Hair Colors
Oliver’s Take On 3 Social Media Trends
As I’ve written about before, social media platforms are the holy grail of hairstyle inspiration. There are hundreds of thousands of posts across all social media websites, featuring different styles that can send the average person into sensory overload. However, it’s possible to get inspiration from places other than the traditional #hair or #hairstyles pages. Trends pop up everywhere, so I’m going to teach you how to draw some ideas from past social media crazes. In this blog, I’m going to dive into some popular social media trends and buzzwords, then show you how some of the stylist’s at Oliver’s have turned these trends into hairstyles, #nofilteradded.
With so many social media platforms available, there's more than enough inspiration out there for a new look.
Inspiration can come from anywhere, and we all consume enough media to pick up a few ideas to incorporate into our style. Whether its from social media, your favorite TV show, or a podcast you love, fun new style ideas can come from anywhere. Here are some ideas for how to incorporate social media's next hottest hashtag into a new hairstyle.
Here Are 3 Social Media Trends Translated Into Hairstyles:
Trend 1: Unicorns and Mermaids and fairies galore
Surely everyone remembers the Starbucks Unicorn Frappucino insanity of 2017. You couldn’t enter a Starbucks without standing in line behind 20 people all asking for the signature purple and teal drink. Snapchat stories were filled to the brim with pictures of it. While the strangely sour frappuccino itself made my wallet $5 lighter and my tastebuds 5 times sadder, it sparked the unicorn craze that’s seeped into everything from clothing, to makeup, to hair ever since. The bright, funky colors made me reminisce to the days of carrying around Lisa Frank folders and having a colored streak in my hair. While I’ve ditched the Manic Panic hair dye and the over the top school supplies, I can still appreciate the unicorn/mermaid/fairy trend.
I’m not sure what about these colors appealed to anyone’s taste buds, but Starbucks gave us some hair and beauty inspiration that’s lasted almost 2 years after the frap was taken off menus.
Here are 2 of our stylists' take on the fantasy colors trend, which is definitely much more suited for hair. All of the fun and beauty of the Unicorn Frappucino without the sour aftertaste.
Trend 2: Coachella-palooza-fest
While Coachella may not be the first music festival, there’s no denying its the most Instagram-able. (Is that a word? If not, it should be). Thousands of people flood into California sporting their festival-best makeup, which usually includes lots of sparkles, glitter, and rhinestones. It’s a no brainer that most of these looks aren’t wearable on a daily basis, unless your day job requires you to clock in at the Magic Castle. But, a little added sparkle here or there is definitely doable. Maybe not on your face, but definitely in your hair.
It may not be the best idea to break out the rhinestones and cosmetic glue for your day job, but Coachella-inspired makeup looks are fun for special occasions.
These pretty additions to hairstyles are fun, but subtle enough to wear on a daily basis. Cute add ons like charms and braids are simple, wearable, and give you an added accessory for the day. Our stylists do a great job at incorporating some extra sparkle into everyday looks.
Trend 3: Pretty in Millennial Pink
In 2016, Pantone declared "Rose Quartz" (Also known as “Millennial Pink”) as the color of the year. Shortly after, Apple released the iPhone in Rose Gold. It was (and still is) absolutely everywhere, and I’m guilty of purchasing way too many items in this color. These relaxed pink shades have become more of a neutral color in my wardrobe, rivaling the dozens of black pieces I own. (I know I don’t need every shirt in black but it just goes so easily with everything, I swear!) So, if you’re like me and supplemented your wardrobe with dozens of rosy pieces, maybe your hair is the next step?
This dreamy shade of pink is everywhere from our electronics to our closets. Do my matching rose gold iPhone, Apple Watch, and MacBook make me feel a little juvenile at times? Maybe. But will I ever go back to regular old black or silver electronics? Definitely not.
Long gone are the days of neon pink, and instead, a more muted shade is popping up everywhere. While pink hair definitely isn’t for everyone, lighter shades make it much more wearable than a typical neon “fashion” colors. Unlike neon hair, this color will still look pretty and just as wearable when it fades. These styles are trendy and fashion forward, but neutral enough so they won't clash with your outfits.
Time To Surf The Web
So even if nothing on the #hair page is catching your eye, Instagram, Pinterest, and other social media platforms are choc-full of other things to grab inspiration from. If you don’t mind a little creative brainstorming, that is. So next time a trending topic on Twitter piques your interest, or you laugh at a hashtag, maybe you can translate it into a hairstyle!
If this blog convinced you to change up your look, I recommend checking out our blog about why booking a consultation is important before you make any drastic changes.
Thank you to our stylists Luanne, Niki, and Carmen for their work! Check out the Oliver's Salon & Spa Instagram and Facebook pages for more work from our entire team. If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment, call us at (610) 366-8808 or book online.
Going Platinum (Blonde)?
It seems like lately everyone’s making the jump to platinum blonde. Celebs who used to rock sultry dark locks are now lightening up and opting for a more icy look. So how do you jump on the bandwagon? In this post, I’ll be writing about the steps you need to take to make sure your new platinum style is Hall of Fame worthy.
Platinum blonde AND healthy hair? Yes, it's 100% possible IF you listen to your stylist and spread your appointments out. (Style by Carmen)
So to preface, I’m definitely not going platinum anytime soon. I love writing about first hand experiences so I can give you all the real deal. Unfortunately, the Elsa from Frozen ice princess look definitely won’t suit my dark curly hair. Plus, the fairly extensive aftercare needed doesn’t fit into my VERY low maintenance hair routine. (Shoutout to the Keratin Treatment I had done that makes getting ready in the morning a total breeze). That being said, I can recognize a popular trend when I see one. And I love a good hair transformation picture. So, I’ve done some digging to make sure that you all know how to kill it with your new blonde locks. (No need to thank me.)
Step 1: Do Some Soul Searching
While I love a #transformationtuesday as much as the next person, going platinum blonde might not be for everyone. Lifting color from your hair is a process, and getting the best results won’t happen in one day. Good things come to those who wait. Going platinum and keeping your hair’s health intact is a tricky process. It potentially involves many sessions, a big aftercare commitment, and a high price tag.
Before anything, make sure to ask yourself if you’re 100% positive that you want platinum hair. I wouldn’t try to talk any of you out of a new look, but you don't want to get a couple weeks in and regret your decision. So if you have slight commitment issues, maybe platinum blonde isn’t for you. (Let’s keep in mind that although you may want to drastically change your look, you should still want healthy non-damaged hair afterward.)
If you're still down to turn your locks white-hot, I salute you. Now I’m going to assign you some hair homework.
Step 2: A Little Instagram Stalking Never Hurt Anyone
Instagram is the holy grail of hair inspiration. Even if you’re not an avid user like I am, it’s easy enough to scroll through and grab some ideas for what you’re looking for. Swipe through the #platinum or #platinumblonde hashtags to find some on-trend ideas.
Platinum blonde isn’t a one size fits all label. There are different tones, add ons like balayage or highlights, and other factors that might change the final outcome of what you’re looking for.
It’s also smart to take your features and complexion into account when choosing a final look. Collect as many ideas in like with the look your going for to have on hand for your stylist. If you have picture references to show your stylist it’ll make your consultation more productive and your final color customized exactly how you want it.
Step 3: Consultation
First off, if you’re unfamiliar with what a consultation is all about, check out my blog about them here! Now is the time when you get to run the ideas you’ve collected by your stylist, and devise your plan for swiping your platinum card. Don’t feel defeated if your stylist tells you it’s going to take more appointments than you were expecting. They have your best interest at heart and don’t want you to end up with any damage from lifting your color too quickly. If your stylist is truly your BFF, they won’t let you destroy your hair by taking out all of your color in one shot.
During this initial visit, your stylist is going to check out the integrity of your hair. All of us have different hair health, so depending on where your hair is at strength wise it may affect your platinum blonde journey. If your hair is more on the damaged side, slow and steady will win the race. If your hair is a little stronger you may be able to get away with fewer treatments. HOWEVER, and I can’t stress enough, this entire process most likely will not be done at once.
Side note: Make sure you take a before picture! There’s nothing better than a drastic transformation swipe post on Insta.
Step 4: Sessions
This step is going to vary for everyone depending on your starting color, but if there’s one point I want to drill home it’s this: You aren’t going to have platinum blonde hair in one go. You will have to visit your salon for multiple lightening sessions that will vary depending on how dark your original color is and your hair’s current health. Each session will act as a stepping stone to gradually lift the color out of your hair. So while your hair is “in progress,” the color of it will vary. I can definitely understand why the uncertainty of leaving your salon with a unknown color is off putting. Just keep in mind that your stylist won’t let you leave the salon looking unpresentable. Your hair is on your head but it also has their name on it. Sending you out the door looking like a brassy mess doesn't benefit either of you.
As I mentioned before, this step does have some variables to it. Multiple lightening sessions will gradually lift color depending on how dark your hair is. Because your stylist wants your hair to look AND feel amazing they’re likely to suggest bond builders like Olaplex or B3. These products prevent some of the damage your hair might incur. They act as an insurance policy for your hair while it goes through multiple lightening sessions that have the potential to be damaging. Your stylist can mix these directly into the lightener (bleach) so they won’t add any time to each individual appointments.
Step 5: Take Notes, The Rest Is In Your Hands
One downside to platinum blonde hair is the extra at-home maintenance routine you’ll have to get used to. A purple shampoo needs to be incorporated into your routine to ensure that your hair stays platinum and doesn’t get yellow or brassy. Follow up appointments will also be necessary to address any grown out roots or fading. So, ask your stylist how often you should be coming in for a touch up. Make sure follow your stylist's directions to a T to get the longest life out of your platinum hair.
Step 6: Welcome To The Platinum blonde Club
Congratulations! It was a long, hard road but I’m sure it was worth it. So now, here’s where that before picture comes in handy. Shock all of your friends with that amazing before and after pic of how you went from whatever starting color to a total platinum princess. After all, what’s a new hairstyle without the Instagram cred that goes with it?
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Two more platinum blonde beauties by Carmen, and not a split end in sight. With one of our fab stylists and a little patience your hair can look this great, too.
Thank you to our stylist Carmen for giving me the 411 on the steps to going platinum and for the photos of her awesome work. Check out her Instagram page @color_bycarmen for all of her amazing work.
For more information on how to get this service from one of our many talented stylists, call us at (610) 366-8808 or book online.
The Keratin Smoothing Treatment
Now that summer is just about over, it’s time to reflect a little bit. Everyone has been loving the Keratin Smoothing Treatment that Oliver’s offers which is great! I’m glad I got to showcase such a cool treatment that a lot of people don’t know about, especially during the summer when a ton of us suffer from frizzy and difficult-to-manage hair. In this post, I’m going to provide a quick follow up to the Keratin Smoothing Treatment I was able to receive. If you haven’t gotten the chance to read that blog, check it out here first, then come back to read about the results!
Here’s my hair 6 weeks out from the treatment! It’s still straight and way softer than before I had the treatment done. For the full follow-up, keep reading.
So first, a little recap of the results I saw immediately after my treatment. The treatment I received was the Keratin Express Blowout, which is the shorter version of the full Keratin Smoothing Treatment. It was expected to last about 6 weeks and make my hair less reactive to humidity and frizziness. The few days directly following my hair was much easier to manage, especially on humid days when it’s usually a nightmare. I don’t fully straighten or style my hair on a daily basis. I generally touch up my roots and ends with a straightener in the morning, but now I wake up, brush it out, and go--yes, I woke up like this.
Day to Day Differences
I didn’t really notice a decrease in the quality of the treatment as the weeks went on. My hair didn’t seem to get any less smooth and I wasn’t noticing it reverting back to its original frizz, even in humid temperatures or during rainy days. Obviously, when I wash my hair it still comes out curly, but my curls are significantly looser and easier to run my fingers through. I’ve been doing a lot of travelling so not having to bring as many styling products around with me has been a huge plus.
Washing
One thing I was super excited to see was how the treatment affected my natural hair. I have curly hair that I usually wear straightened, and from washing to styling, it used to take me around 90 minutes. My hair is definitely much harder to wrangle when its curly and nearly impossible to comb through while it’s wet, especially before I condition it.
Following my Keratin Smoothing Treatment, washing my hair was a hundred times easier. While it was wet, products easily coated my locks and I was able to spend less time fighting with the comb. My curls were looser so sectioning everything off before blow drying was much easier. However, the biggest difference this treatment made was after I blow dried it. Usually, blow drying my hair takes about 20 minutes, and I end up looking like I just got electrocuted. The Keratin Smoothing Treatment made my hair so much tamer after blow drying for less than 10 minutes. I’d say my blow dried hair was about a quarter of the size it usually is, and looked much more presentable to the point where I could have walked out of my house without straightening it.
It’s also worth noting that I don’t wash my hair everyday, so this probably prolonged the treatment's effect.
Final Thoughts
I would definitely recommend this treatment to anyone who has more difficult to manage hair, especially if you have curly or wavy hair. It will loosen your curls and make them easier to deal with, without any damage. Even if you have straight hair that picks up humidity, this treatment would still be perfect for you. It didn’t take any body or fullness away from my hair, it just make it easier to manage while curly and more sleek and controlled looking while straight.
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Here’s the full set of before and after pictures, from day one to 6 weeks later! The first two photos are from the day I got the treatment, and the third is after 6 weeks. I’m super happy with the results I got from the Keratin Express Treatment and I'm still getting benefits from it even 6 weeks later.
One big plus I noticed was my lack of split ends. I had my hair trimmed the same day as my Keratin Smoothing Treatment, giving my ends a fresh start. I usually straighten the ends of my hair daily, so I notice damaged ends much sooner following a trim. However, since I've been completely skipping that step in my routine, my split ends have been nonexistent.
If you’re still unsure about the treatment, start out with the express version like I did. It’ll give you an idea of what your hair texture will be without committing to the full Keratin Smoothing Treatment.
Time Saved
In the morning, before the treatment I’d estimate that I spent about 15 minutes doing my hair. Now when I get ready, I literally brush it and leave, which takes under a minute. So across about 6 weeks, that equals over 10 hours of saved time in the mornings across about 6 weeks. (This is only a rough estimate. I’m on summer break so please don’t ask me to do any serious mathematical computations for at least another week or two.) This is a huge amount of time, and doesn’t even account for the time I’ve saved on hair-washing days. Since the treatment, I’ve been setting my alarms later because I know I don’t have to do my hair. This is totally ideal for someone like me who is always looking for that extra couple of minutes in my bed in the morning.
So just for fun...
Here are a couple ways I could have spent those 10 hours:
- Watching 20 episodes of The Office.
- Run about 78 miles at the gym. (Who am I kidding, this one would never have happened)
- One beach day.
- A one-way flight to Italy.
- 10 extra hours at work. (Maybe I’d feel less guilty about my most recent shoe purchase if I had done this one)
What did I actually do? Catch a couple extra minutes of sleep in the morning. #NoRegrets.
Interested in saving time in the morning (and hopefully spending it more productively than I did?) For more information on how to get the Keratin Express or the full Keratin Smoothing Treatment from one of our many certified stylists, call us at (610) 366-8808 or book online.