Tag Archives: Patrick McIvor

Time to have a life

May 21, 2012

I’ve ended a chapter in my life and started a new one. The  past 6 years as a stylist in the salon have been great! I’ve learned so much from all the amazing people I’ve worked with. From exclusive high-end to chain salons, everyone has taught me something valuable and different. I can’t believe the time has come for me to branch off on my own! I guess I always thought this would happen later in life but I’m sooo glad it’s happening right now instead!

I would like to take you all on a little journey of how, who, and what has inspired me to become the beauty professional I am today…

It starts with the family…

My mom, grandma, and aunts all do hair. We have a salon in Albrightsville, PA that has been in our family for almost 25 years! This is my aunt Darlene : ) she currently owns the family business.

 Since I was old enough to walk I swept floors, took rollers out of all the little old ladies’ hair, and provided entertainment by styling my oversized Barbie head. I always knew I wanted to be the boss and call the shots just like my family.

The Mentors

As soon as I finished beauty school I knew I wanted “The Best” training possible before calling myself a real stylist. Lucky me. I met global colorist Patrick McIvor. The man is a color genius and has opened more doors than I ever imagined. He taught me to, “Always be a yes or a no.” People who never ask questions don’t get very far. I would rather know the answer is no rather than never asking at all.


Jayson Morgan

The coolest guy you’ll ever have the pleasure of meeting. He taught me everything I know about cutting and celeb worthy Blow Outs!

Melissa Johnson

This girl knows her stuff and is by far the funniest person I’ve ever met. Love her!

The What…

Growing up I loved watching people like Carmindy on TLC’s What Not to Wear. I loved her down to earth approach and ability to make anyone look amazing.

Music videos and anything Tim Burton. I am fascinated by the characters that are created with hair and makeup!

The last piece to my Entrepreneur puzzle is “The Four Hour Work Week” This book filled in the blanks and made it an easy decision to move on with my ultimate dream.

My NEW CHAPTER: I am now a Freelance artist who has created the ultimate co-op working environment for people just like me! Check it out! http://www.ThirteenthandWashington.com

Blow dry tips

January 3, 2012

A great blow dry can last a few days and make life a whole lot easier. Just ask Shannon Mary! http://www.facebook.com/stlphoto

BLOW DRY TIPS:

    • Clarify your hair to remove excess oils and product build up. I like Redken’s Hair cleansing cream

  • After clarifying use a shampoo and conditioner formulated for your hair type and condition of your hair. On Shannon’s hair I used L’Oreal Professional Absolute Repair it has a great balance of protein and moisture to not only condition, but strengthen the hair as well.
  • Use a 100% cotton T-shirt to dry your hair.
  • Prep your hair for heat. I love Davines Melu shield!
  • Always use a wide tooth comb to detangle. Your hair can stretch up to 50% more when wet resulting in weak or broken hair
  • Use a styling product based on your desired end result. I wanted to give Shannon’s hair body, shine, and smoothness so I cocktailed Davines Oil non Oil an Mattering mousee to create a delicious smelling hair potion!
  • Dry hair section by section with your blow dryer nozzle facing downward. You want to visualize a bead of water being forced away from your scalp traveling down the strand out through the very ends. This ensures a smooth cuticle surface resulting in silky shiny hair.
  • Finish with a paddle brush and cool blast of air to set the style and close down the cuticle even more.

The Evil Box Color

December 26, 2011


Everyday people put their trust in educated doctors, dentists, lawyers, and etc. So why do so many people put their trust in a box of color instead of a professional colorist? The first excuse is usually, “I don’t have the time or money.” When I hear that it’s like someone is saying, ” I have a cavity, but no time or money so I’m just going to buy a pair of pliers and just rip the damn thing out.” A few painful hours later they realize they need to see a real dentist immediately and pay twice as much as they would have in the first place because they pulled out the wrong tooth!

So really stop buying that 3 dollar box color that turns your hair a lovely shade of pumpkin or my personal favorite shoe polish black. Stop coloring your bathroom walls, it will save you money on a can of that 2-in-1 expensive primer + paint. Oh, and please stop thinking you were born knowing how to highlight your own hair. When you are ripping 50% of your hair through a plastic cap from the 1980s, all your accomplishing is premature baldness. Not beautiful/seamless ribbons of light.

What did your hair ever do to you? It’s always been shiny and strong since the day you were born and you dare perform an operation on it yourself!? Forget the amateur show and forget those YouTube videos that say it’s O.K. Start a search for a professional colorist near you. Find a colorist who displays great customer service, continues their education, has professional tools, and is genuinely excited to work on your hair.

The salon is just like the doctor’s office. You go in, you tell them your concerns and the end result you desire. They then diagnose the problem, write-up your regimen and your on your way to a better you.  Not only is your colorist going to perform surgery on your hair but he or she is going to send you home with the correct products to keep your color looking its best until your next visit. Now do as I say and you will never regret it!

A few great colorist I highly recommend…

Patrick McIvor  www.patrickmcivorcolorstudio.com


Melissa Johnson  www.melissajohnsonhair.com


Rachel Bodt www.cutlersalon.com


Kristen Linares  www.kristenlinares.com  www.matthewrobertsalon.com


Lisa Mcauliffe www.thealcorn.com

…just to name a few.

Becoming an editorial stylist

December 20, 2011

The road to becoming an editorial stylist is not an easy one. For the past 6 years I have been working my ass off. I’ve put in many hours in the salon and have styled for as many photo shoots, fashion shows, and events for free as I physically can. I can assure you this is not a position that people just hand out. I have been very lucky in my career to have mentored with Patrick McIvor ( a freakishly talented colorist & artistic director for Matrix) and Jayson Morgan (one of Redken’s best educators). They provided me with a great start to my never-ending story.

Working with such inspiring people taught me how to make things happen for myself. It’s hard to remember all the things you learn but the one I will never forget is ALWAYS be a yes or a no. That simple statement helped me get where I am today. I am never afraid to ask an extremely successful person anything and if they say no whatever, at least I know for sure that it’s not going to happen.

A few things that being a yes got me…

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK with AVEDA & Janell Geason

A position as an educator with PRODUCT CLUB COLOR ACCESSORIES

styling hair & makeup for shoots with the incredible SHANNON MARY… this chick is going to be famous  http://www.facebook.com/stlphoto

To further my chances of styling hair for celebrities and models I am going to attend the Redken exchange this March for their Session skills and photo class.

More to come…follow my blog ; )

Tips for glamorous hair color

December 17, 2011

Have you ever gone to the salon excited about getting your hair colored only to leave feeling ok about it? Then you go out that night and not one single person notices your “new look”. Don’t get me wrong I think it can be a good thing when color looks so natural and seamless that it’s virtually unnoticeable. However, most days when we are spending 100+ we want to see a small change at the very least. Here are a few ways you can take control of your hair color experience and get the results you are looking for.

ONE: Do your research. Find a salon that values education and is passionate about the services they are performing. Here are a few I recommend
St.louis- Matthew Robert color + design
Tampa- Shear Art Salon and Spa
Spring Hill, FL- Loft 352
Allentown, PA- Revive
Bethlehem PA- Patrick McIvor color studio
Philadelphia- Hush salon
NYC- Cutler
Toronto- The Alcorn


TWO: Arrive on time! A professional colorist has a tight schedule. Being even 15 minutes late can completely ruin their schedule and it leaves less time to perfect your look. Be considerate.

THREE: Coloring “dirty” hair does not result in good hair color. Product build up and natural oils can stand in the way of your new color. It is best to arrive with clean dry hair. If your salon offers a clarifying service be sure to book this before your next appointment for optimal results.

FOUR: Bring pictures and be specific. At Matthew Robert we have an entire wall of up to date inspiration pictures. This allows us to point out overall looks or tones/ colors that our guest love or hate. If your salon doesn’t have an inspiration wall be sure to bring your own pictures. It’s always great to have a visual of what the guest really wants. What is red to you may be gold to me.

FIVE: Protect your color after you leave the salon. Always use what your stylist recommends, they have a close relationship with your hair and see things you don’t. Trust your professional as you would your doctor! You can also ask for a color protecting conditioning treatment like Redken’s Chemistry Shot. This treatment can last up to four weeks protecting and conditioning the hair. It also balances the ph after a chemical service closing the cuticle down locking in the color molecules.

SIX: Last but not least PREBOOK your appointments!! Nothing is worse than long overdue color. We can cover your gray but we can’t stop it from growing.