On Super Bowl Sunday, when most people were cheering on their favorite football team, D’Arcy was styling hair in an exciting editorial photoshoot!!

The tour de force driving this opporunity is an emerging fashion designer named, Bo Choi. She received her MFA from UC Davis and now teaches fashion design. Almost the entire fashion line in the shoot was constructed from plastic grocery bags. The central theme of the shoot was,”Pink Dream.” Bo was very detailed and organized with her vision and aided us by storyboarding some of the practice shoots for us.

Bo instructed the photographer, models, makeup artist and D’Arcy this shoot would be a representation of her first arrival in America from Korea as a young child. The two Asian models were to signify her experiences and were to evoke a simple, naive, young and modern version of the “young Bo Choi.” The other two Caucasion models were to be,”the mean girls on the playground,” and would evoke a prissy or evil sensibility.

Bo gave me some guidance on what she envisioned for the hair but left it up to me to use those ideas as inspiration for my own creativity. Here are some of my faves!

Credits:
Photography by Ross James Photography (rossjamesphotography.com/)
Makeup by Jj Cariaso (jjcariaso.com)
Clothes by Bo Choi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjMiOJ0MYjo)
Models:Catherine Cabeen (catherinecabeen.com)
Bronwyn Rose, Anastasia , Taylor Osborne (modelmayhem.com)
Special Thanks: Melissa James and Hye Kim

post by D’Arcy

Another great review for our stylist Peter. Check out this review and all of our reviews on our Yelp profile.

“So this review is long overdue, but i went to Emerson Salon for a cut and color about a month ago and had an awesome experience. I went on a Friday night and was worried that i would be rushed through my appointment, but that was hardly the case. my stylist was peter (the guy with the cool mustache) and he was super friendly and had a great sense of humor. i had a picture of the color i wanted and it came out better than i expected! i also asked for a cut that would lighten my hair without chopping it all off so he simply added some layers and framing pieces and also used this amazing Moroccan oil (i ended up buying some-it made my hair so soft!).

not only am i new to the seattle area, but i am new to going to salons for haircuts (my mom was a hairdresser and has cut my hair my entire life!) and i was kinda terrified to be leaving my hair in the hands of a stranger-but everyone from the receptionist i made the appointment with to the stylists that were there that night made me feel welcome in an non-intimidating and comfortable environment (and even walked me through what he was doing since i had never even had my hair washed at a salon!) i can’t wait to go back and try out a bolder cut now that i know this is a salon i can trust!”

In an effort to help people with their substance abuse issues, Beyonce unveiled the Pheonix House in Brooklyn, New York. This center helps rehabilitate patients away from drugs and alcohol while simultaneously training them in cosmetology. Doing hair and making people happy can be a great way to feed the soul in addition to being a great career!

Beyonce also just finished a photoshoot with some exciting editorial hair for her clothing line, House of Dereon.

Want some height like Beyonce’s? Try these tips for this “larger” hairstyle:

• Spray your dry, brushed out hair lightly with Working Spray by Alterna.
• Tell your stylist to back comb the entire crown section of hair to create a solid base with lots of height. Then, softly back-brush the sections around the backcombing and pin into a bun shape at the crown. Spray again lightly.
• The hair around the bun can be lightly back-brushed and then curled with a styling iron. Follow by brushing out the hair into soft waves with a cushion brush and spray lightly again.
• Slowly layer a harder hold spray as you shape the height with the warmth of your fingers/hands. Mold and sculpt the waves on and around the height at the crown carefully. (Try Membrane Gas by Fudge or Session Spray by Kevin Murphy for extreme hold.)
• Spray with Hemp Shine by Alterna.

With this stellar hair and height you can rock it like the stars!

post by D’Arcy

Life happens and we don’t always have time to fuss with our hair as much as we’d like. To most of us, looking good and feeling good is important and all of us have some kind of issue with our hair. Whether it is limp, dull, frizzy, or just a little lack luster from time to time, I have some simple solutions for the girl/guy on the go.

Problem – You’ve woken up late and your hair is looking a little flat, but you don’t have time to start styling it from scratch. Solution – Membrane Gas by Fudge. This will give texture and volume to the limpest of hair. Use it as a hairspray for hold or for texture by manipulating the hair with your fingers while applying. The awesome thing about this product is that it actually has “memory,” meaning you can brush it out and rework the hair to your desired shape simply by applying a little more. Big hair, great texture and flexible hold. What more could you ask for?

Problem – You’ve recently had a chemical service on your hair and it is just looking a little dry and dull. Washing it too much doesn’t do much but dry it out more, over-conditioning leaves it oily and leaving it alone drives you crazy. Solution – Moroccan Oil Glimmer Shine Spray. Apply to dry, dull hair to bring out the shine and shimmer. It is infused with argan oil and UV filters to protect from further damage do to the elements. This light weight shine is easy to use and long lasting.

Problem – Curly hair that is frizzy due to weather or just natural texture. Solution – Alterna’s Shaping Balm. When applying this to dry hair it acts as an anti-humectant. It will smooth out any frizz and leave pliable, shiny curls. Plus, Alterna products are all paraben and gluten free.

Whatever your specific hair issues, there is almost certainly a solution out there. For more helpful tips, come on in and see one of our stylists here at Emerson!

Post by Amanda

Emily says: Caviar moisture shampoo & conditioner are a must, sulfate & paraben free great for moisture repair and skin renewal. The technology in the Caviar line is very similar to my favorite face creme La Mer. Moroccan Oil’s oil and mask are great for intensive treatment and repair, blocking UVA and UVB rays. The Stella McCartney roller ball fits perfectly into a pocket or clutch. I cannot leave the house without my Dior lip gloss. Jo Malone creme makes me feel pretty and energized for an early Spring. View Emily’s complete collection details.

Amanda says: Spring is here and there are a few things that I must have on hand. My beauty regiment changes a bit with the warmer weather and the sun shining. Makeup of course gets brighter as do the colors in my wardrobe. I have put away my hats and scarves and pump up my hair with some new products. I start with Fudge’s Membrane Gas – applying it to damp hair, mostly at the root will give my hair some lift, aka Bridget Bardot hair. I then smooth out my ends with a bit of Alterna’s Radiant Smoothing Lotion. In the event that my hair feels a little damaged due to overexposure to the sun, I break out Kevin Murphy’s Born Again treatment. I apply it to damp hair and let it sit anywhere from 2-20 minutes, rinse and style as usual. View Amanda’s complete collection details.

What are your favorite things for spring? Post the link to your Polyvore collection in the comments!

Heard of balayage but not sure what it is exactly? Is it for you? What does it even mean? I will tell you!

Balayage is a French term that was developed in the 1970s that means “sweeping” or “to sweep.” It is essentially named after the way in which the color is applied to the hair. It is actually swept on or painted on by hand leaving a more natural looking highlight or lowlight. The technique was developed as a new way to add variation to the hair color with a more natural appearance and a more subtle grow out. The color can be applied for a more bold variation or slight depending on the client. Balayage isn’t just for lightening either. Many stylists will use it to add lowlights or a combination of the two.

Who is balayage right for? Balayage is a technique that is great for anyone who appreciates a little versatility in their color but who doesn’t have time for a lot of maintenance. It also works well for the client who likes a more sunkissed or natural look. It is a great technique for shoulder length and longer hair. Balayage is the perfect color technique for summer, as it offers the same benefits as someone who would be spending a lot of time outdoors. I wouldn’t recommend it for someone with a lot of grey or shorter, finer textured hair.

The technique, that is becoming more and more popular, definitely offers many advantages. It is a foil free color application in which your stylist hand paints your highlights. Picking up layers and “sweeping” the color on different sections of the hair allows the stylist to move more quickly and efficiently while picking the proper placement for the color. It focuses more on the base of the hair shaft rather than concentrating on the root area. Thicker sections will lead to a more bold highlight while smaller will do the opposite.

Come see our balayage experts here at Emerson Salon!

Post by Amanda

In the past decade, many new music artists have opted to use the advent of the internet to grow their fan base and get their material heard. One such artist is, Lights, a 22 yr. old Canadian born electro-pop singer, songwriter and musician. Check out Lights latest video here:

What inspired Lights? After traveling the world with her family as a child, Lights came back to Canada and began to learn guitar. From there she has written and produced most of her tracks on her own in addition to self-promoting on social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook. She gathered so many fans online it solidified her place in the synth based music realm. She joins such artists like Little Boots, Ellie Goulding and others. Lights even has a weekly comic book series that is posted to her website each week! Check out one of her latest ones here.

Lights newest album is called, “The Listening,” and includes the popular ballad, Saviour. She is currently on tour and soon will be playing with Owl City in Seattle! More details at STG Presents.

Lights’ hair is inspired by her interests in online gaming, comic books and anime. “Even my look is inspired by video game characters – it’s a cross between Laura Croft and Wonder Woman,” she says. Love the look? Here are some tips on how to get her hair:

• Color: Consult your stylist on what shade of darkest brown to black will look good for your coloring. Lights looks like she has an all over darkest brown hair color with some added warmth. Want to try it on for a limited time? Try demi-permanent which last 5 -9 weeks depending on hair condition. Make sure to use the right supporting products such as color safe shampoo and conditioner to get the most life out of your new color.
• Cut: This is a long layered cut with texture. Tell your stylist to create a blunt perimeter with concave layers on top. This means that the weight in through the crown will be eliminated and kept towards the bottom. Lights seems to have very thick hair so in order to create movement and “funk” ask your stylist to thin or texturize the interior to remove bulk. Lastly, the heavy swoop bang is created by sectioning from the crown forward then cutting the fringe area around the tip of the nose. Adding texture to the bang gives it movement and manageability.
• Style: Lights probably heat styles her hair on a regular basis with a blow dryer and flat iron to create straight fullness. Before blow drying, add Morroccan Oil to towel dried hair. You may rough dry on straight to wavy textures, but we recommend round brushing with boar bristle on curly to kinky textures. When dry, flat iron the entire head with a slight scooping out motion to get the straightest look. Add Alterna’s Shaping Balm to add control to the swoop bang in addition to creating soft texture on the ends. Tousle your hair with your fingers for fullness and spray with Extra Hold Spray by Alterna.

Feeling inspired? Rock that hair out! Use passion to propel you forward while promoting yourself! Lights did and look at her now!

Say farewell to Winter and hello to Spring with the new Hong-Kong Spring 2010 collection by OPI! I really like this new collection of nail polish, which offers a wide variety of shades suiting any style and the perfect accessory to any outfit. Worried about spending too much money to get a manicure? By following these simple steps below, you can get a professional-looking manicure in the comfort of your own home and at a fraction of the cost.

• Cut your nails the length you want them, being careful to avoid going too short. To file your nails, use the curve of your nail base as a guide. Avoid filing them too square-this can make your fingers appear chubby.
• Never shake the nail polish bottle. This causes air bubbles to form which will cause nothing but problems once you begin applying the polish. Try rolling the bottle between your palms instead.
• Dip a cotton ball into nail polish remover and swipe over your fingernails. This will remove any remaining polish as well as any excess oil on your nails.
• Hold the polish brush whatever way you feel is the steadiest. I’ve found that holding it between my middle finger and thumb really helps to minimize any shaking.
• Apply a thin layer of the OPI Start to Finish Base and Top Coat to your nails. Apply two coats of polish, making sure to wait about a minute or two between each coat. Finish with another layer of Start to Finish. If you’ve found that your polish tends to chip faster than you’d like it to, try using Chip Skip Nail Lacquer by OPI to finish.
• Dip an orangewood stick in nail polish and rub along the sides of your nails to fix any mistakes made while applying polish.
• You can use a blow-dryer set on cool to help speed up the drying process. You can also soak freshly polished nails in really cold water for a few minutes. I do this after painting my nails and it ALWAYS works.
• Once your nails have completely dried, rub OPI’s Avoplex High-Intensity Hand and Nail Cream on your hands and nails. This will soothe cracked, rough and reddened hands. I also recommend using OPI’s Avoplex Nail/Cuticle Replenishing Oil to help with dry cuticles. Apply the Start to Finish to your nails every few days to preserve your manicure.

These vibrant colors from OPI are a breathe of fresh air and the perfect way to welcome Spring!

Post by Andrea