A Graceful Transition to Fall Hair

Tips and advice on transitioning your hair and eye makeup into the fall season

By LISA ARNOLD

Our hair and skin prompt us that it's been a long, cruel summer and a break from the sun, the pool and humidity is needed in preparation for the busy social season ahead. Hair color combined with a long summer in the South create the perfect storm for hair, so after a season of stress it's time to start nurturing those tresses.

Barri Thompson, salon owner and master stylist, recommends DIY deep conditioning treatments once a week for at least a month. "My personal favorite is Oribe’s Gold Lust repair mask. Shampoo first then apply the treatment and leave in for 30 minutes, rinse with warm water and follow with a shot of cold to close the cuticle. Your hair will feel like silk and it smells amazing!"

Blonde is still in, but we knew that the whole time.

Every Southern girl (and her guy) loves a blonde, but we have to remember to change it up a little with the seasons. Transitioning to Fall by adding subtle lowlights will keep you blonde but soften your overall look. If you have fair skin and pink undertones you should stick with cool or neutral blonde tones and those of you with yellow or olive undertones can reach for the warmer, richer lowlights to create the perfect “honey blonde.” Chestnut and caramel shades can add beautiful dimension.

Brunettes: the keeper of all things luxurious and rich.

Fall is the perfect time for brunettes to steal the spotlight and get "glossed" for the season ahead. Gloss treatments provide the ultimate high shine and actually give your ends a little smoothing and conditioning at the same time. Ladies with bangs should lean towards drama and darken their hue a shade or two, but not anything that is so dramatic that everyone notices. If you have long, soft face framing layers you should take advantage of your hair's texture by deepening your base color, and then add a few warm, soft highlights.

The moral of the story is―no woman should have the exact same color formula all year long. Natural, virgin hair does not stay the same so why should your gorgeous locks that you pay good money for be any different?

Ride the Wave of Fall Eye Color

Whether you choose a dramatic eye or a bold lip or perhaps both, this is the season to push limits because it's all about color when it comes to cosmetics.

Every artist starts with a perfect canvas, so make sure your makeup base has a flawless finish. Full brows are de rigueur this season and frame the face beautifully, especially when paired with silver eye shadow, dark liner and dramatic lashes.   Another trend seen on the runways was colorful liner on the bottom lash line―think emerald, plum, topaz―which is so very glamorous. Pair that eye with a soft lip color in a dare to be bare shade.

Not into bold eyes? Do a gorgeous neutral, pale eye starting with a Colorwash One Shadow over the entire lid with a daring lip color in any shade of Merlot or other perfectly paired shade of wine. Now you can just sit back and drink up all of the attention.