“Getting Older Ain’t For Sissies"

Now, I don't know what your style is, it could be natural, funky or maybe even a little "out there". Me, well I'm pretty conservative. Still I LOVE to see a woman dress with finesse. I will say living out in the country does not promote the "out there" stylings of New York and London. One might be looked at  with the thought "she's crazy". But really, to see a woman wear what makes her happy and not worry about what people think.... hmmm that's a thought.

 I came across a blog I love called Hairdresser On Fire. She blogged about chatting with  Iris Apfel a 90 year old Make-up artist at a MAC store in Times Square. I was thinking to myself,  "wow she's a little "out there".  Yes, I thought it! Who am I to think such things? This woman owns it! After reading the blog I wanted  to read more about Miss Iris. In the article Into The Gloss ( click here to read article Into The Gloss ) she says,  “Getting older ain’t for sissies, I’ll tell you. It’s very funny."

Iris Apfel

Since then I saw on Hairdresser on Fire, you should really check out her blog. She posted that since her mention of Iris Apfel, someone told her about a Documentary coming out this Summer called Advanced Style.  Ari Seth Cohen the creator or this film roams the streets of New York looking for the most stylish and creative older folks. He says, "respect your elders and let these ladies and gents teach you a thing or two about living life to the fullest." Advanced Style offers proof from the wise and silver-haired set that personal style advances with age. 

Are these ladies a little "out there"?..... maybe they are, but so what. It's all how you look at it. They came from a time of Glamour and they want to hold on to it. We don't see that as much anymore. Maybe we should get back to it. At least a little. "Dig into your closet and start dressing again." That's what these women talk about  in this trailer.  One lady says "I love to dress for the theater of life".

Book available

  As I watched, I just couldn't help but smile. This time I thought, " I hope I'm like that when I get to my "silver years", enjoying fashion, having fun with it. It will be here before you know it. Like Miss Iris says, "Getting older ain't for sissies". 

Shannon Keel

Just Do It!

I'm a Hairstylist, I have been for several years. I own my own salon. I help make my clients look and feel beautiful. By that sometimes, I have to direct them in the way that I know is best. Sometimes they agree and sometimes they don't. Somehow when it comes to myself, it's not so easy. I will get bored just as easy as any woman does and get scared to change. I've been wearing my hair with blonde hilights for a few years now. A year ago I  was about to turn 40 and needed a new look. I called my good friend Heidi Grether in Pensacola, FL. She cut it short and I felt great! I was SASSY, ok at least my hair was.

Now a year has passed and I've decided to let my hair grow and I tell you, as most of you know that has grown or tried to grow..... that in-between stage is TOUGH. I was feeling blah with my in-between hair, I decided it's time to change my color. I've seen so many beautiful redheads in Pinterest......It's just my  time. I've been deciding to go red for, I hate to admit, MONTHS.I need to just do it!

picture from Pinterest

 I have several clients that make a decision in minutes. My client Patti was in my chair for the first time ever. She wanted blonde hilghts like she always had. I was in the color room with my assistant Mauri. I mentioned to her, "Patti needs to be red!" I could see it on her. I went to speak to Patti about my idea for her. She say "OK"..... OK??  She said OK!  We went back with a new plan of action. Patti's hair turned out beautiful. More than anything she had the belief in me that I knew what was best and she took that leap with me.

Patti, my brave trusting soul. 

If only I had the "guts" to do the same  for my own self as some of my clients.
 I finally did.
I feel like a new person!! I may not get past this growing out stage, but I feel new and fresh again. It's amazing what color can do for someone. Why not take that leap?

ME! Finally RED!!

Last thing......Do not attempt this at home! Going from Blonde to Red is tricky and takes a lot of knowledge of your Hairstylist. If you do, you may turn out with funky colors in your hair. Then you will need to call your stylist to fix it. Save yourself the trouble. If you're ready for something new, maybe some hilights, brown, gold or red like I did. Just do it!

Shannon Keel

Cool hair finds on Etsy

I came across Three Bird Nest on Etsy.com. They have such cute stylish hair accessories. If you knit then some of these are things I'm sure you could make. Unfortunately i'm not one of those people.  Here are some great ideas when it's chilly outside, rainy or just having a bad hair day. Maybe just maybe you just feel like adding a little flair. (link for Three Bird Nest below) Prices aren't bad.


Three Bird Nest

Rainy Day Frizz Go Away!!

Since it's raining here in Lee, FL today I thought I'd post a little article on some ways to tame that "Rainy Day Frizz". I have curly hair too and have struggled with it pretty much since I started to care about what I looked like. I won't lie, even though I live and breathe hair, it's still not easy dealing with frizz. Some days it does great others not so good. That's when I'm glad I got to my salon early and have all the things needed right at my fingertips. Don't get me wrong, I'm so thankful for the rain, I think it's my hair that's not thrilled. Below are some tips..... if all else fails, stay inside.

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Straightening cream
• Blowdryer
• Round brush
• Flat Iron
• Anti-frizz serum
• Mousse
• Strong hold hairspray

1. • 1
     Apply a quality straightening cream from root to tip. Blow-dry your hair straight by pulling 2-inch sections of hair taut with a round brush. Flatiron the same 2-inch sections once hair is dry. Finish by applying a dime-sized amount of a quality anti-frizz serum and of shine serum to your hair, again from root to tip. Get a recommendation for hair products at a respected salon. Be sure to rub each product in between your palms before applying. This method is the best way to prevent frizz, but also takes the most time.
   • 2
     Wash and condition your hair. While still damp, apply a tiny bit of mousse to your entire head. Scrunch your natural curls up toward the roots, by grabbing two-inch sections into the palm of your hand. Let the natural part emerge. Let hair air-dry. Once dry, apply a liberal amount of a quality anit-frizz serum to your hair from tip to root gently without rubbing the strands together.
   • 3
     Wash and condition your hair. Apply a very small amount of mousse. Style you hair in an updo while the hair is still damp. Let your style air-dry. Once dry, spray with a strong hold hairspray, and finish with your anti-frizz serum and a touch of shine serum.
   • 4
     Prevent frizz by being prepared. Carry a small container of anit-frizz serum with you throughout the day in case you are forced to be in a humid environment or get caught in the rain. Be sure you have an umbrella always stashed in your car in case of a sudden downpour. Check the weather ahead of time, and wear a raincoat with a waterproof hood attached.

Read more: How to Get Rid of Frizzy Hair When It Rains | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4761023_rid-frizzy-hair-rains.html#ixzz1j9oRm1Ba







http://www.ehow.com/how_4761023_rid-frizzy-hair-rains.html

To Gray or Not to Gray?

One of my Facebook friends  Doug Macintosh  Color Director at  John Sahag Salon in NewYork City had someone ask this question on his blog. Below is the link to his blog page.

Anonymous asked: At what point should a woman who's been coloring her hair for decades "come out" and go gray? How does one judge you're at that point when there's lots of color in your hair but none in your face? And how to make the transition?

You know, here’s the real question, why do you want to “come out ” as grey? We never lose the undertones in our eyes and skin, they only reason you would look colorless in your face is because you have either the wrong hair color or the wrong make-up on. I have clients of all ages, some in their 80’s and 90’s, God Bless ‘em , they are in every 4 weeks to hide the gray, and look wonderful.

I don’t think only you will know when, you want to stop looking younger and start looking older, because no matter if you have the right eye color and skin tone, gray will still make you look older, or perceived to be older.

That being said if you want to transition, there a a few ways. First ask yourself, do I have the right eye color and skin tone to wear gray hair? is my gray pretty? I think people who have pale pink/bluish undertones in their skin and robins egg blue eyes, or dark coal brown eyes and olive undertones in their skin make the best candidates for wearing gray hair.

The best way to transition is the slowest. But the best transitions are slow. So this is how I would transition a level 5 (or brown) client slowly.

Instead of putting on her single process, I would now foil in it, in pieces, omitting a percentage of her gray hair. I might then start foiling some pieces around her face with lightener, bringing these pieces up to pale pale yellow. Now we really can’t replicate the way nature puts in gray, but we can get close. The lightened pieces should be very fine,spaced apart broken slices in foils. Not weaves and not slices, but an in-between of the two. Now glaze her with a glaze that matches her gray…if it is gray you may want to try 08T in shades EQ by redken, if it is more white, maybe just a shimmer lights shampoo and a clear glaze. As you proceed with this client over the coming months put in less highlights and low-lights with bigger spaces. This gives her the chance to evaluate it and decide if this is really for her or not. Also friends,family and co-workers will not notice a big change.

Now the other ways are to grow it for 8 weeks and get a very very short funky haircut, and that’s it you’re gray.

The other and in my opinion, the ugliest way is to just stop coloring it….

That being said,I AM A HAIRCOLORIST, I AM NOT IN THE BUSINESS TO STOP COLORING HAIR OR MAKE SOME ONE LOOK OLDER, LOL. SO MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE NEVER GO GRAY.

Good Luck

http://dougmacintosh.tumblr.com/post/15186425828/at-what-point-should-a-woman-whos-been-coloring-her

Transformation

Transformation

After hairdressing in the city of Orlando for 18 years, in 2008 my husband and I packed up and moved to the small farming town of Lee, FL (population 386) I could've gone to a bigger city 45 mins away to do hair, but just felt in my heart that I could do something for the people here. It doesn't matter if you've been running a chicken farm for 30 years or if you're a 35 year old uptown attorney..... you still want to feel better about yourself. 


Betty's daughters brought her in for her birthday early last year. She has had some health issues and not been able to do something for herself in a long time. She mentioned wanting to go darker and I agreed. I took her to a medium Golden brown to bring out her blue eyes. I brought the length up and added layers. Then blow dried her natural curly hair with a medium round brush and then with my fingers pushed back in some of her curl to give it a soft look. She looks like a new woman! She's a woman with few words, but a big smile was all I needed. This is why I do what I do

Loving Hair

Yep, I think I have a love affair with hair! I guess that's why I do what I do.... HAIR! I'm going to attempt  a blog about what I see haircuts, styles and colors that I love. For starters, I LOVE this color. Soft warm blonde with natural looking hilights.