Spotted: Jessica Alba, Paris

While Jessica Alba's style may not always move mountains, I love her simple, chic look for the Paris shows.  Not to mention, I'm all about her hairstyle right now.  My hair grew and grew and grew while I was pregnant.  Fast forward to now and what I'm left with is an out of control rat's nest that's typically in an elegant chignon a pretty sloppy bun.  Appealing!  Thus, I'm slowly considering a shorter, more polished look for 2011.  What do we think?

via vogue diaries

Beauty Inspiration: Retro Modern

How amazing is her hair and makeup?  I haven't a clue where I found this photo, but it had to go up.  Also included the tutorial below.  It's in a foreign language that I'm not able to identify or translate {maybe Russian?}, but if you can, leave it in the comment box!  I'm really into her wide, cable knit sweater headband...how perfect would it be in winter white for this season?

Cut + Color

 I'm getting my hair cut and colored on Thursday. I'm viewing this as my hair's "rebirth" after nine LONG months of pregnant hibernation. My strands are longing for the skilled hands belonging to this man and are crying out for balayage highlights. Pictures to come. These photos have captured my eye over the past year as hair inspiration. Thought I'd share.
How are you planning on "winterizing" your hair??

accessorize: long, pin straight hair

 ruby aldridge, tali lennox by hanneli m.

{paris}

via vogue dot com

Lani's Locks

Allow me to introduce myself, I am Noelani, editrix, photographer, curator and creator behind Mon Petit Chou Chou. MPCC is a blog about my passion for fashion, cooking, shopping, art, and all things French, mais oui! I am over the moon excited about this guest post for Lisi and the Beauty File, one of my blogging standards and must reads.

File this post under hair products and essentials. I am a total product junky and this round up represents some of my latest finds as well as a smattering of my tried and true old faithfuls.

Kerastase Volumactive Mousse $36

I used to think mousse was so 80's until I got past my blinders and tried this. Gives your hair great texture and volume galore!

Moroccan Oil  $37

For shine and deep conditioning you can't beat argon oil. Relatively new to my beauty arsenal, but a definite must try for all hair types. Excellent at keeping the effects of humidity at bay in muggy New England.

Fekkai Sheer Hold Spray $36

Seriously good enough to pay $36 for hairspray. I have tried others. And always come back to this. I will never stray again.

Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo $19

I can't remember life before dry shampoo. Oh yeah, it was greasy. This is one of the first dry shampoos on the market and still one of the best in my opinion. I am a fan of the powder and self application rather than an aerosol spray; it gives you more control.

Kerastase Nutri Sculpt Serum $39.99

Awesome for dry end repair and overall repair and shine restoration for damaged hair. Good things do come in small packages and this petit bottle has lasted me quite some time.

Giveaway Giveaway!! Hana Elite Hair Straightener!

My friends at Misikko, the flat iron experts, were kind enough to send me a Hana Elite hair straightener.

I've used many others, but to tell you the truth, the Hana Elite Flat Iron blows them out of the water. In the amount of time it takes me to read two blog posts, I had finished straightening my entire head. And that's a whole lotta hair. It heats up quick, works really well and is tragically easy to use. Some of the other products Misikko sells include: other top of the line brands of flat irons, including CHI Hair Straighteners, FHI Flat Irons, and many professional hair dryers.

Now here's the BEST part!

Misikko has decided to sponsor a GIVEAWAY to one of my amazingly talented, beautiful and fantastic blog readers.

That means YOU!

One of you will win a Hana Elite Flat Iron, retail value $250.

Here's how to play!
1. Leave a comment below describing your go-to hairstyle {1 entry}
PLEASE leave your email address so I can contact the winner!!

Additional Entries:

2. Join this blog via Google Friend Connect, Google Reader or BlogLovin' (let me know in the comments how you read) {1 entry}

3. Follow The Beauty File and Misikko on Twitter {1 more entry}

4. Blog about the giveaway on your blog and let me know {another entry!}

5. Join the Misikko Newsletter on their site {3 additional entries}

I will choose the winner next week, on Friday, June 18th!

{For the giveaway, the winner must be from the US or Canada since this particular iron is not dual voltage.}

GOOD LUCK LOVELIES!

French Braidin' in the USA

Every season there's a braid trend that sweeps the pages of the magazines and blogs.  When I spotted my best friend's french braided up-do at our friend's wedding, I snapped her photo quicker than you could say, "crazed paparazzi."  If the return of the braid marks the return of warm weather, I am so ready to rock this style.  Here's a few refresher videos on french braids:
French braids

How glamorous is this look?  Her french braid looked like a beautiful headband, starting on the left side and wrapping into a ponytail in the back right.  Then she twisted the rest up into a cool bun and gave some volume to the area behind the braid.  OK, she may not have done this on her own, but what a great inspiration photo to bring to your stylist!  Classy, girly and fun.  I'm about to start practicing!

Spring Hair Style

I'd like to introduce you to my new hairstyle.  I recently spotted Jennifer Aniston wearing the absolute latest in hair accessories, the bobby pin, and immediately fell in love.  I let my hair get a little dirty {post one day wash} and parted it the opposite way it falls naturally.  Then I grabbed the upper, side portion of the crown and pinned it right in place.

Voilà!

buns of steel + birthday giveaway winner!

What do you do with day old hair?

Spray some dry shampoo? Wear a headband?

When my hair gets unruly & is a day away from its next wash, 

I love to throw it up into a chic, messy bun.

There's no right or wrong way to do it.

It really depends on your preference.

Just grab, twirl and tie.

VOILA! Tres Jolie!!

Take your pick, you can't go wrong!

Now, for what you've all been waiting for...As promised, at 7:31am, I chose a winner for my Sartorialist Book giveaway...the lucky recipient of Mr. Schuman's book is:

Miss Lauren of Loafing Odysseys!  Email me at thebeautyfile@gmail.com with your mailing info so I can get this fabulous prize to you, stat!  Thanks to everyone for playing!

via paper tissue, swipebook, experience parisienne, unknown, harpers bazaar, unknown, cartoon styles, unknown

Creating "The International Hair Guide" & My Favorite Salon Revealed!

psssssssssst!

You may already know...

I'm on a HUNT.

          I'm searching far and wide across all cities and all countries for the most talented hair stylists in the world. You see, I'm sick of scouring magazines only to find the same old boring, overpriced hair salons featured repeatedly.  You know what I'm talking about, right?  Ones that force you to shell out an arm, a leg and a down payment on a house for a chance to sit in a busy, overbooked stylist's chair.  You feel like for this price, you should be getting the best haircut and color of your life...but then, not so much...Maybe I sound bitter, but I think I'm quite hopeful.  I'm setting out to collect the names of the most fabulous hair people across the globe.  Then I'll share them right here, as a permanent fixture on my blog.  Let's save ourselves countless hours of searching and thousands of hard earned dollars.

Let's be subversive, start a hair raising revolution and vow to never waste money on an cut or color again!

Share your favorite hair stylist's information here and I'll include

them in The Beauty File's International Hair Guide.  Pass this onto your
beauty loving friends.  The more the merrier!

The list will be as long and far-reaching as YOU all.

If you love your stylist or colorist and you want the world to know,

share it with me, right here!

Now it's my turn.

My salon of choice:

Prada Grusel

Stylist:

William Grusel

Address:

331 Madison Avenue, at 43rd Street

New York City

212.557.3123

*prices are reasonable, appointments are typically available, cuts are
unbelievable & they specialize in Balayage
{European hand painted highlights}.

just tell 'em I sent ya!  :  )

{if you aren't able to leave a comment, send me an email with the info:
thebeautyfile at gmail dot com}

photos via: Ms. Muse tumblr, moi

Who's Your Hair Stylist? {class participation mandatory!}

So, I'm working on a fabulous little project....

The goal is simple:

To collect data on the BEST hair stylists & colorists across the world....

Here's what I need from you:

1. The name of your favorite stylist/colorist

2. The name of your favorite salon

3. The location of salon {city, country}

4. The address & phone number of salon

5. Any extra information you'd like to include re: salon

{special treatments offered, wait time, even photos of the finished product}

thanks for helping me make the world more beautiful, one color

processed, angled strand of hair at a time...

xo,

tbf

*because this is supposed to be a "best list" please only post

if you highly, highly recommend your stylist!*

photo via: le cheap c'est chic

Razzle Dazzle Holiday Hair

When I saw these backstage photos from Dior, Paris Fashion

Week, my first thoughts were "holiday party hair."
Be the bombshell this holiday season by wearing one
of these dresses accompanied by sleek, retro, pinned waves.

Cute boy on arm doesn't hurt a person either....

I scoured the internet for wavy, retro hair tutorials. Here's what I came up with

{click on them for more info!}:

1. Wavy Hair tips from Amy Adams' stylist

2. Scarlett Johansson Side-Pinned Waves

3. Runway side-pinned curls tutorial via Elle

The Finished Product:

photos via: top: Jak & Jil Blog, bottom: coutorture

Blonde Ambition

Do blondes really have more fun? I don't know. I'm a strawberry blonde/brunette and I have a LOT of fun. I was born a redhead, then had bright blonde locks by age 2. Over time, a golden shade appeared and by the ripe old age of 18 the mane morphed into a strawberry blonde. Throughout my 20s I have dyed it all different shades ranging from honey blonde highlights to full out red. I really can't decide what I like best, but I think my heart longs for blonde....

Here's why:

{is this considered blonde? not sure, but I love it}

Something to think about this weekend...fall brings so many changes.

Are you ready to change your hair color with the season?

Anybody want to do something drastic?

What hair color photos inspire you to make that Fekkai appointment?

Tell me!

Show me!

photos via: playground lover tumblr, ?, bellechantelle, stockholmstreetstyle, skyeblack, bloom

"she comes in colors evrywhere"

she combs her hair
she's like a rainbow

coming, colors in the air
oh, everywhere

she comes in colors

-rolling stones

silken bouquet hairband via Anthropologie