September 2009
PROM DONATIONS
Prom may be a ways off for high school students, but as most of you remember, it’s never too early to start thinking about what you’re going to wear and how you’re going to style your hair. Unfortunately, the dreams of red carpet worthy gowns and accessories are not possible realities for many, especially in the state of today’s economy.
Visual F/X Salon is accepting donations for Crook County high school students in need of prom and semi-formal attire; including dresses, shoes and other accessories. Think about all the clothes just sitting in your closet that could be such memorable pieces for several young women.
Crook County, located in Central Oregon, was hit hard by the recession during the past year. This donation program was brought to our attention by a life-long client of Visual F/X Salon, whose son, Seth Crawford, is a Crook County citizen.
We encourage all salon patrons and readers of this blog to search through your closets and donate whatever possible. We’re sure your generosity will be admired, and of course, your donations will be adored.
FASHION WEEK HAIRSTYLES RECAP
Remember that advice I gave you a couple of weeks ago? The suggestion that you should cancel everything you had planned during Fall Fashion week and either run to Bryant Park or camp out in front of your TV/computer with a pen and paper noting all new hair trends? Did you do it? Probably not. But have you already been searching through Nordstrom.com for boots and coats you can’t go without this season (credit card in hand)? I bet so.
If you missed what’s in and what’s out for hairstyles in the seasons to come, I’ll be happy to catch you up. Just take note this time around.
Classic meets funky-modern this year on the runway. This means there are styles you can create easily at home, such as the ever classic pony, and there are those looks you need some Bumble and Bumble “Gellac” and a skilled professional in order to master. Here are 5 simple pointers to remember and some product suggestions that will help you master these looks.
Point 1. Overall, the ‘80’s are back in a big way. From the catwalk to the sidewalk, hairspray is you best friend when it comes to getting your hair big, noticed and anything ‘80’s. I recommend Bb’s line of hairsprays and KMS’ hairplay (texture adding) line.
Point 2. Adding accessorizes is never a bad thing. Whether you’re wrapping a band around your hair like a crown, or pinning it all up with a mess of bobby pins, the runway has once again blurred the line between function and beauty. I recommend adding some shine to your embellished look with Bb brilliantine, or KMS’ silksheen line.
Point 3. Buns, buns, buns, buns, buns. Twist them, wrap them, decorate them with bobby pins, make them high, make them low, and ignore all rules of symmetry. I recommend Bb styling lotion, tonic or prep and of course hair or holding spray.
Point 4. Did you just get out of bed or were you frolicking on the beach all day? Either way your hair looks great! Waves and texture are in, and so easy to achieve. I recommend Bb surf spray or KMS sea salt spray for getting this look.
Pont 5. The pony can give you a classic, chic look by tightly pulling your hair back, or can go funky modern by experimenting with twists and placement. Either way, it works. Bb and KMS have great straightening creams and anti-frizz products. Tame those flyaways; unless that’s the look you’re going for.
REFERRAL REWARD CARDS
There’s no better compliment than a referral for a stylist. We love hearing that new clients are coming here from the suggestions of friends and family. We’ve recently developed a great way to say THANK YOU!
We’d like to show our appreciation to our reliable clients and reward both them and the friends they refer here at Visual F/X Salon. Ask for some cards from your stylist on your next visit, write your name on the back of them and hand them out to your friends! Not only will your friends get $10 off their first service here, but once we get three cards back with your name on them you’ll receive a FREE haircut or manicure.
This thank you treat applies to both hair and nail services. Three of Patricia’s cards will get you a free manicure, and three hair stylists’ cards will get you a free haircut. Grab some of both, send them out in the world with encouraging words and we hope to see you very soon with your reward.
NEW LENDING LIBRARY
At Visual F/X Salon we value inner health and beauty as much as we do outer. We understand that feeling good about yourself comes from more than just looks, and living life to the fullest requires a thirst for all types of happiness and self-improvement.
With this in mind, we decided to add a new feature to the salon: A Lending Library! Clients can start reading a book while getting hair or nails done, and then take it home to finish it. We only ask that you bring it back so others can enjoy as well.
We’d love to have clients bring in their favorites to share with others. We’ll stamp the inside cover and put your name in it, so everybody will know who to thank for their enjoyable read, and you’re welcome to reclaim your donations if you ever want then back.
If you remember back to owner Jamie Dohrmann’s Q&A session in July, she cited this idea as one of her up and coming projects at the salon.
“I want to start a lending library! I also want to go beyond salon care and make this total life care. I want the experience of coming into this space to be more fulfilling than just beauty care, like health, wellness and everything care!”
We hope to continue to enhance both the inner and outer health and beauty of our clients at Visual F/X Salon.
FALL FASHION (& HAIR) WEEK
Fall fashion week has begun! With the fabulous, outlandish and breath-taking looks of Spring 2010’s in style wardrobes, we get a sneak peak at some of the hairstyles to come into fashion as well.
Whether we’re drooling over the wearable or the avant-garde, the retro or the modern looks, we get a good idea of what’s to come in our fashion futures. This crystal ball of what’s hot and what’s not is never exclusive to the clothes themselves.
When hair gets big on the runway we stock up on mousse, and when the model’s locks are flat and straight we run out to buy a new flat iron. So while you’re taking notes on everything from dresses and blouses to trousers and shoes, don’t forget to pay attention to the fashionable hairstyles as well.
This is also the perfect opportunity to stock-up on photos of both everyday cuts and up-do styles you like. Bring one into Visual F/X Salon to get the perfect look that will awe the fashion forward and will, of course, look great with whatever clothes are in your closet next spring.
SUMMER TO FALL
Labor Day has come and gone, school has begun and while we hate to admit it, those leaves beginning to change color can only mean one thing: Summer is over. While looking back on the fun activities you did and vacations you took, you can’t help but remember all the things you never accomplished but planned to do during the past few months.
Didn’t you mean to set the family up with back-to-school haircuts last month? And what happened to adding some darker fall-toned color to your own hair? Now’s the time to make those appointments at Visual F/X Salon.
While you were focusing on those summer projects were you neglecting taking care of your skin, nails and hair? Start off fall with a bang and moisturize your hair with a conditioning treatment, or repair some of that sunbathing damage with a hydrating facial.
Maybe a tension-releasing massage is just the thing you need to help you focus on those pending chores you’ve been putting off for some summer fun.
Whether you’re catching up on summer’s forgotten plans, or getting a head start on the season accompanying those certain falling leaves, we hope to see you soon at Visual F/X Salon.
SALON DONATIONS
During the past couple months we have donated more than $650 in services and retail to auctions and raffles for organizations we believe are important to our communities. Today we’d like to let you know about the amazing organizations we’ve been supporting.
We mentioned earlier the donation basket we created for the Slabtown festival, which benefits Friendly House. Friendly House has been enriching the lives of community members by bringing people together through services, events and educational classes since 1930. We hope to see you at the Slabtown Festival right here in NW Portland on Sept 19th!
Since then we’ve created a donation baskets for Madeleine School in NE Portland, and today we put a basket together for the Pixie Project. The Pixie Project is a non-profit organization devoted to animals, focusing on adoption and providing low cost spaying and neutering services.
Salon owner, Jamie Dohrmann, especially admires this organization, as it helped her connect with her very-much-loved dog, Pumpkin. So far more than 800 animals have found loving homes through the Pixie Project, and we hope our donation can help benefit even more animals to come.
We will continue to provide donations to the organizations and schools we believe benefit our communities and better the lives of the people and animals throughout Portland. We hope you will support these organizations as well; through donations, volunteering or by supporting the companies that give back to them, such as Visual F/X Salon.
***Special thanks to stylist Jamie P., who was donated a haircut to all three of our most recent donation baskets!***
Q&A WITH ALISON
Stylist Alison Peabody came to Visual F/X Salon in March 2008 from another salon in NW Portland. She’s a proud homeowner, dog-lover and Oregonain. Get to know her a little more right here!
Q. What drew you to Visual F/X Salon as a stylist?
A. Jamie asked me to come work here. It’s a fun environment and I was ready for a change.
Q. What’s the most exciting concert you’ve been to?
A. Probably the Wu-Tang Clan on New Year’s Eve.
Q. You’ve recently changed your hair color from blond to red to strawberry blond, do you think changing hair colors can change a person’s personality or outlook?
A. I always feel the most myself when I’m blond, but I like to change it also. It’s hard to say, people’s perception of you might change, but I don’t think it changes you.
Q. What’s your favorite karaoke song to perform?
A. I don’t do Karaoke. But if I were to do it, I heard someone from the Alibi do “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” theme song once, and I’d do that.
Q. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
A. Working here. Most likely in Portland, but hopefully I’ll be living in a different house.