From Copper To Cherry To Auburn--Red Hair Is Celebrity Hot

Red hair. It is so beautiful and can turn all heads in a crowded room.

But here's an important Beauty Tip Today, from master colorist and celebrity stylist, Kim Vo. We asked him this:

Which head of hair poses the biggest challenges for coloring---blonde, brunette, black, or red?

Kim Vo: "The biggest challenge are reds. The red color molecule is the smallest of all colors. It's like a tropical rainstorm. It's tempest and dramatic at first and then quickly fades."

But the beautiful hair risks don't seem to be stopping sexy celebs like: Rihanna. Eva Longoria. Kristen Stewart. Christina Aguilera. They've all headed into the red zone.

And some are much bolder than the rest. Just look at beauty chameleon Rihanna. She's lovin' her cherry red do. Ah, we're not liking it, but the singer is always changing it up, is fearless when it comes to bizarre beauty trends, and she's very young. Although it hurts to do it....we are giving Rihanna the thumbs up! We can only imagine the endless trips to the salon to keep the scarlett shade fresh and strong.

Eva Longoria surprised us, when she showed up to debut a new line of refrigerators. Yeah, that's right. The Desperate Housewives star wowed her fans in a plum-colored dress with wavy auburn locks, as she launched the new LG combi fridge at the San Miguel market in Madrid, Spain.

And then there's Kristen Stewart. We're all used to seeing the young actress with raven hair. But not any longer. Kristen lightened up her hair and softened her looks, by adding some pretty copper highlights. And just in time for the important premiere for the brand new Twilight Eclipse movie in New York City last Monday night.

Always blonde Christina Aguilera, has also gone the strawberry/copper route. Not sure if hers include hair extensions. She has been busy filming Burlesque with Cher and Stanley Tucci, so it might be for her movie role.

Red hair is lots of fun and gets you tons of attention. The maintenance isn't easy, that's why your stylist will become your new BFF. Just remember, that skin tone means everything:

Kim Vo: "Skin tone is the most important factor in deciding your perfect color. It takes a professional eye to determine, but for a simple read, use the veins on your wrist. If your veins are blue, warm tones like chestnut and auburn tones are for you. If your veins are more green, caramel and golden hues will compliment you. If your veins are blue/green, then warm and cool tones can be added seamlessly. "

Everyone Smacking Lips Over New Glaceau Vitamin Schtick Lip Balm

Glaceau(the Vitamin Water drink folks) and Bonne Belle(of Lip Smacker fame) have come up with a very clever and useful little beauty product. In fact, some friends we know, are already addicted to this little tube of lip balm.

So what's the big deal about the Glaceau Vitamin Schtick Lip Balm?!

This one's got an SPF of 20, and is formulated with Vitamin E and other good stuff. So you get very nice sun protection for your lips in a yummy-scented moisturizing balm. The balm consistency is more like a gel, and thicker than your average balm. The appealing scents last on your lips, but there really isn't a flavor included, which is unfortunate.

Only $2.99 at drugstores like Walgreens. Even Urban Outfitters sells them by the register. And the Glaceau Vitamin Schtick Lip Balm comes in scents like:Kiwi Strawberry. Lemonade. Dragonfruit. Acai Blueberry Pomegranate. And Fruit Punch. How could you not want to sample a few and toss them into your makeup bag or purse?!

We all want soft, kissable lips. And believe it or not, the sun can do a number on them. Lips don't have enough melanin to protect us from the searing heat. Melanin is the natural skin pigment that filters out the strong and damaging UV rays. Lips are also thinner in skin structure, very sensitive, and lack protective oil glands. That is why you need to have a lip balm with an SPF of at least 15. An SPF of 20-30 would be best. So, Glaceau's Vitmain Schtick Lip Balm is a good one to wear while you play out in the sun

And we've talked about this before. Dermatologists are now warning women about the dangers of wearing lip gloss in the sun. Sounds crazy, but this can maybe cause skin cancer.

According to NYC dermatologist, Dr. Bruce Robinson, it's the moisture in the gloss that attracts the sun's harmful rays. "Take a magifying glass and put it over your lips." When you apply shiny lip gloss and go out into the sun, "that's essentially what you're doing."

Just don't go out under the sun with bare, naked lips. Always wear a conditioning balm. And save the gloss for after sunning.

Summer Safety: Go Easy In The Sun And Avoid Tanning Beds

Tanning. We all do it, or have done it, and/or continue to do it.

And for those who really want that golden glow year round, there's the tanning bed. Unfortunately, that's where the extreme danger lies, so to speak.

We saw a very sad story today, about a lovely young woman from Texas, Jaime Regen Rea. Jaime spent her high school lunch hours at a tanning salon. She wanted to always look tanned and pretty. Her mother says Jaime spent a lot of time in the sun, but really became addicted to the tanning bed.

At age 20, she was diagnosed with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. And Jaime Regen Rea was dead, just 3 weeks before her 30th birthday.

Her heartbroken family has decided to honor Jaime's memory by joining in the American Academy of Dermatology's new TV and print public service advertisements. These ads aim to educate the public about the increased risk of melanoma from tanning beds and sun exposure..

This story isn't a rare one. We have spoken several times, here at Beauty Tip Today, about the dangers of too much sun exposure and the alarming statistics of young people using tanning beds.

No one needs a long lecture here, but... researchers have found that deadly skin cancer is on the rise for younger women, but not for younger men. Cases of melanoma among women have jumped some 50%, according to a study published back on July 10, 2008 by the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

"It's worrying," said Mark Purdue, a research fellow at the National Cancer Institute, who led the analysis published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. "What we are seeing in young adults right now could foretell a much larger number of melanoma cases in older women." .

Have fun in the sun, but remember to do it in moderation and arm yourself with plenty of sunscreen. As far as tanning beds go, well, the statistics alone, should have you thinking twice before lying down on one.

It's best to use a self-tanning lotion. You can fake a pretty decent tan. Lindsay Lohan has a nice product she put out last year, called Sevin Nyne ($35, at Sephora). LiLo developed the unique faux tan styling mist with Lorit, an expert celebrity airbrush tanner. The product is chemical-free and smells delicious. And its made with natural products like---goji berry, chardonnay extracts, caramel, and a sugar coconut base.

Kardashian Sisters New PerfectSkin Care Line Debuts---But Do They Really Use It?!

The Kardashian sisters. Kourtney. Kim. Khloe.

Love 'em or hate 'em...the girls are running all the way to the bank. And for the fools who say the Kardashians are lazy, trust-fund babies, we have to disagree.

Kourtney, Kim, and Khloe, are three of the most financially savvy celebrity darlings we have seen in a long time.

With 2 hit reality TV shows on E, and selling products with the famous Kardashian name on them, like self-tanning lotion, diet products, fitness tapes, fragrance, jewelry, and so much more, it would make sense to eventually sell a skin care line. And that my dears, is what these three pretty sisters have now launched.

PerfectSkin is a 30-day 3-step solution for more beautiful skin. And it includes these key steps: Cleanse. Tone. Repair & Protect. And for $29.95, you, too, can have clear, healthy skin like Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe.

But do the Kardashian sisters really, truly, even use PerfectSkin on their faces?

We assume they do. At least that is what all three claimed on their recent infomercial. But just last year, Kim and Kourtney gave out some of their favorite and expensive skin care lines. And we wonder if they have since abandoned these rich girl beauty products.

Kim's fave eye cream just happens to be Creme de la Mer Concentrate, at $350 for 1.7 oz.
And Kourtney claims she doesn't really follow a strict skin care routine, but does, however, "love Peter Thomas Roth eye cream and Peter Thomas Unwrinkle Peel Pads". Both cost about $100 each.

Well, sometimes, beauty isn't cheap.

Better Make Sure Gel Manicure You're Getting Is Safe

Gel manicures.

They sure are ultra shiny and lovely. And one of our BFFs, delights in reminding us that gel manicures last longer than all the others.

No...we haven't had a gel manicure yet, and now, we're not so sure.

Our rule of thumb, so to speak:
You better make sure the gel manicure you are getting is safe.

We caught a segment this morning on Good Morning America about the safety of gel manicures and the possibility of nerve damage when things don't go right.

Gel manicures are hot and everyone seems to be requesting them in nail salons.

This is how a gel manicure is created:
"First, the technician lightly roughens your nails with a file.
Then an all-in-one gel is brushed onto your nails only, not the skin around them.
Next, the gel hardens under a UV lamp.
And the final step is simple. The technician removes any residue with a cleanser."

So, what's the big, harmful deal?

The subject in the GMA piece, Jane Ubell-Meyer, received what she thought was a real gel manicure> And what she ended up with was an excruciating pain that began at her thumb.

"Anything that touched my thumb caused an electric shock, whether it was air or water or just touching very gently. I would get an electric charge that went up my thumb, through my elbow and up to my shoulder," she says.

Jane found a neurologist who was also familiar with getting gel manicures. And Dr. Orly Avitzur figured out the problems that developed. "The two major hazards are the actual filing down process of the nail and then subsequently what the chemicals are we often don't know," she says.

More from the GMA news segment:
"Jane Ubell-Meyer said that during her manicure, the electric file slipped and scuffed up her skin. Then the technician dipped her damaged fingers in to a pot of powdered chemicals.
"And that allows the chemicals to actually seep in -- in a way that wouldn't if the skin served as a protective barrier," the doctor notes.

Avitzur said she believes that the chemicals got into the abrasion and migrated, causing nerve damage. What's worse, she said, she doesn't even know what the chemicals were, because what Ubell-Meyer got wasn't a true gel manicure.

The lesson here: Ask a lot of questions BEFORE getting a gel manicure, because this is scary stuff.

Cool Crochet Celebrity Summer Trend Adds Sexy Touch

Crochet. No...this ain't your grammy's doilies. Far from it!

Crochet is back in a big way, and now you can add some cool crochetpieces for that sexy celebrity summer trend. Check out Kate Bosworth in a TopShop Knitted Crochet Dress ($110, at topshop.com), at the Coachella Music Festival recently.

And there's Alexa Chung, very casual in an ivory crochet top with denim cut-off shorts, and a Chanel bag, which of course, catapults a very low-key ensemble into the stratosphere.

Speaking of Chanel, the design house, along with Issey Miyake showcased lots of pretty crochet fashions in their spring/summer 2010 collections.

You don't have to spend Chanel dollars for a sexy, feminine crochet style. You can add a few smart pieces to your summerwardrobe and still save $$$. Look at this cute, nautical blue/white Striped Crochet Sweater Cardigan by Forever 21 ($17.80, at stores and here.)

If you're hesitant about crochet, just remember, not to wear too much crochet all at once. And beware of big 'holes' in your crochet pieces. It might look too doily. It's best to add a crochet belt or bag as a lovely accessory to your summer style of light linens and cottons.

We think this Button Snapped Crochet Belt by Charlotte Russe is a simple, yet elegant piece, and at only $9.50, it's a steal!

We also adore this beautiful Elizabeth and James Gypsy T-strap Knit Sandal. Okay, it's a splurge, but every gal deserves a new pair of shoes! And these come in black or sand. The crochet cuties feature a fabric and suede upper, leather footbed, and leather sole. Zips up in back. Available at fine stores like Bloomingdales.Orig $225.00. On Sale $157.50.

Even Skinny Supermodels Have To Exercise And Diet After Babies

Adriana Lima. Gisele Bundchen. Even these supermodels and what you might call, genetically-gifted women, have to exercise and diet after having babies.

Sure, they are tall and slender and in their late 20's to begin with, but let's face it......no one can just sit still and watch the baby weight melt away, after giving birth. Not even Adriana and Gisele.

So, how did these two supermodels get back to 'fighting weight?' With a little this and a little that.

Let's get the beauty low-down.

Adriana, a Brazilian beauty like Gisele, says she still has 10 lbs to shed, but the new mom to a baby girl, just 7 months ago, is back modeling covers.

And even Adriana Lima is blown away by Gisele Bundchen's incredible after-baby body. "Amazing! I think she’s amazing," Adrian told People magazine. "I wish my body was in shape right away like her! I’m still not where I want to be right now but I’m working on it."

Meantime, the 28-year-old model is busy watching what she eats, and that includes an 'all-protein diet, followed by a detox diet and salads'.

"I want to lose 4 kg (about 10 lbs.)," she says. "Not because of work or not because of nothing [else] but because I want to. Also, I will continue with my workouts because I like a toned body. I like everything to be hard."

And the lady loves to box That's right. Adriana Lima keeps moving to melt away those post-baby pounds. Three times a week, Adriana got into the ring with Aerospace co-founder and former professional boxer — Michael Olajide, Jr.— to get skinny and tone up. You can check out her video here.

As far as Gisele goes, well, the photo snapped of her back to modeling, just 2 months after delivering a baby boy, tells the story. Look at the supermodel in a tiny bikini in a photo shoot for Calzedonia(above). Incredibly toned and slender! And probably back to her size 4 figure.

But Gisele Bundchen was very active before, during, and now after her first pregnancy.

Her secret? Water resistance. Working out in a pool. It's called the Brazilian Body Surf program, and Gisele was reportedly doing the surf during her pregnancy.

According to the website Equinox, it's a combination of cardiovascular and muscle conditioning drills taught using water resistance.

Gisele's personal trainer is Leandro Carvalho. And he told the Boston Herald, that Gisele was active to begin with, which can only help a woman's body bounce back from pregnancy. She was in "very, very" good shape throughout her pregnancy, in part due to the "very athletic" workouts, which he believes are super for muscle tone.

The supermodel also does yoga and meditation, which served her well during the labor and birthing process.