Posts with tag salons

Who doesn't? Getting free material is the stuff. Going to fancy parties is where it's at. And being recognized for being able to pick clothing out of a closet, dab on lipstick or put hair into a ponytail? Wowza sign us up!

But getting to that higher level requires a little work and know how. Let's take a look at how to get yourself that stylin' position you've always wanted.

So here we are, on the brink of a brand new year -- what better time to try a new look? That's what Kareim Ugarte was thinking when she stopped into her local salon, and asked to have her hair color changed from brown to blond.

Only that's not what happened. Instead of the blond locks she was after, Ugarte wound up looking like a junior high kid with a bad bleach job, complete with an orange and yellow coiffure. Oh, the humanity! But what's worse, way worse, is that she also wound up in the emergency room -- with chemical burns.

Ugarte told a local reporter that "It was with blisters and a lot of liquid coming out of the areas," which probably looked about as gross as it sounds.

The culprit was a JC Penney's Styling Salon -- who not only injured their customer (allegedly), but then charged her $150.

I smell a lawsuit.

Back in college, I wore my hair short and messy. It was a straightforward look, and I would've rather spent my extra cash on beer, so I started cutting it myself. Fortunately there are very few photos of me from this period in my life.

However, DIY haircuts can be great -- assuming you know what you're doing. Especially if you're a guy, and aren't doing something complicated with your coiffure, paying $40-$80 for a stylist is a waste of money. Because, if you do it right, the cut you give yourself will look just as good. Plus -- I don't know about you -- but I find it nearly impossible to carve out two hours of my day to drive to the salon, get the cut, and drive home. I'm always finishing up with work around 10 or 11 at night and realizing my hair is a mess and I need it cut -- if only there was a hairdresser in town who worked on my schedule!

But making a self-cut look decent can be tough -- particularly if you're just getting started. A great blog to get you on the right track is How To Cut Your Own Hair. It's a new site, so there's not much up yet, but you can already find 10 Helpful Tips on Cutting Hair At Home (a must, I think, for any first-timers out there who are about to give this a shot), and an explanation of one basic cut -- with, I imagine, more to follow.

Check it out. Your hair will thank you.

One of the nice things about getting a facial is that the treatment is fairly standardized. Sure, the order of the process might differ along with the products, but you can pretty much bet the farm that a facial in any spa around in the world will include cleansing, exfoliation, steaming and a mask.

For the wild-at-heart spa goer, the New York Times Style Section highlighted a few new treatments out there that are sure to feel more unpredictable than your typical European facial. There's the champagne and caviar facial, which blends the enzymes of bubbly with the benefits of caviar extract for a truly luxe experience. Offered at Verabella Skin Therapy in Beverly Hills, the spa claims the treatment offers a firming, hydrating effect for the face. Then there's the Beer Pedicure at Exsalonce Salon and Day Spa in Chicago, which uses the enzymes of the brew to help soften calluses and exfoliate the feet. And for the truly adventurous, there's the Boyzilian Wax at the Nickel Spa in San Francisco. Boyzilian being a Brazilian for boys. Any takers on that one?