Hair: MOD, Portland Mercury

Blush Beauty Bar Beautypalooza 9

Elizabeth Mollo — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:57:00 -0700

Need a little perk in your beauty routine? Well you are in luck, because Blush Beauty Bar is celebrating it's 9th birthday this weekend with Beautypalooza 9. Today through Sunday Blush will be offering a gift with every purchase, special deals and discounts, and $5, $10, and $15 beauty bins. Plus the staff is always super friendly and helpful so you'll be looking fabulous in no time, all without breaking the bank.

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"Rocked" to the Nines

Rose Finn — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:59:00 -0800

On Sunday I attended "Rocked: a Couture Bridal Event" at the Nines Hotel, in their grand ballroom. Although there was nearly six times more cake than couture, I still got a glimpse at what this season's (wealthy-ish) brides are wearing; ranging from "meh," all the way to "fuck yeah, that's red!"

Alongside vacation packages, limo rentals, and boundless booze, local designers sat perched and ready to sell.

Holly Stalder was the first designer I encountered, and I'd say the most interesting and "Portland-y" of any of the designers there. Though her designs still carried frills, lace, and flowers, the shapes and textures were more creative. Her waist and hemlines flowed elegantly, making the dresses appear more fitted and comfortable than the stiff wedding cakes we're usually expected to don as a bride. Her dresses would more likely be seen on a pouting ex-lover in a Shins video, rather than on Bristol Palin's wedding day.

One of my favorite dresses was from Divine Designs:

Though it seems simple and classic, there are complicated mesh layers that create a beautiful, flattering pattern; it even has a bit of a pinkish tint to it. I had to stop myself from walking out with the mannequin.

Sun Jin Lee caught my attention not with gaudy lace or voluminous poofs, but with flattering, classic lines. Her pieces were a nice range of sophisticated with innovative touches, all the way to dresses that you could wear in the picnic scene of a Fellini film. Their pricing caught my attention as being somewhat more accommodating, as well.

There was also jewelry...

...And lingerie...

...And some more conventional wedding dresses, for those who want to get back to basics.

Sophie Chang only had two dresses showcased, but took very different approaches on a similar structure. I wasn't crazy about the angles on her white dress, or where it jutted out; this dress would probably look best on someone with less robust hips.

Whereas her red dress was the belle of the ball. With an open back, and tailored, layered lace, this dress I found to be the most compelling and memorable.

Though "Rocked" provided less fashion than advertised, it seemed all-around to be a comprehensive convention for those awaiting bridehood. I'd recommend attending events like these if you're planning a wedding in the near future; just don't eat before you go (rookie mistake).

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European Union Banning Animal Testing

Elizabeth Mollo — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:44:00 -0800

Even though I am not a straight edge vegan like I was in high school, I have remained a staunch supporter of using beauty products that are not tested on animals and make a conscious effort to put my money where my mouth is. Recently Europe, who has always been on the forefront regarding these types of issues, has stated that they will be banning the sale of animal tested cosmetic products and ingredients on March 11th, 2013. This comes has a huge victory for animal rights advocates everywhere, and hopefully they will set an example and other countries will soon follow suit. One country that will be harder to crack will be China, however, as they actually require animal testing on all of their products, even ones that are manufactured in other countries. While there are some Chinese scientists who are taking steps to remove this requirement, setting up ethical regulations in China in general is pretty hard (remember the fire that no one noticed for three hours because their air quality is so bad?).

In the meantime, we can make sure to buy products from companies that don't test on animals, and write to the companies that do and state you are boycotting them until they change their ways. For a comprehensive list of companies that do and don't test on animals click here.

Sources: Refinery 29 and PR Newswire

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One More Style Prediction for 2013

Marjorie Skinner — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 11:14:00 -0800

Mada Beauty is bringing up the rear in our round-up of style predictions for the coming year (check out the rest here), but theirs is all hair. Says Mada's Thad Grace:

To look forward, sometimes we need to look back. Hair has been heavily inspired by many decades from the 1900's over the last few years. Those eras have been combined and mixed together to create fresh new takes on hair from the 40's through the 90's and back again. we believe that this will continue this spring. Yes, braids will continue to look fresh. Yes, low pony tails will still be around. Yes, pastel hair will maintain relevance. However, the biggest movement in hair will quite literally be "movement".

Curls are coming back with a vengeance. Inspired by the late 70's shapes of Farrah Fawcett blended with the "Hair Band" look of the 80's, hair is moving toward a more wild aeon. Color will move toward a more washed out vibe with golds and pastels prevailing.

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Journey to the Center of the South Waterfront: Oranj Studio

Marjorie Skinner — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 14:44:00 -0700

The other day when I arrived at Oranj Studio—a hair salon and gallery with designs on retail in the South Waterfront district—I was confronted with the question, "Have you ever been down to this area?" Actually, not much. I haven't even ever ridden the tram (Is it really that exciting? Be honest.). I still think of the area as empty, a monument to failed condo sales. And in a way it is, but after converting some of those spaces into rental properties, there appears to be some nascent life in in it, with retail ventures slowly filling in the rows of empty windows along its quiet streets. Oranj is among the hipper additions, built literally out of the ashes of a fire on NE Alberta.

Tamara Dayton, with her husband Eric Dayton, opened in the South Waterfront this past April, after long stints in the Pearl District and NE Alberta, the latter location having been abandoned after the 2011 blaze that also affected Aviary. In between these changes she managed to retain what she estimates as about 80% of her original clients by making house calls. Originally from Boise and with a major travel bug, Dayton's lived abroad in Korea and Europe, specializing in cuts suited to the same finely textured hair that she has. ("I'm the bang master," she boasts.)

The salon is huge, airy, filled with light and snaking duct work, giant windows and mirrors bouncing the room even bigger. It's pretty, but the real highlight is the fact that the washing station chairs are butt-grabbing massagers, which combined with a scalp massage are pretty nice.

The products dominating Oranj's shelves are label.m, a British company with high fashion and environmental leanings. I found the natural oil-based Souffle, which is so light you can rub it in as a hand lotion to be as vaguely pleasant as its promises of "texture expansion." The hairspray was almost unnoticeable (a good thing), but the most remarkable is the Resurrection Style Dust, a curious powder that, when shaken onto your roots and teased in, creates firm, unmistakable volume, in stark contrast to the other products' subtleties. Dayton encourages the stylists to make these products their own, hosting a "creative night" every Tuesday, when they experiment on mannequins and each other or put together photo shoots.

In addition to hair products, the Daytons are planning to fuse their love of travel with the business, selling limited amounts of hard-to-access products like accessories and small home goods picked up on travels like their first buying trip, to Barcelona, London, and New York.

Appointments here.

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First Thursday Event: AK Vintage Jewelry + Brendan Coughlin Photography

Kayla Rekofke — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 08:59:00 -0700

Is First Thursday already coming up this week? It sure is! Don’t miss your chance to get some great deals and view the latest collection from jewelry magic maker AK Vintage. Local photog fave Brendan Coughlin will also be on hand showing photography in collaboration with the Mada Creative Team. Lowell will also be featuring a pop-up shop, so drop by for cocktails, shopping, and mingling. The shin-dig is going down this Thursday, August 2nd at Mada Beauty, 906 NW Irving St, from 7:30-10:30 pm.

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Hair How To: Super Sleek

Kayla Rekofke — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 08:59:00 -0700

Pin straight hair is back in full force. A departure from previous seasons filled with romantic tousled curls, and undone beachy waves this look is streamlined and effortlessly modern. Long, sleek and minimalistic hairstyles go perfect with a peplum top and giant chandelier earrings. To get the look I turned to my go-to hair pro Jami Kenna at Red Magnolia Salon. She gave me the skinny on the best ways to achieve this style, without damaging your hair.

1. The key to getting super sleek hair is to take small sections of hair and GO SLOW!

2. You should take 1/2" inch sections and move your flat iron very slowly down the strand all the way through the ends. I recommend The Kevin Murphy "Damage Manager" because it’s awesome for protecting your hair from the heat. You'll get the best results by spraying as you go, focusing on the mid shaft and ends of the hair.

3. Curly hair can definitely get the sleek look, it just requires a bit of extra work. Blowdry your hair using a smoothing cream like Davines "Relaxing Fluid" which is humidity resistant to keep the frizz down throughout the day.

4. It’s essential to get your hair as straight as possible before you start flat ironing, so try using a paddle brush while you dry.

5. If you want to spunk up your locks a little bit, use the Kevin Murphy Color Bug! It's a great way to get those fun pastel colors in your hair without the maintenance. We have all three colors; orange pink and purple.

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DIY: Temporary Ombré Hair Color Chalking

Kayla Rekofke — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 09:46:02 -0700

The ombré trend has been a staple among celebs, fashionistas, and stylestalkers for the past couple of seasons, but “chalking” is a fresh spin on the ombré obsession. I found this recipe for fun pastel pretty hair on my fave beauty blog the beauty department. All you need are soft pastels found at most art stores (locally I’d check Utrecht or Blick) but make sure they are indeed soft chalk pastels, not pastel oils because that would be a disaster! The brand I used is called Schmincke, and worked great, the beauty department recommends Senellier- either or will do. Last week while visiting home in Eastern Washington, I set out to the one art store in town and grabbed the prettiest seafoam green, and brightest cobalt blue I could find. My mother thought I was going to make some artwork, and was rather miffed when I explained I was going to put these colors in my mop. Alas, I set out on my experiment with high hopes because I’ve always wanted to take the plunge of really dying my hair a crazy color, but have never gone through with it. Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to achieve your own ombré look:

1. Schmincke soft pastels = your hair can be any color in the rainbow for a day.
2. Grab your colors, and make sure to wear a towel or smock of some kind to protect your clothes. Also I’d lay a towel down in the bathroom, the chalk dust tends to get everywhere.
3. Section off the part of your hair where you’d like to color. I only did a chunk on my left side but you can do the tips all the way around, or just a few pieces.
4. I use a piece of toilet paper or a paper towel in between my hair and my hand so the chalk can fully be absorbed into your locks. You will get some on your hand but don’t worry it washes right off.
5. Twist the section of hair you want to color and rub the chalk downwards almost like you are painting it. Make sure to get the underneath and put extra on the ends to really have the color pop.
6. I used three different shades, including my Kevin.Murphy colorbug in pink to achieve this My Little Pony inspired do’, but the sky is the limit you can try sticking to just one color, a tie-dye look, or a couple of varying shades in the same color family. It looks awesome if you put a few colors on one strand too!

*If you have darker hair you can put a spritz of water on the ends before chalking, if you have blonde, or light brown don’t use water at all, redheads try without water first, as it will hold to your hair like dye if you get it wet. (use water with caution!)
**Be careful with what outfit you wear, try and pick something in the same color that you are using, I definitely wouldn’t rock my favorite white tee after chalking. Color does dust off but it’s nothing a rinse through the washing machine can’t fix.
***Brush as much color as you can out before showering. Make sure you shampoo and condition your hair with extra care after chalking, it sucks a lot of the moisture out, so don’t do it too often. I’ve done this twice now and the color seemed to come out just fine.

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Blowout Beauty Bar V-Day Special

Kayla Rekofke — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:59:00 -0800

Blowout is offering complimentary champagne and chocolate fondue while you get beautified for Valentines Day. With many different styles to choose from you’re guaranteed to look great whether you have a hot date, or just plan on getting wine-drunk with your bestie (yes please!) The signature blowout costs $32 and you get to pick from 6 different styles including “the flirt,” and “divalicious.” In addition you can add on faux lash application, a mini-makeover, or a full makeover to get all glammed up. Click here to book now, Feb. 14 is right around the corner.

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Chic Rainy Day Hair

Kayla Rekofke — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:59:00 -0800

One of the hardest parts of dealing with Portland’s rainy winters has got to be dealing with a wet, frizzy mop on the regular. I consulted my go to hair gal Jami Kenna at Red Magnolia Salon for some much needed guidance.

Here’s the scoop:

If you have curly locks don’t fight it, rock it! Kenna recommends using a humidity resistant product like Relaxing Fluid by Davines to keep the frizz at bay, and let your natural texture do its thing. For straight hair, spritz Hair Resort spray by Kevin Murphy after blow-drying. Next, twist your hair up into a high top knot style bun and once you arrive to your destination, take out the bun and shake it out. Hair Resort spray gives your hair awesome beachy texture that won’t be ruined by the rain. Lastly, Ms. Kenna suggests skipping the hot irons if you’ll be exposed to the elements and saving your hair from the heat damage. Instead try a messy side braid, or my go to move, a giant wide brimmed floppy hat. All products are available at Red Magnolia, and to book an appointment with Jami Kenna click here.

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Gold + Arrow Salon

Kayla Rekofke — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:59:00 -0800

Gold + Arrow Salon recently opened on SW Alder; with its modern, yet cozy aesthetic and incredible installations by Boet’s Emily Bixler, Gold + Arrow is unlike any salon I’ve seen. I called last minute to see if they could squeeze me in for a quick blowout before a holiday event last week, and they scheduled me with stylist Stephanie Hand. I was more than pleased with the end result. In what felt like no time, my tired, lackluster locks were transformed to sexy, messy bedhead waves—precisely the look I was going for. Terrariums, tons of magazines, and complimentary wine didn’t hurt either. In a hair rut? Or just looking for a great place to grab a gift certificate for the lucky gal in your life? Gold + Arrow has the answer, folks.

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Holiday Vamp

Kayla Rekofke — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:59:00 -0800

Don’t be a frumpelstiltskin this holiday season—add a dash of festive holiday make-up and try out a new 'do while you're at it. Sure, the classic red lip will do in a pinch, but a little sass is exactly what the holidays call for. I’m leaning towards a nontraditional inspiration: Think dark lips, strong brows, glitter lids, holiday floral crowns, and colorful wigs.

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DIY Temporary Hair Color à la S/S 12 Runways

Kayla Rekofke — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:59:00 -0700

Peter Som

Thakoon

Narciso Rodriguez

Mulberry

Get the look with:

Finally, the perfect solution to that tricky question: Should I dye my hair varying shades of pastel prettiness? Yes! With Kevin Murphy’s genius product called the Color.Bug- it couldn’t be easier. With a consistency similar to eye shadow, the Color.Bug comes in three different shades—orange, pink, and purple—and is sold as “hair shadow.” Paint on a few streaks or go for your whole mop. The sky is the limit when the color washes out in just a few rinses. A friend of mine picked her little Color.Bug up locally at Ginger Salon but I would check wherever Kevin Murphy products are sold. Find a salon near you here.

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MOD Deal of the Day: The Modern Man

Marjorie Skinner — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:44:00 -0700

I promised long ago to keep you informed of any MercPerks came rolling in that were of particular interest to the stylish set, and so another has arrived: The just-opened Modern Man Barber Shop is giving away two killer deals. For half of each price, you can get a "modern cut" haircut or a classic straight razor shave—that's a cost of $9 and $8 to you, respectively (not including tip). That's a smoking deal as it is, and even more so when you read the fine print: "With each service, dapper dudes enjoy complimentary beer, whiskey, scotch, wine, old-fashioned root beer, bottled water, pour coffee, or espresso, in addition to a post-trim cigar." What the hell?! That's practically criminal. Get 'em before they go.

And just in case you still managed to think these guys are lacking in generosity, they'll give a free haircut to an unemployed person who has a job interview lined up. So keep that resumé in circulation...

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Hot Hair

Rebecca Peel — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 09:59:00 -0700

It's hot out there. If you're anything like me, you've recently been reminded that you have sweat glands, and that hair (who knew!) likes to STICK—like GLUE—to that wonderful secretion. Fortunately, there are many ways to avoid a moppy mess. They come in the form of sleek side buns, preened ponytails, and embellished braids. These 'dos never go out of style and, lucky for you, they've been at the forefront of fall fashion this year.

As you can see, you are never out of options! It just goes to show that a little creativity and a few hairpins can work wonders for comfort.

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Get A Jump on Fall with Isaac Hers and Prima Tonight

Marjorie Skinner — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:58:18 -0700

Much as I'm loathe to admit it, fall is right around the corner. The upside, of course, is that it's the best season on the calendar to rethink and revamp your look, and tonight there's an event to get you started on the major bases: clothing, hair, and makeup. Prima Salon is teaming up with Isaac Hers for a rooftop preview of fall trends in all three departments, with models on hand to show how it's done, plus snacks, drinks and music. Should be a lovely evening to spend getting lovely. It runs from 7-10 pm this evening at Indigo @ twelve|west (430 SW 13th), in the Sapphire Room.

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Effortless Summer Hair & Make-up Do’s and Don’ts

Kayla Rekofke — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 08:59:00 -0700

Do: Try milkmaid braids. This easy style is fun, flirty and great for those sticky summer days. Plus, they help protect your scalp from the sun!
1. Start by parting your hair down the middle into two even low ponytails.
2. Braid each pony. Extra points for adding fabric or colorful ribbons.
3. Sweep each braid up and around the top of your head to create a crown like braid.
4. Secure with bobby pins and smooth over any strays for the look of one continuous braid. Finish with a spritz of hairspray

Don't: Cake on the foundation. Ladies don't melt your face off, switch over to a tinted moisturizer. My favorite is by Laura Mercier lightweight, moisturizing and it has SPF 20 in it. Another really great, mineral based (and local) option is offered by Event Cosmetics.

Do: Rock some seriously bright lipstick. Hot pink, sherbet orange, and cherry red are the perfect statement for summer. Pair with barely there eye make-up and a hint of bronzer.

Don’t: Skip the mani/pedi. If you’re low on funds it’s always fun to have your girlfriends over for a little sun and nail painting. If you can head to the salon, try shellac, my best friend (who is a barista and extra tough on her mitts) swears by it. This special polish stays put for up to two weeks with virtually no chipping. One of the local salons that offers shellac is Lace. Varying shades of blue, from robin’s egg to deep turquoise, add an unexpected pop of color.

Do: Employ the help of dry shampoo. It’s summer, live a little and sleep in. No one will ever know you skipped your morning rinse with the help of Kevin Murphy Fresh Hair. Spray onto roots and work through greasy locks until the product is fully absorbed. Works great for a variety of hair colors and textures.

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Introducing: Lucas Salon

Kayla Rekofke — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 08:59:00 -0700

Oh Portland, when did you become so hip? While skimming the latest issue of Nylon the other day, I was pleased to see a new Portland salon being featured. Lucas, the brainchild of famed Los Angeles hairstylist Taylor Lucas, has just opened up shop in a renovated bank building located at 124 SW 1st Ave. Lucas gained notoriety within the music biz through working on various music videos, after visiting our lovely city she sought after opening a location here. If you’re seeking new rocker do’ or simply love the idea of running into one, Lucas is your new jam!

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Dip-Dyed Darling

Kayla Rekofke — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 12:46:42 -0700

Daring, unexpected, and fun for summer, dip-dyed hair is the latest hair color trend to take off. A bright burst of lilac or bubblegum pink can transform your tresses from blah to bold in a snap. This video from BLDG25’s blog shows step by step how to achieve your new summer do. A good brand to look for funky colors is (still) Manic Panic. Happy dipping!

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The New Hair Must Have

Marjorie Skinner — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 09:13:16 -0700

Well, new to me.

Yesterday evening I accepted an invitation to get my hair cut by Mandy Zelinka of Ginger Salon, who took a much-needed four inches of dead weight off my six-months-since-last-cut hair farming hippie mane. She also styled it using a tool I keep seeing lately but had never tried: a tapered barrel curling iron. I'm a wash 'n' go girl because time is typically not on my side, but I do enjoy doing my hair when I can. My latest technique has involved hot rollers, but my hair's so fine that the effect is largely psychological. From consult to curl, my time with Mandy totaled a mere 40 minutes, thanks in part to this little wand that is friendly to impatient practices like curling large sections at a time, and the lack of a clip action on it means you just wind the hair in your fingers. So stupid easy I can't believe I haven't been using one for years. (Protips from Mandy: Don't wrap the very ends or you'll get and "'80s perm" effect, and hold the hair taut for a moment after bringing the wand away for beachy rather than Shirley Temple style curls.) According to Zelinka, they can be had for about 30 bucks at Target. I'm game. (Where is Target?)

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DIY: The Perfect Top Knot Bun

Kayla Rekofke — Fri, 13 May 2011 15:11:46 -0700

Channel your inner ballerina with springs effortless top knot bun. An it-girl favorite and runway staple, this easy style is ideal for medium to long hair. All you need is an elastic pony holder, a few bobby pins, and splash of hairspray.

Step 1: Sweep hair up into a high ponytail, secure with elastic. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect, messy is better.

Step 2: Gather hair and wrap around the elastic, sometimes it helps to think of a pretty little cinnamon roll. Next, pin into place with bobby pins.

Step 3: Follow with a quick spritz of hairspray and you’re all done!

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Seeing Red

Kayla Rekofke — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 08:59:00 -0700

Rihanna, Drew Barrymore, and Florence Welch are all radiant with their fiery red locks. The latest hair color trend has been spotted on countless red carpets, catwalks, and on the street. What do you guys think? Gingers unite! If you’re feeling in a hair rut, taking the plunge to red may just be the answer.

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Food Carts Are So 2010. 2011 Is The Year of the Hair Cart

Marjorie Skinner — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 09:24:25 -0800

This was bound to happen. As the cart-food obsession rages on in Portland, other businesses are copping to it. This city already has a handful of clothing stores on wheels, and as of this Valentine's Day, we'll have a hair salon in a cart, too. Robin Carlisle's Holiday Hair Studio is parked on SE 28th, between Ash and Pine, and promises "pink damask wallpaper and a vintage vanity surrounded by a halo of bulb lights... fresh Parisian Macarons baking right on board in its miniature oven... [and a] refurbished 1929 seltzer bottle used to serve clients pomegranate spritzers." Sounds kind of great, doesn't it?

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Somewhere Nicole Richie is Weeping

Marissa Sullivan — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 14:47:34 -0700

For those of you who don't know, the Brazilian Blowout is getting into some "Hot Water" so to speak. Recent tests by Oregon's Occupational Safety and Health agency and Oregon Health & Science University show this particular straightening solution emits high levels of formaldehyde, which is cancer causing. The treatment has always been described as safe and harmless, but we might be finding out otherwise.

Here's Melanie Mesaros, who works for the state agency that protects workers from harmful chemicals.

We obtained these samples from a couple different salons. We keep getting the same result. So we feel pretty good about what we're finding, and that is there is formaldehyde in this product.

Sorry Nicole... I wonder if her hair is going to start looking like this again?

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Period-Perfect Hair

Marjorie Skinner — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 09:00:00 -0700

Beauty Bar is living up to its name this weekend, hosting a hairstyling workshop guided by Kristen Behlings. For $20 (pre-pay/register here) she'll teach you how to create two authentic vintage hairdos. Just show up w/your hair curled—even better, still in rollers, bring a freestanding mirror and a brush, and she'll take care of the rest. Meanwhile DJ AM Gold will augment the atmosphere, and the bar'll be pouring out cocktails like bars are wont to do.

Peek-a-boo

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