Kendra's Women's Hairstyles Blog

Quite by accident, I happened across a website today that peeked my interest immensly. eSalon.com is a professional hair color service that sends you a custom hair color, complete with application supplies and instructions, for about $20.

I've recently discussed the pros, cons and rules for coloring your own hair at home with box/over the counter hair color. While, as a professional, I'd rather you were coming to me to color your hair, that option isn't always ideal.

To be fair, I haven't tried eSalon.com and I don't know anyone that has, but I did go through the website and the consultation process and I'm impressed. I played around with the website and put a variety of different senarios into the system. I agreed with every recommendation and completely respected the limitations the site gave based on the information I provided. You can even upload a photo of your hair for truly custom professional advice over the internet.

Obviously, I don't know the professionals behind eSalon.com, but if you're going to color your hair at home, this seems like a lot better option than standing infront of the box color in Walmart and choosing a color with absolutely no rhyme, reason, or understanding of what you're actually chooshing.

The service comes with a money back guarantee (that includes shipping), and gives you the ability to track your color orders, make adjustments, and get advice for perfect at-home results.

I'd love to hear if you've tried eSalon.com and how your color turned out. I am seriously considering placing an order to see for myself. Of course, I'd have to find a guinea pig, because believe it or not, I'm still all natural.

What do you think? Would you try eSalon.com?

Trying new products to review here can be a daunting process. Sometimes it really takes weeks of use before I can tell if I really love a new shampoo or not. It didn't take long for me to make a decision on Nexxus Hydra-Light Shampoo and Conditioner. Read my review and find out if you should give this duo a try.

My friend, Johanna, recently left me a Facebook message about coloring her, I mean, her friend's hair at home. I would imagine that Johanna isn't alone in her quest for answers on this very subject, so I thought I'd share her message here. Johanna writes:

Have you every written a blog about gray hair? If so, can you post the link? You see, I have a friend (hack, hack, cough) that is dealing with a small gray issue (of course it could be her kids, or her husband, or both). She wants to know if it really lasts longer going to the salon, or just doing (dun dun dun) box color, or the stuff from Sally's. I dunno, I just told her I would ask you. Thanks!

Well, Johanna, your friend will be glad to know that I have written an article about this very subject that tells you when to color at home and when to leave it to the professionals. You can read it here.

The only question you had that the article doesn't touch on is the color from Sally Beauty Supply. The color from Sally's is often used by professionals, but is available to the general public. The good news about Sally's color is that you can vary the strength of the formula (use 10 for the least amount of drying and hair damage). The bad news is that you have to measure out the product yourself and it does not typically come with detailed directions. Mixing is easy though (it's usually a 1:1 ratio of color to developer) and the girls that work at most Sally stores that I've been to are pretty helpful with questions you might have.

Good luck to you, I mean, your friend.

Memorial Day Weekend has come and gone and summer plans are well underway. It's my favorite time of the year for fun, but least favorite time of year for damaged hair. If your plans this summer include time in the sun, fun in the water, or heat styling of any sort you can bet that your hair will suffer. The aging effects of summer can be quite significant and by the time the fun and games are through, your hair may not make it out in the prettiest of conditions. If you spend your money on one product this summer, I'd highly recommend that you look into one (or all) of the 12 Benefits products. Like the name suggests, 12 Benefits will protect your hair from UV rays, color fade, chlorine damage, mineral deposits, heat styling, and frizz, and that's just the beginning. It'll help repair the damage you may already have as well.

Learn all about this remarkable line of problem solving hair products with this review and keep your hair healthy this summer.

As I'm writing this blog post, it's pouring down rain and about 20 degrees colder than I'd like. For the second day in a row. It's been raining like this for weeks on end in what seems like the longest spring on record. But who's complaining? Ok, I am. School is almost out and I'm ready to soak up some sun. I hope that wherever you are, summer has shown up and that you can use the advice I'm about to share with you.

I don't see a lot of kids in my salon during the summer. Everyone is busy and haircuts aren't a priority. By the time back to school haircuts get scheduled, those tan faced kids have destroyed their hair with hours in the sun, surf, sand, and chlorine. Not that the fun isn't worth a little follicle damage, but I'd like all you moms our there to know, it doesn't have to be this way.

Protecting your kids hair from chlorine, sea salts, hard water, and the rays of the sun isn't hard. In fact, it's really as simple as using the right shampoo and conditioner. Your kids are going to wash their hair this summer, right?

There are a lot of options out there to consider, I know. And when it comes to taking care of kids hair, you also want a product you can trust, is gentle, and not full of unnecessary chemicals.

My kids and I use Fairy Tales Sun and Surf line for summer hair protection and I couldn't be happier. This organic line was started by a husband and wife team and has been protecting kids hair since 1999. Check out my review of the Sun and Surf line of products and try them out for yourself this summer.

Whenever summer decides to show up.

 

Fair warning: this is a blog post that I've hesitated writing for a long, long time, but after talking to other hairstylists, I think it's high time that we had a little real talk discussion about what goes on in industry.

There are a lot of assumptions that go on about hair stylists, click on the photo above to see it larger and you'll get what I'm' talking about. While I love my job and would honestly not rather be working anywhere else than my little salon, being a salon owner or a self-employed stylist is not the fairytale description that many people dream about. The hours are long. You constantly are covered in other people's hair. Your clothes get destroyed by hair color and other chemicals. It can be physically exhausting and mentally draining. As a hair stylist I am constantly struggling to find balance between home, work, friends, kids, and I have to juggle dozens of different schedules, phone calls, last minute cancellations, and hair emergencies daily. There are no vacation days, sick days, paid holidays, retirement plans, health care benefits, or company perks.

I once wrote this article about why haircuts are so expensive. It's kind of a long article, but if you've ever wondered why it costs what it does to get a haircut, I'd highly recommend that you take a few minutes and read about the costs that actually go into your haircut. You might be surprised.

The truth is, I'm not trying to rip you off, and I don't think I know any hairstylists that are scheming to overcharge for their services. We are not different than you. We simply want to go to work, enjoy our day to the very best of our abilities, and come home with a well earned paycheck. Of course, we all like to save money, but let me tell you something I've noticed; people really like to save money on their haircuts.

Let me also be honest by saying that I'm a giant pushover. My rates are incredibly reasonable for my area of the world. In fact, I've been told on numerous occasions that I should raise my rates. I've only done it one time in five years. I give a lot of discounts. I know a lot of stylists that do. It's the first thing they try to teach you not to do in hair school. Why? Because we will discount ourselves into flat broke in a minute.

In all my years as a serial hair service discounter, maybe three people have called or emailed and said, "Are you sure I paid you enough? I see a discount on my receipt (mine receipts are all sent via email)." Otherwise, no one seems to mind getting a discount, few people say "thank you", and even fewer people reciprocate the discount.

So this over-discounting problem that I have is mine. I need to grow a backbone and stop it, frankly, but as I said earlier, people like discounts and they aren't afraid to ask for one. Nothing irritates me more than when someone asks for a discount on services that I am  already providing at a fair rate, and believe me it happens all the time.

I so badly would like to ask the person how they would react if they went to work and their boss just said, "I'm going to have to ask you to work for half price today, if you don't mind. I'm trying to save a few dollars this week."

I would love to hear your opinions in the comments below. Do you seek out discounted hair services? Do you think it's fair to ask your hairstylist to work at a reduced rate? Have you ever considered that when you get a discount, your stylist is cutting her own paycheck?

If you've followed this blog at all this year, you've probably read a review or two on products from the Bed Head Candy Fixations line by TIGI. The product line launched just a couple of years ago, and is has made quite the impression on me and my clients alike. The trend for hair is to embrace your natural texture, and this line of unique products allows you to enhance what you've got and give it attitude all at the same time. If you're looking to change up your hair styling options and you're ready to amp up the body, texture, and volume, this is a product line that will let you experiment and discover styles that you never knew your hair was capable of. Not only do you get a totally unique styling product, but the smell is as sweet as candy, cookies, sugar, and marshmallows. It's a great product line for teens and grown-ups a like. You may just find that your hair has a sweet tooth.

Check out my reviews of the entire line here and consider adding a few of my favorite new styling products to your daily hair routine.

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In honor of the first day of spring, which was technically yesterday (hey, I'm late for everything), I'm spending my evening refreshing my follicles with a little spring cleaning. I raided the kitchen to clarify my hair, and as I type this the smell of a fresh coconut oil deep conditioning treatment has infiltrated my livingroom. I highly recommend using the first day of each season as a reminder to treat your hair to a little de-gunking and deep conditioning.

Happy Spring

• How to Super Clarify Your Hair
• 10 Deep Conditioners To Try
• Spring Hair Advice
• How to Use Coconut Oil on Your Hair

Do you have fine limp hair? Does your hair get oily quickly, but is incredibly dry a the ends? Do you experience static and split ends, but desperately long for volume and body? Do moisturizing shampoos and conditioners weigh your hair down?

If you've answered yes to any of these questions, I likely have your attention. Keep reading.

When volumizing shampoos and conditioners can be too drying, and moisturizing products are too heavy, you need a light moisturizing shampoo and conditioner that can give you the best of both worlds. Check out my favorite light moisture shampoos and conditioners this spring.

More Spring Hair Tips

• 5 Great Light Moisture Shampoos and Conditioners
• Spring Hair Advice
• Hot Hair Trends for Spring

I love love love the Oscar Awards. Celebrities grace the red carpet with every detail of their look on-point.  Hair, makeup, shoes and gowns are perfected and the tone is set for the year's beauty trends. While every red carpet has it's train wrecks, I didn't see a lot in the way of horrible hair on this year's red carpet, so I've decided to focus my coverage on the mimic-worthy hairstyles that you should consider for your special occasion in 2013. From long hair styled up or down to the shortest glamorous pixie cut, check out my best hair picks at the 85th Annual Academy Awards.