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Steal the Spotlight: French Braid to This Silly Story

BellaSugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:00:31 -0700

French braiding may be second nature to some of you, but have you ever tried to explain it to someone else . . . without visuals? While not everyone will instantly catch on, I've written down a cute tale that was told to me when I first learned this style. It's story time. Read on for an easy way to remember which hair goes where (and a step-by-step photo demo).

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Oh, Stormy: 5 Ways to Weather-Proof That Hair

BellaSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:00:38 -0700

Ugh. The weather over the last week has been crappy, and my hair has totally rolled over into submission. Welcome to the grossest season, I guess. There are so many great things about this time of year, but the inclement transitional weather isn't one of them. To keep myself from giving up hope, I've decided to rally and find some ways to keep my hair looking good in spite of the gray mess outside. I've put together five solid ideas for keeping things smooth and pretty, whether the humidity's giving you crazy curls or sad, lank locks. To storm-proof your crowning glory, just keep reading

Recreate LC's Double Braids With Tips From Her Stylist!

BellaSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:15:56 -0700

Just when we thought there couldn't possibly be any more ways to wear braids, who better than trend-setting Lauren Conrad to bring us back in? At the Hollywood Style Awards last night in LA, the former reality show star styled her signature waist-length extensions in not just one side-braid, but two intersecting plaits. Celebrity stylist Byron Williams of the Byron and Tracey Salon created the look for Lauren, using her multihued frock as inspiration.

"We wanted to get it as narrow as possible because we didn’t want to overwhelm the dress," Williams said. "It was side-parted, and we French braided both sides. It’s kind of half-up, half-down." To finish off the look, he combined the two braids to create a "headband" in the back. Want some tips on getting the overlapping braids for yourself? Follow the link after the gallery.

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To get Williams's advice, just keep reading.

How-To: Lauren Conrad's Twisty Braids

BellaSugar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:00:33 -0700

Just when you think you've seen nearly every type of braid imaginable, leave it to Lauren Conrad to add her own twist. LC's time on The Hills may be over but that's not stopping the young star from pursuing other endeavors.

At last night's book signing for LA Candy and appearance on The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien, Lauren busted out the braids again. But this time, she chose dual French braids that looped together in the back, forming a loose, chic bun. Recently I got the scoop behind her iconic braids, and now, here are some tips on re-creating last night's updo version.

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Get the how-to when you read more.

For a shiny effect with slight hold, apply a glossing gel to damp hair and blow-dry. Try Nivea Diamond Gloss Styling Gel ($12).
Part the hair down the middle. Starting from one side of the part, loosely French braid the hair all the way down, stopping the braiding at to the nape. Secure with an elastic band. Repeat on the other side. Note how Lauren's stylist only braided hair along the sides, leaving hair from the crown down to the neck out of the mix.
Leaving the two braids out, gather the hair from the crown down to the neck into a ponytail. Secure with an elastic band and twist hair around it, securing with bobby pins into the base of the pony.
Finish up by twisting and wrapping the two ends around the "bun" you created in the third step, using bobby pins to secure. Add a spritz of hair spray (such as David Babaii for WildAid Light Styling Spray, $12.50) for a little hold.

WireImage and Getty

How-To: Diane Kruger's Summertime Hairstyle

BellaSugar — Thu, 21 May 2009 08:00:08 -0700

I can't help but admire Diane Kruger's laid-back braid, which she wore to the Inglourious Basterds photo call at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this week. The chunky to-the-side style, which starts off as a French braid, morphs into a fishtail as it cascades down.

To get the look, apply a matte styling product on dry hair to "roughen up" the texture and provide hold. Try Garnier Fructis Style Surf Hair Texture Paste Matte Effect ($3.50). Tease the hair slightly to give it some hold, and then smooth out with a comb. Part your hair to the side and get weaving. Get the rest of the how-to after the jump, and check out the pictures below for some inspiration.

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Complete the look when you read more.

Starting on the side opposite of the heavy part, begin French braiding from the top of the ear, all the way down to the nape. Secure with a ponytail holder. Next, repeat the same steps on the heavy side of the part, adding the previously braided strands into the mix. Once you have incorporated the two sides together, create a loose fishtail braid from the nape to the ends, looping the final strand around the base of the braid. Secure it with a clear elastic band. Voilà! It's instant summertime chic.

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How-To: Learn a Dutch Braid

BellaSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:00:58 -0700

You've heard of French braids, but have you heard of Dutch braids? The style is similar but just slightly different. (Think of it like knitting, with French braids being the "knit" and Dutch braids as the "purl.") For these braids you actually braid the side strands of hair behind the middle section of hair, instead of on top as with the French style. If you're scratching your head at what I mean, check out this numbered step-by-step tutorial.

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Three Tips For a Great Braid Out

BellaSugar — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 07:04:12 -0700

The grass is always greener on someone else's scalp. Well, you know what I mean: Girls with curls often lust after stick straight styles and vice versa. We've gathered several tips for sleek blowouts, but let's tackle making waves, heat-free. Curly-haired Bella is a fan of something called a "braid out," an easy way for people of any hair texture to have soft waves without a permanent change or hours of QT with a curling iron. Before you head in to braid out, find a couple things to consider when you read more.

Know how your braids last best. If your hair type becomes more flyaway and slippery with shampoo or conditioner, skip that step before starting this style. (Personally, I condition only and do not wash.)
Holding product equals holding power. Add your favorite leave-in after stepping out of the shower with a bit of spray gel/ hairspray on your wet hair before starting each section. Sleeping on the wet style will allow you to get curlies while you (don't) wait . . . and offer conditioning time, too.
Wavy, wavier, waviest as desired. Typically, more braids mean more waves and thicker hair will result in more volume and require more braids for more definition. You'll get a much tighter curl from several cornrows than you will from one tight French braid style, but it's not essential to use those braiding techniques. Just know, the closer you can get to your scalp when starting, the higher up your waves will begin.

If you're not a self-styling pro, grab a pal and take turns braiding each other's hair. It's like Summer camp all over again . . . this time minus the chlorine and bug bites.

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Who Wears the Chunky Side-Braid Best?

BellaSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 06:00:10 -0700

Over the past few days, it's been chunky side braids aplenty. While various types of braids have been hot for years now, check out how these three women put their own twist on this trend below. Jessica Simpson stepped out for Easter dinner with the family at first wearing this classic French braid, which mysteriously disappeared before she left the restaurant. Drew Barrymore paired her braid with a retro twist and some serious red lipstick while promoting her new film on Live With Regis and Kelly. As for Nicole Richie, she chose a casual wraparound braid with long, heavy bangs when she was out and about in LA. So, tell me. When it comes to these three takes on the braid to the side, which one is tops in your book?

Flynet, WENN.com, and INFDaily.com

Sugar Shout Out: Meet Pabst, the World's Ugliest Dog!

PopSugar — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:55:00 -0700

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BellaSugar — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 07:00:20 -0700

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