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Can You Guess Her Natural Hair Color?

BellaSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:00:23 -0800

Hair color is a celebrity's best friend. Along with makeup, it's one of the simplest ways to transform a look. But when it comes to Hollywood hair, do you know what your favorite stars really have going on under all that hair color and/or bleach? You're about to find out.

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Best of Bella

BellaSugar — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0800

How to re-create Kristen Stewart's 15 hottest looks.
Can you guess these celebrities' natural hair colors?
20 adorable manicure ideas - holiday nails included.
Seven gorgeous ways to wear classic red lipstick.
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20 fan-made Twilight beauty items you've got to see to believe.
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Get Hot (Pink Lips) Like Eva Mendes

BellaSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:00:27 -0800

We here at Sugar HQ have decided that Eva Mendes never looks anything but absolutely beautiful. At a recent Calvin Klein event in Milan, Eva proved that the rules are meant to be broken. While her skin and hair coloring are more in the warm-toned family, the actress still managed to pull off a traditionally cooler-toned hot pink lip that had just the slightest glimpse of a coral undertone. Call it a bright poppy shade of sorts. What I like most about this look is that it's decidedly not a just-stepped-out-of-the-mall circa 1984 kind of effect. It's fresh, alluring, and very flirtatious.

To get my tips on pulling off a hot pink lip, just keep reading.

Getting to the Root of It - Go Back to Natural Part Two

BellaSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:00:22 -0700

After talking to master stylist Meredith Venesile-Spiros about getting back to your natural color in a budget friendly manner, it was clear that this job was one for a professional - at least for the initial change.

While it may be tempting to do a little kitchen sink coloring at home to save a few bucks, stop before you break out those plastic gloves and make an unintentional mistake. "The fact of the matter is, hairdressers want to help. They are actually saving you money in the long run."

To learn more about Meredith's advice on going back to your virginal (er...in the hair sense, of course) ways, read the how-to below:

If going from an artificial darker color back to your natural lighter or gray color:

Your stylist will have to take out the artificial pigments by "gradually putting in some super fine highlights," says Meredith. This helps subtly blend your colors without overly damaging your strands. If you were to go all light at once, it could be too much for your hair to take.
You'll probably have to return in a few months to finish off the job, but your healthy hair will thank you.

To find out more about getting back to your roots, read more

If going from an artificial light color back to your natural darker color:

Your stylist will apply something called a filler on your lighter pieces. What this does is create a "deep pure pigmented" base for your hair so that, "once color is applied it lasts longer and won't wash out of your hair," Meredith says.
Unless your hair is very porous, you probably won't have to return to the salon for another process.

For tips on keeping your hair fresh throughout the process:

Maintain shine with a glazing treatment every 10-12 weeks either at the salon or with a clear at-home glazing product such as John Frieda's Luminous Color Glaze Clear Shine ($10).
Use a color enhancing shampoo and conditioner to help boost fading hues. Meredith recommends Aveda's brown bottled plant-based color shampoos ($3.50 to $26.50) and conditioners ($17).
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Getting to the Root of It - Go Back to Natural Part One

BellaSugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:00:11 -0700

A few weeks back, Bella reader lotuslight wanted to go back to her roots - literally. She asked what it would take to completely grow out her artificial color and go natural instead, all while keeping it budget-friendly. So, I’ve done a little sleuthing and here’s what was uncovered.

To get the facts straight, I consulted with Meredith Venesile-Spiros, master stylist at Salon V in Chicago and former contestant on the latest season of Shear Genius.

Ironically enough, to get rid of color, you're going to have to add some color. When going back to the tones that nature intended, it's best to stay out of the drugstore aisles to avoid a DIY color disaster, regardless of how tempting (and cheap) it might be.

"At least for the first time, go see a professional to properly make that change," Meredith advises. Let the experts guide you on what it's going to take keep the integrity of your hair intact. In the long run, you'll "save yourself some drama, money, and multiple trips to the drugstore."

To avoid having the embarrassment of heavy roots while your hair grows out, your stylist will talk about gradually blending your previously colored hair into your natural (virgin, if you will) color. Stay tuned to learn more about what Meredith says it takes to make this change a reality.

Photo courtesy of Bravo.

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.

What Do You Know About Redheads?

BellaSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:00:02 -0700

As Lucy could tell you, red is the rarest, and perhaps most coveted, hair color (so much so that Ms. Ball dyed her naturally blond hair her now iconic shade of carrot). And for thousands of years, people have been coming up with stories about it. In the Middle Ages, for example, people with a certain shade of red hair were considered unmistakably vampires or werewolves, and early Renaissance alchemists believed the blood of a red-haired man was necessary to turn copper into gold (aren't we sorta glad we live in a post-alchemy world?). For every crazy superstition, ginger stereotype, or story about a fiery temper, though, there's an actual, interesting fact about red hair. Take my quiz and find out just how much you actually know about our flame-haired brethren.
Photo courtesy of The USPS

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Have Scientists Found a Way to Turn Back the Gray?

BellaSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Did you ever think it might be possible to actually reverse gray hair, turning it back into the natural color it once was? It does sound rather outlandish - even fantastical - but according to scientists at L'Oréal's research and development center near Paris, the treatment could be just about 10 years away from coming to fruition.

"When hair goes gray, there is a progressive disappearance of the melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) from the hair. While there are still melanocytes in the hair, there is still hope that it could be re-pigmented," L'Oréal's Patricia Pineau told the Daily Mail. Supposedly, the process would involve some type of oral component, along the use of specially formulated haircare products. What do you think of this treatment in the works? Is it just messing with Mother Nature, or do you welcome what science has to offer when it comes to antiaging developments?

Ask Bella: How Do I Lift Black Hair Dye?

BellaSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:01:19 -0700

Recently, a distressed reader contacted me about an unfortunate incident regarding a box of black hair color and the subsequent regretful results. Here's her story:

Three months ago I had an adult identity crisis and dumped a box of jet black dye on my naturally medium brown hair. Now I can't get it to lift out for anything - professionally or at home. Can you make a suggestion? I'm a 25-year-old woman and I look like a scene kid. It's rough.

There's no excuse for looking like a Brokencyde groupie. Lifting pigment can be a tricky endeavor, though, so you have to be careful. For my advice on helping this reader to lighten up, just read more.

A Doll of One's Own: Mattel Rolls Out New Black Barbies

TresSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:15:00 -0700

Mattel has launched some new black Barbie dolls, and they're getting praised and dissed in equal measure. Grace, Kara, and Trichelle, created by Stacy McBride-Irby to give her daughter and other African-American girls dolls that resemble them, have been criticized by some for not being "black enough."

"I love the black Barbie. It's about time," said Jua Simpson, a reporter for CNN's iReport. "But the hair is still a step backwards, since most of our hair is not straight and light brown." (Check out BellaSugar's review of Chris Rock's documentary Good Hair, which addresses this loaded subject for black women.)

These new black Barbies could be said to be a step in the right direction for a couple reasons. First off, it's important that there's not a monolithic (i.e. white) sense of what's beautiful, and studies have shown that little girls of color do absorb the idea that white equals beautiful.

Also, it sounds like more thought was put into creating Grace, Kara, and Trichelle than the Oreo Barbie (hand smacks forehead!) that Mattel came out with in 1997. I guess with all the focus groups and marketing Mattel must surely do, no one bothered to tell them that "Oreo" is a term used by some in the black community to denote someone who is black but "acts" white. (I'm guessing the Oreo Barbie tanked?)

My question is, should we be pushing dolls (of whatever color) on girls at all? Don't dolls just get them to focus on how they look, as opposed to toys that would invite them to invent, think and do things, like boys' toys? (I mean, boys have ~~dolls~~ action figures, but yeah, notice the emphasis is on action, on doing things rather than on just being pretty.)

What do you think about the new black Barbies and about dolls as girls' primary toys in general? Do you think it's outdated to push dolls on girls, or do you think girls gravitate to dolls naturally?

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