Back 2 school!

The leaves are falling, it’s getting colder and it’s about time to go back to school! It’s also time for new school supplies, new clothes and a new do. A new, improved and more edgy bob is in for fall 2009. You can perk up your existing bob by getting some shorter and more edgy bangs. You can also cut a more jagged and layered body.

Colours for fall? We seem to be going darker, but a multi-toned dark. Try a dark chocolate brown underneath. A darker colour underneath gives the illusion of more volume. For you blondes who want to stay blonde, some very thin lowlights all over the body are very popular for this school year. And a hairstyle that hasn’t lost it’s popularity is the side braid. A french braid that goes down one side, starting up at the forehead and usually ending just behind the ear. It’s a convenient yet very cute boho-chic look if you want your bangs out of the way!

For you ladies with long hair, big bouncy curls will never go wrong. Now, girls with medium length - don’t fret! Straight hair and a side swept bang is just what you need, and if you don't want to wait for that stubborn hair to grow, extensions are a girls best friend! If you don’t want to make a drastic change, like going darker or shorter even making little changes like a darker tone underneath or a side bang will go a long way.

Don’t forget to protect your locks from the cold wind that comes around in the fall! You can keep your hair moisturized with sprays, shampoos or conditioners. Oh, don’t forget your scarves, hats, toques and berets! 

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue

The bride, the groom, the dress, the cake – the list can go on and on. A girls wedding day is supposed to be the greatest day of her life. So of course she has got to look stunning! From shoes to guarder to dress to make-up to hair! So many women have no idea what to do with their hair. We all know it must look flawless, because everything has to be perfect for this perfect day.

Typically though, women go with pulled back in curls, with heavy hairspray, bobby pins and sparkles.  But sometimes less is more!

Women with long hair should try leaving it down or having it half up in curls. If comfort and practicality is what you’re looking for, a nice side bun full of curls and volume is very trendy and simple to do.  Even leaving your hair down and having it perfectly straight is seen more often. The straight hair gives a sophisticated yet sexy look. For women with shorter hair, wearing it wavey and pinned back is very sleek yet convenient.

There are two main concerns women tend to have with wedding hair, 1) the curls will fall out, and 2) bangs. These two concerns drive women to putting their hair sleeked back into a curly bun at the top of their heads – the typical wedding hair. Ladies, do not be afraid of droopy curls or wavey bangs. There are tonnes of pomades, gels, hairsprays that really do the trick with holding hair. And if the hair at the back of your neck is bothering you while you’re dancing, an easy side bun will not only be your best friend, but you’ll look great.

To do the “side-bun”, you’ll need a hair tie and a comb. First what you’ll want to do is pick a side you want the bun to rest on. Then sweep all your hair to that side and tie it into a tight ponytail up just behind your ear.  Grab a few strands of hair and tuck them into the band. Then take the last piece and wrap it around the hair tie so the band doesn’t show and pin it in place with a bobby pin. With that simple way to keep your hair back, you should be dancing all night long!

And ladies, don’t forget something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue!

Alright ladies! Don’t forget your sunscreen!

Alright ladies! Don't forget your sunscreen!

It’s the middle of summer, the sun is shining, and the heat is blistering! Flow-y skirts, gladiator sandals and one-piece bathing suits are in! Enjoy a freshly squeezed iced lemonade and get your pedicures on!

Trying to keep your body refreshed and safe from UV-A and UV-B rays during a hot day can be tough, but forgetting about your hair is worse.

We tend to take care of our skin, but what about our hair?
The heat can dry out and make your hair brittle, and the sun can turn your beautiful blonde hair into a not so pretty brassy mess. It’s important to take care of your hair. Hats are a good way to stay trendy and keep the sun from drying out your hair. But let’s be realistic, we’re not always going to be wearing a hat, so another way to lock the moisture and color in your hair is a UV-A and UV-B protection spray.
There are many leave in conditioners, hair sprays and gels that have an SPF in them, these usually come with an SPF 12.  Also, shampoos and conditioners with an SPF can help protect the hair from sun damage.

A great do-it-yourself-way is to dilute a tablespoon of SPF 25 or 30 sunblock lotion in a spray bottle of water and spray into damp hair before styling. We’ve got to stay away from alcohol, lemon juice, peroxide or any hair lightening products – especially from the sun, this causes dry brittle hair and does nothing to protect our locks!

So ladies, when going out to enjoy the sun, be aware that, just like our skin, our hair needs to be protected too!

Hooray for hairstyling software

Hooray for Hairstyling Software; 

Clients, check your fear at the door, hairstyling software is finally here!

How many of your clients have had the same haircut for 20 years. Hell, I still see beehives out there, (no offense) Amy Winehouse, you wear it well). And how many clients walk into your salon expecting a hairstyle that will change their life and make them as hot as a supermodel, take years off their age, diminish the size of their nose or hide those crows feet. Sometimes a client can expect miracles and choose hairstyles that you just know will not work well for them.

How many times have we all wished that there was some magical way of seeing exactly how a haircut looked before we took the plunge and started snipping. Well, your fairy godmother has been listening and some clever people out there have developed state of the art, wish upon a lucky star, virtual hairstyling software that delivers the new look, on screen before you can say “cut and blow".   With hairstyling software you can preview many different styles for your client, virtual hairstyles are a dream come true for hair salons, image consultants and clients.

This hairstyling software allows your client to see what a daring new style could look like. It will let the timid be more adventurous in selecting a style and that means a more interesting cut for you.  No more boring ‘trims’ or ‘just the usual’s’, by previewing a hairstyle your client will have the confidence to say ‘go for it’ ‘take it all off’ which means you can grab your scissors and get creative.                              Inexpensive to buy software like costs about $25. How can you lose at that price?  Free downloads like Style Advisor are now available Check out www.newfreedownloads.com

Your clients will love this service and it will definitely be a selling asset for your hair and beauty salon that will put your business way ahead of the competition. Providing your clients with a personalized, consultation service that allows them to preview a variety of virtual hairstyles is a fantastic asset to your salon, especially if you are one of the first salons on the street to offer this service, it’s great way to gain new clients and keep the loyalty of your old ones.

It’s difficult to imagine what a new hairstyle will look like, whether it suits your client’s face shape or whether it looks great on a 20 something but just wont work for a 40 something.                                 Beauty Studio offers a wide range of virtual styling software that specializes in areas like party styler 4 for party styles.                                                                                                                                                         Spending some time experimenting with the different styles on the software is fun, your clients will have a ball checking out the variety of looks and then they can choose a style that they are totally confident with. A hair consultation service is gives your salon the advantage on the street and is a great benefit to your client.

It puts the fun back in a visit to the salon. With hairstyling software your salon will become the most cutting edge salon on the high street.

 

 

 

Modern Hair Styles at the Oscars

MODERN HAIR STYLES:

 

 

The Oscars have been and gone and the actors and actresses who light up our screen are as concerned about their hair on the big night, as we would be. How the superstars wear their hair can predict the most modern summer styles for 2009. So what does a night at the Oscars tell us about what’s hot in hair.

 

Most popular of all styles on the red carpet this year was the updo. This most classic of evening hair styles was revived into a modern style this season, as Anne Hathaway, Amy Adams, Kate Winslet and the stunning Nathalie Portman all wore the updo with classic style. Penelope Cruz added bangs to her updo giving it a modern twist, as bangs are a big hit this summer.

 

Standing right next to the updo, as the modern makeover in hair styling, was the half up/ half down, do.

Angelina Jolie and Jessica Biel wore their gorgeous locks casually with a half swept updo, leaving their luxurious locks tumbling over their shoulders for a very sexy look of innocence and sex kitten, Yes, even with ten kids Angelina can pull off the sex kitten look. The half up/half down, do is easy to accomplish, requiring only a few hair clips and a few minutes. Great for busy Mums. The trick to making this easy to do hair style is to make sure your hair looks healthy and glossy, most of us with long hair struggle to keep split ends and dry fuzz away, the secret is a good hair oil treatment like Queen Helene Green tea oil treatment or Earthly Body’s exotic Marrakech Moroccan oil treatment.                        

 

By far the most popular hairstyle of the night and most modern look for this summer’s style is a loose bun with long bangs. Miley Cirus looked fantastic wearing this cut. It’s sexy, cute, carefree and casual. The great thing about bangs is that you can totally change your look by sweeping them to the side or parting them in the middle. You can even pin them back, check out Slumdog Millionaire actress Frieda Pinto, she pinned her bangs back with a half up/half down do, and achieved a modern makeover of a saucy look.

A loose bun with bangs can be worn by women with long hair, or short, young or more mature, the magic word in modern style this summer is BANGS. 

 

The updo is a classic style made modern. The vintage updo’s could be made quite elaborate and require hours of preparation and careful pinning. The modern make over of the updo is easy to achieve. Simply decide how much hair you want to leave down, gather the rest of your hair in a pony tail hold, twist and sweep up casually, twist and pin securely. Tease and pull a few strands by the ears.

 

So, if you want to update your hairstyle but are afraid to let go of the length it just took you two years to grow then get some bangs, and sweep your hair into an updo or a half up/half down do, but remember to leave some sexy strands straggling down by your ears for elfin appeal.

 

The key words are casual, relaxed, and slightly disheveled, like you just rolled out of bed. Miaow.