Current Obsession: Hippie Hair

On April 24, 2013 By Christine RinehartIn beauty, hair, lifestyleLeave a comment

Big, beautiful, beachy hair is what I’m into right now.

I’m loving this mid-tone look, it’s got a slight ombre feel to it, and the head band really accentuates the texture.

To get a look like this I recommend braiding your hair overnight if your hair isn’t already textured. Once it’s fully dried you can finger comb through it to rough it up. To get a really messy feeling you can even run a spray wax or salt spray through it as well.

If your hair isn’t long enough for this then hair extensions may be a great option for you. If you’re considering wearing a look like this only occasionally then clip-in hair extensions would be a wonderful option. If you’re like me though, and want to do as little work as possible each morning, then something more long term might work better. Fusion hair extensions or tape-in hair extensions have more staying power and allow you to sleep with your long hair in. This means waking up ready to go.

If you’re going to be rocking a hairstyle like this then i suggest leaving your make-up more minimal. Big hair shouldn’t be competing with bright lipstick, or overly dramatic eyes. Balance is the key to looking like a fashion plate and not like an overzealous clown.

Is Eye Shadow Primer Worth It?

On April 6, 2013 By Christine RinehartIn beautyLeave a comment

The short answer? Yes, it is!

The long answer? Definitely yes. Primer allows colored eyeshadows to really pop without having to layer on (read: waste) tons of product. It usually goes on smoother and stays on better as a result. End result? Totally worth it.

If you want you insanely too bright, covers way too much to be reasonable, really red eye shadow to stay bright over an extended photo shoot then you definitely need primer. (I’m allowed to say this is crazy, it’s my own work.)

Primer prevents darkness under eyes or on eyelids from interfering with the pigment of the eye shadow. This can be enough of a benefit on it’s own, but it gets better. Some companies are starting to work on eye shadow primers with ingredients that work like eye creams and actually make your skin healthier. Fantastic! Minimizes my routine and I love it.

Talking Points With Your Stylist: Fusion Hair Extensions

On March 12, 2013 By Christine RinehartIn beauty, hairLeave a comment

Are fusion hair extensions the right choice for you?

Fusion hair extensions use heat-bonded protein to fuse small sections of hair extensions to your existing hair. The result is seamless blending of extensions into your current hair.

Fusion extensions are great for both thick and fine hair, adding just color, thickening, lengthening, and chemical-free highlights.

Fusions extensions aren’t encouraged for heavily processed hair, very short hair, or un-relaxed ethnic hair.

There are a lot of different companies out there, so stylists have a lot to choose from to ensure a good texture match.

Taking Care of Your Hair Extensions

On February 11, 2013February 11, 2018 By Christine RinehartIn beauty, hairLeave a comment

Cleansing/Conditioning

Brush your hair with a detangling brush. Use the shampoo recommended by your stylist. Gently, from the scalp to the ends, massage the shampoo in a downward motion and repeat if necessary. Only use sulfate free conditioner and apply from mid length to ends.

Styling/Drying

Always dry your hair using a low to moderate heat setting on your hair dryer. Style as desired using the recommended hair products from your stylist. Remember to keep all heated styling tools away from the bonds. When using blow dryers, flat irons or curling irons, use the appropriate protective serum to protect against thermal damage and add control and shine.

Sleeping

Never sleep when your hair is still wet. Gently gather your hair on top of your head with a scrunchie. A loose braid will also help prevent tangling and matting at night.

Swimming

Before swimming, mist hair with a leave in conditioner or apply a shine serum from the ends of your hair to mid-length. Do not apply directly to the scalp. Loosely braid your hair since chemicals and salt water may compromise the integrity of the bonds. Follow the advise of your stylist for post-swimming hair care.

Removal

Do not remove your hair extensions by yourself! You might damage your real hair. Your extensions stylist is trained in the steps to properly remove your hair as to best preserve the best condition of your natural hair, and not impede the next extension process.

Seasonal Style Rules

On February 5, 2013 By Christine RinehartIn beauty, hair, lifestyle1 Comment

Often as seasons change, my clients ask me what’s trending in with the new weather pattern. While there’s always a fair amount of unexpected fashion, there are also a lot of style rules that don’t really change. Hope these help you stay on point.

Spring.

-Makeup returns to peach tones and colorful pastels, think “playful” and “innocent.”

-Clothing is shorter, of course, as few items as possible, kind of the anti-layering, usually lace or other “open” fabrics.

-Hair gets lighter though don’t go too light too quickly, but more natural sun-kissed, typically on the ash/beige end of the color spectrum.

Summer.

-Makeup is typically dewy with soft, brown-rimmed eyes, not black, and nothing too deep for lip colors. Sometimes bright eyeshadows for extreme color trend, but that can be hit or miss.

-Let’s address the clothing trends: Denim! It’s always denim. I don’t know why, it’s a terrible fabric, but summer brings is denim skirts, shorts, vests, oh gosh, everything!

-Hair this season views lots of blondes, golds, caramels for darker hair with beachy, worn-in scrunchy wavy softness.

Autumn.

-Lots of natural soft looks with makeup, sometimes just a bit of color to keep it interesting. Since it’s just starting to get cooler people seem to start cutting down their beauty routine. Possibly to spend a few extra minutes in a warm bed each morning?

-Autumnal clothing is pretty well understood by most already. Unlike spring, despite similar temperature ranges, there is almost an obsession with layering as though you aren’t dressed without three outfits at the same time. Also wear lots of brown, since Autumn is the season to celebrate brown everything.

-Personally it’s my favorite hair season because I love all the gold, red and copper. Emulate the local foliage as much as you reasonably can.

Winter.

-Makeup settles in with bold, jewel tones with a soft neutral lip, or goes the other direction with a Snow White look and red lips.

-Clothing gets puffy. As the temperature decreases, the level of mass required by clothing increases exponentially. 40=jacket. 30=puffy jacket. 20=strap on a polar bear and hide it with an even puffier jacket.

-Hair trends darker, more intense, and often straighter, my guess is that since this is the coldest season it’s the only one where the hair is chosen based on ease. If you cannot leave with wet hair, straight is usually the fastest.

Talking Points for You and Your Stylist: Tape Weft Hair Extensions

On January 28, 2013 By Christine RinehartIn beauty, hair2 Comments

Tape wefts are a relatively new format for hair extension application. Tape wefts are also referred to as sticker hair and skin wefts, depending on the salon. There are a lot of great brands out there producing them right now as well. Some of my favorites include: Di Biasi, Cinderella Hair, So.Cap USA ( SHE by So.Cap), Georgie OSY, and Babe.

Tape weft hair extensions are best suited for “short term” extension wearers, or those who change their hair frequently. Tape wefts are best when worn one to three months and then replaced.

Fine hair works well with tape wefts, since they are completely flat to the head and are easily hidden.

Unfortunately, tape wefts are not good for making short hair long because too many pieces are required, and that decreases the wear time.

As always, the best way to determine what kind of hair extensions are best for you is to visit your local extension specialist. In person consultation in advance is key for making sure you get the amazing head of hair extensions that you’re dreaming of.

And of course, if Northern Virginia is local to you I’d love for you to visit.

How to Know What to Ask For: Highlight Edition

On January 6, 2013February 11, 2018 By Christine RinehartIn beauty, hairLeave a comment

There are three basic ways to book for your highlights. Knowing what your reason for highlighting is helps you make the right appointment with your colorist. The three appointment types are full highlight, partial highlight, and mini highlight.

Want to be lighter? Full highlight. A full highlight colors strands of hair all over your head lighter, which produces an all-over lighter hair color effect.

Want your hair brighter? Partial highlight. By lightening strands from the crown and front sections of your hair, a brighter effect is achieved without the effect of changing the base hair color.

Just bothered by the roots at the front? Ask about a mini! A mini typically consists of about 5-10 foils placed strategically to hide roots between full/partial appointments.

My Favorite Things: Shellac Pedicures!

On December 29, 2012December 30, 2012 By Christine RinehartIn beauty, lifestyleLeave a comment

Nothing makes me happier than a fresh pedicure, unfortunately when it’s cold outside I don’t want to wear flip flops for hours and hours while it dries fully. Enter Shellac!

Now I can get my toes done and put my socks on as soon as I’m done. Best thing ever! It lasts even longer than a regular pedicure. Try it at once and you’ll love it, I swear.

Shellac itself is a brand name for gel polish by CND. Other companies have Gellish, OPI Axxium, and several others. I’ve tried pretty much all of them with no major differences in wear time or nail health. Go wild for them!

My Winter Face – Favorite Things

On December 27, 2012 By Christine RinehartIn beauty, lifestyleLeave a comment

With the weather all wonky for Winter skin can be dry and lips can feel like they need some extra oomph (technical term, I swear). So today I reached for some of my favorite Winter products to protect and emphasize.

I’ll start off with Barrier Repair, a calming “moisturizer” for sensitive skin by Dermalogica. Barrier Repair is a water free silicone and natural oil based “moisturizer” designed to instantly form a soothing barrier for your skin. You’ll notice I keep putting moisturizer in quotes. This is because it’s not a moisturizer in the traditional sense. Most moisturizers add lots of oils to your skin to fill it up and keep it feeling supple, what Barrier Repair does is different because it’s not creating moisture so much as it’s protecting it. It’s also full of other vitamins to keep the health of your skin up during these chilly dry months. Think of it as the grown up version of when your parents put Vaseline on your face before you went out to play in the snow. Added benefit: it can be used as a primer before make-up or instead of make-up because the silicone adds a soft focus feeling and reduces the appearance of pores. Really a great multitask product. That’s what we all need right? Fewer things in our bag?

My other favorite Winter product isn’t as much a multitasker or hugely beneficial, but it always makes me feel like my lips really pop. In the Winter I feel like my lips start to disappear on my face because they get dry and they aren’t shiny so they look thin and, well, blah. Enter Du Wop Lip Venom (I prefer the Gold Flash version for added sparkle). Unlike many other lip plumping products this one stays shiny all day so that long after the effects have worn off it still feels like it’s working. It also has more of a cinnamon “flavor” than mint so I’m quite appreciative of the warmth during Winter instead of just the tingling you would normally get from other products.

So those are my gotta have Winter favorites for my make-up kit. What about you? What Winter product do you always turn to?

Beauty Blog: The Importance of Primer

On November 14, 2012 By Christine RinehartIn beauty, lifestyleLeave a comment

Primers are one of my favorite things ever so I’ve listed some of my favorites and why I love each of them so much to help you choose a great one for yourself.

Per-fekt Skin Perfection Gel– This is currently my favorite because it is not only a primer, but it also contains topical vitamins to treat skin. Best part, it’s tinted! That means I can just throw it on my face and be done with a little lip balm.

Benefit ‘That Gal’ Brightening Face Primer -Another great choice for outdoor/indoor use on a daily basis because it’s a bit more reflective and can help hide dark circles and uneven tone by itself. I don’t suggest it for flash photography though.

Becca Resurfacing Primer– Anti-aging and super matte. Works really well for skin that is a bit more oily. Makes pores disappear.