Exciting news!! New Feature Segment Coming Soon.

HI EVERYONE.

We decided to start a fortnightly segment!

YAY. 

*cue claps*

Presenting:

As the title goes, we will be "fighting" it out with each other on a particular theme or clothing item

every alternate Sunday starting from this week!

This is something that will show you all how different (or similar) our styles are and we hope the outfits will inspire you at the same time! :)

So, from this week onwards, be sure to check back every other Sunday for our SSS!

Although we have a few themes/clothing items on our SSS list right now, we would love for you to give us suggestions!

If you have any suggestions or any theme you want us to "fight" with each other, comment below or tweet us @ChapalangGirls! (#SSS)

We'd love to hear from you :) (Yes, we really do!!)

Till next time.

Love,
El and Christine xoxo

Hint: our first SSS has something to do with blue~ make a guess?

How To: Crown Braid

Hello everyone! 

Today I have a quick post on how to do a crown braid! The crown braid has been catching alot of my attention lately, having seen it in pictures of runways, red carpets and on tv! It's also a super easy hairstyle to do for spring. To make things easier, I've made a quick image guide. If you need more detailed instructions, scroll down for more words.

1: Divide hair into 2 sections
2: Braid each side. Just a basic 3 strand braid and pancake the braid (make braid look thicker by loosening it slightly) If you're a pro or has lots of time, do a 4 strand/5 strand braid if you want!
3:Take one braid and pull it to the other side of your head. In other words, take the left braid and pin it on the right side of your head and vice versa. Pin it with 1-2 pins. I like to use 2 because this will hold the braid in place better.
4: Take the other braid and do the same. Try to hide the bobby pins by tucking your hair over them.
5: Tuck the fringe into the side of the braid if you've got a long fringe. pin it in with a bobby pin.
6: and you're done! You can switch it up by incorporating a scarf while braiding or adding floral hair accessories. For a messier/bohemian look, leave a few strands of hair hanging and curl them to frame your face.

Well I hope you've enjoyed this post! I would say this hairstyle is great for people with thin hair too (as seen from Christine).

Till next time
Love,
El

That time I skipped CNY and went on a cruise.

The last time I skipped CNY, I went to London with my mum.
She went for a work trip and I tagged along because, come on, London!! Who wouldn't skip CNY for London?

~~

This year, my family and I went on a cruise!
It's by Royal Carribean and the carrier is called Mariner of the Seas: MOS for short.

The ship is HUGE.
One of those balconies belongs to the cabin I stayed in.

Coincidently, I work under the Port and Shoreside Services for the company.
At least now I know what it is like on board the ship :)
Read on to see how my experience was like!
(Caution: pretty long post full of photos ahead!)

5 Questions to Ask for Girls on a Shoestring Budget When Shopping

Hey fashion lovers!

It's spring and I'm sure many of you are shopping (or have already shopped) for new pieces to add to your wardrobe! There are so many spring trends that you may be excited to try, and you just want to buy every floral/pastel/chiffon thing out there. Sure, go ahead. But for those girls out there who are on a tight budget, you can't just buy everything that attracts you. Hence here's my list of 5 questions to ask yourself before buying something.

1. How many times will I wear this? 
Why: It's important to ask this question because if you're going to splurge on a piece, it is a waste of money if you're only going to wear it once or twice. You'll only end up feeling regret when you feel like the money you splurged on that piece of clothing can be better used to pay your (upcoming) rent.

Left: Mango Scarf Print Chiffon Dress,SGD114.96; Right: Forever 21 Vibrant Scarf Print Tank,USD15.80.

The design of the dress on the left has a beautiful and artsy print which I adore. However, the number of ways that I can style the dress is limited compared to the tank. I can wear the print tank in many different ways - e.g. with pants/over a shirt/skirt to get the look I want. For the dress, I can only style it with accessories or jackets and shoes to change the look of it.

ASOS's Glamorous Swing Dress in Summer Stripe,SGD42.36
Basics with interesting designs are always good to splurge on. The interesting design will give your outfit a quirk while also being easy to style with many other pieces since it's a basic. Like this, which has a quirky swing-style skirt but it is also in monochromatic stripes, making it a classy and fun dress to have.

Solution: Find something that you will wear frequently. Calculate the number of venues and occasions that you can wear that piece to. Think of the number of outfits you can create by pairing that item with other articles of your current wardrobe. If you can form quite a few outfits with it, then chances are that you'll wear it lots since it matches many things in your wardrobe.

2. Am I buying this because it's on sale or because I really like this?
Why: It's easy to go overboard when things are on sale. I know that feeling myself. It's like when you see a t-shirt on sale, even if it's not something that you'd usually pick, you buy it because it's 50% off. I make this mistake once in a while. In the end, you end up with clutter in your cupboard and less money.

Solution: Think first before you buy. Don't get carried away by the idea of "OMG 30% off is such a good deal!". Ask yourself questions 1, 2 and other questions on this list first. Another way is that you wait for a day or two. If you're still thinking about it, then go and get it.

3. How many times can I wear this?
Why: If it's a statement piece, like a neon pink trench coat, then there's not many times you can wear it without feeling like you're repeating your outfits. Even if it's something that you really love, a statement piece can only be worn a few times without looking old. Plus, you might be limited to wearing it for one season and you don't wear it anymore because the trend has changed.

Left: White 3D Flower Embellished Jacquard Skater Skirt,USD54.90; Right: Forever 21 Romantic Floral Lace Skirt, USD17.80.
I am enchanted by the 3D flower skirt from Chicwish, but the elegant design of it and the statement it makes results in me choosing to only wear it for formal and special occasions. It's a skirt that people will remember, hence one can't wear it frequently. The skirt also follows the white-on-white trend that is currently popular. If you want floral skirt in your wardrobe but still have that romantic element to it, the F21 lace skirt is a good substitute and you can match it with many outfits.

Solution: If you're looking for statement pieces, try to go for pieces that have attractive details but, at the same time, not too outstanding such that you can't wear it when the trend is over.

4: Is this too expensive? Can I find cheaper alternatives?
Why: Sometimes (or often), things that one is attracted to might not be wallet-friendly. A white T-shirt from a high-end brand may cost $100 compared to the one at H&M going for $7.90. Sure, a T-shirt from a high-end may be made of better materials or whatnot, but nobody will be able to tell the brand or the difference in quality unless they touch you or see the label. It's like makeup--no one can tell whether you're wearing a blush from Chanel or from ELF unless you reveal it.

Left: Chicwish Hot Pink Contrast Cuff One Button Blazer,USD56.90; Right: Forever 21 Statement Making Blazer,USD27.80. 
Both blazers look similar except for the cut and the cuffs. However, if all you want is a bright coral blazer, then F21's blazer is a pretty and affordable choice. It all depends on whether you want to save or splurge. If you love coral and wears blazers lots, the Chicwish's one is worth investing. This is just an example to show that there are similar designs with cheaper prices. 

Solution: Decide if you can really afford such a splurge when you can save by buying cheaper alternatives. Shops like Topshop, Forever 21 and Miss Selfridge offer clothes in designs similar to the clothes seen on the runway shows of high-end fashion brands. Or you can always go online shopping to search for it. 

5: Do I look good in it?
Why: This is the most important question of all to ask yourself. What's the point of getting on-trend pieces or cheap deals if you do not look good in it? If you don't feel like you look great in it, chances are, you will hardly wear it out.

Solution: Try the clothes on and take a photo of yourself in it. Ask yourself:"Do I feel or look good in it?" Ask other people for their opinions if you need one. Honestly, if you've got doubts about the clothes, take a while to think before making the purchase. Unless the store has a really nice return policy like H&M, you need to take the time to learn and see what you like and look good in. Usually when you feel good, you'll look good. And when you look good in it, you'll definitely wear it more often! Hence don't hesitate to splurge on clothes that you feel that you'll get alot of wear out of once in a while. 

I hope this list of questions may be helpful in your next shopping trip! Calculate the amount of money you can afford to spend on shopping that month before heading out. Usually, I go out shopping with an idea of what I might want and what I don't need in my wardrobe. Thus, I usually end up buying clothing that fit along those requirements. What other tips do you have when it comes to controlling your shopping budget? I'd love to hear from you in the comments or through twitter (@ChapalangGirls).

Till next time.
Love,
El   xoxo

El's Hair Update

Hello lovely people!

It's already Sunday. I can't believe it'll be Monday again so soon.

Here's the post about my hair that I promised way back in December. Sorry it took so long, because there were so many events in between that I wanted to write about first. Also, this post is quite long since I put in a slight review of the salon I went to. It was a good salon, hence I'm writing it in. If you're just interested in how my hair looks like, just scroll all the way down to the section titled 'Living with Curls'.

If you haven't noticed or realised, I've had my hair permed and coloured! This wonderful hairstyle of mine is thanks to Fion from 99 Percent Hair Studio@Haji Lane. I'm in my salon hopping phase still, so I visit different salons in search of THE salon for me. If you have read my previous hair post, I had  mentioned that I went to I*CON Shunji Matsuo by Lily Xu@ FEP to cut my hair short. The experience there was pretty good, but I'm always trying to find a better one(aka cheap and good). It's like my constant search for the holy grail of all foundation/skincare. If you're interested in 99 Percent Hair Studio, you can check out their Facebook page here.

99 Percent HS is not cheap in my opinion, but at least I'm really happy with my experience there. I spent around 6 hours there. 6 HOURS. That's like one of the longest time I've ever spent in a salon. Thus it was lucky that I had a good experience there. It was also nice that my friend came along as she wanted to get her hair coloured. Thus we had each other for entertainment, even though it did get boring at times.

Why a perm?
My hair is naturally wavy/frizzy. I go for rebonding every now and then to get my hair tamed. My mum prefers the silky straight hair look, so I've never really gone for a perm. However, I had this sudden epiphany one day. 'Won't a perm be better since my hair roots grow out curly/wavy?" I was also sick of flat, black hair. I became convinced that a perm will be better. It took some effort to convince my mum before she gave me the green light to go ahead.

I booked an appointment at 1pm (11 Dec) with the salon, but ended up reaching later. The salon was pretty busy. It's a small but cosy salon. It's located in Haji Lane itself, so if you're waiting for your hair colour to set in, you can always go out and shop for a while. Haha. I booked Fion since her skills are highly reviewed!

 Anyway, I told Fion that I wanted to perm my hair and maybe even colour it if possible. Usually, it is advised that people don't get colouring and perming/rebonding done in one sitting because that can seriously damage the hair. I was able to perm and colour at one go though, because Fion said my hair was strong enough. I told her how I wish for my hair to look like and she gave me a couple suggestions. We discussed for a while and she also showed me pictures of what to expect. Cool fact: she told me that if I coloured my hair and then perm, the perm solution will lighten up some parts of my hair, resulting in slight highlights! I thought this was pretty ingenious. After that, she gave me the colour book to pick a colour and left me. It was almost an hour till she got back to me (she had so many customers' hair to do!). It was such a long wait that me and my friend got bored talking to each other. Haha.  Thankfully, Fion returned! I was stuck between 2 shades of brown (yep. brown has more than one shade) but managed to pick one quickly.

This is kind of how my hair looked like before cutting. Black hair. Flat. Help.

We finally got down to the wash and cut phase. Whew. That was a long wait. The washing part was ok. It didn't hurt or anything. On a side note, the shampoo smells really gooooood. So with my hair washed, Fion got down to cutting my hair. The first thing she did impressed me. She didn't ask me where my parting was and got it right at first go! This might be insignificant to you, but a huge relief for me. Usually, I would get stressed when hairstylists ask me where's my parting, because I don't know it exactly myself. (I just figure it out somehow while drying my hair) As a result, I would end up with weird strands poking out when I do not get back to the same parting after the haircut. Thus imagine my relief that she got my parting right without asking me. It shows that she actually noticed where's my parting before she washed my hair. Or maybe she decided it on her own. Or maybe she just got lucky.

Moving on, this is how my hair looked like after it got cut:

a tiny picture of me from my chair. Hair's not looking that great yet.

After that, I got my hair coloured. I had to sit and wait for almost an hour for the colour to sink in.

My new hair colour! If you're wondering about the book, it's James Joyce's Dubliners, which is a good read:)

Next, the perm solution was applied to my hair and left to sit. I had to do digital perm, because of my rebonded hair. According to Fion, the cream that is used in rebonding can only be 'overwritten' by the solution used in digital perm because they're the same cream. Worst still, my hair is resistant to chemical treatments, so she had to leave the solution in a little longer.

Waiting for the perm solution to sink in... Here's a super unglam photo.

Next, she used a curling wand to curl my hair. I was surprised since I expected those rollers that you see in dramas. I had a slight shock seeing how tight the curls were initially. After Fion loosened the curls, they looked much better. A bit of styling cream and some fussing later, a beautiful head of curls is born.

And now I'm done! Yay!

So that's how my hair looked right after the salon visit. Honestly, I wasn't totally wowed by my hair initially. I really like the colour, but wasn't too sure about the curls.

The whole trip cost me around $289, after paying for membership and using the discounts that comes with it. Fion charged me lower than the listed price for colouring and perm as my hair was short. Anyway, I paid more than this when I went to get my rebonding done at Jean Yip with my long hair, so I saw it as paying for my yearly rebonding.(Jean Yip's silk rebonding is the only rebonding treatment that looked good and didn't dry the hair up like crazy).
However, the curls looked alot better loosened out a few washes later. My love for my hair grows each day. Plus, I've received many compliments for my hair (Yay!).

My hair a few washes later~ Can you tell that the curls have nicely loosened to look slightly more natural now?

Living with Curls
2 months later, I'm still in love with my hair. My roots has grown out somewhat, but I really like the curls. My hair has that nice swishy feeling when I shake my head. Having colour and perm done haven't seriously damaged my hair. My hair doesn't get tangled much and my ends are not dry(despite how it might look). I got the volume and lightweight look that I wanted. The bonus is that I wake up with pretty much amazing hair on most days. Who knew curls are so fuss free(for me at least)? To maintain my hair, I just do my usual routine of shampoo and deep conditioning every other day. I make sure to blow dry my scalp and the hair near the scalp, leaving the ends to air dry. The curls spring back after the hair's dry. On days when I really want to enhance the curls, I add a bit of mousse.

My hair after adding in some mousse. My curls are still not fully dry so it's not poofy yet. My hair gets curlier the next day.Bedhead+mousse=Curls galore
(Btw, this is me barefaced, aka no foundation. I love how clear my skin is right now. HAHA)

Caring Hair Expert Contour  Styling Mousse, It contains hair conditioner which helps keep my ends soft. I got this from a Watsons in Bangkok for 64baht (I think). I think this mousse is not bad. It doesn't give that 'crispy' feel that some brands do.

Thanks for staying with me till the end of the post. I know it has been a very long post(but it's a detailed post about my 6 hours long trip that has been condensed into a 5 minute read). I hope my story has contributed to your own research on hairsalons and hairstyles that you might want to try out in the future. For those looking to try out 99 Percent Hair Studio, I highly recommend Fion ^^(but do book an appointment before you go, since they can be really busy). So what do you think about my hair? Do you like curls or straight hair? Feel free to comment or tweet me (@yangel0130)!

Till next time,
Love,
El   xoxo