BellaSugar

Getting to the Root of It - Go Back to Natural Part Two

BellaSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:00:22 -0700

After talking to master stylist Meredith Venesile-Spiros about getting back to your natural color in a budget friendly manner, it was clear that this job was one for a professional - at least for the initial change.

While it may be tempting to do a little kitchen sink coloring at home to save a few bucks, stop before you break out those plastic gloves and make an unintentional mistake. "The fact of the matter is, hairdressers want to help. They are actually saving you money in the long run."

To learn more about Meredith's advice on going back to your virginal (er...in the hair sense, of course) ways, read the how-to below:

If going from an artificial darker color back to your natural lighter or gray color:

Your stylist will have to take out the artificial pigments by "gradually putting in some super fine highlights," says Meredith. This helps subtly blend your colors without overly damaging your strands. If you were to go all light at once, it could be too much for your hair to take.
You'll probably have to return in a few months to finish off the job, but your healthy hair will thank you.

To find out more about getting back to your roots, read more

If going from an artificial light color back to your natural darker color:

Your stylist will apply something called a filler on your lighter pieces. What this does is create a "deep pure pigmented" base for your hair so that, "once color is applied it lasts longer and won't wash out of your hair," Meredith says.
Unless your hair is very porous, you probably won't have to return to the salon for another process.

For tips on keeping your hair fresh throughout the process:

Maintain shine with a glazing treatment every 10-12 weeks either at the salon or with a clear at-home glazing product such as John Frieda's Luminous Color Glaze Clear Shine ($10).
Use a color enhancing shampoo and conditioner to help boost fading hues. Meredith recommends Aveda's brown bottled plant-based color shampoos ($3.50 to $26.50) and conditioners ($17).
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Getting to the Root of It - Go Back to Natural Part One

BellaSugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:00:11 -0700

A few weeks back, Bella reader lotuslight wanted to go back to her roots - literally. She asked what it would take to completely grow out her artificial color and go natural instead, all while keeping it budget-friendly. So, I’ve done a little sleuthing and here’s what was uncovered.

To get the facts straight, I consulted with Meredith Venesile-Spiros, master stylist at Salon V in Chicago and former contestant on the latest season of Shear Genius.

Ironically enough, to get rid of color, you're going to have to add some color. When going back to the tones that nature intended, it's best to stay out of the drugstore aisles to avoid a DIY color disaster, regardless of how tempting (and cheap) it might be.

"At least for the first time, go see a professional to properly make that change," Meredith advises. Let the experts guide you on what it's going to take keep the integrity of your hair intact. In the long run, you'll "save yourself some drama, money, and multiple trips to the drugstore."

To avoid having the embarrassment of heavy roots while your hair grows out, your stylist will talk about gradually blending your previously colored hair into your natural (virgin, if you will) color. Stay tuned to learn more about what Meredith says it takes to make this change a reality.

Photo courtesy of Bravo.

Who Should Have Won Shear Genius?

BellaSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:00:40 -0700

Did you watch the season finale of Shear Genius last night? The last assignment was for each stylist to create a story of a woman's life from the ages of 18, 30, 45, and 60 - all through her hair. Pretty cool concept, right?

Dee's models were all redheads, and her story focused around a woman who started out with dreams of being a singer - who eventually succeeded, of course. Charlie kept it in the creative element as well, depicting the life of a blond child actress, from beautiful ingenue to famed director. Nicole's story kept it real. Her brunette models were based on the fairly normal life of her mother.

Whether you watched the show or are just judging by these models' hairstyles, who do you think deserved to win last night?

Photos courtesy of Bravo.

Will You Be Watching Shear Genius Tonight?

BellaSugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:00:19 -0700

Tonight, Shear Genius returns to Bravo for another season of cut-and-color drama. You can check out the contestants for a preview of their personalities if you like; so many of them have terrible haircuts that I'd be nervous to let them near my head. If you aren't familiar with the show, here's a preview. Will you be watching?

Are You Watching "Shear Genius"?

BellaSugar — Tue, 08 May 2007 04:20:43 -0700

When I first heard about Bravo's hair show, "Shear Genius," I thought it was ridiculous. But after watching a few episodes, I'm hooked on this over-the-top reality series. What about you?

Join Our Tabatha's Salon Takeover Group!

BellaSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:00:25 -0800

Do you love Tabatha's Salon Takeover as much as I do? As you might know, each episode of this addictive show features a salon that's in dire straits, and the longtime stylist heads on in to correct what needs correcting. Tears are always a-flowing and there's usually some kind of feel-good ending.

If you're a fan of the no-nonsense approach of the charismatic host, Tabatha Coffey, who we first saw as a contestant on Shear Genius, I've got the perfect place for you to go. It's our new We Love Tabatha's Salon Takeover group. Stop by here anytime to discuss the latest goings-on of this guilty pleasure show, which is on Bravo, Tuesdays, 10/9 central. All are welcome in this group, so join now!

Photo courtesy of Bravo

Can You Guess the Famous Hairstylist?

BellaSugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 10:00:37 -0700

Some hairstylists have very recognizable faces, especially if they're in commercials or frequent guests on talk shows. Perhaps they've even made appearances on recent reality programs, like Sally Hershberger's judging role on Shear Genius and Jonathan Antin's emotional antics on the highly entertaining Blowout. But, there are other celebrity stylists whose faces you might not recognize, but perchance you know their names from somewhere. Can I stump you on this one? Take this quiz to find out.

Question 1 of 5

Who is this famous guy?

Beauty Byte: Pete Wentz Is Really Into Hair

BellaSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:00:28 -0800

Ashlee Simpson's red hair has earned her fair share of attention, but it's her boyfriend Pete Wentz who's leaping into the salon business. The guyliner king is opening his own salon in Chicago.

Like his casual clothing line, the punk-themed space will be called Clandestine Industries. Lead stylist Ben Mollin, who you might remember from his stint on Shear Genius, will deliver hipster cuts for men and women. No word on whether we can expect to hear lots of Fall Out Boy or Pete's old band on the stereo system, but I imagine the mall-punk brigade is going nuts right now.

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