beauty, communication, health and wellness, Uncategorized

What you see is what you get

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I have decided. I have another mission. I am going to use my blog not only to educate the masses about their hair and the professional products they need to use, I am going to raise up the masses as well. It is time ladies and gents, time to like what you see when you look in the mirror, or when you ponder idea’s of yourself.

If you think you are ugly, guess what? Ugly is the only thing that will come out of your mouth and ugly is all you will ever see, not only in your reflection, but in your daily life. I am not trying to get all “Law of attraction” on you, it is just a fact. There was a time when yours truly thought she was too ugly to go to a Broadway show. Yep, sounds stupid, doesn’t it? I had gotten in my own way. I had let the negative ideas about myself and my looks to take control. Long story short, I went to the show. The car ride there probably wasn’t the best memory for my boyfriend (now my hubby…gotta be true love). I truly thought that when I arrived the doorman or usher would look at me like “what is she doing here?”. I ended up loving the show and no one escorted me out of the building. I actually got a compliment on my dress and hair while powdering my nose. I confessed this to you all so you are all clear – I know of what I speak.

Yes, I admit, we were not all blessed with the beauty of Christie Brinkley (have you seen her?!?! All I can say is  WOW!).I know that we all do not have the athletic abilities of the William’s sisters (..the tennis champions…come on people, keep up with me now.). What we all do have is something unique about us. A cute dimple where no one but you and that special someone knows its location, you can recite 18th. century prose at the drop of a hat, you are a cancer survivor, you can juggle. Whatever it may be, however small and silly you may think it is, it is a part of you and it should be celebrated. I know, I can hear you all now “But people will think I am conceited”, “Oh, that would make me seem too proud”. Now, if you walk around town or post on facebook every hour that you are so awesome…yeah…a little conceit. If you think it…not conceit. That is called liking and loving yourself my friend.

Find that one thing you love about yourself. You have great feet, your hands look like a hand model’s hands, you have long eye lashes so you don’t need mascara, you know 5 languages, you can make a killer pot roast, you can run like the wind blows as Forrest Gump would say. Whatever it is, embrace it. Once you start to truly love one thing about yourself, all of a sudden you will love something else, and so on. If you decide not to see the good things about yourself and decide you are not lovable, one thing I can guarantee – you won’t be seeing many Broadway shows.

Business

You get what you give

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We all want good customer service. We all like when we get attention. We all want to be reassured that our purchase was a good one and we want to know and understand our newest purchase. I get it. I am a consumer, I have had good and bad customer service. Remember – I am a woman so I am sure you can imagine some of the customer service I have received at a car lot or an appliance store. No one likes to be treated like they are stupid. That being said, sales people do not like being treated like we are stupid. Nor do hair stylists, esthetician’s, sales reps, anyone. No one likes to be treated poorly. Plain and simple.

I know, right now you are thinking “The customer is always right!”. You know what, that is correct – the customer is always right – in their own mind. More times than not, people are given the wrong information, or read the instructions incorrectly because Hooked on Phonics didn’t work for them. (Yeah…I said it). Armed with said information they come strutting into the Salon, telling me what they need. Before I continue with this tale – let me give you a tidbit of information. There are two kinds of salespeople – sales professional and order taker. The sales professional will ask about your needs, your wants, question you ( Politely) about the information you have and help you make the right informed decision. The order taker stands there and does what ever you say, not caring what it is you need or if you understand what it is you are buying. Now, back to the tale….

The customer comes in, guns blazing, telling me what they need. “Get me the Moroccanoil Oil treatment!”. No “Hello”, no “Can you help me”, nothing but their misinformed, the customer is always right information. I am  a sales professional, I take pride in my work and my abilities and my vast product knowledge (again…yeah, I said it). So, as always, when a customer comes to me telling me they need a certain product, I ask them why they are looking for it. I ask to ensure they are getting what they need, not to insult their intelligence or lack there of. My favorite response to my inquiring question is “Uh, well, I READ it was good for my hair, and since you don’t have my hair I doubt you know how to help me..”. Okay, stop right there. First, that just doesn’t make any sense. Second, don’t do that. No matter what kind of day you are having, there is no excuse to be rude.Yes, there are many order takers out there, please do not paint us all with the same brush. Give me a minute and I promise you, you will be dazzled and leaving with the proper product. Which is exactly what happened. After I got her to stop ranting with my go to phrase “I only want to get you the proper product, so you will be happy with your hair” said customer finally told me why she wanted this product. She wanted to control her frizz. Guess what? Moroccanoil Oil treatment is not humidity resistant – hence frizz. Their Frizz control spray and their Hairspray are humidity resistant – hence no frizz.

Customer service goes both ways. Customer’s want to be treated with respect and kindness. Guess what, so do sales people. (I can’t speak for order takers). From time to time you may run into rudeness, or maybe you and the salesperson just don’t jive. Ask (POLITELY) for another sales person. Not happy with your stylist’s work or attitude, try to work it out. If you cannot, get a new stylist. Professional’s in any profession want to know where they can improve, the one’s that don’t want to know, you don’t want to know.

Be kind today. Take a breath before you speak to salesperson. I can only speak for myself – when a customer is being rude, yelling, throwing a flat iron… never mistake my civility for softness.

Hair Care

Damage control

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We have all been there. Looking at our reflection in the mirror, wondering “Is my hair dry or damaged?”. Today’s tale is about damage control. There are three major levels of damage when it comes to our lovely locks.

Mechanical Damage – your hair looks and feels dull, little pieces of hair fall onto your clothes. In some cases the hair looks singed. (kinked and fuzzy)

The Cause –  brushing/teasing the hair (in excess – picture Priscilla Presley’s wedding photo), and using thermal styling tools without the proper products.

The Solution – A good conditioning treatment once a week and using a thermal protection spray each time you use a flat iron or curling iron

 

Environmental Damage – your color fades and it feels like product build up is on your hair.

The Cause – Sun exposure and pollution.

The Solution – Most professional hair care lines have U.V. protectants in their products, and there are many spray leave in conditioners that have U.V. protectants as well. A good clarifying shampoo once or twice a month (depending on how much product you use) will help as well.

 

Chemical Damage – your hair looks and feels fuzzy, it will not hold a style, looks like frayed cloth. It breaks off , inches at a time.

The Cause – over use of chemical services such as hair color, lightening, perming or chemical straightening.

The Solution – Stop whatever chemical process you are doing right now. Give your hair a break for a while – buy a hat if need be. You need to get a good deep conditioning treatment done with your stylist ASAP. If you can’t get to the salon – I highly recommend JOICO Kpak Revitaluxe. The newest addition to the Kpak family – this treatment is restorative and strengthens the hair with each use.

I highly recommend that you use Professional Salon products. Too many knock offs and drug store brands have too many sulfates, detergents, silicone’s and alcohol which defeats the purpose – your hair may feel good but those products don’t always penetrate the hair – they just coat the hair, which will lead to further damage.

 

 

 

 

beauty, Business, Fashion, Uncategorized

An escape from daily life

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Salon -n. -elegant room for receiving guests; room or establishment where a hairdresser or couturier receives clients. (Oxford Dictionary).  Today’s tale is a Salon tale, a tale about being received as a guest into an elegant room.

Yesterday I was invited to an open house at a local business. I knew some of the people that were going to be there, it was a sunny spring day and I heard they had jewelry, purses AND shoes. As I reached the door I could hear “When you wish upon a star” (liked this place already). As I crossed the threshold into the boutique, I couldn’t tell if I was in New York, Paris or London. I did a quick glance over my shoulder, to make sure I could still see my home town streets.  I was embraced by the elegance and beauty that surrounded me. One of a kind jewelry that is elegant enough for a night at the opera or to jazz up everyday wear. A price point that is comfortable for any pocketbook. OH –  and the boots and the shoes!!! Zeyzani – one of a kind embroidered boots and shoes, some of the most beautiful workmanship I have seen in a long time. http://www.zeyzani.com.

The boutique is Poppies on Brant Ave. (in Brantford, Ontario, Canada). The owner, Brooks Williams welcomed me in as if she was welcoming me into her home. Not only did she know her inventory, and gave me helpful hints on how to turn one piece of jewelry into many different looks, all the while smiling and being kind as kind could be. There were over 25 women in her store and Brooks made me feel like I was the only one there. If you are in need of that special something or want to lift your spirits, go to Poppies on Brant Ave. You will leave feeling like you have had a vacation away from your daily life, you will leave with a spring in your step and some beautiful treasures hand wrapped in a pretty bag – what more could a girl ask for?

beauty, Fashion, Hair Care, Uncategorized

Thank you, Mr. Vidal Sassoon

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The beauty industry lost one of it’s beloved yesterday, Mr. Vidal Sassoon. The beauty industry is what it is today because of this gentleman. The hair style you have today is probably based on one of his cutting techniques. Mr. Sassoon opened up a whole new world for women in the 1960’s – freeing them from the beehive and allowing their hair to fall free and perfectly into place. He removed the shackles of the hood dryer and curlers and helped women realize the how the right cut can bring out the beauty that was lingering underneath. The ever so prominent pixie cut of today would not have happened if not for this man – “Actually short hair is a state of mind … not a state of age.” (Los Angeles Times 1967).

When I was 14, and my double crown and cowlick were not my friends, Vidal saved me. I was at the “Hair Gallery” in Winnipeg ( my local Salon) feeling like the ugly duckling. I was flipping through a hair magazine and saw it….the pixie cut, 80’s style. I looked up at my hairstylist and asked him “Could I have that?”. I will always remember him in his white parachute pants and tank top saying “your face was born for that cut…Vidal Sassoon created that look you know”. At that point of my life all I knew about Vidal Sassoon was his name was on the mousse can my mother had in her bathroom. By the end of my appointment, I had cheekbones, my eyes looked bigger, my hair wasn’t sticking up in the back or in the front for that matter (unless I wanted it too.). I left the salon that day feeling pretty, women were actually stopping me, asking me who did my hair. If not for Vidal Sassoon and his ground breaking techniques I do believe something about me would be different today, for the day I cut my hair short was the first time I can remember a stranger paying me a compliment. Vidal Sassoon coined the phrase “If you don’t look good – we don’t look good” .

Thank you Mr. Sassoon

beauty, Business, communication, Hair Care

Protecting your investment

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Today’s tale is for clients, stylists and Salon owners alike…..read on.

“I need that stuff for my hair that my hair stylist used”. This is what I hear on a daily basis. As I silently sigh, I ask “do you remember the name of the product or the what the packaging looked like?” As always, I am looked at like I have just spoken a foreign language. Then,  more often than not, the customer turns into a valley girl from the 80’s, places her hand on her hip, flips back her hair and says “If I knew thaaaat, like why would I neeeed you.” Gotta love that. If the valley girl doesn’t show herself, I get to meet the 5 year old. You know the one. She starts to pout, turns in her one foot, begins to twist her hair around her finger and says “Oh, I don’t know….oh no…what am I gonna do?”. Now, I am more than willing to help anyone find the right product, I do so love a scavenger hunt. That being said, I am always amazed that the customer has come to me for their product, that their Stylist/Salon didn’t even attempt to sell them something. My reasons for amazement you ask?

1) Why wouldn’t they want to keep their client happy and loving their new look?

2) Why wouldn’t they want to protect the color they just applied?

3) Why wouldn’t they want to increase Salon sales and in turn be able to offer more to their clientele?

Got you thinkin’ didn’t I?

Ladies and gents, pay attention. When you are at the Salon, pay attention. Pay attention to what your stylist is using. Ask them what the product is, how to use it, what the name is. Write it down, or ask them to write it down for you. Come on, you just paid over $100.00 for your color service, I am sure they can take a minute to talk product and sell you something. (Or at least tell you where to get it.). Professional product is important. It gives you the look you had at the Salon at home. Professional product protects your investment. That’s right, your investment. Think about it. Most of us spend over $900.00 a year on hair color alone (when we go to the Salon- at home color from a box….a little less expensive but having to say a Hail Mary each time you use one is too much trouble if you ask me). When we spend $900.00 on anything else, we purchase a warranty. Think of professional hair care products as your warranty.

We ask our doctor for specifics, we go over our lawyer’s papers with a fine tooth comb, we make the poor souls who sell us cell phone plans promise us their first born if anything goes awry – I think we can ask our stylist “what’s that stuff your putting in my hair?”.

 

beauty, Hair Care, Uncategorized

The shallow end of the gene pool

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Today is my day off. Got up, had coffee, made lunches, had coffee, kissed the hubby and the kid good bye, had coffee, started my day. I didn’t check my email this morning, guess I should have. Apparently I missed the memo about the “day off” dress code. Hmmm, that must be it. That is the only explanation I can come up with for the morning I just experienced. You see, I did my hair this morning and I put on a little makeup. Once you get up off the floor from the shock of it all, read on.

I like to do my hair, I like my lipgloss, I like my wedge sandals (they have a red/white gingham pattern!). I like to look good for me – not for the mailman, the milkman, your husband, boyfriend or girlfriend for that matter. Wanting to look nice does not mean that I am stupid or swim in the shallow end of the gene pool. Ladies and gents, promise me, from now on when you see someone looking nice or put together, smile at them- do not scowl.  More often than not, sorry to burst the bubble, it is not about you. It is not personal. They nor I awoke this morning thinking “I’m going to put on makeup and brush my hair to drive that woman in the grocery express lane crazy with worry and paranoia.”. Yes, I am on the cusp of turning forty and I am still amazed that people are petty.  If judging people on their appearance is your hobby…time for a new hobby. That being said…you want to wear flip flops and pajama pants – knock yourself out. (Although, you may want to rethink that ensemble for the opera – perfect for the soap opera).

So, to recap…. No matter what apparel they are wearing, no matter what their hair looks like, makeup or not….be kind. Don’t make a face…like your parents always said, it could get stuck like that.

beauty, health and wellness

Do you have a minute?

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As I sit here, enjoying my morning brew, the sun shining on face, my mind keeps wandering back to one thing. Today’s tale is about self worth. Every day at the shop I meet a woman who is a shadow of her former self. There she is, buying pomade for the hubby, flat iron for the daughter, colored gel for the son…nothing for her. As she is keying in her PIN on the debit machine, she utters oh so quietly “oh…don’t look at me…I am a mess…no time for me today.”. Honey, there is always time.

Now, before you go off the deep end or jump on the soap box about how busy you are…..take a breath. If you have time to watch the Jersey Shore or Dr. Phil…why not do your nails while you watch. Got time to check on your crops in Farmville? You have time to check out some beauty advice/ info. blogs… http://www.thatgirlintheredcoat.com  – tell your friends. No time to shop for you? Guess what?!?! You can do it online! Go to http://www.sephora.com – the Mecca of all that is beauty. Professional hair care lines like the ones I have mentioned in previous posts. When you order you get to choose free samples! Samples you get to choose! It is brought to your door! It’s like Christmas – without all the family drama. Yes, I am excited. Trust me, after one visit, you will be hooked. The first time I saw a Sephora Store – I let go of my daughter’s hand (Calm down….my husband was there).

With the right products you can be the woman you know you are on the inside. You know the one…she is the one that won’t shut up, the one that you let kick your butt every time you put yourself last – let’s shut her up. When you are with your stylist – tell him/her your schedule – tell them you need help and ask what products/techniques you should use that can achieve what you want in the least amount of time. They exist people…I can look pretty good in 30 minutes – from in the shower to out the door. ( Yes, I tend to toot my own horn…when you are good at something, do it)

I am a mother. I know the internal struggles we face everyday about who to put first or what to do first. Ladies, it is alright to put yourselves first every now and then – not just for yourself, but for your family and friends. Come on now, admit it. Most arguments or pans being thrown are due to lack of time to ourselves. Save yourself some tears and your family a call to the Mental Health unit. Brush your hair, paint your nails, gloss your lips, go for a run. If the guilt is too great, think of it as teaching your family patience. Let them know that good things come to those who wait for Mom to take a moment.

beauty, Hair Care

Ya got the right attitude…ya got the wrong person

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At our Salon, I have printed out a calender of when the full moon will rise each month so we are prepared for what will come through the door. I can honestly say that a full moon makes people a little crazy.

Today’s tale begins. “Hi There! How are you today?” ( from yours truly) “Do you sell toner? My daughter needs it!” ( Guess she didn’t see yesterday’s blog). The first red flag pops up. Now, in her defense, she has seen all the commercials that truly are not so easy and nice so of course it seems like an easy fix. So you all know – Toner is not just one bottle, nor is it one color. Applying a toner is a science and an art form – you must know the color wheel, you must know your color line, you must know the porosity of the hair…in other words, you should be a hair stylist. Getting back to my tale.  After explaining that we needed to see the hair in question, that every color line is different and that she should really go back from whence she came and speak to the stylist in question because she knows what she used and because she would probably want to know her client wasn’t happy and would probably fix it. Then it happened. A grown woman started with the shakes, the quivering lip, the sighs, the gasps, the anger – I was waiting for “NO MORE WIRE HANGERS” to be shouted, I kid you not. “She won’t go back there! No way!!Why won’t you tell me what to do?” (kinda just did). Yes, she had a reason to be upset – WITH THE STYLIST, not with me – right attitude, WRONG person.

I understand the frustration of bad hair. I know the pain of dealing with a teenager after a bad hair experience. Be the parent. Keep your cool. Show your child the proper way to deal with life’s misfortunes. Teach them how to ask for what they want and how to tell someone that they are not happy with what they received (without pouting, shaking or swearing). Save the drama for the Oscars and be kind.

The full moon will rise in a few days, I wonder what today will bring?

beauty, Business, communication, Hair Care

Just looking…..

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Picture this scenario. The sun is shining. It is a beautiful day. A customer walks through the door. A sales girl greets the customer with a cheery “Good Morning!” (yes….it’s true, customer service does exist, it is not an urban legend). The sales girl is greeted back with “I’m looking”. My all time favorite response from customers, I especially love it when accompanied with the famous “talk to the hand” motion.

Believe it or not, there are sales people that want to help you. Yes, there are commission sales people that make you feel like you are a gazelle about to be pounced on by a lion, and sometimes you cannot find a person in a smock. That being said, you should not paint us all with the same brush. I, as well as many other sales people get paid if you buy or not. I really just want to help you find what you need, or even help you use what you have correctly. Would you like it if a salesperson assumed you were nasty because you have a black leather jacket since the last customer wearing a black leather jacket was less than kind? Didn’t think so. Sounds pretty stupid actually, don’t you think?

Here is a little check list for you all. Trust me, your shopping/salon experience with be most pleasurable for all parties involved.

– When greeted with a good morning/good afternoon, remember what your Mommy taught you – say good morning/good afternoon back

– Unless you were asked what your name is and your name is “I’m looking”  that phrase just doesn’t make sense as a response. Don’t feel like chatting, smile at the sales person and politely say (after greeting), “I would like to peek around and can I get you if I need you?” – See, how lovely is that. You get your way and the salesperson is treated as well as they are trying to treat you.

– Make eye contact when speaking to a salesperson/stylist. We are all human beings. Yes, we are service provider’s – we are not servants.

– Please do not walk up to the counter, interrupt our greeting, refuse eye contact and say “get me my hairspray”. That is rude, plain and simple.

– Please and Thank You. Two little phrases that mean so much.

– Do not throw the Flat Iron

* A little treasure tidbit for you – we are trained to watch for theft. When you refuse to make eye contact and try to manoeuvre like a ninja through the store, you ARE gonna get our attention – because you are lookin’ a little kooky.

So, lets recap. Say Hello, be polite, don’t throw the flat iron – or any product for that matter – including throwing your weight around.