This week, Paul Mitchell is celebrating 40 years of being in the beauty business. I have a long history of my own with the brand and thought this would be a great time to share with you just a few of the reasons why I'm a supporter of Paul Mitchell and carry their products in my salon. 

My Paul Mitchell Story
I began using Paul Mitchell products while I was In beauty school - we're talking June of 1980 (the brand launched in January of that year). When I graduated in 1981 and began working behind a chair, I continued using their products day to day. When I bought my first salon in 2005, I decided to become a Paul Mitchell Focus salon which meant that I exclusively used and carried Paul Mitchell products. Fast forward 15 years and the relationship is still going strong. 

They Support Me as an Independent Businesswoman
Paul Mitchell is more than just haircare products. They're a network of dedicated trainers and educators who share their knowledge with me and help me keep my skills up to date - so I can better serve you. I've spent many hours working one-on-one and in group settings with Paul Mitchell trainers who are as inspiring and fun as they are knowledgeable about hair trends and techniques. 

Their Products are Excellent and Affordable
It's important to me that all of my clients have access to great quality products at affordable prices, and Paul Mitchell delivers. I really appreciate the variety of lines that they offer so whatever your hair type (coarse, color treated, curly and more) or your hair concern (thinning, frizzy, damaged) there's a selection of products I can guide you toward that will make it easy to style your hair at home. 

Paul Mitchell Products are Cruelty-Free and Sustainably Sourced
We're all in this world together, and I appreciate that Paul Mitchell doesn't test finished products or ingredients on animals, and they don't sell their products anywhere that animal testing is required. They were the first beauty company to take a stand against animal testing back in 1980 and they still stand firm on that today. The company also actively works on being eco-conscious and environmentally friendly in seeking out sustainable ingredients and being mindful of packaging and supply chain practices. 

If you have even a little bit of curl, summer is the time to make the most of it. Here's how I like to do it. You'll need three products and your fingers. That's it!

Lay the foundation for your curls by washing with a curl-enhancing shampoo and conditioner. I recommend Paul Mitchell's Spring Loaded Detangling Shampoo and Spring Loaded Frizz-Fighting Conditioner. They are super gentle, smell amazing, and will get you well on your way to wavy hair. The key ingredient to fantastic waves? Paul Mitchell Twirl Around. All of my curly-haired clients swear by this product. It's a cream/serum hybrid that will give you frizz-free, soft waves (no crunchy curls, here!). 

Now, onto the technique....

Spend time twirling small sections of your hair around your finger. You can twirl away from your face, toward your face, however you like. This takes a little time, but is totally worth it. Once you're done, you'll have a head full of twists. Now the hard part....leave it alone! Don't touch it, don't mess with it until your hair is dry. If you absolutely have to speed things along, gently dry with a diffuser attachment on your blow dryer. 

When your hair is dry, tousle those waves and voila! That's it. Your perfectly imperfect summer waves are set. You can touch them up the next day with a small/medium curling iron if you need to. 

Everyone who uses hair products has had that moment. The one where you suddenly realize you've gone overboard with the gel/serum/mouse/hairspray, and now your hair is sticky or greasy. Should you wash your hair and start over? (If you're a guy, maybe. If you're a woman, nah. Pull it back and get on with your day) Should you swear off products for good? (Definitely not!) Here's how to avoid getting into a hairy mess to begin with. 

General rule:  Start with a small amount and add a little bit more if necessary. 

Gel, pomade and mousse are intended to add structure to your hair, so it's important to start small and add as you go. For gel and pomade, begin with a dollop of product in your palm that's the size of a nickel. If you need more, add a dime's worth of product and go from there. 

Mousse can easily get out of control because the way it's dispensed can be a little unpredictable. Start with a ball of foam that's the size of an egg, then add more in small dabs from there. 

Serum is definitely the most-feared product that I send home with clients. It's true that serum can make your hair greasy and heavy if you use too much. So don't use too much! With a thicker serum, like Awapuhi Wild Ginger, start with a dime-sized amount. Apply it to the roots of your hair, then work up your hair shaft toward the scalp. 

Hair oil is a little trickier, but it's so incredibly good for your hair that it's worth the effort. The Paul Mitchell Marula Oil comes with a dropper. Don't use the entire dropper! The texture of your hair will determine how much oil to use:

• Normal - one single drop
• Coarse/dry - two drops
• Ethnic - three to four drops

Shampoo and Conditioner are pretty easy to deal with - if you use too much, you can simply wash it away of course. But for the sake of making them last as long as possible, use a quarter-size dollop of each in the shower. 

When you think about how much hairspray to use, think about it in terms of getting even coverage. Your hair should never feel crispy or stiff after using hairspray (unless you're finishing an up-do or another style that should not budge). For regular, daily use, hold the can of hairspray about 12 inches from your head and spritz away. Come in a little closer if you have an extra stubborn piece of hair that's just not listening. At the end, your hair should feel touchable but well controlled. 

Paul Mitchell is really upping their game when it comes to luxury hair products. First, Awapuhi Wild Ginger burst onto the haircare scene and put everyone on notice that Paul Mitchell wasn't content with their already terrific line of everyday products. Then came the outstanding Ultimate Color Repair line, packed full of quinoa to restore and protect colored hair. And now? Marula Oil. 

Marula Oil, you guys! If you have hair that is coarse, dry or damaged in any way then Marula Oil is your new savior. Marula oil is cold pressed from the marula nut, grown in Africa. The cold press process preserves the quality of and nutrients in the oil. Plus it's 50% more protective than the very popular argan oil (an ingredient found in many other hair oils). The Marula Oil line includes a shampoo, conditioner, hair mask, and 2 oil formulations: normal and light. 

• If your hair is a coarse texture, or if you have really damaged hair I recommend using the entire line. 
• If you experience dry, brittle hair every once in a while, I'd suggest using the conditioner alongside your favorite shampoo + the hair oil. 
• And if your hair is generally manageable but you'd like to seal up the stray split end or increase the shine factor, I'd incorporate the hair oil into your current haircare routine. 
  

As if the quality of the Marula Oil products weren't enough to be impressed with, I'm also really proud that part of Paul Mitchell's investment in them has to do with an investment in the communities where Marula Oil is sourced. Through a partnership with a group in South Africa, the company has hired close to  4,000 fair trade workers who didn't have jobs before- mostly women -  to extract and cold press the oil. How great is that?

You can find these fantastic products at my salon - come in for a visit and I'll be happy to try them out on you!

Paul Mitchell's newest addition to its line of products promises to lock in your haircolor for up to 9 weeks, while also protecting and adding shine. According to Paul Mitchell, the Ultimate Color Repair products harness the power of mega-protein quinoa to lock in color, restore luster and reverse the signs of damage caused by heat styling, environmental factors and everyday life. 

I've had the products in my salon for a few weeks now, and I think they live up to Paul Mitchell's claims. The shampoo and conditioner work together perfectly to strengthen hair and make it manageable and feel healthy. And the Triple Rescue spray is an outstanding multi-tasker - it adds another layer of color protection, is a thermal protectant (just in case your styling tools are a little too hot, day to day) and it adds shine. The scent of this line is wonderful; not quite as punchy and aromatic as the Awapuhi Ginger products, but very soothing and nature-y. Yes, I'm making nature-y a word. 

My clients always say it best, so I'll share this from someone who first experienced Ultimate Color Repair in my chair: