What to Do with Bangs!

If you're growing out your bangs, in-between trims, didn't have time to wash your hair or just feel like changing it up, then it's hard to think of ways to get yours bangs off your face. Here are a few cute, easy ways to clear things up!

1. French-braid
Doing a side French braid that includes your bangs is cute and super-trendy. Just part your hair on the side, with you bangs swept on one side. Then, take your hair at the part and divide it into 3 sections. As you braid, take a little more hair from the outside everytime you bring it in. Finish with a clear elastic and tuck the end behind your ear! This may take some practice, try it with wet hair first until you get the hang of it.



2. Pony tail
This look is easy to pull off. Simply pull your hair back into a high ponytail. Comb your bangs straight back to blend into the rest of your hair, and use some light hairspray to keep them in place.



3. Parted back
Another easy one. Start by parting your hair down the middle. Next, part your bangs in the middle too and use a bobby pin to pin them back. Pull your hair over top to hide the pins!



4. Poufed back
You can pull your bangs back to make a mini-pouf. Just part your hair down the centre, pull your bangs straight up and back, then push them forward a little to create a pouf. Or include your bangs in a bigger pouf by following our tutorial.



5. Headband
Of course, you can always comb your bangs back and hide them with a thick headband! Check out our article for our picks of cute headbands.

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