alterna

by Jaime Richards

While Alterna's Bamboo Style Boho Waves Texture Mist ($22) does indeed deliver that coveted just-from-the-beach tousle, what makes it stand out is what it doesn't do. The spray, which came in this month's Glossybox, adds a touch of shine to hair. So instead of the typical matte finish, you get the perfect balance of texture and fullness with just a hint of gloss. In fact, I love using this beach-wave fixative prior to straightening with a flat iron, further proving that this type of product doesn't have to be used just for creating casual-cool curls. Organic bamboo extract nourishes, and blue yucca root gives weightless texture. With waves like these, there won't be anything dull about your Summer style this year.

by Kaitlyn Dreyling

Cynthia Rowley went for a little dark romance for her Fall 2013 collection, which translated to a pretty and wearable look featuring a bold dark lip to match the nails, all courtesy of Beauty.com. We loved how the matte texture showed up on the lips and nails.

The look: A dark purple lip with soft curls
The inspiration: Urban romance
Trends: Playing with texture in the hair, makeup, and lips

Hair: Esther Langham for Alterna brought out the softness in the rather dark look with dry-textured curls. She applied the brand's 48-Hour Volume Spray to wet hair and rough blow-dried. Next, she made a crisp middle part and curled thick sections of hair using a 1 1/4-inch curling iron. She made sure to leave the ends out, so the curls weren't too precious. Once the curls were set, she went through them with a wide-tooth comb and finished them off with a little dry shampoo for a matte texture.

Makeup: The makeup brought out the darker side with a rusty-shadowed eye and a deep purple lip. Romy Soleimani for Beauty.com mixed the Joanna Vargas Rejuvenating Serum with Stila Pigalle and Fine Eye Shadows to give the makeup a lived-in quality. The focus was the deep plum lip, which was created using Stila's Gemma Color Balm all over the lips, and then topped off with Improvise and Glance Eye Shadows to deepen the color and add a matte finish.

Nails: Deborah Lippmann created the complementing manicure: a superdeep plum finished with a matte top coat. She used Dark Side of the Moon topped off with Flat Top to bring to life the dark-textured manicure — definitely a huge trend for Fall.

by Jessica Cruel

Katie Holmes has inked yet another beauty deal, this time with hair brand Alterna. Last year, she began a partnership with Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. However, her new role will not only include being the face of the brand in advertising campaigns, but also as co-owner, she'll have a voice in product development. "I love that Alterna uses natural and organic ingredients and stays away from harsh chemicals like sulfates and parabens," Katie told WWD. "It's good for my hair and good for the earth, so I feel good using it."

In the future, Katie's new role might merge with her fashion endeavor Holmes & Yang. Alterna representatives teased the possibility of a limited-edition accessories project. Katie isn't the first actress to break into the business side of beauty. Jennifer Aniston recently gained a stake in Living Proof. It seems brands are no longer on the hunt for just a gorgeous face; now being a spokesmodel requires business savvy. "Katie is a fashionista, a mother and an entrepreneur. In short, she is our consumer," said Joan Malloy, president of Alterna. "Like her, this is a brand that has been very much around, but hiding in plain sight."

by Miriam Lacey

What smells like grapefruit, holds everything in place, and sparkles like gold? Alterna's limited edition Glitterati hair products, dressed-up versions of their finishing spray and pomade packed with flecks of gilt shimmer. The most subtle product in the collection, Sparkling Champagne finishing spray ($20) is full of soft white gold and adds a little shine and minimal hold without being stiff or noticeable on blonde or brown hair. It smells like grapefruit and coconut, and it's a wonder at smoothing down light frizz or keeping fine hair in place without flattening it.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have the heavy hitter: Spun Gold pomade ($20). This stuff is full of old-gold sparkle, and it's extremely noticeable in dark hair (less so in blonde or titian shades). It's also a heavy-hold formula, so if you've got flyaways or dry, thick hair, this is your best choice for keeping everything in place.

by POPSUGAR Beauty

'Tis the season for holiday shimmer and shine — even for your hair. In our latest Bella Beauty Bite, check out three easy ways to add sparkle to your hairstyle at home.