The word of the day for the first short cut challenge on Shear Genius was “precision”.  Stylists were challenged to use a shape into their hairstyles.  Some took it literal and used clippers to shave stars into their models hair and others gave it a shot at their own interpretations of diamonds, triangles, hearts, and upside down trapezoids.  Talk about creative! April and Matthew just didn’t cut it this time while Janine won this short cut challenge (again) using her interpretation of a crescent moon shaped haircut and style.

The elimination challenge of course then followed. Models used for the elimination challenge were aspiring actresses who would soon be taking new headshot photos. Each came in requesting a specific style and look based on the acting roles they were auditioning for.  Such styles included the “Girl Next Door”, “California Blonde”, “Hot Geek”, “Lingerie Model”, “TV Host” and a “Super Hero”.

Just when the hairdressers thought they completed their elimination challenge, host Camila Alves presented the stylists with a surprise twist! They were then told to transform their models once more for a 2^nd headshot photo shoot with the new style being completely different than their first. This time models requested hairstyles representing roles like an “Edgy Secretary”, “Sexy Vixen”, “Special Agent”, and “Naughty Villain”, and a “Rocker Chic”.

Kevin Mancuso, guest judge along with the other weekly judges were impressed once again with Matthew and Janine’s overall styles. They both were named top two with Matthew winning the judges over as tonight’s top stylist. In the bottom two fell April and Brian.

For April, this challenge was unfortunately her last!

I love watching all the stars walk the red carpet before the shows since this is usually the only time you get a chance to really see all the nominees and presenters.  During the show we’re sometimes unable to really see all the gorgeous dresses and hair do’s of those who do not win since they never make it to the big stage.  The Academy Awards is the most formal award show of them all in Hollywood so most actresses choose a very simple yet formal and classy up do’ hairstyle.  

Check out some of stars from last night’s awards:

How can you achieve your own traditional up-do’?  Watch this how-to, start practicing and you’ll be a pro before your next special event!

Remember you will need to following hairstyling tools to achieve this up-do’ style:

Brush, bobby pins, styling spray, curling iron, and blow dryer (if starting off with a shampoo).

Each Wednesday night we watch competing stylists on Shear Genius take their hair shears and other hairstyling products out and putting their hairdressing skills to the test and goal to not be eliminated. But this week’s episode gave the stylists one better cause behind their styles and creativity. This week, stylists created very sexy 1940’s pin up girl hairstyles for their models, military wives who were later sending a video message to their solider husbands who were far away from home.

So in the spirit of their challenge,  I thought I would share some simple how-to tips for achieve your own pin-up model look! Through my own wedding planning, I came across very classic and cute vintage engagement photos where modern girls choose to style their own hair in a similar 40’s or 50’s look. These photos were always worth swooning over! Or maybe you have plans to take similar photos like these military wives on last night’s episode…1940’s pin-up girl boudoir photos are always a nice gift for the lucky man in your life!

So for your own hairstyle, you’ll basically be following these three steps:

1. Curl your hair using hot rollers.  It’s typically best to first straighten your hair before rolling to eliminate frizz and keep your hair smooth. Once you pull out the rollers, softly brush your hair, slightly loosening but not completely separating it.
2. Make Pin-Curls. This is a must for 1940’s hairstyle. Taking 1/2 inch-1 inch  sections of your hair,  comb it straight and curl it around your finger. Be careful not to disrupt the hair in any way by twisting or separating hair causing frizz.
3. Pin curls with bobby pins or regular pins depending on your hair type.

The more you do the easier this should become. You can always curl your hair overnight or even set your hair the night before with only touching up in the morning!

Have you ever tried this look? Share you tips, tricks, and photos!

Last night’s short cut challenge on Shear Genius was to give all the curly hair models a dry graduated bob. There finished style was to be presented straight at the end of the challenge. They were given the instructions to turn in all their haircutting tools before washing, blow drying and straightening their model’s hair. You could hear the excitement in the stylists voices as they described this style as a boring, old-school, “PTA mom” style. Hmmm…that “passion” certainly didn’t help to make this challenge fun or easy for them I guess.

April & Brig were unable to impress the judges by decision time. Matthew & Janine were once again in the top two with Janine ultimately winning the challenge.

Models for the elimination challenge was a group of military wives who were asking to be transformed into classic 1940’s pin up girls. They would later record a video for their husband soldiers who were overseas. Each of their styles were to include traditional finger waves or pin curls video. Celebrity judge Robert Vedica joined for this elimination round.

As usual there were few stylists were able to successfully execute 1940’s style and shine while others were unable to deliver. Brig & Matthew came in at the top two creating perfect styles with Brig winning the overall competition!

April, Janine, and Amy (as usual) came in at the bottom three. After failing to meet judges expectations, it was Amy who was sent packing her bags!

Saturday Night Live welcomed back Ms. Jennifer Lopez on Saturday’s show who re-enacted a skit from “We Are the World” as Rihanna, haircut and all! J-Lo’s second SNL debut in 10 years proved to be mildly entertaining, but not sure it was her best performance. 

But looking back at the hairstyle J-Lo choose to impressonate, how can one achive such a look? I know I have mentioned before how much fun I think Rihanna’s hairstyles are, but let’s look at it one more time.

To achieve this shorter and funkier look, ask your stylist to cut one side shorter than the other right above your ear. They will next need to blend up adding in razored layers up to the top of the head and continuning over to the other side of the head creating an asymmetrical style.  To keep your razored bangs from becoming flyaways, apply product to the hair and use your fingers or comb to direct the hair right into place.

Leslie Loves Veggies and My Salon Tools have teamed up for a great giveaway! In need for any new home hair tools or professional styling tools? Leslie recently tried out the Solano Ultralite Tourmaline Ceramic 1700 Watt Dryer and reviewed it on her blog.  She’s now hooked up with My Salon Tools and offering a chance to win one of two $50 gift vouchers to use at the My Salon Tools online store! Check out Leslie’s review and the giveaway details on her blog. The giveaway just launched today and ends on March 20th so you have plenty of time to enter (and there are even ways to enter daily)! Be sure to head over to the My Salon Tools online store and check out their great selection. You will be able to choose one of your very own salon tools from a great and affordable selection of shears and scissors, blow dryers, hair straighteners and flat irons, trimmers and clippers, student cosmetology kits and more! Once you find a product that you would love to add to your hairstyling tool collection, hop on over to Leslie’s blog and comment about it for your chance to win.  It’s very easy. Leslie offers more way than one to enter the contest that also include subscribing to our Women’s Hairstyles blog, leaving a comment here on WH, or following us on Facebook or twitter!  Remember you MUST first comment on Leslie Loves Veggies (follow her on Facebook and Twitter too!) or your subscriptions and comments here do NOT count.

Good luck everyone!  Winner announced at Leslie Loves Veggies March 20th!

Guest judge Harry Josh joined the crew for last night’s episode of Shear Genius, sharing his expertise throughout the competition which challenged stylists to incorporate flowers into their haircuts and hairstyles.

Adee once again made excuses and had difficulty remembering the basics of hairstyling 101. Brig added cornrows and extensions to her model, while Brian wanted to create a style with east African flair and added a facial mud mask to create texture for his. In the bottom two fell Adee and Jon while April and Brian impressed the judges with their final styles. Brian won the challenge.

Welcome back Tabatha Coffee who served as guest judge for the elimination challenge! The challenge was to create hairstyles for the bridesmaids of a traditional Indian wedding. At the end of the challenge they would join the newly married couple and guests to show off their new do’. Preferences stuck deep in the minds of some bridesmaids and stylists were unable to negotiate and had little room to express their own creativity.

It was Janine, Brian, and Jon who made their clients and judges happy, but once again Brig, Adee, and Amy fell short and came in the bottom three. It was Adee’s final run and was sent walking.

Adee started off the episode announcing he had food poisoning ultimately causing him to not finish the short cut challenge and headed to bed instead.  Stylists were challenged last night in the short cut challenge to add hair extensions to male clients. Ken Paves, celebrity stylist to clients Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez, joined as guest judge.

Short cut transformations included Emo styles, swooped bangs, long curls, and ponytails.  End results put Amy and Faatemah at the bottom while Matthew and Janine impressed the judges with their work. Matthew won the overall challenge creating long curly locks on his male model.

For the final cut challenge, the hairdressers were given a chance to style for a romance novel themed cover shoot.  Stylists were paired up in teams of two, except for Brig who had to complete the challenge solo.  Although in pairs, each stylist was judged individually for eliminations.

Team Matthew & Janine and team Brig came in the top two, with Matthew once again winning the overall challenge.

Adee and Faatemah were unable to impress the judges last night.  Although Adee continues to argue with the judges and showcases a bad attitude, it was Faatemah who was sent home.

Within the second episode of Bravo’s Shear Genius, it wasn’t being cut from a challenge that had Giacomo leave the show, but his three children at home.  Awww how sweet! This means more opportunity for the others.

So for the first haircut “short cut” challenge, Shear Genius competitors had to work their magic on blondes who took damaged and over processed dye jobs to a whole new level. So in this first challenge, they were to transform their model’s hair making it sleeker and healthier looking.  These models were somewhat challenging since most did not want to go outside of being blond and the stylists were unable to convince their clients to think outside the box.  And since they were unable to be persuasive, they became creative with adding warmth, cooper tones, platinum highlights, and shine to their models preferred blonde hair.

During the challenge, Brian actually managed to get bleach in his model’s eye. Whoops and yikes!! You can bet he was one of the least of the judge’s favorites since he was unable to finish the competition.  But after the review, the winner of the short cut competition was Matthew turning the most damaged blondie into a red bombshell.

The final cut challenge had the stylists creating hair style for a server based on a tasting menu and assigned one dish.  Based on color, texture, and taste, they had to translate the dish into a creative hair style!  Inspired by sushi dishes, cheeseburgers, salads, and dessert these stylists used hair extensions, bright colors, food props and more to create exotic, sexy, and glamorous styles (well most were able to do that!)

Famous celebrity judge, Joel Warren was last night’s guest judge. Who impressed him and the other judges? In the top three, it was the men who ruled this challenge. Jon, Matthew and Brian did the best all being able to execute their dish visions perfectly in their model’s haircut style.  It was Jon who ultimately won last night’s challenge.  Did you see how excited he was!?

The women didn’t really make the cut with Amy, Arzo, and Brig ranking in the bottom three.  Their creations falling apart, unpolished, and overall just not “shear genius” enough and judges weren’t able to see any inspiration from the dishes they were assigned.  Not really impressing the judges with her finished hairstyle, it was Arzo who was sent home.

A good stylist knows that a good haircut starts with using a great set of shears. A pair of the Kamisori Black Diamond Shears is sure to help get you the styling results you want. In order to provide your client with confidence in your ability to deliver great service and a great cut and style, you must bring out the best shears that will give them their new look. People take a lot of pride maintaining their hair with the right products and nutrients and to keep up with the freshest styles, so they come to you as a hair expert. Choosing the right shears isn’t easy so let me help direct you to a brand you can’t go wrong with! There are so many blades, types, colors, and features to choose from. But Kamisori alone gives you a great selection to choose from.

Make sure of course to choose a handle that best fits your preferences so that you are sure to not cause strain on your hand or fingers. You can research different blade types but two that are currently popular in the industry are the Bevel blade and Convex blade.  Bevel Blades  have been around a little longer so are slightly outdated with comfort.  They do require more tension so again just do your research and read other reviews to make sure this blade is for you.  Convex blades are newer to the scene and between the Bevel blade and Convex blade, this one is more popular among stylists.

These blades are great for layered cuts, curly and thick hair, straight hair, generally all hair types.  You can also cut any length of hair with these shears. Kamisori shears will give you the precision you want to achieve in a great haircut. Your clients will come back again and again and notice the difference with this professional shear.  Using professional shears will help maintain your client’s hair conditions and prevent split ends.

Cutting your clients hair will never be easier and “cleaner” than with the Kamisori Black Diamond Shears.  As you know most clients come in with Hollywood celebrity pictures and styles and you will be able to deliver a cut that makes them look just like their favorite celeb!  Remember to show them ways to style it once they leave the salon because they will want to keep looking stylish once they leave the salon!