Ask the Expert: A Reader Question Answered by Celebrity Hairstylist Ted Gibson

I recently launched a little feature called Ask The Expert, where you ask me fashion, beauty and style-related questions, and I open the Rolodex to have a famous expert answer it for you. Recently, reader Sheri had a question about her fine hair:


"I have really fine hair. I can get it looking good in the morning, but by mid-day it's totally flat and stringy looking. How can I keep the morning volume without having to reapply volumizer every few hours?" - Sheri, NYC

We asked celebrity hairstylist (Angelina Jolie, Anne Hathaway, countless other celebs and magazine covers) and TLC's What Not To Wear hair guru Ted Gibson to answer Sheri's question for her. Here's Ted's advice:

“Tilt your head over in the morning and, using Beautiful Hold Hairspray ($19.99, give your mane a liberal spray from scalp to the ends.  Toss your hair back over, spray it again, and you’ll have instant volume that will last all day long!”

Not only did Sheri get her question answered by a celebrity expert (and good friend), but we're giving her the hairspray as a gift for FREE! Looking forward to seeing fab photos of that massive mane, lady!

Have a burning fashion, style or beauty question AND want to win the product(s) mentioned? Ask away in the comments section! We've got experts LINED UP to answer questions AND give away free stuff!

Spring Hair Trend: How to Get The Fishtail Braid

Remember I was telling you about the fabulous Levi's Fall presentation? Well, even though the collection was for fall, the hair was very new and now, especially with some of the models sporting the Fishtail Braid, one of spring's hottest hair trends. One of my favorites, celebrity and runway hairstylist Rodney Cutler, was the man behind this killer look. For those of you looking to evoke a little rocker style this holiday weekend and beyond, here's how to get the style straight from the man himself:

1) Spray Cutler Volumizing Spray ($21) into damp hair. Blow hair dry using your hands to rake and tousle your hair.
2) Secure a slightly off-center ponytail.
3) Fishtail braid the ponytail:  Start by splitting the hair in two sections. On the right hand side, take a small outside section and bring over and under with the left hand side. Repeat with the left hand side and continue until you get to the bottom.  Secure with a clear or tonal elastic, then lightly pull it loose to create a disheveled look and feel.

Quick, easy and so runway cool, right? Give it a try!

Hair Trends: The Reverse Braid and Other Insider Tips Courtesy of Redken and Guido

I attended a fabulous event where a few of us beauty bloggers got a chance to sit with the legendary hairstylist Guido (he of multiple fashion shows around the world) and hear his take on runway and hairstyling trends courtesy of Redken. Charming and effusive, he really let it go and gave us some fun insight into what it's like to work with the legendary designers and their runway shows. Out of the conversation came a huge trend that you'll see in multiple magazines and on the street soon if you haven't already: the "reverse" or "fishtail" braid.

 

Photo Courtesy of Marcio Madiera for Style.com

Created as the look for Alexander Wang's genius Spring/Summer 2010 presentation and then seen again on the ADAM runway for A/W 2010, it's a new and effortless take on a classically girly look. Creating the look is incredibly simple and he suggests using Redken Aerate 08 Bodifying Cream-Mousse to give the hair some lift and to create lightweight hold (and since this recommendation comes from using the product on the runway and in photo shoots, it's been tested, believe me.) Simply reverse the direction of your hands when you braid your hair (as in, instead of tucking inward, pull and weave the hair in the opposite direction) starting at the nape of your neck and secure with a clear elastic. It's edgy and runway chic and should take about three minutes.

Redken products are available via a fine salon near you, so pick up this fabulous styling product and give the reverse braid a whirl. Runway walk completely optional.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: Backstage at ADAM with MAC, Redken, and Deborah Lippmann

The Scene: A number of bloggers marveled at how calm the scene backstage was. They may have been blind. Models were being shuffled between and among the various stations, often getting their hair, makeup, and nails done at once. There were tons of fashion news outlets interviewing the experts – flashes and bright lights became part of the background. Show coordinators hurried about the backstage area on their walkie-talkies and Blackberries. A power outage at one of the hair stations caused a stir.

Overheard Backstage: “I only know how to get in backstage. The front [entrance] is for pedestrians.”

The Products: Makeup: MAC Fluidline gel eyeliner in Rich Ground, MAC eye shadow in Cork, MAC Mineralize blush in Laguna, MAC Cream Color Base in Pearl

Hair: Redken Spray Starch, Redken Workforce Volumizing Spray

Nails: Deborah Lippmann nail lacquer in Fashion, Deborah Lippmann high gloss top coat

Get The Look: Makeup: Romy Soleimani wanted to create an “earthy warrior” look, perfect for a “wild, sophisticated, nomadic woman.” The look is rendered entirely in warm, rich tones – even the mascara was brown! To start, Soleimani made a soft cat eye with a medium brown shadow, smudging it with her fingers to keep things perfectly messy. She also drew a light line under the eye with the same brown shade, and applied a light coat of mascara. Using an angled brush, she dotted a bit of gel eyeliner closely along the upper lash line. Next, Soleimani brushed the models’ eyebrows upward with brow gel and filled them in using the appropriate shades of pencil eyeliner. She then used minimal liquid foundation to even the models’ skin tones, and applied Laguna blush liberally to create a dramatic, contoured cheek. A bit of Cream Color Base went under the eyes, as well as a very light layer on the forehead, nose, and chin. This look is easy and sexy, and is certainly adaptable from the runway to reality.

Hair: Stylist Rudy Lewis crafted a similarly tribal, “ethnic” look for the models’ hair. The focal points are the tightly-pulled, controlled sides, messy mohawk on top, and a “woven, messy, lived-in” fishtail braid. To achieve the look, Lewish blew the model’s hair straight and, using Redken Spray Starch, pulled pieces from the sides of her head back toward the center of the head and pinned them there. With the remaining hair in the center of the head, Lewis created a small pouf, teasing and spraying to secure the height. This hair was pinned on top of the two side pieces. With all of the model’s hair in the back, Lewis divided it into two segments to create the fishtail braid. Then, using a blush brush covered in hairspray, as well as his fingers, Lewis touseled and generally messed up his handiwork. The final look was “windswept” and soft, and interacted with the great textures in ADAM’s line.

Nails: For models’ nails, Deborah Lippmann used two coats of Fashion, a grayish, “dirtied” taupe from her eponymous line. The color was finished with high-gloss top coat, so that the “earthy” manicures would stand out on the runway.

New York Fashion Week: Backstage at Mackage with AVON

The scene:  Backstage at Mackage was really pretty calm. The models were fresh for the first show to kick of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and the crew was in full swing getting hair and makeup ready. The AVON team had been at it for a while when I arrived at 8:15 am but were all in great spirits.

Overheard Backstage: "If my camera doesn't have a flash, does that mean I'll look darker in photos?"

The Look: Avon products were used to get the hair look created for the Mackage show. Tippi Shorter and Anthony Barrow,who created the hair look for the fall 2010 runway show, were supported by a full team of Avon Global Stylist Advisors and Advance Techniques professionals. Anthony described the look as a girl who had gone out the night before and had to use her morning-after hair to head into the day. It's a deep side part with a textured ponytail. It's sexy, it's glam and most important, it's incredibly easy.

The Products: Avon Advance Techniques Volumizing Mousse, Advance Techniques Moisture Sleek Smoothing Serum and Gel, and Advance Techniques Mirror Shine Spray.

Get The Look: Here are the instructions straight from the Avon team:

• Apply Advance Techniques Volumizing Mousse to hair that has been blown straight, even ly distributing to create a sturdy base for the style. Use a comb to create a deep diagonal part that extends from the hairline just above the outside corner of one eye to the crown.

• Using a round barrel brush and blow dryer, create a defined part by blowing the front section forward to create a dramatic sweep across one eye.

• Just below the crown, backcomb a 2-3” section of hair and drape over the back of the head to distribute the teased pieces. Gather the bottom section of hair (below the diagonal part) and tie off into a low ponytail using a clear elastic band.

• Mix Advance Techniques Moisture Sleek Smoothing Serum and Shaping Gel and apply by hand to the front section of hair, enhancing the drape across the front of the face.

• Gather the draped section of hair and pull into the loose low pony, securing with bobby pins. Finish with Advance Techniques Mirror Shine Spray for a high shine finish.

It's beautiful and I'll be working the look a little later today. The fabulous folks of AVON were nice enough to give me a head start. One of them gave me a cute blow out this morning! Thanks!

More on the Mackage clothing and show here shortly. We're off and running!

Beauty How-To: Get Mila Kunis' Red Carpet Hairstyle with TRESemme

Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

I'm really quite crazy about the fabulous Mila Kunis and we all know that I have a special affection for  TRESemmé products.  At the red carpet premiere for the upcoming movie, Book of Eli, Kunis walked the red carpet in fabulous gamine style, especially her sleek, glam hairstyle. Want to know how to get her look for under $10? TRESemmé hairstylist to the stars Mara Roszak created this fabulous look and here she explains how to get this red carpet-ready look on your own:

• Apply TRESemmé 24 Hour Body Foaming Mousse to towel-dried hair, then blow it dry using a medium-sized boar bristle round brush.
• Part hair in the middle and gently tease the crown.  Separate the front and crown sections of hair from the rest of your hair, then  pull the remaining hair into a medium height ponytail and secure it with an elastic band.
• Take the left front section, gently pull it back and twist it around the base of the ponytail.  Then take the same section from the opposite side and follow the same step.  Tuck both ends underneath the pony and secure the style with bobby pins.
• Curl the ends of the ponytail under with a 1 1/4” barrel curling iron.  Lightly spritz TRESemmé No-Frizz Shine Spray all over style to add sheen, holding it an arm's length away from the head.  

Keep it here on FSB for more fabulous style tips!

Got Winter Dry Hair? Cure That Situation with Moroccanoil

I have Sahara dry hair all year but in the winter it becomes a frail haystack. Not really a good look, people. A little before Christmas, I received a little life-changing box in the mail and now I have to share it with you. Want to know how celebrities get that silky fabulous hair at awards shows and how the models look so glossy at New York Fashion Week despite multiple blowouts and other heat-styling implements of hair tortue? Folks, it's now all about Moroccanoil, all the time, every day.

Originally suggested to me by Felicia Sullivan and Amber Katz of Beauty Blogging Junkie, this revolutionary set of hair products has completely changed my hair for the better. The products are infused with Argan oil, a powerful antioxidant and UV protector with almost miracle-like rejuvenating properties. The products also contain vitamins like Vitamin F (Omega 6), Vitamin A (improves elasticity), and Vitamin E and and Phenols to protect hair against free radicals and environmental stressors (pollution, hard water, etc).

For all of us out there who are concerned with the planet, these products proudly boast some very important eco-chic beauty details. They contain no animal products, are not tested on animals and use recycled materials whenever possible. Decrease your hair hatred and your carbon footprint? It's magic time, I know.











I'm dying to do one of the salon-based treatments based on my experiences with the daily maintenance items but at the very least, I have to tell you to get the Moisture Repair Shampoo ($18.95) and Moisture Repair Conditioner ($20) to see MIND-BLOWING results. I keep the Hydrating Styling Cream ($34.05) on my bathroom sink and use it every morning to battle my gas heat and I live (tell you, LIVE) by the bottle of Moroccanoil Treatment ($39), which I use on my hair before every blowout or flat iron session. This stuff is changing LIVES, PEOPLE. No more flyaways, no more dry hair, no more rough texture. Let there be singing in the streets!

My hair is now completely hydrated with bounce, shine and the most amazing texture of my life. My own mother couldn't believe the texture of my hair over the holidays and we almost had a situation where she tried to jack my stash (it didn't happen, as much as I love her). I even have a purse-sized container I take with me when I fly and another for my gym bag. I used to stash lip balm everywhere but now it's all about Moroccanoil.

Moroccanoil products are salon-exclusive products available throughout the country. Check out their salon locator to find a purveyor near you (and stop in for a treatment while you're at it.)

Now if I could just stop touching my fabulous hair...

FTC Full Disclosure: Samples received for review

Celebrity Hair Moment: Paula Patton

Larry Busacca/Getty Images

How much luckier can one girl get than Paula Patton? Talented actress? Check. Married to Robin Thicke? Check. Sweepstakes winner in the genetic lottery? Triple check. Well, even if you're not lucky enough to be Paula Patton, you can work this stunning hairstyle she sported at the Avon Foundation's 'Champions Who Change Women's Lives' celebration at Cipriani 42nd Street recently in New York City.

Celebrity hairstylist Ursula Stephen (she who famously gave Rihanna her signature hairstyle) is working with Motions and she created Paula's look for $15! Here's how to get the look from the stylist herself:

1. Apply Motions Light Styling Foam, focusing on the roots
2. Blow dry hair in an upwards motion to add volume
3. Spray Motions Light Hold Working Spritz throughout hair. Using a medium-sized barrel iron, curl small sections of hair, securing curls with hair pins. After hair has cooled, remove pins and comb through with a wide-toothed comb
4. Using fingers, gently sweep hair behind ears and create a soft side part, teasing the crown if necessary
5. Finish with Motions Oil Sheen & Conditioning Spray for a long-lasting look

Hey, maybe this look will get you someone as sexy as Robin Thicke. At the very least, you'll steal a little of Paula's chic celebrity style and that will take you miles at your next function. Head to your local Motions retailer and give this look a go. Love it!

NYFW: Backstage Beauty for Jeremy Laing Spring 2010 Collection - MAC at Milk Studios

Photo courtesy of Style.com

A light and airy clothing collection deserves hair and makeup that displays the designer's work beautifully so when Jeremy Laing needed a sleek, beautiful look for his Spring/Summer 2010 collection, he called in the experts and I was backstage to record how the look was achieved. Here, Davine's Marco Santini of the eco-chic SoHo salon ION tells us how he created the sleek, architectural look of the hair, which he described as a sort of "bike helmet":




After hair comes makeup, so here is MAC lead makeup artist Hung Vanngo discussing how the iconic makeup label created a soft and natural look to compliment such a high-contrast hairstyle. This is an excellent example of how to use MAC's beautifully pigmented shades to build a look. Don't be afraid of color, people!



The resulting look was a beautiful, light look that offset the collection with impeccable style.

The Breakover Diaries: Fashion and Hair When You Just Don't Care

You woke up this morning and realized that, yep, things still aren't right and rosy. Whether you stayed up all night trying to decide whether or not to tele-stalk (texting, drunk dialing or just staring at your phone hoping it will catch fire), your relationship is still over and the last thing you want to do in the morning at this stage is get cute and bust out the door with a smile on your face. It seems unreasonable that the world is making demands on you right this moment, doesn't it? Alas, you must comply.Here are some tried-and-true methods of looking good when you just don't care.




Getting dressed: Ladies, this is when a dress is your best friend. Throw it on and leave the house with coordinated shoes. This DVF Printed Wrap Dress($385) is the solution to mornings when you don't care. This is also the reason Audrey Hepburn's iconic little black dress is an all-time favorite wardrobe solutions for any and every day. This Anne Klein New York Crepe Peplum Sheath ($188) is an amazing style solution. Please note that both of these dresses look good on any woman of any size. There are universal style solutions and these are two of them. The shoe question is simple today: black flats or black pumps. Don't make this complicated.



Hair: Obviously, this is not the morning to get fussy with your hair. You need a good solution and you need it fast. This is why God created the ponytail for those of us with longer hair and a headband for all hair lengths and types. Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo Spray ($21) is the best solution for mornings when you can't shampoo your hair (for girls with coarse hair, it will make hair slightly more manageable. Throw it back into a ponytail and/or use a headband, like this Marc by Marc Jacobs Zip Pull Skinny Headband ($82). Don't worry about the price on this item: you'll use it for years and it will save you on hundreds of mornings just like this one.

As for beauty, this is another no-brainer: mascara and red lipstick. Done. At times like these, picking out your best smoked-eye-for-day look is the equivalent of the Riddle of the Sphinx so skip it. Throw on your sunglasses and leave the house. You're ready to handle the day in gamine style and no one has to know about the phone angst from the night before.

60 Second Beauty Tip: The Best Way To Deep Condition Hair

We all love deep conditioners, especially those of us who need to apologize for all of the abuse we heap on our poor little heads (flat irons, straighteners, chemical treatments, etc. - shame on us). Want a salon-quality deep conditioning treatment at home? Put your deep conditioner on your hair when it's dry.

Why? Because when your hair is wet it's already absorbed water, so it can only "drink" so much more product before it's "full". If you put the deep conditioner on your hair when it's dry, it takes in more of the product and you get maximum benefit. Throw it on dry hair, run some errands or take a spin class, then wash your hair as normal. Blow your hair out and the results will blow your mind.



I'm actually doing it as we speak. I'm using Redken Extreme Rescue Force ($12.75), which is amazing for my dry, unruly hair but it's actually amazing for all hair types that need a little extra lovin'.

Give this tip a shot. You can buy me a drink the next time you see me. I love lychee martinis. :)

Bravo's The Fashion Show Episode 10: Beauty and the Beast that is Plagiarism

Did you catch last Thursday's episode of Bravo's The Fashion Show. If you haven't and you love fashion, I have to demand that you go to the website right this second and watch this episode. I don't care if you've missed every episode up to now, this was the one to watch, people.

In an evening gown challenge, one of the designers, Johnny, brought out a gown as his own and Isaac Mizrahi and Harper's Bazaar's Editor-In-Chief Glenda Bailey judged it to be a knockoff of Maggie Gyllenhaal's Lanvin from the 2009 Golden Globes. In the immortal words of Whitney Houston, "Aw, Hell to the Naw!" (That's "Oh, HELL NO" for those who don't speak Whitney.) He was dismissed and Daniella won but can you imagine the drama of having a dress you designed pronounced a knock-off in front of Isaac Mizrahi, IMG's Fern Mallis AND Harper's Bazaar's EIC? I clutched my pearls (not really) just thinking about it!

But I digress. The winning design was Danielle's gorgeous confection based on a stormy sky. If you want to a gown based on the design (which is really quite lovely), head to Bravotv.com and shop til you drop. As always, I was loving Jeanie Syfu's hairstyles and the fabulous TRESemme artist strikes again with an easy-to-repeat, summer-friendly style. According to Jeanie, this is how you get the look for your next big night out:

"Starting with damp hair, apply TRESemmé 24 Hour Body Foaming Mousse on the top section, and blow dry with a round brush. Pin curl, and set. Distribute TRESemmé 24 Hour Body Sculpting Spray Gel to remaining hair, and blow dry. Pull hair back into a sleek bun, using a flat brush for control. Take pin curl clips out on top, and tease the base for lift. Brush lightly for a smooth surface, and hold with TRESemmé 24 Hour Body Finishing Spray. Work the rest of the length into the bun, and pin."

Easy, right? More behind-the-scenes hair, makeup and looks from the finale to come.

FSB Behind the Scenes: Bravo's The Fashion Show

Ok, so I admit that as much as I love Bravo's The Fashion Show, I have been completely remiss in keeping up with posts on it but you HAVE been watching, haven't you? Between the reality show drama and the real-live advice you can take away from this show, it's must-see programming, people. Tune in right this minute if you haven't already.

The look at left is the winning look from the challenge on Episode 7, where the designers had to design an outfit inspired by Isaac Mizrahi's mood board in less than eight hours. While I adore the outfit (you can buy a look inspired by the winning design here), I was mad for the hair. TRESemme's Jeanie Syfu, the lead stylist on the show, tells how to get this look:

• Apply TRESemmé Thermal Creations Instant Heat Tamer Spray on dry hair concentrating on the mid-shaft to ends.
• Starting at the nape, use a 1/4" curling iron to create small ringlets from roots to ends.
• Once entire head is curled, create a center part and finger through to loosen and fluff the curls.
• Rub TRESemmé Anti-Frizz Secret Smoothing Crème on hands, and twirl small sections of hair around the finger to create definition.

I gave it a shot and it totally works. See photo of me with my new rockin' do below out to dinner at NYC's Cafeteria with my friend Suzette:















I was invited backstage to watch the taping of the finale episode featuring the finalists' collection at the legendary Cipriani Wall Street last week. The photo below is a sneak preview. I can't show you most of the backstage photos until after the episode airs but I promise they're totally worth it!

(You might recognize the two models in the photo : the gorgeous girl with curly hair is Nazri from Project Runway. The girl at the far left is Bianca Golden, a runner-up from America's Next Top Model.)

So, tune in tonight and check out all the drama, intrigue and real-life style advice. Do not miss another episode, people. After all, life is a fashion show!