Bethany Laska

Q: I need help figuring out how to wear my hair differently for different situations. I’m bored, but I don’t want to be inappropriate. Help! ~Worried in Wisconsin

A: This is a complicated question, but something that I think most of us deal with. The answer will vary depending on what type of hair you have, and in what kinds of situations you find yourself. Here are a few examples to help you out. (If any of you have specific occasions coming up and need a more specific answer, email bethany@bethanylaska.com.)

Situation: Work (Office)
Hair Type: Long and “young”
Problem: How to look professional and have people take you seriously when you’re so trendy, young, and beautiful.

Before:
While this girl obviously LOVES her job, people are going to notice her over-voluminous sexy waves before they notice her impressive sales pitch.

After:
While she still has her youthful charm - simply pulling hair back into a simple, low, chignon will help keep everyone focused on her intellectual assets.

Situation: My Best Friend’s Wedding
Hair Type: Short and Sweet
Problem: Everyone else is wearing their their hair up and curly! What to do?

Before:
While this well-defined cut usually stands on its own - to feel dressed up, a little “zing” would be nice.

After:
Adding a soft fingerwave makes this crop classy and very black-tie worthy. In my opinion, red lipstick is almost an essential accessory to this type of hairstyle, but for summer weddings, a red-tinted lipgloss will do the trick without upstaging the bride.

Please send me your feedback and your suggestions! I’d love to hear from you! bethany@bethanylaska.com

Happy August, guys!

~Bethany

Go take a look at the new gallery page: (Gallery)

Special thanks to Jack for helping me with web stuff!

~Bethany

So here in middle America, we are about to embark on the scariest time of year… for our hair at least.

Summer is a great time of year - we all have more time, the sun stays out longer, summer vacations await us. But this is a dangerous time for those locks you’ve been perfecting all winter.

Here are some tips that can help this be your most beautiful summer ever:

• Protect your Color. Stock up on color-preserving shampoo and conditioner, and also Hair Sunscreen for vacations and long days out in the sun. All Pureology products have Anti-Fade complex in them, even their styling products, for the maximum in color protection. My Top Two color protectors:
  • Pureology ColourMax This fabulous spray detangler conditions, repairs and protects against thermal styling and UVA/UVB damage.
    
  • Aveda Color Conserve Sun Protector A color-preserving foam, with sun filters derived from cinnamon bark and wintergreen.
    
• Un-Do Pool Damage Swimming laps is great for your body, not so great for your hair. To prevent undue damage from your favorite water activity, make sure you 1) Get your hair wet with clean water before entering the pool. This prevents chlorinated water from soaking into your hair as easily. You can also put in a leave-in conditioner before you swim for protection (the two products above would work great!) 2) Have a proper after-swim routine:
  • Step 1: Detoxify - remove chlorine as soon as possible w/ a clarifying shampoo like Pureology’s Purify or Aveda’s Hair Detoxifier.
    
  • Step 2: Replenish Put moisture and protein back into the hair with a deep conditioner like Pureology’s HydraCure or L’Oreal Professionnel’s Absolut Repair Masque
    
• Smooth those Frizzies! Even those of us with the slightest wave can feel the effects of humidity on our hair. Those who have lots of curl have a lot of hair on their hands when that hot, humid air comes mid-summer. Depending on your amount of frizz control needs, there are several options:
  • Light - Seal and Smooth Using a smoothing serum or a humidity-blocking hairspray might be all you need to keep your hair looking fresh and beautiful if you have a slight frizz problem.
    • Aveda Light Elements Smoothing Fluid - A fluid styling formula that adds shine and movement as it restores a healthy look and feel to hair.
      
    • L’Oreal Professionnel Infinium Hairspray Ultra fast drying, satin shine and weightless frizz defense with maximum humidity protection. (Available in regular, strong, or extreme hold)
      
  • Medium to Strong- Perfect Your Blowdry In addition to using the products above, drying your hair well helps fight the frizz. Make sure you take small sections and use a 100% boar-bristle brush - not metal! If desired, smooth ends with a flat iron to seal down the cuticle for humidity protection.

  Brushes:

  

  Flat Iron (My favorite is the CHI):

  

  • Extreme - Consider a Smoothing or Straightening Treatment When your hair is causing you more grief than joy, it’s time to think about a more long-term solution. I offer a range of smoothing services, from just a soft smoothing, to perfectly straight hair. Treatments typically last 4-6 months. Call the salon to make an appointment for a consultation - 314.721.4230.
    

(all products mentioned are available at Dominic Michael Salon in Clayton, Missouri.)

Have a Beautiful Summer everyone!!

~Bethany

” Blondes may have more fun, but redheads have more sex, according to new research in Germany…”

Click here for full article

Girls, grab your favorite red lipstick and head to the salon!! Redheads officially have more “fun”! Seriously, though, reds are really a lot of fun to wear, and they are everywhere this season. If you’re afraid to go all-out red, try a few hilights or lowlights, or maybe a “peek a boo” piece underneath your hair (also a hot trend this year). Who knows, maybe it’ll liven up your life in more ways than one!

Cheers,

Bethany

Teenager sues after hair color causes allergic reaction

The moral of this story:

1. Always get a patch test before color. Especially if you are prone to allergies, or have never gotten color before.
2. Never bring your own color to the salon. Your hairdresser is familiar with their own professional brands, and should not be held responsible for an unknown product used in the salon.

Please be careful out there, professionals AND clients!

With love,

Bethany

It’s a new year and it’s time for some new updates on the site! Stay tuned… more pictures, more ideas coming your way for 2008!

- Bethany

This weekend I was fortunate to be part of a day-long event at Greenville College in Illinois, where 12 girls (and one guy!) donated their hair for The Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Lengths Campaign!
It was a great day and a lot of haircuts! I’ll be posting pictures soon, and I just wanted to thank everyone who donated!

For more information on how you can give your hair for a great cause, please visit:

- Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Lengths Campaign
- Locks of Love

the gallery is up and running! i’ll be adding more pictures to it soon.

also, i’m looking for models for an upcoming portfolio shoot. if you’re interested, please contact me at bethany.laska@gmail.com with your contact information and a picture of yourself, as well as anything you are *NOT* willing to have done to your hair. ~bethany

A: Don’t wash your hair for 26 years.

80 Year Old Man Gets First Hair Wash in 26 Years

A few things I would like to know:

1. Why didn’t he wash his hair for 26 years? and, more importantly…

2. Why did he wash it now? At this point, why even bother?

That is one frickin long beard braid he’s got going there. I’m really glad I didn’t have to shampoo that guy.

Beth

The men in the link below were involved in an Adult Swim Ad Hoax involving Mooninites and what seemed to be homemade bombs (but were actually lite brites - read about it here). Their lawyer advised them not to talk about the case, so their press conference mostly centered around haircuts, particularly from the 1970’s. Enjoy.

http://wbztv.com/video/?id=28369@wbz.dayport.com

I’d like to address some of the points/questions they brought up, and answer them as best I can.

1. Was the greased-up look popularized first in the 60’s or the 20’s?

My opinion would be that the style they are referring to was probably most popular in the 50’s, actually, in the era of “the greasers” and makes me think of the book The Outsiders. The “Dapper Dan” type of hair grease does date back earlier, however, so I think that their conclusion that the look originated in the 1920’s is probably correct.

2. Did the Beatles’ hairstyle continue into the 70’s?

Yes and no. I imagine that in parts of the country, the style continued to be popular, and really, the Beatles’ style evolved into the 70’s. So I would say that mostly no, but you could still be cool and have an updated Beatles ‘do in the 70’s.

early beatles:

(source: allposters.com)

beatles in 1970:

(source: larsholst.info)

3. When did hippie long hair start?

Although it is impossible to really say for certain the exact moment the long hair trend started, I think it’s safe to say that hippies were pretty common by 1965, and that long hair was a trend by The Summer of Love in 1967. Since it takes about 2 years for short hair to grow past the shoulders to suitable hippie length, I would say a fair estimate would be 1965 or earlier for the beginning of the hippie long hair trend.

4. What about 80’s hair band hair - Was it an overcompensation, with people living fast and loose?

The 80’s certainly was a time of living large and extravagantly. Clothes were colorful and flamboyant and so was the hair. However, since the question is worded rather loosely, it’s hard for me to say what hair bands might have been overcompensating for. We can just use our imaginations, yes?

I hope this clears up some of the very important questions raised in this press conference and I would love to answer any more you all might have, to the best of my ability.

Beth