Hair How-To: Half-Up Double Knot

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post.

Half-up styles are back in a big way, but it’s already time to take this look to the next level. If you’re sick of the tired top knot or just ready to evolve the look, try this new twist on the effortless hairstyle, straight from the experts at Butterfly Studio Salon.

Ideal for natural texture or 2^nd (even 3^rd!) day hair, it works with any length and texture. A lifesaver for frizzy hair days and so simple to create – not even a brush is needed! !

How-To: Half-Up Double Knot

1. First step: texturizing product/dry shampoo, which is essential for grip and hold when styling. (Kattia Solano, owner of Butterfly Studio loves Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray on the crown area) Lift hair, taking it by sections, spray at the root as if you were teasing and then massage through with your hands to work the product in.

2. Using your hands, section out a “horse shoe” shape of hair at the crown area. Thicker hair can opt for larger section while thinner hair can work with a smaller amount of hair. Rake through with your hands to brush and pull back hair to create a clean section.

3. With a small hair tie in one hand, take a section of hair and pull halfway through the tie, so that you are left with a little “pom-pom.” Wrap elastic around 2-3 times until secure without pulling all of the hair through. (Use small clear elastics so you won’t see the tie, and in case you don't wrap any hair around the knot the ties will be discreet.)

4. Open up the pom-pom with your fingertips for fullness to create a textured knot, then wrap the hair ends around your knot once and tuck hair under the elastic band with ends sticking out. Keep the remaining length right under the pom-pom, as you will use the extra hair length to help with fullness and perfectly messy texture for your next knot.

5. Create your next section right below the first by taking 1 1/2 to 2 inches of hair from the sides (horse shoe of “V” part all the way around the head). Use your hands again to gather and comb the hair back, then combine the hair ends from your first knot with your new section and repeat steps 3 and 4 - tying right under the first pom-pom, tucking through and leaving ends free. If your hair is long enough you can even wrap the extra hair around in a “figure eight” motion around both knots for detail.

6. To finish, spritz a little hairspray and then make it your own. Don't be afraid to muss it up - the more texture the better! To complete the look, Kattia recommends adding some height/volume at the front top of the head by slightly pulling/gently tugging hair up at the root with your fingers.

*With this hairstyle, volume is always at your side to rid limp hair and that unwanted greasy summer look once and for all. Play with positioning and create more knots for a change up or more customization for how you can wear it. You can even use bobby pins to change the knot shapes.

 

Thanks to Butterfly Studio Salon for the awesome tutorial.

Book Review: The New Braiding Handbook by Abby Smith; Ulysses Press

 

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO GORGEOUSLY BRAIDED HAIR, FROM ELEGANT WEDDING STYLES TO FUN WEEKEND ’DOS

Whether you’re running errands, going out on the town, or walking down the aisle, the fashionable braids in this book will give you the perfect look for every occasion. Just follow the simple instructions and step-by-step photos to quickly master gorgeous new looks, including:

•Fabulous Fishtails
•Elegant Updos
•Beautiful Buns
•Classy Crowns
•Knockout Knots
•Head-Turning ’Tails

Hair braiding is getting hotter by the day, and the evolution of styles has grown as radily. The New Braiding Handbook offers you an impressive array of easy-to-re-create, beautiful, and versatile looks that are as appropriate for elegant formal events as they are practical for casual, everyday wear.

 

My Review

 

Braids, knots, and buns, oh my! The New Braiding Handbook is a book filled with 60 modern twists on classic hair styles. The book is a full color guide that will help you master the trendiest twists, fishtails, and up-dos. With easy to follow instructions and step-by-step photos, you’ll learn how to get gorgeous new looks.

I have very long hair, yet I had only mastered 3 hairstyles; down, ponytail, and half-up! Not very exciting, huh? I was beginning to think I was horrible at being a woman. My first instinct is to just throw it in a ponytail. I figured if I even tried anything sophisticated, my hair would end up in a million and five knots.

The hair styles in this book are nothing short of breathtaking. Some simple, some elegant, and some just downright stunning. I first seen the waterfall braid on Facebook and immediately fell in love with it. I wanted to try it so bad, yet it looked so complicated (well to me at least). Then there were the fishtail braids and the amazing knots. I just kept thinking to myself “Even though you work from home, there’s no need for your hair to look exactly the same on a daily basis.”

I got this book and spent countless hours just testing them all on my daughter Adisyn. Practice makes perfect, right? Not only did we have tons of fun, but the hair styles weren’t as complicated as I thought they would be. Take this from someone who didn’t even know how to french braid.

“Styling hair isn’t a talent, it’s a skill” Abby Smith explains, and she is definitely right. The more you practice what is shown in the pictures, the easier it becomes. One of those Aha moments I guess. I love that I’ll now be able to add some flair to Adisyns hair with something other than bows and headbands this school year. She loves having that hair styled—that little diva of mine.

I even styled her hair in a very cute braided updo for our Forth of July BBQ and she adored it. Well, that is… until she jumped right into the pool. I love how this book doesn’t just contain tutorials on hair styles, Abby also gives healthy hair advice. She explains hair types and how to best style each type.

There aren’t many tools that you need to be able to achieve these looks either. Most of what you do need, you probably already have on hand. The only things you might have to buy are clear elastics, duck billed hair clips, and possibly bobby pins.

Connect with Ulysses Press on Twitter and Facebook

Keep a watch out for the giveaway!

 

-Jessica

Beauty Review: Bango Hair Trimmer by PRO Beauty Tools®

More bangs for less bucks. Save money by trimming your bangs, split ends, and top layer at home with the BANGO hair-cutting tool. It's calibrated with three comb tension to hold hair as tightly as a stylist, and has straight and arched cutting edges and cutting teeth for texturizing ends. Follow the included instructional video to whip your hair into stylish shape.

Includes:

• BANGO hair cutting tool

• Two hair clips

• One comb

• One pair of scissors

• One instructional DVD

• DVD run time is approximately 6 minutes, 27 seconds

• BANGO: plastic construction

Made in China/Japan/USA

 

My Review

Having 2 kids under the age of 6 is no joke. Especially when they are constantly growing out of their clothes, shoes, and everything else. Not to mention how fast their hair grows.

My son, 6 AND daughter, 4 have each been to a stylist ONCE and it was very hectic. They wouldn’t sit still, whining, crying, and trying to climb down out of the chair.

I knew after the first time with both that I needed to do something to make cutting hair a little easier and convenient for both of us. I would rather do it in the privacy of my home where my kids aren’t getting frantic and acting silly.

Then the bango appeared! I love being able to cut the kids hair at home. If I didn’t, I would have to take them to a salon EVERY month. Their hair grows very quickly and I don’t want to take them EVERY month, especially now that Aidan’s in school and Adam works nights.

I cut my son’s hair with a buzzer and then trim his bangs with the bango. I don’t cut my daughters hair EXCEPT her bangs. It is a LOT easier on me now.

This makes cutting their hair a breeze, and I don’t have to go through the trouble of putting them in the car and listening to them whine about not wanting to go inside the salon the entire trip. Not to mention CRYING in the salon.

Once you get the system down with “watching the DVD to get the precise cut” everything is easy. I wish the scissors were of better quality, but since we aren’t really cutting HAIR—just the bangs, we can live with it.

This gives us the freedom of doing it IN home and then just putting them in the bath to wash away the excess hairs that cling to them. I even found a cheap hairdressers apron to stick on them so I can trim without hairs getting everywhere!

I use the little black clips at night before my bath to hold my hair back when I exfoliate and wash my face! Holds my hair back like a dream!

 

How it Works:
BANGO by Pro Beauty Tools is a patented at-home hair trimming tool that is calibrated with three comb tension to hold hair as tightly as a stylist, and has straight and arched cutting edges and cutting teeth for texturizing ends. Follow the included instructional video to whip your hair style into stylish shape.
Save On Salon Visits!
BANGO helps people trim the parts of their hair that often grow out faster than their entire haircut-bangs, split ends and top layers.
Unlike Any other Trimming Tools:

• Helps cut hair evenly and quickly.
• Allows you to trim a little hair at a time to avoid bangs that are too short
• Convenient and easy to use
• Packaging Contains the following: 1) Bango Haircutting Tool 2) 5 ¿" Precision Shears 3) 2 Sectioning Clips 4) Comb 5) Instructional DVD

 

More about Bango:

Bangs are one of the hottest trends this year but it comes at a costly price. Constantly maintaining your flirty fringe with frequent visits to the hair salon puts a burden on your expenses and time. Introducing Bango® by PRO Beauty Tools®, an at-home trimming tool that will make cutting and styling your bangs quick, easy, and mistake-proof! Bango® helps trim the parts of the hair that often grows out faster than the entire haircut—bangs, split-ends and top-layers! It is also great for men’s hair and maintaining children’s bangs, which can often be a difficult task. For just $19.99, you can skip the salon and become your own speedy stylist by using the Bango® kit which includes a Bango®, a 6” pair of precision shears, 2 sectioning clips, a comb and an instructional DVD.

The patented design of the Bango® was created by Trey Burnette, celebrity stylist, who has teamed up with PRO Beauty Tools® to bring this fool-proof tool to consumers everywhere. Trey works at the prestigious Román Salon, nestled in the heart of West Hollywood, where his talents have allowed him to work with Hollywood celebrities, European Royalty, top fashion magazine editors and people that just want to look fabulous. He invented Bango® after noticing his clients would trim (and mess-up) their own bangs between haircut appointments. The tool is calibrated with a three comb tension that holds hair in place as tightly as a stylist would. It has straight and arched cutting edges with teeth that work to create numerous bangs styles including: blunt bangs, textured bangs, side bangs, top-layer trims, short hair, men’s bangs and children’s bangs.

This ingenious tool allows you to cut bangs a little bit at a time to keep you from accidentally cutting them too short. It also helps you from cutting bangs crooked since you can line up the Bango® easily while you cut. It is convenient, easy-to-use, and will save you time and money.

Buy It: Bango Hair Trimmer for $15.99

 

 

Jessica Renee

Review: Enjoy Hair- Straightening Balm & Shine and Smooth Gel

 

 

The Straightening Balm

The Straightening Balm amazing because it works on even the most difficult hair. It helps make curly or coarse hair manageable, soft, and smooth. After shampooing and conditioning apply the straightening gel throughout damp hair and blow-dry. Style as usual & follow with the shine and smooth gel.

My Review*

I’m a true supporter of Enjoy products. Not only are they a dependable company with high quality products but they last a very long time too. I have straight hair anyway, but I like to add straightening products as well as a flat iron to get the kinks out and reduce the frizz that happens if I don’t use any products.

Enjoy products always smell amazing AND they are very effective. It is extremely smoothing and flattening without feeling gunky, oily, or building up junk in your hair. I love that it makes my hair extremely soft and smells amazing. Most styling products don’t smell so great.. and it overpowers shampoo and conditioner—so all you smell is the smell of the styling products. Having something that smells great is extra plus!

My hair is sleek, smooth, and holds nicely without frizz all day. The bottle is humungous so you get a lot of product (which will last quite a long time). I didn’t have to use very much at all to tame my hair!

It has a gel-like consistency and absorbs very quickly into my hair! I love that it doesn’t take awhile for it to really “get inside” the strands. I can put this on my damp hair and blow-dry it and I’m ready to go. No more hot irons AND blow-dryers at the same time!

It has a purple tint and a push-down top. I love the push down tops that all Enjoy products have. It makes it so much easier to throw in an overnight bag and take with me. I don’ have to worry about the bottle coming open and spilling inside my bag.

Buy It: You can buy the Enjoy Straightening Balm @ Sleek Hair for $17.49 for 10 oz.

The Shine & Smooth Gel

This is a small bottle (only 4 ounces) but it comes with a lot of bang. I only need to use a VERY small amount (less than a dime size) to get the desired smoothness!

I have tried a TON of smoothing creams, gels, and serums in my day and most of them left my hair weighted down and VERY oily looking. I want to have smooth hair, but I definitely don’t want my hair to look like I could fry an egg on top of it.

That’s one of the reasons I love this product so much. It smells amazing and NEVER makes my hair look oily or greasy. It gives the desired smoothness without weighing it down or making my hair smell horrible.

I blow-dry and straighten my hair almost daily, and I can see a big difference in the damage department from using this product. It seems to keep the damage at bay by wrapping it in little silk bubbles.

I love how soft and silky my hair is. I can style it afterwards and it is still absolutely FRIZZ FREE! Even when I let my hair air dry (which makes it 10x more frizzier) and then put this in my hair—I feel like one of those girls from a Pantene commercial..

Free flowing, gorgeous, manageable hair that isn’t overdone with slime and/or oil!

BUY IT: You can buy the

Enjoy Shine & Smooth Gel

for $14.19

 

Jessica Renee

Don’t let April Showers Dampen your Hairstyle!

While it still feels like winter around much of the country, April is notorious for rainfall, but that doesn’t mean it has  to be the month your hair frizzes and your style fizzles. These simple and weather-proof updos from Fantastic Sams’ style expert Pam Kelly, are sure to guarantee a fuss-free and fashionable style amidst the damp weather.

• The ballerina bun is not only elegant and flirty, but one of the chicest ways to camouflage unruly hair! Slick tresses into a tight ponytail, then twist and pin hair into a tight—or loose—bun. Not only does it work for a day of city slicking, it translates well into an evening look.

Photo Courtesy of: Stylist in the City

• Try a braid. Although not an official updo, braided styles work well with texture and make any style weather-proof. Whether tight and clean or long and loose, braids are an easy, carefree way to add style and glamour to an everyday look.

Photo Courtesy of Beauty.About.com

• Ponytails don’t have to be sleek and straight to look pretty – some of the flirtiest looks embrace texture! If humidity is messing with sleek strands, go for the tousled look! Low ponytails positioned at the nape of the neck look high fashion when full and textured. For a glam finish, wrap a small section of hair around the elastic band to camouflage.

Photo Courtesy of Beauty Riot

• Try a low, side style. Using your fingers, pull your hair into a low side ponytail. While securing hair into the elastic band, do not pull strands completely through  on the final pull. (This will leave your hair in a small loop secured into the rubber band.) Using your fingers, pull and separate the loop of hair, creating a messy, tousled effect, similar to a top knot. The look is fun and flirty, making imperfection look chic! (Finish off the look with an embellished barrette for a glam effect!)

Photo Courtesy of Polyvore

• Embrace the madness! Gone are the days when updo styles need to be polished and perfect to invoke glamour! Some of the latest french twists and chignons incorporate texture, curl and relaxed style elements. Style it up, pin it in place and rock it with confidence!

Photo Courtesy of All About Ladies

I have a coupon to share with you! A coupon for the month of April is good for $10 OFF a Cut and Full Highlight Service at Fantastic Sam’s Hair Salon. You can get this coupon, as well as other great updates at their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/fantasticsamshairsalons.

 

Jessica Renee