Glamorous Photo Shoot By Don Stacy

On November 19th, I had the honor of participating in one of the many photo shoots dsparada holds. At first I was nervous about being a model for Don. I’ve never had professional pictures taken before, and all I could think of was please don’t let me make the duck face or look like a goofball on film! After a couple minutes behind the camera, I loosened up and it was actually really fun! Our nighttime receptionist, Caitlyn, was a model as well! We took some fun pictures together. (you guys get to see the pretty film, but maybe we’ll post some outtakes, they were definitely funny!)

Caitlyn and Christine. Hair by Don Stacy

There was a lot of preparation behind the scenes by the stylists. Don and the staff hand picked models that best suited their aesthetic. The stylists looked for specific attributes in their models; hair length and texture, skin tone, facial features, and a willingness to do whatever the stylist decided to do with their hair! (The last one narrows down the field quite a bit!) All of the models involved were incredibly professional and I would bet that a few of them would have a chance at being on ANTM (Americas Next Top Model).

Hair by Don Stacy

Overall the experience was incredibly inspiring, especially as a young woman working her way in to the hair industry! I can’t wait to be the one behind the chair creating my vision, instead of being the vision.

Be sure to take a peak at all the final photos from the shoot on our Facebook!

Love,
Christine from dsparada

What Really Goes on Behind The Chair

When all you guys and gals come into the salon for your appointments, you probably just see me as the girl behind the desk doing exactly what she’s supposed to be doing, but I’ve been extremely curious the past 3 months I’ve been here, as to what really goes on behind the chair! I’ve never worked in the hair industry before, so all of this is very new to me and also very interesting!

Of course Don and Arturo are amazing at cutting hair, so it’s always a mind blowing experience when I watch them from afar; all the minute details, the sections, the angles – everything necessary for a great haircut.

Arturo cutting and styling one of his clients

But everyone here specializes in color, and trust me, just from watching them mix and apply color and trying to listen into all that technical talk, it is not something that is easy to come by, and I’m a fast learner! The formulas, all the different shades and hues – So. Many. Colors. To say the least!

I never really knew what actually went into the whole process of coloring hair, it’s more than just applying the color! You have to consult with the client to understand what they want, and also let them know what you think would look great on them – then you actually have to formulate the color and get the precise amount of each shade to produce a product that will look great on the person in the chair. The process of applying the color isn’t an easy job either. There are different ways of applying it and foiling hair, and the stylist has to perceive which way will work best for the color, the cut, and the client!

Check out my new do by Don Stacy

Each and every one of the stylists at dsparada, make sure this is all done correctly, and that’s what makes all our stylists so high quality! They don’t just slap some color on your head; they actually care about their clients and love what they’re doing! So even as the receptionist, I have a much greater appreciation for what they’re doing for all of you that come into the salon!

Hope to see all of you soon at your next appointment or dsparada’s Christmas/Birthday Bash!

Love — the evening receptionist, Caitlyn!

The best part of the holidays? Holiday Hair Up Styles!

I can remember as a young girl my mom would take me to the salon as she got her hair done for our big Christmas Party. Then one year (I was around 8yrs old) I went with her and a woman called out my name & told me to go with her. Mom looked at me and winked, so off I went! I had my hair pulled back into a version of a French twist suitable for a young girl.   Little did I know this was the start of a lifetime romance with traditional holiday style and glam.

Vicki working her magic on a holiday up style.

As years went by every “Christmas Party” salon trip was with my mom. It became as big of a tradition as my parents’ Christmas Party. Every year a new stylist got to tackle my long, thick hair. Then I reached high school & I thought that I could go without my mother, after all it’s just hair, right? Well those were the worst three up styles I had ever gotten done and mom made me wear them. Ok, lesson learned!

When I went to college Mom and I were back to our old routine with the two of us sharing the day of beauty together. And now we had the DAY SPA!!!! A FULL DAY of beauty. Everything from a massage, mani/pedi, hair and make-up. Oh yeah that was the way to go! Then I got married, but the mother-daughter tradition lived on.

Shortly after that the biggest thing to happen to my holiday hair transpired. I WENT TO BEAUTY SCHOOL!!! Talk about putting a “tease” in an up style. The fun was just about to start!  I was put in charge of doing my mom’s hair and my hair for the party. My mother became a saint over those first few years of my career because let’s face it, my up styles were less than good (they pretty much sucked) but my mother wore all of them with pride because I had done them. Only a mother’s love! I would love to share some of the pictures from that era but that is “classified information.”

Years have gone by and many a bobby pin has passed through my hands. Now the up styles are lovely. Many have been high fashion. But my favorite will always be doing that special style for the woman who wants to turn heads as she walks through the door of a friend’s Christmas Party.

So this year when you are picking out your very best holiday outfits don’t forget the hair and let the girls at dsparada color salon bring back that little girl excitement for each one of you! Treat yourself to a wonderful holiday style. You know your mother would approve!

*this one is for you mom. I love you – Vicki

Key to Sucess: Inspiring Hair!

This past weekend the team at dsparada Color Salon ventured to Charlotte for the Annual Fashion Focus Hair Convention. This is a convention full of education for the latest trends in haircutting and color.  The show is full of the biggest names in hair combined with the biggest hair companies internationally. When you walk on the floor you feel privileged to be a hairstylist and to know that you have the support of the some of the biggest names in the hair industry.
The best part was we were able to sit in, watch and learn from one of the best colorists in the nation….Beth Minardi. She talked about color placement and how important it is to get that right, once that is achieved than you can’t go wrong! Beth Minardi is a colorist in New York City who has been in the hair industry for over 30 years. She also won the most prestigious award in the nation called NAHA. What a great achievement! Her color is very glamorous and placed to look very natural. This was a very inspiring class! Be on the look out because we will probably be using some Minardi techniques on your next visit!

Beth explaining her Color Formation

Dsparada Color Salon attends these functions because we feel it is vital to stay on top of the latest trends and techniques. You can never learn too much and the hair industry is ever evolving, which is why it is so important to stay in the know. You can learn so much by just listening. Every stylist does things slightly different so it is always very fun to see a different perspective on what we do, sometimes we as hairdressers get stuck in a rut and hair can be very mundane, doing the same thing over and over to each person each time you see them, so perspective is key!

Beth explaining her ombre technique.

What do we attribute this to? Success!!!! This is the key to success if you ask me. So many times you see other stylists’ work that just looks old school, and we have people tell us all the time, the reason I left that salon was because the stylist would never step outside the box, not with dsparada! You know what you get every time and love it! You can change or stay the same because we know what is hot and what is not and we will always honor you as the client, because truly and honestly the client is why we are business.

Don, Vicki, Christine, Jen & Arturo after a great weekend at Fashion Focus in Charlotte! Watch out for inspiring hair coming soon out of dsparada!

Peachy Keen's Fashion Show Hair

“First model ready? Music, lights… LET’S GO GIRLS!!!”

This is the last thing you hear when you are back stage at a fashion show. But what really goes on before those words are said?

With every fashion show comes weeks of hard work. Not only for those doing the fashion but for the stylists doing the hair as well. The past few weeks the girls at DS Parada Color Salon have been working on hair styles for the Fire and Ice Fashion Show at Peachy Keen Boutique of Cary, NC.

It started in the salon with the announcement that we were doing the hair for a fashion show. Vicki & Jennifer went straight to the mannequin heads and started to mess around with many different up styles, not knowing what the boutique wanted. Jennifer did a cool Mohawk and Vicki did a tornado looking thing on the top of another head. Then the fun started with colored hair spray! We sent pictures over to the girls at Peachy Keen to get their opinion.

Mock hair ‘dos for the fashion show.

What will they like, what will they want…? Are we even close? Yes we were! To fit their theme the boutique chose the Mohawk and a crazy cool side upsweep for us to fine tune. The day of the show, Vicki and Jennifer pack their bags and were off to twirl some hair!
On their arrival, they set up check in with the fashion team and split the models in to groups of fire and ice. With 9 models and boutique staff to do, time was ticking. Now you would think piece of cake for two such accomplished stylists but wait for it…we have to share space, time & models with the makeup artist. That is the norm for any show set up, but it stills adds just a touch of stress. No worries we are professionals!

Jen & Vicki pause for a picture in the middle of hair and makeup.

So off to work the girls go. Irons, pins and spray at the ready. The hair looked FABULOUS!!! The timing with the makeup artist was wonderful. When did I ever work a show
that ran so smooth? Thinking back I cannot think of one. After 20 years of doing hair have I found a team that I can work with and no troubles?? I, Vicki Holt, can truly say that it was a pleasure working with Jennifer and the rest of my team on this fashion show. We all look forward to doing many more projects with everyone in the future!

DS Parada Color Salon Staff at Peachy Keen’s Fashion Show

We are still in process of getting the final runway pictures back from Peachy Keen’s photographer… we’ll put an album together on our Facebook wall when we do. But here’s a peak at the final looks…

Hair by DS Parada. Fashion by Peachy Keen

Pretty in Pink in October

At dsparada Color Salon, the month of October is a very important time of year where we recognize those we love and those we have lost to breast cancer.  We feel it is very important to help those in need succeed in their fight against breast cancer! That is why for the entire month of October, dsparada Color Salon will be donating $2.00 from every sale to the Pretty in Pink Foundation to provide those with breast cancer, who do not have great health insurance, gain some financial support!
Pretty in Pink is a local organization that serves people diagnosed with breast cancer, who have limitations with their health insurance benefits, or cannot afford health insurance. When breast cancer is found, many times these people have to go without treatment, or delay their treatment, causing the cancer to get worse. Getting your hair done at dsparada during October is a great opportunity to support an amazing local cause!
Another way you can show your support is by adding a little pink to that beautiful hair and telling people that you support a great foundation!  We could color a small section of your hair, or we have great pink hair chalk that washes out with water! Call us and make an appointment today to show your support, and help us fight breast cancer!

    

Interested in getting involved with Pretty in Pink Foundation in more ways? Check out their website here: http://www.prettyinpinkfoundation.org/Get_Involved.aspx

Check out all the Fun from our VIP Night

We had an amazing turnout at our First Annual Client VIP Night. Thank you to all who came out to enjoy the evening and to those who didn’t make it, we hope you can join us next year! Wanna see all the fun? Check out our portfolio here.

The night was filled with delicious food and wine courtesy of Vinos Finos Wine Bar, tons of giveaways and goodies from our great friends at Peachy Keen and Joint Venture Jewelry, and of course fabulous hair thanks to Kevin.Murphy styling products and our incredible stylists here at DS Parada.

The stylists focused on creating looks based off of Kevin.Murphy’s “Kits”. Each kit is inspired by the idea of taking a celebrity or runway style and introducing a take-home kit that allows you to recreate that style at home with ease. The styles created with the kits were absolutely fabulous and we are so excited to be selling them here at  DS Parada! The whole month of November all kits will be on special, so stop by to purchase a Kevin.Murphy kit and receive $10 off!

You Can Do What We Do

 Ever see those pictures in (every!) fashion magazine of the pretty girl? And not only does she have a great smile and body, she also has the most beautiful hair you have ever seen? And you say to yourself there is NO way she can be that happy and I know that hair is photoshopped!!! But your curiosity gets the best of you, and you  go out and buy everything you think you need to recreate that same beautiful photo shopped look, including the products, clips, comb, curling iron and whatever else the salesperson feels you need that day, only to go home and burn your hands and make a rats nest out of your hair! All because you saw a picture in a magazine and thought you wanted to be happy with great hair too!!!

 

Now it is possible to have these great salon looks at home and do it in only 15 minutes. Kevin.Murphy has designed kits that are easy to use and include everything you need!  Each kits comes with product, rollers or clips and a comb. All conveniently sold at ds parada Color Salon.

First you apply your product to dry hair, then put the rollers in and let them sit for 15- 30 minutes. After you take the rollers out let the hair sit for about 5 minutes and then tousle the hair to desired look. It’s really that easy, I promise!

Take a look at the podcast so you can see for yourself how easy Kevin.Murphy Kits really are. We made it so easy we had a free demo event at our salon on Thursday August 30^th for our first Annual Client VIP Night! The Party was a ton of fun with a wine tasting from Vinos Finos Wine Bar and Kevin.Murphy stylists helping out. Be sure to check out all the event photos, and keep up with future salon events, specials and more stylings tips our Facebook page.

We feel it is our responsibility to help our clients look great and feel great about themselves everyday. If you couldn't make it our party, please don't hesitate to give us a call. We will answer any questions you may have about styling your hair and show you how to do it too, just like the stars!

Fall 2012 Top Hair Trends

Fall is up and coming and so are new hair trends. This fall look for shimmery shades of copper, bronze and silver as a top color choice. As usual auburns and chestnuts and beautiful rich color choices, great for green eyed beauties. Copper shades are also very popular, there is nothing more beautiful than a rich vibrant head of copper shimmer, that will bring out those gorgeous baby blues.

Styling has evolved this fall to the messy pony as a top pick. This look is great for a fun day in the city or a wonderful night out, for shorter styles messy deconstructed looks are a must!

America’s TOP hairstyle is short pixie cuts as seen on Michelle Williams.

We also really like the long hair layered slightly with a blunt fringe going straight across the forehead. This look is designed to enhance your best features and really bring out the beauty from with in.

Elie Saab and Antonio Berardi Fall 2012 Runway. Blunt Bangs

No matter your color, cut or style. Fall brings a change is style. How are you copping?

The Great Transition

By ds parada’s colorist Jennifer Cooper

Wondering what happened to that rich beautiful chestnut brunette you used to be? Or you have become a solid blonde when you know you used to be a gorgeous multidimensional blonde? Did the summer take and fade that color to a bright unspeakable color known as blorange? Well have no fear and stop hiding behind your locks, Dsparada’s expert colorists are here!

 

Summer sun is a major culprit of major color destruction, a lot of people do not notice right away but after basking in the sun day after day to darken your skin, your hair slowly gets lighter and lighter, until you wake up one morning and wonder how your hair came to be that bleached color when it was gorgeous and flawless just 6 short weeks ago. The solution is simply, just call dsparada. Our answer to this line of fadage questioning would be obvious, the sun. What we are going to do to fix it is a consultation. Do you want to be the same color you where before summer started or would like to go a little darker (1-2 levels) than you were before.

Always keep in mind that when you do go back to the color you were before summer started, it can appear much darker. The reason why is because you are not used to seeing yourself with that color hair anymore and your skin is probably a different color now as well. The reflection of the hair off the skin can seem different. A lot of times we recommend something new, after all we are going into a new season.
Fall is a season of vibrant colors, think of the leaves changing and the coppers and reds you see in those leaves, those translate very well to hair color. Just because our clothing becomes a little earthier and bit more drab that does not mean our hair color has to!

If you have green eyes than copper is your color.

If you have blue eyes than reds are your best friend.

And if you have brown eyes, what better to enhance your look than chestnuts!

There are so many variations of these hues from light to dark, there is a color for everyone. If you decide you would like to stick with your color than we need to apply your color (or the one you were before) all over and seal it in with a glaze. In any case when are dealing with hair that is faded than you must always prime the hair first and glaze the hair after the color has been rinsed. If you think of painting a wall, for example, if you are lighter underneath you must prime first so the color doesn’t bleed through and then put a sealant on the outside so the color stays fresh and vibrant.

When ever changing color, make sure you are using professional products for color treated. If you do all these things you can say goodbye to dull summer hair and hello to hot gorgeous fall color!!!

Short,Sweet and SASSY!

Summer time is approaching us very rapidly, and as exciting as that is, there is nothing worse than being hot on a summers day WITH A HEAD FULL OF HAIR!! Short cuts are becoming more popular than ever before, they are very versatile, and very easy too manage. Some short cuts, are bold, sassy, sexy and flirty. This summer short cuts are going to be very popular. So lets get BOLD and SHORT and stay COOL this summer.

Get the Look!

   The rumpeled braid is one of the "Hot Mess" looks that will prove to be strong this spring and summer. Perfect braids tend to look old fashioned. The messiness makes it more youthful. Dishevled hair is taking on a more deliberate quality this spring.

  To achieve this look, First part the hair on one side, pull into a tight ponytail at the nape of your neck. Second, back comb the ponytail loosely and than loosely braid it. Secure at the bottom. Pull apart the strands slightly for that dishevled look. Go crazy, have fun, look great and stay cool this spring and summer.

Male Gray Blending

     As we ring in the new year......there are some great things happening in the world of male hair. First of all cuts are becoming more of a pampering experience then an in and out type of thing, also longer hair for men is back in style, men want to look clean cut but not as if they just got their hair cut. We are finding that more men like to go to an upscale hair salon rather than your local "chop shop". Sales for male clients in the higher end salon industry are up 30% since last year. What does that mean? It means that men are finding out what women have known for years......that you pay for what you get and a little extra attention goes a long way!
         A lot of men have thought about coloring their hair but do not know how to make it look like they don't color their hair, with that, a technique called gray blending is becoming more popular than ever with male clients, men defanetley do not want to look like they color their hair but who doesn't want to take 10 or 15 years off their looks with a subtle difference?This just means adding enough color to cover some gray but not all gray so that it blends, you can cover as little or as much as you want. What exactly is gray blending, you ask? It is a semi-permanent hair color which will slowly fade out in 4 to 6 weeks. In other words NO COMMITMENT! And let's face it, what guy doesn't like the sound of that?!

Let's re-visit the basics of hair

       As we all like to think hair  has a mind of its own, but in reality you can tame that beast. A bad hair day is a thing of the past. With the latest addition to our retail line dsparada introduces Kevin Murphy! This line's origin comes from high end skin care lines which means, many of the products can be used both on skin and hair. There are so many options this line has to offer to help you tame your locks!
        Every good style starts with a quality shampoo and conditioner, such as, Kevin Murphy's Hydrate me wash and rinse, these products are infused with kakadu plum ( very rich in antioxidants) and contain micro algae and hydrolysed silk to promote shine and primrose oil to infuse the hair with moisture. If you don't need added moisture and just volume then you will love KM's Angel Wash and Rinse which contains green tea extracts and lavender rose hip and for added moisture mango and cocoa  butter. After choosing a shampoo and conditioner that fits your hair it's time to choose the right wet products for you desired look. Such as Young Again which is, a treatment that will intensly condition ,smooth and soften hair. Young Again can also be used on the face and hands .If volume is what you are seeking then we recommend Anti Gravity Spray or Lotion. This will add weightless volume to  the flattest of hair.
        To finish you style Kevin Murphy offers endless finishing products. For volume you can't go wrong when you using Powder Puff. Just a little sprinkle of this voluminous powder and your big hair dreams can come true. For the woman who prefers a sleek look we suggest Easy Rider ,a flexible anti frizz cream with added vitamins and minerals that treat your hair at the same time. To wrap up any style we say Sessions Spray. A strong hold that provides weightless hold with UV for color protection.
          For more information about all Kevin Murphy products go to our web site at http://www.dsparada.com

Combating Winter Hair Woes

      Winter can be horrendous on the hair, from dry frizzy hair to dull looking color. There are many ways to combat these unwanted, untimely issues. With just a few tips you can transform your hair into absolute beauty.
      Winter is the moisture season, and hair masks are the way to go. Putting a hair mask on once a week will make all the difference in the look and feel of your hair. A hair mask is a treatment in between your regular shampoo and regular conditioner. So, shampoo, rinse, hair mask, rinse, condition, then rinse. Putting your regular conditioner on top of the hair mask helps flood the hair with nutrients, while protecting the hair from the elements at the same time. Also use a leave in conditioner after towel drying the hair. This helps put a final seal on the hair shaft.

      Color vibrancy is another issue we all face in the colder months, because of dryer air hair tends to look dull and lifeless. Getting a semi permanent color wash to add shine and luster is a great fix, it will have your color in tip top shape in 10 minutes.
       Static electricity is truly the most annoying of these issues. Great ways to combat static are, pomades and products with glycerin and mineral oil. These help tame the hair, but as a general rule, fine hair should use a water based pomade and course hair should use an oil based pomade. Another way to tame those frizzes is to use shine spray or hair spray, spraying these products on a comb and then combing them through the hair will definitely put an end to those unwanted fly aways!
      Hair trimming is essential to great winter hair. Because hair can get dry and brittle when the temperature dips down, the ends of your hair tend to break off more easily. Getting regular trims will help keep your hair healthy and actually help it grow out nicely. So a scheduled end trim every 4 to 6 weeks is a must.
     Lastly "go out blow outs" are very popular this time of year. Who doesn't love beautifully polished, professionally styled hair?
     There is no excuse for dull hair this winter season, these are just a few remedies that work on all types of hair!!!!