Beauty

Shannon R., SELF magazine

Commuting. Living in a polluted city. You do some things despite the known side-effects. Another one: combing and brushing your hair. Even though it causes damage, most of us have got to do it (rather than face the very tangly consequences). But: you can make it less damaging. Here's the lowdown on the damage combs and brushes cause, and which ones are healthiest for hair.

Related: Lose 10 Pounds

Brushes and combs inflict damage because hairs become "looped" around individual bristles. Once they are looped, the friction increases (translation: you have to pull harder) and the hair can be yanked out or broken.

A study in the Journal of Cosmetic Science compared hair breakage resulting from a paddle brush, a round brush and a basic comb (not a wide-tooth one). Brushing causes more long hairs to break, while combing does just the opposite: it produces more short broken hairs.

Related: Yoga Moves for Flat Abs

It's too bad

...Read More »

Like last week's post on shampooing, I'm here today to dish out my best tips and secrets on conditioning your hair for the greatest results possible.

1. Find the right one for your needs.
Like all products, you need to find the right conditioner for your hair type. Consult your stylist for help choosing one. You might just need a standard conditioner for normal hair, or you might need something heavier/richer if you have processed or dry ends. If you feel that your hair hair tends to be weighed down, volumizing conditioner is the way to go. Those for volume are much lighter than those for moisturizing.

Five Healthy Hair Habits for Sumptuous Summer Curls

2. Pay attention to application.
Always start at your ends and work upwards when conditioning your hair. There isn't much need for conditioner at the roots, because your scalp will create natural oils up there. I don't apply anywhere above my chin. It will only weigh down your hair more, and make your hair look greasy sooner.

...Read More »

Elizabeth Siegel, Allure magazine

We test a lot of beauty products here at Allure HQ. And sometimes one is so ridiculous, you just have to blog about it. Here are three that had us wondering, Why do these product categories even exist?

See more: The Best Beauty Products Under $9

Exfoliating shave cream: Shaving in and of itself is one of the best ways to exfoliate. (Just ask Caroline Manzo from The Real Housewives of New Jersey.) And shaving cream stays on your skin for about 10 seconds. When you add that up, there's about zero real reasons you would need this.

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

Savory lip balm. Who wants Cheeto breath? Apparently, someone does (but it's not this girl). Lip balms in flavors like potato chips and bacon-gross.

See more: Find the Best Haircut for Your Face Shape

Vagina-specific soap. These always bear the warning "for external use only," so it's unclear what makes them more suited to washing your ladyparts than a gentle body wash.

Se

...Read More »

Elizabeth Siegel, Allure magazine

Smoky eyes are nothing new, but every now and then I see a version so glamorous that I do a double take. Case in point: Charlize Theron, above, at the premiere of Snow White and The Huntsman in London. And though Theron wears them incredibly well, makeup artist Pati Dubroff gets the credit for creating the sultry look. She shared her tips for how to recreate the look.

See more: The Best Beauty Products Under $9

1. Prep your eyes with a primer (my personal favorite is Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Original, which prevents shadow from creasing even on my super-greasy lids).

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

2. With a dome brush, apply a grey cream eyeshadow under your lower lash lines and over your eyelids, extending it beyond your outer corners to create an exaggerated wing shape. (Dubroff used Nars Cream Eyeshadow in Lili Marlene.) Layer a matte flesh-colored shadow over your whole lid and then top them off with a sparkly silver.

...Read More »

Aries (March 21 - April 19) It's a great day to go outdoors. Swap gym class for a brisk hike or ditch the mall and walk from boutique to boutique the old-fashioned way. And if you can't head out, work on that scarf until you can! Today's Aries Reading: Free Sample Love Meter

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) There's nothing more stylish than knowing when to follow through. So go ahead and produce that top you've been promising to lend a pal or make an appearance at the step class you vowed to attend each week. Today's Taurus Reading: Free Sample Destiny Reading

Gemini (May 21 - June 21) Prioritize gratitude! You could treat a friend who's always been there for you with a pedicure, for example, or make a point of thanking the owner of a store you lo

...Read More »

Get beach-ready by removing unwanted fuzz from your bod. Read on for ways to get the necessary task over with painlessly.

#1: Avoid Extreme Conditions Post Waxing
Make sure that your hair is at least 1/4 long when you go in for a waxing session and prevent irritation by avoiding extreme heat or exercise for 24 hours post-wax.

#2: Pull Skin Taught
When shaving, it helps to pull the skin taut to create a level surface that's easier to maneuver. You should also shave in the direction that hair grows to minimize itchy, red bumps.

#3: Shave in the Evening
If you're planning a day at the pool or beach, shave in the evening to avoid irritation from sun, salt, or chlorine.

#4: Depilatory Lotion for Legs
A great, painless hair-removal option for legs are easy-to-use chemical hair removers. They're simple to use and dissolve hair right under the surface so regrowth is finer than with shaving.

#5: Wait it Out
Don't use a depilatory product on skin that has been shaved in the last 7

...Read More »

By Ray Siegel, Lucky magazine

Humidity is the worst thing ever, but there are ways to avoid messy hair. These products work with the elements to ensure that your waves don't become unruly. A mask once a week, some very excellent new sprays, a little hair oil...this summer, your hair will be all good.

More from Lucky magazine:

5 Drastic Ways to Change Up Your Look
15 Secrets from Top Dermatologists
Best Dresses For Your Body
The 40 Best Drugstore Beauty Products

...Read More »

By Kerri Winick, GalTime.com

If a black smoky eye is just too basic, but you're not quite ready for a rainbow pop of color, why not go the sultry route with some navy blue?

We're totally starry-eyed for the look! Celebrity makeup artist Andrea Fairweather gives GalTime the step-by-step for creating a deep blue look that will dazzle.

1.) The best way to achieve a flawless smoky eye is to have the right tools.

This mission calls for eyelid primer, a matte navy eyeshadow, a natural looking, flesh-colored eyeshadow, a concealer brush, an eyeshadow brush, and a volume building mascara.

2.) Prep your eyelid with the primer. (Try: Benefit Cosmetics Stay Don't Stray Primer, $26) Use a concealer brush for an even finish. This step will allow the eyeshadow colors to glide on smoothly and stay put, so you don't have to worry about creasing.

Related: The Secret to Stay-Put Eye Makeup

3.) No

...Read More »

By REDBOOK

BE A BANGS PERSON

If you've never had them, know that bangs work Botox-like wonders in disguising forehead wrinkles. "They also make your hair appear fuller, which helps deflect from thinning," says celebrity hairstylist Ric Pipino, who works with Elle Macpherson and Fergie. His advice? Go big or go home: "Thick, softly beveled bangs are the most girlish," he says. If that sounds too rock 'n' roll, try a long, sideswept fringe, which creates pretty movement and also erases years.

SHAKE UP YOUR CUT

We're shouting it from salon rooftops: The difference between a haircut that's aging and one that's age-defying comes down to layers. "Without them, hair doesn't move--and nothing makes you seem older than stiff hair," says hairstylist Juan Carlos Maciques of the Rita Hazan Salon in New York City, who works with Jennifer Lopez. "No matter what your length, you want delicate layers throughout and face-framing pieces. This creates lush, healthy-looking hair, which

...Read More »

By Gina Way

While skincare and nutrition get a lot of attention from anti-aging experts, there's another way you can instantly turn back the clock-your hairstyle! Whether your locks are long, mid-length or short, these techniques will take years off your look. Photos: Sergio Kurhajec/Woman's Day

1. Mid-Length with Face-Framing Layers

How It Takes Years Off: "On most women over 40, long hair that's all one length tends to drag the face down, partly because hair thins as we age," says Jennifer Lawrence, senior hairstylist at the Louis Licari Salon in New York City. "A midlength style with strategically cut layers softens and frames the face, and is more sophisticated and sexy." Jet Rhys, stylist and owner of Jet Rhys Hair Salons in San Diego, says, "This is the perfect length for almost any face shape or hair texture."

What To Ask For: A midlength bob (no longer than the collarbone) with some longer layers hitting at the cheekbone or jawline.

Styl

...Read More »