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I’m really surprised at how much I like this trend. For me, braids invoke memories of childhood. My hair was always very long, so the quickest way to style it was for my mom to french braid it. I think I wore a french braid every day of 5th grade. So, braids just don’t scream ‘beauty trend’ to me. I’ve realized, though, that the braid can be much more stylish than my 5th grade french braid.
The celebrities and models with braided dos look far from childish. Sometimes playful, sometimes romantic, braided hair is all grown up and somewhat sophisticated.
Like all hairstyles, there are some rules:
To keep the braid sophisticated, stay away from kitschy clips and hair ties. Keep it simple with clear bands and bobby pins that match your hair color.
Choose a style appropriate for your age. Women at every age can pull off this look–even my grandma wears braids well. But, if she showed up in pigtail braids, it’d be a big no no. Alternately, 25 year olds in french braids run the risk of looking like stuffy librarians.
So, what are the different braid styles? Read more to learn about the different styles, see how celebrities and models have worn them and learn how to create the look yourself.

What do you think?

Are braids still too childish for you to try? Have you attempted any of these looks? Which do you like best?

It’s true, bangs have been around for forever. But, there was definitely a shift in the ’90’s. We all started growing our bangs out. And, there they have stayed until just recently.
The side-swept bang eased us back into the style. And, then, folks like Heidi Klum and Reese Witherspoon took the plunge with their thick, blunt bangs. Up until this Fall, bangs were still pretty much a celebrity trend.
But, this season, we’ll see more regular gals trying the look.
Read more for the top three bang styles, celebrity inspiration and the best bangs for your face shape and hair type.

Thick & Blunt

Thick, blunt bangs are the most daring of bang styles. They have the potential to change your entire appearance. In most cases, they’ll make you look lots younger. You’ll have to decide if that’s a good thing or not.

Celebrity Inspiration

If you’ll notice, all three of these ladies have medium to thick hair. Adding thick, blunt bangs makes your hair look even thicker and fuller. Make sure to keep your bangs trimmed pretty regularly to avoid stringiness or being blinded. Shown: Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum, Demi Lovato

Best Hair Types

If you have fine hair, this is the best bang option for you. Thick, blunt bangs make your hair appear thicker than it really is. Just make sure you style them well. You don’t want your thick bangs hanging limply on your forehead. Blowing them out with a large, rounded brush is the best way to style. Give them slight volume, but not too much curl.
These bangs also work for medium to thick hair.
If your hair is curly, this is not the option for you. You will have to style your bangs every day, and they probably won’t look great. Straight, full bangs with curly hair is very ’80’s (and not in a good way). Remember perms and big bangs? Yeah…not so good.

Best Face Shapes

If your face is oval-shaped, pretty much any hairstyle will work for you.
Thick, blunt bangs are also a good match for those with long faces. Add a few long layers to frame your face and make it seem a little less lengthy.

Wispy Bangs

Wispy bangs are the bang type of choice for those who are not committed to trying the thick, blunt look just yet. Wispy bangs can be tricky if you don’t have the right hair type. The great thing about this style is that wispy bangs can easily be blown back into the rest of your style to make it look like you don’t have bangs at all. They’re also the easiest to achieve if you’re cutting your own bangs, though I don’t advise trying that!

Celebrity Inspiration

Anytime I think of wispy bangs, I instantly think of Audrey Hepburn in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’. Though I wouldn’t suggest going that short, this picture gives the general idea of the style. Wispy bangs are able to look a bit mussed and tousled. Resse Witherspoon’s wispy bangs show how to accent them and Katie Holmes’s show how to blend them in with the rest of your style.

Best Hair Types

Wispy bangs work for all hair types except fine hair. If you already have fine hair, adding fine wispy bangs just accentuates the thinness.

Best Face Shapes

Wispy bangs work well for heart shaped faces like Reese Witherspoon’s. They draw attention to the top of your face, softening the sharp edge of your chin.
Wispy bangs also work for oblong and square faces for the same reason. The light layers soften the angles of your face.
Again, if your face is oval-shaped, lucky you! This look (and pretty much any other) will work for you.

Side-Swept

If you’re a commitment freak and can’t bring yourself to try the shortness of wispy or blunt bangs, try some long, side-swept bangs. Long, side-swept bangs look great on short and long hair styles, but are especially pleasing with long hair. Combine with other long layers to break up the bluntness of your cut and give it some definition.

Celebrity Inspiration

Each of these ladies have classic long, side-swept bangs. Easy to pull back into a ponytail or a half-up, half-down look, these bangs are by far the most versatile. Notice how layered each of their hairstyles are. Shown: Nicole Richie, Jessica Alba, Cameron Diaz

Best Hair Types

Side-swept bangs are great for fine to medium hair because the layers add volume to your hairstyle.
Those with thick hair can also wear side-swept bangs. Adding layers often gets rid of some of the weight of thick hair, but can also make your hair appear really heavy and chunky. Ask your stylist to thin your hair out a bit if you’re planning to try this style.

Best Face Shapes

Because of the layers, this look is great for square, oblong and heart shaped faces as it helps to soften the angles of your face.
If you have a round face, make sure the layers are long and a little chunkier to make your face look long and slim.
Oval faces…enjoy!

I have to preface this by admitting that I am a huge fan of department store makeup. My favorite store in the mall is Sephora and my favorite department in Nordstrom is Makeup (followed closely by shoes). I love Bobbi Brown and MAC and can spend hours sampling at Sephora. Unfortunately, my budget is not as big a fan as I.


While it’s great to get a makeover and advice from a trained makeup artist and be able to try products before you buy them, it still doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to spend that much money on products that can be found much cheaper at the drugstore. Don’t get me wrong, there are certain department store products that are far superior to anything you can find at the drugstore. And, there are certain things you just can’t find at the drugstore.


So, in this post, I’ll distinguish which products should be purchased at the department store and which at the drugstore. I’ll also give you the top drugstore products for each type of makeup and trendy colors for this Fall.

Department Store vs. Drugstore

Products like mascara and lipgloss have such a short lifespan and there’s such little distinction in quality, they should be purchased at the drugstore. Lipstick and eyeliners found at drugstores are pretty comparable to the the quality found at department stores. My general rule of thumb is that anything that is powdered or an all-over makeup should be purchased at department stores. Most drugstore blushes, powders and eyeshadows contain talc, making them appear very chalky. They don’t have the lasting effect that products like MAC have.


Though there are some quality foundations and concealers at drugstores, there are two downsides. One, it’s often difficult to tell if the colors will match your skin tone. At department stores, you can sample different shades before you purchase. Two, the products at drugstores are not always formulated with products meant to stay on your skin all day. Remember, they’re cheaper for a reason.
So, in short–

Products to buy at department stores:

powder
eyeshadow
blush
foundation
concealer

Products to buy at drugstores:

mascara
lipgloss
eyeliner
lipstick

Best Drugstore Products

Here are the best drugstore products for each type of makeup. I’ll include the best foundations, powders, etc. since there are times when you just MUST buy from the drugstore.

Mascara

Shown: L’Oreal Voluminous, Maybelline Great Lash
It’s no surprise that these two brands are the best mascaras. They are actually both owned by the same company (L’Oreal) that makes Lancome, also known for having great mascara. These mascaras create thick, clump-free lashes and generally last longer than other mascaras.

Lipgloss

Shown: Sally Hansen Lip Inflation Extreme, Revlon Lip Glide
I love the Sally Hansen Lip Inflation glosses. They’re a very affordable alternative to department store lip plumpers and they actually work! Revlon’s Lip Glide comes in many different colors. This is a great product to have in your purse or pocket for a quick color/gloss combo.

Eyeliner

Shown: Rimmel Liquid Eyeliner, Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner
Liquid eyeliners are the way to go. Both of these eyeliners have lasting power similar to that of a waterproof mascara. Rimmel is by far the best in this category, somehow mastering the art of not being runny, streaky or clumpy. If you prefer a pencil eyeliner, go for the basic Cover Girl pencil.
Fall Eyeliner Colors:
Blue Eye Makeup is trendy this Fall. Try Rimmel’s Sapphire liner.

Foundation

Shown: Almay Smart Shade Makeup, Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer
As I said before, foundation can be a scary thing to buy at the drugstore. Since it’s something you wear all over your face all day, you want to be careful to find a quality product that looks great and is also good for your skin. It’s also difficult to find the right color for your skin tone since you can’t sample products in drugstores. That’s why Almay’s Smart Shade Makeup is the best bet for drugstore foundation. Not only does Almay use quality ingredients like grapeseed, gingko biloba and ginseng, this foundation also has magical (there’s no other word for it) microscopic color beads that blend into your skin’s natural skin color. I have no idea how it works, but basically, the formula works to match your skin tone, providing natural, all-over coverage. Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin Enhancer doesn’t contain magical color beads, but it is full of vitamins that are great for your skin.

Lipstick

Shown: Max Factor Lasting Color Lipstick, L’Oreal Color Riche Lipstick
Department store lipsticks often fade quickly. Both of these brands are creamy, long-lasting and smudge-proof. And, they come in many colors.
Fall Lipstick Colors:
Red Lips are the thing this Fall. If you have a dark complexion, go for a red with more orange. If you have a light complexion, go for one with more blue. The basic, fire engine red works on everyone! Try L’Oreal’s ‘True Red’ or Max Factor’s ‘Red Passion’.
Burgundy is also a great Fall 2008 color.

Eyeshadow

Shown: Cover Girl Eye Enhancers Eyeshadow, Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow
Though I prefer buying eyeshadows from Bobbi Brown or MAC, I do buy drugstore eyeshadow when I’m trying out a new color. This is especially important for Fall Trends. If you haven’t tried purple or blue eyeshadows before and aren’t sure about them, try a drugstore brand first.
Fall Eyeshadow Colors:
Purple and Blue are the top eyeshadow colors this Fall. Try Cover Girl’s ‘Blue Notes’ or ‘Dance Party’. Try Maybelline’s ‘Blink of Blue’ or ‘Crown Jewels’.

Blush

Shown: Jane Shimmering Blush, Revlon Blush
I love Bobbi Brown’s shimmer brick blushes. This Shimmering Blush from Jane is pretty similar and a fraction of the price. For a basic blush, try Revlon. Beware of what I mentioned before, though. Most of these drugstore blushes have talc in them, making them appear chalky.

Mineral Makeup

Shown: Milani Mineral Makeup, L’Oreal Bare Naturals Mineral Makeup
Are you a mineral makeup convert, but want something cheaper and easier to find than Bare Escentuals? Try one of these. Here’s a great review of drugstore mineral foundations from Makeup Moxie.

Polish colors for each season are inspired, in large part, by fashion. So, it makes sense that the biggest colors this Fall are rich purples, blues, reds and burgundies.
Black is back for yet another season with the same edgy flair as before and metallics like gold and silver act as accessories to Fall’s jewel-toned palette.
The surprises, though, are the ones to watch. Gray, white and brown polishes each have the potential to become the next black. Some are already claiming that white polish will be the lucky winner.
Read more about Fall Fashion Colors.
Read more for tips and lists of specific polishes for each color. Click on the images to find deals and related products.

Blue

Bold blues are very big in fashion this Fall. For polishes, go with bright blues or navy blues. The darker the polish, the shorter your nails should be.
If you’re really into blue, try pairing these polishes with blue eye makeup, too.
Fall 2008 Makeup Trend–Blue Eyes
Try OPI’s ‘Blue My Mind’, ‘Yoga-ta Get This Blue!’ or Essie’s ‘Aruba Blue’.

Grey

Grey nail polish may seem a bit drab, but it’s the perfect compliment to the season’s top color, purple. If you choose a purple polish and you wear purple often, you run the risk of either overdoing it or clashing. With grey, you’ll always match. Don’t wear grey polish if your wardrobe consists mostly of neutrals. If that’s the case, choose a brighter, bolder color to spice up your calm tones.
Try OPI’s ‘You Don’t Know Jacques’ or China Glaze’s ‘Recycle’.

Red

Red is always a big color. Especially around the holiday season. With red lipstick making a comeback, red nails are the perfect match. Try to find a color that matches your lipstick to achieve a super classic look.
Read more about Fall 2008 Makeup Colors.
Try OPI’s ‘A Oui Bit of Red’, Essie’s ‘A-List’, or ‘Red Label’.

Purple

Ahh…purple…Fall’s ‘it’ color. Dark Purple was popular last Fall/Winter as well. This Fall, try purple in any shade. The light colors from OPI are bright and fun. I’m wearing Essie’s ‘Sole Mate’ right now and love the black/purple hue.
Try OPI’s ‘Louvre Me Louvre Me Not’, ‘Parlez-Vous opi’ or Essie’s ‘Sole Mate’.

Gold

Metallic polishes act as accessories to Fall outfits. As with dark polishes, nails should be short when wearing gold or silver polish. Gold is one of the main colors for makeup this Fall, as well.
Try OPI’s ‘Curry Up Don’t Be Late’, Ulta’s ‘Gold Digger’ or Essie’s ‘Golden Nuggets’.

Black

Yes, black is still trendy this season. And, as it lingers in the trend list, more people are starting to wear it. Black polish is great because it can be worn with pretty much anything. Just make sure to wear it on short nails to avoid the ‘witchy’ look.
Try Essie’s ‘Licorice’, OPI’s ‘My Own Private Jet’ or ‘Black Onyx’.

White/Nude

This is a new one. White polishes exist pretty much only for French Manicures. But, recently, we’ve seen models wearing all-white nail polish. How to wear white polish without looking like you used Liquid Paper? Make sure it has a shimmer or sheen to it. And, try something a little off-white or nude.
Try OPI’s ‘Get Me To The Taj On Time’, ‘Moon Over Mumbai’ or Essie’s ‘Nude Attitude’.

Silver

As with gold, silver polish acts as an accessory with its metallic shine. To avoid the Vegas showgirl look, make sure your nails are short.
Try Essie’s ‘Loophole’, ‘Silver Bullions’ or Ulta’s ‘Starstruck’.

Burgundy

This jewel tone enhances the rich colors that are so popular this Fall. Go dark with this one.
Try OPI’s ‘Royal Rajah Ruby’, ‘Bastille My Heart’ or Essie’s ‘Berry Hard’.

Brown

Another new trend, brown polish is an earthy alternative to black, blue and purple. I’m really loving this color and hope it has some staying power beyond this season.
Try Essie’s ‘Lady Godiva’, OPI’s ‘I’m Fondue of You’ or Essie’s ‘Downtown Brown’.