So I excitedly tear open the plastic on my new issue of Allure Magazine the other day and begin flipping through the pages of beauty products, advice, and fashion ideas, and I found a very interesting article called  The Locks Market by: Katherine Zoepf. This article talks about these girls in India who go to this temple and get their heads shaved and offer their hair to the gods either out of thanksgiving for an answered prayer, to help in answering a prayer, and the like. Many of these girls grow their hair all their life just for the time that they are able to give it to god. I was very humbled by their faith. The sad part in the article is that the temple sells their hair and it is used to make all the most sought after hair extensions that all the celebs pay top dollar for. They call it “temple hair” and it fetches the highest price because the girls who offer their hair to the temple have usually only ever had coconut oil on their hair and it is supposedly very strong and withstands the process hair goes through to become and extension.

Having had long hair my entire life this article really struck me for a couple of reasons. I don’t think it is right to sell hair that has been given in such a way. I do see that otherwise what in the world would they do with all the hair laying around… but it just seems terrible to me. On the other hand, the temple is able to offer many outreach services to it’s community because of the money they get from this hair, so I guess it is serving god after all.

The second reason this article hit me hard is that these girls are unaware of how their hair is used.  It made me wonder if they had known before getting their head shaved if it would have altered their decisions to offer it in the first place.

I definitely recommend everyone read this article in Allure (March 2009) especially if you have hair extensions. I think everyone should be mindful and reverent at what they truly are buying in these hair extensions.

I told y’all I update my red hair all the time…

So here are some pictures from the past month!

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb. 19 (UPI) — Police in Kansas City, Mo., said a woman’s tight hair weave

stopped a bullet, rescuing her from injury and likely saving her life.

Officers said they arrived at the Country View Market at about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday to find the woman’s boyfriend had allegedly shot out the back window of a car, KSHB-TV, Kansas City, reported Thursday.

Investigators said the woman wasn’t injured after her hair weave stopped the bullet and her boyfriend was taken into custody.

We thought this was VERY funny… who knew that a weave could actually save your life!!!

Perfect Locks hair tips

The focus point on round shape face is the cheek to the ears where it is widest at.

The round shape face is circular in shape, curves gradually upward and downward, approximately equal in width, short and broad.  The widest points is the cheek and ear also accompanied by rounded chin.  Achieving perfect locks hair for this type of face structure is not all that difficult.

The goal is to balance and slim down the appearance of the face. Give the appearance of an oval face Having less volume around the face will minimize the appearance of roundness.

The objective is to avoid any cuts that shorten and widen the face appearance.  Narrowing out the face is the goal and to avoid adding the appearance of weight to the face.  Also adding angle to the face that is not normally there.   The widest points of the face is the cheek and the ears so avoiding cuts and styles that add volume there, which add width.  Adding length and to avoid width.  The aim is give the face of an oval appearance.
To avoid the appearance of even a wider face or the appearance of weight, know that bang widen and shorten the appearance of the shape.  Since the widest points on the face is the cheek to the ear avoid having hair with volume at the cheek line.  Fullness at the side of the ear, rounded chin length haircuts, short sleek back styles that do not touch the face add weight to the face.  Flips and wispy sides that frame the face widen the appearance of the face. Along with rounded crown, big rounded curls and the long straight bangs shorten and widen the face. .  This also widen the face shape appearance.  Having sleek back styles that do not touch the face emphasize roundness.  Along with straight flat bangs or any bang that curtains  widen and also shorten the face.  Side part not only do it has an slimming effect also interrupt the roundness.

Hairstyle fits best if the hair length reach the chin or longer.  Long hair narrows out the face.   Some may even suggest to try hair extensions to get the look you’re trying to achieve, we certainly do!  Chin length hair also flatters the shape of the face.  Side or off center parts not only do it has an slimming effect also interrupts the roundness by drawing attention one side and the eye.  Tussle or side bang incorporated with hairstyles.  For short hair try a brow pieces grazing the cheek and razor ends giving the illusion of angles that is not normally there and break up the roundness of the face.

Keep in mind that the goal is for any face shape is to get it have an oval illusion. The objective is to have an flattering hairstyle that fits your face, but also fit your personality.  Avoid hair that bring focus on the widest potion of the face.  For round face it is the cheek line where it is widest from the cheeks to the ear.  Avoid fullness there.  Also to interrupt the roundness at the hair line by adding parts or bang.  But keep in mind that bang widen the face.

Ok ok ok…

High School Musical 3 came out on DVD today and now that I’ve watched it (for the 5th time since it came to theaters) I’m writing a blog dedicated to the hair (real and fake) of the two main actresses, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale.

These ladies both love extensions. If you follow celebrity gossip as much as I do (its a job, really!) then you will notice the length difference in their hair constantly. And ladies– there is nothing wrong with adding some tracks! (I do it weekly) It is a GREAT way to add volume, length, and color to your locks.

Ashley:

Here are five different looks for the 23 year old starlette.

The first is a very long, blonde look of which her character, Sharpay, is known for. In it are three different colors: a very high lifted blonde, and two lowlights, level 8 and 7 blonde, most likely extension pieces.

The next is a fun, dramatic look. As you can see, she went a lot darker to a level 6 and 7, light brunette/dark blonde, and even has another darker brown tone underneath her hair. Also most likely extensions, especially with how often she changes her hair. (Like I said, if you want to add color, extensions are the easy way–less damaging!)

The next is a long, dark brown look that Ashley worse earlier in the fall of 2008. I’ve read from multiple sources that this is Ashley’s natural color. I think she pulls off the natural and the blonde nicely, and her skintone never really gives away her natural color, only her roots. This hair is also most likely extensions.

The next is a nice medium blonde look with highlights, lowlights, and extensions. It is also a more ashy color, as opposed to the golden and white blondes she has previously worn, and I think it is one of her best blondes, and one that a lot of people might not be able to get away with.

The last is Ashley Au Natural, or so I was told in the picture caption. Her hair was tinted back to her natural dark (although you can still see some old highlights peeking through) and her extensions are not in. Not my favorite look, but it is so nice to see celebrities hair take a break for a while sometimes.

Which is your favorite Ashley look?

Vanessa:

Vanessa’s hair has always been dark and curly. This right here is my dream hair. In fact, after seeing High School Musical 3, I went right to my favorite wig shop and bought a long, level 2 colored wig to wear for fun. (Level 2 is one step away from black– it is still brown, and can still be cool, neutral, or warm.)

It is alot harder for me to tell the real hair from the fake in Vanessa’s hair. In the second picture, I can see lighter caramel highlights, but they don’t start until about shoulder length, which leads me to believe there are extensions starting in her nape (Thats all the hair extensions you need when you have long hair and you don’t need to add much length.)

The third picture is Vanessa’s simple-chic updo that she wore for her HSM2 premire. I had a client bring in this picture once for her Homecoming Dance. I found it very fun and funky, yet simple and easy.

The 4th picture is her hair when it is flat-ironed, which is probably tricky for the naturally curly haired Vanessa. It looks very trained, and silky, due to great products for this exact look.

These four looks always look great on Vanessa, which is probably why I admire her hair so much. I also have a dark natural color and an olive skin tone, so I like to think that I can have this hair if I actually grow mine out…

Which is your favorite Vanessa Hudgens look?

As for styling…
These girls either wear their hair with loose curls (worn naturally, or easily done with either rollers or a flat iron) or pin straight (which is done with a ceramic flat iron and good product (both girls have naturally curly hair, so flat-ironing is time consuming and damaging).

Hot topic… Home haircolor versus getting it done in the salon, right?  

  Am I biased…yes.  However, coming from an educated viewpoint I can share the “why” it is extremely beneficial to consider leaving the box of haircolor on that shelf.

Chemically speaking, at home box- hair color definitely has its limitations.  The strength of the chemicals are not design the same as for the professional hair colorist.   

In the salon, with an experience haircolorist  they are able to enhance, adjust, lighten and manipulate the natural pigment of natural haircolor with much more choices of hair coloring tools.

Some of the components of professional hair color, enable the hair colorist to adjust the developer (peroxide) and or the alkalinity of the hair color formula.

In many cases, it may take more than one shade of hair color to make the perfect shade.  This is an art form based on principles.  The principles include:  Laws of color, the artistic eye of the hair colorist & analyzing the condition (porosity) of the hair.  All of these factors will play a very important role for the hair colorists’ selection of what type of hair color will be used.

Many times I have been at a store and see a consumer looking at the side of the “box/ at home hair color” with such a puzzled look….    

I have been there, personally, and it cost me in the long run.  Understandably, cost can be a factor; however the end cost can be definitely costly if the wrong “box/ at home hair color” is selected.

A great site to find a Redken Certified Hair colorist, in your area is www.redkencolor.com

Switching gears, another option to opting for color can be achieved with Balmain Hair Extensions.  Balmain Hair Extensions are not just for adding length, but also for adding hair color. 

The  photo below was an extreme makeover that included:

Trust– much consulting

Professional Haircolor (s) plural.  Her natural hair was colored the day prior to the installation of the Balmain Hair Extensions.  Then to be sure that the Balmain Hair Extensions blended in seemlessly….the hair extensions had to be treated with professional haircolor, too.

The beauty about reconsidering splurging is not just about the haircolor, but the experience of just letting someone take care of everything for you.

Today’s life styles are so rushed and packed with “things to do”.  Cell phones, blackberry’s, texting, emailing, blogging….

There truly is nothing better than having someone else shampooing you.

Box or no box?

View Poll

 (Redken Certified Hair Colorist) 

Makeovers are what we are so very, very passionate about.  Ann Marie Walts is a Makeover Artist & Photographer.

With an artistic eye that is influenced by various artistic professions, seeing things differently is what provides the most inspiration.

Balmain Hair Extensions have so many, many practical to glamorous options.  It truly is an art form.

For more information visit:  http://www.annmariewalts.com

Check out our photo gallery.

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Posted via web from Kivivi’s posterous