Hair Tip: Eva Mendez Hair Tricks

Introduction

Sizzling It Girl Eva Mendes (also referenced as "Mendez") is a luscious Cuban American Pisces born March 5, 1974 in Houston, Texas.  The youngest of four children, Eva originally focused on a career in marketing and interior design rather than Hollywood.  She was "discovered" accidentally by an agent who happened upon Eva's photos. 

(Image of Eva Mendez at the Women In Film Presents:  Fusion, The 2005 Crystal & Lucy Awards, Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA,  June 10, 2005 - David Edwards, DailyCeleb.com - all rights reserved).

The sultry Latina princess recently ranked #12 on Maxim's Hot 100 List for 2005.  After first appearing in an Aerosmith video the gorgeous star started popping up on film and TV in 1998.  During that year she appeared in  Children Of The Corn V:  Fields Of Terror and had a guest role on TV's popular ER. Making a huge splash as Monica Fuentes in 2 Fast 2 Furious, Eva's career skyrocketed.  Her alluring beauty was enhanced with the display of her comedic talents as April in the endearing film, Stuck On You, with Matt Damon and Greg Kinear.

From success with Stuck On You she played Sara Melas, a stunning gossip columnist in the movie Hitch starting Will Smith. 

Revlon recognized Eva's stunning beauty by signing her to appear in Internationally focused advertisements for Revlon hair and cosmetics products as part of a team of beautiful celebrities. 

(Image of Eva Mendes at the Garden State Premiere at the Directors Guild, Los Angeles, CA, July 20, 2004)

The team includes Halle Berry, Julian Moore, Susan Sarandon and Kate Bosworth.  Eva's unique beauty and sassy independence fits perfectly with the rest of the Revlon celebs.  Eva is widely recognized by beauty experts for her full luscious locks, perfect eyebrows and perfect skin.

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She has told the press that one of the things that convinced her to do the Revlon project was the fact that the company has been aggressive about raising money for women's cancer research.

Eva has a reputation for being intelligent but a bit of a smart ass.  The Latina Lovely herself has commented that sometimes she just "doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut".  (Image of Eva Mendes at the Garden State Premiere at the Directors Guild, Los Angeles, CA, July 20, 2004)

Although Eva acknowledges that other Latin celebrities like JLo, and Penelope Cruz have helped open acting doors to her, she has commented to the media that she "doesn't view them as her ultimate role models".  She told the media (Dark Horizons Interview, 2003, 2Fast, 2 Furious) "just because I'm Latin, I don't feel like I'm either one of the them or one of their types".  The outspoken actress want to be "considered for a role Gwyneth Paltrow will be up for as well as Salma Hayek". 

A fan of Red Bull, Eva, in various interviews, has also commented about her love of vintage clothing and anything platinum.  She has a natural talent for accentuating her best features including her lush locks and is known for her chic style on the Red Carpet.

Steal Eva's Style

Eva has worked with some of the hottest celebrity hairdressers in the industry. When she worked on the March 2002 issue of GQ her hair was styled by Frankie Payne who has coiffed the famous locks of Rachel Griffith, Natalie Imbruglia, Cristina Ricci and Rachel Lee Cook, to name just a few of his big name clients. 

(Image of Eva Mendez at the MTV Movie Awards, Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA, June 4, 2005 -  David Edwards, DailyCeleb.com - all rights reserved).

When he worked with Eva for her photos in GQ he used a sea spray type of product on her damp hair to help break up hair and give it a wet look.

Eva is blessed with a great head of hair that she wears in a variety of styles ranging from flirty ponytails to big hair ala Bridgette Bardot.  When Eva wears a flirty ponytail she often has a "mini quiff" at the top to give her crown a saucy lift.

To achieve Eva's flirty ponytail with a full crown, complete the following steps:

STEP 1

(Image of Eva Mendes at the 31st Annual People's Choice Awards - Pasadena, CA, January 9, 2005 - David Edwards, DailyCeleb.com - all rights reserved).

(Shampoo to try: Paves Professional - FLAWless No Sulfates Allowed Repairing Shine Shampoo For Dry Damaged Hair, Phyto - Phytocitrus - Vital Radience Shampoo for colored hair, Rene Furterer - Fioravanti Silkening Shampoo)

If your hair tends to be fine or thin you may wish to shampoo with a volume enhancing shampoo or volume enhancing hair system.  You also may wish to avoid using a rinse-out conditioner or leave in conditioner that may cause hair to be flat of lank.

(Volume Enhancing Shampoo to try: Phyto - Phytovolume Shampoo, Phyto - PhytoMousse Volume Shampoo, PHYTO - Volume System).

STEP 2

Towel blot your hair to remove excess moisture.  Apply your favorite leave-in conditioner, detangling product or a styling cream, mousse or gel. Distribute product completely through strands avoiding the root area.

(Image of Eva Mendes at the "We Don't Live Here Anymore" Premiere, August 5, 2004 - Jason Kirk, DailyCeleb.com - all rights reserved).

(Products to try: Rene Furterer - Fioravanti No Rinse Detangling Spray, Phyto - Phyto 7 - Daily Hydrating Cream, Paves Professional - FLAWless Red Carpet Firm Hold Repairing Styling Mousse For Dry Damaged Hair)

If you want tons of volume and lift use a volume enhancing product applied directly to the roots.

(Volume Enhancing Root Products to try: Phyto - Phytovolume Actif, Robert Hallowell Prawduct - super volumizing tonic, Citre Shine - Big Volume Styling Foam, John Frieda - Sheer Blonde - Volumizing Spray)

STEP 3

Use a wide tooth comb to detangle strands.  Eva has her hair parted to one side with a full sweep of bangs swept to the opposite side.

Note:  It's possible to create a similar look that includes bangs.  If you desire bangs, use the comb to create at this point.  Clip bangs off to one side. 

STEP 4

Separate strands into 2 inch sections.  Blow dry hair straight using a medium sized round brush.  Direct air flow "up" from the ends to the roots to ruffle the cuticles and build in natural volume.

STEP 5

Once all hair is completely dry, use a rat tail comb to separate a 2-3 inch section of hair that extends across the crown from ear to ear. 

(Image of Eva Mendes at the 18th IMAGEN Awards GAla, Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA,  May 29, 2003 - Sara De Boer, DailyCeleb.com - all rights reserved).  

STEP 6

Use a comb and "back comb' this section to give it maximum fullness.  Once the section has been backcombed to the desired fullness, use fingertips to gently smooth hair down. 

STEP 7

Use a brush or fingers to smooth both of the sides of the hair back from the face and up over the ears towards the middle of the back of the head.

STEP 8

Gather all remaining back hair and merge it with the side hair to form a ponytail with a base that rests at the middle of the back of the head.

STEP 9

Gently push the base of the ponytail up towards the crown to build in natural fullness at the front.   Tie off the base of the ponytail with a Blax or elastic coated "hair friendly" band that matches the hair color.  Make sure that the ponytail base is loose enough to allow for maximum crown height but tight enough to capture the hair into a pony.

(Image of Eva Mendes at "All About The Benjamins" Premiere, March 6, 2002 - Sara De Boer, DailyCeleb.com - all rights reserved).

STEP 10

Style any bangs if desired.

STEP 11

Spray with hairspray and add a slight dab of shine serum. Smooth any loose strands with a dab of gel or with a spritz of hairspray.

(Hairsprays to try: Paves Professional - FLAWless Convertible-Proof Firm Hold Repairing Hair Spray for Dry Damaged Hair - 10 fl oz).

(Shine products to try: Paves Professional - FLAWless In The Spotlight Greaseless Essential Oil Shine Serum For Dry Damaged Hair).

For an optional look, pin the ponytail into a soft curved bun either up near the top of the crown or curled back into the back of the head.

Summary

Eva Mendes continues to scale new heights in her acting career which started totally as a freak accident.  But don't expect Eva to take any of her fame or good fortune for granted. 

(Image of Eva Mendes at "All About The Benjamins" Premiere, March 6, 2002 - Sara De Boer, DailyCeleb.com - all rights reserved).

This independent lady is working hard to turn an accident into a long term award-winning career and there is no doubt that she will succeed.

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