Major Huge Time Life Update

Ya’ll I got hitched!

Here’s a few of my favorites from our wedding shoot with Starla Dawn . They turned out dreamier than I could imagine. This was also our last San Diego hurrah before we moved to North Carolina. We couldn’t think of a better way to leave our home town than by celebrating our love and capturing it at one of the most magical parts of San Diego, Balboa Park. These were taking days before we went to the courthouse with a few of our closest love ones.

Then we skipped town. So much life in one month! I’m not quite sure how we still have any sanity. Leaving San Diego was a tough decision to make. Tony, Kirk and I were raised there and left behind so much we know and love.

With Covid many of the things we found security, joy and comfort in were flipped, turned upside down. (The Fresh Prince theme song has been on repeat regularly for the past year.) WOW it’s insane to dwell on the fact we’ve been in this a year now.

With so much of our future unknown especially when it came to my career in hair, CA had insane closures, we decided to sell most of what we owned and pack the rest and hit the road. We landed on Asheville, NC. It’s a delightful little mountain town in Western North Carolina.

Tony was able to transfer with his company and I found Ananda Hair Studio .

We’ve been here nearly 5 months and are just starting to feel a little less chaotic. Moving to a new town, transitioning in our careers and Covid makes things a bit tricky at times. We’ve definitely had our ups and downs and have experienced plenty of growing pains.

It’s beginning to feel like we’re on a different side of it all, the past year has had so many scary and challenging moments. Rather than feeling helpless and lost I’m starting to settle into this new space. A slower one than I’ve ever experienced. Rather than mourning and gripping tight to what once was I’m finding more acceptance and gratitude for what once was , that may now seem lost but never forgotten. Through it all I’ve done my best to lean toward the paths of least resistance and command joyful spaces where I can. I’m grateful for the support I have and couldn’t imagine getting through this past year without.

Thanks for listening.

Suite Madison Jane Coming June 10th and My Experience With Covid-19

Hello friends! What a crazy whirlwind the past few months have been. I returned from NYC mid March from a history making POC burlesque event (The Noire Pageant) only to come down with what I now know was Covid-19. Fortunately at the time my symptoms, though harsh were not severe enough to go to the hospital for a test. I only recently found out from an antibody test months later. I experienced some lows, the fear of not working for the first time since I started working at the age of 15, our house flooding during the heavy rains, seeing people and businesses I know and love struggle, seeing friends lose loved ones. Watching an entire planet in anguish. I found myself in a dark space on many occasions. To the point my own mother ask if I had anything good to talk about. I also tapped into my resilience. I connected with loved ones, my partner and my dog more than ever before. I learned to slow down and figure out what it’s like to live moment by moment and truly enjoy this space I call home, though that home was an Air BnB with lovely chickens for three weeks. I discovered the power of Zoom and group Facetime chats. I connected with friends and strangers from around the world through breath and movement while leading live online yoga sessions. Every time it hit me with a tidal wave of gratitude as I was able to connect with others while we were more separated than any of us have ever experienced. IG live dance classes and internet burlesque classes became the new form of escapism. I got over my fear of threading a sewing machine and made my first dress, I’m pretty sure I only want to make my wardrobe from here on out. I was able to learn more about the business side of the hair idustry than I’ve ever cared to put the time toward. Doing so I was able to uncover the why behind my hair world and where I want to spend my time and energy. It can be pretty rough having so much time with our thoughts away from the go go go society we live(d) in, not to mention the crushing weight on your chest that a global pandemic provides. I spent a lot of time beating my screen time averages and binge watching shows of course. Anywho it’s been real. I’m grateful for my therapist and friends and fam that answered the phone even on the dark days. I’m grateful for my salon guests who have been champs and so graciously patient as we pushed through week by week looking a hot mess. My partner Tony is a saint and I truly believe we can conquer anything life throws our way, I cannot wait to marry him. Kirk is the goodest boy and I never want to leave him home while working 10 hour days ever again. I’m thrilled to open my own private salon Suite Madison Jane, it’s minutes from my house. If this time showed me anything it’s learning for the first time how important my time and space at home is. Moving forward I hope to be more mindful with my schedule, make time to be bored every now and then and do weird dance moves around the house and eat way too much cereal.

I hope you’re able to find some light through these dark times. Please enjoy some of my favorite Quarantine Queen lewks including the first dress I’ve ever made out of vintage fabric.

Pastel Lovefool

Stephanie Castro is an ethereal delight of a human being. It's debatable if she's actually human. She was given the task of making jester inspired stage kitten costumes for the Drop Dead Dames Dynasty show back in February. In less than a month she created three of the most dreamy costumes I ever did lay eyes on. It was my first experience having a costume custom tailored to fit me perfectly, my boobs were definitely living their best life. Naturally we had to have Scott Saw of Vixen Photography capture these one of a kind masterpieces. Enjoy!

Ethereal Summer Bride

A dreamy woman powered collaboration.

Photos by Lexi Haslem @lexihaslem

Flowers provided by Lazaro Floral @lazarofloral

Makeup Florence Pacho @pikku_salon

Hairstyle & Hair floral design by Madison Jane @madisonjanehair 

Golden Hill Haunt

Halloween 2016

  • CREDITS
  • Makeup/Hair/Wardrobe/Concept: Madison Jane @madisonjanehair
  • Model: Becka Palter @beckapalter
  • Photo Collab: Julia @jshapworld Isaac @beardslyriver Ian @gumisforlovers

Fell off the boat

This year has been pretty sweet, lots of positive growth in and out of the salon. Ups and downs just like any other regular life. The past few months have been very transitional. Does anyone read this? If you are, tight, thanks for your interest. Before I lose it here's a quick update. I recently left the nest of an amazing mentor and joined the team at Pikku Salon in Golden Hill back in August. We love fun and dance parties and creating the best hair we can, it's a bitchin' space so you should probably come say hi. Anyway, my intentions are to keep up with this blog so anyone interested can get a more in depth look at my hair world. It's been awhile so here's an overload of what I've been up to the past few months. I'm currently enjoying cable and a king size bed in Pamona possibly Chino, I just wrapped day 1 of 2 for the Color Revolution class I'm attending at Kut Haus salon in Claremont. A few hair artists I hold in high regard are giving us an inside look while they create some of todays most sought after looks. I'm beyond inspired, I'm ready to conquer!! Till then here's some real pretty photos Morat took of me, it was so special to have Masuimi Max help pose me since I tend to walk to fine line between sexy and totally awkward. Thanks of checkin in! xo MJ

  • CREDITS
  • Photos: Morat Photography @morat666
  • Makeup: I Am Sin @iamsin

A day with Sabina Kelley

Yesterday I spent a beautiful San Diego afternoon styling hair on Sabina Kelley for our shoot with Vestige Photography. Sabina is an international pinup model, TV star, and burlesque performer! We had the chance to play dress up around a couple wonderfully maintained local mid-century homes. Hope you enjoy!!

 

  • CREDITS
  • Photos: Vestige Photography (vestigephotography.com)
  • Model: Sabina Kelley (sabinakelley.com)
  • Wardrobe: Danielle (theoblongboxshop.com)
  • Hair: Madison Jane (madisonjanehair.com)
  • Makeup: Suzanne (@blushingladies)
  • Photo assistance: Melissa (@southwesternstyling)