my hair twin?

My client Erika is a lot of fun... she lets me do anything to her hair. A while back, we decided to grow it out from a bleach blonde pixie to long waves. She came in a few days ago and as she was leaving, everyone was commenting on how our hair looked so similar! I guess when I like a hairstyle or color, I want to share it. Long layers and caramel highlights are great for low-maintenance hair. Roots are in, but white hair and dark roots is a little tacky (Jessica Simpson roots, anyone?) So the shaggy layers and fine caramel pieces that get a little lighter towards the end keep your color bright without being "neon" blonde. (Shout out to you, M!)

The Essentials!

Chi Nano hairdryer. My favorite, but Boy Taylor (hubby) prefers a Solano. The Chi is a lot hotter and lighter weight, which is why I like it!

Volumactiv mousse gives a great blowout! It can be mixed with anything to control the volume level or hold.

My favorite product. It can even make course, dry hair feel silky soft and smooth

Ahh, the Chi Turbo. Much debated about, but for me, the only flat iron to use. It gets so hot, and the velvet on the outside allows me to curl with it (it smoothes the hair and you can touch the outside without giving yourself blisters!) I use this every day, all the time. Best thing ever!

1" and 1 1/4" curling irons are a must. I like to wrap the hair around the outside of the iron instead of clamping it in for a more natural curl.

This Shu Uemura brush is amazing. It is like a Mason Pearson brush, but with more surface space, and it is cheaper! It will still cost you around $75, but it is so worth it. They are limited edition, but we still have a few left at Dead Swanky, I believe.

Chi 2" round brush. Love it!

The best teasing comb, in my opinion!

Dry shampoo for prolonging your blowout a day or two (I am always doing this) and for times you need a little extra lift. I know that for you brunettes and redheads, this works but Bumble & Bumble makes dry shampoos in colors.

Hair elastics... love the clear elastics for braids across the front. For runway-smooth ponytails, bungee cords are the best!

Alicia's wedding in Eureka

A few weeks ago, one of my clients, Alicia, got married at Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs. The bridal party all got ready at the Crescent Hotel, where we had a suite in the spa to get ready in. I did all the bridesmaid's hair, and of course, the bride's lovely hair! She wanted something pretty and simple. She was a beautiful bride! I will try to get some of the professional pictures to post. I loved getting to drive to Eureka and spending the day with such a sweet group of girls! Congratulations to Dave and Alicia!

Some new styles...

From one length to layered with fringe... a dramatic change for Curry!

We cut nearly 10 inches off! So exciting!

Strut For A Mutt 2009

Dead Swanky girls!

Samantha, Lisa, Misty, me, and Claire

our hair inspirations!

Studio 8 girls

model Tara

sweet little model from Miami

action shots

Above, me and Samantha

Below, other Samantha (Ronson)!

Strut For A Mutt was last Friday at Savor. Several hairstylists from Dead Swanky and Studio 8 created some fabulous looks for the runway models. We did the "Zoe" which was a low messy bun with beachy waves and fishtail braids. Everyone looked incredible and the evening was a HUGE success! Samantha Ronson was the DJ at the after party. Find me on Facebook to look at my party pics from that night!

Hair Extensions!

My friend Stephanie is getting married in the spring. She has fine hair naturally, and we wanted to do a fuller look for her wedding. We thought we might as well go ahead and get the extensions now so she could enjoy them for all of the pre-event festivities. We matched her color and ordered the extensions, which are human hair. Sounds creepy, but they are the best. You can cut, color, curl, straighten, shampoo and blowdry these extensions. I recommend the clip in kind, because bonded in extensions can sometimes break your hair. If you don't mind the maintenance, bonded in extensions are great. For a more low maintenance extension look, the clip ins are the way to go, since you don't have to deal with them every day. The clip ins are a lot more affordable as well! These extensions turned out great after we cut and curled them a bit! They are a great way to change up your look with very little commitment!

Kerastase & Shu Uemura Class

New Oleo Relax Slim... for dry and rebellious hair. The treatment reduces the actual volume of the hair for up to 10 shampoos. The cream does the same!

Volumorphose treatment. Yes, you guessed it... a VOLUMIZING treatment!! Finally!

It is the exact opposite of the product above. The product penetrates the hair and is activated by water, so every time you wash it it is reactivated. Lasts up to 10 shampoos.

Chroma Thermique... our third heat activated styling creme. This one is specifically for shine and locking in and protecting color treated hair. The Chroma line has the Fibrionic Systeme, which makes a fiber-mesh over each hair that protects the color and helps light bounce off of it, and each hair reflect off of each other.

Sublimateur Jour is basically the "hand lotion" for your hair. You can use it before blowdrying, and then throughout the day as your ends need it. It is not a "styling creme" but more of a leave in. It is completely weightless!

Frame Wax... ultimate hold for short hair

We just got in a new serum called Essence Absolue- "liquid gold" It repairs and smoothes any type of hair. It is completely weightless and you can use it as a pre-shampoo treatment and protector during a color treatment. AMAZING! I am addicted!

We also received a new paste called Cotton Uzu with cotton fibers in it- similar to Manipulator but more moveability, and we got a new lightweight styling cream that gives texture. It has black rock sugar crystals in it- a delicacy in Japan. These products are so new I couldn't even find info online about them!!

Last night our Kerastase trainer came from Florida to teach us about our new products. We launched new products from both Kerastase and Shu Uemura. It is so nice to get to have a class to learn about each product individually, because they are all very specific for certain types of hair! After our class, we went to Theo's to "debrief"!