how to tell if you got a bad haircut!

I have done hair since monkey butt was just little so she really has only had her hair cut by anyone but me only once!  About a week ago she asked to have her hair cut in a salon.  She had gone with her grandma for her haircut and thought it looked fun and wanted to try.  I totally get it and had been debating having there school haircuts in a salon because I feel like they might be missing out on the experience.  So we had a minute I called the salon I normally go to and my stylist was full but someone I didn't know had a opening and I have seen the other stylists work and I felt like it would be fine...then this happened.

eek Not what she asked for.  First off shelby brought a picture we explained what she would like.  The stylist didn't listen at all.  She didn't talk to shelby the entire cut and with the wash she was done in less then 15 minutes!!!  We got home and we were so disappointed.  I felt like this experience was ruined for her.  I was soo bummed.  So I recut her hair but first I took some pics and figured I would make this a learning experience for you guys.   

So here are some things to look for if you think you got a bad haircut.

1. First there shouldn't be big gouges out of your hair like this..

It should be a smooth transition like this..

2.  If you take a comb and grab a vertical or horizontal section it should be in some sort of a line weither curved or straight diagonal....not zipzag not like this...(ps not naughty looking at this ..his caption should be "oh no she didn't")

I like chevron but not in a haircut lol.  So this was shelbys before. 

 The picture she brought along was this..

Not so much.  Wasn't anything like what she wanted.  So I went in straightened out the bottom recut the layers and angled it around her face and touched up her swoop bang and this is the end result.

 about as close as a 11 year old should be to that cut :)  She is much happier.  

Here is a before and after with out her hair flipped.

 This is the unflipped cut.

 See the even bottom and smooth layers.  I also cut her layers quiet a bit because that is what the cut she asked for had. 

In ending I thought I would leave you with some tips on how to ensure you will have the best odds of getting the cut you want.  

1. Bring a picture of the cut or color you want to the stylist with you.
2. If you can find a cut with differnt angles the sides and back that is the best
3. If you are talking color make sure you point out which tone you like in the picture.  There is always lots of differnt colors and tones make sure you guys are clear on exactly what part you are talking.
4. pay attention when you stylist is styling your hair and ask for explanations as you go if they aren't explaining because you will want to recreate it.
5. If there is a certain product you need to style the do (pomaid or wax or what not) make sure you have something to do it because you will want to achieve the look.  I am not saying you have to buy the exact thing that they use.  If it is in your budget that is great and it is best bet but if not go to the drug store and find something the same texture as what they used.
6. Have realistic exceptions if you want a cut but that person has curly hair and you have straight or if you are low maintenance and that is a style that will need curled or straightened every day it probably won't work for you. If you have black hair and want blond expect to have fried hair or some brassiness.  You aren't going to look like a natural blond and have perfect hair. Or the exact color you showed but they will do their best to get you close to what you want.  If your not sure ask your stylist.  If they are worth their salt they can tell you. 

Those are my tips for helping you and your stylist the best color or cut you can.  I hope it was helpful. 

Have a great day guys.

maternity photo shoot

 Since this is more then likely going to be our last baby we wanted to commemorate it.  We had my amazing girlfriend Stephanie who did our family pics a few years ago do some maternity pics for us.  I am soo glad we did do this and I am in love with the shots.  I thought I would share.(here are a few favs)

We got some of me and my amazing hubby and the bump. 

I altered this one and changed it to sepia and brought back the color of my necklace.

 

 Steph altered this one.

 (we clearly can't make a heart with our hand lol )

I adore this one of Benji kissing my baby bump.

 This is another great one Steph altered.

I got some great ones of me and the girls and the bump

I altered this one to be sepia and brought back the color of the umbrella.

 Here is the before..

 I got some great ones of my girls together.

 (this is my girlfreind stephs little girl with Fire monster)

 A few shots of them with their cousins.

 A few great alone shots

  Monkey but black and white with the color brought back in her eyes. Love the freckles.

 This is all we could get of fire monster because she was busy catching frogs with my gfs little girl lol.

 A few of me alone.

 A couple of me and my sister.

 

And best of all a great pic of my great little family before the big change happens and our foursome becomes five.  

 Have a good one guys.

31 w update

Sorry this is late guys.  I have had a busy week.  I am exhausted but my allergies were killing me and I couldn't sleep so I decided what better time to sit myself down and get this done.  Okay what has happened between weeks 30 and 31.  Well Monkey butt had 4 performances of the play beauty and the beast.  She did great and we were super proud of her.  My sister, Calvin and her hubby all came for one performance and they took fire monster home with them Saturday night.  Then sunday Monkey butts family came to watch and took her home with them.  Sooo...I had 4 days with no kids.  No I didn't get a ton accomplished and yes the time flew by.  I missed my girls and shed some tears.  It is crazy how kids can drive you to the brink of insanity but with out them we are lost!

Any who with in a 24 hour period of fire monsters visit 2 of their pets died.  My sister had 3 cats one of which was a tiny not old enough to be away from its mom baby kitten they kept shut in her craft room and 3 dogs, a st Barnard a husky and a German Shepard and yes...she is crazy and no she doesn't live on a farm..lol.  Fire monster had checked on the kitten and thought she got the door shut she said she got to the second step to go down stairs and heard the door open. The German Shepard had tried to pick up the kitten and broke its neck!  (it was pretty sad and traumatic and Evea didn't tell anyone what the story really was for days.) But that same day over night my sisters husky passed away.  (he was older and had issues for a while).  So that was allot for a 5 year old and my now 9 year old nephew with autism to take in. 

Calvin was heart broken over the kitten, but I happened to know that the women who had given us whiskers had some new kittens to give away and one looked just like our little guy.  So we picked him up on the way to calvins birthday and now they own whiskers mini-me.  They will integrate him with the dogs and he is bigger then the tiny kitten and tougher.  If he is anything like his brother he will fend just fine so long as he doesn't have a heart attack when he sees Lola the st Bernard and think she is a bear.   This guy is even more feisty then whiskers if that is believable.  Whiskers was more sheltered because he was abandoned and bottle fed, where as this guy was outside with his brothers and sisters and was handled and is used to interaction with people but he spent most of his days tumbling around with 9 other kittens and being naughty.  For instance whiskers curled up on my chest and slept the whole way home when we got him, this guy wouldn't quit climbing me and I finally gave up and put him in the car carrier where he curled up and went to bed for the 3 hour ride.  My sis says he is doing great though and she sees lots of whiskers behaviors in him.

We are now up in the cities we have my Fire monster back which is soo nice.  We are going to be getting ready for a baby shower with family and a couple close friends tonight.  We will be here for the weekend enjoying time with the family and relaxing on what will be one of our last trips to the cities since I only have the month of july left to travel and will be in the no fly zone through august.  I hope everyone had a fabulous 4th of july.  I am off to find some food and my allergy meds.  :)