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Elleven Beauty Blog


Have you ever wondered why you can't seem to get close to the style you leave the salon with when you do it yourself? Your hairbrush may be partly to blame. Hairbrushes are actually the unsung heroes of a flawless 'do. Every type has a purpose, so let's explore how to pick the right brush. It may seem impossible to choose, but we've got the answers for you!



Thermal Brush

Want to look like you've got a fresh salon blowout? Thermals are designed to create smooth body and volume. The barrels speed up drying, hold heat, and regulate temperature to prevent heat damage. The vented barrel helps with heat dispersion and avoids tangles, with the added benefit of reducing frizz or static buildup. Smaller barrels are great for curls, while larger barrels are great for bouncy volume or subtle waves. They're a must-have for people that frequently use a hairdryer. They'll step up your whole blowout game!




Vented Brush

These handy little brushes are great for any hair type. You'd be surprised how much you'll love it! Not only does it speed up drying time due to the vented back, but the heat can reach all angles, which prevents additional heat damage. It's also the brush of choice for stylists when brushing freshly curled hair after it has cooled down. Whether you choose a curved or paddle style brush, you can't go wrong.



Curved Brush

These brushes are great for evenly distributing your hair's natural oil. They cut down on drying time, and we all love that! It grabs more hair at one time than another type of brush would, pulling it more consistently into place. The curved design shapes easily to your scalp and head. They're great for detangling, styling, blow drying, and blowout touch-ups. These are also a must-have for those of us rocking hand-tied extensions.



Boar Bristle Brush

A good boar bristle brush can change the game up. They polish the hair by distributing the hair's natural oils from root to tip and lessen breakage during styling. It creates a shine by closing the cuticle. These are great for everyone, but they're a must-have for styling curly or fine hair. These are very gentle on your scalp and tresses. A thinner boar bristle brush is also great for teasing to add volume at the root. One of the biggest benefits is that they remove dead strands, leaving you with healthier hair.



Paddle Brush

Paddle brushes are great for everyone! It’s a must-have in any hair care routine, but it's a particularly good option for long, thick, or naturally straight hair. It's perfect for detangling, smoothing, and polishing. This makes them even more valuable in winter! Those oversized sweaters are amazing, but the static often means your hair just won't behave. A paddle brush is the answer! To smooth hair most effectively, use when drying your hair. Begin drying your hair with the brush needed for your desired effect until your hair is about 80-90% dry, then finish it off with a paddle brush. This will keep your locks looking silky smooth.



Wide-Toothed Comb

Everyone needs a good wide-toothed comb in their beauty kit. It can tackle almost anything! They're great for everything from loosening curls after setting to distributing your conditioner or hair mask in the shower. The thick teeth and wide gaps get out knots with ease. They're great for separation on dry hair. These are an absolute must-have for thick or curly hair. People with a lot of hair will breathe sighs of relief once they try this game-changer. It allows the hair to easily flow through and give you a seamless finish.



Detangling Brush

Detangling brushes are designed to be used on wet or dry hair, and even while you're in the shower! The flexible bristles remove knots and tangles without breakage. This brush is great for everyone, but if you have textured or curly hair, this is definitely a brush for you. You can rest assured that your hair won't pull, tug, or snag. The widely spaced bristles unlock knots like magic! Make sure to detangle from the ends and work your way up to get the best result.



Now that you have the complete guide to hairbrushes, you can live your best life! Say goodbye to bad hair days and hello to your new flawless style. Who says you can't have a DIY salon-style 'do at home? Your selfie-ready hair is right around the corner. Follow this hairbrush guide and you'll be rocking that perfect style in no time!

Updated: Feb 28, 2023


This summer's makeup had us rocking all bold everything. This fall is more of a mixture of both bold and softer looks. Most are opting for played down foundation with bolder shadows and cheeks.

We're totally into these fall looks that add some spice to our makeup routine!



All Coral Everything


Coral is one of the main colors of the season for eyes, cheeks, and lips. Coral tones were a bit passé for the last few years, but this fall they’re making a huge comeback. It covers everything from lunch with the girls to a fun night out. Your best bet is to pair lips with a brown liner to make your coral lipstick really pop! You can opt for a matte lip or a full-on gloss. Try a monochromatic coral eye and coral cheek to achieve a classy, beautiful look.




Base Makeup


Now, think of is a more natural, dewy look. It's totally in this season! Go for the barely there look. It's time to put away that full-coverage, matte foundation and thicker concealer. Go for a light-medium coverage or a sheer formula. Always start with a good moisturizer first, then add a light layer of foundation to compliment your natural complexion. Many professional makeup artists are all about pairing the dewy skin with a matte lip and eye to get that well-rounded, thought out look.


Underpainting is also really big this season. It's a seamless, natural blend you can achieve by applying creamed bronzer and blush under your foundation. It gives skin that dewy appearance that everyone is raving about. Just apply the creamed products first, then add your light to medium coverage foundation on top. You'll fall in love with this look!



Fluffy Brows


Thicker brows are definitely in, and they're super easy to achieve. To get this look, brush your brows upward. This hides any gaps or spaces. Apply the clear brow gel to keep the brows in place, and you're good to go!



Cheeks


The look of the season is burnt blush. Go for brick-like or peachy hues. Think along the lines of the colors of fall leaves. This season, we don't stop at apply it to the apples of our cheeks. Now, we're going all out. Brush it lightly under eyes and over your nose. It brings warmth and color to your complexion. It sounds a like a big jump from what we're used to, but once you give it a try, you'll be glad you did!




Double-Winged Eyeliner


Time to step your eyeliner game and turn the drama all the way up! Black is no longer the only option. Make a statement and go bold! Choose any color you'd like. After all, eyeshadow turned eyeliner is actually one of the looks this season.

To get that amazing double-winged look, form your favorite winged or cat-eye liner style first. If you can't get the shape quite right, try an eyeliner stencil to make life a little easier. Once you've gotten your regular liner on, it's time to turn up the drama! Take your liner and carefully line it from the inner part of the lid, line the crease, and attach to the end of the bottom wing. Voila! You have amazingly chic look to rock day or night!



Imprecise Smudged Eyeliner


Some people prefer to stay away from the bold eyeliner such as a cat-eye or wings. This season, they're in luck! Smudged liner is everywhere. Try a creamy pencil to get the best outcome. This sooty, sultry look is so easy to master. Think of it as a more polished version of your next day eyeliner when you forget to wash it at night. For the best result, try a kohl liner on top and bottom. Smudge it out with an eyeshadow brush or the sponge that may be attached to the other end of your eyeliner. It's a gorgeous look that's nearly effortless.



Pastel & Vivid Eyeshadow


Vivids and pastels may seem like a spring/summer trend, but this fall is all about it. We're breaking the pattern and going for maximum drama. Blues, greens, purples, and pinks are totally in! Whether you want to rock a bold blue or a pastel purple, you can't go wrong. For the best results with pastels, apply a pastel cream base and set it with the corresponding eyeshadow to make it as pigmented as possible.





Blues

Blues are a favored look this season, and this retro hue doesn't stop at baby blue! All tones are poppin' and flooding the red carpet. Try a teal or lighter blue on the inner half of your lids with a darker shade of blue on the outer half of your eyelid. If you're feeling adventurous, pair it with a blue eyeliner to really make it pop. For maximum effect, pair it with a light or dark red lip to really make a statement!



Lips

Get ready to amp up your lips with warm or bold hues that have either a matte or vinyl finish. This season, think bold reds, burgundy, earth tones, nudes, or black cherry. You can even opt for a caramel or coral. Go for a matte lip/eye combo or opt for the other end of the spectrum and go with shiny eyes and vinyl lips that are so glossy you could see your reflection!

Who knew dark lip liner would come back around? Perfectly lined and defined lips are flooding our Instagram feed and dominating the red carpet. Go for a color that's darker than your lips and 2-3 shades darker than your lip color for the maximum effect.



Now that you've got the scoop on the top trends of the season, you can go out with makeup that's red carpet ready! We're in love with these earth tones mixed with bold pops of color. It's time to break out that sheer base, bold eyeshadow or pastel palette, and try some of these amazing seasonal looks that are sure to make you feel like a 10! Not only will you feel like your best self, you'll also turn some heads!

Updated: Feb 28, 2023


Velcro rollers are making a huge comeback. On TikTok alone, #velcrorollers has over 67.8 million views! That's not surprising considering beauty maintenance can cost some coin, and this beauty hack takes that stress away. Think you can't achieve the curl you want from velcro rollers? Breaking news: You can!

They're perfect for any style or length, and most importantly they give your hair a break from damaging heat styling. Why weren't we doing this all along?



A Little Bit About Velcro Rollers

Since these amazing, inexpensive wonders came into our lives, we see how versatile they really are! Coming in small, medium, and large sizes, you can get just the right size to get the look that you're shooting for. Opt for smaller curls, waves, or just va-va-voom volume! It can be a great way to get bouncy body, even at the crown. Did we mention they're good for all textures? Even those of us with thin hair have no problem achieving these hairstyles and that coveted volume.


With so many stunning heat-free hairstyles to choose from, why not give your hair a break? Overuse of heat styling results in brittle, dry, frizzy hair. If you're looking to avoid that, this can change the game up. Your hair will thank you!



How to Get That Perfect Style

All you need to get started are velcro rollers, hairpins, and hairspray to get these effortless looks.

First, decide which look you're going for. If you're looking for more defined curls, stick to small rollers, mediums achieve a wavy look, and larges give you that intense volume.


Next, separate your hair into three sections and pin each to keep them separate. Break each one up into smaller sections, rolling up one of the smaller section pieces at a time. Always roll away from the face, inward from ends to roots. The rollers are meant to be self-gripping, but you can add a little hairpin to keep it in place if you feel like it needs a little bit more support.


Ideally you should plan to wear the rollers for around 15-30 minutes, depending on how thick your hair is. If you're in a hurry, you can blow dry your hair once it's in the rollers to cut down on the time, but don't forget to let the hair cool down before you add the hairspray. If you're looking for fast volume, just pop a few larger rollers on the crown of your head, waiting for about the amount of time it takes to do your makeup, then take them out. Poof! You'll instantly be glad you used them.


It's important to remember how you should remove the rollers. Don't simply unroll them or you may be unhappy with the result. Grab each roller and pull from your roots. This acts like a brush while you take the rollers out. Most people prefer to start from the bottom to make it easier.


Once they’re all out, brush your fingers through your newly voluminous hair. Apply a light layer of hairspray and voila! It's kind of amazing that you can get the same effect as a visit to a blow dry bar while you're home in your pajamas! It doesn't get much better than that.



Our Take on Velcro Rollers

Turns out, our mothers and grandmothers knew what they were doing. No matter what hot tools they come out with, we think the old school method has the right idea. You can get them in all sizes, travel light, and use them for all types of hair and styles to choose from. The winning factor for us was the lack of heat you need to apply to your hair. There's nothing your hair loves more than when you keep it healthy and as heat-free as possible. Let's give our hair what it's begging for and give those hot tools a rest. Now we have a quick and affordable way to get selfie-ready hair that doesn't take forever. That wins in our book!


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