Product Cocktails: How to mix and match your hair styling products

Good hair products can work in perfect harmony together, and in fact, are often created to layer with one or more from the same line.  Mixing products at first can be scary, but you shouldn't worry!  Patrick says: "You can play around with the use each day to find what works best for you. You have a base of products that will last a long time. Don't be afraid to try new uses for each product." 

Here are seven common products and how to use them with each other for the best effects:

Moroccan oil shampoo and deep conditioner

Maintain use when cleansing and conditioning hair

Sexy Hair Root pump plus spray mousse

Use this product when styling, spray on to the base of hair near the scalp. You can air dry with this or add heat with a blow dryer by breeze drying or styling with your brush. You can also let it airdry and then use your new curling iron as your heat addition after hair has dried. This spray mousse is designed to be placed at the root of the hair at the scalp. 

Pureology Texture Twist

Texture twist can be cocktailed with the Moroccan oil to add volume to the root when touching up in extreme humidity. It is designed as a finisher to add texture. This product can be cocktailed with any of the listed products.

Rusk Wired

This can be used as a refresher alone to maintain control of the hair with out a lot of weight added to the hair when dry styling. A little goes a long way!  This is a great product to add control when dry styling to give texture and movement. You can cocktail this with Moroccan Oil for a lighter weight air dry as well.

Big Sexy Hair What a Tease

This productis designed to have backcomb in a bottle. A little goes a long way.  Spray at the base of hair where ever you feel you need extra volume. This will be used once you have airdried, blow dried or curled hair, prior to using any finishing spray. This product is not meant to be used on a daily basis, it's more of a twice a week addition. You will use this prodcut when first styling, after you cleanse and condition and then again a day or two later to refresh the hair.

Big Sexy Hair Powder Play

You can couple this with what a tease for extreme volume by placing it on the base where volume is needed, remember to rub this into the hair at the sclap so it activates the product. Then spray the what a tease over it. Once what a tease has been sprayed you can then seperate hair in four different directions to get the backcombing effect. 

Moroccan Oil Hairspray

This is a finishing spray that can be used daily for hold and pliability of styling when finishing the hair. This product can be layered over all your products for extra control.

Short Sexy Hair Play Dirty 

This product can be used as a layering product when you want an edgy finish with a lot of peiceyness and movement. You can use this product up to 3 times a week. This is a product that you don't need much of. A little goes a long way and works well in humid weather when using the weatherproof as a protectant.

Big Sexy Hair Weather proof

This is your absolute last product to use after styling the hair or retouching the hair. This product will last for a couple of days at a time. When in extreme heat and humidity you can use this everyother day as your last product to place a protective shield over the hair.

Want seven days of hair ideas with these products?  Check back Thursday!

~Kirsten & Patrick

Pre-Fall Hair Idea: Slicked Back Center

This hairstyle is technically a fall trend, but the slicked center look is perfect for poolside drinks when you have no intention of getting in.  Although the look was called "edgy," "severe," and "rock and roll," backstage at fashion week, Allure Magazine declares them to be quick, easy, and practical.

For the look in the photo, shown from Versus, the trick is to slick back just the center of the hair.  This gets rid of the face framing layers allowing you a low maintenance style when you don't want to fuss with your hair.  Hairstylist Guido's inspiration for the Versus model was a 1970's look popularized by Catherine Deneuve.  To copy the look yourself, section off and pull back the center of the hair.  Use a gel to keep everything in place.  Patrick likes Short Sexy Hair's Hard Up, a super strong gel with a bit of shine.  Hold the hair in place with two bobbi pins or a cute barrette (like the "Glam Girl" ones shown above from Goody.)  You can then flat iron the rest of your hair, put it in a low pony tail, or just let it do it's thing.

What's your go to hairstyle for going out?
~Kirsten

He Tried/She Tried:Finishing Touches

Today's He Tried/She Tried focuses on the final finishing touches of your hair style: hair spray, shine spray, and anti-humidity spray.  We all know that styling your hair is half the battle, what you put of when you've finished is what will help you keep your hair looking fabulous for hours to come.  Read on for three of Kirsten and Patrick's favorite finishing products from the Sexy Hair line.

Sexy Hair All Nighter Hairspray
Patrick:  When Kirsten told me she had a show to do in the summer heat, I knew this would be the Hair Spay that would work best for her. It has a strong hold and is used to create strong memory and remains in tact during an all nighter perfomance. I explained the usage to Kirsten and let her know that it would hold her hair in place and give it a solid finish. I explained that she wouldn't have to worry about her hair falling out of place once styled and finished.
Kirsten: Hair spray is crazy important to me, especially when I'm doing shows, so when Patrick asked me to swap out my Tresseme 24 Hour Body hairspray for his bottle of Sexy Hair Hairspray, I wasn't sure.  My fear proved to be unfounded though, as the All Nighter spray did just what it advertised.  It kept my hair in perfect place.  It does get a little crunchy when you pile it on, but it brushes out quite easily.


Sexy Hair Big Shine Spray
Patrick:   This product is amazing and I knew Kirsten had to try it. It has a hold factor of a 1 and a shine and pliability factor of 9, and places a shine over the hair after, you have styled and finished with hair spray. This is a non-greasy, non-oily shine spray that does not break down product that has been used to finsih. It has a lightweight feel and will not weigh down the hair. Even the most delicate fine hair will benefit from this shine product.
Kirsten:  There's not much to say about this product, it's easy to use, smells pleasant, and leaves your hair with a perfect finish and extra shine!


Sexy Hair Weather Proof: Humidity Resistant Spray
Patrick: This is one of my "go to" products to fight humidity and frizz during the late spring and summer seasons here in Chicago (and all year round too).  This revolutionary product places a protective shield over the hair after you have finished your style.  Because of the technology used to create this product, it can be used to guard against these elements, it will wear on the hair very lightly and not produce a hard feeling.
Kirsten:  Frizzies be gone and stay gone!  This product goes on the hair light, non-sticky, and magically seems to keep your hair in perfect place regardless of rain and humidity!  A must use for outdoor updos.  See more of our thoughts on Weather Proof here.


~Patrick and Kirsten

Kirsten's Secret to Long Lasting Blush

I received the best compliment the other day - "your blush always looks fantastic!"  My friend wanted to know my "secret" so I gladly shared my blush routine with her.  Want to know?  I keep my blush long lasting and perky pink by using two different kinds and layering it!

After applying foundation (I'm currently obsessed with Maybelline's Dream Smooth Mousse and Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse) I apply a cream mousse like Maybelline's Dream Bouncy Blush with my Real Techniques Stippling Brush* using small circular motions on the apples of the cheeks.  I love this brush for its densely packed bristles and its ability to buff in color, it works great with cream blush.  Then immediately on top of the cream blush I use a multi-deminsional colored powder blush, a palette with some pinks, peaches, and nudes works best for me, my current favorite is NYC Color Wheel.  Use a soft blush brush, I like the EcoTools Blush Brush*, to swipe color on the apples of the cheeks and blend upwards.  If the look is a little too bright, use a Buffing Brush* to buff in and tone done the color.  Voila, doubling up on blush helps ensure you'll stay bright cheeked all day long.  If the top layer wears off, there's always something underneath!

~Kirsten
*Full disclosure, I do work for a company that has Real Techniques as a client, but I purchased and tried this brush all on my own.

1930s Inspired Hair: Product Swap Out

For those of you that don't know, I (Kirsten) often grace the stages of the midwest as a singer, dancer, and actor.  With that comes many interesting hairstyles and has helped me perfect my updo technique. My most recent show took place in 1930s Germany and since we had to handle our own hair and makeup, Patrick and I tried a product swap out.  I sent him a list of products I usually use and he gave me a slew of salon products to replace them with.  Here's the list:

-Tresseme 24 Hour Body Hairspray or Aqua net

Sexy Hair ~Big Sexy Hair Spray and Stay

-Got 2B Kinky Curling Mousse

Sexy Hair ~ Curly Sexy Hair Curl Power Spray Mousse, Liquid Curling Gel

-Grapeseed curling cream (light texture, white cream, a walmart brand)  

Sexy Hair ~ Full on Curls 

-John Frida Frizz Ease Serum

Sexy Hair ~ Silky Sexy Hair Frizz Eliminator

-A wax paste for my forehead frizzies

Sexy Hair ~ Short Sexy Hair Hardware This product will plaster your wisps. Use it sparingly if you are not shampooing between shows. Play with a little first and then adjust accordingly.

-Garnier Frutrise Anti-humidity Sleek and Shine Cream or their Smoothing Milk 

Sexy Hair ~Short Sexy Hair Rocked Out you can couple this one with the Frizz Eliminator ~ and Big Sexy Hair Big Shine. A couple of mists when you are completely done styling.

The requirements were tough, my hair had to stay in place through a 2.5 hour outdoor show filled with singing, dancing, and costume and hat changes.  I opted for a low, curly chignon style, with a piece-y top section and rolled sides.  The products Patrick suggested were up to the task!  There were only two I wouldn't use again, the Sexy Hair Full on Curls and Liquid Curling Gel, they were both way to sticky for my taste and hard to work with on damp hair, but I loved the rest!  The most important thing I learned from my product swap out, is that the Sexy Hair line cocktails really well.  Feel free to mix and match products from all of the Sexy Hair lines, they'll all work well together in your hair!

Stay tuned in the next couple of weeks for more He Said/She Said Reviews of these products.  

~Kirsten

Pureology Sale: Select Packaging 50% off!

Your favorite Pureology products have a new look, which is good news for you! Not only will the new packaging be beautiful it is designed for easy use. All of the former Pureology packaging in stock at the Styling Studio are 50% off! Shop your favorites to help us make room for the new product packaging, you get the same great product for half the price. The fine print? Only available while supplies last. This exclusive offer cannot be combined with any other offers discounts or specials and are inclusive of Pureology former packaging only.


Stop by the Styling Studio today and stock up!
1518 South Wabash

I tried it: Curly Sexy Hair Shampoo

I was in the market for some new shampoo, so Patrick handed me some bottles of Curly Sexy Hair Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner.  I'm a fan!  The pretty blue bottles are slim and easy to open and contain the sweet smelling shampoo and conditioner.  I've only used it a couple times, so I'm not sure how much it helps my hair curl, but it lathers well and makes my hair feel squeaky clean and soft!  I'll definitely keep it my collection!

What's your go to shampoo?

~Kirsten