Whether you’re a newcomer, visitor, or Madison, WI native, you want to be looking your best. Here are the best men’s hairstyles for you. #mmcstyle
Hair Product Spotlight: Pulp Riot Liverpool & Glasgow
2019 Hair Product Spotlight by Mallory Cook of MMC Style
Discover Pulp Riot’s new launches and best sellers right here in Madison, WI. In the interest of full disclosure, I do sell professional hair color, hair care, and hair styling products here on my website.
In continuation to a previous post all about Pulp Riot Munich hair serum and Toronto firm hold hairspray, I’ve picked another couple of favorites to write about. The next two: Pulp Riot Liverpool root lifter and Glasgow sea salt spray. Now that summer is over, I’m feeling hair products that are going to provide volume, as well as a strengthening hold to combat the drier air that is to come.
Pulp Riot Liverpool:
Pulp Riot Liverpool is a root lifter that is an easy to apply, spray in foam. While your hair is damp, lift your hair up around the top of your head and crown area and spray, focusing on the root area. Gently massage in and then style as usual. I have had a lot of success using this on fine and coarse hair, it offers a lightweight voluminous effect without getting sticky. I love even after a couple of days of styling hair with Liverpool the hair is still lightweight and airy feeling. Sometimes what I will suggest with second or third day hair is to just add a bit of water to the root area on the top of your head and re-blowdry style quick. It nicely reactivates the Liverpool in the hair for an extra day of wear.
You can purchase off my website for in store pickup at the time of your choice, with your next appointment, or have it shipped to you.
PurchasePulp Riot Glasgow:
Pulp Riot Glasgow is a sea salt spray with multiple hair styling attributes. It adds texture, volume and has a light hold. I love to recommend this for clients with natural curl, or who like to curl their hair often, as well as for my short hair cut clients for added volume and texture. Not only does this product smell amazing, it also has sea salt and sea kelp extract which helps promote naturally healthier and stronger hair. Styling your hair and taking care of it at the same time? Sign me up! Glasgow can be applied to damp, and/or dry hair and will also add in enhancing natural curl, great for my curly girls in the winter whose curls get lazier in the dryer air.
Check Glasgow out on my store, and check out the other new Pulp Riot products available for sale through me!
Purchase- Published in Hair Color, Hair Products, Hair Salon, Men's Hairstyles, Trending Hair Styles, Women's Hairstyles
Why just a trim isn’t just a trim
The hair trim “sticker-shock” haircut price
Have you ever booked, or asked your hair stylist for “just a trim,” and had sticker shock when in the end the cost is your usual haircut price? I’d like to put you at ease that if you are going to a hair stylist you trust, you are not overpaying for a “trim” priced as a haircut.
A trim is a haircut
First of all, a “trim” is not some kind of special, short-cut service, and you should be thankful it is not. Your stylist, as long as you are going to someone who is skilled in their craft and actually cares, will still take the time to carefully section your hair, check for any adjustments needed on the ends of your hair strands and within the layers of your hair based on how it’s grown out. They will check for thick areas that could use a touch-up on texturizing of any kind. So this means: this is NOT JUST a trim.
The cost of a haircut is what is left on your head, not what is on the floor
Our hair does not grow the same all over between visits. Think of how much further the hair from the top of our head has to travel than hair from the nape (neck area) of our head. Also, with all of our strands of hair being at different growth phases at different times, it does not overall grow out even! So a stylist will keep this in mind, as well as your head shape and desired style of haircut while trimming away the unhealthy ends of your hair to do any kind of shaping. While also making adjustments to the abundance of hair, whether your someone with excess amounts of hair that likes to have it thinned during an appointment, or someone who likes slightly to severely shattered ends in your style, all of these things need to be adjusted at the time of a haircut/trim appointment.
Overall, you don’t want a haircut change if you’re asking for a trim, so is a trim necessary?
Yes! Our hair from any kind of damage, sun, heat styling, color, every day wear and tear, gets dry and will start splitting up on the ends. It’s best to keep up with those regardless of your hair goals, whether you are trying to grow it out, or maintain a particular look/length. Not keeping up with your split hairs will result in them splitting further up the hair strand, which not only makes you totally lose the look of the style of your hair, it leads to your hair looking, dull, dry and fuzzier than usual. It also helps to keep your hairstyle in a nice shape, rather than just a motionless, frumpy mop on your head.
While at your haircut trimming appointment:
Your stylist will check in with you on all things to help support you and how you’d like to wear your hair. Making sure you have the right products at home, the right tools to achieve your styles you like to wear, and make sure the direction your going with your haircut is right for you!
Salon’s…let’s try starting with a nice greeting.
What should you expect when walking into a Salon?
In the salon industry, even in small metro areas there is a salon, salon and spa, salon suites, etc on every corner. Because of this, clients have come to expect much more of the “VIP” or “ME DAY” salon experience over just receiving the service alone. From the initial greeting to their close out, there’s many steps we need to cover along the way to make sure our guests want to come back. I believe anyone working in a salon or for themselves in a salon suite should take note. You’re never too cool to greet your clients with an amazing attitude and service.
Start with the right salon greeting.
Starting with a pleasant “hello, welcome, or a GENUINE how are you?” Goes a long ways, and is something that is so surprising people are missing the mark on. Then taking the moment to find out who they are, are they checking in for a service, are they trying to buy product or looking for info. Then still making them feel welcome, giving them a tour, while along the way showing how you can service them in many ways better than the next salon down the street. Offer them a drink, have plenty of options for everyone, even dare I say an adult beverage such as a glass of wine or a beer from a local craft brewery (obviously only offer this to those you know are of age).
In short, make them feel important! Acknowledgement includes: handshakes, hugs, salutes, funny cheek side to side kissy thing…it’s all what makes you and your client comfortable immediately. No matter what they’ve walked in the door for.
TRAINING is Necessary!
Whatever your processes you have in order for how your guests are talked to and sold to on the phone, how their handled in person, to the order of things taken care of when you’re checking a client out, EVERYONE needs to be on the same page in your salon. This isn’t taking away their ability to be personable, it’s making sure one guest isn’t getting offered up more of a greeting, making sure you don’t have a staff member just offering every single person discounts in order to be able to sell, etc.
Everyone should have the same knowledge, integrity, and respect for your business and your customers. This makes for an experience that your guests come to expect, and you want to make sure every single visit you and your staff are knocking those expectations out of the park, not just getting lazy because “oh this client has already been here a few times, we can drop the ball.”
Think about the day your client may be wishing for.
Our clients schedules are packed with responsibilities and activities for others almost every day of the week. Without them scheduling time for themselves they may continuously wait for a time when things are less hectic or when they have achieved all of their goals. But such a time may never come, so help them plan a me-day ahead of time and put it in your schedules together. Make your clients day special, make it an easy decision to schedule their follow up appointment, try a new hair product or even put in a drink suggestion for next time (and write this down in your notes). Simply put, make an effort, this appointment is for them and not for us.
Keep me on my toes.
Please share with me other experiences you, as either a provider, or a guest in a salon or spa, have either wanted improved, or totally loved. You can share any questions you have about why things have been done a certain way during any part of a service you’ve received in a salon or spa. I’d love to keep posts like this coming, it not only helps me stay on my game, it helps my industry as a whole, hold ourselves to higher standards and be able to prove our worth to our clients.
Smooth Hair Year Round – Pureology Smooth Perfection
One of my most consistent, favorite go to hair product lines for hair care has been Pureology. I love that the whole Pureology line focuses on colour care and hair protection. Specifically, Pureology Smooth Perfection has been the answer to my client’s and I’s issue with hair fuzziness! Not only does it make styling hair easier, it keeps your hair style intact through humidity, wind, heat, and the dryness of winter in Wisconsin.
Pureology Smooth Perfection Shampoo & Conditioner:
For frizz prone hair, this duo of shampoo and conditioner not only smells great, it also gets a great silky, lather in the shampoo, and the conditioner is nice and thick but easy to spread throughout your ends. They deliver camellia oil and Pureologys exclusive Thermal Antifade Complex®. These ingredients help to make ease of blow dry hair styles, fight frizz, and improve manageability for a perfect blowout.
Leave in Hair Styler Treatments:
- Smooth Perfection Style & Care Infusion: A two formula product, which one looks cool in the bottle, and two really makes you feel like you’re getting your bang for your buck with a two in one product. This features a smoothing styler along with a leave-in-conditioner. It leaves your air smooth while still moving like natural, soft hair. It’s amazing, and great for someone who likes to just do a quick blow dry hair style and be out the door!
- Lightweight Smooth Lotion: This is one of my favs, it has heat protection, is truly lightweight so even my fine haired guests love it, and it has lasting frizz and flyaway control. This lotion has coconut oil as well to help with smoothness in your hairstyle. This one you’ll want to apply to wet hair and blow dry in, as a hot tip you can use a small amount on dry hair to re-smooth any stubborn frizz for the ultimate frizz control.
- Smoothing Serum: I love this for my curly or wavy girls for so many reasons. This serum just like the lotion has heat protection, so it’s got you covered no matter how you want to wear your hair. It works great to apply in and let air dry while keeping the hair looking so controlled, but nice a natural at the same time. Or you can blow dry this in for a nice, sleek blowout that will hold through the weather outside while your hair feels great all at the same time. This one too can be applied to dry hair as well for added sleekness after styling or drying.
The Pureology Smooth Perfection line is really a good one for anybody who struggles with frizzy, flyaway-ish hair! It makes styling so much easier, and with multiple options for leave in products, just about anyone can pick one of these for their desired hair style results.
Here’s a quick video of my hair using Smooth Perfection Lightweight Smoothing Lotion. I applied the lotion to my wet hair before blow drying, blow dried quickly and then flat ironed. After finishing all of that I applied about a pea size of the lotion to my ends and worked up a little bit to the roots. You can see in this video my hair is flexible and smooth, I love the way the Lightweight Smoothing Lotion feels and makes my dry, naturally curly hair look!
Which Smooth Perfection product do you think is right for you? Feel free to leave a comment below or schedule a hair consultation or hair care product consultation here.
- Published in Hair Products, Hair Salon, Men's Hairstyles, Trending Hair Styles, Women's Hairstyles
Brazilian Blowout: The Original
To my Midwest women and men that love your hair all winter long because the dry air doesn’t trigger your frizz. Then come spring the second a bit of moisture and heat hits the air you don’t even want to style your hair, all you can do is tie it back, cover it with a headband or some kind of scarf. I have a solution to all of your hair frustration prayers! The Brazilian Blowout.
Ready for Frizz Free hair this summer with a Brazilian Blowout?
If you haven’t heard about a Brazilian Blowout at all, or if you have heard it mentioned and thought at first it sounds like something related to a waxing service, you are not alone.
The Original Brazilian Blowout has nothing to do with waxing and is everything an anti-frizz smoothing system for your hair. In fact, it’s the only hair smoothing treatment that is asked for by it’s actual name. It has been the most consistent smoothing system around our industry that I have seen in my over 10 years of doing hair.
What I mean by anti-frizz smoothing system:
It’s not a “straightener” or “relaxer.” It is a customizable treatment, which improves the condition of the hair through technology that creates a protective protein layer around your individual strands of hair. This leaves you with frizz-free, smooth hair that has the most amazing shine you’ve ever had.
Why I choose to offer and always recommend the Brazilian Blowout over any other smoothing system:
My favorite observations with Brazilian Blowouts on my own hair and my guests:
- Hair is so flexible, more so than usual, it doesn’t get stiff like a relaxer or other treatment. I end up walking around at home shaking my head around singing “I whip my hair back-and-forth!”
- When the Brazilian Blowout is done right after a color service, it really helps lock that color in and adds a ton of shine into an already vibrant color. It creates stunning results, and really elevates how the color and hairstyle looks.
- Hair dries so quickly and styles easily with a Brazilian Blowout. The Brazilian Blowout smooths down the cuticle (outside layer) of your hair strands, so you can blast the water out of your hair very quickly, and a quick blow dry hairstyle is made totally possible!
The more technical perks to the Brazilian Blowout that make it superior to other similar treatments:
- It is customizable, which really makes it unique to your desired results, hair type, and what you like to wear for an everyday hairstyle. If you like to wear your hair curly, you can diminish your frizz; therefore, defining your curls and having worry free styling. You can have some volume left around the top, or choose to go really nice and sleek (and everything in between).
- It works for all hair types, making anyone with frizzy hair a great candidate. Regardless of if you have curly, kinky, straight, or a nice beach wave to your hair, the Brazilian Blowout will wipe out your frizz and keep it smooth even on the most humid days!
- If you’ve ever had a Keratin, another type of smoothing system, or thought about one, you’ve heard the 72 hour rule. Meaning there is NO washing, NO tucking, NO bobby pins, NO putting your hair up, pretty much NO living your life when it comes to your hair for 72 HOURS! With Brazilian Blowout there is none of that, you could go workout with your hair in a ponytail right after receiving a treatment, then go shower and wash your hair off immediately after, amazing!
- All it takes is about an hour and a half of your life for super simplified styling and frizz free hair for up to 12 weeks!
- Unlike relaxers, straighteners, and keratin treatments (which are another smoothing treatment), Brazilian Blowout does not leave a line of outgrowth as your hair grows in. It gently fades off the hair, and even what’s left on because it’s such a natural looking treatment, someone looking at you cannot see a line of where it starts or stops.
You can set up an appointment with me today to either have a consultation to ask any other questions you may have, or to make sure the Brazilian Blowout is right for you (I can almost 100% guarantee it is right for anyone looking to eliminate frizz), or go ahead and book your Brazilian Blowout right here:
Book Online
Trending Haircuts For Men 2019 – The Undercut
The Undercut: For Men by Mallory Cook – Hair Stylist
Men’s undercuts have been a trend for a long time, they’ve come from a style that was a very much so DIY (do it yourself) kind of style that was clip up the hair you wanted up top, shave everything down underneath, and slick back the top. Nowadays the undercut is extremely trendy, and can be applied in so many different ways, there’s an option for almost every guy, his look and his hair type.
Keep in mind as you’re reading through these different undercut hair styles, most can be worn in more than one way. Ask your stylist for styling tips as far as how to blow dry & what products to use to get the most out of your style!
If you like to wear your hair back:
The traditional application of the undercut of shaving down the sides and wearing the top long and back is still a thing, but there’s so many options. From fading the sides to a length of your desire, to wearing a beard with this, really any guy in any profession, and any style can wear this look. A pomade can be used to style the type in a sort of wet look for more of a hip kind of style, or a wax to create more of a natural finish will keep this look more natural and care free looking.
Your stylist will know based on the growth patterns of your hair, just how high you should go with your undercut, what length is going to work best based on how it grows out and how it lays. So look to them for suggestions if your trying an undercut for the first time
If your hair is curly/wavy:
An undercut for curly hair can be a really fun change, and for my guys with curly hair it’s a great way to condense your haircut to not feeling so wide on your head. Again with this style the length on the sides is up for interpretation of the overall style you’re going for. You can use a pomade to add some shine and definition to your waves.
If you like to wear your hair forward:
If you’re a guy who likes to wear your hair forward, or that’s just the way your hair grows so you don’t have much of a say in the matter, an undercut can still work great for you. You can wear it short and spikey, use a paste to create lots of definition in the hair style. Or wear a styling cream for a softer finish that’d go great in any type of office setting.
Side-swept undercut:
Lastly, if you’re a guy who pushes his hair to the side you can have a lot of fun with an undercut. From shaved in hard parts, to softer everyday looks, this hair style has many options. The longer the top compared to the sides the more of a unique look this will provide.
- Published in Men's Haircuts, Men's Hairstyles, Trending Hair Styles
Easy Hair Style Change For Men
2018 – 2019 Men’s Trending Hairstyles
The past year men’s hairstyles followed a more natural, messy style, that has carried into 2019 as guys want the option of easier styling, while being able to be low maintenance as far as trips to the salon or barbershop. What’s important to remember for men is guys like change too, and they like to feel there is thought and effort going into how their hair is cut and styled when they’re in for their hair visit.
A lot of the styles now mostly work for all hair types, lengths and textures. So to my guys with thick, wavy or curly hair: rock that natural texture, the trends included in “short on the sides, long on top,” will all work great for you too.
A slight change to the haircut can make a big change to the overall feel
Guys, ask your stylist if your looking for something a little edgier than your classic crew cut for suggestions, fading the sides shorter, or leaving a little extra length on top. Another simple option is to work with your stylist on wearing it all over slightly longer, your stylist will let you know when you should come in for neck cleanups and reshaping (to keep your hair growing down, not out). Any of these options can freshen up your do, but keep it simple to style since you already have been pretty much styling this cut, just slightly different!
New Hair Style Product:
Another way to switch up your style if your not looking to do anything extreme with your cut is change up your styling routine. Try a pomade, such as Redken Brews Wax Pomade, it’ll give you a shiney finish without looking stiff, or Redken Brews Clay Pomade will give you a more rugged, matte finish with lots of texture.
Try Some Hair Color, it’s for Men too!
Guys can and do color their hair too. You can go darker to make a bold, sophisticated statement, cover gray, add in some silver highlights for a distinguished look, or add some sun-kissed highlights for a summery, brightened vibe. Chat with your stylist before booking a color appointment, he or she will guide you on how much time to allow for and the steps involved.
Try out the best hair styling products in the industry from Pulp Riot, Pureology, Redken and More
I’d love to show you which products work best for you and your lifestyle. Schedule a haircut, color, product or bridal (+groom) consultation with me today by contacting me by any of the methods below. I look forward to helping you find “The Right Style For Your Lifestyle!”
Mallory Cook | Hair Stylist | Pulp Riot & Redken Color Specialist | Madison, WI #mmcstyle | Online Booking
- Published in Hair Color, Men's Haircuts, Men's Hairstyles, Trending Hair Styles
What is Pulp Riot Faction8 Hair Color All About?
Mallory Cook Pulp Riot Hair Color Specialist in Madison, WI
Pulp Riot sure has done what they came to do on the hair scene, they’ve caused a huge, positive, disruption to our industry. They’ve taken what artists in the hair industry are doing and trying to create, and given them the best means to achieve these results and made it possible to push the envelope to a new extreme.
Pulp Riot was first introduced in 2016 with a new collection of 16 semi-permanent fashion colors, which more and more clients have been asking for, but I know for me I was reluctant knowing the tools for these results people were looking for were limited, and inconsistent. The launch of these 16 shades people were seeking out was the first game changer, and they had a whole lot of information and images available for artists to find to feel inspiration, confidence and support. Co-founders David and Alexis Thurston, owners of Butterfly Loft, along with fellow stylists, created Pulp Riot to connect stylist, to help form a community to achieve that level of support. “Pulp Riot is not just a product company. Our company is linking the beauty industry. We’re providing more opportunities to stylists and making them feel like they’re part of something,” says David Thurston.
They followed up by launching an 80-shade, permanent hair color line, called Faction8 on September 1, 2018.
FACTION8, WHY IT’S BETTER THAN THE REST:
It’s been decades since any other top color companies have come to the scene. Pulp Riot has been created on what we are doing RIGHT NOW in salons as far as any trends and techniques go. We now use complicated techniques of blending, color melting, balayage, foilage, painting, etc, we need new products and tools that help us apply these new techniques to meet our guests beautiful expectations. Pulp Riot has beat any other color lines to the punch of being created for these new types of applications. The consistency, which is creamier, is so much easier for stylists to apply and blend softly into the hair, making these new looks all achievable, empowering stylists to feel truly like an artist.
Pulp Riot was created in hair salons, by stylists, for stylist. It makes sense to have someone in the same profession, especially working in a city that is on top of the latest and greatest trends, creating the products in which we are using today.
Not only did they hit the nail on the head with consistency, they really considered the ingredients going inside their product. Those ingredients we want, and those we do not. They contain quinoa, a gluten free seed with the power to deliver protein and moisture to hair. These are the top ingredients hair is made of, these are broken down and lost during any bleaching/coloring processes, and just every day from styling, being outside in the sun and wind, etc. Therefore, Pulp Riot color line not only has the power to achieve modern day color trends, but it also keeps hair to its healthiest potential, full of protein and moisture.
They’ve also considered one HUGE fact of life for many stylists, space for total stock of a color line. Not only does the Faction8 line have 80 shades, simple, but can achieve so much, but it can also be altered from a permanent line, to demi-permanent line with the adjustment of developer mixing ratio! Hallelujah!!! We can officially use that space where we’d have to keep two FULL color lines from the same company, to make sure we are well stocked in the full array of colors we’re using daily, being able to have confidence that we can achieve any color a client comes in asking for on any particular day.
WHAT FACTION8 MEANS:
David Thurston: “A faction is a smaller group of people who are dissenting against the larger group of people,” and this is what Pulp Riot has been striving for from their start in the industry. I love jumping on board with a company that started as a small group who wanted to find new and innovative ways of going about things, to achieve better results. The “8” on its side becomes an infinity sign, the idea came up when they were considering a permanent color line, I take this as a sign they are here to stay. Fun fact about Faction8 packaging, the art work was all done and designed by a tattoo artist, Chris Paez who owns a shop called De La Rosa Tattoo, resulting in tying things permanently together, making the line very much so about the art of our industry.
WHY 80 SHADES?
The 80 shades beautifully covers the needs necessary to formulate any type of color, from blondes, to rich black, from vibrant reds, goldens, ashy, to every single possibility in between. The 80 colors available cover the right amount necessary for a starting point, and leave plenty of room to grow. Again the benefit to being created by stylists, they could think hard about what was really necessary, and have made it so realistic for any artist to have all of the tools necessary to create an unlimited amount of shades and colors.
WHAT ARE THE SPECIAL TECHNIQUES CREATED WITH FACTION8?
Because of the consistency and blendability of Faction8, there is a whole slew of techniques that can be applied and any artist can feel confident in their end results being smooth and flawless. Shadow rooting, color melting, balayage, ombre, lowlights are all made easily possible by Faction8. It covers gray perfectly, and for those clients who come in as frequent as every 2 weeks with a tiny outgrowth, it is possible to tap it on to that tiniest bit of out growth and not worry about overlapping previous color. Thus solving the problem of color banding we see happen in our gray clients all to frequently.
I also haven’t had reds ever come out so fully saturated, they turn out vibrant and so bold. The depth of ashy colors is unmatched too, I really enjoy that the Faction8 natural colors are cool based, so many clients always have to specify they pull warm and extra ash is usually needed, compromising the consistency of gray coverage. With Faction8 I see those nice neutral results and full, solid gray coverage, leaving the hair shinier and more beautiful than I have seen in previous color lines.
HOT TIP:
Because permanent color is oxidative, and semi-permanent are not, be sure to use Faction8 permanent colors and Pulp Riot semi permanent colors in two seperate processes while using them together in a service. If they touch there will be some unpredictable friction! Use your permanent color along with any lightening first, shampoo out, and then apply the semi-permanent color over top for the best results every time!
HOW PULP RIOT IS USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO CREATE A COMMUNITY:
Pulp Riot has done an amazing job focusing on getting out education digitally. They started out from the get go publishing information on their line, from facts to tutorials, there’s so many answers a stylist could need to switch confidently to their full product line.
They also have a private Facebook group that any stylist can sign up for, and an impressive Instagram that immediately connects to you multiple stylists offering up free info and suggestions daily! With countless pictures, videos, formulas, hot tips, a stylist will never run out of inspiration following these guys on social media. They do everything in-house, so response time is unexpectedly quick, creating that supportive community feel I’ve mentioned a few times.
NEW TO PULP RIOT:
This whole year, Pulp Riot has a full schedule of products launching, which so far has proved to be extremely exciting, and necessary. I’m a firm believer in a full system of hair care products & stylers. If I’m using Pulp Riot hair color on my guests and loving it, and they’re loving it, you can bet any shampoo, conditioner, any stylers, etc are going to go along beautifully with that, helping me help my clients achieve their best hair every single day.
Try out the best hair styling products in the industry from Pulp Riot, Pureology, Redken and More
I’d love to show you which products work best for you and your lifestyle. Schedule a haircut, color, product or bridal consultation with me today by contacting me by any of the methods below. I look forward to helping you find “The Right Style For Your Lifestyle!”
Mallory Cook | Hair Stylist | Pulp Riot & Redken Color Specialist | Madison, WI #mmcstyle
- Published in Hair Color, Hair Products, Hair Salon, Men's Hairstyles, Women's Hairstyles
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