Beauty Q&A: Crackne, Brow Dye, and Growing Out Bangs

I know that sunscreen is an important thing and everyone should be wearing it every day, all the time, no matter what. So what I’m wondering is, how do people do this? My moisturizer has SPF protection in it, but other than that I just don’t get it. Do people slather themselves all over with Banana Boat every day? I hate hate hate putting on sunscreen before going to the beach or the pool or whatever, so the idea of having to do that same thing every day makes me cringe. Please help!

Oh, no! They don’t mean to slather it all over your body, 50 SPF strength, every single day, no! I mean, the stuff only works as a protectant, not something that goes into your skin and reverses the signs of aging or risk of cancer (unless you’re talking about something like a retinoid with SPF in it, I guess, but no one could ever afford enough of that to put it all over their body). As long as you’re not at the beach or naked in the sun elsewhere (France?) or wearing sheer clothing and working in direct sunlight all day long, you’re fine just protecting your exposed parts: face, arms and hands. Oh, that’s right, you do still have to do your hands. They show age before any of your other parts, haven’t you heard? Or just seen IRL?

The easiest way to get into this routine is by switching all of your daily moisturizing products to ones containing sun protection, if possible. For me, that means my face moisturizer is this one from Oil of Olay and I only apply it in the morning and on afternoons when I’m feeling particularly dry or if I’m headed out into the sun for a few hours. Look for foundation primer, lip stuff and hand cream that have SPF as well. And I promise, most of these hybrid products that are for every day use don’t smell like the beach (though I wish they did. I love the beach!). Oh, and don’t forget powder sunscreen. This is the easiest way to add SPF over your makeup for those long, outdoor, afternoon wine lunches.

I really want that awesome, sexy, all natural hair that comes with the big soft waves. You know what I’m talking about. The kind that everyone manages to have right now except for me. My hairdresser showed me how to curl the hair from the center and not from the bottom up (’90s prom, anyone?), but I’m still having issues getting the curl to start far enough up. They just kind of lie flat against my head, despite using loooooots of hair spray. I have a suspicion it’s because the curling iron I am using isn’t the hottest/greatest. Is that my problem? Please give me a recommendation for a great curling iron and/or tell me what my problem is? Do I need more layers?

I’m gonna guess you’ve got three problems and two of them you already know about: You definitely need long layers for this look and you need to get a new iron! Newer ceramic/tourmaline curling irons are so hot. LITERALLY. They get so hot! I’m not sure if they are actually made of ceramic or tourmaline, or what difference that would make, but you know the ones I’m talking about? Sometimes you see them selling for like $200? Forget that. I got mine for $25. For a wavy look it’s either a 1 1/2″ ceramic barrel like this or my trusty styling wand set on a low temp.

Now that you have the right tools, try creating the waves in layers. If your hair is shoulder length, aim for your top layer to be cut to the length of the front of your chin. Watch the styling wand video and ignoring that I’ve done a really exaggerated look by taking very small sections and leaving the hair on the iron longer, see how I pin up layers and work around my head in a spiral kind of? That’s the technique you’ll want to use to get the softer waves you’re talking about. Start with a bottom layer and taking two- or three-inch sections, make waves around from ear to ear. Then do a middle layer like that. Then the top. The technique your stylist taught you is very similar to how I use the wand: Place the iron in the middle of your hair and wrap the hair around it rather than clamping the end and curling under or whatever. And don’t forget to make the face framing pieces a little more exaggerated than the rest. Start those even closer to your scalp, curling away from your face, and hold the iron on a little longer. Think “Real Housewives” while you do it. That’s the hair we tend to fuss with most and it gets oily from our face, so give it some extra oomph.

You’ll see that the waves will now start where you want them, around eye level, and not just be floppy little boring bumps at the bottom of your hair. To set the whole style, try going easier on the hairspray. It could be that you’re using so much you’re weighing the waves down.

How do you do eyebrow definition if you have the eyebrows of a blonde toddler? I’m talking I once shaved my eyebrows and nobody noticed. Seriously. What is a good blonde brow product, and how the hell do I get started putting it on?

Get them dyed and then we’ll talk. No, for real! Go get them tinted a nice dark blonde and have a pair of fresh eyes — your own will do — assess next steps. I’m not just pulling this out of my ass: My boyfriend has “no eyebrows,” too, until he dyes them and then they look luscious and full and, well, there. Go to your regular salon and ask for a semi-permanent color if you don’t have an eyebrow studio in your area. WARNING: You will freak out at first. You will think they completely screwed up your face for life and now you look like a harsh, evil, monster queen. You will be wrong. In fact, when other people look at your new face they will feel you look “softer” and more beautiful and they will be right. It is just the power of finally having brows. If, somehow, after your 10 perfect hairs come into focus, one or two are out of place? Go get them done by a pro; you are the least experienced with taming them after all, right?

Later on, after you’ve become familiar with your new face, pick up one of these brow powder duos I’ve used on my blonder friends. They’re great because you can adjust lighter or darker depending on how dramatic you want the look to be. The brush is not included so don’t forget it.

Embarrassing problem here — butt acne. What do I do about it? I am already incredibly self-conscious, particularly about my ass (strongly being of the mindset that it’s far too round for a small white Jewish girl) and the LAST thing that I need when I’m getting down and dirty with a Dude as he reaches for my bare behind is to be worrying about the nasty bumps on my bum. Any tips for how to get rid of it? For years I’ve been religiously using one of those body-breakout-clearing body washes in the shower, but to minimal improvement. What else can I do?!?

Nothing? Get a new attitude? First off, where are you writing from, Mars? There is no such thing as an ass being “too round” so just knock that off right now. (Breathe, Jane. Breathe.) OK, on to the “acne”: Do you mean those little bumps on your butt cheeks that we all get sometimes, especially in drier months, that occasionally flare up into one real zit, or do you mean butt crackne which is usually a result of waxing or shaving? If neither, you may have a full blown case of actual acne that you could treat with an antibiotic, like minocycline, from your doctor. Ask them for this! They went to all that school and paid millions of dollars just to have strangers come talk to them about their butts — no reason for you to feel shy about indulging them.

If we’re talking about those little bumps and singular actual-zit-episodes, you should just stop worrying about it. No one cares and we all have those, pretty much. It is literally the last thing a dude is looking at if you’re doing it right. Razor bump flare-ups, on the other hand, can be tricky. If you can’t cut out the hair removal altogether (some people like the natural look nowadays!), try being INSANELY antibacterial in your grooming habits. I mean scrubbing under your nails with antibacterial soap before and after hair removal, alcohol on the razor, Tend Skin, the whole nine. Just be crazy about it at the time and that will help at least a little bit.

There’s also a chance you’re just prone to Folliculitis. It sucks, but can be managed by irritating your hair follicles as little as possible. Wear looser clothing or try a different fabric (silk?) or style (thong?) of underwear. The thing you switch to is not important; just try to isolate where the irritation is coming from. Are you sitting down all day? Do you sweat in your environment? All of these things can account for our skin being less than happy.

Finally, whichever it is, don’t pick at it or over-medicate it, irritating it further. Also, drink SO MUCH WATER. I think people think this is filler for real advice, but your skin needs a million billion water molecules to do anything right. Give it what it craves.

I have had bangs since I was 14 years old and the time has come to grow them out. I’m over getting them cut all the time and I am not able to cut them myself and I am sick of styling them in the morning. In the meantime, the holidays are rapidly approaching. Pictures will be taken! So many pictures! There will be dinners and parties and all kinds of things to go to and look cute at, and life to live in general. I need hair help. I have a stash of black elastic headbands that are fine for work and general casual hanging out, but after a while they hurt my head and I need some variety. Are there any cute hairstyles one can rock while growing out one’s bangs? My hair is long and layered (and red, which I feel like you need to know) and I’m good with styling tools. Can you help?

You’re in luck! There is a look that has stuck around much longer than any of us imagined, and it requires having long bangs: the toned-down pompadour. Yes, Elvis hair, only you’re a girl and have long red hair so this will look super feminine and hot and get you through ’til spring when you can tuck those grown out bangs behind your ear. Plus, it’s a tidge formal so it’ll look great at these parties you’re getting invited to right and left. (Can I come?)

The basic idea is you want to curl your bangs up and back, away from your forehead, do a little teasing to give them some volume, and then pin them back with a few bobby pins. My computer broke so I can’t make you a tutorial today, but here’s a good one:

Send us pics of your new masterpiece!

Previously: Chemical Peels, Jumpsuits, and WLHWT?

Do you have a question for Jane?

Photo by Dmitry Suzdalev, via Shutterstock.