Category: Trends

Photo Shoot with KLH Photography: Including a break down of what we did and what products/tools we used

9/27/2017

Yaffa Beauty by Rica had the pleasure of doing hair and makeup for this promotional video for the incredible Kasey at her new studio for KLH Photography in Bridgeport, CT.

We gave Erica Larson, the model, loose and easy beach waves using a Paul Mitchell Neuro™ Unclipped 1.25" Cone and Paul Mitchell Hot Off the Press to protect her long, lovely locks. We secured the waves with Paul Mitchell Super Clean Light Spray once they cooled down and we ran fingers through the waves.

For Erica's makeup, we used Mary Kay Foundation Primer with SPF 15 and Mary Kay CC Cream with SPF 15 in Light to Medium. To conceal (nominal) imperfections, we used Mary Kay's Concealer. On her eyes, we used a variety of shades, including but not limited to, Stone Mineral Powder Eye Shadow, Crystalline Mineral Powder Eye Shadow and more. To make sure Erica's eyeliner held up during the shoot, we used Mary Kay Gel Eyeliner, which is waterproof and holds up under anything.

Erica's tone needed some pink to give her that refreshed look for the natural beauty shots, so we relied on Mary Kay's Cheek Colors in Strawberry Cream with a touch of Bold Berry. We finished off Erica's look with Mary Kay's Gel Semi-Matte Lipsticks, combining Mauve Moment and Bashful You.

Once we were done with the more natural, beachy look, we transformed Erica for an evening look to match her black, velvet va-va-voom dress. To achieve this, we use Paul Mitchell Neuro™ Unclipped 1.25" Cone and Paul Mitchell Hot Off the Press to create bigger, more defined curls. We locked down the curls with Paul Mitchell Super Clean Light Spray. To amp up her look, we then tookMary Kay's Coal Mineral Eye Shadow and redefined the cut crease and around the eyes. Her cheeks got a night-time makeover with some Mary Kay's Cheek Color in Bold Berry. To bring her daytime look to completion into night, we then blended in some Mary Kay Gel Semi-Matte Midnight Red into the color we created earlier.

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Falling Into Fall with Sarah's Fire-Inspired hair

9/8/2017

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Not to sound like a yenta, but when I say that I've known Sarah since she was >>>this<<< big is no understatement - I sang at her baby-naming. Now, a college graduate with an artistic flair, and recovering from the typical college-student playing with haircolor experiments, we decided to give her a professional Unicorn overhaul.

We went from this:

To this:

And we finally landed here - with a stunning photo shoot in Pound Ridge, NY.

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An exciting project: Gender Reveal Haircut and Color with Ariana

9/5/2017

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A little over a month ago, I met Arianna at The Block at The Waypointe's Wine Around the Block event. She came in and introduced me to her mom and immediately booked a haircut appointment. After a couple of haircuts, this lovely mother-to-be decided to book an appointment for a fun color, and we realized it would make a fantastic gender reveal for her upcoming baby shower! Take a look at the results!

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Prom 2k17!

2/25/2017

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This year, prom looks run the gamut from polished and poised, to glamorous and Hollywood, to edgy and avant garde, with a pop of 80's iconography.

As we move deeper into the 21st century, freedom of expression is ringing loud and clear in the way fashion moves.

Classic and beautiful standards, like shiny curls, lovely updos with a Grecian twist, are still here to stay. But there is a certain freedom and wistfulness in what we are seeing on runways. Overly-done braids are making way to letting the braids and twists accent longer hair. Marissa loved the way her gorgeous brown hair cascaded down, with delicate twists intertwined with one another. And note her makeup - it's fresh, it's young, it's not overly done, but there is still quite a bit of sparkle with a gleam of iridescent glitter on her lids.

On the flip side, braids are evolving, and techniques like Kevin Murphy's hair-sewing, which replaces the need for bobby pins and, in this stylist's humble opinion, beats hair pins and bobby pins when it comes to security and comfort, takes on a new twist. Paul Mitchell introduced as part of it's Electric Youth launch this spring a look that exposes the threads in the hair-sewing. It's clear topstitching is not only something to look for in our clothing and accessories, but now it's in our hair! And Yaffa Beauty by Rica is loving it! Andreya's look is a play on both techniques - with a French braid starting in the front, winding it's way to the back, and held together with topstitching. We understand it's not a look for everyone, but if you want to take a walk on the wild side, or add a little edge, it's a fun look to pull off!

With movies like "La La Land," vintage and old Hollywood glamour take on a very contemporary feel. Vibrant colors mixed with waves and curls and rich, thick hair are going to be seen on dance floors all over the country. Ariella epitomizes the perfect movie star feel. A Femme Fatale in the making, her sultry eyes are offset by a near-nude lip stick and a touch of gloss. Her smoky blonde and burgundy lob was set in red-carpet waves, and she is ready to take the town.

The 80s are back - thank goodness! And, thanks to first generation 80s kids now in the sites of merchandisers, it's authentic and fun! Through our daughters, we get to achieve looks and trends our mothers wouldn't let us pull off! So, for Grace, who already rocked purple hair, we gave her a slightly more lavender tone, and crimped that hair! (Editor's note: Rica swore in 2014 that she was going to bring crimping back into fashion. She's working hard at it, but the other models were fascinated by the technique.) Because we weren't going to shave her side, Grace was given three simple cornrows, which was just enough asymmetry to the heights met with some teasing up top that she rocks this Cyndi Lauper-inspired look. To complete the totally gnarly look, Rica dug deep into the depths of her nostalgia and whipped up some neon green and purple eyeliners, used another lime green eye pencil as lower eye mascara and popped those eyes open with eye shadow that matched both the lipstick and the dress. Though clearly a strong nod to an era when Duran Duran ruled the airwaves, it still suits today's fun loving, throw caution to the wind fashion sensibility.

Each look has its own sense of fashion and fun, but none in a way that would make chaperones cringe or fathers want to chase down their daughter's dates with threats of, "Don't you lay a hand on her!" Yaffa Beauty by Rica aims to please all parties concerned - first and foremost, her client, but we are always mindful that when dealing with teens, there are parents not too far behind.

Love these looks? Want Rica to invent a new look based on your gown and passion? Awesome! We have a couple of packages to help you along with that!

Makeup Application, Hair Styling & Hair Dressing - $125 (usually $150)
Makeup Application, Hair Styling & Dressing and a CND Shellac Manicure (which can be done within 3-4 days of Prom Night) - $150 (usually $185)

Both of these packages are now available to choose when you schedule your appointment!

Need someone to come to your house to prep? For a small fee, Rica can come to you the day of prom. Have friends that want to get ready with you? Call us at 203-842-8388 and a group appointment can be arranged!

AND... we are so excited to announce this... A Step Ahead in Stamford, CT is partnering with us! If you buy a prom gown, or any occasion gown, from A Step Ahead, and you bring your receipt to Yaffa Beauty by Rica for your hair & makeup appointment, you will get 10% off of your service total of $50 or more!

Have a fantastic night at prom!

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Want to loosen those curls and rid yourself of frizz? You may be a candidate for Cezanne’s Smoothing Treatments!

2/11/2017

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This week, we hosted an educational class on the Cezanne line of Keratin Smoothing Treatments. With an Express and a Classic Smoothing Treatment option, you can test the waters before taking the plunge. Expect the Cezanne Express Keratin Smoothing Treatment to last in the hair for about 4 weeks, 6 weeks maximum, and the Cezanne Classic Keratin Smoothing Treatment to last for 6-8 weeks or longer. It is recommended that, if you are having color services performed, to have them done after the Smoothing Treatment, however, the great news is that color services can be executed the same day as the Cezanne Smoothing Treatment. (If your color service involves highlighting or lifting, it is suggested that the lightening process take place prior to the smoothing treatment).

Kim Berney, educator with Cezanne, explains, “When people hear ‘straightening,’ people think they want their hair bone straight, or that a smoothing treatment will make a hair bone straight. Cezanne is a smoothing treatment, but what sets us apart is putting the hair into the optimal condition, and then what comes is a softer curl, frizz free. It’s all about reconditioning the hair… Cezanne creates the perfect canvas, in keeping with the origin of the name.” This refers to Paul Cezanne, the French painter who paved the way for modern art. As Kim explains, the greatest artwork will fail if the foundation, the canvas, is compromised. “Most (treatments) are about making the hair straight. We are all about making the hair healthy and shiny, which results in the hair being smooth.”

“People hear smoothing treatment or keratin treatment, they assume pin-straight,” Erin Golas of Evolve Salon Systems points out.

Is this going to give you perfectly straight hair? There is absolutely no guarantee. But it will provide a smoother surface to the hair, reduce your dry time significantly (I personally saw a 50% reduction in time and effort on my own hair!) and shine.

Should everyone get this treatment? Not necessarily.* There are always risks involved with processing the hair with heat. But, if after consultation with your stylist, you are both confident this is an option for you, give the Express a shot! And if that works for you, go for the Classic.

To kick off the Cezanne Smoothing Treatments at Yaffa Beauty by Rica, we are offering a One-Year Subscription, which includes 4 treatments, for $750! That’s one treatment free! If you aren’t ready to commit to the full year, try a one-time Cezanne Classic or Express Smoothing Treatment for $290, which includes your Cezanne Perfect Moisture Shampoo & Perfect Moisture Conditioner to maintain your Cezanne Keratin Smoothing Treatment! Book now at Yaffa Beauty by Rica!

Stylists in the Fairfield County area interested in learning more about Cezanne, please reach out to Erin for distribution ering@evolvesalonsystems.com

* Word of caution: If your hair is overprocessed, overly dry, or otherwise compromised as determined by your stylist, it is not advisable to subject your hair to any smoothing treatment that involves chemicals and heat. There are high risk factors that can cause irreversible damage. Your stylist does have the right to refuse service, or request that you sign a disclaimer, if they feel your hair is too compromised.

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The Reality Check of “Unicorn” Hair

1/31/2017

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2016 brought “Unicorn” hair, or “Rainbow” hair, into the forefront. More and more fashionistas wanted it, and not many got the results they wanted.

But before you point your finger at your stylists, here are some realities…

This is a time commitment. Expect to spend a long time in the salon while your hair lightens, sometimes twice, you get treatments, the color processes, and then some possible tweaking afterwards. No joke, I tell my clients to bring a snack, or a meal, a book, and block the rest of the day.
This is a financial commitment. I cannot tell you how many clients I have coming into my chair, or messaging me from all over, reporting horrific results from salons, or, worse, their bathrooms. Instead of taking my advice, coming to me for a consultation, they choose to bid it out, find the least expensive salon with someone willing to do it, or, resorting to the dreaded box color. And then what happens is, instead of spending the money once and walking away, they spend almost the same amount of money I quoted, maybe a tad less, and either immediately or within the first shampoo or two, disaster strikes. Color bleeds, washes out, is patchy, hair is breaking or broken, feels like straw, uneven… you name it. And then, guess what? They end up in my chair, anyway, and have to pay just as much as they did the first time, only this time it is so that I can fix the damage, and, if they are lucky, give them the color they wanted. But there is a greater chance that the result will still not be what it could have been.
This is a commitment outside of the salon. You cannot escape the need for amazingly high quality, professional hair care and styling products. There is not a single product that you can buy outside of a salon that will be able to successfully maintain fashion color. I know, I know, we all have a friend who swears by whatever is on sale at your corner drug store. Here’s what you need to know - it’s a fluke. And that’s just for now. Your hair has been through the ringer, chemically. It is now “special needs.” Shampoo, conditioner and styling products that are made for the masses will not suffice. It may work at first, but the long term damage to the color is just a matter of time. You’ll have premature fading, your hair will dry out… it’s a ticking time bomb.
Don’t expect to wash your hair everyday. Not unless you literally want to wash your financial investment down the drain. Plus, it’s bad for your hair, even under the best of circumstances. Learn to wash your hair 1-3 times a week, maximum. It’s ok - your hair will adjust faster than your psyche to this. And it will thank you.
You must be embarrassingly honest with your hairdresser. Period. That includes the time you tried to go blonde by using Clorox liquid bleach on your head (and, yes, I had someone who lied about doing that and they paid the consequences), to using box color to mask that really bad idea you and your former hairstylist came up with to tie dye your hair. We won’t care. We will have heard it all. Or just about. (Ok. I’m not going to lie. We will judge you and laugh at you when you aren’t looking. But, let’s be real. You judged yourself and laughed at yourself, too.) And we might tease you now and again, or ask if we can use your exploits as cautionary tales to other wannabe unicorns, but we will still love and nurture you.

BUT… if you are NOT painfully honest about EVERYTHING you have done to those little strands on top of your head, here is what can happen:

Your hair will break off. And exactly at the line where your worst hair transgression took place. You will be left with stumps. I’ve seen it happen, and after spending hours of careful work, weeks of coaching and consulting. It was devastating.
Your hair will melt. This is terrifying. I once had someone come into my chair who, just misting her hair with water, caused melting. This will almost always, unless one is stupidly lucky and careful, lead to breaking as soon as the hair dries.
Your hair will look like a sad, mottled, patchy blob of color. I’ve seen hair look like lichen on a rock. I’ve seen hair that looks blonde and mouldy. I’ve seen weird, pink splotches.
You will look like Tammy Faye Baker’s eyelashes where a rainbow used to be. All the colors will melt into horrifying streams of muddy color.

So, the good news is this is what can go wrong. Here’s what can go right, especially when you work with me:

You are prepared. If we have the chance before your appointment, we will have an in-person, if not telephone, consultation. You will share your deepest, darkest hair secrets, and give me some history on your hair. I may even give you some homework, as in treatments you can do in advance of your appointment, how to take care of your hair, etc. You will also know to bring food. (This is not a joke.)
You won’t be surprised or shocked at the amount of time it requires. I work really hard to set expectations that are based in reality. I don’t want you upset because you were here 3x what you expected. That’s also one of the reasons I went independent - I can control my time a little bit better.
Sticker shock will wear off, especially since I explain what every charge is. And I will not take you by surprise.
If you are honest with me, then we shouldn’t have any surprises along the way. And, if I see something happening that wasn’t expected, I am honest with you. I will tell you when we need to stop a process, or if your color dreams aren’t achievable in one sitting, or until your hair recovers more. And I give you a backup plan.
You will go home with product that works for your hair. You won’t have to worry about what you need to get for yourself, or remember to write anything down. And if I don’t have it in stock, if you pay for it in advance, I can have it here to pick up within a day or two.
When it comes time to refresh, things will go smoother. Why? Because I will know what was in your hair, how it responds, and what my canvas is made of as we create more hair art.

Let's hope that 2017 brings healthy, happy, bouncy "Unicorn" hair into vogue.

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y'alla yaffa! OFFICIAL BLOG OF YAFFA BEAUTY BY RICA

Photo Shoot with KLH Photography: Including a break down of what we did and what products/tools we used

Falling Into Fall with Sarah's Fire-Inspired hair

An exciting project: Gender Reveal Haircut and Color with Ariana

Prom 2k17!

Want to loosen those curls and rid yourself of frizz? You may be a candidate for Cezanne’s Smoothing Treatments!

The Reality Check of “Unicorn” Hair

Rica

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