The International Salon & Spa Expo (ISSE) just came through Long Beach, CA last weekend and of course I was there one of the afternoons to do some trend spotting. It attracts anyone who works in the hair and nail salon and it gets packed with exhibitors and lookie-loos all there for the latest and greatest in the industry. So what caught my eye? Click after the jump.
It seems like NYC gets all the good beauty perks but in this case, LA was just invited to the table. The brand’s flagship Los Angeles store opens tomorrow 11/11/11 in the chic and tré hip section of Robertson Blvd across the street from Kitson. The 1,300 square foot MAKE UP FOR EVER Boutique & Training Facility is for the makeup professional, the beauty enthusiast and the everyday girl. And what’s great about it is that you can access all of their products in the store – from the body glitters and foundations to all of their false lashes and of course every single piece of makeup they manufacture. All 1,400 skus! Sephora only carries about 40% or so of the line.
The store itself, which was 95% complete when I visited yesterday, is creatively designed with pink neon signs, black brick and a huge graffiti wall art piece in the back. All the pizzazz a makeup lover relishes.
Wanna see more pics? Click after the jump!
As the drama continues to rage on with Brazilian Blowouts (calling it a BBO for the sake of this feature) or whatever name they are going by in your neck of the woods, more companies are coming up with alternatives to the nasty chemicals they use. I mean, I’ve heard of quite a few salons that are turning the other cheek until something solid comes down because it is a huge money maker for them but I’m hoping you will consider this one and this one as alternatives Because at the end of the day, anything that’s going to eliminate frizz, I’m down with.
I recently had the Keratin Express Blow Out over at the B2V Salon in Beverly Hills and this is considered a friendlier version of the hair defrizz because it uses no harsh chemicals. But the drawback is that it only lasts up to 6 weeks. It’s also not going to set you far back as the traditional one as it’s only $100 and only take about 1 hour to do. So there are a lot of pluses for this one and very few minuses.
It an in-salon treatment that infuses natural keratin deep into the hair cuticle to smooth it so it not only keeps frizz at bay, it also makes strands really shiny. Essentially this chemical-free process is like a super conditioner that deposits protein back into the hair.
One thing to keep in mind – this hair treatment is not a straightener. I know the traditional BBO is also considered a hair straightener but this one for sure does not. I mean, when I had the BBO, I could put my hair on top of my head at night, wake up, let it down and no kinks but with this one, yup, kinks, but no frizz, so just something to make note of.
In order to keep locks smooth for as long as possible, pick up their Keratin Color Care Shampoo ($21/13.5oz), Keratin Color Care Conditioner ($21/13.5oz) and the Infusion Keratin Replenisher ($32/1.7oz, $41/3.4oz). And the brand just came out with a bunch of styling products like a Flex Flow Finishing Hairspray, Lock Launder Strengthening Dry Shampoo and a Volumizing Dry Shampoo Lift Powder that comes in three colors that I have on deck to try. Will keep you posted!
Find a salon that offers it in your area @ keratincomplex.com and book yours during your next lunch hour.
This service was provided to me gratis.
By now, we’ve all heard of the Brazilian Hair Treatment, or the other many names it goes by, and a lot of us have even tried it. And by now most of us have heard the backlash on the treatment because of dangerous levels formaldehyde and other toxic ingredients in the products used. Some salons are banning the treatment altogether and others are turning the other cheek because it is such a money maker. And I hear that this issue is going to the top, the FDA, but until then, how do you feel about it? Are straight locks more important that health? Before you answer that, how about if I tell you about an alternative that seems pretty darn safe and it’s Vegan.
The big International Makeup Artist and Trade Show (IMATS) was this past weekend and this show just gets bigger and better every year. I mean, I went twice about 6 or 7 years ago and it was just boring and barren but for the last 3 years, it has more hip brands than ever and it always sells out.
So who was there and what did I see and buy? Click after the jump and be prepared for a lot of pictures!
I’ve always been interested in any kind of eyelash innovations. I mean, I have my favorite mascara and I wear it with pride but anything that can make the beauty routine easier, I’m all ears. I was recently invited to try the latest buzz in makeup, LASHDIP. Here are the deets:
What It Is: A semi-permanent professionally applied lash coating that will last from 2 to 6 weeks.
Developed over a two year timeframe and tested extensively throughout the process for safety and efficacy, before launching at Ambra Chicago, LashDip is a safe and effective solution for women who want defined, noticeable, fabulous lashes. You can sweat, shower, and even swim with LashDip! The formula is hypoallergenic and nontoxic.
So how did it go? Click after the jump to see!
As I mentioned here a few days ago that I just tried a new kind of hair color from L’OREAL PROFESSIONEL called INOA (Innovation No Amonia). It uses an OSD Technology (Oil System Delivery) to open the cuticle in the hair instead of ammonia to color strands. And this system has 13 patents pending! You read right, 13! There are 49 shades available in 8 shade families.
It came out last year and never heard of it until now and I even saw a two-page ad for it in the most recent Allure magazine. So maybe it’s getting another push? Anyway, There are a few salons in LA that carry INOA but only a select few that carry the whole brand and have a station set up seen here. I was invited to try it at the Warren Tricomi salon on Melrose Ave here in Los Angeles a few weeks ago and I have to say I am pretty impressed.
West Coast partner, Mr. Kaz Amor, was my Colorist (he colors Lauren Conrad's hair) and I just put my trust in him when expressed my preference for a copper-ish kind of color. And he let me smell the formula before painting it on and wow, no smell! This totally is something I’m not used to!
So how is it wearing? It was pretty bright copper when I first left the salon and I did see some of the color wash down the drain after I washed it for the first time but I gotta tell you, what it has settled into is a really nice wearable shade of copper – not too bright and not too subtle. It’s supposed to last as long as those with ammonia and I think it will make it as it's almost been 1 month now.
And here’s an offer for SoCal readers - the first 10 people to call the salon @ 323-651-4545 in the next week get half off of their L'Oreal Professionel INOA treatment with Kaz Amor. The service starts at $146 (for single process) and the half off does not include a blowout.
Not in LA? No worries! Simply go to findinoa.com to pull up salons around you. Let me know if you try it out!
Disclosure: this service was provided free of charge.
The Go Green Expo (gogreenexpo.com) was last weekend here in Los Angeles so I decided to walk it and find the newest and greenest of beauty companies on display. It seems that it’s only a matter of time before these kind of shows are packed to the rims with every company on the planet going green. So what brands were showcasing their goods? Click after the jump!
The Oscars were not the only thing to rumble through Los Angeles last weekend. The Makeup Show made its way into the city and while some of the usual brands made their appearance, there was one big brand debut whose attendance was a shocker.
Wanna read more? Click after the jump!
The month of January is not only the kick off to a new year but it also brings about one of the biggest beauty shows to come through LA, the International Salon & Spa Expo, or ISSE. It’s all things hair, nails and even some skin. I took to the floor last weekend to do some trend spotting and see what’s coming up from some of the big companies.
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