Pony Up!

A ponytail as beautiful as this isn’t as simple as just pulling your hair back and hoping for the best, it actually takes some effort. No matter what your hair type, the right products and a step-by-step will have you looking just as polished.

This look was created by Aveda Global Creative Director, Antoinette Beenders, for the Stella McCartney Fall/Winter 2013 Collection in Tokyo, Japan. I don’t know about you, but I’m not waiting for fall–I plan on sporting it all throughout the summer!

Aveda’s Damage Remedy Hair Repair, Smooth Infusion Style Prep and Air Control are available at aveda.com.

(photography and how-to courtesy of Aveda)

White Out: 5 Perfect Pieces

Everyone wears white after Memorial Day…5 perfect pieces to get you through the summer in style!

  1. a white tee, linen tee, $19.90 at zara.com.
  2. white jeans, matchstick jean in white denim, $115 at jcrew.com.
  3. white shorts or skirt, vince tropical stretch tennis shorts, $195 at bloomingdales.com.
  4. a white top, wendy poplin shirt, $139.50, at clubmonaco.com.
  5. a white dress, blanca jacquard dress, $148 at madewell.com.

And the accessories to keep it cool:

  • Pair with a neutral or black shoe.
  • Add a bright bag.
  • Gold jewelry always looks chic.
  • Black sunnies keep white from looking too precious.

 

(photography courtesy of Pinterest)

Nancy Answers: Help for Fragrance Fade-Out

Dear Nancy, I love wearing perfume but it disappears too soon after I apply it. How can I make it last a lot longer? Sincerely, M

Dear M, If your skin is on the dry end of the spectrum it’s nearly impossible to make it last without a bit of layering. To keep it from evaporating quickly, the fragrance needs something to adhere to. Use an unscented body lotion or jojoba oil to moisturize your skin (particularly in the areas you’ll be scenting), before spritzing on your favorite perfume. That should do the trick! Nancy

The End of Frizz!

Product Review: Arrojo Defrizz Serum, $16 at www.arrojonyc.com

Last night, my in-laws (and 80 of their closest friends) celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary at Shanghai Jazz, a gourmet Asian restaurant/bar named one of the top 100 jazz clubs in the world. The food, music and planned festivities were absolutely perfect. The weather…not so much!

I had been looking forward to this evening for quite a while. I had my outfit picked out well before the invite arrived, a black silk dress paired with a beautiful baroque pearl bracelet, a gift from my mom. I’d planned on wearing my hair down so I wouldn’t look too formal but the rainy, misty, sticky weather had me worried. I normally straighten my wavy hair–some might call it curly–and in high humidity it tends to get big…very, very big!

I decided to take a chance. This was the perfect opportunity to think of my blog and try a de-frizzer–luckily, I have an arsenal of beauty products just waiting to be tested. Front and center on the bottle of Arrojo Defrizz Serum it says “eliminates frizz, controls flyaways and eases excess volume”–just the words I was looking for! But, would it actually work in weather this extreme?

After shampooing and conditioning, I towel-dried my hair and applied 4-5 drops to my palms before working it through every strand. I blow-dried it smooth and loosely braided it for about 10 minutes for some bend at the ends.

The air was thick with mist and drizzle, so I stepped outside with an umbrella to keep my hair from getting wet. So far, so good. My husband drove with the window half open, humidity filling the car. Still it held. In the restaurant the doors were open for good air-flow to accommodate the large crowd. No problem!

The attached photo is me at the end of the evening, after lots of schmoozing and bumping shoulders and dancing. Normally, under these circumtances my hair would have doubled (or tripled!) in volume. Not once did I feel the need to pull it back into a ponytail to tame it. Arrojo Defrizz Serum is a star!

If you have straight, smooth hair that never changes regardless of the weather, you won’t understand…and you won’t need this product. But if your hair tends to increase in size or frizz with any excess moisture in the air, you will find it life-changing!

Arrojo Defrizz Serum, $16 at www.arrojonyc.com.

GIVEAWAY!!! Enter to win Grace in LA Jeans

Win it! Grace in LA is giving away jeans to 3 lucky thebeautywall.com readers!  Grace in LA jeans feature detailed pockets, a body-hugging fit with just the right amount of stretch and contoured waistbands that won’t gap. Available in bootcut, boyfriend, straight leg, skinny and capri styles.

To enter:

  1. You must be a subscriber to this blog, thebeautywall.com to win. If you’re not already one, simply enter your e-mail and click the aqua subscribe button.
  2. Leave a comment for this story with your name and e-mail address so I can contact you for details if you win. ***Earn an additional entry by forwarding this post to a friend or sharing it on your facebook wall. Let me know you’ve done that in your comment.
  3. Winners will be randomly selected by end of day Thursday, 5/23/13. Surprise styles will be chosen by the company and mailed directly from Grace in LA.

GOOD LUCK! xoxoNancy

 

photography courtesy of Grace In LA

 

Hats Off!

I always miss the mark on buying a summer hat–I start a little too late in the season and all the good ones are gone. This year will be different! Since it’s almost time for fun in the sun, it’s definitely time for a new summer hat. Here, some great picks:

  1. Olona Wide Brim Sunhat. $135 at barneys.com. Bright orange, 100% cotton, canvas soigne hat with an extra wide sun protecting brim.
  2. Biltmore for Madewell Panama Hat, $43.50 at madewell.com. A beach-ready, floppy, panama hat made from toyo paper.
  3. Jonathan Adler Print Bucket Hat, $98 at nordstrom.com. Playful typography and a raw-cut brim adorn this jute bucket hat.

photo courtesy of Beso, Bop Basics Floppy Raffia Sunhat, $98 at shopbop.com.

 

Nancy Answers: Your hair doesn’t have to be dirty to look good.

Hi Nancy, my hair always looks best “settled-in” a day or two after I wash it…how can I get that shiny, manageable look on Day 1? Please help! Thanks, D

Over the years I’ve worked with some pretty spectacular stylists…Elsa Canedo is one of them. She can sculpt hair like she’s Rodin or cut and style it so it’s edgy, beachy or perfectly coiffed. Her client roster is a mile long…recently she’s worked with Jennifer Lopez, Cheryl Hines and Julie Bowen. I asked…Elsa answered…and said it’s all about product!

If you have Fine hair: Towel dry and use a leave in conditioner, applied from midshaft to ends.  The residual product left on hands can be applied to root area. Try Bumble and bumble Leave in Conditioner, $24 at sephora.com.

If you have Medium to Coarse hair: You need more control and shine. On damp hair, apply a nourishing product such as Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil, $48 at bigelowchemists.com. It has Argan oil that absorbs without leaving hair greasy. If air drying, continue to smooth hair gently coaxing hair into desired style every 10 minutes or so, until dry.  If blow drying, simply style as usual and this should do the trick to give you manageable, shiny hair the first day of shampooing.

If your hair texture is Coarse:  For added control and shine try Oribe Super Shine Moisturizing Creme, $49 at oribe.com. Tuck in your bag to use on strays throughout the day.
For Curly hair:  A curl defining product will help maintain shape and keep frizz down to a minimum. Towel Dry and apply the styling creme throughout hair before wrapping up in a towel (turbin style) for about 10 minutes to help set help set curls. Then, take down from towel and allow to air dry or use a diffuser attachment on your blow dryer gently drying and styling hair as usual. You’ll love Oribe Curl by Definition, $48 at oribe.com or Ouidad Moisture Lock Define and Shine Curl Styling Gel Cream, $24 at ouidad.com.
Credit:  Elsa for Oribe Hair Care.
Photo, Elsa at work courtesy of Pinterest.

Read all about it: Pregnant women and junk food.

 

Eating for two? Step away from the junk food. If we’re anything like rats (and scientists say we are) recent research suggests you might be setting your child up for cravings. Eating food high in fat and sugar while pregnant just might give your child a predisposition to junk food addiction later in life.  Read article here.

 

Hands Down Best Manicure Kit!

Years ago, if you were to tell me that I’d get excited over a manicure set I would have thought you were crazy…but that was before I ever laid eyes on this chic one, by Rowallan of Scotland. This gorgeous leather case holds a nail file, scissors, clippers, tweezers, cuticle tool and more. It’s available in sky blue, red, coral or green and can be personalized in gold or silver letters.

Check out my sky blue one with silver letters. I love it so much that I can’t take my eyes off it, and I know it’s strange but I can’t stop inhaling that fresh leather smell.  I wish I’d seen this before Mother’s Day because this would have been my go to gift for everyone. On second thought, maybe it’s a good thing…I think I’ll get my holiday shopping done early this year!

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

Here’s my mom (in green) and my mother-in-law (in red)…I hope you had as wonderful a day as we did! xoxoNancyBlogshot-mom&judy

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