By Anne Houseman, of Beauty Xpose
When it comes to hair, who doesn’t want to stay a cut above the rest? To find out the latest news about ‘dos, we turned to the mane master herself — LA hairstylist and Aveeno hair spokeswoman Jessica Tingley. As a master tress tamer, Tingly has worked hair magic on a slew of celebs, including Heidi Klum, Mandy Moore, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kate Bosworth and Kerry Washington (just to name a few). Here, she gives us the breakdown on the hottest hair trends this season.
While sun-kissed highlights are always in, according to Tingley, the hottest color look for Spring/Summer 2010 is rich, all-over color in hues like luxurious browns, deep honey and red. “Everyone has been highlighted within an inch of their life the last few years — at least their hair’s life!” she proclaims. “This is a great way to bring back shine and change up your look. I think it is extremely fresh right now. Eva Mendes and Julia Roberts are two beauties who have toned down the highlights lately.”
- Keep highlights warm this summer!
For those who would feel withdrawal without their annual summer highlights, Tingley has a good compromise. “For spring/summer, we all want to go for the gold,” she says. “Bringing a few lighter pieces around the face and along the part looks fresh and natural in warmer weather. Keep the look modern by keeping it minimal.”
So how do you know if you’re overdoing your highlights? Tingley says that if you see obvious regrowth (a nice way to say “roots”) after three to four weeks, you are straying too far away from your natural color. “Highlights are meant to highlight your own hair color,” she explains. “Think of how light your hair turned in summer as a child; that is a good barometer of how light you can get with highlights.”
Cut
- Long layers give the cut a shape
For ladies with long locks, Tingley says the best bet is to make sure they get a cut with a distinct shape. “Long hair needs shape and structure to look sophisticated and not high school girlish,” she explains. “Long hair looks up-to-the-minute right now with very long layers. We’re seeing a little less of the side-swept bangs and more of a SJP [Sarah Jessica-Parker] look with lots of volume and big waves.”
Cropped tops are also in this season, according to Tingley (just not the kind that bares your midriff). “Short hair is also making a huge comeback thanks to beauties like Ginnifer Goodwin and Carey Mulligan and their adorable gamine cuts,” she says. “Go for this look if you have delicate features and are not afraid to be very exposed — nothing to hide behind with this look.”
So what about (the) bob? While a classic, simple bob transcends all seasons, Tingley was emphatic when describing what NOT to do. “The Beckham bob is so over,” she says. “Crazy angles and razored edges will look more Kate Gosselin, and even she abandoned her signature cut for a softer style.”
Style
The temperature’s rising, and that means it’s time to shed your stiff styles for a more laid back look. “Who wants to have a structured do in the summer sun?” says Tingley. “Only for very special occasions would I go for a structured style in warm weather. Updos should be loose and easy going.”
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Effortless-looking style can be a snap!
Luckily, getting an “I-rolled-out-of-bed-looking-this-amazing” style at home only takes a minimal amount of effort. The trick, says Tingley, is just not to fight your natural hair too much.
For naturally-curly coifs, Tingley suggests looking for a product that will create a barrier against humidity, like Aveeno Nourish+ style smoothing shine creme (she is an Aveeno spokesperson, after all). To create smooth, individual curls, simply apply the product to damp hair, twist sections and allow it to air dry. For wavy manes, simply spray hair with a curl-enhancing product, use a diffuser when drying and clean up any unruly pieces with a few turns of a curling iron.
For ladies craving a simple, clean blowout a la Jennifer Aniston, Tingley lets us in on a celeb secret. “Many have tried the Brazilian Blow Out, a keratin treatment that straightens hair for four to six months. This salon treatment is not as harsh or permanent as previous relaxers. Ask around to find an experienced stylist that does it.”
For a more temporary straight solution, apply a smoothing serum to damp hair and blow dry in sections using a nozzle that points the air from root to ends, smoothing the cuticle layer as you go. Tingley warns not to move onto another section until the hair is completely dry. Once completely dry, lock in the style with a sweep of a flat iron.
