Stickin To It!

A few years ago, well lets just say...when the economy sank...I began a search for great quality hair extensions that wouldn't break my clients budget. My business was not effected with the negativity of the economy. Of course I hate to hear stories of anyone losing their job! However, when we look good ... we feel good! Unfortunately women are still losing their hair, still struggling with the lack of volume and still want to pass by the mirror and smile! Yes I am the first person to say the beauty comes from the inside. But looking good on the outside sure makes for an easier ride!

Back in the day there was a method called, "Skin Wefting". Wefts of hair were attached to the natural hair with some form of cold fusion. Cold fusion can be liquid adhesives, keratin tape or links/beads.

2012 this method is called "Sticker/Panels/Tape 2 Tape/Skin Wefting/Double Sided Tape Hair". What has changed? The weft now is made in 1.5 inch panels. Pre-tapped and re-usable. When I hear the name sticker hair extensions, I am less than excited. However the concept is there. Imagine a method of hair extensions that are applied "sandwich" style. Each panel marries to the other, with a thin section of the natural hair in between.

I have been wearing this method for the past 2 years. I love the volume this method achieves. Oh and I love that it takes under an hour and re-usable. I have experienced minimal damage. To be honest the damage that is done is because I often go to bed with wet hair. I am a late night bath addict! It's impossible to keep my hair dry!

Maintenance is every 8-10 weeks. The hair (if its the right brand)is re-usable for 8+ months. I have a few clients that have re-used the panels for over a year!

The Long And Short Of It

Hair Extensions are - in my opinion - for everyone!  For those who want to add highlights, lowlights, block coloring, volume (don't we all?), a little or a lot of length, wavy or straight texture and for some...fantasy colors.

Fantasy colors for example, are Ravens Fans who wear purple extensions during the football season.  Redskins fans rocking the red feathers.  For a hot minute feather extensions were the "IT" thing.  I have been working with feathers way before they came and left the fashion world.  I have always had nothing but love for feathers!  How unique, feminine and colorful they are.  However, they are not, in my opinion, for everyday wear.  Earrings, bracelets, headpieces and clip-ons.  Basically, the type you can take on and off.  I only know one celebrity who can pull the daily feather extensions off and that is Steven Tyler.

The bottom line is that hair extensions can give you what mother nature didn't.  As a professional stylist, I have noticed that there are times when a colorist has not taken the extra steps to protect the integrity of the clients hair.  Why over highlight and stack a whole head of foils?  Why not use the natural level as a low light and only highlight the crown region?!  I could go on but none the less.  The long and short of it is this..."Let the Extensions do the work for you!".    It saves time, protects the integrity of the natural hair and dare I say...saves money!

A good "head" on my shoulders...

Providing women with the hair they have always dreamed of is an opportunity of a life time.  Sure you can say that this is a HUGE exaggeration. However, roll with me here...

If you came to me and said you wanted to lose weight, knowing that I am a BCRPA Certified Trainer.  I would guide you to the ways of weight loss that would be healthy, increase your metabolism and practical. I would also kick your butt in the gym. Personal Training was my first real job, or was it my second? I have had so many jobs.  I think somewhere in there I worked at McDonalds and Wendy's for a hot minute.  I have been working since I was old enough to have a paper route.  ANYWAYS.

What I know to be true is this...goals takes time.  Plastic surgery we have to heal, actually first we have to save the money.  Followed by take time off work, then the surgery and finally healing time.  Weight loss is similar.  If you want to lose 10 pounds, I am going say give it two weeks and here is the detailed plan.  There are no short cuts or overnight success stories in fitness and nutrition.

That said, in less than 2 hours I can change your life.  Sure that may seem like a stretch.  But I have found this statement to be more true than not.  A "bad hair day" turns into being a "bad day".  This phrase hit in the 80's.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  Bad Hair Day hats, t-shirts, websites...

I have never NOT had hair extensions.  I actually don't own photos nor have I taken a photo (for that matter) of myself without hair extensions.  Call it what you will.  I am honest in my lack of confidence with out some type of extension.  I have had and worn it all.  Weaves, wigs, clip-ons, synthetic bang pieces(huge mistake), wrap around pony's and last but not least...used to make my own fusion hair extensions from bulk hair.  Why?  Because I have hair of a little girl.  My pony tail resembles a 3 year old.  Cute on a little girl, not so cute on a 30 something (ok almost 40) year old.  The good news of this is...I can relate.

When a female calls, visits or emails and shares her challenges, I instantly want to be the one to give her what God didn't.  A Good head of hair!  I joke and say that God couldn't' give me this wowing personality and a good head of hair at the same time because it wouldn't be fair to others.  This always makes me feel better when I see a gorgeous Brazilian lady walking down the street wearing a size 0 pant and has a full head of gorgeous hair!  SO unfair.  Why her?  How come she has the Victoria Secret hair without the clip-ins that the Victoria Secret models wear to get that hair?!

Ok back to the point...

Once I have provided her with the perfect set of Tresses, blended, cut and styled her hair; she now has volume, length and the hair she always dreamed of.  She will walk taller, look and feel younger and have a sense about herself that she didn't have before.  Her stress level is minimized and so are the hours she used to spend trying to get ready every day.  Trying to manipulate thin fine hair to do "something"/"anything" is a challenge.  I have seen the transition with with my own eyes.  Phone calls, emails and testimonials back up what I am sharing.  The key is selecting the right technique, texture of hair and placement of extensions.  Of course always protecting the integrity of the clients hair first and foremost.

Having a good head on my shoulders simply is the new way of turning something negative into a positive. Bad hair days are a thing of the past.  We all should have a good head on OUR shoulders.  And by that I mean, we all deserve a good head of hair.

Moving on Up

I often wonder if cloning is a bad thing?!  Of course I am joking.  However, the success of Studio She is fueled by this brain and these two hands/legs.

Our education program teaches the importance of Blogging.  I have experienced phone calls from blogs I wrote 5 years ago.  Those were the days, when I had adequate time to blog about hair, after care products, extensions, fad diets...

None the less.  Big things have been happening and it will take me a few months to get this blog up to par!  However, I truly feel blessed for the opportunity to share and empower women who possibly need a little pick me up.

Fast track thru 2011... We have partnered with Hello Gorgeous of HOPE!.

A non profit that selectively joins a kindred-like sister hood/salon with passion to help women feel better during a challenging time in their lives.  Letters are written in by family and loved ones.  The nomination letters detail the type of Cancer and some basic information.  This "Day of Beauty" is truly about celebrating her and her amazing strength.  The goal is to do a complete make-over so that she looks and feels great!

Basically, we shut the salon down for half a day.  The Nominee has no idea what is in store for her.    We turn the salon into a swanky spa.  Roll out the Red Carpet, light candles, chocolates hand crafted from "A Perfect Truffle", massage (for some), facial, new outfit, hair and make-up. A welcome committee awaits her arrival with flowers and balloons.  I even wear a be-dazzled shirt!  (Which, if you knew me, this is not typical of my daily jeans and chucks attire.)

She is then swept away in a limo and taken to our local favorite Italian Restaurant.  It has been more than amazing and I look forward to sharing those experiences.  Further, I will link those blogs to some of the ladies who have been an integral part of making these "Days of Beauty" a huge success.  Our next one in in a few weeks and man-oh-man is she in for a surprise.

I also started the new year with a nice fancy framed award!  National Association of Professional Women has honored me "Woman of the Year".

At first, it stayed in my office....in the original box.  Slowly it made its way into the front of the salon and now somehow I have managed to put it in the quiet area of the salon.  I am honored and humbled.  I often get teased as to why I don't hang it by my station (where I spend long days @ Studio She).  At the end of the day, I give from my heart.  Receiving such an award is like a huge pat on the back OR a possible big hug when I need one.

There is so much more to share...but then again...I truly don't think I could ever run out of things to say when it directly associates my love and passion for my career.

Hair Gone Wrong! Hair Extensions drama

Recently I met someone who "appeared" to have great extensions.

As a salon owner/Platinum Extensionist, I was interested in finding out more about her stylist and the method/product used. I was also in desperate need of someone to actually do my hair, that I trusted.

I announced my name to the salon and booked an apt. I was eager to have my own hair done and hopefully, if this was a good thing, have something new to offer at Studio She. I am all about working together - there are enough women who want "good hair days" and I love to share my passion with other stylists.

I drove 2.5 hours to the destination. Finally, I thought I had found someone who has shares the same JOY for extending hair. I was elated to have someone pamper me because usually it is the other way around. Excited to finally have someone do my hair!

4 weeks later - I have spent a little less than $1000.00 and I am totally not satisfied. The hair I am wearing is probably from China. All the silicone that the hair was soaked in has come off, which has led me with hair that knots easy and feels awful. The color matching was less than perfect.

My point is this...there are so many salons out there that claim great reviews. But at the end of the day, when it comes to good hair extensions you have to do your research. The stylist told me that I could re-use this hair - her placement was amazing but what good is placement if the hair is bad quality?

It just makes me wonder - clients - are to make happy and to continue to bring them back over and over again. Trust is a huge word, especially when spending money!

Get to know your stylist and ask for testimonials.

Even though I am a stylist, I still sit in the same "client" chair and I understand the feeling of being let down when it comes to wasting money on something I really wanted. Not to mention - it is just another company that doesn't get the "seal of approval".

Studio She offers FREE CUTS in Effort to Benefit Locks of Love

For Immediate Release
Studio She 240-329-6163
Local Group Efforts Benefit Locks Of Love
Maryland’s boutique salon, Studio She, in Frederick, MD offers Free Cuts to all who donate 10+ inches of hair to Locks of Love.
This event will benefit Locks of Love, a public non-profit organization that provides vacuum fitted hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-tem medical hair loss from any diagnosis. They meet a unique need for children by using donated human hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. Others have suffered severe burns or injuries or endured radiation treatment to the brain stem or other dematological conditions that result in permanent hair loss. The vacuum fit is designed for children who have experienced a total loss of scalp hair and does not require the use of tape or glue. The prostheses they provide help to restore self-esteem and confidence, enabling these children to face the world and their peers.
The organization which began operation in 1998, provides the prostheses to children, ages 6-18, every 18 months for a total of up to 8 hairpieces. These hairpieces require between 6-10 ponytails and take approximately 4-6 months to manufacture. Thousands of bundles of donated hair arrived as a result of national publicity that Locks of Love receives in newspapers, magazines, and televisions programs. It is estimated that children comprise over 80 percent of the donors, making this charity where children have an opportunity to help children.

Donated hair is evaluated for its usefulness according to the following guidelines:
-it must be at least 10”, clean and dry
-it must be bundled in a ponytail or a braid
-bleached hair cannot be used
-hair that has been dyed or permed can be used

Monetary donations to Locks of Love are tax deductible

Strand by Strand Hair Extensions

Strand by Strand So.Cap Hair Extensions

Transform a bad hair day with confidence. Strand by Strand So.Cap Hair Extensions add volume and length and are also fade resistant. With 90+ colors to work with, color matching is perfect!

The hair you have always dreamed of is absolutely possible. Strand by Strand Hair Extensions are undetectable and allow you to wear your hair up or down. Styling with strand by strand extensions is absolutely a huge time saver. The extensions hold curl longer than our own hair, which makes gorgeous curls possible with holding power!

So.Cap Hair Extensions are 100% Remy human hair (the cuticle is going in the same direction). This is very important, as typically lower grade extensions that tangle are usually not Remy and after a few weeks typically look and feel like a “hot mess”. The bond is pre-dipped in keratin (protein) which is then warm or cold fused to the hair cuticle. Unlike competitors, So.Cap has zero polymer in the bond which helps with minimal damage and long lasting extensions.

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So.Cap extensions are not re-usable and are taken out with a professional remover solution and tool. Damage can be done during this process so it is very important that it is done by a Certified So.Cap Extensionist.
Protecting your investment is vital. Using So.Cap 4 U products is important to care for your extensions.