Tips and Tricks for a Great Salon Experience

By Lindsay King

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

                 

                                                           

SMYRNA-- For years now, most women follow the beauty trend of doing their nails. But the question is, “How do I know which salon will best fit my needs?”

Personally, I want quality nails at pocket-friendly prices. I do not want to break the bank. Unfortunately, sometimes “quality over quantity” comes into play, as some salons are less talented than others, resulting in poor quality nails.

            I like to refer to some people as salon shoppers. They visit different salons to see which ones are best and the most affordable. A popular question asked is, “How do people choose between all of these different salons?”

            In my personal opinion, when browsing for a nail salon online, chain salons like Nails So Happy usually do not have the best quality, although they are a chain salon. In my experience, local salons cater more to my needs, while providing friendlier service for their clients. I have found that reading online customer reviews helps you choose the best salons. Being able to frequently visit a local business always helps foster pleasant relationships with the nail beauticians.  

My Personal Favorite:

             I have been going to “T-Salon” for about two years now. Out of all of the salons that I have tried in the past, I have found that they do the best job and truly care about their customers. When trying new nail techniques like the SNS “dip” technique, T heavily informed me on the process as well as the removal. I really appreciate that he educates his customers on each process to ensure satisfaction. The staff there are friendly and very talented in their work. I’m always sure of having a good set of nails when I go to T-Salon.

Articles like http://www.nailsmag.com/article/121846/tips-on-dips can be very helpful to salon owners and employees. They are able to educate themselves, as well as their customers on each technique.

What I Liked About My Experience:

Every time I enter T-Salon, I am always greeted with the same friendly faces of the owner referred to as “T” and his long-time faithful employees. While I am in the salon, I get to catch up on “International House Hunters”, which I believe must be T’s favorite show. It is playing every single time that I am there. I really enjoy that every time I visit T-Salon salon, they always cater to exactly what I want, as opposed to what they want. I really appreciate that the employees are never pushy towards me, nor try to upsell me, which results in a possible overcharge.

Which Technique to Choose:

            My new personal favorite technique when going into the nail salon would have to be the Dip. I prefer the Dip simply because of the fact that they hold up much longer than gel. They do not hurt my nails like acrylic. For those who are unfamiliar with Dip, it is a new alternative to acrylic nails and is healthier for the growth of the nail.

When using the Dip, the process is still rather similar to the acrylic. They still use a drill on your nail, but only for a short amount of time as opposed to the acrylic option. Your nail is then painted with a clear “dip polish” and “dipped” into the nail powder color of your choice. The process is repeated several times to ensure durability. Dipped nails typically last about four weeks with no cracks or chips depending on how fast your nails grow.

After reading Julia Gsell’s in-depth blog https://www.houstoniamag.com/articles/2017/7/13/i tried-it-dip-powder-nails covering her exploration with dipped nails, I came to find that she also had a successful experience with the SNS nails.

The only thing that I don’t really care for about the “dipped” nails is the removal process when going to get a new set put on. The technicians drill the nail and then place your finger on a cotton ball drenched in acetone. They then carefully wrap it inside tinfoil and let it sit for about 10 minutes, which makes the process a lot longer.

What Could Have Been Better About My Experience?

            My nail-salon companion, Olivia, accompanied me on my recent visit. She received a pedicure that was not quite up to par with past visits. She received a cut from a nail buffer. The nail tech then poured acetone on top of her nails, resulting in a painful experience. It was decidedly not her favorite outing to the nail salon.  

My Experience as a Whole:

Overall, my whole experience at T-Salon recently was rather exceptional, although I did have to wait around 30 extra minutes to get my nails done because of under staffing. However, it was well worth the wait. I was pleasantly surprised when I went to pay my bill and saw that it was less than usual. To my surprise, if you still have on a full set, the price is only $36 instead of the normal price of $41, which is a great deal and definitely worth it. All in all, I was very pleased with my nails, even though it took longer than normal this time around. The color coral pink that I chose complimented my nails beautifully.

Why You Should Spay/Neuter Your Pet

By Brooke Routh

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

      SMYRNA-- Every year millions of animals without homes are euthanized due to overpopulation. Overpopulation is one of the more popular reasons people tell you to spay/neuter, and they have a point.

        According to the Humane Society, “About 2.4 million healthy, adoptable cats and dogs--- about one every 13 seconds--- are put down in U.S. shelters each year. Often these animals are the offspring of cherished family pets. Spay/neuter is a proven way to reduce pet overpopulation, ensuring that every pet has a family to love them.” To learn more about overpopulation visit http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/pet_overpopul 

My cat, Malachite.

Health benefits:

         Overpopulation is not the only reason you should consider altering your pet. On average, pets that have been altered live longer than pets who are not. Pets who remain intact also have a higher chance of developing deadly diseases. Spaying can decrease the likelihood that your pet will have uterine infections or develop breast tumors.

          Most reputable veterinarians will suggest that you schedule the procedure prior to your female pet’s first heat cycle in order to dramatically decrease their chances of developing any of these diseases and to decrease the likelihood that they will develop behavioral issues throughout their life.

         When it comes to male pets, neutering them at a young age can prevent them from developing unwanted aggressive attitudes and can decrease their likelihood of developing testicular cancer or other prostate issues. Unaltered male pets sometimes roam away from home in order to find a mate which can cost them their life. Some of these unaltered pets who get loose in order to mate will get hit by our vehicles, end up at the shelter, or ultimately die from starvation.

Behavioral Benefits:

         Male pets especially benefit behavioral wise from neutering. Unaltered male pets have higher levels of testosterone in their bodies. High levels of testosterone in male animals can cause urine marking, disobedience, territorial aggression, and even aggression towards other animals- specifically other male animals.

         Female pets have behavioral issues that can be corrected with altering as well! Female pets that are not spayed are prone to display aggressive attitudes, and they are more likely than altered females to have rapid mood swings.

 Cost Effective

         On average, spaying and neutering can cost anywhere from $50 to $250. There are some programs in the area that cost more than $300, but for most people those kind of options are really unrealistic.  There are a couple of programs in Rutherford County that are free or very low cost.

      Programs in Our Area:

         P.A.W.S in Murfreesboro offers the procedure at no cost, but this program is first-come first-serve. If you are lucky enough to get on their long wait list, it can take several weeks before they have an opening! Click the link down below for more information on their free spay/neuter program.

 http://paws.rutherfordcountytn.gov/spay-and-neuter.html

         Beesley Animal Clinic is another good option for those who are on a budget. In order to be considered for their program, your pet has to be up to date on all vaccines, which they can provide at an additional cost. The procedure is more expensive for female pets, and the price increases for larger pets. To learn more visit http://www.beesleyanimalclinic.com/services

This is my rescue puppy, Violet.

   
My Experience:

         Premier VetCare is another great program in our area. I actually scheduled my puppy’s spay surgery through Premier, and I was really impressed with their hospitality and with how quickly my puppy healed. On average, their base price for the surgery is $70. Of course this initial price increases quite a bit when you add on other services such as a wellness check, blood work, and microchipping. I decided to pay the extra money to insure my pet was getting the best option available but still within a reasonable price. In the end, I paid $200. I think that price is reasonable considering everything that was included.

           My puppy received a wellness checkup to insure she was healthy enough for surgery. They did full blood-work on her just to make sure she did not have any life-threatening diseases or ailments, and she was microchipped. She healed up very nicely, so I definitely recommend Premier Vetcare. For more details, visit http://premiervetcare.co/

Be Beautiful the Natural Way

By Shanice Green

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

SMYRNA--Do you suffer from sudden breakouts, load of acne, or annoying black spots from applying makeup? It is highly important to take care of your face if you use makeup daily and even more important to make sure you are using the right products that are perfect for your skin.

Continuing to use toxic ingredients from makeup on your face will eventually harm you and will cause health problems. Using all-natural based makeup products will not only keep your face healthy and beautiful, but it will allow your face to stay young and glow.

Cheap makeup brands are affordable, but some of the drug store brands will break your sensitive skin out.

“It’s important to read the label and look for products that work best for your skin type,” according to a recent story in the publication Medical Daily. Dr. Lindsey Bordone, a dermatologist, also mentioned that even if a popular “natural” makeup has aloe or other natural ingredients, that doesn’t mean it is best for you. The skin on your face is valuable and deserves products that will keep your face hydrated and healthy.

To learn more, visit https://www.medicaldaily.com/skin-clearing-makeup-organic-makeup-healthy-skin-387932.

For example, brands like Tarte Cosmetics are made of all-natural products that are extremely healthy for your face. These ingredients include acai berries, which come from a species of palm trees in Europe.

Another antioxidant brand is Physicians Formula that was especially made for women with sensitive skin. Physician’s Formula uses non-toxic ingredients and is hypoallergenic.

Popular makeup brands tend to lead you on like they are all-natural or that they are good for your skin, but sometimes that is not the case.

            For instance, the Vitamin C in fruits is good for your skin, and this is why makeup brands usually take this for an advantage. Fruits like blueberries, kiwi, pineapple, papaya and strawberries are parts of Vitamin C that help with blemishes and allow your face to feel and look radiant. Brands that use Vitamin C in their products are more likely using it to appeal to you.

Vitamin C

            Everyone will eventually age, but using all-natural makeup products will prolong the wrinkles.

“Wrinkles and age spots are the inevitable result of time, but skin aging may be sped up by overexposure to the sun and tanning beds…treat your skin kindly an optimize your nutrition by eating antioxidant-rich fruit,” said BBC’s Good Food magazine.  

Women should monitor what they eat, how they sleep, or what they do that could harm your skin. Taking care of yourself, including your face, is very important to maintain a healthy, everyday life.

For more information, visit https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/eat-your-way-fabulous-skin.

            In fact, using organic and non-toxic makeup products are best to use for women with health problems and sensitive skin. These all-natural makeup products soothe and heal your skin for the better. Putting harmful and toxic chemicals on your face will put you at health risk and make your face lose its natural beauty.

            As the result, acne is the biggest threat to using makeup. Makeup acne has its own special name called acne cosmetica. Acne cosmetic is tiny, red bumps that appear on your face that block your pores.

“Acne cosmetica occurs when oils from your makeup collect in and clog your pores, so thick liquid or cream products are more often culprits than are lighter products like powders,” according to an article in the Health section of How Stuff Works.

Be careful when you apply makeup on, and remember not to use too much and create a cake-like look. This blocks your pores and creates negative reactions.         

To learn more, visit https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/beauty/skin-and-makeup/makeup-affect-your-skin.htm.

            In my own experience, applying makeup was an everyday thing that I loved to do. The issue I had with my face was my sensitive, oily skin. I needed makeup products that would keep my face from sweating the makeup off and also keep it from breaking out. I even had to spend extra dollars on better makeup brands to keep my face healthy.

All-natural make up and skincare

Regrettably, I was spending hundreds of dollars on makeup to make my face look good. To prevent me from spending more money than I was getting in, I had to talk with a makeup specialist at Ulta Beauty. She surprisingly told me that I did not have to spend as much as I was to keep my face healthy. The specialist said for me to try drug store brands with antioxidant ingredients and she was right. As soon as I started buying antioxidant makeup, my face was clear, hydrated and healthy.

            Listen ladies, if you cannot afford expensive makeup, then do not buy it! You do not need it to make your face look good and clear. Speaking from someone who knows where you’re coming from, you just need all-natural makeup made from all-natural ingredients. Use the safe route when it comes to your face, because your face has the most precious skin.

The skin on your face is the hardest part of your body to keep clear. This is why it is highly important to watch what you apply to your face. Even try sustaining from applying fragrance-free products to your face, because they can cause negative skin reactions. Your face may not look like its suffering now, but underneath your pores, it causes a problematic long-term effect.

            It is at most importance to apply all-natural makeup products to your skin to hold on to your youth, beauty and health. Wearing makeup daily is normal and perfectly fine. As long as you maintain a healthy routine by cleaning your face and using suitable products for your skin, your face will thank you. You do not have to wear makeup to be beautiful, but if you are a makeup lover, using the healthiest makeup products will benefit the future you.

For more detailed information on healthy makeup brands check out, visit www.thegoodtrade.com/features/18-natural-organic-makeup-brands-your-face-will-love-you-for.

For more face care tips, visit https://www.aurorahealthcare.org/patients-visitors/blog/is-your-makeup-safe-5-skin-healthy-makeup-tips.

Why and How You Should Try a Mission Trip

By Heath Pope

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

            SMYRNA--Life is not necessarily equal for all. As Americans, we’ve been given a good bargain for the most part, but when you look outside of the American spectrum and into third world countries, you see the drop-off.

That drop-off woke me up. It made me realize that life is much bigger than the petty struggles any of us will go through the next day, week, month, or even year. Open your mind to the possibilities of helping others in need, who cannot do it alone. Opportunities are there through mission trips, more specifically international mission trips.

 According to the company Casas por Cristo, “Short-term mission trips are undertaken by church groups comprised of members of the congregation who travel to a new location to volunteer their efforts in completing a helpful community project while spreading the gospel.” This is a wonderful experience and does not require you to go by yourself. In fact, you really have to go with others to get the full experience and help others effectively. Having friends or family there by your side eases some of your concerns.

Personal Experience

            I personally went on a couple of mission trips in the summers of 2016 and 2017. They were some of the best weeks of my life. For one, I had never even been on a plane before and had to register for my passport. I had been anxious to do those things after seeing my friends go on planes and mission trips. Both trips I went on were an absolute joy, but I really enjoyed my first experience better, probably because of the unfamiliarity with the mission trip.

Your first time will usually always be your best because it is so much to take in being in another country for the first time. Being able to go with some of my life-long friends and experience this moment with them was truly special.  Everyone is speaking a different language than you, but things like using your hands for communication just kind of put me in awe as I look back on it. When there is very little chance of either of you knowing what the other one is trying to say, you manage a way around it. Working together to get the job done right brings you closer to one another.

The Dominican view

Information for Mission Trips

            Casas por Cristo is the company (I use that term loosely because they mean so much more than just the title “company” to all of these people they help) that my church used to link us to their mission trips. You can receive more detailed information at https://casasporcristo.org/.                                                                                                             Essentially, the goal is to build a house for a family in need in the area you choose. My church usually went to the Dominican Republic, but there are other locations you can choose from. Other options include Mexico and Guatemala. The cost to send a group of 15 to 25 people varies by location. The Mexico trips are $6,900, the Guatemala trips are $8,500, and the Dominican trips are $8,800. Other places like https://www.prayingpelicanmissions.org/ do international and United States mission trips. Also, check out https://www.lifeway.com/worldchangers/projects/ for United States mission trips for construction or church planting.

The Process

Building the houses is not very hard after Day One, which is cement day. The houses are simple to make with the help of the great missionary staff Casas por Cristo provides. Most of their staff members have been building these homes for like two to four years. They understand the ins and outs of the homes.

 Members of the community who walk by start helping because they care for each other. This can put you in awe for a moment.

 The homes are usually complete in four days. The town throws a big community celebration when a family moves in.

It was one of the best times I have had in my life. There is so much joy, and the music they play is presented with so much passion. Everything they do for each other is out of pure respect and love. I wish we could see more similar relationships in the United States with our own neighbors. Experiences like these will be held onto forever, and you’ll want to share stories with everyone after you go.

Putting the first walls up of the house

The Family

Finally, I wanted to talk about the family’s connection with a group that goes. From the moment we stepped foot on the site, we were showered with hugs and treats that they made to show appreciation to us. The families there don’t have much. They are poor and work hard for everything they earn. They still made my group some of their own food. They didn’t have to do anything for us because we were there for them, but they did because they wanted to show us how much we meant to them.

It was heart tugging almost every single time, and all of the laughs we shared were moments I’ll never forget. I hope everyone gets a chance to experience what I did one day.

The family and students

Discover the Versatility of Your Clothes

By Amelia Zeller

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

SMYRNA -- One of the most fun things about fashion is the style diversity that a single piece of clothing can offer. After you wear the same outfit a few times, it doesn't feel new anymore. However, by switching up how you style your clothes, you can make them feel new again.

There are many things that you can do to mix up your typical outfits. I've discovered many simple things I can do to accessorize and change up an outfit, such as add a pop of color, or try different pairs of shoes. A different hairstyle or jacket could also be what makes an outfit unique.

It is important to take note of your own style preferences and embrace them. You will probably find that it is easier to be creative with your style when you know what kind of outfits you like to wear. When you own your personal style, a natural confidence ensues, and self-confidence is the best accessory out there!

 You do not need a huge wardrobe to create a variety of outfits. You only need your creativity. It is easiest to mix and match using similar colors, so experiment with a color scheme that you like. Basic everyday articles of clothing are also easiest to mix and match, such as a white button-up shirt, blue jeans, or a blazer. By discovering different ways to wear your clothes, you are getting the most use out of them.

An article at Elle.com, https://www.elle.com/fashion/a42048/i-wore-the-same-nine-items-for-two-weeks/ , displays the diversity of clothes by showing how you can wear the same nine articles of clothing for two weeks.

All you need is a small, versatile wardrobe of items that suit you to create stylish outfits with personal flair. Usually, those of us who suffer from "nothing to wear" have a lot of random clothing items that do not go together. If you intentionally buy items that are versatile, it will be much easier to coordinate outfits. When you buy less clothing items that can purposefully be arranged into many different looks, you are saving money on clothes you would not wear often.

I decided to experiment with the style versatility of some clothing that I own. I chose timeless pieces that are commonly found in young women's wardrobes: denim jeans, a leather jacket, and a black t-shirt. To the best of my closet's ability, I created three unique looks from each of these classic articles of clothing to show the different ways they can be styled.

The versatility of jeans:

The first item that I styled was a pair of denim jeans. Jeans are one of the most versatile pieces in fashion, and most people own more than one pair. Jeans are worn millions of different ways every day because they are classic and easy to incorporate with most things.

A Buzzfeed article I found asked 17 people to style a denim jacket in their own way, https://www.buzzfeed.com/alisoncaporimo/denim-dreams-are-made-of-these?utm_term=.edgej5DZ6#.vtVQLxpgV , and every outfit manages to have a personal touch of uniqueness. 

For the first denim outfit I created, I wanted to keep it very casual, so I added sneakers and a hip bag as a practical replacement for a purse. I added a hat because it is an easy way to add a casual feel to any look. To keep the outfit from being too simple, I incorporated large silver necklaces.

To create my second look including jeans, I combined them with a black button-up shirt and black boots that can be worn almost anywhere, casual or more formal. I put my hair in a bun for this outfit because it draws more attention to the large statement earrings and collared shirt.

The third look I created is the most formal one. When you pair jeans with heels it gives them an instant professional boost. I put a white button-up underneath a cardigan to help give the whole outfit a more formal look. Denim can be easily dressed up or down depending on the look you are going for, so it is very useful to own a good pair of jeans that you like to wear.

Experimenting with a leather jacket:

The next clothing item I got creative with was a leather jacket. Leather can add edge to any look instantly. For the first look I came up with, I kept it casual with a soft sweater underneath and accessorized with a black leather bag and boots to make the look cohesive.

Leopard print and leather are two of my favorite things, so, the second look I created was inevitable. I paired leopard print trousers with furry leopard slides to match. This look is the most casual of them all but adding the leather jacket helps keep it looking comfortable and casual without looking sloppy.

The third look I created displays the formality a leather jacket can bring to an outfit. By layering a leather jacket over a dress, you are combining two different styles for a bold look. This can be one of the most exciting things about experimenting when you are creating outfits; you have the freedom to combine whatever you want.

Making a black t-shirt interesting:

The final clothing item that I got versatile with for this blog was a plain black t-shirt. A black t-shirt is a basic item owned by most people, and it can be worn countless different ways. For the first outfit I created, I paired the t-shirt with matching black shoes. I chose a brown bag and brown pair of pants to bring in additional colors as an easy way to switch it up. I added an over-sized necklace and a silver belt to keep the t-shirt from looking too plain.

Next, I decided to pair the black t-shirt with lots of color. I chose to use pink, blue and white as the color scheme for the rest of this outfit. This proves that a black t-shirt can match with anything because of its ability to be combined with any colors. 

The last look that I constructed is one of all black. A ballet-like skirt and heeled boots add a formal touch to this look centered around a simple black t-shirt. Another tip for accessorizing is to use red lipstick to subtly add color to any look!

If you invest in versatile pieces of clothing that you love, you will have a much easier time creating unique outfits that make use of your whole wardrobe. Fashion does not have to feel hard. There are a lot of things you can do to make new looks with the same clothes and discover your clothing's versatility.

How to Take Better Photos Using One Simple App

By Trey Carter 

 Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer 

            SMYRNA -- We live in a digital age where nearly everybody is online. People are obsessed with popular apps such as Instagram and sharing photos. We like to share photos to show off something we accomplished, someone we may have seen recently, or even something we may have created. 

There’s a saying used often by this generation: “Pics or it didn’t happen.” In a way it implies that if someone can’t find a photo on your timeline or page, then it never happened. Of course this isn’t true. You don’t have to share every detail of your life online if you don’t want to. 

If you like sharing photos to your Instagram page or your Twitter feed, you would want them to look very nice and clean. Not everyone can afford an expensive camera, and sometimes our phones just fail to take the perfect photos.

Thankfully, there is a simple and easy-to-use free app called VSCO. VSCO stands for Visual Supply Company, and it was founded by Joel Flory and Greg Lutze in 2011. This app essentially gives the user a second camera on their phone, and it allows you to play around with more settings when taking photos. The app also provides a sharing network built into it where you can publish your photos and even look at other people’s work. The app is fairly simple once you use it for a while, it provides you with tons of tools to help make your photos look amazing.

You can find the website for VSCO by using this link: https://vsco.co/. However, I highly recommend checking it out on the app store. 

Shadows, taken at Motlow State Community College, Smyrna, Tenn. 

Cherry blossom trees, taken in the Ross parking lot in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

For starters, when you first open the app, you come across a tutorial basically showing you where everything is and such. I would strongly recommend clicking through it rather than skipping it. Afterward, you are free to start taking photos of anything you want.

The camera is similar yet different than your usual iPhone or Samsung camera. When you tap on the screen, a red circle will appear. From there you can tap anywhere to shift the focus. Once the red circle turns green and you like what you see, you snap the picture. After you capture a photo, you can move onto editing and adding filters.      

Editing in this app is very simple. When you look at your photo below, you have a small option bar, and you will see a button beside the save button. It looks like a scroll bar almost. Once you click on this, it will pull up all of the filters the app has to offer.

I highly recommend trying out all of the filters just to see if one can give your photo the extra pop it needs. Also, you can play around with the intensity of the filter by tapping again on the one you chose. This pulls up another menu that allows you to choose how much of the filter you want to use. 

Flower in bloom, taken in my backyard, Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Spring time flowers, taken in my front yard, Murfreesboro, Tenn.

While the app gives you many great choices, there are also various filter packs you can buy through their store. You simply click the shop logo and it takes you to their store. Most of the packs cost money. However, it is usually pretty cheap.

Aside from adding filters, you can also play with various settings such as the exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows and many more. This can get a bit overwhelming at times, but the app makes it very simple by integrating a slide bar for you to make the changes on. You simply move your finger along the bar, and you will see the photo begin to change based on what you are doing. There is also a number placed above this bar to give you an exact value for how much of an edit you are making.

This app isn’t just limited to the photos you take. You can also import photos from your phone and edit those using these filters and tools. 

This app also incorporates a helpful history feature. Perhaps you started editing a photo then stopped and came back to it later. You can easily pull up this tab and see what you did last. This feature can be extremely helpful when editing on the go or if you change your mind on something.

After you have a photo edited and ready to post, you can go to the menu at the bottom of the page to look for the three dots icon. This pulls up a short that allows you to share the photo on VSCO as well as other platforms, save to your gallery, copy your edits, or delete the photo. If you are looking to post this photo to other sites, it is best to save it to your phone’s gallery. If you are on a Samsung phone, it will create a new folder for the app in your gallery.

Keyboard, taken at Motlow State Community College, Smyrna, Tenn.

If you are looking for a more-in-depth guide featuring tips and tricks, check out this article by clicking here: https://www.shopmoment.com/momentist/5-tips-for-better-editing-in-vsco If you check out this next article, you will find examples and tips from other users by clicking here: https://www.shopmoment.com/momentist/11-vsco-editing-tips-part-ii

If you are posting these photos to Instagram, I highly recommend using the hashtags #VSCO and #VSCOcam. These hashtags are essentially a collection of photos from the VSCO app or edited using it. You can find out more information by clicking here: https://www.quora.com/What-does-the-hashtag-VSCO-mean

Now let’s focus on the social network aspect of this app. It is similar to Instagram. However, it has less features. This app is somewhat how Instagram was before it added in more features from other apps such as direct messaging and stories. Through this network, you can follow people and favorite their photos. However, there is no area to comment on them. Also, you don’t really have a feed. There is an area on the app that’s titled collection. It changes often with the photos people upload. 

Athena, taken at Bicentennial park, Nashville, Tenn.

I feel like the social network area of this app is severely lacking. You don’t really get the sense of community you do on another app like Instagram. I like that it is a straight forward network truly based on sharing photos, but I would love the ability to comment on other people’s photos. To combat this, many users put their Instagram or Twitter user names in their bios on their profiles so other users can find them there. I rarely ever use this app for the social aspect, and I think that was the intention of the creators.

Overall, this app is very useful for all kinds of people. This includes amateur photographers who simply are not ready to move up to a real camera. Perhaps you forget your camera at home and still want to take a good and clean picture. Anyone can find a good use for this app and create some amazing photos.