My simple and easy steps are:

• Spray dry shampoo into your hair (the spray kind is more effective than the powder kind for this method) without forgetting to spray underneath by lifting up at the roots. Give it a good all-over spray to create texture all the way through.
• Blow dry your hair on the lightest setting and run a brush through it at the same time. This will disperse the dry shampoo evenly through your hair, while simultaneously giving it a bit of volume. It doesn’t take too long, just dry through until you feel that you’ve got the texture you need.
• Take a teasing brush and tease at the roots of the crown of your head for a bit of volume. For the bottom of your hair, I also like to do a little bit of “under brushing” where I quickly run the brush starting from the bottom of my hair and brush up. This creates even more volume and texture to work with.
• Give your hair a light misting of hair spray.
• Curl as you usually would.

When you first curl, your hair will be a bit more curly than usual because the dry shampoo will help hold the shape; however, running your fingers through your hair will help to relax the curls and, because you’ve added that bit of texture and hold, the curls will last all day!

Let me know if you guys try it out! It’s been my fool-proof method so I hope it works for you, too!

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A few months ago one of my best friends’ mother died of colon cancer. She battled it for years and, in the process, not only did she end up loosing the hair on her head, but her eyebrows and lashes as well. Despite only having met her a few times, the situation deeply affected me and it is now a constant reminder to not only appreciate being healthy, but having healthy and vibrant parents, too.

I remember talking about it with my friend when her mother started undergoing treatment and I immediately started researching what I could do to help. Believe it or not, this wand from Model Co. became a go-to tool for her. Seeing how excited she was to get that wand made it clear that when you’re suffering to such a severe extent, every little bit can make a difference. To that end, I wanted to highlight an awesome partnership that was just announced — and how YOU CAN HELP!

Pantene and Seventeen Magazine have teamed up to host the first-ever National Donate Your Hair Day on April 27, benefiting the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program. This will be the first annual day of giving where people nationwide are encouraged to cut and donate their hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths, an organization that hopes to inspire people to grow, cut, and donate their healthy hair to create free, real-hair wigs for women who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments. To date, Pantene Beautiful Lengths has received more than 311,000 hair donations from generous men, women, and children and more than 18,000 real-hair wigs have been provided to female cancer patients.

In celebration of the inaugural National Donate Your Hair Day, Pantene and Seventeen Magazine will host an event on April 27 at the uber luxe — and when I say luxe, I’m talking Chanel nail polish lining the wall! (Trust, I’ve been there) — Rita Hazan Salon in New York City. Pantene Celebrity Hair Stylist Danilo will also be at the salon to support the hair donors and lend his voice to the program.

If you would like to donate 8-inches of healthy hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths, please make an appointment anytime from 12pm-6pm on April 27 for a free cut and style with a top stylist. All you need to do is send an email with your preferred appointment time to BeautifulLengthsWigs@devries-pr.com.

In addition to the New York City event, salons nationwide will be participating by hosting their own events and offering discounted or free haircuts to those donating on this day. A list of participating salons can be found at http://beautifullengths.wordpress.com/national-donate-your-hair-day/ .

The requirements to donate hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths are as follows:

1. Each hair donation must be at least 8 inches long.
2. Hair may be colored with vegetable dyes, rinses and semi-permanent dyes. It cannot be bleached, permanently colored or chemically treated.
3. Gray hair is difficult to use in the wig-making process, so hair may not be more than 5% gray at the time of donation.

For more information about National Donate Your Hair Day, the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program, how to get involved, and a list of participating salons, please visit http://www.seventeen.com/beauty/tips/donate-your-hair-day or www.facebook.com/PanteneNA.

Image: Pantene

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Last year, I’d let my hair grow to the longest lengths it had ever been. I’m talking all the way down my back. This had never happened before in my life, so I kept it long for the novelty factor. Sure, it was an absolute bear to blow dry in the winter. Sure, it looked like many other girls’ hair I passed on the street. But for me, it was new and different. So, I didn’t feel the itch to cut it for a long time.

But soon, even though I really didn’t feel compelled to change it, I figured I could not let it get much longer. It would really start getting in the way. I could just continue to trim it and keep it the same length, or chop it off. Ultimately, I decided to chop it off, donating 11.5 inches of hair to Locks of Love (Seriously — I am so glad I did this, have zero hair regret, and I highly recommend you send off your strands if you want a major cut). And want to know what I figured out?

I really do feel more myself with short hair. My current look is a longer, slightly-asymmetrical bob with thick bangs a la Zooey Deschanel. And it suits me. I just have to be “different.” It’s been my M.O. since my high-school days. I just had no idea people cared so much.

That is why this piece on Yahoo! about celebs being dissed for their non-traditional hair pretty much bummed me out, especially in regards to Katie Holmes’ bob, and Emma Watson’s and Michelle Williams’ pixie cuts.

It’s becoming trendy to break the mold, rock short ‘dos, and do something daring. But why is everyone so shocked, and even almost outraged, when someone actually takes the plunge and cuts her hair? Almost like it’s a good idea in theory, until someone gets the scissors out. And really, why do people react so strongly to a haircut that another person totally loves? The backlash befuddles me, folks.

I do remember the controversy surrounding Emma’s pixie. I remember Michelle Williams telling a confused reporter that she cut her hair for the one man who ever really adored short hair, Heath Ledger. I remember fingers being pointed at Katie Holmes, with everyone crying that she’d changed and this hairstyle was proof. Sigh.

Can I offer a little advice to the critics? Please, cut the comments. Hair is a very personal thing, in my opinion. It’s a way to express yourself. A cut — whether it be long layers, a bob, a pixie, or even a half-buzzed ‘do! — is a commitment. You’re making a little statement about yourself everyday by the way you wear your hair. I applaud people who take style risks. It says they aren’t afraid to be different, standout, and find something that works for them. And isn’t that kind of cool? Let these lovely ladies be. Wouldn’t you want it the same way?

Here’s my wish:

Indulge in a trendy cut, something non-traditional and quirky like Emma and Michelle, if you please. It’s the perfect time to do it in the style world. It’s a tad risky, but not so uncommon it seems crazy. But if you’re not into it, that’s cool too. As long as your hair conveys just what you hope it will — for instance, breezy waves are easygoing and blunt bangs are edgy — there should be no complaints. So…

Let’s all think twice before spreading any hair negativity, ‘kay? Really. Those strands are personal!

Would you ever work a non-traditional cut like one of the celebs mentioned?

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Everyone likes a good comeback, no? I guess Pantene agrees because they’ve just brought back three previously discontinued product lines: Pro-V Ice Shine, Silver Expressions, and Anti Dandruff. Here’s the lowdown!

Pro-V Ice Shine

This collection consists of a shampoo, a conditioner, and a 2-in-1 shampoo & conditioner. Each product is $3.99 and has a pro-vitamin formulation to penetrate to the core of strands. Unless you’re REALLY in a time crunch however, opt for the shampoo and the conditioner. 2-in-1 hair formulations are never as effective.

Silver Expressions

When hair becomes gray it doesn’t reflect light as well, which is why it tends to look dull and lifeless. This particular range, consisting of a shampoo and a conditioner ($4.99 each), is made with non-color depositing formulations designed to nourish hair (more moisture = brighter hair).

Anti Dandruff

Pretty self-explanatory! This collection consists of a shampoo and a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner ($3.99 each), all of which are formulated with Pyrithione zinc, an ingredient that can help fight the flaking, itching, and irritation associated with dandruff.

Check out all the products here. I wonder which collection Eva Mendes, Liv Tyler, and Naomi Watts — all faces for the brand — use?

Image: Pantene

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Guys, I made a big hairstyle decision yesterday. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for ages, but could never quite commit to. Other hairstyles got in the way, people tried to discourage me from going for it…so I just kept putting it off. Until now. Since I just don’t have an emotional attachment to my hair, I figured why not? Let’s make the change.

Annnnnnd I did! I got thicker bangs! And I’m really happy I got this cut. Let’s talk about why I chose this hairstyle, and a few other on-trend lock looks for the spring season that you should definitely consider.

Bold bangs. Zooey Deschanel is sort of bringing the bold bang back, and I love it. I am one of those girls who has no reservations about chopping her hair off, and likes to work a statement cut. I think it gives me a bit of intrigue (I’ve been told I’m mysterious, y’all. I say it’s because of the hair). And I adore Zooey’s look, but I was actually channeling my hair doppelganger Rose Byrne when I decided to work the thick-bang look with my current hairstyle, which is a bob. Just proves this will work with a variety of cuts. Go for it if you like a daring look, with a whole lot of flare.

Lots of layers. Everyone is in love with Blake Lively’s voluminous cut, right? Well, she gets that major volume from her layers. They carve out definition to a hairstyle, and add tons of body. If you want to amp up an existing long or medium cut, think about this option. Ask your stylist for a face-framing cut, with longer layers if you are attached to your ponytail or shorter layers if you really want to crank up the volume.

The long bob. Miley Cyrus recently stepped out in a long bob with a lot of texture. As did Olivia Wilde, whose highlights also add a new-season, breath of fresh air to the look. I’ve already mentioned Rose Byrne. It’s a hot hair trend! The best way to work this look for spring is loose and wavy. Ask your stylist for a cut that hits at, or slightly above, the shoulders. And consider a side-swept bang for an easy-breezy look.

I hope you guys consider making a spring hair change. Nothing will transform your whole look, make every outfit fresh and give you an extra dose of confidence quite like killer hair.

What new cut would you like to try this season?

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Stacy Keibler’s hair by Peter Savic for Couture Colour

LOOK: Old Hollywood Glamour with a Modern Twist

INSPIRATION: “I wanted to create a look that was soft and glamorous to match her gorgeous dress,” notes Peter Savic for Couture Colour.

KEY TIP/TECHNIQUE: First he applied a quarter size of the Couture Colour Pequi Oil Treatment to wet hair from root to tip. This product takes away dryness and adds shine. He then blow-dried her hair with a round brush. Once it was dry, he parted the hair on the left and used a two inch curling iron, starting in the back, all one direction to create the slight a-symmetrical wave.

Michelle Williams’ hair by Chris McMillan for Couture Colour

LOOK: Fashionably Glamorous – The Blonde Pixy

INSPIRATION: “Ladies in Hollywood are either fashionable or glamorous. Michelle is fashionably glamorous,” explains Chris McMillan, Celebrity hairstylist for Couture Colour.

KEY TIP/TECHNIQUE: The secret to any short hairstyle is a great cut. Additional to that, hair needs to look healthy. For the Academy Awards, Chris first applied a dime size of the Couture Colour Pequi Oil Treatment to wet hair. This product is perfect for Michelle’s short hair because it instantly absorbs, leaving her blonde hair fresh and vibrant without weighing it down. “I am often afraid of oils on blondes, but the Pequi Oil Treamtent keeps her blonde vibrant without changing the color,” says McMillan. He let her hair dry naturally while she was getting her makeup done, then added a bit of a Volumizing Mousse and then dried her hair with a 1 1/2 inch round brush with soft bristles because I believe her hair is delicate.

Emma Stone’s hair by Mara Roszak for Couture Colour

LOOK: Fresh and Modern Bun with an Elegant Twist for Oscar-worthy hair.

INSPIRATION: “It was all about the dress! The bow of the dress reminded me of a flower and the bun in the back went from ear to ear to look like a flower with a loose and fresh feel,” says Mara Roszak, Celebrity hairstylist for Couture Colour.

KEY TIP/TECHNIQUE: The key to starting off Emma’s look was a sleek and smooth blow-dry, which Mara achieved using the Couture Colour Pequi Oil Treatment on wet hair from the ends and working up. Mara did not want to compete with the high neck of Emma’s dress so she kept the hair sleek and simple in front. Couture Colour Pequi Oil is the secret to keeping colored hair looking healthy and shiny. To create the bun, Mara pulled hair into a mid-height ponytail and began wrapping pieces of hair keeping it loose and wide and securing each piece with bobbypin. “I wanted to keep Emma’s hair structured without feeling too stiff and the bun allowed for her look to be simple and elegant, yet fresh,” said Roszak. Roszak finished the look with Couture Colour’s Pequi Oil Finishing Polish for smooth hair and to give that extra shine!

Images: Couture Colour

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I have tested more than one type of dry shampoo to get the perfect style volume, but out of all of the dry shampoos that I have tried, here are my top favorites:

Stila Jade Blossom Hair Refresher – I have been using this one the longest and it’s been the best, not only because it’s got a pleasant smell to it (a bit floral-y), but because it gets the oil out just right with only a few shakes and it’s the easiest to comb out so you don’t have a white powder residue in your hair. It gives just a light amount of texture, so it’s good for a little teasing at the roots.

Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo – This is a recent favorite and I like it because it’s a bit more substantial than the Stila one, so if you are needing more texture and hold, I’d recommend this one. It also has a nice scent, but this one is a bit more citrusy. The bottle and nozzle are a bit messy so watch out when you apply it. Also, with the thicker consistency comes the fact that it’s harder to brush out of your hair, so my tip is to put a little in, brush it out and repeat until you get the texture you like. Don’t just pile it all on, otherwise you’ll end up with a weird gray-ish tint at your roots because of the powder.
Salon Grafix Invisible Dry Spray Shampoo - it just so happens that both of my drugstore buys are the spray versions, but I have found that the spray versions are more effective in styling/giving texture than soaking up extra oils like the powder versions do. This one you only need a few sprays at the crown and you’ll be able to tease your hair into an updo.

Psssssst Volume + Color Instant Spray Shampoo – this one is fantastic because it comes in blonde and brunette so, unlike the other sprays, I don’t have to worry about the product leaving a white or gray tint on my very black hair. This one blends in beautifully and gives great texture and hold.

So, if you haven’t been able to achieve amazing volume in your hair, I suggest giving dry shampoos a shot. It really works!

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I’m pretty sure the ponytail is a weekend beauty essential (or in this case, a beginning-of-the-week essential). After we’ve taken the hot irons and hair products to our locks for five days (or, er, one intense look for New Year’s Eve!), we need to give our strands a couple of days to breathe and recuperate.

But if you’re like me, a plain ol’ ponytail can get a little boring after a while. This is when I started opting for a messy bun on the top of my head, but let’s face it, that look is probably getting a bit tired, as well. So, why not try this super-quick update? It’s chic and takes literally two seconds. It’s the “knotted ponytail.” Here’s how to do it.

#1: Take a texturizing pomade, a little mousse, or a bit of gel and run through the ends of your strands. Just a little. Seriously. You’re just adding texture for hold, not styling the hair, per se.

#2: Pull your hair over one shoulder, as if you were creating a low side-ponytail. Split the hair in two large sections.

#3: Tie your hair, as if you were beginning to tie your shoelaces, by crossing one section underneath the other. You should be left with overlapping sections at the nape of your neck.

#4: Repeat #3, just as if you were tying a knot into your hair – because you are. This style is literally a large knot! It’s a chic twist, though. Not a snarly knot. Be careful not to let the hair fall out at this point.

#5: Take an elastic and secure the two sections together, just under the knot created by that second twist. You can tease the ponytail for a messy, glam look, or keep it sleek for a simple, stylish weekend option. Add a headband, use colored bobby pins to spice it up, pin in a bow… have fun with it!

If you’re wondering what the process looks like, check out this post on Grosgrain Fabulous (which I discovered through Pinterest – hooray for Pinterest, y’all!).

Annnnd… I hope you all had fabulous New Year’s weekends! Here’s to a fantastic year in 2012, completely full of style.

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You have to have a certain kind of presence to pull off bangs, because you do notice them. If you’re a wallflower, then this trend probably isn’t for you.

I think Zooey Deschanel has that sort of “presence.” Those thick, blunt bangs perfectly frame her doe eyes and compliment her quirky style. I love them. One of my good friends and I frequently lament over how much we wished we could pull off her hairdo. Because with the emergence of her sitcom New Girl, Zooey has kinda made bangs cool, in a really unassuming way.

I’ve had bangs throughout my life, off and on. Most of the time, I cut them without thinking much of it. It’s a quick change that’s not too drastic. But one thing is certain: I always feel a bit more glamorous with bangs, because they take daily upkeep to look good. Here are a few tips for pulling them off.

1. Length. I like to cut bangs that fall just over my eyebrows, and here’s why. I can wear them side-swept across my forehead, or I can wear them blunt over my forehead. Just like any haircut, I like to have options. If you know you want to wear bangs one way or the other, chop accordingly. Side-swept bangs should be longer, especially across the temples, and blunt bangs should be shorter so they don’t cover your eyes.

2. Style. You can do more with bangs that you think. Apart from wearing them normally side-swept or blunt, sometimes I like to mess them up with a little pomade or twist them back in a cute little volumized up-do. You can really do more than you think with a little creativity, so take a few risks!

3. Maintenance. You really have to style bangs every single day (sometimes multiple times a day). If you go to bed, you’ll wake up in the morning with bangs all askew, so I wouldn’t choose this cut if you’re not keen on lots of upkeep. Wash and blow-dry your bangs every morning, using a round brush to dry with slight volume and the “cool burst” on the hairdryer to set the bangs. And always bring a couple of bobby pins with you in case the elements destroy your bangs beyond repair. (It does happen!)

Do you like bangs? Have you ever had bangs? Do you think the trend is one you’ll try?

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In high school, I found out I possessed a rare talent. This made me the girl to sit by on the bus on the way to softball games, and the object of lots of stares from baseball players on said bus ride. What was this amazing talent? I could French braid. Not just other people’s hair, but my own, as well. (Apparently, watching this phenomenon is just simply fascinating to guys. Who knew?)

If you’re in a bind and need to do something with your hair, a French braid is the perfect option. It adds a little bit of prettiness, while also covering up a host of issues (flyaways, oil, etc.). Not sure how to create a French braid in your own hair? Here’s the quick tutorial!

Step 1: Decide what kind of braid you want, and then separate your hair. If you want a braid near the face, then part on the side and separate out a one or two-inch section, putting the rest of your hair into a ponytail to keep it out of the braid. If you want pigtails, part down the middle. If you want a single braid, brush all hair back with your fingers or a comb.

Step 2: Pull a small section of hair out in the middle. This section should be directly in the center of the hair you want to braid. Based on the size of the braid, it should range from about a half-inch wide to two inches wide, and no more than an eighth to a quarter inch thick. There should be hair left on both sides of this middle piece. You will pull this into the braid.

Step 3: Separate the middle section into three pieces and begin to braid, just like you would a regular braid. When you’ve overlapped your hair about three or four times, pull a small section of hair from one of the sides into the braid. Keep the hair flat to your head; pull in and downward. Cross your hair again, and pull a small section from the other side, keeping the hair flat and pulling downward. Continue to do this until you have no hair left on either side of the center braid.

Step 4: When there’s no hair left on either side of the center braid, continue a regular braid until there is an inch or inch and a half of hair loose at the end. Secure with a hair tie.

Step 5: (Throughout…) Keep your movements (pretty) tight as you braid. Make sure to pull the section you are adding to the central braid out and away from the head before adding it in with the crossed-section of hair. It should feel snug to your head, not loose. The key to doing this yourself is pulling the fairly hair tight the whole time you’re braiding. It shouldn’t hurt, but it shouldn’t feel like it’s going to fall out of the braid either. If you don’t keep it snug, it will end up lumpy and unnatural. Not good!

Step 6: If you have a mirror, awesome! If not, ask a friend to do this step for you. Don’t worry about tiny imperfections. Pull lumps into bobby pins, and tuck the pins underneath the hair and out of sight. Voila! Beautified.

Do you french braid your own hair? Will you give it a try? And feel free to leave any questions in the comment section!

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