Mishi takes on New york fashion week

Two weeks ago Morphic received news that I was awarded to chance to assist in New York Fashion week. This has been a career dream of mine and the chance to cross this off of my bucket list is an amazing feeling. I want to share my New York Fashion week with you lovely people because this is where we can all get together and realize dreams do come true. Plus, enjoy some fashion and hair fun.

NYFW-Morphic-SF

All that goes into making a fashion show happen...

 

Ready, set, werk it

 

Then I met...

Harper's BAZAAR Executive Fashion & Beauty Editor, Avril Graham, Rene furterer's VP, Francois Viargues and, the incredibly talented designer, Rita Vinieris

New! STYLE Spotlight: Zara

Want to know what makes a Morphic maven tick? Welcome to the new Style Spotlight! We'll highlight the amazing people we've met in the salon, and get the low-down on their careers, their routines, and their absolute must-haves. Then, we'll tell you how we styled them! Ready? Let's get started! 

Zara A_3.jpg

San Francisco native Zara is one bad ass chick. In her job as a brand builder and product designer, she loves creating things she knows others will enjoy. Mishi was the first to meet Zara, while out to lunch at E&O Kitchen and Bar and just had to talk her into  letting her cut her curly tresses!  Luckily, Zara happily accepted. She walked through our doors with such confidence that we  just had to share her secrets with you. This is the quick, down & dirty on her favorite things and some advice for your soul. 

 

Hi Zara! First, tell us a bit about your style.

Your style in three words? 
How about three phrases... 1. I never have time to shop,  2. I'm not forever 21, and 3. This is more grown up

What is a current trend you're over? 
The "authenticity" trend. Men with beards who look just as good without them. Women with overpriced, raw leather handbags—a true vehicle for pretentiousness.   

Zara sf-26.jpg

YOU'RE A SAN FRANCISCO NATIVE. LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.

Favorite restaurants? 
Foreign Cinema (old favorite), Bouche (new favorite),
and Cafe Europa (odd, old school). 

Favorite person? 
The tamale lady. 

Would you ever leave San Francisco?
Yes. But I would wander back eventually. 

 

Zara B_2.jpg

OKAY, NOW HAIR! 

Top 5 favorite hair products?
5!?!  Does a healthy diet count?  My pillow & 7 hrs sleep (the best styling product around!), my own homemade curl conditioning pomade. 

What’s your best tip for someone with your hair on a budget? 
Pay for a great cut. Let it grow out, keep it wild and sexy until you can't stand the length anymore (8 months), rinse and repeat.

What inspired your hair look?
A sea change. I find I can think clearer with shorter hair.  

What is your hair regimen?
Wake up in the morning, loving my bed-head look, shower, ruin the precious bed-head, re-style w/curl creme.

Blow Dry or Air Dry?
Always air dry! Its my right, as a short hair. 

Who is your hair inspiration?
My mood. 


 

JUST FOR FUN...

What is the coolest thing you own?
A knitting machine. 

Favorite pick up line?
"You need some help with that?" *New York accent*


Last trip you took?
Las Vegas

Favorite place to visit in the world?
My friends' houses. 


Last music show you attended? 
Delta Spirit. 

If you taught a class, what would it be?
How to silence your inner critic. -or- Handmade Homelife 101

 

Best thing about this year?
The life liberation I've experienced as of late. 

Proudest moment of your life?
Teaching my 8yo nephew how to ride a horse, and seeing him take to it right away. 

Best way to decompress?
Laughing it off with friends & fam. 

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
I know it's generic, but FLYING. 

Favorite word?
Yes. 

Favorite curse word? 
FAAAAHU$&@K!

What is a booked that shaped you?
The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter.


 

The first thing to know about black hair is that it doesn't produce much of  its own oil. This is why black hair and the scalp needs and loves moisturizing oils.  Naturally, the first thing I did was do a scalp and oil treatment.  Over here at Morphic were are addicted to the Complex 5 and the Karite Intense Nourishing Oil Spray.  First, I applied the Complex 5 by taking parting down the middle and continuing with long sections like a canoe. This  is called basing the scalp. The product has orange and lavender oil that keeps the scalp clean and purified, like a Clarisonic for the scalp. Then, I layered Karite oil over by spraying all over hair and scalp. On Zara, I would say I use 8 pumps all over. Massage and leave on for ideally 20 mins. I was able to let it marinate while I cut her hair.  

After letting the oil sit, I washed and conditioned the hair with Seven Lustre Shampoo and Conditioner. I like to condition twice and scrunch and squeeze the conditioner out of the hair during the second conditioning. With my palms, I mixed equal parts of Gel Defrisant and the Gel Vegetal  in my hand.  With open palms, I "glaze" the hair with my hands distributing product to the outside of the hair. Scrunch one more time and let it air dry. Afterwards loosen it up with fingertips. Lightly spray with shine spray.

 

Thanks, Zara! We've loved getting to know you!

Stay tuned for our next Style Spotlight on Lauren! 

Top 10 tips for curly hair

Morphic SF curly hair

10 tips for Curly Hair

We know that it can be hard out there for our curly haired ladies. Likely you've gone from the phase of trying to hide those wondrous curls to accepting your wild mane. But how do you tame it and give it all it needs? Morphic is here to the rescue with tips on shampooing, conditioner and style. 

Tip #1: 

Use sulfate free shampoo. And don’t over shampoo as it can dry your hair out. Once or twice a week is perfect.

Tip #2:

Condition your hair twice. The first time your hair absorbs the conditioner, and the second time the conditioner becomes a primer for your styling product.

Tip #3:

Add hair oil to your second round of conditioning. It will add shine and control the frizz. 

Tip #4: 

Noodle that hair! On your second conditioner application, apply throughout, lightly drizzle water, and use your fingers to comb your hair and create the perfect curl separation (aka noodling). Drizzle water again, but don't rinse the conditioner completely out. 

Tip #5: 

Find your part before you start to style and then flip your hair. This will help keep your hair patterns in place after styling. 

Tip #6: 

Glaze that hair! Flip your hair over and apply your styling product in the shower. The hair needs to be super wet so the product can get distributed evenly with an open face palm (aka glazing). This leads to more volume, better curl separation, and less frizz. And don't use a towel to dry your hair - just scrunch and squeeze the water out. 

Tip #7: 

 Get little hair clips (pictured below) to lift up each curl vertically to give it volume.  You only need to apply them to your part and crown. 

Tip #8: 

Dry your hair with your diffuser using the high air flow and high heat setting. A good way to do it is to tilt your hair to the side until you get to 50% dry. Then you let it air dry the rest of the way.

Tip #9: 

When you visit the salon, don't come in a ponytail. Come with your hair styled the way you want, so that when Mishi uses the dry cut method, she can follow your curl pattern. This really helps stylists give you the cut you want. 

Tip #10: 

Embrace your curls and treat them with LOVE! 

 

Products we recommend:

We recommend using the Karite Intense Nourishing Oil for your second round of conditioning. It has intense nourishing capabilities, and we love it - go for the Seven Conditioners lustre or color product, depending on your hair type. Remember that conditioner usually runs out 3 times as fast as shampoo, so it's more economical to buy the bigger version. Currently the Seven line of products is only available in salons, including ours. We'd be happy to ship some right to your door. Just select the "STORE" tab. 

Clippys

Clippys

Credits:

Hair: Mishi Nova

Model: Jasmine Flores

Photographer: Christina E. Campbell

Mishi gets married

There are many ways one can choose to get married these days. Destinations, elopements, churches and theatrical events are all fair game! Match the event to your personal style, and you can't go wrong. 

When Mishi and her other half Earl were tasked with the responsibility, they chose Costa Rica for the big day. It was an absolute whirlwind 2 weeks filled with family, surfing, fishing, and of course, great food! They topped it off with a sunset ceremony and reception, where all the guests ended up in the pool! 

Now that Mishi has taken the plunge herself, she has some advice—on hair, planning, and chilling out—for all the brides-to-be out there. Sit back, relax and enjoy a Morphic wedding...

MISHI'S MUST-HAVE ADVICE:

Be seen! Think about where you're standing for the ceremony when styling your hair! Usually, brides are on the left, so if you're wearing your hair down, you'll want to part to the right to be seen. Though if you're feeling shy, maybe a left part is for you!

Rock your curls. Having your ceremony along the coast or in a foggy area? You'll have to embrace your curls. The weather surely will!

Plan!  If you're having a destination wedding, I would highly suggest getting a wedding planner. Ours made sure to secure all the details that we didn't even think of or could even take care of before we got there!

FOOD! Choose amazing food for your reception, because it makes everyone happy. Happy guests make for an even happier wedding.

Surrender! Hand your phone, email and book planner over to a friend for the day.  Enjoy marrying your one and only in front of all the people you love.

What about you? What's your best post-wedding advice for brides-to-be? Let us know!! 

Halo Couture Hair Extensions

halo couture by morphic

We can’t keep enough of these hair pieces around!

They’re super popular, and we all love them for their high-quality, versatility, and quick fix abilities. They slip on and off so easily, and blend in with practically any hair color.  

This is a great way to bring some summer-sass to your hair, and we’re getting ready to order stock so that we have more options for you to choose from. Otherwise, it can two to three days to order. Prices start at $300, which includes a hair consult and in-person customization with shears. (Contact us for a price quote if you are interested in a custom color.) Visit our booking page and book a Hairpiece fitting appointment today!

halo couture by morphic

Credits:
Hair by Mishi Nova
Makeup by Emi Navas
Photography by Christina Campbell