Hair Thursday is going to be late due to the fact that I’m leaving for Boston at 5:45 IN THE MORNING. I’m not sure if you have noticed with Daylight Savings Time, but 5:45 IN THE MORNING is a very dark time. Very night-like.
My current packing situation looks like this:
In clockwise order from top left: D’s pile of shit, Whoorl’s pile of shit, Wito’s pile of shit.
This East Coast weather thing has me all sorts of confused. Temperature in the 40’s, possibly the 50’s, possible rain, possible snow, possible sun, possible wind gusts, possible GOD HELP ME JUST TELL ME WHAT TO WEAR.
All of my shoes were meant to be worn on bare feet. I don’t have socks, people. This is one of the side effects of living in the land of warm sunshine. You abandon socks! The liberation!
I was advised to bring gloves. Negative, Ghostrider. In fact, I don’t even own a winter coat that isn’t under 6 years old.
Anyhoo, mass confusion at this here point in time.
Maybe I’ll finish Hair Thursday tomorrow night when it’s midnight and I’m wondering why I can’t sleep.
(Another stressful issue: It is almost midnight in Boston! Yet, I just ate dinner here! Confusion!)
Natural red color
Coarse, thick, curly and pretty dry
Prone to frizz
She misses her long hair
Uses LA Looks hair gel and scrunches, air dries
Straightens with a flat iron on occasion
Lives in humid Florida
Oh, do I ADORE Mariah’s hair color! Plus, she’s in possession of some great curls. I really don’t think she should cut much off at all! Maybe some very subtle layering, but it’s just beautiful as is. Am I wrong?
Moira is a curly girl as well:
Moira’s hair:
Brown with chestnut highlights, from a home color kit
Curly, fine-textured, normal condition
Prefers shoulder-length or above
Styles with a dab of styling cream and air dries
Uses flat iron on occasion
Wears ponytail every day
Moira definitely has some curls just waiting to make their debut. Considering Moira’s hair texture and her height (6 feet tall- she’s got LEY-EGS, she knows how to use them), I wouldn’t recommend going super duper short, but a trim with some light layering and a new product would make all the difference in the world. Also, I think she would look beautiful with an allover deeper brown hue. (I’m talking a richer, medium chocolate brown. Don’t go all goth on me, Moira.)
I know, I know. Not the most dramatic of advice.
BUT we’re just getting started over here. Both of these women need to embrace their curls, not fight them. In fact, ALL of you curly gals need to follow suit.
Never fear! My newly-appointed resident curl expert, Jamie, is going to give all of you curly gals some fabulous tips.
(For the record, Jamie also received a quasi-mullet and believes she resembles this. (SHE SO DOES NOT.) Although, I’m currently lobbying her to visit California for Halloween, as we could totally rock Ann and Nancy Wilson.)
Inhale all of her curl wisdom:
Holy hairspray, Batman! I cannot believe I was called upon by the Grand Duchess Poobah of Hair Herself, Ms. Whoorl. It’s great to be here! Let’s get to it.
Curly hair can be difficult to deal with because every single person’s curls are different, and incredibly finicky. Then again, that is what makes curly hair so fabulous! Skipping the most obvious tips (like ask for a stylist who is experienced with curly hair, and NEVER EVER flat-iron your hair straight on a daily basis), let’s get started with my top tips for the corkscrew set.
I think it was the Byrds who sang “to every season, turn, turn, turn.” Your first step in taming your mane is to pay attention to the seasons. Obvious to some, not so obvious to others. What tames your frizzies in the sticky summer months might be the bonehead move that is making you look greasy in cold, dry December. Turn, turn, turn to your medicine cabinet and take a gander – are you using the same product all year long? If you must be consistent, great all-weather products include Aveda’s “Be Curly” Line, Bumble & Bumble Curl Conscious, Graham Webb “Brit Style” Whipped Wax (which I personally use and loooooove), and from your drugstore, John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls, and Finesse Curl Control Mousse. Allow your hair to air dry in warmer weather, diffuse in the winter, and remember that you don’t need to wash your hair every day!
Tip Numero Dos: Give up the fight. Every curly haired girl must come to terms with the nature of her hair. Let your swirl pattern loose – don’t force a part when you get your hair cut, and whatever you do, DON’T poke at your hair after you’re done styling it. The more you touch it, the worse it will look. Also, it’s not recommended for curly girls (or guys for that matter) to wrap their hair up “turban style” post-shower/bath. Twisting your hair into a towel disrupts the curl pattern, yanks your hair about, and leaves you with who-knows-what for shape when all is said and done. Instead, flip your head upside down to blot most of the moisture out, ideally with an old t-shirt – terrycloth towels won’t get enough moisture out, and super chamois towels take too much. Some fantastic treatments and products to get your hair back to “home base” are: Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment (if you want to splurge), Biolage Daily Leave-in Tonic, Redken Fresh Curls Spray, and Back to Basics Curl Refreshing Shampoo/Conditioner.
Lastly, make sure to think positive! Curly haired girls never have to worry about getting caught in the rain for fear their hair will spoil. Curly haired girls almost never have to worry about ponytail ridges, and we can straighten when we want to! We can have our cake and eat it too!
If any of you have seen Jamie’s hair, you know to hang on her every word. She has some of the most amazing curls I’ve ever seen. Thanks, Jamie, for helping me out!
Dude. I got a 70’s Ann Wilson Barracuda haircut and American Idol had TWO 70’s Heart performances last night.
Coincidence? I THINK NOT.
Discuss amongst yourselves while I introduce you to Nicol:
Nicol’s hair:
Naturally light reddish brown
A little dry, needs product to keep static at bay
Straight and relatively thick
Doesn’t mind short hair b/c it forces her to style it (husband likes it short as well)
Spends about 10 minutes styling with hair dryer and round brush
Doesn’t like the current shape of her hair
I like the corresponding colors for both hairstyles. If Nicol were to go with Option #1, I think she should add some blond highlights to her underlying light reddish brown color (similar to Michelle Williams’ color). Nicol is comfortable going short, and this cut would really complement her hair’s texture.
Option #2 would take some texturizing to get the bulk out, as well as razoring her ends for a flicked-out finish, and I definitely like the idea of a more vibrant red color like the photo. Her eyes would really pop.
Vote!
Meet Kristin:
Kristin’s hair:
Dishwater blonde with highlights
Finely-textured and dry, a little bit of wave
Prefers longer hair but would consider collarbone-length
Doesn’t like her bangs
Uses a flat iron to smooth out
I think taking off a little of the length will really update Kristin’s look without losing too much of her hair. Both of these styles have soft, face-framing layers that will add shape and definition around her face, but the main difference is that Option #1 has piecey bangs cut around the front to blend in with the overall style.
Several months ago, I received an email from Emily containing these photos. Emily explained that her hair was thick, wavy and she was itching to get rid of it. She was considering short hair and wanted to know if she could pull it off.
I put her on the list, and as her week approached, I sent an email asking if she needed to update her photo. She sent me this:
She emailed that she had since dyed her hair black and cut it herself. Her new bob wasn’t evenly cut and was prone to bedhead and unwanted flip.
First off, let me say that Emily has a beautiful face that could pull off any style. Her petite frame and large eyes remind me of Audrey Tatou. Looking at the initial photos, I agree that a short hairstyle would look great on her. It just seems that her lovely features are hidden by longer hair. Her updated photo is an improvement length-wise, but the color is too drastic.
First off, I would correct the color back to her natural medium/dark brown. The black is just too stark for her complexion. Secondly, PUT DOWN THE SCISSORS EMILY because the following options require a professional.
Both of these photos are of, you guessed it, Audrey Tatou. Good lord, I can’t express how much I love Option #1. It is such a darling cut, and would spotlight all of Emily’s beautiful features. Plus, there is virtually no styling that has to be done with this cut. Three to four minutes styling with her fingers and voilá! So. Cute.
That being said, if Emily doesn’t want to make the jump to a short hairstyle, Option #2 isn’t much shorter than her current length, but the addition of bangs would really accent Emily’s eyes and layers would intensify her natural wave.
When I received a Hair Thursday request from my internet soul sister, I must admit to dramatically rolling my eyes alllllll the way to the very back of my eye sockets. C’mon. That hair needs help? The same hair that finally pushed me over the edge into bang territory?
Please.
However, I took a step back and reminded myself that even the luckiest bitches (with the SHINIEST HAIR EVER) get tired of their style once in awhile. So, in one of our 26 daily email conversations about lip gloss, I asked Metalia what she was looking for in a hairstyle, to which she replied, “I’m ready for a big change”.
That puts me in a pickle.
Did I mention that Metalia’s pregnant? That she’s getting ready to embark on baby #2 with a toddler thrown in for good measure?
Metalia, I adore you more than Haribo gummi bears, but I just CAN’T advocate a big change right now. First off, you need length for the all-important ponytails! Remember the nights of no sleep? SWEET JEBUS, YOU NEED THE PONYTAIL. (Plus, you possess the best ponytail bangs around. See above.) But most importantly, what about the hormones? I won’t be able to live with myself if you pull a Britney in the wee hours of the morning. Blood on my hands, man.
My official position is that Metalia needs to trim her hair a couple of inches, enjoy the hair vitality that comes with being preggers and we’ll revisit her big change when her precious baby is sleeping through the night.
In the meantime, here are some “big changes” to tide her over.
(Might I say that she ROCKS the Hillary Clinton style.)
Okay, okay. All kidding aside, this would be a great look.
Oh my goodness, this first one is just packed with polls and options, so let’s get to it.
Meet Heather:
Heather’s hair:
Salt-n-Pepper color with “an emphasis on the sodium”. Doesn’t color or highlight.
Oily, thick and slightly wavy
Wants a manageable style
Uses whatever shampoo is on sale (I might have shed a tear while reading this part)
I have to admit, I am fully invested in this one. You see, I had the awesome opportunity to meet Heather at Blogher last summer and I luh-huve her.
By looking at her most recent photos, I would say she has definitely gotten through the hardest part of the growth process and is on the way to long hair heaven. However, I have to be honest about my feelings. For some reason, I can’t envision Heather with long hair.
Is it because I’ve become accustomed to seeing photos of Heather with short hair? Or is it because I got a chance to experience her bubbly, infectious personality (which totally screams short, spunky hair to me) in person?
Short and spunky!
Soft and romantic…
The questions, people. THE QUESTIONS. I’m up in the air. (Except, I am completely adamant that she continues to NOT color her hair. I love the salt and pepper.)
Remember last week when I said I would be including polls sparingly? Um, well this one is definitely in need of some popular opinion.
The first poll of the day (and decidedly, the most important. Please VOTE, you guys!):
Now, it gets a little tricky. I’ve picked out two styles for each length. Please vote for the corresponding poll to your answer in the first poll. For instance, if you picked that Heather should cut her hair, only vote on the short hairstyle poll. That way, we can keep things relatively fair.
(I swear on your mama, I will count these votes and come after you if you cheat.)
Okay, for those who voted for Heather to keep growing:
And for those who voted to cut it short:
Have I fully confused everyone? Good.
(In my humble opinion, If Heather wants to continue growing her hair, I think she should experience all four of these styles, in the exact order that you see them. First, shape her current hair into a bob, and then grow to shoulder-length with light layering. By then, she’ll be completely sick of longer hair, so she should chop it all off Jamie Lee Curtis-style and then let it grow to the Sharon Stone length. Whew! )
Wow, I need a drink. However, I must press onward!
Meet Adrienne:
Adrienne’s hair:
Dark Brown, never colored
Hair Condition: Normal condition, very thick, a little bit if wave
Owns a flat iron, curling iron, hair dryer, brush, round brush
Likes her hair, but is looking for a hair style, not just a hair cut
Not comfortable with shorter than chin-length
Adrienne is yet another fabulous gal that I know personally. Lucky for me (AND YOU), I think I have a handle on this one.
Like I mentioned above, Adrienne likes her hair but thinks it lacks a specific style. First off, wouldn’t you agree that her hair is gorgeous? Her beautiful, rich chocolate color and the shine is really amazing.
All she needs is a substantial, sweeping layer in the front, light layering around the rest of her hair and a maximum of 3 inches cut off.
How about this?
With the long, sweeping layer in front and the lighter layers cut into the ends, her hair will have tons of body. Adrienne can use a flat iron if she wants, but I really don’t think it is necessary. A blow dryer, round brush and a dab of FF glossing cream will give her a polished look with the perfect amount of shine. Plus, she will still have the length to pull back when she wants. Capiche? Capiche.
Good luck at your appointment tomorrow, Adrienne! I can’t wait to see the results!
