The Family Groove Fashion & Beauty

ASK A GROOVY GAL
TFG DEPUTY EDITOR AND BEAUTY DIRECTOR CHELSEA KAPLAN GIVES THE GUYS
THE GOODS ON GETTING GORGEOUS

What are hair masks? Should I be using one? —Jessica, Germantown, MD
In much the same way as facial masks revitalize skin, hair masks are meant to deliver concentrated, repairing treatments to your hair. Most are formulated to be hydrating and/or strengthening, adding a dose of moisturizing softness to damaged strands; if you choose a good one, it really can work transformative wonders, turning strawlike strands into silky ones. Here’s how to use them: When showering, simply slather on a quarter-sized drop post-shampoo just as you would with your everyday conditioner, leave on for a few minutes and then rinse as usual. For an even more intensive treatment, apply the mask after you shower, wrap your head in a warm towel for 10 to 15 minutes and then rinse. Some great choices include Bumble and bumble’s Creme de Coco Masque ($25, www.bumbleandbumble.com) and Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask ($4.89, www.drugstore.com). PureOlogy’s NanoWorks LuxuryHairMasque, which is especially perfect for color-treated hair, is amazing as well ($60, visit www.pureology.com for salons). My only warning: The results are so addictive that you’ll likely want to use your mask every day. Resist this temptation—unless your hair is ridiculously damaged, a daily dose will probably leave your strands limp and over-conditioned. Instead, limit your use to once or twice a week.

I just had a baby a month ago and am in that awful post-delivery state where my stomach still looks like I’m four months pregnant. Can you offer me any hints on what to wear so I don’t still look pregnant? —Amalia, Freeport, ME

After I had my second child, I lived for Spanx’s Hide and Sleek Girl Shorts ($46, www.spanx.com). This miracle tummy, butt and thigh shaper is legband-free and has minimal seams, which eliminates bulging on thighs and that uncomfortable waist nipping you get from a lot of shapewear. Like slightly shorter biker shorts on steroids, they create a smooth and sleek line from your waist to your upper thigh, allowing you to wear pants or skirts without looking like you’ve still got a bun in the oven. My favorite thing about them, however, is that they don’t look like you’re wearing a girdle; they’re actually kinda cute! Try them—I promise you’ll look much closer to your skinny, pre-pregnancy self.

I am in desperate need of some new makeup brushes. Which ones do you recommend as essentials? —Lainie, Irvine, CA

Though a multitude of makeup brushes exist, in my opinion, a makeup brush wardrobe requires a good blush brush; a big, fluffy bronzer/loose face powder brush; an angled eyebrow brush for filling in your brows and painting on powder eye shadow as liner; a concealer brush for precision cover-up application; and one or two good eye shadow brushes—preferably, one for depositing color all across your lids and another for contouring. When it comes to buying makeup brushes, I believe you do get what you pay for. Choose brushes with all-natural, animal-hair bristles (with the exception of your concealer brush—for that one, you want a brush with synthetic bristles, as they will pick up and deposit creamy concealer better than porous animal-hair bristles). If spending a lot on makeup brushes makes you cringe, think of it as an investment; most good-quality brushes should last you at least five years, if not many more. For top-quality brushes, check out those from MAC (its #129 blush/powder brush and #208 small angled brow brush are both amazing), Bobbi Brown Cosmetics (I adore the Eye Shader Brush, Concealer Brush and Eye Smudge Brush) and Trish McEvoy (check out her Luxurious Powder Brush). All brushes are available at www.nordstrom.com.

Need a good laugh? Click here to read all about Chelea's life with child—and one on the way—in her blog, “I'm Somebody's Mother?”