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Beauty Tips Hair How to Videos

Fun New Techniques

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Quick & Easy Up Styles

Upstyles don’t always have to be difficult. Hot weather is here and instead of cutting it off, why not try a few simple upstyles to get it out of the way for this summer heat???  “We needed a few styles that are quick and easy for our clients to do at home.  These styles don’t replace a hairstylist’s special touch, but they do give long hair some quick and easy fun variety.  We hope you enjoy them. The first one is the Princess Braid.

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CHI has Wonderful Products for all types of hair.

To maintain a great style it is always very important to prep the hair first.  A good cleanse with a stylist recommended shampoo and conditioner is very important to address the needs of your hair to get it to perform the way you would like.  I love CHI because they have so many different systems to work with different hair types, one of my favorites for fine hair is the Magnified Volume System.  It has a wonderful fragrance, & it give you wonderful volume without a stiff feel.  I love this for my clients with fine hair.  I think BIG HAIR is always in and this product does the trick!  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!!

Check out this Video Clip on How to Volumize Your Hair!

 

When styling the Hair – Up or Down, it’s always important to give it a soft set first. Prep and dry the hair with your choice of wonderful CHI Products, then curl or style hair into the desired shape for the volume and control you desire. Then you can move on to this Sexy Style that Anna is about to show. I hope you enjoy this clip from Anna Cantu, platform artist for Farouk Systems.

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Beauty Tips Hair How to Videos

Turbo Styling

Quick & Easy How To’s

Do you have a need for speed when you are styling your hair at home?  Do you start out good, but then get tired when you get to the other side?  Do you feel like you style one side great, but the other just so,so?

If you answered Yes to any of these questions, then here is an article just for you.

TURBO STYLING.

So what is Turbo Styling?  Simply stated, Turbo styling uses advanced techniques with the highest quality products, tools and techniques to dry the hair faster without compromising the integrity of the hair.

First of all, you should ask your personal stylist for recommendations on what products he/she suggests for your particular hair type. Stylists are trained on what products to use for different types of hair, and for different effects.   Often poor product selections is why the style does not work.  It all starts with a good shampoo and conditioner, we love CHI 44 Line to protect your hair from heat when thermal styling. When you finish your scalp and hair cleansing and conditioning you should gently towel dry and then apply your styling product,  comb the product through for even saturation, and then direct the hair the way you would like to style it.

Second – The Blow Out.

As we said earlier – direct the hair the way you want it to go.

Do You want VOLUME?  Do You want Movement?  Do you want Curl?  This is the time you need to decide the direction your style is to take and what tools to use.

Check out my earlier article on combs and brushes for the proper brush selection.   Now for the Blow Out.  Start your Blow out at the nape section of the head, gently blow dry the hair using your fingers as a tool at this time, dry until the hair is almost 80% dry before switching to your favorite brush.  As you can see in the diagram, the hair cuticle is what you will be dealing with the most when you are blow styling your hair.  Think of the cuticle, like tree bark, a young tree has a smooth bark, where as an older, weathered tree has a rougher bark, sometimes parts are chipped away and void.  This happens with hair too.  If you apply too much heat, if you dry the hair opposite of the natural cuticle, it will rough up the cuticle risking damage, and frizz.  It is important to always dry the hair in the direction starting at the scalp area toward the ends, this will keep the cuticle in tack, resulting in a smoother, shinier style without frizz.  After you finish the nape, work upward on the back section of the head until you reach the crown, now go to each side and finish with the top and bang area last.  Once your blow out is finished you can go on to your hot styling tool.

 

 

 

 

 

Finally – The Hot Tool

Select your hot tool according to the finish you want to achieve.  If you want curl, use a curling iron or hot rollers.  If you want smooth and straight, use a flat iron.  Once you have mastered your curling techniques with the basic tools, then you can move on to the 3 in one tools and adding curls with the flat irons.   The metals on each tool will give you a different result.  Ceramic tools are excellent for smoothing the hair, but if you have hair that really needs volume don’t overlook the gold irons, as long as they have an adjustable setting, and please, please, please use the proper heat for your type of hair.  If you have extremely fragile hair, I suggest the basic silver tools, they don’t get as hot, but heat is not always your friend.  Too much heat for too long will damage the hair.

Check out CHI’s new lava tools- excellent lower heat needed do to the lava- infused with minerals to help fortify your hair. Less damage, and better color retention.

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Beauty Tips Fashion Hair How to Videos Nails Skincare

Winter Weather and Beauty Tips

Burrrrr…..It’s Really Cold Outside!

Wow, it’s really cold here in P.V. today.  I guess winter has arrived.  How would you like some tips on Winterizing you hair, skin and nails?

We are a full service CHI Partner School, so we offer a wide range of services such as scalp treatments, nail treatments and facials. In the following video you will see one of the basic procedures for a spa conditioning services using CHI Tea Tree Products. We also carry the new CHI Rose Hip Oil Products as well as many others.

 

Deep moisturize for hair is most important when the winds are blowing and the heat is on in our homes and businesses.  To properly deep condition it is very important to cleanse the hair first to prep the hair and remove any residue from previous hair products such as waxes, gels and hairsprays.  After cleansing, rinse and towel dry hair to remove any excess water, then add a deep moisturizer such as Aquage healing conditioner, comb through, bag and leave on for 1-3 minutes, rinse, towel dry and proceed with your styling techniques.

Ok, so Now for the Nails.  Are your nails dry, cracking, or peeling?  Are your hands parched from the Winter winds, and the indoor heat?  The best thing for this type of problem is a spa manicure.  We start by cleansing the hands with a sugar scrub, follow with a hand massage with a deep moisturizing lotion and then dip in a warm mixture of skin conditioning oils and paraffin, your hands are then wrapped in mitts and allowed to deep treat the skin of your hands and the nail plates to soothe your winter woe’s.  Once the conditioning is complete we finish the manicure with cuticle care, nail care, and then we apply the polish of your choice.  Your hands will feel wonderful and your nails will look great! We now offer the full line of Cuccio Nail Colors – Check out these beautiful shades!

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Skin care at it’s finest.  The European Facial.

Does you skin need an extra boost?  Winter is tough on our faces, and we all know we need to put our best face forward.  facial machine

The European Facial can be a combination of many different types of treatments using a multi-function machine to help with deep exfoliation, steaming, deep pore cleansing, micro-dermabrasion, vacuuming the skin, massage and even galvanic and light therapy such as  u.v. treatments to help the skin heal from the harsh effects of the weather.

 

What about at home skincare?  It is always important to cleanse and moisturize your skin daily, especially when the weather is so harsh.  facial home

Just like the hair it is very important to cleanse the skin first, then immediately apply your moisturizer. This will seal in the moisture and help to better hydrate your skin.  Scrubs are great to do at home about once a week, but if you overstimulate the skin too often you could possibly increase the chance of an acne flare up is you are acne prone.

 

 

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Beauty Tips How to Videos

How to do the Perfect Blow Out.

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Our friends at Farouk Systems have just released a new training video by Anna Cantu. In this video Anna will show you the proper and most effective way to blow style your hair for lots of volume and bounce. Please note the wonderful products she is using during the service.
As always, you can come in and we can help you to select the right CHI product just for you.

I hope you enjoy this video. From Farouk Systems and Anna Cantu.

We love all of the wonderful products from CHI!

They always do the job, with a wonderful fragrance, and we know, that they are always environmentally friendly. We just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE CHI!
It’s wonderful being partnered with Farouk Systems and getting the help and support we need to share so much education with our friends, clients and students!

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Beauty Business Famous People Fashion Hair How to Videos

Spring into Action at PMCA!

What’s the New Looks for Spring 2014????

This is from Farouk Systems, showing the latest hair styles for this season.

Wasn’t that fun! From our partners at CHI. We love to watch all of our CHI Partners at work!  Hair shows are a great way to get motivated and re-energized for Salon Life.

Now are you ready to see what the Clothing Fashion Designers are doing???
Well here’s a preview!    ENJOY!

ELIE SAAB 2014 SPRING SHOW

DILEK HANIF 2014

CHRISTIAN DIOR SPRING 2014

Didn’t these Designers do a fabulous job on these fashions?
Longer jackets, mixtures of beaded fabric, sparkle, and simplistic hair styles. Center parts are back, OH MY!!!!!!!!!
Fem looks are always hot for Spring. Soft fabric flow like a gentle Spring Breeze.

Ombre’ color fabrics are still in.hs9
Short or long dresses and skirts, you choose, beautiful bead work with an eye for detail. So much fun for Prom and Weddings. images (22)
Retro Glam with beautiful shades of nude and black for Formal Affairs. Wow!!! Don’t you just love the pops of color for Spring 2014? Love the soft flowing fabrics with fun asymmetrical accents for casual wear. Love these fun styles!
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Ladies, remember, the hair styles will mimic the fashion. When you wear your soft sheer blouse or skirt, hair should flow, be soft and shiny. Stronger, stiffer fabrics, usually will need a stronger look such as a strong chignon. It will be fun this prom season to design hairstyles to go with the formal wear that is out there this season.

Hope you enjoyed this article.  Have the best day ever! Penny

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Beauty Tips Hair How to Videos

Videos – Product Cocktailing with Aquage

What is product cocktailing?

Beautiful hair…What is it and how do you get it? When you look at all those photo spreads in the magazines and wonder, how did they get that models hair to do what it’s doing, she has so much hair and its so…shiny, bouncy, full, curly, straight, and beautiful. Well first of all that model was in “Hair and Makeup” for several hours with her stylist with the perfect blend of products, just for her. It’s a long known secret, it’s not always the product, but knowing how to use the product the perfect way. We take that concept one step further with “Product Cocktailing”. So, what is Product Cocktailing? Well it is a term used when you add two or more styling products together to enhance the desired effect, and to customize the product effect just for you.  Sounds good, right?  Well here are just a few examples of how to use product and how to mix product together for a special effect.

There are a few things to consider when cocktailing, so please watch for future articles with more information.

Have you ever got confused on how to use some of the new styling products that are available now?

Well if so, here are a few quick tutorials, on how to layer product to get the desired effect.


Biomega video behave + text me….

One of the first things to consider is what do I want my hair to do? Do I want it softer, silkier, shiny? Do I need it firmer, stronger & stiff, to hold a curl better? Do I want it to be springy and have bounce? Do I want curls, body or a shape that fits the contours of my head?

Once you have decided exactly what effect you want the fiber of your hair to mimic, then you can select your product. If this is confusing to you ask your salon professional for help…we are here to help you. We train with the finest to help “read your hair” and help you select the right products or blend of products to get the job done.

Here are a few examples of what Aquage products can do for your hair….
SeaExtend® Silkening oil treatment details….
To smooth, silken and add brilliant shine
Accelerates drying time, seals in haircolor results and protects against thermal damage
Crystal-clear formula, unlike other styling products, contains no artificial dyes that can alter haircolor tones
Treatment improves the condition of the hair with continued use
Fortifying Ultragel details
Perfect for use on fragile or damaged hair
Moisturizes and conditions the hair, building a soft natural level of hold
Creates a micro-fine barrier to protect against thermal styling damage and environmental stress
Provides exceptional slip for effortless blow-drying
Straightening Ultragel details
Provides excellent slip during blow-drying
Smoothes, silkens and straightens curly and unruly hair without weight
Light-weight formula maintains natural body and bounce
Seals the cuticle, locking in moisture and locking out humidity
Uplifting Foam details
To create maximum lift and volume while blow-drying
Hair will remain soft and pliable yet full of body and bounce
Excellent for create long lasting style retention
Thickening Spraygel details
Unique formula dramatically thickens and strengthens fine, thin hair that lacks body and vitality
Ideal for use on short to medium length styles
Sea Salt Texturizing spray
Provides firm-hold and dramatically increases volume without stiffness
Enhances strand separation and definition
Curl Defining Creme details
Eliminates frizz on naturally curly or permed hair
Defines strands while keeping curls soft, silky and pliable
Defining Gel details
Gives curls ultimate hold and control, leaving strands with a high gloss finish
Ideal product for naturally curly, wavy or permed hair
Perfect tool to eliminate frizz and define strands
Does not weigh the hair down
Molding Megagel details
Excellent for short to mid-length styles
Ultra-light, yet powerful holding agents deliver strong control with firm-hold
Hair strands will remain flexible and pliable while not weighing the hair down
Freezing Foam
Ideal for making fine, thin hair appear thicker and fuller
To create styles when extreme hold and firmness is required
Stays firm until shampooed out
Now that you have a very basic understanding of what each of the products can do for you and your hair, You can combine them to get a more customized effect Just For You. Here are a few examples of some simple cocktails or blends. Remember to keep it simple at first and only combine 2 products at a time.
For fine hair that is too soft and won’t hold curl…
Use… Fortifying ultragel with just a little thickening spray gel.
For Thick coarse hair that has a lot of natural frizz…
Use Defining Gel with silkening oil treatment.
For Thick curly hair that is out of control and lacking shine…
Use Curl Defining Creme with silkening oil treatment.
For Short fine hair that needs strong hold for a spiky, anti-gravity style…
Use Freezing Foam with Thickening spray gel.
Don’t be afraid to get in there and “Mix it Up” with Aquage products….You just need to remember what your goal is and to combine products that enhance each others final result.

Once you find that perfect blend, don’t forget to select the perfect hairspray to lock in your desired results.
Keep Firm & Fabulous in your beauty toolbox for buildable volume and hold.-Allure, July 2012

Here is another short video to help get you on your way to product cocktailing… Enjoy.

seasalt & uplifting foam

Just for fun…Want a quick way to pull your hair up without a pony-tail? Check this out!


chop sticks updos

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Beauty Business Famous People Hair How to Videos Motivation Special Events

World’s Fair of Cosmetic Arts & Sciences

We recently attended the World’s Fair of  Cosmetic Arts & Sciences in Austin Texas.  We got to meet an visit with several leaders in the hair industry, such as Farouk Shami, Bradley Tuggle and Lori Walters, Rocky Vitelli, Joe Pena, Anna Cantu, Tibit Cox, Dixie with the CHI School Program, Martin Parsons, Beth Minardi, Eric Fisher, Shawna Parvin, and many, many more. It was a wonderful learning experience!

 

The CHI Classes were the most informative and educational!  We experienced several new techniques to produce the new “Ombre'” colors, as well as some very beautiful and stylish  up-styles and braiding techniques.  Anna was so much fun on stage!  She kept her models moving with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.  FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

The CHI Booth was full of fun filled new products and innovations such as the new halo hot rollers, the Touch control Blow Dryer, and the 3 in 1 Orbit Styler.  Wonderful new innovations in the field of hair styling. NEW TECHNOLOGY TO HELP MAKE OUR WORK EASIER!

Hey Clients! Want to learn a Quick way to curl your long hair??? Here is a short 3 minute clip on how to get a quick easy style….ENJOY!!!

We got to see a lot of new techniques for haircolor, and haircutting, and again this season….ANYTHING GOES!   Have fun with it and enjoy doing hair!  What can we say “WE ARE HAIRDRESSERS AND WE ARE PROUD OF IT!”  We chose this profession and WE LOVE IT!  There is nothing more rewarding than making someone else feel better about themselves, this is what we do and we are GREAT at it!!!   We can’t wait to share all of these new techniques with our clients.  THEY ALL LOVE IT, when we come back from a show revived and enthused about doing hair!

Way to go fellow educators on helping to motivate the educators, and help us all feel good about our wonderful profession!

 

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Hair How to Videos

Tips for the Perfect Haircut and Style

Advice for Clients when selecting a

New Style.

When a client goes to a salon, they expect to get the look they have always wanted.  Then, why is it, that sometimes it’s great and other times it’s just ok?

Have you ever left the salon with a look that you feel is totally different than what you asked for?

Did you feel like you were rushed through and that no one listened to you? Did you feel like the stylist talked you into something that they wanted instead of what you asked for?  Or did you leave the salon looking great but when you tried to duplicate it at home nothing would work. Well these are all communication breakdowns.  If you have a stylist that fails to listen, then you have a problem.

When you see someone with a style that you think looks great on them don’t be afraid to ask them the name of their stylist.  Friends, relatives, and co-workers are also a good source  for recommendations when choosing a stylist.

Communication is the Key.

Here are a few tips to better communicate with your stylist.

1.  Photographs.  Yes, plain old fashioned printed photos or pictures.  Take your stylist several photos, and then discuss possible options.

Salons are full of magazines and styling guides for reference. If you bring along a picture from home or select one from an in-house pictorial, you’re more likely to get just what you want. Be reasonable. Not all cuts and styles may work with your hair texture and some can accentuate facial flaws. The best insurance is to bring along a few pictures and ask the professional for advice.

Your stylist should ask you a series of questions regarding the pictures, she/he should discuss with you front view, top, back and side views.  They should ask about what you find most appealing about the picture.  If you have several pictures you can select part from one and part from another, make sure the stylist understands what parts you feel are most appealing. Don’t be afraid to tell them what you like and what you do not want.   They should discuss with you Your hair and how it compares to the hair in the photo.

2.  Ask Questions.  With modern technology, any look is possible.  But, do you have the time, energy, and money to maintain this look?  Ask the stylist what is involved in achieving this look?  How much time will be invested, today for the service and to style it each day?  How easy will it be to style?  Is this something I can do at home?  How often will I need to come back to the salon to maintain this look? What products and tools will be needed?  And the biggest question….How much will it cost to achieve, and how much to maintain.

3.  Be realistic.  If you select a picture that is similar in length, texture and color to what you already have then it should be a very realistic look to achieve easily, however, if you select a total turn around, and go to very extreme style or color from what you already have, this may take a lot of time and effort to accomplish, and may even have to be done in a series of treatments.

4.  Consultation.  As I said earlier, ask questions.  Now is the time to really consult with your stylist. Communication is the key.  Make sure your stylist is listening to you and that you listen to her.  Once you feel that you that you and your stylist understand each other then you can begin the service. I always recommend a shampoo, style and finish with a style change.This ensures that the hair will work for the client when they get home.  As a Stylist, myself, when I style my client’s hair I can tell if it will style easily or if it may need some added help with a special product or support service to make their life a little easier when they get home.

5.  Styling Advice.  Watch as the stylist blow drys and styles your hair.  What products are they using?  What type of brush?  What size of curling iron?  Ask questions about this part of the service as it is performed and he/she will be happy to help you with professional insight on how to achieve this look at home.

6.  At Home Maintenance.  This is a big issue.  A lot of time clients feel that they cannot achieve the look when they get home.  There is a big difference in quality of hair products, tools, irons and even blow dryers.  Ask your stylist what they are using on you and why?  Most salons carry support products for at home use, it is to your advantage to use these if you truly want to duplicate the look.

7.  Pre-book your next appointment.  YES, this is important.  If you really want to keep your look, looking great, reschedule your maintenance appointment.  This saves you and your stylist precious time and frustration, your stylist can be ready for you with a plan in place, you can discuss the results of the last style, adjust it where needed and enjoy a most beautiful result.

What happens if I’m still not happy?

There are times when you’re just not happy with the cut. If you are aware of this before you leave the salon, make it known. If the salon is not busy, this may be able to be corrected then and there. If you feel rushed, tell the stylist and let him or her know that you may be in touch soon. If you discover that the haircut is not to your liking after you get home, make another appointment to follow up. After all, you wanted to look better, right? The best way to do this is communicate with the professional.

Remember, don’t ever get your hair cut right before a special event. You will need some time to get used to it and make any adjustments if it turns out bad. Professional stylists want to make you, the client, happy and communication is a two way street and it take both parties to communicate effectively.

If you need more advice on Beauty Tips & Tricks go to this link to find out more on how to style your hair or Big Hair & Curls on the Runway 2012.   Don’t forget to check out what student’s say…. with a video on how to blow style your hair.