Good to Great Hair: Celebrity Hairstyling Techniques Made Simple

Hermanas!!!

I have been busy reading, reading, reading beauty and hair publications. My latest public library shipment came in and I must review this book.

Good to Great Hair: Celebrity Hairstyling Techniques Made Simple was written by the amazing Robert Vetica, who does -ahem- Salma's hair. He just outdid himself in the last Golden Globes, where this fiery and talented hermana looked (no surprise there) like millones de pesos....




I know, I know, I know. I am Salma obsessed (so sue me). But it must be said that this hermana represents so many of us. She has more cojones than many people I know. And when Salma puts her face in the cover of a book and writes the foreword, I notice; read, and learn.

Robert's book is so not like most celebrity hair stylist publications (thank the Goddesses for that!!!). He has a way with words that does not make us feel like complete idiots; or leaves us wondering "what the blip did he mean by...?" He tells it with grace and little verbosity, and takes us by the hand all along.

Roberto does not -like many others- plaster his book with celebrity looks that are impossible to copy unless you have an arsenal of products+tools+time. Some famous women are portrayed of course (Hillary Swank, April Avigne = talk about different women and styles!), but they are not the center of the book. Roberto does not mention brands, either (with the itty bitty exception of his upcoming flat iron line, but that's ok I guess). He gives us all simple steps to not only make our manes look better; but doing so in a *gasp* affordable manner.

Tools, products, care, color, style.... it is all there. I did learn a few tricks; and did not end up feeling completely inadequate, or hopeless. Roberto does not go on the typical "I will make you look 20 years younger, and yada yada yada" tirades. He just shares with us how HE does it; and is quite aware that most of us will not and should not buy, say, 6 different curling irons.

The language is easy as everyday talk. No hidden meanings; no impossible to follow suggestions. It is simple... as simple as beautiful hair should be.

So chicas, you can either get this book for somewhere in between 15 and 25 USD; or you can be smart and get it from the library... saving those pennies to maybe buy some of what Roberto tells us we must have in our hair beauty kit (and no, you will not go broke).

I will say no more. Check this libro out. You will be hapy you did!!!


Siempre, Bella.

Talk Dirty Spanish....

Hermanas!!!

I know we are all excited about spending dinero on holiday gifts and goodies. I was thinking *I do that, a lot* about those hermanas we love and adore who do not love and adore makeup. They exist; and they deserve some luvz. So this gave me an idea with several outcomes: showcasing Mujeres de Color and their accomplishments; and also draw on my other love: reading. Hey! Bella is a nerd. In between Rojo and I ; we moved from Deadmonton last year with more than 40 boxes of books. Since then, we have accumulated about 8 more boxes.You get the picture.

So hereby I inaugurate the section by raving about the libro of my querida y cojonuda amiga Laura Martínez. This hermana has been around for a long time: reporting from Mexico City, Santiago de Chile, and our beloved NYC. She blogs away in Mi Blog es tu Blog; which you can follow through my Belleza Blogeras section.

Laura is one woman of substance who tells it like it is, and writes like a goddess. Quiero a esta loca. She is absolutely crazy, but I adore her. Now now. Not only have we have been amigas for a long time, but we kinda well... swear. Some. OK, a lot. Un chingo. And her book is all about the mentadas we need to know to not be caught off guard while being thrown dirty words at us. Enough out of my dirty mouth. Here's the neta on the book:

Talk Dirty Spanish..

Beyond Mierda: The curses, slang, and street lingo you need to Know when you speak Español

AQuZ pasa, gringo?

Whether at a cantina in Mexico or a discotheque in Spain, you better know how to shoot the s#*!-luckily for you, Talk Dirty: Spanish dishes all the dirty sayings in a variety of dialects. Packed with plenty of four-letter words, haba–ero-hot insults, and wicked expressions, this book will have you speaking like a true hombre. The Spanish-to-English translations will help you learn all the latest foreign slang, such as:

De puta madre: of the prostitute mother
Spanish Phrase: AMi tío tiende un coche de puta madre!
Translation: My uncle has a fantastic car!
Literal Translation: My uncle has a car of a prostitute mother!

Talk Dirty: Spanish-all you need for a sharper tongue and set of cojones.

I am going to Barnes and Noble after work to pick up the copies I ordered. I am sure Rojo will love it, and so will the other two cabrones I have in mind for this book. You can get Beyond Mierda through Amazon, or your local Barnes and Noble.

Beauty should always meet with our brains. Women who are gorgeous but have Cheerios or Froot Loops in their brains are sexy until you hear them speak. So read, cultivate your brains and spirits. Then speak (dirty, of course). This book is a must.

Siempre, Bella.


p.s. Special mention and gratitud to Taradeta, who is also my hermana, amiga and former mentor; who introduced me to Laura a loooong time ago!