Luke and Rona O'Connor Dish about Hair

As I mentioned, Daisy scored me an interview with her colorist and stylist of ten years, Rona and Luke O'Connor. The two are married and are also the owners of Lukaro (a combo of their names), a salon in Beverly Hills.

Rona O'Connor has been imparting various shades of blondes and darker browns on Daisy for years. Right now it's sunflicked, meaning that she painted the color on her hair like a starburst across the whole surface so it looks like sun streaks. "If you pick the hair up, it's sort of like a canvas," Rona, a painter and drawer from a young age, informed me. "You see small streaks of color all around." Sunflicking is great, because there's no need to touch up the roots as often. I'm so sold on the entire process, BTW. Roots are the bane of my existence. She simply "tips" the hair, meaning she paints highlights on the ends of the strands. She focuses the lighter area around the hairline with foils to make it a lighter hue than the rest of the hair.

Rona is actually known for her hairline highlights process, because "it makes it look lighter than it is, with more brightness," Rona explains. "Highlights on brunettes is a lot of work so i started using this technique over ten years ago."

Does Rona do this on her own hair? "I sure do!" she exclaimed.

Rona told me she loves to layer colors on. For Daisy, she painted her hair a lighter brown a couple months ago and then recently painted the tips. The plan is to go just a little lighter each time. "It takes me five minutes to an hour... then we're done," Rona said. Next, she adds some toner to tone down the brown with a gloss.

Rona's husband and partner, Luke O'Connor, styles Daisy's hair. He is also responsible for the fabulousness that was Debra Messing's hair on Will & Grace and used to be the national spokesperson for the now defunct Thermasilk line of products (Thermasilk, I miss you!). For Daisy's hair, Luke used a 1 3/4" curling iron in big sections. "It's actually not necessary to straighten first," explained Luke. My weekends will suddenly seem so vast, I think to myself. "The curling iron will smooth the surface... you can take a one inch iron and take a large section for loose waves." This time, however, Daisy requested extra smooth hair, so he blew it out first with a round brush before separating Daisy's hair into about six sections. The smaller the section, the more curl produced. On using the clamp vs. not, Luke is pro-clamp, but winds the hair around the outside of the iron. After each section is curled, Luke recommends clipping it with clips like these while it cools for about 20 minutes. Rona said that when she does this on herself, she applies makeup while her hair is setting. Rona also recommended clipping up the bangs/front area of the hair for extra volume and even pulled some out of her purse - she keeps them on her at all times. "I wear them in the car on the way to events," she explained.

Lastly, Luke says to spray the hair with hairspray before and after. In fact, during Daisy's shoot (pictured above), he was so prepared he even had a comb and a mini Elnett tucked away into his jacket pocket.

Want to experience Lukaro hair for yourself?
Lukaro Salon
323 N. Beverly Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Tel: (310) 275-2536
Fax: (310) 247-2994

In Honor of the Owner of the Best Curled Ends, Ever.

Sad news, friends. I was so sorry and stunned to learn of the passing of my FAVORITE teacher ever, Mrs. Patterson. She was recently diagnosed with cancer and died last Thursday. My BFF Lee called to tell me the news last night. We both took her mysteriously titled 7th grade Language class, and then took her phenom class Advanced Diction and Rhetoric as high school juniors. Mrs. Patterson, in addition to my mother, was my grammar MENTOR and is partially responsible for the fact that I'm so ridiculously consumed by it. It was she who introduced me to Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, three of my favorite books to this day.

I'm more upset about this than is reasonable. I sort of feel like the regulator of English grammar cannot POSSIBLY be gone. I worry that split infinitives and sentences ending with prepositions will plague the unfortunate students enrolled at WHS who weren't lucky enough to be in school during her at least 35 year tenure there.

We used to joke about her desire to teach a class solely on diagramming sentences - but I'd be the only one who'd have wanted to take it so the school system couldn't allow it. She used to lament about the dwindling usage of the word "whom" in the modern English lexicon. I think of her every time I use it. I even emailed her last year just to get her opinion on the abundance of bad grammar high school kids use on myspace and asked her if it was affecting their performance in her classes. She agreed that initially she was concerned that "text speak" and "myspace abbreviations" would find their way into her students' papers, but she assured me (with great relief of her own, she told me) that students' English skills were actually on the up and up due to the new SAT format which now boasts an extensive writing portion.


In honor of Mrs. Patterson's utterly phenom blonde (from a bottle, she once told me, but it looked VERY natural) hair, I must recommend the Marilyn Tuxedo Pro 2" brush. I also have the 3.5" one which is great for straightening and volume, but this 2" one gives your ends kicky curl. I have a feeling Mrs. Patterson used hot rollers (she was THAT kind of diva) but this will give you a similar effect.

Lee is attending the funeral this Friday at 3pm at Shaeff-Myers Funeral Home on Tennis Avenue in Ambler, PA in lieu of me as I can't take off of work but I KNOW the place will be packed to the gills. EVERYONE adored Mrs. Patterson.

I know she's somewhere right now diagramming the hell out of some sentences to her heart's content.

Achieve Promtastic HAIR with hairdo

Just in time for April proms, I have to let you in on a little promtastic hair secret. I am living for hairdo Salon Clip-In Hair Extensions ($88) from Jessica Simpson and Ken Paves. They come in several lengths from 10" to 23" and also in two textures, wavy and straight. Yours truly has been rocking the 23" wavy in the privacy of my own home for now... but I'm TOTES packing it up when I go to the Bahamas in June when I'll be a bridesmaid in my friend Amber's wedding. I'm hoping my stylist there can somehow incorporate them into my 'do. They approach the city limits of Cheesyville for everyday wear, but for special nights out, weddings, PROMS, and the like, they're simplement parfaits. They add luscious length and/or volume to your own hair and are virtually undetectable because you clip it in under your regular hair.


The hairdo Clip-In Hair Kit Includes:
*A hair extension in the length/texture of your choice - it consists of one multi-level, contoured piece that creates an easy, fashionable style without the hassle of working with several individual wefts. Contouring fits the shape of the head so that the wearer's hair can be pinned up underneath the piece. Seven pressure-sensitive clips around the perimeter ensure a secure and comfortable fit. I've tried it out and it's definitely comfortable. Each color is made up of 12 differing hair shades for a very natural look.
* 2 "duck-bill" hair clips - for use in attaching the extension
* Illustrated Styling Guide - takes you step-by-step through the attachment process for goof-proof results

16 Multi-tonal Color Choices:
Ebony
Chestnut
Swedish Blonde
Golden Wheat
Dark Auburn
Dark Chocolate
Midnight Brown
Chocolate Copper
Dark Copper
Honey Ginger
Glazed Strawberry
Golden Walnut
Ginger Brown
Ginger Blonde
Buttered Toast
Sandy Blonde

Now, I do wish there were a few more color choices. I found one that's close (Ginger Blonde), but not quite the right color. For $88 though, it's a pretty decent selection.

Have you tried hairdo? What did you think?

Found: A Chic Shower Cap

I have to pause mid-weekend to tell you about the fabulosity that is the Henri Bendel Centennial Stripe Shower Cap. In addition to these suggestions, it is a phenom way to extend your blowout.

I'm embarrassed to admit I'd been using a flimsy hotel freebie. Not only did it leave my hair damp around the hairline, it's bad for the environment because it only lasts through a few showers. In honor of Earth month, I suggest using this eco-friendly cap for home and travel. Bendel created this signature item over 100 years ago for ladies embarking on ocean-liner voyages. Clearly, it is standing the test of time. The elasticized edge securely keeps your strands sahara dry. Best of all? It comes with its own centennial stripe travel pouch. Can you even? (I can't.) My roommate Carrie made fun of my granny chicness for a hot second... and then ordered her own within hours. Just saying. $30 at Henri Bendel or at henribendel.com.

You'll Have to Come Up with Another Reason for Declining Bad Dates.

Hey, girls!

Hope your weekend was fab. I have to tell you about the sublimity that is this super-absorbant Sephora brand hair towel. It's nothing short of phenom. Blow drying your hair sucks (doesn't it? I get tired just THINKING about it sometimes) so I'm always on the lookout for things that both make the drying process shorter and lengthen the time I can go between blowouts.

The hair towel ($20) is made of Aquitex - a material woven from ultra-fine microfibers to wick moisture from hair faster and more thoroughly than ordinary towels. I like to wrap up my hair in this machine washable dream and lotion on up and then do some chores or watch some DVR'd TV for thirty minutes or so before starting the blow dry with my T3 Evolution.

Some tips for prolonging the 'do:
Bain de Terre Scalp Scrub ($15) - I snorted at the sight of this Grace-Adler-style when I received a sample of it and it wasn't until the Beauty Addict's RAVE review that I allowed yet another step into my already-far-too-complicated-hair lifestyle. I was fully intending to use it as a body scrub, for which it can also be used per the box. Well, when the Beauty Addict says that it'll extend your blowout by 36 hours, she MEANS it. I tested it out a few weeks ago and somehow, by exfoliating my scalp (which I plum can't believe NEEDS exfoliation), the telltale I-haven't-washed-my-hair smell was nowhere to be found after 3 days. AND my roots were looking FINE. No hair powder necessary. For $15 for a box of 4, I think it's a steal.

A Satin Pillowcase ($7-30) will make a huge difference when it comes to bedhead.

T3 360 Plump $38 amplifies strands beyond belief without making hair sticky or dull. Thicker roots, whether you have fine or thick hair, mean you can go longer between blowouts. Try it out.

What are your tips for extending a blowout? Share in the comments. Happy Monday!

Hair-Specific Postings from the Beauty Blog Network

Because hair is one of my FAVE things to talk about.

Beauty Blogging Junkie tries out a Keratin treatment, gloss, and blowout at the Hiro Haraguchi Salon - and loves it.
Beauty and Fashion Tech reviews the Remington Style and Shine Hair Dryer with new conditioning technology.
Mischo Beauty loves Ted Gibson's "Glimmering Gold" shampoo and conditioner in her weekly "Beautiful hair needs an expert" post.
Lipstick, Powder 'n Paint tells us how to keep our coloured hair looking bright and shiny. Check out these products For coloured hair.
Dandruff. Yuk. Don't worry, Lipstick, Powder 'n Paint has dandruff solutions that work.
Styles from Fashion Week: Bionic Beauty covers Oscar Blandi's creations.
Toya shares her hair-washing routine.
StyleBell uncovers What to Expect with Hair Extensions.



Update your bookmarks to http://beautybloggingjunkie.com

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Achieved: Glosstrous Hair at the Hiro Haraguchi Salon

Get comfortable, dolls. This is about hair, and I'm incredibly long-winded when it comes to hair.


This weekend, I had the opportunity to head to the Hiro Haraguchi Salon for a Keratin treament, rinse/gloss, and a blowout. The salon is gorge, it exudes the sophisticated minimalist Japanese aesthetic from every panel. I also had a hair consultation with the hair expert himself, Hiro Haraguchi. He's very honest, which I absolutely respect. As a long-time beauty devotee, I know to have a thick skin when this happens. He informed me my admittedly too-light front pieces looked like... GREY HAIR. I gasped. He was sort of right. I wasn't in love with my current colorist's work, it was definitely lighter than I'd intended. The contrast with my darker blond hair was too severe. But I don't think it was quite so extreme as to be construed as grey hair. But as I am the dream consumer (and a sucker for beauty), I gladly agreed to have fabulous colorist, Jane Margaret tone down the harsh 'lights while making my hair one uniform color. Luckily for me, Jane is mildly psychic and didn't give me what I'd asked for, which was a caramel hue. Caramel would have been too dark, though. It's sort of a medium-light brown, apparently. It's not that kind of party here at BBJ. If I'm not some semblance of a blond, I get severely depressed. Don't ask, it's a weird affliction. It always helps to bring a photo for that reason, dolls. When I said caramel, I meant honey. But Jane knew and whipped up a gloss that was the EXACT color I'd had in mind. I'd posit that Jane would be a phenomenal rock-paper-scissors player.

Before that, Ronnie, a doll of a stylist at the salon, gave me a keratin treatment to replenish proteins and nutrients lost to color, perms, drying, and straightening. The deep conditioning treatment takes 45 minutes and includes a mini head massage. (Keratin, in case you didn’t know, is the protein your hair is made of.) You can also get the shot as an add-on to any other salon treatment, and they’ll even provide you with take-home vials for maintenance.

We have to pause here and talk about the fabulosity that is the hair washing station at the Hiro Haraguchi Salon. Jane asked if I was comfortable during my 3rd trip to the sink. "I've never been so comfortable in my life," I answered. Each chair is a motorized COT. With a press of a button, you are instantly horizontal and are covered with a plush velour blanket while you have your hair washed. I mean, Hiro. What a fantastic idea. I always WANT to be in bed when I'm undergoing a salon wash. Now I can actually BE in one. In fact, when an additional treatment was suggested (the rinse/gloss) I almost SKIPPED back over to the sink.

Lastly, Ronnie blew out my newly recharged, glossily honeyed locks. My hair looks PHENOM and I am extremely happy with it. It's a tad dark for me, but I like it as a pre-highlights base. Just a few. My hair is no longer brassy at the bottom (from grown out highlights) and the too-light front strands are tempered. I will schedule a partial highlights sesh with Jane within the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned.

The two salon locations:
Hiro Haraguchi Hair Salon, 41 East 57th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues, fourth floor (212-593-3030);
Hiro Haraguchi Hair Salon at Hotel Gansevoort, 18 Ninth Avenue, at 13th Street (212-660-6733 or hiroharaguchi.com

Photo credit: dailycandy.com

Fashion Week: Thuy

Gals, I have to tell you. It's like I've been trying to get through my dinner for years... and it's finally time for dessert. Thank you, Total Beauty, for the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream of reporting on Fashion Week.

This weekend is a whirlwind of fantastic events. Yesterday, I, along with over 25 other bloggers attended a fab dinner at Koi sponsored by Total Beauty and Aveda. Tomorrow, Splendicity is sponsoring a delish brunch at Sarabeth's. I look forward to that. It was great to have the opportunity to meet so many darling ladies, whose blogs I'd been reading forever, in person. I also realized something funny. In every situation/group I'd been in previously, I'd say I knew a good 90% more on average than the other people in the room about all aspects of beauty: makeup, hair, skincare, bath products, nail polish, etc. I think of myself as someone with broad knowledge of each. I realized how little I know about the ins and outs of each particular aspect of beauty compared to these other girls... except about hair. It seems hair is my number one thing, dolls. Who even knew? That was the only topic about which I could hold my own! Anywho, back to Fashion Week coverage.

This morning, I attended the Thuy show, where the MAC makeup artist focused on ethereal white shadow, enough liner to make me happy, and a strong matte lip. No gloss to be found here, ladies. But trust me, you won't miss it. Lashes were long, thick and defined. But the hair won me over. Dolls, I typically don't love an updo. But I'd allow Liam of Ted Gibson haircare to updo-me any day. Soft, glistening curls were loosely anchored into twists or relaxed pony tails resting midway on the back of the head.

I loved the mod colors, bold tights, and sky high shoes in every color possible of a Crayola 64 pack. I don't purport to be a fashion blogger, but I will see this white silk dress and this purple dress and chocolate brown coat combo again in my dreams. Brown and purple is going to be HUGE in my Fall 08 lifestyle, that's for damn sure.





Here are my fave beauty looks of the show:














Stay tuned for backstage scoop on Miss Sixty, Tibi, and Vivienne Tam.

Photo credit: Beauty Blogging Junkie

Q & A: The Urgency of a Hair Emergency

BBJ reader Lix writes:

"Dear Beauty Blogging Junkie-
I went for a color "correction" and the inexperienced stylist put peroxide
in my hair and left me for 50 minutes. It's a miracle that any of my formerly 18" long, luscious, red locks survived at all. I am now left with a greenish/yellow burnt, sad, ragged little mop that vaguely resembles a super short (and on me, ugly) bob.

After my hair started to grow in, I went to a different stylist and asked her to apply a glaze, as I had been advised that this would help decrease breakage.
I also asked her NOT to apply the glaze to my new growth. She applied the
glaze to my new growth anyway (she turned me away from the mirror). Now, my
little mop AND my formerly new roots feel waterproof, like they have a plastic coating on them. How can I remove this glaze? It is going to take three years to grow my hair back to its former state.
What suggestions can you provide?"

Lix, OIY. Like Chaka Khan says, "I feel for you".

There is nothing worse than a hair disaster and you are going THROUGH it, honey. I'd suggest taking the following 4 steps:

1. Lay off the heat tools.
Seriously. I had to at one point and it made ALL the difference in restoring my hair back to some semblance of non-haystack locks. If you'd like a velco rollers recommendash, I adore Maxius Adjust A Curl Velcro Rollers. They are self-holding and adjustable to make any size roller. They also store flat, making them travel friendly. Ser. They adjust from 1.5"-4". Perf for drying your hair semi straight whilst lifting roots. Another gem from Maxius that is saving my LIFESTYLE this summer is their serum, adorably entitled The End. I plan on devoting an entire post to this prod as it has allowed the Fabulista to rock stick straight locks in this miserable, sauna of a June we're enduring. I'm ready to toss out all of my other serums. Apply a bit of this to your ends before rolling them on up in the velcro rollers.

2. Condition the heck out of your hair
Start using products intended for damaged or even relaxed hair. In fact, I'd invest in Kerastase Oleo Relax EVERYTHING. Or at the very least, the Smoothing Hair Masque and the shampoo. It's expensive, but it's the best of restoring damaged hair back to health. I'd also recommend Back to Basics Raspberry Almond Reparative Shampoo and Conditioner. It's less expensive and is the product equivalent of a defibrillator for your strands.

3. To remove the glaze, use a clarifying shampoo.
Glazes aren't permanent, so it will fade and be even nonexistent within 3 weeks or so, but if you plum can't wait that long, I suggest you try Bumble and bumble Sunday Shampoo. Or, if you're on a budget, try Neutrogena Anti-Residue Formula Shampoo once or twice a week.

4. I would recommend you take a pre-natal vitamin daily (not more than that if you don't want to add constipation to your list of problems) to speed up hair growth. I usually buy the generic brand at Target, it works like a charm!

Friends, feel free to provide additional advice for my gal Lix in the comments section!

Lix, best wishes for swift hair growth! Do let us know what happens.

Searching for a Stylist? Try This Tip

When searching for a stylist and you want to make sure you find one who can measure (seriously, why does an inch to some stylists mean 7?), a good rule of thumb is to look for one with long hair herself. Or himself. I don't discriminate. My current stylist, Amy at Bumble and bumble is fantastic and respects my need for long locks. She has very long hair herself and even when my hair is damaged and could use a good whacking, she'll respect my wishes and only chop the ends whilst giving me a good conditioning treatment.

Still, be advised that even that plan is not foolproof. I tried out a stylist at another salon uptown and was introduced to Karmela, whose mane rivaled that of Rapunzel. After explaining to her I want to keep "as much length as humanly possible", Karmela agreed, comparing a too-short haircut you don't want to getting raped. Now even I, the mayor of Hyperbole City, wouldn't go so far as to make that analogy. Naturally, right after the discussion, Karmela "raped" me by snipping my long hair into a BOB. That was our first and last visit. I returned to Amy for my next cut. Have any hair horror stories? Share away!