Nadine Kam photos
Aubrey Hawk with J Salon co-owners Joe Randazzo, center, and Gary Casupang, at the opening of the salon's new location at Ward Plaza, 210 Ward Ave., which also houses Bank of Hawaii.

J Salon co-owners Joe Randazzo and Gary Casupang celebrated the relocation of the salon from the IBM Building to Ward Plaza with a grand opening party April 21.

At 3,800 square feet, the gleaming new space is 60 percent larger than the previous space, which is being used as an information center for the Howard Hughes Corp.'s Kakaako redevelopment project.

In addition to a color bar—which that night was transformed into a cocktail bar—the salon now has a spacious patio where clients can sit and relax before or after appointments, or while waiting for hair to dry.

It speaks volumes that clients have followed J Salon through moves from Chinatown, where the salon opened on Nuuanu Avenue in 2003, to the IBM Building in 2008, and now, to Ward Plaza. That's every five years. You have to wonder where the next leap might be in in 2018 ...

One of Joe's sisters, Martha Randazzo Rioux, in town for the event, left, and Joanne Roa.

From left, Dennis Guillermo, Anjie Jacobs and Jeffrey Gaspar.

Son Caribe performed on the outside deck while guests danced to the band's Latin rhythms.

Guests posed for pictures.

Top row, from left, Queny Rios, Michiko Shimizu and Jovan Artiko. Seated from left, Joshua Manion, Dylan Linkner and Keli'i Bukoski.

Dylan Linkner and Ashley Kirk.

Adam Borchardt and Carmen Cruz.

Joe samples one of the cocktails.

Nadine Kam photos
Avant garde hair styles from W Salon, and clothing from bebe on the pink carpet at Ala Moana Center's Shop A Le'a.

W Salon presented its Spring/Summer “Underground Collection” on March 20 as part of Ala Moana Center's weeklong Shop A Le'a event.

Models wore Uptown, Downtown and Avant Garde 'dos as they walked the pink carpet traversing the entire second-floor mall level, starting at the Macy's end, heading toward Sears and returning full circle to end before a gathering of photographers—pro and amateur—in front of Macy's.

Downtown looks were about rock 'n' roll and punky disconnected layers and splashes of bright color. Uptown looks included flowing, textured waves, some recalling film sirens of the 1940s and early '50s, and others anticipating demand for Gatsby-style finger waves once the film version of "The Great Gatsby" hits the big screen next month. And few Hawaii salons are doing avant garde style sculpting with as much dramatic impact as W Salon.

All the coiffures were designed and created by W Salon artistic director Thi Nguyen with support from his team who helped create the plaits, ropes and hair flowers that went into the avant garde designs, some of which took two to four hours to execute. Some models' hair was also dyed to match the created pieces, and even they didn't know where their real hair ended and the sculpted pieces began.

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The salon is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays. Call 943-.2700.

W Salon's models ended the show in front of photographers on the pink carpet.

W Salon avant garde styles on Angela Byrd, left, and Courtney Coleman, including hair flowers and geometric shapes.

Back at W Salon after the show, artistic director Thi Nguyen shows some of the ropes of hair that had gone into some of his looks.

Hair flowers.

Kama Mathis in Uptown waves.

Molly in difficult-to-achieve silver with pink and a disconnected Downtown cut.

Jamie Leigh Payne in Daisy Gatsby-style finger waves.

Carlinah Heaton in one of W Salon's Spring/Summer 2013 Downtown looks.

Bori Stoitcheva in another Downtown look, with dramatic, toussled waves.

Kahala Mall will be starting the spring season by giving away special keys that will unlock exclusive prizes and offers throughout the mall during the “Unlock Your Style” event beginning at noon Saturday.

The keys will be distributed to the first 250 fashionistas arriving at Center Court beginning at noon. Keyholders will be able to unlock deals, gain access to a VIP lounge, and have the chance to win more than 30 prizes at a giveaway event at 3 p.m. at Center Court.

The tech savvy can also win prizes before the event officially starts by participating in the Instagram contest #UnlockStyle. Take a photo of anything you consider Spring Style, use the hashtag #UnlockStyle and tag photos of your favorite Kahala mall purchase, your outfit, accessory, color trend ... anything on trend this spring. The more photos you tag, the better your chances are of winning. Kahala Mall will announce the winners on March 7 via Instagram.

It's a continuing joke that I can't remember my Instagram password (for those who have tried to be my friend on Foursquare, I'm not being snobby but I can't remember that password either). Looks like I'd better figure it all out fast!

On that day, the public is also welcome to attend 20-minute Trend Sessions at Center Court between 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., during which fashion professionals from M.A.C., Honolulu magazine, Marsha Nadalin Salon and Spa, and local stylist Tyson Joines and others will share the latest in hair and makeup, and ways to incorporate the season’s trends into one’s wardrobe. Audience members will be able to win prizes and consult with stylists for individualized wardrobe tips.
While there, enter to win a roundtrip for two to the West Coast on Hawaiian Airlines. In addition, those who spend $75 or more at any store, restaurant or theater at Kahala Mall will receive quadruple HawaiianMiles, four miles for every dollar spent that day.

Visit www.KahalaMallCenter.com for more information.

SoCozy.com photo

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, you can dress up your little one and show the world how you feel about love with this heart braid design by children's hair expert Cozy Friedman, as featured in "Cozy’s Complete Guide to Girls' Hair."

What you’ll need: Wide-tooth comb, fine-tooth comb, decorative hair clip, ponytail holders

1: Starting with damp hair (either towel-dried or misted), use a wide-tooth comb to detangle. Then, using a fine-tooth comb, part the hair down the middle of the head. Clip one side up right above the ear.

2: On the other side of the part, use the fine comb to gather a thin section of hair from the crown.  This section should measure about 2 inches from the hairline to the top of the head.

3: Divide this section into three, and begin a French braid starting at the crown and curving toward the temple, then toward the back of the head, like the top lobe of a heart.  You will be lifting hair into the braid only from this side of the part. Leave no loose hair in front of the ears.

4: When you reach the center part at the back of the head, secure the braid with a ponytail holder.  If hair is very long, end the braid about mid-ear; the ends will hang down the back.

5: Unclip the hair on the other side of the part and repeat the process.  Secure with a ponytail holder.

6: Join the ends of the braids together in the center of head and secure with ponytail holder. Finish with a decorative clip.

There's a lot of braiding being shown on the New York runways for adults as well. Here are images from the Rodarte show:

John Frieda photos

Added Feb. 13:

From the Badgley Mischka Fall/Winter 2013 Collection preview:
Hair by Peter Gray for Moroccanoil

Photos by David Webber for Moroccanoil

Nadine Kam photos
Renee Nobriga in pearls by Kensei.

It's always a treat to see one of Kensei's rare jewelry fashion shows and though I planned to be in town for his Oct. 28 "Art of Jewelry" event, I had a plane reservation to Washington, D.C. at 4 p.m. the day of the show. On making my plans, I thought that would be enough time, but of course it's not because we're told to be at the airport two hours ahead of our flights.

Then, Hurricane Sandy hit and my flight was cancelled, along with vacation plans in D.C., and New York. So I was able to catch the entire show instead of leaving early.

Kensei staged a theatrical show in three segments, with artful styling from head to toe. Given his Chez Kensei renown as a hair stylist, models' hair was designed to work with specific jewels, head pieces and hats.

You hear about musical virtuosos, able to play every instrument on their recordings, and it's like that with Kensei, whose expertise extends from hair to clothes styling and jewelry design.

Given the multiple layers of clothing, jewelry and accessories, every piece was carefully laid out back stage. I was there before the show started, and was admiring some of the pieces, being careful not to disturb the arrangement.

Considering the amount of work it took to dress models between segments, vocalist Yvonne Iversen was tapped to keep the audience entertained.

The event was a benefit for the American Heart Association, and Kensei and show producer Dale Young presented a $5,000 check to the association at the end of the program.

Non-flash video link

Lesli Yano, Director, Special Events for the American Heart Association, back stage before the fashion show with the garments that were to be shown with Kensei's jewelry creations, below.

Hair by Kensei.

Pono Fernandez in a Southwest-style ensemble.

Karen Vance in an ensemble inspired by "Madama Butterfly."

Courtney Coleman in black fringe.

I love the layered brooches.

The American Heart Association was the event's beneficiary.

Kensei, left, with Leilani Keough, show producer Dale Young, and the afternoon's emcee Cathy Lee.

Kensei with the winners of drawings for two of his jewelry creations.