Knowing how to choose a personal trainer can help you get the most from your gym time and make it a more enjoyable experience as well. Some people settle for a personal trainer who isn’t a good choice for them and they pay the price. Not only can making the wrong decision mean less enjoyment and power results, but it could even be damaging to your health. Here are some tips for how to choose a personal trainer; hopefully these will help you get most from the experience.

Tips for How to Choose a Personal Fitness Trainer

• Make sure that any personal trainer you choose has been properly trained. Helping people reach peak fitness is a highly skilled job and doing it wrong could potentially be very dangerous for your health. As well as being qualified as a personal trainer they should also have received recent CPR and other safety training.
• Trust your intuition. If you meet a personal trainer and they don’t feel right then just walk away. You might not be able to explain why you don’t like this person, but you are obviously picking up something. In order for the expense of a personal trainer to be worth it you need to be dealing with somebody you trust.
• Another important thing when it comes to how to choose a personal trainer is that you pick somebody with experience. Having all the right qualifications is one thing, but experience means that the trainer can put their learning into practice.
• Your personal trainer should be willing to listen as well as talk. This is vital because the only way they can help you reach you goals is by listening to you. If you have any medical problems it is doubly important that your trainer is able to listen. It is also a lot more fun to be around people who don’t always try to monopolise the conversation.
• You want a trainer who seems enthusiastic and positive about your goals. If they only seem to be doing the job on cruise-mode they are probably not the best choice for trainer.

On Sunday, July 25th the cast of the hit series “Mad Men” took to Duffy Square in New York City for the much-anticipated Season 4 Premiere. Actress January Jones sparkled on the red carpet in a haute couture gown and a modern Grecian-inspired hairstyle that complimented the look. Sebastian Professional Stylist Design Team Member Thomas Dunkin tended to the tresses of the leading lady, and shares a step-by-step “how-to” for achieving the actress’ slightly undone updo with modern texture:

1. Starting with damp hair, saturate strands from root to tip with Sebastian Professional Volupt Spray.
2. Tousle hair with fingers while blow-drying to work in volume to maintain a look of “yesterday” texture.
3. Once dry, run hands through hair while spraying Sebastian Professional Re-Shaper throughout for added texture and hold.
4. Randomly select pieces to set with a curling iron for another dousing of texture.
5. Section off hair starting at the top slightly to the right of center.
6. With each section, apply a dab of Sebastian Professional Matte Putty and twist the hair from front to nape making sure to keep a random, textured effect.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 across the whole head, securing each section with clear Blax bands and bobby pins.
8. Massage the hair over the whole head, pulling slightly, for a disheveled finish with a modern twist.

Charlize Theron is a celebrity that started off as a fashion model, but has made it to become one of the big names in Hollywood. People not only praise her addicting ability but many adore here sense of style. It is little wonder that many people would just love to dress and look like her.

Tips to dress and look like Charlize Theron

We all have our unique characteristics which may make it difficult for us to fully emulate this star. However there is a lot you can do to capture the Charlize Theron look; the more you do the more you will resemble here. Here are some tips to dress and look like Charlize Theron.

• Charlize is a stylish dresser and she favours a sophisticated look rather than trying to look cute or sexy. Her wardrobe brings out all her womanhood and makes her stick out in a crowd. If you want to follow the example of this celebrity you should choose clothes that look a bit vintage and classy.
• She is always very experimental when it comes to her hair, and there is no real Charlize hairstyle as such. She seems to always maintain her own sense of uniqueness though; no matter what way she has her hair. Her most famous look is probably blonde and funky.
• Charlize has fantastic looking skin and you will need to have a good skin care routine if you hope to recreate this. Make sure that you regularly cleanse your skin and moisturiser is a must.
• She always seems to have a healthy tan, and this is something you can recreate using makeup. Select a bronzer to suit your skin type, but don’t overdo it. You want to create something that looks 100% natural.
• Charlize tends to be quite conservative with lipstick as well. She prefers a light pink lip gloss which she normally frames using a flesh-tone lip liner. She really does prove that less can be more.
• When it comes to eye makeup this is another area where Charlize likes to keep things as natural as possible. She uses a very fine eye liner and eye shadow that is flesh coloured.

If you follow these tips to dress and look like Charlize Theron you should be able to recreate something quite convincing. She is not the easiest person to copy because she is always changing her style.

The young and talented cast of M. Night Shyamalan’s live-action film “The Last Airbender” came together on Wednesday, June 30th at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in New York City to celebrate the movie’s premiere. Leading lady, Nicola Peltz, looked stunning and mature on the red carpet with long, flowing locks styled by Sebastian Professional Stylist Design Team Member Thomas Dunkin. Looking to complement her asymmetrical, pastel-colored dress, Thomas added natural-looking, very long extensions for a smooth, sleek style with a dramatic, exaggerated finish that looks effortlessly modern and fresh.

To achieve this sophisticated yet sexy ‘do, Thomas shares a step-by-step how-to for the young actress’ subtle style:

1. Saturate slightly damp hair with Sebastian Professional Volupt Spray for heat protection and touchably soft volume.
2. Turn head upside down, blow-dry hair using a large-round natural bristle brush to further coax maximum volume out of strands.
3. Once dry, use a large-barreled curling iron to add a soft subtle wave to the hair.
4. Straighten strands around the front sections with a straightening iron to give contrasting texture around the face.
5. Apply a liberal amount of Sebastian Professional Shaper Zero Gravity to the look for light, flexible hold.

Vera Wang Spring/Summer 2010

With summer at our doorstep, every woman is asking the same question: “What am I going to wear?” Or there will be the woeful exclamation: “I have nothing to wear!”

Here are a few fashion tips for all the ladies approaching this summer with some trepidation. The catwalks have been filled with a number of ostentatious, flirtatious and dream-like creations. From that we have learnt that the following can be expected on the shop floors of the fashion houses (and therefore the shop next door too):

• Champagne, beige and grey are the tones to look out for, as the neutral tones create the flirtatious ‘barely there’ image. These colours also highlight the bright prints and colours that can also be found this season.
• As pointed out, try to add some colour and print to your wardrobe – the brighter and bolder, the better.
• Another trend is the shorter than short shorts. This season is about showing off your legs – leggings are also in again – and how better this summer than displaying them in their full glory.
• Raid your husband’s or boyfriend’s closet for those blazers and vests that you always wanted to throw out – they are now hot fashion and you can wear them with great confidence.
• Delve into the back of your closet and haul out those torn and ripped denims that were so fashionable a few seasons ago. They’re also back and ready to pair up with some short in front, long at the back shirts to make you look super trendy.
• If leggings are not your style, try a pair of loose pants. It looks like the age of domination by the skinny pants is now moving towards a looser, comfier look.
• This summer, there is also a nod to the active wear section with lace-up vests, v-neck sweaters and trendy sweatpants.

Other fashion tips are: Wear knee-high and over-the-knee socks with you shorter than short mini skirt or hotpants. Leather vests are also considered fashionable and classy for this summer’s heat. Going out? The long split in the long skirt is also back and adds a classy look to your evening wardrobe.

If you’re into making a bolder statement, the sci-fi look is also making a come-back with re-interpretations of previous sci-fi looks, as well as adaptations of the latest sci-fi inspirations. Top it all off with feathers, diamonds and headbands that will dazzle the eye. Bring on summer!

When looking for the latest jewellery trends, it is always wise to look at what is happening on the catwalk, as well as look at those enjoying the show. At the recent fashion shows held around the world, the following was quite obvious: Bold and bright is beautiful.

There seems to be a penchant for cross-jewellery: Pendants, rings, earrings etc. The trend of big and bold also holds true for the casual style jewellery. Chunky rings and bracelets, dangling earrings and statement jewellery are the order of the day and make mixing and matching with your wardrobe a lot of fun. It also doesn’t have to cost you a fortune – unless, of course, you insist on gold and diamonds.

Statement jewellery brings a big ‘notice me’ board with them and should preferably be worn alone. The message of the statement should not be lost among multiple bracelets or sparkly earrings. Rather choose one piece of statement jewellery and work it to its full advantage.

Wood, brass, beads and silver make up jewellery fashion along with custom-made pieces that lend your collection an air of exclusivity. There is a focus on local themes in contrast to last year’s African themes with tribal beads, seeded beads etc. Use materials found locally and be creative with the jewellery that they produce.

Having said all that, there also seems to be a move to use more blacks, whites, blues, greens and greys to give the jewellery a look of strength.Use your colourful wardrobe and beautiful accessories in combinations that express your individuality and your personality. Remember: Whatever the style or the trend, jewels adorn you – not the other way around.

Everyone loves perfume, but when wearing it there are a few things you need to know. First of all, when applying perfume, you should start from the bottom up, preferably covering all areas as you go with the use of products matching the perfume scent, such as scented soap, oil, powders, lotions and perfume. You could do that in order to get the best effect when using your favorite perfume, whether men or women’s perfume. Regardless of the place where you purchased you perfume, you can still obtain a great effect and impress everyone.

When applying perfume, you need to remember to apply it on your pulse points, because this will help the aroma disperse and surround you. You can apply perfume on the following places: behind the ears, at the nape of the neck, in the cleave, beneath each breast, inside the folds of your thighs, at the hipline, inside the back of your knees, inside the ankles, and if not wearing scented antiperspirant, you can apply a touch within each arm pit.

The best manner of applying a perfume is to obtain a layered effect to whichever perfume you like wearing. If you don’t like strong scents, you can simply spray it into the air and just walk into it, in order to obtain a delicate aroma, rather than a concentrated scent on your body.

Remember that no matter how great the perfume smells, you need to apply it moderately and not overdo it, because if you wear too much it will ruin the effect and create discomfort for you and everyone around you.  As perfume is also a chemical substance, it can cause illness and even create allergies if too much is applied.

What’s worse is that you can cause illness or allergies to the people around you, even if they’re not wearing any perfume. Sometimes, a concentrated scent of perfume in one area can cause serious reactions.

It is not recommended to apply perfume directly on the clothes, but rather use perfume samples as sachets, if you really want to scent your clothes. Try not to overdo it, as you cannot always tell yourself whether you are indeed wearing too much perfume since everyone’s  sense of smell is not the same. If you are having doubts, you should ask someone you know who will give you an honest answer whether your perfume is too strong or not.

Kristin Ess of Chris McMillan salon is the woman behind Lauren Conrad’s new summer color.

Lauren Conrad leaving the Chris McMillan Salon after getting her color done by Kristin Ess

This is how she achieved this beach blonde look:

1. Lauren’s “Ombre” color starts with a low volume smudge which only stays on for 15 minutes and takes her natural color to a slightly warmer more golden tone.
2. Then I carefully applied a baby highlight around the hairline. And last, free handed highlights that get heavier toward the bottom, creating a more natural, believable, beachy summer blonde.

Nikki Reed at Women in Film Event

Kristin also gave Nikki Reed a sophisticated yet effortless looking up-do at the Women in Film Event. See below for the step by step “how to”:

1. Gloss the ends with a small amount of moroccan oil for shine and protection and lightly tease the crown area for subtle volume.
2. Without product, quickly curled the hair leaving out the ends (helps for texture).
3. Created a small messy bun near the neck just off to one side. this is what you anchor the other pieces to.
4. Grab medium sized sections close to the bun and “drape” them over, then secure with a no-slip bobby pin.
5. As you work your way forward take smaller sections and twist a little more each time.*don’t pin the twists too tightly. allow them to be loose and look effortless.
6. Leave out a little piece here and there toward the front or around the ear. wherever makes you feel more comfortable.
7. If neccessary, recurl just the loose bits in front, then spray a light veil of hairspray to secure the look.

All men and women enjoy perfume.  It is an accessory that everyone uses daily, and it suits all occasions and events. There are many brands and flavors to choose from, because people are different and they have different tastes. Nowadays, a lot of research is put into perfumes and fragrances as customers’ requirements grow.

Perfumes and fragrances come in different forms and sizes, depending on the taste and preference of the client. You can buy perfume, eau de toilette, cologne, but also other scented products with a refined aroma, such as oils, creams, lotions, scented candles, pearls and bathroom oils etc. Perfume is a very powerful tool, as it is well known that scent can influence a person’s mood, state of mind and can even help treat illnesses. That’s why it has been used for centuries in relaxation and meditation techniques, and Asian cultures often use scented oils for treating ill people.

When considering to purchase a perfume, you should take some things into consideration. First of all, the ingredients in a perfume interact with your skin, so if you’re allergic or have a very sensitive skin, you should check the ingredients and make sure that the perfume you want to buy does not affect your skin. Before buying a perfume, you should always try it on your skin, because it could smell very different than it does just spraying it into the air.

Try to experiment with different perfumes before settling for one. Try them on your skin and where possible, wear them for some days, to get a clear picture of what the perfume does to your mood, how you like it and how it complements your style. A perfume says a lot about people, about their taste, their personality and their character, so be careful when choosing. Don’t just buy a perfume because you like it on your best friend, because the same perfume might interact differently with your skin, and you may end up hating it.

It was only a matter of time before curly hairstyles made an appearance again. Hairstyles come and go and the straight hair craze is about ready to be replaced with gorgeous curly ringlets. If you are considering a perm to give you the curly look, there are some things that you should consider.

The Pros

A perm offers you great curls without the extra time in your hairstyling routine. Getting a curly look without a perm requires you to spend hours in front of the mirror with a curling iron or hot rollers. The perm gives you worry free curls every day without any special effort.

Today’s perms are much more hair friendly than the chemical laden products of the past. If you are concerned with using chemicals on your hair, you can rest assured that there are natural products on the market.

The Cons

If you enjoy changing your hairstyle frequently, a perm can limit your options. You will have to stick with the curly style for several months if you want a carefree hairstyle.

While the products on the market are gentler than in the past, it is still a permanent process. One bad perm can take months to grow out. You will have to suffer with bad hair for months until the hair grows out and can be restyled.

Home perms are a tricky proposition. Unless you know what you are doing, or you know someone who knows how to use the products, it might be a good idea to take your hair to a professional.