I want to tell you about my hair adventures in Salt Lake City. I had two of them! When I arrived, my hair was in desperate need of attention. It was so bad that I wore a hat from the moment I got off the plane until my hair appointment the next day. (Thank goodness for hats!)
My hair appointment was at Aura Hair Studio, which specializes in curly hair. In Denver, I used to have my hair done by a curly-hair-trained-stylist (I love Melissa!), but this was my first time going to a whole salon dedicated to curly hair. I really liked it! It was fun to talk shop about curly hair — favorite products, new techniques, how often we shampoo, etc. Made me happy (and my hair looked great!). Plus, by the end of the appointment, I think I convinced Chelsa, my stylist, that she should start a blog. : )
The favorite new trick I learned from Chelsa: apply hair gel in the shower when my hair is sopping wet. Works wonders!
On Friday, I had my second hair adventure. The amazingly talented Rubi of She Lets Her Hair Down blog, arranged for a team of stylists to be available to Alt Summit speakers. Which was basically the coolest perk ever! So I met Rubi and Casie (of Lunatic Fringe) in Jordan’s hotel room early on Friday morning for a little hair party. Casie styled my hair with a curling iron, brush and hairspray — 3 things I haven’t used on my curly hair in what feels like a decade. And my hair looked so good! I received compliments all day long and into the evening — and frankly, I felt really pretty.
I don’t own a curling iron, so I haven’t tried to replicate the hair style since I’ve been home. I’m kind of scared to, because I’m sure my attempt won’t be as nearly as cute. But I still want to see how close I can get!
Do you know what? That was the first time I’ve ever had an appointment just to get my hair “done”. No cut or color or wash — just getting my hair styled. And I loved it! I would definitely do it again. Have you ever had an appointment just for a styling? Maybe for your wedding or another big event? Have you ever had your hair done just because?
P.S. — In high school, my friend Jandi would get up early to style her mother’s hair. I remember being so amazed by that!
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{ 80 comments… read them below or add one }
love your hair – so cute! And no, I’ve never had just a “style only” appointment. Except for my wedding day – does that count?
I think that totally counts!
Mmm… I love “gettin’ mah hair did”! So much fun!
Agreed! I think I could become addicted.
Someone who’ll get up early JUST to style your hair? Now if that’s not a reason to have kids, I don’t know what is!
Hah! Maybe I should teach Maude to style my hair.
maude is a super talented girl I bet she could do it!
I’ll get my hair ‘done” for any occasion. In two weeks I’m going to the coast for the weekend which will involve a dinner and lunch with good friends and my hair appointment is already made. It is an extravagance but so worth it. I used to get my hair cut and coloured on different days so that I could get two blow – drys! Now that I’m mum though there’s no time for doing that!
Brilliant, Julie! I love that you used to split up your hair appointments.
I never have – not even on my wedding day. I have curly hair too and for some reason everyone has wanted to pull a brush through my curls and give me Dallas hair (the 80′s show not the city). I learned the gel on wet hair trick from my little sister. I actually use a straightening gel (Bed Head Control Freak – it has a little glitter in it) when I want my hair to curl nicely. If Chelsa starts a blog I will definately be a reader!
So true – not everyone can handle curly hair. You can imagine how I was inwardly groaning when Casie pulled out a hair brush – but it turned out great. She was amazing!
I had mine done on my wedding, but also when I was on a very boring skiing-singles-weekend and it was new years eve to come, me and my two girlfriends went to get our hair styled spontaneously. Just so we had at least a bit of fun. And it was wonderful. A salon in an upper floor in lucerne (switzerland), where we were all seated with a view out the windows..aka alps and lake! and then we got pampered. The party was lame, but we were “happy”. I’d do it again any day! (but with kids and less date nights… I donno when that “again” will be.)
I love the look of your curls! Wish I had at least a bit of curls… when I curl mine with the iron I need loooads of hairspray to keep the curls for one night.
I love your ski weekend story! I can totally imagine that.
I have never done my hair. Going for a cut and color is an enough torture for me. :)
Besides, you look gorgeous on these pictures. I love your outfit. What else did you wear? Maybe you should do the next post on that? :)
You’re a sweetheart, Azra. I loved my outfits for Alt Summit. Maybe I’ll play dress up and ask Ben Blair to take a few photos. : )
ah!! just last week my sister softened my unruly curls with a curling iron!
I felt so dreamy that I did a self mini photo session…and believe me it’s hard for me to be in front of a camera! if you have the time check it out http://moncy3.blogspot.com/2012/01/if-you-got-itflaunt-it.html
I will have to try the gel trick! your hair looks awesome!
I’ve never gone to just get my hair styled, but now that I’m a mom I’m so tempted to! I styled my own hair for prom and for my wedding (am i crazy?)
Not crazy — I bet you’re just good at doing hair!
Your hair looks great in the pictures. I love curly hair! (I wish I had it) Rubi just cut my hair a couple weeks ago and I love it!
Your hair looks really cute. I love your curls! I would love to have a style-only appointment sometime.
On an unrelated note, wowzer Gabby! Those are some FATALISTIC heels you are wearing! :) I would have needed a hair stylist and an orthopedic surgeon at Alt!
Hah! I don’t know if anyone has called my shoes fatalistic before. I think I like it. : )
No, I never have..but let me give a word of advice to anyone getting married sometime soon. It is a good idea to have someone “do” your hair for you on your wedding day. I did my own/ by myself (various reasons) and when I got to the end of the aisle the first thing my soon-to-be-husband said, “What did you do to your hair?” No kidding. 12 years later, I still remind him of this. :)
I’m so glad you were able to enjoy a little pampering! I’m curious about this gel technique. You put it on wet, then do you pat/blot hair dry as usual? Blotting off some of the gel to soften it?
Let’s see if I can explain it better.
1) Shampoo.
2) Condition, but barely rinse it out.
3) Squeeze out some of the excess water with your hands. Add gel and work it through your hair with your fingers. Don’t worry about separating your curls because your hair is still wet enough that they’ll come back together.
4) Step out the shower and towel off — but don’t towel your hair.
5) Use a tee shirt to sponge your hair, then use a diffuser or let it air dry.
I hope that helps!
i was just going to ask this myself by a curly haired girl as well. i’ll have to try this out. it sounds wrong but just crazy enough to work! awesome! on occasion i’ve gotten my hair done for special events, but i always just have them straighten it out. go figure. i LOVE LOVE LOVE having someone blow dry my hair. and since they barely do it when it’s curly, they have to really get in there to get it straight. :)
So…. a brush never touches your head? I also have curly hair (it was always wavy, but after having two kids I have turned into a head of curls and don’t understand how to tame it).
And this Florida humidity isn’t helping matters.
Oh, I’m a blow out girl. My thick, coarse, curly tresses love a blowout – and I can stretch it up to a week easily (even longer if I don’t do a ton of sweaty exercising). They are completely worth their time and cost when I’d normally spend up to 2 hours on my hair myself. AND! In most major cities now there are “bars” just for that – like DryBar in NYC.
Kinky Curly Curling Custard – it will change your life.
xo
I need to try that! I’m going to see if it’s on Amazon right this minute.
My hair is FRIZZY and I have a hard time getting it smooth. I work with the frizz (too generous to refer to my hair as curly) sometimes and achieve a pretty wave, but I’m not very coordinated with brushes and hair tools. I’ve been to the salon once for a wash and blow dry—before family pictures—and it looked so pretty. Funny, because it didn’t cost very much, gave me such pleasure, and I’ve yet to repeat the experience. You’ve planted a seed… Thank you! :)
PS: Your hair looked darling!
Glad to know I planted a seed. : )
The last time I was in NYC I went to the Braid Bar at the John Barrett salon just for fun — for $45 they give you a braided updo, and mine lasted for more than three days. Totally fun splurge!
My youngest child has very long curly hair and I’m constantly at a loss for how to style it. I’ll have to try the gel and see if that helps. All I know is that we have to brush it out once a week or she gets dreadlocks.
I didn’t get up early, but my mom worked in an art gallery in the evenings when I was in HS. I would braid her hair and give her awesome claw bangs. I had some serious curling iron skillz. (It was the 80s after all:)
Good old 80′s claw bangs!
I think your hair looks fantastic – soft and loose with movement.
On another note, I have to know where you got those fabulous shoes! I have been looking for a pair of nude heels forever. Your outfit looks great. I would never have thought to wear capris in January! What a great way to extend an outfit beyond a specific season. If I am not prying – were you wearing hose? It looks like bare legs – were you inside all day? (Hey I live in Canada, these are important things to consider, like walking from the parking lot to my office through 10 inches of snow :)
Thanks for sharing!
Carla
Carla–I got a pair of Vera Wang’s brand at Kohls. Totally cute nude heels (perfect shade, I think) and they’re the platform-ish kind so while I wouldn’t recommend them when you have to stand forever, they’re easier to wear than typical super high heels. I wear them to church where I know I’ll be sitting a lot!
Gabrielle, I was just going to post that you look fabulous, right down to your shoes and then, read another fan commenting on them. I understand why there was the Grace Kelly comparison. You look fantastic! My sister has curly hair and I am going to pass the hair gel tip on her her! /g
(Oh Kohls…. we have great, sturdy, shoes here in the north, but miss Kohls and Target!)
Gina, you have me blushing!
Yes! Mine are the Vera Wang pair from Khols. I bought them a half-size smaller than my usual size. They’re tall! But the built-in platform makes them easy to walk in.
Carla, I wasn’t wearing hose, but I wasn’t going outside either. I packed a pair of boots for the days I needed to be outside in the wintry Utah weather. But during the conference, I was indoors pretty much all day long.
The cropped pants are a new pair for me. They’re high waisted– the first high waited pair I’ve owned in ages. But I love them! They have some satin details that give them sort of a tuxedo look, so I intended to wear them to dinner one night, but then decided I’d try them for a day look.
Thank you for the information – I really appreciate your sharing these details! I will have to see if Kohls ships to Canada.
I have a beautiful Cotton/Sateen (sp?) crop-pant suit that I bought last June for a conference in San Diego. I hated to put it away for the winter. With your inspiration, I may be able to dig it out for ‘indoor’ days.
In Manhattan, lots of women don’t wash their own hair much less style it themselves, they go to the salon for a wash and blowout. I’ve never enjoyed the results and always prefer DIY hair, which is a blessing for my bank account lol. You look gorgeous pro-styled and diy :)
Gabi,
I have crazy curly hair, too, but I always feel more put together when I blow it straight which is far too time consuming for everyday. However, my friend just showed me her tricks so I can now blow out and flat iron my hair in ~8 minutes. I am soooooooo happy! I love feeling like I look like I did something with myself that day. [I am excited to try the gel-in-shower trick, though.]
Mary
Less than 8 minutes? You’ll have to share a tutorial!
Please do share an eight-minute tutorial! That could change my life. I’ve got the coarse and curly/frizzy hair. I will try your tips, Gabi, about not washing out the conditioner all the way and adding the gel in the shower. Thank you!
I did a style-only appointment for my ten-year high school reunion. I had flown into Albuquerque for just one night and didn’t want to pack all of my shampoo/conditioner/round brush/blow-dryer/etc. and hair products, so I just had them wash and style it for me at a salon that morning. It looked fantastic. The guy straightened my hair for a full hour. I don’t want to think about the damage it caused, but my hair has never been shinier or straighter.
Your hair looks so pretty! Okay, next time I’m down in SLC, I’m going to have to try Aura Hair. I’m a curly girl, and I like to wear my hair long-ish, but I have the hardest time finding a stylist who knows how to deal with my kind of hair!
I went to Lunatic Fringe a few times when I lived in Salt Lake, and I always walked away with a haircut that made me feel incredible. (Nothing against my current stylist–she’s darling and does a good job, but it’s just not the same.)
P.S. I am definitely going to try the gel-in-the-shower idea. Thanks!
I’ve got curly hair too but have yet to find a curly salon. I will have to look for one.
I too use the gel right after I get out of the shower. I use Paul Mitchell’s. What kind do you use? I have tried a few other brands but felt his was best on me.
Also, look at you in our high heels! Love it.
You look so awesome! Clothes, hair, everything. :) I had my hair done for my wedding – we did a practice run earlier in the week and then we did it for real that day. It was a complicated style (vintage look with pin curls), so it took 2 hours! These days, my style is short and messy, so it would be kind of useless to have someone style it. I literally just use my hands to mess it up, spray it with hairspray, and go! Takes like 2 minutes.
Yay for 2 minute hair dos!
Gabby, I never comment, but I had to today just to say how lovely your hair is. Gorgeous, really. Also, I am LOVING the heals!
Wow. Thank you, Cathi!
I remember watching my Mom get her hair styled for my wedding day (all the females went together for a mass hair appt.). I think we embarrassed her with all the praise.
I have wavy, what I call nappy waves hair. Its like almost curly… What brand of hair gel do you use in the shower? That sounds like something that would appeal to me. -Single mom with no time for styling
The gel I’m using right now is a medium strength formula from Garnier. The label is in French, so I’m not sure if they offer an American equivalent. But really, it’s just a cheap-y sort from the grocery store.
When I have access to Deva Curl An-gel, I love that too!
Your hair does look great! And I loved how you wrap your scarf. Can you give a tutorial? :)
I should totally do a tutorial. But maybe I can explain it quickly here. I just wrap and wrap the scarf around my neck until I only have a few inches of each end left. Then I tie the ends in a loose knot. Done!
Thanks! I guess the trick is with a thinner scarf. I need to get some. Looks fabulous and so european. Love it!
I love your curly hair! I had very curly hair all through adolescence up until I gave birth to my little boy #2. The day after he was born, poof, it was straight! Stick straight!
And I have to say, there is something special about getting hair cuts in Utah. I’ve never had a great haircut where I live in Connecticut, but I always make sure to get one when visiting family in Salt Lake, because they are always fabulous!
Isn’t that funny about childbirth and curls?
Your hair looks darling on you! My daughter has super curly red hair. Being 8, she doesn’t like a lot of fussing. I think it looks better when I touch it up with a curling iron, but she rarely has the patience. I will try the gel in the shower thing with her, but any other tips would be appreciated too.
Hair looks great. The shoes are pretty fabulous too!
Can you explain more about applying gel in the shower? After you have washed and conditioned it?
Thanks!
Hi Jill! I included some more details in one of the comments above. I hope they help!
Love the hair. The shoes were a big surprise. I have been reading your blog for a year and would not have guessed that you would wear such extreme (in my book anyway) heels.
Sorry for the shock, Lillie! Maybe they look more extreme in the photo than they do in real life. Who knows?
Your hair looked great! you are a true classic beauty!
Your curls look great! I’m glad you embrace them, instead of fighting them. My curls are so middle-of-the-road, and look a million times better since I started hitting them up with a wide barrel curling iron. Yours look so natural and pretty.
I model, and my favorite part of jobs are hair and makeup! I get to watch while they use products and styles that are new to me. Sometimes the results are awesome, sometimes they are ugly (to me), but I always get to discover some new things!
Just one more curly hair tip my stylist gave me a few years ago– use hair spray. I was not on board with this idea initially but she explained hair spray helps you keep the moisture you want in the curl (from the curl product) to keep it soft but also creates a barrier against humidity to avoid frizz. At least for me (a Boston local, land of year round humidity), her tip works wonders!! My hair routine is simple–apply curl cream while wet, let hair dry for a bit while getting dressed. Then, while it’s still damp, spray on a bit of hairspray and let it finish drying. So simple. It truly has helped tone down the extra sass my curls love to give me.
You look amazing – I was first struck by how “French” you look! My high school french teacher, Madame Wardell, was one of the most stylish people I have ever seen in real life. She carried herself with such an air of propriety, while at the same time being completely glamorous. That is exactly how you struck me in those photos. I believe the French have infused you with their magic !
i need to find a curly salon. anyone know one in portland? hair cuts are NEVER a positive experience for me. finally i just started going to cheap lame chain places because i can’t tell any difference between that and a pricey appointment. your post (and cute hairdo) are good inspiration! i am going to try to find a local curly pro. my hair has potential…i just need some expertise. someday i’ll get it done too….i never have gone in to get a blowout or anything, but i should. in the meantime, cant wait to try the gel in the shower trick. thanks!
i’m going to go check this place out soon!
http://portlandsunshine.blogspot.com/2012/02/blow-out.html
Looks beautiful! I’m trapped in the purgatory of wavy hair… it’s not fun and curly like yours and it’s not straight enough to wear straight (even when I try to flat iron it). It ends up… sort of sticking up here and laying flat there. Mostly at the top of my head, since my hair is also insanely thick and heavy.
I wonder if there are stylists who specialize in thick, heavy, wavy hair…
P.S. – I have the same shoes, or almost the same, and love them!
I hate my thin, super dry curly hair! It also started to grey very prematurely, but i can’t even color it often enough due to how dry and fragile it is. I can’t use any styling tools either, not even hair dryer to avoid drying it further. I wear pony tale every day, but go to the salon to straighten it for special occasions. Ok, enough ranting :-) I will try the hair gel trick, maybe it will make me like my hair at least a little bit.
Love, love, love your hair! So gorgeous! But I’m also crushing on your scarf! Thanks for the tute! Tres chic!!
Love the black pants! Where from? And BTW you look very Parisian and glamorous! Chic Mommy, all you would have to do is swap out those heels for flats and you could easily transition to a day with kids!
I tried your new trick of putting gel in my wet hair while in the shower this morning and man, oh man! I am a fan! Where has that tidbit of information been for the last 31 years of my life?! Thank you for sharing. Such a random thing that made all the difference to me in my time crunched morning.
I get scoffed at when I ask local hairdressers if they do curly hair, “Of course!”, they say. Unfortunately, most of them have no idea – once a curly ‘expert’ put me under the dryer and used only a pea sized amount of product, despite my protests about the dryer, and pleas that more product was required. You know that I walked out of there with a huge afro. And a red face. And my hairdresser-phobia still well intact.
To go to a curly-only salon would be bliss!
Oh, and you look stunning, Gabby! Absolutely stunning! The French life certainly is agreeing with you! ;)
How does one go about finding a stylist that specializes in curly hair? I have wavy/curly hair, but I don’t think I’ve ever been to someone that had expertise in curly hair…