Whether you’re a city slinger, glam beach bombshell or a southern starlet, being the “bell of the ball” this summer is all about pumping up the volume, and Colorist Josh Shores shares his tips to achieve maximum volume. Big hair is “in” more now than ever, and these tips utilizing color trends like balayage and Ombré share the secret to “wow-ing” with volume.

Color looks like Connie Britton’s copper accents, Kim Kardashian’s caramel balayage and Miranda Lambert’s Ombré all embrace the shape of the waves to enhance volume… where it counts.

The most important thing about maximizing volume in hair, according to Josh, is adding in volume where it really counts. Josh shares his color secrets that, combined with soft, sleek waves, will really pump up locks.

To achieve this look using balayage, Josh uses a four point system in the areas where extra volume is desired. This starts with four points taken around the hairline, starting with two at the temples and two around the face. This tactic can be enhanced to create even more volume by painting two additional points on each side of the crown. “Tactical highlighting can optimize volume like you’d never imagine,” says Josh.

Another color trick to enhance volume is through the Ombré effect, by bringing the painted pieces up a bit higher to create points of interest on the volume.

This look is always accented by the use of soft waves and creating volume through drying. Josh recommends using a volumizing spray or cream such as Volumactive from Kerastase or Shu Uemura Fiber Lift. Then, after drying hair, going through with a cone-shaped curling iron or velcro rollers on an angle will really pump it up.

Spring has sprung, and that means it is gala season in Chicago! After you have selected the perfect dress and the perfect shoes, you must definitely find the perfect hairstyle to complete the look. That’s where Stylist Brittany Brudzinski comes in to help. She has chosen five amazing hair trends that would be perfect to wear to any spectacular gala this season.

The first look is the twist. It can be a French twist (the twist ends at the top of the head), an Italian twist (the twist ends at the nape of the head), or simply a twist that wraps around the head. You can wear this look very smooth for a more classic look or a little texture can be added to give the twist a more modern feel.

The second look that Brittany loves for this season is side-swept retro waves. They were all over the red carpet during awards season and they look fabulous with a retro-style or modern dress. For an even more modern look, sweep the hair to one side with a looser, slight beach wave.

The third look is a messy, textured bun. Brittany loves this look because there is no wrong way to do it. It can be a little messy or a lot messy. Either way, it looks very glamorous and gala worthy.

The fourth look is the tight knot or tight loop. These are beautiful classic looks that one cannot go wrong with. The trend for this season is to wear the knot with a middle part.

The last look is a multi-tiered ponytail, which is an easy do-it-yourself style.

DIY Directions:

1. Section hair into 3 sections; the first section from the top of the head to the top of the ear, the second section from the top of the ear to the occipital bone, and the third section from the occipital bone to the nape of the neck.
2. Then, starting with the top section, make a ponytail at the center of the back of the head.
3. Make another ponytail with the second section and include the hair from the first.
4. Finally, make a third ponytail with the third section and include the hair from the first and second sections.
    

Take advantage of having Brittany right at their fingertips and come see us for all of their gala hair-do needs this season!

Senior Stylist Adrianne Johnston knows dealing with dry, brittle hair can be quite the battle. Lucky for us, she knows just the ticket to quenching your hair’s thirst for moisture in order to revitalize your locks!

Before:
 

After:

 

“Products for protection and repair are getting better all the time and address all different hair types,” says Adrianne.

Kerastase offers 3 revolutionary thermal protectants that we utilize at Maxine Salon in Chicago:

Ciment Thermique - for brittle, damaged hair
Nectar Thermique - for dry to very dry hair
Chroma Thermique - for color treated hair

Users should apply a nickel to quarter size amount of the appropriate thermique from mid-lengths to end before blow-drying.
If hair is already damaged with breakage or split ends, Adrianne recommends using Kerastase Fibre Architecte to “heal and seal” hair. This is a product we utilize when working with blow-drying and hot tools.

We tested another AMAZING Kerastase product, Initialiste. This Advanced Scalp and Hair Concentrate just recently launched and is available for purchase here! Initialiste is inspired by the success of multi-potent and multi-benefit skincare super serums. This powerful and perfected blend of ingredients give hair optimal nourishment. Hair Fiber resilience and elasticity are improved throughout its length shine and softness.

What can you do at home?
For at-home treatments, this day in age, what used to be available exclusively in salons is now available to be purchased for at-home use as well, from Kerastase Homelab, which consists of 3 customized instant treatments. Now, you can easily and efficiently treat your hair in between salon visits - for strength, shine, color protection, manageability, maximum hydration and moisture, depending on your needs. At Maxine Salon, we will customize the perfect at-home regimen for the maximum benefit for you. These can be done weekly, or every other week depending on need.

Another option for at-home is a properly prescribed masque and shampoo.

Some at-home tips: 

• Do not over-shampoo, be gentle, cleanse your scalp, rinse well and always condition thoroughly. Run a wide tooth comb/pick to make sure you are getting your ends hydrated and detangled. Rinse well with cooler to luke-warm temperature water.
• Avoid hot water - it is drying on your hair and scalp.
• Also, shampooing daily is not recommended. Allow the natural oils in your hair to do their job, every 2-3 days will suffice. For your deep conditioning masque, that can be done every time you shampoo, weekly or every other week, again depending on your personal hair needs.

Spring and summer trends are not just about the ladies! Men also need an updated look to keep their style fresh as the seasons change. Our Stylist Aaron David shares his tips for the best cuts for men this upcoming season. 

For men wanting to stay on top of the trends, old-school vintage looks are the new big thing this season. According to Aaron, “Men are wearing their hair combed with deep side parts, very clean cut and tapered, while being disconnected and perfectly coiffed.” Justin Timberlake at this year’s Grammy’s had the perfect look, which has inspired many of the men’s hair trends this season. 

Another way for men to keep the hair off their face this season is to sport longer, shaggier locks on the sides and top, with hair pushed back off the face. Overall, neatly combed and out of the eyes is big this spring and summer. “Like the good old days, you will start seeing more men carrying a comb in their back pocket,” says Aaron.

This spring and summer, classic hairstyles are coming back in a brand new way, and our expert style team knows just what “dos” are reappearing, as well as new styles to keep hair fresh.

According to Stylist Cliff Freeman, this upcoming season is all about glamorous styles being translated into everyday looks. Volume is key and hair is cleaner, sleeker and more polished. The summer trend is moving away from that “beach-y, bed-head” look of the past and the 60’s and 70’s are coming back this spring – think Brigitte Bardot and the beehive. Long hair is going up, with buns, twists and braids being staples all season long. 

“The classic twists and up-do’s will resurface, with a modernized take,” says Cliff. If hair does stay down, volumized, polished blowouts will ensure your hair is ahead of the style curve. 

Another big trend this season is the androgynous look for women, with short, textured cuts creating a structured look for women. A short, straight cut is another way to achieve this season’s clean, glamorous look. 

Color is just as important as cut when updating a look to fit the season, and Colorist Rex Jimieson adds complementing color trends to the cuts and styles of the season. According to Rex, the perfect match for this season’s shape-centric looks are natural elements in color, especially golds, coppers, and rose golds. Iridescent sheens, as opposed to bold colors create a softer, natural look to make the glamorous styles of spring and summer more everyday-friendly.

Balayage, the art of hair painting, will take over the season, providing a softer, gradient look for color; steering away from the recent new explosion of the bold ombre color technique.

One key to staying ahead this season is creative placement with natural balayge. For example, Colorist Leslie Shores recommends adding color to deep parts, creating more dimension in a natural way.

Whatever style you are looking for this season, our experts can keep you on trend and looking your best!

One of Maxine Salon’s expert Colorists Leslie Shores shares the key to getting that Bombshell hair. 

Who doesn't want to look like a model? Especially a lingerie model, right? 

The most requested hair color I get comes from a little catalog called Victoria's Secret. I like to call it Bombshell or Diva Hair. Balayage highlights are KEY to achieving this look! I usually use a few different tones of blondes and caramel highlights, typically leaving them off the root, except for around the face. It all depends on the client’s hair, so I can customize the color and get it as close as I can to that model look.

If they want the cut and blowout to match, I send them over to Hans VanDoornik. The ladies swoon as he cuts long layers to achieve that mix of perfect and un-perfect curl with LOTS of volume. As they flip their hair over, we see the transformation right before our eyes – and clients meowing that they feel like a model! Not surprising considering Hans did hair for the makeovers on a few episodes of America's Next Top Model!

So, maybe not everyone looks just like Rosie, Lily, or Miranda. But, with a haircut from Hans and Balayage from myself, I guarantee these newly transformed “kittens” will be bouncing out of the salon, feeling pretty close! 

Meow.