Lighten up your look and add a dose of sunshine to your mood with sun-kissed color highlights, then create a softer you with these easy-to-do styling tips.
Fabulous hair can boost your confidence, but that doesn’t mean you should focus only a great cut. Always take your hair color into consideration as well. If you’re like me, you crave the summer months, and you miss the warmth, the sunshine, the fresh air... there isn’t much about summer I don’t enjoy. So I take what I love from that sunny season and apply it to the more subdued fall and winter months.
In the winter, like the weather itself, we tend to get the hair “blahs.” To chase the blues away, I always brighten my hair (and my mood) by adding some subtle, natural highlights, which always make the hair look a bit sun-kissed. Experimenting with color tones or undertones also is an option for women with red or dark hair.
Sometimes, just a splash of color drama is all that is needed to inspire a new look and add sparkle. But if you want to take this idea a bit further, try the backcombing and large-curls finger-pulling techniques described below to achieve a more relaxed appearance.
In this way, you can have a great hair day every day of the coming season. It’s simple, it’s fun, and it’s an easy way to make a positive difference in your look — and how you feel about yourself. Here are some examples for inspiration.
Jocelyn has found a way to make summer last all year round. Her all-one-length hair is highlighted with a gorgeous sandy blond hue (not far from her summer hair color) — heavier in the front to make her hair look smoother and softer, less in the back for a more subtle, natural look. We used hot rollers to create the large curls (which are finger-combed) and parted her hair to the side for the face-first look.
Tori’s layered hair has a winning look with its updated feather cut and tipped highlights. Small pieces are pulled out all over her head and highlighted much lighter than her base color. The darker underneath color makes her hair appear thicker and fuller. Tori’s coif is simply blown dry with a large round brush, lightly sprayed for control, and a small amount of spray gloss is applied to intensify the color.
Brandi’s look is red hot with her fiery auburn hair, and her skin color is a perfect match with this lighter, warmer shade of red. A redhead definitely attracts attention and can be absolutely gorgeous when the correct hue is used. Adding some blond highlights that mix nicely with her base color further pumps up her look.
Jennifer’s dark-brown mane is layered, long, and lush. Her extremely straight hair appears quite touchable, softened by large curls and a few lowlights (pieces of hair that are darker than your base color) added to create depth and volume. We combed toward the roots (also referred to as back-combing) the top of her hair and smoothed it to achieve height and fullness, then used a hairspray mist to let the hair flow freely while preserving its shape.
When you say “blond bombshell,” well, you mean someone who looks a lot like Brielle. Her hair color is the ultimate hue for her skin tone and eye color. All three work together to frame Brielle’s outstanding face. The front of her hair was backcombed, and then large sidepieces were gently pulled back and secured together. The final front section was smoothed over the top and sides and sprayed with an ultra-hold hairspray.
Elisabeth’s loose, side-swept hairdo will definitely be a crowd-pleaser at any formal affair. Her healthy black hair is thick, full, and of one consistent color base. The natural color of her eyes, skin, and eyebrows work together with this dark coloring. The front section of hair is separated and pinned forward, while the remaining hair is swept up into a loose French roll. To do this, the front of the hair is unpinned and side parted, then those end pieces are tucked behind her ears for a softer, more touchable French roll style.
Winter Hair-Rejuvenating Tips
1. Warm color highlights make hair look healthier because they reflect more light.
2. If your hair is extremely frizzy, stay away from ultra-light highlights. Darker is better for you and makes the hair appear smoother and thicker.
3. Ultra-mild shampoos will help hold you color longer. Use shampoos and conditioners that are specifically designed for color-treated hair.
4. Use less hair product so it won’t weigh down your locks.
CREDITS Models: Jocelyn Story (current Miss Colorado Outstanding Teen); Tori Carter (Miss Colorado Teen USA 2004); Brandi Hunt (current Mrs. New Mexico America); Jennifer LaMont (current Mrs. Colorado America); Brielle Cotterman (Miss Indiana America, 2nd Runner-up, Photogenic winner); Elisabeth Cartmill (Mrs. Colorado America 2003, Photogenic winner) • Hair and makeup: Laura Slifer, Michael Bondi, and RaeAnne Smith Duca • Photography: Kristianna Nichols
Kristianna Nichols is one of the country’s new beauty experts. She is a former Mrs. America, NFL cheerleader, professional model and commercial actress. Kristianna has had her own TV talk show and was a popular entertainment reporter for the NBC affiliate in Indianapolis before moving to Vail, Colorado. She has hosted many TV shows, from Mainstreet USA to On The Move. She is the president and CEO of Noble Tress beauty company and the inventor of “Kristianna’s Crown.”
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Lighten up your look and add a dose of sunshine to
your mood with sun-kissed color highlights, then create
a softer you with these easy-to-do styling tips.
