Archive for July 19th, 2006
From Julyne Derrick,
Every summer, you may notice your hair grows limp. Perhaps it becomes ultra-frizzy or your color seems to get brassy.
You’re suffering from the typical woes of summer. Fortunately, there are a ton of products on the market created to combat bad summer hair. Here are a few our favorite tips to fix flat and frizzy hair in summer:
Flat head Humidity can take a toll on fine hair in summer causing your hair to wilt. Instead of piling on the product, we suggest:
1. Pulling hair back in a loose bun on the nape of your neck or if your hair isn’t long enough, pulling it into a cute little ponytail.
2. Get highlights. Keep in mind that coloring hair causes the strands to plump up. Lightening hair in summer actually adds body. We suggest a few highlights around the face.
3. Invest in the right products. For just-at-the-beach waves, spritz on a great salt spray then scrunch hair (or make your own with sea salts and water). For even more body, sprinkle a dry shampoo (or baby powder if you’re blonde) at the crown and roots. It soaks up moisture.
The frizzies Dry hair sops up the moisture and can cause frizzies. Here are some tips to fix them:
1. Keep hair moisturized with a deep conditioning once a week.
2. Let washed hair air dry. Blowdrying only causes more frizz.
3. To tame frizzies, you’ll need the right products. Invest in a straightening balm, shine serum and gel to keep hair moisturized.
4. Hide the frizz with a loose bun, gorgeous!
Sun or chlorine-damaged hair The sun, chlorine and salt water can wreck havoc on your hair color. Here’s how to fix:
1. Wear a hat or bandana (ala Angelina Jolie) in the sun.
2. Invest in sunscreen shampoos and products. There are a ton of new ones on the market, at all prices.
3. Before swimming, rinse hair with tap water. This will cut down on salt and chlorine absorption, according to US Weekly magazine (July 24, 2006).
July 19th, 2006
This style is popular for fall because of how easy it is to maintain. But, it doesn’t look easy and that is what makes it so popular! Here’s what you need to know.
Things You Need:
-a hairdryer and diffuser (can be used but is not necessary)
-your favorite gel (should be strong holding)
-your favorite hairspray
Step-by-Step Instructions
• Shampoo and then blot hair to absorb as much of the water as possible.
• Apply a generous amount of hair gel and distribute evenly to your hair.
• Using fingers, run them through the hair, lifting and moving the hair forward.
• If you are short on time, you can use the diffuser attachment, gently dry your hair.
• When hair is dry, mist with your favorite hairspray.
July 19th, 2006
It’s a fact we know and it’s a truth we accept: Good hair can make your day.
“There is no pain like trying to get ready in the morning and not being able to do your hair,” says Rachel Weingarten, author of “Hello Gorgeous! Beauty Products in America ‘40s-’60s” (Collectors Press, $14.95, 176 pages) and former makeup artist.
“Yes, there’s war and famine, but we can’t save the world if we just feel really ugly.”
Hair goes beyond vanity and pierces our self-esteem, our individuality — even our politics. It offers commentary on the state of the world and can make or break careers. And the result is a culture of $100 blow-outs, caviar shampoo and $500 haircuts with one-name stylists such as Oribe, Christophe and Fekkai.
“It’s so ingrained, even from when we’re little children, that hair has really mythical properties,” Weingarten says. “In pre-historic times, when there were just stick figures and no representation of clothing, you’ll still find hair on the drawings.”
Your hair and you
Bad hair can haunt you for life. Children who struggle with unruly hair may not come to terms with their self-image until well into adulthood, says Michelle Breyer, co-founder of the Web site NaturallyCurly.com.
“When you’re growing up, you focus on the things that you feel different about, your insecurities,” she says. “Your hair is such a visible part of who you are. If you have a bad feeling about your hair as a child, that can follow you for decades.”
Blame it on the rise of the hairdresser in 18th century France, according to the book “Fashions in Hair: The 1st 5,000 Years” (Peter Owen, $139.95, 736 pages) by Richard Corson.
July 19th, 2006
The right hairstyle can give you self-confidence and satisfaction. Finding the right hairstyle for who you are does take a little effort though, but the results will be worth it in the end.
As with any good relationship, the key to getting a great haircut is proper communication between you and your hairstylist. So before your haircut, you should have a consultation with your stylist during which time you should discuss various aspects of your hair and lifestyle. With that said, here are seven tips on how to get the haircut you want and deserve.
Do I Need a Matchmaking Service?
Finding a good stylist can be like searching for your next girlfriend. Ask around and find out which stylist or salon your friends use, or you can ask someone whose hair you admire. Perhaps you have seen a salon around town that looks cool and you’ve been wanting to give it a try.
In this case I would call them up and ask if they specialize in a certain types of haircuts or styles. Would they consider themselves to be modern or classic in their attitude toward style? Edgy or conservative?
Don’t Be Shy
You might want to call or drop in a salon and ask if the stylists will give a free consultation before you make an appointment. Find out what their style is and the kind of cuts they are particularly good at cutting. Maybe they are better at certain types of styles than others or maybe they typically do women’s hair. It’s good to find these things out before they start whacking at your hair.
What’s Your Fuss Factor?
Let your stylist know how much time you spend on your hair. Maybe you aren’t fussy with your hair, or perhaps you only allow a certain amount of time for hair during your morning routine. Are you proficient with a blow-dryer, or do you prefer the natural route? What kinds of styling aids are you used to using?
What Do You Mean No Mohawks at the Office?
It’s also important for them to know what your lifestyle is like. Do you work in a conservative environment? Are you a man about town and fashion forward? Ultimately your stylist needs to know how comfortable you are wearing your hair. And make sure you’re both on the same page when you get down to details. For example, your stylist may interpret “shaggy” or “shorter on the sides” much differently than you do.
I Didn’t Know My Hair Could Do That!
Make sure your stylist shows you how to best style your hair. Do they use the hairdryer in a particular way? What kind of products did they use in your hair? If your stylist doesn’t explain what he/she is doing, don’t hesitate to ask for an explanation of a technique or term they use. Understanding the language or terminology is key.
Lights, Camera . . .
A picture is worth a thousand words and a great way to start the conversation. The stylist I have interviewed say that more and more male clients are bringing in photos from magazines and such. With photos your stylist will be able to assess how suitable the cut you like is for your hair, your face shape and lifestyle. They can also suggest alternatives if it’s not the perfect cut for you.
Money Money Money
Tip appropriately or you may not want your stylist to have a pair scissors near your face the next time you drop in. A Proper tip is 15% to 20% for your stylist & $5 for the person who washes your hair, if someone other than your stylist is doing so.
July 19th, 2006
While hairdos and styles come and go like the seasons — think beehive, bouffant and poodle cut — hair can reflect the politics and mood of the era.
In her book “Hair: Public, Political, Extremely Personal” (St. Martin’s Griffin, $13.95, 256 pages), Diane Simon writes about how thousands of women lined up to slash their locks into bobs in the 1920s, part of the “ambivalent, manic decade when so much of America seemed to change so fast.”
There was Prohibition, women’s suffrage, traffic lights and flapper dresses, and the short, carefree bob fit the part.
The Afro of the 1960s was a statement for African Americans, rejecting the “cost, pain and racial implications of chemical relaxers and perms,” Simon writes. “By association, it celebrated anything that opposed white power and intransigence, and figures now as a visual icon that captures all of the turmoil, hope and anger of those years.”
Politics aside, hair has the power to make someone a star and, on the flip side, to snatch fame away with the snip of the scissors.
Look at Jennifer Aniston, whose polished shag turned “The Rachel” into a legitimate fashion term. The hairstyle resonated with thousands of women who wanted a “good-girl cut” with a little layered edge, author Weingarten says.
And when Keri Russell hacked away her long brown curls, her TV show, “Felicity,” was practically dumped on the salon floor.
“The show was about a waifish girl trying to deal with life,” Weingarten says. “Her shorter hair represented independence, and Middle America decided she wasn’t the good girl anymore — all because a cute girl got a haircut.”
Unruly and unpredictable
You’ve got your doe-brown eyes. You’ve got your flawless skin. But your hair has a mind of its own.
“Humidity, heat and things like that can undo anything you’ve done to it. It’s going to do what it wants to do,” says Breyer of NaturallyCurly.com. “It’s something that’s never constant.”
Add that uncertainty to the generalizations people make based on appearance, and good hair equates a frazzling affair with the hair dryer.
A person who has a clean cut with every strand locked into place might be considered meticulous and detail-oriented. Crazy, unruly hair is expected atop an artist or writer, or perhaps a person who takes pride in defying the rules. And short, low-maintenance hair might be found framing the face of a new mother who has little time for personal primping.
“Hair is kind of a measure of so many things,” says Michael Ray Smith, an associate professor of mass communication at Campbell University in North Carolina. “It’s a measure of your social class, it’s a measure of your affluence, it’s a measure of your hipness.”
And a different hairstyle can even change who you are, part of the reason why some go for a radically different ‘do after a painful break-up. Breyer has a friend who went from brown to red, and with the new color came a new demeanor.
“I think her personality changed a little when she dyed her hair red,” she says. “If you feel sexier because you have red hair, it makes such a difference on your life.”
The bill
With our obsession about lovely locks comes a whopping price tag and an intimate relationship with our hair- stylists. A weekly $55 treatment flies off the shelves at NaturallyCurly.com, and hair products and salon visits — the more expensive the better — tend to be recession- proof, Breyer says.
“People will spend much more on haircuts and colors than they will on other things,” she says. “It makes a dramatic change in your appearance — you can’t lose 10 pounds in a half-hour, but you can get a totally different haircut.”
And ditching your stylist is as serious as filing for divorce.
“What your stylist can do for you is such a dramatic thing, it’s such a personal thing. They know every gray hair you have, they know every insecurity about your hair, which is kind of your insecurities about yourself,” Breyer says. “And you spend a lot of time in that chair and you probably tell them more about yourself than anyone else.”
Some fall into the trap of keeping the hairstyle they came of age in. But the ponytailed professor no longer stands for rebellion and counterculture, says mass communication professor Smith.
“What they’re doing is shouting through their clothing and their hair, ‘Man, I just can’t give up the ‘60s and I can’t give up that whole culture, and it’s who I am, it defines me,’” he says.
In a society of conformity, hairstyle is one way to stand apart. “I’m going to do something to my personal appearance so I’m not the same as the guy next door,” Smith says. “People use hair as prestige; it’s a bit like the peacock with the plumage.”
But what is the very core of this desire for good hair? It reaches into our animal instincts, Smith says.
“We tend to think that people are kind of genetically coded to be attracted to people who would be good reproductive partners,” he says. “So a good head of hair is a good indicator that this person would be a healthy partner.”
Style points
Trivia from “Hello Gorgeous! Beauty Products in America ‘40s-’60s” by Rachel Weingarten:
— In the fairy tale, long, golden hair saves Rapunzel when her prince climbs her tresses and rescues her from a tower.
— One version of the legend of the naked ride of Lady Godiva has her saving her modesty with her yards of hair.
— Hair was of such importance to Catherine II of Russia that she reportedly kept her wig maker in an iron cage in her bedroom for more than three years.
— The U.S. War Department during World War II asked actress Veronica Lake to get a new hairdo because it feared the female factory workers who copied her “peekboo” haircut would get their hair caught in the machinery.
— After the practical look characterized the war-torn 1940s, curls, waves and coils defined the 1950s, when Rayve Wave and Lilt home permanents were introduced.
— The love-hate affair with the blow-dryer began when Conair introduced the first portable model in 1959.
— The average human has 100,000 hairs and loses an average of 40 to 100 strands each day.
— Blonds have more hair than dark-haired people.
— To keep your hair static-free, rub a clothes dryer softener sheet over
July 19th, 2006
5 steps to getting the right cut & color
We’ve all left the salon with a cut that’s too short or a color that’s just a bit
off. Here are some tips to getting the perfect cut and color out of a stylist — including annoying traits stylists hate in their customers.
Tip #1: Pick the right stylist for you. If you have curly hair, for example, find someone who specializes in super-curly cuts. Curly hair is tricky to cut so it’s best to call ahead to a large salon and ask for their specialist. Keep in mind that a stylist WITH curly hair will know exactly where you’re coming from. The same goes for getting your brown hair colored red (ask for someone who does lots of new redheads), getting your boring hair cut ‘funky’ and getting a perm (you want someone who does a lot of them).
Tip #2: Do your homework Nothing annoys a stylist more than when someone sits down in their chair and tries to explain the cut they want without a picture.
(Yes, I can be accused of doing this on my last haircut. Even beauty editors never learn). Imagine if someone said, “I want to look like Cameron Diaz.” Cameron Diaz blonde or brunette? Cameron circa 2001 or 2005? And what does she look like these days anyway? Bring a picture or 2 or 3. And make sure the look will suit you. See my article ‘Flattering cuts for every face shape.
Tip #3: Never say, ‘Do whatever you want.’ The beauty editor of ‘O’ magazine tells of the time a world-renowned hairstylist offered to do her hair and she let him do whatever he wanted since the cut was free. Oops. Big mistake. The lesson in this is that it’s rarely a good idea to give your hair completely over to a stylist. After all, you don’t want to be the practice mannequin for a new look the stylist is dying to try out. Do you?
Tip #4: When talking length, show with your hands. One of the most common disappointments I hear about from those with ‘Hair Horror Stories,’ is the ‘I Told Her Three Inches and She Lopped Off Eight’ stories. A stylist once taught me a great trick, never say you want 3 inches off, actually take your hand and karate chop it right where you want her/him to go. And feel free to say, ‘No higher, please.’ My advice: Keep your hand there and have the stylist stand back and soak in just where you want your hair cut to.
Tip #5: Schedule in 10 minutes for a consultation. If you’re doing your own version of ‘Extreme Makeover’ and have plans to drastically realign your looks, for heaven’s sake do plan a good 10-15 minute consultation with the colorist and stylist. They need to see what your hair looks like dry and styled as you typically style it. This tells them a lot: How much time you really put into your hair each day, how your hair dries and how healthy your ends are.
Tip #6: Listen to your stylist. If the woman in your picture has ash blonde hair and you’d make a much better butter blonde, chances you won’t know this, but your stylist will. Be sure and ask questions: ‘What type of color best suits me?’ ‘Do you think my hair can look like this picture of Cameron circa 2001?’ ‘How long will this haircut take me to style in the morning?’ And if your stylist says, ‘No, I’m sorry, but there’s no way I can make you look like Cameron circa 2001,’ you’d better listen, because chances are you won’t.
Tip #7: Be honest with your stylist. Yes, you’d love your stylist to think you’ll love your new hairstyle enough to baby it every morning with 10 products, 20 minutes drying time and 15 minutes styling time. However, the truth is, if your morning routine for the past 20 years includes a quick wash followed by a towel dry and ending with a soppy wet ponytail, you’d better tell you’re stylist so or you’ll end up with a fancy, layered, curling ironed and hairsprayed ‘do that takes hours to replicate. Trust me, I’ve been there.
Tip #8: Tip appropriately or beware the bad haircut next time. Proper tip is 15% for your stylist and $5 for the person who washes your hair.
July 19th, 2006
By Karin Eldor
Guys, have I got good news for you. We’ve arrived at a day and age when it’s the person who wears the haircut and style, rather than the other way around.
I know, I know, so much emphasis is placed on a guy’s hairstyle, and so it should be; only now, less emphasis is placed on that must-have hairdo every man is sporting.
There are still the dos and don’ts of men’s hair, and there will always be more popular trends, but you no longer have to conform to the latest greatest hairstyle that promises to make you look like the heartthrob the ladies are swooning over, or every male model you see in glossy magazine spreads.
hair are the styles
I consulted with male hairstylist Ferdinando from Le Pascha men’s grooming center, who relayed the good news to me. When I asked him what the latest hair trends are, his enthusiastic response was, “Everything!” So what does that mean for you? It means that it all depends on your head shape, hair texture and facial features; it’s therefore important to get the haircut and style that’s specifically suited to you. But that doesn’t mean you can’t go through some trial and error to help pinpoint the do that’s perfect for you.
In order to give you some inspiration of different hairstyles or cuts, here are some examples of cuts you can try on for size.
Short takes
Most of today’s male celebrities have taken the shorter route, with all-around short, “neat” hair. It’s no fuss, and might simply require some pomade or a similar grooming product to give it a bit of style. It all depends on how short you want to go, as there’s short and then there’s the almost shaven, almost crew cut — both are acceptable.
One look that is popular with short hair is reminiscent of that 1950s hairdo, achieved by combing back your “fronts” (your girlfriend surely refers to them as bangs) and making them “lean over” slightly to the side — a hairstyling product will give your hair the hold it may need.
Medium messiness
You can also sport a medium-length hairdo. Whether it’s longer at the back and more controlled on top or medium-length throughout is up to you — but it’s more about what you choose to do with it. You could make it messy and give it that “just got out of bed look,” or you could wear it natural and let it fall as it would. Just add some pomade or any styling product that will give your hair some texture and movement.
Some styling suggestions for this length:
• A “shaggy” look, with hair cut fine and fronts completely swept to one side, rather than parted in the middle.
• Style your hair with a quasi-mohawk (really!), by adding pomade to emphasize the hair in the middle of your head so that it sticks up more than the rest of your hair. But there shouldn’t be too much of a difference between this so-called mohawk and the rest of your hair. This ain’t no ’80s mohawk.
More hairstyles for long-haired guys, bald guys and black guys, and the dos and don’ts you’ve been waiting for Longer lengths
Long hair is also making waves, as long as it’s lean and looks sheared, and not as thick as your sister’s flowing locks. By lean I mean that it should hang straight down, and not have the thickness and volume women crave. You can take the length to any extreme you like — from chin-length to shoulder-length — it all depends on what looks best on you and how much maintenance you’re up for.
A style you could try:
• Have your hair “razor cut” so that the thickness in the back and sides is removed, giving it a leaner look. This looks great with both thick and straight hair.
Bald boldness
For those of you with a receding hairline, the best way to work with what you’ve got is by having the front of your hair cut very short, with the rest of your hair short all around. While you can get some outside help from medical and natural hair-loss remedies, you might eventually need to know how to wear it as best you can.
For those of you who are balding, shaving it all off is the best look for you. You can do it yourself with a razor or go to your hairdresser to get the job done — whatever you choose, the average time span you should wait between shaves is five days.
African-American answers
Again, as I stated before, anything goes in terms of hairstyles, it’s all about what suits you best. With that in mind, whether you wear your hair longer like Lenny Kravitz or shorter like Denzel Washington, you have to find the do that suits you.
If you work in a professional environment, then I think short is the way to go: It’s sophisticated and no-nonsense. A longer, wild style is also pretty cool, but goes with a trendier, rock-star image, and is better suited for younger men.
While a shorter style will emphasize your facial features, you might be surprised to read that the longer hairdo will also underscore the features you love most.
hair coloring
Where men’s hair color is concerned, “natural” is the word of the day. This means that if you are going to highlight your hair, make it one shade lighter or darker with subtler streaks that still add some jazz to your hair. This is a great look to go for if you desire a bit of change and are bored with your everyday image, but don’t want to do anything too drastic — remember, nothing is permanent.
Frosted tips are also in style, but are usually more popular for the younger dudes rather than young professionals.
hair dos and don’ts
Here’s a rundown of the don’ts in men’s hairstyles. Although everything is in, there are always exceptions…
Crazy sideburns. Stick to classic sideburns as opposed to the kind that take over your face or have a life of their own. The average length of a classic sideburn is the middle point of your ear, but this can be adjusted according to your facial features and head shape. (Note: Longer sideburns can actually make your face look more narrow, while sideburns that are shorter than mid-ear length can have the opposite effect. You heard it here first, folks.)
Ponytails. While long hair is in style, tying your hair back is not. If your long hair is lean, as it should be, you shouldn’t have to keep it out of your face.
Mullets. They made a brief comeback in 2001, but to the relief of many, their fame is limited to the ’80s.
Colored hair. Leave the blues, greens, pinks, and purples to your box of Lucky Charms cereal. Don’t change the entire hue of your hair.
I hope you now have enough inspiration to get out there and either change your hairstyle to one that will make you feel great, or are already the proud owner of the one you currently sport. Remember that while it’s great to get ideas from the media and celebrities, the looks you see on the runway or magazine models are not the ones that can usually be applied to the regular guy.
Take advantage of the fact that many different styles are presently fashionable, and get the one best suited to highlight your facial features, the shape of your head, and your overall look. With that in mind, you’ll look better than your peers… by more than a hair.
Ferdinando is a renowned hairstylist at Le Pascha men’s grooming center, in Montreal, Canada, and an educator.
Brought to you by Merck & Co.
July 19th, 2006
by Julyne Derrick
Spring has arrived & we have the scoop on the season’s 7 hottest beauty trends.
There’s some fun stuff here, so have at it. As for us at About, we just can’t wait to fish out the sandals. You?
1. Ponytails & braids are hot, hot, hot As much as we LOVE the loose bun trend of ‘05, it’s purported not to be back this spring, according to Glamour magazine. (We plan to ignore this, however, since we feel loose buns are effortlessly & timelessly classy). If you’re big on trends, opt for loose ponytails & braids. Check out these 5 fabulous ponytails & how to style them.
2.Rummage around for red…lipstick that is. Red lips continue to be classy for spring. Just remember to keep your eye makeup light.
3. Long lashes are big. A huge trend (& one we aren’t signing up for, thank you very much) are ‘permanent’ false lashes applied individually. They last a couple weeks & are especially big on the West Coast. Not ready to go the glued route? Layer on the mascara. Several coats should do you. (Don’t believe the old beauty ‘no’ that you should only apply 2 coats of mascara. That ‘don’t’ is now a ‘do’ — you just can’t get lush, thick lashes with only two coats. Get 15 more tips on mascara tricks).
4. Don’t overbronze. Fake tanned skin is in again, but don’t go overboard ala ‘Dancing With the Stars’ George Hamilton. Instead, try layering your fake tan with a light tanning creme set with a tinted moisturizer or a bronzing powder. The best thing about bronzed skin? You can go light on the rest of your makeup. We love bronzed skin paired with a pink lip gloss & mascara.
5. Long wavesare still hot, while straightening irons still are not. Ironed hair has been out now for a couple seasons & it stays out for spring. Instead, opt for straight, but full hair with a few loose waves you can get via Velcro rollers or winding hair around a full-barreled curling iron. Think your hair is too long? Don’t worry, as long as you keep it trim, super long hair is in. (Have you seen Gwyneth Paltrow’s hair lately? It keeps growing & growing & growing…).
6. Spring is all about shimmer. We love the look of shimmer on eyes & cheeks, especially on tanned skin. Here’s a how-to on getting the glow.
7. Coral is not just for Floridian retirees. We are sure this comment is going to result in hate mail flooding our inbox, but isn’t it true that when you think about coral lipstick you picture a tanned, wrinkly retiree? Coral is in this spring for women of all ages. ‘O’ magazine trumps it as the perfect shade when pink feels cliched & red is just too vampy. The deal with coral is to stay away from mattes & opt instead for glosses & lipsticks that you apply with your finger (the stick itself can make the color too heavy). You want it to look as if you just ate a piece of fruit, according to ‘O’. Okay then! P.S. Coral looks especially great with a tan. And try it on your toes.
July 19th, 2006