Vidal Sassoon: In Memory Of

This week the hair industry lost one of it's most influencial people, Vidal Sassoon. Vidal was a huge part of shaping the way the hair industry is today, and an inspiration to so many, including myself. It is amazing how one person have such a great impact. He will continue to live on in our hearts and be a constant inspiration.

From all of us in the hair world, we will miss you, Vidal Sassoon.




A Reminder To Stylists: Keep On Top Of Your Game

Something that I have been thinking a lot about lately is how important our job is as stylists to make sure we are listening to our clients and addressing their needs, as well as giving them new ideas when it comes to cut, color, or styling. The past couple of weeks I have had some clients who really drove home how much they rely on me as a stylist to share my opinion, as well as listen to what they have to say and give appropriate feedback. As I have been thinking about this, I just felt like I needed to share this with my fellow stylists out there.

Sometimes I think we forget how much trust our clients put in us to give them a style that is going to suit them, as well as suggest new styling options if they are feeling like they are stuck doing the same style every day. A new client I had recently told me, "I look to you as a stylist to tell me what new ideas you might have for my hair. If you can't tell me, then who can?" This was why she had left her past stylist, because she felt like she always gave her the same haircut and never seemed to listen when she said she wanted to try something different. I was shocked, and at the same time hoping that I had never made a client feel as though the only way they were going to get the change they wanted was in finding a new stylist. Lesson learned: when your clients ask what ideas you have for their hair, they are serious.

Another thing clients are always noticing is your sense of style. Making sure you have a style going on with your hair is important, as well as being stylishly dressed and make-up done. Again, I recently had a new client who told me that she booked with me because she liked my style and felt that I would be able to give her a cut she would like. I had another client tell me that as soon as she saw my hair and that it was in a cute style, she felt reassured that I would give her a good cut. Because we are in the fashion industry, clients are always aware of our appearance, and judging the work they think we would do based off that. Even if you are an amazing stylist, a client may be more likely to go to someone they feel is more put together because if you don't have any style yourself, why would they want to trust you with theirs?

As stylists, it is extremely important that we are always on top of our game and being sure to be aware of our clients' needs. Additionally, it is important that we our keep ourselves up to date on current trends so we are able to suggest different looks to our clients when asked. Keeping our own style up to date is also important, as clients are more aware of this than we may think. Some of the best stylists I know have a loyal clientele because they are able to meet these demands. Don't be the stylist that someone leaves for a stylist who they feel will better meet their needs!

Brushes: My Blowdry Favorites!

When it comes to creating a great blowdry, my brushes are one of my biggest tools. Needless to say, I am very particular when it comes to which brushes I use. So, for anyone out there wondering what they need to bring their blowdry to the next level (whether you're a stylist or not) I ask, what kind of brush are you using? 

The two main brushes I use are a flat brush and a round brush, depending on the look I am going for. A flat brush is going to give a straighter, sleeker look where a round brush is going to give a fuller look with more movement. I usually don't go in with either of these brushes until I have gotten about 80 percent of the moisture out of the hair, depending on the hair type and texture.

My flat brush. I use a flat brush that has both natural boar and nylon bristles. The combination of the two create good tension on the hair which is essential in creating a beautiful, smooth blowdry. The nylon bristles also help with detangling. This is also my go-to brush when in comes to bangs. I feel like I can get the perfect amount of bend on the hair, whether I'm doing straight across or swoop bangs. Because of it's flat base, this brush is perfect for getting a sleek, straight look with minimal volume. This is especially nice for clients with lots of hair that tends to get a good amount of body on it's own without product. I also use this brush when blowdrying bobs and want to achieve that smooth, modern bob look. 

My round brush. As with my flat brush, I use a round brush that has both natural boar and nylon bristles. I use this brush when I want to give more body and movement to the hair. Because of its round shape, this brush naturally gives more lift at the roots which is good for clients who are finer and are trying to achieve a fuller, more voluminous look. Additionally, this brush gives a great bend on the ends of the hair which is perfect for giving natural movement to the hair. After I have finished round brushing a section, I like to twist it as I am releasing it from the brush, or just with my fingers, so that as the section cools it is forming into a very loose curl almost. This is a great technique to use on long layered hair.                  

I am a strong believer in that a great blowdry goes a long way. It is a rare occasion that I will pull out my flat iron to finish someone's hair because I am able to get the style I want with my brush, dryer, and product. In my eyes, a blowdry gives a much more natural looking style than any flat or curling iron will give to the hair; those tools have their place, but not to be used to replace a good blowdry. If you feel like you need that little extra something to really boost your blowdry, consider what brush you are using and maybe it is time to invest in a new one. If you are in the market for a good brush, give one of these a try. You'll see the difference, and so will your hair!