PopSugar

Bella Brand: EasyStraight

BellaSugar — Tue, 22 May 2007 16:00:50 -0700

Come rain or shine, EasyStraight is a brand that anyone fearful of the frizzies should familiarize herself with. The haircare brand was founded in 2004 by Haime Munoz, a salon owner who was dissatisfied with anti-frizz styling products, most of which left behind a grimy residue and made hair look dull and flat. Munoz set out to create something affordable that would rinse out easily and protect hair from humidity.

EasyStraight products address three of the most common causes of frizzy hair: over-processing, natural frizziness, and environmental factors like humidity, weather, and sun. The line includes shampoo and conditioner, a finishing gloss, an ironing styler, blow-dry spray, and two at-home straightening kits.

Most recently, the company launched four new products, all of which can be purchased at drugstores and supermarkets nationwide. (To find a retailer closest to you, click "Where to buy.") The best part: EasyStraight products are priced from just $8 to $30 each. For details on the four new products, read more

Long-Lasting Frizz Remover ($15) is a straightening kit that is intended to keep your hair frizz-free for a month by repairing the cuticle and raggedy split ends.
Instant Silk ($8) is a light anti-frizz cream that helps to soften hair using silk and cashmere.
Climate Shield ($8) is a waterproof hairspray. Very cool. I have never actually heard of anything like this: It shields hair from weather and humidity while providing a strong hold./li>
Frizz Block ($8) is a serum made from flax seed, coconut, and cashmere extract that helps detangle hair and protect it from heat and breakage.

Easy Tip: Go to Bed, Wake Up With Curls

Bella Community — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:02:57 -0800

Check out what reader blondeyy had to say in the Do-it-Yourself Beauty group:

Wake up with gorgeous curls - seriously, fast and easy! Spend the morning making a nice cup of tea and watching CNN rather than working on your hair.

Wash your hair at night.
Put your favorite styling cream in damp hair.
Flip your head over (bending at the waist) and pull all hair into a scrunchie on the top of your head.
Section by section, roll hair into curlers and pin. ( I have very long hair and I only need about 6-7 curlers).
Everything stays on the top of your head so you don't feel a thing when you are sleeping.

In the morning: magic! Remove the curlers and scrunchie; either brush hair or finger tousle and you're done! Beautiful hair! I read this somewhere and do it all the time. It is a REAL time saver with fab results!

Have tips and tricks you'd like to share with others? There's a bevy of groups in BellaSugar Community, so join in the fun!

Hair Color Dos and Don'ts: Must-Have Tips For Perfect Results

Sponsor — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:30:01 -0700

When it comes to at-home hair color, all products are NOT created equal. Knowing what to look for can make the difference between so-so and stunning. Here are some secrets, including special tips from celebrity hair colorist and L’Oréal Paris expert Christophe Robin, for achieving beautiful, professional-looking results on your own.

DO choose a shade that complements your skin tone and eyes. “If you have fair skin and blue, green or gray eyes, your complementary shades will have ash or beige tones,” Christophe advises. “If your skin tone is golden, olive or dark and you have dark eyes, your complementary shades will have gold or red hues.” Have characteristics of both warm and cool tones? “Go with whichever is your preference.”

DO stick close to your own hair color if you want a subtle change. “If you’re not sure which shade to choose, go just 1 or 2 levels lighter or darker than your natural color,” says Christophe. “This will give you a noticeable change that’s not too dramatic and is easy to maintain.”

DO pick a product that’s specifically formulated to cover gray hair, which can resist coloring.

DO use products specifically designed to preserve your color, like Vive Pro Color Vive Shampoo and Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair.

DO choose a gentle formulation and indulge in regular deep-conditioning treatments.

DON’T be afraid to take a risk. Hair color offers a fun way to express your personality and experiment with a new style or attitude. “When a woman goes darker with her color, she’ll feel stronger,” Christophe notes. “When she goes lighter, she’ll feel more sexy and sensual.”

DON’T skimp on time. You might be tempted to cut corners to save a few minutes, but resist the urge. It’s crucial to allow the proper amount of time for each step - especially when you are going for a dramatic color change “You can’t rush hair color,” Christophe cautions.

DON’T judge a box by its cover. Although it’s a common misconception, you shouldn’t expect your hair color to turn out exactly like the model’s on the box. “Your personal result will be determined by the condition of your hair, your current hair color and the shade you’ve selected,” says Christophe.

DON’T overdo it. Coloring too often can compromise hair’s health and yield uneven results. A touch-up every four to six weeks is all that’s required to keep your shade looking fresh and vibrant.

DON’T forget the SPF. You protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun, so why let your hair take the heat? “The sun is the number one enemy of color-treated hair,” says Christophe. Use shampoos and conditioners that contain UV filters to block damaging rays and prevent fade-out.

Sugar Shout Out: The Books of Mad Men

PopSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:55:00 -0700

Keep Curls Bouncy With This Simple Idea

BellaSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Long, soft curls and waves look classic and fresh at the same time - just check out Audrina Patridge's hair here. But raise your hand if you've ever spent time meticulously styling your hair, only to watch the curls go limp within an hour. Annoying. But stylist Dean Banowetz, whom you may know from the InStyler, has an easy fix.

"After you’re done curling the hair, roll the hair back up and pin it with a clip," he says. "That's really essential, because then the hair can cool properly in that formation. While it's cooling, finish your makeup or finish doing whatever else it is you need to do. If you want the curl to loosen out, you can just let it hang."

Be sure to use hair spray to set the curls. (Banowetz recommends Tre Milano Shine Spray.) Then, watch your waves stay all day long. Easy!

How To: Cheryl Takes Pride in Her Beautiful British Hairstyle

BellaSugarUK — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0700

The red carpet was filled with British beauties last night at the Pride of Britain Awards. Stars like Mel B. and Louise Redknapp showed up in colourful frocks, whilst Cheryl Cole arrived wearing a black corseted minidress and bold red lipstick (a trend we know still remains a fash pack fave). However, it was Cheryl's hair that had me doing a double take. Her curly, low ponytail was chic, sexy, voluminous and different than the other do's everyone else donned.

To find out how you can recreate her hair in four easy steps, including product suggestions, just read more.

View 5 Photos ›

STEP 1: Begin by washing and conditioning hair with a curl enhancing product like Mark Hill Salon Sexy Curls Shampoo and Conditioner (£4.99 for each).
STEP 2: Next, dry hair with a diffuser. When hair is 85 percent dry, apply a generous amount of Umberto Giannini Shapely Curl Friends Mousse (£4.69) from the roots to ends. Then, part hair to the side and using a two-inch curling iron, curl small sections of hair right up to the roots leaving the tongs in place for at least ten seconds. Secure the section with clips.
STEP 3: Remove the clips and let the curls fall loosely. Take a pinch more mousse and apply it to the roots and mid-lengths of the side that you are going to pull off of your face. Brush it back (not all of the way through as you don't want your curls on the ends to frizz) and secure the section with criss-crossing bobby pins.
STEP 4: Finally, use a clear elastic to hold the ponytail together loosely towards the middle-ends. Lastly, style the front of your hair that isn't pulled back and let a few tendrils fall. Finish with a heavy mist of Andrew Collinge Weightless Volume Thickening Hairspray (£4.20) all over.

Perk Up Unruly Curls With This Easy Fix

BellaSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:00:09 -0700

As owner of Urbanbella, an Atlanta apothecary-style salon and store that caters to women with kinky, curly, and wavy hair textures, Keneesha Hudson has mastered the art of the curl. The two major complaints she hears most frequently are the appearance of unwanted frizz and increased dryness, particularly during the cooler months. And while sometimes the bedhead look is hot, other times, that dryness and frizz can get in the way of having an amazing hair day. So I asked Hudson what tips she gives her own clients on getting a quick fix for unruly curls, particularly when rolling right out of bed when the hair tends to be at its most uncooperative. To find out what she had to say, keep reading

Backstage Pass To LFW Spring 2010: William Tempest

BellaSugarUK — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:30:00 -0700

On Monday evening, FabSugar UK and I made our way backstage at before the highly anticipated William Tempest Fashion Show. Lan Nguyen was there heading up the makeup team on behalf of Benefit Cosmetics, and Tim Furssedonn was the head hairstylist in charge for Toni & Guy. Tim took a few moments out of his busy schedule to explain the inspiration behind the look for the show and how he created the slick style. He said,

"The look for this show was inspired by high fashion Paris couture. Hair has a high gloss and high finish. The boy (William Tempest) is about to go major, so the hair for the show is major. I've parted it deep on the side with structured waves on side and the other side is pulled taught and secured with gold barrettes for hold and ornamentation."

Stay tuned for FabSugar UK's exclusive interview with William Tempest and for lots of pictures of the show, backstage and to find out just how you can re-create this catwalk look at home in four easy steps, read more.

View 10 Photos ›

STEP 1: Begin by prepping hair with mousse. Tim used label. m Volume Mousse for hold and texture and processed to blow dry straight.
STEP 2: Next, section hair into four sections. Hairspray each section (Tim used label. m Hairspray and set in pin curls all over the head.
STEP 3: The girls got their makeup done to let the curls set and once they were finished, the pins were taken out, and hair was brushed.
STEP 4: Lastly, Tim applied a generous amount of label. m Shine Spray followed by a hefty amount of label. m Hairspray on one side of the hair. He brushed it through and then pulled the hair to the side and fastened it with a gold barrette so that the curls cascaded down one side of the face only.

Photos courtesy of Benefit

Product Review: Sedu Pro Shortie Mini-Styler Iron

BellaSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:01:55 -0700

I have two new best friends. Their names are PetSugar and Sedu. You see, Pet recently introduced me to Sedu's Pro Shortie Mini Styler Iron ($50), an amazing little flat iron that was free with a $100 purchase she had made on Folica. After borrowing the lilliputian-sized straightener for a few weeks to test out on my fine, wavy locks, I was so impressed that I'm about to order one for myself. What's so great about this heating tool is that it gets into the teeniest tiniest of areas, particularly around the hairline and sides, all because it's so easy to maneuver.

Of course, you still have to be careful as to not scald yourself while trying to straighten these downy hairs, and that's why a silver, heat-resistant glove is included. (Impersonating MJ while singing into my Sedu "microphone"? Who, me?) One quick swipe over small, yet manageable-sized sections, does the trick, making for an extremely fast straightening process all over the head. Plus, because it straightens so smoothly and quickly, the hair-damaging act of going over an unruly spot over and over is avoided altogether. Thanks to the minisize, it's got a mini-price-tag. Other larger Sedues go for upward of $140, making this one a real bargain. If you have extremely thick hair or super-curly locks, this straightener might not have quite what you need to achieve a straight finish, but for those with short styles and/or wavy textures, the Mini-Styler is worth a shot.

How-To: Get the Sexy, Beachy Waves From Proenza Schouler

BellaSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Mermaid waves never go out of style, even at Fashion Week, so it's not a surprise that for the Proenza Schouler show, Frédéric Fekkai lead stylist Didier Malige was inspired by California surfer girls' tousled hair. The look was totally sexy, a little wild, and surprisingly easy to do. (And if you're so inclined, you can even spritz on a little purple and green temporary hair color to mimic the style worn by some of the models.) Fab was totally loving the chic clothing, and I liked how the creamy nude lips with smudged shadow lent a soft, party-girl effect. Want to get your tousled curl on? Check out the link below.

View 5 Photos ›

Get tips on achieving the oh-so-desireable look when you read more.