Where have I been???

Well here is a new post! Transitioning to apprenticing has left me with little time behind the computer, and little free time at home since we are in the midst of wedding season. But here I am today, bright and early getting on the ball for the fall!! (Did you like that??) Tomorrow I have claimed girl day, which entails hair and nails which are in desperate need of some TLC.

To tide over until tomorrow, here are some pictures of recent hair I have had. These first two are me modeling my new swimsuit I had gotten, which meant I of course had to do my hair before trying it on. :)

This last one shows off the amazing orange I put in my hair in August, and it is still going strong! I LOVE Elumen by Goldwell. The colors are so vibrant, and stay that way. There will be some pretty big changes to my hair next week that I am super excited about, and can't wait to share!

Happy styling and look for a great new post tomorrow! I am thinking of adding videos, as well. So possibly look for that tomorrow as well, if I can figure it out.

Time off

Well, here I am, back again. Some great things have happened!

1.) went to Florida, Universal Studios, and it was a blast!

2.) Became (start drum roll please!!!) AN APPRENTICE!

Well, after a year or so (or my whole life, really) of toying with the idea of doing hair, here I am, actually going for it!

After the gentle push of coworkers, and everyone who has seen my own hair, I am jumping into the game. License is on the way, and practice has begun. Shampooing, and blow drying, and mannequin (which interestingly are labeled, from the company mind you, mannikins) hair curling. I am well on my way!

So after a brief hiatus, I am returning to the wonderful world of blog posts, which will commence today!

I am hoping to use this as a learning tool of sorts, and a journal of my journey to hairstylist.

Happy Styling!!

Leah

Happy 4th!

Not the best hair, but I was wearing a hat until that point!

Here I am matching my drink of choice, and showing my patriotism! Hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th! Check back later in the week for a new post, with a great announcement!

If Betty Grable and Lucille Ball had a baby... It would be my hair today

Today, stylist Amy and I had a chance to play with my hair. We had been looking at pictures of Betty Grable, and decided to try and create a a Pompadour-ish curly look.

To get the look here is a step by step.

Section the top of your hair off in a long U-shape, from the front of your head to the end of the top of your head, leaving down the back and sides. Using a very small curling iron, attack the U-shape with it! You want to do very small sections, so this is where you are going to spend the majority of your time.

Once you have all of that curled and clipped out of the way, you can section the back from your front sides. The back was back combed and twisted into a french twist, while the sides were swept up with one placed under the curls for a form, and the other as an accent curl on the side of the french twist.

Arrange your curls on the top of your head and pin in the fashion you desire. I ended up pulling out about 40 pins last night when I got home, so make sure you have lots of bobby pins and hair pins!! (don't mind our product shelf in the background in this picture! I had to sneak in at least one picture of me looking off into the distance.)

This was a very time consuming process, and as you you can see in the picture below, keeping your curls under control can be a little difficult. I had to keep pinning them in, and had to watch out for low hanging branches.

It ended up looking exactly like we had envisioned it to.

Thanks, Amy, for you determination to get all the curls done!

Best Haircut

Most people have no clue how long my hair is, since I have it up the majority of the time. I was asked what haircut I would recommend, so here is a post dedicated to haircuts.

If you are looking for a very authentic 40's through early 60's hairstyle, you are going to want was is called the "middy" haircut. Very precise layers, this haircut is one that you HAVE to style daily, or else you end up with a strange looking mullet. There are many pictures online as to what it looks like. I have personally had this haircut, and while it makes styling easy, I sometimes need to have an off day, and not do my hair, therefore looking silly.

It also can be difficult finding a stylist who will readily do it. Working in a hair salon, I have only seen a few people ask for it, and then end up toning it down a few days later because it can be difficult to work with. This is a hardcore haircut that takes time to work with.

The best idea I have for a haircut, would be a heavily layered cut. I currently have a cut that is very layered, transitional, and perfect for everything that I do. My bottom layers sit about 3.5 inches below my collar bone. I would suggest anything between shoulder length and a little longer for any of the styles I have featured here. Layers are key to less work. With standard one length hair, you are going to have to wrap more for the piled high updos. While not impossible, I personally prefer to have my hair with a workable length, and layers for creating body and volume.

Again, I am not a hairstylist, so please consult with yours for what works best for you hair, and they can send you in the right direction!

If you have any questions about hair, products, or anything else, let me know!

Experiment with Hot Sticks

We have had them sitting at the salon for months now. No one has used them yet, so I figured I would take them home with me and experiment. I watched a youtube video about it, and figured, why not? It looked like it was easy enough, and created a great 40's look. So here we go!

Products Used:

Phytofix Setting Gel

Brocato Moveable Hold Hairspray

Moroccan Oil Treatment

Heat Protecting Spray

Conair Hot Sticks/Candi Sticks Jelly Rollers

Bristle Brush

Allow your Hot Sticks to warm up for 10-15 minutes before starting.

Section your hair out. For this 40's inspired look, I parted my hair on the side and divided that into 2 sections on front sides. For the back I set the curlers lower on my head, keeping the hair flat against the top of my head. You want the top part of your hair be flat, like a hat. So roll the rollers to the nape of your neck. It is not a very sexy look, but will be well worth it in the end!

Each section was prepped with the PhytoFix and a Heat Protecting spray, to protect the hair.

Once you have them in place, let the set for 10-30 minutes, depending on your hair. Once they have set for a while, take them out and brush! I added a tiny bit of the Moroccan Oil Treatment to settle the frizz.

There you have it! A wonderful, 40's inspired hair style.

Or your big floppy hat... and make sure the wind inside your house doesn't blow it off. :)

The Hot Sticks worked really well. Make sure you get the ends of your hair around it evenly, because you will end up with a strange, uncurled end to it. I had to go back with the curling iron to fix them. I think after you use them a few times, you will get the general idea.

I like that they click onto themselves, and different than traditional hot rollers, you don't end up with a strange clip line, AND since they have a jelly grippy (is that really a word?) they grip to your hair so much better, making it easier to roll them!

Just be careful, they do get pretty warm.

These will run you about $20-$30 depending on what set you get. Pretty affordable!

Happy Styling!!

P.S. Yes, I have noticed that I only look good while looking to the right of pictures... How is that possible that every single picture, out of hundreds that I take, I only choose the ones looking away from the camera?? Best angle, I guess. :)

Schwarzkopf Osis Dust It

Per request:

Schwarzkopf Osis Dust It Powder--- my secret weapon.

Dust It is a great product to create lift and volume. A mattifying powder that can be rejuvenated throughout the day by your finger tips, this product works wonders! Apply a small amount at your roots on dry hair, back comb or just use your finger tips to work it up. I use the Dust It to create lift for BIG hair and my updos. This works great for beehives or if you have short hair that needs some volume at the roots.

The only con to the product is that it is a white powder. Make sure you work it in really well so your aren't seeing any white residue. It is a very fine powder, so do not pour it into your hair in front of a fan, because breathing it in in a confined bathroom is not fun, trust me. :)

Even though the bottle is small, you get a lot of usage out of it. A little bit goes a long way, so it is well worth the investment.

Price range: $13-$23

This product gets 4 stars from me! It would be 5 if it came in colors to match your hair color.

Setting Your Hair Tutorial

The beginning of any of my curly updos (or sexy loose curls such as the picture below) start with setting my hair in curls. Once you have figured out how to do this quickly, you can have it done in no time at all!

Things you will need:

- comb (I use a metal ended rat tail comb, but any comb is fine, I just try to use one with a tail so you can cleanly section your hair)
- curling iron (I use a one inch iron, which I prefer for tighter curls)
- bobby pins or curl clips
- hairspray (I use Brocato Moveable Hold Hairspray... LOVE THIS WHOLE LINE!!)

:::OPTIONAL:::
I also used Osis Dust it powder, which sometimes I use, sometimes I don't, but I do looooooooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeee this product. :)

Start out by sectioning your hair.

I run mine in a pattern like this:
This is a rough rough rough view of the top of my head. I section my bangs off in a U shape, and the rest is sectioned like this, then divide the ones around the perimeter of your head in half. Clip these areas out of the way to start off with. I do not do that anymore, but it will be easier for you to work with. You can twist each section into a rope and secure with a bobby pin to keep it out of the way. Here is a side view of some sectioning... I then divide the top section I am holding in half, and the front side section in half, making a top and bottom.

Once you have your sectioning complete, time to bust out your preheated curling iron!! Start curling each section, spraying with a little bit of spray (make sure you are spraying from an 8-10 inch distance evenly!). Once you have curled each section, used your fingers to roll the section back into curling iron position and secure with curl clips or bobby pins. Do this with the rest of your head until you look like a crazy person.

Spray your finished product. You want your hair to have time to set and dry before taking it down, so find something else to do...like your makeup... or take pictures of how cute your dogs are...

Aren't they just the cutest?!

Back on track: After your hair has had time to set, remove all the bobby pins and spray again. You don't want your curls to be crunchy, so again, keep it the 8-10 inches away!! I powder my roots with the Osis Dust It, then back comb each section a little bit and smooth them out. Now you can leave them down like the top picture, or use it as the base for something along these lines!! Just don't try making this face... it is a combination of a yawn, a wink, and maybe a seizure... not a good look. I guess some people are born winkers, and others are not. I am not a winker.

Happy styling!!

Updo's and Flowers! Happy Summer!

Yesterday I had one of those amazing, rare opportunities to actually take some time styling my hair. Normally, I need my hair done in 15 minutes, so it is nice the times I have to spend some time on it.

Great product knowledge: Brocato's Big Easy Dry Shampoo. Works wonders! I need a lot of build up in my hair for a lot of my hairstyles, and this removes just enough in between shampoos for me to have wonderful hair, AND prolong my color, save from washing. As a redhead, I know red fades a lot, and washing it speeds up the fading process. Find your local retailer and buy some up! It comes in a travel size as well, perfect for you gym bag or purse!



I curled my hair in sections, and pinned it while I was doing my makeup to let it set. I only did the front, top, and sides. I left the back out since it was hidden. After it had had time to set, I let down the curls, and back combed each section. The two sides (Luckily I have blond and black for easy differentiation!) were twisted up and pushed forward (with a crazy curl end on top of my head) before being pinned. The back was made into a french twist, completing the mess of curls. I pin curled my bangs, and added some lovely flowers! I randomly placed curls throughout, pinning and spraying in place. It took about 50 minutes from start to finish, but a great time to do makeup in between while the curls are setting.

I wasn't the only one to have time spent on my hair yesterday, my Maltese, Wicket, got her summer do done. She looks adorable!



She was all worn out from the excitement of the doggie salon, but got a great report card! They didn't want to let her come home with me she was so well behaved! Such a sweetheart! They even put pretty bows in her hair. When they told me to remove them in a week, I already knew they wouldn't last with the Dachshund and the Chihuahua playing as hard as they do. Which is why she does not and never will have either of the Maltese standard haircuts, too dirty and too much upkeep for it to be ruined in 15 minutes of rough housing outside. Plus, we live in Savannah, not the best weather for lots of fur.

I have been going through my phone and finding a TON of great pictures of my hair, and will be uploading a collection, probably today and tomorrow.

Happy styling!!

Finger Waves Tutorial

So I finally had time today after getting my hair colored to put together a tutorial on finger waves. They are loose, lovely waves, not crunchy, and look just gorgeous!

What you will need:

-comb
-bobby pins
-setting gel (I use Phytofix by Phyto)
-movable hold hairspray (I use Moroccan Oil's Luminous Hairspray)

-I start with slightly damp hair, almost to the point of being dry (we'll say 10% wet)
-Part on the side to get the bumped up look on one side
-Run a small amount of the setting gel through each side of your hair. Very important to not use a lot because you will end up with the super gelled, slicked to the side of your head look.
-Start at the part and gather the front section of your hair, and pull it back, securing with a bobby pin
-Take the same section you pinned back, and pull it toward your face and pin
-Continue down the length of the piece, repeating the opposite motion of the hair and securing with a pin
-Repeat on the other side
-Spray with your hairspray and let it sit, or go to sleep! It is comfortable to sleep in because the bobby pins are flush with your head, and are not pokey at all
-Remove pins after your set amount of time, and brush out or break up with your fingers.
-Always finish your hair with a spray to keep them in tip top shape!

Here is a completed picture.


Not the best example, but I will change out the photo later!

You can exaggerate the sweeping motion as much as you would like, and do different sections on your head. I tend to only do the front on both sides.

And presto! You have beautiful waves that look classic and classy!

Happy Styling!

Wow!

I have been soo busy since March! To fill you in, I did some traveling, I've been working on hair, I have been busy at the salon, got a new dog, PHEW! It's been crazy! I have finally found some time to just breath and get back to the blog.

I have some new hair styles to share with everyone, and I am really excited with what I have been learning on my head.

I don't have bangs anymore! Well, I do, they are just realllly long at this point. I finally decided to grow them out. Plus, I live in Savannah and having bangs is like a sweat trap on your forehead. I swear, it is sooo hard to look cute in this town.

Today's post is about creating the great waves of the thirties and forties. What I have been doing is almost finger waves (well, I guess it is). It is probably the easiest thing I have ever done! I put the pins in before I go to bed, sleep like a baby, and wake up with amazing hair! It took me about 10 minutes to set the hair last night, and 10 minutes to actually style it this morning. Bam! a total of 20 minutes, and I have perfect, compliment worthy hair, and trust me, there have been lots of them and it's only 11 am!!



This is how my hair looked yesterday, soft waves.



Today's hair is a short bob looking style. I cheated and MADE it look like I chopped my hair off, but that would never happen in a billion years. ;) By pinning the back in a roll low on my neck, it gives it a rounded and full look as though my hair is cut off.



An outside view of it.

I will be adding the technique tonight for how to achieve the look while sleeping. Gather a setting gel, and bobby pins, and you will be ready to go!

Happy Hair Styling!!
Leah

Welcome

I love trying out new and different styles with my hair. From the 40's to the 60's, I love trying to recreate different intricate updos. Many people ask about my hair, and I wanted to have a place to showcase my creations!

I work as a receptionist at a salon in Savannah, GA. As the first person people see when they walk in, I try to find different ways to do it on a regular basis to keep things interesting for the clients, and be an inspiration.

Working in the salon has brought me closer to my love of hair, although I don't think I could actually do other people's hair! Who knows, maybe some day I will.

With this blog I am going to challenge myself to different hair styles daily, and post them with tips and tricks on how you can recreate my styles.

I am in no way a hairstylist, but have been styling my hair in crazy ways for years. I started dying my hair very young, and my mom let me go wild on how I did my hair. It started with half updos. We have pictures (I will try and locate them) from third grade when, that reflects the deep seeded love of 40's hair styles. Where I would have gotten that from, I have no idea beside a past life!

Today's Style: The Leah Basic

This is my go to hairstyle. I have it down to taking about 10 minutes (not including fighting with my bangs)




The idea with this hairstyle is pretty basic. Take your two sides, and twist them back, securing with bobby pins. It's easy to hide the pins inside the roll of the twist. You don't need to roll all the hair into it like a victory roll, but as you can see in the pictures, twist and leave the ends out. The bottom of the hair is an actual roll, with the bobby pins slightly hidden. I hold this curl tight and place pins inside of it, and then secure it by placing pins diagonally from the top of the roll. To get the bump in your twists, I add a little Osis Dust-It about an inch from the what will be the visible part and rat it up a bit. Using the clean hair to cover the rat, I twist behind it for a great 40's-esque bump.

PRODUCTS USED: Osis Dust-it and Aquage Finishing spray