Discover Your Color Karma

Three Updos to Look Hot for the Holidays

2011-12-11T11:13:00.000-08:00

The holidays are upon us, and that means lots of parties to attend! This is the time of year that gives you free license to dress up and glamorize, and your hair should reflect the holiday spirit as well. You may be tempted to wrap your head in luscious ringlets for your office gala or Christmas ball, but if the weather outside is frightful or you want to keep hair out of the way, you’ll want to reconsider. Fortunately, updos look fabulous for the holidays and also tend to keep in place well. And updos accentuate features, play up your collar bone and shoulders, and expose your neck, all creating a striking, sexy look.

Sleek and Chic

If you have facial features that you want to highlight, opt for a sleek bun style. Pull hair straight back high on the head and secure with a ponytail band. Wrap the tail around the base and secure the end underneath the bun with hairpins. Spray hairspray on your hand and then run over the hair and back to smooth flyaways and keep the look sleek and chic. This style works best for more formal affairs like fundraising events or important holiday business functions.

Relaxed Pulled Back

If you are heading out to a more a relaxed evening with friends or family, but still want to look pulled together, try an alterative take on the bun above. As you pull your hair back run fingers through it to add texture, then secure loosely at the nape of the neck. Let the shorter pieces near the front fall to softly frame your face. Spilt the ponytail into four pieces and secure haphazardly around the base, letting the ends stick out in areas. This look is sexy yet classy, and also allows your hair to work with whatever the night (or the weather) may have in store for you.

Curl Cues

For a soft, luxurious updo that works well at any party, try cascading curls. If you have curly or wavy hair, just let it air dry without combing. With straight hair, dry thoroughly and then set with a 1” or smaller curling iron and let cool. Pull hair loosely back and secure at the crown or slightly below with a ponytail band. Take individual curls and secure around the crown with hairpins, using the ends of some curls and wrapping them, and on other curls letting the ends stand out. Spray hair lightly to set the curls, and voila! You have a sexy style that will sparkle.

Protect Hair From Summer Heat

2011-04-22T07:58:00.000-07:00

SUMMER-PROOF YOUR HAIR

FROM SUN, SALT AND CHLORINE DAMAGE WITH SUN CARE FOR HAIR

Our hair can be a constant worry; sun, water, heat and the numerous products we use to get just the right style can take a toll on our crowns of glory. But a little extra care can protect your hair from the intense heat and form a barrier from unforgiving UVA and UVB rays.

So what’s the key ingredient for great sun-protected hair? Utilizing natural oils and conditioners will protect your hair from intense heat while providing all day hydration.

Soak up ways to protect and restore hair exposed to sun, salt and chlorine. Did you know: UV rays, chlorinated pool water and sea water can weaken hair’s protein structure, injuring cuticles so strands look dry, dull and discolored.

You don’t have to be a beachgoer to encounter damage: everyday exposure can harm hair.

Aveda looks to nature for rescue. Our 16 Hour UV Defense & Recovery System—infused with botanicals—responds to summer challenges by cleansing, restoring and helping to protect the hair with plant-based formulas.

Intelligent solutions to summer challenges, each with a lightly tropical, 100% certified organic aroma of neroli, cistus and ylang ylang.

All these ingredients add moisture to the hair and provide all day nourishment.

Ingredients to stay away from: products that contain alcohol which will dry out your hair and encourage frizz.

One of the biggest problems you’ll encounter from hair care products are those chemically confused styling ingredients that can help the sun sap your hair of its moisture leaving you with photo damage. Many of the mainstream products we use today are too harsh for our hair and unfortunately strip hair of our natural oils and dries out the scalp. All the time we’re trying to hydrate and protect our strands from the sun; we’re delivering a one-two punch with chemical compounds that counteracts those very steps.

And if your hair is really taking a beating you may need a deep repair, usually designed for seriously damaged and dehydrated hair. You can purchase a pre-made repair mask for your hair.

Providing a little TLC proactively will give you gorgeous hair without any bullying from the sun.

16 Hours of UV Defense & Recovery System

CLEANSE with Sun Care Hair and Body Cleanser

a color-safe formula that gently and effectively removes chlorine, salon and

product build-up, while helping to maintain moisture balance.

• Use daily or whenever hair is exposed to the sun, salt and chlorine.

Follow with an Aveda conditioner or Sun Care After-Sun Hair Masque.

RESTORE with Sun Care After-Sun Hair Masque

an intensive cream masque that restores sun-exposed hair, moisturizes, and helps defend against free radicals.

• Use weekly or whenever hair is exposed to the sun, salt and chlorine.

Apply evenly to damp hair. Leave on 2 to 5 minutes. Rinse.

PROTECT with Sun Care Protective Hair Veil

a lightweight, water-resistant UV defense mist that forms an invisible screen to help protect hair from sun exposure for up to 16 hours, and minimize color fadage, damage and dryness.

• Use daily or as needed whenever hair is exposed to sun

• Spray evenly on dry or damp hair before and during sun exposure.

Reapply after swimming.

Discover Your Color Karma

2011-02-07T01:01:00.000-08:00

In today’s world very few women feel indebted to their hair color. Years ago no one dared speak of it but today its commonplace for a woman to change her look. And when you think about it, does anyone remember their true hair color?

Changing the color of your hair is so quick and simple and technology has enabled products to be much less caustic to the hair than it used to be. Just the right shade can bring out beautiful eye color and make your skin glow. So just how do you choose a color that enhances your overall look and appeal?

First, determine why you want to color your hair; are you looking for a new dramatic look or perhaps you want to cover incoming grays or brighten a mousy look? Whatever the reasons you must consider the various choices like permanents, semi-permanents, or a temporary look.

· Permanent Colors last longer and provide the most dramatic effects because of the amount of color laid on the hair.

· Semi-permanent colors stain the layers of the hair but the color fades with each shampoo.

· Temporary colors are for those who are not ready to make a true commitment to their new look.

Using hair color to change your looks is just like choosing a new makeup color. It can become a dramatic change that makes you look years younger or even take on a whole new persona.

Take into consideration your complexion and the warm or cool tones you have. And keep in mind you want to compliment your skin tone to enhance your features.

Do you have pale skin with blue or pink undertones? You fall into cool tones category; or perhaps you have yellow or golden undertones? Then you would fall into the warm category. This can make a big difference when choosing your hair color. Choose the wrong color and you could end up looking washed out and tired.

Cool complexions should choose golden ash brown and light hair colors while Warm complexions should choose chestnut and warm medium hues that will accentuate the eye and skin color.

With so many colors to choose from it can become difficult to select the “one” that will make your features pop. One trick is to select shirts from your closet that will resemble your hair color and try each one on and see how it looks in the mirror. Which colored shirt helps you really stand out? Which color drains you and makes you look more “blah” than “aha”? This is a great way to set your foundation and if you’re still not completely sure, ask a salon stylist to give you a temporary stain that will wash out. This way you can try a color on and check out the reviews you receive.