YOUNG AND RESTLESS
Ponytails are sizzling this season. For Gustavo Arango's spring/summer '07 collection, Aveda Global Creative Director Antoinette Beenders created versions that tumbled like a loose waterfall. "It was messy, edgy and chic," says Beenders, who served as lead stylist. To get the look, first straighten hair, then rake through Pure Abundance Hair Potion and back-comb at the roots for extra volume on top. To finish, pull the sides back tightly into pigtails, joining them with the rest of the hair at the nape of the neck. —C.W.
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Hot Seat
It's hard to believe that a super-chic styling chair could also be comfortable and affordable, but the Sara chair from Takara Belmont is all three. Available in more than 65 colors, the popular chair has an ergonomic seat and backrest supported by aluminum arms. A Sara shampoo unit and dryer chair are also available to complete the set. takarabelmont.com —C.W.
 The Sara chair from Takara Belmost is one of the company's best sellers. |
A Great Reed
Reed diffusers are becoming more popular in the fragrance world. Classy, elegant and stylish, Ilio diffusers come with graceful glass bottles and a mixture of essential oils in four different fragrances: Clear, Crisp, Bright and Still. iliofragrances.com —C.W.
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Beauty Behind the Burqa
In her memoir, Kabul Beauty School (Random House, 2007), Deborah Rodriguez, a hairstylist from Michigan, tells of her trip to Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban. What she learned was that her own expertise was more useful than she could have imagined. The events leading up to the founding of the Kabul Beauty School, a haven for Afghan cosmetologists, are laid out as Rodriguez details the stories of brave women forced to hide under burqas in a violent, patriarchal country. At the academy, Rodriguez taught her students about hair, but she also taught them about the beauty of love, friendship and the freedom to have both. —A.A.
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Island Ambiance
Colorist extraordinaire Rita Hazan stocked the retail shelves of her new namesake salon in Manhattan with all of her favorite products, such as soy candles from Malie. Made on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, the tropical-scented candles—available in Pikake, Gardenia, Plumeria, Pineapple-Coconut and Coconut-Vanilla—add fresh island ambiance to even the most landlocked homes and spas. malie.com —C.W.
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GOING LONG
HAIRDO FROM HAIRUWEAR has just added 18'' Clip-In Wavy Extensions to the line. Jessica Simpson is shown here wearing the new longer length, which will no doubt fly off your shelves this summer.
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Skullduggery
Inspired by designer Alexander McQueen's skull motif, the C2 Flat Iron from Linea P-R-O is slim, sexy and hot—really hot. It heats up to 410 degrees, making only one pass of the iron necessary to straighten hair. It also has full digital temperature controls conveniently located on a belt clip. The ceramic titanium plates utilize nano silver technology, and the device shuts off after 30 minutes. linea-pro.com —C.W.
 You asked for them: new 18" Clip-In Wavy Extensions from HairUWear's HairDo line |
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
The letters OPI originally stood for ODONTORIUM PRODUCTS, INC., the name of the dental supply company George Schaeffer bought in 1981. Using dental acrylics to develop a revolutionary liquid-and-powder system for acrylic nails, Schaeffer launched industry giant OPI Products in 1983. Today, the letters are widely recognized as signifying excellence in the professional nail-care industry. —N.P.
Change Is Good
In 2006 Phyto started to move away from the unmistakable glass bottles it had used since the company was created in 1969. Now 24 of the company's backbar-sized products come in aluminum packaging with stay-fresh nozzles, caps, pumps and tubes that prohibit air from entering the containers. Aluminum liners in the "milk carton" refills protect from light and heat. phyto.com —C.W.
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Obsessions
Ten things Matrix celebrity stylist Mark Townsend can't live without:
 Mark Townsend |
2. BIOLAGE SMOOTHéRAPIE SMOOTHING SERUM Almost every hairstyle I create starts and stops with this product. A few drops in damp hair ensure a beautiful, smooth blow-dry, and a few more to dry hair add shine.
3. FHI RUNWAY STRAIGHTENING IRON This is my favorite iron to use for sleek, straight hair.
4. MY DOG THEO I rescued this little guy a year ago and he's completely changed my life.
5. DYPTIQUE GARDENIA CANDLES The scent reminds me of the South, where I'm from. I always take these with me when I'm traveling because they give me a sense of home.
6. PRADA SNEAKERS They're my biggest extravagance. I'm on my feet all day, and these shoes are the most comfortable I've found. They're so stylish that they can also be worn with dress pants.
7. VAVOOM GOLD HEAT IRON-IN VOLUME PROTECTIVE DRY MIST This new product was an instant favorite. I spritz it in the hair before heat styling to add amazing shine and light body. There's real gold in it, which helps disperse heat evenly across hair.
8. SPORNETTE MIXED-BRISTLE ROUND BRUSHES Every blow-out I do is with these brushes. They create tension without pulling the hair.
9. MY PRIUS Driving in Los Angeles can be a nightmare. If I have to spend hours in traffic, I feel better being in a hybrid vehicle.
10. DOMINO MAGAZINE It's full of clever ideas. I recently bought a house, so I'm looking for decorating inspiration.
Fashion Flashback
Modern fashion photography began when three Parisian postcard photographers turned their cameras on the upper echelon of French society in the early 20th century. Elegance: The Séeberger Brothers and the Birth of Fashion Photography (Chronicle Books, 2007), showcases 300 black-and-white images, mostly impromptu portraits by the trio that recall the glamour of that era, when designers like Chanel and Hermès were rushing to have their fashions photographed on beautiful women at resorts, cafés and race courses. chroniclebooks.com —C.W.
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White Hot
The big trend for nails this summer is a lighter shade of pale. First spotted on the spring runways (think Phillip Lim, Behnaz Sarafpour and Monique Lhullier), the white-washed trend has pretty much become required wearing on fingers and toes. —K.D.
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Solar Eclipse
Summer rays take a punishing toll on fragile strands, compromising core strength and elasticity and causing discoloration and fading. To the rescue come five new additions to the Fekkai Summer Hair collection. Sun-safe formulas like Beach Waves, a lightweight styling spray; Sun Bandana, a hair sunscreen; and Wash & Wear, ideal for refreshing and restyling, are fortified with Solarshield technology that hydrates strands and guards against damaging UV rays. fekkai.com —K.D.
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Midas Touch
The hot, new trend in Hollywood skincare is all about getting the golden treatment. The UMO 24 Karat Gold Facial offered at Veronica's Skin & Body Care Center in tony Malibu, CA, uses 24-karat gold and Gamma PGA, a potent hydrating compound, to lighten, brighten, hydrate and tone aging skin. The result? The $400, 90-minute service makes clients look like a million bucks, lifting and firming skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and diminishing sun damage and age spots. umosen.com/en —K.D.
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A Rose is a Rose
Treat clients' hair, scalp and body with aromatic Balancing Blends Oils from Eco Care. The CEASZ+ Vigorizing Oil contains eucalyptus extract to open pores and boost energy; the Rosa Oil blend, with rose-petal extract, revives and refreshes; and the Naturalizing Oil, with sage and ylang-ylang, soothes and calms. ecocare.com —L.A.
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SUNNY DELIGHT
Savvy clients who know that sunscreen is an important part of any beauty routine are sure to love Relish Beauty's new collection of four sun-protection products. The line includes Daily Advanced Moisturizer with SPF 30 and zinc oxide for full-spectrum UVA and UVB protection and Golden Glow Shimmer self-tanning lotion. Each product contains antioxidants like green tea, vitamin E, ginko biloba, ginseng and licorice extract to nourish the skin. relishbeauty.com —C.W.
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HOLLYWOOD LAND
Tom Julian, senior vice president and director of trends for McCann Erickson, takes us to Southern California where he tips his hat to new brands and shopping experiences.
Retailers and specialty brands tend to think and look different when they spread their wings from the East Coast and head to the West Coast. Some choose to make a neighborhood statement to get local shoppers exposed to their brand. Some opt for the custom-created store experience that blends into the original storefront to make their brand homey and nostalgic. Or they may freshen up their brands with a touch of modern California aesthetics—skylights, bleached wood and natural stone or marble. Some become more adventurous and bring to life an original concept that allows for a totally different personality to surprise shoppers.
 TOM JULIAN |
The major mall checklist? Don't miss Westside Pavilion on Pico, Beverly Center on LaCienega, and Glendale Galleria and South Coast Plaza in Irvine. There are also great outdoor plaza environments including the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, The Grove at Farmer's Market, Century City Shopping Center or the Malibu Country Mart.
Here are three shopping destinations with a nod to designers and brands that have expressed a fluent West Coast personality:
Melrose Place (the street, not the TV show) is the address of the moment, tucked away off of Melrose Avenue and lined with trees. It has been attracting serious shoppers ever since Marc Jacobs opened in 2005. Carolina Herrera and Oscar de la Renta are two New York-based designers who decided to open their flagships here, along with names like Marni, Mulberry and Santa Maria Novella. Herrera's boutique looks like a house with signature black and white awnings.
 MADEWELL |
Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica is a combination of shops and a street fair with performing artists. All outdoors, this 1950s shopping plaza has been revitalized into a tourist destination and a neighborhood hang. Boston beauty operator Fresh unveiled its new face with a shop that sits near movie theaters, restaurants and specialty shops like Anthropologie, Levi's, French Connection and Urban Outfitters.
 CAROLINA HERRERA |
Century City Shopping Center, with department stores like Bloomingdale's and Macy's, is considered Los Angeles' "only outdoor mall." Spain's Mango and Neiman Marcus' Cusp are worth exploring. Luxury labels like Tiffany and Louis Vuitton can also be found. Beauty brands include Acca Kappa, Aveda and The Art of Shaving. Madewell is one of the newer tenants and is billed as the younger sister to J.Crew. The name, inspired by the Madewell work-wear company in Bedford, MA, has been updated to offer women's casual sportswear accented with antique details for a modern twist. It is priced lower than J.Crew and the setting evokes more of an East Coast country house. The store product assortment includes apparel, outerwear and accessories.