Liz Kidder: inspiration

T H E E L E M E N T S

For the 2013 "Show Us Your Vivids" Pravana hair color contest, I wanted to come up with a really cool theme/inspiration for the color and styling. After a lot of sleepless nights and too much thought, I finally came up with "the Elements." Unfortunately though, I figured it would be hard to find four different models to represent each element, who would each let me go crazy with their hair color. If I found one model that was open to it, I couldn't exactly change her hair color four times in one day for the photo shoot either. So I resorted to the most logical answer: extensions! After a week of buying, coloring, and prepping extension hair, we were ready to shoot with Miss Kelsey! I loved how these photos came out, but ultimately decided that it wasn't relevant enough for the contest, so I ended up later doing something totally different anyway to enter in the contest.

E A R T H

Color Formulas Used (On Prelightened Hair Extensions):
1. VIVIDS Rose
2. VIVIDS Magenta
3. 4 parts VIVIDS Yellow:1 part VIVIDS Green
4. VIVIDS Green

Products Used: Silk Degrees Shine Serum, Super Shape Hairspray, DETAIL Shine & Define Polish

How To Get This Look: First, I created a smooth pony tail, then split the pony tail in half and back-combed to create fullness. Then I curled 1-inch strips of the colored hair extensions and placed/pinned the green curls first to create the "leaves." Then I pinned the pink extensions on top of the green extensions to create the"flower." I used two tones of each the green and pink to create depth, contrast and dimension. I wanted a pretty, sleek and polished flower to represent the element "Earth."

A I R

Color Formulas Used (On Prelightened Hair Extensions):
1. 1 part VIVIDS Blue:4 parts Conditioner
2. 1 parts VIVIDS Violet:4 parts Conditioner
3. VIVIDS Silver

Products Used: Elevate Botanical Root Boost, Super Shape Hairspray

How To Get This Look: Unfortunately, Pravana's gorgeous PASTELS were not available yet when I created the "Air" look, so I used the VIVIDS mixed with conditioner to achieve softer, pastel hues. I flat-ironed my model's hair and then back-combed diaganal-back sections at the roots, starting above the ear and working up to her part. I then pinned the 3-inch strips of pre-colored extensions symetrically on each side onto the back-combed base. A few high-powered fans were my friends for this look, plus an amazing model who could really "whip her hair back and forth!"

F I R E

Color Formulas Used (On Prelightened Hair Extensions):
1. VIVIDS Red
2. 1 part VIVIDS Red:1 part VIVIDS Orange
3. VIVIDS Orange
4. VIVIDS Yellow
5. VIVIDS Magenta

Products Used: Super Shape Hairspray, DETAIL Shine & Define Polish

How To Get This Look: Mohawks are amazing. Period. I created a fun but soft mohawk to resemble "Fire." I teased the mohawk section and curled and pinned the pre-colored extension hair down the center. Using a combination of back-combing and lots of hairspray, I tried to create flame-like fierceness!

W A T E R

Color Formulas Used (On Prelightened Hair Extensions):
1. VIVIDS Blue
2. 1 part VIVIDS Blue:2 parts VIVIDS Green
3. 1 part VIVIDS Green:1 part VIVIDS Yellow

Products Used: Bold Defiant Design Gel, Super Shape Hairspray

How To Get This Look: Sometimes, as hair stylists, we have to IMPROVISE! This look wasn't my original idea for "Water," but sometimes things don't go how we envision, and we have to resort to our back-up plan! For this look, I created a sleek, simple fishtail braid with deep blues and greens to resemble my last element, "Water." I gave her a deep side part and did two smal cornrows right at the part to create a base. I then pinned the 5-inch strips of pre-colored hair extensions onto the cornrows so they layed flat over her brown hair. Using water and gel, I created a bold, wet-looking fishtail braid.

Credits:
Hair: Liz Kidder (Me)
Makeup: Kira Bourque
Model: Kelsey Sidell
Photo: Dawn Kingston of 439 Photography

H A I R C H A L K P H O T O S H O O T

I really hate hair chalk. Boom, there, I said it. It's like the stupid feathers that were cool for about two months. Thank GOD it has come and gone as fast as the summer we just had in New England. Granted, if you go on Pinterest, it does look pretty freaking cool, like any photo of anything on Pinterest.

That being said, YAY I WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN A HAIR CHALK PHOTO SHOOT! I did a little research and this is the type of chalk I decided was best to use:

Yeah. Good freaking suggestion. I swear there is no combination of product that will help you color this girl's hair with these pastels. You take the chalk to her hair, particles fall all over her shoulders, body, the floor, anywhere but onto the actual strands of hair. But whatever, I pride myself in my hair improvising skills so there was only one thing left to do:

Chop up lines of hair chalk with my color key... DUH. After doing this I was able to use some products on Karissa's hair to get some tackiness, and use a makeup brush to "fluff" the chalk onto her hair. TA DA! Hair chalk photo shoot.