BellaSugar

Definition: French Twist

BellaSugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:00:00 -0700

The French twist is a classic and elegant updo. Hair is gathered at the nape of the neck and then twisted upwards and inwards while gathering more hair from the sides until it reaches the crown of the head. It is secured in place by bobby pins or hair combs along the way.

The French twist has remained a popular hairstyle since the early 1800s. It can be worn tight and tidy or unkempt and messy for a more relaxed look.

To see instructions on how to create a French twist at home, read more.

STEP 1: Tease (or back-comb) the crown of your hair area. Then gather your hair as you would for a low ponytail, but don't secure it with an elastic.
STEP 2: Clasp your "ponytail" with one hand and point it upwards. Coil the hair inwards towards your head until your entire ponytail is twisted and lying flush against your head.
STEP 3: Using your free hand, secure your hair with hair clips or bobby pins (criss-cross the pins for optimal hold) until you get to the top.
STEP 4: You'll have a good amount of hair remaining at the top of the twist. Tuck this hair, facing downward, into the French twist and secure it underneath.
STEP 5: If the top is bumpy, that's OK. Gently smooth it out with a boar-bristle brush and then mist your entire head with hairspray.

Source

2009 Primetime Emmy Awards: Drew Barrymore

BellaSugar — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:31:04 -0700

Prior to the red carpet starting this evening, I couldn't help but wonder about how Drew Barrymore would be wearing her newly black-tipped locks to this year's Emmys. Now, we have our answer. Her dunked-in-dye tips taking backstage to the overall style, Drew pulls her blond bob back into a slightly waved French twist. In a typical old-Hollywood starlet move, she goes for bold matte red lips and keeps it interesting with a bronzy shadow. What do you think of Drew's look? Does it get a thumb's up?

Vote on all of my Primetime Emmy Awards polls here!

Akiko Ogawa Takes a Twist on the French Manicure

BellaSugar — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:00:09 -0800

Even though these pink nails were shown for a Fall collection, I think Akiko Ogawa's runway manicures would be a great way to welcome springtime. French manicures normally aren't my favorites, but Alisha Rimando created a fresh version by using four colors (Dashing Diva polish in Headliner, Dashing Diva, Cosmopolitan, and Debutante).

View 4 Photos ›

To get the look at home, read more.

While the polish is wet, apply Dashing Diva to the top third of the nail. Make sure that the color blends or fades well into the nail.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 on each nail.
Start with the first nail and apply Headliner to the edge of the nail.
Using very little polish on the brush, apply Headliner to the very tip of the nail, blending or fading it onto the Dashing Diva pink color. You'll want to apply it to about ⅛ of the nail edge.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 on each nail.
Apply Debutante over all nails. Finish with topcoat.

Of course, if you don't want to go the DIY route, you can always head to a Dashing Diva salon if you're in New York. (Much easier.)

Photos courtesy of Alexei Nemchenko

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.

How-To: Lauren Conrad's Twisty Braids

BellaSugar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:00:33 -0700

Just when you think you've seen nearly every type of braid imaginable, leave it to Lauren Conrad to add her own twist. LC's time on The Hills may be over but that's not stopping the young star from pursuing other endeavors.

At last night's book signing for LA Candy and appearance on The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien, Lauren busted out the braids again. But this time, she chose dual French braids that looped together in the back, forming a loose, chic bun. Recently I got the scoop behind her iconic braids, and now, here are some tips on re-creating last night's updo version.

View 5 Photos ›

Get the how-to when you read more.

For a shiny effect with slight hold, apply a glossing gel to damp hair and blow-dry. Try Nivea Diamond Gloss Styling Gel ($12).
Part the hair down the middle. Starting from one side of the part, loosely French braid the hair all the way down, stopping the braiding at to the nape. Secure with an elastic band. Repeat on the other side. Note how Lauren's stylist only braided hair along the sides, leaving hair from the crown down to the neck out of the mix.
Leaving the two braids out, gather the hair from the crown down to the neck into a ponytail. Secure with an elastic band and twist hair around it, securing with bobby pins into the base of the pony.
Finish up by twisting and wrapping the two ends around the "bun" you created in the third step, using bobby pins to secure. Add a spritz of hair spray (such as David Babaii for WildAid Light Styling Spray, $12.50) for a little hold.

WireImage and Getty

How-To: Marion Cotillard's Warm and Cool Makeup

BellaSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0700

Marion Cotillard, who's been in the spotlight as of late promoting her film, Public Enemies, is a vision of French sophistication. And her look at Christian Dior's Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture show earlier today was no exception. Recently, model Selita Ebanks broke the rules by pairing cool eyes with a warm lip, and now, in ultrachic fashion, it's Marion's turn.

This time the look couples a warm gold shadow with a cool blue-based red lipstick. We all know that gold and bronzy tones make blue eyes pop. Add some dark, Marilyn-esque waves to the mix, and it's chic with a French twist. Find out my tips for achieving this look after the jump

Who Wears the Chunky Side-Braid Best?

BellaSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 06:00:10 -0700

Over the past few days, it's been chunky side braids aplenty. While various types of braids have been hot for years now, check out how these three women put their own twist on this trend below. Jessica Simpson stepped out for Easter dinner with the family at first wearing this classic French braid, which mysteriously disappeared before she left the restaurant. Drew Barrymore paired her braid with a retro twist and some serious red lipstick while promoting her new film on Live With Regis and Kelly. As for Nicole Richie, she chose a casual wraparound braid with long, heavy bangs when she was out and about in LA. So, tell me. When it comes to these three takes on the braid to the side, which one is tops in your book?

Flynet, WENN.com, and INFDaily.com

How-To: Renée Zellweger's Simply Chic Pin 'n' Twist

BellaSugar — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:00:59 -0800

Renée Zellweger stopped by the Late Show With David Letterman last night to promote her upcoming flick, New in Town. Even though she's a city girl forced to adjust to small-town life in the movie, in real life she's looking cosmopolitan with this simply chic pin 'n' twist hairstyle.

Easy enough to do before work on a busy morning, but polished enough to last for a night on the town, this hairstyle is versatile and fun. Grab some bobby pins and learn how to replicate it when you read more.

Part where you normally would before using a comb to tease the hair at the crown of your head.
Gather your hair as if you were making a low ponytail. Twist the hair so the ends point upward, leaving a couple loose tendrils to frame your face.
Create a French twist. This should leave half of the ponytail twisted against your head and the other half flopping freely.
Use bobby pins (with your other hand) to clip hair right above where the twist ends until it's secure enough that you can let go.
Tuck the loose hair, small pieces at a time, so that all the ends are pinned. To get a carefree effect like this, crisscross and pin them randomly.

Source

How-To: Megan Fox's Hair at the 2009 Golden Globe Awards

BellaSugar — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:15:56 -0800

I've gotta hand it to Megan Fox for this hairstyle. Whether or not you're a fan of this actress or the look, it definitely seems like a hard one to pull off. From the front, it appears like any other slicked-back style, but it's actually a French twist created with two sections instead of just one. If you were loving this updo, find out how Fekkai stylist Renato Campora created it when you read more.

Apply Fekkai Coiff Controle to damp hair, then brush and dry it.
Section the top of the hair aside and tease the bottom all the way around.
Add Pomade Cristal and create texture by pulling the bottom portion of the hair to one side and twist. Secure with pins.
Join the top portion of hair to the rest of the hair by following in the direction of the twist, tucking and pinning it all away.
Finish off the super sleek look with Glossing Sheer Shine Mist.

Source

2009 Oscars: Penelope Cruz

BellaSugar — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:36:02 -0800

Penelope is up for for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, in which she plays a passionate artist. Her character wears her long hair in an unkempt style, but tonight, Penelope goes for smooth and shiny, with her dark brown hair styled in a classic French twist. Regardless of how her hair is done, she always seems to exude sexiness - am I right? Apricot lipstick and shimmery copper eye shadow highlight her dark features. Does this look get a thumbs up, or does it not quite hit the mark?

Vote on all of my Oscar polls here!

Source