The Magic of Hair Color Mixology

Becoming a Crib Colorist

Mix Colorissimo w/ RenColor & why

I am very, no…. make that ---> EXTREMELY proud of so many of you that follow the KillerStrands teachings and have taken it upon yourself to learn the proper way to color hair. I hear many of you talking in “Colorist-lingo” and speaking about it correctly and in the proper format. Makes me a proud Mama Bear. There seems to be a lot of questions about the mixing of colors when using the Renbow Lines and I can fully understand that.

Why? When I was in Sassoon Academy no one ever mixed the 2 lines together. . .when I got out and was able to order the color myself for my own Clientele…I began reading the Instruction sheets, Color Charts and Inserts that come with the color, I was very thirsty for knowledge back then, much like many of you are now.

It was not until this point though, (about 3 years after I started) that I began experimenting with mixing RenColor and Colorissimo together. I mean why wouldn’t these Master Colorists {that were my Instructors} not teach me the exact ‘correct’ methods of mixing & applying this color? ? ? It took me quite a few years to finally come up with that answer. [... because they never slowed down long enough to read the Manufacturers Instructions and suggestions which is what I did - sometimes 'ego' gets in the way of learning -be careful of that one!].

I highly suggest all of you read the manufacturers instructions periodically on hair color that you are using…you never know when they have changed the instructions so check it all over periodically. So I was not taught the way to use Colorissimo and RenColor together….that was one of the most amazing discoveries of my career…I still remember the day.

RenColor comes in 30 beautiful fashion and pastel shades. To this date I have never seen one other line of permanent hair color with this range and this unusual of colors. I keep waiting for anyone to get close or to understand that as a top Colorist. THIS IS WHAT TONES WE WANT…they may seem a bit unusual to many of you. But you ask any top colorist & most will agree. The thing about Renbow and why it was not nearly as big as any of the other lines? Is because it was owned and run and a famous italian Colorist Renato Bruno. Renato came to America and ended up staying here when he brought the line over… so he has a manufacturing plant and distribution in Italy and throughout Europe and in Pennsylvania & throughout the USA. The bottle contains 2 ounces of product and must be mixed with an equal amount of hydrogen peroxide..

Rencolor provides amazing lift & lasting ability, self-stopping coloring action, no build-up of color on the ends as is so with ALL Renbow colors. RenColor is also know for its superb transparency, unsurpassed conditioning…but mostly > its known for is SHINE!

There are 4 Shade Divisions within RenColor

DUSK ……………..….in Levels 1 to 6

DAWN …………….…in Levels 6 to 10

SUNRISE …………in Levels 7 to 10

SUNSET …………. in Levels 5 to 8

…………………………………………………………………

Lets Begin with DUSK

DUSK - An intermixed base that is predominantly a deep tone. There just isn’t a lot of tones that show up in dark levels. I have watched various companies try and fail -- attempting it. A 3 BRV, pretty much looks like black if you ask me. Or a 4A, which many companies, including both WELLA & Renbow’s Colorissimo have…I have a great eye for color especially hair color but anything below a 5 or especially a 4 is pointless….its just too damn dark. .Hey, I’m all for them keeping them in their lines, I used to use them – I LOVED them & used them all…. I felt bad for the darkies….. they had no fun/no variations…just ask me -- I’ve been the same dumbass Level 8-Red my whole life. . . with a few attempts at other colors, they just look weird on me. I understand boredom in hair color like no body’s business, I’m the queen of boring hair color….its sitting right on my shoulders day in and day out!

The DUSK series has a couple super stars though. If I had to pick #1 I would say it is #3 MOKA. I will give it to the Head of Vidal Sassoons Color Department she told me that MOKA was the most gorgeous, the most rich and the most beautiful Darkest Brown on the planet….gave hair the most shine….and was just stunning. She was dead right, so remember that boys and girls.

HOW IT WORKS

Gray Hair – Achieves a translucent type of coverage, allowing a shiny transparent effect.

VIRGIN & TINTED – Supplies a sophisticated shimmer of color.

BLEACHED & Highly Tinted—Use with caution. This is the wrong palette for very light hair, I’m sure you can see why ( its way damn too dark! ha ha)

So…my favorite 2 mixtures in the DUSK series are:

#1) Colorissimo 4N – 1 oz. + RenColor #03 MOKA – 1oz.. + + 2 OZ. of 20V Developer ……………The 4N would supply the Gray coverage, or even if you didn’t have gray, this is still the most gorgeous combo.. The color were made to work together like this and when you DO use them to work this way you get the perfect color. For years companies made “Liquid” hair color the way RenColor is made, they found that Liquid hair color imparted an incredible amount of SHINE…BUT, it did not cover Gray as well. So they had to go back to the Tube –(Pigment-rich) Hair Color for that. This is why you mix the 2 together. For both tremendous Gray coverage, and shocking SHINE! Lasts longer than any other line . . . believe I have tried. Renbow is not easy to get, the company has never been into the whole “marketing and sales” like most companies. So I have tried many times to find someone else with as good of coverage/shine/ all of it.

As I have said many times. . . Renbow, USA has been bought out by Paul Mitchel in 2009 . . . . So we will see what happens in this next upcoming year.

#2) Colorissimo 5N (or 6N) – 1/2 oz. + Ren Color 06 Velvet Brown – 1 1/2 oz. ++ 2 oz. of 20V Developer

DAWN…….An intermixed based of Violet and Blue Pigments. These are some great tones for all that brass, blorange, gold and on and on that you all know too well. I know they may not look to delightful on the page, but remember, you use hair color to fight (to oppose) the unwanted tones you have in your hair. Its funny when you are at my stage, I just LOVE the oddest colors, and it wasn’t until KillerStrands until I realized how truly funny the colors I love …are. Remember Renbow is the only company I know of that uses blue/violet for their ASH’s - - the way it is meant to be. ( American companies use green/ grey…YUK!….What color does “grey get rid of?) I

I mean look at the SILVER MINK, how absolutely gorgeous it is. Plus it is a permanent hair color + MOONLIGHT is WHITE…I call it Marilyn Monroe Blonde…Even 25 Opaline is yummy. Dawn and SunRise are my favorite groups…

I started to think whether or not I had ever used one of these colors alone…I”m pretty sure I have not. Where with the DUSK group I have used all of them alone - - these tones are all a case for canceling “unwanted tones”

HOW IT WORKS

The Dawn series is especially suited for neutralizing unwanted yellow to gold or orange tones.

GRAY HAIR…..NOT recommended for Snow WHITE or pure Gray hair, but will provide a beautiful shimmering effect on salt and pepper gray hair.

Virgin and Tinted – Provides a drabbing effect on excess yellow, gold, orange tones. An excellent series to mix with Colorissimo HIGHLIFT SERIES for one process blonding.

Bleached and Highly Tinted – A wonderful –Toner series for all Blonds. Nearly every single color creates a gorgeous effect on blonds.

In order to make it easy for you, I have added 2 new Blonding Kits – incorporating this new (to you) method of using RenColor in your Highlift blonding process.

. .There are 2 new Kits – that include RenColor (MOONLIGHT) for those that love it ( the highlift Kits are our #1 selling color ) including RenColor w/ a bit of a discount.

Its called:

1) High-Lift Twin Turbo-Kit (5 pc Kit)

Colorissimo 100A + 40V Developer………….Renbow – White Genie…………Rencolor (Moonlight 27)

AND

2) High-lift Turbo Kit (4 pc. Kit)

Colorissimo 100A + 40V Developer…..RenColor (Moonlight 27)

……………………………………….

I will finish this up tomorrow or Saturday. . . . . but wanted to get it started…

Something has happened to the COMMENTs on this Blogging System….they just don’t work very well anymore and I get lots of SPAM Comments, so I have to delete over 1/2 of them. ??? If you have any questions about this … please head to the GROUP and I will try to hang out there this weekend. . . .

thanks,

Killer Chemist

Hair Color, Hair Color Consultations, 10,000 Heads and the KillerQ8

Back to the Basics, where I Belong

Hair color is a funny thing, it cannot be reduced entirely to a science, as there are so many parts that are given to objective analysis by a experienced individual. That’s why you cannot just order a book on the subject. Dozens of Colorists before me have thought about writing one, I can guarantee you, its a daunting task…because of the variables we all know exist. Many aspects of hair coloring defy an exact system . . . the level System as I have tried to teach here on Killer Strands is the only universal system that truly works, I know it lacks in many areas…but when you get used to it I promise you figuring out your own hair color will be a snap. Learning it takes time, now that I have watched thousands of people absorb it I can solidly report that it takes some reading, some research and some thinking and experimenting to begin to work it…I am proud to report many of you are successfully working the Level System and reporting in with beautiful hair coloring stories.

What I hope for, is more of you to take the plunge, invest in your own hair….in your own hair color, in the power it takes you to take control over your own hair, NO MORE DISASTERS… you only have to learn the variables on one head of hair…YOUR OWN ! A great colorist has to be able to calculate for every type of hair that exists – every head of hair that walks through that door, sits in that seat and looks longingly to me for a perfect color. I took that look very seriously, but the more I listen to war stories of hair color disasters, the more I’m finding there are just not a whole lot of qualified Colorists out there. So to figure just your own out, really does not take that long, nor is that hard. I really encourage you to begin the reading it takes on this Blog to find the answer to your perfect hair color….Remember, IT DOES NOT COME FROM A BOX.

If I were to line up 10 of you with the exact same level 6 (completely) virgin hair, and every one of you wanted the exact same result…. I would not use the exact same formula. I’m estimating there to be 4 to 7 different formula’s to reach that same color and THAT IS WHY the Box system doesn’t work. Remember, Boxed Hair Color is known as “job security” to Salons and Hair Stylists, they count on you showing up with your hair color botched, that kind of says it all. I’ve always wanted to know how many people walked into a Salon across the entire USA one day of the week, every week of the year. …I would love to know the true exact amount. I’ve often thought it is probably around 50,000 per day, that to me is incredibly sad. You see all the stylists around me used to act like hunters waiting for the kill, during the day…in Malibu, the owner & I were the only one’s with a jam-packed book. They would wait for “walk-ins” with botched box color . . . I never had to live that way. But still, it just isn’t fair to the public, I don’t think anyone has ever brought that topic up, I won’t stop bringing it up.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Your natural base level is foremost among the key factors one wants to use in calculating your new hair color formula. Your best bet is to remove all old color (using VANISH only) if its blond or blorange, blass or blellow (my personal fav.) begin growing your hair out - - - N O W! There are methods of turning those 3 colors normal while growing your hair out, all involve “filling” the hair. In Hair Academy some of the Color Instructors that lived in the Academy world would say: there isn’t a color I can’t make a client. Which at first I took on their attitude….UNTIL >>>> I got to the “Salon” world and dealt with the public on a daily basis that is when I learned the Salon world was completely & totally different than the Academy world. In the Salon world I would become close to my clients, I cared about them, cared about their hair ……the future of their hair. In the Academy world you do one person’s hair and never see them again. You constantly are doing the hair color of people you will never see again – models you do once, spending all day on one person for a photo shoot….never to see them again… which is just not normal. If someone walks in, is Asian with Level 1(black) hair and wants to have a soft “mint green frame around the face” …. you do it & actually have a blast doing it. YES, I can make anyone – ANY COLOR -- I did that for one full year, but I quickly learned that is NOT how you introduce hair color nor take care of clients you care about.

3 tricks I learned that made my client list so strong?

• Always have their “next” or “future” hair color and most importantly their hairs health in mind (for them) .
• Listen to their requests for their new hair color choices, look at the photos they have chosen . . . .but never ever forget what the consequences of their choices will bring.
• I always felt it was my job, to talk them out of a hair disaster. It was a gamble I took at the beginning. Most all top Colorists I knew at the beginning would turn the clients hair whatever color they asked for. I care about “people” too much to

Now I live by the Rule:

NOT ALL HAIR CAN BE ALL COLORS

- - and that, is my own PERSONAL Rule.

I took the hundreds of clients I had and pretended they were all my family. Would I straighten a girls hair who begged me for it, if I knew with the next appointment she came for… she would be in tears with her hair breaking off. NO Would I tint the platinum(Level 12) woman’s hair…. black (Level 1), because there was a dance or Halloween was coming up that she just had to have it for? NO Would I apply extensions to a woman's hair that was of medium or fine texture and was of medium to thin thickness? NO Could I have done any of these procedures? Of course. They all rake in a whole lot of $$$ as well. This is the stumbling block most stylists fall into, they worship the almighty dollar instead of the almighty hair strand. Big…………….no, HUGE mistake.

So for all of you that remain on the path to your Colorist, you must learn this for yourself, take the care of your hair into your own hands and stop any procedures from happening that do not protect your hair. Learn the Steps I have taught you through the pages and posts of this Blog. Go back to the beginning, read the entire Blog….It does not take that long and I get more compliments from that one suggestion than any other suggestion.

Join in on our Google Group http://groups.google.com/group/killerstrands ask questions, read the archives…. I hate to repeat myself. I look to the group for questions to write about in these POSTS. I hope to spend the next 2 months on Hair Color and Color questions the group brings to the surface will be the basis of my coming POSTS. You know when I had to wipe all my computers clean the only list that I lost that I truly miss is the one that I have collected since the beginning of the BLOG on “POSTS I HAVE YET TO WRITE”…I had about 40 titles on there and all these clever titles for them as well….I’m just so very sad about losing them. It took 3 years to put together that list. I have learned a lot from this experience, most things I didn’t know anything about, people keep trying to point out the good parts of it…which I appreciate, I truly do.

I'm looking for ideas to write about as "COLOR" is going to be my subject for the next 2 months...I'm going to really concentrate and get back to explaining and teaching hair color to you.

I am in the process of starting a small – intimate - additional group for KillerStrands.com customers exclusively - the advantage of purchasing your hair products here on KS is the advantage of getting assistance from myself and my trained assistants.

• 
  You will need to have an order number to enter/ post and read the group, and your questions will need to pertain to your purchased products....
• If you don't know exactly what color you need, purchase 2 tubes of the brand you want, some In-TENSIVE, Crib Colorist Kit ( gives you all tools you need to begin at a Killer price), a Sulfate-Free Shampoo …when you check out - there is our little "KILLER BOX" at check out - Write in that box:
  "JOINING GROUP - Hold Order 4 Help w/ Color Selection "
• Everyone joining the group, MUST join with the answers to the KILLER 8 which will be discussed in todays POST.
  Which ‘yes’ means I am forcing you to learn.
• I know that may sound mean, but it is truly not that hard, I have taught my little niece it ( she is only 17 and will be attending Vidal Sassoon Academy when she graduates high school!) - - if she can learn it - - - SO CAN YOU !
• I mean learn about your hair, so you never EVER have another hair disaster.
  

Every single day of every single month - - - all year long - - - I get an email from at least 2 and up to 10 people saying the exact same sentence, " I wish I would’ve found this BEFORE my hair got destroyed” … I am guessing my site is pretty high up there on Google’s ratings for Hair color disasters. So I thank Google for that…although I wish there was a way to for them to find me BEFORE the disaster happened. { I’m looking for miracles now, aren’t I ??}

This is what I started this group doing and to be honest my little mishap of November got me so rattled that I want to return back to the basics…..Teaching Hair Color to the Crib Colorists and Hair Health to the 10,000HEADS Regimen devotees.
...we are getting so many new members I want to concentrate on helping the people who decide to take the plunge and give professional products and KillerStrands brands/protocol a "go".
Don't panic anyone, I will still be helping out in here a few days a week - exactly as before.
I was also considering bring the Consultations back.....when I do though they are going to cost a lot more, unfortunately.
I'm so much busier now, but I get so many requests that it truly makes me feel bad.
You can look at it as one hair appointment, to save yourself a life-time of mistakes....if that is worth it to you, then maybe the price will make more sense.
As I have said many times, the answers to many of your questions are already here.....Free - in Posts I have written over the past (almost) 3 years! So if you just do a small amount of research { the Search system Google has on my BLOG works very very well } Nik is very good at learning how to "SEARCH" so is Amber, if you ask either one of them they may help you as well.

Now as I gather material and get back to writing about hair color and hair health….let me give you the KillerQ8. These 8 questions are as abbreviated as possible, to come up with your new hair color formula for your new KS Color. It includes everything possible, short of being able to feel the hair…the one and only missing variable in this system.

I can’t wait to hear some of you being able to figure out other member’s hair color formula’s as we use this system of mine in full force ad over and over again many of you will start to get it…You’ve already amazed me in your answers to many peoples questions. So in any questions from now on regarding you or your color and you wanting to change your color answer your questions with SHORT answers to these KILLERQ8

Just today I had one of our newbies answer the KillerQ8’s first question wrong.

the first question is this:

1. What is your VIRGIN hair color level & tone? Her answer was: Copper-Blond base with blond high-lights.

Now that is someone who is trying to beat the system, please get the answers right, its only 8 questions…. VIRGIN HAIR is hair that has not been touched by anyone. This doesn’t mean when you were 10 years old either, it means when you were full grown, mature and your age today…no has natural blond highlights ( z(except 10 year olds)….or if they do they are less than 1% and in 10,000 heads, I have never seen them. Anyway you get the picture now don’t you?

2.What is your PRESENT Hair Color level & Tone?

3. What is your DESIRED hair color Level & Tone?

4. What is your percentage of Gray? Is it Resistant? ( which means is it stubborn to hold hair color)

5.What is your DURP? Slight….to….Strong

VIP question….DOMINANT UNDERLYING REMAINING PIGMENT analyze what each one of those words mean – one-at-a-time ??? Then you can decipher the question…………What color do you or your Colorist fight, when tinting your hair? Blorange, Blass & Blellow are the common ones for clients trying to go blond.

6. What is your texture?

7. What is the Porosity? Along with the Condition ??, many times the two of them go hand in hand….be clear on both, please

8. What is length and thickness?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

So now you have the KillerQ8, the 8 questions we need in order to do a Consultation and or to speak about your hair color concerns in the GROUP….please, everyone figure out the answers to the 8 before bringing your question to the boards and to the GROUPS….Begin by putting the answers to the 8 on your questions.

Not in Group? Google:GOOGLE GROUPS / Killer Strands

Systems are good, but in hair coloring the level System does not capture it all, remember that. That System is good for a base, but a good analysis must also be considered in calculating your new color application….DURP, texture, previous artificial color, porosity, the hair color product you are using.

Join, shop the store . . . study the Color Charts they are the most wonderful tool for learning to color hair.

I look forward to writing more on color for the next 2 months….so get ready to learn.

Killer Chemist

Don't Ever Try To Write a 2 - Part Series

New Basics Today - 20 Basics earlier This Week

which this stupid Windows Live Writer Program eliminated. . . . sorry . . . . This is the 2nd part of the 2 part 40 Statement POST.

I GIVE UP . . ..

Roll with Crib Colorist Artists; taking note of the next 20 Basics

1. Always - ALWAYS run a test strand. Especially when trying out any of Killer Strands Ideas. Many think if you use public hair color( Sally's Beauty & the like) and imitate my techniques, the results will come out the same - nothing could be further from the truth. When I began this blog, I was also under that false impression - so I understand you thinking so. After many complaints - which led me to testing of the products -- I myself learned the difference between the 2. The difference is remarkable, therefore any Posts I have written in the first year of this Blog - need to be amended - all those suggestions: of using certain "public brands" need to be eliminated. Until I get time to do that all of that, please NOTE this recommendation.

2. When doing a 2 process color (bleach & tone), lift 1/2 to 1 full level, lighter than your desired color to ensure desired results.

3. When you are lightening hair color, you are not actually dealing with brown, you are dealing with the underlying remaining pigment, which is usually red, orange, gold or yellow.

4. Warmth is released when you begin to lighten hair. Red and Yellow tones will dominate, because the first pigment to leave during lightening is blue.

5. Fillers used on both depositing and high lifting. I "will" be going over this in detail - soon.

6. Never use HEAT with hair color, Stylists use heat to "buy time", I cannot think of one hair color whose directions require heat.

7. When choosing your next hair color, try not to rush into things, consider your lifestyle - consider your economic status - most importantly - consider your hair type & health. If really not sure, you can always purchase a HHCC Home Hair Color Consultation, which basically costs you $15.00 for my help.

8. For the best results use premium Developer, with professional hair color comes a much higher quality developer.

9. Mix together small amounts of color at a time. Pro Hair Color has a "freshness" factor, once the developer & the tint are mixed together - the faster you get it applied, the better. Use enough product, but do not waste.

10. Re-mixing is a better course to take than mixing all at once and having to throwing away excess. Hair Color to Professionals is the number 1 expense, so learning to work thrifty with it, is advantageous to them - I would think the same would affect everyone.

11. Permanent Tint is the most effective way to color hair.

12. Neat, small accurate applications make for successful coverage and contrary to what some might think, actually take less time + allow more control.

13. Precise parting & sectioning will help, when it comes to both application and coverage, so practice - practice - practice.

14. Extra peroxide or a 2:1 ratio increases lifting ability of any volume.

15. 80% of problems in Hair Color come from misjudging the base or existing level.

16. To make a missing Level ......... mix (roughly) 2 parts of the lighter level color with 1 part of the darker level. For example, say you need a Level 7 N......... in the cupboard you have a tube of 8N and 6N. Add ..............2 parts of 8N with 1 part of 6N = the result will be a perfect 7N.

17. Foil work is an art and should be treated as such. Precision work requires practice-practice -practice.

18. Discard all mixed product not used.

19. Level 7, by the way, is the most difficult Level to get past, hence the difficulties with brassy colors.

20. There are 4 types of hair color: Temporary, Semi Permanent, Demi Permanent, Permanent Hair Color.

Killer Chemist

Octo-Colorist : Using 8 Colors is Normal for This Colorist

Octo-mom has too many kids. . . I use too many colors, but that's where the similarities END - completely

I've always felt the goal of my foil work in color was to make each clients hair look as close to a childs as possible.

Someday just look at a 10 or an 8 or even a 12 year olds hair ( if it is Level 7 thru 10) they just have so many tones and so many levels in it, I decided long ago that was to be a goal of mine in foils.

Currently the trend is not for multiple colors in hair, but truthfully it is my one true love as far as Color. There would be many times I would use between 6 & 8 colors in foils using the slices technique... one of the reasons for my quick success I believe. . . . in Malibu no one did that. 

Actually at Sassoon.... no one went to that trouble. . .I just loved the results.

The only hard part about it? 

Mixing the bowls up , 

but at the time I had a couple of great assistants

that loved having projects to do.. 

I'm sure they took that trick to their practice as well.

Being an Intern or assistant in any field

is the single best way to advance

Don't Fear Coloring Your Hair At Home -- Try the "Hair Color Consultation" with Killer Chemist

What it is - What it involves - Can I actually color my own hair?

1 on 1 HAIR COLOR CONSULTATION (HCC)

Of course you can color your hair at home, but if you are new to DIY hair color I would highly recommend beginning the process with a 1 on 1 Hair Color Consultation with 'moi' ! >> Killer Chemist (me). As a lot of you who follow KillerStrands religiously already know . . .I'm a Los Angeles/Malibu based Colorist/Stylist & Hair Connoisseur of the last 17 Years and the writer of this Hair Blog. Today is your lucky day, I have finally decided to explain and deconstruct what exactly the HCC or Hair Color Consultation is and what is involved if you purchase one. Don't tell me I do things backwards, I am well aware.....very well aware. My main problem being that I have not been involved in any online groups, nor online Blogs, nor online much of anything, until I got sick and came up with an idea of something I could do to give back, educate myself, give to others, do while I was inside laying down a lot of the time, pay - back, entertain myself . . . but mainly as you can see by my repetition . . .GIVE BACK to a whole lot of people, I don't know, but feel could benefit from my education, experience, knowledge, training, research and discoveries having to do with hair.
Lucky You

I don't want to go over everything I did and all the research I went through, its boring... what I want to talk about here is the HCC or hair color consultation. What it is....what it involves  . . . and should you have one or not. This is a 2 part series explaining the whole ball of wax, so relax and enjoy the read. For the first year I didn't have the Consultation, this whole BLOG has just EVOLVED into what it is now, because as I am sure most of you know. . . this is the Very FIRST Hair Blog written by a board certified Stylist, Colorist, Hair Expert in this manner. Where, for Free, you are being educated the way you want to be, without all the dumb garbage big corporations throw at you . . . telling you if you buy product "A" "B" & "C"  - " your hair will look like Sara Jessica Parkers when you are all finished ". Horse-shit to those ads and to those people....its totally ridiculous and they take you all for being idiots when I know you aren't. Sara Jessica Parker would no more go down to Wal-mart and buy a box of hair color to color her hair - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ........ than I would !

I hope you agree with my form of education,learning and theories, by the way we are growing, it seems to be working.
Finally after a year and a half, my manager - Nikki came up with the initial idea of the ONLINE Hair Color Consultation and the structure we have now. She suggested the $25.00 Fee with a portion of it being refunded with the clients first purchase, then a discount given with all future hair color purchases, for 1 year. You can either pay on the home page where there are 2 separate places where you can pay through the PAY PAL - BUY NOW Buttons, or you can email me (Killerstrands@gmail.com)  and ask for a "request for an INVOICE" for a HCC Hair Color Consult and I will send you an Invoice through PAY PAL, just like our store works. When you order from our "underground store"  you also email me a list of what you want and I send you a PAY PAL Invoice & from that you pay. Very Secure - Simple & Safe.. Within 48 hours of me receiving that payment I will send you a confirmation along with the Questionnaire and Request for Photos that I need to begin the process of your HCC Consult. The entire consultation is taken care of online .

I would like you all to know that I get hundreds of emails each day and randomly I will take a day "away" - for a break from the whole whirlwind, and when I do that - well you can imagine the
amount emails I have waiting for me - lots of people wanting directions, guidance, or answers or one thing or another having to do with hair . . . so I'm never ignoring you, I promise. I have a little bit of help with the Group, but otherwise its just little ole me . . and a whole lot of YOU!
Now with her coming up with that . . . I had to hurry up and come up with a formula for this to work for me, I have done well over 10,000 heads of hair and figured out all of their color very successfully, how would I do it without the person in the same room as I am . . . not being able to run my hands through their hair ? ?  I'm a perfectionist, how would I be sure that things were perfect?  I started with a questionnaire, with way too many questions . Its been cut down to the questions I absolutely feel will help me with your hair color formula. Then the part, many of you don't seem to like. . . the Photo Request. I just don't know how you expect me to help you with your hair color without photos I can look at and study . . . its a very important part of the Consultation for me, I know its not fun, and at times its hard to find someone to do it, but taking your own pic's does not work out ( they are way too close) One like that is OK, but the rest need to be a couple feet away.
You can take the photos wonderfully without including the face - AT ALL,  I do NOT need to see your face, ONLY HAIR! The best way of taking the photos is to pretend the camera is the hair Stylist, so the photos need to be at about 2-3 feet away FROM your hair.

You know, how your hairdresser stands behind you and rubs their fingers in through your hair, one shot needs to be the roots from about 1-2 feet away so I can hope to determine your  porosity, elasticity and texture {PET}. This is the tough one, but one that helps me so much - knowing this for me can change the entire formula - so please try to send this photo. With the Consult you can ask me as many questions as you want through the formulating process - so it works out well for many of you that have longed to ask a top HAIR SPECIALIST unique hair questions.
For the photos I need the following:

• 1 photo of the back of the hair about 5 feet away from your head
• 1 photo (2) of each side of your hair (3-4 feet away)
• 1 photo of the front with face down and covered
• 1 photo of the roots of the top of the head (as close as possible)
• 1 photo you think I need to see........and that's it

Remember to take them in the shade - in day time - not bright sun or it flubs it up, you will need a buddy to take them properly (sorry). The better your photos, the more accurate my help can be. Please don't let this be the point that keeps you from taking this adventure. Have your Mother - your brother - your roommate... do it, doesn't everyone have a digital camera anymore.... if you don't have one QVC has GREAT deals on them.  Once you have those taken you must upload and send them to me along with your answers to the questionnaire.
At this point it takes me a day or so to analyze the info . . . think about it and respond with any questions I have about what you have sent me . . . before I can give you any sort of answer. Many times it will be either a few "back and forth's . . . or a LOT "back and forths"... either way it all gets solved.
Meanwhile if you have not done this yet, you need to join our Killer Strands Google Group. I'm always surprised at the amount of people that don't know that Google even has Groups, well they do. They are not the flashiest thing, and at first I almost left them a million times because they are a bear to navigate at first... but I felt if I left it would be too hard to get everyone to follow, so  I stuck it out and stayed. Here is the link (be sure to answer the 3 questions):
http://groups.google.com/group/killerstrands?hl=en
This will take you to our Killer Color Clinic Store AND our Group, so its a 2 for 1 Whammy! Its just very unconventional. . .  most people have their store out in the public's eye. . .  while mine is a "secret store''..... James Bond is my brother. . . . . . . . j/k!
Become familiar with all the hair color lines we carry . . . Wella being the biggest both Koleston Perfect and Color Touch. Then Framesi, Renbow's 3 lines of Colorissimo, RenColor, & Wash N Tone .... the bleaches,  just all the products. Because first off we are going to need to be talking about these hair colors for your hair color formula and it would be good if you had an idea of what colors were available for you .
Check out everything available to you, there is a lot.
Killer Strands or actually I should say myself makes up 3 of my own products that have done very well and I have many testimonials to prove it... I made these products because AGAIN . .  I could not find what I needed!
1) our BEST SELLER : THRIVEN and the info to the Secret Supplement. A deep conditioner that you sleep overnight in. Comes with the 10,000HEADS Hair Strength System and I would gamble to say most everyone is on this product, well maybe a lot of people are. . .
2) GLEAM : 2nd Best Seller: a DRY OIL, that is not greasy, is actually dry. It is made up of 2 foreign and rare oils Abyssinian Oil + Argan Oil. Plus 2 other Unique Oils: Rosehips Seed oil + Jojoba oil + Vitamin E + Amber Resin Essential Oil....= the most wonderfully exquisite oil you can use for many purposes for both hair and skin. This began with the trick of applying it to your hair, then applying the hair color on top of it. So when  the cuticle is opened to let the hair color go in the GLEAM OIL goes in at the same time...resulting in the most wonderful rich and shiny hair color. It simply . . . ROCKS! You can apply on your skin, on wrinkles, on your pulse points.
3) FLUFF : Shea Butter + Mango Butter + Macadamia Nut Oil + Babbasu Oil+ Avocado Oil + Lemon/Ginger/Sage essential Oil.  How yummy does that sound, everything is natural ( really natural) it all can be eaten, that's how safe it is. This is for Dry, damaged ends of hair, also for fly-a-ways. When my hair is in braids I will dip the ends of my hair in FLUFF and rub in for the day. Also for the driest skin area's you have - elbows, heels, etc. This is for the DRIEST of DRY skin or hair - it is extremely rich.
This is Day 1 of the Hair Color Consult Post . .  a 2 Day Process, so stand by I had the hardest time writing this one, I'll try to be quicker with its successor!
Thanks,
Killer Chemist

Patience & the Hair-Color-Surge : or Damn it, if I color my hair this second, I will feel better

There are many of us that use different beauty techniques to satisfy those funny urges we have. I know you know what I'm talking about, like when things at work or at home aren't going so great - what can you do to make yourself feel better? There are 2 choices for relief for us Beauty junkies : 'SHOPPING' or 'BEAUTY' techniques - - I know because I do it, my kids do it and almost everyone I asked in over 10,000 Heads of Hair do as well - to one degree or another! We all use them to give us that warm little feeling in our blood, to take the uneasy feeling away we have > because your boss snarled at you today, you lost that job interview, the economy is in toilet - - a g a i n , or little Billy got in trouble at school today - or whatever scenario fits your life - and turns our good day into a yucky day... we ALL DO IT.

Why do we do it? Human Nature - its "IN" our blood, bones and brain. But we do have an inbred quality that prevents us from going down that road . . .the quality of PATIENCE. Most of us have let Patience slip away from our life. It's a quality many of us rarely even "think" about anymore - which is not a good thing.
If we stopped at that moment of panic at that moment of 'desire' and instilled some patience into our life, what do you suppose would happen? We may not jump on those urges and we may find they are not a good idea for our hair, our skin our person.
Well, that's not what happens to us, because we have lost that one quality and if you ask Buddhist's or any other eastern religion member they will say their religion is based on learning the skill of patience. What does that say about - - us?

Some go absolutely nuts and when the sh*t hits the fan they head to Rodeo Drive and do the PRETTY WOMAN shopping spree, but most of us don't have that kind of cash-ola and we head to the mall, OR we head to the Salon OR we head to the Drug Store and for the absolute worst choice on the entire planet we buy a box of hair color without knowing anything at all about what we have on our head...what this box will do to the hair we have. . . worst of all ... none OF US EVEN READ WHAT THE BOX SAYS . We just want that urge satisfied . . . to make us "feel" better... and to get rid of that yucky feeling we have in our blood.

Patience is not even in the game at this point, just satisfying that urge is all we have. As a Colorist this is just SO . . V E R Y. . . H A R D. . . to listen to - you can imagine, I hope. After putting together over 300 POSTS on Killer Strands in trying to teach all of you "why" that method is not such a great idea. That it matters what is on your hair to begin with -- - > is probably the most important piece of information there is. But it doesn't point that out on that box - nor deal with it - so how can the hair color turn out anywhere CLOSE to correct or what you desire ?

IT CAN'T - - IT WON'T AND IT NEVER WILL ...

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO


Those boxes of hair color are aimed at all of you with ZERO patience, and looking for the "QUICK-FIX" to that URGE ... they use models on the front that don't even use the hair color that is "in" the box they are selling (my friends and I, have all done all those photo shoots - we know). We use Color Touch 90% of the time because of the Shine that one brand imparts - it truly is remarkable and all the other companies know it - they don't ask us what we use - they just ask for a certain color with lots of SHINE.

So from the get-go the process is: Fake/False and it is just playing on your heart strings. . . DON'T LET IT !

I really don't want to get into the whole scenario of addiction that is a big giant bag of worms that I don't have the room or time to go into . . but this is a bit of an addiction and you need to get control of it. When it is something smaller like this - if you are just made AWARE of the fact that it is "there" sometimes that alone works. BE aware that you do it, and be aware that it is a common problem and the manufacturers are working to trap you into their beauty "URGE" traps . . .like CELLULITE Cream for $130.00 / jar. You all know that there is not a cream alive, nor WILL THERE BE, that gets rid of cellulite. Right? Please never EVER EVER buy anything of this nature - its ridiculous and as a chemist, I don't know how Chemists can sit on a board of a company that sells this, when we all know they don't work nor will they ever.

So give it a whirl - - give patience a whirl . . watch how good it makes you feel accomplishing it just for one single day.

Much of the problem stems from all the stimulus we get from the INTERNET, TV, Films, Dancing with the Stars, Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, Glossy magazines, everywhere we look are Celebrities -Stars- Politicians- and the "beautiful people'' showing us that they can look like a million bucks . . . it makes us all want to follow in line. Doesn't it? In my opinion it is one big giant "marketing web of URGES" and it influences so much of what we do everyday that I feel very deeply that it needs to pointed out - so it can be worked against. With a 24 hours news cycle on 4 major networks there basically is no way to escape the flash and dash of the "beautiful people".

That is what gets you all to "jump" without thinking many times in changing your hair.

You see a photo of someone you want to emulate and you don't "think" about it . . . you don't want to consider the ramifications if it doesn't work on your particular hair, or your skin or just so many factors that one must consider... You just "want to do it and do it NOW !" How many of you is that>? How many of you will admit to doing that ? How many of you will run out and buy that darn box of color and try to do something to your hair without even considering if it will work or not? Hundreds of Thousands do this every single week . . . its why they sell Billions of dollars of Boxed hair color every year - - - to satisfy these urges. To Kill Your Patience Factor. Come on boys and girls. . . don't let them win.


I'm hear to tell you to stop and think before jumping into that mess.

When you think about how silly that scenario sounds now, doesn't it make you wonder why you would actually do that? There are many factors at work here, but today's Post is focused on PATIENCE so lets just deal with that.

I'm very much into eastern philosophy - had plans of teaching Yoga to Inmates, when I came down with the cough that has never gone away, which made it impossible. So I am going to impart some of those teachings to you.

Patience is one of the virtues that will bring the most happiness and beauty if you can accomplish it. Buddhism is based on patience, monks live their life practicing and trying to achieve patience because they feel it is so very important. Can you imagine if you just brought a little bit of it into your life? Everyday practice one instance of Patience, patience that you have never ever done before. Even if it is waiting 1 hour longer to buy your Starbucks or drinking a small one instead of a large one - that remains an act of patience . . . I know you can incorporate 1 act of patience in your life every single day.

Start small and get bigger.

Create a chart - - - send us your idea of what Patient virtue YOU are going to incorporate into YOUR life.

Please let that be your beginning, I want you to print it out on the computer in bigger letters so its a nice little sign, whatever your act of patience is going to be .... and hang it on the fridge. So you have to read it and remind yourself every time you walk by. . This will {hopefully} open the entire world of patience up to you and your life.

If you are working the 10,000HEADS Protocol then add this step to the 12, one of our illustrious new members CANDEE (from Korea) is the one that inspired me to choose this topic to write on ... I was puzzled as to why I never thought of it myself, but who really cares 'where' a great idea comes from, just as long as it is there. So thank you Candee and FYI if you have a topic or even just a word like she did and would like my take on it, email me Killerstrands@gmail.com I will give it a shot . . . . . as uncoventional as I am

I have honestly been considering adding it to the Steps, because of how important I feel it is, now that I have been thinking in depth about it . Learning patience with Beauty endeavors - what do you think?

PATIENCE and the HAIR-COLOR-SURGE -
by Killer Chemist

Thousands of people in the world:
weekly get
* inspired.... from something they have seen, which gives them an
* urge .......basically frantic trying to buy something for beauty or clothing(still beauty)
* surge .....to change their hair color, hair or "look" immediately to something they have seen or heard about in the media or ?
whether it works for their hair or body or not . . .

Patience has basically been forgotten
If you inserted patience into this formula ANYWHERE you would have such a better outcome. . . think about that . . ALL OF YOU - please.

Don't let hair color and beauty routines "control" YOU
. . . learn patience . . your life will be a warmer and cozier place to exist.

Killer Chemist