Lincoln Collective Hair

Don’t get me wrong, maintaining a positive attitude is a crucial SKILL that can be helpful in times of high stress, but positivity requires ENERGY and sometimes the tank is empty.

This time of year is super hard for folks in the PNW, myself included. It is dark most of the day, cold, wet, and lonely. There are some things I’m doing to help, but if I’m being honest, I’m doing them SAD.

I put pressure on myself not ever seem low because being the reason someone else gets pulled down literally terrifies me. Then I remember the cost of faking it is twice as hard on my mind & my heart. Authenticity means sometimes showing up (and showing up is important!) with a frown.

Maybe yall have heard of the “do it scared” thing? Like to be brave you have to push past your fear and do the things anyway? Well my mantra these days is DO IT SAD.

These are the things I do each day or each week regardless of a positive attitude:

💧 DRINK WATER
🛁 BUBBLE BATHS (or extra hot shower)
🌲 GO OUTSIDE
🎨 CONNECT WITH FRIENDS

My life has been exponentially better - and I don’t have to do these things sad as often - since I stopped expecting myself to be happy all the time.

I hope this helps someone today, sending all my love. 😭

There’s a whole lotta debate about the morality of tipping. I am of the opinion that as long as I’ve made it clear my clients are not EXPECTED to tip, but choose to do so anyway, that’s their prerogative! I’m a small business and that extra little bit literally keeps a roof over my head, so to say the least I am very GRATEFUL for those who are able to leave gratuity. But it doesn’t change the quality of service I provide, nor do I hold any sort of grudge against those who do not tip.

But you know what means EVEN MORE to me than a tip?? Leaving a review.

Seriously, next time you’re budgeting for a hair service consider skipping the tip and leave a Google or Yelp review instead.

Those words keep me in business and that’s maybe the most generous thing you can do for me.

Thank you so much yall, I’m a a lucky lady!

Instagram, Facebook, & TikTok are lying to you and creating false expectations. I’m not exaggerating when I say that it’s UNREASONABLE to expect your stylist to be able recreate exactly what’s in the photos you found online.

There are so many reasons your results will be different but to name a few: the lighting, the original canvas, the budget, the timing, and camera quality….and more!

I don’t hate social media because I understand that it brings us together, but I DO hate the backlash created by clients who don’t understand how brainwashed they are. It’s not fair, I know. I want a full head of thick curly red hair, but I’ll never have that because that’s not POSSIBLE.

I am in the business of creating hair color that suits you & helps you express yourself. Great hair happens when we’re no longer strangers. If you’re planning on seeing a new stylist every year you’re really missing out on the magic.

So don’t be fooled by the mirage of social media, and find a stylist you can build a relationship with. You’ll be so much happier.

Here’s the deal, I think you should have whatever the heck haircut you want regardless of your face shape. We have round heads, so what!

But I also get the appeal of having a more formulaic approach to a haircut that guarantees something flattering. So here are some of my go-to thoughts on face shape.

Weak Chin/ Soft Jaw / Heart Shape: try bangs, at just about any length, and lengths that fall below the collar bone with lots of convex layers for volume at the cheeks & jawline.

Wide Jaw / Full Cheeks / Round Shape: avoid haircuts that fall at the jawline, extra short cuts which shape the face, or longer cuts that fall with soft layers around collar bone.

Wide Jaw / Long Forehead / Square Shape: lightly layered bobs tend to fit the face nicely and center parts which soften any harsh angles, and concave styling.

Want some help deciding what will suit your aesthetic? Schedule a free consultation anytime!

Why does box color get so much hate from hairstylists?

There are a few reasons, mainly : it’s just plain hard to work with.

Box color is fundamentally the same thing we use to color your hair, with a few key differences. Firstly, box color is formulated as a ONE-SIZE fits all formula, but we know hair comes in many different shapes & sizes. That means there’s just as many different possible results after coloring your hair with a box formula. Second, box color is applied by YOU not by a pro. So your application technique, timing, and the color you choose all make a huge impact on how your color behaves over time.
And finally, some formulas have sneaky ingredients that may make the overall health of your hair worse than it might otherwise have needed to be.

These aspects make box color a little bit intimidating for your stylist. We just have no clue how things might turn out!

I am not a fan of blaming box color on all the reasons someone’s hair color didn’t turn out. I believe it’s your prerogative to use whatever you want and whatever fits in your budget. There’s no reason to stop doing something that has worked out for you in the past.

Just know that in the future, your hairstylist may need to get creative working around your precious box color which is not as easy task. As long as you bring reasonable expectations and trust the advice of your professional, everything will work out just fine!

Independent stylists are like micro businesses. They are their own bosses and have a larger load of responsibility compared to booth renters or employees. They have to work extra hard to maintain a clientele and have to curate a brand that lends itself to the market.

Independent stylists hold themselves to a high standard of excellence in order to continue to build their clientele.

They often offer a more relaxing & peaceful environment than what traditional multi-chair salons can provide.

They’re inviting you into a space that is much more intimate and offer specialized services.

Think of it like this, sometimes you choose a tattoo artist because you’ve found their work and want their specific design, and sometimes you find a tattoo shop that’s local and you’ve heard good things about it from your friends.

Both can suit your needs but the experience will slightly vary.

No one thinks about hair as much as a hairstylist! (Except maybe a trichologist 😉)

Here are some things WE know but maybe you don’t:

The hair is made up of three different types of bonds, each uniquely important.

Hydrogen Bonds: Easily broken down by water and heat, which is why your hair can change so much with a smooth blow dry or a curling iron!

Disulfide Bonds: Permanent bonds that make up the building blocks of the structure of each hair strand for healthy porosity, elasticity, and strength! K18 & Olapex can help heal these broken bonds when things like bleach wreak havoc!

Ionic Bonds: These bonds are affected by pH imbalances and are what professional hair color uses to make changes. And also why frequent showers can fade color (water is a higher pH than hair).

These bonds are fragile and we hairstylists take protecting them very seriously! And also why we talk so much about taking care of your hair on multiple levels.

Now you know 🤓

I’ve said these things AT LEAST a thousand times in my life. I accept that I’ll probably say them a million times by the end of my career 😂

⭐️ Excessively dirty/ Excessively clean = unhappy scalp.
🌟 Even if I think you’re beautiful, what matters is if YOU do.
💫 Healthy Hair > Damanged Hair NO MATTER THE COLOR.

I don’t mind repeating myself, but I sometimes wish y’all could just read my mind 🔮

Y’all be gentle ya hear? 🤠

No but seriously! Think of your hair as a fabric, only super tiny, and when you detangle ferociously it degrades the structural integrity of the strands. Over time this makes a huge difference on the appearance of frizz and split ends.

Also, ya‘ll need to stop confusing conditioning the hair with the natural oils your scalp produces. I won’t bore you with the details but think of it this way: if you always cleansed your face but never moisturized wouldn’t that wreak havoc on your skins healthy barrier? Yes. So stop skipping conditioning the scalp, just make sure it’s a conditioner and with quality ingredients & can be rinsed thoroughly.

And finally, can we agree that not everyone has to have the same routine in order for it be considered the “right” way? For example, Some of my clients can go a whole week without a proper shampoo and not have any greasiness! While others feel like washing their hair every day is the best option for them. Remember your hair is uniquely yours and maybe that means you won’t grow hair down to your butt crack, or maybe you’ll start graying at 30, or maybe you’ll have two different curl patterns on the same head of hair! The differences are infinite but the one thing that I’ll always advocate for is that you love & accept yourself (and therefore your hair).

If your current stylist is shaming you for something, get rid of that toxic energy and find one that encourages you to be YOU.

I’ve learned a few things over the years that women collectively experience:

Our strengths are often viewed as weaknesses, especially in the workplace. Empathy, self awareness, intuition, multi-tasking, communication, and socializing, just to name a few of the incredible things women are excellent at.

Our pain is not considered as real or as concerning when compared to men’s pain, despite the very real suffering we endure in child birth, during our monthly cycles, and even wearing a harness strapped to our chests 24/7.

Motherhood is an incredibly powerful and divine experience, while also being an enormous responsibility that falls disproportionately on the shoulders of mothers. Motherhood, although beautiful, can be used as a way to shackle women to the home and their children.

Expectations of women set by society & culture are outrageously high compared to the same social / cultural expectations of men.

So, can I be honest? A woman would have made an amazing leader for our country and I feel it was a huge lost opportunity to change our future. Instead, history will continue to repeat itself and women will continue to have to fight for equal respect & freedoms.

These statements may not align with your beliefs, but I will no longer waste my time catering to an audience that cannot agree on my worth as a human being.

For those in my chair, I promise to continue to honor your beauty as well as your incredible brains. We are strong when we are TOGETHER 🫶

Being the new girl is always so hard. Especially when you’re on the hunt for a new hair stylist. We all do things SO differently. Who can you trust?!

Well here’s the thing, being new is part of the problem. When your stylist is getting to know you they’re also meeting your hair for the first time. There are so many different combinations of colors, textures, and hair history that make your hair unique. One appointment just isn’t enough time to REALLY know your hair.

This is why being new is hardest! Often times second and third sessions are when my best work comes out, because now we’re familiar!

It might sound like I’m saying that you won’t like your hair as much on your first appointment, and I am! If that’s way too much to ask of your trust, then try these things before getting your hair done as a new client:

📝 Read what your stylist posts on their website and any bios about themselves & their work. Reviews are important to check too, and if she is saying she likes brunettes and low maintenance color maybe don’t ask her for a platinum card.
✅ Stay away from stylists who don’t offer consultations or test strands. And book your consultation prepared to ask all questions! This is the perfect ice breaker to make sure the vibes are right and your stylist can get her hands on your hair !
✔️ Really examine your budget before committing to a hair color change because it’s very likely you’ll want regular maintenance. It’s the same as getting your nails done or buying a car; there are always smaller expenses that accrue over time.
👏 Lastly, get ready to be honest with your service provider. Blasting your unhappiness all over TikTok before making your feelings known to your stylist is F*cked Up! It can be awkward and hard to communicate a frustration you have with your outcome, but no one is better suited to fix it than the person who’s touched your hair last. Period.

😚 😚

Here’s the thing…regardless of how you feel about wearing a mask, I don’t want your cooties.

I really REALLY don’t want you to call out of work because you’re not feeling well but still come your appointment. 🙄

If I get sick because one person brought me their cold, I have to reschedule up to 15 others! *that means working 12 hr days 😭*

I think the very least you can do to help keep me working throughout this busy holiday season, is wear a mask (if you’re symptomatic). I’ll do the same. 🫵

According to Google, you are CONTAGIOUS THE ENTIRETY OF YOUR COLD, although the first three days are certainly the MOST infectious for a common cold.

Sniffles? MASK.
Fever? CANCEL.
Body Aches & brain fog? CANCEL.
It’s been 4-5 days? MASK.

I love you and just want to stay healthy this season 🙏