Turn tradition on its head and treat yourself to a style holiday with these five sizzling looks suitable for any social occasion. By Kristianna Nichols
Winter — with all its crisp air, holiday parties, family get-togethers, and gift-giving — seems to bring out the festive best in us. Too often, though, when it comes to fashion choices, women fall back on the tried-and-true — the black dress, the string of pearls — when what is called for is a bit more creative flair.
Want to try something different this holiday season? Start with your hair. Step out of your comfort zone with more intense shine, a bolder color, a longer length, or an extraordinary updo hairstyle. With only a few small changes all eyes will be on you and guarantee you’re the center of attention.
To complement the hair makeover, veer away from neutrals and pump up your wardrobe with color and pizzazz. Change up your accessories a bit by wearing several necklaces instead of large earrings. Or wear monster-size earrings with a sleek chignon, or no earrings at all when your hair is full and you’re wearing it down. Let a long piece of jewelry dangle down a backless gown. Try wearing higher heels or maybe even false eyelashes. As all of these models demonstrate, pushing the style envelope doesn’t change who you are — it only makes a good thing even better!
1. AUBURN CONFECTION
Kelli Johnson is a picture of perfection in her gold gown that throws a light on her incredible hazel eyes surrounded by a mound of auburn locks. Her hair is cut into long layers and honey blond highlights were placed, going heavy in the front and more sparse in the back. Setting the hair with a barrel curling iron gave us curls throughout. To add more oomph, we secured darker shades of extensions under the hair for length and drama. The final touches to round out the look: bronze shimmer eye shadow and a bright red lipstick.
2. EXTENSION APPEAL
“Va-va-voom!” is how I describe this knockout coif on Krista Duncan, who is a ray of sunshine with her golden locks and sparkling blue eyes. Her medium-length, fine hair goes upscale glam with several blond clip-in extensions. A spiral curling iron was used for a more defined curl at the ends and a large barrel curling iron produced the looser curls around her face. The neckline on her fuchsia gown draws the attention toward her face and frames her smile. This style is eye-catching, sexy, and will last throughout the evening.
3. SUPER STREAKS
Kiley Pope is all in favor of cutting-edge style, as her sleek haircut and fashionable streaks demonstrate. So many women want this look, but only a few of us can pull it off this well. Kiley’s subtle blond paneling meshes perfectly into this blunt shoulder-length cut. Her bangs are kept long and pulled aside with a center part, falling below her eyes. We introduced another cheekbone length to add softness. Finishing with a hair gloss smoothes and adds shine. Her chocolate satin gown and gold necklaces add the subtly perfect color combination.
4. CLASSIC CONTOUR
Christy Sales chose a more regal, classic look, and she couldn’t have chosen better. Her thick, full, very heavy hair was pulled loosely off her face into several sections to create an overlapping style that cascades into the rest of the hair. Her natural brown hair is brightened up a notch with light-brown and golden highlights to add warmth and illuminate a gorgeous face. This is an updated favorite for the holidays that is comfortable and stays in place. Christy’s small earrings are a great choice with a six-stranded necklace.
Kristianna Nichols is one of the country’s new beauty experts. She is a former Mrs. America, NFL cheerleader, professional model, and commercial actress. Kristianna has had her own TV talk show and was a popular entertainment reporter for the NBC affiliate in Indianapolis. She has hosted many TV shows, from “Mainstreet USA” to “On The Move.” She is the president and CEO of Noble Tress beauty company and the inventor of “Kristianna’s Crown.”
CREDITS:
Models: Kelli Johnson, Krista Duncan, Kiley Pope, Christy Sales, and Jen Phumin
Hair & Makeup: Michelle Prince - A Show of Hands Salon (Asheville, NC)
Location, Wardrobe, & Accessories: Regina Lauffer -A Show of Hands Salon (owner)
Photography: Kristianna Nichols
5. EXOTIC AMPLIFIED
Jen Phumin is a naturally exotic beauty, so we put her on the right track simply by adding deep red lipstick. All of her hair (except for a small portion in the back) was teased and smoothed into loose ringlets on the crown, forming a dramatic updo. The remaining hair is lightly curled and worn down. Her totally backless dress lets the hair hang nicely without competing with fabric.
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