HIGHLIGHTS

…protect your hair from chlorine this summer.

Nothing feels better on a hot day than diving headfirst into a cold, clear pool; but those brief moments of ecstasy can cost you later, as chlorine does a world of harm on your hair. An Associated Content article that I found features some helpful tips to protect your hair from chlorine damage this summer. Check out the article for a full list of measures you can take to protect your hair. Surprisingly, most are extremely simple things that most of us do before we get in the pool anyway, like pulling our hair up so it won’t get wet the entire time or condition our hair regularly to keep it from drying out and losing nutrients. Summer fun doesn’t have to come at the expense of great hair, so take care of your hair as you enjoy all that the warm months have to offer!

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…blow dry and style your hair with a round brush!

A friend recently asked me if I could help style her hair. I agreed, until I saw the two items she handed me: a round brush and a hair dryer. Now, I pride myself on being quite adept at styling, dyeing, pinning and, on occasion, cutting hair despite my lack of formal training. However, the one area that I just can’t seem to master is blow drying and styling hair with a round brush. So I went on a mission to find a DIY video that would help me see how this process is done and overcome my fear of the round brush. This YouTube video is extremely informative and easy-to-follow, and it features a professional stylist with a model. I think it’s a great reference that shows how to master a simple yet chic look that’s ready to wear for any occasion or event. Check it out and let us know what you think!

Last weekend was the MTV Movie Awards, and I’ll admit that while I didn’t tune in to watch The Twilight Saga sweep every major category, I did pay attention for a hot second. What really captured my attention was Katy Perry’s channeling Marge Simpson and donning a wig of the brightest blue shade. It’s not the first time she’s stepped out in that accessory, either. At the last Kid’s Choice Awards, Katy busted out the blue and make a splash in her contrasting yellow dress.

Despite the event or awards show, it’s undeniable that Katy Perry is a risk-taker when it comes to her hair; and I think the blue was just her shade. It brought out her fun, wild, finger-to-the-sky side that tells people she sets the trends, not follows them. At the same time, she managed to look incredibly feminine and put-together, using her hair as an accessory and toning down her outfits. Just take a look at this picture of Katy rocking out her blue faux-locks:

http://www.altfg.com/blog/movies-431/katy-perry-photo-kids-choice-awards/

I personally can’t wait to see what Katy Perry busts out next: will it be a new color, a new cut or even a new, Lady GaGa-esque accessory atop her head? The surprise is what, I think, really keeps us drawn and interested in Katy Perry as a fashion icon, and as her fame grows, her thrilling and trendsetting styles will only get bigger too.

As with any season, summer ushers in new styles of clothing, new music, new mega-blockbuster hits and of course, new hair. So this summer, I’m trying out something new: I’m going curly. I know, I know: I’ve talked about it for a while and deliberated whether straight hair or curly hair was the better look for me. However, with all the humidity and moisture that my Midwest summer has hosted thus far, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s just not prudent to fight nature anymore. I’m giving in to my natural waves and adding a little extra splash to make sure I have cute curls all summer long.

To get an EXTRA amount of body and boost to my curls, I’ve been engaging in a three-step process. First, after my hair is damp, I run a teeny amount of styling mousse through it and tousle my hair. Then, using a diffuser attached to my blow dryer, I make sure my hair is dry for the most part. Then, I use scrunching gel to scrunch my hair and give it bouncy curls. Top that off with a bit of hairspray to keep the shape in place, and I’m out the door! Then entire process takes around 5 minutes, and honestly, I’ve never been happy with a style. It’s low-maintenence, yet it looks like it took a while to style. Curls also ensure that I’m not frantically worrying about how my hair looks after being exposed to moisture in the air. I can go on enjoying a night out with the girls or running errands around town without a care in the world!

So change up your routine this summer: instead of fighting against what nature gave you, play into your natural style and use it to your advantage. You’ll save a ton of time and stress, and I guarantee no matter what your hair type is, you’ll find a hip and fun style that accompanies it! Give yourself a little break this season and let your hair enjoy a relaxing summer as much as you do!

Gentlemen prefer blondes. At least, that’s what the movies would have us believe. But I’ve been wondering for a while now if that’s really true or if that is just a fabrication. After all, I’d say just as many brunettes or redheads go on dates as blondes do. And while blondes are immortalized in male fantasies and on the silver screen as goddesses of perfection, take a look at any “hot” list put out by entertainment channels or magazines: there are just as many brunettes on that list. So I set out to find the truth about hair color and male/female dynamics. Do men have a preference when it comes to hair? Is attraction based on what’s on one’s head rather than in it? And why on earth does one simple hair color seem to take top priority when it comes to determining looks?

I decided to consult some experts in this area: twenty-something year old guys; and what they told me turned my entire perspective on its head. After asking a friend if hair color really mattered, if men instinctively preferred a certain hair color and didn’t deviate from that preference in their search for a partner, I gained some insight into one type of mindset. Men, he explained, don’t notice hair color first, they notice the entire women. Hair color also isn’t a “type,” and he claims that no man has ever turned down a woman because she had the “wrong color.” He was very adamant that hair color is basically inconsequential. And he’s not the only one, because I received that same response from a few other male friends. Then of course, I received the typical responses that indicated preference in hair color. One friend bluntly stated, “I like brunettes.” Great, I thought. Now I have two opposite answers, and I didn’t get anywhere.

My questions weren’t answered, not really anyway. I thought that the myth about men preferring a certain type of hair color could be dispelled, and as it turns out, there remains some preference, one way or the other. Of course, my mind wandered off to the possibility that it’s not really about preference, but about familiarity. For example, if a male grows up in a household full of blonde women, he’s more familiar with blondes and possibly associates the color with the kind of caring, loving environment that he wants for himself later in life. Or, if his first crush donned a particular hair color, he would seek out women only with that color in order to follow through with his vision of a a perfect, pure relationship. But as my mind wandered, it kept coming back to the same thought: it really ought to matter more what’s in a woman’s head than on it. So you’re a redhead? Well, you’re also the youngest VP in your company’s history, you have a great sense of humor and great friends, and you can play any man under the table in a competitive game of Halo. And you’re a blonde? Nice to meet you, you graduated from medical school at the top of your class and you’re now one of the most respected doctors at a reputable practice. You have a passion for Keats’ poetry and on the weekends, you get together with some friends and watch old movies because you appreciate the classics. Those are the kinds of qualities that I say define a strong, beautiful and desirable woman, far more than a genetic predisposition.

So, what’s my personal verdict? Sure, some men might prefer a certain color or might seek out women with a particular shade; but that, to me, indicates immaturity. That shows that he cares more about how a woman looks than her inner qualities that will last long after her hair loses its luster and color. Personally, I believe a stable, healthy and happy relationship is more likely with the person who sees the entire woman inside and out and doesn’t immediately go to hair color. At least, that’s the kind of person I would bet has more successful and memorable relationships. Color doesn’t matter; color fades and can be altered. What really matters, I believe, is the woman under the color, the bright and vibrant human who refuses to be categorized based on her hair but rather forces people to see her shining personality and brilliant mind.

Last week saw the release of Lady GaGa and Beyoncé’s new music video for “Telephone;” and as with any GaGa video came a burst of fashion, color and crazy hair styles.  She sported a ‘do tinted with bright yellow dye.  This isn’t the first time “GaGaloo” has shocked the world with a confident burst of outrageous color and style.  In fact, in every single video, Lady GaGa brings something new to the world of hair and high fashion.

But her latest color palate got me thinking about hair color and what’s considered natural, unnatural, risky and just plain out-of-this-world.  ”Natural” or acceptable colors seem to be limited to about four colors: blonde, brown, black and red.  There are, of course, shade variations that are acceptable–for example, blonde could refer to a darker, “dirty blonde” look or a platinum shade.  But what about other colors?  GaGa’s bright yellow hue, for instance, isn’t considered a “natural” variation of blonde.  The real question that I keep trying to decipher is why, though.  Why is a bold color that is so often used in paintings, graphic designs, even children’s artwork, not okay to show off on your head?

I agree, I’m sometimes taken back by extremely bold hair colors–bright purple has jolted me, and hot pink definitely catches my eye.  But they’re just colors.  We wear them on our bodies every single day.  We paint our nails extraordinary shades and our purses come in the craziest colors.  However, when it comes to our hair,  there are just some boundaries that aren’t socially acceptable to cross.  Wouldn’t it be great to walk down the street, see a bold hair color and admire it instead of being taken by surprise that someone had the audacity to alter their hair in such an unconventional fashion?  Wouldn’t it be nice to ignore social constructions of beauty, fashion, acceptability even and adopt, with content, our hearts desires?  Shouldn’t “personal expression” be just that: a personal, self-decided way to portray yourself or your emotions?

I would love to see a society built around individuality, independence and the freedom to do what you choose with your style and body; and I want to see a bold, innovative hair color and not be taken by surprise or wonder what comments that woman has received about her hair.  And maybe that’s where creative and risky new artists come in.  Maybe, in addition to making music, art and innovative new way to express themselves, they are paving the way for personal styles to shine through and creating a more accepting and tolerant environment in which women feel comfortable breaking social norms and following their own paths.

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Today was the first sunny and somewhat warm-ish day since, well, last season; and as I donned a short sleeved shirt and grabbed my sunglasses while heading out the door, I realized that spring and warm weather is fast approaching!  For me, that means new, fun clothes and summer-approved hair.  I recently got about four inches taken off my hair, so I’m sporting a fun new bobbed hair cut.  But, what to do about coloring my hair (or, for the first time since high school, highlighting it?!?!).  I tend to go lighter in the summer and have some sort of highlight on the top, which makes sense because I wear my hair down when I’m enjoying the warm, fresh weather; I add my own personality with bold headbands, fun clips and cute pins.  I’m still torn between the color issue, though.  I love my chocolate brown hair with its natural red highlights; but last spring and summer, my hair was light brown with some blonde specks coming through, and I’m contemplating reverting back to last summer’s ‘do.  My question to you all is, what do YOU do to your hair for the summer season?  Does summer hair have to be light and winter hair dark?  And if that’s some sort of unwritten rule, well let me tell you: we are independent, strong women, and we MAKE the rules!  So think about your summer preferences and favorite styles and colors, and let me know what you prefer for a hot, fun, creative summer look!

Hair isn’t just something that covers a person’s head, that can be styled or is an extension of one’s personality: for countless women, it’s a sort of grown-up security blanket behind which they hide, shadowing some part of of themselves they don’t like or trying to cover up something they don’t want the world to see.

We all have some kind of security blanket or safety mechanism, whether we realize it or not.  Sweatshirts or loose tops on those days when we’re feeling “puffy” or “bloated” are common favorites; also, copious amounts of makeup applied ritualistically by many women also cover up the person behind the cosmetics.  It would be a rare sighting to find a woman who hasn’t previously covered up-or is currently covering up-something about herself she doesn’t like.

Hair serves the same function as baggy clothing or excessive cosmetic use, whether we realize it or not.  Long hair can be styled around the face and, at times when left completely down and free-flowing, cover up the face (or portions of it) entirely.  Most women who recognize their substitution of hair for a “security blanket” or defense even admit to keeping their locks long and flowing for this purpose.  Hair, especially long hair, creates a barrier between a woman and anyone around it.  It can shield her face on days when she just can’t face the world.  It also minimizes the size of the face, eliminating any notions about looking too “puffy” or “pudgy.”

In short, hair can serve as a mask that hides the woman away from the world, all at her convenience.  And in a society where the definition of perfection is a standard up to which very few can live, more and more women are choosing to hide behind their hair  instead of shedding the layers and covers and embracing who they really are.  But that’s not to say that long hair is somehow “bad” or “wrong” compared to short hair; both are equally fabulous and can be rocked out, styled beautifully and bring a whole new persona and life to the woman who embodies the locks.  However, like anything else, if done for the wrong reason, hair can be a method of entrapment and conformity to unreasonable social standards.  If used to cover up “imperfections” or “unacceptable qualities” on which society shines a negative light, hair can eventually become the enemy, something that is kept closer than friends.

Naturally, many are beginning to equate short hair with confidence.  It lacks the negative associations with “security blankets” and is a clear way for a woman to show off her face and herself without layers of coverings or barriers.  It’s no longer the last resort for unruly or unmanageable hair, and it definitely isn’t a reflection on sexual orientation; rather, short hair is becoming a symbol of power, of confidence and of fast-moving, driven and motivated women.  However, whether short or long, the foundation of a happy and successful life is confidence.  So if you’re holding on to your long locks for security purposes or to strategically hide behind it when you’re just not feeling ready to face the world, consider trying something new and embracing your inner woman who is simply dying to be set free and experience your life; and who knows, ditching those locks for a shorter ‘do just might be the cure you need to get you out of your winter blues!

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