Castor & Pollux Salon

Brunette Glow Up 💃🏻

Investing in myself has hands down been the best thing I’ve ever done! When you’re in an ever evolving industry you either continue to educate yourself or get left behind ✌🏼Swipe ➡️ to see where I started when balayage & lived-in hair color became a thing 10+ years ago….Heres what I’ve learned…

✨Balayage 🙅🏻‍♀️ I do not do it! I Foilyage. Why? I like to have predictable results and foil gives me that. Open air processing can leave unwanted warmth that most of my brunettes do not want.

✨ Sectioning Matters. I make sure the hair in the foil is thin enough so I can still see the foil. This allows for the hair to process more evenly with a greater lift (better chance of getting lighter).

✨ Time. When I push a brunette to the highest level I can, I need to allow for sufficient processing time. For me, gone are the days you’ll be sitting with foils for only 30/45 mins under a dryer. No heat for maximum processing time because the above ⬆️ is also what helps!

I’ve learned so much over these 18 years of being licensed it’s crazy! I will continue to educate myself to give my clients the best of the best. Do you want the best? Of course you do! Click my booking link in my bio for nothing but the best 💃🏻

✨ C H A N G E ✨
When my clients want a change I’m always their number 1 supporter! If the change is a BIG one I have a discussion on what future appointments will look like. Why? I want to make sure their goal will fit their current lifestyle. Prior to this appointment we discussed

✨Time. This is a higher maintenance look. She went from a natural red head to a dark blonde. That means her roots will grow back in red, and we have to touch them up every 6 weeks and move up her extensions.

✨ Expectations. All color fades. No matter what I do. I explain what to expect as the color fades and when she can expect the color to change.

✨ Cost. When we go from low maintenance to high maintenance there’s always a cost associated. I never want to get my clients hopes up about their goal if they cannot afford it.

Looking for a change? I’d love to help you! Click my booking link in the comments to book your appointment 😘

Weightless & Damage Free

When done correctly, weft/hand-tied/invisible bead hair extensions offer a lightweight wear without compromising your natural hair. Natural hair texture & hair density is my guide to road map an extension application. I ensure that….

✨ My beaded sections are the right size based on hair texture & density.

✨ The corners of the extensions fit perfectly to deflect pulling & pressure.

✨ I use the right amount of wefts per row to avoid additional weight to that section.

Come & elevate your style with me without the damage! Click the link in my bio to fill out my Hair Extension Inquiry Form.

My blondes stay blonde 💁🏼‍♀️

What keeps my blondes staying blonde in between appointments without brass??

✨Proper lift. What is that? When I highlight I make sure to move past the “brass” stage. If there is “orange” present in the foil I don’t stop there. I make sure the strands in the foils are a pale yellow before I rinse.

✨Using the right color. has an acidic pH with an alkaline finish. That means it’s super gentle on your locks but gives a full coverage color that lasts.

✨The right haircare. gives my clients a dose of 100% human keratin. It’s all natural and not a synthetic blend. Having healthy hair gives the ability for color to last longer

What blonde doesn’t love to stay blonde in between salon visits?? With all of the above ⬆️ my blondes stay blonde! Want an appointment? Click the link in my bio to book 😘

Luxury Redefined: gorgeous hair extensions that enhance your natural beauty without damaging your own locks! Hair extensions can act as a protective barrier to your hair. What does that mean….?

✨ You will decrease the use of hot tools (aka curling/flat iron). Extensions hold your style longer vs your natural hair.

✨ Highlighting less. If we choose extensions that come with highlights, we would not have to constantly highlight your natural hair.

✨Natural hair color preserved. The extensions will be exposed to more sunlight, while your natural hair is covered by them. Yes, we will color the extensions to help with fading while your natural gets a break from hair color.

Want to discover the flexibility to wear, color & style hair extensions with ease? Click the link in my bio to fill out my Hair Extension Inquiry Form. It’s your hair, only better 💃🏻

Rooted in Style, Glowing with Beauty ✨

This lived-in color look ⬆️ delivers a seamless blend of brightness and depth. How do I keep your color looking lived-in?

✨Keeping your base color as close to your natural. This means that we are not shifting (making lighter or changing its tone) your natural color at the roots to create a hard outgrowth line.

✨Making sure the blend at the root/base is soft. That means we’re not adding in the early 2000s chunky highlights. We can make it bold but softness needs to be created with a finishing technique.

✨Keeping the highlights minimal. Over highlighting creates too much brightness. Making sure my placement is simple yet impactful is essential when creating a lived-in color

I love creating natural, lived-in color that offers low maintenance! Stay stunning with fewer trips to the salon! Click the booking link in my bio to book your appointment 😘

Versatility + Luxury

All of my extensions are customized to fit the needs of anyone who sits in my chair! What does this mean?

✨ I color every extension for that perfect color match & blend

✨ The number of rows applied is based off the desired look & lifestyle

✨ I can create a layered, textured or one length look to fit our final look

Your customized, desired look is only a click away! Tap the link in my bio to fill out my Hair Extension Inquiry Form 😘

Hello All 👋🏼

I’m looking for anyone that would be interested in being an extension model. I have my own salon suite in St. Charles. I’ve recently updated my extension technique, and I need more practice plus new content for my social media pages 😊 Comment below if you’re interested ⬇️⬇️ Anyone who comments I’ll message you the details directly 💁🏻‍♀️ If you want to see more of my work check me out here on FB Marie or on IG

✨Welcome to Castor & Pollux Salon✨

I finally had my very first branded photo session. I have some big things in store for my business, and this photo shoot is just what I needed! Thank you for capturing my space so perfectly 🫶🏻 I’m so in love

Pink Hair Don’t Care 💖

I’m looooving how this application turned out done by . When clients are wanting fun fantasy colors, I use the same approach when a client wants to go blonde. We cannot have these amazingly bright and bold colors without being blonde first. Why? Lets go back to art class 👩🏻‍🎨

✨Blonde is technically “yellow”. Yellow makes everything brighter. When we add yellow or white to any paint color, that color becomes lighter (adding white) or brighter (adding yellow).

✨If you have a dark color crayon (brown/black), try to color over it with a yellow or a pink, does it show up? No, not really. We still would see a dark muddier looking color.

✨If the hair was “brassy” (orange) the pink would not be as bright, and could still look more orange. Orange is stronger than pink since we have a lot of red in orange. Pink we’ve added a lot of white to red. If we were to add blue over orange what would we get? The dominant color will always win.

Fantasy colors are fun and beautiful! Going back to basic art class helps me teach this concept to and clients wanting these looks. Do the 3 bullet points above make sense? If so, drop a 💖 in the comments

High Maintenance | Low Maintenance

What makes the pic on the ⬅️ higher maintenance vs the pic on the ➡️ ?

✨ The left is a bleach & tone service. I lighten the natural base and tone it to the desired shade/tone. The contrast as it grows will never be soft because the natural color and new shade are too far apart naturally. This service requires the client back in my chair every 5/6wks. Swipe ➡️ to see her 6wk outgrowth

✨The right is a color melt service. I apply the clients natural color just past the line of demarcation (outgrowth). I then go back, apply the overall toner, while blending both colors together with my fingers to create a soft transition. This service allows the client flexibility on when to come back into the salon.

While you’re scrolling through IG , looking at hair inspiration for your upcoming appointment, be sure to ask yourself some questions. Such as, What is your lifestyle like? Do you have the time and money to invest in more frequent salon visits? How would more frequent appointments affect your overall hair health? If you have questions I’d love to hear them in the comments ⬇️ or during a consultation 😘

Foilayage not Balayage 🙅🏼‍♀️
Most brunettes that sit in my chair, “I want blonde balayage and with 0 warmth!” 🤪 If that’s the case then “balayage” may not be the right service. I prefer Foilayage. Foilayage is creating a “balayage look” with the use of foils. Why do I choose foilayage vs traditional hand painting balayage?

✨ Strong lift
I have to “lift” past natural brass/warmth. If I don’t, no amount of “ash” will hide it. Clay lightener is weaker vs a “9 level” lightener.

✨ Smaller sections for even lift
With traditional balayage we use bigger sections to lay product on thick! I can take smaller sections with foils.

✨ Foils create natural heat
When I layer/stack my foils, the natural heat from the head “heats up” the foils. Having the isolation plus natural heat = strong lift
In my experience, all of these factors equal a successful full blonde transformation or blonding highlight application! As a client, does it matter if an artist uses foils or traditional balayage to make your hair dreams come true? Tell me in the comments below ⬇️ ⬇️⬇️

Out of Office 😎

Taking some well needed time off! Like I stated above ⬆️ I will be completely unavailable during this time. If you need an appointment please use my booking link in the comments or in my bio. If you need to contact me please use my link and click “contact”. Swipe ➡️ to see what that looks like. I will reply to all requests when I am back in the salon on 6/21. Until then… peace, love, & hugs 😘

Jeana ♥️

Education 📚

I will always be a 😊 Over the weekend I had the pleasure of hosting at work for a 2hr cutting class. Having in-person education back in salons is everything! I learn more effectively by seeing and feeling vs a book or a screen. This class gave me all the feels that I’ve missed so much! My lovely assistant was the model for one of Linson’s signature cuts. The goal

✨Keep length
✨Remove weight
✨Create movement

The goal was definitely met in this haircut! Her length in tact with so much movement and texture. The cut shows off her new rooty, lower maintenance blonde as if it’s the cherry on top 🍒 Thank you again to & for a stellar & memorable class 🫶🏻

Haircut x
Color x me
CEUs x

Spring is in the hair 🍃🌼

I’m ready and sooo here for it! Remember, I only say yes to lightening sessions when my canvas can 100% take the process! I ensure hair integrity by….

✨Not using heat. Why? My process is intense enough, and the extra heat can cause more harm than good.

✨Using Colorkick. This magic filler is the first of its kind, one all-natural ingredient — 100% pure, and chemical free HUMAN KERATIN! The human protein fills the strands back in with the protein lost during our lightening appointment.

✨Balancing pH. Using Acidic Milk Rinse helps bring the pH of the hair back to 4.5/5 in the pH scale with the use of coconut and oat milk. Acid helps to calm the swollen cuticle layers to ensure healthy end result.

I only use the best for my bests! Looking to have bright and healthy hair for spring? Click the link in my bio or in the comments to schedule 😘

Saying NO is hard…

It’s one of the most difficult parts of my job! I promise it’s for the best! In this situation my client wanted more highlights but her hair was telling me otherwise…

✨Breakage. When we consulted she was concerned about her current breakage. She believed it was postpartum hormones. I told her to consult her doctor to see if she had other deficiencies like low iron. Highlights will only create more breakage.

✨Hair Texture. Her hair is baby fine. Products can give a false reality to her fine strands that looked ok that really weren’t. When breakage is present on fine hair texture we need to error on the side of caution.

✨Hair Routine. Blue/purple shampoo is not meant to be used every time you wash your hair. Blue/purple shampoo is very high in alkalinity and leaves the hair dry. When hair becomes overly dry it becomes brittle and breaks.

Instead we opted to gloss (aka tone) her hair to help even tonality and give her some vibrancy. Inside her gloss I mixed in Colorkick which is 100% human keratin to fill her strand with human protein not animal protein. I treated her hair with Acidic Milk Rinse for pH balance. We chopped her locks to create fullness while her hair is growing in. She trusted me fully and the results speak for themselves 🫶🏻

High Maintenance Blonde 💁🏼‍♀️

Bleach & tone = “high maintenance” blonde. Why is the above ⬆️ considered high maintenance?

✨ Overlapping lightener (aka bleach) on already pre lightened hard can be detrimental! The hair is already so processed that if new product touches it, the hair could break off at that point. Coming every 4/5wks helps lower that risk

✨ If my client goes longer than the 4/5wk mark we risk banding. Banding is creating different shades of color looking like “bands” in the hair. I don’t want to overlap the lightener since using a heavier application risking banding so trying to lighting blend. There might not be that much lift in that area therefore the band is created

✨A bleach & tone service grows with a harsh line of demarcation. That means the natural color looks so harsh against the blonde it looks like a line. Since the goal is bright blonde at the roots the blending is already done. Not much I can do to make the grow out soft.

It’s very important to consult with your artist about your goal! You should know what maintenance, and cost will be prior to committing to the service. Want to discuss your goal? Click the link in my bio or send me a DM!

💖 Simplicity 💖

Sometimes less is more when we’re wanting more dimension. I wanted high impact results with less foil work so I focused on

✨ Section size. Finer sections on a dark base allows for a stronger lift (aka lightness)

✨ Saturation. Saturating the hair enough so I don’t see the hair through the product

✨ Time. When working on a darker base I need enough time to allow the hair to lift (aka make light). If after an hour, without heat, I will remix fresh product & resaturate every foil

✨The “before”. What my clients have prior to the appointment matters. We started with fully saturated ends (all blonde ends) from previous appointments.

If my client had her natural running through her ends this would have been a completely different appointment with a completely different approach. Remember, when wanting a specific look to consult with your artist on the reality of the appointment. Thinking of a new look? Want to chat about it? Click the link in my bio ⬆️ to book your consultation 😘

No fancy stylist terms please 💁🏼‍♀️

“Hi I’d like balayage all over, with a root tap, then wet balayage, and some teasy lights please.” 😐 This is not uncommon for me to hear these days. With social media, clients come in using these terms thinking it’s what they need. When coming to your appointment, for the 1st time or the 100th time, having inspo pictures of what you’re wanting is way more helpful vs fancy terminology. Pictures show us

✨ what look you desire

✨ what shade of color you desire

✨ what you don’t like

Pictures start a great discussion on where the appointment should go, and where we need to end up. It’s my job to dissect and discuss the technicalities of the photo for the appointment. So no need to try and prep yourself with our fancy words. A picture(s) is all you need!Swipe to see my clients inspo ➡️ Show me some inspo you’ve been looking at for a future appointment below ⬇️⬇️⬇️

**disclaimer: pictures are inspiration only and sometimes cannot be replicated to its entirety**

This happened on accident…

Yes. You read that right. My client came in for a root to blonde look. Everything was going perfect until it didn’t. I’m not perfect, and from time to time I make mistakes. How I fix my mistakes matter.

✨ Honesty is the best policy. I was upfront with my client letting her know I made a mistake with her final toning formula. If time allows I will fix in the same appointment

✨Safety. I made sure my next steps were going to be the most gentle to remove the mistake that took place. In this case I used too much ash giving a darker grayish result

✨Free fix. I do not charge my client extra if I make the mistake. If I didn’t make the mistake, extra time and product wouldn’t be necessary.

In this appointment I was able to fix my issue before she left. While I was correcting the blue-violet her hair turned peach! I pulled out all the stops and said my prayers! Needless to say the end result is amazing! Swipe ➡️ to see the process. Would trust your artist after they made a mistake? Tell me below ⬇️

Color Correction 🎨

Can you even believe the transformation in this appointment?! This is the definition of a color correction. I will classify an appointment as a “color correction” when

✨ the canvas is uneven in all areas of the head that require every color service I offer into one appointment
✨ every strand of hair has been change vs adding in foils all over and finishing with a gloss/toner
✨the tediousness of weaving, the already blonde pieces out of my foil, so I do not over process the hair on a large scale. swipe ➡️

Continuing my education past beauty school is what has allowed me to provide a service like this. Do your research before you commit to your artist! Best way is to book a consultation prior to your appointment. Click the link in my bio if you need some research 😊

The power of a haircut 🪄

A haircut can make all the difference! Looks like we even refreshed her color. Haircut only in this appointment. I primarily dry cut. Do you wear your hair wet? Then why would I cut it wet?

✨ I have more control when the hair is dry
✨ I can see if adjustments are needed
✨ I can feel if weight removal is needed

You don’t need to come into the salon every 6/8 weeks for a haircut if you don’t want to. All I ask is that I see you 3/4x a year for a haircut. I promise you and your hair will thank me for it! When was your last cut? Book your next cut using my link in my bio 😘

Foilayage not Balayage 🙅🏼‍♀️
Most brunettes that sit in my chair, “I want blonde balayage and with 0 warmth!” 🤪 If that’s the case then “balayage” may not be the right service. I prefer Foilayage. Foilayage is creating a “balayage look” with the use of foils. Why do I choose foilayage vs traditional hand painting balayage?

✨ Strong lift
I have to “lift” past natural brass/warmth. If I don’t, no amount of “ash” will hide it. Clay lightener is weaker vs a “9 level” lightener.

✨ Smaller sections for even lift
With traditional balayage we use bigger sections to lay product on thick! I can take smaller sections with foils.

✨ Foils create natural heat
When I layer/stack my foils, the natural heat from the head “heats up” the foils. Having the isolation plus natural heat = strong lift
In my experience, all of these factors equal a successful full blonde transformation or blonding highlight application! As a client, does it matter if an artist uses foils or traditional balayage to make your hair dreams come true? Tell me in the comments below ⬇️ ⬇️⬇️

Inspo vs Reality
I absolutely love when clients show me inspiration pictures! Pictures tell us artists a lot about what you’re looking for. It shows us:

✨what “look” you’re wanting (lived-in, high impact)
✨the tonality of the color (cool, warm,beige)
✨overall style
In this application, I was able to match the inspo pretty spot on. There are differences that I see. So many factors go into the inspo picture that affect the end result:
✨Did I have warmer lighting?
✨Was the inspo client naturally darker?
✨What camera was used for the inspo pic?
When you’re looking at pictures to show your artist remember the ⬆️ and that pictures are inspiration only 😘. Was this helpful? Tell me in the comments ⬇️

Brunette with Highlights ✨
Full foilyage for this beauty right here. I do not balayage (hand paint) brunettes especially if they want a cooler result. The lightener sat in her foils for 3hrs. Yes. You read that right. 3hrs.
No heat was applied. Instead I mixed fresh product and resaturated every foil. If I did not the result would not have been what she was wanting. I do not take short cuts by any means! Swipe ➡️ to see what her hair looked like before I applied fresh product 😱
Our end result is a clean, cool, and healthy end result. Believe it or not maintenance with this look is very low! Glosses to keep the tone in check as the yellow creeps back, haircuts and highlights when she feels grown out.
To my brunettes out there, if you’re wanting non brassy highlights let’s chat about it! Click the link in my bio to schedule your consult 💃🏻

Assistant Needed!
I’m so happy to finally share all the details of my new assisting program!
I’m in need of a part-time assistant. This position is so much more than just cleaning color bowls, sweeping and watching me work. This program is designed with education at its core!

So what exactly am I looking for?
Here’s the details:
- 12hrs a week: 1 morning shift & 1 evening shift per week. One Saturday a month.
- $15/hr
- Daily duties include but not limited to:
sweeping, cleaning up color tools, prepping for color clients, glossing, expanding guest experience, blowouts, social media.
- What to expect? So much education, such as:
understanding of underlying/contributing pigment, hair structure and its importance when coloring, placement with a purpose, hair cutting on wet & dry hair, shapes, hair textures and so much more!
- Once a month we will work on a live model to apply what we’ve learned!

I cannot wait to share my space and my passion for education within this industry! If you’re interested or know if someone that is please do not hesitate to DM me! If you’re not in this industry but know someone who is please share this post!
**Must be fully licensed!

Thinking about going to the dark side 🌗
My client is a natural brunette with grays coming in. She thought going blonde would be the route to go for more gray blending. But why is the blonde always brassy….🤷🏻‍♀️
Natural brunettes cannot go blonde with a tube of color. Sorry. Just can’t happen. The warmth living within a brunette is too strong even if we use an “ash” tone. Living within your natural color will always end up being the most low maintenance option even with grays. Placing highlights with a purpose can help diffuse (not blend) the grays as they grow in ✨
Are you a brunette that always ends up brassy?? Let’s talk about it either ⬇️ in the comments or click on my link in my bio 😊

Real Talk: Gray Blending or Gray Coverage
Gray coverage or gray blending isn’t the most entertaining or appealing service we have to offer to the IG hair world. Some of the clients I service are not as youthful as what IG hair clients prefer to see. However, this service is a big part of my job, and makes up a lot of my clientele.
What the world experienced 3 years ago really encouraged people to embrace their natural gray. What if they tried the natural and didn’t like it? Then what?
Talking with every client who sits in my chair is so important. I learn about their lifestyle, how often they want to be back in the salon, what they like to see on their hair color and things they don’t. We decided that an ash blonde would be the right choice. I won’t cover the silver but will enhance it while keeping the tonality of her “pepper” in check. Even though her final result is an ash blonde she feels like a very cool brunette. It’s a win win and with low maintenance!
Color: Gloss
Protection: Colorkick
pH Balance: Acidic Milk Rinse
Style & Shine:

Blonde isn’t for everyone 💁🏼‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️
My new client tried being a blonde to transition to her natural gray. She wasn’t feeling it and that’s ok! Trying it out is necessary to gain acceptance of what will really work for you!
I created this dimensional brunette using Calura Color and Calura Gloss. I wanted an organic look so there was no rhyme or reason to my placement. Maintenance going forward will be gray retouches and glosses. Highlights going forward would be about 3x year 🥳
Color: Gloss
Protection: Colorkick
pH Balance: Acidic Milk Rinse
Style & Shine: