BEST.COLOR.CORRECTION.EVAR!!!!!!!!!!!

So... Let's just gaze at this picture for a minute and bask in its amazingness....

Ok... Let me know when you're done.

Well... I guess the amazingness deserves a little explanation in that this is far from the color it used to be.

This is my friend Rachel, a natural level 7. I have been coloring her hair black for a number of years and before I got my hands on her, it was colored by someone else (but we won't talk about that....) A few months back she told me that she wanted to go lighter and closer to her natural but wanted to be a different tone. When she told me she wanted to be copper, I freaked!!! I got so excited I did an internal happy dance. The prospect of giving her a new look excited us both and we talked about the process and when we should do it. We decided that staying a raven haired goddess through her wedding was the best idea and eventually came to the agreement that we would take the plunge after the New Year.

Leading up to the day we sent texts back and forth and discussed all of our options. The conclusion we came to was that it would probably be the most awesome thing ever but if it wasn't, we could always go back to black. The day came, she showed up and we got right down to business.

The process was long but completely worth it. After lifting her hair to a banded level 7, we decided that we would do two tones of copper since we really couldn't decide on which we liked better. I parted out a block to go in her perimeter and applied Mask 7,43 rood to ends knowing that the color in that tube was dense enough to give her even coverage. I had to get a little sciencey with the top section and take into consideration the copper that was already happening in her previously colored but lightened lengths. Since the desired end result for this section was Mask 7,34, I applied a straight formulation of that on her root, reformulated for her very copper mid lengths using what remained in the bowl (about 15g of color) and mixing in straight 7,3, applied and in her ends mixed and new formulation of 7,34 because her ends were more shallow than the mid section.

Did your brain explode?!? If you are a colorist, you totally get me. If you are not... well think of unicorns and rainbows and that should make your brain feel better.

What you see pictured above is the end result. After rounds of lifting to get her previous color out so we could put her new color in, this is what we got. What amazes me the most is that it is remarkably even, shiney and still a very strong strand of hair.

Due to the magic of Davines' Mask Color, I was able to make this awesomeness happen for Rachel. We were both so pleased with the end result that our faces hurt from intense smiling. Seriously.... my face is still sore from the over use of my smile muscles!! Ha!! I gave her a fat stack of my cards and people have liked it so much she's already had to ask for more. The greatest thing to come out of this experience is knowing that I was able to give Rachel EXACTLY what she wanted, she LOVES it and it's a wearable color that will allow her the freedom to play with copper tones or grow out her natural if she so chooses with less hassle than staying dark.

BEST.COLOR.CORRECTION.EVAR!!!!!!!!!

A New Year, A New You...

I'm very excited about what 2014 has in store. My first full calendar year of business is behind me and the second has a bright, bright outlook. I've spent the last year working hard and cultivating ideas with the intention of making sure you guys all know just how much I appreciate you.

One of few ideas is the Indigo Elite Membership program. A few of you asked when I first opened if I would be creating something of the sort and here it is!!!

This program is not only designed to create savings for each and every one of you, it has rewards built into it that honor things you already do. The next time you're in, make sure you ask me about what it means to be a member and how you can go about being among the first to take advantage of a program that's designed just for you.

How do I earn Elite Rewards?
· Prebook (1 point)
· Purchase product (1 point)
· Book an add on service (1 point)
· Refer a new client (5 points)
**each point is worth $1 and can be used toward any regular priced product purchase**

Can I earn Elite Reward points if I am not an Indigo Elite Member?
YES!!!
 

Mermaid Hair and Smurf Bangs

Meet April. She's one of my younger clients, who like most kids, likes fun hair but can't do it during the school year because of the silly dress codes schools have now a days. When I got text from her mom that April wanted "fun color", I was super excited.

Despite poplar belief, I do more "normal hair" than I do "punky hair" so when I get a chance to do it, I giggle and dance and get super excited!!! It's not so much that "punky color" is more creative, it's just a different creative outlet.

For April, her mom sent me a picture of a blue to teal 'Ombre and I leaped with joy!! How fun!!!

This is probably the most fun I've had doing an 'Ombre EVAR!!! I opened up the cuticle with a quick bleach wash to ensure longevity and also because April's naturally about a level 8 or 9. I chose the back combing method because the colors she wanted are so vibrant and needed to be solid instead of blended like I've done in the past with the Flamboyage strips.

After applying, combing out and rinsing, the expression on April's face once we blow dried and cut her bangs was PRICELESS. Her over all reaction was amazing!! She danced around Indigo picking up every mirror and checking herself out in every reflective surface!! While I was shampooing her mom's hair, I caught her moon walking across the salon floor while dancing and singing!! I sent April's mom a text the next day to see how April was doing and it was reported that she was still dancing, singing and checking her self out every chance that she could!!! Best client reaction EVAR!!!! Hehe!!!

Rock on April!!!

Indigo's Half Bday!!!

Oh man!! I am super excited about this event!! This is the first of many I plan to have here at Indigo, so I'm guessing that this will be a learning experience as well as lots of fun times.

If you've taken the time to read the lovely flier to the left, you'll see that I've got awesome stuff planned for this evening; raffles, hair tutorials, door prizes etc. So much to plan, so little time....

At this point, I think I'm most excited about the raffle items. So far, I have 4 local businesses that have donated items to be raffled off to help raise funds for my GoFundMe project. I am completely humbled by the support I've been getting from the people in our lovely community and am so grateful for the generosity I've been able to witness.

As days go by and the planning plot thickens, great ideas keep popping into my head and with the help of a client, friend and donatee we've been able to figure out a way to allow those who can't attend the event bid on raffle items from afar!!! Super cool right?!? OMG... I get super excited about stuff like this and to most, it's just a thing... I get excited over things!! Haha!!!

Well, I guess I should explain how the raffle will work. Duh...

Indigo's Half Bday Raffle:

1. Items up for raffle will be displayed throughout Indigo. Each item will have its own separate drawing.

2. Raffle tickets can be purchased for $1 each, 12 for $10 or 25 for $20.

3. Raffle tickets can be purchased by cash or any major credit card during the duration of the event and until winners are announced.

4. Winners will be announced at the end of the evening. You do not have to be present to win.

How to Enter the Raffle Drawing for Items from Home (for raffle items will only be taken during the time of the event)

1. Click here to go to Indigo's GoFundMe Project page during Indigo's Half Bday event, May 1st between 6pm-8pm.

2. Click the donate button, fill in the fields accordingly.

3. In the comment section, list the item you would like to enter to win. If you would like to enter to win more than one item, list the items and how much you would like to go towards each item.

Sounds easy enough right?!? Right!!!

So... For those of you who can't come but would still like to enter to win one of the super awesome raffle items, here's your chance!!!!

What Can I Say... The OI Got Me!!!!

I'm not sure why it's such a surprise to me when I return from an Educator Update and feel so energized and excited about Davines!!! I am so excited about what I've learned over the two days I spent with my colleagues. I can't wait till I can share it with whoever on this planet is willing to listen to me nerd out about the company and products I love so dearly. There are SO MANY good things to come!!! I think I might burst!!!

There are some details that emerged during the update that I CANNOT divulge but what I can share with you is my experience with the new OI!!! THIS. STUFF, IS AMA-ZA-ZING!!!!! I have to tell you, the only reason I can gush about this before its US launch is that it has already launched in Italy and the press is out!! Oh BOY!!!!

Ok... Gush time!!!! Once it finally arrives in the US we will have 3 new products; OI Shampoo, OI Conditioner and OI All In One Milk. I was the first person in the room to wrap my greedy little hands around each bottle and upon receipt, about DIED!!!! I was floored just by the smell, the packaging and its all around awesomeness!! When I sprayed some of the Milk into my hands and ran it through my hair, it served as a reminder of why I love this company so much.

I cannot express how wonderful it is to work for a company that is constantly on a path of growth. There's always a new idea, a new product, an innovative new tool and a quality and excellence that is hard to find in any other hair care company. You may have heard me rant and rave about some of the product lines that are out there. The reason I can do so with such confidence is because I work for and utilize the products of a company that TRUMPS the competition in its efforts to be earth friendly, honest, human conscious and just plain and simply put, beautiful.

If you haven't had a chance yet, please take the time to visit the Davines website to learn more about the many ways this company makes efforts to be as amazing as it is. Hopefully this will give you some insight as to why I can't help but be so madly in love with the tools I have to use and what I do.

Make Up How To!!!

Make up, to some, is a scary thing. I feel like (and sometimes see) that there are a number of people who struggle with make up application. Whether it be a day-to-day face, day-to-night transition etc, it truly doesn't have to be complicated. I often think of applying make up as art so when I say, "I'm going to paint my face" I literally mean that my face is my canvas and my make up my artistic tools. Here are 2 tutorials for some very basic make up applications. One is a "5 Minute Face" and the other a 2 minute-ish "Day To Night" transitional look. Take what you can and incorporate them into your routine. If you truly have questions on how to apply your make up and need hands on help, feel free to book a make up lesson and we'll cover all the ins and outs of working with your canvas.

PS- I feel like I should also say that I REALLY do not like the thumbnails that YouTube chooses for you. If there is a way to choose my own, will someone please let me know... Otherwise, you're stuck with these awkward faces!!! Hehe!!!

DON'T LOOK UP MY NOSE!!!

Pinterst + The Holidays = Awesomesauce!!!

Pinterest has swept the lands and I have to admit, I'm quite obsessed!!! ....By obsessed I mean that I fell asleep pinning last night with my phone in my hand... I admit that's a little extreme but I just can't help myself!! I'm going to need a support group soon so if I go missing any time in the near future, I'm at the Betty Ford equivalent for recovering "pinning" addicts.

I guess I should explain...

I'm a very visual and kinesthetic person. If I can't see it, touch it or do it, I have a hard time learning how to complete it. Pinterest is fantastic for this in that I can see pictures of stuff that I like, hair related or not, and learn how to make it happen!! Exciting right?!? I love this particularly for the holidays because I love to bake for my friends and there are A MILLION hair ideas on the interwebs that I would love to try. This allows me to create boards of stuff that inspires me and hopefully inspires you. It's a hub for clients to point and say "Let's do that!!!" which makes my job that much easier!!

I've created quite a few boards (obsessed) including a board called "Inspiration" of pins I've found that spark my creativity and a board called "DO Try This At Home" of pins I think that my clients would be interested in trying at home (hair, skin care and other random stuff :D). I also have a "Hair" board of pictures I've taken of my work while here at Indigo.

Please feel free to follow any of my boards or all of them for that matter. I pin like a mad person so I guarantee you won't be bored!! If you're worried that you might be enabling me, you will be but realize that the pinning will happen no matter what and, let's face it, you don't want to miss out on this brand of awesomeness... You just don't!! Haha!!!

Follow Indigo: Indigo253

Indigo's First YouTube Video

So... I decided instead of just being so proud of the fact that I can now sew my hair when it's curly, I should make a video of it and share it with the entire world!!! Here it is!!! This is my first tutorial video and I'm doing my own hair so if not for anything else, watch to catch the awesome faces I'm making throughout. Next time I make one, I'll try and set music to it but for now, without sound will have to do. Enjoy!!!

It's Called a Filler.... I Guess :D

This is a little something I threw together for a client who is getting married soon and wants unbelievably big hair :) I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE big hair, so this was a treat to be able to tell her that her dreams of big hair were possible When I sat her down for her consultation and gave her "the talk" about how in most photos with long luxurious or big hair, there's a lot of hair there that's was added to create a look. As I like to say, "There's a whole lotta weave up in that mess!!!" Haha!!! So I showed her the "filler" I made, she looked at is sideways after which I reassured her that it was definitely going to work and we moved forward with the style.








Here's how I did it:

Materials Needed:
1 or 2 packs of braiding weave to match the hair color (cost $3-$5 a pack... no need to buy the good stuff!!)

netted wig cap or hair net (cost $1-$2)

wig brush/back combing brush ($.49-$5 depending on brand)

crafting thread ($3-$5)

crafting needle ($1-$2) Shhhh... I used my weave needle!! Ha!!!

scissors (Meh... I don't remember!! Ha!!)

  Step 1: Remove braiding weave from package being careful not to let the hair separate. Tie a knot in the hair mid way down the length to create two equal sections of braid-able hair.

Step 2: Combine the braid-able sections and separate them into 3 equal sections.

 Step 4: Backcomb the 3 equal sections you created.

 Step 5: Braid the 3 backcombed sections. When you get to the end, combine the ends of each section and back comb them together to finish the braid.

Step 6:  Take the braided weave and pack into the wig cap/hair net.

Step 7- Once the enclosure is sewn shut, cut off the excess wig cap/hair net.

 Step 8- Viola'!!! Your filler is now complete and ready to mount on someone's head :D Marvel in your aweosomeness and take a bow!!

This is the end result of Heather's updo practice for her big day. I back combed the front and crown sections, placed the filler in the area where volume was needed most. I sewed it in by placing her curled hair over the top, loosely stitching that in with the same black crafting thread and then picking up the remainder of her curls and stitching that in to the filler as well.

Beautiful right?!? I have to say, I was quite impressed with myself and my craftiness when I was done. Hopefully this is something you can apply to future crazy big updos or at home dos in place of crap tons of back combing. I think this is a great alternative to the God forsaken Bumpit and an easier to hide version of the loofa trick. Try it and let me know how it works out for you!!

Quick Tip: For an even more spectacularly voluminous look, add more hair to the hair net or make multiple fillers to pin or sew in.

So Far, So Good!!

I'm not sure quite why, but it still feels like I just opened yesterday. As I look back on the  month I can see that I've gotten a lot done despite these feelings of brand new-ness. I've been blessed with a group of great clients who have come in to see me and I've also seen a dramatic increase in clients I've seen for the first time. I can't explain why this is happening, or why the sudden influx of new interest but as a new business owner, I'll take it!!!

Indigo is evidence that going forward with confidence and taking the steps you know are right can only bring abundance and prosperity. This is not to say that I'm rollin' in dough but I definitely have a full heart and am currently rolllin' in support and love from my family, friends and community.

Thank you!!

With that said, please stay tuned. I've got it at the top of my list to take more pictures, blog more (hopefully) and send out tangible thanks to those who have been so supportive in this new journey of mine!!

Follow Indigo:

Facebook- www.facebook.com/indigo253
Twitter- @indigo253
Instagram- Indigo253
Pinterest- Indigo253

Notice a theme?!? Hehe!!! Follow away my friends!!!

Aussie Inspired Portland Goodness!!!

Boy has life been busy!!! With my recent visit to New York, teaching Davines classes and keeping my brain sane enough to keep business going with all the "stuff" that needs to be done, I've been running around like a crazy(er) person!!! Amongst the busy, I was able to make it to Kevin Murphy Runway to Reality ft David Bamford show in Portland that I feel like I've been waiting FOREVER for. I have to say, watching the creative mastery of David Bamford was enough to jump start my creative heart and get the juices flowing again. Stylists need ample opportunity to feed off the creative energy of others and I think this show provided enough to last me for quite a while.

David Bamford of Therapy Hair Studio is an Australian born stylist who works his magic out of Texas and is probably the most down to earth "cool hair guy" that I've had the pleasure of meeting. He said things like, "Add me on FB and don't worry, I'll be your friend.... cause I'm friends with everyone, I add everyone". He simplified looks that could very easily be over complicated and turned them into 20-30 minute easy to do looks. Philosophies on retailing and styling were shared and made easy to understand by a certain frankness that can only be accomplished by someone who's done to work to get where he is while keeping a humble heart and keen eye for growth in creativity.

I have since added David on Facebook, follow him on Instagram (his self proclaimed new obsession) and am itching to try out some of the new looks he taught (pictured above and to the left) while throwing my own Tacoma-esque spin on them!!! Yay for inspiration!!!!




Credits:
Pictures: Me and my iPhone :D
Hair: David Bamford
Makeup: I'm not sure but she did a fantastic job!!!

Magic I Say!!!!

Oh Fall... The leaves have turned, the air is crisp with the promise of Winter and if you've got hair that tends to frizz, you hate this time of year!! Well, save the expletives and damning of the hair gods for another day AND get some Momo/Cream in your life. This tube may not look like much but speaking from experience, it's worth every single penny. This tube of magic is designed to infuse your hair with the most amount of moisture possible, protects you from UVA/UVB rays, keeps free radicals from doing damage and smells delicious!!

I've taken it upon myself to make sure that I apply this goodness to my hair just about daily and I am thoroughly amazed at how shiny and frizz-less my hair has been. With the weather being all Washington like, my hair's typical reaction is to freak out and fro. Momo/Cream keeps all this craziness under control....  Fo real!!! It is definitely quite magical!!!

I HEART CHALKBOARDS!!!!

Knowing that I have a limited budget for decor, I took it upon myself to hit up Pinterest for some easy DIY projects to spruce up my space AND keep me busy during down time. This first project I embarked on was a "5 Minute Frame Fix" on a DIY site called The Yellow Cape Cod. Honestly, this is only one of many projects that I found that I want to try but I chose this one first because it was easy and let's face it, I HEART CHALK BOARDS!!!! Now that I have a whole can of chalkboard paint, expect that many of the surfaces in Indigo will be coated with said awesomeness.


Ok... So here's how I did it:








Step 1: Buy a picture frame!! Easy enough right?!? I chose this one because I couldn't find a vintage-y one that still had a paint-able surface like the original tutorial. This Ikea frame is perfect since all the pieces come in an easy to access package!! Ha!!













Step 2: Take the frame apart, prime and paint the glass with chalk board paint. To ensure an even surface, I used two coats of the chalk board paint.

Step 3: Once the chalk board paint is dry, put the frame back together. At first I was going to leave out the white piece but last minute decided to keep it cause it gives my lil DIY project a nice classy finish.








Step 4: Remember to bring your chalk with you so when you take a picture of the finished product you can write something cool on it to showcase your awesome project!! Haha!! I left my chalk at home so I'll have to wait until the next time I'm in the shop to write something clever.... I should be able to come up with something good!! ;)










Well, there you go!!! This was a really fun project that kept my self diagnosed ADD in check because I was able to do 5 other projects simultaneously while the coats of primer and paint were drying. Try this at home. I originally intended to make this an "open/closed/BRB" sign but I think I'm gonna set it on my station so I can bask in its awesomeness!!! Can't wait to write cool stuff on it!!!!

And So It Begins...

T-Minus 1 hour until I can officially say that Indigo has completed its first day of business. Crazy right?!? All of this has happened so fast but also seems like it's taken forever to get to this place. I'm feeling quite blessed to be able to say that I am open for business and am excited for the journey that lay ahead.

I had my first official client today. A simple haircut on a client who I've seen for a long time. I think the biggest worry for most stylists when they move on is that their clients won't follow. I'm glad to know that I have a good group of peeps who love what I do and love that I love doing it for them.... Say that 5 times fast!!! Ha!!

Also...

I received a visit from the gal who owns the salon upstairs, Azarra. I totally planned on popping up there once I got some stuff done but she beat me to it!! Ha!!! She introduced herself and even said that if I did relaxers that she could have sent me a client. Sadly, I don't BUT it was reassuring to know that I have her support and things don't have to be weird!! Haha!!

All in all, today was a good day. I got a lot of stuff done and feel good about my future here. Best part is, I get to do it all again tomorrow!!! Yippeeeeeeee!!!!

6 Days and Counting

Today was an exciting day filled with business decisions and errands... Fun you say?!? It actually was :D Each decision was made knowing it was right for Indigo's future and the errands were a labor of love. All prep for opening day in t-minus 6 exciting days!!!

I am overwhelmed by how excited everyone is. The Indigo FB Page was launched a mere 4 hours ago and there are already 40+ "likes". WOW right?!? There is no way to express how much I appreciate all the love and support.... Now all I need to do is get all these folks on the books so I can continue to make Tacoma a beautiful place to live!!