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Composing music is an art that requires a lot dedication that most people prefer not to venture into due to the fear that their music may not be fully accepted. Simple ways that can help in coming up with your own wonderful compositions include:

1. Have a music composition goal

Before embarking on composing it is good to understand why you are composing the song. Is it for you or for others? This will highly influence the words and the tone in the music.

2. Understand your mood

Music is an expression of how one feels and thus it is very important to understand what exactly the music should portray.

3. Always start with lyrics before writing the music

This may sound absurd but it works very well for inexperienced composers. When one comes up with words first, he/she is able to formulate the right beats that will fit into the lyrics. Writing lyrics also helps one to understand what words to focus on and thus to be used more times in the song.

4. Listen to your brain

For most renowned composers, music starts lyrics which keep on repeating themselves in the mind. For amateur composers it’s advisable to write down such words to come up with lyrics. During such a session, a quiet environment is the most ideal as it promotes one’s level of thinking.

5. Learn from compositions of others

Having made your own music is important to compare what you have made with what others have come up with. That is why it’s important to have a musical role model/mentor with whom you can compare works. This also helps one to learn about the areas where they need to improve or the changes needed on their own compositions.

6. Make Use of music composition software

Music composition software is a set of programs that help in writing, music by helping to organize one’s work and allows one to see what they are playing. The software comes with a playback feature to allow the composer listen to what he has come up with and thus make the necessary changes.

7. Chose the right instruments

Accompaniments make music to definitely sound better. Thus it’s important to choose those instruments that will bring out the desired sound and beat. A grand piano is a great way to start as it brings out the notes more clearly.

8. Seek honest opinions of others

It’s good to let others hear what you have come up with as they are in a position to advice you on which areas need improve. A person who is not as close would be able to give unbiased opinions.

9. Do something different

For instance learn how to play a new instrument that will make the overall quality of music better or practice an octave higher.

10. Practice makes perfect

Never stop practicing even when you think you’ve got it all pat. A daily practice routine will go a long way in yielding a desired outcome.

Thomas K is an avid musician. He has been writing and performing music for years. He is a family man and enjoys to write things about his children, check out his website Childrens electric toothbrush.

It was the type of conversation we’ve all heard, and then thought, “I’d never do that!” In a small restaurant north of San Francisco, I heard a woman loudly complaining to a friend about the ingratitude of a relative. “I just don’t understand it,” the woman said. “I tried to be helpful. You know, her husband is in critical condition, and she just about bit my head off when I offered to help. You’d think she’d be more appreciative.”

EMOTIONAL SHOCK

Often the term “shock” is used to describe changes in a person’s behavior because of a traumatic event. Nineteen physiological symptoms have been identified, but very little is written about the effect an emotional shock has on words and actions. And when they are noted, most people identify them as aberrations of the person’s usual character. That’s so unlike him, or Yes, I know she can be self-centered at times, but this is ridiculous, are the types of statements I often hear when someone is describing a strange or hurtful behavior by a good friend or loved one.

In many cases, these “bizarre” behaviors begin shortly after a traumatic event and often linger. I think one reason they are misunderstood is that what’s traumatic for one person may be of little consequence to another. The loss of a pet may be just as traumatic, or even more so, than the loss of a spouse. The inability to run competitively for a professional athletic may produce more emotional shock than the loss of a leg of someone who was always been physically inactive. It’s the consequences of losses that are of significance, rather than where they should fall on an abstract list of things that are “important.”

THE EXPERIENCE

I witnessed an interaction between two friends that followed an emotionally traumatic event. In individual conversations with me, each said the other was uncaring and each looked to me to verify their own, unique interpretation of what occurred. I felt I was in the middle of the wonderful 1950′s movie. Rashomon by Akira Kurosawa, where three characters each describe a terrible event. But the description of each differs according to each person’s needs. And so it did for my friends. Each filtered what had occurred through the pain each was experiencing.

For more than thirty years in various capacities, I witnessed the effects of emotional shock. As a communications counselor I’ve seen “hostility” in clients who realize that their ability to communicate in a certain way is gone. As a speech-language pathologist I watched the “unexplainable” reactions of parents when they accepted that the dreams they had for their child would never be fulfilled. As a hospice caregiver I’ve witnessed the transformation of emotional shock into the “abusive” reactions of family members as the death of a loved one approached. As a change consultant, I’ve listened to supervisors describe the sudden “bizarre” changes in an otherwise model employee. And as a university professor, I’ve been the recipient of “hostile” personal invectives by a graduate student when I gave him a B+ instead of an A- for a term paper.

WHAT TO DO

Despite understanding that traumatic events effect relationships, my patients and clients felt unable to change their behaviors and words in the midst of an emotional shock. They looked back and couldn’t believe the hurtful words and behaviors that came from them. Even with hindsight, few believed they could have done or said anything other than what they did. If reactions to traumatic events are more irrational than rational-and I believe they are-then the focus on how to minimize their destructive effects falls on the person who is receiving the abuse.

As a hospice bedside volunteer for eight years, I’ve learned to park my ego outside the doors of my patients. There are instances when I’m just collateral damage for my patient’s anger at what is physically happening to them or the family’s frustration at a loved one’s discomfort. Just as the experience of dying is not about me, the emotional shock that translates into unskillful acts and words of a friend or loved one is not about you.

But understanding the unskillful acts of others, doesn’t mean “turning the other cheek.” A more appropriate response is the type found in the marshal art of Aikido, where you defend yourself while protecting your attacker. Defending yourself involves understanding that the invectives thrown out against you are probably more a reflection of your attacker’s unresolved problems then anything about you. Protecting him or her requires the type of restraint you might use when a drunk who can barely stand picks a fight with you, or a devastated loved one accuses you of unimaginable behaviors.

Arguing rationally with someone in emotional shock rarely changes their view, and more likely will result in building an even higher defensive wall. Although you may believe that counter-attacking is a way of disputing a delusional belief and protecting yourself, it can be destructive to a valued relationship. Learn from the Aikido Masters. Listen, don’t confront, and gently turn away your attacker’s anger by being supportive.

Stan Goldberg, Ph.D.. author of 6 books,100′s articles on end-of-life, grieving, and the recovery of joy. His book, Lessons for the Living was awarded the 2009 Best New International Book at the London Book Festival and an excerpt was the lead chapter in McClead’s Best Buddhist Writings of 2010.

Buying gold jewelry can be an intimidating prospect especially if your knowledge of gold and or jewelry is limited. Gold is such a precious metal and whether the jewelry you seek is for yourself or someone special, you want it to be perfect. There is a lot to know about gold and with a little bit of knowledge before you buy you can be sure to make the right purchase.

First, there are different karats of gold to choose from including 10 karat, 14 karat, 18 karat and 24 karat. The karat of gold refers to its purity or how much of the gold is pure gold as opposed to other metals. 10 karat gold is 10 parts gold or 41.7% pure gold. This is the minimum amount of gold required for it still to be called gold. 14 karat gold is 14 parts gold or 58.3% pure and 18 karat gold is 18 parts gold or 75% pure. Gold in its most pure form is 24 karat gold with no other metals mixed with it.

In order to decide which karat of gold is the best choice for you, consider what you want to get out of the piece. If you want a piece that will last for a lifetime and are looking to make an investment, consider purchasing a piece that is 18 karat or 24 karat gold. However, keep in mind that the higher karats of gold are going to be much softer making them susceptible to dings and scratches. If you want a piece that is beautiful, durable yet a bit more affordable go with a lower karat of gold.

Gold also comes in a variety of colors giving you even more options when it comes to picking out a new piece of jewelry. All gold starts out yellow in color but can be altered to become white, green, rose or even black. No color of gold is any more valuable than another; price is directly correlated with the gold’s karat. When deciding on a color for your gold jewelry, personal preference is all the information you need. Also consider design when choosing a new piece. The more intricate design the piece has, the more you will most likely pay for it. More simple designs will be easier on the wallet.

When you go in to a store and begin browsing the collections they have to offer, be sure to ask a lot of questions. Ask the salesperson what the karat of the gold is. Retailers are not required to label gold with its karat, so asking is key. Reliable and well known jewelers can be trusted to be honest about a piece of jewelry’s karat and value. You must be a bit more careful if you are shopping online. Do some research on a site before hitting “add to cart”. Look for reviews and be sure to review their return policy. Once you purchase a piece of gold jewelry online, you should be able to take it to a jeweler and have them to a gold test on it to determine its purity.

Ronnie Adolf is the president of Adolf Jewelers, a local Richmond jewelry store. Adolf Jewelers offers a huge selection of Richmond engagement rings and Richmond designer jewelry. Adolf Jewelers can be found online at: AdolfJewelers.com .

As we approach another holiday season of gratitude, giving and being thankful, what lessons have we learned from the current economic conditions?

Many of us have been living beyond our means for a long time and people of color especially have stressed themselves into early graves in their quest to “keep up with the Joneses” and to “give their children the things they did not have.”

The elements of being thankful should not be rooted in the number of gifts one receives or outdoing the neighbors, but taking into consideration all that surrounds us each and every day with the understanding that it can be taken away so quickly.

In Japanese culture, the psychology of Naikan provides guidelines that identify a more authentic life that incorporates gratitude and being thankful for the things that we often take for granted in making our own lives possible.

Through self reflective practices, there is a new awareness that is built upon the inner gifts that do not require external material elements that are short term in satisfaction.

We often wonder why many young people today are so easily distracted or never satisfied. Clearly, effective marketing strategies that are specifically designed to generate short term boosts based on “fad mentality” are partially to blame.

Each year, the “new and improved” or “latest version” adds to the “must have at any cost” mania that pervades our society, but the lack of introspection and a not-being thankful nature only increases the dissatisfaction and ingratitude. So, we have evolved into a society of complainers and only in times of crisis do we return to the basics in a wistful “I wish I could have appreciated what I had.” It is time to make that change.

Why wait until you “hit the emotional wall or a physical crisis” before being thankful? Why wait for the ad agency driven commercialism to determine how you can be thankful and what gifts to share?

Do you realize how much time you waste complaining about what you don’t have versus rejoicing about the things you do have? Do you notice how tired you become when you are around someone who complains all the time?

Research has shown how negativity can be so draining and how positive energy helps to revive your spirit. Just imagine having the spirit of the holidays and the essence of gratitude and being thankful all year round. It all begins with you. Take your own accounting — not of your bank account, but your life account.

The art of life accounting and tracking the blessings in your life is the start of your “being thankful with no time to complain” model.

Next, the art of giving of yourself to others through service and support provides more positive and productive reinforcement. Just volunteering for a photo opportunity or because it is the holiday season is not enough.

We are all given talents and gifts that we too often take for granted and are only loaned to us to benefit others. It is time to “give back” and to share those blessings and to live the example that you expect others to follow. And teach that to your children.

I once marveled at a prayer given by a Native American holy man who took the time to give thanks not just for the food we were about the eat, but the air we breathed and the elements that helped the crops and animals, the cleansing waters that flowed and the earth from which the food was harvested. That caused me to reflect on all the things that we fail to be thankful for within us and around us in our quest for material goods.

Years ago, a dear friend was paralyzed in a car accident and his outlook on life left an impression on me. I was thankful for the things that he was still able to do and he was not one to complain, because you could see how big his heart was and his giving spirit.

His gifts to the world were still limitless and I treasured his friendship and that spirit. It just reminds one of the saying about not complaining when you have no shoes when you see someone who has no feet. Some people have shoes that they do not even use that someone else could be wearing.

This season should not be any different from any other day because everyday is a holiday and a time for giving and being thankful. The time we take to complain should be replaced with giving thanks for all the blessings that we take lightly and all the people who have been a positive part of that experience and giving back – and that does not always have to be monetarily.

Hard times are not new, but how we deal with them by digging further into debt as a means to escape and compensate is not the answer.

When the fame and fortune are gone, the faith and fortitude to maintain that spirit of gratitude is what will make the difference. We need to teach our children by first living the example of being a gracious giver based upon those basic, internal gifts that make the playing field level.

Visit a nursing home, bake cookies for new neighbors, plant flowers in the neighborhood, smile at a sales clerk, make someone laugh, or write a letter to thank a veteran – just make a difference. It will come back to you.

Gratitude is an interpersonal, lifelong attitude that encourages sharing one’s blessings and not a promotional, seasonal theme focused on being expensive gifts. Think about it!

Meta J. Mereday is a writer for ; Regal Black Mens Magazine The publication focuses on ; African American Community News Politics Sports Health The magazine features a ; Local Online Classifieds & Job Classified Black Business Directory Visit to read about ; being thankful

Every woman dreams of achieving the perfect hairstyle for Christmas and New Year festivities. If you have to attend plenty of parties during the holidays, you’ll need to plan ahead with your stylist or hairdresser, lest you get stuck with the same old do from Christmases past.

If you’re a woman in her forties or fifties, finding new and up-to-date hairstyles might be a little more difficult than your younger counterparts. Covering up flaws or signs of aging is another factor that must be considered when choosing a holiday hairstyle. While it is challenging, it doesn’t mean that you’ll have to keep wearing your hair in a chignon or twist year in and year out.

You can start by looking at hair magazines or other celebrity publications for more ideas, but here are a few suggestions you may want to consider.

Holiday Hairstyles for the 40 something woman

1. The Full and Smooth Look is In. According to Hollywood stylists, women in their 40s would look great with glossy and shiny hair. Having a rich and flattering hair color would be a plus for the holidays.

2. Make Accessories Work For You. A slim headband with Swarovski crystals can be the perfect complement to your usual up do.

3. Experiment with some texture. Mature women who wear their hair short could benefit from some texturing. For a new holiday do, whip out the styling creams, mousses and pomades and layer on!

4. More Bangs for the Buck. Wearing bangs is a big welcome change for a woman in her 40′s. It can make for a younger fresher look, and at the same time hide lines that are starting to show a bit more prominently.

Holiday Hairstyles for the Golden Girl

Just because you reached the big five-oh doesn’t mean you can’t play with different hairstyles. For women in their fifties, stylists are suggesting layered cuts that give hair room for movement this holiday season. Here are some more suggestions:

1. Texturized Bangs Will Do the Trick You can take years off your face without botox or cosmetic surgery. Just have your stylist give your bangs a pre party trim to add some texture to your fringe.

2. Moisturize and Deep Condition Your Hair. Sometimes a new do isn’t really necessary when you already have something good going on. Improve the way your tresses look by moisturizing and deep conditioning. This will immediately add fullness, body and shine. Olive oil, Jojoba oil and shea butter treatments are highly recommended.

3. Add Subtle Streaks You’ve accessorized, moisturized and texturized… so what’s missing? Yes, some color. Holiday hairstyles call for color and even mature women can enjoy flattering color highlights to accentuate their complexion. Doing so would make you glow during the holidays.

Finding current holiday hairstyles for mature women need not be a chore if you know where to look. Start browsing magazines for inspiration and fresh ideas. Pretty soon you’ll realize that beautiful hair is ageless and timeless. There’s so much that an artist’s hand can do.

Kristy is a professional stylist and writer. Need help choosing a new hair iron? Make sure to check out the best flat iron for black hair. Read reviews on professional irons at http://flatironsreviews.com

The holiday season is the time for elegant parties and red carpet affairs. For most women, it’s their chance to show off their figures and porcelain skin with the little black dress or evening gown. Great accessories, knock-out shoes, fantastic make up and hairstyles all add up to the charm of the overall package. You look stunning, smell divine, and feel like a Hollywood star until it starts snowing or so you thought. It turns out, the flakes are coming from your hair.

This nightmare happens more often than you think during the cold months and far too many men and women have ran out hiding in embarrassment. Dandruff is a damper to any party during any time of the year, but somehow during the holidays, the number of victims increase dramatically.

The Flaky Spell of Winter

Winter brings cold, dry air which causes our skin and scalps to dry out. As you very well know, dandruff is nothing but peeled off flecks of dry skin from your scalp. The cold and dry weather condition is causing your scalp to dry out much faster and flake off more than usual. Some people choose to wear hats and scarves over their hair to cover up dandruff, but you can only get away with this for so long.

You cannot hide nor run away from this problem the whole wintertime. You would eventually need to take that hat or scarf off. People will still be seeing the unsightly flecks over your shoulder and cringing whenever you come too near the punch bowl or buffet table. Do not ignore dandruff. You have to look for the fastest and easiest way to get rid of it.

How to Treat Dandruff

The fungus that causes the scalp to turn itchy and dry is bad enough during the summer but it also thrives during the cold months. Scratching your itchy scalp only aggravates the problem and may cause more damage than good as your fingernails might cause scalp wounds.

There are several ways to go about treating dandruff. You may opt to go organic and start with a regular scalp massage using either olive, jojoba or coconut oil to moisturize the scalp and loosen off the already dried skin. Treating the fungus, on the other hand, requires something stronger than essential oils.

1. Natural Remedies – Tea tree oil is a potent but natural treatment for fungus-caused dandruff. It also has antiseptic properties that arrest the itchiness and redness of your scalp. Tea tree oil must be applied on clean hair and scalp, massaged thoroughly and left on for several minutes. Depending on the severity of your dandruff, you may need to do this twice a day.

2. Dandruff Shampoos and Conditioners. If you don’t want the hassle of mixing oils and massaging them on your scalp, you can go for the ready made anti-dandruff shampoos and conditioners. There are hundreds of brands to choose from on the market, so you’re sure to find one that will work for you.

3. If you’ve tried several treatments and dandruff is still ruining your elegant black dress , it may be time to seek an expert’s help.

Kristy is a professional stylist and writer. Need help choosing a new hair iron? Make sure to check out the best hair straighteners. Read reviews on professional irons at http://hairstraightenersreviews.com

Split ends and hair breakage are problems that are present whole year round but escalate once the cold winds start blowing. If you’re wondering why, it’s because hair is more brittle and dry during winter. The cold dry winds strip the hair of moisture and the presence of electric heaters seriously compromise hair texture. There’s only so much torture that your hair can take before it literally reaches its breaking point.

What Can You Do For Your Hair?

Wintertime should definitely be about your hair and nothing else! This is a critical time of the year when hair is prone to most damage and also the season where your hair is expected to be at its prettiest. With all the parties and gatherings scheduled, it would be a huge embarrassment to show up with dry and frizzy hair. You don’t want to have flat, lifeless and damaged hair with split ends during this time of the year.

As we all know, split ends and hair breakage can be brought about by prolonged exposure to heat whether that is under the sun or heat from styling aids, spotlights or klieg lights. Here are several things you can do to take care of your hair during the cold winter months:

1. Avoid Exposure to Heat. The sun may be on vacation, but the intense heat of blow dryers, curling irons, flat irons, crimpers and whatever else are still there. If you plan to change hairstyles with every party you’ll be attending, try to go for the ones which do not require styling gadgets. With hair already dry and vulnerable, exposing them to unnecessary heat might cause permanent damage.

2. Stay Away from Heavy Chemical Products. If you must use hair products, choose those which are organic or natural as much as possible. Bombarding your hair with heavy chemicals when it is weak and brittle already will be detrimental to your tresses.

3. Handle With Care. Do not over brush, over-style or pull on your hair during the winter. What it needs is to be handled gently and with great care and love. Comb hair slowly, work out the tangles with care and cover your hair when going outdoors.

4. Moisturize. Treat your tired tresses to protein treatments, extra nourishing conditioners and nutrient wraps as often as you can. You can try a home hot oil treatment with coconut oil, jojoba oil, olive oil or shea butter and leave it on for about half an hour to one hour for best results.

5. Split ends and hair breakage are serious hair problems which should not be taken lightly. Dry and cold air wreaks havoc on your hair cuticle and scalp.It deprives your hair of necessary moisture. Since the cold weather causes hair cuticles to tighten or contract, moisturizing hair becomes twice as hard compared to warmer months. You must remember to use more hair conditioners, moisturizers, butters and waxes and apply them more often to prevent your hair from drying out and weakening during the cold months.

Kristy is a professional stylist and writer. Need help choosing a new hair iron? Make sure to check out the best straightener. Read reviews on professional irons at http://hairstraightenersreviews.com

We know that the up do’s are the hairstyle of choice for formal occasions and events because it accentuates the right features of most women. Whether you choose to draw attention to your neck, shoulders, eyes or cheekbones, the up do does the job.

There are many different styles and variations of the updo that would work for any hair length or style. If you’re looking at which hairstyles would be most flattering for you this holiday season, you can try out some of these up do twists and see which ones will suit you.

Modern Up do’s As Holiday Hairstyles

1. Accentuate With Bangs

Add bangs to classic updo and you’ll surely go boom! Adding bangs will help cover up blemishes, pimple scars, age spots or other slight imperfections on your face. It would be a good idea to add bangs if you have a prominent forehead.

2. Do the Curly Up do

The curly up do is the most time consuming and high maintenance among the up do variations. You need to curl your hair before you start the process of pinning them up. Like the 1940′s flapper, this version of the updo is perfect for women who have naturally wavy or curly hair.

After curling, you can accessorize with combs, rhinestone- studded hair barrettes, hair clips or a jeweled hair pin.

3. Undecided? Try Out the Half Up do’s

There are some women who find the updo very formal or overly revealing. If the holiday gatherings you would be going to do not require you to dress to the nines, you can make do with a half up do. As the term implies, the half up do is half up and half loose. Half updos are flattering to any shape of face. It can also be worn by women of any age range to many different kinds of gatherings.

Running with the Half Up do Holiday Hairstyle

If you’ve decided to experiment with the half up do, here are a couple of suggestions for you to try out:

- Gather your hair with an elastic hair band or a plastic head band that you can tie at the end to form a circle. Tie the band under your hair, just a little above your nape. The effect of this hairstyle will be a loose, flowing look that frames your face.

- Do a loose ponytail with bangs to one side framing your face. Brush your bangs to one side of your face and tie the rest of your hair in a loose ponytail at the nape. You can even let a few loose tendrils hang down, but the effect of the bangs would be soft and seductive.

When using up do’s as your holiday hairstyle, remember to keep the look soft and feminine. If you need to use hairspray, use a flexible hold since the idea of the look is for the hairstyle to stay in place, but for the hair to be able to move. There’s so much you can do with up do variations. Experiment and have fun with it.

Kristy is a professional stylist and writer. Need help choosing a new hair iron? Make sure to check out the best flat irons. Read reviews on professional irons at http://flatironsreviews.com

The holidays are the few times of the year when families come together in a festive mood. It’s the perfect opportunity to see aunts, uncles and great grandma and meet the new additions to the ever growing family.

Family reunions are part and parcel of holiday activities. Some families take great pains to plan reunions by booking accommodations at a hotel and planning a big celebratory dinner for everyone. Others choose to take turns holding reunions in different family members’ homes. Regardless of where it is held, family reunions during the holidays are always nostalgic. Whether we like it or not, it is always a trip down memory lane.

Holiday Hairstyles for Family Affairs

Most people become extremely conscious or critical of themselves when attending family affairs. Perhaps because they know that they would be seeing their own family that they go to great lengths to dress very well, wear their best pearls or diamonds for the night, and make sure that there isn’t a hair out of place on their heads. For women, choosing a hairstyle for holiday family reunions can be a real challenge. The style has to look elegant but still simple enough so it doesn’t look like you want to draw attention to yourself

This holiday season, you can play up the nostalgia that normally accompanies family reunions by reinventing well-loved hairstyles. You can experiment with any of these do’s for barbecues, casual dinners or even formal receptions.

Holiday Hairstyles Suggestion 1: The Bob

You can bring back the romance of short hair by making the bob your holiday hairstyle of choice. It’s smooth, flowing, and highlights your cheekbones and eyes, depending on how you play with it. You may also do a sleek page boy look with curled bangs and tie up the do with a festive headband. For hair accessories, add a touch of color using shades of red, green, silver or gold. You may also add a rhinestone embellished barrette or hair clip.

Holiday Hairstyles Suggestion 2: The French Twist

A staple of formal occasions and red carpet events, the French twist is classic hairdo personified. It’s so versatile that you can wear it to work until the late evening and still look fabulous.

Holiday Hairstyles Suggestion 3: The 1940s’Flapper’

Just as it was in the 1940s, the Flapper is still classy and elegant looking to this day. If you’re looking for holiday hairstyles that work best on naturally wavy hair, the flapper is the ideal do for you. However, if your hair is straight and you still want to go flapper, don’t fret. There’s nothing that gel, curlers and lots of long straight hairpins can’t do.

After your hair is curled under, you need to hold the curls in place by pinning them by your nape. You would need at least three or four pins to make this work, and you have to be sure that you apply the pins on opposite directions.

Women of any age, hair type and hair length can get away with any of these looks. These classic hairstyles are sure to make you, your parents and your friends remember the good old days and smile.

Kristy is a professional stylist and writer. Need help choosing a new hair iron? Make sure to check out the straightening iron reviews. Read reviews on professional irons at http://straighteningironreviews.com/

With Christmas just around the corner, the list of things to do for the holidays just keeps on piling up. Besides shopping for gifts and preparing for the never ending parties, scouting for the perfect outfits and matching accessories eats up a lot of time and energy. Add thinking of perfect hairstyles for the numerous parties on your list and you’re sure to get crazy-stressed during the holidays.

A Matching Hairstyle For Every Occasion

Thinking about hairstyles for the holidays can be stressful. Unless you can really afford it, going to a salon or hiring a stylist for each and every party that you go to would not be a wise idea.

Fashion experts advise that you first think of the overall look you want to achieve for a particular party or event. If possible, take a picture of the dress you are going to wear as well as the matching shoes and accessories that you have picked out to go with it. This would give you a better idea about which hairstyle would go well with your outfit and accessories.

The Classic Do’s Never Go Out Of Style

Another helpful tip would be to pick out the hairstyles first and match the dresses and accessories later. If you’re due to attend plenty of formal gatherings this holiday season, better prepare a short list of classic formal hairstyles that you can do on your own quickly and easily. The Updo, for example, is one of those simple but striking hairstyles that never go out of style.

Women with heart-shaped, diamond or oval faces are flattered by the updo the most. The updo hairstyle is not only classy and sexy, it also adds volume to your hair and gives the illusion of added inches to your height. You can add a modern touch to this formal do by letting a few tendrils of hair escape and flow loosely. As with most formal hairstyles, the updo accentuates the woman’s facial features and shows off her jewelry quite nicely.

How to Do the Updo Yourself

Step 1: Clean hair thoroughly wish shampoo

Step 2: Moisturize with a good conditioner

Step 3: Apply a good amount of mousse through your hair using your fingers

Step 4: Tease the hair at the crown of your head using a round brush, this will add volume to your hair.

Step 5: After your hair is completely dry, use a large barreled curling iron to create waves all over your head.

Step 6: Starting from the sides all the way to the back of the crown, carefully pin your hair up one segment at a time.

Step 7: Intentionally allow a few tendrils to hang loose, creating a delicate frame around your face.

Step 8. Add hairspray

Step 9: Accessorize with hair clips or pins

There are more classic holiday hairstyles which you can do or modernize depending on how creative and playful you are with your looks. The most important thing to remember when planning holiday hairstyles is that they should go well with whatever you’re wearing and make you feel beautiful and confident of yourself.

Kristy is a professional stylist and writer. Need help choosing a new hair iron? Make sure to check out the best straightening iron. Read reviews on professional irons at http://straighteningironreviews.com/