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the Stacked Ponytail
14 JulI can never achieve the classic sleek high ponytail – with my thick, coarse hair it usually ends up looking like a frazzled yak tail. However, this stacked ponytail that LC was sporting on the finale of the Hills (it’s finally over!) is a perfect summer ‘do that can go from the office to dinner, and may finally relieve me of my ‘pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey’ look.
Courtesy of Bellasugar
- Start by separating the front of the hair from the back. Tease the front section, and pull back slightly to one side, securing with an elastic at the crown. Be sure to focus on keeping the front pouffy, and use a comb to lightly tame any roughness.
- Next, curl the back portion of the hair and pull back into a ponytail directly below the ponytail you created in the previous step.
- Spritz the style with hairspray to hold. Tip: for an added touch, twist two to three skinny-sized sections from the top ponytail and pin each under the bottom ponytail.
(Almost) Perfect ’Curls’
3 Jun
My quest to achieve perfect waves/curls (subject to personal opinion, of course) was not inspired by the current ‘it’ girl with the hair “that all women want and men want to run their fingers through” Serena van der Woodsen (aka Blake Lively). With her perfect blonde touseled waves that can go either Park Avenue Princess or beachy Hamptons socialite, she inspires both admiration and envy every Monday night.
No – my obsession with waves started out with the original Serena, Tinsley Mortimer. As known as the “girl with the curls” in NY society pages, I have written about how to achieve her hair in a previous post, and to this day I still stand by the Infiniti by Conair Instant Heat Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Iron (in 3/4″, 1″ and 1.5″). As it’s very reasonably priced (less than $30) you can buy all 3 sizes for different looks – it works so well that I’ve actually brought it along to my hairstylist to use.
But I have a new hair icon. As where there’s Serena, there’s Blair, Tinsley also has a social and fashion nemesis, the one everyone loves to hate - Olivia Palermo. If you’ve ever followed the now defunct Socialite Rank, you’d know the infamous rivalry in which the website did play a part in escalating. I’ve always loved Olivia’s hair and style, but on this season of The City, it is, dare I say… PERFECT. To achieve her style, you’d need a center part layered cut, at least shoulder blade length all around, and the use of up to 3 sizes of curling irons. Complicated? Perhaps. Showstopping? YES!!!! (I was so taken by her hair in Season 2, Episode 3 that I had to screencap it. Yes, I’m that much of a geek).
But not only was this post inspired by Ms. Palermo, but it’s also dedicated to my new Moroccan Oil Luminous Hairspray. I already swear by the Original Oil Treatment and use the Glimmer Shine Spray to enhance highlights and protect colour in the summer, but one thing about living in rainy Vancouver is that no matter how much Bumble & Bumble hairspray or the cult fave L’oreal Elnett I spray on, minutes after I step outside my waves frizz out. Not to mention that I have thick, coarse, over processed dry hair. But that all changed when I used the argan oil infused Luminous Hairspray that claims to “offer a long-lasting natural hold without stickiness or build up… this humidity-resistant hairspray leaves a veil of luminous shine.” This claim, dare I say, holds true. Proof? It’s becoming the ‘it’ product at all the runway shows. Around $20 – I got mine at Pompadours on 4th, which carries the whole Moroccan Oil collection.
I would usually never post my photo, but I just had to show that it works!!!! My hair looks healthy and shiny, unlike the tumbleweed it usually is. Moroccan Oil Original Treatment + T3 hair dryer + Infiniti by Conair 1.5″ + Moroccan Oil Luminous Hairspray. Total drying time 5-8 minutes. Total curling and styling time 5-10 minutes. Bonus? It also smells like summer.
Update: Thanks to Nicole (www.lemodedujour.com) I am more curls than waves. If you want waves check out her site!
Wax on, wax off
27 May
I believe that an aesthetician who is a pro at waxing should receive the same level of reverence as a hairstylist. I don’t know what it is about hair (maybe because it is such a large part of our identity), but when you find ‘the one’ that you trust and who understands your needs, they inspire fervent loyalty. Though you see them every 4 or 6-8 weeks, you spill the beans about everything in the 20 minutes or the 3 hours that you spend with them. They know all your secrets – things about your family, significant other, dating history, what your real haircolour is etc. … from that ‘scar’ behind your ear down to your netherregions. They won’t judge if you had a mishap with at-home bleach or have an ingrown – they’re there to hold your hand as they make it all better.
If you find ‘the one’, the relationship and friendship that you develop with them can last longer (and could be more fulfiling) than the one with your significant other. And unlike your significant partner, they will know if you’ve cheated. =)
I will never go to another as she is the best:
Amy Luong
Aesthetician, Som Visao Spa
8-3195 Granville St.
Vancouver BC
604-732-9901
Must try: the Fishtail braid
23 May
Whenever I put my hair in a braid, people ask me if it’s hard. Nope. I can do a regular braid, even french braid while on the elliptical or even while driving. One thing that I’ve never been able to accomplish is the Fishtail braid. Fashionista Nicole of lemodedujour has a simple and thorough tutorial here.
Update: Success on the 2nd try! =D
