This November and December we are asking you to help us donate to a great cause. The Casey Cares Foundation provides experiences, activities and events throughout the year to critically ill children and their families. Our team at YOU salon has offered many free services to these families for the past few years and we would love for you to help us make a child’s day! The programs Casey Cares offers provide experiences, activities and events throughout the year to help these children and their families create new memories and alleviate the stress of hospital trips, surgeries, and illness. As you can imagine, the holiday season is a tremendously stressful time for families with critically ill children. The 2011 Holiday Giving Program is an excellent opportunity to pull our monetary donations to support these unique programs. We will be asking you if you would like to add extra to your bill at check out to donate to the 2011 Holiday Giving Program. For more information on the Holiday Giving Program or to donate please visit our fundraising page.
Disclaimer: I rarely strut a fashion forward outfit, but every now and then, I hit a grand slam on the blue collared runway. My latest: a faux fur vest via Old Navy, $34.99, plus tax.
How it happened: In the heat of post grocery shopping – I feverishly ran into Old Navy and without a moments hesitation I had thrown a slick, black, turtle neck and faux fur vest on the countertop, paying while praying my produce didn’t spoil in the mean time.
My Inspiration: Aside from my unexplained magnetism and obsession with anything “fur,” the 2010, October Vogue. While my mother and sister so diligently read every page, I flip furociously (pun and spelling intended) through the magazine, pausing briefly, typically with a large gasp and sigh of disappointment that I have never and more than likely will never afford the Maison Martin Margiela wool pants listed at $1,075. It was with just such a demeanor that I became entranced and inspired by the abundant and blatant fur fraught advertisements throughout this recent issue of Vogue; in fact, if it were up to me, I would have titled it Fogue just this one time. No?
My favorite advertisement: Roughly around page 37, a MICHAEL by Michael Kors long fur vest, layered over a wide-ribbed, cowl neck sweater – to die for.
From Piperlime to Oscar de la Renta, UGG to Nine West, shedding in every corner of this fantastic Vogue we have Fur, or “not so fur.” And after settling for a cropped faux fur vest, my sigh is of relief as the compliments pour in while sporting my latest purchase over a tight, black, turtle neck and thoughts of “go faux” rambling in my fuzzy mind!
And so the summer begins – the “wave” of flip flops and sunglasses, tank tops and suntans. And so thus begins the frizzy hair, the flat hair. But alas, every magazine lining the shelves will exhibit models lounging along the seashore, with their perfectly placed “beachy” tresses, looking effortless, windblown, and simple. Yet every year this gives us a glint of hope that our hair will miraculously curl and sweep across our face as we step into the heat and humidity – beach side or not. How soon this illusion is crushed. And as we struggle with “fluffy” fly-aways, and stringy limp strands; we give up.
As a victim of this very situation, I started my hunt, my research, and a summer of trial and errors. Watching commercials and flipping through magazines, I witnessed half naked, flawless figures basking in the water, climbing cliffs, barefoot, along a rocky coast, or standing on the pier of yacht as it blasts through the ocean waves; all with luscious, tamed, creamy curls that hung sensually over their shoulders, dipped into the curves of their bony stances, and laid perfectly off their sun kissed faces. This is NOT reality. But in a juvenile state of mind: beach elements = beach hair. So many a summer days I spent bulking my hair up with salt and sand, scrunching it continuously with my hands. More, salt, more sand, scrunch, scrunch, scrunch. And yet, my thin hair, fell flat. Each day, I turned away from the ocean, head hung in disappointment. But with age, I came to realize, as unrealistic it was for rail thin models to be rock climbing in bikinis and espadrilles, it was just as unrealistic for their hair to naturally fall into a cascade of curled bliss. It DID take time, effort, and products. My project took a turn: finding the right combination of tools/techniques to replicate this “beachy hair look.”
For myself, keeper of fine, thin, color treated, COMPLETELY straight hair without an ounce of curl or volume, recipe for disaster right? I was able, with the aid of a few stylists, to concoct a mixture of curling products, techniques, and hair tools that would finally create a curly coif to be reckoned with, alas, I had tamed, coiled, beach-blown hair! And thus, here is my personal recipe for the perfect “Sea Swept Hair”:
Ingredients:
Pureology Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner
Redken Soft Spin 05
Salon Professional Sedu TGR 4000 hair dryer with diffuser*
Salon Professional Hot Tools curling iron* (size varies depending on length of hair- consult with a stylist)
Depending on your finished look/feel preference, choose either:
Redken Quick Dry 18 finishing spray* (hairspray), for a flexible/light hold.
Redken Workforce 09 finishing spray (hairspray), for a flexible/medium hold.
Redken Forceful 23 finishing spray (hairspray), for a stronger, stiffer hold.
The step by step recipe:
After washing and lightly conditioning your hair, towel-dry*, DO NOT COMB
Use roughly a dime size amount of Redken soft spin gel, rub between both hands and spread through hair (for even distribution, flip head/hair upside down to ensure product is spread beneath the top layers of hair) and SCRUNCH*
Use blow-dryer with diffuser* attached to diffuse hair -low setting/speed, high heat- (ask your stylist for diffusing techniques or even what a diffuser is, if unsure, like myself at one point)
After you have accomplished the desired curl and finish to your hair, use either of the suggested “finishing sprays” to lock in your look!
If needed, use the appropriately sized curling iron to curl uncooperative strands (which I always have J)
Salon Jargon Explained!
Finishing spray = a fancy way of saying hairspray
Scrunch = a way of cupping your hand, grasping a clump of hair from the ends, squeezing the hair and lifting to your roots. Yes, you can try at home, but if confused, consult with a stylist or look online!
Diffuser = an attachment for your hair dryer (some hair dryers come with them), but if not, make sure the attachment fits your dryer before buying. This acts as a “scrunching” device with the help of heat which will create the soft curls.
Towel dry = damp/dry hair, OPPOSITE of slippery, dripping wet hair, which will only water down the products. For thin hair, leave towel on for a few minutes, for thick hair leave towel for 10-15 minutes or longer if needed. Warning: DO NOT rub towel around hair, this will only cause frizz!
Various Curling Iron Sizes = different curls/looks are created with different sized curling irons. For example, to achieve a tighter curl, use smaller sizes, for a wavy/larger curl, use larger sizes. For assistance in purchasing the right curling iron for yourself, consult with a stylist
Footnote: Different textures/densities/thickness of hair types will require different tools, techniques, and products to create this look.
Yes, it is that time of year again. The heat comes on, the humidity drops and we feel the affects in every aspect of our lives and especially in our hair, nails and skin. For those of us with fine hair, somewhere between late December and January, we start with the static fly-away. The brush that usually smoothes and detangles our tresses becomes the menace for static. To relieve this problem, try Redken’s Clear Moisture Shampoo and conditioner and Instant polishing Prep leave-in conditioner. The Clear Moisture line will add just the right amount of moisture without the weight. And before styling your hair, add a little Outshine for frizz and static control while blow drying.
For those that have medium to coarse hair, a weekly treatment of Redken’s All Soft Line. The Shampoo and Conditioner provide intense softness, movement and shine. The Heavy Crème treatment provides rich, deep conditioning for intense softness and frizz control on extremely dry, brittle hair. And Velvet Whip instantly restores softness, improves texture and helps provide heat protection for a shiny, luxurious finish. Finish off with a little Gold Glimmer which provides intense shine with lasting softness and frizz control.
If you love your curls but find that winter takes the bounce out of the style, try Fresh Curls Shampoo and Conditioner which provides moisture and definition for all types of curls. All curls are not created equal and in winter curl can become lazy, fragile and lack definition. Fresh Curls addresses the specific needs of different types of curly hair with new technologies and products specifically formulated for each type of curl. Winter curls can most benefit from Fresh Curls Curl Refiner. It tames, detangles and helps control frizz for lasting memory, manageability and shine. And for styling use Fresh curls Spring Mousse as it strengthens boosts and re-energizes limp, lazy curls when the moisture in the air is dry during the winter months.
Winter can be rough on our looks but Redken has just the right line for your specific needs. Ask your hair care professional which product is right for you.
Once again the seasons are changing and we are finding ourselves wanting to do something different. A great place to start is with your style and color. Layers are huge this fall. If you have shoulder length hair, try bouncy layers. They will add a sexy, fuller look to your long tresses. You can also try chunky waves. Style with Urban Experiment Wool Shake or Redken Hot Sets 22/ Spray Starch 15 if you choose to use a curling iron.
If your hair is shorter than chin length, try short layers. They give any style a modern, edgy look and can be blown out to look professional. To get the “choppy” look use Redken Rewind 06 or Rough Paste 12. If you do not prefer this look, try a one length bob. Use Guts 10 for star volume.
If you are looking for a simple style that will look fabulous during the day and great during the night try a deep side part. Take the majority of hair from one side of the scalp and blow-dry to style on the other side. A great blow-dry gel is the new Redken Sheer Straight 06 or the new Redken Aerate 08 Bodifying Cream Mousse that gives you extra volume. Lock in the style with a little Redken hairspray. Try Workforce 09 or Quick Dry 18.
Super straight hair is once again the popular look for fall. If you want a really sleek and sexy style, blow-dry the hair and then flat iron to make it super straight. Don’t forget to ask your stylist what blowdryer, flat iron and brushes they use because it will make a huge difference in the amount of effort and time it takes to straighten your hair. To blow-dry we recommend using Super Smooth by Pureology or Redken Power Tame 16.
Trends in color this fall are reds, browns, caramels, and strawberry blondes: they will all look great against the autumn sun and leaves. If you are new to changing your color and are hesistant, you don’t have to be. Brunettes, try fewer, lighter hilities this fall, or try a shade cooler than your base color. You can even change the base to a honey brown to give it some warmth. For blondes, try going strawberry. It will add a nice warm hue and you won’t feel too washed out. For those of you with dark hair, talk to your stylist about adding a shimmery red to your base that will really sparkle in the sun. A change of color is all you may need to make you feel ready for the autumn season!
Dry cuticles are caused by lack of moisture in the cuticle and surrounding skin causing hang nails, cracked or torn cuticles, and plain old dry skin J
While hand lotion is a great topical solution, it acts more as a glove of protection to shield your hands and nails from the elements. I like to think of it as the outer layer of protection.
Cuticle or nail oil is the fastest carrier to condition your cuticles quick!! Oil carries faster than lotion, penetrating deep into the skin and healing dryness from the inside out. Oils that have jojoba oil, like OPI Avoplex and Creative Nail Solar Oil, carries and delivers moisture even faster, b/c jojoba oil is a great carrier oil!!
So the next time your cuticles are crying for some TLC, reach for the cuticle oil before the lotion and you’ll see a world of difference!!
The change of seasons is rapidly approaching and as the leaves change so do our wardrobes. While the classics and basics never change, it’s always fun to spice up our looks with a few fashion forward new items. I’ve put together a brief summery of some of my favorite fall ’09 trends to help you get started…
Asymmetry
Take advantage of the remaining days of warm weather by experimenting with tops that feature a ‘one-shoulder’ design. The result is a slightly edgy look that shows just the right amount of skin. The single bare shoulder is also the perfect balance for a great, statement making pair of earrings.
You can test drive the look with this casual ruffled cotton top from Old Navy (psst… hurry, its on sale!).
If you’re looking for something bolder or more polished, check out this silk number by Diane Von Furstenburg at Nordstrom. www.nordstrom.com
Blazers
When you feel the cool breeze of autumn reach for a menswear inspired blazer to keep the chill away and stay looking chic. On a recent trip to Target, I spotted two stylish and affordable options that are perfectly suited for varying body types.
The first was a classic look with a modern twist. The blazer had a straight, lean cut which is great for a taller girl or a leaner body type. The sleeves had a detailed, striped lining that was exposed when the wearer rolls them up.
The seconded blazer featured a more feminine cut with a tie belt at the waist. This is a great option for a curvier lady. The accentuated waist line allows a girl with more bust or hips to get in on the menswear trend without looking frumpy or shapeless.
Fur Details
When the temperatures begin to drop you can indulge in one of my favorite fall trends… Fur! This luxurious look is popping up in both embellishments and larger pieces such as vests and cropped jackets.
I encourage the bolder ladies of the world to slip on a fun faux vest like this one from A Common Thread.
While the vest may be too much for some, there are many fun fall trends that can be used to update your most classic, reliable pieces and put you in the right mood for a brisk autumn night!
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