Color Services and Options

The many options with color can be overwhelming to those who are new to the hair coloring world and as well as to fashionistas.   Below is a helpful summary of the many options Parlor offers...  

Single Process Color

1) Demi and Semi-Permanent Color
Semipermanent can be used to "blend away" grey hair.  It will help subdue the grey strands.  The beauty of this choice of color type is the effect on the grey but will gradually wash off.  This will conveniently be when the new (gray infused) hair will begin to present the uncolored roots making it a close match up avoiding the "rooted" look.

2) Permanent Haircoloring
This color can over take any grey hairs and make them the color you choose.  While this color will fade with exposure to sun and other elements it will permanently cover your natural haircolor.

3) Gloss (or Toner)
This is an allover color that is frequently combined with another color service.  Added to highlights when you want to achieve a slightly different hue, a perfect solution for those desiring cool tones, or intense reds.  We also have a sheer "Gloss" to add shine, smoothness, or weight to your hair.

4)  Double Process Coloring
This technique is used when we are trying to remove darkness of any kind from the hair.  This could be used to achieve a "Platinum as in Gwen Stefani" look or if you wish to step down your darkness a shade or two (or three or four).

Highlights

We categorize these by the amount of highlight coverage of the head 

1) 1/2 Head

Highlights will be strategically added to the front area of the head (including the sideburn area) to just over the crown area.  This is the most commonly done highlight application as it replicates the sun's natural highlights.

2) 3/4 Head Highlight

In addition to the above described "1/2 Head", highlights will additionally be added to the outer nape area.  this helps blend the highlight to the under darkness for those who wear their hair up alot.  This is around 6 to 8 foil packets generally and usually increases the service fee by around $20 from a "half head of highlights".

3) Full Head of Highlights

This application of highlights covers your entire head.  I find this neccessary when the desired look is to change the overall color.  Unlike a natural sunkissed look this will bring you to a new level of lightness.  Some find this only neccessary every third highlight or once a year.  A "full head of highlights" may also be desired to produce more fullness and texture by coloring a larger percentage of hair.  An additional gloss or toner can be nice as well!  The service cost of a Full Highlight vs a Half Head of Highlights is usually another 50% in addition to the stylists service fee for a Half Head of Highlights.  So if your stylists 1/2 Head Highlight is listed as $120.00 their Full Head Highlight would then be around $180, excluding any additional color add ons such as glossing or toning.

4) Area Highlight

This can be used along with an allover color to add dimension or alone for a signature touch of color.  The possibilities are endless with this color technique.

Highlight Add-ons

* Glossing or Toning (adds a hue of color to reduce or enhance tone or simply to add shine)

* Additional color mix-up (priced at $30 for each 20 gram increment)
* Color in between foils (Gray coverage, added depth, etc)
* Extra long or Extra thick hair (Crystal Gale were sorry but it does take longer to foil hair that is halfway down your back)

Definitions of Customizing Techniques

...descriptions by color education company RED CHOCOLATE. 

 Pamphlet available at Parlor when you receive your complimentary pre color consultation

Color Melting
When just one color won't do, this process melts two or more colors together by overlapping them and blending them together.  As my respected colleague and teacher David Adams says... "Blonde's will look fresh off the beach, reds will rival a tequila sunrise, and browns will resemble a mouthwatering toffee & caramel dessert."  This technique is a great way to get that "Ombre" look!
Shoe Shine
Short hair doesn't mean short on color options.  This process is made just for shorter hair, and it's perfect for those of the male persuasion. Color is applied to foil, and the hair is simply "polish."  Kind of like a pair of shoes - just a little more hairy.
Flying Colors
yet another process for short hair that's also popular with the men folk, Flying Colors applies the color freehand with the comb. On the "fly," if you will.  A completely creative technique that always results in a unique look.
Circles
Take any notion of crop circles and toss them out the window.  This process first divides the hair into two or three circles, and then applies either complimentary or contrasting colors to each layer.  The end result is a layered cascading effect that can be as soft or as strong as your appetite dictates.
Color Cleanse
Sometimes its best to erase the hair color history and start with a clean slate.  this process removes the artificial color from your hair and leaves it fresh as a spring daisy.  And that's really fresh.
Color Correction
Not in love with a previous color job?  Not even "like" with it?  Have no fear color correction is here.  This process usually takes two or more services on the same day, and is the best way to shift your shade or tweak your tone.
Pre-colorization
Thinking of laying down a darker shade?  Consider this the all-important primer.  This process is the essential first step in going dark.
Lighten and Tone
Everyone knows there's a difference between blonde and BLONDE/blonde.  This one's for the latter.  You want to be uber blonde, and you want everyone to know it.  This process lightens the hair and then tones it for the ultimate bomb-shell-ification.  Just be prepared to start having more fun!
Highlights
Want to lighten up, but not completely?  In this process, your colorists weaves sections of hair out and wraps them in foil with a lighter color.  The end result can be soft and subtle, blending closely with your existing color, or strong and distinct, with head turning, wow inducing contrast.
Lowlights
The "yin" to the highlights "yang".  In this process, your colorist also weaves sections of hair out and wraps them in foil (or not) but this time its to the dark side.  Low lights can be used to tone down blondes, add depth to a style, and even cover up those natural highlights (again, we never say grey).
Slices
If highlights and lowlights give you the yawns, get a bolder effect with this process.  Slices are not shy and will proudly display their color definition.  For the thick haired or the curly haired this is a sure fire winner. 
Back - To - Back Slices
This process exactly what it says.  Takes two or more slices and puts them smack dab next to each other with no hair left untouched as a buffer.  Definitely for the more adventurous, this bold dimensional effect demands, and will get, plenty of attention.
Tips
So, maybe root to tip isn't your speed.  Then tips might be right up your alley.  This process is a more contemporary approach coloring just the ends of the hair.  Either "tip" your whole head, or use it sparingly to accentuate the line of your cut.  Works like a charm, whether you are straight or curly.


We welcome you to book an appointment for a complimentary consultation.  A member of The Parlor Beauty Squad would love to talk to you about the possibilities for you!





AVEDA's new Smooth Infusion Retexturizing System has arrived!

Most have heard the controversy concerning Brazilian and Japanese treatments using or not using formaldehyde to straighten frizzy texture from hair. Read this article....Formaldehyde Officially On Carcinogen List, Brazilian Blowouts Officially Dangerous.

I want to give a big "Thank You" to AVEDA for developing their own mission aligned version of this treatment.  It is and always has been Aveda's goal to be as organic and natural as possible, ingredients are central to their mission.  I can now let go of my doubts about the toxicity of at least Aveda's treatment to smooth and retexturize our curly or frizzy haired guests.  It has been a concern of mine both for our guests and for the technicians who perform the services.  The AVEDA Smooth Infusion Retexturizing Treatment is a permanent retexturizing treatment that can be used to completely smooth out texture or reform texture into manageable consistent wave or curl. 

I asked Michelle Combs our "In Salon Educator" and Aveda's very own "Purefessional Trainer" to give us her thoughts on the new treatment...

 Lets be honest, I am a skeptic!   That skirt I bought at 75% off? I was convinced it was torn somewhere. My husband says he can fix the bathtub drain? I’ll believe it when I see it. Even when my six year old daughter tells me she can make guacamole with no help from me- I am surprised, astonished even- that she was right. (And that guacamole was pretty darn good.) So when Aveda asked some of us Purefessionals if we would be willing to teach their new Smooth Infusion Retexturizing System, I agreed. Just out of curiosity.

Aveda promised coarse hair to become smooth. Tight curls to become long, straight locks. “Transformation, Recreation. Defying Convention. This is the essence of the Aveda Retexturizing System,” they said. I was skeptical. I had used Kerasmooth Treatments. I have seen the effects of Japanese straight perms, and Brazillian blowouts. Did I approve? Eh, they worked. But something was eating at me. You see, as a Certified Color Trainer for Aveda, and, more recently, a Color Purefessional- I knew exactly what was in Aveda’s color line and how and why it worked. It gave me piece of mind. But these texture treatments? They didn’t explain to me what I wanted- needed- to know, and that was : Just what are you putting in this stuff that I am putting on my guests head, as well as touching and breathing- a lot?

But Aveda did.

Aveda mailed me a workbook that listed every ingredient in the system and what it does, before I was even sent off to learn it. That reeled me in. I was more curious.  They claimed The Aveda Difference, which I learned quickly, was Customized Texture. They said, “Instead of delivering cookie-cutter texture, each system can be customized by the stylist to create a wide range of different textures and give each guest the exact look that they desire.”

And that’s not all. Aveda had “ Other Key Points of Distinction”-

* “The Aveda Retexturizing System uses products made from the most naturally derived ingredients as possible.”

* “Guests experience a permanent change in texture- not temporary results.”

* “ Our products are formulated to protect the hair during processing.”

* “ The use of organic ylang ylang oil eliminates strong post- service odor.”


I had to see it to believe it. I was convinced there had to be something wrong with it. It just sounded too good to be true.  So, I left my family and comfort zone in NYC and spent two days in Pennsylvania immersed in the stuff. Literally. We played with it incessantly. My teacher had an answer for every question, and I had a lot. I really nerded out. I now know that Hydroxyethylcellulose is a thickening agent from various plant sources including cotton. I know that the system contains organic jojoba oil, meadow foam seed oil, and coconut-derived conditioners.

I rode the train home carrying a scary doll head with four quadrants of hair. One glossy stick straight, one straight with admirable volume and body, one with beautiful natural ringlets, and, of course, the last quadrant, that had the unspeakable, frizzy hair to start with, just for comparison. I thought, as I stared out that window of the train, clutching my trophy doll head: “I now have an amazing arsenal of permanent solutions for my texture- challenged guests, (which is just about all of them), just in time for summer.”

And my bags smelled like ylang ylang oil. Sold.

Looking for a haircut demo as a toast to Vidal Sassoon

I am planning a demo for our apprentice and new talent training.  We have our Education/Inspiration workshops every Monday morning and afternoon.  I am looking for women (sometimes men) to match with certain styles I am cutting or coloring to demo for our "New Talent and Apprentices". 

Right now I am really inspired by the Mod Vidal Sassoon era.  By the way.... a documentary about him is being released this Fri February 11th at the Village East Cinema.

My demo is Monday from 11 to 1pm if you know anyonr who is interested send them my way.  They can email me Gwenn at parlor102aveb@yahoo.com

Check out Aveda tutorials to style texture into a great short haircut!

I love this haircut and the many options it gives for styling.  Thanks to Antoinette Creative Director at Aveda for the great tutorials!

 Antoinette spells it out in nice simple steps.

I especially like this one!  It reminds me of my post punk/beauty school days in the 80's!

Wedding Hair Styles to Old School Pinups at Parlor!

The Parlor Beauty Squad has been exploring the retro world of hair.  We have had a collection of inspiring workshops in recent months.  From collaborating with invited hairstyling experts to sharing techniques and exercising skills during our Monday Education Days. Honing our "hard tool" (that's an industry term for iron and brush work) as well as our liquid tool skill set has given us a large repitoire to draw from.  Below we have documented the fruits of our "labor of love" with award winning photographer Isis Charise.  In early December we were whipping up plenty of old school pinup looks!  

JANUARY 4TH
PARLOR GUEST WORKSHOP.

Explore and enhance your glamour, sensuality, and self-esteem.  Have an incredibly fun and empowering experience and end up with a gorgeous pinup portrait that you will want to look at again and again.  Every woman deserves a portrait of herself to admire, adore, and cherish.  Participants are given a head to toe vintage makeover and an opportunity to take a step back in time with vintage costumes and ephemera.  Finish up the class with a fully edited private web page to view your images and a quality pin-up portrait of yourself.  All for only $300

A FEW SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE  call and reserve your spot 212 673 5520



Take a look at Katie's victory rolls complete with an authentic pin-up tattoo on her model.



 

Sweet Mary as our retro glamour girl by Eva. If we have inspired you to pick up a vintage frock or dress, check out Mary's super retro clothes in her  Etsy Store... "Girls Who Wear Glasses",



Michelle produced some glamorous wedding updo hairstyles, to document her collection of skills in this area.



Sarah explored options on our very own "soon to be" bride Julie.  Drawing from both the retro hair category as well as the classic french twist genre, she looks ready for the aisle.



Plenty of options were available still to Amanda whose model's hair was just past the chin area.  Set with beautiful curls she came up with a very demure innocent look on her model .

 

 



Parlor Prepping Pinups (say THAT 3 times fast)!



Sarah putting finishing touches on her creation!

Here is just a "teaser" (pun intended of course) of our last "PIN UP" night...

Amanda the master of makeup as well as hair!

                       

Eva and Katie showing their (until now) hidden talents!





Michelle prepping a wedding updo masterpiece!





Katja with her other "Magic Brush"



Results to follow...

Our Newest Stylist Erin completes the Parlor training program!

Who could forget the paintings adorning our walls during the summer?  Erin Boyle our resident artist and apprentice extraordinaire was our featured artist this summer at Parlor.  Erin has recently been promoted as our newest protege and "Hair Painter".  Perhaps you  have already experienced her blowdrying and/ shampooing techniques or one of her many  "Hand Relief Treatments".  The story is ...she decided to to leave a clientele in Syracuse and move to New York City to take a bite out of The Big Apple.  She has recently completed our intense training program and is available for appointments just in time for the holiday season. 

 She has an amazing eye for color and placement.  She is creative and can think outside or inside the box... you choose!  She is a patient listener and highly self critical.  She always has a new idea brewing in her head trying to out do her last creation.  While I am extremely excited about her coloring capabilities she can also cut a mean head of hair! 

Here is a link to book a "new talent" hair color or haircut appointment at Parlor with Erin or feel free to call us at the salon at 212-673-5520.