Holiday Hair And Finishing Touches

By Anne Marie Scanlon

During the busy party season it's pretty hard to keep your hair looking its best. Between work and socializing there's hardly time to brush your hair never mind give it the TLC it needs. The key to minimizing the time your hair needs is simplicity. Patricia Morales, a Redken session stylist says "when running to a holiday gathering, try a simple style so you can spend more time socializing at the party than preparing for it. (A) chic, back of the head messy bun is straightforward and fun." To get the look apply a small amount of Redken outshine 01 anti-frizz polishing milk throughout dry hair. Finger comb hair loosely back, twist into a loose bun and secure with a bobby pin. Pull some loose strands to the front and finish with Redken forceful 23 super strength finishing spray for hold and shine.

For a classy wavy look Redken session artist Giovanni Guintoil suggests that those with natural waves use Redken Fresh Curls Shampoo and Conditioner, then add Fresh Curls Curl Refiner to towel dried hair and comb through. Diffuse hair and set with Redken workforce 09 flexible volumizing spray.

Ouidad offered the following tips to keep hair looking good not just for the party season but throughout the colder months.

• Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. We all remember how climate affects our hair during the warmer months but come the winter we tend to forget. Harsh winds, artificial heat and sudden changes in climate all contribute to the dreaded frizz. Ouidad recommend their Deep Treatment to revive lacklustre hair. Deep Treatment contains essential amino acids, proteins and moisturizers combined in a formula designed to deeply penetrate damaged hair.
• Go Easy. Ouidad reminds us that as the weather cools down we need to ease up on our beleaguered hair. The added static in the air means it is easier to aggravate strands and make hair frizzy. The answer? Be gentler as you shampoo - don't work hair into a thick lather as it only irritates the hair and leads to frizz. Too much conditioner will only weigh down strands so - go easy. OUidad recommends their Curl Quencher Shampoo and Conditioner as a gentle way to cleanse during the winter months.
• Protect. Believe it or not UV rays are still an issue when there's frost on the ground. Ouidad created Sun Shield specifically to protect hair year round. Sun Shield doesn't just offer protection from solar rays but offers deep conditioning benefits and seals individual strands.

Philip Kingsley (aka the hair doctor) a leading authority on hair and scalp health has just brought out a book to help you with all things hair. The Hair Bible: A Complete Guide to Health and Care is an A-Z of everything you need to know to keep your crowning glory glorious. The book includes all sorts of hair facts. Did you know that the average number of hairs on the human scalp is 120,000? Did you know that blonds tend to have more hair on their scalp and redheads less? Did you know that 1 person in 250,000 is sensitive to hair dyes. (Not me thank God - I'd have to join an enclosed order if I couldn't dye my hair). Now apart from those facts there's plenty of advice on how to treat hair and scalp problems. While Philip Kingsley can advise you about hair and scalp problems the thudding skull problems are all your own!

Finishing Touches

With the endless round of parties it's often easy to forget the essentials. It's pretty hard to remember to take off your make up, cleanse, tone and moisturise when you pass out in your clothes. Yes I'm sure you don't actually do that but we all know someone who does right. The Holidays are murder on the skin (and the waistline) so if you do little else make sure to lash on the moisturizer at least once a day. I can't say enough good things about Dermalogica Active Moist ($46). This is a deceptively lightweight lotion that absorbs very quickly. It's oil-free so there's no messing, or more importantly, no waiting around before you leave the house/apply your makeup/swallow a fistful of painkillers. I say it's deceptive because even though it's lightweight and easily absorbed it still works like a charm on dehydrated or under-hydrated skin.

If you fancy treating yourself then indulge in La Prairie Advanced Marine Biology Cream ($175) a gel-like face cream that keeps skin hydrated and refreshed winter or summer. Now I know it's expensive but that's down to cultivating marine life for its youth giving properties. Not only will La Prairie Advanced Marine Biology Cream leave your skin hydrated but it stimulates the production of new collagen, soothes and reduces inflammation and helps minimize the appearance of wrinkles. And the sight of that jar on your dresser will make you the envy of all your friends.

Boogying the night away isn't too much fun is your anti-perspirant doesn't last the distance. If you suffer from excessive sweating you'll be glad to hear that Botox has been FDA approved for the armpit area. An injection will temporarily paralyse a nerve that stimulates sweat glands. 91% of patients who took the treatment reported their sweating cut in half within a month and lasting up to six months.

Honestly, there should be a law preventing the lights going up at the end of the night. It's not fair on those of us whose face is a mess and it's certainly not fair on those who have to look at us. In fact, there should be a law against harsh lighting. But I digress - Getting your foundation right will make all the difference when the lights go up at the end of the night. Beautyblender^TM the ultimate cosmetic sponge applicator ($20) will give you a leg up when it comes to putting the slap on. This wonderful tool is the creation of not one, but two Hollywood make up artists - Rea Ann Silva and Veronica Lorenz. Now what they knew and we, the general public didn't (apart from the genuine sexuality of certain leading men) is that most Hollywood makeup artists take the regular triangular sponge applicators and cut them into round, edgeless shapes to make blending easier. And we all know the secret to flawless make up in blend, blend, blend. So with that in mind they created Beautyblender and elliptically shaped sponge with a lovely suede texture. Not only does the shape make it easier to blend but also easier to reach awkward places like the sides of the nose and under the eyes. So stick a star on your bathroom door and start making up like the leading lady you always knew you were.

Keeping with the Hollywood theme for a moment, dramatic eyes are always a party must-have. Give your eyes a spectacular look this holiday season with MAC Trax Eyeshadow ($14) a vivid and long lasting product that will look as good at the end of the night as it did at the beginning. You mightn't, but your eye shadow will. Ditto your mascara if you lash on the Cover Girl Lashblast Mascara ($7.49) before you go out. This mascara is specifically designed to volumize and thicken your lashes for a dramatic look.

Keep your holiday glow to one from within by making sure that your face doesn't shine like a Christmas tree light. If you have problem skin or are worried about breakouts Proactiv Solution Sheer Finish™ Loose Powder ($20) will keep excess oil at bay but won't clog up your pores while doing so.