New hair, girl! This is the biggest change I’ve done in about two and a half years, but ya know, I was SO ready. It’s still hella long, but the shape and color are different.
I told my friend Alis, who now works at Plum Salon in Corte Madera and has been doing my hair forever, that I wanted to keep it long but was up for anything, and she ended up doing a ’70s-inspired shape by cutting longer face framing layers that touch my upper cheekbones and chin, and keeping the longer layers at the bottom.
She describes it as a modified shag, so the bulk of the volume is around my face and not at the ends, like it was before. She also cut my bangs so that they now part in the center, but they’re trimmed in a way that allows me to switch to a side sweep, if I’m so inclined.
Alis didn’t mention the exact name of the color, but I know that she uses Wella, and she described the shade as a warm chocolate brown. And for the streaks, she hand-painted random rich coppery pieces around my face.
The difference between hand-painting and doing foils, Alis says, is that hand-painted pieces look more seamless and less choppy than foils, and with hand-painting you can really let your artistic vision guide you, because it’s literally like painting on hair. For this rock ‘n’ roll look, Alis did some chunky pieces on one side, then some smaller, daintier bits on the other.
I’m into it!
I’m really looking forward to experimenting more with this cut. Alis told me that it looks cute when you do a ponytail or a half-pony, and you let the bangs frame your face.
I think it would also look cute with a little bit of back-combing for height at the roots.
It kinda channels Stevie Nicks, too, and, as you know, I wanna be her when I grow up. 🙂
If you’d like to book an appointment with Alis, shoot me an email, and I’ll give her your info. She’s a little tough to book now because she just got married to the love of her life and lives in Vegas, but she flies out to the Bay Area every few weeks to take care of her clients.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Janet Shepherd says
I LOVE this look! With some backcoming it could look kind of 60’s Bardot as well.
I’ve been growing my hair out, but it’s a slooow process. I can only dream of it ever getting as long as yours. But I’ve been rocking a middle part sometimes too, it’s fun and feels kinda boho and 70’s, which I love.
I’m looking forward to seeing how you style your new hair. ?
Karen says
Hi Janet,
It seems like it took forever to get it this long (and it was quite scary after so much of it fell out after I had Connor). Hang in there! You’ll get there. 😀
Ana Samuel says
Love it! Suits you. Your hair is beautiful no matter what
Karen says
Thanks, Ana. 🙂 Happy Tuesday to you!
sydnee says
You look great and I love how you rock the no-makeup look! Go gurl!
http://www.tulipsandpersimmon.com
Karen says
Thanks, Sydnee!
Lex says
I agree with previous comments – you look great! That’s not exactly news though. 🙂 Can’t wait for more pics, so see it in action with various make-up looks! The only thing I switched up with my hair recently just because I was bored…is I tried some white hair chalk, and surprisingly kinda loved it. Since it washes right off, seemed like the best antidote for boredom, but without taking risks. Otherwise, last time I was very ready for a big change and went to a salon, I came out with really short hair and that wasn’t the best look for me. At all… 😛
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Karen says
Hi Lex,
Oooh, word of caution with the temporary color. I’ve used something similar before in pink and there was a big chunk that never quite washed out. Totally agree with you though in how fun (and how easy!) it is.
Lex says
Wow, how did I miss that post?! Yeah, been through similar with some red ‘temporary’ color. Didn’t go away nearly as fast as it was supposed to, which wasn’t great. But this white chalk I’m using seems to not leave a single trace after shampoo. It’s called ‘Fudge Urban Hair Chalk White 4G’
Karen says
Probably because it’s hella old, LOL! It’s from waaaay back when I changed my hair every five seconds. I’ve hear of the Fudge brand! It’s been years since I’ve seen it here in the US.
LindaLibraLoca says
This is the kind of look I have been wearing lately, with the longish bangs. But my hair is way finer and shorter than yours, so I don’t look half as awesome.
Karen says
Aww, thanks for the compliment, girl!
Sandra says
I love it!!!
Karen says
Thanks, Sandra! 🙂 Hope you’re having a nice Tuesday so far!
Kim says
You look fabulous. Not everyone can pull off even a modified shag (I’m actually revising that to VERY FEW people can pull it off) but this really suits you. You look like a real California/surfer girl in the best possible way! I was going to ask about Alis and the move to Vegas when you mentioned she was cutting your hair. It’s great that she’s coming back to take care of her loyal clients. 🙂 Also great that she clearly has a lot of artistic ability. I’ve seen several stylists hand-paint highlights and I almost always dislike it. It’s probably my weird need for evenness/symmetry. But yours look great!
Jane says
I love your hair. It does look very ’70’s. I also love it with the no makeup look.
Karen says
Next stop: Stevie Nicks! All I need is a shawl with some fringe. ?
Joyce B. says
It looks really nice Karen.
Karen says
Thank you, Joyce! Hope you’re having a nice Tuesday so far! 🙂
Stephanie C says
Love the new hair – it looks awesome!
Chelsea says
Love this look! Bangs are growing out nicely, and I love the coppery highlights!
I’m scheduling a haircut when I go visit my parents next week. I hate salons but this is apparently a pretty low-key environment that also has kind of an art gallery / studio. My hair is pretty boring so I don’t need to worry too much about texture and I don’t color my hair though.
Michele DiCola says
Karen it looks awesome !
Love the warm streaks . She did a fabulous job !
Btw, I answered a previous post and that answer came up again.
” It appears you said that before ”
Have a great day !
Michele
Tatiana says
Looks gorgeous! I love the coppery pieces. What I would give for a stylist who can cut bangs that can go either way. Yes, I switch up my part on an almost daily basis.
I just realized that I have all these short pieces in my hair and I figured out it’s right at the point where I put barrettes in to keep my hair out of my face when working out. Argh, the realization that your hair is breaking off is not good. Now I have to find a way to keep it out of my face when working out. It’s not long enough or thick enough for a pony tail.
BTW, I still want to be Stevie Nicks, too.
Katie says
LOVE! It gives your hair such movement and texture and takes out all that bulk! And the color is super pretty too!
Karen says
Thanks, Katie!
Iris says
Looks really good. Cheers!
Allison C says
Love the new ‘do! Retro & modern at the same time
Karen says
Thanks, Allison! Glad to see you back. How have you been?
TravelingBlush says
Katee Middleton had a style like this at one time, my fave on her.
You look great, Karen, love those bangs. My hair is curly so bamgs don’t look that great. Violette has similar banga, ahe looks cute with the bun on top of hair, such a classic American look, I think.
Erin says
Looks like you’ve answered the “to bang or not to bang” question! I keep wanting to do bangs again but I have a hard enough time with my shorter layers that are mid neck!