Essential Hair Prodcuts..

Seeing as how I am a hair stylist I thought I would share some of my favorite products with y'all. I'm going to start making this a weekly thing. This week is going to be all about cleansing and conditioning products.

} First off let me just inform you on the evils of off-brand shampoo. Shampoos like Tresemme, Herbal Essence, Aussie, Dove, ect.. all have wax in them. Thats right, WAX! The wax is used to make the hair shiny and to scent the shampoo. If you color you hair, using cheap shampoo is the worst mistake you can make. Wax leaves a build-up on your hair that eventually breaks down your color (making it fade), makes your scalp dry (Helllllo dandruff) and leaves your ends brittle (a k a: split end central). Moral of the story: don't use it. Salon brand shampoo is more expensive for a reason. You are wasting your money by paying to get your color done and then cheaping out of the shampoo. :) {

1. Redken All Soft Shampoo and Conditioner. If you have thick, coarse, dry or brittle hair then this is the perfect shampoo and conditioner for you. It softens the hair and leaves it feeling like silk. COLOR SAFE }If you have fine hair then this would be much too heavy for your hair (don't worry I have a suggestion for fine haired girls too.. wait for it).  Retails for about $20.


2. Redken Body Full Shampoo and Conditioner. This is perfect for fine/thin hair. It creates lasting volume and the conditioner leaves the hair feeling weightless. COLOR SAFE Retails for about $20.


3. Agadir Argan Oil. This stuff is my secret weapon. I recommend it to everyone. It  instantly repairs and adds elasticity to dry, damaged, frizzy hair. Hydrates, conditions, smoothes, shines, protects hair against heat appliance and chemical damage. Get this: it also makes your hair dry up to 50% faster! Do not cheap out and buy the off brand at Sally's. My personal favorite is the spray. However the oil is just as good it just comes out heavier than the spray.
Retails from $16-$30 (depending on size and where you buy it).



4. Lanza Trauma Treatment. This is a leave in conditioner that restores hair and preserves your color. If you have damaged, traumatized or broken hair this is the best thing you could ever do for your hair. It restores softness, elasticity, and shine to traumatized hair. Clinically proven to extend the life of your color. } I bleached my hair into a coma last summer and with out this stuff I would have had no hair on my head.{  Retails for about $20. (This stuff LASTS forever!)


Go out and buy these amazing products asap. I promise you will love them! You can thank me later! ;)

The ABC's of me..

Crazy day today. Went to Buford, Ga to attend my friends Mia and Roberts wedding. Got there bright and early to do the hair. The girls looked amazing and Mia was stunning of course.



After dancing the night away with friends at the reception (Definitely backed it up too far and dropped it too low again. gotta remember I'm not sixteen anymore. lol) I rushed home to watch the 4th quarter of the Bama/Tn game (ROLL TIDE!)

I decided to do a little survey tonight.. got this from my friend Hope @ Confessions of a Southern Belle.

A. AREA CODE: Technically I live in the 706 area code. However my cell is 678.
B. BED SIZE: Queen
C. CHORE YOU HATE: Laundry. I absolutely hate folding clothes.
D. DOG'S NAME: Maggie. Nicknames are Magpie, Maggie Moose, Maggie Lucy, Maggie Boo..
E. ESSENTIAL "START THE DAY!" ITEM: Coffee, Dr. Pepper or Diet Coke. Either way caffeine.
F. FAVORITE COLOR: Pink.
G. GOLD OR SILVER: Silver. However I don't dislike gold. Just depends on what I'm wearing.
H. HEIGHT: 5'1
I: INSTRUMENTS YOU PLAY: In elementary school we were made to be in the band. (What elementary school has a band?!?!) I played the flute. Can I still play? No. I can play a mean heart and soul on the piano though.
J. JOB:  Hair Stylist. I don't even like referring to it as a job. Its so much more than that. I love my "job".
K. KIDS:  Yes please!
L. LIVING ARRANGEMENTS: My husband and I own a house on 1.5 acres. 3 bedroom, two bath on a full (unfinished) basement.
M. MOM'S NAME: Teena
N. NICKNAME:  Oh lord. Amby, Amb, Berly, Nazi (born in Germany, but mostly because I'm super bossy and I get the job done).. The list could go on but some are inappropriate.
O. OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL STAY: The summer I turned seventeen. My appendix ruptured.
P. PET PEEVE: Being late, bad tippers, rude people, stupid people, bitchy people, OK.. people, people who don't discipline their children, dishes in the sink, a unmade bed (I will make it up even if I'm fixin' to get in it), people who constantly interrupt conversations, bad hair cuts, when people make an appointment and don't show up. You can reschedule but when you pull a no call no show you not only waste my time, but you cost me money and piss me off.
Q. QUOTE FROM A MOVIE: Here are a few.. "What ya wanna marry me for anyhow?" "So I can kiss you anytime I want." -Sweet Home Alabama. "LIGHTBULB!"-Despicable Me. "50% of the time.. it works every time."-Anchorman. I have more those are just the few that come to mind.
R. RIGHTY OR LEFTY?:  righty
S. SIBLINGS: Little sister Aimee (almost 20) and little brother Zack 15. 
T. TIME YOU WAKE UP:  Every morning no matter what I wake up at 9:00. If I don't need to wake up I can usually go back to sleep for an hour.
U. UNDERWEAR:  Aerie boy shorts from American Eagle.
V. VEGGIE YOU DISLIKE: I can't really think of a veggie that I don't like..
W. WAYS/REASONS YOU ARE LATE:  I absolutely hate to be late. Unless the world is coming to an end or someone else is running me late (which makes me extremely irritated) I am never late.
X. XRAYS YOU'VE HAD: dental, CT scan on abdomen, two broken wrists, and knee.
Y. YUMMY FOOD YOU MAKE: I love to cook. I don't usually have time to but I especially love to bake. I make a great homemade Red Velvet Cake (Aunt's secret recipe).

Z. ZOO ANIMALS YOU LIKE: I don't really like Zoo's. Can't remember the last time I have been to one. Even though they aren't normally at zoo's.. I just feel the need to say that I HATE FROGS. With a passion. I will DIE if someone comes near me with one. They are little stalkers, I am all the time finding them in my path.

Marry me, each and every day...

Emily and Jeremy's wedding day has now come and gone. The day was nothing short of beautiful. All week long we just knew it was going to rain. The night before the wedding it poured! But only a small amount of sprinkles on the actual wedding day.  We started off the day by shutting down the salon. (benefit of the bride and 2 of her bridesmaids being stylists in the same salon) 

 Naomi (right) and I (left) lacing up the corset on Emily's gown.

 

When we were finished we went over to the R-Ranch in Dahlonega for pictures, the ceremony and reception.  (I didn't have time to take any pictures during the wedding and we haven't gotten but a few of the professional ones back yet) 

The view from the ceremony. 

The Arbour.. (Tiffany's husband Brad built this)

Praying..

 

The sand.. 

Newlyweds walking out to "I believe in a thing called love" by the darkness.

Just one of the many flower arrangements made by the MOB's life long friend Terie Cox and her daughter Audrey. They did such a fantastic job.

Some of the tables from the reception. The entire wedding was beautifully decorated by Tiffany's amazing mom Sandra. She did such a fabulous job. I've never seen a more beautiful wedding.

The new song by Train filled the beautiful reception as the Bride and Groom has their first dance as husband and wife.

After dinner it was time to dance! Although the day after the wedding I definitely felt as though I dropped it too low and backed it up too far! LOL

The cupid shuffle

Three of the seven bridesmaids (and three of my very best friends). Nay, Tiff and Chelsea.

Mine and Nays husbands (Dusty and Patrick) had to get in on the action too.. wait for it..

Lord have mercy.

Me smiling at one of my favorite people in the world.

 Tiff had to break out her cowgirl boots.

 One of the professional pictures. Emily was the most beautiful bride I have ever seen. And her photographer is simply amazing.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/pixelslick-Design-Photography-David-Duong-Photography/386019556604

 

Love, Amberly

Up-dos, Estate Sales and Mason Jars..

is what my weekend consisted of. September-October is the return of wedding season, so usually my Saturdays are filled with brides and formal styles. This weekend was no exception. Saturday Abbie (co-worker) and I traveled to Cleveland (about 20 miles north of Dahlonega) for a wedding party of 9 women. 

Kellum Valley Farms

                                                                

The beautiful (and excited) bride Amanda.

                                                  

Sunday mom and I woke up bright and early to return to an Estate Sale I had been to Friday morning. Sundays are usually mark down day for Yard and Estate Sales. There was a roll top desk I had my eye and mind on that I saw Friday. We got there at 9 am when they opened and I immediately searched for the desk. It was there so I quickly made my offer of 50% less than the asking price.. And they accepted! No sooner than had they accepted did 2 women come up extremely upset that they had not been there first to buy the desk!

My new favorite antique piece! 

You can find some amazing deals at Estate Sales. We were able to fill boxes with all the items we wanted and then pay one small lump sum for everything. They are so desperate to empty the house by closing time on the last day you can really get a "steal"! We came home with 2 boxes of amazing pots and pans, cast iron skillets and silverware.

Another project I've been working on a while is a mason jar chandelier. I saw one on Pinterest and fell in love with it. I've been going to Antique Stores and searching for pieces worthy of my chandelier. I finally found 3 Ball Blue Mason Jars with zinc lids and quickly bought them up. I found a case of vintage mason jars at a yard sale that were perfect for this project. After a trip to my local Home Depot I was ready to start working on the chandelier. Luckily my good friend Rodney (affectionately known as RDP: his initials by his family and friends) is an electrician. I have to admit all I did to contribute to this project was buy the materials and poke holes in the mason jar lids. Without RDP this project would not have ever been completed.

 

My vintage mason jar collection..

 

The tools.. 

Thank God for electricians..

                                                          

Finished :) 

Absolute Perfection. 

Hope Y'all had a great weekend as well! 

Love, Amberly