Anissa Simone

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Another Overtone Review: Toning Conditioner (Green)

Overtone recently came out with a line of daily toning conditioners. These conditioners are designed to neutralize unwanted tones in your hair (brassiness, yellow, red, orange, etc.). Since I am trying to eliminate brassy red in my hair I bought green.

Not sure which color you need? Choose the color opposite on the color wheel. Green and red, yellow and purple, blue and orange are all opposites.

The last time I got highlights was April 2019 and I used red toners/shampoos to maintain the red. I stopped in January 2020 knowing I wanted to change it up and get more golden/caramel highlights for the summer. I was planning on getting highlights in April but then the pandemic hit and here we are.

Having used and LOVED the Extreme Red treatment in October 2019 (see previous post for review), I decided to buy this despite the lack of reviews (it’s a brand new product).

I applied the conditioner after shampooing. I left in on longer than the instructed 2-3 minutes. I figured the longer the more the conditioner will, well, condition. I probably left it on at least 5 minutes but not as long as 10. When I dried my hair I saw a difference. The redness was definitely reduced.

A few days later I used it again and left it on a little longer. I definitely see the difference. The thing with hair color is that it’s not flat and it can look different depending on the lighting. I took pics in my bedroom and in my sunny yard.

I would recommend Overtone products. I LOVE the smell and the deep conditioners work great. I wish the toning conditioner was a better conditioner.

Overtone makes great products. They are often sold out. Eventually I’ll buy more colors in the deep conditioner. Those that know me know that my hair revolves around my Halloween costume each year. This year I need it to be long and sun-kissed.

This is an unbiased review I paid full price for the product. As far as I know Overtone does not have product ambassadors, I wish!

Halloween and Autumn Décor

September

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! I decorate three times for Autumn. In September I keep my blue curtains up and add decorations in blue and traditional fall colors.

**_{Early Autumn with Blue Damask Curtains}**

October

In October I switch to Halloween, my favorite. I try to do things slightly different every year. This year I went with black, white, and deep red while keeping my Edgar Allen Poe Raven theme.

**Pre- Party Month Long Halloween Decorations**

November

Then in November I stick to more traditional fall colors. Check back for Halloween party and November pics!

Autumn Activities: Happy Day Farm, NJ

I LOVE fall. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Crisp air, fall foliage, pumpkin patches, hayrides, corn mazes, fall fashion, and of course, HALLOWEEN. This September we visited Happy Day Farm in NJ. The big draw for me was their immense sunflower fields. I’ve loved sunflowers since I was a teen but had no idea I could visit a field only an hour away.

Happy Day Farm exceeded my expectations. There was a big corn maze, pumpkin patch with pumpkin houses, wildflower field, tractor ride, pig race, concession stands with delicious freshly squeezed lemonade, and of course splendid sunflower fields with pic worthy props.

Happy Day Farm is also a great place for families. There’s lots of games and activities for kids including a feeding zoo and a fun slide. There’s ample parking and the tractor ride takes you to the Pumpkinville and back. You can buy pumpkins, gourds, and sunflowers that you’ve picked yourself.

I’m so glad we visited the farm. It was an easy one hour drive from my house on Staten Island (north shore). Not only did I thoroughly enjoy the sunflower fields I got to check a bunch of things off my fall bucket list. Next up, Halloween! Would love suggestions for the NYC/NJ area.

Review: Feeke IPL Hair Removal

Truth be told, I have been dreading writing this review. I write reviews because I reply on the reviews of others when shopping for, well, most things. I have put off writing this review for months because I’m not sure how helpful it will be.

Background

A little background information. I started professional laser hair removal on 3 different areas about a year and a half ago. I bought packages for each body part treated and had a LOT of sessions. I’m not sure why but even after the numerous sessions I was still getting some hair. Now before you assume it’s my personal body chemistry, let me clarify. I recommended two friends and they had the same experiences. We think the technician wasn’t making the machine hot enough. This was something new the shop brought in and they specialized in other beauty treatments but not this procedure yet. I am not a hairy person at all. There is no reason why ten sessions on one body part left me with some hair.

Professional Laser Hair Removal

After a year of professional treatments I decided to look into the at home IPL units. I read magazine articles comparing different units and tons of reviews on Amazon. The prices varied greatly and I was afraid of spending a lot to not see results. I finally decided on the Feeke ILP Hair Removal from Amazon. It was about $99 and I had a $25 gift certificate so I figured it wouldn’t be a great loss if it didn’t work well.

With professional laser hair removal you usually need a session about once a year to touch up any regrowth. I bought this unit with that in mind and to treat my legs. I hadn’t received professional treatments on my legs since it’s expensive.

Feeke ILP Hair Removal

I started my at home treatments the end of January. The instructions came on this tiny piece of paper which I immediately misplaced. I went to the Amazon reviews for guidance but I read conflicting instructions. One said 2-3 sessions for the first few weeks…? One said once a week for 8 weeks. Conflicting and confusing. Keep in mind the IPL laser hair removers are not actual lasers therefore it is much weaker than the professional salon treatments. With that being said, 2-3 times the first few weeks does make sense.

The first couple of weeks I may have done it twice a week. Skin must be clean and freshly shaved. In the very beginning I logged when I did the treatments and which level of intensity on which body parts. I was touching up lip/chin, bikini area, and underarms. Underarms I actually had one more professional treatment left in my package at the salon so that wasn’t really a touch up.

Did I see results?

I’m not entirely sure. One day early on, I forgot to shave one leg so I had to skip it that session. I did see the difference in stubble that week. The leg I skipped grew in slightly faster. I probably consistently did weekly sessions (on the highest setting) for a few months yet I spent the summer shaving my legs almost daily. February to June should have been enough time to see results. I stopped using the unit over the summer because I spend a lot of time in the sun.

I recently started using it again. I don’t see me doing it 2-3 times a week. Now that I’m back at work I really don’t have the time or patience for that commitment. I’ll try once a week and see if it slows down hair growth.

As for the unit I bought, I can’t find it on Amazon anymore. This is second time it disappeared. The last time it was under a new listing with different reviews. This time I couldn’t find it at all. There are similar ones at the same price point. I’m not a brand snob but I think if you were to buy one of these maybe a trusted brand is the way to go even if it is more expensive. Better yet, if you can afford professional laser hair removal I would HIGHLY recommend that.

(Will update as I see results, or don’t.)

Daily 5 Minute Makeup Routine: E.L.F. Favorites

Mornings can be hectic. I can’t imagine having more than 5 minutes for a makeup routine. Here are my picks of affordable and cruelty-free products from E.L.F. that I use daily.

16HR Camo Concealer (medium golden)- I have VERY VERY dark under eye circles. This concealer is very lightweight and matte.

Eyebrow Kit (dark)- Dual shades of brown in gel and powder. Comes with a 2-sided brush.

Mad for Matte Eye Shadow Palette- I typically don’t wear eye shadow on my lids. I like to keep them pretty bare so my lash extensions will be free from makeup build up. However I use the grey or brown shades as eyeliner under my eyes only.

Powder Blush Palette (light)- Nice combination of colors, one being a bronze. Using a medium blush brush I mix all the colors together and apply.

Nabela Noor Lip Kit (Maira Nude)- this limited edition lip kit is probably my favorite neutral color. I hope they decide to re-release it soon!

Tomorrow NYC Public Schools teachers are going back to work. Having an easy morning routine is essential to getting me out the door and over the bridge.

My Favorite Hair Products: Cruelty-free and Under $10

I naturally have dry, frizzy, course curly hair. I can’t just shampoo my hair I always have to use a good conditioner that softens and detangles. Since I have been highlighting my hair I use hair treatments almost weekly.

Favorite Hair treatments:

*Shea Moisture Peace Rose Oil Complex Nourish & Silken Treatment Masque

This package can be divided into three uses even with my long and still pretty thick hair. It works great! It has a strong rose scent which I love.

*Love Beauty and Planet 2 Minute Magic Masque

This package can also be divided into three applications and has a rose scent.

*Hask Rose Oil and Peach High Gloss Glaze

This tube lasts for several applications and you can feel it coating the hair. More rose scent.

Favorite Styling Products

*OGX Locking + Coconut Curls Decadent Creamy Mousse

On the rare occasion I leave my hair curly I use this mousse and let it air dry. It has a nice coconut smell and doesn’t leave the hair stiff (unless over applied).

*OGX Damage Remedy + Coconut Miracle Oil Penetrating Oil

Great thick oil to use after a blow out or to calm and add shine to curly hair. Nice coconut smell.

Shampoos and Conditioners (not pictured)

*OGX Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo and Conditioner

*OGX Quenching + Coconut Curls Shampoo and Conditioner

Both sets of shampoo and conditioner are gentle but effective at cleaning and conditioning. Like the hair treatments you can feel the conditioner being absorbed into the hair. Great coconut scent!

As you can see, I often stick to the same brands and I’m partial to coconut and rose scents. I also use the OGX Coconut Mineral Oil Lotion. All of the above items were purchased at Target.

Review: Revlon Perfect Heat 3 Barrel Waver

Having naturally frizzy curly hair I rely on hot tools to style and smooth my hair. The blow-dryer is my main tool however I do use curling irons on occasion. I decided to try out the Revlon Perfect Heat 3 Barrel Waver for a different look.

I read a lot of reviews and watched a few demonstration videos before trying it out. I read that it works best on second day hair (rather than freshly washed) so I waited a day or two after washing. I placed a towel around my neck (to avoid burning myself) and started at the nape. The waver is huge and has several heat levels. The heat levels depend on your hair type, the thicker the hair the hotter the recommended level. I started with the middle level. Even though my hair is pretty thick it is also lighten therefore more fragile than virgin hair. The middle level didn’t wave my hair so I gradually increased the heat. Still not much waving. Finally at maximum heat I started to see some wave.

I wasn’t happy with the wave formation this created. It could possibly be my technique or hair texture. It’s big and clunky making it awkward to use. It might be better suited for people with straight fine hair. I’ll be sticking with my curling wand.

Review: Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer Hot Air Brush

I have naturally frizzy curly hair. I prefer to wear it straight for several reasons. When I leave it curly I need to use product (OGX Locking + Coconut Curls Decadent Creamy Mousse) and let it air dry but it may or may not look good. It’s a gamble. Plus when I put it up as I always do when home, the curls/waves flatten out weird and uneven. There’s no longevity with leaving it curly whereas a good blow out looks great for days.

I’ve been blowing my hair out with the same type of Elchim hair-dryer for over 20 years. It’s the same dryer that I used when I worked in salons. I prefer some height and body so I use thermal round brushes and leave them for a few minutes to ‘set’ my hair while creating smoothness.

Last Thanksgiving my cousin told me about the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer Hot Air Brush. Her and her daughter had recently started using it and loved it. They found it quick, easy to use, and made their hair straight and silky without having to use a straightening iron. Normally it would take me 30 minutes to blow out my hair so I was definitely open to something quicker.

After watching several YouTube videos demonstrating use, I decided to give it a go. It took a little getting used to at first. I found it a little challenging getting the root area dry and smooth. It definitely made my hair silky straight and cut my dry time by at least 10 minutes. I felt the ends weren’t as smooth as the women in the videos. I also didn’t love the sleek straight look on me. So, I decided to use it once in a while to change up my look.

Then the quarantine happened and suddenly I had time to experiment and play with different products. By now I hadn’t had a haircut in months and had a lot of split ends that weren’t coming smooth with my regular dryer. I started to experiment with the Revlon dryer. Instead of a stick straight blow out I started to twirl my hair and brush to make slight waves and give me some body. Now I’m hooked.

Top is before recent haircut and highlights and bottom is after

Although I love using the Revlon dryer there are some things I should mention:

The dryer gets VERY hot. You have to keep it moving or it will burn (even break) your hair.
It’s a good alternative for people who blow their hair straight then use a flat iron. This saves you that extra step and a lot of time.
My cousin’s dryer stop working after a few uses AND I read a lot of reviews from women who had that same experience. Make sure you have some kind of backup dryer.
Knowing that it may burn out quickly, I would buy from a vendor with a long return policy.

Whether you prefer a sleek blowout or one with body, this dryer is a good one to have on hand.

Lashes: Extensions, Magnetic, and the Truth about Amazon Reviews.

Background:

My name is Anissa Simone and I am a lashaholic. The addiction started in October 2017. I was dressing up as Cleopatra for my annual Halloween party and decided to get strip lashes professionally applied. I was already considering getting lash extensions and loving the look of false lashes made the decision easy. Days later, I went to a local salon that specializes in lash extensions and was transformed with my first (natural) set. Pics: dilated for an eye examine, Cookie Monster (my spirit animal), and in need of a re-fill.

Extensions

I continued to get refills (about every 3 weeks) and new sets when needed without breaks until COVID-19 shut everything down. I understand that some may have had awful experiences with lash extensions. In my experience, although expensive to maintain, it is much less day to day maintenance. With them, I wear very little makeup, hardly touch my eyes, rarely get eyelashes or debris in my eyes, and it cuts down on my skin routine. My last set was early March 2020, a mix of 3D and 5D. Obviously, by now I was over the natural look.

I held on to that new set until May. Then I finally had to remove the last few stragglers. My lashes were never thick or long but now they were definitely shorter. I wasn’t worried because I knew new lashes would grew in and I did see an improvement within 2 weeks. BUT I hated the way I looked without my lashes. I know it sounds superficial and ridiculous but we all have our things and this happens to be mine. My eyes are my best feature why wouldn’t I want to accentuate them?

Magnetic Lashes

So now what? It’s May and there seems to be no end in sight to the quarantine. After reading many many reviews I decided on ordering Vafee Magnetic Eyelashes with Magnetic eyeliner Kit (5 reusable pairs) from Amazon.

The way they work: use the magnetic eyeliner as eyeliner, let dry, and then apply the lashes to the magnetic eyeliner. Do they work? Yes. Did I like them? No. Here’s why….

I am HORRIBLE at applying liquid eyeliner, TERRIBLE. I have 2 completely different shaped eyes and hooded eyelids. The eyeliner went on uneven, leaked under my eye and left a mark on upper lid when I opened my eye. It never dried and always felt tacky.

As for the lashes, they do stick to the eyeliner but I have a hard time placing both eyes correctly, they didn’t really stay, and I always felt them. The 2 times I tried I had to remove the lashes because at least one of them wasn’t completely sticking and then I was stuck with the tacky smearing magnetic eyeliner.

Removing the eyeliner was also a hassle. I used NYX Micellar Water on a cotton ball. The first time it worked fine however the second time the eyeliner wouldn’t budge.

Excuse the sweaty selfie It was the Fourth of July.

Is Amazon Shady?

Meanwhile I received a flyer in the mail offering me a $20 Amazon gift card for a positive review. I had heard some reviews were paid reviews. I’m not sure what they mean but this kind of felt that way. I have had some serious doubts about Amazon reviews after my experience with FEEKE IPL Hair Remover (review coming soon). I feel duped by all the positive reviews. I wanted so much to love the magnetic lashes but I can’t lie. Maybe if I was better with liquid eyeliner and makeup in general I would have loved them. Either way I was going back to extensions. Nothing beats waking up and batting those beautiful lashes even if it’s just for myself.

Extensions!!!

Now NYC is finally in Phase 3. The very first day guess where I went…. To the lash salon! I finally feel complete again!

Overtone: Review

My unbiased review of OVERTONE (original post from Oct. 2019)

As a former licensed hairstylist that was trained in color, former cosmetology teacher and someone who has been coloring her hair for 30 years, here is my review (and tips)on OVERTONE.

I generally get highlights and toner once a year at a salon then experiment with semi-permanent color throughout the year when the toner washes out. My highlights were last done in April and I would occasionally use Viral shampoo in red to refresh them.

This Halloween I need a very red color for my Jessica Rabbit costume so I decided to try Overtone in Extreme Red.

A few days prior I did a strand test on dry hair and LOVED the results on my previously highlighted strands.
I washed and dried my hair (three shampoos and the strand test was still visible) then applied vasoline around my hairline and on my ears.

I applied the whole jar to my entire dry head as if it were hair dye and let it sit for about an hour.

I decided to wash it out in my stainless steel kitchen sit for easier clean up. (It stained my bathroom sink until I sprayed Clorox Cleanup.) I didnt know how much was enough to rinse since reds always bleed. Plus I didn’t want to over rinse the conditioner too much. I definitely* didn’t rinse it enough.

Finally I was ready to blow dry. I LOVE the color and fresh scent.

Tips:
Buy better gloves to apply and another pair to wash (than the pair they give you). Apply to dry hair. Water will probably dilute the color. Dry will absorb better. Plus it will run everywhere if wet.

Leave on longer than the suggested 15 minutes.
Use OLD towels and pillow cases. The color gets and rubs everywhere* I also had to wear black until I washed my hair a week later.

If you’re doing primarily highlights avoid the scalp. It’s stains and is hard to get off once your hair is dry.
When I finally washed my hair, I gave my scalp two good shampoos and conditioner. I’m happy to report the color and even scent didn’t budge. And the color no longer rubs all over my pillow case and clothes.

*Update: I’m pretty sure the color rubbed off on my clothes and linens because I didn’t rinse it all out. I used a whole jar and rinsed it in my kitchen sink. Next time I’ll use less, avoid the scalp and rinse in the shower.

It’s that time of the year again. What kind of highlights and color shall I do next?