ShineForth Salon’s 8th Anniversary

It's been eight years since I started my small business and continued my career as a hairstylist, and it has indeed been a wild ride. I don't think I could have predicted how much I would grow and change as a person after all those years, but one thing that has stayed constant is my love for making people feel beautiful and confident just by styling their hair. It brings me so much joy to do what I love every day, and I'm so grateful to have such an amazing community of clients and friends who support me. 

What a time to be creative and adventurous with hairstyles!

With my husband, a.k.a. ShineForth Salon’s top supporter!

I've had the chance to work with different people in and outside Oakland, California. From weddings to editorials to special events, I’ve grown a lot as a professional with these opportunities.

Thank you all so much for your support over the last 8 years! Here's to many more years of styling hair and making people feel beautiful!

Don't forget to stop by the studio starting next week for your surprise gift as a thank you.

xo,

Rebecca

P.S. If you're ever in Oakland, be sure to check out (or drop by) my salon! I offer various services, including haircuts, color, styling, and more. I would love to help you find your perfect look! Send me a message or click here to book an appointment.

P.P.S. Follow ShineForth Salon on Instagram for hair inspiration and to stay up-to-date on the latest salon news. I have a special treat for those who will be visiting the salon. No guesses, but I know you’ll love it!

The Best Haircuts and Hair Care Products Designed for Men

We are bombarded with women's hair trends every year, but only a few options are available for men. What does 2022 have in store for our dapper gents? Are fades still in? Or do men prefer longer, more carefree locks?

I researched and found that this year’s hair trends have a good mix of both, from elevated fades to textured cuts. Styling men’s hair can be fun if you know which styles to go for. I also thought it would be a great idea to list my favorite hair products for men so that they can get started on building a hair care routine.

Haircuts

Flowy & Natural

Also called the “bro flow,” this look is a modern take on the rugged hairstyle that was popular in the ’70s. It features soft waves that curl away from the face, framing it beautifully. This cut gives a more relaxed vibe and is low-maintenance. It’s suitable for men with thick, medium-length hair.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by JARED LETO (@jaredleto)

Natural Curls

This seems like a universal trend, but I love it because I’m all for embracing your hair’s natural texture! Curls are relatively easier to maintain for men, but it still depends on the hair length. You can opt for a mop-top, clean side-swept curls, or even a mullet if you want a trendy style.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Simon Baker (@snappytoes)

Clean & Balanced

If you’re more of a minimalist, this look is for you. Balance is key to achieving a fluid silhouette, especially on the top and sides, which you can get by adding layers and textures. You can pair it with a mild scruff to add an edge to your look (just remember to keep it groomed).

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by David Beckham (@davidbeckham)

Hair Products

Salt Spray: Mare by Reverie

Salt sprays are perfect for creating soft waves and reviving dull textures. The Reverie Mare Mediterranean Sea Mist contains algae extract and uses Mediterranean sea salt to volumize and condition the hair. 
How to Use: Spray on damp or dry hair, then scrunch the ends to shape waves or curls.

Hair Serum or Oil: Reverie Ever Hair Oil

Hair serums only became popular in recent years, thanks to skincare giants that pushed this product onto everybody’s beauty shelves. If you’re not fond of using many hair products, a serum or lightweight oil like Reverie Ever Recovery Hair Oil may work well for you. It tames frizz, protects the hair, and adds shine.

How to Use: Apply a few drops onto your palm and smooth through damp hair. Start in the roots down to the ends.

Pomade or Balm: Rake Hair Balm by Reverie

Look for a firm-hold pomade that creates volume and doesn’t leave any buildup. It’s a good alternative for hair wax because the formula is more manageable and hydrating. This Reverie Rake Hair Balm is suitable for all hair types, which is perfect if you like to keep a low-maintenance hair routine. 

How to Use: With your fingers, apply a small amount to damp or dry hair. Work the product on the ends to achieve a smoother look.

For more styling tips, drop by ShineForth Salon!

Disclosure: Some of the links on this post contain affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. Please keep in mind that I included these companies and their products because of their quality first and foremost. The buying decision is always yours.

2022 Hair Trends That Look Great on Women Over 40

They say life begins at 40, and I agree! You are more confident with how you present yourself, and you could care less about other people’s opinions because deep down, you are secure and at peace with yourself. 

Speaking of confidence, your 40s is also the perfect time to find a signature hairstyle to express yourself. You want a haircut that is flattering, modern, and age-defying (yes, there is such a thing!). Also, hair care should be a top priority as many women at this age already experience thinning, brittleness, and even hair fall.

With that said, here are five hairstyles modeled by my own ShineForth clients that reflect a more youthful glow while still looking sophisticated.

Layered Bob

There are many types of bob cuts, but the layered version is a favorite. It has enough layers to provide texture in the front, allowing the hair to keep its volume. This style is an excellent option for women with fine or thinning hair.

How to Style: Opt for a tousled look with a volumizing spray, or create chic waves with a blow-dryer and a good brush. Nurture curls if you have them, and lock in moisture with EVER Recovery Hair Oil from Reverie.

French Bob With Fringe

I talked about bobs earlier, but this time we have the A-line style with a soft fringe. Bangs always come through with that youthful appeal, so if you want something completely new, I suggest going for this cut.

How to Style: If you have straight hair, keep your mane soft and smooth by blow drying and applying a RAKE Styling Balm. However, if you have textured locks, hair oil works best to keep it smooth without weighing the hair down.

Layered Lob

Lobs became popular a few years ago, and they are still a trendy haircut now. A lob is an edgy spin to the classic bob. It’s slightly longer than a normal bob haircut and draws attention to your face shape beautifully.

How to Style: Do a deep side part to add drama to your hairstyle. Apply a bit of the I Create Lift  by Innersense for volume and hold.  If you want to take it up a notch, add a dainty barrette or hairpin for an unexpected but stylish look!

Single-Length Cut

With the resurgence of 2000’s trends, one-length hairstyles are in once again. With just a few layers to provide enough movement and volume, they highlight your best features and frame your lovely face. If you can’t decide on which style to get and want to start somewhere “safe,” you can never go wrong with layers.

How to Style: Spritz on a texture spray to add more dimension to your look. For a sleeker look, part your hair in the middle and apply a little bit of lightweight hair oil to keep your locks smooth.

Pixie Cut

This sleek and classic hairstyle is one of the easiest cuts to maintain ever, making it ideal for those who don’t want to spend a lot of time perfecting their hairdo. Whether you have fine and thinning, or thick hair, this style is FRESH.

How to Style: Let me be the first to tell you that hair accessories are timeless. Pixie cuts are easy to style. Just switch up your look by wearing a headband or opting for a slicked-back look. Use a styling product with a bit of hold, like MARE Mediterranean Sea Mist  by Reverie.

Disclosure: Some of the links on this post contain affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. Please keep in mind that I included these companies and their products because of their quality first and foremost. The buying decision is always yours.

Spring 2016 Shapes and Color

Emma Watson   Photo: UN Women, CC, cropped from original

When we look at what is happening on the runway, and what is displayed in the magazines, it is sometimes a challenge to figure out how any of it relates to us. However, we can use them for inspiration, whether using new tones for painting a room, or adding prints to your wardrobe, or choosing a new tone for your hair color.

Looking at the Pantone color charts is a fun way to get a sense of what will be coming down the runway. Then looking at how companies interpret these color charts into their products. Look at the color palette released by Sephora this season. Check out on line some of the beautiful mood boards that Patternbank creates.

In Meghan Willet's article for Tech Insider, she talks about the official colors of 2016.

HAIRCOLOR

You've noticed these tones in the hair everywhere, from muted and soft, to heavy saturation. We are also seeing a lot of melded colors in hair color as well. Yes, smudging colors together, so there are no hard lines. This can be done with natural hair color, as well as fun colors, to give an illusion of transparency.

Brondes are the new blonde, with rose gold effects, or golden, or icey, silver, "contoured" into the hair. Yes, contouring as you would with make up, creating highs and lows in the hair, but different than Foiling the hair. Using hair color to create depths and shadow with a less meticulous hair color application that creates a really pretty finish.

Rich browns are also a big hit, with choices that entice such as, Mocha, Coffee, and Chocolate. 

HAIRCUTS

Longer Bob shapes continue to be a look for this season. Shorter hair lengths will continue to be soft, or edgy, complemented with a bold color, whether it be a cool blonde, warm blonde, with a hint of pastels. Check out Sandra Bullock's very pretty Bob, and her hair color is gorgeous.

Short hair is still very much a chic statement. Check out Julianne Hough's short hair, or Emma Watson's growing out Pixie.

There is lots of fun to enjoy with this season's offerings in color and shape.

A Bit of Paris

I'll get to a bit of Paris in a moment, I need to give you the background first. I traveled to Austin for a week with my professional friends, and we immersed ourselves in professional development, readying ourselves for the big show, and then I actually participated as a student, then helped to run a room of hair styling for the students. My segment of the "big show" was to be inspired by Paris in the 20's. There were four of us from the National Team in this segment.  The rest of the photos are behind the scenes.

ShineForth Salon Helps to Raise Money for Corey Reich

ShineForth will participate in a Cut-a-Thon to help raise money for Corey Reich at Calm Salon on Piedmont Avenue on November 16, 2014, from 10 am to 3 pm. For those wanting to see us for the first time, this is a great way to get discounted haircuts, blowouts, or treatment and blowout, and donate your money to Corey.

In 2007 Corey was diagnosed with ALS. Since then, he has sought to bring awareness to ALS and the development of treatments that work. Corey has also, along with his family, raised money for ALS through various avenues and continues to.

He has won various distinguished awards, and when he is not out there advocating, he can be found at Piedmont High, coaching the tennis team.

Come show some support and leave with beautiful hair!

ShineForth Salon is now OPEN!

The idea for a new home brewed in my heart for about a year, as I struggled with the joy and gratitude for being busy and yet feeling I was unable to deliver my full attention to my clients.  I felt distracted by the "salon" environment, which has become the norm out in the world.  I wanted to create beauty, in a place of beauty, without the usual hubbub of a salon.  The idea of moving had to happen, my soul needed it.

Opening Night

A colleague showed me pictures of his new, beautiful studio in Southern California and said he never looked back, going out on his own and working alone.  And that meeting is what cinched it for me.

I knew enough that it would have to be a case of the right place, right timing, and then leaping!  So I kept my eyes open, and then I saw it.

Piedmont Avenue in Oakland, CA, is where I worked 15 years ago.  The street has changed in a good way, with more going on, more youth, and yet classic restaurants like Bay Wolfe still thrive on the street.

I am happy to be in my new home, as we continue working on the last details.  Thank you to all my clients who have made this move with me, who continue to support my dreams, and who give so much!  I want to give to you even more than what you expect because I can.  And a special thanks to the clients who purchased services ahead of time to make a move possible. 

Thank you to one of my best friends, Mary Anne McKearnie of MA Designs, who designed the space and gave her time as a gift!  I love my new home.

We will have a Grand Opening in the Fall, so stay tuned.

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!

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.

Inspiration at Sassoons

 Okay, I'm breaking the mini-chronological order I had going.

I just found some photos, from November of last year.  A few of us from Keter Salon went down to LA for Sassoon's 2009 Fall Collection Release. 

Very Inspirational to say the least.  

Like I said, masters of any trade, make it look effortless, but the actual skill level takes years to develop.  I love the texture and the soft colors on some of the blonde models.  Of course, the execution by this team is nothing less than phenomenal

Audacity of Change- An Inaugural Fashion Benefit

In order to celebrate the election of President Barack Obama, we thought what better waythan to express it through nonconformity in a fashion show.

Girl Talk Band set the tone for the evening, and gave generously by playing melodic blues, latin, world jazz.   We were quite fortunate to have Angie Coiro MC our show, also giving her time for the cause.   She added flare, fun, humor and a feeling of generosity.   Denise Pate of Destiny Arts gave a brief introduction to the great work the organization offers in the Oakland schools.  To find out more about the great work Destiny Arts offers, check out www.destinyarts.org. 

Our sixteen models represented our coummunity; women of all ages, backgrounds, and body type. The show felt global as the first models walked to the chant from the Nicherin Daishonin Buddhism out of Japan, wearing masks that we had made, shedding them as they left the room.  They then sashayed to Gypsy Jazz. 

What I enjoyed most about this event was the gathering of creative people.  In the salon that day, there was a feeling of excitement and love of our craft, not to mention pure creativity as the stylsits, and owner of Keter Salon came together to contribute to something larger than the everyday at the salon.  

Our stepping out to the community was met with the community coming to us...130 people filled the space, standing room only.  At the end of the day, we raised some money, Giselle Shepatin gave generously as well.  She sold clothing before and after the event, and donated a percentage of her sales to the cause.   She also offered beautiful, handmade scarves as gifts for the raffle.

I want to thank some of the Fourth Street merchants in Berkeley, CA, and the people listed for their donations:           The Nail Lounge      GirlTalkBand - www.girltalkband.com      Angie Coiro      Peet's Tea & Coffee      Bette's Diner      George's      Bare Minerals      The Vivarium      Patrick Gilligan      Lori Cheung - www.theportraitphotographer.com      Marcia Walden Skin Care      Dee Conway - Photography      Earl Crabb - www.humbeadenterprises.com      Cordelia DeVere - www.renegadeart.com      Molly B Clothing Store      Castle in the Air      Scarlett Garcia      Cafe M      Another Planet      Simma Leiberman      Dana Argenzana      Stacy Appel

Chop Wood, Carry Water

I’ve been under a bit of unusual stress the last three weeks, I would have been better off taking time to assimilate life’s latest serving of chewy bits.  But life goes on, and as a Buddhists have said, “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.”  Cutting hair, even though a family member may have been on her death bed, seemed odd.

And yet, my clients were there for me. At first, I did not think I could work.  The salon environment, albeit quieter than usual that day felt too overwhelming.  I had no intention of laying it out for everybody, nor did I need to become maudlin, or ignore my reality.  At times, I felt as though I walked a tight rope.  On one side was my life, on the other, my profession, and when I engaged in conversation about myself, I began to falter, and the net below swung in all directions.

At home I placed a platic bag on a hot burner, walked in three directions at once, not remembering what I was doing. At work, during a weave, I turned my clients hair a pale violet in a few packets.  The flashing light inside strobed, sending a warning to refocus, and bring the conversation back to the client.

My family member felt better today, we all could sigh with relief. The road to healing is still long, and perhaps even questionable.  Meanwhile, I am grateful for my life, and for my clients who continue to awe me in their respect, concern, and kind words.

The Hair Left Behind

I think of all the thousands of heads of hair I have cut in my career, and all the hair left behind, and the clients who, walk out the door with a bit more bounce in their step.  I think of all the things I could do with the millions of strands that fall to the ground.  I imagine how heavy that pile would it have accumulated into one massive hair ball, or creating walls, tunnels, out the door and onto the street.  I could stand the piles up, side by side, the difference in textures, and colors would be as disparaging as the clients who have sat in my chair.  Some piles would be 1/2 inch by 1'', some would me 5" deep, depending on the client.  If I could flatten out the piles, I could make squares, like a quilt, connecting their lives.  I could create a time line with the squares from when I began, til' now, building a path laid out into infinity.  If I could stack the flattened squares, I would stand on top and feel how tall these clients have helped to make me feel.  If that quilt of hair could float, it would surely buoy me a long ways out on a turbulent ocean, and keep me safe.  If these piles could tell the stories of the clients that leave the salon, carrying on in their day, and into their lives, as a new person, in their new look, it would be a very interesting story.  If I could jumble the pile up, mixing, tossing, like a summer vegetable salad, I would have a very colorful, unique, wondrous, and very deep mix of personalities, experiences and preferences.

http://search.creativecommons.org/freeparking

HairColor Maven in Once Again

Miss Cordelia DeVere, as generous as always, brought me a cappuccino before we began to the all-too-fun task of creating a new color for her.  The window was open at my new station, the summer fog had lifted allowing the sun to light up the greenery out my window, the breeze a nice welcome in the heat of the afternoon.  She exclaimed joy at my short hair, and congratulated me on my new spot in the salon. Inspiration percolated inside of me, as she spoke about wanting her hair richer, deeper in color to allow for the fadage.  As I conjured up her color combination, level 4, with some red violet, with some accents no doubt.   I applied slices of lightener with 9% developer.  We talked about what other artists are sculpting, painting, and her staging.  We talked about her thoughts on color. 

She is still making her creative, fun, and extremely sassy Gissy Dolls too.

It's always a pleasure to create for Cordelia. The accent colors were candy apple with a couple of squirts of pimpin' purple, and some orange.

She called a couple of days later, and said, "I just wanted to let you know, I love my #@*#%& hair!"

Here are some other Cordelia works of art. 

     

The $30,000 Pyramid

"So, what do you love about your hair?  What don't you like about it?  And when did you last get your haircut?"  I asked to begin the consultation with Leslie, a new client. Through Squaw Valley Writer's Conference in "07, I met a group of women writer's from the Bay Area.  Some of us have remained in contact, some have read at the readings I've held at the salon, and a few have even become clients.  One of the writer's that I had become a client, referred her friend Leslie.  Her curly hair was lovely, and way over due for a cut.  The longest layer on top reached to about her chin, sagging her beautiful face down "I'm one of those annoying clients, who wants to keep some length, but feel it's too heavy up here,"  she replied, pulling at her hair on top.  "I just got it cut six weeks ago.  That isn't very long is it?"

"No, it isn't, not for curly hair." 

"I feel like always leave with the same haircut."

"What attitude do you want your hair to have?"

"Ooh, that is a good question.  I've never been asked that.  Hmm.  Well, what do you think I have?"

"Long hair."

"Yeah, I feel like I look like a hippie, but without the hippie."

"Do you want to move into something a little more edgy?"

"What does that mean?"

"Edgy means to me a stronger shape."

"What does that look like?"

"Okay well, let me get my hands in here.  I think if you brought the length up to shoulder length, then took this hair away from your face a bit, slightly off center, then layered out this top, we'd be getting somewhere. I want to round out it out, so that you don't have a pyramid shape, and I'll do some dry cutting."

"Sounds, good.  Yeah, I've had the $30,000 pyramid quite often."

"You are funny." 

"Well, you come up with all kinds of names when you've had this kind of hair for a long time."

She removed her glasses, which was as slight discomfort, because she could not say anything. And so we cut, and cut and cut.  I asked at one point I asked if she would like to put the glasses back on.  No, she said, she was enjoying not seeing.  Then product instruction, then I twisted the hair and diffused.  Her hair looked fabulous.  Bouncy, full, sassy.   

I unwrapped her, she reached for her glasses, and as we spun the chair around, she exclaimed, "Oh wow.  I love it." She remained in the chair a bit, wanting to take in her image a bit.  We laughed about her looking for reflective surfaces to gaze in, on her way home.  We agreed it was a transformation.

http://search.creativecommons.org/photogirl7

http://search.creativecommons.org/Neil Carey's photostream

Intuition or Practice

What part of coloring hair is intuitive, and what is years of practice?  As I worked with a new assistant yesterday, she said she used to work with Logics hair color, and where she worked before, they couldn't look at a color chart.  They learned by knowing the boxes of color, the color level, and the tone.  As we talked, I realized I trained myself in hair color, and that has its pluses and minuses, right? Knowing levels and tones of hair color without a chart is a definite must because it is about training the eye to see color.  Some stylists have this gift, this natural ability.  Since I did train myself, and with practice, it is intuitive and knowing what level and tone is second nature.  And, I still refer to a chart to get a visual strongly placed in my head, and it happens within minutes.

We are playing with Dia hair color now.  I like it.  The range of tones, flexibility, and shine is wonderful.  The other day, I saw a new client for a weave and haircut.  I liked her, she seemed to respond to my ideas, our communication felt on track and we articulated a plan.  She had a natural level 5, and she was heavily highlighted.  We decided to not go that light. So I highlighted her hair with slices of Blondor and 9%.   Then I went back through with a thin slice of light brown, with a bit of copper, and a bit of gold.  I like that you can add a squirt of this and a squirt of that.  I thought after I shook the formula in the jar that maybe I needed to add more gold or natural to the formula, but I didn't.  but I did at a toner for the blonde of Richesse 9.3, which undid the shine, I am sure.  Next time, I would see what the Dia equivalent would be. 

The color was beautiful, with definite coppery lowlights, but not brassy.  The overall look had a zing to it.  I loved it, and she was happy.  The finesse of color formulating is to see what the gut says, and listen, or to follow through with what you worked up, and take a risk.  To me being a great colorist is not a perfect formulation, but knowing how to get back when you've gone too far.  Some of it is intuition and some of it is practice.

Hair Can Undo It All

Over a bottle of Chardonnay and a seafood platter at the Martini Oyster Bar in Sonoma, three of us couples talked about everything.  We laughed so much that my cheeks hurt, and my eyes watered.  One couples are a husband and wife team that are clients of mine.  I commented on the fact that Joanie is a dream client.  She is a client of Julie Schindler's as well, she knew exactly what I meant.  Julie is a wonderful fashion designer and designs most of what Joanie wears.  They have known each other for a long time now.  And what we love about Joanie is her ability to trust in, and pull forth the best work of those who provide a service for her.  She loves to turn it over.  When I pull off the cutting cape and she goes to the dressing room to change, I wait to see the finished look.  She walks out looking stunning every time.  Why?  Because she dresses, and her hair always looks good. There are people whom I have never seen dressed in their best, and yet they may wear great hair.  But then, some dress well but never make changes to their hair.  We all agreed that the hair can undo it all, the hair is the crown and glory. It must come down to fear.  Fear of looking good, fear of not looking good, fear of change, fear of attention.  I know women who can spend thousands of dollars on a wardrobe, per season, and who refuse to dress when they come into the salon. They wear sweatpants and Uggs.  But not Joanie!  She is confident in who she is, and she doesn't need approval from anybody... but she receives more positive feedback where ever she goes.  When she walks into a room, people look, because everything is congruent.

Every designer I know works very hard and deals with quite a bit of stress, every designer needs to find what they love in what they do, and not waste time doing all the other stuff.  Julie loves designing for Joanie because she is appreciated, and Joanie wears her clothes with ease.

Julie's designs are fabulous!  Classic with a twist;  beautiful fabrics, lined slacks, interesting shapes, detailed finishing.  Julie has class, and provides quality fashion, for a modest price.  She, unfortunately, doesn't have a website yet. The success of her business manifested through word of mouth.

I wished I would have brought my camera with me.

Past Lives

Once in awhile you meet someone who reminds you that there is such a thing as past lives lived, and maybe you come back together to continue the dialogue.  I had met Laura in the salon I worked at in downtown Oakland for 14 years.  She was a long time client of Joni's.  Laura is an artist, and we all had met working for the Personal Style Counselors, or PSC, in Oakland back in the 80's.  Laura would select color palettes for our clients.  After a client received their "harmonies", they would walk down the stairs to our salon, Kay's Collective, to have their hair done by the likes of Joni, myself and fourteen other stylists.  All this to say that Laura and I knew of each other, and then, eight years ago, she sat in my chair.  This is when we began to explore our connection. 

Laura is an artist who truly sees color, and has a deep respect for the canvas, the paint, and her relationship to the craft.  Her paintings capture a light essence, and yet her technique shows the depth of her understanding of the medium.  Her paintings delight me with her use of color, they are magical and inspirational, and yet I feel if I let myself gaze longer I can enter into the painting, and go many places.  After the birth of my daughter, I decided to take a painting class with her, and loved every minute of it.  I met Delfina Piretti there, and other delightful women.  And so, in our exploration, we not only share PSC in the past,  but now the desire to create beauty.

She not only is a wonderful artist, but a beauty, on the inside and out.  She works in the are of Transofrmative Arts.  She coaches, she speaks, as well as creates her own art.  Her list of accomplishments go on to astound me.  She has a great ability to drop down into pithy conversation, and on the other hand, we can laugh, and do.  As time goes on, we realize more and more, and appreciate the fact that, indeed, we have known each other a long time.  I have tremendous respect for Laura for many reasons, one of which is how she is determined to live a life that contributes to those around her. 

                                                    

Check out the interview with her, she shares her ideas on Color.

We did her makeup and hair last week and took these photos.           

To find out more about how talented, and how much this woman offers up to the world, check out her new website www.whitebirdrising.com

Thank you Laura, I look forward to discovering, and remembering our dear connection and how this thread will weave our lives together.

Museums

I stand in the very three foot area that my favorite hairstylist has performed her craft for years.  It's as if I stand in her own personal museum.   Not because there are artifacts of hers hanging around me, or relics of her hair do's that line the wall behind me.  I feel as though her energy surrounds me, encourages me, reminds me of the creativity that abounds. I just need to tap in to the resevoir that has lived here long before I have arrived.  And, I believe she will haunt us to be kind to each other, to draw upon each others strengths, and let the small stuff fade away. It will be interesting to see how the energy shifts however, how the group of stylists reconfigure around her not being there, and being with what is.  Who and what will fill the space. She doesn't leave town till next week.  So, we will go have breakfast at one of my favorite places, La Note in Berkeley, and then go to SFMOMA to visit the Freida Kahlo exhibit.  Two weeks ago we visited the Annie Leibowitz exhibit at the Veteran's Memorial.  I was so impressed with the vulnerability I experienced in viewing her work.  My only regret is that we didn't explore our relationship outside of the salon before this.  I will cherish every moment as we take in the art, talk and share time with one another.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I'm busying myself not only with writing one of the most challenging stories of the book project so far, but I'm preparing for another editorial shoot on Sunday.  I called Savanna yesterday in search of size 10 heels.  Dee Conway the photographer and I will work together, which I'm really looking forward to.  She has a creative eye, plus she is funny as can be.  We have a great model from Rabaat shoe store, Rachael, who once modeled in Europe for a period of time.  We've come up with the concept for hair.  

                                                         

I sped around town yesterday, looking for jewelry, leggings, and shoes. I didn't find shoes.  Kind of critical. I can spend 100. on a pair, but do I want to for the shoot.  I don't want to fall short of a fabulous shot, just because of the shoes, they are pretty important.  We are going for romantic and feminine, perhaps a bit of a period feel to it.

Maybe I need to hunt earlier next time, instead of waiting till the final week. We have a fabulous dress, loaned to us by the talented Cari Borja, a designer in Berkeley, CA. Check it out.  This loan is a very generous offer.  Thank you Cari.  To see more of her designs, check out:   www.cariborja.com

                                                                                                       

A museum of Savanna's haircuts?  Not a bad idea.  She gave me this latest.

Hair Salon Personnel Change

Savanna, my anchor, and colleague is leaving the salon.  Her last day will be June 17, and it will be a sad day for me, although I am terribly excited for her.  She, and her husband Jeff, are heading to the UK, where he is from, and where she has spent time. Her father is English as well.  Savanna is a talented hairdresser, who is down-to-earth, unpretentious, and somebody you want to know forever.  Her hair designs are creative, detailed, and daring.  Her bobs are perfect, her one lengths impeccable, and her short haircuts are original and well suited for the hair texture and the facial features of her clients.  And, she is a beautiful, genuine, gentle, funny, and kind soul.

Then there is the way she dresses.  Vintage most of the time with a Savanna twist.  She will not wear makeup if she doesn't feel like it.  She is regal, yet funky.  She is grounded and steady.  She changes her hair more than any hairdresser I've known.

Her presence in the salon will be missed by a lot of people.  Her level of care for her clients from the moment they show up, until the time they walk out of the salon, is superior.  She takes care of their hair, describing it to them at length to them, informing them of things they have never known.  I have never heard the cuticle of the hair be so interesting before.

Savanna's future will be fascinating.  She plans to go to design school, with an industrial focus.  She was already a painter before she studied hairdressing at the Paul Mitchell school in San Francisco.  Savanna and Jeff dined at our place the other nite, and as usual, there was lots of laughter, good food, and stories.  In true Savanna style, she walked in with a wet painting to which she had just applied the finishing touches.  It was an oil portrait of me, with my latest haircut and color.  I think she captured a lightness of being, that I will treasure for all time.

Thank you Savanna for your artistry, professionalism, care for people, your beauty inside and out, and your dear friendship.  You are an inspiration to me, and words cannot define the deep level of respect I have for you.  And even though I shall miss you, I am proud of you for taking this leap.  I will see you in the UK.