Posts tagged ‘hair’
Do You Like My Buns?
Back when I had long hair I almost never wore it up. Perhaps it was due to my butter fingers or the fact that I am as experienced with hair as a llama is with rollerblades, but the whole notion of “throwing my locks up into a perfectly messy bun” was non-existent. I would, without fail, end up with a dinosaur bump on the top of my head, a rat tail at the base of my neck, or a knot so complex that I became far too familiar with the term “rat’s nest.”
However, since impulsively chopping off my hair a few months ago I have started experimenting with different ways to wear my hair. I don’t have the most incredible hair in that it’s not thick and luscious like a Victoria’s Secret model, nor does it make a stylist throw his hands up in excitement as if he’s just seen a mouse, but it’s thin, wavy, and there’s lots of it. In short: it’s manageable and malleable.
As an avid admirer of the bun elite — aka the types of women who can just throw their hair up into a perfectly messy bun while running on the treadmill — I present you with three bun varieties that I’ve come to master thanks to many frustrating mornings, afternoons, and evenings in front of the mirror. And with them of course comes three very different looks from beachy and casual to sweet and sophisticated to chic and edgy.
The Low Messy Knot
This bun is perhaps the easiest to achieve. Leaving just a few strands in the front loose, gather your hair back into a ponytail at the base of your neck. Then pull it through an elastic twice, the second time only pulling it half way through, twisting the hair into a loose knot and securing with the rubberband. Give your scalp a little massage to loosen up the roots and go about your day as recklessly as possible. The messier the better is all I have to say on this. Think sex hair.
The Wispy Ballerina Bun
This is the kind of bun that would have gotten me in loads of trouble back in my days as a hardcore ballerina. But since I’m no longer doing tondues seven days a week, I can enjoy this kind of sloppy bun as much as I enjoy a trip to In-n-Out Burger. To achieve this look simply pull your hair up into a high, messy pony tail and secure with an elastic band. Wrap the ponytail around the base as if you were making a snails shell. Lock everything in place with a few bobby pins and then pull some strands out from the bun as well as around the front of your hairline. Embrace those wisps we all try so hard to hide!
The Power Bun
I am a very recent advocate of the slicked dominatrix bun. I always thought it would make my face look shapeless like a potato or that it would feel too reminiscent of my aforementioned hardcore ballerina days. But alas the slicked bun is as powerful a tool as red lipstick. With a little water, a brush, and some rock-solid hairspray this is a speedy way to look put together on even your most hungover of days. It’s also the kind of bun you might want to wear to a shindig that results in a next-day hangover. To achieve it, slick your hair back in a low ponytail at the base of your neck. Twist that horse’s tail into a snail shell and secure with bobby pins and hairspray.
Voila! Au revoir!
It’s Not What You Wear
If you had asked me a few years ago if I would ever wear gold snakeskin pants, I would have laughed in your face. For a Lil Kim costume, why not? For everyday Sonia wear? No ma’am.
I believe that much of this hesitance was due to sartorial ignorance. While I’ve always been experimental with styles and pieces, I was often repelled by certain apparel stigmas. As far as I was concerned, bodycon dresses were reserved for the likes of Paris Hilton, polo shirts were for prepsters (which I would never be), and denim-on-denim was forever a no.
If you’re an active follower of my blog, you’ll know that I’ve gotten over all of the aforementioned “stigmas” and embraced each look with an open mind, proving to myself that it really isn’t about what you wear but how you wear it (preach!). So, when I received these gold snakeskin pants, there was a mere half-second where I thought “oh, hell no“. But the doubts were crushed by giant dinosaur feet as my style imagination started creating multiple looks with these Lil Kim stunners.
Almost all the looks I cooked up include more conservative pieces on the top (blazers, button downs, sweaters, etc), but the fun with my disco-worthy pants has only just begun. Gold on gold on gold? Why the heck not?!
Zara blazer & shirt | Buffalo jeans c/o | Coye Nokes heels c/o | Michael Kors bag | BCBGMAXAZRIA watch c/o | Giles & Brother cuff c/o | C.Wonder leopard bracelet
// photos by Anna Kelman
The Chop
I have had the same haircut for eight years. I’ve dabbled in an assortment of bangs – side swept, straight across, heavy whisps around the face – but for the most part, the length and color has stayed the same.
Over the past few months I’ve tossed around the idea of doing a major chop, but as someone who will lock herself indoors due to a bad haircut, I was hesitant to take the plunge.
Then I saw Scarlett Johansson’s choppy ‘do on the cover of Elle UK and my fears were locked away. It was time for something short and new. Though the cut wasn’t so drastic that I would have a full-blown bob (who knows, that could be next…), it was enough to make a noticeable difference.
With Scarlett’s picture saved to my phone (I always think it’s a good idea to bring as many photos of the hair style you want when you go to the salon), I went to see my hair guru Jeff who happens to be the only person to cut my hair and actually listen to what I want.
Normally when I see Jeff I do the usual “half an inch” trim and he respects my ridiculous wishes. But this time, I took him by surprise and let his scissors snip away 5 inches of my hair. This was no crying situation a la Anne Hathaway in Les Miserables (granted, this wasn’t a buzz cut), my excitement only increased with each snip, long pieces of hair falling on my lap.
We kept the pieces in the front a little longer, hitting about two inches below my shoulders, while the pieces in the back sit around my neckline. (Yes, kind of like a reverse mullet). The finished haircut is short, textured, and full of movement, a quality my lackluster strands have never had.
“The new me” will take some getting used to (hello tiny ponytail!), but I’ve already had too much fun toying around with different looks and it hasn’t even been 24 hours. I’ve never really had a “stylized” hair ‘do, but have a feeling I won’t be returning to my long and boring blunt cut anytime soon.
Street Peeping
Last week I ventured down to the Gansevoort hotel with P&G to be styled and spruced up by hair and makeup artists using a variety of products from CoverGirl to Pantene.
I first sat down with hair stylist Wesley O’Meara who worked his magic with my hair, taking my already beachy waves and oomphing them up for the photo shoot. He first started by using Pantene’s Moisture Mist Detangling spray and then used about a pound of Herbal Essences Volumizing Mousse before attacking my hair with a blow dryer and curling iron. I expected the results to be crunchy and over the top, but my hair was soft, full of body, and something that I would actually wear on a normal basis — a rarity when it comes to getting my hair done.
Next I was put in the hot seat with makeup artist Jake Bailey who I’ve already decided is going to do my makeup for my wedding. Makeup artists usually see me and go “YES! Giant features we can go crazy with!” and I end up walking out looking like more of a muppet than I already do. But Jake understood that less is more when it comes to doing my makeup and used auburn eyeshadows and a lot of eyeliner to bring out my eyes and kept the rest neutral.
After that I stepped outside with street style photographer Phil Oh from Street Peeper to do a back and forth catwalk with orange cones. Never did I think cones could play such a role in creating a good shot, but I have to say I’m loving the results! Plus they look like candy corn, which is totally fitting for my Halloween-centric spirit.
Opening Ceremony x Glamour sweater | Anthropologie skirt | Alexander Wang heels
// photos by Phil Oh of Street Peeper
The Wavy & The Curly
As you’re all well aware, I don’t do much with my hair. Having said that, there’s a time and a place to add a little more oomph to your look and with that oomph comes some essential products.
As to what the oomph entails? Well, it’s usually one of two things; I either beef up my natural wave or add extra curl to my hair with a curling iron (a tool I’m still trying to master).
When going about creating either of these styles, I look no further than Paul Mitchell’s curls products.
Here’s the break down:
The Wavy
I start by adding a dollop of Paul Mitchell’s Ultimate Wave to damp hair.
After rubbing the cream between my hands, I scrunch up my hair from the bottom up toward the scalp. Repeat a few times and then let it air dry!
Woop woop! Soft waves!
The Curly
I use a dime size amount off Paul Mitchell’s Twirl Around on damp hair.
After rubbing the cream between my hands, I then lightly shake my hair while adding the cream throughout. I then twist sections of my hair and…
wrap the pieces together, and then hit each section with a hairdryer. After that I use a curling iron to add some extra definition to strands that need the pick me up.
Voila! Curls!
You can find these products by using Paul Mitchell’s “Find a Salon” locator tool here. And head over to Paul Mitchell’s Facebook Page to share your Curl Confession. I’m quite curious to see how you guys use curling irons as they may be the most complicated tool ever created.
