Vivid colors for high lights, I want some new tones, placed side-by-side… L-U-V my haircut! I know that you will want it!

Fla$h, Fla$h, Fla$h, Fla$h… Let me see that color $pla$h! I have this dress that’s tangerine, can we match it? Oh, and do you have feather lashes? Wait… What?

It is a true pleasure to share my three main intrigues that keep me inspired every single day! The love of Fashion, Finish and of course The Fabulous! Let’s take a trip in the “Now” of these three big F”s and find out the what, why and how? Ready… Set… “Illumination”Anyone?

The Fashion

Yellow and copper in a wing… With them both, I’ll have everything!

So the fab new spin in the world of color, from conservative to fashion forward to the ever-loving “ombre,” is simplifying the working zone and utilizing intentional curved sections that allow color to move and live in the appropriate rounds of the head. Don’t smother your work with 400 foils, work in elongated curves and points. You may wittle, slice and weave, though even better, take thin 1/2” block color sections that melt into one another and allow your colorations to illuminate!

Place them within a wing-like section on the round of the head and within the parietal zone or further on the contours of the crown. What you do inside them is up to you!  This will accentuate your shape perfectly and allow it to take on a new look with every twist, turn and spin! A favorite twist to red is placing it against a cool deep violet base, reflective amber sandwiched between a rich reflective red copper. My favorite formulas live in GOLDWELLS Elumen and Topchic… Intrigued? Go to goldwellnorthamerica.com to view more techniques and tones! You will love it… I just can’t deny!

The Finish

Gimme a new haircut, gimme it quick… gimme a new cut today!

The new shapes becoming the crave are pixies, bobs and lobs! They each have their own versatility and identity. The “new client” wants extreme versatility and their own unique style. Lets take a look!

Pixie – The Pixie takes a new spin this year with a fascinating new identity. The underneath is shorter and disconnected from the top, while the length of the interior is longer and more precise with soft textured layers. This multi-level effect provides endless options of style and a carefree look.

Bobs – The new Bob has an unexpected twist this year. Undercut short interior with a long drop from ear to jaw, then the back with an ear-to-nape drop exterior. Interior inversion creates flexability and movement with a blunt edge and soft texture. No fringe needed with this versatile style! No matter if its smoothe curly or textured, this new bob will provide all of the joy in life with every swing!

Lobs – With this fab shape don’t think connected, think intentional disconnection! The new approach to the Lob is a tailored blunt edge “sq-round” layer back, keeping a soft-meets-collapsed round effect with longer, disconnected drops around the sides. Take a blunt fringe to the brow with soft interior texture and this new shape will always be in elegant movement!

What makes the finish special is the blow dry! Use a classic styling and finishing brush to blow dry into shape and do not use the flat iron to make it flat! Just control the ends a bit. The perfect amount of control blow dry lotion (my favorite is GOLDWELL Style Sign Flat Marvel) and then let the style come to life!  L-U-V My Haircut!

The Fabulous

OK, the Fabulous is everything that all we do, so… the Fabulous is YOU! Hammer Time – ooh ooh ooh ooh!

The color palette of hair, fashion and face have become wildly vivid for the winter into spring of 2012! This exciting electricity is allowing us to bring excitement and purpose into everything which is design. In the hair, it’s strategic color placement that is a perfect accent to the darker base. In fashion, the brights against the darks create the sexy movement of a dress that melts into a deeper shade at the base to tip (kinda like ombre… hmmmm?). The perfect asymmetric cutouts or chest fabric overlap, or even the high pleat side or gathering of the skirt is the perfect match to the shape and the tone of the hair! Start living in color and embracing everything you see around you! I think you may be surprised once you let your eye wander deeper into design and color! Also if you visit the fashion stylings of Dior, Nicole Miller and even  American Apparel, you will see it has come to life! DIOR… WERK! Let me see that color $pla$h!

The Face

On the face we’re finding lip and shadow colors reminiscent of the late 80′s and early 90′s with loads of liner against vivid solid shadow shades over the lower lid, and it’s even translated into the nail polish shades!

The pallets are made up of yellows, olive greens, blue orchid turquoise, marmalade orange, soft rose, and electric violet. Sounds intriguing, yes? Have fun and paint every canvas: make it special, make it fun, but more than anything, make it you! You got to get your paint today! Thinking of that D-D-D-D Dancing in the Dark girl! Oh no worries… with all that bright color, I’ll see ya girl! Lol. Oh and PS, they are not done with feathers, except on the lashes! Lol!

Who’s taking us into the winter/spring with their new vibrant beats and rhythmic chants? It’s Miss Madonna, of course! Taking it back a bit but keeping it sexy with a new twist to the “Mickey” song (I don’t get the videos meaning but it’s kinda hot! Maybe I’m old? Oh, I hope not!)  Miss Nicki Minaj is belting it out as always and mixing it up with more artists giving us a hybrid GaGa/Lil Kim feel (the club mixes… so sickening!) I would like to see this “Clap” their talking about! And this man that sings the spin on Paula Abdul’s  “Straight Up” song! Love it but I don’t really know what he’s saying after the chorus (Oh my… I may be getting old! Oh, I’ll just Google it!)

I hope that you enjoyed, and I can’t wait for you to visit again next month for another dip & a trip! I am fortunate to be able to view the world, as I am sure most of you are, a bit differently! Finding beauty in everything I see and everything I do! I crave the inspiration from the 3 F’s and this gives me my interpretation of what I want to put into hair! I tell myself every day that… “Life is not a dress rehearsal… live it , love it, create it!”

It is a true pleasure to share my three main intrigues that keep me inspired every single day! The love of Fashion, Finish and of course The Fabulous! Let’s take a trip in the “Now” of these three big F’s and find out the what, why and how. Ready… Set… “Holidays” Anyone?

Ho Ho Ho, who wants a bow? He He He, I have a par-r-rty-y-y-y!

Here comes Vicky, here comes Vicky, working the runway. Lots of angels, lots of sparkle, wings fly me away!

I’ll have a clear lip gloss on my lips… I’ll make them sparkle through the New Year! Oh… and could you color my hair like Miss Piggy?… Wait. What? Whew… I’m going to need some Egg Nog!

The Finish

I want a “top knot” quick quick quick…..

It’s that time of year for events, parties, glitz and glamour, that makes us all want to sparkle as we enter. Something special as dressed hair that has unique style and form. Individual organic shapes that give a new spin to classic glamour of our iconic past. Shapes that take Audrey Hepburn beauty and twist up hair which has the illusion of elegant simplicity, yet a true detail that gives it the sophistication it desires. The new favorite illusion is bow-like or coiled hat-like forms that are familiar to a bun or chignon.

Though the round strategically placed sections showcase every twist and turn, from a color perspective it takes the craved “ombre” with details of its own. The special individual color to compliment the special individual style… I’m gonna look hot for Ol’ Saint Nick!

Let’s take a look of how to create this style. I am using Goldwell Style Sign for mine – give it a shot or translate into your style.

1. On towel-0dried hair, apply GWS Sign Double Boost at the root to encourage weightless volume, using the blow dry tease technique. Through the mid-length and ends, massage a palm size amount of GWS Sign Top Whip styling foam to enhance color, shine and styling support. Large round brush blow dry.
2. With a flat styling brush, away from the face, brush into position and gather hair at the crown. If the head and neck are positioned back while doing this, it ensures no bunching on the outside of the up sweep.
3. Emulsify a pea size amount of GWS Sign Mello Goo, and lightly smooth and fly-awayhair, while providing color enhancement and protection.
4. Brushing and gathering the pony tail, with the same GWSSign Mello Goo, lightly twist to the right starting from base to ends. This will start the coiling of the bun.
5. While twisting, spray GWS Sign Sprayer finishing spray to encourage style and finish. Spraying as you build your style allows you to have a brilliant finish vs. a sticky bun. Twist and pin as you go to create the look.

The Fashion

Well… talk about craved style!

The Victoria Secret Fashion Show was another brilliant success, mobbed with musicians, like that tattooed Maroon 5 guy, the big hot bearded Alcide werewolf and plenty more as well as viewers around the world. Multiple set and costume theme changes. Aquatic, Indian, athletic and, of course, Holiday! Who knew you could make the B & P set into so many things. Model interviews on how hard it is to be an angel and be gorgeous. A look inside of the backstage pressure of getting in and out of garters stockings and other little bits. Lots of singing, walking, prancing, heels, push ups and of course hair hair hair! Walk, walk… hit your spot… work the crowd… show this new sparkly panty and bra now… throw your hair…Yes!

There is something very special when sexy costume and hair come together on a runway. I mean who doesn’t walk around in the same outfits for the holidays?!? Get that special diamond jeweled bra to visit Santa and get your “bombshell” for holiday! Shine greater than Rudolph!

The Face

Ok… it’s time for clear sparkly, metallic gloss gloss gloss!

Through the holiday and winter season, the crave of face is super clear lip gloss with wicked sexy shine that enhances everything you put it on. Take it over a lip liner, set a lip with a warm metallic shadow, then gloss them up! It has the illusion of a shiny bulb or ribbon. Put on a few coats of mascara and you are ready to melt a snowman because the look is hot hot hot! It’s a clear, sparkly sheer, metalic new year!

The Fabulous

Everything we see and everything we do… The Fabulous is YOU!

The clear metallic infatuation continues from the face to the fingers. The OPI Muppets collection is all about the same feeling – clear based and heavy sparkle mixed in! Take a look, it’s making people pay attention to a timeless classic with new life, (kinda like the top knot… hmm). Though, besides all that sparkle, what made me laugh is that while working on a client and a busy salon day, A woman looking at an ad for the new film started commenting on how beautiful Miss Piggy’s color was. Ok cool… Though, when she asked if it would look good on her, I stopped, thought for a moment, then, in good holiday, spirit simply answered “SURE! You would look in good in anything!” Bah dum bump de bump bum bum… They say be kind to others! Every time a bell rings, A piggy gets her single!

So as the end of the year draws near, I am always thankful for all that I am allowed to do. To share, inspire, create and adore stylists and colorists from around the world. Thank you for joining me in a giggle, a technique, a trick or two and an industry that loves and gives back as much as you give to it! I hope you continue to enjoy. Have an amazing holiday season and New Year… Be good, or good at it! And live life to the fullest. Can’t wait for a magical 2012!

I hope that you enjoyed, and I can’t wait for you to visit again next month for another dip & a trip! I am fortunate to be able to view the world, as I am sure most of you are, a bit differently! Finding beauty in everything I see and everything I do! I crave the inspiration from the 3 F’s and this gives me my interpretation of what I want to put into hair! I tell myself every day that… “Life is not a dress rehearsal… live it , love it, create it!”

It’s been a long time, and my color’s drab.

It needs a little love and I’m wearing it down… I want Ombre… can I get Ombre today?

I lost a ton of cur-rr-rlll, it needs to be real BIG… I want to have it all!

I really want a new hair cut… I need a new tone to pick me up.

I have this blouse that’s turquoise… can we match it? Please hurry up! …oh, and do you have yellow lip gloss? Wait… What?

It is a true pleasure to share my three main intrigues that keep me inspired every single day! The love of Fashion, Finish and of course The Fabulous! Let’s take a trip in the “Now” of these three big F’s and find out the what, why and how. Ready… Set… “Falling Forward” Anyone?

The Fashion

My hair’s a little worn.. I haven’t been around. You know, I really don’t mind that the crown is brown… What if we try “Ombre?”

The embrace of “Ombre” and “Hair Painting” have been some of the most requested techniques by many colorists, this shadowed diffusion of color is more than “grown out” color though, it is truly an art form of knowing your tools and painting the canvas. There are many ways to approach this, though I prefer to isolate in a compact foil method and work in a diagonal diffusion from high point at the face frame to a diagonal low toward the back.

Have fun and put detail onto every canvas. Some of my favorite ways of accentuating any-and-all traditional canvas’s is by working on and in the rounds of the head. You can utilize a simple diagonal slice or weave in a “U” like section on most, from bobbs to length, to enhance any shape. Also the chess board concept from GOLDWELL’S Play Strong 2011 collection of placing interlocking squares on the rounds of the parietal and front drop of the fringe is brilliant. Inside of the squares, you may take diagonal,vertical or horizontal slices to move color according to the layers of the haircut.

My favorite “Trick” right now is to isolate curved “V” like sections on the 4 rounds of the parietal 2 at the occipital, then 1 on the fall of the fringe:

• Take approximately a 1.5  inch open V at the rounds, taking a curve section to a point , just above the occipital, repeat on the opposite side of crown, then again in the front creating the V point to just behind the ear.

• At the top fringe fall, clip the shape to have the openings at the recessions and the curved point fall where the comb lifts off of the head.

• Within the section, you may slice or weave on a diagonal, or my favorite, a mixture of both from point to width of the section.

Another way is to make them isolated block colors for the season. This gives you a new spin on the ever craved “Ombre!” The art of gradation and diffusion which provides color movement from light to dark. The space is minimal, and provides the subtle contrast of color movement needed for the season. Add more or less to give the perfect color placement with purpose! Don’t smother… showcase your work!

The Finish

I sort of lost my cur-rr- rll. Should I buy more weave!?!

I know that in the past few posts, I have written about the new crave of the perm or texture-building services, and have had an amazing response. Though what I love is that, at first, it was more from the new youth wanting bouncy, wavy tresses, but it has sort of taken off with the masses! Just recently, I been shown pics of a young Julia Roberts in her “Pretty Woman” days. I thought, “hmmm? I wonder if it’s the hair or her boots with the safety-pin closure? Or maybe it’s that one-piece peek-a-boo dress!” Lol!  But seriously, it made me think that this translation of the look has definitely been updated for the natural bundles of bouncy waves.

To get the look:

• Create the best round brush blow out with a medium sized brush. When complete, instead of teasing the hair, try a micro-crimping iron ( my favorite is from Sam Villa). This creates weightless beading to the hair which allows volume that lasts for days! ( I don’t think that people are shampooing their hair at all anymore!)

• After, use a full-sized curling iron or wand, in 1 inch vertical sections to the mid length. This sophisticated street look gives new identity to the “Pretty Woman” finish.

• The trick, versus back-combing so much, is to slide your fingers palm in at to the scalp from underneath. Once at the base, shake – not pull, shake. This will separate the curls and make the ombre color flirt through! .

We have completely borrowed from the 80′s, 90′s and 70′s in upcoming fashion for sure! What’s funny to me is that many women are snapping, glueing and sewing in weave (Get It Jessica Simpson!) to make the hair even fuller. I love me some giant hair, but I must admit, the head tap to get at the itch makes me giggle! … “I want it big and tal-l-l-l!”

The Fabulous

OK, the Fabulous is everything that all we do, so… the Fabulous is YOU!

Do I want it Dark? Or Bright? The color palette of hair, fashion and face have become wildly vivid for the winter into spring of 2012! This exciting electricity is allowing us to bring excitement and purpose into everything which is design. In the hair, it’s strategic color placement that is a perfect accent to the darker base.

In fashion, the brights against the darks create the sexy movement of a dress that melts into a deeper shade at the base to tip ( kinda like ombre, hmmmm?) Start living in color and embracing everything you see around you. I think you may be surprised once you let your eye wander deeper into design and color! Also, if you visit the fashion stylings of Dior to American Apparell, you will see it has come to life! … DIOR… WERK!

The Face

Lip and shadow colors reminiscent of the late 80′s, loads of liner against vivid accents, and it’s even in the nail polish shades!

The pallets, made of yellows, acid greens, blue turquoise, marmalade orange, soft rose, and lilac. Sounds intriguing – yes. Have fun and paint every canvas, make it special, make it fun, but more than anything, make it you! You got to get your paint today… D-D-D-Dancing in the Dark! Oh, and no worries… with all that bright color… I’ll see ya girl! Lol! Oh and PS, they are not done with feathers!

Who’s taking us into the fall/winter with their new vibrant beats and rhythmic chants? It’s of course Miss GaGa slowing it down a bit but keeping it sexy ( I don’t get the video’s meaning, but it’s hot! Maybe I’m old? Oh, I hope not!)

Madam Adelle, belting it out as always giving us a hybrid GaGa/Whinehouse with Etta James feel ( the club mixes… so sickening!) and the girl that sings the G6 song! Love her, but I don’t really know what she’s saying! (Oh my, I may be getting old… I’ll just google it!)

I hope that you enjoyed, and I can’t wait for you to visit again next month for another dip & a trip! I am fortunate to be able to view the world, as I am sure most of you are, a bit differently! Finding beauty in everything I see and everything I do! I crave the inspiration from the 3 F’s and this gives me my interpretation of what I want to put into hair! I tell myself every day that… “Life is not a dress rehearsal… live it , love it, create it!”

“If you’re an animal, just get on the floor… I love your “cheetah” print, your “leopard” and more!”

I cut the edge of your hairline, I know you like it super short! No worries, itʼs a special piece that you will adore!

Itʼs not about the cha-cha-cha ching, itʼs about the bla-bla-bla bling!

Oh, and P.S… “do these leg warmers go with my pencil skirt?” Wait.what?

It is a true pleasure to share my three main intrigues that keep me inspired every single day! The love of Fashion, Finish and, of course, The Fabulous! Letʼs take a trip in the “Now” of these three big F”s and find out the what, why and how?

Ready… Set… “80ʼs” Anyone?

The Fashion

The phone rings in the middle of the night, my stylist says “you need to do 80ʼs right!”

“What does that mean, you know Iʼm just 21?” Oh girl… Really… Google it! LOL!

Begging, borrowing and stealing from decades past, designers across the board are visiting the experimental stylings of the 80ʻs.The originals from Gaultier, Delacroix, Westwood and kids that ripped and stitched their own brilliant designs (Hello… Pretty in Pink!) are now re-birthed by the new cutting-edge designers! Playful glamour, daring color palettes and body-hugging fabrics, the mix-and-match patterns, shoulder pads, metallic silvers and golds, and the re-visit of lycra and spandex. There are even the paint-splash patterns… which I love! This time around, however, is completely sophisticated in the finish of the full look. Mix and match - yes - but with purpose to showcase the gorgeous you! Take a vivid print dress or “neon” tone and put it with a flesh-tone pump, or even with a black-and-white “boyfriend” look with a pair of lime green crystal Lubouton pumps.

This mix-and-match styling is exciting me with each designer, taking the 80ʼs look, which many thought cheap, and now making it chic! Take a pair of leg warmers - if we look back, men and women both, with the same thin and fit body style, not only wore the same style of fashion, but the same look of hair! I need to admit, I feel a bit old, (well, lets say “seasoned”) as many of these looks remind me of my early youth when I wore a combined look of Madonna, Boy George, Prince and the Cure! Whew! That was a lot of hair spray and accessories! Oh… girls just wanna have fun!

The Finish

The edge, the edge, THE EDGE! Oh Glory!

Once worn by the club kid, punk glam, rave kid culture, the pure-toned electric color palette of vivid raw hair, along with cheetah and leopord print designs, are back in a big way! Through my world travels, I am noticing this re-birth of 80ʼs-inspired hair! In the early years, using hardcore bleaches, then overlaying it with Kool-Aid tones, and on the buzzed sides of the hair a special peek-a-boo piece that was free-hand painted to mimic animal spots! The youth of the 80ʼs really took these “super rad” colors and cuts to the extreme! However, the same illusion of strong, pure shades and architectural cut outs now, like the fashions, have purpose and technology with gorgeous, shiny, vivid hair! We take the pop culture past and make all that has been done, much, much better!

The original Cyndi Lauperʼs and Madonnaʼs, plus many more, paved the way for our new queens like Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj. Instead of just borrowing the actual beats and video illusions of their music, why not borrow the full look of their hair and clothes? (Iʼm not a hater, Iʼm a fan! Lol!) And, why not? It worked for them as they inspired new identity to the globe. Keep the excitement with the new youth of Generation X, or are we on Y or Z now? Instead of raw bleach and  Kool-Aid… Letʼs try GOLDWELL Silk Lift and Elumen!

To create this fabulous Electric Banana:

1. To either an isolated section or the full head, apply in a compact back-to-back foil a GOLDWELL Silk Lift formula – 35mls Silk Lift 10 vol and 1 level scoop Silk Lift Strong – to the new zone and a GOLDWELL Silk Lift formula – 35mls Silk Lift 20vol and 1 level scoop Silk Lift Strong – to the mid-shaft and ends.
2. Process for 30 mins, re-apply a fresh mixture with 10vol to zones if needed, this will depend on the level traveling form, as well as what is on the canvas to begin with! (A note: When creating clean pure tones - the cleaner the canvas, the better the result. Uneven canvases will still look uneven when the overlay is applied.)
3.  When lightness is achieved, rinse, shampoo and condition with Elumen Wash & Treat.
4. Apply GOLDWELL Elumen Prepare to the lightened sections and blow dry.
5. To dry hair, as an overall color or diffuse into the mid-shaft and ends like Gaga, apply an Electric Banana formula like 20mls Clear, 10mls YY@ALL, 1ml Gn@ALL. Process for 30 minutes with heat.
6. Shampoo and condition with GOLDWELL Elumen Wash & Treat and apply Elumen Lock for 5 minutes.

Then Ra Ra Ahhhh Ahhhh Ahhhhh! Itʼs Cyndi Lauper!

The Fabulous

OK, the Fabulous is everything that all we do, so… the Fabulous is YOU!

I see your True Colors shing through. I see your bling hair strips, and thatʼs why I love you! In the past few blogs, I have been intrigued this year by many finishes and accessories, from glitter threads, feathers, and most recently… Bling Strips! Why not? Itʼs not messy like glitter. These strips are taking the industry like wild fire! Self adhesive peel off backs make any up-style to street-style sexy and light catching! The best part - they wonʼt fall off during your special event! Match your earrings, or your pumps, or nothing at all! Bla-bla-bla BLING!

The Face

You are beautiful in every single way! Layer your paint on today!

The look for the face - paint, paint, and more paint! Forget about the easy natural looks of summer dew.  The face fashion is liner, powder and heavy shadows and lips! If you want to start simple, try the liner-and-lash combo! Line the top, bottom, outside and inside! Coat dark blacks, navies and purples! Borrowed from 80ʻs fashion once again, many of the glam men and women would burn the tip of their liner to get that kohl pencil nice and liquid hot, then with a blow on the tip, apply right to the inside! Yup, if you donʼt believe me and your under 25, just ask you mom (or your dad! Lol!) It was the 80ʻs! Mmm Hmm! Just think, it will look great with your Electric Banana hair and your lime green Luboutonʼs! Lol!

The rhythmic thump-a-thump of a grown-up Gaga and Britney, and many combo artists, are keeping us moving through summer! I love the borrowing of past sounds made new! The one thing that makes me giggle is that all of these artists are now re-mixing and re-singing the same song! I mean really, why not just make another version? Britney with Nicki and Ke$ha? The song is already hot, to add Nicki makes sense since they are touring, and add Ke$ha since she wrote the song! Genius! It will keep you dancing ’til the world ends, world ends, world ends!

I hope that you enjoyed and I canʼt wait for you to visit again next month for another dip & a trip! I am fortunate to be able to view the world , as I am sure most of you are, a bit differently! Finding beauty in everything I see and everything I do! I crave the inspiration from the 3 Fʼs and this gives me my interpretation of what I want to put into hair! I tell myself every day “Life is not a dress rehearsal… live it , love it, create it!”

WWJSD
j

I’m gettin’ married in the morning….Ding Dong the Prince is FINALLY mine!

Glamourous… Glamourous… Glamourous… Gla…Gla…Gla… Glamourous… I’ll wear my hair down!

So raise your hats if you wore one… I hope you did not forget… sexy, big and loud. Or you will never be, never be invited back again?

Oh, and P.S…. you will be made fun of by all the media if you didn’t! Wait… What?

It is a true pleasure to share my three main intrigues that keep me inspired every singleday! The love of Fashion, Finish and of course The Fabulous! Let’s take a trip into the“Now” of these 3 big F”s and find out the what , why and how.

Ready… Set…”Royality” Anyone?

The Fashion

I’m finally married, I’m finally married… and all the jewels are mine!

So we all watched it, woke up early, googled or read about it. The royal wedding! WOW! What a major production! And as Kate and Will prepare to embark on their first North American tour, I thought it would be a fun time to revisit this spectacle that caught the attention of the entire globe for months.

The chat in salon, pre and post ceremony, among men and women alike was “what would the gown be?” “would it be simple or all wrong?” Then…. “Did you like it?” “I’m not sure… ” “I thought the sister looked better!” “Do you think that Harry and Middleton’s brother are hooking up? Or is he into Pippa?” Wait…..What? Editorial quote says… “Harry left in a minibus at about 3am, minus his bow tie, accompanied by a dozen fellow party-goers thought to have included Middleton’s brother James. Well… I think I kind of hope so… Hmm that’s a wedding I would watch! LOL! Kidding!

The beautiful silks and italian lace that adorned the fabulous royal wedding dress was PERFECT! I mean of course… it was designed by a McQueen designer! The form fitting gown and militant cuts followed not only the magnificence of the event, but modern fashions as well. The design was fresh,new and elegant! Pippa followed in a class-A gown to blow your socks off, and the men worked their tailored suits of armor that made you take notice.  I love that it was a true “Cinderella” movie come to life! I also love that designers of the Haute Couture Houses had their phones blowing up with requests for a replica! Umm, do you know how much hand-made italian lace costs? I’m just sayin! LOL!

Other designers are taking the same cuts as if it were fashion week and launching the “Royal” brand collection at many retailers. Funny… I guess it is prom season! I waited for eight years but, heck yeah I got him… sorry girls, the man is mine!

The Finish

I remember all the days, when I really used to think… I need it up! I need it up! Now it’s down and glamourous!

So a main question in salon chats everywhere was if it was appropriate or liked that Miss Kate wore her hair down… Really? She looked glamourous! Plus, in trend fashion elegance this is the “It” look that not only showcases long flowing waves but amazing blow outs! Take the color and cut into long seamless layers and “melted” dimensional shades that showcase each tone without seeing where the color design starts and stops.

The multi-dimensional illusion of a single tone moves perfect with every heads twist. You can take the “Ombre” to a whole new level by placing color in the right position and getting away from the piano key-like positioning on the top of the lid by utilizing a small interlocking 1” x 1” block shape high and low on the parietal ridge, micro-slicing your shades horizontally back to back and choosing colors of only three levels of difference in the same color family, then placing a harmonious base tone all around… Foxy, Foxy!

The Fabulous

OK, the Fabulous is everything that all we do. So… the Fabulous is YOU! So raise your hats to the event… Don’t be the only one… Not wearing one!

Well as we got to see, the wild craze for these fabulous hats are working the main street market! From youth to the seasoned “jet set”, all are adornining these unique beauties. It sort of reminds me of a cross between a GaGa video and Mardi Gras! LOL! But I also say, hey… If you want an ostrich feather fasctened to a clip to work as your special accessory… Get it! Just be sure to add glitter! LOL! ………Pippa, Pippa, Pippa-razzi!

The Face

Take summer to a whole new “Glow” …. bronzer, liner, lash … but don’t leave without your lip gloss! You Can’t Learn Pretty!

No matter were you go this summer, the gloss shade is still all about RED! Line them and gloss them, just don’t forget them! (On a BIG P.S., Get It Raja! I knew it was you from the beginning! The winner of RuPauls’ Drag Race !… This is my favorite downtime and guilty escape!)

The electro-pop rhythmic sounds of GaGa and her sexy beat song about some Judah I think, I can’t figure out the words (does that mean I’m old? lol!), Britney and Nicki Minaj, Keri Hilson and, yes, even that girl who wines about … “Your gonna gatch a cold… (Jar of Hearts) are leading us into summer.  The rythyms are making us move our shoulders and pump along through our day! ( Turn up that song…. that’s my Jammmmm!) … What’s funny is that it reminds me of the early 90′s thump-a-thump of the clubs and every glow-stick rave I ever attended! Let’s “Whip It!” Music that sounds the same, but makes you Get It! OK… Adore It!

I hope that you enjoyed , and I can’t wait for you to visit again next month for another dip & a trip! I am fortunate to be able to view the world , as I am sure most of you are, a bit differently! Finding beauty in everything I see and everything I do! I crave theinspiration from the 3 F’s and this gives me my interpretation of what I want to put into hair! …..I tell myself every day that… “Life is not a dress rehearsal… live it , love it, create it!”

WWJSD
j

About John Simpson

John Simpson is an international platform artist for Goldwell and a salon partner at Lewis Hair Salon in Pittsburgh, PA. John’s passion is to educate stylists in all salon concepts and full beauty imagery, conveying the message of inspiration and discipline through technique. His motivational and creative teaching style encourages stylists to reclaim their passion and conquer new design fundamentals of hair color, cutting and finishing techniques. For more of John’s inspirations, visit www.johncsimpson.com. For Goldwell Academy programs and events near you, visit  www.goldwellnorthamerica.com. Also, find John on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Gauze and Terry – It feels so very – good on my der -ri-ere… Do the pretty girl rock!

You notice what I’m wear’in… I’m notici’in you starin… boy I like your haircut! And check out your new high lights… Is that Balayage?

You can learn to to do make-up, and you can learn to do color, BUT…. You can’t learn Pretty!

Oh, and P.S… could you put feathers in my hair? Wait… WHAT?

It is a true pleasure to share my three main intrigues that keep me inspired every single day! The love of Fashion, Finish and of course the Fabulous! And to add a little spice, let’s also take a look at the Face.

Now, Let’s take a trip in the “Now” of these big F”s and find out the what, why and how? Ready… Set… “Pretty” Anyone?

The Fashion

All eyes on me when I walk in. No question this girl’s a 10!  This is the confidence and strength of the summer season “Kick Off”!

The feminine militant strength (OK, men too. This look is the fashion for us all! Remember the key word “Gender Play”), and the 2011 summer fashions are individual and full of life! From the runways of Milan or the sidewalks of a small town somewhere (LOL – maybe my neighborhood!), the craze is short, tailored and individual. The fabrics that give us “Humble Luxury” all while making us feel individual, are totally embracing gauze and terry cloth! The short stream-line, body-hugging fabrics that let us breathe and move through our summer days are adorned with short tailored jackets, stuffed shoulder pads, and large-button hardware for cool summer nights, and adorned with an ankle boot  and scrunch sock (Sorry ladies, Drop the sandals this summer!). Walk any where you choose with an over-sized shoulder bag and you will look and feel like a runway diva! Don’t hate me cause I’m beautiful!

The Finish

Hotter than the “A-list”… next one on my hit list!

The finish of the new summer cuts and colors are embracing the strength of tone and shape that make all of us as individual as the fashions I am wearing! Forget about color foil patterns and haircuts that are the same as the last client you just finished! I want something that works for me and my haircut! No extra value meal here, buster! I don’t want chocolate and vanilla… I want Khaki and sugar cookie, LOL!

The new craving of Balayage (the french word for “hair painting”) takes “Ombre” to a whole new level. Both men and women can have their individual and personal look created by the re-birth of this classic technique!

Here is your Balayage how -to:

1) Control the flow and application of your color to give definition and clarity to your canvas, while not making it a “blur” working on the round points of focus, which are at the occipital bone, parietal crown and the front temporal meets recession.

2) Starting in the back of the head at the occipital, taking a diagonal forward parting, alternate your colors starting from the low center and moving upwards to the outside of the parting. Depending on the amount of coverage needed, a natural look, tends to be with about an 1/8 to a 1/4 inch between tones.

3) Apply from scalp to ends with your tone, while either placing each strand on cotton strips, plastic film or my favorite is to utilize cotton roll, placing one piece at the scalp and one on the mid-range to not allow colors to sit on one another. Follow the same diagonal sectioning and application, moving toward the crown and then to the front temporal/recession zone.

4) Continue to alternate your tones, diffusing from the scalp and working through the ends. When working with 2 to 3 tones,  I go by the general rule of darkest on the low occipital, medium through the crown and then as you move closer to the front hairline and top lid, the idea is to, of course, keep it the lightest shade.

The softness and clarity together with this “no mess” application from the GOLDWELL tools, will keep your clients wearing a signature look. Put this on a re-birth of the Mia Farrow Vidal Sassoon classic with new blunt texture and call it a day! You know that I can take it to the next level baby!

The Fabulous

OK, the Fabulous is everything that we all do! So… the Fabulous is YOU!

So this new infatuation of feathers anchored in the hair has become the crave everywhere! Across the globe, I have got to see them. They shampoo, flat iron and curl! I am not sure of why and how, though I remember growing up with those “feathers” we anchored to our hair that had a special clip attached to them (Mmm Hmm. LOL!)), and we all made sure that at the county fair we had a new set! Maybe it’s that Steven Tyler is a new host of American Idol!?! Regardless, they are here for the time being and I am embracing them! Hello?!? Dude, looks like a lady!

The Face

Take summer to a whole new glow. Bronzer, liner, lash… but don’t leave without your lip gloss! “You Can’t learn Pretty!”

No matter were you go this summer, the gloss shade is still all about RED!  Line them and gloss them, just don’t forget them! (On a BIG P.S. – RuPaul’s Drag Race is at it’s final 3! This is my favorite downtime, and my personal inspiration to find charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent! Go to logotv.com for Season 3 episodes!)

The electro-pop rhythmic sounds of Britney and Nicki Minaj, Keri Hilson and, yes, even that girl who wines about “Your gonna catch a cold…“, Jar of Hearts, are leading us into summer. The rythyms are making us move our shoulders and pump along through the day ( Turn up that song… that’s my Jam!). What’s funny is that it reminds me of the early 90’s club scene, thump-a-thump! Music that sounds the same, but makes you Get It-t-t-t! ( Hello?!? “EnVogue” early 90’s anyone?) It is the same back beat as the the gay bars world-round that made everyone want to dance (oh, the memories!) OK. Adore It!

I hope that you enjoyed the latest edition of “A Dip & A Trip… In the Head of A Performer” and I can’t wait for you to visit again next month! I am fortunate to be able to view the world, as I am sure most of you are, a bit differently! Finding beauty in everything I see and everything I do! I crave the inspiration from the 3 F’s and this gives me my interpretation of what I want to put into hair! I tell myself every day that “Life is not a dress rehearsal… Live it, love it, create it!”

WWJSD

j

About John Simpson

John Simpson is an international platform artist for Goldwell and a salon partner at Lewis Hair Salon in Pittsburgh, PA. John’s passion is to educate stylists in all salon concepts and full beauty imagery, conveying the message of inspiration and discipline through technique. His motivational and creative teaching style encourages stylists to reclaim their passion and conquer new design fundamentals of hair color, cutting and finishing techniques. For more of John’s inspirations, visit www.johncsimpson.com. For Goldwell Academy programs and events near you, visit  www.goldwellnorthamerica.com. Also, find John on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and Linkedin.