Beautiful new bangs

Ritu from 20 Something Girl has sent us a dazzling hair makeover she created with our virtual makeover tool.

Here’s what she has to say:

“Bangs are so hot right now, but people seem to be afraid to go under
the shears and chop off a bunch of hair. That’s why I wanted to try
out the bangs in my makeover. It was a perfect match and I will
commit! Also, I want to get bangs before every other girl starts
getting them, like the Avril Lavigne half blond look back in 2004.
Since most celebs are starting to get bangs these days, like Jessica
Alba who has the quintessential girl next door look, it’s only a
matter of time till celebrities will stop with the bangs and every
other teen and twenty something will get them. So now is the time, and
convinced by my results on Dailymakeover.com, I’m making a commitment
to the fringe.”

I, for one, love it! And not only are the bangs gorgeous on her, I also love the warm chocolate hair color which makes her glow! 

Ritu, send us pictures of your bang hairstyle when you go for it in real life!

Now That’s a Makeover!

Rachel

The challenge with special occasion hairstyles is to walk the line between a polished look and something that feels effortlessly chic. Here, some easy ways to approximate it.

Blow Blow Up Volumizing Mist

Review: Amp up flat hair with a few spritzes of this bodifying spray. Made with co-polymers for long-lasting wearability, this transforms even the finest hair into a Bardot-esque ‘do that will outlast Aunt June’s fruitcake. Ok, maybe not that long…but you get the idea.
Price: $18
Where to buy: Blow

Umberto Beverly Hills Controller Conditioning Spray

Review: Short of having a stylist come to your house, this conditioning spray is the next best thing. Paraben-free and with a lightweight texture, this vitamin-fortified styler does it all, from preventing heat damage and smoothing strands to conditioning dry hair and enhancing curls.
Price: $8.99
Where to buy: Target

New York Streets Volume Foam

Review: If you’re a styling-product minimalist, this is the item for you. This easy-to-use thickening foam is made with wheat, barley, soy and silk proteins which injects a blast of body to your roots. It’ll keep hair fresh and full after a whole evening of dancing in your get-down, get-down shoes.
Price: $20
Where to buy: New York Streets

Kiehl’s Strong Hold Styling Gel

Review: This firm-grip version of the best-selling Clean Hold Styling Gel is perfect for updos. It promises long-lasting control balanced with soft-to-the-touch manageability thanks to vitamin E, sunflower seed oil, and an alcohol-free formula. We think it totally delivers.
Price: $15.00
Where to buy: Kiehl’s

L’Oreal Paris Elnett Strong Hold Hair Hairspray

Review: When a product is good, people want to buy it. When it’s good and unavailable, people will resort to desperate measures to buy it. Such was the case with L’Oreal’s Elnett; a stylist favorite that was–up until this year–only available in Europe. Star stylists and savvy beauty insiders alike rejoiced at the news that they no longer need to fly overseas to stock up on the long-lasting, fine-misted, humidity-protecting, shine-enhancing hair spray. It’s finally stateside, so stock up!
Price: $14.99
Where to buy: Target

Neil George Intense Repair Mask

Review: Whether you straighten it, curl it, color it, or blow it dry, your hair probably sees more strand-splitting action in during the holidays than it does the rest of the year. Head damage off at the pass with this antioxidant-packed, moisture-drenched mask from one of Hollywood’s most-loved salons, Neil George. This floral-scented miracle mask contains Indian Gooseberry which promotes healthy strands…no matter what kind of heat-styler you inflict on them.
Price: $38
Where to buy: Space NK

Rene Furterer Myrrhea Anti-Frizz Silkening Fluid

Review: Nobody knows perfect hair quite like the French. That’s why this static-busting treatment styler from the Rene Furterer is our new favorite smoother. Specifically designed to tame frizz and calm unruly hair, this myrrh- and avocado-based fluid injects a kick of shine as it protects your strands from humidity and heat damage. Magnifique, indeed!

Price: $30
Where to buy: Sephora

As one the web’s largest beauty sites, DailyMakeover.com constantly receives products from beauty companies for editorial review. Please read our Editorial Ethics Pledge if you’d like to know how we select products to feature.

These leading ladies made major waves with trend-setting cuts this past year.

Gwyneth Paltrow cut off more than 6 inches to create this shoulder-skimming bob. What makes it so special? The front pieces are slightly longer in the front.

Katie Holmes made her cropped shag one of the most-wanted hairstyles of 2008. Not only did this help her shed her sweet-as-cherry-pie image, but it’s the ultimate busy-mom style because it’s so low maintenance.

Rihanna rocks in her versatile crop. The nose-skimming long bangs can be styled in many ways, giving this short style lots of options.

Did you give yourself a major makeover this year? If so, who was your inspiration?

Now That’s A Makeover!

Rachel

Fess up–there are mornings when you just don’t want to get in the shower, get all wet, and go through the whole process of styling your hair.

I always thought that blow-drying already dry (i.e. messy, kinky bedhead) hair was a major no-no because that would scorch and dry out your hair. But, I recently learned this really great trick from hairstylist Jay Small of the Caru salon in Hoboken, NJ: Restyle dry hair using the cool setting on your blowdryer. “Cool air will smooth out your hair, but it won’t dehydrate or damage it,” he told me.  Genius!  What a time saver in the morning if your hair is generally clean, but just needs to get tidied up out a bit.

It’s also key to have a good bowdryer and I’m loving the Paul Mitchell Express Ion Dry v.1 . It has a cool setting, a great nozzle, ionic technology (this helps wet hair dry faster), and it’s super light. 

Now That’s  A Makeover!

Rachel

Meet Cybele, the veteran beauty blogger behind Cybelesays.com. She’s just given herself some fun makeovers in the Makeover Studio. “I think I like the way the picture with the red hat came out the most. I am for sure a hat person and the red really livens up the look,” says Cybele.

Her second favorite look: “I thought the blonde haired one was quite fun (kind of Chrissy Snow looking too!) as I think we all want to be blonde for a day, or at least a few minutes!”

Thanks Cybele for sharing your makeovers! You are a true beauty adventuress.

Now that’s a makeover!
Rachel

The brains and beauty behind beautybloggingjunkie.com, Amber Katz, dived into the Makeover Studio and tried on a look she’s never dared before–striking red hair. “I’ve been blonde my entire life except for a brief one-year stint as a brunette, so I took the opportunity to try out Kate Walsh’s hair. I’ve always thought that she should write a thank you note to the genetic lottery for it. It’s so shiny and gorge,” says the virtual redhead.

I think she looks fabulous as a fiery redhead–which is definitely a hair color you want to road test before you commit to real life. 

Amber, thanks for sharing your makeover and let us know if you decide to go red in real life! 

Now That’s A Makeover! 

Rachel 

Laura, a 22 year old Parisian student, traded in her long wild curly hair for a sophisticated sleek bob. Here, she shares her makeover experience.

The Mane – Laura Before

Why did you want a makeover? 
I’ve had the same long curly hairstyle for more than six years and have been wanting a change for a long time. And the truth is, I really loved my long hair, but it was so damaged that it became a necessity to cut it. So my intentions were both aesthetic and practical. Fortunately, I saw an ad for a FREE cut for models in the college newspaper, and I went for it.

                         Laura After – Très Chic!

Do you love having short hair? I love it as much as I loved my long curly hair. Now that my hair is healthy, I’ll take good care of it. Every time I wash it, I condition the ends too. I’ve started to use Phyto styling products because they are very nourishing.

Is your new bob easy to style? 
Actually, I’ve never been able to recreate a perfectly straight style like my stylist did, but I get close. I use a relaxing balm to smooth out my curls and it only takes me 10 minutes to blow-dry. Sometimes I get tired of straightening it, so I put it back a in cute ponytail.

How do your friends like it?
At first, my friends were totally shocked. They think I look more grown-up and serious, and they missed the fun side of me. But once they realized that my hair has nothing to do with making me less fun, they started to love it too.

What kind of reaction are you getting from guys? Are you single or in a relationship?
Boys love my new haircut! They think it’s sexy. I was in a relationship not too long ago, but now it’s finished. Maybe my wild hair drove him crazy. We’ll see what happens with the next one.

Thank you for sharing your makeover! I’d like to upgrade you to All-Access Membership so you can try on all of our celebrity bob hairstyles for styling inspiration.
Great, thanks! I will definitely use it!

Now That’s A Makeover! Rachel

NOTE: If you would like to share your own real-life before & after pictures like Laura’s, email them to editorial@dailymakeover.com. If your makeover gets selected for a blog post, we’ll follow up with an interview and give you a free All-Access membership.

As one the web’s largest beauty sites, DailyMakeover.com constantly receives products from beauty companies for editorial review. Please read our Editorial Ethics Pledge if you’d like to know how we select products to feature.

Credit: © Jemal Countess/WireImage.com

A few weeks ago I cringed when I saw this picture of Ashley Olsen and mumbled “Now That’s A Makeover”…sort of.  Seeing that practically every day a new celeb goes for a bob hairstyle, the Olsen twins are two girls who I really hoped wouldn’t go there. You see, for round faces like theirs, the bob is harder to pull off because it can make the face look even rounder. That’s especially true for someone who is dedicated to center parts, like Ashley.

Popular trends are great inspiration to shake up your look, but you have to make sure it works with your face shape and lifestyle. Otherwise you risk bombing a new look big time.
 
But alas, Ashley was just faking a bob! She pulled back all of her hair, except for her face-framing pieces, which made her look like she had a shoulder-skimming hairstyle. That’s actually a good trick if you want to road test this trend-du-jour in real life. You could also try on a look in the Hottest Bobs Look Book.

Credit: © Jim Spellman / WireImage.com

A few days later I saw this shot of Ashely Olsen and was relieved to see her long flowing mane. Some girls are just prettier with long hair. 

Are you interested in getting a bob?

OK–I’ve been obsessed with NBC’s Green Week! To add to all the amazing eco-chatter that’s going on right now, I would like to share these five easy and earth-loving beauty routines.

1. Save water by turning it off while you’re waiting for your hair conditioner or hair mask to sink in when you take a shower. This could also be a great time to give yourself a head-to-toe scrub because the water won’t rinse it immediately off your body.

2. Pick a body or face scrub that has naturally sourced granules like crushed almond or walnut. Synthetic beads may not biodegrade and aren’t the kind of fish food we want our marine life consuming. I use Sonya Dakar Triple Action Organic Scrub.

3. Use bar hand soap instead of liquid hand soap. Not only does it last longer (which saves money), but it also has a smaller carbon footprint because there is less packaging and plastic. My absolute favorites are Fresh Oval Soaps–they smell heavenly and last an eternity.

4. Whip up your own beauty treatments instead of buying prepackaged ones. An amazing all around moisturizer is olive oil. I rub it on my cuticles whenever I’m cooking and have time to kill in the kitchen.

5. Don’t over-serve yourself. Making your products last as long as possible will reduce your overall consumption of packaging, ingredients, and the carbon footprint that comes along with production. Use only a dime-size of shampoo, a quarter size of conditioner, a pea size of face cream, and a shot-glass size of body lotion.

These are all really easy to work into your regimen, so give them a try.

Now that’s a green-your-routine makeover!

Rachel

As one the web’s largest beauty sites, DailyMakeover.com constantly receives products from beauty companies for editorial review. Please read our Editorial Ethics Pledge if you’d like to know how we select products to feature.

I recently experienced such an unexpected hair makeover, that I must share it with you. Even though I have had my hair both cut and colored within the last few weeks, I’ve been feeling pretty blah about my hairstyle. It wasn’t shiny or bouncy, and no matter how I styled it, it just seemed to fall flat and get frizzy after a few hours. So when I was invited to the Philip Kingsley Institute for a customized scalp and hair treatment that promised to bring life back to my lifeless hair, I immediately signed up. 

Dr. Kingsley is a trichologist–sort of like a dermatolgoist for your scalp and hair–and believes that beautiful healthy hair first starts with a healthy scalp. Makes total sense, but in reality–who really thinks about their scalp? It’s a not even a blip on my own personal beauty radar. I was skeptical, but desperate and open-minded.

The environment of the Institute is more like a doctor’s clinic than a relaxing spa room, so I knew immediately this wasn’t a fluffy treatment. After a thorough scalp diagnosis, they whipped up a customized hair mask for my dry, color-processed hair. The mask, which had scalp-stimulating peppermint and natural oils, was so thick I looked like I was wearing a shiny white helmet. It felt surprisingly comforting and invigorating. I waited patiently under the heater for about 20 minutes, then got rinsed off. The next step was a refreshing toner that. similar to a facial toner, removes residue and makes your hair feel squeaky clean. The whole process took about 45 minutes. 

I didn’t really have my “Now That’s A Makeover!” moment until the next day. I swear, not only did my hair feel softer and look less frizzy, but the color was brighter, the texture was thicker, and my four-week-old cut even looked better. My hair was so well conditioned that it reflected an enormous amount of light and you could clearly see all the angles and layers of my cut. Three friends even asked me if I just cut and colored my hair. It’s been a few weeks now, and I’m still loving the results, especially since I’m religiously using the new Elasticizer Extreme at home to maintain the results. 

The lesson I learned: When your hair looks dull and tired, get to the root of the problem by treating your scalp to a facial!

Rachel

As one the web’s largest beauty sites, DailyMakeover.com constantly receives products from beauty companies for editorial review. Please read our Editorial Ethics Pledge if you’d like to know how we select products to feature.

You HAVE got to check out a new feature we just launched called One-Click Looks. It puts the hairstyle and makeup effect of a celebrity on your picture in just one click. How easy and fun is that?  There are four fall trends to try out and each one has several celebrity looks.

Credit: © George Napolitano/FilmMagic.com

Trend 1: The Glamour Girl

The classic red lip is bolder than ever this season. Pair it with a full-volume hairstyle and you’ll be ready to hit any holiday party.  Try this trend seen on:

• Jennifer Lopez (at left)

• Tyra Banks

• Hayden Panettiere

• Katy Perry

Credit: © Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage.com

Trend 2: The New Nude Face

Sporting a natural look is anything but bland this season with the latest metallic nudes for eyes, cheeks, and lips. See this look seen on:

• Hayden Panettiere (at left) 

• Katie Holmes

• Beyonce Knowles

• Britney Spears

Credit: © Marcel Thomas/FilmMagic.com

Trend 3: The Rebel

Embrace your inner bad girl this fall with daring smoky eyes, pale lips and a messy-on-purpose hairstyle.Try this look seen on:

• Taylor Momsen (at left)

• Rihanna

• Pink

• Natasha Bedingfield

Credit: © Jon Furniss/WireImage.com

Trend 4: The Romantic

Whether you’re looking for love or have already found it, these loose updos and utterly feminine makeup looks are perfect for the romantic-at-heart.

• Keira Knightly

• Leighton Meister

• Jessica Simpson

• Charlize Theron

Click any image to try on one of these trends and I bet you’ll say: Now That’s A Makeover!

Rachel 

High School Musical 3 star Ashley Tisdale is rockin’ a brilliant new brunette hair color. (You were right HUEman!) While her dark warm chestnut hair color seems like a drastic change from her usual blond hue, a closer look at Ashley Tisdale’s gallery shows that she’s been gradually going darker over the last six months. This is a really smart makeover move for anyone who’s been with the same look for a long time and wants to try something new, but doesn’t want the total shock of a drastic change in one day. Here’s how she gradually transitioned from blond to brunette.

WAY BEFORE: Ashley Tisdale is a bubbly                       BEFORE: In September, Ashely Tisdale goes a 
bright blonde on May 21, 2008.                                         few shades darker, but still keeps some blonde highlights. 

AFTER: On October 26, we see Ashley has taken the plunge to being a 100% brunette babe.

Click on Ashley Tisdale’s new hairstyle to try it on. 

I love Ashley Tisdale’s new hue. It’s great for fall and winter and also gives this 22 year-old a grown-up, sophisticated and chic look.

What do you think?

Now that’s a makeover!

Rachel