Every October, pink ribbons seem to appear everywhere. But for so many of us, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is much more personal than a color or a campaign.

Over the years at Muse, we’ve had the privilege of knowing and caring for women who have faced breast cancer themselves, supported someone they love through it, or carried the weight of a family history that makes this month hit a little closer to home.

Our salon is a place for hair, but it’s also a place where life happens. We celebrate engagements, new babies, birthdays and fresh starts in our chairs. We hear about the hard things, too. That’s why this month, we wanted to use our little corner of the world for a reminder that really matters: know your normal, know your risk, and don’t put off taking care of yourself.

Know What’s Normal for You

There isn’t one “normal” when it comes to breasts. What matters is becoming familiar with how yours typically look and feel so you’re more likely to notice when something changes.

A new lump is probably the symptom most people associate with breast cancer, but it isn’t the only change worth paying attention to. Changes in breast size or shape, swelling, skin dimpling or irritation, nipple changes or discharge, and persistent breast or nipple pain can all be reasons to talk with your healthcare provider.

We all love fresh hair—but we also know that not everyone wants to be back in the salon every six weeks. The good news? Your color can be designed around your real life.

A low-maintenance color isn’t necessarily less dimensional, less bright, or less beautiful. It’s about creating a look that grows out intentionally, fades gracefully, and gives you a little more freedom between reservations.

Depending on your starting point, your goals, and the look you choose, a thoughtfully planned color can take you anywhere from around 10 to 14 weeks between larger color appointments.

It Starts at the Root

One of the biggest factors in how long your color feels fresh is where the brightness begins.

Instead of taking every highlight or blonde piece all the way to the scalp, a more lived-in placement leaves intentional depth at the root and blends the lighter pieces into your natural color. Techniques like balayage, dimensional highlighting, root melts, and strategic face framing can create plenty of brightness without leaving you with a harsh line as your hair grows.

The goal isn’t to make your roots disappear—it’s to make them part of the finished look.

That softer transition means your color can grow for weeks without suddenly feeling like it needs to be “fixed.”

If you’ve ever looked in the mirror after using box dye and thought, “What have I done?”—you’re definitely not alone.

Whether you were covering grays, trying to save money, or just wanted a change on a Friday night, it happens. The good news? You’re not stuck with it forever. The even better news? With patience, the right products, and realistic expectations, we can create a plan to get your hair where you want it to be.

First Things First: TELL US EVERYTHING

One of the biggest misconceptions is that your stylist is judging you for using box dye.

WE ARE NOT.

In fact, the more honest you are about your hair history, the better we can protect your hair and create a plan that’s realistic for your goals.

It helps us know things like:

• How many times you’ve colored it
• What shades you’ve used (even if you don’t remember exactly)
• If you’ve ever used black, red, fashion color, or henna
• Whether you’ve layered different colors over time
• If you’ve had previous salon color or lightening services

There are no gold stars for pretending it’s “just old salon color.” We simply want the full picture so we can make the safest decisions for your hair.

At Muse Salon, we believe that caring for people doesn't stop when they leave our chairs. It's something we carry into our community, and that's why Make-A-Wish Alabama has become a cause so close to our hearts.

For many years, Muse Salon owner Micah Lipscomb and educator Jana Thomas have proudly participated in the Make-A-Wish Alabama Trailblaze Challenge. What began as a fundraising event quickly became a tradition that reminds us each year just how powerful a community can be when it comes together for a purpose.

This year was especially meaningful as we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Alabama Trailblaze Challenge. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our guests, friends, family, and the entire Muse community, we raised more than $20,000—enough to help grant the wishes of two Alabama children who are currently waiting for their wishes to come true.

That accomplishment belongs to every person who donated, shared our fundraiser, encouraged us during training, or simply believed in what we were doing. Thank you for making those wishes possible.

This year's Trailblaze Challenge took us to the breathtaking Colorado Trail. The scenery was absolutely incredible, but the journey itself was long, hot, and physically demanding. Every mile tested our endurance.

We all love a little extra time in the sun. Beach days, pool days, slow afternoons outside. But while your skin might be getting all the attention, your hair is going through it too.

Sun exposure doesn’t just lighten your hair. It slowly changes its texture, strength, and overall health.

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What’s actually happening to your hair?

UV rays break down the outer layer of your hair, also known as the cuticle. This is what keeps your hair smooth, shiny, and protected.

Over time, this can lead to: Dryness and roughness, increased friz, loss of shine, breakage and weakened strands and hair feeling harder to manage or style. Add in saltwater or chlorine, and everything can feel even more dehydrated.

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What about hair color?

If your hair is color-treated, the sun does more than dry it out. It actually breaks down the pigment inside the hair.

That’s why you might notice: Blondes turning warmer or brassy, Brunettes fading lighter or slightly red, Reds losing vibrancy the fastest, Glosses fading sooner than expected

It’s not just fading. It’s uneven, dull fading that takes away that fresh from the salon look.

If your hair tends to feel frizzy, puffy, hard to style, or like it has a mind of its own the second Alabama humidity hits, a smoothing treatment may be exactly what you need. Two of the most popular options are a Brazilian Blowout and KC Max, but they are not the same service and they do not give the same result.

The biggest difference comes down to this:

A Brazilian Blowout is best for someone who wants smoother, softer, more manageable hair while still keeping some natural movement or wave.

KC Max is best for someone who wants a more dramatic reduction in curl and volume.

A Brazilian Blowout is More About Frizz Control

A Brazilian Blowout smooths the cuticle, reduces frizz, adds shine, and cuts down on styling time without completely taking away your natural texture. If you have wavy hair and still want your waves to exist, just softer and more controlled, this is usually the better fit.

A lot of clients love Brazilian Blowouts because they still want their hair to feel like their hair, just easier. Your blowouts take less time, your hair dries faster, and humidity becomes way less of a problem.

This treatment is great for:

We love what we do — and we love the people who sit in our chairs even more.

Every appointment is a collaboration. A conversation. A reset. And while there’s no “perfect” way to show up to the salon, there are a few simple things that can make your experience smoother and your results even better.

Think of this as the inside scoop from behind the chair.

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Skip the Hoodie (We Promise It Helps)

We support cozy. Always.

But thick hoodies, high collars, and bulky layers can make it surprisingly difficult to execute a precise haircut — especially around the neckline and perimeter.

When we’re shaping your hair, we’re looking at balance, movement, and how it naturally falls against your shoulders and collarbone. If fabric is bunching underneath the cape, it can subtly alter that shape.

A lightweight tee, tank, or simple crewneck helps us see the full picture — and give you the cleanest finish possible.

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Bring Inspiration — Even If It’s “Imperfect”

You never have to apologize for bringing photos. In fact, we prefer it.

Hair language can be vague. “Natural but bright.” “Dimensional but low-maintenance.” “Lived-in but polished.” These mean different things to different people.

February doesn’t have to be about big gestures or over-the-top romance. Sometimes, the most meaningful kind of care looks quieter—choosing consistency, honoring your routines, and investing in the things that help you feel grounded and confident. This month, we’re reframing self-care as intention and maintenance—especially when it comes to your hair.

Self-Care Isn’t Extra—It’s Upkeep

When life gets busy, hair care is often the first thing to slide. Stretching appointments, skipping trims, or putting off treatments can feel harmless in the moment—but over time, it adds up. Healthy hair isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing what actually supports your goals.

If you’re growing your hair out, maintenance matters even more. Regular trims help prevent breakage from traveling up the hair shaft, meaning you retain more length in the long run. Instead of thinking of trims as “cutting your progress,” think of them as protecting it.

Repair Starts at Home

Daily care plays a huge role in how your hair feels between appointments, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. When it comes to repair, having the basics dialed in matters more than having everything. A strong foundation—repair-focused shampoo and conditioner like Absolute Repair, paired with a weekly mask—goes a long way in strengthening compromised hair and restoring softness.

Gloss vs. Treatment: What’s the Difference (and Why Your Hair Needs Both)

If you’ve ever been offered a gloss or a treatment at the salon and wondered if they’re basically the same thing, you’re not alone. While both services can make your hair look and feel better, they serve very different purposes. Understanding the difference helps you care for your hair in a way that supports long-term hair health — not just how it looks when you leave the salon.

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What Is a Hair Gloss?

A hair gloss is primarily a cosmetic service. It works on the outside of the hair, smoothing the cuticle and enhancing shine and tone. Glosses are commonly used to refresh color between appointments, boost vibrancy, neutralize unwanted tones, and give hair a polished, glossy finish.

Glosses are quick, effective, and instantly noticeable — but they’re temporary.

What glosses do well:

• Enhance shine

• Refresh or adjust tone

• Smooth the hair’s surface

• Make color look more vibrant

What glosses don’t do:

• Repair damage

• Strengthen the hair

The Muse-Approved Gifts We’re Loving This Season

The holidays are officially here, and Muse is fully in our gifting era. Whether you’re shopping for your child’s favorite teacher, hunting down a bestie-approved present, or treating yourself (always encouraged ), we’ve pulled together our go-to picks for every name on your list.

Come shop and feel festive with us — these gifts never last long!

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Stocking Stuffers

Small treats that spark big joy. Perfect for stockings, Secret Santa swaps, or when you just need a tiny “you deserve this” moment.

• Mini holiday box sets — cute, travel-ready, and totally giftable

• Styler faves from Color Wow, L’Oréal Professionnel, Matrix + Olaplex

• Hair accessories in every vibe (clips, scrunchies, headbands, you name it)

• Bag charms — the easiest way to dress up any tote or backpack

• Wet Brushes + Unbrush — the detanglers everyone loves

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Thoughtful Teacher Gifts

Skip the mugs — we promise they already have 40. Give them something they’ll actually use and love:

• Boutique earrings + bracelets

• Bag charms to brighten up the teacher bag

Healthy, resilient hair starts with the right kind of repair. With so many “strengthening” or “restorative” shampoos on the market, it can be hard to know which formulas truly rebuild your hair from within and which simply reinforce it on the surface. At Muse Salon, we believe that understanding what your hair needs — and how different repair systems work — is the key to keeping it strong, shiny, and touchably soft.

The Power of Bond Builders

Bond-building shampoos are designed to restore the inner structure of your hair — the actual bonds that hold each strand together. Over time, chemical services, heat styling, and environmental stress can weaken these internal connections, leading to dullness, breakage, and loss of elasticity. Bond builders work at a molecular level to rebuild those internal links, leaving your hair stronger and more flexible from the inside out.

Some of our favorite examples include L’Oréal Absolut Repair Molecular and Olaplex No. 4, which rebuild internal bonds at the molecular level. L’Oréal’s Metal Detox line is another excellent option — it helps neutralize metals that weaken hair bonds, protecting your color and keeping the internal structure strong.