Kate Gosselin of "Jon & Kate Plus 8." Her hair is getting plenty of attention.

What do you think of Kate Gosselin’s hair?  I’m not a regular watcher of the TLC series “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” but I must say her hairstyle (and her style transformation) intrigues me.

 She’s gone from brown hair to bleached blonde and streaked. The crown is short and punkish with an asymmetrical side sweep.  And word is that women are going into salons asking for the Kate cut.  Speak up, what do you think?

ate Gosselin, star of TLC's hit show, Jon & Kate Plus 8, speaks Wednesday May 13, 2009, at the Frauenthal Center in Muskegon, Mich.

Redken Blonde glam hair care products

Calling all blondes. Redken just made it easier to get and maintain your perfect color.

Redken’s new Blonde Glam Collection includes in-salon hair color in several colors, Blonde Icing Power Lift lightening solution and at-home maintenance products Perfect Platinum Color Enhancer and Blonde Glam Rich Vanilla Color Enhancer.

“Bright, light shades are the must-have hair color this summer,” said Tracey Cunningham, Redken creative consultant for color and Hollywood colorist. “There are so many variations of  blonde shades that clients want to play with to achieve the prefect beachy color this summer — from icy platinum blondes to cool dark blondes.”

The color enhancers retail for $17. To find a Redken salon, go online to redken.com.

Give hair, skin and your wallet a break by turning down the hot water heater. Showering with hot water oepns the hair cuticles unnecessarily and can leave skin and scalp dry and itchy, said  Michael O’Rourke, founder of Sexy Hair.

After washing hair, rinse with cool or cold water to close the cuticles. The cooler water temperature will also leave hair shiny and more healthy.  Also, try to let hair rest in between washings and only lather up  every other day.

Not only is this bette for your hair, it will limit your shower use to 5 to 10 minutes and save thousands of gallons of water monthly.

Pureology EssentialRepair shampoo with zerosulphate.

Pureology has introduced a new line of products called EssentialRepair created for over processed, damaged, fragile and color treated hair. Soy milk and a concentrated dose of pure biotin help fortify and defend against hair damage, while organic botanics of nurturing olive oil and chamomile restore softness and healthy shine.

The ZeroSulfate shampoo and AntiFade Complex maximize color retention.

The EssentialRepair line includes zerosulfate shampoo; hair condition that nourishes distressed hair;  split end correcting treatment that seals split ends while protecting color;  ColourMax to repair distressed hair while delivering extra color protection and radiant shine;  Instant Repair to fortify against damage; and Restorative Hair Masque to nourish distressed hair, renew moisture and fortify against damage.

Prices are $22 for the Colour Max;  $27 for the shampoo and conditioner; $28 for Instant Repair; $40 for Split End Correcting Treatment; and $50 for the Restorative Hair Masque.

Pureology products are available in salons and online at www.pureology.com. You can find nearby salons on the Web site.

Actress Kate Hudsdon

Plenty of women are envious of actress Kate Hudson’s soft waves and slightly disheveled hair.  No need to be jealous anymore.

Maybe she owes it all to the products she uses. Hudson’s haircare line is David Babaii for WildAid. In 2007 Hollywood hairstylist Babaii created his own haircare line with Kate Hudson to promote WildAid’s conservation efforts.

The products are an exclusive blend of exotic natural ingredients free of sulfates, parabens, animal products and animal testing.  A percentage of sales goes to WildAid. The hair care line is  eco-friendly and cruelty free. 

Products cost $12.99 or less and are available at SallyBeauty.com.

Babaii shares these tips and productsto get Hudson’s sexy beach waves:

1. Wash with Amplifying Shampoo and Conditioner, named Best Green Hair Care in InStyle magazine’s 2009 Best Beauty Buys.

2. Spray your whole head with Bohemian Beach Spray, a finalist in the CEW 2009 Beauty Insiders Choice Awards. (Winners will be announced May 1.)

3. Scrunch or twist sections before drying or allowing to air dry.

4. To set it all in place, lightly spray your hair with Mise en Plis Extra Hold Styling Spray, which New Beauty magazine named a 2009 Reader’s Favorite.

But a new hair color product has caught my attention. It’s L’Oreal’s Excellence-To-Go, an at-home hair coloring product that takes less than half the time. And that’s for either roots or full application.

According to press information, the hair color collection came from the challenge to meet the demands of busy women on the go. The new formula offers the same color benefits of Excellence, including complete gray coverage in 10 minutes.

Choose from 12 shades. Cost is $9.49.

I’m not about to leave my colorist, but I think I’ll give this product a try next time I need a little bang touch-up.  I’ll let you know what I think. Meanwhile, see you in a few weeks Michelle.

Perhaps that explains why more celebrities are going for bangs. Bangs instead of Botox. Hmmm. A simple snip is a cheap way to hide those fine lines.

During the recession, people are cutting back on unnecessary procedures such as Botox, said Suki Duggan of Donsuki Townhouse Salon in New York City. Bangs can hide those brow lines at a smidgen of the price of an injection. Ouch!

“A lot of my clients are asking for bangs as a way to hide the imperfections of their forehead,” Duggan said.

Stylish and thrifty.

What do you think of Hilary Swank with bangs? And Kate Walsh? Lookin’ good.

Brenda Berry of Brilli Salon in Chicago offers a few tips to help keep your hair color looking good between salon appointments.

·      Start with a shampoo and conditioner that is formulated for color-treated hair. When hair is dyed, the hair shaft becomes weaker and more fragile. Shampoos and conditioners that are formulated for color-treated hair contain ingredients that help to moisturize hair as well as prolong color. One of the biggest concerns about regular shampoos and conditioner is that they strip hair of color because they contain such potent cleansing ingredients. Choosing a product that is formulated to make your color last will really make a difference.

·      Many of us use a heat styling tool on our hair to either add body or straighten. Berry said it’s best to use a ceramic pressing iron on hair rather than a traditional curling iron as the ceramic iron closes the cuticle and locks in the color. “Traditional curling irons really do a number on hair, causing it to break off and dry it out.”

·    Finally, Berry advises customers to ask for a clear gloss treatment before they leave the salon. This will help the cuticle open and the color will be absorbed into the hair much quicker. The gloss will also leave hair with incredible shine which will last for a couple of weeks.

Brenda Berry of Brilli Salon in Chicago says tha tsome of the most drastic changes people can make appearance-wise come from changing their hair.  “By changing your style, cut or color you can really look like a completely different person.” But what do you do when you want to make small changes without chopping off your locks or dying it wacky colors? Berry offers these cheap and easy tips:

·         “Adding bangs are the easiest way to update your look, without losing any length.” Berry advises to pick a style of bang that is suited to your face shape. For instance, if you have a round face and small forehead, you should go with side swept bangs.  Those that have a more oval or heart-shaped face, should go with a heavier bang to bring out their eyes. “Remember, the most dramatic the bang, the more you will have to get them trimmed, she says.

·    Another easy way to change up your do is to change your part. It may seem trivial but it really makes a difference. “If you always wear your hair parted on the same side or down the middle, you can really see a difference by altering the placement of your part.” The other great thing Berry says about changing up your part is that it will create instant volume at the root. “Parting your hair on the opposite side that it’s accustomed to will create great lift no product needed.”

·        If you want to brighten up your look, go for soft highlights. “Soft highlights instantly brighten up your face and if you only get two or three on each side, they are relatively inexpensive.”

·         If you have medium to long hair, adding a few long layers will create more movement and fullness.  It will also help with frizz and flyways too. “Cutting layers will help eliminate dryness as well as cut frizz because you are cutting the dead ends off before they start splitting at the hair shaft.”

·     Finally, add a headband or another hair accessory. “Headbands are really trendy right now and come in a variety of sizes and styles to complement all personalities and face shapes. If headbands aren’t your thing, try a pin or barrette.  They can instantly dress up your do and make it look great without having to spend a ton of time or money on making your hair look good.