Ask a Groovy Gal (Fashion & Beauty)

ASK A GROOVY GAL
TFG DEPUTY EDITOR AND BEAUTY DIRECTOR CHELSEA KAPLAN GIVES YOU
THE GOODS ON GETTING GORGEOUS

My hair is fried from too much blow drying and flat ironing. I’ve tried every shampoo and conditioner out there, but not much seems to help significantly. Any advice?—Alicia, Washington, DC

It’s no secret that repeated use of heated styling products can wreak serious havoc on your hair. Unfortunately, using them is often necessary (are you really gonna walk out of the house with wet, frizzy hair?), so taking steps to protect your hair before and after their use is important.

Pre-styling, spray hair with a leave-in protective treatment like Freeman Papaya Moisture Plus Sun Drenched Heat Styling Conditioning Spray, which will protect strands from damage caused by heat styling appliances and give your hair incredible shine ($3.47, www.drugstore.com).

To restore fried hair’s bounce, shine and texture, visit a Redken salon for a customized Chemistry System treatment. This quick service, which can be added on any time you get a cut, provides intense care by delivering to your strands a series of highly concentrated ingredients that act in synergy with a pH rebalancing system. I recently visited Perez Salon, a posh new salon in Chevy Chase, MD, for the treatment in hopes of revitalizing my sorry strands. Let me tell you—the results were amazing. It was like a hair version of a face-lift: my hair was softer, shiner and looked refreshed. At only $30, it is well worth it to hook yourself up with a Chemistry System treatment every six weeks or so. Visit www.redken.com to find a salon in your area that offers the service.

I need a beautiful outfit to dress my son in for his bris ceremony, which is a Jewish ritual circumcision for boys that takes place when they are eight days old. I’m having a hard time finding something fancy that does not have legs and also doesn’t look like a dress.
—Ruth, Short Hills, NJ

Pixie Lily Set

I had the same problem when my son had his bris, too. I wish I had known about Pixie Lily’s Mercerized Knit Baby Sack Gift Set. This set features a knit baby sack, a knit cap, booties and a blanket made of elegant white pima cotton knits (available with a blue accent if you choose) that are loomed, crocheted and embroidered by hand. It has the look and feel of an updated version of an elegant, old fashioned layette. It’s absolutely gorgeous—perfectly masculine, yet completely sweet. Justify the investment by knowing that you will not only be able to use the individual pieces after the bris, but also that the set is so lovely, it can be passed down for generations to come ($175, www.pixielily.com).

I’m really loving the spring nautical trend but don’t know how to wear it without looking like a sailor. Is that possible? —*Jen, Erie, PA*
	In order to avoid looking like Julie, the cruise director from The Love Boat, I advise working a nautical-themed accessory into one of your staple outfits as opposed to going for a head-to-toe nautical look. Try donning a pair of nautical-themes shoes (we love the Hook Up Cat Shoe in Red Stripe by Sugar Shoes, $28, www.karmaloop.com) with a white tee and denim skirt, or try slipping J. Crew’s brass-ring braided cotton belt through the loops of your shorts. Aye, aye captain!

My husband gets major razor burn on his face after shaving. Is there anything that he can do to prevent this? —*Emily, Utica, NY*
	Unsightly, painful razor burn occurs when hair is pushed back into the follicle as opposed to being shaved off. These red bumps can become inflamed and then develop into an ingrown hair. Ouch! To avoid razor burn, advise him to always use a clean, sharp razor each time he shaves (and make sure its not yours—your hair will dull the blade quickly). He should always shave in the direction of the hair growth and do so after he showers, as wet hair not only reduces wear on the blade, but also stands up, making it easier to shave off. For some men, using a shaving oil or gel rather than a cream helps avoid clogging the pores, so have him try Jack Black’s Beard Lube Conditioning Shave with Jojoba and Eucalyptus ($16, www.getjackblack.com). If he still gets razor burn, have him apply a cooling gel like Zirh’s Soothe Post Shave Healer to soothe the skin and reduce redness ($33, www.shave.com).

Chelsea and her son Zach

Click here to read all about Deputy Editor/Beauty Director Chelsea Kaplan's life with child in her blog,
“I'm Somebody's Mother?”