FLAT TO FULL

photo: JustinCoit+thebeautydepartment.com post designed by kristin ess

This is for those of you who have super flat hair. Whether it’s fine or thick, follow our gorgeous Jamie Chung through the simple steps of achieving the perfect amount of volume!

Tools: volumizer (talk to your hairstylist + ask what they recommend for your hair type!), blow dryer, rubber band, medium velcro rollers, 1″ curling iron, setting clips or big bobby pins, teasing comb or teasing brush, light to medium hold hairspray.

1: Add a non-sticky volumizer to your root. Blow dry hair upside down.

2: Put all of your hair up in a quick bun (doesn’t matter what it looks like). This is the time to do your makeup because it will give the hair time to cool while directed upward which creates MAXIMUM volume.

3: Once hair has cooled, take it down and roll the center section in velcro rollers. I recommend rolling them backwards.

4: Using your 1″ curling iron, curl the remainder of your hair “up and back” as you see Jamie doing in #4.

5: Continue curling pieces all the way around and setting them in silver setting clips or with large bobby pins.

6: Allow the hair to set for about 5 more minutes before taking everything down. This is a good time to get dressed while the hair is up and out of your way!

7: Take everything down out of the clips. Slowly pull out the velcro rollers. I like to brush the hair lightly to bring out the fullness of the curl.

8. Curl the top pieces from the velcro rollers just the same as the rest to blend. Curl “up and back” by wrapping the hair on the outside of the iron.

9: Tease the crown a little. This will add volume and break up the curl a little bit. (If you don’t want your curl broken up as much, you can tease the hair before one step earlier before doing #8)

10: Mist with a light veil of hairspray and enjoy!

XX Kristin

OH, BY THE WAY…

photo: http://pinterest.com/pin/14484919/ post designed by kristin ess

Here are my favorite summer time styling secrets for blowing out your hair in this hot-hot-heat:

*During the summer months, open the window while you blow dry. If there’s no “new air” circulating, it can literally double your blow dry time. If it’s really humid outside, turn the air conditioning on while you blow dry instead. Don’t trap yourself in a teeny tiny bathroom with no air. Your blow out will take forever.

*Do your best to blow dry during the cooler part of the day– early morning, or late at night.

*Half way through your blow out, turn on the cold air setting and cool everything down. This will lower the temperature of your scalp and helps avoid trapping heat+ moisture near your scalp (which is what makes your hair frizz right back up)!

*If your hair always tends to frizz up after blow drying, coil it in a low, tight bun and let it set while you finish getting ready. Right before you head out, let the bun down + put a small amount of anti-frizz serum or argan oil through the ends.

*The key to blow drying on a hot day is getting it done quickly. You just want to hurry up and get it over with! If you have straight or wavy hair, keep brushing your hair with a flat/paddle brush while you’re blow drying. Water gets trapped between the hairs which is what keeps it wet. The quicker you separate the hairs and get air between them, the faster your hair will dry.

*My last hot weather blow drying tip:  always finish your summer time blow drying by using cold air for a full 2 minutes. It will make a huge difference.

xx Kristin

THIS OR THAT

photo: kristin ess + thebeautydepartment.com post designed by kristin ess

Kristin wants to know…

ON THAT NOTE

photo: LaurenConrad+KristinEss/tumblr.com post designed by kristin ess

You voted and I did it. Thanks for playing. Have a safe holiday weekend.

XO Lauren

TO DYE OR NOT TO DYE?

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbynierman/ post designed by kristin ess

So I know that this look is a little different, but I can’t help it… I’m obsessed!  I spent all yesterday trying to decide if I should take a chance and attempt this daring trend (temporarily of course), but I simply can’t make up my mind.  So I’m leaving it up to you pretties!  Let me know if you think I should go for something different and try these tie-dyed tips or I should leave this one to the rebelling teens…

XO Lauren