It’s late September. Labor Day has come and gone. Here in the Northeast, there’s a definite chill in the air. Time to stow away your bikinis and flip-flops and unpack the sweaters and boots. We at Lock & Mane adore the Fall! Here are just a few reasons: football season (!); pumpkin everything (I’m looking at you, Starbucks scones); Halloween! (we’re already planning our costumes); apple cider; foliage generally; Fall fashion; and LESS HUMIDITY!!! Say au revoir to hot, sticky, terrible summer hair weather. And bring on that crisp air that says, “have no fear, my child – your hair will behave today.” We are in our element in the Autumn.
With every season comes new hair trends, and here’s what we’ve been seeing:
1. Braids: We’ve been noticing some fab braids appearing in magazines as well as on the tube. Most recently, Gossip Girl’s Blair Waldorf donned a gorgeous side-braid on the Met steps while sipping coffee with Serena. Also note Blake Lively’s horse-tail braid at the Emmys – we didn’t love that one, but alas, there it was. Our fave way to braid-it-up is to take your overgrown bangs or layers (aka swoop), make a small braid, and then bobby pin it to the side. Super chic yet oh-so casual.
2. Red Hair: We are absolutely loving this trend. We first noticed this in the late summer with True Blood’s feisty young vamp, Jessica. She has one amazing red mane. And a recent H&M ad we’ve seen in almost every magazine’s September/ October issue – the model has fire-engine red hair. Then there’s Nicole Kidman! Hallelujah! Back to red. And, we are so happy she is. Definitely an upgrade from the blah blonde. Oh, and the continued gorgeousness that is Christina Hendricks (Joan Holloway) from Mad Men. If you’re going red this season, don’t forget it’s the toughest color to maintain! Keep that color vibrant with color-preserving cleansing products (like Cutler’s Extra Gentle Shampoo and Intensive Conditioner) and if your pesky roots come to visit earlier than you’d like, cover them up with the fabulous Oscar Blandi Pronto Colore Pens.
3. Undone, Sexy, Voluminous Waves: Jennifer Garner at the Toronto International Film Festival is a perfect example of these gorgeous, loose waves. Also a staple throughout fashion week, sultry waves were featured at shows like Catherine Malandrino and Diane Von Furstenberg. Here are some tips for achieving this look: First, prep your locks with Jonathan Stylist Curl Creme. Then use a 1.25 inch curling iron (you can even go with 1 inch if you’re hair is stubbornly straight) to curl 1-2 inch sections of your hair. We love the Hot Tools Pink Titanium Curling Iron. After curling, run your fingers through your hair to relax any tight curls — we’re thinking goddess waves not Shirley Temple ones! Add a smoothing serum for flyaways (Philip B. Creme of the Crop is a great choice) and finish with some volumizing hold spray like Leonor Greyl Voluforme. Voilà!
4. Long, Straight & Shiny: Megan Fox epitomizes this one. As much as we hate to admit it, the girl has great hair. Shiny, smooth, sleek and straight. And her locks are gaining momentum — see, e.g., Amanda Seyfried’s gorgeous ‘do on the cover of September’s Allure magazine. Honorable mention to Nina Dobrev, who plays Elena on the CW’s new hit show, The Vampire Diaries — fabulous long, shiny, frizz-free locks. To help achieve this sleek look, we love Philip B. Drop Dead Straightening Baume. And a flat iron is absolutely essential: try the HAI 2 Ceramic Iron or the BaByliss Porcelain Ceramic Iron (the 2.5″ is the most popular) or even their U Styler. For perfect polish, finish with Oscar Blandi Olio di Jasmine Shine Spray to calm any pesky flyaways.
5. Bobby Pins: We’re seeing them everywhere. Fabulous for extra oomph in a chignon (we adore this Antique Crystal Wing from Jennifer Behr) or to pin back a few uncooperative strands. Also great for holding back a mini-braid (see Trend #1). There’s no better way to add some personality to your ‘do than with a great little bobby. Take a look at these fab bobbies from our accessories page.
6. Pony Tails: The Emmys were chock-full of ponies! Our faves were Kristen Chenowith and Mila Kunis. Also, Calvin Klein’s fashion week models all donned sleek and sophisticated low ponies. Remember to keep these low and understated to avoid looking too cheerleader-ish. Check out these fun pony holders for some inspiration.
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