Vale Salon

While pregnancy can lead to significant postpartum shedding, my client Kayla may have taught me something new.

Throughout her pregnancy and postpartum journey, Kayla stayed consistent with her collagen, prioritized her protein intake, and made sure she was getting enough estrogen support under her healthcare provider’s guidance—exactly what I encouraged her to focus on. She also introduced me to something I had never heard of before (I’ve never had children myself): postnatal vitamins.

Now, can I say that postnatal vitamins prevented postpartum hair loss? No. Every woman is different, and postpartum shedding is largely influenced by hormonal changes.

What I can say is this: after almost 6 years of doing Kayla’s hair, I was genuinely nervous about the possibility of losing the delicate hair around her face that we’ve worked so hard to grow. Thankfully, her hair has remained incredibly healthy, and it’s obvious she’s been committed to taking care of it from the inside out.

I also wanted to show you something fun…

📸 Photo 1: My salon with the lights off.
📸 Photo 4: My salon with the lights on.

Same hair. Same day. Same formula.

Lighting changes everything, which is why hair can look completely different depending on where you are. Don’t judge your hair color from one mirror or one room!

✨ Healthy hair starts with consistency, realistic expectations, and taking care of yourself—not just the products sitting on your bathroom counter.

Prepped and finished w/ K18 PRO Stylist Community
Lifted w/ Joico
Glossed w/ PRAVANA

Amariah had the best time at her haircut appointment this week! 💜

She made friends with all three of my dogs, gave as many of the cats as she could find plenty of love, and of course had to pose with Miss Teeter Eater. Safe to say she made herself right at home.

A little reminder for everyone: children are always welcome when they have an appointment of their own.

As much as I know they’d love spending time with my furry crew, your hair appointment is designed to be your time—a chance to relax, unwind, and enjoy a little peace and quiet while I focus entirely on creating beautiful hair. Bringing children who aren’t receiving a service also takes my attention away from both you and them, and I want every guest to have the best possible experience.

Thank you for understanding and helping me keep Vale Salon a calm, relaxing space for everyone. 🤍

Christiana is finally back from overseas! ✈️🌍

The last time she sat in my chair was August 1, 2025.

While she was overseas, she had her hair professionally colored, so today’s appointment was about correcting the existing color before bringing her back to the rich, cool brunette we originally love.

✨ Root touch-up using Redken’s permanent color series.
✨ Redken Shades EQ Gloss to neutralize unwanted warmth and brassiness throughout the mids and ends.
✨ A fresh haircut to refine the shape and remove dry ends.

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that brown hair is easy.

The reality is that brunette hair requires just as much attention to tone as blonde hair. When unwanted warmth begins to show through, the entire color can look dull, faded, or muddy. A properly formulated gloss doesn’t just add shine—it restores depth, richness, and balance to the color.

Cool brunettes don’t stay cool on their own. Every shampoo, heat tool, UV exposure, and month that passes gradually reveals the underlying warm pigments. That’s why maintenance appointments like this make all the difference.

Sometimes hair doesn’t need a dramatic transformation—it simply needs the right eye, the right formulation, and a thoughtful plan to bring it back to life.

Root Formula: 5AG + 4NA + 6NN + 5N

Gloss: 06Gi + 07NA + 08VB+ 06VB

My first blonde in my new salon space ✨

Blonde hair is an investment, and how you care for it at home determines how long it stays bright, healthy, and expensive-looking.

Here are a few of my favorite tips:

• Turn the heat down. Flat irons and curling irons that are too hot can cause blonde hair to yellow and become dry. Lower temperatures are almost always enough to get the job done.

• Use purple or blue shampoo sparingly. Once a week is typically more than enough. Overusing pigmented shampoos can leave blonde hair looking dull, muddy, or even slightly lavender.

• Ditch tight ponytails. If you wear your hair up often, choose a claw clip or a silk scrunchie instead. Constant tension from tight elastics can lead to breakage around your hairline and nape.

• Invest in professional hair care. Your hairstylist recommends products based on your hair. Social media influencers are often paid to promote products they may not even use themselves—and they aren’t the ones maintaining your blonde.

Healthy blonde hair doesn’t happen by accident—it happens with the right maintenance between appointments. ✨

Hair extensions don’t always come in the exact color you’re envisioning—which is why I custom color them to create a seamless, one-of-a-kind result.

Alyssa upgraded to 22” Hair Extensions + Hair Salon tape-in hair extensions, and this time we deepened her signature blue. The moment she saw it, she said, “This is my favorite blue shade yet!”

The best part? Her extensions blend perfectly with her natural hair while giving her the bold, dimensional mermaid hair she’s known for. 💙

1st session removing years of almost-black hair color. ✅

Amanda’s goal was simple: start seeing dimension again without compromising the integrity of her hair.

She also promised she’d start seeing me more regularly… as long as she gets to see Cherry, my pitbull. 🐶🤎

Here’s your friendly reminder: removing years of dark hair color is a process—not a one-appointment miracle.

Hair color behaves much like a stain. The darker it is and the longer it’s been applied, the more time and patience it takes to safely remove.

Could I push the hair harder? Sure. But healthy hair will always take priority over rushing the process.

With each appointment, we’ll continue revealing lighter, brighter dimension while keeping Amanda’s hair in the best condition possible.

The goal isn’t to get there in one day—it’s to get there with hair that’s still beautiful when we arrive.

The more you know, the easier it is for you (and I) ✨

After nearly 19 years behind the chair, I’ve learned that beautiful hair isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing the right things with intention.

On Sunday, August 23rd, I’ll be teaching my Intentional Highlighting: Foil With Intention class at House of Luna & Sol Salon, where I’ll share the techniques and mindset that have shaped the way I approach dimensional color.

This isn’t just a live demonstration. We’ll also dive into:
• Intentional foil placement
• Creating lived-in, dimensional color
• Branding yourself behind the chair
• Social media strategy
• Photography & editing
• Building the clientele you actually want

Whether you’re a licensed cosmetologist looking to refine your craft or a cosmetology student wanting to start your career with purpose, this class is designed to help you work smarter—not harder.

Education is an investment that pays you back every single day.

🎟️ Tickets: $220
📍 House of Luna & Sol Salon | Elmira, NY
🗓️ Sunday, August 23 | 11 AM–4 PM

I can’t wait to spend the day with you. Let’s elevate our industry together. 🤍

Another beauty who opted to go darker, and I have to say… I prefer this look on her so much more than our original plan. 😍

This dimensional brunette was only possible because I had highlighted her hair over her previous two appointments. Instead of adding more lightness, I used those existing highlights to my advantage by applying a root melt and a separate gloss through her mid-lengths and ends.

This is exactly why I always preach that highlights don’t have to happen at every appointment. Sometimes, working with what’s already there creates the most beautiful, dimensional result while keeping the hair healthier.

To finish, I freshened up her haircut and gave her soft, effortless waves. 🤎

Sometimes the best color appointment isn’t about adding more—it’s about making better use of what’s already there.

My sexy friend Jessie 🔥

On 6/8, I completed a major color correction on her and asked her to return just 4 weeks later for a gloss refresh. Here’s why:

Jessie’s hair had been severely over-processed from previous highlighting, leaving it damaged and porous. Once hair has reached that level of damage, it cannot be repaired—only managed.

Porous hair doesn’t hold onto artificial pigment the way healthy hair does. Instead, it releases color much more quickly, which is why I knew her gloss would fade sooner than normal.

The best thing you can do from that point forward is commit to the recommended at-home hair care. Professional products won’t reverse damage, but they will help preserve your color, improve manageability, and protect the integrity of your hair as it continues to grow out.

Healthy hair always gives the most beautiful, longest-lasting color. Sometimes the goal isn’t chasing perfection overnight—it’s making intentional decisions that set your hair up for long-term success.

And can we all just take a second to appreciate this rich brunette? 😮‍💨🤎