ShineForth Insights

Fashion Fun

Rebecca Beardsley — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:33:21 +0000

Going through the archives and saw this. On July 25, Photographer Earl Crabb and I staged a shoot at Giselle Shepatin studios in San Francisco. Shooting with Earl is a great time, and being able to highlight Giselle’s work is always satisfying.

We found our model Margot through Model Mayhem. She was a complete joy to work with, you could tell she was comfortable in her body. Her dance background served her well, as she posed for us. She was fearless when it came to gazing with the camera.

We shot all day, and got these looks, plus more.

Pheakdey Bun assisted me with makeup.

Check out Earl Crabb at Model Mayhem #1204113 or at http://www.Earl’s Crab Shack.com

Giselle chose to use the image with the green outfit for her

promotional postcard to customers.

http://www.giselleshepatin.com

Cari Borja Designs Photo Shoot

Rebecca Beardsley — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:19:32 +0000

Tear sheets were laid out for me. Each of the three models, which included Cari, needed to look different from the other.

I set up at 9:00 am, and started on the task of styling hair and applying make-up on our first model, finishing at 1:00 pm.

Cari’s Designs are feminine, fanciful, and flirtatious, so we played with the idea of keeping the hair simple, and casual, and approachable.

Cari’s ease, charm and adept storytelling skill made me realize she has crafted her life into one that is creative, and full, and that she is doing none other than what she is meant to do. How fantastic to be a part of the endeavor.

www.cariborja.com

Spring Green

Rebecca Beardsley — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 04:46:02 +0000

After a year of letting my natural color show, I decided to color my hair. Mostly, the
metamorphosis came about because of the count down to NAHA. We used powder lightener with 20 vol, and level 4 Luo color with 25Vol as a base, then toned with P01-P02, creating a bit more drama.

I thought, “Hm, I am going to be surrounded with my peers, and the idea of showing some
creativity on my own head felt right. The extreme is always so invigorating. I tell myself,
“Just as long as you work that out on your head, rather than in your life.”

Sometimes I look at myself, and think it looks great. Or, “too dark against your aging skin.”
I’ll say. Does it look to severe? My clients remarked, “You look less tired,” as if my own
questions lined my forehead.

Overall, I feel it is a nice change. Color feels like a fresh start. And this new be-
ginning seems to be popping up in a lot of areas of my life, like the green of Spring
emerging from the tilled soil.

And now, the maintenance begins. I already feel like I need a toner.

However, the expectations of women are at an all time high. More on that later.

NAHA Awards 2009

Rebecca Beardsley — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 06:25:54 +0000

Just got back from Las Vegas. I attended the NAHA awards ceremony at Mandalay Bay.
I saw beautiful images of hair by some of the greats in the industry, like Vivienne Mackinder,
Lucie Doughty, and Maureen Anlauf.

I felt inspired by these hair artists who are driven to execute their work to the level at which they do, and who then want to pass on their knowledge to those who are hungry to know. I would love nothing more than to take a walk with a few of them, and hear about their creative process, see what they notice in their surroundings, what do their dreams
reveal about their work.

I sat in the audience, sometimes sad that there were not a more enthusiastic applause for the hard work, and hours of combing, teasing, and polishing hair that these stylists
have spent on their creations.

And yet, the number of students present left me remembering the early days of my career,
and wanting to be at every hair show possible. They couldn’t have chosen a more high caliber
event on the West Coast.

Diana and I, the owner at Keter Hair Salon, shared in our mixed feelings of overwhelm, awe, and humility at the idea of even trying to compete next year.

Another Dee Conway Shoot

Rebecca Beardsley — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:12:45 +0000

This time we shot with Trina. What a fun model…by the end of the evening, Trina was just warming up, she could have continued long past sundown. Dee, followed and calmly suggested her own ideas as well.

April 18th. Amtrak station in Berkeley, blocks from Keter Hair Salon. The chill left me hugging my jacket shut, in between holding up the reflector for Dee. Trina was playful, and able to
accomodate Dee’s gentle instructions of laying down on the tracks, sitting and standing on them, between trains.

A few onlookers stood around, but basically we had the place to ourselves. I think our shots worked. As usual, Dee is a complete pleasure to work with, and always so prompt in her delivery of images.

Make-up by Pheakdey Bun.

Inspiration at Sassoons

Rebecca Beardsley — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 06:55:52 +0000

Okay, I’m breaking the mini-chronological order I had going.

I just found some photos, from November of last year. A few of us from Keter Salon went
down to LA for Sassoon’s 2009 Fall Collection Release.

Very Inspirational to say the least.

Like I said, masters of any trade, make it look effortless, but the actual skill level takes years to develop. I love the texture and the soft colors on some of the blonde models. Of course, the execution by this team is nothing less than phenomenal

The Up-Do Class that Re-Awakened Everything

Rebecca Beardsley — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:13:53 +0000

Kiki, our manager at Keter Salon, taught an updo styling class back in April.
I thought, “Fine, let’s do it.” I always look for the next inspiration to get
my creativity fired up.

Kiki, who comes from a family of stylists, and worked as a platform artist, is not only
a master at exectuting an idea, but in teaching the idea.

I’m whipping through, my hands moving way to fast, and there she is, smoothing, refining,
slowly, precisely placing the hair in place.

I have not been able to stop since then. This driving force inside me to learn how to build hair is unrelenting. And now, I have it in my head to compete in the NAHA awards.

I have a lot to learn!

This is what I came up with that day. The beginning of using hair pieces.

Audacity of Change- An Inaugural Fashion Benefit

Rebecca Beardsley — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:13:14 +0000

In order to celebrate the election of President Barack Obama, we thought what better way
than to express it through nonconformity in a fashion show.

Girl Talk Band set the tone for the evening, and gave generously by playing melodic blues, latin, world jazz. We were quite fortunate to have Angie Coiro MC our show, also giving her time for the cause. She added flare, fun, humor and a feeling of generosity. Denise Pate of Destiny Arts gave a brief introduction to the great work the organization offers in the Oakland schools. To find out more about the great work Destiny Arts offers, check out www.destinyarts.org.

Our sixteen models represented our coummunity; women of all ages, backgrounds, and body type.
The show felt global as the first models walked to the chant from the Nicherin Daishonin
Buddhism out of Japan, wearing masks that we had made, shedding them as they left the room.
They then sashayed to Gypsy Jazz.

What I enjoyed most about this event was the gathering of creative people. In the salon that day, there was a feeling of excitement and love of our craft, not to mention pure creativity as the stylsits, and owner of Keter Salon came together to contribute to something larger than the everyday at the salon.

Our stepping out to the community was met with the community coming to us…130 people filled the space, standing room only. At the end of the day, we raised some money, Giselle Shepatin gave generously as well. She sold clothing before and after the event, and donated a percentage of her sales to the cause. She also offered beautiful, handmade scarves as gifts for the raffle.

I want to thank some of the Fourth Street merchants in Berkeley, CA, and the people listed for their donations:

     The Nail Lounge
     GirlTalkBand - www.girltalkband.com
     Angie Coiro
     Peet’s Tea & Coffee
     Bette’s Diner
     George’s
     Bare Minerals
     The Vivarium
     Patrick Gilligan
     Lori Cheung - www.theportraitphotographer.com
     Marcia Walden Skin Care
     Dee Conway - Photography
     Earl Crabb - www.humbeadenterprises.com
     Cordelia DeVere - www.renegadeart.com
     Molly B Clothing Store
     Castle in the Air
     Scarlett Garcia
     Cafe M
     Another Planet
     Simma Leiberman
     Dana Argenzana
     Stacy Appel

Audacity of Change

Rebecca Beardsley — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:30:16 +0000

This year has been all about the visual.

I coordinated an Inaugural Fashion Benefit, called the Audacity of Change, for Destiny Arts in Oakland, California, Giselled Shepatin, and Keter Hair Salon. I had six weeks to plan an event I had dreamt of doing for years.

Giselle Shepatin sat in my chair one night, and we talked about new ways for her to market herself, and so I suggested she come to the salon and have an event…before I knew it, I volunteered to create a benefit.

Thank you friends, loyal clients, and coworkers for all your support!

Chop Wood, Carry Water

admin — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:00:35 +0000

I’ve been under a bit of unusual stress the last three weeks, I would have been better off taking time to assimilate life’s latest serving of chewy bits. But life goes on, and as a Buddhists have said, “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.” Cutting hair, even though a family member may have been on her death bed, seemed odd.

And yet, my clients were there for me. At first, I did not think I could work. The salon environment, albeit quieter than usual that day felt too overwhelming. I had no intention of laying it out for everybody, nor did I need to become maudlin, or ignore my reality. At times, I felt as though I walked a tight rope. On one side was my life, on the other, my profession, and when I engaged in conversation about myself, I began to falter, and the net below swung in all directions.

At home I placed a platic bag on a hot burner, walked in three directions at once, not remembering what I was doing. At work, during a weave, I turned my clients hair a pale violet in a few packets. The flashing light inside strobed, sending a warning to refocus, and bring the conversation back to the client.

My family member felt better today, we all could sigh with relief. The road to healing is still long, and perhaps even questionable. Meanwhile, I am grateful for my life, and for my clients who continue to awe me in their respect, concern, and kind words.