It's common for salon clients to leave happy with their new hairstyle, then be flustered the next morning when it comes time to style it themselves.  Today, one client said she wished she could "learn how Kristina made [her hair] bigger in the back."  Well, I went searching and found a great instructional video on YouTube where Robin from Blo Blowdry Bar teaches a great backcombing technique, "The Killer Backcomb":

I hope this helps.  Just remember: practice, practice, practice!

  Okay ladies, I know that you've all been taking care of your own hair longer than you've even been coming to the salon.  You may be thinking, 'How can I do it the wrong way?'  I want to make sure you are getting the most out of your hair.  So, I want to start with the basics, and make sure you know everything there is to know about how to care for your locks and keep them healthy and beautiful.
   
    First off, I am going to explain why you should be using a salon product even when you are at home.  Most store-bought shampoos and conditioners are not pH-balanced for your hair, which is naturally between a 4.5-5.5 on the pH scale.  If you put something on the hair shaft that is not within this range, it has the potential to destroy your hair.

    You may use a store bought product and think to yourself, 'well my hair doesn't feel like it's destroyed.'  If this is the case, it probably doesn't feel like it's destroyed because you are using a store-bought conditioner.  Store bought conditioners coat your hair with fatty waxes (cetyl alcohol or cetearyl alcohol) to make it feel smooth.  So, your alkaline shampoo, which is almost as damaging as ammonia-containing hair color products is just followed by waxy alcohols.  That just can't be good.  All take home salon products are formulated to be in pH balance with your hair and to actually improve it's condition.  When we recommend product after a chemical treatment, it's for our mutual benefit.

    What I mean by mutual benefit is that using salon products is going to ensure that your service lasts as long as possible, and makes your follow up easier and more beneficial on you as well as us - we will be able to predict how your hair will respond to chemical treatments like color, bleaching, or perms. 
   
    Some of you already have a stylist who has explained this, and are simply reading on to make sure you are using your salon product properly.  Well, what I would like to see my clients do is shampoo only every other day.  Your scalp's natural oils are the best treatment for your hair.  They are already pH balanced and provide a perfect acidic barrier against pollutants.  Because of this, you want to allow them to do their job between washes.
   
    Next, when you do wash, make sure and massage the scalp thoroughly.  Make sure and scrub every cm of the scalp.  You should feel suds.  If you get bubbles the first time, rinse and repeat until you do.  Unless, of course, you are using an all natural shampoo that doesn't suds up, the bubbles indicate that the scalp and hair are clean.   
   
    After you shampoo, follow with a salon quality conditioner.   Remember, shampoo is more for your scalp and hair roots where conditioner is mostly for your hair ends that don't get all of what they need from your natural oils.  So, when conditioning, focus on the ends and leave the product in as long as the bottle recommends before rinsing. 
   
    There's the jest of how to shampoo your hair properly.  Make sure you're using a shampoo that's formulated for your hair type.  If you're not sure, ask your stylist for a consultation and see what he or she recommends.  What kind of shampoo and conditioner do you like and why?

Here's what Julyne Derrick, at about.com has to say about it:

"Turns out shoulder-length hairstyles are universally the most flattering on nearly everyone. Long hair can make a long face appear longer. Short hair can make a round face appear rounder. Short hair is especially dangerous on super curly hair. If you are petite, you could look like a 15-year-old with super long hair. But shoulder-length hair looks good on all women no matter their size, face shape or age."

I found this snippet interesting.  My philosophy has always been to wear what you like and what makes you feel good.  After I read this, the thought crossed my mind that when I wear my hair short, I often want it longer, and when I wear it long, I often want to chop it off!  Any of you girls go through this??

    So, I just moved back to Prineville and just got back to work at the Urban Hillbilly Salon.  I'm excited to be back and anxious to be offering Hot Stone Pedicures.  As a promo, I will be offering them, for a limited time, at 1/2 off the regular price (only $37).  The first time I received a hot stone massage, about a year ago, it felt amazing; I knew I wanted to learn how to integrate the treatment into my manicure and pedicure services.

    Now that I have this option, I want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to try it.  Did you know that the average person walks 4 miles in a day (teesnailnv.com)?  We carry a lot of stress in our feet, and need to take care to relieve it.
    With the hot stone pedicure, you enjoy all the benefits of a spa pedicure with the added perk of hot stones to relax the muscles and relieve tension.  You will sit in the massage chair with the option of a relaxing back massage and music with your own set of headphones (provided). 
STEPS:
1.  Aromatherapy Foot Bath
2.  Exfoliation
3.  Paraffin Wax Treatment
4.  Hot Stone Treatment
5.  Hot Stone Foot & Calf Massage
6.  Cuticle and Nail Trimming
7.  Cuticle Treatment
8.  Polish
    When you show up for any pedicure treatment at the Urban Hillbilly Salon, be sure to bring a pair of open-toed shoes with you (flip-flops are best) to save your polish job.  Please call Ashley: 541-633-9090 or the Salon: 541-233-2036 to make an appointment today.