Tis the season for fabulous hair!

It’s official… the holidays are here! And whether or not it’s your favourite season, or if you even celebrate this time of year, holiday events and social obligations are lurking around every corner — and you have to look fabulous!

A great outfit is just not enough during the holidays. Everyone is dressed to impress, and that goes for hair and makeup as well. Well… unless you get invited to one of those Ugly Holiday Sweater parties… then we know for sure your hair won’t be the focus (no matter what!) Having said that, you still don’t want to be too fussy or formal with your hair. After all, you’re there to party!

Here are some of our favourite hairstyles that are perfect for those holiday parties where you want to look fabulous but still let loose!

Penelope Cruz’s side-swept waves:

A great and easy way to add a little extra oomph to wavy or curly hair. Pin it all to one side and touch up the waves for a lux look… and make sure to add lots of hairspray to keep it in place and a shine serum or spray!

Kim Kardashian’s edgy pony:

If you’re looking for a little edge to go with your glam, look no further than this Kardashian’s voluminous ‘do. There’s no Snooki resemblance here — Kim keeps her poof sleek and modern, pinning the sides back into a long and shiny pony.

Anne Hathaway’s elegant chignon:

If you’re looking for something a little more elegant, but still simple, Anne’s Oscar updo is for you! It’s as easy a low chignon, a modern middle-part and a few sexy, loose tendrils!

Sarah Jessica Parker’s glam waves:

Want a modern take on 70s wave and volume? This look is perfect! Ultra big and ultra shiny, this style can go from office to evening in no time!

Diane Kruger’s decorated ‘do:

So you fancy, huh? (who doesn’t like a little Drake reference!) Diane Kruger adds the perfect amount of bling for the holidays to this wavy updo. Adding a little sparkle with fancy pins and clips is an easy way to be festive… and gorgeous!

Elizabeth Olsen’s chic top knot:

Those of you wanting to show off your fantastic facial structure, make up or neckline should take a page from the youngest Olsen’s book! This not-too-perfect but not-too-messy bun does everything right and can work with jeans and a blouse or a fabulous dress.

This holiday season partake in as many festivities as possible… just so you can show off your fabulous hair!

Found at Bay Station: the perfect pixie

The other day as I was rushing to the salon through Bay station a woman caught my eye. No, it wasn’t someone looking all crazy or super glamorous or quirky. It was simply a woman with one of the most perfect pixie cuts I’ve ever seen.

It was a short, Emma Watson-esque pixie, smooth, but with a hint of texture and the shortest of bangs. It suited her face perfectly and was accented with a simple and neutral headband. But what really made this pixie stunning was the colour; it was somewhere in between a copper and strawberry blonde and it was amazing. There is a shortage of perfect pixies out there in general, and gorgeous, red pixies are even more elusive. It was definitely special. Had it not been rush hour I would have stopped to compliment her and ask who did her hair. I kind of regret not doing so!

Since then, I have not been able to get pixies off of my mind. People are afraid of going uber short because they’re worried about looking too masculine and that men won’t like it. But let me tell you: if you have the right facial structure, a pixie can enhance femininity – even with some edge – and it will draw attention to your favourite features.

And not all pixies have to be cropped right to the head. There are so many options for you to play with texture, bangs and layers to get the look that’s perfect for your face and style. And you may be more excited to play with colour because it won’t be as overpowering (think Rihanna’s muppet red afro).

However, as much as I love a perfect pixie, they sadly don’t work for everyone. Those who are blessed with bone structure to die for and who have delicate features suit the pixie the best. And you have to be comfortable showing off those features as well. If you hide behind long hair and never pull it off of your face, chances are a pixie might be too big of a shock.

Here are some of our favourite pixies to inspire you. Please take note: not one of these beautiful ladies looks like a boy.

The only time of year when a bow made of hair is okay…

We’ve talked before about iconic hairstyles and how they can define a personality. The hairstyles are almost always universally recognized, or if not, at least recognized by all of those who follow pop culture.

Halloween is one of the best times to think about iconic hair. When planning your costume do you start with the clothes? Do you ever think about how your hair could make or break the costume?

Think about it. There are certain hairstyles that will define you as a certain character or celebrity regardless of what you cover your body with. You could be wearing an astronaut suit but if you have a tall, curly blue wig on, you’ll still be Marge Simpson… just as an astronaut, right?

Here are some of our favourite ideas for Halloween costumes that are all about the hair… I guarantee you’ll recognize most, if not all, of these memorable styles.

And please keep in mind the reason they make such great costumes is that you really should never have this kind of hair on a day-to-day basis… Snooki, I’m looking at you.

Happy costume planning!

It’s come undone..

It’s no secret that I am a fan of undone hair. I’ve written more than a few posts dedicated to various purposely messy looks… and this is no exception.

But why is the “undone look” so popular? Why this aversion to looking polished?

I have a few theories. First of all, messy hair can be incredibly sexy. I’m not talking about “dirty teenager” or “just-been-camping-for-a-week-and-can’t-remember-what-a-shower-feels-like” messy, I’m talking about the “night-after-a-great-party” or, if I may be so bold, the infamous “sex” hair. It just looks so carefree and cool… but you know there was an initial style behind it that just became, well… undone.

The second reason might be a rebellion against being a slave to heated hair tools… or the heat and humidity of the city for that matter. Why punish your hair (or your patience) when casual hair can look great for work and, with the right makeup and accessories, for a night on the town.

My third theory might be a bit of a stretch, but I think it has some merit. I point my finger at the rise of hipsterdom; there must be some correlation between the abundance of hipsters in the world and the popularity of messy hair. Just the fact that undone hair is styled to look messy reeks of hipsters, no?

But regardless of the reasoning behind this trend I am hopelessly in love with it. There is just something so appealing about less-than-perfect hair that looks somehow perfect. From tousled waves to undone top knots and chignons to messy braids, all of these styles demand some effort, but not too much. And this nonchalance is what makes it irresistible.

If you don’t understand, I dare you to take a look at some of our favourite “undone” looks. I’ll bet you fall in love too.

Take a walk on the wild side…

Have you ever wanted to colour your hair bright pink or purple but just never built up the nerve? Maybe your profession won’t allow crazy colours in the office or you wish it could be for just a weekend. Well, your wish has been granted.

This September, our dear friends at Kevin Murphy came out with a new hair colour that will excite tweens and grown-ups alike: Colour.Bug! It’s a temporary hair colour in powder form – think eye shadow for your hair. It’s easy as pie to apply and washes out with your next shampoo. How perfect is that?

I can imagine you shaking your head in disbelief. Surely this can’t look as cool as it sounds… or can it? And if so, it must only show up on light hair. Well, my lovelies, how wrong you are! To show you just how awesome Colour.Bug is, our very own Carla demonstrated on yours truly (a blonde) and one of our dear receptionists (with black hair) who dared to go pink.

What you need: a smoothing and shine serum like Kevin Murphy’s Young.Again; one or more Colour.Bug colours (we chose pink and purple… there is also orange available); and hairspray (we used Kevin Murphy’s Session.Spray).

Before you apply Colour.Bug, it’s recommended that you have product in your hair in order for the powder to stick easily. We suggest using a smoothing and shining serum – why not beautify the condition of your hair while you’re at it? As you can see, Tanya has a lot of hair, but only one or two pumps of Young.Again is suffice.

To apply the Colour.Bug, simply glide the applicator over hair using some pressure. Because the colour is in powder form, use your fingers to rub the product in, spreading it over the desired area and giving it the trendy ombre look. Make sure you drape a towel over your shoulders to catch the loose powder. Some may rub off on your clothes, but it does not stain.

See, I told you it would show up in dark hair! When you’ve finished applying the colour to your satisfaction (we chose to do all of Tanya’s ends) seal the deal with a dose of hairspray. Again, because Colour.Bug is a powder it is important to use a finishing product like spray to make sure the colour stays put.

And voila! Tanya has pastel pink ends without having to bleach her hair – no commitment!

So now that you know that yes, Colour.Bug is an option for even the darkest of hair. But how does it look on the blondies? Well, you’re in for a treat. Here is my hair after applying the Young.Again serum.

On my hair, Carla decided to do alternating layers of pink and purple colour to give it a rainbow effect.

Because my hair is so light, much less Colour.Bug needs to be used. Layer the colour to play with the vibrancy.

After Carla finished layering the pink and purple, she played with my waves and used the Session.Spray to hold the colour in place.

When all was said and done, I had gorgeous, rainbow tips! Lauren Conrad, eat your heart out!

Colour.Bug truly does do what it claims: it provides amazing, temporary colour, no matter what type of hair you have. However, before using it, there are things you need to consider. Remember, it is a powder which means that no matter how much hair spray you use, if it gets wet it will come out… so you don’t want to get caught in the rain. And for the blondes out there wanting a splash of colour for a day, here’s a warning: it may be visible for a few days. The packaging does say that very light or over-processed and porous hair may be stained by Colour.Bug. In my case, the vibrancy of the colour washed out after using a cleansing shampoo; however, a pastel tint was still very visible after two more washes. Four washes later, there is barely a trace except for a slight purple tint when you look very closely at a few strands. But my hair is naturally blonde and not over-processed, so the staining might be more severe with bleached hair.

Regardless of its drawbacks, Colour.Bug is a fun way to brighten up your look without the commitment of a normal hair colour. For all you nine to fivers, this may be your chance to take a walk on the wild side… for a weekend.

Too cool for school…

We’ve been talking about fall trends and fashions since the end of August, but it seems we’ve forgotten the most important time of year for so many – back to school!

September isn’t just about buying new clothes and supplies for school. A trip to the salon is almost mandatory to get that great cut or colour for the new school year. Whether you’re in high school or university, your hair can define your style, help you fit in or give you that stand-out-from-the-crowd quality. Whatever your aim is, great hair is important!

There seems to be two big trends in Hollywood for the young and fabulous: long and wavy with subtle ombre highlights ; or a choppy bob. Either way, they’re both fresh, young, low maintenance and fun!

Here are some of our favourite back-to-school styles:

Leighton Meester’s subtle ombre locks are effortless chic for the new school year. They add interest to her long, wavy mane and are extremely low maintenance – your roots are supposed to show! However, ombre highlights are not an excuse to be lazy… they should look deliberate and should only be a few shades lighter than your root colour – think sun-kissed vacation hair rather than growing out blonde colour.

This curly, layered lob is stunning on Selena Gomez and is perfect for back-to-school! Lobs and bobs frame your face and are still long enough that you can braid the front or put it up in the ever-popular top knot for those early morning classes!

It’s a given that students pull their hair back in buns and ponytails all the time! But there’s nothing wrong with adding a little style to that pony. Low, side-ponies are back and when embellished with a braid or twist are a fabulous alternative to a boring, high ponytail. And it’s just as easy!

Uber-long, honey-coloured hair seems to be a die-hard trend for the under-25 crowd. To make sure it doesn’t look too plain try adding different braids or subtle highlights.

It caused quite a stir when Diana Agron chopped off her hair into a shaggy bob… but we absolutely love it! She still looks young and fresh but a bit edgy! And she can keep it tousled or flat-iron it for a sleek look!

Blake Lively has the quintessential young, fresh look. From her sun-kissed colour to her easy, breezy waves, Lively is known for her trendy hair.

As we can see from young starlets, having gorgeous hair doesn’t have to be fussy or old-fashioned. In fact, the more carefree and easy your style is the better! You’re young… you should have fun with your hair! Experimenting with your style and trying out the latest trends is one of the best parts of being in your teens or early twenties so take advantage! You’re only young once, right?

Bringing retro back: 10 iconic hairstyles

The right hairstyle on the right person can define a decade. There’s no doubt that over the years, certain celebrity hair has stood out more than others, and regardless of when you were born, is instantly recognizable.  

Modern trends are often inspired by vintage looks, and hair is no different. Iconic styles are re-imagined and given an updated twist, like borrowing mod styles from the ’60s or soft curls and volume from the ’70s.

Which celebrities have had the most iconic hair? Here are ten of our favourite iconic hairstyles (whether they should ever be repeated or retired is debatable… *cough* ‘the Rachel’ *cough*…):

Glamify yourself for TIFF..

It’s the beginning of September, and you know what that means in Toronto. It’s TIFF time. The city is buzzing with excitement, it’s full of celebrities and packed with of events.

If you live in Toronto, especially downtown, chances are you will eventually get caught up in the TIFF whirlwind. Whether going to viewings or attending parties, you may find yourself wanting some red carpet style yourself… and why shouldn’t you? Who said you have to be wowed by celebrities? Why can’t you wow them?

Here are some of our favourite red carpet hair styles to inspire your own:

Oh, Uma. How we love you. This has to be the best red carpet style that Uma Thurman has ever donned. From the colour to her piecy waves strategically pulled back, she looks effortlessly gorgeous in this romantic hair style.

At the 2011 VMA Awards, Beyonce showed off her new baby belly, glow and simple (but stunning) side-swept locks. Her soft side bangs frame her face perfectly and a low, soft, side pony is simply elegant.

Psssst… I have a lady crush on Diane Kruger. She is the queen of imperfect, yet absolutely stunning, red carpet hair. From messy braids to slightly undone updos, she rarely goes wrong. With the accessory and loose tendrils, Kruger shows that not everything has to be “just so” when it comes to a glam look.

If old school Hollywood glamour is more your speed, consider a look like Katherine Heigl’s. Classic yet fun, a throwback to the golden days of show biz is never wrong for the red carpet.

When Adele’s hair is blown out like this it looks like she has the best hair in the world. If you want big, soft, voluminous curls for an event, this is the way to go. And don’t even get me started on her colour. Ah-may-zing.

Obviously, I have to end with Ryan Gosling – and this needs no explanation. Ladies, I’m sure none of you would mind if your men styled themselves like this. All we can say is: delicious.

So don’t ever let those pesky, beautiful celebrities outshine you again – get inspiration from their style and outdo them! After all, who doesn’t want to look like a star for a day?

Hair that’s fit to be tied!

Hairstylists are notorious for hating pony tails.

But here’s the real deal: it’s not the ponytails that stylists hate – it’s the lack of style! When you’re lazily throwing your hair up and looking like you’re going to the gym when you’re not, stylists cringe. They hate to see that someone doesn’t care about their hair!

Caring about your hair doesn’t mean you need to spend hours primping, though. Of course it’s unreasonable (not to mention impractical) to sport a glamorous updo for day-to-day life. In real life, people need an easy way to look styled when in a rush. And thus enters the ponytail. But not the gym pony, no way. Let us introduce you to the styled pony – an acceptable (and recommended) alternative to its lazy sibling.

The key to the wavy pony is lots of volume and texture. In term of getting the right texture, this is a perfect look for day-after-washing hair, especially if you already have it in a wavy or curly style. If that’s the case, it’s as easy as spraying in some dry shampoo at the roots to pump it up and use a product to freshen up your texture, like Schwarzkopf’s Moisture Kick Conditioning Spray or Eufora’s Curl ‘N Spray Revitalizer. If you’re starting with freshly washed hair, apply a volumizing mousse and dry your hair with a round brush. Set your hair in about six hot rollers and use hairspray – this will give an easy, uneven wave to your hair with lots of movement.

When pulling it back, add some lift at the crown by slightly twisting your hair on either side, pushing it up and then pinning the twists in the centre, suggests Remo, co-owner of Haartek. You might also start a braid (just two or three plaits) and pin it, eliminating the need for a hair elastic. If you find that your curls are falling too flat, you can always fix individual waves in the pony with a curling or flat-iron.

If smooth and shiny your style, the flat-iron is your best friend! After washing, apply mousse and a heat-protecting serum and blow dry your hair with a round brush. Flat-iron your hair in small sections and add a shine serum afterwards (Haartek is a big fan of Eufora’s Beautifying Serum and Kevin Murphy’s Young.Again). Whether you want a sleek low pony or a higher voluminous one, try wrapping a section of hair around the elastic as a chic way to add style!

Last but not least, we still can’t get enough of the messy braid. This is hands-down better than a tired ponytail and because it doesn’t have to be perfect, it’s just as easy! Use a shine serum and a texturizing spray before braiding and make sure to leave a few loose tendrils – the messier the better.

As we’ve said before, unless you’re actually going to the gym, there’s no excuse to look like you’re going to the gym. We promise, it doesn’t have to take hours, so show your hair some love!

It’s time for some hot air!

The seventies are back, baby.

This fall, fashion is going glam with trends that are tweaked from the seventies. In the summer, we saw the emergence of maxi dresses and skirts, platforms, sequins, jumpsuits and rompers, big floppy hats and statement jewellery. Well, this fall is no different and adds fur trims and vests, the return of flared pants, and earthy tones. And the hair is beautiful.

When the humidity dies down, consider retiring the high buns, braids and beach hair to go retro – pin straight hair with a middle part and voluminous, soft blowouts are in… and we couldn’t be happier. The spotlight is on long, shiny and bouncy hair that is easy and manageable for everyone.

If you already have straight hair, this is easy peasy – just part your hair in the middle, use a frizz-fighting, high-shine serum and you’re done! If you have a slight wave, it may be time to embrace the flat-iron. But don’t worry. It’s not scary. Make sure you apply a heat protecting product before using your hot tools and go by small sections. And to limit damage to your hair, it’s better to turn the heat up on your flat-iron and run it over your hair only once rather than over and over again at a lower setting.

If straight is too boring for you then consider the bouncy blowout. Use a round brush and mousse to get lots of volume when blowdrying. You may also use a flat-iron or hot rollers to add some curls and oomph to your do, set with some hairspray, and voila! Instant glam.

Considering the deliberately messy and low maintenance hair of the spring and summer, adding some style to your tresses is a welcome change and it looks fabulous with the colours and textures that will be seen in the next months. So bust out those hot tools, brushes and rollers… we promise you’ll feel gorgeous.