The Hair Book - blog about hair tips, tricks and styles

Ask a Stylist: Taming curls

Marlena Isbell — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:09:18 +0000

Q. What product would help control curl? I’m in middle school and my hair is—in my opinion—very wild. Is there anything that would maybe tame it? Leigh Anne Arenivas; Union City, TN

A. Curly hair can become unmanageable for many reasons. When your hair is dry or just undernourished it becomes much tougher to tame. By keeping your ends trimmed (schedule an appointment every six weeks), applying a deep conditioner specifically formulated to nourish curls (at least once a week), and topping off your maintenance with a great finishing product, you can remedy the situation pretty quickly. One of the best styling products I’ve used on my own curls is Mizani True Textures Perfect Curl Defining Cream Gel. It has a lightweight hold and helps reform curls while boosting the shine of your finished look.

We dedicate this space to answering YOUR burning hair questions. Need some advice? Confused about a service or style? From cuts and color to tools and techniques, our experts are available to weigh in on all things hair-related. To submit a Q, send it here: questions@thehairbookonline.com

The Sag Awards: Two Hair Trends

Jen Laing — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:15:06 +0000

Two noteworthy trends from the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards—and how to get them:

Photo: Jeff Vespa/WireImage/Getty

Braids: Spotted on Dianna Agron, Kaley Cuoco and Busy Philips
Stylist Chris McMillan for Wella Professionals created this slightly imperfect bohemian braid for Cougar Town actress Busy Philips by applying Wella Professionals Natural Volume Mousse and blowing out the hair. Next, he brushed it through for extra fullness and sectioned out a 1 ½ inch lock of hair from just above the arch of the brow. He then created a loose French braid along the hairline, above the forehead. After securing the braid with an elastic band, he finished with Wella Professionals Dynamic Fix 45 Second Crafting Spray to tame flyaways and lock the style in place.

Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty

Waves: Seen on Naya Rivera, Melissa McCarthy and Kyra Sedgwick
McMillan also whipped up this wavy look for The Closer star Kyra Sedgwick by applying Wella Professionals Extra Volume Mousse to wet hair, then blowing it out for maximum volume. Next, he spritzed Wella Professionals Thermal Image on dry hair, focusing on the ends, to protect them from heat styling damage. He separated the hair into sections of various sizes and curled them with a 1 inch barrel curling iron. He finished by brushing out the curls and blow drying the hair again using a round boar-bristle brush to keep the ringlets from looking too perfect.

Nail News: Holland here we come!

Jen Laing — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:30:49 +0000

Groundhog Day is tomorrow and Spring Fever is hitting hard (especially here in New York City where temperatures reached into the 60s today!). What better way to celebrate the imminent end of winter than with a pretty, petal-colored nail polish? Introducing OPI’s new Holland collection for spring/summer 2012. The lineup includes 12 hues that range from sophisticated neutrals to vibrant brights, all inspired by the tulips, windmills and canals found in the westernmost region of the Netherlands. Among our favorites are: Red Light Ahead…Where? (a coral red), I Have a Herring Problem (a shimmery green blue), Pedal Faster Suzi! (a pink lavender shimmer, seen on our homepage), and Thanks a WindMillion (a breezy sea green, at left). As usual, like all OPI nail lacquers, the Holland polishes contain no DBP, Toluene or Formaldehyde, but they do include OPI’s goof-proof ProWide brush for a perfect application every time.

The SAG Awards: Updo Review

Jen Laing — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:51:11 +0000

Two top updos from the red carpet of the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards:

Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

Bérénice Bejo: Romantic ponytail
Oribe stylist Cydney Cornell’s goal for the star of The Artist was to create a look that was different from her previous award show appearances and that, “showed off her newly dyed red hair.” She settled on a wavy ponytail, achieved by setting dry hair on steam rollers, then raking styling cream through the finished curls to set them in place. Next, Cydney teased the hair at the crown then misted it with texturizing spray for added lift before combing that section into place. She worked more styling cream between her palms, then used her hands to pull the hair back into a ponytail. She smoothed the sides and added shine with a bit of moisturizing cream and finished with hairspray for hold.

Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic/Getty

Dianna Agron: Braided updo
Frederic Fekkai stylist Adir Abergel wanted to create a romantic updo to mimic the romantic movement of Agron’s dress. He began by applying glossing cream from the roots to the ends of the Glee actress’s wet hair to create texture. He then rough dried the hair with his hands. Once dry, he spritzed wave spray throughout and rough dried it through once more. To begin the updo, Adir took a section of the hair from the top of the left ear and created a long fishtail braid. He then wrapped that braid around the front of the head like a crown, leaving the hair underneath loose and undone. Adir then took the rest of the hair and created three more fishtail braids, ultimately twisting them together in the back of the head and securing them with hairpins. A mist of light hold hairspray secured the style in place for the night.

Best Tressed: The Screen Actors Guild Awards

Jen Laing — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:08:35 +0000

Last night’s 18 Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards served as yet another great platform for talented hairstylists to showcase their work. Here, two of the top looks of the night, courtesy of Mara Roszak for Wella Professionals:

Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic/Getty

Emma Stone: 50’s Polish
“Emma’s dress was my inspiration. I wanted to create a smooth, polished up-do with a bit of a modern 50′s feel,” said Roszak of the look she created for the actress. To recreate the style at home, follow these steps:
1. Part the hair to the side then apply Wella Professionals Velvet Amplifier to wet hair and blow dry smooth
2. Add a pump of Wella Professionals Mirror Polish to hands and apply lightly to hair, starting at the ends, to smooth out any flyaways
3. Tease the crown of the hair to add a little height and pull into a mid-height ponytail
4. Twist the ponytail and then wrap into a bun and secure with bobby pins
5. Spray all over with Wella Professionals Stay Firm hairspray

Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic/Getty

Zoe Saldana: Imperfect Perfection
If Stone was the picture of polish, Roszak took the slightly less sleek but no less chic approach with actress Zoe Saldana’s SAG style. “Zoe’s dress was so inspiring. I wanted to create a ‘not too perfect’ up-do by adding texture and movement to the hair, while keeping it modern and fresh,” Roszak said of the finished style. Here, how to get the look at home:
1. Apply Wella Professionals Extra Volume Mousse to wet hair and rough dry
2. Then, using a 3/4″ barrel curling iron, add waves to the hair by rotating the direction of the curl
3. Once the whole head was waved, spray Wella Professionals Ocean Spritz on the hair to break up the wave and add texture
4. Loosely pull the hair back into a low pony and secured it with an elastic
5. Then split the pony into two sections and braid them both, then wrap the braids into a bun and secure with bobby pins
6. Once the hair is up, apply a dab of Wella Professionals Bold Move styling paste to fingertips and define a few pieces around the face
7. Spray all over with Wella Professionals Stay Firm finishing spray

Ask a Stylist: Hairpray for curls

Marlena Isbell — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:18:04 +0000

Q. If I curl my hair and spray it with hairspray, it falls within two hours. How do I get it to stay styled for longer? Andrea Scruggs, Mabelvale, AR

A. For longer lasting coils try using a product specifically designed for heat-setting curls. Redken Spray Starch 15 Heat Memory Styler is heat-activated and forms beautiful curls that feel soft and touchable. Just spray on a section of dry hair and curl. It’s also great for crimping and adds humidity resistance. Or, reserve the hairspray for merely finishing your style. For heavier or dense hair textures you’ll want a product with a firmer hold, like Redken Hot Sets 22 Thermal Setting Mist. I use this priming spray for my “special occasion” clients who require the aggressive hold factor necessary for weddings or proms.

Best Tressed: Katherine Heigl

Jen Laing — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:16:25 +0000

Photo: Jim Spellman/WireImage/Getty

Katherine Heigl wore a red, Hervé L. Leroux gown to the New York City premiere of her latest film, One for the Money, on January 24th. Celebrity stylist David Babaii whipped up this glamorous, Grace Kelly-inspired look to match by first applying a small amount of his own hair elixir to condition, protect Heigl’s color and safeguard her strands from heat styling. After blow drying, he used a medium-sized curling iron to create curls, directing them off the face. Next, David lightly back-brushed the fringe area for some height before smoothing the hair lightly with a medium paddle brush. He used his fingers to loosen the curls into soft waves, then drew all the hair into a loose chignon at the back of the head, securing it silver coated bobby pins and finished with hairspray for hold.

Best Tressed: Andrea Riseborough

Jen Laing — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:37:05 +0000

Photo: Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic/Getty

Madonna’s film, W.E., debuted Monday night at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City. Star Andrea Riseborough wore a Marchesa gown and sleek, soft side-swept ‘do created by Sebastian Professional Stylist Design Team Member, Thomas Dunkin. Here, direct from Dunkin, how to recreate the leading lady’s style at home:

1. Start by spraying a light amount of Sebastian Professional Potion 9 Lite throughout the hair.
2. Blow-dry while tousling with hands, lifting big random sections up vertically as you go to achieve added volume.
3. Once dry, use a large curling iron to create soft waves. (Stylist Tip: Run the curling iron through the hair taking care not to hold the iron in place too long for softer waves that don’t look like they came from a curling iron.)
4. After curling the whole head, create a diagonal side part and pin the back over to one side.
5. Emulsify a bit of Sebastian Professional Matte Putty in palms and use to separate the curls a bit. Finish the look with a gentle spray of Sebastian Professional Shaper Zero Gravity hairspray for light, controlled hold.

Golden Globes: Nail News

Jen Laing — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:07:13 +0000

Stacy Keibler walked the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards red carpet with George Clooney (the best accessory ever!) and OPI nail lacquer in Did You ‘Ear About Van Gogh? on her fingers. The new nude, which launches next month, is part of the company’s upcoming Spring/Summer 2012 Holland collection.

Photo: Courtesy of OPI

Meanwhile, Laura Linney, nominated for Best Actress in a TV series for her role in The Big C, paired her purple-hued dress with the jewel-toned OPI nail lacquer Congeniality is My Middle Name, a limited edition shade from the Miss Universe partnership. Both shades make excellent picks mid-winter mani-pedis.

Photo: Courtesy of OPI

Golden Globes: The Men

Jen Laing — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:01:17 +0000

According to star groomer, Diana Schmidtke, the major hair trend among men at The Golden Globes was, like last year, a severe side part like the one seen on Mad Men. “The major difference, this year, is that the overall styles are looser and not as “pasted” down to the head like we saw a lot of last year,” she says. Here, the men who earned high marks for their hair and how to recreate their looks using Schmidtke’s favorite Paul Mitchell MITCH products.

Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty

Ewan McGregor: A classic look with movement
Apply a gel that will hold the look in place, but not dry rock hard (she likes Paul Mitchell MITCH Steady Grip). Create a severe side part, comb hair into place and let it air dry. Once dry, run your fingers through the hair to create separation and looser look.

Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty

Matthew Morrison: Controlled texture
Schmidtke, herself gave the Glee star this stylish take on the side part by blow drying his wavy hair straight with a vent brush to get as much of the curl out as possible. She then used a flat iron to grab random pieces of hair through the top and straighten them even more. To complete the look, Schmidtke used a quarter size amount of Paul Mitchell MITCH Construction Paste and worked it evenly through hair to create controlled texture, add a little moisture and hold the hair in place.

Photo: Paul Drinkwater/NBC via Getty Images

Ashton Kutcher: Glossy, in a good way
While hair is damp, make a side part and comb the rest of the hair over. Be sure to make the side part far enough over so that it gives a “red carpet” groomed look. Blow dry hair into place and finish with a pomade, such as Paul Mitchell MITCH Barber’s Classic, to add high shine and lock hair in place while leaving it still touchable.