short hair updo

A shorter hair updo inspired by this Pinterest image, the curly results of a perm evaluation and a new hair accessory...

Alice's Twelfth Night updo

Working on Alice's hair at her Regency Twelfth Night Party earlier this month... {photo courtesy of Dames a la Mode}

... and the end result. More pictures from this wonderful event that she hosted can be found HERE

18th Century Hair & Wig Styling

I can't tell you how excited I am about the publication of 18th Century Hair & Wig Styling by Kendra Van Cleve! Not only is Kendra a fabulously talented costumer & wig stylist but she is also a meticulous researcher and clever writer. I've taken several of her excellent 18th century hair and make-up classes at Costume College and I'm so excited to have all that information (and more since she has been doing even more research and styling for this project) at my fingertips in book form. Really it's hard to say what I'm more excited to get my grubby hands on, the over 20 women’s & men’s hair styles demonstrated in the book or the yummy research. Either way this book fills a much needed gap and is sure to become a much referenced and treasured resource.

Of course this project can only happen if she gets enough funding to self-publish this book. She is offering pre-order sales, with discounts and extra goodies but the offers end January 31st 2014. If you are at all interested in hair, wigs and/or the 18th century pre-order while you still can so we can all enjoy the wealth of info Kendra wants to share with us! Because if this project falls through and there is no book I will sit down and weep. A lot.

please don't make me cry.

To pre-order or contribute to the book, go to Indiegogo.

For more info about Kendra & the book, visit the website.

For the lastest updates and more info on the project, like the Facebook page!

a dirty job

It's a fascinating thing, the responses one gets when revealing to family, friends, acquaintances that you are going to cosmetology school. For the most part everyone has been super encouraging and supportive but I have certainly had my share of negative responses (and from the most surprising people too) and people telling me what is wrong about my choice of career. Oy.

Which is why I loved this article, written by "Dirty Jobs" host Mike Rowe (which I have to say is a favorite show of mine). And if I ever had any thought differently before school, I know it know; a hair stylist totally qualifies as a dirty job. You work with dirty hair, strange scalp conditions, smelly chemicals, clothes staining lighteners & dyes and you are constantly covered in fine layers of hair. A salon is one of the dirtiest places you will ever walk into and, like a commercial kitchen, if it's not constantly filthy its because a team of people have been working hard all day to keep it clean. That fine hair you haven't breathed into your lungs already that is. It's also a very physical job, with long hours on your feet, sore backs from leaning over sinks, aching muscles from blow drying (I'm building incredible upper body strength!) and sore wrists from the acrobatics of hair cutting. Definitely a dirty job.

Anyway after reading this article today I suddenly I felt really good about some of my life choices...:>

Why "Work Smart, Not Hard" is the Worst Advice in the World - Popular Mechanics

circa 1630s hair

circa 1630s hair

the horrible day

Once again a tragedy reminds me how fragile life is and what is really important. I can't seem to find the right words to say today. All I know is my heart is so full, hurting for Chandale's family, friends and my fellow students at Paul Mitchell who are grieving her loss tonight. PMTS Woodbridge simply won't be the same without her. Today has been a heartbreaking reminder if how fragile this life is and what/who in it is actually important and valuable. ((sigh))

Our Tragedy

1780s & 1790s hair

I went on a 1780s & 1790s hair binge today - so fun!

circa 1785

circa 1792

circa 1795

now on Facebook!

You can now follow me on Facebook! I will continue to update this blog of course, but "like" The Jennylafleur Page for the most up-to-date news, inspiration & photos of my hair & beauty adventures!