Wedding Photo Shoot

Photo shoots are an excellent way for me to exercise my creativity. I love the camaraderie on a shoot, where "the team" is working on a common goal of getting fabulous pictures. The purpose of this shoot was to create a series of bridal looks.

The team consisted of photographer Kristina Varaksina, beautiful designs by Joseph Domingo, Makeup Artist Chloe Rainwater, Model Lindy Castro, and flowers by 7 Victoria Street. Great group of inspired creatives! In bridal looks, detail is everything.

'For this series, I began with the looks that were the softest in texture to allow me to build the hair up with products as the day progressed. This shoot was ALL DAY!

I worked with L'Oreal Professionnel products, beginning with Volumetry and Volume Envy Mousse. Second look, I used some Infinium hairspray.

Third look, more Infinium hair spray, and the use of pins.

Posted on January 8, 2013 and filed under Beauty, fashion, Photo shoots, Wedding Hairstyles.

Tuesday Tips

Today we are going to talk about the Blow-dry!  You're only as good as your tools.  Chi Pro-dryer GF-1505 - $154 CHI Pro Low EMF Professional Hair Dryer with Diffuser (GF1505). The price point is average.  Panelists love this dryer because it is quiet, lightweight, and dries the hair quickly. 

You can spend $20. for the Revlon Ionic Ceramic Pro Stylist RV484, as it has a feature that the higher-cost brands didn't have, separate heat and airflow settings, which I like.

Posted on January 3, 2013 and filed under hairstyles, Tools.

Styling at Ma Jolie Salon in San Ramon

Ma Jolie Salon in San Ramon hosted L'Oreal Professionnel and invited other salons to participate in this Hands-On workshop led by Sean Metcalf-hair colorist at Grasshopper Salon in Sf, and yours truly got to style these waves.

It's incredibly satisfying to educate in the field and help other hairstylists strengthen their skill set in styling. Here we used various texture-building products on dry hair, then we protected the hair against the heat of the curling wands and irons and sprayed in the sets with Infinium #3 and #4.

I love the flexibility of the L'Oreal Professionnel styling products for photo shoots and weddings. These products are classic, but we used them differently than you might think or how the directions say to use them. "You can break the rules when you know why you are breaking them," I always tell my students.

The vibe was friendly and welcoming at Ma Jolie. since we colored the hair, we had the opportunity to start the styling with a blow dry. As you can see in the photos, with long hair, it is essential, so I can dry accordingly with round brushes in the direction we want the hair to go. From the get-go, I could build the texture and smoothness from the beginning and establish where the partings would go.

I finished the hair using the curling iron, parting the hair in sections following the direction of the fall of hair, pinning as we went along. I finished by spraying the hair, and then I let the hair cool down so that it would hold better.

I pinned hair in place for the up style, and because of the set with an iron, it held much better. 

Overall, it was a fun and enjoyable day.

Posted on November 20, 2012 and filed under Beauty, haircolor, hairstyles.

Wedding Hairstyle

Styling hair for weddings can be tricky. A bride usually brings in a photo that may or may not look like the same texture as her own. From there, it's my job to recognize her hair texture and be honest about what it will or will not do. Of course, working with a client who respects this honesty is always easier. Managing expectations is part of my job.

I always focus on what I can do. For Candace, who has lots of hair, it was essential to find a way to dress up her hair so that it felt gorgeous and would stay put.! I brushed L'Oreal Professionnel's Mousse Volupt́é into the hair to create a texture of hair that would hold. Then I sprayed Infinium #3 on each section, used a curling rod, and pinned the curls.

I wanted to create an elegant hairstyle that, that night or the next day, could be taken down and have lots of body in the hair.


Posted on July 19, 2012 and filed under Beauty, hairstyles, Wedding Hairstyles.

Salon Update

I realize I've been so busy with beauty shoots, that I haven't given a salon update in awhile.  I got away from writing about specific clients on my blog if you haven't noticed, I am afraid to quite honestly.  It took one client recognizing herself in one of my posts, walking into the salon and confronting me about it.  Thing is, I didn't say anything negative, just personality quirks(like we all have)!  Maybe I should talk more about my own quirks instead. What do you think?  There are plenty of blogs about how to's for hair, and not enough about the psychological side of hairdressing. However, I am finding the psychological side less interesting, and the creating of beauty more compelling!  Maybe I should change the name of the blog.

Posted on April 27, 2012 and filed under Salon Life.

Storyboard

Storyboards are always a great way to start the creative process when planning a fashion or hair photo shoot, and talk about a salon team building experience!  Recently, at Keter Salon, where I am coordinating their 2nd photo shoot, everybody presented their boards, and spoke of what is inspiring them.  When the last person finished, there were nine boards.  Beautiful!

Posted on March 15, 2012 and filed under inspiration.

Behind the Scenes at SNOW 3

SNOW 3 Another white fashion event!  January 28th, 2012- We were cooking backstage with 36 models, irons, back brushing, pins, and plenty of L'Oreal Professionnel Densite, Mousse Volupte, and Infinium #3!

Thanks to Scott Smith, Heather Jassem, Aviva Morger for their assistance, and expertise.  Thank you to Cari Borja, and Julie Schindler for their lovely designs.  And a great big thank you to Joseph Domingo, and all the others who made this event go smoothly.

Posted on February 16, 2012 and filed under Beauty, hairstyles, fashion.

Beyond Chef Wear by Daniel Sudar

Christophe Tomatis Photography

On December 4, 2011, Daniel Sudar debuted his chef wear line at San Francisco's Mercury lounge. I felt honored to participate in hairstyling the models for this show.  Not only is Daniel humble, but a great talent! With only two years, officially, in the design industry, he is off to an amazing career. Why shouldn't chefs look fabulous as they create their tasty morsels?  Makeup Sara Dashty

Posted on December 13, 2011 and filed under Beauty.

SFBAfn - The Collection 2011

A few shots from The Collection 2011, produced by SFBAfn, of which I am a current member, and helped with the makeup.  Hairstyling by Umbrella Salon. The designs were stunning! I am so proud to be working with such a fine group of talented artists.

Daniel Sudar

Posted on December 1, 2011 and filed under fashion.

L'Oreal Session Styling Team

Okay.  September proved to be an unbelievable month.  For five years, I have been pursuing editorial work, building a book, and working many hours in exchange for the picture.  Through www.hairbrained.com, I learned of the L'Oreal Professionnel Session Styling Team audition.  I couldn't pass up the opportunity.  I submitted this video and got to go to NYC for the live audition. All the folks at L'Oreal Professionnel made me and 15 others feel right at home, Joseph DiMaggio, Amit Abraham, and Kate Oechsle, set the tone with the vision of this team, and of not competing, but to share of ourselves. At the end of the day, one brave soul, asked, "When will we know if we are part of the team or not?"  The answer is, "You are all part of the team."  I had to pinch myself!

The common thread of those present is humility.  I knew right away this was a team I wanted to create with and support.

Posted on October 11, 2011 and filed under Salon News.

Cari Borja Designs Photo Shoot

Tear sheets were laid out for me.  Each of the three models, which included Cari,  needed to look different from the other.

I set up at 9:00 am, and started on the task of styling hair and applying make-up on our first model, finishing at 1:00 pm.

Cari's Designs are feminine, fanciful, and flirtatious, so we played with the idea of keeping the hair simple, casual, and approachable.

Cari's ease, charm, and adept storytelling skill made me realize she has crafted her life into one that is creative, and full, and that she is doing none other than what she is meant to do. How fantastic to be a part of the endeavor.

www.cariborja.com

Posted on July 28, 2009 and filed under Beauty, fashion.

Spring Green

After a year of letting my natural color show, I decided to color my hair.  Mostly, themetamorphosis came about because of the count down to NAHA.  We used powder lightener with 20 vol, and level 4 Luo color with 25Vol as a base, then toned with P01-P02, creating a bit more drama.

I thought, "Hm, I am going to be surrounded with my peers, and the idea of showing some creativity on my own head felt right. The extreme is always so invigorating.  I tell myself, "Just as long as you work that out on your head, rather than in your life."

Sometimes I look at myself, and think it looks great. Or, "too dark against your aging skin." I'll say.  Does it look to severe? My clients remarked, "You look less tired," as if my own questions lined my forehead.

Overall, I feel it is a nice change.  Color feels like a fresh start.  And this new be- ginning seems to be popping up in a lot of areas of my life, like the green of Spring emerging from the tilled soil.

And now, the maintenance begins.  I already feel like I need a toner.

However, the expectations of women are at an all time high.  More on that later.

Posted on July 23, 2009 and filed under haircolor.

NAHA Awards 2009

Just got back from Las Vegas.  I attended the NAHA awards ceremony at Mandalay Bay. I saw beautiful images of hair by some of the greats in the industry, like Vivienne Mackinder, Lucie Doughty, and Maureen Anlauf.

I felt inspired by these hair artists who are driven to execute their work to the level at which they do, and who then want to pass on their knowledge to those who are hungry to know.  I would love nothing more than to take a walk with a few of them, and hear about their creative process, see what they notice in their surroundings, what do their dreams reveal about their work.         

I sat in the audience, sometimes sad that there were not a more enthusiastic applause for the hard work, and hours of combing, teasing, and polishing hair that these stylists have spent on their creations.

And yet, the number of students present left me remembering the early days of my career, and wanting to be at every hair show possible.  They couldn't have chosen a more high caliber event on the West Coast.

Diana and I, the owner at Keter Hair Salon, shared in our mixed feelings of overwhelm, awe, and humility at the idea of even trying to compete next year.

Posted on July 21, 2009 and filed under Beauty, fashion, hair, inspiration.