I've always found Melanie Marquez witty and funny. I'm a great fan of her Melanie-isms.

I first saw the ombre word while watching America's Next Top Model British Invasion. It was one of Tyra's makeover suggestion. Later that day, I randomly read it at a DIY site and it peaked my interest. Seems like this is the in thing among Hollywood actresses and fashion A-listers!

Since Emma, my best bud, and I have been contemplating on dying our hair, I did a little research on this hairstyle. This blog is the fruit of my arduous labor.


I doubt though that when I go to our local hair salons that they will be able to know an ombre look unless I bring a photo of it plus some instructions. Who would want a know-it-all? So for this hairstyle, I will do it myself...soon!


The ombre hairstyle looks like you have just overgrown your sun bleached hair. The roots are darker and it is gradually graded to produce lighter tips using the balayage technique. It just looks like you don't have money to recolor your hair! =P

It is a low maintenance hairstyle that you can easily do at home. Well, at least that's what the people on the internet says. The good thing about this hairstyle is, if you want to hide the ombre (shaded in french) ends you can simply pull it in a ponytail or wind it up in a loose bun. 


First off, what is the balayage technique? It uses the freehand technique. You can paint your hair without the ugly squares foiling or cap highlighting makes. This is best used with hair below the shoulder. The aim is to make your hair look naturally bleached and not streaky.


So how will we ombre-fy our hair in this Philippine setting?

• Don't use blonde hair dye because you would need to bleach your hair first. Use a highlighting kit instead. Hortaleza has some hair bleach powder that will work. 
• Apply the solution at the end of your tresses first gradually moving up until your chin. The lightest part should be the tips and the darkest part should be your roots. Therefore, apply more solution on your tips.
• Dark part of the hair should be from roots to chin level but it is ok if you kindda lighten some parts.
• The longer you leave the bleaching solution on your hair, the lighter it will get. You might want to try on a small strand of your hair and time it just so you know what to get.
• Read the instructions that comes with your hail colorant. I will use Hortaleza Professional Hair Coloring Cream. Mine says that if I use 6% oxidizing lotion, it will just cover the gray hairs or change only my hairs color tone. If I use 9% it is for fashion colors or to change hue of the hair. 12% on the other hand is used for blonde colors to take effect.

reference:
http://www.vogue.com.au/beauty/beauty+insider/what+is+the+balayage+effectr,13857
http://www.elle.com/Beauty/Hair/Beauty-Tip-Sun-Kissed-Hair-Color
http://www.haironthebrain.com/2011/01/how-to-diy-ombre-hair/

iWhite Korea has been my all time favorite! I simply dig their Whitening Pack and Nose Pack. I'm so glad it is available at Robinson's Supermarket here in Tacloban City now. Previously, when Tacloban was still mall-free, I get my iWhite from either Watsons Cebu or Manila and only when I get a chance to travel there.

I love this product because once you peel it off your fave you can literally see the blackheads, whiteheads, some facial hair, dead skin and other impurities on the mask!Amazing!

iWhite Korea: Whitening Pack(Peel Off Mask)
Promises to : Revitalize, Cleanse and Enhance
Product description: iWhite Whitening Pack instantly removes dead skin(check!), deep-seated dirt(check!) and other impurities(check!) to reveal a radiant, glowing, younger-looking skin.
Especially formulated with Mulberry Extract that whitens dark skin and evens out discolorations, Panax Ginseng Root Extract that revitalize and improves skin health and Vitamins A,C, E and B5 to prevent premature aging.

• Mulberry Extract

Last night, a high school friend Maracel posted in FB if anyone knows a good memory technique. I suddenly remembered Dr. Jesus G. Reyes who is in his 70s probably. He would passionately teach us memory techniques. Often times he would pick someone randomly from our class and call out their full names and birthdays. He never got mine right but I am still amazed at how he has trained his brain like an athlete trains his muscles.

Since the beginning of the school year is just around the corner, many of you will be battling with your memory. As a post graduate student, one thing I regret is that I am too lazy to memorize. Thus I have flunked a lot of tests and would sometimes give "basta nabasahon ko ito" as a vague reason to questions. If only...

Here is a technique that works good for me. I use a combination of the PQRST method and different memorization techniques after.

The PQRST method of reading a textbook is also known as the SQ3R method. PQRST stands for Preview, Question, Read, Self-recite and Test.

• Preview - Peruse the whole chapter you are deciding to study. Read the title of the chapter, the chapter outline, the headings and subtitles, captions and graphs. Look at the pictures. This warms up your brain and gives you a birds eye view of what you are going to learn in the chapter.
• Question - Ask yourself questions on how or why the author choose to use that title or picture. What do you need to learn exactly? Ask questions related to each title and subtitle. This makes you curious for answers
• Read - If I have lots of time in my hand I read three times-that's what our teachers say. This is also the part wherein you look for the answers to your questions.  
1. 1st reading - Usually I speed read first. This is a skill which is useful specially if you need to read lots of books in one day. An average person can read a 200 words per minute with only 60% comprehension.  Remember it is an average so you can still double your rate.I read around 329 words per minutes with a comprehension of 91%. Test yourself here.
2. 2nd reading - On my second read, my goal is to increase comprehension. This is the time wherein I take down notes and make my own diagrams to better understand a topic. The more colorful it is, the better the retention. Just make sure it is organized.  Highlight only the important words. Don't highlight everything! When I get bored, I usually read my book upside down. 
3. 3rd reading - Memorization and familiarization.

• Self-recite - Answer the questions you have previously formulated. Recite the things you memorized earlier. You can look back on texts you have missed out.
• Test - Answer the test found at the end of the chapter. If you have notes review it within 24 hours and repeat again after a week. This is to increase your retention and bulk of study materials when the exams come.