"Size doesn't mean everything"

I've ordered many clothes online (especially from Ebay) but what's risky about buying online is if the size fits you or not. 

Today, I received my package from Hollister and I was pretty surprised (I rarely shop at these kind of stores). I did do a lot of research online (I tried as there weren't many helpful advices I could find on the internet) and I have never bought jeans from Hollister before. I have cotton long sleeves that I physically bought from the store but I didn't need to try them on because just by looking at the shirts, they were pretty big so I bought xs. However, the button down shirt I bought online was an xxs and they fit snuggly. If you have a flat chest then it's perfect otherwise it wouldn't fit well. The boyfriend jean I bought online was a size 5R and they were really really big on the waist for me but really slim below the knee length (ankle is quite tight which is odd). What's weird was that people were saying that Hollister clothes tend to be smaller than other brands such as American Eagle but I think Hollister and American Eagle are the same. 

My sizing mark down:

H&M jeans/pants - size 26/27, 2/4 (jeggings), 6 

DollsKill pants - size 26, 3

GAP jeans - size 25r

American Eagle Jeans - 5

Others - 3, SP, Asian M

Sizes vary depending on the store and also the materials used. I didn't go too much into my top sizes but usually they are all x-small or small but for Hollister it's xxs - xs (this is actually my first ever xxs I have ever owned haha). 

Overall, if you're wondering what size jeans would fit you in Hollister, go to a AE stores and try out their jeans because they are actually quite the same. H&M jeans are by far the smallest and tightest fitting ever (perfect for skinnies and short people). Hollister's customer service and service is a bit iffy compared to other companies (or maybe it was just my first time luck to get a bad representative). The representative I was talking to was difficult to hear (accent and murmurs/fading into the background) that I had to ask her to repeat herself at times (she actually yelled into my ear, which was unprofessional. Seriously did not see that one coming because usually people would just raise their voice up a notch or speak clearly). Other than that, Hollister quality and the variety of jean styles is excellent. When I shop for jeans, I will shop at Hollister because their 60-70% off sales are really good. 

Items that I bought and received (the shipping is quite fast from U.S. to CAN).

P.S. The colours and design of the clothes in person are slightly different than the photos (you don't always get what you see). 

P.P.S Thank goodness for belts and butts LOL

What I have learned from experience as a consumer

• Always almost immediately use all of your credit note or gift voucher (because when stores closes down it will be a problem)

• Dont spend too much in a small family owned shop (because their return/exchange policy is a bit iffy)

• Think before you spend (do you really need it?)

• Things will eventually go on sale/clearance so it's worth the wait

• If it's one of a kind then go for it if it pleases you

• Don't spend too much on a brand (because seeing the logos on clothes is just plain ugly and unclassy for me)

• But spend your money's worth on good shoes (you can get good shoes on sale too for instance how I am lucky enough to own a nice boot for $8!)

Tip of the night

wide bristle combs are your best friends.
they will not rip your hair.
it's heavenly.

Hair Products on Dyed/Bleached Hair Reviews + How I Treat My Hair

Current hair: medium/light blonde, thin, lightweight

ION Color Brilliance Powder Bleach Lightener with Pure White Clairol Developing Creme (20v)

• Powder ($29), Dev. Creme ($9)
• very conditioning, doesnt damage hair, lightens
• development reacts fast so you have to apply quickly (best to wrap hair in a cap because heat helps with development)
• dark roots lifted to a very light orange

Tip: 20v is healthier for your hair and takes time to process (approx. 5hrs.) but to lift your hair faster go for 30v.

Fanci-Full 49 Ultra White Minx Temporary Hair color Rinse 450ml:

• $9 for 2 (Got the "buy one get one free" steal!)
• Very messy because it's watery and smells bad
• Tones brassiness/yellows/oranges, brightens hair and adds shine, whitens platinum hair
• Very conditioning on hair and during hair wash
• Light purple solution
• Only use when you go out because since it's in liquid form, you will use a lot of the product - i've read some reviews from others and people tend to use up all of it in 2 weeks but so far my bottle is on month 2!

Proclaim Argan Oil Intense Hydrating Masque 16oz:

• $9 (on sale)
• Smell isnt too strong (but actually covers up the smell from Fanci-Full)
• Very thick - just need to use like a bean size amount depending on your hair's length and mass
• During rinse, product made hair feel very smooth, soft, detangled
• Hair feels and looks healthier; soft and smooth

Tresemmé Nourishing Rituals Protein Renewal Crème 227g

• Cheap ($2)
• Smells nice
• Helped treat damaged hair and control frizz
• Smooth and conditioning

Hair Treatment Routine:

1. Infusium 23 Color Protector Shampoo
2. Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner
3. Proclaim Argan Oil Intense Hydrating Masque/Tressemmé Protein Crème (Apply every 2 weeks)
4. Fanci-Full 49 Ultra White Minx Temporary Haircolor Rinse (Use when going out)
5. (Optional) Dove Nutritive Solutions Nourishing Oil Care Leave-In Smoothing Cream (On dry hair ends)

Note: I do have the John Frieda Sheer Blonde Color Renew Toning shampoo and conditioner (From Wal-Mart [it's cheaper there]) but I rarely use them just because the Fanci-Full Temporary Haircolor helps with toning. However, on special occasions I use these products to even out tones on my hair with Fanci-Full after. 

Future Hair Update

Since I like trying out new products on my hair, I'm going to go for white/silver hair because I'm just so tired of seeing so many yellow/brassy hair on young asians (including myself).
Time to visit Shopper's and Sally's.

Hair update

I was trying to tone out the orangeness bc I got bored so I took two clairol maxiblonde and lightened my hair evenly. Hair is lighter and is a nice golden blonde with platinum ends.

Toning I use John Freida blonde purple sampoo and conditioner.

Treatment I use argan oil products.

I'm actually surprised that after bleaching my hair 3 times, it's still healthy. Really, that Clairol and argan oil shit works.

Don't forget to trim ends every 3 weeks because it's healthy. 

Hair update

Current hair: Orange and platinum blonde ombre ends

After using L'Oreal Excellence Creme Light Golden Blonde: hair looked the same but was lightened up a bit with the 20V developer. Dark roots lifted too. However, my platinum blonde ends were darkened. After wash hair felt silky and conditioner helped treated dryness. I actually liked the before-colour serum that came with the package because it helped treated my dry ends and protected my hair during dying.

How I achieved my platinum blonde was using L'Oreal Feria Extra Platinum Blonde. The dye after wash made my hair feel dry and the feria conditioner does not help.

How I achieved orange was just using Garnier Nutrisse bleaching creme on my dark brown hair. Conditioner did not help treat dryness as well.

Attack on titan harness straps

Got my package from Redstar Cosplay on Ebay 

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Attack-on-Titan-Shingeki-no-Kyojin-New-Belts-and-harness-Cosplay-Straps-Skirt-/171082486633?ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:US:1123

Overall it looks nice but ill give it a 7/10

Size: Unisex small

Items: Straps with skirt

Price: US $59 = CAD $66*

*approx.

Notes: it looks really nice when put together but when I actually wore it to the convention, it was kind of uncomfortable for me. Maybe I guess I'm not too much into wearing crazy costumes but anyways the straps were a major problem for me. The straps around your thighs would fall down as you walk around a lot and the quality of the straps aren't too great. When people say that they will snap off, they WILL snap off. When they get caught on anything or are pulled at the straps will snap from the stitches. The material of the straps are sturdy but they are quite soft seeing that they can be snapped off easily. The skirt is fine because it's just synthetic leather but as a small it's quite big and stiff - fabric skirt would work best (cheaper too).

I would recommend probably making the straps out of belts (at least the quality would be better and you save some bucks) but if you aren't crafty then I wish you luck in finding quality straps online (do some research too). 

As of now, I don't really wear my Attack on Titan costume anymore so they just sit there... I'm not sure if spending that much for my straps and skirt was actually worth it...   

Full costume. Straps and skirt.

Geo contacts review

Geo Twins series yh302 aqua

I went to Pacific Mall (aka pmall) to look for some blue contacts for my cosplay. I was looking for a nice bright and noticable icy-crystal blue like what rudegirrl wears and I was recommended Geo Twin Series. I was pretty skeptical about them because most Geo contacts arent that great for their "pop" with their colours but they can give you a doll eye look.

Comfort: extremely uncomfortable if your eyes are big. The pupil ring of the contacts is way too narrow for my eyes so it makes it difficult for me to see clearly. Also, my focus gets blurry at times and my eyes feel dry. It was also hard to put on because of the shape of the contacts; it was too curved that when I tried blinking to put it on it just fell out and also scratches my eyes. 

Colour: it's noticable in a way that makes your eyes look creepy. The blue tone on your iris isnt noticeably bright as they say but the yellowish ring around your pupil is. Blues turned out dark on my eyes.

Design: it's ugly. Like the ugliest pair I have ever bought and I regret it. It doesnt give you that doll eyed look, which i liked, but the colours did not "pop". Looked too natural.

I really dont like shopping at pmall because everything is just a ripoff compared to online. The people selling contacts at the stores didnt really helped me find a nice blue that would pop and they didnt really know much about how colours would turn out on your eyes. That's why you always do research first. Be careful with images online because they are all photoshopped to make the contacts pop. Youtube reviews are good. Overall, buying contacts there is cheap but it's the same at EyeCandys. I just had way too many things purchased online that I didnt want to buy anything more online.

I wasnt sure if I should buy the Princess Pinky Twilight Blue contacts online at PinkyParadise because it was just too expensive for just contacts but from the reviews they definitely are the kind of contacts I prefer.

My Experiences at the Salon: Dyeing hair

Nowadays, I don't really visit the salon because I do my own hair and there are reasons. For me, I usually just buy packaged hair dyes or sometimes i try new spray on colours. I know some, people would suggest to others to go to the salon and do their hair just so they won't mess up or damage their hair while in the process of dyeing. However, if you have the money and you're fine with others doing your hair then go for it but I agree with other people, with the same experiences that I had, that it is way better to do your hair yourself. Doing your hair yourself means that you save money and you will definitely be satisfied with your results.

Just to make this nice and easy to read I will summarize my thoughts:

At a high end salon that I went to they charged me over $120 just to bleach/lift and colour to a really light tone that totally did not even lift to a white lilac colour that I wanted. In fact, my hair just turned out like any other bleaching products out there can do; a golden blonde. Typical bleached hair colour that I could've done myself but I could've done it much better without the blotchiness (a no-no). Although the lady told me that she would have to lift my hair another time to get it lighter in which I understand as lifting takes many stages to get to a light tone but, that's just not it. You see, at this Japanese salon (I don't remember somewhere downtown), just perfect for asian hair, they actually are like hair gods/goddesses like literally their Japanese hair products are amazing. Anyways, the japanese stylists could dye my hair perfectly in one go but at this caucasian salon it was no match. Also, at this salon that I went to they actually didn't show/ tell you their prices until you get the bill so that's something to watch out for. 

Anyways, buying products yourself is much cheaper (like at Target or Walmart): $10 for purple colour spray, $10-15 for bleach x 2 to get a higher lift, and then treatment and purple shampoo + conditioner toner for a total of $20. This comes to a total of about $60. I saved $60. What. And I can continue using my treatment and toners for like a month. Perfect.  

At the salon (Modern Touch) the following charges applied:
Foils (Bleach/highlights) $75
Treatment & Toner $15
Wash & Style (Straight Iron) $25