Waves & Braids: Coverings’ Favorite Summer Hairstyles

Summer is just around the corner, and the key to great summer hair is texture. Create fun-in-the-sun coifs with beachy waves and braids. Not sure how to get the look? Our guide of warm-weather hairstyles will keep you in-vogue as you soak up some rays.

The Messy Side Braid (or Fishtail)

Why do we love this look? Because it’s a slightly messy braid that falls to the side. That means your just 5 minutes away from a chic, red-carpet look. It’s perfect for a day at the beach or a night out with your beau. And because the “messiness” is what makes it charming, there are no superior braiding skills required. Simply, give yourself a deep side-part (lining your part with the natural arch in your eyebrow is a good way to go). Sweep your hair to one side and start braidin’. Be sure not to pull your hair to tight. You want it loose and a little voluminous. Secure the end with a rubberband and you’re good to go.

The Front Braid with Beach Waves

If the messy side braid only takes 5 minutes, then this look with a partial front braid only takes about 2 1/2. It’s a quick hairdo that works at the beach or a summer church picnic. Give yourself a deep side-part and section off the front of your  hair. Do a partial braid across the front hairline, and secure the braid with a bobby-pin. To get perfect beach waves, loosely twist your tresses around a 1″ barrel curling iron or throw your hair into some hot rollers for a few minutes. It’s all about looking natural. Then, just finger comb the waves so they separate and look seaside fresh.

The Milkmaid Braid

This Swiss Miss look has us going cray cray and our Editor-in-Chief is itching to rock the look herself. While the milkmaid braid takes a little more time to create, it’s a little bit old-school Swede and a little bit 70s beatnik with a modern update. Start with a modestly off-center part. Braid your hair loosely. Pull each braid across the crown and secure on the opposite side. Pull out some face framing fringe and your ready for a day at the beach or a night of clog dancing.

Check out more summer hairdos.

Swinging Summer Updos

I have been searching high and low for hairdos that would provide cool and chic results for the upcoming steamy summer days. The styles I found that would work for medium to long lengths should give the added finish to a stunning maxidress or a day at the office.

Future Perfect

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top Shop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cinnamon Bun

Great Fixes For A Bad Hair Day

We have all had them. You know, a bad hair day. Well, I have searched high and low to find the best fixes for a bad hair cut or your hair is just growing out of a hairstyle and you are waiting to get to the stylist.

Be Happy With Your Hair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Studies show that only 60% of women are truly with their hair.  The truth is that many women do not like their natural hair.  Today, we can make so many changes to our hair such as straight hair to curly or curly to straight.

Consumer Reports showed that ”the average woman spends about $195 a year on haircuts and $260 on color”.  One third of women have the salon experience less often to depend on home styling products. Yet, only 40% of women are happy with their hair.

So, what makes for a bad hair day?  The study interviewed over 1,000 women and found that 44% of women had bad hair days according to their mood, 26% cried after a haircut, 14%  just don’t like their hair type, and 10% dislike their hair color at all.  One out of four women are frustrated with the thickness an the color because they think their hair is either too fine or too thin.

Yahoo Shine has some interesting facts that people discussed in this survey:

• 19% of women love their hair, 41% like it, 5% dislike it, 4% hate it and 30% are neutral
• 49% have naturally straight hair, but 10% of them style it curly
• 23% have naturally curly hair, but 19% of them style it straight
• On average, women pay $39 for a haircut and $65 on salon color
• 53% regularly color their hair
• On average, women spend 15 minutes or less styling their hair, and wash it 4 times a week

In my opinion, there is nothing we can do to be satisfied with our hair but to accept the hair we were born with.  To embrace who we are and work with it!To be content should be the goal because the grass is always greener on the other side.  No matter what we do, the only way to be truly happy is to accept what we have and not focus on what we do not. 

 

 

 

 

Frizz Fighting Tips for Straight Hair

Most hair straightening products make the hair stiff, lifeless, and dull. Other haircare products left my hair super straight without any body and very greasy. I cannot tell you how many products I have used to get perfectly straight hair.

This video shows viewers how to smooth the hair down with the help of a celebrity stylist. She shows you how to eliminate the frizz from straight hair. So, see if you can use these haircare tips used on Danielle Caputo to tame frizzy hair for a sleeker look.

Danielle’s frizzy hair remedies and tips can be seen in the video clip. Continue to click through the gallery for step-by-step instructions, and visit our Hair Basics section for more easy hair how-tos.

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The Haircut Nightmare

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a neighborhood beauty salon that I pass every day.  I decided to make an appointment last Wednesday to get a shampoo and style.  I was greeted by a receptionist who directed me to the hairstylist who would provide the services I requested.  She walked me to a shampoo room where she began to wash and condition my hair.  I was pleased with this part of the process, but it came time to dry my hair.  I sat under a hair dryer which I frown upon because it takes so long to dry my thick and medium length hair.  I prefer a simple blow dryer.  After about an hour under the dryer, I was motioned to sit in THE CHAIR to get my hair styled.  Twenty minutes may have passed when she said, “You know, your hair would have a cleaner finish if you let me trim your ends.  What do you think?”  I said it would be okay if you are just trimming a couple of inches…

She not only cut the two inches I told her too, but she must have taken two or three more in honor of her own desire to go on a cutting frenzy because my hair was considerably shorter than eighteen inches long before the salon visit! You be the judge.

Here some tips that I learned from this experience:

1)      Never let the stylist turn the chair you sit in away from the mirror!

2)      Ask a lot of questions.

3)      Be very clear on how much hair you want trimmed.

4)      Make sure the stylist is interested in healthy hair and not a “scissor-happy mad stylist”.

Hair do: Clip in bangs

Want bangs without the long term commitment? Try clipping them in. Yes, clip in bangs exist. Whether you want to avoid cutting your own hair or thicken your fringe, these hair extensions are the perfect way to give your hairstyle a new look. Get your hands on these bangs at your local hair supply store or get them online at Hairextensions.com.

Haute summer hair: Ponytails

I have long been referred to by my mom as “Queen of the ponytail.” I rock them nonstop. I just can’t seem to help myself; if I see a rubberband somehow it ends up in my hair. But how do you keep the most basic of hairstyles from looking completely stale and boring? You switch it up! Tailor it to your look for the day. Here are a few ponytail styles I like to rock.

The Braided Ponytail
The braided ponytail is pretty much the same things as the braided bun. Give yourself a deep side part, and section off the front of your hair (width is up to you, though you want at least a medium sized braid). Then, just braid the parted section in a french braid style, following your hairline. Take the end of the braid and the rest of your hair and put it into a ponytail. Ta-da!

The Bouffant Ponytail (with bangs)
Why, the bangs? I think it makes the ponytail look softer and more modern that way. I prefer to wear the bouffant with side swept bangs but you can wear it with full on “in your face” fringe, if you prefer. To get that bump, try pulling your hair over some well placed loose extensions, as opposed to teasing the hair, which can result in damage to the cuticle. Another option is to set the hair at the crown on large rollers, to add lift. Give a spritz of hairspray for hold and secure your bump with bobby pins. Then, secure your hair in a ponytail at the base of the bobby pins. Voilà!

The Textured Ponytail
Give your hair a rest from the flat iron and embrace your natural hair texture. Mine goes into a nice big barrel loose wave when I let it air dry. So, I just gather it on top of my head and put it into a ponytail. Whatever the texture of your hair, add some product that works with it, not against it, put it in a ponytail and go!

John Freida, protecting hair one strand at a time

I am a hair serum junkie. I love that it does all the things to my hair that I want without weighing it down or making it stringy. Right now I’m using John Freida Frizz Ease Thermal Protection Serum, and I’m totally digging it. It gives all the shine of a regular hair serum and offers added heat protection, which is something I need. I have to say that so far the heat protection factor is working pretty well. So of course, I felt compelled to sing it’s praises and share it with all of you. I’ll admit, it’s a tiny bottle for the price but you don’t have to use much to get the benefits. I’ve had my bottle for about a month and haven’t even used 1/4 of it. Whether you need to protect your hair from heat, including UV rays, or if you just want a nice shine enhancing finishing products for your tresses, you get the best of both worlds with this particular John Freida product.

Happy styling!

Beauty tips to help you look younger

We all want to turn back the hands of time and capture our youth in a bottle. If I could I would look the way I did when I was in my early 20s, forever. While that’s not possible, there are a few thing we can do to make onlookers say, “There’s no way she’s (fill in your age here)!” Try these beauty tips to keep you looking younger.

Bronzer
No matter how old, or young, you are every woman needs bronzer. It is the makeup cure all. It gives your skin a beautiful glow, like that of your youth. Mix a bit into your foundation before you apply it for an even all over healthy, dewy look that makes your face come alive.

Lip gloss
I love “juicy” lip colors. Think cherry, fuchsia, watermelon…colors that you associate with childhood. Giving your lips a bit of color in a lip gloss shade will do wonders. First, gloss doesn’t dry your lips out the way lipstick does and you don’t have to worry about feathering. Secondly, you don’t have to worry about lipstick bleeding into wrinkles around your mouth. Plus, something about lip gloss conjures up pictures of our youth. And isn’t that how you’d like to be portrayed, as opposed to “the older lady who always has lipstick on her teeth?”

Hair
There are a few things you want to keep in mind. As you get older your hair should not get darker or harder. That means, stay away from the hairspray, helmet head hairdos, and monotone hair color. Softening your hair will soften your face, so avoid extreme hair looks. Make your hair multidimensional with highlight and low light accents. Regardless of the style, don’t try to keep it in place with gel or hairspray just style it and go. Keeping your hair soft to the touch and flexible will take years off of you.

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