Shannon's Vintage Inspired Prom Style
Photo © Kendra AarhusLast weekend was a big weekend in the world of prom. I had a busy day of helping several beautiful young women get all dolled up for their big night. While side swept styles and braids have been all the rage this year, I really enjoyed this more vintage, simple, yet bold style. Her natural color and that beautiful gold comb make it even more fantastic, doesn't it?
I get a break from prom this weekend, but that doesn't mean the rest of the world does. Submit your fabulous prom styles to be featured in our photo galleries.
Prom Filled Photo Galleries
One of the things I strive to accomplish with this blog and the articles I write for About.com is to close the gap between the things that I know as a hairstylist and the things that you know as a women with hair. Before I went to beauty school I was rather clueless when it came to reading a bottle of shampoo, and I had no idea what my stylist was doing when she colored my hair. I think knowledge is power and the more you know, the better your hair will be.
Learn Some Basic Hair Terminology
Everyone that knows me knows that I cut my own hair. I have for years. I have a system. It takes about four days of tweaking before it's "just right" or even remotely even. The parts that aren't even, well, I just make up for it with styling. I fake it until things really go cockeyed and then I call in reinforcements. Usually my boyfriend, Eric, who has no real hair cutting skills, but he's incredibly detail oriented and suffers with just enough OCD to make him effective.
As you may also know, I've been sporting a pixie cut for the last nine months in an effort to grow out my natural hair color. A month later I find myself bored. Now what? I like the natural color. I absolutely adore the short hair, but I can't just keep it the same way. I need something to write about and obsess over when it comes to my own hair.
So, I've decided to grow it out and experiment with different ways to grow it faster and report back to you the things that work. I may go crazy after six months, but its all in the name of science, so I'm going to give it the good ol' college try.
Then it occurred to me. If I'm going to grow this pixie out I'm either going to have to figure out a way to become double jointed or actually get a haircut by someone that can see the back of my head. Hack jobs just aren't going to cut it, so to speak.
I'm sorry Eric, you've been fired as my stylist. It's been real, dude.
Choosing a hairstylist is tough work. I gave it a lot of thought and decided that my friend Deanna possesses enough skill and attitude to deal with me, so I made an appointment. You can read all about Deanna here. She really knows her stuff, and she's an expert at extensions. I figure that if this growing out deal was to much to handle, I could always fake it.
New Haircut and Day 1 of Growing Out the Pixie
Photo © Kendra AarhusThe appointment went well, and my typical over obsessive controlling nature didn't rear it's ugly head. At least I don't think it did. She didn't do a lot of cutting, but she did some skilled shaping and made sense out of the uneven areas of my self-cut pixie. It was actually nice to be a client for a change. We developed a plan of attack, and decided that regular cuts were going to be a must if I didn't want to go from a pixie to a mullet. That's the real humdinger about growing hair out. No one wants to look like a disheveled misfit while growing their hair out. I'll be making regular visits with Deanna every 6 weeks for a little shaping while we allow the short layers on top to catch up with the bottom.
Then we discussed product and Deanna told me all about FAST Shampoo by Nisim. FAST (Fortified Amino Scalp Therapy) is a new product that claims to actually grow your hair longer faster. In clinical studies up to 99% faster, and it is backed by a 100% money back guarantee. Seems like a great place to start, right? I've already contacted Nisim and my first bottle of their shampoo and conditioner are on the way. I'll be reporting regular progress with the products as soon as they arrive, and plan to add in other treatments, nutrients, or supplements as we progress.
Here's to the first day of a torturous process of growing out a pixie cut, in the name of research and better hair days for all of us. Oh, and please excuse the cheesy lack-of-proper-makeup photo. Who has time for all that when I'm busy making time for haircuts?
Keep Up To Date on This Experiment
Last weekend was the first prom weekend at my salon. It was a great day, fun hair all around and everyone was in such a great mood. It was a nice reminder of what an exciting time prom is. After 15 years, I seem to have forgotten.
Maria's Trendy Prom Hairstyle
Photo © Kendra AarhusI honestly loved all the hair that walked out of my doors and it was hard to pick a favorite, but if I had to pick, this look on Maria tops my list this past week. Deep waves took the place of traditional curls, I love the side-swept trend, and the braid give her style a little unexpected polish. Too many trends in one style? Ha. Never.
I've updated my prom and special occasion photo galleries below, so be sure to take a look if a prom, wedding, or cocktail event is in your near furure.
I'm looking forward to another full Saturday morning of prom hair this coming week, and I'll be sure to recap the day in next week's post. In the meantime, do you have an insprational prom photo worthy of our photo galleries? I'd love to include your prom look or one that you've created. Email your photos to me at womenshair.guide @about.com.
Prom Hair Ideas and Advice
