Hair tip of the week: Choose a color that is appropriate for the season!

The hair color that we wear in the winter wears a lot different than the hair color that we wear in the summer. There will be more color fadeage due to the sun, so redheads may want to go a more natural shade and save the vibrant shades when the sun won't be beating down on it as hard. Also, if you like to swim in the ocean, lake or swimming pool lay off of the fashion colors like orange, red, green, blue, etc. or you will leave a trail of dye behind you and running down on your face and body. If you are a blonde watch the swimming in the pool also because you may end up with green hair and not by choice! Getting regular semi-glosses will put a protective barrier on the hair. At the end of summer lo-lites will most likely be in order to give depth to sun-bleached hair. With the right decisions you will spend you summer having fun in the sun and water without any embarrasing repurcussions!:)

Hair tip of the day: Will now be Hair tip of the Week!

I've been going strong with this daily blog for over 4 months now but life is getting a little too busy to keep it going daily. So this will now be a weekly blog that I can really think about and write one article a week on. Thanks for staying tuned and I hope that you continue to enjoy my blog!:)

Hair tip of the day: When will the rain end?

It may be awhile before we get an actual Spring but in the mean time adding some "sun" to your hair can help your mood. Get those hilites going in your hair for some man-made Spring Time! It's amazing what a little lightening around the face can do!:)

Hair tip of the day: Baking Soda!!!

If you use lots of hair spray, gel, and pomade (like I do) the hair gets a major build up on it after awhile. Clarifying shampoos are the best way to go for color treated hair but if you don't have any on hand and you aren't worried about your color fading then a little baking soda mixed in with your shampoo will get the job done! If you have color treated hair, it's best to wait until you have a color safe clarifying shampoo. But if you have a color scheduled soon or don't have color, then go for it! Just shampoo with some baking soda, leave on a few min., rinse and follow up with a great conditioner! Viola, the build up is GONE!!!:)

Hair tip of the day: Collecting hair for Matter of Trust!

Weeks ago I had done a series of blogs on donating hair. One of the places was Matter of Trust. It's an organization that collects hair clippings to clean up oil spills. With the oil spill that is happening now, they need more hair then ever. We are collecting hair at Level 10 Studio now to send to them. If you aren't a client of mine and go to another salon, let your stylist know about this organization. Let all that unwanted hair go to a good use!:)

Hair tip of the day: Perms!

Yesterday I only had time to text a brief blurb about perms, so today I'm getting down and dirty with perms. Personally I don't do perms because I wasn't liking the whole Barbara Streisand look from her guilty album that had been going on since the late 80's. People tended to not care for their perms well and didn't keep up with the maintenance required to make the perm look good. I was tired of seeing bad looking hair and decided I wouldn't continue to do perms that people weren't caring for. Perms don't equal: Not caring for your hair! There are products that are needed and ways to care for it depending on the look you want to achieve. I am now beginning to see that there are really fun things that can be done with perms! I may just begin perming again in 2010!
If you have very straight hair, following up your initial perm with a root perm is a MUST! Otherwise you end up with it straight at the root and curly on the ends. Not pretty. Usually a root perm will be done 2 to 3 months after the initial perm. People with natural waves can go a lot longer without getting it permed again. Even people with natural curly hair can benefit from a perm if their natural curl isn't consistent or if they want a tighter or a looser curl. And the perm can be done only in the area needed if it's a matter of one area of the hair not being curly enough.
Fine hair can really benefit from a perm but that doesn't mean that you just leave it looking like Richard Simmons. It means that when you blow it out with a brush it will have body. Perms DO NOT equal not doing anything with your hair. A perm that is left with nothing in it after a wash isn't pretty. Even a perm on really long hair needs products. If left to dry without product it'll be frizzy (just like a person with natural curls hair would be). Leave-in conditioner and curl creme is a must!!!
Perms can really support a style. I'm a huge fan of Afros. If someone wanted an Afro I'd perm their hair on teeny tiny old lady perm rods. Then it can be picked out to be a yummy fro!!! People that want mad volume on the top of their head can do a crown perm. Then when they blow dry that top area will say Vavoom! Mad volume!
Perms are just another service that should enhance what you want your hair to do. But I can not stress enough that it doesn't give anyone a license to not care for their hair! So if you perm, know that you still need to style and care for your hair!:)

Hair tip of the day: The best hair to perm!

Hair that has a even a slight amount of wave in it is best to perm. When it grows out it will wear longer & look more natural!:)

Hair tip of the day: The New Bang!!!

The new bang is one that is side swept but with baby bangs over one eye. It allows you to see but have the sassiness of a longer bang. It is flattering for most all face shapes and fun! It can be as extreme or conservative as you wish! Give it a whirl!:)

Hair tip of the day: Tangles!

When combing out tangles always start from the ends of the hair and slowly work up towards the scalp. If the hair is really matted up (as is the case with children especially) start by rinsing the hair and applying conditioner only. A really thick, moisturizing conditioner will soften up the hair best. Rinse and then apply shine serum or my favorite product Moroccan Oil. This will make it easy for the comb to glide through those pesky knots. Once it's all combed out shampoo, condition and comb again. Viola! No more tears will accompany those tangles!:)

Hair tip of the day: Dreadlocks!

Anyone can have dreadlocks! Even the finest, straightest baby hair! In the salon it's a process of sectioning out the hair, teasing it and coating it with bee's wax. The maintence at home is all about continuing to twist them and coat them. The only thing with dreads is that they have to be cut out if you ever want to be rid of them. So prepare to have a short cut once you want a change!:)

Hair tip of the day: Fun with wet hair Part II!

Get some of those pink foam rollers that your Mom used on your hair as a kid and set your slightly damp hair on them. Use big hunks of hair (that is why you only want it slightly damp) and you'll have a much softer curl. The difference between hot rollers and wet set rollers is extreme. You'll be able to brush and brush and style and style and that curl won't be going anywhere! You can have a really fun ponytail if you have longer hair! Gidget Style!:)

Hair tip of the day: Fun to be had with Wet hair styling Part 1!

Before going to bed, shampoo and condition your hair. Blot excess moisture out of the hair with a towel until hair is just barely damp. Do any where from 4 to more french braids in your hair, then twist each braid up into a swirly bun at the nape of your head and secure with criss-crossing bobby pins. In the morning. Take buns and braids out and finger through. You'll have a super fun wave to wear! Add a little pomade for definition and/or a little hairspray and off ya go! Strut that look!:)

Hair tip of the day: Red Heads!

Reds are much more natural then they have ever been! It's not just the red, poured directly from the tube, and then poured directly onto the hair days. It's about reds with neutral and warm browns added to the mix. It's about reds that are very rich and natural. Forget the image of the 1990's Red Head. Think toned down reds that fade beautifully and never look fake. Speak with your stylist about options for your new red shade today!:)

Hair tip of the day: Blondes!

Blondes need special care to keep their color true. Be careful when swimming that you wet hair with "good" water before immersing it in chlorine. Otherwise you'll be green by summer's end and it won't be a fashion choice. Having a gloss put on your ends monthly during the swim season is a great idea. It creates a barrier and will keep your color more true. Also BEWARE the shampoo and conditioner that is for Blondes. It can leave a very blue residue to the hair if used too often. This blueish hue is a definite no-no if you are wanting a more golden hue. Be sure and speak with your stylist about the products you wish to use. With just a little care your blonde will be fabulous throughout the summer and beyond!:)

Hair tip of the day: Brunettes!

If you're a Brunette & your ends are fading from the sun you can embrace those "hi-lites"! Have some lo-lites added to accentuate the natuarlly lightened pieces the next time that you get a tint touch up! When you tire of them, have a gloss put through the ends to darken them back up!:)

Hair tip of the day: Book Your Summer Appointments Now!

Summer is creeping up! It'll be here before you know it and that means vacations, weddings, BBQ's, reunions and such. Don't be caught without an appointment! Check you calendar now and make sure that you are scheduled in your Stylists Book before a summer event! You want to look and feel your best, so call now!:)

Hair tip of the day: Wigs!

Wigs can be a superb way of wearing different looks without changing your everyday style! Wigs come in all lengths, colors, and textures. They come in human hair and synthetic hair. Synthetic hair can not be flat ironed or curling ironed and a special shampoo must be used (some people swear by woolite!). Human hair can have anything done to it that your own hair can have done to it. The key to any wig is to have it cut to suit your face. Wigs come with extra hair around the face that is meant to be cut to customize to you. It will be thicker, longer and clumpier in this area for that reason. Take it to your Stylist to have it detailed and then rock that short blonde bob at this weekends shindig! :)

Hair tip of the day: Short is in!

Short cuts are hot for Summer (soon to come!)! Everyone can go short it's just about picking the shape that is best for your hair. Streaks of hilites or lolites really add to a short cut. Blocks of color add depth and texture to a cut. There are so many options for shorter haircuts. Anything goes! Pick and choose parts of many cuts to customize one that is just right for you!:)

Hair tip of the day: All Fashion Colors are not Created Equal!

There are a lot of Fashion Color lines out there and not all are good. Some don't have enough pigment to be intense enough. Some rub off on your pillow case or on a white shirt collar when dry. Some only rub off when wet. It's good to know what you can expect.
Some of the best colors that I have found rub off on my pillow case at night with my hair bone dry. This is okay for me, but it's not okay for everyone. I test out every brand of color that I use so that my clients will know what the results will be. Make sure that your stylist knows how the fashion color they use on you will be. Not only color wise but in how it fades and what it fades ON to. I am my own guinea pig! That way I know exactly the hue of green that I can expect and that my clients can expect. So when deciding to go with a pink streak or a full head of blue know what you are getting into. If you have long hair and always wear white, a blue that fades onto your white clothing when dry is no good! Happy Coloring!:)

Hair tip of the day: Don't Blame Mom for the Gray!

Although it's said that heredity is the main cause for how soon we go grey, it's not he only reason.
Age plays a huge part in the graying process and so does the amount of Melanin that we have in our systems to begin with. Initially in the growth process of humans, we all have white hair and then depending on the amount of melanin that our cells generate, it's determined how dark or light our hair will be. The more melanin, the darker the hair and the less melanin the lighter the hair. Harvard scientists proposed that a failure of melanocyte stem cells (MSC) to maintain the production of melanocytes could cause the graying of hair. So basically as we age the melanin stops producing and the gray/white hair reappears that we began with.
If you are deficient in B12 or suffer from a thyroid imbalance it can also cause your hair to go Gray. And smokers are 4 times as likely to go gray before non-smokers. Wow! Yet another reason not to smoke!
If you do want to prevent or reverse your gray hair there is a tablet called Melancor. This is a new product on the market and works in two ways. Firstly when you get gray hair you have a genetically based tendency to produce less melanin as body pigments. Melancor triggers Melanocytes which helps overcome this tendency by increasing you body’s ability to produce melanin pigments. I'm curious as to whether this works or not. I have always joked about how in the future hairstylist will dispense a pill that you can take to have your hair grow the color that one desires (red, brunette, blonde, etc.). Maybe the truth is that the pharmacist will dispense a pill to stop the graying process!
So remember, many factors weigh in as to why we go gray, so don't blame Mom! Especially on Mother's Day! Happy Mother's Day to all! :)

Hair tip of the day: Platinum Blonde and Reds are back for Spring!

The two hot colors of the season are Platinum Blonde and Red! If you want to spice up your look but don't want all over color in one of these intense shades, there are other ways to work them in to your current look. Add some Blocks of color throughout your hair. If either of these seasons shades don't agree with your skin tone then do the blocks of color away from your face. Do them further back and they will still have all the pizazz but won't take away from the color that does appeal most to your skin tone. This is a great way to keep maintenance down too. Going all Platinum is MAJOR upkeep. You'll be looking at coming in for a bleach and tone every 2-3 weeks. But by doing some blocks of color you can come in every 5-8 weeks depending on placement and personal preference. So have some fun with the new trends in a new way!:)

Hair tip of the day: Quickest & Cheapest way to add volume!

If you only have time to do one quick thing to add volume to your hair, then do this: Blow Dry!!! Just dry your hair with your hands! It's quick, it's easy & it makes a HUGE difference! When you let your hair air dry it'll be super flat (which is superb for curly hair). The moment that you add heat it plumps up those hair strands (yes, even without product). So if you can't afford a volumizing spray & you don't have time for a round brush, just blowdry with your hand & go!:)

Hair tip of the day: People's Opinions!

When getting a new hairdo it's best to KNOW that you want to make a change. If you are even a little unsure, people's opinions will matter to you. And then what suddenly was a good change will be a bad change. When I changed my hair to Orange and Green I wanted it that way. So whether people say "That is great!" or "Why did you do that???", it doesn't matter to me. I like what I did to my hair and that is all that matters. So if you are unsure with a change and you do it anyway, if anyone says anything contrary (and they will), you'll end up wanting to change it back. So, when making hair change decisions, do what you want and what you like reguardless of others opinions!:)

Hair tip of the day: Don't choose your cut based on it staying out of your face when you work out!

I hear it all the time... "Make sure that when you cut it, it'll stay out of my face when I work out". "It" meaning the hair. What??? There are sweat bands, head bands, hats, clips, etc. to keep hair out of ones face. Why would you base your haircut on a work out instead of what looks good? I look like crap when I work out and that is the beauty of my work out look. Because when I'm not working out, my hair is fab!!! LOL! Seriously, choose the cut that looks best and worry about a way to keep it out of your face later. That is what sweat bands were made for by the way!:)

Hair tip of the day: Beautiful White Hair!

Hanging out at Filoli every Tuesday has given me a chance to see many heads of all white hair. It looks beautiful but automatically I notice the hair and not the skin attached. I have come to the conclusion that if your skin is showing signs of serious aging, this isn't a bad thing but if one's skin looks young, maybe the white hair isn't the first thing that should be seen. White hair says "I'm of a certain age", even if it's beautiful. If you have all white hair and don't want that to be what it says, a rinse of blonde can be a low maintence and easy way to liven it up a bit. Just a little bit of blonde can keep people guessing as to how "young" you are!:)

Hair tip of the day: Itchy Scalp!

Dry scalp can happen in any type of weather so it's nice to have a shampoo and conditioner on hand that can help! Therma Fuse Thermadan shampoo and conditioner is fantastic! It's got a peppermint tingle that really soothes! All Therma Fuse products are color safe and sulfate free. Nioxin is another brand that stimulates follicles and soothes itchy dry scalp as well. They have a color safe line as well. Nioxin scalp treatment is fantastic for sunburned scalp as well. It soothes and heals!:)

Hair tip of the day: Flea Markets and Street Fairs!

Looking for a fabulous hair clip or accessory? Go to your local summer Flea Markets and Street Fairs! You'll find unique, well priced items made by local artists. Help the community and snag a piece of art for your hair! It's also a great time to buy a Holiday or Birthday gift for a friend or family member with longer locks!:)

Hair tip of the day: Subtle changes make a big difference!

It doesn't take a HUGE adjustment of color or a cut to make a change. Even by staying with the same color but by going chunkier with the weave, it can add a difference that will jazz up your style. Instead of a blunt bang, having it texturized could zing it up for Spring. These small changes will make a difference without the shock of a big, big change!:)