Beauty, Hair Care, health and wellness, Uncategorized, writing

Perm solution and Chiclets

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Whenever I see a box of Chiclets I smell perm solution. Especially if I am lucky enough to come across the fruit flavored kind (I LOVED the purple Chiclets). I know what you are thinking….perm solution? Yes. Perm solution.

When I was a young girl I would stay with my grandmother in the summer. Every Thursday she would go to the hairdresser and then the grocery store.  The salon had yellow leather chairs, hooded dryers as far as your eyes could see, Good Housekeeping magazines circa 1970 and the chatter of all the latest gossip and newest recipes. I was fascinated by all the pretty ladies who were doing everyone’s hair. Their nails were done, their hair just so, the coolest shoes (I was short so I tended to look at people’s feet, and am still obsessed with shoes). All the ladies getting their hair done were always getting perms. Hence the perm solution. The Chiclets…well, you see that was my treat. This was a big deal, my own pack of gum! I didn’t have to share if I didn’t want to. It was awesome. Especially because the boxes turned into musical instruments when emptied.

I realized today that my love affair with the hair industry began back then, watching my grandma relax and be pampered. It was probably the only time that happened for her. She was an amazing woman who always had time for everyone, be it a helping hand, a listening ear or her gentle smile. She always had a spring in her step after the hairdresser as we made our way to the grocery store. On the ride home, I would be in the back seat of her Cadillac, listening to her sing along to the radio, smiling down at my box of Chiclets and catching the lingering scent of perm solution.

Beauty, Hair Care, health and wellness, That girl in the red coat, Uncategorized

South of the border shopping?

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Whenever the lovely warmer weather is upon us, I meet women wanting to make a change. A new style, something that says I like me, this is who I am. Maybe add a new angle or color.  Sometimes it is just a new product they are in need of, usually to tame frizz.

It was a lovely sunny morning, the sunshine poured through the store window, the smell of peroxide and hairspray lingered in the air. In walks in a lady with the all to known “help me” face. She looked a little frazzled. “What can I help you find?” I ask. “I need something to tame frizz – my husband says it’s outta control”. I look at her hair, it’s a little frizzy, not out of control. So I begin to show her some products that may help. The first few I let her know to put in before she blow dry’s her hair….and a look of complete horror spreads across her face….ok then – no blow drying. We proceed to the other products to use after the hair is dry or to use if you air dry your hair. “How do I know when it is totally dry?” she asks. This is when the light bulb moment happened for me. I collected my thoughts, silently reminded myself not to smirk, giggle or shake my head, and asked as politely as I could “What hair are we speaking of exactly?”. Then I winced awaiting the response.

Yes, that hair. For those who don’t see a bouncing ball to follow, the hair south of the border. I explained that the products I had shown her were for the hair on our heads. They would probably be too perfumed for her needs. Then I hear a sigh of relief. “I was wondering why I was so itchy” is the next lovely phrase I got to hear. Again, remind myself to keep composure and try to remember where I put the hand sanitizer. I went on to explain her options of hair removal that may help her in taming the beast and that if the itchiness doesn’t subside, she probably should see the doctor. Yes, this is my daily life.

Beauty, Business, communication, Hair Care, health and wellness, Uncategorized

Goldilocks had a hard time finding the perfect chair too

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On this beautiful Sunday, I have been recalling many a tale. Tales of hair woes, mine and yours. Everyday I am immersed into a complete strangers pool of uncertainty. Uncertain if I am trustworthy to speak of their hair. “Does she know of what she speaks? She isn’t a hairdresser, she looks normal and her hair is nice but I have seen this before….hmm.”.  I know that is what these strangers are thinking and I am okay with that. I have broad shoulders (thank you Dad for the genetics). I am here to say, in most circumstances I do know what I am talking about, and when I don’t I find out.

On a daily basis I remind women that they have a voice and they are allowed to use it. I hear their tales of discontent, of fury at their stylist for their new found pixie cut when all they wanted was a trim. The first thing I ask is “did you explain you were not happy?”. The answer is always “No, I didn’t want to hurt my stylist’s feelings”. Lets stop right there. First- not fair to the stylist – he/she doesn’t know there is a problem. They will continue to do what you do not like because they think everything is great! Second- really? You said nothing? If we are able to tell our physician’s when we are not happy, tell our dentists we fear them worse then the plague, why are we unable to tell a stylist we are not happy with the service. The good ones won’t be offended, if anything they will be upset that they may have offended you.

That said, next time you sit in a chair, awaiting the new you, listen for the consultation. You should hear from the stylist;

– What are we doing today?

– How have you been?

– Any changes since I have seen you last? (An important question – stress/medication/illness can sometimes affect your hair during chemical services)

– How do you do your hair at home? What products do you prefer?

All of these are important, as are you and your hair. If you aren’t hearing these things, you may want to look for another chair.

Beauty, Hair Care, That girl in the red coat, Uncategorized

Roots….not the mini series

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This is an educational tale…..part chemistry, part biology. I was asked a question about hair color and root regrowth. I should have guessed it was gonna be a whopper based on the pajama pants, tank top and flip flop attire that was in front of me.  It is not the first time I have had this question posed to me, I am hoping this will be sure to make it the last.

The question via pajama pants “why do I have regrowth? I colored my hair 5 weeks ago.”.   My response “Your hair has grown”.  Pajama pants “But I still don’t know why there is so much regrowth?”.  So, I took a breath, looked for a hidden camera and asked what she meant. I apologized that I didn’t understand the question. Then I was shown the light.  This misguided soul thought that when you colored your hair the dye went into the scalp and colored the hair that has not yet grown so it grows out of your head that color so you don’t have to color as often. ( Kind of like the play doh barber shop).

The chemistry segment of the tale is…hair color (dye) colors the hair on top of your scalp, it does not penetrate into your scalp or skull. The biology segment…..well….I am sure you can draw your own conclusions.

In conclusion, when wanting to color your hair, go to the Salon. Go see a stylist. They have been educated in these matters, many continue their education to keep on top of the ongoing changes in color and its chemistry.

Oh, and pajama pants are meant for pajama parties.

Uncategorized

Here we go….

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So here I am…..finally doing it…..I am starting my blog. Putting my words out to the masses, helping to bring a sigh of relief to bad hair days – that there is hope for good hair. Everyday I see women of all ages that have been misinformed about their hair. They have been led down the garden path or down no path at all for that matter. They come into the store, some like a deer caught in the headlights, their big doe eyes searching for an answer to the age old question “Why…oh why does my hair look like this?!?” or my all time favorite “Look what they did to me!!!”.

Ladies…and gentlemen…yes…we all know you have bad hair days too, take a breath. Again. There now, isn’t that better?   I too have been the recipient of  a few bad hair cuts (some of them a terrible idea that I now know were the side effects of PMS or trying to impress the wrong boy).  Now with over 10 years experience in this AWESOME industry I can shed some light on why and how this happened to me in the past and how it cannot happen to you in the future.

From cuticle sealers to hairspray, from foot creams to nail art, I have many a story to tell and many an answer to share. Some stories may leave you misty eyed, some leaving you wishing you were wearing a diaper because you laughed so hard you tinkled a little.  Stayed tuned my friends. Stay tuned.