Beauty Reporter.(hair and skin care tips)

5 Top Tips

french twist

We've often wondered how a tornado of hair and bobby pins can end up as a streamlined French twist. Orlando Pita, who wound the sleek updos at Celine, unravels the mystery. Start with unwashed hair. "When hair is a little dirty, it stays in place better," Pita says. If you must shampoo, apply mousse after towel-drying. Blow-dry hair straight using a round brush. "You can do a French twist with any hair texture, but it'll look neater and nicer if your hair is smooth," Pita says. Brush hair back and toward the right shoulder, holding it tightly against the back of the head. Insert a bobby pin diagonally from the center of the nape of the neck toward the right ear. Repeat with three or four additional pins, positioned diagonally, working up the center of the head to just above ear level. "The line of bobby-pin heads is where the twist is going to be," Pita says. Twist the loose section of hair toward the left shoulder and up, until it's tight against the back of the head and the ends are sticking up from the top. Position the roll of hair so it covers the line of bobby pins. Starting at the nape and moving upward, insert five or six bobby pins into the twist horizontally (from the center toward the right). Tuck the loose ends into the twist, secure with a pin, and finish with hair spray.

ERIN QUINN

Color of the Moment

Deep Red Polish

Deep Red Polish It's not easy to hit that perfect balance between pretty and prissy, but deep red nail polish seems to achieve it effortlessly. It also happens to be right, right now: "A sweet pink would be too girlie with all the bows on blouses and cardigans that are hot this fall," says manicurist Ji Baek, owner ...