Seeing Red At Believe

From I Love Lucy to Pippi Longstocking to the on-again-off again Lindsay Lohan, redheads may all be different from one another—except in one way…they are all unforgettable.

Redheads just flat-out get more attention than women with other hair colors. Sure blondes may be noticed (and only described as blonde) but redheads actually get talked about---their sass, their infamous temper, their joi de vivre.

So if you are ready to join the ranks of the notorious reds, how do you it and what should you know?

                     


Pick the color: From strawberry blonde to auburn to crimson and copper, there are so many ravishing reds available that it may be tough to choose. Start looking at celebrities on TV and photos in magazines. Notice their skin color—not just their hair color—if yours is similar, you may be in the ballpark.

Talk to your Believe stylist: Lisa, a trained Master Colorist and the talented staff at Believe will give you their honest opinion gained from experience with hundreds of heads and the color reds that look best. Bring in photos of colors you like as words are sometimes hard to find when trying to describe the perfect red,

Not all stripping is sexy: If your hair is dark, the Believe colorist will have to lighten it first before turning you into a redhead and stripping color is nothing you should ever attempt at home. (We have an article about that coming up in this blog soon.)

Keep it real: Unless you want to look like Rhianna or Katy Perry with crayon red hair, go for a natural shade—and that means a color found in nature—not a blue red or scarlet.  Stay in the red-orange shade family and you’ll be fine.

Learn about level and tone: The level describes the light versus darkness in the color. The tone are the highlights or reflections you see within the color, Ask your Believe stylist what type of highlights will help your new color shine like fire and not just lay there like paint on your head.  Highlights around just the face are perfect for some, while others look best with all over lights—as though you’d been kissed by the sun. Brunettes will look better with butterscotch or caramel tones as opposed to those that are more metallic. Bear in mind that warm tones reflect light and ash tones absorb it.

Be ready for maintenance: Because of the large size of the color molecule (making it hard for the hair shaft to keep a grip on it) red hair fades faster than any other color. Always use both a shampoo like Chromastics Tri Organic Sulfate-Free and a conditioner like Chromastics Extreme formulated just for red shades…and use them every time, right from the day your hair is colored. Keeping the color is easier than trying to retrieve it.

Better than ever: Red coloring often improves the condition of your hair (whereas bleaching it can make it brittle and dry). Just another benefit of joining the Rouge Sisterhood.

Get a whole new look: Your makeup will have to change (hit the cosmetics counter at a department store for a free makeover) and your new hair will require some new clothes. You might now clash with some oranges and reds, but will look boffo in greens and shades of brown.

Work on being sassy and sultry: Your new haircolor gives your permission—in fact, it’s not only encouraged, it’s expected. Come into Believe and we’ll be happy to show you some hair-tossing moves,

Give us a call at Believe at (914) 747-0778. and start seeing red.

Graduation Day Hair at Believe

It’s finally here! Graduation season.

You’ve probably noticed your mailbox filling up with invitations (and your wallet shrinking from the checks you’ve got to send the graduates) or maybe you are a lucky enough to be a graduate yourself. If so, congratulations!

We at Believe hope there are lots of parties, good times with family and beautiful photos to commemorate the occasion…but if you’ve been wondering what to do with your hair under that mortarboard, we have a few suggestions for hairstyles and tips that will look good through those endless speeches and when you finally get to make your escape:

Straight behind the ears: Pulling your hair forward will give you too much of a boxed-in look, so wear some simple earrings (not too dangling, your robe will pull your whole look down enough) and flat iron your hair so it goes smoothly behind your ears and spray in place.

In a low ponytail: Pull your hair sleekly back and through elastic set low on your neck. Spray the whole thing so when you pull your cap off (to throw in the air?) your hair will stay in place.

In a bun: Sculpt you hair into a loose bun, looped back under an elastic band. After the ceremony you can pull out your hair, give it a shake and be ready to party.

Braid it: A long braid in the back or even two loose braids (with or without ribbons woven through in your school colors) will keep your hair neat under your cap but let it fly free (and wavy) for dancing afterward. Braid it dry for minimum wave or wet and by the time you get your diploma, it will dry into a mane of waves.

If your ceremony is outside: Make sure to use anti-frizz products like Chromastics Repair Extreme so that the heat and humidity doesn’t make your hair stick straight up or hang on with static electricity to your cap when you take it off (Hint: Rub a dryer sheet around the inside of the cap to keep hair from sticking and another sheet rubbed all over the inside of the gown and/or --heaven forbid--any panty hose you have to wear will keep the gown from riding up or showing off your figure in ways you don’t want.)

Moms & Grandmothers: Remember, you are going to be in all the photos, too, so take a little time from the hectic getting-ready period at your house before the graduation and tend to your own hair. Wearing a bun or French braid isn’t a bad idea to beat the humidity and use voluminizer like Aestleance Volume Spray (without alcohol) at the crown of your hair so the weather doesn’t beat your do down as flat as a board. Give it a little extra height and spray like crazy. Photos are more about what your hair looks like (and less about how touchable it.)

Don’t forget to plan for sun: Remember the sunscreen for everybody whose attending the graduation! It is best if you use waterproof (you are bound to get sweaty) and tear-proof (getting sunscreen in your eyes can ruin the whole day) and you may even want to take a page out of the Miss Universe Playbook—run a gentle ribbon of antiperspirant on your brow and upper lip---no extra “glowing” will then show up in those photos. It’ll keep any bangs dry, too.

Gift Giving: We all know money is the favorite present for every new grad but a personal touch never hurts. Gift that graduate with a beautiful start to this new chapter in the lives, stop by Believe for a gift certificate to redeem for a new style, cut and even color or some fantastic products from those we carry at Believe to take on summer vacation or hoard for college. Such a gift will tell them you love them. We ALL know how proud you are of them—and we are too. Congratulations to all grads from all of us at Believe.

Black Is Back At Believe

Jet black hair is making a comeback (we wonder if its all the vampire influences around these days?)

Whatever the reason, dyeing your hair black at home often ends up looking like you dumped a bottle of ink on your head (and might make yourself a candidate for the dreaded “chemical cut” which comers of improperly processing hair.)

Black hair also may not be the answer to your hair’s natural fading as you age. Black hair tends to make Caucasian women look older and harder ( if we only could age as gracefully as our Asian or African American sisters), but if you have your heart set on going black…here’s some rules of the road:

• Don’t do it yourself: (See ink-dumped-on-head reason above). Make an appointment to come see Lisa, a trained Master Colorist, or one of Believe's talented staff to handle the coloring for you.
• Try a temporary rinse first: Black hair doesn’t suit every type of skin. If you are fair with light eyes, the effect can either be sultry and dramatic or make you look like the undead. Don’t commit to so serious a color change until you see if you can live with it. Dark brown to black might not be so noticeable, but if you are light haired—be prepared for a shock.
• Avoid flat black: Highlights are the way to relieve the stark appearance of black hair and there are many different ways to go. (Come into Believe for a color consultation and we will take into account not only your skin and eye color, but your personality, too, in recommending what high (or low) lights you should consider. You don’t want to look washed out so as a general rule, if you have a cool skin tone you'll want to keep excess reds or gold out of your highlights. Use an ash color and go for a neutral medium brown color. If you're a warm-colored woman, do the exact opposite. Look for browns with a hint of red or gold to complement your skin tone.
• Types of High (Low)Lights: There are Natural highlights for the more demure among you –these are using colors that occur in nature as your highlighting choice; Contrasting colors make more of a statement or you can go Bold showing the world your wild side.
  
  Here are some suggestions:

• Natural shades are usually no lighter than three shades above the black—so subtle you might only notice the difference in the play of light on your hair (and so you don’t end up looking like a skunk). This may be one look you’ll wish to consider if you are trying to blend your grays into your new color.
• Caramel highlights may help avoid some of the fading and brassy red tones that may surface towards the end of the 4-6 week period when you get your hair colored.
• Bronze highlights can enhance black hair without being so bold, adding depth and texture to help avoid that matte look.
• Honey blonde highlights can look fabulous on short black hair, showing off a great layered cut (that we can also provide at Believe.)
• Colored high(and low) lights can bring out your inner rocker. Crayon colors from royal purple and magenta, to hot pink or deep blue can turn a few heads and add a little pizzazz to your look (Give them a try during the summer months. If you can’t let loose then, when can you?) Or go all Avril Lavigne and put black streaks in your blonde hair and then live up to the image—be bold, be brave and World, take notice.
• Take care of your new black color: First and foremost, always use a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner like Aestelance After Color (that we sell at Believe.) Every other week, you might want to also use a purple shampoo and conditioner to prevent brassy tones. (Don't use them every day or you might actually turning your hair purple!)

Make your appointment now for us at Believe to show you that black really is beautiful (and call soon—as the weather heats up, so does our appointment book.)

Are You Ready To Be Blonde?

We talked last week about lightening your hair (and how you should come into Believe to have it done by Lisa, the Master Colorist or one of the talented and trained staff here instead of reaching for the Clairol) but this week we’d like to talk about the different facets to going blonde. Blonde isn’t just a color—it’s a lifestyle.

You may be old enough to remember the commercials that said “If I only have one life, let me live it as a blonde” or the ones that promised blondes have more fun…but what do you really need to consider before you join the bevy of blonde beauties?

No need to go all Harlow—You are probably too mature for platinum hair: Hair color ranges in shade from deep black (level one) to that white blonde of the Nordic race (level 12). Unless someone hails from Iceland, you’ll rarely see anyone past puberty with anything lighter than a level seven. So unless you want to be glaring, think golden, wheat, ash or even the lightest brown. Those shades will look more natural.

Keep the right temperature: Everyone knows now about winter, spring, summer and autumn colors in fashion and how one season suits your skin type best. It is the same with shades of blonde. There are cool and warm shades. Bring in color photos of blonde shades you like (and hate). At Believe, we will use our years of experience to help you pick the shade that will best suit you.

Going blonde is one thing, staying blond is another: Make sure you are ready for the maintenance your new color will require. You might have gotten away with looking a little faded as a brunette or even a tad orange-ish as a redhead, but dark roots in your new blonde ‘do just look trashy. Get ready to have your hair colored (by us at Believe, please) every 4 weeks or so.

Change your hair products: Coloring your hair blonde requires bleaching products that may change the texture of your hair. You may need less shampooing and more conditioning. Use a sulfate-free shampoo like Chromastics Tri-Organic , a conditioner like Iden Treatment and a reconstructive treatment mask at home like Agadir Moisture Mask. Schedule a deep conditioning treatment every month with us here at Believe. When it comes to farm references, you want hair like corn silk, not like hay.

Pay attention during the process: If you have hair that is on the scale (see above) at level seven or higher, you may get to become blonde with just highlights. Darker than that and you need a “single process” or even a “base breaker” or maybe both, depending on how dark your natural hair is---we’ll educate you on this when you come to Believe for lightening. You’ll need to know to allow enough time at each appointment or if <sob> you ever decide to get your color done at some other salon.

Glazing is not just for donuts: There are sheer shade glazes that are a non-peroxide treatment that add the perfect shine to your new blonde look (and seal in that glisten-in-the-sun look).

Stop by your favorite department store makeup counter: Duck the women spraying perfume and ask for a free makeover. Your new hair color will require new lipstick certainly and maybe new brow and lash color as well. The opinion of a stranger is good here as they won’t be “blinded” by the old you—they’ll only see the dazzling blonde you are now.

Everyone’s got a blonde joke: And they are guaranteed to trot it out when they see your new color. Grin and bear it. They’ll soon run out of steam. You’ll have the last laugh knowing you look younger (lighter hair does that), that you can now be that hot blonde your partner is now ogling, and that now when people meet you, they’ll be wondering if you are having more fun. At Believe, we hope the answer is a resounding “yes!”