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Tuesday, 02 December 2008 16:22
Where are you going?
Written by Nikole Morrow-Pettus   

I am often asked where I am going by both friends and associates because of my work attire and I usually have a witty comeback like, "I dressed up for you." And during the holiday season I try my hardest to increase the frequency of these compliments as a sense of personal pride.   Clothes and accessories are pieces of art to me, and I approach each and every outfit with energy and excitement.  Simply stated, "I love the art of dressing."

This holiday season, I implore you to dress like the person you aspire to be.  Every day go a little bit above and beyond your usual routine.  Wearing something you would dress in for a special dinner or an important interview is a great start.  Do this consistently throughout the month of December and see how the compliments roll in along with the excitement and cheer  of the holidays.

For the gentlemen, wearing a tie or a personally tailored jacket will make a great impression.  For the ladies,  velvet, or a sparkly shirt.  Personally, I love plaid for this season and simply can not get enough of it.  A great outfit paired with a chic updo will do amazing things for your image and conveys to others what a "put together" person you are.

Simply stated, no matter what you decide to do with your wardrobe and your image, make it special and put some effort into it.   This extra effort will be noticed and you too will soon be able to respond to the compliment of "where are you going?" with you own witty remark.

Happy Holidays-

 
Tuesday, 25 November 2008 10:15
Van Michael Paint Colors
Written by Reeve McNamara   

It has been a whirlwind year for salon renovations here at Van Michael, with one complete overhaul in the Virginia Higlands and a makeover over our Sandy Springs salon. Due to popular demand, we've listed the paint colors used in the two most recent salon renovations. All colors are currently avaliable from Sherwin Williams.

Sandy Springs:

Cutting Floor- Sea Sand SW 6885-1 (walls)

- Moon Flower SW 6226-2 (columns)

- Dusty Amber SW 6887-3 (ceiling soffit)

Retail Area- Spring Moss SW 6982-2 (walls)

Trim- Brown Pheasant SW 6714-3

Dressing Rooms- Honey Tine SW 6225-2

Color Department- Inviting Ivory SW 6372 (walls)

-Dusty Amber SW 6887-3 (back wall & soffit)

Virginia Highlands

  • Red Bay SW 6321 (walls)
  • Antique White SW 6119 (walls)
  • Sable SW 6083

All faux painting created by Faux Artisans. You can reach them at 404-771-2400.

 

 
Thursday, 13 November 2008 15:37
Beauty Blender
Written by Nikole Morrow-Pettus   
Beautyblender

I have taken thousand dollar classes on airbrushing techniques, and invested hundreds of dollars in equipment (only to have to replace needles, unclog air guns, and painstakingly flush color out of cups), all this to assure a blended finish perfect enough for high-definition television broadcasts and high resolution photography.

I have found the solution for these challenges, and would love for everyone to have this picture perfect finish to their skin. All you will ever need for a flawless application is contained in a hot pink egg-shaped sponge called the Beautyblender.

beautybelnderBeautyblender is the amazing latex-free, non-allergenic applicator that can apply creams, liquids, powders, loose mineral foundations, as well as blushes or bronzers. It mimics an airbrush finish without the "overdone" feeling which airbrushing can cause. If you dream of having perfectly smooth skin, or at least the appearance of perfect skin, Beautyblender is your solution.

Van Michael Salon is now the leading retailer of Beautyblenders in Georgia, and the exclusive retailer of Beautyblenders in Atlanta. Ask your local Van Michael Salon's cosmetics professionals for a custom application demonstration and pick one up today!

 
Tuesday, 11 November 2008 15:04
Autumn- time for a change of colors?
Written by David Munn   

Autumn is officially here. Clocks have fallen back, and we're all thankful for the moderate weather below the Mason/Dixon. You've probably noticed that alongside the usual articles in the women's periodicals on "How to trick your man into cooking Tex-Mex" and "101 new positions" (just when we were getting the hang of the old ones) there appear articles on Fall hair trends. This usually includes the suggestion of bringing your light, summer locks to a deeper shade more in line with the cooler weather. But before you break up your marriage on improperly spiced fajitas, give yourself a sprain trying to re-energize your love life or go from Gwyneth to Angelina lets look at this a little more pragmatically. You need to, first, ask yourself a few questions:

1) Is this what I want?

I, myself, am prone to peer pressure. It accounts for my permed hair in High School and my brief exploration of Buddhism but, left to my own devices, I would have tried neither.

Do you want to make your hair darker because you believe that it will enhance your look, or is it because of external sources (ie. magazines, friends, partner)?
Take the magazine articles with a grain of salt. Certainly, your hair may need an adjustment that requires some darker color. Exposure to sun and surf may have lightened your hair during the summer months to a shade that was much lighter than you ever intended. Consider adding lowlights to the mix of your normal highlights. Lowlights are the addition of a darker color, usually an approximation of your natural or base color.

Also, your hair may need a toner to adjust the color. A toner is also known as a "gloss" or a "glaze", no matter which you use the results are the same. The product is a semi-permanent hair color that deposits color on hair. It also has the benefit of restoring shine and to even out porosity which can leave your hair looking its best.

2) What is the right shade for me?

Tone and depth are really important when it comes to looking your best. Frankly, some people look better with lighter hair and darker hair can have a negative impact on their appearance.
Take advantage of Van Michael's portfolio consultation. Your colorist will be able to give you a complete skin tone and eye color analysis. This will help define whether you should wear warm or cool tones and how dark or light your hair can be. By using the portfolio, your stylist will be able to illustrate the exact tones that they intend to use on you. This will help avoid any confusion.

I can't tell you how many times a client has told me they hate any warmth in their hair only to point to the sunniest of golden locks in my portfolio. It's not uncommon for someone to ask for darker hair only to point at a light blond in my portfolio. With the use of pictures to clarify the conversation, disaster is averted.

3) Will I regret this?

I've been doing hair for 18 years, and if there was ever a constant, it would be that almost 100% of people who do drastic light to dark hair changes can have a difficult adjustment period.

Much of this is a knee-jerk reaction to not recognizing the person staring back at you in the mirror, but for some, it is that of true regret. Cognitive dissonance is not so simple when it comes to hair color. It's not quite as easy as returning the item for an exchange or refund.

Expense aside, there are a few other things to consider when going back from a dark shade. Chances are that the stylist will use a filler to color your hair from a light to a darker hue. Filler replaces missing pigment in lightened hair so that the darker shade will be more stable when it is applied. This same aid can also create a barrier when trying to bring your newly dark hair back to a lighter shade.

Things to consider are off tones (usually orange or brassy) and damage. The only hair product that will successfully lighten colored hair is bleach. While bleach is not an innately bad thing, it can cause damage when applied to already porous hair. You may try to replicate your old look and end up with a damaged mess.


I am an advocate for changing your look on a regular basis, but I do urge clients to think about major changes before jumping in with both feet. Sometimes a major life change can trigger the need for an image makeover. Events like this can often lead to a series of bad decisions. Try a gradual change; you may not get the instant gratification, but you will have options to continue the path to a new look or re-evaluate and regain your senses.

Just because the season changes, it doesn't necessarily dictate an image overhaul. Much of this talk is propaganda to lead you to the mall for an entirely new wardrobe.

Before you follow the advice of any magazine, first ask yourself, "What do I really want?"

 

 
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