Complacent Stylist: Building An Empire
Thank you to everyone for the overwhelming support and appreciation shown towards me for writing this column.
It’s not easy to share and as many of you know, I’m not one to do things for attention. Instead, I write to you in order to keep myself sharp and provide the support to all of you who read, call, come to classes, and rely on us for information.
With so many of you responding, I have received lots of requests for how I started my business and arrived at where I am now. So, let’s take a trip down memory lane…
Starting Out – Customer Appreciation
When I started out as a stylist, I didn’t have much of anything. I borrowed a lot to open my first salon, I didn’t know much about running a business, and I especially didn’t know about advertising and marketing. I got by with the help of friends and clients, and my appreciation for them ran me right into a great business building idea… Customer Appreciation Night.
I started with just one night at the end of the month and it grew to include several nights throughout the month.
Why did I do it this the way? What made it so successful?
This is going to sound terrible and it is, so if you’re sensitive and have a heart, I understand… but I was hungry and had bills to pay.
I knew everyone had the most money saved up by the end of the month because the first of the month is rent, bills, and life. Hosting a party at the end of the month ensured that people would have a decision to make. Do the right thing, save your money and pay your bills OR be late a week and have really good looking fun hair!
Guess what? Within 6 months of opening the salon, we were able to hire shampoo people and a front desk person. I didn’t have to run back and forth anymore. Within the next 6 months, I had an assistant and hostess to go around cleaning and bringing clients refreshments.
Everyone Loves a Party!
A lot of people especially love private parties… there’s just something to be said about attending an event that is not open to the public. So I presold tickets to my own clients and anyone else that would listen to me for 30 seconds. In turn, my salon created a magical event with the following:
- I used the presale money to get giveaways… because who doesn’t like leaving with goodies?!?
- We convinced the local restaurant owner to cater the event so they could promote their food.
- I knew all the local bartenders because I used to drink back in my twenties. So I had them come in and promote their bar by pouring a few bottles of wine and some drinks.
- We pumped up the music until the police showed up for noise complaints.
- And we gave consultations to our clients and their family members.
Looking back on it now, the amount of alcohol we served was a bad idea but at the time, whoa baby did we have fun! Nowadays, you can have an ‘alcohol sampling’ which is a fancy way of saying, “Get FREE beer, wine, or liquor!”
The point of the night was not to do anyone’s hair. It was to do consultations, get them excited and book them to back in very soon. Some people did get their hair done at these parties, but they had to come back the following week to get the color balanced and haircut evened out. But even then, we would have a laugh about it instead of them being upset.
The entire party created such energy that we started getting a ton of referrals. People naturally felt like they were part of something and wanted to show off.
Recognition
These customer appreciation parties soon led to some weird occurrences outside of the salon… people would recognize me! I would be sitting at a restaurant trying to eat, at the grocery trying to figure out what to eat, at the hardware store trying to figure out how to fix stuff and people would come up and say, “Hi Eddie! When is the next party?” or “Thank you so much, look at how well my hair is doing!” After a while, I had become a little local celebrity. It was important for party attendees to try and impress me by doing what I told them and showing off their great hair!
My little self who started small began to expand and exact change in my area. I knew everyone, the people who made coffee, the checkers at the grocery, the restaurant staff, bank tellers, dry cleaners, and the gas station guy. It didn’t matter where I went, I knew everyone and most importantly they knew who I was.
We have to remember that we are mini local celebrities. On a day off, the last thing we want to do is get up, dressed and out the door, but we are our own best advertisement.
I used to make myself an appointment at the salon and have an assistant apply my color so it was always fresh looking. I didn’t enjoy getting dressed up all the time, but it was necessary…. we are, after all, symbols of fashion. It was the worst to see someone outside of the salon looking “normal”. It deflated the whole image, especially in today’s social media world.
It’s easier now to advertise yourself but at the end of the day, we still need to physically do hair. Those people are local and come from all around your local neighborhood and a lot closer than you realize. The best social media are your neighbors and neighborhood. Be a brand, be an image, be a celebrity, be the product that they can’t get online or anywhere else!
- Published in Celebrity Hair, DIY, Hair Care, Hair Salon, Hair Styling, Hair Tips, Hair's the Bling, Lifestyle
Complacent Stylist: Using heat and additives during the color process
To start, I need to stay that science works the way science works. It doesn’t work the way we want it to, it works the way it’s supposed to. Chemistry doesn’t know all the variables from behind the chair, that’s where we come in. We adjust the formula accordingly so the chemistry can do what it’s supposed to do.
This past month has been a busy one with a ton of questions. I’ve realized that even though the situations are different, the questions have an underlying thread… we as stylist don’t care how science works, we just want it to do what we want it to do lol 🙂
I am no chemist. I enjoy science and find it really interesting. I can’t pronounce 75% of the words, but I’ve come to a basic understanding of how chemistry contributes to why things aren’t working at the salon. This is the reason I make the recommendations that I do and is why I started writing these posts.
I know that with a bit of insight, we can tackle these repeating scenarios. With that said, let’s start with these heat and additive related issues.
1. “I put her under the dryer for 40 minutes and she barely lifted.”
The short answer, the oxidation process is the release of oxygen. Heat sucks up all the oxygen in that area. Your formula dried out and could not do its job anymore so it stopped working.
Moisture is water or other liquid diffused in a small quantity as vapor, within a solid, or condensed on a surface. Thank you dictionary for that. When we are waiting for color to process, the process is only as good as the amount of moisture the product has. During the oxidation process, oxygen is being released naturally over time, which is causing the formula to dry out. Adding heat sources such as
2. “I used bond builder with bleach and her hair still fried.”
You must properly evaluate the condition of the client’s hair before moving forward with a process that is aggressive such as high lift,
So, have an intervention. Improve the condition of the hair first and then move forward with the service and bond builder.
I do have a point of contention with bond builders. I know the point of bond builders is to strengthen and improve the quality of hair, especially during the coloring process… it does work. However, I also know that there
Try and think how many deep conditioning treatments and repair/restorative products are out there. Over 9000! Why is there so many? We know the hair is going to get wrecked by the client at home after we painstakingly took the time to achieve the look they wanted while trying not to compromise the condition of their
Tune in next week for 2 more scenarios for us to work through.
- Published in Hair Care, Hair Coloring, Hair Products, Hair Salon, Hair Styling, Hair Tips, science
Why Exercise Is Damaging Your Client’s Hair and How to Prevent It
While women exercise they want their hair secure and out of their face. The hair is usually thrown in a bun or ponytail and off they go. It’s also very likely that it’s the same ponytail or bun every time… because humans are creatures of habit.
As a stylist, you are likely cringing at this point because you can begin to see the damage that can come while your clients get their calorie burn on.
Ask your clients about their hair routine while they exercise and turn it into an education on damage and prevention. Plus, I’m going to make this super easy for you by breaking it down into easily explainable chunks.
Let’s begin with the damage talk. Explain to your client that hair cuticles are cells that overlap like fish scales. When the hair is healthy and smooth those scaly cells fit nicely on top of each other. When those cells don’t lay smoothly it causes these 3 signs of damage.
- Frizz – Dry and bleached hair is caused by exposure to UV light.
- Split Ends – These unflattering ends are caused by too much sun exposure and sweat.
- Breakage – Women who exercise a lot may find that their hair is breaking at the place their hair tie lies.
Now, onto the prevention part. Here are 5 things to share with your client to prevent damage to their hair while they exercise.
- Wear your hair differently each time you workout. That way, you’re not pulling at the same spot all the time, causing breakage.
Wearing your hair in a loose bun or braid to avoid matting and contact with sweaty skin. Tangles and sweat cause your hair to dry out.- Use hair ties made of ribbon or fabric. Saying no to elastic makes sure the hair isn’t too tight.
- Run early in the morning or late in the afternoon. This way you avoid the sun’s most harmful UV rays.
- Use a conditioning and/or keratin treatment occasionally to keep hair, hydrated and strong.
Lastly, you can use this prevention chat to pitch a hydration product or a smoothing service. By expressing what to look for and how to prevent damage, your exercising clients will thank you with their loyalty.
- Published in Hair Care, Hair Products, Hair Salon, Hair Styling, Hair Tips, Lifestyle, science, shiny hair
Kendall Jenner’s VA-VA-Volume
DSquared2’s fall/winter campaign features Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid with some amazingly voluminous hair. Their Dolly Parton-esque looks ooze 60’s glamour and pays homage to cowgirls with volume for days.
DSquared2
Hairstyles of history can provide inspiration and insights into what looks can span the decades. They can tell you why certain looks have remained timeless… including big hair. Dolly Parton rocked the look and continues to, and now Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid look fabulous in this campaign.
DSquared2
DSquared2 describes the look and campaign video: “Somewhere off a highway in the mid-West, a duo of bad girl honeys check-in to a motel room; their high hair swinging over the collar of their check shirts. They call up their guys for an in-room party.”
At the very least this VA-VA-Volume can be attributed to the great Dolly Parton. Thanks Dolly, for your fantastic big hair!
Lastly, if you are looking for products that inspire serious volume, go here and you won’t be disappointed 😉
- Published in Bridal Hair, Celebrity Hair, Formal Hair, Hair History, Hair Styling, Hair Trends
Savvy Stylists Use this Easy Pitch
Pitching products can get an audible groan in a room full of stylists, but it doesn’t have to.
Here’s an easy lead-in to introduce and pitch products to your clients. Not to mention, it’s an easy chance to share your exceptional knowledge.
As your clients prepare for travel and vacation they head to their local drugstore to stock up on travel sized bottles and products. This is where your opportunity lies… yep, their summer toiletry bag.
Easy pitch topic: Vacation and travel
As you engage your client’s on their upcoming travel plans its easy to bring up sun protection, frizz-inducing weather, chlorine protection and, of course, looking fantastic for those Instagram worthy pics.
You have the trained knowledge of what they should use to look fabulous and keep their hair healthy on their trip. Don’t let them walk aimlessly at the drugstore and guessing what small sized product would work best.
Introduce a suggestion or two and explain why they would be especially useful to your client as they travel. Free samples can also help in this situation. As well as product sizes that are travel appropriate.
Again, remember that you are the expert and have a ton of knowledge to share. In turn, this insight is a simple lead into pitching a product fit for the situation.
You could even offer to fit them in for a keratin treatment before they leave. That way they have lasting smooth locks that battle any weather they may face. This is what savvy stylists do and now you can too!
I’m curious, what do you find most difficult about pitching products and services to your clients?
- Published in Hair Care, Hair Products, Hair Salon, Hair Styling, Hair Tips, Holiday Hair
6 Stunning Benefits of Hair Smoothing Treatments
Gone are the days of hair being forced to be straight and smooth. Japanese straightening treatments permanently alter the hair’s structure. Instead, Keratin treatments create a healthy protein layer around the hair shaft. This smoothes the cuticle and makes the hair smoother, softer and manageable. But that’s not all Keratin Smoothing can do. Here are 6 amazing benefits of these incredible smoothing treatments.
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Smoothing benefits last 3-5 months.
Brazilians are another type of hair smoothing treatment, but it can clog the scalp and only lasts 3 months. On the other hand, Keratin smoothing contains less harsh chemicals and silicones and lasts 3-5 months.
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It has a deep conditioning effect.
Keratin treatments add a protein layer around the hair shaft and in turn smoothes the cuticle. This enhances moisture balance and controls static. This deep conditioning effect provides shine, softness and frizz control.
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It contains chemicals and silicones that are less harsh and have minimal fumes.
Now, here’s where we need to get specific. Not all keratin treatments are created equal. Keratin treatments use less harsh chemicals than a Brazilian, but it is Keratherapy that has fewer fumes than its keratin competitors. Fewer fumes mean happier clients and a happier you.
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There is no demarcation line as hair grows out.
Keratin treatments seal the cuticle instead of changing the hair structure. Hair grows out naturally without that awful demarcation line. In fact, it extends the life of colored hair.
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The continuum of keratin treatments allows for curl calming control.
Keratin treatments also calm curl… the stronger the treatment the stronger the curl reduction. The great thing is that you have control over this. Keratherapy has a continuum of treatment so that you can choose which treatment is right for your client. Maybe your client wants the smoothing effect without losing their curl, that is a need that can be met by these incredible treatments.
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Hair proteins are built back up after being stripped over time.
By sealing the cuticle, keratin treatments prevent breakage, rebuilds damaged hair, promotes elasticity, protects from heat, and mends split ends.
Does this all sounds too good to be true? I’ll prove it to you. Attend our Keratherapy certification class and see the transformational power of Keratin treatments.
- Published in Hair Care, Hair Products, Hair Salon, Hair Styling, Hair Trends, science
Do you know this hair icon creator and Illinois native?
They were inspired by a velvet fez hat to create a historical 1960’s hairdo… know who it is yet?
In 1954, they won the National Coiffure Championship… how about now?
This person developed an up-do that has remained inspirational for decades… know the famous hairstyle yet?
The answer, Margaret Vinci Heldt. Margaret was born in 1918 in Illinois and spent most of her life there. She trained at Columbia College of Hairdressing and opened “Margaret Vinci Coiffures” in 1950. Four years later she won the National Coiffure Championship, a very honorable prize of the time.
In 1960, the editor’s of the Modern Beauty Shop magazine asked Margaret to develop a new hairstyle to uniquely bring in the new decade. After a bit of inspiration from a velvet fez hat, the beehive was born.
The beehive became an instant success on the heels of the bouffant. It was easy for women to sleep with their beehive wrapped in a scarf and tuck loose strands away in the morning. Thus, the beehive took over the bouffant because it could last longer. Margaret famously said that the ideal beehive ratio of hair to face was two to one… now that is a big beehive!
Beehives have remained a hair inspiration for decades. Recent variations can be seen Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Sarah Silverman, and Adele.
So tell me which of the famous beehive wearers below is your favorite?
- Published in Bridal Hair, Celebrity Hair, Formal Hair, Hair History, Hair Styling, Hair Trends
If you don’t do these 4 stretches now, you’ll hate yourself later.
Stylists who feel well, work well… especially for creatives like yourself. The physical demand of spending the day on your feet with the repetitive movements of shampooing, cutting and blow drying are ripe for injury, strain, and pain.
“Duh,” you may be saying right now, so let me get to the point… Increasing your flexibility will lower your risk of stress and injury and it only takes a few minutes out of your day.
A healthy hairstylist understands that special attention needs to be paid to your neck, wrists, and hands. Below, you’ll discover the 4 stretches you should start doing today! Without them, you are taking a chance with your money making skills.
Neck Stretch
Nerves that innervate the muscles of your arms and hands begin in your cervical spine, aka your neck. This is why starting at the neck in this sequence is important.
- Inhale and look up for 10 seconds.
- Exhale and lower your chin to your chest for 10 seconds.
- Inhale and bring your head to the center.
- Exhale and lower your right ear towards your shoulder for 10 seconds.
- Inhale and bring your head to the center.
- Exhale and lower your left ear towards your shoulder for 10 seconds.
- Repeat 3 times
Wrist Stretch
- Sit down, lift your arms over your head and interlace your fingers with your palms together and facing towards your head.
- While your fingers are interlaced, turn your palms up to face the ceiling. Don’t worry if your arms do not straighten completely. Straighten them the best you can without pain.
- Hold for 10 seconds and lower your arms.
- Repeat 3 times.
Thumb Stretch
- Create a fist with your right hand and point your thumb towards the ceiling.
- Gently pull back on your thumb with your free hand and resist the force with your thumb.
- Hold for 10 seconds and switch to your left hand.
- Perform 3 times per hand.
Fingers Stretch
- Stand and place your palms facing together in front of your face.
- Bring your elbows to your body’s center and touch them together.
- Slowly spread your elbows apart while lowering your hands to waist height.
- When your hands are in front of your belly button stop and hold for 10 seconds.
- Bring your hands back to the height of your face and relax for 5 seconds.
- Repeat 3 more times.
- Published in Hair Styling, Lifestyle
Better finishing with Extensions!
Change the angle of your blowout!
To give clients a big, bouncy blowout after installing their SHE Hair Extensions, finger-comb the hair upward and follow with the dryer pointed at a 45-degree angle. If your clients want a sleek, sexy blowout, apply the same technique but in a downward motion. But never just blow-dry the hair haphazardly. You’ll spend the rest of your time correcting the damage.
- Published in Hair Extensions, Hair Styling, Hair Tips
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