HAIR BY ELLIE
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Mask-Ne No More

8/1/2020

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HEY HEY!! 
Let's talk about this mask situation and what it is doing to your skin! 
Do you feel like for the first time in a long time you are breaking out around your mouth? Or do you feel like your acne is getting out of control all of sudden because of how much you are having to wear your mask? 
It is so frustrating, I get it! I wanted to share some tips to keep your breakouts under control. 


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what quarantine has taught me

5/12/2020

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Hey hey! 
This is not your average hair lesson. I do not think I am a life coach or anything fancy like that, yet my heart has me sharing these words with you. 
I am safe, I have ample food in my fridge, my dog is literally the best company and my house is so peaceful. Yet here I am, crying at least once a day. About nothing, and everything. That is really the only way to describe it, like you are trying to keep your head above water, in a freaking ocean, and there are boats driving by lightning speed, with water skiers on the back, it is raining, and you are crying. Waterworks. 

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Your hair & skin will thank you

4/2/2020

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Hey guys!

First and foremost, I need to tell you that this week has led me to download tik tok, after months of saying I would not. What took me so long to cave?? Seriously, if you are having a hard time finding some joy right now, download tik tok, you'll have abs in no time. Serious belly laughs. 

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FINDING JOY IN THE DETOX

3/19/2020

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Hey Hey! 
I hope this email reaches you in a sense of peace, during a crazy time in our world. I want to bring you a few beauty pointers while you may be stuck at home, while we rest up and detox from our regular life. 

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New Address! Who dis?

3/13/2020

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Hey Hey!! 

This week, I am so excited to announce the opening of Hair by Ellie & Company on Second Avenue in downtown Alpena. 

It is one of my favorite before and after pictures, I have ever done, and I am so excited for all of you to see it! Since I was a little girl, I have had a dream to open a salon, with big windows, where lots and lots of people walk the sidewalks, a place to create beautiful hair. It is hard to explain the excitement that comes from seeing the unveiling of a space that you have dreamed up for so long. When I made the decision 3+ years ago to move to Alpena, I knew I would open a salon, but let me tell you, I had no freakin 'clue how. The space I have created, is the perfect spot, to enjoy a glass of wine while getting highlights. It is a bright and sunny spot while bridal parties get ready for a big day, or an intimate how to curl class for you and your friends. Top of the line salon equipment is here, because you deserve a salon experience like never before. 

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My take on the blow dry brush

2/26/2020

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Hey hey!

Everyone is talking about the blow dry brush, and it seems to me that every brand has made one. You guys are asking me my opinion on them, and up until today I had not tried one. It seemed a bit like a disaster waiting to happen, I could just picture hair getting stuck, knotting and burning. Don’t call me a negative nancy, okay? I just was a skeptic and I really just didn't want to like it because maybe you wouldn’t want to come and hang out with me while I gave you a blowout. 

So today, I tried out the double shot blow dry brush from dry bar.

Dry Bar Blow Dry Brush

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All Blondes Need to know

2/20/2020

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Hey hey!!
I hope you are having the best week! Today I want to talk to you alllll my blondies out there. I can not believe it has taken me this long to address a question that I get asked literally 3-7 times a week. “How do I keep my blonde looking like it does when I leave the salon?”, or “why does my blonde always fade?”. Or a question along those lines. There are few key factors (we will get into that) but the main answer to a blondes problem, is purple shampoo. You. Need. To. Have. It. 
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No matter how amazing your stylist is, no matter how healthy your hair is, no matter how minimal you keep your hair washing, your blonde hair will start to yellow out eventually. When that starts to happen your hair will look a little duller, not quite as bright, or even look ( the worst word) brassy. Our eye sees dull or brassy when yellow and oranges become apparent in our hair. The cool thing is, purple and blue counteract those colors. That is where the purple shampoo comes to play, it deposits the blue violet tone onto your blonde hair and evens out the tone again. Using purple shampoo is necessary, the amount of times you use it a month is totally up to you. Some like to use it every other time (me) some use it once a month. It alll depends how you like your blonde tone, and also how hard your water maybe. 

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Let’s talk about Pulp Riot, the brand of purple shampoo, that I put all my money on. Over the years I have tried so many brands, very very expensive high end brands to cheap drug store brands, and pulp riot takes the cake. It is the perfect blend of strong tone (giving you the biggest bang for your buck) a really fresh scent, and doesn't leave your feeling over dry. You can shampoo with it like normal, or you can shampoo and leave it in for 2-10 minutes (definitely chat with your hairdresser first) to deposit even more tone on your hair. I love when my blondes start using a purple shampoo and realize they don't need their hair done as often, but they just need to keep up the maintenance of being a blonde at home.   
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Please do not be fooled, that the only thing you need to be a beautiful blonde, is a toning shampoo. It helps so so much, but keeping it healthy and strong plays into the longevity of your hair as well. Keep up with using a heat protectant, and using olaplex, and moisturizing products, because being blonde can be an aggressive service. Healthy hair, listens better, meaning whatever tone or color you put into the hair will stay longer and more vibrant. So the healthier your hair is the better the blonde will be, with the help of a toning shampoo. 

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Perfectly toned blondes, have more fun. Stay blonde, my friends. 

Looking to go blonde for summer? Now is the time to start that process sister!

xox
​Ellie


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My Take on the Mask Movement

2/14/2020

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hey hey!
I am just hopping off a plane from Florida, back to reality in snow covered Michigan. I missed my puppy snuggles so I am happy to be back, but a little sad I am not looking out at palm trees currently. I am so excited to share what I have learned for all you, but first I want to talk to you guys all about masks. Its a hot topic on social media and literally at every store ever. The sheet mask selfies? KILLS me every time, it is so hilarious looking. Charcoal masks, honey rubbed all over your face, have we tried just slapping some ‘cados on our face? no? not funny? okay.
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If masks had only one purpose, and that was get you to slow down for 5 minutes, to sit down, lock yourself in the bathroom, and chill, I think I would STILL recommend them to each and everyone of you. Good news, they do so so much more than that. I think I could talk about masks for a whole weekend and show you all the way to piggy back them into your weekly routine, they can really accelerate the results of a problem you have been trying to fix (like acne or extremely dry hair) or they touch on a problem that is more of a secondary issue, or an issue that your daily routine does not touch on (like the occasional pimple, or dry hair that only seems noticeable in January and February). For the most part, a mask needs you to pause for 5-10 minutes, for it to do its job. Now I know I am speaking from the perspective a 24 year old that doesn't have a little person knocking on the door any second I walk into the bathroom, or a husband that said he would unload the dishwasher for the 18th time and still hasn’t. I get it, free time is rare, but its so essential for your mental health. Have you taken a bath lately? Pair it with a mask. Or maybe baby steps, while you're folding laundry, throw a mask on. It might even scare your kids off so they don't bug you for a few minutes, and I’m sure it will scare your husband off for a bit.

Let’s talk specifics, and why mask monday is thing for me ( or at least once a week, but its more fun if it has a little ring to it). disclaimer: there is a million masks that would be lovely for your skin hair, but today I am sharing ones that I know and love, ones that I have studied the ingredients and 100% back up. Have some that you want to run by me? I would love to chat with you!
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S K I N
I am obsessed with the five masks I use from Rodan and Fields. They have amazing ingredients, and they instantly gratifying. So lets say I use an anti aging skin care line for the most part (I use redefine) but I can get occasional breakouts and I always love having a little brighter complexion, so i piggy back with my unblemish mask (a clarifying mask, where I usually get the random breakouts ( for me thats around my nose and mouth) and I put the reverse mask (brightening dark spots mask) every where else, forehead and cheeks and neck, where i notice freckles get a little bigger and darker.  This is the routine I love to do, it gives me really great results, and my breakouts are more minimal. extra little tip, when i have a pesky zit i sleep with the unlblemish mask on just where the blemish is and it helps really dry it and shrink it because it contains sulfur in it, which is great to fight acne. Another way to utilize masks, is getting a mask that is focused on the same problems you are focusing on with your daily skin care routine. If you are trying to speed up the process of lighting your dark age and sun spots (reverse) you could use throw the brightening mask on once a week. If you are trying to just really get your skin hydrated and radiating youth, you could you use the rejuvenation mask, that focuses on firmer skin. If you are 20 something and don't really have any skin concerns, other than you don't want to get to age 40 and realize your skin is not full of moisture and nutrients and is dull. You can start with the detox mask, that just helps keep your skin fighting against all the screen time we are exposed to, and remove all the junk our skin gets hit with all the time that likes to hang out in our pores.

H A I R
I follow the same idea when it comes to masks that I use for my hair, my daily routine focuses on volume and texture, with a heat protectant but I don't focus d a i l y on extra moisture, protein and strength for my hair. Please don't read this wrong, the products I use are jam packed with ingredients that help my hair and keep it looking pretty awesome, but there is something to be said about an extra little punch of all the goodness. My two go to masks are Olaplaex #3 and Television hair masque, from my bestie for the restieeee R+Co. Television improves the elasticity (when the elasticity in your hair is compromised, it takes a lot longer to dry, feels gummy when its wet, or simply looses its youthful look, usually resulting in a matte color finish) as well as give my hair extra moisture, which helps hold color and product better in my hair. Olapplex #3 isn't technically called a mask but it acts like a mask, it does its work when its not just thrown into your hair for a 1- 2 minutes in the shower. Olaplaex is a patented bond builder ( bonds are broken down in your hair pretty much daily, through heat, color, hot water, UV rays) and there is literally nothing like it on the market, it works so amazing I use on almost every single person that sits in my chair. For both of these masks, I like to shampoo, then make sure my hair is not soaking wet and apply the product mid length to ends. I reccomened waiting minimum 5 minutes but if you can leave them in for 10-15 minutes your hair will thank you. If you are looking to really give your hair some rehab you could use these mask every other time you wash your hair, if you are wanting to just add some precautionary measures to your mane, you could you use every other week, or once a month.

C L I F F   N O T E S
on today’s wisdom: have a daily routine, something that is promoting growth, health, and strength of your hair and skin. For special occasions, have a few products in your cabinet that amp it up, that make you feel amazing, that give you a few minutes to sit, maybe with a glass of wine, maybe in the bath, or maybe muti tasking and packing a lunch. Any of it will do. Treat yo self girl, you earned it!
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four things from me to you

2/6/2020

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hey hey guys!
Today I am spilling the tea on a few things, I wish everyone knew before walking in the doors of hair by ellie & co.
I mean if I am being real, spilling the coffee would be more of an accurate term.  
What I want to share with you today aren't necessarily the things that drive me nuts, or make me want to drink a glass of wine after work, but more of things that I literally want to jump up and down, scream from the roof tops so everyone would hear, kind of things. Does that make sense? I freakin LOVE beautiful hair, and I love getting you to love your hair. Like the kind of love where you can not walk past a mirror with out taking a second to be like girrrrrllllllll you're smokin. I have learned that it takes more than the few hours of time you spend in the salon a month (or a year) for beautiful hair to happen. It sets my soul on fire to teach you how to make your hair amazing all those hours that you are not in the salon.I want to teach you the ins and outs to show stopping hair all the time.

In no particular order, here are four things I wish you guys all knew. and frankly thought about all the time.
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(1) 
A heat protectant is non negotiable. You can buy it, you can talk about it, you can even open the product and smell it. But if you are not using it alll.the.time. then you're not going to have good hair. Good hair starts with strong healthy hair, and if you're burning it, exposing it to the natural elements all the time with no sort of protectant, good hair is not on your head. Would you pull a hot batch of chocolate chips cookies out of the oven with out an oven mitt? Even if they are the Joanna Gaines recipe, and you want to eat one like right now, you're still going to grab an oven to pull those babies out of the oven. The crazy thing is, is that oven is probably set at around 350, and your curling iron is set at maybe 400 right now. (ps turn it down a bit sister 330-380 should be your sweet spot)  And you're still not using a heat protectant? c’mon. Use a heat protectant. Use one. Right now. Every day. Forever. And if you could look at the ingredients first, and check that there are no sulfates, alcohol, parabens in there, that would be really really awesome


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Please please be honest with me, or any hair stylist you see, when they ask you what your normal day to day hair routine is. I kind of have to giggle at this one, but seriously I cant even tell you how many times I ask people this and they say something like “ well I wish I curled it every day, or I wish I blow dried and flat ironed it every day”. Here is the thing, no matter what you do with your hair, I am not going to judge you or say girl you can do better than that. disclaimer, I will judge you if you aren't using a heat protectant, I definitely will judge you then, but it is the only exception to the rule. The only reason I ever ask that question, is to match you with a cut and color that suits your lifestyle best. I am not worried if you're the biggest diva in your whole office, or if you rock a pony tail with you blazer every day. What matters to me, is that your hair fits your life precisely. A new mom comes in and ask for bangs for the first time in their life, with curly coarse hair. I promise you I am going to say, talk to me when your sweet babe is sleeping through the night, then maybe you can have bangs. A fitness junkie comes in that loves to braid her hair on the daily, and ask for short choppy layers, I will politely say, not today sister. Being honest with me on your lifestyle and routine, gives you better look, I guarantee.

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I will not, ever ever ever, give you drug store recommendations for your hair products. It goes against everything I believe in. I know that sounds dramatic, it is dramatic, but its true. Just like a dietician wouldn't recommend a fast food diet, to keep your body healthy and strong. I am not going to recommend products you can find at Walmart, Amazon, or Tj Maxx., to keep your hair healthy and strong. Companies that care more about quantity over quality are not your friends. Using products from companies that care about quality over quantity, that don't focus on just creating the cheapest product possible, improve the quality of your hair. They don't thrive on quick fixes, they prove that consistency is what creates beautiful hair. It is important me, I have witnessed amazing transformations, and I have seen it in my own hair.   In other news, just like fries every once and a while will not clog your arteries, big sexy hair spray every once in a while to keep an up-do in place, will not kill your hair (hint hint). Using amazing products, will do more than just keep your split ends away a little longer, or add extra shine. It holds your color true longer, it grows at more of consistent rate, and the overall health is improved. The cool thing is, you don't need all the products a line has, or drop hundreds of dollars. If you just think back to the basics, you can simply have 3-4 products and have amazingly strong beautiful hair. Invest in a shampoo and conditioner, monitor how much you use (salon grade shampoo is so concentrated so you need such a small amount) invest in a heat protectant, put it on your hair mids to ends  every time you wash, and watch how long it lasts. The fun texture products, or volumizing sprays are not necessities, cleansing and protecting your hair is.

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If you hate your hair, if it just doesn't feel right, if your color is not what you imagined, tell me. I promise I wont be mad, and it will not hurt my feelings. What is more important to me, is having my clients love their hair that they invested in. I am not living in a bubble where I think every single person will love their hair from me. What I do want is honesty and feedback when you're not feeling right about your hair, it helps me grow and learn, it helps me create a look just for you. Thats what you deserve. What crushes me, is when you leave my salon saying you love your hair and hop in your car and call your bestie and tell her how you much it sucks and drive to the salon down the street to get it fixed (once again, I know I am dramatic). Sometimes the differences of you hating your hair and loving your hair, is a simple tweak. A shorter layer around your face, a warmer tone, even though pinterest is telling you ashy hair all day long. Those tweaks can happen, changes can be made when you talk it through with me. It makes all the difference, and together we can create something spectacular.

All you need is good hair, and I am here for it. Have a beautiful day.

xox Ellie
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simple curls

2/6/2020

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hey guys!
I hope your week is flying by and you're looking forward to something fun this weekend! I am headed out to a color retreat, in Clearwater Florida. A mastermind in color is leading the class and I’m so excited to bring back some knowledge for all your beautiful hair! I think escaping the cold at some point in the February - March is essential so if you can book a flight to a spot with the some shine, its good for the soul. This week, I felt it was necessary to talk about the basics when it comes to curling your hair, I am breaking it down to the 6 things I think people struggle with the most. Whether you are trying to create some beach waves or Kim Kardashians cascading curls, you can follow these rules. **Per usual. Click product photos for links!**
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Curl away from your face. I will probably say this till for the rest of my life. Your curls will look so much better if they are always curled away from your face. say it with me, I will curl away from my face. So that means as you are rolling the curling iron, roll it away from your face. For a little demonstration check out my video.

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Keeping your curls VS keeping your curls tamed. If you struggle with keeping your curls, add texture to your hair before you even curl. Trophy, a texture and shine spray is perfect to spray a little veil everywhere before you curl and then again after you curl. It has the perfect amount of grit, and hold for your everyday effortless look. If you struggle keeping your curls tamed, you probably have coarse thick hair, adding a little moisture and shine before and after helps keeps your hair strand together more, giving the illusion, its not as big and unruly. Neon Lights is a spray oil and because of the aerosol factor you can lightly spray it towards your mids and ends to keep it a little more controlled. If your hair just needs a little control right towards your ends you might want to use a lighter oil like tinsel a smoothing oil, you pump one pump on your hand and run it through your hair either before or after your curl.
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Put the hairspray down, sister. Please leave the hairspray for special occasions, for when your are doing a top knot or a little updo. When you're hair is just simply curled and you're headed to work, or running errands. hairspray is just drying your hair or weighing your curls down. If you are a very stubborn chick, trust me, I know there is a good handful of you right now saying “ stilllll going to use hairspray” use a really high quality light spray for your daily use. Outer space is a flexible hairspray that you can still run your hands through after spraying, and is a full of high quality products. But, for just one week, humor me, and go hairspray free and see if its helping your curls THAT much.

(4)
​Brushing out your curls VS not brushing curls out. I know you're scared of the brush after you just curled your hair, but if you have fine hair, usually brushing them out a little will give your volume and separate your curls more to give a fuller look. Sometimes you can brush them out with your web brush, or a wide tooth comb, or simply with your fingers to separate the curls. If you have a lot of coarse hair, sometimes brushing the curls out may make you look like you just stuck your finger in a light socket. In that case, after your curl, flip your head upside and just shake your hair a  little, or add a little smoothing oil to your hands and run your fingers through the bottom half of your hair.
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(5)
​Shirley Temple is not the goal. Wrapping your from the top to bottom is the goal. Think about whatever hair is the curling iron the longest will have the most curl, so if you wrap your hair starting from the top to the bottom, the curls closer to your root are going to have the strongest curl patter and the bottom will have the least amount. There are a few reasons why this is best case scenario; your curls with give more of the cascading effect (instead of shirley temple curls), you will have the option to leave your ends (or the last 2 inches of your hair) out of the curling iron completely to achieve the beach wave effect, and your ends have been exposed the most to heat, color, sun, all the damage, so when your curling them, you want them in the heat for the least amount of time possible.

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​The temperature on your curling iron is so so important. If you can keep it somewhere between 330-380 thats best case scenario. Remember don't cook your hair hotter than you cook your lasagna. If you are getting to this point and you think to yourself, I cant even tell which temp my curling iron is at. Stop reading, and a go buy a new curling iron. A hot tools curling iron, isn't going to be a huge investment, but such a good one, the plate on the curling iron is top notch and I can promise they will give long lasting curls.

I freaking love curled hair. Its so flirty, and beautiful. It makes girls feel soo good about themselves, which is so cool. But, you guys are so scared of doing it yourself. It is like this task that you don't think can ever be achieved unless you're in the salon. If these tips and the video, left you still feeling overwhelmed, I encourage you to get a few friends together and book a curl class. It is a fun way to have a girls night, and I pour you some wine, and teach you and your friends how to curl your hair in a very hands on environment. So many women have had great success after taking this class, and I love seeing the amount of confidence you gain when you finally master curling your hair!

xox Ellie
ok and visit my IG and watch how the perfect curls happen!
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