BellaSugar

How To: Scrunched Summertime Waves

BellaSugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:00:52 -0700

Last year I talked to you about how to create the ever-popular sexy beach waves hairstyle, and this is a modification on that look. It's slightly more polished for a casual evening dinner or party that doesn't make you look like you've just come straight from the surf.

When I think of this hairstyle, Camila Alves, Jessica Simpson and of course Rachel Bilson come to mind. To find out how you can achieve scrunched summertime waves at home, read more.

STEP 1: While hair is soaking wet, comb out the snarls with a wide-toothed comb. Part hair and apply just a little bit of de-frizzing serum like Frizz-Ease by John Frieda to the lengths and ends.
STEP 2: Let it air dry a little bit and when it's damp (not wet!) generously mist it with either a homemade or store-bought sea salt spray and scrunch hair vigorously all over.
STEP 3: As a finishing touch (something that Rachel Bilson hasn't done here) gently tease your hair at the crown to create more overall height and volume, otherwise your hair risks looking limp and straggly.
STEP 4: To ensure shiny ends, apply some Renee Furturer Spray Gloss and then leave hair alone. Don't brush, comb or play with it or you'll only create separation and, heaven forbid, frizz!

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Back to Basics: The Best Hair Mousses

BellaSugar — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:05:04 -0800

With the invention of hair wax and spray gels, you may think of hair mousse as a relic of the '80s. But that's not the case, as long as you find one that isn't sticky. Here are three of my all-time favorite hair mousses.

Finesse Touchables Extra-Control Mousse ($3.79) is a protein-enriched mousse that tames flyaways and creates body without drying hair out. It gives you the hold of a light hairspray without any of the stiffness or stickiness. I love the sweet smell of this product.

To check out two more hair mousses, read more

Frizz-Ease Corrective Styling Mousse ($5.99) is great for those with curly or permed hair who are looking for hold without the crunchy aftereffects of hair gel. It leaves your hair feeling pretty soft, and since it contains silicon, it also adds shine and helps control frizz. Also, since it's alcohol free, it won't dry out your hair.

Citre Shine - Big Volume Styling Foam ($5.19) is a styling product that gives hair volume, boost, and shine. I'm not going to lie: It's a teensy bit sticky, but the hold is soft and it somehow makes your hair feel just a little bit thicker than usual.

Let's Get Something Straight, Part I

BellaSugar — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:50:33 -0700

These fab hair smoothing products ensure that curly, frizzy or hard to tame hair become more manageable. They also protect your hair and add shine during the heat styling process. The result is straight, soft and smooth hair! Using these products is simple too! Just apply a dime sized amount into the palm of your hand and distribute evenly throughout towel dried hair. You can also add a very small amount to dry hair to smooth away frizz after styling. To see another post about more fabulous hair straightening products, click here.

Phytodefrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm, $32, is a thick and yummy smelling balm suitable for all hair types - even those with permed hair who are looking for a sleek looking blow out. It is made from ferula, horseradish, sage and garlic extracts - I know what you are thinking, but I swear it smells good! This concoction coats the hair and adds fiber for strengthening purposes.

It isn't oily feeling like a serum and it leaves your hair feeling really shiny, soft and straight! You can buy this 5.9 oz tube for $32 or you can buy a smaller 3.3 oz version which sells for $24.

For two more hair straightening balms, read more

Redken Straight 05 Straightening Balm, $15, is a kink killer! This anti-frizz, humidity and curl product works hard to create great straight locks! It provides a protective shield against heat damage as well as increases shine and elasticity. Enter your zip code in the upper right corner to find a salon nearest you.

Frizz-Ease Wind-Down Relaxing Creme by John Freida, $6, is an oldie but goodie extra strength relaxing creme that helps to calm down curls, cowlicks and frizzies. It contains aloe and vitamin E to strengthen, hydrate and make hair nice and shiny!

Work a small sized amount through your hair beginning from roots to ends and brush through to distribute evenly. I've been using this product for a long time and I love it because it's not greasy!

3 Tips on Battling Wintertime Frizz in a Flash

BellaSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:00:48 -0800

Do you have flyaways galore? No doubt frizziness is a year-round issue. But now that the warmer-weathered humidity-induced frizz is pretty much no longer the cause of extreme pouffiness, lots of us get the frizzies from merely wearing scarves, hats, and gloves - not to mention the low moisture levels in the air.

Recently, famed stylist John Frieda, along with Harry Josh, gave us tips on eliminating frizz on wet locks. However, let's say you just don't have time to go through the whole blow-drying process, or your already-styled hair is showing signs of frizz galore. Here are three simple tips from the stylists on battling frizz in a flash, all on dry (as in not wet) locks. To get their expert advice, just keep reading.

Tame Your Frizz With Tips From John Frieda

BellaSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:00:30 -0800

Lack of body or too much frizz: "Most people fall into one [category] or the other," explains hair guru John Frieda. The solution? "A product and a technique," he says. In the 1970s and 1980s, when Frieda first started out, the majority of the products available were just for body and volume. If you had any issues with frizziness, as 60 percent of women do, you couldn't turn to your favorite anti-frizz serum or cream to quell the problem, as those types of products just didn't exist quite the way they do today. At least there was disco, right? Frieda, along with stylist Harry Josh, recently spoke on the stubborn issue of frizz. To find out how to prevent your hair from looking as if it's been hit by a Van de Graaff generator, keep reading.

Reader Review of the Day: John Frieda Frizz-Ease Wind Down Relaxing Creme

BellaSugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:00:31 -0800

All across America, the weather is in varying states of coldness. Brrr. And while I chowed down my morning breakfast, I took a peek at the forecast. Wind chills, negative temperatures, gusting snow? Yikes. Needless to say, I'm sure the cold, dry air wreaks havoc on your hair - particularly if you have curly locks that tend to frizz.

So, for today's reader review, I did a little searching on our Product Reviews website for some hair tamers. And reader Ameliajc thinks that her John Frieda Frizz-Ease Wind Down Relaxing Creme ($5.99) does the trick for keeping her curly hair straight. Here's what she had to say:

"I have pretty curly hair that I like to straighten every once in a while. This is a good product to help tame my curly hair for the day. I comb it through my hair, blow dry, and then hit it with the straightener. It definitely makes a difference and keeps my hair straight all day."

Want to add your own two cents? Check out our product reviews section to share your thoughts.

Beauty Byte: Self's 2007 Healthy Beauty Awards

BellaSugar — Fri, 04 May 2007 16:14:02 -0700

Self magazine just announced the winners of its 2007 Healthy Beauty Awards, which recognize skin-care, makeup, and hair products that are both good and good for you. I love lists like this, because they always give me ideas about new products to try (as if I needed more, but whatever).

The Self awards are a great mix of drugstore treasures and high-end brands. (Thanks to Beauty and the Blog for the tip!) To see the list of winners, read more

FACE

Best Normal-Skin Cleanser
Plank Cor Soap, $125

Best Oily-Skin Cleanser
Care by Stella McCartney Purifying Foaming Cleanser, $35

Best Dry-Skin Cleanser
NIA 24 Gentle Cleansing Cream, $30

Best Sensitive-Skin Cleanser
Skin Effects Redness Control Calming Gel Cleanser, $13

Best Normal-Skin Moisturizer
Skingenic Regenerating Moisturizer, $110

Best Dry-Skin Moisturizer
Lierac Hydra-Chrono, $45

Best Sensitive-Skin Moisturizer
Kinerase Cream With SPF 30, $135

Best Antiaging Moisturizer
Lancôme High Résolution With Fibrelastine Intensive Recovery Anti-Wrinkle Cream, $74

Best Night Cream
Roc Protient Fortify Lift and Define Night Cream, $20

Best Serum
Aveeno Positively Ageless Rejuvenating Serum, $18

Best At-Home Peel
Avon Anew Clinical Advanced Retexturizing Peel, $25

Best Face Scrub
C.O. Bigelow Brown Sugar Crystal Face Polish, $20

Best Acne Treatment
Sephora Face Concealing Blemish Pen, $14

Best Mask
Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect Firming Facial Mask, $58

Best Eye Cream
Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Eye and Lip Cream, $155

Best Antiaging Eye Cream
Clarins Advanced Extra-Firming Eye Contour Cream, $54

Best Eye-Brightening Cream
Burt's Bees Radiance Eye Creme, $15

BODY

Best Bar Soap
Dove Pro-Age, $4

Best Shower Gel
Boscia Jujube Rejuvenist Amino Body Wash, $22

Best Moisturizing Shower Gel
Caress Cashmere Luxury Silkening Body Wash, $3

Best Body Scrub
Murad Activating Body Scrub, $48

Best Body Treatment
Ahava Pure Spa Energizing Body Mud Mask, $18

Best Body Moisturizer
St. Ives Mineral Therapy Advanced Body Moisturizer, $5

Best Nighttime Body Moisturizer
Johnson's Softlotion Melt Away Stress Moisturizing Lotion, $5

Best Spray Moisturizer
The Healing Garden Sensual Therapy Passion Rose Body Mist, $7

Best Body Cream
Jergens Shea Butter Cream, $7

Best Body Cream for Irritated Skin
Eucerin Calming Itch-Relief Treatment, $9

Best Hand Scrub
Mary Kay Satin Smoothie Hand Scrub, $15

Best Hand Lotion
OPI Avoplex High-Intensity Hand & Nail Cream, $8

Best Nail Product
Revlon No Smudge Dry Oil, $7

Best Foot Scrub
Olay Thermal Pedicure, $9

Best Foot Cream
Earth Therapeutics Intensive Heel Repair, $8

MAKEUP

Best All-Around Foundation
Shiseido The Makeup Dual Balancing Foundation SPF 17, $35

Best Tinted Moisturizer
Cosmedicine Honest Face Skin Tint & Treatment SPF 20, $35

Best Oil-Free Foundation
Neutrogena Glow Sheers SPF 30, $12

Best Antiaging Foundation
La Mer The Treatment Fluid Foundation SPF 15, $75

Best Long-Lasting Foundation
Rimmel Cool Matte 16 Hr Foundation, $8

Best Pressed Powder
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish, $25

Best Loose Powder
Givenchy Prisme Libre, $63

Best Concealer
Prescriptives Custom Blend Concealer, $32

Best Bronzer
Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Matte Bronzing Veil, $12

Best Highlighter
Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener, $18

Best Powder Blush
Lorac Cheek Stamp, $22

Best Gel Blush
Sue Devitt Beauty Gel to Powder Blush, $20

Best Lipstick
Giorgio Armani ArmaniSilk, $25

Best SPF-Enriched Lipstick
Almay Hydracolor, $9

Best Lip Gloss
Sally Hansen Smile Brightening Lip Treatment, $7

Best Lipliner
Lauren Hutton Lip Liner, $14

Best Powder Eyeshadow
Victoria's Secret Very Sexy Mosaic Eye Shadow, $18

Best Cream Eyeshadow
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow, $22

Best Makeup Multitasker
Benefit Rush Hour, $20

Best Eyeliner
L'Oréal Paris Carbon Black Le Kohl Pencil, $7

Best Lengthening Mascara
Clinique High Definition Lashes Brush-Then-Comb Mascara, $14

Best Thickening Mascara
CoverGirl VolumeExact Mascara, $7

Best Waterproof Mascara
Maybelline New York Volum' Express Turbo Mascara, $7

Best Multitasking Mascara
Chanel Inimitable Mascara, $27

Best Eye Makeup Remover
Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Plantidote Mega-Mushroom Eye Makeup Remover Pads, $20

Best Palette
Sonia Kashuk Face Palette, $17

HAIR

Best All-Around Shampoo
Aura Spa Aromatherapie Balancing Équilibrant Verbena Ginger Shampoo, $8

Best Hydrating Shampoo
Sunsilk ThermaShine, $4

Best Straightening Shampoo
Nexxus SleekTress Sumptuous Smoothing Shampoo, $9

Best Shampoo for Curls
Aveda Be Curly Shampoo, $20

Best Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair
Matrix Logics Color DNA System Color Nourishing Shampoo, $20

Best All-Around Conditioner
Charles Worthington Dream Hair Radiant Shine Glossing Conditioner, $9

Best Hydrating Conditioner
Kiehl's Olive Fruit Oil Nourishing Conditioner, $19

Best Straightening Conditioner
Aussie Sydney Smooth Conditioner, $3

Best Conditioner for Curls
Redken Fresh Curls Conditioner, $13

Best Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair
Marc Anthony Brilliant Color Color Lock Conditioner, $8

Best Hair Mask
Alberto VO5 Fortify & Repair! Deep Moisturizing 3-Minute Masque, $3

Best Volumizer
Biolage VolumaThérapie Bodifying Crème Gel, $14

Best Shine Serum
John Frieda Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection Serum, $10

Best Gel
Garnier Fructis Style Brilliantine Shine Cream-Gel, $4

Best Curl Product
Suave Professionals Healthy Curls Anti-Frizz Cream, $2

Best Frizz Fighter
Herbal Essences None of Your Frizzness Smoothing Leave-In Crème, $3

Best Mousse
Wella Color Preserve Volumizing Mousse, $14

Best Straightening Product
Tresemmé Thermal Creations Straightening Gel, $4

Best Texturizer
Pantene Pro-V Texturize! Moussing Foam Wax, $7

Best Hairspray
Paul Mitchell Express Style Worked Up Spray, $15

Best At-Home Color Kit
Clairol Natural Instincts, $9

SUN

Best Face Sunscreen
Dermalogica Extra Rich Faceblock SPF 30, $48

Best Body Sunscreen
Banana Boat UltraMist Sport SPF 30 Continuous Clear Spray, $7

Best Face Glow Lotion
Nivea Sun-Kissed Facial Moisturizer, $7

Best Body Glow Lotion
Estée Lauder Body Performance Golden Naturally Radiant Moisturizer, $35

Best Self-Tanner
Lancaster Silk Bronze Moisturizing Milk Face & Body Self Tan SPF 6, $22

Best Body Bronzer
Dior Bronze Gelée de Monoi, $32

Source

It's Always Good To Use Protection

BellaSugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:00:11 -0700

A cloud of smoke is looming over your head and the sizzling strands of hair are causing quite the stench. Sandwiched between the radiating plates of your trusty flat iron are your poor, vulnerable locks.

With temperatures reaching upwards of 500 degrees (zoikes!), I'm sure you can see the merits of using some kind of protection. You already take measures to safeguard your skin from the rays of the sun, so treat your hair right, too.

Excess heat on the hair from blow drying, curling, and flat-ironing takes moisture out of your hair. Not only that, it breaks down the cuticle layer, creating a frizzy, dull, and faded mess. Blah.

So, are you using protection? Check out my list below for some great recommendations for thermal spray and serum protectors so that you can still turn up the heat - without all the risk.

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Hair Serum, Thermal Protection Formula ($8.18).
Nexxus Heat Protexx Heat Protection Styling Spray ($14).
Frederic Fekkai Coiff Defense UV Protectant ($28).
CHI Iron Guard ($12).
Tresemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray ($4.80).