Covid-19 UPDATE: San Francisco Closes Hair Salons & Barbershops

On December 4th, San Francisco Mayor Breed announced that San Francisco would voluntarily and preemptively shut down all non-essential businesses in San Francisco including hair salons and barber shops on December 6th at 10pm. The announcement came one day after Governor Gavin Newsom issued New Covid-19 Regional Guidance to close all non-essential indoor businesses for 3-weeks, including hair salons and barber shops, when the region’s remaining ICU capacity falls below 15%.

During the first 6-months that my business was shut down by local order, between mid-March and mid-September, I carefully analyzed my business and made safety modifications to my services and cleaning and disinfection protocols to protect myself and my guests from possible Covid-19 viral transmission. The sanitization and safety protocols I implemented, in combination with the natural cross ventilation of my space, makes my salon one of the safest salons in San Francisco to receive a haircut or color.

I’m very sad to I have to close my doors once again on December 6th. I anticipate reopening soon, and I look forward to sharing my space with you when the time is right.

Jan. 4, 2021 Update: Mayor London Breed has extended the San Francisco “Stay Home” order indefinitely. Please call or email me to discuss how I may support you and your hair care during these challenging times.

Why I’m Obsessed With Hair

Our hair makes a first impression when we enter a room and the lasting impression when we exit. Our hair is a living, growing, dynamic accessory that accompanies us wherever we go.

I believe that a haircut is the primary beautification tool that we have to look our very best, regardless of the color, texture, or density or our hair. A great haircut will give you more confidence, enhance your best features and elevate your personal style.

When you come to see me, our time together is 100% focused on you and your hair. It’s a time for you to share with me how you see yourself and how you want to be perceived.

From the moment you walk into my space, our conversation and my observations of you and your hair help me get to know you so that I may provide you with a hair style that reflects who you truly are. When crafting your haircut I also take into consideration your lifestyle and how much time you want to spend on your hair every day.

I love giving my clients versatile and easy-to-style haircuts that work with the natural hair texture. If you are looking for an updated hairstyle that better reflects who you are today, I’d be honored to work with you.

DIY Salt Spay Recipe For Beachy Waves & Texture

As a professional hair stylist, I’m often one of the first to learn about a new beauty product launch. Today I received an announcement about the launch of an organic salt spray - wait, haven’t we seen this before? Salt spray is one hair product that I’ve been loathe to buy or stock because it’s basically salt water in a bottle with a little moisture and perfume. Now when a company that I love and trust tells me they are launching a salt spray for $26 a bottle I have to wonder to myself “what am I missing?”

After reviewing this new product, I thought “how hard could it possibly be to make my own salt spray?” I compared a few DIY recipes with my favorite organic salt sprays and realized very quickly that there isn’t much to it. So, using my professional knowledge and common sense, I came up with a perfectly serviceable DIY Salt Spray.

Step 1: Find yourself an 8oz spray bottle. You may reuse a bottle you already have or buy a reusable plastic or glass bottle. I recommend this 4oz two pack (affiliate link) on Amazon so you can have one salt spray at home and one on the go.

Step 2: Make your salt spray

1. Warm 1 cup of distilled water in glass measuring cup

2. Dissolve 2 tablespoons of Epsom Salt and 1 teaspoon Pink Himalayan Sea Salt into warm water

3. Optional additional ingredients:

   • Add 1/2 teaspoon of your favorite leave-in conditioner for extra moisture

   • Add 1/2 teaspoon of witch hazel for scalp and hair health

   • Add 1/2 teaspoon of honey or gel (dissolved in water) for a stickier tousled look

   • Add a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil(s) for a signature scent.

4. Add solution to one 8oz spray bottle (affiliate link) or split into two 4oz bottles (affiliate link)

Step 3: If using optional ingredients, shake well before each use. Spray on damp or dry hair at crown and on ends and then scrunch to encourage waves and texture to form. This simple DIY Salt Spray is great for fine-medium hair that needs extra volume and texture.

Note: Since everyone’s hair and scalp is unique, feel free to play with and customize this basic recipe to meet your personal needs. If you want a little more texture, increase the salt content 1/2 tsp at a time. When making your own salt spray, start with a simple recipe, figure out what you want more of and then adjust. My basic recipe is clean, not too sticky, and enhances natural waves in fine to medium weight hair.

Not into making your own hair products? Book a haircut or treatment and let me introduce your hair to some of the cleanest beauty products available.

Are You Thinking About Straightening Your Hair?

Please Read This… Then Learn To Love Your Curls

In a world driven by media, advertising, and sales, women are often lead to believe that we are not beautiful enough as we are. So we do many things to make ourselves look and feel more beautiful every day - from wearing makeup to changing the color and texture of our hair. 

Many women with curly, wavy, and frizzy hair have been straightening their hair for years with various types of chemical straighteners including “keratin straighteners,” without knowing that these products contain formaldehyde releasing ingredients such as: aldehyde, bonded aldehyde, formalin, formic aldehyde, methanediol, methanal, methyl aldehyde, methylene glycol, methylene oxide, morbicid acid, or preservatives that release formaldehyde, like: benzylhemiformal, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, quaternium-15. These substances release airborne formaldehyde when heated with a blowdryer or flat iron during the chemical straightening process and thereafter. In 2010 OSHA became aware of the issue and both Federal and State OSHA departments found that most manufacturers, importers, and distributors of straightening treatments are in violation of labeling and consumer warning laws. To see a side-by-side list of hair straighteners with formaldehyde in their products click here, and then scroll down.

When I’m asked about keratin straighteners I tell my guests that I don’t offer these services because even the “organic straighteners” contain formaldehyde releasing ingredients which put my health at risk. (formaldehyde is known to cause cancer). Instead, I encourage my guests to embrace their curls with a Curly Haircut that works with their natural hair texture and lifestyle.

If this information is new to you, I encourage you to read the Environmental Working Group (EWG) blog, learn more about smoothing treatments, and download EWG’s SkinDeep app – to learn more about other beauty products that you are using. EWG has created an extensive data base of products and ingredients to help us understand the potential health concerns associated with commonly used products.