A cute new trend is popping up all over the place, showing that done right, a hint of bright color can be a great way to shake up your hair without going off the emo deep end.  Barely there pinks, purples, and blues are making their way onto the runway and into magazines.  

 

Here are some tips for doing it right—

1. This trend works best on lighter colored hair.  Think of it like trying to use a highlighter on black paper—you won’t see it.  

 

If your hair is darker and you don’t want to bleach all of it to hell, try streaks or umbre.  

 

If you’re blonde and you want streaks or umbre, be careful!  When you wash your hair the color may bleed onto the untreated parts

2. Bright hair colors have big molecules, so they don’t tend to penetrate the hair shaft as deeply as a color like black—that’s why it fades so quickly. You can try my old route of using an undiluted color and letting it wash out, but that can be tricky if it doesn’t fade evenly.  

 

This has to do with the hair’s porosity. Think of your hair like a sponge: if it has a lot of holes (i.e. if it’s been damaged by heat or chemical processes), it will soak up more liquid but not hold it very well.  

3. Your best bets?  Go to a stylist and have her dilute the color.  This ensures that you get whole head, longer lasting coverage that is relatively low risk and the results are immediate.  

 

Alternatively, you can have her do a color wash, which is done at the shampoo bowl.  Mix up the hair color with shampoo and massage it into your hair, leaving it on for a few minutes depending on the type of dye and the desired intensity.  Rinse out and tah-dah!  The color won’t last as long, which is great for experimentation.  

Read More Comments (0)

 

 

Just when you thought your jeans couldn’t get any skinnier, we’re seeing a resurgence in bell bottoms. 

A lot of contemporary fashion has had a retrofuture feel, a shiny recapitulation of old things from other eras—the skinny jeans themselves a nod to silhouettes from the time of Audrey Hepburn. At least in California, the beautiful fairy-hippie-indigena-starchild girl at Burning Man has become a look and archetype all its own, more of a nod to the seventies.  

As fashion tends to follow economic trends, I think that active liberal youth of America is looking to the last generation of people engendering wide desire for progressive change and taking inspiration from what we imagine it was like to be in their shoes—or, in their pants. Literally. 

Now that we’ve gone down the road of socioeconomic explanations, a thought begs to be acknowledged: there are only so many ways to shake up full-length pants! Make them high or low rise, wide or straight or skinny legged- if you’re feeling exotic, you can even go for the low flying crotch of the genie style pants you see in places like Barcelona and India.  

But it’s a fixed spectrum. It’s the Pants Pendulum, if you will. We will keep recycling and revisiting styles that have been done before because if we are honest with ourselves, there are only so many ways to skin a cat. We’ve pegged all our old jeans and now, its time for something new!  But hang on to your skinnies—in another decade they’ll be right back in.

Read More Comments (0)

 

It's music festival season again. Whether you're headed to Jazz Fest in New Orleans later this month, the Electric Daisy Carnival in New York next month, or Warped tour later this summer, here are few fashion must-haves to keep you stylish and comfortable.

 

Music Festival Fashion 2012

• Sunglasses - totally a need-to-have for summer concerts and especially day or weekend-long events. Opt for shades that have 100% UV protection to keep your eyes looking young and fresh, even at the end of the fest.
• Reusable water bottle - the majority of venues will allow you to bring one of these babies in as long as it's empty when you go through the gate. Rather than buying over-priced water and wasting tons of plastic bottles throughout the day, simply fill your water bottle up at the nearest drinking fountain or bathroom.
• Cotton Rock Tank or Tee - go for a loose-fitting cotton rock tank top or t-shirt to ensure you not only look rockin' but that you're also hella comfortable, no matter how hot it gets. 
• Jean or Cotton Shorts - rather than risking accidental… how shall we say… exposure in a dress or mini, opt for jean or cotton shorts. Super comfortable and they'll help make sure that no matter where you're sitting, you're absolutely covered.
• Sunscreen and Bug Spray - don't forget the sunscreen by day and bug spray by night rule. Keep your skin looking young and radiant for years by wearing a sunscreen with a high SPF. And don't forget the bug spray for the after sunlight hours. If you're camping out at the show, you may want to pack some citronella candles as well. 

Of course, most important for your music festival fashion for 2012 is your attitude. Day-long festivals are prone to a few hiccups along the way but as long as you remember that the name of the game is fun, you'll be all set.

Read More Comments (0)

Men love long hair, (perhaps because they have no idea how much work and discomfort goes into it). It can be challenging to keep your long locks looking luscious and fresh. Trust us, we know how you feel. This spring, try some long hairstyles which are sure to turn heads…

• Flatiron - If you haven't used a flatiron on your hair before, make sure that you read the instructions and always us a quality styling spray that's specifically designed for use with a flatiron in order to protect those long locks. If your hair is naturally a bit wavy or even full-on curly - a flatiron is a simple way to give you sleek strands and fun, sexy new look.

• Loosen Up - For a fun and playful look for long hair, add a bit of mousse to your damp hair after washing it and then flip your head over and blow-dry them upside-down while scrunching them up to give them a bit of curl. After your hair is dry, pull a few strands back just above each ear and bobby-pin them in place. This look is playful and casual without seeming over-done.

• Chignon / Bun - In the past, a chignon up-do was often worn for formal occasions but today, a chignon or simple bun has become an elegant alternative for casual long hairstyles. For a bit of a twist on the sometimes too severe looking chignon, try leaving a few strands down to frame your face. Chignons also look great with bangs!

 

Read More Comments (1)