Hair Tips To Make You Look Thinner

Unless you are naturally skinny, not a day in the summer months goes by that every woman alive doesn't wish she could lose a few pounds before having to step out in that sleeveless blouse, strappy sundress or (worst of all) that swimsuit.

Even if you are a gym rat (or perhaps even particularly if you are a gym rat), you look in the mirror and wish for a thinner you staring back. Well, why we at Believe don't have a magic wand to make you instantly leaner (if we did, we'd surely be a lot richer than we are), we do have the next best thing...

Some hair and skin tips to make you look like you've lost weight:

Go for the change up: If you are still lugging around that long hair from your younger days (maybe even your college days?) it might be time for a change. Long, lank hair can make you look not only hang-doggy, but can draw the eye down to your jowls, double chin or overly ripe bosom and point right to those ever-expanding hips. A shorter do can perk up your whole look, emphasize your high cheekbones and gorgeous eyes, draw the eye upward to show your pretty face and add a little spring to your step (carrying yourself well is one of the best tricks to looking thinner.) Stand up straight, look people right in the eye, flash your brightest smile and, combined with your new cut, people may not only think you dropped a few pounds, but maybe even that you look so good, you must have had a “little work done”. Shhh! We won't tell, if you won't.

Bobs aren't the answer: When considering your new cut, steer away from the classic flapper's bob, the one that reaches right to your chin and perfectly frames your face with cute little side curls. Those curls will point right to a double chin. Chin-length bobs also tend to add volume on the sides of the head, which will make your face look even wider. This type of cut can actually give the illusion of adding pounds instead of subtracting them. Go instead for a bob above chin level to draw the eye up. Or go a bit edgier with the asymmetrical bob, where it is shorter in the back and longer than your chin in the front. No Buster Brown or Early Beatles bowl cuts for you. One-length hair can make you look heavier.

Try longer layers: Layers are great for creating the illusion of an elongated face, just so the layers are vertical-shaped and not horizontal. Also make sure the layers aren't too wide or too short. Try for a length that falls between the bottom of the ear and the top of the shoulder. Discuss what you are going for with your Believe stylist who will make sure about cutting the layers precisely, so that when they “shrink” after cutting, they end up the right shape and length. Think of it the same as choosing not to wear horizontal striped T-shirts, and why your favorite pin stripe suit always makes you look taller, thinner and leggier. Long layers do the same for your face.

Start at the top: The crown of your hair is where you want to add height and volume. Not only will you appear taller, but the extra lift “upstairs” brings the attention up to your beautiful eyes and noble brow. Flat hair on the crown makes your face look like a balloon with a brick on top of it. Have your Believe stylist show you how to dry your hair so that you build the best volume. She'll show you how to use duck clips, a diffuser, the best brush techniques and the perfect products, like Aestelance Volume to build the volume and lift you, in the words of the immortal singer Jackie Wilson, higher and higher.

Using bangs and parts: Full bangs of the type that march straight across your forehead (alá Vogue Magazine's Anna Wintour) are a no-no for a full face. No blunt-cut bangs for you. They take away from the length of your face and make it inevitable for everyone to notice the width. Instead, grow your bangs long and sweep them to the side in a wispy shape. You get all the benefits of bangs that way, with none of the detriments. The diagonal sweep will accentuate your cheekbones and soften a round face. A side part does much the same thing—take the attention of your face's circular shape. A deep side part will help make your face look longer (and thinner), whether you are wearing your hair up or down.  

When in doubt, accessorize: Not only will you dazzle when you walk in a room bedecked with hair jewelry, but accessories are a stand-out way to look thinner. Place the accessories at the base of any updo and as close to the crown of your hair as possible, helping make your face (and neck) look longer and thinner.

Darker is better: To our detriment, every woman learns early in the game, that she looks thinner the tanner she gets. In this day of awareness of sun damage and skin cancer, what is a girl to do? At Believe we carry a product called Dr. Dennis Gross Glo-Pads that can darken your skin and impart a healthy glow without taking in one harmful UV Ray. Just swipe and wait for your skin to turn a lovely (and thinning) bronze.

We, at Believe hope these tips help you hide those few extra pounds (now go and have a guilt-free ice cream cone for us, will you please?)

Slicing and Dicing: Razor Styles Are Back

Whether they are called “chopped”, “shredded” or “shingled,” razor styles are back with a vengeance (and for men, they never left.) Whether used on long locks to give your waves a bit more romantic flow or used as multi-lengths to sex up a long do, razors can be artistic tools in the hands of an expert (like us here at Believe) or a weapon when wielded by a neophyte hair stylist with no experience. Working with scissors is taught in Hairstyling 101 but whisking away hair with a razor takes a cool hand. The three-inch blade adds texture by having a looping effect on the hair shaft. The razor can get rid of heaviness and bulkiness (you know those tufts of hair on the side that look like wings or that pile on top that weighs your style down like an invisible hat?)  Razors are usually used on wet hair to keep things manageable and the blade will cut the ends so that you don't look like you stepped out of the chair a minute ago.  The genius in a razor cut is that it removes bulk while building volume. How? Strands that are shortened help puff up the longer ones, but a razor cut isn't for everybody. If your hair is thin, too short already or frizzy, the razor cut may not be for you and some stylists say a razor cut isn't for curly hair either. Really the only way to tell is to come on in and let us look at (and feel) your hair and the way it grows. We will use our trained eye to tell you if the razor cut will make you feel beautiful or go batty. Long hair can be less boring when cut with a razor or, if you are worried about having to grow out all that hair to one length again, ask if a triangular wedge will work for you—it makes regrowing hair much less visible. (Or perhaps just your bangs can be done to give a long style a sense of movement.)  One word of caution about razor cuts: They tend to lose their shape sooner than hair cut with scissors, but for that wispy look, razor cuts really have no equal. From bob to flowing waves a razor cut will make a big difference in your look, so come in for a consultation first! We won't go all Jack The Ripper on you and bring out the razor until we, together, have determined it will be the best technique to use on your hair. You are an individual and at Believe, you will get an individual cut. Call us at 914-747-0778 today to make an appoint at Believe.

Does Your Hair Have The Humidity Blues?

We haven't even yet hit the dog days of summer and already it feels like stepping into your shower when you walk out your front door.

 The bad news is The Farmer's Almanac predicts a hot, wet summer for our area, full of thunderstorms and high temperatures. The good news is that we at Believe have some tips to help keep the humidity from wrecking havoc with your hair.

When dampness is in the air, hair suffers in three ways: It gets frizzy, flat, or so big you look like a 1940's country music star.

As a general tip, keep your hair moisturized and in good condition. Use a deep conditioner like Agadir Masque once or twice a week, halfway down the length of your hair to its ends. Towel dry it (by blotting, not rubbing)—retiring your hair dryer for the season if possible. Ditto with your straightening iron. The heat from both can damage your hair and make your problems worse. If you have to use a hair dryer, use the diffuser. And, in the sun, wear a ventilated hat. Letting the sun bleach your hair (and make leather of your skin) went out with the Gidget movies.

To deal with the frizz, use a small amount of a silicon-based smoother like Chromastics Tri Organic Extreme just on the frizzy areas. Don't overdo or you risk making your hair look greasy. An amount about the size of a pea is about right. Rub your hands together to emulsify the product and then lightly apply to hair. During the day, make your favorite hand lotion do double duty. Moisturize your hands with it and then rub your hands lightly over any frizz that springs up. (Your hair will smell good, too.)

If your hair goes flat, make sure you are using a shampoo like AESTELANCE G that doesn't leave a heavy residue (such residue gets even weightier when combined with the moisture in the air on a humid day.) You might also want to try a spray-on voluminizer like Chromastics Tri Organic Spray Gel (spray it on your roots while you hair is damp). For a styling product, use AESTELANCE Volume for a light hold and use a flexible hold spray like Scruples White Tea Embrace to finish the style. Other tricks include gentle teasing of the roots (done with a comb) to add volume, and spraying hairspray on the roots at lunchtime, then holding the hair straight up with a brush till the spray dries. A quick gentle brushing and voila—instant volume!

This YouTube video shows the effects of humidity on hair: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU9JDCt5Hto. Your hair shafts actually poof up enough that you might resemble your neighbor's poodle. If that's the case, you may have to admit you can't fight Mother Nature. Pull your hair back in a classic chignon for the office, a sexy tight top knot (allow a few tendrils to curl down the back of your neck) for a dinner out, and horsetail braids and side-swept ponytails are perfect for a weekend shopping or a day at the beach.

We at Believe are here to help, of course. Whether it's recommending products, giving you a great layered cut to help fight the Flathead Syndrome or teaching you the latest braids--come by and share a refreshing iced coffee or tea and let us help you win the battle against humid hair. We look forward to seeing you soon.