The Poppiottes & Pin Curls Oribe Experience

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Wednesday morning, Oribe Educator and NYC stylist, Mandee Hernandez joined the Alter EGO team for a brand new educational experience.  Pin Curls have been around since the 1940s, but Poppiottes are an Oribe creation.  Mandee and Katie refreshed our knowledge on the classic Pin Curl, refining the technique to get bouncy spirals, along with how to tease out the curls for maximum body and fun.  The next section of the class focused on Poppiottes, curls using rolled up magazine pages in place of curlers.  Using lightweight magazine paper puts less stress on the hair than curlers, and it's sustainable--a great way to recycle old magazines.  Poppiotte curls also lend themselves perfectly to updos.  Mandee demonstrated both curl techniques, along with an updo style using the Poppiotte curls, then the stylists each got to test out one of the looks on their own models. They had tons of fun learning and practicing, and the results turned out FABULOUS!

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Dana Rosa and Shayla Moreira create formal hair styles at Alter EGO Hair Salon in Downtown Raleigh.

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Mandy Asberry creates curly hair styles  in downtown Raleigh at Alter EGO Hair Salon and Blow Dry Bar.

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Aspen Johnson creates bouncy curls at Alter EGO Hair Salon in downtown Raleigh.

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Meghann Holland pins curls for couture styles at Alter EGO Hair Salon in Raleigh.

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Ashley Shick creates awesome curly hair at Alter EGO Hair Salon and Blow Dry Bar.

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Tight curls at Alter EGO Hair Salon and Blow Dry Bar.

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Formal Updo Hair Style at Alter EGO Blow Dry Bar.

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Glamorous curls in this hair style at Alter EGO Blow Dry Bar.

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Couture curls at Alter EGO Hair Salon and Blow Dry Bar.

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Formal hair  style at Alter EGO Blow Dry Bar.

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Throwback pin curls at Alter EGO Blow Dry Bar.

Tips & Tricks to Make Your Color LAST!

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“If I pay for a color, I want it to stay, ya know?” An exact quote from a conversation with a friend recently, but anyone who has ever paid to color their hair (and even if you’re a box color DIYer, you pay for it) has either said or thought these words. Whether you were born to be a redhead (but genetics made you brunette), or you’re convinced blondes have more fun (but the sun just isn’t working fast enough) once you decide on your hair color and invest in it, you want it to last. And really, when you think about it, your hair color IS an investment. The saying goes “you get what you pay for,” but I’d like to rephrase that to, “When you invest in quality, you get quality in return.” If you want your color to last, there are a variety of actions you can take to increase the longevity of your investment.

1. Embrace the idea that water is the enemy. 

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We’re talking in terms of hair here—you better be drinking that 64+ ounces a day. When it comes to hair color, water is the number one cause of color fade. Why? Short answer: science. Long answer: hair color is essentially a manipulation of the pigment molecules in your hair. Different levels of color work in different ways (Demi, permanent, etc) but ultimately, they all have to do with influencing or altering molecules. Water, particularly hot water, opens the hair cuticle, which allows the color molecules to escape more easily—which is why you see your color draining away into the bottom of your shower. If you want your color to last, reduce the amount that you wash your hair. Invest in a good dry shampoo that will prolong your clean hair, and if you have medium to long hair, learn to work that day three updo (my personal fave trick).

2. While we’re talking water… let’s talk about the COOL factor.

As mentioned above, hot water opens the hair cuticle the most, so washing your hair with cool or cold water will reduce the amount of color leakage (though not eliminate). No matter what, washing your hair is going to lighten or fade the color eventually. That, again, is a matter of science.

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3. Rolling with the washing topic… Every shampoo was NOT created equal.

Utilizing a color-safe shampoo is essential for prolonging the life of your color. There’s a variety of ones available—our favorites, of course, are R+Co’s Gemstone, and Oribe’s Shampoo for Beautiful Color. Or for blondes… Oribe’s Bright Blonde Purple Shampoo. When it comes to the topic of shampoo, there’s a lot of terms thrown around that can make the search for the right one confusing. Sulfate-free, clarifying, paraben-free to name a few… but the reality is that you should focus on the quality of the ingredients in your shampoo. Sulfates are what make the suds in cleansing products of all kinds, but like most everything else in life, there are extremely low-quality sulfates (the kind that can irritate your scalp, and can contribute to a quicker loss of color), and there are extremely high-quality sulfates as found in some of Oribe’s shampoos along with other salon-quality brands. Clarifying shampoo is another case of quality DOES count, and sparing use will not have a significant affect on your color. For more info on parabens see this article (http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/08/image/la-ig-beauty-parabens-20110508).

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4. Your hair needs sun protection as much as your skin!

Sun darkens skin, but lightens hair, and that includes colored hair. Find a styling product that includes UV protection or buy yourself a really cute pool/beach hat. Just as your skin is damaged when out in the sun for too long with no protection, your hair can be affected in the same way. Not to mention, the term sun-kissed highlights came about due to naturally sun-lightened hair—the sun will do its best to lighten your hair whether colored or not.

5. Speaking of summertime… Chlorine is a chemical and it WILL alter your hair.

Avid swimmer? Live at the pool? If you swim for fitness and have colored hair, embrace the swim cap! Even if you don’t have colored hair… chlorine dries and damages hair, so strongly consider protecting it either way. If you just love to soak in the cool water… pin that hair up on top of your head and keep your head above the water. Refer to preservation tip #1… water is the enemy! Same goes for the beach, even though there’s no chlorine. The more you wet your hair, the more color will have a chance to escape whether there is shampoo involved or not.  If you do swim or want to dunk your head, consider investing in a chlorine neutralizer.  You can spray this on before, after, or both, and it will work to counter-balance the effects of chlorine.

6. Glazes/Glosses/Toners are your FRIEND.

If you love the shine of newly colored hair, or want your color freshened up without paying for another full on coloring session… ask your stylist about glazing or glossing your hair. Known also as toners, these are non-peroxide sheer colors that can brighten or subtly change your color, along with conditioning your hair. They last approximately 4-6 weeks, and are a great way to prolong the time between highlights or full colors.

7. INVEST in a deep conditioner or masque for your hair. 

Coloring or lightening your hair automatically alters it. Remember the manipulation of molecules? Science-y stuff happens no matter what kind of color. Thus, you want to make sure to treat your hair extra well following the color to improve its health. Using a deep conditioner once a week will add some hydration back into your hair, and helping to maintain the health of your hair.

8. Hand-in-hand with deep conditioners, heat protectants keep your hair healthy!

If you style your hair with heat of any kind—blow dryer, straightening iron, curling iron, etc… you should invest in a good heat protectant. This can come in the form of oils or a variety of sprays, and will act as a shield between your hair and the damaging effects of heat. Healthy hair takes color more evenly, so if you color your hair regularly, you want to take the best care possible to ensure your hair is healthy enough to smoothly accept the color treatment.

Natural progression of fashion color utilizing these techniques.

IN SUMMARY: Prolonging the life of your color requires an investment of more than just the actual color service. By design, color treatments alter your hair—ever heard the phrase “Every action has an equal and opposing reaction”? Coloring your hair requires a “reaction” (see: steps above) to ensure the integrity and health of your hair. If you have any questions about what might be best for YOUR hair… talk to your stylist!! They love to educate clients about the coloring process, and how to extend the life of their work… aka your hair!

Rainy Day Hair Cures

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As the saying goes, April is the month of showers and it has definitely proven to be so thus far. We all know that the rain doesn’t end when the May flowers arrive, however. Here at Alter EGO we are armed and ready with all of our favorite tricks to combat the Spring air-induced frizz and the dreaded grey rainy days. Our newest favorite rainy day cure is the unstoppable FOIL spray from R+Co. Foil is as multifaceted in ability as the shiny silver bottle. It vanishes static, smoothes stubborn flyaways and frees your hair from frizz!

Our other Spring-Summer obsession seems to have been made for the North Carolina humidity. ORIBE’s Anti-Humidity Spray does its best work on those sticky humid days that we all know are right around the corner. The spray actually has advanced polymers that push moisture away from the hair.   It allows your hair to hold its style, even through our humid NC days.

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We are head over heels for Foil and the Anti-Humidity Spray, but sometimes you just need a really good thunderstorm afternoon hair-do. On those days, our fabulous stylists suggest the following tips and tricks!

Dig out those headbands and rock them in style! Alisha’s rocking her retro polka dots, but we also love the bandanas as headbands trend. The coolest thing about headbands is that you can mix and match them to your outfit. Simple gold headband for the office… switch it out for your favorite stretchy headband on your way to the gym.

Our other classic rainy day hairdo is braids and twists. Learning to braid your own hair takes practice, especially for people with slightly less coordinated fingers (aka me). If you’re not yet up for braiding your hair, twisting it back is something that everyone with a few bobby pins can do. Either choice gives you a styilsh updo that even walking to work in the rain can’t destroy.

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And of course, sometimes you just need to embrace the natural texture of your hair. With thick wavy hair, Alli knows the struggle of rainy days, but she looks absolutely fabulous sporting her rained on waves. Finding the right product to enhance your natural hair can make all the difference in being able to love your curls, waves, or straight locks on those days when the weather just doesn’t cooperate.

As always, if you need some hands-on help mastering your fave rainy day 'do just ask your stylist at your next appointment for some quick pointers and ideas.  Surprise surprise, Saturday's forecast is calling for rain... which look are you going to choose?

The Beginnings of an Oribe Love Affair

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ORIBE is not just a high performance luxury line of products. The products are an embodiment of their namesake, Oribe himself. Fashion connisseur, runway innovator, hair lengend—Oribe has been making waves in the hair industry for decades. He has designed iconic runway hairstyles, styled countless Vogue covers, and hand-crafted his collection of hair products.

Marrying his artistic vision with the scientific knowledge of lead formulators, Oribe created a selection of products that utilize the finest natural ingredients while showcasing the industry’s newest advancements in hold, volume, and shine.

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Summer Campbell, a Luxury Brand Partners Product Specialist, spent the morning with our stylists teaching them the ins and outs of the Oribe line. After a couple of hours with Summer, our stylists had tons of new information to share!

These are a few of their favorite things…

“The Smooth Style Serum for crazy flyaways – it also has moisture, shine, and hold.” – Dana Hunter

“Split End Seal because it heals 94% of split ends with continual use. With personal experience going from black to blonde, it’s worked for me.” – Meghann Holland

“You’re supposed to mix and match the Oribe Shampoo & Conditioners to create a completely customized prescription for the hair.” – Brittany Cline

“I’m excited about the curl products. I have curly hair and know the struggle of curly crunchy hair. We want to have soft curls and I’m confident this will do it!” – Danielle Duarte

“I was really excited to learn about the Surfcomber mousse because it can give you texture and beachy waves without being crunchy.” – Erika Kozlowski

“We learned how to make prescriptions for clients using the products to fit their needs. It’s a 4 step process: shampoo & condition, prep, style, and finish. Also, all of their products are made in America.” – Alli Carter

“Every 3 minutes one Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray is sold in America.” – Madison Hancock

“Split End Seal is my favorite because it heals 94% of ends and prevents 65% of breakage. Great for my fine-haired and bleach out clients.” – Shawna Causey

“It’s really cool that there are silk amino acids in the shine shampoo and conditioner—you’re literally putting silk in your hair.” – Aspen Teal

"The Aprés Beach spray because it gives you that super natural beachy hair... it's more than just a texture spray, it actually enhances your natural body and wave, perfecting that beachy look!" – Erin Doak

"The shampoos and conditioners are not just color-safe, but are also safe for hair that has been treated with Keratin.  It's really awesome for clients who have a Keratin treatment on their hair and fall in love with Oribe.  They don't have to compromise on taking care of their hair!" – Elizabeth Croft

Have any Oribe questions?  These ladies would love to tell you all about it!  Give us a call, ask below, or ask your stylist at your next visit!  We're officially #oribeobsessed... are you?

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