BellaSugar

Hairbrushes: Styling

BellaSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:00:11 PDT

The styling brush is a basic, everyday kind of hairbrush that can be used for general combing or during blow-drying. While the round brush is best at gripping the hair for sleek styles, the low tension of a styling brush works wonders on smoothing out ends - particularly for bobbed or medium length styles.

Also known as the "styler" or the "Denman," this classic rectangular shaped brush can also be used to lift hair at the roots for added volume. Try the Denman Classic Styling Brush ($7.49) or Aveda Wooden Styling Brush ($13).

Confused about brush choices overall? Be sure to check out the rest of my hairbrush series, with more to come.

Hairbrushes: Round

BellaSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:00:11 PDT

Many a times, I have stood in front of the hairbrush aisle facing, to me, what seems like a zillion choices - flat, round, skinny, soft-bristled, and/or balls on the ends? It's enough to make the head spin right 'round. And cue the 80s music.

Are you confused on which brush to choose? Well, fret no more. All this week I'm featuring ins and outs of hairbrushes so that you can pick what you think is best for your lovely locks.

The round brush, which is known for delivering great curls and flips, also volumizes and straightens hair by providing an appropriate amount of grip while blow-drying. A larger diameter base will give loads of volume, and works well for longer styles, while a smaller diameter base will provide tighter waves, and works great on shorter styles.

Ceramic or metal brushes are a specialized type of round brush, working with the heat of your blow-dryer, allowing you to create styles and manipulate your hair much like that of a curling iron.

Try Spornette Pronto Round Brush ($12.99) or Umberto Round Brush ($12.99) for voluminous results.

Hairbrushes: The Paddle

BellaSugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:15:22 PDT

The hairbrush - you probably use one every day, but with the wide variety of brushes available, do you ever wonder which is what, and which one you should pick, anyway? Well, you're in luck because all this week, I'll be featuring different types of brushes and how to use them. As a general guideline, pick a brush based on the length of your hair and the style you want to achieve.

Let's start off with the paddle brush, which is great for longer hairstyles. To use, gently lift hair at the roots and sweep down the hair shaft. Since this brush is so flat, it's best for creating smooth, sleek, and shiny styles without lots of volume. It also works wonders as a finisher for curly, frizzy, or wavy hair that's been styled by other means.

Because the paddle brush is so wide, it's also great for penetrating thick hair and providing a gentle, stimulating scalp massage. Try the Aveda Wooden Paddle Brush ($18).

Get Fresh and Fruity With a Scented Hairbrush

Miriam Lacey — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 03:00:00 PDT

If you sometimes find yourself with not-so-fresh smelling hair after a night out and no dry shampoo or perfume in sight, maybe you should check out a cute Denman Tutti Frutti fragranced hairbrush ($12 each). The brushes come in a variety of scents, including lemon, strawberry, and coconut, and they're in the brand's classic styling brush shape. I'm not totally sold on strawberry-scented hair, but would you be excited to give one of these a try?

See If This Ionic Brush Can Really Smooth Frizzy Hair

BellaSugar — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 06:00:00 PDT

When your hair is frizzy and full of static, the last thing you want to do is brush it; unless, perhaps, you have the Braun Satin Hair Active Ion Brush ($65). It's supposed to smooth the unruliest of hair, so we decided to give it a whirl to see if it really does work. Check out the video to see what happened when we put it to the test.

Tina Fey Talks Beauty in Her New Book

Allure — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:44:31 PDT

We're excited to present this story from Allure!

I'll admit that my girl-crush on Tina Fey has only intensified after reading her new book, Bossypants. It had me laughing like a crazy person on the subway because she's so willing to divulge her nerdy proclivities (as a kid, she relaxed after school by putting on a colonial costume) and her beauty struggles (though, for the record, she's adamant about having all of her "original teeth and face parts"). It's worth reading every page of the book, but here, a few favorite Fey thoughts on beauty.

5 Songs Worth Downloading From the New Britney Spears Album Femme Fatale

BuzzSugar — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 22:29:12 PDT

Britney Spears's seventh album, Femme Fatale is out today, but is the latest from the pop star worth a listen? We've already heard lead singles "Hold It Against Me" and "Till the World Ends," but let us guide you through five more tracks that could be your new Spring anthems.

"How I Roll" - A chill, but still fun pop anthem. Think grooving in the car with the top down rather than the dance floor.
"I Wanna Go" - A Pussycat Dolls-esque (I mean that in a good way) up-tempo dance jam.
"He About to Lose Me" - A break-up track perfect for belting out into a hairbrush with your girlfriends (or alone, whatever).
"Big Fat Bass" - A little repetitive and overly simple, but the big fat bass honestly grows on you.
"Gasoline" - A poppy jam tailor-made for a gym mix.

Fit's Hits: Healthy Berry Recipes, Yoga as Medicine, and More!

FitSugar — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:13:33 PDT

Berry delicious! A dozen healthy recipes featuring your favorite berries.
More studies confirm that diet soda is bad for your waistline.
Try curing your headache with yoga, before popping an aspirin.
Do your best to avoid these unhealthy habits that pack on the pounds.
Whip up some veggie-heavy, low-carb side dishes for your holiday barbecue.
Tone your inner thighs with these five exercises.
Make your hairbrush happy and plate up these nine foods to prevent hair loss.
Decrease your risk of running injuries with some prehab exercises.
Try sipping on some low-cal cocktails this holiday weekend.

Losing Your Hair? Eat These 9 Foods

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 02:36:18 PDT

Right around the time my daughter hit the 6-month mark, I freaked in the shower when clumps of hair came into my hands while shampooing. Then I remembered a mom in my postnatal yoga class complaining about gobs of her hair falling out months after giving birth. Losing hair after pregnancy is pretty ~~crappy~~ common, but if you didn't just have a baby and you're concerned that too many strands are ending up in your hairbrush, eating some of these nutrient-rich foods may help prevent thinning hair.

Tofu: This soy-based food is a healthy source of iron, with a one-cup serving offering 6.8 mg. If you're concerned about an iron deficiency, which is known to cause hair loss, make sure you're getting 18 mg of iron a day.
Cottage cheese: Dairy products are great sources of protein, especially since they contain whey and casein. If you're not a fan of the consistency of cottage cheese, snack on yogurt instead.
Oysters: These shellfish are another source of iron. A three-ounce serving contains 6.6 mg. People might eat oysters to inspire love, but they'll also inspire your hair to grow. Besides the iron, oysters are also high in the antioxidant zinc.
Flaxseeds: Another great source of iron, flaxseeds also contain omega-3s, which support scalp health and can encourage hair growth. One tablespoon of whole flaxseeds contain 2.3 grams of omega-3s, while one tablespoon of flaxseed oil offers 7.2 grams.

To see what other foods you can add to your diet to encourage a thick, lustrous mane keep reading.

Introducing Made-to-Order Sex Toys

Colleen Barrett — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:30:53 PST

Quality aside, everything about sex toys errs on the side of raunchy except, say, the colors. Those are more befitting of a 10-year-old girl's room than a bedroom ready for hot, or even totally mediocre, sex. Made For Pleasure, though, is bringing luxury and quality to sex toys by not only ditching hot pink for silver, gold, and clear acrylic, but also designing sex toys to your - very specific - specifications.

Less is plenty when talking sex toys, so I'll just tell you this. You can choose the shape and size, and if you're unclear what seven inches looks like, it lets you compare your design to a hairbrush, toothbrush, or banana (and now I've said too much). Your order will arrive in a sleek-looking box that would be totally disguised if Made For Pleasure wasn't printed across the front.

This should at least save some Alabamians a trip to their local drive-through sex shop!