Let's Talk Hair Vol.3


Ok, I'm ready to talk hair again.  This time I want to talk about transitioning hair colors.  This time of year women are ready to ditch the dark hair color for a lighter summer look.  Many women walk into a salon as a sultry brunette expecting to leave a blonde bombshell.  I'm here to tell you if your hair is color treated that's not gonna happen.  Transitioning from a dark brown to a platinum blonde is a process.

Allow me to explain a few beauty school basics concerning color:

1.  Hair color cannot lift (lighten) hair color.  Hair color can only lift when the hair is in a virgin state.  Therefore, (color treated) brown hair can only be made lighter with bleach. 

2.  Putting bleach from root to end on your entire head is not a wise move to lift color out of your hair.  This can be very damaging, and depending on how dark your hair is colored, can leave you with gold/orange hair.

So, what's a girl to do? Highlight!

3.  When transitioning from a dark color to a lighter look expect around 3 hair appointments (depending on your hair color some may take more, others may need  less) worth of highlights.  This will ensure the best results while keeping your hair healthy. 

I know, this may come as a disappointment when you are ready to make a drastic change, but in the mean time you can enjoy having a new look with each stage as you work up to your desired lightness.  Trust your hairdresser.  They only want to give you the best looking hair color, while maintaining your hair's health. 

**Whatever you do, don't try lifting a dark color at home, I promise it will cost you more to correct your mistake than it would have to let the pros do it the first time.

So if you want to be blonde by June, call your hairdresser and get going soon.  Happy highlighting!

A [very] Late Korean Christmas Party.


My beloved childhood friend, Lauren (above with her boyfriend, Han Joo during their last visit) now lives in Korea.  She makes up 1/4 of "The Order of the 4", half are here (myself and Meghan), and the remaining 1/4 (Lauren's twin sister, Kristin) is in Delaware.  Last week a package arrived from Korea for "The Order" and the Walker family members.  There were detailed instructions for us to all open the gifts together, so yesterday we met Lauren and Kristin's mom, dad and brother to divide the loot.  



The box was covered in bright Korean letters.  This built suspense since none of us could read what it said.  I got the whole gift opening process on video on my iPhone, but I'm having trouble uploading it to anything because it is so large.  Most of you would find this video boring and borderline strange anyway, so I'll spare you.  I'll have to resort to burning the video to a DVD and mailing it to you Lauren.  I know it will make you smile!

Lauren- We loved our gifts. (Mostly because they came from you.) I loved seeing your handwriting on the letter, and hearing your familiar jokes.  I loved being with your family and Meghan, because it made me feel like you're not so far away.  I love knowing that on the other side of the world you're thinking of us, and you're still our same ole Reem. Miss you kid.  Come visit us soon.





P.S. Send more "Calorie Balance" (they taste like lemon cookies).  In the words of Han Joo when first experiencing the greatness of Sonic, "I love it!"

Andrea's Bridal Shower.



This morning I, along with 4 other college friends, threw a bridal shower for Andrea Wyatt, (soon to be Fowler) at our house. Andrea (along with the other hostesses) was my pledge sister in Tri Chi at OBU. We were all very excited when we found out on new year's eve that she was engaged to marry Kyle Fowler on March 18th. The wedding is a destination wedding on the beach in Texas.  This shower was such a fun way to share in her excitement even though some of us won't be able to attend the wedding.

 



This was the first bridal shower I have helped with in a while. I'm just wondering when all the baby showers are going to start...

Pushing the Limits! Fantasy Hairstyling.


Fantasy hair is all about breaking the limits of traditional hairstyling. It can include the use of ornaments, clothing, and props to achieve the desired look, and it’s almost always pulled to the top of the head. Fantasy hair competition  pits contestants against each other to create a total look of hair, clothing and makeup, in a limited amount of time.



Hosted by actress Brooke Burns, this competition series pits ten of America’s best stylists against each other to see who can deliver the biggest and best in fantasy hair design.

Part sculpture and part pop art, each challenge requires contestants to create shocking coifs that resemble everything from multi-layer bridal cakes to toys with moveable pieces. The stylists then enter the ring to present their hair creations in a fully produced, dramatic and stylized performance. After each challenge, the judges critique the designers on creativity, execution and overall presentation.

In addition to blow-by-blow drama in the arena, there is also the day-to-day drama between the cohabitating stylists who fight each week to stay in the game and win the ultimate prize of $100,000.

“Hair Battle Spectacular” is produced by three Ball Productions with JD Roth, Todd Nelson, Adam Greener, and Mike Nichols serving as executive producers.




26 Treated Me Right.


I know, I've been slacking on the blog!  We had a busy week, but I'm still here.  I promise Monday I'll be back with a new "Let's Talk Hair", but first I'll share a little bit about my birthday weekend.

February 19th I turned 26.  I gotta be honest, I wasn't thrilled about that number.  It's no landmark age.  It just means I am now closer to 30 than I am to 20, or as Gary pointed out, closer to 50 than 0... it's crazy how fast life moves. 

However, despite the number, it was a good birthday.  A few days prior to the big day I began getting cards in the mail from out of town family wishing me well.  I used some of their birthday money to buy a new outfit and shoes (if you gotta get older, might as well look good on your birthday).  Then the day before the big day the finishing touch for my new birthday attire arrived in the mail from my sister and brother [in-laws], Gina and Zach, in the form of a necklace with a small pair of scissors hanging from it.  It couldn't be more perfect.  I think I've worn it every day since it arrived on my doorstep.

I arrived at work Saturday morning to a birthday banner on my mirror, balloons and chocolate on my station, and lots of birthday wishes from clients and co-workers.  Text messages, Twitter shout outs, and Facebook wall posts flooded my phone all day.  Gary came to the salon at lunch with Sonic and a balloon in hand, and I ended my work day with a birthday pedicure from Carrie.  Pink polish from the new OPI "Texas" collection now adorns my toes, leaving me ready for summer.

When I walked in the door from work a gift and and card were sitting on the kitchen counter, bearing Gary's handwriting.  (This came as a shock since I had told him not to buy me anything after impulse buying an over-priced floor lamp from West Elm last week.)  He came around the corner pushing the vacuum, saw me eyeing the gift and ran over to watch me open it.  It was a small HD video camera for our Europe trip!  (This means videos on the blog in the near  future, so get pumped.)

Saturday evening we met 8 others for Sushi at Little Rock's Sushi Cafe, one of my favorite restaurants.  The service was slow, but the food and the company were wonderful.  After dinner we moved the party to our house for cheesecake (homemade for me by Laura) and martinis. 






Sunday we met my family for a birthday lunch at ZaZa.  Afterwards we went to Mom and Dad's for cupcakes and gifts.  My sister made me an awesome gift basket full of goodies for crafting and [hopefully] sewing.



My friends and family are the best.  I couldn't have felt more loved on my birthday.  Who cares if I am knocking on 30's door, life just keeps getting better with age.

What I'm Loving Wednesday.


A lot of the lovely women I follow do a "What I'm Loving Wednesday" segment on their blogs each week.   I love reading all of their posts, so I thought I'd try one.  Since we leave for Europe in 6 weeks I am loving shopping for items for our trip.  Here are 3 travel items I'm loving this week:

1.  Merrell Siren Sport shoes:  These shoes came highly recommended online by women who have traveled Europe.  We will be doing loads of walking, so we'll need comfy shoes.  Also, we will be limited on how much we can pack, so I'm wanting to bring just one pair of shoes for sightseeing and one pair of black flats for evenings out.  I thought these would be a perfect fit, and they are cute, so I ordered them!  They came in last week and they are everything I had hoped for.  I wore them to work last Saturday and they were very comfortable for the 8 hours I spent standing.


2.  Roots-Village Bag:  I'm also looking for a good purse to take on our trip.   Something that is cross body so I can leave my hands free, while keeping my purse in front of me and away from pickpockets.  I want it to be large enough to carry my camera, wallet, passport and maybe a book, but not too heavy.  I'm liking this one from Roots, it has lots of zipper pockets inside for cash and our passports.  What do you think?



3. Panasonic Vintage Headphones:  I'm loving these for listening to my music and podcasts on the plane and train rides.  They look much more comfortable than my ipod ear buds, and are way more stylish.  I found them on Amazon for only $30!  To buy or not to buy, that is the question?


The good news is my birthday is Saturday.  Maybe if I'm lucky the bag and the headphones will be joining my Merrells in Europe!


Happy Valentine's Day.

Since today is Valentine's Day I am going to take a break from "Let's Talk Hair" and post about my evening with my sweet Valentine.

Today was my day off work, so I cleaned  house, grocery shopped and cooked dinner for Gary.  In the midst of my cleaning, my doorbell rang.   It was a beautiful pot of red tulips from my Valentine!  They came with the bulb still attached so I can plant them in our yard.  What a nice surprise.

This evening we opted to stay in rather that fight the Valentine's Day crowd.   I cooked salmon on asparagus, with salad, bread and white wine.  We enjoyed our home cooked meal in the quiet of our humble abode.  I even broke out our china.  (I think this is only the second time it's ever been used.)  For dessert we enjoyed a few chocolate covered strawberries. 

It was the perfect evening, and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.  This holiday may be just another Hallmark holiday for money making, but I love it.   It reminds us all how blessed we are to have loved ones to share our lives with.







Snowpocalypse 2011.


We got more snow! The North Little Rock School District has now had a total of 5 snow days this year.  That's pretty unusual for us, and it's been all anyone has been talking about for the past few weeks.  But this snow, was the granddaddy of all of the 2011 snow days, with a whopping 6 inches here in NLR, and up to 2 feet in some areas of Northwest Arkansas.


Gary and I have been stuck at home for 2 days now.  We've been catching up on DVR, sleeping, eating too much, planning our upcoming European vacation, unsuccessfully attempting to sled down the hill in front of our house, and playing in the snow with Lola.  While these two unexpected days off work have been fun, we're looking forward to getting back to work and out of the house tomorrow.







This is the snowiest winter in Arkansas since 1988.  Hey Al Gore, what was that about "global warming"? Oh, we're calling it "climate change" now, I see.

Let's Talk Hair: Vol. 2




Wow, apparently everyone liked the "Let's Talk Hair" idea.  The first volume got the most views I've ever had on a post (thanks Julee for the shout out on your blog!).  So, it's a keeper!  I'm thinking Mondays will be a good day to blog about hair since that's the day we hairdressers refer to as our "Saturday".  So here's your second volume of "Let's Talk Hair":

This week I wanted to share an article I've had on my refrigerator for a few years now.  It's  from the December 2008 Reader's Digest and it's titled "Thirteen Things Your Hairstylist Won't Tell You."  Warning: if the article seems a little harsh, remember... I didn't write it.   However, I do think the article gives some helpful hints for developing a better relationship with your hairstylist.  (The article will be in "quotation marks" and my remarks will be in the [brackets].)

"I'm a beautician, not a magician.  I can give you Gisele Bundchen's haircut, but I can't give you her face."  [Be realistic about your hair and how a style will look on you, not how it looks on the model.  If it helps, put your thumb over the model's face and then determine if you still like the hair.]

"Come at least 5 minutes early.  If you're running late, please call ahead.  Show me some basic respect.  This is a business, not fun and games."  [When you run behind, you cause your hairdresser to run behind for every client following your appointment.  If you cancel less than 24 hours before your appointment, you leave your hairdresser with a 1-2 hour gap where they make  no money.  Unlike most jobs, if our chair is empty, we make no hourly wage.]

"Don't ask me to 'squeeze' you in when I'm already booked.  I'd be taking away time and effort from other clients.  You wouldn't like being treated that way."  [Try pre-booking your next appointment when you leave the salon so you don't find yourself in a bind.]

"Hairdresser school does not teach about counter-transference, projection, negative reinforcement, or personality disorders.  If you're looking for a therapist, all I have is a tail comb and an opinion."  [We feel honored to be considered a confidant, but our real expertise is helping you with your hair.]

"Some women think that if they keep their hair all one length the way it was in high school, everyone will think they're still in high school.  Guess what? You're not.  As you get older, you need to soften the lines around your face.  Layers are the magic remedy."  [If your hairdresser makes a suggestion, give it a try.  You might like it.  After all, they are the professional.]

"Bodies and hair change as hormones change.  If your hair is dry, listless, or brittle, or if it's not holding color or style the way it used to, see a doctor.  If your hair isn't over processed, you could be pregnant (surprise!) or menopausal (yes, I can tell)."  [Don't automatically assume that if your hair doesn't look, or feel how you want, it's your hairdresser's fault.  I have had several clients learn from a doctor that they had a vitamin deficiency after complaining that their hair was dry and broken.  Once a doctor recommended vitamins for them, their hair began to return to normal.]

"A trim is not 'just' a trim.  It requires my expertise, skill, knowledge and time.  Would you say to your dentist, 'it's just a tooth,' or to your doctor, 'it's just a leg'?"  [Be it a half an inch or 5 inches, a haircut is a haircut.]

"That single dollar bill you stuff into the shampoo person's hands isn't doing her any favors.  A dollar bill doesn't buy anything anymore.  You should tip her at least $3- more if your hair is long." [Tips are never required, but always appreciated, as hairdressers don't make an hourly wage.]

"If you want to buy a bottle of color and do your own hair to save a buck, you can live with the consequences." [Often times coloring your own hair will cost you more in the end.  A corrective color costs more in a salon than a regular color.  Don't bother asking your hair dresser to recommend a boxed color you can do yourself.   Boxed color and professional color are two totally different things.  The only thing we know about boxed color, is to stay away from it.  It stains your hair, making it hard to remove later.  Do yourself a favor, either save your money until you can afford professional color applied by a licensed stylist, or stay all natural!]

"Some clients will say, "Cut my hair just like you did last time."  That always baffles me.  The average time between  appointments is six to eight weeks.  I have hundreds of clients.   How am I supposed to remember exactly how I did your hair the last time?  If you want a carbon copy of a cut and style you loved, take a picture and show me."  [Photos are the best way for us to remember a cut, they help us understand the style you are trying to describe to us.]

"Why do you think a child's haircut should cost less than yours?  Kids don't sit still, Kid's kick.  It's and intense experience."  [All I can say to that is amen.]

"Standing all day and using scissors and a blow-dryer takes a toll- I have arthritis in my fingers, calcium deposits in my wrist, and 10 percent less hearing than I used to.  I'm a physical wreck."  [Not to mention the ingrown toenails, aching back, and deep gashes on my hands.  Never think a hairdresser has it easy.]

"We see women at their worst.  Their hair is wet, they have foils on their hair, they have no make-up on.  There's nothing for them to hide behind.  So they tell us everything.  The truth is, I really don't care what they do sexually.  I'm only interested in their hair."  [Yeah, so in addition to being physically drained, add emotionally drained to the list.  Your hairdresser wants you to enjoy "your time," but remember not to overload them, you'll get a better haircut if your stylist is not overwhelmed by your personal life.]

Keep these 13 things in mind the next time you visit a salon, you might just walk out with the best hair you've had in years!

Snow Day #2!



Yesterday we had another snow day.  Gary worked most of the day, but all of my clients moved to next week.  So, I got some things done around the house, redesigned my blog's header and created a blog signature.  I hope you like it!

When Gary got home we enjoyed some time in the snow with Lola, made chili, and caught up on Vampire Diaries.





 
  






Last snow day it was just me and the pets, while Gary was snowed-in at a hotel in Alabama en route to Atlanta for work.  I was glad we got to spend this snow day enjoying some time playing and relaxing together. 

They are calling for more winter weather tomorrow and Monday.  I'm beginning to wonder if that groundhog knew what he was talking about...