As we approach 2012, we can’t help
but look back on our fave beauty trends of 2011. From braids to cat
eyes to hair feathers, this year in beauty was all about creativity
and self-expression.
1. Cocktail rings to match your mani
We
thought this trend was super rad because you could do so much with
it: Match your nails to your ring, paint your nails in hues that
contrast nicely with the ring colors, or go neutral to showcase a
totally wild statement-making ring.
2. Electric face-cleansing brushes
Whether it’s the Clarisonic or the less expensive Neutrogena
version, these brushes are purported to penetrate deeply to your
pores, leaving your skin cleaner than ever! Ahh…
Neutrogena Wave Original Vibrating
Power-Cleanser, $11, ulta.com
3. Side-pony
The best thing about the
side pony is that anyone can rock it—it doesn’t matter if your
hair is straight, wavy, or curly. It’s a universally-flattering
hairstyle!
4. Feathers!
We spotted feathers entangled
in the hair of so many celebs this year, from Miley Cyrus to Ke$ha to
Steven Tyler. Many of these celebs opted for semi-permanent feather
hair-extensions, but we prefer the feather headbands and
clip-ins—change ‘em out as you please!
5. The Modern Cat Eye
The cat eye made a
major comeback this year at the Spring 2012 fashion shows, however it
was presented with a twist: some makeup artists added extra lines,
while others exaggerated the swoop and made the pointed end extra
high. Meow!
6. Extreme hair
Bright Easter-egg-hued
hair was spotted on celebs from Katy Perry to Lady Gaga this year. If
you want to test this crazy trend, we recommend buying a temporary
hair dye, unless you want your mom to freak out.
7. Braids
From the French to the
fishtail, we quickly realized that this hair style wasn’t just for
Pippi Longstocking.
8. Bouncy curls
With the invention of the
clamp-less curling iron, girls everywhere were finally able to
achieve beautiful bouncy curls without any of the telltale crease
marks. Sweet!
Curling iron: Remington T-Studio
Ceramic PEARL Professional Curling Wand, $30, ulta.com
9. Bolder brows
We love the old-school
Hollywood glamour of a bold eyebrow, which became popular this past
spring. This dramatic look can be attained by using an eye pencil to
lightly fill in the sparse areas of your brow. Bold brows help to
frame your face, and the best part is you can take a break from
tweezing!
10. Slick and sleek
Slicked-back hair was
all over the runways this year. It’s the perfect my
hair-is-still-fresh-and-wet-from-the-shower look, yet it’s totally
sophisticated for an edgy night-out look.
Photo courtesy of Redken.
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