hairchat. quick party hair.

Last week, we had a class/salon day at work! Our boss asked us to find 2 youtube videos of hairstyles we wanted to try on each other! This was one of the most fun and informative classes I have done. I wanted to share one of the videos that I took! You all know how much I love a good poof, so this was for sure one of my favorites! And he makes it look so quick and easy!

Johnny Lavoy has many videos on youtube that you should check out!

Here is the look recreated by one of my fellow stylist! I thought it looked really good!

It really was so simple and you could add a scarf or headband like we did or not wear one at all! Either way, this is a great quick updo for any holiday parties you might have coming up!

We also did some rearranging that day! The salon set up the same way for a couple of years and we were ready for something new!

Before

Before

And now for the After...

I think it seems more open and maybe a little bigger!

I love my new station! Change is always a good thing!

hairchat. Talking to your stylist.

Communicating with your hairstylist is so important in getting the results you want! You as the client, need information and understanding from your stylist and your stylist needs information and direction from you. Never assume that your stylist knows what you like even if you have been using the same person for years.

Your stylist needs to know what you like and dislike and how you manage your hair at home. A good stylist should explain any new look so that you can make the decision if you are ready for a change. No one knows your hair better than you do so providing as much information as possible will help your stylist make the proper decision about the right cut, color & style.

To avoid communication failure with your stylist, it's good to know some hair styling terminology.

Layering- This is a technique to change thickness of hair and can create a thinning or thicker appearance. Verify how much layering you want along with the length of the layers. You want them to be proportional with the rest of the style. Layers can give hair a fuller appearance with more texture and movement. A good hair cut is really about the art of layering!

Texturizing- This involves using a razor or thinning shears. If you are thinking you want your hair texturized, question your stylist about your hair type to be sure that your hair is the right texture and style for it.

Blunt cut- This means to cut sections of hair straight across. This is mainly done on hair that is one-length or between chin lengths to below the shoulder. It can also be used to cut any short layered hair style. This can result in thicker, fuller ends.

Undercutting- This is done to the hair around the neck. It can be cut shorter relative to the rest of the hair on the back of the head and this will prevent the hair from sticking out in the neck area. This will help achieve smooth, turned under hair.
Trim- Trimming is cutting very little or only cutting around the back, top or sides. Please be specific in the amount of hair you want to be cut so your stylist can understand your meaning of a trim!

Good luck at your next hair appointment!

Hair chat. Ponytails

It's been a while since I had any ideas for a hair chat... But I had some request lately so I thought I would bring it back and talk about pony tails today!

Pony tails can have many styles. You don't have to have long straight hair for a pony tail. And it doesn't matter if its 10 inch or even 1 inch long, you can make it cute by spending a little time on it!

First, decide if you are wanting a messy or simple sleek ponytail. With simple sleek pony tails, I think clean hair is better. Lean your head back and brush all your hair off your face and up towards the top of your head. If you can do this by lying over the edge of the bed you will get an even better result.

Leave one small section loose and secure the rest with a tight rubberband. Wrap the loose section of the hair around the band then secure the end of the loose section with a bobby pin on the underside of the ponytail!

This is another version of a sleek ponytail but with a little more poof! To achieve this look, tease the top of the head from the bangs back then smooth with a comb and pull away from the face.

If you have bangs, you can still have a cute, stylish ponytail! Fix your bangs like you would every day, then just pull back the rest of the hair.

A popular look right now is the side swept ponytail. Decide which side you want the hair, then tease the top and sides then pull all hair to the side. Wrap rubber band around and also secure any loose hairs with a bobby pin to help support the side pony!

I love the braided bangs look! But I am a horrible braider!! I have been doing some twisting instead. Start with your part and braid/twist over past the temple. Then you can pin them and pull the rest back!

Practice these looks!! Sometimes, you have to take it all down and start over. But I hope this helps influence you gals to try out some stylish pony tails this fall!

hair chat. shampoos

I have many people ask me to talk about shampoos. There are so many different kinds of shampoos that range in prices so it can be hard to determine which is the best for you. I did quite a bit of online research and in no way can say that I knew all this info before I wrote this post. So don't feel bad if this is all new to you because some parts were for me as well!

• Shampoo is meant to remove dirt, sebum (a.k.a. oils), and product buildup from your hair. But there are dozens of different brands to choose from, and even more types within those brands. The same goes for conditioners. Conditioners are meant to add shine, protect hair from drying out and allow for easier combing.

• Some cheap shampoos contain foaming agents that can dry out the hair. This is good for oily, limp hair. But if your hair is sun-damaged, chlorine-damaged or color-damaged then you should invest in more expensive shampoo.

• If your hair is colored, you really should consider a shampoo that is specially designed for colored hair. This is because the shampoos are made to be more gentle on your hair & will contain ingredients to preserve color.

The many names of ingredients on bottles can be confusing. But it's true the right ingredients make all the difference. Rather than pay attention to the names on the bottles, pay more attention to the ingredients. Does the shampoo include a mild cleanser like sodium laureth sulfate or a stronger one like ammonium lauryl sulfate? This is something I do not pretend to know much about. HERE is a site that talks about the ingredients if you want to know more about them!

Since a lot of you are moms... I thought I would include some info about children's shampoos. Forget the cute bottles and pretty colors. That is the last thing that should concern you. Instead, look at the product. You want it as free as possible from coloring and fragrance. Those ingredients are not necessary and just because a product claims to be mild, does not make it so. Look at the ingredients!

I also found this info about dandruff/dry skin on the scalp... The best remedy for dandruff is to rotate three over-the-counter dandruff shampoos -- one containing salicylic acid (to exfoliate), one containing selenium sulfide (to soothe) and a third containing pyrithione zinc (an anti-inflammatory) interspersing them with regular shampoo. A trio of treatments is most effective because if you use only one the fungus could adapt and become immune to it. When the seasons change, my scalp gets dry. I will normally use head and shoulders at least once a week to prevent it from getting too bad.

Choosing a shampoo according to your hair type is a good way to start out your shampoo search!

• Coarse hair is usually porous, which means it quickly absorbs moisture and other chemicals applied to it. Coarse hair is sometimes the result of over processing. Thus if you often perm, color or straighten your hair you may have course hair. Usually coarse hair is dry. Because of this, you'll want to select a moisturizing shampoo that will help infuse more moisture in your hair. This can also help tame fly aways, common in coarse hair.
  
  
• Generally if you have fine hair you'll want to stick with light shampoos and conditioners. You don't need to use a heavy shampoo. Most gentle shampoos work well. You can usually wash your hair every day using gentler shampoos. You might also consider a clarifying shampoo once a week to help lift residue so your hair doesn't get too weighted down. The biggest problem with fine hair is overpowering it with too many products. This can make fine hair even limper than normal.
  
  
• If you have colored/processed hair, you want to be sure to select a shampoo that won't strip your hair color. It is possible to have dry ends but oily roots if you have processed hair. The trick here is cleaning hair with a good shampoo then applying some form of moisturizer to the ends of your hair. Fortunately there are dozens of color protection shampoos that help preserve your color but still add moisture to your hair.

I can't tell you each what shampoo would be best for you. I don't use anything but salon professional shampoo & conditioners so I am not going to name store brands for you to try. But I suggest is that you determine your hair type then do some research on what kind of shampoos will be best for your hair! You can always see if the inexpensive shampoos and conditions work for you and if they don't, or your hair is still not doing what you want it to do, then try salon product!

hair chat. Blondes

Ok blondies... I am talking to you today! The first step toward an attractive blond hair style is choosing the right color. There are hundreds of shades of blond hair from creamy light golden tones to ashy blondes with low lights. If you are a natural blonde, examine your color and see if you would like it lightened or highlighted. Natural blond hair darkens over time, and many blondes opt for mild treatments to keep naturally bright shades.

When choosing a blonde shade, particularly if you have naturally dark hair, be sure to match the color to your skin tone. Very pale skin may look washed out against a bright blonde, whereas darker skin is best complimented by warmer hair colors.

Foil highlights add strands of color to your hair by adding multiple different shades in the hair to make it look for natural. Low-lights allow stylist to add darker shades to the hair to give more contrast.

Consider adding highlights to create depth and texture in the hair, but use two or three highlight colors to avoid a streaked, patchwork look. Choosing highlight colors close to your natural shade will keep the style colorful longer as your natural color grows back in over time. But you can ask for lighter pieces around your face to brighten your complexion.

If you have brown hair and want to go blonde, you don't want to go too light or you could look washed out. Opt for contrast: Highlights and lowlights. And keep in mind that darker hair will actually complement brown or green eyes better than blonde hair.

A combination of light blonde highlights and warm- toned lowlights create a nice multi-tonal blonde.

Reese has a perfect blonde. She probably has 2-3 different blondes foiled in to achieve this natural blonde look.

Gwenyth has such beautiful blond hair. She has more of an ash blonde mixed in with her highlights.

Platinum blonde is not for everyone and can be hard to maintain because it can only be achieved by bleaching and toning the hair. Platinum is normally best for shorter hair styles because of the damage bleaching hair to this degree causes. The ends of long hair have been around and exposed to the elements for at least a year or 2. Deep conditioning is a must for platinum blondes!

Gwen Stefani is no natural blonde, but these days she's going darker than she's been in the past. Because her hair is naturally much darker, she has to get all-over color, rather than highlights.

Last few things...

• Keep in mind that due to root growth, all-over coloring will need to be touched up every four to eight weeks, while highlights can last up to two or three months, depending on what kind you get.

• If you're coloring your hair blonde, consider having your eyebrows lightened.

• Keep the brassy tones out of your blonde hair style by using a color depositing shampoo and conditioner. The conditioners work the best because they don't contain cleansing agents and can be left on the hair for long periods. The longer they're left on and more often they're used, the more pigment is deposited onto your hair strand. (Purple takes the yellow out of hair)

Many brands have color support shampoo and conditioner but of course I think Bumble and bumble's is the best! As you can see from the picture above color support isn't just for blondes. If you color tends to fade to a certain shade that you don't like, then these color support shampoo/conditioners will be your new best friend!

Hope this was somewhat helpful and not too confusing! Like always, you can email me with questions and I will try to answer them as best I can!

hair chat. beach hair

I will be honest... I am all out of ideas this week's for hair chat. So I am going to just tell you about 3 Bumble and bumble products that can help you have cute beach hair for the summer!

This is what I would call "Beach Hair- but not from the beach". The waves that your hair naturally gets when you are sitting on the beach with the humid warm breeze! Don't you want to be on a beach right now? I sure do!

Some of you may have naturally wavy hair and some may have board straight. Well, we all want what we don't have. But these 3 products from Bumble and bumble can hopefully help you achieve this look!

Surf Spray is very popular and I have seen it in many magazines for summer hair! The spray is a salt-infused styling spray for fullness, hold and cool matte finish. This can be used on wet or dry styles!

This product will add texture and lots of volume with a very light hold. It contains moisturizing seaweed extract and give hair a sexy, sun-dried, wind swept styles whenever you want!

Now for those of you with hard to handle, thick or wavy hair... this Grooming creme could help you get beach waves. It's a styling moisturizer that adds texture, give hair natural separation and subtle hold. Just a warning: a little bit goes a long way and you don't want to use too much or you will have to start over!

This is probably one of my favorite Bumble products. Brilliantine is a hair polish that provides body and shine allowing you to style your hair in many ways. It provides great separation and texture which is needed for beach hair. Brilliantine reduces dryness, leaving hair soft.

I am not saying you need all THREE of these products to achieve beach hair. I just wanted to give you some suggestions to check out if you are going to the beach this summer or just trying to have beach hair during the hot summer at home!

Now this is some great beach wave hair!

GOOD LUCK! :)

hair chat. dry shampoo

Dry shampoos are becoming extremely popular. The market for dry shampoos has exploded over the past few years. They are sold in both spray-on and powdered formulas. There are many versions and many brands and to be honest, I haven't tried many of them! There are high- end brands such as Frederic Fekkai, Bumble and bumble, Oscar Blandi, Rene Futere. But there are also many very affordable brands as well!

Through my research, I came to the conclusion that there are two types of dry shampoos. 1- The kind that actually makes dirty hair cleaner and smell better without washing. 2- The kind that absorbs oil and adds texture. But both will extend the wear of your hair for at least an extra day!

These are a few that I wanted to share with you...

Since I work at a salon that exclusively sales Bumble and bumble, this is one of the only dry shampoos that I have used quite often. Bumble and bumble Hair Powder is an aerosol spray that instantly adds volume, absorbs oil and extends the life of your blow dry. It can also be used to create texture for updos, add grip and color blend your roots. There are 2 sizes... 1 oz- $19, 4 0z- $35. I know that is not affordable for everyone but it really is a great product!

Directions: Shake the hair powder can well before use. Spray 10-12 inches away from your head and spray directly onto your roots and hair. Let it dry before shaking out excess with your fingers. Brush or comb through to distribute. Then style as desired!

This is the one I want to try next! I saw that Melissa Rycroft tweeted about this the other day and said "why did no one tell me about this awesomeness-in-a-bottle before now?" That made me really want to see what it was all about! I think the price is around $17.99.

Description: TIGI Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo keeps hair rockin' one more day! Spray at Roots to absorb excess oils, make hair fresh and keep it rockin' one more night.

Haven't heard much about this particular dry shampoo but Big Sexy is a well known brand and would be easy to find in local stores. The price is around $16.99.

Description: Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Dry Shampoo is a clay and mineral based dry shampoo that will add volume while absorbing excess oils, impurities and product build-up. No need to use water! It is great for use as a refresher in between washings!

When I was doing the dry shampoo research, this one came up very frequently! I saw it at Sally's Beauty Supply for around $8. But I am sure can be bought online for even cheaper! And you have choices in smells!

Description: Baliste Dry Shampoo, the in-between shampoo, perfect for hair that feels greasy and lifeless between washes. Quick and convenient to use at home or on the move. It leaves your hair feeling clean, fragrant and full of body.

Directions: Shake can vigorously before use and in-between spray burts. Hold away from your hair and spray lightly and evenly. Massage through hair with and leave for a few moments. Brush out, preferably with a brush.

Klorane Dry Shampoo is another one that I want to try! It is sold at Sephora for $18 but also online for a little less.

Description: Klorane Extra Gentle Dry Shampoo is an easy-to-use formula is perfect for frequent use to clean hair without water. Ideal for people in a hurry and unable to wash their hair. When sprayed directly onto hair, Klorane penetrates the hair absorbing dirt and hair products. When brushed out, Klorane takes all these impurities with it, and you are left with soft, clean hair.

Directions: Shake well before use and evely spray a small quantity of powder on the hair. Leave for 2 minutes and brush out thoroughly.

Like I said before, I don't know a whole lot about dry shampoos and most of this information is from websites. But I had a few request for this particular subject so I hope that I could answer a few of your questions! I think the best thing is to read reviews on individual brands and then try them out! If I try any more of them, I will for sure blog about them!

hair chat. blow dryers

Let's talk about blow dryers... I know there are some people don't like to blow dry their hair but most of us use it every day or every other day. There are some important things to know about blow dryers and there are many types of dryers to choose from. I am not going to tell you which dryer is best for you but you can check out THIS site for blow dryer reviews. I found some of this information on a website and I thought this might be helpful to learn a little more about blow dryers!

5 Signs you need a new hair dryer

1. You can’t remember when you bought it.
2. It takes you twice as long to dry your hair then it used to.
3. You can smell smoke.
4. It’s not running as hot as it used to.
5. If your hair dryer doesn’t have the words ceramic or ion, it’s definitely time for an upgrade.

When you’re in the market for a new blow dryer of course you have to take your budget into consideration and the amount of money you are willing to spend on a dryer. You should also think about the usage your are going to get out of it. Like I said, I use mine almost daily so I want one that is going to last a while and will be good to my hair!

A good blow dryer reminds you of the one your favorite hair stylists uses. It comes with attachments and heat settings. Also a really good dryer would have the extras: ions and ceramic. Ceramic is better for your hair and it helps with shine. The ions help the water dry faster which translates to less frizz and even more shine.

In case you are unsure of what the blow dryer attachments are...

Concentrator is the nozzle that fits on the end of the dryer. It concentrates the heat and by doing that eliminates a lot of the fly-aways. It's great to use when blow drying with a brush.

Diffuser is used if you want to play up your waves or curls. To help the curls, apply the products you use in your hair first and scrunch your hair bit by bit to create more waves.

Hope this helps you understand the fabulous tool that we call a blow dryer! If you have questions, feel free to email me!

hair chat. face shapes

When it comes to choosing a new hairstyle, the shape of your face is a big factor to consider. A hairstyle that goes well with your face shape can dramatically change your appearance! This is a interesting subject to me and I have a lot of people sit in my chair and ask what hair style looks best with their face shape!

Well you at home can find out the shape of your face by 2 ways. Measure it with a tape measurer or a ruler. You will take the following measurements.

1. Measure your face across the top of your cheekbones. Write down the measurement on a piece of paper.
2. Measure across your jaw line from the widest point to the widest point. Write down the measurement.
3. Measure across your forehead at the widest point. Generally the widest point will be somewhere about halfway between your eyebrows and your hairline. Write down the measurement.
4. Measure from the tip of your hairline to the bottom of your chin.

There are 5 basic face shapes...

• Oval Face - Length equal to one and a half times width.
• Round Face - Your face is as wide as it is long. This may vary a little but generally the measurement is close.
• Oblong - Longer than it is wide.
• Heart - Narrow at jaw line, wide at cheekbones/and or forehead.
• Square - your face is about as wide as it is long.

And if this confuses you or you want a quicker way, use a old tube of lipstick or a dry erase marker, pull your hair up and trace your face in your bathroom mirror! Then step back and see the shape!

Round: Think Kate Winslet

Goal: Minimize volume around the face and keep volume at crown of head. Soft gradual layers and wispy ends will slim the face shape.

Avoid: Short curly hair, short, cropped styles, styles with volume on sides.

Square: Think Angelina Jolie

Goal: Short to medium lengths, or long with graduated layers starting at the jaw.

Avoid: Blunt bangs and chin length bobs.

Heart: Think Reese Witherspoon

Goal: Draw attention to your eyes and away from the chin. Side swept bangs or a bob are great way to balance the heart shape.

Avoid: Choppy layers, super short hair, volume at the crown.

Oval: Think Julia Roberts

Goal: Well you can really get away with most any hair cut!

Avoid: Short layers that add height at the crown or top of your head and avoid blunt cuts if your hair is thick or curly.

Oblong: Think Giselle Bundchen

Goal: Short to medium lengths with layers around the face. Also chin length bobs, brow skimming bangs along with curls and waves.

Avoid: long hair or super short styles

There are tons of articles online about this so after you determine your face shape, go check them out to see if I may have not covered something that might help you! I just hope I haven't confused you!! Hopefully you can try to figure out a great style for your shape of face now! :)

Hair chat. Big curls

Last week, I talked about big naturals waves. I wanted to share this youtube video with you to show you how to achieve the big curls on your own! The video is a little long and she kind of talks funny but she does have some good hair styling videos! I will be back next week with more information but until then, enjoy the video!

-I also have a hair confession... I have had a Chi hairdryer for probably 8-10 years. I always bring it with me on trips because I have always thought my hair wouldn't fix without it. But this trip to NYC, I was trying to pack light and decided to leave the dryer. I can actually say that for 3 days, I have used the white dryer hanging in all hotel rooms, and it really isn't that bad! haha! Y'all are probably thinking that I am crazy but I just never wanted to not have it! I am thrilled to know that I can do my hair with out it and will stop lugging that heavy thing around everywhere I go from now on! :)