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I have been a witch for the past five Halloweens. And, even though I have told my friends that I will either be Apple from Turbo Kid or Tank Girl this year, I’m going to take a moment and be real with myself…. I’m probably, most likely, almost positive, basically 99% sure that I will be a witch again. Honestly, I’m not even sure where the witch hat came from. It just magically appeared in a pile of my things one day. It’s as if the spirits of Halloween anticipated my dilatory ways and said ‘this girl needs help.’ I will be forever grateful.
So, if you are anything like me, and the universe has yet to gift you with a costume, here are a few last minute ideas that you can pull out of your ass- or your closet.
1. The Lazy Little Mermaid. A sheet, some rope, and a blow out is all you need. People might laugh, but they will love your half-assed attempt at this beloved Disney character.
2. Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Here’s a fun 90’s take on a witch. It’s a flashback to your awkward years and all you really need is a choker, a claw, and some dark lipstick.
3. Pippi Longstocking. A clothes hanger, hair gel, and raggedy dress and you’re set! If you have a pirate hat lying around, that wouldn't hurt.
4. Peggy from Married with Children. The mother we all admire and hope to one day be (sigh). Well, maybe not. But she did have style. Throw on some spandex, anything leopard print, and poof up that red hair. If you don’t have leopard print on hand, start examining your life choices- it’s a redhead must.
5. Joan from Madmen. Put on a pencil skirt and stuff that bra. This is one relatively accessible and sexy-as-hell costume for just us redheads. Oh, and don’t forget the sass.
6. An Ellie Kemper character. Having just been nominated for Best Comedy Actress, Kemper is worthy of emulation. So whether you choose to brighten things up with a Kimmy Schmidt outfit, or go the truly lazy route with Erin from the Office (all you really need is a name tag), people will know you watch way too much TV.
Share your redhead Halloween costumes with us! Tag us on Instagram (@redhead__revolution) or follow us on Facebook.
Recently The Ginger Philes did a post on the unique dilemma redheads face regarding our blonde eyelashes and brows. We are truly capable of looking like two different people with or without makeup.
Growing up, I never left the house without mascara. I was terrified at the thought of anyone seeing me with my blonde lashes bare. I felt naked without it! As I grew older, I began to feel resentful of what I viewed as society's shallow constraints. Why couldn't I go au naturale? My subsequent experimentation with different looks would result in the birth of Redhead Revolution.
I believe that before a redhead puts on a drop of makeup, she should embrace her unique ginger look. By loving whats underneath she can begin to add and enhance without clashing and covering up what makes her special. We are unicorns!
photo credit: StyleCaster
Currently one of my favorite looks to rock is a bold lipstick with either no eye makeup or the Genuine Ginger mascara. The lipstick enhances my features and makes my eyes pop. I always put on a light layer of the CC Cream to give my skin an even tone, but that's it!
Share your unique ginger stories!
It's been two years since my first henna tutorial post- or confessional rather. I finally admitted to you (and myself) that my hair was no longer the vibrant orange from my youth. I can remember the very moment that I became aware of the change my hair had ever so slowly made. So slowly in fact that I wasn't sure if it was my eyes playing tricks on me. They weren't. It had changed. I was having coffee with a new acquaintance and I mentioned something about being a redhead. "You're not a redhead!" he said. That was it. That was the moment. I had spent my whole life identifying as one of the 2%. I had the freckles, the skin, and up until then the hair. I had suffered through the nicknames and the jokes, and now this person had the audacity to say that I didn't have red hair! I wont relive the horror of my first dye attempt after this revelation. You can refer to the original confessional for that. However, shortly after was my foray into the all-natural world of henna. Now, two years later, I stand by my choice.
So why henna? Henna (Lawsomia Inermis) is a flowering plant whose leaves contain a natural orange/red pigment. Because it is such an effective dye, people have been using it to stain their skin and hair for thousands of years. While salon and drug-store hair dyes are full of nasty chemicals that damage your hair over time, henna is all-natural. In addition to depositing color, henna actually nourishes and revives your hair. After using henna, people notice more bounce and silkiness. Also, unlike other hair dyes, I find that henna fades slower and lasts up to 8 weeks before I feel the need to touch-up the roots.
How to use henna? I use Henna King in natural red, because it's good quality for a good price (about $12). It comes with gloves and a shower cap, but I recommend getting better gloves for more freedom of movement.
Step 1: Combine the henna powder with water and mix it into something of a paste (not too thick or too watery- think pancake batter!). Everybody has their own set of recipe tricks when it comes to henna. Some add olive oil, sugar, etc. I just use as-is.
Note: It retains it's green color until you wash it out. So don't freak out if you find yourself resembling the Swamp Thing.
Step 2: Apply to dry hair and make sure you get the roots. I recommend putting some oil around your scalp and ears so as to not stain them in the process. If you didn't make your paste too watery, the whole process will be easier.
Step 3: Now it's time to wait. You can keep henna in for up to 3 hours but no less than 1 hour. I find that any longer than 2 hours and it comes out a little too bright for my liking. So I aim for 1.5- 2 hours.
Step 4: Wash it out and Voila! Henna has been described as smelling like hay in a barn so you will be tempted to wash with shampoo- don't! Wait at least 24 hours before your first real wash in order to allow the color to set. You will smell like a dirty hippie for a day or two.
This is a photo of me a couple days after I touched up my hair. If you decide to give henna a try, let us know how it goes!
Having fair skin can sometimes be a burden. This is especially true during the summer months when you can get a sunburn from just walking to the corner store and back. The sun can be merciless. So how does a redhead survive the summer?
Makeup with SPF!!!
Finding a foundation or moisturizer with SPF is absolutely key to surviving the summer. So do you choose a basic foundation, BB Cream, CC Cream, or tinted moisturizer? On the surface (pun intended) they may seem very similar, however each brings something unique to skin care. Let's find which one is right for you!
A tinted moisturizer is, surprise, a moisturizer with a hint of pigment. It’s significantly lighter than foundation, which makes it perfect for our lovely freckles. The moisturizing aspect nourishes your skin and usually has around SPF 15. The tint evens out your skin tone and acts as a light concealer for blemishes.
CC Cream stands for “Color Correction.” CC Creams are very similar to BB creams, meaning they hydrate your skin and blur imperfections. The main difference is that CC creams have more pigment to cover redness and blemishes. They are really the perfect medium between tinted moisturizers and foundation. They are lighter than foundation but offer more coverage and a more even skin tone than tinted moisturizers. They also have more skin care benefits than foundation, in addition to varying SPF levels. CC creams are particularly good for redheads because we tend to have more redness in our skin.
So which one is right for you? Both come with extensive moisturizing properties and SPF, which makes them perfect for everyday wear. It really comes down to what type of coverage you are looking for. For a light even tone, the tinted moisturizer is best. If you are looking for a bit more coverage for blemishes and redness, then I recommend a CC Cream. And to follow it up, try a simple makeup setting powder that will even the overall tone and soak up any excess oil.
Check out Redhead Revolution's redhead skin care and let us know what works for you!
