Simple Hair Ideas

I am not a girl that knows how to do a lot with my hair.

Sure, I can curl it and straighten it and put it in a ponytail, but that’s the extent of my hair versatility.

I’ve tried French braiding but it always turns out so messy, and it looks like a bird lives in my hair.

There is a happy ending to this story though.

Thanks to the technological age we live in I am starting to find cute ways to do my hair that I can actually handle on YouTube and Pinterest.

Here are a few quick, simple and beautiful ideas:

The Sock Bun:

I never knew putting my hair in a beautiful bun could be so easy. You simply cut the end off of an old sock and roll it into a doughnut shape. Then you take your hair (that is already in a ponytail) and roll it into the bun.

If you dampen your hair beforehand and leave it in overnight, it also comes out in beautiful curls, such a time saver!

This girl is extremely helpful:

Ponytail with a Twist:

For this you just have to separate your hair into two sections and knot them together like you’re tying your shoe. You do that twice and tease your hair a little and you have a great look ponytail.

I found this thanks to The Beauty Department:

Braiding Made Simple:

I love the look of a dutch-braid, but like I said I can’t French braid. I stumbled upon a great alternative. Simply braid a section of hair behind your ear and then bring the braid over the top of your head. Then pin the braid under your hair behind the opposite ear.

Voila, you have the same look as a Dutch braid but much more simple.

Here is a great how to:

Chalk It: 

The latest trend is using chalk to dye the tips of your hair. It may seem a little weird but it's an easy way to try something new without the commitment of dying it. If you have lighter hair you can just rub chalk on the ends. If you have darker hair, wet the hair first to make the chalk visible. 

Once again, I love the Beauty Department, here are their tips:

These may not be the most elaborate hair creations but they are a step towards you being able to do creative things with you hair! 

2012 Oscars Red Carpet Fashion

This year at the Oscars, the women’s red carpet fashion didn’t fail to please. Overall, I must say that the dresses were beautiful but of course there were those that fell short.

Women in White

White and off-white dresses appeared to be a big trend this year on the red carpet.

Milla Jovovich & Gwyneth Paltrow - Getty Images

Glam:

Cameron Diaz, wearing a Gucci off-white strapless gown with a ruffled asymmetrical bottom with sequins, looked absolutely gorgeous. She definitely owned the look.

Gwyneth Paltrow definitely stole the show in a white Tom Ford gown with a cape. The look was bold but the dress fit her so beautifully! Props to her.

Two of my other favorite ladies in white were Milla Jovovich in a white Elie Saab one shoulder sequin gown, and Octavia Spencer in a Tasashi Shoji beaded silk and tulle gown. Their dresses fit them beautifully and their hair and makeup was impeccable.

Finally, Rooney Mara looked beautiful in a body hugging Givenchy gown. She told Ryan Seacrest of E! News that she picked out the dress the morning of the Oscars! Good for her!

Flops:

Jennifer Lopez has a great body and knows how to work it, but last night her look flopped for me. Wearing a Zuhair Murad sequined gown, she definitely looked sexy, but the look was a little too tight for a red carpet look and I didn’t love the stripes on the gown.

Shailene Woodley wore a white long sleeve Valentino Couture gown. While the dress was beautifully tailored and fit her well, I thought the look was a little old for the 20 year old.

Jessica Chastain - Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Bold Color

Other actresses chose to go bold in gold, black and red.

Glam:

My award for the best-dressed goes to Jessica Chastain in a gorgeous, strapless black with gold embroidery Alexander McQueen gown. It was body hugging and her combination of loose curls gave her the perfect look.

Stacey Keilber wore a Marchesa single strap gold lamé gown. She looked absolutely fabulous and definitely made George Clooney the luckiest man on the red carpet!

Two women that wore the color red well were Michelle Williams and Emma Stone. Stone wore a Giambattista Valli couture halter gown that had a big bow on the neck. The dress was so flattering and made her legs look like they went on for miles. Williams wore a Louis Vuitton peplum gown. It was fun and fit her nicely.

Flops:

Angelina Joli did not impress me last night. She wore a black strapless Atelier Versace gown that showed off one leg. The velvet dress was too boxy and bulky for the skinny actress.

Sandra Bullock donned a Marchesa gown. The bottom, was black and fitted and looked gorgeous, but the white top was too loose and boring for this gorgeous actress.

Penélope Cruz wore a blue Giorgio Armani, off the shoulder gown. While the dress did look lovely on her, it was a little safe and very boring.

Finally, Natalie Portman wore a red polka dot Dior gown. While the gown was gorgeous, I can’t say I was crazy about it. It fit her loosely in the bottom and was a bit of a snooze fest. 

Couture Fashion Week

I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I headed into Couture Fashion Week at the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria, 4 p.m. Saturday. Maybe I’m a bit naive, but I imagined that the designs would be over the top, big and bold, and the models would don huge hair and outrageous makeup.

Nedret Taciroglu

What I found was quite the contrary. 

The designers, Nedret Taciroglu and Patuna Bushyhead, displayed gorgeous gowns with impeccable detail that were fit for the modern world. They were dresses that I could actually see myself wearing, if I were to ever be invited to a glamorous red carpet event.

Nedret Taciroglu’s 35-piece collection, called “one rug, thousands of words,” was created with inspiration from Turkish rug art and ethnic lines. Each had exquisite detail, from lace, to feathers and velvet. The dresses were bold but clung delicately to each model. The prominent colors in the collection were nude and deep red which set each other off beautifully.

My favorite part of the collection was the back on each dress, which was crafted to show off a woman’s back without revealing too much skin.

Patuna Bushyhead

Patuna Bushyhead’s collection also displayed elegant, flowing dresses that were fitted to a woman’s figure. Her designs featured a lot of draping and layering of sheer fabrics.

The highlight of the show, for me, was an adorable little girl who worked the runway in a Patuna Bushyhead dress. Trust me, that little girl knew how to work it!

If I had to choose, Nedret Taciroglu’s designs stole the show. They won me over, not because there were more dresses to look at, but because of the immaculate detail that was on each dress. The lace, velvet, beading and embroidery added feminine touches to the dresses.

A trend that I saw emerging from this show was cut outs. Each designer featured dresses with cutouts in the back or even sides of the dress. Although cutouts aren’t a new concept, I loved the idea of a cutout on a floor length gown. It gave it an edge away from traditional but still felt elegant and glamorous.

You can view more photos from the event here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurelcoffman/sets/72157629424262113/ 

Bright Eyes

Narciso by @Luckyagazine

With Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week well under way in NYC, a lot of fashion and beauty trends are emerging. One that caught my eye (literally) is vibrant colors on the lids of models. Backstage at Donna Karan, Phillip Lim and Narciso bright hues grazed the lids.

I love the look, but I'm not so sure I could go so bold. To re create the look, I would line my upper and lower inner lids with black liner then add a thick line of colored liner to the top lid. Or after lining the lids I would add a bright shade only to my lids, not all the way up to my brow line, for a more subtle look. 

Phillip Lim by @Allure_magazine

For high impact, they key to this look is keeping the rest of the makeup simple. No need for a bright blush or deep red lips. 

What do you think? How would you reinvent the look?