Quote of the month - January 2013

 

 

"What the concious mind can't recognise, the heart might know."

 

"A career is wonderful, but you cant curl up with it on a cold night."

 

 

 

Two Marilyn quotes this month for you friends......it's just so hard to chose but one !!

Quote of the month - November 2012

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” 

 

 

 

I do not call myself a Marilyn fan. I like too many other stylish women from the last century to single any one woman out as an inspiration. However, the more I read her insights, quotes and life attitudes, the more I think she was really a hugely underrated mind - lost in the appearance, mythology and celebrity of Marilyn Monroe......I wish to spend the next few months sharing MM pearls of wisdom with my readers in my Quote of the Month section. I would challenge anyone to think MM was a clueless, dippy blonde - nothing more than a sex symbol - after this series........

To blonde or not to blonde? That IS the question.......

I have been tossing too and fro in my head the idea of going blonde lately. I have never really been any other colour than (natural) brunette, and have always advocated the sophistication and general classiness of brunettes over blondes. However, hubby recently suggested trying it before 'time runs out to be able to pull it off' - and he does have a point ! So, I have compiled a list of pro's and con's to going blonde, and thrown in a few glamerous ideals for both sides of the story........what are your thoughts on the whole blonde vs brunette debate?

Advantages to going blonde:

It would be fun to try the whole 'Hitchcock Blonde look' at least once in my life! (I am certianly no platnum blonde bombshell!!)......

Would prefer to try the blonde look while my face still has a bit of youth in it....

Blondes do seem to get noticed more....

Blonde seems to lend a face a bit more youth....

If I dont like it I can always dye it back again (although it will loose some condition, I know).....

Disadvantages:

Seems silly to dye my hair when there arnt too many greys in it yet....

Have just learnt to love the look I have been born with (ie. Dita Von Tease look pale skin and dark hair). Not everyone in Australia needs to have that sun kissed, bleached look !

Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance !

I have very pale skin - will it look stuipd?

Health concerns with chemical bleaches?........


They are my arguments......now for the inspiration........

To Blonde .........

The incomparable Marilyn

Breathtaking Mamie Van Doren

Ever charming Doris Day

Jane Fonda in one of my fav. movies - Cat Ballou

Perfect Hitchcock Blonde Grace Kelly

Ever lovely Lana Turner

Enchanting Zsa Zsa Gabor

Deadly blonde bombshell Diana Dors

Unmistakeable blonde Bridget Bardot

And not to Blonde........

The amazing Dita Von Tease

Exquisit Gene Tierney

A young and beautiful Elizabeth Taylor

Darling French actress Capucine

Beautiful perfection - Vivien Leigh

Modern Classic Beauty - Catherine Zeta Jones

Beautiful and oh so tragic Judy Tyler (died in a car crash after completing the film Jailhouse Rock with Elvis)

Magical Cyd Charisse - dancer extrodinair (and exquisitly beautiful as well!)

And the now imortally beautiful Jean Simmons.

History of hair dye:

(from ehow)

"In the Dark Ages, red hair first appeared as the result of a genetic mistake. For many years, people with natural red hair were subjected to suspicions of witchcraft. However, in the 16th Century, Queen Elizabeth I's natural vibrant red hair made red hair more acceptable, and soon hair was being reddened with items such as henna, which dated back to the ancient Egyptians. During the Baroque period, when elaborate powdered wigs were popular, the colors ran the gamut of pastels, from pinks and yellow, to even blue. Blond hair continued to be desirable, with potassium lye or caustic soda being use to bleach the hair. Victorian women used large hats with an open top to expose their treated hair to the strong sun. At the same time, gray hair was popular, bringing back hair powder to heighten the affect. For a time, silver nitrate was used to darken hair until overuse resulted in a purple color. It was this purple result that would eventually lead to the creation of the first synthetic hair dye.

In the 1800s, chemists discovered para-phenylenediamine (PPD) and its use in the creation of synthetic dye. At the same time, it was found that hydrogen peroxide was a gentler and safer chemical for hair bleaching. These two discoveries paved the way for Eugene Schueller, who created the first commercial chemical hair dye, which he christened "Aureole." That product would go on to be known as "L'Oreal." The double-process for dying hair blond soon followed, and in 1932 hair dye was further refined by Lawrence Gelb who created hair dye that actually penetrated the shaft of the hair. His company would be called "Clairol." Later, in 1950, he would introduce the first one-step hair dye product that actually lightened hair without bleach. This ushered in the modern era of hair dye, including the ability for hair to be dyed at home. "

Well.......should I or shouldnt I? What do you think?

Doing your hair like Marilyn....

Didn't she have the most amazing look? Love her or hate her, you have to admit Marilyn was a beautiful woman. Personally, I don't think her acting was given the credit it deserved, as all the focus was continually on the way she looked and her love life. Some of her films are just wonderful - she was so much more than Laura-lie in 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' !

Thankyou to my beautiful friend Mel who let me do her up to go out on the town in Melbourne. I took inspiration from the above Marilyn hairstyle to do Mel's hair, and the following is a step by step guide to what I did - so you can achieve the same look !!

1. Firstly, you will need a short cut with layers at the sides and back. If you don't have this then it really wont work (obviously!!!)
2. Wash hair and before it is dry apply a liberal amount of gel all through your hair (about the same size as a scoop of ice-cream from a proper ice-cream scoop!!!). Hang your head upside down and dry with a hair dryer. I like to do this because it adds alot more volume and lifts the hair up and away from the scalp.

** Marilyn's hair was bleached to billi-o (Aussie expression there) and it therefore held style very very well - tortured hair usually does. If you hair is not bleached this gel process will effect pretty much the same result, although you may need more or less gel depending on your hair type. My hair is reasonably fine so I use alot of gel, Mel's hair is quite thick and wavy so a little bit of gel went a long way.

2. Once the hair is dry, use a hot curling iron to create defined curls all over the head. Only do small pieces at a time - too thick and the curling iron will be ineffectual. Refer to the photograph for an example of the amount of hair to use....Mel's hair has a natural part a little to her left of centre (right of centre for us looking at her), I decided to leave this part and direct the curls towards Mels ears on either side of the part (see photograph for what I mean!!). 3. Spray the curls with hairspray (maximum hold) as you go.

4. After spraying the hair, tousle the curls up a bit with your hands and move them 'into place' however you like. Pull back the sides of the hair over the ears and pin into place - you don't want alot of 'boofy-ness' out each side or your head. Dont be afraid to be a tad 'vicious' with the curls, they will hold and should keep most of their definition.

5. Once you have it looking 'just so', you can squirt it with hairspray again, or leave it as is.

And this is the end result - beautiful!! This is Mel and I out on the town.........