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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Think lace is only for spring and summer? Think again! Make use of your lace pieces in the winter by layering them underneath cozy sweaters and wearing them with edgy jewelry to toughen up an overly girly look. Want to try something different? Try a lace skirt! I love these three pencil skirts — they’re classy and lady-like but would stand out in a crowd. For the best look, pair any one of these skirts with a neutral top and sleek pumps.

River Island Lace Skirt | Metallic Lace Pencil Skirt | French Connection Lace Pencil Skirt

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For the winter, instead of the colorful shorts, a pair of colorful jeans is the perfect pairing. And the easiest way to dress up your plaid shirt? Just add a pretty necklace and bangles! Another one of my favorite ways to wear plaid lately is with boots. But once it warms up, I’ll be trading my boots for a pair of pumps to make it super easy to transition my plaids into the spring.

Caslon Boyfriend Shirt | Forever 21 Skinny Jeans | t+j Designs Luxe Chain Crystal Necklace, Silver Link Bracelet and Twisted Silver and Gold Bracelet

Are you plaid obsessed as well?

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The best fashion elements never scream. Instead, they whisper in such a way that everyone turns notices, wondering just what it is you’ve done. You don’t need to wear a ball gown to turn heads. You don’t need a tiara to captivate a crowd. You simply need a few strategic ideas you can consistently turn to for a style lift, every day. What are these magical additions? I’ll let you in on a few of my favorite secrets.

1. Wear booties with a chunk heel. It’s not practical for me to wear high heels everyday. I have to trudge all over town…so no-can-do! However, I have found that wearing ankle boots with a chunk heel about one-and-a-half to two inches high can do wonders for your outfit. If you’re wearing dark-wash skinny jeans, opaque tights or thick leggings, a black boot will instantly lengthen your leg – without the mega-pain of wearing heels. You’ll look more sophisticated, even if no one can pinpoint the cause.

2. Add a flash of red. Red instantly says “confident, daring and stylish,” so find a way to work just a dash into your look. Have a black winter coat? Wear red gloves. Looking for a new bag? Snap one up with red piping. Fighting through snow? Try red patent rain boots. Pair your red with neutrals and you’ll really stop people in their tracks.

3. Mix the casual and the classy. Your favorite worn-in boyfriend blazer will look great with that maxi dress you save for special occasions. Just add tall boots and a pair of nerd glasses. Or what about that dazzling sequin top? Pair it with simple skinny jeans (preferably ones that are a bit frayed) and black flats. No jewelry. Simple, sleek bun. Master the art of the “one fantastic item” combined with all your old favorites. It’s a winning formula.

4. Paint your nails blue/yellow/hot pink… The polish instantly adds polish (and if you chip those nails, take the polish off!). Plus, the bold color makes the statement that you will be noticed, but you will never try too hard.

5. Leather, sequins, lace. All three of these fabrics are statement pieces. Try a lace blazer or cover-up instead of wearing a cardigan. Instead of layering a plain tank under that oversize sweater, why not let a sequined tank peek out? You can never go wrong with a leather jacket (or leather belt cinched at the waist… or leather gloves with stud detailing…) and basic jeans or leggings. So, play with standout fabrics and textures. It’s a major statement without having to do too much. Only one word of warning: Don’t pair all of these together. Too much is too much!

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Personally, I think we should all sleep as much as possible. Mostly because peeling myself out of bed in the morning is nearly impossible. That’s why I often find myself getting up and out the door in about 20 minutes. (I can’t help it – I love my sleep!)

You can catch more zzzz’s, too. You just have to learn a few shortcuts for keeping your morning routine simple. You don’t want to sacrifice style for sleep… but you can have both!

Hair
Method: Master blow drying your hair so you don’t have to take a flat iron or curling iron to those locks. Flip wet hair upside down and blow dry to get major volume at the root. When the hair is nearly dry, flip back over and use a paddle brush to smooth while drying at the same time. Point the dryer down the hair shaft to keep your strands sleek not frizzy. Set with hairspray. No irons necessary!
Time saved: 15 minutes

Clothes
Method: Pick out your outfit at night. I like to choose a pair or pants or skirt, and then two top options in case you’re just not that into one of them in the morning! If you’re a girl who really likes to dress on instinct, then leave accessory options until the last minute.
Time saved: 10 minutes

Eyes
Method: Swap eye shadow for eye liner. You don’t have to be nearly as precise. Choose a color that’s a shade or two lighter than your liner, because shadow tends to look extremely dark on the eye if you’re not careful. Then, cover from lash to crease.
Time saved: 3 minutes

Lips
Method: Instead of messing with lipstick and/or liner, try this: Apply chapstick to the entire lip, then use a lip stain over top. The chapstick keeps the color from looking too severe, and the lip stain easily glides over top of the chapstick for nearly sheer coverage.
Time saved: 2 minutes

All in all, with these tips, you’re sleeping for an extra half hour every morning! I think that’s totally worth it, don’t you?

What are your quick-fix morning tricks?

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A fabulous brow should be understated and nearly unnoticeable. But if you have bad brows, they’ll definitely be noticed. As a Wednesday treat, let’s make sure that your brows are streamlined, fabulous and under-the-radar.

1. When in doubt about brow size, go bolder. Bolder is better than too thin. When you overpluck, your brows thin out and won’t grow back. This is always bad, and you’ll regret it as you age. Bold and skinny brows each go in and out of style, but as I always say, it’s better to be bold.

2. Follow the outline. You should be able to see the natural curve of your brows. Anything outside that natural curve, you can feel free to pluck. But try not to thin your brows intentionally. It always ends up going awry… and growing back your brows is a pain.

3. Don’t pluck after a shower. I know so many people have said you should totally tweeze while your skin is soft, I disagree. It’s too hard to grab hold of those tiny hairs when they’re warm, soft and slippery! It’s much easier to pluck in the evening before bed.

4. Color! Pick an eyebrow pencil one to two shades lighter than your hair color and fill in your brows to create a defined arch. If you’re not comfortable with a thick, bold brow, then here’s another trick: To remove makeup residue, dampen the end of a Q-tip and run over your eyebrows. Use the other end to wipe away any tiny water droplets. This trick will smooth and bring out your natural color.

5. Watch the edges. Your brow should extend from the inner corner of your eye to just beyond the outer corner. If you tweeze too far, your eyes will look unnaturally far apart… so be careful! (In my inexperienced youth, I did this frequently. Took years for me to finally get it right!)

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For me, the most exciting part of a Halloween costume is the makeup. It’s the one time of the year I go all-out in the beauty department and rock looks I otherwise wouldn’t (Helloooo, Mega Lashes!).  But that’s beside the point. If you’re looking for some great costume ideas to knock ‘em dead (pun totally intended) this Halloween, check out these awesome Halloween makeup video tutorials!

Vampire

You can never go wrong with a classic. This makeup tutorial, done by Dana, takes a Halloween favorite and, as Ke$ha would say, “sexy-fies” it! It definitely has the spookiness going, but there’s also something so alluring about it. You won’t need major costume garb for this one; just grab your chicest LBD and heels, a long black cape and rock this makeup for a chic vampire look!

Zombie

As far as scary Halloween creatures go, this year is all about zombies. I know, this may not be your first pick of creepy costumes, but just as you saw in the vampire tutorial above, zombies, too, can be chic. Just check out this step-by-step tutorial done by Promise — she really makes it easy to copy the look!

Tim Burton-Inspired

Nothing says “Halloween” better than a Tim Burton movie. This film genius has brought us so many great films — from Edward Scissorhands to the Nightmare Before Christmas — and many of the characters he’s introduced us to have become Halloween favorites. In this tutorial, Michelle shows you how to get a Tim-Burton-inspired look, which can be dressed up or down as you please.

Lady Gaga-Inspired

If there is one celebrity who can inspire several Halloween looks, it’s Lady Gaga. Hands-down, Gaga has intrigued us all with her numerous out-of-of-this-world looks, ranging from meat dresses to latex attire. This tutorial takes one of her red-carpet looks and transforms it into a very chic masquerade-inspired look.

Day of the Dead Sugar Skull

For the the last tutorial, I wanted to share something I’ve seen trending for a while, and not just for Halloween. Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a celebration of the loved ones who have passed, and sugar skulls are a symbol of this celebration. A couple of my friends tried this idea out last year and looked amazing!

Which one of these do you like best, and what will you be for Halloween this year?

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I am Style-ish

One of my favorite things to wear this summer were maxi skirts, so I thought I could transition them into my fall wardrobe, as well.  During the summer, I wore this skirt (above) with a tank and vest, but for fall I’m thinking about paring it with a plain black sweater, a belt around the waist and some flat boots.

Maxi Skirts

I’m loving this maxi skirt (1) with the slightly sheer overlay. On warmer days, you could wear it with a cute ruffle tank tucked in, and in the fall, it would be so pretty paired with a long-sleeve blouse. You could even layer a v-neck sweater over it for a perfectly layered look!

In the summer, the striped maxi skirt (2) was perfect when paired with a simple tank, a necklace and sandals, but for the fall, you definitely need to be a bit more creative. I think a slim tee with a nice chunky cardigan would make such a great outfit that would not only keep you super warm on those chilly days, but looking really cute, too!

Have you been obsessed with maxi skirts too?  What are your favorite pieces to transition into fall?

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If you’ve ever chopped your locks off, or are thinking of doing so, I am dedicating this post to you. There is something extra sexy about rocking a short cut. It takes a little bit of sass and a whole lot of confidence to pull off. But if you commit to it, it’s one of the best hair moves you’ll ever make.

I have a condition. It’s called Hair Boredom. There are three phases: 1. Grow hair out. 2. Get really bored and uninspired (and frankly, feel like every other girl on the street). 3. Chop hair off. I’ve done this my whole life. And, although I am currently in phase one and trying to draw it out, I always revert back to phase three eventually. So, I have plenty of experience in short-hair guidance. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Play with volume. I think I should have grown up in Texas (or the 80′s?), because I’ve always been a “big hair” sort of girl. And there is no better way to get volume than chopping your locks. Take advantage of your ability to pump it up. Flip your hair over, give it a spritz with hairspray, flip it back and then comb out the ends lightly. Voila! Easy-breezy volume.

2. Texturize. If you decide to straighten your hair, take a cue from celebs like Brooklyn Decker and Jennifer Aniston and make your look a little piecey. A hair texturizer, like Tigi Bed Head “Hard to Get” Texturizing Paste, is the best way to do this. Just apply to the bottom inch of hair only for a cute and tousled look.

3. Get Creative! Just because your hair is short, doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. It’s plenty versatile. Try headbands, flowers, small braids, half-up/half-down, headscarves, and basically anything else you can think of. (Note: I think short hair looks phenomenal in skinny headbands… maybe with a cute bow!)

4. Get a dry shampoo. Quick tip: Short hair usually lasts multiple days, so if you’re in a bind and your ends still look great, salvage the roots with dry shampoo. You’ll have healthier locks than your friends… and no one will be able to tell you didn’t wash! (But, please, do wash most of the time, folks. For smell purposes.)

5. Be a little daring. If you’re thinking of chopping your hair, or want to mix it up a little, consider a quick alteration. The pixie is a hot style right now–and you can even keep it longer in front for a sweeping look with bangs. Or take a bob to the next level by making it asymmetrical. Ask your stylist for tips, and bring a photo of a celeb! Ginnifer Goodwin and Rihanna would be good models!

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I hope you guys like the tutorial — let me know if you try it out!  If you have any questions, leave a comment and I’ll get back to you!

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