Friday 5 August 2011

Hair stylist's. Are we the product? we offer service

Back2myroots : A place to share thoughts and grow idea's. B2MR



I find the more I write and think about topic's to keep my little blog up to date and interesting. The more I reflect on. What it means to me! what I can offer! What can I share to keep them current and interesting:

In working through this thought process it brings me back to the key point of what we all do and offer service.
Yes it's skill it's knowledge it's communication but none of this matters if we don't offer. Good service and good value for money service. Value for money does not mean discount or cheap just value.
What is the product we market?
It's our skill, creativity, knowledge. ability to listen to communicate, honesty,
Oh yes and that all important consultation.

We are in the business of offering advise we are also specialist in solving problems!
So we are in a very unique business.
We have a wonderful opportunity to use the many skills gained, utilise the tools at our disposal to do our job to apply our trade. We have the ability to turn a bad day into a good day from disaster into success powerful stuff.
We have to think of ourselves as being totally unique in the service we offer and the skill we have for we are all different we all react in different ways this does not mean we are not part of a team and as such should not share thoughts idea's we just all have something different to offer a different way of doing things.
The way we present our selves the appearance we project are all part of the personal image package that  is 'I' or 'You' this initial presentation is very important for it say this is me this is who i am!!!


So what are we selling what are we promoting:
This is easy we sell. Ourselves our skill and talent. Creativity. We are expert in the business of creating image a look experts in finding solutions to problems having answers to question.
Because we are all so very different and as such offer our trade in our own unique way none of us will suite everyone personality issues conflict will always exist so when it happens don't take it to heart it only becomes personal if you let it! [ so be the bigger person ] a little humility is ok this does not make you a door mat.
Something we as stylist also need to at least be aware of  as gain success get busy get a reputation is Ego just keep it in check a little ego is healthy but to much..............! not so good.
So to be a good communicator a problem solver what tools do we need? Knowledge is the key here!
Knowledge is power.
With so many different products on the market especially with hair colour both professional and home kits and now an onslaught of new Nano technology [ this new hip term} prior to this every thing was multifaceted, What ever the wording the lingo we have be on top of it we have to be up to date with new products new formulations. How and why they work. How do we do this ?
Education, training up dates, sharing, and by asking questions?? Thing some of us are not so good at!
Remember this the only stupid question is the one we don't ask!
Be informed have knowledge be a problem solver not a problem maker!
As always thoughts comments idea's please,
Mike

To this ends we are given the challenge some time to correct badly coloured hair this could be from either a poor professional job or a hope colour gone wrong.
Colour correction is a skill knowing how to re-balance a pigment mantle as a stylist only embark on this if you have the skill and knowledge to take on the responsibility. As a client work with choose some one you trust for this journey. Also get an estimate of both cost and timing for said correction. have a consultation be informed.
As a follow on from yesterdays posting after correction care:

Post Home Haircoloring Tips:                                                    
                                                          [Above pretty bad almost green hair! ]    
                                                                        before shot                 

Recommendations post-colour tips: 

It is recommended to wait 48 hours before washing your hair again after the initial color treatment is completed.  This gives new hues time to settle.
Always shampoo with lukewarm water.  Hot water will speed up color fading.
Use hair products specifically designed to protect coloured hair get professional advise.  Remember that some shampoo products designed to add volume will actually “blow up” the cuticle and thus cause hues to fade much faster.  Use products that are specifically labeled as “colour safe”
Shampoo less often.  Even permanent colors will fade faster with frequent washings.
Avoid the use of hot styling tools as much as possible.  Heat from either appliances or the sun will speed up color loss. When possible, air dry coloured strands.
When out in the sun or when swimming in a pool hats! Sun, surf, sand all the S things and pool chemicals may leach out precious tones or in some cases, cause color to fade or even worse, turn brassy or odd shades of green or orange.
Treat colored hair with care and respect invest in good quality products that work within your budget   and remember to deep condition on a regular basis to counteract dryness.
 Resist the urge to recolor again before at least 2 weeks has passed.  Remember, less is more.
 Avoid any other chemical processes for at least one month.  Keep in mind that perms or chemical straightening procedures may cause hair colors to be altered.
I would always recommend doing a skin test prior to any application it's always best to be safe.



                                                          {Above make over from above shot}
With some though sight and thinking it is possible to go from a muddy sludge to vibrant colour just takes time and patients:

In Closing:
If you plan on becoming a home hair colour jockey, consider starting a special journal or notebook so you can write down a record of each treatment.  Note the products that you used and the results.Over time you may discover little tricks that make your colouring techniques more streamlined or successful.
I hope this guide is helpful and saves some of the pit falls that can happen when entering the world of home hair colour and correction if required.
Mike B2MR

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