The sparkly chignon was a chic look spotted at Carolina Hererra Spring 2010 during New York Fashion Week. Seventeen Magazine has the 411 on how to get the look (you don’t have to be 17 to try this out…lol). Check it out:

P.S. If you cant see the video, go here to check it out. If you’re at work and can’t view it, your job might block sites like YouTube.

Click on the images below to enlarge more pics of the sparkly chignon:

Beyonce tried a similar metallic look for the 2010 Grammys, but many (including me) weren’t fans…

…but I love the look at Carolina Herrera.

P.S. Don’t forget to enter the FSL Cosmetics Lipgloss Giveaway! Entries must be in by TOMORROW Thursday, March 11, 2010

All you Curly Sue’s out there—listen up! One of you lucky readers will receive a Ouidad Curl Quencher trio which includes Curl Quencher Moisturizing Shampoo, Curl Quencher Moisturizing Conditioner, and Curl Quencher Moisturizing Styling Gel.

Ouidad is the iconic brand that opened the first salon in the world dedicated to curly-haired clients back in 1984. If you have curly or wavy hair, you know it’s not always easy maintaining your hair, so lucky for you this entire line is formulated for your needs!

Some 411 on the products up for grabs:

1. Curl Quencher® Moisturizing Shampoo
What it is:
A luxurious shampoo that cleanses and nourishes dry, thirsty curls.

What it does:
Ouidad Curl Quencher® Moisturizing Shampoo satisfies curls with shine-enhancing vitamins and wheat amino acids. Overprocessed curls become manageable and magnificent with this specially formulated must-have.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Synthetic Dyes
- Phthalates
- GMOs
- Triclosan

What else you need to know:
Doses of chamomile and corn oil leave the hair happy and full of moisture. Remember, there is no need to shampoo every day.

2. Curl Quencher® Moisturizing Conditioner
What it is:
An extramoisturizing treatment to detangle and nourish dry, thirsty curls.

What it does:
Ouidad Curl Quencher® Moisturizing Conditioner is a protein-enriched must-have that seals in moisture and protects fragile, damaged hair. An extra dose of moisturizers makes even the unruliest mane easier to manage.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Dyes
- Phthalates
- GMOs
- Triclosan

What else you need to know:
This specially formulated haircare essential is safe for color-treated, permed, and straightened curls.

3. Curl Quencher® Moisturizing Styling Gel
What it is:
A hydrating and styling aid to define and hold thirsty curls.

What it does:
Ouidad Curl Quencher® Moisturizing Styling Gel is a light-hold secret weapon that sets, enhances, and nourishes your curls. Locks are left full of moisture and held in place.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Dyes
- Phthalates
- GMOs
- Triclosan

What else you need to know:
With Meadowfoam Seed Oil and Pro-Vitamin B5, this formula penetrates the hair shaft to plump and hydrate curls.

Ouidad products work on multiple types of curly hair. For your curly hair prescription, go here.

And here’s what you need to do to enter:
1. Leave a comment on this post
2. Be a citizen of any country in the world

To increase your chances of winning, do the following:
1. Follow @Ouidad on Twitter then tweet the following: “Curly girls enter to win @Ouidad Curl Quencher via @StyleNBeautyDoc http://bit.ly/a5FUMI“.
2. Fan Ouidad on Facebook.

Entries must be in by Monday, March 15, 2010 at 11:59 P.M. EST. A winner will be announced on Tuesday, March 16th.

Good luck!

Happy Monday, ladies!

This past weekend was spent getting some necessary beauty renovations done. After hoarding the money in my beauty fund, I decided I had to let it go when I started to look like James Brown’s mug shot (RIP).

So I hightailed it over to my salon of choice (Aveda Natural Look Salon) and had my nails done (I did the OPI Axxium Gel Manicure again) along with a Brazilian and a brightening facial. I’ve got to say that I’ve had bikini waxes before—and without getting into TMI–I’ve never been able to go all the way for a Brazilian because I could not take the pain. But thanks to Ruby over at Aveda Natural Look, I was able to get through it with very minimal pain (I could say it didn’t hurt at all, but I did have some brief ouch moments). I am not one to take any kind of pain so you know Ruby did a great job. The brightening facial saw a slight difference in my skin, but since it was a mini-facial, I’m going back next week for the full blown out treatment and will report back.

After that, I headed over to the hair salon after months of co-washing and air drying at home and got a relaxer touch-up. After hearing rave reviews about Phytospecific Phytorelaxer, I decided to give it a whirl. My hair is super-thick and an Index 2 is suggested for my hair, but since I was so nervous about trying a new relaxer, I went for Index 1 which is formulated for fine hair. I’m only a few days in so I’ll have to give my final thoughts on it after a few weeks, but I do love that my hair isn’t super flat and lifeless like it usually is after a relaxer. I feel like I should have gone for the Index 2 because my roots still feel a bit kinky, but we’ll see after a few weeks.

Then I also picked up Phytospecific Vital Creme Bath (my second container), a weekly treatment that will seriously transform dry, brittle hair into something soft and shiny and ordered Phyto Huile d’Ales Pre-Shampoo Intense Hydrating Oil Treatment, a pre-shampoo oil treatment (as its name suggests) that you leave in for a minimum of 30 minutes before cleansing. It’s supposed to revitalize and restore healthy radiance to the hair, so I’ll report back on my findings.

How about you? What did you do this weekend?

P.S. Don’t forget to enter the FSL Cosmetics Lipgloss Giveaway! Entries must be in by Thursday, March 11, 2010.

Curly hair product company du jour, Ouidad brings us some common myths about kinky hair. Check them out:

There is a myriad of misconceptions out there surrounding naturally kinky hair. We have demystified three of the most common kinky hair myths here, to keep you wearing those curls with confidence!

Myth #1:  Kinky Hair Grows Slowly

In fact, the curlier the hair, the more shrinkage there will be; kinky hair spirals tightly, appearing to grow at a slower rate than loosely curled hair. For example, five inches of kinky hair can actually stretch up to ten inches. Also, depending on volume and density, kinky hair tends to grow outward rather than down – making it appear shorter.

Myth #2: Kinky Hair is Difficult to Manage

The truth is that if you manage your hair in a way that goes against the natural curl pattern, your hair will be difficult to manage regardless of hair type.  Ouidad can help you understand how to best manage your kinky curls.

Myth #3: Kinky Hair is Tough and Strong

Actually, the finer the hair texture, the more fragile the hair is. That is because each coil along the strand is a potential breaking point.  Most would assume that kinky hair is thick and strong, but in fact it is often fine, delicate, and should be handled with care!

 Wella Professionals and lead colorist Eva Scrivo crafted runway looks to complement the DKNY and Cynthia Rowley Fall 2010 collections at New York Fashion Week. Keep reading to find out the products and techniques used to turn these hair fantasies into reality.

CYNTHIA ROWLEY

The Look: A sleek, natural ponytail accented with the striking contrast of an artificial colored hair extension placed off center for an added tuft of textured fringe.

The Hair Color: Wella Professionals Koleston Perfect Special Mix shades were used to completely saturate the natural hair extensions with rich, vibrant, jewel-toned shades of the collection. The sophisticated nuances of the Special Mix collection allow for creativity Wella Professionals and lead colorist Eva Scrivo crafted runway looks to complement the DKNY and Cynthia Rowley Fall 2010 collections at New York Fashion Week. Keep reading to find out the products and techniques used to turn these hair fantasies into reality.

The Products:

• System Professional Ultimation: Strong-hold hairspray with long-lasting hold and maximum shine

Step-by-Step Styling:

1. Section hair off and working from back of the head to the front, prepare hair with System Professional Ultimation hair spray for added texture and shine.
2. Create texture within each section by using a combination of a curling iron and crimping iron for non-uniform waviness.
3. Place Wella colored hair pieces that have been crimped within sections of the natural hair so that the extensions blend in seamlessly.
4. Pull the hair back into a soft ponytail at the nape of the neck with the ends flowing naturally, while allowing the streaks of color to show through for added dimension.

DKNY

The Look: A refined side-swept ponytail projects a sexy equestrian vibe with a subtly strong, yet not too masculine look.

The Hair Color: Using Wella Professionals’ new Blondor collection to achieve the palest of blondes, and both the Koleston Perfect permanent and Color Touch demi-permanent collections to create a gorgeous palette of naturals, handpainted extensions were created within the natural color palette of the models’ hair. The range reflects beautiful dimension in a variety of hues – from medium brown to a beautiful spectrum of blonde shades.

The Products:

• System Professional Volumagic: Natural hold styling foam for long-lasting volume
• System Professional Hypercurl: Provides texture and definition to curl patterns

Step-by-Step Styling

1. Prepare damp hair with System Professional Volumagic and blow dry with a large round brush, creating a soft wave and giving direction for the side part.
2. Rake hands through hair to loosen the waves, pulling to the side of the part and fasten the low side ponytail.
3. Leave hair on the opposite side of the ponytail loose around the face to balance the asymmetry of the look.
4. Lightly smooth System Professional Hypercurl on the length of the ponytail for separation and added texture.