Flip Today, Crimp Tomorrow

Flip Out Today, Crimp Out Tomorrow
By Lisa Lach

It's 4:50 and ten minutes to go before home time but the fun is just beginning. You have a date with a stylist for a blow-dry and you've prepared for your busy weekend. Drinks with the girls on Friday, a hot date on Saturday.

Get two days or nights worth of your blow-dry. Flip it out today; crimp some pieces tomorrow. Two looks, two moods and two deals for the price of one.

Saturday comes and your Friday night of fun is over. Now you're ready to get a second night from your great blow-dry. While the Crimper is heating for the final changes, brush out your hair in an upward motion to get out any tangles. Lightly spray Shine before adding the heat from the Crimper. (So the ends don't fry)

Use some clay, mud, wax whichever the best suited for your hair, and piece the ends outs. Take small sections and crimp one piece at a time. Try to do one in the front, one at each side and a few in the back. The crimping is not supposed to take over the style just enhance it. Turn it into va-voom!

The best part is that it's so easy you can do it yourself.

Also see: Hot Hairstyles in Five Minutes

Curly Hair

Hairstyles for Curly Hair
By Lisa Lach

Curls, tussles, waves, twists are back bigger than ever! Trend setting Celebrities like Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, and Alicia Keys at the Grammy wore sexy curls. Even Justin Timberlake did - but he can't help it.

It's a matter of convenience, less time doing your hair and more time having fun. Girls just want to have fun!

Prepare and get those curls bouncing, they're in!
For a loose sexy style curl scrunch your hair using a medium-to-strong gel. If you mix a little silk serum to soften, that's fine. Flip your head entirely over when scrunching. Try to bunch the hair in handfuls and keep the heat flowing between your fingers through your hair. After it's dry let it stay and cool for a minute, then flip it up.

To create loose curls, use a soft shine wax on the ends, if you want it to hold go in and curl with your finger any piece that did not curl so well, use some hairspray and Voila! If you want just a little wave use the soft shine wax from root to end.

If you want moving bouncing curls, invest in some hot rollers sold at Wal-Mart. Set your hair, it should take 10 minutes to heat and curl. Take the rollers out and before putting any product on it piece out the curls one by one. If you want a tighter curl, spray a little hairspray before wrapping the the hair on the roller. Spray the hairspray on your hair, not the roller itself. The harder the spray, the firmer it holds.

If you already have natural curly or wavy hair, lucky you; just remember to visit your stylist and get some long layers to revamp your curl. The same products apply in your case. Ask your Salon for more details and see more Curly Hair Tips

Blonde Hairstyles

Tragically Blonde Hairstyles
By Lisa Lach

What would you do to go blonde? Female Fatale, Rebel without a Cause is one determined blonde-haired woman.
You see them everywhere and against all natural odds - they are blonde. Sort of. They sit in the stylist's chair with frizzy blonde, black-roots begging for more bleach. Their hair is screaming for moisture. See picture on the left...

For under $20 dollars you could help fix that problem with some products that could actually make your hair blonde, healthy and shinny. Maybe even natural? Blondes do have more fun - see Jessica Simpson hairstyles, but if you are not in the Salon cutting your hair every 3 months, and have dry, damaged hair, don't despair.

Should I blow Dry?

Even if you do not blow dry 100% pure natural hair, it becomes damaged creating split ends, by ingredients like climate, dryness, over highlighting and mostly by avoiding your stylist. If you are using a moistening condition for dry hair, or a re-constructer for damaged hair, should able you to blow-dry just fine.
Adding heat from a blow dryer weakens the strands and sometimes it breaks off in extreme cases. So put the proper conditioning treatment in your hair and ask a Salon that has a good reputation to help you find that product that you need.

Conditioner or Re-constructer?

If you have just a few blonde highlights, mixed in with a few other colors, you probably just need a moisturizing conditioner. Try Joico's Moisturizer or K-Pac Daily Conditioner, Redkin's Extreme Shampoo, or Sebastian's Potion 9.
If you are heavily blonde, and haven't been dark since you can't remember when, then try bc bonacure's Repair Treatment, one of the best quick fixes out there. It's a honey/wheat protein base to help strengthen the hair. For longer term results try Joico's K-Pack Re-constructer. Both products do a great job.

Lowlights?

Lowlights might be the way to go and can add a lot more moisture to your hair. Lowlights are usually sliced through the other lightening foils to add depth and darken some of your over stressed blonde hair. Giving it a chance to recover and absorb its lacking pigment. The good thing is that you could go more a natural blonde or golden, if you're brave go for a caramel or a darker color. Pick your blonde back up in the summer, after it 's healthy and rejuvenated. You'll look good and feel better.

If you can't live with the idea of adding some lowlights (and they can be dark blonde lowlights) to your platinum do, then let's fix it the easy way.
After Blow-drying and assuming you are using your conditioner apply a small amount of Farouk's Bio Silk Therapy. It's silk in a bottle. It will also protect your hair from the damage it sustains without bleaching or blow-drying. The amount of no more then a dime rubs into your hands before you apply the clear less lotion to dry hair. Instantly all your fly away ends and dryness is gone. Until you wash it, of course.

For an extreme shine finish use Joico's Spray Glaze, Shine-Enhancer. It smells nice and really gives a nice shine. Keeping shine, keeps moisture and helps make you condition process that much easier. There's a reason why blondes have more fun! You go girls!

Stylish Updo with a Twist

Stylish Updo Hairstyle with a Twist
By Kathryn M. D'Imperio

For a stylish up-do, try these simple steps!
[Note: Works best with wet or slightly damp hair.]

This hairstyle has seen me through business class presentations, mid-summer�s outings in sundresses and casual �bum� days in jeans and sweatshirts. It is a great style with a unique twist!

To replicate this relatively easy hairstyle, gather these materials:

• 6 to 12 mini-claw clips (Or, failing that, lots of bobby pins!)
• Elastic Band / Ponytail holder
• Brush and Comb
• A hand mirror (So you can check out your style as you create it.)
• Styling gel (Spray gel works best.) or Hairspray
  (Note: If you do not already have these items, it is not necessary to go out and purchase them. Simply get creative and improvise!)

Step 1: Remove excess water from your hair. Hair should be damp, not drenched.

Step 2: Using brush or comb, pull hair back and up, into a smooth, �high� ponytail and securely fasten.

Step 3: Pull a small section of hair away from the ponytail and twist whichever way is more natural/comfortable. Fasten the twist to your head with one of the clips.

Step 4: Repeat Step 3 - fasten each twist so that they start to hide the elastic band. By the time you are finished, a ring of twists should have concealed the band.

Step 5: Arrange the twists however you like them best� Feel free to experiment with the dynamics of the hairstyle. Try fastening the twists closer to the elastic band, or considerable farther away from it. Add more twists or try the style with fewer, thicker twists. You can create many different styles out of this single, basic technique.

Step 6: The ends of the twists should peek out from the clips. You can easily alter the length of these ends by merely changing the position of each mini-clip. For longer ends peeking out-a wilder style-rearrange the clips with more hair outside of the twist, just sticking out where the clip meets your head.

Step 7: Once you are pleased with the result, lightly spray the twists and the ends.

This style can be flirty and fun, or professional and sedate, depending on how you manipulate the twists and clips. Play around, have fun with the style and the many varied end results you can create in minutes!

Approximate Styling Time: 10-15 minutes.

Blow Drying for Smooth, Shiny Hair

No Fail Blow-Drying for Smooth, Shiny Hair
By Kathryn D'Imperio

Want that silky, touchable hair that Pantene Pro V products claim their shampoo will give you? Look no further-you can have that flawless look by spending only a few extra minutes blow-drying your hair! Ditch the designer hair products and follow these simple instructions to give your hair the same beautiful look and soft feeling:

Materials:

• Towel
• Hairdryer
• Brush / Comb
• Claw-Clip or barrette
• Your usual styling products or a small amount of hair gel for touch-ups
  (These may not be necessary after you try this tip.)

Step 1: Twist hair up into a towel in order to remove excess water. How long you keep it wrapped in the towel is up to you-my hair is long, so time permitting, I keep it like that for about 15 minutes.

Step 2: Comb out any tangles and part hair as you wish.

Step 3: Gather hair and twist except for a thin layer at the base of your head. Pin hair atop your head with the clip or barrette.

Step 4: Begin drying the loose hair. (You can use a lower heat setting if you do not have a time restriction.) When hair is complete dry, turn off hairdryer and brush or comb hair.

Step 5: Remove clip and take another section of hair to be dried. Re-twist your hair and replace pin.

Step 6: Repeat step 4 as necessary. For thicker hair, you may need to separate hair into sections several times. My hair is of a medium thickness but long, so I separate it into 3 sections.

Step 7: Once hair is completely dry, brush and style as you wish, or leave it down, as it should be less dried-out and more manageable. If your hair is not completely frizz-free and cooperative, rub a small amount of gel in your hands (a nickel�s worth or a quarter�s worth) and gently smooth over your hair, paying close attention to the ends.

Drying and styling time will vary based on your hair�s thickness and length. Though I do not always have enough time to use this drying technique, it works wonders for my hair for those special occasions!

Approximate Time Required: 10-20 minutes, depending on thickness and length of hair. Long hair takes more.

Parting Your Hair

A Change in Part to Revamp Your Style
By Kathryn D'Imperio

Want to change your hairstyle without drastically chopping your locks? Before you shell out major cash for a fresh style, consider modeling a new do with a simple variation on the way you part your hair.

Though there is not necessarily a good or a bad way to part your hair, several mainstream options are easy to achieve. What matters most is that you are comfortable and confident with the style you choose. If you cannot immediately decide on your preferred style, try the following, or make up your own!

A very common method of parting the hair involves the natural part, which runs right down the center of one�s head. If this is your current style and you are ready for a change, try to form a new part a bit to the left or the right of your current part.

Parting your hair on your own is a cinch! If you aren�t familiar with doing so but want to try a new look, first comb your hair as if you are going to throw it back into a ponytail. Then take a thin comb and trace a straight line along your scalp where your hair meets your forehead to the back of your head. Separate the hair on either side of the new part and gently brush or comb it down until it lays smoothly. If you find difficulty with this, you may want to introduce a small dab of a non-sticky styling product to your hair to calm it down. Also, if your hair is very accustomed to a certain style, you may have to �train� it to respond to the new part by brushing in the desired direction and adding styling products when necessary.

To keep hair healthy and strong, it is important to schedule a trim regularly (or trim it yourself if you are scissors-inclined!) to prevent split ends. If you choose to have your stylist trim your mane for you, she should ask how you part your hair if she does not already know. It is important to �cut with the part� to keep your hair even and natural looking.

If you only want to change your look for a night, a chic zigzag part will stand you out from the crowd. Using your comb, simply trace the part back and forth from your forehead to the back of the head. Then separate the sections so that they lay evenly on either side of your head.

Though you already have a comb on hand, a handy, inexpensive tool makes the zigzag process a bit easier. The �Part Pizazz� is a tool with a point on one end and arms that swing open to separate the sections of hair when you are finished. To design the zigzag you merely trace the desired pattern on your head as if using a pen or pencil and a sheet of paper. Hairagami� produces the �Part Pizazz.�

Whether you are enjoying your new look indefinitely or just for a night, remember not to run your hands through your hair too much as it may disrupt the style. Be bold, be conservative-be YOU-have fun and make a statement. Make sure you are confident in your new style as you sport it in public. Then bask in the glow of attention as those close to you notice something is just

a bit different

about you. Switching your part can make you feel fresh, energized and sexy.
Enjoy it!

Curls Galore

Curls Galore: Curling Iron Versus Hot Rollers
By Kathryn D'Imperio

Before digging out the spongy pink curlers or running to your stylist for a hasty perm, check out these effective alternatives for an evening of uncustomary curls!

Curling Iron:

Inexpensive, relatively user-friendly and quick for minor touch-ups, this device can give you a glam look with a few minutes� investment. If you�re donning only a partial head of curly locks, a curling iron could be just the tool you need for an immediate response to your need of a few well-placed curls.

Glamorize your up-do with a curling iron by emphasizing your style with a few loose spiral curls around your face or one or two seductively sweeping along the back of your neck. Creating these curls can be a quick and easy process, but don�t forget to spritz them with a little hairspray, or else they may not last the entire evening!

Another common use for a curling iron is tending to your hair�s ends. Tuck them under or flip them out a bit wildly, but you won�t get the same results with a set of hot rollers! A curling iron is versatile enough to curl precisely the strands that you want curled, in whichever manner you wish to achieve. Even if you wish to curl more than a few small sections of hair, a curling iron is capable of curling your entire head as well.

Time Involved: Curling Iron use may take anywhere from 5 minutes or less to 45 minutes or more, depending on style�s involvement.

Hot Rollers:

Just a touch more expensive than the curling iron, hot rollers can achieve a full head of flawless curls, typically in under an hour. Hot rollers generally have a small amount of wax inside that is heated when the set is plugged into an electrical outlet. When the curlers are ready for use, the color may change color so that you know to begin applying them.

Forget about fighting with the curling iron and trying to decide which way you want the curl to spiral. Instead, enjoy the remarkably easy process with hot rollers-once you have fastened the curlers in your hair, your hair will all curl simultaneously!

It is still a good idea to use some styling products such as a non-sticky hairspray or gel to retain the shape of the curls. (Curls formed by hot rollers tend to last considerably longer for me than those I create with a curling iron, as my hair is typically resistant to curling in general.)

Tip for Hot Rollers: Try to wash your hair the night before you want to employ the hot rollers. Sometimes very clean, sleek hair tends to resist curling.

Time Involved: Hot Rollers may take about 10 minutes to warm up and anywhere from 10-20 minutes to apply, and about 15 minutes to set. (Color of curler will revert back to original color to indicate that the curl has set.) Add additional time as necessary for styling your locks if you intend to use barrettes, bobby pins or other adornments and styling products.

Curling Iron Versus Hot Rollers:

• Both beauty appliances require time to heat up, but hot rollers may require a few extra minutes.
• Hot rollers are very easy to use when styling the whole head or a section, but don�t count on them to curl your ends out or under. Leave that to the curling iron!
• Color of hot rollers indicates when they are ready to use and when your curls have set.
• Curling iron gives great flexibility for choosing between loose spirals and tight ringlets, but you can always brush out your curls formed by hot rollers to achieve the style you desire.
• Curling irons are much easier to transport when traveling and staying in a hotel or other location away from home.
• Hot rollers save more time if going for a full head of curls. Success rate for curls enduring the entire evening may also be better.
• Both devices are useful in and of themselves-the best advice for you is to try them both and see which you like the best!

Make Your Own Hair Accessories

By Beverly Smith

You are in a hurry and you just can't find just the right hair clip or barrette... Sounds familiar? Well, why not make your own?

Let's start with the smallest hair decorations: bobby pins.
You can buy packs of these for quite a low price. Just get the plain black ones and decorate them with nail polish to create nice hair clips. Nail polish is the best to use as it dries quickly so you can do last minute changes.

You can also try painting stripes on. Use sparkly or metallic polish for interesting effects. Then you can also add tiny rhinestones, available at your local craft store, while the polish is still wet. Hold the stones in place until the polish dries around them. You may need to reapply them at a later date. Tiny glass beads can also be used for an interesting effect.

The larger hair clips that bend to snap into your hair will not take beads and rhinestones very well. They will tend to fall off due to the flexing of the clip, but you have lots of room for painting on designs! Use a toothpick to help you make tiny designs on the clip. You can do zebra stripes, polka dots and letters on these. Let your imagination take over.

How about large hair barrettes?
These are the metal ones that have a spring clip at the bottom. You can buy packages of them at the local craft store. These are lots of fun to decorate! Go ahead and experiment, you will surprise yourself...