VisualFXSalon

Nothing sounds more annoying than holding up that heavy heat-wrenching hair dryer on a hot day. When you’re willing to dive into a cold shower, there’s no need to start sweating as soon as you start to dry off. Not to mention the added electricity use, damage heat causes to your locks and if you’re like me, worrying about blowing a fuse with that AC window unit blasting precious chilled air into your place.

Loose curls:

Make sure to give your hair a really good towel dry after washing. Spray your hair with leave-in conditioner (KMS moistrepair or silksheen leave-in conditioners would be great) to help keep your locks looking silky, or use a sea salt spray (KMS sea salt spray or Bumble and bumble surf spray work great) or a wind tousled look. Comb your hair out with a wide-toothed comb and divide into two sections. Create loose braids that gently transition from you head into the braid (to avoid weird denting effects)

Crimps:

Begin with the same steps as above, except create multiple layers of hair sections. Ideally, three sections on the top and three on the bottom. Create medium-tight braids that start close to your head. This look is better suited for night time… since it looks a bit funny, but I’m sure your pillow won’t mind the off look.

Hope your sock buns all worked out. As I discovered on YouTube (and later for myself), the sock bun can help you create lovely curls without the damaging effects of using a curling iron. The process is similar to creating rag curls, but so much simpler to create and you’re going to end up with large, Hollywood-style curls.

(Similar to this photo the sock bun can give you large curls that start midway down. Pouty expression not guaranteed)

SO… put your hair up in a very loose pony tail at the very top of your head. This will prevent hair denting or being a pain in the neck (literally) while you’re sleeping. In general, sleeping with your hair up on your head helps create a voluminous look for the next day. Spray your loose locks with some water if dry, or if you’re putting the bun in post-hair washing then let dry around 80%. Put the donut through your hair, but don’t tuck the end strands through, and roll up to your head before securing with a bobby pin if needed. Now the tough part comes along…

Ahh, once you’ve got your beauty sleep simply remove the bun and let those lovely curls fall. Gently brush out those curls if you’re going for a wavy look. Best of luck.

Hey there blog readers. I thought I’d spice up  our blogs and do some hair style trial and errors with you, and let you know what works and what doesn’t. My first mission, and yes I choose to accept it, is to create a sock bun and try to create large and lovely curls.

What the heck is a sock bun you may be asking… well it’s a bun that is wrapped around a sock. Confusing lingo aside, it’s a bun and a sock that makes a sock bun. Now that we’re covered the basics, let me tell you why I’m going to wrap my hair up in an old sock. You’ve probably already heard me weep and whine about my thin, straight and ultimately unvoluminous locks. I like big hair. I want big hair. I’m gonna get me some big hair… in a bun that is.

(This is me whining about my flat and thin hair)

In order to make a sock bun you need a sock. Cut out the toe area, so you have a tube shape. Roll the sock up into a donut shape.

(This is how your sock bun donut should look. You can also buy pre-made donut shapes to use, such as the one seen above)

Put your hair into a pony tail and thread the sock donut through your hair. Place the sock donut a couple inches from the ends of your hair and wrap the end strands around the sock tube and tuck them inside the donut. If you want to wrap some hair around the finished bun then don’t tuck the strands in. You can also braid the end strands, as seen in the bun above. Roll your hair around the sock donut by rolling the donut out and thus turning it towards your head. Once the sock donut is rolled all the way to your head secure it in place with bobby pins. Dang girl… you got a big bun.

Not only are my locks voluptuously challenged, but their can’t hold a curl if their little hair stand lives depended on it… and yes I’ve threatened them. So in my next blog I’ll show you how to create lovely curls with your sock bun…

We hope everybody has a fun and safe 4th of July… and we hope your hair looks amazing. Keep those locks away from the sparklers gals, since nothing ruins a fireworks show like a sizzling do… unless it’s sexy sizzling. So in order to keep your hair away from the flames, yet keep it hot, here are some 4th of July style tips. One more tip before we being… hairspray is flammable, so no heavy fingers on that spray button ladies.

Here’s some current press singing praise for Bumble and Bumble’s new Wear and Care line.

W March 2010 said “Provide relief to overstyled locks with Bumble and bumble Mending Masque”

March 2010 More Magazine recommended Quenching Masque as regular hair treatment for women in their 40’s.

WWD Beauty Biz March 2010 recommended Quenching Masque to replenish sun and heat-damaged hair.

Women’s Health April 2010 featured Mending Shampoo and Conditioner as a style fix in an article on damaged hair.

InStyle April 2010 recommending using Mending Masque as a way to protect hair from styling abuse while growing hair out.

Marie Claire April 2010 said “Reprieve from the host of hot irons and dryers needed for spring’s sculptural hairstyles”

Let’s continue our recap of KMS’ infusions, designed to use natural elements to help shape, manage and perfect your hair type. Not only do these infused products do what they say… but they add a touch of a refreshing scent to your hair. This leaves you looking good, smelling good and feeling good.

Pomegranate & Pepper: This combination found in the hairstay products help to support the hold and protects the hair against the environment.

Rosemary & Fennel: This combination found in the headremedy Dandruff Shampoo helps to soothe itching and provides anti-bacterial benefits to the scalp.

Lime & Cilantro: this combination specifically fused for the hairplay products supports the hold and flexibility of styling products.

Sage & Pear: This combination found in the headremedy Clarify Shampoo assists in removing chlorine, oils and product build-up from the hair.

Olive & Chamomile: This combination found in the headremedy Sensitive Shampoo and Scalp Treatment works to help calm the scalp and provide gentle conditioning to the hair.

Grape & Peppermint: This combination of a free radical scavenger and an anti-oxidant designed for the hairplay Hard Wax assists in providing an effective barrier between the hair and the environment.

Rhubarb & Lavender: This combination created for the colorvitality Blonde products helps to enhance blonde tones and calm the scalp.

We’ve covered all of KMS’ fantastic product lines. From curl enhances to defrizers and products that add volume to shine and those must-haves for people with itchy scalps and others who spend days in the sun. These blogs have covered an array of product types with natural fusions designed to target your hair needs. Let’s recap some of the infusion combinations that blend nature and technology in the quest for that perfect do. (More to come as well).

Almond & Basil: This combination is found in all silksheen products. It supports in silkening, enhancing shine and protecting hair against environmental damage.

Aloe & Vanilla: This combination specifically fused for the moistrepair products helps replenish moisture balance and conditions damaged hair.

Eucalyptus & Cinnamon: This combination found in the addvolume products helps to create volume and fullness.

Fig & Jojoba: This combination created for the flatout products assists in providing smoothness and intense conditioning.

Grapefruit & Thyme: This combination created for the solperfection products helps to calm sun-stressed  scalp and act as an anti-irritant.

Lilac & Ginger: This combination specifically fused for the colorvitality products helps calm the scalp and assists in gently cleansing the hair, while protecting from UV rays.

Orange & Mint: This combination in the curlup products helps to enhance curls and calms the scalp.

Alison setting model’s hair and the final product on the runway

Visual F/X Salon’s stylist Alison Peabody spent her Saturday doing hair for models in the Art Institute’s “Feast for the Eye” fashion show and auction. The event showcased 18 senior collections with a food-inspired opening act. The night’s auction benefited the the Oregon Food Bank and the school’s Creative Arts Scholarship fund. It was a tasty night indeed and sure made us proud of our go-getter stylist who created some scrumptious dos as well. Ummm… the hair bun has a whole new meaning.

Two hairstyles created by Alison

A retro-wave look created by Alison.

To see more images behind the scene and during the show go here: http://osiphotography.smugmug.com/Fashion/Art-Institute-Feast-for-the/Feast-For-the-Eye-PRE-SHOW/12389038_UWnJK#892646753_yArKR

Well… I was saving the KMS’ Solperfection line for a day when we’ve actually had some sun in Portland… or a little sliver of hope for no rain. As this rain streak continues it’s clear we need more than hope, we need some inspiration! So today we’re looking at the Solperfection line, designed to keep your hair looking its best when UV rays, chlorine and sea water are doing their best to cause some damage… but in the most fun way. This line is infused with grapefruit and thyme, designed to help calm your sun-stressed scalp and act as an anti-irritant. So let’s keep hoping for some sun and when it does come (it has to, right?) Solperfection will be there to remind you of how lovely it feels.

Shampoo:

This highly conditioning after sun shampoo with UV filter and Anti-Oxidant deeply cleanses and removes residue from sea and pool water. Ideal for all hair types, especially sun-stressed hair. Will give you deeply cleansed, hydrated hair.

Survival Creme:

This after sun leave-in conditioner deeply conditions, detangles. A UV filter and an Anti-Oxidant help provide protection to sun-stressed hair from further damage caused by the sun, sea or pool water. Ideal for all hair types, especially sun-stressed hair. Will give you conditioned, hydrated hair.

All Day Defense:

This lite-weight, leave-in sun conditioner is the perfect detangler, for wet, unruly beach hair, leaving the hair instantly hydrated. A UV filter and an Anti-Oxidant help protect the hair against the ravages of the sun, sea and pool water. Ideal for all hair types, especially unruly, tangled, sun-stressed beach hair. Will give you instantly detangled, hydrated hair.

Beach Protectant:

A water resistant beach styling creme with UV filter and Anti-Oxidant to help protect the hair against the ravages of the sun, sea and pool water. Ideal for all hair types, especially sun-stressed hair. Will give you protected, sleek, shiny hair.

There’s nothing cuter than a great embellished hair accessory. I often adore them in magazines and spy them while shopping, but rarely take that leap to purchase them, usually opting for a staple piece to add to my wardrobe. Most of my favorites look relatively simple to create and require little supplies. While I have little to no wisdom to share about how to make these outfit add-ons, I can share with you some of my favorites I’ve found on different sites, blogs, etc. Best of luck fellow accessory lovers!

Learn how to make this great headband embellishment here. Only five steps at the Guardian’s web site.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jun/02/how-to-embellish-outfit-cheap

Learn how to create your own luxury cloth headband here. Just six steps at Making Things blog.

http://andreatung.blogspot.com/2006/04/diy-hair-bands.html

Learn how to create a personalized headband with ribbon here. Eight steps and found at eHow.com

http://www.ehow.com/how_4787234_easy-professional-ribbon-hairbands-headbands.html