Wedding Party

Wedding Party at school Saturday. I got one of the tickets, a birthday lady & more. The bridesmaid wanted lots of spiral curls with height. Or teasing in the top. So I created this look. Some of the curls were left solid till wedding time. Lots of hair spray & instructions to loosen the curls.

Working Smarter not Harder!

Several things that only a cosmetology student would want to know. Before you start on the head of hair know the right thing to get started with. It's important and more than likely will save you some time. A quote from one of my favorite instructors: Work Smarter Not Harder!

Using the right hair brush. I have always wondered what brush for what purpose. I recently purchased a ratting/teasing brush at Sally's Beauty Supply. I found it on sale & like it. Into the brush drawer it went. Have I used it? YES!

Hair combs & their uses.  It's always good to know what is the best comb to use. I love the longer combs for hair cutting. They are usually made of a more durable type of plastic or another substance. I'm quite tired of melting combs when flat combing hair. I'm going to try the flat iron comb; I have not ordered it yet but I'm getting close to making the purchase. If you have used this comb, please post a comment and let me know if it will be worth the purchase.

 



Blow Drying, all I want is a dryer that drys the hair quickly and get it as straight a possible.
If you are in the market for a new dryer the link will give you a few tips. I did check out reviews on the Yellow Bird blow dryer. Mixed reviews some good some bad. I'd only suggest went selecting another dryer or if your dryer goes out, I like the attachments option. If you have a Yellow Bird or another brand that works well for you share your info.

As Flat Irons go I think one that heats up fast and has a range of settings will be your best bet. I have a school issue Babyliss & a professional model by the same company. (It has a higher heating range. When you flat iron you want it to get the hair bone straight.) You will also need to include in your kit a mini flat iron. I have found it useful on shorter hair. Mine is from Sally's Beauty Supply and works fine. I paid only $19.99 for mine. Super cut has pink heating elements. 

 

All I can say spend your money wisely on any new tools that you need and take care of the ones that you have. You must keep them clean, oiled & in tip top condition. They will serve you will and you need them in order to tackle the hair full speed!

More Graduations!

Ashley, Deliah & Melissa have clocked the 1500 hours and moved on!
I'm happy & sad at the same time.
Nice knowing all of them and CONGRATULATIONS on their accomplishment.

 

Cosmetologist License!

 



Moving Forward

Every so many hours we are required to complete a particular set of services on the mannequin.

I fairly proud of my accomplishments for today, State Board Blow/Thermal Curl, State Board Curl Demo, RECONSTRUCT, PERMANENT WAVE, & 4 Hairstyles.  So it was not really busy at school today.....perhaps the weather had something to do with it. If not, it will be lots of working on my mannequin's.

The bold letters are those that I'm most concerned with getting. Worst of worst things that can happen is to be at the last graduation hours and have TONS of services that need to be done. Now, I have talked with other students and they tell me to knock them down. It's not a good thing to be behind.

The hours report has been posted & TDLR has sent me the email.
I'm still waiting on my monthly report card. *double sigh*

I did complete the photo collage of some natural hair styles

turned it in to the front office.

 

Not sure if it will be utlized by the school but at least i made an attempt to get the ball rolling on natural styles and getting the correct terminalogy to be used.

Apple!

Apple Nail Tech graduates today!
I will miss her.

 

 

Applonia graduated and I will miss her. She was so creative in her nail art.

 I'm sure she will be a great asset to a salon.

Progress....

I'm still waiting on my report card from last month. At the end of the month we will have a tally of the services that are left to be done. I have been working daily on getting my services completed.
Trying as hard as I can now, to roll a perm & reconstruct each day.  If not every other day!
I don't want to be stuck in the last weeks stressing over my required things that need to be done.

Today I did the dreaded perm & reconstruct! Yay....along with a few hairstyles on my doll. But the most important things got done first. I'd gladly give up the chatter for the service. Somewhere I have to have a day of fun & frolic.

For those reading and not in Beauty School........we are required to complete
Hairstyles, Haircuts, Chemical Relaxers, Permanent Waves, Rinses, ManiPedi, Facials, Make Up, Scalp Treatments, Waxing,  Dispensary Hours, Draping and that's all I can remember at this time.
*long sigh*

Natural Hairstyles (just a few)

Not too often we get clients in the school who have 'natural hair', that being not being relaxed or in it's natural state. It's possible the hair does have some color processing that has been done, but for the most part, no relaxer has been applied to the hair.

This could be hair is worn in an Afro, Braids, Twist, Twist Outs, Locs or other types of styles.

NATURAL HAIR n: \ˈna-chə-rəl ˈher\:

YOUR UNALTERED GOD GIVEN HAIR AS IT GROWS THROUGH THE EPIDERMIS FROM FOLLICLES DEEP WITHIN THE DERMIS. NOT CHEMICALLY ALTERED, COLORED, CURLED OR STRAIGHTENED BY RELAXERS, TEXTURIZERS OR OTHER CHEMICAL AGENTS AND IS ALSO FREE OF ANY AND ALL EXTENSIONS.


Problem comes in when there is not a consensus on what the client wants or either having an understanding on what the styles are call AND understand the vernacular of the clientele.

Understanding is everything!

 

 

So I decided to list as many references on 'natural styles' that I can. I think this will assist many of the students who attend my school who are NOT familiar with working with 'natural hair'. This needs to really have an additional class of it's own. Looks like we are beginning to get more clients with natural crowns! Either you want to understand and service these clients properly or they will go somewhere else. I enjoy working with natural hair, and welcome the challenge. But is seems fitting to me that if one is attending Beauty School, you would want to know something about this type of hair. Regardless, if you will be working with it or not, you just never know. We are all on the planet together, so you might as well have some type of understanding and knowlege about the subject.

Just sayin'.

 

Two Strand Twist or Rope Twist:  these can be left to hang or ropes to the scalp.

 

 



After wearing this style for a few days or either up to 2 weeks, (needs to be properly maintained) it can be taken down and worn as a Twist Out. May be refered to as a protective styling.


The Twist Out has more of a defined wave or curl pattern, which has been altered by the twisting of the hair. Usually, it relaxes the curl pattern.

 

 

The Afro style is hair in the picked out state or just being left as is, can be shaped with clippers to give a more defined shaping or left alone.

 

 

 

 

 

Locs are hair that has been left to loc on it's own, it's in individual sections. Can be styled various ways. Should be maintained every two weeks. Locs are started from 2 strand twist, coils and or braids. They can be taken out by cutting the hair or picking out. I would not suggest the last method, I would locs for over 15 years, cut length & picked them out. It took over a week to complete!

 

 

 

 

Coils are done with a rat tail comb, they are similar to twist but can be taken down & redone. If left alone they will loc!

 

 

 



 

There are also Flat Twist these are done flat to the scalp usually with a rat tail comb but can also be achieved with twisting of the hair with your fingers. They are similar looking to the Rope Twist to the scalp but no division of the hair section in two sections.

 

 

 

 

The next styles I found are considered Kinky Twist. The crossover to other styles to me so judge for yourself. Perhaps they are called so because hair is added in, I'm not sure. I must do further research.

 

 

So in closing besure you consult with your client and know what exactly what they are wanting done to the hair regarding any natural style. Always begin with a good shampoo & conditioner! Be sure to pass along to the client to keep the hair moisturized!

 

I have added some YouTube videos for you to watch! For more information on natural styling or other technques the videos are endless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 







Backstage!

This past weekend, I volunteered my time with the cast of the Fashion Opera "The Awakening".

I helped with hair & makeup. Along with me were other students from the Ogle Beauty School.
It was nice to meet other Cosmetology students.

I did find out when exchanging info, Ogle gives an extra class on makeup. They also receive a makeup kit. The class came about due to request by student. With a little jumping up and down they made it happen. Ogle uses the Milady text book.

Anyway back to backstage; most of the models had natural hair & needed makeup application.
All cosmetology students got the experience. This job turned out to be challenging & fun.

Lessons learned; I'd rather they bring their own foundation! This task will prepare all of us to tackle makeup again. Painting the faces were fun. Putting to use your skills. Glad I read up on makeup application.

 

Other makeup tips that I can offer to others students, Translucent Powder, line the eyes, get a good set of makeup brushes. Read & practice your skills. Take pictures! Outside reading, I'd suggest the
Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin.

 



Tabitha!

Congratulations are in order.

Waiting for the Take Over

Once it gets close to going home, you might have to request a take over ticket. This client got a perm today & was waiting for a night school student to complete her service. I could not pass up taking her pic!

Other stuff today: I did get a reconstruct, 2 hair cuts & several hairstyles. I have noticed more women coming into the school for natural styles. It's challenging but rewarding to work with natural. Another favorite of mine!