Full Throttle

I have a confession: My long, thick waves are an illusion, courtesy of extensions. My true hair type is ultra-fine, so I am always on the hunt for the PERFECT thickening product...and now, thanks to yesterday's beauty experiment, I think my search may finally be over!

Living proof's product line, including the much-loved No Frizz hair care collection, was developed by a team of world class scientists, creating breakthrough technology that actually does what it claims...and who am I to argue with MIT-trained experts?

Here's how the Full Thickening Cream works: A patented MIT technology called Beta Amino Esters was used to create the building block for Beta Amino Ester-1, which mimics the look and feel of thicker hair by depositing a flexible and indestructible pattern of points that can't break or flake off. Translation: Your hair will look thicker and you'll actually feel as if you have more hair on your head!

I applied it exactly according to the instructions, working in the palm of my hands and spreading throughout clean, damp, detangled hair from above the roots to the ends. Use a wide-tooth comb to ensure even coverage and blow-dry in sections. If you're anything like me, you hair will definitely feel fabulously full afterwards!

**Crystal Fenton

Just Desserts

Looking for a zero-calorie treat? These body products are some of my faves—and they all smell sugary-sweet. They’ll make your skin smell great, but try not to sneak a taste!


Whoopie! Whipped white velvet shea butter body crème from FarmHouse Fresh is a super-rich moisturizer that smells exactly like buttercream frosting! The yummy scent lingers throughout the day. (farmhousefreshgoods.com, $30)


It’s still snowy in NYC, but you can get ready for spring by banishing dry winter spring. LaLicious Sugar Soufflé Scrub in the Brown Sugar & Vanilla scent keeps skin healthy and smelling great. (lalicious.com, $34)


Chocolate Milk Body Wash & Bubble Bath from Philip B smells uncannily like its namesake, but thanks to ingredients like aloe, cocoa butter, oat proteins and wheat amino acids, it’s much better for you! ($35, philipb.com)

-- Mackenzie Walton

Enter to WIN Sultra Styling Tools!

We've got 4 FAB styling irons to give away from SULTRA! The Laser Straight & Smooth Iron is an amazing new tool you can use for sleek, perfectly polished strands. It boasts ceramic technology, rapid heat-up, auto shut-off and the iron's body is made from lightweight, heat-deflecting DuPont Rynite. We have one of each: Matte Black, Floral Deco, Leopard Finish, and Zebra finish. Shoot us an email at celebrityhairstylesmag@gmail.com for you chance to win!

Spring Makeup You Can Wear NOW!

It's the middle of February and even a cold weather lover like myself feels like this Winter is dragging...it just snowed *again* in New York yesterday! In need of a little beauty pick-me-up, I asked Molly R. Stern, COVERGIRL celebrity makeup artist, for a preview of spring lip trends. Good news: You can wear the look right now.

"For Spring, I'm loving the coral lip trend because it adds a bright pop of color to your beauty routine," says Stern.

Here's how to wear it with success:
First, use a stain. The makeup pro likes COVERGIRL Outlast Lipstain.
Next, top with gloss for a high dose of shine. Try COVERGIRL ShineBlast Lip Gloss.

"When wearing a coral lip, I recommend keeping the rest of your makeup neutral so your bold lips are the focus of your face."
**Crystal Fenton

In with a Bang!

Fall Fashion week has begun, and if the Cynthia Steffe show is any indication, this season, fringe is IN!

Bumble and bumble's team of stylists, led by Rolando Beauchamp, created a version of bangs on all the models, mainly using clip-in pieces that he custom-cut to work with their individual, natural hair. "Our inspiration was the late '60s girl in London and Paris, strolling the street in a little jacket with slightly teased hair and fringe," says Beauchamp. To get the look, the team used Bumble and bumble products, including hair powder, prep and styling lotion. From full and blunt to softly sideswept, it was all about the bang!

Backstage Pass: Take a peek at Fashion Week!

Despite the snow, Fall 2010 Fashion Week kicks off today here in New York...and we've got you covered for behind-the-scenes beauty tips and previews. I just returned from the pre-show scene at Vena Cava, where the hair and nails were filled with plenty of perfect-for-fall color.

Stylist Ted Gibson and his team used products from his namesake haircare line, including build it blow drying agent and tame it shine lotion, along with clip-in hair extensions, to create amazingly textured, uber-lengthy ponytails paired with a clean center part and smoothness around the crown. Plus, each pony boasts shock of pink, purple, blue or green color.

Nonie Smith of butter london and the ladies behind the Vena Cava collection create and name a custom-mixed nail color for the show. This season, 'Marrow' is a unique combination of a deep wine base mixed with purple and black, then topped with white pigments for sediment like finish.

Stay tuned to see more beauty previews from the runway, both here and in our magazines!

*Crystal Fenton

Follow Your Nose

Like lots of people, I’m a sucker for a nice scent. When I comb the haircare aisles of my favorite stores, it’s imperative that I sniff each and every potential purchase before I consider taking it up to the cashier. But luckily, there are tons of great-smelling options! Here are a few of my current faves:



* Russian Amber Imperial Shampoo from Philip B. The warm scent has a slight hint of musk and is definitely as rich as its name. It lingers throughout the next day, but it's super-subtle and not overpowering. ($18-$140, philipb.com)



* Seanik Solid Shampoo Bar from LUSH. When you need a quick, convenient shampoo, give this a whirl. Its fragrance—a mix of mimosa, orange blossom absolute and jasmine—will make you think of long days by the sea. ($9.95, lush.com)



* Smiley All-in-One Washing Treatment from Arthes. It’ll definitely make you smile! This body wash/shampoo combo brings to mind summer and sunshine, thanks to a mix of orange, cocoa, praline, musk and other uplifting scents. ($35, beautyexclusive.com)

-- Mackenzie Walton

Why Are Styling Product Labels So Confusing?
Why aren’t hair styling products clearer when it comes to instructions? It’s bad enough that you have to scan the small type on the bottle, without glasses (hey, don't those marketing folks realize you’ve just left the shower?) to find your own language. I understand that most of these gels, mousses, cremes and pomades are distributed worldwide, but some are a muddle of type all scrunched together, making it super-hard to decipher.

Once you find what you’re looking for, the confusion persists because it's tough to figure out exactly how much you're supposed to be using. Here is a random sampling of what’s written on the products in my home stash, which mostly contains frizz-minimizers and smoothing serums:

Anti-Frizz Cream: A few dabs
Blow-dry pomade: Apply sparingly
Styling treatment: A small amount

Some don’t indicate amount at all and just say: Apply to damp hair.

I was pretty pleased when I discovered a couple of products that were more specific; one instructed me to apply a quarter-sized amount, the other a dime. Still, shouldn’t they indicate which length hair they’re referring to? My hair is short, so should the quarter be more like a dime and the dime, a pea?

My best advice—which is unfortunately also somewhat vague—is that less is more. You can always add more while you’re styling, but you can’t go back and remove what’s already there.

What do you think—do you often have problems using styling products because of unclear directions?

Mary Greenberg

TGIF: Friday Favorite

Friday is the big weekend kickoff (especially with Superbowl Sunday in two days!) and in honor of the big day, here's a great product that'll have you looking gorgeous all weekend long.

I'm all about multi-tasking (who isn't?) so I was super-excited to test-drive per-fékt skin perfection gel. Enriched with antioxidants, it adds an invisible 'second skin' with just a touch of color, for an airbrushed, flawless finish. Always the skeptic, I wasn't sure I could forgo my usual routine of primer, tinted moisturizer and foundation but with a celebrity following including Victoria Beckham, Reese Witherspoon, Paris & Nicky Hilton, Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Ripa, to name a few, I gave it a shot...with fantastic results!

This works so amazingly well that I was astonished how great my skin looked...not to mention how smooth it felt. Best of all, it comes in five sheer shades--including one clear with no color--and works for all skin types. You can say goodbye to fine lines, mega pores, and redness. It includes Vitamins A & E to repair and protect skin damage locks in moisture, and is free of petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances, dyes, wax, parabens, mineral oils, talc, phthalates and water. You can find Per-fékt Beauty products at select Sephora stores or perfektbeauty.com.
*Crystal Fenton

Help Haiti...and Heal Your Hair

Through this Saturday, visit Rare by Ruth Roche/Pureology Salon in New York City, and you can help Haiti, all while giving your mane a major boost.

A $25 donation gets you a 15-minute Pureology Hydrating Scalp Massage, an amazing conditioning treatment that restores hydration to your hair and helps lock in color. Conveniently, you can add this service to an existing appointment or book it as a standalone service. You'll even get a complimentary mini bottle of Pureology EssentialRepair ColourMax or EssentialRepair InstantRepair during your visit!

Best of all 100% of donations go to Global Green USA's efforts to rebuild Haiti. Call 212-343-9133 to make an appointment.

-- Mackenzie Walton

Dreaming of Spring

Yesterday, groundhog Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, which means six more weeks of winter! But that doesn’t mean you can’t get a head start on spring by trying on some bright, beautiful hair accessories. Right now, we’re loving the cheery, floral-inspired headbands from True Birds. They almost make us forget that it snowed today in New York!




Visit truebirds.com to see more designs, or check out your nearest Nordstrom store.

--Mackenzie Walton

Tune in Tonight to Shear Genius!

CREDIT:
Photo from The "Shear Genius" Sundance Salon; Kristian Dowling/Bravo.


Shear Genius is back for a third season and we couldn't be more excited! Look out for new faces, including Camila Alves, international model and handbag designer, as the show's host, and Jonathan Antin, a celebrity stylist, as a judge. In addition, Kim Vo returns to judge and Orlando Pita also returns as the contestants’ mentor.

In each episode, stylists will compete in both cutting and elimination challenges that test technical hairstyling, creativity and advanced skills...all in hopes of scoring $100,000 in prize money, courtesy of Nexxus Salon Hair Care, a Nexxus apprenticeship and the chance to style hair for an Allure magazine photo shoot! Who'll win the coveted prize? Tune in to Bravo on Wednesdays at 10PM EST to find out!
*Crystal Fenton

MAJOR Beauty Deal for New Yorkers!

Have you heard about localbooking.com? If not, you've got to check it out!!!


Celebrity Hairstylist, Michael Duenas (known for styling A-listers like Mariah Carey, Regina Spektor) along with his master styling company HairRoomService.com, are offering a limited time offer of 50% off an IN-HOME hair cut, style, and blow out for NYC residents. The regular retail price of the service starts at $125, so the $62 offer is a major steal that not only gives you a top-tier stylist but also brings the convenience of the expert coming to YOU!



Full details on the deal are available here: http://localbooking.com/deal/detail/4b58c8af62244/62-in-home-haircut-blowout-by-celebrity-stylist-michael-due-as-125-value?ref=lerpr


Don't miss out! This limited time offer can only be purchased today, BUT you have 6 months to schedule the appointment and redeem the offer!

Score Rihanna's Edgy Glam...for under $20!

Photo: © RD / Kirkland / Retna Digital.

Let's discuss last night's Grammy Awards. Were you watching? I was glued to my TV for the most important part of any awards show: The red carpet, of course!

Rihanna strutted her stuff in an elegant, floor length Elie Saab frock...but added edge to the classic silhouette with a dramatic hairstyle. Motions Celebrity Stylist Ursula Stephen created the look...and for less than $20! Here's how:

1. First, use Motions Silkening Shine Relaxer System. This creates a good foundation for the style, notes the pro.
2. Next, apply Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion to the longer hair at the crown, molding it upwards and towards the right side of the head. Sit under a hooded dryer to set the style.
3. Work Motions Original Oil Moisturizer Hair Lotion throughout hair.
4. Flat iron in an upward motion for even more definition.
5. Finish with Motions Shine Enhancing Pomade.

*Crystal Fenton