Category Archives: Hair Care

HOLIDAY HAIR TREND: LADYLIKE

Save your beachy waves and messy updos for another time. This season, a more “done” approach to hair is trending. Embrace polished ponytails and updos and accessorize with a beautiful barrette or hairpin. Right now, I’m loving the Stellar Hair Set ($48) with 3 gold and glimmery options.

anthropologie.com

anthropologie.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(featured image via harpersbazaar.com)

easy workout hair = gorgeous post-workout hair

How to look like a cool chick while you work out and soooooo gorgeous afterwards? Do the double bun!

To do:

  • Divide hair into two sections.
  • Apply just a wee bit of a smoothing cream or a light gel.
  • Twist each section and secure into buns at the nape of the neck.
  • Post-workout, take down, untwist and finger comb for gorgeous waves.

 

(featured image via pinterest)

WANT FULL, SHINY, SEXY HAIR?

If you’re looking for fuller, stronger, shinier hair, look no further than your pantry. Wendy Rose Gould beauty expert for the hair tutorial and advice site www.Latest-Hairstyles.com says you can make your conditioner much more effective with a few add-ins. Simply mix 1/4 cup of your usual conditioner with 1/4 cup coconut oil and 1/4 cup black seed oil. After styling, you’ll look like you’ve just stepped out of the salon!

 

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(featured image via pinterest)

Pop-Up Braid Bar

If you’re in the NYC area this Saturday, October 25th, 2014 you won’t want to miss this cool Pop-up Braid Bar, hosted by KLORANE at the Birchbox Store in SoHo (433 West Broadway, New York, NY) from 2-6 pm.

Top editorial and celebrity hairstylists Casey Geren and Adam Maclay will be on hand to deliver the hottest braids of the moment using Klorane products, including their award-winning Dry shampoo with oat milk! With the purchase of any Klorane product you’ll also receive a full-size Shampoo with flax fiber ($15 value), a must-have for sexy, voluminous hair!

To RSVP directly: http://join.birchbox.com/storeevents/

 

(photography courtesy of Pinterest)

The Top Knot

The Top Knot can (and should!) be your go-to hairstyle when you need to look gorgeous in very little time. It’s actually best when done on “dirty” hair and looks just as great running around town as it does at a formal event. Jenny Balding, NYC Cutler/Redken Stylist, shares how to create the perfectly imperfect topknot:

  1. Start with day two hair onwards as your hair will be easier to manage with an already ‘lived -in’ texture.
  2. Mist hair with dry shampoo, focusing primarily on the roots for more texture, grip and volume.
  3. Then mist a light hairspray throughout for some hold and extra grip.
  4. Sweep your hair into high ponytail. Check what it looks like from your profile so you can position your ponytail at the most flattering point of your head for your face shape.
  5. Take the ponytail and back-brush from the underneath lightly to create a slight disheveled texture.
  6. Sweep around the base of the ponytail and pin using U shaped hairpins. These really anchor the hair best which means you will only need 2 or 3 to secure.

Consider:

  • Clean Dry Shampoo ($10), a talc-free, paraben-free and sulfate-free formula that absorbs excess oil and leaves behind a light, fresh scent.
  • Bumble and Bumble Spray de Mode ($15) is a quick-drying, flake-free, flexible hold hairspray, perfect as a working or finishing spray.  (image via pinterest)

 

Nationwide Model Search and Giveaway

Calling all male and female wannabe models…have you got what it takes?

If you’ve got great hair and great style you could be the next L.A. Looks® model! All you have to do is be a fan of L.A. Looks Facebook page and  submit a photo with your best “L.A. Look. All 18 and older male and female fans will get the chance to win a trip to L.A. for a professional photo shoot and a surprise VIP experience, including airfare, L.A. car rental, hotel and even a trip stipend.

Plus, The Beauty Wall readers will get a chance to win a basket full of L.A. Looks® products. The basket contains L.A. Looks Absolute Curls, L.A. Looks Volcanic Rush Glue Gel, L.A. Looks Mega Mega Hold gel and L.A. Looks Define & Shine gel.

To enter to be a model, simply click here and like L.A. Looks Facebook page. Also, submit a hair shot of yourself (your personal L.A. Look). The deadline for this is 9/6/14. *

To enter to win the basket of L.A. Looks® products, simply leave a message on this post or leave a message on my Facebook Wall. One winner will be randomly selected. The deadline for this is 7/25/14.

*Model search entries will be judged on originality, creativity, quality of photo and overall appeal. Using these criteria, the judges will select 10 women and men for the finalist stage. Starting on Sept. 22, 2014, L.A. Looks will ask its fans to vote and determine who the two grand-prize winners will be, with the winner announcement to be made later in the fall. The model search will be promoted on product packaging, social media and the website.

GOOD LUCK!!! xoxoNancy

Hot Buns How-to

When it comes to beauty, Emily Blunt can do no wrong! She always looks smart, sophisticated and sexy. Her look at the “Edge of Tomorrow” NYC premiere is certainly no exception.

Celebrity hairstylist Laini Reeves of Tomlinson Management Group  created Emily’s sleek, simple, side bun to echo the modern lines of her sleek, lipstick red Prada gown.

Here’s how she did it:

  1. First, Reeves prepped Emily’s wet hair with René Furterer VEGETAL MOUSSE and gave it a smooth blowout with a soft-bristle round brush.
  2. Then, she misted Emily’s hair with René Furterer VEGETAL FINISHING SPRAY before giving it  a low side part and securing the ponytail.
  3. Another spritz of the FINISHING SPRAY guaranteed extra hold before she twisted the ponytail into a bun at the nape of the neck behind the ear and secured it with bobby pins.

Laini Reeves Troubleshooting Tips:

  • To create texture lightly back-comb the ponytail to make the hair easier to secure.
  • When styling your own look, always make sure everything is perfect before preparing the bun.
  • A small amount of René Furterer STYLING WAX will smooth flyaways.

 

For more information on René Furterer products click here.

 

COPY THIS LOOK: Parisian Chic Hair

With a little help from celebrity hairstylist Peter Butler, Kate Upton channeled Downtown Parisian Chic  at the New York City premier of “The Other Woman.” Here, his step by step breakdown:

  • To begin styling, Butler applied John Frieda Luxurious Volume Volume Building Mousse ($6.50) to clean, wet hair.
  • Next, he blowdried her hair with a thick, round brush concentrating on adding volume.
  • Butler then spritzed John Frieda Luxurious Volume Fine to Full Blowout Spray ($9.99) to add extra volume at the roots and all-over flexible hold.
  • Using a 2 1/2 inch curling iron, Butler gave Upton soft waves ensure her hair had a tiny kick on the ends but not a full flip. He then gave her a neat side part and pinned her hair back.
  • After letting her waves cool, he finished the look with John Frieda Sheer Blonde Crystal Clear Shape & Shimmer Hairspray ($6.50) to hold her style and keep flyaways at bay.

*products available at drugstores nationwide.

 

Switch Up Your Style with Hair Jewelry

The easiest way to get out of a hairstyle rut is with a great hair accessory, and the best way to wear it is a bit unconventional. I’m thinking decorative headbands, bobbies and even special necklaces pinned in place (see above) for a statement-making finishing touch.

3 ways accessorize your hair and do it right:

  1. Slip a headband into a loose style without pulling hair back.
  2. You don’t have to be invited to a British royal wedding to pull off this look but you do have to have loads of confidence. For when more is more!
  3. Pretty barrettes and bobbies dress up long and short hair alike. Hold back bangs, decorate a carefree twist or add some magic with three in a row to accompany a low side part.

(featured image courtesy of lefashionimageblogspot.com)

(gallery images (left to right), Athena Headband, $20 at urbanoutfitters.com, Katie Burley Millenery Midnight Flight Feather Headband, $200 at urbanoutfitters.com, Dipali Bobbies, $24 at anthropologie.com)

A New Beauty Subscription Service you’ll want in on!

From the Lab is a cool monthly subscription service that works with top beauty research labs to get product delivered to your door 18 months before they’re available to the public! When you become a member you’ll receive a box with up to 3 full-size, high-end skin care, hair care and makeup products. If you love a product you can continue buying it through their online store.

I got a sneak peak at the new Transforming Hair Cleanser No. 724. It’s way different than any shampoo I’ve ever tried before. In the shower, I poured a bit into my palm and was surprised at how oily it felt. I couldn’t imagine putting it into my hair–the thought of past olive oil hair treatments that left me with greasy locks that took numerous shampoos to get out filled me with fear!–but in the name of research for The Beauty Wall I did it.

I massaged No. 724 into my scalp and through my strands. Then, I went to rinse my hands and amazingly my hands had no oily residue on them. I rinsed my hair and thought about adding my usual conditioner (I never go without!) but I wanted a true test so instead, I stepped out of the shower to towel dry. My comb through was easy with no tangles. Instead of harsh sulfates that strip hair of nutrients and protectants Transforming Hair Cleanser No. 724 contains a blend of oils and stem cell technology plus andiroba oil, a new ingredient to the U.S., said to enhance thin, damaged hair by strengthening and promoting new hair growth, while curly and coarse hair is left weightless and tamed. After just one use I noticed how shiny and silky smooth my hair hair looked and felt. Once No. 724 gets into the hands of big beauty companies you can be sure it will retail for way more than the $29.95 starting price for a monthly subscription. I can’t wait to get in on this service! If their other products are half as good as 724 this is one beauty subscription service that’ll be worth every penny!

Click here for more information or to join From the Lab.