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Category Archives: Inspirational
Fall 2017 Haircolor Trends
To me “trends” don’t really exist. Basically what happens every year is the following:
Summer= Brighter Lighter Fall=Richer Warmer
Winter= Darker Cooler Spring= Soft & Subtle Lighter
As a colorist what is most entertaining to me is the trending terminology behind color services. For instance “Babylights” has been a hot term over the past year or so. Babylights is simply another word for a very fine weave of hair done in a foil. This technique is super basic, adds shimmer, and is beautiful on everyone.
With all the confusion with what I would call “Fancy words” for hair color treatments, your best bet is leaving it up to the pro. They will always guide you in the right direction for the season and your hair type. That is if you have a great one like myself 😉 By the way it’s pronounced BA-LAY-AGE not Biolage, which is a brand of haircare products. You’re welcome.
On the left Color Melting On the right Dimensional Balayage
Personally, I like to keep booking options simple for my clients. I simply offer “All Over Color” or “Dimensional Color”. For those getting one single color all over, it’s simple to add a few hand painted pieces during the processing time if need be. For Highlights and beyond, Dimensional color is a great description for the unlimited possibilities.
SO WHAT SHOULD YOU ASK YOUR COLORIST FOR?
Since those hot-trending words will always be around, here’s what to ask for in the chair this season.
COLOR MELTING: Will give you a similar result to an “Ombre” but the depth of the color doesn’t go as far down the strand as the original look. I recommend keeping a connection of light around the face so the color placement melts out in a diagonal back fashion as opposed to a harsh horizontal line.
ROOT SMUDGING: A great way for bright blondes to add a little bit of depth while still maintaining their beloved bright hue. Smudging the root creates a soft grow out and gives you that Victoria’s Secret feel.
DIMENSIONAL BALAYAGE: Not only will your stylist paint bright ribbons of color, but will also melt darker lowlights in between the light. This is my favorite. It’s vibrant rich and has great potential for a high contrast look that is still very natural.
Transitioning to Fall is simple. Replenish what Summer zapped from your hair. Have your stylist create a healthy, shiny, rich, hydrated, and seamless hair color that flatters your paler skin-tone and works great with your Fall wardrobe!
*If you’re in St Louis and need a new colorist, I would love to take care of you. I am ALWAYS accepting new clients. People reschedule, cancel, move to a different state, etc so there’s always a chance for you to get in at some point. To book with me click here 🙂
3 Simple Steps to Setting the Perfect Table
In my home, I love to create an inspiring atmosphere. I believe our surroundings directly affect our mood and behavior, therefore it’s important to adorn your space with things you enjoy! Here are my 3 Simple Steps to Setting the Perfect Table…
ONE: CREATE A BEAUTIFUL FLORAL ARRANGEMENT
One of the most simple pleasures in life is, ” stopping to smell the roses”. I love going to local markets like Fields Foods or Flowers to the People. When you support local flower markets you can expect a longer lasting- vibrant bouquet. Add a bit of sugar and vinegar to your flower water. The sugar nourishes the plants, while the vinegar inhibits bacterial growth. This beautiful arrangement lasted 2 weeks!
TWO: SET YOUR TABLE WITH SOMETHING SPECIAL
When my grandmother passed away I inherited a few of her things. These two gold candle holders were hers and I absolutely adore them! She was one classy lady with great taste. I love having an heirloom around when making new memories with friends and family. It’s very full circle.
THREE: HAVE BALANCE
I love vivid colors however it’s important to maintain the right balance between colors and textures. My boyfriend surprised me with this cool table cloth. Clearly, he has great taste so lucky me. Ha! Since the table cloth has color and texture I wanted my plates to be simple. I’m a huge fan of white and gold. To bring out the blue in the cloth I added aqua blue wine cups, because who says you can only drink wine out of one type of glass?
A great table should always be cheerful, warm, and inviting. Keep these three tips in mind when having your next dinner party or even if you’re dining alone 🙂
Now go set the table!
Is Your Hair Dehydrated?
Summer is in full swing which means, so is the sun. Your hair takes a beating between pool chemicals, more frequent shampooing, and sun worshiping. If you highlight or color your hair this time of year can trash all that beautiful work your stylist spent countless hours on. Fear not, there are ways to rehydrate, protect, and heal those poor strands. Here’s a list of my favorite products and services for quenching your hair’s thirst.
O&M DETOX Shampoo
Do you ever leave the pool feeling like your hair magically transformed into hay? If so this Shampoo will change your life! Detox removes product build up, chlorine, and stubborn oils. My favorite thing about this product is the invigorating peppermint oil. Your scalp feels clean, cool, and refreshed. Unlike most clarifying shampoos, Detox leaves your hair nourished, hydrated, and soft.
G L O S S it up!
Glaze, toner, gloss, are all the same. Keeping your strands glossed every 4-6 weeks protects your hair from heat styling and the sun. It also is a great way to reduce brassiness and revive the shine and saturation of your color.
EVO FABULOSO Platinum
Don’t have time for a gloss? Revive your blonde and kick brass at home with EVO’s FABULOSO Platinum deep conditioner. The bottle says to leave on for 3 mins however, I always suggest my clients leave this brass killer on for a minimum of 10. Your highlights will be bright and hydrated.
OI oil
Unlike Argan Oils, this is a super lightweight holy-grail of shine and softness. OI is good for all hair types. Davines Oi oil contains Roucou oil which is light yet powerful. I recommend using this on your ends every night before bed. This bottle can last at least 6 months when used properly. For the average head of hair less than the size of a pea is more than enough. Oi has healing properties and can be used on wet or dry hair. You will wonder how you ever lived without this. Did I mention it smells amazing?
NOU NOU Mask
Every woman should have a deep conditioner to use at least 1-2 times per week. I prefer to deep condition after I have used my Detox clarifying shampoo. It makes the most sense to do a “deep” cleanse before a “deep” conditioning. NOU NOU mask not only hydrates the hair but it also strengthens weak over worked strands.
OLAPLEX
If you haven’t heard of Olaplex you are being deprived of something truly amazing. Olaplex was the first of its kind in the beauty industry. This take home is the 3rd step after your stylist performs steps 1 & 2 during your color service. This is not a conditioner. This is a bond multiplier which has been designed to prevent breakage during your color service. Basically, it’s an insurance policy for your hair’s health. Use #3 weekly on clean damp hair to maintain the added strength.
P.S. All of these goodies can be found at my salon Thirteenth and Washington in downtown St. Louis 🙂
What seeds of change have you planted?
2017 is here and with each New Year year the pressure of becoming the greatest version of you weighs down on us all. Resolutions are not my thing. I’m just not into self inflicted pressure just because the date changes overnight. If you’re full steam ahead on your resolutions, great! I am happy for you. It’s just not for me.
I see the change of a year as a time to declutter my mind, home, and soul. A time to plant seeds of new thoughts and inspiration. Nothing in life that is truly wonderful happens overnight.
Here are a few things I plan on working on in the New Year. Blooming gracefully…
Taking care of my mind and body
2016 flew by like a tornado ripping through a small town. Before I could blink each day was ending before I could eat a healthy meal or take a sip of water. So far I have started each day with a glass of lemon water and ended each night with at least 10 mins of gentle yoga.
Simplifying my surroundings
Any form of clutter has always had a negative affect on my productivity. This year I have started Spring Cleaning early. I have purged my closet and workspace of things that no longer speak to me making room for the things I love & space in my mind to create!
Create a vision board
My vision board is a blend of an actual board that I can hang inspiration on and my good ol Pinterest account. This past week I actually took time to look through the things I’ve been pinning and read the articles associated with the image. It’s always fun to delete the Pins that you actually accomplished too!
Like I said earlier, change doesn’t happen overnight however the decision to be self aware and in the moment can. I choose to live each day for that day and enjoy the simple things in life. Doesn’t that sound way better than stressing over what I should have done by the end of 2017?
Happy New Year!
Beauty and the Brain 