Find your Perfect Summer Hairstyle

Summer is here and you are ready to embrace the sun-kissed, cloudless, care-free days, but what about your hair? Still have the same shoulder length straight cut you did two years ago? Looking for a fresh and effortless way to update your look this season? We give you the top two simple yet totally hot hairstyles for you to try this summer.

1. The Lob

Photo Cred: Getty Images, Featured on Marie Claire

The lob is essentially a long-bob style with the tips of the strands slightly above, or just grazing the shoulder bones. This hairstyle can be worn sleek and straight for a more classy look, or wavy and textured for a more casual yet equally chic look. The best part of the lob is that it looks great with all hair textures!

2. Super long tresses

This one is pretty simple; long, healthy natural hair is in again! Grow out your hair and wear it down to the beach, and totally nail the boho beachy waves look. For a more formal event, wear it in a simple elegant high ponytail. If you are feeling exceptionally fearless, add some choppy bangs to your long hair for a unique look.

Photo Cred: Getty Images, Featured on Harper’s Bazaar

By: Sarayu Krishna

Hot New Trend Alert: Pastel Hair Color

We all know that pastels bloom in the spring, but this season pastel colors are stretching beyond clothing.  Some of our favorite celebrities like, Katy Perry, Nicole Richie, Hilary Duff and Jennifer Lawrence are adding a little spring color to their hair.

Katy Perry opted for a pretty lavender color, while Nicole Richie went for the classic pink.  Hilary Duff however, was a lot more daring with her decision to dye her hair a shade of greenish-blue.

Photo Cred: Getty Images, Featured on InStyle.com. Click through to original posting.

A recent InStyle article gives us tips on how we can experiment with our hair color.  Pastels tend to fade quicker than other colors, but the article advises that if you’re a bit indecisive, perhaps you should opt for a coloring method that can be washed out.  If you’re starting with a lighter hair color, you’re in luck because dying it will be an easier task.  If you’re like me and you have brown hair, you’ll have to do some extensive bleaching before getting your desired pastel color.

Personally, I’ve thought about dying my hair several times, but haven’t yet taken the plunge.  Recently, the ombre look has gotten my attention.  Ombre gives you the best of both worlds because you can experiment with your color without having to worry about damage from dying all of your hair especially the part right next to your roots.  Also, if you don’t like the new color you’ve added to the bottom of your hair, you could just cut it off.

Jennifer Lawrence looks edgy and chic in the picture below where she experiments with pastel pink by adding it to only the bottom of her hair.

Photo courtesy of Hail Style. Click through to original posting.

So what’s your opinion on this new pastel hair trend? Yay or nay? Will you be taking the plunge?  Share in the comments below.

By: Jaclyn Parker

Hottest Hairstyles for this Winter

Sometimes the best way to refresh your look is to try out a new hairstyle.  Roberta Constantino, writer for swide.com, tells us about some trendy hairstyles that can inspire a new look for this Winter season.

First on the list is the sexy short hair bob.  If you’re tired of your long hair and you want a look that’s more manageable, the short hair bob could be the perfect solution.  Try it with bangs, and if you’re looking for a more glamorous effect, Constantino suggests gelling the bangs back for an ultra-sleek look.

Photo Courtesy of Swide.com, click to source post

If you’re ready to be a little more daring and change up your look completely, perhaps its time to try out the short boyish haircut.  Constantino mentions that this boyish haircut can give you the opportunity to bring out your femininity in a different way, such as through your makeup choice.

Photo Courtesy of Swide.com click to source post

If you love your long hair and you want to know the best way to style it this winter season, it’s all about adding soft volume to your unstructured cut.  Try using a large medium sized curling iron to get the perfect, luscious, and wavy curls.  Another tip is if you tease your hair at the roots you get an extra burst of volume.

Photo Courtesy of Swide.com, Click to source post.

Last but not least, if your hair is really long try adding different length layers to make it a bit more intriguing.  My favorite thing about having long hair is experimenting with different styles.  If you’re in an ultra feminine mood, curl your hair and let it hang past your shoulders.

If you want a slick look, straighten your hair to perfection.  If you want a more casual, effortless look you can opt for a high ponytail, a side braid, or a messy bun.  The options are endless when you’ve got long hair.  Try putting on a headband for some extra flair.

By: Jaclyn Parker

Tapestry for your Hair, not your Walls

If every day is a fashion show and the world is your runway, then you’ve got to prepare your hair for a full day of fun. It’s summer, so why not add a splash of color into your hairdo? This new hair tapestry look will surely make everyone do double-takes when they look at you.

How exactly does hair tapestry work? Well, it’s basically thread that’s woven into your hair in a pattern. You can use different colored thread and different patterns to create a pretty fabulous end result.

Photo Courtesy of Instagram user BleachLondon

You can get this hairstyle done by a hair stylist who’s familiar with the process, or in a salon such as Bleach London, where the stylists offer hair tapestry.

Don’t worry, DIY pals! You can definitely try a hair tapestry look at home. Grab a friend who’s into DIY or someone who works well with hair, and have a hair tapestry trial session!

Here are the steps you’ll need when trying this at home, courtesy of a POPSUGAR article by Kirbie Johnson:

STEP 1: Secure a tapestry loom around the section of your hair you wish to weave

STEP 2: Separate the strands of hair to create a ‘warp’

STEP 3 : Then use a flat blunt needle with embroidery thread and weave it through the hair as a ‘weft,’ creating the width of tapestry you would like then weaving backwards and forwards to create the chosen length

STEP 4 : You can switch thread colors to create a pattern and create different shapes by tapering the embroidery if you wish

STEP 5 : Weave the final thread through the back of the work to finish

Photo Courtesy of Instagram user BleachLondon

You’ll probably be OK if you have needlepoint skills, or if you have previous experience sewing or weaving. You can even search for cute patterns online if you want to get unique! Whether it’s simple or very detailed, hair tapestry isn’t too popular yet, so start this fun trend and get people talking about it! Whether or not this becomes the next best thing, you’re bound to make a fun and edgy statement.  Are you brave enough to try it?

By Stephanie Wong

Headbands Are Turning Heads

From the runways of Valentino to the Coachella Valley Music Festival, and adorning the hottest soccer players at the World Cup, headbands are THE accessory. While walking through the streets of Paris last year, I couldn’t help but notice all of the young women wearing their hair pulled back in a ponytail or bun, looking effortless with a headband for decoration.  The hair clip or the scrunchie is definitely not a “de riguer” hair accessory like the headband.

Headbands are photographed in most fashion articles and blogs, and found in all stores from the lower-end chains to the high end luxury stores. The versatility of headbands is endless. Headbands ranging from elastic colored bands to jeweled or studded leather wraps are perfect for any occasion. It’s the must-have accessory for this season and beyond.

Created with StyleChat

How about rocking the red carpet like academy award winner Lupita Nyong did with her 18k gold headband designed by Fred Leighton.  It generated its own Twitter account @luptiasheadband. Think you can’t look chic while breaking a sweat at the gym? Think again. Sport headbands are making headway among the popular workout brands such as, Nike, Lululemon, and Fabletics. In NY Mag’s article, “20 Hot Soccer Guys with Long Hair,” all of the men are wearing headbands.

Simple yet sophisticated headbands can take any outfit from bland to edgy with just a swoop push back of the hair. Try the latest boho chic look with a simple crown of flowers or paisley print. Before you walk out the door, add a headband. It will not only enhance your outfit, it will make you turn heads.
By: Kiana Kuns

Hair Hell-Surviving the Dreaded Grow Out

I’m one of those people who changes their hair often and without warning. I don’t mean I just decide to part it differently or try some complicated braid I saw on YouTube; I mean I bleach it, dye it, chop it, change it.

A year ago that feeling came over me. I was craving a tress transformation. I began to randomly stumble upon pictures of celebrities with pixie cuts. Daring ladies who’ve cut it all off with adorable results include: Jennifer Lawrence, Anne Hathaway, Emma Watson, Jennifer Hudson and so many others. After one too many short hair Tumblr viewings, I went to the salon and asked the stylist to take it all off. While I look nothing like the aforementioned celebs, I really liked the pixie, but now it’s been a year and I’m getting that itch again.

Having short hair is great for experimenting with different colors—the damage doesn’t stick around for very long—but I’ve ran out of hues and I’m craving something different. I want long hair again. Growing out a pixie is the worst. Once you start the process it takes months to morph from weird and shaggy, to mullet, and into a passable bob. After that, with normal hair growth you still have months before you can make a proper ponytail.

It’s not all doom and gloom though. I’ve actually been here before—I am a hair changing maniac after all—and I have five tips/commandments for anyone trying to grow-out a pixie.

1. Accept the things you cannot change. Hair will not magically grow back overnight, no matter how many stars you wish on. But don’t worry, it will grow back. I promise.
2. Get to the salon. This may sound counter-intuitive, but you’ll want to keep a mullet from happening and there’s no one better to battle the awkward hair stages with then a good stylist. Just a slight trim here and there and some shaping will make a world of difference.
3. Try some supplement magic. I have friends who swear by Biotin supplements to speed up hair growth and I’ve known others who claim equal success with prenatal vitamins. I have taken both in the past and while I didn’t see a drastic speed up in growth, I think it did help and as a bonus my nails got really strong. Obviously, use common sense when taking any supplement—do your research first. If vitamins aren’t for you consider munching your way to longer hair. Check out: www.webmd.com/beauty/hair-styling/top-10-foods-for-healthy-hair
4. Go shopping. Accessorize your hair with headbands, scarves, glittery clips—anything that will leave you feeling cute and draw positive attention to your hair. I’ve created a style board with headbands, clips, and scarves, from Forever 21, ModCloth and Anthropologie. Similar, adorable styles can be found at most retailers.
5. Dress up your hair! Try to have fun with the awkward stages, now is the time to experiment. Good luck and don’t be afraid to shake things up!

 

 

-Leigh