Stylist Spotlight: Vincent Lann

Salon Name & Location: Freelance and Alibi salon 67 Greene St, Suite #2, New York, NY 10012

Website: www.vincent-lann.com

How and why did you get into the industry?I’ve always known that I wanted a career that was hands on and creative, and hair really seems like a no brainer since the industry is ever evolving and the creativity is endless.
What is your favorite part about being a stylist?
I love being able to bring out the inner beauty that is within all of us and of course pushing the creative boundaries of hair.
Who are your beauty idols?
I have many idols, from iconic beauties like Bridget Bardo & Farah Fawcett to current idols like Madonna & Lady Gaga.
Where do you get your hair & beauty inspiration from?
From runways, fashion magazines and even people-watching.
What is your Drug Store beauty secret?
Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser!
What beauty product or service do you splurge on?
A nice relaxing deep tissue massage.

How do you feel about the DIY revolution & how has it affected your business?
I think it’s great because women are taking more interest and care in their daily hair routine and they are willing to try out new styles whether it is in a salon or at home! 
What hair myth do you want to put to rest?
That you shouldn’t wash your hair everyday because it’s bad for your hair. Everyone is different and unique in their own ways and if you are like me you will wash your hair at least once if not twice in day because of an oily scalp! Just remember to brush your hair with a natural boar bristle brush before washing your hair because your natural oil is one of the best things for your hair.

Do you prefer your clients to bring in pictures of how they want their hair cut/dyed/styled?

I wouldn’t say it’s necessary, but having a visual reference that can help pinpoint what your client likes about the picture is great, especially for first-time client. That way you get a better sense of who your client is and what they are trying to accomplished.
Who does YOUR hair?
I bounce around a lot because I haven’t found my dream stylist, but I doubt I will because I’m a stylist myself so I tend to be a little critical.
What hair trends are popular right now?Sleek hair with textured ends. It’s the new beach waves.
What hair trend are you tired of?
Badly done creative color ombre. If you are going to be creative, make sure that the ombre will suit your skin tone and style, because the last thing you want is for your creative ombre to be well... too creative.
What do you think is the next big trend in hair?
Braids! They are so versatile and with summer around the corner you’ll be sure to see them everywhere.
How has advanced consumer knowledge affected your business?
I’ve always educated my clients about their hair and what they need, and I think it’s great that consumers are able to find out more information about what they are putting in and doing to their own hair, because the more you know, the better.
What is your favorite amika product or tool and why?
My favorite amika tool would have to be the Five Barrel Curler, because with 5 interchangeable pieces you could create a variety of different sizes, curls or waves, and from there the sky's the limit!

ProTip: If your hair tends to fall flat after styling, this will be a great 5 second fix that will give your hair a quick boost of volume. All you have to do is to spray some Amika touchable hairspray onto the palms of your hands and with your fingers spread, reach into your hair from underneath and massage the hairspray onto the scalp, giving the root a nice boost of va va voom.

Stylist Spotlight: Naeemah LaFond

Salon Name & Location: amika (NY, NY) – National Pro Education Manager 

How and why did you get into the industry? I began my career doing session styling, and as a creative soul I fell in love with the art. My favorite part of being involved in the education process is that I get to be surrounded by fellow stylists where I can inspire and be inspired. 

What is your favorite part about being a stylist? The creativity 

Who are your beauty idols? Charlize Theron and Beyonce

Where do you get your hair & beauty inspiration from? The Red Carpet & the runways

What is your Drug Store beauty secret? St.Ives Apricot Scrub

What beauty product or service do you splurge on? I’m a spa junkie. I once went to a spa in Iceland and got a facial in a hot lagoon over-looking the mountains. I’ve been having a great time trying to top that experience ever since. 

How do you feel about the DIY revolution & how has it affected your business? DIY’s are a great way for clients to look amazing between salon visits. However, there is nothing better than having your hair professionally styled and getting the expert advice of a trained stylist.
What hair myth do you want to put to rest? Greasy hair. There is no such thing…it’s your scalp that is greasy. If you have that issue, you want to look for hair products that treat the scalp as well as the hair.

Do you prefer your clients to bring in pictures of how they want their hair cut/dyed/styled? Pictures ensure that both the stylist and the client are on the same page.

Who does YOUR hair? I do my own hair. I’m not the best client. It’s like cooking for a chef….too much feedback. 

What hair trends are popular right now? Retro Waves….they were all over the golden globes.

What hair trend are you tired of? Pastel Colored Hair

What do you think is the next big trend in hair? Updos. People are doing a lot more interesting things with their hair now with DIYs and social media image sharing being so popular. 

How has advanced consumer knowledge affected your business? I get to be more creative with the classes that I teach. Salon clients want the most current and unique looks, therefore, stylists are reaching out for more advanced training and on-trend styling classes to keep up with the demands.   

What is your favorite amika product or tool and why? My favorite amika product is the Digital Titanium Clip Free Curler. It’s the perfect size for beachy waves and messy chignons.

ProTip:

-A quarter size amount of the leave-in cream cocktailed with a dime sized amount of the oil treatment is the perfect remedy for parched curls.

-We’ve heard before that updos last longer on hair that is a little bit dirty. However, if you are prone to oily roots you can spray some perk up dry shampoo into your roots before your updo (especially at the hairline) so that your hair looks fresh but still has staying power.

Halloween Hair: "Pumpkin Hair Mask"

After all of the Halloween fun has been had, you'll be left with hair that is in serious need of some TLC. Being the hair junkies that we are, it's not the candy that we look forward to on Halloween. We prefer sweet treats of the all-natural hair conditioning persuasion, none being easier to find after Halloween than the pumpkin. Instead of throwing out your left over jack-o-lanterns or baking them into pies (you'll have plenty opportunity for that come Thanksgiving), revitalize your hair with this DIY Homemade Pumpkin Hair Mask recipe.

Pumpkin pros:  

• Vitamin-A an antioxidant that promotes scalp health.
• Vitamin-C which helps promote hair health and growth.
• Potassium which helps promote hair re-growth.
• Great for all hair types, especially dry/damaged hair.

Step 1 - Cook your pumpkin.

• Cut your pumpkin into small chunks and combine in a microwaves safe bowl with your preferred cooking oil. (Olive oil and vegetable oil are good choices). 
• Heat until pumpkin is cooked through evenly, and then mash into a paste.

Step 2 - Add plain yogurt. 

• The hair scientists at naturallycurly.com recommend yogurt because it's high in lactic acid and has natural antibacterial properties that cleanse hair, stimulating hair growth and preventing dandruff.
• The proteins in yogurt work to strengthen hair and smooth hair strands to reduce frizz. 

Step 3 - Add your favorite hair oil.

• amika Obliphica Oil Treatment contains oil from the sea buckthorn berry, a few added drops will work to enhance any deep-conditioning treatment.  

Step 4 - Add honey.

• A few teaspoons of honey will work as a natural humectant. It acts to bind water to the hair strands to retain moisture. 

*TIP* The positive ion setting on the amika Power Cloud Repair+Smooth Dryer will open up the hair cuticles, making it easier for the treatment to penetrate the hair strands.

Step 5 -  Apply the treatment, and cover with a plastic cap for 15min. Rinse thoroughly. 

Halloween Hair: "Wigging Out"

The reasons why wigs are such a Halloween hair staple is because you can find them in all lengths textures/colors, and if you can't find what you're looking for you can style a wig into whatever you want it to be! Yes, wigs can be somewhat intimidating if Halloween is the only time during the year when you actually wear one. As long as you know a few simply tricks for wearing it correctly, a wig can be the easiest way to completely change your hair without actually changing your hair.

1. Before you even put on your wig, prep your hair, so it's as flat to your actual head as possible. The best method is to wrap your hair, but braids or a pony (all depending on how much hair you have) can also work.

2. The most important thing about wearing a wig has to be, do NOT skip the stocking cap! It might not be the most glamorous looking thing before you actually put your wig on, but it does wonders for ensuring no rogue hairs escape form under your wig.

3. Lastly, those little combs and elastic bands hidden on the inside of the wig are there for a reason. Use them to keep your wig secured and in place. Loosing your wig, is NEVER a cute look.

Overall your goal is to not let your wig end up looking like Lindsey Wixson's does here. Having two hairlines tends to ruin the illusion :) 

Get "Your Body" like Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera almost made me late for work this morning! All be it not on purpose, of course :) I just couldn't tear myself away from the TV screen when the video for her new song "Your Body" was playing. Christina's "knocking-off" men in this video and looking fabulous while doing it! There's been a bit of buzz around Christina's hair ever since she took a dip in the dye a couple of months ago, but her colorful twists on retro curls and killer braids put this video on a whole other level! So this early morning burst of hair inspiration got us thinking... Hey, we can do that!

Christina's definitely got plenty of body going on in this video ;) her voluminous curly bob is one of our favorite looks. The only things that's tricky about recreating these curls, as you may have noticed, is that they're not all the same size. It makes sense when you think about it, the curls on the top of her head are bigger to add more volume, but become tighter and more defined toward the ends of her hair. We've got the necessary tools in our arsenal for this technique!

Get The Look: 

If you want the full on look, lavender color and all, we've got plenty of tips on hair color in our "Getting Colorific" post. Otherwise always start by applying a Heat Defense Serum. A good spritz of  Blow-Up Spray will add volume and texture. For creating the "big to small curls" the 5P Interchangeable Barrel Curler makes it easy to get curls from 19-32mm, with just one tool! Use a larger barrel at the top of the head, then create more defined curls towards the ends using a smaller barrel. 

Hint: 

If your hair is longer than bob length, try a "fob" (faux-bob). Add some tight curls to the lower back portion of your hair, then pin up the excess length to create the illusion of shorter hair. The hidden curls add volume. 

Watch Christina's video for "Your Body" and tell us which of her amazing hairstyles you're dying to try! 


(images, in descending order, via:) wetpaint.com, djmastersworldwide.com

The Halloween Hair Series

Remember Halloween of 2009, all the droves of Lady Gaga's "just dancing" in their unitards, disco bras, and over-sized hair bows? Now recall Halloween of 2010, when nearly everyone dawned a pink or blue wig, and had to clarify whether or not they were Nicki Minaj or Katy Perry. One thing is for sure, if you're going to impersonate any of these ladies, you better go all out, especially when it comes to the one feature that they're all infamous for, their hair. You don't have to be a hair-genius to pull off a good Halloween hair-do. Every Friday we're bringing you Halloween Hair inspired post on how to get the perfect hair for any Halloween costume!


xo
Quedah

Fashion Week S/S'13 Hair Trends

 It doesn't matter if you are sitting front row, styling hair backstage, walking the runway, or watching live on the internet, all fashion lovers ravenously consume all of the newest fashions during fashion week. It's a lot to digest, we know! But we've followed all the major fashion weeks (NYC, London, Milan, and Paris) and have compiled a list of the trends that we'll be seeing next season. And in our favorite fashionable category of course, hair!

Natural Texture 

Marni

Rebecca Minkoff

First for a reason, this is not only a trend but somewhat of a theme that seemed to encompass/inspire many of the other trends we saw on this seasons runways. We touched upon this concept in our post "Undone is the new Done-Up." What this trend is showing us is that hair doesn't need to be over-styled to look good, less can be more. Go ahead and let it get a bit wavy, let your ends curl a little. Embrace a bit of frizz and a few wispy fly-aways can be quite sexy. This is probably one of the easiest trends to rock, just let your hair air-dry and use your fingers to comb through some of your favorite styling product.

Side Parts

Michael Kors

Diane von Furstenberg

No wonder side parts were all over the runway this season, it happens to be one of the most flattering frames for all face shapes. Wear this simple accent with just about any hair style and instantly elevate the level of interest of your look. If every hairstyle could be summed up in one word, the side part would be like adding on a perfectly placed accent mark, there's just something about it that exudes an air of romantic elegance.

Center Parts 

Stella McCartney

Gucci

Now that we think about it, there may be a toss up between "Side Parts" and "Center Parts" for the biggest trend of the S/S'13 season. Ironically it's a battle between symmetry and asymmetry! Does it not seem that the center part makes a comeback every other decade? It epitomized the hippie-chic of the 70s, was a staple for the sugary-sweet 90's pop starlette, and here we are in 2010's and the center part is back with a vengeance! This trend is certainly inspired by the more natural/effortless theme that seemed to encompass all the hair trends on the runway this season. And if you pull it back in a pony... well, it doesn't get much easier than that!

Side-Swept Bangs 

Rodarte

Marc Jacobs

The blunt bang has been pushed to the side--literally. Side-swept bangs were one of the biggest trends to hit the runways this season. There were two distinctly different variations on this trend. One is a more traditional take on the side bangs, elegantly swept across the forehead. The other being an edgier sleeker look for which the hair is slicked completely to one side of the head. Don't have bangs? No worries! The great thing about this trend is you don't actually need bangs to pull it off. Often the hair is just styled to mimic the look of actual bangs.

Slicked Back 

Alberta Ferretti

Nanette Lepore

This trend is for the person who doesn't like to hide behind their hair. As a hair style it is the epitome of bold confidence because you're pushing all your hair back and really putting emphasis on your face and bone structure. The ultra-shiny rendition of this look was accompanied by a more voluminous, but just as sleek, version that included a low quiff. Make sure to stock up on hair gel before next season gets here!

Head Scarves 

DKNY

Diane von Furstenberg

All we have to say is THANK GOODNESS our go-to lazy day hair-do, the top-knot, is still on trend for next season! But it's been seriously upgraded with the edition of the head scarf. There are only so many ways you can wear a top-knot, but the edition of the head scarf makes this look totally customizable! So many different colors and prints, not to mention there are a slew of ways to go about wrapping your scarf to achieve an eclectic bunch of looks. And by no means is this look synonymous with the top-knot, it works just as well with your hair down. Honestly though, who saw this one coming... it just screams, ultra-cool.

Pops of Color 

Anna Sui

Vivienne Westwood

Hands down the most fun of all the trends we saw on the runway this season! We do recall a few scoffs when Kelly Osbourne revealed her lavender locks a while ago, well she's off somewhere saying "I told you so" this season. One of the most talked about shows of S/S'13 was Vivienne Westwood, who took retro hairdos and powdered them pastel. Anna Sui went neon, and model Chloe Noraggard's bold look during the Nicole Miller show turned out to be the most talked about hair of NYFW. The great thing about this trend is you can play with any shade you like, go hyper pigmented, or keep it subtle; you can't go wrong!

(images: via style.com, realbeauty.com, vogue.com)

Undone is the new "Done-Up"

Karen Walker SP'13

"Shhh please, with your silly little questions," was exactly what I thought when someone had the nerve to ask me, "Why do you do your hair, just to make it look like you didn't do your hair?" ...If you, like myself, neurotically followed all the runway looks from NYFW SP'13, the answer is no doubt quite obvious. Undone is the new done-up! 

Natural seemingly effortless hair flowed all over the runways at NYFW. There was clearly a lot of thought behind these undone tresses, all inspired by the concept that "less is more." Many of the looks seemed as though they didn't even require a tool to style... blasphemous, I know! Finger combing, natural texture, fly-aways, and (dare we say) even a bit of frizz were fully embraced at the latest edition of NYFW!

Donna Karan SP'13

Calvin Klein Collection SP'13

Proenza Schouler SP'13

And no this adorable head scarf is not just Lindsey Wixton's way of looking chic while getting her pre-runway primp on, this was the actual runway look for Marc by Marc Jacobs SP'13. Talk about, "Oh I just threw myself together (and ended up looking fabulous), no big deal."

xo Q!

(images via Style.com)