Read part one of this blog series here.
About a week before the hair model class, I met with Rachel in our break room during one of her clients’ processing time to discuss the kind of haircut she would recommend. During our consultation, I explained to her why I’m growing out my hair but that I’d still like to keep a shorter hairstyle. I showed her a chin-length bob inspiration photo on Pinterest. She met me with an enthusiastic reply: “That would be beautiful!”
I wasn’t sure of an in-between style to have in the meantime, so Rachel showed me pictures on her phone of stacked pixie cuts. She explained how this haircut would be a great option for me because it would help the disconnection between the front and back of my hair as these sections continue to grow out.
Because the nape of my neck is lower on my head, Rachel said, the hair here falls further down compared to the hair in my crown section. A stacked pixie would remove the bulk and length at the nape of my neck, so by the time this section has grown out again, the front and sides of my hair would be the same length as well.
Her explanation soothed my worries that I would lose the nearly six months of progress I had growing out my hair, and I eagerly counted down the days to the hair model class.
The Appointment
I arrived at Tyler Mason for Rachel and Brianna’s hair model class without any clips in my hair, so they could see what my hair naturally looks like after washing and drying. I didn’t even try to smooth out the cowlicks at the nape of my neck with my straightener, like I had done the past few weeks.
As Rachel finished blow-drying her client before the hair model class started, Brianna shampooed my hair with Davines’ Solu Sea Salt Scrub Cleanser. Its “scrubbies,” as Brianna calls them, remove built-up residue on the scalp from hair products — like dry shampoo and hairspray — and minerals left by hard water.
Because clarifying shampoos can leave the hair and scalp feeling dry, Brianna continued with Davines’ Well-Being Conditioner, a nourishing and moisturizing conditioner in Davines’ Natural Tech product line. The Well-Being Conditioner was designed to be massaged into the scalp as it hydrates and tones the hair, so I closed my eyes and listened to the shampoo spa’s piano music as Brianna massaged my scalp and neck while conditioning my hair.
After rinsing, my hair was literally squeaky clean as Brianna squeezed out its excess water and wrapped my head in a microfiber towel before we met Rachel at her station. As Rachel cut my hair, she described each step to Brianna.
Rachel first combed my hair and parted it down the middle, explaining how this would give me more freedom styling my hair — I wouldn’t have to stick with only my right-sided part. I appreciated how much Rachel was taking into consideration our consultation, as I had told her I was looking for ways I can be more creative with my hair.
Tilting my head down, Rachel used her feather razor to create the stack and cut the perimeter of my hair so that it no longer fell past my neckline. She used her feather razor rather than her shears, she said, to create a softer look compared to a straight, defined line her shears would create. While removing this length, she also explained how she used her feather razor in small scooping “C” motions; the harder she would press, the more hair she would cut. She had her squirt bottle handy to keep my hair soaking wet, so her feather razor wouldn’t fray the ends of my hair.
For the remaining sections of my hair, Rachel point-cut with her shears to remove the bulk from the ends of my hair, so that my hair blended seamlessly. I smiled wide when Rachel said, “You’re going to look like a new woman!” as she used Davines’ This Is A Volume Boosting Mousse at the crown of my head for some light body and volume.
Before blow-drying, Rachel also used Davines’ Heart of Glass Sheer Glaze. Even though Davines’ Heart of Glass line focuses on highlighting the beauty of blonde hair, Rachel used this product on my light brown hair as a UV and heat protectant.
Once Rachel blow-dried my hair, NSYNC’s song “I Want It That Way” played over the salon’s speakers as she finished with her texturizing shears on the pieces framing my face to add softness and movement to my haircut. While I worked at the Guest Services desk that night, I told Rachel and Brianna every time I saw them how amazing my new stacked pixie cut looked and felt.
Continue to read about my hair journey and how I care for and style my stacked pixie cut at home in my next blog post!
Learn more about Rachel’s and Brianna’s education, experience, specialties and favorite products on our Meet the Team page.
Shop the Davines products mentioned in this post on our Shop page.
Nicole Thomas is a Marketing Assistant and Guest Services Representative for Tyler Mason Salon & Spa. She is also a passionate writer and digital marketer for several Indiana-based women’s magazines. When she isn’t at TM, she loves cozying up with a book and cup of coffee or crocheting a new cardigan for her wardrobe.