Tag: Trends

7 Sophisticated and Festive July 4th Outfit Ideas

 © Edward Berthelot/Getty Images

1. Pick Two Out of Three

Don’t own much blue? Don’t stress, you can totally keep the color out of your outfit. In fact, any combination from the trio (blue with white, red with blue, etc.) will look just as festive without being quite so on the nose.

Shop similar styles: All Saints top ($55; $22); Summersalt pants ($80); Banana Republic clutch ($70; $41)

© Georgie Hunter/Getty Images

2. Go for Muted Tones

Primary colors can be a bit much. Rather, focus on an understated print (with some addition of red, white or blue) that you can pair with white sneaks.

Shop similar styles: Beach Lunch Lounge dress ($78); Keds sneakers ($75); Furla bag ($398)

© Matthew Sperzel/Getty Images

3. Give Florals a Patriotic Spin

Oh, your floral dress already happens to be blue and red? Add a handbag in any of the three patriotic hues and call it a day.

Shop similar styles: Yumi Kim dress ($258); Rebecca Taylor dress ($297)

© Edward Berthelot/Getty Images

Or Polka Dots

Basically, any red, white and blue print that isn’t stars or stripes will look just as celebratory without feeling super literal.

© Brian Dowling/Getty Images

5. Use Makeup to Your Advantage

An easy denim jacket or classic-cut blazer is always a good idea. You know what else is great? A bright red lip.

Shop similar styles: Fenty Beauty by Rihanna ($18; $13); Sephora Collection ($15); Marc Jacobs Beauty ($32; $16)

© Edward Berthelot/Getty Images

6. Ditto for accessories

Bold lipstick not quite your style? Tie a red and blue scarf around your ponytail to transform your favorite LWD from simply cute to really ready to celebrate America’s birthday.

Shop similar styles: Coach scarf ($95; $48); ASTR the Label dress ($128; $64)

© Vanni Bassetti/Getty Images

7. Keep it Streamlined

So you actually have the perfect shorts for such a specific holiday? Tuck in a structured button-down and take your look from costume-y to classy.

Shop similar styles: Gap blouse ($60; $36); Shein shorts ($8); Sole Society bag ($60)

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

A Step-by-Step Guide to Tie-Dying At Home (You Know You Want To)

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, tie-dye was having a high fashion moment; the psychedelic swirls were all over the S/S20 runways. Fast-forward a few months, and the trend has evolved from high fashion to “home fashion,” thanks to tie-dye sweatsuits becoming the unofficial quarantine uniform. There’s no need to splurge on “luxury loungewear” for this trend, because you can get the look at home. Honestly, you can tie-dye anything: Sweatshirts, sweatpants, socks, sheets, shirts, even shoes. So grab an old item of clothing, and let’s get going!

Step 1: Gather Supplies

I suggest getting a tie-dye kit—that includes everything you need and has 15 different colors. Your must-have items include:

  • Squeeze bottles for the dye
  • Gloves
  • Dye or bleach
  • Rubber bands

Step 2: Get Your Workstation Ready

Tie-dying is a messy activity. I suggest you work outside, or somewhere like a garage or an unfinished basement. If you’re doing this inside, make sure you lay down towels or plastic to protect your space.

If an outdoor space isn’t an option, try your bathtub or shower.

Step 3: Pick Your Design

There are so many different swirls and patterns when it comes to tie-dye. There are no wrong answers here—you can go bold and bright with several shades, or stick to one color. The beauty of tie-dye is that the basic steps are the same no matter which design you choose. Once you have the steps down, the ways you twist, fold and place rubber bands on your shirt will determine the design.

I’m going to break down the classic spiral on a T-shirt, because you can’t beat the classics, but feel free to follow these steps with your own original design or a different pattern.

The Classic Tie Dye Spiral

Prepare the item. Start out with a pre-washed T-shirt that is still damp—damp, but not dripping wet. Lay the shirt flat on a surface that can get messy.

Twist the fabric. Pick a spot in the center of your shirt. Pinch the fabric and twist it in a spiral motion. Continue twisting the shirt until it looks like a cinnamon roll.

Work your rubber bands. Grab your rubber bands and wrap them around the shirt, creating six or more wedge shapes. This will create our spiral design. The placement of your rubber bands and how your twist your shirt will determine the end design.

Dye it. Throw on some gloves, grab your squeeze bottles of dye, and apply a color to each wedge.

Let the item sit. The shirt needs to sit in order to absorb the dye. Place your shirt in a Ziploc bag for anywhere between eight and 24 hours (the longer the dye sits, the more intense your color will be.)

Rinse it.After you let your shirt soak, it’s time to rinse it under cold water. Rinse until the water turns clear. Remove the rubber bands and rinse again.

Wash it. There will still be some dye left in your shirt. Throw it in the wash, but separate from your other clothes so that the dye doesn’t bleed on anything else.

Allow it to dry. Finally let the shirt dry. You can either throw it in the dryer or hang to dry.

You’re done! VOILA! Enjoy your new tie-dyed item.

Written by Shelby Comroe for Marie Claire

How to Tie a Head Scarf

Do you guys have scarves that are just sitting in your closet waiting to be worn again?! Have no fear but we are here to show you how to wear them in the summertime! One of our favorite ways is a head wrap! We have so many ideas on our Knot Library! Go check it out. 🙂

Scarves.net has lots of fun, lightweight, summer scarves this year that you won’t want to miss! Complete your summer style with a stylish scarf. Wear it as a head wrap, wear it as a wrap or cover up, you can even wear it around your floppy sun hat and tie it in a bow. We have SO MANY fun ideas!

Check this head scarf out:

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Article by Scarves dotnet

 

Why Jigsaw Puzzles Are So Soothing

But why and how exactly do puzzles soothe us during difficult times? HuffPost spoke to Maenpaa and other experts to find out.

They Offer a Sense of Control

“While COVID-19 is associated with a lack of control and an unknown end, puzzles offer the opposite,” said Michael Vilensky, a psychologist at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center. “With a puzzle, with enough time and effort, we can control the outcome, know it will end, and experience a sense of relief and accomplishment when it’s finished.”

Karen Kavett is YouTube personality with a channel entirely dedicated to jigsaw puzzles. She told HuffPost she agrees that jigsaw puzzles are a great activity when the world feels out of control because the task is entirely within your power. You can do it solo or with a group. You can spend all day putting it together or just work on it for a few minutes at a time whenever you’re in the mood.

With a puzzle, with enough time and effort, we can control the outcome, know it will end, and experience a sense of relief and accomplishment when it’s finished. Michael Vilensky, Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center

“It’s also an activity where you’re simply assembling an item that already exists, rather than needing to expend mental energy to create something new,” she added. “Plus, since there are so many different types of jigsaw puzzles out there these days, anyone can find an image that speaks to them.”

There’s A Clear Purpose

Puzzles can provide a clear goal and sense of purpose in this time when people feel aimless and unable to map out future plans.

You Can Feel Accomplished

“Human beings perform best when we have tasks that we are competent at and can succeed at but that challenge us just enough to feel accomplished when we complete them,” said Maenpaa.

He added that jigsaw puzzles are unique in the way they engage the logical part of the brain (rationally fitting pieces together) and the creative side (envisioning the big picture of the completed work).

It’s A Meditative Experience

For many, doing a jigsaw puzzle almost feels like meditation. That’s how A.J. Jacobs, an author who is working on a book about different types of puzzles, describes the experience.

“Some jigsaw friends of mine talk about how time just melts away,” he said. “You feel like you’ve been working on a puzzle for five minutes, but in reality three hours have passed. That can be helpful when you’re stuck inside for two months.”

Focusing on individual puzzle pieces and one overall image forces people to be present and relax. It’s also a tactile task without external stimulation like screens.

You Can Make It About Togetherness

“While puzzles can be satisfying on your own, they can also act as a welcome social activity during quarantine, in that the conversation can be about something other than COVID-19 and can bring about a sense of togetherness and working toward a shared goal,” Vilensky said.

They Provide a Welcome Escape

Jigsaw puzzles offer a way to break up the monotony of the day in quarantine. They also take us back to simpler times before the pandemic.

“Puzzles are a throwback,” said Vilensky. “Like other popular quarantine activities (bread-making, going for a drive), puzzles can help us connect to the past and offer a sense of familiarity that is reassuring during new and chaotic times.”

Kaeppeler noted that certain types of puzzle images are calming and appealing to customers because they provide a sense of escape.

“For example, images that have a first-person view of a setting provide a calm environment for someone to focus and relax,” he said. Travel-related puzzles can also offer a feeling of a getaway.

You might like to try one to see how a puzzle might work for you.

Article by Caroline Bologna

The 10 Best Hair Dyes for Men to Use at Home for a Natural Look

Before you ask, yes, men can dye their hair and plenty more do than you’d probably assume. There is no shame in dying your hair, it’s a personal choice after all, but there are some things to take into account. Like, are you going to go see a professional colorist or do it at home? Home hair dying can be daunting to the novice and the experienced dyer alike, but depending on the look you’re going for, can be just the ticket.

How to Choose a Hair Dye for the Color You Want

The first thing to consider when picking an at-home hair dye is, duh, what color you want your hair to be. Traditionally, when most guys considered dying their hair, it was to cover up grays and seamlessly blend in with their natural color, says Deb Rosenberg, lead colorist and AVP of Education at Color & Co. But now there is a big trend toward men becoming more experimental. “I’ve had more guys call up looking for vivid pastels,” she says as an example.

If you’re trying to dye your hair a candy color that’s one thing (and requires more steps), but the average guy wants a dye job that looks as natural as possible. To achieve that, Nathan recommends choosing a hair dye that’s only a shade or two darker than your natural hair or one shade lighter. Anything more drastic is difficult to achieve on your own. Picking a color that is too dark is going to leave your hair looking unnaturally “inky” and too light runs the risk of turning your hair orange, she says. When you’re doing your own dye, keep it simple.

How to Choose Between Permanent Hair Dye and Semi-Permanent Hair Dye

The other thing you need to consider is what kind of hair dye you want. Permanent hair dye will offer the most coverage but won’t ever wash out (it will fade after a few weeks of washing and to keep it vibrant, you’ll need a color-preserving shampoo). Semi-permanent or demi-permanent hair dyes will start fading almost immediately and will eventually wash out. It sounds like a waste of time, but these non-permanent dyes are ideal for gray blending—when you want to minimize grays but not cover them completely. “Gray blending looks the most believable,” says colorist George Papanikolas. He recommends using semi-permanent dye to “spot treat” areas like the temples where gray can cluster, instead of using a full-coverage dye on your whole head.

How to Apply Hair Dye at Home

Applying all at-home hair dye is basically the same process. Shampoo a few days before and don’t put in any styling products. Read the directions on the package and gather the tools you need beforehand (including a timer, brushes, etc.) in the bathroom so you’re not scrambling around while dye is on your hair. Some brands require mixing and others don’t and regardless of which you choose, use gloves when you apply the dye and apply a protective barrier, like Vaseline around your hairline and ears (to repel stains). Apply the dye to dry hair and let it sit for the amount of time advised in the instructions. Then rinse it out and use a color-preserving shampoo like R+Co Gemstone Color Shampoo to stop the process. If you have short hair, be ready to do that all again in about four weeks and to keep your color looking as fresh as possible, reduce the amount you shampoo and use that color-safe shampoo when you do.

But no matter what kind of hair dye you use at home, it’s never going to 100% match your natural color because it’s a chemical reaction happening on your head. Manage your expectations from the beginning by understanding what your hair color goal is: simple gray coverage, a whole new head of pink hair, or somewhere in between. That will inform what kind of dye you choose.

So, what hair dye should you choose? These are the best hair dyes for men according to professional hair colorists, no matter what look you want. Live free and dye hard and remember, always follow the directions.

Just For Men Easy Comb-In Color

Just For Men Touch of Gray Hair Coloring for Men

SoftSheen-Carson Hair Color for Men

True Sons Hair Dye

Manic Panic Flash Lightning Hair Bleach Kit

This article written by Garrett Munce for Men’s Health contains descriptions of each product and where to buy it.  Just be careful.  Very, very careful!