Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Acceptance Of Hair Extensions Grows

by Melissa White
Licensed Hair Stylist

I'm always "in the news", catching everything I can on hair styling, hair coloring, and of course, hair extensions. It's important to me to keep as up-to-date as possible for the women I see at my salon. Most of what I read is a rehash of old stories. Every once in awhile you come across something that is a unique perspective or something truly useful. This is my goal in writing my blog specifically for people who have or want to have hair extensions.

I've seen the trends in hair extensions grow far beyond the Hollywood jet set and into more mainstream America as more than just ethnic women (who have been using forms of extensions for decades) and the very elite have found the benefits of hair extensions. On my website, I've discussed my own experiences with hair extensions of every conceivable kind, and it truly has been an evolution not only in the quality of hair used and the assortment of attachment methods available today, but also with who is using them.

Just as women were once petrified to admit to plastic surgery (and look at how common this is today), they once were also afraid of what others would think if they admitted to using hair extensions. It seems as if the social stigma has faded, and more and more women across the country are seeing that they are able to enjoy long beautiful hair that can be styled and worn in thousands of different ways.

Today, I read a story that generated out of Pennsylvania. The focus of the article was on hair extensions, proving to me that the acceptability of hair extensions is certainly strong when salons in America's mid-Atlantic region are seeing 40% growth in women requesting quality hair extensions!

One stylist interviewed in the article stated that, "This is very individual, not a one-size-fits-all, so it depends on the person's (natural) hair and what the client is looking for." She continues, "There's a certain level of commitment the client must make for the cost, the initial appointment and the maintenance. But those who do it are very pleased and look fabulous. It can make a dramatic difference in how a woman looks and feels about herself and that's worth a million dollars."

I can't agree with her more on her last statement. I've seen so many clients come to me who were just generally "feeling down" about their hair and their looks, were going through personal hardships which left them depleted of energy and "the zest for life", or who were rebounding from physical illness and needed a good boost. The transformations that can occur with women who get quality hair extensions is sometimes amazing, not only in physical appearance, but in the woman herself. The confidence, spirit and happiness that comes with feeling better about yourself is a wonderful thing to see happen before your eyes. It's the part of what I do which is so rewarding.

REFERENCES:
Extensions of Yourself - Melissa's Own Story
Reading Eagle - Women look for longer locks in hair extensions

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
Melissa White is an experienced, licensed hair extension artist and stylist whose passion is to bring out the natural beauty in everyone by enhancing their own individual features with the use of exquisite hair extensions. Melissa has over 10 years of extensive training with the industries top hair extension companies in the newest techniques. Originally from Boston, Melissa has been in San Antonio for the past 8 years. She believes that everyone should be able to access and afford the hair of their dreams . . . thus the creation of Extensions of Yourself, San Antonio's first salon which specializes exclusively in quality hair extensions.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Discount Fever In The Salon

A look at the Dangers of Discounting, Couponing & "Social Buying Sites"


In this age, where "discount-focused" marketing tools, also referred to as coupon sites or social buying sites, I wondered how this has affected the hair salon and beauty industry. You're probably familiar with GroupOn and Living Social, as they're the most popular in the San Antonio area. But, there are dozens more that have sprung up quickly, all offering exposure to businesses and great discount opportunities for consumers. But is it all it's cracked up to be?

Many of us are gradually becoming hardwired to look at paying less than full price. The new status symbol has shifted from, "what great quality/service I received" to "look how much I saved." Many who would typically be quite satisfied with paying full price for the service or the product (or perhaps even on sale at a 10% discount) from an establishment we've been frequenting, are now attempting to bargain or talk down prices. This can have a serious down side at a hair salon. 

Why? When a salon offers a discounted service like this, they're banking on the fact that you'll be a returning client. It's really the only way that they can possibly break even on the pricing structures that the coupon sites use. Typically, the sites ask that you discount your service/product by at least 50%-60%. They then split the amounts purchased by consumers, making the salon's actual earnings only 25% of their regular fees! You don't need to be a CPA to realize that the winning party here is the coupon site, not the salon. The salon hasn't paid their employees, the utilities, the rent, advertising, or any of the other overhead and operating expenses.

There are two ways a salon can get around this. The first might be to artificially inflate the true "regular price", so that when they reduce the fee by half, it's not as big a hit. I've actually had this suggested to me when I met with one of the local "knock-off" companies to GroupOn. Or, a salon might also be encouraged to make limitations to the offer, usually hidden in the fine print within the ad details. For instance, if the 50% off foils offer was made, they could limit the number of foils to just 6. We all know that six foils wouldn't even be worth your time at the salon, as the average head of hair takes many more for a good highlighting.

I've seen these strategies used and I don't like it. I wouldn't want to be on the consumer end of a business feeling like they had to take a shortcut in order to avoid taking a loss. I provide professional services and I have worked hard for many years to perfect my skills. I would not consider a shortcut or do less than my absolute best because I'm not getting paid for my time and effort. And that's a risk with these coupon programs.

For these reasons and more, I've chosen not to participate in the social buying fever that has been pretty active in the San Antonio area. I would much prefer to offer my clients quality services at fair prices every day of the week. By doing this, I hope to develop a loyal following of clients whom I love working with on their hair extensions and hair care needs.

REFERENCES:
About.com - Web Trends
CIO.com - Coupons 2.0: Ten Social Buying Sites That Add Up To Savings
Quora.com - Groupon: Is there a large enough market for more group coupon sites?

RESOURCES:
Groupon.com - The Daily Groupon
Livingsocial.com - The Best of San Antonio

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
Melissa White is an experienced hair extension artist and stylist whose passion is to bring out the natural beauty in everyone by enhancing their own individual features with the use of exquisite hair extensions. Melissa has over 10 years of extensive training with the industries top hair extension companies in the newest techniques. Originally from Boston, Melissa has been in San Antonio for the past 8 years. She believes that everyone should be able to access and afford the hair of their dreams . . . thus the creation of Extensions of Yourself, San Antonio's first salon which specializes exclusively in quality hair extensions.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Is Red The New HOT Color?

by Melissa White
Licensed Hair Stylist

Red is back, and it's making a splash in Hollywood and beyond. We've seen the big and small screens heat up with luscious redheads who are pushing new color trends at salons. Even Katy Perry got in on the act for her cover on the new issue of Vogue magazine, where she sports a very vibrant orange red.

Christina Hendricks
by Ruven Afanado
Redhead celebrities like Jessica Chastain, Katy Perry and Christina Hendricks are leading the way, but there have certainly been plenty of natural redheads and those artfully created.

Other Famous Celebrities Who've Worn Red
(Some natural and others not):
  • Ann Margaret
  • Rita Hayworth
  • Katharine Hepburn
  • Jane Fonda
  • Carol Burnette
  • Lucille Ball
  • Bette Midler
  • Sophia Loren
  • Linda Evangelista
  • Gillian Anderson
  • Kate Walsh
  • Geena Davis
  • Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York
  • Rose McGowan
  • Molly Ringwald
  • Nicole Kidman
  • Julianne Moore
  • Susan Sarandon
  • Drew Barrymore
  • Marcia Cross
  • Emma Stone
  • Julia Roberts
  • Debra Messing
  • Lindsay Lohan
  • Rihanna

If you want to see a nice selection of red hair colors, check out the board "Best Red Hair Colours" posted by Ferhan Talib in Pinterest.

So how can you tell if you'd be a good candidate for a change to red hair? While almost any skin tone can vamp up with reds, you need to be somewhat careful in selecting the correct shade for your skin. Colorists vary in their opinions when dealing with reds. Some say that lighter/cooler skin tones tend to look best in deep, cool reds, and darker/warmer skin tones can wear strawberry blond to rich auburn shades with ease. Others contradict a bit by saying that darker skin tones look best in deeper, cooler shades of red while lighter skin tones should choose a lighter, warmer shade of red. Most all agree that if you had red hair as a child, or have parents who have red hair, it's going to look a lot more natural on you.

Many experts feel that reds look best on people with green or blue eyes and cool or creamy skin. And, red can be such a drastic change that it's often best to convert slowly. Start with a shade of red that's close to your natural shade, and if you like the way it looks, experiment from there.

One thing you will want to consider is that red color-treated hair requires expert hair care. Although the days of henna coloring have been replaced with colors that are much more natural, and many more shades are available, reds are far from being low-maintenance. You can expect to need touch ups and/or recolor every four weeks to keep the red color vibrant. Your hair stylist may also suggest PM Shines or a glaze to help keep your red fresh and shiny. Reds are very prone to fading and dulling from sun damage, heat styling, and even the minerals you'll find in your water. Shampooing with a high quality shampoo for color-treated hair is a must. Redheads are reported to lose up to 45% of color when shampooing. To combat this, your shampoo must have a pH level below 5.5. Always make your final rinse with cool water.

What does this mean if you wear hair extensions, or want hair extensions? No worry, hair extensions are available in a wide range of colors, and can be matched to your desired shade of red. Here, it is extremely important to see an extension artist who is experienced in color as well as extensions. The higher maintenance that red requires may stress your hair extensions, as well as your own natural hair, and you will need to be placed on a good regimen of hair care and followup visits to your stylist for color touch ups and maintenance of the extensions. Some use extensions for complimentary highlights to accent their own hair which has been dyed red, while others use red extensions to highlight their blond, brown or black hair! The possibilities when you combine hair color with extensions are endless, and can provide for very striking results.

From strawberry blond, light ginger, cinnamon and coppers to rich auburn, deep chestnut, luscious ruby and vibrant deep reds, red can really shine.

REFERENCES:
About.com Beauty - How To Protect Your Red Hair
Daily Glow - Hair-Color Tips For Red Hair
Redkin - Redkin's Hot Reds
Squidoo - Red Hair Color Hairstyles, Color, and Tips
TopicBistro - Red Hair Color Shades - 10 Amazing Ideas
You Beauty - Red Hair Color and Skintone

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
Melissa White is an experienced hair extension artist and stylist whose passion is to bring out the natural beauty in everyone by enhancing their own individual features with the use of exquisite hair extensions. Melissa has over 10 years of extensive training with the industries top hair extension companies in the newest techniques. Originally from Boston, Melissa has been in San Antonio for the past 8 years. She believes that everyone should be able to access and afford the hair of their dreams . . . thus the creation of Extensions of Yourself, San Antonio's first salon which specializes exclusively in quality hair extensions.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Remembering 911

I pause today to honor all those who were involved in or with "9-11". I remember the day vividly, as I'm sure you do. It now remains a day to remember those who lost their lives in the terrible attack on America and all of the freedoms our country stands for.

We have brave men and women keeping peace, prepared to fight to protect our freedoms in dangerous places all over the world. Most often this is in countries that don't share our same views of freedom and liberty.

I want our friends, family and loved ones home safely.

Let's do our part while we are still here at home. Remember what made our country great. Our Constitution declares our rights, but we must fight to keep them as they were intended - strong and unchanged. Let's return to safer times with all our liberties and freedoms intact. [Remember to vote!]

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

We're in the HEAT in Texas - What Can You Do To Help Your Hair?

by Melissa White
Licensed Hair Stylist

We've been in triple-digit temperatures here in Texas for most of the summer, and there's no end in sight as we enter September! When we get stuck in a high-heat pattern it certainly has the ability to affect your hair.

Even styling it the exact same way will not work. Your hair is reacting to humidity (even if we don't feel the humidity as oppressive) or lack of it. There are a many changes that occur in your hair strands on a daily basis. Hair is hygroscopic, meaning it is able to absorb or attract water molecules from the air. Dry air will pull water molecules from your hair into the environment, while humid air causes hair to absorb the moisture from the air. When hair absorbs moisture, it causes swelling of the hair. Some estimate that the thickness of your hair can increase as much as 16 percent in high humidity. It's no wonder that in temperature extremes we have so many more control issues with our hair!

Humidity Affects All Hair Types


Humidity is certainly an evil enemy for those with frizzy hair. When we have high humidity even people who normally do not suffer from frizz might battle dry or unmanageable hair, or be flailing with fluffy, dry ends. Heavy, oppressing, moisture-laden air  that comes with humidity can (and usually always will) create bad hair days. This usually results in frizzy or limp locks, depending upon the type of hair you have (curly, wavy, thick or fine). 

What does humidity mean to you? Once your hair begins absorbing the moisture from the air, your hair responds with change. While each hair type responds differently to moisture vapor’s effects, even various strands on the same head can react, and sometimes they react very unpredictably. Proteins in hair aren’t uniform and they can and will react differently to water molecules. This can cause your hair strands to twist or bend, which can take the curl out of fine hair, or can cause frizz or excessive curl for others, depending on your hair type.

Curly Hair Benefits from Use of Products


Naturally curly hair will often curl excessively or be prone to frizziness, even if you've carefully styled it beforehand. This can be extremely frustrating. Curly hair has rougher cuticles so brushing or touching hair should be avoided or minimized when it’s humid. The friction that comes from brushing will leave you with a head full of frizz. In extremely humid conditions, I often advise letting hair dry naturally, use a sculpting spray for curls, wear a braided style, scoop hair into a bun, or tuck under a cap. I love the beach waves for those who have curly or wavy hair because it lets the hair look great without a lot of fuss. In dry conditions, those with curly hair don't have as many issues, and these are usually the best hair days! Keeping your hair in good health, and use products during heat will help eliminate the bad hair days.

Dry Hair Has A Mind of Its Own


Dry hair can be especially problematic. All hair retains water, even if it feels dry. Healthy hair can have 15 to 30 percent moisture in it. Less than that and the dryness can create distressing frizz and fluff. It becomes difficult to style, and tends to break more easily. Damaged and dry hair can be even worse, retaining up to 55 percent of moisture from the atmosphere! You need help in restoring your hair to health before you'll be able to control either the humidity or dry air. Seek help from a professional hair stylist who can help with conditioning treatments and at-home products.

Fine Hair Goes Limp so Keep it Light


Fine hair seems to just flatten out when exposed to hot humid conditions no matter what you do. I know from personal experience on this one, as I have very fine hair. The key here is to go as light as possible with your products. Volumizing shampoo and conditioner are okay, but you need to be especially careful using styling products and don't overdo! Play around with styles and use accessories if volume is needed. There are a few good products which can add volume such as the use of a dry shampoo, root boost, "sugar", or similar products. The use of clips, headbands, and forms can also help achieve volume. Wearing braids can also keep hair from looking too limp, and can be a good alternative to just wearing it down. Braids are hot right now, so take advantage of some of the very unique and creative styles that can be done with braids!

Weather Affects Hair Extensions Too!


Remember that weather and environmental conditions will affect your hair extensions as well. If you have 100% natural human hair extensions, the hair will react according to the type of hair it is, whether curly, wavy, straight or fine! Since an experienced hair extension artist will take care to match the extension hair she chooses to your own hair type, you should be able to treat the hair extensions as you would your own natural hair. However, if you've been given synthetic extensions, or if your stylist has not matched your hair well, you may end up with two or more different hair care needs. I would recommend a consultation with an experienced hair extension artist to get an evaluation to see what can be done to help.

Steps To Take:


Both humid days and dry days have their own set of problems that can try your nerves. The best advice:
  • Get your hair in as healthy condition as possible to keep your hair more manageable 
  • Maintenance is the key - use a quality conditioner once a week.
  • Keep your hair trimmed to remove split ends.
  • Keep your hair at a manageable length.
  • Use a silicone smoothing product to damp hair if you have thick or curly hair 
  • Use a quality root booster product for fine hair and avoid smoothers that contain silicone
  • Avoid the sun - UV rays are as damaging to your hair as they are on your skin! 
Lastly, consult with your hair care specialist! He/she can help recommend appropriate products and care for your type of hair. They know your hair better than anyone else and should know how they will behave when used on your hair!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
Melissa White is an experienced, licensed hair extension artist and stylist whose passion is to bring out the natural beauty in everyone by enhancing their own individual features with the use of exquisite hair extensions. Melissa has over 10 years of extensive training with the industries top hair extension companies in the newest techniques. Originally from Boston, Melissa has been in San Antonio for the past 8 years. She believes that everyone should be able to access and afford the hair of their dreams . . . thus the creation of Extensions of Yourself, San Antonio's first salon which specializes exclusively in quality hair extensions.