Why This Summer Will Be All About Those Braids

As much as I love leaving my hair loose and blowing in the wind, when summer hits, I find it best to keep it tucked away to avoid sweaty neck syndrome. As someone who lives in a humid city, I know that letting your hair down can cause some serious frizz and may not always be the best choice. Luckily, I learned how to braid my hair this year and not just the basic way.

As a little girl, I always found braids beautiful and enjoyed making bracelets with string to mimic a look I couldn't master on my head. I found it to be therapeutic and relaxing, and I aspired to learn how to recreate the look with my hair. All this time, I never thought I could master the braid and alas, I opted for a simple blow dry. Until now.

A braid can take on a variety of forms. Whether a fishtail, a french braid, a braided headband, or even a crown, there are so many options to choose from. If you search the word "braid" on Pinterest, you'll find an abundance of looks that don't limit you to the traditional three strand braid.

With the 70s being the fashion decade of the moment, the hippie look is very a propos and nothing goes better with wide leg pants, fringe, and suede jackets, than a few braids in your hair.

Here are ten braided looks from the runway to inspire you.

Marissa Webb S/S 2015 - cosmopolitan.co.uk

Valentino S/S 2015 Couture - style.com

Giorgio Armani S/S 2015 - harpersbazaar.com

Chanel S/S 2015 Couture - vogue.co.uk

Bibhu Mohaparta S/S 2015 - harpersbazaar.com

Michael Kors S/S 2015 - thisisglamorous.com

Suno S/S 2015 - harpersbazaar.com

Mara Hoffman S/S 2015 - via wwd.com

Peter Som S/S 2015 - harpersbazaar.com

Marco de Vicenzo S/S 2015 - fashionising.com

Will you be braiding your hair this upcoming season? If so, which braid is your favourite?

Ponder it,

Bella

Is Rainbow Hair The New Ombre?

While Ombre may have been the popular choice a year ago, celebrities have recently opted for something a little more dramatic and unconventional. From Nicole Richie's lilac pixie cut to Hilary Duff's recent green locks, there are a wide array of colours to choose from that weren't on the hair colour spectrum before.

While colouring your hair an unnatural hue was once seen as an act of rebellion, it seems to be attracting some pretty conventional pop stars in Hollywood. Hilary Duff, Katy Perry, and Rihanna are amongst the most popular to have tried this trend that has inspired us all to think brown is even more drab than ever before.

Gone are the days of blonds having more fun and brunettes doing it better. You thought redheads were special? When you have the entire rainbow to choose from, red pales in comparison.

via usmagazine.com

Will coloured hair translate onto the streets?

So far, it continues to be associated with the punk movement and since the 90s are in the midst of a comeback, we may see more rock n' roll hair to go along with the clothes.

Will it hit the runways? Time can only tell, but I'm eager to find out.

What do you think of this look? Would you dye your hair a bold colour? If so, which one would you choose? Would it reflect your mood of the moment or your personality?

Ponder it,

XOXO,

Bella

Why Elaborate Hairstyles Are Totally Underrated

via fashionisers.com

As I watch the runway shows this season in Paris, London, New York and Milan, I can't help but notice that the look of the moment is loose effortless "I woke up like this" locks. Though the effortless look is always en vogue due to its effortlessness, I've recently noticed that it's a look we've all been adopting for years. Who has time to style their hair in the morning before work anyway, right?

While exploring Pinterest, I consistently come across elaborate hairdos featuring braiding and twisting that peak my interest, but my natural tendency is to assume I could never pull it off. But then I think to myself, why am I so afraid to try?

Recently, I decided to look up some YouTube tutorials and lo and behold, it wasn't all that complicated after all. As a little girl, I always wanted to learn how to french braid my hair but never had the manual skills to do so. After taking a look at a YouTube clip teaching me how, I finally learned how to braid my hair the way I've always wanted. From there, I decided that I had to learn how to do my second favourite braid, The Fishtail. You guessed it. It was as simple as a few twists back and forth.

YouTube, where have you been all my life?

After learning how to braid my hair and realizing that it wasn't all that complicated, I figured out another secret of the beauty world. If you know how to braid, your options are endless. There are an abundance of braided hairdos out there that can be done in five minutes or less once you've got the gist of it. Apparently, we've all been so afraid of trying these looks when in fact, they were never that difficult to begin with.

Though I have always marveled at runway hairstyles during shows like Valentino and Givenchy, I never thought that I could possibly try anything similar and therefore, I focused all of my attention on the clothes. With my recent discovery, I realized that it's time I take a closer look at runway hair because yes, I can do it at home.

All of this is meant to inspire you to experiment with your hair. As the clumsiest person I know, if I can do it, so can you. I've also come to realize that it's an activity that can be quite relaxing. Now, I'm not telling you to stop letting your hair down, but simply suggesting a change. We don't always need a drastic haircut to alter our look. A simple hairband will do.

Ponder it,

XOXO,

Bella

The "Dirty Hair" Look: Will It Ever Catch On?

The week at New York Fashion Week, our very own Alexander Wang had models walk down the runway with hair in a state that we would never leave our house in. It looked nothing short of greasy and stuck on your face like they hadn't washed it in over a week. Wang loves to push the envelope and take an unconventional route in his shows, but whether the fashionistas of this world will adopt this look is another question altogether.

via fashionisers.com

 The question is: Is this fashion?

Several seasons ago, Prada had her models sport the exact opposite of Wang's, the wet I-just-showered look. It was definitely something we wouldn't mind trying ourselves. Is fashion transitioning into a more "easy" look when it comes to hair? In other words, are we spending way too much time with the hairdryer? Wang says yes. So does Miuccia. Perhaps our best look is one that is most natural.

With hairstylists running to and fro during fashion week, we can safely say they're doing their job, but their work is so expertly executed that it appears as close to natural as can be. However, we all know the secret behind the no-makeup makeup look. Only a true artist can achieve a natural look with the same amount of effort as the, shall we say, unnatural look. Without access to these stylists, can we even pull off runway hair? Should we even try? Is this merely an expression of artistic freedom or a message to the masses?

Though this hairstyle seems absurd to the average person, is it possible that Wang is trying to tell us something? Should we be taking a break from our intensive beauty routines and opt for something slightly less done? This is not a revolutionary idea. Beach waves are a prime example of keeping the hair as "natural" as possible. But we all know Blake Lively's hair does NOT look like that in the morning. Or do we? How about the mantra "I woke up like this" as adopted by Beyonce? Would it be so ridiculous to wake up and walk out the door without touching a strand? Is done-down the new done-up?

Ponder it,

XOXO,

Bella

My Hair And My Crayola Box Have A Lot In Common

When I was 16, I finally felt like an adult (even though I wasn't even legally an adult...). There's something about that sweet 16 that feels different. You've crossed the bridge of preteen anguish and you can finally breathe a sigh of relief as you enter your teens. That year, I decided to cut my waist length locks, donate them to Locks For Love, and sport a brand new shoulder length do. When I stepped into school that day, my friends were in awe at my bold decision and the squeals of excitement awoke my internal butterflies. For the first time, I had made a brave decision about my hair and I felt as though my entire world would change.

via deviantart.com

For a woman, hair is not just a series of strands that fall down your head. It's our power source. However, it does not define us. When we're about to take a big step in our lives, many of us opt for a dramatic haircut as a symbolic gesture to mark this moment in time. It has the power to completely change our mood and it's as easy as a pair of scissors. Sometimes, in moments of passion, we allow our siblings to snip at our bangs or perhaps we accidentally get gum in our hair and need a quick fix. When those locks tumble to the ground, we often shed a tear and when anyone compliments our mane, the joy wriggles through our bodies as we offer a shy "thank you". Hair is everything and if a hair salon is easily accessible, it makes change all the more enticing, hence why celebrities changes their hair like underwear.

via taz.com

Last year, the pixie was the biggest celebrity hair trend and as it trickled down to the public, it became a sign of an empowered woman with enough sex appeal to pull off a shorter do. Before that, ombre was the fad that every girl wanted in order to be simultaneously blond and brunette (best of both worlds, right?). And before that, every woman was changing her bangs on the fly to get that playful look that they provide. These past few months, it's been all about the colour. And I'm not talking about bleach blond.

Recently, Nicole Richie went lilac, Kristen Stewart went burnt orange, and Katy Perry just introduced her slime green locks on Instragram. It turns out, all the celebrities have spring fever and what better way to indulge in the disease than with one's hair? Will this look make its way to the general public? How far will people go? Will hair become a flavour of the week? What colour is next? Is Rihanna's bright red look so five years ago?

via the-collectiveonline.com

All I know for certain is that I probably wouldn't go green. Perhaps purple heads have more fun?


Bella