Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Freeze Frame: Advice for the Gents
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
Total Recall
You know those people who get stuck in a fashion rut? Yeah, you’ve seen the types. The mid 40’s woman that just can’t shake the Nixa Claw… you know the big and poufy 80’s bangs. Or the guy at the mall that peaked in high school along with Seinfeld and stonewashed denim button-ups.
Yeah…don’t do this
Have you ever noticed that the majority of these fashion frozen people are men? Dudes, COME ON! It’s time to call you out and cut the excuses. I had a client recently tell me he doesn’t use any product in his massive curly mop. Naturally, I explained the importance of product and how if he wanted his mane to look more GQ and less Bob Ross he was going to have to man up.
Pump pump, rub rub, scrunch scrunch. It literally took me 30 seconds to “style” his hair.
Guys- You enjoy a pretty-looking lady, don’t you? Right. But you KNOW we don’t wake up looking this way. It takes a 20 minute shower to cleanse, shave and trim; 15 minutes to tweeze, moisturize and apply; followed by 30 minutes to blow dry, curl and fluff. That’s 1 hour and 5 minutes EVERY DAY.
Don’t tell me you don’t have time to fix your hair. I don’t want to hear that crap.
Ladies enjoy a well coiffed man just as much as you enjoy us when we’re all dolled up. We work hard for you so we’d appreciate you spending that extra 30 seconds to spiff up the mop for us!
Tips for breaking you (or your man) out of a Fashion Freeze:
-Don’t wear a part unless you’re sporting the full on vintage Don Draper.
Vintage is hot right now and we are LOVING the 60’s revival in the classic taper. If you’ve got the part line but it isn’t tapered in the back and it isn’t long enough to pomade into place, then it ISN’T good… you got preacher hair! EEK!
ReWorks Cream
- Use a little product
A little texture cream to hold things in place goes a long way, guys! A shot of finishing spray will keep you looking good throughout the day. Adding a bit of crème gel will keep your curls from going ballistic. This all takes 30 seconds to a minute of your time. Remember how your lady spends OVER AN HOUR on her appearance everyday? We’re only asking for a minute of your morning!
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Are you totally confused now? Did you think your fuzzy preacher hair was rockin’ and now you’re just completely disillusioned? ASK A CHICK! Know a fashionable friend? Ask her opinion. Are you too embarrassed to admit to your wife or girlfriend that you think you might be in a Fashion Freeze? Ask your office style maven for advice. If none of those work for you, then ask US!
Book an Appointment
- Get a routine, dude.
“Look at that impressive gentleman with the overgrown and scraggily hair.” said no one ever!
It is so important to get on a schedule for regular haircuts. Find the updated style that fits your personality, and keep it looking dashing, by booking your appointments in advance. This will avoid that frantic last minute call the day before your best friend’s wedding – that you’re the best man in. We don’t like to tell you “no” when our books are too full. We know your desperation may result in a massive hair catastrophe orchestrated by a chop job from SuperCuts. True story. And now that guy’s terrible decision and lack of planning is forever chronicled in the wedding album of his BFF. Don’t be that guy.
THIS is hot stuff!
Having good man hair isn’t that difficult. Please guys, do your country a favor and get an update. If you’ve been wearing the same hairstyle for 10 years, then it’s time for a check-in with your stylist. You have to rotate the tires on your car – rotate the styles on your head too. For more inspiration, visit our Man-centric Pinterest board HERE.
Let’s make the world a more handsome place!
^SL
Trends For Spring/Summer Hair
Thursday, April 26th, 2012
Warmer weather is here! With that, comes a rush of girls through our door; wanting less hair and more blonde through their tresses. Shorter hair and hilites are GREAT options, and we are always happy to accommodate! We decided to create a blog naming the top trends for Spring and Summer 2012, so that you, our always fashion-forward and stylish clients, can know what’s up.
1. Ombre hair. We’ll admit, we were a little skeptical. The grown-out root look never really did it for us. But, this is different! Think about a sunset, or the flame of a candle, how it starts out orange at its base, and ends up white at the tip of the flame. That is what ombre hair replicates – patterns of color in nature. If you camped out on a Bali beach all summer, this is what your hair would naturally do! Here are some examples:
2. Bangs! We don’t know who first coined the term for front-hair, but we love bangs! Both Alchemy redheads currently sport them. Bangs are a great way to change your style fairly dramatically without having to sacrifice your lengthy locks. Here are some examples:
3. Short Hair. Ladies, we know it gets hot. There’s nothing worse than going out for a romantic date and having sweat drip down your neck to ruin your perfect moment. Sure, you could do a ponytail or bun, but you’re tired of that. There just comes a time in a girl’s life when she’s ready to make the big cut. When you’re ready, consider these breezy styles:
That sums up our quick and fun tour of summer hair trends for 2012! For more style inspiration, visit our Pinterest! Did you know you can pin looks to our “Girls I Want This” Board? It’s true! Check it out.
All images can be linked to their referring URLs via Pinterest
^PH
“Dirty” is Relative: Part 2
Friday, April 20th, 2012
There has been a lot of response from our last blog post and it sounds like many of you want to become “dirty” girls! A few of you are skeptical and have some questions before you start your dirty journey. You asked and we’ve delivered!
Victoria says: “I wash my waist long hair every 7-10 days. It never starts looking yucky but my scalp starts itching really bad.”
I was really candid in the last blog so why stop now? My scalp itches sometimes too… and I’ve been known to scratch it really well then show my BFF my sebum filled fingernails. Totally gross, I know. But it’s just TOO hilarious to watch her freak out! HA! What are Bff’s for if you can’t torment them once in a while?!?! But we understand that not everyone likes to chase people around so try this:
-Make sure that you are brushing your scalp EVERY day. Also, be sure that you are not sleeping with your hair pulled up. Your scalp needs to breathe gals! Brushing through it will distribute the sebum to help condition the mid-shaft and ends and it also promotes air flow to the scalp. It’s the same with not sleeping with it pulled up. You can’t smother it and expect it to stay healthy.
Ty says: “Any suggestions for shorter hairstyles that aren’t so easy to put up on “dirty” days?”
- Shorter hair is a bit trickier. Get creative with HOW you pull it up. Headbands and hair accessories are hot right now! Tease it up a little to hide the roots then put in a headband or hair flower. This will make it look “done” AND you can coordinate with your outfit!
April says: “What about working out? My hair literally gets so swea
ty it’s like it’s been watered down!”
This next trick is also going to work for girls like Ty with short hair. You use so many products in your short hair that you can’t do a damn thing with it on day two. Or you’ve worked out so hard you look like a drown rat… You’re thinking, “There is NO way I cannot wash my hair. It’s too gross.” You know what? You’re HALF right.
- Rinse and Condition! Don’t use any shampoo, simply rinse with water, apply conditioner and rinse again. This will keep the sulfates from the shampoo off your hair which keeps it healthier by not opening up the cuticle. This also keeps your color from fading so fast! Remember to condition. Do NOT skip this step and just rinse. Without conditioner you’re leaving your cuticle open from the hot water rinse and it will be tangled and vulnerable.
After telling April this tip she tried it for the first time and said. “I did what you said today and my hair fixed better too! You’re a genius!” Thanks April! We try! And it styles better because it isn’t TOO clean. A little dirt helps hold shape better. Why do you think we tell you not to wash your hair before you come in for a wedding updo?
Jordan says: “I was on day 3 and HAD to wash my hair. When I brushed it, it would stay completely slicked back without moving. If I push through are you positive this will go away or are there some people that this doesn’t work for?”
The 1 year plan is definitely NOT a one size fits all plan. You’ll need to tweak it to fit your skin type. I happen to have normal skin, so I can go 7-10 days. If you have extremely oily skin and scalp you may not ever get past 3 or 4 days.
- The trick is to work the 1 Year Plan to YOUR scalps specifications. Perhaps 12 weeks isn’t enough time for your sebaceous glands to get the hint. Try the first phase of washing every other day for 16 weeks, then move to every third day for 16 weeks… get the idea? Restructure the schedule for YOU. The main point, the one thing you MUST do, the single thing you CANNOT avoid is: CONSISTANCY. You have to commit to only washing every other day for 16 weeks. Don’t change it. Don’t do it every other day for a few weeks then go back to every day then go back to every other. You have to be consistent with your plan. That’s how the glands learn… They’re kinda like misbehaving children 
Maybe you’ll only find that you can go 4 days. But that’s much better than every day!
- Baby powder can also by the dirty girl’s best friend. If you’re struggling through the first two phases of the plan on your off days shake a small amount of baby powder into your palm. Dab your finger tips in it and rub it through the root area. It will absorb some of the sebum! Brush through your hair and enjoy!
Let your scalp breathe, get creative with fun accessories, tweak the 1 Year Plan to fit you, and stay consistant. It’s always best to start your Plan on a weekend so you have a few days to play with styling options before you’re up against the clock during the week. Now…. GO GET IT DIRTY GIRLS!
^SL
“Dirty” is Relative
Thursday, April 19th, 2012
Photo Courtesy of www.paulmitchellpro.com
I recently had a client tell me that after coming into the salon she doesn’t have to wash her hair the next day. “It always looks so great the next day!” she said. “It doesn’t get that weird bald spot in the back”, she said. “It’s never greasy the day after!” she said.
All I could think was: What the heck?!?! You wash your hair EVERY DAY lady???
Of course, I did NOT say this out loud. Things like that are best left to inner monologue. This was the exact point when I realized that she didn’t know. Know what? She didn’t know the single biggest secret in the hair industry.
Washing your hair everyday is the enemy.
Yup, that’s right. Washing your hair every single day is one of the worst things that you can do for your tresses. As I sit here writing this blog I literally cannot remember the last time I washed my hair. 7 days? 8 days? Who knows? But I DO know that I really should wash it in the next day or two. Are you grossed out yet? Don’t be! Think about how many times you’ve seen us two redheads over the years… have you ever thought, “Oh geez, that girl needs to wash that Crisco outta that nappy wig.”? I’d bet a dozen cupcakes from the bakery next door t that you haven’t. I’d also wager that same bet that any time you’ve seen us it has NOT been on one of the 3 or 4 clean hair days we have a month.
Why do we do it? ………………. (insert mental struggle here……..……) Honestly? I’m lazy. Really, I am. Why would I spend 45 minutes every day with the washing and the blow drying and the flat ironing and the work, work, work when I don’t have to? Have you SEEN how much hair we have? It really is a chore so we both keep it to a minimum.
If you aren’t lazy you still shouldn’t wash your hair every day. Think about how old the ends of your hair are. Hair grows, on average, ½ inch per month. That’s 6 inches a year. If your hair is brushing your shoulders then it’s about 4 years old down there! It’s fragile and needs a lot of care and your shampoo, scrubbing, ripping a comb through it (admit it, you’re not very nice) and blow drying is killing it. The most expensive conditioner in the world can’t help as well as the natural sebum that your scalp produces can.
Your tresses are screaming, “GREASE ME, BABY!” Literally. Some of your body’s largest sebaceous glands, which excrete sebum (oil), are located on your scalp. Their job is to produce the proper amount of oil to condition your hair. And what are you doing every morning? You are scrubbing off all their hard work so they kick it into over drive and produce more sebum to compensate. This is where the vicious cycle begins. You wash, they get pissed and produce more, you get pissed and wash and scrub, they get… well, you see my point. All the while you have greasy hair by 5pm AND dry and broken ends.
Stop the madness! It’s rather simple. We’ll share with you an easy plan to wean yourself of washing every day. You’ll have healthier locks, you’ll save money on hair products, and you’ll be able to hit snooze a few extra times in the morning.
The 1 year plan:
Weeks 1-12: Wash every other day. Wear your hair down on wash day then day two throw it up in a cute pony or messy bun! These are the hardest weeks to get through so stick with it. The pay off comes toward the end. Your sebaceous glands start to figure things out and realize that you aren’t ruining their hard work every morning. LIGHTBULB! They will very slowly start decreasing sebum production. It’s a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday wash schedule so you’ve got the work week and the weekend covered!
Weeks 13-24: Wash every third day. Make sure you’re scrubbing it good on wash day so that it’ll last you through the next 2 days. Wear it down on wash day, give it a little backcombing on the middle day, and wear it up on day 3. Those glands are still learning and they’ll slow down a little more. It’s a Monday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday wash schedule. Going out Saturday night? Wash it Saturday morning. Goin’ to church? Sunday might be your better choice.
Weeks 25-36: Wash every fourth day. It will start taking more than one shampoo to get it clean. Use a quarter size shampoo drop and rub it through the scalp. It won’t lather because it’s too dirty but do it a second time and you’ll lather right up. By now you’re noticing that you can wear it down for the first 2 days! Get creative with your styling and you’ll only have to wear it up on day 4. Those sebaceous glands are loving you by this point and you’ll start noticing that your hair is healthier and has a great shine.
Weeks 37-48: Wash every 5th day. If you have REALLY oily skin and scalp this may be as far as you can go. Everyone has different skin types and thus will be able to only go so far. For those of you with dryer skin you’ve got one last step…
Weeks 49- 52: It’s been a year and you are now OFFICIALLY washing your hair only once a week! Congratulations!
Like I said, I wash mine once every 7 to 10 days. Does it look totally flowing and luscious the entire time? NO. I wear it up the last 2 days, but it keeps it healthy. I get luscious long hair with a few days of fun updo’s thrown in. Try it. LOTS of our clients are on this schedule. They were skeptical at first. Actually, most of them started the 1 year plan thinking they were going to prove us wrong but in the end they have healthier hair and can sleep a little later in the mornings!
^SL
History Books Not Needed
Tuesday, August 16th, 2011
My Grandma was a kindergarten teacher for almost 30 years. She has always told me that “all we need to know to be successful we can learn from history.” I agree with that statement, but not in the aspect of avoiding nasty wars or escaping another 1930’s depression. Everything you need to know about American history can be found on the heads of its most famous styles. Forget climbing corporate ladders or giving Emmy acceptance speeches, these women are rocking hairstyles that will hold them in our history books forever.
Jackie O’mazing
Jackie Kennedy was an icon on several levels, but her hair sent the women of America into as big of a tizzy as her perfectly polished wardrobe. Obviously, marrying a Kennedy wasn’t in the cards for most women, but they could leave the beauty shopped with a perfectly coifed ‘do, add a strand of pearls before dinner, and HELLO Mr.President! This haircut empowered women because it took them from a housewife to a housewife hottie. It allowed them to step outside of traditional and boring and embrace their elegant and beautiful inner-lady. To this date, we still equate a timeless elegant look to Jackie O. That trumps any tax act law I’ve read about.
Farrah Foxy Faucett
After a few years of perfecting the “just right” hair, Farrah Faucett blew (all pun intended) in and wowed us with her blown-out hairstyle. Short, perfectly curled under tresses were pushed aside for long blown-out volume and pure sex appeal. Jackie O may have been appealing to all the housewives of America, but Farrah entranced their teenage daughters. It wasn’t just the awkward 15-year-old boy with the iconic poster of Farrah on his wall; it was the 15-year-old teenage girls too. She was a woman that is rarely found: men wanted her and women to be her.
Hold Up Hammill
Dorothy Hammill wasn’t about to let Farrah and long locks take over this whole era, though. In the midst of blown-out hairdos running rampant across America, Dorothy offered something edgy and different to someone who wanted to stand out: the wedge. The day after Dorothy glided out on the ice with her wedged black cut, the salons were filled with women dying to be different with a short, edgy cut. This was the Emma Watson cut of the late 70s. She was the mod icon of her day.
Pretty Pam Anderson
If you remember standing in front of your mirror with your comb, holding all 12 inches of your hair straight upwards from your head while assaulting it with a can of Aquanet, there’s a good chance you were a child of the 80’s. Big perms were teased to the extreme and accented with feathered frames around the face, held firmly in place with enough hair spray to go toe-to-toe with any natural disaster involving high winds. If you didn’t go through 3-5 bottles of spray a week, you weren’t doing something right. You probably don’t have any romantic stories of your boyfriend running his fingers through your hair because truth be told, he’d have to sacrifice that finger if he tried to run it through that mess. It’s ok though, you didn’t really run your fingers through his hair either because you might dislodge his perfectly placed cigarette behind his ear, or emerge covered in grease. We can thank the likes of Miss Pam Anderson, Reba McEntire and Delta Burke for this hot mess.
“Rach” Craze
Unless you lived under a rock, you spent most nights in the 90’s wishing with all your might you’d wake up looking like Jennifer Aniston. Then girlfriend REALLY did something to help us all out; the Rachel. These long layers made it possible for us to all live a little more like our favorite “friend”. More layers were cut into hair this decade than were made at a CATS ballet audition. This is a historical cut in that even after Jennifer outgrew Rachel, America didn’t. People still want the Rachel cut, and much like Jackie O, the Rachel is in the running for a timeless style.
Billy vs Kate
It’s not often anyone would want to duke it out with Billy Ray Cyrus over “who wore it best” but Kate Gosselin has found herself firmly planted in a Best Mullet Competition; and the consensus is she’s winning. Congratulations Kate on trade-marking one of the worst haircuts to tear through our country’s history, only to be rivaled by one Billy Ray Cyrus. Your mother should be so proud. And that’s all I have to say about that.
Love you Long Time
After Jennifer gave us the gift of Rachel, women really started to embrace their inner New Yorker. Like “Sarah Jessica Parker New Yorker.” Long hair came back with a vengeance, but women wanted the option, like Carrie, to wear it big and curly or sleek and straight. In a day of instant gratification no one wants to be tied to a specific style. We want to feel fun with our curls but sexy with our straight. The ability to switch our hair allowed women to switch their personalities. They didn’t just have a mom cut, a perm, or a blow out, they had the ability to have it all. And if being able to have it all isn’t trending right now, well I don’t know what is.
Photoshoot from the “Mythology of Alchemy” by BrainCandy
Thursday, August 11th, 2011
Here is a link to the spectacular pics that our favorite photographer captured in time for our Anniversary party and gala!
All of our models were either personal friends or clients of Alchemy…a Salon.
We thoroughly enjoyed the process of creating the looks for our models, and entertaining you the evening of the gala. Thanks again for all of your support and patronage. Enjoy!
The Mythology of Alchemy…a Melodrama in 12 Parts
Hairstyling History 101
Saturday, July 30th, 2011
Hairdressing History 101
In the ancient world, parasites and scalp issues ran rampant. The ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians often shaved their pates to ward off these infestations, and barbering was born. The trade of barbering was the first form of medicine, but more about that later. Wigs were literally a “hot” trend. The fashion ranged from the blunt-cut Cleopatra-style wigs to the extremely curled and coiffed wigs of the Roman elite. Male and female citizens both wore wigs, and they allowed them the ability to both have a natural sunscreen against the harsh desert elements, and to also remove them once inside. No such thing as air-conditioning in those days! Cutting the hair also was believed to release evil spirits and sickness from the body, which is where our next part of the journey begins.
Introducing “The Mythology of Alchemy: a Melodrama in 12 Parts”
Wednesday, July 6th, 2011
Friday, August 5th from 7-9 PM, come to LemonDrop Art Gallery at 416 W. Commercial and see a transformation of Alchemical proportions!
Alchemy…a Salon celebrates a very successful first year on C-street with live music by New Monsters Collective, food service by Savor Restaurant, and beverage options for your palate. There will be a live, interactive display of models styled by Paulette and Sa’dia in homage to gods, goddesses, creatures and magical beings from all over the globe, as well as a gallery of images with modern retellings of ancient fantasies.
Storyboards displaying the artistic process will also be featured, chronicling the photo-shoots and behind the scenes machinations which make Alchemy, BrainCandy Photography, and LemonDrop driving forces in the creative community that is C-street!
Come let us appreciate you and indulge your sense of whimsy!
C-Street Mardi Gras!!!
Saturday, February 12th, 2011
Here is the Press Release for Mardi Gras 2011!! This is going to be a ground-breaking event!!
It’s time Springfield let the good times roll! With much involvement from the art and business community of Historic C-Street, Springfield’s first official Mardi Gras Celebration is set to kick off on Saturday, March 5th. Organizers plan to bring a little bit of Bourbon Street to the Queen City!
Eight venues will feature a variety of entertainment options for the low cost of $5 in advance at participating venues or $7 the day of the event. Participating venues include Alchemy..a Salon, Big Momma’s, LemonDrop, Lindberg’s, Ruthie’s, Savor & The Loft Martini Lounge, the Savoy Ballroom and Q Enoteca Wine Bar.
At 6pm. Commercial Street will come alive with street performers and a live stage show featuring music from Black Box Revue and street activities such as face-painting and vendors. Registration for the “Push, Pull, Pedal” parade benefiting the Ozark Greenways Association and sponsored by Queen City Cycles, begins at 6pm with the parade starting at 6:30pm. The main stage will feature a Drag Show beginning at 7:30pm. All eight venues will also open simultaneously at 6 PM, inviting revelers to visit from each at their leisure.
Entertainment options range from live music by Flat Iron at The Loft at Savor, and Kaps & Stems at Alchemy…a Salon, to Q Enoteca – featuring Canto 17 and The Old Grey Whistle Test, an engaging variety show featuring comedy and magic! Lindberg’s will serve Hurricanes to bring New Orleans flavor to the street, and a Cajun menu at Big Momma’s will tempt the taste-buds including chicory coffee and gumbo all week. Ruthie’s will be hosting karaoke and LemonDrop is hosting live model body-painting by area artists! The Savoy Ballroom will open their doors for a masquerade/costume ball at 8 PM. Pedicabs will be available all evening .
Starting at 10pm, Lindberg’s will feature local band, Belladonna and a Burlesque revue by Springfield’s own Cherry Bomb Burlesque. Q Enoteca will also be featuring live jazz beginning at 10pm.
All venues will offer wristbands for sale prior to the event, as well as the evening of March 5th.
For details please contact Paulette or Sa’dia at Alchemy..a Salon, (417) 864-4490 or paulette@alchemy320.com and sadia@alchemy320.com .
Best of 417!!!
Wednesday, January 19th, 2011
Alchemy finally gets to share our fantastic news with the world!!! We received, after only 2 months of being in business when voting commenced, the prestigious award of Runner-up – Best Salon in 417 Magazine!!
And Sa’dia Luallen and Paulette Tilden both received the honor of being Runners-up for Best Stylist!! ( We know, it’s confusing. But we will gladly share the publicity!)
Thanks for voting for us! We will always strive to be the BEST for you!!
