Patty’s Patio

I know Ktips are all over the internet right now but, dang! We transitioned her to beaded wefts from Ktips.

The focus was on placement, appropriate weight, and protecting her natural hair.

Three years later, the transformation speaks for itself.

Extensions aren’t just about adding length and volume. They’re about choosing the right method for the hair you’re working with—and protecting what’s underneath.

The goal isn’t just beautiful extensions. It’s beautiful natural hair, too.

I am never using a ring light for hair pics again.

Although these front photos are beautiful for profile pics, if I am trying to get a good representation of hair color, I want even lighting.

Look at the middle pic and how all the light is right in the middle. The dimension of the color and all the hues are not shown throughout.

I usually turn off my overhead lights but I felt rushed.

They always say natural light is best. And that’s what I try to do whenever possible.

What do you do now that our days are getting shorter?

Here the plan:

I am going to bring out my soft box light and put it at 45° + all overhead lights off.

On my iPhone, tap the hair and pull exposure down just a little—around –0.3 to –0.7—so the highlights keep their detail.

Do you have any photography tips and tricks to share?

When I first wash my hair, my color looks the brightest. No surprise there.

When I use the curling iron, my color has more dimension.

A smooth cuticle makes it more shiny, reflects light and makes it brighter. That’s why when you get a professional blowout it looks so good- or when you use the flat iron. (As long as it’s not too much heat.)

Don’t get me started on fluorescent lighting.

A light from above or from the side changes things too. (Even when the sun goes behind a cloud)

In my car, that’s the truest.

📸Send me your car selfies!

‼️Things that can change your color permanently are your hard water and sunscreen will turn hair extensions rusty. Self tanners can stain it for a while.

🫧Shampoos matter as well...

Broadly speaking:

* Moisturizing: often deeper/richer/shinier

* Volumizing: often lighter/cleaner/more matte

* Clarifying: can brighten significantly if buildup was darkening the hair. (But if it strips too much moisture, blonde can also look rougher, duller, or more yellow because the cuticle is less smooth.)

* Chelating: specifically removes mineral/metals, which can correct dull, brassy, green, rusty, or discolored blonde.

* And if you want to hide brassiness, you can use a purple shampoo, but be careful if you have Hair Extensions because you need a sulfate free shampoo.

Keep in mind they also have purple conditioners if you have Hair Extensions.

I hope this helped!

My will make your color look amazing

The other day I was at a family reunion and I trimmed a small amount off my nieces hair and just that little bit shifted her whole persona. She had a pep in her step. She walked and talked differently immediately after.

Big changes are so much fun but it doesn’t even have to be like that to make us feel brand new, right?

I swear every single time, I see faces completely change when I put the extensions in.

The way the art of hair is placed around the face makes me think about the science we use in all kinds of design. Clothing, my house, just about everything uses geometry for art.

In hair design, the face shape serves as the geometric canvas. The primary goal of a master stylist is geometric balance, which typically means using the hair’s silhouette to create the optical illusion of an oval face shape, universally considered the most visually symmetrical proportion.

Stylists use a mathematical principle called countersubtraction: adding volume or width with hair to sections where the face structure narrows, and removing it where the face widens.

Science and art are no doubt a part creating a fun transformations!