The Hair Whip (extended cut)

This silliness all started with James' hair getting way too long, and the resultant hair-whipping.
So after school yesterday we took him to the barbershop, and I requested that he do one last hair
whip to capture on video. Of course Evelyn had to get in on it too.  And then...
well, we got carried away.

Easy peasy, super pretty FISHTAIL BRAID...

It's hair tutorial time again!  Leah + I have a great new one for you...  

A gorgeous FISHTAIL braid!  

I love love love this pretty hairstyle, and I love even more that it's the kind of thing you can do yourself at home.  I'm excited to try this on Evelyn.  It's a really fun alternative to a basic braid.  It looks really complicated and intricate- but this took Leah less than 5 minutes.  Really!  And look at how it brings out the highlights in Kannyn's hair.  SO cool.  ♥

Leah's step-by-step, easy peasy instructions:

1. Brush hair into pony tail, this may be a low side pony or in the back.  * a side note: I'd like to point out that when doing this on oneself, it will be easier to do a side pony version, but by no means is it impossible to do it in the back.

2. Secure with clear elastic band and start by splitting the hair into two sections. 

3. Beginning on one side pull a small section of hair from underneath. Pull this section around and across to the opposite side. 

4. Repeat this process going down the divided pony tail until you reach the desired amount of hair braided.

5. Secure with the second clear elastic.

6. Gently tug on the braid if you would like a wider fishtail. 

7. Optional- If you desire a looser braid, cut the top clear elastic. 

Spray and TA-DA, you're done!!  :)

Kannyn's tunic - Free People, Trapeze Top

Leah's nail laquer - Butter London, Queen Vic

{Both available now at AMBIANCE}

Romantic Crown Braid... tutorial!

The lovely Leah was kind enough to collaborate with me on a GREAT hair tutorial earlier this week!  I'm really excited about this because it went so well, that we're already talking about the next one!  Personally, I can barely manage a decent ponytail- but Leah made this look like a breeze!  She and her friend Andi did such a beautiful job.  I really hope you enjoy!  ♥
*note - Ok, apparently I don't know how to count, since I have more steps than Leah. Aaand I guess I don't like the #8?!  Whaaat? It still works.

Leah's step-by-step guide:

You'll Need - A comb, bobby pins, 2 clear elastic bands, styling product (like a pomade or paste) + hairspray!

1. Comb hair  and part on side. You choose how deep you want the side part to go.

2. Create a diagonal part using a comb, ending the part just below the ear on the opposite side.

3. Begin an inverse braid. This is an upside down french braid. Taking the hair under instead of over allows the braid to "stand up". If this is too difficult, do a traditional french braid in it's place.

4. Taking hair only from the crown to incorporate into the braid continue the braid all the way down.

5. Secure with a clear elastic band.

6. Do the same thing on the opposite side.

7. Once braids are finished and secure, gently tug them apart, creating separation and a larger, more imperfect braid. You can be subtle about this or you can go big and really pull the braid apart.

8. Pull the braid around the back of the head just above the nape and secure with bobby pins just above the ear.

9 . Take braid from the opposite side and cross over the first braid, securing with bobby pins as you go. Remember to tuck in the loose ends of the tail of the braid!

10. Spray with hairspray.

YOU'RE DONE!  :)

Leah's bracelets/Andi's necklaces: Heather Gardner 

Denim Jacket: FREE PEOPLE 

Andi's floral top: FREE PEOPLE 

Leah's nail polish: Butter London "Trout Pout"
{all of the above available at AMBIANCE}

Super excited about...

I had such a great time today meeting Leah of Paradiso Per Due, and collaborating with her on an awesome hair tutorial!  Here's a sneak peek of Leah in action...  Isn't she the cutest?

She's also a ridiculously (fighting the urge to say ridonculously- losing the battle) good baker, and brought Caramel Sea Salt cookies + LAVENDER CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES to the shoot.  She's kinda my hero for that.  

Stay tuned for all things hair/braid/crown related later this week.  Thanks again, Leah!  
And a BIG thank you to Andi too, for letting me snap so many pictures in her face while Leah made her hair pretty.  ♥ 

SLO colorful...

You guys, I am L O V I N G all the pretty and 

fun hair colors people are rocking downtown lately...

and the great mix of people, styles, and ages doing it!  

These were all taken in just a half hour of strolling.

Pretty in pink.

Short shades of blue.

Mom teal hair action.

Pink ponytail.

Cobalt clip-ins.

Purple roots... Wha?  How?

Pinky-peachy fun.

Pink hair/purple pants sidewalk picnic!

This lady thought she could get away...  

but I spotted that blueberry do.

Oooh... magenta!  

{P.S. Isn't this girl gorgeous? She reminds me of Amy 

Winehouse when she was healthy and beautiful}

HAPPY WEEKEND, lovelies!!!  

Sock bun tutorial...

I FINALLY GET IT!

Every other sock bun tutorial I've seen has utterly confused me and resulted in a total hair disaster on the back of my head.  They might as well have been bird's nest tutorials.  But this one, is great!  YAY! Thanks for sending it over, mom.

Color me happy...

 I love the idea of fun pops of color in my hair, but I'm not 16 anymore... can I really get away with it?  

For the most part, I do and wear what I want without taking others' opinions into account...  but a few months ago I witnessed something that made me think twice.  I saw a girl with the hottest hot pink hair (which I loved), and a man walking by her said: "Oh geez!  What was SHE thinking?  Someone obviously doesn't own a mirror."  I thought: Really?!  People still feel that strongly about these things?  There's still a stigma that goes along with pink hair?  

So, yeah... I guess I kind of care.  I don't want people making comments like that about me behind my back.  Actually...  to be totally honest with you- I  really only care about Jeff's grandma or (worse) his dad  looking at me like I've lost my damn mind.  

But that doesn't mean I can't play around with color entirely, right? 

 I've been really keen to experiment with dip-dyed tips.  Candied pinks, deep turquoise, cobalt blues, and vibrant purples...  I was therefore, SO thrilled to find the Lawless & Lulu shop on etsy.  I'm obsessed with the fun clip-in colors.  These amazing extensions are available in any base shade, I ordered a base slightly lighter than my own hair to look very highlighted and streaky.  The panels can be customized in varying lengths and widths, in infinite colors, and styles like ombre, dip-dye, or full-color highlights.  They can even be done in variegated and rainbow shades.  SO ideal for someone like me who wants the option to enjoy color, swap it out at will, or take it out entirely.  

They're also priced really well, and I'm very happy with the quality too.  I've washed mine, styled them, and even let Evelyn borrow them (the ultimate test).  They still look great!  ♥

UPDATE: LAWLESSANDLULU is offering SLOmygosh readers FREE SHIPPING when you enter code: CORALSfriends at check-out.

AMAZING!!!

Footnote:  I'd like to thank my mother for tolerating my original hair color phase in the 90's.  And for allowing me the freedom to bounce around from pinks, to blues, to greens, to purples... while I matched my hair to my Doc Marten's.  And in case any of you ever find yourself in the following predicament; trust me when I tell you that the only thing strong enough to remove black hair dye from brand new white-washed wood trim- is platinum blonde hair dye.  Too bad we didn't have these clippies back then, right mama?  

My new skin/hair routine...

When I first tried out these products by New York apothecary Malin + Goetz,

I promised myself that if I didn't love love loooove them- I wouldn't share them with you.

You know, the whole nothing-nice-to-say/don't-say-anything, thing...

You guys, I am SHARING.  I am in love.  I am OBSESSED with M+G.

I'm a very routine-oriented toiletry person.  I need a regime.  When I find something that works, I stick with it.  I am crazy-loyal to my "products".  I guess what I'm getting at is that it's not like me to make a huge change like this- 

and yes, my old stuff worked, but the honest truth is...  this works SO. MUCH. BETTER.  

If I had to pick one word to describe these products it would be EFFECTIVE. 

I'm going to break it down for you by item:

M+G Peppermint Shampoo

It's thick, super concentrated, and really refreshing.  Even Jeff is into it!  It just feels SO good.  It makes my hair feel incredibly clean, residue-free, mineral-free, and soft.  

M+G Cilantro Conditioner

Somehow they've perfected the balance between weightless detangling and clean moisture.  Smells light and rinses easily.  Leaves my hair feeling super soft and bouncy.

M+G Grapefruit Face Cleanser

Also thick and concentrated, you need only a tiny amount, so it will last a long long time.  Cleans well, removes make up, but doesn't leave my skin feeling tight or stripped.  I love this stuff so much.  Eliminates the need for a toner, and prepares your skin beautifully for moisturizer.  I rinse with water only in the morning (no cleanser), and follow with moisturizer.  In the evening, I use this cleanser and follow with moisturizer again.  

M+G Detox Face Mask

Holy. Wow.  This is like a facial in a bottle.  I'm not even exaggerating.  Put it on, gently rub it in, and suddenly it "activates"!  The mask puffs up, bubbles, and goes to work.  It's a very quick treatment... about 5 minutes, and makes a huge, immediate difference.  The first time I did this- two friends stopped to tell me that my skin was "glowing"!  I now use this in place of my evening cleanser once a week.

M+G Vitamin E Face Moisturizer

If I had to pick one product that I simply could not live without... this would be it.  It feels so FRESH and comfortable!  I swear, it feels like this stuff is tapped from the fountain of youth.  I use it often, and it never feels heavy or greasy... just incredibly clean and dewy.  I can't get enough.

..................................................................................................................................................................

I'm so happy to let you in on these great products that have worked so well for me.  I hope you try them as well and enjoy the results!  Malin + Goetz includes 3 deluxe samples (of your choice) with every order.

Special THANK YOU to Malin + Goetz!!!

Salon-athon...

Do you guys have a favorite salon?  

Most women do.  I'm a bit of a vagrant where hair salons and stylists are concerned...  up until this past year, I had yet to visit the same stylist more than two or three times.  It's difficult for me to explain my dissatisfaction without seeming particularly difficult or fussy- which I promise you, I'm not.  The truth is, I've really wanted to find a hair person to be loyal to.  I've wanted to be a regular somewhere.  And it's not for lack of branching out... here's a quick runoff of the local salons I've sampled:  Bluebird, Tigerlily, District 96, Studio 23, Ahshe, Salon Lux, Bladerunner, Hep Kat, Faces, and Bliss Spa.  

Feel free to take my opinion with a large grain of salt- as I've an abysmally inadequate understanding of the business of hair...  In my experience of the salons listed above, I've had some cuts that I was quite happy with, but never the one that was exactly what I had hoped for.  One of those turned me away when I had an appointment (twice), two made me cry, one stylist left me to smoke a cigarette in the middle of my appointment, and another cut off my necklace with a pair of scissors.  Really.  

The truth is, it's taken me 3 decades to know what works for my hair, and what doesn't - but I've found that it takes a particularly open and truly collaborative stylist to really listen and take that knowledge to heart.   At long last, I'm happy to say that I've found my hair-soulmate.  I finally understand what it is to have a stylist who respects me and listens- and whom I trust implicitly.  I love that when I give her a layman's idea of what I want, she enhances that thought with her technical training, skill and experience to reach an outcome that we're both very happy with.  We make a good team.  My friends...  it. is. amazing.  

I'm thrilled to announce that my stylist and I have just marked our 1 year anniversary; a first for me.  

So after that nasty nursing ordeal this past week, my first thought was to console myself with indulgent and fabulous hair.  So I called Kimmy at Salon Lux, and she did not disappoint.  She pampered me with that yummmmmmy Aveda tea, a heavenly arm/hand/neck/head massage, aromatherapy, and all the cut/color/fabooshness one could hope for.  I left her chair feeling like the mega-watt star of my own hair commercial!  I'm so serious, you guys.  My hair swishing, my Aveda goodie bag swinging...  I swear I was suddenly 3 inches taller, and 10 Lbs. lighter too.  If you were downtown, you probably heard a theme song as I crossed Higuera Street.  Yeah, Kimmy's that good.  

What's your opinion on hair stylist-loyalties?  Who's your favorite?

Do you have a great salon/stylist relationship?  I'd love to know.  :)

*See Kimmy at Salon Lux

1040 Court Street  San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

(805) 781-6188

Bangs...

My grandma had this great trick for trimming bangs... 

You lay a piece of scotch tape across them- right where you want to cut.  

Use the tape as a guide for a super straight line.  

When you're all done the messy trimmed hair is all stuck to the tape!  Voila!  :)