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Keep Calm and Stay Moisturized this Winter
Whenever someone finds out I’m from Miami around this time of year, they always ask: “How do you deal with the cold?” Well, my first winter was definitely a shock, but after seven and a half years I can handle it just as well as any New Yorker.
Now, the one thing I can’t get used to is the extreme winter dryness. Between the lack of humidity outside and the parching effects of indoor heat, it’s an endless battle keeping my hair and skin properly moisturized. And this crazy polar vortex sure isn’t helping things!
But fortunately, I’ve just been armed with some moisture essentials to help get me through the long harsh winter:
nyakio Kenyan Coffee Body Scrub
This body scrub is a unique fusion of Kenyan coffee beans, sugar, mongongo nut oil, shea butter, jojoba oil and avocado oil, that removes dull skin while smoothing, moisturizing and revealing more youthful-looking skin.
It has a non-oily, thick, jelly-like texture — which means your shower won’t turn into a slip & slide as you rinse off. The unisex scent is light and earthy with just a hint of energizing coffee. The exfoliating scrubbers did their job without being too rough and left my skin feeling very soft and moisturized.
($55)St. Ives Naturally Energizing Citrus & Vitamin C Fresh Hydration Lotion
Moisturizing, convenient and smells like juicy grapefruit? Sign me up! Made with grapefruit extract, vitamin C and 100% natural moisturizers, this easy-to-apply lotion sprays on lightly and is quickly absorbed, leaving your skin energized and refreshed. This is perfect for mornings when I need a blast of moisture and quick!
($5.99 – $7.99)Essence of Beauty Wind Kissed Body & Hand Cream
The scent is described as “a vision of spring flowers dancing in the breeze” with a “delicate harmony of cotton flower, mimosa, white amber and a whisper of soft musk” — and seriously, that’s exactly what the lotion smells like. This soft scented, quick absorbing lotion is definitely a treat! And a plus… it’s artificial dye & paraben free.
($6.99)Nexxus Hydra-Light Weightless Moisture Leave-in Conditioning Foam
Low humidity in the winter means an abundance of good hair days, but it’s a double-edged sword because your hair starts feeling like hay if you don’t keep it moisturized. This leave-in, made with glycerin, deeply hydrates hair and helps make it more manageable and flexible for styling.
The foam can be used in either wet or dry hair. I’m currently wearing my natural hair blown out and I just pumped some product in my hands, rubbed them together and smoothed on. It smells great and tamed my flyaways.
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Tame that Frizz with @Trissola
I am a big fan of before and after photos just for the pure shock factor! Some changes are not noticeable or dramatic unless the pictures are put side by side so check out tthe Trissola Facebook page.
Before: frizzy, and unmanageable, could not blow dry it out with out it breaking.After: For being a temporary, demi color Solo created incredible shine!
This week, I had a chance to meet the founders of Trissola at the Sak’s Fifth Avenue salon and see how this new product is changing lives of women and men worldwide. Trissola is not a blow out and it is not a straightener. It is a system that you can use to restore shine and close cuticles (eliminate frizz) and make your hair more ‘tame’.
The process takes around 2 hours and stays for 90 days. I think this is just perfect for someone who has unruly hair, over colored hair and someone who wants that oomph!
The delicious lunch from the awesome Trissola team – thank you!
The at home ‘taming’ system from Trissola
This demo model had wavy hair before that was lack luster. Now look at shiny it is!
I tried the at home shampoo and conditioner that is suppose to further enhance your hair’s tameness after your treatment. They smell SO GOOD!! The leave-in conditioner smells like fresh baked cookies. I didn’t get the treatment yet and my hair isn’t that unruly so…
What do you think?
Before – FRIZZ CITY
AFTER:
Smooth la la!
Shiny and no frizz!
Find out more on www.trissola.com
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Holiday Hair with @leestaffordhair
The Wavy Baby
“For the past 10 years, the hair vibe has been all about a sleek, straight look,” says Lee. “Girls are done with that now because it’s too much work. Wavy, tussled hair is so versatile because with just a touch of heat and a little bit of product, you can pull off a textured hair style with either curly or straight hair.”
1. To achieve this look, section off hair, spraying each section with Lee’s Flat Iron Protection Spray before you wrap each section around a hair wand or curling iron one by one.
2. Wrap the ends of the sectioned hair around the roller taking care not to buckle the hair. Then wind the roller down firmly towards the scalp. Keep winding until the roller sits on the roots of the hair.
3. Continue around the whole head always taking the same width of hair. Leave the finished set to dry naturally (roughly 20-30minutes) or dry with a diffuser attachment on your hairdryer to speed up the process. Remove each roller and brush through the hair following the direction of the set.
4. Now that you’ve done all that work, don’t let it go to waste. Finish with Lee’s Beach Babe Sea Salt Spray for a more lived in look or if you want a stronger hold on your style, polish off with his Hold Tight Firm Hold Hair Spray.
The Big Bang
If you don’t already have thick straight hair, this look is a little harder to recreate, but not impossible. Another good alternative are side swept bangs which work on almost every face shape and with every haircut. “Bangs have been seen on nearly every celebrity this year and are still on trend for 2013. Lee’s Hold Tight Firm Hold Hairspray is the perfect product for either look because unlike other hairsprays on the market that leave hair with a crunchy, crispy look and feel, Lee’s hairspray is specifically designed to leave hair feeling as good as it looks, while giving hold to all styles without the stiffness hairspray is known for.
- · For the Big Bang:
1. Begin with wet hair and apply a walnut size amount of the Lee Stafford Double Blow Mousse ($7.99).
2. Aim a hairdryer with a diffuser (to combat frizz) down the hair shaft. While blowing out bangs, try not to move the hair too much, as this will create body.
3. If you want a slight side flick, use a round brush and roll into the hair going backwards. Put the heat of the dryer on it then let the round brush cool down a little before you take it out.
- · For a Side Swept Bang:
1. Follow step one in the Big Bang.
2. Use a round brush to roll the hair up, and blow dry hair on the side where you want the bangs to sit.
3. As you blow dry your hair, be sure to point your hair dryer down at your bangs, holding the dryer directly above the brush. When the hair is dried, lightly spray with some hairspray to hold it in place or secure in place with a cute clip.
** Lee’s Stylist Secrets:
- · “I always say ‘leave it up to a professional to cut your fringe!’ It’s not as simple as just chopping off your hair with a pair of scissors. You want bangs to suit both your hair texture and face shape as well, but if you’re really desperate to trim your bangs, it’s important to know that you must cut slowly and UPWARDS into your bangs. Simply cutting across your forehead will give you a fringe line that’s too blunt and difficult to correct professionally later on!
- · The right bangs can soften and balance your features. Lee’s general rule for fringe is strong, square bangs better suits a narrow face because it opens up the face and narrows down the forehead. With big eyes, you can pull off a great “coy” look, peeking out from beneath. Asymmetric or side sweeping bangs are the most flatting for a rounder shaped face; however, be careful if you have a low hairline or a small, round face – as it can become disproportionate and drown your features.
(Please note: all of the products listed above are available at ULTA stores nationwide or online at ULTA.com.)
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Out the Door in 15 Mins Flat
If you’re a girl, you’ve probably experienced that moment of panic when a friend calls to invite you to go out — tonight — and you look like you just rolled out of bed. Perhaps it’s because you did just roll out of bed, but, regardless of the reason, you need to look sharp right away. Instead of turning down the offer because you can’t get ready in time, turn to some of these quick and easy ideas to make yourself look great without spending all day on it.
Picking the Perfect Outfit
A girls’ night out is about dressing up, but also about being comfortable. You aren’t going on a fancy date (although you may end up meeting some cute guys), so you don’t need to worry too much about looking as good as you possibly can. The best outfit recipe for a girls’ night out is one pair of dark wash skinny jeans with a cute top and sexy heels. The heels automatically make the jeans look fancy, and the top is the perfect way to show off your personality. Plus, you hardly have to think about anything to find an outfit that matches!
Adding Great Accessories
Don’t forget to add some accessories to complete your outfit. Choose a chunky bracelet that matches the colors in your top or shoes and a necklace that complements the neckline of your top. Lastly, make sure to grab a purse or clutch and transfer your essentials into it. A fancy bag can make a huge difference, and you don’t want to be lugging your usual purse around when you’re out and about with the girls.
Doing Your Hair
There are two major options for how to do your hair if you don’t have time to wash and style it as you usually do, but still need to look great. First, consider an updo, which is super forgiving and makes the messy look suddenly stylish. Second, consider clip-in consider clip-in hair extensions, which are really helpful for adding volume to flat hair. Because the extensions are already styled, it’s as simple as clipping them in and giving your natural hair the boost it needs.
Adding Pizzaz with Makeup
Take a few minutes before you head out to complete your look with some makeup. Focus on high-impact areas because you’ll probably be in poorly-lit places anyway, so nobody will see the subtle techniques. Start with eyeliner and mascara, then add a touch of blush and a lipstick that will make your look really pop. If you have time, shimmery eye shadow makes it look like you really went the extra mile.
Not having enough time to get ready should never hold you back from enjoying a night out with the girls. Have some versatile clothes, accessories and styling tools on hand so you can get ready in a flash. And remember, your girls are the priority, so it’s about wearing things that not only look great, but also feel comfortable!
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Hair extensions: Use with care!
Every day, we see photos of celebs with fantastic, natural looking extensions. Because there’s really not much evidence they’re wearing extensions (apart from the gorgeous hair they’re sporting), it can be hard to take a lesson from the experts.
Fortunately for us, celebs are also known for some pretty big fashion don’ts that we can all learn from. First of all, whether you visit a stylist for a new set of micro braids or try your hand at clip-in extensions or bangs, quality is key with extensions. Good quality extensions should look and feel like the real deal for seamless coverage. If you can afford it, purchase real human hair over synthetic to get a seamless style that moves like your own natural hair.
DON’T:
Show your extensions.
A notable fail to avoid is pulling up your mane and showing off the braided roots of your extensions, as Britney Spears did. This fail could’ve been avoided had the extensions been put in by a knowledgeable stylist. If you can see the extension tracks when you pull back your hair, you should probably choose a different type of extensions or a different hairstyle.
Fail to match your hair color.
Another Britney gaffe shows the star with mismatched extensions and roots. While you can try a flirty streak of pink or turquoise, extensions that aim for natural but don’t look it really miss the mark.
Show your wig tape.
Beyoncé favors a lace-front wig–and the whole world knows it because she just can’t seem to secure her wig tape. Lace-front wigs are known for their seamless ability to blend with your mane, but don’t screw it up with poor tape placement.
Get different textured extensions.
Failing to match textures could leave your hairdo looking like a rat’s nest, as happened to Nicole Richie. When it comes to extensions, you really want to play matchy-matchy with tone and texture.
Keep these famous fails in mind when planning a style change or new look to avoid bad hair and to help you feel confident with your style. As long as you pay careful attention to what you– or your stylist–is doing and check yourself in the mirror, you should be able to avoid these pitfalls and enjoy the beauty of luscious, beautifully coiffed locks.
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The fauxny-tail: Fashion faux pas or hottest new trend?
Have you been watching this year’s Bachelorette? Emily Maynard shed some light on a new fashion option – the clip-on ponytail. Some people loved it and some people hated it, but there it was in all its glory at several of the rose ceremonies. Since Emily has her own flowing golden locks, many wondered what the purpose of the extension was. Couldn’t she just make her own ponytail? Sure, but in today’s fashion world, extensions are for all people.
When to wear a fauxny tail
When worn properly, hair extensions can be quite pretty. The ponytail, whether real or fake, is one of the hottest hair ideas of the year. Wear it high for an elegant evening look, short and casual for heading out around town or sleek and elegant like Emily. Anytime a ponytail is appropriate, a clip-on addition is appropriate as well.
Tips and tricks for making the fauxny look its best
The key to the clip-on ponytail is that it needs to look real to look good. Emily’s ponytail, while we all knew it was fake, perfectly matched her silken locks. Viewers knew she’d used extensions when they saw her hair grow by six inches seemingly overnight, but her new style looked real. Spend the money on a quality piece that matches your hair. Don’t be afraid to go curly if your hair is straight, but make sure the color matches. Next, be sure clips are hidden. Emily did this well by wrapping up her extensions with some of her real hair. You can also hide the clip by pulling strings of your own hair and the extension hair over it, pinning them in place with strategically placed bobby pins on the side of the head. With practice, you can easily hide the clip and style the ponytail as you see fit.
Once the clip is hidden, play with the ponytail to find the best style for your look. For a night out, consider a high ponytail or one down the back just like Emily’s. For everyday wear, the traditional middle-of-the-head ponytail looks great. You can even braid the extension to add to your hairstyle options. With the addition of hair extensions to your accessories, you add a number of options when it comes time to style your hair for work, Saturday errands or an evening out.
