jennyleigh

GOALS! I am a huge "goals" person.  I absolutely love the end of the year,  after the hustle and bustle  of Christmas has started to pass and I can get excited about focusing on the new year.  Focusing on what I want to accomplish in the months ahead.  And every year, without a doubt, spending more quality time is always on my list.   It seems as though the goal of "quality over quantity" grows more with every year that I " mature ".   That's my way of saying as I get "older"!   But it's true.   Laughing, smiling, making someone feel good are all things that I put in the  "Quality" category.  You know something?   God has brought some extremely special people to be a part of what is going on at HBI Salon and it absolutely makes me smile just thinking about it.  It is humbling and I don't say that flippantly.  I mean it.   From the incredible ladies that work alongside me that I have the honor of calling friends (...

Hey Hey! So a little while back (over a year ago!) we did a couple of videos about HBI Salon. I have been a slacker and not posted them.  😜 Although I am super excited to bring you guys a variety of new info and different media forms, I definitely am learning as I go.   So be kind.  LOL Here I get to share with you a little of what we do at HBI Salon. We have a blast.  We love what we do.  And we love that we get to pour into each of our friends and clients to make their days better and make them feel beautiful.   Thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your beauty regimen! And a huge shoutout to our great friend, Jonathan Barrett for being so encouraging and patient as  I learn this new world of video.  

It's been a hot minute but here is a basic braiding tutorial that I did with the help of my awesome kids over quarantine.  Even now as more business' are opening up it seems we may have a little more time on our hands than before so now may be THE time to try out a new hair trick.  Give it a go and I'd love to know if this helped you.  Def  let me know what you think in the comments section. Y'all stay safe!

Sleek Half Up Do How is this for an unconventional spin on a conservative Half Up Do? It's complex and simple at the same time. A definite show stopper.  Make you do a double take kind of show stopper.                                                 My model is Martha.   Martha was looking to keep her hair out of her face but still wanted high style. So to prep we used Moroccanoil Repair Shampoo and Conditioner. Moroccanoil Treatment Oil to detangle and protect. MO Volumizing Mousse for control then blow dry. Added a bit more Treatment to her tresses and  using the Brocato Vibrastrait Flatiron  gave Martha the perfect sleek locks she needed. Sectioning the hair from ear over crown to ear gave us what we need to work with. Put the lower half of the hair in a low pony to keep it out of the way. Make 5 triangu...

Today, as I do my normal new year planning, I am pondering "what are 'words'?".   I am making my lists that will ultimately be  stripped down to make a goals list for 2016.  It will include everything from my walk with the Lord, my role as a wife to Bradley, my role as mom to my babies,  as well as my role in friendships and of course work goals.   I have done this for so long I can't remember it not being a normal part of my new year activities.  Although I will say it takes me almost a MONTH now to get my list done where it used to be written in an hour before I was married and had kids. The obvious reason for this is the weight of my choices is much graver now .   The decisions I make and the things I choose to spend time on now have so many more consequences.  Every aspect of my life will ultimately affect someone else.  Either someone close to me or maybe someone who only sees me from a distance. I...

What does the color of "50" look like to you? Well, I'll be honest, as I am inching on that magical age  it's looking a LOT better than it did when I was a child.   It seems that hair color at that time was actually more like  "one color for all".   And that color was usually black .  **Thank you Lord for the progression in the world of hair color** As a hair dresser,  I have seen first hand how a great haircut and  flattering hair color can absolutely TRANSFORM ones outlook. Now take a look at Demi Moore.  Thanks to Getty Images Entertainment  for this picture of what is a sure fire inspiration for taking care of yourself!! When we enter this stage of life our hormones take over and go bizerk . But Demi shows us what is possible.  Let's don't talk about how she has hours to spend on her  physique and skin and hair etc. etc. etc.   For just a moment, let's pretend that our bodies' ...

This was an article that I had written for a publication that didn't make it in.  But after re-reading it, I think it is still worthy for today's summer looks.   Can you guess what year this was?     This summer we’ve got movies that will transport us  from the inspiring surfer girl  to the pirate women of the seas  to the futuristic ladies of the superhero world.   And although the range of characters will be vast there will be one common theme, waves !  To get these incredible haphazard waves  you’ve got to take a totally different approach  to curling your hair.   Soft, natural waves will add fullness  without being too structured.   To get this look try applying Kenra medium hold volumizing mousse on clean uncombed hair.   Blow dry until hair is 90% dry.   Then take 2" sections of hair and twist to the ends.   Loop the ends back to the scalp and secure with pins. ...

I wasn't wanting to buy a new hair dryer.   I really, really didn't want to have to buy a new hair dryer. But you know the old saying,  "you are only as good as your tools". So since my other hair dryer had finally died  then I kind of had no choice.  But I must say This blow dryer ROCKS!!   When you are knocking out some fabulous hair all day you need a dryer that can get the job done. And this one does it. It's the Moroccanoil Professional Series . So why do I love it so much? Well, here's why: For starters, it's super lightweight. I definitely get in my reps of arm raises throughout the week but this dryer keeps it from over taxing my shoulders. Next, it has lots of blow power!  Whether on high or low heat I can really get the water out of sopping damp hair quickly.  That comes in handy for those times I squeeze in too many people and think I can pull off the impossible.   And with the help of th...

I absolutely LOVE this ponytail. It has all the elements that make up the perfect feel. This season at NYFW we saw tons of ponytails.   There were pony's of all kinds.   Sleek.  Full.  Ratted.  Bouncy.  The ponytail will definitely be a staple  this spring and summer But my FAV is the Messy Ponytail.  It owns me. Here are the elements that I love : * Natural beachy waves * Full crown * Mid head placement * Textured, thick flowing locks * Soft front, swooping over top of the elastic This look has a tutorial  found  on   thebeautydepartment.com    It was Lucy Hale's look at the VMA's. Seriously it is so fabulous that  I may have to do my own tutorial. Lucy, are you free next week?  

Have You Thought About Albert Lately? "As far as I'm concerned, I prefer silent vice to ostentatious virtue" This is a quote from someone I had heard of my whole life  but never really knew much about. It was Albert Einstein.    My son, Cotton,  had to do a report on him a few years back and as we researched him I was completely blown away!  A very interesting life, for certain.  You can research him for yourself and I feel sure you may be surprised as well.  In the photo below, are Cotton's feet.  The view is our back yard.  We feel so blessed to be living where we are.  We are surrounded by fields and trees. A perfect place to sit, imagine, reflect.  The quote above left me reminded of Proverbs 17:28 that states, "Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive." When we sit still we are able to listen.  We are able to hear....

Hi-dy Heidi I try to do a twist on the traditional "before and after" pics as often as I can.    I really like the phrasing, "Inspiration to Commercial".   Most often people see a photo of a celebrity or a model and  use that as a request for their haircut. Now some hairdressers are not fond of clients bringing in pictures  but personally I LOVE them.   It is such a great tool for communicating with your client. It gives you something specific, even tangible, to point to as a reference. You can use it for bang length, perimeter length,  the point where layers begin or where fullness is in a hairstyle.   Things that sometimes get lost in translation when using words alone.  My beautiful model for this post is the lovely Heidi.   Having known Heidi forever, we have been through a lot over the years. We've also been through a LOT of hairstyles.   And some of them have been rather hysteric...

Inspirational Daddy-O! This blog is supposed to include things that "inspire". So in honor of my Daddy's 78th birthday, two days ago, I will dedicate this post to him. Most commonly known as "Daddy-O", this man has indeed inspired me. I have been told that I look like my beautiful mother.   And I appreciate it for the compliment that it is.   I introduced you to her in the post   Ya think??   (would love for you to read it if you haven't already) She is still all that I said she was and more.  She just gets better with time. :-) We share many of the same traits but my personality is definitely from my Daddy. He loves to make people smile and laugh.  And he's very good at it too.  Often when he meets someone for the first time he will ask them if they  "need a little money".  And of course everyone replies, "oh yes, I could use a little money".   Then he proceeds to hand them several miniature coins. It's...