SPRING AND SUMMER HAIR—WHAT'S HOT/ WHAT'S NOT

Everyone has an image . . . it can range from fabulous to frumpy . . . but everyone has an image, nevertheless! We know that total-beauty-philosophy.blogspot.com are in the fabulous category . . . how do we know? Well, for one thing, you visit Beauty Link quite regularly . . . which means you not only care about your image but know how to create just the one you want to present to the world! We at total-beauty-philosophy.blogspot.com salute you!

Actually, we not only salute you, we interviewed Brad Johns, Kim Lepine, Carmine Minardi and Lisa Chiccine, they are among New York's top hair designers/stylists/colorists/trendsetters . . . they are the magician-beauticians of the beautiful people . . . they enhance, glamorize and maximize the looks of top supermodels, stars and celebrities. They graciously took time out from their hectic schedules to give us the inside info on the hot new styles and colors for hair for this spring/summer season . . . hair's what they had to say:

They all agreed on one thing . . . the 'shag' is OUT! (Hair history!) They did not agree on everything, however, which is actually really good news for everyone . . . there is still leeway to select the type of look that best suits and expresses your individuality!

Short look Carmine Minardi, director of the Minardi Salon felt that we will continue to see lots of short hair . . . "Really short, close to the head . . . contoured to the shape of the head with no bulk at the nape . . . very choppy bangs . . . lots of textures cutting with thinning shears." Carmine went on to say, "We'll also see a lot of long hair with steeply chopped angles . . . uneven pieces . . . long layers with irregular lengths around the face."

What other styles, Carmine? "Lots of hair gathered back and up high into the crown . . . in addition to texture, lots of curly and frizzy hair (accomplished with pin curls or curling irons) with lots of wispy, curly pieces falling around the face."

Short, chestnut hair what about hair colors? "Color will still have dimension with highlights but the highlights will not be as chunky . . . not as contrasting . . . they'll be more blended . . . (example: brunettes with lighter brown highlights) . . . a lot more depth in colors . . . especially short hair cuts will usually be more 'chest nutty' . . . dark brown for short hair is recommended because it makes hair look thicker and more plush and shows more detail around the face."

Carmine also told us about some important hair products that are needed to achieve the desired look, "Chemical relaxes are being used a lot, to control over volume of hair – for hair that's TOO frizzy. Also, lots of hair-straightening gels (Redken makes one called, 'Straight') that is applied to wet hair, combed through, the hair is allowed to dry naturally – when completely dry, you run your fingers through it – it won't be stiff or hard. Also, sculpting lotions and spray foams are hot again for adding body to hair."

Next, we spoke with Brad Johns, formerly chief-colorist for the Oribe Salon, now owner/director of his own brad john’s salon, if you wish to order any of the brad johns products (he has designed his own complete line of hair & skin care products, makeup that is coordinated with hair color as well as his own line of jewelry and hair ornaments) the number to call is 1 888 OLIVIAN.

Famous for his color creations, he feels that . . . "Natural is not really the point. Fabulous is the point!" and, "Hair color is a beautiful but ever changing accessory . . . " Speaking with Brad, one soon realizes that he has quite a passion for his work . . . his philosophy is that, "Hair color should compliment the eyes first, the skin second, and the season third. The shade range in which someone should stay is determined by their childhood hair color."

He also feels that hair color should compliment the light that the sun casts during the different seasons: blue, cooler light in the winter and golden, bright light in the summer. "To create harmony with this light, hair should be infused with warm, rich hues in the fall and winter, in the summer; it should be slightly lighter while maintaining a warm glow."

Firey, red hair what about the hot colors for this season? "Blonde is still very hot, especially a buttery blonde base with thick panels of paler blonde highlights around the face only . . . also, light honey chestnut with caramel-colored panels around the front (sounds delicious?) . . . Honey chestnut is in also (more of a reddish brown . . . but NOT AUBURN!")

Brad elaborated some more on hair colors, "Red, brunette and blonde should be MULTI-colored . . . with all the colors of that family (a full spectrum of shades) . . . it should look like little kids' hair at the beach . . . never solid colored."

"Fire-engine red, blue-black, ashy browns, purple-brunettes, eggplant, ANYTHING that's a vegetable is O U T." Brad continued, "Beware of chlorine pools, they discolor and dry the hair out, also beware of weekend houses with well-water, due to their high content of minerals and lead, they can turn your hair a funny greenish hue. If your hair color is in the midst of corrective work (changing from one color to another), beware of sun and saltwater."

Before turning us over to his chief stylist for her tips on hairstyles, Brad added, "The only way you should be a redhead is if you were one when you were little . . . otherwise you're better off with honey-brown or blonde."

Lisa Chiccine is a top hair stylist at the brad john’s salon and she shared her ideas with us about the different cuts and styles:

"Short hair will be softer, more piece-y, no blunt ends – this is achieved with razor or scissor cutting into the ends (also known as slide-cutting), and the use of pomades." Lisa likes to use two of brad's hair products, Glisten oil) and Tranquilizer (a cream), she mixes the two together and works them into the hair to get the desired 'piece-y' look. According to Lisa, short hair cuts will be "higher in the crown, flatter in the front, everything kept very soft."

What about medium-length hair? "We're getting away from the 'shag' completely" Lisa explained, "layers are much longer – ends more blunt – with longer, softer layers, (not chunky), a little angle in the front and the whole look will be soft."

For long hair, Lisa said that it will have "blunt-edges, long layers, the ends will have contrast, very separated (again, this is achieved with pomades to make the hair strands more distinctive)."

Lisa left us with some tips on hair textures: "They'll be more piece-y, separated ends, for curly hair, the curls will be soft, not too heavy but separated, rezoning works well for this – also, straight, sleek hair will be less bubbly, less full."

Next we spoke with Kim Lepine. Kim has developed her own exclusive line of hair care and styling products and is dedicated to making the best of all types of hair.

When Kim's clients leave her salon, their hair will have "more texture, more volume, the up-swept styles will be less severe, they will be sexier and more romantic – they'll have more of a bedroom look!"

Kim feels that hair cuts will have "cleaner lines, less shagginess, more solid bangs that are thicker and deeper, going further back on the head . . . hair styles will have more length than last year with more movement on the ends . . . more length on top than bottom, more definite lines . . . not wispy".

According to Kim, not only is 'wispiness' out, but so is that greased, flat hair look. "Long hair will be neater with blunt ends and a little shorter than last year . . . it will have more texture . . . you'll see more bangs with long hair, also."

When we asked Kim what would be the hot new color for this season, her immediate response was, "BROWN!" Kim elaborated on this, "Brown is definitely IN . . . especially chestnut brown and cinnamon . . . light browns with dimension . . . blondes have gotten darker, the white-ish and overly-bleached blonde is OUT, warmer blondes are in . . . black tones have gotten lighter, more in the darker brown hues." (It sounds as if we're getting away from extremes in hair color, doesn't it?)

Okay, what about highlights, Kim? "The contrast between the base color and the highlights will be less bold, more blended yet it will have definition."

Well, there you have it, Dear Ones . . . just remember that every-where you go your image follows right along . . . (there's just no getting away from it!)