How to get shiny, smooth hair

HOW TO... 
SHINE ON

Shiny hair used to be a trait for the lucky, but with today’s products and technology, anyone can get a smooth, pretty hairstyle packed with sheen, says Rosalie DiMaggio, ULTA salon manager based in Rego Park, New York. We asked DiMaggio to give us the step-by-step rundown of how to get the smoothest, shiniest hair.

Step 1: Wash your hair

This step seems easy and self-explanatory, but you want to make sure you're washing with the rightshampoo and conditioner. Shine-enhancing formulas exist on the market, but to get smooth hair, moisturizing products almost always work best. Wash thoroughly and leave the conditioner on throughout your shower. This way, you'll get the most moisture possible in your hair.

Step 2: Towel dry

"After you are done washing, towel dry hair to take out excess water," DiMaggio says. Towel drying will make sure you lock moisture in instead of blowing it out with a hair dryer. As a general rule, your hair would ideally be 70 percent dry before applying heat with a dryer.

Step 3: Add a shine product

Shine serums are good, but DiMaggio recommends adding Argan Oil into the mix. Add just "a tiny amount so you don't make a greasy mess," she says.

Step 4: Section your hair

Break your hair up into four different sections -- two in the front and two in the back -- to reduce frizz, DiMaggio says.

Step 5: Begin drying

Slowly let down the sections of your hair and, using a round brush under each section, begin applying heat. A round brush will add volume to your look, even if you don't want to add curl. If you want to add curl, apply extra effort at the tips of the hair by spinning the round brush inward as you dry. "Do not put the dryer on top of the hair," DiMaggio says. "Keep a fair distance so you don't burn." Slant the hair dryer so it's angled downward, focusing on applying heat down the hair shaft. This is a major step in adding shine.

Step 6: Finish off with product

By now your hair should be shiny and packed with volume, but it's always a good idea to take preventive measures to make sure your look doesn't fade through the day. Sometimes hair sprays can reduce shine, so using a shine-enhancing spray is your best bet.

How to create fun & funky looks with hair extensions and wigs

HOW TO... WEAR WIGS
Are you caught in a beauty rut or are you yearning for something a little bit different? With hair extensions and wigs, you can create some fun and funky looks.

STEP 1: GO BLONDE

They always say, "Blondes have more fun." So why not grab a blonde wig and find out? Raven hair beauties may enjoy being blonde for a night or two. Select a blonde wig in the opposite texture of your natural hair for some real drama. If you have board-straight locks, go ultra curly and vice versa.

STEP 2: ADD SOME COLOR

If you are considering dyeing your hair but don't want to try permanent color quite yet, experiment with wigs in different shades to see what colors work well with your skintone. Head to your local wig store and spend the afternoon trying on different styles and colors until you find the one that is right for you.

STEP 3: PONY UP

Hair clips are a quick way to add length or thickness to your hair. With these clip-on extensions you can add a pony tail almost instantly. Though they aren't as beautiful as the more permanent extensions, they are very affordable and reusable.

STEP 4: EXPERIMENT WITH LENGTH

If you have never been able to grow your hair out beyond your shoulders, hair extensions maybe just what you are looking for. With quality extensions, no one will be able to tell that the hair isn't your own. Head to a reputable salon that specializations in extensions. They look very natural and you can style your hair however you like. The downside is they are somewhat expensive and can take a long time to put in. Bonded hair extensions are not recommended if you have a sensitive scalp.

How to apply perfect makeup for a holiday party

How to... Put on your party face

The holiday season is right around the corner, and if your schedule is as jam-packed with parties and events as ours is, then it’s safe to assume you could probably use a little help in the makeup department as well. Luckily, there’s no need to worry because we’ve got you covered (literally!). Take a tip or two from the experts and stand out from the crowd with these pro pointers.

"Forget the cliche, red glossy lips of the years past, and those dark smoky eyes that will most likely make you look like a fallen rock star by the end of the night anyway," says Sebastien Tardif, celebrity makeup artist and CEO of Veil Cosmetics. Instead, get the party started off right. Here’s how:

Step 1: Go bright and matte

Nothing brings out glamour and uplifts your whole look like a shocking pink, a flashy tangerine or a vivacious coral matte lip color. Not to mention, it won’t leave that telltale stain around the rim of your champagne glass that you’ll surely be sipping from all night, notes Tardif. Let’s keep it classy, ladies!

Step 2: Highlight your face

"Why not embody the fresh, crisp air that reminds us all so much of a magical December snowfall," says Tardif. To do so, try a soft, pink-based face highlighter that is about one to two shades lighter than your actual skin tone (this will enliven all the high points of your complexion). Tardif also recommends using a weightless, liquid illuminator applied with a small, flat, rounded-tipped brush high atop the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, mid-forehead and chin. "This way, you’ll never look powdery or ashy — you’ll just glow like a model!"

Step 3: Buy some falsies

Fly through the night like an exotic bird by simply adding a fab pair of false eyelashes to your look. Start by curling your real eyelashes first, advises Tardif. Then make sure to use dark adhesive, and apply the falsies to the outer part of your eyes, working your way inward, so that they end up resting right against your own lash line (white glue never really dries so transparently after all, he notes). "Lastly, go minimal with the rest of your makeup to ensure an ultra-fresh appearance, and of course, to save more time dancing the night away with all your friends and family!" Tardif says.

Schoolgirl donates her hair to charity

Maisey Reynolds, 10, has her hair cut and donated to be made into wigs for people who have had chemotherapy or who have alopecia. Maisey's holding up her donated hair, which has been cut by Tracy Fletcher from Revive Hair and Beauty.

A TEN-YEAR-OLD girl has sacrificed her long locks to help others.

Maisie Reynolds, from Murton, County Durham, has donated 12 inches of her hair to the Little Princess Trust, which provides real-hair wigs to children suffering hair loss.

Maisie, a pupil at Murton’s Ribbon Academy, was inspired to have the chop by her gran, Christine, who wore wigs before dying of breast cancer aged 53.

“I’m really excited because I really want to donate my hair,” said Maisie. “My nana had cancer and I want to help others.”

Maisie’s mum, Donna, 34, said: “I wouldn’t usually have let her have it done, but she wanted to do it. It’s for a good cause so you can’t ask questions.”

Impressed by Maisie’s new shorter look, cousin Jordan Emmerson, 21, is now planning to have hers trimmed for charity.

But Revive Hair and Beauty, in Durham Place, Murton, is still appealing for more people to donate their hair.

Owner Tracey Fletcher said: “If they are willing to donate at least seven inches, we won’t charge them for the haircut.”

Tracey got involved after taking a wig-making course provided by the charity.

She said: “I received a letter from the Little Princess Trust to say they were struggling to get hair.

“I put it on the salon Facebook page and there has been quite a lot of interest. We’ve only been going for a week.

“We just have to make sure it’s been washed and has no product in it. Then we send it off in the post and they will receive a certificate.”

The Little Princess Trust charity manager Monica Glass said: “On behalf of everyone connected with the Little Princess Trust, I would like to thank Maisie for choosing to support the charity in this way.

“It is truly heartening to hear of someone so young thinking of others first.

“Maisie is very brave to donate such a large amount of hair. I am sure her family and friends are very proud of her and rightly so.

“This donation will help us provide even more wigs to children that have sadly lost their own hair through cancer treatment.”

Launched in 2006, the Little Princess Trust provides individually tailored wigs for children suffering from cancer and other conditions such as alopecia.

To date, it has helped more than 1,200 children throughout the UK and Ireland.

If anyone would like to donate their hair, call the salon on 526 8555.

Twitter: @SunEchoSteven

Gorgeous Hair Even in a Power Outage

By TERI AGINS

Q: After Hurricane Sandy, we hit day 10 without electricity and it is rather frequent that we lose power in our rural area. I am amused by the way people will deal with dirty hair, such as wearing a bandanna or baseball hat or brushing baby powder through their hair to remove the oil. While this is something to put in perspective given that people are suffering real devastation, I would love to have some more style ideas.

—M.M., Stillwater Township, N.J.


Luci Gutiérrez
Wigs are a good option for bad hair days.

A: While dirty hair may be the least of a person's worries in the aftermath of a natural disaster, we've all faced days when you can't shampoo, but still must look presentable.

It's a cinch for some women to go for pulled-back updos in a top knot or a bun, secured with a tortoise clip or hairpins. The short-hair variation: brushed back and secured smoothly with a little water or gel. These off-the-face styles require natural makeup with lipstick and flat, clip-on earrings that instantly accent your face. Or hide a high forehead with an oblong scarf wrapped like a turban in the front, leaving an open crown, tucking the ends in on each side.

Dry shampoo—instead of baby powder—really works to revive limp, greasy hair. A bonus: It adds volume to fine hair. Keep a spray can of dry shampoo handy at the office, too. Among the popular brands are Batiste, Psssst!, Oscar Blandi, Fekkai and Klorane.

Wigs are used by many TV anchorwomen who feel the pressure to never have a bad-hair day. Forget the trendy wig that will transform you into a ravishing redhead for a day. Aim for a wig that's undetectable, styled to look exactly like your own hair.

The best wig selections nowadays tend to be online, where there's variety of human-hair and synthetic styles. The hardest part is choosing the right wig from a photo. Always enlist the professionals. The best hair salon in your town can steer you to the best wig—most likely it will be human hair. Just be sure to read the fine print regarding exchanges and refunds of wigs bought online. Every wig needs to be tweaked by a professional stylist, who can adjust the color, texture and style so that it closely resembles your hair.

—Email askteri@wsj.com

Best Hair Style in America 2012

Best Hair Style in America 2012

ELLE uncovers the top 100 salons and stylists: the country's most-requested cuts—and how to get the look you want:


PIXIE

Jason Segel isn’t the only one enamored with Michelle Williams. The actress’s cropped cut garnered the most requests, jumping from last year’s third-place standing. “The cut is low-maintenance and more versatile than you think,” says freelance hairstylist Thomas Dunkin, who works with Williams. When her hair is damp, he brushes down the shorter back and sides, then uses his hands to smooth the longer length on top. The cut is particularly popular in steamy climates. “Even when the temperature reaches triple digits, the pixie looks put together and effortless,” says Rachel Gower, owner of Houston’s The Upper Hand salon.

How-To: Fall Hair Trends

Photo: Getty Images

Hair expert extraordinaire, Tabatha Coffey, shares the dos and don'ts to getting the cut, color and style you want at the salon.

The Cut

So you're flipping through the latest issue of ELLE and you see the haircut of your dreams. You get on the phone, book your appointment, and sit on the edge of your seat until the day comes. Then, you walk into your appointment, sit down, and say, "I want my hair to look edgy with a shaved side, and really short bangs." Now cue tears and regret.

Photo: Getty Images

How to Help Kids With Cancer From Your Couch

Cancer wigs

Who doesn't want to make the life of a child with cancer a bit better? And even then, by doing something that requires almost no effort and saves you money.

It took a family tragedy to figure this out. While traveling in Venezuela as part of The Happy Nomad Tour, my parents called to inform me that my uncle was just diagnosed with prostate cancer. Sadly, this kind of cancer only goes from bad to worse and very little can be done apart from treating the pain.

There was little I could do from so far away. My brother suggested I grow my hair out and donate it to a charity that makes wigs for children suffering from cancer. Given that I have a penchant for trying new things, no boss, no one to please, and that I've had short hair my entire life, it was the perfect suggestion.

That said, even in my corporate tool days I could have grown out my hair. I probably wouldn't have out of concern of what others would think, but such fear is unfounded. Just look at how much traction Movember has gained. It's an initiative where men grow a mustache in November and raise money for men's health issues like prostate cancer and depression.


According to The American Childhood Cancer Center, 12,400 children aged 0-19 are diagnosed with cancer annually. Many of them will go through chemotherapy and lose their hair. That loss of hair elicits often unwanted sympathy and can compromise the self-esteem of a young person still in development. A wig helps give some of that self-esteem back, allowing the child to focus on getting better instead of how they look.

According to Locks of Love, 2200 children under age 20 are diagnosed with brain tumors each year. The necessary radiation treatment can cause permanent hair loss.

Alopecia is another major source of hair loss among children. Affecting around 4.7 million Americans, Alopecia can cause bald patches as well as total baldness. There is no known cause or cure.

If you have a normal head of hair you can be the hero to one of these suffering children. In the process of growing out your hair, you'll also raise awareness of all three of these issues as you explain the reasons for growing out your hair. You can also grow out your hair and donate it in memoriam of someone you love.
I'm growing out my hair in memoriam of my Uncle Barry, the self-proclaimed handsomest man on earth. In his final weeks he was comforted by the fact that long after his passing, my hair and the donations I'm soliciting will continue working in his name to make the life of a child a bit easier.

I am volunteering my way around the world, but it turns out there's a wonderful non-profit organization right in my backyard of Cleveland, Ohio that makes wigs for kids. They are appropriately called Wigs For Kids. According to them, it takes 20-30 ponytail donations and $1800 to make each wig.

I started a fundraiser to raise $1000 per inch of hair I grow. I can only donate one ponytail, but I raise as much as I can to place free wigs where they are needed.

In the Philippines I visited a children's cancer ward and this project really came full circle. I saw the children there fighting so hard to survive. I also saw them needlessly embarrassed about their appearance. It was tragic and I wanted to transplant my hair then and there to this boy, who had already lost a leg to cancer.
Two other reputable non-profit organizations that turn donated hair into free wigs for children include Locks of Love and Pantene Beautiful Lengths.

Wigs For Kids has affiliated salons across the U.S. and Canada. These salons can snip your ponytail and ship it according to procedure ensuring your ponytail goes toward the cause. Otherwise, all three organizations give strict instructions on how to cut and package a donated ponytail.

Saving money, raising awareness, and helping kids who need it. Making a difference couldn't be easier! Do it for yourself; do it for your Uncle Barry. If nothing else, never let a long ponytail go to waste at the salon. You now know what a difference it could make in a child's life.

Hair + Beauty

Hair + Beauty

HAIR STYLES

In our insanely detailed hair & beauty guide, we share the pros’ top tips, tricks and products—not to mention other goodies along the way. Inside you'll find beauty stories for smart, sexy, real women!