Category:

beauty, fashion + hair

All things related to hair, beauty + fashion!

3 things I tried in March

by Kaylah Stroup April 2, 2018

① Kind Natured lotion + foaming sugar scrub in coconut & monoi. Funny thing here is I bought these at two seperate stores not realizing I picked out the same scent until I got home. Based on the name alone this probably wouldn’t be a scent I’d buy online, I’m more likely to go with something I know I’m going to love, like lavender. I literally don’t think I have ever smelled a lotion this nice though. Not to mention it makes my skin so soft and smooth. I go through a lot of lotion in the cooler weather and using this stuff feels like pampering. It easily became my new favorite lotion. I would absolutely buy both of these again. I also look forward to trying more from Kind Natured.

② Dr. Jart+ Cicapair ™ Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30. I read about this stuff on Allie’s blog, The Only Living Girl in New York. She doesn’t reguarly post about this sort of thing so I was definitely intriqued when she mentioned it. I started reading reviews… and I had to have it. It’s kind of expensive, in my opinion, so I opted for the travel sized container to start with.

It wasn’t love at first use. Don’t get me wrong, I liked it but wasn’t sure it was worth the price. There are lots of other options out there that help correct facial redness, and for a lot cheaper. After about a week though, I really figured out how it worked best on my skin. Thoroughly moisturizing then applying was the key. Now I’m hooked! This product helps reduce the redness I get along my chin and cheeks. I’ve never really thought I had pretty skin but in the last week I’ve caught myself admiring it more than once. When I mentioned it to Jeff he replied that he had thought my skin had been looking extra pretty lately as well! WIN!

I don’t like how expensive it is but honestly, that tiny container is going to last me a loooong time since it only takes bit to get results. I would definitely recommend giving it a spin if you have some facial redness you’d like to cover without feeling like you’re caked in make up. Sometimes I put it on before my foundation, other times I wear it alone. Either way it never feels heavy! It makes for an easy ‘no make up’ make up look. I have a feeling I’ll be relying on it a lot this summer.

③ ILNP Mega. I already featured this polish in my last nail round up but I didn’t share a photo of just how gorgeous it really is. I’m seriously obsessed. It’s pretty in any lighting but in the sun it’s honestly the most beautiful polish I have ever seen. So much movement of color!

It only takes two coats to get that level of opacity and it dries very quickly. Also worth noting, it comes off easily with regular nail polish remover. I have a habit of avoiding glitter polishes becuase they can be a pain to remove but this stuff is no problem at all!

I have five more from ILNP that I am just dying to try. That second one over in the photo above, Birefringence, is just killing me. I have it sitting beside my computer and I’m constantly twirling the bottle to watch the colors change. I’m hooked on ILNP. I can’t believe it took me this long to try them. They’re absolutely worth the price!

Did you try anything awesome last month?
xoxo

nail round up II

by Kaylah Stroup March 29, 2018

Sally Hansen Barely Blue Bell, Sally Hansen Tidal Wave + Wet N Wild Power Outage

Sally Hansen Gray by Gray + ILNP Mega

I already owned a holographic nail polish so immediately after purchasing ILNP’s Mega I was like “Oh, you turd. Why’d you waste your money!?” Then I painted my nails with it and completely changed my tune! It is AMAZING. This paint job doesn’t really do the polish justice, although you can kind of get an idea of how colorful it is on my pointer finger. It’s just such a wildly colorful polish, especially in direct sunlight. You have to go look at the review photos. I’m hooked already. I can’t wait to buy some of their other colors (especially Cameo! The best way I can describe how it looks is the prettiest beetle you’ve ever seen…)

China Glaze Concrete Catwalk, Zoya Kelly, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Slick Slate, Nature Republic Karu, Layla Mercury Twilight + Scotch Expressions washi tape

OBSESSED with these nails. This was my first time in a very long time using taping as a design element. I forgot how much I enjoyed it. Doing something different on each nail is easily one of my favorite things. It’s just so relaxing to kind of play around and freestyle like this.

Palate Polish Eggplant, Nature Republic White + scotch tape

xoxo

I’ve got a hashtag over on instagram – #kaylahsfancynails – if you’d like to see some peeks before my round up posts go live.
Check out my last nail round up here.

nine truths about having dyed hair

by Kaylah Stroup March 28, 2018

I’ve written more than a handful of posts about dyeing your hair. My guide on maintaining dyed hair remains number one in my popular posts even years after first hitting publish. Hair dye is kinda my thing (…or at least one of my things.) I’ve had the idea for this post for a while now, even had multiple drafts of it going. I can’t imagine myself without fun colored hair but it definitely has some annoying quirks. Here’s a list of things I’ve learned along the way, and things you might want to consider before making the leap…

Nine truths about having dyed hair…

▴ Everyone has an opinion. Is it always a good one? NOPE. The first thing that comes to mind upon typing this is “you were prettier with ~insert color here~ hair.” Of course, unwanted opinions aren’t something exclusive to dyed hair but I genuienly think some folks are clueless how much those comments hurt.

▴ It never lasts that long. There are lots of things you can do to help your color last longer (I wrote a post about it here) but the fact of the matter is those amazing dye jobs you see on instagram don’t last. Hair dye fades with every single wash. Dyeing your hair is more like a journey than a destination. The color will always be changing. You have to learn to just roll with it, and embrace the fade.

▴ It might not turn out as planned. You can swoon over pretty hair photos on pinterest forever but there’s a good chance that even with the same dye that person used your hair won’t turn out the same color. There are so many variables that effect the color your hair will turn out.

▴ You’re probably going to hear dumb jokes. “Lemme guess, you’re Irish!” Someone at the grocery store the other morning even said “Are you SURE it’s not for St. Patrick’s Day?” Orange hair is automatically for Halloween, and for some reason when I had blue hair I was asked multiple times if it was for New Years Day.

▴ You WILL get stared at. Point blank. Don’t think you’ll be blending into the crowd anytime soon! You’ll probably even get shouted at too. Can’t count how many times someone has screeched at the top of their lungs how much they liked my hair. Sounds nice… until everyone and their momma is staring at you.

▴ You look like everyone else. Well, not really but with your pink hair as an identifier to strangers, you definitely look like that other person with pink hair. I can’t even tell you how many times I got strangers claiming I looked like Katy Perry when I had blue hair… except I literally look nothing like Katy Perry.

Me or Katy Perry? The world may never know.

▴ You’re going to stain things. Your pillow case, towels, probably the collar of your white shirt and definitely your finger nails. That’s just life. It washes out, most of the time. Some brands are worse than others but even the best dye will still inevitably get on things other than your hair.

▴ It’s a conversation starter. People will want to tell you about that time they tried to dye their hair pink but it “didn’t work” or their cousin with purple hair. They’ll want to know who did your hair, and maybe if you’ll do theirs too. Also, I’ve been asked multiple times, each time by a dirty old man, “does the carpet match the drapes?” Ick!

▴ “Semi-permanent” doesn’t mean it washes out. Dyed hair is a commitment. Your hair will never be the same again. I’m not saying that to scare you. It’s not necessarily a bad thing. But just know that without the help of professional your hair isn’t going to be brown or blond after a few washes. Sometimes it’s really just smarter to buy a wig or colored extensions.

Fellow candy colored hair people, anything else you’d add to this list?
xoxo

If you’re looking for some tips on bleaching and dyeing, check out my hair master post!

back on my nail game

by Kaylah Stroup March 14, 2018

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Rapid Red + Wet N Wild It’s Sher-Bert Day!

If you’ve been reading The Dainty Squid for a long time you might recall a little feature called ‘weekly nail’. It was exactly what it sounds like, a weekly post featuring my nail art. I really, really loved those posts, and creating fun new designs but eventually I fell out of the habit… for a long time. But like anything you’re really interested in, after enough time, you fall back into it.

These last few months I’ve slowly but surely been getting back into nail art. I didn’t realize just how much I missed this little evening ritual!

Instead of going to back to the format where I share one nail design per week, I thought it might be a fun change of pace to share round ups of my recent designs. I’ll highlight which polishes I used, and perhaps talk about my inspiration. Maybe they’ll pop up here on the blog once a month, maybe a little less often but I definitely like the idea of more than one per post, and not really putting pressure on pumping out a new design each week.

Without futher ado, here’s what I’ve been sporting on my nails recently…

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Fish-teal Braid + Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Barely Blue Bell

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Rapid Red + Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Shock Wave

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Parrot, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Leapin’ Lilac + Palate Polish Eggplant

Inspired by one of my favorite flavors of La Croix, obviously. So so cheesy, I know. I’ve had this idea to do a series of nails inspired by random objects for years and years. Perhaps these nail round up posts will be my reason to start…

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Parrot + Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Mint Sprint

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Rapid Red + Wet N Wild Stay Classy

xoxo

what I wore: bridal shower ready!

by Kaylah Stroup February 27, 2018

heart knee tights

I haven’t been that great at blogging about wedding related stuff. It’s nearly completely consuming my life but at the same time, it’s almost like there isn’t a whole lot to share, at least not that I’m willing to share just yet! What can I say? I like to keep secrets! The biggest thing I want to talk about is my dress but I’m absolutely not spilling the beans until the big day! No one other than my mom has seen it, and she hasn’t even seen it on me. I will absolutely share with you some photos of what I’ll be wearing to my bridal shower brunch though!

I teamed up with David’s Bridal to showcase one of their little white dresses. I wasn’t aware they had so many cute casual options! I also recently discovered the joy of bell sleeves so this little number couldn’t be more perfect. I had planned to pair the dress with some bright color tights but apparently I got rid of all mine at some point. As luck would have it, I did discover these heart knee tights in the bottom of my drawer. No idea where they came from but they’re definitely super appropriate.

Ya girl is ready for brunch and to get married!!!

details
lace dress with bell sleeves c/o David’s Bridal
flower headband c/o David’s Bridal
fringe booties by Alpine Swiss

This post is sponsored by David’s Bridal. Thanks for supporting the companies that help support The Dainty Squid!

what I wore : covered in bugs

by Kaylah Stroup February 19, 2018

beetle blouse! overalls + a button up shirt

details
hat – Target
glasses – Louise via Warby Parker
shirt – Bug Me button down by Catalog Classics (no idea why that listing only takes you to one specific size but here’s a link that shows all available sizes)
lapel pin – Caitlin Stout (no longer available)
overalls – TJ Maxx (I also recommend checking out Charlotte Russe if you’re looking for overalls!)
boots – fringe booties by Alpine Swiss

You guys, I found a beetle shirt!!! Last summer I found that beetle dress which was AWESOME but also a bit obnoxious. Obviously that doesn’t stop me from wearing it, and I definitely have a penchant for loud clothing. I also really enjoy wearing things that look moderately normal from a distance but up close reveal something super fun. This shirt falls into that category. Unless you’re really looking at what I’m wearing you might miss the fact that I’m covered in tiny colorful bugs!

I’m always hesitant to purchase button up shirts online since they almost never fit correctly. Hello, gaping buttons. Thank you, boobs. Buuuut when it comes to unique patterns I have a hard time resisting. Happy to report this button up fits like a dream. No gaping, it’s long and isn’t too tight in the shoulders! I’m wearing a size medium, FYI. It’s also super breezy and lightweight. It’ll be a great transitional piece when Spring finally decides to show its face here in Ohio. I’m, clearly, super stoked on this purchase!

Happy Monday!
xoxo

affordable + dyeable hair extensions!

by Kaylah Stroup February 6, 2018

affordable, dye-able hair extensions!

For nearly a year my list of beauty related things I wanted to try included extensions. The urge to buy them would come in waves. I would desperately ‘need’ them and spend hours researching then completely forget about them for a bit. My research was never really conclusive. Good extensions usually aren’t cheap and there are more than a few overly influenced looking reviews out there floating around the internet.

I finally decided to just go for it, and purchase a set a few month back so I thought I would give a little insight into what I bought, how to dye them to match your hair, and share what they look like…

green hair clip in extensions, hair dye extensions you can dye! hair extensions you can dye!

I purchased these 16″ clip in extensions in bleach blonde. It was important to me to purchase human hair so that I could style, wash, and most importantly, dye the extensions. This set came with six pieces which was more than enough for me. Honestly, what you need will be based on how thick your hair is and what you’re looking to acheive with the extensions. My hair is thin, and I wasn’t looking to add length – just volume. I actually very rarely wear all six pieces at once. It feels a little too over the top for me – too thick, too obvious.

How to dye your hair extensions –

Dyeing the hair was actually a huge reason I was so nervous about purchasing extensions. Come to find out, I definitely over thought this step. Since I purchased bleach blonde hair, all that needed to be done was for me to apply dye. I used Punky Colour in Alpine Green, the same color I use in my real hair. I simply ran it through the extensions with gloved hands and then set them down on a plastic bag for about an hour or so before rinsing with cold water. I let them air dry then they were ready to use.

One thing to consider when purchasing and dyeing extensions is the fact your hair color fades with each wash and you most likely won’t be washing your extensions even a fraction of the number of times. I’ve embraced the fact that my hair color is an ever-changing thing and I love all the different colors and tones my hair is at any given time. I think hair looks more natural, I mean as natural as green hair can be, when there are different levels of color going on. The fact that my extensions are always a slightly different color than my hair is actually desirable. I think this post perfectly illustrates how my extensions look in my hair as it changes color over time.

How to style your extensions –

There are a ton of videos on how to put in your clip on extensions so I won’t be covering that. (Honestly, just google it! So many youtubers cover this I couldn’t pick a favorite.) I do, however, want to mention that I put the extensions in while my hair is still straight. That way everything gets curled together giving me a more natural look.

Before styling I make sure to spritz them, along with my real hair, with a heat protecting spray. Since they are made of real hair they will get damaged if you aren’t protecting them.

affordable, dye-able hair extensions! how to dye hair extensions

left – with extensions / right – without — main hair color is Punky Spring Green

I was having trouble capturing a before and after photo that I felt accurately showed the difference of just my natural hair vs extensions. Of course, I could have shot some TV style comparisons where I look super gross and run down in the before and incredibly glamorous in the after but that isn’t what this is about. Think of hair extensions like make up, it’s fun to play with but not actually necessary. My hair is just fine without them but wearing extensions is a fun little change of pace. The difference isn’t wildly different but just enough to make you feel fab!

left – without extensions / right – with

extensions - before & after

the following photos in this post all include extensions.

green hair extensions hair extensions you can dye

I’m definitely no extension expert but in my short time experimenting I feel like I’ve learned a lot. By all means, if you have any questions, I’d be happy to try and answer!
xoxo

✨ You can find hair dye tips and guides in my hair master post. ✨

a few of my favorite face masks

by Kaylah Stroup January 30, 2018

face mask review

One of my favorite little rituals here in the Dainty Squid household (less than 135 days until I can call it ‘The Stroup household’! Ah!) is doing face masks with Jeff a couple times a week. I grew up with two brothers and a dad who were basically deeply offended by ‘girly’ products like lotion so when I met Jeff and learned that he liked beauty products just as much as I did I could not have been more excited. Doing face masks by yourself is fun, but sharing that with someone else is the best! It’s also great because it’s how I justify buying so many. “Oh, I think Jeff would really like this one. I should buy that for him…”

Needless to say, I’ve found a handful that I really really enjoy! I’m always trying new masks (I even found another fave after writing up this post – 7th Heaven’s charcoal peel-off mask!) so I thought it’d be fun to share a little round up of a few of my recent favorites…

face mask round up!

A few of my favorite face masks, in no particular order…

▴ Elizavecca Milky Piggy hell-pore clean up mask. Other people’s review photos are what sold me on this. Honestly, so gross! While my results aren’t as dramatic, I can still see a handful of blackheads it pulls out each time. I recommend using it right after you get out of the shower so your pores are open. I apply only to my blackhead prone areas – chin and nose. I find that it comes off easily, with no pain whatsoever. It’s satisfying to use and makes my face feel very clean. This one is my favorite of the six listed!

▴ Queen Helene mint julep masque. Smells great, leaves my face smooth, and clean but not overly tight. What more could you ask for? I like to use this one when my face is oily. Definitely not a mask you’d want to use if you were dealing with dry skin though.

▴ Freeman renewing cucumber peel-off gel mask. Unlike the other peel off mask listed in this post, this one is gentle enough to apply to my whole face. It comes off easily, often in one piece, with no discomfort at all. It smells nice and fresh, and leaves my face feeling the same way. This is Jeff’s favorite of the bunch!

▴ Snowfox arctic breeze detox cooling mask. Despite this being the only one this list, I’m a big fan of sheet masks. Snowfox’s cooling mask is especially relaxing. It smells great and leaves my face feeling hydrated and supple. If I had to choose one word to describe how this makes my skin feel it would be ‘calm.’ I wish I could do this one every single day!

▴ Freeman cleansing apple cider vinegar clay mask + scrub. This product can be used both as a mask and a scrub. Best for those times your face really needs a good clean! I like to use it when I get dry patches on my chin (winter, man!) because it does a great job exfoliating. My favorite time to use this one is right before hopping in the shower so that it washes off easily. I enjoy following up with a moisturizing sheet mask (like this banana milk bomb one) but it’s definitely not necessary.

▴ Elizavecca Milky Piggy carbonated bubble clay mask. Another mask where the review photos are what sold me. If you couldn’t tell by the photos below, this mask is bubbly! It applies like a normal mask but quickly begins to bubble. Half the reason I LOVE this mask is because it’s so funny to see yourself with a fluffy cloud face but it truly does leave my face feeling clean, refreshed and baby smooth! My only complaint is that washing it off can be a time consuming – although I must admit I enjoy ‘shaving’ off the bubbles with my finger.

Elizavecca Milky Piggy carbonated bubble clay mask review

What are some of your favorite face masks? We’re always looking for new ones!
xoxo

what I’ve been wearing pt. 2

by Kaylah Stroup January 29, 2018

cleveland style blogger

Back again today with another ‘what I’ve been wearing’ round up! I’ve begun making more of an effort to get dressed on days I work from home in the hope that it helps me be and feel more productive. So far, so good! Here’s what I’ve been wearing…

dress / shoes

This dress is one of my FAVORITE recent finds. I’m a huge fan of how it fits, and I’m realizing how much I loooove when dresses have a sheer overlay. Reminds me a lot of this dress. I seriously cannot wait to be able to wear this bad boy outside without a coat or tights. Nothing beats a dress that doesn’t need any other accessories to look amazing!

shirt / skirt / shoes

Another easy to wear outfit – this top + skirt. I can’t wait to wear this with just a pair of sandals!

shirt / overalls / socks (similar)

I liked the shirt featured in the outfit previous to this one so much that I went on a hunt for similar things and ended up with this one. I hit the jackpot! Under $15, a bunch of different colors available, and it’s absolutely perfect for wearing under overalls – something my shirts do a lot of! Definitely going to need to pick up a black one.

dainty squid, kaylah doolan, green hair, ootd, pattern clashing

cardigan / shirt / skirt (similar) / shoes

Pattern clashing LIKE A BOSS! I bought this shirt thinking it’d look cute with a pair of jeans. When I tried that on though it just didn’t feel like me. Paired with a polka dot skirt and a (mostly) solid colored cardigan it’s perfect. Super stoked about this outfit! Not super stoked about those roots though. Eeek! It was one of those times when it took seeing them in photos to realize just how grown out they were. Remedied that reeeeal quick after noticing. Wish my hair would just grow in green!

the dainty squid, kaylah doolan, cleveland fashion blog

shirt / jeans

This outfit reminds me of New Orleans since I had just purchased this shirt right before visiting there last year. I fell in love with this outfit and was so excited to wear it while on vacation. It’s simple but it’s very comfortable (seriously, these jeans are like jammies!) and always takes me right back to that awesome trip. I love when an outfit holds memories.

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Check out my last ‘what I’ve been wearing’ round up here or browse the rest of the ‘what I wore’ archives here.

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If you’d like to keep up with my ‘outfit of the day’ posts before they’re shared here, you can follow me on instagram!

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