Making A Big Hair Color Change Like Nicole Richie Going Brunette?!

Look at lovely Nicole Richie. Do you love it or hate it? The petite beauty has been known for her trademark golden locks, and now suddenly this:

Nicole Richie has gone brunette!!

We must be honest here, we were blown away. She looks like two different women. We prefer Nicole as a blonde. However, we don't think she looks bad with darker hair. She's pretty either way.

If you're going to make a big hair color change, then please visit a professional colorist. Our favorite would be Kim Vo, who happens to be located west coast in sunny California. We have never met the celebrity stylist, but we have seen his work and the results are brilliant.

A pro like Kim Vo, would probably tell you, that the most important factor when making a dramatic color change, like blonde to brunette, or brunette to blonde, or auburn to pale blonde, and so on, is considering your skin tone. Are you in the warm category or the cool category?

We believe that any woman could make a big hair color change, as long as she remains in the sensible realm of complementing shades. Your skin tone is essential in selecting what brunette hue you can pull off, for instance. The wrong shade, and you look washed out, too olive, too ashen, too ruddy, etc.

And our favorite hair rule: Remember....it's always easier to go darker, than to go lighter.

Lighter hair generally means, more upkeep, and more chances for damage to the hair cuticle. You can hide some less than perfect locks with a darker shade of hair color.

And don't forget your eyebrows when making a big hair color change. You might need to gently tone them down a bit, especially if changing from brunette to blonde. You want to blend in the new color with your features, as naturally as possible.

Let's not forget the investment. If you're a dark brunette, and have gone drastic into a head of blonde hair (Kim Kardashian did this for about a month or so), you will get socked in the wallet. Re-touching roots and extra highlights equal lots of money over a period of time.

And what about reversing a dramatic hair color change? That's more complex than you would think. We know a light blonde woman with fair skin, who went for bold red hair a few months ago. She had quickly decided it wasn't the best move, and then went through a lengthy process to get back her trademark blonde look.

Or ask anyone who has colored their hair black. Lifting the hair even a few shades lighter equals part magic and a very good colorist. Many women have suffered through many months of too dark hair, and have had to patiently grow it all out.

Our advice: Stay within your natural hair color range, for beautiful results. And if you want to make a big hair color change, then an excellent professional colorist is your best friend.

Let's not forget, though, how important the right hair color is for women......color can do amazing things for us. Model Cindy Crawford was asked in an interview with Allure magazine last March, how she stays looking so young at 43:

CINDY CRAWFORD: Color is the most important factor. You can get any plastic surgery in the world, but hair color is what enables women to look younger longer. I've also become more aware of hair health. I stay away from razor cuts because they can make my hair look frizzy, and I give myself a hair treatment while I'm in my sauna to keep it conditioned.

Cashmere Robes For Ultimate In Wealth And Softness

Cashmere. Just the sound of the word seems to signify a sign of wealth and sense of softness.

And yes, cashmere seems to surface around the holidays, because it is a classy gift to give and receive. And this time again, cashmere is hot, especially when it comes to robes. Nothing feels cozier and softer than a cashmere robe.

So, exactly where does cashmere come from? A cashmere goat, silly. And according to some digging, we learned that these goats can be found hanging out in the high plateau regions of Asia, including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and China. And a few still live in the Cashmere region of India where the name originated from. Make sure you are getting real Cashmere when shopping for a robe. The label will state that the item is made from 100% pure Cashmere.

As we all know, pure cashmere is expensive. A robe can cost you thousands of dollars! Often times, cashmere is blended with silk for robes and sweaters. Pricey, but cheaper than 100%. Still, a very luxurious fabric. And there are also cottons that are soft and smooth and feel like cashmere and won't break your wallet. We will call those items, cashmere-inspired. And just as pretty.

Today, we are looking at three cashmere robes, from high end to low end:

1. Loro Piana Classica Cashmere Robe ($3,495, Neiman Marcus). Absolutely gorgeous. Need we say more?! And the robe comes in pink or white. Shawl collar with tie waist. Long sleeves. Pure cashmere. Made in Italy. Take a 'zoom' look at this one.....a really stunning cashmere robe. Hey, you are definitely worth it!

2. Black Cashmere Knit Robe ($152.15,on sale now at Bluefly). This robe is a great deal, because it, too, is 100% cashmere. And it comes in black, grey, pink, or natural. It features a lightweight, soft cashmere knit style with a wrap front and self-tie. It measures 37½" from base of collar to hem.

3. Victoria's Secret Soft Sweater Robe ($58, Victoria's Secret). These cashmere-inspired robes are really lovely and warm, and come in burgundy, heather oatmeal, and heather grey. Loose, drapey shape with cashmere-like softness. Three-quarter kimono sleeves. Wrap tie. Knee-length. Imported cotton. A great budget buy!

Cashmere robes are really the ultimate in luxury. We are all looking to lounge around in something beautiful, uber-soft, and comfortable. And these three selections hit the mark on all counts.

LexLi Skin Care Line Developed By Plastic Surgeon Features Aloe Vera

Aloe vera has been around for a very long time. In fact, the plant from the lily family dates back to biblical times. People around the globe have used aloe for dozens of reasons...like treating a bad sunburn, for instance.


But this bright green plant with the thick, tapered, fleshy leaves has been shown to do so much more. At least that's what one popular plastic surgeon from North Dakota says.

Dr. Ahmed Abdullah believes so strongly in the properties of aloe vera, that he has an entire skin care line, LexLi, based on this succulent plant. And he is proud to say that his treatments are true aloe-based products. All you need to do, is look at the back of the jar for the ingredients. The first ingredient listed in the LexLi Skin Care AloeGlyC collection is ALOE.

We thought we would take a look at AloeGlyC and how these topical beauty products work.

Dr. Abdullah explains at his website, that aloe vera is featured in his skin care line, because the plant performs two key actions: 1. heals the skin. 2. repairs the skin. But to be extremely effective, aloe must be carefully blended with other ingredients to sustain its power. "When Aloe Vera gel is mixed with either propylene glycol or glycerin, it has a synergistic action as a humectant. This synergistic, augmentative ability to retain water is the basis for the use of Aloe in cosmetics as a skin moisturizer and smoothener."

The most popular beauty treatment in the LexLi line is AloeGlyC ($75, 1 oz.). And this is what Dr. Abdullah says the rejuvenator does:
"This patented aloe based exfoliant combines aloe vera, glycolic acid and L-ascorbic acid beads (Vitamin C) into one unique formula. This remarkable combination aids in the removal of dead skin cells while activating the production of collagen-the skin’s natural rejuvenation process. The result is a reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, while improving the texture and clarity of the skin. As an added benefit, the tine vitamin C beads function as biological cofactors and antioxidants, protecting the skin from damage caused by the environment. After just a few weeks you will begin to see remarkable improvement in how your skin looks and feels."

There are also a cleanser and day moisturizer that go with the AloeGlyC. "At LexLi we use bio-active, pharmaceutical grade Aloe Vera as the base for our products instead of water. This Aloe Vera base makes our products much more effective than our competition's products," Dr Abdullah explains.

To learn more about the LexLi AloeGlycC skin care line, and other aloe-based products, like their shampoo, conditioner, makeup remover, toner, and more, visit aloeglyc.

New Garnier HerbaShine To Offer 'Soft Lift' To Hair In 2010

Women who at-home color hair, can thank bamboo extract and the pros at Garnier for HerbaShine. It's a new and quicker way to cover grays, add shine and depth, and lighten hair one shade!

But ladies, you will have to wait until late December/January 2010, before the boxes of HerbaShine hit store shelves.

What's so unique about the new Garnier hair color?

First of all, No ammonia. Ammonia is a chemical, and it is often used during the coloring process. It opens the cuticle of the hair to allow the color pigments to penetrate deep into the hair shaft. But ammonia can be quite damaging and cause hair to become fragile and brittle and snap off if over-used or used incorrectly.

Garnier's new HerbaShine is actually a cross between a permanent color and a semi-permanent color. The dye contains some peroxide to allow for a gentle jump to level 2+, or a 'soft lift' as the Garnier folks are calling their unique box of HerbaShine:

1. Can lift hair up to a single level.
2. Covers gray (up to 70%)
3. Provides natural results without an obvious root line.
4. Does it all in just 10 minutes, for the retail price of $7.99
5. Comes in 18 gorgeous shades.

And the bamboo extract is forumlated into the color creme formula for a good reason. It fortifies the hair cuticle for radiant, shiny color. We learned that the leaves of the bamboo plant are used for a variety of cosmetic applications, because its anti-oxidant properties protect the integrity of the skin and hair's health.

We're going to try Garnier's HerbaShine when it hits store shelves. We've been checking, but so far, no boxes here in the U.S. Across the pond in Great Britain, however, women there are already using the new HerbaShine, raving about its gentle coloring process, no-drip formula, less of a stinky dye scent, and quick results.

Match Your Nails To Your Emails With OPI And Dell

OPI Nail Lacquer and Dell. What a lovely combination! This is too cute, but it's really true. Now you can match your nails to your emails!

This would make a great holiday gift, we think:

A new Dell laptop in a shade that matches your favorite OPI nail shade. Brilliantly beautiful!! An intelligent accessory.

The brainchild of this fashion interface---a woman, of course. Suzi Weiss-Fischmann of OPI has designed a line of computers skins with Dell, by lending 26 of her most popular colors to the Dell Design Studio.

“Beautiful nails really are the ultimate accessory to any look,” Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive Vice President & Artistic Director says. “And now, with Dell laptops that coordinate with OPI Nail Lacquers, you can match your nails to your emails!”

Classic and popular shades like:

I'm Not Really a Waitress (pictured above)

Big Apple Red

Princesses Rule!

Louvre Me Louvre Me Not

Cajun Shrimp and Green-wich Village, to name a few.

The Dell/OPI color option is available for these personal computers: Mini, Inspiron and Studio laptops.

You can check out all the pretty OPI nail lacquer shades available with the Dell laptop partnership at Dell's own Flickrpage.

And to find your perfect OPI color for nails, just visit OPI, of course.

Our personal fave is OPI's Pompeii Purple. Second fave: Teal the Cows Come Home. Ha. ha. Someone buy us one of these Dell/OPI's, please!!

This holiday season, you can really make a bold and shimmering statement with beauty and technology. The only problem is choosing. We would all like more than one!

AMC's Susan Lucci Stretches Pilates Empire With Spandex And Fila

Daytime's Susan Lucci is putting a little more stretch and spandex into her appearance these days. The ever-youthful Erica Kane on All My Children, has been sported around town in some pretty, new fitness clothing.

Susan Lucci has teamed up with the Fila Apparel company and designed a new line of Pilates and fitness clothing to complement the Emmy winner's Malibu Pilates Program. The apparel is called Fila by Lucci and is selling exclusively on HSN, for $33 to $50.

What's so special about Fila by Lucci? There are some pretty feminine touches and some clever details. There's a cute racer-back floral tank, a cut-out back long bra top, and a cami tank which go perfectly with a hooded jacket, and pants with contrast piping. The tops are uniquely made with an "inside self fabric bra" and are designed to flatter the contours of a woman's neck and back. The pants feature a contrast band that can be folded down at the hip, or kept at the waist for added coverage and support. The line is made with Fila's special, peached poly-spandex fabrication. So flexibility and comfort are always maintained.

The attractive Susan Lucci is 60-something and looks amazing. And yes, she really does work out, and Pilates is her fitness strategy:

"Pilates is a huge part of my fitness program and I want to make sure I look great during my workout," Susan Lucci explains. "I fell in love with Fila's beautiful performance apparel; it makes me look and feel great during my workout. The styles in our new collection are so versatile; I could wear the styles from the gym to running errands around town!"

We think this is a super idea for women working out and on the go. These pieces look to be sophisticated and smart. And heck, you don't even have to work out if you don't want to. The line is pretty in spandex. So we say, way to go Susan Lucci!

Roy Orbison's Widow Debuts New Perfume: Pretty Woman

We like to believe that most people remember and adore Roy Orbison's huge hit song Pretty Woman.

And of course, there were Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in Pretty Woman on the big screen. How could we forget?

This time, it's all about Barbara. Barbara Orbison, the widow of the legendary Roy Orbison. And she has been working for a number of years now, to create a signature scent, appropriately called, Pretty Woman. And it's debuting now! How lovely....a fragrance inspired by her husband's beautiful song.

Pretty Woman Perfume is an exotic blend with notes of bergamot, stargazer lily, amber and patchouli.. Price is $80 for a 1.7 oz. bottle. At the moment, the fragrance can be purchased at stores such as Stanley Korshak in Dallas and Planet Blue in Malibu, Calif. And you can also buy a bottle at Barbara Orbison's website Pretty Woman Perfume.

Barbara Orbison has always had a thing for fragrance. "After all these years of mixing my own perfume (which I have been dabbling in since finding this scent when I was thirteen years old), perfecting it throughout my life and marriage to Roy - it's finally here and I can't wait for you to try it.

I feel a scent should be mysterious and draw the world into you. I'm always being asked over and over again, “what are you wearing?” Now at last I’m able to share my secret with you!"

Barbara Orbison is also adding some scented candles for the holidays. The candles come in black, white and gold, and are encased in heavy glass. She also is looking into creating a body lotion and shampoo in the future. According to one source we found, first-year sales of the Pretty Women line could be worth an estimated $1.5 million in U.S. and international markets.

Barbara explains it this way:

“Everything I add to the line has to have something special about it,” she says. “The name Pretty Woman is important to me, not just because of the song or the movie, but because I feel every woman is pretty, every woman is beautiful, and it doesn’t make a difference where they live or how old they are.”