Product Cocktails To Try: Motion.Lotion + Hair.Resort

One product cocktail that I have been liking for wavy or curly hair recently is Kevin.Murphy Motion.Lotion and Hair.Resort. I like this duo because you get the frizz control and curl enhancement of the Motion.Lotion with the added beach texture of Hair.Resort. This mixture gives you those beachy locks you want, without having to visit the beach.

Put a small amount of each (I like to start with a pea to dime size, depending on the length of the hair) into the palm of your hand and mix them together with your finger. Sometimes I like to add a little more Hair.Resort than Motion.Lotion because the Motion.Lotion can be a little heavy. After mixing the two together with your finger, rub your palms together to disperse the product evenly on both hands before scrunching the product into towel dried hair. Depending on the length and density of your hair, additional product may be required.

After scrunching in the product, you may choose to either diffuse the hair or let it air dry. When the hair is mostly dry, I like to comb through it with my fingers or a Kevin.Murphy Texture.Comb to break up the curls and create a softer look. You can polish off the look by scrunching a small amount of Easy.Rider into the ends of the hair. Scrunch in a little extra Hair.Resort for added texture.

Loving Braids

      Braids have been super popular lately, and I am loving it! They
      are a great way to pull back or put up your hair in a simple,

      classic, and creative way. I also like how they can add interest to

      a seemingly boring style. You can make them as simple or

      complex as you want, it just depends on how creative you want

      to be. Braids are great for summer as well when you want to put

      your hair up, but don't want to always be wearing a ponytail.

      Looking to add something new to your style? It may be time to

      brush up on your braiding skills and let the creative juices flow!

Kevin.Murphy Education: Class with David Bamford!

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend my first Kevin.Murphy class on styling featuring David Bamford, stylist, salon owner, and educator with Kevin.Murphy. David Bamford owns a salon in Houston, Therapy Hair Studio, which he works in 6 days a week. Additionally, he finds time to do session work and has been featured in magazines such as Vogue and InStyle. Aside from all this, he also somehow finds time to educate.

One of the things that really inspired me about David was that he was a genuine person; he wasn't there to put on a show, he was there to teach and help us become better hairstylists. He made a point to really make sure he was teaching things that we could take back and use in the salon, not something that was runway only. I really appreciated this because the whole point of me furthering my education is so I can go back into the salon and use my newfound techniques in a way that can benefit myself and my clients.

Another thing that inspired me was his passion about hair. When he's not in the salon with clients, he is somewhere else doing something involving hair. I feel like people with his passion are some of the best educators and people I learn the most from because they want to share their knowledge so others can be successful as well.

Needless to say, I left his class feeling inspired and excited to go back to the salon and incorporate what I learned. I think continuing education is not only important in helping to stay up to date on new techniques, but to rekindle your passion. Without this, I think you start to fall into your everday routine and forget to think outside the box and try something new.

I think David is an amazing hairstylist, and hope to be able to attend another event featuring him. You can also bet I will be sure to check out his salon when I'm in Houston. I love finding new people to draw inspiration from. People like him make me fall in love with my job all over again.

Vidal Sassoon: In Memory Of

This week the hair industry lost one of it's most influencial people, Vidal Sassoon. Vidal was a huge part of shaping the way the hair industry is today, and an inspiration to so many, including myself. It is amazing how one person have such a great impact. He will continue to live on in our hearts and be a constant inspiration.

From all of us in the hair world, we will miss you, Vidal Sassoon.




A Reminder To Stylists: Keep On Top Of Your Game

Something that I have been thinking a lot about lately is how important our job is as stylists to make sure we are listening to our clients and addressing their needs, as well as giving them new ideas when it comes to cut, color, or styling. The past couple of weeks I have had some clients who really drove home how much they rely on me as a stylist to share my opinion, as well as listen to what they have to say and give appropriate feedback. As I have been thinking about this, I just felt like I needed to share this with my fellow stylists out there.

Sometimes I think we forget how much trust our clients put in us to give them a style that is going to suit them, as well as suggest new styling options if they are feeling like they are stuck doing the same style every day. A new client I had recently told me, "I look to you as a stylist to tell me what new ideas you might have for my hair. If you can't tell me, then who can?" This was why she had left her past stylist, because she felt like she always gave her the same haircut and never seemed to listen when she said she wanted to try something different. I was shocked, and at the same time hoping that I had never made a client feel as though the only way they were going to get the change they wanted was in finding a new stylist. Lesson learned: when your clients ask what ideas you have for their hair, they are serious.

Another thing clients are always noticing is your sense of style. Making sure you have a style going on with your hair is important, as well as being stylishly dressed and make-up done. Again, I recently had a new client who told me that she booked with me because she liked my style and felt that I would be able to give her a cut she would like. I had another client tell me that as soon as she saw my hair and that it was in a cute style, she felt reassured that I would give her a good cut. Because we are in the fashion industry, clients are always aware of our appearance, and judging the work they think we would do based off that. Even if you are an amazing stylist, a client may be more likely to go to someone they feel is more put together because if you don't have any style yourself, why would they want to trust you with theirs?

As stylists, it is extremely important that we are always on top of our game and being sure to be aware of our clients' needs. Additionally, it is important that we our keep ourselves up to date on current trends so we are able to suggest different looks to our clients when asked. Keeping our own style up to date is also important, as clients are more aware of this than we may think. Some of the best stylists I know have a loyal clientele because they are able to meet these demands. Don't be the stylist that someone leaves for a stylist who they feel will better meet their needs!

PRODUCT REVIEW: Kevin.Murphy Fresh.Hair Powder

I have kind of become obsessed with dry shampoos and trying different ones to see which ones work the best. The newest one I have tried and have really started loving is Kevin.Murphy's Fresh.Hair Powder. Naturally, I knew I needed to write a post about it and share it with those of you who are also users of the dry shampoos or are interested in trying them.

First, I love the smell! It's a very light scent, which I like. I also like that even though it is a white hair powder, as long as I make sure to shake it really well it doesn't come out all white in my hair. Since my hair is dark, I don't want it to look like I am using dry shampoo and if the powder comes out too concentrated it does. So, I like that this one doesn't do that.

Another thing I have noticed is that this powder really lasts; I can use it two days in a row and my hair still looks great by the end of the day. The point of a dry shampoo is to extend the days you are able to go between washes and if you use it in the morning and it looks great but by the end of the day it looks as if you never even used it, that is a problem. The fact that I can use this more than one day and extend my wash that much longer is a huge plus to me.


One thing to be aware of: they recently had a batch that had a seal defect, to where once you use it and break that seal, it slowly leaks out so after a couple times of use your powder is gone. If you happen to purchase one of these, simply return it to your stylist and they should trade you for a new one (this happened to me and they replaced it with no problem). Kevin.Murphy is working to identify the batch so they can pull the defective cans off the shelf.

If you are in the market for a dry shampoo, I would suggest you give this one a try. It is $25 which is a slight investment, but still less than Bumble and bumble's $35 hair powder which I am always comparing to. The only thing I do wish was that it came in different colors. Other than that, I really have no complaints and feel that it is a great product that I will continue to use myself and suggest to my clients for their dry shampoo needs.

Brushes: My Blowdry Favorites!

When it comes to creating a great blowdry, my brushes are one of my biggest tools. Needless to say, I am very particular when it comes to which brushes I use. So, for anyone out there wondering what they need to bring their blowdry to the next level (whether you're a stylist or not) I ask, what kind of brush are you using? 

The two main brushes I use are a flat brush and a round brush, depending on the look I am going for. A flat brush is going to give a straighter, sleeker look where a round brush is going to give a fuller look with more movement. I usually don't go in with either of these brushes until I have gotten about 80 percent of the moisture out of the hair, depending on the hair type and texture.

My flat brush. I use a flat brush that has both natural boar and nylon bristles. The combination of the two create good tension on the hair which is essential in creating a beautiful, smooth blowdry. The nylon bristles also help with detangling. This is also my go-to brush when in comes to bangs. I feel like I can get the perfect amount of bend on the hair, whether I'm doing straight across or swoop bangs. Because of it's flat base, this brush is perfect for getting a sleek, straight look with minimal volume. This is especially nice for clients with lots of hair that tends to get a good amount of body on it's own without product. I also use this brush when blowdrying bobs and want to achieve that smooth, modern bob look. 

My round brush. As with my flat brush, I use a round brush that has both natural boar and nylon bristles. I use this brush when I want to give more body and movement to the hair. Because of its round shape, this brush naturally gives more lift at the roots which is good for clients who are finer and are trying to achieve a fuller, more voluminous look. Additionally, this brush gives a great bend on the ends of the hair which is perfect for giving natural movement to the hair. After I have finished round brushing a section, I like to twist it as I am releasing it from the brush, or just with my fingers, so that as the section cools it is forming into a very loose curl almost. This is a great technique to use on long layered hair.                  

I am a strong believer in that a great blowdry goes a long way. It is a rare occasion that I will pull out my flat iron to finish someone's hair because I am able to get the style I want with my brush, dryer, and product. In my eyes, a blowdry gives a much more natural looking style than any flat or curling iron will give to the hair; those tools have their place, but not to be used to replace a good blowdry. If you feel like you need that little extra something to really boost your blowdry, consider what brush you are using and maybe it is time to invest in a new one. If you are in the market for a good brush, give one of these a try. You'll see the difference, and so will your hair!