At last night’s Costume Institute Gala (aka Met Ball aka “The Oscars of the East”) stars came out in droves sparkling in the latest couture. Here are some highlights from this glamorous event!

Fabulous Beverly Hills salon The Private Room (www.theprivateroombh.com) is making a big donation to one of our favorite charities, The Beauty Bus Foundation (www.beautybus.org) by giving 100% of proceeds from all sales of Alterna’s Bamboo Volume Plumping Strand Expand for the month of April.

Alterna partnered with Beauty.com and celebrity stylist Esther Langham to create the hair look backstage at Elie Tahari’s Fall 2012 show for NYFW. Bamboo products were used exclusively to get the gorgeous style, which as Esther explains was inspired by Tahari’s collection:
“Tahari’s collection reflects real women and tailored pieces that can be found in their closets. I was inspired by this, and wanted to contrast the collection’s structured silhouettes with a natural, not overly-done hair style. Whether worn down or lightly pinned up, this look can easily translate from day-to-night.”

Get Tahari’s Fall 2012 Waves:

Hair—Prep: “We started by adding extra volume and lift at the roots while still maintaining a feather light feel.”
• Apply Alterna Bamboo Volume Weightless Whipped Mousse all over damp hair and Alterna Bamboo Volume Uplifting Root Blast to the roots. Blow dry using a large round brush, this smoothes the cuticle to ensure a polished result.
• When hair is 95% dry give strands texture and wave with new Alterna Bamboo Style Boho Waves Tousled Texture Mist and then finish with a rough dry using your fingers.

Hair—Style: “While creating the large loose waves, our goal was to keep the look modern and natural.”
• Divide hair into 1” sections and create waves using a 1¼” curling iron. Alternate between wrapping and clamping sections to maintain the organic movement to the look.

Finishing Touches:
• Mist hair with Alterna Bamboo Smooth Anti-Humidity Hair Spray, the flexible hold formula will set the style, add healthy shine and lock out frizz.

Check out these backstage pics!

Alterna partners with Celeb Stylist Davy Newkirk and Jessica Biel for the 2012 Golden Globes!

Overall Inspiration: “We wanted Jessica’s hair to compliment the ‘bohemian luxury’ feel of her dress. I loved the idea of natural cascading waves against the backdrop of the dress’ backless silhouette. The overall look evokes a relaxed vibe while still remaining polished and sophisticated.”

Hair—Prep: “Jessica has a great head of hair, the texture is fine but she has a ton of it! I added extra volume and lift at the roots while maintaining the feather light feel.“
• Apply Alterna Bamboo Volume Weightless Whipped Mousse all over damp hair, and Alterna Bamboo Volume Uplifting Root Blast to the roots. Blow dry using a large round brush, this smoothes the cuticle to ensure a polished result.
• When hair is 95% dry give strands texture and wave with Alterna Bamboo Style Boho Waves Touseled Texture Mist and then finish with a rough dry using your fingers.

Hair—Style: “While creating Jessica’s waves my goal was to keep the look youthful and modern.”
• Divide hair into 1” sections and create waves using a 1¼” curling iron. Alternate between wrapping and clamping sections to maintain the organic movement to the look.
• Apply Alterna Bamboo Style Moldable Texture Paste to hands and using your fingers comb through the curls, tousling the strands as you go.

Hair—Finishing Touches: Red Carpet, Ready “Bohemian Luxury”
• Mist hair with Alterna Bamboo Smooth Anti-Humidity Hair Spray, the flexible hold formula will set the style, add healthy shine and lock out frizz.
• Smooth pieces around the face with Alterna Bamboo Style Moldable Texture Paste

Cast your vote for your favorite Alterna products for behindthechair.com’s 2012 Stylist Choice Awards!

Categories include:

• Favorite Overall Professional Products Company
• Favorite Prestige Company
• Favorite NEW Shampoo/Conditioner Duo
  Alterna suggests Bamboo UV+ Color Protection Vibrant Color Shampoo & Conditioner
• Favorite NEW Styling Product
  Alterna suggests Bamboo Volume Uplifting Root Blast
• Favorite Deep/Restorative Conditioner or Treatment
  Alterna suggests Caviar Anti-Aging Overnight Hair Rescue
• Favorite Dry Shampoo
  Alterna suggests Caviar Anti-Aging Dry Shampoo
• Favorite Hairspray
  Alterna suggests Bamboo Smooth Anti-Humidity Hair Spray
• Favorite Product You Can’t Live Without
  Alterna suggests Bamboo Smooth Kendi Dry Oil Mist
• Favorite Non-Chemical Smoothing Product
  Alterna suggests Bamboo Smooth Kendi Dry Oil Mist

Happy Halloween gals and ghouls! We LOVE when celebs get in the spirit of Halloween… see some of our favorite costume ideas below!

Heidi Klum in a creepy human anatomy bodysuit, Kim Kardashian as Poison Ivy & Lea Michele as the White Swan

Leaves changing colors and chilly weather are typical markers of Fall… at least in most other parts of the country. In Southern California (where Alterna’s headquarters are located), we mark the season with one major event…

The return of Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Starbucks!

I’m a huge proponent of pumpkin-flavored treats… macarons, pies, cheesecakes and DEFINITELY pumpkin bread! Funny thing is that almost anyone who’s tried their hand at baking says that pumpkin bread is just one of those kinds of things that you can toss almost any common baking ingredient into (chocolate chips, nuts, raisins, cranberries, etc.) and it will always turn out amazing, but it’s just something I’ve never tried to make myself (disclaimer: I’m filling in for Alterna’s regular PR guru, Lauren Hilton Hochhauser, while she’s on maternity leave… she’s definitely a natural baker who’s probably made over 20 different kinds of pumpkin breads!), so I’ve decided to try my hand at making my own pumpkin bread this season.

In case you’re looking to delve into your own pumpkin bread baking adventure, here’s the recipe I’ll be following (1,000+ good reviews on AllRecipes.com can’t be wrong, right?):

Pumpkin Bread (courtesy of AllRecipes.com)

1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1/2 cup applesauce
3 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
(*add pecans, walnuts or mini chocolate chips if desired)

Directions
1.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9×5 inch loaf pan.
2.In a large bowl, mix together the pumpkin, oil, sugar, and eggs. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves; stir into the pumpkin mixture until well blended. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
3.Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour. The top of the loaf should spring back when lightly pressed.

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re launching a special-edition of our Caviar Overnight Hair Rescue in a 1oz travel size. For every bottle sold, Alterna will donate 5% of net proceeds to the National Breast Cancer Foundation to help rescue women from breast cancer. It’s the perfect way to do some good while looking good!

Support the cause and think pink with Alterna and some other great offerings from our favorite brands…

1. KitchenAid Artisan® Design Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer in Raspberry Ice, $349.99
For every mixer sold, KitchenAid will donate a portion of proceeds to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

2. Murad Hydro-Dynamic® Ultimate Moisture, $85
Murad is donating 10% from the sale of this limited-edition duo to City of Hope for breast and women’s cancers research, treatment and education. 

3. Christina Applegate for Tiny Prints
Tiny Prints has created a limited-edition collection of greeting cards and thank you notes, designed by Christina Applegate, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Right Action for Women.

4. Diptyque Mini Pink Roses Candle, $32
Diptyque is donating 20% of the proceeds of each Mini Pink Roses candle sold in October to the Pink Agenda. 

5. EOS Strawberry Smooth Sphere Lip Balm, $3.29
During the month of October, EOS will donate 5% of sales of this lip balm to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in support of breast cancer treatment and prevention research.

So have you all made it through the first week of season premieres? We don’t know about everyone else, but our DVR/TiVos are filled with the returns of old favorites and an excess of new ones… and this season, we’re seeing a trend of period-based shows (on the heels of the Mad Men trend perhaps?). And while we have yet to catch up on all the season/series premieres that have debuted, here are a few that have caught our eyes just based on their ultra-chic era-based style…

Boardwalk Empire
I’ve personally always had an affinity towards the 1920s. Something about the finger waves and deep eyeshadows and intricate viagra with lots and lots and LOTS of beading everywhere.

Pan Am
These stewardesses (as the term “flight attendants” had not yet made its rounds in the 1960s) make flying look glamorous and put the neck pillows and snuggies of the 2000s to shame.

The Playboy Club
Another series set in the 1960s, an era where woman perfected the curl and Amber Heard’s chic coif definitely makes the bunny outfit looks more classy than trashy.

Gorgeous dress? Check. Statement accessories? Check. Coral lips? Check. Gorgeous, why-yes-I-naturally-look-this-amazing hair? Double check.

Mandy Moore showed up at Lela Rose’s Spring 2012 Fashion Show looking absolutely stunning… and her hair? Va-va-voluminous!

Alterna stylist Jeff Wacker shares details on how he created Mandy’s pumped-up, full-bodied look using an array of Alterna products from the Bamboo Collection:

• Prep slightly damp towel-dried hair using a styling cocktail of Bamboo Volume Plumping Strand Expand and Bamboo Volume Weightless Whipped Mousse. Mix both products together in palms, apply to hair, then brush through.
• Blow dry the hair using a round metal brush. Brush the hair under to coax ends to go inward and use the brush to create base volume.
• Create a center part, then using a 1¼” curling iron, wrap sections of hair around the barrel and curl towards the back and center of the head.
• Once all sections are curled, run fingers through the hair for a slightly messy, tousled style. Finish the look with Bamboo Smooth Anti-Humidity Hair Spray.