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Emerson Salon is the best hair salon on Capitol Hill, Seattle. Our experienced hair stylists and colorists have been fusing the latest trends with top hair techniques for years. Whether you’re looking to transform your look in Seattle with a new haircut and color or just maintain your already hip style, we are here and ready to help.

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Articles from ‘Celebrity Hairstyles’

Friday, September 30th, 2011

How to Get Matt Smith’s Look from BBC’s Doctor Who

I’m a huge SciFi fan and one of my favorite shows is Doctor Who. The role of the main character, the time traveler enigmatically named The Doctor, is played by actor Matt Smith. Nearing the end of its fall season, Matt Smith returns to the role.

He has very long hair that is cut to give him not only long bangs, but a far left part. For the show he usually has it somewhat neater (though it always ends up a bit more messy by the end of the episode). This style would best be styled with our good friend, Kevin.Murphy Body.Builder. This volumizing mousse can have a tremendous effect on the hair.


First, part the hair with a deep part. Apply a small handful of the mousse into slightly damp hair. Then using a blowdryer and a Denman Brush, dry the roots of the hair away from the direction you will eventually want them to go. Do this section by section. Blowdry the rest of the hair straight. Brush the hair with some Alterna Caviar Working Hairspray and you have a nice clean style. For a messier style, use Kevin.Murphy Gritty.Business or Sticky.Business rather than hairspray.

This this is a great style for you? Do you have any question for me? Book your appointment with me at Emerson Salon, today!

Post by Franz

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

The Emmy’s

This past Monday we saw a great Emmy show hosted by the hysterical Jane Lynch from Glee. This night was fraught with hair triumphs and some fashion pitfalls but if anything, the stars of Hollywood had trend setters talking for days!

The biggest hits of the night were Glee cast members Heather Morris and Lea Michele. Heather’s dress is a beautiful color and length but some fashion commentators were not fans of the tiered detailing. I love it regardless! The lilac and dark lavender are great to offset the color of her hair. Heather’s hair on the other hand is a gorgeous toned down blond with a more subdued medium beige base color with balayaged blond on the ends. The updo is simple, soft and not overly done, as it is pulled loosely off of her face into a loose bun at her crown. This style is great to accentuate her high cheekbones, collarbone/neck and piercing eyes.

Lea Michele hit a home run with her entire look and has been unofficially deemed the lady of the night! I loved how her simple hairdo worn down helped amplify the drama of the high shoulders and open back of her gown. Her long, blunt bangs and soft, dark brown hue of her hair really showed off her energetic and dramatic personality. A great product to recreate this style is Kendi Oil by Alterna’s Bamboo line. Once towel dried, apply a nickel sized amount to the midshaft and ends, blowdry and flat iron. The Kendi Oil has Omega 3 and 6 in addition to fatty acids which help to repair, moisturize and smooth the hair’s cuticle. Its great to use on over processed hair to restore manageability and luster.


Personally, I’m on the fence about Julianna Margulies’ look of that night. The dress had an amazingly svelte and curvy silhouette but the structured bodice and jewels were complete overkill. Julianna’s hair has a 40′s retro vibe with a soft, side parted finger wave. I would be happier if this style was brought completely away from her face as the bang area reminded me of a comb over. Kudos to her hairstylist though, as her hair is very difficult to straighten. (tight curls circa her ER days) If attempting to recreate this style on this type of hair I recommend cocktailing Moroccan Oil and Anti Gravity by Kevin Murphy prior to shampooing and conditioning. Blow dry until 100% dry and then iron curl horizontally and clip up to cool.To finish: brush out with a paddle boar bristle brush and work the hair into soft waves. Hint: Use the curling iron free hand to accentuate the finger wave dents with heat.

Like any of these looks? We can take care of it! Book with Emerson today!

Post by D’Arcy

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

Bringing back the Part: Alexander SkarsgÃ¥rd’s Look in True Blood

Not many men these days have parts in their hair. Its a trend that is definitely finding its way back in men’s hair fashion but few can pull it off like Alexander SkarsgÃ¥rd, from True Blood.

The trend of parting the hair is making its way back slowly but surely. Skarsgård usually parts his hair on the left. Finding where to part your hair is a combination of observing where your hair naturally wants to part, and fighting against or working with any strong growth patterns in the front hairline. If you have strong cowlicks that prevent you from styling your hair like you would want to, try using a blow dryer to dry the hair where you want it to go.


SkarsgÃ¥rd has his hair relatively short, yet long enough to give it style. To achieve this look, you’ll need a finishing product that is going to give you hold without the ‘crunch.’ That’s why I recommend using Kevin.Murphy Night.Rider for this style. Use a small amount and add more as needed to give the style hold and some of that clean cut, bad boy charm. It is a product that ‘sets’ which means that you have about 60 seconds to manipulate it to your liking and have it hold that style. This is great for taming down unruly or poofy sides.

Think this is a good look for you? Come on in and schedule an appointment with me, today!

Post by Franz

Sunday, August 14th, 2011

Bursts of Color

Lately we have seen many female stars getting bolder and bolder with their hair choices. This is encouraging as the definition of beauty becomes broader and broader. This week, Dianna Agron of Glee fame shocked us all by donning a pink hue to her usually blond tresses. This color was most likely achieved through the use of a vivid semi permanent like the Pravanna Vivids we use at Emerson Salon. These products are better than Manic Panic or Special Effects colors because of their added chromasilk protein and shades formulated with botanicals and plant derived pigments.

Most hair must be pre lightened with bleach prior to applying a vivid color and this process can cause damage. The chromasilk helps to fill in the damage and aid the hair in feeling healthier. Dianna also just cut her hair into what is now being dubbed a “shab” which is a play on combining a bob and a shag. A bob is a haircut just below the ears or down to just above the shoulders. A shag is a haircut that has lots of texture, layers and movement.

Weeks ago, I did a post on pop star Katy Perry’s process to get her hair lighter. She had to live with “ginger” locks for a few weeks while on the way to blond hair so she could eventually apply the subtle lavender color you see here. Lavender is a difficult color to achieve as many vivid lines just have concentrated colors and not pastels. If I were to try to achieve this color on a client, I would bleach it to pale yellow and then create a custom color, coupling light pink with a dot or two of violet.

Last but certainly never least is the Queen of Bold- Lady Gaga! Her array of wigs gives her many options for her appearances and concerts. Here she wears an eccentric teal bob but for a few weeks we saw probably 4 or 5 different versions of teal- long, short, super high beehive, whatever! I even have a client who rocks the electric blue like Gaga and loves how it looks! She is in every 5-6 weeks to have the vivid shade refreshed.

Whatever your style you can add as much boldness as you want! Add a streak or do it all over! Book today…

Post by D’Arcy

Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

How to get True Blood’s Joe Manganiello Look

Manganiello plays the devilishly handsome werewolf in HBO’s hit show True Blood. His character, Alcide Herveaux, is a werewolf so he needs to have a style to match his wild persona. His longer hair and beard give him a great look that can cater to the rugged look he needs for the show, while giving him the ability to have cleaner looks for events.


His longer hair allows him to push his hair back for a more clean look. This is a great time to use Kevin.Murphy Night.Rider. Simply wash the hair, dry it, and comb it with your fingers. Use a small amount of Night.Rider, rubbing it in your palms and dispersing it throughout the hair and pushing it back lightly, combing it with your fingers. Try not to push it down, because we want to keep the volume.

Longer hair can be a great look, but it can need a little more attention. This is especially true if you have resistant cowlicks that need to be blown dry for you to be able to work with them. Even using a small amount of Kevin.Murphy Easy.Rider for a flexible hold, defining texture and fighting frizz, can make these kinds of looks much more manageable and attractive.

Interesting in trying out some of these products in your hair? Think this is a good look for you? Make an appointment with me at Emerson Salon today!

Post by Franz

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

Current Trends in Style: the Center Part and Buns

I’ve found that center parts, buns and chignons have been this year’s most used classic modern trends. From the Miu Miu runway, to the red carpet with Mila Kunis, to the grocery store and the mall, we see these trends popping up everywhere!

Center parts are great because its a fast fix to elongate the face shape and in some cases it can visually accentuate hair length as well. A center part is great whether the hair is worn up or down. Wearing your hair down makes it seem casual and fresh, while putting it up looks elegant and sophisticated. The center part can be used for modern, straight looks as well as bohemian and wavy.


Kim Kardashian is known for her thick, raven locks that she usually prefers to wear down with a center part. She wears this look often for red carpet appearances, her tv show, interviews and so on. She’s getting married soon, do you think it will be up or down, center part or side? We can’t wait to see!
If you have a similar hair type to Kim try using these tips:

  • Prep your towel dried hair prior to washing and conditioning with Silky Sleek Brilliance Cream by Alterna Bamboo which uses an Indian Gooseberry extract. It even has minute shine particles that catch the light! (Tip:Make sure to part the hair in the center part by aligning it with the nose.)
  • Using a larger bristle round brush, blow dry the hair making sure to elevate the sections above the part for root volume. Feel free to use Body.Builder by Kevin.Murphy on the roots if your is extra thick or dense. It is a spray in mousse and can be aimed only where you need it.
  • Using a larger barrel curling iron, take larger vertical sections and slightly twist them. Start the curl near the root for lift and then roll the section horizontally making sure the ends are wrapped all the way into the curling iron.
  • Allow the curls to cool and separate lightly with Kevin.Murphy’s wide toothed anti-static comb.
  • Spray with Alterna Working Spray to finish

Buns and chignons (the french term for tightly knotted hair at the nape) are quick and easy as it only takes a hairband and a few bobby or hairpins to secure. This type of style is great to show off bridal or formal gowns in addition to casual maxi dresses as it accentuates the bare neck, decollete and shoulders. Show off some new jewelry this way or your newfound summer tan! (Tip: A fun way to spice up a bun is to move it to a side bun with loose waves. )

Gwyneth Paltrow is also known for her fine, golden locks in addition to her new vocal styling contributions on Glee. She sports the center part for her formal and casual looks, yet rarely chooses to don the upper bun style for those formal occasions. This is probably because down styles are quicker to do with 2 kids and a crazy career! Also, a down style tends to deaccentuate a squarish jaw like Gwyneth’s. Think of ways to use hair to accentuate and deaccentuate your strengths and flaws. It can’t hurt to know what enhances your look rather than the opposite!
It takes a good amount of prep to maneuver a lesser density hair type like Gwyneth’s into a sixties style bouffant bun. Here are some tips on achieving this look on a fine to medium density hair type:

  • Wash with Angel.Wash and Rinse from Kevin.Murphy, towel dry and apply Anti.Gravity oil free volumizer all over.
  • Spray Body.Builder into the roots prior to a rough blowdry.
  • Once dry, use cushion boar bristle brush to “back brush” volume into the ends and crown.This makes a soft volume that can be easily smoothed. Feel free to use Powder.Puff by KM at the crest of the head to support the backbrushing.
  • Part the hair in the middle making sure to smooth back the crown.
  • Gather all the hair slightly off center at the nape of the head and using bobby pins, hook the chignon into itself and into the hair outside the bun. Do this a few times and you will have a super sturdy bun!
  • Spray with Alterna Hard Hold Spray to finish.

With a little work, a little product and the right styling tools, you are on your way to debuting these great looks!
Wanna avoid the hassle? Book a styling session with Emerson Salon today!

Post by D’Arcy

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

A Look at the Hair from “Midnight In Paris”

When one of my clients told me that Woody Allen had another movie coming out, I had to do some research. I hadn’t seen a recent Woody Allen film in awhile, though I have always enjoyed his movies.
Midnight In Paris, written and directed by Allen, stars Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams. It is, of course, a romantic comedy, about a family traveling to Paris for business. Owen and Rachel are cast as a young engaged couple who confront the “illusion that a life different from their own is better.”

WoodyAllen

I believe that both Wilson and Allen have had hair transplants. They both look great and their haircuts suit them very well. Allen’s hair, all white, is cut short. When hair goes white (or gray), is coarser and thicker than the hair it replaced. As we all age, lighter hair makes us look younger, as our skin also pales.

OwenWilson

Wilson’s hair, while not white, has been highlighted. His hair is cut longer, with casual layers. The combination of his hair color and style gives his hair texture, movement, and warmth, and keeps him also young-looking.

midnight_in_paris_mcadams-300

McAdams’s hair for “Midnight In Paris” is cut into an A-line bob. She wears it curly and tousled in the front, which helps to blend her bangs into her new bob cut. Personally, I like her hair better here, with her bangs worn down and separate from her longer hairstyle. Bangs suit her face and show off her eyes better.

rachelSH

This movie looks fun and after viewing “Match Point”, I am excited to see Allen’s newest movie!

Post by Lancer

Sunday, July 24th, 2011

Style Shifts in Hollywood

It seems now is the time to change hair looks- from Hollywood, to New York, from music to film, and from celebrity to everyday jane!


Here we look at a fun, outside the box change with Lauren Conrad’s new blue and purple hair tips. This is an easy way to transform blond hair into a more vivacious and bold, new look! We love this spunky new addition that transforms her from her usual put together look into a more effervescent beauty!

To style: Rough blowdry with Anti.Gravity by Kevin.Murphy. Spray in Hair Resort Spray By KM and curl with a large barrel curling iron. Finish with Rapid Repair Spray for shine by Alterna.


For a few days, people thought Vanessa Hudgens was sporting a short wig for a film but alas! it was actually a drastically shorter do! Vanessa has naturally wavy hair that is very thick and dense and has been long ever since she debuted in High School Musical. This cut is great as it still softens her and actually aids in making her look taller as the petite Vanessa was visually almost overpowered by her hair length. The perimeter hits past the ears and leaves a rounded nape in addition to long layers that are pulled back away from the face.

To style: Apply MoroccanOil Glimmer Shine to towel dried hair and dry with a medium sized, round bristle brush away from the face. To finish, lightly spray Texture Master by Kevin.Murpy for movement, height and hold.


Lastly, we came to know Evan Rachel Wood’s True Blood character Queen Sophie-Anne LeClerq as a feisty, redheaded lesbian vampire. Recently, though, Evan opted to completely alter her look into a shorter do with cropped sides and a longer, textured top. She also toned down the red by “browning out” the sides and nape in addition to bleach and toning the top into a beige blond with a balayage technique.

To style: On dry hair apply Night.Rider by Kevin.Murphy to the top lengths for texture and height. Then spray with Session.Spray by Kevin.Murphy for height and hold. Tip: Using your fingers and a medium heat blow dryer will help set the hair spray when creating height.

Looking to shift your style, too? Subtle or Dramatic we are here to serve at Emerson and we give you,
“Whatcha Whatcha Whatcha Want!”( Beastie Boys)

Post by D’arcy

Saturday, July 9th, 2011

Katy Perry’s Color Adventure

There has been a lot of talk on twitter lately since Katy Perry tweeted, “So I didn’t get to the exact color I wanted from being black for so long! To get to goal I have to be a ginger for three weeks!” (US Weekly). Katy has worn many different hair looks from colored wigs, colored extensions, to elaborate hair creations for videos and gorgeous red carpet looks.


Some might ask, why does Katy Perry have to wait for the color she wants when she has access to the best products and top of the line services? This is something I tell many of my clients who want to go significantly lighter on previously colored dark hair: Black and Natural Black hair colors are the most difficult to remove from the hair.

When lifting the hair it is easier to soften the hair color to brown or red but lifting past the brassy or orange stage can be a challenge even for the most seasoned stylist. I ask my clients whether they feel committed to the dark hair color for at least 6 months to a year because frequent color changes can cause major breakage and color fading and inconsistencies. I generally recommend using a demi-permanent darker shade to avoid such issues in the future.

As a stylist, I have encountered the “Bleach Wall” which means that after extensive bleaching to lift the black color out that the hair will decide not to lift any more. Hair can only take so much and the last thing anyone wants is a “chemical” haircut where you lose density and length due to extensive damage. So, in order for Katy Perry to keep as much of her hair as possible it is necessary to give the hair a week or two break. During this time it is best to do as much deep conditioning as possible. We have a few we carry at the salon:

  • MoroccanOil Restorative Masque goes on damp hair after shampooing and is left in for 2o minutes at room temperature. This contains protein, shea butter, canola oil, vegetable protein and keratin.
  • Born.Again by Kevin.Murphy goes on damp hair and under heat for 20 minutes. It contains natural anti-oxidants and botanicals such as rose hip and rose absolute which are intensive hydraters and regenerators.
  • An in salon treatment called Caviar Rejuvenation Treatment (CRT) that contains 3 steps and takes up to an hour to complete. It contains no sulfates, parabens, gluten, dea, paba, paraffin or pthalates. It does contain skin enzymetherapy, seasilk and uva/uvb protection. This service can be done the same day as the initial bleaching process but is recommended as a preventative tool rather than an aid in additional bleaching the day of.
  • After the hair has taken a well deserved vacation from bleaching, high heat tools and sun then the final step of lifting through the “ginger” can be achieved. The hair will still be delicate and must be treated with the ultimate care with professional level shampoos and conditioners like Alterna’s Bamboo Anti Frizz line which not only helps smooth down the roughed up hair but is also color safe.

We can’t wait to see what haircolor Katy comes up with after her “hair break”! What color will you change to? Book a consultation today!

Post by D’arcy

Saturday, July 9th, 2011

Hair by Franz: Jer’s La Roux Inspired Haircut

jer

Jer’s haircut was really fun to do. After we consulted we decided that we needed to break away from the normal “shorter on the side longer on top” look that he had been toting for the past few years. We wanted something with a bit more edge, yet something that could be business professional when he went to work. His red hair reminded me of La Roux so we made him a shorter version of her haircut in the form of a faux hawk.


To achieve the look that we desired, we needed it to be much longer on top than it is on the sides. We choppped down his sides and back to a shorter length to accentuate the length on top. we then cut his Faux Hawk origination from the center of his crown to his left eye. This created that La Roux “peak” without the super long hair.

To style his hair we used Kevin.Murphy Body.Builder Voumizing Mouse and Kevin.Murphy Gritty.Business. We sprayed a little of the Body.Builder into my hands and distributed it throughout the top lengths. We the blowdried the hair up and to the left. trying to achieve as much volume as possible. Once the volume and direction was achieved we held and textured the style with Gritty.Business for a bit more of a rocker look with a pliable hold.

Think this is a good look for you? Book an appointmnet with me by calling 206-323-7437 or book online at Emersonsalon.com or emersonsalon@gmail.com.

Post by Franz