Goldfish Kiss

There are 2 easy & safe (aka bleach is a non-factor) ways to get the sweet ombre look that screams I love wavy, salty, messy, carefree beach hair.

I’ve done/use them both. 

Option 1: Take your patient pills

Don’t highlight your hair regularly. Go about every 6 months at least, you’ll have natural, sweet, dark roots, and save money. When you do highlight your hair, use the balayage technique so the color doesn’t grow out in an even line.

Option 2: Instant gratification.

(hairstylists, please don’t hate me, I get bored and it’s an easy, affordable fix)

1. Grab a box of non-permanent hair color (the kind that washes out in 28 shampoos) that’s 1 or 2 shades darker than your current color. Natural Instincts dark blonde is my go-to.

2. Brush your hair out so it’s tangle free, and then using a wide toothed comb, lightly comb in the color from your scalp down as low as you want it to go, concentrating on getting most of the color at your roots, then fading it out.

3. Make sure to not get color on the ends, and leave a few sections right around your face dry for a sun pecked look.

*Mine looks rather sweet right now, I’m trying to not wash it so the color will last. Thank goodness for dry shampoo.

Photo via my Pal Kir’s pinterest.

Big messy wavy hair. I love it and anyone out there who has it naturally, please don’t straighten it for a while, just for me. I think whenever I have an occasion where I need to look good, feel like I have Gisele-esque beachy bed head locks, or want to make my husband’s heart rate go up, I go with the big messy wavy hair. It never get’s old. I don’t like to boast, but I think I’ve mastered it, so I thought I’d share my tips.

Wavy Hair 101:

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Braids, waves, ponytails, and messy buns. There are so many fun tips and tricks out there for those of us who have a simple, often taken for granted asset, our long hair.

Recently my close friend’s daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and after brain surgery and round 1 of vigorous chemo, she sat on daddy’s lap while they played “Beauty Salon” and shaved her head. She is 4.

Her response the next day to her mom… “Mom, we can’t be twins anymore.” The tears were flowing when I read the story.

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Usually knots and hair are something one tries to avoid. Unless it is a strategic & stylish double one that doesn’t require a brush to undo. Enter the double hair knot, a tousled, beachy way to pull your hair back that looks complicated but takes less than a minute to do.

I’ve found that the longer and dirtier or saltier your hair is, the better it looks and more it sticks, so its a great way to look presentable if you don’t have a lot of time to get ready, just hopped off the beach, or don’t feel like showering (Or all of the above. Welcome to my world). An easy, low maintenance ‘do that’s a time saver but looks cool. Ok enough rambling, here’s the how-to…

1. Divide hair into 2 sections.

2. Twist each section outwards, creating two “ropes”

3. Tie the “ropes” in a knot just like you would when you start to tie your shoes.

4. Repeat and tie once again in a knot. Donezo!

5. If you want, pin in place.

6. Pick plumeria off a tree and stik in there for added style points.

Enjoy! This one’s addicting.  

Thanks to Kirsten at Triple Max Tons for introducing me to this one a while ago. Love it.

Being able to take the time to actually attempt a blow out on my tresses is a luxury. I like to think of it not as being lazy or a result of procrastination, but a way to relate with my ancestors who were alive before electricity.

Anyways, by rarely getting to blow dry my hair, and frequently hopping in the ocean,  I’ve discovered a few fun ways to still control how your hair looks, that amazingly enough turn out deceptively well styled.

Air Drying style tips:

*a good leave in hair conditioner is recommended. I love Moroccanoil or biosilk.

1: Tuck the hair around your face behind your ears until it is dry. When it’s dry, untuck and you will have a natural face framing curl. (This works insanely well. Total life saver.)

2: Part hair in the opposite direction you normally do, let dry, then flip to your normal part. Va-vavoom! easy volume.

3: Tie hair in a knot on top of you hair until it dries, undo knot. Oh, hello natural wave.

4: Put hair in a loose French braid. Tie it as loosely as possible at the end (or not at all). Let hair dry and comb through with fingers.

5: Go to bed with wet hair. You will wake up with great bed head and unpredictable style :)

Air drying: Save time, save energy, save your hair. High five.

Flowers in hair are pure beachy bliss. It’s not just for hippies anymore either. It’s the most chic, natural, simple, and somewhat flirty way to add an accessory to your ‘do without looking like you are even putting in any effort. Whenever I pass a plumeria tree, I’ll grab one and stick it behind my ear, in my ponytail, or where I can get it to stay put (even the back of a trucker hat). The best is when my husband picks one for me out of the blue when we are walking somewhere. Ahhhh swoooon.

There are numerous ways to get some flora in your locks, so try them out:

1: Tuck one behind your ear. Use a bobby pin around the stem if needed.

2: Do a chignon at the nape of your neck or top of your head and pin it on one side, or a bunch in and around the bun.

3: Braid them into a braid…the more flowers the more boho.

4. Stick a bunch in a headband (pictured above)

5: Put the stem through a bobby pin…voila instant flower hair pin

…Also, I realize not everyone can just walk up their driveway and pick a tropical flower. Never fear, a solution is near (thanks to the world of youtube), and it might even last longer than the real thing: DIY Hair Flower Pin Tutorial.

Just don’t go overboard. We don’t want anyone mistaking your head for an FTP delivery truck.

Photo from The Guava Life

(aka my tumblr-straight-to-pinterest obsession)

There’s no argument that long wavy hair is the go-to look for beach babes, but just barely behind the derriere skimming locks is the sporty, easy, yet fun Lob. I don’t know if I saw Blue Crush one too many times, or realized that no matter how many vitamins and miracle products I use, I will still have fine hair. Seriously. I can pull up my entire head of hair in one of those little baby hair clips meant for a 2 year old. But, I jumped on the lob train, cut off about 7” to a fun collarbone skimming length, and love it. I no longer look like a set of curtains with a face, and have hair that’s fun & fuller (looking) than ever. Which is huge.

Keys to keepin’ the lob beachy are: 1: Still have some long layers. 2: Whatever you do, don’t get a blunt cut. 3: Have some salt spray or pomeade to durrrtay it up. 4: Mimic any one of Zoe Saldana’s do’s here. 5: Pair your new ‘do with a bikini at all times.

Happy Lobbin’

Photo by Hans Feurer

Waterfalls, we like to hike to them and swim under them. Now we all shall have them in our hair. I’ve seen these braids all over and am fascinated by this ‘do. They are gorgeous, romantic, bohemian and if you have fine hair (like myself) you aren’t left looking bald (like I tend to do with french braids). I’m convinced it’s the most delicious beach hair look around.

It sounds simple, and after 20+ tries, I finally got it to work. Basically all you do is a typical french braid, but you drop the bottom section each time, and pick up new hair next to it. The key to it looking good it to make sure the sections are all the same amount of hair. Yeah, I probably am not making any sense, so check out any of these tutorials: Tutorial #1 (hilarious, rather entertaining super caffeinated gal) , Tutorial #2 (Super helpful, much calmer mom),

Now…ándale! Get braiding.

Photo By: y0ur-mum.tumblr.com who has hair I would cut my pinkie toe off for.

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I am not big on hair products, but there is one little known wonder worker that is: all natural, hand made in Kauai, used by celebrity hair stylists, a messy-dirty-beach-hair-making-pomeadeish-frizz-tamer, and all inclusive sweet product.

This wonder in a jar is…Surfer Salve.

Jennifer Aniston’s locks in a W magazine editorial shot in Cabo a few years ago brought this salve’s hair capabilities into the limelight, and I’ve been using it ever since. All you need is a little dab on your fingers, then seperate a few pieces here and there & tousle your hair. Voila, an instant “I just rolled out of a hammock-nap-on-the beach look.”

Plus, it’s a great lip balm, skin moisturizer & healer, and with ingredients of olive oil, plantain leaf, comfrey leaf, beeswax, aloe, rosemary, lavender leaf, vitamin E, tea tree oil and lavender essential oil…something you just want to have around. Especially in your hair.

Available online at: Island Soap and Candle Works

At this very moment, just off the beach, I am wearing this…but unfortunately, I do not look as glam as Isabel Lucas. I will live.

The quick little front french braid. it looks good on everyone and fakes fullness & volume at your hairline. It’s the best way to fake like you just spent a long time doing your hair when really, all you did is THIS.

Simply gather a thick section on one side of your head, and French-braid it over toward your other ear. Pin in place or braid it to the end and tie it. Do a cute little section (Thank you Jen), or go all out and make a dramatic headband effect a’ la my hair muse, Sienna Miller.

Tricks: 1: A priceless tip my mom told me: do not look in the mirror when you braid (works like a charm). 2: Add some mousse to your hair, somehow it makes everything stick.

Need any more help, go to YouTube and search “how to french braid”. You’ll be braiding like THIS in no time.

Remember when you were a kid, after spending endless summer hours in the sun you were left with gorgeous natural sun-kissed locks that also were the perfect natural shade? Well there is an easy way to replicate that without sacrificing your face. Swap out your beach hat for a visor. Let the locks out to play, and your hair will gradually be getting lightened solely by the sun, just like the good ‘ol days.

I might immediately have diminished my cool factor, but after Cameron Diaz was spotted sporting a cute little woven one while paddle boarding in Cabo, I’ve seen visors sneaking into the summer lineup.

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Blame it on Richard Tyler, Coachella or everyone’s inner bohemian, but the quintessential element to beach hair this spring and summer is…Feather Hair Extensions.

At first, images of of Peter Pan & Pocahontas flashed through my mind, but after seeing the actual extensions in the hair (think long, wispy, colored and striped) and learning you can brush, curl, wash, straighten, braid, and treat them just like normal hair, I was instantly intrigued. Then after reading more in depth - realized this is a brilliant and gorgeous idea. It’s a fresh, quick and easy way to spice up your do’ for summer, makes you feel a wee bit like a rocker, and can be as crazy or subtle as you’d like.

My one suggestion is to keep it simple, too many and cats might start attacking your head.

So here are a few ways to get some hair that is truly fly. Sorry, couldn’t resist.

Visit Fine Featherheads. (pictured above) This is the Versace of feather extensions. The Best. Find a local salon/provider nearest you (here) and go for it.

Search Etsy - There are thousands of listings for Hair Feather Extensions and Clip in Feather Extensions.  It’s a non-committal fix and easy way to jump on this trend bandwagon for under $20.

Steven Tyler, Tweety Bird, and the crazy guy running around wearing a headdress all of these years, thanks for the inspiration. I love this trend. It’s tweet.

Ok, done.

When the temperature rises so does the tendency to not want my hair anywhere near my face or neck…enter the superhero of hot temps, the headband. Problem, I have a weird shaped head so none of the cute designer, or simple elastic ones ever stay on, and I look like a cone-head within a few minutes. I was thrilled when I stumbled on this you tube video and found out how to make a super easy headband that wraps and stays securely on you noggin - because you can tie two pieces together as tightly as you’d like. Almost like a bandana, but waaaaaaaay more chic. Bonus: It’s got a little bit of that 70’s retro meets flapper girl vibe going on.

How make your own easy-peasy-beach-hair headband.

Tools: Scissors

Materials you can use:

Any fabric that is stretchy: Bottom of a t-shirt or tank top, long jersey dress that needed to be hemmed anyways (what I used), old rash guard, tights, socks, The cuter the fabric the cuter the headband. *For the instructions I’ll just say T shirt.

1. Cut off the bottom of your t-shirt in the width that you’ll want your headband (the thicker the cooler I think)

2. Cut the resulting tube in half twice, so you end up with two strips of equal length

3. Lie one strip on top of the other so that they are perpendicular to each other and intersect in the middle (it will look like an x)

4. Put the top and right section together, and bottom and left section together.

5. The “knot” should go in the middle of the front of your head, then tie the open ends behind your neck as tight as you need for it to stay in place.

6. Make as many as you’d like and gear up for summer.