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

Here is your Proof

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Last year I subscribed to FabFitFun. You have probably seen their ads on Instagram, Facebook or any other social media site. Let me tell you…it is FABULOUS! Every season yours truly is invited to try new products, full size products, not sample sizes. Everything from perfume, every makeup you can imagine, fitness accessories, jewelry, clothing and my all time favorite, hair products. Which brings me to today’s tale.

Over the years I had heard of Living proof. I had seen the product line in ads, in the monthly flyers from my beloved Sales Reps and even on some Salon shelves. We didn’t carry it at our Salon, though I always wondered if we should. The packaging was appealing, the price point was on par with the quality of the product, and well, Jennifer Aniston was their spokesperson, I mean, who doesn’t love her hair? …back to the tale at hand. For the Spring FabFitFun box, subscribers were given a sneak peek at their coming box and invited to purchase add-ons at a special price. As I was scrolling through the selections I came upon the Living proof restore line. As you all know, this “blonde” has tresses that are always in need of some TLC. So, I purchased the set and let me tell you, it was more than worth it.

Living proof is silicone free, sulfate free and is safe to use on all hair types,color treated and/or chemically treated.  One of their claims to fame is their patented OFPMA technology. This technology creates a thin, weightless, invisible shield around each hair strand to repel dirt and oil, so less shampooing during the week, it helps to eliminate frizz by blocking out humidity, polishes and protects and smooths your tresses without weighing them down.

Living proof restore Shampoo is a gentle cleanser for dry and damaged hair. It instantly restores damaged cuticles so they look and feel like new and helps to restore moisture levels to your hair.

Living proof restore Conditioner balances your hair’s moisture as well and offers all the qualities as the shampoo. It glides through the hair easily and rinses out with ease. It leaves your hair feeling soft and clean. …so soft in fact I kept making my daughter touch my hair.

Living proof restore Perfecting Spray is in a word, lovely. It is a lightweight detangling spray that offers time released conditioning and delivers instant hydration and a genuine softer feel and softer look to your hair- just ask my daughter. It add strength, smoothness and a natural shine. It also protects against UV and heat up to 400 degrees fahrenheit – perfect for those of us who adore our flat irons.

So there you have it Beauties, my tale of Living proof may be all the proof you need.

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

…what a pleasant surprise

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As you all are aware, yours truly is a hair care product guru. Self professed, but a guru none the less. For over 15 years the only products that I have allowed to touch my tresses were Salon Professional products, as those familiar with my blog know all to well. Over the years many a product have been given to me to try and I have always politely declined the offerings. Until last week. A friend of mine has started a new journey for herself and needed some insight into the products she was now attaching to her name, so I said “Give ’em to me. Let me try them and I will give you the straight goods.”. I was fully prepared to be disappointed and worried about the mess my hair would be in after using this product line. I was worried about the itch that would come after using a product containing so many natural properties – this gal has a sensitive scalp. As I began to wash my hair I was trying to think of how I would tell my friend the products were no good, until I felt the lather and felt how easily the shampoo rinsed out of my hair without leaving it in a tangled, matted mess. The treatment mask was even more of a surprise. …and don’t even get me started on the serum. The best part?!? No itch! So what are these products of which I speak? Well beauties, hold on to your hats…the products are Arbonne.

 

These babies are sulfate free, paraben free, free of artificial colors, vegan and certified gluten free. Created for all hair types from thick to thin, Arbonne Pure Vibrance line fortifies dull, chemically treated hair, restores lustre, cleanses the hair without drying out the hair, and helps to retain color vibrancy and longevity.

Lustre Fortifying Shampoo – offers a gentle lather that rinses out of the hair with ease. It contains, among other ingredients;

  • Rice extract = promotes strength, reduces breakage
  • Artichoke extract = conditioning agent, maintains shine and color and the integrity of the hair
  • White Tea extract = protection against environmental stressors (U.V. etc…).

Hair Revitalizing Masque – glides through the hair with ease. A treatment to be used 1 – 2 times a week. Leaves the hair feeling like you have just left the salon. No greasy residue or lifeless hair.

ColorLast Hair Serum – a gem of a serum. I have use countless serums in my day and this baby surpassed my expectations. Having fine hair, most serums leave my hair greasy, weighed down and lifeless – but not this one! My hair felt soft and the volume was still intact. Created for all hair types, can be applied to damp or dry hair (I prefer on dry hair). Some of the stars of this serum are;

  • Linseed extract = color preserving
  • Argan = removes brittleness and restores shine
  • Abyssinian Oil = absorbs quickly and enhances moisture to promote shine

***This gem is Humidity Resistant (helps to seal the hair cuticle) = NO FRIZZ!

So, there you have it Beauties. That Girl in the Red Coat has something to admit. I have used a non-Salon product line on my hair and my tresses and I lived to tell about it. Arbonne…what a pleasant surprise.

 

 

Business, That girl in the red coat

The “Key” to sales

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There is a word that seems to invoke fear in many Salon owners and stylists alike. The word is retail. Now, before you hide under the covers, I am here to tell you to have no fear. Retail is your friend. Retailing product in your Salon increases profits, helps to ease the financial drain of your overhead and most importantly, keeps your clients hair in the beautiful state it was in at their last appointment and in tip top shape until they see you again. Saryna Key is a line that can do all of the above.

 

Yes, there are many oils in the market. It seems all brands have jumped on the oil bandwagon, so many Salons and stylists think “What’s the point of carrying this line when there are so many others out there?”, “I don’t know how to sell it.” or my all time favorite “Oh, my client’s won’t buy that.”. Well, I am here to help you understand why you should have Saryna Key as a brand in your Salon and how to sell it. Once you educate yourself, you can educate your client. Once a client understands the value of the product, most will not even blink at the cost. Plain and simple.

 

In my experience, many times we get caught up in the ingredients of a product, which I admit are important, to the stylist. The client…not so much. Our clients need to know how to use the product, how much, how often and in what order. So, I am here to tell you how I sold Saryna Key to our clients and our customers. You’re welcome.

Every woman I spoke to asked me the same question. “What’s the difference between all these oils?”. (This is where educating yourself about Saryna Key and its competitors comes in handy.). Before I would answer, I would ask them the following questions;

–          What is the issue you are having with your hair?

–          Have you colored your hair at home?

–          Are you currently using drug store or professional products on your hair?

–          Does your hair fall limp easily?

–          Do you battle with your curl and frizz?

Asking these questions allows you to diagnose your client’s hair situation and give her the proper product. Once the question(s) had been answered, this is how I introduced Saryna Key;

Saryna Key is as an oil that repairs and restores your hair. Saryna Key is one of the only lines that has created separate oils in separate lines for each hair types, unlike other lines that have only one oil, and as we know, not all hair types are the same. 

  SarynaKey Damage Repair Oil SarynaKey Curl Line - That Girl in the Red Coat SarynaKey ColorIMG_20150112_140505

Then I would introduce the value of Saryna Key;

 It offers a better price point for their products. For instance, their 500ml Shampoo is the same price as the competitor’s 250ml bottle of Shampoo. I would introduce them to the Saryna Key selection, starting with the Damage line, then moving on to the Volume line, the Color line and finally the Curl line. I would wait for them to say “What about those?” and then would introduce their Dandruff Shampoo and the Neutralizing Pigment Shampoo (or purple shampoo if you prefer).

Then I would have a 2-3 minute consultation on how and when to use the products. I would explain how many times per week or month the treatment should be used. I would show them in my hand the amount of oil that would be needed. I would show them in my hair, (or theirs if they preferred) how to apply the oil and distribute it properly throughout their hair. I would show them how to mist the shine spray – how far to hold it away from their hair for even shine distribution. For our curly haired Beauties I would explain the importance of proper product application and drying time to avoid frizz and unruly curls.

…and that’s it. It really is that simple. Once the value of the product was presented and the time was taken to explain not only how the product works, but how to work with the product, another bottle (or two) of Saryna Key left the shelf.

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

A Blonde’s best friend

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As we all know, yours truly is a natural platinum blonde…well, I was until the age of 3. Fast forward 36 years and VOILA!, blonde once more. Over the years, my stylist, my reps. and my family have heard my moans of disappointment when the my true hair color of dark brown takes over my latest ‘do and the brassy tones begin to reveal themselves. I had given into the fact that although my hair would be platinum for a week or so and I could use a purple shampoo until I started to sound like Barney himself, the brassy gold tones were inevitable….until now!

Let me introduce you to Schwarzkopf BC Excellium Spray – Beautifying Silver Spray!

Schwarzkopf BC Excellium Spray

The powers that be and the gems at Schwarzkopf have created the ULTIMATE spray for us lighter blonde to platinum Blonde beauties.

Although BC Excellium is a line created for the ladies and gents with 70% – 100% silver/white mature hair, it’s hidden secret is it’s FAB! effect for lighter blonde to Platinum blonde…like me! It’s exclusive formula with silver pigments neutralizes yellow tones, adds shine and UV protection.

I have been using it daily for over a month now and am quite pleased. No staining. No altering of my hair color…except the removal of brassy tones. The spray did not alter the tone of my magenta streaks, unlike other products I have tried. …and it smells wonderful. To use; apply to wet hair, everyday if you wish, before applying any styling products. Blow dry and style.

Yours truly and her platinum almost 3 weeks after my color appointment…

That Girl in the Red Coat BC Excellium Spray              That Girl in the Red Coat BC Excellium Spray

 

Safe to say, I am a happy girl!

 

 

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

Tales of Truth – the final edition

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Well, here it is. The final edition of That Girl in the Red Coat’s Tales of Truth. I thought I had heard, seen and smelled (yes … smelled) it all. Over the past weeks, I have been proved wrong. With the full moon, a heat wave and news of the shop’s closure, it has been an interesting 2 weeks around the shop and I must say, I know for sure there is a higher power, because yours truly has been able to hold her tongue and keep it professional. So, gather ’round ladies and gents, boys and girls, for it is time for Tales of Truth.

  •  A woman came in looking for hard wax to do her own Brazilian wax at home…I guess she is really getting into representing the host of the summer Olympics. Anyway, as I showed her our selection, she asked me if instead of using a spatula to apply the wax, could she just use her fingers, like the last time. I asked her “The last time? I thought you said this was your first time?”. “Oh, it is. The place I go to, the girl says using her fingers was easier.”. I took a breath, swallowed the little bit of puke that came up and asked her if “her girl” wore gloves. “No. She just applied the wax, ripped, then put her finger back in the wax and did it again”. …..*THAT GIRL IN THE RED COAT tip – if your “wax girl” is using her fingers and double dipping with you, she is with everyone else. If you do not see gloves and a spatula….RUN!!!

 

  • Since the shop is closing, we have our products on sale. The signs say Everything on Sale. A woman came in and asked “Is everything on sale?”. “Yes, everything.”. She tilted her head to the side and said “So everything right? I’m not gonna get up to the counter and then you’ll pull the rug out from under me and charged me full pop on some things?”. I told her “That’s correct. Everything. No rug being pulled out.”. “Well, I’m gonna add up my total on my phone and it better match yours!”. …they matched.

 

  • A woman asked if she could return a product she bought a month ago and then buy it back with the new discount.

 

  • I was asked “Since you are closing, does this mean you won’t be open anymore?” …I am still trying to figure that one out.

 

  • A woman started to spray every hairspray she picked up. I let her know they weren’t testers. “What’s it matter? You’re closing anyways!”.

 

  • A woman came in for her hairspray. I let her know that unfortunately we had sold out of it and the owner was not ordering any more product. I shit you not, she leaned on the counter, turned her head to the side, spoke out of the side of her mouth and said “Listen, you order me 12. Sneak an order in. No one has to know. I’m good for it.”. …okay there Fredo.

 

  • We open at 9:30 a.m.. At 9:45 a.m. I hear the chirp of the Salon door and with it a shriek of “NO!!!!!!!” – so loud one of my stylist’s shut off her dryer and walked away from her client to see what the shouting was about. “You can’t close! You can’t! Where will I go now? You have ruined my whole day!!!!”. …and good morning to you as well.

 

  • “You’re not closing.” a woman said as she came in the shop. I told her the owner had decided to close. “No she didn’t. You’re not closing!”. It took 5 minutes to convince a woman that the shop was in fact closing.

 

  • A woman came up to the counter with her product and told me “I have a bone to pick with you! I was in last month and you said nothing about closing. You let me buy product at full price! I am not impressed!”. I let her know I understood her disappointment since I didn’t know a month ago either. …she stopped talking after that.

 

  • “Well, aren’t you just the most annoying thing today!” – what a woman said to me when she saw the shop is closing.

 

  • A woman came in, stared at me, stomped her feet, pouted then sat in the chair by the front door for 5 minutes staring at me without saying a word. (I know it was 5 minutes, because I timed it). When she finally stood she looked at me and said I was being unfair for closing the shop. I let her know the owner had decided to close and before I could explain why she told me “If you cared, you would have made her stay open. This is horrible. Now I have to drive further for my products!” …took every ounce of restraint to not say “time to get off your cross, someone needs the wood”

 

  • “Well, aren’t you shit out of luck. All you can do is this and now the shop is closing.” …just another gem bestowed on yours truly. …you would be happy to know I didn’t hold my tongue on this one and assured the woman that I was not just a girl standing in a shop.

 

  • As I rang through a women’s purchase, I told her the total and as she gave me the cash, she smirked and said “Shop’s closing huh. No job for you!”. …I know of the soup Nazi, guess she is the job Nazi.

 

  • “Where am I going to get my shampoo now?!” – something I hear at least 20 times a day. When I let them know they can check the local Salon’s “Can’t you call around to all the Salon’s for me?”….sometimes, there are no words.

Last but not least, the woman who flashed me her red bump riddled bikini line came in and said “Sorry to see you’re closing! Who’s gonna help me now? Who am I gonna show my issues to?!?”. …I…shit…you…not.

 

Tales of Truth

 

 

 

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

Bid adieu to dandruff

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Today’s tale is going to cover something most people try to cover up. Dandruff. For some, it is a pesky flake or two. For most, it is a little more. Dandruff is mainly caused by the skin cells on our scalp shedding too quickly.

The skin on our scalp continuously rejuvenates itself. In the case of dandruff, the skin decides to have a party, and instead of empty bottles scattered through your house, you are left with flakes on your scalp and unfortunately on your clothes. Dandruff can be caused by something as simple as dry skin, seasonal changes, stress or a reaction to a new fragrance. It is also caused by side effects of a less simpler condition such as psoriasis, eczema, or seborrheic dermatitis. For those who have dealt with dandruff, there are two things we know for certain: 1) most dandruff shampoos smell horrible and 2) most dandruff shampoos leave our hair feeling too dry or too oily. Until now. Let me introduce you to Saryna Key Anti-Dandruff Shampoo. This shampoo offers a potent source of Shea Butter combined with 5 natural oils, chamomile, and lavender that work together to clean and soothe the scalp and calm over active sebaceous glands. Zinc is naturally found in Shea butter, which is necessary to combat dandruff as it helps slow the turnover of skin cells. Being part of the Saryna Key family, the Anti-Dandruff shampoo offers an additional perks. It repairs your hair, created for all hair types, and is a color safe formula.

 

SarynaKey Anti Danduff Shampoo

 

 

 

 

 

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

Hair-surance

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

Tales of Truth – the 23rd Edition

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So here we are, at the 23rd. edition of That Girl in the Red Coat’s Tales of Truth. The past weeks have been, well, lets just say, interesting. The summer has arrived and with it the rising humidex and the lowering of common sense. So gather ’round ladies and gents, boys and girls for it is time for some Tales of Truth.

 

  • a woman came into the shop, came up to the counter and said “So, you do hair huh?”. I let her know that I personally do not, and offered to introduce her to one of our stylists. “So, you work here and don’t do hair huh?”. “That’s correct.” I told her I manage the shop and asked if I could help her with anything. She looked at me for a minute and then said “Yeah…where is the mailbox around here?”.

 

  • I was told my shop isn’t family friendly because I wouldn’t let a woman’s child try on the nail polishes that we have for sale. I was told that I should keep them out of children’s reach if I don’t want them touched.

 

  • A woman asked “Do you have toe nail files?”. I showed her our selection of emery boards and nail files. She sighed and looked perplexed. “Oh no! No toe nail files?!?”. It took me 5 minutes to convince a woman that she could use a nail file on her toenails, that nail files and emery boards can be used on finger nails and toe nails. “You promise nothing bad will happen?” she questioned. I assured her it will be fine. …I refrained from calling the authorities.

 

  • A woman asked me if the tweezers I sold were any good. I assured her that they were and that I actually own a pair. She asked me if I could get at those pesky hairs. I let her know that yes, even the shortest of eyebrow hair can be plucked with our tweezers. Then she asked “What about nipple hair?” …sweet baby Jesus, thankfully she didn’t feel the need to show me what she was talking about.

 

  • A woman was looking at our travel size display and sighing. I walked over and asked her if I could help her find something or if she had any questions. “No. I don’t know why I am looking at these. All they do is make me sad knowing I don’t travel.” ….oh my.

 

  • “Hey honey! You got any of those flat irons I could buy? Not for me. For my lady. A man like me don’t need these girly things” – Yep, said to yours truly as he adjusted himself, I shit you not.

 

  • I was asked if it was alright to use a travel size hair dryer at home…you know, because it is meant for travelling. …sigh

 

  • Last but not least…I was asked if shampoo would help hair…down there. (her words, not mine). You see, because it gets dry and itchy – HEY! If I gotta go through it, so do you. I told her it would be best to talk to her doctor about her south of the border issues as I searched for my hand sanitizer

 

Tales of Truth

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

…my stylist said…

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“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, Hair Care, health and wellness, That girl in the red coat, writing

Taking a Quantum leap

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Yours Truly has some exciting news. I am officially a Retail Consultant! Thanks to the beauties at Piidea Canada and the powers that be, next week I will be conducting two retail consultations for a Salon group in Hamilton. To say I am excited is an understatement. To prepare for the upcoming evenings, I began to research the product lines that these Salons now carry. Their main focus is Quantum and after using this product line over the past weeks, I can understand why. So being me, I have a little review for you all.

QUANTUM

 

Located in Montreal, Quebec Canada, Quantum is a dynamic part of the global beauty group Shiseido (under the Zotos International Inc. division). Quantum’s products are cruelty free (not tested on animals) and Quantum products are eco-responsible = uses green technology to produce their products and uses recycled packaging whenever possible. *Quantum is now able to bottle it’s products in eco-friendly packaging containing up to 70% Post Consumer Recycled (PCR) Content.

Quantum prides itself on it’s Micro V technology. With it’s blend of Keratin, amino acids, silk protein and vitamins, Quantum products can deliver lasting nourishment, moisture, strength and beauty to all hair types, all the while, offering UV protection and anti oxidants to protect your investment in your hair color. Quantum offers an array of shampoo’s & conditioner’s for every hair type/ hair issue and offers a great selection of styling product for any style. Many of their styling products are alcohol free. Here is a sampling of some of their FAB! products;

QUANTUM PROTECTIF Moisturizing Care – a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. This gem packs a moisturizing punch! …most moisturizing shampoo’s make me nervous for they usually leave my hair a lifeless, greasy mess. What I loved about it? I have baby fine hair, just lots of it and this shampoo did not weigh down my hair or leave it lifeless. My hair felt silky and soft and I was still able to get volume and bounce with my styling products.

QUANTUM FIXATION Mousse – a volumizing mousse that offers a firm hold. An alcohol free formula that also adds some shine with the added benefit of thermal styling protection. Being a “non-blonde” blonde, I need all the help I can get from keeping my tresses looking fuzzy and dried out. This mousse offered great volume and didn’t get sticky.

QUANTUM FINALE FORTE – A maximum hold hairspray that offers humidity resistance. Although it is a maximum hold hairspray, I could still restyle my hair without a flaky mess being left behind throughout my hair. I also found it helped with static – the furnaces best friend.

QUANTUM HUMIDITY GUARD – a humidity resistant spray that offers thermal protection. Those familiar with my tales may remember my Monday Motivator on this gem

Monday Motivator – Quantum Humidity Guard

QUANTUM REFRESHER – an invisible dry shampoo. Yes, you read that correctly, an invisible dry shampoo. You see, most dry shampoo’s leave a powdery residue on the scalp after it has been applied. Quantum’s Refresher does not. Just spray where needed. No mess. No fuss.

Quantum has introduced a new line – Quantum Ultra that offers an array of products from mousse to hairspray. The following are the products that I have tried and gotta say, I am a fan!

Quantum Ultra

QUANTUM ULTRA SHINE – a dry oil spray for the hair and the body. It’s lightweight formula locks in color, adds shine and a silky texture. It helps to reduce frizz and flyaways …and it’s smells heavenly

QUANTUM ULTRA FIBRE – a fibrous texturizing taffy. A cream that acts like a wax! Offers a medium, flexible hold that can easily be restyled. *the fibres help to separate the hair to create movement. When working with the product, you will see the fibres in your hand, but not in your hair. (pssst…..if you like Schwarzkopf OSIS Thrill – you are gonna love this!).

 

Another perk of Quantum…their price point. All Shampoo’s and Conditioner’s come in a 500ml bottle that costs less than most 300ml bottles from other companies. All their styling products are between $2.00 – $5.00 less per bottle and preform just as well as their competitor’s. It’s a win win.