Photo: Style.com
Ah, summertime…let the nostalgia kick in: afternoon bike rides, sun-kissed skin, fresh cut watermelon, bonfires on the beach, your favorite jean shorts, white linen, sand in between your toes, freckles, tan lines, romance, sno-cones…we love it all.
Now that our favorite time of year is in full swing, your wardrobe color palette has most likely transitioned to whites, brights and pretty pastels to accompany the cheerful season. Wouldn’t it be nice if your tresses could rock summer colors too? Well, now they can! Thanks to The Beauty Department, we now have a way to get pastel-streaked locks with no regrets – all you have to do is use chalks to create the look temporarily. Just follow The Beauty Department‘s tips below to get the colorful ‘do!
P.S. – Check out our “Pastel Pretties” board on Pinterest for more color inspiration!
- Twist the hair as you chalk. The texture from twisting makes the chalk release more pigment.
- Always brush the excess powder out after chalking each piece.
- If you’re blonde or you have blonde tips, DO NOT wet your hair before chalking. I will stain if you do because adding water to pure pigment creates a real dye. If you’re okay with the staining for several washes then go for it! If you’re looking to do color for the day, do not add water at any time.
- If your hair color is anything darker than blonde and you don’t have blonde tips, you’ll NEED the water. Doubling the pigment is what will help the colors to show up on darker hair. Mist a little water on the strand with a spray bottle, then chalk it up! It won’t stain darker hair the same way it will on lighter hair.
- Red heads– try it without water and if it’s just not showing up, add a little water. It just depends on how light or dark your red is.
- Use only “soft pastels.”
View more hair chalking tips from
The Beauty Department here.
Braids are all the rage this season. Whether girls are rocking a perfectly-messy fishtail or a feminine crown-like style, braids are perfect to control frizz and keep hair out of our faces in a unique and stylish way. In anticipation of today’s extreme NYC heatwave, we’ve decided to keep cool with the easy, chunky headband braid tutorial from Style Noted by the amazing Arrojo Studio stylists.
Directions:
#1: Pulse dry shampoo into dry hair to create volume.
#2: Tilt your head to one side and brush hair back, away from the ear that is pointing to the ceiling.
#3: Using comb, draw a line from the top of this ear, across and over to the top of the other ear. Comb the hair that is forward of this line into your face. Brush hair behind the line into a ponytail. Secure pony with a rubber band.
#4: The hair in the front will become the braid. Tilt head sideways as before, and comb the front from one ear to the other, nice and smooth.
#5: Now separate the front into two 2-3 inch wide sections and braid, ear to ear. If you have enough length the braid can continue behind the ear and into a braided, side-ponytail, as above. Keep the braiding loose, not tight.
#6: Use elastic to tie up the braid. Use pins to make sure braid stays tucked behind ear. Undo the ponytail in the back. You can let this hair hang in its regular style, or pin into the shape.
#7: Arbitrarily pull out a few hair strands from the top and side of the braid. Make it romantic and whimsical.
We have loved all the runway looks and hairstyles from NYFW, but there is something to be said about the classic ponytail. It is a style that is simple yet chic. Thanks to Real Simple, you can learn how to perfect the ponytail whether you have short or long hair – it is a style for all! Recreate our top 3 picks below.
Short Hair:
- Blow-dry hair straight and mist with a setting spray to give the style hold.
- Slide in an elastic and work a dab of gel through the ends of the ponytail for texture.
- For a bit more polish, blow out the loose bits in front and sweep them to the side. Spray in place.
Long Hair:
- Tease the roots at the crown.
- Loosely gather hair in an elastic just below one earlobe, tying it close to the scalp to give volume on top.
- Camouflage the elastic with a strand of hair from the ponytail and secure it with a bobby pin.
Long Hair:
- Part your hair horizontally with a comb from the top of one ear to the other (stick the upper portion in a clip).
- Tie back the bottom half tightly in an elastic just below the crown.
- Unclip the upper section and gather it into another elastic, right above the first one.
- Wrapping a strand of hair from one of the tails around both elastics and securing with a bobby pin.
When we think hair, we think of Blake Lively - our favorite and most stylish Gossip Girl. She truly has one of the best hairstyles in Hollywood. This morning you can steal her style in a few easy steps thanks to BellaSugar.
Step #1: Blow-dry the hair with a wave-enhancing product.
Step #2: Use a one-half-inch curling iron to curl random strands of hair.
Step #3: Pin your hair to the side and fishtail three strands for an effortless effect.
Step #4: To make the style look more carefree, pull a few pieces of face-framing layers out to the sides.
Step #5: Break up the braids with your fingers as needed.
This NYFW we have been inspired by the messy yet editorial-looking updos rocking the runways. We first fell in love with this look on Alexis of The Beauty Bean, who changed up her usual top-knot hairstyle with the casual and loose bun by merely using a crimper. Styles like these are great for bad hair days or when rushing to be ready. Learn how to perfect this messy look in 5 easy steps below or check out Style Noted.
Step #1: Apply volume foam from roots to ends. Blowdry hair with flat paddle brush. Direct the hair towards the top, where the bun will be.
Step #2: Take very small sections –– about a quarter of an inch –– and begin crimping from root to ends. Work from the back to the front of the head.
Step #3: Create a messy top-knot by pulling the crimped hair to the top of your head and twist hair into a bun. Pin with bobby pins.
Step #4: Tailor the look by effortlessly pulling out one or two pieces of hair around the hairline to create laid back disheveled elegance. If needed or desired, do the same with the crimped bun. Aim to be polished but carefree.
Step #5: Finish with dry shampoo to add texture and volume.
