Season of Change

As usual, every season there is a new "must have" hair do and I must say this summer it appears to be cropped locks! This is my personal favorite haircut. I have always felt that if you can pull off a pixie, it's probably your best look (Hello, Halle Berry!). 

This cut is by no means new and it has most definitely been done before many times. What makes it very now is the disconnected, sharp, super short dramatic style worn by Miley Cyrus, Ginnifer Goodwin, Pink, and Rihanna to name a few. 

It seems as though someone that has this cut is stuck with it until they decide to begin the painful (and it can be incredibly painful) process of growing it out. I feel that that could not be further from the truth. This is actually one of the most noticeably versatile cuts around. If you look at Michelle Williams she has had about 67 variations of a pixie all within one calendar year. It's quite remarkable what a few extra weeks of grow out will do!

These are just a few looks... Don't forget to Google Winona Ryder, Audrey Hepburn, Charlize Theron,   Jean Seberg, Emma Watson, and Carey Mulligan to get you started on a search. 

 See how a quick swipe of some Rock Hard Gel and a hot blow dryer will do. Completely different looks from the same cut!

This is just one of her fantastic short cuts!

And why not take this opportunity to try out a new color?! Your hair will be so short that if you get bored or hate it, it'll be cut out before you know it. 

Feeling inspired or excited but still unsure? Just ask us! We will talk you through it and decide which look (if any) would be the short crop for you.

This Almost Never Happens

There were no train wrecks last night! I don't mean literally but in case you missed it, last night was the 2013 Academy Awards (Oscars) and everyone looked absolutely amazing. I'm so glad I rushed to Target last minute to pick up an antennae so I could watch the show in it's entirety. This show is always a highlight of my year.  It is one of the main reasons I do what I do and I am still giddy with anticipation as all the celebs arrive on the red carpet. Not only will these styles and dresses be the pictures to walk in the salon for prom and all major events over the next year, this show inspires me to keep doing what I'm doing and to do it even better. 

Before I get sappy, I am having a very hard time picking my Best Dressed. I could almost (so, so close) say all of them but there were a few short of amazing and a few that I felt the only thing missing was a personality and perhaps a little graciousness (I think Grumpy Cat knows who I am talking about.)

Without further ado, here are my 2013 Academy Awards Best Dressed List:

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner: The color of her Gucci dress was perfect, her necklace took my breath away, and her turning into a "puddle" anytime she was asked about Ben was enough reason for me to fall more in love with them. And he just gets more and more handsome with age. Impeccable!

George Clooney and Stacy Keibler: This Art Deco inspired Naeem Kahn gown and her lovely faux bob just took me somewhere. She always amazes me with her fantastic taste and her extremely handsome man only adds to the look. I love this dress and I'm kinda surprised I did so much. 

Jennifer Lawrence: Bringing the brains and the beauty back to being an incredible ingenue. At 22 years ild this girl never messes up and never loses sight of herself. I love, love, love and admire it. And this Dior gown (for which she is the new face of the design house) was absolutely made for her. 

Charlize Theron: She nails it every time and this pixie is making me want short hair again. Oh goodness. Dress by Dior. 

Amy Adams: This dove gray Oscar de la Renta beauty is the epitome of Oscar. The neutral gray is unexpected on a red/strawberry haired woman but I really love it!

Jessica Chastain: I knew she had it in her! The waves, the dress and the lips. A trifecta of absolute beauty for this Armani adorned beauty. 

Naomi Watts: This striking Armani Privé gown looks as though it was made for her and the soft updo was the perfect compliment to what could have been a very severe dress. Bravo Naomi!!

All these photos were swiped from InStyle and there are many, many more beauties, these just happened to be my favorites. Please check out Christoph Waltz and Daniel Day-Lewis along with Ben and George for what I think is the new 'do for men. Tight with a little room to play. Sounds lovely, right? 

If this year's Oscars weren't leaving you yearning for a pixie, a romantic middle-part undo, or a gown then I suggest making an eye exam appointment ASAP. 

Do You Dare?

Super model Karlie Kloss' new shorter 'do has been named "The Cut of The Year" by Time magazine.

We have had more than a handful of clients coming in for a winter refresh... Do you dare?

guestofaguest.com

By the way, this major chop was cut by Garren, who is beyond a legend in the hair world. And wouldn't you know that our own favorite Oribe trained under Garren while developing his own ninja hair skills.

Spring is coming...right?

I sure hope so! Between our 60,and almost 70(!), degree weather a week or so ago (now it is 20something outside, we won't talk about it) and the two fabulous new blondes at the Grammys last night, spring is surely near.

There were amazing performances, I would say some of the best in years, last night and some incredible hair and make up looks. My two personal favorite were Rihanna and Adele. Rihanna was looking a little more grown up than usual in a stunning black, backless dress that left little to the imagination but just enough to have everyone staring. Not to mention her sexy, beach-y blonde hair. It suits her perfectly and is probably my favorite hair on her next to the extreme asymmetrical crop she had a few year ago. And don't be discouraged by her ever-changing hair, it's not the stuff growing out of her was but it is hers! She paid for it, after all...

And heavenly Adele. What an incredible first performance after her throat surgery! She pretty much always moves me to tears, but her flawless hair and makeup kinda do the same thing for me. Hello Catherine Deneuve!! Her look is retro enough for you to know she is full of old soul and admires ladies of decades past but slightly messy and just modern enough to not feel silly or costume-y. Well done ladies!

Who were your favorites last night?

And In the midst of Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week, we are proud to announce that Nashville is at it against will hold our very own Fashion Week March 20-24. All of us here at the salon will be styling hair on that Thursday evening so be sure Rockne check us out! This is a great showcase of local and not-so-local designers, be sure to check out the Nashville Fashion Week website for more details. http://www.nashvillefashionweek.com

Come on in for your new blonde look (I did myself last week and am loving it!) your extensions (don't worry, you're secret is safe with us) or your NFW styles!

Yikes!

It has been too long! I have a full post coming (and hopefully everyone will finish their about me page!!!) but we just wanted to give a shout-out to Styleblueprint.com. They featured us on one of their weekly specials and now we have Coppoloa Keratin Treatments booked just in time for spring! Thank you to everyone who purchased one, your shiny, frizz free hair will be your best accessory for spring!

And if you missed it, here is a chance for you to see the entire staff if you haven't yet!

Stay dry!

You all know Gabrael Dunham.

One of our amazing apprentices, Christie Clatterbuck.

One of our talented stylists, Jordan Byers.

Another amazing apprentice, Danielle Finney.

Another incredible stylist, Ellen Luttrell.

The first face you'll see, our receptionist Chelsea Burns.

It's me! Bridget Murphy.

And, last but certainly not least, an outstanding stylist and the amazing proprietor, Stephanie Trail.

We can't wait to meet all of you!

Who's with me!?

I am totally wanting to cut my hair off and rock this super sexy, edgy, completely fresh "lob" (long bob) that Scarlett Johansson has in the new Mango ad campaign. And watch out 1970s! The styles of the '70s are on their way back in a huge way and I am totally on board. The look is all about mis-matched patterns, lots of camel, red and navy, and the rise on jeans is getting higher! The high rise jeans with heels make your legs look one million miles long, the camel, navy, red and pattern and the muted make-up and hair color (with just enough sparkle and depth to keep it modern) all come together in the absolutely perfect, all-American, beyond naturally fresh and sexy girl next door look. Who wouldn't love this? And stripes!! My absolute favorite print of all time! I cannot forget the stripes!

The hair is so soft, touchable, middle parted natural but better colors. Think Charlie's Angels, Love Story, and The Way We Were. These are all movies or TV shows with very strong looks that are totally current now.

Where are you Spring???

Here's the new ad campaign in all it's Oribe-rific glory...

I stole these pictures from lulus.com

Why, hello, Ms. Ball gown...

So I am a little behind. It's Fashion Week everyone! And I love to look at the shows for not only the hair and makeup, but the clothes! That's why I do what I do. I have loved clothes since the time I could pick them out for myself and will love them till the day I die. If you allow them to, clothes will speak to you. If you take away the price tag, the "Where am I going to ever wear THAT dress?" And "Who but the rail thin model would look good in that dress?" clothes will jump at you, saying "No one in the world is meant to wear this dress but you! Yes! YOU, Bridget!"

I have a wildly overactive imagination and often dream of myself walking the streets of Paris in an elaborate ball gown, eating a croissant, and wandering in and out of shops, cafes, and museums. Not only am I in a ball gown, everyone in Paris is! And the men are all in very well tailored Tom Ford-esque tuxedos with their hair parted and styled just so and they hold doors open for you, smile and say "S'il vous plait! Allow me, Mademoiselle!" All of us women give our flirtiest smile, and shyly look away as we glide inside to experience many more encounters just like this.

As I was browsing style.com this morning, I was left absolutely breathless. I found my wardrobe for this exact occasion. John Galliano has done it again. Everything is absolute perfection, from the perfectly cut suits inspired by the original "New Look", to the exquisite hand painted ball gowns and the hats that absolutely complete the look. The Golden Age of Glamour is rising again, ladies and gentlemen! It's time for us to stop looking like we don't give a care and to put forth a little effort! Am I suggesting we are styled like this everyday? Absolutely not, that would only happen in my imagination, but let's give it a whirl! It can be as easy as a blow out or putting on some red lipstick, but you owe it to yourself to be the best version of you that you got!

I am also devoted to my plaid shirt, leggings, and riding boots look, but add a bit of a glamours blow out and a hint of lips or eyeliner, and suddenly you are the most glamorous girl at the stable! Take a peek at these pictures and maybe think of them for a moment the next time you go out! Or head over to style.com (where I got these pictures from) and look at the Spring 2011 Couture shows. Armani Prive is quite space age-y and perfect for those Star Trek inspired fans. And Oribe and his team styled the hair for that show, so you know it's worth checking out!

Let the clothes do all the talking and you never know who you'll meet.

Next on Getting to Know You...

Is the super sunny, always up beat, incomparable Gabrael!

Here is what Gaby (as we affectionately call her) had to say for herself:

I am a born and bred midwesterner that loves animals. Some would say to an unhealthy point. I CANNOT drive by a stray dog without stopping and taking it home to nurse it back to health.
I've been fortunate to have amazing opportunities to do hair all over the country, including Orlando, Salt Lake City, and Washington DC. These different cultures have enabled me to be a well rounded stylist by learning and applying different hair styles and trends.
When I am not being a crazy dog mom, I'm at SalonNfuse making people feel and look beautiful. I love to pamper and give all my guests a moment of relaxation and peace in our crazy busy everyday lives. We all need it no matter how much we think we don't.
I hope you will come in to SalonNfuse and receive the hair experience you've always wanted!

Survey!

1) Name: Gabrael Rebekah

2) Where are ya from? Northern Indiana...plenty of corn.

3) How long have you been in Nashville? 2 1/2 years

4) Do you have any children (fur children and/or human children)? And, if so, how many? I have 3 amazing dogs. The oldest and most bossy a Jack Russell Terrier named Maitlen. My middle fur baby is a girly girl princess Doberman named Ellie. Our youngest we think, is our rescue Pit Bull that wandered into our lives. He is the most gentle and relaxed of any dog I know. We creatively named him Pit Bull.

5) What did you want to be when you were growing up? Meteorologist

6) What would you do if you won the lottery? Open a dog rescue, probably targeting Pit Bulls

7) What is the last book you read? Power of a Praying Wife

8) What is your favorite word? Gazebo

9) What is the most embarrassing CD in your collection? Gloria Estefan...don't judge.

10) Who is your ultimate style icon? Jacqueline Kennedy

11) What is your favorite place in the world? Anywhere that my family can be together...dogs and all

12) What is your idea of perfect happiness? Heaven

13) What is your all time favorite quote? God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. ~C.S.Lewis

Getting to know you!

I was talking with our amazing front desk girl Mrs. Chelsea Burns this morning (or maybe yesterday morning...) and we came up with the idea of giving each lovely lady (and, of course, Robert) their own blog post so each of you in cyberspace can get to know us! We are quite a unique group, and some of us are a bit shy so I gathered up some survey questions that I felt would give each of you a pretty good indication of how we really are.

Let us begin with me! Well, I am the one writing the blog so I was the first one to respond to all the questions. I said I would post each person in the order that they responded to me so here goes nothin'!

Bridget Murphy

When I'm not at work doin' what I do best, connecting with people while doing their hair at salonNfuse or at a runway show or photo shoot, you can almost always find me at home with the children, Archie and Lucille. The fact that my children bark and walk on four legs hasn't struck me as strange, that's just who they are and I love them for it.

While I am at home you can find me avoiding laundry and all other responsible duties by watching my guilty pleasure, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I often ponder the everyday dilemmas these women must face...Which pool will I be lounging about at today? Where is my limo? and What time is my facial?... And wonder how they make it through life with all these road blocks in the way. ::sigh::

When I'm not wondering what it's like to be a BH Housewife I can also be found reading, (yes, even though I am addicted to trash television, I can still read... it's all about being well-rounded), wandering aimlessly about on the Internet, at the gym attempting to train for the Country Music Half Marathon in April, and trying to convince myself that cooking is fun. I made the most delicious Green Goddess pasta the other day and you must try it! It was to die for!

I really do love what I do. One of the most wonderful feelings in the world is to know that you have connected with someone and helped them, even in a tiny way, and I get to experience that on a daily basis. How cool is that?

Survey Time!

1) Name: Bridget Murphy

2) Where are ya from? Tucson, AZ

3) How long have you been in Nashville? Just a little over 4 years.

4) Do you have any children? (Fur and/or Human children) And if so, how many? Yes! 2... Archie and Lucille.

5) What did you want to be when you were growing up? An Actress, Pediatrician, Miss America, and a Florist.

6) What would you do if you won the lottery? I would first pass out. Then I would pay off my own debt and the debt of those close to me, buy a house in the Southern Hemisphere to ensure I never had to endure winter ever again, travel the world, start a dog rescue, shop, shop, shop, and continue to live my life with (hopefully!) much less stress!

7) What is the last book you read? Tie. An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin and Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella.

8) What is your favorite word? Happy.

9) What is the most embarrassing CD in your collection? So many, probably anything by Celine Dion.

10)Who is your ultimate style icon? Also so many! I'll break it down into two categories:

1) Modern: Blake Lively, not really my own style but she always looks incredible!
2) Historical: Again!! Brigitte Bardot and Grace Kelly.

11) What is your favorite place in the world? Cuddled up with the fur children, and someone who always makes me smile!

12) What is your idea of perfect happiness: Feeling completely at ease with the world around me and everything in it's right place.

13) What is your all time, number one, most undeniably favorite quote?

"People should fall in love with their eyes closed. Just close your eyes. Don't look. And it's magic." Andy Warhol

I can't wait to see who's next!

Blushing Brides...

Last Sunday, January 9th, the team at salonNfuse had the wonderful opportunity to work with two local publications, her Nashville and Nfocus magazines, on their annual Bridal Brunch!

What a lovely group of people and a beautiful set up we had at the Vanderbilt Commodore Ballroom. This was a brunch that future brides could purchase a ticket to and in one magically convenient room all (well most) of their bridal needs could be met. There were vendors from the Party Bus people, to Flowered Hair Pieces and bakeries! Anything that could possibly be a part of a couples big day was present! During this lovely convention there is a bridal fashion show that goes on so all the excited brides can get a sneak peek into the seasons newest styles!

Two of Nashville's most popular wedding dress suppliers, Arzell's and Glitz, were presenting us with the season's hottest looks. And we had the lovely opportunity to provide the hair and makeup.

We had the most amazing set up with the most amount of space I have ever seen for a backstage, which is always an amazing bonus, and a wonderful group of real women to work with.

We got there early that morning to begin glamming up the 14 girls with the season's poppiest lip colors and most stunning swept back and romantic hairdos! Who says that just because you are a bride that you have to put all of your hair back? If you've got the locks then show 'em off!

And there is no need to keep your makeup simple and understated. After all, the classic wedding look is winged eyeliner and bright red lips, so why not take it to the next level and got for a bright fuchsia with a barely there eye? Or take that classic wedding dress and vamp it up (ever so slightly) with long, loose curls, smoky eyes, and barely there lips? The opportunities for a wedding look are endless! Just because you are a bride doesn't mean you are cornered into the "bridal" look. Have fun! This is your day! Just do something that makes you feel like the best possible version of you and you will always be sparkling!

And don't forget about the amazing bridal packages we offer at salonNfuse! Call us at (615)-649-0501 for more details!

What's In Your Makeup Bag?

So, from time to time I get really bored and find myself browsing the Internet for hours. Many, many hours. As I was browsing the other day I discovered a new feature over on style.com, a favorite of mine for all things fashion, and it's called Beauty Essentials. I see the word "essential" in a beauty blog and I immediately think "I MUST HAVE THIS!!!", but it gets better!

This is a feature showcasing what is inside the makeup bags of fashion's elite that keeps them looking fresh and healthy.

I die, as Rachel Zoe would say.

On top of amazing makeup finds (a lot of which I knew about...I have to give myself some props) there are also beauty tools, skin and hair care products. While there are many fantastic hair care lines in the world, I can't say that I have found one that tops Oribe. Funny how that is salonNfuse's new brand of choice, isn't it? And it's also funny that Amber Valletta and Dree Hemingway both cannot live without a little Oribe in their life.

Have you tried the Signature Moisture Mask yet? It's kind of like when you can feel that your skin is getting really flaky, and dry, and tight and you decide that you are going to risk being a sticky mess and slather yourself in a super thick body butter because you know the hydrated, glowy, touchable skin is totally worth the sticky-ness. That is how you will feel about your hair after using this mask. It is a totally luxurious pick me up and only takes 10 minutes!

And Dree Hemingway is a fan of the Shampoo and Conditioner for Brilliance and Shine. With a name like that how could you not be? The name also says it all. The clients I have that have tried this are absolutely in love! Who wouldn't want to wake up to brilliant, shiny hair everyday?

With all this being said, aside from trying Oribe, I want to know....what are some of your beauty essentials?

Here is the link to the style.com Beauty Essentials page:

http://www.style.com/beauty/beautyessentials/

Coppola Keratin Complex

What a busy couple of weeks the ladies at salonNfuse have planned! We have education planned through the end of January, our Christmas Party on Saturday (Pot luck style...can't wait to try every one's tasty treats!) and of course, the holidays themselves!

With that being said, we kick started our education-palooza with an amazing class on the hot, hot, hot treatment know as the Coppola Keratin Complex. This is a revolutionary treatment that MUST NOT be confused with the completely unhealthy Brazilian Blowout!

The keratin complex works by giving your hair what it's already got! Keratin. This treatment works by filling in all those little holes on each and every hair strand (we all have 'em!) and makes even the most unruly, curly hair virtually frizz free. But this treatment is not just for the curly girls out there, if you have somewhat wavy, not quite curly, difficult, frizz, fluffy, or generally lackluster hair, this is the treatment for you! It calms frizz, adds body and shine, and makes your hair completely and utterly manageable! Sounds like a dream, right?

Well, now every single one of us lovely ladies (that's Amber, Gabrael, Jordan, Ellen, Stephanie, Danielle, Christie, and myself) are certified in the best keratin product out there, the Coppola Keratin Complex.

Go ahead and take a look at the website and then give us a call, you know you want to!

Oh, and the number is (615) 649-0501.

http://www.keratincomplex.com