If you’re anything like a lot of clients who come in to our Buckhead hair salon wanting a change, you’ve probably seen a hair cut you like on the red carpet, or scrolled through your Instagram feed looking for that perfect style.
Maybe you’ve found the cut of your dreams and know that it’s exactly what you want. Or maybe you’re overwhelmed with the many hair color and hair styling options out there, and aren’t sure where to turn.
Either way, we’re here to help! Before getting in the chair for that wash, cut, and style (and, of course, neck massage!) let’s make sure the big questions are answered.
What’s the best choice for your hair type? Are hair extensions safe for fine hair? Which color treatments will get you the impeccable locks you’ve been wishing for? What’s the proper care for that cut you have in mind, and does it work seamlessly with your lifestyle? And, of course, how can you maintain curls and volume in our warm, humid Atlanta climate?
This post will answer all your burning questions, straight from the best hair salon and stylists in Buckhead!
Hair Color Treatments and Considerations
Most people are familiar with the basics of hair coloring, but are surprised to discover the broad range of different types of coloring treatments. Whether you’re looking for a dramatic color change or a subtle brightening up, the techniques below are sure to do the trick.
And if you’re still a bit unsure, your stylist can guide you in the right direction. We’re always happy to help you achieve the beautiful, healthy hair that keeps those heads turning.
Base Coloring
Ideal for achieving a uniform hair color, base coloring is perfect for those looking to cover grays, go darker than their natural shade, or refresh their overall color with a single, solid hue.
- Adaptability: While it can require upkeep for root growth, especially with significant color changes, base coloring can be a more straightforward maintenance routine compared to managing highlights.
- Foundation for Change: Acts as a solid foundation if you decide to add highlights or change your hair color in the future.
- Color Care: To maintain the color’s vibrancy, use color-protective shampoos and conditioners and minimize washing to prevent fading.
Highlights
A perennial favorite, highlights can be used to add dimension, depth, and brightness. This service is a more traditional approach to foiling hair for an on-scalp blonder look without having to lighten all of your hair.
- Versatility: Works on all hair types, enhancing texture and volume.
- Maintenance: Plan for touch-ups every 6 to 8 weeks to maintain vibrancy.
- Customization: Choose shades that complement your skin tone for a natural or bold look, depending on your preference.
Balayage
Balayage, a French coloring technique, involves hand-painting color onto the hair, creating a graduated, natural-looking effect. This method offers a customized, sun-kissed look that has become a favorite for its versatility and stunning results.
- Seamless Blending: The hand-painted approach ensures a soft, natural gradient of lightness, avoiding harsh demarcation lines.
- Personalized Style: Can be tailored to any hair color or type, focusing on areas that would naturally lighten in the sun.
- Low Maintenance: As the color is applied away from the roots, regrowth is less noticeable, making balayage a lower maintenance option compared to traditional highlights.
Toners
To truly perfect your hair color and achieve that dreamy, dimensional look, hair toners are your secret ingredient. Whether you’re complementing highlights or refining a balayage, toners adjust the shade to achieve the exact tone and depth you have in mind.
- Customization: Tailor your hair color to the precise shade and warmth you’re aiming for, while seamlessly blending your highlights or balayage.
- Enhanced Depth: Add richness and depth to your color, bringing out the best in your highlights or balayage.
- Color Correction: Neutralize any unwanted tones, such as brassiness, to maintain the integrity and beauty of your color between salon visits.
Teasylights
Teasylights offer a modern twist on traditional highlights, using a technique that involves teasing the hair before applying color. This method creates a soft, blended effect that looks naturally sun-kissed, making it a perfect choice for those seeking subtle dimension without harsh lines.
- Natural Effect: Achieves a seamless gradient of color for a more natural-looking transition.
- Low Maintenance: The blending technique reduces the appearance of regrowth, allowing for longer intervals between touch-ups.
- Customizable: Suitable for all hair types and colors, teasylights can be tailored to match your desired level of lightness and dimension.
C-lights
This technique marries the coverage and uniformity of an all-over base color with the dimension and brightness of partial highlights. It’s ideal for those looking to blend gray coverage seamlessly with natural-looking lightness and depth.
- Comprehensive Coverage: The base color ensures an even, full coverage that’s great for concealing grays or updating your overall hair color.
- Dimensional Depth: Partial highlights are added to create movement and lightness, enhancing the hair’s natural tones.
- Customizable Contrast: This method allows for tailored brightness and contrast, keeping your hair vibrant and multi-dimensional.
Base and Balayage
Here we have a combo technique that layers the sweeping, hand-painted highlights of balayage over a fresh, all-over base color. It’s an excellent choice for achieving depth, dimension, and a customized color that looks effortlessly natural.
- Seamless Coverage: The base color provides a uniform canvas, excellent for covering grays or adjusting your hair’s overall shade.
- Natural Dimension: Balayage highlights are then added to create natural-looking depth and movement, mimicking the effect of sunlight on your hair.
- Low Maintenance: Thanks to the root-to-tip color transition, this combo grows out beautifully, making it a lower maintenance option that doesn’t require frequent touch-ups.
Considerations for Hair Coloring
Thinking about a dramatic change can be exhilarating! But before leaping into a new hair color, be sure to weigh these key considerations to ensure the best results:
- Hair Health: Assess your hair’s condition. Damaged or overly processed hair may need treatment before coloring to prevent further damage.
- Maintenance: Consider the upkeep. Some coloring techniques require more frequent salon visits for touch-ups.
- Lifestyle Fit: Choose a color and technique that fits your lifestyle and how much time you’re willing to dedicate to hair care.
If you still have questions, consult with one of our professional stylists, who can provide personalized advice based on your hair type, condition, and desired outcome.
Hair Treatments
In Atlanta’s warm and humid climate, finding the right hair treatment can be the key to maintaining smooth, frizz-free hair.
Two standout treatments that have gained popularity for their effectiveness in combating humidity are Keratin Express and QiQi. Let’s take a quick look at each.
Keratin Express
Keratin Express is a quick, efficient treatment designed to smooth and de-frizz hair, making it a perfect choice for the busy Atlantan on the go. By infusing keratin, a protein naturally found in hair, into the cuticle, this treatment strengthens and silkens strands for up to six weeks. It’s an ideal solution for those looking to reduce styling time while keeping hair manageable in Atlanta’s humidity.
- Time-Saving: Reduces blow-drying and styling time, a boon for humid days.
- Versatile: Suitable for all hair types, enhancing natural texture without completely straightening it.
- Humidity Defense: Acts as a barrier against Atlanta’s moisture-rich air, keeping hair smooth and frizz-free.
QiQi
QiQi treatment, though less known, is a revolutionary approach to hair care that focuses on deep hydration and nourishment. It’s particularly beneficial for hair damaged by heat, coloring, or the relentless Georgia sun. QiQi treatments work by penetrating deep into the hair shaft to restore vitality, elasticity, and shine from the inside out.
- Deep Hydration: Targets the effects of Atlanta’s heat by replenishing moisture lost to the environment.
- Restorative: Ideal for over-processed or brittle hair, QiQi treatments can revive even the most damaged strands.
- Long-Lasting Results: Enjoy softer, healthier-looking hair that withstands humidity and heat for longer periods.
Deciding between Keratin Express and QiQi treatments boils down to your primary hair concerns and lifestyle needs.
If your main battle is with frizz and you’re looking for a way to streamline your morning routine, Keratin Express is your ally. It’s especially beneficial for those who have little time for daily hair maintenance but still want to look polished and put-together, no matter the humidity.
On the other hand, if your hair suffers from damage due to coloring, heat styling, or the intense Georgia sun, QiQi offers a deep healing and hydrating experience that restores your hair’s health from the inside out. QiQi is the choice for those who prioritize hair health and are dealing with brittleness, dryness, or damage.
In essence, choose Keratin Express for practical, everyday manageability and QiQi for deep restoration and nourishment.
Hair Extensions
Hair extensions open up endless possibilities for volume, length, and style transformation. While there are extensions you can easily play with at home, like clip-ins and halos, we’re focusing on those that require the expertise of a salon professional.
Salon-applied extensions offer more permanent solutions, along with a seamless, natural look that’s tailored to your hair type and lifestyle.
Tape-In Extensions
Tape-in extensions are a salon favorite for adding length and volume with a more semi-permanent vibe. Thin strips of hair are attached close to the root with a special adhesive tape. They lay flat against your head, offering discreet and comfortable wear. Perfect for those seeking a balance between longevity and minimal maintenance.
Sew-In Extensions
Sew-in extensions, or sew-ins, are ideal for those with thicker hair. Your natural hair is braided into cornrows, and then the extensions are sewn into these braids. This method is more durable and can support heavier or more voluminous extensions, making it a go-to for dramatic transformations.
Fusion Extensions
Fusion extensions involve bonding individual keratin-tipped strands to your natural hair using a heat tool. This method offers one of the most natural-looking finishes, as each extension integrates seamlessly with your own hair. It’s a meticulous process that offers durability and versatility in styling.
Considerations When Thinking About Extensions
Choosing the right type of salon-applied extensions involves considering your lifestyle, hair health, and maintenance commitment. If you’re new to extensions, we definitely recommend consulting with a professional stylist to select the best match for you, and to understand the care required to keep your extensions looking fabulous.
- Hair Health: Before committing to extensions, assess the health of your natural hair. Strong, healthy hair is essential, especially for methods that apply tension. If your hair is damaged, it might be best to treat and strengthen it first.
- Lifestyle Compatibility: Your daily routine plays a big role in choosing the right extensions. Active lifestyles may benefit from more durable, low-maintenance options like tape-ins or clip-ins that can withstand regular workouts and activities.
- Maintenance and Upkeep: Be prepared for the commitment extensions require. Regular salon visits for adjustments, along with a dedicated at-home care routine, are key to keeping your extensions looking their best.
- Budget: Consider the initial application cost, along with ongoing maintenance expenses. Prices vary widely based on the type of extensions and the maintenance they require, so plan accordingly to accommodate these costs in your budget.
- Weather: Here in Atlanta, where the weather swings from hot and humid to cool and dry, selecting the right extensions can make a world of difference. Extensions are particularly popular here, not just for their transformative power but also for their ability to withstand the local climate with the proper care. Opt for lightweight options like tape-ins during those humid summer months to maintain comfort and style.
Haircuts and Styles
Of course, a good haircut is the foundation of every stunning hairstyle, and we’d be remiss if we didn’t at least briefly mention the basics! Whether you’re looking for a complete transformation or just a trim, we’re here to guide you to your perfect look.
Choose from a variety of cutting and styling techniques, including:
- Blow Dry Style: Leave the salon with your hair beautifully styled and blow-dried, perfect for those special occasions or just to treat yourself.
- Wet Cut: The classic approach to cutting, done on freshly washed hair, ensuring a precise and clean cut.
- Dry Cut: Ideal for fine-tuning shapes and layers, a dry cut allows the stylist to sculpt your hair exactly how it falls naturally.
Trending Styles
We’re always on top of the latest trends and techniques to bring you the freshest looks. Currently, we’re loving:
- Shaggy Styles: Embrace texture and volume with a modern shag haircut, perfect for adding a playful, edgy twist to your look.
- Curtain Bangs: Soften your features and frame your face beautifully with curtain bangs, versatile enough to complement any hair length or texture.
- Long Layers: Add movement and depth to long hair with cascading layers, creating a timeless style that’s both elegant and easy to manage.
Inner Grace, Outer Glam
Here at Craig McQueen, our entire staff operates from the belief in “inner grace, outer glam.”
While we’re proud to excel at what we do, our goal is to provide you with much more than an amazing look. We want to create an experience that leaves you feeling beautiful and empowered from the inside out!
It’s thrilling to discover the transformative power of a great hairstyle, but it’s even better to experience the deeper joy of reflecting your true, confident, graceful self to the world. It would be our honor and pleasure to be your partner on the path to inner grace, outer glam!
