How To Be A Hair Model

A few weeks back I had the express pleasure of being a hair model for my regular hair dresser (owner of Mira Salon). They had in a new line of organic hair color, and she was teaching a class for all of the hair dressers to test and become familiar with the product.

As excited as I was, boy was I nervous! I had never been asked to do anything like this before and wasn't exactly sure of proper etiquette.

The event itself was fantastic!
Think of it as a fun lady slumber party (only sans sleeping!). It was room filled with too many girls, all laughing and talking. There were juices and coffees, pastries and snacks, and the salon had never felt so alive and fun. My hair dresser was fantastic-- I gave her complete control over how she wanted to color my hair. She's one of the best stylists I've ever had, so I trusted her to give me a great color.

And boy did she!


Excuse that second pose: it's much cuter when someone like Tricia at bits & bobbins does it. These were the quick & cheap pictures post session.

She gave me an all over chocolate mocha color, as she knows how much I love having dark hair. But she kept three chunks in a color close to what I had before- a rich coppery auburn color. There was a chunk on each side of my head and a sprinkle through my bangs. What is so fantastic about the color is that it's very business and professional, but the fun pieces are easily peaking through. She designed it so that it'd be easy for me to upkeep (or change the pieces to other fun colors!). It has faded some, but is still in wonderful color.


Things To Know:

1. Don't be afraid to want details.
One thing I really didn't do was ask for details; "what does she have in mind, do you have any input on what they do, will there be any costs involved, how long do they anticipate it last" are all good questions to ask.

2. Don't be afraid to give your hair stylist complete control.
It's hard to remember, but if you're seeing a regular stylist, they don't want you to look bad. Their livelihood is at stake, and it's in their best interest to make sure you look good!

3. Tipping is not necessary; payment may not be either.
One of the best things about being a hair model-- if you're willing to experiment and be flexible, it most likely won't cost you a dime. Occasionally there are instances when a salon will ask that the model cover the cost of supplies (like hair color), but most likely you are getting the goods for free.

4. Hair Models are often hard to come by.
Surprising, but true! Many men and women have what they like and aren't willing to get stuck with something they hate. If you're adventurous and trust the reputation of the salon and stylist, I'm sure you'll come out with something that is great & you love.

5. Just Ask.
If you know a stylist, are on good terms with yours, or are just curious, it can't hurt to check with a salon to see if they offer such services and programs or to see how you can get involved!

On How To Be Popular Fabulous

My friend Mel recently posted this on her MySpace account:

So, in 2008, I would like to be fabulous. But what does this mean, exactly? I get a sense of what "fabulousness" is...but I need more than a sense. I need a definition. I THINK it means being good at what you do, running your life well, being happy, having similarly fabulous friends...but is it?

I know some of my alternative-lifestyle friends use this term, but so do my more stereotypically conventional friends. So I am curious: to you, what does it mean to be fabulous?

It's been several days, in not a week, and I still find myself thinking on this idea.
Fabulousness is talked about, filmed about (Sex and the City anyone?), desired and not easily attained. It's almost become commodified, like beauty has, yet it's an anomaly unto itself as its definition varies from person to person. Yet, we all recognize it when we see it, and in many ways, are probably all attracted to those that are fabulous (I know that's kind of what I'm thinking when I present "The Dramatis Personae").


So what is Fabulous?
When I think about the men and women in my life who I find fabulous, there is one thing that comes to mind: They are all confident, secure, and unapologetic about who they are, what they do, and what they love.

We all have that friend-- the friend whose hobbies may include something "dorky," but somehow they make it seem cool. I have friends who rapier fight, create period costumes, and own weaponry, but they're some of the most fabulous people I know. There are people I know, friends I have who play Dungeons and Dragons and are shameless about loving it. Heck, prior to her downfall of shame and glory, I was guilt free about my collection of Brittany Spears tracks. I've got girlfriends who are in their mid-30s, fiercely independent, single, and the ones who would drive me home at 9 a.m. after a night of drinking and dancing. I get teased to bits about my love of tiny top hats, but I know my friends love me all the more because of them.

There's no easy way to attain fabulousness-- no matter how great my shoe collection is, it's not going to make or break my ability to be fabulous. I had to think long and hard about the people in my life I found fabulous, and I recognized the things they all had in common: their own sense of style, a love and passion for what they do, their own thoughts and reactions to the world around them, and fulfilling and nourishing their minds and bodies.

Now that I've spent too long thinking on the topic, what do you think makes someone fabulous? Who are those you admire and find fabulous traits and inspiration in?


Above photographs by: 1. fabulous, 2. the fabulous naomi singer and the fabulous lindsey 'long legs' shepek, 3. la notte ti penso, 4. Have a Fabulous Weekend Kiwi Drink, 5. Stationary Inspiration, 6. Absolutely Fabulous, 7. HAPPY FABULOUS BIRTHDAY JAMES, 8. Terror Fabulous... 06

Vacation, All I Ever Wanted!

Whee! Today I turned in my last final for my last class of graduate school. Next semester I have to complete a full-time internship or working internship (job), and then life can go on as normal!

To celebrate my newfound freedom (and returning sanity), I'll indulge in a tag-- Meg at All About Appearances tagged me to post 8 random things about myself. I have to admit, this is the first time I've been tagged, so I'm actually kind of excited about it!

The rules are:

Link back to whomever tagged you.

Post these guidelines before your list.

After you list your eight things, tag eight (of however many you want) other bloggers


1. I'm a contributing writer for Miss Malaprop. It's not unusual for people to get Miss Malaprop and I confused though or assume that only one person writes for the blog.

2. I have an irrational fear of getting in to running cars. As a child, I hated it and would make my parents turn the car off before I got in. Now that I'm older, it doesn't bother me as much, but sometimes it makes me a bit twitchy.

3. A friend recently embarassed me by brining a new acquaintance over with her. She then took the person in to my room, showed them the inside of my closet and said, "Look at all of those shoes! And she doesn't even wear half of them!" I love shoes. I love buying them and getting to wear them. But when people make a big deal of it, I kind of get ashamed.

4. I am a film academic through and through-- I can argue the social identifers and cultural commentary on a film like Josie and the Pussycats as well as I can anything by Ingmar Bergman. That doesn't mean I don't love a shitty action film or a trashy horror film as much as the next white trash man. In fact, I've going in to my second year doing freelance work for an international horror film festival, and will be structuring programming and panels that will show that horror is as smart as any other film genre.

5. I'm an equally split Yank and Rebel. I've spent 12 years of my in the South, about 8 years in the New England, 2 in the Midwest, and the miscellaneous two on the West Coast (my family was military). As a child I hated being called "That little Yankee Girl," and since Hurricane Katrina, have fondly thought of the South as my home.

6. Now that I get to go back to working full-time, these are things I am looking forward to doing again: photography, sewing, knitting, cooking, dancing, socializing, cleaning. I've taken too long a hiatus on them all, quite to my heart and soul's ache.

7. If I could make one wish, it would be for a limitless credit card that pays itself off. All the shopping I could ever want to do, without any of the financial risk!

8. During my undergraduate years, I used to be quite the Party Girl, but not in the keggers sense. I spent two to three nights a week at the local clubs, dressed in my favorite 80s/new wave/electroclash trashions, dancing and drinking the night away. It actually resulted in a weight loss of ~ 60 pounds. School + working too much has taken away that time, and as a result, I've gained too much back. Boo!

And for the tagging fun, I'd like to get to know more about:
Glam and Tonic
Holiday in the Sun
(Into) the Fray
Paper Cities of Tomorrow
The Clothes Horse
This Second's Obsession
+ anyone else who has been waiting to get tagged!

Hair

On the 23rd I'm going to get my hair chopped again; it feels like it was just the other day that I was getting my hair cut, colored, and highlighted (for the first time!), and here it is time to get back on the chop block.

This time around, however, I'm diverting away from the asymmetrical cut I've had for the past year +, and looking for something that will still have a bit of edge, a touch of class, a hint professionalism, and a ton of versatility.

So tell me, where do you go for hair care inspiration? Any sites that have guaranteed great cuts and colors?

Picture: Last Fall, short, asymmetrical (check out, even the bangs are!), and curled for 80s power.