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How do I choose a good red lipstick that works with my complexion?

Whether it was faked on or baked on, your summer tan took work. Don't blow that glow - flaunt it with the right red. This season's new crop of reds are sheerer and more wearable than ever before. Here's a basic way to choose the right shade for you.

Reds really come in two tones, warm reds and cool reds. If you have medium skin choose warm orange-red lipsticks like crimson. They tend to warm up lighter skin. If you have olive or dark skin look for blue-red lipsticks. Those with a purple-pink or fuchsia effect. These shades are especially dramatic and will set off darker complexions beautifully. And remember - anyone can wear red, just give it a try!

I'm terrible at getting my liquid eyeliner to come out clean. Any tips for getting a good line?

You can draw a straight line with liquid eyeliner, by following these key tip: Prop the elbow of the hand you're drawing with on a table for extra stability. Gently stretching your skin with the other hand also keeps you on the straight and narrow.

Pretty simple? We hope this helps!

I have combination skin and have been struggling to keep up with it. What can I do to keep my skin clear?

If you think that you're the only one with a face that's partly oily and partly dry, think again. You've got combination skin and there are several ways to care for you skin without damaging other parts of it. 

Cleanse: Use a mild cleanser on your entire face up to twice a day.

Moisturize: Use a good moisturizer on the dry areas only.

Balance: Look for toning products that normalize your skin, such as those that contain alpha hydroxy acids or the vitamin A derivative retinols.

Control: Use oil-absorbing makeup on oily areas to control shine.

Protect: Use a sunscreen daily (mimimum SPF 15).

Just remember these five tips and your skin should be glowing and gorgeous in no time!

Should I try a color shampoo or conditioner?

Color shampoos and conditioners are great if used correctly.  They are designed to intensify or maintain hair color, help neutralize undesirable tones and enhance overall color and shine.  

We Love: Claypac by Altobella for their awesome colors and amazing shine!

My hair is so dry, so why does my conditioner weigh it down?

Studies show that most people list dry hair as their biggest hair problem. But that may not be the problem at all. What you are calling dry hair may be fine, limp hair, without body. If you do not have a permanent wave, or permanent color and you wear your hair short, you may need a volumizing conditioner! A bodifier may be a better choice, such as a mousse or root lift. If your hair is weighted down, skip the conditioner, get a lighter conditioner like a spray leave-in, or a bodifying conditioner. You don't have to use the conditioner every day, try it every other day or once a week.

I have dark brown hair, can I color it a funky shade of blue?

Lightening dark hair is the most difficult of the color changes. It does the most damage of any of the hair color changes. For this type of service we strongly recommend a professional hairdresser! However, If you are intent on trying it yourself, here is what you can expect. Hair grows 1/2 inch per month (on average) so your dark roots will show in one week and will need a touch-up by two weeks.

Your hair will need to be bleached twice to achieve this color change. The first bleach will leave the hair a nasty shade of orange. The hair must then be dried completely and the second bleach applied. When the hair reaches pale yellow, the bleach must be removed. If you attempt to continue bleaching beyond this point, your hair may melt and break. Some hair is too dark to be bleached successfully before complete breakage occurs. An experienced hairdresser can usually tell this by examining your hair.

When the hair is lifted to a pale yellow, a toner may then be applied achieve a platinum shade (usually a toner with a blue or blue violet base). The scalp may burn and get blisters after two bleach processes. A good hairdresser can avoid this and perhaps would even suggest a color "weave" for you, to lighten your hair without such a root maintenance schedule.

How often should I change my shampoo?

If you are using professional shampoos, you may never need to. On the other hand, water conditions can affect how some products react with your hair. Differences in water condition may prompt you to change to a different kind shampoo. If you travel frequently, you may need several different products depending on the local water conditions. Also, medication you take orally comes out in the hair. If you have changed prescription drugs recently, you may need to switch shampoos and or styling products. If you find that your shampoo is fine for a few days and then your hair becomes weighted down or coated, you are using a poor quality shampoo and/or conditioner that is unsuited for your hair type! Even the time of the year can affect your hair. In severe climates, many people spend the winter months in dry, heated homes. Other times of the year it may be humid.

If I bleach my hair, will it grow back a different color?

This is folklore! Perms, bleaches and hair colors only affect hair above the scalp. The hair will grow back exactly the same color that it was. The new hairs that are "growing in" may appear to be darker in color than you remember your natural hair, but this is an optical illusion. Also new hair growth has not yet had a chance to be lightened by the sun or alkaline processes such as shampooing.

How much hair should I lose when I brush my hair?

Everyone loses some hair every day, just by virtue of being alive. The evidence is in your comb, your hairbrush, and the bottom of your shower. Every hair on your body is genetically programmed to grow, rest, and then drop out.

Most people lose around two hundred hairs per day. You’ll notice the most hair loss after a long sleep, while brushing or combing your hair.  People with longer hair may notice more hair loss than others. This can be deceiving because each hair is two to three times as long as people with shorter hair, and the longer hair is much more noticeable. However, a sudden increase of hair loss can be an indication of other problems.

How can I best protect my hair in the summer sun?

While the wonderful rays of Father Sun may warm your bones, it will also do a deep fry on unprotected hair. Even worse, search and destroy pool chemicals and ocean salt can vaporize all those wonderful natural oils you've spent all year balancing and building in your soft, undamaged mane. Sun and surf damage can manifest as faded hair color, fragile, brittle or dry hair and yucky split ends. Be proactive and protect your hair from UVA & UVB rays that can leave you with a head full of straw that can take months to reverse. Unless you plan on a major buzz cut at summer's end, resist the urge to "do naked hair" or dive into pools with your locks flowing freely and follow the following Safe Summer Hair Rules:

1. Start the summer season with a salon trip to remove split ends and handle hair repairs.

2. If your hair normally dries out in the summer, consider having a preventive deep conditioning treatment to ward off summer frizzies.

Follow these tips so you don't have to run from the sun, just have fun!

What is the difference between semi permanent and permanent color?

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Semi permanent hair colors do not damage the hair and last from 4-6 weeks. They gradually fade out until the hair is the same shade it started from. These hair colors are deposit only, that is, they may temporarily darken but wont lighten the color of your hair. Since they do not damage the hair, you may reapply them as often as needed. The only downside is their limited ability to cover gray hair.

Permanent hair color permanently changes the hair color. Your own hair color must grow out to fully remove this process. It can be reapplied as substantial outgrowth of original color becomes noticeable. However, each application damages the hair further, so it is preferable to apply the color only to the new hair growth. Permanent colors can either lighten or darken the original shade. They also cover gray hair extremely well. The downside is that you must grow the hair out and trim it off to remove it. It can sometimes be dyed back to match the original color although it is extremely difficult to match the shade exactly. This is when a professional colorist really earns their money!