Cropped and Chopped (The Long Bob)

Its that time of the year when you decide to cut your hair off. Sometimes its due to weather, Summer's coming and its too hot to have it long. Or maybe you're just wanting a change. Cutting your hair short can be scary, so if you're not ready to go really short, take baby steps. Maybe you're not ready to take the leap with Katie Holmes' shaggy bob, but maybe you're ready to go a little longer than that with the long bob aka The Lob. This style can be worn with long blunt bangs, soft side swept bangs, or no bangs at all. Celebrities like Heidi Klum and Gweneth Paltrow are seen rocking these looks. Soft and sophisticated but also modern and chic, there's a style for everyone.

Round Face Shapes

If you have a round face shape, your face is as wide as it is long. For a round face shape, finding a style to minimize the roundness is the key. Celebrities like Kelley Clarkson and Kirsten Dunst all share the same face shape. Kelley Clarkson knows how to wear her hair to flatter her face shape. When choosing a shorter cut such as a bob, make sure the hair is longer than chin length, this will elongate your profile. A side part with a swept side bang hitting the cheek bone is a great look for a round face, this softens the wideness of the cheeks. Long hair is great for round faces, just make sure to avoid middle parts. Although this is not a very flattering look on most face shapes, round face shapes should definitely avoid this look, as this will only add to the roundness of the face. Longer layers and face framing is another great way to flatter this face shape, layers and texture will elongate the face. Make sure to give the hair some body, blowdrying it with a large round brush,with a little backcombing in the crown will add some balance to the face. So, if you are wanting a short style, opt for a bob with the front slightly longer than the back.

Square Face Shape

Square and sexy. Some of the sexiest women share this face shape: Keira Knightly, Jessica Alba, and Jessica Simpson, to name a few. Square face shapes have a strong square jawline with an equally square forehead. For square face shapes, try a shorter to medium length style with soft layers framing the face. This will soften the strong squareness of the jawbone. Soft and wispy fringe, full bang, or side bang will minimize a wider forehead. Wearing a side part will balance the face's symmetry. Also height is important. It doesn't have to be a bouffant, but having a little extra body to the hair style will add roundness. Short hair can be worn well with a square face, as long as it is past the jawbone and and there is layering to add texture and body to the hair. Long Hair can look great on someone with a square face. When going with a longer style, make sure to have long layering in the hair, face framing layers around the face, and a side bang or wispy bangs. Avoid a middle part. This is the most unflattering look you could have with a square face shape. Remember square face shapes are extremely strong, so we need add softness to feminize our look.

Heart Face Shape

A heart shaped face is wider through the forehead and cheek bones and more narrow through the chin. The chin can have a slight point or be very pointy. Finding the right hair style to compliment this face shape is key. Reese Witherspoon has the quintessential heart face shape. When her hair is long with longer layers with textured layers framing her face, this adds softness. The side swept bangs draw attention to her eyes. For long hair, this is a great, sexy, and sassy look. It can be worn a little messy and piecey, or it can be worn more smooth and straight. Try a side part; this adds balance to the style. Be careful of styles that are too full at crown, because they will add emphasis to the chin. Be careful of wearing your hair too flat, this is too harsh for a heart shaped face. Highlight the cheekbones, because a heart shaped faces have great cheekbones. Soft layers around the face and wispy bangs minimize the width of the forehead. Chin length bobs are also a great look for this face shape, because they adds height where needed. Try to avoid tappering the nape to closely, as this will only draw attention to the chin.

Oval face shape

The oval face shape is the most versatile face shape. Most oval faces can wear any hair style. Lucky them. Oval faces can wear long styles, short styles, and curly styles. This is the only face shape that can pull off a middle part. Most models you see have this face shape, which is why they can pull off so many different styles. Styles that are pulled off the face look the best on oval faces. Styles that are too long will only drag the face down, making the face look more oblong than oval. Avoid heavy blunt bangs, as this will only make your face look small and lost in your hair. Styles that are swept back look the best for you, but soft waves are also a great look. When going for short hair, textured and piecey looks or bobs are a great look for oval faces. No matter what look you go for, make sure its flattering on your face and brings out your best features.

Hair and Menopause

As if hot flashes weren't enough! Approximately one-third of peri menopausal and menopausal women experience noticible hair loss. This is due to the drop in estrogen in comparison to testosterone. This combination causes hair loss on the head and unwanted hair growth in areas, such as the face. The good news is that it is usually temporary and improves over time. Eating a healthy diet and using natural shampoos and conditioners will help strengthen the hair and prevent breakage. I often give my clients regular scalp massages because this stimulates the blood supply to the scalp and hair follicles which helps to keep both healthy. Sometimes a change of hairstyle can disguise the effects of the hair loss but if it is especially troublesome, I sometimes use a hairpiece that i customize with color and cut which can hide those areas while waiting for your hormones to stabilize.

Next weeks post
How to find the right cut for your face shape.

Hair And That Time of The Month

Don't we all hate that time of the month? Our hormones can go crazy, not only do we not feel good, we can experience weight gain of up to 5 pounds. Our hair and skin are affected by our cycle as well. We may be more oily and more prone to breakouts and our hair can tend to feel dryer and a little more damaged. The scalp can be extra sensitive and you may experience some irritation during color application. Because we are more sensitive to smells at this time, the scent of hair color may seem much stronger than it usually does. If scalp irritation is a problem for you, ask the stylist to use a desensitizer in the color and this should minimize the irritation. Hair can also be stubborn, having a mind of its own, it can take much longer for your hair to accept the desired color. Dry, itchy scalp, and dandruff are also side effects of hormonal imbalance. Using a medicated shampoo, specifically for dry scalp and dandruff, can help the problem. You may want to avoid waxing right before and during you period. Skin is extremely sensitive and nerve endings are so close to the surface of the skin that waxing can cause the skin to tear and be more painful at that time. If that happens use a soothing cream, that is suitable for the face for redness and irritation.