Dash of Fashion

Dulhan Mehndi Designs;

Dulhan Mehndi Designs;

12:57 AM

The latest fashion styles

<a href="http://fashionrover.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/latest-fashion-trends.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://fashionrover.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/latest-fashion-trends.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 241px;" /></a><br />From the streets of Soho to the boutiques of Madison Avenue, fashionistas are wearing the latest fashion styles all over town this season. Are you an uptown girl with downtown sensibilities? Try on a tattoo-inspired shirt for size without the pain of a real tattoo. Comfort is key; wear the softest spa robes you can find and luxuriate in high-tread count Italian designer sheets on your bed and thirsty towels. It is all about touch and texture in luxurious loungewear this season. People want to be comfortable at home and buying loungewear of soft-spun cotton and micro-terry provides a comfy look for creating your own spa experience at home.<br /><br />Speaking of rich fabrics, plaid, herringbone, and tweed are back with a vengeance. These preppy textiles are not stogy because they are cut in fresh, curve-hugging silhouettes. They look professional yet subtly sexy. Teen queen Marie Antoinette is taking the fashion world by storm. Elizabethan-inspired outfits adorned with ruffles, lace and bows (minus the pompadour hairdo) pay homage to the royal stylephile who had a style all her own. Here are the latest fashion styles keep you toasty and while looking hot this holiday season.

The latest fashion styles

From the streets of Soho to the boutiques of Madison Avenue, fashionistas are wearing the latest fashion styles all over town this season. A...

1:41 AM

Short Hairstyles

<a href="http://www.beautytwist.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/short-hairstyles.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.beautytwist.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/short-hairstyles.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 421px; height: 630px;" /></a><br /><p>What very few people realize is that the 40-year-old actress,                  who first became a recognizable face when she played hospital                  clerk Cynthia Hooper on ER during the 1994 season, is the daughter                  of legendary 1950s blonde bombshell Jayne Mansfield, who died                  tragically in a car accident in 1967. (Mariska and her brother                  were in the backseat.) Place pictures of Mariska and her mom side                  by side, and the resemblance is uncanny.</p>               <p>Just married to actor Peter Hermann (who occasionally guests                  as an attorney on his wife’s show), Mariska (pronounced                  Ma-rish-ka) has a progressively shorter haircut since her L&O                  debut in 1999. Preferring short, layered cuts, with both red and                  gold highlights to augment her medium-brown hairstyle, Mariska has                  been seen lately with her short hairstyles pushed back, styled away from her                  face, with the ends flipped up. To duplicate her sleek look, apply                  a styling cream to wet hair, blow-dry hair away from the face,                  use a round brush to flip the ends, and clip side and back tendrils                  to the back of the head with a designer clip.</p>               <p>A great cut is the secret to exquisitely coiffed short hair.                  For many celebrities, like Oscar-winning Dames Judi Dench and                  Julie Andrews, the “short crop” has never gone out                  of style. In fact, it’s their trademark ’do. And while                  both actresses are among Hollywood’s more mature elite,                  age—long blamed for the dearth of roles for female actresses—hasn’t                  slowed their careers. Dame Judi continues to play “M”                  to Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond, chews the scenery in this                  year’s The Chronicles of Riddick, and has already signed                  on for Bond 21, to be released in 2005. Dame Julie is charming                  audiences of all ages this year in Princess Diaries 2: The Royal                  Engagement and Shrek 2, in which she gives voice to the animated                  Queen. Don’t let the short crop fool you. It’s ideal                  for women of every age, according to Joey Battisti, artistic director                  for Paul Labrecque Salon and Spa in New York City.</p>               <p>“This style works for almost all face shapes,” he                  tells Stellure.com. “I feel it works best for people who                  have softer facial structures. It is very short, which means it                  will enhance any flaws or protruding facial and head shapes. For                  example, someone with a longer face may need to keep the edges                  around the hairline longer to soften the look a bit.”</p>               <p>When Joey creates a short crop, he relies on his razor for precision                  cutting.</p>               <p>“The razor is an amazing tool,” he explains, “but                  it has to be used carefully. The blade has to be replaced very                  often to make sure it is properly texturizing the hair. The razor                  helps add a soft, deconstructed finish—rather than the bluntness                  you receive from scissors. You can use it on all hair types—though                  not necessarily on thicker, curly or wavy hair because of the                  natural texture these hair types already have. It works best on                  fine to medium textures that lack movement.”<br />             <br />               While Joey agrees that women of all ages—does the name Halle                  Berry ring a bell?—can wear this look, he thinks short hairstyles are the ideal style for older women.</p>               <p>“On someone like Judi, it is quite extraordinary,”                  he says. “More mature women like it for its easy, carefree                  style, yet it is very modern and sophisticated.”</p>               <p>He also believes it’s a winning style for clients who lack                  the time to fuss with or pamper their short hairstyles: the wash-and-go set.                  He advises them to use a volumizing shampoo, towel-dry hair, apply                  a spray-on conditioner for detangling, and dab a touch of pomade                  on select chunks of hair. If there’s no time for blow-drying,                  simply let hair air-dry.</p>               <p>“Pomade is usually made of wax or a silicone/dimithicone                  base,” Joey says. “This is not good for naturally                  oily hair types. It works best for definition, separating hair,                  and adding shine, texture and movement.”</p>               <p>He adores one of his salon’s own products, Paul Labrecque's                  Shea Butter, because it “shapes the style while conditioning                  the hair at the same time. It can be applied to wet or dry hair.                  The shea butter helps protect, moisturize and nourish the hair,                  while bringing out the natural shine.”</p>

Short Hairstyles

What very few people realize is that the 40-year-old actress, who first became a recognizable face when she played hospital...

6:21 AM

Makeup and Hair Tips

<a href="http://www.wildsound-filmmaking-feedback-events.com/images/beauty_tips_pic.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.wildsound-filmmaking-feedback-events.com/images/beauty_tips_pic.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 338px;" /></a><br />              Actress Salma Hayek has come a long way from the small town of Coatszacoalcos,                located in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. Born on Sept. 2, 1966,                she is part Spanish and part Lebanese—a pedigree that undeniably                accounts for her exotic beauty.                <p>Salma launched her acting career in her early 20s, appearing                  in a number of Mexican tele-novelas (soap operas). She first found                  an international audience when she landed a small part in Mi Vida                  Loca (“My Crazy Life”), a 1993 film about Latina girls                  growing up in a poor Los Angeles neighborhood. She eventually                  garnered supporting roles in Desperado, Road Racers, Four Rooms                  and Fair Game, before achieving superstardom with When Fools Rush                  In, Traffic, Once Upon a Time in Mexico and her Oscar-nominated                  tour de force, Frida.</p>               <p>The length of Salma’s hair allows her great versatility:                  long (either sleekly straight, curled, or adorned with accent                  braids); shoulder length, with sexy flipped ends, embellished                  with hair jewelry or the occasional flower; pulled back into a                  graceful topknot or chignon, defined by a center part; or slicked                  back to accentuate the symmetry of her refined bone structure.<br />               Salma’s hair is one of the most luxurious shades of brown.                  Colorist Jaime Abraham of Looks Salon in Naperville, Illinois,                  believes such deep, natural tones are one of the hottest trends                  this year. “I don't know if you've seen Salma Hayek’s                  hair recently, but a lot of the stars have really rich, dark hair,”                  she told The Chicago Tribune in July, noting that stars like Salma                  tend to set the stage for the rest of us.</p>               <p>Perhaps Salma is the best judge of her own style, which may account                  for her fascination with the iconoclastic Frida Kahlo. The 1920s                  were sexy “because they were a time of experimentation and                  self-expression,” she told In Style magazine in September                  2003. “All of a sudden, women were independent and speaking                  up. They were flying airplanes, directing and painting. The ’20s                  were also a time of sexual freedom; even the makeup and hairstyles                  had romance and glamour. Clothing was chic, and makeup highlighted                  the eyes, which are the windows to your soul."</p>               <p>Many beauty experts have dissected Salma’s look in their                  upscale books. In Latina Beauty, Belén Aranda-Alvarado,                  a former beauty editor for Latina magazine, describes Salma’s                  makeup as a palette of shimmery neutrals:</p>                          <ul><li>                  <div align="justify">For the face, begin with foundation and concealer                    to even skin tones and cover any blemishes. Avoid using powder                    (unless your skin is oily). Mix dark contour powder with blush,                    and apply to cheeks.<br />               <br />               </div>               </li><li>Eyeshadow should be a neutral pink or pearl, with a slight frost,                  applied from the eyelid to the top of the brow bone. Blend in                  a touch of silver shadow for contour, as well as a shimmery white                  shadow on the outer two-thirds of the brow bone to play up the                  eyes.<br />             <br />             </li><li>                  <div align="justify">Curl lashes and apply mascara.<br />               <br />               </div>               </li><li>Brows should be tamed, but retain their thick, natural arch.                <br />             <br />             </li><li>                  <div align="justify">Lips are also neutral—a brownish-pink,                    without the severe penciled-in outline to which so many women                    seem addicted. Add a clear gloss for shine.</div>               </li></ul>             <div align="justify">                <p>In The Mane Thing, celebrity hairstylist Kevin Mancuso teaches                  readers how Salma’s thick and curly hair can be sensually                  straightened. The cut is one length, with layers around the face.                  After shampooing, conditioning and towel-drying hair, you’ll                  find that the process couldn’t be easier:</p>             </div>             <ul><li>                 <div align="justify"> Apply straightening gel to damp hair, and                    comb it through. Detangle, as necessary.</div>               </li><li>                 <div align="justify"> Section the hair, pinning it atop the head.                    Blow-dry from the bottom layers inward, gently pulling on each                    section with your brush to straighten it.</div>               </li><li>                 <div align="justify"> Repeat for all sections of hair, saving                    the top for last.</div>               </li><li>                 <div align="justify"> After hair is dry, apply a small amount                    of silicone, and brush hair to enhance shine.</div>               </li><li>                 <div align="justify"> Use a flat iron for finishing.</div>               </li></ul>                            <p>With the Frida prosthetic unibrow long gone, Salma is now the                  face of Avon, appearing in the global beauty company’s new                  My Lip Miracle television commercial. She will be featured in                  numerous print and TV ads for cosmetics and fragrances, also partnering                  with the nonprofit Avon Foundation to publicize its domestic violence                  initiative.<br />               “Salma's personal story and values are a perfect fit for                  us, and we have a shared commitment to the empowerment and well-being                  of women,” says Avon Chair and CEO Andrea Jung. </p>               <p>“I’m very optimistic that in joining forces with                  Avon, we can truly make a difference to the important cause of                  domestic violence and bring hope and empowerment to women around                  the world,” Salma adds.</p>

Makeup and Hair Tips

Actress Salma Hayek has come a long way from the small town of Coatszacoalcos, located in the state of Veracruz...

6:14 AM

Hair Care Product Advice

<a href="http://i.acdn.us/image/A1561/15617/150_15617.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i.acdn.us/image/A1561/15617/150_15617.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 113px;" /></a><br />              Bored kids read cereal boxes. Smart women read shampoo bottles. <p>While products like hair color and styling gels command greater                  attention, choosing the wrong shampoo can have a serious impact                  on how your hair looks. You’ll never achieve the result                  you want if you buy the wrong shampoo—or use the right one                  incorrectly. </p>               <p>It all starts with shampooing frequency. And with a penchant                  for cleanliness, Americans tend to overwash their hair.</p>               <p>"The hair and scalp should be cleaned, on average, every                  other day," says Dr. Andrea Lynn Cambio, a board-certified                  dermatologist in New York City. </p>               <p>But women with exceptionally dry hair, such as African-Americans,                  need to reduce shampoo frequency. Conversely, if you have incredibly                  oily hair, daily shampooing may be required to cut the grease.                </p>               <p>"The consequence of overdoing it is stripping the hair of                  sebum [oil]," Dr. Cambio tells Stellure.com. "This causes                  the hair to look dull, feel coarse, be prone to static electricity                  and be a styling nuisance."</p>               <h3>Shampoo & Your ’do</h3>               <p>By definition, shampoo is designed to remove dirt and excess                  sebum from the scalp and hair. Sebum is necessary for hair health.                  It is secreted by sebaceous glands, found in skin all over our                  bodies, including the scalp. These glands provide healthy lubrication                  to our skin and hair. Scientists estimate that the average woman                  produces approximately 1 ounce of sebum every 100 days, so it’s                  a substance worth protecting! </p>               <p>If you have oily hair, your sebaceous glands secrete too much                  sebum, and you’ll want to select a shampoo designed to control                  it. If you have dry hair, your glands secrete too little sebum,                  and you’ll want to choose a shampoo that provides extra                  moisture. If you have “normal” hair, sebum production                  is how Goldilocks described her final bowl of porridge: “Just                  right!”<br />             <br />               While Goldilocks may have been a porridge expert, it’s hard                  to say whether she knew how to choose the right shampoo for her                  specific hair type. Gentle shampoos, like baby shampoo, remove                  the bare minimum. Harsher shampoos, like dandruff shampoos and                  those made for oily hair, are manufactured to cleanse more thoroughly                  and remove more sebum. Problems typically occur when, for example,                  a woman with oily hair accidentally buys a shampoo intended for                  dry hair. She may not discover why her scalp has become an oil                  slick until she checks the shampoo bottle.</p><h3>Understanding Labels</h3>               <p>As with food products, ingredients in shampoos are listed by                  the amounts contained in the bottle, in descending order of weight.                  The higher up on the list, the more of the ingredient in the shampoo.</p>               <p>Normally, the first ingredient in shampoo is water. If it, alone,                  could cleanse the hair, we wouldn’t need shampoo. Water,                  however, cannot remove oil, sebum or product buildup, so manufacturers                  must add detergent agents known as “surfactants.”</p>               <p> Surfactants cleanse the hair and create lather. Manufacturers                  can choose from inexpensive or pricey surfactants, and these generally                  determine the quality of your shampoo. Cheap surfactants, such                  as sodium lauryl sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulfate, are popular                  among manufacturers because they keep down costs. You’ll                  find these particular surfactants in generic, supermarket, drugstore                  and certain mass-market brands. (They’re also the chemicals                  most commonly associated with eye irritation.) The problem, however,                  is that these surfactants are harsh on hair, stripping it of oil                  and causing hair color to fade more quickly.</p>               <p>The more expensive “designer” or salon brands contain                  more expensive surfactants, such as sodium cocoyl isethionate                  and methyl cocoyl taurate (sometimes labeled simply as “coconut                  oil” or “fatty acids”), cocamidopropyl betaine                  and cocamidopropylamine oxide. Yes, they’re certainly a                  mouthful, but they are nondrying, much more gentle on the hair                  and tend to work well regardless of whether you have hard or soft                  water. They’re also more expensive for manufacturers to                  use, so that’s why you’ll pay more for a bottle of                  shampoo. (Many manufacturers compromise, mixing low-cost sodium                  lauryl sulfate with a coconut-oil surfactant. This can work well.)</p>               <p>Some shampoos contain detanglers and anti-static agents, which                  function exactly as their names imply. A common agent to look                  for is “quaternary ammonium.”</p>               <p>“Humectants” behave like tiny sponges, attracting                  and holding water. You’ll find them in shampoos for dry,                  damaged or color-treated hair. Commonly used humectants include                  glycerin, sorbitol, sodium lactate and hyaluronic acid.</p>               <p>“Conditioning agents” help soften hair and allow                  it to retain moisture. Look for amino acids, collagen, panthenol,                  elastin and proteins on ingredient lists.</p>               <p>“Thickening” or “volumizing” shampoos                  increase bulk and improve manageability. They contain ingredients                  like hydroxyethyl cellulose, gum arabic, guar, xanthan and chitin.                  One of the newest products on the market is Aveda’s Pure                  Abundance Volumizing Shampoo, which contains coco/babassu sulfate—a                  substance derived from organic coconut and babassu oils. Shane                  Wolf, Aveda’s executive director of global hair care marketing,                  recommends it for the “one-third of American women who describe                  their hair as naturally fine or limp."</p>               <p>“Preservatives,” such as methylparaben quatern-15,                  methylisothiazolino  propylparab, help prevent shampoo                  from becoming contaminated by mold or bacteria. “All-natural”                  shampoos that contain no preservatives have a tendency to “spoil”                  if not used within their designated shelf life.</p>               <p>Never buy a shampoo based on its fragrance, which is no reflection                  of a shampoo’s quality. It’s only one more ingredient                  manufacturers use to convince you to buy their products. (Who                  doesn’t open the cap and sniff before buying a shampoo?)</p>               <h3>What’s Best for You?</h3>               <p>Since each of us has individual needs, experiment with different                  shampoos to determine which ones make your hair most manageable.                </p>               <p>Many women fail to take their hairstylists’ recommendations                  on shampoo, assuming the stylist is “ripping them off”                  or “trying to sell them something” so the salon can                  make more money. In reality, stylists know that salon-quality                  shampoos are generally superior to their drugstore counterparts.                  If you trust your stylist, it’s worth taking her advice.                  The worst-case scenario: You won’t like the product, and                  you can express your disappoint to her.</p>               <p>If budget is a problem and you simply cannot bear the thought                  of spending $10 to $15 for a single bottle of shampoo, dilute                  the $3 brand you’re currently buying (one part water to                  two parts shampoo). This will reduce the harshness.</p><p> </p>

Hair Care Product Advice

Bored kids read cereal boxes. Smart women read shampoo bottles. While products like hair color and styling gels command greate...

5:59 AM

Hair Highlighting Tips

<a href="http://www.joytonight.com/other-stuff/women-corner/hair-care/are-hair-colors-safe/hair-color-ideas-blonde-hair2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.joytonight.com/other-stuff/women-corner/hair-care/are-hair-colors-safe/hair-color-ideas-blonde-hair2.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 423px; height: 351px;" /></a><br />              Remember when you had the spare time to lounge on the beach, spraying                lemon juice from a mist bottle into your hair to create natural                highlights?                <p>If you’re like most women, those days are gone. But while                  your schedule is incredibly hectic, you can still get the look                  without basking in the sun (which, as we all know, is bad for                  you, anyway).</p>               <p>Ride the wave of light with highlights or lowlights—two                  techniques to create stripes of contrast throughout your hair.                  They can be subtle (reddish tones on brown hair) or dramatic (blonde                  highlights on brunette hair). You can have thick chunks of color,                  which continue to be popular, or a carefully selected number of                  thin highlighted strands for a more restrained look.</p>               <p>Highlights are easier to maintain than all-over, or single-process,                  color. They require minimal maintenance (every eight to 16 weeks),                  which can be desirable for women who have trouble booking long                  salon appointments due to time constraints. </p>               <p>By definition, highlights lighten and brighten your hair. Lowlights,                  by contrast, darken and deepen hair color. Many salons are using                  multi-tonal color, not limiting their palette to a single color                  when highlighting or lowlighting. Blending colors provides a more                  natural look. </p>               <p>Of course, other stylists use today’s technology to create                  much bolder statements. Joico, a Darien, Connecticut-based professional                  product line, teaches stylists how to create color creations like                  the “UV”—an abbreviation for ultraviolet light.                  The UV color concept features four super-dramatic highlighting                  colors, with vibrant shades of lavender and purple. It sounds                  extreme—and it definitely is daring—but it’s                  also a gorgeous mélange strong shadows that blend fluidly                  together.</p>               <p>For more mainstream highlighting, the process is relatively simple:                  Hair is sectioned by an experienced stylist, who applies color                  from the roots down to the selected strands. While there are many                  application techniques, many stylists rely on foils, folding color-treated                  strands into foil sheets to prevent dye from spreading. The stylist                  sets the timer for a designated period (depending on your natural                  color and the shades chosen for highlighting or lowlighting),                  and the strands are allowed to “process.” </p>               <p>Using a professional stylist is advisable, as she can mix colors,                  understands coloring chemistry and knows how to avoid overprocessing                  your hair. While stylists recommend having highlights or lowlights                  applied in the salon setting, there are new consumer lines that                  allow women to apply highlights at home. If you’re on a                  budget, you can try a product like L’Orea Couleur Experte,                  which consists of two steps:</p>                          <ol><li>                  <div align="justify">Application of all-over color, for a translucent                    base, using a permanent gel crème. Color is applied to                    dry, unwashed hair, over the full head, with an applicator bottle                    and left on for 25 minutes. (If you have resistant gray hairs,                    color should be left on for about 10 additional minutes.) When                    the color is set, rinse it out and towel-dry hair.<br />               <br />               </div>               </li><li>                  <div align="justify"> Once the first step is completed, you add                    illuminating highlights with a special wand. For hair of one                    length, choose strands that frame your face (but don’t                    forget the back of your head). For layered hair, follow the                    layers’ angles, paying special attention to top layers.                    If you have bangs, apply highlights to wispy strands, and vary                    the spacing to keep the look natural. If you have curly hair,                    you can use the wand or even your fingertips to apply color                    to curls; the texture of your hair requires a bit less precision.</div>               </li></ol>                            <p>Always read all directions before using any highlighting or lowlighting                  products. Experts recommend wearing an old button-down shirt when                  coloring, which protects your neck and shoulders from any color                  drips.</p>               <p>To help you choose the right shade, L’Orea offers an online                  questionnaire, as well as instructional videos that demonstrate                  product application.</p>               <p>Clairol offers a similar product, Herbal Essences Highlights,                  but it does not include the base color—only the highlighting                  agent. The product is applied to dry hair with a highlighting                  comb.</p>               <p>If you have any concerns about home highlighting, or if you’ve                  never colored your hair before, take the safe road and book an                  appointment with a colorist.</p>

Hair Highlighting Tips

Remember when you had the spare time to lounge on the beach, spraying lemon juice from a mist bottle into your ...

5:50 AM

Jewelry Trends Winter 2011

Jewelry Trends Winter 2011

In today’s cosmopolitan age, both men and women display a weakness for trendy jewellery. In this article we will focus on Jewelry Trends Win...

11:39 PM