just wore it pulled up. I've never had any kind of permanent extensions, so I did quite a bit of research before deciding that tape-ins might just be the best option for me. Due to the short length of my hair, Micro-link & wefted extensions were out of the question, & I had read a bout many nightmare situations involving both. Tape-ins are placed between two sections of hair, about an inch from the scalp, therefore allowing the natural hair to grow safe & sound. They last about six to eight weeks ( depending on your hair growth & care of the extensions), as to which time you get them moved up again. 


THE CONSULTATION...

After three weeks of research on tape-in extensions alone, I found a salon with two stylists that specialize in them. It was a reputable salon that had been operating since 1987 with many rave reviews, & also relatively close to where I live. Not being sure I was even a candidate for tape-in extensions, I called the salon & made an appointment for a consultation that same day. The salon was small, clean, & very nicely set up. The stylist who did my consultation was friendly, professional, & took the time to thoroughly  look at my hair, & I was pleased to find out that yes, tape-in extensions could in fact be done! My hair is blue, so I was told by the stylist that she would research a bit for the best color match & hair type, & that I  would be contacted within a week's time. 

As promised, the stylist contacted me, gave me a price of what the total cost would be ( re: the hair, color, & charge to install the extensions), & an appointment to have the tape-ins done was made.

THE INSTALL & RESULTS

My tape-in extensions were done on the 14th of June, it only took about an hour to install them, & it was completely painless; no tugging or yanking of my hair, & no feeling of " Yep, I'm gonna have a headache after this". It was literally what I call "Insta-hair"! A little past my shoulders, soft, & the color was indeed vibrant blue! After not having hair that long since about 2008, it was a big difference, & for the most part I was pretty ecstatic. I say "for the most part" because there was one thing I was confused about: When I went in for the consultation, it was obvious that my hair needed to be dyed ( at the time it was a a faded purple/blue). I asked the stylist if I needed to dye my hair myself beforehand, & I was told that she would be doing the color touch-up for me. Yet, on the day I had my extensions put in, no color touch-up was done in the least, & I was charged $65 for color?? When I inquired about this, I was told that the charge for color was for the EXTENSIONS, not my actual hair....Ah, ok. That wasn't what I was told originally, but I didn't debate it, for I knew I could do color touch-up on my hair myself. My stylist was asked before I left the salon if there were any products ( shampoo, conditioner, etc.) that she recommended, & I was told "not really", just as long as it's sulfate-free. I was then told not to wash my hair for 24-hours to let the tape-ins adhere to my hair, she was paid, tipped, & gave me her cell phone number if I had any problems with the extensions, & off I went with my nifty new hair! 

THE AFTERMATH...

The day I had my tape-ins done, I purchased a "loop brush" ( which is a brush that has loop bristles as to not catch on the extensions while brushing them. A regular-bristled brush WILL indeed catch on the tape!) , plus a shampoo & conditioner that was specifically made for human hair extensions. I pulled my hair back in a loose ponytail before I went to sleep ( which you're supposed to do in order to keep the extensions from matting in any way), waited a full 24-hours, touched up my color ( I use Special Effects or Manic Panic-both semi-permanent hair colors that contain no ammonia), & washed my tape-ins for the first time.....

For those like myself that have never had extensions before, much less tape-ins, it does in fact take a time or two to get the shampoo/conditioner routine down. New hair, new routine, & you cannot wash your hair the way that you did previous to having them. There is indeed a method to the madness, so be patient! I would say that after about the 3rd time you wash your hair with tape-ins, you'll pretty much have it down to a science- that goes for the brushing & styling as well. 

Can you curl them? Yes you can! Can you flat-iron them? Yes you can! Depending on the length & amount of tape-in wefts you have, be careful about the heat level. I place my styling appliances on a low to medium setting ( which is just about perfect), & a small amount of heat protector from the middle to the end of the extensions is more than enough.

DO IT YOURSELF...

I had a couple of mishaps with my tape-in extensions. Granted, every person's hair is different, & sometimes things can be trial & error. Within a week & a half after getting my tape-in extensions, I had two wefts slide right out of my hair in a span of 3 days. I contacted my stylist to let her know what happened, & I went in the next day to have them re-installed. Hair stylists aren't magicians, mistakes happen, & you have to be willing to work with your stylist without going berserk-especially if they offer to fix the problem with no qualms or questions asked. It was determined that when she dyed my extensions, it was possible that the tape got wet & didn't hold as well as it normally would when they were installed. Not only did she fix the wefts that had fallen out, she took ALL of them out & re-installed them again to be sure that they would hold better! I was very thankful & also very impressed, for when you deal with a stylist that cares about their clients-those clients will undoubtedly come back.


Fast-forward to three weeks later: I was blow-drying my hair & yep, a weft on the left side of my head slid right out! Yet another phone call was made to my stylist, & upon hearing what had happened ( yet again), she consulted with the owner of the salon....that's where the good impression ended. I was accused of not taking good enough care of my extensions; not using a sulfate-free shampoo, not brushing them correctly or enough ( it's recommended that you brush them out twice a day), not pulling my hair back when I went to sleep, etc, etc. These questions wouldn't have irritated me at all, if she hadn't asked me the EXACT same ones the last time I was at the salon-which was three weeks prior. In the end, my stylist apologized & wanted me to come in again so she could use a stronger glue on the extensions. As much as I appreciated her offer, I did not have the time to make another trip down there, yet I still had a weft that had fallen out..


What did I do? I purchased some glue strips from the beauty supply store, sectioned my hair off with a pin-tail comb, & placed the weft back in myself. I still have over two sheets of the glue strips left, so at least I'm prepared if I happen to lose another one any time soon. The weft I replaced myself is holding up well, & as much as I credit the stylist who installed my tape-ins, salon trips back & forth can be frustrating. 

Did she do a good job? Yes, I honestly believe that she did, & I DO appreciate her efforts to fix the mishaps. However, the owner of the salon was a wee bit insulting, after what I paid for the extensions, three wefts falling out in less than a month is pretty annoying. Will I stick with the tape-ins? Most likely yes, at least for awhile, but I'm definitely looking forward to my own hair growing to the desired length! 

MY EXPERIENCE OVERALL...

I do think that tape-in extensions are a great option. Despite a few frustrations, I don't regret getting them, for they've given the look & length of my hair that much-needed boost. My advice to anyone considering the option of tape-ins: Do your research! Explore the process, aftercare, & do not be afraid to ask a stylist questions if there's anything you don't understand. When choosing a salon ( if you don't have one you go to regularly), read the reviews, check out the Facebook pages, websites, photos, etc. Sometimes it's difficult to decipher what the feel of a salon will be until you've been there, so a consultation is always a good idea! 

I know this blog is a bit lengthy, but I hope you all enjoy it! The links to my YouTube channel, Facebook page, & Twitter page will be listed down below, & I'll be back again soon with another blog post! Catch up with you gals & pals then ;-) 


My Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/purplepeepleeater75?ref=hl

My YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKlvj4oSDaI5cG_wX9tPz6g

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/makeupjunkie_75


Here are a couple before & after photos:




 

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

"Moribund Tales": New Dark Fiction ....

Hello hello : )  Are there any dark fiction readers out there? My best guess is yes, & I also happen to be an avid reader of it myself. Have you ever come across a book that, after reading once, you knew beyond a shadow of doubt you would read again? I certainly have, but as far as anything completely "new", it's honestly been awhile....Until recently. 

About two weeks ago, I purchased a new ( & admittedly my first) Kindle book. It is indeed dark fiction, & intriguingly so. The name? "Moribund Tales". The author? Erik Hofstatter, & if you are a reader & lover of dark fiction, I highly recommend you grab this one if you haven't already! A book that tells one story at length can undoubtedly be enough to indulge the mind,  "Moribund Tales" obliges with nine short stories that effectuate more than one dark cornerstone. His ability to execute the visual details could be slightly compared to authors such as Poppy Z. Brite, with a style that will also remind you of the classic Edgar Allan Poe. These nine tales will take you on a journey that range anywhere from violent emotion to twisted psychological impulse, guaranteed to chill the mind & give the skin a thrilling crawl or two. 

I've never been particularly compelled to write a blog in regards to a new book I've read, but because I'm drawn to the more sinister side of makeup artistry, things that are creepy & twisted do intrigue me-specifically in regards to what I read. I've always been drawn to the "not-so-ordinary", & being able to express that in my makeup is something that I'm very pleased about. I have even done makeup looks that deal with my two worst fears: Clowns & spiders ( shhh, don't tell anyone ;p). I've always loved to read, & dark fiction has been draw for me since my teenage years. If the content in a book I read scares me, turns my stomach, or makes my skin crawl-I applaud the author! Cheers to you Erik Hofstatter, job well done . 


Check out "Moribund Tales" on Amazon asap: http://www.amazon.com/Moribund-Tales-Erik-Hofstatter-ebook/dp/B00GACB9ZC/ref=la_B00KO3SAQY_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405457769&sr=1-1

Monday, July 14, 2014

The birth of a new channel & other updates...

Hello hello! It's been awhile, but I am indeed back-& with a brand new channel to boot! I ran a contest on my Facebook page about a week ago to help me name my new channel, & at the end there were not only one, but TWO winners! "Murderously Warped Makeup" has been created, & again, congrats to Crissie Clark & Vicki DesRuisseaux for winning!


With the birth of my new channel, I did in fact carry over 2 tutorials from my previous channel: "Creepy Rabbit" & "Clowns Will Have You in Stitches" ( which was the last one I did on my previous channel). Since then, I've also done a new tutorial, a recent review, & another tutorial is in the works & will be posted very soon. The question in regards to why I shut down my previous channel has indeed been asked, well, here's the answer for all of you: I tend to be very self-critical & as with anyone, I have my times of frustration. Working so hard to create a tutorial & not getting the response you had hoped for is very disappointing. I 'm fully aware that not only is YouTube a very vast world with a large number of makeup artists, but also that because my tutorials fit into the realm of "not-so-ordinary", they aren't everyone's cup of tea. In the grand scheme of things, I unfortunately let my doubts get the best of me-& yes, I did regret it afterwards. In any case of placing yourself in the public eye, you open the door to many different opinions & criticisms. If someone doesn't care for the type of makeup I do, they won't always spare me the negative comments-everyone is entitled to their own opinion, & some are not the slightest bit shy about stating it, lol.There were a few cases of "OUCH", but to throw up my hands & say " I quit" was nothing more than a display of letting others break me down.


Having a sensitive heart is often a blessing as well as a curse, & as difficult as it is sometimes, I have to remain true to myself & the kind of makeup I choose to do. Many aspects of my personality shine through in my videos, it is 100% me,& I refuse to make any apologies for that. Yes, people can be cruel, & I'm not the only one who has ever experienced that. The compliments I receive mean a great deal, & they far outweigh the negativity. Having people believe in me & my ability is very motivating, but I also have to believe in myself, for I cannot fully succeed in my endeavors if I don't.

I urge you all to check out the "about" section of my channel, for I have dedicated it to two people who had tremendous compassion, strength & intelligence. I go into a little more detail about it in my recent review video, so check that out as well! Please rate, comment & subscribe to my channel, it really helps me out! Check out my Facebook page & give it a like as well if you would, I greatly appreciate it!

Thank you to all of  you who have shown so much support & encouragement, & to all of those unique, artistic, creative & talented souls out there- keep on keepin' on & don't ever stop being you!

My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKlvj4oSDaI5cG_wX9tPz6g/feed

Find me on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/purplepeepleeater75?ref=hl

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/makeupjunkie_75