The Evolution Of The Hair Dryer

Evolution which is characteristic of human civilization has brought about significant improvements in the way we live and how we style our hair. When Thomas Edison invented electricity the rush to create new ways use this amazing technology was launched. The modern day blow dryer has come a long way from its humble beginnings. There is no denying that the invention of the hair dryer was a major step in the evolution of the professional beauty industry and personal care. One example of just how far the hair dryer as evolved is the new BioIonic Nano i5X Conditioning Pro Hair Dryer.

Taking a glance back at the history of hair dryers we can see that the hair dryer was invented in the late 19th century by a French hairdresser. For the next 50 years bonnet hair dryers would become standard beauty salon equipment. The first hand held hair dryers were made of steel weighing over 2 lb and produced 100 watts of heat. By the 1960s, a light weight space age plastic pestle-grip blow dryer with 1500 watts of power was poised to change the look of hair fashions for both women and men and the professional beauty industry.

It would take an English hairdresser (guess who) to introduce a shapely geometric hair cut styled with a blow dryer to replace the bouffant roller set hair fashions of the time. What had taken an hour to create a hair style could now be achieve in minutes with a precession style cut and blow dryer. This was followed by the “dry look” for men and the blow dryer became the must have new styling tool for professional and home styling.  

To touch on the definition and use of this pestle griped wonder, it is sufficient to say that the blow dryer is a device used to dry “damp or wet hair” by blowing hot air over it. With the aid of a styling brush the damp hair can be transformed into a desirable shape and style. It must be noted that the natural shape of the hair fiber is attributed to its internal hydrogen bonds which can be temporarily altered when exposed to water and rearranged with the aid of heat and traction. Today’s hair dryer’s not only dry hair but also can improve the health and beauty of hair.

The new Bio-Ionic Nano i5X Conditioning Pro Hair Dryer is a streamlined thing of beauty with all the “bell’s and whistles” you’d expect in the 21st century. This ultra lightweight whisper quiet dryer features Nano Ionic technology which emits negative ions (good stuff) that break down clusters of water molecules into fine particles to re-hydrate, re-condition and preserve the moisture and elasticity from within the hair fiber. Simultaneously, the "ceramic far-infrared heat" cuts the drying time in half and polishes the hair shaft leaving it frizz free and soft to the touch with a shine you can see. You might call this new hair dryer a conditioner with a cord. And if time is money this bad boy says ...Ca-ching. 

If you’re shopping around for a new hair dryer or thinking about trading in your “old clunker” you’ll no doubt be confronted with a wide range of choices and prices. From inexpensive conventional hair dryers that cost ($20-$40) to the top of the line professional dryer ($75 - $200+). While these are geared toward repeated use by professionals, they can be beneficial for personal use as they will no doubt last longer and give you professional results. If you are willing to pay the price for a professional hair dryer the BioIonic i5X Conditioning Pro Hair Dryer is well worth the investment.

Famous Burnettes

 

There has always been an equally strong sex appeal between the hot blond, sexy red heads and the sultry brunettes. And since most blondes and red heads are created with a magical bottle of peroxide at the very least the sexy brunette's appeal is the real deal. Next to black brown hair may be the most common color but don’t be fooled into thinking that brunettes are boring.

 

The list of famous Hollywood brunette’s could fill a page. From the iconic Elizabeth Taylor, Jane Russell and Sophia Loren to current stars, Demi Moore, Cindy Crawford, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Sandra Bullock, Megan Fox, Jennifer Garner, Mandy Moore, Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria and Angelina Jolie to list a few. All are perfect examples of the universal sex appeal of brunette hair.

 

With advancements in 21^st century hair color chemistry the choices are many. From rich chocolates, caramel and chestnuts hues, to sable, walnut, mahogany and golden browns, brunette hair color has never looked so good. Brunette hair offers a mysterious look with lots of rich texture and compliments most skin tones and facial features depending on the lightness or darkness of the shades. For those with “fair skin tones” opt for honey and copper to warm up a light complexion. Medium skin tones will look best in chestnut shades. Those with darker skin tones should opt for a more "pure" brunette like rich sable or chocolate brown for a knockout sultry effect. If you're having trouble spotting a brunette hair color you think will work for you, try flipping through some hairstyling or celebrity magazines. Many celebrities have switched to brunette for its deep, rich look. Cut out pictures of the brunette colors you like and take them to a hair stylist. A salon colorist can point you in the right direction with results that last and look amazing.

 

Brunette hair looks better when there is not one color but multi-tones with highlights, lowlights, or tint-backs to bring kind of a mixture together with the hairstyle. There are a wide variety of brunette hair color combinations that go very well with many hairstyles. To add some glamour to a brunette hue, try adding bronze highlights around the face to complement your skin tones and add dimension to your color. Highlights in golden blonde or a light copper red add instant pizzazz to brunette’s skin tones. Brunette hair color can fade and look drab. To keep your color looking rich, invest in a color replenishing shampoo for brunettes to boost your brown every time you use it. If you’re shopping around for a color fresher shampoo you’ll no doubt be confronted with a wide choice of brands and prices. For best results ask a professional after all who knows hair better then a hair colorist.

Halle Berry / Star Hair Style

 

Drawing inspiration from the hair style trends of our favorite stars and celebrities has become a national pass time. One star hair style that’s eliminated by women around the globe is Hollywood super star Halle Berry. Like a chameleon, Halle changes her style and color often but it’s her chic sexy signature pixie style cut that has inspired women of all ages to trade in their long locks for this easy breezy liberating hairstyle.


TO GET THE LOOK:
Are you up for a liberating youthful short sassy hair do?  If that's the case, Halle’s two toned hair color and short spunky coif is a perfect place to start. This head turning do’ with all the right accessories is a show stopper and youthful looking to boot. If you’re ready to take the plunge, let’s take it one step at a time; starting with a style cut and shaping. 

LET’S SHAPE IT:
To get the look, start with contoured head hugging silhouette, feminine soft tapered neckline and "pixie" bangs for a flirty look. This fashion forward coif can be adjusted to suit most face shapes especial those with high cheek bones and slender features like Halle. If you’re having second thoughts about cutting your hair, not to worry with a few adjustments (trims) as it grows into the shape you can easily find the ideal length and shape for your personal style.

LET’S STYLE IT:
Talk about easy, this sassy do almost styles itself. To give your locks an extra boost start with a dab of styling balm, mousse or nothing at all. Just run either through damp hair and comb in place to dry au natural or give it a quick blow-dry for straight or textured effect. If your locks look a bit dry or frizz after, a dab of styling cream or spray pomade will tame it. For a dressy effect a few twists with a curling iron or quick press with a flat iron and you’ve got the look. 

LET STRAIGHTEN IT:
If you have curly, wavy frizzy hair like Halle Berry then chances are you sometimes would like to trade it in for straight. To make hair styling quick and easy give your hair a Brazilian Blowout Treatment, “the dream relaxing treatment” for a smooth soft straight style whenever you wish and manageable, frizz-free healthy looking to boot. It literally gives everyone with unruly hair a straight smooth look that last for several months. The only drawback is that it can be addictive!  Tame your locks with the Brazilian Blowout Treatment and your good to go. 

LET’S ADD LENGTH:
If you miss your long flowing locks “hair extensions” are the perfect way to add extra length to a short style. Hair extensions are available in all length, thickness, texture and colors. Extensions are hidden easily under the top layer and may be temporarily attached with a clip or permanently glued to individual strands close to the scalp. For a natural look, extensions must match your hair color and texture. Add extra length with hair extensions when the mood or occasion calls for it.

 

LET’S ADD MAKEUP & ACCESSORIES:
What’s a short cropped hair style without makeup and accessories? As the face of Revlon, Halle’s meticulously groomed but never overdone understated style calls for light lips, intensely smoky eyes and sculpted cheekbones. For a spot-on look, top it off with a retro newsboy cap, chic white halter top with wrap around scarf, black distressed skinny jeans, studded high-top boots, gold loop earrings, two toned Rayban aviator sunglasses and don’t forget Halle’s signature fragrance. 

 

NOW, LET’S COLOR IT:
For a contrasting sun kissed look Halle’s natural dark brown hair color is lighten several shades. Next, individual strands (thick and thin) are given a Golden Carmel hue with a foil weaving process. After a clear glaze seals-in the color and turns up the shine. The new growth is lightened and highlighted every six weeks. This creative hair coloring effect may cost a few extra bucks but it’s a small price to pay for a stunning color and all the attention you'll get.


Halle Berry’s liberating pixie style cut has everything you need for a time challenged life and puts you into the spot light were you belong. A Brazilian Blowout treatment gives you the best of both worlds; a smooth soft straight style whenever you wish and manageable, frizz-free healthy looking hair to boot. The tousled contoured silhouette fits like a glove and looks amazing from all points of view. Pixie bangs and soft tapered neckline with understated makeup add a stylish look that’s irresistible to men attracted to the classy, but never overdone type. Your sun kissed two toned color defines the over all shape and pushes the style bar to the max. So be prepared for heads to turn and men to stop dead in their tracks when you pass by looking "ooh-so stylish" and your girl friends to scream OMG ..you rock girl.

Famous Blonds

 

Blonds throughout history have often been portrayed as beautiful and sexy. While peroxide was first promoted to bleach hair in the 19th century, it was the 1920s and 1950s that the first ‘blonde bombshells’ were created by Hollywood with Jean Harlow, May West and Veronica Lake. But when a young starlet, Norma Jean (Marilyn Monroe) bleach her hair the "patron saint of peroxide" was born. Dozens of dazzling Hollywood blonds from Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Madonna, Paris Hilton, Katherine Heigl and the latest entry Lady Gaga continue to light up the silver screen with their ravishing blond locks.

 

The start of a new year marks the opportunity for redefining your style and what better way then with a new hair color. For years the hair fashion industry has been obsessed with blondes and is associated with glamour. Blond isn't just a hair color it's an attitude. If it were a formula I’d mix two parts blond hair, one part personality, plus two parts sexual confidence. Blond hair comes in many shades from cool to warm and is most flattering to creamy complexions although it also works well with complexions of medium warm tones. Natural blond hair is relatively rare. It can range from pale to dark golden shades and occurs in approximately 2% of the world population. Almost everyone can be a blonde. What's most important is finding the right shade to complement your skin tone. 

 

If you have pink skin like Reese Witherspoon you can wear a light golden blond hue. Women with pale porcelain skin and green or blue eyes like Nicole Kidman make perfect strawberry blondes. Medium skin tones have the most choices. If you want a pale blonde hue and have dark brown hair a two step process (bleaching and toning) will be required. Those with medium and light brown hair can add blond highlights or lowlights with a foil weaving technique to give it a natural sun kissed or dramatic look. This dimensional effect is a great way to start and easy to keep up. If you chose to become a blond and have dark eye brows you may want to lighten them as well. 

  

Because blond hair dye contains the small hair color molecules keeping blond in your hair becomes a challenge. Small molecules enter the hair shaft easily but also wash out of the hair easily each time you shampoo. To preserve the color using a pigmented shampoo and conditioner between touch ups will help prevent premature fading. Because there are dozens of blond hues from platinum and gold to strawberry it can be difficult to know which shade is right for you. To determine what shade would suit you best and which to avoid a visit to a professional hair colorist is well worth the time and expense. Before you make an appointment, clip a few pictures from magazines with colors you’re interested in trying and show them to the colorist….a picture is worth a thousand words!

Polaroid Hair Styling Experience

To make each new clients first visit a Hair Styling Experience for 25 years I've used a Polaroid Camera to take before and after hair style pictures. This extra step makes a big impression and has helped bring new clients to the salon.

Because a hair styling make-over is a big change and happens so fast using a Polaroid camera has helped me show clients the difference their new hairstyle has made in their appearance. As a part of their introductory visit I give them the Polaroid pictures along with a studio hair styling kit.  It's said a picture is a thousand words but a instant Polaroid picture speaks volumes.

I'm now using the new Polaroid's PoGo "digital camera" that lets you view and print a wallet size color picture on the spot. This bad boy is totally awesome and comes with all the "bells and whistles" you'd expect of a 21 century camera. It’s made using a Polaroid camera more fun then ever before and is affordable to use with each print costing only 30 cents. Because it’s a digital camera I can also save their make-over pictures in our salon computer. And the picture quality is amazing.

Over these many years I've also used Polaroid camera's to create artistic images of every day life that I call Pola Art. Take a peek at my Creative Polaroid Art Collection slide-show online here at the Polaroid Studio Gallery. And while your there check out the cool new Polaroid PoGo Digital Camera.

Tom Cruise Star Hairstyle

Drawing inspiration from the hair style trends of our favorite stars and celebrities has become national past time. One such star hair style is Tom Cruise. As a teen star his boyish good looks and long hair style served him well. Over the years Tom has been credited with having started many popular hairstyle trends for men. His movie star good looks and stylish persona has women watching his every move.

TO GET THE LOOK: Do you think its” impossible” to have a stylish look with your thin hair? Before you through in the towel, take a hair styling lesson from Tom Cruise and watch heads turn when you cruse by with this cool look. Be forewarned, if you accept this hair styling mission be prepared to use a blow dryer and color your hair. To get the look, let’s take it one step at a time; starting with a style cut and shaping.

LET’S SHAPE IT: To get the look start with a contoured shaping with tapered sides and neckline stylishly over the ears and collar. The crown is cut short to stand up for a full look with a few love locks tumbling across the forehead. This shapely head turning-do’ gives thin hair an over all thicker look and suits most face shape, especial those with large facial features like Tom’s. With a few adjustments (tweaks) as it grows you can easily find the ideal length and shape for your style.

LET’S STYLE IT: To jump start your style, start with a dab of shaping gel or gel mousse for style support and thicker look. Just run either through damp hair and comb in place to dry au natural, or give it a quick blast with a blow dryer for a full look. For a spiky tousled look and a whole new identity, when dry, add a dab foaming pomade or shaping gel and you’ve got the look.

LET’S ADD SIDEBURNS: Nothing can reshape a face or add a dramatic look like Sideburns. They can be long, short, narrow or full. This simple addition can make large ears appear smaller or a narrow face wider and will definitely add a stylish or artsy look. Include mid length sideburns and your almost there.

LET'S ADD A TAN: What's a star hairstyle without a Hollywood tan and accessories. Having spent hours in a studio makeup chair, Tom knows how good you can look and feel with a golden tan. To avoid the risks of sun damage, many actors get their golden glow with a transparent waterproof skin bronzer for the look and feel of a natural tan. Top it off with a black turtleneck, straight legged jeans paired with a bomber jacket, Ray Ban aviator sunglasses and your good to go.

NOW, LET’S COLOR IT: Actor’s change their hair color often for the many characters the play so dying their hair is no big deal. For Tom’s hair color, a semi-permanent warm brown hue defines the shape, adds style support and washes the gray away. To keep it up the re-growth is touched up every 6 weeks. This extra step will cost a few bucks but what the hell, it’s a small price to pay for a over all thicker look and all the attention.

Your Cruise worthy do’ comes with all the "bells and whistles" you need for a stylish look. The versatile contoured silhouette with tapered neckline stylishly over the collar and a few “love locks” tumbling across the forehead adds a cool casual touch. Coloring the hair has given your fine hair an over all thicker look and washed the gray away making it nearly “impossible" to know you’ve colored your hair. So be prepared to stop all those babe’s dead in their tracks and your pal's to be green with envy when you show up looking oh-so cool with your “mission accomplished” hairstyle.

For a Tom Cruise Star Hairstyle visit George Caroll Studio Style Salon www.georgecaroll.com
see special introductory visit pricing and shine like the stars.

Famous Redheads

Redheads throughout history have often been portrayed as fiery and seductive; from Queen Elizabeth I to Cleopatra (who some argue was a redhead). Sexy red hair is something Hollywood has loved from its early days. Think of Clara Bow the redheaded “It Girl”, Lucille Ball and Maureen O’Hara with their playful confident personalities and Rita Hayworth’s bombshell sexuality and you got it. Today’s dazzling redheads; Lindsay Lohan, Debra Messing, Susan Sarandon, Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman continue to light up the silver screen with their ravishing red hair.

The start of a new year marks the opportunity for redefining your style and what better way then with a new hair color. For years the hair fashion industry has been obsessed with blonds. Make no mistake, blond hair isn't going out of style but with the start of the new decade it's time for blonds to make way for the redhead. A redhead isn't just a hair color it's an attitude. If it were a formula I’d mix two parts red hair, one part personality, plus two parts sexual confidence. It’s said that Blonds have more fun, but Redheads are never forgotten. Bette Midler (singer-actress) may have said it best, "Gentlemen may prefer blonds, but it takes a real man to tame a redhead."

Red hair comes in many shades from cool to warm and is most flattering to creamy complexions although it also works well with complexions of medium warm tones. Women with pale porcelain skin and green or blue eyes should go for natural gingers and neutral-tone coppers. Dark and olive skin tones should stick with the Burgundies and violet-based colors to flatter skin tones. Brunettes should favor the darker shades of red to match their complexion and natural hair color. Medium brown and light blonde can wear either dark or lighter shades of reds. Adding red highlights or lowlights with a foil weaving technique can achieve a natural or dramatic look. This dimensional look is eye-catching and far from ordinary for those who like to get noticed. If you chose to become a redhead lightening the brows will give it a natural look.

Red hair dye contains the smallest of hair color molecules as a result keeping red in your hair becomes a challenge. Small molecules enter the hair shaft easily but can also wash out of the hair easily each time you shampoo. To preserve the color using a pigmented shampoo and conditioner between touch ups will help prevent premature fading. Because there are dozens of ravishing red hues from strawberry and auburn to coppers it can be difficult to know which shade is right for you. To determine what shade would suit you best and which to avoid a visit to a professional hair colorist is well worth the time and expense. Before you make an appointment, clip a few pictures from magazines with colors you’re interested in trying and show them to the colorist….a picture is worth a thousand words!