My LOB (Long Bob) Haircut

Sometime when it snows (or ices!) every other day, mercury always seems to be in retrograde & everything you ‘plan’ seems to take on a different path you have to take control & get your hair cut or at least that’s what I do. Here’s my latest chop thanks to John Shannon at Arrojo. (Which I've pretty much had versions of here & here.)

What do you think?

Summer Hair Product Picks

I’m a bit of a beauty product junkie, an occupational hazard. I’m constantly testing out the next best thing for work (& pleasure). Every summer I hunt for the perfect product to achieve beachy hair even if I’m not at the beach. My usual obstacle is most “beachy” hair products dry my hair out, but there is hope & I've found it in three products!

These three game changers, plus a cute hair scarf have become staples in my daily hair routine. None of them weigh my hair down so I can use them by themselves or layer them together. What’s even better is that they are all double duty products & really deliver.

Here are the reasons I’m loving these summer hair products:

Olivine’s Love + Salt Beach Hair & Body Mist

• is scented like nostalgic days at the beach.
• adds beachy tousled texture without over drying hair. can be used as a body mist too!
• texturizes without drying thanks to the coconut oil in it (You know how much I love coconut oil.)
• made with ingredients I can pronounce & eat (like Himalayan Salt!!)
• 5% of each sale goes to Every Mother Counts

Acure Leave-In Conditioner Argan Oil + Argan Stem Cell

• ultra-hydrating leave-in conditioner providing weightless body & shine.
• protects hair at the cellular level & helps to strengthen it at the root. 
• a few spritzes helps to revitalize waves at the end of the day.
• it can also double as a facial mist!

The lovely ladies at Lauren + Vanessa introduced me to Alterna Haircare Caviar CC Cream 10-in-1 Complete Correction

• use it alone or layer with other products.
• 10 benefits in 1 easy step for perfectly polished hair.
• worked through damp hair helps moisturize, smooth, shine, soften hair.
• I apply this & then let my hair air dry without any worry of frizz.
• it even provides UV protection for when you’re getting beachy waves naturally!

What are your go-to products this summer?

New Spring 'Do

Spring started last week (you wouldn’t know it by the weather today & the weather predicted for tomorrow in the North East) so I celebrated with a new ‘do. My sister & I went to Arrojo NYC for their 2-for-1 haircut deal (call for details: 212.242.7786) yesterday. I love my new ‘do a la John Shannon (go to him - he’s awesome!). Most obvious, I got bangs (yes - they’re back) & chopped a few inches. Here’s how it looks styled two ways - (left) straight & neat & (right) wavy & messy. Which do you like best, comment below!

How are you celebrating spring?

Bigger Hair Comb

My hair is pretty fine so I love whenever I can add volume (or even extra hair) to it.  This little comb is readily available at your local CVS for under 3 bucks & it will give you the lift & volume you need in just a matter of minutes. It's pretty traditinal to back comb or tease your hair for volume, but it works & it lasts. I know this sounds like yesterdays news or even decades old but this little tool is new to my routine & I'm a super fan of the extra teeth on it that do just the trick in bringing me closer to bigger hair (& god).


If you too are in the fine hair club what do you do to add volume?

Get a Naturally Longer & Thicker Ponytail in Just 2 Minutes

It's back-to-school time & I'm torn with the idea of getting my hair cut or letting it grow. You know as soon as you cut it you want it long (& vice versa).  I was perusing my favorite hair tutorial channel on youtube, Luxy Hair, when I came across this genius tutorial.  The Luxy Hair gal shows you how to make your ponytail longer & thicker in just 2 minutes with your own hair, no extensions needed.  So I tried it & it worked & had my sister fooled.  This is the conversation* that we had:

sister: Are you wearing your fake hair**?
me: Nope
sister: I mean are you wearing your real fake hair?
me: Nope
sister: HUH? Why is your hair so long?
me: It's this trick I learned (flips her hair up to expose the secret second ponytail)

Yep all you need to make your ponytail look longer is 2 minutes, 2 hair ties & 2 bobby pins. This trick works for gals with fine (or 'small hair' as my sister & I like to refer to our hair) or thick hair - I think it would actually hold the hair of thick haired girls better than just one single rubber band.  Try it & see if you can trick your family!

*I can't remember the conversation verbatim but it was something like that above.
**I did recently purchased some gorgeous hair extensions from Luxy Hair that I wore to my cousin's wedding to bulk up my fishtail braid (but I promise this is all my own hair). 

Hair Inspiration: Waves

photos credits clockwise from top left: soft & shiney waves; beachy waves; layered waves; retro waves.

Something about the onset of spring makes me want to pay more attention to my hair.  I was perusing Pinterest & these were some of my faves that I found. Check out my terrific tresses board if you like more styles like these. 

How are you wearing your hair these days? Any tips & tricks I need to know?

Pink Valentines: Baby Head Bands & Big Girl Hair Clips

If you have little girls in your life that like princesses & anything pink or if you're just hoping she does, these valentines are for that little angel.   There's a lot of little ladies in my life some who run circles around me & some who aren't even crawling yet, but accessories are fun for every age.

Read on for more photos on how to whip these up for your little ladies.

PS: Happy Valentine's Day! 

PPS: check out some photos of my little models here & here.

Fall 2012 Hair Change: Shorter & Choppier

The seasons seemed to have changed over night.  Friday was summer & Sunday was full-fledged fall.  Things in life constantly change, most without any control.  Between life & the seasons changing I felt the need for a change that I could control - my hair! (If you follow me on instagram or twitter you already knew that.)  I was ready for something new, so I went to my faithful hair whisperer, Heather Olexa, at Alibi 25.  I can always trust Heather for the hair makeover I need.  Her resume has graced the pages of glossy magazines to the runways of NYC & Milan.  I'm always in good hands with this spicy little stylist.

A little over an hour with Heather & I felt like a new person.  I left the salon feeling a little lighter (about 6 inches of hair lighter) with a bit more bounce in my step.

Thanks Heather!!!

Do you change your hair with each season? If so, what style are you sporting this fall?

Three Braided Buns

If you can make a basic braid & know how to coil your hair into a bun this chic little up-do from yesterday's post is for you.  I've seen it all over Pinterest & just had to try it myself.  Click through for the four easy steps how to create this look yourself.

Figure 8 Braid Bun

When it's hot, the last thing I'm going to do is blow dry my hair, so I braid it instead.  All you need for this messy braided nest is a comb, some clear rubber bands, bobby pins, some hairspray & patience!

Read on to learn the simple steps to this braided updo for hot days or any days.

A Messy Side Braid

 

I love a side braid, mainly b/c the hair on the left side of my head is thicker than the hair on the right side (over share?). In any event, it is what it is.  I don't have particularly thick hair so I have to fake it with layers.  With these layers comes stray strands that fall out that eventually became the right side of my hair hanging down when I attempt to put my hair in a side fishtail braid.  I've finally solved the mystery & will no longer have strays hanging out any longer.  

Click through to see my solution!

An Asymmetrical Reverse Braid Bun

Remember this braid? Well I took it to another level I finished it up with wrapping the end into a bun and secured it with some bobby pins. It was super easy and ended up looking pretty cute.

What do you think?

Check out the bigger picture after the jump!

Fast Waves

get fast waves with these 3 products: 1. cortex curling iron, 2. nym beach babe texturizing sea salt spray, 3. nym she's a tease volumizing hairspray

I love hair products, tools, clips, you name it - love it all. I actually enjoy doing my hair - some days - those are the good hair days (obvi).  Lately, I've been donning loose waves.  I actually can get them done in a matter of minutes now, all thanks to one of the best christmas gifts ever - my clipless curling iron.  I was luckily gifted one with four different sized barrel attachments (from my awesome mother-in-law, thanks Mary!) and I use it close to every day.  The clipless-ness of it actually makes all the difference in the world.  It leaves your hair with perfect waves and no weird spazy-kinky end pieces that traditional clamp curling irons leave behind.  I now understand what my sister has been talking about (she got her's almost two years ago) and why celebrities always have those great waves.

Get this look in a handful of steps after the jump!

A Dirty Twisted Secret

Sometimes I just don't feel like washing my hair. Ok most of the time I just don't feel like washing my hair. Plus, back in the day washing your hair ever few weeks was considered "often." So I'm ok with washing my hair every so often ;)

In any event, if you're anything like me you're bored with the look of your hair and want to make it look polished like you cared but only take about five minutes to do it.  So the secret is: the dirtier the better.  Twists stay twisted and buns stay wrapped when they've got more (dirt) to hang on to. But you already knew that.

I did this little updo in a few simple steps.