Spring Beauty

Hair and Cosmetics are the Finishing Touches for this Season’s Fashions
By Linnea Sheldon

April 2006 – 

Hair

This spring, anything goes when it comes to your hair, but the most prominent trend is to modernize looks that were “in” in decades past. For instance, think volume ~ a sleeker, more grown-up version of the Big Hair fad of the 80s. From wavy, big hair that flows loose all ‘round to pulled back, sleek hair with lots of volume on top to thick, straight dos, the key is to work with what you have and use it to your advantage.

For wavy, romantic volume, start with a root lifter and volumizing mousse. Blow-dry hair upside down from the roots to the tips and when it’s almost dry try curling several ringlets around your finger and giving it one last blast of hot air. A lightweight hair smoother should give you the finishing touch that you need to make hair shiny and to prevent flyaways.

For the pulled back look, you can go either messy or sleek. Either way, you are again going to want to start with a root lifter. Then for the rest of your hair you’ll need something with a little more holding power ~ like a spray gel. For the sleek look, blow out your hair using a round brush; for the messy look, you can either let hair air dry or blow dry it upside down. Hair can be tied back either at the nape of the neck or at the crown of the head. For a loose everyday updo, incorporate pretty barrettes, ties, or pins; for the more sophisticated version, use bobby pins, being sure to hide them under the rest of the hair once they are put in place.

If sleek, straight, but still voluminous hair is more your style, start again with a root lifter and then try a moisturizing but lightweight leave-in conditioner. Blow dry using a flat brush and then a lightweighter smoother to add shine and cover up split ends.

Ponytails are also making a comeback. They can be sleek and shiny or playful and bouncy, at the nape of the neck or higher up on the head. Anti-frizz serum is your best bet for keeping your ponytail looking just right ~ then add a few squirts of light hold hair spray and you’re ready to go.

The bob, truly a classic, has also reappeared for the new season ~ but this time it has gone modern with new details and geometric shapes. Strong cuts with blunt ends are one way to update the bob, but you can also try a more romantic, less dramatic cut with ends that blend easily together. No matter which bob you opt for, you’ll want to apply a finishing spray to keep it shiny and smooth.

Cosmetics

For spring 2006, there’s a great combination of tried-and-true cosmetic favorites and worth-trying newcomers on the shelves. Boots cosmetics is an English company that has been around for over 150 years and is just starting to gain popularity on this side of the pond. Now available at Target and CVS, the brand is making its way to the masses. Boots offers a full line of cosmetics with a great selection of foundations and all the other necessities for a beautiful face. And aside from the comprehensive cosmetic line, they also offer a bath and body line, hair care, and skin care.

Goldie cosmetics is another line that has some fresh new additions for spring. Their make-up line is girly and flirty and includes appealing product names like Lip Tricks and Cheek Trick. These cosmetics come in really cute metallic cases, too, so they will look as adorable on your make-up table as they do on your face!

Lumene is another cosmetics line from overseas that is now available at CVS. A high-quality yet affordable line, Lumene is a Finnish company that just opened a Boston-based operation in February. Its product line includes skin care, make up, and body care. The base of the make-up line includes foundations, powders, and concealers for all skin types. There is also a great selection of eye make-up, lip color, blush, and nail polish. Thanks to their large color assortment, you can find the perfect look for every occasion.

Neutrogena has a new line that will give you a flawless look without much effort. Their Mineral Sheers line is great for a girl on the go. Its convenient size makes it easy to tuck away in a purse and even easier to apply.

CVS also stocks another affordable cosmetic line, Milani. This brand offers products for all skin tones and includes cosmetics for the face, lips, eyes, and hands. Milani prides itself on intense colors and higher levels of pigment, so their products appeal to a multi-cultural population and are always high quality and innovatively designed.

With all these new options to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect cosmetics for your skin tone and type. All of the lines are reasonably priced as well, which will make it easier to keep up with the latest trends and stay looking your best!

Marina and Gretchen’s hair and makeup by Jeffrey Robert Salon and Spa.