Elizabeth Catalanotto

Hair Description: Medium Density, medium texture, natural wave, light-medium brown

(Aveda level 5)

Goal: To darken up her previously highlighted color to a deep, rich brown and create more volume and style in her cut. Her only request was to not have a layer any shorter than the bottom of her ear, and for her bang to be wearable to either side.

Inspiration: A Hard Day's Night

Haircut: Cut about 1 inch off of the length and blended into round layers in her middle and top sections. Overdirected her side sections to preserve her length and blended into round layers at the top. Cut ½ inch off her bang, texturized to relieve the weight and blended with her sides to frame her face.

Color: All over color application with Matrix SoColor level 4 Dark Brown.

What I learned: To be careful to pay attention in a consultation. She hadn't wanted her layer so short because at that length it has the tendency to stick out and be difficult for her to tame.

Suzanne Carlile

Hair Description: Thick, long, fairly coarse, natural curl, a dark shade of brown (Aveda level 4)

Goal: Preserve most of her length yet take some of the weight out of the back as well as a drastic color change to give her a “totally new look.”

Inspiration: Sexy Sadie

Haircut: Cut about two inches in length off of the back and about 1 inch off of her front perimeter. Created a concave graduation from front to back by pulling the length of her hair forward and blending into the back. Middle and crown sections were cut to guide from front perimeter in long layers to relieve some of that weight in the back.

Color: Color cleansed (enlightner+20vol+1/2 tsp shampoo) the bottom 2 sections of her hair. Lifted color to level 5 and then added Matrix Redlights Red/Red for 15 minutes.

Middle and Top sections were completely foiled with highlights and lowlights. Highlights lifted to a level 6 and lowlights were Matrix ColorSync 4 Red/Brown to add bit of redness to those pieces. After first process Matrix Redlights was added to her entire head and allowed to sit for approx. 20 minutes. The end results were a fabulous, vibrant red that alone would have been very bold but with the lowlights became a rich and blended red/brown color. The client was very satisfied with the results and feels as though her goal to receive a new look without cutting off her beautiful locks was accomplished successfully. The red color lended so much more color to her complexion and eye color.

What I learned: That the 4 Red/Brown didn't really add any more redness to her already level 4 hair and could have saved time keeping those out of foils. Redlights means Coca Cola Red! Thank goodness this is exactly what she wanted but I would not use this on someone wanting more of a natural look.

Lily Carlile

Hair Description: Fine, medium length

Goal: A slightly concave bob to frame her face.

Inspiration: Here Comes the Sun

Haircut: Cut one length in the back to her hair line on her neck. Overdirected sides to guide in the back. Graduated slightly at the nape and texturized to remove weight and smooth out lines.

What I learned: 2 year olds are VERY hard to cut! With kids you must use bribery, special tricks and speed to accomplish a decent haircut. I now have a big bag of dum-dums at my immediate disposal.

Amber Thibodeaux

Hair Description: Thick density, fine texture, medium length

Goal: Short and stacked in the back, longer and face framing in the front.

Inspiration: Love Me Do

Haircut: Cut about 2 inches off of the length in the back and graduated into a round layer cut to her crown as my guide. Pulled all the hair at the back to my center guide to gradually maintain length as it moved towards her sides. Pulled her sides to my center guide and then evened out on both sides of perimeter. Her fringe was point cut using a strong off center part from the left to create a heavy, sexy combover to the right. The end result is a beautifully stacked bob that accentuates her profile and neckline.

What I learned: For a short cut with such thick hair, blending is very important for a clean finish. Also, to stay mindful of the front part they will use when blending.