By Jaime Tiech
Read up girls, the experts tell all. The tips on getting the looks you love are right at your fingertips. Glamorous, elegant, cute or sexy is just how this article will leave you looking. Follow the wise words of these Queens stylists, turning you into the fairest one of all.
Bigger is Better
With J-Lo’s video “Glad,” an updated rendition of Jennifer Beals’s character Alex Owens in “Flashdance,” it was inevitable that big hair would be back. For all of you who have tried for so long to hide your luxurious locks, it is time to set them free. The natural look is in, so throw in some light gel, blow dry upside down and you are good to go.
For those who are curl-impaired, follow these steps to attain a sexy full head of curls. Set your dry hair in hot rollers for 10 minutes. Keep in mind the bigger the roller the bigger the curl, the smaller the roller the tighter the curl. Spray light gel, blow dry for five minutes, and let dry for a few. Remove the rollers and with your fingers brush through your hair.
The do: if you want something a little more classy, take two pieces from the hairline, wrap around and pin at the nape of your neck. Not only will you have sensational curls, but a new look that took less then 20 minutes.
The Bangs are Back in Town
“Bangs were given a bad name in the ’80s,” said Teresa Brino, owner and stylist of Evolution Salon in Bayside, citysearch.com’s No. 1 hair salon of Queens.
Brino said she feels that with the right style, bangs can work for anyone. Although bangs are returning in a big way, knowing which style works best for you is a little difficult. With so many different choices, from baby-doll bangs to straight-cut bangs, the style that works best on any face shape is the “sexy bang,” as Brino refers to it. Very angled, soft and wispy, these bangs easily tuck behind your ear depending on length.
If drastic is what you are looking for, big full bangs that cover your eyes are very trendy. Celebrities such as Liv Tyler and Beyonce Knowles have been seen wearing this mysterious looking cut. Always consult your stylist before making a decision, but as Brino said, “Don’t be scared to try anything new. Change is always good.”
Sleek & Sexy Wins the Race
Straight hair will always be in style. From classy to fun, straight hair can do it all. For those not blessed with the slink, and with so many straightening processes being offered, it’s confusing to know what the right technique is for your hair.
Kara Tosiello, a stylist at Evolution Salon, depends on the ceramic iron. A little expensive, but not as damaging to the hair as a metal-plated iron, Tosiello explains the difference between the two.
Unlike the metal-plated iron, the ceramic iron plates heat completely allowing even distribution, causing less time spent on straightening, ergo less damaging on your hair.
Money should not be an object when it comes to all of the great benefits this revolutionary iron brings to your hair.
The Do: For long hair, a sleek high ponytail, simple yet elegant. For medium to short hair, choppy and fanned out is a cute and sexy look.
Color, Color Everywhere
Nico and Lucy Ianello’s Salon LuLu, a husband and wife owned salon in Bayside, prides itself in its expertise of color and highlights. “Everyone can be highlighted, men and women,” said Lucy.
Since natural is The Look this summer, soft highlights are definitely big. If you want a one-color look, “…reds are in. Reds are always in…” said Lucy. LuLu’s modernistic color processing machine cuts the elapsed time of sitting from 45 minutes to approximately eight or nine minutes.
Make-Me-Up Before You Go-Go
“As Maybeline’s ads say, ‘maybe she’s born with it…’” spa owner, licensed esthetician and cosmetologist Dina Palumbo of Mind Full Peace in Long Island City said. “You gotta wear what looks good on you. Style that works for you, your face, your look. We like to do what’s best for (our customers).”
Palumbo said this summer is all about the glow. Shimmer and glossy, pinks, roses, bronzes, and neutral colors are for any skin tone. “Makeup is your accent,” said Palumbo. “It should be balanced with proper skin care.”
Quick tip: Blending concealer and powder on lips and eyelids — then applying color — will maintain your look for much longer.
The Goods
“You don’t need a lot of product. Really listen to your stylist when they say dime size. Less is always better,” are words that Kara Tosiello of Evolution said she firmly believes in. Here is a list of highly recommended products proven to work, straight from the experts themselves.
Curls
Alterna Texturizing Glaze — defines curls without the crunch. (Found at Evolution.)
Straight
Hang Straight Straightening Lotion — protects against all heat. (Found at Mind Full Peace.)
Biosilk Silk Therapy — smoothes out frizzies. (Found at Salon LuLu.
Make-up
Aveda Cheek/Lip Creme — one tube for both eyes and lips, in a variety of colors. (Found at Mind Full Peace.)
The “It” Girl
June Martin of Bayside lets loose, bringing new meaning to the phrase wild and crazy with this fabulous hairstyle.
