A PONYTAIL... BUT MAKE IT FASHION

There’s no doubt the ponytail is a staple style when it comes to hair… convenience and function after all. But when the Holidays roll around and we are even busier, sometimes we need to dress up our ponytail in a pinch. Today, I am sharing three of my go to ways to make your pony POP this season. [video here]

• ADD MORE ELASTICS- it sounds simple, and it is… but simply adding more elastics, and making them part of the design will make your ponytail look more thought-out and intentional. There are so many amazing decorative options out there, like these cube elastics shown here.

• PUMP UP THE VOLUME- adding texture and volume to your pony is a super simple way to take it from ‘every day’ to holiday ready. You can create texture with your leftover curls, or my favorite hack is using my super quick deep waver. Then use a phone cord elastic to get MAJOR lift in your pony. I love to add a scarf to finish this look! This tie-dye version can be found here.

• KEEP IT SLEEK- on the opposite side of volume, you can option for a sleek, classic low pony… just dress it up by wrapping the elastic (get help from a topsy tail here) and adding a jeweled clip like this one here. BONUS: fav hair ties of all time that hold hair so well here.

Here is to a busy and fun December! xo

FAUX BANGS THAT ACTUALLY LOOK REAL!?

So, I’ve probably mentioned this a few hundred times, but this WHOLE blog was born out of the questions and concerns I would hear at the hair salon. Women often times share many of the same struggles and are looking for solutions.

One such struggle is lackluster volume or length in the hair- and always wanting MORE to create fuller styles with. And if you weren’t blessed with thick hair genetics, you may have always thought that you were just stuck with what the good Lord gave you.. and while that is true to an extent, the hair extension industry has made amazing advances creating more and more life-like enhancers to add to your locks.

Whether you are looking for more length, a fuller bun, or even to add temporary bangs, here are my favorite ways to add some pop to your hairstyle: [video here]

wearing clip in bangs by inhhair.com

• Braided Headband so easy to add to any hairstyle and works for all lengths and all ages! Get creative with this one!

• Clip in Bangs fooled you! these things are awesome- although they’ll need to be customized to match you hair color and cut to fit. Get your stylist to help!

• Bun Booster if you’re lacking in the top-knot area, these things are so amazing and easy to use!

• Pony Tail Wrap easy as pie to extend and thicken your pony. bad hair days do not lie ahead.

• Halo Extension for the ultimate in glam, add a full extension in one step. They add length and thickness and can be colored and styled just like your own hair. They’re pricey but with good care, they’ll last you a couple years.

TIPS FOR CUTTING YOUR KIDS HAIR AT HOME

Cutting your kids’ hair at home can be a real lifesaver when it comes to time and money… but it can also be a little tricky. If you have a child that will sit relatively still for you, it may be worth a shot!? Just give yourself permission to know that there is a learning curve, and it won’t be perfect the first couple times. It will probably also be a slower process at first- so get the bribery candy ready and maybe pull out the ipad for a little distraction.

Buy Guide for at-home haircuts:

• Shears A nice set of hair shears don’t need to cost more than $50, and they will last a long time if you avoid cutting anything other than hair with them. Be sure you are aware that shears come in Right and Left handed options, and keep them under 5.75 inches for safety.

• Clippers The Wahl brand is a staple and is really straight forward to use. A good set of clippers will last you YEARS and you can even replace the blades to keep them running smoothly after time. Look for a set with at least 8 guards to give you lots of options.

• Trimmers Trimmer work great to clean up around the hairline and ears, they also work with for small boys under 3 who just have smaller heads, so the full size clipper may be too large.

• Cutting Cape A cape works for better than a towel because you won’t have a big bulky area around the neck to combat, plus hair will easily brush off a cape making cleanup much easier.

• Parting Clips Make your life easier and work in smaller sections- it’s less overwhelming!

• Combs A good comb is easy to use and isn’t so large that you fumble it around- these combs have been my go-to at the salon for years!

• Spray Bottle Nice to have on hand, just remember clippers should always be used on dry hair

Tips for at home haircuts: [VIDEO HERE]

1- Start with clean DRY hair- this is to avoid surprises. You’ll know the exact length your cutting to, and you can see your lines more clearly.

2- Section the hair into smaller workable areas- The whole head is overwhelming. Part the hair into smaller sections working from the nape up, then move around to the sides, top, and front.

3- Always start your first cut in the center to create a guide and match both sides to the guide. This will stop you from ending up lopsided. Less is more, start conservatively, you can always make it shorter but you can’t make it longer!

4- Blend by blurring harsh lines with 'point cuts' Carefully snip across harsh lines by turning the scissors parallel to the hair and snipping into the hair about 1/2 inch creating small V cuts. This will blur harsh lines and soften the overall cut.

I encourage you all to at least give it a try. Give yourself plenty of time and low expectations! ha! Remember that even bad haircuts are only really bad for about two weeks, and by 6 weeks things are back to starting. Good luck!

5 WAYS TO UPDATE YOUR CURL GAME // PLUS A GIVEAWAY

Curling your hair can be a chore and one that can go off track real quick if you aren’t using the right tool for the look you want to achieve. Keep in mind that every head of hair will take curl differently, and factors like thickness, texture and even COLOR play a role in how your curls will turn out. Take a look at 5 awesome tools to achieve perfect curls, and grab a few of my expert tips in the video below. [video also here on youtube]

Tools to try:

• Deep Wave Iron- Gives mermaid S-waves Bed Head Deep Waver

• Curling Wand- Gives Twisted Curls Nume Classic Wand

• Traditional Clamp Iron- Gives Traditional Flat Spiral Curls Hot Tools 24K Gold Iron

• Auto Curler- Easy Auto Spiral Curls with built in timer CHI Spin n Curl

• Flat Iron- Jack of all Trades, gives a variety of curls and waves GHD Classic Styler

There’s no ‘right or wrong’ with any of these, you just need to pick the type of curl that speaks to you most, and then also adjust the size of the barrel for your length of hair and how tight or loose you want you curls.

Here are a few other curling tips to consider:

Tip #1- Go back to basics; section your hair into smaller workable sections and keep your timing consistent on each curl to avoid too much variation or possible scorching.

Tip #2- Start with clean hair, prep the hair with a heat protectant and be sure to finish with a nice hair spray to preserve your work. If your hair is slippery and falls flat, try spraying in a texture spray to give your hair some grit before curling. like this one

Tip #3- Cool the curls twice as long as you heat them before brushing or tugging to lock in the curls for a longer period of time.

Tip #4- Sleep with curls in loose braids or stacked in a loose bun on top of your head, so you can refresh them in the morning without having to start all over again

***GIVEAWAY*** Be sure you head over to my instagram and enter to win your own CHI Spin n Curl gizmo before the end of August.

A VIBRATING FLAT IRON?!

So… ya it vibrates, but why?

That was the question I am sure you asked, and to be honest I asked it too! And that’s why when Vanity Planet offered to send me one to try, I jumped at the chance. As a hair stylist, after 17 years- it takes a lot to make me excited about a new hair tool. So you can imagine!

So here’s the buzz; (pun win!)

The Vibe is a 1.5” flat iron that vibrates upon closure. The vibration is designed to lessen the drag and friction on the hair and help the plates glide more easily. I was happy to see that the vibration only happens when the plates are touching and you don’t have to worry about it wiggling off your bathroom counter. I also like the size of the plates for my long hair, because it makes the whole process faster from start to finish.

So how is it different that other irons? I think the difference here is that the pressure on the hair is less, and therefore the hair strands aren’t compressed as flat. So you still get shiny smooth hair but you are left with some volume too. Personally I like that my hair isn’t flat-as-a-board when I use this iron, but if you’re looking for uber sleek strands this guy probably isn’t for you.

It heats to a non-adjustable temp of 400 degrees and uses Korean Tourmaline coated plates.

Overall I think the idea and execution are both awesome, and that the Vibe fills a need if you want smooth hair but don’t love flat hair. And I mean, who really wants FLAT hair anyway?

If you want to check out the Vibe for yourself you can buy one here and save some moolah with my code: BEAUTYSNOOPVIBE making it only $30!! So cool

xo