Be honest or beware!

Attention clients! When getting a chemical service at any salon, the history of your hair is very important.

Things your stylist needs to know.
1. Have you EVER colored your hair?
  -4 weeks ago, 6 months ago, 2 years ago...they need to know!
2. Where did you purchase the color?
  -done professionally in a salon, purchased at Walmart Walgreens dollar general etc.... or sallys. VERY IMPORTANT.
3. If you did it yourself, was the color premixed or did you mix 2 things together (like a cream and a liquid)?
4. Have you ever permed or relaxed your hair and when?

There's other information that they need to know but those 4 are very important. Please don't lie about any of your answers or say what you think your stylist wants to hear. Would you lie to your doctor about your medical history? I don't think so, because it could be dangerous for you health. Well guess what?! Lying about your hair history can be dangerous to your hair and your image!
For example:
1. Hair could smoke.
2. Hair could melt off.
3. Hair could turn green.
4. When going blonde, hair can not even lift at all.
Please be honest! When stylists know what is on your hair, they can prevent these things from happening. Your stylist can create a game plan to either do a strand test, try to fade the color some, or simply strip the color from the hair and start fresh. They just need to know what they are working with.

For those of you who color at home I would like to clear something up. Color purchased at sally`s is not professional hair color.....if it was, you would need a cosmetology license to purchase it. However, if you DO color at home, I recommend using sally's color over grocery story or drugstore color. Sally's employees can assist you in picking out the right color and products (please know they aren't all licensed and the outcome of your hair is not gaurunteed). As for the dreaded BOX COLOR...please just don't! It's not good for your hair. It can be a mess if you ever want to change the color of your hair. BOX COLOR is a "1 formula for all". Would you buy a bra 1 size fits all? Of course you wouldn't, because everyone is a different size and shape. Same with your hair, everyone's hair is a different level, tone, and has a different texture. The reason stylists spent thousands and thousands of dollars on beauty school was to learn the chemistry to perfectly formulate the color to work specifically for YOUR hair. Some times multiple colors are mixed together to create the color you're wanting. Some clients need 2 different formulas put on the same section of hair to have an even color result. That my friends is nothing you can expect from doing your own hair and especially not from a box.

Finances keeping you from the salon? Salon's can be expensive yes. But again stylists didn't pay thousands of dollars to go to beauty school and then charge $20 for a color service. Look for a hometown family salon. Find a stylist thst fits your price range. Talk with the stylist about what you may be wanting. Find out the upkeep to that color/style and how much each service would cost. Some color choices need to be touched up every 4 weeks where as others you can stretch it out 3 months. Most stylists are more than happy to help you figure out what would work best for you and your budget. I promise you, in the end it's cheaper. A color correction from an at home color gone bad can cost $200+ instead of the $10 you paid for the color thinking it would save you money.

Creativity

I saw this on Pinterest and it got me thinking.

This is so true for me. 

1. Confidence- I've always been shy...surprisingly. Once I gained some confidence I was able to ask question without fear of being judged for not knowing everything.

2. Observation- the best way for me to learn and grow. I catch myself watching others and searching for videos for new techniques. I try to adapt them to what works best for me. I really get lost in my own little world when I'm observing.

3. Humility- this is a tough one. I think some of the best stylists out there are the humble ones. Because in all honesty....none of us know it all (except for the man upstairs). There is always new techniques and trends evolving. We will forever be learning, the sooner we practice humility the better off we will be.

4. Mindfulness- sometimes i have to think outside the box. See things from a different perspective.

6. Resourcefulness- as soon as I learn something new, I have to get the tools I need and get to playing. I have to figure it out on my own to learn.

7. Energy- don't get stuck in a rut. Be excited about the future and new ideas.

8. Action- trial and error! The more you "fail" the more you learn and the more talented you become!

This just really stuck with me as this week comes to a close and I wanted to share.

Defeat or New Beginning?

I have been doing my friend's hair for 2 years now. She is also a stylist. That helps because she understands hair limitations and endless oportunities of colors and looks. Her hair has become "my hair". I've turned it into my masterpiece and have been so proud of it. Last fall it was PERFECT! I was in love with everything about it. All the beautiful colors blended so seamlessly and was sealed with shine. Then my heart was broken when she wanted to "add dark" to "break it up" because she needed change.

She was in love....and I was happy but loved the before so much better.

It has been a few months and she needed change again (what am I going to do with her?! I mean should I be surprised? She IS a hair stylist). So I attempted a new balayage technique with a new product. And I'll be honest....it did NOT turn out how I wanted. I mean it wasn't horrible. ...and she got compliments. But we BOTH weren't happy with the results. I immediately felt defeated. Here sat my masterpiece, which was once flawless...and now it was just bleh.

On our way home from the salon we talked and brainstormed for hours it seemed. What were our options? 1. Start over 2. Go back to the old fashioned product and application method 3. Add dark through the ends again. After discussing every possible outcome we decided to go with #1.

We started over with a fresh canvas. We were both terrified to lost the blonde ends that she wore for 3 years. I tried to talk her up that it could be the "change" she was wanting and she could fall in love with it. Since we did these applications one day after the other we most definitely used OLAPLEX!

Her roots were so dark when I matched them to my pravana level system. We agreed she was a level 3. We cringed because we usually don't ever go lower than a 4 on our own clients. But we agreed it was better to have an even color throughout than her ends be lighter and have to touch up AGAIN. I added 1/4 of 6.45 to our formula to help fill the blonde. And I am VERY pleased with the result.

I have NO IDEA what her hair will look like in a few months. Lord knows I will probably end up on the troubled road of lifting a level 3 to a non brassy blonde. But for now, her hair can take a break with some OLAPLEX Stand alone treatments and be left a lone. Sometimes when something great gets messy, instead of making a bigger mess it's good to take a step back and start fresh. And because of that I am humbled and ready to transform more hair.

Inspirational Tuesday Post

Sometimes as stylists we get discouraged. We look on instagram, youtube, and pinterest and think....wow I'll never do hair as good as that stylist. Sometimes we even go through our own pictures and criticize ourselves because it doesn't always turn out as planned. But we are still on our journey. We will ALWAYS be learning (even if you've been licensed for 20 years). Why is that? Our industry is everchanging. New products come out all the time. So instead of getting yourself down because you don't do hair like "that one girl", learn. Don't let other stylist be competition. Compete with yourself! Look at your work from last week. Are you happy with it? What did you not like about? How can you change that for next time? THAT'S how you become a strong talented stylist. Learn from your mistakes and experiences. Turn the negatives to positives! That is all, now go create some hair!

Hair Makeover

Yesterday I had a challenge sitting in my chair. My client's previous lifestyle/job wasn't as accepting to "wild" or "funky" hair. She was wanting a whole new fun look as her and her family started a new chapter of their story.

My canvas was 9 month of grown out highlights & lowlights. New growth was a level 6 according to my pravana level system. My client's goal was solid blonde on top & dark brown underneath and violet red for a pop of color. It took me 4 hours of detailed foil placement and strategic brush feathering.

Like most epic transformations, it is not achieved in one appointment. She will be back next week for another application to transform some golden pieces and even out the tone of her blonde.

Formula:
Brown- 4N with 10 volume
Red- 6.5 with 1" ribbon vivids violet and 1 1/2" vivids pink 10 volume
Blonde was achieved with Matrix Light Masters
New growth- 40 volume
Midshaft/ends- 10 volume
I toned with redken shades EQ
9N+9B+9NB equal parts
(I toned till the hair was a blueish gray and then I rinsed and washed thoroughly)

StyleSeat Simplified my life!

I am a huge fan of StyleSeat. One website/app does everything for me.
1. Client profiles! It keeps track of when my clients came in last, what service they received, my formula and products used, and how much they paid. It also holds their phone number & email and any other details they want me to know.
2. Service Menu! All the services I offer are store in one place. It also provides a description of that service, how long it takes, and how much it will cost.

3. Portfolio! Friends and family can spread the word that you're good but nothing beats seeing it with our own eyes. That's why I love being able to post all my work right there on my profile.
4. Recommendations! Potential clients like to see and hear about a stylist they are interested in. It can help them decide if that stylist is the right match for them. Recommendations also helps us feel good too. There's nothing that makes me smile more, than knowing my clients are ecstatic about their new look.
5. Availability! Next to the service menu it provides the days and times I'm available at the salon.
6. Contact! There's a wonderful link to click where clients can txt me right from my profile. Beats having to memorize my number to type it into your phone manually. It also shows the location of my salon on a map.
7. Cancellation policy! It's best to be upfront with clients so they know what is expected of them. I have mine posted on my profile.
8. Scheduling! Your schedule is available to you & your clients right there at your fingertips 24/7.

They can even schedule themselves. This gives you more time with the client in your chair or at home with your family. And it takes away the phone tag game of "I have Tuesday at 10.....oh molly has a dentist appt at 10:30, do you have anything later?....not that day, how about Thursday at 3....that is when the kids get off the bus....." Clients can have your schedule right in front of them to compare with their busy lives.

9. Text reminders! Have an issue with clients forgetting their appts? I always did and that was the reason I joined styleseat 2 years ago. 2 days before their appt, styleseat automicacally txt your clients to remind them. If you have the premium account like I do, you can customize these.

And there is so much more that styleseat can do for you. This is just what I use. They have different options (free and 2 different premium accounts to cater to YOUR needs).

If you sign up through the link I provided above, they are doing a promotion where you can win $500! So what do you have to lose? Sign up today!

Goodbye No Shows!

As a beauty professional, it's very frustrating when a client no call no shows you. And honestly I feel like word has never gotten out that this is a serious issue. I think there's a misconception that our job isn't serious and appointments aren't important. When in reality this is our livelyhood! Yes we love what we do and have lots of fun doing it. But what are clients pay us pays to rent that chair they sit in, funds the products we use, pays our car payment to get to work, pays our mortgage and feeds our children. It's not just play money.

Time is money. If a client no call no shows for whatever reason, our chair is left open and we aren't making money. When the client gives us a 24 hour courtesy cancellation that allows us time to notify another client who is waiting to get it. Then the chair is full, we are making money, and a client is getting pampered! I have had my fair share of these horrid no shows, or cancellations 15 min before an appointment starts.

My solution? Cancellation policy! Doctor's do it all the time. When you put it in place and enforce it, it gives the impression that your time is precious and you mean business. Now, I'm human and I know life happens. I do waive these fees in the event of an emergency. Now if your child was sick yesterday, and sick all night, and you txt me 30 minutes before your appointment saying "sorry, I didn't think to txt you. I was taking care of a sick kid all day and all night so I won't be able to make it" there is no excuse.

How do I enforce it? Styleseat! When my clients schedule online they see my policy and have to put a credit card on file. If they don't show up, styleseat charges them accordingly. I have never had an issue with a client no showing after they've scheduled online. They can cancel and reschedule their own appointments without ever needing to talk to me. They love it. Because this has been solving my no show issue, I'm working on having ALL my clients schedule online by the end of 2016.

Styleseat is free and does so much more than eliminate no shows. I highly recommend it. If you use my link here to set up your account, you will be entered to win $500. So what do you have to lose? Sign up today!