Okay, so the title was a little deceiving. Unfortunately, I am not the be-all-end-all person when it comes to beauty and style, which probably makes me incapable of creating the list that the title describes, but I do Pin a lot, surf on Tumblr, and read a whole boatload of magazines. I don’t know it all, but I do have a few good ideas for those of you who are looking to switch up your “natural accessories” (that’s how I refer to nails and hair). I’ve found these photos on Pinterest and Tumblr… both of which make finding new ideas painless and inspiring. By simply searching for tags on both sites, you can narrow down the millions of photos to ones that are solely about each category.
Hair
1. Fishtail braid/multi-colored highlights– Both of these trends are among my absolute favorite. Nothing says gutsy like putting a few streaks of teal and pink into your hair. Depending on how much money you have and how many streaks you want, I’d recommend getting this done at a salon. Though, it’s easy to do at home, the dye is also way more likely to fade into awkward shades of orange and green. Don’t ask me how I know this…
The fishtail is something that takes a little practice, but once conquered, it looks awesome. Every time I see someone with a fishtail it means automatic compliment for them. It’s a great look for both casual and dressy/day and night.
2. The “Fun Bun”-I don’t know what happened with me, but I had previously always made fun of Kim K and her massive bun atop her head, but I guess I converted to the Fun Bun recently. It’s just so simple and takes so little time, but looks so chic. I love it with the formal side of the spectrum.
3. Ombre hair- This is my next venture into the world of wild hair. In my opinion, it’s just awesome. And if you dye the middle and bottoms and leave the top your natural hair color, the upkeep with the color is much less than highlights or something of that nature. It can be done at a much smaller color range by simply doing dark brown to light brown or dirty blond to platinum, if this looks too daunting.
4. The sock bun- My used-to-be-ballerina roommate taught me this trick the other night when I was going out, but didn’t have time to straighten my hair. It’s really simple and directions are online everywhere, but essentially all you need is part of a sock (I’d recommend getting one that’s the same color of your hair if possible) and a ton of bobby pins. Long hair is more suited for this look, because it better disguises the sock – preventing an awkward encounter with a boy who realizes there’s a sock in your hair…
Nails
1. One nail different-I swear by this trend. I do it all the time, and it’s a lot of fun. Sometimes it’s hard to narrow it down to one color, so here you get to have 2 (just make sure they don’t clash of course)! I believe metallic colors are the best to match with almost any color, but the possibilities are endless.
2. Hardcore nails- I just think these look boss. Forgive my hip-hop lingo, but seriously…how hardcore do you have to be to have nails like this. They’re perfect for nighttime. I feel like a LBD and these nails could go hand in hand. It’s all about the contrast, people.
3. Tribal nails- Okay, so I don’t really have a clue on how you would do these, but the only tip I have is to get those fancy nail polish pens and copy the pattern in the picture. If you’re creative enough, experiment with colors and patterns. They’re the perfect spring break nails. Can’t you just see them with a swimsuit and a fedora?!
4. Different shades- To me this is like a grown-up nail trend. I’d make sure to have my nails painted this way for an interview with Vogue. That way they’d know I was sophisticated but trendy. You can really try this with any color, but I feel like neutral are your best bet to looking chic.