Kendra's Women's Hairstyles Blog

No, I'm not channeling my inner CCR, but that song did bring a little smirk to my face when I heard it on Friday, the 13th of June, 2008. Irony, perhaps? I live and work in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and you likely heard about the mighty flood that took out a lot of our town on that day. My salon was located in the Czech Village neighborhood of Cedar Rapids and, when the water crested, our salon took on a little more than eight feet of flood water. Our historic area of the city was all but destroyed by the water.

It's been quite a journey since the water came up and the water came down. We've spent the past two and a half weeks cleaning up the damage in our neighborhood and helping our neighbors clean up. It's an absolute daunting task. We are waiting patiently for the City to decide if we will be allowed to rebuild, and we are looking forward to returning Czech Village to the wonderful little neighborhood that it was.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out to help or said a prayer for our City. We are looking forward to rebuilding and I look forward to sharing the rebuilding process on this blog. My heart goes out to everyone that has been touched by this event, but I have to say that I'm proud to be a part of this community. I have seen a lot of generosity, selflessness, and hard work go into saving and restoring our homes and businesses. I'm proud of that.

Today is Father's Day, and I just want to say "Happy Father's Day" to my dear ol' Daddy, and share a little story about my dad and hair.

My dad is the proud father of four, yes four, daughters, and the even prouder grandfather to two bubbly granddaughters. He also has four sisters. So, needless to say, girls and their hair has never been a foreign concept to my dad. However, like most dad's, my dad had a way about things.

When we were young, we spent a lot of time with just Dad. Dad liked to do things methodically and I will never forget, after our baths at night, Dad would line us up like soldiers, and with this big comb, slick our hair straight back on our heads. I suppose to him, it seemed to be the best way to quickly comb these kid's hair and keep it out of our face.

It was always fine until morning. When it dried. Our bangs would be sticking out straight and all crazy like, and well, we sported some fun bed head. This might just explain why Dad always liked ponytails in our hair! I suppose it minimized the bed head.

To this day, by force of habit, I often slick my wet hair straight back on my head! Of course, I quickly straighten it up and comb it the way it's supposed to be combed! But it makes me laugh a little to remember my dad, "the hair stylist."

Happy Father's Day, Dad... and to Dad's everywhere!

... I'll give you a topic. Discuss.

Have you ever wanted your hair to be longer for a wedding, special dance, or just a fun night out on the town? Does the thought of placing your own hair extensions or paying to have them placed by a professional make you want to just throw your hair in a pony tail and call it a day? Well, look no further, find out how to place clip-in hair extensions for your next special event!

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My salon is located in a beautiful area of Cedar Rapids called Czech Village. "The Avenue," as its called, is full of antique shops, gift shops, a tea room, and the like. It's a wonderful place to come for lunch and old world shopping. I am always drawn to the vintage hair brushes in the antique stores and so often wonder why we don't have beautiful hair brushes as the ladies of yesterday had. What would today's high class hair brush look like, I wonder.

Well, wonder no more! Check out the Diva Does... Hairbrush Collection by Artist Malenda Trick! How fantastic is THAT? This collection features beautifully crafted hair brushes for the Diva in everyone, and at $12.00 a piece, they are so very affordable as well. What a great gift for your hair dresser, your mother-in-law that has everything, or even your kids' babysitter? Now, my only dilemma is do I get the Bath Diva, the Bling Diva, or the Lamour Diva Hairbrush for myself? Such decisions.

I'll be placing an order shortly, and when my new fancy brush arrives, I'll be sure to write a full review of my new treasure! If you decide to get one of these little gems for yourself, I'd love to hear about it!

Photo provided by Jenny McLain, Owner, Jenny's Gifts and Fine Art

If you buy one professional hair product for the rest of your life, I implore you to try CHI Silk Infusion - Reconstructing Complex™ by Farouk Systems. Silk Infusion is a leave in product that can be applied when the hair is wet or dry.

When using the product on wet hair it serves as a fantastic detangler. Great for kid's hair too! When used on dry hair you suddenly have a little extra shine, frizz is minimized, and fly-aways are virtually gone!

All the while, this amazing product infuses your hair with silk, wheat, and soy proteins. If you have damage from coloring or highlighting your hair, perms, sun damage, split ends, just dry hair, the reconstructing capabilities of Silk Infusion are absolutely heads and tails above that of any other similar product that I've tried. And trust me, my hair has gone through every color of the rainbow (quite literally) and has been damaged beyond repair, or so I thought. Silk Infusion has truly helped recover my hair and leaves my hair soft and manageable with incredible shine, and no product build up.

Oh! It also helps protect your hair from the environment and thermal styling. I'm telling you, this stuff will do just about anything for just about any hair type, including ethnic hair. I use a nickel to quarter sized about of product on my hair (focusing on the midshaft and ends of my hair) before and after I blow dry (my hair is very dry, the amount you use will vary). Silk Infusion costs approximately $12.00 - $14.00 for a 2 oz. bottle, although I recommend going with the 12 oz. bottle for $22.00 - $25.00. The product lasts forever and the value on the 12 oz. bottle is definitely worth it!

Silk Infusion is the one product that I have not found anything to compare. Similar "silk" serum type products are available professionally and over the counter, but, in my opinion, nothing else works as well, smells as good, or delivers like Silk Infusion!

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I absolutely loved spending Tuesdays with Margaret, and had been spending my weekly hour or so with her for months and months. When her health took a turn for the worse, I began visiting Margaret at her home to wash and style her hair.

Unfortunately, Margaret passed away and my Tuesday visits have come to an end. I stopped by their home yesterday to give my sympathies with Margaret's husband and son and to pick up a curling iron that I had left behind. The end of a chapter, I suppose.

I will miss Margaret, her husband, and our weekly chats. Her husband told me that Margaret thought that I was "the best". Honestly, I know that I learned so very much from my time with Margaret and I hope she knows that I too thought she was "the best". I'm thankful that I was able to know her. As it turns out, I will still get to see Margaret's husband on occasion. My co-worker has been his barber for many years. Such a small world, huh?

Goodbye Margaret, with Love,
Kendra

I was browsing through photos of Sex in the City Premiers, oogling at the hair, makeup, and fashion, and I noticed a trend. The center part. You know, when you line a comb up with your nose and part your hair straight up the center? Hmmm... is this a new trend? I, for one, never wear a center part and I don't know many women that do, but low and behold, there they were. So, I bounded off into the wide world of gossip channels and Hollywood photos and there were center parts all over Celebrityville!

What gives? Is this a new trend? Did the center part never die like I thought it did? I don't think I have issue with the center part, but I didn't realize it was so popular! What do you think? Do you wear a center part? Is this a fashion trend you'll grab onto, or do you find the center part terrible choice?

Photo © Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

The wedding season is upon us. As a hair stylist, that means good bye to Saturday mornings and hello to hairspray and hair pins! I'm not complaining, I love my job, I have a great time with bridal parties, and I absolutely adore helping a bride pick out her wedding day hair style!

Updos are typically the "do" of choice, but finding out what kind of updo you want can be a stressful process. I'm working hard to narrow the search and have put together an updo photo gallery of photos that I've taken and photos that have been submitted by my readers here! I've also created a celebrity updo photo gallery for those brides that want a red carpet look on their special day!

I hope these photos can help you choose an updo for your next formal occasion! After your next special event, don't forget to submit a photo of your hair style so I can add it to the galleries!

Photo © Becky Hill

Behind every beautiful woman is a great man, right? Or is it the other way around? Well, either way and whatever gender, great hair is just a click away! Check out Dave Alexander, About.com's new Guide to Men's Hair. Share it with the men in your life!