How to Care for Color Treated Hair

Almost every woman I know, even some men, have colored their hair at some point in time. Whether you are trying to enhance your natural God given color,( most women have no idea what that is :), cover gray or have highlights, there are definitely tips to help prevent fading and help keep your color looking fresh until your next appointment. Not to mention, keeping your money from going down the drain!

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• If possible, wait at least 48-72 hours to shampoo your hair after having your color done.

• Only use sulfate free shampoos and conditioners on your hair. Sulfates are detergents to help create lather in shampoos. Sulfates remove color molecules right out of the hair shaft which results in fading.

• Do not use super hot water on your hair. This causes the cuticle to swell and all your color will go down the drain. Literally.

• Condition your hair with a conditioner made for your hair type...this applies to fine hair too. If you fall into the" fine hair" category and are nervous that your hair will fall limp, only apply to your ends and not at the scalp. After conditioning, rinse your hair in a cooler water temperature. This helps close the cuticle which promotes shine and reduces fading.

• If you color your hair red, auburn, chestnut, copper, strawberry, anything that could be in the "red, orange or violet" family, try to go a couple days between shampooing. Same goes for resistant gray or gray hair that fades quickly.

• Try using hair powder or a dry shampoo to help absorb excess oils and add volume to your hair instead of shampooing everyday. 

• You can rinse and use a conditioner on your hair, but try to limit shampooing to every other day.

•  When shampooing, keep the shampoo off your ends. Your scalp is what needs to be cleaned, not the ends of your hair, unless you have product build up.

• If you have any color on your hair, DO NOT use a clarifying shampoo. This will strip the color out of your hair. If you must use a clarifying shampoo, make sure to do so closer to your next color appointment.

• If your hair is over-processed, damaged or breaking, ask your colorist about re-constructive treatments. Most professionals will have a line or products designated to help rebuild and reconstruct the hair shaft, which will minimize breakage.

•  After shampooing and conditioning, spray Seal liberally all over the hair. Seal is a SEVEN product that helps seal in moisture, (hence the name :), and closes the cuticle to reduce fading.

• In the spring and summer keep sun exposure to a minimum. Ultra violet light is a killer for colored hair.

• If you love to swim, try to keep your hair from absorbing chlorine by wetting your hair down before entering the pool. 

Happy Coloring!!!

The Big Day/Night Part 1

freestyle THEORY

Yesterday and last night were amazing and a HUGE success!!! I'm pretty sure this was our best show yet. The Creative Team was definitely on it's "A" game and it showed :)

We started around 11am at Bellevue SEVEN for our 8pm show. Lots of work and planning go into these shows. It is almost like planing a wedding. Months of meetings and going over every detail...only to be over in 30 minutes once it starts. And like most weddings, it's always worth it in the end.

All the models were wonderful to work with. Without boring you to tears on all the details, we had 30 models all together. 10 of which are non-professional and 10 of which are professional. All that means is that the 10 pros have runway experience and they are signed with the agency TCM. We also had 5 male models and 5 pedestal models.

The pedestal models are one of my favorites to work on because they get over the top creative hair. Each of the girl's hair represented a city:  

Seattle, London, New York, Tokyo and Paris.

Richard working on the London look

Dani receiving the Paris look

Yuriko for Tokyo

Getting hair prepared for Jade

Evan curling wefts

                              

Evan working on braids for the Seattle look

Masumi and Evan prepping hair wefts

Noah creating the "I love NY" heart on Jade

While the Pedestal models were getting their BIG do's...the 10 non pro models were getting their hair cut and colored. They either represented Tokyo or London down the runway.

Color time

Antonio and Richard at work

Processing color

Jodi being a trooper

Tony working his magic

Nicole

Here are some of the final looks before show time

Yuriko proudly representing Tokyo

Nicole working London

Me with Yuriko and Jeana

The London and Tokyo Models dressed and ready to go!

The entire day ran pretty smoothly. We did have 1 model that came down with a stomach bug, but we saved face and our very own Masumi filled in and walked the runway. A special thank you to Masumi for being the ultimate team player! :)

More runway and backstage shots later...

Almost Show Time!!!

It's the night before the big show!!! And, I have to say, I am so excited beyond words! Everything that can be done is ready to go! Just have to load up the car with all my peeps and hair and we will be off to have the night of our lives!!! Wish us luck! I'll be posting behind the scene pics on Monday!!!

Now it's time to get my toes under control so I can walk the runway with "perty" feet. Yes, I'm southern :)

See you all tomorrow  night!!!  ;)

Quote of the Day!

Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things. - Denis Diderot, 1713-1784

Have a great day!!!

Break Time

Mt. Baker

After working 10 hours today, I thought I should take a break from thinking and organizing our upcoming show on Sunday. This is the view that greeted me off my living room balcony...Begging to be in a picture. Mt. Baker in all it's glory!

My friend, Phil and I, scored tickets to the 1st play off game the other night while dining at a local Thai restaurant. Storm vs. Sparks. We struck up a conversation with the gentleman next to us. Steve Smith is his name and women's basketball is his game. Coach Smith, (the head assistant coach for the LA Sparks), left two tickets at will call for us, so we took him up on his offer. Thank you Coach Smith :)

We headed out the door just in time for the fire alarm to be going off somewhere in the building...

                                                                                                                                                             

Just a false alarm...Thank goodness.

Onto the Monorail where I got to play tourist in my own city.

Finally, game time and boy did Storm bring it!!!

Lauren Jackson

Beat LA!

Go LAUREN!!!!

 Sue Bird

The game was awesome! The Storm WON!!! Sorry Coach Smith but thanks for the tickets!!!

On the way back to the Monorail, I took some pics of the space needle. It just so happens to also be a full moon, so it made for some nice pictures.

Fabulous

Full moon by the space needle

 

 

                                                                                       

Now, after a great game and a beautiful evening...I'm off to bed to dream about hair ;)

One of My Favorite Places

 Jackson St. headed toward the sound.

It is a gorgeous day today in Seattle! I have been running around and getting everything ready for our show on this Sunday the 29th! 

One of the places that I visit quite often in preparation for a show is 

Western Beauty Supply!

  Jackson and 23rd, Seattle, WA

They are such a great store and they have definitely seen a lot of me lately :)

This beauty supply has everything and more. If you ever need a wig, real hair, fake hair or hair accessories...Western Beauty Supply has it all!

Pins, rollers, nets...you name it, they have it.

Hair accessories from barrettes to toggles and boggles,

to all kinds of hair and colors.

Here is a sneak peak of some of the hair for two of our looks!

See you Sunday the 29th at 7pm for Zebra Club's and SEVEN's show for Bellevue Fashion Week at the Bellevue Hyatt...

"freestyle THEORY"

Tickets are available at both Zebra Club and SEVEN, Seattle and Bellevue

My "so called" Middle Name

I like to think I'm organized...The Team likes to "believe" that I am organized. Most of the time I am, but I have to say...there is something about organizing our own shows that always puts me into a last minute frenzy. :) Every single time!

My attempt to get organized before I send out an email

With that said, I enjoy the frenzy. It's part of the process that I thrive on. Nothing makes me feel better than great hair and pulling it all together. 

In the end, I am always so proud to be a part of such an amazing team. It's our version of being Rock Stars... 

And we will "Rock" it!

Now, if I could just find that paper...

How to Find a Hairstylist

There are so many variables when you are trying to find a hairstylist. Not to mention, the hunt can be very anxiety provoking. So, I have come up with a few tips to help calm your nerves and find you a great relationship with your new hairstylist.

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• Take a poll. Word of mouth is every hairstylist's secret weapon.

• Ask friends whose hair you like, who their hairstylist is and would they recommend them.

• Don't be afraid to stop someone you don't know and ask them where they get their hair done. Most people love their hairstylist, and a compliment :), and can't wait to divulge their stylist's info.

• Go online and look up reviews of Salons that are in your area.

• Once you have a list of salons, call them and ask them for a stylist recommendation. 

• Ask questions...How long has the stylist been doing hair? Does he/she specialize in certain types of hair? How much does he/she charge?

• If you have a particular need or want, (i.e., Brazilian Gloss, relaxer, perms, gray coverage, highlights, etc.), make sure that stylist is proficient in that area.

• Set up a consultation with a stylist that has been recommended  to you. (Most consultations are free)

• Make sure that you voice your concerns and ask questions during the consultation.

• Ask the stylist what their vision is for your hair.

• Remember, this is where you get to voice your concerns and ask all the questions you want. At anytime, if you don't connect with the stylist or the stylist's vision, you can leave. No harm, no foul.

This may be a process, but don't fret. It's better to go through a few bad consultations than to have you hair go through the ringer. Just like in real life...Sometimes you have to kiss a few frogs to get to your Prince or Princess! :)

Quote of the day!!!

Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

George Bernard Shaw

Tip for the day!!!

 One eye lower than the other?!?!

Did you know that you have one eye lower than the other? You also probably have a lower ear and shoulder on the same side as the lower eye. Pretty much everyone who sits in my chair doesn't have a symmetrical face.

What can you do to help create symmetry with your face shape? That is easy...


Part your hair over your lower eye. This immediately helps balance your face shape by giving the illusion of being more symmetrical. Try it and see for yourself! :)

One easy way to make a change without doing anything drastic! Baby steps!

Rapunzel

My friend Chelsea!!! The extension Queen!!!

Almost every woman I know has wanted long princess hair at some point in her life...I got mine on this last Sunday, thanks to one of my friends and co-workers, Chelsea!

This is what my hair looked like before the extensions were put in...


 Front

 Back

You have to know that I love my hair just the way it is. It is very easy to manage unless I'm in humidity. But part of me wanted to explore and do something I had never done before...so, I got...

EXTENSIONS!!!

 I had myself be a guinea pig. Here are some pics before, during and after!


This is some of the hair and tools used to give me Princess Hair. Looks a little like surgery :)

Above is some of the hair, shrinkies, tail comb, clip and a hot tool.
The hot tool and the shrinkies work together to form a keratin bond around my hair and the extension hair so the extensions stay in place for up to 4 months.

My 2nd row of extensions

 

 

This is the half way point...Looks a little strange but my hair is evolving (and growing) before my eyes!

This is after the whole head has been completed...

Next, a haircut to make these bad boys look my own :)

Side view after haircut

A day or two later, this is how everything turned out!

Front After

Back After

Side After

Now, I know I loved my hair before, but I have to say...I may need a therapist to help me part ways with the new fuller, longer haired, ME!!!

Poor Chelsea doesn't even know what she has gotten herself into...;)
Just call me Rapunzel!



(For more info on how to get a consultation for extensions, look at the "About Me" box.)

Tick Tock Tick Tock....

Time is running out!................


We only have a little more than 2 weeks until our show, Freestyle.Theory!!! Everything is coming together and this should be our best show yet! Buy your tickets at either SEVEN Seattle, SEVEN Bellevue or Zebra Club Seattle and/or Bellevue.

This is sure to be the event of Bellevue Fashion Week!!! Don't miss out!!! We would love to see you so come out and join us at the Hyatt in Bellevue, Sunday, August 29th. Doors open at 7pm for cocktail hour.

See you there or be square!!! :)  (Just kidding, but you will miss an amazing and energetic show! )

Jaclyn

Quote of the day!

"Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships."

Michael Jordan 

I love this quote!

How I came to be a hair stylist...

I had the great fortune of finding a passion for the hair and beauty industry at the ripe young age of 17. Before "Hair" ever entered my mind as a career, I thought I wanted to be a English teacher. I loved to read...still do, and so, why not teach English?  Being that my Mom works for a local community college, I knew that a four year university wasn't in my immediate future. I ran down to Sandhills Community College to register for classes and signed up for the, "I don't know what I want to do for a living", major... Liberal Arts :) 

I got home and told my Mom that I had registered. She looked at me and said...

"You need to do something "Artistic" ". 

To which my irritated reply was...

"Well, I don't want to be a starving artist. I'm not going to paint, sing, dance or play the violin for a living, so, what do you suggest I do?"

My Mom retorted in a very matter of fact way..."Cosmetology!", with a big smile on her face.

I'm pretty sure that if my Mom had sprouted 2 heads and  a set of wings that I would have looked at her the very same way, the moment the word, "Cosmetology", popped out of her mouth.

Let me back up a moment and tell you why I had the reaction of complete "Dumbfoundedness"...

Growing up, like most children, I would visit my Mom at work. She had a nice office.........That just so happened to face the "Cosmetology Department".  Now, what made this odd, is that in the state of NC, when you attend the "Cosmetology" program, you have to dress like you are in the nursing program. The women and men would go in and out of the Cosmetology building wearing all white scrubs... all the time. Not very flattering for anyone...EVER! The very idea of wearing nothing but white for the next 15 months of my life was not all I was concerned about!  It was also... how do I put this...the, "characters in white", that actually attended the program. I was very hesitant, to say the least.

My Mom was great about me being hesitant, and said some very powerful words to me in my almost adult life.......

"Jaclyn, If you don't like the program, you can try something else." 

Now, at the age of 17, I had never been allowed to quit algebra if I didn't like it. And believe me...I hated algebra like it was the plague. Algebra and I are like oil and water... We are never going to mix. 

Being able to quit something that I could potentially dislike was a whole new concept to me, and it sealed the deal!

So, I ran back to the college and changed my major to...."COSMETOLOGY" ! It was one of the best things I could have chosen for myself, even if my Mom guided me in the right direction. Not only did I come to love the craft, but I came to love the "Characters" too! I am now a proud card carrying member of the "character club"!

Now... if only someone had warned me of the physical demands of this career...:) That is another day and another post!

Some items that I can't live without!

For starters, every morning when I wake up, I am greeted by the cutest face I've known for 12 years now.

    My baby boy, Paisan.  He swears he is human!

Yes. Paisan is an Italian name...Had I only been warned, I would have named him Napoleon. :) More on P-boy at a later date...The stories I could tell you...

We all have our favorite hair styling items... products, serums, lotions and potions. Here are a few of mine...

1. Seal

One of the best products on earth. First defense against frizz, (remember, I live in Seattle :), and totally weightless. Not to mention, Seal smells wonderful!

2. Mason Pearson Detangler brush

Yes, it has seen better days. I won't share how long I have had him; however, I love this guy!!! He gets the tangles out with tearing my hair out.

3. Smooth Serum

Once I have blown dry my hair, out comes the shine! A little bit goes a long way and gets my hair ready for...

4. Flat Iron

This guy straightens and/or waves my hair. It gives me the polish I am looking for. :)

All of these products and tools get me styled from wet to end result in 15 mins. More time for my morning coffee, which happens to be another item I can't live without...(Remember, I live in Seattle :)