Imogen Poots for Foam Magazine

I've had the pleasure of working with the super groovy Imogen Poots for the latest issue of Foam Magazine. You can see this rising starlet in theatre's now in the remake of the classic Fright Night!

Look out everyone... This girl's gonna be a stah!

Guys Get Colorful, This Fall!

Neon and bright colors are trending to be big this Fall/Winter. Normally it's the ladies who get to have all the fun with seasonal trends. But this time, guys, you can get in on the action as well! Follow the lead of some of these models pictured above and make a bold style statement this season!  And... This is the perfect time of year to try on somethin a little crazier than normal. If you feel like you're not pulling it off you can say you were preparing for you halloween costume! So just have fun with it! ;)

How to get that neon hair color in a few easy steps....

1)  Go to your local beauty supply and ask the clerk to help you find a powder or cream bleach that is safe for being applied directly to the scalp. Follow product instructions to achieve your lightest color. Ideally the lighter you get the hair, the brighter you'll see your color.

2)  Shampoo and condition the hair. Removing all excess lightening product.

3)  Next you'll choose you're favorite bright hair coloring product. One of the most popular brands for this electric color is Manic Panic. You can find Manic Panic online, at your local Beauty Supply, and sometimes even at Hot Topic stores in the mall. Yes, the mall. ;) Wearing gloves (cuz this stuff will stain!) apply the bright color directly to the lightened hair and comb through to ensure even coverage. Make sure to keep a dark towel or rag nearby to use to clean up or tidy any messy application. Leave the color on for about 20-30 mins. After color has had time to sit you'll want to lightly shampoo (or even just rinse), to remove any excess color.

Manic Panic is a vegetable dye and is not permanent in the hair. The color can and will fade. The more you shampoo the lighter the color will fade. I recommend trying to shampoo once a week to maintain the most vibrant bright color!

Hair How To: Selena Gomez

This past Sunday I had the chance to get Selena Gomez all glammed up for the Mtv VMA's! Selena Looked stunning wearing an intricate black Julian McDonald gown. I wanted to go for a sophisticated updo. But, also wanted it to feel a little Rock n' Roll. So I chose to create a knotted up style. This look was pretty easy to do and can be achieved at home, using only a couple of products and a few essential hair styling tools.

Here's how to get the look-

1) I started with dampened hair and prepped the hair using Alterna's Bamboo Whipped Mousse. I applied a small amount of the mousse in the palm of my hand and applied the mousse throughout the head. This mousse is great because it really helps the hair lock in that volume.

2) Next the hair was dried with a round brush. I wanted to achieve a bit of extra volume on the top of the style. As I dried the hair I secured a couple of large rolled sections of hair on the top and sides, framing the face. And allowed them to cool as I finished blowing dry.

3) Then I began to built the knotted look. I braided small sections throughout the head and secured them to the center back of the head. The braids were slightly pulled apart and then held in place using bobby pins and hair pins.

4) I finished the look by pulling the remaining hair back from the face and pinning into the rest of the style. Spraying Tresemme's 24 Hour Body Finishing Spray to finish off the style. This spray is great because it leaves the hair feeling soft. The spray is super lightweight and also gives the style extra shine too.

Stay in Control!

Are you and your hair still battling the humidity? Even as the summer comes to an end, those humid days still creep in and make everything a challenge! So I've put together 5 tips and tricks for overcoming those humid hair woes.

1. Accessories are your friends [see the above photos for some inspiration]. Headbands, elastics, clips, barrettes, bobbies. These are just some of many options to wrangle your mane. Using these pieces can easily secure unruly hair and lend to a cool style as well! Get creative!

2. Bathe your hair in moisture-rich products. Conditioning the hair from within helps tame unruly flyaways and frizz. Try using Alterna's Bamboo Smooth line, particularly the Smooth Kendi Oil. This oil is lightweight and super-nourishing. It's full of omega-3's and fatty acids that nourish the hair. It also protects your hair from excess free radicals. Also, visiting the salon and treating your hair to a nice gloss or glaze helps seal down the cuticle, leaving the hair more shiny and smooth.

3. For curly hair, don't fight what you're working with! Curly hair rules! It's just a matter of letting the hair air-dry. To control excess frizz, I like to add a small amount of Bumble and Bumble's Curl Conscious Defining Creme to towel-dried hair. Comb through with fingers. Allow hair to reshape into natural curl pattern. Air-dry (or, if you're in a bit of a hurry, use a diffuser on your dryer). Once hair has dried, gently loosen curls by finger combing through. Take advantage of the volume that comes from those waves!

4. Of course, you can never go wrong with a ponytail or a braid, like the high-fashion one pictured above—classic "form meets function" styling for high humidity! By securing that hair back, you instantly control your hair. The look is timeless and always en vogue. To tame excess flyaways, I love to use TRESemmé's Climate Control Finishing Spray.  This stuff is great, because it helps protect from excess humidity. It's a workable spray that seals in the style and still easily brushes out.

5. Get your hair trimmed! Keeping your hair healthy and free of split ends is a must to maintaining a healthy, shiny 'do in all of the elements. Visit your hairstylist and clean up those ends. This will promote healthy growth, and your locks will look their best.

Portmans Australia feat. Abbey Lee Kershaw

Earlier this year I did the hair for the Portman's Australia campaign. Model Abbey Lee Kershaw was the face of the brand. Matt Jones was the photographer and Amy Nadine did the Make -up.

This shoot took 2 days and was spread all over the L.A. area. From Little Dom's in Los Feliz, to the Orpheum Theatre downtown & right down the posh boulevard we all know as Rodeo.

A couple of grueling days. But when in the company of a wonderful team, those days actually breezed right by! Enjoy these images and check out the video content as well. If you feel like shopping... you can visit Portman's here.

Happy weekend everyone!

A special 'Thank You' to Amy Nadine for the extra behind the scenes shots!

Comb on over....

Last night I was perusing the world of tumblr when I came across this great pic! If I ever own a salon.... This just might be the bike rack that we have out front. :)

Michael Stars Campaign - Fall 2011

Today while walking the streets of The Grove, I came across a splendid thing. The Michael Stars store! Ladies out there-- If you don't know about Michael Stars you need to get into it! Literally. The line is everyday effortless chic. Great stuff!

I have had the pleasure of working with the amazing creative team at Michael Stars for almost 2 years now (wow!). I started by doing hair for their catalog shoots. And now, am working on their fashion campaigns.

Earlier this year we shot the current Fall 2011 campaign. Check out the campaign video & shop the shoot online!

Hair How-To: Selena Gomez

I just got a question asking how to re-create Selena Gomez's 2011 Kids Choice Awards hairstyle. Here's an easy step by step breakdown:

1) I started out with a towel-dried head of hair. I prepped the hair using Alterna's Bamboo Smoothing Kendi Oil. Using just a few drops in the palm of my hands, I worked the oil thru Selena's hair. Concentrating first on the ends and then throughout the whole head. I like this oil because it really helps protect your hair and hair color from excess styling. It creates a great foundation for the rest of the style, too.

2) I dried Selena's hair using just my hands. This allowed some of her natural wave/texture come through.

3) After the hair was dried, I used a 1" flat iron and a little bit of Bumble and Bumble's Styling lotion. Taking small - medium sections, I lightly sprayed each section, then ran my flat iron through. The Styling Lotion helps protect the hair from the heat while also giving a light hold to the style. Perfect for a style with some movement.

Rather than use the iron to straighten the style, I used it to create a nice natural bend in the hair. I used Selena's natural wave as my frame of reference when creating this texture and continued this process throughout.

4) I sectioned out a small section of hair at the forehead and pinned it back (adding just a little height in the front) leaving the rest of the hair down and tousled.

5) To finish this look I used Tresemme's Climate Control Hairspray, generously spraying throughout the hair. This gave the hair some extra fullness throughout, and sealed in the style! I love this hairspray because it really leaves the hair touchable and soft. And protects it from the elements!

The final look: A playful yet effortless spring style that was ideal for the "Orange Carpet" at the 2011 Kids Choice Awards.

The Emmy Nominated - Cat Deeley!

I just wanted to take a quick moment to post my 'Congratulations' to a woman that REALLY deserves it! I have befriended and worked with, the one and only, Cat Deeley for the past 7 years. Today, it was announced that Cat has received her first Emmy nomination for her work as host on FOX's So You Think You Can Dance! YAY! This overdue nomination is proof that true talent does get recognized!

Again, a HUGE Congrats to the gal with one of the best heads of hair in Hollywood! Honestly. Love you and SO very proud!

Feel Refreshed!

I haven't met a dry shampoo I didn't like! Well, that's not really the truth. So I wanted to share my top 2 choices with you.

1.Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo - If you don't know of the greatness that is dry shampoo, it's time to get on board. Finally someone has made a GREAT dry shampoo. And you can buy it (for around $6) at the drugstore! Thanks to the people at Tresemme, I was recently introduced to this 'must have' item. I love this product because it not only works wonders on an overly oily scalp, but it's also a great texturizer for your 'do'!

Just shake the can lightly and spray on the root area of dry hair, keeping it about 8-10 inches away from the head. After you have sprayed the desired amount brush it through the ends of the hair, or just give the hair a little shake using your fingertips. This will release any excess powder that may have accumulated. Because of its aeresol form, this spray has just enough 'grab' to give your hair some added texture! Proving that this stuff is great for both the ladies and the gentlemen.

2. Klorane Extra Gentle Dry Shampoo w/ Oat Milk (Non-Aerosol) - Klorane has long been a fashion industry go-to. Although it can be a little more pricey (around $18 a bottle) this stuff really gets the job done. What I really like about this particular product is that it is hypoallergenic and non-aerosol. It's good for you and the environment. This dry shampoo works by squeezing the sides of the bottle, rather than pressing on a nozzle. There's a clever little spout that 'puffs' the loose powder into your hair. The application is the same. This version is light to the touch, absorbs any excess oil, and also helps give the hair added fullness. The result: hair that looks and feels so clean. Not to mention the added bit of lift!