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Love is all there is.

simon
simon

So much of our inspiration here at Alter EGO has derived from the great works of our local artists, and none more compelling than Mathew Curran.  This image takes hold of our hearts and lifts us away into an experience of all-consuming joy mixed with unconditional, unabating love one can only have for  a child or sibling.  A younger brother.

This month, the Alter EGO team celebrates the life of Simon Curran, and the love he inspired, which lives on in our hearts, in our art and continues to move us.

It's the Season of Pastels...

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pinkroots
pinkroots

Springtime brings sunshine, warmer weather, and a reintroduction of brighter colors into our wardrobes. Easter in particular sees an abundance of pastel shades everywhere from clothes to candy. In honor of the holiday weekend, we wanted to feature some of our favorite pastel hair, and talk a little bit about what it takes to reach the elusive shades of lavender, periwinkle, mint, and coral. The steps to attaining pastel hair are extensive, so stylist Aspen Teal helped break it down simply. According to Aspen…

Step One: Any piece that you want to be pastel must be lightened to white or almost white.  This requires a bleach application, and depending on how much hair you have or want to be pastel, this first step can be quite extensive.

Step Two: The first round of bleach often requires a toner (not quite a full hair color, toner removes unwanted tones from the hair… often used on blonde hair to remove the brassy/yellow tones).

Step Three: The hair must be blow-dried before the color can be applied.

lavenderroots
lavenderroots

Step Four: If the hair was lightened enough with the first bleach out and toner, then the chosen pastel color can be applied. If not, Steps One through Three must be repeated.

Step Five: Haircut. If you don’t want to cut your hair, you should probably reconsider going platinum/pastel. The bleach can sometimes compromise the ends of hair, and a trim is almost always required with this extensive process.

lavender
lavender

All of these steps add up in time, and achieving pastel hair can often take several hours in the salon. Aspen says, “minimum four!” but she stresses that depending on the length, thickness, starting color, or if you have box dye on your hair, that it could take much longer and may even need to be broken up into two sessions.

Pastel hair is gorgeous, and once achieved, we love the look, but anyone considering pastel should also know that it requires quite a bit of upkeep. If your hair is not already a very light blonde, you will need regular root touch ups, and if you want to keep the color, pastels fade within approximately three weeks. Plan to get to know your stylist really well, as you will probably visit them at least once a month.

If you're considering platinum or pastel hair, check out this awesome article from BuzzFeed about the process of going platinum.

ervene
ervene

This Friday, April 3rd, Alter EGO is proud to bring back Ervene Boyd. Join us for her opening from 6-9pm as a part of First Friday in downtown Raleigh. "Being a creative person all my life, I find emotions to be part of the sensory experience of art. I experience joy and sorrow and myriad emotions emanating through color, pattern, and texture. I consider art "wall medicine" because I imbue my paintings with intentions of love and healing vibrations. As a healing minister and Reiki teacher for over 20 years, I find emotions radiate from art and are silently perceived and received. Paintings possess an 'energy' signature, similar to the way wind and rain are seen or felt as soft or hard, cool or warm." - Ervene Boyd

Parts and Pieces. October First Friday.

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OctFF

I was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI and Fairfield, CA and moved to North Carolina in 2005.  I started painting roughly around seven years ago.  My work is influenced by artists such as Jean Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, and Keith Haring as well the human anatomy and skeletal structure. I am a self-taught artist and my style is mixed media with undertones of heavy acrylic painting in the background. I love attention to detail and spend a lot of time working on my intricate body parts weaving in found objects at times as well. The title of my show is Parts and Pieces and is very reflective of my work;  featuring work including  vintage frames, slides, human as well as animal skeleton drawings, physical skeletons, and vintage maps.

 

I  reside in Cary with my fiancée and our three dogs.  -- Jaz

 

First Friday: The Colors of Our World

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watercolorAlter EGO invites friends and family to a very special August First Friday featuring two NC artists that share our passion for color:  

PAM WATTS, a still life watercolorist whose paintings invite you in and entertain your senses with strong pure pigments and warm colors.  Pam began her career in Cincinnati at age 50. She now resides in Alamance County painting, teaching and accepting commission work for homes and businesses.

PAT SCHEIBLE often paints humble structures from the vanishing landscape in sizzling colors.  Her rendition of local buildings, often barns - victims of disuse, development , and kudzu come to life again in a new light and style that will make you smile

Music will be provided by our own Shawna Causey.
Featuring Special Guest Nathan Wellman with' Nate's Mates' (specially handcrafted sock babies)!

April 2014: Faces by Nathan Wellman

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nwellman_port_smallNathan Wellman continues to awe us with his new collection of inspiring designs depicting humanity as fluid, colorful, and fleeting.  Join us as Alter EGO celebrates expressions of ourselves. Born in Wake Forest, North Carolina, Nathan Wellman began refining his artistic interests from an early age. As a talented and disciplined illustrator he very quickly turned to new mediums, experimenting with painting and graphic design.  Nathan received his Bachelors Degree in Interactive Media Arts from The Living Arts College.  He is a six time Addy Awards winner, taking home Silver and Bronze in 2011, two Bronze awards in 2012 and Gold and Silver in 2013. Nathan is also the most recent winner of The Robert F. Lauterborn Scholarship for Advertising.

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The Classic Blow Dry

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blowdry_smoothtalker_main_454x555STEP 1: PRIME

STEP 2: STYLE

  • Blow-dry hair with no elevation at the root area. To create movement, use a medium or large round brush on lengths until completely dry.
  • Use the cool shot on your blow dryer to help lock-in waves.
  • Twist with a half turn; release each section to create natural-looking wave and movement.

STEP 3: EXTEND

Express primer by Redken  Lightweight defining cream paste by Redken    Instant finishing spray by Redken Two day extender by Redken

The Elegant Bump

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STEP 1: PRIME

STEP 2: STYLE

  • Apply guts 10 volume spray foam. Blow-dry hair with maximum elevation in the direction you want the hair to lay. Root volume is key here!
  • Separate hair into 4 sections: top, back, and sides (left and right)
  • Start at the crown, generously mist on quick tease 15. Hold the can 3-4 inches at the root area. Hold the hair up as it dries and continue through each section.
  • Shake powder grip 03 mattifying hair powder onto the root area (use sparingly), then into hands and apply through lengths. Shake through hair as you mist /add powder to create separation and volume throughout the lengths.
  • Pull hair into a low side-pony. Make sure to keep all of the texture you have created, then secure.

STEP 3: EXTEND

Express primer by Redken  Volume spray foam by Redken    Mattifying hair powder by Redken Backcombing finishing spray by Redken   Two day extender by Redken