Juut Master Stylist Charlie Brackney
If you have a hair question you would like answered, send it to info@juut.com with the subject line “Hair Therapist” and we’ll address it during the next Twitter Hair Therapist session. Find out when our next Hair Therapist session is by becoming a fan of Juut Salonspa on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @juutsalonspa.
Charlie Brackney, Master Stylist at Juut Salonspa Downtown Minneapolis in Gaviidae Common, was our Hair Therapist on July 16th. (you can also find Charlie at our New Artists Academy in Uptown on Saturdays – he’s an educator there) You can follow the conversation by searching “HTJuut” on Twitter. Here are some more involved answers to some terrific questions. Enjoy!
Question: @_ashleyann Ideas for a quick summer look for long hair other than plain ponytail?
Charlie: So many things come to mind, but let’s keep it simple. Headbands and scarves placed lower on the forehead are really hot right now. If you’re going to be at the beach, it’s an easy way to pull hair back with some style.
Another option would be the Top Knot. I just got back from Tokyo and this style was EVERYWHERE, on and off the runway.
To get the look, begin by pulling hair up into a ponytail on the top of your head. (Think Pebbles from the Flintstones.) Then, loop it over and secure into a round or oval shape, pinning down the other end or wrapping another ponytail holder around it. You don’t want it to look too neat, keep it a little messy. It’s super easy and fashion forward.
Question: @GardenNicki My hair is FRIZZY the day I wash it, no mater what (but much better on day 2). Any ideas to smooth it out?
Everyone experiences frizz differently. But, the cause is the same: umbrellas! By day two, your umbrellas have smoothed out. Let me explain.
A single strand of hair is made up of 1,000s of cuticle layers. If a hair cuticle isn’t sealed and smooth, the layers fan out at the end creating an umbrella affect. When the umbrellas are open, hair feels rough and looks duller—without being a smooth surface, it can’t reflect light. In addition, Umbrella A can rub up against Umbrella B, get hooked together and, voila, FRIZZ. The object is to close the cuticle ends so they don’t get hooked together.
While the cause is universal, the treatments vary greatly. It depends on your hair texture and type.
STRAIGHT TO SLIGHTLY WAVY HAIR
To close the end, direct heat down the hair strands with your blow dryer. You may be thinking: “But, I won’t have any volume then!” I know, right? Take a deep breath, then, apply a root lifter. Next, flip your hair and dry just your roots at full heat. When roots are dry and the rest of your hair is damp, flip right-side up and continue drying the mid-shaft to the end of your hair with the blow dryer pointing downward. Using a round brush will help smooth the hair more. So will these finishing products:
Coarse: Emollient-rich products
The oil of the emollient will help seal the cuticle.
Medium/normal: Hairspray
For you, frizz typically equals fly-aways. Apply a light hairspray when hair is dry and just pat them down.
Fine: A lotion-based smoother like Aveda Smooth Infusion Style-Prep Smoother
It still has emollient but there is less of it. The lighter texture distributes more evenly on fine hair and doesn’t weigh it down.
CURLY HAIR
Once curly hair is dry, it has already decided what it’s going to do for the day. Styling starts—and nearly ends—in the shower.
Shampoo and condition hair (or just condition) and then brush it with a wide-tooth comb. When you’re done showering, slightly, only slightly, towel dry hair so it remains SOAKED. Next, apply your product and step away from the hair. I repeat: step away from the hair. As you continue to get ready, only scrunch once and a while using your towel. Don’t brush it. Don’t touch it with your hands. If your hands touch the hair, they’ll pick up product, get sticky and pull at the hair creating—you guessed it—more frizz.
Curly hair is like a barometer, so the product you should use depends on the humidity level. In winter, curly hair needs a product that attracts more moisture to the cuticle—the moisture will help close the hair end. In humid temps, it needs product that repels humidity.
Question: @amyDesign Any other hair trends to be aware of for fall?
Charlie: While doing the research for our Fall campaign this year, I came across a lot of interesting things. One thing I noticed in general is a lot of recycling of trends from the past couple of seasons. It seems as if the evolution in trend has slowed down. I’m pretty sure it’s due to our current economic situation, but I’m a hairdresser not an economist! So here are the things that I loved and interpreted for our Fall Trend campaign:
*Big hair!
So much fun. All of the hair for Marc Jacobs was wildly exaggerated into big 80’s shapes; think texture and hairspray! I look a lot towards youth for trend because they are the ones who are not afraid to express themselves in big ways. Let’s face it, they’re going to be the trendsetters when we get too caught up with being grownups. The youth of today are returning to big 80’s glam hair, lots of teasing, lots of product and lots of personality. You’ve heard your hair shouldn’t walk in the room before you do? Forget it.
*Short hair.
Yep, still trendy. I mean after all, the short haircuts of last season have to have time to grow out! (haha) In the past couple of seasons hair has been very soft, lots of sliced up textures with hair hugging the nape. Now, as a direct reflection of the architectural and geometric silhouettes on the runway, hair is following suit. Think back to the geometric magic of Vidal Sassoon. What makes these shapes more modern is that they are sleeker and shiny, shiny, shiny! Check out the little bobs with heavy fringe on the runway for Phillip Lim. Lovely.
*Keep it sleek.
Donna Karan and Haider Ackerman were major players for Fall ‘09. Both of their collections reflected the same chic downtown girl. They both wore deep side parts and their hair was slicked with shine. Try the Aveda Smooth Infusion Glossing Straightener for this look. Dries Van Noten, whom I adore, also had a slicked back look. However, the look on his runway was up and back. Still shiny but with more texture.
*Red, red, red.
The color of the season! Iris Strubegger and Coco Rocha, who are two of the hottest models right now, are both sporting this luscious color. Iris Strubegger was doing well, but it wasn’t until she got her her red color and her new short haircut that her career really took flight. There is an article in this month’s Vogue devoted solely to her new hair. If you don’t think that hair of yours has power, think again.
*Wear it up!
I just returned from Tokyo and this was a style I saw everywhere. I was in love with it. Turned out I wasn’t the only one to catch on to this trend. It’s called the Top Knot. Erdem in London used it on his runway and it was boho fabulous. Place a ponytail high atop the crown of your head and wrap the remaining hair into a round knot. Tada! The Top Knot! It has the ability to give any look a more futuristic feel. Up styles in general had very 1940’s shapes in combination with 80’s texture. It’s 2009 after all; let’s mix and match it!
We’re explaining the trends in hair from our perspective, but it’s up to you to decide which parts of each trend work for you. You can choose just a hint to update your look or come to Juut for the whole Fall hair overhaul – the choice is yours! Regardless, have fun with it. Hope to see you soon!
Thanks for your questions for our Hair Therapist, Charlie Brackney. Remember to follow us on Twitter @juutsalonspa or become a fan of Juut Salonspa on Facebook to join us for our next therapy session.
