Greetings from Novato! Sorry I’ve been MIA today, holmes. My flight was delayed out of sunny San Diego, so I spent the better part of this afternoon sitting at my departure gate while a non-stop serenade of saxophone-heavy airport muzak did its best to drive me insane.
Too late! 🙂 Needless to say, after three hours of relentless Kenny G., I was a tad grumpy, but I feel a million times better now that I’m back home with Tabs.
Shoot, I think he was even happy to see me…or maybe he just thinks he’s gonna get gravy tonight (he is).
Oh, and guess what? Lloyd Christmas and I are finally starting to get along, in part because of the new Conair Velvet Touch Medium Nylon Round Brush ($6).
It’s a barrel brush with nylon bristles designed for short to medium length hair, and I picked it up at Target last week before leaving for San Diego. With a blowdryer, it can be used to create soft curls and waves, or to smooth and straighten, which is how I’ve been using it on Lloyd Christmas.
Dang thing dries my bangs in no time flat! All I do is apply a few drops of Orofluido to them first, and then use the brush and my dryer to blow them straight. The bristles hold and spread the hair, exposing more of it to the heated air from the dryer, and I guess the vents in the barrel allow the warm air to get where it needs to go. The soft rubbery handle also helps me keep a good grip on the brush when my hands are wet.
Weirdly, I think the label should read, “Designed to accelerate drying time for bangs,” because that’s how it works best, at least for me. On the rest of my thick, wavy hair, however, it’s just okay. A little tricky to use because the bristles struggle to hold on to large chunks of hair, but I bet it would handle fine hair much better.
All in all, I think it’s a good brush for the price, especially if you’re looking for something specifically to dry, smooth and straighten bangs.
PRICE: $6
AVAILABILITY: Available at drugstores (it’s a little hard to find online, but here’s a similar model)
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+
Anywho, enough about bangs (for today). How was your Monday?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Solangel says
I love your cat lady voice! It’s just like mine 😛 Btw, what do you feed Tabs? He is so adorably chubby *-*
Karen says
Hi Solangel,
LOL… I guess the cat lady voice comes with the territory. 🙂
To keep his curvy body, Tabs eats Science Diet and Fancy Feast w/Gravy. He also snacks on fresh catnip!
Do you have kitties? What are they like?
Solangel says
I have a big boy named Yeyo (not related to the UD shade, although his fur is part white!) who likes to climb in anything and everything. He even gets into the fridge when we’re not looking and just…lays there, soaking in the chill xD Which reminds me of this site that you might just enjoy looking at: http://getoutoftherecat.tumblr.com/ It seems most kitties have this odd habit of getting into places…
dani@callitbeauty says
mother of pearl, tabs is HUGE! he must give good cuddles <3.
Karen says
He does. He’s a big boy — more to love, ya know?
Liz says
I am obsessed with Tabs. Please film more Tabs videos!
That is, if his busy modeling schedule allows for them. Please tell him that his fans love him!
Karen says
I’ll see what I can do. 😉 He’s usually such a diva!
Liz says
Tell him that there’s a catnip bonus in it for him 😉
Samantha says
I loved seeing that video of you and tabs, it made me smile! Like Solangel said, I have a very similar voice when talking to kitties, and it’s nice to know someone else refers to full grown cats as ‘baby cat’, because usually people think it’s weird. You just gotta be a cat lady to understand:)
Jen says
I still call my dog “puppy” even though she’s 5 years old. 😛
Samantha says
Hahah! Yay! When I call my friends dogs puppy they always like to let me know that it’s a dog… I know, it’s just cuter sounding than dog! 🙂
Linnea says
Trust me.. my dog is 12, and I still call him a puppy. Especially when he acts like it..
I have a cat voice too, do not worry about i! I love how you can just hear Tabs purring like mad.
I wish my cat would greet me like this after days away.. she just gets mad and ignores me for a good day, day and a half.
laksh says
Loved that video, please do film tabs more! Tell him its for his ardent fans here! 🙂
Jen says
I totally talk to my dog in a silly voice, too. People get ridiculous about their pets. 🙂
Tabs is such a talker! So sweet!
Trina says
My cat rolls over ALL the time everytime you walk past him he rolls over cos he likes his tummy rubbed.
I love cats!
Chris25 says
Awww, Tabs is so sweet! This morning Rocky came into my room and cuddled with me. I didn’t want to get up because I was so happy she decided to come to me.
Oh, I can only take Kenny G in small doses. I totally understand the going insane part. 🙂
Karen says
Oh man, I can’t even begin to tell you how painful the music was. They played over the speakers and it was just this non-stop stream bad ’80s light rock sax solo for HOURS.
That’s so sweet that Rocky came to cuddle. You gotta enjoy those rare moments when the kitties are into you!
Kinda random, but don’t you start school soon?
Chris25 says
Yes, it’s supposed to be the 6th of September. But NYU messed up and never put my financial aid through! So I got an email instructing me to pay over $9,000! I was like “Holy &#!”. I emailed them back and told them that my schedule had to be finalized, I needed to take more exams to be placed in certain classes, etc. Such a pain. 🙁
Arianne says
LOL! When I was watching the video I was thinking, “Tabs, show your tum already!” 🙂 Ahh they are so full of love when you get back from a long absence.
Karen says
Yes they are! I’m sure he’ll go back to being surly in a day or so, haha. For now I’m going to enjoy the sweetness while it lasts.
How’s Scherbie doing, btw?
Nina says
the vid is adorable! 🙂
Karen says
You know he’s all about cheesing it up for the camera. 😉
Nina says
true! but i think he is also ecstatic to see momma home! 🙂
Nicole says
My cat turns me into a gibbering fool, too 😀
Karen says
They have the power to do that. 😉
How old is your kitty? I know a while back you had a tabby boy love you and then leave you…
Ada says
Hahaha my BF has the exact same voice when he’s talking to his pets 😀 (So do I, actually!)
And for thick hair, I like using a boar bristle brush!
Karen says
Yes, me too! I have a huge round brush that I like using for my ends… it’s the best when it comes to straightening. Do you use any product beforehand too?
Kim says
The round brush is a wondrous thing! 🙂 I laughed out loud about the Lloyd Christmas. The Hubs has thick hair and I usually call him Count Chocula or Frankenberry when his bangs are acting up. I loved the Tabs video but I got nervous that Edward Scissorpaws might come out on a couple of those rolls. HAHA!
Karen says
LOL… during tummy flashing time Edward Scissorpaws stays away. He usually comes out to play when it’s cat tower time, though!
How have you been? I feel like I haven’t talked to you in forever.
Kim says
I know – I was in the Anaheim area all last week for work (without my laptop) so I was depressingly out of touch. Though, I must say, the beautiful weather made it more bearable! 🙂
What did you think of TB this week? I love Eric but he and Sookie seem so awkward to me. I was happy to see that Pam’s getting her face back!
Alison says
Haha, I also call my cats “babycat” and talk about rubbing their “tum-tum.”
Terri says
I had a terrible day yesterday (bleeding into this morning), but this video totally cheered me up! I used to speak to my cat like that (I totally called him baby cat and kitten when he was way too old/big to be considered either).
Glad you made it home okay, and thanks for the awesome video and review.
SusanT says
OMG, I think I’m turning into a Tabs groupie! He is the most beautiful boy! I love his “huskiness” — it makes him even cuter! I have a tiny cat named Delilah. She is the weirdest little thing that I adopted 2 years ago, but I love her so much! I sing to her — yes, I am officially a crazy cat lady. Kiss & hug Tabs for me, Karen!
jessica says
Aww that was too adorable.My cat Snook watched the video too,and his eyes got huge!Snook was pretty impressed with Tabs!
Kate & Zena says
Ha ha, you’re nowhere as bad as I am when it comes to bath time (or brushing) and Zena. Then it’s full puppy dog talk. I’ll have to try and record it for you. It’s BAD. I think that’s the only time I’m really bad with the puppy dog talk; I try to tame the rest so I don’t look too insane (wait, I’m insane all ready.)
Tibby Tabs is really cute! You should really do some more Tibby Tabby videos! I <3 Tibby Tabs. (Don't tell Zena!)
I think that brush might have been made for finer hair like mine. Usually smaller (or shorter) brushes are for finer hair while bigger brushes are for thicker (or longer) hair. Brushes are so confusing!
Tasha says
Awww such a cutie. I love tabs belly….
Tasha says
Yes more tabs video
Stacey says
Tabs is adorable. He so looks like my cat Casey Jones (RIP). Casey was the smartest cat I ever had and had lots of personality like Tabs-must be a tabby cat thing. Now we have a Chihuahua or CSD (cat sized dog) because of my daughter’s cat allergies. I talk to him the same way too 🙂
Karen says
Maybe it’s a gray and black tabby thing. : )How long were you Casey Jones’ assistant, Stacey?
Brody says
I JUST got my hair cut and the woman cut my bangs too short and I’m totally loving swiping the Lloyd Christmas reference! 😉 I also love the video of you and Tabs! I am the same with my kitties, and to me they will always be my baby-cats! (Along with whatever other fun nick names I can come up with!)
Karen says
Hi Brody,
Sorry to hear about your bangs. Hang in there — they’ll grow back!
Tell me about your kitties. How many live with you?
Brody says
I’ve got two kitties ruling my abode, Sophie and Cleo (sisters). Soph was the runt of the litter, so she’s still pint sized! Their hobbies include dragging their bed under the sofa, knocking their toys under things and acting ridiculously cute and then running when I get the camera!
Cats are the best, aren’t they? 😉
Jessica says
Your cat is AWESOME! <3
He is super plush. I loves! <3
Karen says
LOL! Love that — “He’s super plush.” He REALLY is. 😉
Maya says
lol you gotta post more Tabs videos!
Karen says
He’s super thrilled about the response and is now planning on a career in Hollywood, LOL!
Adrienne says
Hi Karen! Tabs is toooo cute! When I come back after being gone for a little while, my kitty, Daphne follows me around like a purring shadow, wherever I go, back and forth 🙂
I was recently at PetSmart and right by the register they had these faux fur mice toys for 99cents. As a vegetarian and an animal lover, I’m always sad to see how many kitty toys are made with real fur and feathers, so I nabbed a few of these faux fur mice, and Daphne LOVES ‘EM! She won’t even let me near them, if I come close while she’s “hunting” she sits on it to hide it, haha. Anyways I just wanted to give you a heads up about these nice cheap finds since I know Tabs is a fan of anything cruelty-free 🙂
Natalie says
OMG don’t you just love it when they act all lovey dovey with you??? Makes. Me. Melt. Unfortunately, an hour later they cruelly snub you as if you are not fit to lick the dirt off their feet. Sigh. I guess that’s just the nature of the beast (or cat, if you will). Cats can definitely wreak havoc with your self esteem! 🙂
mn says
Oh Tabs, that tummy is so delicious, yum!