Little Magazine 16
There there, here’s what to do with your hair.
It’s all about embracing
your natural hair texture right now, from the runway to your living room. But we’re still trying to look cute, not cray, right? So here’s the trick to making the most of your situation and towing the right side of cute vs. sloppy ponytail.
Step 1: Work with what the good Lord gave ya. Let’s look at what you should consider:
- Your natural born hair texture. Is it straight? Wavy? Curly?
- Your hair length. What are you comfortable managing, realistically?
- What makes you happy? Don’t betray what feels right in your bones! You look best when you feel good about yourself.
Let’s jump into it, starting with short hair styles and quick fixes.
Morrissey is a hair icon
…and for good reason! Both men and women can take a cue from his legendary coiffure for some inspo. Men who want to minimize efforts and find balance between WFM-casual and weekly-zoom profesh can tighten their sides while letting the front of their hair grow out. This is flattering for all hair types, from straight to curly, as the gently tousled, unkempt look is in. Try this (Ouai, $24) Matte Pomade for a controlled, relaxed look.
Women embracing their natural hair texture can take up their sides as well. Like Halle Berry has famously proven—you can rock a boyish frock and still look ultra femme. You can manage how professional you need to be with how short or long you decide to go with the sides. You can also buzz your sides with long locks and conceal your stealthy rebellious sides, if need be, by letting your hair down. Try this (Cantu, $6) leave-in conditioner to soften your locks.
If you’re like me,
and you’ve got a messy wave in your hair that’s neither this nor that, then braids are your best friend. Braids are conveniently trending right now and they’re very forgiving. Roots showing? They’ll mostly hide ‘em. Forgot to shower? It’ll conceal the greasies. Haven’t had a chance to get your keratin treatment? No sweat— the braids will stay put even better. Try this (Shu Uemura, $48) leave-in conditioner to give some sense to those crazed waves when your hair’s damp after your shower (just apply on the ends and work up).
You can even throw your braid into a bun to look professional or keep it in a ponytail for weekend vibes. And they look good at all ages. Keep em simple or get complex, it’s all fun! Just be patient. The first few times you practice you’ll tone those arm muscles for sure. Our instagram “How 2” Highlight shows an example of how I do my inverted braid (aka “Dutch” braid) on myself.
If you’re growing out
your gorgeous, natural curly hair, then try a product like this (R+Co, $29). It’ll nourish your locks and encourage its natural shape without the crunch.
If you’re not feeling like letting your hair down or don’t have time, do a loose braid and throw some earrings in to doll up your hair. Just ‘cause you’re having a bad hair day doesn’t mean you can't change up the tide.
You can maximize
your braids and opt for this “day-after” look. The key is to keep your hair semi-moist before braiding (use this- [Shu Uemura, $33] before braiding), or, if they’ve been in braids all day, they’ll likely stay if you have a natural wave in your hair. If you don’t, just help it along by scrunching your hair with whatever product you have lying around—sea salt texture spray, a gentle hairspray, or even your man’s pomade. Don’t have any of these things? Just use a dot of hand lotion. Just rub it into your palms then scrunch your hair; don’t disturb the perfectly imperfect, “I-woke-up-like-this” (but not really) waves. Don’t worry, it gets easier, like everything. Practice. The key is to keep your locks in tact but give them a little undone texture. TIP: Leave the ends straight. We’re not going for a 90’s prom look here. ;)
Have straight hair?
If you want a fresh look, you can do a blunt bob like Le Kitsune’s Cori, who has been rocking this look and loving it! If you kinda need length (like me), then do a fun part and keep it soft and make it look intentional with an added bow or some clips, like these pearls, which still keep it fun and profesh if needed. Remember: a lower ponytail, at the nape of the neck, means business, while a higher ponytail can be more playful (and youthful if you want it to literally give you a facelift).
This week we’re featuring Michelle Calabrese,
Master Aesthetic Artist at Medical Aesthetics Clinic Central Park Beauty NYC.
Michelle synergizes organic with medical and is now a wellness coach, to boot! She has over 14 years in Medical Aesthetics working with top surgeons, specializing in restorative procedures and has pioneered the “Vagacial.” She gave me one of the most compelling facials I’ve ever received!
1. What's your personal beauty philosophy?
We are all works of art. Treat yourself like art! Remember art is subjective, so some will appreciate it some won’t, you are still art nonetheless. Curate your art piece, but don’t not feel perfect. Personal care is curating your beauty. Don’t be afraid to pamper your art piece.
Create a beautiful inner and outer ecological system and you will always bloom and be a garden of beauty for you and others to enjoy.
Although I work on and maintain the health of the exterior which is art with in itself, I always tease my clients that I am just freshening up the window so no one misses a bit of their inner shine! Inner wellness is so important. When we are unhappy no matter how many beauty treatments we receive that energy will come through. My beauty philosophy is get in touch with and follow your bliss there is nothing that makes anyone more beautiful than happiness.
2. What product or service would you die without?
Obviously, this is a trick question ha!
Honestly, if I had to choose one treatment and product that I would be trapped on a desert island with and would never feel like I’d be missing a thing in my regime it would be Vivace radio frequency microneedling because it’s renovates the integrity of the tissue in such a way it makes you look like you slept 10 years and as far as product its very tough to narrow to just one :) but I am utterly obsessed with the Stone Crop Cleansing Oil by Eminence ($41), I can bathe in it and I just feel so clean and hydrated afterwards although on a desert island I’d need an Arsenal of products including lots of sunscreen, which my favorite is Elta MD Clear ($23), it’s a great formula and doesn’t wreck havoc on your skin.
3. What's a common misconception that you run into or something that you would you like people to know?
That everyone administering beauty treatments is qualified, that there is no finesse and art to delivering aesthetic services. This is simply not true.
There is a total intuitive nature to the work that shows in the consistency of the results. It’s a healing and the manipulation of science, to understand this is to master it. Which is very important when choosing who you allow to work on you.
4. Thoughts on current/ future trends?
The world is in a transformative place right now, there are so many directions for it to go and it’s hard to tell with the social distancing what that will look like for the beauty industry.
There is a lot of at home DYI beauty going on device wise, some of this scares me and some of it could compliment the work I do in office.
I’m not a huge fan of at home microneedling, so many factors play into why I’m not a fan including the quality of the needles, the true depth, not properly caring/cleaning for the needling device and especially the possibility of being left vulnerable for infection. To me medical grade needling should be done professionally. The only at home dermal roller I will sign my name to is the Environ, They have the highest quality in dermal roller devices. The dermal roller is not a medical grade treatment, it will just create micro channels for better product penetration which will preserve and repair the tissue to a greater potential.
Now if we are talking led therapy masks (Amazon, $119) they are fantastic, red led light therapy will enhance the quality of the tissue and is one of the greatest anti aging preventative maintenance restorative treatments you can do at home. The more exposed the better. This also will prolong the life of any office treatments.
I feel so grateful and honored for this work to have chosen me. I love what I do so much! To be a messenger of wellness and be wellness in my whole existence is my whole purpose. Delivering it by doing the work to be it before myself and my clients. Inspiring, healing and enlightening beyond me just delivering words to take my clients to their greatest potential as well as me to my own. What I transmit energetically means just as much to me as what I deliver scientifically.
Tippy-Tip: There’s dry-shampoo, but what about when our hair’s a giant, knotty bird’s nest? If you don’t have time to hop in the shower but you need to comb your hair, this industry secret saves the day. It’s literally magic, so it’s name is appropriate. Post hairspray/back-combing/braiding action, a few sprays of this can untangle everything into workable, comb-able hair. If only there was such a thing to untangle our lives!
“Hope you found some fun inspo for this week! Keep your head up, you’re doing great, friend. See you next Tuesday! :) -Renee”