Fantasy hair colors can be so much fun; you can just let your imagination run wild with ideas for the future you (with pink hair, purple hair, silver hair, there are so many colors to choose from!). Maybe you're like me and have wanted blue hair for as long as you can remember. Maybe you're just starting to get warmed up to the idea of fantasy colors on your hair. Whatever your reasons are, I think we can all agree that fantasy colored hairstyles are 100% fun to look at! In the past, we didn't have easy access to different stylists' work but thanks to the internet, that has changed. Extremely talented hairstylists from around the world can now share their work with us, giving us a glimpse of the art that is hair coloring and styling. It also lets us get inspired to take the leap and try it out on our own hair. Since mermaid hair is so dear to my heart, I wanted to share some of my favorite blue looks to get you inspired.
If you're still wondering if fantasy hair is right for you then this makeover by @hairbyclairperez is a great start. Whether you have dark or blonde hair, aqua tips look gorgeous! And in case you don't want to keep your new look, you can just get a haircut and not worry about any treatments or multiple salon visits.
Choosing a rainbow hairstyle can seem intimidating but once you set your mind to it, you will not regret the results! This transformation by @nealmhair used the color blue as the main star, using different hues to give it dimension. He then added small sections of pink and purple to really give his client a mermaid with a twist look.
I'll admit that my love for anime made me gravitate to this look; I mean, just look at how cute those double hair buns are! The shadow root goes so well with the blue tones @bottleblonde76 created, it really does scream mermaid. I'm seriously considering styling my hair like this every day once I have my coveted blue hair.
You've already chosen mermaid hair for your next hair adventure but is another color tugging at your heartstrings? Don't sweat it, I got your back. This hairstyle by @antestradahair embraces two colors and joins them in an awesome 5 strand braid. Pastel blue and soft silver compliment each other nicely but you can pick whatever color you want!
I left the boldest mermaid look for last and this detailed undercut by @angela_skullptures does not dissapoint. I love how she created an ombre effect with blue and purple tones, it really looks stunning. You can go with all over mermaid makeover and add this beautiful undercut as a surprise. You can also keep your traditional hair color and ask your stylist for a blue hair tattoo that you can keep hidden whenever you want!
Five Cleaning Beauty Tips That Will Make You Feel Refreshed
There’s just something about spring that inspires us to give everything a good clean - and our beauty routine shouldn’t be left out. We’ve all been bundled into coats and kept indoors breathing the same stale air for months. A deep clean is just the thing to chase away dust and dirt, allergens and dander, tired looks and old products - and we’ve got five tips below on how to spring clean your beauty routine.
KonMari Your Beauty Products
When spring cleaning your beauty routine, take the opportunity to KonMari your beauty products. Of course, you should discard all those products that have expired - we explained in “Beauty Product Safety” that you should check for the Period After Opening illustration (a little jar with the lid off) on your products and follow those time guidelines. Once you’ve gotten rid of everything that’s out of date, consider what you have left - do all of your products spark joy or have a sensible function in your beauty routine? Dump what you’re not enjoying anymore (even if it’s just the smell of a product that bothers you) along with what’s not working for your body. Consider this process a guilt-free zone - using something you don’t enjoy just because you spent money on it is not living your best life.
(If you’ve barely used the product - and depending on what it is - see if any of your friends would like to take it off your hands.)
Clean Your Tools
While you’re thinking about getting your carpets cleaned or your floors waxed, don’t forget about cleaning your makeup applicators and other beauty tools. Clean your makeup brushes with a gentle face soap and warm water. If you use a face brush, go ahead and replace the bristle head; if you replaced it recently, just settle for cleaning it with a nonsoap cleanser and warm water. Make sure you clean your hairbrush as well, and give your flat iron some TLC - when your hair straightener is completely cool, you can use a barely damp cloth to gently remove any product buildup and wipe down your flat iron’s plates. Wipe the rest of it down with a warm, damp cloth.
Bulk Up Your UV Protection
With longer days here at last, you’ll no doubt be tempted to spend more time outside - soaking up the sun, getting enough Vitamin D, and enjoying not being cooped up in the stale, stuffy indoors. In order to enjoy these longer, lighter days, it’s important that you’re using an appropriate level of SPF protection in your beauty products. For the best sun protection coverage, try using a moisturizing sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30 before putting the rest of your makeup on for the day. And don’t forget the endless fashionable delights of hats and gauzy scarves to protect hair and skin on breezy spring days.
Lighten Up Your Makeup
Winter is often the time for deep colors and jewel tone shades; once spring arrives, it’s time to lighten up and welcome brighter colors back into your makeup palette. Glitter is still in, so don’t be afraid to use it with a lively eyeshadow in blue or pink. Play with colored mascara - go for pink lashes with an accompanying pink liner for an especially bright-eyed look. If you’re feeling whimsical, extend your eye liner into bold wings in your chosen bright shades. And don’t forget to try out the bitten lip look with your lip color darker in the middle of your lips, fading out toward your natural lip color at the edges.
Prepare Your Hair
You may have thought that deep nourishing hair care was only for the dry days of winter - but you’re going to want to take some protective steps for spring, too. The sun can be as harsh on your hair as it is on your skin, causing damage that dulls your hair's appearance and leads to crunchy locks. If you color your hair, the sun is also the enemy of long-lasting color. Look for hair mists, sprays, or lotions that provide UV protection - you can even look for a product that also provides heat protection when you’re styling with your flat iron. Keeping your hair healthy with the proper protection will also ensure you’re ready to get those highlights for celebrating all these longer spring days.
There’s plenty to do and plenty to enjoy about spring cleaning your beauty routine. Don’t forget to take one day early in the season for some serious self-indulgence. Pamper yourself - get your hair trimmed, spend some time at the spa, get a facial and a mani-pedi. Your body and soul will thank you.
Show Some Love For Our Competition's Winner And The 4 Runner Ups
The hair community has taken our breath away this year and we've gotten so much love from hairstylists from all around the world using our hair tools, we decided it was time to pay it back. Today marks the end of our very 1st Stylist of the Year Competition and we have to say, we were not disappointed with all the entries flowing through our Instagram feed. It was a wonderful chance for stylists to show off their education and skills while keeping their eyes on our grand prize of $5,000! Even though it was extremely difficult, we've finally chosen our first place winner and the four runner ups. Make sure you follow all of these stylists on your IG feed (since you're obviously already following us @isa.professional); we guarantee you'll love how their posts fill your feed with color and creativity! A big thank you to all the hairstylists that entered our competition: your work keep us inspired and your support means everything to us!
The winner of ISA Professional's Stylist of the Year Award goes to the extremely talented @taylorrae_hair! This hairstyle has just left us in awe for many different reasons; the color melt technique is used perfectly here, the pastel fantasy colors mixing together like a beautiful rainbow. There's no sign of where one color begins and the other ends. The sleek, straight look she styled it in show how beautifully the colors blend together and those locks shine so healthily, they just can't be ignored. Congratulations @taylorrae_hair!
Some updos can be simple, being just enough to pick your hair off your face and shoulders. Then there are updos that make everyone that passes by stop in their tracks from the sheer attention to detail and runner up @updoguru did just that with this bobby pinned filled hairdo.
Half updos are very in right now and @lisa_createdtocreate combined it with the fantasy hair trend in this stunning balayage look. It reminds us of cotton candy, except you can't eat it, only look at it with wonderment.
Sometimes, a bold haircut can really bring up a new hair color and we absolutely love what @gerilynghaisarzadeh did here with this edgy and chic hair bob! The bold colors she chose to emphasize this trendy chop is so lovely, it makes us want a hair makeover, too!
Braids seem to be perfect for any sort of ocassion; whether it's formal or casual, a well done braid is always looked at with admiration and it shows that you put in the effort to look extra cute that day. This pink braided hairstyle by @myhairstyle_xo is making us feel some fairy vibes, perfect for a night out.
5 Red Hairstyles That Will Burn Your Eyes If You Aren't Careful
Have you ever admired a redhead and wondered if that hair color would suit you? Maybe you’ve always been a brunette or a blonde but feel like a change is in order? Or do you wish to have fantasy hair color but your work wouldn’t allow it? Red hair is bright enough to make everyone in a room notice you, while still being work appropriate. It lifts the spirits and brings a pop of color to your wardrobe, and luckily, there are many different tones to choose from. Whether you prefer a darker wine hue or prefer to go a bit more bold, there is a red tone perfect for you out there. So don’t hesitate and take the leap into a fiery hairstyle that matches perfectly with your fiery personality!
If you love watching sunsets and sunrises, then this hair color by @lizzvargashair is the one for you. The soft waves remind me of the sun’s reflection over the ocean waves and those bangs look amazing on her!
For those who prefer a brighter red, look no further than this neon hair makeover by @aliyousha She gave her client some volume with layers framing her face but I especially love how she sneaked some darker hues in there to give it even more dimension.
This shorter hairstyle is lovely for those looking for a more toned down red hue. @jonathannoblemckelveyhair decided to leave the roots their natural dark color to create wine colored balayage strands, making this hairstyle more low maintenance than those that reach the roots.
It takes guts to go for a bright candy cane red look, but @ghoulnextdooor makes me a believer with this jaw dropping hair color. I’m sure it’s hard to not feel more confident rocking this hairstyle and the pink details are such a cute touch!
Okay, so maybe this hairstyle is not as work appropriate as others but if done correctly, your boss might let it slide. The trick is to use different red tones to compliment each other in a technique called a color melt and @hairbykaseyoh does it so perfectly.
Which red hair makeover would you go for? Let us know in the comments!
Winter is here, and we’ve already moved through the cozy holidays full of glittering lights, merry-making, and amazing food. What’s left can feel like a long, cold slog through the rest of a season short on daylight and joy. It doesn’t have to, though! While it’s no wonder many of us can experience down periods or depression during this time, we can use color therapy as part of our toolbox against dark moods.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Sometimes, the "winter blues" are more than just being tired of cold, short days: some people may suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The acronym is super apropos, no? If you find yourself feeling depressed and lethargic, having trouble sleeping or concentrating, noticing changes in your appetite or weight, you could be experiencing seasonal affective disorder.
SAD may be caused by the disruption of our circadian rhythms due to less light availability during the winter months. It could also be due to a disruption of our serotonin levels caused by the same lack of light - or a change in melatonin levels, which influence your sleep patterns. Goodness knows that a messed up sleep cycle can negatively affect anyone!
Whether you’re in treatment for SAD or just looking for a way to shake off those winter doldrums, engaging in a little color therapy may help lift your mood and that of those around you!
Hair Color Inspo Therapy
Winter can wreak havoc on our prized locks, leaving our hair dry and dull and full-on blah. That’s why it’s important to have a winter hair care routine that keeps your hair looking its best. A bad hair day is no one’s friend! Once your hair is back to being touchably soft and beautifully shiny, though, you might still feel like something’s lacking in the depths of the winter season.
When you need a mood boost and to remember the sun, consider having highlights added to your hair. Glowing golden, caramel, and honey highlights are in right now, adding just the right amount of sun-kissed to your locks for an instant attitude lift.
Having your long tresses (or shorter ones!) dip dyed has been on trend for a while now, but it can still refresh your spirits on dreary winter days - especially if you’re adding it to your all-over silver ‘do. Go for bright or dramatic colors, whichever you’re feeling more - jewel tones across the spectrum can pop and glow and inspire.
If you can’t stop dreaming of tropical sunsets on warm beaches with umbrella’d cocktails, why not wear that daydream loud and proud? Vibrant all-over color in layers of hot pink, burnt orange, and honeyed gold can make you smile any time you catch a glimpse of your hair - and you’ll no doubt have others smiling, too.
Makeup Your Mood
Painting your face can be fun and influence your whole mood - so makeup is just one more tool in your arsenal against Old Man Winter. Embrace higher spirits by throwing your face in his!
A red lip is always a bold choice, and it always stands out - but it just seems to have extra oomph on cold, bright days. March on dreariness wearing your favorite shade of red and let that boldness infuse your day. Dramatic eyes don’t hurt either!
Warm colors are another perfect choice when insulating yourself from dank and dreary days - choose a deeper red variant for your lips paired with sparkling eye shadow and a sharp winged cut crease for maximum va-va-voom.
Showcase your playful spirit for some instant cheer and play with candy-colored shades in your makeup routine. It may remind you a bit of the 80s, but that just means it's retro and cool. Play with sky-blue eyeshadow and a lively lip color like purple.
Pop Your Wardrobe
Another easy way to add a pop of color and a burst of brightness to dreary winter days is through judicious use of your wardrobe - find those pieces that “spark joy” (y’all know what I’m talking about) and put them into your sartorial rotation.
Pair candy-colored winter hats and scarves with your candy-colored makeup - it's wonderful what a cerulean knit cap and a teal wool scarf can do for you in the face of snow and darkness. Just pretend you're a tropical mermaid experiencing a land-bound winter. Experiment with jewel tones, too!
Put your wish for spring out into the universe and embrace your favorite color at the same time - put together an outfit in shades of purple, blue, yellow, or whatever makes your heart sing. The fashionable impact’s in pulling off different shades of the same color in the same outfit.
Coats may be a necessity during winter, but that doesn’t mean they ever need be boring. Throw a defiant flag up in the face of seasonal affective disorder or the winter doldrums that says NOPE. No, you won’t be dragged down by short days being cooped up inside and locked into layers. Your bold spirit is bound to be infectious and leave others feeling revitalized, too. (My favorite choice for this is a brilliant red coat, but you do you.)
Ready to take the season by storm and fight winter with glorious color? We’re right behind you! Share your best winter looks on Instagram, and tag us @isa.professional so we can see!
