Oh Daily Mail. We try so hard, but we just can't quit you. How can we be expected to when you bring us such gems as the feminist body hair protest and Kate Middleton's excessively muscled legs? We know that most of your stories are gimmicky, but every now and then there's a piece that resonates down to our very core. Today, we read just such a story. It's the tale of little Marcella Marino and her forbidden hair bow.

For Marcella's class photo day, her hairdresser father crafted a sweet bow made up of Marcella's long blonde hair. But before she could take her photo, the mean-spirited school officials pulled Marcella away, saying she was inappropriately dressed. Say what?

Apparently the school has a ban on all braids and hair accessories, and Marcella's cool coiff was in violation of that code. First of all, what kind of school bans braids? Second, it's a bow, not a braid. Third, is this girl not the most stylish little muffin you've ever seen? We're digging her striped shirt, structured blazer, and pièce-de-résistance hairstyle.

We don't understand why anyone would feel the need to crush Marcella's burgeoning sense of style with a restrictive, and frankly, completely ridiculous rule. How is her hair bow offensive or inappropriate? Does banning the bow somehow keep the other kids safe? We think she looks adorable and wish our dads had been that skilled with our strands. We'd definitely look back on our school photos with fonder memories if we had looked this chic. Plus, we're feeling more than a little bummed that the only photo little Marcella is going to have of her bow is this so-sad, near-tears shot. (The Daily Mail)

Should schools be allowed to ban certain hairstyles, or is this just another example of an administration gone mad with power?



Photo: Via The Daily Mail

We don’t have to tell you that the job market majorly sucks right now. Bad news for everyone on the hunt for a new gig, but seriously crummy news for recent grads. When your resume isn’t jam-packed with experience, you need to do everything you can to show potential employers that you are career material.

Everything from your haircut to how you do (or don’t do) your makeup can hurt your chances in an interview.

With that in mind, we turned to the pros at the Eva Scrivo Salon in NYC to give three recent grads a workforce-worthy makeover. Check out their transformations, then study the expert beauty tips for making a great first impression — even seasoned interview pros could learn a thing or two from this savvy glam squad!

For more great tips from Eva, check out her book, Eva Scrivo on Beauty: The Tools, Techniques, and Insider Knowledge Every Woman Needs to Be Her Most Beautiful, Confident Self.

Photographed by Erin Yamagata

By this point, you probably feel like you’ve seen every possible option of plait, braid, twist, and knot that exists. Well, we’ve got just the thing for your hair ennui: new braids! But these aren’t just any old plaits. We knew we would have to come up with some pretty spectacular criss-crossed coiffs in order to catch your seasoned eye, so we went to the major leagues for this one.

Here, Isabel Guillen, one of the master weavers from the Braid Bar at the John Barrett Salon, will show you how to craft two seriously amazing, unexpected woven 'dos. Check the step-by-step guides, then start flexing those fingertips — you’re going to need them nice and limber before you try and tackle these twisted tresses.

Photographed by Guang Xu

A wise man once said, "My anaconda don't want none unless you got buns, hon." We totally agree — a chick with a fierce bun rules. And while most gals lean toward easy top knots, we’ve definitely "bun there, done that," so to speak.

What we're really craving is a style that takes it to the next level, so we teamed up with one of S.F.’s most stylish hairstylists, Emily Bassolino of Fahrenheit Salon, to show us four DIY buns with a super-fresh twist. From upside-down braids to a twisty topper, the hair guru styled real-girl model Kim Schultz to perfection…four times! Um, we believe these styles might even make Lauren Conrad do a double take. Here, our step-by-step guide to scoring summer's best buns.

Photographed by Christine Ting

We know, we know — it's not exactly breaking news, but what with Lindsay going back to red and Coco dabbling in pink, this is the first chance we've had to really take a good look at Jessica Stam's new brunette 'do.

That dark and sultry hue really pairs up nicely with Stam's ice-blue eyes, creating a gorgeous contrast with her fair coloring. But while there's no denying she looks stunning — this is Jessica Stam here, people — we're just not sure we're behind this metamorphosis.

Is it just us, or is the transformation too dramatic? We had to do a double take when we first saw the pictures and it took us a few beats to finally work out who exactly it was we were looking at. For a minute there, we thought Sophia Bush had gotten herself some really amazing blue contacts.

Your turn to weigh in: Should Stam have stayed a blonde, or do you like her brown locks?

Photo: Everett Collection/Rex USA

We always learn such lovely things from Joanna Goddard. This week was no exception, as Jo teamed up with her hair-savvy BFF Caroline to put together a super-easy mermaid braid tutorial. We love the simplicity of this braid — it sounds like it would be so complicated, but in reality it is so basic.

You just divide your hair in two parts, braid each part, and combine them! From a distance it looks like a chunky plait, but when you get close, you can really see the intricacy of the style. Click on over to Cup of Jo to get the full, detailed scoop on how to score this summery braid for your own mane. (Cup of Jo)



Photo: Via Cup of Jo

A do-it-all hairstyling tool has always been high on our wish list — how amazing would it be to have one magical implement that could make waves, and curls, and straighten your strands? Turns out, this mythical unicorn of the styling world exists, and you probably already own it — a flat iron!

With a few simple flicks of the wrist and the right styling know-how, courtesy of our in-house beauty guru, Taylor, you can coax some seriously sexy curls and waves out of your iron. Crafty, we know. Watch this video tutorial to learn the basics of using your new magic wand…err, iron.

Well, we knew were in for some surprises on the red carpet at last night's Met Ball, but we weren't quite prepared for something this major. Our jaws literally hit the floor when we saw pics of Coco Rocha rocking hot-pink tips.

Celebs with pink hair are nothing new — both January Jones and Lauren Conrad have both recently dabbled in blush-streaked manes — but Coco wasn't one of the girls we had pegged to take the pink plunge. Never one to do things halfway, Ms. Rocha bypassed the pastel hue and went for some full-tilt fuchsia in her signature auburn locks.

We're used to seeing bright pops of color in blonde hair, but Coco is the first red-haired lass we've seen the trend on and we're still undecided on how we feel about it.

Help us make up our minds: Is Coco's Jem-worthy mane the next big thing in two-tone or just an big N-O?

Photo: Chance Yeh/PatrickMcMullan.com

Traditionally, wedding hair has a way of looking like it belongs at an adult prom — crunchy ringlets and shellacked roots, all twisted up into an unfortunate, unmoving updo. But we’re firm believers that all hair, bridal or otherwise, should always look soft, touchable, and beautiful, so we asked Fabrice Gili, creative director of the Frédéric Fekkai salon in SoHo, to craft three DIY ‘dos that any bride can pull off on her own — oh, and they also happen to be so breathtaking that you'll all want to wear them for every get-fancy occasion.

Here, you’ll find three epically romantic hairstyles, plus the step-by-step breakdown on how to create each one. Ditch the cake-topper mane and try one of these fantastical follicle masterpieces instead — you’ll thank us when you’re looking at the photos.

Photographed by Mark Iantosca; Hair by Fabrice Gili at Frédéric Fekkai; Models Jessie Artigue of Style and Pepper, Lauren Noble, Nneya Richards

Our laissez-faire attitude toward beauty is common knowledge at this point — if there's a shortcut to be had, we're the first in line to give it a shot. Which explains why we love our dry shampoos so much — nothing makes your greasy mop look fresh and clean for an extra day quite like these powdered miracles.

We've tried pretty much every spray, spritz, and powder on the market, so we consider ourselves to be connoisseurs of dry shampoo. While we all have our favorites, that doesn't mean we're not still on the lookout for the next big thing, which is why we asked four R29ers to play guinea pig for the latest crop of oily hair-fighters. Read on to find out which sprays added some oomph to our strands and which ones just fizzled out.



Who: Christy Kurtz, photo editor
The Contender: Arrojo Refinish Dry Shampoo

"I have super-thin, flat hair, so it only takes a day to look greasy. I normally use baby powder instead of a dry shampoo, mostly because I'm too lazy to find a dry shampoo I like, and baby powder is cheap!

"I tested out the Arrojo Refinish Dry Shampoo, and was generally impressed. The smell was pretty neutral, not too floral or baby powdery, which was a plus for me. It seemed to work pretty well — you could immediately see a difference in the the volume and dryness of my hair.

"The one negative side effect I noticed was the way it made my hair feel, which might have been my fault from putting so much in (I really went for it). By the end of the day my hair felt pretty coarse and unnatural. While the dryness seemed to last, I definitely had to wash my hair and couldn't go on to day three of unwashed hair, as I often do."

The Result: "I think I'd give this dry shampoo a second try and use less of it, but for me, it's too easy to overdo the spray. Baby powder seems to work better longer, with a gradual buildup of texture and dryness over multiple days, but this is great for a quick fix!"

Arrojo Refinish Dry Shampoo, $22, available at Arrojo.

Photographed by Guang Xu

We see a lot of crazy stuff backstage, but who knew one of the wackiest beauty tricks we've ever come across would be spotted backstage at Bridal Fashion Week? At Angel Sanchez's 2013 bridal presentation, models were made to look like icy brides, complete with silver paint, sequins, and plastic wrap headbands.

The idea for these shiny hair adornments came straight from the designer himself, who wanted to mimic the plastic feeling of the details on the dresses. "I'm tired of all the headpieces and tiaras," Sanchez said. "This gives you the same kind of reflection as those typical accessories, but in a fresh and modern way. It adds a touch of fashion [to bridal], without being too avant-garde. It's a different interpretation of romance — with a twist."

Working with the concept of texture and movement, Leonard Zagami for Moroccanoil used Curl Control Mousse on the roots of wet hair to create a subtle lift, then combed styling cream through the ends and mid-shaft of models' hair to hydrate ends and create soft hold. Next, he blow dried hair, using his fingers at the roots and the sides of the hair to "lift" the strands and enhance the volume. Then, Zagami took a 1.5 inch curling iron and created random waves throughout the hair leaving the ends straighter and pulling on some of the waves to create a "freer-looking, mixed texture." He then used silver hair paint to add a metallic color to pieces along the hair line and where the plastic wrap was going to be placed. He used 1.5 inch pieces of wrap, which he applied around the head, tying it underneath the hair at the nape of the neck.

To accentuate the off-the-wall hair, Clarins makeup artist Jean Fayard wanted to create "an icy, cool look that would pick up the elements of the dress. She started off by applying primer and foundation to create natural, flawless skin. For the lit-from-within glow, she added a peachy-nude blush on the apples of the cheeks. "In photos, peach is much better than pink — it's softer, so you look more natural," she says. Fayard wanted to inject a pop of color to the eyes, but in a subtle way, so she applied turquoise shadow on the lids, blending it out so the color was soft, not stark. Black liner applied very close to the lash line and single false lashes finished off the eyes. To add that element of intrigue, she used the same paint Zagami used on the hair and combed it through models' brows, then used lash glue to attach a sprinkling of sequins — that matched the dress each girl was wearing — along the hair line and at the temples.

We think this high-fashion bridal look could easily translate down the real-world aisle. Even if the plastic wrap, sequins, and silver paint are a bit too much for you, we like the idea of the soft turquoise eye, touchable texture, and unconventional hair accessory for a modern-day bridal look that's different and unique. Play around with different fabrics, like lace or silk, wrapped around the head to create a similar effect.

Would you rock plastic wrap in your 'do, or do you think it's totally whackadoodle?

Photo: Stephen Churchill-Downes/Courtesy of Moroccanoil

Whether you loved high school or hated it, four years of hard work coming to a close is an occasion worthy of a major celebration — and what better way to do that than to rock your prom? You’ve got the dress, the date (or a posse of pals), and plans for later in the night, but the all-important question still remains: How do you bump up your hair and makeup routine from predictable to phenomenal?

Don't worry, we've got your back. We pulled three gorgeous hair and makeup looks from the runways just for you and asked Wende Zomnir, the executive creative director of Urban Decay, and Antonio Prieto, the director of the uber-chic Antonio Prieto Salon in NYC, to tell us how to DIY some wow-worthy looks at home.

Forget the stereotypical spiral curl updo and glittery eyeshadow and try one of these inventive looks instead. They're so fabulous, your classmates will still be talking about how amazing you looked at your five-year reunion.

Images Via: MCV Photo