Hasta La Ideas

While this year’s Oscars may have gone to the Slumdogs, everyone was a winner on the red carpet when it came to show-stealing looks in fashion and beauty. While we’ve already gone ga-ga over the gorgeous gowns that floated from the carpet to the stage on all of Hollywood’s stunning starlets, everyone knows that an Academy Award ensemble isn’t complete without an equally glamorous up-do. After all, a girl’s got to look just as breathtaking in her close-ups! From elegant swept-back styles like Best Actress winner Kate Winslet’s to chic side buns like Marisa Tomei’s and loose and tousled half-down waves like Jessica Biel’s, award show-worthy hair may look like a million bucks, but according to Frederic Fekkai stylists Renato Campora and Adir Abergel, creative coifs like these don’t need to cost an arm and a leg — in fact, you can even do it yourself with the right products and tools! First, vote on your favorite Oscar hairstyle below, then click “Read More” to see how you can achieve these red-carpet ravishing looks at home with tips straight from the pros!
Photo Credit: PR Photos

Hair products are an essential part of any beauty routine– trust me, nobody with fabulous-looking hair got it looking that way without at least a little help from gels, creams, sprays, and serums. Scott Fontana, stylist and creator of super fun line Badass Hair, knows what’s up- his collection of hair products caters to every need your mane could possible have. Last week we introduced you to Scott and his line, and told you all about how you could win a set of Badass Hair products. I’m kind of relieved that it’s time to choose a winner because I’ve had the products sitting on my desk for weeks now, and let me tell you, you want these products. In order to be entered to win them we asked you to tell us about the celeb who you thought has the most badass hair- was your answer the one we chose? Just click READ MORE to find out.

The occurrence of the words “festive” and “beauty” in the same sentence may stir up a few painful memories of that time you went to school on St. Patrick’s Day in head-to-toe green, complete with clover-colored eyeshadow and lipstick (it’s okay – you sooo did not look like a leprechaun). And yeah, that time you showed up at a Halloween bash with a full-on clown face (only to find out the hard way that it wasn’t a costume party) wasn’t too hot either. But seriously, no matter what bad experiences you’ve endured and beauty faux pas you’ve committed in the past with occasion-coordinated makeup shades, a festive face doesn’t have to be obnoxious, nightmarish, or costume-y! With the right products and tints (and the correct doses of them!) you can look great for your Valentine’s Day date without resembling a page off the calendar. For one, it’s vital to remember subtlety – with Philosophy’s candy heart-inspired lip gloss and Sephora Valentine’s chocolate-scented bath scrub and body butter, the whole world may not be able to read all your V-Day enthusiasm like a sign on your forehead, but you and the one you’ll be cuddling up to will get to enjoy the celebratory scents! Also, while bright red lips and harsh fuchsia blush may set off a warning alarm in your brain, don’t shy away from the right shades of pink! With the Laura Mercier First Blush Palette, you’ll be surprised at how far a gentle rosy glow can go in creating a softly feminine and flirty look. For the perfect pucker-upper, take a look at Clinique’s Kissable Six set of lip plumping glosses, complete with six different pink, plummy, and nude shades, so you won’t have to spend hours in the store trying to pick the perfect tint! And, if you’re feeling just a tad bit bold, try for a more season-suitable smokey eye in a plum-pink shade like Make Up For Ever’s Plum 39 (just make sure to go nude on the lips for balance!). As long as you don’t try to use all eight festively fabulous products at once, these candy-colored goods are bound to help you look cuter than Cupid… and way sexier too, I hope. Check out the slideshow for the rest of the Valentine’s Day-influenced beauty sets and shades!

As much as I’d love to have the privilege of referring to my hair in its natural state as “badass,” frankly it’s much closer to “bush woman” or “rats’ nest” than it is to “rock star.” The truth is (and I know I’m not alone here), my coif requires a whole lot of coaxing from products, brushes, and irons before it can even dream of entering the rocker-chick realm! And unfortunately, that heavy-duty level of tress-stressing really does wonders when it comes to damaging the heck out of hair, especially with all the harsh heating, teasing, and chemicals galore, and in the long run only makes it increasingly difficult to deal with! Well, my high-maintenance-maned amigas, hair stylist Scott Fontana has answered our prayers with his kick-butt line of VIP-worthy products, appropriately named Badass Hair. With its no-BS approach, Badass Hair provides powerful products with simplistic ingredients that get the job done (and tell you exactly what that job is right on the bottle, eliminating the need to attack your mane with 902932 different products at once). With clever names like “Up All Night” Volume Mist and “Give Me A Stiffy” Gel, these frizz-tackling tools aim to give you rock-glam hair without being forced to rough it up.
Click “Read More” for our interview with Badass stylist and founder, Scott Fontana, then scroll down to get the details on the giveaway! Also, don’t forget to check out the slideshow to see more of Scott’s own favorite products!

Even if it is raining on your wedding day, you can bet you’ll have stylish hair! Instead of a traditional veil or tiara, your wedding can be given just the right touch with a bit of some beautifully crafted buds. Hairpieces can be found for tight and loose budgets alike and it’s a perfect way to bring a taste of the outdoors to your ceremony. Designers like Mikiye, Erin Cole, Sara Gabriel, and Laura Jayne have even been budding flower-specific collections for hairdos so fresh they could be hair-dews– but unlike the petals you can pick off of living plants, these keepsakes will last forever! If you’re unsure about pinning one of these to your head, start small with a simple accent, like this hydrangea hair pin– it will add the perfect amount of sweetness and elegance, without distracting from your dress. Some of the prettiest pieces are just a click away in my slideshow!