Red Carpet Inspired Updo's

GORGEOUS RED CARPET 

INSPIRED UPDO'S 

Keeping your hair off your face is vital to staying calm and cool, and what better way than to rock the latest catwalk trends? Here’s the red carpet inspired updo's.

GLAMOR MEETS WET LOOK

Two of the biggest looks of the season are wet look hair and retro vintage styles. There aren’t many red carpet inspired updos that can carry off both looks perfectly, but I’m loving this one! Giorgio Armani teamed a slick side-parting with plenty of wet-look style, pulled back into a classic bun at the back of the head. Striking pastel eyeshadow and nude glossy lips are a great way to wear this look for the daytime, or add a bright red lip to really ramp up the retro.

THE NEW BEEHIVE

Plenty of leading ladies have rocked the beehive recently, so it was no surprise to see Marc Jacobs giving it a chic new makeover. You create the look in the same way, adding plenty of volume at the roots, but sweep your hair out the side rather than back.

BUN FUN

It’s no wonder that this look is a celebrity favorite – it’s super easy to do, and ideal for those days when you haven’t got much time! Chanel gave the look a modern update by creating a straight center parting, and spraying the hair with a shine boosting spray, before tying into a low slung bun behind the neck. It’s a great look for wearing with statement makeup, as it’s chic without being too bold.

RETRO BOWS

For an off-duty style, loosely tie a colorful scarf through your hair. When you need a more together style, this Louis Vuitton look is perfect. Create a small classic beehive, keep your parting clear, and add a big retro bow on a satin headband. It’s perfect for day-old hair!

BOUNCY PONYTAILS

Reese Witherspoon’s retro style with everything from the backcombed fringe to the big volume, and her smoky eye and nude lip finish the look perfectly. Frederic Fekkai created the look, and recommended treating hair with a volume and texturizing spray, before a smooth finish serum. Then blowdry hair to add volume, using a big brush, and split the hair into two sections. Comb the fringe back, and secure. Curl the bottom of the ponytail to add movement, and secure with plenty of hairspray.

TEXTURIZED

Scarlett Johansson looked gorgeous with this hair, so it’s no surprise to learn that it was created especially for her. Frederic Fekkai wanted to show off the “real Scarlett,” and so opted for a hairdo with plenty of natural movement and texture. Get the look by working a volumizing styling whip through towel-dried hair, before using a hairdryer and round brush to create big, tousled waves. Secure the hair using a grip at the back of the neck, and add more curls with a curling iron. Spray with hairspray, and tease the curls for more volume. Clamp the ends of the hair with a flat iron to create a sleek finish, and ruffle – this look is all about being imperfect yet gorgeous.

Spring Hair Trends

HAIR TRENDS FOR SPRING

As winter comes to an end, the hair trends for spring start to take over. The hairstyles seen on various runways shows for spring are the perfect combination of daring and wearable. 

KNOTS

One of the most popular hair trends for spring 2013 is a tight knot. They are classy, composed, and ever so chic. To get the coveted tight knot look, blow-dry your hair and use smoothing serum to keep fly-aways in check. Create a ponytail at the nape of your neck, tie your hair around, and secure with bobby pins. This is the perfect hairstyle for work to keep your hair out of your face and secured for the hectic day ahead of you.

BRAIDED BEAUTY

The great thing about this style is the variety of ways you can wear it. This spring, braids are all about putting a twist on the classic hairstyle. You can always try an adorable milkmaid or a simple messy braid. Waterfall Braids are a hott trend these days too! So get your braids going and don't be afraid to rock it out.

DROP IT LOW (PONY)

Similar to the knot trend, this is a classy and perfect way to keep hair out of your face while looking fabulous.  It may seem that there is only one way to rock a low pony, but designers across the board have shown subtle variations between them. You can play around with hair bands, make your hair sleek or messy, and even switch up your part to have some fun with it.

SLICK IT BACK

The “wet” trend that showed up last spring has been toned down to one of the most popular hair trends for spring 2013. Rather than having an all over wet look, this season it’s all about being slicked back. Take your roots and gel them back for a bold look. Make it your own and add volume or play around with the part of your hair. Just be careful with this look and try to avoid making your hair look super greasy.

ALL DRESSED UP

One of the easiest hair trends for spring is to add hair accessories. The best thing about this trend is your accessories can be as bold or understated as you want. Whatever you feel comfortable with, go with it and have fun!

ALL MESSED UP

This personally might be my favorite hair trend this season because I love the appeal of an effortless look. Regardless of if you prefer your hair up or down, anyone can rock this "too cool to care" style.

CATCH THE WAVE

In my opinion, big waves will always be in style. They can emulate the over-the-top style from the '60s, or take on a rock n’ roll vibe. This is especially good for the spring and summer months when the heat begins to damage your hair. If you are lucky enough to have naturally wavy or curly hair, let it air dry and add some smoothing serum to rock this style. If your hair is naturally straight, add some curling product and curl just a few pieces with a wand.

The best thing about these hair trends for spring is that they are all about having fun. Whether you like wearing your hair up or down, put-together or messy, there is a style for you. Don’t be afraid to play around with these trends and see what you feel comfortable in. 

Makeup Tips

GREAT MAKEUP APPLICATION TIPS

There are tons of different makeup application tips out there, but how do you know that you are following the right ones? Check out these makeup application tips to hopefully find some new tips you didn't know about!

MIX PRIMER WITH FOUNDATION

This one is all about saving you a step in your makeup application! Mixing primer with foundation is a great way to not only make your makeup last longer, but it's the ideal way to save you some time in the morning! This is also almost like a homemade BB cream with a little bit more coverage.

OPPOSITE COLORS 

Did you know that when you use green-tinted concealer, it will cancel out red? What about when you use yellow-tinted concealer, it will fade out blue and purple that could make up any under eye dark circles? Just take a look at your color wheel, whatever is on the opposite side will cancel out the other color. This will help tons when applying your makeup

USE EYE SHADOW ON YOUR LASH-LINE

Do you want your eyeliner to be really light, soft and subtle but don't want to draw the line or can't do it light? Use eye shadow with a very thin brush along your lash-line  This will make your eyeliner appear really soft, subtle and smudged. 

FLAT SIDE OF BRUSH FOR BLUSH

Using the flat side of the blush brush can actually really help you control where you put the blush and it'll allow you to know exactly how much you put on.

LIGHTER COLORS OPEN EYES

If you are constantly looking for a way to keep your eyes open and to make them appear more awake, just add in lighter colors along your lash-line and in the inner and outer corners of your eyes! 

ONLY APPLY BLUSH TO APPLES OF CHEEKS

Did you know that applying blush to just the apples of your cheeks is the best way to go about applying blush? It all depends on your face shape what type of angle you should be using when you are applying blush.

TRANSLUCENT POWDER BEFORE BLUSH

Finally, do you have a problem with your blush staying on and perfect all day? Try putting on translucent powder before you put on your blush to hold it there! 

Say Goodbye to Dandruff!

HELPFUL HOME REMEDIES FOR DANDRUFF

Are you interested in some home remedies for dandruff? We all know how having dandruff can be  embarrassing and bothersome. There are helpful and effective home remedies for dandruff that can help you get rid of those pesky flakes! These home remedies for dandruff are easy to make and affordable! 

OLIVE OIL

Olive oil is great for so many things and it’s known as a moisturizer and clarifying agent. Warm up some olive oil in the microwave for 20-second intervals until it’s warm, not hot. Then, apply the oil to the affected area in circular motions, leave in your hair for at least an hour and wash out with shampoo. You can even leave it in overnight and wash it out in the morning!

LEMON JUICE

Lemon juice has been touted as nature’s cure for dandruff and can help balance pH levels and oils on the scalp so you can enjoy tousling your hair without worrying about flakes! Simply squeeze the juice of a lemon into a glass of water. Next, wet your hair and remove any excess water. Massage your hair with the lemon peel for a few minutes and then rinse your hair with the lemon juice and water mixture.

COCONUT OIL

Coconut oil is another treat for your hair and as a bonus it helps get rid of dandruff! Massage 3-5 tablespoons of coconut oil into your scalp and shampoo after about an hour. There should be no need to condition your hair since the coconut oil makes a fab conditioning treatment. Or you can combine a tablespoon of lemon juice and 5 tablespoons of coconut oil, massage onto your scalp and shampoo after an hour.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

Apple Cider Vinegar is another must-have for DIY divas! ACV does wonders for our skin and our hair. Mix ¼ cup apple cider vinegar and a ¼ cup water and pour it into a spray bottle. Next, spritz this mixture on your hair and scalp, being careful to avoid your eyes. Then, wrap your hair up in a towel and leave it up for 15-60 minutes and wash your hair as normal.

BAKING SODA

Baking Soda is fast and easy to help get rid of dandruff. Wet your hair, then rub a handful of baking soda in your hair and vigorously rub it in your scalp. Use this baking soda treatment instead of shampoo for a few weeks and it should revive your scalp to produce natural oils. You might find that the treatment can dry your hair out at first. If so, use less baking soda and you should start seeing fewer flakes!

ASPIRIN

Here’s another fast and simple home remedy for dandruff. Grab a couple of aspirins and crush them until it’s a fine powder. Then you just add the aspirin to the normal amount of shampoo you use and rub it in your hair and scalp. Leave this in for a couple of minutes, rinse well and wash again with only shampoo.

MOUTHWASH

Mouthwash contains hydrogen peroxide, which has antiseptic properties that will help get rid of fungi that causes dandruff. Wash your hair as usual, then apply a capful of any mouthwash on your hair and rinse with cold water.

Have you ever tried any of these home remedies for dandruff? Share with us your experiences and let us know what you think of our suggestions.

Glitter your Nails for 2013

add glitter to your nails 

There’s something about glitter that makes us feel happy and extra girly! And if you love the sparkly substance but you’re not into wearing glitter in your makeup or clothes, polish is the perfect way to go so take a look at some excellent ways to add glitter to nails!

GLITTER TOP COAT

Wearing glitter as a top coat over your favorite solid color is a really fun and festive look. This is one of the easiest ways to add glitter to nails. You can jazz them up for an evening out or just add some sparkle to your look! Glitter can easily camouflage a not-so-perfect manicure or a few chips!

GLITTER GRADIENT

Gradient nails are subtle yet they look so pretty and feminine! To do your own gradient nails, all you need are a glitter polish, solid base color, tip color and top coat. There are many variants to this method and you can use a makeup sponge and use more than one color but this is the simplest way. 

REVERSE GLITTER OMBRE

A similar yet unique way to achieve this glitter gradient look is to do reverse glitter ombre nails. This way to add glitter to nails is to use the same techniques as the gradient nail but you apply the glitter at the bottom of the nail and not at the top. Simple is better with this technique so one solid base color and your favorite glitter will suffice!

GLITTER ACCENT NAILS

Accent nails are a fun and easy way to add some sparkle to your everyday look! Pick whatever nails or nails you want to be your accent nail, some people like to do the index and ring finger but you can choose wherever you want. Paint your nails a solid color then paint a glitter top coat or use an opaque glitter polish on the accent nails, add a top coat and you’re done!

GLITTER FRENCH TIP

French tip nails are very ladylike but if you want to amp up the glitz and glam, try some glitter on those tips! This way to add glitter to nails is very easy to do, even for shaky hands! Grab a base color, a glitter polish and tip guides or tape. Apply the tip guide or tape on your nail to create a straight line at the top of your nail, apply glitter polish, remove the tape and apply the solid base coat. You can also do the glitter tip after the base coat; just make sure you take off some of the glue on the tape so it doesn’t remove the base color after you remove it.

DIAGONAL GLITTER NAILS

Get creative doing your glitter nails and try making some fun shapes on your nails! Diagonal nails are simple and don’t require having to acquire any extra tools. You can leave your nails bare or use a solid color as the base. Then, tape off a diagonal section on your nail, paint the space with glitter polish and carefully remove the tape and apply a top coat. You can remove some of the glue on the tape by sticking it off and on your hand a few times. This will help prevent your base color from peeling off during the process.

DIY

What better way to add glitter to nails than to make your very own nail polish?! There are lots of DIY tutorials online on how to make your own polish but the easiest way is to add glitter to clear polish. All you have to do is buy some glitter, funnel it into your clear polish, mix it with a toothpick and voila! You can also add different colors and types of glitter to a glitter polish you already own!

shellac

We have a great variety of glitter addatives for Shellac. We can do all the above with some pretty unique glitter colors. Just call the salon and set up your appointment today and we will have you glitterfied in no time!

Improving your weak nails!

 TIPS FOR IMPROVING WEAK NAILS 

These tips for improving weak nails will be really useful if your nails are prone to breaking and splitting. Strengthening your nails isn't that hard, here are some techniques for improving weak nails!

HAND CREAM

Hand cream is an excellent way of improving weak nails. Ideally you should be massaging hand cream into your nails several times a day, especially after your hands have been in water. Use a richer cream during colder weather.

COVER UP

One of the most important tips for improving weak nails is to protect them. Always wear gloves when doing housework or when outside in cold weather. When you wash dishes, apply some cream first and then put on rubber gloves – the heat will help the cream be absorbed, and the gloves are essential to protect your hands.

NAILS, NOT TOOLS!

Scraping with your nails won’t help the condition, especially if your nails are prone to splitting. Never use your nails as tools – always use a suitable tool for the job, which will protect your nails from damage.

MANICURE TECHNIQUE

Using the correct manicure technique will take you a long way with your nails. Start with a good quality emery board (never use a metal file). Then file the nail from the outside to the center – avoid filing all the way across the nail.

AVOID EXCESS WASHING

Washing your hands frequently will not help with strengthening your nails. Wherever possible, avoid washing your hands excessively (and remember to apply hand cream afterwards). If your work involves having your hands in water, remember to use gloves to protect your hands and nails.

NAIL HARDENER

There are a number of products on out there that claim to help strengthen nails, so it may be worth trying these out. When you choose one, be sure to avoid products with formaldehyde which can actually make the conditions of your nails worse. 

SUPPLEMENts

Feeding your nails from the inside as well as the outside can help. As well as trying the other tips for improving weak nails, you may want to consider trying a supplement aimed at improving the condition of your nails. There are plenty available; one that is considered to be effective is biotin.

LIMIT POLISH REMOVER

Polish remover is pretty strong stuff, so it’s best not to use it too frequently. If you like to have polish on your nails all the time, try touching up the color when it chips, rather than removing it completely and putting on a new layer. This will help reduce the exposure of your nails to remover.

Over Processed Hair

 CARING FOR OVER-PROCESSED HAIR

Caring for over-processed hair is important, especially if you want to get those lovely locks back into shape. It takes time and effort, but it can be done.  Here's how to care for over-processed hair and making it look healthy, shiny, and vibrant again.

STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING

When you’re first caring for over-processed hair, you have to ditch some of your hair habits. If you spend a lot of time coloring or bleaching your hair yourself, you’ll just keep damaging your already over-processed tresses. Make sure you have a professional working with you to make those strands healthy again. Try to step away from your blow dryer and your flat iron as well. If you simply have to use your tools, be smart about it: cool settings on the dryer and keep the straightening to a minimum.

DITCH THE SULFATES

Make sure none of your hair care products have sulfates in them. Your shampoo definitely shouldn't  but check your conditioner and your styling products as well. Sulfates dry out your hair horribly, so if you keep using sulfate-based products, you’ll also keep doing damage.

CONDITION X 3

Conditioning is the key to treating your over-processed hair. You have to condition with a rinse-out conditioner when you bathe or shower, but that’s just the beginning. Use a leave-in conditioner a few times a week, and give your hair deep conditioning treatments once a week. It seems like a lot of work but you’ll quickly see and feel improvements.

ADD EXTRA PROTEIN

Dry, damaged, over-processed hair needs protein. During your weekly hair care regimen, make sure you add a protein treatment into the mix. Check out our Joico K-Pak line. When you apply it, you have to make sure you get full coverage and then leave it in for 15 minutes or so. If your hair has gotten really weak, this should strengthen it.

BEAT THE HEAT

Stay away from the heat! At the very least, stop blow drying your hair for a while. Even if you can only manage to do it a few times a week, towel dry your hair, then let it air dry the rest of the way. Change up your routine if it helps, and start showering at night instead of in the morning. If you have to straighten your hair, either look for no heat methodsm or keep your flat iron on a much lower setting.

TRIM YOUR SPLITS

Make sure you go get your split ends trimmed on a regular basis, every 6-8 weeks. You might have to do it more than once in a relatively short amount of time, but you’ll be glad to get rid of the damage. Don't wait month's at a time, especially if you're trying to grow your hair out.  Remember keeping up with your trims helps you grow your hair out faster. If you have ton's of split ends they will just keep splitting and it will take forever to see good results for length.

PROTECTION AND PREVENTION

When your hair is over-processed, you have to be vigilant. If you’re out and about, even on a cloudy day, protect your hair from the sun in any way you can. You should also use protective products, just make sure they’re incredibly gentle. We have a great variety of heat protective styling products. Ask your hair professional when at your next salon visit.