I think it’s safe to assume we all have tiny quirks in our appearances that we’d sometimes like to change. It’s that teensy thing you always notice when you look in the mirror. It might make you grimace a bit. Why? Because it’s absolutely and infuriatingly unchangeable. Well, friends, let’s talk about that little “flaw” for just a moment.

Maybe it’s a tooth that isn’t quite aligned with the rest of your smile. Or perhaps it’s a scar on your forehead from a spill on ice at age 8. It may even be the freckling that dots your cheeks. I could list a million quirks. I won’t, but for the sake of proving you’re not alone, I have one of my own. For me, it’s a tiny white spot on my right eye-tooth. It used to bug me rather frequently, because it isn’t going anywhere any time soon. (I tried whitening treatments to no avail. It’s permanent.)

Yes, it used to bother me. But recently decided something: I actually love it.

We mistakenly think that those imperfections make us less beautiful in some way. That we’re flawed. Maybe we are flawed, but I think those flaws are what make us truly beautiful. Seemingly always-stunning celebs even have them.

Kate Bosworth has two different color eyes. It’s a defect, but isn’t it a cool one? Kirsten Dunst has often been criticized for her crooked grin. She’s had it since childhood. I hope she never changes it. Creative director of Vogue and former model Grace Coddington talked to The Huffington Post about how unconventional beauty helped her break into the industry and how she’s casting models today with the same traits: “I was never your average pretty girl. I’m not blonde. And I guess one always goes for people of your own type. I like models with personality, that are as different as can be.” Refreshing, right?

So, think about your own unconventional beauty quirk, whatever it is. Instead of letting that spot, scar, fill-in-the-blank, irritate you, embrace it. As I had to realize, it just makes you who you are. “Flaws” create interest. Perfect is boring. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and someone is going to find that quirk gorgeous one day. Maybe someone already has. But the most important person to realize it’s beautiful? That would be you.

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1. Nail art – In east London and on the Lower East Side, perhaps you can get away with nails covered in diamante or cute renderings of Hello Kitty. But nail art in even its most subtle form is a no-no for any other professional setting. Buffed, clear gloss, basic or muted shades of nail polish are best for those employed in traditional fields or, really, any fields except for fashion, music or magazines.

2. Burgundy lipstick – Under low lights in an osteria with gently mussed hair and minimal makeup on the rest of your face, burgundy lips are downright sexy. It’s a great, bold color that has helped herald in the new era of lipstick after decades of wearing lip gloss. However, your boss will not be pleased if you show up to the boardroom in a killer pant suit, pumps and… burgundy lips. You’ll look more reformed female gang member from 1990s LA than sophisticated business lady. As with your nails, keep lip color at work understated and un-distracting. Nudes, pinks, gentle reds and beiges are all great to give your lips a color boost without looking out of place.

3. Glitter – There’s a time and place for glitter. It’s between 7pm and 1am on December 31st wherever you happen to be. Otherwise, this trend for grown-up glitter is dangerous. Chunky glitter nail polishes feel funny on your nails and looks un-professional in almost all settings. Glittery makeup can be distracting and make you look like mutton dressed as lamb if over the age of 14. Plus, glittery products have a tendency to sit in fine lines and wrinkles having the added, ironic effect of aging your appearance. If you like a bit of gleam, opt for things that have a gentle shimmer – not full-on glitter – and coppery bronzes (totally in this season) and nudes are better than straight silver, gold or rainbow-hued shimmer.

4. Smudgy eyeliner – Taylor Momsen often looks like she’s 17 turning 34 and unwashed to boot. That’s in part thanks to her permanent smudgy, inky eyeliner. While, like with the burgundy lipstick, there’s a time and a place where deeply smoky eyes would look great, it is definitively not between the hours of 9am and 5pm while seated in your cubical. It’s a sultry look. You don’t want to be sultry at the office (you really don’t). Plus, it’s messy and has a tendency to slide around. And no one, unless you’re on a fashion shoot, will take you seriously with it on.

5. Braids – This is the sleeper trend that shouldn’t be worn at the office. Some might disagree but it’s instantly aging… in the opposite way that glitter is. Braids are harmless. They don’t even require you to put anything on your person. But they look juvenile at the office and the last thing you want to do is give your boss the chance to think of you as less senior, less experienced and less responsible due to a hairstyle, right? Save it for off hours or risk looking like a teenager.

What trends do you think need to be left at home – or club or runway – instead of worn to work?

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/katieheartsphotography/3792053297/sizes/z/in/photostream

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I don’t know how it happened. One day I just woke up and realized, the world is a happier place, because of this “business in the front, party in the back” hairstyle. No matter how gloomy a day may be, spotting a good MAL (mullet-at-large) puts a smile on my face.

Recently, after several mullet-mocking comments on Twitter, a tweet-pal accused me of being obsessed. And sheÂ’s totally right. IÂ’m not ashamed. IÂ’m woman enough to admit that I enjoy mullet-watching. Folks around the Twittersphere have come to recognize my passion, and forward me mullet photos, articles and update me on MAL sightings on a regular basis. Now, if thereÂ’s a mullet having a burger in Georgia or buying a newspaper in Canada, this girl knows it first.

This is why I was so disheartened to hear that the Islamic regime in Iran has outlawed the ‘do,’ citing the effort as a means to “confront the cultural assault by the West.”

This concerns me for two reasons:

1) No one should have enough power to contain manÂ’s burning need for a mullet.
2) Do they think everyone in the “West” sports this deliciously daring look?

I guess we know where I WONÂ’T be lobbying to go on our next family getaway.

Since Iran can be ticked off my list of places to go for a gander at the olÂ’ Billy Ray look, I have no choice but to search online, when IÂ’m not at the local Wal-Mart.

If youÂ’ve got mullet fever, these sites will cure what ails ya!

• MulletJunky.com – A wide variety of mullety-goodness, from the infant mullet, straight through to the rare skullet.

• MulletMadness.com – A blog type site with original posts as well as links to mullet news.

• RateMyMullet.com - Mullet aficionados unite, sharing and critiquing viewersÂ’ own mullets, past and present.

ItÂ’s sad to say, finding a true MAL is getting harder and harder these days, but thatÂ’s part of the fun. It makes a sighting even more monumental and Tweet-worthy. Have you got mullet fever?

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/heyjohngreen/2570368211

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IÂ’m sure sheÂ’s right, but that brand of embarrassment is still a few years off. Besides, IÂ’ve learned from my momÂ’s mistakes. She had her yearbooks out where I could find them. Mine are tucked safely in the atticÂ…for now.

Still, sometimes I think that I was born during the wrong era. With my curly quaff, the ‘80s would have been all mine. My naturally big hair would have been a full-on asset.

Do you ever feel like you missed your decade? Like you would have totally rocked a pair of bell bottoms or been sweet in bobby socks and a poodle skirt?

You’ll be happy to know, you can totally see just how far-out you would have looked, had you been born at a different time. The folks at Yearbook Yourself have created a site where you can easily edit your photograph into pictures from the 1950’s straight on through the ‘90s. Be prepared to laugh at yourself. I sure did.

You can choose from the following categories: portrait, student life, and most likely to. DonÂ’t worry that your efforts will go to waste. There are features that allow you to download your favorite pictures, email them to friends, throw them on Facebook or create your own gallery.

After experimenting with the site, IÂ’ve come to the conclusion that fro or not, I was best suited for surviving my teen years in the mid-nineties, as I did. Some girls just arenÂ’t cut out for horn-rimmed glasses. Take a minute to Yearbook Yourself and let the good times roll.

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As the years rolled on and the hair on his back grew to Norris proportions, the inevitable happened. The kids had fallen asleep and as we prepared for our own evening slumber, he leaned over and lovingly whispered, “Will you shave my back?”

We went into the bathroom and a sheep shearing later, my husbandÂ’s back was bare once moreÂ…for about a week. I began thinking of the different ways men can tame that difficult area.

1. The Apparatus
There are machines out there that are specifically geared to trimming the hair off of a man’s back. The Mangroomer website looks like an advertisement for the “Six Million Dollar Man.” The idea: “We can shave it, we have the technology.” The basic concept is a long shaver (looks like a big stapler, if you ask me) that reaches down your back. Otherwise it’s just a shaver. It’s a great product and works, but you’re required to take a picture of him using it and post it on Facebook.

2. The Spouse or Significant Other
This is the popular option for those men in a comfortable and stable relationship. If he farts in bed while youÂ’re in it, then you may just get called up for back-shaving duty. Women have different reactions to this depending on how strong their stomach may be. If they were active in 4-H, like myself, they may see this as a reminder of days gone by, but the clean-up can be a pain. The good news is, you may still get a first place ribbon for Best Groomed Hubby at the county fair or local pool.

3. The Professional
Single men that haven’t thought of the Mangroomer, or simply want something more “urban“, may seek out a professional stylist to wax their back quaff. These entrepreneurs of sado-masochism actually charge men to rip the hair from their body. The benefit is the hair actually takes longer to grow back and the sheer fun factor of seeing a grown man scream like a little girl is priceless. If you can somehow sneak in a camera for this one as well, it is a guaranteed to go viral on the Web.

The day he leans over and whispers this indecent proposal into your ear., at least you have the tools to give him options if you arenÂ’t particularly fond of the idea of grounds keeping. For those women who have men without hairy backs, you donÂ’t know what youÂ’re missing.

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The funky (and downright freaky) look is a visual effect created by Computer Generated Imagery (CGI), and it would be impossible to capture in real life. There is, however, a store-bought next-best-thing available and teens and young adults are “going for it” without completely weighing the possible consequences.

Circle contact lenses have entered the eyewear scene and are becoming increasingly popular amongst young ladies who crave the exaggerated, cartoonish look. By covering part of the whites of your eye, the lenses create the illusion that the iris is much larger than normal. In addition to the astonishing size transformation, circle lenses come in a rainbow of hues, in essence, making them costume jewelry for a galÂ’s peepers.

So you may ask yourself, “What’s the big deal? Kids are always looking for new ways to look bizarre in the name of fashion. It’ll pass, like vampire goth makeup and mullets. How bad can it be?”

Two words: visual impairment.

It is illegal to sell contacts in the United States without a doctorÂ’s prescription (and no docs are prescribing these bad-boys). The basic two reasons that an eye doctor writes a prescription for contact lenses are for proper strength (to correct your vision) and fit. If a person wears a contact lens that is too big or small for her cornea, it can scratch the eye or deprive it the correct amount of oxygen. Both can do irreversible damage.

The other risk, which is true for any contact lens, prescription or otherwise, is blindness. This is generally caused by poor hygiene (not cleaning the lenses properly) and prolonged wear which may cause an infection. An untreated eye infection can cause vision loss in as short a time period as 24 hours. And once itÂ’s gone, itÂ’s gone.

If you’re wondering how they’re filtering into American homes, take a look at your laptop. Like just about any other form of contraband, you can find both prescription strength and entirely decorative circle lenses for purchase online. And they’re high school wallet cheap. $20 can buy a girl the “deer in the headlights” appearance of her dreams.

If your daughter insists on trying the style, take these basic steps to help her make an informed decision with your close guidance:

• Talk to her about other passing trends from your lifetime and express that this one can have ever-lasting consequences
• Take her to consult an optometrist and discuss the risks to drive your concerns home
• Do not order contacts with unnecessary prescriptions (again with the vision damage)
• Seek a tutorial on proper contact lens care to reduce the chances of infection
• Look for a seller and product that have positive feedback from customers
• Consider foregoing circle lenses altogether and help her get a safe, doctor-approved prescription for colored contact lenses

I’m not blaming the flamboyant and style-scary, Lady Gaga, for the potential blindness of America’s youth (unless it‘s through her questionable wardrobe; that’s all on her). She made a video and kids are hip to it. Unfortunately teens feel invincible and have a tendency to leap before they look. If your doe-eyed daughter mentions an interest in expanding her iris, you’re prepared and can help her make a good decision.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/kodomut/4124598746

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Teens don the bracelet for the aesthetic, and also a bit for the risk: students like to pair the bracelets with an outfit of fishnet stockings, temporary tattoos, and Prada purses.

It’s odd, but I mentioned that teens are pairing temporary tattoos with the bracelets: maybe it’s a representation of what the kids have access to and the local convenience store or thrift superstore within walking distance of their homes.

There’s a love for the kitsch and the flair of the bracelets combined with the tattoos, in every generation there’s been a version of “temporary tattoo” – i remember thin, tight, plastic bracelets with intricate, interweaving designs, that either 1. made you look like you had a tattoo wrapped around you forearm, or 2. you could leave the bracelet on for so long during the summer  that you actually ended up with a tan -tattoo of the design by the end of the summer!

So what’s the fad for this upcoming summer? Kids will continue to look for temporary tattoos, henna bracelets, and any plastic stretchy items they can wear as bracelets (see: Silly Bands). The adults in the group will be a little more contemporary: maybe a focus on the tribal and rugged Maori aesthetic? We’ll dig into that next!

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The biggest issue and relief of weekends is that we no longer have commitments, and therefore no more schedule. So we don’t eat at regular times, we don’t stay hydrated, and we don’t rest. We go to sleep hours after we do on a normal weekday and sleep for several more hours into the morning; our bodies feel more confused than relaxed. Refresh and rehydrate your body with a moisturizing mask treatment on Monday, complete with freshly cut cucumber circles to put over your eyes. You’ll feel so much better.

The other big thing we always forget during the weekend is to scrub off and remove our pre-existing makeup. We party hard on Friday night to let out the stress of the work week, and end up sleeping in half-washed mascara and bleeding eyeliners. Ew. Give your skin that much-needed scrub on Monday with a three- part facial scrub, toner, and moisturizer to really wash away the residue. Nothing like the tell-tale sign of sparkly eyeshadow on a Monday morning secretary to know what happened that weekend.

And lastly, the crucial aspect, is really refuel on Monday. Don’t overdose the caffeine and nurse a cup of coffee and donuts all day long: give your inner beauty a boost with an 100% juice blend and a yogurt with berries breakfast, and a nice tuna salad over romaine and arugula with some cubed cheese and an apple for lunch. Drink plenty of water to regain the natural elasticity of your mind and skin. You will feel so much better come 3PM, though still give yourself that 20 minute power nap, because you deserve it.

Happy Monday!

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/refractedmoments/65794219

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1. Give up on the leopard print pajama pants and stretched out flannel. Opt for some sleek black aerobic pants with a tapered design and bell bottom legs. You can buy wonderfully fleece-lined athletic pants and yoga gear that looks so much more fashionable and beautiful, but is still super comfortable, if not more comfortable than the worn-out flannel you’ve been using for the past two years!

2. Instead of wandering around the house in the beaten up moccasins from days of yore, buy yourself some therapeutic socks with extra moisturizing, or the outline of the pressure points and massage areas on the foot. You will be less inclined to leave the house wearing them, and more inclined to beautify your feet while wearing them!

3. When you feel the need to relax, that’s the perfect time to spend a little extra loving on your skin, shaving, and face. After a work out or a long day at work, take an extra five minutes in the shower and really give yourself a beautifying boost. Do a conditioning treatment, or lather your legs post-shave in some oil or lotion. Even though you will throw on the comfort gear after, your body will feel cool and refreshed.

4. Lastly, don’t be tempted to throw your hair up into the standard ponytail or messy bun when you’re hanging around the house. Give yourself a braid, maybe set your hair in some curlers, do something that’s a little investment in your future look. Creating a messy bun may make it less of a problem now, but think about tomorrow: you will have a rat’s nest on top of your head, and no one to blame but you. Put in a little extra time, and you won’t have to feel so overwhelmed the next day.

Share your own comfortable, beautifying tips! I’m happy to learn from the best.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/shazbot/616633484

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With my natural black hair, the most daring hair color that I would pick is probably a subtle mahogany undertone. I commend the girls who can put together a more vibrant and drastic look. I would love to be able to go from blonde to redhead to brunette. Sadly, my dark skin tone makes this dream impossible.

My overall look is fairly conservative, but I remember that when I was 13, I really wanted pink hair. I never actually followed through with dying my hair hot-magenta because my private school dress code prohibited the trend, and then, I lost interest. Now, to be quite honest, I would never even consider an outrageous hair color – not because I think that the look is tacky (to each their own) but because I look better with a natural shade.

What’s the consensus on bright colored hair? Love it or hate it?

For a daring look, shop pink hair color at Smarter.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/thatliz/3205343790

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