Summer Festival Essentials

Hey summer jet setter, i know you have a festival or two on your list! Here's a few things you shouldn't leave behind...

1. Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen! Face, body, lips. Make sure you have it all! You should have a moisturizer with SPF made just for your face. On those crazy hot days when your sweating sitting down, the skin on your face can get extra sensitive from the heat and you could experience a burning feeling from regular sunscreens. These reactions are most commonly associated with para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA)-based sunscreens and those containing benzophenones. Some sunscreens also contain alcohol, fragrances, or preservatives, and should be avoided if you have skin allergies. Be kind to your face and try Aveeno You can get anything from SPF 30 up to 100!
2. Refillable water bottle. You can never have too much H2O when you are in the hot sun. There will be refill areas at your venue so hydrate, it's great for your skin too.
3. A truly multi purpose Pashmina is always my life saver at a show. I use it to shield myself from the sun, lay down on it for an afternoon snooze, and it keeps me warm when the sun goes down.

Oh so there's a sold out Black Keys after-the-festival show and you just happen to know the right person holding a ticket with your name on it? No problem! (don't you love when that happens)The next few items on this list will be all you need to freshen up for the post festival show!

1. Face wipes. Wipe off that dirt and sweat with these little gifts from The Body Shop. Reapply that moisturizer with SPF and you are almost ready for Dan and Patrick!
2. Lip & cheek stain is a great 2 for 1 product. Check out Stila they have a good array of color choices.
3. Mascara! If you read my blog you know I love love love mascara! Put on a few extra coats, you never know who'll be at a show...
4. Headbands are a great way to fix unwashed hair. Wear them with a side ponytail...sexy! Or try a headscarf, they look great on both long and short hair.

I hope you have fun hitting the circuit. I'll be out there somewhere so say HI and save me that after show ticket ;)

Pull Up Your Beach Chair It's BEACH HAIR 101

Ombre, tousled, and waves oh my! Whatever your idea of summer locks may be, they all have one word in common...sexy!!! I just love me some carefree summer hair! Now, how to get the "I just got home from the beach" look isn't exactly wash and go. It takes a tiny bit of effort. This post covers 3 things: color, product and hot tools. Relax and have fun, it's just hair!

Color:

• Ombre is staying strong on the color front and it's going nowhere soon. This practically maintenance free technique is made to look like you are growing out old highlights. Sounds strange I know, but I actually think it's pretty bombshell....proving my point with a pic of my friend Alyssa right above! It will look like you spent the summer on the sand and in the sun! Go for it!

Products:

• There are so many products on the market today it'll make your head spin. I'll give you 3 of my favorites. First was a suggestion from my friend Katrina who lives in CA. Her stylist out there had her try  Unite 7 seconds . (click on the blue link for a short video) It has UV protectors and your hairs best friend...silicone. This is a great, lightweight spray for all hair types especially colored hair. The sun will strip your hair color so protect your investment. Throw this in your beach bag for all day UV protection and detangling your wind blown hair. The silicone will de-frizz. Katrina recommends spraying, then pinning some big loose curls all around your head and letting it air dry or blow dry with a diffuser. The result is perfect beachy waves!
• Second Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray literally has salt water as a ingredient. This product adds texture so it's great for fine hair and it will also give straight hair some of that texture too. Spray evenly and then try braiding maybe 5 or 6 different sections loosely. Air dry or blow dry with a diffuser then unravel for gorgeous waves. Use your fingers and massage your scalp for some lift.
• Third I'm loving Moroccan Oils Curl Cream. Put this in towel dried hair and go. Again in the summer anything with silicone is going to help de-frizz. This product also keeps your ends from drying out.

Hot Tools:

• Fat barrel curling irons are my favorite for creating loose waves! I like the brand "Hot Tools Professional" for my curling iron choice. Mine are gold platted and they hold heat evenly. Root curls are easy to learn and don't give you that Little Bo Peep look. Basically you want to curl the roots of your hair and leave the ends out until the last few seconds. This way the curls give you some body at the scalp.

• Diffusers are great if you already have wavy hair. Apply any of the products listed above and disuse your hair to sexy tousled waves. They are also great if you want to quickly dry braids or pinned up curls without knocking them out of place. The more air you have blowing around your hair the more the waves get knocked out and the straighter your hair becomes. When you attach a defuser to your blow dryer it blocks air flow pressure and just throws out the heat...which is what is actually drying your hair.