Top Hair Tips for the Upcoming Holidays from NYC Hair Stylist Lucy Garcia Planck

Holiday parties are just around the corner and while you might be keeping your eyes open for new holiday attire, it’s time to start taking care of your hair so that when it comes time to show everything off, your hair looks just as shiny as your new dress!

Below are some great tips and trends from NYC Hair Stylist, Lucy Garcia Planck, from Salon Bergdorf Goodman, on how to make sure your hair stands out this holiday season:

  • Moisturizing is Key: Keeping hair moisturized will help all of your holiday hairstyles look great. The dry winter air will quickly zap your hair of any moisture it has. Try not to shampoo often. If you have oily hair wash it every other day, and if you have dry hair, aim at washing it one to two times a week maximum.
  • Hair Masks are a Must: Another great way to keep hair hydrated is by using hair masks 1-2 times a week depending on your hair’s texture. I like to use 1 tsp of coconut oil directly on your hair, starting on the ends of the hair and working it up towards the scalp. Go to work out or run an errand and leave in for 30-60 min then shampoo with the treatment still in the head and then rinse. This locks in the natural oils in the hair and keeps it looking shiny.
  • Take Care of Yourself From the Inside: I always say ‘you are what you eat.’ Whatever you put into your body reflects your outsides. Be sure to drink plenty of water, and eat proper foods such as fish, nuts, and eggs helps to keep hair shiny. Taking a biotin supplement will also help. Biotin is a natural supplement that many people don’t get enough of and that could be a contributing factor to dry, brittle hair. I always tell my clients to take biotin year-round to maintain a strong, healthy glow to their hair and it also helps with split ends. I love using and always recommend vitafusion Gorgeous Hair, Skin and Nails is a great-tasting gummy multivitamin containing 12 key nutrients, including Biotin and Vitamins C and E to help nourish beautiful hair, skin, and nails from the inside out.
  • Keep Static Away:  Dry winter months always create lots of hair static, which can ruin a great hairstyle. I always sleep on a silk pillowcase, which can help to eliminate this issue. Unlike cotton, the silk pillowcase doesn’t have any wrinkles in it and won’t mess up our hair. To maintain your hair or hairstyle (a fresh salon blowout), sleeping on silk helps with the static as well during the winter when your hair is depleted of moisture. Argan oil moisturizes the ends of your hair without leaving your hair oily. Use only a very tiny amount (pea-sized). If your hair is fine, stay away from the oils, instead use static guard sprayed in your hairbrush and brush your hair. For those with thicker hair, the argan oil will help keep your hair moisturized and reduce static and flyways.

The Matte Collection: New Cafe Brand-Customizable Kitchen

Last week I was invited to attend a media brunch and view The Matte Collection, fully customizable kitchen.

The brand has incorporated innovative technology and style into the design of kitchen staples. After speaking with the company representative, she stated that the new wall ovens can cook a whole chicken in 15 minutes!

 

The Cafe Distinct By Design kitchen offers an array of metal knobs and handles in brushed bronze, brushed stainless, brushed copper and brushed black.  Cafe is the first appliance brand that allows you to switch out the hardware on your kitchen appliances, bringing an unprecedented level of luxury and personalization to an affordable price.

The ability to change out hardware is fascinating!  What fashion-conscious women wouldn’t like the option to personalize her kitchen?  Another aspect about the collection is that the stainless steel finish is smudge-proof.  That particular feature makes an aesthetic difference, especially if you have little hands in your home.

To learn more about The Matte Collection, click here.

Time to Hit Reset: Meet Bobbi Brown’s EVOLUTION_18 De – Bloat

Made with a combination of powerful antioxidants, this is the remedy for when you need to fit back into that little black dress or just want to hit reset, while still leaving you feeling energized.

With the holiday season right around the corner, it’s easy to overdo it. Champagne, sugar, and salt can leave you feeling bloated and sluggish. Enter Debloat, the latest addition to Bobbi Brown’s EVOLUTION_18 wellness collection and the perfect remedy for when you need to fit into that little black dress or just hit the reset button.

Debloat helps with water retention by flushing out extra fluid, (thanks to our signature Water Balance Blend of hydrangea root, dandelion and juniper, and powerful ingredients like matcha, ashwagandha, and apple cider vinegar), while still leaving you feeling energized. For the holidays and beyond, consider this your new secret weapon.

SRP: $35.00
Servings: 20

STAY CALM AND HEALTHY THIS COLD AND FLU SEASON

With cold and flu season here there is no time like the present to take charge of your health. We all know sleeping well, eating healthy and staying relaxed are the basics of wellness.  But, don’t forget to use essential oils as a wellness technique!

  • The Ultimate Elixir – This next-level wellness company has transformed the concept of the multivitamin. The USDA organic whole food powder is made up of a synergistic blend of nature’s most complete nutrient-rich superfoods and super greens to naturally maintain your bodies pH balance for optimal health. Recommended to be taken daily, this blend of greens, mushrooms, super fruits, herbs, and enzymes has been sourced from around the world to provide the body with the perfect nutrition it needs. Retails for $75.
  • Shield for Immunity CBD Bath Bomb – Loaded with 100mg of pure CBD and inspired by the 15th Century legend of Four Thieves, the effective and aromatic mixture of clove, rosemary, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and other natural botanicals provide a shield of protection by supporting and strengthening the body and its immune system, all while providing a deeply soothing bath time experience! Retails for $19.99.
  • Sleepgram Pillow – The side effects of sleep deprivation are horrifying, and lack of sleep definitely lowers your immune system, so a good night’s sleep is crucial in helping you stay healthy!  This luxury microfiber pillow is customizable to create the best pillow for you regardless of size, weight or sleeping style to promote proper alignment for your best sleep.  It’s hypoallergenic, machine washable, and has a sleek design with a 100% cotton cover to keep you cool. Retails for $49.95.

Arbonne’s New Skincare Collection: Prepwork Effortless Regimen

We’re all about looking and feeling great in our own skin. But between the demanding job, spin class, and dinner dates — taking care of your skin can seem so extra. Enter: Arbonne’s newest line Prepwork, making it insanely easy to keep your skin in check.

Prepwork is an effortless, effective skincare regimen formulated with special superfood cocktails to help your skin maintain that coveted healthy glow while safeguarding it from environmental stressors.

The key ingredients are based on foods you can actually pronounce, like Kakadu Plum to boost luminosity and Raspberry Ceramide to seal in hydration. Simply put, Prepwork is smart and works hard — just like us.

Prep Step 1: Cleansing Polish ($32, Arbonne.com) – Lingonberry and apricot fuel this gentle daily exfoliator with brightening & toning properties. Bonus: it also removes makeup!

Prep Step 2: Gel Eye Masks ($50, Arbonne.com) – Fruit, veggie and caffeine-packed masks for an instantly refreshing pick-me-up. Expert tip: you can also use them around your mouth (or really anywhere you’d like).

Prep Step 3: Hydrating Dew Cream ($46, Arbonne.com) – Unique lightweight cream that doubles as an amazing pore-blurring primer – giving that hydrating glow without the oily slick.

ü  Prep Step 4: Soft Focus Veil with SPF 30 ($44, Arbonne.com) – Breathable, dewy skin tint with mineral-based environmental protection for those makeup-free days.

Essence Festival 2018 Backstage Pass: Junes Diary, Neyo, Charreah Jackson, Regina King, Kofi Siriboe, and Much More

Essence Festival is labeled as being “The Party With a Purpose.”  This year, I returned as an official media outlet and able to truly identify with the term.

Many people ask, “What happens during the Essence Fest?”  and some can’t understand the allure of this particular event.  The festival is a combination of seminars, parties, and cuisine.

It’s categorized into Beauty, Entertainment, Entrepreneurship, Food, Style, Community, Culture, Wellness, and Spirituality.  This is no ordinary celebration!  The entire city of New Orleans becomes a cultural mecca and the spirit of festivity feels the air.

Hollywood celebrities attended for keynote conversations; discussing their latest projects.  Internet sensations and digital influences shared their platform through Fashion Empowerment and Tricks for a Flawless Glow.

The nighttime activities were performed at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.  Festival Goers danced to various acts by artist such as Erykah Badu, Snoop Dogg, The Roots, Ledisi, Mary J. Blige, and Janet Jackson to name a few.

On Sunday, June 8, 2018, Bishop Lester Love and The City of Love hosted Hour of Power with spiritual workshops and gospel tributes.  This was the perfect opportunity to attend brunch or join a fitness session at the convention center.  Lastly, celebrity stylist Vernon Francois and Misa Hylton Presented 25 Years of Fashion Slayage!

Aside from festival activities, there were delicious and authentic New Orleans dishes such as Beignets, Gumbo, and Muffulettas.  Essence Festival is a must-attend event for anyone that loves art, cuisine, and enlightenment.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 06: Robin Thede speaks onstage at the 2018 Essence Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 6, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 06: Marshawn Evans Daniels speaks onstage during the 2018 Essence Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 6, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 06: Charli Penn speaks onstage during the 2018 Essence Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 6, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 06: President of Essence Communications, Inc. Michelle Ebanks speaks onstage during the 2018 Essence Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 6, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 06: Ne-Yo attends the 2018 Essence Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 6, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 06: Amandla Stenberg speaks onstage during the 2018 Essence Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 6, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 06: Regina King speaks onstage during the 2018 Essence Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 6, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 06: Director Barry Jenkins speaks onstage during the 2018 Essence Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 6, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 06: Snoop Dogg attends the 2018 Essence Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 6, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 06: Regina Hall speaks onstage during the 2018 Essence Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 6, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 06: Kiki Layne speaks onstage during the 2018 Essence Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 6, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 06: Maxine Waters attends the 2018 Essence Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 6, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 06: Doug E. Fresh performs onstage during the 2018 Essence Festival presented By Coca-Cola – Day 1 at Louisiana Superdome on July 6, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Essence)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 06: Miguel performs onstage during the 2018 Essence Festival presented By Coca-Cola – Day 1 at Louisiana Superdome on July 6, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Essence)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 06: Erykah Badu performs onstage during the 2018 Essence Festival presented By Coca-Cola – Day 1 at Louisiana Superdome on July 6, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Essence)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 07: Regina Hall attends the 2018 Essence Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 7, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 07: Yvonne Orji speaks onstage during the 2018 Essence Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 7, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 07: Kofi Siriboe speaks onstage during the 2018 Essence Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 7, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 07: Mary J. Blige performs onstage during the 2018 Essence Festival presented By Coca-Cola – Day 2 at Louisiana Superdome on July 7, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Essence)

Photo Credit:  Getty Images from Essence.com

 

A Girls Guide to Getting Through the Summer Heat

Stay sweat-free and odor-free all day long with Ban Purely Gentle Roll-On Deodorant ($10, Amazon.com)

A non-irritating formula that’s tough on sweat but gentle on the skin. This deodorant incorporates 24-hour protection with a new, gentler formula, ensuring round the clock defense even for those with the most sensitive skin.

Keep your hair off your neck with the help of Hairdo Simply Straight Pony ($49, Ulta.com)

 

This strut-your-stuff pony delivers the style points straight-up by instantly adding length, verve, and volume to your ponytail. Wrap around easily and secure your pony high, low or to the side.

Keep your skin moisturized while achieving a non-oily, velvety finish with Erborian BB Crème ($39, Sephora.com)

 

Containing break-through high-tech formulas, this BB Crème evens out and mattifies the complexion, moisturizes and plumps the skin, refines skin’s texture and reduces the appearance of blemishes. Your skin will appear visibly softer, smoother and beautiful with a silky feel.

8 Steps to Get Your Mojo Back This Summer

New beginnings are the most exciting and energizing times in life. Summer is always a new beginning because it’s a new season. Now is a great time to get fired up, motivated, and start making changes to get to your next level of YOU. Mojo is that magical charisma you carry that makes you feel good and infectious to others.

Featured Photo from Stylecaster.com

Most of you are great starters but not all are great finishers. If you have lost your mojo and want to be a better you for summer, commit to a new beginning right now. Here are 7 ways to get your mojo back and keep it flourishing:

1. Change your environment: Change the environments in your life which are now grey and uninspiring.  Do some of your work out of the office, redecorate your house and add more color, spend time on your patio, leave your cubical and go out for lunch. If you are getting tired, get up and move to another room. Add music or white noise to create something soothing. Changing the appearance and location of your differing environments helps you to think in more different and innovative ways. The more innovative you are the more mojo you have.

2. Strive to be your best: Always envision yourself as being your ‘ideal self.’ Your ‘ideal self’ is that part of you which is in front of you encouraging you forward. This part of you is holding up the guideposts and possibilities for your growth, happiness, and expansion. What you think determines your outcome.
Strive towards meeting your ‘ideal self’ at the finish line. If you can dream it, then you can achieve it. Work backward from the ‘ideal self’ by setting small, incremental goals for each area of your life to keep your mind positive. Before you know it you will be thriving as a better you before you hit summer. You will feel your confidence growing as you begin to manifest all you have been working towards.

3. Change Your Patterns: When you break your routines you essentially create a new life. Habits are easy but there is no risk in the habit because ultimately habits are lazy. You cannot grow stuck inside the traps familiarity and comfort. To get your mojo back, be brave! Buy that Groupon for the new class around the corner and give it a go. Change your diet, change your work out, change your wardrobe, buy different make-up, and class-up your personal style. Eat at new restaurants, go to new bars. Go to the gym after work? Try raising your heart rate before you get to the office. If you eat at the same restaurant for lunch all the time, walk one block farther to check out a new spot. See what happens by simply sitting on the other side of your desk, giving you a new perspective by looking out at different wall or window.

4. Shift Your Priorities: Your daily schedule is a reflection of your deepest priorities. If you have zero fun, free time or time for family and friends actually on your calendar, and instead your calendar is booked up with meetings and other task-oriented responsibilities, then you are missing out on the juiciest parts of life. Robots do not have mojo. To re-ignite your mojo schedule time for yourself first. On a plane, they always tell you to put on your oxygen mask before helping someone else. Once you have given yourself time to refuel, block times to enjoy with family, friends, children to add joy and vitality to your life.
On your deathbed, you are not going to look back and wish you had worked more hours.

5. Invest in personal growth: The best of the best have the best of the best of the best as mentors, friends, family, and colleagues. Learn as much as you possibly can from other successful, happy people who want to share their wisdom with you. The ball is in your court: Make the effort to keep yourself in a place of personal expansion, whether that means going to seminars, meeting weekly with a coach or therapist, reading books each night and writing goals, but strive to be your very best at all time. This always gives you something to talk about and it makes you interesting to other people.

6. Change your friends: The people with whom you surround yourself heavily influence you. If you’re lacking motivation and feeling down about everything, it might be time to upgrade your circle of influence. Negativity is contagious, as is positivity. Those closest to you should be those who bring out your best qualities, including your mojo for life’s adventures. If more time with family is important to you then start planning some vacations and staycations for all you to get away and enjoy being a family without other distractions. Take time out to have dinner with the girls or watch the game with the boys or go play a round of golf. Your net worth emotionally is the average of that of your five closest friends. When you hang out with successful people, happy, fulfilled people you elevate your own mojo, so choose wisely.

7. Change Your Thoughts: You are what you think. You cannot think negative and have powerful mojo. If you think you are fat then that will be your experience whether you are or aren’t. Thinking negatively doesn’t accomplish anything, it takes zero effort and is a lazy mojo-stealing habit. Discipline your mind towards the goals of what you want to look like and be like and start putting the effort in now to get there. By summer you will feel fabulous. In any situation suffering over your own suffering doesn’t work. Know the areas of your life you want to change and be deliberate in changing them.

8. Be Authentic: There is nothing sexier than to be beautiful inside and out. When you are committed to your loving and respecting yourself you exude a quiet confidence. Your focus is on being genuine, kind, strong, courageous, intelligent, successful, elegant, steadfast and fulfilled. You possess enough composure that if you cannot say something kind you have the wisdom to remain quiet. You make sure the kindness of your character speaks more deliberately to who you are than what designer you are wearing.

True mojo is not a loud energy, rather it is an understated energy. Loud is repulsive ego-stuff. Your mojo is that more subtle energy your personal essence leaves in the wake of your presence. This is something to admire. There is nothing more mojo promoting than authenticity and having a strong sense of who you are.

Not all of these changes are easy. They all require a deliberate change of habit, which can feel like an insurmountable challenge. Getting your mojo back is critical for your quality of life so it certainly causes for some radical changes and the outright shattering of your own tired habits. Face it – feeling passionate and motivated every day for your work, family, and self is a win for yourself and those that depend on you.

Dr. Sherrie Campbell is an author of the new book, Success Equations: A Path to Living an Emotionally Wealthy Life. She is a veteran psychologist, inspirational speaker, and radio host. For more information, please visit, www.sherriecampbellphd.com and connect with her on Facebook, @sherriecampbellphd.

 

Purifying Face Mask For Summer – Tightens and Tone The Skin

Strong summer sun exhausting your skin? The NEW Dear by Renee Purifying Kaolin Mask is formulated with natural ingredients including Pineapple & Papaya Enzymes to leave skin clear and bright! The Purifying Kaolin Mask is an ideal seasonal treatment for normal to combination skins that overproduce oil in humid climates. Sit back and relax as organic clay reduces inflammation, increases circulation and tightens and tones your skin.

Dear by Renée Purifying Kaolin Mask ($49.95, dearbyrenee.com)

This naturally purifying volcanic Kaolin clay detoxifies, filters, and lifts impurities from deep within pores.

The antiseptic formula provides light exfoliation and purifying benefits to calm and heal the skin.

Healthy Food Tips to Help Fight Dehydration This Summer

Summer is finally here and the days of laying by the pool, beautiful hikes and beach fun are upon us. Unfortunately, the combination of the Summer heat and outdoor activities can lead to excess sweating. This helps keep the body cool down, but it can also lead to dehydration so instead of endless glasses of water opt for some healthy fruits and veggies. Incorporating these into your diet can add to your water intake and keep you hydrated all through the summer.

Featured Photo from Ciara Instagram

Dr. Christopher CalapaiD.O., an Osteopathic Physician board certified in family medicine, anti-aging medicine, and chelation therapy has created a tip sheet of his seven favorite healthy foods to help fight dehydration.

  1. Watermelon
  • Watermelons contain around 92% water and one of the most hydrating foods out there. They can be a great alternative to snacks like pretzels, chips, and peanuts. These popular snacks have large amounts of sodium and can make you more dehydrated.
  1. Cucumber
  • Cucumbers are about 96% water and they contain no saturated fat or cholesterol. They are high in Vitamin B6 helping to produce serotonin, which is the brain chemical that controls mood. I suggest making small cucumber-watermelon bites, which are both incredibly hydrating and delicious.
  1. Strawberry
  • Strawberries have the highest water content of any berry, 92% to be exact. This berry is a great source of vitamins C and K. You can enjoy the tart-sweet flavor without consuming too much sugar.
  1. Cantaloupe
  • This popular melon is 90% water and packed with rich flavor. One cup of cantaloupe provides 100% of the daily recommended values of Vitamins A and C.
  1. Tomato
  • Tomatoes are made up of about 95% water. Along with their sweetness, they are perfect to take the place of higher calorie condiments. One medium-sized tomato contains only 22 calories.
  1. Zucchini
  • Zucchinis are 95% water and help to give you more energy. They also contain a good amount of potassium helping to reduce blood pressure. The veggie also promotes skin health-giving a glow and restoring moisture.
  1. Lemon
  • While I don’t think a lot of people enjoy eating lemons, adding them to water is a great way to change-up a plain glass of water. Besides enhancing the flavor, lemons are a great source of vitamin C and aids in digestion.