Posts Tagged ‘hairstylist’

Hairstylist slugs bear to rescue her pet

Thursday, September 8th, 2011

How far would you go to save your pet?

Would you punch a bear in the face?

Last week, one cosmetologist in Juneau, Alaska, did just that. When her dachshund Fudge was snagged by a black bear that had been hanging around their neighborhood, 22-year-old Brooke Collins bravely slugged it out to save her dog.

“It had her kind of like when they eat salmon,” Collins said. “I was freaking out. I was screaming at it. My dog was screaming. I ran up to it … I just punched it right in the snout, and it let go. I think it was more startled than anything.”

Black bears aren’t uncommon in Juneau, especially when natural resources – like berries – are scarce, leading them to wander into towns in search of food. Collins is an Alaskan native and used to having to deal with the big beasts and take precautions around them.

As for Fudge, she was not seriously hurt, although Collins says she is keeping her animals inside for the moment since that particular bear is still in the area.

If it comes down to round two, we’ve got bets on Collins for the knockout punch.

Be Good To Your Clients’ Hair in 2010

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

One whiff of hair dye and you know that the stuff you are breathing in cannot be good for you.  That nasty smell is most likely ammonia: a chemical that preps hair strands to receive color.  Ammonia used in hair color can cause a variety of side effects including:
• Coughing
• Nose and throat irritation
• Skin and eye irritation
• Destruction of hair cuticle
• Damage of Tyrosine in the hair shaft

But don’t worry! Starting in 2010, hair coloring fanatics can opt for hair color sans ammonia without sacrificing results.  L’Oreal will be introducing “Inoa”, their professional ammonia-free hair color line.  Inoa, (Innovation no ammonia), replaces ammonia with a combination of monoethanolamine, oil-based gel and a cream developer.  And after years of research, L’Oreal claims this formula to be as effective as traditional ammonia hair color.

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One Man’s Trash is His Woman’s Treasure

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

My diet is crappy, but it helps my girlfriend’s hair look sassy.

Being a guy bound to a beauty merchandiser at a local high-end salon means that I am constantly serving as resident guinea pig. My life is a tumultuous parade of trial sizes, courtesy of my buy-curious girlfriend who’s obsessed with beauty products.

So when she brought home some news along with her over-stuffed goodie bag from a day’s work, my interest was piqued (mainly because my bad habits would actually help for once). “Digame Por qué?” says I, in broken Spanish.

My girlfriend answered that Kayla Fioravanti RA, Chief Formulator and co-founder of Essential Wholesale had shared some insight with her about everyday items in our kitchens that may be used for adding softness, control and shine to our hair.

Even better news is the fact that I am a normal slob of a man who over-consumes all of these hairstylist helpers on a regular basis. And now I have an excuse to over-indulge even more in the interest of keeping the sassy do of my domestic goddess shiny and sheer.

What are the top three tasty kitchen items that can help work wonders on your head and shoulders?

Thinkstock_060314_5365_02431. Real Mayonnaise. It’s a conditioner that’s not just for sloppy sandwiches. All you do is dampen your hair, apply a thick layer of mayonnaise from your scalp to the ends of your hair. Comb it until you have lots of creamy coverage and then sit back and let it dry for 20 minutes. Be sure to keep your hungry domestic partner at bay until you’re ready to wash it out. All you have to do after that is rinse and shampoo.

2. Salt. It’s the favorite non-liquid flavor of sports fans everywhere. It’s also a great ingredient to giving your hair amazing volume and control. You can boost the body in your hair by adding a tablespoon of salt to 4 oz of water in an empty spray bottle. After washing and conditioning, spray this mixture over your hair and allow some time for it to air dry.

3. Beer. Obviously the thought of having more beer in the house just so my girlfriend could retain some shine made me extremely happy. The fact that the best conditions to use it are when it’s warm and flat (meaning, my leftovers) is glorious news indeed. So I started donating my leftovers of flat, warm beer into her shower container. It worked amazingly. Now that’s what I call synergy.

Chris Rock’s “Good Hair” Opens Eyes to African-American Beauty Culture

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

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When Chris Rock’s daughter, Lola, came to him crying and asked, “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?” the bewildered comic committed himself to figuring out the complex answer to his daughter’s simple, but profound question.

In the documentary film, Good Hair, Rock takes us on a fascinating journey through the international business trade of hair weaves, the science behind relaxers and the surprising question of how much black women spend on their hair.

During a press junket for a film festival in Salt Lake City, Rock discussed with Salon Magazine journalist Andrew O’Hehir how the initial idea for the film expanded the further he investigated.

“It kind of blew my mind, the idea that in an African-American household you got this Porsche that nobody can see, these working-class and middle-class black women spending thousands of dollars… buying a Porsche that nobody sees.” He adds, “There is a whole economic realm to this that I didn’t know about at all.”

One unexpected turn in the economic story comes when Rock learns that much of the hair used for creating extensions for black women comes from India. Human hair is India’s single largest export. He also sees how the culture has adapted to make harvesting the hair easy and profitable for the industry. Many Hindu temples conduct “hair sacrifices” during religious ceremonies that allow members of the temple a few moments of cultural distinction (and no money) in exchange for hair that can later be worth thousands of dollars. This “sacrificed” hair is processed and sold to hair dealers around the world who, in turn, sell it to local dealers who, in turn, sell it to salons and hair vendors at a huge profit.

How does Rock view this suspicious economic angle? He tells O’Hehir a different cut of the movie exists where Rock treats the hair trade as a problem for black females. He later calls on women to reject this international cartel of exploitation. But, he says, in the end that version simply wasn’t as fun to watch. He said he would rather inform and entertain rather than divide and mobilize.

On that tip, Rock succeeds. The movie is a serious, yet non-confrontational look at how cultural norms can make us do and believe some crazy things. It’s entertaining, but not angry. Celebrities such as Ice-T, Nia Long, Paul Mooney, Raven Symoné, Maya Angelou, and Reverend Al Sharpton all candidly offer their stories and observations that add much more entertainment to what could have become a sobering, but impersonal look into the culture of beauty in the world.

For anyone involved in cosmetology, hairstyling or ethnic beauty marketing, this film is a must. Good Hair is playing in select cities right now. It opens nationally on October 23.

D.I.Y. Disasters: Haircut Horror Stories

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

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There are countless reasons cosmetology professionals attend beauty school to learn their trade – cutting, coloring and styling hair isn’t something that everyone can do. Well, at least … isn’t something that everyone should do. So here are five more great reasons to see a professional.

My own experience with self-styling started early. When I was little, my mom used to trim my bangs, and got the blunt, straight-across look by pulling a piece of Scotch tape across my fringe and then cutting under that. Seemed easy enough. Until I tried it myself, and ended up with at least an inch difference in length from the left to right side of my forehead. I remember my mom hiding a laugh behind her hand when I begged her not to tell Dad, and she replied, “Oh honey, I don’t think we’re going to have to!”

I also used to cut my own hair in college, when I was broke. I tried to fool myself into thinking it looked halfway decent, but I’m pretty sure that was the reason why every day of the week was a bad hair day and I wore ponytails for four years straight.

Thankfully, I’m not the only one. Some other misguided wannabe amateur hairstylists have provided their own hair horror stories here:

“Oh my, I am the hair disaster queen! I let my dad cut my hair in the 8th grade. He cut it way too short and uneven. I cried. The very next day was our holiday play and there was not enough time to go somewhere to get it fixed so I looked like an idiot! I also tried to touch up my roots once with a drugstore hair color kit and they turned bright orange. I called around and found a salon that could fix it the next afternoon, but I had to come to work in the morning with orange hair. I wore a hat. I had only worked here for a few months at the time and even with the hat I was super embarrassed. It has been a long road, but I have finally learned to leave my hair in the hands of professionals!” -Angie

“Sometimes, when I am between haircuts, I’ll do a little styling to delay paying the 15 bucks on a haircut for another week or so. Using what scissors happen to be in the kitchen junk drawer, I stand on my tippy-toes – like it helps – in the bathroom mirror and cut around my ears, thin out my sideburns, trim the bangs, and try my best to angle the blades to fade my hair on the sides. This means I do nothing to the back, which results in a strange effect in which I look relatively well-groomed straight on … for a few seconds. But if you spend any time looking at me, you can see the back come hulking around. I would compare this look to a batting helmet I wore in little league – minimalistic in front with excessive padding in the back.” -Kevin

“When I was probably 13 or 14 I used that Sun-In stuff when I was at the lake. I didn’t think it was doing anything, so I kept spraying on more and more. I had used the whole bottle before I realized that my hair wasn’t turning platinum – it was turning orange.” -Lacey

“I tried to color my hair once with one of those box dyes. I went ahead and got the premium kind that included do-your-own highlights. Yeah, that was a bad idea. I freaked out halfway through letting the highlights sit and washed it all out. So first off, the color turned out dark red instead of light brown and I had these blonde patches were the color took. I looked like a sunburned leopard… or something like that. Red hair plus blonde spots equals not good.” -Chris

So what about you? Have you ever tried to color or cut your hair and ended up horrified by the results? Share your stories below – we’ll commiserate. And next time? Make sure to go to a licensed hairstylist who has legit training from a cosmetology school, eh?

Cosmetology Customer Service Unnecessary Now?

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

Did you know that you no longer have to act professional to get paid? It’s true! You, too, can have unreasonable scheduling demands, vindictive behavior against low tippers and cut hair however you please without regard for your clients’ wishes! Isn’t that great? Well, it’s not true, but apparently this article on Shine – 14 Secrets Your Hairstylist Won’t Tell You – thinks all that is ok. Check out their suggestions:

• First, hair and nail clients shouldn’t schedule appointments on Saturday mornings, Friday evenings, the first of the day, the last of the day, or around lunch time. Apparently stylists don’t feel like working if they are tired, annoyed, ready to leave, not settled in or hungry. Nope, no good haircuts that way!
• Second, they have to tip well – at least an astronomical 20 percent! No matter what. If they don’t, you might ruin their hair next time, obviously!
• And finally, clients should never expect to get what they want. They bring in that darn picture of another A-list celebrity but should know the stylist is lying if they say they can make that look happen on them.

Does all this sound a little ridiculous? We thought so, and so did the people who responded to this article – both clients and stylists who are trained and educated from cosmetology school. Of course, as a hairstylist you have every right to expect polite customers that respect you and your time. But if all stylists acted the way this article suggests they would have very few clients, wouldn’t they?

The best stylists know that the way to get clients is to accommodate their schedules. If working Saturday mornings means you get more paying clients who are happy with the timing and keep coming back, then it’s a win-win situation. Every good hairstylist will find a schedule, pay scale, and so on that works for them and their clients. Most people have a hairstylist they like and trust, and they prefer to give that person their business.

All you hairstylists and cosmetology students, hopefully you have or will have some of these loyal clients on your roster. They appreciate the way you cut and style their hair. They enjoy talking to you and trust your opinions about their hair. Most of them probably expect you to do a good job, be friendly and prompt, listen to requests and respect them.

But then again, maybe we ought to follow Shine’s advice and switch things around. You know, ask not what you can do for your client, but what your client can do for you.

Weigh in! What do you think about scheduling appointments, tipping etiquette and style requests?

Bad hair day? Get inspired!

Monday, April 20th, 2009

Have you ever had one of those days where your hair just doesn’t want to cooperate? (Duh. Who hasn’t had a bad hair day?) I have found one of the best ways to combat those nasty hair days is to check in with Makeup and Beauty blog. They‘ve posted 101 hair tutorials just right for the average woman who wants to spice up her look, try a celebrity hairdo or just receive some hair tips.

This blog maps out 101 different tips and hairdos through list format. All you have to do is simply click the link and it will take you to a different website or blog detailing the certain look or tip. It’s pure genius! Just think – you can look through the list when you have a big night out with the girls, the interview for your dream job or a date with that special someone – and find the perfect hair style for the occasion. Not to mention, if you are a current or future professional hairstylist, you can get inspired to give fresh, new ideas to your hair design clients.

Let’s see if you can make the cut in styling your own hair. We want to hear from you about your bad hair days and how you survive them! Or drop us a comment if you’ve tried any of the tutorials and if they worked for you.

Pooh-poohing shampoo. (Are you a shampoo addict?)

Monday, April 13th, 2009

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How is your hair looking these days? Is it a little dreary and dull? If so, the reason for your hair’s condition may not be what you expected…

According to some dermatologists and professional hairstylists, Americans are addicted to shampoo. A study by shampoo-maker Procter & Gamble revealed that we use about twice as much as our Italian and Spanish counterparts. As in, about 4.59 shampoos per week. All that shampooing sounds like it’s keeping us pretty clean, right?

Actually, these cosmetology professionals think too much shampoo can do more harm than good to some hair types. Many dermatologists say that daily washings strip the hair of its natural and beneficial oil (called sebum), and can damage the hair.

So, where did our obsession with shampoo come from? Some suspect that an article in The New York Times on May 10, 1908, started this trend. The article advised women that one shampoo every two weeks was a good cleanliness standard (previously, washing one’s hair once a month was the norm).

Now fast-forward to the 1970s. Farrah Fawcett’s hair is the American woman’s new beauty standard. On TV, Farrah’s face (and hair) is impossible to escape, even during the commercial breaks. A Faberge ad for Farrah Fawcett shampoo showcases some slow-motion beach running and shiny, flowing locks. The message is clear: buy this shampoo, use it every day, and you, too, will look like Farrah.

Today, consumers are rethinking their shampoo practices, for both ecological beauty and health-related reasons. Environmentalists know that less plastic waste is always better, so they diligently search for new ways to conserve. As for the health-conscious, they are concerned with taking better care of their locks. Michelle Hanjani, a dermatologist at Columbia University explains that, “If you wash your hair every day, you’re removing the sebum. Then, the oil glands compensate by producing more oil.” In what seems to be a vicious cycle, the more frequently you wash your hair, the more quickly it becomes oily again.

How often do you shampoo? How do you feel about forgoing shampoo? Have you ever tried any of the natural alternatives to shampoo? If so, what did you think of the results?

Like finding a $5 bill in your pocket…

Monday, April 28th, 2008

I was cleaning out a purse from last winter and found a sample-size bottle of OPI AvoJuice Skin Quencher lotion in Gingerbread Juicie that my hairstylist had given me around Christmas time. I had forgotten all about it since I switched purses, and boy, I am so glad I found it again! I had forgotten how delicious the scent is (even if it’s holiday-themed), and it has that silky smooth moisturizing quality to it, so it doesn’t leave my hands greasy or sticky feeling.

It reminded me how much I love my hairstylist. I have been going to her for about 17 years! She knows my hair and my personality, and can usually guess what I want done as soon as I walk in the door. She may not be the most edgy, creative stylist that’s recommending the latest in hair trends, but she can make my hair match any photo that I show her. She’s become that kind of great family friend that I invited to my wedding and baby shower. She always supports any of my fundraising events, and we can always talk “Chiefs” together when it’s football season.

This kind of relationship is something every stylist should work to achieve. Creating a list of lifelong clients is the key to a successful business in the service industry. Thankfully, beauty schools have realized that just teaching hair technique is not the only part of good beauty training. Cosmetology schools like the ones on BeautySchool.com are now offering business classes as part of their beauty training programs. The more successful, business-savvy and well-rounded students they can graduate, the more their school will be sought after as a quality beauty training program! I’m not sure where my stylist went to beauty school, but I know that I have to book my appointments with her 6 weeks in advance if I want to get in on time. That says something!