Hocus Pocus

Tis the season when the separation between stylish, surreal and spooky is at its thinnest and we are susceptible to strange and compulsive urges to experiment--with our hair.  We are given permission to be unabashedly creative and subversive.

Tease it, spike it, stripe it and reconstruct it. Or braid doll faces in it. This is America.

Let's be honest, disguise is the most desirable part of Halloween, excluding gobs of free candy, inexpensive lingerie and pretending it's NOT the fiftieth time you've cried after watching Hocus Pocus. 

It's a sad movie. Don't judge us.

How do you plan to incorporate your coif in your Halloween hair fantasy?

Be a Hero: Get The Job

Gentlemen,
You're on the job hunt. Your collar is starched. Your resume is crisp.

You're an American Hero.

Naturally, the employer of your dreams has requested an interview.  Being the go-getter beast you are, you want to look your best and blow their minds.

Here are a few tips to making your first tete-a-tete with your future boss remarkable.

Don't get a haircut the day of your interview. A brand new cut can make you appear over eager. Especially if it's a haircut that doesn't complement your personality. You want to look dynamite not desperate. Plan ahead.

Not too short. Not too long. Shaving your own head in lieu of getting a haircut makes you look insane. As does trying to quaff your long unruly hair into a Trump comb-over. Conservative doesn't necessarily mean boring, it means clean. The goal is to be remembered for your demeanor, not your 'do.

Less is more.  Slimy hair implies overcompensation. (Unless you are applying to be a full time cartoon villain or gelatin dessert.) An easy matte finish exudes confidence. If you have questions about how to properly use product to get the best results, consult your Cg stylist.

A professional badass is always ready for action. Plan ahead and ask your Cg stylist about the Smart and Neat service.









get cut. look good.

The Dreamtime: Inspiration

Braids are a beautiful achievement on their own, so you can imagine our glee when we discovered these hypnotizing works on paper by So Yoon Lym.

The Dreamtime series draws inspiration from aboriginal myths of creation, undulating landscapes and chronicles the journeys of both the braider and wearer.

We are particularly appreciative of the subtle movement and meditative detail of the images.

Here are a few of our favorites:

 

You can check out more of So Yoon Lym's work here.

What's inspiring you this week?

get cut. look good.
Cg

Chelsea Girls: Subversion Style

In the wake of the Met Gala, the New Yorker's recent (embarrassing) "How Punk Are You" quiz and the prevalence of post-apocalyptic imagery, we can confidently say that in style conversation Punk is having a Moment.

Great minds are debating the historical and cultural implications of the political and artistic revolution, and critics and participants alike deliberate whether the sub culture has come full circle or faces extinction.

The Cutting Group conclusion: we appreciate creativity, past and present. Dead or not, it looks AWESOME.

The 'punk discussion' inspired us to revisit one of the most iconic and controversial counter-culture cuts: The Chelsea.

There are several variations on this style, but is most easily defined by one area of the scalp (either the crown or the nape) being cut close while the remaining pieces around the ears or base of the neck are left long.

Bangs often survive this procedure.

The cut made its debut with mods in the English underground during the 1960's. Due to economic shifts, an insurgence of disposable income for youths lead to the rabid consumption of  music and American fashions. THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

The style was later adopted by punks in the early 1970's and reinterpreted during the hardcore revival of the 80's. The Chelsea has chameleoned throughout the decades and because of its incredible texture and enticing rebellious implications, reincarnations of the cut still surface in the fashion sphere today.

Still subversive. Still striking. Still making a statement.

From hooligan street gangs to the pages of Vogue, the Chelsea is a survivor.

Do you have a favorite punk inspired cut?

get cut. look good.
Cg

Evil Genius: The Next Wave

Carly Rae Jepsen Scratch-and-sniff-stickers...

Money flavored ice cream...

“Free Pony” day at City Hall...

Just when you suspected there could be nothing better, the evil geniuses at Bumble and bumble hit us with a new duet of brand spankin' new summer products.

For summer lovers seeking sexy wind-blown tresses this latest arrival is a must have.

The Surf Foam Wash Shampoo offers a gentle cleanse with sea botanicals for breezy texture, while the Surf Crème Rinse conditioner hydrates to give your mermaid mane extra body for easy styling.

And as always, the light scent is Perfection.

Maximize your beach bum super powers by pairing this duo with Surf Spray for extra grit.

It's a good thing.

Get your glamor hands on a Surf set at Cutting Group.

get cut. look good.

Full Frontal Bang Fest

It was recently scientifically proven that Zooey Daschanel is totally unrecognizable without her bangs.   In the wake of this distressing event, we have been left to ponder: To bang or not to bang?

Have you considered taking the plunge and flaunting statement fringe? Here are a few of our favorites:

Practice safe bangs: put down the scissors and visit your stylist.

Do you have a favorite bang?

get cut. look good.

cg

Inspiration: The Power Mane

The CG goes in depth with Milwaukee rocker, Maxwell Emmet (guitar shredder of Revolush and Tigernite) to reveal the secrets of his stand out style and sage advice for achieving a righteous power mane.

 How long have you and your hair known each other?

Pretty much all of my life. There's that awkward middle period when  you don't talk to each other but after that, it's been a pretty solid brothership.



 What's the best part about having long hair?

Girls love to ask me about it and touch it—tell me they're jealous of my curls. It requires no talent on my part. Random people talking to you and touching you...and of course head banging ability.

Does having awesome hair make you a better guitar player?

Absolutely. I think the correlation between hair length and ability to rock has been proven throughout rock history.

Is it possible that your hair has any super powers?

I haven't noticed any yet. However, I think we'd have to cut it to find out. It's possible-- If I cut it, I'd fear spiraling into depression...

Do you have any words of wisdom for other power mane seekers on their journey?

For the fellas I'd say, getting past that awkward medium length where you have doubts and cut it off, you'll never reaching your full mane potential.

The moral of the story is to never give up?

Never give up.


That's beautiful.


Pro Tip: Investing in a good conditioner and pony-holders, as well as the Will to Succeed are essential to cultivating a worthy power mane.  
 

get cut. look good.
CG

No Party Like a Gatsby Party

Baz Luhrman's sparkling adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's decadent and foreboding novel, The Great Gatsby has been making waves with designers as well as stylists.  Clean and crisp is in this summer!

Carey Mulligan as Daisy is pixie perfect in an elegantly accessorized bob.

Historically, the Bob was shock-rocking. It signified a new expressive wave of freedom and made a statement about the women who boldly wore it. The cut made its mass media debut in 1920 via the Saturday Evening Post with its infamous article, “Bernice Bobs Her Hair”.

Madness (and hotness) ensued.

DiCaprio as Gatsby sporting a smooth close cut with just enough length to keep it romantic.

In the new decade, gentlemen departed from slicked back single length cuts and transitioned into dramatic parts, Marcel waves and sexy smooth fades.

Pair it with a glass of champagne?
Perfection.

Are you feeling inspired to flaunt a crop? 
 Check out our Smart and Neat service.

get cut. look good.

M.R.

Cutting Costs NOT Quality at the Cutting Group!!

 At the Cutting Group our stylists receive training from one of Milwaukee's own top stylists, Bjorn Nasett each and every Monday at our Downtown Cutting Group location at 773 North Jefferson Street.  He coaches our talented staff in the fine art of consultation as well as the precise execution of their  haircuts.

If you'd like to be a model for one of our staff members and receive a FREE haircut on a Monday in the future, please give the salon a call at 414.224.1593 and ask to be put on the model list.  One of our stylists will call you to set up a time to come in.  If you'd just like to stop by, walk in, and  have Mr. Nasett oversee your consultation and cut from one of our staff for just $22, come in any Monday between 12-4. I guarantee you'll learn more about your hair and haircut than you ever imagined!  All Cutting Group Salons are Bumble and Bumble exclusive, so you know that your signature cut will get just the right product recommended.  Our stylists will show you how to use it to keep you looking and feeling great about yourself.  All photos in this blog were taken on Monday, June 27, 2011.