Recently by Katie Derdoski

I think I now know how Nick Arrojo gets his clients and people on TLC’s What Not to Wear to cut their hair off. He looks them with his puppy dog eyes and smiles. And then cuts before they can overcome the urge to really, really say no.

I met Nick yesterday while he was in town to promote the opening of PureBeauty at the Mall of America (more on that later). We had a quick chat about cuts, colors, his new line of haircare products, and more.

He promised a thirty-second hair consult to all that come to visit him for his autograph and check out PureBeauty Thursday (today) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. So of course I asked him for one.

“How long you’ve had that?” he looks at my hair, not unkindly.
“Um, a lo—“
“Long time,” he finishes in his British accent. “It’s time to cut.”

But-uh-what? I just had my Beauty Metrix done at PureBeauty, and my hair was magnified almost too close for comfort—and it looked smoother and glossier (“no visible damage”) than I’d expected. I know better than to argue. I see people argue with him all the time on What Not to Wear. And always, ALWAYS I’ve thought people look better after he touches their tresses.

Hair sure is the most important identifier for most women. I’ve always been a long-haired girl. Maybe it’s my own insecurities (I don’t have the daintiest features in the world), or inexperience with big change, but I’ve always shied away from the latest cuts or anything much shorter than my shoulders. Instantly, he said, “Above the shoulder.”

Gordon Nelson, International Creative Director of Regis Salons (and also a Brit) said, “Yes, and less fluff at the ends. And lowlights, lowlights. Some highlights on top.” It’s interesting when you allow arbiters of style to let fly with their opinions.

Well, as you can see from my blog photo, I did once do a demi-permanent all over light brown dye with some highlights on top—I sort of have been trying to shed the whole super-blond thing. It’s getting a little boring for me. But I have been so busy with life that I haven’t taken care of my hair the way I really should in the last six months. My hairstylist probably thinks I've deserted her.

Which brings me to PureBeauty (which will be the first store to carry Arrojo’s namesake line outside his New York City salon). I stopped in for a preview on Tuesday, and I have to say that I came away impressed. PureBeauty will eventually take over all of the Trade Secret stores that hair junkies have come to know and love. But don’t panic! This is really a boutique experience with haircare, skincare, and cosmetics in both professional and prestige lines. Done up in apothecary style and modeled after Burlington Arcade in London, browse among products such as Arrojo’s line (“Proof is in the pudding,” he says, “We’ve road tested on clients.”), Chi, T3, BedHead, Ojon, Dermalogica, Murad, Kenra, and PureOlogy, among many more. Hair services, facials, and waxing are also available, along with the fifteen-minute GoSpa, which offers $15, 15-minute services for ladies and men on the go.

And then there’s Beauty Metrix, which takes up-close-and-personal photos of your pores, scalp, hair, pigmentation, and more, to give you a good read on your hydration, sun and hair damage levels, and more. Then you get a list of products that the store sells for reference—what will work best for you—not for the person selling you the products. If you become a repeat customer you can actually track if the products are making a difference or not. (Psst, the esthetician I spoke with told me that using salon- or professional-quality hair products does make a difference in hair quality.) A Beauty Metrix consultation is free with the membership to Club PureBeauty (also free). 

I think I might try and take Gordon and Nick’s advice. Ten percent change each time I hit the salon. Then I’m always evolving.

After the wedding.

PureBeauty, Mall of America, 952-854-6496

Perhaps one of the most important (and expensive) purchases you or your future husband/wife/partner will ever make for each other is the engagement ring or wedding band. It has to be timeless but also in the style of the giftee; it has to fit the lifestyle; it has to fit the budget. Ideally, it’s on that finger forever. So when do you know you’ve found the right thing?

For me, it took nearly a year and a half. William, my fiancé, proposed to me last December, and our wedding is now a mere seventy-seven days away. I had my stone re-set just last week. Initially, William had chosen a very, very nice white gold band, fairly wide, with a classic Tiffany setting for me. I was actually very happy with it right off the bat. But when I started looking for bands, I had trouble finding anything that looked just right with it. (I’m hardly a high-maintenance bride, but some things have to be Cinderella!) Enter a whole new search for an engagement ring and wedding band.

Several weekends, many stores, conversations, try-ons, and agonizing later, I had my aha moment. I walked into Gold’n Treasures on Grand Avenue, and it was like a tractor beam pulled me to a set of stackable rings in the case. I knew it from the second I laid eyes on it. Certainly I’d seen others that were perfectly lovely but weren’t quite right. Mine is delicate and looks vintage, although it’s not. A little sparkle but nothing I’d call blingy. Best of all, it had both a matching band, or just one that coordinated nicely (I chose the coordinating, rather than the matching, band). 

I tried on others, in a show of keeping my mind open (and loving to try on jewelry), but my heart was set the instant the first ring went on my finger. The next week—I decided I’d better sleep on it—, I returned to put my diamond in the new ring. We also bought the coordinating band.

When I went to pick up my ring, it was even more beautiful than I had imagined it would be. That sounds ridiculous coming from me. I never thought I’d say those words. But—it’s true. I’m so happy with it.

But what helped the whole big purchase—in a very important way—was the service we received each time we visited. No pressure. No sales pitches. Just knowledgeable staff that was truly interested in helping us find the right rings. The first time I went in, they took photos for me of the rings I'd tried on. Then I could take them home to stare at or take them with me shopping to compare. It sure didn't hurt that they offered me a glass of wine every time I came in or that they treated us like friends.

Ask all the questions you can think up. Try on everything that looks appealing. Listen to some expert advice. Hell, gemologist and owner Todd Gimble allowed William to try his own wedding band on and walk around the store with it—and it sold William on a very similar band. Stop back often—stock shifts around frequently.

I know others who have had similar experiences, and we all recommend them wholeheartedly. The staff is wonderfully friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. Most importantly, in my book, they didn’t pressure us, so we could make a reasonable decision, whatever our price point, and come away happy. Consider me ecstatic.

Gold’n Treasures, 805 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, 651-227-2711, goldn-treasures.com

Last Saturday, I was out and about on Selby and Snelling, doing a little shopping to pass the time, and I stopped in Lula. I immediately spotted a fuchsia dress with a standup collar, elbow sleeves, and a train—and I fell head over heels. Tried it on. Didn’t fit. Wanted to cry. You know the feeling, when you find the perfect thing and then it’s not right on you? Pure agony.

Well, Hayley, proprietress of Lula, saw the long face and immediately began bustling about, pulling dresses and hanging them outside my fitting room. In a normal store, this kind of thing drives me crazy—I know what I want, and I don’t want to be bothered. But in a vintage shop, I definitely need help. Sizes can be wonky, for one thing, and sometimes it’s hard for me to figure out what’s great and what’s junk. And sometimes I just plain don't have the patience to sort through everything.

Everything Hayley pulled was great. She nailed my style from just my first fashion choice and helped to zip me in and out of several dresses. (She even got my fiancé to try on a pair of red-and-white checkered golf pants, which I honestly thought he could have rocked if they would have fit.) There were a few others I wanted to buy, too.

It was truly outstanding service, and I can say, without a doubt, that it’s going to be my new favorite haunt. Here’s what I walked away with on Saturday (you’ll note I’m a huge fan of the shift and also pink). Sorry for the photo quality—the colors are actually quite consistent in real life (no fading or stains).

I am planning on wearing this with hot pink espadrilles and red patent peep-toe pumps. Also, this dress is brown and white, not black and white.

Here's the front of the dress Hayley found for me to replace the fuchsia one (and yes, I'm still thinking about how I could make myself fit in it, and it's probably gone.) Here is the back:

It actually has a little peekaboo back, not a zipper all the way up. Great detail! And the obi-style sash. Lovin' it.

This shift is a little less vibrant than it comes across—on the tag it says "pale tangerine," which is pretty accurate although I'd maybe call it salmon. And in keeping with my train-like, here's the back:

You can sort of see the two extra panels that hang out on the back. So wearable. It hangs much better on a person than on a hanger. Dress it up or down.

And because I really can never have enough pink, here's a great herringbone-patterned pencil skirt. It's longer than it looks in this photo—past the knee, not above.

PS: All of this cost approximately $130 total. Everything is in gorgeous shape and freshly cleaned. Just watch me indulge in my 1960s obsession! (I'm sure my mom is probably shaking her head as she looks at these.)

Lula, 1587 Selby Ave., St. Paul, 651-644-4110

A new limited edition Viva Glam is on MAC counters starting this month. Start your engines!

In case you don’t know about MAC’s Viva Glam collection, it’s a series of quasi-neutral lipsticks and lipglasses—and 100 percent of the proceeds go to the MAC AIDS Fund, which began in 1994 and supports men, women, and children living with HIV and AIDS. The money from the purchase of this lipglass in particular goes directly to the MAC AIDS Fund’s Global Youth Prevention Initiative, which funnels funds to organizations that address the growing AIDS crisis in young people.

A couple things I didn't know: MAC AIDS Fund is the largest corporate non-pharmaceutical donor in the arena. There are four key areas the Fund tries to raise awareness for: prevention, the link between poverty and AIDS, access to care, and adherence to medication and treatment. So far, $100 million has been donated from the MAC AIDS Fund through the sales of Viva Glam alone.

Following on the heels of beauties and spokespeople Eve and Dita Von Teese, Fergie is the latest spokesperson for a limited edition Viva Glam IV lipglass. I have to say—I love it. I have not loved all versions of Viva Glam in the past, but this is extremely wearable. A very feminine, pretty pink without being too pink, it has the same great staying power and smooth texture as MAC’s other lipglasses. (MAC describes it as a soft pink-tinged mauve frost.) It’d look great over the Viva Glam lipstick this year, which is a pearly, terracotta-plum mix—not to mention over any dark lipstick you want to transition into spring. Or alone, with a pretty, pale pink face. (Don’t forget lots and lots of mascara.) 

$14. Available at MAC boutiques and counters.

Well, it’s official: I am addicted to perfumes—a territory I never thought I would have entered. One-scent girl, I am not.

The latest joy in my beauty life is the Jo Malone Cologne Collection, a gathering of six of her colognes for you to mix and match freely. The signature cream-and-black box also contains a little grid of combination suggestions, even providing whether the resulting scent will be fresh or warm.

The six colognes included are:
Amber & Lavender, which adds spice and depth to the rest of the scents. Unisex.
Lime Basil & Mandarin, which is a fresh, bright scent of limes, mandarin, and, I swear, fresh cilantro, although that’s not listed on the site.
Pomegranate Noir, pomegranate with plum, raspberry, frankincense, and patchouli.
Orange Blossom is just what it says—juicy orange blossom.
Grapefruit, which is combined with tangerine, vetiver, and rosemary.
Blue Agava & Cacao is mixed with cardamom and sea salt—the most intriguing of the fragrances. I have not smelled anything like it before.

So far, I’ve been really hooked on the Pomegranate Noir and Lime Basil & Mandarin combination—it reminds me of a headier, fruitier Flowerbomb. And the scent sticks better on me than Flowerbomb does—amazing that body chemistry.

I’m also loving that some of the scents create a unisex fragrance—not everything is a big, heady white floral or too gourmand. I love the limitless choices I have, and I love the faux-chemist feeling of deciding a new mix depending on my mood.

I can’t believe I’m so late to the Jo Malone admiration society. If you are, too, don’t feel bad. Just go check it out at Neiman Marcus. $72.

We all can use a new perspective when it comes to makeup, particularly if it has been awhile since we’ve gotten a lesson. Learning new tricks, finding a new shade, interpreting trends, or becoming more classic. There’s never a bad time to learn, grow, or change.

Juut is offering makeup lessons at various Juut Salonspas around the metro March 6-20. For a $25 reservation, pick a date and time to spend forty-five minutes with a professional, and come out looking like Rachel Zoe styled you for the Oscars. (Or not, if Zoe’s not your thing.) The lesson is free—as long as you purchase $25 in Aveda products. Trust me, this is not difficult. I personally love the tinted moisturizer, the Petal Essence eyeshadow duo in Waterlily and Sea Grape, Lip Shine in Juneberry and Grapefruit Pulp, and I just reviewed the Nourish-Mint lipstick line here. (Oh, and as for skin care, the Tourmaline Charged Exfoliating Cleanser is amazing.) Go here to find a list of dates, times, and locations.

It’s never too late to go back to school.

Also, Juut Edina and Juut Wayzata have new hair artists in residence, which means haircuts from $35, tints from $35, and partial highlights from $55. It's a great deal, and limited-time only: for about ten weeks, new stylists are mentored by senior stylists, (they are already well-trained, don't worry). Call Edina (Southdale) at 952-925-4343 or Wayzata at 952-404-9955 to book an appointment before it is too late. Again, great Juut-level service, just with new artists.

One more little tip: Uptown is the training salon for aestheticians and massage therapists. If they've got one in training, you're getting a steal on a facial or massage. They do have them right now, so go book an appointment. You can't beat the prices. 612-823-0977.

Here’s a little sneak preview: Aveda is launching a new line of lipstick in March (just two weeks from now!). It's called Nourish-Mint—and for good reason: It’s extremely moisturizing. It feels like putting on lip balm, but it has color! The line comes in two formulas: sheer mineral and smoothing. According to Aveda, after eight weeks of continuous use, 55 percent of their testers found an increase in lip volume with the sheer mineral lip color, and a whopping 75 percent saw an increase with the smoothing formula. Aveda says it increases visible lip volume by 12 percent after eight weeks and increases moisturization by 26 percent.

I didn’t notice an increase in volume, necessarily, but I might not have used it enough (yet). What I did notice was how soft and moisturized my lips felt, and the colors are really great. No flakes or bleeding or feathering. (Thank cupuacu butter, jojoba oil, raspberry wax, sweet almond oil, pomegranate seed oil, and soy and coconut proteins for all that.) There is also a clear one, perfect for everyday use. My favorite shade was the passion flower, a deep, saturated berry, which comes in the smoothing formula. It is the most moisturizing lipstick I have ever used. It would be a great transition for ladies who want to follow the trend of moving from gloss to a true lipstick without feeling cakey, thick, or overdone. For instance, the colors below look dark on the stick but come off with just the right amount of sheer color on the lip.

The scent is a major bonus. Semi-sweet and nicely tingly, it’s made with organic essential oils: spearmint, vanilla, star anise, cinnamon, and peppermint. The second bonus is Aveda’s Earth-friendly approach. The 88 percent recycled tubes come with just a small plastic cover. For $4, purchase a refillable lip color case for a stronger, reusable lip container. It saves materials as you just slide each lipstick into the case (it saves 33 percent of packaging). The case is also made of 96 percent post-consumer recycled resin. For those of you that love a lip brush, you’ll find Aveda’s Envirometal casing, which is 25 percent post-consumer recycled aluminum, and the brush is composed of cruelty-free taklon bristles.

Find the smoothing lip color in twenty-one shades, the sheers in seven. And yep, this is for the permanent collection! Find them at Aveda salons around the Twin Cities (including Juut).

Is it just me, or is there a dearth of reliable, credible, informative information out there, blog wise, for health and wellness? Not that people don’t cover these topics—it’s just not usually with a good deal of depth or reportage. And with health news, you can’t just listen to just any old person riffing on diets or exercise or the latest lung transplant treatment. You need experts—I want my health information to be well-sourced.

Now there’s a relatively new blog out there called Well, and it’s done so, um, well. Not surprisingly, it’s done by The New York Times. You can sign up to get weekly e-mail letters and check in daily with journalist Tara Parker-Hope on the Times website to get the latest news on nutrition, medical hot buttons, exercise, psychology, and more. I am so hooked. A recent sampling of topics included: knee replacements (why women wait longer to get them), inside the brain of a teenage boy, the benefits of probiotics in yogurt, the influence of negative music on teens, and an interview about when doctors suddenly become patients (and see their practice in a whole new light).

If you’re interested in getting daily health news, I think it’s a great place to start, and the e-newsletter is a nice way to get the information, too. Where do you go online to get your health, wellness, and beauty news?

The winter doldrums seem to be twice as bad this year, don't they? Here’s the great news: Beauty goes springy early. Just in the last couple days, I’ve gotten a few products or releases that have lifted my mood.

Behold:

The new limited edition collection from MAC by Fafi.

Admittedly, the packaging skews young, but the colors are youthful and fresh, not teenybopper. (Fafi, a Parisian graffiti artist, designed all the packaging and inspired the colors. She also designed bags for LeSportsac a while back.) The Fafi Eyes 1, with its deep-gray, neutral-tan, washed-pink, and pale-peach eye shadows, is so incredibly wearable. I don't think it can top last year's Barbie Loves MAC collection, but it has major potential. Playful and fun. Find eye palettes, paint pots (used alone or as the concrete to hold your shadow on), lipsticks, lip-glosses, and iridescent pressed powders. You'll have a hard time choosing. Available at MAC.

Lush’s latest handmade soap, Lily Savon.

It smells like hypnotic spring blooms, and it’s not the least bit cloying. Bonus: It’s made with safe ingredients. Lily, neroli, and jasmine make for a romantic, clean scent that even some guys could like ($7.85). Find it at Macy’s, Mall of America.

Hanae Mori’s latest fragrance, the limited edition Butterfly Eau Fraiche, is a springy, citrusy scent with a twist. Grapefruit and tangerine top notes are balanced by strawberry, black currant, ylang-ylang, and jasmine, and it is  anchored with rosewood, almond wood, sandalwood, and cedar.

Translation: An instant mood brightener. Fresh but sophisticated. Gorgeous packaging, too. Available only April and May ($65). Available at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Sephora. 

Regis Salon’s Designline is already thinking beach hair with its Defiant Grit Texturizer. Scrunch in as much product as you’d like texture. Couldn’t be easier. Bamboo, bergamot, and nettle add volume. Also, it smells like lime coconut. I can almost feel the sand ($12.95). Find it at all Regis Salons.

I know that anthropomorphizing your pet is such a slippery slope. Pets go from just your dog to your furry child—with you as the creepy mother—in the blink of an eye. Yet, there’s something to it, an odd appeal. I tend to think animals feel more and express more than we give them credit for.

I have been taking my cockapoo, Molly, to get groomed regularly at a big-chain groomer since we adopted her a year ago. (This is necessary, not anthropomorphizing.) But she always returns looking naked—and ashamed—for at least a week. I ask them to keep some of the length (she has a beautiful, shiny apricot coat), but they always shave her. She always leaves anxious and, well, not nearly as cute as she could be.

Imagine my delight when Bubbles & Couture, a little grooming shop, opened up on Smith Ave. and Annapolis St. in West St. Paul. Finally! A little mom-and-pop groomer!

What a sea change from Molly’s past hairdos. I brought her in, and the owners, Frank Foo and Gladys Tay, immediately began making Molly feel at home: They assessed her needs, health, and habits and asked me how long I like her fur, running their fingers through it. They looked shocked and puzzled when I told them I thought she always had to be shaved down. “Of course we can keep the length!” Gladys assured me as her two darling mini schnauzers darted about.

Two hours later, I picked up a new Molly. Fluffy—there was some fur left to fluff—and adorned with bows. She greeted me with a wagging tail and, actually, some contentment since she wasn’t kenneled after her cut. They allow pets to run around in a gated area with toys and a couch for lounging. Two Pekingese, the owners’ other set of dogs, hung out in the front window.

Great perks: They sent me home with a recommendation on a tartar-control paste for Molly’s teeth. A sample of some organic dog food. Molly didn’t smell like awful groomer perfume—she just smelled clean and nice—because Bubbles & Couture uses organic, eco-friendly grooming products on the animals. Bubbles sells collars, food, toys, and other products to keep pets clean and healthy. And you can’t replace the feeling of knowing you’ve put your pup in capable hands.

Prices on the “Spaw Menu” are reasonable. A formal groom and cut starts at $40, and they offer nail trims, ear washes, teeth brushing, anal expression (tough job, but someone’s gotta do it), flea treatments, and, my favorite, the Brazilian Pooch Cleanup—a full bath and brush out. I swear she pranced out of there just like any newly confident woman leaving the salon.

Bubbles & Couture, 883 Smith Ave., West St. Paul, 651-457-1815