Congratulations to our fabulous reader Libby, who won May’s Beau Bain Bath Bomb give-away!  She was so excited to tell us about how much she’s been enjoying her prize, especially considering her thrilling week.  We want to congratulate her on winning and on her upcoming appearance in Prevention Magazine! Check out what Libby wrote to us…

…This has been a great week for me–I was selected for an “Over 50 Hair Makeover” story for Prevention Magazine (we did the shoot yesterday–it will be in the October issue and online then, too).  So, after a wonderful day at the salon w/stylists, makeup artists, etc., I came home and tossed a lavender bomb into the tub and just relaxed!  My skin DID feel great afterwords, too.  I have been sharing the wealth with my two co-workers and I gave two to my wonderful housekeeper.  I think you will pick up a few new fans!  Where can we find the Beau Bain products?  Are they online or in stores ?

Well, Libby, they are available at exclusive salons and spas, but you can also find them right here, on beaubain.com!

A self-proclaimed beauty hound, Libby has this tip: She’s found the best skin care results come from Oil of Olay face cream available at Drugstore.com

Still, Libby is interested to know what everyone else thinks.  Are there some big ticket creams are really as good as they claim to be? Have you ever used an expensive skin care line, but found a cheaper brand that worked better?  We’d love to know ourselves!

Thanks for your kind email, Libby – and at 63, you truly are Age-mazing!

Does your hairstyle make you look old?

We recently posted a lovely picture of an over 40 gal looking hip and chic.

After seeing this, one of our readers asked:

“I [have a question] about the old lady hair problem…maybe you could follow up with some more hair thoughts? Techniques? Products? Pretty please?” M.N.

So M.N. we took your question to who else, but The Makeover Guy, Christopher Hopkins!

Here is what he said…

“Dear M.N,

I am currently tackling this problem myself. (I am irritated that my grays are not as smooth as my regular brown).

But what I’m doing is taking medium hair and going back to the curling iron - Eva Longoriaish.

Also…the blonde on Desperate Housewives is sometimes straight sometimes curled…and that is a very relate-able current look for women over 40.

Long hair: Iffy. Even though that is not the popular sound byte, nor what women want to hear, so you don’t tell them because you want them to buy your product, it’s just true. Once hair is past the clavicles if your face isn’t young looking and your hair isn’t luxurious it is often just not flattering.

But extensions do help, and can make over 40 hair look a little less over 40.

The problem is the texture. Texture changes (as does face/weight/body proportions) and just blow and go hair isn’t as easy as it once was. So you kind of have to create the illusion of ‘blow and go’ with products that have protein in them (to strengthen the hair). I like Nigelle’s Blow Make Smooth Essence. This gives a little more strength and polish so you can style it easier.

Also, a reason why shorter hair tends to work better is because it not only looks like you didn’t have to work so hard, but it still looks good later in the day.

But if it is longer, making sure it’s shiny (using the curling iron, flat iron etc) helps.  Can look sort of Farrah if you don’t’ start curling at the base first and click the hair through rather than pulling the curling iron to the ends and wrapping it up.”

Thanks Christopher, for your expert advice!!!

P.S. If you haven’t bought it yet, check out his book, Staging Your Comeback... it is one we keep on recommending, it’s that good!

To keep things interesting, we invited 4 women to dare to try a new look!

The hair was done by Cristy, who is Co-owner of the  Robert Cris Salon, in Wilmington, Delaware andiod make up was by Nicole, from Mix the Studio in Hockessin, De.

If you are ready to make a change, check out our online consults!

Here are the results:

First off all  the gals met with me  had me do a color analysis on them, so that they had outfits to be shot in that were

Make over #1,  was letting her hair grow out, but it was too long and had lots of split ends. We trimmed it up, and gave her some soft layers and long bangs. She did not like to wear makeup, so we did a light makeup to even out her skin tone! Simply gorgeous!

Makeover #2: This gal (art teacher) had let her roots go too long. Also she confessed to never wearing make up and wanted to learn how. Her hair was in desperate need of a trim. After styling her curly hair to make it more updated and straight, she looks certainly looks more  polished and professional.

Makeover #3 Had just had her color done, but we felt it was washing her out. We went with a richer color and her eyes just popped! She has called and reported that she LOVES her new cut and color and has gotten rave reviews.

I ( JoJami) haven’t tried this yet, but my friend Jill says that if you follow these tips, it really helps make your color last up to two weeks longer!

1.  Wash hair two times, the week before going in for color with clarifying shampoo (such as Pureology purifying shampoo)  which will strip out the hair products that have built up in your hair like conditioner, gels, hairspray, etc.  With these products gone the hair follicles will hold the new color amazingly better.

2.  At the salon after your hair is washed and conditioned and before drying, give them a vial of Goldwell Colorglow Color finish to apply to your hair.  Do not wash out.

You can buy these products at the beauty supply store for a fraction of what you would pay the salon. Example: the Colorglow is $5 at the beauty supply and it would cost close to $20 for the same treatment in most salons.

These two products can make your hair color last up to two weeks longer!

I’m due for a color and so I’ll try it, and report back!

Do you have a fashion tip or trick? Share it with us and you will be automatically entered you into this month’s giveaway!

JoJami and Deborah at the Reinvention Convention

We go to a lot of events and we were super impressed with the way these ladies decked themselves out to look and feel fabulous! Here are some great examples of How to Look Age-mazing™ and their personal tips on how they feel about dressing.

Michelle Melville of Wachovia

Mildred Bean is a life empowerment coach with lots of confidence. We love the bright green jacket paired with brown pants and her stylish well groomed hair and make up!

Mildred Bean, life empowerment coach

Mildred Bean is a life empowerment coach with lots of confidence. We love the bright green jacket paired with brown pants and her stylish well groomed hair and make up!

Oh we don’t want to overlook the fab shoes…

Mildred's great shoes!

What a great example of looking the part of a successful, up-to-date woman!

Here is Lori Northcott using pattern to stand out in a crowd! We saw lots of boots, one of this seasons MUST haves. Once again, her hair is updated and looks so chic. Lori claims, “I eat healthy, exercise and am lucky to have good genes!”

Lori Northcott

Elizabeth Flavin is the founder/owner of www.GratitudeEtc.com. She really ‘wowed’ us with her classic elegant style. She says, “I buy what I love, and keep trying to re-invent myself!” Her jewelry is sure classic and elegant as well!

Elizabeth Flavin

Next up we met Janice Innis-Thompson who is presently working as a lawyer. She looks very professional, and pulled together, but look at the way she uses color! How fresh! She swears by, “Lots of sleep, exercise and Yoga!”

Janice Innis-Thompson

Kari Sciera is a gym teacher from Boston. This pretty blond, told us that she really worked hard to find the right dress to wear to this event. So she was rightfully proud of her new purchase of an Alice and Olivia dress!

Kari Sciera

She took it one step further and even changed out the belt so that it would look better with her boots. She is a “new” 40 and really showed her confident personality, with this chic look!

Bottom line: This group of ladies got our vote to be on the Glam Gals’ Best Dressed List!

Wondering what your hair would look like up?

Check out this fun and easy video from Cosmetic makeovers show.com to learn how to “get the look” in just a few minutes.

One note about this video:

While the idea is nice, and we liked the way the stylist approaches the style, we don’t like the “barette clip in the back” look-too high schoolish!

If you are going to try and get a good updo, we suggest using hair combs instead, and don’t leave any kind of ponytail hanging on top. Combs will give you a lovely look without the bulk of a clip, which is also not sophisticated.

It saved my hair from disaster, but it made my head hot and sweaty and I had to keep popping my hat off every time I posed for a picture.

When I got home I wondered, was there anything I could have put on my hair ,besides a hat, to save my hair? I emailed our friend The Makeover Guy, Christopher Hopkins, who specializes in hair, and this is what he told me about summer hair.

Hair that has been colored it is susceptible to fading with U.V. rays. There are products that say they have sunscreens but I seriously doubt the benefits as it is pretty difficult to cover every strand top to bottom and all around with sunscreen.  And if it’s sticking to your hair, it is likely going to make it flat or sticky.

Hats are pretty much it. And I know the boomers like to believe there is an answer to everything. Cake and eat it too.  But alas, coverage is it.  If you’re in the sun, the color will fade.  Creams don’t get rid of your wrinkles, and there is no weight loss with out a diet change.

Shampooing is what really does the fading, more so than even sun, so shampooing less is always a better way of preserving color.  Try rinsing and using conditioner to cleanse.

I don’t really see any more problems with hair in the summer than with the winter.  Just slightly different with humidity changes.  Good or bad for curly or straight depending on how curly or how straight and how curly or how straight you WANT your hair compared to how curly or straight it is in the humidity (or lack of).

Damaged hair cannot be corrected, it can be band aided.  It can be temporarily given the illusion of repair through styling, pressing the cuticle flat with heat or rollers.  It can be temporarily filled in with products like protein, moisture, fillers (like hair color and clear sealers).

Chlorine doesn’t turn blonde hair green, it is copper, usually found in algae deterrents in hot tubs, pools, etc.  The turquoise color combined with the yellow blonde makes, what?  GREEN!  You will need to open the cuticle of the hair with a detoxifying shampoo (several times) and heat and strip it out, then condition like hell.  Again, that’s why there are swim caps and conditioner.  I say wet the hair, put on a good conditioning treatment and think of that time as a multi tasking deep conditioning treatment.

Why not take a little fashion break to read some interesting lifestyle posts from our boomer friends such as: the warning signs that you’re ready for your midlife crisis, or memories of what it was like to take a vacation in the “good ole days”?
These and more other fun topics over at this weeks B.B. host site, Don’t Gel Too Soon!

The Blo & Go was invented by a model who was frustrated trying to maneuver her blow dryer and brush at the same time. What started as a twisted hanger soon turned into The Blo & Go.

It’s really very simple- a big suction cup adheres to your mirror and is strong enough to hold your hairdryer! Then you just move (or dance) around while styling your hair!

We will be picking 2 lucky winners this month, so be sure to enter our drawing today!

Meryl Streep makes going grey look glamorous but … WARNING! It might not be easy as it seems!

Find out more about this and other Boomer related topics on this week’s Blogging Boomer’s Carnvial being held over at: The Midlife Crisis Queen