smitten kitten {things to be thankful for}

I just love Abble Lee and her beautiful bangs here and here

I am grateful for the beautiful things in my life on this day of giving thanks

and the lovely inspiration from others past and present

A canvas like this makes people look and feel beautiful with ease, make up by Pat McGrath here 

All I need are the right tools

thank you for keeping me high on my heels!

 I am Thankful for you. Champagne kisses here. Last minute Thanksgiving recipe's here and desert here.

images: fgr,greige,bobbybrown,tumblr,theselby

what's in your bag of tricks?

Sally Hershberger, a true hairstylist to the stars, her favorite on the go products here

Shaper fierce, I like it too!

I agree don't scrimp on a good hair dryer. These high powered tools minimize the amount of drying  time with the right amount of heat and technology. The cuticle smoothing, and moisture retention that an expensive dryer has, will save your hair in the long run.

Mason Pearson the Rolls Royce of brushes costs a pretty penny but again, makes a difference in smoothing the hair especially with all the rage Brazilian Blowouts. I always recommend having a good boar bristle on hand too.

A smoothing product is essential for letting hair dry naturally devoid of frizz or taming while blow drying. I know Morrocan oil is all the rage, but my personal experience has been it leaves a bit of a residue in the hair. If it works for you please let me know, I'm willing to give  it another try.  My favorite smoothing serums: Sebastian Trilliant ( leaves a halo of sparkle in the hair) and liquid gloss. Originally seen on Gwyneth's Goop I would love to try this finishing treatment to see if it's worth every penny. What's in your hairstyling bag of tricks?

fearless femininity

Just came back from a Sebastian update,  The Collection; Velvet Vertico, voluminous, wearable haircuts like these shown. Full Frontal, a not so classic bob with an undercut edge, that can be styled in to a daring Mowawk Plume. Celestial Sphere, a shoulder length hair cut that is not your usual feathered friend weight is defined, and balanced with soft curves, think of an hourglass. Swinging Shapely, long, layers, with a lighter texture created with shears and softly skimming of the razor with soft bangs, swinging softly to the side. This season's collection inspiration comes from Fashion, as in this designer's classy clothes collection, feminine and girly with decadent flamboyance.  Design, objects that would normally be associated with the masculinity show femininity with a bling. To get the best of these weightless, voluminous, dramatic looks, start out with Volupt Shampoo and conditioner and Volupt Spray gel to define these disconnected haircuts as you style. For more support, Mousse Forte and Shaper Zero Gravity for waves, and curls, in curvaceous forms.
More great news to share, congratulations to Megan, you are the winner of this gift away posted here.

 I am looking forward to hearing if it will be a touchdown for me in the giveaway posted today at Amber's Notebook.

images: sebastian professional, hinks taylor, james jaxxa, 

wella color blending & a beautiful bob

This beautiful bob is a favorite of mine this season and displayed on most of the Wella literature, instruction manuals, and even dvd's for educators and professionals. Her image is a soft, classic bob with bangs, slight beveled texture, and color blending of at least 4 fashionable fall shades. The formula for her color vary in tones of Koleston Perfect pure natural, blonde tones and a little special mix of gold, caramel and brown.  I use this imagery often as well as the 4 other models with color variations of Special blonde and butterscotch. Love the sultry brunette with hints of redwood, sable, and  chocolate brown. The wow factor is definitely in those vibrant reds with the p5 molecule that is best known for reflecting only red light.  I think the images are perfect for this seasons trends. As a stylist and educator it keeps me happy in my high heels sharing color charts, imagery as shown and constantly referring to my manuals for color blending formulas that never cease to amaze me. The brilliant, beautiful, results in color are unique to each client. I love to take a step back and enjoy the results of the fruits of my labor. For clients I wish for you the same excitement as you leave the Salon from your stylist behind the chair.

image: wellausa

hotel california

This inspirational post is brought to you via my favorite trade magazine, Beauty Launchpad via KMS California campaign. The theme: Hotel California, hipsters in the L.A. scene. Whether lounging by the pool or enjoying room service, these chic femmes and gents rock their ’dos to the nth degree. After all, beauty is so much more than a passing fad—it’s a lifestyle. These individual interpretations of classic cuts deliver editorial looks with a contemporary edge. Inspiration for the stylist and sass appeal to both the stylist and consumer. Loving the dark bob with bangs. What looks inspire you this season?


hairstyles courtesy of Edwin Johnston, KMS California international artistic director, and Clive Allwright, KMS California international artistic director.

An Inside Look at Oribe

I met Oribe a few years ago at his original location above the Red Door on 5th ave. We were on a business trip hair show hopping. As we entered the lavish Venetian inspired lounge, we looked up in awe at the clouds on the ceiling. He must have known hairdresser's were in the house because he suddenly appeared looking like a movie star himself so nice and welcoming. He gave us a tour of the salon. The female stylists were busy working as they posed for a moment in their kitten heels. The male stylists with trend-setting pompadours worked out of a trunk ready to go to the next runway shoot. Oribe's already growing celebrity clientele had just started to include La Lopez coiffing her for her upcoming CD debut. Watching this video on a recent workshop he conducted reminds me of how much he inspires me.
An Inside Look at Oribe’s Hair Extravaganza

rocking the undercut

I have been fortunate enough to have seen Anthony Mascolo in hairdressing action. One of the Master hairstylist's of the famous Mascolo brothers and makers of Dirty Secret. With the recent, and sudden death of elderly brother Guy Mascolo, founder of Toni&Guy he is still in mourning but has shown the resillience and drive that brought him to the top of his hairdressing game. I will never forget the time that I bumped into him as I was sneaking out of a class at the famed Mondial Coiffure Beauté in Paris. Alas I stumbled upon him smoking a fag on a stairwell I was speechless and starstruck as he looked at me with his handsome rebel face and exclaimed, "How you doing mate?" I was in Heaven.
In this rebellious, righteous collection, created by Anthony Mascolo he turns to one of his favorite cutting techniques—undercutting. Here, the technique evolves, thanks to a new approach to balance and fresh details. The sweetest of the three cuts is created with block graduation and disconnection and finished with slicing and point-cutting to soften the outline and create detail. Hair dresser babble. The other two cuts are more radical, with longer disconnection and riotously, texturized crown lengths. It’s all about showing your strength, says Anthony, with forceful shapes that answer the call of the “rock-style lifestyle.” Can you tell I love a blonde Mohawk?

images; behindthechair.com

Rock

When I opened up this page in the recent edition of launchpad I longed for my bob back! Inspiration comes to me from some of the great artists in my industry, Scott Cole has my gratitude for continuing to give our beauty industry beautiful images of hairdressing that is easily attainable. wearable and looks sexy, flirty, and fun! You can click on the image above to see more awe inspiring looks from this Paul Mitchell artist.