HAIR……….PRAY…………..LOVE

They missed  most important Step : Good Hair
Never Fails. When I start to wonder if I am really doing any good out there with my hair education . . . a wonderful note from a reader floats into my world. I’ve changed the name to protect the innocent !

For J. (whom I hope conquers that 1 step she is struggling with) & all of you out there . . . here is her experience with 10,000 HEADS & a quest for the healthiest hair……..word for word:
I'm J~
...I saw your post for additional help in the Killer Strands Google Group and finally decided to write.  I know you're crazy busy, so I promise not to take too much of your time.  To tell you the truth, I stumbled upon the Killer Strands blog a few months ago, after going onto many different sites in the quest to get my hair into its best condition it's ever been in.  I've never had a problem with thinning hair (which is initially who I assumed the majority of your readers were), but everything that you said and the advice that you gave completely made sense to me.  I figured if the 10,000 Heads system helped people with those issues, imagine what it could do for someone without thinning issues, but with slight damage.  I began reading the blog bit, by bit, by bit, over and over, printing out every page and comment along the way.  I never had the urge to attempt to color my own hair, although I did read through and print every bit of that, as well.  My stylist only uses professional hair color and she doesn't bleach overlap!!!  So why mess up a good thing, right?  You're probably gonna laugh at this and think I'm neurotic, but after reading what you wrote about Sassoon trained stylists, I researched who was Sassoon trained in Massachusetts and finally, finally, finally found an unbelievable stylist.  It was the best decision I ever made...I can't explain how he does what he does when he cuts my hair, but I've never had such of an awesome haircut in my life.  It's been over ten weeks now, since I've had a trim and it still looks great!!!  So I actually go to two:  One for my color; and one for my cut.  As much as I love my colorist, she doesn't cut hair like Tony (who is the one that's Sassoon trained).  Crazy, right? 
So I figured I'd implement as many of the steps in the 10,000 Heads program as I realistically could, giving it a month without Gleam, Thriven and the SS, figuring if you were as informative and right-on-the-money with your information and advice as I thought you were, I'd see a difference (even if it was subtle) with implementing just a few of the steps.  I also knew that if I started to see a difference in the condition of my hair, then I would have to take it up a notch and order Gleam and Thriven and incorporate that into my 10,000 Heads routine (which I did purchase and now use religiously). I started it off with using an SLS-free shampoo (which was easy enough to do), upped my water intake significantly, and gave up blow drying for the most part (seeing how it's summer).  I've practiced yoga (for a couple of years once or twice a week (by the way, my yoga instructor has gorgeous waist-length hair, which I swear she got due to all of the inversions that she does), and work out pretty regularly (including walks) and try to eat healthy.  I'm not a big drinker (maybe only a drink or two a month) and I'm drug free.  I've only used a straight iron a couple of times in my life (I'm 39, by the way), and glad that I don't have FIA.  I also use Gleam 2x a day and I just can't even find the words to describe Thriven.  I am in love with the scent and what the product does to my hair.  The scent is so fresh, clean and rejuvenating.  The texture of the product is unlike anything I've ever used before, but it didn't take long at all to get used to.  The only difference is with me is I put it in (using the slumber method), but I don't wash it out the next morning and it never fails, every time, my hair looks smokin' hot the next day!!!!!  Well, those are my strengths using the system.  I still haven't gotten a show filter, I do have a good amount of stress that I'm trying to eliminate and oh, boy, I do enjoy smoking a butt.. :(  I'm working on those though.  I'm only human...LOL  I've been following the 10,000 Heads steps to the best of my ability for exactly two months and two days now.  I kick myself for not taking before pictures.  I knew I should have, just to prove that 10,000 Heads is working for me. 
Over the past couple of months I've often thought about writing to you to see if there would be any way that I could help out.  I'm a transcriptionist by trade, so I am really good with spelling, grammar, punctuation, writing, proofreading, etc.  I remember seeing comments from people wishing that you'd put out a book with all of your wonderful information in an easy-to-read form, which put the bug in my head to contact you to begin with. ……………………Either way, I love what my hair has become and plan on continuing with the 10,000 Heads System!!
Thanks for your time!
~J
P. S.  So much for not babbling, huh?  :)   
I'm Julie...I saw your post for additional help in the Killer Strands Google Group and finally decided to write.  I know you're crazy busy, so I promise not to take too much of your time.  To tell you the truth, I stumbled upon the Killer Strands blog a few months ago, after going onto many different sites in the quest to get my hair into its best condition it's ever been in.  I've never had a problem with thinning hair (which is initially who I assumed the majority of your readers were), but everything that you said and the advice that you gave completely made sense to me.  I figured if the 10,000 Heads system helped people with those issues, imagine what it could do for someone without thinning issues, but with slight damage.  I began reading the blog bit, by bit, by bit, over and over, printing out every page and comment along the way.  I never had the urge to attempt to color my own hair, although I did read through and print every bit of that, as well.  My stylist only uses professional hair color and she doesn't bleach overlap!!!  So why mess up a good thing, right?  You're probably gonna laugh at this and think I'm neurotic, but after reading what you wrote about Sassoon trained stylists, I researched who was Sassoon trained in Massachusetts and finally, finally, finally found an unbelievable stylist.  It was the best decision I ever made...I can't explain how he does what he does when he cuts my hair, but I've never had such of an awesome haircut in my life.  It's been over ten weeks now, since I've had a trim and it still looks great!!!  So I actually go to two:  One for my color; and one for my cut.  As much as I love my colorist, she doesn't cut hair like Tony (who is the one that's Sassoon trained).  Crazy, right? 
So I figured I'd implement as many of the steps in the 10,000 Heads program as I realistically could, giving it a month without Gleam, Thriven and the SS, figuring if you were as informative and right-on-the-money with your information and advice as I thought you were, I'd see a difference (even if it was subtle) with implementing just a few of the steps.  I also knew that if I started to see a difference in the condition of my hair, then I would have to take it up a notch and order Gleam and Thriven and incorporate that into my 10,000 Heads routine (which I did purchase and now use religiously). I started it off with using an SLS-free shampoo (which was easy enough to do), upped my water intake significantly, and gave up blow drying for the most part (seeing how it's summer).  I've practiced yoga (for a couple of years once or twice a week (by the way, my yoga instructor has gorgeous waist-length hair, which I swear she got due to all of the inversions that she does), and work out pretty regularly (including walks) and try to eat healthy.  I'm not a big drinker (maybe only a drink or two a month) and I'm drug free.  I've only used a straight iron a couple of times in my life (I'm 39, by the way), and glad that I don't have FIA.  I also use Gleam 2x a day and I just can't even find the words to describe Thriven.  I am in love with the scent and what the product does to my hair.  The scent is so fresh, clean and rejuvenating.  The texture of the product is unlike anything I've ever used before, but it didn't take long at all to get used to.  The only difference is with me is I put it in (using the slumber method), but I don't wash it out the next morning and it never fails, every time, my hair looks smokin' hot the next day!!!!!  Well, those are my strengths using the system.  I still haven't gotten a show filter, I do have a good amount of stress that I'm trying to eliminate and oh, boy, I do enjoy smoking a butt.. :(  I'm working on those though.  I'm only human...LOL  I've been following the 10,000 Heads steps to the best of my ability for exactly two months and two days now.  I kick myself for not taking before pictures.  I knew I should have, just to prove that 10,000 Heads is working for me. 
Over the past couple of months I've often thought about writing to you to see if there would be any way that I could help out.  I'm a transcriptionist by trade, so I am really good with spelling, grammar, punctuation, writing, proofreading, etc.  I remember seeing comments from people wishing that you'd put out a book with all of your wonderful information in an easy-to-read form, which put the bug in my head to contact you to begin with.  I'm not sure what exactly you have in mind for help that you're looking for, but I would love to hear back from you to see if there's something I can do to enhance what you offer to Killer Strands fans. 
Either way, I love what my hair has become and plan on continuing with the 10,000 Heads System!!  Thanks for your time!
~J
P. S.  So much for not babbling, huh?  :)   
Now, THAT…….makes me feel wonderful, so thank you for taking the time to write. A couple comments: you can either take or leave:

• You are not neurotic for hooking up with a  Sassoon trained Stylist, you are brilliant for that move.
• Having 2 people do your hair is the way it is supposed to be – that's how they roll in Europe….A Colorist & Cutter . . . so if you live on the East coast sounds like it is finally trickling in, lucky you.
• Inversions ( upside-down )… positions in Yoga, are the reason I have moved that Step onto the list. Think about it, all that blood rushing to your head. . . . is sooooooo good for your hair.

Thanks again, J. . . .I will get in touch with you this week about the ‘help’

Men & Hair Color – Professional Method For Those of You Interested in DIY

NEW! simple men's hair kits available HERE!

Eyebrows, Goatee, Hair – the NATURAL Look

Well, knowing that we don’t have a huge male following, BUT . . . I want to  . . . 50% of my clientele in Malibu was men and yes, they were as gorgeous as you imagine.  I waited till I had numerous requests from men for help with their color before writing about it. But, now that I think about it, I bet there are many of you who might like to try this on your self, your bf’s, husbands, fathers, brothers, etc. I don’t know why I have been so selfish . . there are very few men on the planet I don’t like, they are actually my favorite hobby ( hee hee !). Especially those of you who are having a great time in your Crib Colorist ventures yet, want more and more “practice” !  Hopefully many of you will benefit from this unique post.

Part of the problem of coloring men’s hair, once they begin the Gray accumulation is coloring it without having it look like it is shoe polish on the head when you are finished.  For a couple years I taught a class to other hair stylists with this trick, so those of you who have tried it with those results, don’t feel bad….it is definitely a ‘trick’ and one that is not known by a vast majority of Hair Stylists. Being in LA coloring men's hair has always been a HUGE part of my work . . . I LLLLLLLLLove doing men's hair….90% were straight , that’s just how men roll… out here. The precision and art of both a men's crop hair cut and hair color is the most difficult within the two genes. 

People always think the opposite, its much harder to get a man’s haircut precise and perfectly shaped than a woman’s. 

You know how bad the “boxed hair color” has gotten when I’m getting a lot of emails from men wanting to learn the proper way to do their own hair color ! They are as vain as we are and I don’t know why they shouldn’t be? We can all appreciate a drop dead looking man, the same way they appreciate a knock-out rack……er… I mean woman . . . hee hee - - You know what I mean ;-). They have all experienced the crap the ‘boxes’ do . . . and hopefully they are figuring out it can affect their hair loss as well. Something a man is more petrified at than dying !

First off, all the men that have contacted me about learning to color their own hair, have all wanted to do it because of the new and increasing gray. Running a close second is to tint their eyebrows that have recently become super gray. Both excellent reasons if you ask me. Girls want to do it, I hope every one of you support the men in your life ( of all sexualities) in these areas…there is just no reason men shouldn’t be as vain as we are. I don’t have the time to explain right here, right now…’why’ boxed hair color kits don’t work.
But I want you to look at the 2 photos of the back of these 2 men..... this is a coversation I have with men all the time and I would get frustrated because we didn't have the Internet that we have today....so we didn't have thegrand array of album after album of hair photos to choose from... I promise you that the photos on the left can be accomplished at home......IF...... you use 2 things from our store:

• Level 3N Hair Color Kit and the clippers we now carry I swear in about 3 hours one can repair and produce this well groomed look .

  lousy color at your local SALLY’S Beauty Supply ( largest & lousiest beauty supply in the world) and its horrible results. Just suffice it to say: horrible quality . . . that’s it in a nutshell. For the solution?
First all of you need to learn the LEVEL SYSTEM. Why? Nothing is easier . . . I promise you. It is merely a system that is UNIVERSAL….and coincides with how the tubes of color are marked.The Level System could be taught to a 2nd grader, so please don’t freak about learning it. The Level System is 12 levels of hair color going from DARK to LIGHT. In simple terms – Level 1 is Black hair such as Asian Hair and Level 12 is Platinum Hair such as Gwen Stefani / Marilyn Monroe. The other numbers are the hair colors in between.   

Look in the lists of Posts……………….on the right side-bar - - - - ->>>over there> for any additional posts on the “Level System” . Why you need the system is to help you pick out the proper color, how to achieve the proper color and how to think and talk about hair color.  In painting there are color ‘systems’… In cooking there are ‘systems’ ( called Recipes)…In Driving there is a ‘system’(DMV rules)……in anything SUCCESSFUL, there must be a “System”. I feel the most wonderful example is cooking because both cooking and hair color use chemistry to solve the problem.   Hair Stylists won’t teach you the Level System so you may begin to learn what they are doing to your hair so you learn I have always taught my clients what is going on - - -its just POLITE!
I bet very very few of you have ever heard of it prior to your visits here. That is what most of my readers said at the beginning of Killer Strands – many of our readers speak really in Levels very freely now its so nice to have watched the change. Men, you can do the same thing, if you want your hair color to be correct you will first Learn the Level system. The newest thing we have just added for you is your very own kits. Men's hair color kits.....with this hair color you can tint your hair the same color or you can go darker.... these kits are not designed for anyone wanting to go lighter than your present color. But that is most of you....so I feel good about getting that done for you. The kits give you 2 tubes of color....one is a Neutral or "N" - - and the other is a tone depends on the level chosen.

The first thing everyone must do is determine what “level” your own hair is. I notice many people are very worried about whether its a 5 or 6…..and worry (without needing to) that they are deciding correctly. The very best method? Ask another person. ANYONE. Print out this page. . . even better send a Link to this page to a good friend or two, ask them to tell you what level is YOUR hair color 9 times out of 10 they get it right.......as they have seen you in any and every light...so they are looking at the proper lighting.
I mean it is not super critical . . . no matter what hair color says….there is no such thing as “PERMANENT” hair color. They all ‘fade’ – ALL of them. So if a permanent hair color ( which is what you need to ‘cover gray’) starts out a 1/2 level too dark . . . just have some shampoo “with” sulfates handy. . .  shampoo 1-2 times….and you can tone it down 1/2 Level. See? Poof! Answers for everything.
So for the next couple days – everyone needs to do all the reading on the LEVEL System I have done, check out all the hair color charts and photos.
The next post will tell you how to mix and apply the color. But quick decisions on your Level is not a wise idea. Take your time, and the level goes off of the color that is NOT gray remember.
Killer Chemist

NEW! simple men's hair kits available HERE!

Detroit for Hot Hair . . I truly thought I knew of every Big HAIR Show In the Country. A huge, huge … secret .

Detroit apparently has a once a year hair show that I found out about because I decided I need to widen my education and bought a subscription to TIME MAGAZINE.
I’m sorry, but the INTERNET for current events and TV news is just not what it needs to be.
Its like watching TMZ almost and it is terrible, in my book. Following the Housewives as “NEWS” is just not what needs to be done. And you know what ? I love the “Housewives” shows….but IN THEIR TIME AND PLACE>… not EVERYWHERE.
Sure enough on the pages of Time magazine I find one of the most interesting, provocative stories on hair  . . . that I have been yearning for.
Lady GAGA is affecting everything and people need to stand up and listen. I know she is crazy and far out. . . .but we always need “crazy and far – out” - ALWAYS …. and then boring – middle of the road , and completely UN-interesting . . . - - - -  In order for there to be something new and interesting in the world.  WE lost the KING of that - -  WE Lost the KING of POP - - - -  and we need to wake up and realize how much we NEEDED SOMEONE LIKE HIM IN OUR LIVES  > > > > He was with us for 40 years …. so we never thought much about it. We never thought he would be gone, do you know how many people I know were shocked that he was 50 years old…..he never looked like he aged, he was always ageless. He asked us to think about the planet in the 90’s. IN THE 90’s ! ! ! ! ! Its 2010. 20 Years later it took us. That is so maddening to me. I’ve always been the “freak” too…. the one who is way ahead of the norm. . . . .don’t make fun of those people……...EVER. YOU NEED THEM TO HELP SPUR THE LIFE OUT OF YOU,……… WHO AREN’T.
LADY GAGA is the NEXT ‘QUEEN OF POP’…..Yes, she’s Ahead of everyone and does CCCCCCCCCCCrazy AHEAD of her time things…. BUT LISTEN TO HER……….. LIKE YOU GAVE UP ON MICHAEL. . . .God puts people like that in your life for a REAL - - VALID - - - REASON.
Don’t blow it again and again . . .  listen to those who are ahead of you there is a reason they are there. Its not just ‘weird’. . . its VALID THINKING….. and needs to be considered.
She won’t ever replace him, no one will. But the tragedy of Michael in my opinion ( as Madonna said . .) is our own fault - -  we all ‘judged him’  - -  like we are or were better than him. One of the biggest mistakes of LIFE is “JUDGING PEOPLE”.
NEVER EVER JUDGE ANYONE, UNLESS YOU ARE PERFECT and I have never ever met anyone who is. The people that judge the most, are the ones who live the most lies.
Don’t you ever say you aren’t.
Because you are.
Now to calm back down and try to show you some radical head of hairstyles . . . look at them and LOVE THEM. . .  like I have.
Its hair and hair is beautiful in any state.
Particularly so in these states……. from a great hair show that happens every year in DETROIT………………that I have never heard of…………….
I hate to think ‘why’ I have never heard of it. But, I hope from my little rant here. . . .that NEXT YEAR. .. . . .. . . . . .
IT WILL BE BIGGER and a ‘magazine cover ‘  . . . . . . . . . not just a small story INSIDE….
Knock yourself out – Detroit Hair Show





 WILD STYLE     Styled by Teddie The Braid Artist, Modeled by Candis Benford Prep time 8 hr.

Beautiful Butterfly Styled by Niecy Hayes, modeled by Taja Hiu, prep time  10 hr.

The Hummer, Styled by Little Willie, modeled by Sharv Bailey,  prep time 1 day
Its called HAIR WARS a 25 year old Detroit Tradition this year featuring 34 stylists and 300 models
I bet after this. . . . a REALITY SHOW cannot be that far off. My cousin lost his job after 30 some years with FORD. . .  recently Michigan has been harder hit than any other state. . . . so anything I can do to help . . .I am just more than happy to….


My parents spend 1/4 of the year in Michigan, the land they were born in. Its funny, my Father wanted to give his family and his children everything Michigan didn’t offer. . . wealth, work, prosperity…better weather. So he moved us all to L.A. the Land of Dreams. Now he goes back every year and LOVES IT, he has more friends than I have ever seen him have…..they both have more fun than they ever have had here in LA….its weird to think I could have been raised there had there just been one change in my dad’s mind…. and it is before my mom started running things. . . I can tell that one.  She would have stayed there. Boy, that’s a weird thought. You would NOT BE READING THIS ! THAT’s for sure!
Now our family is so dis-jointed I haven’t spoken to my brothers in 10 years and they live within 15 miles of me. I feel adding loads of money to the picture doesn’t solve any problems. . . it masks them for a while then ruins them forever. Mountains of money make for mountains of problems and problems that never can be solved. Its too late for us now. My parents are still here, but once they are gone. . .the 3 of us will go on living our disjointed separate lives forever.
Its so completely and utterly sad to me and my daughters.
So treasure where you live. Never ever think LA and California is the land of dreams…….to me its the land of screams, not dreams. When people press me on this subject ,  I say one thing to them  . . . .    ”LOOK AT OPRAH”   is my answer………. Look at the money she has amassed……………her mother and father are still alive, do we ever hear of them, she has NO relatives ? ?  I find that very hard to believe….is she ever seen with any of  them  ? ? ? ? ………………….NOPE, not a one. . . Money ruins everything.     She doesn’t talk to her father or her mother or any family members. . ……I’m just saying.                                                     ……………….Nope - - - I relate my family to hers . . . in my head – no its no where near the amount of money…..but just so I have something to keep myself from losing it & making sense out of nonsense . . .that is how I  see it  .   .    .    .    .
KC
KILLER CHEMIST