CH CH CH CH Changes

Women LOVE change! We constantly change…. The polish on our nails, room color, reorganizing shoes, clothes, makeup, curtains, furniture….. We love to have change in our life. We easily adapt to change in every aspect of our life but our hair.

So… Are you ready for a new color?? new cut??? This blog is for you!

Side note: Can I also figure out how to get me a pair of Louboutin’s without the “holy shit, I just spent that on shoes”! Being a practical gal sucks sometimes 😉

During most of our lives we have made irrational hair choices at some point or another…

80’s ring a bell? Water fall bangs? Aquanet?

Oh Demi! This is all kinds of bad!

90’s color? Shaved underneath? Grunge and dreads? Butterfly twists?

At least Topanga’s got better style for 2014!

Yes, we have all made a change at some point in life that terrifies us of all future changes. The memory of our irrational hair decisions creeps up like a TLC song… I don’t want no scrub.. A scrub is a guy that can’t get no love from me… SORRY, pretty sure that’s in your head!

Back to reality…Sometimes we just need a change and not a repaint the fingernails kind of change… Something that just really makes us say…Hell yeah! Take that change and shove it! I look good, I feel good, and I am the jam!

So how do you know you are ready for this big change?

Well lets start with color… You are a brunette… Wanna see if the age old quote is true… DO BLONDES HAVE MORE FUN?

Why not? It’s just color! If created specifically for you and your skin tone… You can totally brighten yourself up and your day! Lots of women like to add a little more pep in their step with some highlights in the spring… Heck everything else is coming alive vibrantly… Why not you?

Here are some fabulous examples of why you should totally see if blondes have more fun:

Now maybe you are a blonde and well…. You are just tired of being a blonde…. You need something to make you feel like a woman… You have spent way to much time at the beach and are beginning to feel a bit Christina Aquielera platinum and are ready for something softer…… Guess what! Some low lighting, or a little ombré, or maybe go completely brunette? You can do anything and your hair is going to shine! You will feel amazing and your skin tone will change before you eyes!

Dramatic brunettes:

beautiful Drew

I personally think Leighton Meester looks way better brunette! She is actually a true blonde… Go figure!

Wanna try a little red?? You sassy thing you!!! I knew you had it in you…. Feeling like you can conquer anything? Maybe you have!! There are so many variations of “red”. Strawberry blonde, auburn, cherry cola, you can be Anything you want… And what you want is to be fiery!

Sassy reds:

Really Ashlee Simpson…. Jessica’s little sis can pretty much rock ANYTHING!

pretty sure we are all “Mad” for this red!!

If I was Rhianna… I would rock this too!

But please please please…. We don’t need to try out all of the colors mentioned above together… That just don’t jive on NOBODY!

Next up…….. Getting scissor happy….. Will you be happy?

Do you constantly wear your hair in a pony tail on day number 1 of a fresh shampoo? Do you not even bother drying it anymore and just throw it into a messy weird bun? Do you constantly stare at short hair pics and long for a cute new fresh short cut? But when it’s all said and done… You just can’t do it? We love our hair! Society and those damn Victoria’s Secret models makes us think we have to have long flowing sexy wavy hair to be a woman…. Well. There was one model that said screw it! Karlie Kloss said FU Victoria! Your secret is out….

In the words of Justin Timberlake: “I’m bringing sexyback” YEAH!

NO 90’s JUSTIN!!!

I sure hope Jessica Biel recognizes what kind of hotness she has!
YOU’RE WELCOME LADIES!

Wowsers… I’ve lost my train of thought……

Are you ready for your CHANGE?

Call us!

Who Loves you, Baby?

Hey Ya’ll! After taking a little break for Christmas, we are back and full of new inspiration! This cold weather (like you haven’t heard enough about it, no matter where you live) is relentless and we are dying for some sunshine and exposed skin. It’s almost February which means that it’s almost Valentine’s Day. It’s the holiday, that in my opinion, only high school girls and 20 somethings look forward to. I mean, we all have plenty of room in our hearts for a little spontaneous romance, but I prefer it…. well, spontaneously. There is nothing spontaneous about dinner out with 8216382176349817263487213 other people to a crowded restaurant. I love fresh flowers as well, but again, bring them home on a random Tuesday “just because”. Like many boring married ladies, I’m sure you just said “yeah right, sister” to yourself. Believe me, those words passed through my brain as I typed them.

It’s not that I’m jaded or a cynic, but life gets busy and with kids and work and dinner and baths and getting chewing gum out of someone’s hair while cleaning up the remnants of whatever the dog ate. Romance seems to fall by the wayside and what would have once been a cozy, snuggly night at home (once upon a time) is now time spent sitting next to each other on the sofa, trying to stay awake, watching some show about Alaska.

sidenote: Why is Alaska the new interest? Gold Mining, Hunting, frontiersmen…. life is hard in Alaska. I like South Carolina. We have fewer bears, next to no snow, and grocery stores. I wasn’t exactly cut out for birthing a baby in my one room cabin and then killing a bear in the same day. I must be less of a woman than those in Alaska. That completes my rant/inquisition about Alaska.

So, some of you may be asking, if dinner and flowers (not so much dinner but V-Day is on a Friday and I’d rather pull my toe nails out one by one than wait in line with people who crawled out from underneath rocks for amateur night) are the overused under-romanced potential gifts for the day of love, then what would a unique gift be? Well, I have a great idea! What lady doesn’t need a little pampering after a cold and dark winter indoors?? After all, coming right up after Valentine’s is Easter, and everyone knows after Easter also brings spring!!!!!! Spring means starting new, new life, new beginnings, new hair color!!

If you are already a client to our salon, it’s very simple. Send a link to this blog to your husband so we can make our pitch directly to him. (Heck, give me his email and I’ll send it!) You need a Gift Certificate so you can come visit your favorite stylist in our wonderful salon to get a little freshening up… ON HIM! Have you priced flowers lately? For the same amount of money you can get a makeover worthy of one of those extreme makeover shows. Wax it, color it, cut it, gloss it, or deep condition it. Come get hair and makeup on the random Tuesday, have him arrange the sitter and enjoy a night out when the amateurs are all back under their rocks. You, my friend, will rock it yourself with your freshly styled mane and maybe even professional makeup application. What about that doesn’t sound better than a jar full of flowers that will die inside of a week?!

If you are not currently a client of our salon, you should be! In my biased opinion, we have the best stylists in Greenville, and quite possibly the entire universe. The solution to this oversight is impossibly easy. Send a link to this blog to your husband so we can make our pitch directly to him. (Heck, give me his email and I’ll send it!) You too, my sweet misguided lady, need our expertise! We would LOVE to have you! What part of a scalp massage while sipping on a glass of Pinot doesn’t sound amazing?! We are people people and we love meeting new people. You will be well taken care of and feel like you’ve taken a breath of fresh air. You’ll feel like you’ve just stepped off a plane in sunny California after a winter bear hunting in Alaska:)

Our business grows every year and this depends on our loyal clients referring their friends and family and even strangers. If you love your hair, tell someody…tell everybody! We want to expand our empire and we are always striving to be bigger and better!

2014 is our year, we just know it!

To purchase gift certificates come by for a visit or simply call us! We would love to hear from you!!

Mia Alexander Salon

105 West Stone Ave

Greenville, 29609

232-4070

xoxox

We didn’t start the fire

Helloooo again!!! How we have missed you! We are taking advantage of the normally slow July 4th time period and updating y’all on our newest thoughts. You obviously care or you wouldn’t be reading this:) A wonderful client brought us a gem she stumbled upon at a garage sale… The November 1966 issue of Modern Beauty Shop (now known as Modern Salon) Magazine. It’s great to see how different so many things were. Can you imagine getting a roller set every week?!! The best part of combing through the yellowed pages of this ancient publication are the similarities. Us haughty, arrogant ladies of the 21st century think we invented everything. Take haircolor for example. Even women in Greece in 1700s used lemon juice, wine, and olive oil to lighten their hair in the sun. Umm, hello?! Sun In!! Women are vein. Now, don’t get all bent out of shape about that last comment. We are. If we weren’t the beauty industry wouldn’t be what it is today. Women 300 years ago wouldn’t have been thinking of ways to make their hair blonde. We are born perfect and then something happens around middle school age when we all turn ugly. This is when the importance of physical appearance comes into play. Move on a few years to high school and everyone is OVERLY concerned with appearance. At some point in our twenties we settle into a look or style that is our own. Over the next 60ish years we tweak and adjust this style and make it fit the popular trends. Luckily some looks NEVER go out of style. We live in a time period that has adopted and embraced every single era in the last 100 years. Look at something as timeless as the bob. Every single generation has had a version of the bob. It transcends time. It looks great on almost everyone. It easy, it’s classic and it is beautiful. This haircut is one of my personal favs. I think it is classy and never goes out of style… unless you look like Kate Gosselin and then your hair is not only out of style but never should have been considered in style, but that’s neither here nor there. Here is an example if the O.G. Bob (Original Gangsta)This photo was taken in the 20’s when the bob was all the rage. Women before this time generally kept their hair long until…BAM! The roaring 20’s happened and all of a sudden women thought they should vote and dance and have an opinion and heaven forbid rights! This haircut was a symbol of sticking it to the man.

                  Cute right?! Now here is an adapted version of the same haircut

     I Love this.  Classy, Sassy and a bit smart …did I say classy?  Looks great dressed up, looks great dressed down. Love Love Love this cut! I hope it never goes away! Let’s take a seat in the DeLorean and head to the 30’s. Whata helluva time to be an American. The Stock Market had crashed and Americans were desperate. They were desperate for food, for money, for jobs, for some feeling of control and happiness and a good night’s sleep. They just wanted to remember the decade before and embrace the carefree lifestyle of the 20’s. People made do with what they had. Luckily for women, a change in hairstyle was a relatively cheap or free way (if you have a brave BFF with a pair of scissors) to make you feel like a new woman. What woman in the 30s didn’t want to feel new! Now we have the movies! Major stars like Ginger Rogers hit the screen and oozed sex appeal. Some women gawked, some women denounced it, but secretly ALL women wanted to be her. Look at her! Don’t you want to be swept off your feet by some man who can’t manage a breath without you?!!!

       Sultry eye makeup, red lips…. she begging for attention and boy did she get it. This look in particular is so popular now! We don’t use pin curls or finger waves and it doesn’t take all day to set. We have dug our claws into this look and have the tools to recreate this look much easier than these poor gals did. Here is an updated version of this look.

      Sultry, Sleek, Stunning. She looks gorgeous. Class act for sure. Unfortunately the decade didn’t get much better until WWII in the 40s and once again our economy was booming. Men were more reliant than ever on women. The Men were in The Pacific or in Europe and the women were back home. They raised the kids, worked long hours at jobs that had been previously held by men and they ran the house….gosh, they built the house. America was defended by the men, and kept running by its women. We were as instrumental in winning the war as the men were. (aren’t we always though. Silently behind the scenes patting him on the back and making him think he did it All By Himself) In waltzes the pin up girl. She scantily clad, improving the moral of men all over the world with her curvy frame, her stockings with the seams, and her luscious locks. She was the taste of home for some men. She became the wife he dreamt of and the girlfriend he wished he had. She was the epitome of sex. One character in recent times stands out to me as the average girl in the 40s and her style was impeccable. It Allie from “The Notebook”. Rachel McAdams hit it out of the park. Her clothes were beautiful and her hair was FAB-U-LOUS…even soaking wet…”It’s STILL not over!!” ring any bells. Oh Noah. I’d take a boat ride in the rain to see some ducks A.N.Y.T.I.M.E. Shoooo wee. I need a minute to compose myself! ok. got a glass of water and  took a few breaths. Here is Allie herself. This look is all over the red carpet and I even had some prom girls request this look. It is so pretty and looks so elegant!

What a knock-out. This makes a great bridal look too! We just love it! Here is my own version of this look on our very own Kari. She was a good sport on a slow day and let me play dress up with her:)

SO PRETTY. My favorite of all 🙂 yet, I am partial.

         Now, the war is over and everyone has given birth to like 5 children (making up for lost time ya know). Everyone knows what happens when you have a baby…your hair goes back in a ponytail! The fifties were a time on renewed innocence. It was about Poodle skirts, sock hops, and pep rallies. The Ponytail embodied all that was pure about our fine country

She looks naive, innocent, and thankful she didn’t sleep in sponge rollers.

       Here is our modern version of this sweet do. If you are a faithful follower you will recognize this look from the “keeping kept” blog a few months ago. We love this! A pony can be dressy (remember Lara Flynn Boyle in the ballerina dress with this ponytail??) or it can be casual and laid back.  Either way it is super cute!

Back in the DeLorean folks! We are headin to the 60s! If you thought the 20s were about sticking it to the man, you ain’t seen nothing yet. The 60s embraced the idea of self-expression, free love, taking a stand for what you belive in. The 60s were about free thought and equality. This decade saw some of the greatest turmoil that this country has ever seen. It was a time of revolution. Major change. The nation’s schools were integrated for the first time, many revolutionaries were killed for their beliefs and we saw the beginning of the Vietnam War. What a time to be an American. On the scene comes go-go dancers and Andy Warhol and the Beatles and Nixon. The entire decade was about relaxed social taboos and radical social and political changes. The good girl image is fading and in comes this gal:

I’m sure you have heard your mother talk about rolling her hair on orange juice cans. Well, this is the look to be achieved. I always think of Jenny from “Forrest Gump” singing Joan Baez’s “Blowing in the Wind”

Here is this look updated and super glamorous!

    Gwen Stefani is a trend setter all her own. I could do an entire blog on her style and how she has adapted every single decade we have discussed. She can do anything she wants. She owns this looks and basically any other look she has. It’s impossible for her to look bad.

Let’s cruise into the 70s. The final decade of hair we should mimic (I’ll get to this in a few)

If the 60’s were about self-expression, then the 70’s were self-expression on drugs….litterally. Called the “Me” decade, it was all about political awareness, opposition of nuclear weapons and world peace. Whatever you wanted to be, you were free to be. You were free to “love” whoever you wanted. Disco was born the later part of the decade and along came Studio 54. This is Barbara Streisand going to the famed club.

And because we can’t get away from the Kardashians, here is Kourtney sporting a similar look. You might remember a hat like this from the episode of Kourtney and Kim take New York when Kanye came to visit to new store. Who know he and Kim would be together and name their baby something ridiculous just 2 short years later! Don’t get me started on that! I have a love/hate relationship with the Kardashians. I love them and hate myself for it.

If you have learned anything from our post tonight I hope it is to embrace your style and be who you are! Your possibilities are endless! Well, almost endless. Please review the disclaimer below:)

Thank You for tuning in once again and taking a peek into my twisted brain! I need to explain to omission of the 80s and 90s from trip back in time. It’s too soon and frankly the ozone can’t handle anymore Aquanet. Basically there should be some kind of ban on that much hairspray. If you or someone you know looks like one of the following people please RUN don’t walk to your nearest salon for a change PRONTO! If you already have a hairdresser, then fire her immediately for allowing you to walk around like this.  xoxo LOVE YA’LL!!!

Kourtney Kardashian Hats – http://pinterest.com/pin/406520303834982807/

PROM-O-RAMA!!!!

PROM-O-RAMA!!!!.

PROM-O-RAMA!!!!

Greetings to all!  We’ve missed you!  Know it’s been a while but we have been busy, busy, busy, making clients happy, happy, happy.  In case you haven’t been to Red Lobster, The Peddler, or The Melting Pot…Prom season is upon us.  So I thought, what a perfect time to pay homage to some of the Prom looks of the past and present.  Surely there will be something to learn from this.

As we have seen through the decades most trends seem to come full circle just with a different twist.  Some, however, would be better left in Hair Heaven or Hell (you decide).  We have decided to show some of the popular looks in the past and some more current reproductions of these looks.  So put on your time warp glasses and let’s go for a ride.

We could go back as far as time will allow…but we are going to start with one of my personal faves.  The Eighties.  This, I understand, may seem like an ETERNITY to our current “Prom Goers” but about as far back as breakfast time for me.

**a side note before our presentation**  All stylist were asked to contribute a prom picture for analysis…but…apparently Kari and I (Lisa) were the only ones up for a little self humiliation…so here it goes.  Chickens!

Exhibit #1

Curls and Poof in a ponytail!  Curls and Poof!  Ah… those bangs.  The bigger the hair, the more popular you were.  Like a lion in the jungle.  This look was The Jam!  Two very important tools were needed to achieve this look…

A Banana Clip!!!  Get outta town!  While writing this article I wondered if this most powerful of hair accessories still existed?  To my surprise!…there is a Pin on Pinterest giving a step-by-step on the Banana Clip braid.  And I must say…I think its pretty cool.  But then again,  I am no stranger to a Banana Clip.

Go figure!  A modern twist on an eighties stigma.  Who knew?

A more modern pony is a BIG trend this season.  No banana clips or Ogilvie needed.  Pulled low. high, or to the side…a dramatic ponytail makes a lovely statement.

For those wilder girls leaving all that luxurious (yeah right) hair down was the way to go.  No need to pin that home perm back.  It’s your flag of glory…Let it WAVE!!  Who didn’t love that style?  It was rock and roll.  It was radical.  It was HILARIOUS!!!

Exhibit #2

Ha ha ha! Please take note of picture number three.  She brought her hairspray to dinner!!!  That chick means business!

I’ll be the first to say that I am not above Big Hair.  It’s in my blood…deep in my soul.  I think a little rock n roll edge is kinda sexy and still modern.  I have become recently obsessed after watching Rock of Ages.  Great hair.  I swear…I could have given Tawny Kitaen a run for her money!!  Anyhow…here are three great examples of a current long-haired rock star vibe.

I can’t resist showing a few pictures of possible 80’s Prom Dates..so here goes…

Wow!  What to say?  If anyone happens to know any of these fine gentleman…shake their hand for me.  They deserve it!

If you have a date who would needs a more retro look to go with your “totally awesome” style,  perhaps you could suggest one of these looks..

Not too shabby eh?

Moving along into the nineties!!!!

This is where the stereotypical “prom do” may have been born.  Take note…you’ll recognize it.

Exhibit #3

Dookie Rolls on top of a French Twist (there is no other way to describe it).  Then BAM!…add just a little more activity with some jewels and two very “natural” looking tendrils down each side of the face.   I attempted this look on my own for my junior prom.  Observe…

Here’s a little hidden lesson (told you there might be one).  DON’T ATTEMPT AN UPDO OF HIGH CALIBER AT HOME! It’s a special night.  Treat yourself.  Besides, I had no one else to blame for this except myself…

This “prom do” hair crime is still being committed on beautiful heads to this day.  I have seen a few walking the malls here lately.  We must band together and put a stop to this madness.  If you must have a French Twist, which is still a timeless look, try one that is less contrived and tight.  It’s a pretty sexy “I just woke up in this updo” look.

Get back here you short-haired ladies.  You are not immune to a few formal hair blunders yourselves…

Exhibit #4

Oh ho ho.  I could have a field day with this!  We all had a good laugh at how Kari pulled her bangs through her crown.  Was she trying to fool us into thinking that this lovely tiara sprouted from her scalp?  A bona-fide princess!  Yeah we know her!!!!

Short Hair is Hot!  You are not exempt from more formal options.  The right combination of product and styling can turn one from Pixie to Vixen in a skinny minute.

No Crown Needed!

Exhibit #5

Let it be.

Sometimes no bobby pins are needed.  I learned this on accident in 1995.  I decided to go to a salon for my senior prom…if you remember, my junior year hair did not pan out so well.  When the stylist asked what I wanted, I replied “I guess half up half down.  Do whatever.”  WARNING!!!!  Do Not Ever Say This!  We hair stylists HATE this.  We are good, mind you, but not mind readers.  Anyway, my stupid answer resulted in a look that looked somewhat like this…(here’s the big lesson gals).

And I’m being kind.

So I went home, pulled out 4,325 bobby pins…brushed…cried…brushed…cried…cried a little more…And came up with this.

Not bad.  I can still look back at this picture and not be too embarrassed.  Enter Mande…She had her prom pic on standby and I insisted that she share her hair decision made not too long ago.  😉

Clearly a genius at Hombre even in her earlier days…

So…sometimes less is more.  Leaving your hair down does not mean casual.  Quite frankly, its SUPER GLAM.  Try pulling it over one shoulder or create some undulating waves for a 1940’s starlet look.

It really is fun watching the styles evolve and learning new tricks and techniques for special occasion hair.  Here are some of the popular styles we are being asked for today.

Well…I hope you’ve enjoyed going on our little hair journey.  Hopefully I’ve provided a little inspiration.  If not, at least a little chuckle.

As always, we are here if you need us.  We’ve got the best clients in the world and feel honored to be part of all of life’s special occasions.

Till next time….Love one another! I’m out!

What we have been up to this week

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So, here are a few thousand words to hopefully inspire something in you! We sure are lucky to have some of Greenville’s most beautiful women (and men) as our clients! Thank you to all the clients who have so graciously agreed to let us use their photos for our blog.

Cut and color by Jennifer McGaha

Cut and color by Robin Reynolds

Cut and color by Robin Reynolds

Extensions and cut by Robin Reynolds

Cut and color by Alison Hughey

Cut and Color by Alison Hughey

Makeup by Alison Hughey

Bridal hair by Jennifer McGaha (photo to follow in upcoming post)

Make up by Alison Hughey

Color by Alison Hughey

Cut and Style by Amber Space

Bridal style by Amber Space

And in other news…….

wait for it…

JENNFIER MET MARCUS LATTIMORE!!

They are basically best friends now. This is the picture they both have in their BFF lockets. Marcus said she was his inspiration for his monumental comeback and that her hotheads extensions looked off the chain.

(ok, I embellished a tad, so sue me)

Call for an appointment with one of our many experienced and very talented stylists and maybe you can make it to the blog too:)

Also, Follow us on Facebook@ Mia Alexander Salon

and also on Pinterest!

(864) 232-4070

Until Next Time! xoxo

Buzzzzzzzzzzz!

WOWZA! We have been busy little bees for the past week! No time to post and too tired to brainstorm. I was lucky to come up with a drizzle!  Speaking of which, why does Snoop Dogg carry an umberella everywhere he goes? Fo Drizzle! Corny, I know. We have had some exciting things working lately! Now that we are only a few weeks away from spring and all the college girls are about to go to Cancun for spring break, we have been very busy getting out of our winter slump and getting ready for tan legs and warmer weather! Everyone likes to go a little darker for winter and now that there is a glimmer of sunlight peaking through the clouds we are SCREAMING for some warmth on our skin and blonde in our hair!!! Maybe it’s a southern thing, but there is nothing we love more than summer.

You have heard the phrase less is more. This applies to many things…not all things. Sometimes more is more and more is better. In this case, less is definitely more. I’m sure you have seen the girls with a head full bright blonde highlights from top to bottom and all around. Every available hair is highlighted. Get a load of this, some people STILL pull hair through a cap. If you are not familiar with this method of highlighting then you are probably 18 or lucky. To give you an idea of how much skill this takes, I highlighted my friends hair in highschool by pulling it through a cap. Did it look great? No. Does it look great when a professional (this term used loosely)hairdresser highlights hair through a cap? No. Let me explain the process. First, you start by pushing a plastic, bonnet like cap tightly over your head and tie it as tight as it will go so that it almost completely cuts off all air supply. Then you sit for 45 minutes while someone uses a METAL HOOK to pull pieces of hair and scalp and skin and brain though a tiny hole. Then once you look like Medusa, your head is slathered with bleach. Talent huh?  It’s a miserable process that in my opinion should be outlawed. You have all seen that lady with short dark hair with cheetah print highlights…pulled through a cap. The lady that calls and wants to be “frosted”…pulled through a cap. The person missing chunks of scalp…pulled through a cap. It takes no particular skill. When something takes no skill, I don’t consider it a service I should offer.  The last thing I want to do is to show my client that they can do at home what I can do in the salon.

Once the world of cosmetology was introduced to foiling, the world changed. You could pick each individual hair you wanted to highlight instead of stabbing and guessing. It provided a more custom approach to hair color. Then it went crazy. I used to work next to a hairdresser that put about 87,239,874 foils in one person’s head. It took 2 hours to foil and there wasn’t room for one more foil once she was done. The finished product was…well, blonde. REAL blonde. But still, the whole head was the same color. This still didn’t really do anything for her. Her whole head was white. No dimension, no depth, nothing special.

Fast forward to about 2010 and in comes a look referred to as “Ombre”. This really is just a fancy word for color effect. It can apply to anything. It almost looks like a color starts rich and dark and fades lighter and lighter or into another color completely. It can be used in reference to clothing, even cake decorating or nail polish. Here are a few examples:

Make sense now? It just a progression of color saturation or lack there of. Now imagine if you will, using this concept with hair. Here comes the part that makes my job so awesome. I can give you a customized color that accentuates your natural hair color and adds some depth and dimension as well.  Imagine your hair as a child. If you were a blonde, your hair got super light in the summer and then into the fall your hair naturally got darker because you weren’t in the sun. Your ends still remained lighter from the summer before. Let’s all take a minute and re-live summer break. Not a worry in the world. Sun-In at the lake, riding around with the windows down, sand between hot pink toes, listening to your favorite song (the one that immediately made you think of that guy you met at the beach and you waited by the stereo for hours waiting on it to play so you could press RECORD and PLAY at the same time) 7,000 times until the mixed tape wore out. Ahh. The memories of summer. My heart longs for the freedom of a dirt road and a warm beer and the naivety of teenage life…. Let that marinate for a minute….

let me know when you are back…

Ok, great! You are back, Now, take all those happy thoughts and let’s move on with the issue at hand! Natural looking hair color!!

This is NOT natural looking, and some people prefer this look. Think old school Kelly Clarkson and her fat chunky highlights with red lowlights and brown underneath. If I had a dollar for every time someone asked for that… oh wait, I did!

This isn’t and wasn’t my favorite look but it’s proving my point. Not everyone wants natural looking hair color.

If you do like a natural look you have many options that don’t include fat highlights and lots of upkeep. Take Lisa, for example. ( I seem to mention her a lot in these posts. I promise I’m not stalking her or obsessed with her, I just envy her skin and hair)

Her natural color is pretty dark, and she want darker for the winter to cover up some highlights that got brassy spending the summer on the yacht she likes to call The Sweet ‘Poon. Here is her before picture:

She also may have accidentally tried using coconut oil as hair conditioner the night before resulting in the sheen you see before you. *We are also in the process of trying things we have seen on Pinterest. The coconut oil conditioner is a myth than has now been busted.

She wanted a look that would brighten her up all over but not have the look of obvious highlights. We decided to lighten the base and then paint some highlights in sporadically concentrating on the ends and around the face. This is the end result:

One of my favorite looks I have done recently. Everything flows and she looks lighter all over but doesn’t have the look or upkeep of stripey highlights. This is another example of this process done on Kari, who also has naturally dark hair.

We used the same concept of lightening her base, but her highlights are thinner and mostly underneath.

This look is beautiful on everyone. These girls have great hair to begin with and that just makes my job easier. Here is another example, this time on lighter hair. Mary Caroline is still in highschool and had blonde hair as a child that has gradually gotten darker over time. She loves her long hair and she doesn’t want anything that requires a lot of upkeep but needed to be brightened up a bit.

Oh to be seventeen…with those eyelashes

Robin is also pretty light but likes to be really blonde. To avoid being solid blonde, we do 3 different levels of an ash blonde. I love this too!

Here is another look that Kari did on her client. This client is naturally dark and hadn’t had her highlights retouched in months. She wanted to be brighter and a lot more blonde. Here is her before and after:

I love the look on the right, but I also like her before! It worked out well for her that Ombre is so popular!

I rest my case. Nobody can give you a customized color with a cap or with any at home highlighting kit. You are a unique individual and your hair should represent you accordingly. Don’t sell yourself short! You deserve to look fabulous. When you look fab, you feel fab. You get a little swag in your step when you know you look good. So, go ahead girl. Get your hair did and take on the town. After all, Summer is calling….

Till next time boo:) xoxo

(Pin)spirational

Everyone these days has a pinterest account. If you don’t, you live under a rock or you are too busy making the things that other people are pinning. For those of you that live under a rock, pinterest is a website that works as an online pin board of sorts. You can save a link that leads to something you find interesting (such as recipes, hilarious & snarky ecards, hairstyles, clothes, basically ANYTHING) You can categorize your boards to keep your thoughts organized. I love to check out all of the hair and makeup pins for inspiration. I look for things I’d like to try and also to keep a variety of looks on hand for clients that don’t exactly know what they might like.

The very best thing about this is when a client brings in a picture of something they like. This opens the line of communication and helps me understand exactly what they want. Many clients misuse terms like 1. Bob  2.Long Layers  3.Short Layers  4. Stacked. Someone pinned a picture of Jessica Simpson with hair past her shoulders layered to the hilt and the caption said “Love her long bob”. No Ma’am. If this client came to see me and asked for a long bob I would not have given them a cut that looked like Jessica Simpson.

I love seeing things that I don’t know how to do.  This list is long… L.O.N.G. I’m a firm believer in never thinking you are all that. I got news sweetheart, you ain’t, and I ain’t either. The very second you decide you know everything is the moment your creativity dies. To really harness your creativity and put things that float around in your head into fruition (look it up) You must first have the courage to try something new, something you havent done before.

I remember thinking this when I saw a picture of Kim Kardashain (not my fav) looking a lot like an alien from Avatar with caption that said “contouring”. It showed how someone who already looks perfect can look even perfecter with flawless makeup. That’s great for a person that has someone on staff to do their makeup everyday but what about the regular gal? Would this be something that is #1, Doable and #2. Too much work for not enough result. When discussing this topic for the blog we decided to do several posts on our “Pinspirations”. Some were inspired and wanted to try updos we pinned, some wanted to try new methods for coloring, and I wanted to recreate Avatar… I mean Kimye’s weirdly perfect alien/Armenian skin. Here’s the best part. She’s obviously not perfect if someone has to create cheekbones for her. This made me happy, until I realized that I too have no cheek bones. Wamp Wamp.

We were discussing who would be a good candidate for this makeup trial. We thought at first it should be someone who is beautiful with good skin. Immediately Lisa came to mind. We scratched that when we decided she looks pretty without makeup and that wouldn’t be that impressive to make a pretty person with nice cheek bones into a pretty person with nice cheek bones. We needed someone with the potential for homeliness. Someone who looks scary without makeup and normal with makeup and someone without cheek bones. I then realized what had been under my nose the whole time. Me.

My thought process when taking this picture was obviously “Mug Shot”. Tyra would be so disappointed in my inability to “smile with my eyes”. Should I smile with the little eye or the one with the weirdly high eyebrow? Maybe my sunspots could cheese for the camera. Maybe. Under normal circumstances I would never put an especially homely picture of myself on the world-wide web, but in this case it serves a purpose. Remember in the Victoria’s Secret post about hairstylists loving a challenge?? Well here it is.. A CHALLENGE!

This was my (PIN)spiration:

NOT THIS:

   

weirdo.

 Anyhow. Back to the task at hand (and don’t lie, you giggled a little bit at that last picture) First I put some concealer on my entire busted face. This covered all the sunspots, uneven skin tone and any blemish that may take away from a flawless finish. Next I mixed 2 shades of a liquid foundation together. One is about 3 shades darker than my natural skin tone and the other was a perfect match. Then I used a triangle sponge to apply this mixture to my nonexistent cheek bones, around my temples, and along my jaw line. Then, I commenced to blend, blend, blend, blend, blend, and then after that a finished blending.

Look at my eyes now. There is a glimmer of hope. The hope of a new day. The hope of peace on Earth. The hope of cheek bones.

It looks like the cover of a sad novel about a girl with a rare skin disease.

The next part of this process is just as important as the first. Highlighting. This is done with  highlighter stick, a reflecting powder or your very lightest shimmery eye shadow. This is applied to the tops of your cheek bones, under your brow bone, and down the bridge of your nose, like so:

After this step, I applied my eye makeup as usual. Lightest shade on the lid and brow bone, medium shade in the crease and darkest shade lining the lashes and in the crease. A little mascara and all of a sudden, I look alive. I look like someone would trust me to do their hair and maybe even their makeup!

I still have a weird eyebrow The Rock would envy, but I have pulled off the illusion of cheek bones.

Here is another photo, this time with only half of the face done. This kinda puts it in perspective.  Even if you don’t care to do the contouring it still shows how even the shape of your eyes and nose look totally different when you change your skin tone with well placed color and shading.

Cray Cray huh? I hope you found this information useful, if not I hope all you girls with perfect cheek bones take nothing else away from this post but this…

You ain’t all that. 🙂 Until next time boo! xoxo

Keeping “Kept” Worth It!

Ha Ha!  It seems that I have hacked into Alison’s blog zone.  After reading her last post, with much enjoyment I must add, I got to thinking….Hmmm.  Keeping “Kept” is important for any woman not just for their significant other but also for themselves… (Got it Ali!)…but guys this also pertains to YOU!!!!  So in order to give Ali’s “ever witty” tongue a little break, I am going to preach a little lesson on the art of male beauty (oxymoron?  I don’t know…but I’m sure a few of my “PR” friends will let me know).

So we hear it all the time.  “Men age so much better than women.”, “Wrinkles are sexy on men.”, ” When a man grays he looks distinguished.”  Blah blah blah blah… freakin BLAH!  While all this may be true we can still agree that most of the male populus can use a little help.  If he thinks he doesn’t need ANY…chances are he needs a WHOLE lot more than most.  “Humph…men don’t care that much about these things” you may say.  Well ladies….I’d say that 40% of our SALON clientelle is MEN…so do the math.

First off let me say that I understand that everyone prefers different types.  I apologize for any disagreements that may occur after reading my thoughts…this is a blog (riveting I know) not an article from Cosmo written by a bona fide “style guru”…so do with my words what you will.

I think I will make good use of “bulletin points” now in order to put my college education into good use.  See Dad!…money was not wasted! 🙂

• Lesson 1:  Because it was “Gnarly”, “Rad”, “Hype”, “Sick”, “Fresh”, or “Groovy” back in the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, hell early 2000’s…doesn’t mean it is a TIMELESS look.  Ok…HERE! is where some of my dearest friends are going to call me out!  And it is because they love me that I know they will pounce on this opportunity to do a little ball busting.  So go ahead…I’m waiting.  My husband, who I must say is now an “Adonis” (love you baby) had a VERY dirty little hair secret of his own when we met.  He was clinging to a little sliver of hope that his High School days could last forever.  And he didn’t let go easy…so I understand the challenge that may be ahead of us. BUT…in order to keep my lovely marriage in tact…I must digress.  GENTLEMEN!…a fresh shirt along with a classic cut can turn you from Dud to Stud in as little as 30 minutes.  How easy is that?  We are not even asking for six-pack abs…just join us here in 2013 (It will be fun…I promise)  Please refer to the very effective illustration below:

• Lesson 2:  Sasquatch is not usually sexy…just saying.  I think this is a case of what’s good for the goose is good for the gander (uh..I’m old).  For those who may need a more direct approach…If we have to shave our legs, pits, and tweeze (not to mention the stress that we are now expected to place on our nether regions)…is it too much to ask for a neat face to kiss?  Now hold on before you close me out…Beard=Good. Beard=Masculine.  Beard=Rugged.  Beard=Relaxed.   But acres of wiry, unkempt, long, somewhat smelly hairs all over the face aint good for NOBODY on the other end.  Let’s take a look at our friends from Duck Dynasty and ZZ Top.

 

But “Lisa! These men have beautiful wives and women who don’t seem to mind their facial hair.” you may say.  Yes they do.  They are rock stars.  They make BIG BUCKS to look that way.  Heck…I’m sure they smell delightful!  Just entertain me if you will.  Just playing Devil’s Advocate here.  Let’s compare it to this:

I really don’t need to say anymore.  And if by SOME chance you aren’t sure about this please ask the person to your left…and your right…they’d like to be included on this debate too. (I’m sure)

• Lesson 3:  The recent phenom (they are everywhere…t-shirts, cups, napkins, key chains).  THE MOUSTACHE!  This one is going to take some “self-study”.  Shapes and sizes,  placement and length, can create a menagerie of different looks.  And as we all know the wrong combo can be very disturbing.  However, I think some top lips need a little protective sweater and the right combo can be quite sexy.  Here are a few reference guides.  You be the judge.

Ha Ha.  New Kids on the Block!!!  (had to do it!)

       So, to wrap up my long-winded and possibly offensive (sorry guys) rant, I’d like to say this:

                                     Boys, we love you.  Chances are we already think nobody makes us feel the way you do.  We aren’t asking for David Beckham (umm…nevermind) and we know that you have busy lives and other responsibilities too.  We can promise you this…your efforts won’t go unnoticed.  So take off that worn-out shirt, get a nice haircut, take the weed whacker to that face, and go plant a manly kiss on your sweetie.  I bet they won’t have a “headache” tonight!

Until next time!!!  Love one another!  I’m Out!