Friday Link Love 12/30/2011

Last link love of 2011.

• Braids have been everywhere, but have you tried a twist? They are just as fun! 
• And hello, end-of-the-year jackpot! 101 hairstyle tutorials. All on one page. 
• Last week, I showed you the 2011 trends we didn't want to go away. Now, here are the ones we can't wait to see go. Except for maybe the owls...I love owls. 
• Also from R29, an updo in less than a minute.
• Another updo, but this one is Audrey Hepburn inspired. Who couldn't love that?  
• This braided updo is amazing. And, just so you know, we tried it today and it looked fabulous! 
• Some 2012 New Year's resolutions that think about adding to your list. 
• Also on New Year's resolutions, how to make and keep them. 
• A girl came into the salon with one of those waterfall braid. It was amazing. Everyone should learn how to do it. 
• I love Jeff Bridges and what he has to say about perception is interesting...
• Must try this "brown with a twist" makeup look.
• Maiden braids and how to style them! 
• These are perfect NYE nails!
• In case you're as stopped up as the rest of us...how to clear a blocked nose. 

What did you guys see this week? Any cool end of the year things?

Salon Etiquette

If you're new to the salon scene, or even if you're a veteran, you should know that a salon, like any other establishment, has it's own etiquette. 

Please, be on time.

And on time means early. Your appointment starts at the time that you are given, so it is always polite to arrive a couple of minutes early. Things happen though, of course. If you know you're going to be running late, call the salon to let the stylist know. If you're going to be more than 15 minutes late, ask if you need to reschedule. Some stylists only book half an hour appointments. If you're 15 minutes late, you've already missed half of it. 

Talk about prices before your stylists begins.

I once had a nightmare that I got my hair done and went to pay and the price was almost $1,000. Luckily that has never happened to me in real life, but I always ask my stylist how much something is going to be before they do it. Getting to the counter and hearing a price twice as much as you thought it was going to be is not very fun.

Patience is a virtue.

Sometimes, things happen during an appointment that unforeseen to cause the stylist to run behind. Try to be patient if this happens. That is, of course, if it is a reasonable time. If your appointment is almost already over and you haven't even sat in the chair yet, please talk to a manager and see what is going on. 

Tipping.

Ah, tipping. That thing that no one likes to talk about. Typically, like the food industry, at least 15% is normal. Also, don't forget to ask how your salon tips the shampoo techs. Sometimes, you have to tell the front desk to split your tip so that those lovely people behind the bowls get some love too.

Redos

Most salons have a redo policy. No one wants you to go around hating your hair. If this has happened to you, call and find out what can be done. The stylist won't be upset, promise!

Stylist Etiquette

It isn't just the client that needs to be nice. The stylist has some rules to follow too.

• The stylist should guide you to your perfect color and cut. Since it isn't the stylist who will be wearing the style, they shouldn't push anything on you that you're not comfortable with.
• The stylist should give you their full attention. Not play on their cell phone, or walk away to go chat with some friends unrelated to work.

Photo 1

How To: Use a Bobby Pin

I have a lot of trouble with those little pieces of zig-zag metal. They open, bend, break, or that little rubber piece comes off and I poke myself. Not fun. But the most trouble I have is trying to get them to hold my hair. 

It's been said, several times, that I have some funky hair. It's thick and coarse and is picky about the stuff I put in it. So needless to say that when I put a bobby pin in my hair, it rebels and chunks the bobby pin out screaming, "leave now and never come back!" 

And then I met Lesley, who can pin like a pinning master. I bet she could put my entire head of hair up with just one pin. So I decided to learn the art of pinning from her and the other stylists around the salon. And now, I share the knowledge with you. 

• People say to put the zig-zag side down. But I say put that zig wherever you'd like to zag! It doesn't really matter. Just do what feels better for you.
• The best thing to do for extra hold is to push the pin back on itself. Push in, then twist into opposite direction. See the video below.

Bobby pins are easy to use if you just play around with them. Try putting them in and twisting in different directions. You can be a professional in no time!

Friday Link Love 12/23/2011

• Everywhere I go I see something about Glee, and you know what? I can't get enough! Glee has forever impacted the music world. 
• Need the perfect style for that holiday party? Try using hot rollers. 
• I love the idea of loving wine, but I just can't seem to actually love it. But if you do, here a nice chart that shows you all about it. 
• The new Facebook timeline threw me for a loop when I first saw it. If only these 90's heartthrobs used these banners for their page.  Oh JTT. How I miss you.
• This leather and canvas satchel is probably the cutest DIY bag I've ever seen. 
• Another DIY project. Earrings from string and paperclips. Way cuter than you would think!
• Everyone with a cat knows that it's dangerous putting up a Christmas tree, but did you know these other pet hazards? 
• Dancing GIFs. That's pretty much all that needs to be said, except, did you notice who made the list twice? 
• Just discovered this new blog, She Lets Her Hair Down. Girl's got a ton of awesome tutorials. 
• Apparently oatmeal not only helps with exhaustion, but also acne.
• This is absolutely hilarious, and absolutely true. Don't forget to watch episode 2!
• The 10 most talked about beauty moments of 2011. You go Jenna Lyons!  
• Also from R29, the best holiday movies and fashion lessons from them. 
• How are so many girls so good at doing their own nails?
• An awww moment. A little boy designs a fireplace with Santa in mind. 
• 2011 beauty trends that should never die. 
• Shopping resolutions for 2012! I definitely need to do some of these. 
• Sometimes wearing red and green together can look too Christmasy, but Fabsugar shows you how to do it right. 

The Brazilian Blowout

The Brazilian Blowout has been out for a while, but there are still some people who don't know about it or who are on the fence about it. So here's what you need to know.

The Brazilian Blowout is a smoothing treatment that, according to the website, actually improves the condition of the hair by creating a protective protein layer around the hair shaft to eliminate frizz and smooth the cuticle.

Now, I've seen the Brazilian Blowout firsthand. The girls in the before and after photos haven't sat for hours while a stylist meticulously blow-dried and flat ironed their hair. The hair actually looks like that after the treatment with just a simple blow dry. 

Don't get me wrong. You do have to sit for hours. The treatment takes a while because you have to be shampooed, then the product is combed through your hair, then you're blow-dried, flat ironed, washed, and blow-dried and flat ironed again. You can see if you have a lot of hair like I do how it could take a while. 

But afterwards, you've got sleek, frizz-free hair that lasts for many weeks! If you ask me, it's well worth the sitting time. 

The blowout is really a revolutionary process in my opinion. It isn't permanent, so your natural curl will come back after so many weeks. Plus it doesn't damage the hair in anyways. In fact, since you'll use your flat iron a lot less often, you could almost say that the blowout helps your hair. Like I've said before, it is isn't permanent, why not try it?

If you have questions about the blowout, how it works or what is in it, ask your hair care professional. 

Have you had the Brazilian Blowout? Tell us how you liked it in the comments below! 

 

Hair Myths: The Truths Revealed!

When I was little I watched as Marcia Brady brushed her hair 100 times on each side to make it shinier. I, in turn, had to brush my hair the same. Because I wanted straight, flat, and shiny hair like Marcia (Marcia, Marcia!) 


Alas! It didn't work.

1. 2. 3....100. Done!

Myth: You don't have to have dirty hair for color to work.

This is so not true. Color will take on clean hair just the same. The only thing you need to make sure you do when you come into the salon is have dry hair. 

Myth: You can repair split ends.

No matter what Pantene Pro V tells you, you cannot repair split ends. They must be cut off. Now, you can prevent split ends. But there's no repairing. 

Myth: If you pluck out a gray hair, more will grow in it's place.

This is what they call an old-wive's-tale folks. While you're not going to suddenly have a patch of gray hairs in one spot, I don't encourage plucking them out. If they are bothering you, talk to your stylist about color options. 

Myth: Switching shampoos can make your hair look healthier.

Your hair doesn't discriminate against a professional shampoo. I emphasize professional because a regular drug store shampoo can coat your hair in wax to trick you into thinking it is healthy, when really it is not. But I digress. The dullness that you're seeing after using a shampoo for so long is probably just a buildup of product. Use a clarifying shampoo a couple of times a month, and violá! Good as new. 

Myth: For your hair to grow, you have to cut it every new/full moon.

Well...I'm not really sure how to answer this one. But yeah...it's not true. 

These are all myths that I've heard while in the salon, and they are all not true. There are probably about a thousand others that I didn't touch on, so if there is something you've been wondering, send it in an email to askalzy@gmail.com

photo. 

How To Tuesday: The Fishtail Braid

It is in interesting thing working in a hair salon. Most of the time I don't know what a stylist is taking about, since I'm not one myself.

/00, 6/77, 20 volume. uhh..what?


I was an English person because I didn't like math, so all of the numbers and the formulas that the stylists spout off go right over my head. But there are times like today when I can say, "Why don't you let me show you how to do that?"






Have you tried the fishtail before? I find I like it better than a regular braid on lazy days. What do you think?