HALF-UP FISHTAIL

Anyone else still obsessed with fishtail braids?  Martha Lynn here, and there’s nothing I love more than a style that can accomplish two things at once, and a “half-up” look manages to give you the best of both worlds — the romantic feel of your hair down, partnered with the polished look of an updo. This simple technique takes your average “half-up” style and turns it up a notch by pairing it with a couple of fishtail braids… the end result is gorgeous, whimsical and super versatile.

1. Start with hair in your natural part. Divide hair in front of the ear into two sections as pictured.
2. Start fishtailing the hair. If you still haven’t mastered the fish tail technique check out Claire’s tutorial .
3. Once the first fishtail is complete, secure with clip.
4. Braid second fishtail on other side of part and gather both braids at the ends.
5. Secure with a clear rubber band. Wiggle the rubber band down a tiny bit to loosen the braids.
6. Carefully tug on braids to loosen them up — the more you pull them apart, the larger they will be. Use a comb or fingers to pull hair at crown to add volume.
7. Curl remaining hair at the bottom. When curling, alternate directions so curls stay separated
8. Set with hairspray.

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THE PERFECT SWOOP BANGS

If the new year has you itching to update your look but you’re hesitant to do something drastic, then changing up your part might be just what the doctor ordered! The side “swoop” bang is super low maintenance and can give your look a little update that’s a much lower commitment than chopping true bangs. While it’s easy to do yourself, there are a few tricks you’ll need to master if you want to get that perfectly voluminous swoop that we see in magazines. Here’s how to do it…

1. Part your hair far to the side (past the arch of your brow) so that it will swoop across. Dry all your hair, leaving the bangs for last. Then re-wet the bangs with a little water or spray bottle.
2. With a large round brush placed underneath the bangs, pull hair straight down in front of you and blow dry on top. Don’t worry about pulling bangs to the side yet.
3. Once bangs are mostly dry, place the brush in front of bangs and start rolling it back while pulling in a forward motion, as pictured. Blow dry as you roll.
4. Roll bangs until they’re sitting right at the front hairline. Allow hair to cool by holding brush in place or using a cool blast from the blow dryer — this will set the curl and give the most volume.
5. Once bangs have set, pull the brush up and let bangs fall to the side. The volume and curl you have created should allow the hair to naturally “swoop”.
6. Spray the hair underneath the bangs to help them stay to the side or to fight any tricky cowlicks.

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PUT A BOW ON IT

Start date night off right with a classic look that is the perfect ode to the sweet romance that ensues on Valentine’s Day. Martha Lynn here, and we’ve got you covered for a timeless Valentine’s Day half-up, half-down style. In my opinion, nothing’s more romantic than cascading curls topped off with a pretty bow. The unexpected combination of soft, romantic curls with a grown-up sexy dress will be sure to inspire .
1. Start with some romantic curls throughout the hair to create volume.
2. Tease the crown.
3. Lightly smooth over the top layer of hair being careful not to comb out all of the teasing.
4. Gather a small section of hair in the middle of the head just below the area you teased and secure with bobby pins.  This will be your base for your style.  Note the “bump” alignment should be located in line with chin to ear and back so it looks the most natural.
5. Gather the sections around the face and tie them together with a small rubber band just above where your bobby pins are located.
6. Using the end of a rat tail comb you can lightly loosen the style to create balance and symmetry.
7. Finish with a ribbon or your favorite accessory.
8. Spray all over with hairspray.

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SPRING INTO A BIG CHANGE

I probably have more clients coming in the door wanting to make a big change in the spring than any other time of year. There’s just something about those first weeks of warmer weather that makes us feel ready to embrace change and freshen up our hair and wardrobe. Whether you’re thinking of making a huge change with your hair or just need a subtle update, I’m here to walk you through a few steps to ensure you get exactly what you want at your next appointment. If you’re asking yourself if it’s time for a cut, I recommend combing your hair straight down and holding up a mirror to see the back: most of the time it will start to thin and almost disintegrate at the ends, and that’s what needs to go! Additionally, if you have been getting “just a trim” for more than a year (or more)… it’s time!

A few helpful tips on making a big change:

1. Do your research. If you are thinking about a big change I recommend bringing 3-5 photos in to your hair stylist. More than that gets overwhelming and less than that can be a red flag that you might just love the picture, not the cut. If you’re considering a color change, cover the face with your finger and turn it upside down. That will let you really see the color not just the gorgeous face of the model!
2. Don’t be impulsive! I always ask clients what’s going on if they come in demanding that I “cut it off” (I even wrote an entire blog post just about this). You want to make sure you love your new ‘do for months and that means really thinking about what you want and finding someone who can help you decide what works best on you! The longer I’ve been seeing a client the more lenient I am with this rule. I’ve been doing Sara’s hair for years so I knew she was really ready.
3. Do consider the styling commitment. Be brutally honest with your stylist on what you are willing to do when it comes to styling. If you have curly hair and don’t want to straighten it make sure that is part of the consultation. Additionally, if your hair is stick straight and every picture you look at has beachy waves you may need to book some time to learn how to work a curling iron! I tell my clients that hardly anything is impossible but we do need to be realistic about what it will take to get you there!
4. Do embrace the change! For Sara, we looked at all of her pictures and she was even willing to go as short as a pixie (!!) but we ultimately decided on a long bob. It’s such a versatile cut that will still allow her to style it several ways and get it into a cute ponytail.

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EASY HAIR FLOWER - CHIC STYLE

I think a pretty accessory in your hair can really bring something special to even the most basic style. Martha Lynn here, and this look is no exception: instead of adding an accessory, we created one using her hair! This style is easy to achieve and you don’t have to have hair down to your waist to make it work. You can use my technique to add several “hair flowers” or keep it simple like we did here. Perfect for a summer wedding or brunch with the girls, this look will have people wondering how you did it!

1. We started with Lander’s hair in soft curls but this would work with straight hair or using your natural texture.
2. Gather all of the hair from the ear forward and brush out to smooth the top to prep for your braid.
3. Create a simple three strand braid aiming the hair in a diagonal (this will help with “bumps” when you create the flower). You could also do a fish tail if you want your flower to look more textured.
4. Roll the braid back up on itself in a clockwise direction.
5. Adjust as needed pulling out sections if you need to to make the “petals” show more. Secure with a few bobby pins.
6. We left the tail of the braid out at the bottom to add interest.

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THE FAKE OUT HAIRCUT

Is it just us, or does it seem like everyone is going shorter with their hair right now? From Lauren Conrad to Natalie Portman, we’re seeing the “lob” look fresh and modern on so many different faces. If you’re itching to try out this look yourself but freeze up every time you see a pair of scissors, we’ve got your perfect commitment-phobe solution. We met up with Erica Rae, senior stylist at ROAR Salon, to learn her technique for creating a faux lob. “I’ve tried talking myself into cutting my hair off for years now,” she confesses. “And the thoughts are usually brought on by seeing a celebrity go from long to short.” While some people use extensions to reverse a cut they don’t want to keep, most of us will be living with the decision for a while. Erica developed this technique to allow long-haired clients to try out a shorter look before making the big commitment. Musician Kendall Beard volunteered her long blonde locks to try going short for a day, and she loved the results. “All it takes is a little elbow grease and a little sass. Try it out and see what it’s like to have short hair for a day,” Erica says. No scissors required.

1. Start by prepping your hair with a texturizing product. Spray a Porter by Kerastase is one of my favorites. It’s light weight and works for all hair types.
2. Quickly dry your hair with a blow dryer until your hair is completely dry.
3. Section hair into two sections, top and bottom. To do this you’ll create a “horizontal” part from the top of one ear to the other.
4. Secure the top section with a hair clip and start with the bottom section.
5. Take the bottom section and braid the hair in a regular three strand braid. Secure the braid with a small elastic rubber band.
6. Wrap the braid and create a bun just above the nape of the neck. Pin the bun using bobby pins to create a “pin-cushion.”
7. Curl your the remaining top section of hair using a 1” curling iron. Create barrel curls with your fingers and temporarily pin the curls in place with pin curl pins. Allow the curls to cool down and set.
8. Release the curls and tease each section at the base of the curl to create more volume and fullness.
9. Grab the entire back section by the ends. Roll the section under and up towards the “pin-cushion.” Grab two large bobby pins and secure the section by pinning each side into the braided “pin-cushion.”
10. Do the same for each side. Grab. Roll. Pin. Once you have the hair pinned at the desired length, pull and/or tuck the hair.  You may have to use some additional bobby pins, especially if you have layers.  This look doesn’t have to be perfect.  The messier the better!  Once you’ve made your final touches you can then follow up with a medium to strong finishing spray. I love Laque Dentelle by Kerastase.

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THE LONG BOB

It almost always happens the same way: I’m growing out my hair, loving life with my long locks, when BAM! I’m suddenly hit by the irresistible urge to make a change. Maybe it’s the turning of the seasons (or the fact that it was suddenly taking me twice as long to blow my hair dry), but a couple of weeks ago, I suddenly could. not. stand. it. anymore, and just had to get my hair chopped immediately. Luckily, we had our next Beauty Tutorial shoot set to happen at Roar Salon just a few days later, and talented stylist Erica Rae was more than up to the challenge of transforming my long stressed-out tresses into a fun and stylish long bob. (Or “lob,” for those of you who insist.) Keep reading to see the result, and get Erica’s tips on talking to your stylist about making a similar change that’s perfect for your hair.

“The importance of having a consultation with your stylist before cutting is crucial,” says Erica, who has 15 years of salon experience. “I probably wouldn’t give this cut to someone who has ‘high maintenance’ hair and likes a low maintenance routine. Camille’s hair is pretty fine but she does have a lot of it. The look I was going for did have a textured look to it but I didn’t have to do much texturizing. I was able to achieve the look I was going for by adding textured curls  with a flat iron and adding different products to give her fine hair more grit and volume.”

Erica specializes in cutting and styling, and always considers a client’s hair type before pulling out the shears. “For this cut, if a client had a coarser/thicker texture, I would recommend having the cut tailored and texturized with just the right amount of weight taken out. There is a such thing as over texturizing. You don’t want to lose the shape entirely, you just want to take out some of the bulk. I would then recommend different smoothing products to help fight frizz and add shine. This cut can actually be great for someone with a lot of hair because of the actual length. With thicker/coarser hair, you don’t want to go too short. It’s not realistic to expect a client to want to fix their hair every day, especially when it requires a little more work. It’s nice to have the option to do other things like braiding the hair or pulling it back into a slick pony tail.

“If someone was wanting to achieve a similar look, I would advise them to ask their stylist for a consultation to determine if this cut suits their style and lifestyle,” says Erica. “Once the decision is made their stylist can then determine the length. I decided to cut Camille’s  hair just past her shoulders with long layers to add movement. I used her collar bone as my guide for the perimeter, this length is a flattering length on just about anyone.  For her layers, I kept them past her chin. This way she could still pull her hair back and up when needed. The typical bob can be a bit high maintenance because of how often it needs to be cut. Choosing to keep her length a little longer makes the grow out phase much easier to maintain. She can also still pin her hair up and wear her hair in different styles. A messy “top knot” with a bit of dry shampoo can look great and is perfect for her lifestyle and for anyone who has as busy of a schedule, whether it’s keeping busy in the corporate world, chasing toddlers around or BOTH!”

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DIY BLOWOUT

1. Can we all agree that one of the hardest parts of being a modern woman (that guys just don’t appreciate at all) is how much hidden time and effort goes in to maintaining long hair? We need our blowouts to last — atleast for a couple of days. And while we love a good professional appointment as much as the next gal, sometimes we just don’t have the time or budget to allow it. So we’ve teamed up with stylist Lauren Phillipsof Sabia Salon in Austin to teach us how to blow like the pros. Her secret? Divide and conquer. “This is a great way to tackle your hair styling conundrum at the beginning of the week because it will last you a few days and you can skip the blow dry bar appointment! It’s all about using the right product and the divide-and-conquer method takes the difficulty out of this DIY blowout.” Model Ane Urquiola Alberu was kind enough to lend us her long locks to demonstrate the method. Read below to discover Lauren’s amazing technique for an at-home blow out that will start your week off smooth:
2. Start with freshly washed and lightly conditioned damp hair. Comb out tangles and squeeze excess water out by twisting hair and ringing water out from the top to bottom with your hands. (This saves time!)
3. Apply Kevin Murphy Body Builder evenly throughout hair. This step is important because it gives your hair soft pillowy volume and heat protection since you will be using high heat and need the hold. Make sure you use enough so that your hair has product from root to tip.
4. Use a wide tooth comb to lift out a “u” section on the top of your head and blow dry at the roots using tension. Blow dry while pulling up on the hair so that you start building volume at the roots right away. This will ensure long lasting volume and less work with the brush later.
5. Repeat this pre drying of the roots on the remainder of the hair using your hands to create tension and direction at the root.
6. Once the hair is 80% dry, divide the hair with your comb into 6 neat sections.
7. Create an ear to ear parting and then subdivide the front and back sections and secure with clips. I like the twist the hair into a coil to keep it tidy.
8. Now starting in the back (hardest to reach first!)  blow dry using a quality round brush made for your hair type that has boar bristle. (this is important because the metal bristles will cause breakage) I like Ibiza – they have comfortable cork handles and come in a variety of boar bristles for different hair types. This type of brush will smooth and give volume without tearing your hair.
9. Use high heat and aim the blow dryer nozzle straight down for ultimate glossiness. This ensures that the cuticle lays flat, therefore making it less susceptible to frizz and dullness.
10. After each section is completely dry with the round brush, use pin curl clips to set the hair. Simply coil the hair and clip right on the base of the coil for the most volume. This last step is crucial for the blow dry to be long lasting- the hair sets in the coils, cooling off completely before you take them out-the longer they set the better!
11. Once the hair has totally cooled, take out the clips and shake it out. Finish with Kevin Murphy Session Spray for more hold or a shine serum such as Balmain Argan oil serum for dryer or coarser hair.

Lauren’s Pro Tip: “To make your blowout last longer, use dry shampoo on the roots before a workout and sleep with hair in a softly coiled top knot to keep the volume and bend and reduce bed head,” she says. “Lastly , deep condition once a week and give your hair a few days off by using the DIY blowout technique!”

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8 Tips for keeping your Hair Healthy

Go longer between washes

Believe it or not – keeping your hair healthy does not involve washing it everyday! I don’t know where people got this idea in their heads, but it’s just not true. In fact, I didn’t even know there were people that washed their hair every day!! Ain’t nobody got time fo dat! Try washing 2 or 3 times a week. It may seem like your hair will just grease up immediately, but give it time. When you wash your hair, you’re generally stripping all the natural oils out of your hair as well and therefore your body thinks it needs to produce more and thus oily hair. It will take time to regulate but you will see that you can go longer in between washes.

Find the right products

This is super important! Everyone has different types of hair! So what worked for Sally or Lisa might not work for you. You can try products based on suggestions of people that may have similar hair to yours, but make sure you look into discovering products that work for you. Example – my mom has thinner, finer hair. One time I tried to use my Orofluido oil that I love in her hair before blow drying it and it was limp after the first day. She needs products to add volume not shine.

I really love Madison Reed shampoo and conditioner. They have some that comes with the hair color that I usually use, but I just ordered my first shampoo/conditioner set from them today. It’s sulfate free, which is something to look for in a shampoo. It has worked great with my hair and I’m happy to get back to it! Oh and you can use the code REFRESH to get 20% off any Madison Reed purchase through the end of January!

Deep condition

Try to work into your schedule, maybe once a week or once every two weeks, a time to deep condition your hair. Your hair will thank you for it. You don’t have to buy those expensive treatments either, there are plenty of ways to make your own! I’m working on some recipes for the blog that will be coming soon! Another easy way to make sure you deep condition regularly is to have the deep conditioner already in your shower and just switch it out for your regular one once a week. Leave it on while you shave your legs or wash and then rinse. No extra time needed!

Dry brush before the shower

Your hair is weakest when wet and we should avoid brushing through it right after the shower if possible. Solution? Brush your hair before you get in! This breaks up the oils and distributes them through the hair and makes them easier to wash out completely. If you still need a little help getting your hair combed through or you have curly hair, you can always comb through it with your fingers or with a wide tooth comb while you still have the conditioner in your hair in the shower. Then you shouldn’t have to brush it after you’re out of the shower!

Regular trims

This one I am absolutely horrible at. I mean, it shouldn’t be hard, right? Just make an appointment every 6 weeks or so! It’s important to keep your hair looking and feeling healthy to just snip off those dead ends! You will definitely notice the difference once you start doing it consistently! *Note to self… I need to make a hair appt!*

Be easy on the color

Products that you can buy at your local drug store or even the ones that are used in salons aren’t always the healthiest for your hair. Trust me, I used to use them! They usually include ammonia, resorcinol, and PPD, with parabens added. I have recently (since the summer) been using Madison Reed which has none of those things just mentioned. Not only does it not have those negative ingredients, it includes keratin (to help repair damaged cuticle layers), ginseng root (to improve strand strength) and argan oil (to restore shine). I’m still coloring my hair and getting 100% coverage but it’s not as harsh and therefore not doing as much damage on my hair. They also have a touch up kit & revive gloss to help you go longer in between hair color treatments! (Don’t forget the code REFRESH for 20% off!)

Sleep well

Believe it or not, your pillow case can make a difference! Sleeping on a satin pillow case can reduce hair breakage and you will wake up with softer, less frizzy hair! I have a satin pillow case from Savvy Sleepers and I love it. I mean, love it like I hate sleeping with out it! My husband, who makes fun of some of my silly attempts at beauty, tries to steal my Savvy Sleeper case almost every night. I should just get him one! *Bonus – sleeping on satin also helps prevent wrinkles!*

Try supplements

I have heard amazing things about Hairfinity. I haven’t personally tried them because the bottles I got from BlogHer this past year my husband promptly grabbed when I got home. And for him, they were working! So much so that he is dying for me to grab another bottle. Even though I have thick hair that grows relatively quickly, it’s made me want to try them as well!

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How To : Messy Fishtail Braid Bun

1. Wash your hair and apply a heat protectant spray from root to tip before blow-drying. Once your hair is dry, use a 1 1/2 inch curling iron to curl your hair. This’ll create waves and texture that will make the updo look more voluminous! After curling your hair, run your fingers through your waves to break them up.

2. To start a fishtail braid, first separate your hair into two equal sections, then divide both sections in half. Next, use your index fingers to grab the small section that’s all the way on the right side, and cross it over to join it with the left section.

With a fishtail braid, it’s important to always grab the section that’s on the farthest side, and pull that section all the way over to get the scaly look. Then, grab the farthest left chunk of hair and pull it all the way over to the right. Go back to the right side and pull the farthest section over to the left and continue alternating left and right sections until you reach the end of your hair.

3. Gather the braid to one side of your head, and secure it with a rubber band.

4. Next, gently spread the braid apart to make it wider. Pull both sides of the braid out on both sides.

5. Finally, roll the braid onto itself and pin it at its base to create a chignon. Secure the roll with extra pins, and finish by spraying with BlowPro Blow Out Spray for texture and strong hold.

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