2011 Hair and Beauty Trends

Warm weather is just around the corner, which is typically the cue for most women to want to update their looks in subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways. If you’re like me and are itching to give new life to your look, here are a few hair and make-up trends for you to try:

Sleek/Curly Hair

Zoe Saldana

Rihanna

Sleek hair or coiled tendrils - take your pick because either is a win! Both styles are sexy and wearable day-to-night looks, sure to liven up your current hair style.

Bold Eyes

Keri Hilson

Dior Spring 2011

If you’re feeling brave, try a bold eye shadow. Try out a variety of colors (for your face and personal taste) until you find your favorites. Use a bold eye to give added sex appeal to your nighttime look.

Fringe Bangs

Camilla Belle

In a nod to the 60’s and 70’s, bluntly-cut bangs have made a return in a big way. Try this style if you’re feeling sweet or sultry. Bangs are pretty during the day (I love a fresh face and fringe), or vicious on those who love the nightlife.

Bold Lips

Gucci’s Fall 2011

Amber Rose

Punch up your lip color! Bold lips are a great way to update your current look. A word of advice: pair this suggestion with a subtle eye to avoid looking over-done and draw focus to your lips.

Follow Ashleigh in twitter

And The Winner Is…BEAUTY!

Awards season is well under way and I have noticed that there is a lot of color on lips, sleek pulled back hair and tres chic hair accessories reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour. Here are a few of my favorite trends so far:

Cat Eye Eyeliner

Cat eyes were all over the red carpet as seen worn here by (l to r) Dianna Agron, Miley Cyrus and Nicole “Snooki” Pilozzi. Here, Agron opts to wear a sultry smokey eye while Cyrus rocks a much thinner line with eye shadow in lighter hues which really makes her baby blues pop. "Snooki" is wearing a very dramatic (and lengthy) lash to open up her eyes.

Berry Juicy Puckers

Another trend is Berry lips in lovely hues of pink and red. These berry-colored options are an ideal play on a youthful, but sexy color. Above, (l to r) Lea Michele, Natasha Bedingfield and Selena Gomez are spot on in their choice of lip color. Another celebrity who did this trend justice was Natalie Portman, who looked stunning at the Golden Globes with a lovely and simplistic French twist to allow her pout to pop.

Hair Accessories

The ladies of the red carpet returned to old Hollywood glamour with soft curls and simple, yet beautiful vintage hair clips. While these clips can be understated, they were the perfect finishing touches to Dianna Argon’s and Scarlett Johansson’s elegant Golden Globes looks.

These are just a few of the trends I’ve noticed on the red carpet this year so far, along with sleek ponytails, bangs and eye shadow in shades of purple. This year’s red carpet beauty has returned to the essence of elegance, which is simplicity.

These sophisticated, yet youthful looks can easily be worn by those of us without a red carpet to walk. Try any one of these trends and feel confident and beautiful enough to walk the streets as if the concrete were rolled out just for you. For that reason alone, in the battle for my attention between red carpet beauty and red carpet looks, beauty wins!

oXo (Fashion Kisses!),

Ashleigh

Follow Ashleigh on twitter