So...You Want to be a Blonde...

I get it! Inflation has us all taking a second look at what we can cut back on. And even though hair care is kinda important, we look at the possibility of shaving a bit from that particular service. Hair color is usually the first to go, because, hey! Can’t we just go to the grocery store and grab a color from the shelves and apply it ourselves; or maybe barter something with a friend to convince them to “just throw it on there.”

‘Tis true, some come out pretty dang good! I guarantee you, however, it’s just a luck of the draw. What most don’t realize, is you MUST consider what your natural (or chemically treated) hair brings to the table as part of the formula. One can’t just “like the color of the picture on the box,” and say, “This is the color I want…fingers crossed.” If you are adding the color to totally white hair, then yes, you should get close to the boxes hair color. If you have ANY pigment in your hair, be prepared to get a huge surprise. Oopsie…

TRUTH: The box has no way of knowing what your current hair color is, the texture of your hair, the condition of your hair. Do you? If you do, do you know how to apply the product to keep it from becoming muddy, or drab, looking? Do you know anything about what color cancels out another? The box can’t possibly know how long you should leave the product on, since the box can’t decide all of the above conditions of your hair.

For example: If you have dark hair, there is simply no way, with ANY color formula, that you can be a blonde, without first using a lightener. Bleach. Developers DO NOT bring lift to the party. The color does. Developers are used to open the cuticle of the hair at different speeds. Slow to fast. That’s it. Ugh! Science!

Sooooo…If you are a level 4/5 (brown) you cannot be a level 8/9 (blonde), without first lifting some of that dark pigment out and then using color to tone to the level you desire. If you try, the result will be a very warm, possibly very brassy, blonde. Or a bright orange red color. That would be fun. Right?

Save yourself some unwanted pain and the price of a corrective color. Put the box down.

If professional hair color just isn’t in your budget, maybe choose a more likely, more doable, close to your natural, hair color. And please don’t drag the color through to your ends if you’re just wanting to cover the regrowth. If it’s a first color on virgin hair (hair thats not been touched with chemicals), color the entire head, just follow directions.

If you need help with correcting what you end up with, you know where to find me.

Fun In The Sun...

Solutions to Swimmers Hair!
It's swim season, right??? All the salon talk is circling what to do with blonde hair damage, or blonde hair turning green. I'm going to now share a "Mary Emergency Hack" for blondes that are constantly in the pool and complain about the green in their hair.

HACK:
IF you are in-between salon visits, and it's really bad (hold tight, now), I'm going to recommend putting KETCHUP (yep, ketchup) on your hair. Mush it through & let it sit for 20 minutes. Rinse well, shampoo & condition.

WHY???
Ketchup takes out all of the copper that deposits in the hair after a few summer swims. You may never (ever) want to eat a cheeseburger again, but your hair will be looking blonde and fabulous.

There are a few things you can do to actually PREVENT the chlorine (& copper) from messing with your hair, and really, really, drying it out. No need to do them all everytime you head to the water. Just choose one, or two. Whatever you’ve got time for.

1) Rinse your hair in the shower BEFORE going into the pool.
2) Add a leave-in conditioner (liberally) to your hair BEFORE going into the pool.
3) Wear a swim cap while swimming.
4) Wash hair immediately after leaving the pool (okay. So that’s an after project)
5) Apply a hot oil treatment to your hair BEFORE going into the pool. It will seal the cuticle and prevent the chlorine from leaching onto the hair.

Fun in the sun need not be sacrificial...

Let's Talk About Thinning Hair

It has become the biggest topic in my salon, with female age ranges from 35 years to 60 years. There are so many reasons hair becomes thinner than what it was in our teen years, and even in our 20’s. If you feel something else is happening besides aging, speak with your family doctor. But the main cause is simply age. And here is why…

Just like the aging process in the rest of our body, our hair begins a decline in reproduction. We lose approximately 150-200 hairs per day. Yikes! I know that’s a pretty scary number, but if one only knew just how many hairs were actually coming out of the scalp, one would be amazed. Sorry, ladies and gents. It’s simply the truth of the matter. And I’m pretty sure you already know this. But just for the sake of making it obvious, let’s examine what happens as the years of becoming mature, do to our hair. To our reproductive cycle in the scalp.

1) Since the hair follicles are structures in the scalp and skin that help hair grow, as we age, the hair follicles start producing less pigment. This causes the hair to turn gray and the thickness we once enjoyed is now becoming thin. That is the number one reason for thinning hair. And graying hair…

2) Hair strands become smaller as less pigment is pumped to the strands. So the thick, coarse hair of a young adult eventually becomes thin, fine, light-colored hair. Many hair follicles just stop producing new hairs all-together. Men may start showing signs of baldness and/or gray by the time they are 30 years old. Yep. Tis true. I have a brother in law this happened to. He had a full head of jet black hair, married my sister, and in a matter of 10 years (or so), he had a full head of white hair. But that’s another story. 😉

3) Now, scientists have uncovered a new mechanism behind hair loss: When stem cells in hair follicles are damaged by age, they turn themselves into skin. Ever notice how wide that part of yours is getting? Over time, this happens to more and more stem cells, causing hair follicles to shrink and eventually disappear. Isn’t this exciting? Our follicles, that actually produced our luscious locks of hair, actually begin to disappear as we age. Doesn’t matter how thick of a mane we begin with, there will be death to some of our hair follicles. Others may not notice it, but we sure will.

The good news is that we can slow down this process, early on, by having good nutrition, which is essential for the growth and maintenance of healthy hair. Please read that again!

Even though other things can cause hair loss, aging is the main culprit. Aging, and mega stress. And because we like to play the blame game with everything, because, hey! It can’t be our own fault, we like to say “because of Covid, I’m losing my hair.” Disclaimer: That can actually be true, but it will come back within 3-4 months, unlike nature taking it’s pay with the death of the follicle.

So…since I’ve given you a bouquet of dead flowers, I’ll just let ya think about the futility of using a ton of hair growing products (nope, I don’t sell that stuff…it doesn’t work), in HOPE (that’s what they’re really selling), of bringing forth a new hair.

You’re beautiful anyway!!! No hair needed. Or…there are really great wigs that are worth the money, should it get so bad we can’t believe just how beautiful we are without hair. You will have to spend a buck (or a thousand) to get one that looks like it’s actually growing out of your head. But well worth it, if you’re as self conscious as I am.

Wishing you all things beautiful,

Mary

P.S. There are hair styles that can make it appear as though you have more hair than you actually do. Talk with me. Maybe you and I can come up with a plan to help you navigate to look your beautiful best!

What Every Hairstylist Wants You to Know

1) TIME is the most valuable of assets in the beauty industry. We sell time. Time with an experienced stylist is valuable in the sense that your time, and hair goals will be respected. In turn we appreciate you respecting our time by being on time, every time. If you are running late, please text that information, to see if a rebooking is necessary. Usually after 15 minutes late, you will need to rebook. Find out the salons policy on no-shows, late shows, and last minute cancellations, to keep from being charged for your appointment missed.

2) SHAMPOO? You don’t need to shampoo your hair before coming to the salon. Sure, if it’s been more than a couple of days, go ahead and wash. By not shampooing your hair, actually gives the hairstylist a chance to see how your hair normally lays before shampooing. Also, if your appointment is for hair color, the scalp won’t be extra sensitive and create a reaction to the color, IF your stylist uses harsh chemicals. My personal brand has the normal PH of virgin hair, and never causes a reaction.

3) CUTS? You can actually go up to 12 weeks between hair cuts, depending on how long your hair is. I mostly recommend 6-8 weeks between cuts. Still, it depends on the condition of your hair and what your hair goals are, concerning length.

4) TIPPING is always appreciated, but not expected. Some believe if a stylist is the owner, then no tip is needed. Not sure where that thinking comes from, because owners have all the expense of running the salon and keeping supplies on hand. Please understand we love all our clients! The ones who tip, and the ones who don’t. Without them, we wouldn’t have the good fortune of opening a salon to keep you looking your best. For those who do tip, we thank you all, and are so very grateful for you! Money charged for the actual service, goes to keeping the salon doors open (upkeep, rent or mortgage, professional products, tools of the trade, etc), to make sure any experience with us is nothing less than a great one. Also, continued education is a must, and that is (most of the time) very costly, whether we travel, or not. The tools we work with are not what you would find at any department store. They are created with the stylist in mind and are never cheaply made (most popular is made in Japan). We feel like doctors, where your hair is concerned, so we need professional tools. And, just like any business, we must have insurance, as well. The list is really quite lengthy. So, yes. we really appreciate the generosity of our clients, yet truly understand when it’s just not possible to add more to the ticket. Those who charge their worth, are not inexpensive.

5) TALKING while getting your hair cut is not a requirement. I love talking as much as the next guy, but it’s such a nicer experience if one is able to just relax and enjoy the time spent in the chair. I can only speak for my salon, because I’m a one woman show. It’s just me, and you, during your appointment. It’s a very relaxing space in which to create for you. Soft music plays in the background and a wall water fountain provides a sense of well being. Both are very soothing. If we are visiting while I’m cutting your hair, it’s next to impossible to get the lines needed because when the mouth opens and closes, it causes the head to bob, tilt, fall forward, and sometimes backwards. One rarely realizes that is happening. Your head needs to remain centered, unless I request otherwise. Leaning into the direction your hair is being pulled creates a shorter, and slightly tapered effect on that part of the hair. Therefore, the head should remain steadily centered, with little to no movement.

P.S.

You should always be able to have an honest and open conversation with your stylist. If you need extra time when you arrive for your appointment to ask questions, a quick note to the hair stylist, via text message, would be the way to go. Then we will be sure to address those concerns before getting into the actual designing of your hair style. Most seasoned stylists will ask every client, before hair design begins, how their hair has been since last visit and if any changes are needed. Every time, regardless of how many times a client has sat in their chair.

5 Ways to Experience Affordable Luxury

1) SPA DAY FROM HOME

You knew that was coming, didn’t you? Remember, we are talking “affordable” here. 😉Start the day without the alarm waking you. Instead gently wake to natural sunlight, stay away from your phone, and maybe add a bit of lemon to your water to help you stay energized and hydrated. Jump in the shower with your choice of Bella by Via Mercato soap. This hypoallergenic, antibacterial powerhouse will gently cleanse, moisturize and soften skin without clogging pores. Because these soaps are distilled for purity, they offer a luxurious lather that will leave skin dewy and soft. (Order yours today from the “Spa Products” tab above).

2) LUXURIOUS BUBBLE BATH

If it's been a long, stressful day and you need something to make it feel less like a weekday, fill the tub and soak your worries away. For the full effect, compliment your bath with French wine, macaroons, flowers, hand crafted bar soap, scented candles, and bath salts.

3) STAY IN BED

Sometimes it is okay to do nothing for an entire day. Allow yourself a day to rest and relax before your busy schedule starts again. Bring your breakfast to your bed, read magazines, watch your favorite, old movies (my go to actress is Audrey Hepburn or Meg Ryan), write in your journal, drink your coffee or tea, listen to a few albums--whatever it is you love doing.

4) KEEP ON HAND HAND CUT SOAPS CREATED IN PROVENCE

Luxury can be as simple as consistently using a product that is high quality and made with care. A Pre de Provence favorite is the Signature French Milled Soaps. So many scents to choose from that have all natural ingredients enriched with Shea Butter. The handcrafted soaps from Provence add a little luxury to any day. Order yours, today, from the “Spa Products” tab at the top of this page.

5) AND…LET’S NOT FORGET OUR MEN

Aromatic, warm and spicy in nature, No.63 is a classic expression of masculine fragrance with a peppery citrus top note rounded by woody cedarwood, juicy plum, and violet leaves that finish into an ambery base of leather and tobacco.

Finally, let's not forget that men deserve to be pampered too. A classic way for men to experience luxury is through a good shave. To many, shaving is an art. It's a way to get ready for the day and feel some relaxation and comfort in the process. Pre de Provence understands this and that's why they’ve composed an entire collection dedicated to that care and luxury that men need. Elements Salon now has a few of those products to get you started. Order from (you guessed it) the “Spa Products” at the top of this page. Please notice we now have the “Soap on A Rope” for the guys! No need to worry about it getting smooshy while hanging in the shower stall. It’s TRIPLE MILLED!