Easy Fun Summer Hairstyles

1. side swept pony tail

While polished perfection in hairstyling has its time and place, summer with its unavoidable heat and humidity renders such pursuits completely impractical. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up on looking glam. Here are our favorite methods for making the "unfinished" look work for you—with two or less products and minimal time commitment. From boho braids to re-imagined ponies, we have the effortlessly chic looks that will keep you looking and feeling fresh through the long summer days (and nights).

2. Looped pony tail

It only takes a minute for this D.i.Y "done" but still a little, "undone" look. Plus it works for nearly all hair lengths (unless you have a super short 'do!).

3. Wrap N' Roll

This look? No-brainer. Find an inexpensive hair wrap or scarf, knot it in the front of your head, and throw your hair up in a messy bun.

4. The Tuck 'n Cover

Here's a chance to recycle two no-slip headbands. The first keeps your hair neatly pinned back while the second ties it all together

5. Fish Tail for Dummies 

Lauren Conrad's how to video for mastering a fish tail braid is so easy that hair newbies will be able to get the look in minutes.  Tip:  Try it with day old hair for more texture.

6. The Blair Waldorf

This look earns bonus points as a "bike friendly" style for active commuters.  That's because no helmet is messing with this upper east side do :)  Click the image to see the how to video.

Let your stylist know what looks you've tried :)

 

What is Reflexology

What is Reflexology?

            Reflexology is an ancient healing art, based on the principle that there are reflex points in the hands and feet that correspond to every other part of the body.   For example, we could massage your heel to relieve sciatic pain.  It is a wonderful alternative treatment for people who may be unable to receive (or uncomfortable with) a full body massage.

 

          We often recommend reflexology as an alternate treatment for clients who want to relax but have medical issues that contraindicate massage, such as certain types of cancer, muscle ruptures, tendon tears etc.  It's a great treatment for someone who may be too shy about their body to get a full massage.  The client does not have to undress for a reflexology session.  

During your session, we will ask you questions about your current state of well being.  We then apply pressure to the hands and feet in the specific areas, according to our hand and foot charts to affect the area where you need help.  We only use pressure that you are comfortable with, so don't be shy about speaking up if it is too much, or uncomfortable.  

 

 A reflexology session at Bella Toccare can be booked for 30 minute or 60 minutes.  Typically the guest leaves feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.  Let's face facts!  Our feet and hands take a lot of abuse.  We're on our feet all the time.  They bare the brunt of all our weight, our uncomfortable shoes, and our busy lives.  And in our high tech era, our hands are always busy typing, texting or working a mouse.  So, even if you are not sold that reflexology can help heal organs, migraines sinuses, and everything else.  We guarantee you'll feel better walking out than you did walking in.

Top 5 Bridal Hair and Bridal Make-up Questions

Top 5 Ohio bridal hair and bridal make-up questions

Now that engagement season is in full swing we are finding brides have lots of bridal hair and wedding make-up questions. Many are overwhelmed at all of the possibilities but don’t worry – we are here to help. Also if we haven’t covered your question here feel free to email us your questions (BellaToccare@aol.com) and we will answer them for you. Here are the top 5 questions we have heard lately from our brides.

Q: When should I book my hair and make-up specialist?

A: Most brides book us 6 months to 12 months in-advance but we always try to accommodate last minute requests when we can.  We do recommend reserving your stylists sooner rather then later.  It is very common that all of the top stylists get booked up especially for peak summer dates.

Q: Why should I reserve Bella Toccare de Spa & Salon for my wedding?

A: Bella Toccare has the most extensive training and experience in the area.  We have been specializing in  bridal hair and make-up for over 10 years.   We really care about our brides and appreciate them.  We work with your facial features, neckline of the gown, and your headpiece and veil to come up with a look that you will absolutely love!

Q: How do I reserve Bella Toccare de Spa & Salon for hair and make-up?

A: You can call us at 440-526-3090 or email us at BellaToccare@aol.com.  We require a credit card for a deposit to reserve your day and time.  All deposits are 100% refundable up to 90 days prior to the wedding.

Q: Do you come to me on the wedding day?

A: Yes we can! We can come onsite for your bridal hair and bridal make-up on your wedding day so it is a relaxing pampering experience for you. You don’t have to drive with your veil on, worry about fighting traffic or finding parking, or worry about the weather.  We come right to you so you can spend more time with your closest friends and cherished family on your special day.

Q: Do you offer eyelash extensions?

A: Yes, we do offer eyelash extensions. We offer the fabulous Xtreme lash extensions Xtremelashes.com which brides are absolutely loving!  We also offer strip lash extensions. We offer a complimentary consultation for eyelash extensions so you can come in to Bella Toccare de Spa & Salon and discuss which is the best option is for you.

The 7 Most Wanted Mother's Day Gifts

 Every year when Mother’s Day rolls around, a gift-picking panic ensues. Here at Bella Toccare de Spa and Salon, we think beauty and spa gifts are always a no-brainer for mom.  So before you spend your hard-earned cash on a gift that’s not quite right, read this! We’ll tell you the best beauty gifts to get any mom this Mother’s Day.

Sure, you could get her flowers or jewelry… but this is Bella Toccare you’re talking to. Around here, beauty products and services are a girl’s best friend, and we put together our list of the 7 most wanted Mother’s Day gifts that any beauty buff would want. So make mom happy and give her one of these:

1. When is a Bella Tocccare gift card ever not welcome? Ours can be used at for any of our spa or salon services, so you don’t have to try and pick just one — let mom pick her favorite!  Click the card above to purchase one online today.

2. Replenishing her supply of Stress-fix.  Give her our unique aroma clinically proven to relieve feelings of stress-with essences of lavender, lavandin and clary sage from organic farms-formulated with the science of aromaology and the power of pure essential oils. This is always a nice gesture.

3. Bella Toccare never fails to create gift sets that anyone would want. If you’re all out of ideas for mom, one of these combos (think Foot relief and hand relief) is pretty foolproof.

4. Most women don’t own a proper, professional makeup brush set, so treating mom to one is a great gift idea.  We have some wonderful makeup brushes mom will love.

5. If your mama is a skin care lover, you don’t have to shell out $500 (or more) on a bottle. Bella Toccare with Aveda has several choices depending on moms skin type and travel sizes in a gift set of their products are the next best thing.

 6. Upgrade mom’s drugstore curling iron or flat iron to something a pro would approve of.

7.  Treat mom to a full day of Beauty.  Her day of luxury where the pampering never stops.  She is welcomed with a soothing fragrant herbal foot bath and a light breakfast.  Then she will experience a relaxing steam shower followed by a full hour Swedish relaxation body massage.  For head to toe bliss, we've included a Bella Toccare signature facial, Spa manicure, and Spa pedicure.  Mid-day a special catered lunch is served.  Then she will continue on her day of beauty, Bella Toccare style, with a scalp treatment, hair cleansing and conditioning, as well as styling.  For the finishing touch, she'll enjoy a professional makeup application.
 

Single Girl's Guide to Valentine's Day!

Single Girl’s Guide To Valentine’s Day

With a whopping 49% of the U.S. flying solo this V-Day, Cupid is getting equal amounts of hate mail and love letters. If you’re dateless on the 14th, follow our guide to having an awesome single girl’s holiday. We talked to relationship experts so that you won’t just feel great this Valentine’s Day, but may even score yourself a guy for next year!

Go Out!

According to Dr. Helen Fisher, who works with Match.com, there are 96 million single people in the U.S. So, get out there; don't stay home! Want to feel like your most confident self? "Do flirty gestures like swishing your hair, don't slouch and smile," says Dr. Fisher. "When you smile, people naturally mimic you, which triggers a release of dopamine (the feel-good hormone) in the brain."

Send flowers to yourself

Some may see this as desperate. Those people are being small-minded (and are probably NOT single, so who are they to judge?). If you can't bring yourself to send flowers to yourself at the office, send them to your house. There is something about a bouquet of flowers that brings sunshine and hope into your world. If flowers can be that beautiful in the first couple weeks of February, which is still cold and miserable in most parts of the country, then maybe your love life has half a chance too. It's all in how you look at things.

Boycott

You can take a stand against Valentine's Day. Form a coalition with other singles and come up with a catchy name for your group -- "Single-by-Choice," or something of that nature. Host your first meeting on Valentine's Day in a lounge and vent about all your failed relationships. There's half a chance you'll come away feeling hostile and depressed, but there is also half a chance you'll come away feeling glad you are single. There's even a remote chance you'll meet someone while you are out pretending it's your choice you are alone on Valentine's Day. Whatever the outcome, at least you're not at home, in your thread-bare pajamas, pegging out the pity meter.

Make dinner plans with kids, your sister or a friend

Valentine's Day is about love. You love lots of people, right? Does it have to be about celebrating a romantic relationship? Of course not. This year, just think of Valentine's Day as a way to express your love for your kids, a friend or your sister. Go out to dinner with your chosen guest. And never forget this one simple rule when it comes to Valentine's Day: It comes around EVERY year. Just because you're not caught up in a passionate love affair this year doesn't mean you can't be by this time next year.

Be grateful

How valid of a "holiday" is Valentine's Day? It's a little bit made up. There's talk of some dude named Saint Valentine, and from there things get a bit cloudy. It's just one day. In the name of an attitude adjustment, focus on what you have, rather than what you don't. So what have you got? Great kids? That makes you the envy of at least half of the women out there. A job? Again, in this economy, that gives you something to celebrate. Your health? There you go. There is no greater gift. And at the risk of sounding cynical, remember there are lots of women in relationships this Valentine's Day who are completely miserable. Think about it. Review the relationships of the women in your immediate circle. Sad though it may be (and we would never encourage rejoicing in the misery of others), are they really better off than you are? Even good relationships take work and have occasional drama. Maybe it's okay that you have a year off from all that.

10 Hairstyles you can do in 5 minutes (or less!)

Tousled Braid

We’ve all done it: You overslept and have no time to do your hair (or makeup, but that’s another story).  The tousled braid is oh-so-trendy this fall and super easy to do. Simply sweep your hair back and create a loose braid–don’t worry if pieces fall out along the way. Dab on a colored lip gloss like Red Dahlia one of our new trend colors, and you're good to go!   

Side Swept Ponytail


Beyonce’s side-swept low ponytail takes mere minutes to perfect. You’ll even have time to curl the long bang around your finger and blast with a tiny bit of Air Control hairspray for an all-day flounce that holds.

Transition Hairstyle

Brooklyn Decker’s choppy bob is adorably sexy to begin with. Add in a little half-up, half-down pouf and a side part, and you’ve got a hairstyle that transitions seamlessly from office to out (to morning after…).


Did we mention Braids?

Not to repeat ourselves here, but braids are going to be everywhere this fall. If you’re not a fan of the full-on plait, try Maria Menounos’ hairline braid.

Top Knot

You can never go wrong with a top knot à la Kat Graham. If you’ve got a case of the second-day greasies, adding a cute headband will fix that in a second.


How about a chic wavy bob?

Easy and breezy is how we’d describe Rashida Jones’ chic, wavy bob with side-swept bangs. This ‘do is totally wind-proof (rather, it looks good with a little wind effect) and just requires a little Aveda Control Paste or Texturizing Cream to keep your bangs in check. 

Ponytails

Ponytails have moved far beyond the realm of the hairstyle you wore all throughout middle school. Model Doutzen Kroes totally sexy high ponytail has tons of body and a little pouf to go with her coral pout. 


How about a side Ponytail?

Miranda Cosgrove’s casually mussed side ponytail is great for “I needed to be at work 20 minutes ago, and I just woke up” hair. 

 Chignon

Only have time for one part of your hair? Pin the back portion into a low chignon, then curl a section (or two) of the front for an Old Hollywood glamour hairstyle. 

Finally there's always a hat

When in doubt, grab a hat! Lucy Hale’s crocheted snood hides a myriad of blatant signs of unstyled hair. And look: Another braid! 
 
Call today for an appointment with one of our Aveda trained stylists 440-526-3090.

And remember bang trims are always complimentary

Top Straight Celebrity Hairstyles

Heidi Klum

Back on the market, Heidi Klum is rocking some seriously flirty hair. Her slightly messy styling adds understated sex appeal to an otherwise simple and polished style. For a look like Heidi's without the hassle, invest in an at-home straightening treatment like Aveda's Smooth Infusion Glossing Straightener for more manageably straight hair.

 

Rachel Bilson

No hairstyle better lends itself to accessories than shiny, straight locks. Take a page from Rachel Bilson and top your sleek 'do with of-the-moment pieces, like this boho hair band.

 

Viola Davis 

This Critics' Choice Award winner does the Justin Bieber better than the Biebs! Short hairstyles get a modern update with the addition of long bangs and a wispy blowout. Who knew crops could be so sexy?

 

 

Elizabeth Olsen 

The youngest Olsen is schooling her sisters in style this year. Not only can she dress, but Elizabeth is always camera-ready with bouncy blowouts and high volume hair. The key to light reflecting locks like Liz's: Add a dime-sized amount of Aveda's Light Elements Smoothing Fluid.

Kim Kardashian

 

When Kim Kardashian got her post-divorce revenge hair, she opted for eyebrow-grazing bangs and pin straight styling. The curvaceous reality star proves that simple can be very sexy.


Ready to rock the straight, sexy, sleek look?  Book an appointment with one of our stylists and let them show you just how to get the look you love.  Call 440-526-3090 today!!