hair

We Indian women love long and strong hair but ever wondered why most women today don’t have the gorgeous tresses our grandmothers had?

Hair fall, of course.

We all notice the beginnings of hair fall without really registering it. Then it hits us: you’ve barely touched your hair and it breaks, or when you comb you shed hair like a furry dog. And you still keep growing your hair, but that causes more hair fall, because your hair is weak and damaged.

Our terrible eating habits (fries, icecreams, cakes!), all that work stress, the heat and pollution in our cities and harmful chemical-laden hair products are all hand-in-glove to damage our hair and cause hair fall.

So you grow and grow your hair till you finally realize your hair ends are mere wisps of straw and it’s making you miserable. So what do you do? Cut it off!

Drastic step, yes. But sadly, that’s the truth. A lot of women end up chopping off their locks because of hair damage. Truth be told, long hair looks lovely only when you’ve got healthy hair and no hair damage or hair fall. Frayed ends and split ends look plain ugly and who wants to see innumerable hairs on their comb every day, right?

But all this can change. We can have long, strong and healthy hair with minimal damage. Of course, we can’t change our eating habits overnight, move to unpolluted Himachal valleys or stop shampooing our hair for fear of chemicals damaging our hair.

The solution is simple: Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil.

Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil has the right mix of natural ingredients to banish all those hair damage problems. It’s not just coconut oil. It’s also got hibiscus, amla and henna to repair hair damage. So no more hair fall, no more split ends, no more straw-like hair. And no more excuses to cut off your hair. Just long, strong and gorgeous hair.

Read more about Dabur Vatika Enriched Hair Oil.

Note: Chic Promotion

In Beauty, Chic Promotion, hair

Long hair in summer: Why and how you can do it

Speaking ChicJuly 10, 2015September 4, 2015Leave a comment

I’ve always been an advocate of short hair for women, especially in the summer, given the heat and humidity. For busy working women, managing long hair can be a stressful task in addition to their daily chores, long work hours and commute. But a couple years ago I started growing out my hair, and long hair has been a good experience!

After all, only with long hair was I able to experiment with wonderful hair styles, like braids (a hot beauty trend), chic buns and updos, besides waves and curls. I’m happy to say these cool styles got me a lot of flattering compliments. 😀

Long dark hair is gorgeous and very Indian- it instantly gives a woman an “exotic” appeal and looks stunning on Indian women. Take a look at my pictures in long and short hair and decide:

Of course, managing long hair wasn’t easy, especially when it looked dull. Long hair is supposed to look good, no? It’s supposed to be shiny and healthy, but it isn’t always so. Besides the shampoo, I had to spend a bunch of money on a good conditioner.

But then, summer’s not a very good time for hair. My hair looked quite dull, and the frizz made me look like a scruffy dog. So like almost every summer, I contemplated chopping off my hair to solve all these problems.

But when I discovered Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil, I realized that long hair isn’t much of a problem anymore!

Since I’ve begun using it, my hair feels and looks great. It’s got a lovely sheen, and it’s smooth and silky. I can’t remember the last time my hair felt like that. My hair now radiates “healthy”!

And because it looks so good, I don’t think I’m chopping off my hair. 🙂 Why don’t you try Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil and give your hair a much-needed boost this summer?

[Chic Promotion]

In Accessories, Beauty, Fashion, hair, makeup

Chic Finds: 4 fabulous Friendship Day gift ideas to please your BFF (and your pocket)

Speaking ChicAugust 5, 2011Leave a comment

Girls, it’s Friendship Day this weekend! And while most of you plan to celebrate by tying ribbons, maybe it’s time to give some thought to your special friend—you know, the one who knows about all your crushes, responds to your 2am SMS and listens to your rants about the b**** who stole your ex. In short, your BFF.

But inflation is sky-high, pocket money is limited and it’s only the beginning of the month. So we’ve shortlisted some presents that your friend will love (and so will your wallet)—everything’s Rs 500 or less!

Idea 1: Fashion

Shop at 109F—their stores are offering flat 50% off (and some even 70%)! Prices start at Rs 695, simple math will tell you there are great bargains to be found!

Idea 2: Accessories

Choose colourful accessories from the girl who brightens your dull day. From statement rings to charm necklaces to long earrings, your friend will love these!

Below: “Key to my heart charm necklace” from Toniq; earrings from Aldo Accessories; kundan ring from Sia

Idea 3: Beauty

Here’s a fun thing you can do together this weekend—get your hair braided at b: blunt. Then join your other friends and show off the trendy plaits.

Idea 4: Makeup

This one’s for the girl who can never have enough makeup… even though she’s gorgeous. Go wild with glosses (very wearable), dark kajal and mascara, and funky-coloured nail polishes.

Below: Lakme Lip Love conditioner, Maybelline Colossal Mascara, Colorbar nail polish, Lotus Herbals kajal.

Have a great Friendship Day weekend with your friends!

In 2011, Advertising, Beauty, Bollywood Fashion, Celebs, hair, News, trends

Bollywood beauty ads: Bipasha Basu (Wella Kolestint) and Dia Mirza (The Body Shop)

Speaking ChicJune 8, 2011Leave a comment

The Bollywood bandwagon is on the endorsement spree yet again (eg: Sonakshi Sinha for D’damas), and the beauty brands are signing them on.

This time Bipasha Basu is promoting Wella Kolestint, a DIY hair colour brand, while Dia Mirza is the face of The Body Shop’s Moisture White range of products. And both actors are looking gorgeous!

We applaud the choice of ambassadors and visual treatments of both Wella Kolestint and The Body Shop, unlike earlier bloopers (a whitewashed Kajol!). Bipasha Basu has always experimented with her looks, especially her hair (remember she went super short once?), and we’re certain her healthy flowing mane will make women all over the country want to try Wella Kolestint at home. Check out her gorgeous hair at a recent Wella Kolestint event:

(Picture from Wella Kolestint Facebook page)

Meanwhile, just-turned producer Dia Mirza has always had clear glowing skin, and folks at The Body Shop India seem to have known that. We love the pristine imagery of the advertisement and Dia’s angelic radiance. I’m sure the photoshop guy didn’t have to “enhance” her complexion too much (thank god for that!).

Our verdict: Finally some sensible brand endorsements on the Bollywood scene! Thank you to both product/ brand managers for giving us a refreshing take on beauty. 🙂

What do you think? Which Bollywood actor makes for the better fit—Bipasha Basu for Wella Kolestint or Dia Mirza for The Body Shop Moisture White range?

In 2011, Advice, Fashion, hair, Shopping

Chic Weekend: Get a haircut at b:blunt, shop at Ensemble, Grab a Lavie bag

Speaking ChicApril 16, 2011Leave a comment

Speaking Chic’s weekend to-dos for fashionable fun!

Get a haircut at b:blunt

One of our favourite salons B:Blunt has just opened at hip and happenin’ Bandra. The salon will be run by Shimsha and Shefali Shetty, the sisters known for great hair styling. So if you’re in Mumbai’s western suburbs, and you’re looking to prep your hair for the hot summer ahead, you know where to go!

Below: Abhishek Bachchan with the Bandra b:blunt team.

Shop for Rohit Bal and Kotwara at Ensemble

Ace designer Rohit Bal and Kotwara’s collections recently hit the racks at Ensemble, Kala Ghoda (Mumbai). While Rohit Bal’s collection comprises flowy crushed kurtas, Kotwara’s designer duo Meera and Muzzaffar Ali have used chikankari work on whites and soft pastels.

Below: An outfit from Kotwara’s Ensemble collection

Grab a Lavie bag

We like Lavie bags because they’re affordable and chic. 🙂 Would be a good idea to check out their bags—they’ve got a whole range from sensible work bags to trendy clutches. (Available in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.)

Below: Lavie Cloris bag

In Beauty, hair, trends

Dial 022 for chic hair: b:blunt’s hairstyle collection for the fashion-forward

Speaking ChicJanuary 31, 20116 Comments

Talking to Adhuna Bhabani-Akhtar, Avan Contractor and Brent Baker of b:blunt is like hanging out with a bunch of friends who share an intense passion for hairdressing. And though Brent (a UK hairdresser) is the newest member of the 12-year-old b:blunt team, the lively bonhomie indicates otherwise. The trio recently kicked off their collaboration with a collection of hairstyles for Spring/Summer 2011, called 022 (Mumbai’s phone code).

Speaking Chic spoke to Adhuna, Avan and Brent over coffee and cake to talk about the story behind their new hairstyle collection.

Firstly, why 022 and Mumbai? Why not an international fashion capital like Paris or Milan?

Adhuna: Because Mumbai is where we all met for the first time! And because we all love the city.

Brent: I just love Mumbai—the city has a certain vibe to it that I enjoy.

How did you design the 022 styles?

Adhuna: While the three of us [Avan, Brent and I] ideated a lot about hair styles, we realised we had a common link: we all loved the iconic Halo hairstyle, which is very popular right now. So we modernised it for our collection, staying true to its curved shape, but playing with texture and colour.

Brent: We’ve used the Halo to give very “round” shapes to our styles. There’s lots of layering, and you can wear the styles in different ways.

How did the photo shoot go? Styling is a creative process, so were there any last-minute ideas that popped up?

Adhuna: That’s exactly how it happened!

Brent: Well, being a creative process, there’s always an element of surprise, but you deal with it, and you’re always prepared for disaster.

OMG, so were there any disasters?

Avan: Well, the disaster was that there too many wonderful options for us to choose from. But in the end, we choose the most trendy style, with some classic elements.

Brent: The disaster was that there wasn’t enough coffee!

Did anyone serve as your inspiration for these styles?

Brent: At the edge of East End in London, I’ve seen a lot of cool kids who dress incredibly creatively. And they have bangs right up to their eyes, it’s amazing how they carry it off. They were an inspiration for me.

What’s one definitive look from this collection?

Adhuna: This decade is not so much about a definite look. It’s must more about personal and individual style.

Avan: Yup, and today, everyone is more lifestyle-dependent, everyone wants the hairstyle to be quick, low-maintenance and easy to manage.

Who would be a B:Blunt guy or girl?

Avan: David Beckham, because he likes to try new looks.

Adhuna: Everyone, because we have something for everyone.

Brent: It would be someone who likes being different, but not necessarily loud. They can be different in an understated way.

Which is your favourite style from the collection?

Brent: (Picture below)

Adhuna: I don’t have a favourite.

Avan: (After thinking hard) Tough to have a favourite, they’re all different, yet similar.

Speaking Chic’s picks from the collection:

Which hairstyle would you like to try?

In Advice, Beauty, hair

Guide to chic Diwali makeup: Part 2

Speaking ChicNovember 4, 2010Leave a comment

In our previous post, we gave you some ideas for Diwali makeup and hair styles. Here are some more ideas for a chic Diwali look.

Makeup idea 2: Hot lips

Reds, plums, rich coloured lips are in vogue right now. Try Lancome’s lipsticks for red-hot lips.

Speaking Chic tip: With lips the focus of your face, keeping the rest of the makeup to a bare minimum.

Makeup idea 3: Rainbow eyes

Confused what colour eye shadow to use: purple, cream or green? Use all three! I tried this idea last weekend, and the results were striking. It’s a bit tricky to pull off this look, but with the right choice of colour and a steady hand, you can rock it! (FYI: I got this idea from Lakme’s Gypsy collection.)

Speaking Chic tip: Choose eye shadow colours carefully. Rule of thumb: use one colour to match your outfit, one neutral, and a third that will blend well soften your look.

Hair idea 2: Sleek & chic

My meeting with TIGI’s Akos Bodi and the recent catwalk shows convinced me that sleek hair is tres chic this season. If you have straight hair like I do, you don’t need to use a straightener. Apply a heat-activated straightening product to wet hair, and blow dry your hair.

Speaking Chic tip: Tie a tight ponytail to sleek hair, set the style with hair spray, then enjoy the rest of the day with touching your hair again!

How are you doing your makeup and hair this Diwali? Tell us!

In Beauty, hair, trends

Sleek hair is great for India: TIGI’s Akos Bodi

Speaking ChicOctober 5, 20104 Comments

Akos Bodi is European Education Director at TIGI, the company that makes great hair products. He was at Lakme Fashion Week (thanks to Lakmé Studio) to promote TIGI Catwalk’s new range of hair products, called Sleek Mystique, which he used to style hair for designer Arjun Saluja’s show.

Sleek Mystique is a silky, straight-hair look defined by the Catwalk Sleek Mystique collection. The collection comprises six products to help women get smooth, soft and straight hair.

Akos spoke to Speaking Chic about Sleek Mystique, why it’s great for Indian hair, and dos and don’ts of hair care.

Tell us about the Catwalk by TIGI range of hair products and how Sleek Mystique fits into it.

The Catwalk range of hair products focuses largely on shape: volume, curl and sleek mystique. The Sleek Mystique collection is a natural outcome of that.

What does Sleek Mystique mean to you?

To me, Sleek Mystique means simplicity. Women try to do too much with their hair, but Sleek Mystique gives hair a dramatic look, while keeping it simple. Sleek Mystique is inspired by the Orient, hence the combination of black and red colours on the product bottles. It’s a hair trend that won’t fade away.

Why do you think Sleek Mystique will work in India?

We’ve been focusing too much on volume and texture for the past few years, it’s time bring back something simple, yet dramatic. Sleek Mystique comes especially handy when women want to fight humidity and its effects on their hair. Layers are popular in India, but can sometimes be more difficult to handle with the humidity. The products add a very small amount of weight to the hair, but don’t weigh it down completely.

How do TIGI hair products fit into fashion?

We’re not directly involved in fashion, but the evolution of fashion and trends helps our involvement. TIGI’s been on catwalks in New York, Paris, Milan, London and now India.

I have only five minutes to do my hair in the morning, and I want a Sleek Mystique look. What should I do?

Use the blowout balm, it’s great on wet hair. It’s almost like a serum, you need to apply just a small amount on your hair. Or you could use the Work It Haute Iron spray and run a flat iron through your hair.

If I have the luxury of 30 minutes or more, how could I style my hair to get the Sleek Mystique look?

Go through the entire regime: shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, balm. There are various options you could choose from: do a ponytail, or use spray and backcomb your hair.

A lot of urban Indian women have short to medium length, layered hair. What do you suggest for them?

Use the Sleek Mystique Blow Out Balm throughout your hair, and then brush hair from side to side to give it volume.

Time to bust hair myths. Most Indians neither use a hairdryer nor hair products, believing it will damage their hair, or grey early. What do you think?

Yes, heat can damage your hair, but only if you overdo it. Heat dries out the hair’s natural moisture. So you should use the hair dryer, but don’t use it all the time.

Product overuse can be harmful as well. Here’s a simple thumb rule: the finer your hair, lighter the product should be.

That’s a rule I’ll remember. Finally, any handy hair tips for us?

Firstly, use a high quality shampoo and conditioner; very few people realise their importance in maintaining their hair.

Use good products to style your hair, but make sure you know how to use them correctly. And remember the rule: the finer your hair, lighter the product. So if you have thicker hair, use a stronger product or more of the product.

Finally, don’t overdo on the heat.

PS: CATWALK by TIGI’s ‘Sleek Mystique’ range (and other products) are exclusively available at Lakmé Studios and select Lakmé Salons.

Would you try the Sleek Mystique look this festive season? Tell us!

In hair, jewellery, makeup, sari

Transformed: Vintage to Ultramodern!

Speaking ChicJanuary 16, 20102 Comments

I still remember the moment I first spotted it. It was late evening and I was in my PJs, rummaging through mom’s cupboard. The beige fabric had perhaps lost some its shimmer, but a good dry clean could restore some of its erstwhile glory. I dug deep for more information on this six-yard fabric, a sari I didn’t remember seeing earlier. The sari was her wedding gift from an American family friend, Mom explained. Unfortunately, she had no idea who the designer was.

My surprised reaction was, “I didn’t know you had such a lovely sari!” The netted fabric had flowers woven into it, giving it the appearance of lace. Best of all—it was vintage!

Vintage definition It was to be my first family appearance in a sari (a cousin’s wedding reception) and I wanted it to be memorable (for them and for me). Now that I had discovered the perfect sari, I had to face a formidable challenge. Being a vintage garment, my look had to preserve the essence of the sari, but I didn’t want to look an auntie either. I concluded that I needed to drape the sari the traditional way, wear classic jewellery, while creating a look that stated modern, elegant and “quarter-life-crisis-has-just-struck-me” simultaneously.

Blouse hunt

It’s only in the past few seasons that the sari blouse suddenly rose to prominence on and off the ramp. The plain, self-colour blouse was boring; variety in colours, fabrics and embroidery were à la mode. Blouse-hunting turned out to be harrowing process, going from store to store, looking for the right match, comparing materials. The brocades were in the wrong colour, the velvets were too plain. We emerged from a trifle disappointed from all the stores we visited.

At the last store on the list, I pulled out a swathe of orange, sequins-laden georgette. I held it up against the sari, took it out in the sun, and voila! The rows of the little gold embellishments did not just spice up the sari, but also made it super stylish, with a dash of colour and bling.

Vintage is forever, so are diamonds

It was the ultimate fashion conundrum— what do you pair with a vintage outfit? How do you give it your personal signature while paying tribute to the original creator who laboured over it decades ago?

For starters, the accessories had to be timeless. And there’s nothing more timeless than diamonds. I opted for a dangling pair that ensured I looked my age, and teamed it with a simple ring and matching gold-and-diamond cuff.

Plum it up

It was an image of Dita von Teese on a beauty portal that inspired my makeup. Her bright red lips were too hot to handle for me, but I stole her idea of drawing attention to my lips. I followed the natural-looking layer of foundation with muted lilac eyeshadow and pink blush from MAC, but jazzed up the lips much as I could with an intense purple Lancôme lipstick that would stay through the event.

I already had a great haircut, so I just blow dried it the right way—a sideswept fringe across the forehead that had people asking for my stylist’s number!

Hey there, gorgeous!

The compliments that evening ranged from “So who did your makeup?” to “You’re looking sexy!” to “That’s a lovely sari! Which designer?”

But that all didn’t matter. The best compliment came from the original owner of the sari, my mom, who said, “The sari is perfect for you. It’s yours now!”

Wearing an invaluable vintage garment albeit with a contemporary touch is a sartorial experience I’d advise all young women to try. Why? Because it made me feel good, it made me appreciate the real artisans, and because it was one of my biggest style moments. I left the reception as radiant as the bride.

This post is the official entry to Star World Betty of Elle Contest- http://www.starworld.in. Being an ardent fashion follower and blogger (feel free to explore the Speaking Chic blog and the Twitter feed) as well as a word lover, getting a chance to work at Elle would fuel my passion for fashion, style and writing. Elle India’s approach of balancing high-end fashion and spot-on trends with engrossing features and cutting-edge photo shoots is the perfect launchpad for a career in fashion writing and blogging. I hope to make this kind of writing be taken seriously in India, and developing an online Indian fashion destination. With the great insights into the fashion and publishing industry that I get from the internship, I would improve my fashion knowledge and eye for fashion, style, aesthetics and trends. I’d learn about the fashion business, how to identify trends and ideate, the ropes of styling, magazine design and photography, and even what it takes to produce a 200+ page magazine month after month with great content. At the end of the two months, I would be in a better position to combine my journalism and content development background with fashion to develop a distinctive writing style that would make me a better fashion blogger and writer (I aspire to be India’s answer to Cathy Horyn and Suzy Menkes :-)). Above all, the internship will be the experience of a lifetime, and I will emerge enriched in every way possible.

Showing all posts in hair

No more excuses: Bye bye hair damage!