Finally!

I finally got my hair to behave and do what I wanted to do today, which brings me to a lesson in curling irons for my readers.

The shorter your hair, the smaller barrel irons you should be using. Yesterday I used 1 1/2" barrel on my hair, and the effect was more soccer mom and less pretty waves. Today, I did my 1/2" barrel and this was the result, which was what I was going for yesterday.

Still getting used to the color, but happy with the end result of styling it!

Um...

Yesterday I came within a split second of cutting ALL of my hair off. Had I found a pair of shears in time, I probably would have done so. I'm sort of thankful at the moment that I didn't, but still, I'm considering just chopping it all off and starting fresh.

New bangs

My bangs are the bane of my existence. I love them, I hate them, and round and round it goes.

I am also extremely attached to my bangs, and I decided to grow them out a few weeks ago. That said, after my color job on Wednesday, the blogger was due for a hair cut, and unfortunatley that included a whole inch off my beloved bangs.

Thankfully, Jamie did an AMAZING job. I told her to do whatever she wanted and thought I needed, and she did, and the result was these, which I'd like to call my tribute to Betty Paige. I'm going to be rocking some pin up curls with these come next week...

Conditioning

Yesterday I ravaged WWHair on my head, and today I'm paying the price. I got to school this morning and poured about half a jar of coconut oil on my head, massaged it into the ends, and 2 hours later I'm still sitting here roasting and smelling like a pina colada.

I wanted to take a moment and stress the benefits of putting moisture back into your hair after you do something drastic (such as bleaching) to it. Doing procedures like this to your hair strips it of all the great things that leave it looking great, and half the time I'm in school I see people neglect to even take care of their hair. My advice to you if you're going the "at home color" route? Get a deep conditioning mask, and after you're done with your color, put it on there and leave it sitting!

As much crazyness that my hair goes through, most of the time I want it to be healthy, and I'm going to do everything that I can to reduce the stress on it and keep it as nice as I can. That's the biggest reason I do all the at home remedies, they work!

So don't forget everyone, moisture, moisture, moisture!!

New hair (again)

I'm happy to report I still have hair on my head...

New hair!

Seeing the light

About 2 months ago, I went to the dark side and said goodbye to my blonde hair. Naturally, I'm a dirty dishwater blond (which somehow turns white in the summer), but I haven't had my natural hair color since I was about 16, except for with the help of highlights, which aren't natural either.

This afternoon we're doing a little experiment. It's called "let's get Jasmin back to a lighter, more natural hair color, so that she doesn't have to continually color it". That said, I sure hope I still HAVE hair when we're finished.

My reasoning at this point is that the closest to natural I can get it, the less I will have to color it when it grows out. I know, I know, LEAVE YOUR HAIR ALONE JASMIN (for you, Summer), but I think with the healthy state it's in now and a fresh haircut, maintenance on it will be much easier, and I can say goodbye to coloring it.

Doing a deep conditioning treatment this morning to prepare, and will post before and after photos after lunch...

What it SHOULD look like when we're done:

Wine & Cheese

Happy Tuesday! I'm still getting used to my new shedule of not working or having school on Mondays, so today essentially feels like my Monday, so happy start of my week to you!

Yesterday was the long awaited Wine and Cheese event for my hair school, which is basically a job fair for hairstylists. After grooming myself to within an inch of my life, I felt ready to mingle and network, and I sure as hell did just that! Sadly, my feet are paying the price today.

There were about 20 salons there, and 5 or so product companies. Most of the salons were up in Dayton, and since I already have an internship I wasn't really looking in that direction, but moreso the product lines, to see what they had to offer.

Turns out a college degree and being fluent in 2 languages makes people VERY interested in you, who knew?! I had really great and informative conversations with Pivot Point (who does the education and curriculum for our school) and Matrix, and left feeling confident and excited at the directions I could take my career in. I'm in love with doing hair, but I also have a strong desire to teach, and could see myself leaning in both directions, working in a salon or doing hair education.

The career path is looking up, and I'm getting closer to graduating (4 months) and more excited every day!

Color Levels

I was talking to a friend the other day, who is a blonde wanting to go dark. As I started to explain what I wanted to do to her hair, I realized she had no idea what I was talking about when it comes to color levels. I thought I would be practical and post a color chart here for easier understanding for "civilians".

Some color charts end at a level 10, and so go up to 12. At school we don't go any higher than a 10, but I'm guessing it just depends on the type of color you're using.

Styling out

I'm learning as I go through school that my favorite part of a service is the style out, after the color, the cut, and what have you... the part where I pull out my trusty blow dryer and flat iron and make the magic happen.

I absolutely love seeing how the cut falls, and how the colors melt together, and I get to see the final product of what I've done to a client. I admit half the time when I'm rinsing color off a client in the bowl I'm thinking to myself "Holy shit I hope this turns out how I want it to", but I'm finding more and more confidence in that yes, it will. And so far it has!

This photo is of a fellow student who I just washed and styled out Saturday at school. We used Lanza Bodifying Liquid, which I have to say, kicks some serious ass. Rub about a nickel sized amount in your palms and distribute evenly, and when you blow dry you just see the volume all over, it's gorgeous stuff! After I used the blow dryer on her I also flat ironed her, and the results are below...

Dove

A few months ago a friend turned me onto this shampoo, and I finally got a chance to get out and buy some last week. It's Dove Nutritive Therapy, designed for dry, damaged, and frizzy hair. It promises to reduce frizz by up to 100%, how could I not at least try this stuff?

You can find it for about $5.99 at CVS, which is where I picked it up. I have been using it for about a week and a half now, alternating every other shampoo with my Deva Low Poo. I noticed a really nice softness to my hair after just the first use. And now after numerous washes, my hair is less tangled when I get out of the shower, and feels softer and healthier. It's also rained here all week, and my hair was about 90% less frizzy than it usually is in such damp weather. Big thanks to Summer!

Grade = B+

Rolls

This is what a preference for pin up hair and 20 spare minutes to kill does to a girl... I had a fellow student do this to me before I went to work tonight. Loved it!

BIG hair

For the most part, I like to keep my hair pretty natural looking and product free. That said, when I do other people's hair I sometimes like to get it a big as possible. Why? Cause it's fun!

I saw a classmate playing with the Big Sexy stuff today. It's basically teasing in a bottle. You spray it on the root, comb it through, and then tease with the brush.

Did it do its job? Hell yes it did! The only downside is that it's EXTREMELY sticky, both in the hair and on your hands.

Thanks to Amber for letting me post photos!

Bed Head

I'm posting this while sitting at the front desk at school, which 1) I shouldn't be doing, and 2) is extremely distracting!

We're currently in the process of switching out our product lines, and today we got Bed Head up on the shelves, which is pretty exciting!

Personally, I've never used any of their products, for some reason the packaging on it (bright, shiny, and obnoxious) turns me off. Shallow? Yes. Proof that packaging matters? Hell yes!

There's some curl mousse I'm dying to try, and as soon as I do the review will be up!

Holy Moly

Today marked my first day at school full time, so I'm going all day instead of just 4 hours a night, and I was busy today!

I had one of my regulars come in, her name is Jes, and she kindly gave me permission to post these before and after shots. Thanks Jes!

She came in with the all over blonde, and wanted to go back to her natural color, with some blonde and auburn highlights woven in. This was my first time doing 3 colors like this, and I prayed to the hair gods the red wouldn't turn the blonde pink. Today they listened to me. Jes left happy, and I was happy I didn't make someone's hair fall out and/or look like shit...

3 hours later, ta da!

Woman sexy vs. Man sexy

Yesterday I didn't do my hair. I left it curly, pinned my crazy bangs back, and let it go wild. I felt messy, undone, and honestly, not quite "ready" to be going out in public. My boyfriend? He loved it!

I'm finding that what women think is sexy hair is VASTLY different from what men find sexy.

I think when it comes down to the bottom line, women do their hair for each other. All the colors, highlights, feathers, extensions... do I think this is done for men? Nope, I think it's done to keep up with other women. You see a girl with a feather in her hair, and you think it looks cool? You go and get yourself one. No man I have talked to thinks feathers in the hair are sexy. But me? I like it! A woman on the street sees another woman with hair she likes, she's 10 times more likely to go to the salon and get that, I guarantee it.

And what do men think is sexy? According to my boyfriend (who to date has never been wrong only been wrong once) the sexiest hair on a woman is natural, flowing, and just the way you were born with it. If it were up to him I'd be growing out my naturally brondish (light brown, dark blonde) hair and letting it curl in every which direction it pleased. I find that other men also find hair that looks the most natural, the sexiest. Toussled waves, natural colors, and basically normal and healthy looking hair.

I find it a relief to just let my hair go sometimes, and that no matter if I spent an hour just doing it or if I'm coming straight out of the shower, that it still looks sexy to someone. On the other hand, I'm more prone to do it up if I'm at school or around other stylists... go figure right?

Rainy Days

It hasn't stopped raining since last night, and for those of you curly girls, you know rain = havoc on our hair!

Usually when it rains I am somewhat torn between letting my hair go curly, wearing a hat, or putting on the dreaded headband everyone hates. If you're looking for inspiration scarves also work.

Lately though, I've been noticing something pretty interesting. If my hair gets rained on and I've straightened it, it's NOT getting frizzy! I'm wondering if this is due to the Deva products I've been using, but a little rain actually gives my hair some nice texture and making it look wavy and intentional. And I am NOT complaining about that.

I'll be out actually enjoying the rain!

Brazilian Blowouts

I'm sure by now you have all heard of the extremely popular Brazilian Blowout which is touted to make your hair silky, frizz free, and smooth. It's a hair orgasm in a bottle. On your downside you have the reports of insane chemicals in the stuff, the most hotly debated being the formaldehyde levels in the products.

On one hand, you have people saying that many of the lines that offer the blowout are formaldehyde free, and that it's completely safe to use. On the other hand, you have reports of people experiencing trouble breathing, nosebleeds, etc.

The whole idea of the Brazilian blowout goes something like this: you sit in the salon chair, and the stylist takes about a capfull of product, and dusts it onto your hair. They then alternate between blowdrying and flatironing your hair to get the desired results you want. You pay anywhere from $200 upwards, and they send you on your way.

As a stylist, the amount of money you can make providing this service is mindboggling. We witnessed a demo at school, and the stylist brought in a bottle of product that costs her $300. She uses about a capfull for each client, and charges each client roughly around $250-$300. There were over 50 applications in that bottle, so you do the math. I also learned you have to be certified to provide this service, and you can't just get product anywhere and start slapping it on people.

Would I do it? I really thought I would. I even volunteered to be the model for the demo! Then, while they were actually giving a fellow student the procedure, she started commenting that she was breathing in chemicals, and her eyes began to burn and water. After seeing that, I'm not so sure. On a shallow note, her hair looked AMAZING after she was finished, and for WEEKS afterwards also!

I know it's a hotly debated issue at the moment, and more info can be found here, and sad to say, I'm not really sure what my position is quite yet. I'm leaning pretty strongly towards the "no" side of things, and am much more in favor of a more natural hair care regimen.

Heat protectant

Ok ladies, if you are using heat on your hair, you NEED a heat protectant!

I tell my clients, I don't care where you buy it and how much it costs, but you HAVE to put something on your hair before you put all that heat on it! Many people skip this step, and it's an important one! You want something protecting your hair from the damage you're inflicting on it, so get out there and buy something already!!

John Frieda makes a great heat spray (for around $8), I've used it in the past, and lately I've just been using this Garnier shine spray. It's been doing it's job, and for $4 is a pretty decent price.

Selling Product

I'd like to take a minute to talk about products. Not just buying products, but selling products, like we do at school.

I understand that someday in the near (very near hopefully) future I will be gainfully employed by a salon, and I will be expected to sell hair products. I am excited to do this, because I have faith that I will work in a hair salon that carries products I use, like, and endorse.

If I love something, I will preach it until I die. Take my Diva products for instance. I've gone so far as to take time out of my shedule to go to the store and buy them for my clients, so they can have them cheaper! I love what the product has done for my hair, and therefore will honestly and faithfully tell people that I love what it's doing.

I hate "selling" people things. You can tell a salesperson from a mile away, and nothing turns me off quicker than sitting in a chair with a person who is trying to push product on me. It makes me uncomfortable and irritated. If I'm suggesting something to you, I honestly love the product. The products I use range from a $38 bottle of shampoo (don't worry I only pay $19!) to a $4 bottle of heat protectant. If it works, it works, and I wouldn't do it any differently.

I find it amazing that people some to cosmetology school for an $8 haircut, and then are pressured to buy a $24 bottle of serum. Many people come to school for haircuts BECAUSE of the price, what sense does it make to push these expensive products on them? After using most of the products at school, and finding them sorely lacking and mostly gunk, why would I sell it to people? I'm completely willing to point you down the right aisle at CVS to help you find something you are looking for that will actually do your locks some good...

New Look

For the few of you that read this on a regular basis, I'm sure you've noticed the utter crazyiness of the changing of the background on the blog the past week or so.

I've been trying to find a background and a look that "captures" me. Does that make sense? I knew that when I found it, I'd know, and lo and behold, I have found my new look!

Thanks for your patience and I hope you enjoyed the show!

Groucho

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I am NOT afraid to post hideous photos of myself on here in the name of beauty. That said, here's another one to enjoy.

I colored my hair again Tuesday, which also included an eyebrow color. A lot of people that color their hair at home skip this part, which can sometimes (most of the time) leaving them looking ridiculous and with the "why yes I color my hair" look. When my eyebrows are the same color as my hair, I feel more "complete".

I always find that once color is on someone's eyebrows, they look hilarious and silly... it's my favorite part!

Seeing Red

Yesterday I did my hardest color job to date. To a seasoned stylist, feel free to laugh at me, because it really wasn't that hard in hindsight. But the words "bleach" and "lightener" still sometimes bring terror into my heart, especially if it's something I haven't done yet.

This young lady wanted something drastically different, and after 4 1/2 hours of sitting in my chair, she sure as hell got it.

Before and after photo... enjoy!

Internship SCORE

So I'm happy to report this blogger has found herself an internship!

After being frumpalicious at my first salon visit, I went all out yesterday. My hair (despite the humidity) was done to sleek perfection, makeup on, and my own version of a stylish outfit. Usually I tend to be more casual, and I like letting my curls run wild, but hey, I tried.

I walked into the salon and came face to face with about 3 curly heads like myself, rocking the Converse sneakers and skinny jeans and I thought "my people".

The owner was absolutely awesome, she was friendly, and I felt at ease right away, and lo and behold, I found myself with an internship!

I can't express how excited I am. It's exactly the kind of salon I'd like to work at after I graduate, and I'm pretty sure I'll be learning tons and loving it! I start mid October, and will be updating plenty on the life of an intern...

Internship search 2011

I'm currently sitting here with my phone attached to my hip, waiting for a phone call from a salon I reeeeeally want to intern at.

As I said in an earlier post, this whole process of finding a salon to intern at is a little intimidating and nerve wracking for me. I'm finding it a very delicate balance of "do I want to intern here" and "do they like me".

Last week I met with a salon, and realized I may have dressed myself like a funeral director. True, I was dressed in school clothes, but still, I felt frumpy. Walking into these salons blind, I never know if I'm dressed "right" for the type of look they have going. Am I supposed to go all out Jerseylicious or keep it simple and classy? I'm also realizing you can't just call and talk to someone, they want you to come in so they can have a look at you. Which simply means I'm thankful I don't look like Jabba the Hut, and that I've learned how to properly do my hair and apply lipstick.

Before I started school (and ask any of my friends) I didn't even know how to properly put on makeup! It's been a yearlong process of reinventing myself, and I'm realizing more every day that every time I walk out the door, I'm representing myself as a hairdresser. Would you want to go see someone to do your hair when they look like they just rolled out of bed? I wouldn't either.

So the search for an internship continues, and so does my own journey to always put my best foot forward. Even if I have to watch Youtube videos by high school girls on how to properly apply eye shadow. I ain't too proud!

Hopefully I'll be hearing back from above mentioned salon within the next few days, and I'm planning on calling another one tommorrow.

Pin up time!

As you can see from my profile picture, I am a big fan of the pin up hair...

There's something so timeless about the styles to me, they never seem to go out of fashion. My hair is a little short right now for the full on effect, and my bangs are growing out, but sometime here soon again I'd like to be rocking the victory rolls and the rolled bangs.

When I first started doing it, it was either hit or miss. The actual roll itself either came out looking like a chewed up sausage, or I'd get one side perfect and the other side fell down, but after (tons of) practice and a little bit of hairspray, I think I've got it down to a 10 minute science. With the shorter length hair it also doesn't take as long to curl, which I'm happy about.

I try to keep it a little understated mostly, otherwise I feel like I look to costumey, but I feel like you can never go wrong with a nice wave and a well placed roll!

Changes

Just wanted to take a quick moment to write an update of what's been going on in my life lately.

For those of you that know me, you know for the past year I've only been going to school on a part time basis. That's 4 hours a night, 4 days a week. For the Ohio cosmetology program I'm required to have 1500 hours. On a part time basis, I've clocking in about 75 hours a month, which means it's taking FOREVER... at the moment I've got a little over 800 hours.

In 2 weeks, I'm making the jump to full time student basis. That means 40 hours a week of hair, skin, and nails, and I am super excited! My expected graduation date is now sometime mid January 2012, and my search for an internship is in full swing.

Speaking of internships, I'm finding it to be a slightly nerve wracking process. Not only do I need to find a salon to intern at, but I'm realizing after talking to a few salons, that there needs to be that "fit". I want to find someplace that I'm comfortable at, and also a place where I won't be just sweeping up hair.

All these changes coming on quickly, but I'm excited for it!