the best—and worst—times to travel over labor day weekend

Travel

The Best—and Worst—Times to Travel Over Labor Day Weekend

Drescription

Labor Day weekend is almost here, and whether you’re staying home to get some much-needed rest or traveling across state lines, the streets will be filled with bumper-to-bumper traffic. Knowing the exact times when traffic will peak is an important part of planning your holiday weekend, but don’t worry—we’ve gathered the best and worst times to travel over Labor Day weekend, so you don’t have to. Follow our advice and save yourself from the gridlock this weekend.

When Is Labor Day?

This year, Labor Day 2024 will take place on Monday, September 2. The federal holiday was designed to celebrate workers across the country and their contributions to the American economy, and as a result, most working people are granted a three-day weekend. The holiday is hugely popular, with many people getting on the road and treating their weekend as a mini-vacation—but the journey can be grueling.

The Best and Worst Times to Travel During Labor Day Weekend

If you’re traveling by air, avoid scheduling flights for Friday, August 30, especially during the midmorning and midafternoon (the busiest time for air travel). The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) anticipates August 30th will be its busiest day, with an estimated 2.86 million travelers expected to fly. Additionally, multiple airlines—including United Airlines and American Airlines—are expecting to host a record-breaking number of travelers this year.

For road travelers, the worst time to drive on Thursday, August 29 is between 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., with rush hour traffic at its peak during the midafternoon. On Friday, August 30, the worst time to hit the road is between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. On Monday, September 2, the roads will be packed from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

How to Beat the Crowd Ahead of Labor Day

If you're traveling, it's likely you'll be delayed by large crowds at some point this Labor Day weekend, but by knowing what to expect and planning ahead, you can be better prepared. Leaving an hour or two early can help you avoid peak congestion, especially on Labor Day. If you’re traveling by plane, arrive at the airport several hours in advance to give yourself enough time to check in, go through security, and find your gate. Remember: this isn’t your average get-to-the-airport-an-hour-before-the-flight experience.

Additionally, now is the time to optimize your TSA pre-check and E-ZPass to speed through as quickly as possible. The faster you make it through routine processes, the quicker you’ll get to your destination. Don’t forget to drive safely, hydrate often, and practice the virtue of patience.

Our “Non Try-Hard” Ways To Feel Sexy – From 7 Different EHD Women

This post (and the upcoming Valentine’s Day) may as well be sponsored by Bridgerton. If you’ve watched it you’ll know what I’m talking about as all my girlfriends have expressed how it has positively affected their marriage (I espoused this a couple years with Outlander, as well). Listen, being quarantined we all know that keeping the spark up can be challenging – so much time together, in sweats, and if you have kids it’s even harder. Regardless of your relationship status, if you are looking for ways to feel more comfortable and sexy without the straps and cuffs (certainly no judgment here), then the EHD team has collected some ideas for you, from those of us who are comfortable enough/had something to share. And if the idea of this post makes you uncomfortable (or if you are our dads) just come back tomorrow – we think that normalizing female conversations around having a healthy sex life is a good thing, but I get that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. I’ll go first. Pre-game Products I want to feel smooth and soft, so I normally use a dry brush to exfoliate then in the bath (I love this bubble bath after trying 16), I shave with this razor, I just got this waxing kit I’m going to try soon (I’m scared!) and then I use this lotion which smells SO GOOD. I also generally put on this tanning lotion (don’t forget the mitt) once a week in winter (more often in summer) to give me a bronz-ey glow that makes me feel good. But it does have that self-tan scent so I’d recommend applying it a day or two in advance then showering and putting on your scent. I also love putting this Aqua Parma on after that which gives a shimmer that is so pretty and subtle. Also a huge fan of Jo Malone bath oil. To Wear (Or Not To Wear) Besides the super special occasions (which are hard to do in Covid) I need to feel super comfortable. I just recently bought 3 pairs of the same pajamas (that I’ve been raving about for over a year) because they are so thin, SO soft, and cozy (HOT TIP – the fabric ‘modal’ is what I look for now). And while I think that no Cis male (or any male) would consider those “sexy”, per se, they are so thin and soft and cut in NOwhere (and easily come off), so for the less suspecting/planned nights, these are great. But for Valentine’s day (and for this post) I did a LOT of shopping online and found so few that I felt were flattering and yet comfortable and “me”. If you want to know what I bought and kept – what I found comfortable (I can’t with the underwire right now) and flattering it’s THIS romper and this top and bottom set. I also love the lines of this set that looks soft and pretty that I ordered but haven’t received yet. The Shocking “Sleepwear” Winner Speaking of unsuspecting…last year I got a cami and underwear set in a swag bag from a press party and I only opened it a couple months ago. I quite literally couldn’t believe how soft, thin and forgiving they were. When I looked at who makes this magical set it said ‘Jockey’ and I was like ‘well surely this is a collaboration with Goop or Doen or something’ but nope. They are REALLY thin, stretchy, and soft (not tight AT ALL, but not baggy – I don’t get it). I bought 3 sets and they feel like soft naked butter on your skin – Brian LOVES them despite how boring they are. AND they stay put! It’s not like they are so loose that they ride up, they are just so comfortable you don’t notice them in any way. Not too loose, not too tight – the sisterhood of the traveling cami set for all of us. To Set The Mood Bedding: Brooklinen percale sheets and duvet are my normal crisp, cool, and super soft go-to. I recently tried Buffy eucalyptus duvet and insert are both super comfortable if not more slick (not satin, but definitely more slick if that makes sense). And if you like the linen feel EHD loves the Casaluna line (but Brian prefers percale over linen). Candles: I keep one of these on my bath tray and light it every time I bathe (far more frequently than ever before) and then another on my nightstand. I like that there’s 3 wicks and they smell so good. Books: I’ve been reading steamy romance novels since I was 11 so I’m quite experienced in this. Most of my friends (including myself) enjoyed The Wedding Date series, and if you are bored and haven’t read 50 Shades, well, I’ll see you in 2 weeks when you come up for air. From Arlyn: Nars Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencil in Cruella: It might be a bit silly to slather on lipstick for myself and my four walls (well, and my husband), but I did this a few weeks ago and felt more myself than I have in 10 months. I felt powerful, confident, sexy. Cruella has been “my” color for the better part of seven years, and on days where I feel plain and meh, it sets me right. This bra + these underwear: Challenge: Wear a set of matching bra and undies and just try not to feel like a superhero. Just try…YOU CAN’T. This is my #1 “sexy” trick, whether for myself or for my marriage. The set doesn’t even have to be particularly scandalous or risque. Just the fact that you’re pulled together enough to have a bra and a pair of underwater that match that are clean at the same time, well…that’d get anyone to feel themselves, amiright? Bonus points if there’s a cheeky cut or some lace involved. Glossier You fragrance: I’m sure I’m not the only one here listing perfume. It’s low-hanging fruit, but that fruit hangs low for a reason. I used to be a daily spritzer, you know, pre-hermit Arlyn was at least. And recently, I eyed a bottle of one of my favorite fragrances right now and said “what the heck” and spritzed myself happy. Even if it’s just for you, what reason do you have to not smell good for yourself? Self-care baby. However, if you do have a partner, don’t be surprised if you walk past the room they’re in, and their legs involuntarily stand them up to follow you wherever you’re going, hypnotized…it smells that good. From Ajai: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Cleansing Towelettes: If I can be candid about the situation, after having a child, personal hygiene can be tough to maintain. Handling a newborn makes me forget what day it is and if I took a shower, so these hydro boost cleansing towelettes have really come in handy. If my face and neck get sweaty throughout the day I love whipping these babies out. I can even use them to wipe off the breast milk that lives everywhere on my skin. These towelettes leave my skin glowing – my husband compliments me after almost every use. I smell, feel, and look good (sexy) after I use them. Le Labo – Santal 26 Candle & Le Labo – Bergamot 22 Perfume: When I gave birth to our little one I had a c-section, so I’m not able to take baths to relax as I continue to heal. That said, scents have always been a big deal to me and I’ve been getting my fix with candles and perfumes. I love lighting my Santal 26 candle, in addition to (when I am able to take a shower) spraying on my Bergamote 22 perfume. Both of these scents make me feel so good, confident, and sexy. Sephora – Cream Lip Stain – 27 – Black Cherry: Nowadays, I love putting this on for zoom meetings and FaceTime calls with friends and family. This color makes me feel like a real boss-lady and a darn sexy mama. It’s very chic, perfect for fall and winter, and I get so many compliments on this color when I wear it. From Ryann: Oversized Button Up: This is going to sound pretty funny, but I recently bought a striped oversized men’s button up from Goodwill that’s super soft and comfy and turns out I feel effortlessly sexy in it. I’ve tried the lingerie thing and sure, it’s fun but sometimes it feels too performative and without a little liquid courage, it’s hard to not feel silly/self-conscious. So, a button-up with pretty underwear is my go-to and makes me feel cute and sexy. Body Scrub: This body scrub is nothing special or fancy, but I got it for Christmas and both my fiancé and I love how it smells plus it makes my skin feel really soft. For some reason, I am really lazy about putting body lotion on, but when I use this scrub I love following it up with body butter so I feel extra pampered. Parade Underwear: There’s a good reason this brand is all over Instagram. I have three pairs but I wish I had a hundred because they are so soft and comfortable and I think I feel best when I am just walking around my apartment in a little t-shirt and these undies. The mesh side detail is also very cute and sexy. From Rashida: Lately I’ve been retiring my natural curls for wand curls, and it’s created a new woman, a new identity that makes me feel very sexy. Package the wand curls with my favorite matte red lip, and my black squared neckline top, and you can’t tell me nothing!! From Mallory: Cowl Neck Top: If there’s one thing I LOVE this a cowl neck top. If you’re in my club, IBTC (itty-bitty-titty-committee) this one is for you. Wearing a big ol’ pushup bra can make me feel sexy but NOT wearing a bra can also make me feel sexy (plus it’s wayyy more comfortable). I love wearing cowl neck tops like this because they’re low-cut without being like uh your boobs are out PLUS the fit of the shirt automatically gives you extra zhuzh up top. I wear this all the time (even in Covid). Bra: On the flip side, a bra with some padding makes me feel sexy since it’s basically doubling the size of my ladies. This one from the one and only Victoria’s Secret is great because it comes in lots of colors and fits in the comfiest way (especially for a push up) From Sara: Multi Benne Stick: This lip stain from NOTO is a little dark, really soft, and kissable, and exactly what I swipe on for date nights. Stargazer Lily: Mac got me this perfume oil for my birthday this year, and I find myself rolling it on right before I get into bed all the time. It’s a really sensual, deep heady floral scent, but it’s not overwhelming. To me it smells like a humid summer night – think “The Notebook” Huggie Hoops: I bought these for myself a few months ago, and haven’t taken them off since. Wearing gold hoops makes me feel close to my mom, grandma, and female relatives in Guatemala (where my first pair of gold hoops were sent from as a baby gift when I was just 3 weeks old). A pair of gold hoops are a part of my daily armor, and make me feel very much myself. Well, there you have it. All the scents, intimates, clothing, jewelry, etc that make US feel good and sexy. What makes you feel good? There are no wrong answers and we’d love to know.

27 Fun Road Trip Games for Adults That Make Car Travel More Enjoyable

Road trips are fun—at least, in theory. But after a couple of hours of music, podcasts, and "I'm just going to take a quick nap while you drive," things can quickly turn boring. Sometimes you can adapt party games for the car, but they don't always translate to sitting in a moving metal box. That's where these road trip games come in. "I Spy" may have kept your attention when you were young—impressive, given that you had the attention span of a goldfish—but this list of car ride games up the ante a bit. Pick a few adult-worthy road trip games for your next long ride. 01 of 27 Spin a Story From the Past Think of this as "Who can lie better?" One player begins by telling a story about their past, and players have to guess whether they're telling the truth or spinning a tale. Each guesser gets two follow-up questions, and then it's time for an answer. Every correct answer is two points, and the first player to 10 wins. (The loser has to reveal a super-embarrassing story.) 02 of 27 Riff Off This competition involves finding a license plate with random letters and creating a word with those letters. For example, if the license plate is YMT23, the answer could be "Yosemite". Think of it as Road Trip Scrabble, but instead of taking turns, just yell when you see one and come up with a word. Other players can challenge by creating a longer word with those same letters. To up the stakes, stipulate that the letters must be in the exact order to make the word and can't be scrambled. Award two points for each winning answer and two extra points for anyone who spots a vanity plate. The winner is the first to reach 10 points. 03 of 27 Explain a Movie Plot Badly This party game also works when you're trapped in a car. One player thinks of a movie and explains its plot in a way that is factual and terrible, and the other players have to guess. The first player to guess correctly gets a point. If no one guesses correctly, the plot explainer gets a point. Our favorite: "Girl can't commit. Loses cat." (Yep, Breakfast at Tiffany's!) 04 of 27 Essentially the Same Movie In another film-related game, a player starts by naming a movie. The next player has to name another movie that has the same basic plot. For example, Pretty in Pink and Some Kind of Wonderful, or No Strings Attached and Friends with Benefits. Players continue to take turns naming flicks with essentially the same narrative until someone gets stumped—the last person to come up with a film that fits wins. Start with your favorite kid movies if you're having trouble thinking of movie plots. 05 of 27 Radio Roulette This is essentially a road trip game of Name That Tune. Flip among radio stations until you hear a song (presets work best), and let it play for 15 seconds. Players are challenged to name that song and its artist, earning one point for each, with an extra point for naming its album. The first one to reach 15 points wins. 06 of 27 Mad Libs You know Mad Libs, that hilarious word game that solicits nouns, adjectives, and verbs from players to create an imaginative narrative. If you plan ahead, you can access a free printable Funny Mad Libs For Adults to take with you on the road. (Don't forget to bring a pen!) If you're not a fan of pre-technology, whip out a smartphone and play WordLibs online for free, with no app or downloads required. You can even create your own stories! 07 of 27 Fortunately, Unfortunately To start this storytelling game, one player makes a declarative statement that begins with "Fortunately..." For example, "Fortunately, on this highway, we will soon pass a cool roadside attraction." The next player must follow up with an "unfortunately" statement such as "Unfortunately, the attraction is a giant booger." The subsequent player must give a "fortunately" statement, and so on as you go from player to player. Switch from "fortunately" to "unfortunately" statements until everyone runs out of steam. 08 of 27 Snack the Rainbow Along your road trip route, plan to stop at seven gas stations. At each station, find a snack that's a specific color of the rainbow. (Remember, it's ROYGBIV!) You can only get one snack item per gas station. 09 of 27 Famous Names For this road trip game, someone starts by saying the first and last names of a famous person. The next player must name another famous person whose first name starts with the first letter of the previous celebrity's last name. For example, Justin Bieber leads to Billy Crystal. Billy Crystal leads to Catherine O'Hara. Catherine O'Hara leads to Owen Wilson, and so on. If a player is stumped, they're out, and the group moves on to the next player. 10 of 27 Road Sign Alphabet Game Each player must find a word on a road sign that starts with the letter A, then a word that starts with B, and so on through the alphabet. Once a player has claimed a word, the other players can't use that word. Whoever gets to the end of the alphabet first wins. 11 of 27 Road Trip Trivia For each city you pass through on your trip, designate one person to be the "expert" about that city's population, industry, dining establishments, and anything it might be known for. The expert can use their smartphone, but guessers cannot. As you pass through each city, the expert asks trivia questions that other players guess the answers to. Examples are, "How many people live in Scranton?" and "Which fast food restaurant does Cedar Key have five of?" 12 of 27 Road Trip Bingo Road trip bingo is always a crowd-pleaser. Before you leave, you can create your own paper bingo cards or print road trip Bingo cards for free to distribute to each player. If you make your own, consider a theme of fast food restaurants (McDonald's, Chick-Fil-A, KFC), gas stations (BP, Shell, Texaco), or types of cars (Honda Civic, Subaru Outback, Toyota Tacoma). Whichever you choose, make sure there are enough markers or stickers for everyone to mark their cards. 13 of 27 Guess the Time Look up which cities you'll be passing through on the way to your final destination, and have everyone in the car guess the exact time you'll arrive at each one. (The use of map apps are prohibited.) For example, what time does your car pass the sign that says "Entering Sacramento"? The player whose guess is the closest wins that round. 14 of 27 Categories Someone chooses a category, such as movies, sweet treats, or flowers. The first player must name something in that category that starts with the letter A. The second player has the letter B, and so on. For example, if the category is flowers, the first player might say "amaryllis." The second person might say "begonia." The third person might say "carnation," and so on. Be sure to choose the categories based on the players' knowledge base. (If no one in the car is interested in gardening, flowers might not be the best category.) 15 of 27 The Price is Right Based on the TV game show, each player guesses the price for regular unleaded gas at the next gas station you see. Whoever gets the price to the nearest tenth gets a point. When it's time to stop for gas, the player with the least number of points buys snacks for everyone. 16 of 27 Guess the Song For Guess the Song, one player sings or says lyrics to a song, and the other players must name the title of that song. Stating the lyrics in a monotone makes the game harder. For example, someone says, "And he's long gone when he's next to me. And I realize the blame is on me." The winner is whoever correctly names the song's title, Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble." Players must name the exact title. So, if a player says, "I Knew You Were Trouble When You Walked In," that answer is wrong, and someone else gets a chance to name the exact title. 17 of 27 Guess the Quote One player looks up a famous quote on their smartphone and reads it to the other the players, who must name the person (or fictional character) who uttered it. The quote could be from a famous speech, like "Give me liberty or give me death!" (Patrick Henry) or a movie, like "There's no place like home," (Judy Garland as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz). 18 of 27 While You Were Sleeping This is a group game to play when one or two passengers are taking a nap. While they're sleeping, the rest of the passengers work together to create a story about something the sleepers missed. For example, you all spotted a famous person who was stopped by the side of the road with a flat tire. The celebrity lets you hold their dog, eat some of their delicious snacks, and so on. Storytellers collectively agree on the specific, weird details for optimal believability. Too bad you didn't take any photos! 19 of 27 Who's Most Likely to...? For this fun road trip game, someone starts by asking the question, "Who in this car is most likely to...?" The other players have 3 seconds to name the person that fits the statement best. Players take turns asking a new question. Here are some possibilities: Who is most likely to answer the phone at 3 am? Who is most likely to throw their friend a surprise party? Who is most likely to give you a nickname? If you have trouble thinking up questions, visit teambuilding.com for a list of dozens of them that'll keep you asking and answering for miles. 20 of 27 Triple Threat In Triple Threat, someone starts in the role of the judge by saying three random words, and each player has to tell a story using those three words. The player who thought up the best story, according to the judge, wins. The winner becomes the judge for the next round, offering the next trio of random words, and the game continues. 21 of 27 20 Questions This classic guessing game easily adapts to a road trip. It starts with a player thinking of a person, place, or thing. The other players take turns asking yes-or-no questions to determine what they're thinking about. Whoever guesses correctly gets a point, but if no one guesses after 20 questions, the originator gets a point. Make sure someone is keeping track of the number of questions. 22 of 27 Spot the Car This road trip game is similar to I Spy and keeps everyone's eyes on the road. One player names a particular type of vehicle—like a double tractor-trailer, RV, or a Ram pickup—and players compete to be the first to see one and score a point. For a variation, consider non-vehicle items like signs or landscape items. 23 of 27 Scavenger Hunt This activity works as well in a car as it does out of one and demands much less legwork. If you're a planner, create your own list ahead of time based on what you expect to see along your drive. If not, print out a generic list for free. Either way, make a copy for each player, and whoever has seen (checked off) the most list items wins. 24 of 27 License Plate Checklist If you're taking a long trip on the interstates, this game is the perfect way to kill time. Just make a list on your phone or a notepad of all fifty states and check them off when you see a license plate from that state. Try and find all fifty states before your trip ends. 25 of 27 They're a 10, But... Find out how far your car riders would go for their dream partner with this silly game. To start, one person will say "your partner is 10, but..." and follow up with something funny or just plain outrageous. You could say, "he's a 10, but he has lobster claws instead of hands." Or "she's a 10, but she always has to rhyme when she speaks." How much are you willing to compromise for the perfect companion? 26 of 27 Count to 20 See if you and your fellow road trippers can get on the same wavelength with this simple yet challenging game. This game requires at least three people. Everyone in the group is trying to count up to 20 without saying the same number at the same time. If two or more people say the same number simultaneous, the game resets back to one. Sound easy? You might be surprised. 27 of 27 Battle of the Songs Test your skills as a DJ with this fun and musical game. A judge will pick a category for a type of song—this could be "80s power ballads," "90s alternative rock songs," or any genre of music your heart desires. Both people or teams will select a song in that category and play them. Whichever one the judge prefers is the winner and that team gets a point.

Update: The Team EHD Hair Reveals

Well folks, we did it. We walked into The Harbor salon in Silver Lake Wednesday morning and walked out that afternoon feeling like different people. It’s shocking what a good cut and color can do to your day (and confidence). If you have no idea what I’m talking about then rewind back to this intro post. The briefer recap is this: A few of the braver EHD members in the office and I popped over to the brand new The Harbor salon for a hair transformations in exchange for sharing about our experience on the blog and social media. It was about as nerve-racking of a team building exercise as you could get. My only request was that whoever wanted in on the hair transformations had to be willing to get at least ONE big change (I excluded myself from this rule because I’m the boss and that’s what being the boss means). Keep reading to see who made what changes… Ai2a8951 The Harbor is a very sweet little salon in Silver Lake (aka very convenient for me), that also happens to be just as full of charm as it is full of very wonderful and talented hair magicians. It’s owned by Shanda Wallace (pictured above with me), and just opened its doors in July. Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Salon Process Sara Julie In the end, four girls from the EHD office (and me) walked in with open minds and willing hair. Sara (on the left, EHD’s resident photographer) wanted to make a color change and was in good hands with Josh Miramontes and Ash Bazarjian. Julie (in the pink coat on the right, an EHD associate designer/project manager) worked with Rachel Hummel on her goal of a shorter length and darker color. Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Salon Process Velinda Ryann 01 Velinda (our resident curly haired staff member, and an EHD design associate) had stylists Kat Cali and Darla Hawn as her dream team. And last but not least Ryann (our blog assistant) had stylists Kelly Walker and Lauren Payne in her corner while she went even shorter than she already went (in length, not height obviously). Ai2a9133 Isn’t that space so cute? It’s bright, open and minimal but has great little design pops all over. Those gold sconces are great, and they match the circular gold mirrors we all used to stare at ourselves. Floating stations keep things from feeling cluttered, and those big salon chairs are very comfortable for long stints of color processing. There are also little hanging planters along all the walls to keep things feeling fresh and alive. Like I said, minimal but very, VERY cute. Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Salon Process 01 Sara underwent just about every coloring technique in the book from the looks of it. Those two guys spent a good amount of time just mixing up color, brushing it in, and foil wrapping her entire head. She didn’t seem to mind though and quickly admitted that having two talented men softly touching her head for 3 1/2 hours was a dream and made her feel like a very important person. Ai2a9057 Darla took Velinda’s hair from a medium brown to a darker, richer brown tone. We were all SHOCKED at how long Velinda’s hair got once it was wet and weighed down. You always hear about curly hair being unassumingly long, but seeing it in person was pretty eye-opening. So many of you in the last post brought up the concept of a dry cut for curly hair. Velinda got a little bit of both. They did some initial cutting on her damp curls and then went back in once it was completely dry to get the final shape perfected. Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Salon Process 02 Ryann wanted to go even shorter than her already-above-the-shoulder cut (which, by the way, she did herself with the help of her boyfriend a few weeks ago…18 inches chopped off). She wanted something along the lines of Parisian page boy chic. She also got some depth and warmth put into her hair with the help of some toned glaze. Julie also went darker but in a much more dramatic way. She’d had light brown hair with additional highlights for years and was ready to go a little darker even than her natural color. But her stylist pointed out that as the color wore on her hair, it would start to naturally lighten in some areas, allowing her hairs natural highlights to add dimension. I2a9299 I worked with Shanda to reshape my hair, adjust the color, and tape in extensions. My hair just hasn’t been growing the way it used to, so I was ready to add some faux length and volume while I give my hair some TLC. Now for the moment you’ve all been waiting for…THE REVEALS. Ai2a9386 I LOVE my extensions. Having longer hair just feels like me. I think that maybe I just don’t have the time nor desire to style bob-length hair. I already know how to style my longer hair. I can throw it up in a cute pony, or quickly add some bounce to it with a curling iron… As a reminder here’s where I started, and what I was using as my inspiration: Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Before Inspiration Emily That was the inspiration, on the right. Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Salon After Emily If only I could go back in time and keep that hair. I know you are thinking “Wait, what do you mean? You changed it after this?” YEP. It was too ashy for me and I’m used to brighter around my face. Honestly, I’m kinda nauseous about the whole thing because I feel like such an idiot. My hair DRINKS toner and now it’s been toned and retoned about five times and it looks nuts (check out stories to see what I’m talking about). So many people have DM’d me and I frankly don’t really want to even talk about it. But here’s the plan: I need to wash and wash and wash my hair to get out the variety of toners because it’s just too processed right now. So sorry, not really an “after” yet for me. I just wish I hadn’t changed it after Shanda first did it. This fine, porous blonde hair really can’t handle going darker just to go lighter again (without a TON of damaging bleach which I’m trying to wait on). I just want a time machine. But it’s okay. It’s just hair. Meanwhile, I’ll let the rest of the team elaborate on their looks… I2a9610 Sara I LOVE my new hair. I seriously smile so big every time I see myself in anything reflective these days. It’s new and different for me, but I don’t feel like I’m walking around with someone else’s head on my shoulders. I can dress it up with texture spray for an edgier look, or keep it sleek for something a little quieter and sunkissed. Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Before Inspiration Sara My hair was completely untouched before Josh and Ash got their hands on it. It was shoulder length, medium brown, and fine (as in “not exciting,” but also a little thin and soft). I really wanted to try something I knew I couldn’t normally afford, but something that wouldn’t need too much upkeep afterward. My original inspiration photos didn’t include the one above of Lucy Hale, but the night before we went to the salon, I was scrolling through Pinterest, saw this photo, and knew it was the direction I wanted to go in. It was darker and more natural at the root, but way lighter at the bottom, with all of this depth and warmth. A lot of my friends wanted me to try the ‘pumpkin spice’ color I had proposed, but the guys let me know that would mean color maintenance. This option will allow my natural root to seamlessly grow in, while also going with more of a spiced blonde at the tips, rather than a cooler ice or ash tone. Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Salon After Sara We only did one short round of bleaching, so my hair barely feels any different and I can’t see anything that’s setting my “split end” alarms off. I’m already using the Olaplex line, including the intensive hair mask, which so many people with bleached hair call “magic.” Ash also sent me home with some purple conditioner to try if I wanted to experiment with a cooler tone in my ends at any point (or if my blonde starting turning brassier than I wanted it to). I’m also so excited I can finally try Kristen Ess’ temporary rose gold hair tint. Josh gave me a super textured cut, which I love and works great with my typical “beach waves” style (the only thing I really know how to do). But I also can’t wait to experiment with new styles and looks (for example, my usual ’90s-esque matte mauve lipstick now looks horrifyingly try hard next to my blonde ends, so it’s time to try some new, brighter colors). Josh and Ash are my heroes. I2a9511 Julie I feel human again with this new hairstyle!!! After having the same locks on my head for over a decade, I felt stagnant in life. Getting something this drastic makes me feel brand new and mentally ready to accomplish some goals that have been lingering off to the side for a while now. It is amazing how something as simple as a hairstyle can give you a new lease on life. I guess it’s time to finally go to the DMV or go skydiving??? Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Before Inspiration Julie Rachel, my stylist, worked her magic on me (thank you again). As someone who has gone to the same stylist since the age of 11, I was hesitant to let someone else’s hands touch my hair but right away I felt so at ease with her maybe due to the fact that we bonded over both being born and raised in the valley. Yup, that’s right. I am a proud valley girl! I was so appreciative of her taking the time in our consult going over every detail of what I wanted done, from the exact color, type of dye and how it would grow out/fade over the next couple of months to the texture and length of my cut. We probably spent a good 15 minutes discussing it all. We decided on a brunette color 3 shades darker than my natural light brown hair using a demi hair dye which when it starts to fade will let those highlights come through again (making it easier to maintain). I had told her shoulders or shorter in terms of length and we decided on a lob which sounded perfect especially after the initial cut (I was still a little scared). Before getting to the color part, she started off with a dry cut just below my clavicle which was a good 3-4 inches shorter already. It was HAPPENING, no turning back now. Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Salon After Julie I absolutely love how it turned out and I am still doing double takes every time I’m near a mirror. We ended up cutting off a total of 5-6 inches. I haven’t had my hair this short since I was 4 when I also had bangs, red glasses and, of course, a pink flowered jumper and matching hat…it was the early ’90s and I was VERY cool. Rachel even taught me how to achieve the coveted “bed-head-beach-waves-tousled-but-not-too-perfect” hair. So hands up emoji to her. The whole team was so sweet, they made little gift boxes for each of us with products specifically catered to our hair needs. I got and already used the Evo Haze styling powder the next day which helps to give a little more life to the roots and that piecey / textured feel on the ends. Thank you Rachel, my fellow valley girl, you are the best! VELINDA: I2a9501 I’ve had the chance to live with my new do for 48 whole hours, and it has taken all 48 to get used to glimpses of my new reflection. I immediately felt a refreshing excitement when they started slicing my hair into bangs. I mean it, they sliced…with a knife! (okay, a hair razor, but practically a sword). Darla (color) and Kat (cut) were my weapon-yielders and they BOTH HAD CURLY HAIR, which if you read post #1, you’ll know was a huge relief. Darla guided me through a color treatment that wouldn’t be high maintenance to maintain; a semi-permanent treatment that will slowly fade as my hair grows, preventing root lines. I’ll probably keep it dark though. I love it. Darla also kept some strands of my natural color to add subtle highlight and dimension. As a quick reminder, here was the before and one of the looks I was considering (but feared): Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Before Inspiration Velinda1 Kat, who had both curls and bangs (but wore it straight that day. Thanks a lot, KAT!) understood my concerns about bangs with curls…poofy ’80s/top-heavy mushroom hair. And she knew how to cut/style to avoid them. First, we took a look at what pieces of my hair “naturally wanted to be bangs.” We pinned those strands into a sort of faux-bang and took a look. Then, I made the final decision…sure, why not! (always best to wing such things last minute…y’know, things that’ll take three years to correct if you hate). Last Wednesday, all of your strong opinions bore revelation to the true issue at root of our divided country…curly bangs vs no bangs. One warning I carefully considered was that bangs with curls meant extra work. I think that CAN be true. Luckily, so far in my 48 hours of experience, it’s meant increased ease. My head took to bangs, and the new fringe needs NO help from styling. I can air dry and go, which means I found the four-leaf clover of forehead curl and can’t promise this will work at home. Even Darla and Kat said, “you almost never know how curls will take to bangs.” To be careful, Kat cut my “future bangs” extra long so she could see how the curls would behave. Then she let my hair air dry (w/slight help from a diffuser) and made final cut-edits while dry. Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Salon After Velinda Between my re-shaped hair and my bi-annual, second-hand clothes-shopping trip w/my wife this week, I feel suddenly stylish. Feigning vogue is super fun and I promise to keep it up!…all month…maybe. At least now, when I return to my standard jeans and tee, I’ll be rocking locks with built-in style. The new look is SO different after a decade of same ‘ole, same ‘ole. It’s taken a bit to decide if I liked it out of pure shock alone, but it’s really grown on me. I can’t wait to play with new styling options (and straightening)! My wife, the most important person to have on the “pro-bang” side of the country, is obsessed! Ultimately, this isn’t anything I would have thought to do without the challenge/offer from Emily, but I’m pretty thrilled. I2a9571 Ryann Okay guys, here she is. The new NEW Ryann. And I have to say, I love this length on me. My stylist Kelly and I both agreed that my face shape longs for short hair. It just works. Though I love Rapunzel hair for many reasons—one being that I can throw it up in a messy bun and go about my day—I think short hair is my hairs’ calling. I know we all wanted short bangs for me, too, and I agreed, but ultimately Kelly and I decided to do subtle middle part bangs to start. Unfortunately, you can’t really tell in these photos (because I’m fidgety on camera and had tucked the bangs behind my ears) but she gave me curtain bangs which adds a lovely texture to this cut. Now that I have spent a few days with this hairstyle, I am definitely up to going full-on with the bangs. Maybe I will even do another solo salon day in my bathroom, who knows?? Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Before Inspiration Ryann Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Salon After Ryann Now let’s talk color. I left it to Sara to be #blondecurious, which in the end I did not regret. My hair has never been dyed so fear of damaging my poor virgin hair made me reconsider the blonde lifestyle. Instead, Lauren suggested we do a warm chestnut brown, which would make going lighter a possibility in the future. To be honest, I couldn’t get the Parisian inspiration photo out of my head (the one I was surprised many of you thought I should go for) so sticking with my dark roots just felt right. Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Salon Photo Booth Julie Velinda1 Don’t these darling women look great? To make sure everyone has their “hair selfie,” the salon has the cutest photo booth, which is perfect for snapping that new hair photo (this feels far less narcissistic somehow than the classic “driver’s seat selfie”…it’s never not awkward to sit in your car after a haircut taking photos of yourself awkwardly in the parking lot). Even if you don’t use the app they have provided, it’s the perfect light for a quick selfie or instastory. Plus, the back wall is covered in a very sweet LA themed illustrative wallpaper. I2a9426 There was a lot of hooping and hollering when the team made it back into the office later that day. Lots of “let me see, let me see” and head petting ensued (and okay, some hugging). We’re still trying to get used to the back of everyone’s heads (is it Julie or Sara? OH THE CHANGES) but all in good fun. Ai2a9195 Thank you again to the wonderful team at The Harbor salon that greeted us with enthusiasm and excitement bright and early last week. Your space is truly a delight. If you’re local to LA and looking for a new set of hands to tend to your hair, be sure to pay Shanda and her team a visit. Okay, now’s the time to hear from ALL OF YOU. You guys were SO engaged in our last post (in fact, some of you said you wished we had done the reveals right away instead of waiting a few days…sorry we just needed time to pull all the assets together), so we want to hear what everyone thinks of the final looks/reveals. Do you love them as much as all of Team EHD? Did anyone inspire you to shake up your own style and try something new? We’re all anxiously waiting to hear what you think.

8 Things You Should Never Do on a Plane, According to a Flight Attendant

They say it's about the journey, not the destination—but when air travel is involved, the journey can often be more difficult than enjoyable. Still, that doesn’t mean that basic courtesy should go out the window. In fact, it's all the more reason to be extra considerate. Here are eight things you should never do on a plane. Aiden, flight attendant Jenny Dreizen, modern-day etiquette, boundaries, and relationships expert Touch the Flight Attendants According to flight attendant Aiden (who didn't reveal his last name for privacy reasons), there is never a time when it's appropriate to touch a flight attendant. “Do not touch your flight attendants, period," he says. "When we are moving about the cabin—whether it is to serve a meal, prepare drinks, or collect garbage—we can still hear you! A simple ‘sir’ or ‘ma’am’ will get our attention.” After all, it’s generally not appropriate to touch someone you’ve just met. Ask to Use the Lavatory Right After Boarding Need to use the bathroom right after boarding? Be aware that you may be holding up the plane. It’s the worst time to be anywhere but your seat—plus, you likely had a chance before boarding. “Why didn’t you use it in the terminal?" Aiden asks. "When you're boarding, the flight crew has different tasks to handle, both those you can see and, more importantly, those you cannot. Things like monitoring overhead bin space, identifying passengers we can rely on in an emergency, and communicating with the flight deck and ground personnel.” If you're still not convinced, know that bathrooms in the airport are far better than compact airplane stalls. Put Your Arms, Legs, or Feet in the Aisle Aiden acknowledges that airplanes aren’t the most comfortable environments, but you need to keep your limbs to yourself. “Sometimes you need to stretch, but when we're trying to pass through the cabin—whether it's for service or just monitoring—it’s frustrating to have to wake every single person blocking the aisle," he says. "That being said, please just be courteous about your space, and if we ask you to move, please do." Run to the Front of the Plane Right After Landing Sure, you might be eager to get off the plane, but so is everyone else. “Upon landing and arrival at the gate, please don’t stand up and bolt to the front of the airplane," Aiden says. "It’s quite rude to other passengers, and frankly, it’s inconsiderate." Question the Flight Crew Aiden warns that doubting the flight crew—or refusing to listen—is a bad idea. “If we ask you to do something, we have a reason," he says. "Please don’t question us. Flight attendants go through five to eight weeks of rigorous training before we’re even allowed to step foot on a real aircraft. Many flight attendants, including myself, compare their initial training to taking a full semester’s worth of college classes in under two months.” You might not know that flight attendants are trained to do much more than serve drinks. They learn how to open multiple types of aircraft doors, perform CPR and AED usage, deliver babies, and even fight fires. “Yes, we know how to pour Diet Coke, but there is so much more to our job than that," Aiden says. "We are aviation’s first responders, so please treat us as such.” Put Your Feet on Someone Else’s Armrest Etiquette expert Jenny Dreizen says that putting your feet on someone else’s armrest is a big no-no. “We’ve all seen it: the toes creeping from behind our armrests—it’s like a horror movie with a very boring premise," she says. "I live internationally from my family, so air travel is a big part of my life, and I know as much as anyone how wildly uncomfortable flying is—but you still cannot put your feet on the back of someone else’s armrest, I’m sorry. We must maintain some decorum.” Go Barefoot Dreizen insists that taking off your socks is not only unacceptable, it’s also unhygienic. “Plane floors are dirty, and I don’t want you to catch anything," she says. "Also, we don’t want access to your feet. Keep them sheathed. The best idea is to wear your shoes and keep your socks on at all times.” Recline Without Consideration It's okay to recline, but it’s important to be mindful of others, according to Dreizen. “As annoying as it can be to have someone recline in front of you, it’s not their fault that the airplane is shoving everyone too close together—they’re just trying to be comfortable," she says. "That said, it’s a good idea to recline slowly if you can." And check behind you to see if the person has drinks or a laptop on their tray—a quick heads up that you're about to recline is courteous.