Change of Address

Hello!

To make things less confusing & more search-able,

we are COMBINING our blogs!

Now just go to brainybeautyblogs.com for all product reviews!

Perfume reviews still available on perfume fiend.

Menfolk-- Gifted Guys Groom is still up & running for you.

New from LUSH

From the great minds at LUSH:

LUSH is known for the frothy fun it brings to bathtubs and showers, but we get serious when it comes to giving good hair. All of our hair care products have a trained trichologist behind them, our founder Mark Constantine. Trichology is the scientific study of the hair and scalp, which includes the identification, diagnosis and treatment of hair and scalp conditions. LUSH is interested in TREATING problems, not just masking them - although we do like to mask the hair with nutritious ingredients from time to time. In an effort to help you manage your mane, we’ve created three limited edition haircare gifts launching in LUSH stores and www.LUSH.com on July 18th for the most common hair conditions.

VOLUME AND SHINE: Take hair up a couple of notches with our Volume and Shine set. Our Big shampoo uses sea salt to conjure up more volume than you thought was possible while our lightweight Veganese conditions without flattening hair. Switch it up with our Ultimate Shine shampoo bar and Marilyn hair treatment for shiny hair you can see from miles away.

• Contents: Marilyn, Big Shampoo, Ultimate Shine Shampoo Bar, Veganese Conditioner

PROTECT AND NOURISH: If your hair is a frizzy, dry or simply out-of-control, this is the set for you. Curly Wurly shampoo shows hair who’s boss with coconut and vanilla while Jasmine and & Henna Fluff Eaze smoothes with jojoba and Brazil nut oil. R&B revives and balances misbehaving hair and Jungle conditioner keeps everything tame.

• Contents: Jasmine & Henna Fluff Eaze, Curly Wurly Shampoo, R&B, Jungle Conditioner

BALANCE AND REPAIR: Wipe the slate clean and start over with the Balance and Repair set. Rehab deeply cleanses while Retread conditioner nourishes hair with yogurt, soy milk and olive oil. The H’Suan Wen Hua hair treatment is an extra step that pampers hair with avocado and eggs.

• Contents: H’Suan Wen Hua, Rehab Shampoo, Jumping Juniper Shampoo Bar, Retread Conditioner

Miss Jessie’s Partners with Black Girl with Long Hair to Celebrate Natural Hair in Chicago

Chicago, IL. -- On Sunday, July 24, 2011 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. leading natural hair company Miss Jessie’s will team up with award-winning, Chicago-based website Black Girl with Long Hair for the July Chicago Naturals Meetup, a day-long celebration of the growing natural hair community in Chicago.

Held at the Little Black Pearl Art and Design Center in Chicago’s historic Kenwood neighborhood, the July Chicago Naturals Meetup will include a giveaway of 400 gift bags, containing full-sized Miss Jessie’s products, as well as, an hour long styling demonstration by Titi and Miko Branch, founders of Miss Jessie’s. " We are so happy about the opportunity to meet with this prestigious group of Chicago Naturals and can't wait to share tips and hair stories about the journey into natural hair," says Titi and Miko. There will be more than 40 local vendors, natural women, selling everything from jewelry to vintage clothing to beauty products. The event is open to all hair types – relaxed, transitioning and natural.

“This event is not just about hair care, it’s a celebration of the natural hair culture and community that has grown in Chicago,” says Leila Noelliste, founder and editor of Black Girl with Long Hair, “It’s an honor to have a leading, internationally recognized natural hair company come on board and share in what we’re doing here. The reputation of the Miss Jessie’s brand adds real legitimacy to an already notable event.”

Since their start in March 2010 Chicago naturals meetups have grown from 40 to more than 600 attendees, with women flying in from Detroit and New York.

ABOUT MISS JESSIE’S

Sisters Miko and Titi Branch are the founders of Miss Jessie’s™, a hair care collection developed specifically for those with naturally curly, kinky, and wavy hair, as well as Miss Jessie’s Salon in SoHo, NY. With a reputation as “The First Ladies in Curly Hair Care,” Miss Jessie’s™ products are well-known throughout the hair care industry, and have a loyal curly cult following across the country and world.

For more information visit www.missjessies.com

ABOUT BLACK GIRL WITH LONG HAIR

Founded in April 2008 by journalist Leila Noelliste, Black Girl with Long Hair quickly became a leading voice on natural hair care and culture. It has been recognized by TheRoot.com as one of the 30 most influential black blogs and received the 2010 Black Weblog Award for Best Culture Blog. It is one of the highest traffic black beauty blogs, with an average 20,000 daily views.

For more information visit bglhonline.com

Summer's Hot Hair Tips from Pureology'​s Natasha Sunshine

With Summer just around the corner, Natasha Sunshine, Owner of Byu-ti Hair Therapy, A Pureology Salon gives quick and easy haircare tips that will keep hair looking fabulous and leave more time to do the things you want to do, like get to the beach!

1. Use a leave-in conditioner every time you wash and follow with a spray that has UV protection like Pureology Essential Repair Colour Max to keep sun damage to a minimum and your colour looking fresh all summer long.

2. Don't skimp on your upkeep. Reserve your summer salon visits in advance to keep your hair colour vibrant and your ends free of damage.

3. Air dry as much as possible. For girls with curls or waves, use a cocktail of Pureology Essential Repair Instant Repair and your favorite styler (I love Pureology Colour Stylist Nourishing Nectar sculpting gel!). Then twist your curls away from the face and let dry naturally. Once dry, scrunch for soft but defined waves.

HOT TIP: Slick hair into a clean ponytail or ballerina bun with Pureology Essential Repair Colour Max before heading to the beach for extra sun protection.

Red Door Hair Help for Summer

Skip the frizz and unwanted bulk and volume with these hair styling tips from top stylist - Zahir Ziani, the National Creative Director at Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas – A Luxury Day Spa & Hair Salon.

· Don’t touch! – Playing or touching your hair can loosen the style out of its shape and create friction causing hair to expand, increasing volume and frizz

· Be cool – Skip blow drying and heated styling tools when you can in the summer. Excess heat can your damage hair cuticles and cause parched, frizzy hair

· Go long – When temperatures and humidity are at their highest, control your hair by keeping it long and heavy. The trick I use with all my clients is to add in curl to the ends with a roller so hair becomes “anchored” or weighed down

· Accept change – The texture of your hair will fluctuate with the seasons, so the products you use in spring may not be effective for smoothing hair and taming frizz during summer. The Kerastase BAIN OLÉO-RELAX is a perfect summertime beauty essential!

· Wear SPF – Hair, like skin, needs protection from harmful UV exposure. Look for hair care brands that offer sun protection with a minimum of SPF 15. Also similar to your skin, use hair care products formulated with antioxidant vitamins (A, C, E) to prevent against free radical damage. Add a vitamin B complex supplement to your beauty regimen to maintain health, shiny hair all year long

· Bounce-back – Use fabric-wrapped elastics; they are gentle on your hair and less likely to cause breakage and frizz. If you only wear non-metal elastics, do not wrap it around your hair more than twice. Before you go to bed, remove any elastic gently, as it can tangle hair during the night

Last but not least, make sure you visit your hair stylist at the start of every season to make sure you have the right cut and products to maintain smooth, shiny hair.

LUSH: Cynthia Sylvia Stout Shampoo

Cynthia Sylvia Stout Shampoo-- sounds like a tongue-twister, works like a dream!

It seems as though LUSH can't make a bad product.

Doesn't smell like beer as in day-after-cleaning-from-the-party, just lemony and spicy and frothy.

Thoroughly cleans without leaving me with straw-hair.

It has been muggy, rainy, and gross here for the last two weeks-- Cynthia Sylvia Stout + Living Proof Frizz-Free conditioner= no humidity 'fro for me!

Feathers in your hair

Steven Tyler, hair idol?

Usually, not so much; but loving the feathers!

You can get the same look with Fancy Feathers by Bling Strands. One of the BB has feathers, it looks AMAZING (love you, Trish)!

You can mix and match Fancy colors & choose how many feathers you want. There are 8 color groups and 12 individual colors to choose from. Note: Fancy Feathers are best applied by salon professionals.

Princess Kate's (the other one) hair

Loved the easy, elegant hair Kate Middleton wore for THE wedding?

Redken Brand Ambassador Rodney Cutler gives a how-to:

1. Apply Redken blown away 09 protective blow dry gel to dry hair and begin to set by blow drying, being sure to allow the hair to cool down on the brush to create extra bend. A medium round brush would work best.

2. Create a deep side part based on what suits the face best.

3. Using a medium curling iron (an inch and half barrel), section hair into two inch sections and over-direct the curls. You achieve this over-direction by rolling the iron from the end to the roots so that the majority of the wave is on the ends and its more of a wave than a curl.

4. Gently pin back a small section on either side just behind the ears.

5. Apply new Redken shine flash 02 glistening mist on just an the top layer and then a hairspray like Redken quick dry 18 instant finishing spray to hold the style in place.

Hot and Cold Color

Thanks to the ever-brilliant Suzanne Quinn for this color-decoder!

What makes haircolor hot? Tone! Determining the correct haircolor tone, either warm or cool, is simple with these tips from Krista Beahm, colorist at patrick mcivor color studio. Rule of Thumb: Natural cool tones look best with cool haircolor and natural warm tones look best with warm haircolor.

“Colorists are trained to choose a haircolor that matches a client’s natural skin tones. It’s a process that yields complimentary haircolor results – haircolor that makes eyes shine and skin glow. Choosing the wrong tone can result in skin and eyes looking washed out and tired. So, when choosing DIY color or consulting with your stylist, it’s important to take tone into consideration. I advise looking at childhood photos, if someone had warm tones in their hair as a child, go warm now – cool tones, then go cool,” explains Beahm.

Skin

• Tan easily and veins tend to be bluish green - WARM
• Burn quickly and veins tend to be bluish purple - COOL

Eyes

• Golden flecks in eyes - WARM
• Grayish flecks in eyes - COOL

Natural Hair

• Red, orange and yellow – colors evoking fire and sunshine - WARM
• Green, blue and purple – colors evoking water, sky, sea and forests - COOL

Jennifer Lopez (warm brunette)

Megan Fox (cool brunette)

Kate Hudson (warm blonde)

Cameron Diaz (cool blonde)

“If skin, eyes and hair are all the same tone or two out of three are the same, a person will most likely look best in that same tone of haircolor. If tonal results vary, they can usually pull off either tone,” explains Beahm who uses Matrix color products exclusively for predictable tonal results.

There are ALWAYS exceptions! Some warm toned people don’t like warmth in their hair and some cool toned people don’t like cool tones in their hair. When this is the case, try a neutral tone or ask a professional colorist’s opinion.

Every Day is Earth Day With KLORANE

We salute KLORANE and especially recommend the eye make-up remover, the dry shampoo, and the Papyrus Hair Care.

KLORANE: Celebrating more than 40 years of sustainable beauty

In 1966, four years before we celebrated the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, French pharmacist Pierre Fabre harnessed his passion for botany to formulate the iconic Shampoo with chamomile, launching the establishment of KLORANE Laboratories. A leader in combining the best of nature with the best of science, KLORANE quickly followedthis success with the launches of more products—all of them pharmaceutically-proven—utilizing only the purest plant extracts to target specific hair and skin needs. This included the 1972 introduction of the first-ever eye make-up remover formulated with soothing cornflower.

By 1986, the innovative Phytofilière® concept was born, consisting of five main stages: in-depth research of natural substances; selection and experimental cultivation; traceability of each individual ingredient from agriculture to production tofinished products; KLORANE’s specific protocol for plant growth andutilizing only KLORANE farmers and farms. This ensures that only sustainable farming techniques arepracticed, and that each plant offers 100% sustainability. Today KLORANE continues its long heritage of exploring the plant universe to discover the most effective plants for each particular beauty concern.

With the creation of the KLORANE Institute in France in 1994, KLORANE strengthened its objective to protect plant heritage via research, education, conservation and financial support. Over the years, earth-friendly initiatives have included generous donations and scientific partnerships for reintroducing and developing endangered species of plants and flora; partnering with select pharmacists in France to promote “Botanical Days” to educate schoolchildren on the protection and the beneficial uses of plants; generous donations to plant trees in the aftermath of fires; creating environmental and plant education programs; supporting the Million Trees NYC program and donating to the New York City Botanical Gardens.

Each product KLORANE creates is also a reflection of its dedication to protecting the planet and harnessing the power of plants. From the quinine extracted from the bark of living Cinchona trees sustainably grown in Ecuador for KLORANE Shampoo and Conditioner with quinin eto chamomile sourced in Egypt—especiallyrich in a plant flavonoid (apigenine),a natural hair brightener—for its Chamomile hair care products, KLORANE stays true to its heritage.

Clinically proven to deliver high performance, the line utilizes the lowest number of ingredients for the highestefficacy and safety. This philosophy maintains unparalleled quality standards to guarantee the highest levels of purity, safety and proven performance inall KLORANE products. And as itshistory proves, KLORANE has always been ahead of the eco-curve. From philosophy to final product, KLORANE makes every day a celebration of Earth Day all year long, year in, year out.

René Furterer Teams Up with Hairstylist Cori Bardo and The Art of Elysium to Serve Children in Need

René Furterer proudly joins hairstylist Cori Bardo and The Art of Elysium in supporting their efforts to encourage self-esteem in seriously ill children by participating in a special makeover program

In partnership with hairstylist Cori Bardo of The Magnet Agency, René Furterer is supporting the L.A.-based non-profit organization, The Art of Elysium, dedicated to the needs of mentally disabled and critically ill children, with a special donation. The French hair care line, based on pure essential oils and active plant extracts that is loved by celebrities and top stylists alike, is donating their FIORAVANTI Shine Enhancing Kits—each one includes the FIORAVANTI shine enhancing shampoo, shine enhancing conditioner and spray gloss—to support a cause that Cori, a stylist fan of the line, devotes her free time to.

Along with providing artistic workshops in acting, art, comedy,fashion, music, radio, songwriting and creative writing to bring out each child’s creativity, The Art of Elysium also runs a makeover program designed to increase their self-esteem. Believing every child deserves the opportunity to shine, Cori says that she and her fellow volunteers have found“a little pretty goes a long way,” regardless of the child’s condition, be it a physical disfigurement, mental or physical delay or any serious illness. Cori and the volunteers, including make-up artists, hairstylists and nail technicians, will introduce the FIORAVANTI SHINE ENHANCING KITS to their young makeover subjects as they help them to look and feel their best.

Dancing With The Stars Hair Extensions: Flirtini Pony

No, not kidding!

Super easy-to-use, realistic hair extensions.

A bunch of us tried out the Flirtini, in Dark Brown, at a party.

While it was very entertaining to see the red head and blond with dark brown pony tail, it was pretty darn perfect for two of us brunettes.

Not going to lie, it was awesome to rock the lengthy curls.

My friend Hilary looked like total Greek goddess with the Flirtini in-- and I have yet to get it back from her.

Great for a fun night-out!

Sam Villa wants you to have great hair

Suzanne Quinn of Glow Communications gives us the inside scoop:

April, 2011 (New York, NY) – Why is it that hair never looks as good when styled at home as it does in the salon? The average women fights frizz with tired arms and uncertainty, only to be disappointed with the results. Could it be that stylists have inside info? Of course they do, they’re professionals!

What most people don’t know is that even after stylists graduate beauty school, they need to continue with advanced education to master techniques, stay current and meet client expectations. Sam Villa, Behind the Chair 11th Annual Stylist Choice Award Winner for “Favorite Educator and Platform Artist” is the stylist behind thousands of stylists around the world. He is the man that teaches stylists the inside tricks on how to cut and finish hair. Tricks like sinking the nape area to create volume at the crown, using zigzag parting at the perimeter while only clipping the interior, and deflating unwanted volume. He gives stylists guidance on what shears to use, sectioning, what brush to pick up, how to use thermal tools, what not to do and what products will perform the best.

Tricks like creating volume in fine hair! “Sixty percent of North American women have fine hair and they get frustrated when they can’t make it do what they want. I create education that gives stylists a better understanding of hair as a fabric and how it reacts to manipulation. Stylists in turn should share this info with their clients so they can achieve the same results at home. It’s not classified info, it’s just that some stylists are better at sharing than others. So, if you aren’t getting the results you want at home, ask your stylist for a tutorial. Be specific and ask for guidance on everything from the type of cut, to the frequency of washing, to handling the cuticle (open or closed), to the types of tools and products to use. It will increase confidence and improve your finish skills,” states Villa.

Aspire for more with Sam Villa! Villa is founding partner and chairman of Allvus, LLC, Education Artistic Director for Redken 5th Avenue and a Stylist Choice Award Winner for Favorite Platform Artist and Educator (2007 and 2011). Discover his coveted hot tips and techniques, along with Sam Villa Signature Series brushes, combs and thermal tools on www.samvilla.com.

LUSH hair-- for real!

Did you know that LUSH makes haircare?

Yes, I'm getting to this party a bit late, but I get so involved with the soaps that I don't notice anything else-- like the very pleasant hour I spent with a strange boy in Toronto, just smelling the soaps.

When I got the Godiva shampoo bar, I was thinking chocolate. It's not.

That was the only even mildly disappointing thing about this.

The jasmine scent is delicious, your bathroom & your hair will smell tropical and wonderful. The recommended usage for the bar is to rub it on your head, but I prefer to lather it in my hands and wash my hair that way. I guess it's just the control freak in me. Lathers well and rinses easily. Leaves hair wonderfully clean & soft. I'm hooked!

Add to that-- no plastic bottles, so no waste. Just phenomenal hair.

After getting my hair all nice & clean, a good conditioner is vital.

I like a leave-in-- less shower time, easier to comb, fights frizz.

However, many leave-ins leave my hair either dry or oily. Dry hair is no good, I am not a fan of the straw-head look. Oily is even worse-- can make my neck break out (ewwww).

LUSH's R&B is the perfect middle ground, just like baby bear's porridge! My hair is so happy, and combing is so much easier. I would have named it Magic Smoothing Cream, cause that's what it is. And it smells lovely. Economical, too, as a little bit goes a long way. I just dip the tip of a finger into the pot and use that.

Just as well I didn't catch on to the Haircare at the LUSH store in Toronto, as I'm sure hauling a trailer full of product across the border wouldn't have been practical. Now, the power of Internet shopping can enable everyone to have great LUSH hair!

Redken goes natural

Redken has launched a new collection-- Nature’s Rescue. The products are paraben-free, sulfate-free and silicone-free haircare essentials, with plant and marine extracts, that remove impurities and buildup while helping nourish hair.

I am loving the Refreshing Detox Shampoo, Refining Sea Polish, and Cooling Deep Conditioner!

The shampoo really cleans without over-cleaning. Great de-junker.

The Polish is the coolest thing-- exfoliation for your scalp! Not too rough, but a super-scrub. Better scalp=better hair!

And the conditioner is very nice, cooling on your melon, feels light, but leaves hair soft and well-conditioned.

A+ for Redken!

Oscar Hair for real life

Last night’s Oscar styles were full of simplicity and retro elegance, including the hair! From ponytails worn by Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon to topknots and buns worn by Hailee Steinfeld, Melissa Leo and Sandra Bullock to the 70's waves worn by Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, Marissa Tomei, Anne Hathaway, Natalie Portman and Mandy Moore. Pureology PureArtists, Ruth Roche, Dawn Stemick, Darren Pena, Brenda McGann, Christopher Devaney and Sandra Joseph give step-by-steps on how to achieve these hot hairstyle trends from last night’s Oscars:

Trend #1: Polished Pony – as seen on Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman

Step 1: Spray Pureology ColourStylist FortifyingHeatSpray to entire head, along with a blend of ColourStylist AntiSplitBlowDry and NourishingNectar before drying in a directional pattern of the ponytail shape with a flat paddle brush.

Step 2: When hair is dry, create a high ponytail on the crown of the head using a small paddle brush and/or combs to ensure a perfectly smooth perimeter. After securing pony with an elastic, apply a pea-sized amount of ColourStylist SilkBodifier to a fine-toothed Comb and smooth in any flyaways around the hairline.

Step 3: Take a 1″ section of hair from the ponytail and spray ColourStylist StrengtheningControl hairspray down the length and smooth with fingers before wrapping around base of pony to hide the elastic.

Step 4: To create the waves Reese had, take a 1" hot curling iron and wrap hair around it and drop.

Step 5: Smooth length of ponytail with ColourStylist CuticlePolisher

Trend #2: Waves of Glory as seen on Amy Adams, Natalie Portman, Mandy Moore, Anne Hathaway

Step 1: Spray Pureology ColourStylist FortifyingHeatSpray throughout hair and layer SilkBodifier and NourishingNectar in as well. Blowdry completely.

Step 2: Twist varying sized sections no larger than 1″ and wrap down the length of a curling iron. For added strength spray each section with ColourStylist StrengtheningControl zero dulling hairspray prior to wrapping. Secure each curl with a single prong clip to cool.

Step 3: Drop clips and work a tiny, pea-sized amount of ColourStylist CuticlePolisher through hands prior to breaking up curls with fingertips.

Step 4: Finish with a light mist of ColourStylist StrengtheningControl zero dulling hairspray.

Trend #3: Top Knot as seen on Hailee Steinfeld, Sandra Bullock and Melissa Leo

Step 1: Prep hair with Pureology Hydrate Shampoo and Condition

Step 2: Work ColourStylist Nourishing Nectar sculpting gel through damp hair

Step 3: Blow hair dry smooth with a large paddle brush

Step 4: Take a dime-size amount of ColourStylist CuticlePolisher and run through hair from mid-shaft to ends

Step 5: Draw hair into a high ponytail, take a small egg-size ColourStylist SilkBodifier voluminizing mousse and run over ponytail

Step 6: Separate pony into two sections and twist sections over each other

Secure end of pony with elastic

Step 7: Wrap pony around base and secure with a bobby pin. Finish look with ColourStylist Strengthing Contol zero dulling hairspray

Get Mila Kunis' Oscar hair

Check out the hair how-to video featuring celeb stylist Creighton Bowman recreating Mila Kunis’ glam 30s finger waves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBcszK489wM

Great Hair! She really looked amazing.

Go Red like a celeb

Reds ruled on the Red Carpet at the Grammys!

Paul Cucinello of Chris Chase Salon shares the pros’ secrets on how to get each look and how to maintain this head-turning style.

Rihanna

I find Rihanna's shade of red much more flattering on her because of it's richness and depth For the Pros:

This color can be achieved by having your colorist overlay a semi-permanent bright red over naturally light or medium brown hair. (Blondes would have to deepen their hair before adding this shade.) Keep it shiny with a clear gloss. (Try Clairol Natural Instincts Shine Happy) Skin Tone: This shade works best on both olive and deeper skin tones both of which should avoid any shade

that has too much orange in it.

Hayley Williams (of Paramore)

This is the most cosmetic version of the bright reds we are seeing right now. For the Pros: It's a very difficult color to pull off and requires two steps: pre-lightening and then re-pigmentation with an intense Orange-Red (Try Manic Panic in Infra™ Red) Skin Tone:

This shade works best on bold personalities with very fair skin tones.

Florence Welch (of Florence & The Machine)

Hands down my favorite shade of red because

it actually exists in nature...it's a bright Copper. I'm all for cosmetic colors but this color takes natural and turns it up a notch making it look so ready to rock! For the Pros: Ask your colorist to overlay a demi-permanent bright natural copper over hair that was previously highlighted or was honey blonde. Refresh at home with a color enhancing mousse (Try Goldwell Soft Color Mousse in 8K) Skin Tone: Try this shade if your a blonde and you're over looking washed out. Be prepared to get a lot of attention! It best suits fair, peachy skin tones and it beautifully accentuates pale blue & green eyes.

7 Tips for Rockin' Red Hair:

1. Buy a couple of dark towels. Red will run at first and you should make sure not to use any light colored towels to dry your hair.

2. Make SURE you are use very high quality shampoo & conditioner. Red is the color that fades the fastest so avoid shampooing for 24-48 hours after you color your hair. For maintaining rich, vibrant colors stick with the best:

- Oribe Shampoo & Masque for Beautiful Color,

- Kerastase Chroma Sensitive Extra Gentle Cleansing Balm

- Tocco Magico Palvin-Bid Conditioner

3. Always rinse with cold water. This keeps the cuticle closed and encourages color retention.

4. Use sunscreen on your hair! If it's not already in your styling products and you plan on being in the sun, pack one of these specially formulated hair sunscreens in your beach bag: Kerastase Micro-Voile Protecteur, Phyto Protective Sun Veil or Phyto Protective Beach Spray.

5. Avoid coloring your hair the day of a big event... the stains from red hair dye can be pretty intense.

6. Red is a big commitment so before you take the plunge, make sure you're prepared to stick with it for a while. There are lots of shades to experiment with so don't hesitate to adjust the color until you find the right red for you.

Reds get a lot of attention and making the change will require an adjustment of all of your makeup colors and wardrobe choice

Save your Hair Color with the Mohawk Ponytail

Suzanne Quinn at Glow Communications is prepping us for summer with the latest & greatest:

February, 2011 (Bethlehem, PA) – Haircolor just may be the most popular beauty accessory ever, so when the sun starts to compromise its vibrancy and tone, a girl can get a little upset. Fear not, Nathan Rosenkranz, fashion director at patrick mcivor color studio and Matrix Mannequin Master, has a solution that will keep highlights as fresh as Blake Lively and Jennifer Anniston’s.

“Most women with long hair pull it into a ponytail during the summer months and that can lead to awkward color lightening from sun exposure constantly hitting the top layers down the center of the head. The result is similar to a Mohawk effect, lighter down the middle and darker on the sides,” explains Rosenkranz who created the Mohawk Ponytail as a way to control where the sun lightens hair.

Mohawk Ponytail Step-by-Step

· Section hair from the top and back into one ponytail leaving both sides out.

· Take the hair from the left side with the right hand and draw hair up and over the ponytail, hold in place.

· Take the hair from the right side with the left hand and draw up and over the ponytail.

· Hold all 3 ponytails and secure together with a second ponytail holder or covered elastic.

· Spray hair with Matrix colorcarethérapie Shielding Shine Mist, a lightweight no-hold mist that preserves the longevity of colored hair, complete with UV filters to shield color from fading and protection against free radical damage. For added health, use Matrix hydrathérapie Aqua Immersion Hair Crème-Masque before and after sun exposure. The new greener formula (Paraben and Silicone-free in eco-friendly packaging) is formulated with aloe, sunflower oil and other nutrients for intense conditioning that instantly detangles, softens and reveals healthy, shiny hair (both available in salons March 2011).

The Mohawk Ponytail doesn’t just prevent awkward color fadage and enhance highlights like a Cheerio on “Glee,” it actually looks cool too!

Flat Irons Curl?

Traditionally, flat irons are used for straightening, but Sam Villa, founding partner of the Sam Villa® brand and Education Artistic Director for Redken 5th Avenue, is anything but traditional. Villa loves oversized multi-textured looks and uses his flat iron, the Sam Villa Signature Series SLEEKR™ flat iron, in unconventional ways to create this fresh texture.

Remember the pin curl? Well, Villa has a modern version he creates in minutes. It’s a coiled set compressed with the iron, resulting in a flatter curl than a traditional pin curl. Give it a whirl.

Paper Curl:

1. Take a 1/2” square section and prep with Redken spray starch 15 versatile ironing spray.

2. Loosely flat wrap the section around index finger

3. Slide off finger – holding pin curl in fingertips

4. Pinch with SLEEKR™

5. Finish with Redken fashion work 12 versatile working spray

Tutorial: Pureology SAG styles

Pureology ColourAmbassador Natasha Sunshine, owner of Byu-ti Hair Therapy, a Pureology Salon gives her top hair trends at the SAG Awards and how to achieve these looks:

Simple sleek ponytail - Julianna Marguilles and Angie Harmon, sported the time-honored ponytail with style.

To get this look:

Start with dry straight hair. Decide on parting. Side parting adds a classic appeal. A middle parting gives a more modern feel.

Mist lightly with Pureology ColourStylist StrengtheningControl zero dulling hairspray, use a fine bristle brush like a boar or Mason Pearson. Use clean long strokes to keep lumps to a minimum.

Fasten an elastic band as close to the base of your scalp as possible.

Mist hair again with spray and smooth over for a clean finish.

For an extra polished pony, spray loose ends with Pureology ColourStylist Fortifying Heat Spray and wrap in one large hot roller for 10 minutes.

Chic, vintage updos- January Jones and Natalie Portman, donned a similar front swoop and low-bunned fashion.

To get this look:

Start with damp hair, apply a nickel size of Pureology ColourStylist NourishingNectar evenly throughout.

Dry thoroughly and set with large rollers wound away from the face.

After rollers cool, remove and brush hair through.

Leaving out the top front section, pull all the hair back into a low pony and create a side part.

Finish ponytail into a bun securing with bobby pins.

Brush top front section back and push forward to get a smooth swooping fringe.

Spray finished style with ColourStylist StrengtheningControl zero dulling hairspray.

For more information visit Pureology.com, Become a Pureology Facebook Fan or follow us on twitter @PureologyTweet.

Dancing with the Stars Hair Extensions & Appearance

WHAT:

Ulta in-store appearance with Dancing with the Stars’ Kym Johnson & the new DWTS Hair Extension Collection: Kym and a team of hairstylists will be on hand to offer beauty tips, behind-the-scenes hair styling secrets and do-it-yourself tricks for re-creating the hottest Dancing with the Stars looks – just in time for creating a date-ready look for Valentine’s Day!

WHEN:

Saturday, February 12, 2011

11:00AM-1:00PM in Bu

rbank, CA-Burbank Empire Center, 1351 N. Victory Place, Burbank, CA 91502, Phone: 818-565-5646

3:00PM-5:00PM in West Hollywood, CA- ULTA, West Hollywood, West Hollywood Gateway, 7100 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 210, West Hollywood, CA 90046, Phone: 323-878-2524

Sam Villa's Tricks of the Trade for Finishing

Sam Villa, founding partner of the Sam Villa® brand and Education Artistic Director for Redken 5th Avenue, travels the world teaching other stylists how to finish hair to perfection. He’s now sharing his tricks of the trade, so a pro blow can be done at home.

“When people tell me they can’t get their hair to look like it does when their stylists finish it, I tell them that it’s easier for the stylist because they’re behind in a natural position, facing the head. Most people blowdry their hair in front of a mirror, which makes everything opposite. I suggest getting hair on the brush and then turning away from the mirror to do the blowdry,” explains Villa.

Tricks of the Trade

· To prevent frizz, reach for an old tee shirt instead of a fluffy towel to thoroughly squeeze out the excess moisture without roughing up the cuticle.

· Detangle hair by working from the bottom up.

· Product is a necessity. Use mousse for volume, lotion for hair that’s smooth and touchable or gel for lift and definition.

· A boar-bristle brush will distribute the natural oils throughout the hair and give a smooth finish.

· Stand up, because your body will have more flexibility than when you’re sitting down.

· If you work with a round brush, section off the hair and start at the bottom. Between sections, put down the blowdryer so you have both hands to get the hair on the brush.

· If your hair is color-treated, set your thermal tools on medium to keep the cuticle closed and maintain the color longer.

Naturally curly hair has special requirements:

· Comb out hair with a large-tooth comb.

· Before using a mousse or gel, apply a leave-in conditioner.

· To maintain the curl, clamp hair with clips at the base to provide lift; then let hair dry naturally or use a diffuser to dry it.

“The last thing I recommend to clients is that if they’re having a “bad hair day,” just start over! Spritz the hair with a water bottle and adjust the top surface. Investing just a few minutes will turn things around to have a great hair day,” states Villa.

Aspire for more with Sam Villa! Villa is founding partner and chairman of Allvus, LLC, Education Artistic Director for Redken 5th Avenue and a Stylist Choice Award Winner for Favorite Platform Artist and Educator. Discover his coveted hot tips and techniques, along with Sam Villa Signature Series tools on www.samvilla.com