Hey Men! I didn’t forget about you.

 

I often ask my clients and I always welcome questions, comments and article suggestions. You can e-mail me at getginafiedbdn@gmail.com with yours.  As I was reviewing past articles I have written, I realized one topic that was missing. I think that when it comes to hair we automatically think of the ladies and womens hair in general. What about the boys?  Mens hair and grooming is a very large part of the cosmetology industry. The purchases of mens hair and grooming products has increased over 50% in the last 5 years. I think that tells us, they have a place in the hair world too.  I want to cover 3 key topics when it comes to mens hair:

1. Why choose a hair salon over a barber

I am bringing this topic up to answer the common question that I get. I am, in no way, trying to down the barber shop in any way. I think there are clear differences and in the end, the place where you Men feel the most comfortable is the best choice for you. The differences between a barber and cosmetologist are about 1000 hours in school. A barber is licensed to shave your face with a straight edge razor and a cosmetologist is not. The clear differences are that a barber usually is cheaper, you can walk in anytime and your haircut usually takes less time. Most of the time when you go to a hair salon an appointment is needed. Most of my male clients book with me every 3-4 weeks throughout the year. I book 30-45 minutes with them. The service includes a relaxing shampoo as well as a rinse of after the cut if clippers are used. A hairdresser is going to take the time to detail your haircut for you specifically and many tools and products can be used to achieve a look best for you. Hair salons have a large clientele, so don’t be mistaken Men. The hair salon is not just for women.

2. Men can color their hair too

  Most women may agree that men who are starting to grey tend to look more handsome and sophisticated. That being said, there is no rule out there that you can’t color your hair,  it is ok for men to color their hair. I just recommend that they don’t go grab a box and hide in the bathroom at home and then pretend that they didn’t try to color it themselves (because I promise we can tell). There are some great products out there for you Men who want to turn the clock back a few years. Paul Mitchell recently developed a mens color. It can be used to blend or completely cover your gray with how it is applied. It takes 10 minutes, can make you look 10 years younger and only costs $10! This is another reason to see a hairdresser so don’t be afraid to ask then next time you are in.

3. Thinning hair?

I know, it is a sensitive subject. Men, let’s just put it out there. It is ok and there really is nothing you can do about it. Well. other than contact bosley for a hair transplant. You hair most likely is thinning and your hairline is probably receding (if it is not, you are one of the lucky ones) The more you try to ignore it or cover it, the worse it is going to look. No combovers, toupees etc.  A good cut can really make you and your hair look its best. Hair color that is darker can make it look fuller as well as the use of some of the great styling products out there. When it just has gone to far then it is time to shave it. You are going to look younger and sexier with it shaved then leaving a few hairs on your head. Again, listen to the leading lady in your life and then your hairdresser for help with this subject. Don’t be ashamed of it, you are not alone.

    So, there you have it Men. I put it all on the table for discussion. You deserve a little attention too.  Take the time to look your best. You too can e-mail any questions to me, I’m happy to answer them. getginafiedbdn@gmail.com

Posted in facial hair, Fashion, fashon trends, Hair, hair color, hairstyles, mens hair, mens hair color | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Hey Men! I didn’t forget about you.

Greasy?

I have been telling many people for a long time that washing your hair every day is not necessary. There are so many positive benefits to it and many people tell me they just can’t and they have to wash it every day. Do you shampoo every day? Have you ever tried not doing that? The natural oils that your scalp produces can be very beneficial to your hair by giving it the moisture that it needs. When you are washing it every day you are stripping your hair of it’s natural oils. Most of you are already thinking that you need to do that every day because your hair and scalp is oily. You just know that if you don’t wash it every day that you are going to look like a greasy mess. Guess what? You are wrong. Here is why.

It is true that some of us produce more oil and our hair, skin and scalp tend to have a higher shine than most. Just as others can be more dry. We all are different and we all can benefit from not shampooing every day of our lives. If you tend to be on the oily side of the spectrum you are actually making your problem worse by washing every day. You think it is the right thing to do and you can’t stand how it looks but you are adding fuel to the fire. By shampooing daily you are stripping it and you also are telling your pores to produce more to make up for the loss. Start foregoing the shampoo daily and go to every other day. This is going to trick your pores and help them slow down their production of oil. It will take a little time for this to work and in the meantime I recommend that you use a dry shampoo or baby powder. Dry shampoo and baby powder will help to get rid of the shine and excess oil.

What you are using for shampoo and conditioner plays a big role in the is as well. Many over the counter products are too high in PH and contain heavy waxes. They are over stripping your hair (seriously, you could strip the floor with some of these) and then coating your hair in heavy wax as well as blocking pores. If you use over the counter products you need to switch before trying this experiment or it won’t work. In fact, you may not really have oily skin, you may just be using bad products. Consult your hairdresser or local salon for the right products for you.

    I am willing to bet that you are shaking your head right now and thinking I am full of it aren’t you? I say to you, prove me wrong.  Get some great products and try this for a couple weeks and then tell me it didn’t work. Remember, it isn’t going to happen overnight, but I guarantee that it will work and in the end you will thank me and your hair will too.

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I am going to bring up the elephant in the room and that is Women and facial hair. Why oh why must we, as women have facial hair? I mean really. Don’t we go through enough as women by giving birth? It is such a nuisance and trust me ladies, all of us have it in some way. We don’t like to talk about it, but it is there. I feel that it is my duty as a hairdresser to bring it up and/or recommend options to remove it. I think there is one reason that women don’t do anything about it and that is fear. The fear of the LIE you have been told. “If I try to remove it, it will come back thicker and/or darker”. It is a Lie, I promise.
Removing body hair does not make it grow more, faster or come in darker. The reason that it may seem it does is because the facial or body hair has been there and it has become “damaged” if you will. It makes it appear softer and finer (just like damaged ends of your hair). Once you remove it, it comes back in as brand new hair and the edges of it are more blunt and it may feel rougher or thicker. This is more true if your method of removal is by shaving. Better options for removal are by waxing. When you wax the hair you are removing the entire shaft of hair down to the roots. The more you wax the same area consistently, the less the hair will grow back because of the damage caused to the roots. Think of your eyebrows and those of you who can’t get them to grow back because you over-tweezed them. The reason is because you removed the hair by the roots and damaged it causing it to stop growing.
There is no need to have to put up with embarrassing facial hair and even if it doesn’t bother you, the rest of the world is looking at it (sorry, but it is true). Don’t be too shy and ask your hairdresser next time if she thinks you need to wax at all. As you age your hormones change and this can cause facial hair to grow. I will be honest, I have it too. After years of teasing my Mom about her chin hairs, I turned 35 and there they were. Here is my public apology to my Mother, that just wasn’t nice.
If the idea of having to start a maintenance plan to deal with this doesn’t interest you there are also permanent ways to remove body hair. Professional Laser treatments are available and I would recommend calling your local licensed skin care center. I know in our area there are a few options for this. I am told it takes 4-6 visits and then the hair is GONE FOREVER. I myself, love this option, I just haven’t been able to find the time. The fact that the hair is gone permanently offsets the cost to me.
Take a good look in your rearview mirror ladies. We all know that the rearview mirror doesn’t lie. If you see some facial hair, take care of it. You will always get the truth from me. You have been lied to for years. It will not grow thicker or faster if you remove it. In fact, waxing does the opposite. Call your hairdresser today!

Posted on by Gina Leonard | Comments Off on Is that chin hair I see?

The L Factor wants to THANK YOU

It is hard to believe that it has been over 7 years since Jodi and myself opened the doors to The L Factor Salon. Gosh, did we have big dreams or what!? We totally had no idea what we were doing, we just went for it. We are so fortunate to have the most amazing clients and friends who backed our every move and stayed loyal to our business. Many charity events and 8 amazing hair shows to boot! We LOVE what we do for a living. Both of us feel so fortunate to be able to do what we love every single day. We constantly strive to grow in our career as hairdressers to give our clients our absolute best every time and we always will. There really are not words to deeply express our gratitude to our clients, community, friends and family. From the bottom of our hearts we THANK YOU for your business. 

     We realize that there are some “rumors” flying around town right now about the future of The L Factor salon and Jodi and myself want to set the record straight and let you all know what is happening. We ask for your continued support and encouragement through this next chapter and know that our clients have and will always come first.  Jodi and Gina did not have a “big fight” which led to closing the salon. There is no drama in this situation. We are extremely proud of what we have accomplished in the last 7 years together. As you all know, there are times in life when change is necessary and standing up and being honest in order to make changes isn’t always easy. Jodi and Gina have chosen to remain friends and put that before business. We both have decided it is time to spread our wings.  You will still see Jodi and Gina come together in the near future for charity events and other special events. 

     There are some changes coming in the near future. Your appointments will remain at The L Factor salon up until August 9th. When the time is necessary we will let you all know where your next appointments will be located. Please know, we have your best interest in mind.  We want this transition  to be as smooth as possible and with your continued support, it will be.  We love each and every one of our clients. While change can be hard at times, it also can be very positive. We promise continued excellence in taking care of you all. We will promise to let you all know the next move as soon as we can. 

Thank you again for your respect, encouragement and support through the next chapter in our lives. 

Sincerely, 
Gina Leonard and Jodi Leighton

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Look close, you may have chin hair!

 I am going to bring up the elephant in the room and that is Women and facial hair.   Why oh why must we, as women have facial hair? I mean really. Don’t we go through enough as women by giving birth? It is such a nuisance and trust me ladies, all of us have it in some way. We don’t like to talk about it, but it is there. I feel that it is my duty as a hairdresser to bring it up and/or recommend options to remove it. I think there is one reason that women don’t do anything about it and that is fear. The fear of the LIE you have been told. “If I try to remove it, it will come back thicker and/or darker”. It is a Lie, I promise.

    Removing body hair does not make it grow more, faster or come in darker. The reason that it may seem it does is because the facial or body hair has been there and it has become “damaged” if you will. It makes it appear softer and finer (just like damaged ends of your hair). Once you remove it, it comes back in as brand new hair and the edges of it are more blunt and it may feel rougher or thicker. This is more true if your method of removal is by shaving. Better options for removal are by waxing. When you wax the hair you are removing the entire shaft of hair down to the roots. The more you wax the same area consistently, the less the hair will grow back because of the damage caused to the roots. Think of your eyebrows and those of you who can’t get them to grow back because you over-tweezed them.  The reason is because you removed the hair by the roots and damaged it causing it to stop growing.

    There is no need to have to put up with embarrassing facial hair and even if it doesn’t bother you, the rest of the world is looking at it (sorry, but it is true). Don’t be too shy and ask your hairdresser next time if she thinks you need to wax at all. As you age your hormones change and this can cause facial hair to grow. I will be honest, I have it too. After years of teasing my Mom about her chin hairs, I turned 35 and there they were. Here is my public apology to my Mother, that just wasn’t nice.

    If the idea of having to start a maintenance plan to deal with this doesn’t interest you there are also permanent ways to remove body hair. Professional Laser treatments are available and I would recommend calling your local licensed skin care center. I know in our area there are a few options for this. I am told it takes 4-6 visits and then the hair is GONE FOREVER. I myself, love this option, I just haven’t been able to find the time. The fact that the hair is gone permanently offsets the cost to me.

    Take a good look in your rearview mirror ladies. We all know that the rearview mirror doesn’t lie. If you see some facial hair, take care of it. You will always get the truth from me. You have been lied to for years. It will not grow thicker or faster if you remove it. In fact, waxing does the opposite. Call your hairdresser today!

Posted in bridal, facial hair, Fashion, fashon trends, Hair, hair color, hairstyles, Makeup, salon, skincare, Uncategorized, waxing, wedding planner | Comments Off on Look close, you may have chin hair!

Keep it Professional

Prom and wedding season is fast approaching. I have to admit, this this is absolutely one of my favorite times of the year. After the longest winter ever, it is nice to think about warmer weather, bright colored prom dresses along with the laughs and joy that a wedding day brings.  It is important to leave you hairstyle to a professional for this or any special event in your life. I know that there are many pictures and how to videos out there that make it look easy. If hairstyling were “easy” then all the salons that exist out there would be out of business. If you want to look your absolute best on your big day, make sure you schedule your appointment and do it fast!

The first step is to get your appointment booked. Prom and weddings usually happen on Saturday and that is the busiest day in salon. If a salon or a specific hairdresser has a good reputation for doing an updo and/or makeup, you can bet that they may already be booked. Most weddings book a year ahead of time and that is smart. Once you have the date of your event, next call is to the hairdresser. If you are getting married, you may also consider having the stylist come to you at your location to get ready. Check to see if this is something that they offer, but expect to pay more than you would going in to the salon.

I recommend a verbal consultation only. Formal hairstyling is very specific and expecting it to come out the same twice is unrealistic and sets you and the stylist up for failure. There is no need to add extra stress to your day. The best thing you can do is bring pictures and sit down with your stylist to talk about what you like and what you don’t like. The stylist may want to play with your hair and see how it takes a curl or goes up. They may have recommendations for you as far as color, conditioning treatment and the need for extensions to complete your look. I strongly discourage a full run through, but I highly suggest a verbal consultation.

When it comes to the day of the event, I tell my clients that dirty hair is best. Freshly washed hair does not hold curl well nor does it stay up as well. If they hair needs to be washed then they stylist will do that themselves prior to a blow-out or they will tell you it needs to be done. TRUST me when I tell you not to wash your hair. Don’t worry that it is going to look dirty or greasy or “smell”. There are going to be a ton of products going into your hair the day of your event and the majority of that is hairspray. Hairspray contains alcohol and alcohol can dry out your hair. I tell my clients if they insist to “wash” their hair on the day of then to rinse it only and use conditioner, but leave out the shampoo.

There are very few special event moments in our lives, prom and your wedding day are a few of the biggest ones. You want to look your absolute best and you should. Make sure you leave it to a professional. Take the time to find one that you feel comfortable with and be realistic about  your look and what your hair will and won’t do. Trust the hairdresser to know best and I promise you will look FABULOUS!

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PUT THE BOX DOWN

     I know that there are many of you out there who play hairdresser in your bathroom all by yourself. You try to save time and money and grab the dreaded “box” from the local store. Most of the time it gets you by, so you are ok with it. I want to know something, do you really think it is working? Do you really think your hair looks its best? What about the one time that box doesn’t work out, what will you do then? Do you know that hairdressers usually get $100/hour for corrective hair color? That doesn’t sound like savings to me. Do you know what you are really putting on your hair?

    There is a reason that in order to become a hairdresser you have to attend 1500 hours in school and pass a state licensing exam to legally do hair in the state of Maine. There is a lot that goes into doing your hair and the science behind hair color. I know that the commercials look appealing and super easy to do yourself. Of course they do, that is how they market it. The chemicals found in haircolor off the shelf are intensely stronger than any professional hair color Because the are pre-mixed, they are also unpredictable. This means that your “ash blonde” may be working for you and has been for years, but there will be a time you will use it that it won’t and God only knows what your hair color will be,  We are taking chemicals here people. Would you inject yourself with botox if you could buy a store version? Put that box back on the shelf and call a professional.

   There are also many so-called “natural” hair color products out there and these are especially concerning to me. Just because they claim to be natural or “ammonia- free” doesn’t mean they are better for your hair or safer. Many of these products contain metallic dyes and/or harsher chemicals that are not regulated by the FDA.  Once these chemicals are on your hair they are there FOREVER. You cannot color over them or change them with any other chemical. If you do, your hair will literally melt off. The only way to change that is to cut it off and start over. So, just realize that once you try it, you are stuck with it like a tattoo.

    I am here to BEG you to leave this up to a professional. Don’t just assume that you can’t afford it. There are many options in the world of color and I know one of them will fit your budget. Make sure to let your concerns and your budget to be known up front. You know you don’t really enjoy doing it yourself. Take time for you by going to see a professional hairdresser. You are going to look and feel your best when you leave and you can trust what is going on your hair to be safe, guaranteed!

I always welcome questions, email me at:

getginafiedbdn@gmail.com

I offer FREE consultations in my salon.

The L Factor

Twin City Plaza Brewer

989-5515

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Getting Married?

      Myself and my  team from the salon just participated in the Bangor Bridal Show last weekend at the Spectacular Event Center.  We did hair and makeup for about 30 models that participated in two separate runway shows. One Saturday night featuring dresses from Dream Dress Bridal and one on Sunday featuring dresses from The Henry’s Bridal boutique. We had a lot of fun doing the hair and makeup, especially since we had complete creative control over the looks. We chose to show classic wedding hair based off of three hairstyles. The classic vintage wave in long hair left down, the top bun (think Audrey Hepburn), and the low romantic chignon. All hairstyles are really based off of these three looks and a Bride can never go wrong choosing one of these looks for her big day.

    I gave a talk prior to the start of each runway show where I discussed classic hairstyles and my self composed list of “Do’s and Don’ts” of wedding hair and makeup. I believe it is safe to say that for most, the dress is the #1 most important thing when planning a wedding. It is the first thing you think about. I am here to tell you that your hair and makeup need to be #2. I suggest that you hire a professional and expect to pay well for it. You get what you pay for and you want a salon and stylists that have the experience with weddings and a good reputation. You are going to pay more for it and it is well worth it. Your look and the look of your wedding party is important. Make sure that you insist your entire wedding party gets their hair and makeup done at the salon of your choice and don’t take no for an answer. Doing your hair yourself is going to show when everyone else had it done professionally. We suggest that you bring pictures, lots of them to communicate with your stylist. Don’t be unrealistic about the outcome and don’t expect your hair to look exactly like those pictures. Use them as an inspiration for your personal look. Make sure that your personality shows up in your look, but don’t get too trendy. Choose one thing and go for it. An elaborate dress, heavy makeup and a big crazy trendy hairstyle is going to be over kill. Let the dress shine, as it should. Your makeup should be just a step up from your normal everyday look. A heavy smokey eye and the trendy side braid should be left for the next formal party you go to, not your wedding day. Make sure that you listen to your stylist and his or her recommendations. Remember, we are licensed professionals. This is your first wedding, but honey, I’ve been to so many I can’t even count them. We have the experience and that is why you hired us. If we tell you that you should put your hair up because it is 100 degrees outside in the middle of August, listen to us so that you don’t look like a drowned rat in your pictures.

    Your wedding day is the biggest day of your life. You are going to look back on the day for years to come in your pictures and video. Make sure that every time you look at those pictures you are happy with what you see and that you don’t say “what was I thinking”. Most salons offer free verbal consultations and it is also a great idea to schedule an appointment with a few to get a feel for the salon and to meet the stylist. Have them style your hair for a special night out to see if you like them and the way they work. Ask around, word of mouth is the best way to find the right salon. Whatever you do, just leave it to a professional.

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pinching pennies

 Well, here it is, another New Year has come. It’s always exciting to welcome in another year and reflect upon the past and look forward to the future. The hustle and bustle of  of the holiday season takes us through it all with my anticipation and excitement. Once we get through all of that and January 1st gets here, bring on the let down and the stress. The stress of money being tight after all that we spent on christmas, entertainment, house emergencies (that always happen around the holidays) and heating costs. Then we all sit around stressing out about how we are going to pay for it and where we have to budget and cut things out for a while. I am right there along with all of you. There is one place you don’t have to cut entirely, nor should you and that is your hair.

    Your hair and how it looks and feels really does make a difference in how we approach our daily lives. I know this to be true because I see it every day behind the chair. It is the reason I love my job so much. Something that can be so simple to me can make a huge difference in someones life and how they feel about themselves. Your hair is your public business card to the world and you should keep it looking its best at all times. This doesn’t mean it has to cost an arm and a leg. Don’t cancel your next appointment, just adjust things a bit from here. How do you do this? I always give my clients options with their hair cut and color. You can adjust things by just going all out at your next visit. Be upfront with your stylist and let them know you are on a budget. cancelling your appointment all together could end up costing more in the end. If you wait too long and then come back your color may be in a “corrective” color stage and that is more expensive to you and takes more time. Options for you are just touching up the root area only, skipping the foils or just adding a few, passing on the hair cut with a color, adding a semi-permanent glaze (to blend and refresh), just getting a bang trim etc. Trust me, these are just a few of  the options you have to get by while still looking and feeling your best.

    A way to make a big change in your look on a budget to to get bangs. Not only are bangs and and face framing fringe totally on trend right now it is a quick and easy way to really change up your look. This should only cost you the price of a bang trim too! Opt for a semi-permanent color to just freshen up you look, blend away gray and add shine and hydration along with a bang trim and you are looking fab for another month for under $40. Most stylists offer specials during this time of year as well to adjust to the slow down many of us face through January. Take advantage of them while you can. Adding just a few foils in your part and around your hairline can really make a big change and this too keeps is under $40 for you as well. Don’t panic and cancel your appointment, instead just change it up a bit. Be upfront with your stylist and your hair and your mood will thank you. I welcome questions and comments by e-mail at getginafiedbdn@gmail.com

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Back to Your Roots

 

     Fall is most definitely in the air isn’t it? The weather has been so beautiful, I hope it lasts long into October. What is it about fall that has us wanting lots of change in our lives?  We start cleaning the house, organizing our life and call our hair stylists saying “time for something new”.  I love this time of year because almost all of my clients are ready for a change of some sort. It keeps me on my toes and keeps my job fun and exciting. My first recommendation as soon as the chill in the air arrives is go ahead, change it up. Don’t opt for a subtle change, that is just boring. Give that summer hair and the millions of blonde foils you added a break. I have a challenge for you today, GO BACK TO YOUR ROOTS!

 

 

   Seriously, consider getting your hair color to a more natural state. If you are a woman in her 30’s or older, more natural hair color is going to make your and your hair look younger. We missed the train of wild color and crazy highlights in our 20’s. Don’t think that this means you must have boring hair color either.There are so many gorgeous shades of brunette that are absolutely stunning. Going back to your roots, does not mean boring hair at all, I promise. Don’t think that this means you must have one color on your head either. Natural hair color is NOT one-dimensional either. Most likely your Stylist will choose 2 or 3 tones within a shade or two of your natural color (at least that is what I would do).

 Darker hair color has little to no damage effect on your hair either. After a few months of sun, surf, and hi-lites, I promise your hair is thirsty. It is nice to give it a break through the colder months when moisture is hard to come by. Darker hair equals healthy shiny hair and that is the trend right now. Darker hair color is like getting a deep conditioning treatment. It will fill in all the little “holes” in the hair strands that lighter color and the sun have left for you. Realize I am talking professional hair color. This is not true for box color at the grocery store, leave this job to a professional (there is a reason we go through years of training and are required a license by the state). Dark, all over color is going to fill in all the damaged areas of your hair, leaving it shiny, thick and gorgeous.

Going back to your roots is also going to be nicer on your wallet too and maintenance is easier, needed less frequently and takes less time than other colors do. Don’t try this at home ladies, call a professional. If you have questions for me, drop an e-mail to getginafiedbdn@gmail.com

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