How many times have you seen a magazine claiming to have “curly hairstyles” inside, only to open it up and find out what they really show are hairstyles for people with straight hair who want to get that curly look. There’s nothing for girls with naturally curly hair who want to flaunt their tresses au naturale. Don’t fret! Curlies, there are so many cute things you can do!!

In this new weekly column, I will search high and low on the internet for the cutest looks, tools and products…and I’ll give you info on how you can DIY at home. Also, if you ever have any issues you want me to tackle in a future post, vent your frustrations in the comments section below!

Here are eight styles I found this week that I can’t wait to try…

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But, when said peasants actually look at the Fashion Gods’ pictures, they are whole-heartedly disappointed. All too often, to these arbiters of taste, “curly” means “straight with a very slight artificial wave about half-way down.” Take, for instance, these “natural-looking curls:”

And the peasants cry.

That hair is beautiful, but realistic? Hell no.

But this year, this year, goddammit, it supposedly the year of the curl. Celebrities are donning curls, stylists are throwing away the irons and magazines are telling us to “embrace our natural texture.” Too bad, for many of us, that is far easier said than done.

For a lot of us curlies, our hair has always been the bane of our existence (unless we were around in the 80′s). The 90′ s and most of the 00′s have told us that if our hair is “big,” it’s dated, or out of fashion. Curls are okay…as long as they’re flat. Which, quite frankly, natural curls are not. So, we attempt to flatten and – bottles of gel later – we don’t look fashionable; we look like drowned rats.

But, it is the year of the curl and I am going to let my curls shine, damnit. I am going embrace my natural hair and become one with the wave. As should you.

Don’t know how to tame that mane? Here are a few easy tips for the basic hair types:

Loose, Heavy Curls:

Of the curly types (excluding wavy), this is probably the easiest to deal with. Your biggest help here is a leave-in conditioner and, on humid and rainy days, a little bit of hair creme. Keep it simple and let those lovely locks shine.

Tight Curls

I would KILL for this hair. This is my personal favorite of all the curly types. But I guess the grass is always greener.

Kinky hair (really, really tight curls) is surprisingly delicate. Spritz it through with a light-hold curly spray and then do not touch it. The more you play with it, the more you can damage it. Another tip to keeping this hair healthy: shampoo as infrequently as possible.

Ringlets

Adorable. To keep from looking like Shirley Temple, however, make sure you get a nice adult, up-to-date haircut. Use a light curling mouse to set the curl for the day and you are good to go.

Combination Curls

Most of your hair is out of control curly, but some of it is just wavy (or even straight), and all of it is wirey.

This is what I have. The miracle secret I found is a curl mousse called Got2B Kinky. Seriously. It keeps it from frizzing and it makes it all more uniform, without changing your actual texture. I also recommend cutting serious layers into your hair to avoid the evil, Triangle Head.

Fine Curls

Pump up the volume of your angel-fine curly hair with a volume-specific mousse. Scrunch a little, grabbing the hair from the bottom and gently pressing it up. And always airdry–you don’t want to scatter (and ruin!) your curls with a huge blast of air.

And remember, for all curly hair, shampoo as little as possible (once or twice a week). Condition every other day. And never, EVER try to brush it. Trust me.

[Images courtesy of www.consumer.schwarzkopf.com, www.freshlookhair.com, www.naturallycurly.com]

With the advent of summer upon us, I decided it was high time I was no longer a sex on the beach virgin. I grabbed my manfriend (chuckle chuckle, Carrie Bradshaw) and headed to the shore.

It was a perfect night for just being at the beach, let alone hooking up. Full moon, light breeze and crashing waves. Very romance novel. So boyfriend and I wandered along the beach until we found a secluded(ish) spot.

When we got there, however, I found that I could have done with some good advice before embarking on this adventure. So for all you beach bunny virgins out there contemplating some sea-side action, here is what I wish my experienced girlfriends had told me:

Bring a Flashlight: Luckily for us, the moon was enormous and lit our way pretty well. I happen to be completely blind in the smallest amount of darkness, though, and was petrified of stepping on baby sea turtles. If it’s even semi-cloudy out, a small light should help you navigate.

Don’t forget the blanket! And make it a big one. For a girl who considers a hotel without room service roughing it, I felt surprisingly one with nature. This may have had to do with the stray grains of sand making themselves uncomfortable in my back/chest/butt/eyeballs. I also got considerably less kisses on my neck (my favorite!) because boyfriend kept coming up with mouthfuls of sand.

Consider bringing some “accessories”: The al fresco factor of beach boinking is definitely a plus. I felt so free (cheesy, I know); but while all that open air and exposure to the elements felt g-r-e-a-t when we were cooling off afterwards, it made things a little difficult to get going. Luckily, boyfriend thought ahead to bring lube. This also might help if you are nervous about being caught/ arrested for lewd behavior, leading to distraction. It’s always good to bring back up!

Get creative! Boyfriend luh-huvved the “versatility” it allowed him in positioning. This was a factor I hadn’t even considered, but he said that the consistency of the sand gave him a ton of freedom in his movement, and made everything newer and more comfortable. Next time we get the chance for some S on the B, I plan on capitalizing on my old sand castle building skills. Feel free to dig, mound and pile the sand under your blanket to create new positions– it’s like mother nature’s response to the liberator.

Enjoy the, um, scenery. Now I’m not suggesting you tune out your partner to listen to the breeze, or attempt to synchronize your orgasm with crashing waves (although that would be impressively symbolic), just appreciate the added element it adds to the act. The beach is so gorgeous at night and is practically tailor made for good good lovin’. So get out there and embrace your inner nature goddess; your lucky beach mate will thank you!

So, I told ya all what the best options for making your face look flawless this summer; now I’m gonna help you complete the look by revealing this summer’s hottest trends in hair and nails. While traditional styles stand strong, fun & funky details in make-up, hair and nails are a staple of the next few months. It’s all about encapsulating the fun of summer and reflecting that in your look, so whether you want to look like a classic beach beauty a la the 40′s and 50′s, or an edgy, rocker chick, embrace your look and run with it.

HAIR:

The Bob: Back again, the focus this year is on strong graphic outlines and catering the look of the bob to the individual’s personality. Utilize curves and sharp lines, go for an asymmetrical style, mix lengths gradually and if you want to soften the look, backcombing and wisps are both great ways to do so. If you don’t wanna chop off your lovely locks, just roll your hair from the bottom with the ends on the inside of the roll, bring the roll to the nape of your neck and pin it up, you’ll get a fantastic bob without having to sacrifice your hair.

Fringe Cuts: These are still hot and like the bob you can use them to their maximum potential for your face shape and personality…soft and wispy, choppy and bold lines are all popular now. No matter what you choose, going for the fringe is about feeling sexy and confident.

Sexy Waves: Perhaps the most fashionable trend this year, going wavy can give you any number of looks. Going with kinkier waves gives the look of a day at the beach, while soft flowing waves are much more old school glamour and great for those nights out on the town. Remember also, that volume is key to this style.

Super Short Do’s: They’re not for everyone, but if you feel you can rock an uber-short cut, go for it. Crops and masculine looks such as the 50′s rockabilly ‘do and the short & spiky punk cut are all an acceptable way to let go and have a little fun.

The Bun: Buns are all over the place this year and it’s no wonder, they’re chic while at the same time keeping you cool. They can easily transition from day to night and you can do different things with the height of the bun, your part and even bangs; go for the loose-fitting romantic bun, the tight, high bun, or be bold and give the old staple your own twist.

NAILS:

As usual, pink and red nails are a summer must, but this year pretty much anything goes when it comes to color. You’re allowed to be brave and venture out into colors you never thought about using; teals, greens, yellows, oranges. They’ve been spotted on runways, celebs and fashionistas everywhere.

Neon Colors: Whether it’s hot pink, bright purple, vibrant orange or lemon yellow, neon nail polish is a way to get involved in the neon trend without having to leave your comfort zone too much, and it’ll make your nails stand out. China Glaze, OPI, Orly and Color Club have some crazy and fresh hues to choose from.

Navy: Navy is the alternative to black this summer and it’s a great way to do a dark shade, without the heaviness of black. Chanel’s “Blue Satin” has been flying off shelves, but OPI’s “Russian Navy” is a very similar shade at a fraction of the cost.

White: Whether it’s matte (again, Chanel’s got a popular shade, but you can find the same shade, “French White Cream/#449C” by Wet ‘N Wild for just 99 cents), opaque, or pearly (I love Orly’s “Platinum”), white is a great way to go with a minimal and classic, yet unique look.

As I said before, summer’s a time to shine, so whatever look you go for, own it and let your fierceness shine brighter than that afternoon sun.