Journey of a Budding SuperStar Hairstylist

M.I.A.

2009-12-29T04:00:00.000-08:00

Without getting into too much detail; the career has slowed with the forces of life taking the front seat. I am excited about what 2010 is sure to bring and will be updating this site soon.

Photoshoot Tomorrow!

2009-05-26T10:49:00.000-07:00

The Canadian Hairstylist of the Year Awards — the Contessas — are Canada’s longest-running and most prestigious awards honouring excellence and creativity in salons and among salon professionals across Canada.

...Everyone needs a gimick..

2009-05-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

China - In a bid to attract more customers, meaning more business, a Chinese barber is practicing a unique way of cutting hair. Wang Xiaoyu, a Kung fu-trained barber in Changsha, China, stands upside down while going about his scissor work. There is no mention of a shampoo or blow dry!

Hair's The Thing... info

2009-05-12T10:23:00.000-07:00

"I'm just looking to get a Trim"

2009-05-12T10:16:00.000-07:00

A "Trim" is the same as a "Cut". There are no discounts for trims! You, the consumer, are paying for the hairstyle I leave on your head - not the quantity of hair I remove. Imagine using this same scenario when negotiating with a painter; "I'd like the whole room painted, but I only want it to be in white". If, after this illustration, you still maintain that there's a difference - get out of my salon and to the chopshop at the other end of town!

Contributing to a Good Cause

2008-11-08T07:11:00.000-08:00

I'll Shave Mine if You Shave Yours...

2008-11-01T05:00:00.001-07:00

Jimmy "Lightshow" Reedyk, manager of Chumleigh's on George Street and local puppet entertainer is shaving his beard to raise money for the Grace Partners in Faith Brigade to help children in Honduras. The popular puppet entertainer invites people to visit the store November 1/2008 @ 10am to make donations. Darryl Andrews from Hair's The Thing... will shave the beard away at 1pm.

The Metro Man

2008-09-14T10:19:00.001-07:00

Stylish Opinion & Advice from a Metro Man!

Everyone has seen a couple with a ridiculously good looking woman and a guy who looks slapdash and unclean, then has likely thought, “What on earth is she doing with him?”

If a woman is going to put in the time and effort to look good, she wants her man to do the same—out of courtesy, respect and, of course, adoration for his woman. A highly groomed man will attract a woman who values her own hygiene and appearance just as much. Like attracts like, even when it comes to mates.

From fashion failure to fashion forward, the latest trend has your average Joe transforming himself into the ultimate cosmopolitan gentleman. The term for this brave man surrendering to the world of manicures and makeovers is "Metro-Man."

Forget going to the chop-shop for a quick haircut, today’s gentlemen know the City’s best stylists, where to go for a grooming session featuring manicures and pedicures, waxing treatments for back and eyebrows, a dental bleaching, as well as a consultation with a nutritionist and personal trainer.

Already ritzy destinations like Loews Hotels nationwide have spotted the trend and are offering “The Metro Man makeover”, which is a 24-hour ‘transformation’, featuring services to educate and pamper any man. The package features a two-hour tasting meal, includes a cooking, wine and drink-mixing lesson with the hotel's Chef, and an etiquette lesson by the hotel concierge!

So, remember tough guys, If your woman makes the effort to get dolled up, it would make sense then that you would do the same!

Contessa Hair Awards

2008-07-24T02:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday models and photograpy were completed for my first entry in the Contessa Hair Awards.

705.868.8905

2008-07-13T09:31:00.001-07:00

In The News

2008-07-13T09:23:00.000-07:00

As Reported in the
"Peterborugh This Week" Newspaper

911 Wednesdays

How does a hairstylist say 'thank you' to a firefighter, cop or paramedic? With a discount haircut, of course.

Sara Graziano and Darryl Andrews at Hair's The Thing... are offering student rates to these professionals and city councillors. They were inspired after reading this newspaper's section about the Peterborough Fire Department's 100th anniversary,

"Hair's the thing... decided in its own small way, to acknowledge the many great essential service persons we have working in Peterborough," Sara says.

"It's just our way of saying thanks to the many people who make this city one we want to live in."

Appointments recommended, walk-ins welcome.
(705) 868-8905

Come Visit Us!!

2008-06-14T15:05:00.000-07:00

Hair's the thing...
160 Dublin Street @ George St. N.
Peterborough, ON
K9H 3B5
(705)868-9805

"Hair's the Thing..." New Look!!!

2008-06-09T04:19:00.000-07:00

Mid-Renovation - "Hair's The Thing..."

2008-06-05T08:08:00.001-07:00

"Hair's The Thing"!!!

2008-05-10T05:12:00.000-07:00

I've got my first salon!! Eleven years ago it was launched to no doubt great excitment. Since then it's been grounded by the people running it. The challenge for me is to restore the reputation and to take the 'bones' of the salon and update them. This by no means will be 'my great salon in the sky', but rather a solid starting point to further develop my craft. Here are the before pictures:

Earning a Living

2008-05-10T05:10:00.000-07:00

TBU

Hair Colour Tidbits

2008-05-04T04:12:00.000-07:00

The more permanent a colour, the more damage to the hair shaft. Whereas, the more temporary a colour formula, the more subtle the change it can create, while the more permanent a colour is, the more extreme the change it can produce. This has to do with chemistry.

Colours that wash out in less than 12 shampoos - temporary and semi-permanent colours - simply coat the hair shaft; because they aren't hanging around, they don't need chemicals to push pigment molecules into the strand's cuticle layer.

Not Always Pleasant - How to Handle Working Alongside a Bitch

2008-05-04T03:54:00.000-07:00

You can't always pick who you work with. That I've found to be certainly true as an apprenticing hairstylist. No doubt there's many loser stylists in my City and yours. These career basement cutters with attitudes like they know the industry...they only know how to pillage the industry of establishing a decent price for a haircut. I've met stylists who take offense to my strong words about trying to raise the industry standand; a standard which if I could raise, would earn them more money. I won't comment on what's wrong with these people, as I really don't care. My advice to other budding SuperStar stylists would be to leave these people alone; don't stay in the salon any longer then necessary to learn some skills and know honestly, really honestly, that the industry does carry some technicians that are filled with jealousy, head issues and oft-repeating bad skills, but the future is bright out there folks....hope to see you there!

Tips For Cutting Children's Hair

2008-04-28T13:46:00.001-07:00

Cutting children's hair is typically a chore. There are crying kids, screaming kids, kids who don't want their hair cut, or parents who are skeptical about their child's hair cut. I've enlisted many conversations about children haircutting form many long-term/established stylists and the feedback is alway interesting.

Here are the most common suggestions as to how to deal with difficult children: have a parent hold the child on his/her lap[#1}. This will help when you're trying to cut certain spots of the head. The person holding the child could hold the head still to ensure an accurate cut. ...Sounds like too much trouble for me. If the child is this resistent that they need to be 'restrained', perhaps a future visit to the salon is necessary.

There's also giving the little monster a toy or small treat [#2]to help distract a worried child from the haircutting process. One of my favourites: if the child is a heavy sleeper, triming their locks while they sleep[#3}.

THE 'Golden Rule' is to start with the bangs [#4]first. Typically, this is the most important part to the parents -keeping hair out of the kid's eyes. Should the child refuse going on, at least you have the most important part done...translation...you can charge for the cut, which above all else is the most important aspect of any haircut.

HAIR ARTIST

2008-03-31T08:52:00.000-07:00

I will no longer use the term 'hairstylist' to describe my trade. Instead, starting today, I am using the term 'hair-artist' to describe myself.

Does this mean that all my haircuts are works of art? To answer that I must say and I quote:

"No, even the finest collecion has a bit of crap in it"
-D.T. 2008

An Open Letter to the Hair Industry

2008-03-31T06:27:00.001-07:00

Peterborough,ON Canada disgusts me. I should qualify; the City is wonderful, but the hairstylists of record are an embarrassment to the profession and should have their licenses stripped. Now, of course this is a blanket statement, exceptions do exist, but for the most part, the majority of hairstylists are in breech of the Barbering 'Code'. In the Cosmetology textbook or Standardized textbook of Barbering, the ethics and principles of the hairstylist are clearly outlined. It notes, Hairstylists starting a cut-rate shop openly declares and advertises the inferiority of their standards and services - a result which does nothing but harm all members of the profession. This is the case in Peterborough. If one hairstylist opens a shop and charges $10 a haircut, another will open that charges $8. Imagine if other tradepersons would operate this way; anyone know where I can find a Plumber for $8 a job? To be a member of our industry and destructively devalue the trade should carry repercussions. I believe there should be a review of hairstylists' actions.

I witness everyday the lack of respect, people at large in Peterborough have for myself and other stylists in this City due to the undisciplined principles hairstylists here have previously shown. These actions have resulted in poor wages and a littering of the City of cut-rate shops. The sad reality of Petrerborugh is that in order to justify a $40 haircut; one must open a quasi-spa and invest thousands of dollars on decor in order to create an illusion of success rather then letting a qualified skilled artist who promotes the Barber Science make a living.

I am hoping that through discussions with my fellow tradespersons we can collectively decide that our skillset needs an established value in this community and therefore together raise haircut prices by 20%. This won't cleanse the stench already existing here, but it would be a start.

Good Luck Khyber!!

2008-03-07T21:29:00.000-08:00

Khyber Khattak from the Peterborough Youth Action Alliance [PYAA] took his dedication to the next level with some hair tattooing. Khyber is entering a regional contest for 'best hair' sponsored by the Ontario Health Unit.

Past Hairstyles can be FUN

2008-02-25T19:40:00.000-08:00

Back in the early 90's I sported this Mullet/Hockey hair. Everyone should have a photo or two of horrible hair style from their past. Since I'm far removed from this look and now being a hairstylist, I wonder what styling tools would I use today on this style. I would love to have learned what I would've looked like if I had used hot tools on this mop! Perhaps I'll just need to grow my hair long again!! Not!!

Sunshrine Sets

2008-02-17T07:27:00.000-08:00

Sometimes a good work opportunity doesn't work for simple reasons. Sometimes it might be complex issues and sometimes it just might be a bit of both. In any event, I find myself two months into the year without a salon to work. Sunday was the Lord's day and yesterday was the new 'Family Day' holiday, so today I will re-visit some salons that expressed interest in the past; but I had passed on.

The journey takes an unexpected early turn...stay tuned!!

In My Chair

2008-01-31T17:42:00.000-08:00

I'm often asked, What's the right hair style for me?". Determining a hair style for someone is part technique and part art.

First the science - sorry, but it’s necessary. Each face has its own unique structure. The shape of your face and head has a major role to play in the type of hair style you can wear best. Knowing the shape of your face before you head to the salon will help you choose the right hair style and will help you to communicate better with your stylist. That all sounds nice and dandy doesn’t it, but let's be honest in that, most clients show up at the salon and expect the stylist to make all the decisions, right? Hey, no problem - that's why we're the experts!

My philosophy on a good hair-cut has the right proportions and includes all the basic elements of balance, line and movement. The cut needs to be manageable and the hair should look great in its natural form even before it is styled. I encourage my clients to bring in photographs. Photos are a great resource and your stylist can look at a picture and tell quite immediately whether it will work or not work for your hair.

Another important thing to consider with a hair cut is the maintenance. Be honest to your hairstylist about your lifestyle. The last thing I want or any of my contemporaries wants, is to have you in public with a pitiable personal image that reflects poorly upon you and the hairstylist in question.

Now I have a client who has thin hair which used to be thick and curly [incredible things happen to hair after childbirth!]. She was concerned that this limited her choice of hair styles. Not at all I informed her, in fact this change in her hair-type coincides with the current hair craze of without doubt, the hottest hairstyle around - the Victoria Beckham 'Pob'. Bandwagon jumper Paris Hilton, along with Katie Holmes, Kimberley Stewart and singer Rhianna, has followed Posh Spice's lead and have catapulted this style to the heights of the Jennifer Anniston cut of a few years ago.

A ‘bob style cut’ resonates serious, but fun. The bob is a hugely requested style at SunShrine, especially the Katie Holmes version. People with finer hair and not too much of it can wear the bob best since thick, curly hair would require a lot of styling and maintenance to keep it in place. Of course, that doesn't matter if you've got the time....
The best thing about this haircut is how many variations there are to it. I kept the length of my clients hair much the same but a bit shorter around her face thereby creating a less drastic appearance. Posh's is a graduated style - super short at the back, gradually becoming longer at the front, with one side longer than the other, thereby creating a more drastic appearance.

Whatever you decide for a hair cut style just be sure to communicate to your stylist and be clear about what do and do not like.

Hope your next hair cut is great!

Copyright 2008, Darryl Andrews. This post may not be reproduced or redistributed, by any means, either in whole or part without the express written consent of the author.

Classic Hair Salon

2008-01-31T16:41:00.000-08:00

In My Chair

2008-01-31T15:12:00.001-08:00

For the first time in many years we are having a good ol' fashioned Canadian Winter! Snow-bunnies may be rejoicing and the kids are over-the-top excited about the lake freezing into an ice rink, but your hair is screaming foul! Winter, more then any other season comes with it's own set of hair care issues. The cold winter air is very drying and less humid which is much more demanding on your hair than at any other time of the year. Your hair is struggling to cope when moving from dry indoor air with heaters [normally on full blast - just check your Hydro bill], to outdoor crisp cold air. This combination sinks your hair into a dull, dry disaster. So, it's natural for my clients to seek my advice on how best to keep their hair looking fabulous, vibrant, healthy and moisturised throughout the winter season and now, I'll do the same for you. Here's a few tips that I share with them about their hazardous hair concerns:

"My hair looks dull and drab"
This is a very common concern. Nobody feels good about themselves when their appearance is in contest with a corspe. Colour consultations with your stylist are always a great place to start. Every stylist should be taking the time at the beginning of your salon visit to address your present hair needs. Here you will get the advice on the best colour for your hair and skin type. Chances are, it's not the colour you're presently parading around, so use the winter months as the perfect excuse to try something new with your hair-color! Maybe add some highlights; nothing too drastic but perhaps just a tone or two above your natural hair colour. The result will be beautiful multi-dimensional, multi-tonal hair with a sun-kissed look, but more importantly you can remove that annoying toe-tag from your foot!

"My hair is dry and frizzy"
The bottom line is, that there is an investment needed to obtain solid hair care. We have some great products at Sunshrine to keep your hair well moisturised. For clients with dry hair, I recommend our aloe therapy hydrating shampoo since it's a great nemesis to the Winter months, which are exceptionally hard on your hair so you need to protect it. Protecting your hair is especially true, of any hair which has had chemical treatments applied. For processed and very dry hair a good recommendation would be our 'Wonder Product', Urgent Repair replenishing treatment. This product will restore your hair and well,..you need to use it to believe it!! Regular salon visits also reduce dry, frizzy hair at the ends; so have your stylist trim off those ratty ends and return to looking like your knock-out self!

Copyright 2008, Darryl Andrews. This post may not be reproduced or redistributed, by any means, either in whole or part without the express written consent of the author.

I Need This Sign at Work

2008-01-31T11:24:00.000-08:00

Vintage Lesson

2008-01-26T23:58:00.001-08:00

Shampooing: A True Talent

2008-01-20T05:20:00.000-08:00

At hairschool, I was taught that shampooing a client was to last no more then two minutes - that included two shampoos and one conditioner. It was drilled into my brain that any time spent longer behind the sink, then the two minute rule, would directly result in costing me money in the salon I worked and inturn reflect the amount of food I could put on my table. Now, I agree, you can cleanse the hair in two minutes but you're doing nothing to make an impression on your client. Luckily, now removed from HSH [hairschool of hell] I can master a shampooing technique that will be the first step to creating a very loyal client base. As we all know first impressions last and in a salon clients will usually ask for their favorite stylist.
I'm lucky to be working at a salon that encourages the stylist to make a lasting impression on the clients with a full eight minutes alloted for shampoo time during the scheduled appointment. Now some old world barbers and stylists no doubt just threw up in their mouths reading, 'eight minutes to perform a shampoo' and cried, "What nonsense! I'd go broke!". Of course these are the same stylists that also think cleaning the hair can be performed using the spray bottle[!] and work at those chop shops that charge ten bucks a cut. So, maybe I should set things straight...if you work at a chop shop - you aren't required to do anything special with the shampoo cause you're obviously not going to be a SuperStar hairstylist. Your job is too devalue the art of hairstyling and never drive a nice car. That being said we can now continue. Perfecting techniques in circling, petrissage and motion to massage the scalp will create the proper stimulation of the scalp, which in turn, will have relaxing and noted effect on your client. I also add a stroking, effleurage motion, to have a bigger impact on the relaxation of my clients which compells them to tip heavily after the service is done...and isn't this the desired result of anybody who is a hairstylist? To pamper a client with slower motion reduces their heart rate, leaving them 'putty' in your hands.

Giving the perfect shampoo creates a fantastic first impression, allows the client to enjoy your company and on their next visit to the salon your name will be top of the list! Best of all; I'll have a fancy wine on my table and steak on my plate.

AMEN

2008-01-09T22:14:00.000-08:00

"If you are not good at realizing your clients' goals with their hair, you will not succeed. That is what is so great about our industry; the public regulates us far better than any association ever could. Credentials mean very little."

-Michael Levine
Director- The Eli Manuel Salon Group

You can question your karma, but you can't question great hair!

2008-01-09T22:10:00.003-08:00

Lesson One - Clean Sectioning

2008-01-09T21:42:00.000-08:00

Comb hair, push away; comb hair, pull away
Put comb into section-turn-pull out
Repeat over and over and over

The purpose of this exercise is two-fold: to save time and to stop my bad habit of not having clean sections which can cause re-cutting of hair.

2008 Off & Cutting

2008-01-09T21:12:00.000-08:00

2007 was my hands-on introduction to the Industry. Certainly, I learned a great many things from Sara operating "The Star Treatment", but now it was time for me to start to carve out my own career. I choose a hair-school based on location; they choose not to teach. I imagine now that there are many salons that pose as private learning schools, but I didn't assume that then. Still, my passion to learn pushed me on and really,....because how inept the school was, I probably sought education moreso had they provided a sound basic knowledge. I feel stronger then many of my peers who share their school experiences with me. In fact I've found; the better the schooling - the lazier the student hairstylist.

Like I said, I immediately sought learning experience. I was lucky to be hired by two salons while I was in school, in addition to working in three other salons in a shadow capacity [an established stylist allowing me to watch and mentor under them].
The first salon experience was certainly the better of the two. The owner was a smart woman with a keen sense of how to make money and her clients happy. She'd be a successful stylist for years and did good work. Her staff while friendly, were mostly 'green' like me and I soon realized that I'd hit the ceiling of knowledge pretty soon. I left with the intent of returning after the birth of Lola Grace, but was offered a fantastic deal by another salon that included a long list of follow up training by recognized Industry companies. The training didn't materialize the way it was laid out to me, but rather disguised as self-serving product knowledge seminars with only basic cuts and colors examined. I knew right away, this was a graveyard for bad habits to form and ignoring the decent money I was making there - quit.

Now I'm at a salon that appears to be very serious about training and developing stylists almost like a sports franchise. SunShrine Salon & Day Spa in Lakefield is currently where I palm my scissors. So far I'm impressed by the team they've assembled with many already having won some competitions or at least placing high. I've got high hopes and plan on entering contests myself this year and see this salon as a real support in my reaching the goals I've set for myself. I plan to update this blog weekly to record my progress and keep check with myself if I am indeed on course to being a [cue music]....SuperStar Hair Stylist!!!

WOW!!

2008-01-02T22:46:00.000-08:00

Be Good to your Hair

2008-01-02T22:35:00.000-08:00

Damaged Hair

Hair is damaged once the cuticle of the hair (the flat scales that cover the core of the hair) is no longer flat or intact enough to provide structural integrity to the hair, leaving it vulnerable to splitting and breaking.

Hair is fairly resilient but can be damaged through excessive processing, perming, coloring, heat exposure, backcombing and general roughness. The bad news is that once hair is significantly damaged, you can't repair it. Hair is essentially dead once it leaves your scalp, and it doesn't have the capacity to heal itself once it has been damaged.

The best course of action in most circumstances is to simply cut it off. Although you may be able to soothe some of the damage with hair product until the hair is of acceptable length to cut without too much embarrassment.

Intensive hair conditioners and masks may help by coating the hair follicle with ingredients to smooth over the cuticles and seal in some moisture. But remember - the last thing you should do is try to correct the damage through further coloring, perming or heat treatment!

Ultimately, the best (if not immediately helpful) advice for damaged hair is to prevent it through the use of a good conditioner and careful use of the more aggressive styling products and techniques.

Did you know??

2008-01-02T22:29:00.000-08:00

Hallmark actually came out with a “condolences on your haircut” card series some years ago. I imagine sales were brisk in malls that had both Hallmark and mall-cuts stores.

Even SuperStars do Home Family Haircuts - LOL

2007-12-23T21:51:00.000-08:00

Best Hairstylist I Know

2007-12-23T21:30:00.000-08:00

2007-12-14T06:32:00.000-08:00

Goals For 2008

2007-12-07T21:00:00.000-08:00

-Sell a $100.00 haircut
-Place Top Three A.B.A. Show
-Meet Vidal Sassoon

Educate! Educate! Educate!

2007-12-07T07:43:00.001-08:00

Why Communication between Client & Hairdresser is SO Important

2007-12-07T07:40:00.000-08:00

Check out this sadsack story...

I am dealing with alopecia areata right now (I have a bald spot in the back of my head, the hair at the nape of my neck is gone). I had been growing out my perm, my doctor told me that I could get a relaxer if I wanted, but I just wanted to grow out my perm anyway. So two weeks ago I went to a stylist and he pressed my hair. It looked so healthy and thick and i got so many compliments on it. He recommended that I need to get my relaxer again because my hair would start breaking, blah, blah, blah, you know, the usual. Me being the punk I am and the trusting person that I am, I said ok. Mind you my hair was about an inch below my shoulder. So on Saturday i went in for my relaxer. His assistant did it. When she asked what style I was getting, I asked for a roller wrap. Then she said, "oh, he doesn't do roller wraps." ???? I had never heard of a stylist not doing roller wraps. Then she said he could curl my hair with some body with the curling iron. I just said ok, cause I was about to sit under the dryer and there's really nothing that I could do about it. So when he gets ready to style my hair I tell him what I want, and he says, "Oh I'll get another stylist to style your hair." And then he puts me in someone elses chair. so you know I'm already uneasy now. Then he says "oh, you need a trim." The female stylist who is going to do my hair now says I will trim it. She was like, when was the last time you had a trim. I just said I don't know. This heffa proceeds to CUT my hair like there is no tomorrow. I had to stop her and say, "I have alopecia and a huge bald spot in the back of my head, don't cut it too short." She then looks at my head and says ok. so this heffa was just cutting without even inspecting my hair. so when she finished, I saw my hair in the mirror, i couldn't tell if she had curled it tight or if she had cut it. everyone in the salon was telling me how cute my hair was. i had a long night Saturday so I feel asleep without wrapping my hair. I wrapped it sunday morning before I got in the shower and got so upset because I discovered that I had a BOB. My hair that was below my shoulder is now about a half inch below my ear. I told my mom about it and she was like "it is just hair, it will grow back, stop whining about it" and yelling at me and everything. I understand that but due to the fact that I have alopecia and am balding, sorry if I'm not able to understand people cutting my hair. Yesterday it was windy and my hair is so short, the wind blew it in a part that exposes my bald spot. I am so sad and I feel like I don't know what to do. People say that I should go back to the salon and complain, but that won't do anything. They can't give me my hair back. Someone said they might give me a free hairdo, but why would I go back to someone who has done something so horrible to my hair? I don't think I'll ever go to a stylist again.

Profile of a Loser Hairstylist

2007-12-03T18:07:00.000-08:00

I can't stand my fellow collegues devaluing our industry like this...read this story!

Many travel to the hair salon, spend five hours, $60 dollars and leave wishing they had done it themselves. Fatima Martinez, owner of Wrapping Heads by Fatima & Mecca Barber Shop on Georgia Ave., wish to cut down on these experiences and opened a hair salon where good customer service is the motto.

Growing up in Washington, Martinez attended the D.C Beauty Academy where she became a licensed hair instructor specializing in hair cutting and coloring. Her husband, Junito Martinez, assisted her in opening the shop and is the salon's manager.
Staying fervent in the hair business is not easy. It takes more than skills to keep profits stable and customers coming back. To make a larger profit Martinez gives discounts to Howard students.

She also competes with other salons by matching their prices or decreasing them, which attracts customers on a budget.
Every business has its down season. For Wrapping Heads by Fatima & Mecca Barber Shop, it's during the summer. The number of customers decreases, causing Martinez to increase service prices. The price increase enables her to continue to give her customers quality service using first-class products while still making a profit. It is during this season that she relies on her regular clients to keep her going.

Raqeeba Taskeen, who lives in Silver Spring and shares the same religion with Martinez said, "She does good work and that is what I expect from her as a Muslim."
Martinez, who believes that good products equal good hair, said that weekly profits for the hair salon average between seven hundred and one thousand dollars. About 25 percent of the profit is spent on products.
She believes that the customers come back because of the comfortable environment and the quality customer service they receive.
"I treat them as if they were a patient," Martinez said. "I educate my clients and I think that's the key to my success."

For aspiring entrepreneurs, customer service is very important amongst other key factors like price and quality of products sold or services rendered, as affirmed by customers of Martinez.
Alicia Scott, a customer originally from New York , feels prices at the salon are very reasonable. "It is the cheapest in DC that I know of," she said.

Valuable Tip

2007-11-26T03:37:00.000-08:00

To all the mothers out there thinking about cutting your child's hair in the kitchen with kraft scissors....please don't.

A Short History of "The Bob" Hair Cut

2007-11-21T20:31:00.000-08:00

Before the bob hair cut became popular in the 1920’s, women were confined to having long hairstyles that were swept up with combs or often worn with hairnets to keep their curls. The 1920’s changed all this when the constraints of the Victorian styles were abandoned.

With the war, women were finally able to wear their hair short, thanks to the actions of Irene Castle, silent-screen actress, who started this popular haircut in 1917 to help with the war efforts. It was the promoted style to change the outlook of women that in the time of war, they did not have the time to spend on their hair and the style would help keep their hair from being tangled in factory machines. This style became the most demanded style in this time.

By the 1940’s, however, long hair was back, with emphasize on the soft, wavy looks of the shoulder length style. It wasn’t until the 1960’s that the bob style became popular again. Women were back in the work force and they needed more manageable styles. Long hair did not fit the style of the working woman.

It wasn’t long before the most influential hairstylist to date, Vidal Sassoon, helped to make the bob style more popular than ever by changing the cut of the bob style haircut. Sassoon and his creative director, Maurice Tidy spent time developing variations to the cut and before long, most women wanted their hair cut in the bob cut. This trend continued along into the 1970’s with the Dorothy Hamill cut that everyone seemed to copy. Even today, with the hairstyles varied, this style continues to be popular.

The "Right" Hair Cut

2007-11-21T20:16:00.000-08:00

Choosing the right hair cut is part technique and part art. The first step in finding the right hair style always comes down to determining facial structure.

Each face has its own unique structure. The shape of your face and head has a major role to play in the type of hair style you can wear best. Knowing the shape of your face before you head to the salon will help you choose the right hair style and will help you to communicate better with your stylist.

A good hair cut has the right proportions and includes all the basic elements of balance, line and movement. The cut should be manageable and the hair should look great in its natural form even before it is styled. Photographs are a great resource as your stylist can look at a picture and tell whether it will work for your hair. Remember that everyone’s hair is different. Try to be realistic about your hair and what your stylist can reasonably achieve with it. Not all Hairstylists are created equal, therefore always discuss your color, style selection and your lifestyle with your stylist; if they disagree with your request, they likely have a good reason.

Another important thing to consider with a hair cut is the maintenance. Depending on your hair cut and hair type, hair needs to be trimmed even if you're trying to grow it. Your hair grows at different rates and it will look uneven after a month, so it still needs a regular trim to keep it looking its best. For optimum hair health (avoiding split ends), hair should be cut every six weeks.

A well-trained hairdresser can help you find a number of hair cut styles that are suitable for your face and body shape; so if you're looking to make a change - avoid the chop & go's!

Getting a less-than-perfect hair cut style is probably due to a misunderstanding between you and your stylist [ignoring the posibility that you may have a lousy stylist], communicate and be clear about what do and do not like.

Hope your next hair cut is great!

The only place where success comes before work is a dictionary -- Vidal Sassoon

2007-11-20T14:54:00.000-08:00

HAIR AND RELATIONSHIP by Richard Stein

2007-11-19T21:15:00.000-08:00

It's conceivable that having a healthy relationship with our hair, understanding the spectrum of possibilities in its texture, color, and style and how it affects us and others, is of primary importance in the overall effect of our constantly changing personal appearance.

Over the years as a working stylist, I have witnessed countless clients' hair obsessions and distresses about their tresses. It has made me keenly aware of just how important it is to have one's hair be on target at all times. I am also truly convinced that there is an intimate connection between one's outer appearance and one's inner world, i.e., healthy self-image, self-confidence, and the ability to perform well in life.

Hair can rule. I remember one client with particularly fine hair telling me a poignantly funny story. She had met a terrific guy shortly after her divorce. They had dated and painted the town hot pink.. This was at a time when hairpieces, known as "falls," were in vogue. All through the dating period, painfully insecure about her fine hair, she had worn one to give it the illusion of fullness. Never mind that she'd had to anchor the fall to the crown of her head with a thousand thorny bobby pins. When the moment finally came for sexual encounter, the poor woman was traumatized. To wear or lose the wiglet? Finally deciding to keep it on, she proceeded to spend what could have been a grand time worrying about the hairpiece instead of letting go and enjoying herself. She had traded ego for orgasm. That relationship quickly deteriorated, but she pulled out the bobby pins and went on to meet and many someone who appreciated her with her own hair. True love after the fall!

It's probably a sweeping generalization that men have practically no understanding whatsoever of a woman's hair agenda, (or very little of their own, for that matter), but it's certainly what I've witnessed over the years. The atmosphere in a glitzy beauty salon is dramatically different from the no-nonsense masculinity of the old-fashioned barbershop. With the advent of the unisex salon in the mid-1970s, born when wives and girl friends began bringing their attendant males in to be styled by her beautician, men have not-so-stealthily invaded the sanctorum of feminine privacy. The veil has been lifted. Voyagers of "the beauty secret," men can now catch glimpses of their significant other and lots of other women being dyed, highlighted, lip-waxed, and pedicure... not at their burnished best. (No good deed goes unpunished!) Small compensation that women can watch the uneasy males struggle with their own, only recently, often dimly-perceived, style needs.

Men have complained bitterly and perennially to their womenfolk about the amount of time, paraphernalia and energy spent on "doing their hair." Perhaps this is one of those basic bargains in a relationship, like who gets to do the washing up or walk the dog. The "hair issue" between couples is often just such a trade-off -she gets to spend outrageous amounts of money, time, and energy on her hair with hair dyes, other products, and marathon visits to the beauty parlor -all in the name of pleasing him. He, in turn, gets to avoid diet and exercise and continue to smoke his wretched cigars. A woman friend recently confessed to me, after a long and bitter divorce, that for all the years of the marriage, her former husband had been cutting her hair, albeit with no formal training. She had hated it but it was loath to upset him by telling him so. How's that for unspoken agreements?

Then there's the complex interplay between hair and a person's relation to their larger cosmos and their fellow travelers in it. Most people rely on hairstylists or friends to give them an opinion about their hair because they understand little or nothing of its nature or style potential. They are the hair fashionistas, addicted to the quick fix of the "hairdo of the day." Movie stars, models, and celebrities are the style bellwethers for a public avid for a new look at their cost, never mind that it may have nothing whatsoever to do with their own faces, bodies, or hair. Peer pressure has its place in this equation, too. I've often wondered whether women try harder to impress their women friends in the style department, than they do their significant male others. Here's where the hair/self-image part becomes blurry, and a women tries to please everyone, losing focus of her own needs. Then, there's pure hair perversity -with women wanting the diametric opposite of what they have straight or curly -and so spending a great deal of time, energy, and money trying to achieve the improbable.

The relationship between hairdresser and client is an intricate one. Hairdressers play many roles and represent different things to different people -confidante, confessor, parent, relative, therapist, and on and on. A world-famous psychiatrist used to tell me that sitting in my salon waiting to get a haircut, listening carefully to all the various conversations swirling around her, she'd heard things being discussed that would have taken years to be revealed to her in her practice. Not all hairdresser/client relationships have an immediate "chemistry;" most have to be worked on and developed over time. As in all relationships, listening empathically to each other is key. I personally view each individual as a work in progress, which enables me to create a viable style agenda -a kind of personal database of styles that I use and can constantly hone and refer to over our collaboration.

It is hard for a hairdresser not to get personally involved with his or her client. The physical intimacy of the "laying on of scissors" and the close proximity of chair to stylist make it almost an inevitability. Over time, a friendship usually evolves, and mutual information is exchanged that can be, by turns, revealing and potentially embarrassing. I've been fortunate in attracting a large and eclectic clientele over the years, many interesting and important people coming from diverse walks of life. Even though I did not take an "oath of silence," I have always felt an obligation to maintain a low gossip profile, being careful not to indulge or divulge and keeping the focus where it belongs, on the creative part.

However, given all the perils intrinsic to the situation, the mutual benefits surely outweigh the risks. The exchange of information that takes place on all levels -conversation, good feelings, and the "new look" -can be transcendental for both parties. I call it the "beauty agreement." Many times when I have finished doing someone's hair, they leave my chair with a different sense of themselves -and with their mood elevated without recourse to Prozac. I believe that special, upbeat mood change is deserved… that it is part of the beauty salon experience, part of the promise. People will go to great lengths -travel far and pay a great deal of money for it. I have always tried to acknowledge and honor my partnership in this intangible beauty agreement.

Endings are often an inevitable, often painful part of relationships, and especially so in the volatile beauty business. Hairdressers move from salon to salon like planets in their spheres, as do their clients, orbiting from stylist to stylist. Certainly at this juncture, in Manhattan, circa A.D. 2000, there is very little sense of loyalty in the community. This lack of permanence ultimately affects the stylist's attitude to the ever-shifting scene, and hence the client. Being able to let go of clients when the moment comes is as important as keeping them close until that time. I have always believed in an open door attitude, so that people can leave and return comfortable -and they do!

How children learn bad behavior

2007-11-16T04:36:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I cut the hair of a child who is a friend with my daughter...her parents didn't feel obligated to leave me a gratuity...I won't be cutting that little girl's hair again.

The Basic Foundation

2007-11-13T04:20:00.000-08:00

With the concept of beauty and wellness gaining widespread importance, hair cutting is not so much, a casual affair. Hairstyling has evolved into a specialized art. Consider these numbers: $23 billion on hair cuts, $10.4 billion on hair coloring, $8.7 billion on perms or relaxers and $5.5 billion on purchasing retail hair care products...and that's just the women. It's a big market and truth be told, there aren't enough skilled, trained hairdressers around. That's great for me, as it'll make my asension to the top all the easier. But it made me think...what are the special qualities of a hairstylist? On the list must be: Plenty of patience, possess hair cutting instinct, interested in fashion and art, understand proportions, not prone to allergies, articulate and able to communicate well, have an eye for detail, comfortable working in close proximity, eager to surpass client expectations, have a strong sense of hygiene, possess creative flair, friendly temperament to earn client, loyalty, willingness and confidence to experiment,
tolerance of chemicals, physically fit with the ability to stand for long hours.

Welcome

2007-11-12T19:56:00.000-08:00

Name: D.T. [A.K.A. The Man of 1000 Cuts]
Occupation: Hairstylist
Titles: To follow
Immediate Goals: Toronto ABA : New Talent Competition
Goal checked off: Appear in Canadian Hairdresser [HD] Magazine 10/2007

Welcome to my Hair Diaries...

Tipping Your Hairstylist ~ Personal Version

2007-11-10T05:25:00.000-08:00

Most everyone knows the tipping standard for food service is 15-20%. Yet, people wrongly think that table service tipping and hairstyling tipping can be compared. Do people weigh someone bringing a hot plate to their table equally with someone using sharp shears to cut and texturize their hair?

Finding the ideal Hairstylist can take years. If you're lucky enough to find yours, be generous and show your appreciation. This person has just spent a considerable amount of time on a very important aspect of your appearance - your hair - the first thing people notice. Your Stylist has washed and dried your hair, trimmed it and styled it to flatter you. All REAL hairstylists [more on this below] take pride in their work and it is rude to leave the Salon without giving them a generous tip. Think of; if the stylist made you look only okay? No, your Stylist took considerable time and effort to make you look good and more likely in a style that will allow you to continue looking good for a number of weeks. Hairstyling is the precursor to plastic surgery remember!

Now what about that Stylists working at the "Chop & Go" down the street, where they charge only $10 for a haircut? These 'stylists' disgust me. Who studies for a trade and then gives their skills 'away' for a measly ten bucks? If their clientele rate their appearance that casually then they deserve to have obvious cutting lines on their head. If all they want is, "an all over number 2", then what would warrant tipping that 'stylist' anything. I'll make you a deal. You go to the Chop & Go and not tip your 'stylist' [or tip them something insulting like a toonie] and I'll promise to never work for a Chop & Go.

Now another thing, offer tips only in cash. Salons accept checks or credit cards, where you can add tips to your total, but then is it a tip? Tips are gifts and therefore should not be taxable. Also, if you frequent a beauty establishment where the Owner is working; tipping the Owner is expected. The nonsense about the owner already getting the lion's share of the profits and therefore doesn't warrant a gratuity is bunk. The Salon Owner who has burdened himself with this extra demand deserves this consideration.

This is the number one rule to abide by: a courteous and generous customer will be welcomed back, offered excellent appointments, and treated with respect; whereas the non-tipping client can stop at the Chop & Go down the street.

Part of being a good hairstylist is to have FUN

2007-11-07T07:31:00.000-08:00

Martin Parsons ~ Toronto A.B.A. Show 2007

2007-11-07T07:22:00.000-08:00

Meeting industry legends like Martin Parsons helps keep me motivated. Martin is well known in the industry for his "simple approach to Long Hair Styling". Martin has popularized such updo techniques as: Ribbon Puzzle, 3 Knot Puzzle, Multi-Texture, 5 Tail Puzzle, Asymetric Puzzle, Mixed Textures, Halo, Top Knot, Lace Up, and Turban.

Tipping Your Hairstylist ~ Published Version

2007-11-07T06:57:00.000-08:00

Most everyone knows the tipping standard for food service is 15-20%. Yet, people are confused for what standards apply in the hair salon? Here, is a guideline to follow.

Finding the ideal hairstylist can take years. Once you find yours, you will likely want to show your appreciation. This person has just spent a considerable amount of time on a very important aspect of your appearance - your hair. A good hairstylist has washed and dried your hair, trimmed it and styled it to flatter you. Because tipping has become usual in this profession, leaving without tipping signals to the hairstylist that you were unhappy. I would say the majority of hairstylists take pride in their work; and it is a blow to their self-esteem to leave without giving them a reasonable tip. And what is reasonable? If You paid $40 for a haircut; tip them $5-10. Generally speaking, the tip should be at least 15%, if you are satisfied with the service and results. If you are thrilled, or if your stylist put extra time and effort into your appointment, then you may want to add 20%- 25% instead.

Now what about that stylists working at the chain store where they charge you $10 for a haircut? If they perform a remarkable job do they only deserve $2? No! I would say that no matter what the cost of the service, if the person spends at least half an hour on your hair, they should be tipped at least $5. Its a small price to pay for the gorgeous look you are walking out the door with.

If a colorist assisted your regular hairstylist, then you can certainly split the tip between the two. (It may become necessary to round up the total a bit for split tips.)

If additional people helped you, such as a shampoo person, then you will want to give them a small tip as well. A dollar or two are ample, except in high-end salons, where more may be expected.

Employees in tipping businesses often earn lower hourly wages than those in other situations. Tips become a large part of their income. In particular, hairstylists often must purchase their own tools and supplies, so the extra money is essential to their business.

Ideally, customers will offer tips in cash. Many salons will accept checks or credit cards, and you can often add this to your total. In most cases, the receptionist will hand you the extra bills, so you can give them out personally. (If not, you will want to be specific, but polite, about how they are to be given out. If you are unsure, it may be worthwhile to linger a bit in the salon, so you can witness the actual distribution.)

Traditionally, people did not tip the owner of a beauty establishment. However, this trend is changing, and most owners do accept and appreciate gratuities.

A courteous and generous customer will be welcomed back, offered excellent appointments, and treated with respect.

2007-11-02T21:32:00.000-07:00