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Every year brings with it two things (among many more, of course): 1. The chance at a fresh start and 2. A whole new agenda of fashion, hair, and makeup trends. Combine the two, and chances are, you’ll surprise yourself as you explore your limits. Didn’t think cobalt blue hair was becoming on you? Well, you might think differently once you give it a try. Of course, there are less dramatic ways to reimagine your style, too. B-Metro asked some of our most knowledgeable and happening beauty bloggers to determine what’s in for 2015, and we rounded up a list of the leading cosmetologists at Birmingham’s most notable salons to help you make it happen.
Meet the Bloggers
Mary Stackhouse is an account executive at Martin Advertising. She has a master’s in journalism from Boston University and spent two years working as a television news reporter and producer, as well as a documentary host. Her lifestyle blog, Laylon Beauty, is primarily beauty and fashion focused, and can be found at laylonbeauty.blogspot.com. Rachel Tindall is an editor at To Hell in a Handbag (tohellinahandbag.net). Before moving to Birmingham, she was a hairstylist in Florida for six years and has been a fashion blogger and stylist for about five years.
HAIR No. 1 Trend Stackhouse: “I like slick, straight hair that’s parted down the middle for 2015. I also like it parted down the center with a low bun. It’s minimal and looks smart. Pair with bold, polished brows and a strong lip. The vibe is confident and unfussy.” Tindall: “In my opinion, the best trend for the new season is length. Long hair is back after seeing lots of varying length bobs. Boho waves are a big one and can be worn on shorter hair lengths by just barely curling the ends. Wrap a one-inch section of hair around a curling iron without using the clamp and release, switching up the direction each time. The bigger the iron the better for just-barely-there waves. Long hair is also great for all the
iterations of different ponytails, braids, and twists that are popular this year.” No. 1 Product: Stackhouse: “Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo is my No. 1 favorite. It is fantastic for extending time in between washes.” Tindall: “My favorite has got to be my Alterna Caviar CC Cream Leave-In Hair Perfector. It offers UV protection, added strength, and heat protection, as well as a light hold and so much more.” FASHION No. 1 Trend Stackhouse: “I like a monochrome look for 2015—a solid color or bold pattern from head to toe. Try mixing fabric textures: a sheer white button down or lace top with crisp white pants, for instance.”
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Tindall: “My favorite trend for spring/summer 2015 is looks representing the early 1970s. Flowy maxi dresses and mini-dresses are especially nice for the hot summers we get here in Birmingham. This year you’ll find them in gorgeous brights like yellow or dark, moody floral prints. You can also modernize these by adding a blazer or moto jacket over the top and ankle boots or pretty heels on your feet for work and sticking with sandals on the weekend for a relaxed flower-child vibe.” No. 1 Fashion Stop: Stackhouse: “I do a lot of online shopping. I like Net-A-Porter, Revolve, Nasty Gal, and Sephora.” Tindall: “My go-to fashion stops are mostly online, like Zara for inexpensive basics and up-to-date trends, as well as Shopbop. com. Locally, I’m a huge fan of Soca, Fab’rik, and Gus Meyer. I also keep up by reading every fashion magazine I can get my hands on, as well as Style.com for fashion and IntotheGloss.com for beauty.” BEAUTY: No. 1 Trend Stackhouse: “Brows! Stronger, fuller ones make you look younger. I use a brow pencil. I like Chanel Crayon Sourcils. CoverGirl makes a decent brow pencil as well.” Tindall: “Beauty trends for the upcoming spring season are actually different than you would expect, like black eyeliner and red lips but my favorite is on the softer side: brown eye shadow, from taupe to bronze. It can be worn so it’s very subtle or, say for a night out, you could layer it on for the smoky-eye look and it works with every skin/hair color.” No. 1 Product Stackhouse: “Kismet Cosmetics lipstick. I love making an impact with color on the lips. Kismet has amazing staying power…. Crushed Coral is my favorite shade.” Tindall: “My favorite beauty product is the Dior Diorskin Airflash foundation, which is a spray-on foundation. I love it because it gives you an airbrushed look without feeling heavy.” In addition to naming the top trends and products for 2015, I asked each beauty guru to give me her essential beauty tips. “Exfoliating is one of the most essential for me,” Stackhouse shares. “I do it a several times a week. My go-to is Rodan and Fields Microdermabrasion-Paste. Exfoliating is so important for bright, smooth skin. I like Frank Coffee scrub for the body.” “The most essential parts of a women’s beauty routine would definitely be maintenance,” says Tindall. “Focusing your efforts on skin care and keeping your hair at its healthiest, for example. If your skin looks bad, it will not matter what make-up trend you’re trying. So make sure you’re exfoliating, wearing sunscreen during the day, and skin/eye cream at night and getting those trims, as well as washing your hair as little as possible.”
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AquaNov a Nail Technician Cindy Bankester Nail Technician The Spa at Ross Bridge 4000 Grand Ave Hoover, AL 35226 205- 949- 3041 As a nail technician it’s my goal to help finish off your look with the perfect manicure or pedicure. Join me in helping you pick that seamless color that represents you and your style while also giving you the chance to relax and rejuvenate. At Ross Bridge we want your time with us to be the best part of your day.
HAIRSTYLIST Connor Beasley Hairstylist Colorbar Salon 4700 Hwy 280 East, Suite 11 Birmingham, AL 35242 205- 991- 0065 I have a passion for making my clients feel beautiful inside and out. I specialize in women’s medium to long length cutting and color but enjoy working with all types of hair. I have some of my work shown in the B-Metro Women’s issue and also styled the hair for a Vineyard Vines ad in About Town. Check out more at facebook. com/hairbyconnorbeasley
Nail Technician Monique Clay Licensed Nail Technician-25 Years Escape Day Spa-2 Years 205-414-6062
“I love the outcome of the whole experience that I share with my clients. My clients sit down in my chair ready for attention due to stress or pain. They just need time to relax and let go. They leave feeling happy, rejuvenated and ready to face the world. I truly love my job and what it does for people!”
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AquaNova Molly Cummings Hairstylist Wildflower Hair & Nail Studio 2816 Culver Road |Mountain Brook, AL 35223 205-706-6657 As a blonde specialist, I search for every blonde technique so that I can achieve every type of blonde imaginable. I specialize in Color Melting, which creates a natural, child-like look. As a hair stylist and the salon owner, I strive to raise standards in the beauty industry and make Wildflower Hair and Nail Studio the best salon Mountain Brook has to offer.
Massage Therapist
Salon & Spa
AquaNova HAIRSTYLIST Michael Helms Hairstylist Colorbar Salon 4700 Hwy 280 East, Suite 11 Birmingham, AL 35242 205- 991-0065 I personally take a less is more approach to hair. I take cues from my clients’ preferences and what naturally works for their hair to create a look that seems effortless while helping them look and feel their best.
Esthetician
Amanda Graham Licensed Massage Therapist Escape Day Spa 100 Broadway Street Homewood, AL 35209 205-414-6062
Lauren Hixon Master Esthetician Escape Day Spa 100 Broadway Street Homewood, AL 35209 205-414-6062
Before Massage Amanda worked in the health care industry for 7 years. She became a Massage Therapist because of her passion to help people with chronic pain and everyday stress relief. She specializes in deep tissue and neuromuscular therapy and is currently studying the benefits of Craniosacral Therapy as she believes it is a beneficial technique that aids those with chronic conditions.
At the age of 14 I knew I wanted to be an Esthetician. My passion for skin care is to help everyone achieve their individual goals. I have worked all over from some of the top Birmingham, AL Medi Spa’s, a cruise line in Honolulu, Hawaii and have found my home at last at Escape Day Spa. I was once told “Your dream job doesn’t exist, you have to make it
HAIRSTYLIST
HAIRSTYLIST Mel Hammons Hairstylist Sanctuary 1931 29th Ave S Homewood, AL 35209 205-879-4767
People inspire me and beauty inspires me, but the real reward is making art, hair, lifestyle, and beauty come together on one canvas. I am an artist and hair is my medium.
Benji Holmes Hairstylist Sanctuary 1931 29th Ave S Homewood, AL 35209 205-879-4767 I have the best job in the world. I get to meet new people, I get to play with color, and I get to make friends and lifelong connections. I love being able to use what I learned in art school to create beautiful color and cuts. My favorite service to do is highlights because this is the South and we love to be blonde! b-metro.com
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AquaNova Carey Lamar Hairstylist Sanctuary 1931 29th Ave S Homewood, AL 35209 205-879-4767
Angel Macke Hairstylist Colorbar Salon 4700 Hwy 280 East, Suite 11 Birmingham, AL 35242 205-991-0065
I want to make you feel great about yourself and your hair. I get to do what I love every day. Seeing clients happy with their hair when they leave my chair is what I really love about my job.
I love what I do. I look forward to each opportunity I am given to do someone’s hair. My specialty is hair color and making everyone feel as beautiful as they are.
Esthetician Alicia Liddon Licensed Esthetician and Xtreme Lash Stylist Escape Day Spa, Owner 100 Broadway Street Homewood, AL 35209 205-414-6062 Her passion for healthy skin lead her to open Escape Day Spa so that she would have the chance to educate and guide her clients down the right path to healthier and younger looking skin. She also introduced Xtreme Lash to Birmingham in 2010 and remains the leading certified Xtreme Lash Stylist in the area.
Esthetician Alissa Lobdell Esthetician Rousso Aesthetic Medical Spa 2700 Hwy 280 Birmingham, AL 35223 205- 930- 9595 As a Master Esthetician, I find it extremely fulfilling to be that person who is able to make a significant difference in a patient’s skin. Our medical grade facial treatments, including Dermapen, and Ulthera deliver results patients desire.
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Massage Therapist Marcie McMath Massage Therapist The Spa at Ross Bridge 4000 Grand Ave | Hoover, AL 35226 • 205- 949- 3041 Come and join me in my passion to help you bring back positive energy and wellness into your life, through the diverse artistry of massage here at Ross Bridge. Whether you need to drift away in a Lavender Dream, or relieve the stress through the art of Ashiatsu, I will help you achieve a healthier you. Close your eyes, relax the mind, breathe away the worries and ease the tension.
Massage Therapist Nita Mertasih Licensed Massage Therapist Escape Day Spa 100 Broadway Street Homewood, AL 35209 205-414-6062 “I am confident in my ability to combine both the Western and Eastern styles that I have mastered, which I believe to give great satisfaction to those who seek quality in relaxation and pain relief.” She practices many modalities, including Deep Tissue to Thai Massage.
HAIRSTYLIST
AquaNova Kelsey Jones Robson Hairstylist Colorbar Salon 4700 Hwy 280 East, Suite 11 Birmingham, AL 35242 205-991-0065 I have a passion for color and cutting. My goal is to make my clients look and feel beautiful when they walk out the door.
HAIRSTYLIST
AquaNova Esthetician Kay HOWELL Esthetician The Spa at Ross Bridge 4000 Grand Ave Hoover, AL 35226 205- 949- 3041 Being a skin care professional allows me the opportunity to help those who wish to feel stunning. Beauty is about enhancing what you already have and feeling comfortable in your own skin. When you join us at Ross Bridge it is my ultimate goal to help you feel confident and revitalized, while showing off your beautiful radiant skin.
Esthetician Audrey Romero Hairstylist The Spa at Ross Bridge 4000 Grand Ave Hoover, AL 35226 205- 949- 3041
Erin Webb Martin Licensed Esthetician, Esthetic Teacher Escape Day Spa 100 Broadway Street Homewood, AL 35209 205-414-6062
Ross Bridge is about providing the best service to our clients. I am lucky enough to do be doing what I love and that is making people feel beautiful every day. Come and enjoy a personalized and friendly experience while I create a look that will make you feel at your most beautiful.
Being able to improve my clients’ skin, while helping them unwind from the stresses of life, is what I love about being in this industry. When I am not at Escape, you can find me teaching Estheticians-in-training at the Aveda Institute.
HAIRSTYLIST
registered nurse Farrah Shunnarah Hairstylist Sanctuary 1931 29th Ave S Homewood, AL 35209 205-879-4767 This isn’t my job--it’s my life, my passion. I live for the satisfaction I see on a client’s face after a transformation. I’ve spent countless hours taking classes from top stylists around the country, specializing in color to ensure my clients always leave dazzled and amazed at their new style.
Juanell Wilkes, RN Registered Nurse Rousso Aesthetic Medical Spa 2700 Hwy 280 Birmingham, AL 35223 205-930-9595 As a RN treating patients for anti-aging concerns, facial veins, brown spots, or laser hair removal it is extremely gratifying to know that I have contributed to their successful outcome. I especially enjoy working with Ultherapy to tighten the skin.
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