Fabulously Frugal Dolly

Yes, it’s aisle upon aisle of serums and cremes that you’ve got no clue what to do with, but look deeper- they’ve got everything.  My favorite beauty supply shop is in the Detroit area, if you’re around Cherry Hill and Inkster rd in Inkster, MI, stop in and get some goodies.

There’s a million different beauty supply shops, certain chain stores calling themselves beauty supply shops are really just make-up counters gone wild.  Find an independently owned one, they’ve got the good stuff.  Some of the best prices on specialty hosiery can be found in the beauty supply, I just recently picked up three different colors of fencenet mesh stockings, very very cybergoth, for two dollars a pair.  Other great goth finds include black lipliner, which does the finest job as a thick, heavy eyeliner, and an amazing array of nail vanishes, top quality stuff, mostly around three bucks.  There’s lso the potential for great falls and hairpieces for the crafty amongst us, instructions abound (with my own guide coming soon!).  For under twenty bucks, I can walk out of the beauty supply with several pairs of stockings, some earrings and makeup, it’s not an every week type of shopping trip though.  Your shop of choice might include a selection of clothing, lingerie and handbags, some do, they’re great places.  Another bargain is in the perfume oils and incences, generally any major fragrance is available in knock-off form, some closer than others, alongside some other scents.  I’ve not run into too many standard brands, but a few sniffs should lead you to a fresh new scent for well under ten dollars.  No one needs to know you aren’t on a first name basis at the macy’s perfume counter, if you like a perk-up during the day find a fancy little purse bottle to hide the secret source.
Jewelry can be a gamble.  Be warned, sensitive ears will not react well to the ten-for-a-dollar hoops, no matter how cute they are.  Don’t plan on the baubles lasting, if it looks fabulous for a few nights out, that’s what it’s for and that’s why it’s soo cheap.  Hair clips can vary greatly as well, though a number of the ones I’ve gotten from the beauty supply shops have been markedly nicer than those sold at mass merchadise or ‘bigbox’ stores.

As I mourned for my own natural long nails becoming torn stumps, I sought solace in the glue-on variety.  Might I say, as cheap as I am, even I can see why the dollar store fake nails are just a buck.  Don’t waste your time or two bucks on the crap nails (but semi-decent glue) sold at Dollar Tree, who are otherwise fine purveyors of most any cheap thing I need.  They’re just like a wad of packing tape, and will shatter, crack and otherwise disintergrate, if you manage to get them on without breaking them first.  The can’t be filed without snapping!

So this afternoon I tried again, sick of my stumpy little nails trying to regrow to their former glory.  I bought a set of KISS brand nails in the active oval shape, a bit shrter than I’d thought they’d be but rather nice to work with.  For about five dollars at Target there’s a set of one hundred nails which includes a free bottle of glue.  Following the package instructions, I made sure my own nails were clean and well-filed before selecting the proper sized nails for each finger.  Once you’ve got your nails all lined up, open up the glue and start pressing ‘em on, like the commercials used to sing in the 80’s.  After carefully placing each nail and holding them in place while the glue grabs, you’ll bhe ready to file the ends.  The ones I used had what the maker calls ‘numbers’, which I couldn’t squint hard enough to see, that were more like bits of jagged plastic where the nails were molded.  These bits file off quite easily and make the nails easier to pick up and hold when applying.

All that’s left to do is paint them in your choice of color- I went with an iridescent purple-blue.  Thus far the nails are comfortable, they’re not in the way of typing or doing other tasks.  As they’re still fairly fresh I cannot attest to longevity as of yet, but they feel fairly secure.  Definately worth the three dollars more to get the decent ones, remember my darlings- it only saves money if it works.  In this case, I’d advise to pick up a five-dollar packet of nails rather than dropping twenty or more getting a salon to do your nails.  As my health conditions leave me more prone to infections I was always hesitant to get my nails done, but I know my home is clean and free of other peoples’ weird nail funguses and crud.  It’s not just cheaper, it’s also safer.

As a reader of my blog, I’m entrusting you with some with some of my very best diva on a dime tricks, and this one is a favorite.

Baby wipes are not just for booties.  Think about those make-up remover wipes sold in most every cosmetics department.  What do they feel like, really?  Personally, I use the store brand unscented variety.  I do not know if the scented kind is safe to use removing eye makeup, because I don’t like the baby smell.  They work quite nicely taking off waterproof mascara, foundation, or for just a quick refreshing clean face when and where you want.  A couple wipes folded up in a baggie in the corner of your bag Saturday night can save you from faded mascara on the Sunday morning walk of shame.

Baby wipes are great things to have on hand when traveling as well.  A quick touch-up to a blemish on a favorite outfit can make it wearable, gently wipe the fabric along the grain.  The grain is the way the fibers of the cloth are aligned, for those who aren’t in on  the seamstress lingo.

Even a box of dried-out wipes can be used as disposable cleaning cloths.  The softly textured wipe is perfect for wiping down bathroom fixtures; getting the stubborn little dustwads around the toilet lid hinge and that odd funk around the sink drain.  Just spray them with your cleaner and go- it may not be asquick and easy as the prepacked wipes, but it uses a dried-out box of wipes you’d otherwise throw out.

On that note, you can prevent your wipes from drying out, because let’s face it, a fabulously frugal doll isn’t going through these things at the rate of the babies they’re designed for.  Always be sure to snap down the lid tightly, a lot of these lids are just loosely latched on the top of an open bin with a dispense-type piece cut into the lid.  Both of lids should be sealed, otherwise it’s still open.  If you notice they’re starting to get dry, take off the lid and lift up about half of what’s there.  Drizzle in just a tiny bit of water and reseal the package, give it a shake and they should be good next time you reach for one.

Stay fabulous- and keep some cash in that cute little purse!