Let's be honest — we're all a little obsessed with butts. How big they are, how well they move, whether they are au naturel or have had a little cosmetic boost (some women love butts so much, they're actually paying for new ones).
Celebrities are obsessed with butts too. In fact, they can't stop talking about them. From Nicki Minaj ("Oh, my gosh, look at her butt/Look at her butt/Look at her butt") to Meghan Trainor ("I'm bringing booty back"), the mighty butt has never been so topical.
It's time we really got to know our butts, and a good place to start is by working out what shape it is.
According to New York plastic surgeon Dr. Matthew Schulman, who claims to be an expert in women's derrieres, every woman's butt falls into one of five categories: square, V-shape, A-shape, round and upside-down heart.
Schulman says four factors go into determining butt shape: the position of the pelvis in relation to the hip bones, fat distribution, the size and shapes of the gluteus muscles, and the way those muscles attach to the thigh bones.
Now, we're not in the habit of telling you what to wear, but we all know when it comes to underwear, certain guidelines will help you look, and (more importantly) feel, great. Just like a bra that fits you perfectly and lifts and supports in all the right places, the right underwear style will give your butt that extra oomph.
Round butt
Image: Apega/WENN.com
A round butt a la Sofia Vergara needs underwear with plenty of fabric in the back for maximum comfort, and a four-way stretch, center back seam and ruching along the seams will be most flattering for your shape.
Upside-down heart butt
Image: Kevin Mazur/Entertainment/Getty Images
Upside-down heart butted women like Rihanna should go for briefs, boy shorts, hipsters or bikinis with a lower-cut leg opening that sits right below the butt crease for a super-flattering effect.
An A-shaped butt like Shakira's widens below the hip bones and is common in women with fuller thighs. Tangas, bikinis and boy shorts in stretchy material or with seamless, laser-cut edges will be your butt's best friends.
Square butt
Image: WENN.com
If you have a cute square butt like Miley Cyrus, take your pick from boy shorts, bikinis, tangas and thongs. Avoid any style that sits high on the thigh because nobody likes a wedgie.
V-shaped butt
Image: Joe Alvarez/WENN
When the line between the pelvis and hips angles inward, a butt has a V shape from behind, like Cindy Crawford's. When shopping for bottoms, opt for boy shorts, briefs, hipsters or bikinis. Stay away from high-cut leg holes to ensure there's enough coverage and extra definition.
Whatever your butt shape is, your love for it begins with the right underwear.
In my everyday life, I use beauty products as an access point to taking the best care of myself. That includes everything from my shower routine to my evening rituals that get me ready for a great night’s sleep. Check out the video below to find out more about why self-care is one of the most important parts of my beauty routine.
What the heck is a vampire facial? Well, this name definitely caught my attention. The vampire facial is really a nickname for micro-needling, also called skin needling or collagen induction therapy (CIT). It's a minimally invasive skin-rejuvenation procedure.
I have to tell you, this is the first time I've ever written on the topic of facials, as personally I'm a facial skeptic. I mean, come on, do they really do anything visible long-term? I know I have tried many, and there are none I believe truly made any kind of noticeable difference.
But the rave reviews and amazing before and after pictures about this facial definitely has got my attention, and seriously, if Kim Kardashian is doing it, you know it must garner real results.
What is the process?
As mentioned, the vampire facial is really a nickname for micro-needling. Using a device with fine needles, it creates tiny punctures in the top layer of the skin, creating "controlled injury" to the skin that triggers the body to create new collagen and elastin, a key part of our skin that begins to reduce as we age. Through this micro-needling, we are boosting our own skin's healing power and getting stronger from the inside out.
Here is the thing — I'm a little uneasy with the idea of needles, and so before I drop the money, time and energy on this, I asked a friend and trustworthy candid blogger, Candace of Luxe with Kids, to try it and give me "the real scoop." Oh and did she ever! This girl even sent me photos during the procedure (and had to share a few with you).
Image: Courtesy of Luxe with Kids
We did a tremendous amount of research first and scheduled her appointment with one of Houston's top facial plastic surgeons, Dr. Sanaz Harirchian, who actually trained on this technique with the physician who performed Ms. Kardashian's procedure. Anything to do with the face, don't skimp!
Her conclusion was a resounding, "Yes — it's worth it!"
And when I saw her results, I promptly scheduled my own appointment with Dr. Harirchian. I was never in any pain, despite that you will see redness and mild bruising directly following the procedure. Don't let it worry you. It is painless, and the redness and light bruising (if any) is temporary! (Despite the fact that the pictures from Candace may state otherwise.)
The reason why this procedure earned its nickname, the vampire facial, is in some cases the micro-needling is immediately followed with platelet rich plasma (PRP) from the patient’s own blood (in this case, mine). I had two small vials taken and the plasma (not red) part of the blood was used as a serum immediately following the device. PRP contains a high concentration of the body's own growth factors to stimulate a healing response. The PRP is a yellowish color, and there is no "blood," per se, but the nickname certainly sounds a bit sexier.
The results of micro-needling can include improvement to the overall complexion, texture and firmness of the skin and a reduction in scars, pore size and stretch marks. The entire procedure was done within an hour. The longest part is getting numbed up — it takes about 30 minutes, and because my face was sufficiently numbed, the 20-minute micro-needling felt like minor pressure. I had a zing here or there when the device got close to my jawline or an area that wasn't as numb, but there was truly zero pain during and after the procedure.
Image: Courtesy of Luxe with Kids
It's important to plan ahead if you are having this procedure done, even though it's minimally invasive. My skin did feel a little hot and tight immediately afterward, and you can't wear any makeup or even sunscreen for 24 hours. My face was very red, like a sunburn, and Dr. Harirchian told me that I would likely see darker red, bruise-like marks under the eyes where the skin is the most sensitive; however, I didn't experience this. The device doesn't go on the eyes, of course, but on the top of the cheekbone.
This redness lasted about two days and slowly gave way to dry and lightly peeling skin. I applied the serum my doctor gave me frequently. The very next day I was able to put makeup on (although I kept it light, but I usually do). I had no negative side effects and just three days post-procedure, I was filming on camera!
And now, one week later, redness and dryness is completely gone, whereas Candace did have a little bruising left a week after. I'd recommend scheduling this procedure with at least one week of healing time before you have an important event. Not that you need to hide in your house — both Candace and I were out and about all week, and my face became the topic of many conversations!
So was it worth it?
The idea of micro-needling is very popular right now, and I couldn’t be happier. In fact, a colleague who normally doesn't offer compliments actually said, "Wow, you look well rested," and I've inspired several friends to give it a try. In fact, for Mother's Day, I'm having my mom go to Houston and get her very own vampire facial with Dr. H. Currently, my skin feels incredibly smooth and soft, and I know that it's only going to get better!
Image: Courtesy of Luxe with Kids
Would I try it again? Absolutely.
Anything that can stimulate my own body to heal itself from the inside out is worth trying!
Note: The facial procedure was offered complimentary to me by Dr. Harirchian. The review is 100 percent my own, candid experience.
One of my major bugbears is all those "how to dress" articles in fashion mags. "How to dress for your age." "How to dress for your shape." Aka, how to dress to fit in with what society thinks a woman of a certain age or size should dress — which we all know is bullcrap. We should dress however we want and be dictated to by only one thing: our mood on that particular day. Life is far too short to worry about what stores we shop in and how long our pants are.
Except when it comes to crop tops. Which I love but won't wear. Because I have the stomach of a woman who has had two babies.
Thanks to my genes and metabolism, it's not a big stomach. Thanks to my dedicated planking efforts, it's also pretty flat. When I really hit the gym hard, I can even see a faint outline of abs. But no amount of planking (or crunches or leg raises or any other form of abdominal torture) will disguise the fact that twice in my life, I gained 40 pounds and stretched my skin to within an inch of its life. I have a mom tum, and it ain't going anywhere.
Don't get me wrong. I love my postpartum body for what it's been through. Every dimple and crease is a reminder of the amazing reward I got (twice over). But, how I wish all those dimples and creases would set up home alongside the stretch marks on my butt. Then I could wear a crop top, dammit.
Today I saw a photo on Instagram of an Australian mom looking fierce in a crop top, and it's made me think that maybe I'm being ridiculous for hiding my mom tum from the world.
Mom in crop top
Mom in crop top
"So glad I’m not concerned with 'flaws' showing anymore," Haddas Ancliffe wrote on Instagram. "I can finally enjoy summer clothing. It’s getting colder in Australia now but for you guys on the other side of the world, enjoy your sun dresses, crop tops and shorts that squish your cute marshmallow thighs out when you sit down! You deserve to bask in the warmth of the sun as much as anyone else."
Ancliffe is spot on. Crop tops aren't only for six-packs and perfectly smooth skin. I'm stuck with the stomach I have, and I need to stop seeing it as a flaw. It's been through a lot already, and it deserves some love.
If there's one good reason to exfoliate, it's this — exfoliating is a fancy word for removing dead skin cells. When you buff off all that dead stuff on the surface, you expose the new and radiant skin underneath. And if you're looking to get a natural glow for the summer season, exfoliating from head to toe is one of the easiest ways to achieve it.
Yet many of us are making this all-too-common exfoliating mistake: We scrub our faces but forget about everything below the neck. As the weather heats up and you get bikini-ready, you should exfoliate all over. Exfoliation is also important before applying tanning products or when rejuvenating winter-weary skin.
Before stepping into the shower, brush your dry skin with your loofah, body brush or exfoliating gloves. This will help remove the loose skin and prepare your skin for the exfoliating process. Begin with the soles of your feet, working your way up your body.
Get into the shower and wet your body from head to toe. Don't exfoliate your skin if you are sunburned or have any open cuts or wounds.
Use a pumice stone on your feet to eliminate rough spots and calluses. If your feet are extremely rough, soak them in a basin of warm water mixed with a cup of milk for 30 minutes before getting into the shower.
Apply your exfoliating cleanser to your loofah or gloves. Begin scrubbing your body in a circular motion starting with the bottoms of your feet and working your way up. When you reach the bikini area, don't scrub too hard because the skin is very sensitive.
Use a body brush to exfoliate your back and other hard-to-reach places.
Be gentle on your face, particularly around your eyes and mouth. Use an exfoliating product especially formulated for the face, which is gentler than products designed to be used on the body.
Don't forget about your hands. You want them to look and feel soft and smooth too!
Rinse your body with lukewarm water, and follow with the coldest water you can stand.
After stepping out of the shower, apply a moisturizing body lotion all over. Body lotions and facial moisturizers containing alpha or beta hydroxy acids are ideal choices because these acids continue to remove dead skin cells.
Use body moisturizer once a day. Exfoliation is drying to the skin, so you must keep your skin hydrated.
Select exfoliating cleansers that contain sea salt and/or sugar. They key is to select an exfoliator with regular, round grains because exfoliating with square or irregular grains can cause skin lacerations. These abrasions may not be visible to the human eye, but they can cause serious damage.
Karen Asquith, aesthetician and national director of education for G.M Collin Skin care, explains, "[When] they are damaging the skin, they activate the repair mechanisms. If the repair mechanisms are activated regularly for a long period of time, they are unable to keep up, they become exhausted."
She continues, "This 'burn-out' of the skin’s fundamental functioning causes pre-mature skin aging."
Exfoliating once or twice a week is usually enough to achieve silky skin; however, women with oily skin should exfoliate more often than those with dry skin. If your skin becomes excessively dry or irritated after exfoliation, don't scrub so hard. Cut back on how often you exfoliate, and explore the possibility that you may be allergic to the products you used.
"Over-exfoliating is also a concern," says Asquith. "The skin needs time to recuperate, therefore 2-3 times per week is sufficient. Following exfoliation, a body cream should be applied. Depending on the treatment, a slimming, firming, or hydrating cream will penetrate better following an exfoliation and the results will be increased."
So, it's not just about properly removing dead skin. It's about what the new skin gets to soak in. So, Asquith suggests exfoliants that contain other active ingredients. "[Look for] hydrating, anti-septic, soothing and nourishing components thereby addressing more skin concerns and achieving multi-functional actions."
Here are some of our favorite exfoliating products:
Instead, make yourself feel like you have every shoe you'll ever need by making sure you've got all the basics. By owning just these seven styles of shoes, you'll be able to make pretty much any outfit work in your favor all summer long.
Image: Tiffany Egbert/SheKnows
Espadrilles
The fabric and patterns of espadrilles mean they always pair fabulously with denim of any kind. Flat espadrilles can be worn with jeans, or flowy, natural fabric bottoms, while heeled espadrilles look best with shorter skirts and sun dresses.
Flat sandals are great for a day when you want to both comfy and stylish. Pair them with a pair of shorts and a casual top, or dress them up with a light summer dress.
Wood clogs
These heavier shoes pair best with lighter fabrics, especially in the summer months. They go well with skinny jeans and a poplin blouse, or natural fabric shorts or blazers (think linen).
Platforms
Platform shoes are all about showing off the leg (since they give you such beautiful gams when you wear them). Pair these bold shoes with cuffed skinny jeans or short dresses and skirts. They also work well with knee-length skirts, making it look like you're showing more skin than you really are.
Sometimes, you want to feel sexy without going all out. These shoes are light and airy — perfect for summer — but add a feminine touch to your look. Depending on the shoe, these can pair with either shorts or dresses.
Spring boots
There's nothing easier than rocking out your spring boots. Grab a pair of skinny jeans and a flowy top to pair with those short and trendy boots and you're good to go.
Menswear shoes are a great way of getting out of spending the whole work day in heels. Pair them with pencil skirts or cigarette pants at the office, or with a pair of rolled-up boyfriend jeans when you're going casual.
Celebrities need to get with the program. You can't post an image that looks Photoshopped in any way without seriously pissing off all the fans who love you just the way you are.
The latest star to experience an anti-airbrushing backlash is tennis champ Serena Williams after she posted an image from a recent photo shoot with People magazine on her Instagram account.
It was barely online before fans started complaining that the picture was unrealistic, many of them suggesting Williams' waistline was significantly narrower than it is in real life and pointing out that the bar behind the world's No.1 player looked warped.
Image: Serena Williams/Instagram
Williams remained silent as the comments flooded in, but she has now deleted the original post and replaced it with an image from the photo shoot that doesn't appear to have been tampered with by People magazine's design team.
Williams didn't address the fuss her original pic had caused, simply captioning the replacement: "@people mag most beautiful 2016" — a reference to the magazine's annual list of most beautiful people, of which Williams is one.
Undoubtedly Williams looks way better with her natural waistline — and don't we all? What on earth makes anyone think this woman's body would need any digital manipulation? Fans welcomed the new picture with delight, questioning why the other one had been shared at all.
This isn't the first time Williams has found herself in the midst of a Photoshopping row. When she appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in December, critics were quick to claim that her thighs had been slimmed down.
Williams never responded to those claims, and it looks like she'll remain tight-lipped on the People magazine image too. Her Instagram action speaks volumes, but it would be great if she addressed the issue. She's a strong, healthy, stunning woman who doesn't need her waist to be trimmed or her thighs to be slimmed down, and is a great role model for women whose bodies don't fit the size 2 cover girl mold.
But she'd be even more of an inspiration if she 1) made damn sure none of her photos got Photoshopped, and 2) spoke up about it if one did.
This year, the straight hair majority has "discovered" a new way to care for hair. It helps protect hair's moisture balance when you shampoo and condition your hair every day. It is called the pre-shampoo treatment, and it is the latest, greatest thing to hit beauty. The only problem I have with this is that pre-shampoo treatments have been around for years.
Seriously, I was introduced to them back in 2008, and it is now 2016. So it's not new at all. Pre-shampoo treatments, or pre-poos, are staples for curly-haired women who are serious about curl care. It's great that hair care companies such as TRESemmé and Living Proof are coming out with pre-shampoo treatments, but companies such as Carol's Daughter have been clued into the pre-shampoo treatment for a few years now.
As the name suggests, pre-shampoo, or pre-poos, are simply a conditioning treatment used before you shampoo. Most of us have used hot oil treatments. Guess what? Hot oil treatments are pre-shampoo treatments. The purpose of a pre-poo is to minimize or prevent the detergents (specifically sulfates) in shampoos from stripping the moisture from your hair.
When people talk about pre-shampoo treatments, they often refer to conditioners used on the hair before shampooing. Conditioners are often applied to the hair, sometimes with an oil, and are left on for 15 to 30 minutes. You can rinse the conditioner out before shampooing or wash the pre-poo out as you shampoo. How you do it depends on your hair care needs and the type of shampoo you are using.
You do not need a special pre-poo product
Because hair care companies are jumping on the pre-shampoo bandwagon, they are coming up with products that are specifically for use as a pre-shampoo treatment. Don't believe the hype. You can use a deep conditioner; a conditioning hair mask; an oil/conditioner mixture (olive, coconut or avocado are good to use); or make your own.
Don't let the new media attention about pre-shampoo treatments fool you. They have been around a long time. There is plenty of information, including recipes to be found for them. Or talk to a curl-friend who has great looking curls. Chances are she knows about pre-pooing and can give you tips.
At first it didn't seem to fit with the 2016 Met Gala theme of Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology theme, but that all changed when the lights went out. The gown was outfitted with fiber-optic lights that illuminated the gown with a beautiful glow.
Zac Posen Claire Danes
Zac Posen Claire Danes
"Celestial grandeur," Posen wrote hours before, teasing the fairy tale-meets-future look.
Zac Posen Claire Danes 2
Zac Posen Claire Danes 2
Pretty sure she's the belle of the Met ball — and we'll be talking about this dress for years to come.
The platinum-haired singer, who served as Wintour's cohost for the 2016 Met Gala, opted for an edgy Louis Vuitton mini that fit this year's "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” theme.
The silver mini featured cutout detailing around the waist, along with a tiered ruffle skirt. She paired it with knee-high caged heels and dramatic black lipstick, along with her shaggy bob.
Image: John Shearer/Getty Images
Her best accessory, though, is her confident attitude. The model-like posing helps, too — she's learned a lot from her supermodel squad.
The whole Met Gala look is a serious departure for Swift, but she told Vogue that she embraces change.
Image: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
“I can look back at an old photo and tell you roughly what year it’s from,” she said. “Going through different phases is one of my favorite things about fashion. I love how it can mark the passage of time. It’s similar to my songs in that way — it all helps identify where I was at in different points of my life.”
The stars literally twinkled on the red carpet at the 2016 Met Gala honoring the new Costume Institute's exhibit, Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology.
Cindy Crawford and a host of others glittered in platinum. Kim and Kanye were in their matching silver and rhinestone glory. Bey wore latex. Zoe Saldana showed her pluck with a feathered train. (She wasn’t the only one. Kendall Jenner and Lady Gaga were gorgeous, but half-naked. And Claire Danes lit the place up in a Zac Posen glow-in-the-dark number.
But Lena Dunham went androgynous in iconic menswear, a move that could be compared to legendary Marlene Dietrich, who famously wore a man’s dress suit in the 1930 film Morocco, as well as offscreen. Her bold sartorial style has come to symbolize confidence and female empowerment.
Image: Paramount Pictures
Leave it to Lena the rebel and her posse, Girls showrunner and BFF Jenni Konner and J. Crew creative director and president Jenna Lyons, to glam up their slim-cut tuxedos with white blouses, black accessories and d’Orsay pumps (plus Lyon’s signature studious specs), proving you don’t need a ball gown to be belles of the ball.
Lena Dunham
Lena Dunham
I understand, as well as admire, why the Girls’ creator/writer/star chose not to show up looking like a Disney princess famous for needing to be rescued. The leader of Hollywood’s next wave of feminists has already saved herself with her talent and, more importantly, being true to herself. Whether she’s embracing her less-than-toned, regular woman body or countering frills and glitz for basic and tailored, Lena is a breed apart.
She is a Girls girl though, so she was not without a bit of bling: Lena & Co. coordinated diamond rings from J. Birnbach and custom 14-karat jewelry by Snash.
Lena & Co
Lena & Co
Even in guys’ wear, the only thing you can say to Lena is: You go, girl.
If, no matter how hard you try and how much TLC you give to your thirsty tresses, your ends just keep on splitting, this is a post you'll want to read. For those of us who use straighteners and curling irons on the daily and spend the extra hours trying to shield our hair with all the right products, it can still seem like the battle of the split end is one that we will never win.
But when desperate times call for desperate measures, spending more money on yet another expensive product isn't likely to do the trick. Instead, it can help to address the preventative aspect of hair care — by taking a closer look at how you handle your daily styling routine.
Avoiding split ends might come down to fixing these common styling mistakes:
1. Learn to work second-day hair
I am 100 percent positive that the importance of hygiene can go unsaid. Of course we want you to shower! But, sometimes tossing your hair in a bun on top of your head and just hopping in for a quick body shower is perfectly fine and actually very healthy! Washing hair every other day allows the body to repair hair with its own natural oils — leaving your hair silky, smooth and protected. You might even be surprised to find that some styles will work better with second- or even third-day hair.
Erika McKellar and Elisa Hills, co-founders of a line for damaged hair, BLNDN, couldn't agree more, saying, "Stop washing so much! Just stop. Over-washing = over-drying. It's a hard habit to break, but once you incorporate a great dry shampoo into your routine, your hair will stop producing so many oils that are stripped away due to washing. When you do finally wash, replenish. Treat your hair to some antioxidants and emollients. Replace those nutrients lost due to harsh sun exposure, the air and styling. Your hair will thank you for it."
2. Brush wisely and correctly
First, pick the type of brush you use wisely — for daily brushing, choose a cushioned paddle brush with flexible bristles. This will work with your hair to detangle with ease. Be careful — hard plastic brushes and bristles will tug and rip your hair apart if used for normal daily brushing on knotted hair. Next, use it correctly — absolutely do not pick up your brush and tug it down your hair from root to tip on your first pass through! Doing this will instantly push every nominal crisscross down into a tangled clump at the ends of your hair!
Now your delicate ends are forced to take on the heat of a brush yanking through thick, concentrated knots. This is an incredibly easy way to damage hair! Instead, work from end to root. Carefully brush through your ends first, then slowly work up to the midsection. In a final stroke, you can pull your brush through the entire length of your hair.
3. Shampoo only your scalp
Do not clump all of your hair into a big pile on top of your head and begin to scrub. This unnatural bending and rubbing of your hair will aid the development of split ends. Instead, let hair hang down normally and simply lather shampoo onto your scalp, then let the ends of your hair experience the “second hand suds” as you rinse the shampoo through your hair and away down the drain.
You'll be hearing this a lot from the hair care pros, but McKellar and Hills urge us to keep it simple to keep hair healthy and intact, "You need four to five essential things. Less is more, and you are more likely to keep up if you have less: one gentle cleanser, one replenishing conditioner, one lightweight leave-in conditioner, one dry shampoo and one deep mask. We obviously love BLNDN for its damage reversing and treatment properties." They continue, "Healthy hair is soft and lustrous. Use a shampoo or cleanser that is paraben-free. Shy away from sulfates as much as possible, as those suds are drying to the hair. Instead, use something that is gentle and lightly cleansing. Natural ingredients and emollients are expensive and hard to extract but worth every penny if it means you have radiant, healthy hair."
4. Condition your ends
Always use conditioner! Be sure to apply conditioner directly to the ends of your hair, and then give it a couple of minutes to soak in. When you rinse your hair, don't completely rinse it dry of the conditioner. (Of course rinse most of it out — we don't want so much left that hair has a greasy feel.)
As McKellar and Hills just explained, regular product use is non-negotiable if you want to keep ends from splitting, especially when it comes to styling with heat (more on that later). "Always use product! When heat styling make sure to use a thermal protectant. When air drying, using a leave-in conditioner or moisturizing oil will help nourish your hair and also create a barrier to protect it from the elements," says Senior Stylist Jill Franchi at Pyara Spa & Salon.
5. Towel drying
Do not scrub and rub a towel every which way on and through your hair! Those wet and vulnerable hairs are then forced to crease and twist in many unnatural directions, thus promoting more breakage. Instead, wrap a towel around hair and simply squeeze different areas to draw moisture out.
As we know from tip five, wet hair is very vulnerable to damage. Unfortunately, brushing it is usually inevitable if you plan to incorporate any styling. To pay the highest kindness to your sensitive locks, invest in a wide-tooth comb for use on your shower-fresh hair. As opposed to a normal brush with a thick head of bristles, the wide-tooth comb will lightly glide through hair and loosely manage your locks without causing as much breakage.
7. Blow drying: Know your purpose
Purpose: Blow drying to achieve an end result and style.
If your blow dryer is to be the only heat styling tool used, do your best to avoid placing direct heat on hair ends until absolutely necessary. Once the roots and upper lengths of your hair are dry, then lead the blow dryer through your ends with a brush.
Purpose: Blow drying as just one step in the styling process.
If another form of heat styling will follow your blow drying efforts, do your best to avoid direct contact with your ends altogether. Instead, concentrate most drying around the roots and upper lengths of hair, allowing ends to catch the “second-hand heat” of the air blowing through them.
Franchi says, "Make sure your hot tools (flat irons, curling irons, blow dryers, etc.) aren't too hot! Most quality irons will come with an adjustable heat setting. Unless you have really coarse hair, there is no need to use a high setting. Set tools to the lowest possible temperature that will still give you the results you are looking for."
8. Straightener
While straightening hair, always use a brush or comb to guide. Pick up the portion you are ready to straighten, run a brush down your hair and follow with your straightener placed directly behind the brush. This aligns hair in one direction and reduces the risk of straightening a strand of hair in a creased or bent position, which could instantly break it off or cause damage and split ends.
And if there's any chance you can go without, skip the straightener when you can. "Try and avoid the flat iron at all costs, this is the worst thing for split ends," says Sheenon Olson, Celebrity Hairstylist and Creative Director at Atma Beauty.
9. Curling
Instead of beginning the curl at the ends of your hair and winding all of the way up, begin at your roots and guide hair through the curling iron as you twist up. Starting at the very end makes the most intense heat sit on them for the longest amount of time. However, beginning from the root and twisting hair through constantly shifts the portion of hair receiving direct heat, and roots are last to experience the heat. This way, ends will only take in as much heat as needed to hold the style. Again, Olson reminds us that less is more when you want to minimize split ends. He says, "If you can, I recommend taking a break from heat styling altogether for as long as you can."
McKellar and Hills add, "Stop over-styling. Give your hair a break. Say hello to that beautiful curl or lovely wave. 2016 is the year of embracing your natural texture. It's all over the runway and magazines."
10. Trims
Even when the ends of your hair are splitting left and right, all hope isn't lost completely. "Part of preventing split ends is managing the split ends that are already there," Olson explains. "Often, I recommend that my clients take Nutrafol, a supplement that aids in hair growth so that they can continuously go into the salon for micro-trims to remove the split ends while retaining length. My clients have had a ton of success with this product."
Inevitably, a trim will be needed at some point to regulate split ends. If handled with care, you won't have to get these as often. Proper care will allow you to stretch trim appointments to every six to eight weeks — maybe longer. To prevent the split, this regular maintenance is key, says Franchi. "Get your hair cut regularly! This one may seem a little obvious, but the real trick to keeping your hair looking healthy is to cut the ends off before they become split. Every head of hair in unique, so consult with your stylist about how often you should be coming in for trims. I can tell you this though — you should be getting your hair cut at least four times a year."
Image: Tiffany Egbert/SheKnows/Image via Getty Images
There's something magical about a good hair day, am I right?
It’s like winning the lottery or having some magic potion that makes everything feel like you’re dominating your inbox, to-do list, project or whatever else you have going on. You know the feeling? Wish you could replicate it all the time? Well, you’re in luck!
Image: Lauren Kelp/SheKnows
Did you know choosing the right shampoo and conditioner is vital for those killer hair days. I know it sounds simple, but it’s true — how you wash your hair can be the difference between frizzy hair or bouncy locks. To master your mane, choose a product you can understand. Ditch the complex chemicals and ingredients with 12 Z's and go for something wholesome and natural. Once you’ve got that, the rest is relatively easy!
The rest is all about confidence! For me, my go-to hairstyle is something bouncy and a little sassy. I'm not very good with hair tools, so difficult techniques (we're talking straightening and teasing — I am clueless) are out of the question. Plus, I don’t have a ton of time in the morning, so anything overly complicated has no time in my schedule.
My good hair days consist of something easy, sassy and healthy. We are busy gals, so we don’t have time for split ends and breakage. Treat your hair to healthy, wholesome basics, and your hair will thank you happily!
Image: Lauren Kelp/SheKnows
This post is part of a sponsored collaboration between Garnier Whole Blends and SheKnows
In today’s Internet world of YouTube celebrity and Instagram fame, being genuine is one of the more important qualities to possess. Because so much content revolves around the beauty and fashion industry, it can be easy to get swept up in the pressure to be perfect—sometimes even superficial. Let’s get back to feeling naturally beautiful with five tips for creating a sense of style that you actually like and staying true to no one but yourself.
Give yourself grace
Image: Chelsea Lankford/SheKnows
Natural beauty begins with taking care of yourself, and the rumors are true: It starts on the inside. Think and talk to yourself positively, as if you were encouraging a friend. No situation is ever improved by negativity.
Find a hairstylist that will tailor your cut to your personality, not just to your face shape
Image: Chelsea Lankford/SheKnows
If you’re shy, you may not feel like yourself with an edgier cut. On the other hand, if you’re a person who jumps at every opportunity and loves to be the center of attention, how would a short and simple cut embody your fun-loving essence?
Natural beauty doesn’t have to mean never wearing makeup or painting your nails.
Image: Chelsea Lankford/SheKnows
If you were born a blonde but would feel more like yourself with a few highlights as you get older, what’s stopping you? There are so many wonderful natural makeup and hairstyle tutorials on the Internet you’re bound to find one that will enhance the lovely features you already have.
Follow your gut wardrobe instinct.
Image: Chelsea Lankford/SheKnows
Half of confidence is just committing to your initial idea. If you try on a wide-brimmed hat or a showstopping faux-fur coat, leave the house before you can second-guess yourself. Too often, I purchase pieces I love but am too timid to wear when the time comes. Confidence is a crucial key to natural beauty.
You can follow trends and be true to your personal style.
Image: Chelsea Lankford/SheKnows
When you flip through magazines or watch videos from Fashion Week runways, don’t worry about making those trends work for you. Listen to your instinct when it comes to things you may or may not like. It can be stressful trying to decipher and incorporate trendy items into your wardrobe, especially when they don’t feel like you. If it’s time consuming to find a way to make the trend work, it won’t be something that will lead to feeling like the best version of yourself.
Image: Chelsea Lankford/SheKnows
The natural beauty movement has been spreading for the past few years. With the rise of the inescapably omnipresent Internet, sifting through content for real girls with real beauty and real drive to succeed can be more challenging than we think it should be. Don’t forget, you can inspire others by turning the spotlight on your own natural beauty. It’s easy to spot natural beauty when it shines from the inside out.
This post is part of a sponsored collaboration between Garnier Whole Blends and SheKnows.
We've all been taught not to chew our fingernails, but a new KFC advertising campaign wants to give us a reason to do so. KFC Hong Kong took the brand in a direction we totally didn't see coming, releasing a line of edible nail polishes. They come in orange and cream colors with either "Original Recipe" or "Hot & Spicy" flavoring. Their tagline? "Finger lickin' good," of course.
The video accompanying the nail polish line features super-hip young people voguing to electronica while licking their chicken-flavored fingers. This is absolutely nothing like any ad campaign we've ever seen for the fast food giant in the U.S. and shows that KFC clearly has a different target demographic in Hong Kong.
The nail polish comes from the brains of the branding company Oglivy and Mather, which teamed up with the food technology experts behind KFC's flavorings, creating nail polishes from natural ingredients. "The recipe for our edible nail polish is unique and was specifically designed to hold the flavor, but to also dry with a glossy coat similar to normal nail polish," explains the campaign's creative director, Joan Koay, in a press statement. "This campaign is designed to be intriguing and fun, to increase excitement around the KFC brand in Hong Kong."
In the music video released with the polish, KFC asks people living in Hong Kong to choose their favorite flavor of nail polish. Once the votes are in, the company will decide which line of nail polish to produce in Hong Kong.
Edible nail polish is a pretty gross idea, given that our hands are home to about 10 million germs. Our nails are particularly grubby, as they can harbor nasty germs like salmonella and E. Coli, according to researchers at Birmingham's Aston University, so putting them in your mouth is perhaps not the best idea I've ever heard.
That all being said, I have to admit I'd still totally try this nail polish if they brought it to North America. There's no way my curiosity wouldn't get the better of me. Though if edible nail polish is going to become a thing, I just wish there were some tastier flavors to choose from, like rocky road or salted caramel. A girl can dream!
Anyone with large breasts knows the pain of going into Victoria's Secret. My breasts have been a number of sizes over the past 25 years thanks to running marathons and having three babies, but I have always been at least a D cup since I was about 16. And the pain of trying to find a nice bra that fits well, looks cute, and costs less than $300 is an ongoing saga. And good, old Victoria has never been my friend.
Now, a new commercial for the lingerie company is raising even more ire with my big boobed brethern. Why? Because it's all about the "bralette," a non underwire, super natural little tank top that no woman bigger than a B cup could ever hope to wear. See below:
Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret
It's cute, right? But it is so unrealistic for women with big boobs. And while I know not every piece of clothing can fit all women equally, this only compounds what most of us already new about the mall lingerie store. Many took to Twitter to complain about Victoria's Secret's "small boob bias." Whether or not you agree that it's fair to make bras that a good portion of the population can consider, you also have to understand where we big boob gals are coming from.
For years, I would walk into Victoria's Secret, lured by the promises of lace, pretty colors and matching underwear only to find that the two 34DD bras they had in the whole store were stuffed in the back of the drawer, gathering dust and stretched out from years of shoppers trying them on and then deciding not to buy. They always come in the colors no one wants. Get your lime green boulder holder with purple hearts sewn over the nipples! Don't like that? Try the yellow bra with orange daisies. Speaking of those obscure, circa 2012 bras, there is never any underwear in the entire store even remotely matching those patterns.
It's not that I expect every bra to be D+, but if you go into the store, it can start to feel like we are way in the minority. But the average breast size in the US is currently 36C and some say it is getting larger. In other words, there are more of us than you, tiny titted flowers. And yet, everything is seemingly built for you and you alone. How is this fair?
I am now about a 34D or DD, depending on the bra. I know I will never wear spaghetti straps or open backs or go braless for more than five minutes at a time. But it would be nice to be able to walk into a mall lingerie store without feeling like a social pariah for being a bit larger than average in one area of my body.
Memo to Victoria's Secret: Go home. You are drunk.
I'm lucky enough to live in sunny southern California, where the weather is fantastic year-round. But even here, by the time Memorial Day arrives, we're experiencing scorching afternoons and the mood feels decidedly summer. Here are my favorite design trends to highlight the season.
The pineapple has long been a symbol of hospitality — what better motif to jazz up your entryway or entertaining space? Try a door knocker, brass bookends, cocktail tumblers or even pineapple-printed wallpaper. The tropical fruit theme is guaranteed to make you — and your guests — smile.
Summer is all about spending time outside, but I also love bringing a bit of the outdoors in. Right now, I'm loving rattan and bamboo for their tropical flair and eco-friendly sensibility. Unlike the rustic warmth of wood or the cool elegance of metal, these materials convey nothing but relaxation — perfect for summer. Try a comfy chair, a small settee or a side or coffee table.
I'm a huge fan of mixing and matching different eras and styles. It's a big reason why I love working at EBTH so much. There's such an incredible variety to choose from! And incorporating a diverse array of chair s— even at the same dining table — is a great way to create a rich, layered look and to express different sides of your personality. Don't we all feel mid-century modern some days and Hollywood regency on others?
Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but they don't exactly fit the relaxed vibe of summer. Instead, I love seeing people pair turquoise jewelry with the crisp white frocks of the season. Try the stone in silver settings for a classic Southwestern flavor or in more modern settings with gold. Either way, turquoise is a real gem (and it won’t break the bank).
This is no time to cling to the stark blacks, browns and grays of winter. I adore bright, bold colors and striking patterns when the temperature spikes. Some of my favorites are vintage Missoni, Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior, but you can find colorful prints anywhere. Check out our sale from vintage guru Rachel Zabar featuring Oscar De La Renta, Pucci, Malia, and more. Doesn’t that just scream summer?
Her brows are too thick. She's wearing too much makeup. The look isn't "English enough." The clothes are too boring. It's too manly. It's not feminine. It's not flattering.
It's to be expected, but the criticism of Kate Middleton's Vogue photo shoot, which includes the cover and is part of the magazine's centenary edition, is wearing a little thin. Who, in their right mind, could look at this image and say it's not completely beautiful?
So she has a little eyebrow pencil on, and perhaps her jacket and hat combo isn't to everyone's taste. But come on, people. She's a natural beauty, and can you imagine the backlash if she wore a cutout dress with a plunging neck?
We're used to seeing the duchess in glamorous ensembles. She looks pitch perfect in Alexander McQueen and can pull of a Jenny Packham number like nobody else. She's not afraid to don a sky-high Jimmy Choo platform for a star-studded event, or whip out a quirky Anya Hindmarch clutch. Sure, it would be awesome to see her in something really avant garde — but would that be Kate?
What's great about the Duchess of Cambridge's Vogue shoot is that she looks herself. The casual, comfortable version of herself we only catch a glimpse of every so often. Which is just as gorgeous as the dressed-up version we see on Prince William's arm at official engagements, and a million miles away from the photoshopped images we're bombarded with day in, day out, of stars who wouldn't know what natural beauty was if it bit them on the ass.
Much has been made of the fact that Prince William's mother, Diana Princess of Wales, appeared on several Vogue covers during her lifetime. Just like the young woman who would have been her daughter-in-law, Diana looked best when captured looking relaxed and happy, in casual clothes and with minimum styling, like this 1991 cover for U.S. Vogue, shot by Patrick Demarchelier.
Image: Vogue
The Duchess of Cambridge was photographed by Josh Olins for her shoot, the first time she has consented to being shot for a magazine. The June 2016 issue is on newsstands now.
What do you think of Kate Middleton's Vogue photo shoot? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
"I think men want to see a normal-looking guy modeling their clothes," he told The Guardian after being signed. He is a normal guy; tall with a 42-inch waist, Miko probably wouldn't get a second look in most parts of America.
Well, I take that back — he's got that whole Brawny man thing going on, so of course he'd get noticed. But other than that he's not outside the realm of normal, unless that normal is the fashion world.
By all accounts, he's lovely and charming in interviews. It also seems like he understands his privilege in the modeling world. His recent Target campaign went largely unnoticed until his signing with IMG.
Zach Miko 2
Zach Miko 2
"I think it made a splash because Target is a big retailer. But they just put me in the shoot with classically sized male models, so all the fashion blogs were like: did Target sneak a plus size guy into their site?" he told The Guardian, adding that it probably would've been a lot more noticeable if it was a plus-sized woman.
He'd probably get a whole lot more crap if he were a woman, too. Models like Tess Holliday and Ashley Graham are constantly on the receiving end of horrific comments and concern trolling via their social media accounts. The pregnant Holliday even had to post a response to comments about her weight and how she's putting her unborn child in danger, just by living.
Honestly, take a look at any of their recent posts and you're likely to see some pretty gross comments.
Contrast that with Miko's comments and you'll see something quite different. His comments have zero to do with his size, and everything to do with his sex appeal.
"You are so sexy!" "He's literally perfect." "He's mine." And so on… and so on.
Zach Miko 1
Zach Miko 1
Don't get me wrong: He's gorgeous, but the fact that he's allowed to exist without constant comments about his health — no one is asking if he's going to lose weight — is a slap in the face to not only fellow plus models, but women in general.
Is it his fault? Nope… it's ours. We, as a whole, continue to allow women to be considered as "less than" because of body size, of looks, of physical attributes that we don't necessarily have control over.
Can we ever get to the point where everyone is accepted for who they are? I'd love that, but I also live in the real world where people will always have something to say. What I hope is that we get to the point where it's not about labels, but about the person.
