It sounds like it should be beautiful! Without seeing your actual complexion it is difficult to say, but the rule is to stay within two shades of your natural shade to get the best results. This rule is continuously defied, but for your first go at ombre, I think that’s a great bet! A neutral medium brown could look great, but if you are darker complected, feel free to branch into the warm side too! 

Great question!!

My main concern here is that I have no idea whatsoever about what kind of chemicals they use in these at-home ombre haircolor kits.

The problem is this: artificial haircolor does not have the power to lighten (“lift”) artificial haircolor. Only bleach can bust through. So if in fact this ombre kit is permanent color, you wont get much movement at all. Also, if it IS bleach, I have no idea what sort of developer (processing solution) is given in the box to activate the lightener. This is a huge problem and risk and the main reason that I NEVER EVER RECOMMEND BOX COLOR. Ever. 

There is no “one size fits all” in haircolor. Every hair texture, porosity, elasticity, natural depth, natural tone, artificial depth, artificial tone and amount of processing that has occurred makes every person a very special case. Even harder still: not one person walking this earth has hair exactly the same from root to tip, so never can we throw on one haircolor all over and expect an even result. This is why we have options for developer with different amounts of peroxide…typically 10 volume (3% peroxide), 20 volume (6% peroxide), 30 volume (9% peroxide), and 40 volume (12% peroxide). These are mixed with the haircolor or lightener (bleach) specialized to every situation. In box colors or kits, you don’t have that option.

I could go days deeper into the chemistry of haircolor but I don’t want to bore or confuse you, so here is my suggestion: pick up a small packet of bleach and a small bottle of 20 volume developer. Mix in a 1:1 ratio (a nice creamy consistency, not too thick or liquidy) and apply to the ends of one small section of hair in your nape area. Let it process for 20 minutes; 30 minutes if your hair is coarse. Rinse, dry and see what happens! My guess is that you will be pretty rusty orange/red without knowing a few key factors (natural color, age of hair, previous processes, porosity). 

I hope that this helped! Feel free to ask more questions as needed!

I’m sure you’ve seen, but the band that I am so lucky to be a part of is headed out to Hollywood in 19 days to record our second EP. After careful consideration, we decided to launch an Indiegogo campaign to give our family, friends and fans a chance to be a part of this enormous dream with us.

We only have 4 more days left on the campaign! We’re not even close to making our goal, but every little bit helps to pay for studio costs. 

I just updated our perks list and one of the perks offers a haircut and style by me at A Davis Brown Salon in Grand Rapids as well as a digital download of the album before it’s official release. 

To check out our music, go here. To check out just a sample of my work, go here. 

TO CHECK OUT OUR CAMPAIGN, FOLLOW THIS LINK! 

We’re so close to bringing this to an end…and it’s only just the beginning!

To quitting the hair world forever, packing my shears in a box
And throwing up two middle fingers to a career I chose just to pacify my hopes and dreams for a career too uncertain for me to build enough courage to dive into.

I’m about to walk this plank and toss my cosmetology license away and just.play.music.

This already went on Instagram but I don’t think my hair will ever look this good again for a long time. So I’m going to eat it all up.

My hair is not green. Or is it?

I’m not a cosmetologist. I am an artist who happened to be quick to pick up on technique.

I’m not a hairstylist, I am just an artist who seemed to have a knack for detail and color.

I am not a beautician, I am a girl who happened to love the art of beauty products and the mystery of re-creation.

I am not a beauty adviser, I am a typical woman who has read many tips and tricks and when asked, will share what I’ve learned.

The rest, I don’t give a shit about. I don’t care to up-sell mass consumerism. I am the sales person who tells you not to buy. I am the consumer who hardly consumes and lets the mask of retail therapy slip off my face when I’m working. I’m not good at lying. My bullshitting skills have lessened with age. The more I learn how to pick up on bullshit, the more I rebel against it. I don’t have enough energy to build client relationships in order to take their money. I don’t give a shit.

No, I don’t think you need to color your hair every three weeks. If you want to, be my guest, but your five silver hairs aren’t going to be that fucking noticeable. Nobody cares. No, you don’t need to spend $30 on shampoo to increase hair growth. It won’t. That $20 lipstick is packed with emollients, buy it! No, don’t. Your lips are dehydrated and that lipstick will not fix or protect them. You’re addicted to chapstick. Drink some fucking water. Your hair is dry? You need a smoothing serum? You need a conditioning treatment? Here is a secret: stop shampooing it with that shampoo that cost you as much as a weeks worth of groceries. Stop coloring it and depleting it of protein and elasticity. Stop using a flat iron. Stop using a blowdryer. Or do all of these, but don’t expect a product to fix you. We mark them up 100% from what we buy it for, and those beauty supplies mark it up 100% from what they buy it for.

I can’t ask someone to keep coming to me to get their hair done unless they truly love my technique, my style and my honesty. If they want to dish out the money, great. It cost me $14,000 to go to cosmetology school and a few thousand more in further education, tools and products in the last four years alone. It also cost me one hell of a year in school, another year working for free outside of school to learn what school did not teach me, and years outside of those perfecting my craft. So yes, I value my skill. I value my license. I don’t value the clients who don’t value me. I also don’t value management who do not value me.

I have to spend so much time building my clientele. I can’t move away after I have because then, after years of slave labor and little money, I have to start back at square one. Even when I do have a full clientele, work is not stable or guaranteed. People can leave and people will cancel. People will move on to the better (see: cheaper) deal, because most people do not value your work as much as you do. And when I go on tour with the band? People will wait for me to return to get their hair done, right? Wrong. No one cares that much.

Nor do I. I work in an industry that is based solely on vanity. Vanity that doesn’t actually warrant self-fulfillment but instead pleases a stereotype. An industry that caters to societies ridiculous standards in beauty. In every salon I’ve worked at, I’ve seen the majority of clients come to receive long layers, highlights, fake claws and grey coverage. This is not creative. This is robotic labor to give women what they think they want-a falsified sense of beauty that only lasts a few weeks at best.

I have a handful of clients who are the exception. They think outside of the box or ask me to do it for them if they can’t seem to find a way to break down the wall. These clients are the only reason I am still in this business. These clients make my job fun and slightly rewarding, but these clients are, unfortunately, not the rule. 

So I am bitter and bruised. The anxiety in the salon has greatly effected my attitude towards the industry because stylist aren’t holding up as well as they used to be with a strong economy. The stylist who are managing to support themselves have lost control of their sanity. They eat, breathe, dream and speak salon and no one seems to enjoy it; not any salon I’ve worked in.

I was very wrong when I thought that I fit into this industry. I thought doing hair would be a great creative outlet for me, but it’s far from. Another form of consumerism that instead of creating joy, instills fake confidence. I don’t think I can do this anymore.

And fuck, if I have to fake it, I might as well get paid for it. 

New makeup in from Tigi. So pretty! 2/10.

Representing the salon on ten on ten!

Still one of my favorites. Always.

back to black.

I’ve been tempted to color my hair dark again, but I’m wondering if the blonde is sort of a staple. Thoughts?

The lavender disappeared!

hellooooo lavender blue.