2020 is the best year yet, said no person ever. I think we can all agree this year has served us with some heavy punches and they’re not going away any time soon. In the future we will look back at this chapter with more wisdom and compassion but right now we are in the muck.

As for us hairdressers, our hearts ache not being in the salon. We are deeply passionate about our profession and our clients. We miss you, we miss our chats, we miss being creative and we miss our coworkers. Though we have taken a gut punch temporarily closing up shop we understand you too are likely stuggling with the unknown of when you can actually visit the salon again. We’re here to address your concerns and give some suggestions to help get you through.

Say No To Box Dye

This is going to be the toughest thing for you to do but hopefully with further understanding you’ll avoid at all costs. Here’s why:

1. Box Dye is not one size fits all.
They are packed with high amounts of pigment and ammonia to try to be as universal as possible. This not only means damage, it means that though the box says Light Natural Blonde the color will likely turn out dark brown. Often times your colorist is mixing multiple tones of pigments and developers to ensure the perfect coverage considering your natural level, percentage of grey, and hair porosity as all these things impact the results.

2. Semi-Permanent doesn't mean it washes out.
The box may say Semi-Permanent but once box dye is on your hair it truly lives there until it’s cut off. Don’t be fooled by the name, you will likely battle your quarantine box dye days way into 2021.

3. Ingredients make a difference.
Box Dyes contain metallic salts, which can severely damage your hair if they interact with certain substances. This could completely change the course of your salon visits once we are able to go back to reality.

4. If you plan to lighten your hair post quarantine you will absolutely fight warmth.
Bleaching through box dye results in red and orange highlights and takes multiple visits to achieve anything close to a bright blonde hue without damage. This turns your appointment into corrective coloring...

New Year, New Hair! Our expert advice when considering a hair overhaul.

Does the fresh start to a new year have you craving change in many areas of your life? For most of us, there becomes a sudden spark within to commit to new goals, take life by the reigns and treat your self with the self love you struggle to make time for. Whether it's a new year or season we are very familiar with clients having the urge for something completely different and what's the easiest thing to change?

Our hair of course! However we don't believe in impulse chops or dramatic color makeovers unless we know you are ready. Here's advice from our La Jolla hair stylists to help you make the right decision if this is ringing a bell...

Top 5 things to consider BEFORE scheduling your
"New Year, New You" hair appointment:

1. How long have you been thinking about this change?

If you’ve been brunette your whole life and one night had a dream you were a blonde and call your salon right away for an appointment, you may want to sleep on this a bit longer until it becomes a reoccurring dream! Try to steer away from impulsive hair decisions when they come out of no where. If time passes and you can't stop dreaming about it then it's probably time to put the bug in your hairdressers ear to start appointment planning!

2. What inspired this change and was it something negative in your life?

Not to take it there, but when life turns haywire we sometimes want to change our hair as it's something we have control over. If you are going though an emotionally difficult time do not take it out on your hair. If you've experienced personal change and feel in a good headspace for a makeover you've been considering perhaps now is your time to do so. If you’re feeling down about yourself, suddenly hate your long obnoxious hair and decide you want to chop it off you’re probably going to feel even worse when you look in the mirror. Take our advice, you should never dramatically change your hair during an emotionally difficult time in your life.

3. What will your new maintenance routine be?

Often times these dramatic changes require much more maintenance in salon and at...

Advice on Hairstyles for Oval Faces

You ladies with oval face shapes are a very lucky crew. Oval is the most versatile face shape that can get away with almost anything in regards to styles and cuts!

Q&A with style creator, Brian Byrnes - Hairstylist @ Belle Sirène in La Jolla, CA

How would you describe this look and what is your favorite thing about it?

This is a classic long-layered cut with a long face frame. I often begin a face frame around the corner of the mouth so it can pop off the cheekbone when styled. This young lady wanted all her hair around the face to easily make it into a ponytail without any bits around the face dropping out.

The layering motif is my signature “triangulated layering technique”. I’ve developed a method of layering which is neither convex nor concave. By mirroring the profile of the hair above the occipital to the length below, the hair diffuses and collapses seamlessly into the length without weight lines.

Donovan Mills out of Beverly Hills was the first person I saw cutting hair this way. I spent a lot time with him discussing the nuances of the techniques and applying them on models. I’ve sort of made it my own.

What products do you recommend to maintain and recreate this look?

This girl has beautiful, healthy hair with no issues textural or otherwise. A great cut should require virtually no management or maintenance. That being said, I’m a reductionist when it comes to at-home product use by clients. If there are products they really like I totally support them buying them. Generally though, besides a good shampoo and conditioner, I really only send them home with a great leave-in conditioner.

My absolute favorite is Oi Milk by Davines. It’s the best I’ve ever worked with. It comes out in the perfect mist and does so many wonderful things. It displaces water which reduces dry time, it protects the hair from hot tools, detangles the hair, has UV protection, as well as many other functions. It’s suitable for absolutely every hair type.

In addition to walking the client through how to use any products they go home with, I like to leave them with a trick or two to recreate the style we finished the haircut with. Sometimes it’s how to stretch...

Do Hair Products Really Work?

Victoria's Secret Hair Puuuhlease!

Oh what a business advertising and marketing is! Millions of dollars spent to make us believe we NEED a product. We all know those Pantene Pro-V commercials that promise thick, shiny, healthy, strong, PERFECT hair. AND Gisele Bundchen is a promoter of the product, so she MUST use them on her own hair right? I mean, her hair is perfect, and she's a Victoria's Secret model, so maybe if we use Pantene products we will have her body too? Let's be honest. Do you think Gisele uses a $5 shampoo and conditioner from Ralph's super market? And while I'm at it, do you think Beyonce and Eva Longoria only color their hair at home with Loreal, because they are worth it? NO! Who wouldn't rep a product if you were getting paid millions of dollars to do so? And if it were all so easy, we would all be walking around with perfect hair and we would live happily ever after... the end.

Now that I've probably broken your heart, I want to tell you that there is still hope for your thin, fine, hair. Unfortunately Hair Thickening products alone will not give you the Victoria's Secret hair that you are desperate for. Those models have lots of hair extensions, teasing, curling, and professional stylists doing their hair to make it huge (and sexy). Shampoo's, conditioners, styling products that claim to "thicken" hair may do so, but it's a temporary change. These products have ingredients in them that adhere to the cuticle of your hair to make it fatter in a way. On the flip side if you use too much of these products it will actually weigh your hair down and make it look even finer. Our genetics are at fault here. Screw them. BUT I do have some professional tried and tested tips that can help you out...

*Highlight or color your hair! This can add lift and dimension to your flat looking hair.

*Hair Powder works wonders! Not only does it absorb oil in your hair that can weigh it down, if you spray it all over your roots and throughout your hair, tease it a little bit all over, it will stay and look great! Hair powder is my savior for everything (Klorane...

Hair Extensions- The Good, Bad, & The Ugly

Ok ladies I dedicate this story to you. Not only do I want to inform you ALL about hair extensions, but I want to save you from a potential hair disaster or embarrassing moment!

Hair extensions can dramatically change your look. Not everyone is blessed with hair that is able to grow long and thick, and extensions can give you the hair you've always dreamed of having...

Truth be told, some hair extensions can be damaging to your hair, but the fault may not all be on your hairstylist. When you get extensions, you must commit to really nurturing your new hair and caring for it. If you don't, that's when you can have some disastrous effects.

If you are considering adding length to your hair, but aren't ready for the commitment of hair extensions, clip- in's may be the perfect solution for you. Clip-in hair pieces can be purchased at most wig stores, and some beauty supply stores. They are perfect for someone who only wants to add volume and length occasionally, like on the weekends, or for an event. WEAR CLIP-IN'S WITH CAUTION! You can't sleep or swim with them, so save yourself the embarrassment and don't wear them when trying to do either. I've seen clip-in pieces on the floor at a club, in the bathroom at a restaurant, in the pool in Las Vegas.. yup.

NOTE: Be sure your clip-in's match your own hair! I see it ALL the time... a girl with light brown hair with lots of gold highlights, wearing bleach blonde clip-in pieces. It looks so unnatural and is screaming FAKE! If you have different tones of color in your hair, then your clip-in's must have different tones too.

If you find yourself becoming addicted to your clip-in's and wearing them almost every day, it's probably time to start shopping around for a more permanent method...

Hair extensions are an investment...

There are many different types of extensions, all different price ranges and qualities, and...

Wedding Tips

Getting married, or should I say, the actual wedding is something most girls dream about their entire lives. Once the shock and excitement of getting proposed to sinks in, it's time to get to work. This may be the biggest party you ever plan and it's centered all around you (and your groom too I suppose) so

you need to be sure you are looking your absolute best for your special day!

Besides finding THE dress, your wedding day hairstyle should be at the top of your "Important Stuff" list. On your wedding day, you should feel like the most glamourous version of yourself. This is a time in your life to put yourself first, allow yourself to get pampered, and feel really good about everything. You deserve this... you are about to get married!

Here are some of my tips to get prepared when it comes to your wedding day hair...

-When it comes to your wedding day hair, first ask yourself if your current hairstylist would be a good candidate to style you. Be sure to check with them, because many hairstylists actually don't do wedding hair, so don't assume. If your stylist doesn't, ask them if they have any referrals for you.

-Start looking at pictures in magazines or online to find wedding hair inspiration. Tear out the pages, print the pictures, and save them in a folder. Think about what you like about each picture, maybe what you don't like as much, and this will be really helpful to your hairstylist. Keep in mind that if you feel most beautiful when your hair is down, then you probably don't want to wear your hair up in a fancy sleek updo, and vise versa. You still need to feel like you... don't feel like you SHOULD wear your hair a certain way.

-Figure out where this fits into your budget. When planning a wedding you'll quickly realize how expensive every detail can be, and wedding hair is part of the equation too. Figure out what you can budget for hair is and then you can start shopping around to hopefully find someone within that budget.

-Think about how you'd...

Ageless Beauty- No Surgery Needed

Aging-

A word that makes most women cringe. We live in a world that puts so much pressure on us to maintain our youth at any cost. The reality is, this is impossible. Surgery can help I suppose, but do women ever feel "young" enough even after the thousands of dollars they spend on these painful procedures? Cosmetic surgery can't fix ones internal struggles and unhappiness. There must be a way to find more purpose than just the psychical right? Or to at least help the psychical look as "youthful" as possible, but in a natural and safe way. How can women age but still manage to feel good about themselves in the process?

The inspiration for this story came from a friend of mine who mentioned to me that I need to write a blog story that isn't just catered to younger women. Most of what I write is from life experience, so truth be told, I hadn't really thought about this before. She then proceeded to tell me that once she turned 50, she suddenly felt invisible. This made me terribly sad, but inspired to chat with more women about this thing called aging. When some women turn 50, it's this slap in the face. Your kids are grown up and out of the house, you haven't been living for yourself for many years because you were busy being a mom, you're no longer in the "40's are the new 30's" stage, and suddenly life just feels... flat.

A beautiful client of mine Suzanne Martin, is the creator of the hit show Hot In Cleveland. This show centers around 4 women who move to Cleveland because they felt invisible in Los Angeles. Once in Cleveland, men suddenly started looking at them again, and they feel, well, HOT! I told Suzanne about my blog story, and she had a few things to say. "There certainly is truth in feeling less looked at or looked through as you get older, especially in Los Angeles where the young and glamourous from around the world come to be stars. The other side of it is that, rather than looking at what you've lost,...

Split Ends?

Constantly battling split ends and don't know what to do? Though you may not want to hear it, you have to cut them off! Split ends left uncut will just keep splitting, and before you know it you will have a big mess on your hands. Once your ends are fresh, keep them stronger so you won't have to deal with splits again, and your hair can grow longer and healthier than ever!

Common culprits for split ends are:

- Waiting too long for a haircut.

Generally speaking, you should be trimming your hair every 8-12 weeks. If your hair is weak, you may need to trim sooner, and if your hair is strong, you may be able to wait longer.

- Heat tool sizzle.

If you flat iron or use a curling iron on your hair, chances are you deal with breakage and split ends. Reduce the use of these tools and save your hair big time. If you must use them, be sure to apply a heat protectant styling product first.

- Poor diet.

If your body is lacking the nutrition it needs, your hair and everything else can suffer. Eating foods rich in Vitamin E, Iron, Omega-3's, and Zinc are ideal for strong strands.

-Products.

I say it all the time, your hair products are the foundation to healthy hair, starting with a great shampoo and conditioner. If your hair needs more moisture, consider adding a hair mask to your weekly routine. Your hair will be very happy.

Craving A Hair Makeover? Read This First!

One of my favorite things ever is when a client sits in my chair and tells me they've been considering a drastic change. Whether it's a new haircut or a complete overhaul with their hair color, they all light a fire in me. Though I sometimes think I'm more excited than my clients to make this change, I will never just do so on a whim. Truth be told, a lot can happen to a person when they dramatically change their look, and I feel it's my duty as a hairstylist to know when my client is 100% ready for this.

If you are considering doing something crazy, read my 5 tips first. These are some of the questions I ask my clients, and some of the important questions you need to ask your stylist before taking the plunge.

1. How long have you been considering this change?

If you've been a brunette your whole life and randomly had a dream you became a bright blonde the morning of your hair appointment, you may want to sleep on it a little longer before jumping. Unless you've been thinking about making this dramatic change for some time, you may not mentally be ready for it!

2. What inspired this change? Was it something negative in your life?

Our hair is one of the things we actually have control of in our lives, and I've noticed that when someone is going through an emotionally difficult time, they turn to their hair to take it out on. Now this can be a great thing if you've always wanted to do something to your hair and once a weight was lifted from your life (ahem ahem) now it's YOUR time to do so. But if you're feeling down about yourself, hate your long obnoxious hair, and decide you want to chop it off Miley Cyrus style, you're probably going to feel even worse when you look in the mirror. In my opinion, you should NEVER dramatically change your hair during an emotional time in your life. Trust me please!

3. What will your new maintenance routine be?

Often times these dramatic changes require more maintenance. From frequent root touch ups to glossing your hair color to keep it vibrant, it may mean more time in the salon and more money. Be sure to chat with your hairstylist...

How To Save Money On Your Hair

Let's face it, the cost to maintain our looks and feel our best can be extremely expensive. Hair, nails, facials, waxing, fancy gym memberships, beauty products, etc. Not to mention the cost of eating healthy, decent quality clothes, even healthcare, life is pretty darn expensive. Throw a mortgage and children into the mix, and how are you supposed to justify spending money on the things we don't necessarily "need"?

Often times skimping on certain things means skimping on the quality, but it's not always the case. It's important to prioritize what's most important to you and then see where you can cut back on the others. For example, I LOVE getting massages. Not only do I love them, my body needs them from my profession as a hairstylist. In order to budget the multiple massages I like to get monthly, I found a place that does incredible massage for only $25! Yeah I sacrifice the ambiance, the spa extras, and the fancy massage oil, but when my muscles need to get worked out it does the trick. Then when I'm feeling up for it, I'll treat myself to the fancy $125 massage. I found a way to balance and still get do what I want.

In terms of your hair, unfortunately this isn't as much the case. With hair you generally get what you pay for, and if a stylist is charging a lot for their services it means they have tons of experience, training, and uses high end (and expensive) products. If their services are very inexpensive you have to wonder how much they've invested of their time and own money into their skill. So what do you do if you don't want to find the cheap massage of hair stylists, but can't justify spending the extra money on your hair? Here are some ways I've come up with that may work for you...

Skip the haircut.

You technically don't need to get a haircut every single time you get your hair colored. If your hair isn't too damaged then it's completely unnecessary to trim it every 6-8 weeks and you can definitely wait at least 10-12 weeks. If you are prone...

11 Clever hair Tricks Hairstylists Use For Themselves

Have you ever wondered how the heck your hairstylists hair always looks perfect? For starters, hair is what we do for a living, so we know a thing or two about how to make it look it's best. You'd be surprised that many hairstylists are quite low maintenance with their own hair though and have ways of making it look good without spending tons of time primping. An awesome hair site I blog for, Latest Hairstyles, recently asked me to divulge some of our secrets for you to use at home. Check them out here.