Search Results for: hair thursday

Jessica’s hair:

Naturally mousy brown, but colors at home (usually lighter and/or red)
Chemically processed
Thick, but fine
Prefers chin length or longer
Uses products and tools regularly

From Jessica’s email:

Okay here is the thing…I’m 25 maried without kids and a nurse practitioner.  I look young for my age…my patients comment on how young I look all the time.  I know I’ll be glad for it someday…but would you want someone who you think looks 16 doing your annual exam?  So I really would like to look my age and professional…but without having a “mom” haircut.  Over the past lets say several months I’ve gotten a perm and colored my hair a few times…and the cut is really, I’d say, lacking in shape…but I just am not sure what to do….please help!

Jessica, it must be horrible looking so young. I mean, GAHHHHH.

(I’m kidding. I totally get what you are saying.)

The photos Jessica sent in were in her natural state, which were very helpful.

My thoughts? Adding a little shape to her cut along with a color change would be the answer to her problems. Right now, the color looks a little sun-bleached and orange-ish, which could be adding to the whole younger-looking issue. Adding a little depth to her color would be fantastic.

First, the cut. Jessica’s oval face shape is perfect for chin-length styles. This layered bob really jumps out at me.

mopshots.com

(Have you not checked Mopshots out yet? It is DA BOMB.)

As Jessica’s perm grows out, she would need to use her flat iron to smooth out any kinks. However, this style could be worn wavy or straight, depending on the time spent styling. Since Jessica already uses products and tools, I’m not too concerned with the styling time at all. Straightened, this is the perfect, professional yet stylish look.

As for the color, I feel like Jessica needs to go either lighter or darker. With her previous at-home colors and perms, I would suggest her working with a hair stylist to get these looks – at least at first, to get the feel for what she likes and doesn’t like. Take a look at these color options.

Crap. Now, I’m thinking Jessica could be darling with a longer, layered cut. However, methinks it wouldn’t be professional enough for her requests. The brain isn’t working…need coffee STAT. What do you think?

This is Tessa.

Tessa’s hair:

Naturally medium brown
Very thick, but fine
Normal condition
Needs length for ponytails for sports
Hates styling her hair
Uses no products

Tessa. Please don’t kick my ass (she plays rugby), but if you don’t use products and/or don’t try to style your hair, it will look like those photos FOREVER AND EVER. I wish I could wave my magic wand and give you great, effortless hair, but that ain’t the way the cookie crumbles.

I think taking some of the bulk out of your hair would work wonders. Same for using a product or two – you could really reduce frizziness and promote a healthy shine.

I think this would be a great look for Tessa.

retna.com

A few inches off the bottom and medium-to-long layers cut throughout will help eradicate the poufy look, BUT she needs to have those layers texturized by her stylist. I like the faux-bangs – enough to give the cut added style, but easy to pull back while playing sports.

Most importantly, PRODUCT. A smoothing serum would work wonders on Tessa’s hair. As always, don’t forget about my favorite, Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream. A tiny dollop of that miracle product would give Tessa more shine than she’s ever experienced.

Do any of you have a smoothing serum that you just adore? Do tell!

Meet Nicole.

Nicole’s hair:

Naturally dirty blond
Thick, normal condition
A little wavy
No preference for length
Pulls hair off face with a headband frequently (3 kids under 4 years old! DUDE.)
Uses a straight spray and smoothing serum daily
Uses pomade wax occasionally

I love Nicole’s hair. In fact, I love it so much, I used it as an option photo last year. Seriously, people. If you could have short hair like that, would you ever grow it out? Um, NO! No, you wouldn’t! Unless you are some crazed idiot who doesn’t know a cute look if it hit you square in the face! Yeah, I’m looking at you.

(Excuse me. I’m having a day.)

The dilemma…should I skip Nicole and focus on hair challenges or should I go ahead and post? Obviously, I chose the latter, if only to share her darling cut with the masses.

It’s cute, right?

Alas, maybe Nicole is tired of that style. In that case, this option would look fantastic too.

Besides having three children under the age of four, Nicole is training to be a fitness instructor. She needs her hair off her face often, so this longer style would give her more styling options when pulling it back. (Ponytails! Half ponytails! Clips, The City style!) The length would also look great with Nicole’s face shape. Very chic.

(To achieve January Jones’ style in the photo for a big night out, apply volumizing mousse to freshly washed damp hair, blow-dry using a round brush and when done, roll sections of hair in Velcro rollers. Take them out and lightly brush the hair; finish with a quick touch of serum on the ends.)

What do you think? Keep it short or let it grow?

This week’s participant is Dawn.

Dawn’s hair:

Naturally brown with “graylights”
Hair has the tendency to turn brassy when coloring due to the grays
Would consider highlights
Fine, wavy hair
Uses hair dryer with a round ceramic brush

I love Dawn’s waves. They have so much potential, don’t you think? Some light layering throughout with some long, bang-like front layers would bring those curls to life. Let’s take a look at some options.

Option #1 would be a fantastic shorter length for Dawn. The jagged layers cut throughout would keep her waves springy and I like the idea of a sweeping front layer. Dawn’s eyes are beautiful, and the addition of a front layer would totally accentuate her features.

Option #2 keeps the longer length with some modified layers. Like Option #1, the sweeping bang would give her hair the extra oomph she is looking for. I also love Jennifer Garner’s subtle highlights. A refined, golden highlight would be a great way to disguise Dawn’s grays and brighten her overall look.

(Notice how the “bangs” in both photos have no blunt lines, no heaviness…very easy to grow out.)

Great products for enhancing waves can be found here. (Check out the section on Type 2: Wavy hair.)

What do you think would be the best style for Dawn?

Meet Meghan.

Meghan’s hair:

Naturally light brown with lots of gray
Very dry and chemically processed
Very fine hair, tends to frizz if not blow-dried
Likes long hair, but isn’t sure if it works for her
Wonders about red or strawberry blond hair
Uses moisturizing shampoo and conditioner (Aveda Damage Control or Neutrogena Triple Moisture)
Can’t wash it every day because of the dryness
Uses a shaping creme or Fekkai Glossing Creme with a paddle brush to smooth
Air-dries for a wavy look on occasion

I think Meghan is doing everything right with this look. The length is perfect for her face shape, the long sideswept bangs accent her eyes beautifully and the style promotes great movement.

Meghan also sent me a photo of a past longer hairstyle.

I can say with 100% certainty that the shorter hair is a much more chic look for Meghan. Don’t you agree? I truly would not change a thing in regards to her current cut. I love it!

Meghan did mention daydreaming about red hair and I think she could pull off a strawberry blond color with her fair complexion. Anything more intense in regards to red would probably look too stark against her skin. Her current stylist highlights and lowlights her hair…I wonder if her stylist could achieve a strawberry blond look by lowlighting with a redder tone? Maybe something similar to this?

I really love this strawberry blond color shown on model Maggie Rizer. Come to think of it, Meghan looks a lot like Maggie! This could be a great color for Meghan.

What do you all think? Should Meghan go strawberry blond?

As for products for drier, chemically-processed hair, Pureology NanoWorks line is awesome. I would recommend the NanoWorks Luxury Hair Masque once a week to keep her Meghan’s hair moisturized, revitalized and protected. (I know, I know. It’s expensive…but it lasts forever and it WORKS.)

Meet someone who didn’t provide her name.

Someone’s hair:

Naturally brown with golden highlights
Consistently highlights her hair
Hair is very dry, “practically fried”
Thick and curly
Prefers long
Uses a blow dryer occasionally and a straightener frequently
Lives in humid environment

I know someone (let’s call her Jane) wants longer hair, but I do think a slightly shorter cut would look very fresh, as well as getting rid of some of the drier ends. However, if Jane wants a longer cut, I would recommend growing her bangs out.

Let’s take a look at the two options.

Option #1 is a flirty style that would freshen up Jane’s look. I love the sideswept bangs, and I would ask Jane to pay particular attention to the way the bangs blend into the side of the hair. Right now, Jane’s bangs are too severe on the sides. They really don’t blend at all, so I would request that she make a note of that with her stylist. Blend, blend, blend.

Option #2 would be really pretty as well. If Jane wants to stick with the longer length, I would highly recommend growing out her bangs to a nice, chin-length layer. That way, Jane will still have movement around the face, but the overall look will be very different.

As for products, I would recommend looking into the styling lotions mentioned by Aleks this week, and I don’t think it would be such a bad idea for Jane to let her natural curls air-dry once in awhile to keep it as healthy as possible.

What do you all think? Should Jane go shorter or keep the length?