20 Jun '17

Trendy Hair Accessories for Spring/Summer 2017

Hair Accessories for 2017

I gotta admit: one of the best parts of having hair is getting to play with it. You can dye it, shape it, cut it, decorate it, or anything else you imagine - and just wait for it to grow to change it all over again. It’s like Cersei Lannister said - and this is about the only time you’ll hear me complimenting something Cersei said, so listen up - “And hair grows back.” If it doesn’t? Have you seen the fabulous wigs they make these days? You can still play.

I’m always on the look-out for new and fantastic hair accessories to add to my hair game. Where most people immediately zero in on red carpet clothes, I’m often looking at red carpet hairstyles. (I’m equal opportunity hair and clothes with runway looks.) And, let’s be honest - I’ll experiment with braiding or twisting anything into my hair. I can’t be the only one that’s woven fresh flowers or stuck pencils with dangling decorations into their tresses. (Okay, that last one might be because I’m a writer and women’s clothing doesn’t have enough pockets.)

We’re excited about the on-trend hair accessories that are cropping up everywhere this early spring. Check them out, and level up your own hair accessorizing game!

Hair Piercing

A post shared by Huda Kattan (@hudabeauty) on Oct 9, 2016 at 10:37am PDT

Hair piercing’s been around for a while, but it’s continuing to rock out as an edgy addition to wild, partially braided, and fully braided hairdos. Don’t let the name fool you - there’s no actual piercing involved! Mainly, this style refers to adding a row of rings (plain or with beads or charms) to your braids or twists. One of the great things about hair piercing is that you can be as creative as you like, and include spikes or paper clips or safety pins or whatever you can make stick. The only limit is how long you want to spend attaching rings and other decorations to your hair.

Flower Crowns

A post shared by Dolce & Gabbana (@dolcegabbana) on Feb 26, 2017 at 6:28am PST

Flower crowns! They’re not just for fresh-faced princesses anymore - any modern woman can rock out with a beautiful floral arrangement on her head! From over-sized flower barrettes and elastics to genuine crowns, this is one highly customizable trend, and perfect for DIYers. You’ll find flower-adorned accessories in many fashionable shops this season, or you can make your own from silk flowers and basic bands or headwraps. Flowers can be ultra-realistic or charmingly fake or elegantly metallic.

Big Bows and Bands

A post shared by mel (@melspassionforfashion) on Apr 4, 2017 at 9:54am PDT

Big bows are in, particularly when sitting perched atop the head, preferably off center - the crowning touch on soft or satiny headbands. You can find some killer examples of this look on the S/S runways, particularly accenting the models for Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana. Many retailers are helpfully selling soft headbands or cloth-wrapped hard headbands with bows already affixed. Paired with floral or geometric textile patterns, this look can be charmingly rustic or capture chic modernity.

Dramatic headbands are also leading the way this season, from tiara-like affairs to back-heavy halos to those confining their decorative flourishes mostly to the sides of your head. And then there’s my favorite: headbands with ears! You’ll find headbands adorned with ears at many of those fashionable shops mentioned above, delicately constructed of wire filigree or a fine crochet pattern, or pastel fabrics and sequins, or wire and sparkly gems. Most ears seem to be cat-like, but I’ve seen a few bunny ears as well.

Dazzling Pins and Barrettes

This last trend in hair accessories is one of the easiest to pull off - jeweled hairpins and barrettes are in, so get them in your hair! You’ll find that opulent pieces are everywhere right now, medium or large clusters of sparkling gemstones catching the light and weaving enchantment through your tresses.

Besides these sumptuous jeweled pieces, you’ll see those spelling out words with glittering moxie. Simple words like “girls,” “magic,” or “dance” are popular along with sentiments like “xoxo.” If neither words nor lavishness are your style, there are also plenty of cartoony, kitschy pins out there right now to add a playful vibe to your ‘do.

Or triangles! If geometric is your thing, get some solid or outlined triangles to adorn your hair - particularly with your hair swept back into a messy or partial updo, with the triangle pointing up at an angle.

Which style is your favorite, and which one can you not wait to try out? Hit the comments, and if you have any selfies - we’d love to see them! You can even tag us on Instagram @isa.professional or #isaprofessional.

11 May '17

Pedicure & Pamper Your Feet

A Spa Day At Home

Life can be hard on the feet. Walking the city streets daily as a pedestrian or working jobs that require us to stand all day can leave our feet feeling sore and rough. And those cute shoes or sexy heels can often make our tootsies hurt worse, even with gel inserts and an office job.

So what’s a body to do when the dogs are barking? (Everyone knows barking dogs are sore feet, right? Or is that just a Southern thing?) Well, that’s easy! Schedule a spa day for your feet, right in your own home! You don’t even really need much in the way of equipment, and it can do wonders for your mood - and your soles.

Soak Your Feet

Foot Bath | InterContinental HK | ISA Professional

To begin your self-care session, prepare a footbath. This can be as simple as getting a large bowl or pot, or getting out a deep plastic basin purchased just for your feet. You can get even fancier, if you like, and invest in a deluxe heated footbath that vibrates and makes bubbles. (If you have a fancy, dedicated footbath, just follow its directions on how to use it.)

If you’re putting together a completely homemade footbath, add warm water perfect for soaking to your pot or bowl or basin. Just be careful of not burning yourself with the hot water!

Once you’ve added your water, you may choose to enhance it: add Epsom salts to soothe and soften hard-used feet. Or you could add a drop of essential oil - lavender, perhaps, to help with fatigue, or peppermint to improve circulation. Natural Living Ideas shares several foot soak recipes you might be interested in investigating and trying. (Remember: dilute essential oils, and make sure you’re using safe ingredients.)

Before you settle in to enjoy your footbath, you may wish to pour yourself a glass or cup of something enjoyable! You could take the opportunity to use a face mask as well, or perhaps get out a book or put on a TV show. Whatever you do, sit back, relax, and let your feet soak for 15 to 20 minutes.

Scrub Your Soles

Clean Soles | Wokandpix | ISA Professional

After you’ve had a nice, long soak, you should give your feet a good scrub. If you have a pumice stone, this is the time to use it: dip your pumice stone in warm water, and then gently rub it in circular motions on rough skin. You can do this for two or three minutes, rinsing both your foot and the stone occasionally. Be gentle with yourself - all you want to do is remove the dead skin cells. If your skin becomes irritated, you’re doing too much.

Don’t have a pumice stone? You can still exfoliate! Just mix up a sugar or salt scrub (or purchase one already made). You can find hundreds of homemade scrub recipes on the Internet, but the basics often involve mixing 1 part oil (from coconut oil to grapeseed oil) to 2 parts sugar or salt. Then you gently rub this grainy mixture across the rough skin as with the pumice stone above.

Afterward, take your newly scrubbed feet and gently pat them dry with a towel.

Restore Your Skin

So you’ve soaked and scrubbed and now you’re ready for moisturizing! You want to do this as soon as you’ve finished exfoliation, in order to rehydrate your skin and lock in moisture. This is also the best time to trim your toenails, since they’ll also have softened up in the long soak.

These are tons of products out there formulated especially for deep moisturizing your feet. Choose your favorite lotion or cream and go to town, rubbing it across the tops of your feet, all over your toes, and all across your soles. This step also serves double duty, providing the perfect set-up for you to give yourself an amazing foot massage.

Rub some oil onto your toenails and into the cuticles as well - argan oil or Vitamin E oil can promote healthy nail growth. Argan oil is also brilliant for any cracks you might have on your feet from badly dried skin, and can nourish and heal the roughest spots. Just remember to wipe the bottom of your feet of excess oil and take caution on smooth walking surfaces as you wouldn't want to slip and fall.

Have some Fun

A post shared by Gelnailsat (@gelnailsat) on Apr 11, 2016 at 6:47pm PDT

You could call it quits at this point, and luxuriate in having clean, pampered dogs that are no longer barking. Or you could get creative and take it to the next level with some fun color! Yes, I’m talking about painting your toenails!

Even if it’s not open-toed shoe or sandal weather yet, having cheerfully painted nails can boost your mood and your confidence - even if you’re the only one who knows about them. So break out those daring nail colors you’re never sure of pulling off when your feet are on display and give them a chance. Experiment with some nail art as well! It’ll be our little secret, if you want it to be.

Now that you can pull off a great spa treatment for your feet at home, hit the comments and tell us what you’ll be drinking or reading as you relax with a nice footbath!

26 Apr '17

Hairstyles in Ancient Egypt, Rome, & China

Hairstyles Are Ancient History

Hairstyling is one of humankind’s most personal and creative methods of self-expression, and one of our most basic methods of communication. Our hair can tell the world we’re reserved and professional, edgy and on trend, carefree and down to earth, or anything else we want to be. Glamorous. Wild. Innocent. You name it, and there’s a hairstyle for it.

In fact, hairstyling is tens of thousands of years old. Even combs have been around for about five thousand years. And every time human ingenuity has leapt forward, we’ve created new versions of combs and hairbrushes and scented oils and barrettes and more to level up our hairstyles. The use of heat-based styling tools is just as old combs, starting as metal rods or tongs that were heated in flame! From the Babylonians to the Persians, the Greeks to the Egyptians, mankind are old school creators when it comes to our hair and how we wear it.

Egypt

Embed from Getty Images

The Egyptians celebrated cats, great intellects, and really fantastic hairstyles. If their own hair didn’t suit, they would employ hair extensions or wigs made from sheep’s wool or human hair. In fact, wigs were favored not just because someone could slip on the ideal hair at a moment’s notice, but because they meant the wearer could keep their heads shaved. A shaven head can be a great thing in a hot climate, and it also prevented nuisances such as lice.

Of course, only wealthy women could boast of wigs and elaborate hairstyles. Among women in the older Egyptian era, short hair was favored, often shoulder-length or just under. In the New Kingdom, fashion favored longer hair that was elaborately braided or curled or bound (or a combination!), heavy with adornments. Curling was achieved with metal tongs, and fat applied as a styling gel. The rich boasted ivory hair pins or combs, weighted gold beads, and headbands that evolved into splendid diadems. Those who lacked wealth did not lack imagination, and many poorer Egyptians would use flowers and berries to decorate their hair.

Greece & Rome

Embed from Getty Images

In Greece, women typically wore their hair long and when they didn’t, it was often due to class. Only wealthy women could afford to play with their hair, which is thankfully not true today. Many soft, elegant hairstyles we might think of as “classic” come from ancient Greece - like the chignon with stylish curls pulled forward over the ears. Besides curling, the Greeks would also put waves in their hair, and favored braids and buns and braided buns. They might weave brightly-colored cloths through their hair, or place jeweled combs, or use a diadem of precious metal to impress - and keep their hair out of their faces.

Romans took the Greek practices to another level. While they classically enjoyed the chignon and bun and diadem as much as their neighbors, Emperor Augustus and the Empire changed all that. Hairstyles became opulent and elaborate, festooned with tall tiers of curls or intricate curled layers or a dizzying complexity of twists and jewels and precious metals. When it came to hairstyles, imperial Romans didn’t play around!

China

Ancient Chinese women perhaps boasted of the longest hair around - since hair was seen as a gift from one’s parents, haircuts were largely avoided. While girls tended to wear their hair in braids, eligible young maidens showed off their tresses in loose ponytails with center parts or partial buns and twists adorned with hair pins and sticks. These accessories could be simple ivory, elegantly carved, or elaborate and jeweled confections of precious materials. Sumptuous headdresses could be seen as well, but these are particular to specific ethnic groups.

A married woman mainly kept her hair bound - in hairdos either simple or elaborate, depending on everything from her occupation to her social status. Simple hairstyles included a high bun or a low knot, and elaborate hairstyles might be lavishly decked out in ornate combs, flowers, headdresses, or buyao (those hair sticks with dangling elements that “shakes as you go” - the literal translation of buyao).

We hope you’ve enjoyed this small taste of the wide and wondrous history of humans and hairstyling! There’s still so much to tell, but you can already see that our hairdo history rests on a few notable columns - such as braids and twists, accessories, and heat styling. Here at ISA Professional, it’s heat styling that fascinates us the most - and drives us toward innovation!

The first modern curling iron (heated with hot air) is generally credited to Marcel Grateau, from which we get the chic Marcel Wave, so evocative of the 1920’s. Curling irons went electric in 1959 thanks to Rene Lelievre and Roger Lemoine, much to the relief of singed scalps across the world. Since then, we’ve only gotten better, developing professional styling tools with more precise temperature control and quality heating plates to more easily style hair. Would you love to know more? Just click over to our History of the Flat Iron. And don’t forget to drop us your thoughts on ancient hairstyles below!

15 Mar '17

ISA Professional Hair Stylist: Emily Anderson!

Get to Know ISA Professional Hair Stylist

Emily Anderson

Admit it; we all love checking out Instagram to get the latest inspiration. Whether it’s with makeup, fashion or our area of expertise, hair, you can always count on finding a picture that gets your interest. You scroll and heart many pictures of talented artist’s work but once in a while there’s one that stands out, and Emily Anderson (@emilyandersonstyling) is definitely one of those stylists! Her beautiful feed was filled with so many hair inspirations and amazing shots of her hair creations (like her pixie cuts that many of us considered rocking, but only if she held the scissors).

We are now happy to announce that Emily Anderson is an official ISA Professional Stylist and to celebrate, we wanted to share with you the gorgeous #flatironcurls that she is so well known for! Her personal favorite is our titanium flat iron; its tapered tip and rounded sides make it perfect to create those signature flat iron curls. Be sure to follow her and show her some love.

A post shared by Arizona Hairstylist (@emilyandersonstyling) on Jan 9, 2017 at 7:34am PST

This video is perfect if you want to learn the correct way of achieving these beautiful flat iron curls. We know that Emily makes it look easy and you may get frustrated as you learn, but keep at it and watch yourself improve. Remember, our flat iron’s design is perfect for this soft look and really, after seeing her end results, you know it’s completely worth the practice!

A post shared by Arizona Hairstylist (@emilyandersonstyling) on Jan 19, 2017 at 7:46pm PST

This photo is a great example of Emily’s talent: a stylish pixie cut, pink color work and once again, flat iron curls created with our titanium flat iron! We love colorful, bold looks and this pink would be so much fun to try out. It also highlights how flat iron curls can be possible with short hair, too!

A post shared by Arizona Hairstylist (@emilyandersonstyling) on Jan 28, 2017 at 8:43pm PST

Another amazing pixie cut styled with our titanium hair straightener, this time a bit shorter and just as awesome. We suspect that after seeing her creations, it’ll make you consider getting a chic pixie cut too!

06 Mar '17

Bangs Are Back, Get Your Cut on the Double

Return of the Bangs

Psst. Hey, you. Scanning this article on your phone or laptop - are you in a crowded room? Coffee place, maybe? Café? Take a look around, and chances are someone in the room’s gonna have bangs. Maybe several someones! Bangs are back, my friends, and they’re on trend in a big way.

It’s not that surprising - fringes never fall out of fashion for long. How can they? They’re fantastically versatile, and can complement any hairstyle. Bangs are frames for your face, a natural way to cover imperfections, and can add mystery or whimsy to your look. Plus, they’re a great way to transform your current style without taking the plunge on an entirely new cut.

Baby Bangs

A photo posted by Olivia Palmira (@hair_by_olive_flip) on Oct 29, 2016 at 5:04am PDT

Short bangs can immediately infuse drama into your look, boldly accenting your ‘do with attitude. They’re also one of the most severe looks, and the fringe requiring the most work to maintain. So be honest with yourself when considering baby bangs: do you have the moxie and the work ethic to pull them off?

You’ll also want to consider your face shape and how happy you are with your features: there’s no hiding behind these bangs, and they accentuate your entire face rather than directing the eye. Round or heart-shaped faces may appear rounder and wider. On the other hand, oval or angular faces can rock micro bangs with ease.

Baby bangs can work with any hair length, and tend to look best with textured or messy hairstyles. You’ll also need to decide on whether you want your bangs blunt or razored - the latter works best if you have any hair pattern concerns, like cowlicks.

There are a few keys to working with baby bangs: you want to style them right out of the shower, before anything else. Know which way your hair goes, and make sure you’re brushing and blow drying the strands straight and down. Use anti-frizz products at as necessary, as well as a good holding product. The flat iron is your friend here, and you might even need a mini one for these micro bangs. Also, don’t forget to put a slight curve in while ironing to give your bangs that natural curved look.

Pro-tip: before sleeping, comb your bangs straight and place a headband over them. This will help prevent them from twisting into crazy shapes overnight.

Framed Faces

A photo posted by Leslie Chin-Schmitt (@lesliechin_hair) on Oct 8, 2016 at 7:19pm PDT

Framing bangs are great for softening your look, or even adding a touch of mystery. They also work well with almost any hair type; though, if your hair is stick straight, framing bangs may be difficult to keep styled all day. They require less upkeep than baby bangs do, and even qualify as low-maintenance depending on your overall style.

Have a round face? Framing bangs can work for you. Love textured, natural hairstyles? Hairstyles that might even be described as tousled? Framing bangs WILL work for you.

Framing fringe can be categorized into a few main styles - there’s the curtain, side or side swept, and swept back looks. Here’s the rundown on each:

Curtain bangs are parted in the middle, and the hair combed away to either side of your face. They soften the severity of a middle part and taper your forehead, drawing the eye to YOUR eyes. They can be left long all the way across, or your stylist can shorten the center strands.

Side bangs operate as advertised, being parted to the side for a classy and versatile look. They can simply cover your brow at a sleek slant, or even obscure one eye for a playful and mysterious vibe. This is also a good style for making your face look longer or covering up forehead imperfections.

Swept back bangs fully reveal your face again, but are still a framing fringe and add edge to your appearance. Brush your longer bangs back and to one side, creating a curved crest atop your head that falls to one side. This style requires more work than other framing bangs, and will need holding product to stay in place.

Pro-tip: framing bangs styles are easy to experiment with while growing out shorter bangs.

Full Figured Fringe

A photo posted by STEPHbellePEACOCK (@_hellsbelle) on Oct 16, 2016 at 5:34pm PDT

Thick or wispy, these are your standard forehead-obscuring bangs, and probably what you first picture when bangs are mentioned. Leave them extra-long and you’ve got eye-grazing bangs, sexy and stylish. Cut them straight, and you’ve got a hardcore blunt look emphasizing your nose and lips.

When styling heavy, full-figured bangs, you can part them slightly in the middle, slightly sweep them to one side, or part them not at all. Just make sure you use your flat iron to give them a gentle curl inward to help them fall cleanly and naturally. (Use a more extreme curl if you’re going for Bettie Page bangs.) You’ll also want to be on frizz alert, and use sleeking products as necessary.

Blunt and thick bangs are heavy on your face, and you might risk a helmet look if you’re not careful - but play your cards right and you’ve got a call back to a sultry 60’s look. Stay away from the blunt look if you’ve got a round face, or it’ll look even rounder as with the baby bangs. Wispy bangs are also super in these days, so don’t fret if you want bangs but have thin hair. You can still rock the fringe!

Pro-tip: balance out heavy bangs with shorter overall hair length.

So, you ready to get that cut on the double? We wouldn’t blame you; we almost nipped out to get a fresh fringe while writing this for you. Hit the comments and tell us whether you’ve turned your bucks into bangs recently! We’d love to see how it worked out for you.

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