It is not customary to tip salon owners who also perform services. Some actually refuse tipping, yet I have known salon owners who gladly accept tips. The reason for not tipping a salon owner is because the owner receives the payment for services rendered in full, as opposed to stylists working within the salon who only get a percentage. Whether or not you tip your stylist who also owns the salon is up to you. If you love your style there is nothing wrong with showing appreciation with a tip, if accepted. Also, there is no need to feel guilty about not tipping your stylist who also happens to own the salon. 

Tipping doesn’t get thrown out the window when it comes to going to the spa either. So, please don’t forget to pay gratitude to your facialist, brow specialist, makeup artist, masseuse, waxer, and nail tech.

Now I know it’s not my imagination, letting your color/highlight grow out inches past there retouch phase is a total trend today. I am seeing it everywhere! From Mary-Kate Olsen, to the girls on  MTV’s The City, to stylists in the salon, it’s regrowth central. I admit to a certain subtle point it looks ok. But if your regrowth and previously colored hair is so dramatically different that you have an obvious LINE going around your head, you need to go to the salon. ASAP!

To try this look ask your stylist to give you “hidden highlights”. Keep the brighter highlights around the face, under the top layers of hair. Ask the stylist not to bring the highlight to the root, and to use a zig-zag approach on painting on the highlight to help the highlight look more natural. Make sure your highlights are toned to seal the cuticle for a smoother finish and to tone down the contrast of highlight to base color.

With this technique you can stretch out the time between retouches in the salon, up to six months for the bohimian “grown out look”.

As a Cosmetologist I have seen my fair share of damaged hair. That would also include my own hair.  This also feeds my interest for trying products, any and all of them. Can I just tell you that no, not all products are created equally.

Lets see, you have the store brand products that claim salon quality (I’ve yet to see the similarities there), and then you have low-end salon, mid-grade salon, and high-end salon quality. Yes, I know they aren’t labeled that way but, trust me, there are different quality levels of professional products.

For me the best products are sold only at a higher professional level salon.  The products distributors look into the salons for certain qualifications to carry their product.  Luckily for me I have had the opportunity to work with some of these different brands so I can now tell you what my favorite is. The best brand for all hair types is Kerastase, hands down.  Whether your hair is wirey, dry and curly/unruly, or weak, damaged, and on the verge of falling out of your head, this brand works wonders.

From shampoo, and conditioner, to vitamins, and treatment for swimmers hair, Kerastase has you covered. Not only will Kerastase work your hair into salon shape on a daily basis, their in salon treatments work miracles as well. I have felt the difference in my clients hair, my hair, and my family’s hair. Trust me on this one, it’s well worth the price tag.