Anyone with long hair is acutely aware that hot weather can be murder. We understand this. The only thing you want to do is get the hair off your neck.

We know you don’t really want to cut it all off right now, so we offer an alternative, which our stylists call “Two Tails.” This easy, polished up-do looks equally gorgeous at the office or at a club.

Enjoy!

PS: If you have a question about “Two Tails,” ask any of our talented stylists about it the next time you’re in their chair.

"Two Tails" Step-by-Step Guide

1. Make a side part.

2. Gather hair into two pony tails, one on top of the other, starting under the crown (the pony tails can be placed at any desired height at the back of the head).

3. Split the hair above the rubber band, at the scalp, in half.

4. Bend the top pony tail through the split from under the band through to the top of the band.

5. Gently pull up on the length of the pony tail to tighten.

6. Repeat with bottom pony tail.

7. Make a sub-section with each tail and secure each section away from the band and on the head with a bobby pin. Random placement is best. You can make as few or many sub-sections you want, depending on your ambitions.

un•der•cut:

^{Shorten layers underneath the hair; lets hair lay more smoothly and creates a better shape by removing bulk.}

Wednesday and Thursday they were led through a variety of demonstrations and exercises by instructors from the Charles Worthington Academy. “We loved the Charles Worthington team – they’re all about making sure everyone has the proper training, and they have such a great team morale there.” Some of the highlights of their classes:

Short Hair: “For shorter clients it’ll be about introducing some undercutting that will make your cut so much more interesting and flexible,” said Adrianne, going on to talk about the endless styles that can be created through the technique. 

“They also did a demonstration using clippers to create a really blunt edge, something I’d never seen before—it really had a nice, dramatic effect to it," a technique that works for short or long cuts [photo].

Long Hair: “We did a lot of soft internal layering to keep hair looking less bulky,” said Adrianne. Knowing big changes can be a little daunting for clients attached to their long locks, Adrianne talked about some smaller changes:

“It could be playing with an interesting fringe or encouraging my clients to try a fishtail braid [photo],” going on to talk about the sky-high ballerina bun [photo] to change things up from your tried-and-true bun.

The perfect complement to sometimes daunting (but potentially phenomenal) styles above? “Whether it’s a simple change or something more extreme, it’s crucial that I understand my client’s lifestyle and their abilities with their hair."

"They really focused on that in the class—but it’s something we really pride ourselves on at Maxine.” Even a cut that’s structurally perfect in every way can be a failure, purely through miscommunication with the client.

^{"The Shuffle"}

When they weren’t in class (or watching gravity-defying runway hair), they were taking in the rest of what London had to offer. Walking down the street, Adrianne noticed how daring British women were when it came to their hair, “They’re very bold and confident; it wouldn’t be unusual for almost every girl on the street to have a short, kind of androgynous cut.”

The common theme for the competition, the runway show, and their classes? “Finding different ways to reapproach classic looks.”

Her second most important initiative these days: finding incredible outdoor dining. The idea of sitting inside on a July evening seems pretty distressing; luckily, some of Chicago's most acclaimed restaurants are embracing the weather as much as Jaime is.

"The riverfront seating at Japonais has been so fun this summer," said Jaime, going on to mention cocktails at The Terrace at The Peninsula Hotel Chicago, evenings on NoMI's seventh-floor oasis, and a few other neighborhood faves:

Seated at one of the secluded gardens at Piccolo Sogno (River West) and Bistro Campagne (Lincoln Square), you'd never know you were in a city.

Nightwood in Pilsen provides a similar, rain-or-shine option: "I've been really loving riding my bike in Pilsen, stopping at Nightwood – they've got a great outdoor seating area." In Bucktown she's all about sushi on the patio at Mirai and sitting street-side at Via Carducci.

Have a question for Jaime? Send us a tweet at @MaxineSalon and Jaime will let you know where to eat, what to see, and where to shop in Chicago.

^{Photo c/o Nightwood}

_{From left, Color-Rich Shadows in Lava, Galena, Graphite, and African Violet; Eye Definer in Obsidian} 

_{Powder Blush in Bronze}

_{Satin Lip Shine in Mysterious}

_{Lip Definer #4}

For this demo (and for applications at Maxine Salon), Arianna uses Being True cosmetics. Their mineral-based products won’t clog your pores, making their foundations and powders a definite favorite—and the perfect gift for our clients...

For a limited time, you can receive a complimentary foundation (a $42 value) with your application with Arianna. Call now to schedule your application and mention this blog post for your special gift—and a special price for your application, just $50. Enjoy!

_{Protective Mineral Foundation}

Welcome to summer in Chicago, where the local temperature is a balmy 86º and your hair is, yes, quite frizzy. For those of you who arrive at work with the same hair you left the house with—feel free to skip this post. (Also, the rest of us are extremely jealous.)

So, how do you keep your hair looking (and feeling) healthy, smooth, and tamed all summer long? We’ll be filling you in on a couple of options over the next few weeks, beginning with one of our stylists’ favorites: the Keratin Smoothing Treatment. Developed by Coppola, the treatment infuses natural keratin into your hair’s cuticle, cutting your blow dry time in half and leaving you with silky, soft hair.

_{^{Smooth & Frizz-Free, All Summer Long!}}

“Keratin completely changes your relationship to your hair. You leave with a different hair texture,” says Rivkah Lyles, a platform two stylist here at Maxine. “You’re not ruled by what your hair is going to do. It’s freedom.” For those of you imagining pin-straight, lifeless hair: free of frizz doesn’t have to mean free of body and movement. You’ll still have the option to diffuse your hair to create curls and body.

Q: What’s the process like?

Your treatment begins with a clarifying shampoo, creating a clean palette for the treatment, followed by keratin application. After 15-20 minutes, your hair is blown dry (with the product still in your hair) and flat ironed. “I’ll often go over each small section 8-9 times, depending upon the client's hair,” says Rivkah, "This seals in the treatment and gets rid of excess product on the outside of the hair shaft," which leaves as steam, whisked away by our incredibly strong ventilation system. You leave the salon with your smooth new coiff (making sure to wait four days before washing) and, like Rivkah said, a whole new relationship with your hair.  

Q: How long will it last—and how can I make it last longer?

Your keratin treatment will typically last 2-5 months, depending upon what kind of hair you have and what kind of shampoo you’re using. Regular shampoo often contains ingredients that break down the keratin—which could bring you back to Frizz City more quickly than you’d planned. 

Try to use a shampoo that is sulfate-free and contains keratin, which will continue to deposit keratin in the hair. “The more you get it done, the longer it lasts,” says Rivkah, who has had clients see results up to six months after receiving their treatment. Check out this before-and-after shot from one of her most recent clients.

The Keratin Smoothing Treatment is priced from $350-$450, with a 48-hour cancellation policy. For more information or to schedule your Keratin Smoothing Treatment, call (312) 751-1511.