Channeling a Look: Gossip Girl's Serena Van Der Woodsen

I mean, my girlcrush on Gossip Girl's Serena van der Woodsen (played by Blake Lively) has nearly eclipsed the one I'd had previously on Becki Newton (who plays Ugly Betty's Amanda Tannen/Sommers). I mean, LOOK at Serena's hair. Just look. It's kind of incred, n'est-ce pas? In fact, I've never been as flattered as I was when I read this post my beautiful friend Erika wrote comparing YOURS TRULY with THE Serena. Van. Der. Woodsen. I'm preening as I TYPE. Seriously.

But let's get back to biz. What do you need to keep in mind when channeling this look? Lustrous hair and nails, dolls. Serena is the QUEEN of that sovereign nation. I recommend:

AVEDA Brilliant Spray On Shine: I usually run from liquid shine enhancers for fear that they'll make my hair too wet (my hair is naturally curly and when I'm wearing it straight, the wetter my hair gets, the more curl ensues.) This one somehow breezes on with a dry, light touch. It tames frizz and minimizes flyaways. I love to apply it last after curling my ends with a big fat curling iron. Fun tip: spray sections with hairspray BEFORE curling them.

Sally Hansen SALON Nail Lacquer in Made You Blush: This polish is a muted, cotton candy pink. Perfect for summering at the Hamptons à la Serena. Best of all? You won't blow your swanky NYC private school tuition on it. It's only $6.

Also, I'm pretty sure I'm the only person over the age of 19 who is BEYOND jazzed for Blake to return to the silver screen in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. I see movies of that genre on opening day. Is that weird? How are you coping with your GG withdrawal? Personally, I'm wearing a strange amount of headbands like my gals B and S. Tell me what you're doing in the comments.

You know you love me.

XOXO,
Fab


Image credit: thesechronicles.blogspot.com, aveda.com, walgreens.com

Weekly Phenom List

Knot Heads ($10 for a set of six short ones) The one caveat: they take a bit of practice to learn how to use. At first, I had a very Pretty Woman Vivian-at-the-Opera moment and was all, "These are broken. Mine are broken." (My friend Lauren revived that vintage quote and I've been loving it of late.) They sort of remind me of pipe cleaners but with added utility because they're designed to hold your hair. They come in two lengths, short and long. I'm loving short to twist up half of my hair. I like using the blondish-colored one so it blends with my strands. They cause fewer snags than an elastic and look supercute. BBJ readers can get 15% off at Knot Heads with the code "junkie".

Arbonne NutriMinC RE9 ReGain Illuminating Enzyme Peel ($40) My fab friend and former college roommate Leah gave me this gem of a night cream as a birthday gift. I was all, Leah. Of all the things to get me, you chose a SKINCARE product? I'm up to my EARS in skincare products right now. And I rarely even USE night cream. She assured me this was worth it. And is it EVER. I'm now a night cream CONVERT. I've been using it nightly and I awaken with smoother, softer, glowing skin. It contains natural fruit enzymes from African papaya and Far East pineapple that gently exfoliate to reveal a more even complexion.


NARS Lip Stain Gloss in Pampa ($24) Pampa is pictured on the left, BTW. This lip stain/gloss hybrid has only been a part of my lifestyle a whole 12 hours, but I am in LOVE with it. NARS has long since been my fave EYE makeup brand, but they're now dipping into my lip stain category, as well. This matte lip color is MOIST but lasts forevER. Just how long? I put it on last night at 7:30pm at dinner with my friend and yet another former college roommate Julia, came home, tried in vain to get my laptop to work (for real? It's broken. These are broken. Mine's broken. This upsets me to no end, as you can imagine. I'm calling the geek squad tomorrow). Then I took a shower (during which I WASHED MY FACE) and then dried my hair circa 11:30pm and MY LIP STAIN WAS STILL INTACT. Are you sold? You should be.

Worth the Splurge: Alterna Ten Shampoo

Girls,

I know. I KNOW. It's $60 shampoo. In a world where we live as people, how can that be necessary? Try it out and you'll see. The conditioner is also phenomenal, but I think spending $120 on a shampoo/condish combo is a bit cra. I'd rather save it for my Christian Louboutin fund. If you have the means, I certainly recommend it. If you don't, I'd recommend you pair the shampoo with Terax Ultra-Moisturizing Daily Conditioner, an easier-on-your-wallet $22.

It has to be said: I have the best hair day of my LIFESTYLE when I use this shampoo. It's highly concentrated (so a little dab'll do ya) and sulfate free. I seriously have half a mind to never let a sulfate near my locks again.

Also? I believe you can go drugstore for many things, dollfaces. But for special occasion weekend hair, I've yet to find a drugstore shampoo/conditioner that comes CLOSE to how well this one performs. My hair is soft, healthy, shiny, and Ginny-the-betrothed-sister-of-Sixteen Candles-swingy. I get compliments every time I've used it.

The formula combines ten key elements to protect against fading color. It also rebalances and nourishes all hair types, and guards from environmental/chemical stresses. Put it on your wishlist, sell some stuff on eBay, whatever - just get yourself some.

Check Out The June Issue of The Beauty Ideal

Don't miss the June edition of The Beauty Ideal, now live. I handed the torch to Jamie, who did an excellent job despite having limited time to make it all come together.

Be sure to check out my feature on Summer Vacation Hair Essentials.

Click here to enter Total Beauty's contest to win a Saturn Vue Hybrid.

Get Excited for Hairadise Week!

It's that time, gals! Remember Smooth Operator Week, Wash Me Amadeus Week, and Pour Some Sugar On Me Week? Well, the next 80s-song-inspired week of beauty is dedicated to hair: Hairadise Week. Can you EVEN? Get ready for shampoos, conditioners, masks, and styling products galore. And in case you aren't familiar with the selected works of Sade (specifically Paradise, natch), check it:

It starts on Monday.

Click here to enter Total Beauty's contest to win a Saturn Vue Hybrid.

Kate Hudson on the Cover of People's Most Beautiful People Issue

Yay, Kate! Click here to read the article.

In other belated Kate news (I know, I'm totes behind b/c she's no longer the object of my girlcrush since Amanda from Ugly Betty came into my lifestyle) she has partnered with celeb hairstylist David Babaii to create David Babaii for WildAid, a hair-care line that donates 10% of proceeds to the animal-protection organization. The products come out this summer.

Bigger is Better.

Saying I enjoy big hair is like saying that Mr. T. simply ENJOYS a big gold necklace (or seven). In fact, I saw Stop-Loss this weekend with my friends Lauren and Jaime, and while I think that Abbie Cornish is cute, I desperately wanted to leap INTO the movie screen and give her some volume at the roots. But, now that I've highlighted again, I need to be careful that all my products maintain my hair's moisture balance lest I channel a haystack instead of, say, Kate Hudson. I pity the fool who isn't making the most of the hair she's born with. Here's what I'm loving for creating voluminous strands:

Bumble and bumble Spray de Mode
This cutting-edge holding/finishing/glossing spray was created backstage during fashion week. Bumble and bumble's goal was to create a hairspray that could finish styles yet stay flexible and soft. It contains polymers to withstand brushing, running your fingers through it, crimping, and general chicanery. It also contains glycerin and silicon so you can rest assured your coif won't lose its luster. I Spray de Mode-d this weekend and have since slept on my Lauren Conrad waves TWICE and my hair's still looking pretty phenom. The spray itself smells of floral delishness. $25. Visit www.spraydemode.com to get hairstyling tips and fab behind-the-scenes videos.

Aveda Pure Abundance
At the TotalBeauty/Aveda Fashion Week kick-off dinner at Koi in early Feb., Ellen Maguire of Aveda demonstrated for us how this product's innovative formula transforms in your hands—from a powder to a light, absorbent lotion. I hesitated this long to try it out because I feared it would make my hair too piecey. I was dead WRONG. When applied to hair, it increases its diameter and creates an abundance of texture and volume without any greasiness or stickiness. I like to take a 3 inch section from the back crown area and apply the potion to the roots UNDER the section so the top part remains clean and pristine. No one knows that the bottom of the section is working overtime to plump it up. It claims to thicken up to 17% and I can attest that this is true. $22.

Ojon Hydrating Thickening Spray
I am so late to the Ojon party, but now that I'm here, I'm totes going to drain their champagne stash and be the last to leave. This volumizer nourishes, repairs and strengthens as it fattens and lifts fine damaged hair. It includes nourishing Ojon oil that is suspended in microspheres in the spray bottle. It also contains no alcohol so you can feel good about using copious amounts on color-treated locks. I rarely stray from my T3 360 Plump, but this has given me good reason to switch it up for the time being. $30 at Nordstrom.com.

Is it weird that I'm this obsessed with big hair even though I was born North of the Mason-Dixon line?

Found: A Chic Shower Cap

I have to pause mid-weekend to tell you about the fabulosity that is the Henri Bendel Centennial Stripe Shower Cap. In addition to these suggestions, it is a phenom way to extend your blowout.

I'm embarrassed to admit I'd been using a flimsy hotel freebie. Not only did it leave my hair damp around the hairline, it's bad for the environment because it only lasts through a few showers. In honor of Earth month, I suggest using this eco-friendly cap for home and travel. Bendel created this signature item over 100 years ago for ladies embarking on ocean-liner voyages. Clearly, it is standing the test of time. The elasticized edge securely keeps your strands sahara dry. Best of all? It comes with its own centennial stripe travel pouch. Can you even? (I can't.) My roommate Carrie made fun of my granny chicness for a hot second... and then ordered her own within hours. Just saying. $30 at Henri Bendel or at henribendel.com.

Ted Gibson: Unplugged.

Last night, TotalBeauty arranged for some bloggers to have an "unplugged" interview with Ted Gibson at his Fifth Avenue salon. I finally got to meet Tia Williams and Risi-Leanne Baranja and caught up with Erika, Kristen, Marina and Anne as well.

I have to tell you: I adore that Ted. He is so calm and unaffectedly real. He's a little baby bit shy and punctuates with his shoulders. I learned last night that he's originally from Texas, has a father who was in the military, and even played football in high school. After high school, he studied fashion before delving into the beauty world. He's as sweet as his beloved wild orchid extract which makes a cameo in nearly all of his products' ingredient lists.

Ted gave us the scoop on his upcoming hair product happenings. In case you aren't well-versed in Ted's products, let me school you. They are nothing short of phenom. They all smell divine, really WORK, and are beautifully packaged. He noted that it's very important to him that his products look good and deliver. I.e., they're good on the inside and the outside. It's true in beauty and it's true in life, isn't it dolls?

Ted discussed some new products he's creating that are slated to hit shelves in late summer 2008. There was talk of a protein line, an oxygen line (I love me some O) a frizz and shine serum, a wax, a pomade and a spray gloss. But I'm most excited about a dry shampoo he's creating which he cryptically said "is neither an aerosol, nor a spray." It is, however, colored for different hair hues and will be delishly scented. I told him I simply cannot wait for that. I'll keep you posted. Lastly, he's going to be coming out with a candle called Potential Beauty which will incorporate blood oranges. Yum, yum, yum. Potential beauty stems from Ted's belief that ALL women have the ability to be beautiful. His goal is to help women "see the beauty in themselves, be it their jawlines, the back of their necks, or cheekbones."


Stay tuned for a Goodnite ($200) treatment (left) review. I was secretly hoping I'd get to try some out and lo and behold, it was included in our gift bags.

Thanks so much to TotalBeauty for this FAB opportunity! And thanks to Anne for the pic (above)! Pictured (L-R) are: Anne, Ted, Erika, Risi-Leanne, me (with my new blonder hair!), and Marina.

Master the Art of the Blowout

Can we be real for a little baby minute?

I hate the flat-ironed-to-your-head with pokey ends look. It's so 2000. In fact, unless you're curling under your ends or it's a T3 which also waves and curls, I would advise you to get rid of your flatiron altogether. Many of them do loads of damage and in my humble O, leave hair looking totally boring. You'd do much better to invest in a good dryer (I recommend the T3 Evolution) and blowing your hair out every couple of days with a round brush. I haven't flatironed in over a year and my hair thanks me every opportunity it gets. It's so much healthier looking. AND, it looks so much thicker and full of body when I blow it out. It looks the way I envisioned Nancy's did in Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's Me Margaret. Remember how she was described as having bouncy hair? You just don't get bouncy hair when you flatiron, dolls. You just DON'T. Sidenote: did you have a friend who lied about the stu-est things JUST like Nancy? I sure did.

Anywho. How do I achieve smooth Nancy hair? I'm loving LOGICS Blow Design Cream, $15, for fine/normal hair. It smells of herbal delishness and smoothes hair while polishing to magnify your hair color's brilliant reflective Shine. Vitamin E & UV filters protect against damage & fading caused by thermal styling & environmental stresses. Seriously? It's raining right now, but my hair is straight and shiny to the point where you could fog it up were you to breathe on it. Don't be jeal, just lose your flatiron and get yourself some.

You're welcome.

Got2b Kate Hudson

Before my girlcrush on Amanda/Becki Newton, I tried my damnedest to channel Kate Hudson ALL OF THE TIME. I haven't been as into her lately and even I, a former viewer of all of her movies on OPENING DAY, admit that Fool's Gold looks pretty terrible. But did she not look breathtaking at the SAG Awards? Specifically her HAIR? 2 things, 1. I'm not really in love with that dress. I feel she wears another version of that specific dress at least 9 times a year. She looks great in it, but I could use a change. Remember the green Versace with sheer sleeves? That was a wild departure for Kate and she wore it without letting it wear her.


Anyway. 2. She looks so much like her mother in the first photo circa Laugh In. But back to her hair. I'd love to know what witch doctor she is frequenting to get hair that is so very highlighted, processed, and straightened to positively GLEAM with health. I can't manage that when I'm platinuming it up, but I can offer some advice on how to achieve shiny straight hair for mere mortals (provided their hair is in a semi-healthy state.) I revive second day hair (as in, you washed it the day before) using my T3 Evolution on the highest heat setting, my Marilyn Brush, and Got2b Smooth Operator Smoothing Satin Drops ($7.99.) Apply a dime-sized amount just on the ends before smoothing with a blowdryer. The packaging is luxurious and so L.A.


Photo credits: East News, Got2b

Eastern Standard Time Beauty Sleep Savior: Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo

I don't wash my hair every day. It's on the normal-to-dry side, so I typically wash it every other day. Unless you have excessively oily hair, it's much better for your scalp to shampoo every 2-3 days. But 48 hours after a washing, my hair is dry at the ends and starts sectioning itself into pieces at the top and begins to show signs of oil. So I washed my hair on Tuesday night and would normally shampoo it up last night, but you know. I was watching The Office, winding down after a long week of work, had cleaned/organized, edited down my closet and had changed my sheets, was STILL enduring my 2 week cold that I learned on CNN could prove to be a FATAL mutant cold - WTF - and I plum wasn't up to washing my hair last night. I KNEW I'd be sorry in the morning and would become jealous of every non-oily, dry-haired girl on the subway and would count the hours at work until I can go home and lather up.

I haven't been so impressed with my Bumble and bumble Hair Powder lately. The Beauty Addict also recently pointed out that it makes her roots look horribly dull, which I find to be true as well. It does a good job of soaking up oil and adding volume, but it makes my hair feel powdery and vomitatious to the touch.

So my roommate Carrie recommended I try out her Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo ($19). Its ingredients - natural rice, oat, and tapioca starches - cleanse hair by absorbing excess oil, product, and grease and increase volume at the roots without weighing hair down. Triclosan and tea tree oil help treat the scalp and reduce the occurrence of dandruff, while lemon verbena fragrances hair deliciously. This morning, I applied some with the bottle's genius skinny applicator in skinny "lines" along my scalp and brushed through with a paddle brush. The powder is white, so brunettes need to be careful to evenly distribute so as not to look like they're plagued with 'druff. Then, I smoothed bedhead kinks with my blowdryer set on its highest heat setting and a round brush. And I am SO wildly impressed with the results. My hair looks about 24 hours deep into my shampoo, as opposed to 72+ hours. I rode the subway without stealing covetous glances at my fellow commuters' manes and am totally capable of feeling like a normal human until I go home and wash my hair this evening. Hurray. Buy some before November 21 and get 20% off at sephora.com. You're welcome.


BT dubs, dolls, I've declared next week Pour Some Sugar on Me: Body Scrub Week. Get excited to learn about salt, sugar, and moisturizing sloughers I've been testing out to rid myself of flaky winter skin. Have a fantastic weekend. xoxo

Photo credit: sephora.com

File Under "What's in Elle Woods' Suitcase?"

Ladies, meet the T3 Bespoke Labs Pink Overnight Dryer.

If Elle Woods were to travel for business, this is absolutely what she'd bring to dry her hair. This light, portable dryer fits the same straightening attachment and diffuser as the T3 Evolution. It also boasts a swivel handle that sleekly allows it to fold up to half its size. Carry it away in the deluxe, reinforced Overnight carry case.

More features:

*Two speed/heat settings.

*1200 watts with results on a par to other T3 dryers, while outperforming **conventional travel dryers.

*Suitable all over the world; dual voltage: 110v or 220v.

*Professional-length swivel cord (10 feet); removable chain strap.

Exclusive pink carrying case included, large enough to hold the Overnight with brush or comb set (available only at Nordstrom).

*Four-year warranty.

Buy it for $130 at Nordstrom.com.

I toted mine along to my salon in PA for use after my hairline highlights. I am trying to nurse my formerly fried hair back to health while discovering my natural hair color. Not only are hairline highlights very inexpensive ($55 for Delores at Jean Madeline in the Plymouth Meeting, PA location), but they require such little maintenance. I go for a touch up every 3 months or so. Can you believe how LM (low maintenance) I am? I blow out my own hair afterward, but no longer have the patience to use "pedestrian" dryers, i.e., any dryer other than one produced by T3, so I bring my own!

P.S. GO SOX!!!

Free That Curl

I've been ignoring my curls for YEARS and I sort of do feel bad about it. I've really limited wearing my curls to rainy or excessively humid days because you never really know what you're going to GET with curly hair. You know? It's like the proverbial box of chocolates. That's why I don't dare rock curls when I go OUT. Who knows what chicanery could ensue? And would I have time to rewash and restyle? PLUS, my layers and bangs situ must be long enough to be curly. AND my cra hair actually curls so much better the longer it is. So right after a haircut… I run from water for months (obv other than washing it).

Today was a pretty dismal, humid mess and accordingly, I decided to free that curl, as Ouidad says. I had low expectations: my hair was cut less than a month ago and I was convinced it was too damaged to curl the way it used to due to YEARS of flatirons and blow dryers. But after a wash/condition with Ouidad Curl Quencher Shampoo and Conditioner, an application of Dove Mousse with Weightless Moisturizers to the roots, some Ouidad Climate Control Gel throughout the rest of my hair and some blasting with my T3 Diffuser… I was looking pretty good. I mean, you know. Just saying.

Salt and Alcohol Wreak Havoc on... Your Hair?

First: I've noticed funny changes I've made inadvertently in the five years since I graduated college. Five years ago, before I got a job and was still looking for one, my roommate J and I would dress up in suits to go to happy hour during the week to look uber-profesh and important. Now, I'll do anything--change at work, stop quickly at home, whatever--to avoid looking corporate when I'm trying to enjoy a cocktail. Also, pre-graduation, summer always included at least one of Dave Matthews Band's concerts at Philadelphia's Vet stadium. Now, not only is the Vet no longer in existence, but I'm settling for some vintage DMB on my iPod during the walking portion of my commute. What goes ON.

Anyhoodle. My new shampoo/condish must have is the PureOlogy SuperStraight Smoothing System. I haven't used my straightening iron at all in the last week during the humid, 90-degree plus heat AND the transportation debacle slash nightmare that was yesterday morning. The products are both ZeroSulfate salt-free, and include a color-preserving formula. When combined with my Bespokes Labs T3 dryer, my frizz was abolished, my curls were nowhere to be found, and humidity? WHAT humidity? It plum had no effect on my hair. It also cuts drying time--with the Bespokes Labs T3, I spent 7-10 minutes blowing out my hair. Amazing.

The fact that PureOlogy is salt-free and alcohol-free surprised me--I had no idea that salt was showing up in my shampoo. But it makes sense, both salt and alcohol have dehydrating properties. Demonstrably, the lack thereof yields a smoother, more hydrated, color-protected mane. The third part of the system, the straightening serum, works wonders as well. The only thing I'm not in love with about the whole system (of which I used all three components and like them--aren't you excited about that?) is the scent. My friend L also tried out PureOlogy SuperStraight a few weeks ago and described it as "a Phish show". It smells herbal, veering into hippie territory, but not so much that you need to bust out the patchouli. The scent also fades after the first couple of hours after you wash your hair.

The best part: it will leave your hair so smooth, that if you don't want to blow-dry it straight and have semi-wavy hair, it will give you loose silky waves and leave no frizz. It's priced at $20 each for the shampoo and conditioner, but it's so worth every penny that I'm ready to "bounce around the room".

Granting Immunity

Unlike the word immunity's usage on 24, when it comes to beauty products, it's not such a good thing. Well, except for Michelle Dessler's immunity to that crazy deadly virus that killed you and the first symptom was bleeding from your NOSE. Anyway. Switching out your fave brands every once in a while is an evil necessity, friends. Here are my top five "switch hits" so that I don't become immune. My friend L didn't know this and I thought, what is she, cra? And then I realized that most people haven't been studying Allure since the age of 11, nor do they rip out their favorite tips and file them in empty photo albums.

Deodorant
The Ush:
Lady Mitchum Clear Gel Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant, Shower Fresh
This stuff rocks. Even though I still like the interim product, it's a DISTANT second. Smells delish, rarely gets on clothes, doesn't burn after shaving.
The Interim Prod:
Degree Invisible Solid in Shower Clean
Does the job and smells different from Lady Mitchum (though shower is still in the title).

Toothpaste
The Ush:
Crest Whitening Plus Scope
The Interim Prod:
Marvis Toothpaste in Ginger Mint
Although I can't 100% cosign $9.00 toothpaste, I have to say that once in a while, Marvis is worth it. I long for the days of unlimited Marvis in every delectable flavor (my favorite is ginger-mint) when I worked in beauty PR. It comes from Italy (which makes it even cooler in my book) and makes brushing much more fun. Just having it on my bathroom counter makes me feel as if I've entered a different tax bracket.

Shampoo
The Ush:
Grassroots In Perfect Condition Deeply Moisturizing Shampoo
I highly recommend it for highlighted, heat-damaged manes. It's restoring mine nicely back to health.
The Interim Prod:
Bumble and bumble Sunday Shampoo
Rids your hair of product buildup and is a great way to cleanse your follicular palate, esp on a Sunday. Also good as an alternative to the Grassroots shampoo which can be a bit too moisturizing if you use it more than 3 times a week.

Conditioner
The Ush:
Back to Basics Raspberry Almond Reparative Conditioner
Love this stuff. It moisturizes enough yet isn't a protein masque (those are recommended for use only once or twice a week).
The Interim Prod:
L'Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioner for Damaged Hair
If it doesn't say damaged in the title, I'm not buying, clearly. This stuff boasts cashmere touch and mirror shine and I have to say, it comes rather close. First purchased in Israel and had a devil of a time finding the American counterpart as the title was written on my original in Hebrew.


Hair Masque
The Ush:
Kerastase Oleo Relax Smoothing Hair Masque for Fine Hair
If my blog were a drinking game, everyone would take a shot when I mention this product. It's the best thing since sliced bread, dolls. It's not cheap at $40 a jar, but it will last about 6 months if you use it only a couple of times a week.
The Interim Prod:
Sunsilk Hydra TLC Multi-Symptom Masque with Nutri-keratin
At under $6, it provides a refreshing alternative to Kerastase and works ALMOST as well.



You're welcome.

Bombshell Curls How To

I've discussed this before, but I've gotten requests for info from a few readers on how to achieve big waves a la Kate. My friend C actually thought that mine were NATURAL. Ha! Pretty much not one thing about my appearance is naturally achieved. I don't mean that in a plastic surgery way (I have yet to delve into that arena), I just mean that every single look I rock is the result of SEVERAL prods, and usually some heat tools.

Here's my tried and tested regime (which has been an evolving process since 2003):

Step 1: Wash and condition with a serious conditioner. Lately, I'm loving the Grassroots Perfect Condition Deeply Moisturizing Shampoo and Kerastase Masque Oleo Relax.

Step 2: Step out of the shower, squeeze hair dry with your hands, add a dime-sized dollop of conditioner to your ends. I know it's not leave-in, do it anyway. Skip it if your hair is not heat or color damaged.

Step 3: Spray in some thickening spray; I prefer Bumble and bumble's.

Step 4: Apply a bit of shine serum (like John Frieda's Frizz Ease) to the ends of damp hair.

Step 5: Dry hair using the Marilyn brush and a straightening attachment on your dryer.

Step 6: Once dry, separate the top 30% of hair with a clip and spray the roots UNDER it with Bumble and bumble's Hair Powder Spray in the color that matches your hair (I use blondish). This gives you bigger hair, which you can then claim is full of SECRETS.

Step 7: Once hair is 95% dry, use a 1 1/2 inch curling iron with the clamp removed (seriously, use your tool box for the 3rd time in your life) to curl 2 inch sections. Here's how: wrap section around the wand (careful not to burn your hand or ear as there is no clamp--BTW, clamp = prom hair = not sexy). Be sure to keep the end of your hair uncurled--just the last inch or so. Hold for 30 seconds, remove iron and spray. Repeat. Start with the bottom of hair and work up to top layers.
Alternate the direction of the curl as you work your way through the section. (It's all in the direction you wind hair around the barrel of the curling iron. This makes curls look more natural.

Step 8: Spray once all of hair has been curled. I prefer L'Oreal Elnett which is so good, it's like, illegal in the US. New Yorkers can pick it up for around $17.00 at Pasteur Pharmacy on 34th Street between Park and Madison Avenues. Seriously, it's rarely sold in this country.

Step 9: Once your hair has set (give it about 10 minutes), you can separate the curls by raking your fingers through lightly to further eliminate the prom factor.

Step 10: Finish with gloss spray; I enjoy Bed Head Headrush Shine Spray.

Step 11: Outbabe everyone at the event.

Authenticity is Key Plus a LOST Recap

I think something happens in your mid-late 20s where you just want to cut all the bullshit and start being YOU. You all over the place. Every facet of you. I used to be so embarrassed that my parents were so unabashedly THEM in public… and now I get it. It's stupid to thoroughly think through every single thing that comes out of your mouth the way I used to, not even very long ago. It's ridiculous! What a colossal waste of time. This even extends into the beauty arena. All my life I've had dirty blonde hair (couldn't they have come up with a better term for it?). Except for one crazy year where I decided to be a brunette (and promptly became certifiably depressed not because being a brunette isn't cool but because being a brunette wasn't ME), I have been blonde. Storytime: everyone in my family has raven (simone) dark hair. I used to think I was adopted (my brother E used to actually TELL me I was when I was little, and seriously? I believed it.) Also, he wanted a little sister who looked just like the girl from Poltergeist. E gets everything he wants. Not only was I the first girl born on my dad's side of the fam in 40 years, but I WAS a doppelganger of the Poltergeist girl. (sidenote: isn't she dead or something? Anyway.) I was so annoyed that I appeared to be "ordered" just for E's amusement, that I made the decision to never have long hair. I mean, why should he get to order a SISTER? Now of course, all I want is long blonde hair and ironically, it plum won't happen for me. No matter what I do, my hair won't grow past a little below shoulder length. UGH. I'm digressing Sophia Petrillo-style today. So my point is, there's been a highlights embargo (kind of like "mistakes were made"… ha!) on my hair of late. My hair is now 85% my natural color and I don't see myself changing that anytime soon. It's FINE. FINE. I'm over the whole "I must be platinum like Jessica Simpson" phase. Have you guys become more authentically you in your mid-late 20s? Do let me know.

In other news, Wednesday's LOST was super. They obv changed their ways. That was clearly the climax of the season. I mean, I can't believe Claire used to be goth. You know how I feel about goths: same as I do about 90s fashion in general. Also, I'm currently researching the significance of the appearance of a T shirt that said "bondi beach". I know it's a beach in Australia, but I have to look into that. I adore the reference to The Fountainhead (Sawyer's reading it). Can't believe Patchy is dead, and PS? The way he died was so Edgar of 24, foaming at the mouth and all. I and all of my LOST pals totes called it that Christian Shepard is Claire's dad. But I wasn't prepared for the fact that the blonde woman we're shown when Christian goes to see them in Australia is Claire's AUNT and not her mother. Wild. Oh, and I don't understand how they attached that note to that seagull. I mean, like that's going to stay on while the bird migrates south for the winter. Locke is behaving much like the Locke of season 1. And Jack has drunk the Kool-Aid… he was playing FOOTBALL with Tom and the Others? What's THAT about?

Israel and Velcro Rollers

Last week was INSANELY busy for the fabulista, I apologize about the lack of posts. HUGE problem in my lifestyle right now: my stylist, Amy, is not taking appointments this week because she's working fashion week so I can't get my beyond dead ends cut before leaving for the Middle East. There is not enough oil (hot or otherwise) even in the MIDDLE EAST to hydrate the nappy state of my ends, so this is not good news at all. And you KNOW I can't just go to someone new, because I'll surely end up with a bob (which has been the result of every single new person whom I've tried). So curly hair with raggedy ends will be the style I'm rocking in the Holy Land. I can't wait to capture photos of myself with my new camera that I am making myself purchase for the trip. Storytime: I've never owned a camera.

Lest you think there hasn't been any beauty news in the last week, I discovered a new way to dry my hair. Because my ends are split and atrocious, I've had to impose a heat embargo on my strands. After washing and conditioning, I spray with ample amounts of Bumble and bumble Thickening Spray and coat my ends liberally with John Frieda Frizz Ease. Then, I use about 10 velcro rollers (as enormous as possible) and roll up all of my hair and let it dry for 2 hours or so. I look like some kind of alien, but the result is worth it. You'd be surprised at how well it straightens wavy-curly hair and the volume is also quite stupendous. You can pick up a pack of Conair velcro rollers at the drugstore for about $4. Check it out. You may need to touch up a bit with a round brush and hair dryer, but you shouldn't need to spend more than 5 minutes. Is that glorious or what?

Reason to Sleep In

You know how sometimes you discover a way to do your hair quickly that is so earth-shattering, it's like having one of those dreams where you find a secret staircase in your house leading to really cool extra rooms? It always seems to be a limited-time thing too, for reasons I can't explain. One could be the fact that I've recently had a haircut, who knows. But to say I'm kinda delighted about it is to say that Flava Flav kinda likes clocks. My new process:

Step 1: Wash and condition hair (This method even allows me to do this the night before)

Step 2: Dry hair using the half-assed method, which I've mentioned before. This entails using a round brush around the face and haphazardly running a paddle brush through the rest simply to get it 65% straight. I also apologize for all the percentages I seem to be using of late, I think it's leftover from my years of working at a Big 4 accounting firm. Use JF's Wind Down Crème and some frizz serum of your choice.

Step 3: Sleep!

Step 4: Wake up, spray a curl-enhancing spray through the bottom 3/4s of hair. Right now, I'm enjoying the hell out of John Frieda's Dream Curls. I also enjoy John Frieda's Beach Blonde Ocean Waves, but it's difficult to find it in the offseason (not in the Summer). Bumble and bumble's Surf Spray is pricier, but great. Spray enough so that hair is damp, but not saturated.

Step 5: Revel (literally--the word is linked to the French verb "rever" meaning to dream) in the fact that you have an extra 30 minutes to sleep.

Note that this will work best for wavy-to-curly hair.