Hair Tips: Nancy Travis - Banishing Curls

Introduction

Nancy Travis, who is famous for her big mop of glorious natural curls recently played Lydia Rodman in the coming of age film The Sisters Of The Traveling Pants.

(Image of Nancy Travis Los Angeles Premiere of "Collateral" August 2, 2004 - Photo: Daivd Edwards - DailyCeleb.com - all rights reserved).

The 44 year old Libran actress (September 21, 2961) was last seen on the TV series Becker where she played Chris Connor from 2002 until 2004).

Nancy is famous for her roles in the Three Men And A Baby films that began back in 1987. She also did the sequel which was 3 Men And A Little Lady (1990). Her gorgeous curls were in their full glory as Kim Cooper in 1995's Almost Perfect. Nancy was the essence of pretty perkiness in the role but alas, the gods of television cancelled the series after one short season.

The naturally curly tresses actress made two more attempts in TV land with 1999's My Last Love and Work With Me. Sadly, neither survived. (Image of Nancy Travis at the World Premiere of the Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants - May 31, 2005 - David Edwards - DailyCeleb.com - all rights reserved).

Nancy then went on to do special television films (Auggie Rose & Rose Red by Stephen King) and finally TV's Becker, where she stayed put until the series ended its long run in 2004.

Nancy went from Becker to her role in the pants. Somewhere along the path from TV to the big screen the beautiful honey blonde actress lost her natural curls. Whether it was through a chemical process such as Thermal Reconditioning or a lot of time with straightening balms and a round brush, the actress has definitely gone to the straight side.

(Image of Nancy Travis at the 4th Annual Fashion Forward Luncheon presented by Lexus & The Step Up Women's Network at Greystone mansion, Beverly Hills, CA - November 13, 2004 - David Edwards - DailyCeleb.com - all rights reserved).

Steal Nancy's Straight Style

Nancy kept her trademark honey base but a lot of dimensional highlights and lowlights have been woven through the crown and throughout the strands. (Image of Nancy Travis at the World Premiere of the Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants - May 31, 2005 - David Edwards - DailyCeleb.com - all rights reserved).

It appears that Nancy's hair has long carefully created long layers that give body and movement to her new straight tresses. The ends are softly feathered and often have a big soft curl or wave.

To style your tresses straight like Nancy, complete the following steps:

Step 1: Shampoo and condition your hair with your normal products designed for your current hair type, texture and condition. If your hair is nautrally curly and highlighted like Nancy's use either a moisture enhanced or color enriched formula. If your hair is dry from chemical processing, consider diluting the shampoo formula to protect your strands.

(Image of Nancy Travis at 2005 Annual Lint Roller Party by Best Friends Animal Society, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Hollywood, CA, May 6, 2005 - Photo by David Edwards - DailyCeleb.com - all rights reserved).

(Shampoo products to try: Phyto - Phytojoba Hydrating Shampoo, PHYTO - Dry Hair System) If you have medium textured hair with natural bend like Nancy, use a moisture enhanced shampoo since naturally wavy hair may be naturally dry. Use a moisturizing rinse out conditioner. Rinse well with a cool water spray which helps build natural volume and increases shine.

Step 2: Towel blow strands. Detangle strands from the ends to the roots.

Step 3: Apply a straightening balm or similar to the palms of your hands. Distribute completely throughout strands from roots to the ends.

(Image of Nancy Travis at the 4th Annual Fashion Forward Luncheon presented by Lexus & The Step Up Women's Network at Greystone mansion, Beverly Hills, CA - November 13, 2004 - David Edwards - DailyCeleb.com - all rights reserved).

Note: If your hair tends to frizz or is naturally wavy or curly, you may wish to apply a defrisant to your strands before applying the straightening balm. (Anti-Frizz Product to try: Rene Furterer - Control Emulsion Anti-Frizz)

If you hair is flat at the roots you may wish to add a root volume product just at the roots for more fullness. (Root volume products to try: Phyto - Phytovolume Actif, PHYTO - Volume System, Phyto - Phytovolume Shampoo).

Step 4: Working from side to side use a boar's head or natural round brush combined with your blow dryer to straighten and build in body.

Step 5: Use the round brush to straighten the remainder of the hair by rolling individual sections carefully around the brush and directing the air flow down the hair shaft towards the ends. This helps to straighten, close the cuticle and adds shine.

Step 6: While drying the ends, use the round brush to turn the ends under slightly while finishing.

Step 7: Seal the style by finishing up with a blast of cool air, if possible, from your blow dryer.

Step 8: Carefully comb in your desired part.

Step 9: To add soft curls and waves to Nancy's newly straight hairstyle, separate hair into 2-3 inch sections. Working from side to side near the roots, use a 1 1/2" curling iron and create big curls with the iron.

Release each curl and then carefully pin into place with a bobby pin. Continue to curl and pin until the entire hair has been finished. Let the curls air dry until 100% cool

Step 10: Spray the pinned curls with a strong hold hairspray or volume spray. Carefully unpin the curls.

(Hairsprays to try: PhytoPro - Instant Hold Spray #15, Paves Professional - FLAWless Convertible-Proof Firm Hold Repairing Hair Spray for Dry Damaged Hair).

Step 11: Apply a tiny drop of shine serum, drops or spray into the palms of your hands. Lightly brush the palms over the top of your style and you are ready to rock ala Nancy Travis

(Shine products to try: Phyto - PhytoLisse (Formerly Phytodefrisant RelaxSerum, Paves Professional - FLAWless In The Spotlight Greaseless Essential Oil Shine Serum For Dry Damaged Hair)

If you prefer, you can use a curling iron to turn under the ends a little bit or use a straight iron on selected pieces around the face to give a contrasting texture to the bobbed look.

Summary

Nancy Travis has been around the acting block but her role in Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants is a refreshing change. Don't count this multi-talented actress out yet.

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