Total Beauty: Keep Hair Healthy & Color Vibrant

while i've embraced the ombre trend by allowing my highlighted hair to grow out, i still can attest to the fact that keeping hair color looking fabulous and healthy is possible.

want to know some fab secrets for keeping your color-treated hair looking its best? check out this article from totalbeauty.com...

5 Expert Tips to Maintain Your Hair Color

You've finally got the color of your dreams -- and then you watch it fade before your very eyes. Find out how to maintain your hair's color now

This is a TotalBeauty.com hair color article Here's a happy scenario: You found the ultimate colorist and couldn't be happier with the color Mother Nature forgot to give you. Here's the sad follow-up: After a week of rockin' your new color, you realize your hair isn't as lustrous and vibrant as it was when you left the salon. What do you do? Check out these tips on how to lock in your color for good. Keep color

Vivienne Tam spring 2012

taking inspiration from a japanese zen garden, Vivienne Tam created a gorgeous spring collection, complete with delicate sheer prints, embroidery, lace, and flowy gowns.







in keeping with this zen theme, lead hairstylist Leon Gorman {for Redken} kept models' hair simple and modern. "the more messy it is, the better. i don't want it to look like a hairdresser has touched it," he said.

to break down greasy strands, Gorman sprinkled on baby powder or spritzed with dry shampoo. after creating a side part, he pulling hair back into a relaxed, off-center chignon, finishing with Redken Fashion Work 12 Versatile Working Spray to wet roots towards the crown.



for the makeup look, Maybelline makeup artist Andy Koh created a clean, fresh face, inspired by 1970's glamour.



products used: Fit Me Foundation; gold shade from Color Explosion Luminizing eyeshadow in Forest Fury ; copper shade from Eye Studio Color Plush Eyeshadow palette in Irresistible Ivy in the crease and outer eye; Falsies Volum' Express; Color Sensational High Shine Lipstick in Coral Lustre topped with a dab of gold cream shadow; Shine Sensational gloss in Minty Sheer.

images: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week; style.com; tumblr.com

drugstore beauty: Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Nutrient Spray

i love shine sprays over the type of serums that have to be poured into my hand. this fabulous one, Triple Nutrition Nutrient Spray from Garnier Fructis, has become my must-have, not only because it give s my hair serious luster, but because it also nourishes my tresses with 3 highly moisturizing oils-- avocado, shea and olive.

this dual formula is activated after being shaken and can then be sprayed on anytime your hair needs some pampering (wet or dry). it leaves it looking (and feeling) silky soft and has a yummy smell.



this is my second bottle, and as you can see, i am almost out! time to head to Target...

visit garnier.com for more info.

xo
pics taken by me :)

NY Fashion Week: Backstage Beauty at Alice + Olivia

celeb stylist, Ric Pipino, and his team created three different hair looks for the alice + olivia spring 2011 presentation at cedar lake on tuesday. these styles included the not-so-perfect chignon at the crown of the head, the double, pig tailed-like chignons, and simple, flowing tendrils.



to achieve the not-so-perfect chignon, hair was sprayed with Revolution In Cut Lift Me (from Pipino's hair care line, Revolution In Cut) to add volume, then brushed through, gathered and pinned into a bun at the top of the head.



for the double chignon, stylists used the same process, but created two imperfect buns on the sides of the head.



the simple, flowing tendrils were achieved by blowing the hair dry, using Revolution In Cut Smooth Me to tame any flyaways, and finishing by using a curling iron to create the tendrils.


xo
images: style.com

NY Fashion Week Spring 2011: Aveda Backstage at Christian Siriano

let the beautiful madness begin-- fashion week for the spring/summer season is underway, beauties! so much is going on, but i will do my best to bring you the best hair and beauty as the week progresses. so, here we go...




Aveda lead stylist Antoinette Beenders (pictured above with Christian Siriano) created an amazing, textured bun at the Christian Siriano spring/summer 2011 show. using a lot of Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray, Antoinette explains, "the Christian Siriano hair look for this season is all about different cultures mixing and blending together. the style is a modern bun—full of attitude—with sections of crimped hair cascading over it for texture. it's a strong, contemporary twist on the classic bun."

here's how she created the look:

1. brush hair with a Mason Pearson brush. pull the top section of hair — from the hairline to the crown — and clip it out of the way.

2. comb the remaining hair back into a tight, high ponytail and secure with a bungee elastic. spray with Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray for hold.

3. spray Aveda Brilliant Spray-On Shine directly onto the bristles of a kabuki-style Aveda Uruku Bronzing Brush. "paint" the sides of hair with the Uruku Bronzing Brush for shine.



4. take the ponytail and braid it. then twist the braid into a bun, securing to the head with bobby pins. spray with Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray for ultra-strong hold.



5. remove the clip from the remaining top section of hair and comb to the crown. working with small portions of hair (approximately one inch) at a time, use a micro-crimping iron to add texture from the crown to ends.

6. brush the hair with a Mason Pearson brush to loosen the crimp. gently pull the hair over the bun and secure at the base with hair pins. spray with Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray.



7. pull a few pieces of hair out of the bun with fingers for extra texture. set the look with Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray.



visit aveda.com for more info about the styling products used.

xo
all images courtesy of Aveda

Total Beauty: What Does Your Hairstyle Say About You?

another fun hair quiz!

my results said "your hairstyle says you're youthful and romantic"-- true! product recommendations were those that promote strength and keep tresses healthy: Nexxus Keraphix Restorative Strengthening Conditioner and Nexxus Emergencee Strengthening Polymeric Reconstructor. will have to give those a try!

take the quiz yourself:

Hairstyle Personality Test

Consider this the Myers-Briggs test for hair and discover what your hairstyle says about you

This is a TotalBeauty.com hairstyles article Wanna know what your 'do says about you? Find out by taking this quiz -- then see which hairstyling products you should use. Take quiz

what were your results?

xo

Easy Summer Hairstyle Trend: Braids

adding a braid or two to your hair is one of the easiest ways to give your hair a little something extra. variations of the style have been seen on runways and celebs like Kate Hudson, Nicole Richie, Lauren Conrad and Kristen Stewart sport braided styles frequently.

for summer, it's not just little girls who can wear braids. they offer a little change and work fabulously day or night (you may also find a braid helpful during odd growing-out-the-hair stages). one style in particular that i love (and wear often myself) is the headband braid. it's quick and simple, really! take a look...

*first, take a horizontal line two inches back from your hairline and separate that front section of hair. leave the rest loose.

*then, starting at the left side of the head, just above your ear, french braid until you reach your right ear.

*finally, secure the braid with an elastic and tuck the ends behind your right ear. style the rest of your hair as you wish.



Women's Heath Magazine features how to get this style as well as other twisted and braided styles in their current current july/august issue, on newstands now. you can see a how-to slideshow online by clicking here.

xo
info courtesy of WH; Kate Hudson image: Anwar Hussein/Empics Entertainment/Abaca; Kristen Stewart image: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage

hair therapy: Pantene Curly Hair Series Light Conditioning Detangler

if you have curly hair, you know it's not hard for it to become a tangled mess. conditioning is the most important factor in taking care of your hair not only to ensure great-looking curls, but also to give them manageability. moisture also makes combing through hair easier and prevents breakage. Pantene's new Light Conditioning Detangler, part of their Curly Hair Series, gives curly hair the weightless conditioning it needs so you can have the curls you love.

as with all Pantene products, i am in love with the smell. the product itself conditions nicely. it makes combing (whether with a wide tooth comb or just your fingers) easy and helps hair look great. i've used it on my own hair as well as on my daughter's, and we both agree this is a really good product for curly hair. p.s.-- it even works to refresh curls during the day! :)

find Pantene Curly Hair Series Light Conditioning Detangler at a drugstore or mass retailer near you and visit pantene.com for more info about the Curly Hair Series.

xo
product featured sent to me by the brand's pr for review consideration; pic taken by me :)

Selita Ebanks at Fashion Week

wearing a fabulous dress by Rachel Roy, shoes by Gucci, gorgeous makeup created by Sywia Rokowska and a fierce hairstyle, it's easy to see that supermodel Selita Ebanks made her way through fashion week looking amazing. there was one day in particular that was pointed out to me on a day her hair was fabulously shiny and healthy-looking.

so how did Selita keep her tresses looking so gorgeous? her secret is Biolustre, a 4-step treatment system that helps repair overprocessed, damaged, tired hair. to restore healthy shine to her hair before her day of appearances during fashion week, and prepare it for styling, Biolustre celebrity stylist Ricardo Rojas created her style for Rachel Roy's fall 2010 presentation by blowing the hair dry with a round brush to accentuate her natural waves and add volume.

because the Biolustre treatment evens the texture of hair from root to end, Ricardo did not use any other styling products. to hold the look for the entire evening, he finished with Acanthe Curl Enhancing Leave-In Fluid to set the waves for a flawless look.

this Biolustre treatment sounds amazing, right? celebs like Heidi Klum, Mandy Moore and Booke Sheilds also use it to keep their hair looking its best.. visit biolustre.com for more info.

xo
images: Janet Mayer/PR Photos

NY Fashion Week Fall 2010: Yigal Azrouël

inspired by a collection rich in texture, lead artist Wendy Rowe, working with Bobbi Brown cosmetics, focused on creating "youthful, fresh, but chic makeup with heavy focus on brows..."

this monochromatic look worked flawlessly with the women's clothes (the collection also included menswear), and was a great contrast to the more structured pieces. eyes were complimented with softly smudged eyeliner, and cream shadow, making the eye more neutral; lip colors in Hot Cocoa and Salmon from Bobbi Brown's collection completed the look.



to get the look, the following products were used*:

on the skin: Hydrating Face Cream, Hydrating Eye Cream, Foundation Stick, Creamy Concealer, Corrector.

on the eyes: Suede Long-Wear Cream Shadow, all over lid; Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Sepia Ink, applied lightly and smudged on upper and lower lashline.

on the cheeks: Bronzing Powder

on the lips: Hot Cocoa and Salmon Lip Color

on the brows: clean and brushed up with a touch of Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Sepia Ink


as for the hair, Teddy Charles for TIGI created a modern, understated ponytail loop-bun with a silky, textured finish.




to get the look, the following products were used:

CATWALK by TIGI Your Highness Root Boost Spray

Love, Peace & the Planet by TIGI Freak of Nature

CATWALK by TIGI Your Highness Firm Holding Hairspray


xo
all beauty info and images courtesy of the respected brand PR; model images via style.com
*please note that the makeup look contains products slated for fall/winter ’10 release, and shade names and pricing will be confirmed closer to their release dates.

Emily Blunt at Wolfman Premiere

Laini Reeves, owner and creative director of Essensuals London, made actress Emily Blunt look fabulous at the premiere of the new movie, Wolfman. taking inspiration from Emily's vintage style, Reeves created a new take on the traditional 1920's updo.

by making a custom flapper style accessory-- a peacock feather fashioned to an elastic headband (love it!)-- Reeves created the mood for the hairstyle she had in mind.

here's the step-by-step to help you recreate this look for your next soiree.

1: start with hair that is smooth and glossy. Reeves has been using Shu Uemura Essence Absolue while on tour with Emily; apply this prior to blow drying.

2: gently scrunch dry hair to encourage a natural wave and boost texture.

3: secure the headband (if you don't have one, i pretty clip will work just as well) and twist hair up and over around a hair band, to back of head with messy bun at nape of neck.

4: loosen a few strands to create a more modern, soft, tousled look.

5: finish with a light holding spray.

so simple, right?

xo
image: Photo Agency via Zimbio.com

Tatyana Ali's Shiny Tresses

Tatyana Ali was looking fab at the 41st NAACP Image Awards Nomination Announcement and Press Conference in beverly hills. her long, shiny locks and side swept bangs were a great compliment to her kohl-rimmed eyes and glowing skin. i just wish i knew what color she's wearing on her lips-- love it!

what do you think of Tatyana's look?

xo
image: Getty Images via Latina.com

Beauty Resolutions Worth Making

the first week of the new year is behind us (can you believe it? 2009 flew by, if you ask me!), and i'm sure many of you have made some resolutions for 2010 (or have you?). are any of them beauty-related? here are some beauty resolutions i think are worth making:

clean your makeup tools at least once a week. so many people neglect to clean their makeup brushes for months (yes, months-- yuck!), but that is such a bad habit! you can buy a daily spray (i like this one from Sephora) to spritz your brushes with each night and give them a good shampoo on the weekends (this brush cleanser from MAC is fab), and wash your sponges as soon as you're done using them each day. if you buy them in bulk, toss them after a week. the point is to get into keeping your tools clean-- your skin will thank you.




organize your stash. if you are an avid makeup collector (you know who you are), at some point, you have to get organized in order to a) know where your stuff is, and b) keep your home from looking like the beauty department exploded in it (beauty departments are organized after all). i recently purchased some drawers from The Container Store, and they are working fabulously. since the drive to that amazing retailer is an hour away for me, i was happy to find that Target carries an assortment of organizing drawers that fit nicely in my closet as well.




get your beauty sleep. sleep is so important for brain function, staying healthy, and keeps us looking good. last year i found myself very frequently going to bed late, but in 2010 i am resolving to get into bed an hour earlier. it's an easy goal that will get me into bed at a reasonable hour, but i won't feel like it's inconvenient, and i know i'll have more energy during the day.




get and keep your hair in good condition. if you color or relax your hair, it is important to get regular trims every 6-8 weeks. also, using products for your specific hair type will aid in maintaining healthy hair between salon visits. if you don't chemically alter your hair, visits can be stretched out 10-12 weeks, and don't forget to deep condition at least once a month (more frequently of you have drier hair).




wash your face! some of you may still go to bed without washing the makeup off of your face-- stop doing that, please. i know it may seem impossible to take 15-20 minutes each night when you've had a long, exhausting day, but it's so not good for your skin to keep the makeup on. your largest organ recovers and rebuilds during sleep, so cleansing and treating it with good products (think eye cream, serum, moisturizer) will actually benefit it in the long run.


will you be making any beauty-related resolutions this year?


xo

Behind the Scenes at the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Runway Show

hosted by Frederic Fekkai, Lisa Love and Sally Singer, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund held its annual runway show featuring 10 finalists competing for the chance to receive a year of mentorship and support in launching their careers.

discover the inspiration for the hairstyles-- created by Frederic Fekkai-- along with the fashion fund finalist inspiration for their collections in the info and video below.


look #1: the wet look



the first look is a sculptural, edgy ponytail inspired by some of the graphic trends shown in the collections. described as modern, young and sexy, the texture tells a story through the wet and twisted hard hair. to add an effortless look, pieces are left out in front.

to achieve this look:

*use your hands as styling tools to create this piecey look.

*apply Fekkai COIFF Extra Control Styling Gel to damp hair and comb through with fingers, no blow dry required.

*pull hair into textured sections before twisting together into a low ponytail just above the nape of the neck.

*secure the twist with bobby pins, letting shorter pieces fall to the side.

*shape the hair into a long sleek ponytail.

look #2: the dry look



the second look is a modern, angelic take on a tousled, bohemian style. the hair is full and voluminous with an airy soft texture that allows for movement; it's dramatic, yet romantic and very wearable. pieces are left in front to frame the face and accentuate the jewelry shown in the collections.

to achieve this look:

*apply Fekkai COIFF Strong Hold Mousse to damp hair and scrunch with fingers as you blow dry completely to create the wild texture.

*wrap hair in big sections around twist-ties (fabric curling rods) to create volume at the roots and soft curl for movement.

*tease hair at the roots using a fine comb, and apply Fekkai Au Naturel Powder Clean Dry Shampoo to add thickness and extra structure, but without added weight.

*pin the sides to the back of the head and secure with bobby pins.

*to secure height at the crown, finish with a fine mist of Fekkai Full Blown Volume Lifting Hairspray.

find Fekkai products at Sephora (in store and online), Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue and other fine retailers. to find a retailer near you, visit Fekkai.com


xo
first image: wireimage.com
hair images provided by Full Picture PR