Contributing Editor Cologne Schmidt writes:

Recently, in the middle of NYFW craziness, I stopped at Wellington Hair Spa in Chelsea with fellow Jolie Nadine contributor Hillary in to get my hair and nails did. M2M Nails supplied the celeb and runway-worthy polishes—which took me about an hour to decide on. Described as ‘luxury in a bottle’, M2M offers an array of matte and shiny shades that ain’t your average Wet n’ Wild. I settled on a matte blackish purple vamp color, and am pleased to admit I went chip free for over a week! And as if they read my mind—they are adding easter-egg pastels to the collection in Spring…mmm, can’t wait!

Celebrity manicurist Myrdith Lean-McCormick (whose clientele ranges from Kate Hudson and JLo to the runway shows for Vera Wang and Zac Posen) branched off by starting M2M in 2008. Each polish is inspired by and named after a personality trait of her favorite celebrity clients—so you can feel a little closer to them with every drop of paint. Myrdith was born in Port-Au-Prince, so a percentage of every $11.00 polish is donated to aiding the people of her beloved homeland, Haiti.

Then, the owner of the salon, Patrick Wellington, indulged us with a hair strengthening treatment and some simple tips on maximizing your locks. His advice?  1) First, know your hair type and select products made for you. If you have colored hair, make sure you use a shampoo and conditioner designed for color treated hair. If you have curly hair, you might look for volume control products. Thus, you’ll achieve the look you want without damaging your hair. 2) His next tip, and one I always fail to execute, is to get a hair trim on a regular schedule. Having your hair trimmed every few months is crucial for hair growth and breakage prevention. It is one of the best things you can do for your hair, yet so many people wait six months (or longer!) before they get a trim.

Pretty hair, pretty nails, happy girl!

T. writes: Hi Nadine - I want to ask you something about hair color! I want to dye my hair light blonde and I want to dye it at home, so please can you tell me how and give me the name of the products? Also I want something to keep my hair hydrated…

Hey T.!  The most important part of dying your hair at home is making sure you choose the right shade.  It should be no more than two shades lighter or darker than your original color, otherwise you’ll start getting into the danger zone and the finished result will likely look funky.  (And then you’ll probably have to head to a colorist to fix it, anyway!)

Picking the perfect shade is voodoo science: you’ll probably have to sacrifice a goat, the moon must certainly be full, and there may or may not be virgins involved.   Barring all that, the back of the box will show three different shades.  If you don’t see your current, existing color on the back–even if the hue on the front of the box is the most gorgeous dream shade you’ve ever seen–put it down and pick another box until you find one whose back panel does showcase your existing color.  (So, if you’re a dark brunette with Kate Hudson ambitions, or a redhead with a Catherine Zeta-Jones soul, get thee to your salon.)  Trust: color correcting a wonky at-home dye job is a pain in the ass.  Stay on the right track!

Any drugstore color will do, honestly.  There are three I’ve used myself in the past year, and my personal favorite is L’Oreal Feria, which provides rich, vibrant color.  (I also used Clairol Perfect 10 last year, which I found slightly difficult to maneuver with the applicator comb, but it did provide a pretty finished result.)  Meanwhile, if you’re looking for temporary color that will wash out after a few weeks, nothing beats Clairol Natural Instincts.

There are a million “Here’s how to apply hair dye” treatises on the web, so I’ll direct you there now, but here are the Cliff’s Notes: read the instructions, and don’t leave it on for too short or too long.

And a final side note: after I dye my hair, I hold onto the leftover intensive conditioner and use it occasionally as regular conditioner.  Clairol Natural Instincts once-a-week Color Treat is my favorite.  Best intensive conditioner at the drugstore, hands down!

Female hair loss is one of those things that simply never occurred to me.  Call it ignorance, but blessed as I am with a full head of hair (too much hair!  Hair that seizes any opportunity to dread itself underneath!), I didn’t realize what a big issue it truly is for many women–30 million American women have hereditary hair loss–until recently.

My ignorance, however, partially stems from the fact that it’s a below-the-radar issue–a woman’s hair is synonymous with her sexuality, and so losing it seems to lead to silent suffering.  After all, neither men or women relish the idea of losing their hair…but at least men can shave it all off and rock the chrome-dome, if they so choose.

One of my friends is currently exploring hair restoration options and now I’m noticing treatments and articles everywhere.  The New York Times just ran a piece called “When Hair Loss Strikes, a Doctor is a Girl’s Best Friend,” listing easy options like potions, tonics and vitamins, through more invasive but permanent procedures like hair transplantation.  (more…)

Avon Global Stylist Advisor Tippi Shorter has been on tour with Alicia Keys (nice work, if you can get it!) but took a break from her styling duties to answer a few quick questions for us:

Q: What are the hottest hair trends for winter?

I believe hair with controlled volume and sleek ponytails and buns will be huge for Winter 2010.

Big, sexy volume:
- Begin this look by running volumizing mousse through hair root to tip.
- Create soft curls by setting hair with curlers (like Advance Techniques Pillow Curlers). Spray a light mist of hair spray to ensure hair will hold curl.
- Remove the curlers from your hair. Flip hair over front of head and spray with additional hair spray to create extra volume and hold. Run fingers through hair to loosen curls for a soft finish.

Sleek ponies/bun:
- To create the perfect canvas for a defined part, start with clean, smooth hair.
- Apply serum to the ends of your hair and a straight smoothing balm from root to tip. Using a brush (she recommends Advance Techniques Cushion Brush), blow dry hair straight.
- Use a comb to create a defined part on the side of the head. Pull all hair into a tight, sleek bun at the back of the neck to make the part really stand out. Spray a light mist of shine spray to create a high-sheen finish. (more…)

WOW.

Serious improvement, don’t you think?

One of my all-time favorite hair gurus, Ted Gibson, spent nearly 20 hours (that’s right–count ‘em–twenty) meticulously affixing hair extensions to Kate Gosselin’s formely-spiky, now cascading, ‘do.  The results–sassy, sexy, playful–are nothing short of astounding, and really highlight Kate’s pretty features.  Well done, Ted!

UPDATE: The extensions used were Great Lengths 100% Human Hair Extensions, which are keratin bonded and then cut/dyed/styled to blend seamlessly into your natural hair.  I had Great Lengths extensions myself, back in 2003, and felt like a rock star with them!  They last for about 3 months.

Contributing Editor Cologne Schmidt writes:

Celeb hairstylist and salon owner James Corbett (his scissors and foils have grazed the tresses of Brittany Gastineau, Dina Lohan, among others), has just taken beauty salons to the next level. His ‘green’ spa, which oozes tranquility and Zen, combines everything you would need for a quiet escape from the big bad city. Directly situated underneath his ‘hidden gem’ salon nestled in Union Square, his spa offers facials, massages, waxings, manis and pedis, and—truth-be-told—yoga classes. The inner-city hideaway provides all mediums to total body happiness—minus the toxic chemical riff raff. They use and sell non-toxic nail polish, organic edible skin food, and Alison Raffaele mineral make-up.

James Corbett’s intimate new spa—from the staff and treatments to the Asian décor—encapsulates health and sympathy of the mind-body-spirit. It is designed for busy New Yorkers to take care of all their beauty needs at one time. As part of the opening, the spa will offer two specials including 25 percent off waxing services and an Organic Milk & Honey facial for $85 (normally $120). What an excuse to be pampered! And James, himself, is divine. I have since gone in to his salon to experience his highlighting expertise first hand, and have never been happier with my hair. The color, the quality—I didn’t say anything to him and he made my hair better than ever. I mean, lets face it…as crazy as Dina is, she does have great hair…

For all you natural enthusiasts, I was just sent some DIY hair conditioning mask tips from the Santa Monica, California salon The Parlour on 3rd.  Enjoy!

Olive oil moisturizing treatment, by stylist Josh Rosebrook:
“1. Take 1/4 cup olive oil and pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds.
2. Part your hair into four sections and apply the warm olive oil to your scalp, section by section. Make sure to work the olive oil from the scalp to the ends of your hair.
3. Put a plastic cap on your hair and let the olive oil work its magic for 30 minutes.
4. Remove the cap. Shampoo, condition, and style your hair as usual.”

Healthy Hair Mask, by stylist Robear Landeros:
“The easiest, cheapest, and most effective hair mask secret known to stylists is mayonnaise. Who would have thought? Mayo is composed of egg yolk, lemon juice and vinegar, which can strengthen and moisturize your hair. Avoid commercial brands. Stick with organic for best results. Place a plastic bag over your hair after you apply. Leave it on for 30 minutes. If you don’t mind smelling like a ham sandwich, the end result is worth it!”