A massive beauty haul just took place!

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I got a haircut! Come see...

So my hair was getting out of control long and split-endy. It had been more than five months since my last haircut, so I was definitely due. The length isn't much different now, but a lot of hair came off and the ends are all nice and clean. I also curled my hair differently in the "after" photo. It's more of a beachy wave, rather than a traditional, spiral curl that I usually don.

What do you think? If you all like the beachy wave look, I'll film a tutorial video.

Beauty test run: Batiste brunette colored dry shampoo

I was talking to my friend who has the most beautiful long, flowing hair the other day. I randomly asked her how often she washes her locks and her answer totally suprised me!

"Once a week," my friend said.

My mouth totally dropped. I wash my hair every other day and can't imagine going a whole week without sudsing up. So how does she keep her hair looking so nice between washes? Dry shampoo.

"It's a total lifesaver," she said.

I've been wanting to try dry shampoo for what seems like forever, but that conversation drove me to finally actually go out and purchase some.

I picked up this "Batiste" brand colored dry shampoo, which is specially formulated for brown hair, and retails for around $8. After using this product several times, here are my initial reactions:

Pros: The product blends well into my brown hair and does not leave a chalky residue at all. It soaks up the oil at my roots and makes my hair look and feel refreshed. It has allowed me to go an extra day between washes. Plus, it has a nice cocoa butter smell that freshens up the hair.

Cons: My hair still looks better after it's been freshly shampooed and styled. Also, I found it slightly difficult to wash out.

Overall verdict: This products works well for the price and I will definitely continue using it until the can has run out.

Do you use dry shampoo? Which brand do you like the best? Can you believe I'd never tried it before?

Want to see my perfume collection?

Ahhh, perfume. The pretty bottles! The yummy scents! What's not to love? Everyone has their preferences, but here's what I'm currently using on regular rotation:

1. Juicy Couture - Viva La Juicy 

A floral and fruity mix of wild berry, mandarin, honeysuckle, gardenia and jasmine. Touches of amber, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood and praline add a sweet touch. I got this perfume for Christmas because I'm a total Juicy Couture lover. The bottle is adorable and makes a great addition to any shelf or makeup stand. Plus, the smell is wonderfully girly. 

Perfect for: A girls night out. 

2. Banana Republic - Alabaster

This clean, fresh smelling fragrance is a combination of wild musk and natural florals. Delicate lotus flower, wild rose and warm musks make this perfume light and romantic. I could smell this all day, every day and be totally happy. This fragrance is very versatile and could appeal to anyone, regardless of age. 

Perfect for: Work. 

3. Christian Dior - J'adore 

This sensual, sophisticated fragrance combines the floral scent of orchids with plum and mellow amaranth wood. It's a unique-smelling perfume and a total classic. I bought this perfume en route to a Caribbean vacation so it will forever invoke fond memories of my trip to Punta Cana. 

Perfect for: Date night.

4. Ralph Lauren - Romance 

This feminine mix of wood, floral, and musk is a classic!  It's a combination of rose, marigold, ginger, chamomile, freesia, violet, lotus flower, day lily, patchouli, oakmoss and musk. Whew! Got all that? I have been wearing this perfume for about ten years and it still hasn't got old. It used to be my "signature" scent. I just love it. 

Perfect for: Anytime.

5. Gucci - Guilty

This mix of mandarin, pink pepper, peach, lilac, geranium, amber and patchoul "wakens the senses with a daring edge of sexyness and sensuality." This perfume just came out late last year, so if you haven't tried it yet, get yourself to Bloomies and give it a spray. When I first got this perfume I used to wear it all the time, but now I try to only limit it to special occasions. It's safe to say that this is my new favorite.

Perfect for: A special night out. 

6. Ralph Lauren - Blue

This soft, fresh scent it like a crisp button down shirt. It's a powdery, floral mix of jasmine, lily of the valley, lotus blossom, pink peony, gardenia, rose, musk and a hint of orange blossom. I've been wearing this fragrance for many years and sill find it feminine, yet refreshing. 

Perfect for: A summer day.

7. Tommy Hilfiger - Loud

Based on the "essence of a pulsating, energetic rock song," this energizing scent combines rose, lychee and patchouli. This perfume just came out late last year and I wasn't sure about it at first, but after wearing it a few times I fell in love. 

Perfect for: A concert.

So, those are my favorite perfumes of the moment. Do you agree or disagree with any of my picks? Which scents are you into right now?

P.S. I'm so sorry for being such a crappy blogger lately! I've been tremendously busy, but that's really no excuse for neglecting my readers. The good news, though, is that during my absence, I've stock piled a slew of new ideas for the blog, (including a new hair curling technique that I cannot wait to share with you all). Intrigued? Stay tuned!