Check out Katie Kate’s just released YouTube music video for “Uh..no” from her album Flatland. It was directed by Stephen Gray and was filmed at Capitol Hill’s Fred Wildlife Refuge.

D’Arcy Harrison (of D’Arcy Hair Design at Emerson Salon) created two looks for the video. Both looks incorporate her side buzz cut that needs to be freshened up every 3-4 weeks. The braided/bun updo was achieved with 3 and 4 strand braids pinned into a bi-level bun. The long, flowy hair was achieved by taking out the braids (which left it wavy). adding bright blond extensions and back brushing. And of course, Kevin Murphy Session Spray was the hard hold heavy to keep the hair looking fabulous during the 18 hour video shoot!

Look for Katie Kate to perform at the Sasquatch Music Festival at The Gorge in addition to the labor day Bumbershoot Music Festival at Seattle Center. Make sure to follow her on YouTube.

To learn more about D’Arcy, you can read her profile on this site or go to her NEW website www.darcyhairdesign.com and subscribe to her mailing list or like her facebook fan page.

This week I had the honor to be a featured artist for the RAW artists showcase at iMusic. There was art, fashion,music, makeup, hair and great times! Part of participating in a showcase with RAW is the portfolio building as well as a taped video piece which I will share when it comes out in 3 weeks! But for now.. I will share with you my thoughts behind what I created!

I want to start off by saying that this runway show was an opportunity to “push the envelope,” on what I could accomplish with hair. I get to work with stellar clients daily making their styles work for them and their needs but for one night I threw practicality to the wind! I let my imagination wander to places, ideas and concepts I wanted to explore. One of the main concepts I kept coming back to was,”SCULPTURAL FLOW.”

What this means to me (as a daughter of a sculptor) is a 3 dimensional (3D) hair representation of how flow is created in hair and with hair. In the same guise, I also wanted to see how flow can be stopped or redirected with hair in order to establish different components of a style. The images that kept running through my mind were of: Talum and Chichen Itza pyramids in Mexico, rippled sands in an Arabian desert, and the waves in the “Bride of Frankenstein” hair.

In order to accomplish the varied styles, I used clip in human hair extensions. In order to ad fullness to one of the styles I custom colored the pieces to match the models hair using It&ly’s Vivly semipermanent Titian to repigmentize and then toned with It&ly’s Colorly transluscent color formula 7FA tutti frutti and 10 volume. Other clip ins were sprayed with costume spray color, Extra Hold Hairspray by Alterna Caviar and Gloss Sealant Spray from Blick art supply. In order to set the pieces I used a triple barrel wave iron in order to have a consistent, fabricated wave pattern in the pieces.

I also employed some old school styling tricks like back combing, backbrushing, and creative bobby pinning (they have to be hidden!) in addition to using newer products like Morroccan Oil and Anti gravity+Session Spray by Kevin Murphy. I am super proud of the work I did and I hope you do like it too….. Enjoy “going with the flow!”

(Credits:D’Arcy Hair Design- Hair, Nyk Foto-photography, Fashion- Kim McCormick/Kimmi Designs and Jessica Nees-Makeup)

The first step to volume can be as simple as the products you are using. Products are some of your best friends! Using Kevin.Murphy Anit.Gravity, an oil-free volumizing agent is a great first step! You can also combine it with other products like Alterna Caviar Volume Shampoo and Conditioner to get more body. The Kevin.Murphy Powder puff is also great to use as a finishing product and to add definition to the texture of the hair.

Use these tips and tricks to never leave the house with flat hair again!

Post by Franz

I just got my hair cut with Lancer! It was not a huge change, but big enough to make a difference. I love to style my hair with it up in the back, blended on the sides, and keeping all the length that I’ve worked so hard to grow long. So we cut about an inch off of the crown area cut back the back of my mohawk to be smaller and blended it, and blended the new length on the top to the clippered sides.

To style this we cocktailed a Kevin.Murphy Body.Guard and Hair.Resort in my hair to blow it dry. The Body.Guard helps to moisturize my chemically processed and already naturally dry hair. The Hair.Resort helps provide the hair with beach texture, and goodness knows I love texture in my hair. then we flat iron my hair using Damage.Manager to protect myself from excess heat damage and Night.Rider paste to create a hard hold with texture. Viola! My new look is completed! Thanks Lancer!

Post by Franz

A new movie that is taking the world by storm is Sucker Punch. It is a beautiful flurry of punches and kicks. It follows Babydoll (Browning) as she attempts to escape an asylum with her inmate friends before she is sent to be lobotomized. From the shock of her situation, Babydoll plunges herself into her own fantasy world where nothing can stop her.

This may also take two processes, since after your hair is lifted it may not be the correct tone (too yellow or brassy). Browning’s hair in the movie is a very cool blonde, which many times can only be achieved with an additional application of tone after lightening.

It is always a good idea to have a consultation with your stylist to assess the condition of the hair andcreate a battle plan. Come in to Emerson Salon today to get your new blonde locks!

Post by Franz

Check out Alicia Keys with her pompadour-mohawk which she sported recently at the “Biutiful” movie screening.

Katy Perry gets in the holiday spirit with some Christmas hair accessories.

Kanye West interviews Rihanna on the evolution of her style (Interview)

As part of this weekends fantabulous Capitol Hill Summer Sale, Emerson has a super fabulous event planned that is going to be loads of fun and is going to let you walk away with some valuable hair tips and techniques. At 2pm on Sunday (the 29th) stop by the salon where Ellen, one of our lovely stylists, will be giving a hands-on demo on how to do a loose and casual, yet completely awesome, summer updo. She’ll show you the easiest way to make this must-have style work for your hair, and demonstrate how you can do it yourself at home to have salon-beautiful hair every day!

This is going to be a great event, so bring your friends and stop by to meet the Emerson team and get some styling tips straight from the experts!

Post by Amelia

Whatever you do, do not miss Capitol Hill’s huge Summer Sale that’s going on through the weekend of Thursday, August 26th to Sunday August 29th.  There are going to be mad deals, sales and events all weekend long up and down Pike, Pine and Broadway in the heart of Capitol Hill! The Hill has everything you need for whatever you feel like doing. A picnic in the park; shopping for the whole family; breakfast, lunch and dinner; dance lessons; yoga classes; night life and oh so much more!

Don’t miss the highlight of this awesome weekend: the kick off Mobile city party on Thursday night. There you can get a map of all the participating business and the list of the awesome events they’re planning. Then spend all weekend walking around and visiting the businesses and grabbing some great deals and fun events!

Emerson has a super fabulous event planned for Sunday, the 29th. At 2pm stop by the salon where Ellen, one of our lovely stylists, will be giving a hands-on demo on how to do a loose and casual, yet completely fabulous, summer updo. She’ll show you the easiest way to make this must-have style work for your hair, and demonstrate how you can do it yourself at home to have salon-beautiful hair every day!

Don’t miss what promises to be a rockin’ weekend, and make sure to come by Emerson on Sunday at 2:00 to get some valuable hair tips, straight from the experts!

Post by Amelia

The best part of summer is being able to wear less makeup and still look great. There is no need for heavy foundations and eye shadows! Try a more natural look and enjoy the freedom of less or no make up at all! Summer makeup is mostly for protecting the skin from exposure to sun rays, avoid excessive sweating, cut out the oily shine and prevent clogging of skin pores.

• Let your skin breathe and use sheer makeup that serve more than one purposes. It is important to keep the humidity locked in, sweating dries skin out. Try to not use foundation for the season and use a light moisturizer with sun block instead.
  Instead of using foundation to cover up freckles, use translucent tinted powder to blot the skin and add color to it. Summer is the perfect time to let those freckles show and even get a little more pronounced.
• If you must apply foundation, mix it with loose powder to keep you looking fresh throughout the day.
• Go for the nude natural look for the lips.Try light pinks with a hint of shimmer and gloss. Even for evening parties, a soft gloss on lips is all you need.
• Simply sensual and bronzed skin is in for summer . Always remember bronzer is for adding a glow not to be used as a self tanner, it should never be applied all over your face like face powder.

• Eyes should be done simply. Use neutral and soft shimmery eye shadow on lids. Try a cream blush with shimmer in it. They can be used for eyes cheeks and lips!
• Curl your lashes and use glossy black shade on them to make them appear longer and your eyes bigger. Use only a very fine line with eyeliner.
• Cheek sticks and crème eye colors are easy to apply and last longer in summer.

I know it may be hard to go with less at first but the natural look is simple to do and liberating when you realize you don’t need all the other fuss! Try waking up in the morning and simply washing your face, using a moisturizer with SPF in it, mascara and a light lip gloss and good enjoy the sun!

Post by Ellen

Here at Emerson Salon, we always get asked,” What’s trendy and current for hair color right now?” Our answer today is: Dimensional Light Grey

This trend is counter-intuitive to the millions of women who use hair color to cover their “sparkles.” More mature women use hair color to alter un-pigmented hair to create an overall younger appearance (depending on tonal value and depth.)

In this scenario, many teens, 20 somethings and even hipper women in their 30′s can sport the “grey streak” look. It is cutting edge and definitely gets one noticed when walking on the street due to its obviously unnatural appearance. It reminds one of Cruella de Ville, Bride of Frankenstein or the White Queen in the new version of Alice in Wonderland. This service is good for those who don’t want a drastic all over change but are willing to try something bolder than natural tones.

In order to achieve this trend, consult your Emerson Salon Stylist to review color history, hair health and maintenance goals. Whether you have artificial pigment or your natural color, this will most likely be a foil or balayage bleach and tone service. The hair must be lightened to the palest yellow/white stage and then toned with the perfect balance of blue and violet to counteract the remaining yellow pigment. Ask your stylist to use a permanent toner as bleached hair is overly porous and will cause excess fading with semi or demi-permanent toners.

In order to maintain your hip color, we recommend Alterna Caviar’s Blonde Shampoo and Conditioner. This line uses additional violet tones to help maintain the tonality and depth of the new hair color. In addition, it is gluten, paraben and sulfate free as well as being highly moisturizing for the stressed, porous hair. To make the color gleam- use Moroccan Oil Glimmer Shine or Rapid Repair Spray by Alterna. These products make the greyish white hue sparkle just like natural grey hair!

Hint: Be aware that whenever you bleach hair it causes damage that is always on your hair even when you cover it up later. Conditioners can help but the chemical structure of the hair is permanently altered until the bleached part is cut out.

Want a new, hip, happening hair color? Go right to that online booking form and let us know when you’re ready to be wowed!

For more on the grey streaks trend check out this article in the New York Times.

post by D’Arcy