five favorites: january

With January drawing to a close and Valentine’s day right around the corner, it’s time once again to honor our five favorite haircuts, styles, and color transformations at Sine Qua Non!
This month has revealed new talents, daring changes, and transformative new ‘dos at the salons!

Beth’s new ‘do is beautiful!

Starting the lineup this week is Lakeview stylist Carrie, whose client Beth embraced a fashion update inspired by generosity! Beth’s hair makeover was inspired by the younger patients at the hospital where she works, many of whom face hair loss as a result of treatment. She didn’t tell anyone about her haircut plans at work, but asked Carrie to take off a full ten inches of length, which she then donated!

To prepare Beth’s gorgeous locks, Carrie said that she cleansed and conditioned with Bumble and bumble‘s Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner. She then began the cut with her shears to create a blunt bob. Carrie worked with Bumble and bumble‘s Prep during the cut to infuse a light conditioning into Beth’s hair. (This product is perfect for fine hair textures with high density that can easily get weighed down!) Carrie said that a favorite technique of hers for a bob cuts on dense hair is to remove weight with a straight razor. This creates soft movement and internal layers. After the wet cut, she applied Bumble and bumble‘s Thickening hairspray, section by section, roots to ends. An advantage for Beth is that blowdrying a bob tends to be fairly easy – Carrie showed her how to use a paddle brush to work the hair every which way. Carrie finished the cut with some point cutting to get just the right amount of texture. To finish styling, she used a flat iron like a curling iron by twisting to give some movement, and added in a little blast of Bumble and bumble‘s Dryspun Finishing Spray.

Beth donated 10 inches of hair!

The end result: Beth looks completely fresh, and has the even bigger victory of helping a youngster that needs a new head of hair!

Next on the roster of fabulous transformations is Josie, whose client  Portia will never be missed in a crowd again! Portia opted for a color revolution, and Josie delivered. Portia reported that it had been a fairly long time since her tresses were last cut, but that she had had some purple before, but it had faded out. This time around, Josie gave her a more permanent purple: Portia wanted something brighter and more fun.

Josie gave Portia purple locks!

To get this look, Josie had to pre-lighten Portia’s hair first (i.e. use a double process). She then applied the violet with some hidden peekaboo pieces of pink to give Portia’s color dimension, especially on the sides. Because this process can be damaging, she used Olaplex to keep the integrity of Portia’s hair. This helps in avoiding breakage and keeping hair strong! Additionally, Josie utilized Bumble and bumble’s Repair Blow Dry serum, which helps protect hair that’s been treated against heat. Paired with the new cut, Portia’s look is outstanding, and completely unique!

Over in Andersonville, stylist Jac shook things up with a fantastic clipper fade cut that had us looking twice! Paul, her client, wanted the disconnected aspect of his cut that’s become so popular this year. Jac spotlighted the top section in this way, giving Paul a clean, edgy break between his longer locks and close-cut back and bottom sections. For the flowing top section, Jac did a razor cut to create a soft, shattered effect. Jac says she used R and Co‘s Motorcycle Flexible Gel to style this, which is great for adding sheen and moveable hold without a waxy buildup. She paired this with R and Co‘s Continental Glossing Wax, which is extremely popular for pompadours and flowing men’s cuts like Paul’s. Thanks to Jac, Paul’s February is off to an uncannily stylish start.

Jac gave Paul an awesome clipper fade.

And Jac wasn’t the only stylist standing out lately at Sine Qua Non Andersonville! Salon manager Anna helped a new client named Christie go from dull to drop dead gorgeous with a brand new pixie cut! Christie started the day with semi-flat, shoulder length tresses, but asked Anna for help reinvigorating her look. To accomplish this, Anna removed a full twelve inches! This dramatic change to a pixie livens up Christie’s look, and launches her hair into 2016! To style this, Anna combined R and Co‘s Jackpot Styling Creme with Mannequin Styling Paste, lending Christie’s new ‘do just the right amount of texture and memory. Christie looks like a whole new woman! 

Last but certainly not least is Sine Qua Non‘s New Talent program, which has been churning out some exciting new styles indeed! This month, assistant Mac mastered the art of the flat-brush blow dry with her model Jade. Mac used a salon favorite Denman brush first to get Jade’s lovely lightened tresses straight, then employed a flat brush with low elevation to perfectly polish Jade’s ends and bring the style together as a whole. Mac says she used Bumble and bumble‘s Hairdresser’s Oil Shampoo and Conditioner, which are wonderful for adding touchable softness and moisture to hair that’s been bullied by dry winter weather or color treatments. Mac paired this choice with the Hairdresser’s Oil Primer, which adds a hint of memory and activates the flat brushed style, and Bumble and bumble‘s Repair Blow Dry from mid strands to ends. To finish off, she incorporated Bumble and bumble‘s Brilliantine throughout Jade’s ends, making Jade’s textured tresses shine!

Mac gave Jade a beautiful blowout!

Have any hair queries? Think you’re ready for your own color transformation or dramatic change? Or just need a good old fashioned trim? Give us a call or stop by any of the four Sine Qua Non Salon locations (Lincoln Park, West Town, Lakeview, and Andersonville) and become a part of the next good hair day Five Favorites!