Baby Steps to Blond: How to Go Light Without the Fright

Summer is an optimal time to lighten your hair color, but first things first: Can anybody be a blonde? While blond doesn't necessarily work for all people, everyone can embrace their inner blonde when need be.

Luckily, we've come a long way from the brassy, unhealthy-looking blondes of yesteryear, allowing even the darkest of brunettes to achieve perfectly flaxen strands.  Thinking about lightening up this season but feeling a little gun shy? Tips for baby-stepping your way to the right hue when you read more.

• How to choose the ultimate blond: The best hair color coordinates with the person, so that's why we look to the flecks within the eyes — the actual color of the eyes — and the skin tone when choosing what formulation we will use. "If you have a pink skin tone, "you have to go more on the cooler side of blond." But for someone with brown hair and golden flecks in the eyes, like Jessica Alba, you can add lighter, warmer highlights.
• Getting your feet wet: Of course, personality matters too. To test the sandy-haired waters,we suggest you follow  "blondette" concept so that you incorporate a bit of caramel-hued pieces into your hair. "It's medium chocolate with golden highlights — like the Hershey's bar,". Think Jennifer Lopez and Natalie Portman.
• Setting the tone: Just remember that if you're a brunette going blonde, then toning is a must. "You just can't lift the color; you've got to always fill it somehow and redeposit color so you get that golden, gorgeous tone."

How to Make Hair Grow Faster?

The question of how to make hair grow faster often comes up when beauty is the topic of discussion, but the truth is that you cannot do anything to increase the rate at which your hair grows. Genetic makeup has total control in that arena. Typically, a hair stand will grow half an inch every month, that is, if it doesn't fall out.
What many people confuse with growth is fullness. Instead of asking how to make hair grow faster, you should be asking how to make hair last longer. You can't control growth, but sometimes you can control how fast strands fall out. Ultimately, people who believe their hair doesn't grow quickly probably tend to break strands. This keeps hair short.
Hair Loss Myths

1. Losing hair is not normal. Actually, it is completely normal to lose some hair each day. On average, a person may lose 50 to 100 hairs every day. Hair falls out in strands or small groups. A large clump of hair falling out is different and may be a caused by illness or a reaction to medication. Hair loss can also be caused by genetic particularities such as male pattern baldness.
2. Shaving your head will make hair grow faster. Nothing changes just because you shave your head. Hair will still grow at the same rate.
3. Frequent trims will help improve hair growth. This is a bit of an optical illusion. Your hair is not actually growing faster, it is growing healthier. Split ends will break a hair strand off, making it shorter. Haircuts remove split ends and preserve the strand, so it can continue to grow.
4. How you treat your hair will affect the growth. This is true. Constant coloring, styling, and product application make hair dry and more likely to break. Healthy hair strands survive longer than dry, brittle ones.
5. As you get older, you have less hair. True. Aging causes hair growth to slow and hair to thin. This is part of life's cycle.

How to Make Hair Grow Faster?
You can't, but you can make it seem to grow faster. Healthy hair grows better, not faster. Here are some things you can do to improve the health of your hair. The longer a hair strand survives, the longer it will grow.

• Take it easy when styling. Avoid blow dryers and heated curling when possible. If you can, let your hair air dry.
• Comb your hair only when it is dry. Wet hair is elastic. When you pull a comb through it, it is more likely to break. Use a flexible plastic wide-tooth comb with smooth teeth. The fewer traumas to strands, the better the hair will grow.
• Grooming is important, but don't over-wash your hair. Washing hair removes the natural oils that moisturize your hair. Instead of daily washing, try using conditioner only on some days. This wets hair so you can style, but does not strip out the oils.
• If you have a medical condition, such as eczema, dandruff or psoriasis, see a dermatologist. Scratching your scalp will damage hair follicles and break strands.

Hair Damage Prevention: 5 Ways To Stop Tangles, Snags And Split Ends

If you're currently being afflicted by frizzy, puffy, wispy hair, don't be so quick to pass it off as one of the less-fun side effects of summer. Chances are you're actually dealing with hair breakage. We know that regular trims are a given for keeping hair healthy, but how do you prevent snags, tangles and hair that's anything but smooth? There are obvious offenders -- heat tools, bobby pins and too-tight hair ties -- but there are also secret culprits that you may not even be aware of.

1. It starts in the shower (cue "Psycho" music).
"We are constantly damaging our hair without realizing it, and that damage can sometimes begin in the shower." "When hair is wet or damp, it is at its very weakest point. The water breaks down the natural hydrogen bonds in the hair. They reform again when the hair dries, but while wet they are in their most fragile state." In the shower, working conditioner through hair with a paddle brush or wide tooth comb to detangle your hair. Invest in an option that's intended to be used on wet hair. "And always detangle from the ends up!"
2. Beware of the towel turban! It's a silent killer.
Surprisingly, wrapping our wet hair in a towel post-shower can cause the greatest damage. So stop it and dry your hair more gingerly. "When towel drying hair, squeeze the hair with a towel rather than rubbing and matting hair into a tangled mess." Be gentle! I actually cringe every time I watch someone rub their hair dry with a towel (which causes major tangling), and then tear through the tangles with a comb or brush! After towel blotting, gently start at the tips with a paddle brush or large comb as with combing in the shower; always start from tip to root."
For persistent tangles, working in a weekly deep-hydrating treatment or leave-in conditioner. Look for nourishing ingredients like coconut oil which will help smooth and retain moisture.
3. Heat drying fries your hair--but there are ways around that.
Cut down on drying time by soaking up excess water. "Towel blotting your hair well enough before drying is important so you can work fast and not have to go over and over the same section with the hair dryer."
Look for an dryer that features ceramic, ionic and tourmaline technology which will also cut down on time, and be mindful during the drying process. "When you hold a hot hair dryer on hair for too long, the water in the hair heats to a boil, so it cooks and blisters hair!"
"When heat-styling, you need to move fast and use even tension (a lot of people use too much tension and too much pressure). When using a curling iron, be sure to roll the hair on an angle away from your head so you don’t dent hair with the clamp, "Use your straightening iron in smooth passes -- there is no need to press hard and pull hair, it only stretches the hair while you bake it, which causes severe damage over time.
4. Why you should shake things up in the hairdo department.
"Any time you put tension or stress on the hair you are causing some level of damage. "Women mostly put their hair up and anchor it in the same place. Repeating stress in the same place over and over will cause damage. Try to put your hair up in a different place, such as a high ponytail as opposed to low. The same goes for chignons, up-twists and braids."
Same goes for bobby pins. "When done in the same location on a regular basis, it can cause damage to the hair and stress to your scalp. Clamps essentially crush you hair. It is best to loosen hair after putting a clamp in to make sure it’s not too tight." Look for rubberized pins that are more gentle and don't leave a crease.
Opting for fabric-covered bands over rubber, but note: "If they are very tight they will still cause stress to the hair. If you’re going to use a scrunchie, cloth-covered scruchies are best."
5. You can save your hair in your sleep.
"Silk pillow cases help, especially with fragile textures that have a tendency to tangle overnight on regular cotton sheets,". "Polished cotton pillow cases will even make a difference." Satin bonnets and hair wraps are other hair-saving alternatives.

35 Lifechanging Ways To Use Everyday Objects

1. Use a can opener to open sealed plastic packaging.

 This tip would have saved me approximately 22.8 hours of my life.

2. Add saline solution to refresh dried-out mascara.

Just a couple of drops will do.

 

3. Use a toilet seat cover to blot the oil from a greasy face.

4. Use pretty wine corks to make planters for tiny succulents.

 

Put magnets on them and hang them on your fridge.

 

5. Amplify the volume of your iPhone or iPod by placing it in a bowl.

 

 

6. Use paper hole reinforcements to give yourself a half-moon manicure.

 

 

7. Use a banana to fix a DVD.

 

8. Use Jello as a lipstain.

 

Directions: Pour the powder mix into a bowl and moisten a Q-Tip with water. Then, being very careful not to use your fingers since the red stains stay put, dip the Q-Tip into the powder and apply it directly to your lips.

9. Use diluted fabric softener as a leave-in hair conditioner.

 

 

10. Use a lint roller to clean out the debris in your handbag.

 

I am the queen of cookie crumbs in my handbag.

11. Use nonstick spray on the inside of your votive holders.

When the candle has burned out, the remaining wax will just slip out.

12. Eat marshmallows to soothe a sore throat.

 

There's a scientific explanation behind this.

(You can also use marshmallows to separate your toes during a home pedicure.)

13. Use newspaper as an odor absorber.

 

You can put it in Tupperware, or the crisper bin of your fridge, or in a purse with any lingering leather smells.

14. Use aspirin to turn hair made green by chlorine back to its natural color.

 

Dissolve six to eight aspirin pills in a glass of warm water, coat hair with the solution, let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse.

15. Use a sock to create a big perfect hair bun.

16. Use a spoon to open a sealed-tight jar.

 

Read more detailed instructions here.

17. Use a rubber band for perfect French tips.

 

18. Hang a picture using a pop tab.

 

The pop tab is surprisingly sturdy.

19. Use VapoRub to train your pets.

 

Apply VapoRub on things you don't want chewed up or peed on by your cat or dog — they're turned off by the taste and smell.

It also supposedly cures toenail fungus.

20. Use mayonnaise to erase water stains from wooden furniture.

 

 

21. Use fabric softener and vinegar in a spray bottle to release wrinkles from clothing.

 

22. Use a cereal container as a trash disposal in your car.

 

 

23. Add a few drops of vodka and a teaspoon of sugar to make cut flowers last longer.

 

 

24. Use Alka-Seltzer to clean your toilet.

 

Drop a couple tablets in, wait 20 minutes. The citric acid will dissolve the grime.

 

25. sanitizer to dissolve ink stains.

 

Take a Vacation From Bloat With Our Healthy Pineapple Recipes

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It's almost Summer — go tropical. And while a piña colada is one way to get your pineapple fill, all that sugar and alcohol strip away the detoxifying properties of the fruit. Because pineapple is high in the enzyme bromelain, it helps banish bloat by breaking down protein and easing digestion. Enjoy it on its own for a cool and refreshing snack or whip up one of these healthy pineapple recipes.

Pineapple Quinoa in a Boat
The presentation alone is enough to wow guests, but it's the recipe that will have them coming back for more. Made with protein-packed quinoa, this vegan dish is the perfect star for a tropical-themed meal.

Tropical Kale Salad With Creamy Pineapple-Coconut Dressing
Leafy greens like kale move the digestive system right along, but adding pineapple to the mix makes for a happy-tummy party. To achieve the creamy dressing, no dairy is needed — just some good-for-you coconut milk!

Jennifer Aniston Put Her Left Leg Out

Jennifer Aniston wore a white dress by Burberry to the 2012 AFI Life Achievement Award ceremony honoring Shirley MacLaine at Sony Pictures Studios in California yesterday. She accessorized with a Valentino clutch.
Doesn't this dress look like what would happen if Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow's Oscar dresses mated and had a baby? Happy Friday, everybody

How to Tame Flyaways

With cold weather upon us, chances are you may be one of the many people who is trying to tame your flyaway strands. Most likely, your hair is dry this time of year, causing strands to stand up on end when you brush them or when your hair rubs against certain clothing.

If static gets the best of your strands, you can get the gloss back by using one of Eric's favorite anti-static products. And for reducing static on the run, keep a dryer sheet in your purse and glide it through strands when static strikes!

Don't have a dryer sheet on you at the moment? Use hand lotion! Take a tiny amount of lotion and rub it together in the palms of your hands, them smooth hands through hair, avoiding roots and concentrating on the ends.

If you're experiencing a lot of static, chances are your hair is on the dry side, so try using a deep conditioner several times per week or using a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.

Look of the Day: Bold and Breezy

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 This gorgeously bright and breezy H&M maxi dress. More than that, though, she totally nailed the complete look by adding bold accents. Let's take a closer look. She paired a cool yellow clutch, statement gold cuff, and blue and green two-toned sandals with her aquamarine printed maxi dress. The sum of its stylish parts screams "Summer," and we're all for a pretty and polished ensemble that takes no time at all to re-create.

Sulfate-Free Shampoo: Why You Need To Check Your Shampoo Label, Now

It's true. For over a year now, I have been using sulfate-free shampoo. And you know what? I don't miss the original formula. At all. Why did I make this choice? My decision came mostly out of media-pressure. In recent years, a "Sulfate-Free" label has become increasingly frequent on the label of every new shampoo and conditioner. The term has become associated with being "healthier" and "organic" even when that is not the case. Unfounded rumors that sulfates in shampoo cause cancer certainly contributed to my choice, but also the promise of softer, cleaner hair by means of more natural materials was also persuasive.
But really, when I thought about these products, I had one question: What are sulfates, anyway? And are they really as bad as they sound? To answer the first question: sulfates, essentially, are what make shampoos turn into a thick lather in the shower. This ingredient, which is standard for most shampoo (and household cleaning) products, has additionally come under attack for causing frizziness (especially in curly hair) and damaging colored hair. After dying your hair or receiving a chemical treatment (such as a Keratin or Brazilian blowout), salons will often recommend a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to maintain the style.
Dr. Rebecca Baxt, a New York-based dermatologist, explained the recent bounty of sulfate-free options, "I think there are so many chemicals in our personal hygiene products, foods and environment that people have become more aware and rightly concerned about the effects of all of these chemicals. Anything with fewer chemicals has become more popular." Although she says that, "most people will not notice any difference" between sulfate-free and regular shampoo despite claims that "sulfate-free shampoos let curls stay curlier and let color treated hair stay colored longer," Dr. Baxt does, however, recommend switching to a sulfate-free formula if you have allergies, eczema or find your curent shampoo irritating to the scalp.
So what can you expect from switching to a sulfate-free shampoo? A higher price tag, to start, as most drug store brands don't yet produce products without sulfates. (L'Oreal Paris, however, is an exception. The brand has released two sulfate-free shampoos since 2009 that are available for less than $6). Perhaps the biggest adjustment to using sulfate-free shampoo is a superficial one. Without this lather-producing chemical, these shampoos have less of the over-the-top bubble that is associated with cleansing hair. But, this doesn't mean sulfate-free shampoo isn't as effective as it's mainstream counterpart. Dr. Baxt explained, "Without sulfates there is usually no "lather" or bubbles when you wash so it takes getting used to... it might not feel like it is cleansing as much but it should still clean the scalp adequately." While the benefits seem unclear, my philosophy with sulfate-free shampoo has been, "Hey, it can't hurt. Right?"