staying eco-friendly

Catering to the eco-friendly mindset of many San Franciscans, Morphic Beauty is housed in Sola Salon Studios, which is one of the most green businesses in the city. They have energy efficient lighting equipped with motion sensors and an on-demand hot water system, both of which conserve a substantial amount of energy in comparison to the ways of the past. Sola is super conscientious about creating a healthy indoor environment by keeping everyone safe by only using zero-VOC paint throughout every studio. Going the extra mile to ensure a healthy breathing work space, Sola uses an efficient air conditioning system where outside air is sucked in, filtered, circulated through the salon and then sucked back out. This is a major plus for stylists and clients alike, because no one wants their relaxing beauty experience to be tainted by the smell of a perm or chemical relaxer.

The owners of Sola also make every effort to reuse any left over materials they have, whether it’s making the most of old appliances or using up extra remodeling supplies. They offer recycling and encourage everyone to jump on board. Most impressive is Sola’s compost collection. In a city that is overwhelmed with bumper to bumper stuff and people, Sola makes it an extra point to find room for a compost collection, so Mishi can compost your hair!

So the next time you visit Morphic Beauty, you can feeltwice as good about yourself!

the l'oreal originator

Did you know that in 1907 the first synthetic hair dye was invented by French chemist Eugene Schueller? He unlocked the hidden potential of a chemical called parpenylenediamine, which was developed into a formula that was to become the world’s first safe commercial color. By 1909 Schueller achieved his dream of creating a company whose mission was to be a leader in innovation and beauty. It was here that the original L’Oreal was born. Today L’Oreal is the worlds largest beauty brand, housing many of the companies we are all so familiar with: Maybelline, Kerastase, Kiehl’s, Lancome, Giorgio Armani and YSL Beaute, just to name a few. L’Oreal plays an active role in dermatological and pharmaceutical research, making sure that the products they produce and brands they partner with are the best of the best.

It is safe to say that L’Oreal touches all of our lives and our beauty regimen at some level. Schueller’s discovery revolutionized hair, beauty and fashion as we know it in our modern era, from improving the everyday gal wanting to hide her grays to the fashionistas and vixens wanting to make a statement. So the next time you use a L'Oreal product, you'll be in the know!

hafler on veronica lake

When we asked Jeff Hafler, hair historian of Twentynine Palms, what he could share with us about Veronica Lake, this is what he had to say: “Veronica Lake was famous for her hair and it was believed that after she was asked to cut it during the war, it was the demise of her career! Women were working in factories and couldn't see through their bangs, causing them to lose fingers and even get there hair caught in the machines! Veronica Lake was asked to cut her hair as an example of how to properly wear your hair in the factory!...Veronica Lake reminds me of 1940's glamour!!"

the marilyn new yorker

Hands down, the best brush I've ever used is the Marilyn New Yorker brush. First created as a knock-off of the infamous Mason Pearson, this beauty wonder is hardly a generic version of the originator. Mishi calls this one-of-a-kind brush the “desert island brush” ...if you were stranded on a deserted island and allowed only one tool, this brush would be it!  The Marilyn New Yorker also comes in a mini size... named the Marilyn Downtown brush, which is perfect for the kiddos or for all you jet-setters! The New Yorker is a sleek, slightly curved design that assists in achieving the perfect blow dry, giving hair that perfect, round-brushed effect. It's even versatile enough to smooth your hair stick-straight.  Created with a combination of natural boar-bristle hair and synthetic bristles, this fabulous brush gently detangles and massages the scalp creating silky, smooth, shiny hair.  The New Yorker is a timeless favorite; it will last for years. This brush is such a bargain, too- you can pick one up at Morphic Beauty for $42. (And the mini for just $36!)

ombre q and a

This week at Morphic Beauty, Mishi answers the most commonly asked questions about Ombre hair coloring:

Q: Will Ombre look good on me?

A: Seriously?! Of course it will.

 Q: Is Ombre out of style yet?

A: No, the Ombre trend is really just starting.  There are many variations of Ombre - from a natural to a dramatic look.  It’s like bangs: they come in all kinds of variations, and are here to stay, just like Ombre.

Q: Is Ombre damaging to my hair?

A: Well let’s just start with this, ALL hair color is damaging at some level, so just keep in mind that if anyone tells you any thing different they are lying.  There is no color on the market that does not damage the hair at some level.  However, I use Loreal Professional color, which is a top of the line product with the highest quality of ingredients. It is made to deliver your color with as little damage as possible, and actually helps to protect and condition your hair.

Also the degree of damage depends on how light you want to go.  Whenever I have clients that want to go really light with their hair color, I will do it in two different sessions as a way to minimize the stress on the hair.  Thankfully (for an extra $30) I have awesome conditioners and oils to add to the color that will help to protect your hair.  And to be fully sure that your hair stays healthy and gorgeous in between services, Rene Furterer offers great color safe and conditioning products.

More importantly, having someone color your hair that doesn’t know how to do Ombre can damage your hair.  You want to be sure that the person you go to is a pro.

Q: What’s the maintenance?

A: There really isn’t a whole lot of maintenance, because you can grow out this look without a line of demarcation.  So in a way it’s low maintenance in terms of color, but you need to keep your hair healthy, so I recommend you come in 6 weeks after your initial service for a trim to clean up any rough edges, and then come in for trims every 6-12 weeks after that.

Q: How light can I get my hair with Ombre?

A:  For the safety of your hair, it takes two color services at different times to go from dark brown to light blonde.  Typically the hair will become visibly damaged if it is processed in one shot.  Trust me these celebrities you see with it have done it more than once.  On a regular basis, I have to fix damaged hair on clients that has been processed too quickly from other colorists in town.  Typically hair will go from darkest brown to a medium brown or a dark blonde (from a level 3 to a level 7 shade) depending on the texture of the hair (fine, coarse, etc.). Then from a natural dark blonde you can easily achieve a light blonde color (a level 7 to a level 10).  Of course, ultimately this all depends on the look you are trying to achieve.

Any questions you have about Ombre that I didn’t address?