Holiday Hair
Do you have a special event or party to go to this holiday season? Why not make it extra special by getting your hair done in an updo! Here are some pictures of a style I did this past weekend! Some advice…if you get your hair pinned up in loose curls, you can take the pins out the next day and wear your hair down. The curls will be perfect since they have been setting for a whole day! Just gently brush out the hair and touch it up with a curling iron and hairspray! For the best results, let your stylist know that you are planning to get two days out of you hair so they can pin it up accordingly!! Happy Holidays!
How to Keep Hair Color from Fading
Let’s face it having your hair colored is expensive so you want to preserve the color and make it last as long as possible. Here are some basic rules to keep your color looking fresh:
Basically the healthier your hair is, the longer your color will last. Conditioning your hair and using deep conditioning treatments will keep your hair from looking dry and dull.
Skip the shampooing! Shampooing your hair every day is a huge no-no!! You will literally wash the money you spent getting your hair colored down the drain! Wash your hair two to three times a week at the most. You can still wet your hair in the shower and run conditioner through it everyday just don’t scrub hair with shampoo. When you do shampoo, focus on the roots and nape of the neck where hair is the most oily.
Wear a hat! I know it is November and you all are not thinking of sun bathing but when you are out in the sun you should wear a hat or use a hair product with SPF. Sun Care Protective Hair Veil by Aveda is a great product to mist on your hair before hitting the beach.
Basically the rule of thumb is if you color your hair it is even more important to use products that promote healthy, moisturized hair. Colored hair is already compromised and fragile because of the chemicals in hair color, so be sure to take the time to do deep conditioning treatments once a week and use the appropriate color safe shampoo and sun protective products.
Movember
Have you been noticing more men modeling moustaches this month?? That is because it is Movember! During November each year men all over the world raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues, specifically prostate and testicular cancer. The way it works is guys will get sponsored by friends, family, and co-workers to grow out their moustache for the month of November. Starting with a clean-shaven face on November 1st and ending the month sporting a full grown stache. Movember is coming to an end so I encourage everyone to donate to this initiative at http://us.movember.com/donate/. You can donate to the general cause or to an individual you know is registered. This organization is so fun for guys to be a part of. There are prizes and even the honor of becoming the Man of Movember, an award given to the most special and supportive Mo Bro! Make sure you participate in Movember 2013 as well!!!
Coconut Oil
Recently I have been hearing so much about the beauty benefits of organic coconut oil. Coconut oil can be used for cooking, eating for extra energy, and for smoothing hair and skin. Coconut oil at room temperature is hard and waxy. For beauty purposes it must be heated into an oil. Many products on the market are infused with coconut oil but in its pure form there are many uses…
Treatment for damaged hair– One section of hair at a time, apply oil from the ends of your hair to the middle of the hair shaft. Cover your hair with a shower cap. I recommend sleeping in the treatment for the best results. In the morning shampoo and condition as usual.
Dry Scalp-Part your hair and section by section apply coconut oil to the scalp. Cover with a showercap and sleep in the treatment. Shampoo and condition hair in the morning.
Dry Chapped Skin– In the winter my hands can get extremely dry. Rub coconut oil onto hands and wrap in plasticwrap. Keep on for an hour or so. Wash your hands as normal.
You can use coconut oil on dry styled hair as a way to give shine to dull ends but I must warn you that this stuff can get messy! You only need a TINY amount of oil, otherwise your hair will just look greasy. There are other claims about coconut oil uses that I have not yet tried including a cure to acne and cold sores, and an anti aging regimen. Comment if you have any experiences with coconut oil to share!
Beauty School
In New York State, to receive a cosmetology license you have to complete 1,000 hours in a NYS approved cosmetology class, and pass a written and practical exam administered by the state. The practical exam tests ability to complete skills such as roller sets, permanent waves, pin curls, finger-waves, hair coloring, hair cutting, and blow drying. The student brings in a live model for the examination and has to complete the skills mentioned in a certain amount of time. You are probably wondering what in the world a finger-wave is, and who in the world still wears a pin curl style??? The skills that the state tests are really old-fashioned but I suppose if you can complete these styles you will likely be able to create more up to date styles.
I attended cosmetology school at the BOCES center in high school. I spent the mornings of my junior and senior year at the BOCES center completing the 1000 hours of classroom time necessary to be able to receive a license. The program involved half lecture and half technical time. On Friday’s the classroom would turn into a day spa where people from the public could come into the school and receive extremely discounted services from the students.
I was definitely lucky to be able to complete this program in high school. Private cosmetology schools can cost upwards of $15,000 but through the BOCES program it was free for the same education. Truthfully the 1,000 hour course will really only help you pass the state board test. When you enter the field working is when you really learn how to do hair! I recommend getting the 1,000 hours of training in the most economical way possible and then when you start working as a stylist further your training at seminars that pertain to the skill you want to be an expert at. Color is one of the most profitable services as a hair stylist. That is why you often see the title “Color Specialist” in salons because many stylists attend further education classes in this area in hopes to expand their color clientele.
Welcome to Hair Brush School
The size of your styling brush depends on the desired style and length of your hair. In terms of round brushes, the longer the hair the larger the diameter of the round brush. There are so many different types of brushes on the market…so what ones should you include in your brush collection? Let’s go to brush school…
1. The Paddle Brush- This brush is perfect for a style that is smooth and sleek without a lot of volume. This brush is best for longer styles. I like to use the paddle brush, when blow drying, to get the majority of moisture out of the hair before using a round brush.
2. Soft Bristled Round Brush- This brush is gentle on tangles yet gives enough tension to smooth out wavy hair. Using this brush will help achieve a volumous style with shine because of all the bristles smoothing out every strand of hair.
3. Thermal Round Brush- This hair is like a curling iron when it heats up. Thermal means that the brush has a metal barrel which conducts heat to the hair from the blow dryer. This can speed up blow drying and create bouncier curls.
4.Combo Brush- This brush has both boar bristles and nylon bristles. The combination of bristles makes this brush versatile in that it can create styles with curl and lots of volume or a straight sleek style.
5.Bangs Brush-Sometimes bangs can be extremely unruly (as in you wake up and they are sticking straight up in the air) so you need a brush that provides a lot of tension so you can put them back in place! If you would like a curled under bang use a smaller version than the brush in the picture. The brush size shown is more for a straighter look for a side swept bang or blunt straight bang.
6 & 7-Smoothing Brushes- For smoothing down fly aways or putting hair up in a pony tail this type of brush is great. Stylists would use this brush for up-dos.
Celebrity Blow Out
The best trick for achieving a salon blow out style without leaving your house is velcro rollers. All you need is about 6-10 rollers (depending on how thick your hair is) and some metal roller clips. The size roller to buy depends on the style you would like to create! If you purchase your rollers at Sally’s Beauty Supply, ask an employee to help you pick out the proper size. Velcro rollers create so much volume, and they are so much better for your hair than a hot iron! Here is the how to:
- Wash & condition hair
- Towel/air dry hair as much as possible
- Blow dry your hair until it is only slightly damp (if you do not blow dry your hair most of the way, the rollers will never set)
- Next, section off your hair starting in the front and center. Do not make the width of the section of hair longer than the diameter of the roller.
- Do a single row of rollers going down to the nape of the neck. Fasten rollers with metal roller clips. Remeber, the direction that you roll the roller will be the direction your hair will laywhen you take the rollers out.
- Add 2-4 rollers to the side sections
- Let dry for as long as possible!!
- Remove rollers and brush out hair with a soft bristled brush.
I recommend keeping the rollers in for as long as possible. Sleeping in these things can be unrealistic but this will acheive the best results! Make sure you adjust how much you blow dry your hair based on how long you can devote to keeping the rollers in. If you need to speed up the process hit each roller with a blow dryer! I also, recommend spraying each roller section with a volumizing hairspray for more hold.
Blow Dry Your Hair Faster
I bought my Goody QUICKSTYLE brush at Target for $11.99. The idea for this brush is to shorten blow dry time and ease detangleing of hair. The brush has microfiber bristles that are supposed to soak up extra moisture in the hair. When I saw this I definitely wanted to try it because anything that speeds up getting out of the house in the morning is more time to sleep! Also, the less time you have the heat of a blow dryer on your hair, the healthier it will be!
I have not had this happen yet, but the instructions warn that the bristles may begin to look flat. They suggest washing the bristles with warm water and shampoo, and letting the bristles dry face down to bring them back to life. Don’t worry about bacteria because the bristles are protected by antimicrobial properties to prevent growth of mold and mildew (of course I did not even think of this when I purchased it, but I am glad Goody did!!).
I highly recommend this brush for parents that have daughters that hate having their hair brushed because of the tangles. The brush really does help make detangleing hair painless! Not to mention the look of the brush is cool so that might get kids interested in brushing their hair?? Anyways, I really like this brush! It’s a good idea from Goody!!
Trying to grow out your hair??…
Add Not Your Mother’s- Way To Grow Long & Strong Shampoo and Conditioner to your Ulta shopping list!! The key to growing your hair out is to keep your hair healthy and strong. Hair grows, on average, about a half-inch per month. If you have damaged ends, and have to get a trim every 6 weeks, growing your hair out can take forever!! I purchased Way To Grow Long & Strong Shampoo and Conditioner last weekend at Ulta and let me say I LOVE it. This shampoo and conditioner is infused with essential vitamins, herbs, and bioactive extracts. The claim is that the shampoo will promote healthy hair which ultimately leads to hair growing faster than it would damaged. Since I began using these products my hair does feel incredibly soft and healthy. These products smell really good too! The best part…this shampoo and conditioner only cost $6 per tube! The formula is thick which means you do not have to use a ton of product per wash.
Using professional shampoos and conditioners may seem more expensive than picking up whats on sale at the grocery store, but you will notice that the non-professional products are extremely watered down and you will have to use so much more product for each wash. Spending the extra money on a salon formula is worth it because the product will last longer and your hair will be more nourished. The good news is the Not Your Mother’s products are salon grade without the high price!
Next, I would like to try Not Your Mother’s- She’s a Tease volumizing hairspray. It is infused with apple blossoms and bamboo!!!
How to Choose the Perfect Shampoo & Conditioner
I found a great quiz on Aveda’s website: http://www.aveda.com/supercat/index.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CAT5290&takeQuiz=hairAdvisor.
For those that don’t know the brand, Aveda offers hair care and skin care products that are as organic as possible. Although this quiz is made particularly for Aveda’s hair care products, this template is a perfect example of the types of questions your stylist should be asking you when helping you choose the perfect shampoo and conditioner. There are three components, that when combined, can lead you to the perfect products: hair type, desired condition, and desired style. There are products available for fine, medium, and coarse hair so it is important to know your hair type. Next, you need to decide your desired condition, would you like to add moisture, create volume, protect color from fading? Describe your hair needs to your stylist so they can help you achieve that result. Lastly is desired style, do you want to have smooth straight hair, create volume, create shine? Knowing the answers to these quesitions will help your stylist lead you to the correct shampoo and conditioner for your particular hair. If your stlyist is not asking you, ask them! It’s important to come home with the right products.
The Sock Bun
The sock bun is a trend inspired by the sleek, voluminous, bun worn by celebrities like Kim Kardashian. 
Today I tried the sock bun for the first time on my sister’s hair. It took a few tries but in general it was easy and can be a DIY style. Here is the how to!
- First, you take a sock and cut the toe closure off
- Next, roll the sock all the way up so it looks like a dough-nut
- Pull your hair back in a high pony-tail
- Take the sock and pull the pony-tail through the hole, leaving the sock at the ends of the hair
- Roll the hair/sock all the way down to the base of the pony tail
- Secure any loose hairs with bobby pins
The sock gives your hair 100x more volume that a normal bun and you cannot even tell it’s there! The bun is very secure so you do not have to worry about your sock being exposed throughout the day.
One more updo!!
About 60% of you voted that you do your hair yourself for formal events. This is probably due to the fact that a formal style in a salon can cost anywhere from $50-$75. That is a big price to pay for a style that will only last one night! From a stylist’s point of view I do understand wh
ere this price point comes from. An updo style is a piece of art and does take upwards of one hour to complete. I have one more bridesmaid hair style to share with you as this wedding season comes to an end!! This Fall, the trend is to have hair to the side. It is very flattering for pictures from all angles!!
Up Do Part II
Another style I created over the weekend! Let me know what you think!
Formal Hair
Last Saturday I helped do hair for a wedding party and also for my sister’s homecoming dance. Many brides enjoy the comfort of their own home by hiring a stylist to come to them. This makes the day much easier and less hectic. Also, having a stylist on hand in case of a hair emergency is always good! Today I would like to share some of my own work!! This picture is my sister’s up do that I did for her dance. There are only a handful of opportunities you have in life to go all out with your hair!! For most of us these days are limited to school dances, weddings, and the rare black tie event you may be invited to. So why not pull your hair back in a style that makes a statement. Many woman like their hair down or only half up for formal events but to me…this is too much of an everyday style. Next time you have a formal event go for the all up style! You will receive so many compliments and feel like a movie star for the day!!
Salon Tipping Advice
- Commission- This is when a stylist gets paid a percentage of the total dollar amount of services they perform. This commission varies by salon and can range anywhere from 30 to 80%
- Independent Contractor- This is when a stylist rents space at a salon. For example, the chair rental may be $500 per month. The stylist then keeps the money from all services performed that month and pays the $500 to the salon owner. This is not the only cost involved though. Often times stylists that are paid this way have to buy all their own products and tools.
- Flat Rate Wage- This is when a stylist gets paid a flat rate, often times minimum wage.
Men’s Haircuts
nd the hair length for reference.- 0A 3/64”
-
1 3/32”
-
1A 1/8”
- 1 ½ 5/32”
- 2 1/4”
- 3 ½ 3/8”
- 4 1/2”
- 5 5/8”
- 6 3/4”
- 7 7/8”
- 8 1”
Picture Time!
A question I often get….”Should I bring a picture to show you what I want done to my hair?” The answer….It depends! If you have a sharp vision in your head of what you would like your hair to look like, then yes, you should try to find a picture that reflects this vision. Bringing a picture will avoid you being disappointed at the end of the haircut. The key is bringing the right picture. I recommend finding three pictures of styles that you have in mind and discussing them in your consultation with your stylist. The reason for this is the models in all three pictures will have different hair types and your stylist can help you and teach you by comparing your hair to the pictures. In my career as a stylist it has happened hundreds of times… someone brings in a picture and the model has thick curly hair and the client has straight thin hair or vise versa. If the client
demands their hair turn out like the picture they will definitely leave the salon disappointed. If you cannot find a picture of the exact style you have in mind explain to the stylist what you do or don’t like about a style and they can steer you towards a picture that will work for you.
If you are more on the daring side, and like to be surprised, and let the stylist’s creativity run wild, then skip the picture! I know some of my best work has come from clients that say “Do whatever you want!”. Either way, just make sure you have a consultation before the stylist wips out their scissors to discuss your expectations and needs!
Deep Conditioning Treatment
Professional hair products can be very expensive but there are certain products that are worth the splurge! One product that is definitely worth spending the extra money on is a good conditioner. If you color your hair, use hot irons, or are in the sun a lot chances are your hair feels dry and not as smooth as you would like. My favorite conditioner is Aquage Healing Conditioner. This product is only available for sale in professional hair salons but I promise you will not be disappointed. This product is great for daily use or for a deep conditioning treatment.
How to do an at home deep conditioning treatment:
- Shampoo hair
- Towel dry hair very well
- Using a wide tooth comb, apply the Healing Conditioner, focusing on the ends of the hair. It is important not to put conditioner within one inch from the root of the hair, this part of the hair strand gets plenty of conditioning from the natural oils from the scalp.
- Put a shower cap over your hair and let sit as long as you can. I recommend sleeping with the treatment on for the best results.
- In the morning (or whenever you have to) rinse the hair and your done
After the treatment you will find your hair to be silky for days to come! For dry and damaged hair I recommend this treatment once a week. Enjoy!!!
Princess For A Day
What do you think about this salon? What would be your thoughts walking into a salon that looked like this? Would you feel like a princess in a fairy tale land or would you think you were in Disney World? Well if you were thinking Disney….you were right! This is a photo of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Walt Disney World. This salon caters to both little girls and boys offering Princess and Knight packages. I would love to work in a salon that looked exactly like this, but that also catered women and girls of all ages! What woman doesn’t want to feel like a princess for the day?! This salon is decorated to perfection and every detail contributes to the overall theme. The custom salon chairs are so cute and I can already picture the menu of services…Princess Pedicures, Magical Manicure, Queen Cuts, Fairy Tale Facials…I love it!
Face Shape & Style
Did you know being aware of the shape of your face can help you determine the perfect hairstyle? There are 4 different face shapes; heart, oval, circle, and square.
- Heart Shape- the goal for the style for someone with a heart-shaped face is to create volume, especially at the jaw line. Long curls or waves combined with teasing and volumizing hairspray will achieve this look.
- Oval Shape- If a clients face shape is long and skinny, bangs and volume created by curls or waves can create a more balanced look. Also, long hair can make a skinny face look even skinnier! The best cut for a narrow face is above the collar-bone.
- Circle Shape- Adding volume to the top of the head will create a more oval looking face shape.
- Square Shape- The best style to soften a strong jaw line is soft romantic waves and a cut that is longer than chin length.
What face shape is the best you ask?…All face shapes are unique and perfect in their own way, the only reason to be aware of your face shape is to choose a hair style that will flatter you most! Generally the goal for the stylist is to make the face look oval…but not too oval!!
Welcome to Ashley’s Beauty Salon
Thank you for coming! My name is Ashley and I will be your stylist today!!! This blog will provide all your beauty needs. I will focus on everyday beauty tips for healthy hair, skin, and nails. How to sessions on the latest trends, as well as must have beauty products, salon etiquette, and how to have a spa day on a budget…all your beauty questions will be answered!!
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