Beauty, Business, communication, Hair Care, That girl in the red coat, Women

…nudge

2 Comments

Okay Universe, I feel your nudge.

 

…it’s been quite a week! Long story short, one door closes and another opens. The shop is closing. Everyone has a journey and a path that is best suited for them and their lives and must do what is best for them, hence the owner’s decision to close the shop and move on to a place that is more suited for her vision. She is a wonderful stylist and will continue to do well, of that I am certain. As for yours truly, I am excited to see what is around every corner. I love the Beauty industry and anticipate great things.

For those familiar with my blog, you know of my “go for it!” attitude. Well, it’s safe to say, it’s time I take a dose of my own medicine and go for it. What “it” is exactly, I do not know. What I know for sure is this; I will continue to blog and I will continue to be an Independent Retail Consultant. The support and the kindness that has been bestowed upon me these last few days has been humbling and, quite honestly, a huge boost to my ego and for that I am grateful beyond words. I am approaching my 44th birthday and many opportunities are presenting themselves so I got a feeling 44 is gonna be FAB!.

So, stay tuned Beauties! Stay tuned.

 

 

 

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

Luster-licious

4 Comments

This morning, did you find yourself looking at your reflection and your dry tresses, wondering where the shine and vibrancy of your color went? Did the thought “I wonder if I could pull off a pixie cut?” pass through your mind because you felt there isn’t anything to help your hair and return it to what it once was. Well Beauties, do I have news for you. There is a new kid on the block and it will become your new bff! The Beauties at Joico have created a real gem. Let me introduce you to Kpak Color Therapy Luster Lock!

Joico Kpak Color Therapy Luster Lock INSTANT Shine and Repair Treatment!

Luster Lock offers a FAB! glow, shine and vibrancy to your color treated tresses. It is formulated for all hair types, from fine to thick. For blondes, brunettes, highlights, lowlight, ombres…you name it…Luster Lock rejuvenates any color, all the while boosting your hair’s strength to make it 9 times more resistant to breakage. *For this non-blonde blonde, let me tell you, it’s like the heavens opened up and the angels began to sing!

With it’s formulation of nourishing Manketti oil and Argan Oils Luster Lock repairs and seals the hair’s outer protective layer to lock in color vibrancy. Silk, soy and seaweed extract help to add some slip to prevent damage during styling. Luster Lock offers two application choices;

  • apply to dry hair as a pre shampoo treatment for that extra boost of repair and protection.

 

  • apply to clean, damp hair. Leave in for a minute or two, then rinse with cool water. Dry and style as usual.

Myself, I prefer the old fashioned application on clean, damp hair. Luster Lock brightened up my magenta, added luster to my blonde and did not weigh down my fine tresses in the least. I found my hair to feel softer and my flat iron glided with ease. (Those of us who like to play with our color know all to well the tug/skid feeling we can get from our flat iron).

So, before you pick up the pair of scissors closest to you or call your stylist to book an inaudible hair appointment, save yourself some grief and your stylist nightmares from hearing the sobs through the phone and go get yourself some Luster Lock. I promise you, you will not regret it.

 

 

 

 

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

Hair-surance

1 Comment

Last week I had a woman come in looking for a silicone oil for her hair. I asked her why she was looking for a silicone oil for her hair and she told me “that’s what my stylist said to use to fix my extensions, to make the frizz go away and to help get the knots out.”. I asked her how long she had her extensions in for and she told me 1 week. (I swear, I would have guessed a month.). “Oh, I see” I said. “Yeah, I know they look horrible. My stylist told me I am not taking care of them properly. I guess I am just stupid or something.”. It was then that I asked her if her stylist had told her how to take care of her extensions to which she said “Yes. She told me to go to the drugstore and make sure the shampoo was moisturizing and then she said…” it was then that I stopped her. I actually put my hand up and said “Stop right there. Hold on one minute.”. I took a breath and said “this is not your fault. I am sorry that you spent so much money ($400.00 by the way) and were given the wrong instruction.”. I let her know that she should wrap her head each night, or at least put her hair in a low ponytail/braid before bed. That only professional Salon sulfate free shampoo should be used with extensions. That a flat iron spray should be used when using a flat iron – not a silicone oil like her stylist told her. The poor girl just looked at me. Her eyes began to well up, then stopped. Her look turned from despair to anger, and rightfully so. “My stylist didn’t tell me any of that. In fact, she made me feel like I was an idiot and disrespecting her when I told her I thought there was a problem with my extensions!”. We spent the next 20 minutes talking product and after I rang her through, she thanked me for my honesty. “You are the first person who told me the truth about my extensions”.

The point of today’s tale? Clients and customers come to our Salon’s because they trust us. They trust us with their family secrets, the latest neighbourhood gossip, their fears and their self doubt. Most importantly, they trust us with their hair. It is our responsibility as stylists, Salon managers and Salon owners to guard that trust and help our clients and customers to protect their investment in themselves. It is our responsibility to explain;

  • the importance of the proper shampoo, especially for color clients. Explaining that professional Salon shampoo will protect the their color whereas drugstore shampoo will effect the vibrancy of their color = color fade.

 

  • how to apply shampoo – to emulsify it in your hands, then apply mid shaft and work your way up.

 

  • that sulfate free shampoo’s do not make lots of bubbles or suds. To make more of a lather, add more water. Adding more shampoo just wastes the shampoo and leaves the hair greasy and lifeless.

 

  • the difference between leave in conditioners and conditioning treatments. Yes, sadly many woman I have helped were using a conditioning treatment and leaving it in, which in turn messed up their hair, on many levels. * I ALWAYS stress the importance of rinsing out vs. leaving in. Trust me, your client may look at you like you have three heads, but they will thank you for it later.

 

  • all mousses and root boosts are thermal activated. No blow drying? No volume. Plain and simple.

 

  • the importance of thermal protection. Every client that uses a flat iron MUST have a flat iron spray at home and it MUST be used each time a flat iron is used. *the hair spray today will be cooked into the hair tomorrow without the use of a thermal spray.

 

  • All oils and serums should be applied to damp hair BEFORE blow drying or to dry hair AFTER using a flat iron or curling iron. * oils and serums are not thermal protectants. I want you to think of a hot pan on the stove – what happens when you add oil to a hot pan? Exactly.

 

  • how to take care of extensions. How to wash them. How to style them. Which products are best to use.

 

  • how to take care of their hair after a perm

 

  • how to maintain smooth tresses after a chemical straightening

 

  • how to wash their hair when they have had vibrant colors applied.

In my experience, almost every customer thanks me for being honest with them, for taking the time to explain things to them, the how’s and the why’s of hair product and hair care. Take a moment to speak with your clients about their hair and hair care routine, explain the importance of protecting their investment in themselves. They will thank you for it. As for me…no thanks needed.

 

Beauty, Business, communication, Hair Care, That girl in the red coat, Uncategorized, Women

…my stylist said…

1 Comment

“My stylist said I should use a volumizer.”. “My stylist said that my hair needs a treatment.”. “My stylist said I am using the wrong hairspray.”. These are a sampling of the phrases I hear on a daily basis, more then once, from women and men who have just left their stylist’s chair and have come to see me at our Salon/shop for their hair products. Many times they look confused and more often than not, they look and feel insulted. They have just been told there is a problem with their hair, or the products they are using and were not given a solution. After discussing what it is that their stylist said and more importantly, after I ask them what they think and what they want, I hear an even more common question… “Why didn’t my stylist tell me that?”.

Over the years I have realized one constant in our industry, a key component to any Salon visit is being neglected. Retail. Retailing the products that we use to help achieve our client’s new found love of their hair. Products that we use to keep the vibrancy of their color and the integrity of their hair. Letting your client leave without the proper products and tools to keep the love affair with their hair alive is, well, mean. Yes, mean. Think about it. Your client leaves your chair feeling prettier or more handsome (cannot forget our gents). They have a spring in their step. They are walking with more confidence. They like their reflection. Then the next day, as they are standing in their bathroom trying to get their hair to look as good as the day before, their self confidence begins to fade and they begin to feel stupid. Not giving your clients the proper products, tools and instruction is literally pulling the rug from under them. No one likes to feel like the butt of a joke.

  • First and Foremost! ALWAYS ask what products your client is using at home.
  • when washing your clients hair and you realize that they need to use a clarifying shampoo, explain to them what a clarifying shampoo is and why it should be used.
  • bright and vibrant colors are huge right now. For your clients with multi tone brights, explain the importance of how to wash their hair, that each color should be washed separately for the first few washes so that the colors do not start to bleed together.
  • when discussing the need for a conditioning treatment, explain what that is. Many times the women I have spoken to thought that they were supposed to leave the treatment in, which in turn made their hair look and feel worse than when before using it.
  • explain to your client that a volumizing shampoo and conditioner are a good start but if they want height and volume throughout their hair, styling products must be used. *Trust me, I know of what I speak. Many women I speak to thought that they were doing something wrong because the shampoo wasn’t making their hair look like it did at the Salon.
  • if your client has poker straight hair, let then know that a shampoo for curly hair will not make their hair curly.
  • when using mousse, explain the importance of shaking the can and dispensing it upside down. *That Girl in the Red Coat tip – explain it’s like using a can of whipped cream – if not shaken and dispensed upside down, nothing happens but a great big mess.
  • explain the difference between the hold factors of the hairspray you are using. If your client doesn’t want to fuss with her hair throughout the day, that soft hold factor spray she picked up at the drugstore is probably the culprit of her bad hair days.
  • for your clients that use their flat iron on a daily basis, explain the importance of thermal protectant sprays. They should be used every time the flat iron is used. Every time.
  • if you see you client is dealing with dandruff, instead of just pointing it out, explain different ways they can apply shampoo to their scalp and offer them a Salon professional dandruff shampoo to use at home. *Most brands offer a dandruff/scalp shampoo, you just have to ask.
  • when it comes to waxes and pomades, find out if your client likes a matte finish or prefers a little shine, what kind of hold they prefer and explain the difference.
  • always show your client how to use the products. How to dispense them, how to apply them and how much to use.
  • show your client that every bottle has directions on how to use the product on the back of the bottle, in case they forget.

Ask  your client how they want their hair to look. Ask them if they like to blow dry their hair or not. Ask them if they use a flat iron or curling iron. Ask if they have a water softener. Ask them if there is anything about their hair they would like to change. Asking these questions opens all the doors to understanding your clients needs and wants and in turn, the doors to selling them what they need for their hair are opened too.

Retailing products, tools and giving instruction on how to use said products is a key component to any consultation/appointment. Plain and simple. Your clients are your advertising, they make or break your business and your reputation. If your client only likes themselves, their hair and you while they are sitting in your chair, pretty soon they will looking for another chair to fill.

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

Monday Motivators – Joico Flip Turn & Hair Shake

1 Comment

It’s Monday. Again. In my corner of the world, Spring has sprung, the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, tulips are in bloom and I am not outside. After a long, cold, dreary winter I am aching to be out in the warm sun. Alas, someone has to man the desk and pay the piper. Since I can’t get out and tip toe through the tulips, I thought I might as well have a great hair day, and now you can too. Let me introduce you to some gems from Joico…

Joico Flip Turn and Hair Shake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FlipTurn Hairspray and Hair Shake Liquid to Powder Texturizer!

 

Joico FlipTurn –  I have to say, is one of my favorite hairsprays to use. Created for all hair types, it offers;

  • a very strong hold factor that is still workable – you can brush through it and keep your desired style or begin again
  • fast drying = no crunchy tresses
  • it is a volumizing hairspray that adds shine and volume for up to 72 hours
  • offers thermal protection.
  • is humidity resistant = locks out frizz
  • the scent is wonderful
  • A cool feature of this hairspray… it can be sprayed upside down, side ways or right side up without clogging the nozzle = any style can be achieved.

 

Joico Flip Turn and Hair Shake

 

Joico Hair Shake  – is a liquid to powder finishing texturizer. Yep! Liquid to powder! If you like the results of volumizing powders from OSIS Dust It or SexyHair Powder Play but not a fan of the powdery mess, Joico’s HairShake is for you. HairShake offers;

  • texture and lift
  • touchable and moldable layering styling grip = easy to create and recreate styles.
  • lift and fullness at the root
  • fast drying residue free and grit free finish = no powdery residue
  • created for all hair types and lengths
  • the BEST scent ever – it smells like the beach! You will be transported to white sands, blue water, buff life guards offering you a cool drink….

HairShake is to be applied to dry hair. To apply, give the bottle a good a shake then apply as desired. This has become one of my favorite styling products and every client we use it on in the Salon buys one for themselves. Many of my customers who love their volumizing powders are now fans of HairShake. It offers hold, texture and volume. The one feature that made me a fan – if I wanted to change my style, I could brush through my hair with ease and begin again. My hair was not weighed down and there wasn’t a sticky residue.

So, for those of us with our noses pressed up against the window looking out on the beautiful day, may we find solace that although we may not be outside or at the beach, at least we are having a great hair day and are surrounded by the heavenly scents of the beach, thanks to Joico.

 

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

Monday Motivator – Joico INSTATINT

Leave a comment

Here we are again Beauties, it’s Monday. The sun is shining yet many I have met this morning are glum. Spring has finally sprung yet many have lost the spring in their step. Over the past weeks I have had many women call me brave because I have colored some of my hair magenta (courtesy of the FAB! Color Intensity line by Joico!).  I always thank them and follow up their compliment by telling them they could add some flair to their hair as well, and I am met with the same answers every time …  “Oh, I couldn’t do that”, “What would people say?” or the ever present “What if I think I like blue and then once I’ve done it I hate it?!”. Well ladies, and gents, have no fear for Joico INSTATINT is here!

joico INSTATINT INSTATINT offers five FAB! shades;

  • Fiery Coral (red)
  • Pink
  • Orchid (purple)
  • Sapphire Blue (a denim blue)
  • Mermaid Blue ( a turquoise blue)
For all those who are a tad skeptical or a wee bit worried about adding some flair to your hair, Joico INSTATINT is your answer. Truly a no commitment color. Always dreamed of having blue hair, only to realize blue hair feels like a nightmare? No worries! Just wash it out and give the red a whirl! Yep, INSTATINT washes out in one shampoo, every time. Being me, I have compiled a quick go to list, a what’s what of INSTATINT;
  • applied color lasts up to three days
  • washes out in 1 shampoo
  • is color safe = will not alter your existing hair color after INSTATINT is removed. Yes, it is safe for the blondest of blondes
  • easy to apply! Spray onto dry hair in short bursts. I prefer not to apply heat after color is applied, so I apply color after I am done with my flat iron.
  • the less you spray, the lighter the color.
  • the more you spray, the color becomes more vibrant
  • protect your clothing while applying the spray. Drape a towel over your shoulders.
  • color only lands where you direct it
  • does not stain your scalp, your hair line or your face
  • layer over existing vibrant shades to perk them up or to get you through until your next color appointment.
  • it is $10.45 a bottle. Yep! $10.45.
I am a week away from my color appointment and I gotta tell you, I love the Pink INSTATINT to keep my magenta looking vibrant. …I also added a touch of Mermaid Blue and Sapphire Blue because….why not 😉
Joico INSTATINT

 

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

Monday Motivator – Joico Humidity Blocker

1 Comment

Well, here we are again. It’s Monday. Mother Nature is having an identity crisis. In my neck of the woods we have seen snow, rain, sleet, freezing rain, snow and rain once again in the last 12 hours…and just to add a little kick to her ever present weather humour, Mother Nature has decided to keep humidity in the air and in turn, in our hair. Rain and humidity are in the forecast for the next few days, so for all of you who are trying to figure out how to tell the boss you will be late for work because you cannot get out of your car for fear of frizz and for all the Mom’s fretting over why you chose this week of all weeks to volunteer to chaperone a school field trip, fear and fret nor more! Let me introduce you to Joico Humidity Blocker.

Joico Humidity Blocker

A hidden gem in the Joico styling line. Joico Humidity Blocker literally creates a humidity block around each strand of hair, creating an invisible shield over your beloved tresses. It locks out the humidity and moisture in the air which means no frizz. At all. Created for all hair types, from our girls with curls to our ladies who are a fan of the flat iron, this gem is a perfect addition to your daily hair care routine. Joico Humidity Blocker offers a long lasting light hold, so it can also be used as a hairspray, for those who prefer a lighter hold to their hairspray.

For best results, use on dry hair. Once you have created the style you want for the day, and after all styling products have been applied, spray Joico Humidity Blocker all over your hair to lock out humidity and lock in your FAB! style.

From this day forward every time you hear “April showers bring May flowers”, you can rest assured that all the showers will bring are flowers, not frizz.

 

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

Time to Shine

Leave a comment

 

After its winter slumber, spring is upon us. The birds are chirping, the days are getting longer, everything seems better and brighter.  For many of us, the harshness of the winter weather, the dry blast of heat from the furnace and the ever present flat iron have become the enemy of our beloved tresses. The sun may be shining longer and brighter, our hair, not so much…until now. Let me introduce to you, from the SarynaKey Damage Repair line, your new best friend. Meet SarynaKey Damage Repair Gloss Spray.

SarynaKey Damage Repair Gloss Spray

SarynaKey Damage Repair Gloss Spray contains the healing benefits of Shea Butter, vitamins, amino acids and proteins that safe guard your hair and keep it hydrated. Healing and repairing the split ends that go along with dry, damaged hair all the while delivering a fantastic, natural shine. Formulated for all hair types, its lightweight formula will not weigh down fine hair, yet is potent enough for thick, coarse hair. No greasy residue and no brassy effect on blondes. It also contains UV filters to protect your color from the sun and environmental changes.

Some of my FAB! SarynaKey Damage Repair Gloss Spray Spring & Summer tips!

  • Apply pool side to help protect your color from the damage of chlorine and salt water * the chlorine/salt will adhere to the shine spray more than your hair = less damage to your hair and keeps your color vibrant.
  • Take it with you to the beach! Apply to your hair to protect your color from the sun’s U.V. rays.
  • After a day out at the beach or on the boat, spray on your hair as an instant refresher.
  • Your ends are looking a little fuzzy and you can’t get into the Salon for a trim? Spray a little SarynaKey Damage Repair Gloss Spray in your hands and rub into the ends of your hair = no more fuzzy ends and you are ready for a night on the town.

Beautiful, silky, shiny hair every day, thanks to SarynaKey.

Beauty, Business, communication, Hair Care, health and wellness, That girl in the red coat, Women

Monday Motivator – SexyHair Blonde Sexy Hair

Leave a comment

It’s Monday. If you are anything like yours truly, you a nursing an Easter sugar hangover…those damn crème eggs get me every year. In my corner of the globe Mother Nature cannot seem to make up her mind what season it is…one minute it’s spring with birds chirping, the next it’s fall with bitter cold winds, then onto winter with flurries only to return back to spring a few minutes later. In the midst of these seasonal disorders, yours truly has come across a real gem for all blondes…natural and otherwise. Let me introduce you to Sexy Hair’s Blonde Sexy Hair

Sexy Hair Blonde Sexy Hair

Blonde Sexy Hair by the beauties at Sexy Hair Concepts has been formulated to meet all the needs of our blonde tresses. With their key ingredients of quinoa, chamomile, honey and vitamins, among others, this line provides moisture, strength, shine and keeps our blonde, blonde and bright. …also a lovely line for our silver haired beauties.

Blonde Sexy Hair Sulfate Free Bombshell Blonde Shampoo – A daily shampoo that eliminates product build up and keeps blondes hydrated and bright and protects against your color fading.

Blonde Sexy Hair Sulfate Free Bombshell Blonde Conditioner – A daily conditioner that strengthens and shields the hair’s surface to help prevent breakage and reduce split ends. Provides natural moisture and helps to protect against color fading while leaving the hair silky and shiny. Anti oxidants protect against environmental damage.

Blonde Sexy Sulfate Free Bright Blonde Shampoo – Blonde Sexy Hair’s answer to a purple/blue shampoo. This gem rids your hair of those annoying yellow/brassy tones we pick up from product and pollution build up. ….pssst….nicotine is a nasty culprit of adding brass to your tresses…if you a smoker and you are blonde or have silver/grey hair, once you quit, the yellowing will slow down….oh, and your health will improve too. (insert wink and a smile).

 

Being me, here is a little break down of the what and why of the ingredients that make this line such a gem for blondes;

Chamomile = enhances the vibrancy of the color, keeping blondes & silver bright

Honey = helps to restore moisture. Blonde hair can tend to be on the drier side …something all non-blondes know far too well.

Quinoa = a gluten free protein that repairs the hair by penetrating the hair’s cortex for a more deep conditioning effect and result.

Vitamin B5 = capable of penetrating deep into the hair to improve the condition of the hair and helps to reduce the formation of split ends.

Green Tea & Vitamin E (anti oxidants) = protects the hair from environmental damage (pollution, wind etc…) and U.V. rays

Kervais = provides strength and aids in reducing breakage. …again, all us non-blondes know how fragile our hair can become.

Sulfate free = no suds, plain and simple. When using the shampoo, if you prefer a little more sudsy action, add more water to your hair, not more shampoo. Using too much of a sulfate free shampoo will leave a residue on your hair leaving your hair feeling and looking lifeless.

So, the skies may be grey today, but my blonde is bright…and yours can be too.

 

.

Beauty, Business, communication, Hair Care, That girl in the red coat, Women, writing

Let it be

2 Comments

” …And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light that shines on me. Shine on until tomorrow, let it be”

– The Beatles

(I have had this song in my head since last night, and after what happened today, I knew I had to write about it)

I met a woman this morning that is the inspiration for today’s tale. It’s been a gray couple of days in my neck of the woods and being 2 days into Daylight Savings, it is safe to say I have prepared myself for whatever may come at me, from a nasty glare because the Black blinc mascara is on back order or a flat iron being hurled across the front desk …yes, it has happened – I have witnesses.

A woman came into the shop looking to purchase hair color to “fix the mess” on top of her head (her words, not mine). I asked her what color she had been using and when she told me that she has been using box dye from the drugstore, I suggested that she see a stylist to help her with her color, that trying to correct a box dye mishap is not easy. I let her know our stylists were available later this week, or if she couldn’t wait, I could suggest some Salons in town. She huffed at me and then told me “You are no help. At all. What a waste of time!”. Being me, I couldn’t leave it at that, so I asked her “Are you alright?”. She stared at me. “It’s just you seem upset and not just over your hair color.”. She continued to stare for a few moments then said “I’m turning 45 this weekend and my life is nothing like I thought it would be.”. It was quiet for a minute, I looked at her and said “Preachin’ to the choir sister!” which made her laugh. We began to chat and she let me know about her friends and their marriages and their kids and she felt like a failure because she is now a single parent and had to take a job in retail – to which she caught my eye, realized what she had just said, looked petrified and said “No offense!” to which I laughed and said “None taken”. I then let her glimpse behind the curtain and told her a little about me.

I can remember looking at my reflection in my bathroom mirror, tears streaming down my face, wondering what the fuck I had done with my life. – sorry for the “f” shot mom – it’s fitting. I, like many women and men, had fallen victim to the social media standard of life – as I like to call it. You know what I’m talking about – the perfect poses, the happy families, the awesome VACAY! photos. Seeing the lives of the people from your past and they seem to have it all – the great career, the cars, the house(s), you name it, they got it. What I came to realize, after wiping my face, having a vodka & tonic  and a hysterectomy (I don’t call it getting the stupid cut out for nothing) is that not everyone is what they “post” to be. ( not my quote – came across it and loved it). Stop measuring your worth on the lives of others. It ain’t worth it. I may not have a summer house in the Hamptons, I do have the love of a good man, and have had his love for over 23 years. I may not be jet setting to New York (yet), I do have a 19 year old daughter that can’t wait to tell me her exciting news. I may not be in the fortune 500, I am a blogger who has a worldwide following, I have been published and I own my own Retail Consulting business. Over the past years, if my life had been any different, I would not be who I am today. Plain and simple.

After chatting for a while longer, my customer asked who I would suggest to fix her hair. She wanted to come to our Salon, but didn’t want to wait. She wanted something today. So I gave her a few names and numbers. She thanked me for my time and for the chat. I told her “anytime.”. As she was leaving I told her to just “let it be” – to which she said “I love that song!” and she turned out our door with a little spring in her step.