Hi Brandy,

I can tell you that these highlights have stayed in with several shampoos.  In fact, if anything, I think my hair looks lighter overall after that treatment.  I plan on repeating it this weekend.  As a bonus, my hair seems much shinier. 

I know how you feel about the drab thing.  I did the chemical thing at the salon, too. 

Here's a thread on a "long hair" website with various recipes and some pictures for lightening. 

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=51646

As I said, I plan to do the honey treatment, but I doubt I'll leave it on for 8 whole hours.  Please let me know if any of this works for you!  Amy :)

I'd be happy to share what I try and how it turns out.

" Diamonds might be a girl's best friend, but for most of us, make up comes in at a pretty close second."

" And what girl of any age doesn't love the real stuff? It's a fascination and sometimes guilty pleasure that stays with us all our lives. I don't know about you, but just like the American Express commercial says, "I never leave home without it." But sometimes buying make up can take its toll on the budget smart girl's checking account."

Read the article at  http://www.stretcher.com/stories/06/06sep18c.cfm

Has anyone tried anything natural and new lately?

 I think I posted earlier but forgot to add my favorite beauty secret- luffa sponges!  They're great for exfolliating all that dead skin, especially on your feet. The cool thing is you can grow them in your garden. Once you buy seeds and then  you can just save them from year to year. 

Anyone have suggestions for super dry- to the point of cracking- skin under the eyes?  I'm thinking even of going to a dermatologist, I've used every moisturizer I can think of.

Tracy 

 Have you tried butter? (Real butter, not margarine)

 Joan,

I didn't know those could be grown at home. Do you have any sites to recommend on that?

Tracy, 

Could you safely put vaseline in that area? I love the stuff for hands and feet and it may work for other skin types.

my favorite facial scrub:

1/2 up oats finely ground (iuse oatmeal)

1/4 cup honey (local honey is wht i buy no matter where i live--local honey help with alergies)

1/4 cup o so of witch hazel

*optional 2 aloe vera leaves squeezed of juice (i have never made it with the prepurchased aloe so i dont know how that turns out) ground walnut shells (peanut shells feel too gritty to me)

mix all ingrediants very well, th mixture will be really thick

to use, place small amount in hand, adda little water an wash and rinse, one batch will last in the shower (in a sealed plastic container) for roughly 30 days--im sure it would last longer, but thats how often i make it cause im usually out at that time (2 adults useing)