Hairstyle Evolution: Lauren Conrad

Posted on March 2, 2011 by rdkhair

Lauren Conrad’s become much more than a reality TV star in the past few years – she’s a fashion designer, a best-selling author and spokeswoman for Mark beauty products. She’s also a major fashion and hairstyle icon – she’s experimented with a ton of different hair colors and cuts. Let’s take a look back on some of her best (there are very few bad ones) hairstyles since even before the Laguna Beach days!


2002: Lauren, Laguna Beach High School sophomore, served on the student council and played sports… as a brunette! It’s weird to see her without a touch of blonde in her hair…


2004: Thrown into the MTV spotlight by the Laguna Beach producers, Lauren always did her own hair and makeup on the first days of the show. Lauren was great at figuring it out on her own, and she’s still comfortable with making herself up for events nowadays. I love this basic California-blonde, wavy style from back in 2004.


2005: Lauren called this her “Orange County” hair – over-processed and totally damaged from heat-styling. Those blonde streaks worked at the time, but these days we know Lauren can do a lot better in terms of gorgeous hair color. By the way, RDK is a fabulous way to repair those damaged strands with lots of keratin protein.


2006: In 2006, Lauren signed on for a spin-off of Laguna Beach – “The Hills.” This new reality show followed Lauren’s new life in L.A. as an aspiring fashion designer. She donned this chic braid, maybe to represent her new L.A. life – no more beachy waves!


2007: After being named spokeswoman for Mark beauty products, Lauren went for this sleek bob – and hated it! I think it looks great on her, but she said she just “didn’t feel pretty” without her long locks.


2008: Lauren went with this gorgeous reddish-blonde color and messy up-do for the 2008 Emmy Awards. The darker shade looks great on her, since we were so used to seeing her as a California blonde for so many years!


2009: This was a busy year for Lauren. She was filming her final season of “The Hills,” she released the LC by Lauren Conrad clothing line with Kohl’s and published her first book, “L.A. Candy.” In fact, Lauren was so busy during 2009 that she took her hair into her own hands – literally – and cut her own bangs. I wish my bangs looked this good when I attempt to cut them myself!


2010: Lauren went with long, bombshell locks for the release of her second best-seller, “Sweet Little Lies.” She admits to loving extensions, too, but only when they’re done right!

[ via InStyle ]

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Chris Brown Goes… Blonde?!

Posted on March 1, 2011 by rdkhair

Chris Brown, whose fourth album “F.A.M.E” drops on March 22, decided to get a little more colorful for the album’s debut. Sunday morning, he took to his Twitter and told fans to “Look at me now…” He posted this close-up twit-pic of his brand new blonde hair. This platinum dye job came just days after new, more detailed photos of Rihanna’s injuries were released. After these photos were made public, Chris posted a series of harsh tweets: “It’s ironic how ‘somebody’ put this out right around my album time! Wow! I guess that’s supposed to be strategic chess move. Unbelievable,” he wrote, according to mtv.co.uk. Hey, a new hair color always makes us feel better under stress too, Chris. Good move, although this shade may not be the most complimentary to your features. Also, it sort of reminds us of a fabulous one-hit wonder from the good ol’ ’90s…

[ via NY Daily News ]

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Red Carpet Hair: Academy Awards 2011

Posted on February 28, 2011 by rdkhair

Anne Hathaway – Academy Awards host Anne Hathaway chose this simple chignon to walk the red carpet in. Anne needed a versatile hairstyle that could be taken down quickly for her many outfit changes, since costume changes are pretty much required for the celebrity host of any Awards Show – she looked stunning in each and every one of her seven dresses!

Amy Adams – One thing I didn’t know about Amy Adams? She was an aspiring ballerina before she kicked off her acting career with “Drop Dead Gorgeous” back in 1999! I wonder if she was up against fellow former dancer Natalie Portman for that vigorous “Black Swan” ballerina part. Anyway, her signature red locks are a total red-carpet hit. These ’40s style, vintage waves were simple, chic and perfectly classy.


Gwyneth Paltrow – It’s hard to go wrong on the red carpet with these gorgeous smooth, sleek tresses that Gwyneth Paltrow chose to complement her colorful Louis Vuitton jewelry and shimmery Calvin Klein dress. With this simple and straight hairstyle, we can really admire those fabulous earrings…

Hailee Steinfeld – Can you believe this sophisticated, gorgeous young woman is only fourteen years old?! Between her incredible performance in “True Grit,” to her complete grace on the red carpet and her unbelievable fashion sense, we are huge fans of Miss Hailee Steinfeld. She helped design this Marchesa dress for her first Academy Awards – it is both red-carpet and age appropriate. As for the hair, a thin silver headband keeps this sleek up-do from overwhelming Hailee’s young features. Absolute perfection!

Mila Kunis – “Black Swan” star Mila Kunis looked stunning in a lilac Elie Saab gown on the red carpet last night. The lacy material went perfectly with her hairstyle of choice, a complicated vintage up-do with subtle waves on the side and a classy design of curls in the back.


Natalie Portman – Natalie Portman won the Oscar for “Best Leading Actress” for her role as psychotic ballet dancer Nina in “Black Swan” – no surprise there! Natalie looked absolutely beautiful on the red carpet with her side-swept cascade of curls, Rodarte gown and Tiffany jewels. So happy Natalie and Mila are straying away from the ballerina buns!

Jennifer Lawrence – Jennifer Lawrence’s dress was certainly red-carpet ready – she stepped out in an incredible scarlet-red, form-fitting Calvin Klein Collection gown. Jennifer kept her hair and makeup simple, a smart choice with a dress like that. The “Winter’s Bone” star went with long, blonde, sex-kitten hair – gorgeous!


Mandy Moore – Mandy Moore has been one of my favorite lady celebrities since her very first album – if you’ve never heard it, check it out. It’s the ultimate ’90s bubblegum pop. Love it! I love how versatile Mandy’s become, switching from singer to actress and back flawlessly. She’s also managed to avoid any major media attacks, which is extremely rare for most lady A-listers these days. I’m loving her new strawberry-blonde hair color and simple chignon from last night – plus, her performance of “I See The Light” from the animated film “Tangled” with Zachary Levi was awesome!


Penelope Cruz – She may have just had a baby a month ago, but Penelope Cruz wasn’t about to miss the Oscars, where her husband Javier Bardem was up for Best Actor, for anything! She wore a stunning red L’Wren Scott gown and left her beautiful honey-brown hair long, loose and natural.


Reese Witherspoon – Reese Witherspoon is always a red-carpet hit, but she took the ponytail to a whole new level with this super-glam, voluminous style. She paired her Brigitte Bardot-inspired retro ponytail with a simple black and white Giorgio Armani Privé gown and bright green Neil Lane jewelry.

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Spring Makeup Trends: Neon Everything!

Posted on February 28, 2011 by rdkhair

Classic Crimson

You can keep classic red lips fresh if you don’t overdo it – keep the rest of your makeup minimal. Here’s a perfect example from Cynthia Rowley’s Spring 2011 Runway Collection. For an awesome lip stain that lasts all day and never wears off, try the Chubby Stick in Chunky Cherry from Clinique for just $15, my favorite makeup brand EVER.

Barbie-Doll Pink

This bright, girly shade was all over the runways during Fashion Week. I’m loving the combination of bubblegum pink lips, retro shades, and sleek, pulled-back hair from Jil Sanders’ Spring Collection. So, think pink and try one of these fabulous Barbie Doll lip colors for Spring: Piret & Tamara Lip Slip in Strawberry, $25; or Lime Crime Countessa Fluorescent opaque lipstick, $16.

Electric Feel

Yigal Azrouël went totally wild on the runway with this warrior-esque, electric pink eye shadow. With eyes like this, the rest of the face was kept beautifully minimal – and it worked. If you think you’re up to try the neon color palette, try Napoleon Perdis Color Discs in Tequila Sunrise, Pink Slink, and Scarlet Woman, $25 each.

Not-So-Mellow Yellow

Peter Som’s models wore this bold, bright yellow eyeshadow to go with his Spring Collection. This shade is anything but mellow – not for the faint of heart! Try MAC’s eyeshadow in Chrome Yellow, available at maccosmetics.com, only $14.50! Peter Som used this color on both his blonde and brunette models, but yellow makeup shades definitely work best with darker hair colors…

Tropical Lips

This gorgeous coral / orange lip trend is one of my favorites for the Spring. Fendi took a break from their usual beauty palette and had their gorgeous models strut the runway in this sultry, tropical lip color. There are many surprisingly flattering shades of orange – try Shiseido Perfect Rouge lipstick in Day Lily, available at shopnordstrom.com., $25.

[ via Daily Candy ]

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Royal Accessories: Kate Middleton

Posted on February 25, 2011 by rdkhair

Yesterday, Prince William & Kate Middleton made their first public appearance since they announced their engagement in late 2010. The happy couple’s hot date involved attending a lifeboat naming in Trearddur Bay, which is where they plan to settle down after a long honeymoon. Of course, those details don’t matter as much as Kate’s fashion and hairstyle choices – which happened to be absolutely perfect. She wore her brunette locks pulled back into a smooth ponytail, the perfect choice for a windy English day.

The best part of Kate’s ensemble was her exquisite hair accessory – a “fascinator.” You probably never heard this term, but a fascinator is a classic British hair accessory that attaches to your tresses with a comb or a clip. They’re usually decorated with elegant pieces like flowers, lace, or beads, and they’re super popular at fancy occasions like weddings, polo matches and anything involving the Queen…

Kate chose to modernize this classic look by wearing a feathered fascinator – love her! This particular feathery accessory was designed by Philip Treacy, who’s also been asked to design hats for the Royal Wedding!

[ via Lock & Mane ]

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European Hair Trends 2011: Sam Villa’s Report

Posted on February 25, 2011 by rdkhair

Industry expert Sam Villa recently traveled to the Mondial Show in Paris as an educator, where he schooled other stylists from all over the world on his best tips and techniques. He also, of course, picked up on some cutting-edge European hair trends and gave a full report to BehindtheChair.com. Sam noticed a total mixture of grunge and glamour, a major fusion of hair and fashion trends and a ton of other breakthrough styles from across the Atlantic. Here’s our breakdown of his Trend Report!

The fashion world can be a huge source of inspiration for top hairstylists. Sam noticed a extreme merge of fashion and hair trends in Paris – for example, cut-outs are huge on the runway right now. In the hairstyling world, this translates to cool textures and patterns. “We’ll see lots of embellishment in the form of knots, plaits and braids to create multiple textures working together within one look,” Sam told Behind the Chair.

At the Mondial Show in Paris, Sam heard the word “glunge” from a lot of the pros. In plain English, Glunge means a combination of grunge and glamour, which is really nothing new – this is definitely the decade of mix and match. The twist is that the new Glunge trend blends the glamorous ’40s, the natural ’70s and the grunge-y ’90s. In the new millennium, this means a slightly messy, slept-on look and contrasting textures.

Sam picked up on a ton of short hair trends in Paris. European stylists are going for rugged textures and shattered edges for short haircuts – the texture trend has definitely taken over the pixie-cut crowd. Sam is loving the “Quiff” for short-haired ladies! A Quiff is a wild hairstyle that combines the ’50s pompadour, the ’50s flattop, and sometimes a mohawk. I don’t know about this one…

Fortunately, smooth and silky textures will never go out of style. The minimalist trend is still huge, and sleek bobs are all over the runways. The hottest bobs these days have much more choppy edges, with uneven layers that add volume to short hair. Sam recommends an intricate layering technique to create the best texture.

[ via Behind the Chair.com ]

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From the Runway: Fall 2011 Hair Trends

Posted on February 24, 2011 by rdkhair

Hairstyles in the Fall 2011 Runway collections were pretty diverse. Sleek ponytails, high buns and chignons were nothing new – these simple and chic styles always work well. But the greasy bangs, weird hats and Snooki Poof’s were just totally off! What were you thinking with the beehives, Peter Som?! Here are a few hair trends from top designers’ Fall 2011 collections…

Center Parts – I’m all for the ’70s retro look, including center parts. Changing your part can really switch up your entire look – for example, going from the side to the center will give you more volume overall. But designers Nicole Miller, Jason Wu and Alexander Wang got the middle part all wrong! The model for Nicole Miller looks like her hair hasn’t been washed in weeks. Jason Wu’s hairstyle of choice for the model pretty much consists of gluing her locks straight to her head, and Wang’s is just a big, frizzy mess.

Pinned Back Bangs – I happen to be a huge fan of pinned-back bangs in certain cases – like when you’re growing them out, going to the gym, or need to style in ten minutes or less. But most definitely NOT when you’re walking the runway for a major designer like Derek Lam! What was he thinking? He could have at least had the stylists pin the models’ hair back with a little bit of volume, instead of making it look totally greasy and gross.

Hats – Hats are great for the chilly months – this season we just can’t seem to get enough of those awesome Taylor Swift-style berets, which are not only totally adorable but perfect for covering up a bad hair day. For Marc Jacobs and Diane von Furstenberg, though, these hats ruined what could have been an awesome Fall 2011 collection. The models look like a combination of Willy Wonka & the Oompa Loompa’s. I do dig the polka dots, though.

The Poof – Okay, let’s get one thing straight: Snooki and Amy Winehouse are totally hilarious creatures. Their ridiculous lives are entertaining enough for the general public to follow closely, whether it be on YouTube, the “Jersey Shore,” or anywhere else these two are causing some sort of upheaval. However, they are definitely NOT good examples of hairstyle trendsetters. No fashion designer should be requesting the Snooki Poof or the Winehouse Beehive for a Runway Show! Shame on you, Peter Som…

[ via Real Beauty ]

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Damage Control: 4 Quick-Fixes for Your Worst Hair Day

Posted on February 22, 2011 by rdkhair

Sometimes you just know, from the very moment you open your eyes – it’s gonna be a bad hair day. Of course, with the revolutionary Rio de Keratin home treatment, the number of your bad hair days will decrease dramatically. What beauty-conscious lady wouldn’t want to remove 100% of frizz and have totally manageable hair?! Anyway, if you’re running low on your RDK kit, here are a few fabulous quick-fixes to tackle even your worst hair day.

Problem #1: Limp & Lifeless Strands

Celebrity stylist Johnny Lavoy advises all you ladies with limp, lifeless strands to revive them with this trick. Pull your hair into a high ponytail, heat it up with a blow-dryer while it’s up in the ponytail and let it cool off. Add a bit of flexible-hold hairspray and let the ponytail down for instant volume!

Problem #2: Dry & Damaged Hair

These winter months tend to make your locks extra dry, causing lots of damage and breakage. Catch this problem at the root by using a deep-conditioning, overnight repair treatment. Your hair will wake up already conditioned and ready to style.

Problem #3: Out-of-Control Static

If you’re running out of the house every morning with freshly washed and dried tresses, your precious hair is much more prone to static and flyaways. RDK’s home treatment allows you to wash-and-go, of course. But if you’re between treatments and need to blow-dry, try an ionic ceramic blow-dryer, which removes the static charges before they reach your hair. For a super quick-fix, simply run a dryer-sheet over your hair!

Problem #4: Greasy & Oily Locks

There are lots of options for hiding unwashed or greasy hair, including a ton of stylish accessories and up-dos. If your hair is greasy in front, try a French braid across the front and pull the back into a low chignon. And here’s your best chance to accessorize! Try a thick headband – quick, cute and easy. And of course, the ballerina bun is a great quick-fix for oily locks. Try Oscar Blandi’s technique for the perfect ballerina bun:

1) First, flip your hair upside-down and brush the hair from the nape of the neck up towards the crown.
2) Once you decide exactly where you would like to place your ballerina bun, tie hair into a ponytail with an elastic.
3) Wrap hair around the base of the ponytail in a clockwise direction and secure hair by tucking bobby pins evenly around the bun.

[via StyleList ]

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Blonde Ambition: Gwen’s L’Oreal Paris Commercial

Posted on February 17, 2011 by rdkhair

Gwen Stefani’s experimented with a whole lot of different styles since the days of No Doubt. But besides the neon pink hair she rocked back in the ’90s, platinum blonde has always been her trademark color. So, is there any better blonde to join Jennifer Lopez as a spokesperson for L’Oreal Paris? Definitely not.

Gwen’s new commercial for L’Oreal Paris Superior Preference Hair Color is a flawless combination of music and beauty. While her song “Luxurious” plays in the background, the blonde bombshell shows off her own luxurious platinum locks in a variety of hairstyles – perfect waves, a smooth blow-out and a high, sleek ponytail. Gwen even touts L’Oreal Hair Color’s “Rock Steady Shine,” a totally awesome reference to a great No Doubt song. Check out the clip below:

[ via Fashion Etc ]

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Hair Trends: Fashion Week 2011

Posted on February 15, 2011 by rdkhair

It’s Fashion Week in NYC, and as usual, the hair trends on the runway are out of this world! Some designers take things a little too far, but besides a few hairstyle fails, we’ve seen some great runway hair trends from designers like Cushnie et Ochs, Erin Featherston and Chado Ralph Rucci. Funky accessories, heavy fringe and long, loose locks are front and center, and of course, stylists are still finding great ways to create grown-up braids. Read on for some of our favorite Fashion Week ‘dos and tips on how to get these looks!

Cushnie et Ochs, Feather Chignon: The feather extension is one accessory we’re loving lately! Stylists for Cushnie et Ochs began with a sleek, high knot near the top of the head, then added real black and white turkey feathers instead of a fake extension to get this look.

Doo.Ri, Full Fringe: Designer Doo.Ri’s goal for the Fall Collection was to elongate the frame with neutral tones and long, straight hair. Stylists for Doo.Ri were all about the retro hair trend – totally smooth locks and straight-across bangs. These bangs were custom-cut from hair extensions and fitted to the models after a full blow-dry.

Jenny Packham, Long and Loose: Designer Jenny Packham was going for a natural, movable hairstyle to match her collections of young and fresh coats, leggings and tops. The hairstyle was loose, not stiff, and went just a little bit retro with the middle part…

Erin Featherston, Goddess Braids: Stylists for Erin Featherston created this angelic braided headband style with lots of extensions, but you can do a modified version – simply making a braid and wrap it over your head like a headband and pin in place. Or, just go for a braided headband extension!

Chado Ralph Rucci, Messy Chignon: Chado Ralph Rucci was looking for a loose, slightly messed-up chignon for his show. His stylists created the usual low chignon, then made it appear more slept-on. I’m loving the swept-back look, too.

[ via StyleList ]

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