Express Yourself

After 14 years in the business, sometimes I feel I’ve heard it all. True enough I get new lines here and there but overall, any seasoned hairstylist has heard one of these lines at one point or another in their career. 

So here are a few of my favorites …Enjoy!

“That’s not what I asked for” – Trying to describe a particular hairstyle can be difficult, especially when you aren’t using the correct terminology for the look you are trying to achieve. Hairstylists are just that… hairstylist. Meaning we aren’t mind readers. So for best results, bring a picture in or try to find something close from one of the salon hair books. Mix and match pictures if you have to. But trying to explain what you’re picturing in your head, what someone has on TV, or what you just seen in the store really don’t work. If you aren’t on the same page, keep talking until you get there.

“I want my hair like _______” - Women do it. Men do it. Going into the salon or barbershop hoping to mimic a particular style of an actor, singer, or athlete. The problem here is if your hair isn’t the same texture, density or you don’t have the same face shape, you can’t truly expect to end up looking exact. To be perfectly honest, some of your favorite styles may be wigs or weaves, so copying a style that may not be natural will definitely cause an immediate difference when you look at yourself in the mirror. Be prepared for what it may take to get that particular style. It may require a permanent relaxer, a perm, extensions, a cut or all of the above. Find out the maintenance that it takes to keep that style, it could cause you more headache than you originally bargained for. Know your hair limits and understand that every style isn’t for every body.

“Wait, its HOW much?” – Just as the saying goes “You get what you pay for”. I for one love what I do, but I do not do it as a hobby. This is my career and this is business, so it amazes me when I hear people say how much someone charged them. Yes I can agree sometimes people overcharge at times, but understand all that goes into making you look good – products, time, skill and knowledge. These things are priceless in my opinion, which is why you go to a professional in the first place, right? When you pick styles out of a book that are a bit jazzy or different from your usual, you shouldn’t be shocked when its not the same price that you paid on your previous visit. Saying you didn’t expect it or that you don’t HAVE the money after the service is complete DEFINITELY isn’t the way to go. Who knows how that stylist may react! Discuss the style and price before the stylist even gets started. He/She may be able to find ways to give you a similar look without as much detail that will fit into your budget. Remember, there are no returns in the hair business. 

Most popular hairstyles, past and present:

Rhianna       Jennifer Aniston       Nancy Grace        Halle Berry     Farrah Fawcett       Jonas Brothers     Fantasia       Victoria Beckham       Allen Iverson          Ellen       Beyonce       David Beckham      Johnny Depp       Mary J.Blige       Laura Bush      Adam Levine     Oprah

Product pick of the week

Got dry, flaky or itchy scalp? This is my favorite product for that.  At one time you could only get this through prescription from your dermatologist, but when it hit the shelves, I have been on it every since. I am a long time user of Nizoral since at least 2002. I use it on clients and most of all I use it on myself!

This is a good product for those who are experiencing problems and can't quite get to the doctor yet to check it out. You can find Nizoral in probably every drugstore, Wal-Mart, etc, located in the shampoo aisle. Not too pricey and you don't need to use excessive amounts of it. I'd pick this over any dry scalp product on the market. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions when using.
**Note: For extensive problems please see your doctor**

Widow's Peak - To Cut or Not To Cut

There are a lot of famous peaks out there. Terrance Howard, Jack Nicholson and Eddie Munster! Okay, don’t wear yours like his… how about Marilyn Monroe? Some are more pronounced than others (like Eddie’s) but that doesn’t mean it has to be a bad thing.  One of my very good friends has had issue with this topic so I feel obligated to address those who deal with this decision of cut or don’t cut. So ladies and gents THIS BLOG'S FOR YOU!

To start this off, let me just say it this way.

Dear ladies with long hair: DON’T CUT IT! That just looks weird. 

What more can I say? 

Usually the issue comes with women with shorter, crop type haircuts and of course men. For men, it’s more of an individual choice depending on style of cut that he wears. If you are a man who likes a clean-cut image, with perfect edges and lines, then you are more likely to cut it off. Just remember, once you start, you have to keep it up!  On the other hand, men with haircuts that are more of a scissor cut style, are more likely to wear the peak (or men who don't care either way!)

Now ladies with the shorter styles I suggest NOT cutting your widow’s peak. Once you do it’ll take away your feminine look and make your cut and face shape look hard and a bit mannish. If that’s the look you are going for then hey- do your thing! But overall, I would have to say no, that’s not a good look.  Not to speak bad about the barbers, because we’re all in this together, but I tend to find that male barbers have a habit of cutting ALL widow’s peaks. For women who get their hair cut at barbershops, this isn’t always a good thing. Just remember to let your desires  known to your stylist or barber before the start of service. Once its gone, it’s gone so make a decision that benefits your face and your style. Good luck and MO HAIR!

Give Me Body

Need fuller hair? No need to keep getting dizzy by holding your head upside down while blow-drying. Here are a few suggestions to give you that lift; from permanent to temporary. 

Layers  Cutting your hair in layers will give you a fuller look. The shorter the layer, the fuller it’ll get. Generally you wont lose too much length, unless your hair is extremely long then yes, some of the length will need to be sacrificed for blending purposes (depending on how short of a layer you want). But overall, the bulk of layers come from the center (crown) of your head. 

Perm Some people think perms are out of style but this is a good way to get body. You don’t have to end up looking like Little Orphan Annie with tight frizzy curls! Just ask your stylist for a body wave and remember the smaller the rod the tighter the curl so make sure the proper rod is used for your length and for the look that you desire. You can also wear your hair without the wave by using a flat iron or curling iron for a different temporary look; just know that once you wet your hair again it will go back to wavy/curly. Note: This procedure isn’t suggested for every hair type/texture.

Hair Rollers Wet setting your hair your hair on larger rollers, then brushing it out with a paddle brush will create a nice full look. If you get layers cut into your hair first that will add even more volume.Dry rollers such as the velcro type, are also available to maintain fullness over night.

Volumizers There are plenty of volumizing products. You will find gels, sprays, shampoos, conditioners, mousses and more. I personally find it contradictory to have a gel that adds body. It is already a heavy product, so how can it give u the lift that you need? I feel the same way about the “volume conditioner”. I prefer a spray or a foam/mousse…something light.

Drying Procedures  Allowing your hair to air-dry or blow-drying from bottom to top, will also give you some fullness. 

My Product Pick For Today:

     Redken Guts 

Post Your Favorite Products

Everyone always has their favorite products.

In the comment section, post your favorite product,  tell us why and tell us the type of hair/texture that you have.

SHARING IS CARING :)

How To Get That Glow

Since childhood, everyone likes shiny things. Men love shiny cars, women love shiny jewelry…shiny items catches our attention. So why not catch the same attention with shiny hair? Make your style POP by adding some shine to it. There is nothing cute about a dull, drab hairstyle and lighter hair like blonds, tend to have less shine anyway. So let’s amp it up shall we?

OIL SHEEN - The 80’s and 90’s was full of oil sheen and many of us found we were addicted to it! The ozone layer is probably real pissed about it too! I use to carry a mini can in my purse throughout high school. For those who don’t know, oil sheen is an aerosol spray made up of oils and some smell goods. It’s used primarily in the black culture and its used to finish off a style and add a thin layer of shine and moisture. The problem is that too much can weigh your hair down and not to mention, all that oil will attract more dirt. The shine really doesn’t last very long then you find yourself needing to add more and more and more.

HAIR POLISH -  Hair polish is a lot lighter than oil sheen and doesn’t add moisture, its just purely shine. I must admit I have come across a few that has a bit of oil in them, but generally they are oil free. This is a good product for any hair type, especially those with fine hair, because it’s not too heavy. One or two pumps is all you need.

SERUM / CREAMS –  For thicker, coarser or hair that is fairly dry, a serum or cream may be your best bet. These are quite a bit thicker than the previous two items, but they coat the hair shaft to form a protective layer, usually used before any heat styling occurs. In a jar, in a pump or in a bottle, these items are in a liquid or solid form and rubbed between your hands before applying. You can use it on wet or dry hair, just be careful when adding it to wet hair because its harder to judge how much you are using until its too late. If you use too much you may have a greasy mess and will have to start the shampooing process over again.

GLAZE – A hair glaze is usually done in the salon and applied by a professional. It is similar to a rinse and is mixed with peroxide or processing liquid, to provide a longer glow instead of having to use products every day. Basically its like a top coat for your hair. You can find hair glaze products to use at home, but many times they are stronger than what is used in the salon. I suggest letting a professional do it for you. The results last a few weeks, depending how often you shampoo your hair.

Gloss, glaze, polish, sheen…they seem all the same but trust me they are all a bit different. Another thing to remember is that there are some hair gloss products that add color or will lift your color as well as adding gloss, so know what you are trying to achieve and know what you are using if you are attempting this at home. Shine on!

For The Mature Crowd

As we continue to age, you will notice the different changes going on with your hair. The first thing associate with getting older is gray hair…and then perhaps thinning or premature balding. Whether or not you are experiencing these things, you can still have style. Getting older doesn’t equal BORING.  Choosing the right style to fit your face, age and lifestyle is important at any age, but understand the wrong style at an older age can add years to your face. And lets be honest, we need all the help we can get!

Throughout their younger years, women tend to hang onto longer hair for various reasons. Either their husbands or significant other likes it or their lifestyle requires easy ponytail hair. One thing women don’t realize is that longer hair tends to weigh the face down. I’m not saying it needs to be a super short cut, but anything past the  shoulders really isn’t very flattering; especially if its in its natural gray state. A lot of senior citizens go for shorter looks, because it’s easier to tend to when they are dealing with medical problems such as arthritis. Holding their arms over their heads for long periods of time, fooling with their hair is usually not an option.

Now don’t get me wrong, there are a few women who can get away with longer hair. But it’s very few out there. I would suggest if you are a woman with 50% gray or more, that you consider wearing a shorter style.

MEN –You are NOT excluded from this  conversation.

The old Sean Connery look with the ponytail, really only seemed to work for Sean Connery. So guys don’t be scared to cut that length you are holding onto in the back. If you are balding on top, having length on the back doesn’t make it less noticeable, so embrace it! There are plenty of sexy bald men out there. And if totally bald is a bit much for you, a nice close trim looks just as nice.

See your stylist or barber for recommendations.
Good Luck and Mo’Hair!