Weekly Trend: Tapered Men's Necklines

Bella Bethesda Expert: Ngoc

Busy men can breathe a sigh of relief because here's a style that will save time, money and still look great for weeks after a cut. Sharp, clearly defined, blocked necklines are a thing of the past, making way for the more natural, "lived in" cuts that are surfacing now.

Since this look is not a perfect straight edge to begin with, maintenance is minimal, even as the hair gradually grows out. An added bonus, this type of cut follows the natural hairline, so it helps slim wider-looking necks. Bella Bethesda stylist Ngoc recommends this style for men with short to shaggy hair in any age group.

To get the look, it is always ideal to start off the haircut with clean, washed hair. Ngoc uses clippers and a flicking, free-hand technique to give his clients this practical, tapered style.

Curly Hair Q & A Part II

Our resident curly hair specialist, Megan Atkinson, fills us in on the most requested questions from our clients. Stay tuned for the final post of questions next week!

6.     What are the best products for defining curls without weighing them down?

If you find that most curl products weigh your hair down, you can opt for curl products intended to boost curl such as Moroccan Oil Curl Foam or Reform Spring Curl Mousse. Diffusing curls will also help to boost curl and give volume.

7.   What causes frizz?
Frizz occurs when the cuticle (the outermost layer of hair) does not lie flat, which results in a dull, uneven surface appearance. Individuals with curly hair often see frizz due to the internal structure of the hair which naturally twists and bends.

8.     Are there styling tips for preventing frizz- blow drying vs. air drying, twisting hair, pulling it up to dry, etc.?

I usually recommend letting hair air dry in the summer, if possible, to reduce frizz. The less you mess with your hair, the less frizz you will encounter. Twisting is a great option to define and sculpt curls, while evenly distributing product. Placing clips in the roots of your hair to hold them upright while air drying is a great way to achieve height without diffusing.

9.     How do you use a diffuser properly?

It is best to use your diffuser with medium heat on the lowest speed.

10.     What is the difference between diffusing and twisting?

Twisting is a way to ensure a more consistent curl pattern and can be utilized to control and tame curl and frizz OR to give a boost to lazy curls. Diffusing is often used to dry the curls faster than air drying but can also help too add volume and boost lazy curls. This is not the best option for those who are looking to tame and reduce curl and volume

Weekly Trend: Upside Down Braid Updo

Bella Bethesda Expert: Kathryn

At Bella Bethesda, we're flipping out over this new take on the beloved French braid. The upside down braided updo requires a little dexterity but it is sure to impress. This attention grabbing style can be created in a snap for a special occasion or when you're running late in the morning. Bella Bethesda stylist Kathryn is a huge fan and advises this look works best on long hair that is not layered. So roll up your sleeves, dust off those French braiding skills you perfected at summer camp and follow Kathryn's step-by-step instructions to get a sophisticated style:

1. Flip your head upside down. Grab a section of hair from the nape of your neck and begin to French braid.
2. Continue French braiding until you are two-thirds of the way up the back of your head. Secure the braid with an elastic.
3. Flip your head back over and tie a high ponytail. You can either leave the style as is or create another hot trend, the top knot, to finish the look.

Tips for creating a top knot:
1. Cut the toe section off of a clean sock (try to use a sock that is close to your hair color)
2. Roll the sock into itself, creating a donut. Pull your ponytail through the "hole" of the sock donut so it is resting on top of your hair elastic in the shape of a bun.
3. Flip your ponytail over the top of the sock and begin twisting your hair around the sock, creating a bun. Wrap and tuck loose ends into the sock and elastic to secure.

Curly Q’s (& A’s) Series

As we prepare to kick off our 5^th Annual Curly Hair Month in August, we wanted to offer hair tips and answers to all your curly hair questions.  Our resident curly hair specialist, Megan Atkinson, excels in curly hair care but is also a certified straightening stylist.  Many of us know that maintaining curly, frizz free hair, can be tricky, especially when faced with heat and humidity we see here in our area. Luckily Bella Bethesda has the tips, tricks and tools to keep your curls looking fabulous year round.

Curly hair month is also a great opportunity for clients who normally wear their hair straight but would love to ditch their blow dryers and irons when it’s hot and humid. Learn how to manage your curls leading up to curly hair month with Bella Bethesda's Curly Q's (&A's) Series! Below is this week's Q & A with Megan, and stay tuned next week for more of your curly questions answered.

1.     I have curly hair, should I wash my hair every day?

Experts agree that it is not necessary or beneficial for any hair type to wash every day. Doing so can strip your hair and scalp of its natural oils, leaving the ends feeling dry and sometimes causing the scalp to overcompensate for the lack of oil.

2.     What is the importance of products?

Curly and wavy hair needs extra hydrating and strengthening hair because the twist and bends can naturally leave hair exposed and vulnerable without it; add in chemical processes and heat styling and curls can take a real beating. Style wise, curls and waves need an appropriate ratio of moisture and hold, which may vary by hair type and texture as well as seasonally. In general, hair may need more moisture during dry winter months and more hold during humid summer months.

3.     What are some products that will help keep my curls intact if I'm not washing my hair every day?

If you feel like curls don't hold up well after a good night’s sleep, try rinsing with conditioner instead of shampooing. Conditioner still contains surfactant which will help to remove dirt and oil, while leaving your curls hydrated. We also like to use a leave-in conditioner in spray form such as Phytomist or Sebastian Potion 9 Lite to refresh curls.

4.     How do you refresh your curl on the second day?

Avoid rewetting the hair with water because the pH of water is different than that of hair which may cause the cuticle layer to reopen resulting in added frizz. If you rewet the hair, be sure to apply conditioner again and rinse. Conditioner still has surfactant in it (the ingredient found in shampoo that rinses away dirt and oil) but will help to rebalance the pH and keep the hair hydrated. For a quick reset, try misting the hair with leave in conditioner like Phytomist or Deva mist-er right or adding a little Phyto 7 to smooth out frizz and refresh without weighing down the hair or making it greasy.

5.     Are there any good dry shampoos that you recommend for curly hair so I don't have to shampoo every day?

Our new favorite dry shampoo is by Coppola and contains keratin to help strengthen and hydrate hair while absorbing oil and odor.

Weekly Trend: Dimensional Hair Color that Flatters

Bella Bethesda Expert: Boy Sharp

A look that is tailored to flatter your unique features is one that never goes out of style. Bella Bethesda color expert Boy Sharp says that dimensional hair color is a secret weapon for enhancing your natural beauty. While many people consider face shape and skin tone when deciding on a haircut and color, they do not realize the dramatic effect the use of dimensional hair color and placement can have on their appearance. This technique is achieved by using lighter, brighter, warmer or bolder hair colors in certain areas as accents, and darker, deeper or cooler hair colors to contour face shapes and features. A flattering color can also be enhanced with the use of highlights, lowlights and glosses, which create subtle variations in color.

Boy recommends these general guidelines to find your ideal look:

Narrow and long facial features and face shapes: Place contour hair colors on the top of the hairline near forehead, and accent hair colors on the sides near eye and upper cheek. The latter will accent eyes and help remove the appearance of a longer face.

Round or fuller features and face shapes: Use accent hair color near the crown of the head and forehead and keep the contour colors just below the cheek, jaw line and nape areas.

Triangle features and face shapes: Use accent hair colors at and below the cheek areas to widen or straighten the jawline. Avoid placing accent colors right in the forehead hairline.

Pear shape or inverted triangle face shape: Keep accent hair colors to the areas around the top of the cheekbones, forehead, hairline and crown area, and use contour hair colors below cheekbones and around the jaw line.

Square face shape and features: Use contour hair colors from below the cheekbone to the jaw line to soften a stronger jaw, and also along the sides of the forehead area. Use accent colors at the center top of the hairline, and sometimes right above the cheekbone areas.

Weekly Trend: The Knotted Ponytail

Bella Bethesda Expert: Brittany

At Bella Bethesda, we're all tied up trying to create knotted ponytails, a look that is both youthful and delightfully unexpected. This look requires long locks and is the perfect way to get your ponies out of their tired routine. Bella stylist, Brittany, has a few easy steps that will add that little something extra to your updo.

1. Start with dry hair and work a styling pomade throughout your hair.
2. Divide hair into two even sections, straight down the middle of your head. Pull one section to the side and underneath the other section of hair.
3. Tie a knot in the hair and pull tight to secure. Tie another knot below the first and secure the ponytail with a hair tie.
4. To create extra body and a more casual look, tease the remaining straight part of the ponytail with a fine comb and finish with hairspray.

Voila! Who knew knotted hair could be so stylish?

Bella Bethesda supports Inner Beauty

As Bella Bethesda prepares to mark its fifth anniversary, we will celebrate our most creative and collaborative runway show and charity benefit to date.  The October event will provide an opportunity for Bella’s stylists to showcase their talents while supporting the salon’s commitment to giving back to the community, this year to Look Good…Feel Better.


Our staff began our commitment to Look Good...Feel Better on Monday, June 11 when 15 stylists participated in a half-day training session at the American Cancer Society. The American Cancer Society’s Look Good…Feel Better program provides support for women with cancer to look and feel beautiful again, empowering them to regain their self-image and the confidence to face the challenge of a lifetime. This nationwide program offers free workshops and educational resources that address hair and skin changes and concerns, and offers lessons on the following:

Wig Wear - Learn how to pick a wig that's right for you and how to take care of it.

Beauty tips - Discover a 12-step make-up guide that will give you a gorgeous glow.

Skin and nails - Find methods for dealing with discolored nails and dry skin.

Head wrap - Learn how to cover your head with a stylish scarf or trendy turban.


The workshops are facilitated by 14,000 volunteer beauty professionals in more than 3,000 locations nationwide. During the past 22 years, the program has served more than 750,000 people with cancer in the U.S. and more than one million people with cancer around the world.  Now that our volunteered staff have completed the certification training, they are entered into the American Cancer Society's database and noted as an active LGFB volunteer for our area.  The program is made possible through a national collaboration of the Personal Care Products Council Foundation, the American Cancer Society, and the Professional Beauty Association/National Cosmetology Association.

Another unique opportunity for our stylists will be a nationwide cut-a-thon on October 10, where Look Good...Feel Better has partnered with Sexy Hair, a beauty product line.  A portion of our total sales will be donated to Look Good...Feel Better. Sexy Hair can now add their name to many legendary beauty brands that have teamed up with Look Good...Feel better such as Revlon, L'Oreal, Arbonne, Elizabeth Arden, and Avon.

Our staff is committed to this partnership and look forward to the upcoming challenge.  We are dedicated to improving the self-esteem and quality of life undergoing treatment for cancer and proud to help make a positive impact on the lives of men and women who are fighting this disease.  For more information about this organization please visit http://lookgoodfeelbetter.org/.

Weekly Trend: The Messy Chignon

Bella Bethesda Expert: Amanda

Say "oui" to a classic French hairdo that is the epitome of effortless style. The chignon is one of the easiest updos to achieve and is perfect for every occasion, from running errands to walking down the aisle! A saving grace for hot, humid weather and bad hair days, the bun can be styled to be slick and modern or soft and romantic. This updo is appropriate for any age group but works best on thick, long hair. To get the look, follow three basic tips from Bella Bethesda stylist, Amanda:

1. Tie your hair back into a ponytail. Separate the ponytail into two even sections and spray each with hairspray.

2. Pull the right section around the ponytail toward your left ear, loop under and secure with bobby pins.

3. Repeat Step 3 with the left section and secure with bobby pins and finish with hairspray.

You don't have to always start with a regular ponytail at the back of your head. Try a side ponytail before creating your chignon and you have a charming updo perfect for special occasions.
And for a more dramatic and modern look, Bella stylist Brittany recommends the top knot. To get the look, slick hair back into a high ponytail to create a bun that sits close to the top of your head. If you don't have thick or long hair, hair filler or extensions can be added to intensify this mod style.