The process of going lighter

I thought I'd go ahead and document the process of going lighter and show a before and after on a dear friend and client of mine. 

It's been almost 2 years since I've done anything to miss Natalie's hair! We were ready for some brightening, more dimension and warmth. Not to mention a few inches off in length but VOLUMES in weight and layering. Her hair moves again! (I forgot to take a before picture of the cut!)

Natalie has a ton of hair, and is a medium/dark brown natural base. She lifts beautifully, but to get a consistent look and save her hair from excessive damage in one round we lifted her to a beautiful carmel blonde that looks flawless with her skin tone. Next time we highlight, we will be able to get to that gorgeous buttery blonde in focused pieces to build a effortless looking dimension, making a natural brunette look like an effortless sun-kissed blonde. It honestly is all about the build up of color! 

Xo,

Britt

It's been a while..

Oh my...it's been a pretty 9 weeks since my last post. In the blogging world that is no bueno. 

So I'm going to get real in this short and sweet post. I LOVE this platform. Blogging is super fun, and it is something I see myself growing more and more as the months and years pass. But CONSISTENCY is hard. Lets be real, I have a hard time being consistent with getting laundry in the washer (just ask Armando) and making it to a barre class a few times(once) a week. 

So if you, my new reader- or existing client(I love you guys!) has wondered, wow Britt it's been a while since I've seen an update on your blog/site..I'm here to promise you RANDOM consistency in my posts. ;)

Actually it's appropriately Brittany-like. I'm a bit of a free spirit anyways... So heres to blogging! Every week/month/daily? 

Talk soon! (ish) 

-Brittany 

Dry Shampoo..the good, the bad, the ugly.

Story time! the photo below is day 4 dirty hair...yep. It did not smell, yes I did still shower. But that texture and volume? All dry shampoo and hairspray baby! Don't judge, most hair compliments I get come when I have day 3+ hair. :)

Now that you know my dirty little secret...I am going to share with you my key tips for how to make dry shampoo work for you- and que you in on a few of the many dry shampoo products I've used-the good and the bad. 

KEY POINTS TO MAKE DRY SHAMPOO WORK FOR YOU-

1. Spray all over root. 

2. Let sit for 30 seconds or more. 

3. BRUSH roots, allowing the product to disperse.

4. add more if needed.

5. BACKCOMB==Tease. Seriously this is key to allow that root to not split and look too greasy. 

6. Updos- Cute Ponytails, Sock buns. Most of the time on those later 3+ days my hair is up!

1)Batiste Dry Shampoo 

HOLY. This is the BEST product ever. If you've been in my chair, you have most likely heard this brand mentioned. It's fantastic. Why you ask? Well the key to a fabulous dry shampoo is it must work for hours, not just 30 minutes. It has to truly absorb oil.

The Good-

• Major oil absorption.
• Various shades(yay brunettes and blondes!) 
• Various scents(!!!)
• Aerosol so you don't get powder all over your clothes.
• Major root lift.
• Brushes into the hair easily.

The Bad-

• Ehhh its not the cleanest of formulations so those who like to keep their products natural may not be a huge fan.

Next up- 

2)Davines Hair Refresher-

Alright so I LOVE Davines products, everything I've used is fabulous so far. I truly enjoyed their dry shampoo, BUT I will say I grab Batiste more often on days 3+. I find the Davines doesn't absorb as much oil, so it tends to only work for a few hours- But the bottle is easy to throw in your purse for a refresh.

The Good-

• Small packaging.
• Clean, fresh scent.
• Allllmost colorless which is great for all hair colors.

The Bad-

• Not long lasting-needs touch ups throughout the day.

Next up-

3)Pureology Fresh Approach Dry Shampoo-

1-10 scale-- 5.5 is my score. Its just OKAY. again key point, it has to last more than 2 hours!!!

The Good-

• I LOVED the scent.
• Nice volume added into the hair.

The Bad-

• Doesn't last.
• A bit flaky making it more obvious in the hair than most.

Next up-

4) Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Dry Shampoo-

I actually love this product, definitely is a must in my lineup, BUT NOT TO ABSORB OIL. I find this fantastic for styling on day one. When you want that texture, volume and body.

The Good-

• Volume building.
• Texturizer, get that sexy voluminous head of hair!
• Oil absorber, but definitely adds a "grit" to your hair.

The Bad-

• Texture change- that grid? Not everyone wants. 
• It can make your hair feel "dirtier."

The Ugly-

• THE NOZZLE IS TERRIBLE. I've had 3 bottles clog up and can't get anything out- even after a hot water soak, etc. 

Next up-

5) Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo-

 It's just OK. Really, thats pretty much all I have to offer, I say spend 2 more dollars ( or 2 dollars less according to this link!) and get Batisse. ;)

The Good-

• Affordable.

The Ugly-

• Terrible oil absorption. Actually, makes it feel more oily. Adds more buildup. Not cute. 

Next Up-

6) Klorane Dry Shampoo Oat Milk Non-Aerosol-

For all my natural product lovers- this is for you. Klorane has a fabulous dry shampoo made with Oak Milk, which does the job. 

The Good-

• Clean formula
• Not overly pigmented
• Smells clean but not TOO floral, fruity, etc. (for those who get headaches from scents.)

The Bad-

• Powder formula-application isn't the easiest.
• Oil absorption= 5 out of 10. 

There are about 5 more dry shampoos I can review, but I'll keep it short today...Do you have any favorite dry shampoo products? How many days can you usually go in between washes? No judgement here! ;)

xo,

Brittany 

Hard water woes

Are you noticing a dingy greenish hue on your blonde locks about 4 weeks after you've gotten your hair colored? Maybe an abnormal amount of brassiness..?

Are your highlights just looking dull and flat, no where  near where they were when you left the salon?

WELL. You may very well be suffering from hard water woes!

Hard water- "is water that has high mineral content (in contrast with "soft water"). Hard water is formed when water percolates through deposits of calcium and magnesium-containing minerals such as limestone, chalk and dolomite."

YUCK. On your hair. This is a serious thing. Hard water is totally present in our shower water, drinking water- you name it. And that mineral build up veryyyy easily will stick to your porous blonde locks that you spend quite a bit of time and money to get to look so good. 

Solution? There are a few options, below I've listed three key pointers to keeping your locks safe from major mineral buildup.

1) Clarifying shampoo. A few options-

• Aveda Sun Care Shampoo 
• Unite Weekender Shampoo
• Malibu C Weekly Demineralizer Treatment 

2) Hard water filter on shower.

A major necessity if you live in an area with hard water that may be suffering from the California Drought( Think bottom of the barrel water, all of the mineral build up is definitely filtered through your faucets.)

• This T3 Shower filter from Sephora is a fantastic option.
• The Raindrops shower filter was created by the owners of Ninezeroone Salon- Nikki Lee and Riawna Capri, great salon = great product!  

3) In salon treatments-

• In conjunction with a shower filter and clarifying shampoo, I recommend getting regular in salon treatments to maintain your color. About 6-8 weeks between appointments is a great time to pop on into the salon for a deep cleanse on end to remove build-up, a gloss/tone treatment and a trim if your one who wants their hair to always look its best.

This in salon treatment will throughly cleanse your ends, allowing your highlight dimension to look bright and polished. (Check out the before and after above, so much more polish and refinement in that blonde!)

Questions? Thoughts?What works for you? Let me know. No one should suffer from funky toned highlights! ;) 

Xo,

Brittany 

Hey, you may need a keratin treatment..yes, you!

Hey there! I'm sure you've heard of Keratin treatments, right? 

Im a HUGE fan. Total lifesavers. Why you ask?

Well, do you have hair that is totally wild? Like frizzy, textured, fluffy, puffy, kinky, random, all of the above? 

yeah, your not alone. 

Keratins. Its your lifesaver! I promise. 

What is a keratin treatment? -A keratin treatment is "a special blend of hydrolyzed keratin deep into the cuticle. The hydrolyzed keratin is bonded to the cuticle with heat from a flat iron to relax the hair's subcuticle layer, resulting in renewed smoothness and shine."

So for you ladies( or.. ehh em.. men as well!) who have some unwanted texture, this is a sure bet that your life will be DRAMATICALLY easier once you have a treatment. 

A few Benefits:

• Cuts down dry time. AND drys smoother, silky and easy to manage. Your arms won't fall off after an hour blow-dry.

• Cuts down on heat styling= HEALTHIER hair! This is huge. So many people have this misunderstood notion that keratins will damage your hair. IF the application is done properly, keratins will actually allow you to get away with less styling. So women who are always flat ironing the hairline, this is amazing for you! no more tiny broken hairs. 

• Grey hair making your once silky hair extremely coarse? Keratins help for that! It smooths the hair's sub cuticle, making those frazzled pieces easier to manage.

• Ladies with daughters in high school. For some reason the trend in high school has consistently been flat ironed hair. Pretty much every morning flat ironing. SUPER DAMAGING. I am a a big believer in keratins for these lovely ladies, because lets be real, we are lucky if they agree to an inch trim only. ;) So instead of constantly fried ends, they can just wake up and very lightly run the iron over, cutting the styling time AND damage in half!

keratin transformation by #bmastershair

What product do I use? 

I love the Keratin Complex line, and find the Gylcolic Smoothing System one of my favorite options. 

There are three versions:

1. The Original Keratin Complex Nautral Smoothing Treatment: Lasts 4-6 months (my clients average), strongest version. Does "flatten" the hair more so than other versions. 
2. The Gylcolic Smoothing System: Lasts about 3-4 months, mid strength. Retains the body and movement in the hair, ideal for women with curls that like to soften the wave and frizz, but not completely flatten certain areas. 
3. The Express Blow out: Lasts up to 6 weeks, a more temporary version. Great as a "trial" to see if keratins are a good option for your hair goals. 

Interested in booking a consultation to discuss how keratin treatments might benefit you? I'd love to connect with you! Contact me at info@bmastershair.com and we can get you scheduled for a complimentary 15 minute consultation. 

Happy styling!

Xo,

Brittany 

Olaplex- the miracle worker.

I recently had a client who wanted to go white. like ALL OVER white blonde hair. Problem is- she has fine, fragile hair with preexisting tint and medium brown hair. 

Always one for a hair challenge, I was totally game. 

I will say I was a bit worried but thanks to OLAPLEX- a new to the industry game changer I had my bases covered. 

As it turns out we got her to a gorgeous silvery white blonde and her hair is still on her head. In fact, it feels fantastic! Such a process, but her hair doesn't look gummy or over processed. OF course there is natural dryness-but as a whole her hair handled it well. 

So now I introduce the magic of this "bond multiplier."

Olaplex was created by "two of the world’s leading PHD’s in Materials and Chemistry that had never worked on hair products before, Dr. Eric Pressly and Dr. Craig Hawker. With this fresh outlook, this dream team invented a single ingredient chemistry, that is free of silicone or oils, that links broken bonds in the hair during and after chemical services making them stronger than they were before." 

What does this mean?

Well whenever you are lifting or lightening hair, you are working within the hair shaft. The bonds of the hair are broken, allowing the product to effectively lift or alter the pigment out of the hair. This means the hair strand in itself weakens which increases the fragility of the hair. Lightened or "chemically treated" hair tends to be more suseptible to damage since the bonds of the hair have been broken.

Insert Olaplex. 

#bmastershair #olaplex

Since the product is mixed INTO your hair color formula, it is working simultaneously at repairing the bonds as it processes, making hair stronger and eliminating severe damage. 

After the service there is a Treatment; Bond No. 2 that is applied to the hair and left on for about 10 minutes. 

And Voila! Finito. 

Hair is left beautifully soft, strong and healthy. 

If your interested in adding olaplex into your service please be aware of a few key notes:

-This product is an add-on service, so there is an additional cost.

-Product slows the lifting process, so you will be in the salon for longer. About an average 40 minutes longer between both the processing and treatment time.

-This product does not give you a free for all card to lighten highly damaged and compromised hair. We as stylists still need to use our best judgement, and may politely turn away clients who are asking for the impossible. 

-Interested in trying Olapex in your next hair color service?

-Connect with me at info@bmastershair.com and we can get you scheduled for your next color appointment. 

Xo,

Brittany 

Pre-book, yo!

Well hello everybody!

Todays post is all about PRE-BOOKING.  That important little 3 minutes spend at the end of your fabulous hair appointment. 

Why pre-book?

So in all honesty, pre-booking is like the biggest stress relieve. Because let me tell you, trying to get in the week you realize you are wayyy overdue and you can't stand ONE MORE DAY with your roots growing out..that is stressful. 

Benefits for moi-

Stress relieve. ;) It's quite challenging trying to accommodate schedule preferences with only two weeks in advance. Chances are, we end up pushing your appointment further back or we are just out of luck and can't fit it in...OR I squeeze you in on a day where it already is crazy so you may feel a bit of the hectic energy. 

So I urge you, if pre-booking is a possibility that works within your daily schedules, let do it.

Now clients who just cannot book that far out because of work schedules and travel plans that vary..Know that the minimum for contacting should be about 4 weeks ahead of time. 

My current hours:

Tuesdays: 11-7:30

Thursdays: 11-7:30

Fridays: 9-7:00

Saturdays:9-5:30

Now plenty of you know by know I do stay even later, often times at the salon till 9/10pm. (heyyy salon party! there may be wine available for you.. ;))

If your availability is typically Saturdays or weeknight evenings, pre-booking is a must. These slots book up fast, so I'd love to make sure we get you in where it is convenient for you.  

Quick tip- while your processing, you can spend a quick minute looking at your calendar to see what your schedule is like in the next two/three etc. months. I will mention at some point in the service your span for maintenance, so we have an ideal time frame. That makes the booking process  at the end of the service a breeze!

Thanks for reading these updates! See ya'll in the chair!

xo,

Brittany 

Bootcamping @NineZeroone Melrose Place

I spend the last week staying in West Hollywood, a few blocks down from Nine Zero One Salon on Melrose Place.. I was fortunate to attend their FIRST ever "bootcamp" education- where 10 stylists show up from 10am-4pm for 5 days and receive education from one of the most talked about salons on social media. 

The break down-

Day one- Styling with Tauni Dawson

Day two-Men's cutting with Cory James

Day three- All about Blondes with Tauni Dawson

Day four-Hairpainting with Nicole Leal

Day five- Wigs-cut and color with Marissa Marino + All about Reds with Amber Maynard

The Nine Zero One Salon Artists in their Element! Below right, I didn't get  a photo of Amber working, so here is her Model! ;)

I mean...this line up!! ;) SO fantastic. I have to say, this week was such a wonderful experience. Nine Zero One Salon is truly stepping up the education industry for stylists. So for all of my fellow hair nerds and hairstylists, if you are wondering if the classes are worth it, YES. They are. Value your craft, and value your skill. SHARPEN your skill.  

For my clients- Please know, I continue my education for you. A little for me, a lot for you. I love to stay aware of new approaches, and observe "how they do it." I gain so much value from my education, and I strive to embody it. I hope you feel it too. :)

So to sum up my little education update- My top two favorite take aways from this past week--

1. Wig cutting, coloring. I have this HUGE gravitation towards this direction..how much a well cut and colored wig can transform women who are in need of them. I will definitely be growing this avenue-stay tuned!

2. Blondes blondes blondes! I have always loved making a beautiful blonde head of hair..but I feel SO excited to utilize the tips and tricks I've learned! There is more maintenance and services involved, but man the results are so worth it. So all you ladies out there who are looking for a blonde obsessed stylist--I'm your girl. Lets make those highlights classy, not brassy!  ;)

#ninezeroone bootcamp 1/12-1/16

Xo,

Brittany

Gratitude.

Can you believe it is already Christmas Eve? I'm blown away by how fast 2014 has flown by, and want to spend a minute to express my gratitude for the support you all have shown me this year.

It's been a year of changes and I feel so blessed to spend time with so many kind souls in my chair. Thank you for trusting me, allowing me to get creative. Your loyalty. Your presence! You make my work fun! Chatting and hair?! I mean..its definitely my favorite. ;) 

THANK YOU. Honestly, I feel so fortunate to be able to connect with you all and do what I love day in and day out..without your support it truly wouldn't be possible. 

Sending you all so much love and well wishes on this Christmas Eve!

Happy Holidays--

Brittany