BEAUTY TRENDS: Blow Dry Shops

Beauty Icon Allen Edwards knows a thing or two about industry trends. After all, Edwards has been a leading force in the world of hair and beauty for over three decades. He is the owner of two full service salon and spas in Brentwood and Woodland Hills, CA and is the creator of the Shear Force hair product collection.

“Blow dry only shops are opening up all over town and they are charging $35…A price we haven’t seen since the 1970’s”, states Edwards. “They are pulling clients away from every major salon where professionally trained salon stylists charge $60 and up. The full service salons are loosing a huge amount of business and, in an already tough economy, it’s a major blow”.

Allen Edwards with Deal or No Deal Lucky #13 Leyla Milani

L.A.’s first blow dry salon “Drybar” opened its doors on San Vicente Blvd., just a mile from Edward’s Brentwood Salon. Drybar charges $35 for a shampoo and blow dry and customers are encouraged to schedule appointments on-line. The original blow dry salon is in Manhattan called “BLOW ~ The New York Blow Dry Bar”. BLOW is a full service salon, specializing in blow drys and prices range from $40 to $60, depending on the length and texture of your hair and what is needed to create the look. This format feels more professional to Edwards — If the hair needs more work, the client should be charged.

Edwards feels the high-volume blow dry salons pay stylists very little in order to charge such a low price. They are hiring hairdressers who are looking for work. The Allen Edwards Salon and other top salons invest a great deal of money on training and educating their stylists to give the customer top quality service. For hairdressers who have invested in salons over the years, it’s really not about the money, it’s about the art. Additionally, blow dry shops tend to be backed by outside investors and not hands-on industry professionals. And the relationship is very impersonal, your blow dry is scheduled with whoever is working at that time. Edwards is concerned about the effect on the industry, but realizes that blow dry salons do provide a service.

Allen Edwards Salon + Spa in Brentwood has always been known for doing a fabulous blow dry. To take it to another level and compete with the blow dry shops, Edwards is offering his blow drys to start at $40. Your blow out will be done by an experienced stylist at Allen Edwards Salon with polish change, manicures and pedicure offered at special rates. “Our desire is to make you happy and beautiful — Why not go to the best!” explains Edwards.

P.S. Don’t Forget The Men: Allen Edwards Brentwood Salon opens for Men’s Night Only every Wednesday evening, offering complimentary wine and special prices.

www.allenedwards.com

Allen Edwards Interviews With Marta Walsh

The following interview was quite a fascinating experience for me. Few weeks ago I was given an incredible chance to chat with Allen Edwards the man who created The Farrah for Farrah Fawcett one of the most famous haircuts of our time. I grew up in Israel watching my mom trying to get The Farrah and even me as a child was dreaming of having that flip and layered cut. It felt like I was writing a piece in history. Farrah left Allen Edwards at one point to another hairdresser called: Jose Eber, who apparently also takes credit for creating The Farrah. But, Farrah Fawcett went to Allen first! Read more.

Allen Edwards

For more than three decades the internationally recognized beauty industry icon, Allen Edwards has been styling the tresses of some of the most glamorous women in the world including Farrah Fawcett, Donna Mills, Anne Bancroft, Diane Keaton and Raquel Welch. It was Edwards who fashioned Assistant District Attorney Marcia Clark’s new look during the O.J. Simpson murder trial. Modern Salon Magazine recently named Allen Edwards among 50 most influencial hairdressers in history with industry leaders Vidal Sasson, Jose Eber and Sally Hershberger. Also a must read Allen’s 200-page memoir: “Shear Force: An Image-Maker’s Memoir”, released in 2008. The book details the glitzy Beverly Hills beauty industry over the past 30 years and Allen Edwards tumultuous parallel ride through it all.

In this interview Allen Edwards talks to Marta Walsh about his beginnings as a young hairdresser in Beverly Hills. How one day he met Farrah Fawcett and what led him creating The Farrah one of the most famous haircuts of our time . Talks about the changes in hairstyles and celebrities over the years. The celebrity who he would love to style today. His favorite Shear Force products. Gives advice to aspiring celebrity hairstylists. And talks future plans.

Marta Walsh: When did your interest in hair design begin?
Allen Edwards: I was always into the arts side of the world. I was a musician and a dancer from 8 years old till I was 19. I thought that’s what I’m going to do. After meeting other musicians I’ve realized they really didn’t make much money. When I got out of high school I quit playing trumpet. Around that time I met some people who went to beauty school. That interested me. Since I quite music and career was always important to me, I decided to go to beauty school. It came really easy to me.

MW: What was your biggest break as a professional hair stylist? How did it all happen?
AE: I was working in a fun little salon in Beverly Hills and doing well when I got out of beauty school. My father used to manage a building and through him I met a young fellow called Jon Peters. Jon was a hot young and up and coming hairdresser at that time and was opening a new salon. We got along, Jon was kind of a wild Rock and Roll guy and I liked that. We met in a nightclub he pulled up with his Corvette with greasy black hair. I wanted to learn from him. It was important for me to connect with a guy like that. I left my clientele in Beverly Hills and I began working in the valley for Jon. The big break came when I began doing Farah Fawcett’s hair.

What also kicked my career was being the first hairdresser to go on The Morning Show with Regis Philbin. I was the first hairstylist to appear on TV as an expert guest. I used to show new hair looks on the show. 300 people would call in, it was unbelievable. They didn’t used to do makeovers back then, it was all high fashion hair looks. I then began working with hair companies doing big hair shows for 1000 to 5000 people. My background in music and dance helped in coordinating all the shows and cresting a high energy rock hair show. I was one the first hairdressers to do both public TV work and also working with hair companies.

MW: How did you meet Farrah Fawcett?
AE: I used to do Jane Brolin’s hair who was Jim Brolin’s wife at the time. James Brolin is now Barbara Streisand’s husband. Jane brought Farrah Fawcett to me. One day Farrah just walked in and it all started from there. The year was 1974. When she came in her hair was in one length so we started to layer Farrah’s hair. She went to Jose Eber after that. Jose apparently tries to take credit for creating the famous Farrah haircut. He really didn’t create the Farrah. Jose was always friends with her I think, and somehow he lost her during the famous Charlie’s Angels time. I got mad at her for going with Jose and I sort of threw her out the shop.

MW: What inspired you to create one of the most sought after haircuts in hair history?
AE: There wasn’t a particular inspiration for creating the Farrah hairdo. Bigger and fuller hair was starting to come in. I was very aggressive with cutting and the long layered hair just evolved from that. I invented blowing hair while dry or the blow curl which no one did at that time. The way you do it is by blow drying hair mostly with a brush and just curling the ends with a smaller brush. Then you clip it and by the time you finish the hair is dry, you take the clips out, turn your head upside down and boom there you have the Farrah. People went crazy over it. The Farrah opened the doors to women with long hair to have a hot look. It was fresh and new because short hair was in for a long time in the 50’s and 60’s, think Mia Farrow and Jane Fonda. The Farrah was the first famous long haircut. It looked good on every woman.

Allen Edwards with Deal or No Deal Lucky #13 Leyla Milani

MW: Which celebrities did you do hair for besides Farrah Fawcett?
AE: I did hair for Raquel Welch, Donna Mills, Rene Russo for the cover of Vogue, Diane Keaton for the cover of TIME, and Marcia Clark during the O.J. Simpson trial.

MW: Which celebrity would you love to style today?
AE: I was always a fan of Cameron Diaz and Gwyneth Paltrow and I would love to cut Katie Holmes hair.

MW: What are some of the changes you have seen in celebrity hairstyles during your long hairdressing career?
AE: As a hairdresser today it’s very difficult to create new looks and hairstyles because it was all done before. I came from an era where we used to create new things. Katie Holmes bob has been back 20 times already. Also, Hollywood stars in the past used to keep their hairstyle the same at all times and were afraid to change. Today celebrity hairdos change more often thanks to hair extensions. Hair trends today are driven by A list celebrities. The Jennifer Aniston haircut was the Farrah of the 90s.

MW: What sets your hair care line Shear Force apart from the rest? Which Shear Force products just can’t live without?
AE: I wanted to do a hair care line that is natural. Unfortunately you can’t do natural in hair styling products but you can do natural with shampoo and conditioner. My chemist found an oil out of Africa called Marula oil which is high in anti oxidants and is extremely nourishing to the hair. It helps rebuilding hair internally and makes it healthy and shiny. The Shear Force hair care products all have a purpose. The Shear Force Thickening Spray increases the hair diameter makes it thicker and fatter. This helps women with thin hair. Also my favorites are the Shear Force Polishing Serum and the Texture Defining String pomade. I like to mix the polishing serum and mix it in the pomade can, it makes hair shiny yet gives it a funky texture.

MW: What are some of your favorite hair trends?
AE: I see fuller hair, bigger hair, more body to hair, more glamorous waves, and staying away from the flat iron. Think, Lauren Bacall.

MW: What advice can you give anyone who is interested in a career as a celebrity hairstylist?
AE: Not to be afraid to take chances, be like an open book and learn new things. I find most hairdressers to not be open and to have a big ego. They tend to stick to one cutting or styling technique they feel they know best. Don’t say: “I don’t do that.” Probably if you say it it’s because you don’t know how to do it. Always take care of your client. Learn to communicate well. Be creative. No matter how long the client was going to you create something new for them. If you’re interested in becoming a famous hairdresser or a celebrity hair stylist take photos of the different hairstyles you’ve created and send them to hair or style magazines or beauty blogs. Get people see what you do. Set yourself goals and work on achieving them. You will have to start at the bottom. You just have to do it and expect to do hard work.

MW: What is your philosophy about hair and beauty?
AE: Every woman deserves the right to be beautiful and it’s up to us hairdressers to bring that out.

MW: What is your favorite: city, restaurant, movie, and car?
AE: My favorite city is Los Angeles, I like a good steak restaurant, and I love to ride motorcycles. I ride everyday almost.

MW: What’s next for Allen Edwards?
AE: I would like continue to do Shop NBC with my hair care line Shear Force. I’m working on my own reality show. I would also like to create a chain of Shear Force salons. And then I like to take a vacation somewhere.

You can find “Shear Force” with Lorin Shields-Michel book at Allen Edwards Salon + Spas, amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and gift stores nation wide.
To learn more about Allen, Shear Force, and for the Allen Edwards Salon + Spas locations visit: www.allenedwards.com

Deal Or No Deal Lucky #13 Gets Lucky With Allen Edwards

Just in time for the holiday shopping! Treat your hair with Shear Force 5 piece Discovery Kit, under $30.

The Shear Force hair care line was created by Allen Edwards, the man who invented the Farrah Fawcett hairstyle!

Allen Edwards styled the hair for this shoot of 5 of the top talent from E ! Catt Sadler, Ashlan Gorse, Debbie Matenopoulous, Samantha Harris and Giuliana Rancic. I’m huge fan of the E! beautiful presenters and always wondered who did their hair. Now I know! Mr. Allen Edwards Marta would like to meet you!:)

Cover Looks (from left to right):

Ashlan Gorse: Dress: Badgley Mischka Bracelet: Chanel / BagBorrowor Steal.com Ring: Much Too Much Earrings: Much Too Much Shoes: Lanvin/ Madison, Santa Monica
Catt Sadler: Dress: Some Like It Vintage/SomeLikeitVintage.com Earrings: Fenton/ BagBorroworSteal.comBracelet: Much To Much Shoes: Report Signature/Madison, Santa Monica
Giuliana Rancic: Dress: Siren Vintage/ sirenvintage.com Earrings: Much Too Much Bracelet: BagBorroworSteal.com Shoes: Alaia/ Madison, Santa Monica
Samantha Harris: Dress: JovaniBracelet : BagBorrowor Steal.com Shoes: Miu Miu/ Madison, Santa Monica
Debbie Matenopoulous: Dress: Blondie’s Vintage / Blondiesvintage.com Ring: MuchToo Much Shoes: Report Signature/ Madiso, Santa Monica

Stylist Allen Edwards is the man who created the Farrah Fawcett.

ALLEN EDWARDS Salon + Spa is located in Brentwood and Woodland Hills, California and his new hair product line is called ALLEN EDWARDS Shear Force

Hair Trends: The return of big wild sexy hair.

NBC’s Deal Or No Deal has been one of the hottest shows on television. Besides enjoying comedian host Howie Mandell with his shiny, bald head, men are tuning in to see one thing: The Deal Or No Deal girls! And, the girl that stands out from the rest is #13 — Leyla Milani. Even Oprah loves her: Oprah says Leyla is her favorite.

Leyla’s big, wild and sexy hair is created by stylist Allen Edwards, the man who created the Farrah Fawcett, and Allen has done it again. Talking about influencial hairdressers. “Leyla Milani is one of the most beautiful women that I’ve ever met and her hair has the potential to make her the next Farrah Fawcett,” states Edwards. “Women all over the country love to be sexy and every woman deserves that. The easiest way is to start with your own hair, and get that Leyla Milani look”. Leyla’s hair has its own cult following and rumor has it that Lloyds of London is drafting insurance for her famous mane.

Allen creates Leyla’s soft look by using a special technique called “Blow Curl”. This simple technique entails blowing 80% of the moisture out, winding the hair around a small brush, rolling the last 3 inches of hair and letting it curl around the brush. Pin the hair to your head and let it dry.

It’s time for big, wild and sexy hair again. Men want it. Women want it. And, you should have it.

ALLEN EDWARDS Salon + Spa is located in Brentwood and Woodland Hills, California and his new hair product line ALLEN EDWARDS Shear Force is being used on Leyla to help create her beautiful locks. www.allenedwards.com

Marta Walsh Interviews Patricia Kara from Deal or NO Deal #9