Twistband Elastic Hair Ties Review

Hey my pretty ladies!

I recently added a rainbow Twistband elastic hair ties into my collection of hair accessories.

    I really like their cute packaging idea, and the Twistband arrow.  

Speaking of arrow, I really like and want to get the Straight Shot Necklace from Anthropologie.

For some odd reason, arrows remind me of Autumn.  I rarely shop at Anthropolgie but I think I will stop in to look for this necklace. What do ya think? Yay?

But back to Twistbands, you can shop hair bands at their website, and/or subscribe to the Twistband Club to receive an assortment of Twistbands like what I received in my little box c/o Twistband.

Like elastic hair ties, online subscription services are all the rage. Online shopping has definitely made life more fun for me. :) I get click happy.

Twistband also offers headbands and shoelaces. I am loving neon yellow right now and I was super stoked to get these shoelaces!
I'm trying to decide what pair of shoes to brighten up. Perhaps, my pair of classic black Converse?

The elastic headbands are great for those sporty days. :D

 These hair ties are great because they're very gentle on your hair.  I've used elastic hair ties for the past year and love them. About a year ago, I had my hair cut and the hair stylist said my hair had a minor breakage (dent or damage) where I would tie my hair. I tried really hard to not tie my hair up, but I can't help it. I often wear pony tails because I don't like the felling of hair touching my neck. I should have been born a guy, I know. JK

I didn't want to rock a scrunchie either. lol  I searched around and I came across the jewel tone elastic hair ties from Sephora which I blogged about last year. You can find that post here, it was exactly a year ago!  Those have lasted me up until now, but I could tell they weren't the best quality. I also heard about Emi Jay, but have yet to try their hair ties.

I came across Twistband online about a week and half ago, and made it my goal to get some! The Twistbands are really lightweight, yet durable and never snag your hair. They're colorful, fun, and great for kids. I prefer them over the traditional 'Goodie' hair ties. I gave some to one of my favorite friends as well because sharing is caring. ;)  It's the little things, right?

 Beauty bound! ^_^  They also make cute bracelets.  Regular hair ties sometimes leave a mark on the wrist, but elastic hair ties are really soft. I like to always have one around when I feel like it's time to get my hair out of my way.

No more dents or damage to my hair!

Check out Twistband if you're a ponytail kind of girl.

I always rock a ponytail or bun at the gym..that is when I make it to the gym! lol

I went this morning for an hour, and I'm going to try and make it in everyday until May!

It's vital because I need to fit into an ao dai (traditional Vietnamese tunic dress) for an important party in Michigan. :D I will tell you more about that laterrr.

Check out www.thetwistband.com because they offer custom-printed bands!! How cute would these be for your girls at a bachelorette party? 

Trust me, once you start using elastic hair ties, you won't ever want to go back to regular hair ties. 

I never realized I could have so much to say about hair ties, but yeah...

You hair is worth it!

My 2012 Wish List

I have cut back on my shopping habit, but that doesn't mean I have to cut down the length of my wish list!  I linked everything for you if you fancy. ;)

Chan Luu Wrap Bracelet -Golden Shadow

"Golden Shadow Mix Crystal Wrap Bracelet on Natural Brown Leather" $240
I've been waiting for the perfect one Chan Luu, and what's more me than a bracelet with Swarovski Crystals! :D

Chan Luu Wrap Bracelet -AB
"Crystal AB Wrap Bracelet on Natural Brown Leather" $240
I can't decide between the two bracelets!  What do you think? Crystal AB or the Golden Shadow Mix Crystal bracelet? :D

Custom Strassed (Swarovski) KitchenAid Mixer, $2000 
It's $1700 if you provide the mixer lol

Over 10,000 Swarovski Crystals were applied. I read that it took the woman behind "Bling Diva Designs" 22 hours of labor. It would be a very expensive DIY project for sure.  

Sniffany & Co Dog Bed, $120
I would never pay this much for a doggie bed, but it's just so cute!  My boys would totally destroy it.  But I think it's the cutest bed for a sweet, well behaved little girl dog. :)  Did you know they have Koko Chewnel dog toys too? haha

 

Sam Edelman 'Garisson' Sandal, Rose Gold $129.95
I first saw these sandals online and then went to Nordstrom to check them out.  They're really cute in person!  It looks very well made, and I also read really great reviews about them.  I have the 'Gigi' sandals which shares the same sole, and they are pretty darn comfy.  I have several pairs of Sam Edelman shoes and they all have been very true to size. I didn't take them home yesterday and that is why they're still on my wish list. :)  I like the Rose Gold color, but they also come in Silver.  I super love the style, very Greek Goddess like!  But I like wedge sandals because they are more flattering to wear in the warm months.  I'm trying to be more ladylike. ^_^ 

Kate Spade New York "Aubrey" Wrap Dress, $438
This is such a gorgeous silk wrap dress!  The print and the color is right up my alley.  I love purple. :)  Wrap dresses are very figure flattering as well! I would love to own a DVF wrap dress someday too.

Cellula Chandelier, $2,730

It's made with Swarovski Crystals!  I've wanted this for a few years now, and have probably blogged about it several times. lol  I swear the price keeps going up!  I've seen it in person more than once at Design Within Reach, and have seen it on sale once in the past.  I'm pretty sure I can make something like this for a fraction of the price with some help.  It looks so good!  I definitely envision this chandelier in my dream closet and bathroom. :)  A girl can dream, can't she?
What did you like more? The Swarovski KitchenAid Mixer or Swarovski Chandelier? :D  

Le Creuset Signature 10-Piece Cookware Set, $999.95-$1250
I have no idea what color to get yet, but I still have a lot of time before I make that decision. :)
I've been spending a lot more time in the kitchen now, and I really want to teach myself how to be a decent cook.  I look forward to splurging on some cookware someday.  I currently have a 3 year old standards set of pots and pans from Costco.  I like my set, but I accidentally burnt the bottom of one of my pots. : /  Never leave the stove unattended!  I learned the hard way.

House of Harlow 1960 Abalone Stations Necklace/Two Tone $150-$225
I have the black leather version and I love it!  It's one of my favorite statement necklaces.  I really want to see the Abalone version in person, but it's been really hard to find in stores. 

ghd Purple Peacock Spring/Summer 2012 
I already own the limited edition pink & white ghd flat iron from a few years ago. But the new Purple Peacock edition has black and purple which are my favorite colors! I want to trade it in! I recently made a custom "Peacock" themed DSK Everything Bracelet for a customer too.  Vannie and I also saw a Peacock run across the street in Vancouver, WA last month!  It's fate!! jk

I love the little shiny black dot details on the styler and the purple plate! I've never seen the plate guard.  Mine didn't come with that, but it did come in a similar box and travel case.  If you have been waiting to get a ghd, consider one from the Peacock Collection.  ghd has won the InStyle Best Hair Straightener Beauty Buy award for nine years running, after all. ;)

Minh asked me if it's the Cadillac of flat irons?  I said, it's from the UK so it's more like the Aston Martin of flat irons. I actually did a little research on this and ghd is heralded as the "Aston Martin of Haircare." ^_^ Go me!

"Make A Statement This Season with Peacock"
Available in three colourways – deep amethyst purple, rich emerald green and dazzling sapphire blue – each Peacock collection features a ghd Gold Classic styler with coloured plates and accents and a protective plate guard, along with a luxe storage bag and roll mat. Embellished with tonal Peacock embroidery and trimmed with sleek silver hardware, this heat-resistant satin roll bag protects your styler when not in use, while the heat mat provides a safe resting place during styling. This Peacock Purple limited edition features the ghd Gold Classic styler with purple plates and accents and a co-ordinating purple roll bag and heat mat.
 
I have been very into haircare these days, but I wish I was naturally good at styling my hair.  My only hair skills include curling or straightening. I have many styling tools as most of you already know, but I do treasure my ghd the most because it really is one of the best out in there market (and the investment was a pretty penny). They do come with a 2 year manufacturers guarantee.  Cheers for everyday high end haircare. ;D

You can find the ghd Peacock Collection at ghdhair.com, Sephora, and Nordstrom. 

Hair: HANA Pro 1" Flat Iron, EOTD, Invisalign!

Hey everyone! I have a flat iron review, hair update, and EOTD to share with you today. :)

This is THE happiest Flat Iron packaging ever! I received the HANA Pro 1" Flat Iron from Misikko several months ago (November to be exact!), and I'm ready to share it with my beauty bloggers, also known as you girls! ;)

If you're in the market for the Best Hair Straightener, the HANA line of Flat Irons is a good candidate. Let me explain and tell you why!

I love all the gentle touches of kindness that Missiko.com offers all their customers. Let me tell you, the people at Missiko know the ways to a girl's heart. #truth!
I keep the round barrel brush gift in my car. It's the perfect size to fit on the side panel of my car door. :D I was just using it earlier today in the car while bf drives, of course!

I love all the personalized extras they include in their packaging. I'm pretty sure everyone gets different "extra's" so it's always a fun surprise. :) I like the sleep mask, it's very Mia Thermopolis, The Princess Diaries! Btw, that is my favorite Disney movie with real actors of all time! I think I will name my future daughter Amelia so I can call her Princess Mia! If not my daughter, then my future girl dog. =^_^=

They definitely win the awards for "packaging that instantly makes you smile."

A small bottle of HANA Shine Shield was included with my order. A little bit goes a long way with glossing products! Thanks Missiko!

I received nail files in my package! That was a really nice surprise. :)
I will share one with each of bf's sisters because sharing is caring. You also can never have enough hand sanitizer! lol I keep this one in my car too.

It's just makes my day looking at the photo of my beauty box of goodies.

The package for the Hana flat iron is also very high end in my opinion!
The flat iron is packaged in a nice leather pouch in a very nice tin case.

I really like the leather pouch for the iron, it looks very high end.

This flat iron is safe on damp hair, but I don't normally flat iron my hair until it's almost to completely dry. I usually lightly blow dry my hair, add some Macadamia oil (or like product) before I styling with my flat iron.

They also included a HANA sleeve for my iron. This is probably the most pampered flat iron I own. It has so many storage accessories!
The plates are ceramic, tourmaline.

The beautiful blue ceramic plates, and black casing reminds me of a pair of YSL pumps! lol
I'm a big fan of the blue plates as well as the transparent blue on/off switch with temperature control.
See, see, see! My KQC Flat Iron, on the other hand is black with red plates reminding me of Louboutin pumps. lol Maybe, I just spend too much time day dreaming about artistic designer shoes. I always look at YSL pumps at the mall, and wonder who can actually walk in them?! Adrienne from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills seemed to struggle walking to her neighbors house in her YSL's. lol I guess they're just the "sit and look pretty" kind of shoe. ;)

But yeah, enough about shoes! Back to the HANA Flat Iron!

It's a gorgeous flat iron, and I would recommend it to everyone!

My Twitter friend Melanie ordered the same flat iron I have and loves it too!
I would have to agree, it's a great iron.
The customer service is probably the best I've come across on the web.

There's just something about that the transparent sapphire blue control switch that really catches my eye.

The design for this iron is the best; it's just aesthetically pleasing. *two thumbs up*

The adjustable heat setting has a range of 140 degrees - 450 degrees F

The cord is a generous 8 feet and salon swivels!

You can find this very iron at Missiko.com, they specialize in salon grate Flat Irons and Hair Dryers. I'm looking to get a new hair dryer soon; I will let you know when I do!

I timed myself and I can flat iron my whole head of wavy frizz in a few solid minutes. I just don't have that much hair. Plus, it's very thin hair so the heat from the iron is super effective.
I like my flat iron at the highest temperature because it makes straightening super fast. I'm sure that's probably not good for my hair, but it works! I also don't style my hair everyday. I've been into the high messy pony tail lazy person look these days. I'm still struggling with unpacking. I think Minh and I find random reasons to not unpack. We're always going out and about these days. If only I could put my doggies Nickel, Timmy, and Wally to work. They're home all day! I also want to train them to put their toys away after a day of fun in the living room. I think they need a toy basket.

Time for some pictures of my hair!
Before hair dye with curls (I curled my hair with an 1" curling iron by Hot Tools and brushed out the curls for a more fluffy look).
This is my natural black hair color. I spent a few years growing out my hair without dying it until a couple months ago when I had my hair done.
The new ombre hair color. I kept my natural black hair, and my hairstylist bleached sections of the bottom half of my hair before she dyed it toffee brown. She also gave me a few face framing highlights which I really like.
My hair is finally long!! Thanks Biotin, and Vitamin E. :)
Biotin really strengthens my nails and hair. I'm almost finished with my Costco size bottle of Biotin vitamins!
Any "claw" clip will do when section off your hair. You can use a hair tie too, but the clips make taking out the sections/layers of hair much faster.
I like to brush out my hair, and then section it off when straightening my hair.
I enjoy starting with the bottom layer first and then incorporate the next section with the straight hair and so on.
Almost finished! Last few pieces to go!
Ever since I went ombre, the ends of my hair aren't any less frizzy. I know bleaching my hair would dry it a little bit, but now it's driving me a little nuts. If I don't groom (style) my hair, I pretty much look like a hobo. Normally, I like the hobo look (ask my lil sis), but Minh's not a big fan of my new hair color effect, and neither am I! I guess I just didn't pick the right hair color. The toffee brown color is fading so it's more brassy (hair no no!) but I don't want to dye it again so soon. An idea popped in my head, and I started researching hair tints! I know they're not as harsh on my hair as dye.
I discovered TouchBack Plus, it's a Leave-In Color Conditioner for your hair. It's a great alternative to bleach and hair dye.
I got the shade "Dark Brown" because I want to tone down the brassy-ness of my faded hair dye.
The hair conditioner comes out as a dark foam, you just rub it between your hands and apply it to your damp to dry hair. It smells amazing! It's a very light fragrance and I can't stop smelling my hair. lol I style my hair after I use the tint. I like this product because it does what it says, it even helps tame the frizz of my natural waves.
There's no harsh chemicals, no ammonia, peroxide or sulfates. (Exactly what I was going for!)
"TouchBack Plus Color Conditioner ($29.95): This unique, patented Micro Foam treatment colors and conditions natural, and color-treated hair anytime, anywhere."
It's available in 8 shades: Rich Black, Dark Brown, Medium Brown, Light Brown, Ash Blonde, Golden Blonde, Light Auburn, and Dark Auburn.
They also have shampoos and conditioners that help achieve your new temporary hair color/tint between your hair dye appointments.

I really recommend this if you're like me, and don't want to dye your hair again just yet.
I really like that I just need to apply the conditioner to the bottom half of my head of hair to get a new "ombre" hair color. The product doesn't weight down my hair, but it gives me the "I put effort into brushing and styling my hair today" look. Groomed hair > Wild hair. lol
When I do dye my hair again, I'm thinking about going red, or a really dark blue violet. :)
The thought of fuchsia did cross my mind, but it would probably be too much maintenance and..
..probably not very office appropriate! It makes me miss the freedom of college life!
Two other hair products I love are the Macadamia Oil (very similar to Moroccan Oil), and GHD hairspray! I used to stalk the shelves at Ulta for Macadamia Oil hair products, they're very popular. They smell amazing, and I will share my favorites from their line in a future post. :)
The GHD hairspray has been very good to me! I picked it up on sale at Cosmo Prof with Vannie. I love shopping professional beauty supply stores! I don't get to go often so when I do, I stock up! I even picked up Paul Mitchell doggie shampoos and conditioners for my 3 dogs. :D

Make faces for the camera!
I'm extremely happy with Lashem, Maximum Lash, L'Oreal Lash Serum!!
I believe in lash serums! I would love to try Latisse one day. I haven't had any side effects, no eye color change, no darkening of the eye lids.
I love my lashes. :) I haven't worn falsies in months.
EOTD: Naked2 Palette! I love it!
MUFE Smoky Lash Mascara, Bobbi Brown Black Ink Gel Liner
Anastasia Eyebrow Pencil

On another note! I'm excited to get Invisalign!
I had braces as a kid (9 years old) until I was a teenager, but you know..what teen wears their retainers? Teens don't realize how much braces actually cost their parents! lol
I have a few teeth that have moved, and rotated over the years and I'm so happy to get them corrected! The orthodontist told me I have a minor cross bite because I didn't wear my retainers, but it's completely fixable. I'll share my experience with you as soon as I get my trays. :) I had impressions done on my very first visit.

And now back to our flat iron topic. lol
The follow photos are stock photos,

I love that they include the heat pad! It's so clever, now I won't be paranoid to melt anything in my bathroom.
Again, look how pretty!!

The HANA 1" Pro Flat Iron was featured in two popular magazines, Marie Claire and Redbook. The flat iron also comes with a 2 year warranty. Warranties are great!!

Where to buy?
Missiko.com
Missiko also offers other fabulous brands of flat irons, such as the Chi Flat Irons for competitive prices. Again, their customer service is amazing and they're definitely a great online retailer.

You can check out my review on my Chi Iron, the GHD Iron, KQC Iron in one of my previous posts if you would like!

What blow dryer are you using? I'm currently using a basic Conair hair blow dryer from Target because my pink Hello Kitty hair dryer died on me a few years ago (it was my favorite!). I really want to try a high end blow dryer.
HANAair Professional Hair Dryer
Price: $334.99
Currently on sale for, $194.99

I did read some really great reviews about this hair dryer. If you have this hair dryer, would you recommend it?

Thanks for visiting my blog everyone! I hope you have a super fantastic day. I will talk with you all soon. I also need to finger out how to get the new blogspot comment system! Rumor has it, you can now readily reply to your comments by clicking the "reply" button. It sounds like a great invention to me! TTYL!

Also, I love watching It's a Brad, Brad World on Bravo! I love his bow ties. :)

P.S. I went to the Seattle Humane Society today, and they just got in a bunch of rescued Chihuahua's! If you're from the area and are looking for a pet, stop by the shelter to meet your new bff. :)