BRAID MEETS BLEACH

 leave it to the FRENCH to create such a soothing sophisticated word such as BALAYAGE. 

balayage is a French word meaning to sweep or to paint. It allows for that sun-kissed,  natural looking hair colour .... similar to what nature gives us as children ... well not me per say but my brother was blessed with beautiful blond "balayaged" locks I was more the color of a patina'd penny.....you know that copper with a hint of green ...but I digress....with this technique you are able to create softer, less noticeable regrowth lines. The principal idea being less is more when creating that sun kissed look.

Forget foils.....well maybe not entirely.....there is most definitely a place and need for foil in the salon.....but seemingly one of the hottest hair trends of the moment is OMBRE especially on longer lengths of hair, which will leave your hair with perfect sun-kissed highlights directed on the mid to ends of the hair

Balayage gives the colorist more freedom ...which is music to my ears-freedom-isn't that what creating with color is all about!
here comes the fun part....and also the braid part...meet Carly my lucky client for whom I chose to do something entirely different in hopes to achieve that balayage sun kissed blonde.
no pressure or anything .....she was also scheduled for a modeling gig the next day, SO no room for error.
seriously look at the size of her ponytail..no one head should carry that much hair?

                     

 

 I wanted to see what coloring just within the braided sections of hair would result in...I was dealing with Guinness records amount of thick course curly hair. there wasn't enough time in the day to section all that hair let alone attempt to foil. the fact that she needed such slight gradual change due to modeling further helped me step out of the box in coming up with a new technique.

so...the "proverbial"  light bulb went off as they say and it hit me-BRAID IT-which allowed for me to freehand her entire head without sectioning and using a more fluid motion of coloring . DO NOT let those foils you see fool you...they are used only for containment of messiness due to her long length

look even I have a braid in my hair....oh did I mention I cant braid. I've been challenging myself to learn, decided that after 24 years of saying "I don't do braids" I better come humbly down off that horse. and seeing as braiding is as hot as ombre in the hair world, if I cant beat em...join em  

 

I worked my way around the head from side to side really just focusing on the perimeter which is where the "sun" would hit the hair the most in its natural state.  

 

 

so happy with the end results. Carly now has her own signature color that was a first for me therefor am able to say one of a kind....the lines are completely diffused so as not to know for sure if this is her natural color or the help of a mad scientist/colorist (insert devilish smile here) ....only her stylist will know for sure(ok and now you)

LOVE IT................CHEERS

 

MY GO-TO HAIR HACKS....

1. take it easy on shampoo
most people need to shampoo no more than 2 or 3 times per week. if your someone who's hitting the gym everyday simply rinse hair with water making sure to condition the ends or better yet, save the water altogether and opt for a dry shampoo to absorb any excess oils and odor.
my pic of the litter is....

kevin murphy fresh.hair

                                               

2. make gorgeous waves part of your morning routine
while getting ready in the morning why not try misting hair with a sea salt spray can be used either dry or on damp towel dried hair, then simply twist and wrap hair around itself pin up, go about the rest of your routine, perhaps drink that smoothie, and then once dry (give it 30 min) take down for beautiful beachy texture.....BONUS:NO HEAT NEEDED

kevin murphy hair resort

                                                  

3.getting hand-sy is the secret to a great blow dry
pre drying with your hands is essential - ...think of your fingers as a styling tool. start with towel dry hair and mist a leave in conditioner for protection, and comb thru with fingers and leave to dry- this is such an important factor for a good stand in for your hait dryer. use those phalanges to direct the roots whichever direction you want. if its volume your seeking for example, push hair up, off and away from face. letting your hair air- dry reduces blow drying 60-70peercent which is far less damaging to the hair.
my go to is.....

kevin murphy untangled

                             




4.the best solution for shiny hair is already on your scalp.
to add shine to your hair try relying on the oils your hair naturally produces.
skip a day of shampooing/blow drying and using a natural bristle brush the oils from your scalp throughout the length of your hair. your hair will thank you! 

 

natural bristle styling brush

                             

                                                       CHEERS.....

 

 

BREAKFAST AT... TEATROS RESTAURANTE

It would certainly appear as though I have a "thing" for all things vintage...its  because I do!
its so refreshing to step back in time so to speak and re-create with todays tools and products..and of course a little imagination.
As always I never tire of these creative shoots whether for promotional material or for collaborating for someone else its just all further fueling my fire for what I love to do.
and who'd have thunk that the above photo would be a center focal point of my blog/business card/social media all of which are promoting my business ...

the hair for me was also a bit of a stretch (challenge if u will) as this era was very clean. clean lines. clean polished height with hidden back-combing. clean and shiny fringes.
then there's me......disheveled and unstructured and yes...sometimes even messy.
Im good with that.....you want to see curl wizardry, gimme hot rollers any day!

 I'm very honest about my strengths and weaknesses within my hairstyling talent. one of the many joys of aging (insert painful cough here) is having a bit of wisdom and experience and being good with those.
Not to say I cant tackle precision behind the chair or clients only receive unstructured do's, but my strength is free hand and tousled with tons of movement. I am a very visual rather than technical stylist.
 this was a great challenge for myself to see if I can pull off a precision polished vintage yet modern beehive.
I was certainly happy with the images and TARA WHITTAKER never ceases to amaze with her eye
and her lens.

                

she hit the jackpot with this 1960's vintage cocktail dress from CATS EYE DESIGN.
this was a very grande creation and the setting was itself very grande...shot on location at TEATRO RESTAURANTE.

and of course it could not be pulled off without the stunning red lips courtesy of my friend and colleague Shea Brown.

 

 

 

 

CHEERS.......

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE....

             
THE REQUEST FOR VIBRANT COLOR PALETTES IS NOT SLOWING DOWN FOR ME.
 I HAVE TO SAY 25 YEARS BEHIND THE CHAIR IVE SEEN A LOT OF TRENDS COME AND GO AND IF I HAD TO PICK ONE THAT WOULD BE A SHORT LIVED ONE...I WOULD HAVE BEEN THE TRENDS BEHIND PRIMARY AND PASTEL COLORS
MY  HUNCH WAS WAY OFF

THE LAST SEVEN YEARS IVE BEEN WORKING EXCLUSIVELY WITH PRAVANA COLOR LINE AND THEY HAVE A FABULOUS SWATCH OF VIVIDS THAT ARE  LEADING THE RANK IN THE SALON INDUSTRY.
THEY ARE THE MOST VIBRANT LONG LASTING SEMI PERMANENT COLORS AROUND. COLOR  APPLIED DIRECTLY TO PRE LIGHTENED OR NATURALLY LIGHTEST BLONDE HAIR AND HAS TEN PULSATING SHADES INCLUDING:
VIOLET MAGENTA GREEN BLUE PINK SILVER YELLOW ORANGE RED WILD ORCHID

HERE ARE A FEW RANDOM PICS SHOWING EXAMPLES (WISH I CAPTURED MORE) WITH 3 CLIENTS THAT  HAVE REPEATED VIVID HISTORY,  AS I RARELY REMEMBER TO PULL OUR THE OL IPHONE ONCE I GET INTO MY  DAY?

      

         

 MY CLIENT ANASTASIA IS ANOTHER WHO'S BEEN EMBRACING THE PRAVANA VIVIDS LINE AND I'VE WORKED WITH THE SAME 4 COLORS.
 ITS THE PLACEMENT OF THEM IN WHICH I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE A VARIETY OF LOOKS USING BLUE, VIOLET, GREEN, SILVER. BECAUSE HER HAIR IS LONG AND LIKES TO KEEP IT AS SUCH THE BEAUTY IN HER OMBRE IS THE LONGEVITY WE GET OUT OF IT.
 BECAUSE ITS NOT BEING CUT OUT AND THE PRAVANA HOLDS SO WELL IN HER HAIR. SHE IS IN FOR EVERY 8WEEKS FOR TOUCH UP AND THE COLOR AFTER THAT TIME IS STILL BEAUTIFUL,ALBEIT SLIGHT FADAGE OF COLOR.

 

MORE OF JODEY.....

BEFORE

                   

                 

AFTER

                   

NICOLE IS ANOTHER WHO CONTINUES TO REQUEST PRAVANA VIVIDS

IVE USED MOST OF THE VIVIDS ON HER AS WELL OVER THE LAST 2YEARS,THIS DAY HER INSPIRATION WAS THE COLORING OF PEACOCK FEATHERS.

GREEN. PURPLE.RED.

NOT SURE WHY I DIDN'T LET HER SMILE AT ALL.....LOL

BEFORE

AFTER

             

WAIT LET ME FRESHEN UP

ANOTHER AFTER IN THE SUNLIGHT

                                     

CHEERS,

HIGH STREET SOCIETY

ONLY I COULD START THE 1ST DAY OF MY NEW BUSINESS VENTURE WITH THE FORCE OF SUCH ORGANISED CHAOS IN A DAY THAN MOST COULD IN A MONTH....

                                                           MEET MICHELLE
                                                          
                      STYLIST. MUSICIAN. ENTREPRENEUR . COLLEAGUE
 GRATEFUL FOR OUR SERENDIPITOUS INTRODUCTION ALMOST  A YEAR AGO ...TURNS OUT MORE OF A RE-INTRODUCTION AS WE WORKED TOGETHER OVER 20 YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST CAME TO CALGARY AS A LITTLE WHIPPER SNAPPER....
                                                                      WHO KNEW?

FAST FORWARD 20+ YEARS AND ITS NOW APRIL 2015....AND AS THE UNIVERSE DOES FROM TIME TO TIME...THROWS A CURVE BALL SO SEE IF YOU CAN HOLD STRONG SO TO SPEAK....SO AS IT HAPPENS, WHILE DURING  MY TRAVELS IN PANAMA THIS SPRING I DECIDE TO CHOOSE MY 1ST DAY OF ARRIVAL BEHIND THE CHAIR APRIL 2015, WHICH COINCIDED WITH  AN OPEN HOUSE/GIG WITH A GROOVY CANADIAN BAND "HIGH  "STREET SOCIETY". THIS WAS THE 1ST STOP ON THEIR CANADIAN TOUR


SO SIMULTANEOUS TO OUR FIRST DAY OF ESTABLISHING A NEW LOCATION TO FREELANCE OUT IF , WHILE I WAS COLORING CUTTING AND GENERALLY GETTING MY BEARINGS , SHE WAS TRANSFORMING THE STUDIO INTO A MUSIC VENUE, AND PREPARING FOR HER PERFORMANCE IN HOUSE WITH THE BAND... YES THERE WAS A BEER TUB!

             

            

   

             

THE SHOW..AS THEY SAY..MUST GO ON...AND SO IT DID 

                              CHEERS,