As I’ve come to understand it, hair stylists and hair colorists are pretty much like dentists and orthodontists - you specialize in one or the other (color or cuts) and rarely both. I’m fascinated by color, and get a thrill not unlike skydiving (as I imagine it - I’d rather eat my hair than actually jump out of a plane) out of having my hair done. So you can imagine how pumped I was to get to interview Lorri Goddard Clark with the Neil George Salon, who tends to two of my favorite blondes… the Olsens!
How did you get started with color? What about it do you love?
My love of color began as a child, coloring with crayons and painting. While in beauty school, my color instructor, Mr. Chandler, told us that most hairdressers are apprehensive about doing color, if you want to get ahead, master it. I have always liked a challenge. What I love most about color is helping people to feel their most beautiful and confident!
What’s your favorite technique to do on someone’s hair?
My favorite thing to do on someone’s hair is EVERYTHING, from major corrective color to a few highlights around the face, and everything in between.
How do you determine what tones will work best for each person?
It’s based on their eye color and their natural hair color. It’s all about enhancing the eyes. The natural hair color determines the amount of commitment involved, as well as time and money invested on the color.
Do you have any tips for at-home coloring, or do you think it’s generally a no-no?
At-home color is a yes as long as you keep it natural in the beginning, which translates to a little lighter or a little darker. After a bit of practice, you can get more adventurous.
Is there anything you can do before you get your hair lightened to minimize damage? Do you think a deep conditioning treatment before is helpful?
To minimize damage pre-lightening, stay put of the pool. If you do swim in a pool, make sure you rinse hair thoroughly with tap water. Do not forget that chlorine gets stuck in the hair and can offset the lightening process. 2 days prior to lightening, do a deep conditioning treatment. Redo the treatment after your hair has been colored and let the hair “rest.” (No shampooing or swimming for 48 hours after the color.)
What do you recommend to help the damage post-lightening?
After lightening and resting the hair for 48 hours, protect it further by using a once a week oil treatment (make sure to leave oil on 1 hour and to shampoo it out. First apply shampoo DIRECTLY to dry hair, massage and THEN add water.) This takes the unwanted oil out while leaving the wanted moisture in. Keep flat irons and blow drying to a minimum when possible.
How can girls best maintain their color?
To maintain your color, rinse chlorine from the pool out immediately, use a sunscreen and/ or hat when in the sun and use a sulfate-free shampoo.
How much do you experiment with your own color?
I have colored my hair almost black, dark brown, red, platinum…so many different colors. I am enjoying enhancing my natural color right now with some highlights and a few low lights.
When thinking about dramatically changing their hair, what do you think girls should keep in mind?
When doing any major change, you must think about the time commitment, financial investment and ask yourself, “am I willing to cut my hair short” if it does not work out. If you can accept all these things then go for it! Changing your color can be so exciting!
We all know that beauty products don’t stay fresh forever and eventually need to be replaced, but honestly, amidst schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and relationship drama, who has the ability to remember exactly when that mascara tube or face cream was first opened? I sure don’t, which means I might end up slathering an old, bacteria-laden lotion on my skin. (GAG!) But protecting myself from dangerous, out-of-date beauty products just got a lot easier, thanks to Beauty Alert! stickers. In one package, you get 6 stickers for each category of product life–3 months, 6 mo, 12 mo, and 18 mo–and all you have to do is jot down the date of first use on the appropriate sticker and place it on the item. (For info on when various cosmetic and skincare products expire, visit www.beautyalert.biz.) It’s such a simple and inexpensive way to stay safe and prevent nasty infections, so try it out!
