We all know that ombre patterns have been big in fashion for a while, but the trend has now moved on up to, yup, you guessed it, the hair. I’m a big proponent of natural, easy beauty as you probably know, but there is something to be said for a cool, not looking like you’re trying too hard appearance as well. Which brings me to ombre as a hair coloring technique.

For those who aren’t familiar with it, ombre is when a shade of color fades into the next darker shade of that color, going from lightest to darkest or vice versa. Think of the bottom of Gwen Stefani’s gorgeous wedding dress to get an idea of what I’m talking about.

So, ombre hair color is simply when hair is colored lighter on the bottom and darker on top or the color is left to grow it, thereby achieving the look. I think it’s a great style, but in order for it not to look messy, you might want to try perfect your makeup and polishing up your outfits, so the hair looks intentional and not just sloppy. It’s the perfect way to to save money on hair color and add a little chic to your autumn ensembles.

See the hair color worked to great effect on fashionistas SJP, Rachel Bilson and Alexa Chung.

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Layering your hair can be a beautiful thing. Not only are layers stylish and versatile, they also add body and volume to blah hairstyles… But not everyone is cut out for wearing layered locks. It takes a very specific hair type and personality to pull it off and some people might be better suited to wearing a blunt cut. Not sure whether to layer your locks?

Take into stock your individual hair texture, thickness and density first. Most manes can be classified as straight, wavy and curly with some variation. Thickness obviously refers to the width of each individual strand of hair while density covers how much hair is actually on your head. The two don’t always correlate… A person can have thin hair but a lot of it, for example.

Once you have settled on what type of hair you have, follow these guidelines. If you have truly curly hair, DO NOT get a blunt cut. This will give you the dreaded pyramid cut, with lots of fluff and volume at the bottom. Have your stylist cut well-blended, gradual layers so the effect is not so harsh. It’s also better to keep curly locks shoulder length and shorter, particularly if you have thin or sparse hair (so it doesn’t appear stringy) and because it’s more up to date. This will also give you more options if you want looser curls or to style your hair straight. I recommend going to a stylist who specializes in curly ‘dos because this can be tricky to pull off.

Wavy hair looks nice with layers as well, but does not need an as intense layering technique. A few long, face framing layers in front should do the trick if you have fine or medium thick hair or a not so dense mane. Have thicker, wavy hair? Try a similar effect but have your stylist cut longer, face framing layers all around the head.

Lastly, straight hair is the hair type that looks best in blunt, or all one length hairstyles. In fact, fine, straight is ideal for a sharp and mod bob with clean lines. This will beef up the texture instead of cutting into it. If you have straight and thick hair, you an also rock a one-length style but make sure to keep your mane on the longer side so it gets weighed down and some of the volume gets flattened out. If you have a slight wave to your eye and want to play up that texture, layers might be a good option as long as your hair is not too thin (check out that pic of Cameron Diaz for reference).

Also, take stock of how much time you’re willing to put into your style. If you’re going for an edgy, rocker look with layers, make sure you have the time and desire to keep it looking good and that it matches your overall style.

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Every summer (AKA party season), I get an influx of short-haired women asking for ways to style their crops for parties or black tie events, instead of just doing it as they normally would. Short hair is sexy, sassy and all the rage right now, yet many people don’t know it can also be versatile. Simply glance at a fashion magazine and see a bevy of bobbed and cropped beauties making the look work on the red carpet for inspiration. Stars like Carey Mulligan with her Mia Farrow-esque look, beautiful and elegant Halle Berry and unpredictable Kelly Osbourne have all explored hairstyling options which make their short ‘dos festive and so can you.

The tried and true idea is to add hair accessories. Sparkly and vintage-inspired pins, combs and barrettes are all adorable but may be best saved for those on the younger side. Try piling 2-3 decorative bobby pins on one side of the head and play around with positioning for a more modern look. Headbands of every size and type are a great option as well. Funky ladies like Kelly Osbourne go for a not so subtle look of oversized bow headbands and bright colors. This is also a fun going out style but is not for the faint of heart. It helps to have a similarly unique hairstyle/color and clothing style to pull it off. For a more mature look, opt for a simple black or solid colored headband. Chunky bands work better on older ladies without bangs. For this sophisticated style, I recommend adding a little volume after the headband for a more fun and fashion forward style.

Another option is to change up your color, part or texture. Have stick straight hair but want to dazzle during a night out? Curl your hair with a curling iron or create some texture with a texturizing spray and a blow dryer. If you’re naturally wavy and want to switch it up, simply section your hair and blow dry then go over it with a flat iron for a smooth finish. For a more long term solution for boring short hair, add some color and shine with a glaze. On crops, I prefer solid but dimensional color rather than highlights. They are too much coupled with the short hair. If all else fails, you can always throw in some extensions!

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I’m a big believer in using therapeutic hair masks for a variety of hair problems, but they can be very expensive and you may not have the time to spend a while at the salon or want to use more chemicals than nessecary on your mane. Well, there is an easy, all-natural, affordable and quick solution to you hair woes… Simply whip up a hair mask at home with everyday kitchen ingredients!

The idea of slathering food on your hair may not be appealing now, but trust me, once you try it, you’ll be a fan. Below, I’ve posted some simple hair mask recipes for different hair types. Read through them, pick your poison and hit the ktichen!

- Olive Oil Mask

Mix 5 tablespoon of olive oil with 2 eggs. Apply throughly to hair. Wrap head with plastic wrap or a shower cap. After 15 minutes rinse well.

-Honey & Olive Oil Mask

Mix 2 tablespoon honey with 3 tablespoon olive oil. Apply throughly to hair. Cover hair with plastic wrap or a shower cap. After 15 minutes shampoo and rinse well.

-Cleansing Mask and Shine-Enhancing Mask

After you shampoo your hair, pour 1 cup fresh lemon juice or vinegar through hair and massage and rinse with water. Apply your usual conditioner and wash with water. It will remove all the dirt and your hair will be shine sparkling. Do not repeat this method before 2 weeks.

-Shine Softly Mask

Mix 1 Tbsp of following herbs with enough boiling water and let it stand for 1/2 an hour. Add 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar and mix well. Shampoo your hair. Pour mixture over hair repeatedly. Vinegar will seal the hair cuticle.

Use the herbs as following:
For hair general care: rosemary leaves, nettle, burdock root, elder flowers
For dry hair: chamomile flowers, comfrey root, nettle, elder flowers
For oily hair: lemon peel, peppermint, lemongrass.

-To Make Your Hair Grow Faster:

Grind black pepper and lemon seeds in equal amounts and make a paste in water and apply on your hair and scalp. Wash after 15 minutes with cold water.

-For Damaged Hair

Mash a ripe banana with a few drops of almond oil and massage into hair. Leave it for about 15 minutes. Rinse with soda water and then shampoo and condition.

-Hair Loss Mask

Rub Indian gooseberry (Amla) into the scalp regularly. It can show wonderful results, it will stop hair loss.
Eat a protein rich diet inluding green leafy vegetables, carrots, mango, dried apricots, whole grain cereals, sprouts, and lentils in your daily diet as well.

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Hair trends come and go as a rule, but one hairstyle in particular caught my eye at recent runway shows (as seen at Alexander Wang, DSquared, and Miu Miu) and seems to come around every spring/summer. I’m talking of course about the sultry but sweet braids we’ve been seeing everywhere from the red carpet to obscure street blogs. Girls who style their long hair this way often end up resembling modern day milkmaids or sexy sea sirens in the best possible way though some decry the hairstyle as being too cutesy. You can even read up on the trend in a recent WhoWhatWear post.

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Look at how rich the color is! I wish you could feel it, after a couple of applications INOA leaves hair feeling like it's never been processed!

Innovation means new. Groundbreaking. Cutting edge. Something that takes years to develop. My industry is used to new products and occasional breakthroughs, but I don’t think anyone knew how much L’Oreal Professional was going to absolutely revolutionize the hair color industry with their new permanent color line INOA.

Aptly named for combining the words for “innovation” and “no ammonia”, INOA is a color system that took over 100 years to create. You see, L’oreal developed the first hair color in the early 1900’s. Since then, all permanent hair color used ammonia in its formulation to open up hair fiber and allow dye into its molecular structure, thus changing it permanently and very often damaging it. For all those years, the hair color industry’s holy grail was creating a permanent color system without ammonia that can cover gray hair and last just as long as the original formula. And now it’s here with INOA.

The science behind INOA is so interesting, especially for me as a colorist. I won’t get into too many specifics but I do want to tell you its main point of difference. To get rid of all the ammonia, L’Oreal Professional developed a new delivery system called the ODS (oil delivery system). Their R&D department figured out that if they coat hair with another layer of oil while coloring it, the oil will act as a layer of protection to the hair and preserve its natural integrity. With the ODS, after nine applications of INOA, hair is restored to practically its virgin state.

I’m sure your first question is “What does no ammonia mean for me?” Well, it means several things. First, no nasty odors while the dye is on your head at the salon. It also means that  your scalp won’t itch or burn and it won’t damage your hair as much as traditional permanent color would. And, after several treatments with INOA, hair will feel like it has never even been colored. Amazing.

As you know, last weekend I was in Chicago for a beauty trade show. The place was buzzing… Industry celebs were there, behindthechair.com presented their beauty awards, everyone was networking. But the one word on everyone’s lips: INOA.

It’s quite the beauty breakthrough but it’s only previewing in 200 salons across the country. So call your salon and ask if they’re using INOA yet.

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Sienna Miller (left) and Kate Moss (right) show off their balayage highlights.

Spring is just about here and most women I know will be thinking about lightening up their look. They tend to run to the salon to go blonder, which is not always the best option for them. The coloring may be off, traditional highlights can end up looking striped and too perfectly placed or their hair may end up getting fried. Alas, I have the perfect solution.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I recently went to New York to be trained by L’Oreal Professional in a highlighting technique called balayage. This is a French system that doesn’t require foils, instead the highlight color is painted directly on to hair. And when I say painted, I mean that the color is literally painted on with a brush. This allows for absolute precision and for more colors to be used throughout the head, making for more dimension. It also provides a much more natural look as opposed to streaky or striped highlights.

Another fabulous perk to balayage is that they are far less damaging to hair than traditional highlights. The reason is that foil acts as a heat conductor and literally bakes color into hair. With balayage, highlights are placed strategically and hair sections are separated by plastic wrap to prevent bleeding. You then sit under a heat lamp to activate the color but because plastic is not a conductor, the color doesn’t heat up too quickly.

Balayage is a great option for spring and summer. So if you’re now considering this as a spring pick-me-up, here are my tips for getting them done right:

1. Ask your stylist before booking an appointment if they’ve been educated to do balayage. 

2. Start off slow, meaning that you don’t want to go in and ask for a full head right off the bat. Ask for a few halo highlights around the face and throughout the season you can add more.

3. Ask yourself if you’re willing to maintain the color. Although balayage requires less maintenance than foil highlights, they will still require certain care. You’ll have to switch to hair products for color treated hair and apply sunscreen to hair when you’re in the sun. You’ll also have to go back to the salon every eight weeks or so for a touch up.

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All right. I know it’s not Tuesday and this is posted under the category “Hair Tip Tuesday” BUT I couldn’t wait until next week to tell you about this new hair treatment. It’s called La Brasiliana and, yes, it is a keratin treatment but it’s not like any other you may have heard about.

Unlike most Brazilian keratin treatments, which act as a damaging straightening process, La Brasiliana works as a glossing treatment. In a nutshell, rather than changing the molecular structure of the hair, it coats hair strands with keratin. What’s that? Keratin is the protein with which hair is comprised of. So hair is not re-texturized permanently with La Brasiliana, instead it gets a high dose injection of its natural protein. 

But enough science! I know you’re probably more interested in what La Brasiliana can do for you and if it’s right for your hair. First, you should know that because the protein sits on the surface of hair, it washes out. Typically it lasts three months, but luckily the company makes shampoo, conditioner and styling products to help extend the life of the treatment. (TIP: If you’re really vigilant about caring for your hair, you can probably extend its life to four months.)

Products from the La Brasiliana collection designed to properly care for your keratin treatment.

It’s great for color-treated hair and human hair extensions. You don’t have to have curly hair to get it, it also works for straight and wavy hair that needs a severe conditioning. It leaves all hair types super shiny. And, my recommendation for when to get it is now! The timing is perfect, because spring and summer time often mean frizzy hair, La Brasiliana will help keep it smooth. 

So, if you’re looking for a change or a great conditioning treatment, check out their website. In the meantime, if you have any questions about the process, leave them in the comment section and I’ll be sure to get back to you with answers.

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It’s the dead of winter and I can certainly use a mid-season pick-me-up! To add a little glow to my cheeks, I bought some new sweaters and scarves that sit next to my face. The bright colors enhance my skin tone and make me feel a little more radiant in the cold weather. Are you looking for your own way to beat the winter beauty blues? Time to switch it up with this hair tip that adds color to pale winter skin…

Ask your colorist for a halo of highlights in semi- or demi-permanent color. A halo effect means that the highlights will sit only around your face (where you can certainly use an extra jolt of color) and not run throughout the entire head. Having them done in a semi- or demi-permanent color is much gentler than getting highlights with bleach and is also much lower maintenance.

As for the rest of the head, bump up color with a revolutionary new permanent hair color formulation from L’Oreal Professional called Inoa. Available in only select salons across the country, this color system is like no other!! L’Oreal took the ammonia out of the Inoa formulation so hair is not damaged. In fact, it’s left in the condition of virgin hair. Plus, it’s made for optimum scalp comfort so it won’t dry out your scalp in the cold.

One other hair tip for a mid-winter boost – get glossy! While you’re at the salon, ask your colorist to give you a glossing treatment to bring back lustre.

Click here for even more pick-me-up tips from me, including how to wear bright makeup!

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