By: Trinidad Guardian

Tuesday December 08,

If the colours of Christmas are red and green (and purple is the in colour for the season), what is the in colour of holiday hair? Dark, but you can certainly get away with accentuating it with platinum highlights much like singer Rihanna’s hair. That’s the word WomanWise got from beauty consultant Stacey Codrington about holiday hair 2009. From the latest cuts, colours and even matching your hairstyle to your body type, Codrington shared her tips. Here’s the low down:

Colour
Think dark browns, chestnut browns and stark black, Codrington said. “I find dark hair to be catching up, even in Hollywood where some of the actresses have gone back to black. “And for dimension try highlights in coppers and blonde.

Cuts
Asymmetrical bobs with over the eye flaps are getting a lot of hairplay, along with bobs. “You are seeing different variations of the bob like the one Rihanna is wearing these days. Her neck length bob is very versatile. You can wear it slick back like Nat King Cole used to wear his, on the neck in the traditional way, or in a faux hawk. Codrington warns, however, if you’re going to experiment with the Rihanna bob, make sure you give it lots of thought. “That hairstyle goes with an attitude and a wardrobe. So if the person has neither then it’s best to stay away from it.”

Texture
Curly hair has the edge on bone straight hair, Codrington said. “Soft ringlets at a length just below the shoulder is the look you should be going for. Not curly hair that is moussed or gelled.

Extensions
We’re talking half wigs, glam curled hair, lace front wigs and weaves. It may not be for everybody but certainly extensions are no longer a Black (woman’s) thing. “It’s the best way to go from straight to curly and vice versa without doing anything with your hair,” Codrington said. The lace front wig, worn by the likes of Tyra Banks and Beyonce, maybe costly, starting at $350 TT up to $1000 TT, but she swears that it is worth it.

“It is the only full wig that gives you a hair line.” “And when you consider how much you would pay to have a weave done ($250 for a pack of good human hair—you’d probably need two to ensure fullness) and 25 dollars a row to have it done (maximum 15 rows for a full head of hair) you might as well spend the money, because unlike a weave, you’ll always be able to reuse the wig whenever you want.”

Natural hair
Surprisingly, women are combing out their locks to reveal healthy beautiful natural hair. “You won’t believe the amount of locks I have helped loose recently.” Though time consuming, Codrington said the massive head of healthy hair is the reward of time spent unlocking. “If you had your locks bleached then you are in trouble. They are likely to all fall off.” Codrington added that natural hair can be pressed out (Yes it is still done at some salons) to make it manageable. “But if you are going to press your hair out, ensure that the person doing it knows what she is doing.”

Codrington’s hair tips....as it relates to your body
1. If you are wearing a top with ruffles, wear your hair in a no fuss up-do to elongate your neck.
2. If you are wearing a plunging neckline, wear your hair big, curly and glamorous.
3. For women who are busty and chunky in the upper area, big hair is not your bag. Try instead an asymmetrical bob or an updo that is not stiff and starched to your head.
4. For women with large hips, stay away from short cropped cuts and add balance to hips by wearing your hair big.

By Essiba Small