10 Minute Waves

Ever wake up late with no time to wash your hair, and only ten minutes to style it? Well, SHF has the perfect solution for this exact situation: ten-minute waves! This style is sexy and chic and looks like you spent hours, instead of minutes! The waves work best with unwashed hair (i.e: you washed it yesterday) because it makes them look shiney and healthy, as well as help the style hold. Wavey hair can take your day-old locks from dull and greasy to shiney and bouncy!

photo by Kelly Lynn

Note: If you have thick or longer hair, it may take longer to style. Likewise, if you have thin or short hair, it will take less time to achieve this look.

What You'll Need
Unwashed hair
Comb or brush
1/4" to 1" curling iron
Good quality Hairspray
10 minutes!

1. Comb/brush out your hair to get out the knots.
2. Wrap your hair, in sections, around the iron rather than rolling it in the clamp.
3. Flip your head upside down and shake out the curls with your fingers.
4. With your head still upside down, spray all over with hairspray.

and voila! Picture perfect waves in minutes!

-xoxo

S♥F

Summer Skin Problems: Solved!

With the heat of summer comes many beauty pluses: bikinis, skirts, sandals, breezy tops and carefree style, but also one big fat minus: skin trouble! Don't worry, SHF comes to your rescue with tips to solve the worst summer skin problems, no matter the climate!

Humid Heat

If you live in a place where the heat is humid, it means sweating it out this summer. But here are some tips to help you dry off:
1. Start off by using a mild astringent or toner on your skin to get rid of any excess oil already on your skin. Witch hazel is a natural toner that works great, is cheap and can be found at any drug store.
2. Rather than finishing your makeup routine with powder, start off by applying a pressed powder all over your face to protect your regular makeup on top from melting
3. Skip the loose powder, it melts quicker and ends up globbing together into nasty clumps...so not summer-sexy.
4. To keep lipstick in place all day, use the pressed powder on your lips first, then smooth lip colour over top. Finish by blotting with a clean tissue

Dry Heat

If you live in a place where the heat is dry, it means dry, flaking skin this summer. But here are some tips to help you smooth things over:
1. Start off with a light moisturizer that contains broad spectrum SPF. This not only protects your skin but it helps even it out. You can even use a tinted moisturizer for a flawlessly even tone.
2. When in the shower, use this simple sugar scrub all over to slough off rough dry skin and leave you with soft smoothness all over: simply combine 1 cup of natural sugar with 1 cup olive oil. Gently apply all over body, leave it on while you wash your hair, then rinse off with warm water.
3. Once you're out of the shower, pat your skin dry with a towel and then immediately apply a light moisturizer all over. Since you're just out of the shower, your skin has absorbed moisture, and the cream helps lock it in for smooth softness that lasts.
4. Keep hydrated. Especially when out in the sun, you'll need more water than usual this time of year, so treat yourself to your favourite bottled brand and store them in the fridge so they're always on hand.


Ahh, don't we feel better? Now we can enjoy the heat like we want to. And no matter the type of heat, don't forget the sun screen! Cancer is so out.

-xoxo
♥ SHF

How to Get Clear Skin

Clear, beautiful skin. No outfit is complete without a glowing complexion to top it off, so SweetheartFashion has some helpful hints to get clear skin fast:

1. Wash your face (the right way) If you have problem skin, chances are you wash your face already to try and keep it under control, but there are some modifications you can make to your face-washing routine to get maximum clarity in your skin. First of all, make sure the water is tepid, not too hot and not too cold . Secondly, try to pat or splash you skin with water, rather than rubbing. When you rub the water against your face, the oils from your fingertips end up clogging pores and may cause more problems than solve them. And lastly, make sure you use a clean, fresh towel everytime to pat your face dry.

2. Drink water Ok, another oldie, but a goodie. Water helps flush out the toxins in your body which has unlimited advantages, clear skin being one of them. Furthermore, many people have found alternative drinks such as milk, and pop, cause their skin to break out. So replace all your liquids with water for 2 weeks and see the results.

3. Hands off Keep your hands off your face at all times. As stated above, the oils in your fingers clog your pores, as well as whatever else you might pick up on your hands throughout the day. Try to become more aware of this often mindless habit and soon you will no longer be seeing spots.

4. Freeze Here's a cool trick, after washing your face, take an ice cube and gently smooth it across your entire face. The shock of the cold temperature will snap your pores shut, preventing them from being clogged. This is especially good before you apply your makeup.

5. Quick Fix For the trouble zit that wont shrink fast enough, a quick trick is to take a Q-tip, soak it in alcohol and hold in onto the blemish for 30 seconds. This dries out the pimple, helping it shrink and heal faster.

We hope these tips have been helpful for you. Now go out there and flaunt your beautiful, healthy skin.

-xoxo
♥SHF

Clarifying Shampoos

The low-down: Clarifying shampoos help to remove build-up in your hair. If you use a lot of hair products they leave behind residue that builds up and can't be washed away with regular shampoo. This causes the hair to become greasy, limp and dull. But, a clarifying shampoo whisks away all this build-up to leave behind shiny, healthy, squeaky clean locks.

What's avaliable: Clarifying shampoos used to be difficult to find and very expensive, but now they are becoming more common so you don't have to go to high-end salons and pay top dollar to get your hands on them. Here are our tops picks...

Matrix Essentials Alternate Action ($20)

Matrix would be your salon splurge if you want a top-of-the line clarifier with professional results. Our pick for the best salon brand.

Jason's Apple and Green Tea ($8)

Made with all natural ingredients, Jason's is our pick for the best natural clarifier. It does the job without any harsh chemicals and is biodegradable for the eco-conscience chick.

Herbal Essence De-Gunkify ($4)

Our pick for the best drugstore buy in clarifying shampoos. If you're looking for a cheap alternative, this is the best out there and with pineapple and cotton leaf extracts, it smells delicious!!

Of course, you can always do-it-yourself at home by mixing equal parts apple cider vinegar with warm water and using as a rinse following your regular shampoo. Don't worry, the vinegar evaporates as your hair dries, so you won't walk around smelling like fish and chips all day.

-xoxo
SHF

Surfer Girl Hair

Here at SHF we believe every girl is a surfer girl at heart, especially in the summer. So even if you're miles from the ocean, it doesn't mean you can't have sexy surfer hair all summer long. Here are our simple steps to sexy surfer girl waves:

What you'll need
Clarifying shampoo
Sea salt
Spritz bottle (you can find these at the dollar store or wal-mart)
Light hair gel

1. Wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo to remove build-up like sweat and hair products.
2. Comb out your hair while it's still wet
3. Mix together equal parts sea salt and water in the spritz bottle and mix in a dallop of the gel. Shake so they all blend together
4. Mist the salt-spray all over your locks and gently scrunch with you fingers
5. Let air dry

And voila! There you have it, simple, sexy, wash-and-go surfer style waves that'll make people swear you're a So-Cal native

-xoxo
SHF

The Perfect Pouf: How-To Create a Poof in Your Hair

The pouf hairstyle may not be new, but it is still a trendy and cute look, especially for the warmer summer days when you may want your hair pulled away from your face, and still have style without too much maintainence. Below the style is modelled by Mischa Barton and Vanessa Hudgens showing the versatility of the pouf. You can either leave your hair down or sweep it up into a bun or pony tail. There are lots of different ways to achieve this look, but our way creates a pouf with great volume and hold to give you a styled finish. Our easy to follow instructions will have you poufing up all summer long:

1. Begin by spritzing dry hair with a volumizing spray at the roots. Any brand will do, and if you don't have any handy, hairspray is a good substitute, just gently tease the roots with your fingers as you spray.

2. Section your hair into the part that will make up the pouf (from the front and middle of your hair) away from the rest of your hair.

3. Section the pouf hair into 2 or 3 section from front to back.

4. Holding the backmost section vertically, use a thin-tooth comb to backcomb your hair by gently combing the hair downward towards the root.

5. Backcomb each section except the front most, you want this one to be smooth.

6. Take the backcombed hair and roll it from the tips down to the root so it makes a sort of "tube". Pin the section in place.

7. Finally, use your fingers to gently smooth the frontmost section of the pouf to cover the "tube" and shape the pouf. Secure with bobby pins.

That's it! 7 steps to the perfect pouf. Now just play with it a bit to make it the right shape and size. When you're happy with your pouf, finish with some hairspray all over.

-SHF

How To Wear A Scarf

Scarves are a stylish and practical way to bundle up in the winter, but there is a right way to wear it. Here, SHF gives you simple step-by-step instructions for pulling off any type of scarf stylishly.

1)First, take a long scarf and fold it length-wise.
2)Drap the folded scarf around your shoulders
3)Pull the loose ends through the looped end and secure around your throat.
This way of knotting a scarf works for almost every style, thick or thin scarves, and always looks chic.

xoxo
SHF

Dior Paris Fashion Week 2008 (part 2)

Fashion shows can get a little overwhelming. Sure it's fun to admire the designs of high fashion, but how does it affect the clothes we actually wear? Well, with a little practice and some helpful tips from SHF, you'll be translating the styles from your favourite runways to your wardrobe in no time. All the examples are from the Dior 2008 Fashion Week Runway video we posted and all the everyday wear examples are from gojane.com.

There are 3 main things you want to focus on when translating styles.
1) Colour: Hot colours for the seasons are established on the runways, and they translate almost exactly to what you want for your daily wear. What this means is, if Dior is using deep purples and browns, you're going to want to look for deep purples and browns. Remember though, the runways from this past fashion week (February 2008) are for fall/winter 2008-2009, so you need to be thinking ahead or looking back at past shows. No deep purples and browns for spring, please!
2) Texture: Although we all can't afford some of the luxurious fabrics the couture designers use, if you notice the texture of them you can find cheaper alternatives that are similar in look and feel. These are what youre going to try to find when matching the texture on the runway. For example satin can be substituted for silk.
3) Shape: The lengths and shapes of the outfit are what make it a design, and though this is harder, you want to try to get as close to this as possible when translating styles. Notice skirt lenths, necklines, waist and bust lines, as well as volume. Are there ruffles? Is bigger better? Or are styles sleeker and subtler. Try to look for pieces that remind you of these key shape elements from the runway.

With that in mind, here are our picks for examples of runway translation-for cheap!

xoxo

SHF

Dior Paris Fashion Week 2008 (part 1)

Here is a video of one of our favs from fashion week 2008: Dior. In a word: glamour. Notice the shimmer, shine, and luxury. So Dior, so couture, so SHF


Look for our next post where we will show you how to translate these looks to your own style this spring
xoxo
SHF

We Heart Headbands

Preppy chic headbands are the perfect hair accessory this spring and SHF hearts them. They are endlessly versatile and super-cute. Slip one on over a sleek high pony tail or keep it down. You can even use one to pull back stubborn bangs. Here are some of our favourite styles:

xoxo

SHF

Sparkle, Sparkle

Spring jewelry has many trends, but SHF's hands-down favourite: the rindokulously ornate costume-style cocktail rings. We're talking extra-big, extra-sparkly, and extra-glamourous. These were hot in the early fall and have carried over to spring/summer 2008. The trick to pulling off this trend is to limit yourself to one sparkly piece and toning down the rest of your accessories, or avoiding them all together. Just one of these pieces is more than enough accessory (or should we say, excess-ory) to glam up any outfit:

xoxo
SHF

Go Bright or Go Home

Orange is the new pink! Ok, maybe not, but it is definately hot for spring and seen on the runways of many designers from Versace to Nanette Lepore. Here are SHF's picks for going bright and juicy this spring:

xoxo

SHF

Leggings As Pants?

Ok, something needs to be said. This is getting so ridiculous, it's ridonkulous. I'm talking about the latest fashion f-up that has been plaguing us: girls wearing leggings...as pants. Seriously, WTF? Leggings, are leggings, not jeans, girls! They are intended to be worn underneath dresses, skirts, tunics or long sweaters, not with t-shirts and tank tops. What are you thinking? Not only are you totally missing the function of this piece, you look trashy as you're revealing your panty line to the entire world. Seriously, I thought visible panty line died with the 80s, yet leggings-as-pants is allowing it to rear it's ugly thong-line again. Please, girls, get a clue, do not wear your leggings as pants. Cover your ass with a tunic, skirt or long sweater, anything that goes past your bum is fine. SHF says enough is enough! In short:

xoxo
SHF

Prom 2008 Trends

It may seem a little early to be talking about prom, but if it's your year I'm sure you've already been thinking about it for months and with prom just a few short months away, it's really time to be making preparations. Here, SHF will give you the low-down on the hottest prom trends
for 2008 (note-all dress examples are from Alyce Designs because they're a personal fav and always in style):

1) Hot colours: There are a plethora of new dresses for 2008 in hot happy hues. If you want a dress that is completely right-now and will stand out, go for one of the many bright coloured styles avaliable. Try to choose one that flatters you most, any bright colour will do, lemon yellows, cherry reds, oranges and pinks all pop this season.

2) Embellishments: With the abundance of fur and feathers that predominated the 2007 fall collections, it's no suprise that embellishments have translated to the hottest prom styles for this spring. Feathers, sequins, ruffles and bows add to the chic-est prom styles for this year.

3) Patterns: A trend from this past fashion week translates well for the well-dressed prom queen. From polka-dots to florals, there are many unique and chic patterns to choose from.

4) Prom princess: The full-skirted, princess-pink, ball gown styles died for about a decade in the 90s but have recently made a huge comeback and now are one of the most stylish choices for the modern prom. Think bodice top with layers upon layers of chiffon and just a bit of sparkle. Prom perfect. (Note-this last dress is a more modern version of the dress I wore to my prom 2006)

Of course, vintage dresses (50s style is best for prom) and anything that is uniquely you is always a stylish choice for prom. The key is to have fun and wear something that makes you feel fabulous to have a night to remember.

xoxo

SHF

Welcome to Sweetheart Fashion!

Hi everybody,
just a quick note to introduce you to my new blog: Sweetheart Fashion. I will provide articles on everything fashion, from trends to couture and everything in between with my own personal view. So please come back and take a look!

xoxo,
SHF