Hair trends in 2016 are best described as “effortless!’ Whether worn short, bobbed or long, embrace your natural texture. Waves are a big hit on mid-length to long hair, they are loose and tousled with unfinished ends. Layers, Layers, and more layers help create volume and are a must for long hair. Wand curl irons are a must have to create the effortless wave. Pixie and cropped short hair styles, with or without bangs, are hotter than ever for all ages. Soft bangs can be better than Botox to frame the face and cover forehead furrows. The “lob” (long bob) is a must do, do! Celebs like Jennifer Lawrence, Jennifer Anniston and Jennifer Lopez are donning the loosely curled “lob.”
Lob “long bob” in purple with loose ends
Healthy and shiny hair is easily attained with the use of keratin protein relaxers, and high quality hair products that promote luster. Exotic oils, such as Abyssinica, Monoi and Argan are topically applied to hair and scalp. These oils are a natural way to help hair to grow and keep it moisturized. Exotic and essential oils are applied as pre shampoo treatment to boost shine, kept in hair overnight for moisturizing and treating a winter dry scalp, or as a leave in product for taming unruly and/or dry hair.
Exotic Oils in Hair Growth Elixir
Hair extensions for volume and length are a women’s best kept secret. Not everyone is blessed with dream hair, therefore hair extensions fill in the gaps. Hair extensions are made to be tension free and flow with hair. Some hair extensions are applied for months or others can be take on and off. As with any service to your hair, consult with a professional salon and do your research prior to deciding to take the leap.
Hair extensions with balayage color
Hair Color follows the effortless theme, it is all about roots in the hair! Blonde hair is natural with soft golden hues and with a touch of root. Brown and dark hair is softly painted using a balayage (hand painted hair) technique which creates the effect of the natural sunlight on hair. Fun colors from vivid purple to pastel pink are amazingly popular, also with roots that create a “sombre” (subtle ombre look) which transitions from dark to light. Reds are imaginative and exciting with copper or blue violet undertones. Metallic shades are a hit for 2016, platinum blonde, gunmetal, silver and gold are in demand.
The new year rings in a vibe of self acceptance, your hair should suit your own unique style.
In my experience, as a salon owner that happens to be addicted to natural oils, I find that my clients are not using coconut oil properly. Firstly, I prefer virgin coconut oil and use it as a pre-wash, your hair will not be oily and this treatment allows for the best result. Coconut oil is extremely affordable, attainable, and has both antibacterial and moisturizing benefits for the scalp and hair. Coconut oil is the ultimate hair moisturizer and it is a penetrating oil, thus applying to dry hair will allow it to penetrate into the hair shaft and help heal a fractured hair cuticle. If applied when wet, you have watered down it’s potency.
Coconut oil will keep your hair healthy and enhance your color.
How to pre-wash?
On “dry” hair, massage a small amount of virgin coconut oil to hair starting from the bottom to the scalp. I do not overload the scalp with coconut oil, but a little bit massaged into scalp will help keep your hair free of bacteria and fungus. You need to play with the amount of coconut oil you apply, it is best to just coat the strands. I then use a wide tooth comb to distribute the oil evenly.
How long to keep it in?
This varies based on the thickness of your hair, the health of your hair, and time restraints. Some prefer to leave in 10 minutes, 2 hours and overnight. The dryer the hair, the longer the coconut oil can stay in.
Heat or no heat?
Every so often on dry hair, after applying the virgin coconut oil, wrap a damp hot towel around your head. This will allow the porosity of your hair to equalize and allow better oil penetration. I love moist heat over dry heat, and it will keep your hair supple.
How often?
There is such thing as too much of a good thing, coconut oil contains triglycerides which can not only clog the heart’s arteries, but also your hair cuticle. Using a coconut oil pre-wash too often, may cause your hair to become brittle having the opposite effect on what you are trying to achieve.
How often really depends on the state of your hair. I suggest one pre-wash per week on extremely dry, damaged and over processed hair. Bi-weekly or monthly on healthier hair.
How to wash after pre-wash?
Now that your hair is moisturized, it is senseless to shampoo more than once or use a volumizing shampoo that strips the hair cuticle. Instead, use a hydrating shampoo, dilute your shampoo with water or just condition. This will vary based on the thickness of your hair.
Virgin Coconut Oil is my first choice
Some do not suggest using a pre-wash before coloring your hair, I find that it can help the integrity of the hair. I most certainly suggest using a pre-wash before chemical relaxing and straightening except for keratin treatments.
Hydrated hair leads to shiny and healthy hair. So next time you feel compelled to just dump coconut oil in your shampoo, try this technique, your hair will LOVE you for it!
Disclaimer: I am a hair salon owner with extensive knowledge in hair loss
I purchased Ovation Cell Therapy to test the product, most would consider the system to be quite costly. I found no real positive changes to my hair. If anything, my hair felt a bit brittle. After researching, I found a mixed bag of reviews; 50% like the regiment and the other 50% absolutely hated it. There are claims that peoples hair has fallen out and is very unmanageable. There is a thickening agent in the product that binds to the hair follicle, but overtime the buildup of this agent can lead to hair feeling brittle and dry. By the way, there are no cells in this product – i.e. stem cells.
Sicilian Blood Orange Oil
Hair, like any organ system in the body, is determined by genetics. Of course, there are outside factors such as chemical processes, excessive heat , and medication that damage hair. Also, your hair is only as healthy as you are, factors such as diet, lifestyle and your overall health effect your hair in a positive or negative way.
As a hairstylist that specializes in hair loss due to a myriad of reasons; I found my Mother’s ancient Hair Growth Elixir (passed down from generations) really helps to improve the health of the scalp and hair. This recipe has been used by Mediterranean women/men for centuries and in Egypt over 5000 thousand years ago, long before the days of chemicals, etc. The elixir is a perfect blend of essential oils and carrier oils that have known hair growth properties. How does this work? these pure natural essential oils stimulate blood circulation to the hair follicles, healthy scalp = healthy hair. The blend has to be precise and too many essential oils mixed together can be toxic. One of my favorite essential oils is Sicilian Blood Orange oil, mixed with proper carrier oils, it makes your hair feel like silk! As a little girl, my mother would massage these oils into my hair, as well as her own hair for at least 5 minutes per week. I then massaged them into my son’s hair and nieces’ hair and wow did their hair grow! My mother still uses these oils, as I do, and she does not have one gray hair, I will not mention her age. I have conducted test studies on my salon clients and those who followed the massage routine with the Hair Growth Elixir, and they sprouted new hair! This regiment has also worked on men with thinning hair.
Girl on the right is my niece. Her hair is long and strong. She has been using the family hair growth elixir
I personally would prefer to use essential oils vs. products that contain chemicals that give the illusion of healthy hair. I did omit a few oils on children which I believe to be dangerous, one being rosemary oil. I also do not recommend the use of essential oils when pregnant or breastfeeding.
In closing, if the hair follicle is no longer producing hair, in the case of male/female pattern baldness, I have yet to find a product or system that will regrow hair. Feel free to comment and ask questions.
There are certainly differences in hair quality in the hair extensions market, but unfortunately there is no way to really tell the source of the hair you are purchasing. It is important to be educated as to the terms tossed around in the industry. One being “Virgin Hair,” this is exclusively unprocessed hair free of color and chemicals, and it pretty much exists in dark colors. In some cases, if you can find hair from an Eastern European country that is lighter in shade and unprocessed, then it can be deemed “virgin hair!” Or you may find your own donor, with light hair, that will cut off their hair and give it to you, slim pickings!
This is the lightest shade of virgin hair I could find for hair extensions
Therefore, most hair is processed and can be offered in a variety of consistent colors and textures. But, not all hair extensions are created equal! The key is to find a reliable supplier that offers hair of “Virgin Origin.” One might think all hair is from a virgin origin, but it is not. Inferior hair comes from brushes, floors of a hair factory and is pieced together to create tracks of hair extensions and sold for a discounted price. This hair is not adequate for long time wear, lacks luster and the ends are generally stringy and unattractive.
High quality hair extensions from a Virgin Origin at Noelle Salon
Hair extensions from a virgin origin, albeit processed, comes directly from the donor and the cuticle is intact and lays in one direction. Hence the term “Remy” which simply means the cuticle is laying in one direction and does not tangle easily. Keep in mind, a supervising agency for hair does not exist, and that is why it is important to ask for samples and simply touch the hair. It should not feel too silky because it is then treated with too much silicone and once that is washed off – disaster can strike. The hair should feel plush, and the ends should slightly taper. Ultimately, you get what you pay for, and my next article will be on the different countries hair extensions come from. Feel free to ask questions and comment.
There are many color techniques and my clients are getting a bit confused. Ombre hair color has been in existence for over a decade, first seen on Sex in the City. Since then, color gradation (light/dark, dark/light or mix of all) has donned the crowns of many celebs. One of my favorites is color melting, and I love the fact that you can have darker roots to lighter ends or lighter roots to darker ends and everything in between.
3 shade color melta less dramatic take on color melting
We achieve color melting by using the Balayage technique which is basically free hand painted hair color. It is not as easy as it looks and keeping the color from mixing together requires an expert hand and technique. Color melting can include fun colors from lavender to electric blue or with natural tones.
lavender roots to electric blue
Unlike, Ombre or Sombre (subtle ombre) color melting involves 3 to 4 shades of color and it is not as drastic as ombre. Color melting is mesmerizing to the eye! It is important to ask for a free consultation before coloring your hair. Keep in mind, if you have color in your hair, you may have to do a color remover. Some fun shades need to be pre-lightened to appreciate the color. Color melting allows you to make a statement with your hair color – enjoy!
After much research developing my own line of hair products, I interviewed some heavy hitters in the shampoo biz, most agree that “Sulfate Free Shampoos” are free of 1 out of 3 sulfates that have been commonly used for decades. Most also agree, that there is not much difference between a drug store shampoo to a luxury salon shampoo. This is disheartening, but during my research I discovered that sulfate and sulfate free shampoo’s which are both considered “surfactants” are a mixture of water and oil that separate dirt from skin and hair. Essentially all shampoo contains detergent because the objective is to cleanse your hair.
What is sulfate free shampoo
The new “sulfate free shampoo” contain detergent, but in place of some of the harsher detergents such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, a milder degreaser such as Disodium laureth sulfosuccinate is replaced . There are many other compounds that replace the harsher detergents in sulfates, but essentially there job is to cleanse your hair. It is important to remove oil build up without stripping color and leaving your hair dry.
Noelle Salon Brand
In conclusion, sulfate free shampoos are a milder form of shampoo containing sulfates, but the difference is not necessarily tremendous and, they too, can leave your hair dry etc. There are cleansing conditioners which contain some essential oils that help to clean the hair, but it will never be very clean. The flip side is that they can clog the hair follicle which can lead to thinning hair.
My best advice is to test shampoos, and see how your hair reacts to them. If your hair and scalp is dry, what is known as a “sulfate free shampoo” may work best for you. Although, I have many clients that like the suds, and volume they receive from shampoos containing sulfates. In the end, they all have one purpose, and that is to cleanse the hair.
For years I have been working with women with hair loss, and it is devastating. About 5 years ago, I decided to embark on a journey using my knowledge of essential oils and combining that with a recipe my mom used from Italy. Essential oils have been used for thousands of years, they’re even in the bible. I then tested my Hair Growth Elixir on my clients with hair loss, and within months their hair started to grow. I even shared the recipe online and received over 1,000,000 hits, as well as positive feedback. There are many hair growth products promising unrealistic outcomes, and most contain Rogaine. The problem with Rogaine is it has side effects, is not all natural and once you stop using it your hair loss will return.
Exclusive hair growth elixir developed by Noelle Salon
This Hair Growth Elixir contains the perfect combination of carrier oil with known hair growth essential oils such as Rosemary, Bergamont and Sicilian Blood Orange. It works best on temporary hair loss, such as alopecia, trichotillomania (hair pulling), medical and menopausal issue, and it even works on men! I have found that it has only worked on a few cases of male/female pattern baldness. Unfortunately if the hair follicle is not producing hair because it is dead, then nothing works. I can tell you that I do not see much success with clients that have hair transplants! They spend thousands, and cross their fingers that their donor hair will sprout new hair. Also, hair transplants are painful, and cause scarring.
When I embarked on the journey of testing my Hair Growth Elixir, I enlisted many clients and they all are impressed that they have new hair growth, healthier and manageable hair. My best advice is to use the Elixir twice a weekly after shampooing on towel dried hair. You just add a little to hair loss areas and massage for 3 to 5 minutes, the massage works the oils into the scalp and increases blood circulation to hair follicles. Below is a picture of my clients who experienced hair growth after 2 months, she is elated. For more details comment below! Please check out our facebook page with updated pictures https://www.facebook.com/NoelleSalon?fref=ts
client experienced hair loss from surgery, and she uses our product faithfully twice a week.
Remember healthy hair also comes from within, drink lots of water, eat protein, and keep your diet clean.
Salons increase revenue with the transgender community.
Working with the transgender community, in particular trans women, has been one of the best experiences in my career. There is a large community of trans women that are looking for salons that are open-minded that will cater to their unique needs. I offer a wide variety of wigs, hair pieces, hair extensions as well as makeup, nails and makeup lessons.
Beautiful Transgender Model
You will find the transgender community to be a loyal one, very welcoming and open for suggestions. Offering a private area for services is also a good idea for those who choose privacy. These group of women have become my friends over time, and we have forged strong relationships. Getting involved in local community events is also an easy way to meet new faces. I have worked with trans women and trans girls from the ages of 8 (accompanied by parents) to 70, and it does my heart good. Recently, I have worked with feminization techniques and wardrobe selection.
It is gratifying to help transform someone who appreciates your creativity and ideas. Along the way, as a “GG” (genetic girl) I have learned some awesome beauty tricks. Makeup is a must, and learning the string, temporary facelift is quite helpful. Becoming a transgender friendly salon has afforded me the opportunity to speak on behalf of my clients in the news and other media outlets.
I strongly recommend adding “Transgender Friendly” to your menu of services, it is great for your soul and will increase revenues to your salon. Please comment and share your experiences.
Metallic hair color for fall is the latest trend in hair color, women are stepping away from vivid hair colors and keeping color bold and unique. Metallic hair color can range in tone from blonde hair to dark hair and can applied as a one process to highlights and ombre.
In most cases, hair will have to be pre-lightened and we use a product called Olaplex which is an additive to keep your hair healthy. We then add the color of choice, and metallic colors are for those who want to walk on the wild side.
Below are pictures that may inspire you.
Vibrant Copper Penny Hair will sure to get your noticedSilver steel a few notes darker than platinum blonde. Dazzling Add some dimension to your blonde hair with soft liquid gold.Gunmetal is literally a cool color for those who have darker hair.Bronze Metal compliments most skin tones and best for those who favor warm hair tones.A perfect combination gold and brown hairCool toned blonde is always in style
My best advice is to seek a free consultation prior to going for one of these looks. Match the color to skin tone, makeup preference and try on a wig! Ladies give it a whirl.
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