Brazilian Blowout update

Last week we received a letter from the Brazilian Blowout people apologizing for the negative press they have been getting. They assured us that the information broadcast on some TV and news programs is untrue, and gave us this statement, "To date, all OSHA and independent air quality tests conducted on The Brazilian Blowout Professional Smooth Solutions, have yielded results "well below" even the most stringent of OSHA standards." The product rep came into the salon last week and she told me that some of the programs that have done live "tests" on the product seem suspect because the color of the product being tested is the wrong color! I guess there are similar products out there that have "Brazilian" in their name or come illegally from Brazil. We are very concerned about the safety of our clients, but even more so for those of us that are exposed to the products on a daily basis. We chose to carry Brazilian Blowout because it has six times less formaldehyde than the keratin straighteners on the market. We want to stay healthy and keep our clients looking beautiful for many years to come!

Why we are obsessed with Nick Arrojo

Those of you not in the salon industry may know Nick Arrojo from "What Not To Wear, where he was the show's hair stylist for for seven years. Here at Anita Kurl we know him as a formidable expert in hairdressing. He has been associated with Wella, Bumble and Bumble, Aveda and has now launched his own product line that we have been experimenting with in the salon. A few weeks ago we were invited to an exciting new class touring the country called "Happy Mondays". The class featured live model demos of the latest trends and techniques in contemporary hairstyling. He is an inspiring artist and business owner, and I left the class feeling a renewed love for my job and my industry. Arrojo trained in the Vidal Sassoon method of haircutting early in his career, and has developed a personal style that combines the geometric perfection of Sassoon cut with his own unique twist. He designed a special razor made especially for his method of cutting. It is sort of a deconstructed precision haircut. Come on in for a new clean razored take on your long layered haircut for the Fall.

City Sidewalks Scavenger Hunt

City Sidewalks Scavenger Hunt

Win $1,200, $600 or $400 in South End gift certficates!!

SoWa Sundays!

Friday, December 4, 2009 at 12:00am

Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 3:00pm

South End Boston - As part of City Sidewalks, sponsored by SOWA Sundays, South End Business Alliance and Washington Gateway Main Streets, the City Sidewalk Scavenger Hunt kicks off December 4th and runs through December 20th.

Grab a passport (or print one at home) and go around to the shops, restaurants, galleries, etc in the South End looking for the golden reindeer. When you find a reindeer, alert the cashier and they'll stamp your passport. Buy something and they'll give you a bonus stamp. Once you've earned 18 points, turn your passport in, fill out a raffle card and wait until December 20th for a chance to win a stack of South End Gift Certificates.

Grand Prize = $1,200 in S.E. Gift Certs

Second Prize = $600 in S.E. Gift Certs

Third Prize = $400 in S.E. Gift Certs

Turn in your Passport at:

Anita Kurl - 1661 Washington Avenue

Peekaboo hair color for the holidays

This morning my client Mia came in for her yearly color, a color that will last and fade gracefully over the next twelve months. A tall order for a Saturday morning, but a welcome challenge. So, I took tiny slices along a Mohawk parting alternating between a light golden blond and light caramel brown. Then I drew and applied color to giant triangles of the same colors below the parting. As the color grows out she will have no visible roots where the triangles are and very little at the top. The big triangles of color create sort of a peekaboo effect that you can see when I pulled her hair behind her ear.

The new soccer mom

A large portion of our clientele here at Anita Kurl are Mom's just like me. Well, not exactly, but I have a unique insight into the world of Mom's hair. Almost every Mother comes into the salon at one time or another asking for a hairstyle that will not make her look "like a Mom"? When did it become a bad thing to look like a Mom? I know what these woman are afraid of looking old or out of date, but most of them don't. In the earlier days of my career, the bob was labeled "the soccer Mom look", which I learned was a very bad thing. What does that mean today, I wonder as I look around at the Mom's in my two year olds music class? The instructor has her wavy hair in a cute layered style reminiscent of a brunette Kate Hudson, the petite girl on my left has a trendy layered bob and me...well I spent so much time on my hair it is almost embarrassing, except that I am a hairstylist. The Mom's in the Boston area I meet are pretty hip, I think the only improvement needed is a better blow dry or a different hair product. On the other hand if you are asking for "chunky highlights" or you have the same hairstyle you had in your high school year book picture please come in for a consultation!

The only acceptable mustache

Facial hair or "face salad" as Derek here at Anita Kurl calls it, has been a hot topic at the salon this week. Derek, it seems is channeling his inner Tom Seleck and growing his own. A few weeks ago The Boston Globe's Wesley Morris wrote a hilarious story entitled, "Who took my 'stash?, The sad and curious exile of the American mustache."In it he says, "For most of the 20th century, the mustache was a serious option for follicular self-expression - an elastic emblem of masculinity", but now "As far as pop culture is concerned, the mustache remains trapped in the land of porn and irony." For the first week of Derek's mustache I had a difficult time making eye contact with him with out bursting into laughter, but if he continues to listen to Kelly's words of encouragement he should be in full bloom and ready for viewing by this weekend!

Am I the only one that thinks this is pretty?

Most people will remember this years VMA"S for a different reason, but hairdressers across the country noticed this beautiful "etch a sketch" hair do. This is one of the moments I wish I had a more diverse clientele and could draw designs on my clients scalps. I imagine this same look would probably look creepy on someone with a pale scalp, but if anyone out there wants to give it a try, I am the girl!