Winter Skin and Hair Care Tips from Aurelio Salon & Spa in Howell, NJ

Winter in New Jersey is rough on skin and hair. Cold outdoor air, dry indoor heat, and the instinct to take long hot showers all work against the moisture your skin and hair need to stay healthy and comfortable through the season. At Aurelio Salon & Spa in Howell, NJ, we help guests adapt their routines for the colder months so they can keep their skin hydrated, their hair healthy, and their color looking its best all winter long.

The Hot Shower Problem

One of the most common winter skin mistakes is showering in water that is too hot. Hot water feels great on a cold day — but it strips the skin of its natural oils, which are the body’s built-in moisture barrier. Switching to warm or cool water for at least the final rinse makes a significant difference in how your skin feels after getting out. The same principle applies to hair — overly hot water opens the hair cuticle, accelerating color fade and leaving hair more vulnerable to dryness and frizz.

Moisturizing That Actually Works

Most people reach for a thicker lotion in winter, which helps — but the most effective approach is to apply a hydrating oil or serum first, while the skin is still slightly damp from the shower. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, or plant-based oils, which penetrate below the surface layer rather than just sitting on top. Follow with your regular moisturizer to seal everything in. This layering approach delivers genuine hydration rather than just temporary surface softness.

For the face, a lightweight hydrating moisturizer applied morning and night keeps winter dryness and flakiness at bay. Even guests with oily skin need winter moisturizing — skipping it causes the skin to overproduce oil to compensate for the moisture loss.

Caring for Lips in Winter

Cracked, dry lips are one of the most common winter complaints. For prevention, look for a lip treatment that contains hyaluronic acid, ceramides, or a nourishing oil — these create moisture rather than just temporarily sealing existing moisture in. A simple mineral oil or standard wax-based balm provides a barrier but doesn’t generate new hydration. Exfoliating the lips gently once or twice a week removes dry skin and allows your lip treatment to absorb more effectively.

Hair Care Adjustments for Winter

Winter’s dry air pulls moisture from the hair just as it does from the skin. Switching to a more nourishing shampoo and conditioner in the colder months, incorporating a weekly deep conditioning treatment, and reducing heat styling frequency all help the hair retain moisture through the season. Color-treated hair is especially susceptible to winter dryness — ask your colorist about a professional in-salon conditioning treatment or gloss service to restore shine and hydration between color appointments. Visit our women’s hair coloring page or our full salon menu to learn more.

Call 732-303-0052 to book a winter conditioning treatment or appointment at Aurelio Salon & Spa in Howell, NJ.

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Tips for Fine Hair: Volume, Body, and Styling Advice from Aurelio Salon & Spa

Fine hair is one of the most common concerns our stylists hear about at Aurelio Salon & Spa in Howell, NJ. Flat, limp strands that lose volume by midday can be genuinely frustrating — but the right combination of products, tools, and technique makes a significant difference. Here are the most effective strategies our stylists recommend for getting more life out of fine hair.

1. Don’t Overload on Product

This is the most common mistake fine-haired guests make. Heavy products weigh fine hair down and make it look flatter faster. Instead of layering multiple products, choose one or two lightweight formulas designed specifically for fine or volumizing needs. Look for a root booster or a thickening product that contains a plumping agent — these work by expanding the hair from within the strand rather than coating it from the outside, which means more body without the weight.

2. Blow Dry with a Round Brush for Root Lift

The technique you use during a blowout has a huge impact on volume. When blow-drying fine hair, use a ventilated ionic round brush and focus on the root area first. Place the brush at the root, lift the hair away from the scalp, and direct the airflow at the base of the section. This lifts the root and sets the hair in a position that holds volume longer throughout the day. Finish each section by directing airflow downward to smooth the cuticle and add shine.

3. Try Hot Rollers

Hot rollers are one of the most underused tools for fine hair and one of the most effective. Unlike a curling iron, hot rollers set the hair while it cools, which means the style holds longer. Using larger rollers throughout the mid-lengths and ends creates voluminous curls and fullness, while placing them at the crown adds root lift. The result is a bouncy, full-bodied style that lasts significantly longer than a standard blowout.

4. Use the Right Shampoo and Conditioner

Product choice starts in the shower. A heavy, moisturizing shampoo designed for thick or dry hair will weigh fine hair down. Instead, choose a volumizing or lightweight shampoo that cleanses thoroughly without depositing a lot of residue. With conditioner, apply only from the mid-shaft to the ends — never at the roots — to avoid adding weight where you need lift the most.

5. Ask Your Colorist About Color for Volume

Strategic color placement can actually make fine hair appear thicker and fuller. Highlights and lowlights add dimension and create the visual illusion of depth and density in the hair. Talk to your colorist about whether a color service might complement your fine hair goals. Visit our women’s hair coloring page to learn more.

For more styling advice tailored to your hair type, visit our women’s cut and styling page, view our full salon menu, or browse our stylist gallery.

Call 732-303-0052 to book at Aurelio Salon & Spa in Howell, NJ.

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Holiday Hair and Makeup Tips from Aurelio Salon & Spa in Howell, NJ

The holiday season is one of the most social times of the year — and one of the busiest. Between work parties, family gatherings, and last-minute errands, December leaves very little time to think about getting ready. But looking pulled-together doesn’t have to take long. Here are some quick, effective tips from the team at Aurelio Salon & Spa in Howell, NJ for looking your best even on the days that don’t give you room to breathe.

Quick Holiday Hair in Minutes

Step 1: Prep with a heat protectant and hold spray. A professional styling spray applied before heat gives the hair a light foundation of hold that makes any quick style look more intentional and stay in place longer.

Step 2: Pull into a side pony or updo. A side ponytail is one of the most underrated holiday styles — it is quick, elegant, and photographs well. For a slightly more polished result, wrap the ponytail up into a low bun. A few face-framing pieces left out soften the look without taking extra time.

Step 3: Finish with a light-hold spray. A quick pass of finishing spray over the surface smooths any flyaways and keeps the style looking clean for the rest of the evening.

Holiday Makeup Essentials

Contour and a bold lip. When the hair is pulled back, the face is the focal point. A little bronzer dusted along the cheekbones adds warmth and definition in under a minute. A classic red lipstick is the single fastest way to elevate a simple look into a holiday one — it takes seconds to apply and signals that you made an effort, even when you didn’t have much time.

Liner and mascara. If you do nothing else for the eyes, a thin liner along the lash line and one coat of mascara keeps the eyes from looking bare and finishes the look. For guests who prefer a minimal approach, mascara alone is enough — it opens the eye and adds polish without requiring precision.

Plan Ahead for the Holidays

If you have a big holiday event coming up — an office party, a family gathering, or a New Year’s Eve celebration — booking a blowout or styling appointment at the salon takes the guesswork out of getting ready entirely. Our stylists can also recommend the right take-home products to help you recreate polished looks quickly on your own. Visit our special occasion styling page, browse our stylist gallery, or view our full salon menu.

Call 732-303-0052 to book a holiday styling appointment at Aurelio Salon & Spa in Howell, NJ.

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Winter Hair Color Inspiration: Steel Grey and Cool Tones at Aurelio Salon & Spa

Winter is one of the most inspiring seasons for bold, editorial hair color. While warmer months tend to pull guests toward sun-kissed blondes and vibrant brights, winter opens the door to cooler, more dramatic tones — and nothing captures that energy quite like steel grey. At Aurelio Salon & Spa in Howell, NJ, intentional grey and silver fashion color has become one of our most requested winter looks.

The Steel Grey Trend

Intentional grey — sometimes called silver, steel, or platinum grey — is one of those rare hair color trends that manages to feel simultaneously avant-garde and classically cool. Unlike grey that comes from aging, an intentional grey fashion color is rich, reflective, and completely controlled. It can be worn as an all-over cool silver, blended with lavender or blue tones for a more dimensional look, or concentrated at the ends over a darker base for a smoky gradient effect. Paired with light, neutral makeup — a nude lip, soft liner, and a focus on skin — the result is a look that reads effortlessly chic and confident.

Is Grey Right for Your Hair?

Achieving a true steel grey result typically requires lightening the hair to a very pale, almost white base before applying the grey tone. This makes the process most straightforward for guests who are already blonde or have lighter hair. Guests starting from darker bases can still achieve grey tones, but the process may require multiple appointments and careful planning to ensure the hair remains healthy throughout the transformation. A consultation with one of our colorists is the best first step to understand what the process would look like for your specific hair.

Other Cool Winter Color Directions

If steel grey feels too bold, there are plenty of adjacent directions that capture the same cool, wintry energy. Icy platinum blonde, dusty lavender, soft lilac, and cool ash tones all work beautifully in winter and complement the season’s neutral, muted palette. Ask your colorist which direction is the best fit for your skin tone, existing color, and lifestyle.

To see more color inspiration, browse our stylist gallery or visit our fashion hair color trends post. Learn more about our color services on our women’s hair coloring page.

Call 732-303-0052 to book a winter color consultation at Aurelio Salon & Spa in Howell, NJ.

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Holiday Makeup Looks: Natural Golden Tones for Day and Evening

One of the most useful skills in a makeup routine is the ability to take one palette of colors and create both a daytime and an evening look. Warm golden tones are particularly versatile — they are soft and wearable during the day, and with a few adjustments, they transition effortlessly into a more dramatic evening look. Here are two holiday-ready looks from the makeup team at Aurelio Salon & Spa in Howell, NJ.

The Evening Look: Bold Lip, Warm Eye

For the more dramatic evening version, the eye is built using warm golden and bronze tones applied to the lid and blended into the crease. A deeper shadow at the outer corner adds depth and makes the eye appear larger. The cheek is kept warm and natural with a soft blush. The finishing touch is a rich, deep lip — a bold cranberry or berry shade applied with a matching liner for a polished, high-impact result. This combination — warm eye, defined cheek, and bold lip — reads as glamorous and intentional without being overdone.

The Daytime Look: Nude Lip, Same Eye

The daytime version uses the same golden eye technique but pulls back the lip to a soft nude — a barely-there color that keeps the overall look fresh and appropriate for daytime. The transition from day to evening is as simple as swapping the nude lip for the cranberry one. This is one of the most efficient approaches to holiday makeup — one look, two entirely different results, both polished and event-ready.

Tips for Making These Looks Last

For any event makeup to hold throughout the day or evening, priming is essential. An eye primer prevents the eyeshadow from creasing, and a face primer extends the wear of foundation and blush. For the bold lip, liner applied before lipstick prevents bleeding and significantly extends wear time. A light setting powder pressed over the finished look locks everything in place.

For professional makeup applications for the holiday season, bridal events, or any special occasion, visit our bridal and special occasion page or view our full salon menu.

Call 732-303-0052 to book a makeup appointment at Aurelio Salon & Spa in Howell, NJ.

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Sea Foam Green to Rose Gold Color Correction | Aurelio Salon & Spa Howell, NJ

One of the most technically challenging color correction services a stylist can perform is transitioning a client from a vivid fashion color — like sea foam green — to a completely different fashion color, like rose gold. This transformation, performed at Aurelio Salon & Spa in Howell, NJ, was selected for publication by four separate national hair industry outlets.

Featured In Four National Publications

This color correction was published in:

• Modern Salon Magazine — Formula How-To: Sea-Foam Green to Rose Gold
• Estetica Magazine — Color Correction: Sea Foam Green to Rose Gold
• Beauty Launchpad — Sea Foam Green to Rose Gold Color Transformation
• The Colorist Magazine — How To: Sea Foam Green to Rose Gold Color Correction

Being selected by four independent national publications for the same color transformation is a rare distinction — it reflects the level of technical precision and creative skill required to produce a result that professional colorists across the country consider worthy of study.

Why Color Corrections Are Complex

Color correction is one of the most advanced services in professional hair coloring. Unlike a standard color appointment, a correction requires the stylist to reverse or neutralize existing color before applying a new shade. When the starting point is a vivid fashion color like sea foam green — which contains strong blue and green pigments — removing those tones without compromising the integrity of the hair requires careful planning, precise product selection, and technical expertise.

At Aurelio Salon, our colorists assess each guest’s hair history, current color, and desired result before beginning any correction service. We use Goldwell professional color products exclusively — including Goldwell Elumen for vivid fashion colors — which allows us to achieve accurate, long-lasting results with minimal damage.

Fashion Color and Color Correction at Aurelio Salon

Aurelio Salon & Spa specializes in a wide range of hair color services including highlights, balayage, grey coverage, vivid fashion color, and color correction. As a Goldwell Platinum Salon, our colorists receive ongoing advanced education in the latest color techniques and formulas.

Learn more about our women’s hair coloring services or view our complete list of national publication features.

Aurelio Salon & Spa is located at 2448 Highway 9, Howell, NJ 07731. Call 732-303-0052 to schedule a color correction consultation.

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How to Get More Out of Your Professional Styling Products

One of the most common questions our stylists hear at Aurelio Salon & Spa in Howell, NJ is how to recreate a salon-quality style at home with the products already on the shelf. The answer often comes down to application technique — the same product used differently, in a different order, or with heat applied in a specific way can produce a completely different result. Here are some of the most useful multi-use approaches our stylists recommend.

Texture Products: More Versatile Than You Think

A professional texturizing or messing crème is one of the most multi-purpose products in a stylist’s toolkit. Applied to damp hair before a blowout — worked through the ends and mid-lengths — it creates a piecey, flippy finish with natural movement. Applied to dry hair instead, the same product adds lived-in texture and fullness without looking styled. The key difference is timing and the amount used: less is almost always more with texture products, especially on finer hair.

A dry wax or dry texture spray works similarly. Sprayed onto the ends of damp hair before blow-drying, it adds soft texture and a light hold that wears naturally throughout the day. On short hair or men’s cuts, the same product provides control and separation without weight or stiffness.

Clay and Sculpting Products

A professional clay crème used on dry hair delivers strong texture and separation without the crunch of a traditional hairspray or gel. For a softer, more workable result, try warming the product between your palms first or applying it while using a blow dryer on a low heat setting — this makes it smoother and easier to distribute through the hair, which is ideal for updos or when you need a clean, controlled finish on shorter styles.

Heat Protectant Doubles as a Shine Spray

A professional heat protectant spray applied to dry hair — not just before heat styling — also functions as a light shine enhancer. A few quick spritzes over a finished style, held at arm’s length, adds a polished, reflective finish without weight. This is one of the simplest ways to elevate the look of a blowout or straightened style before heading out.

Volumizing Products: Roots First

A volumizing spray is most effective when applied directly to the root area on damp hair before blow-drying — not distributed through the lengths where it adds little lift. Spray at the root, massage in lightly with your fingertips, and then blow-dry using a round brush with the nozzle directed at the base of each section. This lifts the root and sets it in place as the hair dries for volume that lasts.

For more styling tips tailored to your hair type, visit our women’s cut and styling page or our men’s cut and styling page. View our full salon menu or ask your stylist at your next appointment for a personalized product walkthrough.

Call 732-303-0052 to book at Aurelio Salon & Spa in Howell, NJ.

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