Sam Villa wants you to have great hair

Suzanne Quinn of Glow Communications gives us the inside scoop:

April, 2011 (New York, NY) – Why is it that hair never looks as good when styled at home as it does in the salon? The average women fights frizz with tired arms and uncertainty, only to be disappointed with the results. Could it be that stylists have inside info? Of course they do, they’re professionals!

What most people don’t know is that even after stylists graduate beauty school, they need to continue with advanced education to master techniques, stay current and meet client expectations. Sam Villa, Behind the Chair 11th Annual Stylist Choice Award Winner for “Favorite Educator and Platform Artist” is the stylist behind thousands of stylists around the world. He is the man that teaches stylists the inside tricks on how to cut and finish hair. Tricks like sinking the nape area to create volume at the crown, using zigzag parting at the perimeter while only clipping the interior, and deflating unwanted volume. He gives stylists guidance on what shears to use, sectioning, what brush to pick up, how to use thermal tools, what not to do and what products will perform the best.

Tricks like creating volume in fine hair! “Sixty percent of North American women have fine hair and they get frustrated when they can’t make it do what they want. I create education that gives stylists a better understanding of hair as a fabric and how it reacts to manipulation. Stylists in turn should share this info with their clients so they can achieve the same results at home. It’s not classified info, it’s just that some stylists are better at sharing than others. So, if you aren’t getting the results you want at home, ask your stylist for a tutorial. Be specific and ask for guidance on everything from the type of cut, to the frequency of washing, to handling the cuticle (open or closed), to the types of tools and products to use. It will increase confidence and improve your finish skills,” states Villa.

Aspire for more with Sam Villa! Villa is founding partner and chairman of Allvus, LLC, Education Artistic Director for Redken 5th Avenue and a Stylist Choice Award Winner for Favorite Platform Artist and Educator (2007 and 2011). Discover his coveted hot tips and techniques, along with Sam Villa Signature Series brushes, combs and thermal tools on www.samvilla.com.

Flat Irons Curl?

Traditionally, flat irons are used for straightening, but Sam Villa, founding partner of the Sam Villa® brand and Education Artistic Director for Redken 5th Avenue, is anything but traditional. Villa loves oversized multi-textured looks and uses his flat iron, the Sam Villa Signature Series SLEEKR™ flat iron, in unconventional ways to create this fresh texture.

Remember the pin curl? Well, Villa has a modern version he creates in minutes. It’s a coiled set compressed with the iron, resulting in a flatter curl than a traditional pin curl. Give it a whirl.

Paper Curl:

1. Take a 1/2” square section and prep with Redken spray starch 15 versatile ironing spray.

2. Loosely flat wrap the section around index finger

3. Slide off finger – holding pin curl in fingertips

4. Pinch with SLEEKR™

5. Finish with Redken fashion work 12 versatile working spray

Sam Villa's Tricks of the Trade for Finishing

Sam Villa, founding partner of the Sam Villa® brand and Education Artistic Director for Redken 5th Avenue, travels the world teaching other stylists how to finish hair to perfection. He’s now sharing his tricks of the trade, so a pro blow can be done at home.

“When people tell me they can’t get their hair to look like it does when their stylists finish it, I tell them that it’s easier for the stylist because they’re behind in a natural position, facing the head. Most people blowdry their hair in front of a mirror, which makes everything opposite. I suggest getting hair on the brush and then turning away from the mirror to do the blowdry,” explains Villa.

Tricks of the Trade

· To prevent frizz, reach for an old tee shirt instead of a fluffy towel to thoroughly squeeze out the excess moisture without roughing up the cuticle.

· Detangle hair by working from the bottom up.

· Product is a necessity. Use mousse for volume, lotion for hair that’s smooth and touchable or gel for lift and definition.

· A boar-bristle brush will distribute the natural oils throughout the hair and give a smooth finish.

· Stand up, because your body will have more flexibility than when you’re sitting down.

· If you work with a round brush, section off the hair and start at the bottom. Between sections, put down the blowdryer so you have both hands to get the hair on the brush.

· If your hair is color-treated, set your thermal tools on medium to keep the cuticle closed and maintain the color longer.

Naturally curly hair has special requirements:

· Comb out hair with a large-tooth comb.

· Before using a mousse or gel, apply a leave-in conditioner.

· To maintain the curl, clamp hair with clips at the base to provide lift; then let hair dry naturally or use a diffuser to dry it.

“The last thing I recommend to clients is that if they’re having a “bad hair day,” just start over! Spritz the hair with a water bottle and adjust the top surface. Investing just a few minutes will turn things around to have a great hair day,” states Villa.

Aspire for more with Sam Villa! Villa is founding partner and chairman of Allvus, LLC, Education Artistic Director for Redken 5th Avenue and a Stylist Choice Award Winner for Favorite Platform Artist and Educator. Discover his coveted hot tips and techniques, along with Sam Villa Signature Series tools on www.samvilla.com

A Tale of Two Combs

The Ouidad Double Detangler and The Sam Villa Long Cutting Comb

The Ouidad is a VERY sturdy comb-- it detangles without breaking my hair or the comb!!!

I use this one, then the Sam Villa comb, which has finer teeth for best hair results.

The Ouidad is hefty enough to double as a weapon and doesn't yank.

The Sam Villa is more flexible, but not in the cheap-ready-to-snap way. Also very good for parting & teasing (or whatever the hip-kids are calling it now).

Together, these combs keep my hair in some sort of order! Love them!!!