Blog Posts by BettyConfidential.com

Move over, blondie, there's a new shade and sex kitten in town!
-Janine Jarman, owner, Hairroin Salon and West Coast Spokesperson for Sebastian Professional

kate middleton pippa middleton brunette bombshell

The brunette bombshell is back on top, thanks to leading ladies and princesses alike! As a natural brunette myself, I'm excited to see the 'dark horse' gracing red carpets and runways everywhere. Color trends come and go, but we can thank Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Lopez for bringing baliage back into the spotlight, utilizing hand-painting techniques to create their soft and subtle brown highlights.

drew barrymore mary kate olsen

Mary-Kate Olsen and Drew Barrymore made roots cool again by popularizing the ombre trend, which is characterized by graduated color (darker roots that gradually lighten all the way towards the ends). Then along came the iconic Royal Wedding and princess brown now reigns supreme. I love Kate (Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge) and Pippa Middleton's effortless brunette hues, as they are potentially all natural with just a

The job market may be tight, but you can be a winner.
-Dr. Anne K. Gross, BettyConfidential.com

job interview

You buy a new suit. You sprinkle your resume with flavorful verbs. You wake up every morning with a renewed sense of optimism. But the phone never rings, the suit stays hanging in your closet, and you end each day with a feeling of failure. You're looking for a job, and no matter how hard you try, you can't keep up your sense of self-esteem.

In search of help, you Google self-esteem and job search. Article after article admonishes you to think positive thoughts, to "surround yourself with positive people." Expert after expert warns you that the worst thing you can do is let your positivity wane, for nothing decreases your possibility of success more than a deflated self-image. You now feel worse, for not only do you blame yourself for not landing that perfect position, but you add insult to injury by berating yourself for feeling down.

Don't worry; you are not alone. Most of

Remembering 9/11, the day my generation realized we weren't invincible.
-Lucia Peters, BettyConfidential.com

September

I was 16 years old. September had just begun, full of sharp, clear weather and foliage that made the trees look like they were on fire, and with it had come the beginning of my junior year of high school. On that morning, like so many others, my friends and I had taken advantage of our school's "open campus" policy during a morning free period and gone into town for coffee and conversation. But when we wandered back onto campus, going out of our way to step on crunchy-looking leaves as we went, we found a scene quite different than the one we were expecting. Between 10 and 10:15am, students normally milled around, chatting, laughing, and decompressing during the 15-minute school-wide break. But today, a steady stream of students and teachers filed into the auditorium in which I spent most of my time-as a mainstay of the theatre department, the Performing Arts Center, or

What does your last name say about you?
-Brittany Roshelle Davis, BettyConfidential.com

Two people getting married

Names impact every part of our day. They're our identity. Yet, many women still shed their last name on their wedding day and become someone new. I have to admit, the second I got married, I happily ditched my maiden name. I loved the idea of being Mrs. & Mr. Davis. I immediately went down to the DMV, Social Security office, and happily called everyone who bills me to tell them the joyous news. Once we had settled into our marital bliss and handled plenty of in-lawed unwedded bliss, it hit me.

With a name like Davis, I was now 100% anonymous. I had to blend in now as a Davis, which was easy, considering the thousands of us. I felt erased. The more I thought about my unique last name, the more I missed it. I had never considered the fact that my identity was wrapped up in my name. Each time I signed my new name I couldn't help cringing. I braced my husband with the news. I was changing it

Chaz Bono responds to the controversy surrounding his appearance on Dancing with the Stars.
-Lucia Peters, BettyConfidential.com

Chaz

The 13th season of Dancing with the Stars may well be the most-talked-about season of the show ever, and all because of a single cast member: Chaz Bono. What's the big deal? Chaz, you see, was born Chastity Sun Bono in 1969. At age 18, Chastity came out to her parents (who, incidentally, are Sonny and Cher) as a lesbian. And in 2009, Chastity began undergoing a gender transition from female to male, legally changing his name and gender in 2010. He chose the name Chaz Salvatore Bono in honor of his parents. Yep: Chaz is transgender female-to-male, and his dance partner, Lacey Schwimmer, is female. Gasp! Scandal!

The naysayers, of course, have boatloads of issues with the casting choice. A quick glance at the show's official message board reveals scores of people who feel that the show is no longer family-friendly, who believe that the show is

Don't know where to go to see celebs, drink cocktails, shop and have fun on FNO? Check out our list! -Diana Denza, BettyConfidential.com

shoe shopping

Tame your tresses, redden your lips, and get your heels ready for one of the biggest and busiest nights in fashion. Fashion's Night Out (FNO) on September 8 is a date marked on every fashionista's calendar. And why wouldn't it be? Ladies from New York to Los Angeles will strut through street parties, gush over designers and celebrities, sip endless glasses of champagne, and maybe even win a prize or two.

While we can't guarantee perfect weather and stilettos that won't snap, we can point you in the direction of the very best events in New York City, Los Angeles and Dallas (for a comprehensive list of events by state, visit the official FNO website). Here are dozens of parties, meet-n-greets, and contests that will make your FNO a night to remember.

Events in New York City:

Escada Dessert Lounge at Sephora, 597 5th Avenue, 6-10 p.m.

What is the protocol on hair "down there"?
-The Mouthy Housewives, BettyConfidential.com

A confused woman

Joining us here at BettyConfidential … The Mouthy Housewives! These lovely models of decorum (Kelcey, Wendi, Marinka, Kristine and Tonya) want our lives to be as fabulous as theirs, thus they're happy to ignore their families to give us smart, cheeky advice. So pop open a box of rosé, put on your favorite Barry Manilow CD and let the Housewives Swiffer away your troubles … Every week they'll be answering burning questions from readers.

Dear Mouthy Housewives,

I'm back on the dating market after a long, drawn-out divorce and eager to meet a new guy. I know this is a little ridiculous, but my question is: do men prefer natural hair down below, or the 100% waxed, Brazilian look? And why?

Signed,

To Wax or Not to Wax

Dear Wax No Wax,

Here at the Mouthy Housewives, we go that extra mile for our readers. So I decided to conduct a formal research project by polling men on

Glee phenom Lea Michele has transformed from unexciting to a couture fashionista in less than two years! -Evette Brown, BettyConfidential.com

lea michele style evolution

In high school, members of the Glee club weren't popular. Now, we can't get enough of their melodies and pop covers! When Glee hit our TV screens in early 2009, it was an instant hit. Sitting at the top of the ratings charts for weeks threw the dynamic cast into the spotlight. Adorable brunette Lea Michele became a breakout star. We fell in love with Rachel Berry and her perfect soprano week after week. After winning the 2009 Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical and a Screen Actors Guild Award, she became a permanent fixture at all the major award events. Lea Michele is burning up red carpets everywhere. Named to People Magazine's Best Dressed List for 2010 and signed on as an ASOS spokesmodel, she has evolved from a simple songstress into a musical fashionista.

Here's a sneak peak at how her style has