Bangs have certainly made a comeback. A year ago the word conjured up images of out-of-date eighties hairstyles – the kind you expected to see on women who were also still wearing shoulder pads. Big, curly hair was always topped off with the perfect pair of teased bangs.

But not anymore!

Now the hippest women in Hollywood are sporting the fringe. And as with every Hollywood trend, the general public (fabulous us) is always tempted to follow suit, despite the reprecussions. So for all of you toying with the idea of bangs, read the pros and cons before taking the plunge!

PROS:

1. Instant Chic – As we are college students, ponytails are our hairstyle of choice. But with bangs, a ponytail can suddenly become stylish! If you only have a few moments in the morning for you hair, leave down your bangs and sweep back the rest of your hair for a quick, but classy style. I guarantee that you’ll always look polished unlike the rest of those hungover girls in your lecture hall.

2. Edginess – Even though bangs are quite popular now, they still give your look a sense of mysteriousness. (Yes, that is a word…now.) People tend to associate bangs with European models and super fashionable women (Daisy Lowe, Charlotte Gainsbourg, etc), so you are automatically clumped into that category too! Read More »

So you’ve got your fashion, make-up and nail trends all lined up for fall, now to top it all off, you need a perfectly coiffed ‘do, correct?

Here are the hairstyles you can expect to see all over the place this season. There’s something for everyone, with classic styles all the way up to uber-short or super funky cuts.

Pick what you think will best suit your face and personal style, and show off those gorgeous tresses.

The Bob

The Bob is keeping its steam and can be found on celebrities and fashionistas all over the place; Katie Holmes has defined this cut. There are several different versions of the bob, and it’s popular with or without bangs, so go with what makes you the most comfortable and rock out the hottest hairstyle of 2008. Read More »

I love to love things. It’s true. So much so that I used to say “Love You” on my voicemail – until my friends instructed me that not only is it not true (“Do you LOVE your Dr’s office who calls to confirm your appointment?”), but that it was also a tad creepy to the strangers calling to leave messages on my phone.

So I changed it. And focused my love on other things. A now – for your benefit – I will bring you a weekly Love List. On all things I love. Because if I love them – well then obviously you may love them too. And there was once a song that said what the world needs now is love sweet love. So sweet love I will bring to thee.

My love list for October 4th, 2008:

1. The word Adore. I don’t know why, but I LOVE this word. Lately I’ve replaced the word “love” with “adore.” As in, “I Adore pay day,” or “I absolutely ADORE that Marc Jacobs bag (but not adoring the not-so-adorable price tag),” or “I don’t care if Jeremy Piven is a shmuck – girls have been drawn to them for ages – why stop now? And, therefore, I adore him.” Read More »

(SARA, 23, sits with her DAD, 57, in a Thai restuarant near Sara’s apartment, waiting for her MOM, also 57, to come back from the bathroom so they can get this show on the road.)

SARA

(impatient)

What’d she, fall in?

DAD

You look…different.

SARA

Oh yeah, I’m growing out my bangs.

DAD

(brightening)

Oh yeah?

SARA

…Yeah…

DAD

You know I’ve never been a fan of when you have bangs. Even when you were a little kid.

SARA

Yeah, I know.

DAD

But something else too… Read More »

Single White Female was a creepy film for a reason. If you haven’t been fortunate enough to see such a classic, then you perhaps you wouldn’t be able to see the signs of IDENTITY THEFT when a “friend” suddenly becomes a mime.

It’s natural for friends to take on certain personality traits from spending so much time together. Similar phrases are shared, personal style melds and becomes less personal, and dislikes are much more likable if your BFF sings its praises and persuades you unwittingly while doing so. Those things are natural.

So when I complained about having my personality hijacked by a close friend, a much more forgiving friend advised that, “Imitation is the greatest form of flattery.”

Well, I think that’s bullsh*t.

Imitation is scary and frankly, quite annoying. Buying the same bag, not a big deal. Asking where I purchased my shoes (which, yes, are AMAZING) totally understandable–I was just lucky enough to find them first. Saying “word” just like me every time I mean to say “yes”, understandable (yes is overrated). Getting my same hair cut (bangs included) after saying you’d never be able to pull it off, IS ANNOYING. Plagiarizing entire paragraphs of my stories, my jokes and my soul, is just straight vexatious. Read More »

I spend a lot of time telling myself to relax.

Relax, I tell myself. It’s okay that you didn’t have time to straighten your bangs this morning–no one is looking at you. It’s okay that you just said something really stupid to a tourist on the subway–no one is noticing you. No one else really knows you exist. RELAX.

Unfortunately, my seemingly-insane paranoia was validated yesterday.

My boyfriend and I went into a diner that I haven’t been to for about three years. And this is Manhattan, right, so there have been millions of patrons since the last time I’ve been there. And I was never a regular customer or anything like that.

So yesterday I’m in this diner and the waiter brings me my cup of tea and he says, didn’t you used to wear glasses? i remember you–you came in here a few years ago.

And I almost peed myself. Read More »

After rocking a boy-cut shag à la Natalie Imbruglia’s early career for two years, I started to get long-hair lust. Everywhere I went, long hair mocked me. Layers, shags, straight, curly; it all taunted me.

Back when I had long hair down to my waist, I was a tomboy. My morning hair routine consisted of making a ponytail. But now that my beauty regime has stepped up a few notches, I’m lacking a few feet of hair and experiencing Phantom Hair Syndrome.

And so a couple of months ago, I made an important decision. I would stay away from the scissors and begin the painful and arduous journey of growing my hair. Any woman that has undertaken this task knows what a commitment it is.

It means bad hair days, awkward flyaway hair, and all too often, a few weeks in the growing-out period where hair shape is frighteningly mullet-like.

I’ve experienced it all and believe me, it hasn’t been pretty. But I’ve picked up some tricks along the way that have kept me from taking the kitchen scissors to my locks in a fit of hair-rage.

Here’s how to grow out short hair and stay sane and chic:

1. Stock up on thick headbands and hair scarves. Think Lauren Conrad’s signature headband look, sans about a foot of hair. The pop of fabric on a short crop looks très cute and is perfect for holding down hair that starts sticking up in an alarming fashion.

2. Cut bangs. When the state of my hair was getting hopeless, I grabbed a pair of sharp scissors and a comb, and cut blunt bangs into the grown-out side fringe I had already. If you don’t have a steady hand or don’t have bangs at all right now, head to a stylist. Bangs will spice up your look, and you can keep trimming them yourself while the rest of your hair grows out. Read More »

Saving money.

I’ve thought long and hard about the ways in which I saved during my college years, throughout the working summer and now into the land of something close to adulthood. I complied a list. Let it guide you back to the bank.

1. Bang trim. Do not succumb to cutting your own bangs. Most salons don’t market this but, if you’re a regular costumer they will give you a bang trim for free! And also, whatever you do, do not do an at home dye job unless you or a friend really know what you are doing. If you check around town for a cosmetology school you can get a good cut and or color for a reasonable price.

2. Don’t spend more than two dollars for a cup of coffee. In fact, don’t spend any at all. I read a study once that said eating an apple in the morning can wake you quicker than a cup of coffee.

3. Buy generic. You’d be surprised that in nearly every comparison I have every conducted the generic brand has almost always included the same ingredients and tastes just as good. Read More »

The first time I chopped a nice frontal fringe, I was in college. I never knew the hard times that came with growing out your bangs because, well, I never had to. So I saw my stylist and cut some bangs because the regular old blonde needed an update. But until today, I never realized the statement my bangs were making. I thought I just needed a change.

Apparently bangs say so much about you, that the New York Times felt the need to write an article about it. Oddly, older women aren’t jealous of the tight, svelte bodies of their younger counterparts. They’re jealous of their bangs. Read More »

I have mad respect for Liv Tyler.

One, she is the original offspring of super sexy and screachy Steven Tyler (yea, I said it – he’s SEXY).

Two, she’s managed to stay away from all the drama beyond the spotlight and start a family, scandal-free.

Three, she looks healthy and beautiful, and she’s not a size “negative 2.”

Four, she was in Empire Records, one of the sweetest movies, ever.

And five, she’s one of the only actresses out there right now who is pulling off the bangs.

Bangs should look soft, sexy and edgy. They should NOT look like this monstrosity, as seen here.

If you wanna change up your appearance, think about getting bangs like Liv’s.

Read More »