BellaSugar

Definition: Eumelanin

BellaSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:00:21 -0800

Simply put, melanin is pigment, but there are two types of melanins that give hair color its own distinctive coloring. I already gave you the scoop on pheomelanin, the pigment that produces red and yellowish strands, so let's move on to eumelanin. As you might have guessed, eumelanin gives skin and hair black and brown coloring. Therefore, people with darker skin tones will have more of this color-determining substance.

There are two different types of this pigment: black and brown. The smaller amount of brown one has, the lighter or more ashen blond the hair will be. In turn, the higher the amount of brown, the darker or more brown the hair will be. As for black eumelanin, in high quantities, it's what makes the hair black. But in lower levels, it's responsible for causing the hair to become gray. So now you can dazzle your friends, giving them their own custom "hair reading," all thanks to your expert hair color knowledge.

How to Choose Eyeglasses by Your Hair Color

BellaSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:00:44 -0700

Recently, I made my yearly - OK, it's been more than a year - trip to the eye doctor. I've worn glasses for about 14 years now, and from one "trendy" frame to another, I've had lots of different looks. Since some were good, and others I'd prefer to forget, that was the inspiration behind this series of posts on choosing eyeglass frames. Since we've already looked at face shape, eye color, and skin tone, for the final installment of this series, let's look at how your hair color can help guide you when making a choice between those funky green shades or whimsical yellow specs. To check out some tips, just keep reading.

Hair Color How-Tos: Keeping Browns Beautiful

BellaSugar — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:00:42 -0700

All this week I'm giving tips on how to keep hair color looking full of life. I've got you covered already, redheads, and brunettes, you're up next. Whether you're a light toffee shade or a bold espresso, brunettes have lots of options. Besides the obvious color-keeping strategies of using a color-safe shampoo like Matrix Biolage Color Care Shampoo ($17) and Matrix Biolage Color Care Conditioner ($16), wash the hair less often, and rinse with cooler water to help lock in the color molecules. For more advice on caring for brown tones, read more.

Color enhancers: To enrich brown tones on natural or colored hair, try a color enhancing shampoo and conditioner such as Pantene Pro-V Brunette Expressions Intense Hydrating Shampoo ($6) and Pantene Pro-V Brunette Expressions Intense Hydrating Conditioner ($6).
Add glaze: For a shiny lift between colorings, try a color glaze such as John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Luminous Color Glaze in Chestnut to Espresso ($10).
Brassless: If you aren't feeling the lovely brassy shades that sometimes occur as brown starts to fade, remedy it with a blue conditioner, which helps counteract unwanted warm/reddish tones. Try Aveda Blue Malva Conditioner ($17). You could also try a special temporary, non-ammonia color that lasts through 28 shampoos, formulated to ward off brassiness: Clairol Natural Instincts Brass Free Brunettes Non-Permanent Color in Light Brown 6C ($9.50) Clairol Natural Instincts Brass Free Brunettes Non-Permanent Color in Medium Brown 5C ($9.50).
DIY: Make about four to eight cups of strong black coffee, and let cool. Shampoo hair like normal, wringing out excess water. Rinse coffee through hair, let sit about 15-20 minutes, and rinse out.
Add more natural: Here's a trick I like to use to prevent fading. Whatever hair color I use, I always blend in a little natural brown base to give my brown extra holding power. If using L'Oreal Color Gems Haircolor Gold Copper Brown ($6) for instance, do a 50/50 blend with L'Oreal Color Gems Haircolor Light Natural Brown ($6) added in to soften the golden copper.

Source

Do You Like Jessica Biel Better With Light or Dark Brown Hair?

BellaSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 09:57:21 -0700

Jessica Biel has said goodbye to her honey highlights, and hello to an allover brown color. She was spotted with a new 'do on the set of Powder Blue. Which color do you prefer on her?

Source and Flynet

How To Re-Create 15 of Ashley Greene's Best Red Carpet Looks

BellaSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:00:15 -0800

Have you heard? It's a Twilight extravaganza, as we prepare for the release of the latest film in the saga, New Moon, this Friday. (I've already purchased my matinee tickets. How about you?) Alice Cullen may have flippy hair in the Twilight films, but in real life, Ashley's hair alternates between extensions and no extensions - from dark, chestnut-brown locks to lighter, caramel-toned highlights. So, in the meantime, while we count down to Friday's premiere, I've assembled a few of Ashley Greene's best beauty looks from the past year - and what a year it's been for the young star.

View Slideshow ›

Link Time!

BellaSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:44 -0800

Pupa cosmetics makes palettes that look like geisha - FabSugar UK
Bobbi Brown's new mascara promises an extreme party - Temptalia
Nice eye shadows, shame about the lip gloss - Makeup and Beauty Blog
Victoria's Secret hires its first Asian model for its show - The Cut
Hand creams for big and small budgets - Beauty Snob
This scale tweets your weight to the world. - Lemondrop
Don't call the return of Scott Barnes a comeback. He's been here for years. - Stylelist
Kellie Pickler has drastically changed her hair color - People Style Watch
Bobby pins can be very fashionable - Fashionista

Beauty Byte: Kate Moss Co-Creates Hair Care Line

BellaSugar — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:59:01 -0700

WWD reports that Kate Moss is planning to launch a line of hair care products with her long-time childhood friend and famous coiffeur-but not the late, great godfather of soul-James Brown. Brown's client list is almost as impressive as Kate's resume. He's worked on the heads of top celebs such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Gwyneth Paltrow, Gisele Bundchen and both Beckhams.

The collection will be called James Brown London, and it will comprise sixteen different products ranging from shampoos to conditioners to serums. All products are priced at £5.99 ($12.16 at the current exchange rate), except for the Intensive Mask tubes which will cost £7.99 ($16.22). The line is expected in UK stores next month.

Kate Moss directed and posed in the black-and-white ads for the line. The idea was to have simple pictures because the philosophy for the brand is simple. The prices aren't insane, the packaging is very plain and concept is really user-friendly. For example, the products are numbered according to hair type so that users will know what goes with what.

I really it like when models and celebs launch beauty products. After all, they are the ones who suffer the strains from over-processing and over-styling, so why not try something that they feel really helps them?

Does it seem naive to assume that celebrities actually use something they endorse? I don't know, but I just have a good feeling about this-maybe it's because Kate herself has financial stake in the company. Combined with her new fragrance launch, it looks like Kate the Great is becoming a real beauty queen.

Source

James Brown's Got Soul, Kate Moss in His Ad

BellaSugar — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:00:12 -0700

You may already know that Kate Moss is working on a new haircare line with her longtime friend and hair stylist James Brown. He's been taking care of her her hair since she was 15, and from reading about his philosophy, I can see why Kate likes him so much. "Women torture themselves about their hair, and what fashion dictates they should be doing," he told the Telegraph. "They'd be better off embracing what they have." Right on. To see a video of James and Kate working on the ad campaign (to the sounds of one of my favorite songs ev-arrr), read more

Orange You Glad It's Summer: Getting Rid of Brassiness

BellaSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:00:52 -0700

There are few things more disheartening than watching the gorgeous chocolate shade you just dyed your hair fade to a dry, brassy mess. It seems like it happens overnight, and that often means you can't make it to a salon (or a box of hair color) in time. Prevention is your best option, but no one's perfect, so I've prepared real-world tips that you can use at home to keep your color now and fix brassiness later. For my solutions, read on.

Which Hair Hue Suits Britney Better?

BellaSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:45:56 -0700

For most of her years in the spotlight, Britney Spears has been a blonde. But this weekend, she showed off a new brown hue while strolling around in Los Angeles. It isn't the first time that Brit's been a brunette, but it's been at least a year since we've seen this rich chocolate color on her. Some might prefer her with flaxen hair, but I say, never underestimate the power of the dark side. Which hair color do you think flatters her more?