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Wedding Rehearsal Blowout with Hair Cuttery

- Sarah Leave a comment

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hair Cuttery Salons. All opinions are 100% my own.

Earlier this month, I flew to Atlanta to be in one of my childhood best friend’s weddings! Us bridesmaids were pretty much in go-go-go mode upon arrival — it was such a whirlwind weekend that very few pictures even exist. (Not counting the professional photographer’s of course; I’m eagerly awaiting those.)

Our bride was generous enough to pay for our hair the day of, but I knew my hair was the last thing I wanted to worry about leading up to the wedding. I wanted something that would withstand a flight and the Atlanta humidity, so off to Hair Cuttery I went.



Now that everyone is spending their weekends traveling, Thursdays are pretty busy at my local HC. I made an appointment with Kim, a master stylist, but you totally don’t have to! Hair Cuttery is cool with walk-ins, and their handy store locator will also list current wait times.

Kim and I chatted about what I was looking for: something easy but polished and plane-friendly. We chose to do a blowout for the wedding rehearsal and dinner, but if I wasn’t traveling I definitely would’ve experimented more! (Need inspiration? Browse the #myHClook hashtag on Twitter or Instagram.)

Something that has helped me immensely with learning to deal with my hair (it’s fine, prone to oiliness and buildup and frizz) is approaching salon visits almost like doctor’s appointments. I ask so many questions now! Hair Cuttery is a welcoming, unpretentious environment, so I don’t feel lame asking for advice about my hair struggles.

Blowout with Hair Cuttery | Shades of Sarah
Rocking the wet rodent look before.
After!
Another reason Kim was great – she was game for a selfie!

I honestly felt like a million bucks afterwards! Going to the salon for just a shampoo and blowdry sounds indulgent, but the prices at Hair Cuttery start at about half of what blowout salons charge. Totally worth the investment for a special occasion, whether you’re going to a job interview or a wedding (so basically every person every summer).

I was especially glad I stopped by Hair Cuttery because after an early flight and running errands, the bridesmaids literally had 15 minutes to get ready for the wedding rehearsal…so not having to worry about my hair was a bonus. One of the bridesmaids asked me how my hair looked so good, and I was happy to reveal my secret weapon. The proof is in the Snapchat (told you photos were basically non-existent):

And that’s my wedding rehearsal beauty story. The moral of the story, leave the hair to the affordable and accessible experts (hi, Hair Cuttery) and master a 10-minute or less makeup routine.

~ Sarah

Review: Valentia Detoxifying Clay Mask

- Sarah 1 Comment

I received this samples to test and keep from BrandBacker and Valentia, but the opinions in this post are honest and entirely my own. Besides the product, I was not compensated in any other way. Read my disclosure policy here.


Valentia Skin Detoxifying Clay Mask | Shades of Sarah

I didn’t start experimenting with face masks until last year, but I was quickly hooked. They’re fun and effective, but the drugstore ones I was trying are so full of not-so-fun ingredients. I was excited to try Valentia, a new-to-me cruelty-free brand that specializes in natural and organic ingredients. I tried the Valentia Skin Detoxifying Clay Mask, which is available on Amazon and their website. It’s made with kaolin clay, hibiscus and cranberry fibers, and is made in the U.S. (another bonus!).

Valentia Clay Mask | Shades of Sarah

When I first applied the mask I was a little nervous because there was a tingling sensation, but it didn’t last long and I didn’t experience any other discomfort as the mask dried. I tend to use masks before hopping into the shower, and I liked that the mask is made with some natural exfoliators for scrubbing action. My skin felt nice and smooth afterwards (I have relatively low-key oily/combination skin, so I don’t need nor expect a dramatic transformation).

I’ve been using it about twice a week or so, and I haven’t found it to be overly drying or anything. It’s keeping well, which is something I worry about with more natural-based products. Although the packaging isn’t anything special, I actually like the mask coming in a tub versus a tube (whereas I prefer pumps for eye creams). I’m definitely interested in trying more Valentia products, so it’s a good thing they’re having a sale for the rest of May! Use code REFRESH35 for 35% off your order on Valentia.com (free shipping on orders $30 and over). Let me know if you try anything! You can also follow Valentia on Facebook and Instagram.

~ Sarah

Share-A-Haircut, Make A Difference

- Sarah 2 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hair Cuttery Salons.
All opinions are 100% my own. 

I’ve talked before how transformative a good hair cut can be. Pampering yourself and trying a new look can be a quick fix to a bad day and is a time-honored step when getting over a breakup — it can totally turn things around for the better! Next week, you have the opportunity to give yourself and someone in your community a much-needed boost through Hair Cuttery’s Share-A-Haircut campaign.

Next Monday and Tuesday, for every haircut purchased at a Hair Cuttery salon, a free haircut certificate will  be donated to a survivor of domestic violence through the National Network to End Domestic Violence. How awesome is that? During the last Share-A-Haircut campaign, which benefited people experiencing homelessness, 85,000 certificates were donated. That’s tens of thousands of transformations thanks to Hair Cuttery and its clients — like you guys!

Hair Cuttery Share-A-Haircut

Honestly, this campaign is such an easy way to help someone out. Just walk in to your local Hair Cuttery salon (find one here — no appointment is necessary) on May 2nd or 3rd, and Hair Cuttery and NNEDV will make sure to give a haircut certificate to a survivor of domestic violence. A haircut isn’t as superficial as it sounds, and it can offer a stress-free respite after leaving an abusive situation and leave survivors feeling empowered.

Walk in or book a haircut at Hair Cuttery May 2nd or 3rd to Share-A-Haircut and help someone in your community! You can reach the U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

~ Sarah