Great Haircolor

Fall 2012 Fashion Week Hair Trends: We See London, Await France…

2012-03-09T15:04:00.000-08:00

Burberry Prorsum

The fashion industry is enough to turn your head right around: Spring fashions are shown in September of the previous Fall; Fall fashions in February and March of the same year.

Very.Co.Uk

So, while your current stack of glossy magazines are showing the warm-weather clothes and beauty trends that strutted down the Spring 2012 catwalks in 2011 -- full of clothing colors from breezy pastels to neons; styles preppy and safari to ethnic and edgy; red lips from matte to gloss, from brow/red to sheerest vermillion; rosebud lips; cat’s eyes, smoky eyes, white/silver metallic shadow, deep-toned glitters, or brilliant pops of eye shadow; flushed cheeks; and heavy darker brows; hair with pastel streaks and dip-dyed tips, slicked back ponytails, embellished up-dos, and sleek center parts -- New York, London, and Milan just wrapped up their respective Fall 2012 Fashion Weeks, and Paris Fashion Week is coming to a close.

Ossie Clark

LONDON: The watchword for hair at London’s Fall Fashion Week, with the usual notable exceptions, was touchability, natural texture, and shine, embodied beautifully at Burberry Prorsum. The overall motif in London for the upcoming Fall is looks you could achieve yourself – or that at least look as if you could.

Vivienne Westwood

These are hairstyles that are wearble and commercial; the colors look healthy, natural, highly reflective, and are very European, lacking the usual American overabundance of highlights. This is hair that just begs to be touched (Very.co.uk, Ossie Clark, Burberry).

Alexander McQueen

Of course, it wouldn’t be London without Vivienne Westwood’s and Alexander McQueen’s outrageous designs – and for that you will require quite a bit of assistance.

Bora Asku

What we really noticed is that, overall, the makeup for Fall is much more mannered than the hair – and that’s sexy (Bora Asku, House of Holland).

House of Holland

Luella

Issa

Paul Costelloe

And I am personally pleased to see so many variations of pink lipstick on the London runway, from a just-bitten rose to a vibrant fuchsia (Luella, Issa, Paul Costelloe). That’s sexy, too!

Normaluisa

Gianfranco Ferre

MILAN: In Milan, it was a season of extremes. It was all about making a statement, and that statement was “look at me” – but my, how the approach differed! In one camp, we had the “look at me because I am molto bella,” and the other “look at me because I am piuttosto brutta.”

Blumarine

DSquared2

It’s really a choice of what kind of attention you prefer: Do you want to be on the receiving end of stares and glances because you look casual, pretty, and the best you can possibly look (like the models at Normaluisa, Gianfranco Ferre, Blumarine, and DSquared2)?

Or are you ready for attention no matter what form it comes in?

Prada

Fendi

Even if that attention is more from a place attraction/repulsion, of wanting any attention at all whether it is positive or negative (like them models at Prada and Fendi – both the makeup and the hair are not going to win fans, and to a certain extent at Gucci and Marni – the makeup at Gucci will win fans even though the hair is lackluster; the hair at Marni will have its fans even if the makeup is so absent the models look recently released from hospital)?

Gucci

Marni

NEW YORK: Call us biased – at least until we’ve had a chance to review the whole of Paris Fashion Week to weight against it – but New York had the most consistent combination of wearable, touchable, attractive hair AND makeup.

Ann Yee

Carolina Herrera

Granted, the braided up-do at Ann Yee is something I was doing back in the Seventies and early Eighties, the nouveaux bouffant at Carolina Herrera sees a renaissance every decade or so, and the backcombed faux bob-and-headband combination at Oscar de la Renta was refreshingly disheveled.

Oscar de la Renta

But the fact is everything eventually comes back around, and we just reinterpret it and reinvent it, improving upon the previous versions with better styling products and less-damaging styling tools.

Cynthia Rowley

Now, how about the hairstyles at Cynthia Rowley and Creatures of the Wind?

We were a bit shocked at Cynthia Rowley’s wild mass of almost-dreadlocks and ringlets haphazardly pinned to the back of the models’ heads, as she is not known for her wildly avante garde design sensibility.

Creatures of the Wind

And Creatures of the Wind: Would the models | Be aware | If anything were to move in there? | What kind of creature might come out of there? | Would YOU dare? (with our thanks to the late Dr. Seuss).

Tory Burch

We saw up-dos at Tory Burch (feminine, wearable, and sexily imperfect), Derek Lam (very do-it-yourself looking, lunchtime-tryst-and- rushing-back-to-work – also sexy), and Preen (caught in a high wind?).

Derek Lam

Preen

The faux bob from Rodarte with unwieldy metallic embellishment camouflages the best parts of that style as effectively as the headband accentuates what is essentially the same style on the Oscar de la Renta model – a perfect example of how execution can make or break a look.

Rodarte

Rag & Bone

The long, waving textured locks at Rag & Bone, Diane von Furstenberg, Rachel Zoe, and DKNY are alive and sexy.

Diane von Furstenberg

Rachel Zoe

And even though stylist Eugene Soulieman pulled the hair into a low side ponytail at DKNY, we never thought to lump it together with the highly controlled, pin-straight, high-crowned ponytail from Jason Wu. The only thing the two styles have in common is the elastic band.

DKNY

Sometimes runways shows are not the easiest places to find flattering hair and makeup (or clothing, come to think of it). Haute couture and pret-a-porter fashion shows are very much about fashion designers competing with one another, showing off their design and technical skills, trying to break new ground, looking to be shocking, hoping to differentiate themselves from the hundreds of other hopefuls and become a household name.

Jason Wu

What often gets lost twice a year is the women who are going to buy the clothes and make their careers a success. Designers so easily get caught up finding the perfect hanger for their designs that they court mannequins who don’t look like real women, and some get caught up in the shock value of exaggerated or even slightly grotesque features, making those women their “muses.” And sometimes women get caught up in being on the cutting edge of the trends, in becoming the patron or the muse of a designer, or of buying into a designer’s aesthetic without regard for whether it is flattering, brings out the best in their looks or figure, is cut for their body type, or is a hairstyle, haircolor, and a makeup palette that flatters their unique coloring, ethnicity, age, and features. Women are encouraged to run from one trend to the next without thought for whether it is right for them , only that it is the latest, newest, and she’ll be the first.

And ladies, as a professional, master haircolorist and stylist for over 40 years, and as a man, I am here to tell you that the latest/newest/first does not matter to us AT ALL. It matters that you look sexy, beautiful, confident, and happy. And that may not entail dyeing your hair aubergine and cutting it in the graduated bob Victoria Beckham wore when she moved to L.A., or growing you hair below your shoulders, cutting in disconnected layers, and trying an ombred or dip-dyed look that is best left to your granddaughter.

Until next week, ciao!

The Closer: Oscar Ends the Awards Season with the Leg and the ‘Slip’ that Launched Their Own Twitter Accounts…and Some Pretty Hair

2012-03-02T12:01:00.000-08:00

Angelina Jolie, sans leg...

While the consensus was the 2012 Academy Awards show was the usual snooze (Eddie Murphy really could have been a game changer), we did have the leg and the wardrobe malfunction that launched their very own Twitter accounts, courtesy of Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Lopez, respectively (#AngiesRightLeg and #JLoNipSlip). Trending topics aside, both ladies looked amazing at the Oscars.

For the second time in the 2012 awards season, Angelina broke with her tradition of wearing a nude lip in favor of bringing down the house with a red pout that simply has no equal. Combined with her loose, tousled waves and brighter hair color, she was radiant, a perfect foil for the structured black velvet Atelier Versace gown with the thigh-high slit that caused such consternation when she very self-referentially struck the highly common, exaggerated Red Carpet pose designed to maximize exposure in the wink-wink tradition of “oh, I’d simply FORGOTTEN this old dress was slit up to my hip.”

Jennifer Lopez, front and back

La Lopez looked amazing in her cream-colored Zuhair Murad gown with illusion panels and deeply plunging neckline, perfectly set off by her high classic ballerina bun. The fact that the double-sided tape holding things together chose her onstage appearance with Cameron Diaz to plead exhaustion made her short presentation of “Best Costume” award the most replayed TiVO moment of the year, a record she may well retain for the other 10 months remaining of 2012.

Berenice Bejo, roots and all

Best Actress nominee Berenice Bejo wore one of the prettier versions of the bohemian braids we’ve been seeing on the runways for the past two seasons – at least from the back.

Berenice Bejo, the view we prefer

It was very on-trend, very in vogue, but the execution in the front wasn’t flattering. Unfortunately, we also weren’t on board with her switch from brunette to redhead; her skin tone is too olive for this shade of red and it made her look sallow, and its one-dimensionality reminded us of nothing more than home haircolor – so did the dark roots. If you can’t get it right on the most important night of the year – maybe your entire career -- well…

Miley Cyrus, all grown up

How lovely did Miley Cyrus look? Without those extensions – and oh, do we wish we could talk some people into removing theirs for the health of their hair – she looks fresh and her hair looks so much better, a much brighter and more flattering warm shade. Her makeup was beautiful, and she’s finally really come into her own. The gown was way too old for her, but overall it’s a major step in the right direction.

Viola Davis, au natural and gorgeous

Another actress who revealed her real hair is Best Actress nominee Viola Davis, who decided to abandon her wigs and appear with her natural, closely dropped hair. The coppery shade, slightly darker that her own burnished skin tone, was beautifully complimented by her emerald-green Vera Wang strapless gown and verdant eyeliner. It was very brave to step out on a night like this and show her natural beauty, to be herself without hiding behind a false image contrived by Hollywood. We thought she looked stunning, and hope it is the start of a trend toward women accentuating and accepting their beauty instead of working so hard to conform to an impossible standard.

Stacy Keibler, Hollywood Blonde

Stacy Keibler, rear view

Perennial bachelor George Clooney’s latest “plus-one,” Stacy Keibler, was practically the female version of the golden statuette with her perfect multi-dimensional highlights, long golden hair, and strapless liquid gold Marchesa gown. For a new twist on flowing, sexy Hollywood blonde hair, her stylist rolled her tresses across the back of her head so they would cascade over her left shoulder. It was quite pretty, except that her stylist didn’t anchor the pins very well and they were visible from many angles. No doubt she was a bit mortified when she arrived home and started to remove them – unless George did. In which case she had a perfectly fantastic evening and didn’t know about this minor mishap until she saw these same pictures after the fact, and who cares when you have George Clooney unpinning your hair at the end of the night?

Sandra Bullock rocks the high pony

Presenter Sandra Bullock has been wearing a version of this high ponytail to events recently (having a grabby two-year old is often the mother of invention), and with her bone structure, it’s a very flattering look. To bring a more formal air to it, her stylist wrapped either a lock of her own hair or a hairpiece around the base. Her dark hair is glossy and healthy, and we think this is one of the best versions of the high-pony going, and her backless Marchesa was the perfect frame.

Rooney Mara, retro edgy

Rooney Mara’s retro black bangs, a result of growing out the shorn hairstyle worn in her Oscar-nominated role in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” are in high contrast to the actress’s translucent white skin and piercing blue eyes. She looked both beautiful and avante garde in a white Givenchy Haute Couture gown, retro yet edgy and modern.

Penelope Cruz, retro matron

A not-so-successful retro look was Penelope Cruz’s faux-bob. It was very “40s pin-up,” yet somehow came off as too matronly. Had it been longer, we would have said “Veronica Lake” but instead what we were thinking was more “Lauren Bacall.” It just wasn’t quite right, and she was not helped by her drab Armani gown, which was also just a bit off.

Rose Byrne, iconic perfection

A Vivienne Westwood-clad Rose Byrne pulled off the classic bob-with-bangs look that always comes back into vogue, decade after decade: think of Uma Thurman in “Pulp Fiction,” Michelle Pfeiffer in “Scarface,” Julie Christie in “Shampoo,” Faye Dunaway in “Bonnie & Clyde”…all the way back to Cleopatra (or at least Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra). It’s an iconic look that we love, and it suits Rose, who wore it to the Oscars with a deep side part.

Emma Stone, too severe in front, so pretty in back

Emma Stone has some of the most beautiful red hair in Hollywood (we suspect this shade must be fairly close to her own natural color; it is simply too well-suited to her skin tone and eyes to be more than a shade off at the most), and this low, twisted chignon is quite pretty from the side and back, elegant yet not too formal. But Emma is too young for so severe a look in the front with the bangs so flicked down. Wouldn’t she have looked even more gorgeous with a bit of volume and height in the front for a softer finish?

Gwyneth Paltrow, boring from the front

She may have been the critics’ darling for her Tom Ford gown-and-cape combination, but Gwyneth Paltrow’s hair was shockingly sloppy for the Academy Awards show.

...and sloppy from behind

There was nothing finished about it at all, from the front or from behind. She had visible roots, a plain exposed rubber band, and it frankly looked like she could have done it herself. This was not the star-quality hair we expect from her. See Sandra Bullock’s pony tail for a casual look done up elegantly.

Jessica Chastain, the sexy half up-do

Viola Davis’ and Emma Stone’s “The Help” co-star Jessica Chastain has made quite the impression on the Red Carpets this award season, and the Oscars were truly her crowning achievement (pun intended!). Her highly embellished Alexander McQueen gown was perfectly offset by a soft, sexy half up-do – very Bardot-esque with some volume at the crown and the artful “bedhead” look she perfected for the hair cascading over her shoulders. Bella!

Kate Mara, in Rooney's stylish shadow

Unlike her sister, Rooney, Kate Mara opted for a much less controlled up-do; instead of controlled messy (the usual goal) she ended up with just “messy messy.” While Kate has very thick, healthy hair, she also has a low hairline, and the sideswept bang really accentuates it. This was not a flattering choice.

Milla Jovovich, just stunning

We’ll end on a high note with model-turned-action-star Milla Jovovich. She looked stunning in a crystal-beaded Elie Saab gown and a sexy up-do that could be the textbook definition of “controlled messy.” It had the height and fullness needed without being in any way severe or hard. Her hair looks soft and touchable, and the style is flattering, her color dimensional and alive. Add the evening’s other statement red lip, and this one’s a winner.

Until next week, ciao…

Calling All Men! Women Want to Know What Hairstyles Turn You On…

2012-02-15T14:06:00.000-08:00

We’re putting a call out to all our male readers to tell us what hairstyles and haircolors are sexy. Women sometimes get caught up in trends, or fall in love with a celebrity style or haircolor that she thinks is fabulous, but may never consider whether it is something that a man is going to find flattering, let alone sexy.

So, we’re asking you to share your opinions, for the education of our female followers. What turns you on, and just as importantly, what turns you off?

Do blondes really have more fun?
Do redheads really have more sex?
Are brunettes really smarter?
Can a woman with short hair be sexy?
Is there such thing as hair that is too long?
How do you feel about bangs?
Are wild hair colors sexy or a turn off?
What if her blonde hair has dark, visible roots?
What is sexier: Her hair up, or down?
What is sexier: Straight, smooth hair, or wavy, beachy curls?
What hairstyle or haircolor makes you do a double-take?

Tell us what the sexiest look is on a woman, and what the un-sexiest look is. Next week, we’ll share your answers!

To give you a hand, we've created a photo album on our Facebook page to give you some ideas to choose from, but you should feel free to Google pictures of your favorite celebrities who have the sexiest hair, and those whose hair is a big turn off. You can post them with your comments, or just provide us with the link to the picture, and we’ll grab the image for you.

And don’t hold back! The ladies will thank you for your honesty.

Until next week, ciao…

Want to Get a Bang Out of Life?

2012-02-08T17:59:00.000-08:00

Rachel McAdams/InStyle.com

Every once in a while, a trend seems to explode onto the scene, and we see it ripple outward into not just one or two celebrity looks, but into a half dozen, then another handful, and suddenly things reach critical mass and our salon fills up with clients clutching magazines and pictures they printed from websites. If that many stars are doing it, it must be something they ought to consider, too. This time, we’re talking about Hollywood’s Big Bang Explosion.

Liv Tyler/InStyle.com

Now, there are celebrities who experiment with styles but generally wear bangs as their signature look: Nicole Ritchie, Zooey Deschanel, Meg Ryan, Kate Moss, and Ashlee Simpson all come to mind immediately.

Sarah Michelle Gellar/InStyle.com

Jessica Biel/InStyle.com

But literally in the past week , six very popular stars have shown up to promote their new films or at award shows with fresh fringes: Rachel McAdams, Liv Tyler, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jessica Biel (who just changed her haircolor last month), Reese Witherspoon, and Rhianna, who not only has a banging rocker shag, but a brand-new blonde haircolor to go with it!

Reese Witherspoon/InStyle.com

Rhianna/InStyle.com

Bangs are a fantastic way you can drastically change your look without changing your overall hairstyle, length, or hairline – that’s why these celebrities tend to inspire so many women to try cutting a fringe, too. When you see the before-and-after pictures together, you realize what a big change can be made with a minimum investment (in both money and hair sacrificed!).

So, if you’re not ready for some of those drastic cut and haircolor changes we showed in the last post, perhaps bangs are just the right catalyst to get a bigger bang out of life.

Until next week, ciao!

Change for Change’s Sake, Changes for the Better, and Cautionary Tales…

2012-02-02T19:31:00.000-08:00

Last week, we posted before-and-after photographs of nine high-profile celebrities who made major hairstyle changes in the first 31 days of 2012, either cutting, coloring, or doing both! Celebrities have truly become the barometers of beauty and fashion for the masses, and they have the financial power to indulge their whims and change their hair as often as their clothes. It’s wonderful to have so much inspiration to make changes to your own style, but as we give you our opinions – as promised – we’ll also impart some advice about what is involved in being a color-and-cut chameleon.

Cameron Diaz, old before her time

Cameron Diaz: Your opinions were unanimous, and agreed with ours – Cameron’s new color and cut age her tremendously. In fact, we think she looks downright matronly, and her hair looks fried. Her former warm tones were much more flattering to her skin, and even though she changed her makeup colors to complement the new platinum shade, the overall effect turned a quirky, exotic comedienne into a middle-aged “Housewife of Beverly Hills.” She’s a cautionary tale for trying on wigs before making a change so drastic. And more than one person commented that her new color and style make her look like Ellen Barkin, who is 18 years her senior.

Miley Cyrus, au natural

Miley Cyrus: From extensions to natural! What a relief it must be to have them removed. Although her “before” picture shows her hair at flattering and natural-looking mid-back length, she’d kept adding more and longer lengths with multi-toned and textured extensions that had no resemblance to real hair. Ms. Cyrus commented that after six years of wearing extensions, she felt enough was enough. Her new cut is flattering and will allow her hair to replenish while still maintaining some length. The sunglasses, however, are totally unflattering for her facial shape.

It’s difficult for women who are accustomed to the extra length and thickness to get used to how their own hair feels again, because it’s going to have some damage and need time to recover and re-grow. The most important thing to know about extensions is that they are very high-maintenance, and if you cannot afford to take care of them, don’t do it because you can severely damage your hair. They add extra weight to the hair, and as the hair grows, the extensions are further from the scalp. You can’t comb or brush the hair between the scalp and the extension, and it tangles, so you pull to try and smooth it, and you have breakage. Extensions are an investment, never take the cheap route, and if you can’t afford the maintenance, you’re going to end up with broken and severely damaged hair. Use clip-in extensions instead and save yourself the trauma.

Selena Gomez, acting her age

Selena Gomez: The “before” photo of Ms. Gomez looking so elegant at an award show, contrasted with the new neon extensions, reminds us of how young she really is. It’s a look for the young rebel at heart, and you can pull it off with the right amount of attitude, and with the right clothes and makeup – but be classy and selective. Placement of these bright extensions needs to accent the shape of your face. And, of course, you can put them in and take them out like you change outfits. It truly is fashion freedom for the hair.

Dakota Fanning's Dip Dye Disaster

Dakota Fanning: Dip dye gone horribly wrong! It looks as if she fell asleep in her Kool-Aid. In our opinion, Dakota probably did this at home. It’s an interesting trend executed poorly; if you want to try the dip dye look, there’s a proper way to have it done professionally so there is no line of demarcation. We understand even her mother has said in the press that it looks awful, but she has to let Dakota be herself. Let’s hope she discovers that her “self” looked absolutely lovely before.

The Katy Perry Blues

Katy Perry: We were not surprised that very few of you thought you’d try out Katy Perry’s new haircolor; many of you thought her “before” blonde-with-a hint-of-pink was one of her best looks. But an integral part of Katy Perry’s persona is a tendency to drastic transformations. Dying your hair blue is for people who want to make a statement, who don’t care what other people think, who are confident in their choices and change what they want, when they want. If you’re that kind of person, go blue! Or hot pink, or lavender. Just remember the key words: maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. It’s a look for someone where cost is no object, and who has no one to answer to about their appearance. For many people, turning up at work with blue hair could cost them their job. If you’re even considering a color change of this nature, make sure you have the freedom to do so.

Wild for Olivia Wilde

Olivia Wilde: First, she cut the bangs last year and her eyes became the focal point, and she went from another pretty actress to really sexy. Now, Ms. Wilde has cut her long, flat-ironed and very layered hair to just graze her shoulders, darkened her base color, and changed her highlights to gold and caramel. It’s amazing how adjusting the tones and highlights can enrich your look and blend so beautifully with your skin. Her eyes stand out even more, yet the color changes are subtle and not overdone. We definitely like her new look.

Michelle Williams: Just Perfect!

Michelle Williams: Here’s the perfect example of how simply changing the color can make a drastic difference. She hasn’t modified her now-trademark pixie cut at all, but she’s been everything from the palest platinum to baby blonde, and always had to compensate for the fact that those light shades blended into her skin by using makeup to create some contrast and bring in color. Her new pale strawberry blonde warms her up beautifully, giving her a glow better than any makeup could. It’s like trying on the same dress in different colors and not being very impressed, then suddenly you put on the one that is the perfect shade for you, and you look amazing. We love this “after.”

Kim Kardashian: Can Do No Wrong?

Kim Kardashian: “Before” is long, soft, and wavy; “After” is dramatic Cleopatra bangs and straight, shiny layers. It’s a matter of preference here – Kim Kardashian is beautiful, and she has an absolutely gorgeous head of hair. She has the right facial shape and proportions to carry off either look. We were evenly divided in the salon on which look we preferred, and the comments we got from you were as well.

Jessica Biel: Change for change's sake?

Jessica Biel: This is an example of hair color being treated much like clothing fashions. Today, with the incredible range of hair services and colors available, it’s become as changeable as heel heights or hem lengths, flares or skinny jeans. And with celebrities as our icons, we watch as they constantly morph their look, from boho to sophisticate, from avante garde to sporty. They change from one hair cut and hair color to another, they want longer hair and get extensions, they change the color again at a whim. If you’re going to change your haircolor as frequently as a celebrity, do it professionally and properly because it puts stress on the hair, and you can’t see the damage underneath when you do it yourself. You don’t throw a pair of pants in the dryer that need to be dry cleaned; your hair is the same. Put it in the hands of professionals and remember than when you see pictures like these, you’re seeing Ms. Biel at her best, and someone’s spent a few hours on her hair, washing and conditioning, using the right products, blowing it out, using other heat tools and making it look perfect. Is one color better on her than the other? We really couldn’t say – they’re both flattering, shiny, healthy-looking, she’s made slight adjustments in her makeup to compensate, so the whole package works either way. This was likely just change for change’s sake, like switching from faded denim to dark indigo jeans.

So, until next week, ciao…

2012: Are YOU Ready for a Change?

2012-01-26T15:00:00.000-08:00

Cameron Diaz

Katy Perry

Does a New Year make you long for a “new you”?

It appears to make a lot of celebrities feel that way – nine high-profile, headline-worthy bold-faced names changed their hair color, cut their hair, or did both.

Michelle Williams

Miley Cyrus

Some were subtle changes; others daring, or downright shocking, depending on your sense of propriety.

Olivia Wilde

Some are definite improvements (the removal of tired extensions, for example), but not all are for the better.

Selena Gomez

Rather than go through them one by one and give you our opinion as we usually do, we’d like YOUR opinions first.

Would you dye your hair blue? Would you cut off a foot of hair?

Would you remove your extensions when everyone’s known you to have long hair for years, or add colored extensions for an edgy look?

Kim Kardashian

Jessica Biel

Would you cut bangs to change your look for 2012?

Would you go blonder, tone down your blonde, go darker, go a little red or stop trying to stay red, change the color of your highlights, or even try dip-dying?

Dakota Fanning

Let us know what you think of what Cameron, Miley, Selena, Dakota, Katy, Olivia, Michelle, Kim, and Jessica all did in just four short weeks, whose hair you like, love and/or hate, and whose hair you’d like to replicate.

We look forward to what you have to say, and then we’ll tell you what WE think next week!

Until then, ciao!

The Golden Globes: The Low-Down on the Up-Do

2012-01-18T14:31:00.000-08:00

Emma Stone/Getty Images

The 2012 Golden Globe Awards were practically an homage tothe art of the up-do; if we had to guess, we’d say there were more celebritieswith their hair up than down. And among the up-dos, the most popular version wasthe low bun, or as one of my clients put it, “the low-down up-do.”

Charlize Theron/Getty Images

It is a very popular style right now for formal events,because it has a softness that is casual yet elegant, and there is a simplicityto it so that it never feels “overdone.”

Jessica Alba/Getty Images

Of course, achieving that casualelegance takes a lot of work! Our favorites were Emma Stone, Charlize Theron,Jessica Alba, and Kate Winslet.

Then there were the high up-dos, with the absolute pinnacleof the evening embodied by Angelina Jolie.

Kate Winslet/Getty Images

She was just breathtaking in everyelement of her look, from the high chignon, to the strong red lip andunderstated eye makeup, to the Atelier Versace gown. Perfection.

Other high up-dos we loved were KateBeckinsale, and Miss Golden Globe, model/actress Andie MacDowell’s daughter, Rainey Qualley. What a lovely young lady!

As we always point out, what makes a hairstyle work isn’tjust a hairstyle. It’s the total package, and never more so than at events ofthis nature – it’s almost a whole change of personality. You’re trying to lookyour very best, and with the gown and the shoes and the jewelry and the hair,you have to pay just as much attention to your makeup.

Angelina Jolie/Getty Images

Angelina plays by theclassic rule: strong lip and soft eye, or like Emma Stone, strong eye and softlip. If you make the mistake of applying strong color to both features, the eyedoesn’t know where to focus, especially given all of those other elements.You’re like a recipe with too many ingredients, and with no focal point, you’remore of a disaster than a feast for the eyes.

Kate Beckinsale/Getty Images

We have to say that as a group overall, everyone looked muchbetter at this year’s Golden Globes than last year.

Andie MacDowell and daughter Rainey Qualley, Miss Golden Globe

Yes, there were somemissteps, but they were definitely the exception. And we’re sure that withevery fashion magazine, entertainment TV show, and blog weighing in with theiropinion, those who made poor choices will look much better at the next awardsshow – after all, the Golden Globes are the opening act for the entire awardshow season.

Until next week, ciao!

The Top 10 Styles We Loved in 2011

2012-01-13T11:32:00.000-08:00

Keira Knightly

Jennifer Anniston

1. THE BEAUTIFUL BOB: As exemplified by Keira Knightly and JenniferAnniston, this classic cut is so versatile and has so many variations that itlooks different on every woman who wears it. Whether chin-length or a “lob,”the bob is here to stay, and for good.

2. THE BIG BANG THEORY: Bangs are sexy. Heavy fringe, wispy bits, sideswept,graduated – it doesn’t matter.

Kelly Rowland

Mischa Barton

Bangs are sexy, and bring attention right to theeyes. Kelly Rowland and Mischa Barton are both beautiful, but those bangs just transformthem.

3. THE ‘DO THAT WON'T DIE: It’s long, it’s shiny, it’s parted in the center, andit’s straight.

Demi Moore

Cat Deeley

This was Jennifer Anniston before she moved herself into anothercategory, Demi Moore, and Cat Deeley. They may sometimes allow a bit of curl,an off-center part, or even wear it up, but 99% of the time, it’s down and flowing.

4. THE RETURN OF CURLS: 2011 was the year calling all curly girls to set downthe flat iron and come out to play.

AnnaLynn McCord

Taylor Swift

With so many fantastic products on themarket now to help handle curly hair without weighing it down, making itcrunchy, and keeping the curls in condition while eliminating frizz, it didn’thave to be a secret any longer.

AnnaLynn McCord and Taylor Swift are examplesof fabulous curl-girls who wear their hair straight, too. How wonderful to beable to have the best of both worlds.

Alexa Ray Joel

Blake Lively

5. THE CHIGNON (THE BUN): The sheer variety of chignons wesaw on celebrities and on the fashion runways was amazing! At one end of thespectrum, Alexa Ray Joel wears the classic ballerina bun, and at the other, BlakeLively’s low chignon was all modern texture.

6. HOLLYWOOD RETRO: The award show season and movie premieres always seems tobring out someone’s “Hollywood Retro” tendencies.

Jessica Chastain

Evan Rachel Wood

Whether it’s Veronica Lake’sdeep side part, swooping bang and curled ends on Jessica Chastain, or the finger-waved bang on Evan Rachel Wood’susually punky crop, new Hollywood never forgets the classics.

7. THE PONY TAIL: It was high, it was low, it was messy, it was controlled –and it was everywhere, not just the gym.

Fergie

Marchesa's runway

Our favorites were the highs and lows,shown here on Fergie and the runway at Marchesa, respectively.

8. THE HALF-DOWN UP-DO: This style has always been a personal favorite – like bangs,it is an inherently sexy, just-rolled-out-of-bed look that seems artlesslyundone, even though it takes a lot of work to make it look so haphazard.

Anna Paquin

Proenza Schuler

Nosurprise that it’s a favorite style of Angelina Jolie. Here, Anna Paquin wears herswith a bit more control than they did on the Proenza Schuler runway.

9. BOHO BRAIDS: There were celebrities sporting braids in 2011 than any kindergartenplayground. Braided bangs, mini braids,fishtails, braided up-dos…you name it.

Rag & Bone runway

Alexander McQueen

We particularly like the braids on displayon the Rag & Bone and Alexander McQueen runways as exemplifying how thestyle is now quite grown up.

10. THE SEXY PIXIE: There were plenty of pixies to pick from in 2011, but thehaircut heard round the world was Emma Watson’s snip after she wrapped the last“Harry Potter” film.

Emma Watson

Ginnifer Goodwin

She went from bookish, shaggy ‘tween Hermione to sexyyoung woman Emma, landing a contract with Lancome. Ginnifer Goodwin’s pixie wasanother game-changer, transforming her from the pretty young third wife of a polygamiston HBO’s “Big Love” to a sexy, green-eyed siren.

Now that you’ve seen the top ten trends we loved during2011, we want to know what inspires you to change your own trends? Do think youmay do something different in 2012? Leave a comment and let us know if you’recontemplating transformation!

Until next week, ciao…

A Preview of 2012: Boho Chic

2012-01-04T12:10:00.000-08:00

As an Intercoiffure Salon, we attend many of their Atelier eventsand see some very exciting work that will be influencing cuts and colors manymonths before they ever show up on fashion runways, in magazine editorials, oron the streets.

Intercoiffure’s Fashion Director is the world-famous VivienneMackinder, a consistently award-winning conceptual stylist and colorist who isconsidered “The Hairdresser’s Hairdresser.” Her latest work, which she calls “BohoChic,” is absolutely gorgeous, unlike the hairstyles one usually sees atsymposia and shows for hair professionals, where the more outrageous andover-the-top, the better.

Every model in these photographs could have walkedright out onto the street, and the only stares would have been those of envyfrom women, and appreciation from men – not stares of “what happened to her??”or comments like, “she needs to wash that off!”

Ms. Mackinder’s look for 2012 is all about texture, which isreflected in everything from the hairstyles to the haircolors to the clothesshe dressed them in to the makeup they are wearing. Both their hair and clothesare full of movement and softness.

And like the many layers of clothing, you alsosee layers of hair and hairpieces (in braids, curls, and waves) and colors (multi-tonalhighlights, pale pinks, watercolor tones like violets and turquoise).Yet everythingis classy and nothing is overdone. Nothing is slick; everything is soft andtouchable. Even when the hair is down, there is a lot of waves and curls.

Whenit is pushed back off the face, often with a braid or a twist of hair worn likea headband across the forehead, you can see the makeup has the same softness andwatercolor tones and textures in the tinges of yellow, turquoise, blue andviolet.

Nothing is overpowering or too strong, just like the hairstyles andcolors. It all flows together like a beautiful collage, and the makeup simplyfinishes it all off beautifully.

Unlike many fashion trends, this Boho Chiclook is a little covered up and leaves something to the imagination, at a timewhen so many women tend to overdo it.

This is all so wearable, in public, at aparty. These looks are eye catching, but WOW eye-catching, because they reallyare different amd very beautiful.

Any woman is going to look stunning in thesecombinations of cut, color, makeup, and fashion. The organic, nature-inspiredquality will be very popular in 2012, and we’re looking forward to adaptingthese looks for our clients.

Welcome to 2012, and until next week, ciao!

2011 Hair Trends: Color, Braids, Bangs, Bobs, and Bling!

2011-12-28T17:37:00.000-08:00

Candy-Colored Hair: Dianna, Katy and Kate

As 2011 comes to a close, we take a look back at some of the most popular hair trends, and the celebrities who sported them for all the world to see. While the rest of us went quietly about our lives with the same cuts and colors, we didn’t have to dodge the paparazzi, and for that we can all be thankful!

Candy-Colored Hair: Or, if we’re honest about most of what we saw, we’ll just call it Kool Aid-colored hair instead! On the whole, it simply was NOT appealing, as proven by Dianna Agron and Kate Bosworth, who both looked as if they waited until their parents weren’t home and dip-dyed their hair in Kool Aid. It just doesn’t look appealing. If you want to do something like this, you need a professional, not a home dye job. Look at the difference between Katy Perry and the other two. She may be wearing a funky haircolor, but it looks professionally done, healthy, and well-colored. Check out our blog post from November 10, “Bobbing for Color.” THAT’S what playing around with funky colors should look like!

Temporarily Red: Blake, Drew, and Scarlett

Seeing Red: This year, we saw requests to “go red” surpass those to “become a blonde.” It’s a tough, demanding haircolor, but if you’re thinking about becoming a redhead, now is most definitely the time. But it cannot be stressed enough that a change like this really must be done professionally. There are so many shades of red -- cool reds, hot reds, warm reds, red-reds, which you can see just by looking at Blake Lively, Drew Barrymore and Scarlett Johansson – that you need an expert to choose the right shade for your skin tone. And because red haircolor is most prone to fading, a professional will do a “double dip” to make your new color last longer, as well as recommend the best products to extend the life of your new red-hot look.

On Top: Gwen, Reese, and Jennifer

Topknots: It is refreshing to see a clean, classical look like the ballerina topknot come back into style, but with a bit of a twist on each celebrity’s version. We especially liked Gwen Stefani’s, with that edge of messiness to soften its perfection. Those strands falling around her face are sexy, just like she is, and just go to show how really casual and do-able the topknot actually is. Reese Witherspoon’s is very neat and the most formal, and Jennifer Lopez’s has just a little bit of imperfection, and they all work perfectly.

Let's Be Blunt: Rose, Nicole, and Sandra

Blunt Bangs: Blunt bangs can be a very attractive and dramatic (think of Anjelica Huston or early Cher) signature look, but you have to really want them and prepared to live with them, for they can also be very severe. In earlier blog posts, we commented that we didn’t like them at all on Rose Byrne, whose delicate face was overpowered by such a heavy fringe. When Sandra Bullock surprised celebrity watchers by showing up with them at an awards show earlier in the year, opinions were mixed, but she has much stronger featured and a longer face to balance them out. Nicole Ritchie wears them most successfully here, because hers are not really as blunt. They’re cut at a graduated angle, have some wispiness to them, and don’t overpower her face.

Braided Ladies: Shakira, Nina, and Stacy

Braids: Braids are back in, but they’re not as neat and clean – like Nina Dobrev’s or Stacy Keibler’s – today as they were in earlier trends. Even Shakira’s is rather neat. Lately it’s fishtail braids and messy, homemade-looking braids that were all over the runways this year. The irony is that there is a method to making a good, casually controlled, slightly messy braid, and it takes a hairstylist to do it.

Ladies Who Lob: Julianne, Emily, and Brooklyn

Long Bobs: May we refer you our December 16 blog post, “Which Lob Do You Love?” Both Emily Blunt and Brooklyn Decker were featured, and Julianne Hough was cut for space, but not for her great cut.

Hair “Bling”: Hair jewelry, hair accessories, and then there’s always the fascinators! These jeweled hair accessories are a way to add glamour to a look without resorting to the usual necklace/earrings pairing.

Hair Jewels: Kate, Jessica, and Emma

In fact, you’ll notice that Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, and Emma Stone have all foregone necklaces, and if they are wearing earrings, they are small or very delicate. In the case of Kate and Jessica, both pregnant at the time, it allowed them to spotlight a glowing décolleté in a strapless gown. In spite of the jewels involved, all of this “hair bling” has a slightly Bohemian feeling that juxtaposes beautifully with their formal gowns.

It has been a wonderful year in fashion and beauty (mostly good, and some trends we hope will expire at midnight on December 31^st), and we expect nothing less for 2012! Have a safe and happy New Year, and we’ll be back next week. Until then, ciao!

Attention Getters: If You Want It, You Got it!

2011-12-23T11:32:00.000-08:00

Jessie J.

We live in a world where anything goes, and we have theluxury of freedom of speech, freedom of art – and in this case, we may beseeing a little bit of both in these two-toned hair colors. They’re all attitudeand a reflection of the personality behind the look. They say, “If you like howI look, great; if not, too bad.” These ladies are not trying to please anyoneexcept themselves – that’s it for them. It takes a strong attitude andsometimes a thick skin to make choices that will polarize people’s opinions.These are not hair colors just anyone can wear, which is why the majority ofthese women are musicians. The majority of us have careers that would not allowus to show up with this hair – we’d be escorted from the building with ourpersonal coffee mug and few family snaps in a sad cardboard box.

Porcelain Black

Here’s something to notice about such drastic contrasts.Look at the photo of Porcelain Black and notice whether her makeup works withthe white AND black sides of her hair. Also, each color enhances or camouflagesher features, particularly her nose -- probably not something anyone consideredwhen processing her hair.

Sharni Vinson

With Sharni Vinson, the red-tipped ponytail is definitely a hairpiece,and that’s a very good place to start if you’re considering a drastic colorchange like those in this blog post. By trying on a hairpiece for a day or twothat replicates the look you are considering, you give yourself the chance tomake a better informed decision. Try it at home, show it to your significantother and your friends, and get their reactions. If they’re overwhelminglynegative, have another think.

Jordin Sparks

Oh Land

These accent dyes, like Jessie J’s vivid purple, JordinSparks bright lavender, Oh Land’s strawberry pink, and Katy Perry’s former hotpink are very hard to remove (as you can see from the remains still left inKaty’s hair).

Katy Perry

By using clip-in hairpieces or colored extensions, you can livewith it and decide if it’s something you really want to commit to, and if so,then you can have it done.

Pink

But know that the maintenance is tremendous, and thecolors fade fairly quickly, so you’ll be in the salon often, and you’ll alsohave to invest in the right shampoos and conditioners to maintain the color asbest you can. Another consideration is that these colors will bleed the same asany haircolor will. Expect to see that pink or purple on your towels andpillowcases after every washing, and if you get caught in the rain in a whiteshirt, your hair will bleed onto it as well.

Peaches Geldof

Demetria McKinney

Some of these ladies, like Peaches Geldof, DemetriaMcKinney, and Daphne Guinness haven’t the same concern, as their second colorwas created by lightening or heavily bleaching their base color.

Daphne Guinness

They’ll havean easier time making the switch back should they change their minds, since nocolor removal is involved, but their upkeep is still going to be a majorinvestment. And Porcelain Black, whose original color was probably neitherplatinum blonde nor coal black, will spend many hours in her colorist’s chairremoving the black without damage while protecting her already fragile bleachedhair from further stress.

Either way, drastic two-toned hair color is a way to make astatement and get attention. Just be ready for the stares!

Have a wonderful holiday, and ciao until next week…

Which ‘Lob’ Do You Love?

2011-12-16T06:22:00.000-08:00

Olivia Palermo

Somewhere along the line, the long version of the bobhaircut became one of those words like “brunch” (breakfast + lunch) or“Brangelina” (Brad + Angelina), morphing into the “Lob.” Want to sound really intellectual?These are known as “portmanteau words.” Be sure to use that one over brunchwith Brangelina the next time you’re abroad.

Jennifer Anniston

In the meantime, here we have a series of lobs on a varietyof lovely celebs, and we want to know – which lob is your favorite?

Jennifer Hudson

And which lobdo you feel would look best on you? Now, those might not be the same two lobs,depending on your hair’s texture, length, and how much time you’re willing tocommit to styling.

Emily Blunt

The beauty of the lob is that while it is stunning whenstyled to play up its angles and shine through blowouts and flat-ironing, it isalso versatile enough to wear au natural,since it is long enough to feel sexy yet short enough to free up your naturaltexture.

Brooklyn Decker

Naomi Campbell

When you look at these lobs, notice each one is a completepackage: styling, multi-dimensional haircolor, and full makeup.

Yvonne Strahovski

And notice theversatility of the basic cut: Center parts, deep side parts, side-swept bangs,blunt bangs, piece-y bits, height at the crown, forward angles with the back abit shorter than the front, ends curled under, ends flipped up.

Shakira

No matter the lob, it’s a style that doesn’t just hang there.All of them have nice movement, whether it’s a bit tousled and lived-in, orsliding like silk. So let us know which Lob youlove.

Until next week, ciao!

The Art of Facial ‘Manscaping’

2011-12-08T07:52:00.001-08:00

George Clooney, who can do no "manscaping" wrong

The young ladies who come into my salon taught me a new termfor their men’s constant changes in facial hair: Manscaping. I thought itperfectly embodies what we men do with our ability to grow, sculpt, shave off, and then re-grow our facial hair,and just like “landscaping” it can be used to accentuate or disguise naturalfeatures and contours.

George Lucas

Sam Elliot

Facial hair can disguise a weak chin or otherwise undistinguished face (George Lucas), a too-long upper liparea (Sam Elliot), or a thin upper lip (Tom Selleck).

Tom Selleck

Christian Bale

Zach Galafiniakis

It can change the proportions of the face, balance out atoo-prominent nose (Christian Bale), sculpt contours that create the illusion of prominentcheekbones, camouflage the beginnings of a double chin (Zach Galafiniakis), and even bring back ayouthful look by the careful and professional application of darkening agentsto facial hair, which often begins to grey long before the hair on a man’shead.

Jake Gyllenhal

Here we present to you a series of side-by-side images ofmen, with and without their trademark facial hair, and ask you to tell us whichlook you prefer, and what you would change if he were YOUR man (for theladies), or if it was YOUR face (for the gents).

Adrien Grenier

Full beard, just a moustache,or clean shaven? A little bit of scruff, or not? Goatee, chinstrap, or sculptedand groomed full beard? No facial hair at all?

Steve Carell

For some of these celebrities, facial hair is grown for arole (Jake Gyllenhaal), or grown in between roles when they don’t have to attend to theirgrooming (Adrien Grenier, Steve Carell).

Josh Hartnett

John Mayer

Some of them are so attractive that anything they do is going to lookgood (George Clooney), and some of them choose to look deliberately scruffy to downplay theirlooks (Josh Harnett, John Mayer, and most famously, Brad Pitt) or to make themselves look older or "manlier" (Burt Reynolds in his early career, when he was thought "too pretty," and androgyny was NOT a ticket seller).

Burt Reynolds

Now, gentlemen, look in the mirror, and ask yourself, “Couldany of these facial hair ideas work for me?” Then, the next time you visit yourstylist, ask him or her if it is something you should consider.

Unlike when awoman invests hundreds of dollars in a new cut or haircolor and has to considerthat she’s likely to incur another round of spending if she changes her mind,you, my friend, can always shave it off…

Until next week, ciao!

More Celebrity Transformations: More Bounce, More Bangs, More Color

2011-11-30T18:17:00.001-08:00

Salma Hayek

Ali Larter

Oh, to be a celebrity. Who else gets to change her look on awhim, be a stylist/colorist’s muse, or better yet, get PAID to change her looksfor a role? They’re the hair chameleons that sell magazines, the ones whosepictures we tear out and run to our salon, begging, “make me look like this!”Orin the case of one of our favorite celebs featured here today, “if my haircomes out like this, I will never step foot in this salon again. Ever.”

Emily Blunt

Julianne Houghdd caption

The Bounce: Sinceour last “Cinderella Transformations” post, a surprising number of stars havecut off a collective couple of yards of hair – Ali Larter, Salma Hayek, Emily Blunt, Julianne Hough, Emma Roberts,and Selena Gomez, with half of themopting for the long bob, or “lob.”

Emma Roberts

Selena Gomez

Others who fall into our other categories have cut theirhair shorter as well, but this is the group whose primary change was hairlength, although Miss Gomez went right back to waist-length extensions just aweek or two ago for the MTV Europe Music Awards. I think they all lookwonderful, and their accompanying color changes (warm caramel highlights forSalma, some lowlights for Julianne and Emma, a deeper chestnut for Emily, and aslightly lighter brunette for Selena) are universally flattering.

Nicole Ritchie

Mila Kunis

The Bangs: Nicole Ritchie, Jenna Dewan, Rachel Weisz,and Mila Kunis jumped on the bangbandwagon, although Mila’s MAY be clip-ons added to her up-do for the MarineCorps Ball.

Rachel Weisz

Jenna Dewan

Rachel and Nicole both cut some length from the bottom as well,with Nicole returning to her signature Bohemian eye-grazing fringes and Rachelopting for a wispier bang. Jenna cut long blunt bangs, and somehow ended upwith longer hair – salon magic?

Kylie Minogue

The Color: Thecolor changes were certainly drastic! KylieMinogue went from decades sporting a variety of blonde shades to a deepreddish brown. By abandoning the “fake bake,” dying her brows the recommended shade darker than her new color, andchanging her makeup colors, she handles the transformation well, and her skinlooks almost translucent. Women of a certain age don’t often go darker (it canbe too harsh), but she makes this work.

Kristen Wiig

Funny lady KristenWiig tends to prove that point; her bronze-y strands and amber highlightswere much more flattering than her new one-dimensional espresso brown. Her oldcolor warmed her skin and made her blue eyes sparkle.

Demi Lovato

Former Disney teen star DemiLovato debuted her fiery red strands via Twitter , and it’s hard to judgebetween a heavily styled and made-up “before” picture and a very candid shotsans makeup. It would appear the shade works with her natural coloring, but weshould probably reserve judgment until we see her in equivalent circumstances.

Drew Barrymore

And finally, we have the most puzzling transformation ofall. The perfectly lovely and down-to-earth Drew Barrymore, Cover Girl Cosmetics’ “face,” is certainly knownfor her eclectic style and willingness to play around with her hair’s lengthand color, but this is inexplicable. I’m not even going to address whether itsuits her skin tone or even name the shades, and whether she matched her browsor her makeup to her new look. It’s just awful, unflattering, and as Imentioned in the opening paragraph, any other woman would take one look in themirror, burst into tears, and swear to “never step foot in this salon again.Ever.” Her red hair was beautiful. This is the first truly awful misstep we’veseen from her, and I just hope Cover Girl has a clause in her contract thatforces her to change it, or she’s cast in a role and is paid to.

Until next week, ciao!

Choosing a New Salon: How to Avoid the Top 7 Mistakes People Make

2011-11-23T11:39:00.000-08:00

The D Laudati Salon

Mistake 1: You Think All Salons Are The Same.

Every salon is different. No two salons are really the same. Every salon has different services and different employees who have unique talents and specialties.

Styling is a combination of talent, experience, and skill. Most people don’t realize the time and money the best stylists put into developing their art.

Contrary to what some people think, styling is not just a matter of cutting hair. It takes workmanship and talent to create really quality styles, and an eye for color and dimension to design a total look for an individual.

D Laudati is an Intercoiffure Salon

Communication is the key to picking the best salon for you:

Ask what type of training and experience the stylists have.
Ask how much time they will spend with you before the appointment.
Ask to see pictures of their work.
Ask to read testimonials of past clients.
Ask any other questions that are unique to your needs.

This will help you to decide if they are the best salon for you.

After you ask your questions, it will become pretty obvious which salon you should choose. The salon that wants your business will prove to you that they are the best salon for you. Take your time and decide which salon you would like to use - but when you decide, you must be loyal to them. More about loyalty in a moment.

Mistake 2: You choose a salon based only on price.

The old adage is true. “You get what you pay for.” This is especially true when choosing a salon. If you want the best services, you should decide to deal with a salon because of the overall value you receive, NOT because they offer the lowest price. Here’s why.

Value = Quality + Service + Price

It is impossible for any business in any industry to offer the cheapest price, have the highest quality, and provide the best service all at the same time.

You can get high quality and super service, but you can’t get both and still get the lowest price.

Salons have a lot of overhead, employees, products, leases, continuing education, etc. If their prices are “too good to be true,” then they are cutting comers somewhere. Whether it’s in the quality of their services and products, or the customer service they provide, something has to suffer to give you those low, low prices.

Total value is all three: Quality, Service, and Price.

D Laudati wins awards based on overall quality and high levels of service

The three most common problems you will have when you pick a salon based on low prices are:

1. Lower-priced salons don’t usually stand behind their work.

2. Salons offering the lowest prices often have to compromise quality in order to produce quantity.

3. Low-priced salons provide low compensation to their employees and, therefore, attract only inexperienced and/or inferior stylists. Anyone can go through cosmetology school and get a license, but good stylists are the few who have mentored with master stylists and are willing to make a commitment to invest time and money in ongoing, continuing education.

Don’t choose a salon based on price if you: Really care about keeping your hair in optimum health; whether you want to look polished and professional, or stylish and trendy; whether you are interested in color that enhances your natural beauty, or turns you into a vibrant vixen; of if you want to be pampered and receive the highest level of personal service while learning beauty” secrets” from experienced experts.

Mistake 3: You Always Have A Couple Of Salons You Frequent.

You may think this is good for you because whoever can get you in the soonest or is offering the best special promotion wins the appointment. And to some extent, it is -- but here is why it usually isn’t a good way to deal with salons.

Upstairs at D Laudati

A good salon has enough loyal clients that they don’t have to deal with price shoppers.

Once you find a good salon, you must be loyal. If you jump from salon to salon, a good salon won’t be too motivated to keep YOU as a client. They will cater to their loyal clients.

Price is important. But price should not be more important than good quality and good service.

Mistake 4: Picking A Salon That Doesn’t Guarantee Their Services.

All reputable salons automatically guarantee their services. This means if you aren’t happy, they will do whatever it takes to make you happy, at no additional charge. If you still aren’t happy, they will return your money.

Unfortunately, there are unethical salons that won’t do this. Instead, they will argue with you for having “unrealistic expectations.” An unethical salon may charge you for a re-visit, or refuse to give you your money back.

The best thing you can do is pick a salon that guarantees its work. This way you know its stylists have to be good at their work, and that they and the management must have good communication with you. There is no risk for you.

Mistake 5: You Think Having A License Is All It Takes To Be A Good Hairstylist.

There are hundreds of thousands of licensed stylists. They’ve all gone to school and passed their state board exams. That doesn’t mean they are all good.

Dino Laudati is a member of this prestigious group, one of only 420 in the entire U.S.

Hair styling is an art. Having a degree of talent is important, although skills can be mastered with time and practice. It is important for a stylist to continue his or her education throughout their career.

Don’t be shy. Ask stylists about their training and find out what kind of skills they have mastered before you put yourself in their hands...

Mistake 6: Not Asking To See Examples Of Salon Workmanship Or Testimonials.

This is probably your best bet at finding a fantastic salon. Ask to see examples of their work. If they don’t have a book or website for you to look at, ask for references. A good salon will be happy to give you references.

Ask for the names of at least three people who have visited the stylist you’re interested in, and call them and ask them if they are happy with the salon. Also, ask to read through any testimonials the salon has from clients. This is the easiest way you can find the salon for you!

Mistake 7: You Don’t Allow Enough Time For Your Salon To Service You Properly.

Mistakes happen when you rush!

When you’re in a hurry, you may not get enough time to communicate with your stylist to make sure you get exactly what you need. And, sometimes, one late client can push back schedules for the whole day. When you schedule a salon visit, don’t short yourself on time. Ask the salon how much time you should allow in your schedule and then add a half hour. You deserve it; it’s your time to treat yourself right, so don’t rush it.

Before you get serviced at the salon, talk with your stylist. Make sure he or she knows what your likes and dislikes are, what your “goal” is and how you will achieve your desired look.

You can save time, money, and headaches from the very beginning through clear communication!

Why do most people do the opposite and find themselves at the mercy of their stylist? Because everyone takes the stylist for granted. Everyone assumes they read minds, or that they can make you look just like the photograph you brought in even though you have a completely different hair type and face shape. Most everyone thinks the stylist is the “miracle worker” no matter what condition hair may be in. This just isn’t the case.

Dino formulated his own haircare line; 40 years as a "beauty expert" are behind each one.

You should think of your stylist as your “beauty expert” and “project partner.” And, YOU are the project. Consult with your stylist. Let him or her know in advance what you want. Ask your stylist if he or she can give you any tips and ideas on creating a look and maintaining it between visits. A good salon will take the initiative in communication.

Now, as an extra treat I’m going to share 5 beauty “secrets” with you…

Beauty Secret #1: Don’t try to style hair soaking wet, get it 80% dry first. Protect your hair, as well as your skin, from the sun. Use sunscreen on your scalp at the part. Lip balm with sun-block will work.

Beauty Secret #2: Protect your hair from the sun, just as you would your skin. Use sunscreen on your scalp at the part. Lip balm with sun-block works effectively.

Beauty Secret #3: One of the best ways to make your makeup look complete, even if your’re only going to wear the very minimal amount, is to do your brows. Eyebrows look best when filled in with a soft pencil or powder. Go to a professional for your first shaping. After that, it’s best to work in a bright, natural light when tweezing.

Beauty Secret #4: To prevent further exacerbating wrinkles and sagging, always apply face creams with firm upward strokes. And don’t forget to protect your neck and décolletage ,too. They are the first parts of your body to show signs of aging and yet are often the most neglected.

Beauty Secret #5: The best bargain for your hair is a good cut. If possible, pay extra for a top-of-the-line stylist. More technically advanced hair cuts will last longer, up to 6 weeks depending on the length of your hair.

Until next week, ciao!

An Awakened American

2011-11-16T08:41:00.001-08:00

Flickr/uhuru1701

As Americans, we’ve reached a point in our Country’s historywhere we find ourselves playing the “blame game.” One side blames the other,and vice versa, without anyone on either side getting to know the facts. Astory always has three sides - yours, mine, and the truth. Obviously, thesedays, opinions have come to have morevalue than facts. It is because ofthis that we don’t act as friendly Americans anymore, but rather as enemies.

Friends listen to one another; enemies shout.

Friends encourage, while enemies inhibit.

Friends find solutions; enemies create problems.

Friends take responsibility; enemies blame.

Friends work towards what’s best for both, “Us;” enemieswork for what’s best for one, “Me.”

Friends tell you how they can help you; enemies tell youyou’re always wrong.

Friends will hold your hand; enemies will point their fingerat you.

Friends compromise; enemies always contest.

Friends love you, even when you disagree. Enemies hate you,even when you agree.

Friends forgive; enemies condemn.

I’m an Italian immigrant and have lived in America for over40 years. I became an American citizen and consider myself an American. InItaly I was poor; America offered me opportunities I never had. Out of appreciation,I learned the mother language -- English. With respect, I obey the Americanlaws. With pride in my Country, I wave the American flag. As a patriot, I love,revere, obey, and if ever called upon, would proudly serve the U.S.A. I willalways recite and commemorate the Pledge of Allegiance, as it embodies what weas Americans truly are: “One Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty andjustice for ‘ALL’.”

Bobbing for Color

2011-11-10T06:14:00.001-08:00

Violet and Platinum bob

So, ladies, what do you think of these bobs? And if you hadto choose one of these colors and cuts, which one would you pick?

Canary and Forest bob

Fellow Intercoiffeure members, TONY&GUY North America,recently honored their top stylists and colorists, and these colorful bobs werehands-down winners. The basic bob never really goes out of style, but theshapes change from season to season, and here they are expressed in differentways through color with emphasis on the bang in the front and color panels atthe side of the face.

Burgundy and Rose bob

Apricot and Canary bob

These are haircolors you can have fun with, yet they lookquite elegant at the same time.

Notice the statement jewelry – these are easilytransformed into head-turning evening looks. Believe me, the societyphotographers would all rush to snap your photo were you to wear one of thesestyle-and-color combinations with haute couture.

Chocolate and russet bob

Plum and Rose bob

These variations on the bob offer different lengths andlevels of movement, but all provide youwith versatility, from the shortest burgundy crop with long sidesweptrose-tinted bangs, to a chin-length platinum bob with lavender bangs, to a richchocolate graduated bob with a deep russet fringe. Express yourself with a whisperof color, or you can crank it up to a shout, or you can scream “I’m here,baby!”

Come to our Facebook page and tell us whether you’d try one of these color-and-cut combos. They’retotally on trend for fall, so perhaps it’s time to think about a major change.As we always remind you – you can always go back!

Until next week, ciao!

Cutting and Coloring: It’s the Shape of Your Face That Matters Most

2011-11-04T08:07:00.000-07:00

Emma Stone/Oval shape

Do you know the shape of your face? And do you know if thecut and color you wear are right for it?

Believe it or not, there is an art to matchingcut and color to the shape of a woman’s face. Being an expert on recognizinghow to give the perfect cut and color for a certain facial shape, I can tellyou that when it is done right, it can bring out the very best in yourfeatures.

Elle Fanning/Round shape

And I can also tell you that you can get the most beautiful cut andcolor but if it is wrong for your facial shape, it can actually distortfeatures or make you look awkward.

Now, there is no right or wrong facial shape.

Having the knowledge of facial shapes helps astylist/colorist select the right cut and color for you. The only “wrong” inthe equation is the wrong cut or color for you.

There are four basic facial shapes:

Oval/round
Rectangular/oblong
Square
Triangular or heart-shaped

Anne Hathaway/Oblong shape

The facial shape that can sport the most variety of looksand styles is the oval/round shape. The oval/round face has equal dimensions; thereforehair can be worn in many variations on or off the face. To best enhance thistype of facial shape, I would add volume on top, and comb any fringe to oneside or the other. When coloring for this face shape, I would create deepershadows at the temple area with lighter accents behind them to create an elongatingeffect.

Selma Blair/Rectangular shape

When working with a rectangular/oblong face, I like to createa style that makes the face seem more rounded. I do this by creating volume inthe lateral areas with layers that create movement throughout the hair. On thoseclients that prefer bangs, I will cut a layered fringe combed to one side tosoften the features. With this face shape, I prefer to darken the top part forthe illusion of shortening the face, and then highlighting the area around thecheekbones and the middle of the face -- it actually creates a more ovaleffect.

Sandra Bullock/Square shape

With a square face, I create movement to cover the frontalarea and soften the facial angles. The reason I do that is to minimize thesharp corners by cutting softness around the fringe area and the jawline, thereforecreating a rounder face shape. When coloring, I would place highlights aroundthe cheekbones, with deeper framing around the outer corners.

Amanda Seyfried/Heart-shaped

A triangular or heart-shaped face is characterized by a muchbroader forehead and a narrow or pointed chin. To balance the top portion ofthe face, I would cut a heavy bang to give the illusion of a more round face.And to balance it, I would create or cut volume at the jawline. As far as colorgoes, I would add shadows around the entire hairline, at the same time addinghighlights just above the corners of the bang area.

Rosie Huntington-Whitley/Heart-shaped

So, the next time you visit your stylist, ask him or her totell you about your face shape, and whether your cut and color are designed tobring out the best in that shape. Learn all you can in that next consultation, andif you are going to a stylist for the first time, ask these questions!

If you have any questions for me about this topic, post themto the Wall on our Facebook page, or leave a comment.

Until next week, ciao!

Who Do You Think Women REALLY Dress For?

2011-10-26T10:46:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Anniston

Jenna Dewan-Tatum

The other day, I overheard a woman in my salon say thatwomen don’t dress for themselves or for men – they dress up for other WOMEN.Now, this is certainly not how Ihave always viewed things. In fact, when I thought about it, I divided womeninto three categories: the “smallest” – women who dress to please no one butthemselves; the “medium” category of women who dress to compete with or impressother women; and the “largest” and (in my humble masculine opinion) mostimportant category, women who dress to attract and seduce men.

Katherine Heigl

So, this conversation really got me going, and then I sawthe pictures of ELLE Magazine’s Womenin Film luncheon, a lovely women-only daytime event honoring the power ladiesof the movie industry.

Amber Heard

And there they were, with dresses slit to their navels(yes, Miss Jennifer Anniston), ample amounts of cleavage, sparkles, skin-tight sheaths, minis,killer heels – and not a man in sight.

Camila Alves

Alice Eve

So, have I been fooling myself all theseyears that the ladies have been slipping into slinky gowns and sexy shoes, not todrive us men completely wild, but to compete with each other?? Don’t they knowthat when a man compliments a woman on her dress, he is thinking, “I wonder howeasy it is to get her back OUT of that dress?”

Evan Rachel Wood

Michelle Pfieffer

I think it’s time you told us what YOU think! All youpowerful women, tell us the truth:

A. Do you dresstotally to please yourself, do you not really care what others think or say, doyou love your style no matter what?

B. Do you dress tomake the other women in the room jealous, to be the most fashion-forward, toturn other women’s heads and make them wish they had your sense of style,fearlessness, budget, or figure?

C. Do you dress toturn men’s heads, with all other attention strictly collateral damage?

Ellie Kemper

Gillian Jacobs

As a man who’s been in the beauty industry a very long time,I have some very definite opinions on what I think the answers will be. Ilisten to women making sure they’re not wearing the same hairstyle, the samedesigner, or even the same color, to dinner or a party. But now I wonder, whois that for?

Whatever the answer turns out to be, here are the things toalways remember:

The color of your dress is as important as thecolor of your hair – it must compliment your skin tone and your personality.
If you feel comfortable in what you’re wearing,you’ll feel sexy in it.
Make sure your hair is as sexy as your dress,and that your makeup compliments both.
Remember that it’s a TOTAL look, and leave no part undone.

Now, tell us whether you’re an A, B, or C, and next weekwe’ll let everyone know just who our poll tells us women are dressing for. Atthe Elle Women in Film luncheon, I think we all know it was very much B.

Until next week, ciao!

The Many Stylings of Brad Pitt, or It’s OK to Change Your Look…

2011-10-20T10:17:00.000-07:00

With just a bit more facial hair...

Brad Pitt: The Golden Movie Star Years

Brad Pitt is a chameleon when it comes to his hair – bothhis facial hair and that on his head. Granted, he often is required to do sofor movie roles, but a retrospective of the many stylings of Brad shows that healso does so for himself.

I think this is the perfect opportunity for us toencourage our male readers that it is OK to make changes – there’s nothing tobe afraid of. Brad Pitt will get to look back and remember all of his differenthair personas, but what about you?

Darker, with goatee

At his blondest, and more bearded

Hair is the perfect thing to experiment withbecause you can always go back. As you can see from Mr. Pitt, you canexperiment with a variety of personalities, and then look back at some pointand be happy that you didn’t look the same for all those years.

Long and clean shaven

Hair shorn, with a hint of facial hair

The great thing about changing your hair is that it’s not abig investment; it’s not a car or a house, and it’s a quick change. You mightlike it, and prove to yourself that change can be good. We experience it everyday in the salon; when someone does make a change, the reactions are almostalways on the positive side: “Wow, you look great! What did you do?” Whetherit’s a new cut or haircolor or highlights, whether you add a mustache or agoatee – almost any facial hair – the reaction if someone hasn’t seen you for awhile is invariably positive.

Blonde again, and beardless

At Cannes this year, au natural

I myself am always changing, either my facial hair or I’mcutting my hair, letting it grow; it’s good to be different in life, it’s goodto experiment. Be daring, be experimental, change your hair, and look for thereaction. And as I said, it’s not something you can’t change back to itsnatural way. So take a chance, buddy. And if you come into the salon for a change,we’ll do before-and-after pictures so you can look back at yourtransformations, just like Brad Pitt.