Sunday, November 25, 2007

ASK Antonio


Hello Everyone!

I am excited to offer a place for my clients and future clients to view my weekly happenings in the salon as well as updated information, photos and some of my favorite links.

You are more than welcome to join in on my discussions. If you have any beauty challenges, please feel free to post your questions or comments, and I will be more than happy to answer them.

This is a picture of me and one of my clients, Chris Carrabba. You may recognize his as the lead of singer and guitarist of the band Dashboard Confessional. I have been doing Chris's hair for about five years now. He is an extremely talented man that is driven by his love of music. Seeing him recently has inspired me to delve deeper into providing a resource for men to go to for hair and fashion advice.

This month I have also decided to create my own guide to NYC. Look forward to AFG's guide to NYC that will feature the hidden gems of the city each month!


STAY TUNED FOR JANUARY'S TOPICS!

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Hair Mishaps & How To Fix It: Part II

Last month, we touched upon common mistakes that some women make when making the drastic change from blonde to brunette. Let's now take a look at what could have been done to prevent this situation...

1) Always bring a photo of your desired look with you to your hair appointment

2) Before your color appointment, go into wig shops to try on different color wigs. This give you an opportunity to see how various colors work with your skin tone. Although the wigs may not be the style you want, it will give you an idea of what will and WON'T work for you.

3) Consult with your stylist prior to the the appointment. This puts the idea in motion as well as makes the idea more realistic. This will let you know if you are really ready to make the change or let you know if you need some more time to think about it.

4) Make a gradual change. As a stylist, I know that this is a difficult thing to say to a woman who is convinced she must have her drastic, life altering change now! But low lighting dark color into blonde hair makes the transition less dramatic as opposed to all over dark coverage.

5) Make sure you and your stylist are on the same page. During your consultation, ask your stylist to look with you through a color swatch book. I have had many clients that have come to me saying that they want no red in the hair. So, I tell them to select a color from the swatch book, and the first thing they point to is a hair color that has a red base. Sometimes describing color is difficult for people to do. Using a swatch book alleviates any confusion.

SOLUTIONS

There are truly only three things that you can do to fix this type of mishap...

1) Give it some time. In many cases, a person needs time to adjust to their new look.

2) If you've given it some time and it still isn't working for you, you may want to consider adding a couple of highlights around the face. This softens the blow of the change.

3) If all else has failed, the truth is... that particular style may not be for you, and you should go back to your natural hair color or the blonde that you loved. I've seen this happen many times before. FYI: going back natural is not a quick fix. It's not a simple one hour process. It can take up to three hours. Recreating natural hair color takes layering of pigments which takes time. If anyone offers you a quick fix, they are looking for quick $$$ and you should run for the hills!

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MEN'S HAIR: What's Age Appropriate?

This is such a touchy topic because there are so many men that are walking around with someone else's hair or a hair style that should never have happened(and have yet to be told of their offenses)!

Men of a certain age (generally between the ages of 40-60) seem to hold fast to the hair styles of the 80's. Unlike most women within the same age range, these men are unable to let go. If you feel that you may be one of these culprits, here are some tips to get you started on your NEW, FRESH, MODERN hair style.

DO NOT'S
- Look at any teen magazines for your hair style
- Try to recapture your look from 20 years ago. You are aging and your hair should age with you!
- Overuse hair gel or styling produts, especially to create slicked-back/ spiked hair styles. These styles are not age appropriate nor are they creative.
- Buy boxed hair color to color the entire head and leave your sideburns gray. This is NOT believable...you're fooling no one!
- Try a mini comb-over with out consulting with a comb-over specialist (FYI...there are none!)

DO'S
- Look around for styles you like. These may be at your place of work, on the street or at your favorite restaurant.
- Ask your significant other what he/she thinks about your hair.
- Find fashion magazines that are age appropriate for hair styles.
- Embrace a creative hair stylist. Haircuts are created with more than just clippers and a comb. Be open. If you are unsure about a technique, ask your stylist.
- Dispel the myth of the 20 minute haircut. A great hair cut takes time. The whole myth of a 20 min men's haircut is just that, a myth!
- Embrace hair lost by wearing shorter hair styles and changing products.
- Consult a stylist about hair colors that are appropriate for you. Such as gray blending products that leave a percentage of gray visable.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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AFG's Guide to NYC: RAFFAELA e PAOLA

Who says I can't have my own guide to the city! Good quality is hard to find! When ever I stumble upon great fashoin and delcious food, you'll be the first to know about it.

As I was walking through my neighborhood, I stumbled upon a RAFFAELE e PAOLA, a store that had displayed this fedora to die for! I entered the boutique and introduced myself to the owner. During our conversation, I asked her what inspired her to open a store, and this is exactly what she said...

"Raffaele e Paola offers fine European fahions accessories for men and women. It was founded with the belief that one item, no matter the size, no matter the bling, can transform an expression of one's self. And, therefore an outfit! At our boutique, that one accessory has to have style, and a unique personality all onto itself...and be European of orgin."

Raffaele e Paola
270 West 19th Street
212-633-0828
www.raffeleepaola.com
Tues-Fri 12-7 PM
Sat/Sun 12-6 PM

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Visual Strategy With Elaine Armstrong

Elaine Armstrong is one of my long-standing clients. She has an incredible sense of style and keen eye for fashion. I would love to share her talent with you!

What is Visual Strategy? In our everyday lives we create strategies for all facets of our

lives; our career, our money, etc. A strategy gives you an advantage in that it is a clear path for what you need to do to get results. One of the areas that people often neglect or don’t understand is the importance of is their own visual strategy, their outward appearance that the world sees. This forms people’s perceptions of who we are and where we are in our lives.

“I see so many clients who get frustrated with their personal appearance – what to wear, what color palette, hairstyles, etc. Clients who understand the importance of image, but no clue as to how to get started or pull it all together. I can make that process so much simpler for you.”

About Elaine: A design industry veteran with a distinctive approach to fashion and style, Elaine’s 20 years of fashion experience gives her unique insight into helping clients sort through the fashion clutter to define and develop their own personal style and transform it into an attractive, smart reality, suitable for their career, lifestyle and personality.

Email us for more information: info@elainearmstrongco.com

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DON'T SWEAT THE SWEATERS by Anthony Gonzales



Guys it's all about sweaters. The key this season is layering and looking stylish while doing it. I'm getting a lot of requests for sweaters especially cable knits. Make sure any sweater you get is thick enough to keep you warm all day. Color is very important, like hair color it needs to compliment your skin tone. Please stay away from pinks, bright oranges and/or lime greens. Let's face it some colors from the 80's should be left in the 80's. Another one of my personal favorites is the Henley. Henleys are fashionable, flattering to any man reagardless of shape or size and they also layer well with v-neck sweaters.

One item that I can't seem to keep on the shelves, is a brown sweater with a light beige mohair trim around the neck by Burberry. Not only is it comfortable, it fits well. I like sweaters that have a woven texture to them. I'm not much into sweaters that have argyle in them, but if that's your style, go for it!

Lately, I've been seeing men wearing a cardigan with their suit, instead of a vest. I personally like that combo. If you decide to go for that look, make sure you match your colors and you can even try pulling it together with tie.

So, guys get out there! Let's go shopping!

Some of my favorite stores include:

-Burberry (6th Floor)
-Saks 5th Ave
-Macy's
-Hugo Boss
-H&M

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UP DID & I DOs (RECENT WEDDING SHOTS)






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Friday, November 9, 2007

Ask ANTONIO



Hello Everyone!

I am excited to offer a place for my clients and future clients to view my weekly happenings in the salon as well as updated information, photos and some of my favorite links.

You are more than welcome to join in on my discussions. If you have any beauty challenges, please feel free to post your questions or comments, and I will be more than happy to answer them.

I would like to mention a few successful business. This month I would like to highlight the following:

-James Abel Events, Wedding & Events Planning Company


-The Pet Buddy, Premium Pet Boarding & Pet Sitting


For more information, please visit their links!

STAY TUNED FOR DECEMBER'S TOPICS

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Visual Strategy With Elaine Armstrong

Elaine Armstrong is one of my long-standing clients. She has an incredible sense of style and keen eye for fashion. I would love to share her talent with you!

What is Visual Strategy? In our everyday lives we create strategies for all facets of our

lives; our career, our money, etc. A strategy gives you an advantage in that it is a clear path for what you need to do to get results. One of the areas that people often neglect or don’t understand is the importance of is their own visual strategy, their outward appearance that the world sees. This forms people’s perceptions of who we are and where we are in our lives.

“I see so many clients who get frustrated with their personal appearance – what to wear, what color palette, hairstyles, etc. Clients who understand the importance of image, but no clue as to how to get started or pull it all together. I can make that process so much simpler for you.”

About Elaine: A design industry veteran with a distinctive approach to fashion and style, Elaine’s 20 years of fashion experience gives her unique insight into helping clients sort through the fashion clutter to define and develop their own personal style and transform it into an attractive, smart reality, suitable for their career, lifestyle and personality.

Email us for more information: info@elainearmstrongco.com

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