Weight Loss Challenge 2014!

DEADLINE TO ENTER

IS NOW 

****CLOSED****

Hi Everyone!

I know most of you have read my weight loss blog and the amount of love and care I have received from just sharing my story has been completely overwhelming. I'm happy my journey gave you guys the motivation to really make a difference in your life (or at least try to make difference)

When I was loosing weight I remember my family would reward me with something.

(No, Not to bribe me) 

but to make me feel really good about myself and give me the push to keep going! In my case, my family would buy me lots of clothes!! :) It was the best feeling EVER. I remember trying on sizes S (small) and M (medium) and feeling on top of the world. When I would try on my clothes and look at myself in the mirror I loved what I saw and I would always be like

 "hmmm, 5-10 more pounds and I'll look even better" - 

"damn, I still need to get rid of this" *points to my love handles*

and I would keep working hard to look better and better every month. Theres nothing more satisfying than seeing yourself look absolutely stunning! 

When I lost weight, 

I felt like wearing high heels all the time, I actually felt like doing my makeup and making an attempt to look presentable no matter where I went. I took out all my nice bags, wore all my cute accessories, etc. I felt like dolling up because I felt pretty and confident. 

When I was overweight,

 I would dress like a bum. I never had any want to look good for anything. I just wanted to wear my over-size hoodie everywhere and I HATED summer. Summer means less clothing so I couldn't wear oversize clothing anymore to cover or hide behind anything. It was such a horrible feeling and I'm so glad I finally overcame all of that and decided to take control of my life. 

And, I think it's time for you to take control of your life too :) 

I'm doing a weight loss challenge. I should have started this in January but it took me a while to figure out how I was going to do this and MAKE IT FAIR for everyone! The prizes will be great! and super cute!!! :D 

WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE CONTEST

DEADLINE TO ENTER

MARCH 17th, 2014

CONTEST ENDS

JULY 1,2014

Before I begin, I would just like to say you ALL are winners. By the end of the challenge, you will ALL have won. Nobody is a loser. Just because you did not win a "prize" does not mean you should feel any less about yourself. YOU ARE a winner. You have just accomplished a hot body that you never had before or hadn't seen in ages! and that is better than any materialistic prize out there!

IMPORTANT NOTE - 

If you are just in this to win something, I suggest you DO NOT participate. 

I repeat, 

If you are in this to win something (and don't really give a sh*t abut your health because the prizes are tempting you more than anything, - DO... NOT... participate.

DO THIS FOR YOU.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Purpose: 

to provide a framework of fun, friendly, healthy competition that will: 

- promote healthier eating

- encourage physical activity

- lead a happier life

- boost self confidence

- improve overall health

official rules and entry

in order to qualify, the entry requirements must be met!

to be qualified to participate in this, you must be 18 years or older and be at least 

25LBS (11.3KG, 1.78 STONE) or more overweight than your ideal healthy weight with NO health problems/concerns. You must not be pregnant or breastfeeding! If you are unsure about your health, please go see a doctor before you begin your healthy weight loss journey at your own risk. 

Please check with your doctor to make sure your health is good! 

If you are on instagram, 

you must Repost my weight-loss challenge picture 

and tag me @trishaladutt with the hashtag #winning 

You must e-mail me (xtrishix6@aol.com) a clear picture of yourself (front and back - no posing) and you must be wearing a White T-Shirt holding a water bottle in your hand. 

What? Why a White T-Shirt holding a water bottle???

so I know it's you! and so I know it's a recent picture of you. (no cheaters allowed) 

along with a picture of yourself (front and back) I need a picture of your starting weight number on the weighing scale along with your age, sex, and height. 

<-- not me. (heres an example) I understand this maybe embarrassing an intimidating for some of you and I am in no way trying to make you feel bad at all. (Im just trying to make this fair and honest) and your pictures will NOT be shared with anybody, anything, any social media. At the end of this challenge (WITH YOUR PERMISSION)  I would like to announce the "winners" on my social media with a before and after picture (ONLY WITH YOUR CONSENT). If this is  NOT OKAY with you, I won't do it. Simple as that! 

YOUR MISSION

In this challenge, you have 4 months to loose weight in a 

HEALTHY, SLOW, NORMAL way. 

Healthy and Normal does NOT mean starving, throwing up, etc. 

!!! If you consider this healthy, please go seek professional help immediately !!!

Healthy and Normal mean If you work hard, eat clean, and incorporate exercise in your life, you can look like a total different person in 4 months! 

If you have "no time" to go to the gym -- just by eating clean, and doing some physical activity thru-out your day (walking for 15-20 minutes) can make a difference!  

What does eating clean mean? - 

There is no direct definition for "clean eating".  Specifically, clean eating is NOT a diet - it is a lifestyle choice.  Clean eating is not a new concept. As a matter of fact clean eating has been around for quite some time. Those involved with health, fitness or nutrition from competitors to personal trainers and health conscious individuals have been practicing "clean eating" for years. 

Eating Clean has many benefits that include: 

1. Fat Loss
2. Weight Loss
3. Increased Energy
4. Clearer Skin
5. Shinier Hair
6. Better Sleep
7. Increased mental well -being

When someone makes the choice to eat "clean" they are choosing to eliminate all processed foods and extra additives from their diet.  Basically, you are choosing to eat whole, unrefined foods.  

The basics of eating clean include - eating lots of fruits and vegetables.  These are straight from nature - the idea is to stay away from anything that may have been altered in any way.  

Include meats, however; "whole" meats that you have chosen straight from the butcher or prepared yourself.  You would be very surprised to find out what is actually in ground turkey! :\

Enjoy whole grains - these are grains that are still complete and haven't been broken down in any form.  Examples include: brown rice, whole wheat and other whole grains.  You will have to get used to reading over food labels.  Just because a product says its "whole grain" does not mean it is.  It also does not mean they have not added a bunch of other ingredients as well.  

Eat fewer ingredients - try not to purchase items with more than 4-6 ingredients in the ingredient list.  Also, be sure you recognize every ingredient.  If you can't pronounce it, you probably shouldn't put it in your body.

A healthy weight loss is 2LBS (0.90 KG, 0.143 STONE) per week. 

That's 8LBS (3.62 KG, 0.571 STONE) per month! 

So, in 4 months if you work hard and not get distracted,  you could loose 

32LBS (14.5KG, 2.28 STONE) or more. Thats amazing! 

PRIZES

“Winners” are determined by percentage of total weight loss. This is a fairer comparison than total pounds lost since heavier persons can safely lose weight more rapidly. A healthy rate of loss is 1% of beginning weight per week. So, a person weighing 280 pounds can lose 2-3 pounds per week while a person weighing 180 pounds would be expected to lose no more than 1- 2 pounds per week. 

the winner(s) will be those who lost the greatest percent of their initial weight.

on July 1, 2014 -

 you must e-mail me a clear picture of yourself (front and back - no posing) in a blue shirt holding a water bottle along with your final weight number on the scale after 4 months! Please don't try and cheat and have someone else step on the scale for you. Don't forget, I did go to John jay College of Criminal Justice and have studied forensics for 4 years so I can easily spot if its your feet and nails on the scale from your beginning stages when I got your first picture and yes I will compare :) - 

I have to make this fair and honest! 

Remember,

everyone who participates wins better health!

There will be...

1 Grand Prize Winner 

1 Second Place. 

 1Third Place. 

and I will also pick 3 additional winners who will win something as well. 

once again as I have mentioned before. Your main focus should not be what you will "win" Your main focus should be YOU! - 

Just because you did not "win" something does not mean anything!!!! 

You won better health!! Be proud of yourself.

Remember,

everyone who participates wins better health!

GRAND PRIZE

SECOND PRIZE

THIRD PRIZE

3 additional prize winners can win something from either of these companies.

SEPHORA, BLOOMINGDALES, MAC(cosmetics)

or

If one of the 3 additional prize winners happen to be from NYC, - your dinner will be on me AND dad! for you and a friend at one of our favorite upscale restaurants in Long Island, NY or 

New York City! 

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Simple Guidelines for Success:

FYI - I am NOT a Doctor, this is just my personal opinion for a healthy weight loss.

1. Eating small frequent meals 5-6 times per day to level blood sugar and prevent hunger
2. Include lean protein, complex carbohydrates and heart healthy fats in each meal choice
3. Avoid ALL processed and/or refined foods (sugar, baked goods, candies, white flour, white rice, etc)
4. Avoid saturated and trans fats
5. Avoid sodas, high calorie juices and other drinks that give your body no nutritional value and lots of unnecessary (unwanted) calories
6. Avoid high calorie, non nutritious foods (i.e. junk food)
7. Drink at least 8 cups of water per day

So, are you ready for this? :) 

make sure to follow all entry requirements! 

and always check with your Doctor prior to beginning anything if you are unsure about your health. You will be doing this voluntarily/at your own risk! 

ready....set....GO!!!

GOODLUCK!!!!

CHALLENGE ENDS - JULY 1, 2014

xoxo T 

Follow me on Instagram - TrishalaDutt

Follow me on Twitter - Trishala_Dutt

Beauty Blog #1

Hey Girls!!! 

      (and guys who have decided to read this) 

so my last blog entry was in September 2013 and I haven't written an entry since mainly because nothing really interesting has been happening in my life that I felt was worth sharing! but I was overdue on letting you guys know how I was doing, and many of you have asked me on Instagram, Twitter, and E-mail about Makeup, Hairtools, Hairproducts, my Nails, etc. so I thought blogging would be a good way of me talking about some products that I own and use daily that I love, what products I've invested in that I hate, and what products (and makeup artists) that I highly recommend especially if you are in the USA & London. 

*** Also, many of you on Instagram have asked me about my weightless blog as well so if your on here looking for it, here is the link if you haven't read it yet! --> My WeightLoss Story ***

Disclosure Policy

• This policy is valid from 29 January 2013. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me, Trishala Dutt. This blog does not accept any form of cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions. However, we will and do accept and keep free products, services, travel, event tickets, and other forms of compensation from companies and organizations. The owner(s) of this blog is not compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider.

HANDS & NAILS 

On Instagram, my hand/nail/manicure/ pictures are the biggest hit! They get the most likes, tags, comments, and a lot of you really appreciate them (thank you so much). I constantly get emails, and questions via social media asking about my skin care regime on my hands. I take great pride on taking care of my hands and nails because believe it or not, I suffer from Eczema.

What is Eczema? - Eczema is a skin disorder that causes the skin to become inflamed or irritated. It affects 10% to 20% of infants and about 3% of adults and children in the U.S.A. Most infants who develop the condition outgrow it by their tenth birthday, while some people (like myself) continue to have symptoms on and off throughout life. The exact cause of Eczema is unknown :( but it's thought to be linked to an overactive response by the bodes immune system to an irritant. Some people may have "flare-ups" of the itchy rash in response to certain substances or conditions. For some, coming into contact with rough or course materials may cause the skin to become itchy. For others, feeling too hot or too cold, exposure to certain household products like soap or detergent or coming into contact with animal dander may cause an outbreak. Upper respiratory infections or colds may also be triggers. Stress may cause the condition to worsen! Although there is no cure, most people can effectively manage this with medical treatment and by avoiding irritants. This condition is NOT, I repeat, NOT contagious and CAN NOT, I repeat, CAN NOT be spread from person to person. 

I never had eczema as a child but I noticed symptoms of it when I was probably 13 years old. I developed it on the inside of both my arms (usually where rashes occur), back of my knees, and on the front of my hands\fingers (so embarrassing). Although there is no cure for Eczema and mine wasn't too bad I was able to get it under control. 

*TouchWood* my Eczema has "gone away" from both my arms, and back of my knees, however I still sometimes occasionally see my skin becoming red and patchy on my hands due to certain things that I do (that I know I shouldn't do). Right now, it's Winter in NYC and if I don't wear gloves, the extreme cold weather will trigger my Eczema on my hands and I will have a outbreak :( so I always have to wear gloves to protect my hands! When I wash my clothes, I always use a "Fragrance Free" detergent (any kind is fine as long as it says Fragrance Free, but I use TIDE) & I always make sure my hands (especially after I wash them) are moisturized.

So, how did I get my Eczema under control? I use Clobetasol Propionate Ointment USP, 0.05%. It is Doctor Prescribed but I can't tell you (in my personal opinion) how wonderful this is! I just experienced an outbreak on my hands as I was baking Sugar Cookies 3 days ago! I made the icing from scratch and when I mixed the butter, sugar, and milk together to make the icing and decorate the cookies, it got extremely messy! When the icing was spilling all over my hands, it irritated my skin and my hands broke out in red scaly itchy patches! Well, that night I applied this ointment over my fingers and when I woke up the next morning all the redness, and itchiness, was gone! :) It looked like I never even had a problem to begin with. I recommend this ointment for anyone that has a skin disorder as this is strong enough to help you if you have a mild or severe skin condition like Eczema. I am not a Doctor, this is just going by my personal opinion and experience, so make sure you talk to your doctor and see if you can get this prescribed for you.

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They say you can tell a woman's age by her hands! (its true). I know I have lots of years a head of me (hopefully) so I shouldn't worry or even be thinking about anything but I've always been told to start regular skincare regime and even use eye cream (which I don't believe in) when your 19 years old!! -- 

I always wash my hands because I am a germ freak! I don't have a Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) but I just like my hands to be clean and free of germs! I also am aware that constantly washing your hands can dry out your skin and cause it to age quicker.

Every time after I was my hands, I apply this! Victoria Secret "Perfect Body" Sweet Almond Oil Moisturizing Body Lotion. I LOVE this. One day I was walking around Victoria Secret and I just checked out the beauty section. I tried a sample of this lotion in the store and thought "seems okay...smells good at least". When I went home and it was time for me to wash my hands, basically what the bottle says, "Drink It In"... I applied this lotion and I could literally feel my skin "drinking" the lotion. My hands felt cool, extremely moisturized, and baby soft the entire day!! It is deeply hydrating with shea butter and almond oil. As you can see I've used half the bottle and I'm due to buy another soon because I just love this. Moisturizing your hands after you wash them, or just in general is extremely important. It keeps them looking young, fresh, and soft! I recommend this product for any of you who don't mind having baby hands! The oils in this are great and it doesn't leave your hands feeling greasy at all. PRICE - $18 USD - £11 -  RS 1,107.36 - AED  د.إ. 66.11

MY MANICURES

I mentioned above, many of you appreciate my manicure pictures and are always asking what my favorite brand of nail polish is, what colors I love, how do I get my nails long, where do I get my nail inspiration from, etc. 

I get my nail inspiration from lots of things, objects, magazines, nature, people, current brand colors, and of course my own imagination. The picture on the right is of my hands and I called this my "Holiday" 2013 look! for the holiday season! My nails are pretty strong in general and grow extremely fast! I used to get regular manicures done and my nails would grow long but then eventually chip and break from doing daily activities. This would ANNOY me!!! and then just lead to me biting ALL my nails and growing them out again. I decided to start doing Gel Manicures! As soon as I did one, I got hooked!

What is a Gel Manicure? - A gel manicure is a manicure that promises a "chip free" perfectly polished nails that last up to three weeks with using gel colors on your nails opposed to polish. 

I love getting gel manicures because the don't cause my nails to break or chip and it keeps them long without me worrying about me doing something and it breaking! However, even though it has become the hottest trend in the nail salons these days there are PROS and CONS which I will discuss here. The shape I have requested is "pointy" but not too pointy!! more like an almond shape with a slight point for those of you who want to try this. 

Pros

• Last up to three weeks
• Chip-free
• Salon quality finish
• Can be applied to natural nails
• Can be applied to nail tips to extend the nail
• Comes in a variety of colors
• 
  

Cons

• More Expensive
• Requires LED or UV light for long-lasting effect

Although I do find my nails pretty and it's fun to decorate them with the latest "Japanese Nail Art" trend thats been "all the rage" these days as well, I don't think I'll continue with the Gel nails. I can still decorate my nails, keep the shape, etc. But I don't think I'll use Gel all the time. I would rather stick to regular Nail Polish. I have been reading a lot of articles about how exposure to LED\UV light for a long period of time can cause skin cancer? I don't know if this is true, but I don't want to find out either. Although I always knew these lights weren't good for skin, I always put SPF on my hands when I know my hands will be under the LED\UV light.

Would I recommend Gel Nails? - I don't know. Decide and use at your own risk. Having Gel nails once in awhile when your traveling, getting married, honeymoon, etc. is perfectly okay! 

BUT

doing it 24\7 every 2 weeks (like how I do is not a good idea and I would not recommend doing Gels every 2 weeks (only because of what I've been reading) 

Here is the link for you to read yourself ---> Are Gel Manicures Safe?

Down below are questions (provided with answers) that I get asked via instagram, twitter, and email ALL the time!! 

^^^^ Not My Picture, or Hands ^^^^

1) Between ESSIE nail polish and OPI, which is your favorite?

In my personal opinion, my favorite nail polish brand is ESSIE. I love essie nail polish because this brand has an amazingly wide selection of colors. There are tons of shades of reds, blues, greens, pinks, purples, oranges, you name it! The glitters are stunning, and their treatment polishes (ridge filler, apricot oil, no chips ahead, etc) are equally as great. I feel Essie nail polish doesn't chip as quick as other brands such as OPI, China Glaze, etc. I prefer the thin brush as opposed to a thicker brush when I get my nails painted. Essie has a thinner brush applicator and OPI has a thicker brush applicator. I find the thicker brush a bit more "messy" although the coating when applied to my nails with an OPI polish is thicker and Essie nail polish coats are thinner. It really depends what YOUR personal preference is but in my personal opinion, I always choose Essie unless i HAVE to go with OPI (if they don't offer Essie colors in the nail salon I'm at)

2) Your hands are beautiful, what do you do? 

Thank You!!!! however, I don't think I do anything differently than what you do! I wash them with soap, exfoliate them once a week and apply moisturizer to them. I make sure throughout the day they are fully hydrated! :) For a women, taking care of your hands and nails is as important as taking care of the skin on your face. It is often said that our hands reveal your true age, leaving them susceptible to wrinkles, sun spots, and other signs of aging. With that said, ladies, keep your hands moisturized and sun protected! Make sure they are hydrated daily. And drink LOTS of water!!

When you get your nails done, do you cut your cuticles? 
and if so, how do you care for them?

Sometimes, Yes. I do cut my cuticles. Just like your hands need to be moisturized, so do your nails. With your moisturizer, rub a little bit into the base and the sides of your nails, including your cuticles. If your cuticles are very dry (which most of ours are), you may want to consider applying cuticle oil to offer an extra dose of moisture!

The cuticle oil that I recommend is 
CND SolarOil.
This stuff is awesome! It deeply penetrates thru your real nails and works just as well if you have artificial nails on (acrylics, etc) It leaves your nails feeling beautiful, extremely conditioned, and keeps your cuticles soft and moisturized without your hands looking nasty and dry! Yuck! You should use this everyday after you wash the dishes, your hands, etc. Anytime people ask me about my nails this is something I always recommend them having in their beauty kit, hands down! It works wonders and smells SO good....kinda like sugar cookies :) I love it, and I highly recommend this. 
I bought mine from Amazon.
AMAZON PRICE - 
$6 USD - £3.66 -  RS 369.12 - AED  د.إ. 22.04


HAIRTOOLS\HAIRCARE\HAIRPRODUCTS



I know a lot about haircare, so it's no surprise that I'm launching my 100% Human Clip In Hair Extensions called "DreamTresses" 
which will be released this year in a few months!!!. I'm super excited and I can't wait for you guys to own your own set! As I'm getting closer to to launch, I will do a blog about why I chose this, how I got started, etc. so you know the full history behind my company while you wear your Gorgeous Hair.



Anyway, I mentioned above about blow-drying my hair! 

Does a good blow dryer really matter? 
The answer is 
YES.


As some of you know, I recently was in London 2 weeks ago during Christmas to check up on our Flat. Since my main home isn't in London and I visit UK once or twice a year, I didn't care about getting a good quality hair dryer since I'm usually there for 1 week anyway I didn't think it would matter.
I forgot the name of the HORRIBLE hair dryer brand so I can't tell you guys which hair dryer it is until I go back to London in April this year.

me with blonde hair!! 

Anyway, when I first used it, it was whatever. It was okay. Granted, my hair was healthier 2 years ago then it is now! When I went back to London 2 weeks ago, I got a fresh haircut before I left NYC and my hair looked and felt great! 
When I got to London and used this hair dryer on my hair that is already damaged from being bleached playboy bunny Blonde a year ago, It totally dried up my hair (because of the extreme heat) and made my ends look like CRAP!!!!!!!. My hair as of this moment looks like I haven't gotten a haircut in a year! It feels so dry, and looks damaged all over again. This is because of the hair dryer being so shitty, and extremely hot.


Look!!!!!! :( 

Yeah.....so this is how the ends of my hair look at the moment! and tomorrow I'm going for another haircut! :( God knows when I'll ever be able to grow out my hair back to it's healthy state but I am taking good care of it right now so that by the end of the year, it's healthy again! :) I'm not worried. 

Most of us in reality don't really give a second thought to what we dry our hair with. Its true. Having a great hairdryer is really an important part of your hair care routine. If you have bleached damaged hair, frizzy hair, or dry hair, and you blow dry your hair with a cheap blow dryer, it will only make it worse!

Having experienced what I have with a cheap blow dryer, 

I have learned 2 things:: 

1) 
They're too hot and lack proper power. Cheap blow-dryers are very hot and because there is very little power behind them, you end up exposing hair to heat for longer periods, causing damage immediately & over time. 

2) 
It can lead to major frizz! Since there's no power behind a cheaper blow-dryer, it take forever to dry hair, and eventually most people (like me) will give up and head out the door!

If your looking for a new hair dryer, I have and use 2 that I love and definitely recommend. 

1) Babyliss PRO Nano Titanium Portofino

2) DryBar Bio::Ionic

The Babyliss Pro Portofino & The DryBar Bio::Ionic are both AWESOME hair dryers. Both of them dry your hair extremely quickly, leaving your hair soft and silky, and cause no damage. 

However, if I were to choose one - I would choose the Babyliss Pro Portofino. 

What is the difference between the DryBar Bio::Ionic & Babyliss Pro Portofino blowdryers?

DryBar Bio::Ionic

PRICE - $190 USD - £115.93 -  RS 11,681.2 - AED  د.إ. 697.87 

The DryBar Bio::Ionic hairdryer (also known as the "Buttercup") was given to me as a Christmas gift last year 2013 from my friend Jessica aka misszjessica_patron. haha! love ya girly! :) 

She bought me this from Sephora. 

Here is the link --> http://www.sephora.com/ 

We exchange christmas gifts every year and this year I had asked for this hair-dryer because I really wanted to try it out. The Bio::Ionic is the hairdryer that a Salon in NYC called the "DryBar" uses on their clients hair. The DryBar is a salon that does blowouts.....ONLY. No cuts, no color,....only blowouts. Since i'm a big fan of blowdrying my hair and styling it, I wanted this hair dryer to see what all the hype was.

  PROS

• Easy to use
• lightweight
• 1875 watts
• powerful
• fast
• has conditioning nano beads to seal hair cuticles
• hair is frizz free 
• hair is silky, and soft
• hydrates and conditions
• 
  

  CONS

• Expensive

I read a lot of reviews of people complaining about this hairdryer stopping and not working after 10-15 uses. I've had this hairdryer since December 22, 2013 and so far, it's been working fine with me! I really have no complaints about this hairdryer. It's a great hairdryer and I defiantly recommend it if you've been wanting to try it out or in search of a new one. My hair isn't frizzy at all and it feels silky and extremely soft after each blow-dry! It's a thumbs up for me!

Babyliss PRO Nano Titanium Portofino

PRICE - $129.99 USD - £79.29 -  RS 7,991.79 - AED 477.44  د.إ. 

I bought this hairdryer from a website called Folica. 

Here is the website link --> http://www.folica.com/

 I've had this hairdryer for 2 years and I love it to pieces! I love all Babyliss products! They work extremely well and live up to expectation and never seem to disappoint me. This hair dryer is extremely fast and my hair is dry in literally 5 minutes! 

  PROS

• Easy to use
• lightweight
• 2000 watts
• ultra powerful
• super fast
• has an italian AC motor
• conditions hair 
• hair is silky, and soft
• adds shine
• 
  

  CONS

• Expensive

If you have curly, frizzy hair, I recommend the DryBar Bio::Ionic Hairdryer. If your hair is normal texture, straight, silky, I recommend the Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium Portofino! The choice is yours, but personally in my opinion I would go with the Babyliss but both are great hairdryers!

SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER

This is where I need YOUR help. I need YOU to recommend me a good shampoo and conditioner. For some reason, these days, every time I wash my hair with whatever shampoo the next day my hair becomes oily all over again......WHY????? and since when??? It really annoys me and I've gone thru numerous different kinds of shampoos and nothing seems to work on my hair and have it last for at least 2 days without it becoming oily again. 

However,

I will tell you about a shampoo product that I have used. I used this while I was in London too. The name of this shampoo is called "CLEAR". I feel bad on what I'm about to say about this product, but I am about to save your life, and your hair!. In my personal opinion and experience, this is THE WORST shampoo I have ever used in my life!!!! I have come to believe that not only with a shitty hair dryer but also with a shitty brand of shampoo & conditioner, both combined can seriously do some MAJOR damage to your hair (as you've seen in my picture above). I bought this shampoo based on what it promised to do! 

"Stronger, more beautiful hair in 7 days, guaranteed"

Uhhhh.... really????? how about

 "Thinner, more balding spots on your head in 7 days guaranteed"

I can't believe this shampoo got the "Allure" Best of Beauty Award for 2012. I will never trust Allure "the beauty expert" ever again. Sorry, but this shampoo and conditioner needs to be banned! Ever since I was using this shampoo and conditioner, I have noticed my hair was becoming brittle and dryer. Even when I came back to NYC after London, I used my awesome hairdryers and my hair got better but since I was still using this shampoo, with every use, my hair was getting worse and worse. I couldn't figure out why it wasn't getting any better!! and for the first time I even considered chopping my hair off and getting a "pixie cut" I'm dead serious. I couldn't take it anymore. It looked and felt so nasty!. 
 Then randomly one day I decided to look up the reviews on this shampoo and I was MORTIFIED on the reviews that many other women gave. I realized I wasn't alone. At first when you use this shampoo, it smells great and it makes your hair extremely baby soft! (yes, thats true) but as you keep using it, your hair starts to fall out in clumps! I got my hair knotted at the ends and I had to choice but it rip it off....ugh, I'm sorry this sounds really disgusting but it's true, this was my personal experience! It's horrible. Absolutely Horrible and 

I DO NOT recommend Clear shampoo and conditioner to anybody at all. 

If you have it, throw it out!

The other shampoos and conditioners that I have used that are good and may work great with your hair (but for some reason doesn't work well with my hair because it gets oily the next day) are...

1) BIOLAGE 
Normalizing Shampoo & Conditioner

2) PAUL MITCHELL 
Tea-Tree Lavender Mint Moisturizing Shampoo & Conditioner

3) VICTORIA SECRET 
Volume Big & Full Shampoo & Conditioner 
(this smells smells SO good!)

4) ITS A 10 Miracle Moisture   Shampoo & Conditioner

I need a good clarifying shampoo that will make my hair hold up without it getting oily for at least 2 days! If anyone has any recommendations PLEASE leave me a comment below or on my Instagram or Twitter. I would be so grateful! Thank you!!!! <3 :)

Agadir Argan Oil Spray Treatment

I currently am doing hair treatments and every time I wash my hair, when I get out of the shower and it's damp, I spray this! 
(avoiding my roots)

Agadir Argan Oil Spray Treatment

PRICE - $29.99 USD - 
£18.23 -  RS 1,843.79 - AED 110.15 د.إ;

I used to have thick beautiful hair but with all the crap I've done to it, I now have Fine hair. This product smells good and even with fine hair, this did not weigh my hair down. It doesn't make my hair look oily either, it gives shine and smoothness! If you have thick hair, good for you! this will work wonders as well! I compared this product to Moroccan Oil and I found that in my personal opinion, I like this better.

Compared to Moroccan Oil, this smell is lighter (a bit sweeter and less musky) and the spray bottle makes it easier to apply to your hair. I also like how light this feels and I LOVE that you can use this on damp hair. The spray is also great with using a flat iron! Unlike other glossers or moisturizers (BioSilk, for example) Agadir Argan Oil is not a silicone and it won't cling onto the surface of your hair strand! If you want to use this product on dry hair when your about to apply a heat tools to your hair, you can easily spritz this onto each section before you straighten or curl your hair and your hair oil will absorb the oil, protecting it from being fried by heat tools. This is well worth the money and I highly recommend this product for all hair types! :)

You can also find this cheaper on other websites  but I bought mine from the main site, 

heres the link -->  http://www.agadirint.com/

MY HAIR STRAIGHTENER

Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium 1 Inch Plate Flat Iron

I haven't straightened my hair in a year. I'm not kidding. Currently I'm in the process of healing my hair and I would be really stupid to use a flat iron especially with the ends of my hair looking like how I showed you in the picture I posted above! Even though they are heat protectant items out there, using a blowdryer on my hair (when I should just let it air dry) is enough for me!!

I've had the Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium 1 Inch Plate Flat Iron for 5 years!!! Thats right, 5 years! In my personal opinion, this is the only flat iron I HIGLY recommend to anyone who is in need of a new flat iron. I've used the hair straightener brands such as GHD, T3, AMIKA, SEDU, etc. I've used all the pretty kinds, LED whatever etc, and NOTHING can compare to this flat iron I currently have. This is my baby and once again, this is my personal opinion but I back up everything I've said about this 100% because every time I've used this, I've had fantastic results and this has lasted me over 5 years! It's great! 

When my hair is healthy, I will use this again!!!!! and can't wait :)

I bought mine from a beauty supply store in Buffalo, NY and 

I paid $160 USD,  £97.36 -  RS 9,836.8 - AED 587.56  د.إ.

However, on the website called Folica, you can purchase this straightening iron for Less!!!

PRICE - $129.99 USD - £79.1 -  RS 7,991.79 - AED 477.44  د.إ.

Here is the website link --> http://www.folica.com/

  PROS

• Easy to use
• lightweight
• ultra thin
• ultra smooth titanium plates
• instant heat when it's on
• up to 450 fahrenheit - 232 Celsius
• titanium plates are 5 inches!  
• leaves hair shiny and smooth
• works extremely well with curly hair
• frizz free
• 
  

  CONS

• NONE!!!! - well worth the money. 

*HELPFUL RANDOM HINT*

Have any of you girls experienced "Static Hair"? You know when you brush your hair after you wash and dry it and then all of a sudden it gets all "staticy"? It usually happens in the winter and it happens with me a lot. Well, heres a secret of mine that I thought I would share with you all! 

When my hair has Static in it, I use 

Static Guard 

I spray it on my brush and then brush my hair. It gets rid of Static Hair and your hair will be tamed and normal in 5 seconds. Thats it! No more Static hahah

MAKEUP ARTISTS

A lot of you ask about my makeup. Especially my eyeliner! I know how to do eyeliner on myself and I know how to do good eyeliner! I love making my eyes look extremely sultry and dark and I just love the thickness around my eyes with the blackest eyeliner out on the market! 

I usually do my own makeup, but on special occasions when I go out to fancy dinners, events, shows, or its my girls night out, I always get my makeup done!

The picture above is me wearing my DreamTresses Hair Extensions 
(which will be releasing in 3-4 months) and my makeup is done by Yasmeen. 

I have 2 makeup artists who I know (follow) and I highly recommend you ladies enquiring about. I know more than 2 but I felt if I gave you guys too many options, it would be confusing to pick so I narrowed by 2 top favorite! 1 for the States, and 1 Abroad. However, if you do want more options, leave me a comment below and I would be happy to recommend you a makeup artist in your city, (hopefully I know one!!!) 

1) Yasmeen (New York)

Yasmeen isn't only a makeup artist. She is MY personal makeup artist, and my good friend. I met Yasmeen 3 years ago when I went to a MAC counter to get my makeup done for a special occasion. When I met her, I told her what I wanted and she gave me exactly what I asked for....and then some! Her work is phenomenal and I only recommend the best of the best because I only want the best of the best. She's quick, knows her colors, liquids, and brushes, and the thing I like the most about her is that when I get my makeup done by her she is very personal. She really studies your face and takes her time into telling you how something will look and shows you samples of colors, and previous work that she's done. 

She's a perfectionist for any look! Natural or Dramatic.

She's funny, bubbly, and can make any women look beautiful and sexy!

I trust her 100% and I ONLY go to her in New York. 
If she's not available, I stay home or I do my own makeup (if I'm not too lazy) 
I highly recommend her if your in NY or anywhere in the states for a girl night out look, or just a neutral look, weddings, engagements, the whole nine yards! 

You can Follow her Instagram @MakeupByYasmeen 

2) Rosie (London)

Although I do not know her personally, and I have never had a personal makeup experience with her, Rosie's work is beautiful! I accidentally found her through a friends page on Instagram and started following her for makeup inspirations and just general looks to go "wow" at.

(and so I can show them to Yasmeen when it's time for me to get my makeup done! LOL) 

I have interacted with her via Instagram and she is very sweet and talented! Her looks are vibrant and sexy and got the perfect "cat eye" look going on! When I go to London next, if I'm able to, I will definitely try and get in touch with her to get my makeup experience done by her!

You can Follow her Instagram @Rosie_Instamua

Well, thats all for my first beautyblog! I hope you guys enjoyed my blog, I had a lot of fun writing it and sharing all this information with you all! I learned a lot about these products as well as I was writing and giving my personal opinion! Let me know what you want me to write about next, I look forward to hearing from you.

If you have and questions or comments, leave them down below or leave me a comment on instagram or twitter and I'll do my best to get back to you all!

Add Me On INSTAGRAM - TrishalaDutt 

if you don't have the instagram APP you can always view it here http://web.stagram.com/n/trishaladutt/

Add me on TWITTER - https://twitter.com/trishala_dutt

xoxo T