LISA OLIVER! THE SALLY HERSHBERGER SALON! TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS FROM CELEBRITY HAIR GURU!
Meg here! When you hear the name "Lisa Oliver" you know you're talking to someone that knows who the major celebrity hair players are in Los Angeles. Like the Jimmy Choo heel and the Birken bag, getting your hair colored at The Sally Hershberger salon is quite the status symbol.
Lisa Oliver has been in ridiculously high demand there! Someone better hope Sally isn't the insecure type. I leapt at the chance to have Lisa give me a new color (Hello fiery redhead Meg). Of course when she was finished, my hair looked amazing. Sitting next to me I chatted with another client of Lisa's. She is from BOSTON! I know, I think even I looked at her like she was crazy. She flies from Boston to LA every 6 weeks so that Lisa can do her hair. I probably wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't had the conversation with her. I mean, I'm from Boston. That's a bitch of a cross country trip.
It is not a rare tale, well-heeled women from all over the US fly to see Lisa Oliver regularly. She is one of the most respected hair gurus in town and her client list reads like the Academy Award announcements. We are talking very A-list.
For those of us that are not able to get to Los Angeles-and jumping on a flight every 6 weeks isn't feasable, I wanted to get into the brain of Lisa Oliver and see if she'd tell us some hints and a little about herself.
Meg: Does God know best? Should you really stay within one to two shades of you own when picking a color?
Lisa: You know part of me really wants to give you a straight answer, like a yes or a no...And part of me wants to say "Yes” to the question. But the longer I am in this industry...going on 25 years of my life...the more I want to say, that there really is no more rules to this game at all. There's time when that rule might apply or can apply, and then you have a client or meet with someone new and you're looking at their skin tone, their eyes, their features and then "right in that moment" you realize that with this person some sort of "space" opens ups and you have that "epiphany" and realize that all rules that used to apply, don't apply here. That is where every hairdresser has the chance to come alive and see what he/she is made off. Our chance to perform and put our let our work speak for itself...and when done right, almost any person can "pull off" just about any type of haircut or any type of hair color, key word..."done right." For the most part, I like to keep someone’s color at the roots maybe 2-3 shades lighter and then “push” the highlights a few more levels than at the roots, when you do that you have a lot more room to create different looks and you have a lot more options to work with.
Meg: What is the hardest color to pull off?
Lisa: The question is not “which color is the hardest to pull off”…it’s how far a woman can bring the “antithesis” of her natural color into a realm that best works for her and best suits her lifestyle. For example, a woman who is naturally dark brown and wants to be a blonde, or as close to blonde she can get, it becomes very difficult for the colorist to make it a more cultivated color, to look natural and tasteful. With that being said; I would say, 2 of the hardest colors to wear, would be anything that is too dark for your skin and the “old saying” applies, the “Older you get” the Lighter you should keep your hair, so Dark Browns and Reds would be the most difficult to wear, especially as you age.
Meg: What celebrity’s hair, do you think always looks good?
Lisa: Jennifer Aniston, Gisele Buchen`, Resse Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Beyonce, Molly Sims, Natalie Portman, Kate Winslet & Qwyneth Paltrow & Eva Mendes…and Anne Hathaway
Meg:What products do you suggest maintaining color?
Lisa: Shu Uemura Moisture Velvet Shampoo & Conditioner, Rene Furterer “Fioravanti Spray Leave in Conditioner” , Loreal Colorist Collection Shampoo and Shu Uemura Silk Oil, apply on dry hair, it works as protector & leaves the hair feeling like silk.
Meg: What makes you love hair?
Lisa: Well, that is not an easy question!!! There are so many facets to being a Hollywood Hair Colorist, the one thing I would say about loving hair or doing hair, is for most people, hair is one of the most critical features on a person, man or women. It is something where people feel extremely vulnerable when it is not done right or they are having a “bad hair day” we’ve all had them and suffered through those days…”trying to keep our minds on something else” and it never seems to work. So, knowing that Hair, is that critical to people, it is the one thing that I know I can “make a difference” for people. I get intuned with people and make them and their hair, “My Business”. I love working on or around the 8th CHAKRA –the CROWN and Top of the Head” it is a very powerful place on the human body, so, I love and respect that part of someone’s body, so that it becomes why more about hair, it becomes an opportunity to “touch” someone in a very special way.
There is a lot of love present when working on that part of a person’s body, what is present is for me is,
Spiritual Love, Compassion, Peace, Thoughtfulness, Focus and Cosmic Love. As you can see, it is why more about something other than this thing called hair. It is living and there is a lot of life present…sometimes more than “what meets the eye”. Then there is the aspect of doing hair color itself, working up close and personal with people is “A very cool thing I get to do everyday” and make people “feel great about themselves and boost someone self-confidence” and make them “look and feel sexy!”
I get to it is like being a painter and everyday I get to create anywhere from 10-20 painting’s a day! “How awesome is that!” I am surrounded by the of most talented hairdressers in the world, the energy that flows just among my co-workers makes me love doing hair even more, the “vibe” of a salon is super critical…and the clients pick up on it real quick. They can tell if there is an “energy” that is feeding the hairdresser, they “feel” it when it’s working and they “feel” it when it’s not, the Energy in a salon is a powerful thing and should never be messed with or taken for granted. I have the opportunity to be Creative & Fully Self Expressed, I paint hair and listen to cool music all day long and all the while, love and feed off the people I work with, I feel like I have the coolest job in the whole world. I am in the service business and that is what I love to do most, serve people and make a difference. Isn’t that what we all want to do anyway?
I think you all can see why Lisa is one of the most incredible hair stylists in Hollywood. My personal experience with her and her assistants and the salon as a whole was magical. They really make you feel comfortable and her artistry speaks for itself.
If you live in California (Heck if you live in Boston) you should treat yourself to starting the summer beautifully. Book a visit with Lisa, you may not win an Oscar but you'll look like you could!
Any of you ladies ever had such a great hair salon experience that you would fly cross country if you had to recreate it?
Book An Appointment With Lisa Oliver
I didn't have a picture of Lisa-so I used one of one of her little known clients! 
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Comments
I would never have the money to do that. But I totally understand the mentality. I have such stress over my hair. I had such "traumatic" salon experiences as a child that it is very difficult to trust someone with my hair. When I find that person I never want to let them go. A year or two ago my husband and I almost moved to Illinois from Ohio for graduate school. We ended up not moving. But before we made that choice I was very panicked about who I would get to do my hair there. I was trying to figure out how I could come back to Ohio on a regular basis. I totally get this! Great tips. Thanks for the interview Meg. BTW-I love Sally H. hair products. They are wonderful!
I have that dark ash blonde (mouse-colored) hair naturally, however my skin coloring lends itself quite well to the varying shades of red I've had over the last 20+ years - my Irish roots showing. I bravely listened to a stylist when I screwed up a self-inflicted 'blonde' treatment and haven't gone back. Now as white hairs are ever populating my scalp - white, not gray ALL WHITE - like snow. I am shivering in my boots as to when I should 'age gracefullly' and wondering what I would look like? Should I buy a wig and check it out? I've heard this before, as we get older, go lighter, but when I try it - I think I look sallow or something. I don't care for it. Maybe I'm not old enough yet....???I too am in the process of a move and nervous about finding a new stylist and colorist; once you have someone you trust - I mean if someone screws you up -- it is really noticeable!!! Especially when you wear it short like I do. I've been down this road....
Lisa Oliver is awesome. I am loving her approach to hair. When have you ever heard a stylist bring up the 8th CHAKRA? I wish she would work on mine. She has such a beautiful attitude, don't you think? I checked out The Sally Hershberger Salon website and found some great video demonstrations on product use and also discovered that their products are sold at Walgreens, love that! You know Lisa is doing freakin' awesome hair when she has clients booking flights every 6 weeks to come sit in her chair. Meg, you have to post a new pic with your beautiful new red CHAKRA. You always introduce us to the most amazing people and products, thank you!
I don’t exactly have a story to relate about a stylist that I’d walk over fire ant holes to get to – or cough up the money to get on a private jet to fly me to an appointment with, however…I’d love to be able to say that I have found somebody THAT good! I am SO particular – I’d love it if I went to a stylist that I could put enough faith into to TRUST that what she/he thought would be outstanding on me would be something I'd end up loving, but any time I have given a stylist free reign on the colors especially…I have ended up going back to have them take it OUT!!!! The closest I have to anything like that was years ago…in the 80’s you might remember my story about getting a perm at the old ladies salon in my neighborhood when I wanted to look like one of Charlie’s Angels… only I came out looking like Frita the Frizzologist with my severely fried long haired version of an afro! At the time I was trying to get into modeling and one day I got a call from some agency asking if I wanted to be in a hair show and I said “Definitely!”; they were looking for people with ‘bad’ hair to transform and I was the number one candidate the day of the show for most horrible hair that needed help! Stylists paid $50.00 to come and watch this group from England called “Jingles” cut ,style, and color hair and basically transform the people up on the stage that day! My hair was SO bad and damaged that the main guy (Jingles himself?) can’t remember…anyway…he put me up on a chair and told the crowd watching about all the damage my hair represented and then he went to work and transformed my hair from hell-week-helmet-head into one hot, really fantastic, smooth, super sexy hairstyle! I felt like a million bucks when he finished! It changed my entire way that I walked down the street! I had heads turning and it was fantastic! I felt absolutely beautiful and so powerful! Having your hair look good is HUGE and it does effect how you feel! On the down side since Jingles was from England they were going back and I could never see them again! I lucked out that day though because in the audience was a stylist I had been too once or twice that I spotted and she had watched exactly what Jingles did to my hair and so for the next 5 years straight I kept that hairstyle which this stylist cut and cultivated for me because it really rocked! I always got compliments on it! The stylist is long gone and my hairstyle has evolved about a million times since then but that was probably one of my all time best and favorite hair experiences in my lifetime! If Jingles was here I'd probably save the money to go see them and trust them to make me feel and look like a million bucks! To end my narrative, here is a remake of a little poem I learned as a kid.
Yesterday upon the stair
I saw a hairstyle that wasn’t there
It wasn’t there again today
Oh I wish Lisa Oliver could come my way!
Jeanasina!http://jhasleftthebuilding.blogspot.com/
I can say that I've never had a hair stylist that I'd travel anywhere for...seems like when ever I used to go see a hair stylist they'd totally not listen to me, I have to confess that I have not set foot in a hair salon in years. I trim my ends every couple of months and honestly the biggest hair catastrophy's (sp?) I suffered were at my own hands ie bleaching my hair blond when I was in my early 30's, trying to go "red" was awful, coloring my hair black...Ugh (poor husband nearly croaked) Now that I think about it my 30's were full of hair experments! Now that I am into the 40's I am reluctant to dabble with my hair color, but...I would LOVE to have an apt. with Lisa Oliver!! Oh...I would really,really love thatThe grey hairs are beginning to show up and that makes me a little nervous. I am going to put Lisa Oliver on my "Wish-List"
Wow, Lisa, that's a lot of wonderful information to take in. The part that interests me most is your intense passion. Actually, I guess I've subconsciously "picked up" on times when my stylist wasn't really in the mood to do my hair and I wished I hadn't been in the chair. Hair is extremely powerful, and your express it beautifully. As a child, mine was always short. When it grew long and touched my shoulders, the sensuous feel stayed with me throughout the day. It's staying as long as possible until I die. Thanks much for the amazing interview!
How I wish to not be living in Wisconsin right now. I, like others, have had horrible experiences with hairstylists and find them impossible to trust. For years I hunted for someone I could trust and I finally found her. I drive almost 4 hours round trip to see her. People think I am crazy but I know that going through another awful hairstyle will require much more time than a couple of hours.Once you find a good hairstylist, don't ever let her go!Lisa sounds like a completely amazing person all around. Meg let's see a pic of that hair!!!
I have a hairstylist and salon that I shouldn't stray from. I say shouldn't because I have. To be honest, I find it a little pricey. I've never been one to want to pay too much for my hair because as a child, my mother always cut it for me and did a fabulous job. Now that I'm older and wanting more sophisticated styles, mommy's cuts don't..well, cut it. When I say that it's pricey, I mean along the lines of $30 for a cut, which I have no problem paying for, but when I want to spruce up my look a little and add some color, it ends up being around $150. I find this hard to swallow mainly because the only color I ever do is bronzy-red. Which is my natural color. It has faded as I've gotten older, and I just feel the need to brighten it back up and regain the lovely locks of my early youth. I sometimes add highlights. That's the extent of it. However, reds being very difficult to match or find the right balance in...well, I know that it's actually quite tricky to get it just right. And my salon does.I will be going back there very soon.It's called Illusions Color Spa, and they're located in St. Louis, MO. The stylist I trust to cut my hair is Lisa Bronson. You can probably look her up online, as I've found quite a bit of buzz around her. She does a fantastic job with a cut on my hair, which no one else has ever seemed to do. My hair is thick, yet with a fine-ish texture, and lays quite oddly, sometimes. She cuts it so that no matter if I'm leaving it the wavy natural or drying and ironing it straight, it looks fantastic. It's something I've never experienced with anyone else. And I have tried other salons and stylists.As for the color I receive at the salon, it wouldn't be fair to say that Lisa alone has conquered that. There's a very teamwork oriented feel, and they actually have a color specialist or senior stylist consult with your stylist to do strand tests and pick the perfect match. So not only do I receive the cut from the best stylist for me, but the color is also chosen with the highest level of expertise available at the salon. I love how they make me feel. Every client is special and important. That's a rare thing in a mid-range salon atmosphere. So, while I don't know that I would travel cross-country for the experience (mainly due to lack of funds), I would definitely remind myself that I do need to hop in my car and drive the 35 miles one-way very soon to have Lisa and her cohorts do their magic transformation into the very best summer version of me.
i could not afford it. i always had bad experiences with haircuts- now i just say, Please make it a bit shorter. I used to bring photos of what i wanted and still they could not do the job. if i found a nice hair stylist, i would stick to him/her- but so far i havent.
I don't dye my hair but if I did, I'd go to her for the job (she's probably WAY too expensive though)-Allya (http://paintedtips.blogspot.com/)
is the hype for sally hershberger and bumble and bumble hairdressers/stylists/colorists really all that?
-Miss Yaya
http://myownjudge.blogspot.com/
Wishfuleyes, thanks for the info on Illusions, I live in the Greater St Louis area and have seen their ads. Lately, I have been pondering getting a new stylist and a new look. Lisa sounds promising. Thanks
Oh do I understand the stress of finding a stylist that makes me (you) happy! After 5 years of living in NYC and infinite failed, semi-okay and happy-at-first-then-not-so-much attempts at finding a stylist (that occasionally involved me leaving the salon in tears after I pleaded Please do not blow out my hair; I prefer it to air dry. or I don't want my bangs thinned out, it makes them frizz, thank you.) I found the most amazing stylist/hairdresser ever and think I'd be pretty devistated if I lost her.Very few people can cut curly hair and do a good job at it.
I used to have an amazing hairdresser who I travelled over an hour to see. She was amazing. Unfortunately for me, she retired to have a family.
http://www.beautifullyglossy.blogspot.com
I'm thankful to have found a stylist that gives me the cut and color I ask for every time while making it work for my face and skin as well. There's nothing like having a stylist you trust.
I don't think I have ever had that great a salon experience, but I do know that weirdly, I seem to suit bright red hair. I had bright red hair for a while as a teen, and I used to get old women coming up to me and asking about my hair, I don't know why, as I am a natural blonde, so I guess that goes against the rule. Other than that though, I think nothing really suits me other than blonde.
Lily - Mineral makeup Junkie!!!
such a nice intereview. i enjoyed reading this! (:
Wow! I definetly can't travel to get a haircut...But I think bleach blonde is the hardest to pull off but it does look very nice on some ppl!
cool
i wanna know how to get that "tousled" look....
great interview =)
I totally understand about finding the right stylist whom you trust with your hair! ... I have to disagree that Nicole Kidman's hair always looks good. You never see her at an event with her natural curls. And it looked awful bleached blond.
I've known a wonderful stylist in San Francisco. I would drive to him from San Jose. I just can not do that anymore, kids are my priority.
Really good interview. I would love to have Lisa do my hair!
I once had a fabulous $10 haircut from a corner salon in my neighborhood from a woman who wasn't licensed in the state and didn't speak English but she'd been a stylist in her native country. It's probably a violation of the cosmetics board code to operate like that, but d@mn did this woman do an incredible job. I didn't even tell her what I wanted, she just sat me down and went to work. I needed a great 'do because I was unemployed and headed for a job interview the next day, and she totally delivered. I tipped her 100%, so the haircut was still a steal at $20.
unfortunately when I returned she was no longer there. I bet she got a license in the state and started charging 10x as much, I would have totally paid it!
To another country even. ;)
haha no, i have the best stylist right here where i live, yay for me!
who loves makeup? me me ME!