You’re Doing it Wrong: Dry Shampoo

Remember when dry shampoo first became popular? It was like the godsend we didn’t know we were waiting for. Finally a product that allowed us to skip showers without having the world know how lazy we are! You could practically hear the scalps of oily-haired girls rejoicing. Unfortunately, we’ve taken things a bit far. We’re misusing the product, and our hair is paying the price.

Since my hair is pretty thick and incredibly hard to dry, I tend to wash it once every five days. To make the shampoo last, I spray a little dry shampoo onto my roots every morning. This is far too often. You should only get a day out of your dry shampoo, and then wash,.

So why should dry shampoo be used so sparingly? It’s not just baby powder inside those aerosol cans. Tons of chemicals are being sprayed onto your scalp, which clog the pores and don’t let the scalp breathe. Think of it like nail polish. If you’re wearing nail color 24/7, you’re not letting your nails get any oxygen, which is why they can turn yellow. Scalps should be allowed to breathe as well.

To use dry shampoo correctly, only use on your last day of a blowout, and make sure to shampoo it out the following day.

Basic Training: How to Use a Curling Wand

In our series, Basic Training, we’ll be giving a crash course on simple hair and makeup tricks that you still haven’t quite mastered.

We know trying something new is never easy, but put down the curling iron. Learning how to create waves and ringlets with a curling wand is worth the trouble. Without the clamp in your way, it’s easier to manipulate how big or small you curl. Plus, the dent at the bottom of the curl is a distant memory. So get yourself out of the stone age, pick up a wand and try out our step-by-step below.

Step 1: Hold the barrel so that the base is next to your ear and the wand is pointing down toward the ground.

Step 2: Take a small section of hair and wrap the part closest to your head around the base of the wand which is the part closest to the handle.

Step 3: Wrap the strand all the way along the barrel, leaving space in between each twirl. The more space you leave, the looser the curl.

Step 4: Flip the curling iron up to the release the hair, letting a perfect ringlet fall.

Step 5: Continue by curling the rest of the hair, finishing with a texturizing spray, like to add volume and roughness to the hair.

Step 6: Brush the curls out with your fingertips for an undone look.

Styling Tip: For Old Hollywood waves, curl each section of hair in the same direction. For beach waves, alternate the direction of each wave, one being toward the face and the next away from the face.

How to Get Thick Hair

Many people complain that they have fine hair, many of these people are wrong. “As a hairdresser, I can count the clients who have had fine hair.” People look at the ends of their hair to define their thickness level when they should be looking at their scalp. Still, if you want to amp up your hair’s fullness, try these tips:

1. Take a look at your diet.
Thinning hair can be a symptom of a deficiency in vitamins. Cre8 Salon suggests supplementing your normal diet with vitamins like Biotin or Viviscal, which help to make hair stronger.

2. Use volumizing products.
The next best thing to growing thick hair is faking it. Cre8 Salon suggests volumizing gels and mousses as a way of plumping up the look of your hair. Just apply these products to damp hair before blowing out.

3. Get the right cut.
A proper haircut can change the entire look of your hair. If you want hair to look thicker, Cre8 Salon suggests long layers and a blunt cut (“No razors, no thinning.”)

4. Shorter is better.
Another way to give the illusion of thick hair is to cut it slightly shorter than you originally wanted. By going just a tad shorter, you can actually make hair look thicker.

Tips to Make Hair Color Last

Photo: Getty Images

We work hard to find the products and stylists that will get us perfect hair— and perfect color. How frustrating is it when that color doesn’t last? We asked the experts: How do you make that color last as long as possible? The answers are easier than we imagined.

1. Avoid shampooing daily.
“It may sound dirty, but almost everyone does not need to wash their hair every day. Frequent washing strips the hair of valuable oils that keep strands moisturized, and it strips out your color. Instead, try a messy updo or dry shampoo to refresh your hair between washing,” says Estelle Baumhauser, expert colorist at eSalon.com.

If you must wash your hair every day, wash your scalp only, not your hair. “This will save your color, keep your hair from drying out, as well as save money from over shampooing,” says hair colorist, Frederic States.

2. Use the correct styling products.
A lot of fading happens naturally, so hair doesn’t  look as vibrant. Not using the right products will exacerbate that problem. “It is important to use shampoos and conditioners made specifically for color-treated hair because others are too harsh and will strip the color quickly,” says celebrity colorist Rita Hazan.

“I always laugh when people spend so much money on their hair color and then go out and buy cheap shampoo and conditioner that will pull your color out,” says  Joel Warren at Warren-Tricomi. ”I recommend that my clients use L’Oréal Professionnel INOA Color Care Shampoo and Conditioner. It’s sulfate free and contains argan oil to replenish the lipids on the surface of the hair fiber for a smooth, shiny finish. Also, it has green tea extracts, which nourish your hair to protect and maintain our color.”

3. Never jump into a pool or the ocean with dry hair.

Always wet it first with plain tap or bottled water. “Strands will absorb the tap/bottled water and help prevent the chlorinated water from bleaching hair,” says States.

 

4. Beware excessive heat or cold. 

 ”You should always use tepid water when washing your hair to make the most of your color, and finish with a final rinse of cool water to seal your cuticle for optimal shine,” says Missi Koebler of Secrets of Hair Design & Day Spa in Butler, PA.

 

4. Seal in the color.

The more you color your hair and blow it dry, the more nutrients are lost, which is why it is so important to use a conditioning treatment to restore those nutrients. You can do a leave-on mask or you can do an oil treatment and sleep with it overnight. It’s almost like putting moisturizer on your face.  

5. Get glossy.

“In between color sessions you can come in for a gloss/glaze to add shine to your color and maintain your color,” says Warren.

 

6. Your hair needs SPF, too.

“The sun will fade your color and turn blondes a little brassy. If you are going out in the sun, look for products with UV protection and protect your hair like you would your face. If you are planning on laying out for a few hours, try putting an oil on your strands, like L’Oréal Professionnel Mythic Oil Colour Glow,” says Warren.

How to Sleep Without Ruining Your Blowout

“You want to make sure to put your hair up in two loose buns, with metal clips, high on your head and sleep on a satin pillowcase,” says Webb. “The clips are so much better than an elastic, because the band can dent the hair and leave marks. Also, the reason it’s better to part your hair down the middle in two sections instead of one, is that you’ll actually end up with more curl on each side. Another thing I started to do, is take the top section in the back of the crown and wrap it in a velcro roller. It will get totally messed up when you sleep, but it actually solves the cowlick problem in that area when you wake up.”

When it comes to freshening up your hairstyle the next morning, Webb says it’s all about your hairline and the crown. “You can even gently wet those areas and re-blow dry them after adding dry shampoo, concentrating on the front. No one is really paying that much attention to the back, but if the front looks fresh and clean it really makes your whole blowout look new again.”

When applying dry shampoo, Webb says to avoid the scalp and the part line, because you can see it. “I tell people to section your hair and draw a line, and apply it under that line and spray and rub it in. Then lift, spray, lift spray section-by-section.”

The New Way to Wear Bobby Pins

Kate Mara attended a special screening of Netflix’s “House of Cards” season two (out today!) with what looked like your average slicked back hairdo. When she turned around, though, she showed what’s probably the most creative use of bobby pins that I’ve seen in a while. Take a look.

Instead of discretely hiding the pins, Kate’s hairstylist used them as an accessory and crisscrossed them through the back of the hair.

Get It Twisted: How To Get A Twist-Inspired Twirl

Get It Twisted: How To Get A Twist-Inspired Twirl

One quick fix to taming your tresses— fresh side twists, varying from effortless to avant-garde, achieved a sleek and modernistic look. Read on for the step-by-step deets on how to mimic the striking style!

For Runway-Inspired Side Twirls: 

1. Part your hair down the middle (it is best if it is slept-on or day-old) and apply a dime-size amount of mousse throughout, then tousle dry using a blow dryer.

2. Section your hair into two halves, then continue to section off into two-inch pieces until all of your hair is divided.

3. With a one-inch curling iron, wrap each section at a 45-degree angle, going in different direction to make the curls look a bit messier.

4. Take the two front/top sections of your hair (that frame your forehead on each side) and twist them away from your face, securing each with a clear elastic band.

5. Connect both sections together on the back of your head with bobby pins. Once secured, mess up the twist with your fingertips, and tease your hair for an effortless, just-rolled-out-of-bed finish.

BLOG IT: Why Salons Should Blog + "2 Step Punch"

BLOG IT: Why Salons Should Blog

Blogging for your salon or spa - 4 times per month minimum - is time well spent or money well-invested (if you commission this service). Within 2+ months your salon or spa will reap the rewards in social media traffic, website traffic and brand awareness – all of which lead to the magical bottom line of sales.

Ideally your salon blog should be a part your website, to help your site get “visibility” or “search-able” to search engines. Ask your web designer/developer to set this up. Alternatively, get started by using a free blogging service such as a Blogger or WordPress.com then link your site to it somewhere.

So, are you ready for some content ideas? Great, let’s percolate!

1. Trends
Feature beauty, fashion and hair trends to engage savvy consumers.

2. ServicesFeature a service and describe in detail how you do it and the benefits. Remember to include price details and how to book to encourage sales!

3. Meet the TeamIntroducing your team can be a great way to make your salon feel approachable and friendly. Why not feature a team member, talk about their fabulous skills, training and their favorite treatments. Add a bit of personality in there too, customers like to know the faces behind the brand.

4. ProductsProducts that you sell and use in your salon make for great content ideas. Tell clients how to use the product, and of course remind them that they can buy from you.

5. Behind the ScenesA little behind the scenes news adds some provenance to your salon. Sharing news like recent improvements, relevant and friendly stories such as team social events etc will help give personality to your brand and salon.

6. ClientsFeaturing clients on your blog is a great way to share testimonials and to add credibility and approachability to your salon.

The genius part? Clients will share among their friends and family via Facebook and Twitter, so it’s a double whammy for content value. Ideas include before and after posts, or client “favorite services” stories.

 7. Seasonal DealsSeasonal deals are an obvious “great post” idea. Why not talk about offers during Summer or Christmas, or feature a birthday gift idea, or talk about life event related services like wedding packages or products for mums-to-be. 

Getting the idea?

But what about imagery you ask? Sites like Veer and iStock are really affordable ways to get great images for business blogs for little investment.

So, let’s map this out for you even more: 

Working with a 4 blog per month minimum ideal, let’s sketch out a 3 month blogging plan that will help your marketing and bring in business. 

Month 1:

Product feature Behind the scenes Meet the team member Client story 

Month 2:

Seasonal trend story Service focusBehind the scenesMeet the team 

Month 3:

Product feature Trend storyService focusClient story 

PAID BLOGGING SERVICES by a company that SPECIALIZES IN BEAUTY.

Need to blog but just don’t have the time? No problem, let BeautyMark do it for you! We research, then write posts of up to 500 words, including imagery sourcing and procurement.

Paid blogging is a “2 step punch”.

After a blog article is written, someone actually has to post and spread it across all social media networks. The second step of paid blogging is to “spread the buzz”. We have to get the posts out there on Facebook, Twitter et al and let the world know the posts exist! BeautyMark’s social-media-savvy team spreads your buzz and “socialize” the blog posts. 

BeautyMark offers blogging services on a contractual basis, give us a call. We would love to hear from you! 

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR LOCS AFTER YOU LEAVE YOUR STYLIST’S CHAIR

I remember the day that I learned how much lint my locs had attracted over time. I was sitting in the car with my mother, discussing the ups and downs of my recent decision to loc my hair. I was about a year into my journey when I first noticed that a few of my locs toward the front of my head had areas of visible lint. I went on a tangent about all of the ways that I would eliminate the lint immediately. My mother smiled at me in a way that only a mother can give a child and said, “Awe baby, you have lots of lint in your locs, you’re not going to get it all out,” as she shook her head and laughed. In that very moment I became terrified. When I got home I frantically examined every single loc on my head, only to realize that my mother was right. But that didn’t shy me away from my desire to get rid of the lint, it only made me more anxious to get it out! I thought about how I was going to do this, and before I knew it I found myself with a comb in hand, a collection of lint on my lap and half of my locs destroyed. It didn’t dawn on me that not only was I removing lint, but I was also taking my locs out! After about 7 locs I knew I had to stop and find a new solution that would not only prevent so much lint collection, but also repair the locs that I destroyed.

 

Tips for At-Home Care 

The first thing I did was start wrapping my hair up every night. One of the reasons I found so much lint towards the back of my hair was because I was sleeping with cotton pillows, pillow cases, comforters, and blankets without protecting my locs. Remember, locs attract lint so by paying more attention to your overall at-home care, you can prevent excess lint. There are a few ways to keep your hair protected while sleeping or lounging around the house. You can wrap your hair with a satin scarf or bonnet, or use a loc soc which is easy to use and convenient when you’re on the go. You can also purchase a few satin pillow cases so that you can protect your hair while sleeping. All of these products can be found in our retail area here at Good Hair Salon.

 

The second thing I did was something very simple: at night, if my hair is not styled, I’ll run my fingers through each section of my hair. Not only does this help prevent my locs from joining and possibly marrying together, it also allows me to catch loose lint with my fingers.

Repairing Damaged Locs 

How did I repair the locs I damaged? This is something that I’m still struggling with. As a result of taking out parts of my locs, I lost a lot of length on some, while others are learning how to bud up again in order to become solid. I am also considering doing loc repairs, a service that we offer our clients here at Good Hair Salon. When receiving a loc repair here at GHS, your stylist will ask you to bring in human hair that matches with your hair color. You can purchase this hair at most hair and beauty stores, which your stylist will sue to mend the damaged area in your loc my using a special technique that allows your strands to receive extra support while maintaining the look of a natural loc.

Taking care of healthy locs is not as easy as it may seem. Our locs need just as much love as anyone’s hair, so use me as your example. Whether your biggest pet peeve is lint, or you’re just interested in keeping your locs the most healthy, at-home care in between loc maintenance appointments is just as important as your salon service. It’s important to you and us as your natural hair stylists that you shine as bright as you already are!

How to Attract New Clients to Your Salon: Friend Referrals

How to Attract New Clients to Your Salon: Friend Referrals

Off to a busy start to 2014!! BeautyMark loves Friend Referrals. We believe they are one of the best tools to attract new clients to your hair or beauty salon. In fact, 74% of women felt recommendation was the most important factor when choosing a hair salon. Moreover, clients who come via recommendation tend to be more loyal than those attracted by discounts or other promotions. 

What makes a loyal client willing to recommend your salon to their inner circle sanctum? Make them feel good. Clients might forget what you said,  forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel. Ask yourself, how do your clients feel when they visit your salon? Do they look and feel fabulous as they leave? 

Trust is key to getting salon recommendations and fundamental to the success of implementing this marketing tool. Your clients must feel confident that if they recommend you, their friends will have that same great experience. 

5 ways to increase salon recommendations

So how can salons and spas harness this powerful word of mouth marketing among friends and family?

Ask them. Many salons overlook this. A simple card referral system works excellent so that your client has something to pass on to their friends. 

Be generous with your marketing incentives. 10% off is hardly going to tempt someone to spread the word about how great your salon is. Calculate the  dollar value a new salon guest is worth to your salon over the period of a year and mark your incentives accordingly.

Make sure you promote your salon friend referral system through your salon website and salon email.

Regularly advertise your salon friend referral on your Facebook page and tweet it to your followers. 

And finally, don’t forget to measure the number of new salon clients who come via recommendation.

Hair Trend: Faux Bob Step-by-Step How To

Not prepared to chop off your locks? Fake it with a curling iron and hairpins instead. “Done” hairstyles of 2014 are the kind that move and tousle. Using the runways and red carpets as a reliable source for hair trends, 2014 goes retro. The eras influencing fashion are influencing hair as well. The 20s give us bobs and finger waves, and the 60s inspire perfectly sculpted, yet elegantly simple ‘dos. A unique opportunity to don a structured style, the vintage faux bob is as modern as tomorrow. 

To find out how to recreate the look for yourself, read the our full step-by-step how to guide.

step 1

Prep hair with smoothing serum, then curl ends under with a straightening iron to get desired shape.

step 2

Section crown of head up and clip into place. Leave underneath section down. 

step 3

From the underneath section, take a smaller section of hair from the side at the front of the head, comb it back and pin it at the centre of the back of the head (the lower crown).

step 4

Repeat on the other side and pin at the centre of the back of the head. 

step 5

Take out the top section and brush it back over the pinned section - secure each side of the edge of the crown with a hairpin – where you can feel the skull bone.

step 6

Create a circle with the ends of the hair by tucking them under and pinning them in place. 

step 7

Loop all ends of hair under crafting a neat shape at the nape of the neck. The amount of looping depends on the length of your hair and on the desired length of your bob.

step 8

Hold look in place and keep it sculpted all day with a finish of strong hold hair spray.