An elderly client of mine has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. While she is doing ok, she is unable to get up and about like she used to for her weekly appointments to the salon. I spent an hour or so at her home today, so she could get her hair washed and styled, as she was so accustomed.

While I washed and curled her hair, I was able to see a lot more into Margaret's life, that I was unable to see in the salon. She and her husband were such gracious hosts and I can honestly say I enjoyed every moment of chatting and laughing with them. They seemed to enjoy telling stories about their life, and it felt good to help Margaret feel "glamorous" (as she likes to say) even though she was unable to make it into the salon.

I learned an important lesson about the importance of beauty today. While Margaret's need for having her hair done had little to do with vanity, I learned that even in the darkest hours, feeling a little glamorous on the outside, helps a person feel a much brighter on the inside. I'm glad I could give a little ray of light to Margaret today, and pray that her health stabilizes.

No, you can't get the local hair forecast on the evening news, but you can go to www.hairforecast.com and find out, on a scale of 1 to 10, your chances for a great hair day.

As their website says:
"Hair Forecast takes the weather forecasts for over 1000 U.S. cities and translates them to a simple index from 1 to 10 for hair. Hair Forecast considers humidity, wind, rain chance, and temperature. It thinks about how all these will affect your hair so you don't have to.

A Hair Forecast that's a "10" means a great hair day. Curl your hair if you are naturally straight or straighten your hair if you are naturally curly, and expect it to stay that way! If you suffer from frizzy hair, expect little or no frizz on a "10" day. A "1" means a bad hair day. Make it a pony tail day, wear a hat, or use your favorite anti-frizz product. The bottom line is, save yourself some time and get your Hair Forecast before you touch your hair brush.

Going on a trip? Check the Hair Forecast of the city you are traveling to see what your hair will be like at your destination."

I thought this was absolutely clever, and look forward to some perfect 10 forecasts in my area!

What's the latest trend in hair color? Going GREEN!

Luckily I don't mean "green" in the literal sense. Like automobiles, storage containers, and even clothing, the hair industry is becoming environmentally conscious. I have recently decided to utilize an environmentally friendly Pravana color in my salon! I'm proud to give my clients this choice and am excited about the beautiful color options available through the Pravana line!

For those of you that are thinking green these days, I encourage you to ask your stylist about the hair products he or she is using!

As a hair stylist, I have quite literally had about every color of hair imaginable. Experimenting is just part of the gig. Some colors were great, but I have to admit that the bright florescent red wasn't exactly a compliment to my skin tone. I guess this is a "live and learn" example!

When you are ready to completely change your color, how can you be sure that you won't end up walking out of the salon and directly to the nearest hat store? My advice, is to go prepared. Find out what kind of information to take to your stylist the next time you decide to makeover your color! Photo © Kendra Aarhus

Spring has sprung! Thank God, right? With the blooming of flowers, sun shining, and the planning of summer activities its time to start thinking about Summer hair management. Most people will experience dry hair, brittle ends, and static electricity as regular nuisances during the Winter months. The Spring and Summer bring a whole new challenge to managing hair. Heat and humidity, swimming, and sun can cause your hair to be less than fun to deal with. Discover ways to deal improve your hair this spring!

When I was introduced to the CHI Transformation System, I assumed it would be much like every other relaxer that I've used. In reality I was rather impressed with the way the CHI system works and how different it really is from other chemical relaxers on the market. My friend and fellow stylist, Rachel, volunteered her hair during a class on the CHI System. It was a brave step considering that just six months prior I permed Rachel's hair and she has had several highlights and colors in between. Check out my thoughts on the CHI Transformation System and the results of Rachel's service!

I have many clients that routinely grow their hair out to chop it off and donate it to Locks of Love. Donating to organizations like Locks of Love can be a very rewarding experience. For those first time donors that have the 8 - 10 inches of hair required for donation, it can also be overwhelming and generate anxiety! So what does a Locks of Love donation look like? I documented one recent client's experience and hope it will help reduce your fears and consider donating your long locks to this charity!

Photo © Kendra Aarhus

Have you ever wondered how stylists stay up to date with the latest hair color techniques, beauty products, and how to cut the newest celebrity styles? We go to hair shows! One of the biggest hair shows of the year, America's Beauty Show (also known as the Midwest Beauty Show), is held in Chicago every year around the first part of March. This year I attended two of the three days of the show and walked away excited to try out some of the new techniques that I learned from vendors like Farouk Systems, Sexy Hair, and Paul Mitchell. Check out my photo gallery of the show for a taste of what I got to see. I can't wait for next year's show!

Photo © Kendra Aarhus

Perms are back in a big way! For the past couple of years, I've noticed a lot of girls and guys deciding to stray away from the straight flat looks and going for volume and curl! For those of you that grew up with the bad frizzy perms of the 80's, fear not! Perms are not only back, but they are better than ever before. Less harsh, more conditioning, and more even curl production are a few of the improvements perms have seen since the bad perms of yesterday. Find out if a perm is right for you by reading about the red flags to consider before you get a perm.

Photo © Kendra Aarhus

Now that the awards are over, it's time to pour over the photos and see who was red hot and who was just not.

The fashion was stunning this year! I loved all the color, especially the rich and bold reds that graced the red carpet! Heidi Klum was my personal favorite in terms of overall look, dress, and especially her fantastic hair. Although, I think I'm in the minority on that opinion, it's my story and I'm sticking to it. There is little I love more in this world than a big fabulous updo!

While Heidi's style probably won't be making an appearance on the average woman's head anytime soon, there were several styles on the red carpet that could be easily recreated at home. Take a look at our tips for mastering these red carpet styles for your next special event!

Photo © Matt Petit A.M.P.C.A.