Take a look at more of his amazing work.
Smooth infusion styling prep: This is a great product to blow dry curly hair straight. If you have super-thick hair and like to air dry, apply some if this to the hair and hand-style as desired. It's not too heavy or greasy and rinses off easily.
Retexturing Gel: One of my favorites for adding a little lift at the roots for blow drying and to men's hair that's longer and wavy. It's easy to apply and not as flakey as some gels. If you use a curl cream and wear your hair naturally, add a little of this to your cream for extra hold and definition.
With men in mind-
Well, there you have it. These are my personal favorites. I'm sure if you're familiar with this line you may already have yours. For the people who have always wanted to try Aveda but were confused by the many choices, I hope this was helpful to you.
owned by our favorite hairstylist Orlando Pita.
As usual, I will keep you up to date with all the latest from our industry with articles, images, and soon videos.
It also allows me to keep my focus on honesty and quality first. After being away from NYC for over a year and living in Miami, I have had the opportunity to fall in love with New York like never before. I have also had the chance to find my new love in volunteering.
I also had the opportunity to meet the wonderful nurses at Oceanside Extended Care in South Beach, where I gave free haircuts to the very sick patients.
I can't begin to describe how it felt to see someone who can't walk or speak stare at themselves in the mirror as I cut their hair. Their resulting smiles left me feeling a huge sense of gratitude.
I was also able to collect donations and make sandwiches for sometimes more than 200 homeless people in downtown Miami every six weeks or so. I'm looking forward to recruiting friends in NYC to do the same for the homeless there.
So thanks again to my readers and I'll see you in the Big Apple! ;)
In the past, we have seen product companies go to any length to attract consumers by using enticing words or ingredients to help generate new interest in their hair products. I always enjoy the creative ways they use packaging and the media to help promote their new and exciting offerings.
We have seen many examples of this in the past. Knowing that our culture has become more age-conscious, they started using words like “age recharge,” “age defying,” and “time reset,” just to name a few. Then, with all the media on celebrities losing weight, products bombarded the market with promises to make even your hair slimmer, skinnier, or leaner. And it does not end there. If there is a vegetable or fruit that's thought of as healthy to eat, it’s quickly added to shampoos, conditioners and hair colors. Before you know it, all the other companies join in and we have hair products with acai, fruit acids, avocado, and whatever nut or oil is all the rage at the time. I'm surprised we don't have a kale or cilantro shampoo on the market already. :)
Well, apparently it's time to take it one step further. Companies are now using plastic surgery culture as a way to promote hair products. Are you ready for this? Here it is:
HAIR BOTOX!
You heard me right, children! After hearing about this and doing some basic research here's what I know. Loreál first launched it as an in-salon treatment designed to save your hair and scalp. Terms like "feed your hair" "scalp TLC" and "scale back the stress" are being used describe the product. Companies would have you believe that it's been used for some time now on celebrities, and that they love it. I don't know for sure because I have not seen it endorsed by any actual celebrity.
Okay, let's get down to business here. I have never used it and will wait some time before I touch it. Personally, as a hairstylist I can't keep up with all the new hair products that promises to make everyone look and feel younger. I mean, really – are we that desperate!? Lol!
Here's what I do know.
1) I have heard these promises before by other product companies.
2) Having seen other products hit the market with enormous press and branding and then disappear shortly thereafter, I have to be a bit skeptical. Look at "Inoa” hair color, for example. There was all sorts of buzz about this “amazing” ammonia free hair color when it was launched, but where is it now? Where will hair botox be in a few years? And where will your hair be?
3) Once you say a celebrity uses a product, everyone wants it. I wouldn’t act on such rumored endorsements until I had a personal conversation with that celebrity,
if I were you.
4) As we’ve seen with many other big brand name “hair care miracles,” smaller companies are already flooding the market with their versions. We know for a fact that once this swarm of knock-offs hit the market, the quality of a product is never the same.
5) Now that everyone is doing it and it's so easily accessible, some stylists start to stray from the manufacturer’s directions, leaving the client at risk.
6) In a culture consumed by quick results, it will probably now take the place of Keratin (for some salons), and will run its course before the next craze takes over. So let's wait for the reviews.
I recently had the opportunity to see models who had had their hair "botoxed," and the results varied. Please keep in mind that it was NOT LOREÁL BOTOX. One had frizzy, curly, damaged hair, and she liked the results but will stick to Keratin in the future. Keratin allows her to achieve straighter results, which she prefers.
The other also had damaged hair, and was not happy with the end result. Her hair was in worse condition afterward. As a hairstylist, I know many things can affect the results of a product, so until I have it in my own hands, it's hard to say whether I like it or not.
Women with healthy hair (and you do exist!), keep up the good work. We all know there’s only one way for you to end up with unhealthy hair, and that's mistreating it by blow drying too much and tacking on too many chemical services.
Well my lovelies, how's that for honesty?
Let me know your thoughts.
Antonio
Here are some common hair salon myths I’m thrilled to bust before your beauty-loving eyes:
1) The fancier the salon, the better it is.
Have you heard of the term “smoke and mirrors?” Well in this case, it’s more like “chandeliers and mirrors.”
There have always been beautiful salons across the world since the early 1900s. What's different today is that fancier salons are considered "better." This is not necessarily true. It is important to remember that the purpose of a hair salon is to provide you with a clean, professional environment and the best hair service possible. When you leave the salon, you should feel inspired and happy with your hair.
A talented hairstylist is just that. A great hair salon should be able to sell itself without the experience of a boutique hotel. Do you want to pay for a quality haircut and also pay for the champagne, tea and crumpets? If that's what you're looking for, then please enjoy. But don’t let those little perks distract you from getting what you truly want from your salon – great hair!!!
2) You should go to a salon because someone who works there is advertised as a celebrity hairstylist.
Please keep in mind that the one sure way for us hairstylists to get more attention is to say we have touched a celebrity. When this happens, we are instantly pushed into another dimension. This puts us in the public eye and allows us to charge more.
Having had the opportunity to work on the occasional celebrity has been a wonderful experience, and yes, it has helped my career. However, I'm not a “celebrity hairstylist,” and yes, that is a disclaimer! LOL! (I do work for one though.)
If you are looking for a celebrity hairstylist experience that will knock your shoes off, then I encourage you to pursue that. There are many to choose from, but do your research. People may advertise themselves as such, but many may not have touched a celebrity for many years. While living in Miami for the last year, I met so many “celebrity hairstylists” that I had never heard of, I couldn’t even keep count! Remember, celebrity stylists aren’t supposed to award themselves that status; if they have earned it, the public will give them the title.
3) You should seek a "celebrity experience" (or to be treated like a celebrity) when you get your hair services.
To be honest, if you are not a celebrity, then your haircut can’t be a "celebrity experience." (I crack myself up.) And what does that mean anyway? Ladies, you deserve the best because you are fabulous individuals, each with assets that only you possess. The experience you deserve entails getting great hair, respect, your money’s worth, and a hairstylist that will tell you the truth, rather than someone who will think of your wallet first.
4) A referral from a friend is a guarantee that you’ll love the salon too.
I will say that I love my dentist, my doctor, and my personal trainer, but that does not mean any one of them is right for you. My clients love me, but that does not mean I'm right for all of their friends either. I recommend taking a referral from someone who has similar hair, especially if your hair is curly, fine, or short. And even then, remember that a referral is no guarantee you’ll love the place or the stylist, though it is a step in the right direction.
Another important aspect of your salon experience, apart from your being happy with your hair, is the connection between you and the hairstylist. Let's face it: it's a relationship in the making, so the vibe between you and your potential stylist is important.
You may also find a hairstylist that you can hardly bear to be around, but who gives you kick-ass results. In case that case, it's for you to decide whether or not your hair is worth the headache.
Before seeing the recommended hairstylist, go in for a consultation. Your first impression will probably tell you what you need to know before you decide whether or not to proceed with that particular pro.
5) You found a salon had great reviews on an online search engine, so they’ll obviously give you great hair.
Okay, this one is the best of all! Rumor has it that some hairstylists ask their friends to write reviews for them online. It's hilarious! Once upon a time, strong online reviews were a great thing. Then it started working against hairstylists – particularly the ones with overblown online reviews – because clients’ equally inflated expectations were not being met.
I always say, the proof is in the pudding. You need to see it and taste it for yourself to know how good it is.
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You may be asking yourself, how could he, a stylist, write about this? Well, why not? It is important that our clients get the products that will truly help their hair look great and stay healthy. It’s crucial that we stylists recommend what we know truly works best – not what works best for our bottom lines. Whether it’s purchased from the salon or online, what’s important is that clients get what they really need, as recommended by professionals.
Sadly not all hairstylists think this way. Here's a must-have survival guide, just for you, on how to make it through the product ambush alive!
1) First let me say that your hairstylist is the one who should be recommending products to you. Not the man at the health food store or the lady at your local pharmacy.
2) Before going in for your next salon visit, I highly recommend making a list of the products you have at home. When your hairstylist recommends a new product to you, show them the list and ask if these products can do the job. Your hairstylist may like the products you already have as much as the ones he or she is now recommending.
3) Ladies, keep in mind that product companies know that hairstylists sometimes get bored of the same old products. They are human and can easily be taken in by new packaging and smells. So the product companies keep making new products to excite the hairstylist, even though they may not be significantly different or better than the old ones. And where do you think those new products will end up? On your vanity (or sink top), if many stylists have their ways! My lovely ladies, chances are the product you already have can do the job.
Your hair is not going to combust if you don't change your products every month.
4) Keep in mind that it is a norm in our industry that hairstylists get a commission on product sales. “Oh no he did not just go there!” “Oh yes he did!” I know this because I once had HPPS (Hair product pimp syndrome) myself.
5) Shampoos and conditioners: Every woman should have one shampoo and one daily conditioner to suit her hair type. Sometimes it is recommended to get a second shampoo and alternate, especially if you use a lot of styling products and need to deep clean the hair once a week to remove buildup. If you have color treated hair then a hair mask is recommended.
6) Every lady should also have two or three styling products to maintain her hair type and style. Here are the products you should focus on for your hair type. (This will depend on whether you blow dry hair or not.) Keep in mind that my line up of products may not be for you. This is where your trusted hairstylist comes in.
Fine virgin hair: A product for volume and a hairspray.
Fine, dry, color-treated hair: Very light leave-in conditioner, a product for volume and a hairspray. Depending on how dry the hair is, a mask may be needed.
Medium hair texture, virgin: Mousse or liquid spray for hold, high-grade silicone for the ends, and hairspray.
Medium hair texture that is color-treated: Same as above, plus a light leave-in conditioner.
Medium hair texture, curly/frizzy: Curl cream and high-grade silicone for frizz. If you blow dry straight then you need a smoothing cream or smoothing polish, high grade silicone, and a finishing spray.
Thick coarse straight hair, virgin: Styling product for blow drying and a finishing cream or silicone.
Thick coarse hair, curly/frizzy: Curl cream and high-grade silicone for frizz. If you blow dry straight, you need a smoothing cream or smoothing polish, high-grade silicone and a finishing spray. A hair mask is also highly recommended!
The focus should be on the client’s hair care needs first, rather than what's in their pockets. As a hairstylist, it is my job to help your hair look great and teach you how to maintain the cut/style. It is also my job to suggest products that you need to support your hair type and your hair cut or color.
Ladies, I hope this was helpful! I wish you the absolute best for your pursuit of the most fabulous hair products, without breaking the bank!
What is it about blond hair that will make a woman sacrifice money, time, and even risk the very existence of her hair leaving her it over processed?
When I see a woman with hair that's very dry, yellow, and has "bangs" that were created by breakage, that's one versi0n of over-processed hair. Anyone can see that woman coming through the crowd. She possesses a confidence that comes with striking blond tresses that turn heads as they enter any room. The problem is that no one (not even her hairdresser) has informed her that her beautiful blond locks are no more.
What happened?
Generally the story goes like this...
Let's give our blond-chaser a name. We'll call her Esta.
Esta may have started with a few natural-looking highlights, but over the years she fell more and more in love with the brightness against her skin, noticing the sun-kissed sparkle it gave her face.
