I've Learned from the Best

I have learned from the best everything I know. 20 years of product knowledge from the top professional hair stylist. Matrix, Aveda, Gold Well,Big Sexy Hair, and the very best Nexxus. They just can't hold me now. After years of listening to these companies tell me that they will not stand for diversion I find myself standing in a store with a shelf dedicated just for these companies products.  How they got there I do not know. I have called these companies on many occasions only to get we will look into it. Then a report comes out in our professional news letters that these are old products and not the same as what we are buying. The hub around the hairstylist sink is all about how they are selling out dated products. Yeah Right that's legal!

What a bunch of Bull Shit and I am sick of it. I took things into my own hands and did my research. I ordered ingredients and tested them to see what they could and would do. Then I started to create them. Sure I have had a few things that needed to go down the drain. For the most part though I have had many successful products.
I want my products to get out in the real world and be professional for the profession. That was Matrix motto and I think some where they lost it. Maybe when the founder died so did his idea. To make it a professional product for the small salon owner. I would like to know what happen to that. Why is it nexxus is now on every chain store shelf. They reported they were going public with their product a few years back so I quit using it. Now I am left with the new not so famous names and to tell you the truth they just don't sell. I am saddened to see dead head at the Wies Market why I ask you is this happening.
As a professional I have not used store bough hair anything in over 19 years. I did after first getting out of beauty school go back to pantene but it just isn't a good product. They do not compare to professional products and by far are not created equally.
So all I want to know is why? Why go public with something that has been professional for so long. Who wins the public or the professional?

Looking Good in the Winter?

How on earth can you ever look good in the winter? 

The question of the day. It is so hard when you put your big heavy boots on long johns and heavy coat. Then it snows on your hair you just fixed so nice. If you ware a hat you have fly away hair. So your choices are flat hair or spiked hair. It is hard to imagine why we bother to comb our hair put on makeup and get dressed.
Your pants almost always get a big mud streak on them from the car or truck and it never fails that the bottoms of your pants have mud on them too. I am not a fan of winter as you can tell. Snow makes such a mess and we must endure it for many months. I find it easy to take it with a grain of salt and just look as bad as the next person. My cheeks will be red and hair flat just like everyone else.

I will be toasty because I have my body armor on and feel like a stuffed chicken. Today I am buying candles for more up coming power outages. At least then I look good Right? Everyone looks good in candle light. Best we all can do is make sure we drink plenty of water, and keep our skin in top shape. Be sure to buy some moisturizing lotion for the long winter months. Clothing and the inside air will deplete your skin of moisture. At least then when we are home naked our skin will look nice.

Fading Hair Color How to Stop It.

Everyone who colors there hair wants it to last, (Most of the time). Professional colored hair is an investment in ones self and the price is well worth it if it makes you look great. So I am asked all the time why does my hair color fade, what can I use to make it last? Here are some tips and tricks to keeping you hair color beautiful longer.

First we must look at what hair color is. the different types of color also play a big role in how long they will last and of course those rascally reds that seem to fade within days. We will start with semi permanent color. It is meant to wash out within a few weeks and if your hair is dry damaged or your water is treated it will wash away sooner. Semi permanent color only covers the shaft of the hair it lays on the outer shell of the hair only dying the outer layer. Thus washing away each shampoo. They are usually the least damaging and if you like to change colors often a great choice. If you are new to color and only want to see what it would look like they are a good introduction to color.
Then we have demi permanent hair color that uses a mild promoter or chemical to open the hair shaft to deposit color. The structure of this color is still less damaging and is meant to wash away gradually so you do not have a growth line. Great for blending grey hair and adding shine or a hint of color to dull hair. Also a wonderful addition to between color treatments.
Permanent hair color opens the shaft of the hair to change the color completely. Ammonia or a list of many chemicals I will not get into now. Opens the hair shaft then lifts the hair color that is there then leaves the color that is put on. Thus being great for gray coverage, shine, body, and completely changing your own color. They last until they grow out but will have some fading depending on the length of your hair. Can be damaging if not done properly.
So how Do we keep our Color longer?
It is not your shampoo that fades your color. Shampoo is actually for cleaning you scalp. Conditioners are great for de-tangling and adding shine and control and do not remove color. The biggest culprit in your color fading is your water. Water changes the molecular structure of hair. Ever wet your hair and roll it on rollers? When it drys it is in the shape of what ever roller you had it on. Water opens the cuticles and when that happens it rinses out color. Best thing to do is use Luke warm water. Hot water opens the cuticle of the hair more releasing more color. Chlorinated water also will remove color or salt treated water. Well water can leave mineral build up leaving your hair dull but is usually best if used at a cooler temperature. If you live in a city with treated water and want to save your hair color used bottled water at least for rinsing. Cold water will close the cuticle and get it ready for styling.
The other culprit is styling. Blow drying with hot air or using a styling tool will diminish you hair color also. Try using a styling aid that has a heat protector in it. Anything that has a silicone base will also help keep the cuticles of the hair flat and protect your hair color investment.
I hope this helps. Until next time when we talk about the right hair style for your age.

Eagles Mere Salon & Our Town

This is part of my town I live in. Many shops reside in this historical building. The new museum is also located there. You can visit on the weekends. The shops are open all summer every day but this time of year they are only open on the weekends. You can find out more information about my town by visiting this link.

Anything that is going on is listed on this site.

In the winter it gets really quiet but if the weather is just right we have a toboggan slide that is made out of ice from the lake. Our volentire fire Co. builds it and runs it for as long as the weather will hold up.

You can view someones great ride below.

That's all for now. Just a little look at where I live and the little town I am from. Although I didn't grow up here my entire family is here so I visited as a kid often. My favorite spot is the pond, I love fishing there and the lilly pads are just beautiful in the summer. A great quiet place even in the summer when the town is buzzing with people.