Tis the season!

It's prom and wedding season. At Kosmetikos the Salon, we look for any reason to get glamorous, so we are celebrating this season to the fullest. This week, we'll be sharing some of our favorite beauty and fashion picks to inspire you to be the Glamazon that we know you are. We'll start with hair, of course!

This hairstyle is a classic, it never goes out of style. It's perfect for practically any style gown, strapless, straps, simple halter, you name it.

Beautiful updos accentuate the neck and work well with dresses that have detail at the top.

Keri Hilson's chignon can be re-created with long, short or medium hair. For shorter hair, we can add extensions.

Beyonce's sleek ponytail is a chic modern option for those who prefer a clean look.

We love Pink, she is the epitome of rocker chic, both these looks would be great for rocker chic prom queen or for the "anti-bride".

And finally, our favorite look, it's totally 2011, perfectly fashion forward, not everyone can pull this off, but the Kosmetikos Glamazon can, this look is for the trend setter, who has no fashion fear...... We present the modern bowl cut. Perfection!

Grow Baby Grow - Essence.com

Grow Baby Grow: A Black Woman's Guide to Healthy Hair - Essence.com

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Meet Kryssy, Team Kosmetikos stylist

Krystin Tunnell was born in Philadelphia, PA. She has been a stylist and an artist for seven plus years. She attended Berean Institute for her certificate in cosmetology. Krystin's specialties include natural hair care, coloring, and precision cutting. When it comes to her hair philosophy, she simply relies on cosmetology, recognizing that it is the art of creating physical beauty. Her signature styles include a unique, one of a kind look and creativity to the max.

Krystin's career highlights includes her experience working with Sensationnel Hair Co., as an Ambassador Stylist/Educator for their Pro10 hair line, as well as being an active mentor for aspiring stylist in the industry.

Krystin is all about customer service and team work. She gladly supports the Kosmetikos team in offering the best that the industry has to offer, as well as offering a superior quality of work. She puts forth the highest standard of professionalism at all times, while remaining true to herself, a friendly, all around people person. Ultimately, Krystin puts herself in the stylist chair remembering that she is a client as well, here to learn new things and be an overall asset to the business.

Phyto Friday

Everywhere we turn as we come to the height of vacation season is the preparation for the coming season! Time never stops and neither does timelessness! It is about that time to start thinking about how we will preserve our Glamazon status in the swirl of the coming fashion shift of the season.

Coats are about to come out of storage and with that the concern about the hair care regimen that has to accompany that. Elegant chignons protect the ends of hair from brushing the collars of coats which can cause dryness and breakage. Think about protective hairstyling and how it will compliment your signature style. One of my favorites is a sleek bun at the nape with one or two soft body waves at the front coming from the crown and kissing the forehead! It screams chic mystery and great sophistication. Love it! definitely 5 star in Kosmetikos the universe! Achieve this with a healthy clean base shampooed with Phytojoba shampoo and conditioning masque, set the style with Phytolaque and don't forget to baby those ends with a dab of Phyto 9 for good measure.

The thing I love about Phyto is that it works on the baby divas as well! My girls love ponytails so I section their hair, and add Phyto 7 for Lola and her long fine wavy hair and Phyto 9 for Lei's long thick curly hair! It makes the style stay put on these two very energetic little power houses!

We will periodically give more tips and ideas about protective styling with Phyto each Friday. In the mean time here are some looks to take your fall look to the stars.

NB we are loving the bangs on our fellow Bim Gal Rhianna! and the colour chunks on the asymmetrical bob pictured below

Until next time keep refining your inner goddess!
Live Beauty!

Zan

Phyto (Fee-toe) Friday

“There is no such thing as bad hair, there is only poorly treated hair." -Mr. Patrick Ales Founder of Phyto





It was this quote that intrigued me during my search for the perfect product line to use at Kosmetikos the Salon. We were looking for a number of things when it came to products. It had to be all natural and plant based, it had to be reputable, produce superior results and be diverse enough to service all types of hair. Phyto is all of the above and more.

I have been into hair since I was about nine, always in pursuit of the perfect product for my hair. I wanted it to be healthy, bouncy and shiny. Phyto has done all of that for me. I used ALOT of products so far in my lifetime and none of them have produced the results that I have with Phyto. Now there was a transitional period, where my hair had to learn the products, and we'll go into that in depth later down the road. But my hair has never been softer and shinier, and it doesn't feel oily at all!

Phyto and Phytospecific features products for every hair type... oily, dry, thinning. men, women, kids, every ethnicity... you get the picture! And it's all plant based.

We want you to get to know Phyto's phenomenal products ( btw, it's pronounced fee-toe, it's a French line) so we have deemed Fridays to be Phyto Fridays. Each week, we'll introduce you to a new product or two.


Today, we are featuring Phyto 7 and Phyto 9 daily hydrating creams. I have used both of these products, and they are both wonderful. I prefer Phyto 9 for my hair, since my hair shaft is thicker, Phyto 7 is for finer hair. The thing that strikes me about this cream, (which you can use on wet or dry, clean or dirty hair) is that it infuses moisture into the hair, it's softer, has sheen and it doesn't affect how your hair is styled. If it's straight, no frizzies, if it's curled it doesn't go straight. I absolutely love it!
Both creams are to be used daily, to replenish the moisture that is removed from your hair because of the environment, free radicals, heat styling etc.


Daily leave in
Phyto 7 Daily Hydrating Cream
Prevent split ends with a unique blend of seven carefully selected plant extracts. An essential step to repair dry hair, this light cream will not weigh hair down.
Rosemary, burdock, sage, calendula, willow, soybean and althea plant extracts.
Smooth a pea-sized amount through towel-dried or dry hair, focusing on the ends.

Daily leave-in
PHYTO 9
Daily Ultra Nourishing Cream
Prevent split ends with a powerful blend of nine carefully selected plant extracts. Non-greasy and will not weigh hair down.¦ Rosemary, burdock, sage, calendula, willow, soybean, althea, macadamia oil, St. Johns Wort.
Smooth a pea-sized amount through towel-dried hair, focusing on the ends. Apply throughout the day to prevent static and nourish hair.

The entire line of Phyto products will be featured on http://www.kosmetikosthesalon.com/

Until next time, Live Beauty!

shan

Thriller Thursday!

So the last two weeks have been an emotional time for the globe with the passing of an American Icon. Micheal Jackson in life and in death possessed the ability to make the world stand still. Billions joined with this family to celebrate his life and one thing that caught our eye here at Kosmetikos the blog, is the exquisite style and elegance with which his memorial was handled.
That was living beauty, even in time of death! The flowers were simply gorgeous.







The montages were tastefully executed and what a good looking family the Jacksons are!Specifically the trio of sisters! SPECTACULAR!! Nothing else can describe it. They did 40's fashion reloaded,pulling elements of that era together with ease.






Ms Rebbie, Ms LaToya and Ms Janet were fierce in their hats. My absolute favourite was the beret Ms Janet wore! The understated yet sexy sheath dress she opted to wear for the occasion was the perfect revamping of a 1940's-1950's look that I absolutely love. We live, like then, in an era with two wars and a struggling economy and luxury has become understated. The elegant cut of her dress and the silk insets at the shoulders were demure but sexy. her full healthy hair pulled at the nape and accented by the hat was an excellent finish to her outfit. The pearls, shoes, clutch and belt took the ensemble to the next level. Her older sisters channeled Lauren Bacall and Katherine Hepburn in their well tailored black suits and rimmed hats. Just spectacular! Pulling from the elegance and sensuality of that time always makes a lady feel like just that, a lady.



Here are my top ten favorites for pulling together the look of a millennium screen siren a la 1940s:




1. A good string of pearls, we like Mikimoto's culture pearls in white and black

2. A nice beret or bird cage for special occasions.

3. A sharp pair of black pumps (Jimmy Choo is coming to H&M!! as Shan mentioned in a previous blog!!)


4. A well made pencil skirt (we love the tailoring of Elie Tahari)

5. A clutch handbag

6. Phyto 7 and Phytodefrisant for smooth hair, a good foundation for a chignon or soft finger waves depending on your mood!) I guess that's 2 things, but it's allowed because we LOVE Phyto!!







8. A smoky eyeshadow palette
9. A long lasting lip lacquer
10. The Poise and confidence to carry it off!!


Until next time,Live Beauty


Zan signing off

Wishlist Wednesday Part II -ASOS

http://www.asos.com/ has become my ultimate online window shopping addiction.

Established in June 2000, ASOS.com is the UK's largest independent online fashion and beauty retailer. With over 19,400 branded and own label products available and 1000 new lines added each week, ASOS.com is rapidly becoming the market leader in the UK online fashion world.

I love this site, it's like Forever 21 on steriods! Since we broke the bank with today's wishlist shoes, I figured that we would go with a recessionista piece like this one from ASOS. I think that at $59.85 plus shipping, it would be fierce with our heels. Throw in some gold accesories (no necklace with this baby) even an arm cuff and a funky clutch, and you would be haute-ness!

Wishlist Wednesday

At Kosmetikos the Salon, we like to dream big. As a matter of fact, this brand was created because of our dreams and goals. So, in honor of that, we have created "Wishlist Wednesdays". Every Wednesday, we'll get to dream big, wish big and maybe even indulge some wishes once in a while. As a fashionista + recessionista, I scour the internet for all types of items, and I come across some truly amazing things. So I'll share and hopefully you will share too!

Let's start it off in style. when I saw these I screamed! Really, I did...

Dior's drape booties will run you about $1090. Apart from paying for the name, this is a well crafted shoe, with horizontal bands of suede running along the entire shoe, all connected to a vertical band of embossed calfskin leather. The back features more exotic calfskin with a cute little zipper to secure this work of art to your foot. Gold toned hardware and heels create added luxurious appeal.

Visions of pencil skirts and chic streamlined dresses with these beauties are filling my head even now.

Stay tuned for more! Live Beauty!