Looking For Some Great New Years Party Hair Tips?

That Dress might be important, but nothing is more important than your hair.

Luckily we've got you covered. Check out these great Party Perfect products and tips from Redken's  Education Artistic Director Kris Sorbie:

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A Story To Make You Thankful & Inspired!

There are so many things to be thankful for, even more so on a day like today. We should all be thankful for the amazing world that we live in and the amazing industry we are apart of.

When I read this article I just had to post it and share it with everyone!

** This article comes to us by way of SalonGalaxy.com and was written by SalonGalaxy's Art DiGiacomo

Please take the time to check out their site!

" Being Inspired by a Blind Hairdresser Published by SalonGalaxy.com Being Inspired by a Blind Hairdresserby: Arthur DiGiacomo On a whole we our own a group of talented  individuals in an industry full of amazing creativity, but the individual ego and our competitive nature sometimes does not allow for the true meaning, of why we are who we are to shine through.   As I waited for everyone to join me in the conversation on a conference call, I could not help but think how a person without sight, might be able to have a career as a hairdresser in the beauty industry.  It was when I was a creative young upcoming hairdresser that I use to kid with my clients and say I could cut their hair with my eyes closed. (Yes, I would shut my eyes and take a snip). As you know hairdressing is a visionary profession. A profession where the work needs to been seen to be appreciated and especially to know completely about facial structures, hair texture, color and motion to create the looks that get published and win awards. We preach that education is the key to success in the beauty industry. I am here to add it also takes a determination to bear the brunt of a bad marriage, money, drugs, alcohol, abuse, depression, and especially the will to live through life and what it bestows on us on a personal level, from time to time.                 I have said many times to my children, friends, and colleagues that it is life’s experiences that give you wisdom.  But to gain that wisdom we need the desire to learn – “It is important to go through life being a good speaker and teacher, but it is more important to be a great listener and student”. The longer we live the more we learn.  Wisdom is gained through Experience !    Every time you think you have enough Wisdom to Teach – You Learn    Every motivational speaker who encourages us – Listens    Every Educator who instructs us – Is Inspired Read more after the jump.... NEXT ------>

The Worlds Largest Afro

The Guinness Book of World Records just announced the new worlds largest afro.

Aevin Dugas a 36 year-old social worker from New Orleans, USA, is the proud owner of the largest natural afro in the world with a circumference measuring an incredible 4 ft. 4 in (1.32 m).

The hairstyle that has taken over 12 years to grow can at times be problematic. 

"It's always getting caught in trees, and one time I even slammed my hair in the car door!  And I hate it when people touch it without asking my permission first!" , she admits.

 "As a woman you're told that straight hair is beautiful hair. This is crazy.  The afro is my natural hairstyle and there can't be anything more beautiful than that". 

Aevin trims her afro three times a year, and uses up to five conditioners at once when she washes it. 

"You want to know the best thing about my hair?" Aevin says with a smile: "It provides the perfect pillow. I sleep very well."The hair is larger than a disco ball! Aevin's hairstyle is so large she could fit the world's shortest man inside!

The Many Uses For Hair Dryers... Besides Your Hair.

Here is a fun list Yahoo! Green put together filled with 15 (+1 Bonus) ways you can use a hair dryer,; besides using it on your hair.

Hope you enjoy!:

"

1. If you need to quickly set the icing on a cake, the air and heat of a hair dryer can quicken up the process.
2. If your cake won’t unstick from the cake pan, use your hair dryer on the bottom of the pan then invert it, it should drop right out.
3. Running an ice cream scoop under hot water helps, but you can also try using a hair dryer on the carton to soften ice cream for easy scooping.
4. Some people use pots of boiling water to quicken freezer defrosting, but a hot hair dryer works even more quickly. (Be careful of puddles of water and the dryer, though.)
5. Automatic ice-makers can get jammed with frozen ice; relieve that with a long blast of hot air to melt unwanted icebergs.
6. Remove contact paper from shelves by heating it with the hair dryer and gently working the edges up. Also works for bumper stickers and other rogue sticky things.
7. Use a hair dryer to dust hard-to-dust items; the air will blow the dust somewhere else, but hopefully somewhere else that is easier to dust.
8. Personally, I like my kids’ crayon marks on my walls, but for the rest of you: Heat the crayon marks until softened, then scrub with hot water and detergent.
9. Old photo albums with magnetic pages can get stuck -- unstick them with a blast from the hair dryer.
10. Spot-iron wrinkles by lightly dampening the area and then heating the wrinkles with your dryer.
11. Wet boots, shoes, and sneakers can take on a terrible odor if left to dry slowly -- alleviate that by drying them with your hair dryer.
12. Winter can bring frozen windows and locks -- thaw them with a hair dryer.
13. Window screens collecting dust and pollen? Blow it back to whence it came.
14. Removing bandages can hurt more than the wound, so soften the adhesive with a hair dryer first to ease the rip.
15. If you have trouble keeping a hot compress hot, keep your hair dryer by you and reheat as necessary.

Bonus: For wrinkled ribbons and fabric belts, employ a curling iron to straighten them out. 

Michelle Monaghan Joins the Fire Club.

Michelle Monaghan joins the redhead club. Monaghan showed off her fiery looks at the Toronto Film Festival on Monday.  According to some this cut and color seem to be quite the  resemblance to The Help star, Emma Stone..... I guess I see it.


Check out some more Red Hot Redheads

"

On Sunday night she was recognized at the Creative Coalition's 2011 Spotlight Initiative Awards for her work in the film, which is based on an inspirational true story of a drug dealer who transforms his life. 

"To be honored with a Spotlight Award means a lot to me, actually," Monaghan said. "I think it's important to recognize projects that take a risk, and this one isn't afraid to confront the audience with some tough material."

Michele Bachmann's Hair Is Looking Good...

Although her comments have been leaving many in confusion and displeasure, we are not here to discuss politics. So love her or hate her this is all about the hair!

It seems as if her hair is progressively getting better and clients are noticing.

Its funny how fashion/hair can supersede politics; but I must admit, I love it. 

Here is a bit of an expert from the nydailynews.com

"

I called [Michele's] stylist Tamara Robertson, whose $4,700 hair-and-makeup bills Bachmann paid for with campaign cash.

But Robertson wouldn't reveal the Tea Party darling's color secrets.

"I'm sorry," Robertson said. "Because of who I work for, I was told not to talk about it."

But it's not just me asking.

Top stylists from New York to Hollywood told me their liberal clients are guiltily requesting the Bachmann Look.

"A lot of clients have asked for Sarah Palin hair in the past four years, and now, it's Bachmann," says Andi Scarbrough of Byu-ty Hair Therapy in L.A. "Politicians are the new celebrities, because they're real. They didn't just spring up out of the red carpet."

However, she admits, "I have women who come in with photos with the face cut out sometimes."

"She has great coppery color that warms her up a little bit," said Angelo David at his E. 43rdSt. salon, who confirmed a spike in copycat requests for the candidate's look. "Not everybody wants to look like Kim Kardashian."

Bachmann's style "is safe, but not soccer mom. It's sexy," said Alma Qeraxhiu at her AlmaG Salon and Spa on E. 21st. St.

"I have found it a little bit amazing how many women have been coming in asking for her hair style, even though they don't agree with her politics."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/08/30/2011-08-30_palins_hair_apparent_bachmann_politics_arent_nyc_fave_but_locks_are.html#ixzz1WW4tGjPJ

Hair Color Wednesday!! Corrective Color: Dark Brown To Light Golden Blonde

One segment we have gotten away from that we promise to bring back is Hair Color Wednesday.

It's back!!

So... what the hell is it? It is everything hair color all day every wednesday. That's Formulas, Correction Ideas, Trends and anything else that relates to hair color for hairstylists and enthusiasts.

What better way to kick off this Hair Color Wednesday than a corrective hair color formula?

Well that is exactly what your getting :)

Here it goes......

This is where we started:

This is where we finished!:

So HOW DID WE DO IT?

EASY!!!

LETS BREAK IT DOWN:

The first step is to breathe! Really taking someone to a darkest brown to any color is not as stressful as you think. 

When doing this we need to understand that color affects color and creates an effect to color. Think about that for a second...........

Ok got it......? GOOD, lets move on.

Now with that said we can begin to understand that we do not need to change her entire hair color, we only need to enhance it. Enhance it A LOT, YES! But enhance not change. Why? because we can use that dark color that is in her hair already to create a beautiful depth and shadowing effect that will help to bring out the light pieces a lot more.

So.... what do I mean? In simple terms..... tons and tons and tons of highlights. 

However, before we can do that we MUST do a clarifying based treatment. Get all the crap we don't want in the hair, out! My recommendation: Malibu treatment or Pre Art Treatment from Redken

Step 2: Cut the aluminum foil!

Starting in the back, section the hair down from the crown to center back and from the crown to the top of the ear on each side. Begin to go through and create as many small weaved highlights as possible. My suggestion would be to never skip a section to just weave every section. Do the entire back sections increasing in strength of developer as you begin to move up to the the crown.

In between the foils apply a demi-based hair color 7 level gold from roots to ends through the entire hair.

Allow the entire back to finish processing (your goal is a level 8 Yellow Orange if applicable).

Shampoo and condition. Bring back to chair and blow dry the hair completely.

NOW DO THE FRONT. Dividing the hair into 3 sections. A mo-hwak section from the parting and the two side sections. Repeat the same coloring process including the color in between the foils and through the ends. Completely finishing the front. Allow hair to process (your goal is a level 8 Yellow Orange if applicable).

This is the most important part of your color processes. The glazing. I highly recommend you test strand your formula to conclude an accurate result. If you reach an Orange to Orange with a little Yellow, I am going to recommend to test with a Green/Yellow Base and a Blue/Gray Base. Chances our these are your best bets to maximize gold (yellow) and control unwanted reds and oranges.

Once your test is complete Glaze the entire head with your formula. 

*** You may want to consider using a lighter version of your formula on your ends if the hair is porous or extremely long. 

Glazing may also be a two application processes. If you feel you would like to see added control or richness you always have the option to glaze a second time.*** In this case we did not!

*** I would recommend using a level to two levels lighter on your second glaze for increased tone with minimal saturation. 

Once that is finished you are DONE!!!!

Hope you enjoyed... see you next week!!

Lady Gaga is using Rogain?

Is Lady Gaga turning to Rogaine to get hair back? That's what a recent report in The Sun suggests.

"Over the years Lady Gaga has put her locks under a lot of stress," a source told The Sun. "She's poured so much chemicals over them that it's damaged her follicles. She's hoping by using Rogaine, she can repair some of the harm."

I find it hard to believe that this is true but anything is possible and figured it would be fun to blog the excerpt.

What do you think? 

Interesting Article On The Trends of Hairstyles & Relaxers

This was a really interesting article that discussed a shift in the culture of relaxers in relationship to desired hairstyles and how the "trend" of relaxing hair is beginning to slow down.

I think its a cool thing to embrace your natural texture. The ability for change is always there and of course we often love what we don't have, but what we have is great! Embrace It!!

"

But as women are becoming more conscious of not just what they put in their bodies, but what they put on their bodies, that trend is beginning to change. While relaxers remain popular, women also are returning to their “roots” and wearing their hair in a variety of different styles that don’t require chemical treatments.

According to Expressions: Eco Salon For All Ethnicities owner Blase (no last name provided) in Little Falls, this shift is mostly occurring among college- and middle-aged women who have become more aware of the harmful chemicals that are used in relaxers.

Women tired of dealing with those harsh chemicals are choosing to let their hair return to its original state so that they can make their hair healthier and embrace its natural beauty.

“We understand that our natural hair is beautiful,” Blase said.

READ ON.....

Share Your Love For Michael O'Rourke & Be Heard At NAHA

Video Testimonials:  As many of you know Michael is receiving this year’s NAHA’s lifetime achievement award.  [They are] planning on introducing Michael at the awards ceremony with a video tribute. If you have ever been touched by something Michael has said or done [and you want to share your story], record your testimonials as to how Michael and/or his products have affected your life. These can be posted on [their] FaceBook page and/or emailed to info@michaelorourkehair.com by June 20, so get those video cameras/smart phones rolling!

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Inspirational Picture: Zoo Magazine Cover (BONUS! - includes color formula)

I am often looking for forms of inspiration! Many times we are lucky enough to find it in fashion and even lucky enough to find it on the cover of fashion magazines.

Check out this Inspirational Picture of Karen Elson (1 of 2) on the cover of this summer issue of Zoo Magazine. Also make sure to peak at the bottom of the pic for my take on the formula!

Formula - Working on a Natural Level 7 or Higher - Highlight the hair using a face framing highlighting technique. Process. Apply a deposit only 1 & 1/4 oz of 7 level Copper and 1/4 oz of 7 level Gold and 1/4 oz orange kicker throughout the hair. Process. Style.

The History of The Braid & Some Amazing Facts

Our Good Friends at SpaBeautySchools.com put together this amazing image board of The History Of The Braid.

This is amazing and I am so excited to share this with you.

Please make sure to check out their website: SpaBeautySchools.com & of course if you happen to know someone who is interested in going to Cosmetology school, make sure to send them their first!!

Click on the link for a full page view

Hair Color Question & Answer: Taking Dark To Light - Level 4 Previous Colored to Level 7

Question: 


"I graduated from Paul Mitchell in 2010..... I'm naturally a level 7, but have been dying my hair darkish for about 2 years. ....The darkest part is probably a level 4 or 5. I really want to go back to something close to my natural color all over; a level 6 or 7. In school they always told me the ONLY way to do that would be lightening, which can be very damaging. 


At this point, I'm not as concerned with the integrity of my hair as I normally am. Couldn't I use a Color Remover? Every time I go to a salon they seem to talk me out of going lighter....is color remover not used in salons? I see a lot of people go from really dark to light blonde several times....so why can't I get anyone to get my hair a few levels lighter?! I guess my main question is: what do I need to [do] so that I can get what I want?!"
-Kendra Lafferty




Answer:


Ok so there a few answers within this question. First we will tackle the process of how I would handle taking a previous colored level 4 to a level 7. 


Rather than attempting to change your entire color and use a "color remover" or "lightener" I would suggest the idea of creating a more dimensional based color and utilize some of the level 4 color that you have as a low light. Then if you still feel like you would like to have a one solid color you can do so in time. So rather than changing your hair over one "salon visit" you would do so over time. Even though the integrity of your hair is not your priority, as a hairstylist it has to be mine :)


Sounds great right!? So how would you do this exactly?? Answer..... Simple!!


Use a highlighting technique to create a lighter dimension. Using a standard full foil application pattern highlight the entire back of the head first using as many baby fine highlights as you can in order cover at least 50% of the hair. When finished with the back section... Allow this to process, do not move on to the front section.


(Lightener formulas - For fine hair 10 volume with lightener. For Medium/Coarse hair 20 volume with lightener)
** HOT TIP - Make sure when applying your sections of lightener to each foil you saturate the entire section consistently to ensure proper lift.


Once finished processing to pre-lightening to a  level 8/9 in the back. Shampoo, Condition and then Dry the Hair. 


Repeat the same process for the front/top sections.


**We are breaking up the sides to ensure a consistent lift and to ensure integrity strength to the hair. Yes it will take longer, but color correction should never be jeopardized for time.


Once the entire application has been completed and the hair is dry formalize a glaze/toner to create the desired result to which you are looking for. Utilize your color wheel to create your desired result. If a desired result is as neutral as possible make sure to use your complimentary colors... such as a red and green.


The result of this process will be a perfect level 7 with beautiful dimension and hints of low lights. If you prefer to go lighter... continue with the same processes (only picking up the darker pieces) on the next visit.




So...... To answer some of your other questions.

1. Yes salons do use color removers. It is always something to have on hand. 
2. The difference between a color remover and lightener is the level of strength and the ability to lift - in fact I am putting this in my notes to do a blog post about this!
3. If you are referring to celebrities as [seeing a lot of people going from light to dark] - always make sure to note that with celebrities there are often extensions and wig work involved, so sometimes it can be misleading. In my opinion the processes from dark - level 4 to light - level 7 is best done over time.

Q & A: Layering Question (Specifically For A Heart Shaped Face).

Question: "peecho86" writes.....

"Help Needed

I wanna do my younger sis [haircut]... she has wavy hair and wants to retain length, also she has got volume in her hair, im confused about what [type of] layering [to cut] and what [type of] texturing i need to do.... her face shape is heart.

kindly reply !!!!!"

Answer: 

Thank you so much "peecho86" for your Question!

So, from what you are describing, it seems as if you are trying to create a long layered effect to her hair. The benefit of long layers is the ability to maintain weight and length while still enhancing the shape and body of the interior within the cut.

Ideally being that she has a heart shaped face you want to keep the height to a minimum and create contour and volume around her face. Beginning somewhere bellow the cheek bone, depending on the exact facial structure, is the ideal place to create this shape. 

One of the best ways to create this form of layering would be to establish the length of the shortest layer at the point to which you want maximum volume and cut everything else based off of that point. 

Once you have established this length, elevate everything 45 degrees out from the crown of the head; starting in the center back. Using your layer length as your guide cut the "triangle" shape that will be present, removing maximum amount of weight within this area.

Pivot from that point from center to left over directing each section to your last to maintain the length in layers. (A Hot Tip would be to over direct the last 2 sections near the front hairline back to the previous.)

Finally repeat this process on the opposite side, starting in center working to the right.

This is a very basic long layered based haircut. What makes this personalized to a heart shaped face is the point to which you establish the shortest layer!!!

Thank you again for your input and Question!!

New Video: How to Recreate Natalie Portman's Hair From Your Highness - Loose Texture and Fish Tail Braid

We just posted a new video up on our you tube channel!

This is a fun segment we are going to try and work in every couple of months: We are going to take a Movie of the month and recreate one of the characters style from that movie!

This month: We are recreating Natalie Portman's hair from the movie Your Highness.

I loved all the random, loose texture, that she had in her hair durring the movie. I thought it would be a fun thing that you could recreate on yourself or for those of you who are stylists on your guests.

And then there were a few scenes where she had her hair thrown into a messy side fish tail braid. I think this is a great day/night technique that you can use everyday, not to mention fish tail braids are amazingly  fun!

So check out the video and please let us know what you think! Also let us know if you want to see more of these Movie Month Techniques!