Hair Styling Tools

The classic braid is a fashion staple this fall…It’s simple, feminine and perfect for work OR play!  Getting the look is oh-so-easy in just three steps!

-Part your hair where it naturally falls.  To add a little extra volume, take a section of hair from the crown and back comb once or twice (Try using the Spornette Little Wonder Teasing Brush!).  If you’re hair is fine or super straight, you may want to use some haircare products such as a texturizing spray to keep the hair from slipping from the braid.

-Pull your hair into a low ponytail at the nape of your neck and divide it into three even sections.  Braid the sections softly to avoid losing the volume you added at the crown.  And, as an alternative, rather than the braid hanging down the middle of your back, gather the hair for your ponytail and pull it to one side of your head or the other so that you can have a side braid as shown in the pictures.

-Use a clear elastic band to fasten the end and mist with a light hair spray.  For a softer look, pull a few strands free from the braid to frame your face.

Just like that you have a versatile style ready to go wherever you do!

Bad hair day?  Too hot for your trusty baseball hat?  Regardless, a girl has got to have options!  This five minute updo is a perfect addition to any bad hair day repertoire!

-Skip the brush and use your fingers to gather dry hair into a low ponytail.  Fasten with an elastic band.

-Next, twist the tail and begin wrapping it around the elastic.  Use a bobby pin and secure in place.

-With an aerosol hair spray, mist all over.  Gently rough up the bun to give it that loose, undone feel.  If you are uncomfortable with too many flyaways, use some hair serum and dab them on on those unwanted strands.

-To top off the look, slip on a headband.  The hair behind the band will bump up a little and will add a dressier finish.

What better way to frame your face and draw attention to those gorgeous eyes, than mixing up the way you style your bangs?  Dig into your arsenal of hair styling tools and your ready to go.  Here’s your how-to guide for three fun and fabulous looks!

-Wispy and Whimsical - Start by pointing your hair dryer straight down over you bangs.  Begin moving the dryer back and forth from side to side as you comb through to be sure you aren’t flattening your bangs against your forehead.  When your hair is just about dry, use your fingers to gently tug down and tame any fly aways.  Finish with applying a drop of lightweight pomade or serum to the ends.

-Side-swept and Sultry- Using your 2.5-inch round brush, carefully wrap your bangs around it and pull them gently away from the side you normally wear them (i.e. if yours typically go to the right, start by drying them to the left.)  Move your dryer back and forth from above for about 10 seconds as you smooth them.  Next begin bring pieces over in half inch sections, pinning them in place as they cool.  This helps to maintain shape.

-Straight across Shag- Comb out your wet bangs with a fine-tooth comb.  With your hairdryer fitted with a nozzle, begin drying your bangs.  Be sure to  focus the heat from above.  Next using a paddle brush, pull your bangs to the right for a few seconds, then to the left .  Repeat until your bangs are completely dry.  To keep flyaways at bay, always finish by holding the paddle brush underneath with your hairdryer set to cool.

Give these super cute styles a try, see which fringe best frames your face!

If your face shape is narrow at the jaw line and wide at the cheekbones and/or forehead, then guess what – you have a heart shaped face.  Ok, so now that it has been determined that you fall under this category, what is the right hair style for you?

For starters, it is best to consider chin-length or longer hair styles.  Some additional considerations would be to try out parting your hair on the side or sweeping forward layers around the upper part of  your face with some gentle wispy bangs.  What about a bobbed hairstyle that is chin length?  As you can see there are many options, but let’s focus on the type hair you have and what styles will work with your particular texture and length.

RELAXED, STRAIGHT, AND FINE:  Can you picture a pixie?  If so, ask your hair stylist for a short, wispy layered cut with enough length to allow for some face-framing bangs in the front and some coverage at the nape.  This pixie/shag cut on Victoria Beckham as shown in the picture on the right, can be a fabulous style for a heart shaped face with fine features.

SHORT, MEDIUM, OR LONG LENGTH CURLY:  Short: Layering is the name of the game, but don’t have short layers near the top of the head. This will give you a “top-heavy” look and defeat the goal of making the chin area look wider.  A pixie cut works, or for thosse who have looser curls a bob cut hitting just beneath the ears is great. If you have tighter curls then a bob cut above the ears will help even out the “top-heavy” look.  Medium:  Medium length curly hair styles are actually the best for heart shaped faces.  If your hair is wavy curly then try some side swept bangs and not blunt cut. Blunt will make your face look shorter.  The looser the curl the better the bangs look.  And, once again, layering works well only if the hair is tapered around the face to make those fabulous features stand out.  Long:  When your curly hair is longer, try keeping the length no more than 4 to 5 inches below the chin.  This adds width to the lower part of the face where you are trying to achieve some balance.  For extra curly long hair you can try twisting your hair back away from the face as long as the hair is not pulled too far back.  Allow the hair to frame the face and leave just a touch hanging on the sides. 

MEDIUM TO LONG STRAIGHT OR WAVY:  Medium:  Medium length hair on a heart shaped face provides the most options for hair styling. Some definite don’ts,  however, are 1) do not add height at the crown of the head, 2) do not have your cut end at the chin line.  If your hair is straight and you elect a medium-length bob or longer layered bob, add a few waves by using a curling iron or some hot rollers.  If your hair is medium length and naturally wavy, add some haircare product such as mousse or curl enhancer and use a diffuser when drying your hair.  If your hair is medium to shoulder length, a cut with wispy layers that kick out can be a great option.  The most essential element in either medium or long hair is having some bangs. Stick with wispy layered bangs and definitely stay away from the choppy bangs.  Reese Witherspoon is a prime example of a heart shaped face and more times than not you will see her with bangs that complement her face shape and accents her facial features.  Long:  If you have longer hair, then there are some very specific things that will help.  Have I mentioned the word layering before?  Well, it applies here once again.  And, if you don’t want bangs, here is where a center part with face framing layers that fall forward on your face will really provide an illusion of balance.  If you add curls or waves to this cut, all the better.  Long hair can take attention away from a pointy chin when long soft layers that are wispy and graze your cheekbones.  Highlights can add depth and multi-tones into long hair. As for length, it’s best not to go any more than 4 to 5 inches below the chin so as not to elongate the chin.  When I think of long heart shaped celebrities, I think of Jennifer Anniston and Michelle Pfeiffer.

So how do you know whether or not your face is considered square shaped?  First of all you could measure your head from top to bottom and side to side and you would find that it measures about the same.   Take a good look in the mirror and if your face has a parallel width at the jaw, cheeks, and forehead, then consider yourself one of the lucky ones because you share this trait with a host of celebrities such as, Ellen Barkin, Jessica Biel, Rosario Dawson, Keira Knightley, Demi Moore, Mandy Moore, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Simpson and many more  A distinguishing trait of a square shaped face is that it has strong angular features.

Ok, now that you have determined that your face is square, what type hair style is going to look the best on you?  It can depend a lot on what length hair your have as well as the texture and thickness.  Some general do’s and don’ts for square faced hair styles are as follows:

HAIRSTYLE DO’S FOR SQUARE SHAPED FACES:

 1)  Stick with a short to medium length haircut

2)  Try some long wispy bangs – make sure they are swept to the side and longer on the sides

3)  Lightly layer the hair as this helps soften the square look and adds volume to the head – the result is a rounder looking face

4)  Wear an off-center part

5)  Have your stylist incorporate some curved lines along the edges of your style to balance out the angles of the face

6)  Try some choppy ends

7)  If your hair is long have the hair layered that drapes the sides of your face ad apply some curl or wave

 If your face is square and narrow, add volume to the sides of your hair to help your face appear wider and fuller

9)  If you have curly hair, consider keeping the length of your hair below your jawbone – if too short hair tends to frizz – if cut is longer it weighs down the curls

10) If your hair is super straight spritz your hair with a spray-in hair protectant and using a curling iron, wrap two inch sections around the barrel – run your fingers through your hair and then apply hair spray

HAIRSTYLE DON’TS FOR SQUARE SHAPED FACES:

 1)  Do not wear blunt bangs or straight bangs

2)  Avoid center parts

3)  Don’t wear long straight hair styles

4)  Do not wear a chin-length style – this draws attention to the jawline

5)  Avoid any type of geometric lines in your style

6)  Do not pull your hair back as this accentuates the squareness of the face

7)   If your hair is short do not wear it all in one length – taper it