by: Damien R. von Dahlem
Although it is the repeat customer that allows you to be in business in the first place,it is the new client that determines the health and growth of your business.
With that in mind, it is crucial that the new client consultation receives extra attention.
Not only will it save you time and money in redo's, it also sets the tone for all future business.
If on the other hand the new client consultation is mishandled, there is no future business.
Instead of leading the new client to your chair and speaking to them over their shoulder, try sitting down with them in the reception area, or some other similar arrangement.
This 'one on one' is far more personal and allows your new client the opportunity to relax and feel unrushed.
After the client has shared their vision of what they would like to look like, be sure to ask follow-up questions.
What you consider short and what they consider short may be inches apart, and it is unlikely that you will ever see that client again if these types of issues are not clarified.
2. Use a good daily conditioner, rinse or detangler on the other days.
3. Follow the instructions on the product.
DO NOT OVER CONDITION! Over conditioning your hair isn't good either. It will cause undesirable build-up on your hair and your hair will either become static, or go limp and unmanageable.
4. Once every week or two use a clarifier on your hair to rid it of hair product build-up and environmental pollutants.
5. If you have colored, permed, or relaxed hair, make sure that the product you use is safe for chemically treated hair or it will damage the chemical service that you had performed.
by: Robert B. Sherwood
Summer is here and with it comes all sorts of fun outdoor things to do.
It is also the time of year where we encounter the highest percentage of damaged hair, some of it beyond repair short of hacking it all off and starting over.
Here are a few tips that may save you a lot of heartache and money.
1. Stay away from hair lightening products such as Sun In.
Most contain some form of peroxide or metalic salt and can cause severe damage to your hair, not to mention such undesirable effects such as orange, green, or pink hair.
Even worse, if the product does contain metalic salt and you then perm your hair, it may literally turn your hair into mush and wash down the sink.
Although a chelator, (an ingredient in some shampoos), can help remove some of the metalic salts residing on the hair shaft,
they are not strong enough to remove metal deposits that have penetrated the shaft.
The only chemicals that we know of that will do this are chemicals used in the development of film.
These chemicals are highly toxic and we do not recommend that you mess with them.
Bottom line, just let nature do its own thing, or invest in a highlight. In the long run the highlight will be far less expensive.
2. Invest in a hair conditioner that contains a sunscreen.
If you can't find one and you are heading out to swim or tan, simply massage some of your sunscreen into your hair, it should wash out.
If you are not going to use a sunscreen because you want a deep tan quickly, try using safflower oil. It provides your hair with much needed fatty acids, and makes a great tanning oil to boot.
3. After a day at the pool, clarify your hair.
A clarifier is a stronger shampoo designed to remove toxins from you hair such as auto emissions and other environmental pollutants, as well as build up from some ingredients in over the counter shampoos such as silicon.
A clarifier is too strong to use daily, but once or even twice a week is okay. It should also help remove chlorine from your hair, but if you are at the pool daily you will need to invest in a special shampoo to control chlorine.
Avoid 'green hair' before it begins. Thuroughly wet your hair before you dip in the pool and add a bit of conditioner too.
Wash your hair immediately upon exiting the pool. These precautions alone will go a long way toward dodging the 'swamp look.'
These few tips should see you well through the summer and leave you with fond memories instead of bitter tales.
By Karin Eldor ((((AskMen.com)
These are hairstyles that must be avoided at all costs:
• The mushroom cut:
As aforementioned, do not leave the top of your head long and puffy and the back short. It'll look like a mushroom, hence the name. This was cool in the 80's. Remember how good we all looked in the 80's? Case in point.
• The rat tail:
This one is also in the name. If you decide to grow your hair long, by all means do so, but treat all your hair equally. Do not cut your hair, while leaving a few strands of hair in the back of your head growing like the tail of a rodent.
• Axl Rose:
Remember him? Yes, so do we. Don't grow your hair like the punk rockers we all head-banged to in the "rockin'" 80's.
This means that if you still revere rockers such as Van Halen, Bon Jovi (in the 80's) and David Lee Roth, by all means, hang up their posters on your wall, listen to their music, but do not decide to pay tribute to them by mimicking their hair-don'ts.
• Hairspray:
There are plenty of hair products out there that can be used such as gel and wax, so leave this one for the ladies.
• Hair coloring:
While it is alright to subtly lighten your hair when the summer season kicks in, avoid completely bleaching your hair and falling victim to what is often referred to as the "skater" look. If you feel you need a change, dying your hair is fine, but don't pull a Dennis Rodman.
New hairstyles and haircuts are great ways to change your look, especially if you feel like you are due for some sort of change and are tired of your mundane, routine look.
Remember that hair does grow back and no change in hairstyle is permanent; so don't be nervous to try out a hairdo that you feel would suit you.
If you are nervous about making a drastic change, try to alter your style gradually, rather than going all out in terms of change.
That way you can grow accustomed to the new style or cut and you'll be able to get a better idea of whether the style suits you or not. You can always consult your hairdresser about which style he/she thinks would suit you.
If you are not sure about your options, look through men's magazines to see which hairstyles are out there. Hairstyles should suit the person in question, just like when clothes are in question.
Try not to get a hairstyle that is completely out of tune with who you are, even if it is the latest do.
