8 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Chopped My Hair.

 Thigh High Boots,  Jacket, Wool Hat

photos by Mallory Fraughton

I hadn't cut my hair for about 7 years. S-E-V-E-N.

I had no intentions  to chop it off, I love big thick braids, messy buns, and long curls with a lot of volume. And then one night a couple of weeks ago, I watched Taylor Swifts new music video and was obsessed with her short hair. In that same hour I saw Lauren Conrad's new do, and, it was over for me.

I made a hair appointment and two days later…chop chop.

My husband texted me during the event, and said "I feel like I'm losing my best friend today." Boys love long hair, but what he didn't know yet was how hot short hair can be ;)

Immediately I loved my new cut. It added life to my hair that I felt I had been missing, made me look different, was fun and fresh and was the change that I needed. The next morning I had to catch a flight really early, and it was the first time I had to style my own hair without my hair stylist. 

I cried. I couldn't do it. It took me double the time and I was frantic about the 7 inch decision that wouldn't be able to magically re appear on my head.

Here are the things that I wish I knew about having short hair, before I had short hair:

1- Don't count on saving time. Short hair is very high maintenance if you want it to look pretty everyday. The days of tossing it into a messy bun or a pretty long braid are over. Since it is short, I feel like every piece of hair takes on an important role of looking good because you don't have much forgiveness if it doesn't. 

2- It makes your clothes look different. I actually love this about having short hair. You can see your entire outfit now.. Trust me, it changes the look of everything!

3- When I had long hair, I could go 5 days without washing it before it started to look greasy. With short hair, I have to wash it about every 2 days before it starts looking gross. I'm not sure why… but again, there's not much forgiveness with short hair because it can't hide itself anymore. 

4- Short hair is FUN! I was so scared on my drive to get my hair cut… If I knew how much I was going to love it I wouldn't have freaked out as much. It has completely given my face and hair new life to it and it's been an exciting change.

5- Make sure your stylist adds texture and dimension so you don't end up with a "mom cut". The LAST thing I wanted was to roll out with a mom hair cut. You guys know what I'm talking about :) My stylist new exactly what to do… Make sure you take in pictures so whoever is doing your hair understand what kind of look you want. Saying you want "short" hair will not end well for you.

6- Hair products become important. I never used hair products with long hair. Now I feel like I have to. Volumizer and texture gel have become my best friends.

7- Certain makeup that I used to wear no longer looks good on me. When you cut your hair, your face is going to be framed differently. Different features are going to stand out more. I went and got a full new face of makeup before my hair cut so that I wouldn't freak out when my hair was gone and I looked totally different. I found makeup that helped brighten my face, lips, and eyes, and I make the features that I like stand out more. More attention is going to be on your face because your hair is going to end closer to it.

8- I finally have gotten the hang of curling and straightening my new hair (which might take you some time… but once you get it… dang you're going to look smokin'!) I didn't know if I would be able to do fun braids still or not. I have collar bone length hair, and you guys, you TOTALLY can still rock beautiful braids! You can actually follow me on @daily_braid (my main Instagram is @theshineproject) if you want to see braids in short hair.

If you're thinking about taking the plunge… do it! 

I'm so happy that I did, and hair isn't permanent, it grows back.

Happy chopping!

Fishtail French Braid

I've been so excited to share this hair tutorial with you. I teamed up with Harley Chapman for this tutorial, and she did my hair and make up. Images by Mallory Fraughton... You will need to know how to fishtail for this braid. If you do not know how, click on my sidebar under the hair tutorials link and I have a very easy one on there!  Make sure you tag @theshineproject on Instagram so I can see your final hair masterpiece :)

1- Pull a small section of hair from the top of your head. You will use this section as the first fishtail piece in the braid.

2- Fishtail only that section of hair about 2-3 inches, as shown in the top row of images above.

3- From the top side of your hair (use above your ear as a good reference point) grab a loose piece of hair and pull that into your fishtail. You will fishtail this piece into the first section that you have already braided.

4- After braiding 2-3 inches, pull a loose hair strand in from the opposite side of your head and start to fishtail this in.

5- Continue this process all the way down the back of your head. Keep pulling random pieces in to your braid, and fishtailing it a few inches before grabbing another loose piece.

6- When you get to the end of your hair, fishtail everything together and put an elastic in it, and you are DONE my friend. So, so pretty. 

Enjoy!

French Fishtail Side Braid Tutorial

 

photos by Mallory Fraughton

Happy Sunday!

I am going to start our weekly hair tutorials back up :) Boy, have I missed them.

I'm all about loose hair, and when I was playing around with fishtails this happened, and I loved it. If you don't know how to fishtail, just search my past hair tutorials and there's a very easy tutorial for it.

Step 1: Grab two small sections from the part of your head, and you will start fishtailing them.

Step 2: Do three rounds of fishtailing

Step 3: Just like you would in a french braid, grab a piece of hair on the outside of your braid, and cross it over to add it into the fishtail.

Step 4: On the side of your hair closest to your face, you will grab another strand, and cross that over to the opposite side to add it into your fishtail.

Step 5: Repeat this all the way down. Stop halfway down your hair.

Step 6: Pull the braid apart and make the strands loose. Pull them away from each other and make the braid as large as you want!

Step 7: Repeat on the other side of your hair.

Don't get caught up in making it look perfect… pull random pieces into the braid and add some spunk to it. Enjoy!

Tag me @theshineproject and #daily_braid on Instagram so I can see your hair!

Hair Tutorial: Faux Braid

For all you people out there who say that you can't braid... You no longer have any excuses!

This faux braid hairstyle is so perfect because you don't braid ANYTHING, you just need a few clear elastics. You can get them at any grocery store. Be sure you tag your photos #daily_braid and #theshineproject so I can see how it turned out!

photos by Mallory Fraughton

1- Split your hair in two sections, and put a clear elastic around the section that is on the top.

2- Make a little hole in your hair and pull through the section of hair that does not have an elastic on it. This hair will now be on top.

3- Now put an elastic on the section that is on top. You will take the bottom section, and pull through again. Repeat this process the whole way down.

4- Every time you pull through new hair, tighten the faux braid by pulling your section of hair apart from each other as pictured above. This will help keep it secure!

3 Summer Braids that take 5 Minutes or Less

Braided Swoop Crown

 I started @daily_braid on Instagram to bring you a new braid tutorial every day. Make sure you follow along over there for more. A half up braid is perfect for summer. Just braid both sides and put a simple bobby pin in the back and you are all set to go! 

Double Braid Pull Back

For this braid, take a section of hair like your pulling your hair half up, and braid both sides.

 When you pull them to the back, combine together and create one braid to finish it up!

Regal Braids

French braid your hair in pigtails, and then tie them in a knot together.

Pull the left braid over to the right side of your head and pin, and then do the same thing to the remaining braid.

Show me your braids and tag #daily_braid, and follow @daily_braid on Instagram for a new braid tutorial every day!

Strawberry Fields

Dress- Similar Found Below, Shawl- c/o Kiki La Rue

We had a chance last week to go to the Strawberry fields in Carlsbad while we were there. 

It was SO MUCH FUN. We ate the whole carton by the time we were back in Phoenix. I love seeing the kids experience new things for the first time. Happy, Happy Thursday!

55 Reasons Why Being A Woman Beats Being A Man.

 Dress- ASOS (super on sale right now!), Bee Necklace- Threads

photos by Breaa

1. We have a nurturing influence on a lot of people. 

2. You're able to break typical stereotypes and see people's reactions. Never gets old.

3. Responsibility to teach my children.

4. Always being right ;)

5. Dressing up.

6. Girls nights out.

7. Having mother's "intuition"

8. Dreams of being a Disney Princess

9. Playing dress up with your little girl

10. Pink lipstick

11. Make up that can cover blemishes

12. Lost? No problem, we get out and ask for directions

13. You can say that Zac Effron is hot

14. Cheaper car insurance

15. Excuse that your behavior sucks because of PMS

16. Being able to show emotion and have it be socially acceptable

17. Wearing a wedding dress

18. Not smelling (as bad as a man) after a day of work

19. Little Black Dresses. You know what I'm talking about.

20. Girls trips because you "need a break from everything."

21. Getting flowers

22. Bubble baths with candles 

23. No one calls you to help them move, they call your husband

24. Getting out of speeding tickets

25.We can change our hair color

26. Manicures/pedicures/spa days

27. Freshly shaved legs+maxi skirt= feeling like heaven

28. Women are AWESOME leaders

29. We can also raid our husbands/boyfriends closets 

30. People open our doors, pull out our chairs...

31. Good men buy our meals and pay for nice nights out

32. We can sing along to Katy Perry and Taylor Swift and look totally cool

33. Multi-taskers

34. They know where everyone's crap is in the house... it's actually pretty amazing

35. Women are better party planners

36. Family traditions are most likely to be started by women

37. Women are more sentimental and remember important things

38. Want to be tall? Put on heels... want to be short? wear flats. 

39. We grow humans inside of us. Mind blown.

40. We get things done

41. Women have better communication skills

42. We live longer

43. We always get to choose the movie

44. Sleepovers. I'm 27 and still love sleepovers with my college BFFs

45. Going to lunch with an old friend, and being able to end up talking for hours about absolutely everything and nothing all at the same time.

46. Foot massages from your significant other

47. Having people trust you when they need to confide in someone

48. You can do your hair approx. 2 million ways

49. Realizing the influence your mother, or important woman figure, in your life had on you... and that you will have that same influence on someone else

50. Any event is another reason to go shopping

51. Baby and bridal showers are thrown for us

52. We get to wear more sequins

53. Tea parties

54. We are the best detectives

55. When you need advice, you usually call a woman...

**adding this in: my husband is reading this right now just dying laughing,"Girls are going to be reading this like, ya! girl power! girls rule!"

Amen Mike, Amen.

5 Easy Spring Braids

I can not believe that is is March! 

Spring is basically here... especially in Arizona where it's been warm all year.

As you know, I'm a huge fan of fun braids, and wanted to put together some of my previous tutorials here for you so they're in one spot! I'm finally going to start posting more hair tutorials starting next week. WAHOO.

French Braid Half Up Tutorial 

3 Fun Ways To Wear a French Braid

Chinese Staircase Braid

Draped French Braid

Perfect Braided Headband

What are your favorites? Tag me @theshineproject so I can see your finished hair!

Stuff Anonymous Readers Say:

Sweater- c/o Kiki La Rue

The past two years I have been blogging have been a blast.

Sometimes I get crazy emails and comments from anonymous readers who want to throw in their two cents, but don't want to own up to their two cents. Instagram has added in a whole new craziness to the mean comments, because it's instant and full of kids who are used to being able to say what they want without having to own up to it. It's gotten to the point where I will call Brooke, dying laughing, about a comment someone left that is just so absurd. 

Tonight, I address some of those comments. These are the most popular comments that I receive on a weekly basis...some more than others ;)

"You're ugly."

Why, thank you...? 

"Ew. Do you tan every day? Your face is so orange."

((popular comment on my YouTube videos))

I actually havent tanned for almost 7 years... 7 YEARS!

I'm white. I actually should go tan. So if you want to comment about my skin tone, don't make fun of the fact that I tan too much because you just have no skin in the game when you do that. If you really want to make fun of my skin, hone in on the fact that I'm pale and pasty. Then you'll sound legit.

"Don't you have two kids?! It seems you love Zoe the most."

Dang it! I was hoping no one noticed. I, in fact, do love Zoe more.

I'd like to think that the amount I picture my kids doesn't measure my love for them...

and for the record, Shiloh hates me taking his pictures.

"That nose..."

Complete the sentence. That nose, what? Come on, you can do it!!!

"You're blog is so boring and annoying. Every time I read it I can't get over how boring it is."

Usually when I find something boring and annoying, I stop reading it. But, I am flattered that you still take time out of your life to pop in and see what I have to say. I love being boring.

"I showed all my friends and family and coworkers pictures of you. They all think your at least 40. It's fine if you wan't to fib about your age a little, but saying your 26?! Come on, that's just crazy."

My biggest concern with this is that you legitimately took the time to show everyone you know my picture. Maybe I should be flattered? 

"Ew! Man hands!"

I actually had man hands imported onto my body. I like them better.

"Your girls hair is beautiful. Now, if SOMEONE just knew how to do it..."

I'm a white girl, with wavy blond hair... help a sister out on this one?!

"YOU HAVE SO MANY WRINKLES!!!"

I just got botox. 

"Why are all of your models pretty? Are you racist?"

90% of my employees are of different ethnicities. 

Okay, I have to stop here. We'll have round two coming up soon.

I wanted to write this to show you women out there who struggle with judgmental friends or snarky co workers, or people who are just plain mean to you every day... it's okay.

No matter what you do, people who can't figure out how to do it themselves will be your meanest critics.  If you do one thing a certain way, they'll question why you didn't do a different thing another way. I've gotten to the point where I think these comments are hysterical. Really, I truly do. When I was making my Instagram video about it today my sister and I were literally crying from laughing at first. At first, these things did affect me. I remember fuming at the first mean email I got. The email was so mean I didn't even include it on here... But when you can find confidence in your path and purpose, silly people and things will stop deterring you. They're not worth giving up for. 

And we should all always remember, we all have two cents we want to throw in every once in a while... let's save them for positive things that actually matter.

Shine on.

Fishtail Top Knot Hair Tutorial

Last week I wanted to do a fishtail pony and it was a fail... so, I made a big fat bun out of it and posted in on Instagram and you guys have been begging for a tutorial.

You're wish is my command :)

This hair style looks great casual, or you could really dress it up for a fun night out.

Make sure you tag me @theshineproject so I can see how it looks on you!!!

PS: I look SO tired in the video... I swear I'm not on drugs hahaha... oh my gosh...

*** Here is the link for my fishtail tutorial if you don't know how to fishtail!

French Braid Half Up DIY

I have one of my favorite hair DIY's for you today!!! Also, don't miss our new Threads pictured below. If you live in Utah, we have a trunk show meet and greet this FRIDAY at Soel Boutique at Riverwoods in Provo from 6-9. You'll get a sneak peek at fall stuff...come help us employ more at risk American youth. For more info, click here.

French Braid Bun Tutorial here

PS: We have new My State Threads!!! Check em out here

Shirt- c/o Kiki La Rue, Purse- c/o Olivia and Joy, Bracelets- Threads

Tag me @theshineproject on Instagram so I can see your hair pics!!!

Shine on.