It looks like men are finally starting to pay more attention to anti-aging these days (hello David Haseelhoff, Gordon Ramsay, and Simon Cowell!), as many are becoming more open to Read More…

photos + post by amy nadine

Temperatures are rising and prom, formals + weddings are just around the corner! Which means our skin needs a little help after a long dry winter! After giving your body a good buff with our D.I.Y. brown sugar scrub, add a little shimmer to your lotion to get that perfect glow (without having to spend any money!). Here’s what I made last week in 3 easy steps to use on my clients on talk shows (Brittany Snow with her gorgeous new red hair on her visit to Conan, stunning + raven-haired Krysten Ritter on her visits to both Jimmy Kimmel and Conan and our lovely Lauren Conrad on her visit to Chelsea Lately last night!) that I thought you might like too:

TOOLS

Your favorite lotion (we’re obsessed with Korres Body Butter in Jasmine because it’s natural and smells divine but any lotion that you love will work)
Small jar of Read More…

Is your curly mop ready for a fresh cut? Whether you’re trimming a few split ends or snipping off a few inches, ringlets need a bit of TLC. We turned to curly-hair guru Lorraine Massey for tips and tricks on how to properly refresh your ends at home or in the salon.

AT THE SALON

The most important element in cutting curly hair is dampness. Unlike sleeker strands, ringlets should not be cut wet. “We wear our hair dry, not wet,” explains Lorraine. “Wet locks will actually appear longer and lengthened than when they dry and shrink. Also, curly hair can spring up as much as six to 10 inches when dry.” To ensure you get a cut fit for daily styling, dry the hair naturally or under hooded dryers before you begin your consultation.

During a consultation, the stylist should examine your hair and discuss your vision. “Pull any ringlet down to its farthest point and let it go in front of your stylist—they’ll see how tight the curl naturally coils and will know where to cut,” says Lorraine. “Cut just before the crest of the curl. Just trimming a few millimeters off the ends where they look frayed can make such a huge difference.”  Read More…

DIY beauty ingredients are everywhere, including your backyard! From the greenhouse to the pantry, natural herbs, essential oils and tea can do wonders for your complexion! So turn on some music, light some candles, and check out these garden-grown DIY beauty ideas to remedy your mind, soul, and skin. Read More…

hair

SHORT STUFF

YES… spring has sprung! That means fresh, new short cuts will be on the rise. So many of my clients have been on a mission to go shorter this year and the very first thing I tell them is: short hair is all about learning different textures! It’s really easy to find updos, styles, braids + buns for longer hair lengths but not usually so easy for girls with mid-length hair or shorter. Here’s the thing… you girls with bobs & lobs have the advantage of creating new textures in a way that girls with long hair do not! Girls with longer length don’t get to utilize product the same way girls with short hair can. Here are 8 perfect examples of ways to keep your mid-length & short haircuts exciting:

1. Romantic, soft texture- Try setting your bob with large hot rollers. Use a thermal setting spray before putting them in, then leave the rollers in until they cool all the way down. Allowing your rollers to set until they’re cool will make curls last much longer.
2. Matte + messy- There are so many dry shampoos and texture sprays out there now. An even dirtier secret: If you work a little pomade into dry hair and then spray dry  shampoo it becomes even more matte! After applying, flip your hair upside down, “stir it up” with the blow dryer on the cool setting, flip back up and scrunch with your fingers. Don’t brush after that.
3. Super sleek with a deep side part- When your hair is still really wet from showering, part it and blow the bangs into place. The more wet your hair is, the more cooperative the side bang will be. Always use a thermal protectant spray before flat ironing and then finish with shine spray. Whatever you do, don’t apply shine spray before Read More…

We all enjoy a freshly washed blowout, but who has time to style their hair from scratch every day? Even after you splurge on a visit to the salon, your tresses can become limp or frizzy by the next morning! Fortunately, extending the life of your sleek style is a cinch if you know a few professional tricks. So we chatted with three stylists (yes, three!) for the best tips on how to extend the life of your blowout. Here, James Williams of the Canale Salon in Beverly Hills, Paul Anthony of José Eber Salon in Beverly Hills, and Alterna stylist Davy Newkirk—he created Jessica Alba’s Golden Globe waves!—reveal how simple tweaks to your hair routine can keep your mane beautiful for up to five days!

 Read More…

Are you using your hair spray properly? Many of us just lacquer and go, but there’s an art to misting. Understanding when to use a light or strong hold can make a world of difference in the style and health of your strands. Since it’s vital to grasp these basics, we chatted with Sebastian Professional spokesperson Janine Jarman, owner of Hairroin salon in Los Angeles, as well as stylist Chad Cardoos from Yoshi Hair Studio in Beverly Hills about the do’s and don’t of hair spray technique.

AEROSOL VS. NON AEROSOL

“When it comes to styling, I prefer to use aerosol sprays because you get more control and better coverage,” says Chad. “Non aerosols tend to produce more of a wet look.” For naturally curly-hair, non-aerosol sprays are an ideal alternative to gels.

FORMULA NAMES

Working

The least amount of hold, working hair spray is

buildable and non-sticky. “It’s great for running through strands as you create an updo or soft, touchable waves,” explains Chad.

Styling

Used to thicken, volumize, or add texture, styling hair spray Read More…

There were a lot of really strong hair trends that emerged in 2011. Some were exciting when they first popped up, and we even indulged in a few (likepink dip dye hair). However, like anything that gets too much exposure, we are now ready for the next new thing. Maybe we just have beauty ADHD.

While we’re still trying to wrap our heads around what might be big in 2012 (Wet, slick hair? Please…no.) here’s a reminder of what we (and Lauren Conrad) did to our heads in 2011. So let’s review and then move on.  Read More…

MODERN SALON: COSMETOLOGISTS CHICAGO IS 100 YEARS OLD. THAT IS AN AMAZING STATISTIC. GIVE US A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SOME OF CC’S MILESTONES?

PAUL DYKSTRA: A small group of salon owners came together in 1912 to form the Chicago Hairdressers & Wigmakers Association. Their goal was to support and help each other build a better beauty profession and business. One hundred years later, that small group is today’s 9,000-member Cosmetologists Chicago (CC). I’ve heard so many anecdotes of the association’s accomplishments in my 25 years with Cosmetologists Chicago and yet CC’s goals remains the same: The members are all about giving back and helping make the beauty profession stronger.

MS: COSMETOLOGISTS CHICAGO IS BEST KNOWN FOR ITS OWNERSHIP AND PRODUCTION OF AMERICA’S BEAUTY SHOW. HOW DOES THE ASSOCIATION PLAN FOR THE SHOW EACH YEAR?

PD: Cosmetologists Chicago’s ownership of America’s Beauty Show makes it a very unique organization. Each year the management team and I take our direction for each aspect of the show from working cosmetologists who are members of CC. We don’t decide what we think members want; we listen and act Read More…