FASHION Magazine

How do you curl your hair? From hot rollers to sock buns tricks, there’s a seemingly endless number of ways to make straight hair curly—and as someone with bone-straight hair, it feels like I’ve tried them all. After much trial and error, I’ve discovered that the technique with the most promise comes courtesy of a curling wand, that is, a curling iron without the clamp. However, one problem remains the same: the curls on one side of my head never seem to match the curls on the other. One side looks flawless and red carpet-ready while the other flips out awkwardly, falls in the wrong direction or just looks… bad.

In order to get to the bottom of my hair curling problems, I met up with Morgan Roy, creative director at the Aveda Institute Toronto. It turns out this hair curling issue comes down to dominant hand dexterity and the tendency to do what’s “more comfortable” first.

The ponytail is probably the first hairstyle you ever learned how to do, but chances are it’s one you still struggle with to this day. It should be simple: brush hair back, pull it all together, secure in place with an elastic. But oh, the variables! Hair texture, length and volume can all change the way a ponytail looks and how tricky it is to style. And just when you think you’ve pulled off the perfect ponytail, you let go of the elastic only to see ridges and bumps in your hair. What should have been smooth hair just looks like a mess.

So imagine my surprise when I discovered just how easy is is to fix these common ponytail errors. I met up with Morgan Roy, creative director at the Aveda Institute Toronto, to discuss the problematic ponytail and she shared some easy tricks on how to style one that’s bump-free.

Unless you have been blessed with shampoo commercial-worthy hair, you likely have to deal with frizzy flyaways on a daily basis. Nothing is more infuriating than spending 30 minutes blow drying your hair only to step back from the mirror and see the tell-tale fringe of baby hairs hanging between your part or flyaways standing at attention, ruining an otherwise sleek look. While smoothing serums and hair straighteners can help reduce some of the frizz, taming flyaways is actually one of the easiest things to do—once you learn the trick to it.

I met up with Morgan Roy, creative director at the Aveda Institute Toronto, to discuss common hair problems and go hands-on in order to fix them.

See how to do the halo braid with our holiday hair tutorial »
See other holiday hair tutorials »

Braid enthusiasts, this one’s for you! The halo braid (otherwise known as a milkmaid braid or braided updo) takes practice but is beyond impressive once it’s mastered. From Erdem to Valentino to Emerson, halo braids keep showing up on the runways season after season, and the red carpet has followed: Keira Knightly, Scarlett Johansson, Ashley Olsen and Elle Fanning have all embraced halo braids. So when it comes to holiday hair (think: New Year’s Eve hair!), this style is certainly a showstopper.

If you’re confident in your French braiding skills this will be an easy holiday hairstyle to master. But newbies, don’t fret! Our step-by-step guide was developed in conjunction with Toronto-based hairstylist Margot Keith and takes all the confusion out of this complicated style. If you dream of doing a halo braid for New Year’s Eve, dedicate one of your lazy holiday afternoons to practicing your braiding skills. After a few test rounds we promise you’ll get the hang of it. And, like all of the styles in our series of holiday hair tutorials, the halo braid works well beyond Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve parties. (So be sure to right-click save our handy one-page guide for future reference!) Ready to start braiding? Read on to see how this holiday hairstyle is done.

With the year’s end on the horizon, social calendars are filled to the brim with holiday parties of all sorts—and you’re suddenly tasked with finding new and creative ways to primp. Taking a nod from beauty trends on the runways and red carpets, we’ve created three scene-stealing holiday makeup looks that will be the perfect accompaniment to both your sky-high heels and cozy cashmere knits. In fact, you can wear all of these looks to any type of festive event, so whether you’re heading to an intimate house party or a glittering gala, our tutorials will have you covered—and make sure you stand out in a sea of cocktail dresses.

HOLIDAY MAKEUP
‘Tis the season to swap pale-pink lipstick for oxblood-red »

PARTY MAKEUP
Electric brights bring your eyes to life with this metallic look »

NEW YEAR’S EVE MAKEUP
Sparkling gemstone add-ons make this glittery look countdown-ready »

See how the chignon twist is done with our holiday hair tutorial »
See other holiday hair tutorials »

If the word “updo” is something you normally associate with a visit to the salon, think again! While there are indeed complex styles that require the assistance of many hands, many updos are simple to do at home and take only a few minutes to master. The chignon—which can refer to any gathered hairstyle that sits at the nape of your neck—is ideal holiday hair because, based on your skill level and the event you’re attending, it can be perfectly polished or left loose and messy. But however you style it, compliments are sure to follow. (And isn’t that what holiday hair is all about?)

See how to do the fancy ponytail with our holiday hair tutorial »
See other holiday hair tutorials »

The ponytail is a classic hairstyle that has a seemingly endless number of variations. In fact, by changing the part, adding some curl or positioning the final pony in a different spot, it’s a style you could likely wear seven days a week without anyone being the wiser. While quick ponytails are often associated with going to the gym or casual dressing, it only takes a few modifications to make it work as a holiday hairstyle. It’s a trend that’s supported by A-listers and designers alike: Gwyneth Paltrow wore a structured ponytail on the red carpet at this year’s Academy Awards and Joe Fresh and Jonathan Saunders (to name just a few) had models in polished ponytails on the Fall 2012 runways.

See how to do the deep side part with our step-by-step directions »

Holiday season is here, and with it comes an endless number of parties and social engagements—which also means an equally endless amount of time spent primping and prepping. But don’t fret, we’ve got you covered. Over the next two weeks we’ll be sharing holiday hair and makeup tutorials, complete with step-by-step, foolproof directions on how to get each look. Inspired by runway looks and red carpet styles alike, our holiday hair tutorials will ensure you look your best all season long. First up: the deep side part.

The deep side part is definitely having a red carpet moment—Kristen Stewart did it best at the Los Angeles premiere of Breaking Dawn Part 2 and other stars are taking note. A mix of Old Hollywood and modern style, the trick to keeping a deep side part under control is all in the twist: Instead of parting your hair and hoping for the best, this holiday hair tutorial shows you how to secure it back with a modified braid. Our step-by-step guide was developed in conjunction with Toronto-based hairstylist Margot Keith and takes all of the guess work out of making your hair holiday party-ready. (Even better, each of the styles in our series of holiday hair tutorials will work well beyond Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve parties, so right-click save our handy one-page guide for future reference!) Ready to learn how to master the deep side part? Read on to see how this holiday hairstyle is done.

When creating his Spring 2012 collection, Jonathan Saunders had an unlikely muse: chemically sedated Miami housewives from the ’50s. His models, clad in full skirts of Floridian pastels, sauntered down the runway with bronzed skin and flesh-toned lips. It was makeup artist Lucia Pieroni’s bold use of an oversized cat eye, however, that had beauty editors swooning.

By starting with a sunny glow, bringing some drama to the eyes, and slicking on a creamy nude lipstick, you can channel Saunders’ South Beach chic with just five products!

Here’s how to do it! »

Rumour has it that when makeup artist Pat McGrath set out to create her “living doll” look for Louis Vuitton’s Spring 2012 show, she and her team pulled an all-nighter (at the Ritz, of course!) to glue together 10 sets of false lashes for each model. When the show opened with models perched on a revolving carousel in candy-coloured frocks, their flawless makeup and dense, fluttery lashes momentarily created the illusion that mannequins were instead the stars.

Despite its high maintenance appearance, it’s really simple to recreate this Barbie-esque beauty look. And forget 10 sets of falsies—you can pull it off with just five products in the bat of an eyelash!

Ready to try this look at home? See how to do it!»

When Phillip Lim created his Spring 2012 collection, fond memories of his childhood hobby of constructing and flying kites translated into a feeling of lightness and fun in his predominantly pastel collection. Models breezed down the runway wearing icy cool silver stripes of eyeshadow that perfectly complemented the fluttering fabric

The beauty look is really fresh and easy, so there isn’t much adjusting required to rock it in real life. You can recreate the eyes almost exactly—but add your own twist with a flush of pink on your cheeks and a creamy sheen to your lips. It’s a look that will breathe fresh air into your summer makeup routine.

Ready to try a swoosh of silver on your eyes? Read on! »

“Young, eccentric and rich” were the words makeup artist Pat McGrath used to describe the beauty look she dreamed up for Yves Saint Laurent’s Spring 2012 show. McGrath painted models’ eyelids metallic brown, their lips metallic red and bleached away their brows. The look was confident and glamorous, if not a little bit severe.

I created a softer version of this dramatic look for real life with a few small tweaks and just four products. By opting for a wash of colour on the eyes instead of opaque brown, and by highlighting your brows with tinted gel instead of bleaching them off, you’ll be super glam without looking harsh. Finish with a pop of crimson red lipstick and you’ve got an elegant look for any occasion that requires an extra jolt of confidence!

Try this look in 4 steps! Read on »