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32 Legitimate Ways to Make Money at Home

So you need a way to make money from home. Hey, join the crowd. Nearly 4 million Americans are working from home these days. That’s more than the population of Oregon, Utah or Iowa.

In other words, there’s an invisible army of us clocking in and sitting down at our keyboards at home. A 2015 Gallup poll found that 37% of Americans have telecommuted in their careers — four times as many as in 1995.

Problem is, we all know the internet is chock full of work-from-home scams. So many ripoffs! Seriously, it’s like the Wild West out there, except there’s no Lone Ranger to put things right.

When you’re working from home, you’re truly on your own. You’ve got to look out for yourself, ’cause no one else will.

With that in mind, we’re trying to do you a solid.

We’ve scoured through thousands of different ideas to find you 32 unique ways to make money from home. I guarantee there are some in here you’ve never heard of.

The important thing is: These methods are all road-tested. These are all ideas we’ve tried before, so we know they’re real and that you’ll really get paid.

It’s no brilliant secret that investing can be a smart way to make money.

Sometimes, though, it feels restricted to a few wealthy elite.

But Stash is different. This app lets you start investing with as little as $5 and for just a $1 monthly fee for balances under $5,000. (The first month is free.)

Stash curates investments from professional fund managers and investors and lets you choose where to put your money.

But it leaves the complicated investment terms out of it. You just choose from a set of simple portfolios reflecting your beliefs, interests and goals.

Bonus: Right now, The Penny Hoarder is teaming up with Stash to fund your first investment — so you’ll get an extra $5 bonus to get started.

Pssstt… we’ve got a secret.

There’s a new rewards platform on the market. Drop is a financial-tech company that automatically rewards you for your purchases.

As an exclusive Drop user, all you have to do is link your credit and debit cards. When you make a Drop-qualified purchase, you’ll automatically earn points, whether you’re grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s, hailing an Uber or ordering a pizza

The points will add up, and you can then exchange them for gift cards to popular retailers like Amazon and Starbucks. It’s the ultimate loyalty card — without the card.

You can sign up right here.

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

If you’re a regular Amazon shopper, you can earn money each month contributing to research to help companies understand what people are buying online.

Companies use this information to improve the online shopping experience.

Before you download an app called ShopTracker by Harris Poll, let us give you the basic requirements:

This will be a waste of time if you don’t shop on Amazon.

You must be 18 and live in the U.S.

You’ll need at least a Windows 7-compatible PC. If you have Windows XP or a Mac, it won’t work.

All good? Time to download.

Once you connect your Amazon account, you’ll receive your Visa e-gift card code for $3 via email within 48 hours — and another $3 every month you continue to share your purchase history.

Surveys aren’t the quickest way to make money, but they’re a great way to cash in on your down time. Fill them out while you’re watching TV, riding the bus or waiting in line.

One survey site we love is called InboxDollars. It offers several short, daily surveys you can take. If you take all of them each day, you could earn an extra $730 a year — not too bad.

As part of the Springboard Panel, you get to give feedback on a new ideas and test new products for extra cash. It rewards you with points you can use towards cash or gift cards. Plus, once you join the site, you’ll be entered to win a $1,000 and can earn additional entries for each survey you complete.

Tim Snell under Creative Commons

Don’t forget apps when you’re considering online money-making opportunities. A number of companies will actually pay you for downloading apps on your smartphone — and you’ll get paid for every month you keep them installed. The apps collect data and help companies better understand web and mobile usage — such as what times of day people browse, how long they stay on websites and use apps, and what types of sites and apps are popular (or not).

MobileXpression for Android: After you’ve installed this app for one week, you get to play an instant rewards game for a prize. (Everyone wins something.) We won a $25 Amazon gift card, but some of the other prizes include iPads and Samsung TVs.

MobileXpressions for iPhones – This one is the same as above, but for iPhones.

Nielsen Panel will pay you $50 a year to keep its app on your device and browse the web like you normally do. The information it collects remains totally anonymous. If you install it on your desktop computer, you’ll also be entered to win the company’s $10,000 monthly sweepstakes.

It turns out deleting your emails could be costing you serious money. Intrigued?

One of our secret weapons is called Paribus — a tool that gets you money back for your online purchases. It’s free to sign up, and once you do, it will scan your email archives for any receipts. If it discovers you’ve purchased something from one of its monitored retailers, it will track the item’s price and help you get a refund anytime there’s a price drop.

Plus, if your guaranteed shipment shows up late, Paribus will help you get money back for what you paid for shipping.

Does earning $60 an hour sound appealing? How about the freedom to work from home while helping others succeed?

Those are the perks of working as a bookkeeper, says Ben Robinson, a certified public accountant and business owner who teaches others to become virtual bookkeepers.

And no, you don’t have to have a CPA to be successful in this business. In fact, all you really need are decent computer skills and a passion for helping business owners tackle real-world problems.

It’s a great opportunity for moms who want to work part time, millennials who are just out of college and anyone who wants to bring in real money while working from home.

We talked to Robinson about what it takes to become a virtual bookkeeper, as well as tips and advice for making this career track work for you. You can read the full interview here, or check out his website for more information.

GeorgeRudy/Getty Images

Have you heard of MyPoints? It’s a cash-back site that lets you earn rewards by shopping online and printing coupons.

We love it around here, because it’s an instant way to save on everything you buy. For example, you can get up to 5% cash back on purchases in some categories on Amazon (i.e. where we shop for everything).

Plus, you can get a bonus $10 Amazon gift card when you sign up. Here’s how:

Use the MyPoints portal next time you need to shop online. It’s connected to thousands of stores including faves like Walmart, Amazon and Target.

When you spend $10 at any of those stores, MyPoints will reward you with 1,750 bonus points, which you can redeem for a free $10 gift card of your choice.

SolisImages/Getty Images

Want to try real-estate investing without playing landlord? We found a company that helps you do just that.

Oh, and you don’t have to have hundreds of thousands of dollars, either. You can get started with a minimum investment of just $500. A company called Fundrise does all the heavy lifting for you.

Through the Fundrise Starter Portfolio, your money will be split into two portfolios that support private real estate around the United States.

This isn’t an obscure investment, though. You can see exactly which properties are included in your portfolios — like a set of townhomes in Snoqualmie, Washington, or an apartment building in Charlotte, North Carolina.

You can earn money through quarterly dividend payments and potential appreciation in the value of your shares, just like a stock. Cash flow typically comes from interest payments and property income (e.g. rent).

(But remember: Investments come with risk. While Fundrise has paid distributions every quarter since at least Q2 2016, dividend and principal payments are never guaranteed.)

You’ll pay a 0.85% annual asset management fee and a 0.15% annual investment advisory fee.

Interested? Get started with Fundrise here.

Have a bunch of movies or CDs collecting dust on a shelf? Decluttr will pay you for them!Decluttr buys your old CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays and video games, plus hardware like cell phones, tablets, game consoles and iPods.

One user, Gil Flores, sold about 100 DVDs and 75 CDs and made $275 — an average of $1.57 each.

Just download the app and start scanning the barcodes on your media to get immediate quotes. It’s completely free to use; there are no listing or seller fees; payment is super fast and there’s even free shipping.

Plus, enter FREE5 at checkout to get an extra $5 for your trade-ins!

Have a spare room? Might as well use Airbnb to make some money by renting it out.

If you’re a good host with a desirable space, you could add hundreds — even thousands — of dollars to your savings account with Airbnb.

Taking a few simple steps can make the difference between a great experience and a less-than-satisfactory one.

Here are a few tips:

Make your space available during high-demand times in your area. Think: concerts, conventions and sporting events.

Be a good host and make sure your place is stocked with the toiletries you’d expect at a hotel — toilet paper, soap and towels.

Be personable. A lot of travelers turn to Airbnb for the personal touch they won’t find at commercial properties.

Here’s the link to sign up as an Airbnb host.

(Hosting laws vary from city to city. Please understand the rules and regulations applicable to your city and listing.)

Michael Krinke/ Getty Images

Have you added a ton of random knowledge to your repertoire over the years? Use it to earn some cash.

With the QuizXT app, you can test your smarts on topics like sports, history, music and more. You’ll earn rewards points for every answer you get right — so study up, Poindexter!

The app also pays you for taking surveys and playing other games. We know you’re hanging out on your phone, anyway — why not get paid to do it?

You can cash out via PayPal.

Itching to show off the history lessons you’ve learned watching “The Crown?” We thought so. Download the QuizXT app here to start flaunting your knowledge.

Guess/Facebook

Do you still have a prom outfit from, like, 10 years ago?

It’s never going to fit — or come into style — again, but something just keeps holding you back from sending it to Goodwill.

Maybe money could change your mind. Instead of storing clothes indefinitely, try selling them.

One app we especially like is letgo. You can literally list your clothes in less than a minute.

Rohappy/Getty Images

If you have a smartphone and a photographic eye, making money may have just gotten a lot easier. Oh yeah – you’ll also need access to marketable scenery.

There’s a new app called Foap that allows you to turn your smartphone photos into cash. Here’s how it works: You download the free app. You sign up for an account. You take a quality photo. You upload photo to Foap’s marketplace. Someone buys the license to your photo for $10. You make $5.

If your photo sells 20 times, you make $5 each time and end up with $100 in your pocket — all for about five minutes of work. Pretty cool, right?

vgajic/Getty Images

So this is the part where you scratch your head and say, “No way.”

HealthyWage is a program that allows you to place a bet on your weight-loss goals. The idea is that if nothing else, maybe, just maybe, a cash prize will motivate you.

It’s worked for many others.

Take, for example, Angie Richards, who bet herself she’d lose 40 pounds in six months. She ended up losing 52 pounds and winning $1,200.

Then there’s Katelyn Pincock and her husband, Cort, who each bet $75 per month for six months. They ended up winning $3,000.

Unfortunately, the program doesn’t come with a magical diet or sweatless workout regimen. But hopefully the potential to win some cash will help you keep your eyes on the prize.

Ibotta is an easy-to-use cash-back app that’s partnered with more than 50 retailers, just about anywhere you’d do any kind of shopping.

Before heading to the store, search for items on your shopping list within the app. Strawberries? Check. An ear of corn? Check. Add each cash-back opportunity to your list in the app.

Then shop.

When you get home, snap a photo of your receipt and scan the items’ barcodes.

Bam. Cash back.

Some cash-back opportunities we’ve seen include:

25 cents back for any item

25 cents back on strawberries

50 cents back on frozen fruit snacks

$1 back on a box of tea

$5 back on a case of Shiner Bock beer

Notice a lot of those aren’t tied to a brand — just shop for the staples on your list, and earn cash back!

Ibotta is free to download. Plus, you’ll get a $10 sign-up bonus after uploading your first receipt.

hidesy/Shutterstock

We’ve put together a huge list of banks that will pay you just to open an account! Some of them will pay you up to $250 just for opening a savings account!

There’s no harm in having multiple bank accounts. In fact, I often find it’s helpful to have multiple places to save (I’m less likely to touch the money), so I have savings accounts for my Christmas fund and my vacation fund.

The top bank bonus is $250 right now — head over to this list to see all of the banks in your area that are offering free cash.

piola666/Getty Images

No extreme physical activity or pulled muscles required for this money-making trick. All you need to do is download the Shopkick app.

Once you sign up, the app pays you in “kicks” for walking into certain stores (including Walmart, Target, TJMaxx and more). These can be redeemed for gift cards to a number of retailers, including Amazon, Target, Walmart, Starbucks, Sephora and Best Buy.

It pays you even more “kicks” for photos of receipts that include qualifying items you purchased in-store with a connected credit or debit card. You can also earn kicks for online purchases. Bonus: You don’t have to do anything; your linked cards will automatically apply your kicks.

We’ve got an ultimate guide to using the app here.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – JAN 13, 2017: Lyft driver Paul Pruce in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 13, 2017. (Jessica Kourkounis)

Need a fun, flexible way to earn money while also meeting lots of new people?

Try driving with Lyft!

Demand for ride-sharing has been growing like crazy, and it shows no signs of slowing down. To be eligible, you’ll need to be at least 21 years old with a year of driving experience, pass a background check and own a car made in 2007 or later.

We talked to Paul Pruce, who’s been driving full-time with Lyft for over a year. He earns $750 a week as a driver.

Best of all, he does it on his own time. You can work days, nights or weekends — it’s up to you!

Because it’s simple to switch between apps, many Lyft drivers also sign up as a driver partner with Uber.

As a driver partner with Uber, you are an independent contractor. You create your own schedule and work as much or as little as you want.

If you want to give it a try, here are a few of the things to keep in mind: You must be at least 21 years old, have at least one year of licensed driving experience in the U.S. (three years if you are under 23 years old), have a valid US driver’s license and pass a background check.

Also, your car must be a four-door, seat at least four passengers (excluding the driver), be registered in-state and be covered by in-state insurance.

Here’s a link to sign up to use the Uber app.

Samantha Dunscombe/The Penny Hoarder

Believe it or not, some sites will give you free gift cards just for signing up with them.

One of our favorites is Ebates, a cash back shopping site. It’s giving away $10 gift cards if you sign up as a new member and earn your first cash-back rebate.

You can choose a $10 gift card for Walmart or $10 in Ebates cash for your next shopping trip on the site.

To earn your gift card:

Make your first purchase through the site within 90 days, and spend at least $25.

Your account will be credited with rewards points you cash in for your $10 gift card.

You could make about $700 this month for evaluating search-engine results.

And the best part? Most of it can done while working from home — in pajamas. Let us explain…

Search engines use complicated algorithms to determine the results you see. For example, if you type the name of one of our writers, Steve Gillman, into a Google search box, a half-million possibly-relevant web pages will be narrowed down using various criteria until a second later, you see his smiling face.

You’ll also see links to his personal website, his blog on the Huffington Post and LinkedIn profiles for a bunch of guys who share his name.

But the search engines don’t always get it right.

They are full of errors, so they need real humans to look at the results and judge them for quality, relevance and usefulness. If you’re interested in this type of work, head over to our search-engine-evaluator article to get more info on how to apply.

darrensp/Getty Images

How many people do you know who bought an RV for one awesome camping trip or music festival… only to look back a few years later and realize they don’t use it as much as they thought they would?

If you’re in that boat (er, camper), you can turn your unused RV into cash.

You can rent your RV to other travelers through RVshare, a peer-to-peer rental marketplace.

How much you’ll earn per day will vary based on your location and the type of vehicle you have. We ran a quick hypothetical and found that Class A models made in the past 15 years range $185 to $375 a night here in St. Petersburg, Florida!

That’s a smart way to make your pricy RV pay for itself — or to bank some cash for your next big road trip.

To see how much you could earn renting out your RV, enter the specs here.

mihailomilovanovic/Getty Images

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name. And pays you. To drink beer.

Sound too good to be true?

Secret Hopper is a relatively new company that invites beer lovers to secret shop at breweries and rate their experience. Were you greeted when you came in? Did they offer a sampler? Did the bartender engage you in conversation?

There’s a rather extensive questionnaire you fill out after visiting the brewery, so it helps to review it beforehand. The Penny Hoarder’s own Tyler Omoth tried it out for himself. Read more about his experience here.

To signing up, just go to the web page and fill out the simple form with your age, gender and general beer knowledge.

There are plenty of other types of mystery shops, as well. Choose what fits your schedule so you can pick up retail shopping and restaurants, too, if you want to round out your day.

Americans throw away approximately 266 million tons of trash every year, and it turns out we might as well be throwing away cash.

There’s a reason dumpster diving has become so popular in recent years, and it’s because things you think are worth nothing often do have value.

Anything from your empty wine bottles to old magazines can be sold online. Here’s a full list of the things in your trash that might be worth cash.

Earning $5 at a time might not sound like much, but those little sales can add up to thousands of dollars.

That’s the idea behind Fiverr.com, an online platform where users sell their products and services for $5 each. Fiverr says users create 5,600 new listings, or “gigs,” every day.

Gigs range from the standard data entry and research tasks to the truly out-there. For example, at the time this was written, sellers in the Fun and Lifestyle section were offering:

A piece of rare metal that will melt in your hand

A prank phone call to anyone you choose

Three balloons released into the sky with your message in them

Your name written on two grains of rice

A photo of you on the cover of “Rolling Stone”

A video of a woman pretending to be “crazy in love with you” — which has 253 buyers and a 98% positive rating so far

You can seriously sell almost anything on Fiverr. Here are some more ideas.

mixetto/Getty Images

Data entry isn’t the best-paying online job, but it is one you can do with few skills or previous experience.

Typically, all you need is a computer and internet connection. Fire up a pot of coffee and find online data-entry jobs through these freelancing sites:

Smart Crowd

Clickworker

DionData Solutions

Carmen Mandato/ The Penny Hoarder

Education is one of the world’s leading industries, and the private tutoring market alone is expected to top $102 billion by this year.

Have you ever considered becoming an online tutor to make extra money at home? Well, if you haven’t, you most certainly should. You can make some serious coin by answering students’ questions, explaining your notes and uploading tutorials.

That’s right — by sharing your knowledge, you can be rewarded handsomely.

Try marketing your services on a site like Tutor.com, where instructors earn $9 to $13 per hour, plus $5.50 per hour just for being logged in waiting for students.

We’ve talked before about ways to get paid to spend time with cats and dogs, but this is a new one: pet massage.

That’s right — some people earn money for massaging animals. It might sound a little strange, but apparently many cats and dogs enjoy a good massage as much as humans do.

If you like petting your furry friends, why not explore this option? With a bit of training, you can make $50 per hour as a pet massage therapist. Here’s how to get started.

Diane Macdonald/Getty Images

Ever seen a board game in the thrift store but noticed with great sadness it was missing half the pieces?

You might want to put the game in your shopping cart anyway. One Penny Hoarder made $250 in six months selling spare board game pieces online. You can even sell “mystery bags” of pieces for $12 a pop!

It might take some time for your listings to sell, but if you follow Laura’s guide, you can probably make $100 in about three months.

Can you sum up a product in a sentence? Think of something funny — and not another joke about too many candles — to put on a birthday card? Make a point in few concise words?

If so, you might be able to make money writing slogans.

Companies sometimes need new corporate taglines, advertising slogans and jingles. Bumper sticker and greeting card makers want cute, endearing or funny thoughts to put on their products.

When these businesses need help, they sometimes collect submissions from freelance writers or run contests anyone can enter �� including you.

Try one or more of these platforms to get started:

Slogan Slingers helps companies create slogan contests, in which their registered writers compete. It’s free to sign up as a writer, and the company claims you can make up to $999 per contest (minus its small admin fee).

Get a Slogan is a crowdsourcing platform that brings in custom, creative and catchy slogans from a variety of sloganeers. Companies come to them for help, and writers submit their ideas. It’s free to sign up, but you initially have only “qualifying” status. Once you’re upgraded to “qualified,” you’ll receive $50 for each of your winning slogans.

Freelancer.com has a section devoted to slogan-writing projects, which are sometimes run as contests. For example, at the moment, a personal-injury law firm is offering $150 for the best “unique and memorable tagline/slogan.”

Do you like to stay up-to-date on the latest popular — and not-so-popular — TV shows? Get paid for the TV you’re watching in your spare time by writing reviews.

Writing about TV comes in a lot of forms, according to NPR television reporter Linda Holmes. Lots of sites pay writers to review or recap shows, but different types of write-ups require different tones.

You could do a straightforward review of the craft of the show, search for symbolism in the story or start a conversation with readers about the lives of the characters.

If you prefer a bit of snark, you might write for a site that prefers to riff on TV shows. These turn your review into an opportunity for biting punchlines.

A few places to get you started:

Pitch Previously.TV editors your ideas here.

If superheros are more your speed, check out this recapper job with HollywoodLife.

Get your foot in the door at Mic writing TV show recaps.

Carmen Mandato/ The Penny Hoarder

Acorns is a simple savings and investment app that rounds your credit or debit card purchases up to the nearest dollar and invests the digital change.

You can connect the app to your credit or debit card and let it automatically round up all your transactions, or manually round up only the ones you choose.

Contributor CJ Reid does the latter, accepting roundups of less than $0.50, such as his $3.60 cup of coffee.

“Rounding up 40 cents here and 25 cents there moves me swiftly enough to $5 so that I can begin investing without putting myself into the red,” she says.

Once your round ups reach $5, that amount will be transferred from your bank to your Acorns account, and invested into your chosen portfolio.

“Acorns makes it easy to invest by removing the responsibility of choosing individual investments or worrying about trades,” Reid explains. “You don’t need any previous investment knowledge or history.”

And once you get the process automated, Acorns investments make your digital change work for you.

“With a conservative portfolio,” Reid says, “I turned $15 into $19 within a few weeks.”

You can sign up and download the app for a $5 bonus here.

Good luck! Let us know below if any of these opportunities helped you make money from home.

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LED Wall Pack Light

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Worth the money.I bought it when black Friday promotion.I am impressed with this construction, this led wall pack light have the heavy cast aluminum housing, built in a photocell, the light will come on from dust to dawn. Not only a wall but also a good choice for house decor.I have not install it yet, will keep go on looking it's using.

"The light is very bright and has a very good pattern. I was surprised that such a compact ..." - By Melissa Basler

This is a high quality light. The light is very bright and has a very good pattern. I was surprised that such a compact light could do such a good job. I control mine with photo cell, you have to use a goose neck type as the internal mount brings the light on too early. Highly recommend this product.

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melodywooo-blog · 7 years ago

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LED Light Bulbs and LED Replacement Bulbs | 1000Bulbs.com

LED light bulbs can save you money not only because they are roughly 80 percent more energy efficient than other bulbs, they also produce far less heat than metal halides, CFLs, and incandescent light bulbs. Upgrading to LED lighting means you won't spend your summer months cooling down rooms that your light bulbs are busy heating up. While originally a cooler blue tone than incandescent bulbs, LEDs now come in daylight and warm white color temperatures so you can more easily replace your existing bulbs without altering the color of your room. Visit our Lighting Guide to see what difference color temperature makes. LED lighting also offers a superior color rendering index (CRI), so you can see the colors of your artwork or makeup more accurately.

LED replacement bulbs are durable and ecologically friendly. Did you know you can recycle LED bulbs and reduce your carbon footprint up to one third? LEDs outlast the competition, staying bright for up to 11 years of continuous operation. This means less time climbing ladders trying to replace those hard to reach bulbs in vaulted ceilings.

LEDs are one of today's most promising technologies.

No mercury, making them a cleaner alternative to fluorescent and CFL lamps.

The lowest energy consumption of any lighting product to date.

Light quality equal or superior to traditional lighting products.

Life that is 20 times than some traditional lighting products.

LEDs or Fluorescents - Which is More Efficient?

LED light bulbs for the win! When it comes to purchasing energy-efficient lighting, LEDs surpass CFLs by a wide margin. LEDs are instant-start with no warmup time needed. They work well in cold weather, and are substantially more durable since manufactured out of plastic instead of glass. From standard bulbs to fluorescent tubes, LEDs can replicate the same lighting conditions found in fluorescents while lasting longer and using less energy. As an added bonus, all LEDs are RoHS compliant and do not use mercury, a claim that can't be made by fluorescent bulbs.

LED Lighting Options

Standard Shape A19 - Designed to give the appearance and pattern of a standard incandescent bulb. Standard and A-shape LED bulbs fit the same sockets and fixtures as your current household lights.

3-Way LED - A three-way bulb is a light bulb that has two brightness settings instead of the standard on or off. If your lamp or fixture says it requires a three-way bulb, this is the category for you.

Vintage LED Bulbs - Vintage reproduction bulbs are now available with LED filament. They have a warm orange glow with lower light levels to mimic the style of a vintage bulb on a dimmer as it transitions from yellow to orange. These Edison style and Victorian style bulbs make great collector items. Order yours today to make your own steampunk lighting.

Wet Location LED Bulbs - A wet location UL rating means these LED light bulbs can be used in humid indoor areas or outdoors where water may drop or flow against the bulb or fixture.

Decorative LED Bulbs - Browse LED globe lights ranging from 3 in. to 1.5 in. diameters or find LED replacement bulbs for your chandelier light bulbs. The long life of LEDs mean less time on the ladder changing burnt out bulbs. Many LED chandelier lights are dimmer switch compatible and come in a range of color temperature so you can still enjoy the ambiance of traditional bulbs but the energy savings of LEDs.

LED Tubes - LED tubes are the emerging standard for commercial and household lighting. Ranging in size from T5 to T12 and a variety of color temperatures, these LED tubes are an easy way to upgrade to energy efficient lighting. Some of them work with or without an existing ballast, making the transition to LED lighting easier than ever. These LED tubes emit the same amount of light as fluorescent T8s, while using a fraction of the power and lasting up to three times longer. LED tubes are especially effective in cold areas like refrigeration lockers where fluorescent tubes are less efficient at producing light.

LED Tape Lights - For accents, alcove, and backlighting, LED tape light is a fantastic choice. More flexible than rope light and bright enough for accent illumination, a strip of LED tape light can bring any place to life. There are countless uses and applications for this easily installed new light source.

Shatter Resistant LED Bulbs - Dipped in a special coating, these bulbs may still break if dropped, but they won't shatter into pieces and fly across your floor. We recommend not dropping them, but if you do, these make cleanup quite a bit easier.

LED Night Lights - Keep the monsters away with LED night lights. Motion activated, and battery powered, these LED bulbs will light the way to the bathroom or give reassurance that nothing is lurking under the bed when your child needs to reach for a dropped retainer or teddy bear. Mounted using tape or screws, light only the area you need without waking sleeping babies.

Reflectors - From the powerful flood and spot lights, to home bound recessed or track lights, reflectors find excellent use indoors or out. LED reflector lamps can provide the same brilliance for less energy and will create far less heat than an incandescent or halogen lamp. As a bonus, they have a higher CRI than fluorescent reflectors for better colors.

Shop by Brand - Shop top brands for LED light bulbs including Cree and Soraa. Watch installation videos for help retrofitting an existing structure or give us a call to talk to a licensed electrician.

Things to Consider When Buying LED Lighting

Equivalent Wattage - While lumens are the new standard, it helps to have an easily recognizable guide. Comparing an LED bulb to an incandescent will give you a rough estimate of just how well it will light a room. As a very ballpark figure for LED wattages, 1/4 or 1/5 the incandescent wattage value is usually close to what you need.

Lumens - Lumens directly measure just how much light the bulb gives out in total. On average, a 60-watt incandescent shines at 800 lumens, with roughly 50-100 lumens of difference above or below. The variance depends on manufacturer and age of the lamp. LEDs are directly rated for their max lumen rating and last much longer without dimming of the bulb.

Color Temperature - Your guide to how the light itself will look. Lower values are warmer, with 2700-3000K being a more incandescent "warm white" while higher temperatures like 5000K will deliver a very harsh "stark white" light. Our Lighting Guide lets you select a color temperature and see how it transforms a kitchen.

Driver Content - Because of their design, LEDs do not typically run on AC voltage. Many LEDs require some form of driver to convert the voltage from AC to DC for proper operation. The majority of socket-based LED lamps are self-driven, but you should always check before buying to make sure that you buy both an LED and a driver at the same time if it isn't self-driven.

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melodywooo-blog · 7 years ago

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So is coal great again or what? wow

mine country

Early last year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order reversing the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan. He told the assembled coal miners that the move promised boom times ahead. “You know what this says?” Trump asked. “You’re going back to work.”

Ten months later, the results are mixed. Behold the facts:

Jobs gained, jobs lost: Total U.S. coal employment was up about 1.6 percent last year, with most new coal jobs added in Virginia and West Virginia. But preliminary federal data obtained by Reuters shows that nearly two-thirds of coal-producing states reported coal job losses, including Ohio, Kentucky, Montana, Wyoming, and Texas.

Closure ahead: About half of the gains in coal jobs will be wiped out if the 4 West Mine in Pennsylvania closes this summer as scheduled, laying off around 400 coal workers.

Coal jobs near historic low: Some 50,000 people work in the coal industry, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s roughly one-third of what it was in the late ’80s.

More miner deaths: Last year saw 15 workplace-related coal worker deaths, an increase from nine in 2016.

Demand still sliding: Thanks to the usual suspects of cheap natural gas and falling costs for solar and wind power, old coal plants are getting less competitive, and U.S. demand for the fuel is decreasing.

One year after Trump was sworn in, his dreams of rolling back environmental policies have come true. But his promise to bring back coal is another story.

tick-tock

The Doomsday Clock is a theoretical device meant to communicate how close we are to destroying civilization. It just moved 30 seconds closer to midnight — that is, The End — which hasn’t happened since 1953.

The Clock is “operated” by The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, a respected academic journal that informs the public about significant threats to the survival of humankind. On Thursday, the Bulletin released its 2018 Doomsday Clock statement.

The primary reason that the clock is now set at two minutes to midnight is the threat of nuclear war. But climate change has plenty to do with how close humanity has come to destroying ourselves, for the following reasons in the Bulletin’s statement:

Carbon emissions haven’t started declining yet. In fact, they started rising again in 2017.

The U.S. government derailed progress on climate change last year by announcing withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement.

Climate-related weather disasters are becoming more frequent and more damaging.

“The nations of the world will have to significantly decrease their greenhouse gas emissions to keep climate risks manageable, and so far, the global response has fallen far short of meeting this challenge,” the authors of the statement wrote.

public interest

What? Yes. According to a report released by The Wilderness Society on Thursday, “If U.S. public lands were their own country, they would rank fifth in the world for greenhouse gas emissions.”

There’s been a big hullaballoo over Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s plans to turn our public lands over to industry interests. But a lot of that land is already leased out to oil and gas companies, in transactions that have been largely shielded from public view.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the report’s more alarming findings:

Oil, gas, and coal projects on public lands are responsible for at least 20 percent of our country’s total emissions.

There is currently no “systematic effort to track nor disclose the carbon consequences of energy leasing on public lands.” That means the American public has had little opportunity to weigh in on how its energy resources are managed.

The Bureau of Land Management under President Trump has instructed land management agencies to forgo climate impact assessments in the interest of spurring new energy developments.

That’s all bad news for the climate. In fact, there isn’t really any good news here, but The Wilderness Society did provide this nifty Accountability Tool you can use to explore public lands emissions.

Trump the builder

After the passage of the contentious GOP tax bill and a prolonged congressional stand-off on the Affordable Care Act, Trump’s proposed infrastructure plan is an initiative we can finally get behind. Our infrastructure is old, dangerous, and in desperate need of an overhaul. Nothing controversial here! What? Oh, god. Here we go again.

This week, Politico and Axios published a document that the leakers claim is a draft of Trump’s infrastructure bill. The outline isn’t a final version, but it contains details that undermine one of our foundational environmental laws: the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA is a sweeping act that essentially requires federal agencies to evaluate the “social and economic effects of their proposed actions” before they start major development.

The leaked draft indicates that the Trump administration hopes to streamline projects by allowing highway construction to begin “prior to NEPA completion” and redefining what qualifies as a major federal action so that NEPA no longer applies to investments that ring in under $1 billion (aka most projects).

Trump set the stage last summer when he signed an executive order rescinding an Obama-era requirement that federally funded buildings take sea-level rise into consideration.

Time Thwaites for no one

The most important part of the most important ice sheet in the world just got a bit more important this week.

Warm ocean water is already reaching much farther inland to the Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers than expected, according to a new analysis. In particular, a deep ice channel that connects the newfound warm water beneath Pine Island glacier to the much larger Thwaites may be in the process of being compromised.

“If this tributary were to retreat and get melted by warm ocean water, it could cause the melt beneath Pine Island to spread to Thwaites,” said lead author Dustin Schroeder, an assistant professor of geophysics at Stanford University.

Thwaites glacier is key to holding back disastrous sea-level rise. As I wrote back in November, Thwaites’ collapse is already inevitable — and it alone holds back enough sea-level rise to drown all coastal cities. The main question, now, is how quickly will this happen? With more bad luck, like this week’s study, as well as rising greenhouse gas emissions — the inevitable just got a little more urgent.

Trickle-Down Economics

New research from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association could help pinpoint snow levels in mountain ranges across the Western United States eight months in advance. That’s more certainty of the future than we’re getting from most government agencies these days, so we’ll take it!

“Snowpack” refers to layers of mountain snow that build up during the winter, harden into large masses of frozen water, and then melt in the spring. That melted snow trickles down to feed rivers and streams, bolster municipal water supplies, and supply farmers with a majority of the water they need to grow crops. Eighty percent of snowmelt runoff is used for agriculture.

A lack of snowpack, furthermore, is a big cause of wildfires and drought. Declining snowpack levels in Western mountain ranges in recent years contributed to 2017’s unprecedented drought and wildfire season.

Now, scientists at NOAA think they can help farmers and water managers in the West by predicting where water resources are most likely to accumulate and how much snowmelt can be expected.

This summer, researchers will already be working on snowpack predictions for March 2019 across the western U.S. — with the exception of the southern Sierra Nevada mountain ranges, where random storms make predictions difficult.

Sneaky Peak

Back when oil prices were high, people were talking a lot about peak oil supply — the possibility that we’d run out of new sources of crude oil eventually. But now people are talking about peak oil demand — the possibility that we’ll just stop using the stuff as we come up with better options.

Most recently, analysts from Bank of America and Merrill Lynch have predicted that oil consumption will peak by 2030, as electric vehicles become dominant. The (simplified) argument: Right now, batteries make electric vehicles relatively expensive. As battery prices fall, EVs will turn into a bargain and people will start buying them en masse. If 40 percent of new car sales are EVs by 2030, that would be enough to send our oil habit into decline.

Most oil companies are planning on demand peaking later — like 2040, 2050, or not at all (see ExxonMobil and Chevron). But Royal Dutch Shell is preparing for peak oil in as little as 10 years.

Thinking about buying the new iPhone? Watch our video on how to repair your old phone instead:

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melodywooo-blog · 7 years ago

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Great Barrier Reef, Queensland: where to dive, snorkel and stay

As David Attenborough’s new three-part reef documentary begins, here’s our guide to exploring the world’s largest living structure and its Australian coast, from scuba diving trips to rainforest excursions – plus the best places to stay

Hardy Reef, on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

The Unesco world heritage-listed natural wonder is a ribbon of blinding blues and greens, a constellation of islands and reefs, running parallel with the Queensland shoreline from the tip of Cape York in the north 1,600 miles south to Bundaberg. At the reef’s southernmost end are Lady Elliot and Heron islands, two stars of David Attenborough’s new three-hour documentary (screening at 9pm on 30 December, BBC1); heading north, Airlie Beach, Townsville and Cairns are popular starting points for reef explorations.

Great Barrier Reef and Queensland, Australia

Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands

It’s easy to spend an entire holiday exploring the Whitsunday archipelago’s 74 jungle-clad islands. The jet-set flocks to ritzy Hamilton Island (owned by wine baron and sailing enthusiast Bob Oatley) but nature lovers can delve into uninhabited isles fringed with coral reefs and perfect beaches. Fly to Hamilton Island’s Great Barrier Reef Airport or Whitsunday Coast Airport, a 20-minute drive from Airlie Beach.

Stay

Airlie beach. Photograph: Tanya Ann Photography/Getty Images

Airlie Waterfront B&B

Airlie Beach, gateway to the Whitsundays, attracts visitors eager to wallow in tropical pleasures without paying the hefty price of an island resort stay. Between day trips to the reef and islands, unwind at the town’s manmade lagoon, 200 metres from Airlie Waterfront B&B. Lounge on a deckchair in the B&B’s garden and survey the dramatic rainforest-meets-reef coastline. The double-storey property is all modern geometric lines with a deep veranda up top to catch the sea breeze. • Doubles from AU$179 (£88) B&B, +61 7 4946 7631, airliewaterfrontbnb.com.au

Palm Bay Resort Sunrise or sunset? Catch both at Palm Bay Resort, which sprawls over the neck of Long Island (travel there by water taxi from Shute Harbour near Airlie Beach). The 23 suites and Balinese-style villas, with hammocks strung out front, provide a great getaway. Unusually for an island resort, this is self-catering so some planning is required to source provisions. Meals are cooked in a communal kitchen. In 2015 the resort added a cocktail bar that shakes a mean Long Island iced tea. • Doubles (beachfront villa) from AU$209 (£103), +61 1300 655 126, palmbayresort.com.au

Activities

Dive the outer reef Want to brag that you learned to dive on the world’s most famous reef? Cruise Whitsundays, based at Port of Airlie, ferries divers, snorkellers and day-trippers via high-speed catamaran to a pontoon anchored alongside a coral wall at Hardy Reef. The day-long tour (from AU$230/£112) to the outer Great Barrier Reef includes snorkelling, visiting the underwater observatory and touring the reef in a semi-submersible; scuba diving costs extra. • Dive lesson AU$119 (£59), certified dive AU$99 (£49), +61 7 4846 7000, cruisewhitsundays.com

Scuba and sand combo

Snorkelling near the reef. Photograph: Robin Smith/Getty Images

Combine a dive with arguably the Whitsundays’ most popular attraction by going to Whitehaven Beach with Airlie Beach-based Mantaray Charters for a visit so leisurely there’s time to climb Hill Inlet for an elevated view over the gorgeous white sand. Peer into the shallows to spot juvenile sharks and rays before returning to the boat for lunch. In the afternoon, plop into the clear waters near Hook or Hayman Island to scuba dive or snorkel. • Day trip AU$197 (£96), introductory dive AU$100 (£49), certified dive AU$80 (£39) (second dives $60). Bookings essential, +61 7 4948 1117, mantaraycharters.com

Whitehaven Beach Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island – the group’s largest island – has become a must-see destination for its blue waters and white sand. This means there are plenty of day-trippers along the 7km sweep of dazzling silica; so, for something a bit different, sail over for a day trip (including morning tea and lunch) on the Lady Enid, a former racing yacht. Get the beach (almost) to yourself by taking a barge from Shute Harbour with Whitsunday Island Camping Connections and then camp overnight (the barge company also rents camping gear). • Sailing (eight-hour trip) from AU$225pp a person (£110pp), +61 407 483 000; ladyenid.com.au. Camping permits AU$5.95pp (£2.90pppn) a person a night, +61 13 74 68, nprsr.qld.gov.au Return barge AU$155pp (£76pp), +61 7 4946 6285, whitsundaycamping.com.au

Shute Harbour and Conway national park. Photograph: Ted Mead/Getty Images

Mountain bike in the rainforest Peer over your shoulder in Airlie Beach and you’ll realise the town is not only a reef gateway but right next to Conway national park. The rugged coastal rainforest is a birder’s paradise: keep watch for emerald doves, sulphur-crested cockatoos and orange-footed scrub fowl. From November to March, buff-breasted paradise-kingfishers travel from Papua New Guinea to nest in termite mounds. Get among it on an all-day guided mountain-bike tour with Airlie Mountain Bike Tours that includes stopping for a dip in a waterhole. • Tour from AU$120 (£59), +61 408 800 159, airliemountainbiketours.com

Townsville and nearby islands

Townsville, Australia’s largest tropical city, is more business than pleasure but it’s the perfect gateway to a handful of reef islands. Magnetic Island (Maggie to the locals) lies just offshore; think of it as a far-flung Townsville suburb. Spend a day or two exploring Townsville’s attractions, which include a huge aquarium and an unlikely pink-granite hill overlooking the city.

Stay

Rambutan Rambutan, in Townsville’s nightlife area, bills itself as Australia’s first “glam-packers’” resort. The low-rise property, which opened in 2015, turns the concept of a backpackers’ hostel on its head with a stylish rooftop bar and pool, air-con and en suite for each room, and a restaurant serving American-style food (think barbeuce pit meats and southern fried chicken). Accommodation ranges from undercover van sites to mixed and single-sex dorms, private rooms and a four-bedroom villa. • Van sites AU$34 (£17), dorms from AU$30 (£15), doubles from AU$119 (£58), +61 7 4771 6915, rambutantownsville.com.au

Magnetic Island B&B

Guests are given a mini-tour of the island – and perhaps a glimpse of a resident koala – when Magnetic Island B&B’s owners fetch them from the ferry. The B&B is at Horseshoe Bay at the island’s northern end. Most of Maggie, which has 23 secluded beaches and bays, is national park. Spend days rambling along bush tracks to lookouts and picking a favourite swimming spot before returning to relax around the pool. • Doubles from AU$140 (£69), +61 7 4758 1203, magneticislandbedandbreakfast.com

Hinchinbrook Island

Trekking the Thorsborne Trail. Photograph: Will Salter/Getty Images

Hinchinbrook, one of Australia’s largest island national parks, is famous among bushwalkers for its cloud-wreathed mountainous backbone, lush rainforest, melaleuca swamps, waterfalls and rugged headlands. Only 40 people at a time can traverse the spectacular 20-mile east coast Thorsborne Trail, which is best enjoyed over four days. Seven campsites offer limited facilities (mainly toilets and picnic tables) along the trail, which requires creek crossings and rock-hopping around the headlands. • Camping permits AU$5.95pppn (£2.90), +61 13 74 68, nprsr.qld.gov.au

Activities

Adrenalin Dive Experienced divers can explore the wreck of the Yongala, a passenger steamer that sank during a 1911 cyclone. Lying 15 metres underwater, the ship is one of the world’s best wreck dives. It attracts sharks, manta rays, turtles, sea snakes, giant trevally and schools of tropical fish. During winter, divers may see humpback whales. Adrenaline Dive also takes snorkellers and divers to Lodestone Reef – popular with parrotfish, angelfish and clownfish. • Two Yongala dives from AU$255 (£125); two Lodestone dives from AU$250 (£122), snorkelling AU$220 (£108), +61 7 4724 0600, Facebook

ReefHQ Learn all there is to know about the Great Barrier Reef at reefHQ – the world’s largest living coral reef aquarium. The idea behind the attraction was to replicate the reef on land to make it affordable and accessible to all. Highlights include the coral reef exhibit that’s open to sunshine, moonshine and storms – just like the real thing – and a predator exhibit with black-tip reef sharks and a replica section of the Yongala that can be viewed through an underwater tunnel. • Admission AU$28 (£14) adults, AU$14 (£6.90) children 5-16, +61 7 4750 0800, reefhq.com.au

Photograph: Alamy

Hike Castle Hill Central Australia has Uluru but Townsville has its own unmissable monolith in the shape of Castle Hill – a pink-granite landmark that looms 286 metres above the city. Despite the heat and humidity and the fact there’s a perfectly serviceable road, people persist in taking the hard way to the summit. There are more than a dozen marked and unmarked trails to the lookout – offering views over the city and Magnetic Island. • Free. Trail map at thegotownsville.com.au

Cairns and beyond

Cairns is the northernmost point of Australian tourism’s “golden triangle” (Sydney and Uluru are the other two). While the city’s fortunes have waxed and waned over the years, it’s now on an upward trajectory following major investment in several developments.

Coastline near Port Douglas. Photograph: Alamy

Stay

Ryan’s Rest Stay in a traditional Queenslander – think corrugated-iron roof, louvre windows, high ceilings, deep veranda and timber floor and walls – with nine rooms ranging from singles with shared facilities to self-contained two-bedroom apartments. Seven blocks back from the lagoon, this place attracts guests seeking a quieter stay away from the city’s party zone. There’s also an on-site pool for those needing a close-at-hand dip. • Doubles from AU$66 (£33), +61 428 514 738, ryansrest.com.au

The Hotel Cairns In a city with its share of generic hotels, The Hotel Cairns stands out for architecture that channels the tropical surroundings. The hotel has an excellent location: it’s only a block from the Esplanade, home to a spectacular all-year swimming lagoon and beach. The Hotel Cairns has its own pool, framed by towering palms, while rooms are kept cool with plantation shutters, terracotta tiles and that all-important air-con. • Doubles from AU$129 (£63), +61 7 4051 6188, thehotelcairns.com

Port Douglas Motel With pops of primary colour, the Port Douglas Motel exudes a joyful 1960s vibe. The property’s central location makes it easy to stroll to both Four Mile Beach and the marina – the departure point for reef tours. Jump into the motel’s saltwater swimming pool or watch others frolicking there while cooking up a storm at the communal kitchen. The resort town of Port Douglas is about one hour’s drive north of Cairns. • Doubles from AU$125 (£61), +61 7 4099 5248, portdouglasmotel.com.au

Activities

Cairns Dive Centre Snorkellers, first-time divers and certified divers travel via Fitzroy Island before reaching the outer Great Barrier Reef with Cairns Dive Centre. The daily trips cover two reef sites offering great viewing of the reef’s famous fish, as well as turtles, stingrays and reef sharks. The full-day trip includes morning and afternoon snorkels and dives, with lunch served aboard the catamaran. • Snorkel day trip AU$150 (£74), add introductory dive AU$50 (£25), certified diver day trip AU$200 (£98), +61 7 4051 0294, cairnsdive.com.au

Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park

A ‘Night Fire’ show at Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park,. Photograph: Alamy

Learn about the region’s strong indigenous culture at Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, which unveiled a multimillion-dollar makeover in 2015. There’s a humorous touch to performances relaying the beliefs and stories that have shaped this ancient culture. At night, an interactive dinner show includes a fiery finale. The park neighbours the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to Kuranda. • Park admission from AU$60 (£30) adults, AU$40 (£20) children, AU$160 (£78) family; Night Fire AU$120 (£59) adults, AU$75 (£37) children, AU$315 (£154) family; Tjapukai with return Skyrail, from AU$135 (£), +61 7 4042 9999, tjapukai.com.au

Moore Reef pontoon Those who aren’t water-confident can still enjoy a day on the reef thanks to a pontoon anchored at Moore Reef 40km from Cairns. Sunlover Reef Cruises runs day trips to the covered platform where visitors can snorkel, hop in the glass-bottom boat and semi-submersible coral-viewing boat, check out the underwater observatory and explore the marine touch tank. Extras include Seawalker helmet diving, scuba diving and a guided snorkelling safari. • Day trips from AU$199 (£97) adults, AU$99 (£49) children 4-15, +61 7 4050 1333, sunlover.com.au

Mossman Gorge Centre

Photograph: Adam Bruzzone

What’s better than leaping into a waterhole deep in the middle of a rainforest? Try pairing that experience with stories from the local Kuku Yalanji people. The Dreamtime Gorge Walk at Mossman Gorge, 77km north of Cairns, begins with a smoking ceremony to ward off bad spirits. Learn about bush foods, traditional plant uses and how to make ochre paint before finishing the 1.5-hour tour with tea and damper (soda bread). • Shuttle bus into the gorge AU$8.90 (£4.40), Dreamtime tour AU$60 (£30) adults, AU$30 (£15) children 5-15, AU$150 (£)74 family, +61 7 4099 7000, mossmangorge.com.au

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melodywooo-blog · 7 years ago

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Hair extensions review: Luxy hair vs. Sally's Beauty Supply

From the moment I cut my hair I knew it was a mistake!

I had long hair in middle school and at the end of my eight grade year I chopped it (like 18 inches off) to donate it to locks of love. I then had really short hair like 3 inches shorter than I have now. Since then it has taken me forever to grow my hair back. It was a good 5 years before I got my long beautiful thick hair back.

Last December I stupidly bleached the hell out of it. Huge mistake. My hair became incredibly damaged. Honestly, I didn’t have to cut off as much as I did, but I did it anyways. I wanted a “lob” (long bob), so I cut a whole 10 inches off my hair. 😮

Ever since cutting my hair short I’ve been researching and reading reviews from other blogs on hair extensions because I’m tired of having short hair. I desperately want my long hair back, and since it will take awhile to grow back my next quick option was to buy some hair extensions.

I ended up purchasing one set of Sally’s Beauty Supply extensions because back in the day when I was 16 I had purchased a set and loved them! I also purchased some Luxy Hair Extensions after realizing the Sally’s one’s weren’t going to do it for me.

EURONEXT AKA SALLY’S BEAUTY SUPPLY

Price:

$159.99 not including tax. I had my Sally’s Beauty club card, so it was $139.99 for 80 grams of hair 🙁 Sally’s used to be really affordable. When I bought my first set of extensions it was these ones and they were only $90!

I bought them in the store, so I’m not sure how much shipping would be if you bought them online. That’s the only thing I like about Sally’s Beauty Supply extensions is that they’re local, and you can go to the store and color match your hair perfectly. You don’t have to take the online gamble.

Unboxing:

The box is okay nothing special.

Hair Quality & Details:

100% Human Remy Hair.

Total weight: 80 grams | Length: 18″ inches | Total Pieces: 8 One 8” weft, One 7” weft, One 6” weft, One 5-3/4” weft, Four 1-1/2” wefts, and two 1” wefts without clips to test for color.

Right when I took them out of the box they were already shedding! My hubby, David, asked me why the hell is the hair falling out already? I kid you not that a good chunk of hair on one of the extensions fell off! I was pissed. Not only that, but I noticed how thin the hair was. These extensions are not for medium-thick or thick hair. These extensions are for super fine and thin hair!

I was wrong to be so trusting of Sally’s Beauty Supply Extensions. Not only did the extensions shed, but they got so tangled when I wore them in my hair and then took them off. It was insane how tangled and messy the extensions got.

Never mind even wearing them out because 80 grams of hair extensions is nowhere near enough hair for me! It only covered half of my head. I looked so ridiculous. I would need two boxes of these crap extensions to cover my hair.

For $139 I got only 80 grams of hair—hair that was thin and already shedding like mad.

I used to love Sally’s Beauty Supply Extensions. Back in the day they were my go to. Sadly, the quality has changed and the prices have gone up now. These extensions were NOT worth the money, and the quality is horrible now. I was expecting a lot better, and I got really disappointed. 🙁

That’s when I started looking at other companies like Bellami Hair, Foxy Locks, Luxy Hair, and Dirty Locks. I chose not to go with Bellami, although they’re heavily marketed on Youtube because of the reviews I read on makeupalley.com. I finally decided after reading several reviews and watching YouTube videos to order the Luxy Hair Extensions.

LUXY HAIR EXTENSIONS

The company is founded by sisters Leyla and Mimi. The sisters have their own YouTube channel which is cool. Leyla and Mimi show you all kinds of hairstyles you could do with your extensions, and they also have basic videos like choosing the right shade of extensions and how to clip extensions in for short hair.

Price:

$159 for 160 grams of hair luxyhair.com You can use my coupon code “LUXYVIV5” for $5 off your order.

Shipping is free standard worldwide. I ordered my Luxy Hair Extensions on Monday and by Thursday they were delivered. I was so excited!

Unboxing:

The piece in the photo below is a piece that is part of my set, but it was set apart. The reason for this is because human hair extensions are considered a hygienic product, so once opened or taken out of the package you cannot return them. I got to feel this piece and look at the color. Once I felt like everything was okay then I removed it from its backing.

Hair Details & Quality:

100% Human Remy hair.

Mocha Brown Luxies

The clips

I was worried they would shed or get tangled (like the Sally’s ones), but so far none of that has happened.

The extensions have been very easy to manage. I combed through them with a wide tooth combed brush and straightened them before wearing. Very minimal shedding and no tangling whatsoever.

I was also worried about them not matching my hair color because my hair is very dark brown, but it is slowly fading that’s why I didn’t want to get black extensions. I love these extensions they’re exactly how Luxy Hair describes them: “this color is rich, deep and a true dark brown shade, with a hint of warm, red undertones, but can also appear to have ashier undertones when matched with hair colors void of any red undertones.”

The amount of hair was perfect too it was more than enough to perfectly blend into my real hair.

I will do an update in about 6 months just to show you guys if these extensions last or not. I’ve only had my luxies for two weeks, so we’ll see how they hold up over time. Right now I’m very pleased with my purchase, though. I feel the money I paid was well worth it because I got an awesome amount of great quality hair.

I definitely give Luxy Hair extensions a ★4.5 out of 5 stars.★

SHOP LUXY HAIR EXTENSIONS

You can also check out Luxy Hair on | Youtube | Instagram | Twitter

Use code “LUXYVIV5” for $5 off a set of Luxies 🙂

Update: 6 MONTH UPDATE HERE. OMBRE LUXY REVIEW HERE.

FTC: I purchased BOTH sets of extensions using my OWN money. I am NOT a sponsored affiliate with Sally’s Beauty Supply; however as of 1/12/16 I am an affiliate with Luxy Hair. All opinions are 100% my own. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Hey Beautiful! Thank you for reading!

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