Behind the chair

Up dating my portfolio a bit today! Get ready for a picture heavy post!
These are a few of my favorite looks I have accomplished lately!
Thanks for looking,

Hope you are having a happy hair day! 

Thanks again for checking in! 

Michon :)

Limping along with that hair?

If you are one of those people who has been cursed with fine, limp hair, I have some help for you.

Limp, fine hair is one of the hardest problems to address in my world behind the chair. Genetics, medical conditions, medications, styling, and stress, can all factor in to what may be causing this to occur. If you have suffered with this condition most of your life, you are pretty safe to rule out the last four and realize that it is time to make lemonade out of those lemons. Here are my best tips to help you turn your limp locks into voluminous waves.

 Let it get dirty. Sounds contrary huh? Shampooing everyday is hard on the hair. Try instead to use a dry shampoo for one or preferably two days. There are a number on the market that are wonderful. Here is a link to a short list of the ones I have tested. 

1. Avoid “volume” shampoos. I know, crazy huh?  Actually, most "volume" shampoos work so well because they strip the oil. Years ago when I was educating with a manufacturer, we did strip tests on hair with various shampoos, and the OTC “volume” shampoos actually “permed” the hair we wrapped around rods - permanently!  
2. Use a light conditioner. One of the most important things about the conditioner you are using is that it stays far, far away from your scalp. Your scalp does not need the conditioning, just the ends, and very lightly at that. 
3. Don’t comb while wet. Your baby fine hair is so fragile when it is wet! Use a wide tooth pick or comb and GENTLY get through the ends. Avoid vigorous towel drying. Instead, gently squeeze the excess moisture from your ends with a towel wrapped around the hair. 
4. Style with TLC. Wash your hair the night before and allow to air-dry. The next day, mist your hair slightly to create the style you want with your blow-dryer on low. Instead of blow-drying it right out of the gate. Use a curling iron or flat iron on this type of hair for a rare occasion only. Consider investing in some good old fashion hot curlers, they are coming back into style again.
5.  Professional Color. Not only can a stylist see the back of your head and exactly how close to get to the previously colored hair without overlapping, we also use products that are much safer and gentler on your hair. Over-the-counter hair dyes contain harsh chemicals and metals that can further damage already fragile hair. 
6. Create an illusion. Use hair powder to disguise not only the roots and dry them out between shampoos, but to help create the illusion of more hair. Here is a short list from last week’s tip of the best powder shampoos that double as scalp coverage and create a fuller look for you. 
7. Consider getting a texture wave. Unlike the perms of the 80’s, these texture creating waves are done on much larger rods and use gentler chemicals. This option should only be considered if you have strong enough hair that has not been weakened by a high lift color.  Consult your professional for recommendations on this.

What has worked best for you dealing with your fine hair?  I would love to hear from you! Please leave me a comment in the box below and let me know! If you have a friend that would appreciate hearing about this information please feel free to share it, tweet it, email it, Facebook,

   or however you would like to help them out! 

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. 

Michon :)

Dry Shampoo Review.

I am cracking up here over the new video that  Matt Damon put out about clean water and his going on strike. Good luck with that Matt! It is awesome if you haven’t seen it here is a link. I agree with him clean water is important and conservation is key. His organization offers many ways to get involved if you are interested.
Here is a way we could help and conserving water - skip a shampoo or even two! Not only is shampooing your hair everyday not the best thing, it strips the cuticle of the natural oils and nutrients that it needs to be strong and healthy. It also dries it out beacuse the more you shampoo the more styling you have to do which is harder on your hair. Try giving your hair a rest with  a dry shampoo.
What is dry shampoo?
Dry shampoo is a powdery substance that is applied at the roots of your hair to absorb excess oil. It extends the length of your blowout or is very handy when water is in short supply or not assessable.
These would be my top recommendations for dry shampoo or root hiding opportunities on the market at this time.

AG has a fairly decent dry shampoo you spray in. Adds volume and softness. Absorbs oils and restores life to your style! 
Use: Shake well before using. Spray throughout hair and work in with fingers allow a few minutes and then brush or pick through. Style as normal.
Downside: is that it can feel sticky and makes it harder to brush out your hair, plus it’s an aerosol.
Cost: approx $19

Bumble and Bumble powder/dry shampoo has color!! It is awesome that it can cover grey re-growth and volumize all at once! I would highly recommend this product to anyone wanting to cover their roots between visits to the hairdresser and anyone wanting to extend the life of their style by not shampooing on any given day. 
Downside: This product will get on your pillowcase, sheets and your clothing, so prepare accordingly. There are a couple of videos out on YouTube that are helpful and will give you the warnings I mentioned above. Here is a positive one and a negative one. And the cost is a little higher than average
Cost: approx. $33 - $35

Keratin Complex is one of those amazing products that you just have to use to understand. With these three colors you are close enough to most colors that you can at least soak up the oils and have a some root color coverage to boot! Huge upside to this product is that it will make your hair “look thicker” simply because it will disguise that pink scalp! :)
Downside: Again you are using color so you will lose color on your clothes and pillowcases if you are not careful. Here is a video that will help you use this product properly. Just a heads up, the lady being interviewed is VERY animated. ;)

Cost: approx. $23 - $30

Schwarzkopf OSIS Dust it is a powder that gives a soft matt effect with natural movement to your hair. It is also touted to adding volume to fine hair. 
Downside: Doesn’t come with a brush to apply. Hand application is difficult to control. 

Cost: approx. $16

Redken Powder Refresh absorbs oil, freshens up your style and extends the life of your blowout. Comes in a neutral shade that works well for all hair colors, even those with a darker base. It has a nice refreshing mint smell that really does refresh your hair for an extra day or two, 

Downside: It does not have a brush so that again and it’s an aerosol.

Cost: approx. $10 

Baby powder absorbs oil. I have been using this since I was a teenager. When you apply it to your roots with a brush you will want to wait a few minutes for the talcum powder to do it’s magic. Then simply brush through. This product is great and inexpensive and works well for blondes and lighter shades of hair.

Downside: I would not recommend this for those of you with darker hues. It will look like you have grey roots coming in. 

Cost: approx. $3-$4

So this is my short list. You will find a huge list if you are interested in more options, here are 58 dry shampoos!  

Hope you enjoyed this review! If you have a product that you love that works as well or better than any of my suggestions here I would love to hear about them! Leave me a comment in the space below! Forward this to your teenager! Let’s all do our part to conserve our precious resources and look beautiful while doing it! 

Michon :)

Cabin Fever

Do you get that overwhelming feeling of wanting to 'break out' this time of year? The warmer weather we have had over the last couple of days seems to make it even worse. Many of my clients start to get anxious and decide they need a change. Some come in with some pretty drastic changes in mind for their hair, but, is it the right move for you? When you look at the big picture of where you want your hair to be by summer you need to take a few things into consideration before you let someone get carried away at the mixing bowl or with the scissors.

1. Maintenance. How often do you want to be seeing your stylist in order to keep the style looking fresh? The longer your hair is, the easier it is to go a little longer between haircuts. Short hair cuts really do self destruct in 4-6 weeks. Hair grows a 1/4 inch per month. This can be the difference between a spunky, sassy style with “tude”, to a limp overgrown look that is mediocre. Give some serious thought before chopping off too much and then spending the rest of your winter months bluer than you might have been. 
2. There’s an app for that! There are several fun apps available for your smart phones that may help you decide on a new style or color. Simply take a picture of yourself with your phone and then import your picture into the app and shop around. Fun way to “see yourself” with a new look before taking the plunge and being too surprised. Here is a short list of ones I found available for your iphone or droid. Hairstyle Lite, Magic Mirror, Fun and Fashion, Smart Hairstyle and one for your computer if you are not a phone junky like some of us, InStyle Makeover.
3. Coloring. This is a great time of year for low lights. You are still out of the sun most of the time this time of year so it is easier to maintain the rich lowlights you can achieve with a low peroxide, conditioning color that will fade much less this time of year. By summer it will have naturally lifted enough so you won’t have trouble when you want to lighten it again for summer. A nice subtle change that won’t fry your hair. 
4. Deep conditioning treatment with a trim. This is a great way to breath new life into your hair. It is amazing what just a quarter to an eighth of an inch can do to make your hair feel so much better. Add to that, a deep conditioning treatment and you have a new do that is sleek, shiny, polished feeling and will last you a couple of months through the rest of this deep freeze. 
5. Take baby steps. If you are contemplating making a drastic change talk to your stylist about making the changes over several appointments. Take a picture with you and consider their recommendations. Drastic changes done too quickly can be disastrous! Just see what January Jones (the Mad Man movie star) has to say about her impulsive style change and her hair falling out in clumps! 

The way you feel about your hair is very closely connected to your mood. When your hair looks good you feel good. Beware! Remember, you will have to live with this drastic change for months to come. However, if you are of the mind set that “it is only hair” by all means have fun! What else is there to do on these long days but spend time in the salon mixing it up a bit! :)

Thanks for subscribing to my weekly tip blog. 

Please feel free to leave me a comment below and let me know what your favorite strategies for keeping the winter blues at bay this time of year. And if you have any questions or ideas you would like to hear me work on please let me know. Please share this tip with any of your friends that are contemplating big hair decisions! 

Thank you again, 

Have a great week! 

Michon :)

This post has been published in the Galena Times Newspaper/ Spring Edition 2013

Behind the Chair

Just sharing hair tonight! 

Cute messy bun on one of my sweet clients! I curl it all over and then add a little back combing, put it in the bun and then next day she can take it down or fix the bun. Sometimes lasts her three days.

Ombre is one of my favorite techniques! This is what was happening in the studio a few weeks ago. Love how it turned out! 

Fun for a night out or a day at the beach or... anytime really. Double braid with a flower tying it all together in the front. Loved this. She had super thick hair. It works best with this type of hair. 

One of my cute little teenagers wanted something special to mix it up with! Fun stuff! Reminds me of Hello Kitty for some reason! haha! 

And finally this beauty! I love doing the underneath hair darker and the contrast it  contributes to the overall look on a simple updo like this. Fun easy and super cute! 

Thanks for dropping by my blog. Leave me a comment if there is something you would like to see me create or post! I am giving away a free sample of shampoo and conditioner to some lucky commenter in the the comments below. Go ahead and leave a comment! You might win! 

Have a great hair day! 

Michon :)

Winter Hair Woes

As per my post last week, skin is not the only thing that suffers in the winter. Hair also gets compromised by these cold, dry, arrid conditions. Hair is simply dead skin cells. It grows approximately a quarter inch a month. So the longer your hair is the longer it has been in the scalp, or in it’s place of nourishment. Here a a few tips to help you keep your hair in it’s healthiest condition ever.

1. Shampoo from the scalp out. Your scalp is the only part of your hair that is really holding onto the dirt. Your sweat, and oils at your scalp are what attracts the dirt. The shear action of the suds from your scalp being rinsed away will be enough to pull out any loose dust from your ends. So remember suds up the scalp and leave your ends be. Of course use gentle shampoos with a pH balance of between 4.5 to 6.7
2. Condition from the ends in. Taking the above recommendation into consideration you can understand that the only part of your hair that really needs conditioning is the ends. So don’t plop the conditioner on your scalp and work down to your ends. It will leave you with flat greasy hair and dry ends. Instead, generously apply conditioner to the ends and work it up from there. Conditioners should contain little to no alcohol.
3. Color application. Whether you are doing it yourself or you are having it done professionally, make sure that you/they are not overlapping color. This is crucial! If you are double dipping hair in 20 volume peroxide every 4 -6 weeks you can expect breakage and dryness.
4. Don’t brush wet hair. Always use a wide tooth pick and GENTLY comb through to the ends. Hair is in it’s weakest state when it is wet. Be gentle to it and resist stretching it out by round brushing it and pulling it excessively while it is wet. If you must round brush for volume make sure the hair shaft it 80% dry before putting the brush to it. 
5. Use a quality leave-in oil treatment. There are a plethora of oil treatments on the market right now. Find the right one for your hair that won’t weigh it down but will add sheen and suppleness, argon oil, moroccan oil, sunflower oil, and the list goes on. Your professional should be able to recommend the right one for your hair. You should always be using some sort of leave in proteinzer or moisturizer on your hair after shampooing for optimal health of the hair.  
6. Turns out the old wives tales about mayonnaise are true. Mayonnaise is rich in oils and protein (eggs) to strengthen the hair. The problem I keep hearing most people are having with a mayo pack for their hair is that it smells and will look greasy for sometime after the application. Two things here. They used too much in the wrong place and you need to rinse with vinegar. Every site I went to with recommendations of using mayo all talked about applying to the scalp or working into the scalp. Why would you do that if your ends are dry? So again I go back to tip #1. The hair at your scalp is at optimum health! Blood flow, oil secretions, everything it needs to be healthy. So please follow the directions in the recipe so you can have a happy hair day the day after your mask! The purpose for the other ingredients I added are as follows: Avocado oils are light and moist and full of proteins. Honey is a natural humectant, which means it attracts and locks in moisture. Coconut oil is rich in fatty acids, vitamin K and E. And lavender to combat the smell factor. I have come up with a cool recipe for you.

Mayo Mane Tamer

4 TBSP of mayo (the real deal. no low fat stuff for this!)

1/2 ripe avocado 

3 TBSP of honey

4 TBSP coconut oil

4 drops of Lavender oil (optional, makes it smell a little better) :)

Rinse out treatment

5TBSP of apple cider vinegar 

2 cups of warm water

After shampooing with a gentle cleanser, towel dry hair until hair is 50% dry on the ends. Apply mask to hair starting at the ends and work it up toward the scalp. Don’t comb through. Simply work it into the ends of your tresses with your fingers. Put a plastic bag on your head and wrap with hot towel  Consider using it once or twice a month. Sure it looks funny but the heat and the steam will help the moisture and protein penetrate more readily. Kick hubby out to play poker with his buddies for the night and pop in a chick flick! ;)

Do double duty and use last week’s Green Island Facial at the same time! Now there is a picture for you! In fact post a link on my blog of you doing either the or both of the these and I will give you a pile of free samples of Pureology Shampoo and Conditioners! 

The Future Miss Reno Ink

So I have started this little venture of working with local photographers in the area for hair and makeup shots. I love my client Kourtni. She is one of my bravest little clients haha! And not just with her hair.
She is trying out for Miss Reno Ink. Anyone that can brave tattoos has my respect. I hate needles!!
So we did some special things with her hair extensions for the occasion.

She bought blonde extensions and matched up her hair color and then used an Ombre technique using Pravana Pink, Blue and Purple for the ends.
We already had some pink in her bangs so I weaved a little more pink and some purple into the bangs to refresh for the photo shoot.
Having a professional take shots of your work makes such a huge difference from just my behind the chair shots in the studio with my iPhone.
Diane is such a fun loving energetic lady and a local photographer, owner of Apex Productions.
They specialize in wedding videos but Diane can shoot anything and anybody and make them look great!
Thank you for the help Diane!
Fun Day at the Salon! And the results speak for themselves.

You are Beautiful Kourtni, inside and out girl! (((((hugs)))))
Thanks for looking,
Michon  

Valentino Bride Braid

Here’s the how-to video for creating this look.

Just a quick tutorial on creating the Valentino Bride hairstyle. Makayla is funny with her expressions on this one. She was enjoying herself even if she didn’t necessarily look like it! haha
Thanks for looking.
michon :)

I was inspired by this hairstyle.
This is my middle daughter Makayla who has the perfect hair to try this out on.
I didn’t put as much backcombing into it as I would have if she had been needing to keep it in good shape for an actual wedding but it was a fun trial for a slow afternoon at the salon the other day.
I made a few changes in the style, braided a wisp for the wrap around the pony, can’t see that, and twisted the curls before bringing them back to the side pony.
Thanks for looking.
m :)