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The Best Nail Polish for a Redheads Knock-Out Nails

By: Olivia Volpe

Whether it’s boredom or chipped imperfection that leads me to my trusty manicure kit (or a splurge to the manicurist), when it comes to nail polish I love trying new colors and styles.  Here are my favorite trends and traditions for you to try—an added bonus is that they are all “redhead friendly!”

1. Easter Egg Pastels-   Although it’s a traditionally spring/summer trend, I rock a luxurious lavender all year round!  Seeing the pale purple every day reminds me that spring is just around the corner even in the middle of  a blizzard! Try: Essie- St. Lucia Lilac

2. Dark and Stormy- As I’ve shared before with How To Be A Redhead my favorite dark colors. Jet black tends to add a gothic feel while purples and blue shades offer an air of sophistication. Try:  Lincoln Park After Dark and Russian Navy by OPI.

3. Tried and True- Red will forever be a classic color and will add a sexy touch to any look—as we redheads well know!  So go old Hollywood with this standby shade! Try: Butter London– Come to Bed Red

4. Throw Some Glitter- Perfect for New Year’s Eve, or to add some glam to a Wednesday night in with take out, sparkly shades add a ton glam to any outfit! Try: Deborah Lippman-Boom Boom Pow.

5. Metallica- If you’re not ready to jump into the deep end of sparkles, a metallic shade has the same fun flair without the commitment!  Try: Wet N’ Wild Nail Color

6. Chic- There’s nothing like the perfect nude/ classic pink nail polish to keep you looking classy all year long! It goes with every outfit and keeps your hands looking long and beautiful. Try: Julep– Emmanuelle

Makeup

Marcia Cross’s Makeup Secrets

A few weeks ago How to be a Redhead sat down with celebrity makeup artist, Sherilyn Stetz. Sherilyn is a celebrity makeup artist who has worked on the set of ‘Desperate Housewives’ for five seasons and on the hit movie, ‘Bridesmaids’; she has also done makeup for Dixie Carter, Tom Hanks, Marg Helgenberger (a beautiful redhead!) and many, many more!

We want to know, what is Marcia Cross’s makeup secret? Her redhead skin is always glowing!

Sherilyn gave us the secret behind her perfect complexion, “Marcia is also a favorite redhead of mine. To begin with, she has absolutely incredible skin. She goes above and beyond to protect her skin from the sun. When I worked on the show [Desperate Housewives], we used Armani Hydra Glow Foundation. It looks luminous on everyone!” 

Tip: Always wear sunscreen and choose a foundation that is good for sensitive skin.

Rock it like a Redhead! 

 

Confidence

Karen Gillan's Beauty Secrets

By: Guest Writer, Taylah

Karen Gillan once said,  “I got teased for being a redhead when I was younger, which is strange because I’m Scottish and there are loads of us – we should unite forces! I love my red hair.”

So, how does Karen Rock it like a Redhead?

If there is something that I love about Karen Gillan, it is that she is not afraid to wear any color. If you look through the pages of magazines and pictures of the events she attends (or even those paparazzi pictures where she always looks fabulous!), you will see she’s worn every hue from orange to blue, including yellow, red and of course, green too! She also loves rocking pastel shades, dark burgundies and my favorite redhead colors—purple and plum!

Here are the ways to get Karen Gillan’s look:

1. Her style is impeccable, mixing statement pieces with vintage clothing and very small skirts or shorts and you can always see her out in the cold wearing extremely long coats and accessorized with maxi-bags.Karen’s makeup is natural and toned down using peach, soft pink or earthy colors; though she is sometimes more daring and goes for a statement smokey eye, heavy mascara or even a super red lip!

2. But, Karen’s biggest secret is how she keeps her porcelain skin healthy after hours and hours of makeup and stress on set. She confessed her go-to cream is Chanel “Précision UV Essentiel” with SPF50. She explains: “I always wear sunscreen in the summer. I like porcelain skin and it’s definitely better than going red [from a sunburn].”

3. Karen’s hair stands out by itself, but sometimes it looks even redder than usual. Apart from wearing color-specific conditioners, if you are blessed with natural red hair and want to make it look fiery red without having to use hair dye, I’d recommend Revlon Professional’s Nutri Color Cream on shades 734 or 740.

This conditioning cream contains non-permanent coloring for natural or bottled redheads who want to keep their color lasting longer and makes your hair look healthy while making your red locks look even more pigmented!

Rock it like a Redhead! 

Style

How to Choose The Right Pair of Sunglasses

As the weather becomes warmer and brighter, many of us are thinking of purchasing cool new sunglasses.  Not only are sunglasses a versatile accessory that go with every outfit, but choosing ones with UV block lenses can protect the area around your eyes from sun damage, skin cancer and wrinkles- a fantastic beauty benefit for we pale redheads with sensitive skin!

So, before you make a sunglass purchase, check out my guide on the best frames to suit your face shape:

Square: If you have square facial features, choose round or cat eye shaped sunglasses to counter balance your strong jawline and wide check bones.

Oval: Those with oval face shapes can usually wear most  sunglasses styles due to their symmetrical features, but square shaped frames are particularly flattering.

Oblong: Longer face shapes will benefit from over sized glasses with square frames that will balance and soften their features.

Heart Shaped: Aviator styles or rimless frames look great on heart shaped faces because they minimize the width of the forehead and elongate the look of the jawline.

Round: Those with a rounded facial shape should try rectangular frames or wrap around styles to create the illusion of longer and thinner features.

Keep these guidelines in mind while shopping this season and you’ll look super chic while protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful rays!

 

Makeup

Get the Holiday Party Started: Fashion and Beauty Trends for Your Festive Fiestas

By: Olivia Shea 

Let’s face it, attending holiday party after holiday party can become a bit monotonous, no offense Chris Kringle. Sure, it may take more time to grow tiresome of eggnog and ginger bread cookies than figuring out what to wear to each of these festive fiestas.

So, before you sink into the throw-on-anything-black-and-blah rut, add some holiday cheer with these fab fashion and beauty trends:

1) Statement Making Hair Accessories: Make your do look as individual as a snowflake by adding a rhinestone head band, barrette or bobby pin to a simple updo or to pin back fly aways. Try: Claires, H&M, Forever 21 and Rickys

2) Costume Jewelry: If bling in your tresses isn’t your thing, try it the old fashioned way, with jewelry of course.  A bold necklace or bracelet loaded with crystals and gems add a frosty edge to any ensemble. Try: Bestey Johnson

3) Nail Design: Deck the halls with nails of dazzling designs with step by step instructions from Nailsmag.com. Once dry, you will purposely point to everything in sight just for the compliments. Try: Nailsmag.com for more tips for your tips.

4) Bright Tights: Nothing spruces up a simple black dress like a pair of bright tights. Pair them with pumps or booties to add some much needed pep to your holiday step. Try: Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, H&M

5) Red Lips: This beauty staple is a must for the holiday season as it compliments fair aka my skin has not seen the light of day since October complexions. When wearing red lipstick, be sure to keep the rest of your makeup minimal. Try a light layer of foundation, black winged eyeliner and mascara.

Try: Susan Ciminelli’s True Red Lipstick. Keeps your lips looking fresh, moisturized and bold! $2 of each lipstick purchased will go to the Susan G. Komen for The Cure Organization to help fund breast cancer programs in the Greater NYC area.

 

 

Redhead Celebrities

Lindsay Lohan Goes RED: Bombshell to Success?

In 2011, How to be a Redhead claimed that if Lindsay Lohan went back to red, she would once again achieve a successful career.

READ. LINDSAY LOHAN: FROM SMOKING HOT REDHEAD TO BURN OUT

Yesterday afternoon, Lindsay Lohan was seen leaving a Beverly Hills salon with red hair! There is no need to ask everyone if you love her new “gingerness” because it is obvious she looks better than she has in a long, long time.

Do her new, red locks symbolize her erratic behavior coming to an end and will she return to the fun, talented, redhead celebrity we all know and love?

Only time will tell.

TELL US: DO YOU THINK HER RED LOCKS WILL BRING HER SUCCESS?

 

Style

The Everyday Redhead: Fashion Advice From The Countryside of Northern Ireland

Vicki lives in the Irish countryside. By day she works as a Fashion Agent and by night is a blogger! She likes pretty photography, walking my pugs, collecting disney films and film cameras.

She spoke with How to be a Redhead about her favorite fashion trends and advice on what to wear this holiday season!

H2BAR: How long have you been a redhead? How has it influenced your life?

V: I have been a redhead for almost 5 years now. It has changed my life considerably. I finally felt like me. It was as if I was always meant to be a redhead.  Having red hair changed my confidence levels, my personailty and influenced my wardrobe greatly. Now I embrace more color, bolder lipsticks and almost pick my outfits to match or compliment my hair!

H2BAR: Why do you love being a redhead?

V: Because there are so many shades of red that you can be! Everytime I color my hair, I change it slightly; deep rust tones, more carrot top orange, or cherry red. Each are so flattering and the warm colors suit my skin tone and instantly make me feel like I have had a head to toe make over. Red is the color of confidence!

H2BAR: How do you attain your red locks?

V: I have been going to the same colorist since I was 17. She knows my style, aesthetic and works with me to achieve the color or tone I desire. She taught me that it’s important to take care of colored hair with conditioning treatments because the dye can dry out the hair. When you have a good colorist and keep your hair healthy, people will think you’re a natural redhead- just like me- which is a huge compliment!

H2BAR: What is your favorite winter fashion trend?

V: I love the 70‘s trend that it has become popular this year. The 70’s colors: mustard, brown and orange are redhead friendly colors and look amazing with my hair! I’m also a massive fan of high waisted trousers and skirts as they are uber comfy and make my legs look longer than they are!

H2BAR: What will you be wearing during the holiday season?

V: I love the holidays because it is the perfect time to dress up! I’m embracing red and wine colors which always feels holiday-ish to me! Also, I will be wearing glittery or sequined clothes and accessories.

 

Makeup

Interview with the Makeup Artist from ‘Bridesmaids,’ ‘Desperate Housewives’

Sherilyn Stetz is a celebrity makeup artist who has worked on the set of Desperate Housewives for five seasons and Bridesmaids; she has also done makeup for Dixie Carter, Tom Hanks, Marg Helgenberger (a beautiful redhead!) and many, many more! M.A.C. chose Sherilyn as one (there were five other makeup artists chosen, too) of their Master Makeup Artists of the Year and she has spent her time teaching other artists how to achieve a fresh look for anyone on film and television.

She now works on a popular television late night show. Sherilyn loves being able to make anyone look fantastic and How to be a Redhead had the pleasure to talk with her about how redheads can achieve rockin’ makeup looks:

1. H2BAR: How did you got started in the beauty business?

Sherilyn: I was inspired by my best friends father, Jack Wilson, who was a famous makeup artist for film and television. I  studied art in school and use to do makeovers on all my friends. I dreamed of making beautiful faces and as fate would have it, one day I met this amazing, self made woman on a plane. We began talking and she was the owner of a cosmetics company and a successful makeup artist!

We were both coming home to Southern California, so she asked me to come to her shop when I had the time. From there she inspired me to go to school.

I had a fantastic teacher in beauty school and when I graduated, I ended up working as a makeup artist in Beverly Hills for Allan Edwards.

Allan was THE hairdresser of that time, so every actor/actress flocked to the salon. It was the best exposure a makeup artist could receive; I was doing makeup for actresses on TV and many photo shoots.

I began to fall into my niche and before I knew it, landed a job on my first television show, Baywatch.

2. H2BAR: Do you have a signature look as a makeup artist?

Sherilyn: I am known for a clean and natural look. I love to see SKIN- it’s sexy!

3. H2BAR: Do you have any key makeup tips for redheads with sensitive skin?

Sherilyn: Always make sure your cleansers are made for sensitive skin types because natural redheads have thinner and more sensitive skin than brunettes and blondes. I always use a foundation that works hand in hand for a redheads natural skin texture.

Try a tinted moisturizer or for a bit more coverage, a “BB” cream is fantastic!

4. H2BAR: Do you have a favorite makeup brand that you love working with?

Sherilyn: I love M.A.C. and its ‘Prep and Prime’ powder because it works on anyone.

5. What items do you believe should be in every women’s daily makeup bag?

Sherilyn:

1. Brushes: Invest in some nice brushes and keep them clean because they will take care of you in return.

2. Tinted Moisturizer: I like to keep it simple with a tinted moisturizer that has an SPF.

3. Concealer: DuWop has a great, natural concealer called ‘Surface.’

4. Eyelash curler

5. Good tweezer

6. Color for Your Cheeks: I love Rosie Jane ‘Poppy.’

7. Mascara

8. Eyepencil: Smashbox has a great limitless eyeliner.

9. Eyeshadows: A small palette of eyeshadows that will take you from day to night

10. Moisturizer: I carry around a sample size so it doesn’t take up too much room. La Mer is a great brand!

6. H2BAR: What does your typical day as a celebrity makeup artist entail?

Sherilyn: Currently, I work on a Late Night Talk Show. We do alot of “skits” written by various writers on the show and rarely have notice as to what makeup we will have to do. Plus, there are time restraints because we tape at a certain time every day.

I could be making someone look like Frankenstein to disco dancers, to clowns, to just straight makeup- we never know!

The show is more creative than most TV shows,where you have a set look for that character. First, I get our house band ready and then our guests.The guests can range from Tom Hanks to Sarah Silverman!

7. H2BAR: Who is your favorite redhead celebrity?

Sherilyn: I love Amy Yasbeck. I think she embodies that redheaded spirit and is very beautiful inside and out.

8. H2BAR: You are a successful woman who has worked hard to get to the top. What is your advice for the How to be a Redhead audience?

Sherilyn: Believe in yourself and I love the quote, “Be known for not only living the length of your life, but the width of it as well.”

Want more Sherilyn? Visit her website. 

Confidence

Are Redheads Automatically Assumed To Have Confidence?

The Chicago Now satirical column, The Ginger Philes, has discussed situations that redheads get involved with because of their ginger locks.

Many How to be a Redhead readers write in talking about their favorite celebrity redheads, most of them being “redheads by choice.”

Taking a look at all Hollywood redheads, there is one commonality: confidence. Does confidence appear once you are a redhead? And are natural redheads born with confidence?

Let’s take a look at well known celebrities:

1. Nicole Kidman– She has spoke candidly about how being a tall and skinny teenager with curly hair made her feel insecure, but once she got older, she realized her true beauty. Her red hair helped her embrace her beauty (inside and out) and now there is no doubt that the public will always view Nicole as someone who exudes a natural, subtle confidence.

Nicole Kidman Beauty Tip: Embrace your paleness and be confident with who you are!

2. Rihanna- She has openly admitted that red hair helped her gain the confidence to overcome her breakup with Chris Brown and arguably, it helped her reach ultimate stardom. Rihanna Beauty Tip: If you are looking to make a statement, “The Rihanna Red,” is a big one, but it is suggested that you opt for a color red that flatters your skin tone.

3. Lindsay Lohan- Lindsay went from a smoking hot redhead to a burn out. She was the poster child redhead of this generation and her career went sour when she lost her redhead identity. Lindsay Lohan Beauty Tip: Many natural redheads go blonde to cover up their red roots. Go back red and you’ll never dye it again!

It’s obvious, if you are a redhead, you’ll appear confident, but it isn’t until you are confident enough that you’ll go red.

 

 

Picture Credit: Nicole Kidman by Mikael Jansson for Jimmy Choo 2013

Liz Washer

Getting the Look You’ll Love

By: Liz Washer

Raise your hand if this sounds familiar: you’re getting a makeover, but you find yourself tongue-tied when describing what you want, and you’re not sure what to say when the artist asks questions. As a result, you don’t see what you’d envisioned in the mirror when the artist is finished.

How can you speak the artist’s language and translate what you’re seeing in your head into the real-life face that looks back at you in the mirror at the end of the session? The good news is, you don’t have to learn a whole new set of lingo – communicating with beauty pros is easier than you think! Here are some tips for getting the most out of your makeover:

1. Picture this. Can’t figure out how to describe that perfect shimmery olive green and gold smoky eye you’ve been daydreaming about? Track down the picture(s) that gave you the idea in the first place and bring them to your session, or send links in advance. That way the artist can adapt a look you love for your features and coloring. Magazines, Google image searches, makeup blogs, and Pinterest are all great resources!

2. Who’s your point of reference? One request makeup artists hear almost every day on the job is “I want a natural look.” And who wouldn’t want to look naturally gorgeous, right? But I always ask a few follow-up questions when I hear this, because what I think looks natural and what my client thinks looks natural might be two very different things. I might be thinking a barely-there/”no makeup” look like Tilda Swinton, whereas you’re thinking Kim Kardashian. (I would never in a million years hear the word “natural” and assume it was referring to KK!) This is another instance where photos are helpful, so you can say “something like Judy Greer at the 2012 Oscars” and then point to an example.

3. Think happy skin. If you know you’re allergic to aloe, your makeup artist will need to make sure not to use an aloe-based moisturizer. While most artists stock their kits with products that have few active ingredients in order to avoid skin irritation, everyone has different allergies and sensitivities – and claims of “hypoallergenic” and “noncomedogenic” are largely marketing (they’re not medically regulated terms and offer no guarantee that your skin won’t react). Be specific and, if you have a product you’d like the artist to use, don’t hesitate to bring it along and politely offer it to them as an alternative. Also, be sure to speak up – in advance – if you’re vegan, so the artist can use products and brushes that aren’t derived from animal products.

4. Got plans? Where will you be wearing your fabulous face? Artists take lighting, wardrobe, setting, and longevity into consideration when making someone up. You’ll probably want a bolder and more long-lasting look for a night out at a club, as opposed to a professional headshot photo session. Will you be outdoors in daylight? If so, we’ll probably keep the complexion natural looking (direct sunlight makes heavy foundation look unflattering) and start with a layer of SPF. Will you be photographed? If so, camera-friendly products are key. You get the idea – just let us know what your plans are.

5. Be honest… A good artist wants to know what you think, and ultimately wants you to love the look! So don’t hesitate to give us your honest feedback when you finally get the big reveal.

6. …but keep it real. Unless you’re getting full-on Halloween makeup, you’ll probably still be able to recognize your face in the mirror when the artist is through. Usually this is what clients want, but sometimes the unspoken expectation is that makeup will erase certain features that you consider to be flaws. If you’re concerned about a particular feature, be sure to tell your artist about it so he or she can explain what will and won’t be possible with the makeup (for example, it’s impossible to erase wrinkles just with makeup, but you can minimize their appearance). We won’t automatically know that you hate your mole and want it covered up (especially if we thought it was a lovely beauty mark!), so definitely speak up. But most importantly, don’t expect to look exactly like your inspiration pictures when the artist is done – it’s still your face, and a good artist should help you enhance and celebrate your unique beauty, not spackle over it.

Rock it like a Redhead! 

Photo Credit 

 

Confident Lifestyle

A Little Bit of Green to Enhance Your Red

The benefits of green tea + why a cup a day is recommended for redheads:

There has been a ton of talk about green tea in the beauty industry. Almost every beauty company has been introducing products containing green tea as its main ingredient, and every high power figure is raving about it.

So, you may be wondering about the beauty advantages of green tea and specifically, how just 1 cup a day can benefit a redhead. Major clinical evidence* has shown that green tea is packed with healthy antioxidants, beauty benefits and more:

1. Metabolism Boost:

Sipping green tea has been linked to a boost in metabolism and energy levels which can result in burning calories at a higher rate while decreasing fat production in the body.

2. Anti Aging Benefits: 

Green tea is rich in antioxidants which can prevent free radicals ( sometimes caused by pollution and toxins in the body) from attacking the skin and causing wrinkles. Drinking a cup of green tea daily is said to significantly increase the antioxidant production in your body.

RELATED: Discovery, Redheads Soak Up More Sun

3. Sun Protection:

As redheads, we are aware of the threat of skin cancer from UV rays. Studies have proven that products containing the green tea extract may help to neutralize the effects of UV rays when combined with an effective sunblock. How exciting is this news?!

An added benefit is that when cooled, brewed green tea can be used as a topical compress to help with sunburns.

4. Anti-Inflammatory Benefits:

How many of you redheads are suffering from redness and sensitive skin? The powerful antioxidants in green tea also act to reduce redness and inflammation in the skin which has been linked to effective treatments for rosacia and acne.

5. Hydration:

Unlike coffee, which robs your body of precious moisture, green tea has been found to help retain hydration to the tissues of the skin which can result in a more supple and youthful appearance.

6. Healthy on the Inside, Healthy on the Outside

Studies do show that when you’re healthy on the inside, the skin and hair are healthy too. Is it possible that green tea can actually enhance the color, vibrancy and health of your hair? Some think so!

With these natural and inexpensive boosts your beauty and body, why not brew a nice cup of green tea and drink to your health.

Rock it like a Redhead! 

*Always consult a doctor before you add or take away items in your diet.  

Kim Wacker

Debra Messing – From Grace to Smash

By: Kim Wacker

If you’re anything like me, you constantly find yourself cheering for the “redheads” who make a name for themselves in Hollywood.  I don’t think anyone can disagree that Debra Messing is one of those redheads who has absolutely set the bar for other redhead celebs.

Who couldn’t resist her witty and lovable charm as Grace on Will and Grace?  The TV series aired from 1998-2006.  Audiences of all ages, races, gender and sexual orientation fell in love with the comedy, which is still in syndication today on the Lifetime network.

In 2012, Debra made a new name for herself as a leading lady once again…this time in Smash.  Debra plays writer, Julia Houston the NBC show. Smash is an American musical drama series created by Theresa Rebeck and produced by Steven Spielberg.  The show revolves around the creation of a new Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe.   As the production takes shape, everyone involved in it must balance their often chaotic personal lives with the all-consuming demands of a life in the theatre.

What many of Messing’s fans don’t know is that Debra grew up in a quiet community just outside of Rhode Island, where she devoted most of her childhood to musical theater.  Her most frightening moment was when she auditioned for Annie.  To no surprise, she got the part!

When asked by E! Online if she still gets butterflies in her stomach these days when coming in to audition, Messing replied, “Always always!”

Although Smash didn’t get picked up for a third season, I am still routing for the redhead starlet! Are you? 

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