Hair Ideas « Emerson Salon – Capitol Hill Seattle

Articles from ‘Hair Ideas’

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

Summer Formalities

As the summer draws to a close, we look back at some of the events over the past season. Namely, all of the joyous weddings that occurred from June to September. From backyard ceremonies to elaborate ballroom receptions, the main focus is on the bride and groom on their big day. Here we provide some tips for both on how to organize for such a large occasion!

bridalupdo2 bridalupdo4
Brides: A good thing to do first is to figure out what your budget is. Bridal hairstyles can range from $85-$110, depending on the length of the hair and the style desired (does it need to be flat ironed or curled, etc?) We recommend receiving a light trim to your haircut 1-2 weeks beforehand to remove any split ends. In addition, if you will be attempting any color services it is good to receive them 2 weeks ahead of time in case the color needs adjustment.

Some brides choose to utilize a paid practice session ($40 an hour) in order to eliminate any anxiety about the style before the ceremony. We try out the style, take pictures and troubleshoot any problems and then take the hair down and wash it before you leave. If you have your veil or any hair jewelry beforehand, the practice session is the perfect time to figure out how they will be planned into the overall style.

bridalupdo1

The important thing to do before consulting a stylist for your wedding hair is to find lots of pictures of hair that excites you. You can even bring in pictures of hair you absolutely do not like as this will aid your stylist to better hone what your aesthetic is. Do you want height? Do you want all of your hair up, half down or all down? What are some adjectives you would use to describe what you want your hair to look like (soft, romantic, wavy, sleek, shiny, etc.)? All of these elements will better assist you to becoming happy with your formal style!

bridalupdo3

If you are looking to create a formal style on your own, try using these products:
Rapid Repair Spray by Alterna for picture perfect shine before and after styling
Working Spray by Alterna for applying before curling for flexible hold
Easy Rider by Kevin Murphny for smoothing flyaways into the style
Session Spray by Kevin Murphy for hard hold when the style is complete

Grooms: We recommend receiving an extended consultation with an Emerson stylist to determine what is the desired result for the big day. Feel free to bring your bride with you for this initial consultation as we are sure she might have input! Make your haircut appointment for 2 weeks beforehand and then book a quick “line up” for the day before or day of. A “line up” would be where only the edges around the ears and nape are trimmed with clippers. Whether you intend to have your hair parted or fauxhawked or messy, two great go-to products for guys are Easy Rider by Kevin Murphy for frizz control and light hold and Night Rider for matte finish and firm hold.

Did you attend a beautiful nuptial this season? Already have invitations to more? Make an appointment for your style with Emerson Salon today.

Post by D’Arcy

Posted by Amelia at 1.42PM
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TagsAlterna Products, Bridal Hair, D'Arcy Harrison, Events, Hair Consultation, Hair Ideas, Hair Styles, Holidays, Kevin Murphy, Men's Hair, Wedding Hair

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

The Secret of the American Teenager: They have great hair

I don’t watch a lot of TV but my guilty pleasure is The Secret Life of the American Teenager. There is something about this show that I can’t seem to get enough of! Every time I watch it I wish I had the girls’ wardrobe and a hair team to make me look this great! Three of the show’s characters have amazing hair color. Here are some great examples of blond, brown and red color done right.

Grace –Blond
I am tired of the over-processed, solid blond look. Here is a more flattering blond option. Grace has a darker base of a level 6 (light brown) that gives the blond dimension. There are two different levels of blond in her hair, Level 11 (platinum blond) and a darker level 9 (yellow or honey blond). The platinum is more prominent, to give hair that overall light blond feel and is broken up by a few light pieces of the darker honey blond. Foiling with two different blonds and having a darker base makes for a perfect blond.

Amy – Light Brown
Amy is a great example of light brown in this picture. It is a warm (red brown) level 6. It is a simple all over color but, at a level 6, it shows a lot more of the red brown tone. This color, with her skin tone and eye color is very striking and shows why not EVERY woman is a blond!

Madison-Red
Although she is a natural redhead, you too can have this amazing red even if you’re not! She is considered a copper (red /blond) level 7. There are many different types of red you can pick from. This one is so great on her because of her skin tone and blue eyes. Red works really well with blue or green eyes and with a fair skin tone. Don’t rule out being a redhead, it is a great option for a lot of girls!

Tired of your basic over-processed blond or dull brown color? Maybe feeling like a dramatic change and want to go red? Take a cue from these beautiful stars, and make your appointment at Emerson today!

Post by Ellen

Posted by Amelia at 11.05AM
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TagsBlonde Hair, Brunettes, Celebrity Hairstyles, Ellen Yates, Hair Color, Hair Ideas, Red Hair, Television

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

Women Likely to Change Their Hairstyle Over 100 Times in a Lifetime

From Fashion Magazine Grazia

The average female gets her locks layered, shortened or colored at least twice a year between the ages of 13 and 65. Most women will experiment with at least three colors. A third will change their hair after a breakup and nearly half with opt for a new look simply because they are bored.

British hairdresser hairdresser Andrew Collinge, who commissioned a survey of 3,000 women, said the most popular style remains the classic “Rachel” from Friends cut, made famous by U.S. actress Jennifer Aniston.

How many times do you change up your look in a year?

Posted by Alex at 11.43AM
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TagsHair Ideas, Hair Styles

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

Battle the Summer Heat Wave with Short Hair

We are overjoyed that warm weather and sunshine has finally hit Seattle! Now that we are heading into warmer temperatures, some female clients might opt for a shorter, more practical hairstyle in order to beat the heat. Shorter hair on women can definitely look feminine but also quite flattering. We recommend shorter styles for women who have oval, round or square face shapes. These face shapes do not require longer lengths to balance out the features.

Here, Agyness Deyn is extremely brave with the shortest haircut shown here. This is most likely a simple buzz cut that utilizes one clipper attachment to create the same length of hair all over the head. Many women who have gone this short have reported that it is liberating to lop off all of their hair. No styling needed as you roll out of bed looking the same as you did the night before! This haircut needs to be maintained once a month and if you have this haircut, but want a little oomph to it we recommend spraying Glimmer Shine by Moroccan Oil for luminosity and shine.

Pink has become well known for her version of a short haircut she has been sporting for awhile now. Her haircut is completed with shears only and is softly layered and textured into the length on top. Its important to leave enough length around the face and sides in order to create the “piecy” look you see in the picture. A great product to use while styling this haircut is Sticky Business by Kevin Murphy. It has good hold, is extremely pliable and stays workable in your hair throughout the day. Put a nickel size amount in your hand and rub your hands together before putting it in your hair. The warmth aids in distributing the product in addition to making it easier to absorb into the hair.

Last but not least is Rihanna! Rihanna has been playing with different ways to wear her shorter hair in the last 2 years. Here, she has the sides and back completely clippered down to the skin. The top is longer and softly layered with a new hue of cherry red. This was most likely done through a bleach and tone service where the hair is lightened to a pale orange and then a vivid semi permanent shade of red is applied. The only down side to using such a bright color is it tends to fade quickly so make sure to use a color safe shampoo like Caviar Moisture by Alterna to extend the life of the color. A great product for styling this do would be Easy Rider by Kevin Murphy. It has light hold and gives control to frizz and fly-aways that might occur after an extensive color service.

Will you be brave enough to go short this summer? If you are, call Emerson! We will help you determine the best length to receive through a thorough consultation.

post by D’Arcy

Posted by Matt at 12.00PM
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TagsCelebrity Hairstyles, D'Arcy Harrison, Extreme Hair, Hair Ideas, Short Hair, Summer

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

What’s Your Favorite Summer Hair Style?

Summer is officially here in Seattle! What’s your favorite summer hair style?

Posted by Alex at 11.29PM
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TagsHair Ideas, Seattle

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

Iconic Hair Styling from the 1950′s

In the 1950′s, hairstyling was the key ingredient to creating an iconic hairstyle. This was before the age of precision hair cutting as we know it today where a hairstyle becomes defined by the way it is cut. Learning how to create beautiful, supple waves and curl in the hair was an art form and a daily practice. Today, we use blow dryers and round brushes to create fullness and bounce but these tools cannot create the same look.

Many women of the day would go to the salon once a week and have their hair shampoo set. This means that after the hair is shampooed and conditioned, the hair is wrapped with a setting lotion on medium to larger sized rollers and then dried with a hood dryer. Afterwards, the rollers are removed and the curls brushed out with a cushion boar bristle brush to create softness. Some women kept their style fresh by taping their bangs with styling tape and rolling the rest of the hair in rollers and then slept with them in. An uncomfortable practice but many women were very attentive to their hair because then, a well kept hairstyle meant you were a women with class and sophistication. Some great examples of this style can be seen on Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly.

This style looks best on hair that just hits the collarbone or slightly above. In order to make this style work best, go to your local drug store and buy velcro rollers. We recommend using Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner from Alterna Caviar beforehand in order to maximize the shape needed. A great setting lotion to apply to the damp hair is Anti Gravity by Kevin Murphy which is an oil-free volumiser using lavender oil. Roll the hair downwards around the ear and away from the face down the center of the head. Once dry, finger separate and then brush out smoothly. If you want more fullness at the crown, back brush it lightly with the cushion brush and then spray all over with Working Spray by Alterna.

If you are strapped for time, you may use an iron curl on dry hair instead but there is a risk it will not hold as well as a shampoo set. This style is best achieved on fine to medium hair types with minimal to no curl or wave.

These styles are classic and elegant and with time and patience you can achieve them at home. If not, give us a call and we will match you with one of our experienced stylists to help you look your best!

post by D’Arcy

Posted by Matt at 4.41PM
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TagsCelebrity Hairstyles, D'Arcy Harrison, Hair Ideas, Hair Science, Styling Tips, Updos

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

1970′s Hairstyles: Natural and Free

Some of our favorite hairstyles to do for our customers is when they ask for a specific time-period look. One era that is especially popular these days is hairstyles from the 1970′s. This time period is known for its longer hair styles that require less styling and maintenance. Farrah Fawcett, Lynda Carter, Barbra Streisand, Ali McGraw, Diane Keaton and Jacqueline Bissett are a few of the starlets that exemplify this look. Soft, touchable and sexy are great words to describe 1970′s hair.

Here are some tips on how to do your hair 70′s style:

Start with straight and dry medium to long length hair.
Part in the middle.
Apply Volume Molding Creme by Alterna to the ends for hold on straighter, finer hair types.
Use a curling iron to create “wings” like Farrah Fawcett on the sides. Always direct the curl away from the face and concentrate on the mid shaft to ends. If fullness is desired, curl the ends all the way around the head.
Pin the curls in place with clips or bobby pins to allow the form to cool.
Once cooled, brush out the wings away from the face with a boar bristle brush.
Spray with flexible spray like Working Spray by Alterna.

Another iconic 1970′s look comes from the new punk-rock scene and is exemplified by the creation of the “shag” haircut. Joan Jett from the Runaways epitomized this hairstyle. This look is defined by short layers at the crown and full texture and layers towards the bottom of the cut. A great product for this haircut would be Texturizing Glaze by Alterna as it allows more movement to the hairstyle.

Natural textures also became popular (as shown in Barbra Streisand’s picture) especially with African American women who started wearing their hair in “afros.” If you want to use your hair’s wave and curl, try scrunching in Leave In Luxury by Kevin Murphy or Moroccan Styling Oil and let air dry. These products will eliminate frizz as it dries in addition to imparting moisture to the dryer hair type.

Retro 1970′s styles can be seen all over Seattle and can have a timeless look if used in combination with modern or classic clothing silhouettes and accessories.

Define your look, don’t let it define you! Time period styling tips empower you to design what you want out of a hairstyle. Get inspired and pick a movie starlet to emulate- no matter what, it will look special and individual on you.

Need a formal style from a particular decade? Book a consultation with Emerson Salon today!

post by D’Arcy

Posted by Matt at 11.07AM
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TagsCelebrity Hairstyles, D'Arcy Harrison, Hair Ideas, Updos

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Easy Summer Hairstyles!

Summer is all about the effortless bohemian look! A little messy, textured and easy.

Loose up do: Start of by leaving a few wispy pieces around the face to soften the look. Use a volumizer like Anti Gravity and the beach texturizer, Hair Resort by Kevin Murphy to dirty up the hair and add texture. Back comb underneath to add more volume before you pull your hair back. Pull it back loosely making sure the hair doesn’t get smoothed out. There are many ways to loosely pin it up (using bobby pins instead of hair bands will help keep the look loose) but whatever way you choose, in the end you will need to use a tail comb to get under the pinned hair and slowly lift up to create the messy/loose look.

Messy ballerina bun/high bun: This is similar to the loose up do, same products and technique but with this you will be pinning it into a classic ballerina bun! A high bun is really easy as well. Pull your hair back in a high pony tail and pin the hair into a bun. The perfect accessory for it is a head band like Jessica Alba is wearing here!

Wavy bob: If you can scrunch your hair using a diffuser, this style is going to be wash a wear for you. If your hair is naturally straight your going to need to curl it. Try using a larger barrel curling iron and take small sections. Wrap the hair around the outside of the curling iron, no need to to it the traditional way, it will look more natural this way! Curl the front pieces away from your face and alternate the direction in the back so that it looks more natural! Finish it off with a flexible hold hairspray like Alterna’s Working Hair Spray.

Side pony: This works with straight or wavy hair. Just loosely pull your hair to the side, below your ear and just behind your neck so your don’t see a space between your neck and the pony!

Love one of these styles? Schedule a consultation to come in and talk to one of our experienced stylists about how to make this look work for you!

Post by Ellen

Posted by Matt at 1.09PM
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TagsCelebrity Hairstyles, Ellen Yates, Hair Ideas, Styling Tips, Summer, Updos

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

Kylie Minogue’s Iconic Hair

Kylie Minogue is a pop icon not only in Australia (her home country) but all over the world. She has been steadily touring and producing great dance albums ever since her first single, Locomotion, hit #1 on the charts in 1988. She is most recently known for her popular songs Come Into My World, Fever, and Can’t Get You Out of My Head. She has won many music and video awards in Britain and Australia. Ironically, Kylie originally started out as a young teen actress in the Australian soap opera, Neighbors, and has since starred as the Green Absinth Fairy in Baz Lurhmann’s Moulin Rouge musical movie.

Now, Kylie has teamed up with Madonna’s producer, Stuart Price, for her 11th studio album, Aphrodite. It releases sometime in June, but we’ve already heard her first single, All The Lovers, and we love it! The single is a fresh take on pop rhythms and reminds us of Little Boots recent synth pop work.

Kylie recently appeared in a spread for Spanish Vogue that truly showed off her sexy, sultry beauty. The hair color featured on Kylie is amazing as it probably uses 2 different color services. An all over color is applied first to add richness to the base color of the hair (here we see a dark beige color). Once this service is complete, a bleach balayage painting technique is applied to large pieces of hair all over the hair. Then the bleached hair is toned a super light beige blond. This service gives a great multidimensional effect that makes her highlights pop out and truly accents her medium skin tone. More and more celebrities and every day women are demanding this simple, classy technique.

Some great products to try styling with on this hair color:

On fine hair: Try using Thickening Compound by Alterna Hemp: It contains color lock, wheat for hair plumping and leave in conditioner.
On wavy/curly hair: Apply Leave In Luxury before blow drying. It uses Peruvian bark moisture and botanical extracts to protect hair during heat styling.
To finish: Apply Alterna Shine Spray for overall shine and to control fly-aways.

We look forward to the entire Aphrodite album by Kylie and are confident she will rock the house if she decides to tour the globe. We hope she comes here and entertains us with her high quality vocal stylings!

post by D’Arcy

Posted by Matt at 11.43AM
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TagsCelebrity Hairstyles, D'Arcy Harrison, Hair Ideas, Highlites, Music

Monday, May 17th, 2010

Gwyneth Paltrow and Scarlett Johansson in Iron Man 2

Two beautiful actresses are currently playing lead roles in the special effects action adventure sequel, Iron Man 2. Gwyneth Paltrow is Pepper Potts, Tony Stark’s loyal assistant and witty love interest who becomes CEO of Stark Industries. Scarlett Johansson joins the cast as Natalie, replacing Pepper as Tony’s new assistant “from legal”.

Both of these ladies represent two opposite versions of an all over color service. While Scarlett has a deep, rich, warm, chestnut brown, Gwyneth has a honey, medium blonde shade. Both of these women are somewhat fair-medium skin tone and it is fascinating to see such different hair colors work so dynamically on similar skin tones.

What’s also wonderful about seeing these two actresses is they also have drastically different haircuts. Gwyneth has a blunt bang and a medium length blunt bob style haircut that accentuates her angular jaw and bone structure. In contrast, Scarlett has a shoulder length long layered cut that shows off her softer features and high cheekbones. We like hair on starlets that enhance their natural beauty because creating flattering cuts and color on our clients is what we do every day!

If you wish to style your hair like Scarlett’s shiny, sleek waves- here are some tips:

Start with dry hair.
Apply Morroccan Styling Oil to the midshaft to ends. Applying this product to dry hair will give it a glass like effect.
Take a curling iron to large 2″ sections of hair making sure to create curls only on the mid to ends of the hair. If the hair has difficulty holding curl, try applying Working Spray by Alterna to the section before curling.
Finger separate the curls.
Using a boar bristle paddle brush, slowly brush the curls over your arm to bring them into soft rolls of waves.
Once complete, spray with Extra Hold by Alterna.

Styling hair like Gwyneth’s is a snap if you already have straight hair. A little round brushing to the bangs and ends of the haircut and off you go! If you have wavy or curly hair, this style is more of a challenge. Here are some tips:

Start with towel dried hair after shampooing with Alterna Caviar Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner.
Apply Radiant Smoothing Lotion by Alterna to the mid shaft to ends and comb through.
From the nape up, use a larger boar bristle round brush to create fullness and curl under the ends.
Try using tension on the bangs around the head shape to get rid of most of the moisture. Then, round brush the bang towards the face.
Using a flat iron on high heat, straighten the hair off of the center part to create sleekness.
Spray with Rapid Repair Shine Spray by Alterna for luminosity and finish with Working Spray.

Movies like this show us that not only can female actresses be beautiful, but smart and strong as well. Are you a strong woman? Let us make you over here at Emerson Salon! You deserve it!

post by D’Arcy

Posted by Matt at 12.45PM
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TagsCelebrity Hairstyles, D'Arcy Harrison, Hair Color, Hair Ideas, Movies, Styling Tips

Emerson Salon – Capitol Hill Seattle

Capitol Hill's Premier Haircuts & Color

Articles from ‘Hair Ideas’

Summer Formalities

The Secret of the American Teenager: They have great hair

Women Likely to Change Their Hairstyle Over 100 Times in a Lifetime

Battle the Summer Heat Wave with Short Hair

What’s Your Favorite Summer Hair Style?

Iconic Hair Styling from the 1950′s

1970′s Hairstyles: Natural and Free

Easy Summer Hairstyles!

Kylie Minogue’s Iconic Hair

Gwyneth Paltrow and Scarlett Johansson in Iron Man 2

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