Rock the Look: Chic Blunt Bangs

Long, face-framing fringe is in for spring and stars like Jennifer Hudson and Sandra Bullock are embracing the trend. As perpetual style chameleons, celebrities often go for bangs as a simple way to transform their look without a drastic change to their existing haircut. This bold statement look is dramatic, impactful and easy to achieve with a few scissor snips.

To Rock the Look, go for brow-grazing bangs that are slightly tapered at the corners. This way you can wear them down or sweep them to the side to quickly change up the style.

Celebrity hairstylist and Nexxus Creative Director Kevin Mancuso, who has worked with A-listers like Anne Hathaway, Abbie Cornish and Kristen Bell, offers his tips on how to style your bang look:

“Bangs are a great way to update your look without sacrificing length off your ends,” said Mancuso. “The addition of thick, blunt fringe immediately draws focus to your eyes and emphasizes your bone structure.”

PREP:
· Start by applying Nexxus Thermal Volume Volumizing Heat Protection Mousse directly to damp hair to create body and protect strands from the damaging effects of heat styling.
· Press mousse into hair from roots to ends for all-over volume and textured hold making sure to include the bang area.

STYLE:
· Pin bangs to the side and create a middle part. Then use a large round brush to blow dry the rest of your hair.
· Make sure bangs are still damp before styling. If they have dried a bit, mist them with water prior to blow drying. This will ensure there are no unwanted kinks in the bangs and also help set the style.
· Curl bangs over the round brush and blow dry on low, bending ends slightly under for a flattering, face-framing shape.
· Release the rest of hair from the hair tie.

FINISH:
· Place the round brush under the bangs and lightly mist hair with Nexxus Comb Thru Natural Design and Finishing Mist for flexible hold and glossy shine.
· Roll the brush slightly under as you remove it from the bangs to smooth hair.

Waves + Bangs

I love this picture of Tyra Banks sporting heavy bangs and waves. It is such a Spring 2011 Hair Trend! In order to recreate this look you can do it a few different ways, separate the bangs from the rest of your hair and blow dry it straight out. For the rest you can choose to use heat or do it without.

With Heat:

Use a curling iron or a round heat barrel, take small pieces of your hair and wrap it around the curling iron. The key is to take different sized pieces of hair and wrap them different ways around the curling iron barrel. Doing it like this will ensure that your waves look natural.

Without Heat:

Personally, bantu knot outs do not work on wet hair so I would have to start with dry hair and use a leave in spray to dampen the hair. Once the hair is damp I create little buns all over and once it's dry I remove the buns and waves are in place. Just like when I use use heat, I create different sized buns to create more natural looking waves.

Pixie Cut: Toni Braxton

Toni Braxton has resurfaced at the celebration for the new WE tv series "Braxton Family Values" at The London Hotel on April 6, 2011 in West Hollywood, California. Her amazing hair 'do stole the show. You can re-create the look if you have a relaxed pixie or wavy natural hair using Aveda Light Elements texturizing cream and shaping wax on freshly washed and conditioned hair. Use both products together to create a piece-y texture.

Rock the Look: Adrienne Bailon in NYC

Actress and singer Adrienne Bailon was spotted shopping in Manhattan looking sun-kissed and carefree. Recreate her beauty glow by using the tips and products below, straight from the hair and makeup pros who created it: Lancôme artist Ewa Szwed and Hair Rules Founder Dickey.

For her makeup, Adrienne wanted a very "J-Lo" inspired look—in other words: glowy, sun-kissed skin. To achieve this, Ewa utilized a warm palette of colors, a few lash flares, and sumptuous lips.

For her hair, Adrienne wanted to achieve an "intentionally undone" look, messy but still sleek, which is a perfect style for a shopping excursion.

Rock the Look:

For her skin the following products were used:
Teint Miracle Foundation
Ageless Minérale Powder
Maquicomplet Concealer in Dore
Tropiques Minérale Bronzer in Natural Copper

Her brows where then shaded in with:
Le Crayon Poudre in Taupe
Color Design Eyeshadow in Filigree (to highlight brow bone)

EYES:
Hypnose Drama in Excessive Black (3 coats)
Individual Lash Flares
Le Crayon Khol in Black Ebony (smudged in upper and lower lash line)
Color Design 5-Pan Shadow & Liner Palettes in Coral Crush & Bronze Amour

CHEEKS:
Blush Subtil in Cappucine (for contouring)
Color Design Eyeshadow in Filigree (to highlight cheek bone)
Blush Subtil in Shimmer Pink Pool

LIPS:
Le Lipstique in Sheer Natural
L’Absolu Rouge Lipcolor in Rich Cashmere
Color Fever Gloss in Flushed Rose

HAIR:
Hair Rules Blow Out Your Waves (pre-heat styling)

Using a cool setting on the blowdryer, Dickey removed 80% of the water from Adrienne's hair. "When you're working with someone like Adrienne, who has beautiful hair but has to change color frequently for various roles, it's important to always remember that the health of the hair is paramount. By gently taking out the water before heat styling, we're doing less damage." Next Dickey used a warm flat iron to smooth hair out to achieve a soft look, but one that still had movement. He finished with a medium barrel curling iron, wrapping small sections at random, to add to the "piecy" and undone look that Adrienne wanted.

Tips for a bad haircut

So what do you do if you find yourself in a similar situation? Celeb hair expert, Philip B, has got some great tips to help a girl in need!

“You got a haircut that you really, REALLY regret? We've all been there. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to ease the growing-out process:

1) Experiment with styling products to enhance your hair's texture and movement. Pink's hair is so flat that it's making her face look heavier than it is. A short, Jean Seberg crop like this looks far more flattering when you muss it up and make it a little spiky and crazy. This automatically makes your face look a little more angular, and gives your style a waiflike, gamine feel. I'd use the Philip B. Maui Wowie Beach Mist to give the hair lots of lift and some Philip B Jet Set Hair Spray to spike it up and lend some firmness.

2) Condition your hair like crazy! If your hair looks super shiny and healthy, that's what people will notice, not the bad haircut.

3) Invest in some hair accessories like thin black headbands and some sparkly clips to give your style some direction and draw the eye away from the haircut beneath! I love the look of a smart short haircut with the bangs swept to the side and held with a pretty little bobby pin. At the moment, I'm really into the ones that are embellished with tiny fruits or birds: They're so adorable and French-girl chic!”