RosyDaisy

Magical Realism and the Latin-American Novel

2007-09-04T02:20:24Z

Magical Realism and the Latin-American Novel

Magic Realism, also known as magical realism, is a genre in which elements of magic and mysticism appear in what is otherwise a realistic setting within a novel. Latin American novels are famous for using this literary device, which adds a twist of fantasy to an otherwise verisimilitude setting.

Magic Realism and Latin America

Magical Realism came to prominence as a literary genre with the advent of the Latin American novel in the 1960s. Works by Juan Rulfo, Carlos Fuentos, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez all brought the genre to its forefront.

The idea of using elements of fantasy and magic in otherwise realistic settings is not solely Latin American, however. Many non-Latin American authors have used similar devices in their novels, to similar effect. Among the most famous of these authors are Toni Morrison and Salman Rushdie, both of whom utilized magical realism as a literary device in some of their most famous novels, Morrison in Song of Solomon and Rushdie in Midnight's Children.

Magic Realism is largely still a device of the Latin American novel, however, and has continued to emerge in newer Latin American authors' writings. Isabel Allende is among the most famous of the newer Latin American novelists (at least, outside of Latin America). She constantly invokes magical realism as a device in her novels.

Book Recommendations

There are so many amazing Latin American novels out there that invoke magical realism, it's hard to recommend just a select few. Here are some of my favorites:

	The House of the Spirits (Book) Here, in an astonishing debut by a gifted storyteller, is the magnificent saga of proud and passionate men and women and the turbulent times through which they suffer and triumph....more Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: $7.99 Lowest Used Price: $0.01 (as of 8/28/2008@4:32 PM) Lowest New Price: $3.69 (as of 8/28/2008@4:32 PM)
	Love in the Time of Cholera (Book) In their youth, Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza fall passionately in love. When Fermina eventually chooses to marry a wealthy, well-born doctor, Florentino is devastated, but ...more Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: $14.95 Lowest Used Price: $0.50 (as of 8/28/2008@4:32 PM) Lowest New Price: $0.49 (as of 8/28/2008@4:32 PM)
	Daughter of Fortune (Oprah's Book Club) (Book) Oprah Book Club® Selection, February 2000: Until Isabel Allende burst onto the scene with her 1985 debut, The House of the Spirits, Latin American fiction was, for the most part, ...more Average Customer Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: $26.00 Lowest Used Price: $0.01 (as of 8/28/2008@4:32 PM) Lowest New Price: $0.88 (as of 8/28/2008@4:32 PM)
	The Invention of Morel (New York Review Books Classics) (Book) Jorge Luis Borges declared The Invention of Morel a masterpiece of plotting, comparable to The Turn of The Screw and Journey to the Center of the Earth. Set on a mysterious island...more Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: $12.95 Lowest Used Price: $7.10 (as of 8/28/2008@4:32 PM) Lowest New Price: $7.32 (as of 8/28/2008@4:32 PM)

Lake Tahoe

2007-09-04T02:19:55Z

Lake Tahoe

Sunny, beautiful Lake Tahoe, with its crystal clear namesake lake a perfect site for water adventures and swimming during the summer months and its rigorous, demand mountain a top ski resort during the winter, is a great vacation any time of year.

History of the Lake

Lake Tahoe is a naturally formed fresh water lake located on the border of California and Nevada. It is the second deepest lake in the United States, and was formed about 2 million years ago by geological block faulting.

The original inhabitants of the areas around Lake Tahoe were Native Americans of the Washoe Tribe. It was not recorded seen by non-indigenous people until 1844, when Kit Carson and Lt. John C. Fremont spotted it on Fremont's second exploratory expedition. (Picture at right is of Fremont)

When California became a state, California and Nevada compromised on ownership of the Lake. In a classic Solomon-like moment, the two states divided the Lake in half, with a southwest border running through the lake and designating its ownership.

Swim Tahoe--the Wetter Side of the Lake

Although the Lake is quite cold, it is still swimmable during the summer months. Indeed, the crystal clear water is almost irresistible, especially on a typical sunny, hot Tahoe summer day.

In addition to swimming, there are an amazing array of watersports available on the Lake. Swim, sail, jetski, waterski, parasail, tube, back float, canoe, kayak, paddle boat, or body surf your way around the lake (admittedly on relatively tiny waves) for a refreshing and exciting outdoor adventure.

Ski Tahoe--Baby it's COOOLD Outside!

Some would argue that the Lake Tahoe area is at its best during the winter months. Although the Lake itself never actually freezes over (it's much too deep for that), a myriad of fine skiing, snowboard, and other snow sports are available on the nearby mountains. There are several ski resorts around the area, which is known for its powder skiing and absolutely stunning winter scenery.

Lake Tahoe Pictures

Beautiful in the Summer

Stunning in the Winter

Arial Footage

This YouTube video has gorgeous footage from the air of Lake Tahoe, with musical accompaniment!

Music About Lake Tahoe

Both of these CDs have songs about Lake Tahoe on them. "Sing, But Keep Going" has a song called "Lake Tahoe (for my Father)", while A vs. Monkey Kong has one called "I Love Lake Tahoe". On the Amazon page, you can listen to samples of the songs from the CDs.

	A vs. Monkey Kong (Music) Make way for the first great brother band of the 21st century. A, an economically titled Brit band featuring siblings Jason, Adam, and Giles Perry, combine the harmonic splendor o...more Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: $15.49 Lowest Used Price: $1.99 (as of 8/28/2008@8:58 AM) Lowest New Price: $2.84 (as of 8/28/2008@8:58 AM)
	Sing, But Keep Going (Music) Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: $13.98 Lowest Used Price: $2.25 (as of 8/28/2008@8:58 AM) Lowest New Price: $8.62 (as of 8/28/2008@8:58 AM)

Outlet Stores

2007-09-04T02:19:25Z

Outlet Stores

What, exactly, is outlet shopping? Are deals really better at outlet stores than in regular stores? Where can I find an outlet mall?

What Are Outlet Stores?

Outlet stores are stores that carry the same or similar items to a mainstream store only at a discounted price. Oftentimes, stores overestimate the amount of items they think will sell, and need a place to sell--and in the meantime, store--the surplus. Outlet stores offer great deals on merchandise, and can save you quite a bit of money if you shop there.

Many mainstream national stores have outlet stores scattered around the country. Stores like Gap, Banana Republic, Crate and Barrel, Eddie Bauer, and hundreds more all have outlet stores at which to sell their end-of-line, marked down merchandise. Outlet stores tend to be in slightly out of the way areas, and often are grouped together into an outlet mall of sorts, with tons of stores and ample shopping opportunities.

Is the merchandise of poor quality?

Some people think that because the prices are so good, the merchandise must not be as high quality as you'd receive in a mainstream store. That perception is, for the most part, invalid. Outlet store merchandise is likely to be as high quality as the merchandise you'd find in a non-outlet store of the same company.

If you're concerned about the quality of merchandise, it's a good idea to examine each item carefully before you purchase it for evidence of shoddy worksmanship or early damage, such as loose threads, cracks in the item, etc.

Online Outlet Stores

It is possible to do outlet shopping online as well. Some stores feature their outlets on a separate website, while other may link their outlet deals to their main website. Other stores, however, may have an outlet store, but may not make it available online. Below are links to some of my favorite outlet or outlet-like stores on the web.

Some Online Outlet Stores

Here are some links to some of my favorite online outlet stores. These stores are all on ShopAtHome.com, which is great because then besides saving money, I also get cash back on each of my purchases. What a deal!

	SHOP.COM Your shopping experience will require a lot less walking by browsing Shop.com (instead of trekking around an oversized mall). I believe I have your attention now. Here’s the scoop—the more purchases you make, the more Shop.com tailors its recommendations to your tastes reflected in your buying history—something akin to a personal assistant. There are numerous stores that cover every type of merchandise you would ever find in a large mall—everything from a store such as Gizmos For Life to Linensp...
	Factoryoutletstore
	Bombay Outlet Bombay Outlet At Bombay Outlet, your home becomes more welcoming and inviting with furniture, lighting and stylish home decor pieces that reflect your personal style. Bombay Outlet carries a selection of furnishings with elegant designs, warm colors and luxurious textures. Select the clean, classic design of their classic bedroom collection, create a spectacular focal point with fabulous lighting options or simply select charming accents to add sparkle and shine. Bombay Outlet has everything yo...

Traveling Cheap

2007-09-04T02:18:59Z

Traveling Cheap

Adventures in a new place are an amazing way to spend your time, but unfortunately, they are also an easy way to spend all of your money. There are lots of ways to travel cheap, though. Sure, you may not travel in top style, but you'll get the best of both worlds--a fantastic experience and money left to pay the bills when you get home!

Traveling On A Dime (Literally)

Prices always vary by season. If you avoid the high seasons, obviously, prices will be better. Don't underestimate the value of traveling somewhere in the off season--Iceland in the winter is cold, but not unbearable, and has a different type of beauty and wonder to it than during the tourist-packed summer season. You'll find that hotel prices, car rentals, and other key travel costs (including flights) are far cheaper during these off-seasons than during the peak travel time--up to 50% cheaper, in fact, from personal experience.

There are lots of great tourist guides that offer cheap alternatives to the fancier accommodations, as well as helpful hints as to places with discounts for students, seniors, etc. My very favorite guide is the Rough Guide, which has tons of locations covered.

Lonely Planet and Let's Go are good guides too, constantly updated with cheap places to stay and visit.

Hostels are great places to stay for cheap. There are hostels all over the world, for the most part, and they are relatively safe. As for cleanliness and comfort, obviously that varies, but if you're willing to sleep dorm-style in bunk beds with bathrooms down the hall, you can get by all over the world for much cheaper.

Travel Guides

Now THIS is what I'm talking about!

The Smart Traveler's Passport: 399 Tips from Seasoned Travelers (Book)
Budget Travel magazine isn't just about the best travel experience at the lowest price it's also about traveling ''the right way.'' Their philosophy, ''Vacations for real people,'...more
Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (See the reviews)
List Price: $14.95
Lowest Used Price: $3.74 (as of 8/28/2008@6:18 PM)
Lowest New Price: $5.49 (as of 8/28/2008@6:18 PM)

Where to start?

Sites like Cheaptickets.com and Cheapflights.com can really come through for you if you're willing to be flexible with travel schedules. They're a great way to start planning an affordable yet awesome vacation!

Cheapflights.com
Cheapflights.com is one of the top online travel websites that provides you with information on the best airfare deals, to any destination worldwide. Tell them where you want to go, and they match you up with the best people to fly you there. Cheapflights.com lists deals from online travel agents like Cheap Tickets & Travelocity, to specialists like 1800 Fly Europe, or even very small, specialized, telephone-only agents. Pick the deal you like best, and Cheapflights.com will tell you where to bu...

CheapTickets Air
CheapTickets Air offers discounted leisure travel products online through their Web site. CheapTickets.com provides consumers with access to its collection of airfares on hundreds of airlines. Find cheap flights that fit your schedule by simply stating where and when you wish to travel, and within seconds, all of your options will be displayed. Simply sort the results, find the flight that suits your schedule, and book it. At CheapTickets.com, you may select your seat, pick your meal preference,...

Have A Great Trip!

How to Pack For a Camping Trip

2007-09-04T02:18:24Z

How to Pack For a Camping Trip

This Twist will give helpful information on how to pack for a camping trip.

What to bring

Assuming you're camping somewhere with variable climate conditions, it's important to be prepared. Try not to pack cotton clothing, for if they get wet, they will most assuredly stay wet for an extended period of time. In particular, be sure to bring good rain gear (a rain coat and rain pants, if possible), a fleece jacket (fleece insulates well and dries quickly), and good wool socks.

How to Pack

It's always a space saver to roll your clothes rather than folding them. Rolling also may help prevent wrinkles, although worrying about wrinkles while camping is a bit extreme.

Be sure to put toiletries, such as deodorant, toothpaste, soap, and the like in a separate bag so that you can easily pull them out and leave them in a safe place outside of your tent for the night. This is important, because things like deodorant and toothpaste tend to attract bears. Safe places to leave these toiletries include in your car (if you're car camping), or hung up in a tree.

If you're bringing food (as you likely are), it's important to have proper insulation for food that needs to be kept cold. You can buy a relatively good cooler for under $50, which can keep your food cold for days with the proper amount of ice.

A Cool Cooler

This cooler is a bit pricey, but it is amazing and will serve you well on any camping trip (so long as you don't have to carry it too far!!)

Coleman 62-Quart Xtreme Wheeled Cooler (Blue) (Sports)
Coleman, 62 QT, Blue, Extreme Wheeled Cooler, Extra Insulation In Lid & Case Keeps The Cold In Provides Maximum Cold Retention, 2 Way Handles Are Easy To Grip In Tight Spaces, Hol...more
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (See the reviews)
List Price: $89.99
Lowest New Price: $55.83 (as of 8/28/2008@8:35 AM)

Key Equipment

Of course, no camping trip is complete without certain fundamentals. Obviously, a tent, sleeping bag, and other typical camping gear are necessary. It's also important to have a mattress pad to put under your sleeping bag, for this will help insulate you against the cold ground and will utilize your sleeping bag to its maximum warmth capacity.

Some Examples

The best place to get a good sleeping bag, tent, mattress pad, and other key equipment is at stores like EMS or REI, which specialize in camping and outdoor gear. The salespeople at these stores can help you choose what gear is best for your camping purposes. It's extremely important to have good gear that is appropriate for your camping plans, so be sure to consult with an expert at a place like EMS, etc. before buying.

	Coleman Taos 25-Degree Mummy Sleeping Bag (Sports) The Coleman 8185B559 Taos 25-Degree Tall Sleeping Bag is a comfortable three-season mummy-style sleeping bag. At 32-inches by 82-inches, the tall-size Taos fits most body types up...more Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: $59.99 Lowest New Price: $33.99 (as of 8/28/2008@8:35 AM)
	Columbia Bugaboo Four to Five-Person Family Dome Tent (Sports) Columbia Sportswear Company was founded in 1938. Columbia Sportswear Company began as a small family-owned distributorship and today Columbia is one of the world's largest outerwe...more Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: $169.99

Have fun!

Shoes Galore! Shopping for Shoes.

2007-09-03T20:11:15Z

Shoes Galore! Shopping for Shoes.

I love shoes. Shoe shopping is a favorite activity, especially online where you can 'wander the aisles' virtually and see literally thousands of shoes in minutes! Whether it's high heels for formalwear, sneakers for the gym, hiking boots for, well, hiking, or any other type of shoe, you name it, I probably own it. So I have a lot of experience shopping for shoes, and am sharing it with you all here!

If The Shoe Fits...

It's never easy to decide whether a shoe fits well until you've spent some time walking around in it. As Will Rogers once put it, never judge a man till you've walked a mile in his shoes--and the same is true about judging a shoe. Unfortunately, it usually isn't to try out shoes as extensively as necessary to really get the feel for the shoe without rendering the shoe used--and therefore, non-returnable--in the process.

There are a few helpful hints to determining whether a shoe fits properly, however, without the wear-inflicting activity. First of all, wear the shoes around the house while you'll be spending a large amount of time on your feet. For example, if you bought a new pair of heels for an event that will involve dancing and standing around (a wedding, perhaps, or a cocktail party), try cooking a meal while wearing the shoes. The time you spend on your feet, cutting, cooking, and cleaning will help give you an idea of what it would be like to wear the shoes to the function in question.*

Second, spend as much time as possible wearing the shoe in question while in the house. If you have stairs in your home, go up and down the stairs to stimulate repeated strenuous walking activity. The more time you spend in the shoe itself, the more it will contour to your foot--and the more you will be able to tell whether the shoe actually, in reality, fits.

Third, spend time standing and walking along different surfaces in your home. If possible, meander around floors of different materials--spend time on the wooden living room floor, and the tiled kitchen, and the carpeted bedroom to get a real feel for how the shoe feels when walking on different surfaces. These experiences can tell you a lot about the shoe itself and your foot within it.

*Note: opening a box of Mac & Cheese does not constitute "cooking a meal". If this is your idea of cooking, try eating standing up while wearing the shoes and roaming the kitchen for an alternative shoe-evaluation method.

Finding The Perfect Heel

Heel height and width has always been a matter of much discussion and debate. Suffice it to say that the on-again-off-again love affair with the wedge has certainly opened up options!

If you're like me, then you're not a great high heel walker. Because of that, I'm very picky about what the heel on my shoe looks like. I can't handle the thin, spiky heel, and tend to go for something with a little bit more stability to it. Make sure you pick the heel carefully, because no matter how elegant the shoe may look, you'll still look like a doofus if you trip every 3 feet.

BOOTS

As everyone who has experienced a winter (sorry to all you folks out there in Miami...) knows, boots are a must-have for those cold, snowy, frigidly painful days. Shopping for boots can be pricey, but investing in a good pair of boots is crucial. Make sure your boots have a non-skid sole, because otherwise, you'll be slipping and sliding all over the place.

Of course, there's more than one purpose to a boot. Boots have become fashion accessories as much as any other type of shoe. Many of these boots are not actually cold-weather friendly--sorry, ladies, but that 4 inch stiletto heel just won't give you good traction.

Oh, the Options!

Color, shape, height, style, material, support--these are all important considerations when selecting a shoe. No more is this true than with high heels, which are among the most pricey shoes, and have the tendency to be the least comfortable.

Before buying shoes with ankles straps, make sure they don't rub awkwardly when you walk.

Red shoes can add a bit of pizazz to any outfit! Open toed shoes are a must for any wardrobe.

Purple shoes may not be the most practical, but every woman should own a pair.

This strappy sandles are a perfect accompaniment to that summer little black dress.

The Information Age

One of the best ways to learn about the quality and feel of a shoe is to read online reviews of the shoe or similar shoes from the same brand before purchasing. Many online shoe retailers have discussion boards where wearers comment on the site themselves--Zappos, for example, has user comments about each shoe on the same page as the shoe description.

Shoe Blogger Tells All	Shoe blogs give you an idea of new styles and trends of shoes that emerge--They're great to read if you're looking for ideas of what to wear with a particular outfit.
A Great Blog About Shoes!	I love this blog. It has wit, personality, and amazing pictures of fun, funky, and fantastic shoes! Unfortunately, there aren't a ton of posts, but check out the archives too.

How to Shop for Shoes Online

Shopping for shoes online is a bit more complicated because, of course, you can't try your shoes on before you leave the store. However, shopping online is incredibly more convenient and frequently cheaper than the average trip to the mall. Therefore, here are a few helpful tips:

1. Shop for brands you know.

If you are looking for a new pair of shoes and aren't picky about the brand, start with a brand that you already own. Shoes sizes may vary across brands, but it's a good bet that if you're a size 8 in one pair of Aldo shoes, you'll be a size 8 in another pair of Aldo shoes.

2. Look at return policies

Some online stores offer free returns if you don't like the shoe or it doesn't fit. Zappos.com is among my favorite for this. If you don't have to worry about paying for shipping, it's no big deal to buy a few pairs that are similar, try them on at home, and decide which pair fits best before sending back the rest and receiving a full refund.

3. Compare, compare, compare

Sometimes you can find the very same shoes for far cheaper on a different website than the first site you happen upon. Be sure to run searches in google, and especially to compare shoe prices on the actual designers' websites versus the stores' websites, etc.

Where to Shop?

Zappos.com
With over 2 million items in stock, Zappos.com offers the best shoe selection anywhere -- online or offline. Zappos.com adds new styles to their site on a daily basis so that their selection is always fresh and up to date. Zappos.com offers name brands such as Adidas, Birkenstock, Reebok, Nine West and many more. It's hard not to find the item you are looking for at Zappos.com, with 500 name brands and over 90,000 styles ready for shipment.

Receive great offers at Zappos.com from ShopAtHo...

BootBay.com

Some Fantastic Deals

Shoes are often an expensive part of a wardrobe, so finding a few great deals can make all the difference. Check out sites like Zappos for great clearance sections--Zappos has tons and tons of shoes on sale and clearance, clearly displayed by clicking the "On Sale" link on the Zappos home page. ShoeBuy also offers great discounts. Don't underestimate the benefits of a coupon for free shipping or the like--online shipping fees can run between $4 and $10, so free shipping can make a big difference. Be sure to check on your favorite coupons site for free shipping coupons at different online shoe stores before starting to shop.

For inspiration...

....bring this song along on your iPod :)

Happy Shoe Shopping!

How to Select the Right Necklace For Any Outfit

2007-08-29T02:59:59Z

How to Select the Right Necklace For Any Outfit

The right accessories can really make or break an outfit. Because the neckline is such a visible accessory location, it's especially important to select the right jewelry.

Sticking out your neck

Depending upon your outfit, other accessories, and the neckline of your apparel, many different necklaces may be appropriate.

If the neckline is a "V" shape, a round strand of pearls obviously won't do. You're better off with a necklace that will follow the contours of the "V", and that falls far enough down the "V" so that it's not hovering six inches above the collar of your top.

A round neckline calls for a rounder shaped necklace. Strands of pearls often fit the bill here. Because there are so many colors of pearls (white, black, pink), and because it is possible to easily by cheap imitation pearls that don't look so very fake, pearls are often a good choice.

If the neckline of your shirt comes up over your collar bone, you might consider not wearing a necklace at all; oftentimes, a necklace looks out of place on top of the fabric of an outfit. Instead, I would suggest wearing long, dangly earrings, or other noticeable jewelry to offset the accessory-free neck zone.

Overall, if you're wearing a relatively large, particularly glitzy, or otherwise noticeable necklace, it's a good idea to shy away from other big, noticeable pieces of jewelry. When wearing such a necklace, complement it with stud earrings; this way, your jewelery will nicely off-set each other rather than competing for attention. Too much big, glitzy jewelry at one time is overwhelming to the eye.

This is one way to accessorize...

...but I wouldn't recommend it. Talk about tying yourself up in a knot!

Iryna Pitzur

Shopping for necklaces

There are lots of places to find quality, reasonably priced jewelery, including necklaces. Check out a couple of these sites:

	Blue Nile Shop Blue Nile for certified diamonds, a broad selection of beautiful pearls, and a wide variety of classic gold and platinum jewelry at outstanding prices. At Blue Nile you can shop for loose diamonds, engagement rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, jewelry and watches with the piece of mind of having superior quality. You can create your own jewelry — choose the right diamond and Blue Nile will set it in your favorite earring, pendant, or ring design. Every order is shipped free via FedEx sh...
	ICE.com ICE.com is a leading destination for all your jewelry purchases. ICE.com carries a great selection of diamond, sapphire, emerald and jade necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, pendants, watches and pins, in an assortment of gold, silver, pearls and gems. ICE.com has an unprecedented record and reputation for bringing quality jewelry to some of the world's most prestigious stores. Now, ICE.com brings it directly to you, affording ICE.com customers the opportunity for beautiful jewelry at incredi...
	Macy's Jewelry Macy's Jewelry: Gold, Silver, Diamond, Amethyst - it's all here to choose from! Products include: bridal and fashion jewelry
	REEDS Jewelers Reeds Jewelers provides an extraordinary line of fine jewelry, collectibles, customized jewelry, and watches. At Reeds Jewelers, choose from an extensive selection of diamond, precious and semiprecious gemstones, pearls, gold, sterling silver, titanium, platinum, charms and much more, for the entire family. Reeds Jewelers also offers many exclusive lines of high-end jewelry such as, Reeds Exclusive Venus Diamond Jewelry Collection and their Exclusive Color Gemstone Collection. Visit Reeds Jewe...

Have fun with your accessories!

Necklaces need not be boring to be appropriate. A little bit of flair can go a long way to enhancing an outfit, so don't be afraid to try something a little more interesting!

Just be sure to wear it around your neck!

How to Choose a New Haircut

2007-08-29T01:29:41Z

How to Choose a New Haircut

Changing your hairstyle is always a stressful event. Even though hair (usually) will grow out to something like its previous state within a little over a year regardless of how you alter it, waiting out a bad hairstyle can feel like forever. And everyone knows there's nothing worse than a bad hair day...

That old time hair cut just doesn't cut it anymore

Selecting a Hairstyle

The key to selecting a new hairstyle is to begin by assessing the shape of your face and body. Needless to say, not every hairstyle is meant for every face and body. For example, tall, slender women should generally avoid very short haircuts. If you have a rounder face, long hair can help lengthen your face, and sharper angles or layers can help accentuate cheekbones.

If your face if heart-shaped or oval, you are in luck--pretty much any hairstyle will fit you well. Shorter, bustier women should avoid long straight hair--to accentuate your curves properly, waves or curls are a great asset.

To find a hairstyle that appeals to you, do some research online first. There are countless online sites that offer services where you can scan a picture of your face in and try different hairstyles on your face. These generally cost a fee, but might be worth doing if you are considering a big change. At the very least, browse some pictures of hairstyles online so you can select one or more that you like to bring to your hairstylist. This can be a critical component of achieving your new look, for often, it is difficult for customers to communicate their desires clearly to the stylist. As they say, a picture really is worth a thousand words.

Choosing a Hairstylist

Choosing a hairstylist actually requires a fair amount of research. If you have someone that you like and trust, it's great to stick with them; however, if you're looking for something completely new and different for you, sometimes it's better to have a fresh set of professional eyes on the job.

To select a hairstylist, it's very important to think about price range. Good haircuts don't come cheap; a medium-priced women's haircut can be $35 to $60 dollars, and that's just the midrange. While shelling out all that dough is painful, keep in mind that your hair is an accessory that you can't remove--you will be wearing it every single day for a significant amount of time. Therefore, it makes sense to invest in a better-quality stylist.

To find aforementioned stylist, begin by asking friends where they get their hair cut. It's amazing how many people have already done much of the necessary research into finding a good stylist. If none of your friends have good recommendations, check out the Internet again. If you Google "Hair Stylist" and your city name, you will likely come up with a list of salons and a number of chat boards that comment on the question of hairstylists in your city. These can be very revealing.

When you select a stylist and make an appointment, make sure you feel comfortable asserting what you want done with your hair. Remember, you're the one wearing it, not the stylist--if the stylist makes suggestions that you don't like, be honest and ask him or her to stick to the picture you brought in. This is one way to ensure that the style you're envisioning actually ends up on your head!

Where to find good hair products

Ultimately, a haircut is only as good as the care you put into it. To make your haircut a long-term success, be sure to check out various hair products designed to control frizz, nourish dry hair, or fix whatever ailment plagues your coif.

There are lots of places to find good haircare products. You can ask your stylist for recommendations about what kinds of products to use, but it's better not to buy those products directly from the salon--they're usually cheaper elsewhere, especially online.

	Beauty.com Beauty.com brings you top selling prestige brands such as: NARS, Too Faced, Vincent Longo, Philosophy, LORAC, and many more brands that are in stock. Beauty.com offers you hot name brands, skin care, makeup, fragrance, bath and body, hair care, accessories, and men’s cosmetics. Check out five star reviews, their favorites, and what’s hot now for all the latest fashions. Looking for an inexpensive gift? Check out their gift section. . Beauty.com strives to get you the lowest price. They he...
	BeautyTrends Beauty Trends is part of the world's largest "Alternative hair" company, with millions in sales and more than 40 years of experience. Beauty Trends offers an amazing selection of Wigs, Add-Ons, and Extensions in a variety of colors, and styles. When you purchase "alternative hair,” you want it to be the most natural looking, comfortable product available, and Beauty Trends can provide that. To receive your automatic cash rebate from Beauty Trends, simply click on our SHOP NOW button show...
	Celebrity Silky Hair
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	Gold Medal Hair Products
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