Braids were all over the runways this season including Fendi, Miu Miu and Isabelle Marant. This easy summer styles adds unique texture to your look. It also keeps the hair out of your face! The following lists represents the best and easiest braids that you can do yourself to keep your look fresh and trendy.

1) French Chic- The French Braid

The classic French braid is one of the easiest to do. It also looks great in every situation from the beach to an afternoon wedding. This braid is easy to start do; start at the crown of the head and work your way towards the end of the hair by adding strands in to the braid. It is that simple! You can also make this braid more interesting by doing two braids or doing a reverse french braid starting at the nape of the neck. For a super cool celebrity look, french braid from one side of your head to the other to create a super cool crown of hair! This is also known as the crown braid and it can take some practice. However, do not worry about the braid being perfect!

2) Simple and Easy- The English Braid

The standard braid is also known as the English braid. It refers to the most common type of braid: three pieces of hair woven together to create a polished look. You can begin at the base of the neck with three even sections. Then, just cross the left portion over the middle followed by the right. Repeat these steps until you get to the end of the hair. For a more modern take on the standard braid, gently tug on the braid in different sections to create a messy bohemian look.

3) Mermaid Beauty- The Fishtail Braid

The fishtail braid is very cool and one of the easier braids to do. It is done in the same method as the English braid. However, very small sections must be used as they are woven together. Many people pull their hair into a ponytail before the begin to create a solid base for the braid.

4) Remain Neutral- The Swiss Briad

In order to achieve this look, you will need long hair that can be piled on top of your hair. First, you will need to braid two even pigtails. Then, take the braids and cross them around the head until they reach around the towards the crown. After, secure the braids with bobby pins or pretty clips for an elegant summer look.

If you are looking to start a career in hair braiding check out our list of schools here!

As recently as a few years ago, women of all ages were seeking out any cures they could find for gray hair. The belief that gray hair is a bad thing and should be eradicated at all costs is a concept that goes back many generations, perhaps to the invention of hair dye. But in the past year or so, trend-setters from all realms of celebrity have begun to not only embrace their ivory locks, but flaunt them with pride.

Perennial award winning actress Meryl Streep has been openly rocking her beautiful graying hair since 2006, when she said in an interview with Hollywood foreign press that she feels very confident and normal underneath gray locks. Just a few weeks ago she unleashed a new short-haired look at the 2012 Academy Awards, and once again all eyes in the building were glued to her.

Having the love of millions of adoring fans and the attention of the fast-moving fashion world, anything that super-celebs such as Streep do that can qualify as out of the ordinary is sure to become a trend, so salons all over the nation are stocking their shelves with products that can accentuate gray hair. Many salon owners expect women with gray hair to cease asking for it to be colored and those without it requesting it now that it is quickly becoming a national trend.

Indeed, the gray hair wave is building up to tsunami-grade, and a bevy of products have recently been released that are designed to allow you to get the most out of your lighter shade. When treated and conditioned correctly, gray hair can have a luster and a shine that is unrivaled by other hair tones, allowing it to draw a lion’s share of the attention in any social situation.

The current popularity of gray hair may sever a double purpose as it allows women that were once made to feel self-conscious and perhaps even inferior to feel comfortable in their own skin and underneath their natural hair colors.

Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

Keeping up with your favorite celebs is quite difficult already. From the outrageous blue hue of hair on the head of Katy Perry to the expensive lace front wigs used by Beyonce, celebrities love to defy the current fads in hair, and they love to set new hair trends, as well. Ke$ha is just one of the stars to surprise everyone with her new look.

The “Your Love is My Drug” singer shaved off part of her at the beginning of this year. If you thought that was the most extreme hairdo Ke$ha would sport this year, then you were absolutely wrong. She might only be 24 years old, but this woman is proving she can push the limits of style with edgy looks like what she’s currently rocking. She replaced the hair she shaved off with gold studs. In fact, in place of her real hair, she glued more than 25 gold studs on to her scalp. Ke$ha is definitely one pop singer who always changes her style, and her image is always fresh and new.

Not long ago, Ke$ha was spotted with her long blonde tresses hanging down, with her studded scalp. We’re sure you knew she liked a lot of bling, but did you think this glittered diva would replace her hair with some of it?

She might have debuted a more natural look in her recent photo shoot, but she’s still the party-loving vixen that the public knows her for. After displaying her natural beauty, she’s back to the chick rock look with false eyelashes, black eyeliner and even a tad bit of white on her bottom lashes. Her stud is back in her nose, while her hair is bejeweled, too!

Don’t worry though, KeSha has plenty more stunning styles in store for you. She’s debuting her new album this spring, so she’ll find some way to top the neon body paint, the glitter from head-to-toe look and the vibrant hair colors. We know one thing, the “We R Who We R” singer loves to be daring and bold with her look and the media just can’t get enough.

If you are interested in a creative beauty career in which the possibilities for advancement are endless – a hair career may be perfect for you. Click here learn more about Hair Schools.

It would be easy to make a case that braids never actually disappeared from the radar screen of hair trends over the past 50 years, but it is quite clear to see that they have recently made a resurgence. The variation of braids worn by public icons has run the gamut from neon weaves to naturally messy and wild creations, of which no two are alike.

After being spotted on the likes of Nicole Richie, Eva Longoria and Kim Kardashian, it is clear that the messy and wild side braid is currently the hottest trend in the North American fashion world. Here are a few reasons that a messy side braid might be the perfect new look for you.

Separate Yourself from the Pack

While it may seem silly to suggest that someone should follow the latest trend in order to separate themselves from the pack, the truth is that many women lack the gusto and confidence to rock this messy side braid look. Whether it is a result of a conservative approach or a job environment where co-workers would scoff, the vast majority of women choose to enjoy the latest trends by witnessing them on others as opposed to embracing it themselves. Go boldly in the direction of individuality in upcoming weeks with the messy side braid. Fortune favors the bold.

Get the Attention of Adventurous Peeps

Much like the male peacock spreads it wonderful array of feathers in an attempt at gaining the attention of the most coveted mate, side braids can be worn at bars and clubs in order to garner the attention of potential mates. Only those with an appetite for adventure and uniqueness will be drawn toward a woman rocking a side braid, and only the most confident and charismatic people will be comfortable approaching her. In short, you can scare off the riff-raff and lure in the Mr. Rights.

An In-Home Cosmetology Lesson

Creating a look such as the messy side braid involves a handful of steps, but you will become more familiar with your hair and how to manipulate it throughout the process. It begins with a light coat of spritzer or wax spray on a deep side part, which can be volume-ized with a quick blow dry while the hair is still damp with product. Next, divide the section of hair into three or four parts and simply weave them together, making sure not to be too delicate or consistent with your technique. A personal touch can be put on the entire braid and the loose hair below it by teasing or curling, which creates the signature look of messiness and confident disregard for detail.

If you are interested in a creative beauty career in which the possibilities for advancement are endless – a hair career may be perfect for you. And choosing one of the many reputable hair design schools to get your education is the first step!

This summer’s favorite hairstyle isn’t that cute bob you were rocking last fall, or those long, beachy waves from a couple summers back.  Nope.  The new summer style is simple, classic and easy to achieve.  If you haven’t tried it out already, or noticed it on countless celebs, let us introduce you to this season’s it look—The Lob!  A fusion of the words “long” and “bob,” this hairstyle is exactly that—a long bob.  The right length of hair for a long bob is right at the shoulders or a little below.

A few celebrities who look great in a lob include Gwyenth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Richie, Rihanna and Selena Gomez.

Why should you try out the lob?

•    It looks good, trust us.  This hairstyle’s length—right above the shoulders—is the most attractive on all women because it frames the face.
•    It’s no big deal.   The best thing about the lob—you don’t have to go to extremes.  If you have long hair you don’t have to chop it all off, and if you have shorter hair it won’t take forever to grow out.
•    It helps you lose weight. Ok, not literally unfortunately. But, it will make you appear leaner, and that’s never a bad thing!  Lobs minimize round faces and big cheeks and make the face appear softer and more feminine.
•    It serves as a palette for new styles.  Say the style changes next fall into super short hair or long, luscious locks, or ponytails.  Where ever the trends go, a lob allows you to morph into it quickly!

Try out the lob for a sleek and easy to maintain summer style!

The History Of Razors – most likely tidbits left out of beauty schools‘ history classes.

30,000 B.C.
Cavemen get vain. Smart archeological people figure out that the earliest shaving razors were made of flint blades, which started out incredibly sharp, but dulled after use. Yes, cavemen used disposables.

3000 B.C.
Metal mania. Thanks to a lot of metal clanging and banging, copper razors (which make for a more “permanent” solution) make their way into the mainstream… well, if you want to call Egypt and India the mainstream of the B.C. era.

1500 – 1200 B.C.
Designer razors. Leave it to the Scandinavians to bring style to the art of shaving. Razors discovered from this time period were adorned with etchings of cool stuff like horses, and came in cute leather carrying cases. Seriously!

500 B.C.
Alexander the Clean Shaven. Apparently the “great” one was obsessed with having a smooth complexion. Legend has it that he wouldn’t be seen in battle before shaving.

300 B.C.
B.C. Barbershops. A rich Greek businessman, Publicus Ticinius Maenas, decided that he was too rich to shave himself, so he brought over professional barbers from Sicily, and started a fad. In fact, in Rome, a popular 21st birthday ritual included a first-shave party to celebrate adulthood.

50 B.C.
All hail the beardless. Speaking of Rome, Julius Caesar was very into personal grooming, down to plucking stray hairs with tweezers. As they say, when in Rome… shave like the Romans do.

1066 A.D.
Razor trickery. William the Conqueror defeats King Harold in the Battle of Hastings, in some part thanks to his army’s calculated decision to shave their faces and cut their hair to resemble monks. The deception meant that King Harold’s spies underestimated the enemy threat, and the rest is history.

1500
New world barbering. Archeological evidence indicates that the Aztec Indians of North and Central America created razors from volcanic glass. The first hot shave?

1770
The book on shaving. Perhaps it’s no surprise that a Frenchman literally wrote the book on shaving as an art form: The Art of Learning to Shave Oneself (La Pogonotomie). Sort of like a beauty how-to article, the guide may also be the first to introduce the concept of “safety” razor.

1847
Who you calling a hoe? The hoe-shaped razor (resembling the farming tool) that we recognize today can be credited to English inventor William Henson. It’s all about a comfortable grip.

1901
Shave safely. King Camp Gillette (you know, the-best-a-man-can-get guy) teams up with an MIT genius named William Nickerson to perfect the safety razor, complete with double-edged, disposable and replaceable blade. Side note: Isn’t Nickerson a funny name for a guy who wants others to shave without getting nicked?!

1914
The war on facial hair. Gilette’s popularity skyrockets worldwide after he cuts a deal with the U.S. Armed Forces to give every enlisted soldier a safety razor and blades as part of their off-to-war care package. Foreign soldiers are envious, and European sales soar.

1921
Invention intuition. Adapting a military idea for a practical use inspired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jacob Schick to invent a new razor – the Magazine Repeating Razor. Similar to how a magazine clip contains bullets, this razor housed replacement blades right in the handle.

1928
No water required. Schick invents and patents the first electric dry shaver, great for roaring ‘20s men on the go.

1970s
Back to basics. The disposable razor, not popular since the stone ages, makes its way back into mass popularity. Cheap to make and easy to use, all of the major razor manufacturers offer a throwaway option.

Today
Headline-worthy beards. If you’re a celebrity, sporting a beard represents a lifestyle choice. Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Conan O’Brien, Joaquin Phoenix – need we say more?

Via: Spa Beauty Schools

After a two week long twitter frenzy where followers were campaigning to win Professional Japanese Hair Shears, a winner has finally been chosen. Beautyschool.com is proud to present the winner of the Professional Japanese Hair Shear Twitter Contest via video, and also kick off the launch of their brand new YouTube channel. Look for us (username beautyschooladvice) and subscribe to stay up-to-date on the latest contest news and beauty school information.

Who claimed our pro shears (valued at $229)? Watch the video below and discover for yourself which contestant is the winner. If today wasn’t your lucky day then check back for another amazing beauty giveaway coming the beginning of June! Thank you to everyone who entered the twitter contest and special congratulations to our lucky winner! And if you’re not already, follow us on Twitter – @BSDiva.

Do you love to win free beauty products? BeautySchool.com has teamed up with Hair Royalty to giveaway a pair of Bushido professional Japanese hair shears – a $229 value! These sleek and sassy shears would be a great addition to your cosmetology kit.

Enter to win professional Japanese hair shears by following these three easy steps:

1)   Log on to Twitter
2)   Follow @BSDiva
3) Retweet the following message up to once a day during the duration of the contest:

Want to WIN professional Japanese shears from Hair Royalty? Follow @BSDiva and RT this to enter. Pick me! http://bit.ly/i1XYO0

The contest ends May 18th. The lucky winner of the professional Japanese hair shears will be announced on the BSDiva Twitter profile, BeautySchool.com, BeautySchoolsDirectory.com, and MySocialBeauty.com shortly after the contest closes.

All you have to do is enter! Get the full details and official rules here.

BeautySchool.com would like to thank Hair Royalty for donating the Bushido Japanese hair shears for this contest. Hair Royalty designs and sells “apparel, jewelry, accessories and gifts for the hairstylist to display the passion that is within”. Want to show off your love for the beauty industry? Check out the Hair Royalty store!

Our favorite celebrities always seem so put together—perfect hair and glowing, flawless complexions. We’d all like to replicate their look but most of us aren’t willing to shell out the big bucks that they do to look that good.  How can you be red-carpet worthy without spending a fortune on spa treatments and blowouts at the salon?  We’ve picked out a few celebrity make-up artist tips that won’t break the bank.  In fact, these items can all be purchased at your local drugstore.  No need for a shopping trip to Rodeo Drive!

Five Inexpensive Hollywood Beauty Tricks:

1. Primer: Okay, some stars really are born with perfect skin.  But most of them have a little secret called skin primer.  Most skin primers are silicone-based and act as a thin layer that fills in fine lines, large pores and acne scars. The result? A smooth, flawless complexion! Give skin primer a try and you’ll understand why Hollywood make-up artists call it the under-make-up make-up.

2. Skin Illuminator: Where do all the stars get their glow? Skin illuminators!  Most skin illuminators are pearlized shimmer creams that you put under your foundation or mix with your foundation for a fresh, glowing complexion.   Celebrity make-up artists warn that skin illuminators should not be confused with shimmery powder, which can end up looking like a sparkle-overdose.

3. Fast Lash by Tweezerman: Medication to make your eyelashes grow? Expensive.  Fake eyelashes? Messy and inconvenient.  The trick to get quick Hollywood lashes?  A secret to the stars—Fast Lash by Tweezerman.  In fact, it’s one of the most requested products for celebrity photo shoots and special events.  You first coat your lashes with regular mascara, then use Fast Lash which looks like a normal mascara tube but really contains dry white flakes.  These pieces of harmless polyester fiber act as a lash builder when you add another coat of regular mascara.  You’ll end up with thick, luscious lashes!

4. Blue, Yellow or Orange Concealer: You may not believe us, but putting these colors of concealer under your eyes will actually make them look better– trust us!  Blue-based concealer helps reflect light and makes eyes look brighter.  For even darker under-eye circles use yellow or orange concealer which will neutralize the darkness beneath the eyes.

5. Shampoo With Dimethicone Copolyol: Ya, we can’t pronounce it either. What we do know though is that shampoo that contains this ingredient has a little extra “oomph!”  Next time you need to purchase shampoo, make sure it has this volume booster in it.

Love makeup beyond just reading about it. Consider going to a makeup artist school and becoming certified.

If you are looking for cosmetology scholarships to apply to, consider applying to Marinello’s School of Beauty’s third annual Raw Talent High School Beauty Scholarship challenge. Eight students will be awarded cosmetology scholarships and prizes totaling $33,750. Just think you would be one step closer to realizing their dreams of pursuing a career in the beauty industry. Over the past two years, Marinello has donated $60,000 worth of scholarships to students beginning their careers in the beauty industry.

What are the prizes? The first place cosmetology scholarship is $10,000 toward tuition at any of the 46 Marinello campus locations. Second through fifth place scholarships are valued at $5,000 toward tuition, plus the top five winners will also receive a valuable Apple iPad to help with their studies. Sixth through eighth place winners will receive a Professional Makeup Workshop with Kit which will be utilized as they complete their coursework.

How to enter: There are two ways pieces involved in the Raw Talent Scholarship contest. All high school seniors interested in pursuing an exciting career in the beauty industry are encouraged to apply at www.marinello.com/scholarship. The first element is the hands-on portion. Applicants will need to contact Marinello Schools of Beauty campus location in their area to schedule an in-person visit between April 18 through April 29, 2011. Candidates interested in the Cosmetology program will complete a formal updo hairstyle befitting a special event, and those interested in the Esthetics course will execute a full make-up routine. All candidates must bring a model with them during this hands-on portion, and then appointed personnel will take before and after photographs of the candidates’ work, which will then be submitted for review.

The second element is the essay portion. Candidates will be required to submit an essay about what they will do to make a difference in the beauty industry. The essay will be reviewed by the High School Scholarship Committee at the corporate headquarters of Marinello Schools of Beauty and will be graded on content, spelling, syntax and grammar. All essays need to include a Marinello application, and can be submitted as early as March 25, 2011, but the deadline for submission is April 29, 2011 at midnight.

“Marinello is delighted to present the Raw Talent Scholarship competition again for the third year in a row,” said Dr. Nagui Elyas, President and COO, Marinello Schools of Beauty. “We firmly believe in fostering creativity and beauty in our community and see no better way than to offer students the opportunity to join the Marinello family and achieve success for their future.”