Bleach Dilemma and I told you so....

SO this might be a controversial topic, but I want to talk about it anyway.

As a new cosmetologist it's sometimes hard for me to really make up my mind on what I truly definitely think. This one I have clued out in my head.

Bleaching at home.

Now the proper industry term is "lightening" the hair, when it's done at home or alone I will call it bleaching.

Many of us have experienced, know someone or heard of someone with a bleach disaster.

From Tina Turner, to hair falling in the sink, pumpkin orange hair, chemical burns and worse, I want to talk about bleach.

My friend Flor posted a video about melted hair due to a bleach incident (not hers, just a mannequin) and just the other day I decided I was going to experiment and see how I could leave bleach on my mannequin on for and see and feel really damaged hair.

As young cosmetologists (as most will agree with me) Lightening and toning, is terribly difficult, hard to wrap your brain around and honestly to this day it still scares the living crap out of me.

It's especially hard when clients have unrealistic expectations, wanting to go from level 1 pitch-black to lightest brightest oxi-clean platinum. Some clients just simply don't want to listen, and I think don't want to understand. It makes it difficult for us as newbies to feel confident when we have to argue with you.

When I say " no I think your hair won't be able to handle it...."or " Yeah because that shade of blonde would look great in my sink..." It's not that I'm lazy, or stupid or inexperienced.... I literally mean what I say. I always try and compromise. The most important thing is the integrity and the health of your hair. You will see that styling a fuzzy broken bleach blonde ball of frizz is not easy to tame at home.  I'm trying to help you not hinder you. Setting up several appointments with you means I care about how your hair feels and looks after we're done and I have a better chance of getting you the colour you want. It's not a scheme to make me more money.

Now lets talk about at home colour. I understand it's not easy to come in every four to five weeks and get your regrowth touched up. I understand red fades incredibly fast. I get that the grey colour pops in pretty much a week and a half after the appointment. I get it. Have I told people how to maintain and do their box colour at home? Absolutely... Is it ethical and business smart? I don't even care. I understand that some people don't have the funds. I also realise that hounding you for doing a box colour at home will not get you any closer in my colour chair. But I will help you apply your colour and give you tips and tricks to help you not damage your hair. This however is only from my brunettes, red heads and other dark colours that require no bleach. I know that one day you will come into my colour chair when you have the funds, just because I helped you keep your hair a little healthier and didn't hound you. That to me is the most important part. Healthy hair.

Now for bleachers at home. STOP NOW!!! Anything to do with bleach, may it be foils, Highlights lowlights, overall bleach, panels, DIY Ombre.... Just stop. Bleach is not a chemical you should be playing around with. You're not trained. You didn't sit through chemistry and beauty school. You don't know anything about colour placement. What's that? Oh Google said..... yeah Google says plenty of things. Oh but you took High school cosmetology? Yeah that doesn't really teach you about bleaching either.

I learnt how hair lightens, the stages of under-pigment, how to cancel them out. How to properly apply it. The same goes for Highlights and lowlights. The same goes for an Ombre. I also know when hair can't handle anymore.....

"But I did box bleach twice at home and it's fine...." Honestly I don't care if you've done it once or ten times at home, eventually you won't be lucky and you might be left with snapped hair.

Bleach is not something to play around with.... I left Lightener and 20 Volume on my mannequin for 55 minutes covered under a plastic bag.... no heat.... and her hair melted.... here's another great example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1InTn9JrmA&feature=youtu.be

Bleach can leave hair feeling like crap, cause follicle scarring and atrophy, cause bald spots, and chemical burns. It's not something to just play around with.

To those of you who do DIY Ombre and Foiling techniques.... please stop. What you read on Google and Wikepedia isn't all true. It takes practise, time and real education to understand lightening. Don't try and educate others when you are not.

I don't go around teaching law, or accounting or give you DIY at home medications for your ailments.


I know that hair lightening is expensive, but I would rather have you come in once or twice and us figure out a way so you don't have to come in all the time, then you bleach at home or mess up your Feria ombre.... It will cost you triple the amount to fix then to just come in once or twice.

For out there is clients, what is your opinion?
For fellow stylists.... what is your opinion?
How do you feel about at home bleaching?

Any questions and comments, please leave them, I would love to discuss more of this topic

<3 Chris

Wanna make dat hair grow?

So long wait is finally over!! We were longing for it and now we have it..... Drum roll.... The marine mask and scalp toner! This stuff makes your hair grow thicker and healthier. It helps create a balanced environment for hair to grow thicker and more luscious.
The active ingredients are procapil and actisae 100.
Procapil will deter DHT (dihydrotestosterone) from attaching itself to the dermal papilla and steal nuttients and vitamins neccessary for hair growth.
Actisae 100 is a complex algae extract, compacted full of vitamins, minerals and amino acids.
These two combined will help your hair grow stronger and thicker :D
Exciting stuff right?!?!
So for all those thinning clients and those hi-lift blondes who's hair is brittle and weak. Give these two products a try!!!

A Legend

So Vidal Sassoon is kind of my hero. I'm a little sad I never got to meet him. He changed our industry abd elevated our craft as hairdrsssers. He was always dressed spectacularly and was one of the best hairdressers ever. I hope I can be like him one day and inspire young artists to be like me. He revolutionized haircutting and turned peoples world upside down. In his eyes we weren't iust gossipy bimbos, we were elevated and specialised staff. He respected the magical bond we, as stylists get to have with our clients as we transform them in our chair. He is the reason I wanted to be a hairdresser. I find the sassoon way of cutting the most beautiful and elegant way of cutting hair and I terrible enjoy a heavy gradiated weightline. This legend has inspired so many of us to be better at what we do on a daily basis...

Do you have any role models, heroes or people you look up to?

Have you ever?

I'm sure we'ge all ben there..... I just want a few highlights... No need to go to the salon I'll put them in with kitchen foil.... I know I'ge been down that road, granted my hair in highschool was emo long, I'd flat iron it for an hour, and it was very blonde with platinum highlights. It wasn't until after beauty school that I realised.... Bleach at home wasn't such a good idea. I know that it can be a money issue or a time issue. But ask your stylist if instead she can figure out a way to do your colour and have it only need to be touched up every six or eight weeks instead of five. We have a few tricks up our sleeve to stretch those highlights so you don't end up like this

Summer Lights

So Balyage is still a huge trend in hair colour this season. We are slowly moving away from the contrasting Ombre looks and moving more into painted on highlights.
I find this technique gorgeous. It looks so beautifull and natural. It's a great quick pick me up from the winter months. Want a change and not go crazy? Do some Balyage Highlights =D

Blonde Transformation

I took one of my friends blonde, she always thought she could never be blonde and look good. Well I told her when I first started doing her hair that I'd get her blonde one day. As per usual I always get my way. She won't be staying this blonde colour for long, she wants to go teal coloured soon, but I thought I'd share this little tid bi with you guys. Any colour is possible, it just depends on the tone you pick out :)
Are there colours out there that you think you can't pull off?

Fashion Week Footage

So here's the video from the Eveline Charles Academy Showcase I modelled for. It was weird modelling. Being on stage was fun, it reminded me off when I danced. It was a really fun to be IN a fashion show, instead of just being backstage.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzLhJlKJOlM&list=UU-ILRR5tjjh0_KcCnGuJNkw&index=1

Blogception

So i'm writing a blog about a blog that has my picture in it. Blogception hey? We were doing a happy hour event at the west edmonton mall, EC location. I had a lot of fun with my new clients and hope everyone had a good time. This is also where we launhed our rehab cocktails, a relaxin deep conditioning treatment that caters to your your hairs needs. You get two amazing, specialised head and neck massage parties. With a hot towel that drapes over you and creates a zen like sensation.

New Blonde look

Soooo I did Danies hair again, now her hair is super blonde. Next time we're going even lighter :D what do you ya'll think?

Mens cut

So I saw this awesome mens cut on slikhaartv. This hair cut is super modern, fun and edgy. How many of you out there would want to try a shaved in part? Do you think egded lines are still cool? What do you guys think? Girls, would you want yo man to come home lookin as hot as this? Totally going to try this on a client :D

Makeover Wednesday

I got to do a makeover today on my good friend Devon. She had virgin hair. So off course for a colourist at heart this was like a nerd going rampage in a warhammer shop. I decided to warm up her natural colour and lightened her ends. She wanted it to look natural so I decided to balyage them. I love the hand painting technique, it always looks fabulous !!!

Trends

A huge trend this year on the runways was texture. How many of you embrace your natural hair's texture?
A great way to bring out texture in a haircut is with layers.
Surferspray and texture products are eonderful for enhancing natural curls and waves.
Lacking texture in your hair? Spray some heat protectant and use a curling iron to create curls and waves.

Do you embrace texture in your hair routine?

Modelling weeeee

So I got to be a model for the Eveline Charles Academy a few weeks ago. I'm usually the kid behind the scenes in jeans and crappy old shirt, making models look fabulous. It was so strange to have so much attention on me and have people worry about what m hair and makeup looked like. It's always fun to watch the crazy hustle and bustle backstage, the frantic back and forth, the shouting. It's fun to see how I might look and act, when I'm usually backstage.
Have any of you modelled for a show before? Any stylists or makeup artist have to become the guinea pig for others? How did you feel?

The Bronde Trend

So colours like the "bronde" and "glambre" were super popular on the red carpet this year. Highlighted brunettes, and lowlighted blondes are giving way to multi-dimensional colour, creating a listerous shine and naturally enhanced beauty.
How many of you have tried or are going to try for something like the bronde or the glambre?
Would you want to experiment with reds and violets for this kind of look? I think a "cronde" ( coppery blonde) would look gorgeous for this summer season.

Platinum and brass oh my!!

So now that I'm back to platinum blonde, my hair goes very brassy. My natural pigment is ashy but for se reason I pull really gold. Well not to fret, I have some amazing purple shampoos and conditioners to help.
I really love quantum sterling. It's phenomanal!! It can even tone naturally blonde hair to be more ashy. Just lather and let ot sit for five to ten minutes for the purple to move in on the gold molecules.
Another great one is the joico violet shampoo and conditioner. This one is great but you hair needs to have been lightened or it won't do much. The conditioner is great for those thirsty ends.
The tiny white bottle is ultima, another great one. I find it a bit more blue violet and works great if you have pulled quite a bit of copper, it helps cancel out more of the orabgy pigment in blondes.

Tell me, what are your favourite purple shampoos, conditioners and masks?

Transformations

 So my good friend Elysia has always had really long hair... As long as I've know her.
She trusted me to cut all of her precious looks off and cut her a funky bob and do a really fun colour on her too.
I think she was pretty nervous during the proccess.
She had complete trust in me and I'm so happy she liked the colour and cut when we were done.
How do you feel about big changes? Have you ever made a decision to do a big change on your hair? How did you feel during the proccess and after?
What made you make the decision to change it?

Liquid Keratin Review

Now Available at Evelien Charles Stores!!!

Keratin Treatment!!!
Ready to replace the burn and sting of the Brazillian Blowout?
Want to get rid of drab, dry, frizzy locks?
Get the new Keratin treatment at our salon!!
Just to answer some questions you might have to this fabulous miracle cure:
The Active Ingredient:
Carbocysteine and Wheat Gluten
If you’re a Celiac, unfortunately this won’t do for you. Carbocysteine enters the cortex of the hair shaft and softens the disulfide and hydrogen bonds. The wheat protein soften, nourish, moisturise your dry strands.
The protein will also fill up spaces in the cuticle to smooth out the hair strand. This does not mean it fixes split ends. Regular trims are still essential to keeping your hair healthy.
Is it like a relaxer?
No. Liquid Keratin is not like a relaxer. A relaxer will break the disulfide bonds and then be neutralised. Liquid Keratin only softens the bonds of the hair.
Can I still colour my hair’?
Absolutely!! Any colours that require lightening will be done before the treamtent. Colours going darker or shade changes within the same level can be done after you receive the treatment.
Will this replace deep conditioning?
Deep conditioning should still be part of your homecare routine. Yes Liquid Keratin will nourish the hair, however to ensure the ultimate results, a mask or complex should still be done once a week at home.
Do I need a Consultation?
A consultation is best for us to figure out the Type of Keratin treatment to do for your hair. Here we’ll discuss your concerns and figure out an in depth plan on how to take care of your hair.
What kind of Treatments are there?
There are three treatments being offered at our salon.
Cool Treatment: An express smoothing treatment that takes about an hour and a half. For people who want to keep their curly texture, but to derizz and nourish the hair.
Express Treatment: An express smoothing treatment for wavy, frizzy, dry hair. This takes an hour and a half. For people who wants to smooth their hair out, tame wild waves and nourish the hair
Hot Treatment: The straightnening and smoothing process. The solution is applied, proccessed and then flat ironed into the hair (similar to the brazilian blowout) We then shampoo and style your beautiful new hair. This process can take up to three hours depending on the coarsness and length of your hair. Great for people who are wanting to smooth out their curl and have straight hair.
How Long do these Treatments last?
Depending on which type of treatment you receive. The First express treatments last two to four weeks. The hot treatment can last up to twelve weeks.
Is the Keratin Treatment for me?
Is your hair dry? then Yes Keratin is your solution. Would you like softer curls with less frizz? Then Keratin is for you! Can you straighten really curly hair? ABSOLUTELY
Come in and see me for a complimentary consultation!!

<3 Chris

Colour!!

So i was just wondering... How do you feel when your stylist plomps a colour book in front of you? When hairstylists get the chance to play with new patterns and colours we get really excited. It's like an oil painter getting to colour with a myriad of paints. So how do you feel about your colour right now? Have you ever just let your stylist do whatever to your colour? To me hair colour is critical, I can make people feel younger, look healhier, more tan more pale and a good colour is as essential as a designer purse.
How do you feel about colour? How do you Feel about haircoloir?