J'Adore Charlize

Charlize Theron and her fabulous self. I have a client that specifically asks me to style her hair like Charlize Theron after I highlight and cut her hair. I always thought the style was pretty, but it wasn't until I saw the double page spread in a magazine this month that I went absolutely nuts. Oh my goodness, Charlize Theron is stunning! So elegant and classy. Obsessed!

Photo Credit

So I'm not strutting down the runway in a fabulous gown nor do I have a perfect statuesque frame but I do have the tousled chignon down. Oh the "I've been running around town and my chignon still looks amazing" look.

Day Huit
J'Adore Charlize
So in the Dior commercial, Charlize was running around the city
to make it in time for her fashion show.
I was running from my house to my car.

Products Used: Moroccan Oil Luminous Hair Spray
Tools Used: Teasing Comb + Bobby Pins
How-To: On dry hair take 3 in section (eyebrow arch to eyebrow arch)
about 1 inch in width. Leave Down.
Take hair into ponytail, but instead of tying a hair tie around it--
fold hair over to the right.
Using closed bobby pins, secure chignon in place.
It doesn't have to be perfect!
Take 3 inch section and tease until desire height.
(I wouldn't go too high- it begins to look matronly.)
Brush back & finish with Luminous Hair Spray.

I'm going to try my best from now on to take pictures while I'm styling,

to make the instructions easier to follow!

I have a very interesting post lined up for tomorrow about

my favorite tool of all time ...
bobby pins.
Stay tuned!

... and I'm back!

Hello again, I'm back from my blog-cation. I got the internet working again but have been so busy, I haven't gotten a chance to sit down and blog. It takes up a-lot of time! As promised, I have continued to do my hair challenge. And today marks Day 7. I'm running low on ideas, and may have to bust out the pigtails. Adult pigtails are cute ... right?
Let's see where I left off ... I left off at Day Deux (2) with "Le Flip."
Drum roll please ...

Day Trois
The short-hair ballerina bun
Products Used: Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair
Kendra Volume Spray 25
Tools Used: Round Brush + Dryer + Small Clear Plastic Bands +
Bobby pins + Headband of Choice (Optional)
How-To: Apply Aveda Damage Remedy when wet, and finger dry completely.
Use round brush to blow-out bangs.
With a clear plastic band, tie hair in low pony-tail & wrap hair into a bun.
Using bobby pins, secure bun in place.
Finish with Kendra Volume Spray.

I have to say, after being short for so long I did the happy dance
when I realized I could finally pull my hair back. :)

Day Quatre-
I make the decision to darken my lavender highlights.

Day Quatre
Down and Flirty!
Products Used: Wella Leave-In Balm For Color Treated Hair
Wella Stay Firm Finishing Spray
Tools Used: Dryer + Flat Iron
How-To: Apply Wella Leave-In Balm and dry completely.
Take 1 inch sections- with flat iron (or curling iron)
curl until entire head is curled.
I don't like the "crunchy" look so I just spray the Finishing Spray
after I finish each section very lightly.
With fingers or brush, brush through curls to loosen.
Finish with Stay Frim Finishing Spray.

Day Cinq
Twisty Twist
Products Used: It's a 10 Leave-In Conditioner & Miracle Finishing Spray
Tools Used: Dryer + Round Brush + Bobby Pins
How-To: Apply leave-in conditioner to towel dry hair.
Follow Instructions on how to achieve Le Flip.
Take a 1.5 inch section of hair in the front (typically bangs section)
and begin to twist upward.
Twist until there's only about 1/2 left of free hair.
Without opening the bobby pin, slide bobby pin back into twist to secure.
1-3 bobby pins can be used depending on thickness of twist.
Finish with Miracle Finishing Spray.

Day Six

Yesterday was a big wedding day for me.
I got the pleasure to do hair for a bride during the day
(I will post pictures as soon as I get them!)
and then got to attend another wedding in the evening.

When I got home ... I realized that I didn't take a picture of the back. 

Excuse the outfit change.

For those of you who don't know,

 I do bridal hair during wedding season.

Faux Bob
(Now I know I've been dying to grow my hair out. But I love the idea
of a sassy 'Faux Bob' for a formal event.)
Products Used: It's a Ten Leave-In Conditioner
Moroccan Oil Luminous Hairspray
Tools Used: Dryer + Flat Iron (or Curling Iron) + Bobby Pins
How-To: Apply leave-in conditioner to towel dry hair.
Follow instructions from Day Quatre (see above)
on how to achieve wave.
Using bobby pins, tuck back of the hair and pin.
Keep it loose & messy, you don't want things too perfect
or else it will turn into an up-do.
After back is tucked and pinned, pull pieces out to give
a messy look. Finish with Luminous Hairspray.

Day Sept- 1 week, Hoorah!
Le Poof- Move over Snooki!
Products Used: Hempz Couture Haute Mess Dry Shampoo
Pureology Strengthening Control Hairspray
Tools Used: Flat Iron (or Curling Iron) + Bobby Pins
How-To: I loved the way my curls looked this morning from
yesterday's Faux Bob. So I decided to keep them.
I used a dry shampoo to make sure my hair didn't look oily.
Is is me, or is dry shampoo the best thing since sliced bread?
Apply dry shampoo to roots. With flat iron (or curling iron)
re-touch curls that have loosened.
Take section from middle eyebrow to middle eyebrow
about 3 inches wide.
Push hair forward until poof height is achieved.
Secure in place with by sliding unopened bobby pins into poof.
Run fingers through curls and spray with
Strengthening Control Hair Spray.

Phewwwww, I survived 1 week!
Only 3 more weeks to go.
I got this.

Be sure to stay posted- I've got some interesting hair tips

& facts to share this week!
(And this week, I won't wait to post pictures of the hair challenge
so you won't get a Nina overload!)

I will be back shortly.

So I have resorted to blogging from my
iPhone. My Internet at the house is acting up, and since I'm no IT gal--I've given up. I have pictures of my hairstyles from yesterday & today all ready. So stay tuned! I'll be posting as soon as this thing we call the Internet decides it wants to work again!
We have a new Brazilian blowout class tomorrow morning at the salon-- so I'm off to bed!

Le Flip

Day Deux: Le Flip
I normally just flip one side, but feeling a little adventurous .. I flipped both!
Products Used: It's a 10 Leave in Conditioner & Miracle Finishing Spray
Tools Used: Round Brush + Dryer + Flat Iron (Optional for touch ups)
How-To: Finger dry hair until all of the moisture  is out.
Section hair in small sections from bottom layer.
With a round brush, instead of curling in- flip out.
Proceed until all is dry. Use flat iron for touch ups to give that extra flip.

Le Flip. It's simple yet makes a hairstyle flirty and fun- one of my signature hairstyles. My poor friends have had to hear the infamous question: "Hey guys, how does my flip look?" for so long that the moment they see me-- they make sure to make a comment about my flip before having to be asked. :)
And what I absolutely adore about the flip so much because it is oh so very versatile-- long, medium, short, awkward. You name the length, the flip does wonders.

My inspiration: The one & only.

My favorite Angel & My number one hair idol.
Farrah Fawcett

(I can't wait to have long hair again!)

Let the games begin!

Let the games begin! (Yes, that may be my inner Hunger Games Obsession.)

As a kick-off to my blog, I decided to do a 30 Day Hair Challenge. 30 Different hair styles in 30 days. Within the past 4 years, I have had every length of hair you can possibly think of. From hair all the way down my waist to boy short pixie.

 Early 2008: Yea I thought I was hot-shit. But I have to say, my hair does look fab.
Don't hate.

 
Late 2008: Move over Beckham. My bob with hair flip combo is here to stay.

Early 2009: I played with the idea of going pixie ...

Late 2009: Decided that the flip was the key to my hair life in Paris.
Turning Point: This is when I became the French Hair Snob.

Early 2010: The last awkward hair length in San Fran...

Late 2010: Le Pixie is at the St. Wobil Fashion show during Fashion Week!

Early 2011: Le Flip is back!

Late 2011: Yes it is what it looks like ... a shaved side.
I'm not gonna lie, my bad-ass meter totally went up with a shaved side.

2 years ago, I went pixie ... something I thought I could never mentally do. (yes, hairstylists are very protective over their own hair My hair was my security blanket.) I loved it! It was super easy to style and made me feel confident and chic. But, being me-- I always want change. So from a pixie, there's really no where to go but long. So my journey begins ...

2 years later, I'm at the most awkward length possible. I wake up every day and want to pull it out. So this is where the idea of my challenge begins. I know I'm not the only one on this Awkward Boat. When my clients are going out their hair and it gets to the awkward length, I turn into their hair cheerleader and cheer them on! "Don't give up now! You've worked so hard! Don't give up, it's just a few weeks of awkwardness and it'll pass!" Now only if I had a personal hair cheerleader..

Because I want to rip my hair out every time I look at it. So here it goes ...

  Day 1: "The Nina Classic"
A simple blow-out that I do on myself every chance I get.
Quite easy: Volumizing Spray + Round brush + Dryer + Hairspray = Nina Classic
My hair hits me right between my neck and shoulder and flips in
every awkward direction. I have lavender highlights framing my face.
Lavender = Spring Obsession Color :)

2012: La Coiffeuse is born.

Here it is! After debating, debating, and debating some more- I decided to start a hair blog. A place where hair questions and troubles can be solved. A place where you learn how to do how-tos. A place to see new trends and styles. A place where hair tips are a mouse click away. In other words, hair heaven. I absolutely love hair, I love everything about it. I can't get enough of it. I live, breathe, and dream hair. I love learning about hair and sharing what I know to anyone who will listen. Voila, La Coiffeuse is born. 


I'm saving the world, one split end at a time.


La Coiffeuse comes from my love for anything French. I got the opportunity to study aboard in The City of Light herself in the Fall of 2009 and since have turned into a French Hair Snob.


I'm a 22 year old hair stylist working at a boutique salon in a suburb of Washington DC. I've been in the industry since I was 18. The number one question I get from my clients is, "How did you know that you wanted to be a hairstylist?" 
Well, when I was 4 years old, my mom took me to a "big girl salon" for the first time. I had hair all the way down to my bum and wanted a chic chin length bob. (Yes, I sported the bob before Beckham did.) While the stylist was cutting my hair, I proceed to tell her, "One side was longer than the other and my bangs are crooked. I don't like it. I don't like it at all." I got a pair of rolled eyes and few under breath comments and went home with a lopsided bob with crooked bangs. 
And since I was 4 and wasn't allowed to hold scissors anywhere near my face, I handed my father a pair of scissors and a mirror and proceeded to tell him exactly what to cut until my chic bob reached perfection. Poor Dad, bless his heart. 
It's safe to say that at a very young age I knew hair was my calling. :)

As a kick off to my blog, I will be doing a 30 day hair challenge. 30 hairstyles in 30 days. Stay tuned!