FitSugar

Fit Tip: Soak Your Hair Before a Workout

FitSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:00:00 PDT

When I head out into the hot weather to work out, I discovered an easy trick for staying cool. It works so well that I do it before heading out for a run, bike ride, or hike. I simply stand over the sink and drench my hair with water. When it's completely soaked and dripping, I wrap it in a bun. As I run, the breeze on my wet head keeps me cool. It is quite a pleasant sensation. Try it the next time you head out in the heat.

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Team Zoe's Joey Maalouf Answers Your Most Hair-Raising Questions

Jaime Richards — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:00:00 PST

You've learned how he creates Rachel Zoe's signature beachy waves, and you've likely admired his other work from afar (Jessica Alba's soft and pretty Golden Globes makeup, anyone?). And most recently, celebrity stylist Joey Maalouf has signed on as a beauty advisor for Slim Fast's Studio Wow! campaign, which he explains, is a way to help people be at their most confident for a big, upcoming life event.

"You know, there's no one big step that does it; it's a lot of little steps," Joey says. "First the tricks of dieting, then you start to think about your external look: styling, hair and makeup. I love making people feel like they can just do it at home - and they can," Joey adds. And that's why he's answering your most hair-raising questions. From keeping curls bouncy to Spring 2012's hottest trends, see Joey's expert advice on how you can wow the crowd when you read more.

Olympian Natalie Coughlin Dives Into Beauty

BellaSugar — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:05:42 PST

Two-time Olympic champion Natalie Coughlin is legendary for her 100 meter backstroke, impossible to beat as part of the freestyle relay team, and one of Team USA's brightest hopes for this year's London games. We met up with her at a shoot for her new Pantene ad and discovered that Natalie's also quite the glamour puss when she's on dry land. "I'm a girlie girl when I have the chance," she said. "I love playing up my eyes, and after my Dancing With the Stars experience, I love doing false lashes."

When she's in a pool all day, however, there's no reason to wear makeup. "It’s just the last thing I want to think about," Natalie admits. "But I do use a lot of sunscreen." With so much chlorine exposure and time in the water, painfully dry skin is also an issue many swimmers face. "I have to moisturize every day," Natalie says, "and I dry brush at night, which I think is important."

As anyone who was ever on a neighborhood swim team can attest, though, a swimmer's biggest beauty challenge is always hair. Natalie is known for her long, healthy mane, and says she's avoided the chop by following a cardinal rule. "Always wet your hair before you get in the pool," Natalie advises. "If you can put conditioner in your hair before you get in that helps, too." Wetting your hair... so you can get it wet? Apparently not as weird as it sounds. "If you think about it, "Natalie explains, "your hair is very much like a sponge, so if it absorbs tap water, that’s much better than chlorinated water." Thanks to Natalie, next time we go for a dip, our strands will have taken the plunge beforehand.

Why You Should Break That Hair-Washing Addiction

Jaime Richards — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:00:50 PST

If your hair has been less than lustrous as of late, factors such as cold weather and excess toweling can be the culprits. Daily shampooing, however, can also be the cause of dull, dry-looking strands. That's why John Ryan, hairstylist and owner of Festoon Salon in San Francisco, advises his clients to skip the washing every single day.

The reason? Natural oils provide shine and protection, therefore making the hair look healthier and more radiant. And by busting out of the shampoo-each-day routine, you'll likely even notice that your hair styles even better with its natural oils intact. Additionally, since oil production reduces with aging, you'll also likely notice you won't even have to wash nearly as often with each passing birthday.

Skipping the shampoo step every day, however, "doesn't mean you have to be unhygienic," Ryan explains. In fact, you can still get it wet and add styling products as needed. "I sell a lot of dry shampoo," he quips. So just think: a few weeks back we all scoffed after discovering a video from the 1950s suggesting that women wash their hair every other week. Although that may be a tad extreme, maybe they were on to something with their anti-rinse, -lather, and -repeat mantra.

3 Hair Oils That Will Give You the Softest, Shiniest Hair

BellaSugar — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:16:08 PST

The secret to soft and shiny hair isn't brushing it 100 times a day or buying the most expensive conditioner. In fact, it's a whole lot easier than any of that. Just dab some hair oil on your strands (applied wet or dry depending on your hair type) for that covetable glossy finish. To find out three of our top favorite oils, watch our video now.

3 Ways You Could Be Sabotaging Your Hair

Jaime Richards — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:36:07 PST

The day before the Miss America pageant on Saturday, Chaz Dean, founder of the Wen hair care system (full disclosure: Wen flew me to Las Vegas for the weekend's festivities), sat down with a group of beauty editors to discuss his process for keeping hair in tip-top shape. Lesson learned: if, despite your best efforts to keep it in prime condition, your hair is looking a little less than fabulous, the problem may be easier to remedy than you think. To see what Dean says you might inadvertently be doing to sabotage your hair, just keep reading.

Trend Alert: Matte Waves

Jaime Richards — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:31:34 PST

We saw slick (and in some cases, practically wet) looks on the Spring 2012 runways at shows such as Bottega Veneta, Ports 1961, and Alberta Ferretti. But certain celebrities have eschewed the trend altogether, hitting the red carpet sporting minimally shiny coiffures instead. Blond-haired beauties Nicole Richie, LeAnn Rimes, and Fergie, for instance, have all been spotted with matte, wavy textures. But what makes the roughed-up style so great is that as long as the hair is well-nourished and properly hydrated, your strands can still be molded into sleek and shiny looks, too. In essence: matte hair doesn't necessarily mean damaged. So go ahead and rough it a bit this year by applying a mattifying product to dry hair. A little teasing never hurts, either.

Get the Look: A Sexy, Wavy Blowout

Real Beauty — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:05:13 PST

We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Real Beauty.

Kattia Solano, the mastermind behind NYC's Butterfly Studio, says she's done with the froufrou Kim Kardashian look (we're kind of over the whole wedding spectacle, too). This much-loved hair guru is digging softer, more textured waves, like the ones seen on Jessica Biel.

But looking like you didn't try too hard isn't as simple as it sounds. Luckily, Solano broke down the steps for scoring beachy waves, so you can easily attain this piece-y, bohemian hairdo at home. Check out the details below.

Not Feeling It? How to Motivate Yourself For a Winter Run

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:44:22 PST

It's 20 degrees, the sky is dull and gray, and you're shivering inside just thinking about gearing up for an outdoor run. No wonder you're having a hard time motivating yourself. When a chilly Winter's day is the hurdle keeping you from going running, here are some ways to inspire a cold-weather workout.

Warm up your clothes: Pop your sports bra, shirts, pants, and even your socks in the dryer for a couple minutes. Slipping on warm gear is sure to get rid of that chill you have when looking out your window into the cold.
Warm up yourself: Take a quick shower allowing the hot water to envelope your skin, being careful not to get your hair wet. It'll warm your body and get your muscles ready to move.
Warm up inside: Once you're dressed properly for a cold-weather workout, do your warm-up inside rather than outside. Run up and down the stairs, do jumping jacks or a round of push-ups, or whatever you need to do to get your heart rate up without getting sweaty. You'll feel warm and loosened up when you step out the door, and you can start running right away to stay warm. Here are warm-up ideas that can be done indoors (even in a small apartment space!).
Blast a tune that speaks to you: Whether it's Beyoncé, Adele, or Pitbull that lights a fire inside you, use your favorite upbeat song to get you psyched for a run. You can dance and scream lyrics as you slip on your sports bra and sneaks. This is a great technique when you're really not feeling a run because it can instantly flip a switch and help you head out the door fast. Continue the musical motivation by listening to a newly crafted running mix.

Need more inspiration? Keep reading for other ways to inspire a wintry run.

Surprising Makeup Tips From Three Celebrities

Guest Writer — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:45:33 PST

Sometimes it's the student who teaches the teacher, and in the world of beauty analogies - and in this particular case - it's the celebrity client teaching the makeup artist. Here, our guest writer, Vanitymark Cosmetics founder, and celebrity makeup artist, Brett Freedman, shares with us his role-reversing experiences.

In my career as a makeup artist I've been turned on to some really great beauty tricks. Some are self-learned from trial and error, some are from other makeup artists, and more than a few have come from the subject themselves. There's a difference between doing makeup on a gal that's not in the entertainment industry (or as I term them, "civilian") and someone who gets made up as part of their job. Civilians are excited to try new colors, textures, and see their faces through the eyes of a pro; whereas actresses, singers, and models have seen their faces made up many different ways, making them hyperkeen on how products feel, wear, and photograph. Who better to give insight into glam than the canvas themselves?

To see Brett's favorite celebrity-given tips, just keep reading.