Hair It Is!

The Betsy Parillo Wedding

2011-10-13T13:53:00.005-04:00

This July I had the honor of doing Betsey's Brooklyn wedding!

Can you say Gorgeous?!?

photos by Jason Durnin

Hair by HeadChop

Style Me Pretty write up!

2011-10-13T13:13:00.005-04:00

Have a look at the write up on Stylemepretty.com.

Hair styling done by Martha Ellen,

owner/stylist of HeadChop in Williamsburg.

Location Location Location!

2011-03-28T12:27:00.005-04:00

That's Right, it's official! HeadChop is open for business!

With HeadHoods and my hair expertise combined,

we have prepared a parlor style studio in the heart of Williamsburg.

We'll be working hard to keep everyone looking their best

From hairs to wears!

Located at 86 Berry Street, basement.

I'll be taking appointments

Monday-Thursday 11am-6pm

Friday-Saturday 10:30am-7:30pm

Sunday's Closed

Call or email to make your appointment!

MarthaEllenVanGemert@gmail.com

917-524-8641

HeadChop.com

Setting up shop in South Carolina!

2010-08-09T16:29:00.005-04:00

My man friend and I will be taking a trip down to South Carolina to set

up shop from August 27th -30th.

Screen printing, haircuts, and hoods oh my!!

135 East Poinsett Street, Greer SC

You put the ART in Barter!

2010-07-20T09:49:00.010-04:00

The other day I dropped by my friend Chelsea Pettyjohn's place to pick up some art work. I've been following chelsea's blog for a while now because I really admire her work. You will see why if you check her work out. Chelsea and I trade art for hair. Here's what I picked up!

Also, my friend Ben stopped by Headhoods to see me the other afternoon for a haircut. Ben runs a small brooklyn based brand, BKNY. Ben bartered one of his latest shirts, and if you take the time to check out his stuff you'll see why I love his work. Check out some of these shots taken at Headhoods!

Barter Barter Barter!

2010-07-19T20:09:00.005-04:00

I've been trading my trade here and there, where ever I can, and if there is one thing I could suggest to anyone it would be to barter. We are in a city full of skills, and right now who wouldn't rather trade than pay?

I would love to introduce my new friend Kenzie Pause who is a fantastic yoga instructor. We met when clinton and I attended a yoga class 2 blocks away from my apartment at BedStuy Yoga. Kenzie is a wonderful instructor and also the creator of All you need is love yoga which is yoga to the Beatles music. Beatles yoga is a 75 minute class that takes you on a physical, mental, and somtimes even emotional journey through energizing asanas (poses) to revitalizing pranayama (breathing exercises) to a soothing yoga nidra (deep relaxation) complete with the music of one of the greatest bands ever. Needless to say I was talking to kenzie about her beautiful curly hair before the class even began, and we worked out a system of bartering. Hair for yoga!

Knot tie in July!!

2010-07-19T19:36:00.004-04:00

I was contacted early June by the lovely Nancy Kim about her wedding in July. The wedding was held in Central Park on a beautiful Saturday morning. Once again I tag teamed with make-up artist, Rebecca Casciano. When all was said and done Nancy looked beautiful. She chose a Gorgeous curly style and 2 Orchids!

Hair for the grand opening of Lali Lali Salon!

2010-05-26T12:06:00.020-04:00

Thursday May 20th was the grand opening event for Soho's newest salon, Lali Lali, and it was an absolute hit! Over 400 guests joined us in celebrating. The fashion show featured the spring/summer 2010 collection of LF Boutiques and hair by myself and three other fantastic hair stylists. Beautiful hor d'oeuvres were served to our excited crowed by Cipriani Downtown, and live broadcasting of the event was streamed onto NYCLiveRock.com as photographers, magazine representatives, and bloggers of New York filed in around the runways to see the show.

Take a look HERE to see the last walk of the show!

wedding bells

2010-04-02T22:59:00.013-04:00

This new year has come baring many new and exciting opportunities! Having a little more control over my schedule now has allowed me to expand my horizon, and by that I mean more weddings!!

At the beginning of January my information was passed to Julia Rabinovich, who was looking for someone to do hair for her wedding. After meeting with Julia for a wedding trial and coming up with the perfect look for her special day, I was informed of her need for a make-up artist and knew just who to call on, my dear friend Rebecca Casiano. Rebecca is a freelance make-up artist in New York that I came into contact with in the beginning of my days in the city when I was attending the Make-up Designory. She was my instructor in the Fashion Make-up Artistry program I attended in August 2007. Sense my departure from MUD Rebecca has called on me to do hair along side her a few times when she came across a job in need of a hair stylist. I was more than happy to be able to return the favor and ask her to join me for the wedding. Rebecca's handy work can be viewed at rebeccacasciano.com, and I highly recommend you take a look!

Make-up wasn't the only department I had a close friend in at this wedding though. My dear friend Jessy Wolvek of Fleurs was the floral designer! Jessy was actually the one who passed my information along to join the team. Her work has been featured in most all the top magazines including Weddings New York, The Knot, The Bride and Bloom, Time Out New York, Brides New York, Brides Chicago, and The New York Times.

It is Jessy I must thank for connecting me to this wedding, and also for the opportunity to work with photographer Karen Wise, named one of the top 10 wedding photographers in the world! By visiting Karenwise.com you can view the work of the amazing photo artist I had the pleasure of working beside.

Overall this was a great experience for me from the pleasant family to the amazing staff behind the scenes, and now i'm excited to share with you just a small glimpse of this beautiful January wedding!

Show and tell!

2010-04-02T12:28:00.012-04:00

A dear client of mine from my deva days, the lovely Riva Greenberg, payed me a visit in need of a shape up on her curls recently. Riva is always such a joy to cut not only because she has amazing hair but because she has a beautiful story.

Having been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 18 and learning to live with it, she has now made it her job to help others who live with diabetes.

She is blogger for The Huffington Post and author of “50 Diabetes Myths That Can Ruin Your Life and the 50 Diabetes Truths That Can Save It” and “The ABCs of Loving Yourself with Diabetes”. After her hair cut with me she attended a conference where photos were taken that she offered to send my way, and now i'm sharing one with you!

Receiving Riva's photograph isn't the only thing I have to be excited about though, I also have a new logo i'm quite thrilled about thanks to my good friend Clinton Van Gemert! Clint is the founder, designer, and printer of Head Hoods and on top of making an awesome clothing line, creating amazing music on his upright bass, and pumping out art pieces to gallery shows in London, he took the time to put his skills to work and design my fetching new logo! My cards aren't the only thing in Brooklyn Clint has been able to spice up though! His art work has been sprinkled here there and everywhere in Brooklyn, you just have to keep an eye out for it. Take some time to read Clint's blog, and you'll see that a gallery isn't the only way to get a message to the people.

Making it

2010-03-05T13:56:00.005-05:00

So let's be honest. Why are we here in New York? Of all places to be why choose this place? We all know the answer. How we came about making the decision to come here varies, yes, but the reason is the same. Agenda, every one of us has one. For some of us it's self provoked or work related. For others it's for love, business, for family, or by chance. The longer I stay here, the more interested I become in our way of life. For everyone it's different. For some they're way is paved from the moment they get here with a set career, and they know they can make money and thrive in this place where dreams come true. For others it's a hustle. They have no idea how long they will make it here and come ready to push themselves to the utmost in order to get where they want to be. Some people come here with what they think is a fool proof plan, An idea that will knock everyones socks off, only to be here a year before it tanks. Others come here and make it by working for the man until one day their side project blows up, and they can quit the day job and do what truly makes them happy.

In the two years I have been here i've had the pleasure of meeting bankers, stock brokers, painters, floral designers, jewelry makers, silk screeners, photographers, clothing designers, make-up artist, directors, producers, baristas, bartenders, hairstylist, musicians, yoga instructors, graphic designers, writers, DJs, product distributors, entrepreneurs, caterers, au pairs, teachers, students, models, actors, doctors, social workers, dancers, art advisors, construction workers, printers, I could go on for ages. Everyone of them has a story of why they are here, what they have planed, and what they have gone through to do what they are doing. Almost all the people I meet here, I meet them through what I came here to do. Cut hair. I have met and created friendships with so many interesting people through hairstyle. They sit in my chair, and we share what we know. I cut their hair, and they pour out the stories of their life. Every day I cut hair is an opportunity to share with and learn about someone new.

If you know me or have read my blog posts thus far you'll know that I, like everyone else here, am on a journey. Right now my plate is slowly filling, and my main focuses are in my work upstate at THE aRT OF HAIR INC, doing hair for clients through my apartment (in brooklyn) and house calls in the city, weddings, and pulling together a team for the salon I will soon be a part of opening in soho. In between all this madness I have become aware that I have an ability to connect people. I am networking constantly with what I do. Everywhere I go I meet and exchange information with people of all kinds. On many accounts I have been able to connect people I know with each other in order to get things done. The brides who's hair i'm going to do will need a make-up artists too. I know plenty of make-up artist starving for jobs. The student I just met wants to open a catering business but doesn't know how. Funny, my client who runs a catering business needs an intern. We are all connected and connecting. It feels good to bring people together or help someone that needs a job. Most of the people I know are freelancers. They live off of the jobs they get from day to day, doing what they have come to know as what they do best. I like passing jobs to these people because they deserve it, and they work hard for it. I want to continue to try and connect people to help them get where they want to go or be what they want to be. I can only do so much right now but for the time being I will start by posting information on my blog about the interesting clients I come in contact with from day to day. If they do something I think is interesting or that others can benefit from, with their consent, I'll post their information here on my blog for you to read about. Maybe you'll come across something interesting to you or find something you've been looking for. I want to bring people together. We need to work together. This is New York and it's not easy, but we are doing it.

We are making it.

This is the start of something good!

2010-02-12T16:38:00.008-05:00

So here I sit in a quaint little coffee shop in Brooklyn, Phoebe's Cafe at 323 Graham Avenue. Great vegetarian food and wonderful coffee! I'm here working on a few projects. Some involving my work Upstate at The art of hair salon, and others involving a new salon that is soon to be opening in Soho! Now I can't spill all the beans, but I will say this is the start of something big, and I'm so excited to be a part of it. This salon should be opening it's doors shortly after April. We will be opening the doors on the verge of launching a new product line and new techniques for all hair types! There is a great group of stylists in the works and we hope that everyone is going to be just as excited as we are about this new salon. I will continue to post new updates on this great adventure so continue to check back.
If you would like to be contacted closer to the opening date for appointment information, salon location, and special promotions, shoot me an Email with your contact info!
(Marthaellenmabry@gmail.com)

Aside from all this excitement I am proud to say that I finally have a chair in my apartment in Brooklyn to service my New York beauties that have contacted me sense my departure from the salon in Soho. If you have any questions about location, prices, and would like the make an appointment with me please email me. I have set up an online calendar where my availability can be viewed when you have interest in making an appointment with me to make things a little easier for everyone.

calendar

Until next time, happy hair days!

So this is the New Year?!

2010-02-02T23:53:00.001-05:00

Welcome to a new year! Welcome to new experiences and people, new places and knowledge. I can't be more excited than I already am for this new adventure. 2010 has started off with a bang I must say, and in my opinion I wouldn't have it any other way.

My name is Martha Ellen and I have just set out on a new path in my life! If you are aquatinted with me, this path I have taken is most likely the reason you find yourself reading my blog. If otherwise you have probably heard bits and pieces of the story which I am here to unfold. So these are the facts. I moved to New York in 2007 from South Carolina where I was born and raised. My reason for this move was a school called MAKE-UP DESIGNORY (MUD) located in SoHo on West Broadway, which I was to attend for six months and return home. My passion has always been hair and at MUD I was going to expand my knowledge. Little did I know my six month stay would turn from months to years and my life would change forever. While attending MUD I learned the trade of freelance hair and make-up, and shortly after my classes ended I was busy as a bee!

January of 2008 I began working at Devachan salon as an assistant with hopes that I was on my way to becoming a hairstylist at the most prestiges curly hair salon in the city. Sure enough I worked hard, received my chair, and embarked on my career. Along the way I met the most amazing people and had the pleasure of meeting many colleagues and clients that are very dear to my heart. For this, my choice to leave Devachan was not an easy one. While approaching the new year of 2010 a door was creeping open and on the other side was an opportunity that could not be turned down. So I took it.

My new hairstyling home, Thursday through Sunday, is with a salon called The art of Hair, located at 221 Main street in Cornwall NY. All other days I am available in Brooklyn.
It has been such an honor to be contacted by my lovely clients who are curious as to where I have run off to, and I'm excited to say that 2010 is a whole new story with a brand new look, and I can't wait to help you with yours!!

I can be contacted by email or by phone if your interested in making an appointment with me and I will soon be posting a calendar of my availability! So let's do some hair!!

MarthaEllenMabry@gmail.com
864.415.8192