Need a new hair do but dont have the money?

Need a new hair do but don’t have the money? There is a solution for you! Volunteer as a hair model at your favorite salon. When you volunteer at a hair salon you get a high quality hair cut done by a stylist in training, with supervision of course. And the best part… its free!

Wondering why salons take volunteers? Because it gives a learning stylist a chance to practice during their 18 month training program, as well as grow their clientele. And for you, well you get a great hair style that would have been costly otherwise.

Be aware that you will need to pay attention during your cut and color. The stylists will be looking to you for feedback during the secession. And depending how far a long in their training they are, the stylist will have little to lots of interaction with their instructor while doing your hair.

If you are interested in being a hair model, visit Craigslist and look under Services/Beauty for opportunities near you. You can also check salon websites, as they often advertise for volunteers. And also, its a good idea to tip. That’s the best way to show anyone that you appreciate their services!

For more information go to: http://www.nwsource.com/shopping/beauty-body/spas-salons/volunteer-hair-model-get-high-quality-cuts-and-color-free?cmpid=2336

The Hair Extensions Industry is Always Moving

Donna Bella Milan has been ahead of the curve in the hair extension world. We’ve got our eyes on a new hair extensions technology that has become available in the UK. The company, Wonderful Hair Extensions, have come up with a unique way to bond keratin dipped extensions to your hair.

How they work: Wonderful hair extensions are applied by a cold fusion applicator, and use a keratin-based polymer to attach the extensions. As well as ultra sonic waves, rather then the typical heat and glue method. Wonderful Hair Extensions are also applied to your roots, one strand at a time, allowing them to blend in much better.

It’s well known that heat and glue, if used too often on hair, can be very damaging. The keratin method eliminates both of those harmful elements and the use of sonic waves to secure the bond is an intriguing twist in the extensions industry. The keratin base is also far more flexible that hot glue, which allows them to blend right into your natural hair. Because there is no heat involved that means there is also no scalp irritation.

For more information go to:

http://www.approvedbusiness.co.uk/wonderful-hair/company.aspx

http://www.approvedbusiness.co.uk/ViewArticle_2690.aspx

The New Finger Trend

We have a new beauty treatment on our hands. Literally. It’s called Minx Nails. Rather than using liquid polish to color your nails, Minx nails uses solid nail coating type stickers. They are heated and then applied to your nail, and last roughly 4 weeks. And the main appeal for this over liquid polish… no chipping! The process is quite simple really:

1. Pick your color

2. Place Minx under heat lamp to make flexible.

3. Re size to fit your nail shape.

4. Use heat lamp to shrink-wrap the Minx covering

5. File to remove excess film.

6. Enjoy!

To learn more about this product go to: http://minxnails.com/

Eyelash Extensions, still a booming business

The creators of Xtreme Lashes, a company whom provides high quality eyelash extensions, claims their business is continuing to grow, despite the hard economic times. They say that although salon goers have cut out other luxury procedures, like massages and facials, their eyelash extensions is a luxury they refuse to give up.

And not only are they growing in clientel but they also continue to create career opportunities. “I believe that Xtreme Lashes has remained viable and will remain viable because we are creating jobs and careers while remaining dedicated to quality, safety, and support,” says Mousselli, founder of Extreme Lashes.

So whats in store for their future? Recognizing that harder times may be on their way, Mousselli is still confident they will continue the way they are going now, with the help of open and honest communication.

To learn more about Extreme Lashes go to: http://www.xtremelashes.com.

Rapunzel Barbie

In honor of Barbie’s 50th Anniversary she is introducing who else, but the ever popular Rapunzel.

The Rapunzel doll has been paired with the field of Hair and Beauty to launch new activities and promotions. And not only does she come dressed in a beautiful lavender gown, but this modern day princess brings long golden locks and a salon play set too.  Which will allow girls to play out the fairy-tale, and style her hair as they please!

After making her premiere at the Lakme’ Fashion Week, Barbie as Rapunzel is ready to entertain girls all across the world.

To learn more go to: http://www.indiainfoline.com/news/innernews.asp?storyId=100535&lmn=1

I’m not a believer

These days it seems that every celebrity has come out with a product or two. But Jessica Simpson, shes got a whole list. With everything from clothes to handbags to fragrances and now hair extensions. Offering fans the possibility of obtaining her famous cascade of champagne colored curls.

However it has been said that Jessica’s line of hair is made of Kanekalon Vibralite® mod acrylic fiber, and to those whom do not own their own line of extensions, that is the phony, plastic looking, synthetic hair.

Now, I hate to be the one to state the obvious, but I will anyways. I have never seen Jessica sporting hair that looks anything but expensive and polished down to every curl. In fact it has been said that she often spends up to $2500 dollars on her own head of hair. So it becomes hard for me to believe that she herself would ever wear her own line. And well, if the creator isn’t a believer, then its hard for me to be as well.

For more information, visit these sites:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30156493/

http://www.hairuwear.com/jessica.aspx?pgID=997

http://www.tmz.com/2009/04/12/hair-brained-celebrities/

Going Green with Extensions

“Recycle, reduce, reuse” … a phrase that’s become all too common during these tough economic times. It seems it has become second nature for everyone, from the stars down to all us average Joe’s, to do everything possible to stretch every dollar. And every type of company is advertising its own ways to be more green. From grocery store reusable bags, to hybrid cars, and nature safe cleaning products.

But does a recession mean our beautiful hair has to be sacrificed as well? No, according to Raquel Watter, co-owner of RikRak salon on Brickell Avenue in Miami. Raquel has invented something she calls the ”Recession Extension,” a process in which the old extensions are basically recycled — that is, removed from the head, washed, blown dry and retaped to the real hair shaft.

This new procedure is $150. Down from a pricey $600-$1000 for new extensions.

Other salons have started teaching their clients how to keep their hair healthy in between salon visits. Senior designer Linda Sherwood, of the James Bentley Salon on West 57th Street, shares recipes of home remedies with her clients, to condition their hair using items they can find in their own kitchen. For example: mashing one avocado with a half cup of milk. Apply to hair and let sit for 30 minutes. The avocado adds moisture while the milk adds shine.

I think the lesson here is that even during a recession there is no reason to make your hair take the brut of it. To learn more ways that salons are helping customers remain feeling glamorous during a not so glamorous time visit these sites:

http://www.miamiherald.com/living/fashion/story/965214.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2009/03/20/2009-03-20_women_cut_out_pricey_hair_care_routines_.html

Salon Stylists as Social Workers

Salon’s have been a center of social activity for as long as they’ve been around. Hot spots for discussing issues, they often reveal the most intimate secrets held by any community. In a recent New York Times article, the author explores how stylists are being trained to recognize signs of domestic abuse. Here’s a clip from the article:

Martha Castillo knew her client had a problem because their weekly hair-straightening sessions were always interrupted by phone calls from a boyfriend angrily accusing her of being with another man. Magda Florentino noticed cigarette burns on a woman’s temples when she pulled back her hair for washing — and did not buy the explanation that they had happened accidentally while she was bartending.

For an excellent read, and for information on how your salon could get involved, click here.

BSB Celebrates 10 Years in the Business

You may need quicktime to view this video - which you can download for free here.

Surviving (and profiting from) a Slow Economy

It’s on the front page of every newspaper in the US - and around the world: the troubled US economy. As consumers, and for many of us as business owners, we’re feeling the pinch everywhere - from the grocery store, price gouging hikes at the gas pump, electricity bills, to raising rents. Like every slump, there’s a mountain high somewhere in the future, but in the mean time, it’s survival mode for many.

Beauty Store Business magazine has a series on the economy and the beauty industry this month. Here’s a clip from their most recent article:

The three best ways to survive any slump, real or anticipated, are to:

• Know your business well so you can fine-tune it to increase profits (see “Knowing Your Numbers,” below).
• Take advantage of federal income tax laws to minimize the bite of taxes and help pick up a bigger portion of your cost of doing business (to be discussed in Part 2).
• Employ cost-cutting strategies to help you weather the storm (to be discussed in Part

The article covers the “how to” of survival and is a must read for any salon owner or beauty industry professional

Get it here.