Hair
5 Best Hair Defrizzers
Welcome to New York City, where one day, we’re all, ‘I can’t wait to move stuff around in my closet and reacquaint myself with my leather jacket!’ And then BAM! Two weeks later, we’re afraid to wear anything that’s not machine-washable because sweating through your wardrobe is inevitable if you’re outside more than 20 minutes. You can’t do much to control the weather, but you can control frizz, and here are the five best products on the market to help you fight it.
Alterna Kendi Dry Oil Micro-Mist ($25 at beauty.com)
A dry oil in an aerosol spray means the difference between saturated locks that can’t wait to curl right back up and smooth, sleek strands that stay frizz-free. Trust.
Drybar Hot Toddy Restorative Cream ($33 at qvc.com)
A hot toddy in June is vile, but one made for your mane is divine! A wilting hairstyle can make you feel like you need a drink, so why not nip the sentiment in the bud by preemptively applying a little of Drybar’s frizz-prevention cream on damp hair before blowing it out? A quarter-sized dollup on ends yields brilliance and control.
L’Oreal Paris Oleo-Keratin Smooth Intense Frizz Taming Serum ($6 at walmart.com)
I like to rock this one when I’m going curly and I want my hair to cooperate. A single pump applied to towel-dried hair gives hair a smooth finish and mends dry ends.
Pantene Overnight Miracle Repair Serum ($6 at drugstore.com)
Why not multitask like a dream employee when it comes to your beauty routine? On Sunday nights, I do a bevy of treatments while I sleep, including retinol masks, foot and hand treatment creams and now, Pantene’s repair serum to hydrate my dry ends. I wake up, wash it out and feel an instant difference in softness.
Orlando Pita Argan Haircare Collection (comes in set for $17 at costco.com)
Sometimes I like to play a little game when reading magazines and when I see a fantastic hair editorial spread, it’s ALWAYS attributed to Orlando Pita. Just for kicks, I confirm it and it’s true every time. The backstage mane master has created his own haircare line and it imparts incredible shine (seriously–you could practically FOG UP my coif after I used this trio) and retail for a mere $17 for shampoo, conditioner and a styling oil. Get involved.
What are your go-to defrizzers for summer?
10 Tips to Tame Curly Hair
If you’re a curly girl like me, chances are you’ve tried a million different products to tame your tresses, and are constantly looking for new ways to improve the health of your hair. Here are some of my personal fave tips for keeping curls happy and healthy!
Cult Cabinet: Gee, Your Hair Smells Amazing
The real estate on my dresser dedicated to fragrance would give any beauty junkie a run for their money, but truth be told, my pretty friends tend to get neglected in the warmer months. When it’s hot out, I don’t want to smell like a mesmerizing bouquet of flowers, I want to smell just-out-of-the-shower clean (as opposed to … just-out-of-the-NYC-subway putrid).
Welcome the best fragrance product you’ve probably never heard of: fine fragrance hair mist. Let’s face it, when you hug someone hello, what you’re really smelling is their hair – so why not put the scent where the nose goes? Hair is porous, so it holds on to fragrance oil for an effect that can last longer than spraying on skin or clothing, and some of these newcomers have conditioning, smoothing and UV protection agents too.
Here are a few favorites making their way to my dresser:
1. For the glamour girl: Marchesa Parfum D’Extase Hair Mist ($38) provides a chic blast of this elegant juice – perfect for post-blow-out perfection.
2. For the fashion diva: Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Hair Mist ($45) lets you wear this explosively popular scent in a fresh new way that’s a bit more subtle than the EDP.
3. For the Parisian at heart: Paul & Joe Body & Hair Mist ($20) refreshes hair and skin with jojoba oil and orange flower water while leaving behind the cult brand’s chic rose and musk scent.
4. For the barefoot beauty: CLEAN Original Hair Mist ($24) literally smells like freshly washed hair, but boosted by 1000 and much longer lasting. With UV protection and shine enhancing ingredients, it smooths and protects too.
5. For the beach babe: Acqua di Gioia Hair Mist ($25) lets the scent of the fresh Mediterranean sea go to your head, literally.
The best thing about these cult products in the making? They cost about half what you’d pay for the perfume version – so make room on your dresser!
Win a Haircut with Jennifer Aniston’s Stylist (and Meet Jen!)
We sat down with hair icon Jennifer Aniston this week to talk all things hair—especially about why women battle with their locks (we’ve all done it!) and what she’s doing to change that. Aniston recently became part owner of the Living Proof hair care line and produced a mini documentary with the Living Proof team and her long-time stylist, Chris McMillan (he’s the man responsible for the famous Rachel cut) to explore our collective obsession with hair, and the lengths we all go to get our dream styles.
“I had great hair as a kid. My mom actually said you’re not allowed to touch your hair until you’re thirteen and she was right, I should not have,” Aniston says. “The first thing I did was cut it all off…I actually learned what my hair really was (which was not long and sort of cute) it was wide and unmanageable and a pain in the butt. I learned all my lessons in my younger years about what not to do.”
Aniston understands the desire for the latest gorgeous hairstyle but you won’t find her making any drastic cuts these days. “I usually just get a trim. I’ve always thought of going back to brunette but I think it’s more fun to play with it in movies.” (She admits her favorite movie look was the beachy, natural, long blonde look from Along Came Polly). “I think because of all the disasters I had as a kid. I don’t go to the ‘let’s cut it off or color it or shag it’ place. I’ve learned those lessons,” she says.
Now that she and McMillan have cracked the secret to those perfect, smooth locks we love so much on the red carpet, they’re sharing it with the rest of us (yes!). Aniston says Living Proof’s Nourishing Style Cream and Restore Mask have totally turned her hair around. She also says drinking water, getting enough sleep, and getting omega fatty acids in her diet help her iconic locks stay healthy from the inside out.
We also love that Aniston used the Living Proof products for several months before signing on to be a part of the company. She wanted see if the promised results would come through. “I gave it to my girlfriends, they love it. I gave it to Chris and he used it on his salon clients and they love it. So that was like, OK I will stand behind [this],” she says.
Next on Aniston’s beauty agenda is working with the company’s scientists to produce her fantasy products. “I can’t talk about it just yet!” she says. “It’s so exciting, being able to get in there and solve all the problems that girls have with their hair.”
To get a little of Aniston’s hair magic for yourself, enter by May 24th to win the chance to have your hair cut by her stylist, Chris McMillan. You’ll even get to meet Aniston herself! You can check out the first video in Aniston and McMillian’s Good Hair Day series today (you can also watch it below)—and check back May 13th and 15th for more of the documentary.
Click here to enter.
Hair Days: 5 of the Best Hair Dryers
I’m horrible at styling my hair in the spring and the summer. The humidity just kills my hair and makes it puffy, frizzy and out-of-control. As much as I lather my hair with all the “anti-frizz” products out there (which do help), a lot of it comes down to with what I’m using to dry my hair.
Not all hairdryers are created equal.
I’m sure you’ve been we’ve all been in this situation at some point:
- Away on vacation.
- Forgot your home hairdryer.
- Become stuck using the hotel one hanging on the wall.
- After one time using it, you easily notice the HUGE difference between a good hairdryer and a horrible hairdryer.
Believe me, there are differences between using certain hairdryers. When I first moved to NYC out of college and had a VERY limited budget, I remember walking into a Duane Reade and buying the cheapest hairdryer they had available. Well… it literally burnt my hair. Ever since then, I’ve been a hairdryer guru looking for the best hairdryers, at the best prices. It’s something that’s important for women to know and to use as a guide when looking to upgrade or purchase a new hairdryer.
Here are 5 of the BEST (and my FAVE) Hairdryers:
1) Infiniti Pro by Conair – $35
OK… I’m obsessed with this one. I have it in the pink and the orange. This is the hairdryer I use on a daily basis. My mother has one, too. Ergonomically designed for ultimate comfort. High performance for salon quality results. A quiet, but powerful AC motor ensures fast drying time, which means less heat exposure for hair. Well-balanced and lightweight, it delivers effortless styling and sensational results.
2) Remington Ac2015 Tstudio Salon Collection Pearl Ceramic Hair Dryer – $35.99
One of my best friend’s uses this Remington Ac2015 and she LOVES it! When we went away together for a little girl’s weekend getaway, she brought this hairdryer and I used it one of the morning’s and love it! It really worked well on my hair and dried it ultra-fast! It features a salon-quality motor boosted by ceramic pearl technology, this powerful dryer works fast and helps seal cuticles to deliver shiny results. Three ceramic heat settings, dual speeds, and an ensemble of included styling tools let you create a variety of professional-looking styles from your own home.
3) Vidal Sassoon VS783 1875-Watt Professional Anti-Static Ion Dryer and Styler – $19.99
What I love about this hairdryer is that is gives you an ultra straight and sleek look. With the comb attachments it makes it very easy to create your desired long look. I have one of these that I use when I really want to achieve a straight style for an evening out. New anti-static Ionic styler dryer dries your hair faster, reduces the “frizzies” and leaves hair looking shinier and more luxurious.
4) T3 Featherweight Journey Travel Hair Dryer- $130
OK… I know, $130 is a bit of an expense, but this is the kind of hairdryer that is worth the investment. I was having my hair blown out for a photo shoot recently and this was the dryer the stylist was using on me. I loved it. She told me, “This is ALL I use!” The T3 Featherweight Journey utilizes Tourmaline gemstones, which are known to impart optimal levels of negative ionic energy and far infrared heat to transform lifeless locks into professionally-perfect tresses.
5) CHI Ceramic Hair Dryer- $200
I use the CHI straightener for my hair all the time. It’s my staple for making sure I have the proper and essential tools for creating looks that I love and need. I’ve always been impressed with the CHI brand and was excited to see the other products that they offer. Their Ceramic Hair Dryer is a total HIT. It powerful and works beautifully on your hair. CHI Air Ceramic Hair Dryer is a powerful tool that utilizes ceramic technology to ensure even heat distribution. Ceramic infuses the hair with negative ions, which repel humidity and static electricity. The ions smooth the hair cuticle for shiny, silky tresses.
How to Protect your Hair Against the Sun
It’s been almost 70 degrees here in Rhode Island for the last 5 days straight, and—thank you sun gods from above!—it looks like the weather is going to stay this way for the next 6 days, too. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love the sun; there’s nothing more beautiful to me than waking up to a gorgeous sun-filled room in the morning. It puts such a smile on my face!
But… and this is a BIG BEAUTY BUT, sun exposure can cause so much havoc to your skin and your hair unless your take measures to protect yourself. When you think about sun protection, people immediately think about their skin. Believe me, this is MEGA important. Throughout my entire life, my mother and grandmother have drilled it into me and my sister about the importance of sunscreen always, always, always. I have passed this message to my own children. It’s essential.
But, your hair. Your hair also needs to be protected, too. Your hair can take on sun damage very easily and quickly during the warm spring and summer months if you don’t watch out. Here are some signs of sun damage to your hair:
You’re seeing a faded hair color
You’re experiencing broken or split ends
You’re experiencing very dry and brittle hair
You’re watching your hair get frizzier and frizzer
How can you protect your hair against the sun?
Here are 5 ways:
1) Try a Deep Conditioning Mask
I love Frédéric Fekkai Summer Hair After Sun Daily Mask. Just spritz some on after a day in the sun to deep condition your hair. It helps protect against UV rays and color fading. It’s $25, but worth every penny!
2) Use a UV-Protectant Spray
I recommend trying Biolage by Matrix Color Care Shine Shake before heading out into the sun. If you are someone like me who colors their hair, this is what you need to protect your color from fading, $14.40.
3) Try a Heat and Humidity-Resistant Shampoo
I’m a big fan of TIGI Bed Head’s Some Like It Hot. It’s heat and humidity resistant and infused with a blend of avocado, grape, aloe, and cucumber to form a barrier to make hair smooth and guard against humidity, UV rays and thermal damage, $14.40.
4) Color Extend Products
Since I color my hair, I’m very into knowing what products are good on my color-treated hair. Redken has a full Color Extend Line of products that work beautifully. I like the Total Recharge Inner Hair Fuel, which not only provides color protection, but also gives my hair some much-needed shine, $18.
5) Wear a hat!
A hat will easily protect against the rays, especially one like this Coolibar Packable Wide Brim Hat, which blocks 98% of UV rays that try to seep through the fabric, $35.
10 Under $10: The Best Drugstore Gems
While there is merit to some beauty products that cost the earth (this gal has bought several replacement bottles of $150 Rodin Olio Lusso, for instance), the phrase “you get what you pay for” can be as incorrect semantically as it is grammatically. There are a bevy of fabulous beauty buys at your local drugstore that can be scored for under a Hamilton note. Here, my favorite inexpensive makeup, hair, skin care and body buys.
1. Revlon BB Cream: Revlon’s foundations have long impressed me, and the brand’s foray into the BB cream space is worthy of a parade. It yields light, smooth, even coverage with a hint of hydration ($9).
2. Avon Shine Attract Lipstick: Pigmented color, shine and hydration—all in a single tube. Keep one by your front door and one in your purse ($9).
3. Maybelline Clean Express Makeup Removing Lotion: My lids and lashes have become a “no-fly zone” for regular face washing since I started getting lash extensions at Courtney Akai Lash Boutique and recently became a convert to Browhaus’ brow resurrection service. This creamy lotion on a Q-tip removes all traces of even the most stubborn liner, shadow and mascara ($5).
4. Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Mask: This is my go-to when I’m about eight months deep into a haircut. You and I both know highlighted, heat-styled ends are absolutely a Greek tragedy by that point. This creamy, lush masque whips them into shape without scissors ($6).
5. John Frieda Full Repair Perfect Ends Sheer Mist: Similarly, spritzing this stuff on ends before flat-ironing or curling can help me eke out another two months of wear on a haircut ($9.99).
6. Yes To Carrots Hydrating Shower Gel: Moisture, great cleansing, a crisp, refreshing scent and natural. Get involved ($7).
7. L’Oreal Paris Miss Pixie Nail Color: For six dollars, you can score the very same hue as talon titan Jin Soon Choi’s legendary Blue Iris Nail Lacquer, which beauty editors love. Note: You’ll need an extra coat or two; this one skews a bit more sheer ($6).
8. Hello Supermint Toothpaste: It’s natural, the packaging is beyond chic and the Supermint flavor transforms the brushing experience into a spa for your smile ($5).
9. Clearasil Ultra Rapid Action Daily Gel Wash: Cleans my acne-prone skin perfectly and without residue in the increasingly humid climes of summer in NYC ($7.50).
10. Olay Fresh Effects S’Wipe Out Refreshing Makeup Removal Cloths: Keep these by your bed for late nights out to ensure you won’t sleep in your makeup–the gravest of beauty sins ($6).
DIY Blowout Tips From Drybar Founder Alli Webb
In an ideal world, our hair would always look like a professional blowout. But since a daily pre-work trip to the salon is out of our budget, we’ve settled for the next-best thing: advice from Alli Webb, the self-proclaimed blow dry maven and founder of Drybar, the national salon chain specializing in “No Cuts. No Color. Just Blowouts.” She taught us how to style the perfect blowout at home—and make it last.
What’s the first step to a great blowout?
The path to great hair starts in the shower. Use a cleansing or clarifying shampoo (or a moisturizing one if you have dry hair), and wash it out thoroughly to make sure there’s no residual oil and dirt left behind. If you start with super clean hair that you can build on, you’ll buy yourself an extra day or two before you have to wash it again!
Do you have to prep differently for a blowout in the summer?
Stock up on products that will nourish and hydrate hair. I’m a big fan of leave-in conditioner during warmer weather. I also use our Hot Toddy heat protector and frizz fighter before a blowout to combat dryness in the air and protect and heel split ends.
What’s the biggest mistake women make when it comes to styling their own hair?
They rush! At Drybar, we spend 35-45 minutes to blow dry and style a head of hair. When women do it themselves, they tend to expedite the process, and dry too much hair at a time. It’s best to work in 1-to-2-inch sections so that the hair is spread thin across the brush. To avoid frizz, make sure hair is 100% dry before heading outside.
How can you make a morning blowout still look fresh at the end of the day?
The biggest problem area—especially in summer heat—tends to be the crown of your head, cowlick, and hairline at the nape of your neck. Dry shampoo does a great job of soaking up oils at my roots and I also stash our treatment oil in my purse. It’s a great way to tame flyaways and my blowout look like I just left the salon!
What about when you want it to last another day (or two)?
Wear a terrycloth-lined shower cap instead of a regular one—it will soak up the moisture and protect it from reaching your scalp. Another trick is to sleep on a satin pillowcase with your hair pilled high in a ballet bun, or tied in loose, low braids. The satin will prevent frizz and separation, unlike cotton, which is a bit rougher.
Want more tips from Alli? She recently created a series How-to DIY: Dry-It-Yourself videos. Watch, and master the Mai Tai—one of Drybar’s most requested hair styles— and a few others using Drybar’s new styling products and tools in no time!
Take Part in Aveda’s Worldwide Cut-a-Thon!
It’s Earth Day, which means it’s time to unplug your blow dryers and opt for a more environmentally friendly beauty routine! If you’ve been mulling over the idea of getting a hair cut, bite the bullet and make a last-minute appointment to take part in Aveda’s Worldwide 24-hour Cut-a-Thon, happening today!
Aveda stylists across the globe are volunteering their services in exchange for donations to the Aveda Earth Month campaign, which raises money for clean water projects around the world. An attempt is underway to set the Guinness World Record for most money raised for a charity by haircuts in a 24-hour period. This event will play a huge role in helping Aveda reach their goal of donating $5 million to clean water initiatives in April 2013, and you can help!
Whether you’re looking for a quick trim or drastic makeover, find a participating Aveda Salon near you and book your Earth Day hair appointment! —Katie Hoppenjans
Hair Alert: 5 Ways to Wear Bangs
I haven’t had bangs since I was 14 years old.
Oh, yes… 20 years ago!
I grew them out back in 1993 and just never went back because bangs were always such a hair distraction for me. They were always in my eyes. I never really knew how to “style” them correctly. And I just felt like my face looked better without them.
So why is it that for the first time in 20 years I’m thinking of cutting them again!?
I’ve seen so many celebs rock bangs lately and it’s got me thinking, “Should I do it?” Bangs don’t need to be a solid blunt cut style, they can be styled in many different ways, and I’m beginning (for the first time) to really pick up on the true hair-versatility that you can have with bangs. It’s making my decision to chop them that much easier!
If you’re anything like me and on the fence about whether to make the chop, check out these five styles for inspiration:
1) The Side Sweep: I love how Cameron Diaz sweeps her bangs to the side. Hers are on the longer side, which make it easier to do the swoop. I think it’s a beautiful and effortless way to style you bangs.
2) Straight Down the Middle: Rachel Zoe, Kim Kardashian and Jessica Alba tend to sport this adorable bang style. All you do is part them right down the middle like a “V” on your forehead. I think it’s a cute style, especially if you keep your long hair down. It’s a beautiful way to see your hair fall.
3) Cut Above the Brows: This is a great way to ensure your bangs won’t get in your eyes! I’m not sure I’d love the “grow-out” phase, but this is such an adorable and carefree style. I just love how it looks on Jessica Biel.
4) Wispy Across Your Forehead: I love these “light” bangs because it’s a look I total would gravitate towards. If you’re not into having heavy/thick bangs, I love this bang cut because it’s cute and sophisticated at the same time. And let’s face it, nobody rocks a bang better than Reese Witherspoon!
5) Pinned or Clipped Back: If I cut my bangs again, this is something I would do ALL the time. Take a bobby pin and just pop them back. I love this look because it’s like having the best of both “hair worlds.”
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