HOW TO TRAVEL WITH HAIRCUTTING SHEARS AND RAZOR

A lot of people are under the assumption that one cannot travel with haircutting shears and haircutting razors or carry them on a plane. Well, Hair Friend has used its hard hitting investigative reporting to confirm that it is indeed possible to travel with shears and razors.

I know, crazy, right? Here’s the deal. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website (they’re the guys who are in charge of airport security in the US of A), it’s okay to travel with “Scissors - metal with pointed tips and blades shorter than four inches” in both carry on luggage and checked in luggage. Woo hoo!

However, “Razor-Type Blades - such as box cutters, utility knives, and safety razor blades (disposable razors and their cartridges are permitted)” cannot travel in carry on luggage but can travel in checked in luggage. Wop wop.

As rules, regulations and laws are always changing, I always make sure to check the TSA website before traveling to double/triple check that nothing has changed. For more information about traveling with tricky items, check out the TSA website and prohibited items page. If anything, it’s interesting to see what’s actually allowed onto flights. Apparently sabers must be checked in. So I guess my Star Wars light saber will have to be packed away.

Sigh.

*TSA NOTE: Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and Security Officers.

By Pia Vivas for Hair Friend

SO I STYLED THE HAIR FOR A MUSIC VIDEO OF A GREAT BAND & GREAT FRIENDS. HOPE YOU LIKE IT.

This is my Eugene Souleiman/Issey Miyake/Wella inspired hair for knit artist, Elin Johansson.

Hair: Pia Vivas; Photo: Jena Cumbo; Makeup: Kimberley Caudle; Model: Kristina Velkova/Click Models

So, I purchased Sassoon’s Neon Blitz and Gilded Youth, got myself a great hair model and tried out some of the techniques (see photos on the left).

Although I felt like the sectioning could have been displayed more clearly in the DVDs and that there could have been a little more explanation as to why decisions to use certain techniques were used on various parts of the head, I did find the DVDs overall helpful and was able to create this haircut and finished look. She’s happy. I’m happy.

I would say that these DVDs are more within the intermediate/advanced range. Neon Blitz was intermediate while Gilded Youth was a little more complicated. A decent knowledge of Sassoon technique is helpful in following the haircuts especially since some sectioning and elevation wasn’t completely clear. Thank God for pause and rewind buttons!

I think these DVDs are no longer being sold through Sassoon but there are definitely used and new copies still floating around the internet.

:: The trend-setting hairstylist’s 69-year career is the subject of a new documentary. He explains how he created some of the most iconic looks of the 20th century, including the Geometric, the Wash-and-Wear and the Asymmetric 5-point. With photo gallery.

Internet Inspiration

MODERN INSPIRATION = RIVEROFTHE.NET

This is one of the craziest, most inspiring works of art/websites around. The internet has taken over and video is becoming as powerful as photography thanks to sites such as YouTube. riverofthe.net hits a bullseye in terms of video relevancy in the world we currently live in, especially regarding the internet.

Ryan Trecartin (video artist) and David Karp (founder of Tumblr) created riverofthe.net. The site plays 10 second videos uploaded by users and through tags. I haven’t used the tag feature yet. Instead I’ve just let the videos play on a constant random stream and it’s been pretty amazing.

Why do I think it’s amazing? Because the most inspiring thing about the era we’re living in is that the middle man has been taken out of many equations. Before, creating and distributing art was for those who had a lot of money. Now everyone can do it. Everyone can make and distribute music, video, photography, sculpture, teach, sell, buy… Power has been given back to the people. Art and commerce is being made by the people and easily distributed to and consumed by the people. It’s great.

Check out riverofthe.net and this interesting article interviewing Ryan Trecartin about the site.

*Many thanks to Brenda Bradley, sculptor & art teacher extraordinaire for introducing me to this site.

FREE STYLIN’

Recently I helped provide ten days of free hair styling to the general public at Proctor & Gamble’s Pop Up store in Midtown, Manhattan. Styling up to eleven clients a day, I learned a lot about quickly manipulating and controlling various hair textures through product.

As we were only allowed to use Proctor & Gamble Pantene products, I figured it would be a good idea to share what I discovered about these particular products and using product in general.

A lot of clients I worked on had very fine, delicate hair and were looking for volume. For these clients I used ceramic round brushes, a Denman paddle brush, and sometimes a 1” curling iron. I found that layering Pantene’s Fine Volume Mousse over a little of Pantene’s Fine Heat Protection Spray managed to give the hair enough lightweight substance to support a voluminous blow dry. When using the curling iron, the Classic Touchable Hairspray did a great job providing a light brushable hold with some shine.

For those looking to smooth their hair out, Pantene’s Curly Anti Frizz Straightening Creme did a decent job. It definitely relaxed the curl while giving it some shine and blow drying the hair straight with any brush was easier. To diffuse curly hair, I applied it to the hair before twisting curls into place and it rendered smooth, shiny and defined curls. It only performed okay when using it as a finishing cream to smooth out fly aways and give a little extra shine.

The stand out product, however, was Pantene’s Relaxed and Natural Daily Oil Cream. Every stylist working the event commented on how much they liked it. I worked a pea size between both hands and then blotted my palms on dry hair. It gave a lot of shine and definition to curls and waves on dry, frizzy hair. I even used a very tiny bit on the ends of dry, fine hair and it did a fantastic job at making hair look shiny and hydrated without looking greasy. I did notice, that applying too much to fine hair could create a greasy look if not careful.

Is Pantene the best product line I’ve ever used? No. It was, however, pleasantly surprising. If my luggage gets lost on my way to shoot, I know that I’ll be able to walk into a drugstore and get the job done with the these products. I’ll probably be adding the Classic Hairspray and the Relaxed & Natural Daily Oil Cream to my kit.

Check out this IMPORTANT ARTICLE in last week’s NEW YORK TIMES discussing the safety of BRAZILIAN BLOWOUTS and KERATIN TREATMENTS that have become very popular these days. Before dropping hundreds of dollars to get one of these treatments, I suggest informing oneself by reading this article.

24 HOUR DUANE READE OPENS RIGHT ACROSS FROM NEIGHBORHOOD PHARMACY ON BEDFORD AVE

In a major asshole move, Duane Reade decided to add a pharmacy just blocks away from one of their new locations and right in front of one of Williamsburg’s major local pharmacies, Kings Pharmacy. Duane Reade? *sigh*. 24 Hour Duane Reade?? Double *sigh*.

Change is a part of life, especially here in New York. But it sucks to see such a big company so aggressively go after a small business like this. I’ve always loved going to Kings Pharmacy. The pharmacist is always so personable and efficient, the store tends to hire kids from the neighborhood and they play the best mix of music fom Sirius Radio. They truly reflect the neighborhood. Their housewares, hair care, nail polish and seasonal departments carry wisely chosen items. They get it. They get us. If Kings Pharmacy doesn’t have it, then I’ll go to Duane Reade. Otherwise my loyalty will remain with Kings whenever possible.

Let’s support the neighborhood and Kings Pharmacy located at 241 Bedford Ave.