Paul Mitchell Smoothing Line!

Some of our stylists here at Charlotte's Salon and Spa attended a continuing education class Monday and would like to share a little of the knowledge they gained there.

Ever bought a new product and were really excited about using it and after a few uses weren't completely satisfied?  Chances are it's not the product, but in the application.  All products are not created equal, nor are their applications.  We're going to go over the Smoothing line we carry at the salon by Paul Mitchell.  

Super Skinny Daily Shampoo. Just "another shampoo" to cleanse the hair and scalp in preparation for the conditioner, right?  Nope.  This shampoo is so much more than that.   It actually has the Super Skinny Complex in it, which penetrates deep into the hair to displace water and constrict hair for speedy drying and styling. 

Super Skinny Daily Treatment.  What most people do with conditioners is apply them, run it through the hair, and immediately rinse it out.  But what you're actually doing is cheating yourself and your hair.  This is actually more of a "treat", and everyone wants their treats to last a long time!  So instead of immediately rinsing it out, let it sit on your hair for about 5 minutes.  This daily treatment also has the Super Skinny Complex in it and in order for it to have a chance for it to work correctly, it needs to sit and stay a while.

Super Skinny Serum.  Everyone who lives in Louisiana will definitely benefit from this product!  This serum smoothes, conditions and seals hair strands.  It leaves the hair smooth, shiny and frizz-free.  Super Skinny Serum has the Super Skinny Complex in it as well, so it speeds up drying so you can get silky smooth results in less time. Don't let the name fool you, curly girls can also use this serum.  It is heat activated however. 

Super Skinny Relaxing Balm. Similar to the Super Skinny Serum, but this product smoothes and controls, meaning it does have a slight hold to it.  It also has the Super Skinny Complex in it, so it helps hair dry faster.  It has anti-humectants to heal down the cuticle of the hair and fight frizz.  This product has memory to it, so the longer you use it, the more it will relax the wave pattern or curl pattern.  So unlike the serum, this balm is not for the woman who loves her curls and wears it curly on a regular basis.  

Straight Works.  With this product, a little goes a long way.  Where the Super Skinny Serum and Relaxing Balm were for smoothing and frizz control, this product is more for blowing out hair straight.  That being said, it is still possible to curl hair with this product as it does have a lot of hold and the curls stay really well.  It maximizes shine, softness and manageability while controlling the texture and providing the perfect balance of slip and hold to transform hair.

Gloss Drops.  This is a finishing product (aka, goes on dry hair.)  Again, a little goes a long way.  It fights frizz and creates a brilliant shine leaving the hair soft and silky.  Gloss drops is a silicone based product, so it needs heat to be able to work it through the hair.  Not from the blow dryer or flat iron, but just the heat from the friction of your hands.  So put a little in the palm of your hands, rub together until you feel it get warm then run through the hair starting at the ends and working up.  Starting at the top of the hair will leave it looking oily and no one wants that. 

So whether you’re looking for that super straight sleek look, or just smooth blowout frizz free hair, the Paul Mitchell Smoothing line is definitely the way to go. 

Updo Fun

Thinking about getting Babe Hair Extensions?

The short answer: the shortest layer of hair should reach the occipital bone. It’s right between where you’re neck and your head connect, and the area just below your ears.

The long answer: Hair extensions can add a lot of length and a lot of volume, but exactly how much is determined by how much natural hair there is. There are also many considerations you must take into account with extremely short hair.

The scalp hair should be thick enough to conceal the extension attachments. Seeing the extension attachment points is not desirable. Short hairstyles such as the pixie cut often don’t have allow enough hair to cover the extensions.

Color differences are more stark with short hair, so be particular about the color.

You’ll probably want to avoid the mullet look. Without proper blending, the gap between the real hair and the extensions will be too drastic. If hair barely reaches the occipital bone, try intermediate length instead of going for an extremely long look. Otherwise, blending can be difficult.

Blending is so important, especially with short hair. Make sure to frame the face and connect the layers, so the extensions are not obvious and look as natural as possible.

Extensions can be installed in very short hair, but blending is crucial. Extensions also shouldn't be installed in thin, short hair.


This brand-new method is a showstopper. Installation is astonishingly fast and the look is shamelessly seamless. Clients are raving about how Tape-Ins provide length and volume and blend easily into hair.

This revolutionary method installs in as little as 30 minutes, so you’ll be looking fabulous in no time. And because it’s so speedy, it will save you precious time and money. The medical grade adhesive is designed for hair, so with proper care, tape won’t weaken until you’re ready to remove it with the help of our trusty Tape-In Bond Remover.

- May be reused up to 3 times
- Application time: 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Lasts 3 to 6 months with proper care

Tips to the Perfect Blowout

Photos from Albany Plantation

Other photos from the vintage shoot at Albany Plantation back in October.  

Hair by Paula and makeup by Justin.

Vintage Photo Shoot

Back in October, Justin and Paula worked a vintage bridal photo shoot.  

Here are some of the photos from that shoot.