A braided crown

I'm excited to share another hair tutorial! Heidi braids, which go across the top of your head, are beautiful, but my friend Caroline wears hers in a different way: like a crown circling around her head. What a breezy summer style! She looks like a Danish princess. So I invited her over to explain how to do them, and the wonderful Jamie Beck took photographs.

Here are Caroline's steps, if you'd like to try it out...
1. First, part your hair into two sections. To make the look softer, I like to make a diagonal part in the front (starting sort of near the arch of my left eyebrow, going towards the middle of the crown) and then bring the part straight down the back.

2. Braid the two ponytails, and secure each with a small rubber band.

3. Make sure the tops of the braids are pretty loose (you don't want that part pulled too tight or you'll be able to see the part line going down the back).

4. Take the braid on the right and wrap it around the front. Wrap it low and loose near your front hairline (versus on the top of your head).

5. Pin the braid in place with bobby pins. I like to use mini ones, but if you have thick or unruly hair, bigger pins will work better.

6. Take the second braid and wrap it around the back. Again, I like to keep it low and loose so it sort of flows into the front braid.

7. Pin in place. If your hair is long enough, tuck the end of each braids behind the other braid (right where they meet) and pin to hold. Voila!
What do you think, my darlings? These pretty braids are perfect for summer bike rides and taking photos around town. (Your hair stays out of your face, but you still look adorable.) Thank you so much, Caroline and Jamie. xoxo

P.S. Three past hair tutorials, including the perfect ponytail!

(Photos by the fabulous Jamie Beck for Cup of Jo. Caroline's jewelry is from her own line Brvtvs, and her lip color is NARS lipstick in Niagara. She also used this hairspray to make her hair shiny.)

Ancient Egyptian Body and Hair Care

       No other country was so concerned  in beautification and personal hygiene as Ancient Egypt. Most of the products that we now have were invented in Ancient  Egypt. Things like soap, toothpaste, perfumes, lipsticks, make-up palettes, hair extensions, wigs, creams, face masks and a lot of other beauty products. Egyptians were known for good hygiene. For Ancient Egyptians "cleanliness was next to godliness". Body odor was unacceptable. Their daily beauty routine was very complicated. They washed themselves several times a day with a cleansing paste made of water and natron. After that, they rubbed the oil of frankincense or myrrh into their skin. It helped to moisturize their skin and make it softer.

Queen Cleopatra had  a daily routine of taking milk bath for its rejuvenation and exfoliation properties. She also had baths with 1-2 cups of salt from the Dead Sea to fight stress and fatigue.
Egyptians also used face masks made from ant eggs. And they had a special paste that consisted of chalk and oil to remove their heavy make-up.
Ancient Egyptians considered body and facial hair as a sign of impurity and uncleanliness. The Greek historian Herodotus stated that “Egyptian priests shave their bodies all over every other day to guard against the presence of lice, or anything else equally unpleasant, while they are about their religious duties.” Hair removal was customary both for women and men. They had different methods to get rid of unwanted hair. They used tweezers, razors and different depilatory creams. One of their depilatory mixtures was made of  crushed bird bones, oil, sycamore juice, and gum. This mixture was heated and then applied to the skin, after cooling they pulled it off removing the hair glued to it. It is sort of like modern waxing.
You may think that hair extensions is a modern invention. But they were invented in Ancient Egypt. Women with thinning hair weaved them into their hair with the help of beeswax or resin. Wigs were very popular in Ancient Egypt too. People of lower social status kept their own hair. But those of high rank wore wigs. There were different kinds of wigs. Curly wigs were worn only on special occasions. Women's wigs were less elaborate than men's wigs and thus, appeared more natural looking. Beside the aesthetic reasons, wigs protected them from the harmful effects of the sun, from lice and kept their heads cool. Wigs were made of human hair and later of palm fibers. Egyptians dyed the gray hair with henna. They also used henna to dye their nails and for tattooing.

 Well, I hope you enjoyed reading this blog as much as I enjoyed writing it. In a different post I'll write about Ancient Egyptian make-up and clothes.
Blessings,
~Shushanna.                                                      

Rapunzel, Rapunzel..

                                                     Tips for healthy hair. 

      I often get a lot of compliments and questions about my hair. So I decided to share with you some tips that help me to maintain my hair healthy and strong. To be honest, my hair is naturally thick (thanks to my mommy!) but I do a lot of things to take care of it. Curly hair is not easy to manage. I remember when I was a kid, brushing my hair was a torture for me. It took me many years to figure out how to take care of my hair. I experimented and found a perfect solution. I used to hate my hair but now I love it and I actually think that it's one of my best features. And I want you to learn to embrace your hair too!

1. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water each day. Water is essential for hair growth. If you drink enough water, you will notice that your hair is more moisturized and shiny. So drink your water!

2. Eat healthy. Protein forms an important constituent of hair. Eat protein rich foods like eggs, milk (and all dairy products), beans, fish, grains, nuts and seeds.

3. Don't over wash your hair. I know some people who wash their hair every day. But you don't really need that. Unless you have very oily hair.Washing your hair every day will cause a real damage to your hair. It can dry out your hair and cause breakage. The natural oils that your scalp produces coat your hair strands and nourish them. So try to avoid washing your hair every day. I know we all want to look pretty and clean every day but trust me, people won't see a difference if you start washing it every other day. I personally wash it twice a week.

4. Wash your hair with warm water. And gently massage your scalp. It will increase the blood circulation that your hair follicles receive.

5. Avoid brushing your hair when it's wet. Your hair is weaker when it's wet, so brushing it will cause damage. I always brush my hair before I wash it.

6. Trim your hair at least once every three months to keep it healthy and strong. Cut off your split ends. There's no way to remove split ends aside from cutting your hair.

7. Use hair conditioners, leave-in conditioners and hair masks. Use a hair mask once a week. In a different post, I'll give you some good homemade hair mask recipes.

8. Avoid using heat on your hair. Heat tools will weaken your hair and lead to hair loss. This includes a curling iron, a flat iron and a blow dryer. Let your hair air dry. It will look healthier and shinier. Don't follow the trends. Just because straight hair is "in", doesn't mean that you should have straight hair. Curly hair is beautiful! I made this mistake and I used to straighten my hair at least twice a week. I thought I looked better with straight hair. In the country where I live, curly hair is not very common, so I tried to "fit in". Now I realize that being different is great. We need to learn to embrace ourselves and everything about ourselves. God made each one of us unique and beautiful!

Well, I hope these tips were helpful! If you have any questions, leave them in the comment box below.
Blessings,
~ Shushanna.

Braided top bun

Whenever I'm walking around downtown New York, I see tons of cute girls wearing buns on the tops of their heads. Well, what could be even better than a top bun? A braided top bun! My friend Caroline, a hair genius, came over to explain exactly how to get this easy spring look, and the fabulous Jamie Beck took photos.

Here are Caroline's easy steps...
1. This simple hairstyle is perfect for a warm spring day, when you want to keep your hair cool and off your neck. First, part your hair in a deep side part (instead of combing it back smoothly). This makes it look a little less fancy, perfect for bike rides or Sunday picnics. Then gather your hair into a ponytail on top of your head. The higher, the better.

2. Make a loose braid all the way down the tail. Don't braid it too tightly; a little messy is perfect and it will help it look less "ballerina." Secure the end with a rubber band; I recommend these clear elastic bands, since they'll blend into your hair color and won't be as visible.

3. Creating a circle on top of your head with the braid. You don't want to wrap it tightly like a bun; instead you want it loose and open in the center, kind of like a braided pillbox hat! (If your hair is really long, you may have to double up the braid, one in front of the other.) When you reach the end, tuck the bottom of the braid under the circle you've created to hide it.

4. Pin the braid in place with mini bobby pins, since they're easier to hide and won't be as noticeable.

5. A few suggestions: I like to make the look a little messier by pulling little strands of hair out at the back and sides, but if you prefer it cleaner, you don't have to do that. And if you'd like, you can pin your bangs out of the way with bobby pins.
Voila! Here's the look, beautiful and timeless. What do you think, my darlings? Thank you so much, Caroline and Jamie! xoxo

P.S. Past hair tutorials, including three twisted buns, the perfect side ponytail, a messy French bun.

(Photos by Jamie Beck for Cup of Jo. Caroline's shirt is from Cardigan, her jewelry is from her own line Brvtvs, and her blush is Tarte cheek stain in Tickled.)

Three twisted buns

I'm excited to share another hair tutorial! You know those days when you want your hair to look pretty but you only have a minute? Well, my friend Caroline swears by this gorgeous set of three twisted buns ("like cinnamon rolls!" she says). So she came over to explain exactly how to do them, and the wonderful Jamie Beck took a few photographs. And guess what? They really were quick and easy.

Here are Caroline's steps, if you'd like to try them out...

1. This style is so easy, it's laughable. Day-old hair is best (which is true for most hairstyles, since it's easier to work with hair that has a little dirt in it).

2. Divide your hair into three equal parts and quickly spray each section with a little hairspray to help give it hold. Let the hairspray set for a couple seconds, and then lightly comb it out.

3. Take the section on your right side, and twist your hair all the way down to the end. You want to twist counter-clockwise, toward your face. Wrap the right section in on itself, just like you're making a little bun. Let some of the hair stick out, it's ok (you don't want them to look like Princess Leia buns).

4. Pin the right bun in place. I like to use these mini bobby pins, since they're easier to hide and they're coated in rubber so they hold your hair better.

5. Next, twist the middle section clockwise and pin. Then twist the left section clockwise and pin.

6. Spray the three buns with a little more hairspray, and you're done!

See? Super simple!
Here's the look, feminine and easy breezy. What do you think, my darlings? Thank you so much, Caroline and Jamie! xoxoxo

P.S. Past hair tutorials, including the perfect side ponytail and braided top bun.

(Photos by the fabulous Jamie Beck. Caroline's shirt is from Cardigan, and her lipstick is Covergirl Outlast Lipstain in Wild Berry)

Messy side ponytail

My lovelies, you know the messy side ponytail from J. Crew's spring lookbook? Well, I really wanted to learn how to do it myself, so I invited over my friend Caroline (who is a hair genius) to explain how to get the look, and the fabulous Jamie Beck took a few photographs. (What I love love love about this style is how the top looks like a beehive!)

Here are Caroline's steps, if you'd like to try it out....
1. Start with day-old hair...meaning it's been a day since you've washed it. (If you must wash your hair, then use a volumizing spray to add oomf; and if your hair is oily, use a French dry shampoo to build body and texture.) Now make a deep side part on one side of your hair. You can use a rat-tail comb to get an extra straight part.

2. Backcomb the top quarter of your hair. Basically, brush the hair downwards toward your scalp so it's sort of frizzy and can stand on its own.

3. Gently brush the very top layer of your hair to make it smooth on the top. That way, all the backcombing will be hidden under the layer that you brushed. Still, don't brush too much, you want it a little messy.

4. Take the entire backcombed section and pin it behind your head. To make it secure, place the bobby pins in an "X."

5. Now take all your hair and put it in a low ponytail at the nape of your neck. Tighten the rubber band as tight as you can. This will help "push" your hair up, creating more volume at the top.

5. You can either leave the rubber band exposed, or hide it by taking a small half-inch section of hair from the ponytail and wrapping it around the rubber band. Take a small bobby pin and pin the hair to the rubber band.

6. Rough up the ponytail with your fingers to match the texture at the top of your hair. Use the same motion as you did to back comb, but use your fingers instead, since this will create a messy texture but will be softer and gentler than using a comb. Remember, this look isn't about perfection; it looks best slightly messy.

Let's do it! Thank you so much, Jamie and Caroline! xoxo

(Photos by the wonderful Jamie Beck)

Messy hair

Ha, what a cute print. It would be good to put next to the bathroom mirror.

(Via Katie)

Wedding hair

Isn't this bride's twisted bun beautiful? She looks right out of a Jane Austen novel.

(Photos by Steep Street)

Fabric hair tie

Since Toby arrived on the scene, I've worn a ponytail almost every day. So, in an effort to jazz things up, I was happy to come across this idea of using a piece of fabric instead of a hair tie. Simple and pretty, don't you think?

Holiday hair

Whoa! I literally gasped when I saw this fiery red side chignon. The instructions are here, and her tomato red lipstick is Clinique's Red Red Red. Even if you wore a black turtleneck and jeans, you'd be the most glamorous girl at the party.

(Via HipHipGinGin, This is Glamorous, and Wit & Delight. I couldn't help reposting!)

Hair knot

Oh my goodness, is this woman's hair simply tied in a knot? I don't even think they used ponytail holders! So cool. I really want to try it out but know I'd end up with a serious rat's nest.

(Photos by Hanneli, via Wit & Delight)

How to do Heidi braids

I'm terrible at doing my hair and usually wear it in a messy bun. So I was excited to see that Julie did a post on how to do Heidi braids. What a cute fall look! Will you try it?

Wedding ponytail

These days, I keep finding myself drawn to relaxed, low-key weddings. My friends Erica and Patrick got hitched in Jamaica, and she wore a ponytail! Doesn't she look adorable and happy?

(Photos by Anna Robin)

Pretty things

Oh man, I just had my first (or third) pregnancy meltdown. I got super stressed over nothing and called Alex in tears, who was very sweet and thankfully did not write me off as crazy. Pregnancy hormones can really do a number on an otherwise regular person! On a happier note, here are two pretty things I've been thinking about lately...
Recently I've seen a few women wearing simple gold wedding rings by themselves (without engagement rings). I think it's such a chic, beautiful look, don't you?
Also, how pretty are these braids? Perfectly messy and lovely.

(Top photo by Our Labor of Love)

City Hall Wedding

My dear readers, over the next few weeks, I'd love to share a few cool weddings of some friends. First up? Bill and Fanny, who recently tied the knot at New York's City Hall...
"We got married really early in the morning," says Fanny. "I put flowers in my hair; then we picked up Simon (our best friend and witness) and drove our old white Volvo into town, picking up coffees on the way."
"Getting married at City Hall was perfect," she says. "You could feel the tension in the waiting rooms--the expectations and the wedding nerves. It was really nice to share that with the other strangers."
Aren't Fanny's white overalls awesome? "A couple days before the wedding, I was looking for something to wear, and Bill suggested popping into Steven Alan. When I saw the dungarees, I knew they were right. I wanted to be comfortable and low-key. My mother would have cringed, but she was unknowingly going about her day in Sweden."
"After we got married, we called our families," says Fanny. "Then we had brunch at Cafe Cluny and went to a spa. The night was spent with friends at the Jane Hotel bar. It was such a beautiful, magical experience; I was in a daze all day." Huge congratulations, Fanny and Bill!

P.S. Fanny rides a bike, and see their awesome apartment on The Selby.

(Photos by Simon Howell)

City Hall wedding hair

Jess and Mike got married at New York's City Hall, and I love that she just wore her hair down. Beautiful and so relaxed.

(Photos by Heather Waraksa, via Oncewed)

Side braids

Ever since Alexander Wang put them in his Spring 2010 runway show, side braids seem to be everywhere these days. Aren't they gorgeous? It would be such an easy look for summer brunches and bike rides.

Stop looking at me, bangs

Bangs don't look that great on me, but other girls look so cute in them, that I'm finding them very hard to resist.

(Photo credit unknown, via the Thinking Tank)

Messy French bun

My friend C. always wears one of those perfectly messy buns that makes it look like she just rolled out of bed in Montmartre. Here are her step-by-step instructions. (I say we copy her ruthlessly.) xo
Step 1: Make your hair dirty. After showering, you can massage in Aveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion. Or you can just wash your hair less often and use a dry shampoo to keep your hair from getting greasy.

Step 2: Next, pull together your hair and hold it straight up, like a Lucky Troll Doll.
Step 3: Then twist your hair down to a few inches above the crown.
Step 4: Wrap your hair around itself until it forms a loose bun, right on top of your head.
Step 5: Pin the bun in place with bobby pins. Anywhere from four to eight, depending on how thick your hair is. You want it loose but secure.

Step 6: Finally, pull loose strands of hair from the nape of your neck and around your face to make it look like you’ve worn the bun all day. Voila! The perfect bun!

(Photo by Anna Wolf for Cup of Jo)