VisualFXSalon

BEST/WORST OF 2010 EMMY’S RED CARPET

The 2010 Emmy Awards red carpet rocked some lovely dresses… and some very lovely hairstyles to match. instead of waiting until the next morning to recap the night’s hottest dos, let’s take a look at some of the best and some of the not so best dos of the night right after they happened.

The goodies:

My favorite of the night is Kelly Osbourne’s retro soft waves. The length and style frames her face perfectly.

With such a glamorous dress and fine physique, Gugu Mbatha-Raw knew a pulled-back up-do was just the style for the night. She pulled it off head to toe.

Tiny Fey’s voluminous pony is young and sleek.

Not goodies:

Guliana Rancic might do a good job calling others out on the red carpet, but she’s in need of some of her own advice this time. The super-pulled back pony is just too harsh for her face shape and features. Let your hair down girl.

Proportion and math clearly aren’t Naya Rivera’s strong subjects. Super puffy dress + super puffy hair = over done and under classed. Maybe for an 80’s prom.

Just as bad as overly done hair is an under styled do. Come on Julia Louis-Dreyfus, you’re at the Emmy’s so do something with your hair!

HAIRSTYLES FOR YOUR FACE SHAPE

We’ve all found clothes in fashion magazines that we love, but when reality sets in we just know they aren’t right for our body types and have to keep flipping the pages. Nobody has the same body type, and nobody has the same face shape. Learning how to determine what face type you have can help you find the right hairstyle to fit your face. Take a look at some common face shapes below and our suggestions for hairstyles to match.

Rectangular or oblong

Styles that work for you include short or medium hair styles.

Try: Adding bangs can shorten the added length of your face.

Round

Styles that work for you include short dos like a pixi cut, or looks that are longer than your chin.

Try: Parting your hair off center to reduce roundness.

Oval

Styles that work for you include most styles. Short, medium or long styles work for you… lucky duck.

Try: Pulling your hair back to reveal your perfectly balanced features.

Square

Styles that work for you include short to medium length hair styles.

Try: Adding waves to create some roundness to your face to offset the squareness of your face.

Heart

Styles that work for you include lengths that hit your chin or longer.

Try: Light wispy layers around your upper face.

NEW FEATHER EXTENSIONS

We’re now offering feather extensions at the salon! This modern look will turn heads and add a funky and flashy look to any style. Each group of feathers is attached to your hair, so no need to deal with clips or the daily maintenance of temporary add-ons. Just wash and style as normal, with a little added attention to your brushing to avoid snagging. You can even curl and straighten the feathers with your hair.

Each group of feathers is priced at $10 with a guarantee of them lasting for at least two weeks.They are easily removable whenever you want them out, but we’re guessing you’ll love your new look so much that won’t happen. Call to make an appointment today for your feather extensions at (503) 228-2002 and request Alison’s extension services.

PROTECT YOUR HAIR IN THE POOL

Since swimming caps aren’t as hot as they used to be (I smell a comeback as strong as chlorine)… and neither is brittle, broken and chemically damaged hair (no comeback there), this post is devoted to teaching you how to protect your hair from the pool.

PREVENTATIVE CARE:

Firstly, you can start to protect your hair before you even begin to damage it. Spray your locks with a leave-in conditioner (try KMS’ solperfection all day defense or their moistrepair leave-in conditioner) and rinse your hair with fresh water before getting into the pool. Not only does the leave-in conditioner lock in moisture and protect your hair, it will also prevent your hair from absorbing the harsh chemicals in the pool.

THE DAY OF CARE:

Make sure to wash and condition after your swim. KMS’ Solperfection line is designed to fight the damages of the pool and the sun. The line’s shampoo is a conditioning after sun shampoo with UV filter and Anti-Oxidants that cleans your locks and removes residue gathered during your swim. Condition with the line’s survival creme, which will help fight your sun and pool stressed hair.

MAINTENANCE:

Make sure to get regular hair trims (every 4-8 weeks), which will rid your do of easily damaged ends and keep your hair looking healthy and feeling great. Come in to Visual F/X Salon and tell your stylist you read this post and we’ll give you a complimentary conditioning treatment with your cut or color.

7 DAYS NO WASHING STYLES

After posting no-heat hair drying solutions, I’ve decided to take it back a step and go with no hair washing solutions. After you’ve gone a few days without washing your hair, you’ll experience the beauty of grease. It’s not just good for cooking, ladies. The natural oils your hair produce can provide the ideal styling solution. So join me in this experimental 7-days no washing styling marathon. And I guarantee that after you do wash your hair after this week, your hair will feel so clean and soft you’ll be addicted to the laziness of doing nothing to your do.

DAY 1: THE DOWN DO

Savor this last shampoo and conditioning experience. Use a root boost (like KMS’ addvolume root boost) at the roots and comb out your hair with a wide toothed comb. Blow dry your locks with a round brush, curling in at the ends for a voluminous and fresh look.

DAY 2: STRAIGHT AND SAVVY

Comb out your hair and spray it with a heat protector (try KMS’ superstraight hot pressed spray). Give your do a quick blast with the hairdryer to dry out the protector spray. Divide your hair into 3 lower and 3 upper sections. Straighten out one section at a time.

DAY 3: CURLS

You might want to spray your roots with a type or dry shampoo to soak up some of the oil at the roots, which will give you a fresh and fuller look. KMS’ makeover spray works great, or if you’re looking to add some color to your roots check out Bumble & bumble’s hair powder, which comes in white, blondish, brown and red. You’re probably starting to experience some of that lovely oil… love it because it will help with this day’s do. Divide your hair into the same 6 sections as the day before and curl each section with a curling iron. Spray with a medium hold hairspray (try Bumble & bumble’s spray de mode or KMS’ medium hold spray).

DAY 4: THE SIDE BRAID

If you have bangs, you might want to consider giving them a quick wash in the sink, or pull them back with a headband if they’re getting too greasy for you. Follow instructions for last week’s blog on braiding for curls. Spray your hair with some leave-in-conditioner before braiding to get the curly look. Try KMS’ moistrepair or silksheen leave-in’s. If you want to capture the messy braid look, like in the photo above, keep some hair on each side of the braid out, then tease it and pin the ends behind the braid, creating a fuller and less-tamed look.

DAY 5: CURLY PONY

Take out the braid and give another dry shampoo spray at the roots if needed. Pull your hair to a low side pony or go for a regular pony tail. Touch up the ends with a defrizz (like Bumble & bumble’s) if they got a bit wacko in that braid. Spray with a medium hairspray to keep the curls in place.

DAY 6: THE HIGH BUN

Almost there. Flip your head upside down and brush hair into a high pony and secure with a rubber band. Tease the hair in the pony and divide it into two sections, teasing each section even more. Wrap one section clockwise and secure with bobby pins. Wrap the other section counter-clockwise around the secured hair and keep entire bun in place with more bobby pins. Spray with a strong hold hairspray like Bumble & bumble’s classic hairspray or KMS’ maximum hairspray.

DAY 7: WASH IT

Keep your hair up in the bun until you’re going to wash it…. Brush your hair before you shampoo to bring the oil to the surface. You made it… and think of all the water, electricity and time you saved, along with those fun do’s you tried and bragging rights you’ve earned.

WORKOUT TIPS: Put your hair up in a loose high pony for workouts. Post-workout spray with a dry shampoo at the roots before blow drying out the sweat.

SUMMER STYLING SOLUTIONS

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.

NO HEAT CURLS

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.

CREATING THE SOCK BUN

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…

SOME JULY 4TH DOS (& DON’TS)

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.

BB WEAR & CARE PRESS

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”