simple twist {wedding updo inspiration}

I have been preparing for a September wedding that I will be working on. Hair and make up included. What I do to prepare is look at trends of the Season and create something lovely and timeless (after all these wedding pics will be viewed for years to come). Sometimes my own personal style can be to avant garde like this editorial look that I lust after. A simple photo can tell a story too so I encourage them. For a simple twist, I am really loving the first and second pic.  The last is my least favorite, I feel like if you are going to wear a chignon in a wedding it needs to be bigger and built up like this. This is the time to make an ordinary style, extraordinary. Hair extensions and a simple twist can do wonders. Which look do you fancy? More hair embellishments here.

images: lockandmane

celebration + {smooth hair}

gold and purple love today please bare with me, I'm so excited.

my hands are a bit raw from all of the high fiving

smooth operator

these are my dream shoes

and here are my dancing shoes

violet ink liner a nice change from black don't you think?

purple glossy lips

you know I couldn't finish with out some purple hair!

I'm sure you have probably heard that the L.A. Lakers just won a victory championship against the Boston Celtics. My voice is hoarse from all of the cheering and screaming. I am proud of our team but I have to also give some credit to the Celtics for some of their class acts, like Ray Allen, (I loved seeing his mama cheering for him!) and surprising team spirit from other players even after a huge loss, you can read more about it here. Getting back to some hair needs I have a client with lions-mane hair that needs to be tamed today.

moroccan oil hydrating styling cream I like smoothing with styling creams and later using products like this for an after glaze of shimmer

Trilliant can be used on damp or dry hair and before flat ironing leaving sleek shine with out the oil slick

these product contains essential ingredients and I have had clients come from far to pick some up, they love it!

 Sealing the hair with products, like this for the final touch and you are ready to go

keeps hair in place and frizz free, I just love the specks of glimmer that it gives more final touches with 

Shaper here.

images: luxuryculture,cupcakesandcashmere,brianatwood, ellebeauty,

a blowout + a bellini

I think this is a novel idea, blow drying classes taught by none other than your favorite hairstylist

One of the most important things beside product, and styling tools is sectioning

The nozzle controls the amount of air directed toward the hair, another tip try to follow the flow by tipping the nozzle downward instead of directly at the hair so you don't over dry and fry hair

A bellini what a novel reward Cheers for a great job done! recipe here

This great concept via the Oscar Blandi Salon. I like the idea, I am constantly asked by my clients if they can have my hands in the morning to lay on their head for that perfectly coiffed  hairdo they leave with. Well now it's all in your hands with these easy tips.

images: nytimes,mindfood

Queen Ann + GQ Magazine

How did I miss this post with the lovely Ann Hathaway as Queen of All She Surveys?

Looking good is the best revenge and she definitely displays that with her new found confidence

Love lighting like this especially in the morning with light softly coming in through sheer white panels

I think I've mentioned before how much I love a corset, this one is no exception, Ann looks lovely under her cascading brunette locks.

images: via myfdb

floral headbands + springy curls

how much is too big for a floral headband?

                                          perfect for a spring soirre wedding

  soft waves look best tosseled with fingers or with a little fluff from a brush

ballerina inspired poses, tulle skirts, and shoes like this make me want to dance too

These lovely floral and ribbon inspired headbands are so romantic and can do a lot for a bad hair day as seen here. I like the non-traditional vibe for a Spring Wedding as well. Maybe it's just Spring Fever lately that makes me want to think with reckless abandon about all the fabulous things to do with hair and texture and romantic curls like this. A flip of your curling iron spiraling in different directions about an inch or so away from the crown can give a more casual look. For added softness and stay a dab of Mousse Forte on dry hair before curling does the trick using a brush like this to soften into cascading waves.

images: via nonpareil magazine        

it's a ten

It's a 10 haircare was recommended to me by a fellow hairstylist. Being an educator in the beauty business I am fortunate to be able to have an abundance of products to test and some don't necessarily pass. This one sure did. This leave in miracle product is a detangler and leave in conditioner with nourishing ingredients. These ingredients contain, Sunflower Seed, Green Tea Extract, and silky Amino Acids and Antioxidants that strengthen, shine and de-frizz .  In the salon I use It's a 10 for my initial comb out before the hair cut and although I continually dress the hair with different products such as these before I blow dry and style I find that sometimes all I need is in this little blue bottle. What is your favorite miracle hair product?

image: here

holiday hair

 I thought I would share these holiday hair looks from Matrix hair team. I think they pretty much cover the range of styles from short to long. Not to overdone but classic and pretty. I find that most clients now are vowing for those styles more. A little undone is a little more modern now. Gone are the days of pouffed up bouffants with tons of Elnet. Now it's about the tease but smoothing like cotton that is tangible and touchable unlike the coiffs of the past.  What holiday hair styles work for you? Is it curly, wavy, straight and sexy? Happy weekend, rest and peace to you.

images: flickr

b.glam

B.Glam is an inspirational video I came across while browsing through one of my favorite trade magazines, behindthechair.com The looks shown are all about backcombing, and beehive inspired updo's seen here with structure. I had to look twice I thought the blonde beehive updo was Gwen Stefani. Shapes in haircutting this season to look for, The Curve, The Zag, The Halo, Very Vidal Sasson circa 1970. Beautiful work by Emiliano Vitale. Sometimes I come upon inspiration as I am browsing ideas for a different look. In this case, I was doing a little research to make up a client for Halloween, the theme Cleopatra. This look from Vitale is a lovely example of a 2009 Cleo inspired pyramid shape cut with a little crimp to make it new. Make up inspiration: I chose a modest eye. Why? Less is more, and I took into consideration my clients eye shape, much different from Beyonce's as seen here. added some teal blue to the swirl of black and captured a very glamourous, 2009 Cleopatra. Colorful crops shown, Wella Koleston Perfect, Blondor, Magma and Color Touch base shades. Sealed with a kiss with Sebastian Cellophanes topcoat of shine.

images: pixelated pics captured and cropped by me via behindthechair.com

little black book

Cleaning out my closet or in this case my office and shredding away the old to make way for the new. I came upon this Little Black Book from Sebastian . An industry guide made for professionals to keep us inspired with the latest and the greatest in Sebastian hair care and make up . Such beautiful imagery past couldn't be shredded with out sharing. Neo-Romanticism was the collection of hair and make up reminiscent of La Belle Époque. Robert Lobetta former artistic director for Sebastian, turned photographer deserves credit for the imagery on these pages. Make up collection Powders named after the powder dry formulation yet velvety finish. Love the snow white imagery representing a very matte powdered face with emphasis on eyes and lips. Incredible make up artistry by Nicole Servin and Burke Daniels. Defining a perfectly, pouty, red lip is not easy. The dusting of a powdered white face has a beautiful yet haunting visual quality. Love the floating hair crafted by Michael Polsinelli and Robert DiTacchio.

sebastian flow

When Sebastian re-launched it's packaging in 2008, some were out. Spritz Forte the spritz that glued your feathers together. Wet, " The brainstorm in the rainstorm," a gel that made your hair look wet even when it wasn't. I have been many favorites through the years. I have upgraded my beloved Shaper to Shaper Fierce. I love it the same. Different packaging but the same great, dry spray, and firm hold. Great for closing the cuticle to show the clean lines on a cutting edge bob or smoothing a teased coiff. These are some of my favorite Sebastian Flow products especially created to be kind to hair. I use potion 9 light to smooth out and de-tangle hair the minute I bring them to my chair after an invigorating shampoo. Consultation leading to a great haircut and my favorite part the blow dry and style which is the tell tale of precision work or possible adjustment with a little more dry cutting, another favorite. Today in the salon one of my clients was amazed at how soft her natural waves looked with a little stylixir. I am a lightweight when it comes to product use. Use sparingly where needed in this case a blow dry with taming elixer A weightless smoothing creme with a little avocado oil to help defrizz and smooth out hair . Whipped Cream looks just like it, but for the hair. Great to blow-dry for tousled bounce or to set hair for glamorous, bouncy curls. What products make your hair swing?

images:

sebastian professional