gina rivera tips

Stylists Agree: These Are The Sexiest Short Haircuts For Women Over 40

February 15, 2022 by Noelle Sim Leave a Comment

As we age, many of us think we have to stick to a mature, short haircut, but turning 40 does not have to mean playing it safe! Rocking your ageless beauty is possible with experimentation and adventure, and what better way to mix things up than hitting the salon for a new haircut?

We spoke with Gina Rivera, celebrity hairstylist and Founder of Phenix Salon Suites for three sexy haircuts you can definitely pull off at any age, and that women over 40 can always rely on for timeless, chic and effortless energy.

Flat, lifeless hair be gone— read on for stylist tips for each kind of cut, and why short hair doesn’t have to be boring (and definitely isn’t with these styles!)

1. Textured Bob

Fun, flirty and full of movement, this hairstyle centers around layers and texture to prevent a dull and flat look. It’s timeless and as seen here on Emma Stone, effortlessly glamorous and can be parted in the middle or side depending on your face shape and what works for you.

“A textured bob is always a terrific youthful look,” says Rivera. Texturizing, she says, provides a fuller look with more volume, “which tends to be youthful.” In addition, removing weight and creating movement “always increases the appearance of youthfulness,” she adds.

2. Trendy Pixie Cut

This haircut allows full, undivided attention to your beautiful face! With lots of layers, this style also provides its wearer with skyrocketing volume and its youthful exuberance never goes out of style, as seen here on Halle Berry, who often rocks this look as her iconic go-to.

“A pixie is such a fun look for aging beauties,” Rivera says. “The pixie is very stylish and trendy which can create a youthful feel in itself.”

3. Layered Shag

This cut is the best of both worlds— it’s not *too* short if you’re not quite ready for a big chop, but it still provides volume and a punky edge from the collarbone length and up. Paired with sultry, eyebrow-grazing fringe like here on Alexa Chung, the shag has been a cool and signature look for many rock stars and beyond since its debut in the 1970s.

“Face-framing cuts like the shag also work well for taking years off,” adds Rivera. “The shag is a great style for softening features because it frames and highlights your face.”

Overall, there are so many great haircuts for women over 40 that prove sexiness and beauty are truly ageless and that getting older (despite what anyone or society says) means you can still experiment and mix things up for as long as you wish to! These cuts are undeniably classic, and your stylist can help shape them for your face and hair type.

To read the full article, please click here.

Credit to: Marissa Matozzo

Gina’s Platform Tip of the Week – Apple Cider Vinegar for your Hair

February 14, 2022 by Noelle Sim Leave a Comment

There’s a lot of discussion about the benefits of apple cider vinegar. Here’s my tips for using it to benefit the hair.

Apple cider vinegar can be used as a natural clarifying treatment used to remove build-up.
Mix one part apple cider vinegar and 5 parts water in a spray bottle.
Spritz evenly on the hair from roots to end
Massage and ensure it’s applied to the scalp. Leave on for 2-5 minutes.
Rinse completely
Always use in moderation and check with your hairstylist to ensure you are on the proper schedule for your hair.

The 13 Best Hair Scissors and Shears for Cutting Hair at Home, According to Stylists

February 9, 2022 by Noelle Sim Leave a Comment

In the last two years, especially during the most stringent stay-at-home months of the pandemic, many folks have chosen to take matters — aka their hair — into their own hands. If you’ve been on the fence about trimming your own hair, but eager to prevent damage from split ends, the pros say you can totally do it yourself if you’re not feeling ready to go to the salon. You just need the right tools. We asked several professional hairstylists to share their best tips and tricks for cutting your hair at home. Naturally, they came up with some seriously smart suggestions, with one of the major standouts being having the right scissors or shears on hand. Turns out, not just any pair of cutters will do. Your tools of choice matter more than you would think.

“It’s important to select a pair that fits your hand well and glides easily through the hair when cutting,” explains hairstylist Gina Rivera, in regard to what you should be looking for when shopping for shears. “Some of the things that contribute to this are the material the shears are made from, the length, the handle design, and the thumb design.”

Of course, cutting shears can get expensive, particularly if you’re investing in a quality pair that will last for years — if not a lifetime. New York City-based hairstylist Adam Livermore says that the cost for a quality haircutting shear can go well into the thousands, but he wouldn’t recommend the DIY home-haircutter make that investment. Rather, he suggests looking for a medium-size (four- to six-inch blade) shear made of Japanese or German steel if you can afford it. “The Japanese-made shears usually have a sharper convex edge, which is good for point-cutting or ‘chipping’ into things like your bangs, while German shears usually have an opposing handle, which will likely feel more natural in a non-hairdresser’s hand as opposed to the offset handles that most pros use to avoid repetitive stress injuries,” he says.

As far as cheaper options go, some high-quality stainless steel shears from the drugstore will get the job done, so long as they’re the right size. “If you are an at-home novice looking for tools to cut your hair, I recommend getting a scissor that is four or five inches, as this will help to give more control on how much you cut,” says New York City-based hairstylist Kali Ferrara.

Before getting started, hairstylist Merrell Hollis suggests investing in a three-way self-grooming mirror. “The mirror has three panels for a 360-degree view of your head, which allows you to see exactly where you are cutting from three different angles,” says Hollis.

Once you’re ready to go, don’t reach for the kitchen scissors. Instead, here are 13 stylist-approved hair shears to help make your home cut look more pro.

All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

To read the full article, click here.

Credit to: Kaleigh Fasanella and Marci Robin for Allure