Five Golden Rules for Hair

Part 12 in a series by Karen A. Stevenson, President, Studio K Salon

Choppy and messy, smooth and sleek, what’s a girl to do with her hair?  I recently had an attractive middle-aged woman sitting in my hair chair, with a hairstyle that did just about everything opposite from what she should wear.  She had a rounded face, extremely thick and wavy hair, it was below shoulder length.   She was attempting to grow out her bangs thus wearing a rather large barrette to the left side to keep them from falling in her face.  Her hair color had drained her natural complexion, and caused her to wear make-up that was not fitting for her complexion, rather to try to blend her make-up with her hair.  

Thankfully, she was open minded enough to allow me to create a hairstyle for her that was much more appropriate.  Some women don’t realize there are rules to hair. 

Many women have a misconception that perms are still necessary to give an illusion of thicker hair, or have the idea that without a perm, their hair will do nothing.  With the massive selection of styling products on the market, there is absolutely no reason to have a perm.  Perms do create a soft curl look, if worn dried naturally, and then using some freeze-curl product to detail them in, however, aside from that particular look, styling products have taken over the need for perm-thus-ease of styling hair.  There are mousses, hair thickening products, root lift products, after styling products that separate hair, molding products and all these things are sold for one purpose, to finish hair.

What we at the salon tend to call ‘fun hair’ are hairstyles that are not rigid, nor put together too tightly, freedom of movement, are slightly messy, possibly more choppy, are extremely easy to style using a blow dryer and a round brush and fingers.  The rest is left to the styling products.  Sleek looks are just as easy to achieve, if you just use a flat brush, or vent brush.  Hair should not be placed in an arguing situation with the person wearing it.  It should be easy, care-free, fun,  still professional and sexy.

After convincing my client with the growing-out thick hair, that she should return to layers, she allowed me to remove all heaviness from the bottom six or so inches by razor cutting out the bulk.     We then colored her hair to a more beautiful and much more complimentary, richer deep auburn, highlighting to frame the face with foils just around the top and sides during the color process, some beautiful wispy bangs framing her face that angled to give her a look of height, she left the salon feeling much more confident, much freer that she didn’t need to fight her hair on a daily basis, felt thinner in her face, because the bulk was removed.  The response she got from her friends and co-workers was remarkable. 

Sometimes we just get lost in our hairstyle and either ignore the frumpy feeling, or it sneaks up and bites us when we least expect it.  If you find yourself staring in the mirror with frustration, or have lost that “I feel good” edge, it may be time to think of a new hair cut or color.

Allow your hair stylist the freedom to suggest alternative styles.  Let them be creative with your looks and see what they think.  You may be glad you did!