Breath of Fresh Hair : Remove Brassy/Yellow Tones In Blondes--Highlights

Rusk, a company I am always interested in . . . they still seem to continue to care about their products and their clients. . . have come up with this new line they call Sensories.

Here is what the company has to say about it::

Rusk Sensories™ represent a new era in haircare.

This unique collection provides not only the benefits of natural, botanical ingredients, but a totally new chemistry as well, CFT, or Compressed Formula Technology. Compressed during the formulation, Rusk Sensories™ expand with a little water and gentle manipulation, transforming their physical appearance while releasing their provocative botanical aromas for an irresistible sensory experience. And that's not all. With Compressed Formula Technology, you use 30% - 50% less product to get double the performance.

Now - that seems innovative to me and I love the "feel" of this spray - its particularly - 'yummy'.

I point this spray out because of its wonderful 'feel' and its smart technology in trying to solve a number of problems at once. It is not only the nicest feeling spray Serum I have felt in a long time, it also has elements in it that eliminate yellow and brassy tones on blondes-gray & highlights - how clever is that?!

Once I learned Cosmetic Chemistry . . .
which by the way - -
many of you can learn just enough to understand the basics
. . . by studying a couple of web sites.

Jenny has Lotioncrafter and is an absolute dream as far as her knowledge and her assistance she will give you in making some basic products yourself... yes, its chemistry and you do need to be committed to the process of learning it, but I got sick and it was the perfect thing to keep my mind OFF of the illness and ONTO something constructive. . . . "Learning".. so if that happens to be your situation - - or maybe if you have lost your job and need to learn something else to get you by - I would seriously consider it.

NEVER - Ever . . .give up.

That just is not an option.

I always feel you should push forward and push harder -

N O M A T T E R W H A T

Its fun, educational, handy and very eye opening to the world of everything you put on your body .

Here is Jenny's web site, tell her I sent you
www.Lotioncrafter.com
or use
Angie's ( who is a good friend of Jenny's btw!)

The Herbarie . . . basically one is on the west coast and the other is on the east coast . . for delivery charges would be the basic difference. The Herbarie is the staple for bringing Cosmetic Chemistry to the public, prior to that web site - we were not allowed to learn any of it . . . so the INTERNET has been just spectacular for the world of EDUCATION, in my opinion.
None of Killer Strands would be available to you if it were not for the Web.
I would use both for your education as well as the GROUP they have.
http://theherbarie.com/


Now back to the point of this post !

The Chamomile and Lavender Brightening Shine Spray

and 'yes' it does have a wonderful scent of chamomile and lavender . . so one more goal of one tiny product. . . and its not overpowering either.. but it ALSO
"makes the hair smell wonderful "

lots of advantages to this $12.95 wonder!!

> It claims to Awaken the senses and impart instant shine as it revitalizes and brightens dull, lifeless, blond, silver, gray or white hair.

> Bright Shine Spray adds shine and effectively erases yellow or brassy tones on highlighted or blonde-tinted hair.

> Contains sunscreen protection to help protect color fading.

> Specially formulated with Chamomile and Lavender.

Once again the advantages to these sensories products: All Sensories products feature Compressed Formula Technology. CFT enhances and expands the user's sensory experience. Use 30-50% less product and achieve twice the performance. Another excellent 'plus'.


Plus you can click here and make the purchase which will take you through PAY PAL

One click takes you to a $12.95 - 4.2 oz.bottle of RUSK Bright Shine spray PLUS Shipping of 8.95.... good for anywhere in the continental USA.
If you are outside of that, shoot me an email
Killerstrands@gmail.com
Love this stuff. . Killer Chemist

Patience & the Hair-Color-Surge : or Damn it, if I color my hair this second, I will feel better

There are many of us that use different beauty techniques to satisfy those funny urges we have. I know you know what I'm talking about, like when things at work or at home aren't going so great - what can you do to make yourself feel better? There are 2 choices for relief for us Beauty junkies : 'SHOPPING' or 'BEAUTY' techniques - - I know because I do it, my kids do it and almost everyone I asked in over 10,000 Heads of Hair do as well - to one degree or another! We all use them to give us that warm little feeling in our blood, to take the uneasy feeling away we have > because your boss snarled at you today, you lost that job interview, the economy is in toilet - - a g a i n , or little Billy got in trouble at school today - or whatever scenario fits your life - and turns our good day into a yucky day... we ALL DO IT.

Why do we do it? Human Nature - its "IN" our blood, bones and brain. But we do have an inbred quality that prevents us from going down that road . . .the quality of PATIENCE. Most of us have let Patience slip away from our life. It's a quality many of us rarely even "think" about anymore - which is not a good thing.
If we stopped at that moment of panic at that moment of 'desire' and instilled some patience into our life, what do you suppose would happen? We may not jump on those urges and we may find they are not a good idea for our hair, our skin our person.
Well, that's not what happens to us, because we have lost that one quality and if you ask Buddhist's or any other eastern religion member they will say their religion is based on learning the skill of patience. What does that say about - - us?

Some go absolutely nuts and when the sh*t hits the fan they head to Rodeo Drive and do the PRETTY WOMAN shopping spree, but most of us don't have that kind of cash-ola and we head to the mall, OR we head to the Salon OR we head to the Drug Store and for the absolute worst choice on the entire planet we buy a box of hair color without knowing anything at all about what we have on our head...what this box will do to the hair we have. . . worst of all ... none OF US EVEN READ WHAT THE BOX SAYS . We just want that urge satisfied . . . to make us "feel" better... and to get rid of that yucky feeling we have in our blood.

Patience is not even in the game at this point, just satisfying that urge is all we have. As a Colorist this is just SO . . V E R Y. . . H A R D. . . to listen to - you can imagine, I hope. After putting together over 300 POSTS on Killer Strands in trying to teach all of you "why" that method is not such a great idea. That it matters what is on your hair to begin with -- - > is probably the most important piece of information there is. But it doesn't point that out on that box - nor deal with it - so how can the hair color turn out anywhere CLOSE to correct or what you desire ?

IT CAN'T - - IT WON'T AND IT NEVER WILL ...

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO


Those boxes of hair color are aimed at all of you with ZERO patience, and looking for the "QUICK-FIX" to that URGE ... they use models on the front that don't even use the hair color that is "in" the box they are selling (my friends and I, have all done all those photo shoots - we know). We use Color Touch 90% of the time because of the Shine that one brand imparts - it truly is remarkable and all the other companies know it - they don't ask us what we use - they just ask for a certain color with lots of SHINE.

So from the get-go the process is: Fake/False and it is just playing on your heart strings. . . DON'T LET IT !

I really don't want to get into the whole scenario of addiction that is a big giant bag of worms that I don't have the room or time to go into . . but this is a bit of an addiction and you need to get control of it. When it is something smaller like this - if you are just made AWARE of the fact that it is "there" sometimes that alone works. BE aware that you do it, and be aware that it is a common problem and the manufacturers are working to trap you into their beauty "URGE" traps . . .like CELLULITE Cream for $130.00 / jar. You all know that there is not a cream alive, nor WILL THERE BE, that gets rid of cellulite. Right? Please never EVER EVER buy anything of this nature - its ridiculous and as a chemist, I don't know how Chemists can sit on a board of a company that sells this, when we all know they don't work nor will they ever.

So give it a whirl - - give patience a whirl . . watch how good it makes you feel accomplishing it just for one single day.

Much of the problem stems from all the stimulus we get from the INTERNET, TV, Films, Dancing with the Stars, Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, Glossy magazines, everywhere we look are Celebrities -Stars- Politicians- and the "beautiful people'' showing us that they can look like a million bucks . . . it makes us all want to follow in line. Doesn't it? In my opinion it is one big giant "marketing web of URGES" and it influences so much of what we do everyday that I feel very deeply that it needs to pointed out - so it can be worked against. With a 24 hours news cycle on 4 major networks there basically is no way to escape the flash and dash of the "beautiful people".

That is what gets you all to "jump" without thinking many times in changing your hair.

You see a photo of someone you want to emulate and you don't "think" about it . . . you don't want to consider the ramifications if it doesn't work on your particular hair, or your skin or just so many factors that one must consider... You just "want to do it and do it NOW !" How many of you is that>? How many of you will admit to doing that ? How many of you will run out and buy that darn box of color and try to do something to your hair without even considering if it will work or not? Hundreds of Thousands do this every single week . . . its why they sell Billions of dollars of Boxed hair color every year - - - to satisfy these urges. To Kill Your Patience Factor. Come on boys and girls. . . don't let them win.


I'm hear to tell you to stop and think before jumping into that mess.

When you think about how silly that scenario sounds now, doesn't it make you wonder why you would actually do that? There are many factors at work here, but today's Post is focused on PATIENCE so lets just deal with that.

I'm very much into eastern philosophy - had plans of teaching Yoga to Inmates, when I came down with the cough that has never gone away, which made it impossible. So I am going to impart some of those teachings to you.

Patience is one of the virtues that will bring the most happiness and beauty if you can accomplish it. Buddhism is based on patience, monks live their life practicing and trying to achieve patience because they feel it is so very important. Can you imagine if you just brought a little bit of it into your life? Everyday practice one instance of Patience, patience that you have never ever done before. Even if it is waiting 1 hour longer to buy your Starbucks or drinking a small one instead of a large one - that remains an act of patience . . . I know you can incorporate 1 act of patience in your life every single day.

Start small and get bigger.

Create a chart - - - send us your idea of what Patient virtue YOU are going to incorporate into YOUR life.

Please let that be your beginning, I want you to print it out on the computer in bigger letters so its a nice little sign, whatever your act of patience is going to be .... and hang it on the fridge. So you have to read it and remind yourself every time you walk by. . This will {hopefully} open the entire world of patience up to you and your life.

If you are working the 10,000HEADS Protocol then add this step to the 12, one of our illustrious new members CANDEE (from Korea) is the one that inspired me to choose this topic to write on ... I was puzzled as to why I never thought of it myself, but who really cares 'where' a great idea comes from, just as long as it is there. So thank you Candee and FYI if you have a topic or even just a word like she did and would like my take on it, email me Killerstrands@gmail.com I will give it a shot . . . . . as uncoventional as I am

I have honestly been considering adding it to the Steps, because of how important I feel it is, now that I have been thinking in depth about it . Learning patience with Beauty endeavors - what do you think?

PATIENCE and the HAIR-COLOR-SURGE -
by Killer Chemist

Thousands of people in the world:
weekly get
* inspired.... from something they have seen, which gives them an
* urge .......basically frantic trying to buy something for beauty or clothing(still beauty)
* surge .....to change their hair color, hair or "look" immediately to something they have seen or heard about in the media or ?
whether it works for their hair or body or not . . .

Patience has basically been forgotten
If you inserted patience into this formula ANYWHERE you would have such a better outcome. . . think about that . . ALL OF YOU - please.

Don't let hair color and beauty routines "control" YOU
. . . learn patience . . your life will be a warmer and cozier place to exist.

Killer Chemist

Boys & Their Toys Are Changing: Men's Hair Color < Acceptable > as Well As Cool

 Boys Validate All the Bottles on Our Shelves

Men and their hair

In my Salon business in Malibu, which was located a stone's throw from the Pepperdine College campus (there were tons of 18-29 year old men) - I began with an 85-15% split women to men in my clientele. At the beginning of my career men came for a great hair cut, I had learned the Vidal Sassoon manner of cutting men's hair and I adored the process . . . It is "Sculpture" at is finest and my cuts were not cheap - but they were done with love, art and design in mind every single time.

Over the next 12 years the numbers got closer and closer till when I had to shut down my business the last time I checked into the hospital - but  it was at 50% - 50% - a dead even split and I could see that if I was to keep going I was going to maybe bump over the line. Yes, I adore men . . . and was raised with 2 brothers so I feel a certain kinship to them, something most women have a hard time with . . .when a guy sat in my chair it was just easier for me to rattle off questions and BS than if a woman did - which has nothing to do with "likes" "dislikes" or anything but just plain being "used to".  I will admit they were a lot prettier to look at...
 for me and the smell of a well dressed man with  a great cologne wins hands down over a woman - any day to me. . . . but still  - when you get down to brass tacks. . . you make a helluva lot more money off of a woman in your chair than a man and I knew it..
It never stopped me from trying to get men into my chair, ever.
Completing a 100 minute men's hair cut was one of the most rewarding acts I could complete in the art of hair. I sculpted each head of hair to 'each' specific man and accomplished that very meticulously - I guess loving Sculpture was the catalyst I had for that.

So when the tide started to change and men began coming to the Salon for highlights, bleaches, relaxers and most everything we offer women - there was not a soul happier than, yours Truly. Problem is, men's hair is very difficult to do and difficult to do correctly. Why? It is so damn short . . .  and it needs to be done in such a manner that it does not look like he has gone to the $29.95 Car painting shop and has race stripes down the sides. Most of what needs to be done is good - honest - Hair color - usually just one color .
Stylists should not try to get the man to pay for a number of things he doesn't need.
He doesn't need . . . . . Highlights.
Not only do I dislike highlights for women - for men I want to cry and I bet most of you will agree with me.
I will admit I- myself- have given slices - ribbons and veils to a number of clients but they were NOT highlights and the difference is huge if you were to see them side by side. Some day I will find comparable photos to show you the  difference > visually.
Most of my color work with men was like this gentleman - here. With interesting placement of the color, instead of stripey stripes on the hair - just to say you have them.
Men have become interested in their hair, their skin and their overall appearance in phenomenal numbers which is good news for us girls. We no longer have to push them into it, they are truly turning into mini- beauty junkie's on their own . . . isn't that the most exciting news> ?

You know how you will sit across from them at the table in a restaurant, wondering why they don't give a crap how their hair looks . . . why will they get a Fantastic SAMS  haircut for $10.00 when a nice $50.00 scissor over comb hair cut looks 150% better on them?  They care what "we" look like and we try to improve our appearance "for them". . . its the least they could do in return - we like to look at a nicely shaped head as well.

Well, according to all the numbers across the board : 'men are turning into chicks'. Which is a statement I refuse to say too loud or the men will go running from here and I may disrupt a very encouraging 'shift' in culture. Men need to become more sensitive - more caring of their looks - its an attractive feature  --  I guarantee you.
According to AC Nielsen, sales from men's grooming products and services grew almost 70% between 2002 and 2005 compared with only a 6% increase in the women's market. Take notice next time you are in Sephora, Macy's, or your favorite Beauty Supply, almost every major manufacturer in the professional salon business has a men's brand.

Statistics show that men are now spending more than $4 Billion dollars every single year on Grooming products. I hope you think that is as insane as I do. Men's attitudes have changed, they are now interested in a variety of products instead of a bar of soap and stealing your shampoo. It took years of them wondering why we had so many damn bottles in the bathroom to finally catch on that maybe  - - just maybe... there was a point to many of them.

The men I had as clients were much more willing to try new products starting back 14 years ago, yes it was Malibu and "yes" many of the trends start here . . . but still it was pretty unusual and rare -- even then.

I will never forget seeing  3 of the local professional surfers running with their capes blowing in the wind to get in their trucks and head to local McDonalds with Foils in their hair ( begging me to go while their hair processed !)...

It was truly an amazing site... The big - butch - surfers - finally let down their barriers and simply did not care that they had foils in their hair and a cape around their neck - they thought it was "cool".  That's when I
knew a shift in the tide was here to stay.

Here is some work I did on one of the Local surfer boys . . . he had his coat painted by a car painter for Malibu HIgh PROM  - wanted his hair to match  ! !