Category: Fashion

Embrace your Gray Hair

Bangstyle

Brunette, black, red, blonde. Your hair gets its vibrant color from a pigment produced by the hair follicles called melanin. As you age, those hair follicles make less and less melanin, and your hair loses its color. 

The most obvious sign of that decreased amount of melanin: gray hairs. Graying the hair is a natural, typical sign of aging. What’s more, that process may begin earlier in some people than others. Your genetic makeup also partly determines when your hair turns gray, so it’s completely normal to notice a couple of gray hairs before your 20s or 30s.

Gray-hair journey: I let my hair naturally go gray when I was 45. I’d been dyeing it for years and hated the time and expense of maintaining the color. It felt like losing the battle against nature because I always had roots. Now I never have to think about color and the chemicals I’m adding to my hair, which suits my low-maintenance lifestyle perfectly.

Transitioning tips: It’s an incredibly humbling experience. The stark contrast made me feel like I was airing all of my dirty laundry. I would put it up in a bun or ponytail to hide the line where the color changed. But if I were to transition today, I’d dye my hair a fun color, like pink, so it’ll be a look when it grows out. 

Why I love it: The comfort of knowing I am being true to my natural self is a huge bonus. I am the youngest I will ever be in my life right now, so why not count my blessings, do what I want, and not be afraid to tackle challenges?

Advice: One thing that did surprise me once I went natural is how many compliments I receive, especially from women. They all say the same thing: how much they love my gray—on me. They’d love to go gray too, but they work in such an ageist field that it’d hurt their career if they stopped coloring their hair. I know we live in an ageist society. Still, instead of going along with it, I always encourage people to challenge norms and let their natural color come through.

Beauty tip: Defined eyebrows are really important. I like using Glossier Boy Brow and a little gold eyeshadow. Wearing heather gray clothes makes me feel washed out, so I wear pinkish-mauve colors—it adds a nice glow.

Source: health.com

Stylish and Flattering Summer Hats You Can Buy on Amazon

When packing for the beach, hats are crucial, both for your look and to protect you from the sun. If you still haven’t found a hat to your liking or in your price range, however, let’s try another option: Amazon. After all, you can find some amazing white t-shirts on there, not to mention work totes. So, there’s hope that the perfect hat awaits you. I perused a ton of hats on the marketplace, and I selected the best ones, ahead, based on style, function, price, and reviews. Since the only other thing you have to go on are photos, other people’s testaments are super important when deciding between two or three styles. Before you even think about laying out in the sun this season, make sure you’re armed with one of the hat options below. Don’t forget about the sunscreen, too.

Victoria Sun Hat

Solid Color Bucket Hat 

Cotton Boonie Sun Hats

Sound of the Ocean Straw Sun Hat

Wide Brim Hat Roll-up Straw Sun Visor Hat

Wide Brim Sun Hat With Wind Lanyard

Panama Sun Hat

Elegant Wide Brim Hat

There they are. So many hats, so little time.

Haircuts That Take Years Off Your Face

Instead of charging to the dermatologists and demanding fillers at the first sign of wrinkles or investing a small fortune on miracle creams, maybe give your hairdresser a call instead. Tell them your issues (the hair ones) about what you think is making you look older, and then let them get scissor-happy.

To reveal just what could be aging you in terms of your hair, we asked two super-knowledgeable hairdressers, Marc Trinder, and Sam Burnett, to reveal the most anti-aging cuts on the circuit.

A Universally-Flattering Cut

The universally-flattering shoulder-length cut is a celebrity favorite. It’s also super customizable, meaning your hairstylist can work with you to create the perfect layers or face-framing look.

“Shoulder-skimming styles are super flattering, as they graze the décolletage and gently frame the face,” says Sam Burnett, owner of Hare & Bone salon. “It’s also worth flagging that thinning hair, especially in younger women, is on the rise, and lobs are one of the best ways to create the illusion of thicker, fuller hair, which is incredibly youth-boosting. Fewer layers and breaking up the blunt outline with some freehand cutting keeps it fresh and modern.”

The Right Bangs

Bangs are a phenomenal way to take years off your appearance. But, bangs that are too short can actually draw more attention to fine lines than you may want.

“A full, blunt fringe can be dramatic, but it will hide lines and can completely frame your face and draw attention to your eyes,” reveals Marc Trinder, owner of Trinder Hair Studios. A foreword on fringes, though. Unless you have a long or oval face shape, go for a softer gradient, says Trinder. “Fringes that curve around and frame the cheekbones will give contour and lift.” So you can pack away that highlighting and bronzing kit right now.

A tip on drying, though: you need the right hairbrush. Don’t wrap your bangs with a round brush or you will have the very dated “bubble bangs.”

Instead, use a boar’s hair paddle brush when blow-drying bangs. Brush bangs to the left than to the right, aiming the blow dryer down onto bangs.

Keep It Natural

Put away your irons and skip the professional straightening treatment and let your natural curls go. Moisturizing products with oils like argan will help keep frizz at bay while making sure your natural texture isn’t weighed down. Moisturized hair is the key to keeping curls defined.

Try a Center Part

The key to the center part is to not make it exactly center, which can look too perfect and unnatural. Instead, aim for just a bit off to the left or right—wherever your natural part lies.

“If you’ve had your parting in the same place for a long time, it can make your hair sit extremely flat,” flags up Trinder. “If you normally wear it straight, try combing your hair back at a diagonal angle, and allow the hair to fall down in a new position.” Use the power of your nozzle to push and direct it into place if you need to.

Opt for a Bob

“Going shorter will automatically give you a more confident and youthful look,” says Burnett. “The modern bob has a defined outline that sits around the jawline framing your face and directing the eyes towards your best features. Textured layers and a choppy fringe just above your eyebrows create even more of a playful feeling.”

Try Out a Pixie

Funky short cuts are great on women no matter their age, but beware — you do have to have some confidence to pull off such an attention-grabbing style. For pixie styles, a decent molding paste or wax can mean the difference between awesome hair and “meh” hair. Without it, your hairstyle could fall flat to your head like a helmet or billow from your head in puffs of frizz.

Be Gentle with Color-Treated Hair

While natural color may fade or become duller over time, you can always color your hair whatever hue you like. Dyeing your hair can take a toll on it, so it’s always a good idea to use products that will help your new color stay in your hair, like a color-protecting shampoo. If you’re not into going for a full-on color, maybe try some highlights or lowlights first. If color maintenance is too much trouble, skip it altogether and let your natural color fly.

Just the Right Amount of Layers

Layered hair is controversial. Too much can leave you with a dated look. But the right kind of layers can add body and fullness to otherwise limp locks. This is a great layered look. Note the texture and the gorgeous color.

“Layers that are too short can instantly make a haircut look old-fashioned due to the roundness in shape that it creates,” explains Trinder. “If you feel you need layers due to thickness or you like the texture they create, keep them long, and have the weight removed using slicing or razoring techniques that will create a more, natural graduated effect.”

written by Julyne Derrick & Becci Valis

Photo credit: MICHAEL LOCCISANO; GREGG DEGUIRE AND ROB KIM; KEVORK DJANSEZIAN; JESSE GRANT; FREDERICK M. BROWN; DAVE KOTINSKY; CINDY ORD; BARRY KING/GETTY IMAGES

Dressy Shorts for Summer

 

Dressy shorts. A contradiction in terms, right? However, I have seen them more and more in the last few years, and I must say, I’m a convert!

They look great with a blouse, a blazer or a loose tank top. Heels are the way to go if it’s an evening out, but for a dressy lunch or day event, they are really cute with flats as well. I think they are a great option when you are not sure how dressy an event will be and you are torn between a dress and pants. Obviously, they are not appropriate for some events (a wedding is one that comes to mind) but for dinners out, drinks with friends, or a summer party, I think they are a great choice. I’m even seeing them on the red carpet! And for those of you who aren’t comfortable in shorts, just go a little longer. Knee length or almost-to-the-knee shorts are adorable with heels, and no different than a skirt – only cuter!

 
Honestly, is this not the cutest?! We can’t see her shoes, but I could see a heel with this for dinner out or dressier flats for a lunch date. Via Lovely Pepa.
 
 
 
Here wearing flats, but the whole outfit is elevated way beyond the average cut-offs and tee. Perfect for walking the streets of Rome or doing some afternoon shopping! Via J.Crew.
 

 

Ali Larter at a red-carpet event. This is the outfit that sold me on dressy shorts! Via Pop Sugar.