Half-up braided crown

Whenever we did hair tutorials in the past, we got tons of comments requesting curly hair and short hair tutorials. So we've put together four new posts—two for curly hair and two for short hair. Thanks for the encouragement! Here, my hair-stylist friend Reagan, who has gorgeous curls, shows how to do a half-up braided crown. Here are her steps...Read More >

Do or Don’t: Dark red lipstick

My friend Caroline recently posted a few instagram photos of herself wearing dark red lipstick. How gorgeous and sultry does that color look? It would look beautiful on a winter evening or a date to a cozy restaurant.

The trick is to choose a color that has enough red and isn't so dark that it looks scary. Caroline's color is sold out, but two other fantastic colors are the burgundy MAC Diva (below left), and the black cherry NARS Terre de Feu (below right):
Thoughts? Would you wear dark red lipstick?

P.S. Caroline's 14 hair tutorials, and more do or don'ts.

Gold nails

Have you ever worn gold nail polish? It's such a pretty color for the holidays (and New Year's Eve!), and I love that even if you're wearing pajamas, this nail polish makes you feel celebratory. I'm a big fan of West End Wonderland (and if you take a bottle home, you could do family manicures on Christmas morning:) Thoughts? Would you wear it?

P.S. Navy nails and galaxy nails.

(Photos by Alpha Smoot for A Cup of Jo. Styling by Kendra Smoot. Gold necklace from Madewell)

Holiday hair tutorials

For holiday parties and dinners (and even the flight home), feel free to look back through Caroline's hair tutorials. Wouldn't it be pretty to wear three twisted buns with a sparkly dress, or a mermaid braid with a wool sweater? You can find all fourteen tutorials here...

Braids:
* Mermaid tail braid
* Braided top bun
* Braided crown
* Pretzel braid
* Four-strand braid

Ponytails:
* Messy side ponytail
* Ponytail twist
* Sleek parted ponytail

Buns:
* Three twisted buns
* Top knot
* Rope bun
* Gibson roll
* Chestnut bun
* Messy French bun

P.S. Also, this year's holiday gift guide will kick off this Thursday, I hope you like it:)

(Photos by Jamie Beck for Cup of Jo)

My beauty routine for dates

What's your typical beauty routine before going on a date? It's funny how loyal people are to their routines; I've had mine since college! The only thing that has changed is that I now use more natural products and pay more attention to ingredients. When I go to dinner with Alex these days, I start...
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Four-strand braid

On a much lighter note, I'm excited to share another hair tutorial today...
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Favorite fall hair

Oooh, yes, middle parts, fishtails and tiny braids. That's my hair plan for the fall:) What's yours? Anyone getting a brave haircut or doing anything drastic?

P.S. 15 hair tutorials...

(Photos from Teen Vogue, Tory Burch, Holly Fulton. Graphic design by Rachel for Cup of Jo)

Fall trend: Navy nails

This fall, I've been spotting beautiful women all around the city with navy nails, which look incredibly chic and elegant. Here, my friend Kendra is wearing this polish. Thoughts? Will you wear navy nails this fall?

P.S. Galaxy nails, and dark red nails.

(Photos by Alpha Smoot for Cup of Jo; styling by Kendra Smoot. Army jacket from Urban Outfitters, similar chambray shirts here and here, and pouch from American Apparel)

Motherhood Mondays: Princess crown braid

This month, I'm excited to feature back-to-school hair tutorials for girls every Monday. (And of course we grown-ups can wear them, too:) My friend Reagan of Hairdresser on Fire did a princess crown on adorable five-year-old Stella. What a pretty fall look, and I loved Stella's goofy personality! Here are Reagan's steps and more photos...
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Dry shampoo trick

Dry shampoo has been part of my morning routine for ages, but here's a great new way to apply it. Rebecca recommends applying dry shampoo before bedtime to wake up with voluminous bedhead. "My theory is that either tossing and turning in the night rubs in the powder, or a full night's sleep allows the powder to completely soak in," she says. "Either way, it works."

Genius! I tried it last night. You wake up feeling like Anna Karina.

P.S. In the photo above, my friend Caroline hadn't washed her hair in over three days! But dry shampoo kept it looking beautiful and not greasy.

(Photo by Maya)

Motherhood Mondays: Heart braid

How gorgeous is this heart braid?! It would make everyone around you smile. My friend Reagan of Hairdresser on Fire came up with this back-to-school braid, and ten-year-old Vivian was our beautiful model. Here are the steps...Read More >

Motherhood Mondays: Braided princess crown

When school starts in September, little girls everywhere ask their moms for cool hairstyles. So I thought it would be fun to feature four hair tutorials for girls this month—one every Monday! My friend Reagan of Hairdresser on Fire was the hair stylist, and seven-year-old Ella was our beautiful model. Here are Reagan's steps, if you'd like to try...
The only thing cuter than a little girl with Heidi braids, is a little girl with a ribbon in her Heidi braids.

Prep: You'll need two hair elastics (I like Goody's clear ones) and a few bobby pins. You'll also need a ribbon to braid into the hair; it's best to leave the ribbon quite long so that it can be cut to your preference after the style is complete.

1. Part the hair down the middle into two equal sections.
2. Take your first section, and split it into three equal sections.
3. Place the center of the ribbon against the back of the head, and add the ribbon into the center parting.
4-5. Braid (with the ribbon included) and secure with an elastic.
6. Repeat on the other side.
7. Pull each braid up to the top of the head, tucking the tails underneath each other and pinning in place.
8. Tie the ribbon into a bow. (Bow would also look mighty cute worn off-center.)

Try your hardest to not hug and squeeze her cuteness too much or she'll be late for school!
Adorable! Thank you so much, Reagan! xoxo

P.S. And grown-up hair tutorials...

(Photos by Alpha Smoot for A Cup of Jo. Hair by Reagan Baker. Styling by Kendra Smoot. Clothing credits: Cape and socks from GAP; shorts from Zara)

Travel beauty

Years ago I went on a business trip with a photographer, and she spritzed rosewater on her face during the flight. It was such a lovely (and fancy!) ritual, and after that, I was inspired to come up with my own trusty beauty arsenal when traveling. (I basically pare down my everyday makeup to the essentials.) Here's what I've packed every trip since...

1. Hair powder. Dry shampoo has changed my life, since you can skip showers and still have beautiful bedhead hair. This travel size smells like lavender and clary sage. $10.
2. Supercurl mascara. This mascara curls and thickens lashes so you'll look wide awake when you land. $20.
3. Chloe perfume is a fresh floral fragrance to keep you feeling pretty. $25.
4. Dopp kit. Unison Home has canvas toiletry bags in three different sizes to hold all those lotions and potions. $35.
5. Cucumber towelettes. I use these every night at home to wash my face (the lazy way!), but they're also perfect for traveling. The cucumber scent feels fresh and invigorating, $9.99.
6. Benetint gives your lips and cheeks a rosy glow, so it's my go-to cosmetic for a trip. (My sister actually wears this, and once I was raving about how pretty she looked, so she let me try it, and now I'm hooked:)
7. Muji Travel Pillow. This comfy pillow folds into a pouch and helps you actually sleep on a plane, $9.95.

(Plus, of course, I pack my face powder!)

What beauty products do you pack when you travel? I'd love to hear your tips...

P.S. Plane picnics (pack an orange!), and five best shoes for traveling.

(Post by Joanna. Layout design by Rachel from Elephantine for Cup of Jo. Top photo from Villa Brunella. I mentioned a couple of my travel staples on CNT, as well.)

Fall trend: Dark red lipstick

I usually wear bright red lipstick, but this fall, lips are going dark. Yesterday Toby and I walked over to the NARS store and found the prettiest color: Terre de Feu. Afterward, I felt really sexy, even in jeans and a T-shirt and with a baby on my hip.

The trick is to apply the lipstick, and then kiss it off on a tissue, so it's more of a stain; and then reapply a top coat. That way, it stays on for ages (and won't rub off if you have drinks or dinner).

Will you be wearing dark red lipstick this fall?

P.S. Dark red nails, and fall wedges...

(Photo by Stockholm Street Style)

Ponytail twist

How often do you wear ponytails? There's nothing cuter, but sometimes you want to mix it up. Our side ponytail was our most popular hair tutorial ever, so today we'd love to share another ponytail look. This twisted ponytail takes less than a minute, and is perfect for work, dates and weekend picnics. Below, my friend Caroline explains how to do it, and Jamie Beck took photos...
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Summer Do or Don't: Dark red nail polish

This past weekend, we spent a few hours at Coney Island, and my friend Shirim had dark red polish on her toes. I was really into that color last November, but never would have thought of it for a sunny day. But she paired it with a white swimsuit and gray dress and looked totally gorgeous.

Thoughts? Would you wear a sexy dark red in the summer?

P.S. More dos or don'ts.

(Photo by the Gore Princess)

How to do a top knot

When you're traveling or running to dinner, there's nothing sexier than twisting your hair into a top knot. It gives you the ease and nonchalance of a classic French starlet. Lucky for us, my hair-genius friend Caroline shares the steps below, and the fabulous Jamie Beck took photos...
Steps and "after" photos below...
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Summer Essentials #7: Peach beauty

Peach makeup looks fresh and dewy for the summer, and I keep noticing pretty girls with peach blush, lipstick and toes. Toby and I stopped by the NARS store the other day, and I tried on a peach lipstick. Their Barbarella color was lovely and natural, and I've worn it almost everyday since! (I'd highly recommend it if you're looking for a flattering neutral.) Here are six peachy cosmetics to give you that sun-kissed glow...
1. Peach nectar lip gloss, 2. Barbarella lipstick, 3. Peach eyeshadow, 4. Nectar shimmer brick, 5. A Crewed Interest nail polish, 6. Peach blush.

(Graphic design by Rachel from Elephantine, a new Cup of Jo contributor. Top photo of model Magdalena Frackowiak)

Rope bun

Today I'm excited to share a hair tutorial that's perfect for traveling! When your hair is messy and sea-salty, twist it back into this nautical-inspired rope bun. Perfect for the beach, exploring around town or heading to dinner. My hair-genius friend Caroline shares the steps below, and the fabulous Jamie Beck took photos...
"I love this style when I want to keep my hair off my neck, but don't want to do the regular ol' topknot that I usually wear. It's great for summer weddings, too!" -- Caroline

1-2. Gather hair into a low ponytail on one side of your head.

3. Divide the ponytail into two equal sections.

4. Twist both sections of hair AWAY from your face (in a counter-clockwise direction).

5-6. Take the back section and bring it IN FRONT of the other section and repeat. Keep bringing the section that is in the back over and in front of the other section. This is how you make a rope braid. (You basically want to twist the sections in one direction, then wrap them around each other in the opposite direction.)

7. Tie the end of the rope braid with a rubber band. (You can stop here if you want, and just have a cute side rope ponytail!)

8. Wrap the braid in a circle around the top elastic until it becomes a bun, and pin the bun with bobby pins to secure. Don't forget to tuck the tail of the rope braid behind the bun to hide it.
Gorgeous! Thanks again, Caroline and Jamie. xoxo

Thoughts? Would you wear this? Will you be wearing it on summer adventures?

P.S. Ten more hair tutorials, and the secret to pretty hair when traveling.

(Photos by Jamie Beck for Cup of Jo. In the how-to photos, Caroline is wearing vintage jeans (similar ones here) and a polka-dot sweater from Cardigan--Cardigan is having a huge sample sale right now, and Cup of Jo readers get an extra 10% off with the code CUPOFJO. (Thanks, Cardigan!) In the outdoor shots, Caroline is wearing a striped top that's also from Cardigan, a men's jacket (similar one here) and shiny black loafers. Her jewelry is from her own line, Brvtvs, and will be available soon.)

Sleek parted ponytail

Summer is approaching, and we're in for some hot, humid days. What do you do with your hair on those sticky afternoons? A sleek ponytail with a sexy side part, naturally. My friend Caroline revealed how to get the look, and Jamie Beck took photos. Here goes...
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