Hair Color Ombre

In the fashion world Ombré usually refers to fabric, a dying procedure that produces a pale-to-dark gradation of color or reversed, and in hair color this sort of coloring has been around awhile but is only showing up now as a trend. There are many fabulous things about this hair coloring approach: it's highly economical, incredibly low maintenance, and works with any texture or tone and you can have and create many different versions of this graduated hair color look. So imagine your hair after spending time in the sun as it always lightens the ends, but it is not a grown out color which can look dull and warn this ends up looking more polished shiny and way cool.
There are several ways of doing this; most common is a balayage (hand paint) or what I prefer backcombing. (The backcombing will help diffuse and soften the highlight, giving hair that sun-kissed, natural look) So be aware that this type of hair coloring is not your typical highlights coming from the roots. And whatever technique is used it is undeniably artful, the appeal is in its purposeful imperfection for the ultimate Ombré hair color.

The 90’s Super Models

The return of some of the most famous models from an era that coined ‘the Super Model’ are back and more beautiful than ever and all in their 40’s. Classic beauty never goes away and many of the fashion brands agree, these lady’s are still rocking the fashion covers and pages, their beauty and sensuality is a true testament that once labeled a super model always a super model, and the 40’s is just the beginning for these lady’s.

Christy Turlington, Claudia Schiffer, Hellena Christensen, Nadia Auermann

Party Time Hair

Put the flat iron down and pick up the curling irons, rolls and bobby pins for this holiday season’s parties and get together holiday cheers and look beautiful classic and oh so chic. Whether it’s dress up or casual put a little twist to the side as an upstyle (up-do), or take the curling iron just to the bottom of the hair, both looks can be gorgeous so try a little something different, make your appointment with your hairdresser and instead of a blow dry ask them for something like this, believe me you will shine from the inside out looking fabulous.

Gift of Beauty

As the holiday’s are fast approaching and I am going onto my 2 week of being behind my chair fulltime servicing my very loyal and wonderful clients, I begin to remind them when their telling me that they have no idea what to get people for gifts that a gift certificate or product set is the best. Who would not want to receive 1hr massage or facial, mani-pedi or how about a beautiful box with styling aids, shampoo/conditioner with other little goodies a makeup application, eyebrow design are all decadent beauty gifts. These are things believe it or not that generally people don’t get for themselves and each year there is an increase in the giving of gift certificate purchases, from itunes to the gap and starbucks ( all fantastic gifts) so why not a gift of beauty, they will thank you.

Photographers Spotlight 1

Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin are a Dutch fashion photographer duo both in business and in private. They are known in the fashion and photography industry has being the pioneers of introducing digitally manipulated photographs in the early 90’s, which today digital imaging is the norm .Their work for countless fashion magazines, advertising campaigns and their independent art work has brought Matadin & van Lamsweerde acclaims and worldwide recognition for being the edgy photographers that will only work as a pair and continue to explore the boundaries of reality. They have a unique way of capturing the dualities of female/male form with always a soft or dark sensual innuendos lurking through. I have admired their work for years and continue to be inspired with their ideas of how fashion and people should be photographed.

Hair & Hair Color Challenges

HCC Email/Question #5

Hi HCC
My question is why do my foil highlights swell? I live in what some would consider the country-side with all four seasons and no matter what time of the year it is this happens with a few clients it is very scary. And of course these are the clients that want to be super blonde is there something I can do to prevent this from happening.
Desperate Sandra

The swelling of the foils is very scary until it happens to you many times throughout a hairdresser’s career, but there is no need to panic. There can be several reasons why this occurs and I see more and more of these challenges in rural areas such as suburbs and the number one factor is the water system. Old plumbing such as copper pipes , soft water have a tendency to have sometimes minerals which over time can coat the hair there for once a chemical like hair color goes on the hair a battle begins meaning the actual hair color is cleaning off any deposits and brings heat to the hair resulting in swelling foils. Another factor can be medications or even certain styling products, putting a coating on the hair which again the hair color fights with.

My advice on this situation is , take note of all these possibility’s assess the hair, also move the client to another chair sometimes if you are seated in a warm area it ignites the chemical reactions with hair and hair color. DO NOT panic, the first thing a hairdresser does is wash the hair, let it settle down more than likely it will. And the way I prevent this from happening is asking my clients who I know have this challenges to wash their hair before they come in for highlights with a concoction I have them make at home to use once or twice a week but for sure before they see me. Take half shampoo and half white vinegar, this is the shampoo they should be using. What the vinegar does is break down all the impurities and allow the hair color to process normally, it’s a very old trick I learnt 30 years ago and I still use it today. The added bonus with this concoction is that it helps keep the blonde tone blonde, as we know blondes start going dull after a certain amount of time. The important thing to remember is when prescribing shampoo with vinegar is that the conditioner has to be extra nourishing (vinegar can dry hair out slightly) hence why it should only be used 1 to 2x a week.
Hope this helps.

My recommended products
Aveda Rosemary Mint Shampoo
Aveda Dry Remedy Conditioner

Go With A Gloss This Winter

A gloss is the perfect complement to any hair color, and for winter it’s a smart thing to get for anyone with or without hair color. It is one of the best ways to protect the hair of the harsh rudiments that comes with winter, a gloss or glazes (same thing) do a beautiful job of smoothing down the surface of the hair as well as adding shine, just like a top coat for nail polish. Sealing down the cuticle to make hair smoother and shinier is key to winter hair color protection; the sun might not be a main facture in the winter that dry’s our hair up but the heating elements and less environmental moisture does.

Gloss with a hint of color on top of your already colored hair or highlights, adding extra hue and depth to an already beautiful color, use glosses for a treatment to smooth hair down giving you better control styling it with less static which does come with winter. And glossing doesn’t only mean for females, it’s a great service for any man helping protect their hair from the same challenges winter season brings, as well it is a perfect color service without any commitments for men ( no roots) adding tone to yes their fantastic grey hair or clear for a treatment and protection. Getting a gloss this winter is a great investment in preserving and maintaining healthy shiny hair with a little holiday sparkle.

FW New Black- Gray

For Fall/Winter 2009, it’s a gothic ingredient that describes this season’s wardrobe and makeup looks, and if you’re someone who appreciates all the blackened looks but wants to stay classic yet with a dark edge and in the trendy now then the hottest color for you is the new black ‘Gray’.



We are seeing a variety of gray’s from designers, makeup company’s nails, and even men’s wear, and the keyword here is sultry rather than scary. No matter what eye color, hair color, or even skin color there is a gray shade that can suite everyone. Try combing grays with purples, tans, white, navy, and of course black. And wearing dark gray, charcoal, heather gray’s this winters new black is sure to bring less gloom from old man winter.

Dirty Blondes

Dirty Blonde hair is a term we use when describing either ones natural hair color or someone who wants dirty blonde hair, another term that is also used is dishwater sounds attractive huh? I have always considered these to be flatter ashier tones and personally I hate the word ash, so let’s call it cooler and while we’re on that let’s call dirty blonde or dishwater blonde, "Smooth Blonde". The first time I ever used that term to a client was when she asked me for dirty blonde highlights I said “so you want a cooler matte tone yet not flat a smoother neutral blonde” she said exactly.

And when this beautiful color is described as a smooth blonde remember that the tone is ever so slightly darker (still blonde), and it’s a great season to start adding or using this shade, and for all those blondes who want this it’s the right time as matte, neutral blonde is the perfect complement to some of this seasons makeup and fashion color trends

Inspirations #1

in·spi·ra·tion

Stimulation of the mind or emotions
A thing, person or work of art, that moves the intellect or emotions or prompts action or invention.