Ambience Hair Studio Blog

Remember when we first started seeing the beginnings of ombre on Khloe Kardashian? At first I honest to God thought it was dip dye. All her sister’s are known to sport different styles from wigs ( which is a huge headache for us colorists’ ) to blunt bob’s to braids. Of course as beauty goes people will follow. Then new trends starting popping up like ombre,sombre, balyage and babylights. As colorists began experimenting with different tools, techniques, color formulas and even color consistencies these new looks progressed. With media being everywhere clients (like you) will pick up on the trends and request these things in the salon, without realizing how long they take and how much of an investment they are. For that sole reason I am writing this blog. Expect a break down of the latest hair coloring techniques and why they might cost a pretty penny. Ombre Ombre is where just the tips ( yes, almost like dip dye but prettier) of the hair are colored. Usually a contrast to the base or natural color of the client. For most if not all of these techniques working in thin sections of hair is essential as they provide blending power. Sombre Soft-ombre get it? This coloring technique is like a shy cousin of ombre that doesn’t want such a drastic change but still wants to do something. Where ombre is usually a clash of color, sombre is more soft and only a couple shades lighter than the base or natural color. Babylights These barely there hilites are just that, a technique of hiliting used for a smooth blend or transition from one color to another. They can also be used to do some face framing. Balayage This technique has become one of my most requested. Balyage when first invented was free hand painting. A thin section of hair was taken and held taut then the colorist would use their brush to paint on the lightener. For processing it’s left out in the air. Let’s pause a moment because I feel I need to explain some things. I work with an ethnic clientele and I haven’t come across a lightener strong enough to do the balayage technique. Most of the time ethnic people have a lot of warm pigments in their hair so for me to do a balayage it may not produce the result they’re looking for. If that is the case I would use another technique called the foilyage. Foilyage In a foilyage (yes, you guessed it) foil is used to create a pocket of heat to enhance the lightening proccess. Much like it’s sister balayage, a thin section of hair is taken and placed in a foil, very much like a hilite. With that being said I should move into cost, this is a tricky thing to talk about as everyone has different thickness and length’s of hair. With many of these techniques thin sections of hair are required. At the salon we consider these double process’ that means that one process is lightening the hair the second proccess is toning the hair. That being said when working with thin sections it takes a very long time to get a full head done. When charging we take into consideration that two colors that were used, how much color was needed depending on thickness and length; as well as how much time it took. Coming in for a quote is always recommended because let’s face it I need my hands in your hair to get a good feel of what I’ll be working with. I think that just about covers it. I am deeply sorry this blog took longer than it should’ve, because summer is such a busy season here at the salon I think I’ll have to step away until the fall rolls around. I hope this was informative and as always feel free to drop some comments.

So it’s the 3rd day you haven’t washed your hair because let’s face it you haven’t had the time and you’re starting to realize that your ponytail or bun is starting to hurt your crown and hairline. Why? Across the board the same answer is given, when you skip out on washing then scratch, your hair follicles along with the surrounding skin get inflamed therefore causing irritation. This combined with the fact that when our hair tends to get oily we use tight styling (ie. high ponies, buns and braids) which in turn aggravate the already tender scalp. If we’re speaking scientifically our scalp produces yeast (no, not that kind) its called malassezia yeast, which we have all over our bodies. When we apply products such as dry shampoo, hairsprays or texturizing powders it adds another layer on top of our scalp. As days go by sebum (our natural oil) and products mix, which then increase the levels of yeast that cause itching and inflammation. All that to say after you’ve had a long day at the office or a stressful day with the kids literally let your hair down. If you can, try brushing your hair always starting at the ends and working your way up, then brush your scalp too. Trust me I know it sounds weird but your scalp will thank you, and then you’ll thank me too. If the itching persists I would recommend seeing a physician as there are medicated shampoos that can be prescribed. Also you suffer from tension headaches/migraines please seek help from your GP, as there are medications that can help. Sorry that this blog was a little late but I felt quality over quantity was necessary and as always I want you guys to have a take away from any of the information I put out there. Below is a source that may have more in depth information. https://www.harklinikken.com/pages/about-us 

Through out life many things can happen, you can leave your job for another, you can find the love of your life, you can even travel the world, all these things without the fear of your hair ever leaving you. While all of us have different hair, sometimes we find ourselves in the same boat. Let’s discuss some of the reasons you can experience breakage and go over some precautions we can take to avoid it. Chemicals One of the biggest reasons is chemically treating your hair, some examples include bleaching/lightening, relaxing and perms (yes, those are still a thing.) When these products are left on for too long it can cause the hair to over process and ultimately dry out. Heat Damage Whether you are blow drying, straightening, or both. Over time it can weaken you hair. If you must look formal for work then I would opt to choose one, either air dry then straighten or blow dry (maybe with a round brush) and skip the straightening. I also recommend that you find a leave-in-conditioner that has a heat protector built in, this way you can still get the conditioning aspect while keeping a barrier between the heat and your hair. Tension Everyone loves a high bun but there can be some repercussions, with time hair ties can take their toll especially if you are wearing them in the same spot. Elastics that have been looped too many times and are too tight can contribute to hair breakage. If you guys haven’t already heard there are new hair ties called bobbles, they are less tight and therefore less likely to give you tension headaches not to mention break your hair. Friction With winter come heavier coats and heavy blankets, but what about your pillow? I bet you’ve never thought about that. Friction caused by tossing and turning at night could have an adverse affect on our hair, particularly if you are sleeping with your hair down. I also recently switched to a satin pillowcase, cotton although breathable can take the moisture out of your hair and skin. Brushing roughly The main word here being brush. I get that some hair tends to tangle more than others and that it can be super frustrating, but being gentle with your tresses is something that will save your length in the long run. Always start at the ends working your way to the middle and finally the roots. If you start from the roots you’ll only manage to tighten the already crazy rat’s nest and you’ll only create more work. As a tip add a dab of hair oil (whatevers’ your fav) to your ends and it’ll help create some slip. Hair trims Don’t avoid eye contact! As many of you know the dreaded haircut is actually to help you, so that no other split ends travel up your hair shaft and cause more damage. When you find the right hairstylist you’ll trust them enough to tell you how much should come off and do it. Deep conditioning/ Hair mask Treatments/masks are often heavy creams that leave your hair feeling miraculous, so the longer they steep in your hair the better. If your hair has undergone any of the above than I would suggest doing a deep conditioning treatment once a week. If you are part of the frequent hair washing club then this should be an easy task. I understand that not everyone has the time to hop back into the shower for the rinse, so if this is the case you can wash your hair as usual the next time. Diet Having a diet that is rich in vitamin’s such as A,B,C,D,E as well as zinc, iron and protein aids in keeping you hair strong. I know this can sound a little overwhelming but if you already eat well, then most likely you are getting most if not all of these.   That concludes this months topic, check back with me next month and if you’re feeling brave drop me a comment on what you would like to see more of on here.

If you are an active person but still have to look the part for work then you’ve come to the right place. Working out not only increases blood flow to all your major muscle groups but also promotes hair growth, think about it the water intake and all that new oxygen being pumped to your brain is greatly beneficial. But this article is about dealing with that same hair after your sweat sesh. If you love a good pump before work but hate dealing with the aftermath that comes with it, then pay close attention because I have some tricks up my sleeve to get you hair work ready. 1. Dry Shampoo If you haven’t already heard about this miracle product, then where have you been? Dry shampoo is a spray that targets your roots and absorbs any excess oils. Careful to only use on dry hair, you can speed up the process by taking advantage of the mini blow dryers provided at most gyms. 2. Up-styling The trick here is no parts so whether you sport a sleek bun or a messy pony you can always dress these styles up with fancy pins or cute headbands. As a bonus if you already have wavy/curly hair your ponytail has tons of volume and I am jelly. 3. Braids These have made a huge comeback and are very efficient in hiding that mess on your head. ( I know not everyone has the ability to do these so keep on reading) 4. Rinsing I’m not talking about shampooing and rinsing I’m talking JUST rinsing. This step helps add body and volume to the rest of your hair, consider it your natural texturizing spray. 5.Hats Beanies,berets, floppy hats and even ball caps if you’re allowed will take care of that situation on your head plus you’ll seem really trendy. I know that not everyone can get away with some of these accessories depending on what work place you work in but I really do feel that you have to get creative with it. I myself have been experimenting with different styles and accessories like scarves and headbands; I also think that the more you search more you’ll find. Until next month everyone.

Working in a salon that deals with all textures I’ve been educated in a fairly new hair typing system, I thought what a great and helpful tool to help those curly haired girls out there. The curl pattern chart above is very useful when searching for products, styling options best suited for you texture, cuts and so much more. All you do is identify which catergory your curls belong in and then search for example “3B hair maintenance” and I promise there is another person out there with your same hair that has found results. Another great resource is Youtube if you are a visual learner (like myself) then I suggest you try the same thing and you will find a whole community just waiting to be discovered! I hope this was a helpful for anyone reading  and check back in for more articles.

So you got home and the colour isn’t what you though it would be. It didn’t look like this when you left. So why does it not look the same? Maybe you’re over thinking it and it’s not that bad. Do any of these thoughts sound familiar? Well it happens a lot more than what you think and maybe now you’re in the hair colour correction boat. Wait what is a colour correction? Let’s review what happens when you undergo a color correction. The consult, it’s recommended to come in so the hair colourist can have a look at the situation and assess. Day of, depending on what needs to be fixed it could take anywhere from 1-7 hours. If the problem is too much brassiness, yellow or copper tones there could be some decolorizing or bleaching needed. I know when you hear the word bleaching you panic, the truth is that bleach is only as strong as you make it. There‘s different levels of peroxide which is the liquid we add to bleach to make it weak or strong. The decision is left up to your colorist as they know how much your hair can handle. If you’ve newly gone an ash color and you find it has a tinge of green then decolorizing could be up your alley too. Green happens when there it still yellow left in the hair and a blue toner is deposited. Yellow + Blue = Green Color corrections can be a very trying time for any hair colorist and of course for you the client so buckle up with some snacks and a good book .The reason that color corrections can take up to a day is the tedious work that goes into them. A great example being foiling the whole head, like hilites we use foils to retain heat to have a better level of lift. When a client has mid chest hair that is fairly thick it takes a lot of foils and tons of little sections of hair so the product can evenly process. Word to the wise Toners, since the beginning of time hair colorists have used toners (that’s what we call demi permanent colors) to temporarily fix coppery or yellow tones. The thing is that it’s just that a temporary fix to a bigger problem. The reason clients keep coming back to tone their hair is because it hasn’t been lifted high enough to where that tone won’t show through anymore. Ask your colorist if your hair is able to be a couple shades lighter to space out your visits.

Seeing as we are a salon that offers extensions as part of our services I thought what better way to inform our clients about how to prolong your extensions’ life expectancy. In the salon we offer 2 types of hair extension application services. Sew-in and clip-in now these options can vary depending on the needs of the client and their hair texture. Hopefully with these guideline you can manage. Whether it’s being a full head sew-in or just a couple of rows they’re still a bit tricky to maintain if you don’t know the things to watch out for. Almost every type of hair will get tangled should it not be brushed properly in the morning and at night. However since the hair is no longer attached to a head it lacks food which means it can be dry and easy to knot. We recommend you either to tie the hair up in bun or a braid, whatever is easiest for you. With clip-in’s they’re easy to just take out before going to bed, mind you they are also easy to over process when using the curling or straightening iron. Be sure to let them sit in a hair treatment or a hair mask overnight at least once a week. We have weekends to relax, these poor things have no time off or payed vacation.