Forget fussing over your hair this holiday season, there is enough to worry about with all the cooking, baking, shopping and party hosting. Whether you want to wear your hair down, half back or all up, we have a few style “How to's" for those of you out there that are ready for something quick, easy and festive during this busy time. From down to up, let’s learn some more about these attractive styles.
Hilary Swank, you may recognize this beautiful brunette from her small part in Buffy the Vampire Sla
yer. Since then, she has brought to us a world of wonderful movies, Freedom Writers and P.S. I Love You to name a few. Here she models for us a simple, accessorized look that can dress up any style for that perfect party.
How can you get it you may ask? Start by deciding on your attire for the event. Find a hairpiece that you already own or pay a visit to your local beauty supply store for a piece that accents your look and enhances your festiveness. Then, follow the steps below.
The down style:
Step 1: Decide whether you want to have your hair straight, wavy, curled, etc. Prepare your hair as necessary. A helpful hint, this holiday season body and movement in the hair is in! Enhance your natural wave or work with an iron to get the movement desired.
Step 2: Pull out that cute little flower accessory, rhinestone clip or decorative headband and voila! In just a few seconds, you have transformed an everyday hairstyle into something with a little more zest. (To create an original holiday piece of your own, purchase a synthetic poinsettia. Cut off one of the smaller flowers, and hot glue it on a bobby pin. Ensure it is dry before using.)
Next, let’s talk about a half back style that you can dress up or down. Miss Dianna
Argon, aka. Quinn Fabray on the television series Glee, displays this look perfectly for us as she pumps up the volume in this sassy style.
Show off your face:
Step 1: Prep the hair with the appropriate iron and technique according to the texture and wave pattern you desire. (Remember, curls are in!) On the top of the head, make sure you direct everything straight back to prevent the hair from splitting after it is placed half up.
Step 2: After the hair is prepped, take a fine tooth comb or a back combing comb/brush, and create a section 1 inch from the front hairline. Over-direct the section forward and back comb the hair. Continue with 1 inch sections, moving backwards towards the crown, until you reach the apex (the highest point of the head, located between the ears). Spray each section after you back comb. (To properly back comb, hold the comb at a 45 degree angle to the hair. Place the teeth in the section, about 2 to 3 inches from the scalp, and GENTLY push the comb down towards the scalp. Remove the comb and repeat this 3 to 4 times within each section. For some of you, you may be thinking back to the 80’s when that myth developed that this technique can ruin your hair. For your peace of mind, back combing does not break or damage your hair if it is done right! As long as you only push the comb down towards the scalp and do not continuously move it in an up and down motion, the cuticle will stay in tact and your locks will stay healthy.)
Step 3: Bring all the sections back towards the back of the head. Use a wide tooth comb to lightly smooth the back combed section, while holding the hair in the place you will be securing it and with the desired height.
Step 4: After the hair is smoothed, use a decorative hair clip or a few bobby pins interlocked to secure the style. (Bobby pins should always be as close to your hair color as possible.) Spray with some hair spray for hold. If some extra shine is desired, choose a product, such as Aveda’s Smoothing Fluid, to emulsify in your hands and run through the hair for shine and definition.
The last style, but certainly not the least, that we will be discussing, is none other than the country star, Miss Taylor Swift’s, low “messy”, yet oh-so-classy, bun.
Once again, it’s all about the body this season - curls means sexy which means fun! Prepare the hair, whether with your natural wave or an iron, as necessary. Keep in mind that when placing the hair up, dirty hair holds better and is easier to manage than clean hair. Therefore, if possible, make sure you are not cleansing the hair the day of attempting to achieve this style.
Step #1: Anywhere that you may want some volume, use the back combing technique from the previous style and create the height where desired. Loosely pull the hair into a low pony tail, allowing the texture to show through the sides and leaving out an inch of hair around the back hairline from ear to ear.
Step #2: Apply the hair tie around the hair to be placed in the pony tail 2 to 3 times. On the wrap around that the band will fit into the hair, allow the hair to only pass through 1/2 to 3/4 of the way, depending on your length and desired effect. The ends should remain in the hair tie as the rest drapes just above the nape. Pull horizontally to tighten the hair in the hair tie while also allowing some curls and shorter layers to fall free.
Step #3: Use bobby pins that are similar to your hair color, take 1 inch sections in the back where the hair was left down the hair at the hairline, and loosely secure them into the ponytail.
Make sure you are dispersing them evenly around the ponytail. (This style can also be modified and put off to the side for something a little dressier.) Use one of these sections to wrap around and secure around the hair tie to hide the elastic band. I would recommend a piece from directly behind one of the ears, or from the center nape.
Step #4: Use a hand mirror to view the back. Adjust any pieces that seem out of place by securing them with a bobby pin. Finish with a hair spray, and you are ready to wow all your friends and family with this 10 minute up-do that looks salon professional.
Whichever style you choose, you are sure to impress!
Happy Holidays to all of you out there from Fashion Chicago Magazine! We look forward to giving you more tips for fashion and hair in the future.
Cheers!
Lindsey Fox
Fashion Chicago Magazine – Hair Director
lindseyfox@fashionchicagomagazine.com
czarspa.com
What do I wear for New Years Eve? That is the question that most women ask every year around this time. It’s is a couple of days after Christmas, I want to really celebrate the New Year with my friends. I have nothing to wear and little money to buy a new outfit.
Christian Louboutin, Yves Saint Laurent, Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik,Giuseppe Zanotti,Gfasre Paciott, and Hunter Boots. Picture to the left is Christian Louboutin Pigalle Bow Black Pumps that are available on the web site. If you need more shoe ideas please read our Shoe therapy article. It is available on our blog. Please click on this link http://fcmstyle.blogspot.com/2010/12/fcm-shoe-therapy.html to read it now.
