It all started that day my boss asked me to come and stand next to her while she worked on her new client, a client that she thought would be difficult. To me it was an instant connection – we talked and talked the whole time while my boss worked on her hair. When her hair was done the client told me to follow her to a location where I was to do something for the salon I was working at. She wrote down her cell phone number and told me to call her if I got lost at any point. I still have that paper with her number. That client who fast became my best friend is my business partner, Monica.

After months of blowing Monica’s hair out weekly and coloring her roots biweekly – and all the jokes of us going into business together – we finally realized that we really weren’t joking! We realized that it would be a good thing and that we could have a new place to call home. We decided to do it, to go into business together, to create the salon of our dreams.

We found our location right away because it was a spot I had fallen in love with when it was being built and said “if I ever open a salon” that’s where I want it to be. Monica also fell in love with the location and now it was time to tell my talented coworkers – who were by now my family – that I would be leaving them in a few months, and that they all could have a new home if that’s where they want to be. To my surprise, all of my coworkers wanted to come work with me at JMS. I was delighted and touched at their vote of confidence. Plans were moving forward – it was now time to break ground so you can imagine my fright! We had to do it right – Monica and I always said go big or go home and to me as a new business owner and now taking on responsibility for a whole staff outside of myself, I couldn’t sleep for weeks..

But go big we did! Everything from the custom milk glass marble tile in the bathroom to the ultra fancy faucet in our staff/mixing room, was going to be over-the-top sexy and glamorous. I fought with Monica on the styling chairs – she wanted black, I wanted white. She said white would show the dirt. I won, but ultimately she won because she was right – we changed them over from white to black on our second year anniversary.

Things moved so fast for us! Our front desk and all of our shelving units were custom built, tile was arriving, and all of the salon equipment was coming in from Italy. Our shampoo chairs were originally two reclining massage chairs but after just a few days of JMS being open we knew we needed to order one more, so we had a shampoo bench built in the same style which now would accommodate three clients at a time.

Our lighting was custom made for JMS to give off natural light – so important when you are creating beautiful color and highlights. Monica and I drove upstate to the factory ourselves to pick up our lights to expedite installation. We were packed in a rental truck with high-hats and hardly any room to turn our heads.But when the lights were installed it was like the lord said “let there be light”.

Next up were the awnings – “JULIUS MICHAEL SCARSDALE HAIR SALON” – they went up on a Friday and I remember that day like it was yesterday. It was such an emotional, happy feeling. I shared it with one of our stylists and I remember looking at her and seeing tears in her eyes too. We were saying goodbye to our past and hello to the future – the future of JMS. The following week we’d open our door to the world.

So on Tuesday May 24th 2011 we turned on the first blow dryer and did our first shampoo and from that day on its been a wonderful, happy experience with our fabulous staff, amazing clients, and new lessons everyday.

The holidays are here—along with all the parties—so we need the perfect holiday hair to look our best as we spread the cheer. It all begins with the perfect blowout.

Why waste that fabulous outfit if your hair is going to be a frizzy hot mess? You spend money on that hot pair of Louboutins; starve for three days; grease your self into that tight dress; slip on those shiny pants; and have your makeup done…but forget about your hair?

Why let hair end up being just boring—or worse—just hair? No shine, no bounce, no flare. It’s just hair! Well, that fuzz growing out of your scalp is your crown and glory.

If you’re not ready to shell out $50 to $75 for a professional blowout—to have other women hate you and their men want you—forget about buying those boots and spend some loot on a good blow dryer. A good blow dryer is a must, I say absolutely must!

A good blow dryer has a nozzle on it. If not, say goodbye to fab hair and hello to burnt strands. Without that little attachment you will undoubtedly touch your hair with the front of your dryer and singe it. Who needs that?

Now you’re all ready to start your fabulous blowout—but that’s just it, where do you start?

• First, apply a light gel or any heat safe product to your hair.
• Now start your sectioning. Some start at the back and work their way up to the front. I like to start at the front and work my way down, since the front will always dry first, if left wet. You don’t want to blow out dry hair and add damage to it.
• Section off the front piece and start blowing from your roots to your ends, pulling your hair up for volume. Concentrate on the roots, because if they’re not completely dry you’ll end up with hay, not beautiful hair.
• When the front is dry, move on to your next section. Dry the roots first, then mid-shaft, then the ends.
Using a good round brush, continue all the way around your head.
• When your hair is completely dry, take that big curling iron you bought along with your new dryer, and add some bounce to that hair. Grab random pieces of hair and curl in opposite directions.
• Put some styling product to help with the fly-aways.

If you want that sleek sexy Sandra Bullock hair—instead of buying the curling iron, buy a flat iron. But remember that flat iron, if not used properly, will damage your hair. For this look, after your hair is completely dry, go over it with your flat iron, never holding it in one place or on your ends. Just grab small sections and slide that iron from your roots down to your ends smoothly and quickly. Finish with a light hair putty or silk cream.

After all of this, if you’re stressing over what blow dryer to buy or which iron you need—call me or your favorite stylist and live life like the star you are, and get that holiday blowout. You’re worth it!