Fashion and Hair Style Category

For a gradual change in hair color, hair lighteners work excellent and are easy to use. Lighteners are the most natural way to add dimension to your hair color, without putting in an extreme amount of effort. In addition to this, lighteners are ideal for someone with dirty blonde-to-light brown hair; plus people with darker hair can benefit from hair lighteners too.

Now some might say that people can just visit a salon or buy a cheap hair dye kit. However, salon visits are expensive, and the chemicals in cheap at-home dye is extremely harsh on your hair. So if at-home dye kits and salon visits don’t appeal to you, perhaps some store-bought or do-it yourself hair lighteners will do the trick! That being said, here are some of the most common hair lighteners.

Hair Lightening Methods

Sun

The most basic, natural hair lightener is the sun. You have probably noticed how your hair is lighter during the summer months after being outside, sun bathing and/or swimming. This is because it’s the opposite of your skin since your hair gets lighter instead of getting darker.

All you need to do is lay out in the sun with your hair fanned-out above your head to soak up the rays. Don’t forget to wear sunblock on your skin, and if you have ever experienced sunburn on the scalp, try investing in an oil-free sunblock to apply to your scalp. Assuming you’re planning on swimming or exercising, reapply the sun block frequently throughout the day.

If your hair is dark, try swimming in a pool treated with chlorine before sunbathing to speed up the natural lightening process. You can also try swimming in an ocean, lake, pond, or any other body of water to have the same effect over a slightly longer amount of time.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a bleaching agent, as well as a hair lightener, and has been used for many years. It’s not the chosen method for everyone, but it isn’t as harsh as a do-it-yourself box of hair dye, or costly like a visit to the salon (Salon vs. At-Home Hair Color). If you’re inexperienced in bleaching hair with hydrogen peroxide, there are peroxide-based bleaching kits at local beauty stores that include directions for you to follow.

Before spraying a bottle of peroxide onto your hair, do a strand test on a small section of hair located on the back of your head. It’s important to perform a strand test 24 hours before bleaching the rest of your hair to avoid allergic reactions, and to also know how long to let the peroxide process on your hair. Always use hydrogen peroxide in well-ventilated rooms, and the same goes for every other hair coloring treatment. Also, never use any kind of home cleaning bleach product on your hair because it could severely damage your skin and hair.

Tea

The women of the world have been working hard on unique ways to change their hair color and enhance their natural beauty. A product of this effort includes tea, which is amazing because it can be used to lighten dark hair, as well as darken blonde hair. To use it, all you need is the average, run-of-the-mill tea that you drink. Steep your hot tea and allow it to cool; then apply it to your hair with a sprits bottle, and allow your hair to dry under natural sunlight. Be sure that your hair has been shampooed and conditioned prior to using the tea.

Lemon

Using lemon is the most common way to lighten hair naturally at home. Lemon juice needs to be diluted with water before it is applied to hair because it’s very acidic, which causes hair to become dry and brittle. Also, it has been known to cause some women’s hair to appear gray when not diluted enough. For a safe way to achieve a naturally lightened hair color, add one tablespoon of lemon juice to one gallon of water. You can either use this solution as a standard rinse, or combine with other ingredients for more effective results.

If you choose to use the diluted lemon juice solution alone to lighten your hair, rinse your hair with the solution once a day; you will gradually see a change in your hair’s color. Once you’ve noticed your hair becoming lighter, reduce the amount of lemon juice in the water.

Lemon Juice Concentrated

For a more abrasive approach to lightening hair, use concentrated lemon juice contained in a spray bottle. Whenever you go swimming outdoors, make sure to have your spray bottle full of concentrated lemon juice handy, and spray your hair every time you step out of the water, then let your hair dry. Once your hair is dry, get back in the water and repeat the process as many times as you want. Just remember that lemon juice is acidic, and can cause hair to become dry and brittle.

Lemon Juice and Olive Oil

You can throw in some nutrients while lightening your hair when you add some olive oil to lemon juice. This way, you will be fighting off damage at the same time you are lightening your hair.

Chamomile Tea and Lemon

Use Lemon juice in combination with chamomile tea for a bleaching effect. Use the two ingredients together as a rinse for best results.

Lemon Juice and Conditioner

If you have 20-30 minutes to spare, use hair conditioner to dilute lemon juice, and apply the solution to your hair using a comb or brush. Let it process on your hair for 20 or so minutes, and then shampoo as normal. Do this a few times to get natural-looking, lighter hair.

Rhubarb

Rhubarb isn’t just for pie anymore! Use it to lighten your hair by taking a 0.5 cup of freshly chopped rhubarb, and mix it with 2 cups of boiling hot water. Let the mixture cool and strain it into a container; then use this as a rinse on your hair.

Once you’ve lightened your hair, it’s important to use color-treated-specific products to maintain the health of your hair.

Going short is becoming popular these days, but once you’ve chopped all of your hair off, what do you do with it? If you have the basic hair tools like a straightener, a curling iron, a blow-dryer, mousse, hairspray and anti-frizz serum, you’re off to a good start already. But even with the right tools, it can be challenging to pull off a short hair style no matter how easy the women on TV make it look. Since you don’t have a team of stylists following you around, you need to take matters into your own hands. This being said, here are some hair styling tips use can use when styling your short hair.

6 Tips for Styling Short Hair

Choose the Right Shape

The first thing to think about when getting a short hair style is the shape you want to have. There are a variety of short hair styles to choose from, and you should talk to a stylist about what would look good on you before taking the scissors to your strands. Take into consideration your face shape, face size, and hair type to avoid getting a hair style that is totally wrong for you.

For example:
You shouldn’t get a pixie cut if you have a long face because you’ll look too much like a boy! And remember: unlike a new blow-dryer, you can’t return the haircut you’ve purchased.

Body and Lift

The blow-dryer is one of the most versatile tools for adding body and lift to short hair, but not everyone knows how to use it. Just by using a round brush in combination with a blow-dryer, you are able to achieve more body and lift. A round thermal brush will give you the same look, but is sometimes troublesome if you get it stuck in your hair.

Use products designed to give more body, in combination with your blow-dryer and fingers to create a messy, but classy just-woke-up look.

Volume and Texture

For more volume and texture, dry your hair; when it is about half-dry, apply a dime-sized amount of styling gel, balm, or mousse to your hair. Work the product through starting underneath the hair, and begin blow drying using your fingers to tousle, lift, and tease your hair (or use a finger diffuser attachment on your dryer).

To get more fullness, section off small parts of your hair and blow dry your hair working from the tips up to the roots. To make the style more put-together, try using a curling iron to touch up the tips, and then add styling paste to add texture.

Smooth and Shiny

To get a smooth and shiny short-haired look, begin by using a towel to dry your hair as much as possible. The closer your hair gets to being dry, the closer it gets to its natural form. Plus, you will avoid stressing and damaging your hair by removing the bulk of the moisture, and you’ll save time by drying it too.

Once you’ve taken the extra moisture off, apply a styling product evenly throughout the hair, and begin sectioning your hair off with clips.

Clip the top layers so that you can start blow drying the under layers. Aim the dryer downward starting from the roots, and moving toward the tips using a bristle paddle brush; this will give you the smooth finish you want. Be sure that your hair is fully dry before starting on another layer of hair because if the hair isn’t dry, it will go back to its natural form.

Complete the style with a shine spray to take care of any frizz, and avoid brushing your hair once you’ve finished styling.

Hot Rollers and Curls

Dry hair thoroughly before using heated rollers; along with this, most stylists will suggest using hot rollers when hair hasn’t been washed recently. Cover your hair in hairspray before dividing it into even sections using a fine-toothed comb.

Start at the crown of your head, then work your way down the back, and finally to the sides. Comb the first section of your hair; then spray again before rolling it onto a roller.

You will get the best results by using sections that are smaller than the roller being used. Using a section of hair that is too big will lessen the tension, and make the curl less likely to hold. To help the hair stay in place, put a piece of paper between your hair and the roller, then roll your hair around the roller, and pull the ends until you don’t see the ends; this eliminates those annoying fish hooks.

Try twisting your hair before putting it on the rollers because this gives you more of a spiral curl than a bouncy curl.

Coloring Your Short Hair

Coloring your short hair is another big decision, and there are several things to take into account here like the color of your skin. When using skin tone to measure hair color, people divide skin tones into two sections: warm and cool.

Warm skin tones are olive, brown, or gold in color. Someone with a warm skin tone should avoid using cooler hair colors like black or dark brown because the contrast can sometimes be too harsh. People with cooler skin tones include those with blue-white, rose, or pale skin. Cool skin tones who use warm hair colors like red or light brown will also have harsh contrast.

If you decide to dye your hair or get highlights, it looks best when you go a shade or two darker (or lighter) than your natural hair color, so that you don’t have unattractive contrast.

In any case, short hair can be just as versatile and sexy as long hair, so don’t be afraid to change your hair length, color, and shape. You can play-up your new look by changing makeup and accessories to draw more attention to your face.

The best part of having short hair is being able to show off your neck, shoulders, and ears. So put some body shimmer lotion on your shoulders to highlight them, wear some big earrings, and wear a shirt that will show off your neck.

2011 hair trends are mostly about versatile and feminine hairstyles. These hairstyles can give different looks with little changes. A single hairstyle can be used more than once to impress friends and others at a party with a little re-styling.

No matter what short of hairstyles you currently fancy for yourself, read on to find detailed information on extra short, medium or long hairstyles trends popular in 2011.

Double Hair Knot Hairstyle

Double hair knot shall be a popular hairstyle in the year 2011. It is suitable for women with long hairs. In last few years, many hair trends were focused especially on long hair. Hair stylists understand that long hairs are effortlessly appealing to everyone and double knot hairstyle can just use this appealing factor in a good way. You can go for double hair knot hairstyle during winters as well as summers.

In the year 2011, quality will be an important criterion for the adoption of various hair trends. Embellishment will certainly affect fashion trends but not on big scales like previous years. Do not expect many women to focus on hair trends that are centered on accessories and other adornments.

Hair trends with natural appeal will be more popular in the year 2011 and double hair knot hairstyle can do just that. Double hair knot is basically an amplification of braided and plaited hairstyles that have been very popular in last two years. The hairstyle usually sits on an area close to the nape of your neck. You can even go for a single knot hairstyle. However, double knots appear more interesting. Also, double knots are tighter and they keep your hairs in place.

Braided Topknot Hairstyle

Popular hair trends in the year 2011 are more likely to be dominated by hair styles and not specific haircuts. In last few years, women as well men have shifted their focus towards hair styles from haircuts. The reason behind this shift is quite obvious. A hair style allows you tremendous freedom to re-style quickly and frequently. Who wouldn’t you want to try new hair trends on a regular basis?

Braided topknot will continue to be a popular hair trend in the year 2011. However, many hairstylists have begun to renovate this hairstyle a bit. In coming months, you may find some interesting fusions of braided topknot and other hair trends. This hairstyle was particularly inspired by catwalks.

Braided topknot has been in a very high demand in the year 2010. It is due to this high demand that hairstylists have been trying hard to make some variations. Thematic variations in braided topknot hairstyle were explained in many fashion magazines in last few months. Braided hair based styles have been a popular choice and it is safe to assume that braided topknot hairstyle will be loved and adopted by many others in the year 2011. Braided topknot has many sleek and high versions. You can even go for some messier braided topknots if that suits you well. A single braid with a top knot is not very difficult to achieve. Top knot with double braids can be challenging for anyone. Check out some how-to guides on this style or visit a good hair stylist in your area.

Bird’s Nest Bun Hairstyle

Bird’s nest burn hairstyle has already been picked up by a large number of women. You might have seen stunning beauties with bird’s nest bun hairstyle in many catwalks. It was in Spring 2010 when this hairstyle first got popular.

In the year 2011, this hairstyle has successfully moved from catwalks to the prestigious red carpet. It is a hairstyle that women choose for some very special events in their life.

One of the most popular hair trends in the year 2011, bird’s nest bun hairstyle first made news during Lanvin spring runway 2010. This year, bird’s nest bun hairstyle is likely to get more evolved. This hairstyle may come out victoriously at the end of 2011 because it is elegant in its own right. Bird’s nest bun is not going to give you a messy or wispy appearance. However, it will make you look elegant.

A runway hair trend, bird’s nest bun has successfully got itself on the red carpet as well. With some fantastic headbands, bird’s nest bun hairstyle looks even better. It is just one of a few potential hairstyles in the year 2011 that make use of any kind of embellishments. This hair trend was termed as powderpuff by Caterina DiBiase. In the year, women are likely to use headbands more beautifully with this hairstyle. Also, leaving a few lose pieces of hair to achieve an appealing wispy look is becoming a trend.

Waved Bob Hairstyle

Waved bob is back in the year 2011. Women who already have a waved bob hairstyle can try out a few more interesting variations. In the year 2011, waved bob hairstyle will have a longer “bob” and some additional thematic variations. Many women are concerned whether waved bob hairstyle will be interesting or appealing with a long bob. Creating a great appeal with a shoulder length bob is not going to be easy. Many hair stylists recommend variations like glam blow wave in seventies.

The waved bob hairstyle has mostly emerged because women have a stronger affinity for shoulder cuts. This hair cut allows for sufficient variations for a long period of time. In the year 2011, the bob is going to be a little larger and softer than previous years. Even if you have waist length hair, you can manage to have waved bob hairstyle. Young as well as mature women can make use of waved bob hairstyle in the year 2011.

Women, who have had short haircuts in the past and like to have longer hairs in near future, should go for waved bob. This hairstyle is just perfect for such women. You can get waved bob hairstyle even without the assistance of a professional hair stylist. However, a professional will always deliver better results.

No woman’s wardrobe is complete without a little black dress. There is a black dress style that fits all body types and ages and is wearable for most occasions. The little black dress is so enduring because of its ability to look great on everyone at a variety of social functions. The little black dress is a symbol of chic and sophisticated simplicity. It is the perfect background for many different accessories such as white or pink pearls, diamond earrings, a long tear drop necklace or a beautiful Hermes scarf tied around the wearer’s neck. The little black dress has been a classic for many years and comes designed in a multitude of styles and fabrics. Depending on whether silk, merino wool, cotton, linen or what fabric is used, the black dress will have a totally different feel and style.  A little black dress also travels well and is a must to pack for any vacation.  It is a perfect garment for those occasions when a woman thinks she has nothing to wear in her closet.  It is a comfortable and stylish look. The little black dress comes in many price ranges from various designers to fit all budgets. The style is so practical that many women have more than one little black dress hanging in their closets.

Prior to the 1920′s, women would only be seen in public wearing a black dress if they were attending a funeral or were in a state of mourning. A black dress was mainly associated with mourning. It was considered indecent if a woman wore a black dress outside of these social circumstances. A widow during the Victorian ages was expected to wear various black clothing at different stages of the mourning period. Fashion during this time was symbolic of the sophistication and status a woman held in society.  Due to World War I occurring, it was increasingly more common to see women wearing black in the public because of the high war casualties. This set the stage for the introduction of a fashion revolution by one of the most famous fashion designers in recent history, Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel.

In 1926, Coco Chanel published in American Vogue a picture of a short simple black dress that was calf-length. It was short and simply designed with diagonal lines.  Her simple sleeveless sheath was simple and sexy. The style had its initial critics who declared it was sophistication for the poor, but the little black dress quickly caught on with both wealthy and moderate income women. The 1920’s was the era of the Flapper, when women took off their long to the floor gowns, cut their hair short and enjoyed the life of going too fast paced parties and society events.  Chanel’s little black dress was a fashion innovation that revolutionized the fashion industry. Hemlines prior to WWI were long and to the floor but due to the fabric shortage that occurred during the Great Depression, hemlines rose to be calf-length for a woman’s dress.  The style continued to be popular during World War II as women entered the workforce to replace the men who had left for active duty.  Dior’s ‘New Look’ which created fitted black sophisticated suits for business women and Hollywood and created the femme fatale halter dress look. This helped to turn the little black dress into a woman’s daily uniform.

Hollywood has also helped to promote the popularity of the little black dress. Audrey Hepburn wore a simple black sheath designed by Givenchy in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The look featured a beautiful strand of pearls decked gracefully around Audrey’s neck and fashionable sunglasses. She was the epitome of a classy fashion icon. Many women wanted to be Audrey’s character Holly Golightly, the carefree party girl in search of love and a good life. Holly was the ultimate party girl who inspired many women’s black dress shopping sprees. The influence of the little black dress extended into cartoon movies with Betty Boop wearing her short trademark halter style black dress. There have been numerous films that have featured the little black dress on fashionable leading ladies. There is nothing that can take the place of wearing a beautiful black dress.

Wearing a little black dress can make a woman look effortlessly dressed in a classic style. Chanel’s classic design has withstood the test of time and critics. The little black dress is so enduring, because women of all ages and backgrounds continue to adore and buy it.  Today, there has been a return to a more form fitting look in black dresses.  Dress lengths also vary from floor sweeping formal lengths, to just below the knee looks to short mini or mod dresses.  Feeling and dressing well still conveys to the world a woman’s sense of style, self worth and sophistication.  Coco Chanel created a timeless, comfortable essential woman’s garment.  Simple can be beautiful and elegant.

American Vogue declared Coco Chanel’s little black dress a timeless hit in the 1920′s, and decades later, the look is still prevalent in many fashion magazines each season. American, European and women throughout the world confirmed this declaration by swarming stores and buying the little black dress off the racks in droves. The little black dress is enduring and looks wonderful in the winter and as well as the summer with simple modifications of the fabric choice to keep the design comfortable for the season.  A simple black sheath allows its owner to dress for date night or any social event in a matter of minutes.  This is especially important since most women are working in addition to all of the other daily chores that they need to do during a busy day. Many women would love to have the fine detailing of a Chanel little black dress but no matter what the budget or price paid, the dress is a woman’s best figure flattering friend.  Women tend to wear their trustworthy, little black dresses with confidence, knowing that they are designed for the modern woman. The little black dress will continue to endure in the hearts of many women for plenty of decades to come.