BellaSugar

10 Protective Braided Styles to Try This Winter

BellaSugar — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 11:00:15 PST

Remember how cool Janet Jackson looked with long box-braids? Or the versatility of Brandy's microbraids? We do. A braided hairstyle can make afro-textured hair look really fly, but did you know it can also protect it from feeling really dry? Just as your skin needs to be protected during winter, women with afro-textured hair should protect their delicate strands from ice cold weather, and braids are a stylish option for hair hibernation. Here, some tips and inspiration.

Bellissima! Leonor Greyl Huile de Palme

BellaSugar — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 08:00:51 PDT

Leonor Greyl Huile de Palme ($39) is a before-shampoo treatment oil for dry hair. It helps to detangle and soften hair as well as deliver much-needed nourishment to ends that have been damaged by coloring, bleaching, perms or straightening.

It is made from an all-natural blend of concentrated botanical oils that help to restore full vitality and shine to dry hair. This is an amazing product for your summer beach bag because it coats and protects hair from the damages that sun, salt water and chlorine can cause.

To use, cover hair with a small amount of oil and brush it through, paying close attention to the ends. Leave it on for at least ten minutes (but it can stay on all night too as a treatment for stressed hair) and follow with a shampoo best suited for your hair type. Notice the difference in texture, elasticity, softness and shine. Sounds amazing, doesn't it?

At Home Spa Treatment: Moisturize Dry Hair

FitSugar — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 15:45:00 PDT

We all know olive oil is a healthy fat that is essential to our health, but it's not just for salads and warm bread. You can use it to nourish your dry and fuzzy hair. I've tried leave-in conditioners and deep conditioning treatments, but they don't seem to work. Here's something I do about twice a month, but you can do it once a week if your hair is really thirsty.

Here's what you'll need:

1/4 cup olive oil (you may need more or less depending on how long and thick your hair is)
plastic grocery bag

Here's what to do:

Rinse your hair with warm water.
Pour about 1 tbsp into the palm of your hands, rub them together to warm up the oil, then using your fingertips, gently massage it into your scalp and hair.
Continue doing this until your hair is covered evenly with the oil, making sure the ends of your hair are treated too.
Now place the plastic bag over your hair, tying the ends in a knot or securing it closed with a hair clip or clothespin.
Keep the oil on your hair for at least 30 minutes. Then rinse, shampoo and condition as usual.

That's it. Your hair will look and feel shiny, soft, and smooth. It's especially good if you have thick and curly hair, but it's also great to do in the summer when the sun and saltwater can really dry out your hair. Try it and let me know what you think.

Fit's Tips: If your hair is NOT dry, do not try this treatment - your hair will end up looking really flat and greasy.

Source

Cold Winter - Dry Hair

FitSugar — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 03:30:00 PST

Now that it's cold outside and you've got the heat pumping inside, your hair must be screaming for moisture.

Here's a great tip I learned from my hair dresser. Whether your hair is dry to begin with, or just dry during the winter, choose a shampoo and conditioner that's recommended for permed or color treated hair.

Even if you don't have a perm or highlights you can take advantage of the hair care products that offer a little extra moisturizing.

Wash your hair only as often as needed. If you have curly hair, you can get by washing your hair once a week. If you have silky straight hair, wash it every 2 days.

Try a leave-in conditioner to help moisturize even more. And if you can, skip out on blow drying and let your hair air dry.

A Reader Recipe: Chunky Cherry-Chocolate Granola Bites

Fit Community — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:28:09 PST

FitSugar reader JuicyNoelle came up with this special cookie for Valentine's Day; she posted the recipe in our Healthy Recipe group.

Tied with a festive pink ribbon and a little love, I’m hoping these cookies will be perfect for Valentine's Day. The whole-grain oats, nuts, and cherries in these cookies add heartiness, while the melted dark-chocolate chunks deliver bursts of richness. The chia seeds pack a nutty punch, and they are rich in fiber and omega-3s, too - perfect for supporting vibrant hair and skin during these cold weeks of February.

Learn more about the recipe after the break!

Get the Sweater-fied Hair Effect From Richard Chai Love

Jaime Richards — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:22:10 PST

You know that amazing moment when you pull off a sweater and your hair looks perfectly disheveled immediately thereafter? That's just the effect hairstylist Kevin Ryan (for Aveda) wanted to capture when creating the lifted, slightly mussed coiffures at Richard Chai Love.

To create the play on texture, particularly at the crown, Ryan began by spritzing the brand's Volumizing Tonic on models' hair. After blow-drying, he applied Brilliant Humectant to slick back the sides and added Control Granules for extra texture. Then, right before they hit the runway, Ryan switched around models' hair parts to create what he calls a "jump up on the front." The result was pretty hair with a little "strange volume" - sans the static cling, of course. See shots of the lived-in hair up close and learn more about the androgynous makeup and nail looks now.

How to Get the Most Flattering Bangs

Allure — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:41:54 PST

We're happy to present this story from our friends at Allure:

The year is starting off with a bang ... er, lots of bangs. More and more celebs are taking a page from Zooey Deschanel's book, and stepping out in long, statement-making fringe. There's Jessica Biel's ultra-trendy thick bangs, Taylor Swift's wispy style, and Olivia Wilde's side-swept ones. If you want to get in on the trend, there's more to consider than just the inevitability of growing them out. Each style of bangs works best with a certain face shape - so before you head to the salon with a picture of your favorite actress, find your most flattering fringe using these guidelines.

Olympian Natalie Coughlin Dives Into Beauty

BellaSugar — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:05:42 PST

Two-time Olympic champion Natalie Coughlin is legendary for her 100 meter backstroke, impossible to beat as part of the freestyle relay team, and one of Team USA's brightest hopes for this year's London games. We met up with her at a shoot for her new Pantene ad and discovered that Natalie's also quite the glamour puss when she's on dry land. "I'm a girlie girl when I have the chance," she said. "I love playing up my eyes, and after my Dancing With the Stars experience, I love doing false lashes."

When she's in a pool all day, however, there's no reason to wear makeup. "It’s just the last thing I want to think about," Natalie admits. "But I do use a lot of sunscreen." With so much chlorine exposure and time in the water, painfully dry skin is also an issue many swimmers face. "I have to moisturize every day," Natalie says, "and I dry brush at night, which I think is important."

As anyone who was ever on a neighborhood swim team can attest, though, a swimmer's biggest beauty challenge is always hair. Natalie is known for her long, healthy mane, and says she's avoided the chop by following a cardinal rule. "Always wet your hair before you get in the pool," Natalie advises. "If you can put conditioner in your hair before you get in that helps, too." Wetting your hair... so you can get it wet? Apparently not as weird as it sounds. "If you think about it, "Natalie explains, "your hair is very much like a sponge, so if it absorbs tap water, that’s much better than chlorinated water." Thanks to Natalie, next time we go for a dip, our strands will have taken the plunge beforehand.

5 Tips From a Pro: How to Create a Beautiful Bronzed Glow

Real Beauty — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:07:27 PST

We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Real Beauty.

When trying to create a natural, sunless tan on your body, mistakes are expected and accepted. If things go too awry, you can just opt to wear pants until the color wears off.

Bronzer or self tanner: which is right for you?

But a botched fake tan on your face? Completely out of the question. Here, five foolproof tips on how to get gorgeous bronzed skin.

February's Best New Beauty Products

BellaSugar — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:38:18 PST

April may be the cruelest month, but February is certainly the coldest. We hope you're wrapped up, out of the wind, and ready to see the best of what the shortest month has to offer. In the next 29 days, we'll be using the hottest new products to nurse dry skin back to health, give ourselves the shiniest hair imaginable, and brighten things up a bit in anticipation of sunnier days to come. So come on in, and bring your snowman friend, too.

Source: Flickr User carlitosway85