A few weeks ago I shared a favorite new LBD complete with my very own Frozen braid and a promised tutorial.  Well Loves, here you go.  Ms. Jennifer C. Nieman is taking over today to explain just how easy it is to create what we’re calling a Dutch Braid Crown in four easy steps.  I feel confident that this is a style anyone can pull off whether your hair is long, short, straight, or curly and I hope this is the beginning of many more beauty tutorials to come here WOM.  Enjoy!  Truly, MKR

Step One.  First to add grip, and “dirty” the hair, spray liberally with texture spray.  I suggest using a mix of Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray and Dry Bar’s Triple Sec All In One Volumizer, Texturizer, & Dry Shampoo.

Step Two.  Begin by adding a dramatic part to whichever side you’d like to start your braid on.  It doesn’t matter which side, just choose a side that works best for you.  Once parted start your Dutch braid.  A Dutch braid is simply an “inside out French braid.”  Section the hair into three sections just as you would a French braid, but instead of taking the right and left pieces and braiding over the middle section you will take the right and left pieces and weave it UNDER the middle section.  Repeat, and continue braiding all around the crown of the head.  Once you reach the opposite side and can no longer continue with the Dutch braid (you’ll run out of pieces of hair) finish with a regular braid and tie off the end with a small hair tie.

Step Three.  Spray the braid and hair with hair spray and fluff the braid with your fingers so it gets fatter.  Take the end of the braid and wrap it around towards the beginning of the braid tucking the end under the beginning of the braid (which should be on top of your head) and secure with bobbi pins.  Pull some wisps of hair out around the face and ears.

Step Four.  Tie the remaining hair in a ponytail (you can leave it down for a half up-half down look as well), spray pony and fluff with your fingers to add volume.  Pin some sections up, leaving others down, to create a messy bun look.  Spray again, and voila!

Finding a signature scent is both very personal and very telling of who you are or want to be in that moment.  Do you have a specific perfume based on the time of year?  Or one for work hours and a separate for play hours?  A fragrance that you always wear on a date or evening out?  Or have you been spraying the same scent for so many years you can’t even tell you’re wearing it anymore?  Recently I decided to venture outside my signature fragrance of Hermes Des Merveilles, one I’ve been wearing for a decade now, and test the waters to see if I could find something I loved even half as much.  

Perfumes are a tricky beast as they are completely different from person to person based on our own unique body chemistry, and can be the absolute opposite when worn for a day rather than spritzed in the air at the cosmetic counter.  That was the case with Jo Malone’s Wild Fig & Cassis.  I was obsessed with the scent in store, but it overpowered me so much on I could barley handle it.  Which made for a sad day because I adored the woody earthiness and cozy feeling that fragrance embodies.  I had been dying to try Aerin’s perfumes (mainly because the stone cap is just too gorgeous) for awhile now so when I received two of the bottles for Christmas I was thrilled.  And even better, I love them.  The fresh notes from Ikat Jasmine and warm, almost creamy tones of the Amber Musk compliment my body chemistry perfectly.  They won’t completely replace my Des Merveilles, I don’t think any perfume ever will, but it’s nice to switch it up every now and again.  I’d love to know, what’s your signature scent?  Truly, MKR

*Photography, Kathryn McCrary

I have difficult skin.  Difficult-bane-of-my-existence-the-struggle-is-real-skin.  So when I find a skincare product I love I’m going to shout it from the rooftops.  Enter Dr. Brandt Laser FX Serums.  These three different serums; perfect, lift, and bright has been a game changer in my beauty regimen.  

I’ve actually been using Dr. Brandt products for years, but they’ve always been more acne focused.  Now with age rearing it’s ugly head I get to worry about wrinkles, sagging, age spots, sun damage and all that really great stuff that goes along with Father Time ticking away.  Not to mention I get very little sleep and seem to live a rather stressful life (it was recently pointed out by my dear friend Jacquelyn that I actually like torturing myself through work).  So with all of these factors working against me I love that the Laser FX Serums works for me.  And I felt confident knowing that Dr. Brandt products will never make my skin break out or become too irritated.  Plus added bonus you can apply all three serums at once, morning and night, which is perfect for those of us who don’t have patience as one of their strong suits. 

The Laser FX Lift Serum targets sagging skin and with each application you’ll notice instant firming and tightening.  Skin texture becomes improved, elasticity and suppleness restored, and continued use of this product will produce a visibly more defined face contour.

The Laser FX Bright Serum is for those of us (hand raised) who spent too much time in the sun and has developed dark spots and dullness.  Instantly your skin will look more luminous and over the course of the the first three weeks your skin will look brighter, and imperfections and discoloration will begin to fade.

The Laser FX Perfect Serum is all about the fine lines and wrinkles.  This serum will target those areas making your skin appear softer and smoother instantly and after three weeks your skin will appear plumper with diminished fine lines and wrinkles.

So wether you need one or all three like yours truly, you can’t go wrong with any of these serums.  Truly, MKR    

…WAIT THERE’S MORE…Dr. Brandt Laser FX Perfect Serum  ||  Dr. Brandt Laser FX Lift Serum  ||  Dr. Brandt Laser FX Bright Serum  ||  Jo Malone Wild Fig & Cassis (my cold weather scent)  ||  Malachite Dish  ||  Vintage Chanel Pearl Bracelet (similar HERE)  ||  kate spade new york “Supercalifragilistick” Lipstick  ||  Estee Lauder Infinite Mascara  ||  Sole Society Sunnies  ||  Blue Hand Painted Striped Business Card Holder (also available in black, mint, gold, and poppy)  ||  Horseshoe Cocktail Picks ||  Pearl Earrings 

P.S.  You can receive $10 off your Dr. Brandt purchase plus free shipping by clicking the “SHARE AND SAVE” button on the right side of the page. 

*All images original to Waiting On Martha  ||  This story was sponsored by Dr. Brandt, a brand I’ve used for years, a brand I love & truly enjoy.  All opinions are 100% my own.