Lulus Fashion Blog

Hair How-To: Sock Curls

Laurie Hartt — Tue Feb 7 14:00:00 2012

Today is an exciting day in LuLu*s beauty land! The amazingly talented Mindy of Adopt a 'Do: Cute Girls Hairstyles has agreed to showcase a special hairstyle designed with all you LuLu*s girls in mind!

Now, if you haven't heard of Cute Girls Hairstyles, then let me introduce you. With the help of her six beautiful children (two of them are adopted!), Mindy launched the highly-successful Cute Girls Hairstyles website in late 2008 and her subsequent YouTube channel a year later. While her hairstyle tutorials started as a simple hobby to share with friends, they have now been viewed online over 66 million times in nearly every country worldwide . . . equaling more than 5.5 million hours, back to back!

And, she's got creds to boot: she is currently ranked as one of the top 150 women on YouTube and ranks #96 “Most Subscribed (All Time) – Guru” with over 185,000 subscribers. Cute Girls Hairstyles has received local, national, and global attention through various media outlets including a channel feature on YouTube’s homepage, regular appearances on local TV talk shows, and a recent appearance on ABCNews’ 20/20.

With that in mind, here is your hair tutorial! Per your votes last week, we've decided to feature the

This is such a cute look, and Mindy claims it only takes five minutes. Yeah, five minutes. Soooo much better than spending hours with the curling iron frying your hair to death. And so, without further ado, gather your supplies!

What You Need

Brush
Rat-tail Comb
Water Bottle
Curl Enhancer Cream
4 Men's Socks
Hairspray

And now, watch the awesome tutorial! (Check out Mindy's shout-out banner at the beginning - showing some LuLu*s love!)

Here are the steps she's provided, in case you need a little extra help:

Step 1: Now, you want to start with dry hair. Then gently spritz the hair with a water spray bottle. You will want the hair to be slightly damp, but not wet. (Note: If you do this directly out of the shower, your curls will likely not hold when you take out the socks. It is important that you start out with dry hair.)

Step 2: Then grab a section of hair from the top of the head and roll the hair around the sock until you reached close to the scalp. Then tie the sock. Do the same for the back-lower hair, as well as one each on the sides of the head. That makes a total of 4 tied socks.

(Note: If you are worried about the socks becoming loose or untying, you can sleep with a silk scarf over the hair.)

Step 3: After a good night’s sleep, you are ready to take out the socks. Simply unroll them in the opposite direction of how you rolled them, shake the curls out at the roots, and ta-da!

You will be amazed at how easy this hairstyle is, and how wonderful your curls will look after using only socks!

What is so great about hairstyles like this is that you can get absolutely gorgeous curls by using zero heat... and you do not have to spend 30 minutes putting in curlers, etc, the night before. We simply used a brush, 4 men's socks, a spray bottle with water, a little curl enhancer and hairspray {if desired}... all taking less than five minutes to complete.

(P.S. If you want to add in the braids shown in the picture at top, check out Mindy's Pancake Braid Tutorial.)

Want more from Mindy and her lovely family? Check out their website, friend them on Facebook or Twitter, share them on Pinterest, or watch some more videos!

Hair Care Tips for Damaged Hair

Allie Paxton — Tue Jan 31 14:00:00 2012

I am always looking for new ways to properly take care of my hair. I have gone through so many different kinds of product trying to find the perfect one. After a lot of time and money, I am happy to share what I have discovered with you. From the best affordable products to natural hair care tips, this blog will be sure to heal your roots and leave your hair looking sleek and classic. We all have damaged hair, so here are some ways to heal your lovely locks.

This seems almost too obvious, but many people never brush their hair. When you brush your hair from the roots to the ends, this spreads the natural oils in your hair and moisturizes your scalp.

Vitamins are a great way to attain healthy and beautiful hair. The vitamins that promote healthy hair are Vitamin A, C, E, B12, B6, and Fish Oil pills.

This product is amazing and costs under $5. This is a light cream that leaves your hair smelling great. I love this cream so much because it doesn't leave my hair oily.

This is a wonderful serum that protects your hair from damage. I like to put this on before I use any kind of heat on my hair. This has actually made my hair grow a little easier. Be careful not to use too much or else it will get greasy.

This is a special, deep conditioner that stimulates the scalp and revitalizes your hair. I love this conditioner because it smells so good and works really well. I use this 3-4 times a week to get the best results.

This is a hydrating microcrystalline treatment mask Highly enriched with karit butter to moisturize and restructure your hair. The price somes in at just under $20, but it is so worth it and lasts a long time.

The biggest thing to keep in mind is that you are what you eat. If you eat healthy and workout, you will not only have a healthy body but also healthy hair! Do you have any tips or tricks you have discovered for helping out damaged hair? Leave a comment and let us know!

Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week 2012: Fave Makeup Looks

Laurie Hartt — Fri Jan 27 9:00:00 2012

Paris Haute Couture Fashion week is a time of over-the-top designs, costume-y creations, and generally pushing the line. It's a chance for designers to let loose that bizarre little child living in their brains and craft outfits that would make the movies proud. As always, the Spring/Summer 2012 show did not disappoint.

In addition to the clothing and the outfits, the makeup in so many of these shows is just out of this world. For your viewing pleasure, I've picked out some of the coolest/most outrageous face and hair combos spotted on the runway. Think you could rock any of these?

A flower child of Alexis Mabille.

How about a classy mohawk, a la Chanel?

Check out this sick braid on the models of Christophe Josse (I totally want to try this at home!).

Jean Paul Gaultier's whole show was dedicated to Amy Winehouse's memory.

Okay, while this isn't regular makeup, the body art of Franck Sorbier IS the sweetest body makeup I've seen in a long time.

Oh, hello, future of fashion. Slick ponytails and dark eye makeup of Versace kindof had a Tron theme going, don't you think?

Forest nymph, anyone? Maurizio Galante's models rocked some interesting foliage.

Please note the tiny dots beneath the eyes of Maxime Simoens's girls. Cool, or weird?

And then, just to be all NORMAL and stuff, Ellie Saab went with just plain, pretty, and powerful lashes.

I would say don't try these looks at home, but I'm actually hoping some of you actually will . . . and then post the pictures for us to see . . . just sayin'.

(Pics courtesy of Fashionrising.com.)

Introducing Karmin: White Girls CAN Rap and Wear Mohawks

Laurie Hartt — Tue Jan 17 14:00:00 2012

Alright, ladies. I have a seriously sweet blog for you this afternoon. A few weeks ago, a friend of mine who used to work at LuLu*s and is now studying to be a radio DJ sent me the video below. She knew that I had been looking for some unique hairstyles to feature, and she found this hairstyle from the YouTube page of a band called Karmin.

Now, I didn't really care about the band at first in my excitement to learn how to do the mohawk. Check it out: How to make your hair into a mohawk? Without shaving your head? Um, okay!

Now, if you're anything like me, you not only fell in love with this sweet hair-do (and are currently attempting it as you read), but also in love with the gorgeous Amy. I immediately had to find out more about her band, which is composed of herself and her fiancé! How stinkin' adorable are they?

KAR•MIN [car-men] – noun, in Latin meaning "song," with altered spelling to hint "karma."

Here's a little bit from their bio:

"Karmin is a collision of Nick [Noonan]’s Classic Rock upbringing and Jazz education (a trained trombonist) and Amy [Heidemann]’s R&B influence and Pop background. Together they found music at its simplest form: percussion and voice. With the addition of guitar, Karmin pulls the listener back to a time where music was sincere and honest. Simplicity is key with this music!"

Basically, I'm obsessed with this duo now. Somehow, they mix rock 'n' roll, pop, acapella, and harmony in a retro-inspired blend of awesome. For example, check out their cover of Chris Brown's "Look at me Now":

See what I mean? Amazing! Because I know you now want to listen to everything else they've ever put together, I suggest you head over to their YouTube page for some more sweet tunes. Want even more? Check out their website for pics, music, shows, and even some rad t-shirts!

Beauty Trends for 2012

Stephanie Gaito — Tue Jan 3 14:00:00 2012

To ring in the New Year I wanted to examine some of the top trends from the Spring Runway shows. Although these are relatively classic looks, I love that they are being shown on the runway because it gives us all an idea of attainable beauty and celebrates the features of a woman's face rather than creating a theatrical or over-the-top look. Lets examine the best of the Spring 2012 Runway shows along with some products that can help you achieve the look.

Giorgio Armani featured a beautiful version of a cat-eye with silver highlights and a swoop of smokey grey shadow. This is a really beautiful interpretation of a classic cat-eye and I just love the intensity without it being too over the top.

To achieve this look, a palette with multiple shades of sparkling silvers, greys and blacks will be perfect. I love Bobbi Brown's Cool Party Eye Palette, shown below. To get a perfect cat eye, use an angled brush and a gel eyeliner. Bobbi Brown's Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner is a great choice. It is easy to control with a good brush and stays on for hours!

Bobbi Brown's Cool Party Eye Palette Bobbi Brown's Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner

Flawless, flawless, flawless! There is no decade when this look is not drop-dead-gorgeous. Dewy skin, soft smoky eyes and red lips, this is just classic beauty at its best. Christian Dior knocked it out of the park with the beauty for his Spring 2012 collection. The great thing about a bold lip is while red is the classic, you can go with something a little different too. As long as you keep you makeup simple, a fuscia or an amazing orange-red will give a more modern pop of color. A statement lip, if you will!

YSL makes an amazing lipstick, Rouge Pur Couture Golden Lustre in Fuchsia. A bright fuchsia lip is always daring and bold and can look flattering on many skin tones. Another favorite of mine is MAC lipstick in Morange. This bright orange-red is the perfect tone for a fiery lip! I always get tons of compliments on it and I recommend it to everyone as a fun color with more of a pop than traditional reds.

Rouge Pur Couture Golden Lustre in Fuchsia MAC Morange

Bold pop of color has been a theme throughout most beauty reports and has been seen on many runways. Above we have Richard Chai and Miu Miu, respectively. With neutral makeup and flawless skin as the base for this look, a pop of color is introduced at the eye. This is a really fun way to create an evening look. You don't always have to use dark colors for a smokey eye such as black, grey or silver. Feel free to use different colors to create a sultry and smokey night time look. I love the idea of a bold orange eye with a really natural face. Here are some suggestions to achieve a similar look:

Above we have Makeup Forever eyeshadow in Rust Orange and Nars eyeshadow in Outremer. Both of these shades can be used in bold application for a daring look that is totally on trend for 2012.

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I am so excited for a new year of fabulous fashion and beauty trends!

What makeup will you be trying out in the new year?

Trend to Try (or Trash): Temporary Lip Tattoos

Annie Roos — Mon Jan 2 14:00:00 2012

Be honest: was your first reaction "get me some of those!" or "get her to a doctor!"? It's the new trend that's on the lips of celebrities from the Kardashian-iverse and beyond. Pioneered by a music manager and his teenage daughters, Violent Lips takes the science of temporary tattoos straight to your kisser.

Just check out all of the stars who've been spotted (or, dare I say, checkered, sparkled, and flagged) sporting this funky lipwear.

The facts: Said to last 4-8 hours, they go on with water, just like the temporary tattoos from childhood, and come off with baby oil or any standard makeup remover. Animal-lovers will also be happy to know that all designs have been FDA-approved, certified vegan, and "tested on supermodels, not animals".

Now, I'm all for taking risks in the style/beauty department, but if we're being candid here, I'm having a hard time not hating these. The reviews are mixed, (I've read some less-than-stellar ones), but my main reservation is perfectly exemplified above by Snooki and Keyshia Cole. Get the picture just a little out of focus and... it easily looks like you either kissed the barroom floor with fresh lip gloss (oh, Snooks), or you have some hideously chapped and inflamed infection (coral giraffe, above, is not my pattern of choice).

I think the key here is to stick to patterns that look completely unnatural and crazy-loud, and keep them safely stashed in your drawer until Halloween, theme parties, and out-of-the-ordinary functions. By all means, ladies, please prove me wrong.

(Images courtesy of toofab, the Daily Mail, BitRebels, & Necole Bitchie)

Eden's Garden: Liandra for Fashion Gone Rogue

Laurie Hartt — Mon Jan 2 9:00:00 2012

What do you get when you combine decadent fruits, lush flowers, and rich colors? The stunning beauty that is Eden's Garden, an exclusive photoshoot for Fashion Gone Rogue. Shot by the talented Michelle Du Xuan with hair by Miha Oshima and makeup by Aya Fujita, this paradise of photos are at once exquisitely delicate and bodly sensual.

(Pics courtesy of Fashion Gone Rogue.)

Beauty How-To: New Year's Eve Eyeshadow Tutorial

Laurie Hartt — Fri Dec 30 14:00:00 2011

Sweet pic, right?

When I saw this makeup online, I was instantly smitten and raced back to the photo studio to see if our makeup artist, Sarah, could create a similar look on our own model, Kennedy.

Because she's awesome, Sarah of course said yes! With the help of our awesome photographer Marty, we've created for you the perfect New Year's Eve Eyeshadow Tutorial! This one is a bit more toned down, but it's really fun, easy to do, and would be perfect for your New Year's party tomorrow night!

Before You Begin: Create an even playing field. Even out the skin tone, starting with foundation primer. Then add full coverage liquid foundation and concealer and finish with mineral powder to set it. Finally, fill in the eyebrows to create a strong brow, and add some blush to create a lovely glow.

Step 1: Color and Liner.

Sarah blended together shades of blue, grey, black, and silver to create a sexy smoky eye. In the corners, she added some shimmery gold to add warmth. Black eyeliner is also really important here, not only to add extra drama but also to define the eye shape and add a dark base for the false lashes to hide against. She winged it out just a bit on the sides to accentuate their almond shape and create a sexier look.

Step 2: Fake lashes.

These really amp up the wow factor and pretty much doubled the size of Kennedy's eyes. To ensure a secure fit, Sarah has two tips: 1. Cut the lashes to fit your eye lid length. If they're too long, they'll peel up much more easily in the corners. 2. Keep your eyes closed until the glue has dried! If you move your eyes while the glue is still wet, they could dislodge or stick on crooked. When the glue is dry, apply mascara to both your natural lashes and the falsies to blend them all together. Also, add mascara to the bottom lashes to finish the smoky eye.

Step 3: Gems!

Here's the fun part! By dabbing the tip of a bobby pin in eyelash glue, Sarah easily created this dazzling rhinestone creation on the outsides and inner corners of Kennedy's eyes.

Who doesn't love a Before and After?!? Look at the amazing transformation!

Ta-da! Add your favorite lipstick and a sparkly dress, and you're ready to hit the town!

What Sarah Used:

Foundation Primer, Liquid Foundation, & Mineral Powder: Mary Kay

Eyeshadow: Sephora color palette, Urban Decay in Jinx, Smashbox Smokebox Palette, Bedhead Cyberoptics in Gray

Liner: Loréal H.I.P. Color Truth Cream Eyeliner in Black

Mascara: Maybelline Great Lash

Lashes: Sonya Kashuk from Target

Gems: Nail Art from Sally's Beauty Supply (but you can use rhinestones from anywhere)

Lipstick: Kennedy's favorite! Revlon Iced Ameythst

What She's Wearing:

Detonate One Shoulder Black Sequin Top

Current Beauty Obsessions

Stephanie Gaito — Fri Dec 30 9:00:00 2011

Who doesn't love great beauty products? I will pretty much try any brand from drugstore to high end. I have found that often times quality comes with a price tag and those products will last longer due to their higher quality. I, for one, will gladly shell out a bit more money to get a quality product with great results. I wanted to share with you some of my favorite beauty products that make my routine that much brighter!

Dermalogica Multi-Vitamin Thermafoliant

Starting off with a clean face is a no-brainer but having polished and exfoliated skin will make your skin that much brighter and healthier. Dermalogica is a truly great skin care brand and this is one of their best products! The Multi-Vitamin Thermafoliant is an amzing exfoliant that warms when you apply it to your face. It polishes away dead skin and leaves your skin super soft and healthy.

Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner

Toners are amazing. You can use a little spray whenever your skin feels dry, even over your makeup! The Multi-Active Toner, also from Dermalogica, not only makes you feel refreshed and hydrated, it actually balances your skins PH, preparing it for any treatment products or moisturizers that are to follow. This means your moisturizer will go the extra mile and you may even have to use less! Need a new moisturizer? Read on!

Estee Lauder Day Wear

Estee Lauder has been a long time favorite of mine when it comes to skin care. Day Wear is my favorite moisturizer right now and, believe me, I have tried several of their other day time moisturizers. This is really smooth and oil-free and offers up a hefty SPF 25 as well as anti-oxidants! My skin feels so soft after putting it on and it creates some kind of barrier where it stays that way all day. It even has anti-aging properties if you are interested in looking as beautiful as you do now forever!

Benefit High Beam

An absolute go-to of mine is Benfit's High Beam. This face highlighter can be blended all over the face to give a dewy glow, but I prefer to use it as a spot highlight. Applied down the bridge of the nose, along the very top of your cheekbone, a small spot on the chin and a few spots on the forehead and your skin will have a really healthy glow! This is by far the best thing to help you look more awake and refreshed in the morning and also to look totally picture perfect. It is the ideal pinky-shimmer that compliments all skin tones!

Urban Decay Naked 2

In pretty much the most anticipated followup product ever, Urban Decay recently released Naked 2 a sequel to their extrememly famous Naked palette. These palettes focus on neutrals but trust me, they are anything but boring! Naked 2 is packed with 12 rich shades of gold, browns and coppers some matte as well as several shimmers. I can't wait to get my hands on this new palette. I know I will be obsessed!

Miss Dior Cherie

This is my favorite scent of all time! Girlie yet fresh with a sweet undertone. Everyone needs a signature scent to be remembered by and this is definitely not one you can easily forget! A little goes a long way so make sure to use sparingly. Again, when you pay more you often get more in the long run!

What are some of your favorite beauty products!?

12 Strange and Bizarre Beauty Tips (That Might Actually Work!)

Laurie Hartt — Thu Dec 22 9:00:00 2011

I don't know about you, but in the midst of all this holiday shopping, my budget for splurging on pricey face creams and fancy beauty treatments is completely nonexistent.

However, it's also the season where I want to look my best, so something's gotta give, right? I decided to see if there were any cheap and awesome beauty tips out there, and I was amazed to find a plethora of. . .

Some of these sound pretty awesome, while I have my doubts about others. Are they fact or fable? You decide!

1. Old Coffee Grounds Reduce Cellulite

Mix ¼ to ½ cup coffee grounds with about 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil. Rub into your lumpy bits, and then wrap it all up with plastic wrap and let it cook for ten minutes before you rinse. (Tip: Use your old grounds from this morning's pot! Yay recycling!)

2. Hemorroid Cream Reduces Puffy Eyes and Reduces Red Pimples

Gently rub a dab onto puffy or red areas. Good for damage control after a round of sappy movies.

3. Adding Beer to Your Shampoo Adds Volume and Repairs Hair

Beer for me, beer for my hair . . . Put 3/4 cup beer in a pot on the stove and boil until you've got 1/4 cup left. Once cool, add it to a cup of whatever shampoo you're already using.

4. Whiten Your Nails with Baking Soda and Lemon

Sprinkle some baking soda on a wedge of lemon and scrub. Ta-da, squeaky clean.

5. Add Chopped Garlic to Your Nail Polish for Long and Strong Nails

Mince garlic really finely and dump it in a bottle of your nail polish. Let the bottle sit for a few days, allowing the chunks to settle, and then apply as usual (avoiding the chunks).

6. Freeze Your Eyeliner So It Doesn't Crumble

Throw it in the freezer 15 minutes or so before you want to apply, and the tip won't break off or crumble when you apply it.

7. Rub Your Hair with Dryer Sheets to Prevent Frizz and Static

Choose a sweet-smelling dyer sheet and rub it through your hair in the morning before you head out. Stash it in your purse for touch-ups during the day. Avoid the sheets that smell like moldy laundromat.

8. Put Toothpaste on a Zit

Dab it right on top of the infection. Think of an excuse as to why you have minty spots all over your face. Rinse when dry.

9. Brush Perfume through Your Hair

Spritz your favorite perfume directly onto your hair, then brush through for frangrant strands all day long. Practice your hair tossing skills.

10. Blow Dry Your Eyelash Curler

After you're done blow drying your hair, zap your (metal) eye lash curler for a couple of seconds. Make sure it's not going to burn off all your eyelashes, then crimp. The heat works the same way curlers do on your hair, and your curled eyelashes will be lovely all day! (P.S. It works even better if you use waterproof mascara!)

11. Shaving Your Face Exfoliates and Makes You Look Younger

Some claim that shaving your face in the shower every day creates a more youthful appearance by exfoliating and smoothing. Also prevents cases of the fuzzy-wuzzies.

12. Monistat Chafing Relief Powder Gel Works As a Primer

When you compare about $7 at the store to Mac's $40...and I think you'll agree. Nobody has to know your beauty secret!

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So what do you think about these ideas? Will you try 'em or are they too weird? Do you have any of your own magical tips?

(Pics courtesy of Google Images. Tips courtesy of cosmopolitan.com, sophiemagazine.com, girlsguideto.com, realbeauty.com, womansday.com, and skinverse.com.)