How to Fishtail Braid

It has been a while since we had a hair tutorial to share with you. The Holidays are coming and we

thought a fish-tail braid seemed only fitting. Pair this stylish hair do with your favorite dress, wedges

and a little gloss and you are good to go.

Step one:
Gather hair into a ponytail and secure with a clear elastic band. 

You can either cut the band for a loose braid or you can wrap the band with hair to 

hide it upon completion.

Step two:
Divide the hair in the pony tail into two equal parts. 

If you would like to wrap the band with hair when finished, leave a small piece aside, 

separate from the two equal parts, and do not include this piece as you braid.

Step three:
Take a small piece from the outside of side one and pass the piece to side two 

(you can decide which side will be one and two). 

Next, take a small piece from the outside  of side two and pass it to side one. 

 Continue this process.  Once you pass each  piece over you can forget about them, 

just let them gather into their new sides.

To keep the braid tight, every so often you can take side one and side two and 

pull them away from each other. This will help tighten the pieces you have 

already placed and braided.

Step four:
Once you have finished the braid (takes a lot longer than a normal three strand braid), 

you can secure the ends with an elastic band.  At this point you can either carefully 

cut the elastic at the top of the braid, or you can take the piece you set aside and

 wrap the band, securing the end with a bobby pin.

For a looser braid, upon completion, you can gently pull the braid apart, 

helping to separate the pieces a bit, loosening the braid.

For a sleeker braid, make sure to brush through your hair first, and try to 

keep the braid as tight as possible.

For a “messy/ boho” braid, you can add texture prior to starting the braid 

by curling your hair or teasing your hair a bit, and don’t worry about keeping the

 braid too tight as you work. This will help the braid to appear a bit thicker 

and looser. Spray with a light finishing spray.

Our Arrojo Shopping Guide

 
Arrojo Revitalizing Kit
 Retail Value : $46.00 
PRICE: $39.00

 

 
Arrojo Volumizining Kit 
 Retail Value : $43.00 
PRICE: $36.00

 
Arrojo Styling Kit
 Retail Value : $48.00 
PRICE: $41.00

Pick up these gifts a more only at Mark Christopher Salon!

Sojourn products are so easy – we’ve color coded them for you!

 

Have limp, fine locks? Use volume (green)!

Dry, damaged locks keeping you down?  Moisture (blue) will give you the  most

luscious locks you’ve ever seen.

Fire-engine red hair?  Chemically-treated? The secret to long-lasting colour and 

treatments is Colour (white)!

Frizzy? Have fly-aways or massive, curly hair?  Smooth (peach) is the answer!

Fire-engine red hair? Chemically-treated?

 

 Fire-engine red hair?  Chemically-treated? 

The secret to long-lasting colour and treatments is Colour (white)!

When coloring hair, closing the cuticle to seal in and protect the color is a must. A lower pH scale

will help with this. A slightly acidic pH helps seal the cuticle and prevent fading. To maintain, restore

hair to its natural pH level when shampooing and conditioning.

Sojourn Thermal Protection Straightener

Coarse And Thick Hair?

 I recommend not washing every day.Your natural oils will work their way down to your ends

(Really! Once or twice a week is fine.). When you do shampoo, wash twice. It’s harder to get

through, and really get a good scalp cleansing when there is a lot of thick hair. 

Sojourn Thermal Protection Straightener, $24, available at MC Salon

Sojourn’s Thermal Protection Straightener is great — apply from roots to ends on wet hair. It’s

lightweight, and protects the hair from the heat. Try it after air drying if you want to achieve less

volume and body. A great keratin treatment would do wonders for people with coarse hair. 

Hairdresses Ruled

Introducing Sojourn!!!

In case you haven’t caught on by now, the cosmetics industry isn’t just a pretty face: there are some

serious chemistry brains behind your favorite volumizing mousse or age-defying foundation. But

lately, we’ve been noticing beauty brands truly embracing the science-nerd side of their products

instead of hiding it behind some prettily packaged gimmick or another. We, for one, are fans of this

smarter side of the beauty biz – and of the industry’s recognition that its consumers know the

difference between a wishful-thinking “miracle” cure and a product that actually does as it promises.

Mark Christopher Salon is proud to introduce our newest product line - SOJOURN!

Sojourn, a haircare line backed by the cachet of co-founder Elan Sassoon, promotes the idea of

“positive chemistry,” a concept Sassoon and his team arrived at by studying hair at its optimum

natural state.  Another factor Sojourn takes into account is one of hair’s natural building blocks:

keratin. Incorporated into each product in the line, Sojourn’s Keratin Cashmere Protein works to

moisturize the hair cuticle from the inside out, preventing split ends and other breakage. 

And if all that isn’t enough, the line is also 100% biodegradable and free of parabens,
formaldehyde, sulfates, and artificial dyes and colors.

 Here are a few of our favorites so far!!

 Sojourn Shampoo Moisture: 
All I have to say about this shampoo is that after applying and lathering it through my hair, it felt so

moisturized I didn’t think I needed any conditioner to accompany it! The shampoo smells wonderful

– with a hint of citrus. It left my hair healthy-looking and silky soft to the touch. I can definitely

understand the power of the exclusive Keratin Cashmere Protein they use in this product – it does

leave your hair permanently conditioned. 

Sojourn Conditioner Moisture:
Okay…so I know I just said that I didn’t necessarily need the conditioner after the shampoo, but I

used it anyways—and guess what, my hair was even MORE moisturized. I used both the shampoo

and the conditioner first thing in the morning right after I woke up. My ‘bed head’ hair had tangles

galore. After using this conditioner my hair felt as if I brushed them all out. On the bottle it advises

you to leave the product in for two to three minutes (so it acts more like a deep conditioner). 

I saw a result after one minute.

Sojourn Monoi Oil:
In other words. Wonder oil. It’s an ultra-light yet deep conditioning treatment specially
formulated for chemically treated, dry, frizzy or environmentally damaged hair. This hydrating oil

absorbs almost instantly and it doesn’t leave any residue or build up. When you first apply it,
you can feel it in the hair. After about 15 minutes you can’t even tell it’s there. 

Hair feels a lot softer after this product.

Sojourn Texture Molding Paste:
This paste has a thicker texture than the taffy, so it enables you to add a little more definition to any

cut or style. You can use this product to create soft and loose curls or to stand hair straight up.

 Sojourn Leave-in Detangler:
It’s good to use for a little extra moisture and for tangle-protection! Comb this product through with

a large toothcomb, and know that it can be used alone or before applying products.

Sojourn Shampoo Colour Preserve: 
This is formulated with a potent plant-derived UV inhibitor for maximum protection against

environmental free radical damage caused by UV light. The low pH locks in color and prevents

premature fading for richer, vibrant, longer lasting color and shine.

Sojourn Conditioner Colour Preserve:
This product provides extra UV protection for colored, chemically treated hair as well as hair 

that has been overexposed to the harsh effects of heat, wind and the sun. 

Works just like Sojourn Moisture Conditioner.

Sojourn Sculpting Taffy:
 I used a small amount on my hair while it was dry (you can use it on wet hair too). It added a little

texture/separation to my layers and smells marvelous — like roses! This is an all-in-one sculpting

tool that gives extra hold, shine and protection to long, short, or in-between styles.
Contains maracuja oil, so it fortifies hair as it styles. 

Sojourn Thermal Protection Straightener:
 I found this is a useful product. I have used it for the past week before I straighten my hair with a

flatiron. In any situation, you should apply it BEFORE applying heat on dry hair. I sprayed it on my

hair from roots to ends, one section at a time for maximum protection and moisture. 

Sojourn Wet/Dry Volume Gel:
  I took about a quarter amount of this gel and applied it at the ends to my roots. It left my hair

weightless and soft. After blow-drying my hair it was like Va-Voom Volume! It works also in dry hair

for a more piece-y look.So what was my favorite aspect about the entire collection besides the healthy

effect it had on my hair? The scent. Floral, Herbal, Citrus…I got a surprise from ever bottle I opened.

Trying out Sojourn was definitely a pleasant experience.

Next Step: Hair

 Found the perfect dress? Check! Makeup done? Double check! And now for the finishing touch -

glamorous, celebrity hair - that's where our MC Salon experts come in.  Let us show you how to do it

yourself in the easy step by step guide:

Step 1: Use a curling iron to curl the ends of your hair.  

Take small sections at a time and curl the front away from the face.

Step 2: Back comb the crown to give it some height and blast it with hairspray.

Step 3: Pull back the crown of your hair, give it a little twist and secure.  Try to ditch 

that ordinary claw clip and use bobby pins to help make it look a little more polished.

Step 4: Once the pins have been placed and your hair feels secure, use 

your curling iron to curl the remaining ends of your hair.

Step 5: Use a wide tooth comb to separate the ends of the curls or keep 

them as they are - the choice is yours!

Done and done! This go-to-glam style is universally chic! 

The best part is that it frames the face and works with almost any face shape!

Meet Morgan

 Morgan Littlefield, 35, Before

• Lives in New York City
• Likes her hair, but wants a change
 
Her Problems
Morgan has naturally thick, wavy hair, but she wasn't taking advantage of it.  And by leaving it long
and unshaped, she wasn't doing anything to show off her pretty, youthful features. Lastly, this natural
blonde (who didn't previously color her hair) needed a little brightness.

Morgan Littlefield, 35, After

Why This Cut Works
Face-framing layers retain the look of longer hair without the limpness. The side-swept bangs

minimize Morgan's high forehead while playing up her baby blues. Streaks of buttery blond add extra

oomph.

What You Can Do
If you don't have a specific cut in mind, tell the stylist what you don't want and let them make

suggestions. Just don't be pressured into trying anything that doesn't sound right.

Hair Trend: Tomboy Hair

If you were to simplify it, there were two main ways that boyish hairstyles for girls were being

interpreted by high fashion this year. One is by pairing boyish hair with androgynous fashion for a

complete, or near to complete, masculine look.

 The other is to contrast highly feminine fashion with a contradictory hairstyle that’s careless and

tomboyish. Some tomboy styles take inspiration from the refined, Dandy side of menswear – they’re

perfectly slicked and clean and parted.

 But for the most part, in 2012, they’re about creating a look that’s effortlessly chic, as if you just

rolled out of bed and whipped your hair into a fabulously boyish ‘do.

What do you think? Is it for you?

Hair How To

Have you picked up the latest issue of Midtown Magazine yet?! 

When you do, look for our step by step guide for perfect hair this holiday season!