Brooke Moinet

It’s finally here! Award season is upon us, and to me that means all new beauty and fashion trends.

Sure, Fashion Week gives us a heads up on what hair styles, makeup trends and fashion is to come in the next season. In reality it’s the celebrities who take the runways visions and spin them off into what’s really wearable.

There is so much to look out for when the celebs hit the red carpet. Glowing skin, and the foundation on top, dewy or matte finish? Lip shades, which of course go with the type of eye, smokey eye, or something more subdude? Hair color, hair texture, hair length and style. Don’t forget the manicure either!

The Golden Globes are this Sunday, and I will definitely be watching. So, don’t worry if you miss it, I’ll be taking notes and sharing with you in up coming posts!

Ah, how I love to experiment. If you had a moment with my mother, she would tell you all about my little science experiments when I was younger, and the messes I would make. As I got older I turned these experiments onto my hair, coloring it myself in the sixth grade. Yes, it was a disaster but, then like now, when I had an idea of what I wanted to do I wanted it now, and I could not wait for an appointment.
So, if I am out of town and want a change of style I do a quick Google and find the closest most reputable salon.
This time it ended up being Prive at Shore Club in South Beach. My intention was to go lighter and try to keep my length. Yet, upon meeting my colorist I got nervous and ended up going darker in fear that I would end up with fried locks instead of a healthy blonde halo.
She seemed confident but I could tell from her own hair that going lighter may not be the wisest choice due to her pixy cut and poorly toned blonde cut on top her head.
I also should have known this would make it much harder for myself to go lighter in the future , but I needed a change so I dove in and went for a rich #3, darkest brown…

Turns out the girl coloring my hair was in fact an armature (I knew it) despite her rave reviews online. It also doesn’t help that I consider myself an expert in hair color (on others hair) and I am super anal about making sure the hair is saturated when doing an all over color. (I noticed several strands that still had light spots once my cutting stylist blow dried my hair at the end of the service.) To be fair the poor girl didn’t really stand a chance doing my color. When I was an “assistant” to a “top” colorist at the last salon I worked at, I wanted to pull my hair out every time I had to endure the sight of  her doing a color.  Bleeds with high-lights, sloppy coloring techniques, same toner for almost every client, I said “WTF in my head on a daily basis… So this girl at Prive, who probably only has two years out of beauty school (at the most),  didn’t stand a chance once I stepped into her chair.
Thank heaven the stylist who cut my hair was a real expert, who even helped launch Toni and Guy salons, the makers of TIGI and BED HEAD in Europe. Nice work Franck!
So, in the end I was happy for the change but I was left unsatisfied and wanted more.  More Blonde!

 Damn my need for change…

Hair Implants?  Maybe a guy word for them but, no bud they are called “extensions”… Anyway, at least a guy made some effort and mentioned the noticeable change on my head.  And how can you not notice? Not only does a girl feel sexier with long beautiful locks, but it shows in her confidence.

This is the second time I have gotten Great Length extensions, and I have to say, I love them! Ever since I cut my long hair off last year I have been biting my nails waiting for it to grow back. Thankfully, I knew my stuff on extensions and made myself an appointment to get the Cadillac of extensions put in. I wanted them to last as long as possible, and I didn’t want to have to worry about them falling out or them feeling like a weave. Sorry.

There are in fact several different types of extensions you can get. Some with metal clamps that last approx. 6 weeks (and I hear are painful for a few days), sew-in extensions that last about as long as you can stand not washing your hair.  Bonded ones like Great Lengths that can last up to six months, (mine lasted about 4 months), and several other ways to extend your length.

It all depends on how long you want the hair to last so, ask all the questions that concern you. If you have had short hair for a while, try a clip-in type of extension first to see if you even like your hair longer, and to find the right length. Different types call for different price points, so check with your stylist or salon for more details, and shop around.

Now I know it’s not my imagination, letting your color/highlight grow out inches past there retouch phase is a total trend today. I am seeing it everywhere! From Mary-Kate Olsen, to the girls on  MTV’s The City, to stylists in the salon, it’s regrowth central. I admit to a certain subtle point it looks ok. But if your regrowth and previously colored hair is so dramatically different that you have an obvious LINE going around your head, you need to go to the salon. ASAP!

To try this look ask your stylist to give you “hidden highlights”. Keep the brighter highlights around the face, under the top layers of hair. Ask the stylist not to bring the highlight to the root, and to use a zig-zag approach on painting on the highlight to help the highlight look more natural. Make sure your highlights are toned to seal the cuticle for a smoother finish and to tone down the contrast of highlight to base color.

With this technique you can stretch out the time between retouches in the salon, up to six months for the bohimian “grown out look”.

Happy New Year!

 Ahh, fresh beginnings for everyone. No matter how much you neglected your hair, nails, skin, wardrobe (you get the idea) in ’08, tis a new year and a new opportunity to take care of numero uno.

While you’re dreading every tasteless meal for the next few weeks and prepping for those grueling workout resolutions, treat yourself to a fresh new hair color, or a fresh pedicure. Even better, promise yourself this year to take better care of you. Simply wear SPF daily, and or take your locks in for a quarterly treatment. Add an antioxidant to your daily skin regimen, invest in a weekly at home masque for your tresses.

What are your New Year Beauty Resolutions?

I was recently asked how to create volume and keep it there, even if you have super stick straight, flat hair by nature.

Being as I have been blessed with naturally stick straight, flat, lifeless hair myself, I have more than a little experience when it comes to making my hair look bigger and thicker than it naturally is. These trick not only work for straight, flat hair, but for all hair types looking for a little extra umph.

First, start by looking at what shampoo and conditioner you’re using. Chances are your two most importand styling products are working against you.Try a volumizing shampoo and conditioner, or a lightweight/ gentle, daily shampoo and conditioner.
When you condition do not use a lot of conditioner, just a very small amount. If this still isn’t giving you the results you want, try either skipping conditioner or just apply the conditioner on your ends. BedHead makes a yummy volumizing shampoo and  conditioner, or opt for their conditioning spray/leave in conditioner. These products don’t dry your hair out or strip color and they are very lightweight.
Some also say try conditioning before shampooing, and they say this gives hair more volume.
Second, get yourself a “back-combing” comb.
Trust me, these babies work wonders. Try your local Sally Beauty Supply.
Take small, thin sections and begin backcombing by lifting the section high, and gently from the top of the section comb down to the bottom. Do this a few times each section.
After you have done the sections in which you want to achieve volume, turn your head upside down and spray with a light weight hairspray.

Viola! Sexy voluminous hair.

Many studies show that pumpkins are the “perfect food.” Not only can you replace oil in baking with pumpkin puree for a healthier treat, but pumpkin seeds contain vitamins and minerals perfect for skin and hair health. Carve away!