Here at The Hairmaven there are exciting things coming your way and everything is changing. Well, maybe not EVERYTHING. The forum will still be as great and drama free as it always has been, and the blog will be updated with all kinds of great hair related stories, maybe even a few Star Wars pictures .

BUT, and as Pee Wee Herman so eloquently says “There’s always a big but”….

The major changes will be in the educational DVD’s. I’ve been working on a few projects that I think are really going to be awesome! I don’t want to spill the beans just yet as to the awesomeness that is coming your way, but I will say that it’s really exciting. I have two projects in the works that will be on their way to you before long and I just know you will love them.

Ok… You know I can’t keep everything a secret and most already know about the HairGeek (aka Addicted2Red as AskMags.com) video that was shot last year, well, I finally got the editing finished. (Editing this project has been a complete crazy bronco to ride. My first editor drooped off the face of the earth and stole my hard drive, luckily I still had the tapes, then my second guy was in the middle of editing this movie project so I was pushed to the back burner, but enough with the excuses!!). All that is needed now is the voice over and it’s ready for production! I am so sorry that I’ve been a complete slacker in the finishing of this and I hope that it’s cool factor will make up for it and Natasha wont hate me.

The second project is a special mystery project that will be hitting in about a month. It’s going to be very, very limited edition and once the first and only printing is sold out it will be gone. This DVD series will be offered to the HairMaven VIP’s first, so if you are not already signed up then make sure you sign up. Also, VIP’s will get a great bonus that will only be available for the first 100 people so make sure you don’t miss out. I’ll keep you guys posted as it gets closer!

Anyway. Talk to you soon!

We are currently working on creating a portfolio of salon ready work that clients can browse through when looking for a new hairstyle, or we can use when describing different types of looks and such.

Yesterday was our first photo shoot for the portfolio project and here are a few of the pictures from that shoot.

I’m still learning how to use my new camera but I’m liking the results so far. I see a few tweeks that I will make in the next shoot but overall I’m happy with the results.

Here I am trying to trip over my cords!

Nit pik nit pik nit pik

A professional make up artist is a must and it is a pleasure to work with Kelly (she is also available for birthday parties and Bar Mitzvahs! KIDDING!)

One of our lovely models getting her hair did..

Fin

It’s been said that a single picture is worth a thousand words.

Instead of writing some snarky comments, I’m going to post a single picture that completely sums up what I think and feel about this years season of Shear Genius.

When I watch an episode I find myself bored. Bored with the challenges, bored with the host (when I am not totally distracted by her accent), bored with the over the top, hair stylist.

In art, the worst reaction that someone viewing your art is indifference. That is exactly where I find myself watching the soulless, passionless show.

Meh…..

I’m going to deliver some bad news and some good news. What would you prefer to hear first? Well, I’m going to give you the bad first.

My computer died again. I’m not quite sure what happened but it was giving me a few problems one day and all of a sudden it just stopped working. Maybe some of you computer gurus can tell me what’s wrong. Take a look….

Now, the good news. I found some pictures from this years ISSE show held in Long Beach. I was going to post a few of mine but these are much better and basically the same stuff.

Allow me to introduce you to Randy Taylor.

You can view his hairbrained.me profile HERE and his photo albums HERE. Make friends with him and tell him ‘thanks for the cool picts’, it will make everyone happy!

Until next time!

PS- I wonder how long it will take for my laptop to stop ‘working’!

I cannot believe that it’s 2010. BOY how time flies.

This year it seemed to me that everyone attending the show was more beautiful than in previous years. I was talking about this with a friend of mine and wondered if I was just getting old and was appreciating the beauty of youth, but he assured me that was not the case and that everyone WAS more put together, fashionable and attractive than in the past few years. He also told me “Yes, you are getting old”. Thanks Joe. This is also where I take the opportunity to tell you about Joe’s product line, Shuga and you absolutely have to try his Leave In aerosol conditioner. It is just plain brilliant!

I was honored enough to be able to work with The Netwerk this year in their Technical Theater presentation. The inspiration for this presentation was to design your haircut based on architecturally designed furniture. My designs were based on the cardboard chair (simple shapes with corrugated edges for texture) and the iconic bean bag chair (a big puff shape with seams and a dent where someone was sitting). The hair was something that we should all be proud of. I hope to continue to work with the guys in the future.

I was styling my ‘bean bag chair’ shape, crimping and crimping and teasing and teasing. I was a little lost as to how to develop the shape at first but then I remembered a pattern that Martin Parsons had showed me so I started to develop the shape off that concept. After I got finished with one entire side, I had the seams looking pretty good, the texture was good and it was pretty big, I’m fine tuning it and over my shoulder I hear “That’s looking really good”, I turn back to see who it was and it was none other than the style master himself, Martin Parsons. What a surprise. I laughed and told him that I was stealing his patterns and I was going to claim it as my own. He laughed and said that he would steal it back. EVERY time that I do any kind of style I always fall back on the techniques that Martin taught me at one of his hands on classes that I was lucky enough to attend and assist at. If you have never been, I would strongly urge you to take advantage of it because he will give you not only the knowledge but also the confidence to style hair. Worth every penny!!! Thanks Martin for teaching me.

I walked around the show floor on Monday, as I was working on the presentation Sunday, and found myself at the Sassoon booth watching the artist do some amazing work when in front of me Nick Arrojo snuck by. I jokingly said to him, “Trying to sneak a peak without being noticed?”. He saw me and we chuckled, we started talking about Sassoon and my current favorite hairstylist Mark Hayes. Nick Arrojo then proceeded to give me some advice that I will never forget and treasure. Remember the saying “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear”? Well, evidently I was ready and Nick Arrojo was my teacher that day. I always liked Nick, but now he is a mentor to me and he doesn’t even know it. Thank you!

I’ll be posting some pictures from the show, so be on the look out for those.

Until next time my friends….

The LA Caucus did not have enough attendees to justify a full blown seminar, so instead and as a treat to those who already purchased tickets, airfare and hotels, we are going to be doing a very special “unplugged” version of the Caucus this weekend.

The line up is as follows

The Netwerk will be doing mens cutting first thing on Sunday morning

Anthony Presotto will be presenting on marketing and salon business practices (how to run a successful business, promotion, advertising, etc.)

And I will be doing a haircutting presentation on the implementation of modernizing of classic shapes.

The following day, in the morning we will be working hands on doing at least 2 haircuts, I plan on pushing for 3. I know, such a slave driver! After noon we will be having a hair party and we are all going to cut and color each others hair! WHOO … oh wait…. I don’t have any hair

After finally getting my main computer fixed and upgraded I am able to finish the Transformer Challenge videos with out final entrant Hair Geek (also known as Addicted To Red on AskMags.com).

I think this is one awesome entry so enjoy and if you like it, feel free to post your comments.

I’d like to thank all the guys who took the time to do the challenge and for being so patient with the process of getting these posted. I was originally going to add them to the next Video Magazine DVD but don’t have enough content to put one out so I decided instead of just sitting on them to share them with the Internets and Hairmaven.com. You guys are just awesome!!! and thank you!

Headed back home. look for the final installment of the Transformer Challenge this weekend.

Here are a few more pictures from my trip home.

Nice to have a little snow, it puts a smile on my face!

The snow makes the fire place all the more cozy!

My artist friend Adrian. Check out his website.

“GOD bless our mobile home” Really does say it all, doesn’t it?

I am back in my home town of Louisville, Kentucky for a long weekend to see family and friends. After going around and seeing my old stomping grounds and how much it has changed, it really hasn’t changed at all….

Old of my father’s salons in now a bicycle shop, it seems that when ever one of my father’s salons closes a bicycle show opens up in the location, this is the second one.

Ultra POP, who says that cool stuff isn’t in Louisville?!?

Bardstown Road, the official stomping grounds for a young punk rock/new wave Russell. Looks exactly the same, but fewer skate boards.

Still love the old aluminum Christmas trees!