Ted Gibson: We STILL Need an Oscar for Hair!

A few months back, we at Mari the Studio supported famed stylist Ted Gibson on his project to get a category in the Academy Awards for an Oscar for Achievement in Hair (See our blog written to support this!).  As we pointed out, the Oscar’s currently have a category for Achievement in Makeup.  The guidelines for being a winner in this category are stated as “any change in the appearance of a performer’s face, hair or body created by the application of cosmetics, three-dimensional materials, prosthetic materials or appliances, or wigs or hairpieces, applied directly to the performer’s face or body”.  While hair is mentioned in this category, it is not recognized enough amongst previous Oscar winners, as the award is usually given to an artist whose work focused on makeup. 

This past weekend, at the Millennium Experience (the un-conference) we met Ted Gibson, and told him we were backing his project to get stylists their much deserved category!  He thanked us and told us he appreciated our support. He then said that it’s been a year since he began his crusade and is still working at it.  We let him know that we would continue to promote this cause.  So help us help Mr. Gibson on this and sign the petition at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/we-need-an-oscar-for-hair/. With our backing, we just may see the first hair designer with an Academy Award!

Cheers!

Mari the Studio

Millennium Experience: The Un-Conference

Stephane & Mari with John Paul Mitchell Global Artistic Director and industry legend, Robert Cromeans

Continued education is so important in any industry.  One has to keep up with changing times and technology or you will fall behind. The beauty industry is no different. 

Years ago, salon coordinators made appointments on paper calendars and had to keep a paper trail for every bit of information on each salon guest. Imagine those file cabinets! When salon software was introduced to the industry, it made it easier on everyone. Millennium is a premium salon software company, being used by thousands of businesses in 36 countries. We at Mari the Studio use Millennium, which allows us to keep updated information on our guests and to analyze information to better serve them.  To keep their clients updated and informed, Millennium holds an annual conference called the Millennium Experience, and this year, we decided to go.

When you hear the word “conference” you may cringe a little.  I know I imagine a stuffy, window-less room, filled with people furiously taking notes while watching boring PowerPoint presentations and drinking endless cups of stale coffee lightened with powder “cream”.   Not my idea of a good time.  I want you to now take that image and chuck it out the window! Start with the fabulous city of Miami, add celebrations, contests, hundreds of creative minds from stylists and salon owners alike and include industry leaders like celebrity stylist Ted Gibson, Robert Cromeans, and the infamous Tabatha Coffey. What do you get? A whole different meaning of the word.

The scent of positive energy coats the walls and the strong desire to learn is felt in the passing of each individual in the hallways to your next "breakout" class. In the coming days, we plan to take a deeper dive on several of the events' highlights, including what we learned to better serve you, awareness about a charity to benefit children's kidney failure, and a bit of pleasure outside of business. So dismiss your stereotype of a conference and keep your eyes peeled for photos, videos and new blogs because we can’t wait to share our Millennium Experience with you!

Cheers!

Mari the Studio

Hooray for Mattel: Bald is bold and beautiful!

Recently, here at Mari the Studio, we had one of our usual clients come for an appointment to get her hair done.  She had just turned 13 and instead of her usual haircut, she had decided to put bright colors in her hair, asking for pink and purple.  We accepted this fun challenge, but soon realized the reason for her sudden request - she had been diagnosed with a rare illness and was going to be losing all her hair in three weeks time. No doubt this was devastating to a teenager, but she left the salon with not only a lovely lavender ombre, but also with incredible bravery and strength.

Our client is a bit too old to play with Barbie’s but we think she will appreciate the message that Mattel is sending out with their new release of a hairless doll. Yes, Barbie is getting a friend that will be bald and beautiful and come with different wigs, scarves and accessories for "a traditional fashion play experience" says Mattel spokesman Alan Hilowitz.  This Barbie doll will not be released to traditional retail stores as decided by Mattel, but rather donated to children’s hospitals and other foundations for children with hair loss diseases such as alopecia.

The idea for a hairless Barbie began with a social media campaign on Facebook called “Beautiful and Bald Barbie! Let's see if we can get it made” started by Jane Bingham and her friend Rebecca Sypin.  Both Bingham herself and Sypin’s daughter had been affected by hair loss due to cancer, and wanted young girls going through the same to be able to look up to someone. The campaign took off to Bingham and Sypin’s surprise, gaining media coverage and over 158,00 “Likes”.  Sypin believes this was because their message was positive, explaining their goal wasn’t to demand or boycott anything, but to raise awareness.

Message received ladies. Bald is bold and beautiful! And hooray for Mattel for realizing it as well! We can’t wait to see the final product.

Cheers!
Mari the Studio

Oribe Hair Care is at Mari the Studio

We are pleased to announce the launch of the luxury line of Oribe Hair Care at Mari the Studio.  Created by famed stylist Oribe (pronounced or-bay), you can enjoy hair products blended with exclusive natural actives and made with top-level treatment technology.  Made by one of the most sought after hairstylists for fashion, editorial and advertising work over the last 30 years, Oribe has now made his mark with his glamorous hair care line.

 

This line is paraben and sodium chloride free and made of only the finest ingredients including silk, mother of pearl, keratin and natural plant extracts. Indulge in ultra-gentle shampoos and ultra-moisturizing condiitoners for paraben free, UV protection, and lightweight, workable styling products made for the hair needs of the glamorous.

Oribe's collaborators include countless photographers, like Irving Penn, who Oribe still refers to as Mr. Penn; and Helmut Newton, who shot Cindy Crawford for American Vogue with hair that Oribe teased to infinity; and others like Richard Avedon, Patrick Demarchelier and Annie Leibovitz.

Oribe has worked make-up artists like François Nars, and Kevyn Aucoin; and fashion designers like Gianni Versace, a mentor who inspired Oribe's tattoos, and Karl Lagerfeld, who took the rock and roll hairstylist under his wing. And then there were the models, the celebrities and the icons he transformed and worked with, from Christy Turlington who Oribe appears with in an iconic Vogue spread, to the always radiant Heidi Klum and Naomi Campbell. All told, Oribe has contributed to just about every major magazine and worked on just about every major fashion show. In the last year alone his work has been seen on the covers of Vogue 10 out of 12 times.

 

Oribe's magnificent career continues to grow- in large part because, like us at Mari the Studio, he loves what he does.

 

Come in to see the full line, and try Oribe hair care to get healthy, beautiful and simply gorgeous hair!

 

Cheers!

Mari the Studio